US2260144A - Time setting mechanism for radio receivers - Google Patents

Description

G. KATZ Oct. 21, 1941.

TIME SETTING MECHANISM FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed July 31, 1939 v INVENTOR. 650'? E K/arz.

Patented Oct. 21, 1941 TIME SETTING MECHANISM FOR RECEIVERS RADIO George Katz, New York, NY;

Application July 31, 1939, SerialNo. 287,440

1 Claim.

This invention relates to mechanism for making or breaking an electric circuit at a predetermined time, with special reference to the control of radio apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide means, settable at a predetermined time in advance in accordance with a known programme, whereby a radio receiving instrument, actuated by an electric current, may be started or stopped automatically at a given time.

A further feature is in the provision of means, including a clock mechanism, and switch actuated thereby, that may be depended upon to control the circuit actuating the radio receiver, accurately and unfailingly.

Another purpose is to produce such devices in a practical, simple and inexpensive form, easily installed and readily operated.

These valuable objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and. shown in the accompanying drawing, constituting a component of this disclosure and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a clock embodying th invention.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the same.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front view of the switch actuating mechanism of the clock.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, showing the mercury switch in a level, open position.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the same with the switch tilted into a closed position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view looking in the direction of line l'| of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is another like view looking in the direction of line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the electric wiring and circuit controlling mercury switch.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the numeral l5 designates the base of a clock l6 having a circular casing ll, hour indicating dial l8, and closed back I9.

Secured to a ring 20, just behind the face, is a clockworks frame 2|, in which is mounted a central spindle 22, having fixed upon it a spur gear 23, engaging a long pinion 24, which transmits motion to a gear 25 slidable on a spindle 26 directly above the spindle 22, without becoming unmeshed from the pinion.

The hub 21 of the gear 25 has formed in it a notch 28 receptive of a pin 29, set transversely in the spindle 26, the gear being urged normally outward by a flat spring 30 secured to the frame 2|.

On the end of the spindle 26 extending through the back [9 is a knob 3| by which the spindle may be manually turned and carrying with it a hand 32 movable over a dial 33 on the face of the clock.

Carried by the spindle 2B is a spring cradle 34 in which is mounted a mercury switch tube 35. The cradle is urged along the spindle in the direction of the gear 25 by a collar 36 slidable on the spindle and which is pressed by a spring 31.

Fixed to the cradle 34, to extend therebelow and outwardly through and beyond the clock casing I1, is a resetting hand lever 40, pivoted on the spindle 26 and having a bevelled portion 4| adapted to engage a stem 42, formed at a right angle on the free end of the spring 30, this stem resting on the upper surface of the lever 40 when the lever is tilted counterclockwise by hand, thus causing the inclined surface 4| to press the spring 30 momentarily outward until the stem 42 slips above the lever 40.

When the mercury tube 35 is level, as indicated in Figure 5, the gear 25 is pressed against the pin 29 by the spring 30; as the spindle 26 is rotated by the clock mechanism, the cam notch 28 in the gear hub 21, forces the gear to move towards the cradle 34 and the stem 42 of the spring 30 to engage the bevelled portion 4| of the lever 40, by which the lever is guided in tilting the saddle and mercury tube into the position indicated in Figure 6, against the tension of a coiled contractile spring 43, which normally draws the saddle and tube into a horizontal position.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a socket 45, fixed on the back of the clock It, receives current from conductors carried in a cable 46, and is provided with openings 41 to receive an ordinary commercial plug (not shown) connected to a radio receiving apparatus.

A manually operable switch 48 is provided on the side of the clock casing to open and close the circuit, which is also controlled by the mercury switch tube 35 in the well known manner. In operation, when from the horizontal position, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, the mercury switch is tilted to the position shown in Figures 6 and 8, wherein the stem 42 engages above the arm 49, thereby holding the switch in one position until the set time, whereupon the stem 42 moves to the right when the notch in the gear hub 21 comes into position to receive the pin 29.

This allows the spring 43 to draw the mercury switch upward into its other position.

After a short duration the stem 42 will again move to the left, but nothing occurs to the switch as the stem contacts the bevelled portion 4| of the hand lever and stays in contact with it until the hand lever 40 is pressed down to again set the switch to its other position; thus the bevelled notch 4| is for the purpose of enabling manual resetting.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its construction and application, what is claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A time setting mechanism for an electric radio receiver, comprising in combination with an electric current, a clock having a motor driven gear train, a support frame and a dial, a spindle in said frame, a gear slidable on said spindle while in mesh with said train, said gear having a hub containing a cam notch, a pin fixed in said spindle adapted to engage in the notch, a spring pressing said gear against the pin, a hand setting lever pivoted on said spindle extending outwardly of the frame, a saddle on said lever, a mercury switch carried in said saddle controlling current to said receiver, a stem extending from said spring adapted to retain said switch in an inclined position when said gear is pressed towards said saddle, a hand movable by said spindle over said dial to indicate the position of the hub notch relative to said pin, and resilient means opposed to said lever adapted to return said saddle to normal position.

GEORGE KATZ.

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