US2143074A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

flim- 10, 193.9- T. A. KILLMAN ET A. '2,143,074

TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1952 l2 Sheets-Sheet l he rs Jan. 10, 1939. T. A. KILLMAN Er AL TIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1952 2 Sheetsheet 2 www ' Figli Patented Jan. 10, '1939 UNITED STATES PATENT 4OFFICE TIMING DEVICE Application September 9, 1932,l Serial'No. 632,330

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a timing device operated rby an electric current.

'Ihe -invention is of such a nature that it may be used for many diiierent commercial purposes and, in the embodiments specically illustrated in the drawings and described in this specication, itis operated to intermittently close and open a switch for an electric circuit, whereby a lamp may be alternately flashed and extinguished. In an embodimentillustrated in our co-pending application Serial No. 632,331, filed of even date herewith, it may be used for operating a clock or other mechanism where constant rotation is required, but where only a small torque is necessary.

One of the objectsof this invention is to provide a device operable by an electric circuit which will produce accurately uniform oscillations.

Another object of the invention is to provide 20 an automatic switch for an electric circuit which will alternately and successively, with regularity, make and break the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-way electric switch which may be operated by an oscillating member to connect an electric circuit alternately in two arrangements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device having an oscillating member receiving impulses successively from two electro-magnets, and an automatic switch for the circuit supplying the electro-magnets, with means for bringing the oscillating member to rest upon cessation of current in a position in which one of the electromagnets is connected in circuit by said automatic switch.

Other and specific objects will appear from the following detail description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section taken at an angle of 90 from the position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a Vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

Fig. '1 is a detail sectional view on line 1 1, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. 7, with projections showing the position of parts at different moments of operation.

Fig. 9 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts shown in different operative relationships.

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram.

The device includes generally f an` oscillating v balancer which,l in the rembodiment' specifically illustrated, is adapted by its oscillations to make and break an electric circuit and is useful in this embodiment to intermittently and in accurately timed relationship cause an electric lamp to flash. The balance includes magnetic material, that is iron or steel, by reason of which it may act as an armature. The balance is provided with a spring whereby it may be caused to oscillate, and a pair of electro-magnets are provided to give impulses to the balance. A switch is provided to be operated by the oscillation of the balance, whereby the electro-magnets are selectively and alternately connected in an electric circuit. The electro-magnets are positioned and connected in such a manner that the attractions Vof the electro-magnets for the balance are always in the direction in which the balance has been moving.

Having described the invention generally, a detail description. of a preferred. construction of the invention and its embodiment in a device for some uses now follows.

A housing includes a cylindrical wall I, a bottom. wall 2 and a cover plate 3. A frame com-- prising uprights 4, a top strap 5 and a bottom member 6 is securedto the bottom wall 2 of the housing with an electrically non-conductive plate 1 interposed therebetween. The insulating plate 1 is secured to the wall 2 by screws 3 and the bottom member 6 is secured to the plate 1 by screws 9.

A balance staff I0 is journalled at its lower end in the frame member 6 and at its top end in the frame member 5. A balance I I is fastened to the stair. A spring I2 is arranged to reverse the direction of oscillation of the balance Ii after an impulse has been given to it. The spring I2 is fastened at its upper end at I3 to a collar I4, secured to the staff I0, and the spring is secured at its lower end, as shown at I5, to an adjustable member I6 which in turn is secured to the frame member 6 byscrews l1 passing through slots I8 in the member I6. The balance I! carries or includes magnetic material, that is iron or steel. In the particular form illustrated, an iron weight I9 is secured toveach end of the balance II by a screw 20. Thus the balance may also act as an armature when placed in the ileld of an electromagnet. vTwo electro-magnets 2| and 22 are provided, positioned in the paths respectively of the weights I9, and adapted, as Will hereafter be described, to alternately attract the balance and give it an impulse always in the direction in which the balance is oscillating. Thus, referring to Fig- 1, when `the. balancev I I is moving in a clockwise direction the electro-magnet 22 is energized and when the balance is moving irawcounter-clockwise direction the magnet 2l is energized. Means for connecting the magnets 2| and 22 selectively in circuit will presently be described.

A battery 23 has one pole connected to the ground as shown at 2li, Fig. 10, and has its other pole connected by a lead 25 to a binding post 26, connected to but insulated from the 'cylindrical wall I, an insulating washer 2l being positioned between the post 26 and the wall I. The binding post 2S and, therefore, one pole of the battery 23 is electrically connected to the balance II by a wire 28 connected between the post 2S and the frame, the lead being attached as shown in the drawings to one of the uprights l. One side of each of the windings of the electro-magnets 2| and 22 is connected to a ground by a lead 29. The lead 29 is attached to a binding post 3@ secured to the cylindrical member l which has a lead 3l to a ground. The binding post 35 need not be insulated from the Wall I. It will thus be seen that the electro-magnets 2i and 22 may be selectively energized by selectively connecting the balance i I to leads for the magnets.

This selective connection of the magnets ZI and 22 is accomplished by a new and ingenious switch mechanism which will now be described.

An overhanging arm 32 is secured to the plate 'I by a clamp 33. This overhanging arm includes two superimposed conductive strips 3d and 35 insulated from each other by an insulating strip 36. The lower strip 35i is connected by a lead 3l to the winding of the electro-magnet 2l and the upper strip 35 is connected by a lead 3S to the winding of the electro-magnet 22.

The overhanging arm or bracket 32 is of the form best shown in Fig. 7 and includes an upper end portion 33, Fig. 7, which extends ina line parallel to the plate l, that is, in a horizontal line but in a plane tilted slightly from the horizontal, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The purpose of this tilting is, as shown Fig. 8, to permit a movable Contact it which is secured to and oscillates with the balance I I to brush the upper strip 35 on its clockwise movement and the bottom strip 3e on its counter-clockwise movement.

The Contact supported at the outer end of a resilient arm, comprising a pair of resilient strips ill supported at their inner ends by a bracket i2 on the balance Ii. The arm supporting the contact d@ is bifurcated, as explained, in order to provide resiliency and at the same time to daznpen the vibration. The strips di are secured together at their inner ends and may or may not be secured at their outer ends. When separated the lower strip @I acts as a support for the contact lil and the upper strip il acts merely as a dampener.

The spring adjusting member El? is set in such a manner that the spring I2 Will have a tendency to cause the balance to come to rest in a position, as shown in Fig. l, in which the contact GG is in engagement with the arm 32, either on the lower strip 3Q or on the upper strip 3E, according to chance. Now with the balance Il at rest and with the contact di? engaging the strip 35, if, for instance, as shown in Fig. I, the circuit is completed as illustrated and the lead 25 is connected to one pole of the battery, ground connections being made as heretofore explained, the electromagnet 22 will be energized and the balance will be moved in a clockwise direction. This move ment will be very slight until contact is broken between the point 4D and the strip 35, but the urge will be suicient to move the balance II to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 9. When the balance has assumed this position the tension of the spring will have caused it to come to rest and will return the balance in the opposite or a counter-clockwise direction. Upon this return in a counter-clockwise direction, the balance II Will come again to the position shown in Fig. I, but With the contact il@ below the extension 39, at which time the winding of the electro-magnet 2i will be placed in circuit and its flux Will have a tendency to urge the balance in the direction in which it is moving, but this contact will be maintained only momentarily. The balance II will then move only to a position shown in broken lines, Fig. 9. Thereupon the spring l2 will again return the balance in a clockwise direction and 'contact will be made between the point lill and the strip 35. The cycle of operation will be continuously repeated as long as the device is properly` connected to a source of current supply. The apparatus described has many useful purposes, one of which we have illustrated, described and claimed in my application, Serial N o. 632,331, filed of even date herewith. Another useful purpose is illustrated in the embodiment of this application in which the oscillation of the balance Il is caused to make and break an electric circuit which may be used, for instance, to flash an electric lamp. Additional mechanism which we have illustrated and winch is useful for the purpose of making and breaking an electric circuit will now be described.

A non-conductive disc @i3 is secured to the balance I I and a conductive plate et is placed on top thereof and electrically connected to the staff lll. A brush 55, adapted to make contact with the plate llt, is supported by a bracket itt, secured to the frame member 5 by a screw lll, but the brush i5 is insulated from the frame by a washer L38. The brush l5 is connected by a lead i9 to a binding post 5B on the cylindrical member I,and the binding post is insulated from the cylindrical member by an insulating washer 5I.v A lead 52, secured to the binding post 5I, may be connected to a lamp 53, theother side of the lamp being connected to a ground by a lead 56.

As best shown in Figs. l and 9, the brush will make contact with the plate B4 whenever the balance I I is oscillated to the extent as intended and shown in Fig. 9. In the particular embodiment illustrated, this contact is made twice during each cycle of oscillation, that is, contact will be made between the brush "i5 and the conductive plate i4 when the balance i I is at or near each end of its path. It will be obvious that the deviceV may be constructed to make contact either once or twice during each cycle, as` this is determined by the arc in which the balance oscillates and the proportioning of the sector plate @4.

As previously explained, the spring I2 is so adjusted by the member I6 that the balance II, in the absence of current, assumes a position as shown in Fig. l, and in this position contact between the brush l5 and the plate it is broken and the lamp circuit is, therefore, open,

It will `be obvious from the known laws of physics that frequency of vibration will depend may be altered by changing any of these factors.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole and various changes may be made in the details of construction, and in the mode of applying the invention to useful purposes, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a timing device including an oscillating member adapted to oscillate in uniform timed succession, and a pair of electro-magnets positioned and adapted to intermittently and alternately attract and thereby propel said member, the combination including a xed arm having a contact on each side thereof insulated from each other and connected respectively to said electro-magnets, a resilient member extending from and xed to said oscillating member and carrying an electrical contact at its outer end, said arm being arranged in the path of the outer end of said resilient member and being inclined with respect to the plane of oscillation thereof whereby the outer end of said resilient member makes electrical contact on one side of the arm when the oscillation is in one direction and on the opposite side when the oscillation is in the opposite direction.

2. In a device of the kind described having a spring balance, the combination including an armature mounted on and oscillated by the balance, a pair of spaced electromagnets each having a core with its end adjacent the path of oscillation of the armature, and a switch cornprising a resilient member extending from and iixed to the balance and carrying a contact at its outer end and a fixed arm having contacts on both sides respectively thereof, insulated from each other and connected respectively to the electromagnets, said arm being positioned midway in the path of the contact on said member and being inclined with respect to the plane of oscillation whereby the contact on said member will wipe the contact on one side of the arm when the oscillation is in one direction and on the opposite side when the oscillation is in the opposite direction, and in the absence of power will come to rest in engagement with one or the other of said contacts.

3. A device of the kind described, including a frame, an oscillator mounted thereon for movement in two directions from a given point, a spring, means connecting said spring to said frame and said oscillator to urge the latter to the given point, said connecting means including a disc-like element to which said spring is connected, said element being slotted, and means engaging said frame to said element through said slotted portion thereof whereby said element may be adjusted relative to said frame and secured in adjusted position.

4. A device of the kind described, including an oscillator, two electrically energized devices for producing the force to operate said oscillator, a circuit for each of said devices, means for connecting said circuits to said devices including a switch, said switch having a contactor on said oscillator to swing therewith and a member with which said contactor cooperates, said member and said contactor being sloped relative to the plane of oscillation, and one of them comprising a unit having two conducting faces on opposite sides thereof and insulation therebetween, one face being connected to each circuit whereby as said contactor swings in one direction it will connect with one of said conducting elements.

and as it swings in the other direction, it will connect with the other.

5. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced electromagnets, an armature having a pivot and two arms extending therefrom, each arm having a permeable portion thereon, said magnets being spaced from said pivot, and with the pivot including a different angle from that included between the two arms, whereby when one of said arms is centrally over its magnet the other will be displaced from the other magnet, means urging said armature to a normal position wherein the arms are equally spaced from the magnets and within the extent of their fields, electrical circuits for said magnets, switch means in said circuits, and actuated by said armature to energize one magnet in one direction of oscillation of the armature and the other magnet in the other direction of such oscillation, said switcn being operable to energize one of said magnets when the armature is in normal position.

6. In a device of the kind described, a pair of spaced electromagnets, an oscillatory armature having a pivot and two arms extending therefrom, each arm having a permeable portion thereon, said magnets being spaced from said pivot and with the same including an angle different from the angle included between the two arms, means urging said armature to a normal position wherein said arms are equally spaced from and within the extent of the elds of the respective magnets, a circuit for said magnets including a two way switch, said switch being closed one way as one arm moves toward its magnet to energize said magnet and accelerate the oscillation in that direction, and being closed the other way as the other arm moves toward its magnet to energize said magnet and accelerate the oscillation in the other direction.

7. In a device of the kind described, a member movable in two directions in a xed path, two circuits, a means energized by each circuit, a. switch in said circuits, said switch including a member having its faces formed as contact surfaces insulated from each other sloped relative to the plane of movement of the movable member at a predetermined point, one for each circuit, and a member cooperable with one or the other of said surfaces, one of said switch members being mounted on the movable member and one being fixed relative thereto, whereby as said movable member moves in one direction the cooperating member closes with one of said sloping surfaces, and when it moves in the other direction, it closes with the other surface.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described having a spring balance, the combination including armature means adapted to be oscillated in a fixed plane and by the spring balance, a pair of spaced electromagnets each having its core normal to said plane and adjacent the path of the armature means in its oscillation and said electromagnets being adapted selectively to iniluence said armature means, a. circuit for each of the electromagnets having a switch for each of the circuits, said switches being operable by the balance separately to complete the respective circuits of the electromagnets to a source oi' power, each during a relatively small portion of an oscillation and when the armature means is moving toward the electromagnet the circuit of which is thus completed, and at substantially the middle portion of such oscillation.

THOMAS A. KILLMAN. ROBERT THOMAS KILLMAN.

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