US2184724A

US2184724A - Time switch and control system

Info

Publication number: US2184724A
Application number: US185987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thorvald A Solberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-15
Filing date: 1938-01-20
Publication date: 1939-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-26

Description

Dec. 26,- 1939. "r. A. SOLBERG 2,134,724

- TIME SWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Kay 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l TEE-l IN V EN TOR.

G ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1939. i T. A. SOLBERG I 2,134,724

TIME SWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed May 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

dfzo wnfd 9L. $023445,

BY 6 W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME SWITCH AND CONTROL SYSTEM Thorvald A. Solberg, Washington, D. G.

Original application May 15, 1936, Serial No. 80,013. Divided and. this application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,987

7 Claims.

application;v Serial Number 80,013, filed May 15,

1936, now Patent No. 2,138,890., for. System and apparatus for announcing time- One of the objects of my invention is to provide, in a clock having associated therewith a a compact arrangement of sound reproducing system, means for automatically conditioning the sound reproducing system immediately prior to the time interval during which an announcement is desired and effecting an announcement at a given time interval and thereafter cutting off the sound reproducing system preparatory to a repeat process for a succeeding announcement.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a compact assembly of sound reproducing system and clock mechanism, means whereby the sound reproducing system is-conditioned prior to a predetermined time interval for effecting an announcement over a given time interval and thereafter deenergized preparatory to repeat .processes at various time intervals for successive announcements.

A further object of my invention is to provide positive switching means actuated by a constantly rotated shaft, with coacting fixed contacts adapted for control of electrical circuits in predetermined timed sequence.

Still another object of my invention is to provide switching means having dual contacts adapted to be bridged by a movable contact and auxiliary switching means actuated in sequential relation to the aforesaid switching means for controlling a plurality of electrical circuits in timed relation.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of low voltage relay control switch means in combination with direct circuit control switch means for sequential operation of power and signalling circuits, respectively.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structure and arrangement of switch elements as disclosed and described more fully in the specification hereinafter following, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of time announcing mechanism embodying the control means of my invention; Fig. la is a detail sectional view taken on line la-la in Fig. 1 showing the relation of fixed and movable contacts in one form of my invention; Fig. 2

is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit arrangement employed in the reproducing system associated with the announcing mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the con. nections for the switch contacts illustrated in Fig. la; Figs. 5 and 6 are elevational and plan views, respectively, of a modiflediorm of switch structure embodying the principles of my inveni tion; and Fig. l is a schematic diagram of the modified circuit arrangement employing the switch structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The ordinary clock announces time, at various intervals such as the hour, half hour and quarter hour by means of gongs, striking chimes, bells or other sound producing implements. The present invention pertains to control means for the reproductionof a sound which gives the exact time shown'by the hands of the clock. Appropriate arrangements may be made for discontinuing the time announcements for any desired length of time.

Alarm features may be incorporated by adding additional elements which control only alarm bell signals or, if desired, voice recordings to take the place of the bell.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have indicated an electric clock by means of a rectangle 6 3. The. electric clockv is operated by a synchro-- 30,

which is carried by shaft t which extends. parv allel to main shaft 1. The shaft 4 is journaled in suitable bearings 5 and 6 attached to the housing and supporting structure adjacent the clock. The shaft 4 carries a metallic cylinder l on the sur-- face of which there is inscribed a double groove or track as shown in Fig. l. A small segmental block 8 carries a shoe device 8a which is adapted tofit into-and engage the groove la in the cylinder 1. It will be seen that as cylinder '5 revolves, the block 8 is moved in a horizontal path parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 1. The groove or track la is so shaped that the direction of motion of block 8 is reversed at each end of cylinder l. The track or groove la is continuous and changes from a left to a right- 5 hand pitch at one end of the cylinder t and vice versa at the other end of the cylinder 'i. Accordingly, the motion imparted to block iii-s automatic in that a continuous reciprocatory course of travel is imparted to block 8 as cylinder 1 revolves. I have illustrated a simplified form of my invention to facilitate explanation. The block 8 is mounted on an arm of the substantially U-shaped frame 9 extending horizontally as shown in Fig. 2. The substantially LI--shaped frame 9 is guided in a horizontal path on a rack or rail iii by means of rollers 90. and 31) and also by such guides as will prevent dislocation or derangement of parts. The U-shaped member is constrained to move only in the horizontal path permitted by the guides. The rack or rail H3 is mounted parallel to the axis of the cylinder I. This rack or rail I is angle shaped and extends within the housing adjacent the clock structure and provides a guide which is engaged by the sets of rollers 9a and 9b rotatably mounted on frame 9 and adapted to roll on the sides of the rack or rail It. The arm or frame 8 serves the double purpose of keeping the block 8 engaged in groove la and also serves as a carrier for an optical system and photosensitive cell as will more clearly understood hereinafter. The frame 9 carries on the portion thereof immediately adjacent cylinder 1 a light source H. The light source H is located adjacent the end of the inner arm of frame 9. Suitable flexible connections extend to light source II for conveying energy required for illuminating source ll,

Reverting at this time to the main shaft I, it will be observed that in addition to the small gear 2 heretofore explained for driving cylinder I, I provide the gear l2 which is meshed with gear l3 to which is connected the cylinder M. The gear and cylinder assembly is journaled in ring bearings l5 and I6 suitably supported with respect to the housing of the clock structure. Cylinder I4 is concentrically disposed about cylinder I and has the interior wall thereof spaced from the exterior wall of cylinder 1. By reason of the mounting of cylinder 14 in

ring bearings

15 and 16, the cylinder I l revolves about the same axis as cylinder 1. The ring bearing I6 is supported in such manner as not to interfere with the horizontal path of movement of the substantially U-shaped arm or frame 9.

Cylinder I4 is arranged to receive a film record on the outer or inner cylindrical surface thereof. The structure of cylinder I4 is such that it is transparent so that light rays will pass directly through the cylinder l4 and the sound record carried thereby. The sound track may be directly recorded upon a photographic sensitive film carried by cylinder M. The cylinder may be of glass or other transparent material on which is engraved, photographed or otherwise reproduced a sound track.

Returning now to the arm or frame 9, it will be understood that because of the transparency of the cylinder [4 that the light source II will direct light rays outwardly through the cylindrical surface l4 and any sound record carried thereby. The parallel extending portion of arm or frame 9 which is external to cylinder [4 carries a photoelectric cell and optical system assembly. I have shown a mirror at I! disposed in horizontal alignment with light source ll along a line extending laterally through the wall of the cylinder M. A lens system H! is carried by the outer arm of frame 9 and serves to concentrate light rays upon the photoelectric cell I9. It will be seen that the entire optical and photoelectric cell assembly is carried by that portion of frame 9 exterior to cylinder l4 while the light source ll is carried by that portion of frame 9 interiorly of cylinder l4.

The photoelectric cell I9 is connected through flexible leads to the input terminals of an amplification system which I have shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The amplification system is designed for operation of the electron tubes constituting the amplifier from the same alternating current source as is employed to drive the synchronous clock motor. I have illustrated in Fig. 3 a power supply circuit for the amplifier system consisting of transformer 28 having primary winding 2| on one leg of the core thereof and a multiplicity of secondary windings indicated at 22, 23 and 24. Secondary winding 22 is employed to supply heating current to the filamentary heaters in

electron tubes

25 and 26 constituting the amplifier system. It will be observed that

electron tubes

25 and 26 are of the standard types available on the market including the heater electrodes 25a and 26a, the cathodes 25b and 2%, the

control grids

25c and 260 and the anodes 25d and 26d.

The input circuit of electron tube 25 includes impedance 2! and photoelectric cell l9 connected in circuit between control grid 25c and cathode 25b through resistor 28. The output circuit of tube 25 is coupled through primary winding 29 with secondary winding 30 of transformer 3|. Secondary winding 30 is connected in the input circuit of tube 26, that is, to grid 26c and cathode 26b. The output circuit of electron tube 26 connects through output transformer 32 with the loudspeaker shown generally at 33.

The plate circuit energy for the

electron tubes

25 and 26 is supplied from the full wave rectifier tube 34 having the plate electrodes thereof energized from winding 23 and having the cathode thereof energized from secondary winding 24. A filter circuit 35 connects to the full wave rectifier tube 34 and plate circuit potential for the several tubes of the amplifier is supplied from suitable connections made to required points along potentiometer 36. The filter circuit 35 includes a filter reactor 31, and, connected in shunt to the fi ter reactor 37, I provide a potentiometer 38. A tap 39 on potentiometer 38 is taken through lead ii] to one terminal of resistor 28 which applies the potential thus obtained from the drop across the filter reactor 31 to the series circuit including photoelectric cell l9 and the input system to electron tube 25.

Various circuit arrangements may be employed in carrying out the system of my invention and the circuit I have shown is to be considered morely in the illustrative sense. It will be understood that Fig. 3 is entirely a diagrammatic showing of my invention as the amplifier is not continuously functioning but is only conditioned preparatory to the reproduction of sound at a predetermined time interval. The manner of conditioning the amplifier for reproduction of sound at a predetermined time interval will be more clearly understood by reference to the structure of the switching mechanism illustrated in the other figures of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 4, the light source H is illustrated as energized from the alternating current supply circuit after a predetermined time interval has elapsed, during which the amplifier is conditioned for the reproduction of sound before the light source is energized for the announcement at any predetermined time.

The conditioning switch is operated by means of gear 4| carried by main shaft I, Fig. 1, which drives gear 42 carried by shaft 43 journaled at M and 45 with respect to the housing of the clock; mechanism. :Theiigear 1.42;? carries anzri the announcement through" the'sound reproducer interval sui'licient to allow rectifier tube'

Mtand amplifier tubes

25 and 26 to becomeproperly' con ditioned so that the sound reproducer is prepared for operation at the instant'sound' traceon cylin 's der' M reaches'a positionior operating photo Atthis instant; contact memberelectric cell i 9. 4l-- also": establishes con-nection': with t contact. I 58f thereby;energizingcslight l .l' and..- allowing the light rays therefrom to: be modulated proper operaticn'of the-:sound reproducer in 1 ad- Vance of: the icutting:oncofi themliglit source i l;

Th'ereiaresinstancesrwhere it is desirable to s avoid '1. theirassociation f 110 :volts' alternating current with :the .switchzsamechanism driven by shaft; 43cm which? .event.;'. I may add additional COIltflCliS'TtO -thet--rotary gear dz; Thiswmay be accompiished; by adding ,an insulated disc 5i ontheoppositezsideaofxgear '42; as. shown in Figs; 5 and: 6. and; diagrammatically illustrated in Figifl. Insulated-disc.5&5 shown" diagram.-

matically in Fig. '7 'carries'a radiallydisposed contact member 52 corresponding generally. to contactmem'ber 51. Contact member 52 is moved into the path of fixed

contacts

53 and 54 atzthe' instantthesannouncementtis desired and subsequent to the energization of the circuits of the amplifier.

Contacts

53 and 54 are supported on a suitable bracket indicated at 55 supported from bearing bracket 45.

Contacts

53 and 54 are connected through leads 56 with the circuit to the light source ll leading from the additional secondary winding 5'! on the transformer 20. Light source It is, therefore, cut on subsequent to the energization of the amplifier system. In order to remove the higher power circuits from the switching mechanism, I may employ the arrangement illustrated in Fig. '7 wherein

contacts

48 and 49 connect through leads 58 with the actuating winding 59 of relay 6!) through small dry battery 6!. The contacts (52 of relay 66 serve to close a circuit through primary winding 2! for preconditioning the amplifier system and before the cutting on of the light source it.

After the amplifier is conditioned preparatory to the announcement at a given time, the amplifier remains conditioned during the period of the announcement and at the instant of closing of the announcement, both the amplifier and the light source are cut off and restored to a condition preparatory to a repeat process for the next succeeding announcement.

The structure of the clock and the associated announcing mechanism of my invention is highly compact and simple in its manufacture and production. I realize that modifications of the structural arrangement and circuit of the clock of my invention may be made and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

It will also be understood that one such clock as has been described can be used as a master ber oi'i'remotelocations:can'z'beqmade by using loudspeakers in: these locations: Inthis way I notwonly time announcements :but also-instructionscr orders whichit iswidesiredito give at clock an'd thattime announcements inany numspecified times :to workers :in dilferent "locations can be rc'ontrolled and r'sent outiiat" these :specified times by one'centrally located-master clock. 33, the alternating current supply circuit is closed through primary winding '21: fOI."'3. givenv time":

Many other changes-bin; the'rarrangement of parts of the systemimay'be made and I claim' all adaptations. of my'iinvention within the scope of th'eappended claims.

What'I claim as new and-"desire to-secure by Let-tersPatent of the United" States is as follows:

1. In a system for announcing time, a sequence switch device for controlling the operation thereof comprising inzcom'bination with a clock, a disc rotated. in a. fraction of an hour by said.

clock and having. a contact =element carried.

thereby a pair. of coextensive arcuate shaped fixed arsontacts .mountedradjacentisaid. disc and adaptedli xto s. bridged" by saidrcontact element "t ottherotation of during a predetermined"; said.

- flfiedraldfiiilliii'lai.GOlltfiCl? element discent said iarcuate shaped contacts and adapteditobevengaged simultaneously with said arcu'atelsha'ped "contactsisby thefirstsaid con"- taet element: at a predetermined time subsequent to 'thd'bridgingz'oi" .saidarcuate. contacts in fractional'hour periods, an electrical circuit connectedwith said coextensive: contacts, and a separate electricalacircuit" connected-"with said additionalcontact element: andioneof said coextensive: contacts;

2. In a system for announcing time, sequence control switching means comprising in combinationwith a clock, a disc: rotated in a fraction of.-ian1'hour .by saidnclock' andt.having.a pair of synchronized contact members carried thereby on opposite sides thereof, a pair of coextensive arcuate shaped fixed contacts mounted adjacent one side of said disc and adapted to be bridged by one of said synchronized contact members for a predetermined phase of the rotation of said disc, a pair of fixed additional'contact members mounted adjacent the opposite side of said disc and adapted to be bridged by the other of said synchronized contact members subsequent to the beginning of and within the said phase of rotation of said disc in fractional hour periods, and separate electrical circuits connected with said pairs of fixed contacts.

3.111. a time-controlled signalling system, a clock mechanism, electrical signalling means having power supply and signalling circuits therefor, and switch means for controlling the operation of said circuits in sequential relation, said switch means comprising a switch arm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said clock mechanism, dual contact members carried on opposite sides of said switch arm insulated from each other, fixed contact means connected with said signalling circuit mounted adjacent one side having power supply and signalling circuits therefor, a trio of switch contacts including a pair of extended arcuate shaped coextensive contacts connected in said power supply circuit and a substantially shorter arcuate shaped contact disposed adjacent one end of the aforesaid pair of contacts and coextensive with a portion thereof, connections from the last said contact and one of the aforesaid contacts to said signalling circuit, a switch arm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said clock mechanism and adapted to bridge said trio of contacts, said switch arm being engaged with said pair of contacts along the extended portion thereof beyond said shorter contact for a predetermined time prior to engagement thereof with said shorter contact, whereby said power supply circuit is conditioned prior to the operation of said signalling circuit in fractional hour periods.

5. In a time-controlled signalling system, a clock mechanism, electrical signalling means having power supply and signalling circuits therefor, dual pairs of fixed contacts, the contacts in one pair being connected in said signalling circuit, relay switch means having contacts connected in said power supply circuit, the contacts of the other of said pairs of fixed contacts being connected in circuit with said relay switch means, and a contact arm actuated by said clock mechanism and having separate contact members adapted to engage said pairs of fixed contacts, said pairs of contacts being so disposed relative to each other and to said contact members as to be engageable by the respective contact members in predetermined timed sequence.

6. In a time-controlled signalling system, sequence control switching means comprising, in

combination with a revolvable clock shaft, a switch arm carrying a contact member rotated in a fraction of an hour by said shaft, fixed contacts engageable by said contact member including a pair of coextensive arcuate shaped contacts arranged in parallel concentric spaced relation and in a single stud-like contact disposed between said pair of contacts adjacent one end thereof and insulated from each of said contacts, said contact member being adapted to embrace said pair of contacts and all of said contacts in predetermined timed sequence in fractional hour periods, an electrical circuit connected with said coextensive contacts, and a separate electrical circuit connected with said studlike contact and one of said arcuate contacts.

7. In a time-controlled signalling system, sequence control switching means comprising, in combination with a revolvable clock shaft, a switch arm rotated in a fraction of an hour by said shaft, dual contact members carried on opposite sides of said switch arm insulated from each other, coacting contacts for each of said contact members mounted respectively adjacent opposite sides of said switch arm and comprising pairs of arcuate shaped contacts adapted to be bridged by the respective contact members, the contacts associated with one of said contact members being relatively extended through a substantial portion of the circumferential are described by said contact member and embracing the corresponding portion of the circumferential path of the other of said members occupied by the relatively foreshortened contacts associated therewith, and separate electrical circuits connected with said pairs of arcuate shaped contacts.

THORVALD A. SOLBERG.