US2118944A - Control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

M y 1938. c. A. PURDY 12,fi 8:9'44.

CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed June 22, 1929 m/wm? a4. PURDX.

Arramvzr' Patented May 31, 1938 CONTROL MECHANISM Chester Arthur Purdy, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to ,Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application June 22, 1929, Serial No.

372,818, now Patent No. 1,963,381.

Divided and this application March 13, 1934, Serial No.

Claims.

This invention relates to a control mechanism, and more particularly to a revolution counter and control mechanismv for material winding machines, and is a division of my copending appli cation entitled Condenser winding machine, Serial No. 372,813, filed June 22, 1929 now Patent 1,963,381.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient mechanism for automatically controlling machine operations.

In accordance with this object, one embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a revolution counter and control mechanism for material winding machines, wherein a revolution indicating wheel is driven in synchronism with the winding arbor through an electromagnetic clutch which is automatically actuated to start each operating cycle of the machine. Adjustable contacts carried by the indicating wheel control electrical circuits for controlling various operations of the machine and for effecting the disengagement of the clutch when the indicating wheel arrives at a predetermined indication, whereupon the indicating wheel is automatically returned to its initial or starting position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a revolution counter and control mechanism embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates electrical circuits that may be controlled by the mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the revolution counter and control mechanism comprises a shaft Ill journaled in a housing or frame II and .a battery 24 (Fig. 3).

having secured at its upper end a rotatable electromagnet I2 carrying an energizing coil I3 the terminals of which are connected to leaf spring contacts I5 and I6 secured to an insulator I'I fastened to the underside of the electromagnet. The leaf spring contacts I5 and IS in turn resiliently engage contactors I8 and I9, respectively, which slidably contact with rings 2| and 22, respectively, mounted in a stationary insulator 23 and through which the energizing coil I3 is connected to an electrical current supply, such as Journaled within a vertical bore 25 of the shaft Ii! is a smaller shaft 26, to a shoulder 2'! of which an iron disk 28 is resiliently secured by means of a spring disk 29.

The disk 28 is adapted to be attracted and rotated by the electromagnet I2 when it is energized. Thus, the electromagnet I2 and the iron disk 28 constitute the driving and driven members, respectively, of what is essentially an electromagnetic clutch.

The shaft 26 terminates at its upper end in a square shank carrying a suitably calibrated circular member or indicating wheel 30 on the underside of which is secured one end of a torsion spring 32 having its other end secured to a stationary pin 33 projecting from a cover plate 34 fastened to the top of the frame II. Through the rotation of the indicating wheel 30, energy is stored in the spring 32 so that when the electromagnet I2 is deenergized and the iron disk 28 is retracted therefrom by the spring disk 29., the spring 32 automatically returns the indicating wheel to its initial or starting position where a stop 35 secured to the underside of the indicating wheel engages a. stop pin 36 projecting from the upper side of the cover plate 34. Spacer pins 3i project slightly above the upper surface of the electromagnet I2 to prevent sticking of the clutch members when the electromagnet is deenergized.

Carried at the upper end of the shaft 26' is a contacting arm 38 which is frictionally rotatable about the indicating wheel 30 so as to be adjustable angularly with respect thereto. A clamping nut 39 is provided for securing the arm 38 to the indicating wheel in any desired position. The arm 38 is bent in under the indicating wheel where it carries a contact 40 adapted to engage with a contact ll mounted in an insulator 42 of the cover plate 3 The contacts 40 and II may be arranged to control electrical circuits for automatically controlling machine operations. For example, when the mechanism is employed in conjunction with a condenser winding machine of the type disclosed in the copending application above referred to, the contacts 40 and 4| may be connected in electrical circuits, one such circuit being illustrated in Fig. 3, for controlling the disengagement of the electromagnetic clutch to permit the indicating wheel to return to its initial position upon arriving at a predetermined indication.

When the mechanism is employed with a winding machine, as mentioned above, the shaft I0 is driven in synchronism with the winding arbor through interconnecting reduction gears or in any other suitable manner (not shown). The indicating wheel 30 may be calibrated to indicate revolutions of the arbor and the contacting arm 38 is adjusted so that its contact 40 engages the contact 4| when the winding arbor has completed a predetermined number of revolutions.

While the electromagnet I2 is energized, the indicating wheel 38 is driven by the shaft l0 through the electromagnetic clutch, as described above. An energizing circuit for the electromagnet I2 is shown in Fig. 3, and may be traced as follows: from the grounded battery 24 through conductor 45 the coil |3 of the electromagnet I2, conductor 46, contact 41 and grounded contact disk 48. The contact 41 is designed to make a sliding contact with the periphery of the disk 48 and the latter is carried by a one-revolution shaft 49. The periphery of the disk 48 is completely insulated except for a small portion thereof, whereby the energizing circuit of the electromagnet i2 is maintained closed only while the disk 48 is at rest in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, upon rotation of the disk 48 the electromagnet I2 is de-energized, whereupon the torsion spring 32 automatically returns the indi cating wheel to its initial position as described above.

Rotation of the shaft 49 may be controlled by any suitable one-revolution clutch 50 under the control of a solenoid 5|, the energizing circuit of which may be controlled by the counter contacts 48 and 4|. As shown in Fig. 3, the contact 4|, when engaged by the contact 40, establishes an energizing circuit for the solenoid 5|, which may be traced as follows: from grounded battery 24, through conductor 53, the coil of solenoid 5|, conductor 54 and contacts 4| and 4D to ground. Upon being energized, the solenoid 5| causes the actuation of the one-revolution clutch 50 to cause the shaft 49 and contact disk 48 to make one complete revolution and then stop. It is obvious that the shaft 49 may be provided with cams, electrical contacts, or other means for initiating, stopping or otherwise controlling various operations of the machine or for operating various signalling means.

If desired, the indicating Wheel may be provided with several adjustable contacting arms similar to the arm 38 and such arms may each be provided with one or more contacts similar to the contact for cooperating with companion contacts similar to the contact 4| to selectively control additional electrical circuits. For example, the arm 38 is shown in the drawing with a second contact 60 adapted to engage a contact 6| in the insulator 42. Also, there is shown in Fig. 1, a second arm 63 similar to arm 38 and carrying a contact 64 adapted to engage a contact 65 in the insulator 42. It is obvious that the additional pairs of contacts Ell-6| and 64-55 may readily be employed for controlling additional electrical circuits in the manner illustrated and described in connection with the contacts 40 and 4|.

It will be seen that the counter and control mechanism of the present invention is of simple and inexpensive construction and consists of very few parts. The electromagnetic clutch provides a practical driving means for the indicating wheel and the torsion spring provides a simple means for quickly returning the indicating wheel to its initial position. The simplicity of the structure including the electromagnetic drive and the torsion spring provide great flexibility for rendering the mechanism readily adaptable to a large variety of uses.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein illustrated'and described, except in so far as is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, means for moving said member, said means being capable of assuming two conditions, one in which it is effective for moving said member and the other in which it is ineffective for moving said member, an electrical circuit controlled by said member, and means including a one-revolution clutch controlled by said circuit for controlling said member moving means.

2. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, means including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said member, an electrical circuit for holding the elements of said clutch engaged, a second electrical circuit, a one-revolution clutch controlled by said second circuit, contacts controlled by said one-revolution clutch for controlling the first mentioned circuit, and contacts controlled by said control member for controlling said second circuit.

3. A counting mechanism comprising a movable indicating member, disengageable means for driving said member, and means controlled by said member for disengaging said driving means and, after a time interval, for again engaging said driving means.

4. A control mechanism comprising a movable control member, means including an electromagnetic clutch for moving said member, an electrical circuit for holding the elements of said clutch engaged, a second electrical circuit, contacts under the control of said control member for controlling said second circuit, and means controlled by said second circuit for controlling the first mentioned circuit.

5. A counting mechanism comprising a movable indicating member, disengageable means for driving said member, yieldable means for disengaging said member from said driving means, electromagnetic means for engaging said member with said driving means, and means under the control of said member for controlling said electromagnetic means.

CHESTER A. PURDY.

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