US2689129A - Control switch unit and circuit for baseball games - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14, 1954 D. E. HOOKER CONTROL SWITCH UNIT AND CIRCUIT FOR BASEBALL GAMES Filed July 19, 1950 RUNNER 6 m 76/153 Rum/[R COIL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROM r Jim/e72 farx J a/d Eflaaker Se t. 14, 1954 D. E. HOOKER 2,689,129

CONTROL SWITCH UNIT AND CIRCUIT FOR BASEBALL GAMES Filed July 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ju/nfarx Zonala E flaoker Sept. 14, 1954 D. E. HOOKER 2,639,129

CONTROL SWITCH UNIT AND CIRCUIT F'QR BASEBALL GAMES Filed July 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 RUNNER SWITCHES JJD RUNNER lv/Pskq I72 z/'nzorx .DonaZd Z, Lffooier Patented Sept. 14, 1954 CONTROL SWITCH UNIT AND CIRCUIT FOR BASEBALL GAMES DonaldE. Hooker, Skokie, Ill., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 19, 1950, Serial No. 174,631

13 Claims. 1

This invention has as its principal object the provision of a control unit and circuit for game and amusement apparatus.

While the novel control unit is susceptible of numerous other applications and embodiments, in the form shown it is especially adapted for use in conjunction with a baseball game in which it controls score and indicating lamps to portray the progress of a base runner, and score values, on an illuminated panel.

More detailed objects pertain to the provision, of a control unit including a set of switches mounted to rotate on a carrier driven by a motor, electromagnets especially located along the travel of the carrier to actuate the switches under certain conditions, means releasably holding any actuated switch in such condition, and a device for tripping out the actuated switches as the carrier moves past a, certain position.

Further objects relate to the location of base switches at four points on a rotating carrier disc in analogy to the four base positions in a baseball game; to the location of four switch-actuating electromagnets at similarly analogous positions; to a certain arrangement of permanent magnets for holding the base switches actuated; to the contrivance of a stationary cam for tripping out any held switches as the disc rotates; and to certain circuit connections for the control unit as applied to a baseball game, for efiecting travel of the carrier different distances corresponding to one-two-three or home-run scores by the player.

Still further objects relate to the provision of a control unit having cyclically traveling switches moved past stationary operating magnets and stationary releasing means all situated in critical predetermined control positions relative to an index position,- and a plurality of rotary control switch wipers connected for operation by the traveling switches for control purposes having a functional relation to the angular displacement of the traveling switches relative to said index position.

Ancillary to the last-mentioned object is the provision of a rotary control switch variously connectable in a circuit by some of the'carrier switches, and rotating in step with the carriers, for establishing a certain repetitious sequence of connections no matter what the starting position of the carriers happens to be Another object is the provision of means for indexing the carriers in desired starting or stopping positions.

Another object is the provision of a switch 2 tions, which may be partly or entirely repeated, by a cyclically traveling switch structure which does not require return to any particular start- 'ing position for the purpose.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the control unit;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the control unit;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the control unit looking in the direction of lines 6-6 of Fig. 3, and showing in elevation the four base-running switches;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional detail (with parts shown in elevation) through one or" the switch carrier discs showing parts of a holding switch in inverted position and looking in the directionof lines I-I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail through one of the mounting plates of the unit showing one of the switch-tripping cams.

The novel control unit is described in conjunction with a ball-rolling game of the sort depicted in Fig. 1 wherein the player propels one or more balls onto a playing field II] by manipulation of a ball projector II, with the object of striking scoring targets, such as the conventional bumper switches I2.

The illustrative game may have a baseball diamond portrayed on the play field I0, and the bumpers I2 may be arranged at base, infield, and outfield positions, as at I2, IZA, IZB, I2C etc.

Suitable translucent scoring indicia may be arranged on the glass back-box or score panel I3, as at I4; and, in addition, a-representation I-IA of the baseball diamond is provided and arranged in known manner to be illuminated from behind by sequentially energized lamps to depict with some simulated animation the movements or progress of a ball player along bases I5, ISA, I53, I56 on the diamond, the score and animating lamps being controlled by the scoring action of the played balls on bumpers I2.

Referring to Fig. 3, the control unit consists of a motor 20 driving a shaft 2| through reduction gears.

Fast at opposite ends of the shaft are carrier discs 22 and 23 on which are positionally spotted and mounted special hold-in switches. Disc 22 is also seen in Fig. 4 and disc 23 in Fig. 5.

For example, on the forward disc 22 there are four such switches 24, 25, 26, 21 (Fig. 4) spotted quadrantally around the disc.

The hold-in switches are of the construction detailed in Fig. 7, and are of the type variously known as leaf-spring, stack, or jack switches, consisting of two or more spring contact blades 24A, 243.

The hold-in switches are of novel construction in respect of their holding and releasing means, the upper contact blades, such as 2413, each having a ferromagnetic armature 24C secured thereon to project beyond the body ofthe carrier disc so as to overlie a permanent magnet slug 24D fixed therebelow on the carrier, as well as the pole face 24F of an electromagnet such as that indicated at 24E.

In the embodiment illustrated, there are four of the hold-in switches on each of the carriers 22 and 23; and there is one holding magnet oi the permanent type 24D beneath each switch armature 24C, 250, etc. Likewise, there are four of the electromagnets 24E, 25E, etc. associated with the switches on disc 22, but only one such electromagnet 34 associated with the four switches 3|), 3|, 32, 33 on carrier disc '23, although each of the latter switches is providedwith a permanent-type holding magnet D, 3|D 33D.

Each carrier disc has fixedly mounted adjacent thereto cam means 22A or 23A, respectively, for tripping out or releasing any held switch, this means being in the form of a cam bracket over which the armature elements, such as 240, ride during each cycle of travel, whereby the arma tures are successively forced away from their holding magnets in those instances where they are in held condition.

As viewed in Fig. 5, there is mounted on one of the unit base plates, a carry-over switch 4|! including spring contacts 40A and 40B biased toclose, there being an offset riding nose 400 which rides on any of four duadrantally spaced studs 4|, MA, ME, MG fixed on the inside face of carrier disc 23.

The purpose of the carry-over switch is to assure at least 90 displacements or steps of the carriers, upon each starting of the motor, as .1

will appear more fully hereinafter.

Animation switch means 'for producing some of the lighting effects to simulate action on the glass panel |3 is shown in Fig. 6 and includes a stationary contact panel mounted behind the carrier disc 23, and having arranged in a circle thereon a series of contact buttons generally designated by the reference 46, adapted to be engaged by four quadrantally arranged baserunner wiper-contact blades 30X, 3|X, 32X, and 33X, mounted on the underside of disc 23, each of the latter blades being respectively connected to one of the contacts of the corresponding one of the base-runnerswitches 30, 3|, 32, 33 on the corresponding carrier disc 23, as will more fully appear in the circuit diagram. Thus, the several wipers 30X 33X all rotate with the carrier 23.

It will be observed in Fig. 4 that an annular contact 48 is fixed'on a panel behind the other carrier disc 22 and this ring is engaged by a wiper contact 49 to complete connection for the four hit switches 24, 25, 26, 21.

By way of general summary, it will now appear from the structural description of the control unit that there are two jointly rotatable switch- carrier discs 22 and 23; and that each disc has four quadrantally spaced switches thereon; and that each said switch is provided with a permanent-magnet holding means; and, while the hit switches on the disc 22 each have associated therewith a corresponding electromagnet as an actuator, the four base-runner switches on the other disc 23 have only one such electromagnet (34) for actuating the same.

In the illustrative operation of the game control unit, if the player scores a single or onebase hit, the carrier discs will advance only onequarter revolution or and for a two-base hit will effect an advance of etc, according to the circuit control features and operations now to be described.

Referring to the circuit diagram of Fig. 2, the baseball game is supplied with a main electrical power connection via power conductors 5|], 5|, the latter including in circuit a known form of master control switch 52 (e. g. a coin-operated switch) used to condition the game for a round of play.

For simplicity, the ball-bumper switches for only the four-base positions are shown at 12W, I2X, I2Y, |2Z; and each of these is closable to connect power from conductor 58 to one of the hit coils 24E, 25E, 26E, or 21E, depending upon which ball bumper or bumpers l2, |2A, etc. (respectively associated with the switches HEW' |2Z) the player succeeds in hitting.

The closure of any ball switch |2W |2Z not only energizes the corresponding hit coil 24E 21E, but also energizes the so-called runner coil 34, which is in series with all hit coils in the return power circuit connection 53 to power lead 5|.

The power circuit for the motor 25 is indexed through the carry-over switch 46 so as to stop the motor and carriers always at one of the quadrantal positions, and also finally to stop the carrier discs always at an index or normal starting position at the end of each revolution or cycle of travel.

Thus, one of the base-runner switches such as 30 will always be stopped in alignment with the electromagnet 34, as indicated by the full-line arrow in Fig. 2.

If we now assume that the player has hit ball switch I2W, the hit coil 24E will be energized to close the hit switch 24, which will be held closed by its permanent magnet 24D, with a resultant establishment of a power circuit for motor 20 from line 50, wiper and ring 48-49, via conductor 54, now-closed switch 24, and conductors 55 and 56 to power line 5|.

The carrier discs 22, 23 now take joint motion, but the hit switch 24 would travel only about 40 before encountering the trip cam 22A, which would open the motor circuit save for the fact that the carry-over switch 40 will at this time be closed for the duration of at least 90 of travel of the carrier 23, so that while hit switch 24 will promptly be restored to open condition after the carriers begin their travel, such travel will nevertheless continue at least for a full quarter phase of the cycle, or until the carryover switch encounters the next of the studs 4 IA.

Simultaneously with the foregoing starting of the carrier advance, the runner coil 34 was also energized to close the first runner switch 30 to complete a power circuit from the indicated ground via now-closed runner switch 30 to wiper 30K, and thence successively to the contacts 46,

, 46A, 46B, and 460, each of which is connected to one of the animating lamps, generally indicated at L, and which are arranged at and between the base positions behind the pictorial representation I4A of the baseball diamond on the glass cabinet back-panel !3 (Fig. l).

In the foregoing example, the wiper 30X would travel only 90 and come to rest on the lamp contact 460, corresponding to first base, after flashing the preceding lamps for animation.

Now, the rotation of the carrier 23, as viewed in Fig. 5, is anticlockwise, and it will be observed that the starting position of the first base-runner switch 30 was opposite the magnet 34, so that before this switch 30 can be tripped-out, the carrier will have to travel nearly 320 beforeswitch 30 is brought around to the tripping cam 35A; and therefore the aforesaid circuit condition will be held to leave the lamp at first-base position illuminated by wiper 30X lodged on contact button 46C.

Meanwhile, the carry-over switch will have been opened at the end of the first 90 of travel of the carrier, and the control unit is ready for the next play, wth the first base hit switch 24 now restored or open, the carry-over switch 40 again open, the first runner switch 30 held closed by its permanent magnet 30D, and wiper 30X on contact 460 holding the lamp at first base illuminated.

In the case where the player scores a double the operation is similar except that the second hit coil 25E would be energized to cause the carrier to advance one-half revolution from index position, and a base-runner 3! X would come to rest on contact 46F to illuminate the lamp L at second base; or, in the case of a triple on contact 461 to illuminate the lamp'at third base.

If a home run is scored the hit switch 21, which is farthest removed, angularly, from the tripping cam, will hold the motor circuit closed until the first three lugs 4 IA, MB, 410 (Fig. 5) have passed the carry-over switch 40, following which, at about 40 from index positionsaid home run hit switch 21E will trip out, but the carry-over switch will complete the cycle and can be opened by the fourth lug 4! at full index position.

Scoring of runs is effected when a hot or energized base runner wiper 30X 33X passes over one of the last contacts, such as 46K, before reaching the fourth or home plate base button, whereby to energize the advancing coil 60 of a known type of run counter 6!, via conductor 62, 63, said counter being automatically reset after each game by known means, It should be noted in Fig. 2 that the home-run button #4 is repeated since the illustration is linear, whereas the actual contact layout is circular (Fig. 6).

The novel control unit lends itself to the provision of a variety of additional scoring features for plays and situations encountered in baseball, by reason of the fact that heretofore it has been necessary to employ complicated circuits involving numerous control switches and relays for the purpose of holding and advancing the conditions of the animating, indicating, and scoring circuits from one play to the next, so that any such game affording realistic and analogously simulated player action was costly to manufacture, service, and operate, whereas the present control unit, by employing a novel traveling multiplex switch structure with selective actuating, holding, and tripping means, and selfgoverning index and cycling circuits, makes it possibleto eliminate many relays and switches andto produce a less costly, simpler, and more reliable game.

It is preferable, in a baseball tpe of game, to leave thelast-awarded score standing until the next round of play, and to this end, clearing of a previous score (as indicated by lamps L) may be effected by initiating a full 360 or homerun travel of the carriers while disabling the lamp and run counter circuits.

Accordingly, the initial operation of the master switch 52 always momentarily impulses a clearing relay 54, which closes contacts 54A, in parallel with the home-run game switch contacts IZZ, cycling the motor for a full 360 travel.

In addition, the clearing relay 54 opens its normally closed contacts 54B in series with the common feed from power line lead 5|, so that the run counter 6| will be temporarily disabled.

Since the power connection to the clearing relay through the initially closed master switch 52 looks itself through its hold contacts 540 and common motor power lead connection 48-49- 55, this holding circuit will be broken, and the clearing relay will drop out, when the motor circuit is opened as the 360 clearing cycle is com pleted.

One of the important features of the new control, switch should now be apparent, namely, the fact that it does not require return to any particular starting or homing position to repeat the establishment of a sequence of circuits which corresponds to the selected operation of any of the so-called hit switches.

To illustrate: the starting position of the carriers need not be that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to produce the sequence of scoring operations in the examples of one-, two-, and three-base hits given hereinabove; instead of the runner switch 30 being aligned with the magnet 34 in Fig. 5, any of the remaining three switches 3|, 32, or 33, could have been opposite magnet 34 and the scoring results described would have been the same, the only qualification being that it is assumed that none of the switches shall be in held (by the permanent magnet) condition when the scoring operation is started.

Accordingly, it becomes possible, for example. in the first operation (by closing switch. lZW) to energize the lamps sequentially from home (Fig. 2) to 1st base (a single), and hold the let-base lamp energized at contacts 46C; and then immediately thereafter to sequentially illuminate all of the lamps L from home to 1st base, then to 2d base, and then to 3rd base, by closure of switch IZX, where the second batter scores a double or two-base hit, thus simulating the advance of the player (who was left at 1st base in the first play) to 2d and then on to 3rd, while leaving the second batter on 2d base.

Regardless of what index position happens to be'occupied at the beginning of the last-mentioned example, the stated sequence of switching events will occur so long as all of the so-called hit and runner switches are normalized (i. e. tripped-out or open) before switch 12W is closed.

Prior devices of this class have commonly required relays and relativel complicated stepping switches and wiring conne ions to hold the gains for the preceding players while advancing the succeeding players to proper base positions.

The illustrative circuit has been simplified to the utmost to illustrate one commercial application of the new unit, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such a control device can be utilized in numerous other applications.

For example, the number of carriers 22, 23, as well as the number or location of hold (hit 1' runner) switches, and actuating coils E1 or 34, etc, therefor may be enlarged or decreased to modify the control circuit possibilities; and the number and relative distribution of indexing or carry-over switches and lugs may be expanded or re-arranged from a variety of control conditions, all within the contemplation of the present disclosures, and all such adaptations and modi-- fications of the device are intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a control switch, a carrier movable relative to and from an index position, electrical means for moving said carrier, index switch means connected with said moving means and having operating means actuated by the carrier for con trolling operation of said electrical means and governing movement of the carrier in fixed steps relative to said index position, an electromagnetically operable switch carried by the carrier, a stationary electromagnet adjacent the carrier and path of travel of said last-mentioned switch for actuating the latter when the carrier is in a ccrtam position, means on the carrier automatically operable to hold said last-mentioned switch actuated, and means dependent on movement of said held switch by the carrier past a certain position for releasing the held switch from actuated condition.

2. A control switch according to claim 1 and further characterized by the provisionof a multi-- contact switch including a rotary contactor movable in step with said carrier and connected in a control circuit by said electromagnetically ope able switch responsive to actuation thereof as aforesaid.

3. In an electrical control device, a cyclically traveling carrier, a plurality of switches movable with the car,- e and each having an operating armature, stationary magnetic means positioned alongthe travel of said carrier for moving said armature and operating said switches at times when the armatures thereof are in juxtaposition with said magnetic means as an incident to positioning of the carrier in certain phases of its travel, and magnetic means movable with said carrier for releasably holding desired ones of said switches in operated condition on operation as aforesaid, together with means for releasing any switch held as aforesaid.

a. Circuit control means for a baseball game of the known type which includes a plurality of game-operated switches, and indicating lights for illumination at four base positions, at least, and for animating purposes between said positions to indicate base-running, said circuit means comprising: a pair of switch carriers and motor means energizable for joint rotation of said carriers, at least four quadrantally spaced switches on each carrien'at least four quadrantally spaced station-- ary magnets for operating a first set of said switches on one of said carriers, one stationary magnet for operating a second set of said switches on the other carrier as a result of movement of the latter to position any of said switches of the second set relative to said one magnet, circuit means including a carry-over switch operated by means on a carrier, said game switches, and said first set of switches, and the corresponding magnets, for energizing said motor to produce a cycle of travel of the carriers or quadrantal fractions thereof, depending upon which of said game switches is operated in scoring one, two, three, or four base awards, and circuit means including a rotary switch operated jointly with the other said carrier and including connections with said switches thereon and said lights, for indicating movements of said carriers corresponding to said awards, magnet means for holding any of the switches in either said set operated, means operating automatically depending on movements of said carriers predetermined amounts for releasing held switches of said sets, one at a time, and circuit means including said carry-over switch for indexing said carriers during each cycle of travel thereof to a certain starting position.

5. In a control switch of the class disclosed, a rotary carrier and means for rotating the same, a switch on said carrier and having a magnetically attractable member movable by attraction to ac tuate the switch, an electromagnet positioned adjaoent said carrier and along the angular path of travel of said attractable member for energization to attract the latter and actuate the switch at a time when the carrier is in position to dis pose said attractable part to the eilective attractive effort of said electromagnet, a permanent magnet on the carrier adjacent said zit-tractable member to hold the latter in attracted position, and a tripping cam situated along path of travel for engagement by said attractable mem her in attracted position and for forcing said member out of held relation with said permaner magnet.

6. A selecting switch including rotary carrier means, switch means including plural switch members, and mounted to move with said carrier means, and having magnetically attract-able actuating means movable therewith, stationary magnet means i'or actuating said carrier switch means selectively depending upon the angular position of said actuating means of the latter relative to said magnet means, means mounted to travel with said carrier means for automatically and releasably holding any actuated carrier switch means in actuated condition, stationary means engaged intermittently by the carrier switch means as an incident to movement of the carrier means to release any held carrier switch means, motor means for rotating said carrier means, and index switch means cooperable with said motor means and certain members of said carrier switch means for starting and stopping the carrier means at predetermined index positions in which certain switch members of said carrier switch means are always positioned relative to said magnet means for selective action by the latter, as aforesaid, and rotary switch members mounted for movement in step with said carrier means and selectively connected for control operation by certain switch members of said carrier switch means.

7. Circuit control means for a baseball game including a set of lights to be illuminated in a certain order to simulate a movement aspect of the game, said means including: a rotary switch device including a plurality of rotatable wipers and stationary contacts successively engaged thereby and connected with said lights, said device further including four normally open runner switches spaced thereon at certain index positions and each connected in an energizing circuit for one of said wipers and all fixed to travel in step with the latter; a driving motor for said rotary switch device, the latter further including four normally open hit switches spaced thereon at said index positions and fixed to travel in step with said runner switches and each connected in a motor circuit for energizing the motor; hold means acting automatically to releasably hold closed any of said runner and hit switches which are actuated to closed condition; an actuating armature associated and movable with each said runner and hit switch and each magnetically attractable to actuate the associated switch to closed condition; a single runner coil situated at a certain index station adjacent the path of the armatures or said runner switches for energization to attract any runner-switch armature disposed in juxtaposition therewith in certain of the several indexed positions of the rotary switch device; four hit coils each situated at a certain index station adjacent the path of the hit-switch armatures for energization to attract any of the latter disposed in juxtaposition therewith in any of the indexed positions of the switch device; circuit connections including a game switch connected for operation in playing the game to energize any one of said hit coils jointly with said runner coil, whereby to energize said motor and one of said lights, at least, and index switch means including parts mounted to rotate in step with said runner and hit switches and connected in the circuit with said motor and hit switches for stopping the motor to position said rotary switch device in said indexed positions.

8. In a game including a series of animating lights to be illuminated in a certain order, and game switches operable to cause such illumination, circuit control means comprising: a rotary switch carrier; a motor for rotating said carrier; a plurality of wipers driven by the motor in step with the carrier over a series of relatively stationary contacts each connected with one of said lights; a plurality of electromagnetically-operated runner switches at index positions on said carrier and each. connected in a power circuit with one of said wipers for energizing said lights through a particular wiper; a plurality of electromagnetically-operated hit switches at index positions on said carrier and each connected in a power circuit to energize said motor; index switch means driven by said motor in step with said carrier and including circuit connection with each hit switch to stop the carrier at any of a plurality of predetermined index positions; electromagnetic hit-- switch operating means situated adjacent said carrier at each said index position for cooperation with a hit-switch aligned therewith by each indexed positioning of the'carrier; electromagnetically-operated runner-switch operating means situated at only one index position adjacent said carrier for cooperation successively with said runner switches as the latter are aligned therewith by movements of the carrier into said indexed positions; an operating circuit for each hit-switch operating means, each said last-mentioned circuit including at least one game switch and said runner-switch operating means; holding means on the carrier for each hit and runner switch to releasably hold the same in operated condition; and stationary holdrelease means situated at certain predetermined release positions adjacent the carrier for engagement with a part on each said hit and runner switch to move and restore the latter to nonoperated condition as a result of movement of the carrier and said hit and runner switches past said release positions, whereby said lights can be illuminated and extinguished as a result of indexed movements of the carrier under control of said game switches.

9. A control unit comprising a rotatable switch-carrier and control circuit means carried thereby; motor means for rotating said carrier; normally open control-switch means carried by said carrier and including magneticallyattractable operating armature means therefor movable into and out of predetermined attracted position to close the control-switch means; permanent magnet means mounted adjacent said armature means for attractively holding the latter in said predetermined position; electromagnetic means mounted stationary relative to said carrier in position to be magnetically close to said armature means for operating the switch means by attraction of the armature means into ,said predetermined position; a power circuit for said motor including index switch means and a motor-starting connection selectively controlled by said control-switch means for starting said motor and stopping the same cooperably with said index switch means to selectively eiiect predetermined distances of travel of said carrier from an index position; and control switchrelease means situated along the path of travel of said carrier means in a position to be engaged by said armature means responsive to a certain angular displacement of the carrier away from said index position, for moving said armature means fully out of held attraction by said permanent magnet means and thereby releasing said control-switch means.

10. A control unit comprising a set of switches mounted on a rotatable carrier; motor means for rotating said carrier; each of said switches including a movable actuator with a magnetically attractable part exposed for attraction by means extraneous to the carrier whether the latter be at rest or in motion; relatively stationary electromagnets situated at selected points along the path of travel of said exposed attractable actuator parts for attraction of any of the latter which are disposed in the eiTective magnetic field of any of said electromagnets, whereby to actuate the corresponding switch to operated condition; additional magnetic means movable with said carrier for releasably attracting the attractable parts of the actuator of at least one of said switches to hold the same in operated condition as aforesaid during movement of the carrier; and relatively stationary switch-releasing means situated adjacent the carrier to be engaged by the held actuator of any operated switch, as aforesaid, for automatically releasing the same from held condition responsive to movement of the carrier to travel the held-switch actuator into engagement with said releasing means.

11. A control unit for electrically operated games and the like, and comprising: a rotatable carrier and means for rotating same; a switch on said carrier and including a movable operating member therefor; switch actuating means including stationary magnetic means positioned magnetically close to the path of travel traced by said switch-operating member in rotation of the carrier, and a magnetically attractable actuating part movable with said switch-operating member and exposed for attraction by said magnetic means, when said actuating part is aligned therewith by movement of the carrier into a certain angular position, whereby said actuating part can be attracted to a predetermined operated condition to actuate said switch; further magnetic holding means movable with the carrier and positioned close to said attractable actuating part of the switch-operating member to exert a releasable holding attraction on the latter in said operated condition thereof for the purpose of maintaining said switch in operated condition while the carrier is in motion following attraction and switch-activation by the stationary magnetic means as aforesaid; together with switch-release means including a stationary member positioned adjacent the path of travel of said switch to be engaged by a part of said switch-actuating means on the carrier as a result of rotation of the carrier following actuation and holding of the switch as aforesaid, whereby to move said movable-operating member to withdraw said attractable actuating part out of holding relationship with said further magnetic means, to restore said switch to nonoperated condition.

12. In a control switch, a bank of contacts, a plurality of contact wipers movable over said contacts, a rotary carrier and means for rotating the same and said wipers jointly; switches on said carrier and having a magnetically attractable operating armature and each connected in a series circuit with one of said wipers; stationary magnetic means situated along the path of travel of said armatures with the carrier, and selectively operable to attract any said armature aligned therewith by movement of the carrier whereby to selectively actuate the appertaining switch'as a function of travel of the carrier in aligning the appertaining armature, as aforesaid; automatically operable holding means on the carrier for releasably holding any of said switches in operated condition following selective actuation thereof in the manner aforesaid; together with means operating dependently upon angular travel of said carrier, and including a stationary member adjacent the carrier and engaged by attracted armatures moving relative thereto, to forcibly withdraw any such armature from the holding action of said holding means, whereby to release held switches; certain of said contact wipers being connected with certain of said switches and adapted for controlling desired circuits to be connected through said Wipers and contacts as a function of the movement of the carrier into predetermined angular positions.

13. A control unit comprising a set of switches mounted on a rotatable carrier; motor means for rotating said carrier; electromagnetic means at selected positions along the rotary path of said carrier; switch-operating means including a movable member for each switch and each having a magnetic armature adapted to be attracted from a normally non-operated position into a predetermined operated position to move the appertaining movable member and actuate the appertaining switch; said electromagnetic means being disposed magnetically close to the path of said armature members for attracting the latter to said operated position at times when the travel of the carrier disposes any of said non-operated armature members in magnetic alignment with one of said electromagnetic means to be attracted if the latter is in an energized condition; means on said carrier for releasably holding at least one of said switches in actuated condition, following attraction of the appertaining armature to operated position, as aforesaid, while the carrier rotates said armature away from said position of magnetic alignment following attraction; together with switch-release means including a stationary member adjacent the carrier and line of travel of said switch-operating means and movable operating members thereof for engagement by any of the latter which are held in operated position as aforesaid, whereby to releasably displace same from the said held condition; together with rotatable circuit-switching means coupled with said carrier for rotation in step therewith, and including contact means adapted for connection with an instrumentality to be controlled; and circuit means for selectively energizing said electromagnetic means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 2,008,479 Warner July 16, 1935 2,118,037 Fischer May 24, 1938 2,310,138 Whittaker Feb. 2, 1943 2,427,207 Grieveson Sept. 9, 1947 2,494,520 Riggen Jan. 10, 1950 2,532,627 Koci Dec. 5, 1950

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