US2248116A - Automatic tuning system for radio sets - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1941. c. F. PETERS AUTOMATIC TUNING SYSTEM FOR RADIO SETS Filed Sept. 24, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHHEIHH 0 Q 6 QOU INVENTOR CHARLES]? PETERS ATTORNEY July 8, 1941. c. F. PETERS AUTOMATIC TUNING SYSTEM FOR RADIO SETS Filed Sept. 24, 1938' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR CHARLESE PETERS A RNEY 1941- c. F. PETERS AUTOMATIC TUNING SYSTEM FOR RADIO SETS Filed Sept. 24, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FmAL OFF B I RADIO INVENTOR CHARLES E P15 TERS M AT ORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 AUTOMATIC TUNING SYSTEM FOR RADIO SETS Charles F. Peters, Great Kills, Statenlsland, N. Y.

Application September 24, 1938, Serial No. 231,458

Claims.

The present invention relates to tuning and tuning control systems and it particularly relates to automatic tuning and tuning control systems for radio reception apparatus.

Although the present invention will be particularly described and illustrated in-connection with its application to a home radio set, it will be apparent that it may have other applications in controlling or regulating radio sets and in tuning or adjusting various types of equipment'other than radio receiving sets which is to be set in a predetermined fashion at different time intervals and for different periods.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, reliable, automatic timing and tuning arrangements for home radio sets or for other equipment which it is desirable to adjust in a predetermined manner at different times and for different periods, which will be relatively simple and inexpensive, be readily operable by available equipment from the usual sources of electrical power and which may be readily adjusted or repaired and which may be made in a separate unit for attachment to a radio set.

Another object is to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive and automatic station and time control for a home radio station, which will automatically tune indifferent stations for "different programs without making it necessary for the householder or owner of the set manually to turn oil" the program at its termination, or without the necessity of utilizing complicated, expensive and intricate control mechanisms and circuits readily subject to derangement.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to provide a clock control which may be positioned in the radio set equipment or which may be positioned at some other point, which control will be provided with a contact or electrical circuit closer arm connected to or moving with the hour hand over a dial.

The dial may carry a plurality of contact elements or holders, preferably arranged in concentric circles and in radial rows, a radial row of contact holders being provided for each quarter hour and a separate concentric circle of contact holders being provided for each of the stations to be tuned in. Two extra circles are also provided, one for the end of the program and the other for turning off the set when it is not desired to receive any further programs.

Although various forms of contactors may be positioned upon this dial to cooperate with the swinging contact arm moving with the hour hand at predetermined quarter hour intervals and corresponding to predetermined stations, it has been found most desirable according 'to one embodiment of the invention to provide aseries of radial and concentric rows of holes in a dial of an insulating material, which holes are provided with threaded or resilient-grip eyelets to receive contact plugs which strike or contact with a moving element on the hour hand shaft-of the clock,

A transformer may be used to step down the available or '220 volt supply which transformer may be connected at one side to the clock control.

In one desired construction the contact at the clock will energize or actuate a circuit leading from a transformer to a switch or to relays, which cause a motor to be switched on. The set may be turned on simultaneously or only after the motor has tuned the set to the desired station. The motor may operate a rotary switch device having a rotating armor arms and a plurality of relatively fixed elements or switch elements corresponding to the stations which are to 'be tuned 1n.

One of the elements may provide a circuit from the transformer passing through the clock control to start the motor. Another elementstops the motor when the set has been tuned to the desired station. Additional switches may be used to provide predetermined capacities in the radio receiving circuit corresponding to the various stations.

When the contact arm moving with the hour hand contacts a plug at the end of the radio program circle, the radio set will be switched off and when it contacts a plug in the final stop circle, the set will automatically be switched off. This will avoid repetition of programs in the next twelve hour period. A manual switch may also be provided to switch the set on and off manually or to turn on or off the automatic arrangement at any desired time or interval.

At the same time, if desired, the arrangement described may be controlled by providing buttons or manually controlled elements, one for each station, at an adjacent point or at a remote point to tune in a desired station without adjustment or manipulation of either the dial or the various knobs of the set.

In the preferred construction there is also provided an arrangement by which the variable condenser may be tuned to a zero position automatically without need of manual control.

In the construction as shown and described it will be possible to throw the set from automatic to manual control by a readily available button or lever arrangement.

Referring to the drawings which show one form of the construction according to the present invention, but to which the present invention is by no means restricted, since many changes and variations may be made, all within the scope thereof:

Figs. 1a and lb represent diagrammatically the circuit arrangements of the tuning and timing control system of the present invention which may be utilized for tuning the radio set to a predetermined station, wave length or frequency from a remote point or directly at the set, Fig. 1a showing the left hand side of the arrangements and Fig. lb showing the right hand side of the arrangements.

Fig. 1c is a diagrammatic showing of a portion of the arrangements as connected to the various condensers.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary elevational views of a portion of the control dial upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 1a, Fig. 2 being a front view and Fig. 3 being a rear view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view in elevation illus- Figs. 7 to show an alternative installation,

Fig. 7 being a diagrammatic lay-out similar to Figs. 1a and lb, Fig. 8 being an enlarged diagrammatic showing of the rotary switch shown in smaller scale at the right of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 being a transverse sectional view upon the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 being a rear sectional view upon the line Ifll0 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, the radio set A is provided with the main switch B which permits either manual or automatic control as may be desired.

The main control dial C is associated with the clock D. The clock is provided with an extra arm E which controls circuits to the motor F and the circuits to the motor on and off relay G and the radio set or program on and off relay H. The relays G and H are so constructed that their armatures will remain in operative position after the magnets are deenergized.

The transformer I is positioned in said circLL'ts to reduce the 110 voltage obtained from the 1 source of supply J. The rotary or dial switches K and L control the tuning to a station, K being the motor stop switch and the switch L being the motor start switch.

The rotary or dial switches M and N select the fixed condensers shown in groups or banks at O and P. It has been found most convenient to connect fixed condensers in groups or banks of two for each station. These fixed condensers may each be adjusted to bring in the particular station with the desired volume and then they may be set so that thereafter they will not be varied.

The variable condenser Q may be controlled so that it will be turned to zero by means of the driving connection R. The variable condenser Q is turned to zero and rendered inoperative When the fixed condensers O and P are being utilized and/or when such fixed condensers are being adjusted to bring in the stations with proper volume.

The switches K, L, M and N are driven from the motor F through the reduction unit S.

The dot-and-dash line circuits shown upon Fig. 1a lead to the remote control elements T, by which the tuning of the set may be accomplished without setting the disk C.

Referring specifically to Figs. la and lb, the disk C may consist of a circular panel In having the concentric rows of spaced openings l I, l2, l3, l4, l5, I6, I! and 18, which are arranged at quarter hour intervals. Each row of the circles, with the exception of the two innermost rows ll and I8, may correspond to a station.

For example, as indicated upon Fig. 2, th row Il may correspond to a frequency of 650 or station WEAF. The row 12 may correspond to a frequency of 710 or station WOR. The row l3 may correspond to a frequency of 810 or station WNYC.

The row l4 may correspond to a frequency of 860 or station WABC. The row [5 may correspond to a frequency of 1010 or station WHN. The row l6 may correspond to a frequency of 1550 or station WQXR.

The row I1 may correspond to the end of the program or to the intermediate stop, while the row It! may correspond to the final shut-off of the set.

As indicated best in Fig. 4, a metal eyelet I9 is inserted in each of the openings and the front edges are turned or hammered over as indicated at 20. The rear end of the sleeve, as indicated at 2|, is also turned over to engage a wire 22 which extends over all the eyelets in each of the concentric rows l l to l8, respectively.

These eyelets l9 are each designed to receive a pin or plug member 23 which has a disk portion 24 to be stopped against and to contact with the bent over portion 20 of the eyelet l9. These eyelets may be threaded for threaded plugs.

The plug 23 is also provided with the hand grip portion 25 and with the slot 26 on its long shank 21 to give it resiliency and permit it to be tightly grasped in the opening of the sleeve l9, since the split inside end portions of the plug 23 will normally be further spaced than the internal diameter of the sleeve 19. The center of the disk may be provided with the sheet metal holder member 28 which may receive a clock mechanism D, as best shown in Figs. 1a and 6. It will be noted that the support 28 has the upturned edge portions 32 and 33 for holding the dial C in position.

As shown in Fig. 6, the dial C and the clock mechanism D may be mounted upon the panel or front 29 of a usual radio set. The panel may also carry a manual push button tuning arrangement having the button elements 3|.

The clock D, which may also have a minute hand, is shown as having an hour hand 34 only, since this hand is used to control the operation of the circuits.

On the shaft of the hour hand and moving with the hour hand is carried the radial swinging switch element E. The element E has a bar or rod 35 and a sheet metal member 36 which has a turned over portion 31 to embrace said rod 35. The sheet metal member 35 is normally pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow 38 by resilient means or by a spring (not shown).

When it is moved against the extension 21 of the plug 23, it is forced in the direction 39 until it is pressed sufficiently back to pass the plug 23, in which case it will be snapped back into position. Before this occurs, however, the set will have been tuned to the desired station by the radial switches K to N, the motor F and therelays G and H.

The contact of the swinging plate 36 with the plug 23 as shown in Fig. 5-willturn on the radio set and also establish the motor starting circuit.

At the base of the clock is provided a clock switch V for connecting the 110 volt source to the set, whichswitch is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1a and 5 to simplify the showing, since its detailed construction forms no part of the invention. The actuating mechanism for the switch V may be so constructed that elements thereof travel around with the arm E in order that it may be in position to be actuated by said arm whenever said arm contacts with the plug and is actuated in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

As the arm E rotates the first contact will be made with the pin 23, establishing the circuit with the wire connection 22 running around the circle II to I B, as the case may be. Then the flange 35 will close the switch V, connecting the transformer I to the 110 volt source J in the manner which will be more fully described. During this period the clock is moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 40.

As indicated diagrammatically upon Fig. 1a and Fig. 5, the transformer I has the primary 4I having the lines 42 and 43, 42 passing to the 110 volt source J and 43 passing to the clock switch V.

From the clock switch V there is another lead 44 back to the set switch 13 and the lines 250 and 25I to the 110 volt source. From the secondary 45 of the transformer there is a connection 46 to the lead 41 to the arm E.

Each of the wires 22 connecting the eyelets in each of the circles II to I8 together is provided with a lead designated respectively 48, 49, 50, 5I 52 and 53.

These leads correspond respectively to the circles II to It on the dials. These leads are respectively connected as indicated upon Fig. 1b by the leads or connections 54, 55, 55, 51, 58 and 59 to the points numbered I to VI upon the insulating dial 60 of the switch K and by the conncctions 60, GI, 62, 63, 64 and 65 to the connections numbered I to VI upon the insulating dial "I of the switch L.

The switch K is provided with a single radial contact finger 68. The switch L isprovided with five radial contact fingers 69, which contact the points not contacted by the finger 68. These fingers 68 and 69 all turn with the shaft I- and are in electrical connection with lines 'II and. I2.

leading to the relays G and H. The switch K through the line H controls the relay G to stop the motor and the relay H turns on the set when the desired station has been tuned in. The switch L through the line I2 controls the relay G to start the motor upon making a contact at.

the clock.

Referring again to Fig. la, the radio or program on and off relay is provided with an upper electro-magnet I3 for the on position and the lower electro-magnet I4 for the off position.

Operated by the electro-magnets is the armature I which is shown in the ofi or down position.

The motor start and stop relay G is also provided with an upper on electro-magnet I6 and a lower oil electro-magnet I1 and with the armature I8 which is shown in down or off position.

The secondary 45 of the electro-magnet is provided with the leads I9 and 19, which are connected to one side of the motor F. The other side of the motor is connected by a lead 80, the

nection. 8-1 and 46 to the other side of the secondary'45 of the transformer.

The motor F drives the shaft III by the shaft I12, the worm, I13 and the gear wheel I14.

Whenv the motor is not operating, the armature 'IBis down, opening the circuit between the contact points 82. To operate the motor F it is necessary to energize the motor-on electro-magnet I6.

The circuit of this motor-on element I6 from the secondary 45 includes the connection I9, the connection 83, the electro-magnet 16, the connection 84', the armature I8 which closes the contact points 86, the connection 85, and the connection 12, which forms part of the clock circuit as already described.

When the motor-on electro-magnet 15 is energized, the armature will be drawn upwardly, opening the circuit across the contact points 86 and closing it across the contact points 82 and this will close the motor circuit and cause the motor to operate.

As soon as the motor has turned to a predetermined station, a circuit will be established through the connections II and H the contact points 81, the armature I8, the connection 88, the electro-magnet I1, and the connections 89 and I9 to the secondary 45.

It will. be noted by reference to the switches K and L that it will be necessary to turn the arm 68 to the desired station I to VI and the arms 69 to omit the desired station I to VI before the motor will be stopped through operation of the relay G.

At this time, a circuit will be established through the clock circuit by the arm 68 and the lines II and II, the switch I53--I55, the line I03, the contacts I02, the line IN, the radio-on electro-magnet I3, the lines I00 and I9 to the secondary 45 turning on the radio across the contacts 256.

The contacts 256 are in the V set circuit consisting of the lines 252, 253, 254, 255, the contacts 256, the line 257, the switch B, and the lines 250 and 25I.

As shown in Fig. 11), it may be regarded that the motor has-turned the switches K and L to tune in station I, which may be WEAF, and that the motor has stopped. The program then continues to come in from WEAF or station I until the set is turned. off by. contact of the arm E with a plug 23 on the stop circle IT.

The stopping of the program is controlled primarily' by the radio relay switch H. This switch H is. provided with the circuit consisting of the conduit I9, the lead 95, the electro-magnet I4, the lead 96, the contact points 91, the armature I5, the leads 99 and 99 to the stop circle I1.

When the set is operating the armature I5 will normally be up, closing the contact points 91'. The circuit thus established would energize theelectro-magnet l4,ipulling down the armature I5 and throwing the armature I5 to ofi position and discontinuing, the radio receiver.

The final off circle I8 is connected to the set switch B. The switch B is provided with the handle I04 having the pointer I05, which may be turned off or tomanual or automatic positions.

The casing. I06 includes a coil carrying the armature I01, which is designed to close circuits across, eitherthe contact points I08 or the contact points I09 by its contact faces orplates H0 and III, respectively.

, Upon starting when the pointer I05 has -been armature 18 across the points 82, and the conturned to A or to automatic operation the plate I I is thrown into the dotted line position, closing the contacts I08, a circuit will be established th ough the clock switch V and the leads 43 and 44. Upon final stoppage, a circuit will be established from the secondary 45 through the lead H2, coil of B the lead H3 and the lead H4 to the circle I8. The other side of the circuit is formed by the leads 46 and 41 and the arm E. This will restore the plate H0 to full line position.

With manual operation, however, when the contacts I09 are closed by the plate III, the set may be tuned directly by the various knobs H5,

H6, H1 and H8 shown in Fig. 6.

The fixed condensers O and P are provided and are connected in pairs by means of the switches M and N.

The fixed condensers I and IZI correspond to station I of circle II. The fixed condensers I22 and I23 correspond to the circle I2. The fixed condensers I24 and I25 correspond to the circle I3.

The fixed condensers I26 and I21 correspond to the circle I4. The fixed condensers I28 and I29 correspond to the circle I5, and the fixed condensers I30 and I3I correspond to the circle I6.

These condensers are respectively connected to the contact points I to V1 on the switch M and I to VT on the switch N by means of the leads or connectors I32 and I33, I34 and I35, I36 and I31, I38 and I39, I40 and I4I, I42 and I43.

The leads I44 and I45 are connected respectively to one side of each of the banks of fixed condensers O and P and these leads I44 and I45 are also connected to the plates or sides I46 and I41 of the manually controlled variable condenser Q. The other plates I49 oi the manually controlled variable condenser Q have connections to the lines I51 I51 and I51 and also to the ground I48 through the line I49.

The variable manual control condenser Q is provided with the main drive wheel I5I which is connected by the shaft I10 to the shaft I1I of the variable condenser elements. Ordinarily the variable condenser Q, as best shown in Fig. 1b, is turned to zero by the friction drive wheel I on the shaft 10 which presses against and turns the friction drive wheel I5I until stopped with the contact elements I52 and I53 closed against the contact points I54 and I55. At this point the variable condenser Q will be in zero position. This will establish circuits through the conduits or connections I56, I56, I51 and I51, and 1|, I58, I59 and H respectively. It is apparent that the motor F will not be stopped until the circuit has been closed across the contacts I by the contact plate I53 and after the circuit has once been closed at the contacts I55, the friction roll I50 will slide upon the main roller I5I Further movement of the roller I5I is prevented by the abutment between the plate I53 and the contacts I55. After the plate I53 touches the contacts I55, the motor F will continue to operate until the switch elements 68 and 69 of the switches K and L have been turned to proper position.

The switches M and N are also each provided with the stationary insulating disks I60 and I6I carrying the metal points I to VI, which are designed to cooperate with the arms I62 and I63, the arms turning with the shaft 10 until the con nection at the predetermined station I to VI has been made.

As an optional remote control unit, one switch may be provided for each station and for the stop, these switches being indicated at the top of Fig. 1a.

These switches are respectively provided w h manually actuated contact elements 200, MI, 202, 203, 284, 205, 206 corresponding respectively to circles II to I1. Each of these switches are provided with four contact points 201, 208, 208, 2I0, 2H and 2I2. The third point on each one is connected to the respective circles II to I1 by the leads 2I3, 2I4, 2I5, 2I6, 2I1, H8 and 222.

The last point on each switch 200 to 206 is connected to the arm E by the lead 2I8. The first point is connected by the lead 220 to one side of the volt source J, while the second point is connected by the leads, 22I and 43 through the primary 4| of the transformer.

In automatic operation the manual switch B will be thrown with the pointer I05 to A, indicating automatic position and causing the plate H0 to close the contact points I08, as indicated in dotted line position in Fig. 1a. The user of the set then may adjust the dial C in the following manner.

For example, it may be desirable to tune in the station WEAF at 12 oclock, as indicated by the plug 23, being inserted in position in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As soon as the arm E hits the plug, as shown on Figs. 4 and 5, it will press the flange or plate 36 over into the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 5, closing the clock switch V.

This will energize the primary 4I through the circuit 42, 43, 44, the contact points I08, the contact plate I I0 and the lines 250 and 25I'. This circuit extends to and from the 110 volt source J.

As soon as the primary 4| is energized, the secondary 45 will establish a circuit through the lines 46, 41, the swinging arm E, the contact plug 23, the wire 22 extending around the eyelets in the circle II, the conduit 48, the conduit 60 to the contact point I on the dial 61 of the switch L.

If the station I, that is WEAF, has been previously tuned in, as is indicated by the position of the arms 68, I62 and I63 on the switches K, M and N, there will be an open circuit at the switch L and the motor F will not turn, since the set will already be in tune, but the radio set will be turned on by the circuit via arm 68, lines H and I58, contacts H5, lines I59, H and I03, contacts I02, line IOI, solenoid 13, lines I00 and 19 and the secondary 45.

However, if another station other than the station I, corresponding to WEAF, has been tuned in, one of the arms 69 will be against the contact point I of the switch L and the circuit will continue through the line 12, the line 85, the contact points 86, the line 84, the motor-on magnet 16 of the relay G, the line 83 and the line 18 back to the secondary 45.

Energization of the magnet 16 of the motor on-ofi relay G will swing the armature 18 to upper portion closing the contacts 82, which will establish the circuit to the motor F. This circuit extends from the secondary 45 through the lines 46, 8|, the contacts 02, the armature 18, the line 80, the line 19, and the line 19.

The motor then having started rotating will continue to rotate, driving the shaft 10 through the worm I13 and the gear I 14 until the arms 68, I62 and I63 have been turned to the new station which is to be tuned in.

At this time the arm 69 on the switch L will be out of contact with the contact point correthrowing the pointer I back to oii position and sponding to the station tuned in and in contact with every other contact point upon the dial L.

When the motor has tuned the set to the desired station, a circuit will be established through the electro-magnet 11 by the arm 68 of the turned down y the connection between the friction disks I50 and I5I to tune the variable condenser Q to zero) the line I59, the line H, the line H the contact points 81 and the armature 13, the line 88, the lower electro-magnet 11 of the motor on-oil relay G, the lines 89 and 19' back to the secondary 45.

The period of contact of the arm E with the plug 23 is sufficient to permit of this tuning operation.

At the same time that the station has been tuned, a circuit will be established through the lines 46, 41, the swinging arm E the lines 48, 54,

the arm 53, the lines II, I58, the contact points I55, I59, the lines 1I, I03, the contact point I02,

the line IIiI, the electro-magnet 13 and the lines 7 I55 and 19 back to the secondary 45.

This last circuit will swing the armature to upper position. In such upper position a circuit will be established to the radio set A from the source J through the lines 252, 253, 254, 255, L

the contact points 255, the line 251, the contact point I08, the lines 258, 25I and back to the source J.

When tuning has been completed for station WEAF or the station designated Lit will be noted that. the arms I52 and I63 are in contact with their contact points, as indicated at I. This will connect in the circuit of the set the two fixed condensers I25, I 2| which have been adjusted to bring in the station WEAF or I with the proper volume.

It will be noted that the condensers are con nested in pairs by the contact element I52 upon the element R, which will have been turned down to establish connection between the lines I56 and I51 by the friction gear I50, I5I. In manual operation the switch I54I'55 will be open.

It will be noticed that the condenser circuit for the station WEAF or I consists of the contact points I54, the lines I56 and I51, the lines I and I51, the line I51 the arms I62 and I53, the lines I32 and I53, the condensers I20 and I2I, the lines I44 and I45, the plate I41 and the line I51 Upon contact with a plug which has been placed upon the end of the program circle I1, the electro-rnagnet 14 will be energized, breaking the radio set circuit, previously described, through the lines 46, 41, the arm E, the neXt to the innermost circle I1, the line 99, the line 98, the contact points 91, the armature 15 (which is in up position when the set is operating), the line 96,

the electro-magnet 14, the lines 95 and 19.

However, when the arm E meets a plug in the final shut-off circle I8, a circuit will be established from the secondary 45, the line II2, the coil (not shown) of the switch B, the lines I13 and H4, the arm E and the lines 41'and 46 back to the secondary 45.

This will have the effect of automatically station at the desired moment. accomplished without providing any plugs or admoving the plate I I0 from dotted line to full line position-as shown in Fig. 1a, opening the circuit of the clock switch, V, which will then be thrown back to its initial position.

In 'a similar manner by providing the remote control "buttons Ito VII, as indicated at the top of Fig. 1a, the set "may be tuned in at a desired This may be justing plugs in the dial C.

For example to tune station I or WEAF, a circuit 'will be established through the dot-andda'sh lines, indicated at 220 and HI, which will close the power circuit of the primary I.

At the same time the circuit ordinarily established by the contact 23 in the circle II will be established by the button 200 making connection between the dot-and-dash lines 213 and 2I9. The "rest of the circuits will remain the same. When it is desired to turn'the set off, this may be accomplished by means of the manual switch B or a new button I to VII may be pressed to tune in a new station.

It is thusapparent that the applicant has provided a simple, inexpensive control system for enabling remote or adjacent control of a radio set to tune in apredetermined station at desired time intervals and for periods as may be desired.

The automatic tuning system may be readily associated with a'radio s'et, as indicated in Fig. 6, and the buttons 200 to 206 may be placed upon these't orat a remotepoint. The system is readily adjusted, corrected and repaired.

Referring to the embodiment in Figs. 7 to 10, the relay G has been omitted and the switch construction K and L has been somewhat compacted. In the construction of Fig. 7 correspondingly functioning parts as those in Figs. 1 to 5 are indicated by the same numerals prime.

Briefly referring to Fig. 7 the said switch V,

the transformer I, the switch 13', the radio on and off relay H and the radio set A function substantially in the same manner as previously described.

For purposes of simplicity of showing however only circles for five stations are provided on the dial 0 and the contact arm A is of the same construction as already described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5. The essential difference betweenthe construction of Figs. 7 and 10 and that of the construction of Figs. 1 and 5 resides in the construction of the switch shown in small scale a 206 which is positioned opposite to the contact 201 on the dial 208 and when the button 203 is in contact with the pin 204 these contacts 206 and 201 willbe separated opening the circuit as shOWn at the upper portion of Fig. 9. However, usually the contacts will be closed as indicated at the lower portion of Fig. 9.

The spider 209, which carries the arms 205, also has a sleeve 2I0 which carries the arms 2I I, 2I2, 2I3 and 2I4. The arms 2H and 2I2 are provided with the contacts 2I5 while the arms 2I3 and 2I4 are provided with the contacts 2I6. The insulating blocks 2I1, 2I8 and 2I9 are provided to assure that there will be no electrical connection between the arms 211 and the spider 209 and the arms 212 and 213. As indicated in the lower portion of Fig. 9 the contacts 215 and 216 will be separated, unless the presser member 283 on the arms 202 contacts the lower main pin 2134. When this occurs the contacts 215 and 216 will be closed, and the contacts 206 and 201 at the lowermost part of the discs 208 will be opened.

In operation, when a circuit is closed on the dial C say for example corresponding to the station I, the circuit will extend from the secondary 45 to the arm E to the line 48 to the contacts 2E5, 201, corresponding to the arm I of Fig. '7 to the conduit 22!] through the upper electro-rnagnet '13 by means of the conduits 100 and 161 and through the line 221 back to the secondary 45. The electro-magnet '13 when energized will lift the armature '15 closing the circuit across the contacts 258 and starting the set.

The motor F also will be energized by means of the connections 222 and 223 which are also upon this circuit. The motor will turn the arm 282 until contacts at position I are opened and at this time the motor circuit will be opened and the motor will stop. When a plug is positioned at the end of the program circle or the final circle the contacts 215 and 216 will be actuated when the arm 202 moves to lowermost position on the dial, namely, position indicated at S. In this position the contacts 215 and 216 will be closed and the contacts 206 and 207 will be opened. When the plug is in the end of the program circle, the switch 215 will energize the electro-magnet l4 switching off the set in the manner previously described. When, however, the plug is in the final circle the switch or contacts 216 will be closed and this will energize the electro-magnet B so as to move the contact plate 1 1 I from upper to lower position.

It will be apparent that plugs should be placed both in the end of program circle and the final circle when the radio set is to be turned off.

As is indicated upon contact with a plug in the end of the program circle, a circuit will be set up through the line 260, the closed contacts 20620'l at the position S on the switch of Figs. 8 to 10. The circuit will then continue through the line 220 to the motor F and back to the secondary 45. arm 2B2 moves to position S, at which time the contacts 206201 at position S will be opened, stopping the motor and the contacts 215 and 216 will be closed.

When the contacts 216 are closed, the lower electro-magnet '14 will be energized, drawing the armature l5 downwardly and opening the circuit across the contacts 255.

The final off-switch B, however, will not be operated unless there is also a plug in the final circle. If there is such a plug in the final circle, the movement of the arm 202 to the position S will close the switch 216, energize the electro-magnet 106, and move the contact plate 110, from full line position down to the dotted line position, shutting off the set. The operation of the switch B prevents repetition of the same programs during the next twelve hours.

It is, of course, possible to eliminate the final circle where the switch B is manually operated or where the set will be automatically turned off by outside arrangement not shown.

It will be noted in connection with both the switches of Fig. lb and Figs. 8 and 9, that these switches both present a closed circuit to the The motor will turn until the motor control relay G or to the motor F, which is open at the clock. As soon as the plug in a desired circle strikes the arm E or E, this circuit will be closed and the motor will turn the switch to the position corresponding to the station to be tuned in.

When this is accomplished the motor circuit will be opened and the motor will stop. In the switch shown in Fig. 1b, the set may be turned off with the rotary switch in any position, while in the construction of Figs. 8 to 10, the switch arm 202 must always be vertically downwardly in the position S when the set is turned oif. This last mentioned position S in the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 10 may be regarded as a neutral position.

The operation other than just described is the same as previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, and if desired, the other attachments designated with M, N, O, P, Q, R and T, can also be included in the arrangement of Figs. '7 to 10.

It is to be understood that other tuning means, impedances, or reactors could be utilized in lieu of the fixed condensers O and P and the variable condenser Q for tuning the set. It is also to be understood that other types of switches than the relays G and H could be used for turning off and on the motor and the radio set. Other types of circuit selectors could also be utilized in lieu of either the manual selector indicated at the top of Fig. 1a or the clock selector indicated at the upper central portion of Fig. la.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a radio set, a tuning arrangement comprising a clock driven contact element, a motor for tuning the set to a predetermined station, a switch for starting and stopping the motor, establishing a motor circuit to start the motor when said motor is stopped and cutting off the motor circuit when the desired station has been tuned in, a switch for turning on and off the set establishing a circuit to turn on the set when the motor has tuned the set in to the desired station and establishing a circuit to turn off the set at the end of the program and connecting circuits actuated by said contact element to control said switches, said circuits including a rotating switch having a plurality of contact points one for each station to be tuned, each of said points establishing a circuit to actuate the motor switch to motor starting position except the point corresponding to the station to be tuned in, said last mentioned point establishing a circuit to actuate the motor switch to motor stopping position, said contact element including a contact arm and a dial of non-metallic material having concentric and radial rows of contact points corresponding to stations and time intervals, said points cooperating with said arm.

2. In an automatic tuning installation for a radio receiving set, a plurality of selectively energized circuits, one circuit corresponding to each station to be tuned in, means to select and cause energization of one of said circuits, manually controlled variable tuning means, a plurality of fixed tuning means, one for each station to be tuned in, and control means responsive to the energization of the selected circuit to set said manually controlled tuning means to zero and to select a fixed tuning means corresponding to the station of the circuit which has been 5 selected and energized.

3. The installation of claim 2, said control means including a motor operated upon energization of one of said circuits, and a switch actuated by said motor provided with a plurality 10 of spaced circuit closing contacts respectively corresponding to each of said plurality oi. selectively energized circuits.

4. The installation of claim 2, said means to CHARLES F. PETERS.

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