US3018339A - Conductive system for time switches with wiping contacts - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1962 R. D. SMITH 3,018,339

CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES WITH WIPING CONTACTS Filed July 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 23, 1962 R. D. SMITH 3,018,339

CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES WITH WIPING CONTACTS Filed July 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- Jan. 23, 1962 R. D. SMITH 3,018,339

CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES WITH WIPING CONTACTS Filed July 11, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7/ lnsulaf/n 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 R. D. SMITH Jan. 23, 1962 CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES wrm WIPING CONTACTS Filed July 11, 1960 iNvE To'R R. D. SMITH Jan. 23, 1962 CONDUCT-IVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES WITH WIPING CONTACTS Filed July 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 "m6 s 3 a Mm mm K. n .3 w m H ll .1 2, MW asfll 3 a. 7 a 7 U 4 a 2 5 7 6 in? u INVENTOR United States Patet 3,018,339 CONDUCTIVE SYSTEM FOR TIME SWITCHES WITH WIPING CONTACTS Raymond D. Smith, 37 Ridgeway Road, Easton, Conn. Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 41,847 16 Claims. (Cl. 200-37) This invention relates to improvements in combined clock and time switch units basically of the type shown in my United States Patent No. Re. 23,783, wherein electric current must be transmitted through at least two relatively insulated conductive means from circuit terminals, that are stationed on frame structure at the rear of a clock driven circuit controlling revolving contact member, to cooperative circular switch tracks that are located at the front of said revolving contact member and selectively adjustable for setting times of automatic switch action.

One object of the invention is to enable a plurality of coaxially related circularly adjustable switch tracks at least one of which is conductive, to be wiped by a circuit switching contact member that revolves about the common axis of curvature of said tracks, and to provide electrical connection maintaining the conductive one of said tracks in live relation to a load circuit or circuits in all of the various relative and absolute positions of circular adjustment in which the tracks may be stationed and without obstructing the clock driven travel of the aforesaid revolving contact member.

Another object is to utilize as current conductors for the purpose indicated, two relatively insulated, axially offset, perimetrical, conductive surfaces forming components of a hollow tubular bearing post that is rigidly stationed on and projects forward from the frame structure of the time switch to afford rotary bearing support for all the aforementioned movable parts of the current switching mechanism. Such post serves also to support a graduated dial or dials by which to tell the time of day in conjunction with conventional hour and minute hands of the clock and by which also to determine and exhibit the circular setting of the switch tracks in a manner to predetermine the times of automatic switch action.

Another object is to incorporate a conductive one of said switch tracks in the helical annular surface of a rigid insulative split discal element with which is interleaved in spiral fashion the helical surface of another insulative split discal element so that said surfaces are circularly adjustable relatively and mutually overlapping and are also circularly adjustable in relation to the frame structure of the time switch so that variable arcu'ate extents of the conductive track can be exposed to be wiped by the clock driven traveling contact member.

A further object is to incorporate the aforesaid switch track in a helical insulative surface that comprises the broadside face of a discal fin that spirals edgewise about a central, axially elongated hub and is rigid therewith, whereby to be supported steadily and prevented from springing away from smooth conformation to the other discal element that is interleaved therewith and also prevented from skewing or wobbling in relation to the axis of rotation of the hub.

A related advantage is that the split discal fin can thus reliably maintain a true helical screw thread pattern with a definitely maintained gap at the split in the element. This reduces the tendency of either discal element to be turned or dragged around by the turning of the other element. Another object is to form the helical fin and its hub as an integral body of insulation.

These objectives are attained in the present improvements by principles of construction that may be incorporated in either a time controlled switch for a single break or a double break in single load circuit, or in a 3,018,339 Patented Jan. 23, 1962 having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein certain parts are vertically lined in the drawings to indi-.

cate the signal color red.

FIG. 1 shows, on a scale approximately double the preferred size, a view taken mainly in section on a vertical central plane through the mechanism of a timeswitch similar to that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 564,905, filed February 13, 1956, now U.S. Patent No. 2,981,807, and having the present improvements incorporated therein.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of parts of the time switch mechanism of FIG. 1 drawn on a further enlarged scale with parts taken in section on the plane 2-2 in each of FIGS. 3 and 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a view looking at the rear or left side of FIG. 2 with parts broken away or shown partially in section on the plane 3-3 in said FIG. 2 and is drawn on the same scale as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view on the same scale looking at the front or right side of FIG. 2 with parts broken away or shown partially in section on the plane 4-4 in said FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively rear and front perspective views, and FIG. 7 is a side elevation, of one of the switch action time adjusting elements detached.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the other switch action time adjusting element detached.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of component parts of a hollow bearing post which supports the switch track carrying elements for variable rotary setting thereabout.

FIG. 10 is a view of circuit completing parts taken mostly in section on the plane 10-10 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows fragments of the clock driven contact member and its current supply connections.

FIG. 11 is a view taken in section on the plane 11-11 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with the switch track carrying elements displaced 370 degrees from their relative angular relationship in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views like FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, showing a modified construction of switch action time adjusting elements and their carried switch tracks.

FIG. 14 is a view taken in section on the offset planes 14-14-14 in FIG. 13 and is drawn on the same scale as FIG. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 15 is a view taken in section on the plane 15-15 in FIG. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the modified switch action setting elements after approximately a half circle of angular displacement from their rotary relationship in FIG. 14, the traveling contact and its impelling gear being omitted.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the modified switch action setting elements and the stationary composite hollow bearing post on which they are sup ported in variable rotary settings.

FIG. 17 is a view of modified circuit completing conductors taken in section on the offset planes 171717 in FIG. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 18 is mainly like FIG. 13 showing a still different modified construction of switch for making use of two components of a composite bearing post for conducting current in a circuit controlled by the switch.

nism of the herein illustrated clock and time switch unit is somewhat similar to that disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. Re. 23,783 and in my copending application Serial No. 564,905, filed February 13, 1956 now U.S. Patent No. 2,981,807, such parts employed herein as do not differ therefrom need be described only briefly.

The framework includes .a front frame plate 20 that is supported from an intermediate frame plate 21 by spacer posts 23 and has a large circular aperture in which is jou'rnalecl a trunnion ring 28 of insulative material projecting somewhat both forward .and at the rear of plate 20 so as to carry on respectively opposite sides of the latter ooaxially rotatable ring gears and 11. These gears are alike except that gear 10 is fast to trunnion ring 28 while gear 11 can rotate relatively thereto. By means of an internal keyway 37 trunnion ring 28 is engaged with an ear 27 projecting rearward from and fixed on .a white, insulative switch action time setting element 27 that is split to a partial radial extent. Thus turning of ring gear 10 turns said element 27 and stations it in selective circular positions about the forward end of a frame stationed hollow bearing post 15. A pin 61 projecting forward from ring gear 11 engages a hole 63 in a radial extension 26 of a red colored insulative switch action time setting element 26 that is split to a full radial extent. Thus turning of ring gear 11 turns element 26 coaxially with element 27 during which time element 27 will remain stationary unless purposely turned. Each of elements 26 and 27 passes through a split in the other or" said elements and can thus be stationed independently of the other in selective rotary positions about the aforesaid stationary hollow bearing post, designated as a whole, and whichsupports both of the thus helically interleaved switch action timing elements rotatab-ly. The rear end of post 15 is fixedly mounted in an aperture in frame plate 21 which is of insulative material and the post projects forward therefrom and also serves to support a stationary clock face 34 at its extreme front end. 7 The present improvements center in part about the construction of the hollow bearing post 15 and the trackcarrying elements 26 and 27 of the switch, all of which are herein constructed somewhat differently than in my said copending application for the attainment of advanta ges herein more fully explained.

Ring gear 11, as heretofore, is turned by means of a meshing pinion 12 (FIGS. 1 and 10) caused to turn in unison with its spindle 39 by means of a spline 70. As morefully disclosed in my aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 564,905, now U.S. Patent No. 2,981,807, the spline permits spindle 39 to slide axially in relation to its driven pinion 12. Spindle 39 is equipped with a handle knob 3-9 fixed thereon and that is accessible outside of housing 25. Gear 10 is turned by a similar meshing pinion 13 (FIG. 10) caused to turn in unison with its spindle 40 by means of a spline (not shown) similar to 70 as disclosed in detail in my aforesaid copending application, and which in like manner permits spindle 40 to slide axially of its said driven pinion 13, being likewise equipped with a handle knob 40" that is accessible outside of housing 25.

I The turning of each of the said spindles is frictionally opposed by brake means represented in FIG. 1 by a live brake cone 43 fixed with axial adjustment 011 each of spindles 39 and 40 and a stationary brake cone 45 fixed onframe plate 20. The friction affording conical brake surfaces are kept constantly pressed together by the constant pressure of spring 44 adjustable by nuts 56 on a threaded portion of spindles 39 and 40: The function of the brake 43, 45 is to hold each of elements 26 and 27 stationary against tendency toward rotary displacement that might otherwise be imparted by adjustive turning 'of the other of said elements. Such tendency may arise because the elements 26 and 27 are radially split and helically interleaved with each other even though much relieved as to mutual clinging tendency by the greater rigidity of element 26 in the present construction in comparison with that described in my Reissue Patent No. Re. 23,783. In other words although the elements overlap each other and extend through a split portion of one another they now exert no broadside squeeze upon each other but are in freely turnable relationship.

There has been mentioned the car 27 on white element 27 that is impelled to adjustive rotary setting by engagement with keyway 37 in bearing ring 28 and the slotted radial extension 26 of red element 26 that is independently impelled to adjustive rotary settings through engagement by pin 6l on ring gear 11. Such rotary impelling of elements 26 and 27 has no limit of absolute movement relative to the framework of the time switch but the extent of rotary movement of either of these elements relative to the other is restricted to about 370 degrees, ten degrees in excess of a full circle of movement. This limitation is imposed by a stop ear 94 on element 26 which is bent forwardly of the time switch in contrast to the impelled ear 27' which is bent rearwardly. Half of such ten degrees is at each side of the element split.

In further explanation of the stop .action of cars 27' and 94 the stop ear 94 and red element extension 26 cross each others paths of rotary movement and abut edge-to-edge in their relative positions in FIG. 3 making it possible for white element 27 to be turned from said position relatively to red element 26 only in clockwise direction, or conversely for red element 26 to be turned from said position relatively to white element 27 only in counterclockwise direction. I

The relative turning of either of these elements in its said permissible direction is however limited to the aforesaid 370 degrees of rotary movement because at the end of such extent of relative turning the red element extension 26 will have come to be on the opposite axial side of white element 27 whereupon it will encounter edge- Wise the impeller ear 27 of the white element which it cannot pass as shown in FIG. 11.

At each of these directionally opposite limits of relative movement there will be left a small radial and circumferential overlapping of the elements 26, 27 in the region of their splits making easy their rotary retreat from their described extremes of relative movements. At one of said extreme relative positions, as viewed in FIG. 3, the white element 27 will completely cover the red element 26 with the exception of said small overlapping portions of the elements, and at the opposite extreme relative position shown in FIG. 11 the red element 26 will completely cover the white element 27 except for the same, and now reversedly, overlapping portions.

The rear or switch track carrying face of the white insulative element 27 is helically Winding and comprises 7 the rear broadside surface of a radially split fin 27a that spirals through one complete convolution about an axially elongated hub 87 of insulative material with which fin 27a is integral. Inlaid in said broadside helical surface, preferably so as to be flush therewith, is a conductive switch track 88 facing a time driven revolving contact member 29 for at times being wiped thereby. Track 88 may constitute a printed conductive coating coursing in an annular path on the helical face of element 27.

The rear face of the red insulative element 26 is correspondingly helical and comprises the rear broadside surface of a radailly split, disc-like annulus of plastic material whose shape like that of element 27 spirals throughout a complete convolution and slidably flanks the fin 27 While having a free rotary fit edgewise on the hub 87 of element 27. Inlaid in said broadside helical surface of element 26, so as to be flush therewith, isa second conductive switch track 89 of the same diameter as track 88 and likewise facing the time driven revolving contact member 29 for at times being wiped thereby.

Track 89 may constitute a printed conductive "coating coursing in an annular path on the helical face of element 26.

The whole, or any arcuate extent, of each of tracks 88 and 89 can be exposed to sliding contact by the revolving contact member 29, or shielded therefrom, by the covering overlap of the other track carrying element.

Suitable trains of gears for transmitting drive simultaneously from a one-revolution-per hour power pinion 1 of an electric clock motor 90 through hollow shaft 16 to hour hand 31, to minute hand 30 through spindle 17, and to the day-night distinguishing signal rotor 32 through hollow shaft 33, include a gear 2 in mesh with pinion 1 that is loose on a countershaft 18 journaled in intermediate frame plate 21 at its front end and in the insulative motor frame plate 76 at its rear end. Fast on countershaft 18 is a pinion fixed to a gear 3. A yieldable drive, to permit slippage for setting the clock hands to correct time telling position, is transmitted from loose gear 2 to fixed gear 3 in usual manner by means of an axially expansive, cupped, spring washer 57 hearing frictionally between gears 2 and 3. Gear 3 is in mesh with the minute hand spindle pinion 4. Pinion 5 is in mesh with the hollow hour hand spindle gear 6. A pinion 22 is also fixed on counter-shaft 18 and is in mesh with a gear 19 fixed on the hollow signal rotor shaft 33. A pinion 7 like pinion 22, only located at the front of frame plate 21, is in mesh with gear teeth on the time driven rotor 8 that is at the rear of and carries and/or causes the revolving movement of the aforesaid traveling contact member 29.

It has been mentioned that spring washer 57 permits slippage between clock driven gear '2, which is loose on countershaft 18, and gear 3 which is fixed on countershaft 18. This permits manual setting to proper time of day or night of all the clockwork impelled parts hereinbefore referred to including contact member 29, signal rotor 32, hour hand 31 and minute hand 30. Such setting is accomplished by an idler pinion 9 fast on clock setting spindle 54 which has rotary bearing in frame plates 28 and 21 and is provided with a handle knob 54' accessible at the front of housing 25. A back setting limitation click 79 is pivotally mounted on frame plate 21 and engages a ratchet wheel 80 that is fast on spindle 54 In FIG. frame stationed terminals of two electric load circuits to which current is to be distributed alternately by the clock driven contact member 29 are shown at 52 to which lead 5t) connects and 53 to which lead 51 connects, respectively. The additional frame stationed terminal of a supply line circuit is shown at 49 and is constructed as a binding post for attachment of a current supply lead wire 81 and serves to fix in place the anchored end of a conductive resilient leaf brush 58 which later bears constantly on the conductive, full-circular, rotatable current collecting ring 73 from which branches the revolving spring leaf contact member 29 into a position to resiliently wipe the switch tracks 88, 89, sequentially in its revolving travel in unison with gear 8.

The problem then becomes how to provide constant electrical connection between circuit terminal 52 and switch track 88, together with separate electrical connection between circuit terminal 53 and switch track 88, in all positions to which the tracks can be circularly adjusted and without interfering with, or extending out around the path of, the revolving travel of contact member 29. This problem has been solved by the following features of construction.

The composite bearing post has as one component an outer metallic barrel 64 having a circularly complete perimetrical conductive surface and a circularly incomplete annular mounting flange 65 whose segmental gap 66 registers with a cutout 67 in the adjoining cylindrical wall of barrel 64. Another component of post 15 is an inner metallic barrel 68 electrically separated from outer barrel 64. Insulation 69 may be a fibre tube having the venes between the barrels and holds them fixedly in coaxial relation. lnner barrel 68 has a circularly complete perimetrical conductive surface exposed in axially offset relation to the perimetrical conductive surface of outer barrel 64. Insulation 69 may be a fibre tube having the necessary dielectric properties telescopically interposed between the inner and outer metallic barrels. The inner barrel 68 has a radially outward extending lug 70' electrically connected by a bus bar 71 to the terminal 52 of a load circuit which will 'be designated A, which bar extends through the gap 66 and cutout 67 of barrel 64 in insulated relation to the latter. Another bus bar 72 electrically connects the flange 65 of outer barrel 64 with the terminal 53 of a different load circuit which will be designated B.

In the helical axially directed broadside face of the white insulative element 27 there is embedded a bus strip 91 placing the switch track 88 in constant electrical connection with a current collecting brush 92 located in cavity 93 in hub 87 of the track carrying element 27. Brush 92 is in constant slidable contact with the peripheral surface of the outer barrel 64 of the composite bearing post 15. Hub 87 is provided at its rear end with axial thrust by a shoulder 74 on outer post barrel 64 which occupies a counterbore 75 in the rear end of the hub with a turnable fit. Hub 87 also has a turnable fit on inner post barrel 6-8 and is axially retained by the head of an externally threaded bushing 35 which removably engages internal threads in the front end of inner barrel 68. At least the rear surface of clock dial 34 is insulative and serves as axial thrust means at thefront of hub 87 retaining the latter on the bearing post 15.

We have now seen how permanent sliding electrical connection is provided between outer post barrel 64 and track 88 through brush 92 and bus strip 91. There will now be traced a corresponding permanent sliding electrical connection between the inner post barrel 68 and track 87 that is carried by the red element 26.

The forward end of inner post barrel 68, that projects beyond outer barrel 64 and filler 69, extends into and through the main bore 77 of hub 87 which contains, embedded in and flush with its peripheral surface, a little more than one convolution of a conductive slip ring 95 that is fixed in helical form in flanking relation to the root ends of the radially split fin 27a. A collector brush 96 is in constant wiping contact with the exposed cylindrical surface of the conductive collector ring 95 and occupies a cavity 97 in a keyway style of notch in the inner edge of element 26. Brush 96 is in constant electrical connection with track switch 87 by means of the bus strip 98 embedded in the rear face of element 26.

For maintaining the collector ring 95 constantly in electrical connection with the inner barrel 68 of the bearing post, hub 87 carries a collector brush 99 in a cavity 100 in its forward end. Brush 99 is in constant wiping contact with the outer cylindrical surface of inner post barrel 68 and is in constant electrical connection by means of the bus strip 101 with the aforesaid collector ring 95 that is fixed in the hub 87 of element 26. In the foregoing described construction it will be seen that switch track 88 is always in circuit with the outer post barrel 64 while switch track 89 is always in circuit with the inner post barrel 68, wherefore switch track 88 always constitutes a terminal of the aforesaid load circuit that is supplied through lead 51 (FIG. 10) while switch track 89 always constitutes a' terminal of the load circuit that is supplied through lead 50.

In operation, when the splits in elements 26 and 27 in FIGS. 1 to 11, inclusive, are positioned at chosen points in the circle of travel of the clock revolved contact member 29 by the selective turning of handle knobs 39 and 40' and their respective spindles 39 and 40 (FIG. 10), the contact member 29 will always hear either on switch track 88 or switch track 89 and thereby energize respectively either the load circuit connected by lead 51 or the load circuit connected by lead 50. Current will be shifted from one to the other of these load circuits whenever the circular adjustment of elements 26 and 2 7 along the course of travel of contact member 29 is other wise than as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, or in other Words when elements 26 and 27 mutually overlap to an arcuate extent less than a full circle, as for instance the less extent shown in the modified construction in FIG. 15.

One modification FIGS. 12 to 16, inclusive, show a modification that avails of the improved construction of composite bearing post 15 and of the novel features of the modified switch action time setting elements 106 and 107 to provide simple make and break of a single load circuit by relative rotary movement between a modified form of contact member 105 and modified circular switch tracks 108, 109, both of which tracks are carried on a single one 107 of the switch action time setting elements.

In this arrangement the same composite bearing post 15 is used as in FIGS. 1-11, and its component parts are designated by similar reference numerals. Terminal lug 70 of the inner post barrel 68, however, instead of being connected to a load circuit is connected to a line supply lead 111. This lead then supplies current to the switch as does lead 50 in FIG. 10. The conductive leaf brush 58 of FIG. 10 can therefore be eliminated and the supply current from lead 111 is conducted through the terminal bus bar 71 and inner post barrel 60 to a collector brush 112 that is constantly in electrical connection with switch track 108 by means of a conductive bus strip 113.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 show that the other switch track 109 is carried on the rear insulative'face of the same helical fin 107a of the switch action time setting element 107 as is track 108 and is internally concentric with the latter and insulated therefrom by an annular space. By means of a bus strip 114 switch track 108 is constantly in electrical connection with the outer sleeve 64 of the bearing post 15 through the collector brush 115 arranged in the manner of collector brush 9 2 in FIG. 3. Bus strip 113 avoids electrical contact with track 109 or bus strip 114 by lying against the front face, rather than the rear face, of the insulative element fin 107:: while the collector brushes 112 and 115 are angularly spaced 180 degrees, apart on the circle.

There remains to note that the modified traveling contact member 105 in FIGS. 12-17 is bifurcate with two independently flexible resilient prongs whose circuit making and breaking tips wipe simultaneously and respectively on the tracks 108 and 109' and snap simultaneously into or out of contact therewith. When simultaneously in contact with both switch tracks contact member 105 serves as a circuit completing conductive bridge e1ectrical- 1y connecting the tracks. At all other times contact member 105 is not electrically alive. The switch action time setting element 106 in this modification serves simply as an insulative bafile that can intervene between and separate the track wiping prong tips of member 105 from both switch tracks through any desired portion of the complete circle of revolution of the traveling contact member 105 from Zero degrees to 360 degrees depending on the chosen circular setting of the elements 106 and 107. Element 106 swivels freely on the modified insulative hub 116 of element 107 as does element 26 on the hub 87 of element 26 in FIGS. 1-13. If the separately flexible resilient prongs of switch member 105 do not land on or depart from their respective switch tracks in perfect synchronism the load circuit controlled by the switch will not be made until both prongs come into contact with their respective switch tracks. Such load circuit however will be broken when either one of the prongs alone snaps away from its individual switch track. To all practical purposes the contact action is that of a single-pole, double-break switch.

8 Another modification In FIG. 18 a single conductive switch track 120 alone is used which together with its stop ears 27 and 94 may be like switch track 88 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and except that its modified bus strip 121 jogs through the thickness of the split helical fin 127a of the modified switch action time setting element 127 and extends radially inward along the rear surface of such fin 127a to a cavity 128 in the front end of hub 129 of element 127, instead of to a cavity such as 93 in the rear end of said hub. This enables a brush 130 electrically connected to bus strip 121 to wipe conductively at all times on the external cylindrical surface of the inner post barrel 68 instead of on the outer post barrel 64 as in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus said outer post barrel is made available to be wiped conductively and constantly by a brush 131 located in a cavity in the hub of the insulative gear 133 that is driven by the clock motivated pinion 7 as is gear 8 in FIGS. 2 and 13 of the drawings.

In this modification the clock driven traveling contact member 134, instead of being double prolonged as is member in FIG. 13, is reduced to a single ended member which wipes on switch track as member 29 wipes on track 88 in FIG. 2. Now by placing contact member 134 in constant electrical connection with brush 131 through the bus strip 135 there results a switch function of the simple make and break snap action type at whatever points on the circle the traveling contact member jumps onto or off from the purely insulating switch action time setting element 106 which in all respects is like that in FIG. 16 and serves merely to intervene between contact member and track 120 for set periods of time. Thus the rearward directed broadside face of the purely insulative element 106 can be said to afford an insulative switch track at times wiped by contact member 105 in FIGS. 12 and 13 as by contact member .134 in FIG. 18.

I claim:

1. In a time controlled load circuit governing switch the combination of frame structure, a hollow bearing post fixed on and projecting forward from said frame structure, two relatively insulated axially offset perimetrical conductive surfaces carried by said bearing post, a circuit governing traveling conductive contact member supported to revolve about said post, a time driven rotor connected to impel said member, helically interleaved split discal elements respectively having axially directed surfaces and supported for individual adjustment to selective rotary positions about said post, a conductive switch track carried on the axially directed surface of one of said elements facing said traveling contact member in position to be wiped thereby, the axially directed surface of the other of said elements presenting a second switch track facing said contact member and intervening in variable circular extents between said conductive switch track and said traveling contact member, electric circuit connections including wipingly engaged conductorsleading current from one of said post carried conductive surfaces to said conductive switch track, and continuing electrical connections including additional wipingly engaged conductors one of which is the other of said post carried conductive surfaces. 7

2. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 1, in which the said composite bearing post comprises an Outer metallic barrel having an external mounting flange at one end fixed with respect to the said frame structure and containing a segmental cutout near the latter, a hollow metallic inner barre] within said outer barrel having a tubular wall bridging said cutout proximate said frame structure and having a segmental lug extending radially outward through said cutout in insulated relation to said outer barrel, said inner barrel protruding axially from the opposite end of said outer barrel, and an insulative filler at least as long as said outer barrel intervening between and separating said inner barrel therefrom.

3. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 2, in which the said filler is a cylindrical bushing of hard insulative substance telescopically fitting the said barrels and holding them in coaxial relation.

4. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 2, in which both of the said switch tracks are conductive and carried on the said axially directed surfaces of the said elements respectively and positioned to be wiped alternately by the said traveling contact member, together with sliding circuit connections leading current separately from the said bearing post barrels to said tracks respectively, insulated load circuit terminals stationed in relation to said frame structure electrically connected to said post barrels respectively, an additional insulated supply line terminal stationed on and insulated from the said frame structure, and wiping circuit connections between said supply line terminal and said traveling contact member, whereby current derived from said supply line terminal by said traveling contact member can on difierent occasions be electrically switched from one to another of said conductive tracks.

5. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination of frame structure, a composite bearing post projecting forward from said frame structure having one end rigidly stationed thereon comprising two relatively insulated conductive tubular components, a circuit controlling traveling conductive contact member supported to revolve about said post, a time controlled rotor supported to revolve about said post and connected to impel said member, helically interleaved adjustable elements at the front of said member having axially directed surfaces and supported for individual adjustment to selective rotary positions about said post, a conductive switch track carried on the axially directed surface of one of said elements facing said traveling contact member to be wiped thereby, a second switch track presented on the axially directed surface of one of said interleaved elements in position to intervene between said conductive switch track and said traveling contact member, wiping connections leading current from one of said post components to said conductive switch track, and means including the other of said post components electrically connected to complete the member controlled circuit.

6. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 5, in which the said second switch track is insulative.

7. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination of frame structure, a composite bearing post projecting forward from said frame structure having one end rigidly stationed thereon comprising two relatively insulated conductive tubular components, a conductive circuit controlling traveling contact member supported to revolve about said post, a time controlled rotor supported to revolve about said post at the rear of and connected to impel said contact member, helically interleaved adjustable insulative elements at the front of said member having axially directed broadside surfaces and supported for individual adjustment to selective rotary positions about said post, a conductive switch track carried on the axially directed surface of one of said elements facing said traveling contact member to be wiped thereby, another conductive switch track carried on the axially directed surface of one of said elements facing said traveling contact member to be wiped thereby, and wiping connections leading current separately from said post components to said tracks respectively.

8. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 7, in which the said conductive switch tracks are carried on the said axially directed surface of a single one of the said insulative elements and positioned to be conductively bridged and wiped simultaneously by the said traveling contact member, and

wiping connections leading current separately from the said bearing. post components to the said switch tracks respectively, the other of said insulative elements being adjustable to positions to intervene at times between said contact member and at least one of said tracks.

9. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination with a time impelled traveling conductive contact member, of two interleaved switch action time setting elements each comprising an annulus of insulative material containing a radially directed split and conformed approximately to a helix in a manner providing axially spaced edges of said annulus bordering said split and admitting said annulus of the other of said elements therethrough, and a circular conductive switch track carried on the broadside annular surface of one of said elements facing said traveling contact member in position to be conductively wiped thereby.

10. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 9, together with a metallic projection extending from the said switch track outward beyond the confines of the said track carrying annulus of insulative material to serve as an engageable stop or impellable lug for limiting or causing time setting movement of one of the said elements.

11. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 9, in which each of the said time setting elements carries a circular conductive switch track on the broadside surface thereof facing said traveling contact member in a position to be conductively wiped successively thereby.

12. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 9, in which one of the said two interleaved switch action time setting elements comprises an axially elongated hub rigidly carrying the said track carrying annulus, together with a composite bearing post, rotatably supporting said hub, said post comprising two relatively insulated conductive tubular components, and conductive wiping connections carried by said insulative hub leading current from one of said post components to the said annulus carried switch track.

13. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 12, in which the said elongated hub contains at least two cavities one of which opens upon one of said tubular post components, and the other of which cavities opens upon another of said tubular post components, and there are separate conductive wiping connections in each of said cavities bearing respectively on different post components.

14. In time con-trolled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 12, in which the said elongated hub contains a cavity opening upon at least one of the said tubular post components, and the said conductive wiping connections include a brush conductively bearing on said post component.

15. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 14, together with a bus strip extending along the said broadside annular surface of one of said elements conductively connecting the said switch track with the said brush.

16. In time controlled switch mechanism, the combination defined in claim 9, in which there is a second metallic projection extending from the said switch track outward beyond the confines of said track in a direction opposite to that in which the first said metallic projection extends, whereby to limit the permissible extent of relative rotary movement of the said interleaved switch action time setting elements to more than one complete turn and less than two complete turns.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,004,137 Smith June 11,1935 2,112,654 Lux Mar. 29, 1938 2,508,896 Smith May 23, 1950 ,898,992 Montgomery Aug. 11, 1959

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