US2536133A - Timing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1951 w. c. KLAMMER ETAL 2,536,133

TIMING MECHANISM Filed June 14, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1951 w. c. KLAMMEIR ElAL 2,536,133

TIMING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1948 v P y Wm M/ W M z X.

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an- 2, 1 w. c. KLAMMER EIAL 2,536,133

TIMING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1948 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 TIMING MECHANISM- 1 William C; Klammer, Raymond A. Schneider, Lester A; Schneider, and Paul W. Mattson, Mankato, Minn assignors to Automatic Electric Manufacturing Company, Mankato, Minn, a corporationof Minnesota Application Ju'ne114, 1948, Serial No. 32,756

2 Claims;

present invention relates generally to timing mechanisms and, more specifically, to'a mechanically-operated mechanism for closing and opening electrical circuits atpredetermined time intervals.

The primary object of our inventionis the provision of a timing mechanism which can be quickly and easily set to close and open electrical circuits at specified intervals during a given time cycle.

Another object of our invention is the provision of means whereby the time interval settings of our improved timing mechanism' 'may be manually changed at will.

Another object of our-invention is the provision-of a plurality of trip fingers movable into i and out-of engagementwith switch means for closing an electrical circuit and means for maintainingsaid trip fingers in set positions.

Still another object of our invention-isthe provision of a timing mechanism as set forth 1 di'cate like parts throughout the several views;

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved timing device, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation as seen from the right to the left'with respect to Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and-some parts being shown in sections;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the mechanism-of Fig; 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation asseen'from'--the"left to the right with respect to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is'a plan of our improved timing mechanism, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a view partly inelevation and partly in section, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig; 7 Ba view partly in elevation and partly in section, taken on-the-line l-'lof Fig. 4;

Fig.- 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section, taken substantially on the-line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 isa view partly in side elevation and partlyin section-taken substantially on theiline 9--9 of Fig. 1;

Fig 10 is a fragmentary view partly .in eleva tion: and partly t-in section, taken on" the line 10 -10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken substantially on the line I l-i l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12- is a fragmentary section, taken on the line i2i2 of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13- is anelectrical-wiring diagram of our invention.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral l indicates, in its entirety, a frame comprising front and rear mounting plates 2 and 3 respectively, and an intermediateplate 4. Plates 2 and 4 are maintained in spaced parallel relation by spacers 5 secured at one of their ends to the plate 2 and having studs 6 on their other ends extending through the plate t and equipped with nuts or burrs I. A-plurality of posts 3 are mounted fast at one of their ends to the plate 4 and are internallythreaded at their other ends to receive threaded screws or the like 8 which pass through apertures in the rear mounting plate 5 (see particularly Fig. '2). It will be" observed, by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, thatthe spacers 5 are internally threaded for thereception of mounting screws or the likefor securing the timing device to a panel, housing, or the like, not shown.

The plates '3 and 4 are provided with axially! aligned bearing bosses l0 and II respectively in which is jour'nalled a shaitl2. The'shaft l2 projects forwardly through an enlarged opening l3 in the-front plate 2 and at its forward end is pro-- vided with a turning knob I4 rigidly secured thereto by means of a set screw or the like it. Integrally-formed with the-shaft i2 between the plates 2 and dis a toothed pinion l6, which has meshing engagement with a gear 11. The gear IT is coaxial with and rigidly secured to a pinion 18- which is journalled on a stubshaft i9. The'stub shaft l9 has a reduced threaded end 20 which passes through the intermediate plate 4 and is secured thereto by means of a washer-equipped nut 2i. The gear I? is maintained in spaced relation from the plate t by means of spacing sleeves-22. Arelativelylarge gear 23 is rigidly secured'to a hub 24 journalled on the-shaft i2 andhas meshing engagement with the pinion 8; The hub 2 l 'has an axially-projecting threaded portion 25 on which is mounted a timing dial 25 which comprises'a flat plate-like back 21 and an axially-extended circumferential flange 28; The dial 26 is clamped over the axially-projecting threaded portion 25 of the'hub 24 bymeans of acIamping .nuttfi'which is provided with air-- cumferentially-spaced openings 3l for the recep tionof a pin wrench or the like not shown.

The fiangeili is formed to provide a circumferentially-extended; axially-opening channel- 3| in the bottom of which is contained a coil spring 32. A plurality of circumferentiallyspaced holes 33 extend radially through the flange 28. The holes 33 he in a plane transversely of the shaft 52 and intersect a portion of the channel 3| a distance from the bottom thereof whereby a portion of the spring 32 projects into the intersection there-between. Slidably mounted in each of the holes 33 is a trip finger 34 which is provided with longitudinallyspaced. detent-forrning notches 35 intenmediate its ends. The trip fingers 3d are of such a length and the notches 35 are so spaced that when the radially outer end of each finger 34 is even with the outer periphery of the flange 28, the coil spring 32 is seated in one of the notches 35. The trip fingers 35 may be manually moved to a radially outer extreme position with the inner end of each trip finger 34 even with the inner periphery of the flange 28. In this position, the spring 32 is seated in the other notch 35 of each trip finger 34; and the outer end of the trip finger 32 projects radially outwardly of each flange 25. During shifting movements of the trip fingers 34, the convolutions of the spring 32 spread apart to allow the fingers S 1 to slide therebetween. However, sufiicient lateral bias is applied to the trip fingers 34 during radial movement thereof'in the holes 33 by the convolutions of the spring 32 to provide a relatively light frictional resistance against such radial movements. The open end of the channel 3| is closed by an annular plate 35 which may be rigidly secured to the flange 23 by any suitable means and which is provided with indicia designating time intervals determined by the circumferential spacing of the trip fingers 3 3.

. Adjacent its upper edge, a portion of the intermediate plate 4 is bent to form a bracket 31 on which is mounted a switch 33 contained with in a housing 39. The switch 38 is operated by a push button it and an actuator lever ii hinged to the housing 33, as indicated at 42. At its free end, the actuator lever 4| is provided with a cam portion 43 which extends laterally therefrom into'the path of travel of the trip fingers 3 2 when said trip fingers are in their radially outwardly-projected positions (see particularly Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 13). It will be observed, by reference to the above figures, that the cam portion 43 is located above the periphery of the flange 28, whereby it is out of the path of travel of the trip fingers 3 when said trip fingers are in their radially retracted positions. Yielding bias is imparted to the cam portion 43 in a direction away from the switch 38 and toward the trip fingers 34 by a coil compression spring 38 working between the switch housing 39 and the actuator lever GI.

; Rotation, in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. l, is imparted to the turning knob it and the timing dial 26 by an electric motor 44 to the shaft of which is secured a driving pinion 45. The pinion 45 has meshing engagement with a speed reduction gear 45 to which is rigidly secured a pinion 41. The gear 35 and pinion i! are journalled on a stub shaft 43 which is secured to the frame plate 3. The pinion 4T meshes with a relatively large gear 59 that is journalled for rotation on a flanged bushing rigidly secured to the shaft I2 by a pin or the like 5! intermediate the bearing bosses it and H of the frame i. A circular plate-like cam element 52 and an annular spacer 53 are mounted fast on the flanged bushing 50,. and. apair. offriction elements 54 and 55 are interposed between opposite sides of the gear 49 and the spacer 53 and the flange of the bushing 50 respectively. The friction elements 54 and 55 are in the nature of spring washers of the type commonly used in clock mechanisms and provide friction driving means between the gear 49 and the flanged bushing 50. Obviously the purpose of the friction drive is to allow manual setting of the timing dial 2% and cam element 52 independently of the rotation of the motor 44.

The particular construction of the cam portion 43 permits engagement therewith by the trip fingers 34 to actuate the switch 33 under rotary movements of the turning dial 26 in one direction only. To prevent manual setting rotation of the turning knob M in the opposite direction, we provide a ratchet 56 mounted on the rear end of the shaft I2 and held securely in place by means of a nut 51. A pawl 58 is mounted for pivotal movements on a threaded bolt 53 which is screw-threaded into the rear frame plate 3 as indicated at 60. The pawl 58 is maintained in spaced relation from the plate 3 and in the plane of the ratchet 56 by means of a spacer SI; and the pawl 58 is biased toward engagement with the ratchet 55 by a torsion spring 52. The ratchet teeth are inclined in a direction to permit rotary movements of the turning knob It and timing dial 26 in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 1, but prevent counterclockwise movements of either the turning knob 14 or the dial 26.

The length of the desired complete time cycle and the particular use to which our timing mechanism is to be applied are factors which determine the speed of rotation of the timing dial 26 and the cam element 52. In the structure shown, the shaft 12 and cam element 52 carried thereby are arranged to rotate at the speed of one revolution per hour. The speed reduction connections comprising the pinions l6 and I8 and the gears I! and 23 cause the timing dial 26 to be rotated at a speed of one revolution every twenty-four hours. With this arrangement, the timing device is particularly adapted for use with radio receiving sets and the like inasmuch as most of the broadcast programs have durations of multiples of quarter hours. The quarter-hour increments are determined by circumferentially-spaced notches 53 in the cam element 52 which are adapted to successively receive, upon rotation of the cam 52, the cam follower 64 of switch 55. As seen, by reference to Figs. 7 and 13, the notches 63 are four in number, so that the follower 64 will be received into the notches 63 at quarter-hour intervals, assuming that the rate of rotation of the cam element 52 is one revolution per hour.

The switch 65 comprises a plurality of laterally-spaced leaf springs 65, 61, 68, and 63, maintained in spaced parallel relationship by blocks 10 which are made from any suitable insulating material. A pair of machine screws H rigidly secure the leaf springs and insulating blocks to a bracket 12 which is secured fast to the intermediate plate 4 by screws or the like 13. It will be seen, by reference to Figs. 2, 4, '7, 9, and 13, that the leaf springs 66 to 69 inclusive and the cam follower 64 lie in the plane of the cam element 52 and that the leaves 5'! and 69 are tied together at their free ends by an insulating member 14. The leaves 66 and 61 are each provided with opposed contact buttons which are spaced apart when the cam follower :64.rides on the outer.periphery. ofrthe; cam; elementzt Z? butrwhich come; into; contact: when the cam follower. 64.? is received within: any oneofthe notchesv 63; The leaves B8 and-69- are also; provided with, opposed contact buttons which: engage one another when the. cam follower-64 rides on the:periphery ofathe camrelementr 525 but whichare in spaced apart relationship-when. the. follower 84 is received withirrany one of: the notches;53. The leaf spring 68: is'yieldab'ly. biased; in. the. direction of the. cam element 52/50 that: the 'camfollower 64. will-be received into the fulldepth of any one of the notcheszfi3. iwhen said notches move; into, align- .mentnwith: the follower..54. The. rea1vp1ateis3. is formed;.atipionez-sideto provide: a rearwardly--' projectingzzbracket. 15: to. which is r-igidly:.-secured a :relay. 16;..Th'e armature ll. of; thexrelay l6; adaptedatozcloseia pairiof normallyloperr switches,

18: and: J 9, thepurpose. ofrzwhich will hereinafter become apparent-.- ,The switches 18 and 79: are made up. of leaf springs held apart'in spacedree. lationshiprbyjmeans' of insulating blocks 83 and are mounteds'on'the frame of the relay 15; A terminal-block 8.1 is securedv fast topthe rear plate 3 by meansofscrews. 82 and is provided witha pairzof terminalstli'to one each of which isconnectedizone ofca :pairiof leadsr84rwhich are. connected at? their .otherends to the relay-operated switch '18.. Themotor l4'isprovided witha pair. ofz.leads;85; whichare connectedone eachto one of a pair of terminals 86 and Won the terminal block. 8|;

Referringtot-Fig. 13, it will be seen that a lead 88 extendsafromthe terminal 86 to one side of the switch-.38, Thelother side of the switch 38 is connected to the leaf spring 81 by a lead 89. A short lead 90connects the lead 88 to the leaf spring 68 of the switch 65. The leaf spring 66-is connected to one end of the coil of the relay [6 by a lead 9| while a lead 92 connects the other end of the coil of the-relay 76 to the terminal 81. Oneside, of the relay-operated switch l9 is con nected to:,the.leaf. springfiflybyra lead 93 and the other side of the relay switch 19 is connected to the leaf spring 66 by a lead 94 connected at one end to the lead 9|. A pair of leads 95 are shown as extending from the terminals 86 and 81 and may be assumed to be connected to a source of electrical power not shown. A pair of leads 96 are also shown in Fig. 13 as extending from the terminals 83 and may be assumed to be connected in a radio receiver circuit also not shown, whereby closing of the switch 18 by the relay it will cause the radio receiver circuit to be closed. It will be noted that when the cam portion 43 is not engaged by an outwardly-projected trip finger 34 the switch 38 is open, when the follower 64 rides on the periphery of the cam element 52 connections between the leaf springs 86 and 61 are closed and connections between the leaf springs 68 and 69 are open, and that when the relay 16 is inoperative the switches 18 and 19 are open.

When it is desired to operate our improved timing device, the timing dial 26 is turned by manual rotation of the turning knob I4 in a counter-clockwise direction until the timing dial 26 is moved to the correct chronological setting. This setting is determined by a pointer not shown but located adjacent the cam portion 43 so that, by reference to Fig. 1, the timing dial is set at twelve oclock noon, assuming, of course, that the setting is made at noon. Rotation of the timing dial 26 will bring successive radially outwardly-projecting tripping fingers 34 into engagement with the cam portion 43 of the actuator; lever \4 t andldepressethe' same, whereby tocloses-the switch-.38..v .While theswitch-aSBis-in a closed position, the cam" element. Ell-rotates-until one of the notches- 63- thereof 7 reachesia pointedjacent the cam. follower. 64, The. camrfollower 64 isunder yielding; bias of the leafspringfid to enternotch. 63; wherebyto close-a circuit com: prising lead; 88, switch 38, lead 89, -.leaf.-- springs rand-Bl; lead 9| the'coilof' therelay 'lfi and lead. 92, whereby to; cause-.energization oftherelay..;.'Hi. The. relay J6 thus, energized closes-the switch, 1.8 and-.causes-a circuit toitheradio re ceiver,@ not. shown, through. thedeads 34k and-98; to: be;- completed, thus .turning oni-saidlreceiver. Relay switch 19 is also closed by. energizationof therela-y1l6z Continued: rotation of- .the cam. element; 52-causesthe follower -64toleave. the'notch 63 and? ride'upon the peripheralaedgel of the ca-melement. .52. When this occurs, the circuit closed by. leaf springs 66 and til-is broken but a new zcir. cuit'ris-closed, said circuit comprising the-lead -88; ashortlead 9!], leaf springs68 and '69, lead :93; switch 79, lead 94, part of the lead 9|. leading therefrom to the coil of the relay- 155, .and lead 92.- The switch formed by the leaf springs 68 and 69' closes prior to the opening, of the switch formed by the leaf springs 66 and 67- so-that there; is; no de-energization of' the relay. 76.- at this point; switch formed bythe leaf springs Stand-B9, the switch 38 may be opened without affecting-the,

circuit through the relay T6. In fact, theaswitch 38 opens during the passage of one of. the radially outwardly-projected trip fingers 34- beyond the cam element 43- and its engagement by-a subsequent radially outwardly-projected trip finger;- However, the mechanism is so arranged that con nection-is always made between leaf springs 68 and. 69 before the switch 38is opened.

It will be noted that, in the event of radially outward projection of buta single trippingfinger 34, the switch 38- will open afterpassage of the outwardly-projected trip fingers .34 and remain open. Continued rotation of the cam element 52 brings a subsequent notch 63 into position to receive the cam follower 64 whereby to sever the connection between the leaf springs 68 and 69 and de-energize the relay 16, thus allowing the switches 18 and 19 to open and causing the radio receiver to be shut off. At this point, it will be observed that closing of the connections between leaf springs 66 and 6'! have no affect on the relay 16 for the reason that the switch 38, being con nected in series with the leaf springs 66 and 61, is open. It will be further noted that the switch 38 is merely a temporary circuit closer and that the actual timing for each quarter-hour interval is determined by the switch 65 and the operation thereof by the cam element 52. In other words, engagement of the cam portion 43 by a radially outwardly-projected tripping finger 34 and its closing of the switch 38 permits the relay [6 to be energized when the cam element 52 rotates to a point where the cam follower 64 is received within one of the notches 63. The relay is then energized until the cam follower 64 is received into a subsequent notch 63. The time interval, therefore, is determined by the speed of rotation of the cam element 52 and the spacing of the notches 63 therein.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that, if but one tripping finger 34 is projected radially outwardly of the flange 28, the relay (6 will be energized for a quarter-hour period. It will be seen, by reference to Fig. 1, that there is a trip- Subsequent to the closing. of the ping finger 34 for each quarter-hour period in a twenty-four hour cycle, so that, if a group of consecutive tripping fingers 34 are radially outwardly projected, the relay 16 will be energized for the duration of time necessary for the entire group of outwardly-projected tripping fingers to engage and Operate the cam portion 43 of the actuator lever 4|. Thus, a device such as a radio receiver may be put into and out of operation for a quarter-hour period or any multiple thereof at different times during a twenty-four hour cycle. To set the tripping fingers 34 for any particular time of operation, it is but necessary to manually move the required number of proper fingers to radially outwardly projected positions.

Our invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be entirely adequate for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while we have shown a single embodiment of our improved timing device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a devic of the class described, a frame, a

a shaft journaled for rotation with said frame, a manual turning knob rigidly secured to the outer end of said shaft, a rotary timing dial mounted for rotation on said shaft adjacent said turning knob, reduction gearing connecting said shaft to said dial, a motor coupled to said shaft, said dial including an annular forwardly projected peripheral flange and a recessed central portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending trip fingers slidably mounted having a cam portion adapted to be engaged by said trip fingers when said fingers are projected radially outwardly of said flange, whereby to close said switch when camming engagement is made between said cam portion and one of said fingers, a cam element on said shaft, a switch actuator arm on said other of said switches engageable with the cam element on said shaft to operate said other switch to close said circuit subsequent to the closing of said first-mentioned switch and open said circuit after a predetermined time interval from the closing thereof.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, in further combination with means tending to retain said tripfingers in either of their extreme set positions, said means comprising a circumferentially extended forwardly opening channel in said fiange, said trip fingers extending through the intermediate portion of said channels forwardly of the bottom portion thereof, longitudinally spaced annular detents on said trip fingers alignable with said channel when said trip fingers are moved to one or the other of their projected positions, and a coiled spring interposed between the bottom portions of said channels and said trip fingers, said spring exerting yielding bias against said trip fingers in all positions and being of a diameter to be seated in the said detents when said detents are aligned with said channel, whereby to lock said trip fingers against accidental displacement. I

WILLIAM C. KLAMMER. RAYMOND A. SCHNEIDER. LESTER A. SCHNEIDER.

PAUL W. MA'I'ISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,130,164 Verkins Sept. 13, 1938

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