US2542947A

US2542947A - Signal switch

Info

Publication number: US2542947A
Application number: US779899A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry C Rowe
Original assignee: Nutone Inc
Current assignee: Nutone Inc
Priority date: 1947-10-15
Filing date: 1947-10-15
Publication date: 1951-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 H. c. ROWE 2,5 47

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 20, 1951 c. ROWE; 2,542,947

SIGNAL SWITCH Filed Oct. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED Si'I ATES PATENT OFFICE Harry G. Rowe, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Nutone, Incorporated, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of New .Aprl c ti n Oc ber '15, 1947. Se i l No. 779.1 99

This invention relates .to electric signaling devices and is directed'particularly to improvements in a motor driven control switch which is adapted to be used conjunction with signals of the multiple chime type, for sounding a series of tones upon operation of a signal control button.

The conventional multi-chime signal unit, of the type used frequently in homes; consists of a number of signal or sound producing elements, solenoids or electromagneticstrikers, for energizing the signal units serially or successively, and, usually a motor driven control switch by which the solenoids, or strikers, are energized in a progressive predetermined sequence, The conventional chime usually contains .three or four elongated chime tubes as the signal elements, and these chromatically .are tuned to produce .a pleasant sequence of notes when struck in predetermined order. Repeat actuation of the push button will cause a repetition of the notes through a successive cycle of, operation of the motor operated switch.

The principal objective of this invention has been to provide a simple, inexpensive motor operated switch which, selectively during a cycle of operation, is effective to produce, di'fierent numbers of notes or sounds in repetitive order or in different order. Thus, use'din conjunction with a four element signal, the switch may be set conveniently to cause only four notes in succession to besounded upon each operation of the push button controller, or the switch may be set to cause four notes to be sounded .in succession, followed by a repeat cycle, of one to four notes, depending upon the number of contacts used in the switch. In the alternative, the contacts may be arranged to sound only two or three notes selectively, or two-or .threenotes, followed by .a succession of two or three or four'no'tes, depending upon the sound e'fiect which is most desirable to the user. The numberof notes sounded will depend, of course, upon the number of contacts utilized in the switch.

In this manner, a single motor driven switch may be adjusted conveniently to cause energization of all of the notes of a tchime or signal element, or to cause a repetitive succession of such notes as desired. 7

The switch of the invention in the preferred construction-comprises a motor, havinga suitable gear reduction train, a contact arm,.anda contact panel, whichis made in sectors. Thesesec tors carry contacts which are in circuit connectionwith solenoids oreledtromagnetic strikersof 6 Claims.- (01.200-37) 4 the signal unit, but one or both sectors are relatively shiftable into or out .of the path of movement or the contact arm. Hence, if all con- .tacts are in the path of movement, circuits are completed through all of the contacts as the arm sweeps over the contacts successively, and aseries, or a double series of notes will be sounded, according to the circuit connections of the contacts with the respective electromagnetic strikers. If one or the other of the sectors is shiited out of the path of movement of the contact arm, then only those contacts remaining in the path of movement will be energized, and notes will be sounded in accordance with the circu'i't connection of 'suchcontacts with the respective electromagnetic actuators. Thus, the apparatus, by way of example, may embody two sectors, each having iour contacts. When both sectors are in position ior operative engagement of the contact arm with the contact on the sectors, four notes will besounded, followed by four other notes,.but when the shifitable sector is moved into non-operative position, four notes only will be sounded, after which the contact arm will move to its starting .pos'itionand then stop to await ree'nergiz'ing of the .motor through the push button. It .is apparent that a wide variety of note sequences, or repetitions, may be obtained using additional sectors or various arrangements of contacts on the sectors.

.From the foregoing principles upon which the inventionis based, and the following detailed description of the drawings in which a typical embodiment of the improvement is illustrated, those skilled in the art readily will comprehend the various modifications to which the invention is susceptible.

,In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a Side elevation of the switch and motor unit of the invention.

fFigureZ is a top elevational view of the switch and motor unit.

vFigure 13 .is a sectional view of the switch taken along line .33 of Figure '1.

Figure 4 is ,a front elevaticnafl view showing the ,iSWitc'h ,panel sectors ,both in operative positions, and so arranged that more thanone series of notes :are sounded.

Figure 5 .is a view similar tojFigure i with one of ,fth'e switch sectors out of operative position where'byonly oneseriescf notes ;is sounded. I

Figure '6 is .a diagrammatic representation of arotor control disc of the units and its attendant brushes whemthe rotor discis in an inoperative posi i Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the rotor disc and brushes after the disc has begun to revolve.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the rotor disc and switch panel showing the contacts in operative engagement with a contact carried on a sector of the switch.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation similar to Figure 8 but with one sector moved to inoperative position.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring arrangement of the switch and one representation wiring diagram of the circuits between the switch contacts and related electro strikers.

The drive motor and gear reduction apparatus which furnishes the power for the switch may be of conventional construction and therefore is not shown in detail. Essentially this portion of the apparatus, indicated generally at I0, comprises a field coil and pole pieces |2 which surround a rotor housing IS. The rotor contained within the housing is in driving connection with the gear reduction unit enclosed within a casing M, the reduction unit being constructed to translate the relatively high speed of the motor to a suitable slow speed for operation of the switch. The motor and gear reduction unit is fastened to a base plate by means of spacers I6 and screws ll.

The switch assembly, to which the present invention is directed, is mounted upon the base plate l5, on the side opposite the motor and gear reduction unit. This switching assembly comprises sectors i8 and I9 carrying signal circuit contacts indicated generally at 20, a rotor or control disc 2|, a contact arm 22 which, in the embodiment shown, is fabricated as a part of the assembly of the control disc 2|, and a pair of

brushes

23 and 24 which cooperate with the control disc 2|.

Brushes

23 and 24, in conjunction with the control disc 26 constitute a holding circuit through which the motor is energized after initial energization through a push button controller or the like. The switch arm 22 on the other hand serves the contacts 20 through which signal strikers may be energized.

The contact carrying sectors l8 and I9 are relatively shiitable into and out of the circular path of movement of the contact arm 22. In the embodiment shown, a construction satisfactory for simple commercial purposes is provided by pivotal mounting of only one of the sectors l9, about a pivot 25 while the other sector I8 is stationary. The sectors meet along a circular line 26 which is concentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the arm 22 inwardly of the annular row of contacts which are carried by the sector l9. Hence if the sector I9 is shifted outwardly, as shown in Figure 5, its contacts are removed from the path of movement of the contact arm 22.

The details of construction of the elements utilized for maintaining a circuit to the motor throughout a cycle of operation thereof are shown mechanically in Figures 1 and 3 and diagrammatically in Figures 6, 7 and 10. For this

purpose brushes

23 and 24 are fastened to opposite sides of an insulator block 28 which in turn is secured to the base plate |5 by means of a screw 29. These brushes at their forward end are configurated to ride the periphery of control disc 2| while the opposite ends of the brushes are provided with terminals 30 to which lead wires 3| are soldered. Control disc 2| is seated upon the counter-turned portion of a bushing 32 and is fastened to the bushing by spinning over the end of the counterturn portion. The bushing, in turn, is mounted upon a stub shaft 33 extending from the gear train I4, the shaft passing through a suitable clearance opening in the base plate l5. Disc 2|, as shown best in Figures 6 and 7, has a gap in its periphery which is so dimensioned in width that contact with brush 24 is avoided when the disc reaches a position of alignment. Hence, a circuit to the motor is completed through

brushes

23 and 24 when both are in engagement with the periphery of disc 2|, and the circuit is disrupted as the gap passes one of the brushes 23. The brushes are spaced relatively close adjacent to one another so that the rotor by inertia will continue to rotate until it reaches a position of alignment with the other brush 24;

The details of construction of the contact sectors are shown best in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5. As previously indicated, in the embodiment shown, the sector I8 is stationary and is mounted by means of screws 35 upon spacers 36 which in turn project from the base plate l5. Movable contact sector |9 is riveted as at 25, to the stationary sector I8. The movable sector has a lever arm 31 fixed to it by rivets 38 and this lever arm pro jects beyond the sector, terminating in a handle portion 33 which rides within a slot 40 provided in the base plate |5. For the purpose of retaining the movable sector in closed position a spring clip 4| projects from the stationary sector I8 and terminates in a detent portion 42 which engages an edge of a slot 44 cut into or through the movable sector IS. A leaf (not shown) may be mounted upon the stationary sector I8 just beneath the spring clip 4| to support the movable sector |9 against the pressure of the spring clip.

Stationary sector I8 is equipped with contacts 20 arranged in an annular row concentric with the axis of rotation of the control arm 22. This control arm is fastened by means of a rivet 45 to the control disc 2 l, but is sprung from the plane of the control disc for resilient engagement with the contacts 20 so as to sweep them during its rotation. In the preferred construction, control arm 22 has two buttons near its end, one 43, for engaging the contacts 20 and the other 46 for riding upon the surface of the sector |8 when the sector 9 is swung out of the way.

Like the sector l8, sector l9 also has contacts 20 so positioned that they are in the path of movement of the arm 22 so as to be engaged by contact button 43 thereof when the sector I9 is in closed position as shown in Figure 4. Thus the support of the contact arm is accomplished by button 46 which rides upon the surface of the stationary sector when the movable sector is not in position to afford support, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

A typical signal circuit of the type which the switch of the present invention is adapted to serve is shown in Figure 10. This representatively comprises four solenoids or electromagnetic actuators 50, 5|, 52 and 53, each positioned when energized to sound its respective chime or signal element 54. The winding of the motor I0 is energized from leads 55 and 56, these leads being taken respectively to the terminals of the

brushes

23 and 24, and a push button switch, 51, has its terminals in short circuiting connection with the

brushes

23 and 24 through

leads

58 and 59. Thus, when the push button switch is closed while brush 24 is in alignment with the gap in rotor disc 2|, a circuit is established to lead 55 through brush terminal 23 to lead 59 through the switch 51 and back through lead 58 to the input lead 55. In

consequence the motoroperates, driving disc 2| to a point where both brushes engage it and complete the circuit through it, whereupon the motor continues to operate until the circuit is disrupted through subsequent alignment of the gap in the disc with brush 23, followed by overtravel to bring the gap in alignment with brush 24.

In the signal switching circuit, arm 22 is driven by the motor into successive engagement with contacts 20 of the first sector, and then into engagement with the contacts of the second sector if the latter is in closed position. As shown in Figure 10 one terminal of each of the solenoids 50 to 53 inclusive is in respective connection with the contacts 20 of the stationary sector through the leads 6!], 6|, 62 and 63 respectively. The other terminals of the solenoids 56 to 53 inclusive are in connection with the common feeder 64 which is connected through a line 65 to the input terminal 55. Lead 65, if desirable, may contain a resistor 66 for adjustment of tone volume. Contact arm 22, being in electrical connection with disc 2!, is energized through brush 24 from the input terminal 56, and as contact arm 22 sweeps past the respective buttons 20

solenoids

53, 52, and 50 successively are energized. The contacts 20 on the movable sector l9 are energized through flexible terminals 61 (Figure 4) taken to the respective leads 6 I, 62 and 63. Thus when sector I!) is in closed position contact arm 22 causes the solenoids to be energized in a second succession of notes or in a different succession of notes depending upon the manner in which the contacts of the second series are connected to the contacts of the first series.

The wiring diagram shown in Figure 10 is representative only and those skilled in the art will readily comprehend various modifications which may be utilized to produce different numbers of notes or note sequences depending upon the number of contacts and the relative interconnection of the contacts'utilized in the respective sectors. For instance, one sector may have more or less contacts than the other, in which event different combinations and numbers of notes may be sounded in a complete cycle of revolution of the contact arm. The apparatus in a simple inexpensive manner enables the house holder or user to select the type of signal which is most pleasing or useful for his purposes.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An electrical switch for controlling the cyclic operation of chimes comprising; a rotatable shaft, a contact arm carried by the shaft, a panel disposed in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of said shaft in a circle normally to be wiped by said contact arm, the said contact elements on the said panel being adapted for electrical connection with means for sounding a sequence of chimes, said panel being divided into sectors with a portion of the said series of contact elements on each sector, one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to said shaft, and at least one other of the said sectors being pivotally mounted and adapted to be shifted with respect to the shaft, whereby in the shifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mounted sector are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm.

2. In combination with an electric motor and a speed reduction unit mounted in a frame, and a shaft adapted to be driven by said motor through said speed reduction unit, an electric switch for controllingthe cyclic operation of chimes comprising; a control member mounted on the shaft, said member adapted to effect cyclic operation of the motor, a contact arm adapted to rotate with the shaft, a sectional panel mounted on the frame in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series of contact elements fixed on said panel in a circle concentric with the axis of the shaft in a position to be wiped normally by said contact arm, the contact elements being adapted'for electrical connection with means for sounding a. sequence of chimes, one sector of the sectional panel being fixed to the frame and another sector of the panel being pivotally journalled on the frame, each sector having fixed to it a portion of the series of contact elements, with the pivoted sector being adapted to be moved to a position in which the contact elements fixed thereon are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm.

3. An electric switch comprising; a frame, a panel mounted on the frame, a rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation disposed on a line normal to the panel, a contact arm carried by the shaft and extending radially therefrom, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circle to be wiped normally by the contact arm, said panel bein divided into sectors with a portion of the said series of contact elements on each sector, one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to the frame, and at least one other of the said sectors being pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to be shifted away from the shaft, whereby in the shifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mounted sector are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm.

4. An electric switch comprising; a frame, a panel mounted on the frame, a rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation on a line normal to the panel, a contact arm carried by the shaft and extending radially therefrom, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circle to be wiped normally by the contact arm, said panel being divided into sectors with a portion of the series of the 'said contact elements on each sector, one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to said shaft, at least one other of the said sectors being pivotally mounted and adapted to be shifted away from the shaft whereby in the shifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mounted sector are out of position to be wiped by the said contact arm, said fixed sector having a continuous surface in a circle concentric with respect to the axis of the shaft but inwardly of the circle to be wiped by the contact arm, for supporting said contact arm when said pivotally mounted sector is shifted out of position to be wiped by said contact arm.

5. An electric switch comprising? a frame, a

panel mounted on the frame, a rotatable shaft having its axis of rotation disposed on a line normal to the panel, an electric motor for driving said shaft, circuit means for energizing the motor, including a normally closed motor energization control member associated with said rotatable shaft, said member being adapted to open the circuit at the end of each revolution of the shaft for deenergizing the motor, a contact arm carried by said shaft and extending radially therefrom, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft in a circle normally to be wiped by'the' contact arm, said panel being divided into sectors with a portion of the series of contact elements on each sector, one of said's'ectors 'being in fixed relationship with-respect to said shaft, and at least one other of said sectors being pivotally mounted and adapted to be shifted away from the shaft to a position in which it is beyond the circle of revolution of said contact arm.

6. In combination with an electric motor, an electric switch for controlling the cyclic operation of chimes comprising; a shaft adapted to be rotated upon energization of the motor, circuit means for energizing the motor including a control member carried by said sha-f-t' adapted to I maintain energization' of the motor during substan tially a full revolution of the shaft and thereafter effect deenergization of the motor for stopping the rotation of the shaft after it completes a full revolution, a contact arm carried by the shaft, a panel disposed in a plane normal to the axis of the shaft, a series of contact elements fixed on the panel and disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of said shaft and within the arc to be wiped by said contact arm during that portion'of the revolution of the shaft when the ene'rgization of the motor is being maintained by the control member, the said contact. elements on the panel being adapted for electrical connection with means for sounding a sequence-of chimes, said panel being divided into sectors with a portion of the said series of contact elements on each sector, one of said sectors being in fixed relationship with respect to the shaft and at least one other of the said sectors being pivotally mounted and adapted to be shiftedwith respect to the shaft, whereby in the shifted position the contact elements carried by the pivotally mounted sector are out of position to be wiped by the 'rsaid contact arm.

HARRY C. ROWE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS