US2544346A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1951 F, J, MULHERN 2,544,346

TIMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2. if f 65 43 Z ,-1 :5 a I Inventor: I Fredemck J. Mulhern, I

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March 6, 1951 J, MULHERN 2,544,346

TIMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Frederick J. Mulherflt,

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7 sides of the wheelS that Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITEDWJS'IATES rA rsNT, OFFICE 2,544,346 TIMING DEVICE Fredericlr Muihiii; Troy, N. Y.

, 1946, Serial N0. 703,901

Applicationocto'ber 17 My invention relates to timing devices, more particularly to; electrically. y gperatedfiirect- ,current timing .deyicesnnd {or its .object-a reliable and inexpensive precision. device for measuring me i terva s th at ac u a My invention is especially useful in devices for performing an operationlattena predetermined time interval sueh as the operationof aswitch, althou h -tnis ap l cab ete ther t m devices, such a Q ki :1; I: .1121 A: 1

For -ag xnore complete understanding of my inventio ref rence;shcu esbeshesl 9: t a panyi drawin sn iis-z i a: fr lev tion View 011% timin wd vi mbodyins my invention; Fig. 2 ti 1 v the direction of the arrows; Fi rirag-mcnta y iront elevation viewq-ot apportion oi the mecha nism -taken along the line '{l 3 of .4 is a. tragmentary view oi the time adius .entr device showing the; contactringsh 5 .,is asectional e tak a ons the nes .s? isv lee in the direction of the arrows -l ig. fi is a. fragmenta-ry viewshowing the time operated-control switches; Fig.:-'7. .,is a sectienal .view, taken along the line 1.I,.of,Eigh2 iooking in the direction of t r ows, while K-si 'is a diagram showin the leetriconnectiells,

Reierringto the drawings, carrying out my invention n n -firm ,lsprev dele m cs e16 ment com rising-n balanc wheel! carrying a disk-shaped. armature} 2 adjacent; its periphery which is attracted ,alterahtely Jay airs .3 and 4 of stationary ,mag-net poles-seas te cause the wheel to oscillate baeki-and fnrth inhapredeterminedarc and -thereby constitute a. timing elevment. ,The oscillatory moyementzofthewheel I controls the alternate energization ofii hc; coils 5 and 6 having respectively the pairs o/f poles 3 and 4, the polesor eachpair being on;.opposite between them. A1s0,, the magnet coils are; pro-- 1 8 respectively, which ,eiiectann cillatpr me urefl hav n a. ntt pivet=lfl wh a timing ratch t wheel, II is advancedcloclcwise in su stant a .sync fcnism with he. balance wh el, one ooth oreec e p l ti n c t armture 9. As shown, an arm I2 has its lower end secured to, the armature 9 at a point just below the pivot I0 and extends upward to a-point adjacent the periphery of the wheel II- where "it is providedwith a--ratchet- -;pa wl I3fiarranged to engage theteethon thetperiphery oi the ratchet wheel II. -'When.theratchet wheel -l l has been w akenalong .7 I

" 7 "Claims. (01$ 161 -1 -terclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel turned through a predetermined angle corresponding to the time interval for which the device is set; the pawl-driving means for the ratchet wheel is moyed by. a starting magnet coil I4 to release, the ratchet wheel which is thereupon returned to a starting. position by a biasingspring and, concurrently therewith, a circuit is closed to initiate a desired control .operation or, for

extending parallel With the axis of the ratchet wheel.

At the beginning of the timing operation the pin I5 is in the biased position indicated in Fig. 3, to which position it is moved by coun- II by means of aspiral spring I6. The spring I6 is connected to a gear .I'I so as to give a clockwise rotation to it and this gear in turn meshes with a gear I8' secured to the ratchet wheel II.

In this position of the pin I5 it engages a flexible contact arm I9 and bends it toward theleft, as seen in Fig. 3, against a rigid contact arm 20, which contactarm forms a stop for the pin I5 and the ratchet wheel I I. The two contact .arms I9 and 211 are in an energizing circuit for ,the starting coil I4 so that this coil can be energized to start thetiming operation.

Asthe'ratchet wheel I I is turned clockwise, the pin I5 disengages the contact arm I9 which in turn disengages the contact arm 20 but the starting coil circuit is maintained closed through a switch 22 which is operated by the armature of the starting coil [4 soas to be closed'when the coil is energized, the switch 22 being connected in parallel with the contacts I9 and 20. \Also in circuit with the starting coil I4 is .a biased closed switch 23 mounted on an adjustable time setting disk member 24,(Fig. 5). In order to set thedevice for adesired time interval, this member Zlis adjusted on. its shaft 25 by means of a knob 26. (Figs. Land 2) whereby the position .of the switch 23 is adjusted with respect to the I4 is to efiectthe engagement of. the pawls I3 and Na withtheratchet. wheel II at the beginning of the timing operation, and their disengagement with the ratchet wheel at the end of the timing operation so that the wheel II can be turned counterclockwise by the spring l6 back to its starting position shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, when the magnet I4 is deenergized its armature 28 is pulled through a small angle in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot at the point 29 on the magnet core member 30 by means of a spring 3|. The Spring 3| bears on a lever 32 mounted on a pivot 33 on a supporting plate 34. On the left-hand end of the lever 32 is a strap member 35 which is bent downward and carries secured to it a cylindrical bearing member 36 biased by the spring 3| into engagement with the rounded upper end of the armature 28. Also, the strap 35 engages two pins 31 and 38 on the ends respectively of the pawls I3 and |3a whereby the pawls are held by the spring 3| with their adjacent ends in a lowermost position out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Also, when in this position the upper end of the armature 28 engages an arm 40, the lower end of which is secured about a contact arm 4| (Fig. '7) mounted on a pivot pin 42. The pin 42 is pivotally secured to the supporting plates 34 and 43 (Fig. 2). The armature thus moves the arm 43 toward the left, as seen in Fig. '7, whereby the left-hand end of the contact arm 4| is held in engagement with a stationary contact 44.

When the magnet I4 is energized at the begin ning of the timing operation its armature 23 is moved clockwise about the pivot 29 whereby the upper end of the armature moves under the cylindrical member 35 and thereby raises it and likewise raises the strap member 35 against the force of the spring 3| whereby the pawls |3 and 13a are moved by their biasing springs, such as the springs 45 and 46, about suitable intermediate pivots so that their adjacent ends move upward into engagement with the ratchet wheel. Oscillation of the arm l2 and the pawl l3 by the armature 9 now turns the ratchet wheel step by step.

For the purpose of controlling the alternate energization of the magnet coils 5 and 6, the balance wheel I has secured to its shaft an eccentric 41 (Figs. 2 and 7) cooperating with which is the forked upper end of an arm 43 the lower end of which is pivoted on the pivot pin 42 and has secured to it a spring 49, the opposite ends of which engage the ends of the contact arm 4!. Therefore, as the balance wheel oscillates, the arm 48 is rocked back and forth thereby to move the contact arm 4| into engagement with first one and then the other of the stationary contacts 44 and 50 whereby the coils 5 and 6 are controlled.

By means of a helical biasing spring 5! having one end secured to the balance wheel I, the

balance wheel is biased to the angular position shown in Figs. 2 and 7. In this position the armature is in an intermediate position between the pairs 3 and 4 of magnet poles and, likewise, the arm 48 is held by the eccentric in an intermediate position.

A snap action is provided for the switch arm 4| by means of a spring arm 52, the movable end of which is provided with a bearing 53 engaged by the end of a leaf spring 54 secured to the contact arm. Snap action is obtained by reason of the fact that the right-hand end of the spring 54 at the point of attachment to the arm 4| is below a line joining the bearing 53 and the axis of the pivot 42 when the arm 4| engages the contact 44. This provides a downward force on the lefthand end of the contact arm. On the other hand, this point of attachment is above the line joining 42 and 53 when the arm 4| engages the contact 59. This construction, it will be observed, gives an over-center spring biasing and snap acting force to the contact arm 4|.

As shown clearly in the drawings, the arious parts are mounted on the two supporting plates 34 and 43 which are suitably secured together in parallel spaced relation with each other, these plates being made of non-magnetic material such as brass as is also the balance wheel. A screw 55 is provided by means of which the tension of the spring 5| may be adjusted. The two supporting plates and the mechanism mounted thereon are in turn mounted on a supporting base 53 made of electrically insulating material, and a front cover 51 is provided which fits on the base and is provided with an aperture 58 through which extends the knob 26 and the pivoted time-setting disk means 24.

The shaft 25 of the time setting means is secured to the supporting plate 34 in alignment with the shaft 59 of the balance wheel i. The mechanism 24 which forms an adjustable support for the switches 23 and 21 consists of a bushing Gil which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 and on which, in turn, are mounted three disks BI, 62 and 53 made of electrically insulating material and to which are secured three electric contact rings 34, 65 and 66, the rings being electrically insulated from each other and from the bushing 60. Two electrically conducting posts 64a and 85a se cured respectively to the rings 64 and 65 form electric connections between the rings and the spring contact arms 61 and 68 of the switches 23 and 27 and also serve as supports for the contact arms. A contact 69 of the switch 23 is secured to the contact ring 66. The electrically insulating disk 2'53 is provided with teeth on its periphery with which engages a spring pawl 'il (Fig. 3) whereby the time-setting means 24 is secured in its adjusted'position.

It will be understood from the drawing (Fig. 6) that the pin l5 in moving toward the right first engages the upper end of the contact arm 67 and moves it into engagement, with the upper end of the branch 38a of the contact arm 63, the engaging parts .of which constitute the switch 21. A slight continued movement of the pin l5 moves the contact arm 58a toward the right so that its bent-over upper end engages the upper end of the contact arm part 68b and moves it toward the right thereby disengaging it from the contact 69, as shown in Fig. 6, and effecting the opening of the switch 23. The two parts 68a and 68b of the contact arm 68 are electrically connected together at their lower ends which are secured to the post 64a.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, spring contact arms, or brushes, l2, l3 and 14, are provided in position to respectively frictionally engage the contact rings 65, 64 and 65. These spring contact arms 12, 13 and 14 are mounted on a support made of electrically insulating material secured in turn to the supporting plate 34. The contact arms l9 and 2!] are likewise secured on the support 15. As shown in Fig. 3, the stop pawl H is mounted on an extension of the contact arm 74.

It will be observed that each of the magnet coils 5 and 6 has two magnetic operating circuits. The coil 5, for example, is provided with a central magnetic core 76 (Fig. 7) the ends of which are secured to strapcore members 1! and 18 (Figs.

accuse 7 and 3:)..made of. magnet-core iron atopposit-e ends cf the c0115. These two core members I1 and 13 are secured to the inner adjacent surfaces of the supporting plates 34 and 43-. The two lower ends of the core members are formed with the two magnet poles I, while thetwo upper ends are provided with disk-shaped membersiorming the poles '3. It will be :understoodthat the coil 6 and its magnet core members have substantially the same construction as .just described 1 4 after the armature 8 h-as'moved to its attracted position.

' Referring to Fig.8, the. timing apparatus is started by closing a suitable 'normallyopen .push button switch .119 .wherebylfa .suitablesource of electrical supply is connected .tothe conductors 88 and 8| connectedto'the binding posts .82 and 83..w'.hich are electrically connected to the contacts. and 53. Since the contact member 4| is in engagement with the contact M, as previously .described, a circuit is.;closed for the coil 8 leading from the ,post 82 through the contact arm AI, conductor 84, coil 6, and conductor .85 to the binding post 83. .Also, a circuit :is closed for the coil I4 leading from binding post 82 through conductor 86., the switch formed :by contact arms, I9 and .20, conductor, 81, coil I4, conductor 88, switch. and conductor 8-9..to the binding post 83. The coil I4 immediately picks up :its armature .28 whereby the switch 22 is closed to ,by pass the contacts .I 9 and .20, and the ratchetmembers I3 andiiiaaremoved into engagement with the ratchet wheel II.

The coil Gpulls the wheel I in a counte rclock wise direction and, in doing so, cam 4?! moves the contact arm M to disengage the contact .44

and engage the contact 50 wherebyth-e coil 6 is deenergized and the coil 5 energized :ionoscillation in 'a clockwise direction. .When the pin I5 has been moved far enough to engage the contact arm 61 and close the switch 21, the device Ma is energized, this marking the end of the time interval for which the .deviceis adjusted.

The circuit for the device I 4a. leads from the binding post 82 to the binding post. 90, through the device Ila to the binding post 9.1., and then through conductor 92, theswitch 21;, the contact arm 68, theswitch 23 and the conductor 89 to the binding post 83. Immediately thereafter,

, upon a slight continued movement of the ,pin I5,

the switch .23 .is opened, whereby the device Ma and the coil I4 are deenergized. Thetiming :device thereupon resets itself in the position indicated in the drawing ready for the next timing operation. As shown, the push button switch I9 is held closed by a latch 93 which is actuated by a coil 94, connected across the device Ida,

I wher by the switch .19 sopened when the .de-

knob 26 which, in turn,,is securedto the sleeve 60, as shownin Fig. Adjustment :of .theisdial relative to the sleeve 60 can be effected by loosen- :ing clamping bolts 98 which secure the disk .6I in place whereby the disk and the dial can be adjustedangularly relative to the sleeve 68. As shown, elongated apertures are provided in the .disk SI .for the bolts 98.

TIE-licreasomior always. starting the time device jbyenergization of the coil 6 is ,to assure that the device starts with an impulse of predetermined duration. vThis will be clear from the .fact that the leaf springs ;I and I,0I securedto the armature .9, and whichengage respectively, electrically insulated adjustable stops I02 and I03, pos ition the armature 9- .in .afstarting position as shown in Figs-3 and '7 when the coils 5 and 6 are deenergized and the pawl I3 released from the ratchet wheel II. Therefore, as seen in Fig. when the coil 6 isenergized the pawl, which has been released by energization of the coil I 4, drops into a notch between the teeth and is moved first toward the lefthand and then upon the energization of the coil 5 back toward the righthand to pickup another tooth.

It should be noted, furthermore, that for ac- .curacyin timing, the stop I03 preferablyis ad- J'ustecl upward against the spring IOI so as to provide an assisting force for the" armature 9 to overcome the force of the spring I8 opposing movement of the ratchet wheel -I;I. v It will be noted that stronger leaf springs ,IM and IE5 are provided respectively behind' the springs I80 and .IflI.

While Lhave shown a particular embodiment of my invention; it will bounders'toom'o'f course; that I do not wish to be limited theretofsince many modifications may be made and I therefore contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit .and scope .of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters ,Patent of the United States is:

1. A time device comprising a balance wheel, ,a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, a timer Wheel, a second armature mounted for movement from ,oneposition' to another, :a driving connectionv between. said second armature and said timer wheel ,for turning said timer Wheel step by step .upon movement of said second armature between said positions, electromagnetic means cooperating-with said armatures so as to .move each of said armatures between two positions, switching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for controlling the .energization of said electromagnetic means to produce oscillation of said balance wheel and step :by stepfmovement of .said timer wheel, and switching means actuatedby said timer Wheel when said timer wheel has been turned to a predetermined angular position.

.2. A time device comprising a balancewhcel, .a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, two :electromagnets, means mounting saidelectroma nets in .spacedrelation with each other and each with at least one mile adj acerrt said balance wheel, switching mean perated by said balance wheel as it oscillates,foraltcrnate energization ,of said electromagnets so asto attract said first alt-mature thereby to cause said'balance wheel to osc llate, a ti e wheel, a second armature for said electromagnets operated from lone position to. another by the .energi'z'ation of said electromagnets, and a driving connection between said second armature and said time 'w heei for turni-ng -:said time wheel step by step upon said alternate energization of said electromagnets.

3. A time device comprising a balance wheel, a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, two electromagnets, means mounting said electromagnets in spaced relation with each other and each with at least one pole adjacent said balance wheel, switching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for alternate energization of said electromagnets so as to attractsaid first armature thereby to cause said balance wheel to oscillate, a time wheel, a second armature for said electromagnets operated from one 'position to another by the energization of said electromagnets, a driving connection between said -second armature and said time wheel for turning said time wheel step by step upon said alternate energization of said electromagnets, and switching means actuated by said time wheel when said time wheel has been turned to a prede- I termined angular position.

4. A time device comprising a balance wheel, a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, two electromagnets, means mounting said electromagnets in spaced relation with each other and each with at least one pole adjacent said balance Wheel, switching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for alternate energization of said eleciromagnets so as to attract said first armature thereby to cause said balance wheel to oscillate, a timer wheel, a second armature for said electromagnets operated from one position to another by the energization of said electromagnets, a driving connecdon between said second armature and said timer wheel for turning said timer wheel step by step upon said alternate encrgization of said electromagnets, a biased closed-second switching means in circuit with said electromagnets, and operating means for said second switching means carried by said timer wheel for effecting the opening of said second switching means when said timer wheel has been turned to a predetermined position thereby to deenergize said electromagnets.

5. A time device comprising a balance wheel, a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, two electromagnets each provided with two pairs of poles, means mounting said electromagnets in spaced relation with each other and each with one pair of poles on opposite sides of said balance Wheel, switching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for alternate energization of said electromagnets so as to attract said first armature thereby to cause said balance wheel to oscillate, a timer wheel, a second armature cooperating with the other two pairs of poles of said electromagnets so as to be operated from one position to another by the energization of said electromagnets, a driving connection between said second armature and said timer wheel for turning said timer wheel step by step upon saidalternateenergization of said electromagnets, means for disabling said driving connection, a third 'electromagnet provided with an armature connected to operate said disabling means, a second switching means for said third electromagnet, and operating means carried by said timer wheel for operating said second switching means when'said timer wheel is turned to a predetermined position thereby to disable said driving connection.

6. A time device comprising a balance wheel, a first armature mounted on said balance wheel, a pivotally mountedtime member, means biasing -;said time member to a predetermined angular strating position, a second armature mounted for movement from one position to another, a driving connection for turning said time member step by step upon movement of said second armature between said positions, electromagnetic means cooperating with said armatures so as to move each of said armatures between two positions, a second electromagnetic means provided with a third movable armature biased to an unattracted position, a connection between said third armature and said driving connection for disabling said connection when said third armature is moved to its unattracted position, switching means in circuit with said second electromagnetic means, means carried by said time member for operating said switching means to energize said second electromagnetic means when said time member is returned to its starting position in accordance with its bias, and switching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for controlling the energization of said first electromagnetic means to produce oscillation of said balance wheel and step by step movement of said time member.

'7. A time device comprising a balance wheel, a first armature mounted on said balance wheel adjacent its periphery, two electromagnets each provided with two pairs of poles, means mounting said electromagnets in spaced relation with each other and each with one pair of poles on opposite sides of said wheel, a second armature cooperating with the two other pairs of said poles, witching means operated by said balance wheel as it oscillates for alternately energizingsaid electromagnets so as to attract said first armature thereby to cause said wheel to oscillate, a ratchet wheel, means biasing said ratchet wheel to a predetermined starting position, pawl means operand by said second armature for advancing said ratchet wheel, a third electromagnet provided with a third movable armature biased to an unattracted position, a connection between said third armature and said pawl means for moving said pawl means so as to release said ratchet wheel when said third armature is moved to its unattracted position, a biased closed time switch in circuit with said third electromagnet, means mounting said switch for angular adjustment about the axis or" said ratchet wheel thereby to introduce a predetermined time interval, operating means on said ratchet wheel for opening said time switch to deenergize said third electromagnet when said ratchet wheel has been turned to a predetermined angular position with respect to said switch whereupon said ratchet wheel is released and turns back to said starting position in accordance with its bias.

FREDERICK J. MULHERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record the file of this'patentr UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,970,412 Bates Aug. 14, 1934 2,163,419 Warren June 20, 1939 2,388,686 Habig Nov. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 504,553 Great Britain Apr. 27, 1939 "551,877 GreatBritain Mar. 12, 1943

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