US2365284A - Remote control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1944. MCCLELLAND 2,365,284

REMOTE CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 19, 1944. R MQCLELLAND 2,365,284

REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1942 5 SheetsSheet 2 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,365,284 aeMo're CONTROL MECHANISM Robert T. McClelland, Mobile, Ala. Application November 19, 1942, Serial No. 466,192

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a' remote control mechanism.

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction which is operable through the transmission of radio impulses, which avoids individual transmitting and receiving sets for each of the final controls desired.

It is also an object to provide a novel controlling mechanism and a novel delay device therewith.

Generally, it is aimed to provide a structure or parts which are sturdy, relatively simple and inexpensive.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment and wherein- Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus primarily in diagram;

s Figure 1a is a plan view of the control device;

Figure lb is a plan view of the delay mechanism;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1a;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1b;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan of the mounting of the contact for the delay device;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the parts of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-4 of Figure 1b;

Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1b;

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 3-8 of Figure 1a; and

Figure 9 is a section taken on the line 9-4 of Figure 1b.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the apparatus is operable by the transmission of radio impulses through a receiving set disclosed at l0. and which actuates an electromagnet H associated with a relay contact i2 and which electromagnet closes in an electric circuit including a battery l3, conductors l4 connected to an electromagnet i5, conductors i6 leading from the conductors H to an electro magnet l1, conductors i3 and i9, leading from conductors i4 throughthe electromagnet 20 and 'a contact 2 i. and conductors 22 leading from the conductors 14 to a special electric motor 23 The electromagnets l5, l1 and 20 are associated with a control mechanism generally designated A, the operation of which will close selected electric circuits. The electric motor 23 and contact 2| are associated with a delay device generaily designated B, which coacts with the selective controller mechanism A.

Mechanism A may be mounted on a suitable base 24, on which a hollow vertical post or shaft 25 is mounted and from the hollow of which and a slot 26 in base 24, conductors it are adapted to pass. Journaled on the post 25 is a relatively large metallic disc 21 having peripheral ratchet teeth 28 urged to move clockwise by a clock spring 29 fastened thereto at 30 and to an element 3| rigid on post 25-. Ratchet disc 21 is normally held against rotation by a detent 32 pivoted at 33 to the base and urged to such position by a spring 34 connected to the detent and to the base. Detent 32 is adapted to be attracted by the magnet 20 in order to release the ratchet disc 21 for clockwise rotation.

Rigid on and depending from disc 21 is a contact 35 adapted for engagement with a contact 36, under the urgency of said spring 29, in order to close a controlled circuit which includes a conductor 31 connected to contact 36 including a battery 38, and any one of the series of conductors 39 each leading to a different contact or segment 40 of a group of them, and which contacts or segments 40 are insulated from each other. A contact 4i is adapted to wipe or move over the contacts 40 and the same is radially slidable, being accommodated in a socket 42 in the outer end of a metallic sleeve 42* wiping disc 21 and mounted on and forming part of an arm 43, which is iournaled for movement on the post 25, both independently of and with the ratchet disc 21, at times, in the latter instance because of the abutment of a pin 44 on the ratchet disc 21 against such arm 43. An expansion spring 45 in the socket or recess 42 urges radial outward movement of contact 4| against the segments 4!). This arm 43 is limited in movement clockwise by abutment with a stop 46 secured to a mounting 41 in turn fastened to a mounting or block 48 rigid on a support or base 24. A clock spring 49 fastened to the axle 25 and'to the arm 43 urges movement of the arm 43 into engagement with the stop 46.

The aforesaid electromagnet I1 is located in a holder 50 carried by the sleeve 42 and it coacts with an armature or pawl 5|, which is vertically slidable in openings provided in holder tically slidable in openings provided in holders 42 and 43. Pawl BI is urged downwardly into contact with ratchet teeth 52 of a rack bar 53 fastened on the mounting 48, by means of an expansive coil spring 54 surrounding the pawl and abutment of sleeve 42' and a pin 55 carried by the pawl. Energization of electromagnet II will elevate the pawl 5| to disengage it from the pawl 52.

The aforesaid electromagnet i5, when energized, attracts the armature portion 55 of a generally L-shaped lever or actuator 51 for the aforesaid ratchet disc 21. Actuator or lever 51 is pivoted at 58 and has 9. depending lug at 53 which is engageable with the teeth 23 in order to move the ratchet disc 21 counterclockwise the extent of one tooth through each actuation. A contractile spring 60 attached to the lever or actuator 51 causes its rear end to ride on an inclined surface 6| of a block 60, in order to retract the lug 58 out of the path of the teeth 28 when electromagnet 5 is deenergized.

With more specific reference to the time -delay structure B, the same is operated by the aforesaid electric motor 23. This motor is of the high speed type and through the medium of a pinion 62 or the equivalent, either immediately or mediately through a chain of gears 53, peripherally engages and drives a disc'or plate 54 journaled on a shaft or post 55. A clock spring 55 is attached to the plate 64 and to the shaft or post 85 to urge the plate contraclockwise to the limit permitted by the engagement of a lug B1 of plate 64 with a fixed stop or abutment 83. At the other extreme of movement. namely, clockwise, lug 61 is engageable with a fixed stop or abutment 53. Concentric with the shaft 55 and fixed relatively thereto is the aforesaid arcuate contact 2|, to which one end of section iii of conductor I9 is fastened, the adjacent end of conductor I! being fastened to an arcuate contact 1| wiped by the metallic late 54. Portions of the upper surface of contact 2| are removed and filled with strips of insulation 12 and 13, thus leaving but a portion 10 of contact 2| exposed at the top and the surface of which is flush with that of portions 12 and 13. Adapted to wipe across the upper surface of contact portion 70 and insulation strips 12 and 13 is a movable conductor arm 14. Plate 64 has an opening occupied by a bushing 15 of insulation to which a pin or lug 76 is fixed and on which pin arm 14 is pivoted. Conductor arm 14 at its inner end is movable to the extent permitted between the contacting post or contact 11 rigid on plate 64 and astop 18 also rigid on plate. but insulated therefrom as by means of a bushing 19.

The geared parts 62, 63 and 64 may be toothed or may be merely in frictional contact, as preferred.

In the operation of the structure, transmitted radio impulses are received by the set l0, which energize and actuate the magnet Ii. sending electric current simultaneously through all wires of the system. Each impulse will result in moving the actuator 51 to turn the selector disc 21 the extent of one tooth 28. which. in turn, pushes the arm 43 to a difierent final control or segment 40 due to lug 44 abutting against the arm 43. When the part 35 disengages contact 36 through contraclockwise movement of selector disc 21. no circuit exists through the conductor 31 and any of the conductors 39 and of segrn'ehts 40. When arm 43 at its contact 4| reaches and engages any of the segments 40, it is held therein against return movement due to the spring action of latch 5| with the teeth of rack 52. For instance, if arm 43 has been pushed by lug 44 to the dotted line position in Figure 1, it remains there due to coaction of latch 5| with teeth 52 and will not be released until a new series of impulses discngllss the same from the rack. Simultaneously," mognets l5 and II were operated, motor 23 was energized and wound the spring ii through turnin of the geared parts 52, 53 and 54. Thus, as the series of impulses left arm 43 in the dotted line position, they wound the delay device B. Bald delay device B in unwinding energizes the contacting parts 13, I5, 23, II and II, since, at that time, the conductor 14 will be in contact with the lug 11, while in winding of the spring Ind plate 64, the conductors last mentioned will not be energized because conductor 14 will be in engagement with insulated stop II. The frictionll engagement of conductor 14 with the plate 54 and insulation 12 and 13 causes such conducttor to have a slight independent movement oi its pivot into engagement with contact I1 or stop 13 through and according to the direction of movement of plate 64. When such current last traced flows, it causes magnet 20 to actuate pawl or detent 32 from engagement with teeth 23, allowing the selector disc 21 to return to rest under action of spring 29, in which position contacts 35 and 35 engage to complete a circuit through other segment 40 with which contact 4| is engaged, arm 43 remaining in the dotted line position.

The first impulse of any series of impulses received by the set I0 must of necessity be I. long impulse, Such long impulse allows time for the motor 23 to wind the delay structure B, each additional short impulse keeping delay structur 3 wound until the series of impulses is terminated. whereupon the delay structure 8 slowly unwinds under action of spring I. Said long impulse also gives arm 43 a snap back against stop 45 due to the action of spring 49 anchored to arm 43 and axle 25, latch 5| being disengaged from the teeth 52 dueto the magnet I! constantly maintaining latch 5| retracted throughout the length of the time of the long impulse. Am 43 does not snap back against pin 44 which is one tooth length behind stop 46, which prevents the snap back action from interfering with the pull of the actuator 51. Piste 64, turning clockwise, causes conductor arm 14 to assume such a position that one end thereof touches insulated abutment 0r pin II and, hence. no current flows when conductor arm 14 travels across conductor 2|. Said contact arm 14, when plate 54 turns counterclockwise, touches conductor or contact 11 and, thus, when crossing conductor 2|, the circuit is made which operates solenoid or magnet 20.

The parts may be conveniently contained within a housing or casing. such as suggested at II in Figure 3, motor 23. preferably, being accommodated on the exterior thereof. The post 24 may constitute one wall of the said housing II. If desired. also, the delay device B could be positioned on an extension of the pen or shaft 25.

Various changes may be resorted to provide they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

A multi-circuit selector variably responsive to variable number impulse series comprising a movable element having a normal position, means responsive to impulses of a series for advancing said element from normal position a step for each circuit connection including the oil-normal circuit closing means in series with the movable circuit closing arm, and means responsive to the impulses of a series for releasing the means for holding the circuit closing arm in its advanced positions, the driving connection between the movable element and the circuit closing arm being such that the release of the holding means for the circuit closing arm is effective to cause restoration of the arm at the initial portion of the movement of the rotatable element.

ROBERT T. MCCLELLAND.

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