US2247811A - Time switch - Google Patents

Description

Ju1y1, 1941. R. HERMANN 2,247,811

TIME SWITCH Filed Jan 2l, 1941 gli Pfg. 2.

- 97 I f t l bg wwwa/M His Attorne;

Robert Hermann- Patented July 1, 1941 TIME SWITCH Robert Hermann, Swampscott, Mass., assgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 21, 194:1, Serial No. 375,152

(Cl. 20G-39) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to time switches and in particular to time switches of the type including a clock dial Where the levers for setting the time or times of operation of the switch mechanism are adjustable about such dial. The principal object of my invention is the elimination of gearing or its equivalent between the setting levers and the time actuated switch operating mechanisrn in time switches of the type above mentioned to the end that the mechanism may be simplified and made less costly in construction without sacrificing reliability and accuracy.

The features of my invention which are believed to be novel and patentable will be pointed out in the claims appended hereto. For a better understanding of my invention, reference is made in the following description to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents a perspective front view of a time switch embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal cross-section view taken through the center of the device of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an exploded View of the switch setting levers and the time actuated switch operating mechanism with which the levers cooperate.

The invention will be described as applied to a non-repeat form of time switch often employed for turning on an electric range at a predetermined adjustable time and off at a later predetermined adjustable time and thereafter to remain idle insofar as its switching operations are concerned until reset or cocked, although the clock thereof may continue to run and indicate time. The external appearance may .be as represented in Fig. 1 where I0 represents a suitable casing, I I a twelve hour clock dial on which hour and minute hands I2 and I3 indicate the time of day and about which on and off switch setting levers I4 and I5 may be adjusted. For reasons which will appear later, the central portions IG and I1 of the dial rotate as a unit and the hour hand I2 may be painted thereon. Part I8 may be omitted, but its presence improves the appearance and increases the visibility of the clock hands. The on and 01T levers extend through a circular opening I8 between the central rotary part of the dial and the outer stationary part II of the dial. I9 represents a lever extending through a slot 20 in a wall of the casing, which lever serves both for manually cooking the switch and as an indicator of the condition of the switch. In the illustration, Fig. l, the switch is cocked or set" as indicated by the position of lever I9, to go on at 12:35 as indicated by the position of lever I4, and to go off at 5:30 as indicated by the position of lever I5. When the switch` goes on, lever I3 will move to the center of slot 2D opposite the indication on and when the switch goes off, lever I9 will move further to the rear of slot 2l) opposite the indication off where it will remain until it is manually moved to the set position.

A preferred form of mechanism embodying the invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2, 2| represents any suitable form of clock motor which is connected to drive the minute hand I3 and its shaft 22 through gears 23 and 24 and a slip friction clutch indicated as a spring washer 25 inserted between gear 24 and a gear 25, the latter being fast on shaft 22. Gear 24 is not secured directly to shaft 22 but may rotate thereon to permit manual setting of the clock hands by reason of slipping of the clutch. Under normal operating conditions the clutch does not slip and hence the minute hand is rotated in a clockwise direction once per hour. The hour hand disk comprising the parts I6 and I1 with the hour hand I2 are secured to hollow shaft 21 and this shaft is driven clockwise one revolution in twelve hours through a gear 23 secured to hollow shaft 21, back gears 29 and 30 and gear r26 on minute hand shaft 22. The clock shaft assembly has bearings in clock plates 3I and 32 and the central portion I1 of the rotary hour dial has a rearward extension 33 which rides lightly on a collar 34 fastened to and comprising a part of the off switch setting lever I5. Collar 34y also has a rearward extension fitting inside of a collar 35 fastened to and comprising a partof the on lever I4. Collar 35 has a bearing t within an opening in a clock plate 36 and is secured from axial displacement in such opening by its T- shaped cross-section and a spring washer 31 compressed between plate 36 and the annular part of lever I4 which embraces and is secured to collar 35. The collars 34 and 35 are concentric to and may be rotated about the axis of the clock shafts by lever projections I4 and I5 and they have sufficient friction against such movement to stay in any rotary position to which adjusted. The friction of collar 34 against rotary movement is preferably increased by a thin annular collar 38 fastened to lever I5 and inserted between the forward face of clock plate 35 and spring washer 31. These switch time setting collars are thus normally stationary and provide a bearing surface on which part 33 of the hour dial I1 rides and by means of which the collar 34 is held from forward axial movement.

The inner peripheries of collars 34 and 35 are concentric with the clock shafts but spaced therefrom and have radial slots 39 and 40 cut therein of such dimensions as to permit a resilient catch member 4I to pass therethrough when longitudinal key way or slot 43 in shaft 2l, forming a splined connection between the sleeve 42 and shaft 21. The parts 4I and 42 therefore rotate with the hour shaft 2`| at one revolution in twelve hours. The sleeve 42 comprises a switch operating member and is preferably provided with a disk 44 of insulating material for making contact with movable switch contact members which may be arranged about the periphery of the disk and one of which is shown at 45.

The switch operating member is shown in the cocked or set position. In such position a spring 46 is compressed between the rear of the sleeve 42 and the clock plate 32. This spring urges the switch operating member towards the front of the clock but such movement is normally prevented by reason of the fact that the forward turned-in end of resilient catch 4I abuts against the collar 35. The parts 4| and 35 thus comprise a catch stop. When, however, catch 4I rotating with shaft 2`| rotates into alignment with the slot 39 in collar the switch operating member 42-44 moves forward sliding on shaft 2'I until the forward end of catch 4I strikes against collar 34 comprising another stop plate. In this intermediate position of the switch operating member, the contact member such as 45, due to its bent shape is forced outward to make contact with a stationary contact member such as shown at 4'I, thereby closing the switch represented. This is the on position of the switch.

When the catch 4| now rotates into alignment with the slot in stop plate collar 34, the switch operating member 42 again moves forward until stopped by its enlarged hub part striking against collar 35 or otherwise. This allows the disk 44 to move from beneath the forward sloped end of switch member 45V and allows the switch to open. This is the off position of the mechanism. In this condition the spring 46 is preferably under little or no tension so that no material friction is encountered by reason of parts 42 and 35 rubbing together as part 42 continues to rotate.

The cooking lever I9 is pivoted at 48 and its inner end is forked and is provided with trunnion pins, one of which is indicated at 49, which pins extend inward and ride in a groove 50 in the rear end of sleeve 42. The lever thus moves with the sliding movement of the sleeve 42 and produces the indications set, on and off as explained in connection with Fig. l for the corresponding positions of the switch operating mechanism.

It will be noted that the shape of resilient catch 4| is such that if the sleeve 42 be forced to the rear to compress the spring 46, the catch may spring radially inward and pass beneath the inner peripheries of collars 34 and 35 without being rotated into alignment with the slots 39 and 40. The recess 43 in hollowT shaft 42 is of sufhcient depth to permit the forward end of spring catch 4| to be sprung towards the shaft and pass beneath the collars in any relatively rotary position of these parts. Hence the handle I9 may be pulled forward manually from the off to the set position, or from the off to the on position, or from the on to the set position at any time to position the switch operating parts accordingly. If `the mechanism be in the set or the on position and it is desired to move it to the on or to the off position without waiting for the catch 4| to be rotated into alignment with the slots 39 or 49 in collars 35 and 34 by the clock, then the lever I4 or I5 or both may be turned to rotate the slots 39 or 40 or both into alignment with catch 4|. For example, in Fig. 1 if the lever I4 be rotated into alignment with the hour hand I2, the lever I9 will move `to the on position and the switch will then be closed. The switch may thus be manually operated in either direction any desired amount at any time.

In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the switch has been cocked or set subsequent to the time setting of the on lever I4. This setting of the device means that the switch will not be automatically operated until the hour hand next passes the on lever. For example, let it be assumed that the clock time indicated is 1:20 P. M. No automatic switch operation will occur until the next 12:35 A. M. when the switch will be turned on and it will then be turned off at 5:30 A. M. Ii, however, the on lever I4 is positioned ahead of the hour hand, say at 2:00 P. M. with the other conditions remaining unchanged, the switch will then go on at 2:00 P. M. and off at 5:30 P. M. The use of the principles involved in this switch is not conned to the particular switching arrangement shown and described. Several switches can be operated by the same mechanism and some may be turned on when others are turned olf. A twenty-four hour time dial and timing arrangement may be used and the number of automatic operations that may be performed by the progressive step-by-step forward movement of sleeve 42 may be increased by adding more slotted collars such as 34 and 35 and correspondingly extending the axial movement range of the sleeve 42.

It will be noted that the use of a rotary inner dial with the hour hand painted thereon allows such dial to be supported on the hour hand shaft with the levers I4 and I5 freely accessible for manual adjustment concentric with the clock dial. No gearing or its equivalent is required to be operated through the levers I4 and I5 and a single dial is used for telling time and for setting of the switch.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustretive and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, a minute hand shaft extending through the hour hand shaft, la timing motor for driving said shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial having an outer stationary time graduated section and an inner circular section separated from each 4other by a circular slit, the inner section being secured to and driven by said hollow shaft and having a radial hour hand indication thereon, a switch operating member splined on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewith but movable 'axially thereon, means for urging axial movement of said member in one direction, a catch stop for normally preventing such movement but permitting movement in the opposite direction, said catch stop comprising a part rotated with said member and a part having a handle extending through said circular slit and manually adjustable about said shafts, said parts having one relatively rotary position where the stop catch is ineffective to prevent axial movement of said member, and a switch operated by the axial movement of said member.

2. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, a minute hand shaft extending through the hour hand shaft, a timing motor for driving said shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial having a circular central opening concentric with said shafts and having a time graduated scale flanking said opening, means driven by said shafts for indicating time on said scale, a switch operating member splined on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewith but movable axially thereon, resilient means for urging said member axially of said shaft in one direction, a catch stop having a part rotated `with said member and a part having a handle extending through the circular opening in said dial part and indicating on said time scale for manually adjusting said part about said clock shafts, said catch stop preventing the laxial movement of said member in the direction urged by said resilient means except when the parts of said cat-ch stop are in one relatively rotary position, manual means for axially moving said member 'against the urge of said resilient means, said movement being permitted in all relatively rotary positions of the catch stop 'parts and switching means operated by the axial movement of said member.

3. A time switch comprising a time driven shaft, time indicating means comprising a circular time dial, and means lindicating thereon one of which is stationary and one of which is driven by said shaft, a switch, means for operating said switch comprising a member splined to said shaft to rotate therewith and to move axially thereon, spring means for moving said member along said shaft to operate said switch and means for determining the time of such operation comprising a stop normally preventing axial movement of said member and comprising a part on and ro' tated with said member `and a normally stationary part concentric with and adjustable about shaft, said stop parts allowing axial movement of said member in the direction urged by said spring only in one selected relatively rotary position of said parts, and an arm integrally connected with the normally stationary stop part and extending to and indicating on the circular time dial for manually adjusting the rotary position of such stop part.

4. A time switch including a clock having a hollow hour hand shaft, a minute hand shaft extending therethrough, a timing motor for driv- -ing said shafts at different desired rates, 'a clock dial having a central opening concentric with said shafts adjacent the forward ends thereof, means driven by said shafts for indicating time on said dial, a switch operating member splined on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewith but movable axially thereon, a spring for urging said member forward yalong said hollow shaft, means for controlling first and second forward movements of said member comprising a pair of normally stationary stop plates at different axial positions along said hollow shaft having central openings concentric with said hollow shaft, and a spring catch secured to and rotated with said member having extended and retracted radial positions such as to prevent or permit its passage through the openings in said plates, each plate having a radial slot in its inner periphery of such dimensions as to allow the catch to pass forward therethrough in one relatively rotary Iposition of catch and plate, levers extending from each stop plate through the central opening in the clock 'dial and indicating on said dial by means of which the stop plates may be manually and independently rotated to desired positions to determine the times of the rst and second forward movements of the switch operating member, and a switch operated by the first and second forward movements of said member.

5. A time switch including Ia clock having 'a hollow hour hand shaft, a minute yhand shaft extending therethrough, atiming motor for driving said shafts at different desired rates, a clock dial `having a central opening concentric with said shafts and having a time graduated scale flanking said opening, means driven by said shafts for indicating time on said scale, la switch oper- -ating member splined on said hollow shaft so as to rotate therewith but movable axially thereon, a compression spring coiled about said lhollow shaft tothe rear of said member for urging the member forward along said shaft. a resilient catch part secured to said member, and rotatable therewith, a plural-ity of stops at different axial positions with which said catch part cooperates to control lthe progressive forward step by step axial movement of said member, each stop preventing the forward movement of said catch beyond such stop except in one relatively rotary position of the catch and stop, arms extending from each stop member through the dial opening and indicating on the time scale for individually and manually rotating the stops, switching means operated by the axial movement of said member and means for moving said member to the rear lagainst the tension of said spring.

A time switch comprising a time driven shaft, a clock dial adjacent the forward end of said shaft, havin-g an outer stationary part carrying a time scale and an inner part secured to and driven by said shaft and having a time indicating hand indicating on the stationary scale, a switch, means for operating said switch comprising a member splined on said shaft to rotate therewith and move axially thereon, a spring for moving said member forward and axially of said shaft, a stop catch for normally preventing such movement comprising a resilient catch on and rotated with said member and a pair of washe-rshaped stop plates at different axial positions forward of said member and having inner peri'pheries concentric with and spaced from said shaft in approximate axial alignment with .the path of rotation of said catch, said catch and stop plates serving to control the forward axial movement of said member, each plate having a radial slot in its inner periphery to allow the catch to pass therethrough in one relatively rotary position of the catch and plate, levers extending from sai'd stop plates between the dial parts for rotatively adjusting said plates with respect to the :time scale, and a stationary clock plate having a circular opening for r-ot'altively supporting the rear stop plate, the forward stop plate being rotative-ly supported between the rear clock plate and the rear of the inner `clock dial part, both stop plates being rotatively supported concentric :to said shaft.

ROBERT HERMANN.

Images