US2580287A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

G. F'. DUVALL.

TIMING DEVICE Dec. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 13, 1949 G. F. DUVALL Dec. 25, 1951` TIMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1949 Hlllmn Dec. 25, 1951 G, F, DUVALL 2,580,287

TIMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C) I W www Mw 7548 /m/e/zor Patented Dec. 25, 1951 TIMIN G DEVICE Gordon F. Duvall, deceased,

late of Newton,

Mass., by Harriet Irene Duvall, administratrix, Ballston Spa, N. Y., assigner to American Time Corporation, Springfield,

of Massachusetts Mass., a corporation Application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,737

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in timing devices especially designed and adapted for controlling the operation of a bank of switch actuating cams.

The invention has for its principal object the provision in a timing device of a spring actuated drive bar, the movement of which is controlled by a master cam, having a plurality of steps which permit the periodical movement of the drive bar in a direction for rotating simultaneously the bank oi' cams.

Another and equally important object of the invention is the provision of a timing device of the character herein described which is especially designed for use in timing the operation of a machine such for example, a washing apparatus which requires timed operation of its mechanism to complete a cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a timing device of a spring actuated mechanism for controlling the periodical movement of a bank of cams without lost motion or delay, whereby to effect quick and positive movement of the cams of the bank to a position where they are expected to perform the respective functions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the timing device embodied in the invention taken substantially on line of Fig. 5;

Fig. 2 1s a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is an end view as viewed from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view as viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view as viewed from the left in Fig. 3.

Prior to this invention, it was a common practice to control the periodical closing of a bank of switches by means of a cam shaft rotatable at a constant uniform speed of rotation to bring the cams thereon into engagement with the switches. While this method of controlling the bank of switches is not entirely objectionable, yet due to the fact that the cams move into switch closing position no faster than the rotation of the cam, there resulted considerable delay in the actual closing and opening of the switches. Unless properly timed, the phase of operation of the mechanism becomes disrupted. This invention has for its object the provision of spring-actuated mechanism for effecting a snap-like action of the cam into switch-actuating position, thereby eliminating any delay which would otherwise result from a slow closing operation. The arrangement also reduces, to a minimum, arcing at the switch points.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing in a timing mechanism a front wall I0 and a rear wall Il. The front Wall I0 and the rear wall are connected together at corresponding corners by spacer bars I2. To these spacer bars I2 are connected as at I3 a top wall |4` and a bottom wall I5.

A timing motor of a Well known conventional construction is indicated at I6. This motor is supported from the wall I I as at I1.

This motor is connected in circuit with a suitable source of electric energy by conductors I8. It includes a shaft I9. On this shaft is fixedly secured in any suitable manner, a hub 2! formed as an integral part of a clutch disc 2|) of a clutch structure 2|. This clutch structure 2| includes a complementary clutch disc 22 having a plurality of spring iingers 23 adapted to slide over the tapered teeth 24 of the clutch disc 23 when rotated in one direction and adapted to have latch engagement with the teeth when rotated in an opposite direction to provide a coupling between the discs 2| and 22. The clutch disc 22 is fiXedly secured in any suitable manner to a portion 25 of a sleeve 26. This sleeve 26 is rotatable upon the shaft I9. On the hub portion 25 of the sleeve 26 isxedly secured a cam 29, hereafter referred to as a program cam, as it is this cam which governs the movement of the bank of switch-actuating cams hereinafter referred to.

Slidably mounted transversely of a hub portion 28 of the sleeve 26 is a drive bar 30. This drive bar 30 is of elongated formation and has an elongated slot 3| formed therein through which projects the hub portion 28. The sleeve 26 provides a reduced hub portion 32 on which a switch-actuating cam 33 is Xedly mounted. Adjacent this cam 33 and xedly secured to the sleeve 26 is a coupler arm 34 having a latch finger 35. This latch nger 35 is adapted to have latched engagement with a keeper notch 36 formed in a coupler disc 38 mounted upon a stud shaft 31. This disc 38 provides a hub portion 39 through which the stud shaft 31 projects.

Threaded upon the hub portion 39 is a finger knob 4I.

The drive bar 30 has a second elongated slot 40 formed therein in spaced longitudinal alignment with respect to the slot 3| and through which the :shaft '53" :of va spring motor 53 projects.

The drive bar 30 is provided with a rider pin 42. A bank of cams is indicated at 45. The cams 46 of this bank of cams control the opening and closing of circuit switches 41 connected by conductors 48 in circuit with the electric operating or driving element (not shown) vwithin that circuit. This bank of cams is lfixedly secured Vto a shaft 49 journalled between the walls I9 and Il.

On this shaft 49 is fixedly secured a 4hub 59. This hub 59 carries a pinion 5I which operatively meshes with a rack 52 securedto .and carried by the drive bar 30. Secured to this shaft in any suitable manner is one ,end portion of lthe clock spring 53, the oppositefend of this spring being connectedas at -54 to a pin carried by the wall Hl.

A starting `switch lis indicated at 51. This switch is carried by 4the Vwall I4 and is adapted to control the circuit to the timing motor. switch 51 includes a contact nger 55, the Yend portion of which is adapted to be engaged by the hill 55 of the cam 33. When this switch is closed, the circuit to the timing motor will be completed.

The program cam 29 is provided witha plurality of steps 59 which are adapted to be successvely engaged by the rider pin 42 as the program lcam 29 is jrotated. n There lare `as many steps 59 as there varecarns on the bank The A of cams 45.

The operation of the timing device is initiated l by rotating the hand knob 4| 'to effect coupling between the nger 35 and the disc 38. This coupling effects rotation of the cam 33 to move the hill 55 thereof from engagement with the contact nger 58 as shown in Fig. 5 vto close switch 51. At the same time, rotation of the cam 29 to move the drive bar in a direction to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 is effected to place the spring motor 53 under tension, at the completion of which operation the hill 55 will move from engagement with respect to the contact finger 58 to close the circuit to the timing motor I6. This timing motor will now take over the rotation of the program cam 29 and, each time a step 59 of that cam vis presented to the pin 42, the drive bar 3i! will move in snap laction to rotate the bank of cams 45, likewise in snap action to close one or more of the switches 41 controlled by this bank of cams. Each time the cam 29 is rotated to place the spring motor 53 under tension, the bank of cams 45 ywill be rotated to an initial starting position.

By this arrangement, the closing or opening of the switches 41 is effected under quick snaplike action, thereby avoiding delayin such operation.

This becomes an important feature in a machine where there are a plurality of periodical operations.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentis:

1. In a timing apparatus, the combination with the shaft of a timing motor, of a sleeve carried by said shaft for rotation relative thereto, means providing a coupling between said sleeve and said shaft to effect rotation of the sleeve in one direction by rotation of the shaft, said means being ineffective for coupling said sleeve and shaft for rotation in an opposite direction, means for rotating said sleeve independent of the rotation of the shaft, a program cam mounted on and rotatable with the sleeve, a drive member, an element on said drive member adapted to engage the cam surface of the program cam to move the drive member in one direction, a driven shaft, means providing driving connection ,between .the driven .shaft and the drive member to eieclt rotation of the .driven shaft in one direction by movement of the drive ,memberby .said program cam, and a spring 'having one end portion connected to said driven shaft and an opposite end portion to a xed member, for rotating said driven shaft to move the driven member in a direction opposite to the movement of said drive .member by said program cam, said spring being placed under tension by movement of said drive member by said program cam.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the program cam provides a plurality of steps adapted to be successively engaged by said element on said drive member.

HARRIET IRENE DUVALL, Administratri `of vEstate `of Gordon F. Duvall,

Deceased.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,163,190 Carlson et al. June 20, -1939 ,247,455 Turin et al. July 1., 1941

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