US3100823A

US3100823A - Timing device

Info

Publication number: US3100823A
Application number: US398342A
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl T Wagner
Original assignee: General Time Corp
Current assignee: General Time Corp
Priority date: 1953-12-15
Filing date: 1953-12-15
Publication date: 1963-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-13

Description

1963 K. T. WAGNER, 3,100,823

TIMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 195::

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KARL T WAGNER Aug. 13, 1963 y K; T. WAGNER TIMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1953 INVENTOR. KARL "IT WAGNER Aug. 13, 1963 K. T. WAGNER 3,100,823

TIMING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J IN V EN TOR.

KARI. T. WAGNER BY m 3,100,823 TIMING DEVICE Karl T. Wagner, Thomaston, Conrn, assignor to General Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware t Filed Dec. 15, 1953, Ser. No. 398,342 8 Claims. (Cl. 200-39) The present invention relates to timing devices, and more particularly to means for timing the operation of electric switches.

It is an object oat the present invention to provide a spring-wound timing device which operates reliably under adverse conditions and which is particularly suitable for the control of ordnance devices. More specifically, it is an object to provide a spring-driven timing device which is particularly suited for use when hermetically sealed, which may be cocked, Wound, :and triggered Without breaking the seal, and which is capable of making and breaking circuits at predetermined times with a high degree of reliability, even when subjected to extreme shock and vibration. I

It is another object to provide a timing device which operates electric contacts positively and which requires only a small amount of operating force. More specifically, it is an object to provide a mechanism in which the energy for operating the switches is stored in the switches as an incident to winding the timing mechanism, the winding causing each of the switches to assume a cocked condition, so that subsequent operation of the switches requires only a small amount of triggering force. It is 'a further object related to the above to provide a timing mechanism in which the frictional loading is not only low, but extremely constant over the operating cycle, making it possible to operate the mechanism with a known and adequate margin of safety over long time intervals. g

It is a further object to provide a timing device employing cocked switches, but in which it is unnecessary for the operator to cock the switches as a separate operation, cocking taking place automatically as the spring is wound.

It is a still further object to provide a timing device capable of operating a plurality of switches in sequence and 'with provision for simultaneously adjusting the timing of all of the switches in the operating cycle. it is another object to provide a switch mechanism in which the switch-operating pressures are low, but in which each switch element is balanced and with the contacts locked in the open or closed position, making it impossible for triggering to take placeaccidentally under shock or vibration, even with forces of up to 1,000 g.

Finally, it is an object to provide a timing mechanism which, in spite of the high degree of reliability that it afiords, is small in size, facilitating hermetic sealing and which, in addition, is light in weight and relatively simple and straightforward of construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will bei FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the driving mecha,

nism with certain parts schematically shown.

FIG. 4 shows the driving mechanism with the back cover plate removed.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shovws the operating arms on the under side of the operating disc in the mechanism of FIG. 1.

center of FIG. 3 is a spring shaft 50 having a coil spring Patented Aug. 13, 1963 ice FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the cocking of one of the switches.

FIG. 8 is a fragment showing the idle movement of the operating arm which occurs upon striking the cocking lever in the return direction.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective of one of the switches shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a stop-motion plan view taken just prior to triggering one of the switches.

FIG. 11 is a stop-motion plan view just following the triggering operation. 7

While the present invention is described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will he understood that I do not intend to limit the invention thereto but I intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to FIGURES 1 to 5 of the drawings, the timing device, indicated generally at 20, includes a pair of spaced

frame plates

21, 22 which are spaced apart bysuitable spacers to form a rigid, box-like construction. Mounted between the frame plates is a timing mechanism 23 having a winding stem 24 and an operating 'or output shaft 25. Mounted on the output shaft is an operating disc 27 to which is fixed a dial 27a. The clockworktimingly rotates the discupon passage of time and may, for example, have an operating cycle of one hour.

Peripherally arranged about the operating disc 27 are an initiating device 30 and switches 31, 32., 33, respectively. i

The initiating device 30 is the subject of a copending application, SerialNo. 395,126, filed November 30, 1953, now US. Patent No. 2,936,576, and to which cross reference is made. ing device serves to put the timing mechanism into operation by freeing a vibratory escapement member 40, which is included in the mechanism 23, and which is normally blocked by a blocking lever 41 (FIGS. 1 and 3). For operating the blocking lever, a biased operating lever 42 is provided which is held in a cocked position by a pawl 43. Triggering of the pawl 43 to start the timing cycle is accomplished by an actuator having an actuator element 45, the latter being coupled to the pawl 43 by a link 46. As will later appear in greater detail, the operating lever 42 is rotated clockwise (FIG. 1) into its cocked position by means of a cocking arm 47 mounted on the operating disc 27. This causes the blocking lever 41 to rotate into position to block movement of the escapement member 40.

The operation of the initiating device 30 may be briefly stated as follows: Applying electrical current to a solenoid actuator (not visible in the drawings) causes the actuator element 45 to tension the link 46, thus rotating the pawl 43 out of blocking position. This frees the operating lever 42 to rotate counterclockwise into a released position under the urging of its associated spring. This in turn causes the blocking lever 41 to move out of the way of the. escapement member 40 to initiate the timing cycle. actuator, as well as the other details of construction is set forth in the copending application referred to above.

refer in greater detail to the timing mechanism which is'shown schematically in FIG. 3, with the specific gear layout being set forth in FIGS. 4 and 5. Located at the It will suffice to say that the initiat-.

The specific construction of the solenoid ,tacts are open.

51 connected at one end. For the purpose of winding the spring 51, a winding gear train is provided having

gears

52, 53, 54, the gear 52 being connected to the winding stem 24] Mounted on the shaft 50 is a ratchet wheel 57 having

pawls

58, 59. The pawls are bodily carried on a spring output gear 60 which drives an escapement mechanism 61. The escapement mechanism includes

gears

62, 63 and pinions 64-66 for speed multiplication. Associated with the pinion 66 is an escapement 67 having a balanced oscillating flyweight 68, thelatter mounting the escapement element 40 previously referred to. In carrying out the invention the switchoperating disc 27 is geared directly to the spring shaft 50. Such gearing includes the pinion 70 and the

gears

71, 72, the gear 72 being fast to the output shaft 25 on which the operating disc 27 is mounted. It will be apparent, then, that the disc 27 rotates in one direction during winding and in the other, or triggering,-direction during the timing cycle.

For the purpose of defining the range of movement of the operating disc 27 and to limit the winding of the spring 51, a stop member 75 is mounted on the shaft 25, providing angularly spaced abutments 76, 77, which cooperate with a fixed stop 78 mounted on the frame.

To review very briefly the operation of the timing mechanism 23, turning the winding stem 24 counterclockwise causes winding of the spring 51 and simultaneous reverse rotation of the switch-operating disc 27 until the stop surface 77 strikes the fixed stop 78, indicating to the operator that the spring is fully Wound. During the winding the escaper'nent mechanism 61 is silenced and the ratchet mechanism clicks idly. 1Upon freeing of the escapement, which initiates the timing cycle, rotation of the spring shaft 50 takes place at a slow timed rate, causing the operating disc 27 to be timingly rotated in the forward or switch-operating direction.

Which the switch contacts are coupled and which is pivoted for rotation about a central axis 81. Engaging such operating member is a pawl member 82 which rotates about a central axis 83. Integrally formed on the pawl member 82 is a pawl 84 which engages a stop surface 85 on the operating member, the pawl member 82 being biased for such engagement by means of a spring 86.

fastened to the operating member 80 for rotation therewith is an operating cam 90 having a high point 91. Arranged opposite the cam 90 is a leaf spring assembly 92 having

leaf springs

93, 94. At the outer end of the leaf springs is a cam follower 95, which rides in engagement with the cam 90. The operating member 80 and its associated cam 90 are both biased in the counterclockwise direction by means of a biasing spring 96. i

To understand the operation of the switch, it will be assumed that the switch is in its initially cocked position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, in which the con- It may be noted at this point that the contacts are positively held open by a hook 97 on the cam 90, the hook engaging the very tip of the contact spring 93, as shown, for example, in FIG. 10. It will be apparent that upon rotation of the pawl member '82 in the counterclockwise direction, the pawl 84 will move out ofthe way of the stop surface 85, thereby permitting the operating member 80 to snap in the counterclock-wise direction. This simultaneously releases the hook 97 and causes the point 9 1 of the cam to urge the cam follower 9 endwise, thereby closing the electrical contacts. The position occupied by each of the elements when the switch is in the triggered, or closed, position, is shown in FIG. 111.

more, the operating member is provided with

counterweights

100, 101, so that this element, too, is balanced, and does not tend to rotate, even when the mechanism is subjected to forces of up to 1,000 g. In addition, both the operating member 80 and the pawl member 8 2 have biasing springs which may be rather stifi to op pose unwanted movement. However, in spite of the presence of such biasing spring, minimum energy is required to move the pawl member 82, since the movement which takes place between the paWl 84 and the stop surface is circumferential relative to the axis 33 of the pawl member.

In practicing the present invention, means are provided (l) for cooking the switches upon rotation of the operating disc in the reverse direction incident to winding the timing mechanism and (2) for triggering the switches upon rotation of the operating disc in the forward direction. Confining attention to the cocking action, reference is made to FIGS. 6 and 7. Here it will be noted that the operating disc 27 includes an operating arm 107 having a finger 108. The finger 108 is in the form of an upstanding pillar which may be riveted or otherwise fastened to the tip of the operating arm 107. The arm itself is formed of resilient spring material and is biased upwardly into its operating position against a stop or spacer 109'.

Arranged in the path of movement of the operating finger 108 is a cooking arm 80a which "forms an integral part of the operating member 80. It is apparent from FIG. 7 that as the operating disc is rotated in the reverse direction incident to winding, the operating finger 108 strikes the cocking arm 80a, rotating it into the cocked condition shown in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10. As the operating arm 107 makes a substantially complete reverse revolution, the operating finger 10-8 sweeps by all of the switch cocking arms, positively insuring that all of the switches are cocked in readiness for the timing cycle. During the course of such revolution, the initiating mechanism 30 is also cocked .by operating finger 121 onarm 47 of disc 27 engaging the cocking arm 80b. Arm 47 is offset from arm 107 so that they move in different parallel planes during rotation of shaft 25. Cooking arm 80b is located in the plane of movement of arm 47 whereas the cocking arms 80a of the switch mechanisms are located in the plane of movement of arm 107.

In order to prevent the cooking arms on each of the switches from blocking the operating finger 108 during the ensuing timing cycle, means are provided for guiding the members idly by one another, i.e., for deflecting one relative to the other in a direction transverse to the plane in which the operating arm 107 rotates. For this purpose, the operating finger 108 is provided with an inclined surface 108a. As will be apparent from FIG. 8, interference between the cocking arm 80a and the inclined surface 108a on the operating finger, simply causes 7 the operating finger 108 to be cammed downwardly into the dotted position, the operating arm .107 assuming its normal position as soon as the obstruction is passed. The operating finger '121 is provided with a similar inclined surface so that it is not blocked by cocking arm with a tripping element or trig- Just prior to engagement between the operating finger 108 and the trigger 82 1, the parts are as shown in FIG. 10. "Continued rotation ofthe operating arm causes the finger 108 to cam the trigger 82a counterclockwise, thereby causing the pawl 84 to become disengaged, whereupon the operating member 80 is rotated by its spring 96. The accompanying rotation of the cam 90 brings the high point 91 of the cam against the cam follower, thereby deflecting the leaf springs 3, 94, and operating the contacts. The successive switches may be operated, depending upon their angular position about the operating disc, at spaced intervals of time, for example, at intervals of minutes. Operation of the switches serves to arm or fire suitable ordnance equipment, which may take many 7 (forms and which lies outside the scope of the present invention. The timing of all of the switches may be simultaneously varied by providing a serrated clutch connection 110, 111, between the output shaft and the operating disc 27, the clutch surfaces being normally held together by means of a 1111115113 or the like.

In view of the fact that cocking of the'switches takes place automatically during the winding operation, the

- mechanism may be hermetically sealed in a case 115- (FIG.

2) having a single opening 116 which permits access to the winding stem 24. The joint between the casing and the winding stem may be provided with any suitable type of rotary-seal. In order that the operator may be advised when the mechanism is fully wound, the casing 115 is provided with a window 117 which permits a view of the dial 27a on the operating disc 2-7. Winding is continued until a starting point on the dial is opposite an Suitable electric connections It will be apparent from the foregoing that the switches I may be operated positively and yet with aminimum amount of torque requirement from the spring-driven mechanism. The reason for this is that the energy for operating a given set of switch contacts is obtained not from the spring 5-1 but from contact operating spring 96, which is tensioned by cocking of the switch when the spring 51 is wound. Since the tripping of the switches does not impose any substantial load, it will be apparent that the torque safety margin may be calculated with a high degree of accuracy, thereby enabling reliable operation over long time cycles and with extremely efficient use of the energy stored in the spring 51.

In the claims which follow the term cocking means shall be understood to include means for storing energy which is released for operating the contacts upon subsequent tripping by a trigger element.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a timing device, the combination comprising a plurality of electric switches, each having operating means and cocking means for releasably holding the switch in one position and each having a trigger element for tripping said cocking means to cause operation of said switch to a second position, a spring driven timing mecha- 5 cessive intervals timed by said escapement, said last means being adjustable for simultaneously changing the time of operation of each of said switches.

2. In a timing device, the combination comprising a spring driven timing mechanism having an escapement and means for winding the spring, a switch operating arm and means connecting it with said timing mechanism such that said arm is rotated in one direction during winding of the spring and is rotated in the opposite direction at a timed rate during subsequent operation of said escapement, a switch having cocking means located in the path of said arm as it is rotated in either direction and a trigger element located in the path of said arm as it is rotated in said opposite direction, said cocking means being effective to hold said switch in a first position in response to engagement by said arm as it moves in said one direction, said element being effective to trip said switch to a second position in response to engagement by said arm as it moves in said opposite direction, and means for relatively deflecting said arm and cocking means in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of the arm only when they engage While the arm is moving in said opposite direction so that its timed travel is not impeded by [the cocking means.

3. In a timing device, the combination comprising a spring driven timing mechanism having an escapement and means for winding the spring, a switch operating arm and means connecting it with said timing mechanism such that said arm is rotated in one direction during winding of the spring and is rotated in the opposite direction at a timed rate during subsequent operation of said escapement, a single finger on said arm, a switch having cocking means located in the path of movement of said finger and operated thereby when said arm is rotated in said one direction to hold the switch in one position, said switch further having a trigger element 'for'tripping said cocking means to cause operation of said switch to a second position, said trigger element being located in the path of movement of said finger as said'arm is rotated in said opposite direction, and means for deflecting said finger as it engages said cocking element when said arm is rotated in said opposite direction so that the timed movement of the arm is not impeded.

4. In a timing device, [the combination comprising a timing mechanism and a spring for driving the same, means for winding the spring, an escapement for controlling the timed unwinding of the spring, a switch operating arm and means connecting it with said timing mechanism such that said arm is rotated in one direction during winding of said spring and during the opposite direction at a timed rate during subsequent operation of said escapement, said arm being resiliently defiectable in a direction transverse to its plane of rotation, a single finger projecting from said arm transversely to the plane of rotation of the latter, a plurality of spring-operated switches spaced about the axis of rotation of said arm, each said switch having a cocking element disposed in the path of said finger during movement of said arm and shifted by said finger during movement of the arm in said one direction to cock the switch, each said switch further having a trigger element disposed in the path of said finger and shifted thereby during movement of said arm in said opposite direction to release the switch, said finger being terminated by an inclined camming surface engaged by said cocking elements to deflect said arm and permit its free passage past said cocking elements as the arm moves in said opposite direction, and said trigger elements being spaced in a direction lengthwise of the finger to be tripped thereby without engaging said camming surface or deflecting said arm.

5. In a timing device, the combination comprising an electric switch, a switch-operating member, said switch having a cocking element located in the path of movement of said operating member when the member is moved in one direction and operated thereby to releasably hold said switch in one position, said switch further having a trigger element for tripping said cocking means to cause operation of the switch to a second position, said trigger element being located-in the path of movement of said operating member for engagement thereby as the member is rotated in the opposite direction, a spring-driven timing mechanism having its output coupled to said switch-operating member, said timing mechanism having an escapement and having means for Winding the spring, said timing mechanism being so arranged that said operating member is moved in said one direction during winding of the spring and is moved in said opposite direction at a timed rate during subsequent operation of said escapement, and means including an inclined surface for relatively cam,- ming the operating member past the cocking member during movement in said opposite direction.

6. In a timing device, the combination comprising an electric switch, a switch operating member, a spring-driven timing mechanism having its output coupled to said switchoperating member and having an escapement as well as means for winding the spring, an initiator for initiating operation of said escapement, said initiator and said switch each having a cocked position and a released position and each having a cooking element located in the path of movement of and operated by said operating member when the member is moved in one direction," said switch further having a trigger element for tripping the same to said released position, said trigger element being located in the path of movement of said operating member for engagement thereby as the member is rotated in the opposite direction, said timing mechanism being so arranged that said operating member is moved in said one direction during winding of the spring and is moved in said opposite direction at a timed rate during subsequent operation of said escapeme-nt.

7. In a timing device, an electric switch biased to one position, latch means for holding said switch in a second said latch means, a timing mechanism having an escapement and a spring for driving same, means for winding said spring, and an operating arm coupled to said timing mechanism, said arm being rotated in one direction by said,

winding means and in the opposite direction during subsequent operation of said escapement, said arm being of i a construction making it substantially rigid in the plane of its rotation but resiliently yieldable in a direction transverse to the plane of its rotation, said cocking means being disposed in the path of and operated by said operating arm as the latter moves in said one direction, said trigger element being disposed in the path of and operated by said operating arm as it moves in said opposite direction, and means for deflecting said arm as it engages said cocking means While moving in said opposite direction.

8. In a timing device,.an electric switch biased to one position, latch means for holding said switch in a second position against said bias, cocking means for rendering said latch means effective, -a trigger element for releasing said latch means, a timing mechanism having an escape ment and a spring for driving same, means for winding said spring, an operating arm coupled to said timing mechanism, said arm being rotated in one direction by said winding means toyoperate said cocking means and in the opposite direction during subsequent operation of said escapement'to operate said triggerelement, and means for camming said arm past said cocking means during rotation of said arm in said opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,022,708 Smith Apr. 9, 1912 1,384,533 Leake July 12', 1921 1,761,652 Chandler June 3, 1930 Cozens et a1 Aug. 6, 1935

Claims

1. IN A TIMING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTRIC SWITCHES, EACH HAVING OPERATING MEANS AND COCKING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE SWITCH IN ONE POSITION AND EACH HAVING A TRIGGER ELEMENT FOR TRIPPING SAID COCKING MEANS TO CAUSE OPERATION OF SAID SWITCH TO A SECOND POSITION, A SPRING DRIVEN TIMING MECHANISM HAVING AN ESCAPEMENT AND HAVING MEANS FOR WINDING THE SPRING, SAID TIMING MECHANISM HAVING MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SWITCH-COCKING MEANS DURING WINDING OF THE SPRING AND FOR OPERATING THE TRIGGER ELEMENTS AFTER SUCCESSIVE INTERVALS TIMED BY SAID ESCAPEMENT, SAID LAST MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CHANGING THE TIME OF OPERATION OF EACH OF SAID SWITCHES.