US2547247A - Time controlled linkage actuating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1951 R. A. BARRETT TIMECONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATING MECHANISM- 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Oct. 15, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y April 3, 1951 R. A. BARRETT TIME CONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V]; N TOR. RALPH A. BARRETT ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME CONTROLLED LINKAGE ACTUATENG MECHANISM Ralph A. Barrett, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 15, 1949, Serial No. 121,593

machine whereby the motion of the agitator may be automatically discontinued after a predetermined but variable time interval. In a wellknown'manner, agitator movement effects washing of articles disposed with water in a washing machine tub and for articles such as silks or rayons the washing action should be discontinued after an interval such as five minutes, whereas in washing linens the interval may be fifteen minutes; As another example, the mechanism may be used for automatically closing a valve controlling the gas supply to a stove after a predetermined interval. In other words, the gas would be ignited and the clock set for any desired interval and the flame would be automatically extinguished through cutting oil the gas supply at the termination of the interval.

Spring operable clocks of the type contemplated herein have been previously used for controlling small electric switches through movement of a lever associated with the clock after a desired interval. Winding of the clock loads a cam member operably connected to the main spring and a detent prevents movement of the cam member and relieves the timing mechanism of the clock from undue load. At the expiration of the time interval the detent is moved by the timing mechanism, permitting the cam member to move by power from the main spring and this movement effects partial rotary movement of a lever' disposed externally of the clock housing. Although this lever has sufilcient power to move switch contacts against a light spring force, it does not have sufficient power to actuate linkage moving a clutch, gas control valve or the like. The present invention combines linkage of the type contemplated with a clock of this type in a manner causing an operator in winding the clock to exert additional force which will preload spring means associated with the linkage for actuating the linkage when the time interval has expired. 7 1

According to the invention, a conventional spring clock forms a unit with linkage adapted to be connected to a clutch, valve or the like and the clock is provided with a dial type knob aflixed to a shaft adapted to wind the main spring of the clock. The linkage and shaft are operably connected whereby the linkage is preloaded when the knob is rotated to set the clock for the desired time interval, and setting of the clock concurrently winds the same. A lever operable by the clock merely serves as a detent and is not required to transmit the load operating the linkage.

- It is a primary object of the invention to provide mechanical linkage in association with a conventional spring operable clock and utilize the manual clock winding movement for providing additional energyto automatically actuate the linkage after a predetermined interval.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically actuating a clutch, valve or the like after a predetermined interval and to utilize a portion of the energy required to rotate a dial knob for storing energy to actuate said means at the expiration of the interval.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the above type which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture. 7

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a mechanism embodying the invention, mounted in a washing machine, with parts being omitted and partially broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figure 2 is arfront or left hand elevational view of themechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the clock and associated parts illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 is a front view of a control knob I may employ.

Referring now to the drawings, I have indicated at I!) the frame or bottom portion of a washing machine which is generally cylindrical or rectangular in shape and encases the gear case, motor and other parts disposed beneath the tub. A cross brace H is fixed to opposite points in the frame and through a pair of bolts l2 supports a bracket I3 The bracket has a depending front flange l4 and has a timer shaft I6 extending from a clock I! loosely projected through an opening in flange I4. The clock is mounted in any suitable manner as by a pair of V screws it (one being shown) projected through the flange l4 and threaded into the front face of the clock housing. Shaft it has a suitable control knob 29 fixed thereto for rotating the shaft to wind the clock main'spring, determine or set the time during which the clock will run, and preload spring means for actuating linkage to be described.

A lever 2| is mounted on the rear face of the clock housing which will be rotated in one direc tion when the clock or timer is set and will be automatically rotated in a reverse direction at the end of a predetermined time interval. The free end of the lever is bent to form an abutment indicated at 22. Through suitable mechanism the lever rotation during setting of the timer loads a light spring and the lever is held in rotated position by a detent to relieve the timing mechanism of any holding effort and at the end of the predetermined time interval the detent is automatically moved permitting the spring to move the lever in a reverse direction. The mechanism so far described is conventional and although the lever has suificient power to operate switch contacts or the like it is not suitable for operating linkage to effect the purposes herein contemplated.

Fixed to the timer shaft it forwardly of the bracket flange I4 is a lever 23 which has one end of a generally L shaped slide arm 24 pivoted thereto as indicated at 2%. The opopsite end of arm 23 has a pin 21 therein adapted to ride in a slot 28 formed in a link member 29. The right hand end of member 29 (Fig. 2) has aportion 3i extending laterally from its top edge which is pivotally connected by a pin 32 to one arm of a crank 33. Crank 33 is pivotally suported from bracket i3 by a bolt 34 and suitable washers and lock nuts. Integral with portion 3! of link member 22 is a horizontal arm 35.

Arm 3% at its free end has a laterally extending portion which terminates in a pair of upstanding and spaced ears 3? between which is mounted a rockable element 38 connected to ears 3'! by a pin 39. A tension spring t'll has one end connected to bracket flange i4 and its opposite end connected to crank 33. A red. M has one end pivotally connected to crank 33 and its opposite end pivotally connected to a rock arm G2.

The operation of the parts so far described will now be explained. In the event the mechanism is adapted to disengage the agitator clutch of a washing machine the knob i9 is marked as indicated in Fig. and the washing machine frame it will have an indexing button or the like 43 inserted therein. When the washing machine is not operating the knob 19 will be in the position of Fig. 5 with the off position aligned with button :13. Under these conditions the parts will be as illustrated in full lines, the free end of lever 2! being elevated as shown in Fig. 2 and spring at being substantially free of load. Knob i9 is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) through a minimum of approximately 90 or to the eight minute indication. This movement causes lever 23 to force slide arm 24 through its maximum position of travel to the right (Fig. 2) carrying with it the link member 29 and the rockable element 38. At the same time the lever 25 rotates clockwise (Fig. 2) and the element 33 is so positioned that it moves slightly beyond the abutment 22 of lever 2i whereby lever 2! serves as a detent preventing reverse movement of link member 29 after the abutment 22 engages element 38. Due to its connection with member 29, crank 33 is rotated and the spring 48 is tensioned or loaded. Movement of the crank through rod 4| rotates rock arm 42 to the dotted line position (Fig. 1) thereby engaging the clutch for driving the agitator. Clutches of the type contemplated are well known wherein partial rotary movement of an arm in one direction will engage the clutch and a reverse movement will disengage the same.

The rockable element 38 may be of inverted U form in cross section with its left hand end (Fig. 3) bent downwardly so it is adapted to rest on the top face of arm 36, the element being weighted relative to its support point to achieve this condition. Downward movement of lever 2| depresses the right hand portion of element 38 which has sliding contact therewith and after the element clears lever 25 the weight distribution causes the right hand portion to elevate and engage the lever abutment 22. To insure elevating movement I may provide a light spring which tends to keep the element in contact with the lever. It will be noted that although spring 40 may be relatively heavy the load on lever 2| is substantially a direct thrust and that little ll any holding load is imposed on the clock mechanism. 1 preferably have the abutment 2 2 engage the depending sidewall of element 38 at a slight angle to prevent any tendency to bind when the lever starts to move in a reverse direction at the end of the timed interval.

It will be noted that the force for engaging the clutch is efiected directly through the control knob or timer shaft and is not transmitted to the relatively delicate clock mechanism. Also, the preloading of spring 48 for disengaging the clutch is directly effected through the timer shaft. Although I have described the linkage as operating a washing machine clutch. it will be evident that it may be employed for operating various devices such as gas valves and the like. Although I have shown spring 49 as attached to crank 33 it will be evident that the same result could be obtained if it were connected to other parts of the linkage such as link member 29, rod

4i, or rock arm 42.

If the time interval desired is such that slide arm 24 must be moved to its maximum travel position to the right (Fig. 2) the clockwise rotation of knob I9 is continued and pin 2] will ride in slot 28 to the left until the proper setting is reached. If the time interval desired is shorter than required to have lever 2i lock link member 2a in its maximum right hand position, knob 19 is rotated in a clockwise direction until this result is achieved and it is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to the proper setting such as three minutes. Clocks of the type described are designed so that if the knob is rotated beyond an automatic time zone the clock mechanismwill be rendered inoperative to lift 1ever'2l and the agitator or the like will continue to operate until the knob is manually moved to the off position. Accordingly, in the present instance this would be effected if the knob were rotated to have the hold zone aligned with button 43. After the-timer is set the clock rotates the timer shaft and knob in a reverse direction until the off position is reached and lever 21 is elevated permitting spring 45 to move link member 29 to the left (Fig. 2) thereby rocking arm in areverse direction to disengage the clutch or the like.

It will now be apparent that I- have disclosed means whereby a conventional relatively light clock adapted to be manually wound may be associated with linkage which the clock is not designed to operate in such a manner that the linkage is initially actuated by the same manual movement which winds the clock and at the same time preloads spring means adapted to automatically move the linkage in a reverse direction at the expiration of a predetermined time interval. The forces causing linkage movement are not transmitted through the clock mechanism and the only force absorbed by the clock is a substantially direct thrust on a lever which serves as a detent.

I Wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a clock timer of the type having a shaft extending from the timer housing and a lever disposed externally of the housing whereby when the shaft is rotated from an off position the lever is moved in a given direction and after a predetermined interval dependent on the amount of shaft rotation the lever is automatically moved in a reverse direction, of linkage adapted to actuate a clutch or the like directly operable by the shaft without imposing any substantial load on the timer, said linkage comprising a movable link member, means operably connecting the shaft and link member whereby when the shaft is rotated from the off position the member will be moved in a given direction, means connected to the link member engageable by the lever when the shaft is rotated a predetermined amount from the off position to hold thelink member against movement in a reverse direction, spring means operatively connected to the link member adapted to be loaded when the shaft is rotated from the off position, means adapted to operatively connect the link member with a clutch or the like, and the spring means being adapted to move the link member in said reverse direction when the lever is moved by the timer after a predetermined interval determined by the amount of shaft rotation from the off position.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the means operatively connecting the shaft and link member comprise a lever fixed to the shaft, a slide arm having one end pivotally connected to the shaft lever and its opposite end slidabie in a slot provided in the link member whereby at maximum travel of the shaft lever towards the link member the slide arm will force the link member to a position permitting the timer lever to lock the link member against reverse movement.

3. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the holding means for the link member comprises a rockable element mounted on the link member and movable therewith, the rockable element being biased to normally engage the timer lever at an intermediate point thereof, and the rockable element being movable towards an end of the timer lever concurrently with movement of said lever end whereby when the rockable element moves slightly beyond the lever it will be tilted to engage the lever end thereby holding the link member in its moved position.

4. The combination as described in claim 1 and wherein the means adapted to operatively connect the link. member with a clutch or the like comprises a crank pivoted at a point spaced from the link member and having one end connected to the link member, a rock arm pivoted at a point spaced from the crank, a rod interconnecting the crank and rock arm, and spring means adapted to be tensioned when the crank moves in a given direction for effecting movement of the crank in a reverse direction.

RALPH A. BARRETT.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Johnson Dec. 24, 1935 Number

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