US3538284A

US3538284A - Random selected switch actuator device

Info

Publication number: US3538284A
Application number: US747516A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis R Alexander; Isadore Gortman
Original assignee: US Department of Navy
Current assignee: US Department of Navy
Priority date: 1968-07-25
Filing date: 1968-07-25
Publication date: 1970-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-03

Description

Nov. 3 1970 LR, ALEXANDER ET'AL I A 3,538,284

RANDOM SELECTED SWITCH ACTUATOR DEVICE Filed July 25, 1968 Inn "-h w lll |lllllllllllllllllllllllllll g5 LEW/5 R. ALEXANDER /$4DORE GORTMA/V BY owl 8 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,538,284 RANDOM SELECTED SWITCH ACTUATOR DEVICE Lewis R. Alexander, Streamwood, and Isadore Gortman,

Morton Grove, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed July 25, 1968, Ser. No. 747,516 Int. Cl. H01h 3/42 US. Cl. 200153 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch actuating device having a plurality of actuating fingers slidably movable in a rotatable drum, each said finger having first and second undercuts on the periphery thereof, and a plurality of locking rings in said rotatable drum for engaging said undercuts whereby each said finger can be selectively positioned in either an extended or a retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an actuating device for Operating a plurality of switches which can be used for coding, programming, and the like.

Heretofore, various devices have been used in the form of disk, movable drums, and the like, with physical indicia thereon for cooperation with a group of switches for programming various cycles of an operation. One such device is shown in US. Pat. 3,307,382, entitled, Digitally Controlled Random Access Means, which issued Mar. 7, 1967, to George G. Hacker and John G. Luker. In this patent, both a disk and a drum are shown, each having a plurality of holes therein in which is attached a pip for actuating a switch upon rotating of the disk or drum. Each pip is permanently attached in a hole and is not, however, readily changeable or removable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a switch actuating device having a memory drum which is rotatably mounted. A plurality of longitudinal rows of actuating fingers are slidably positioned in the outer periphery of the memory drum and each finger is provided with first and second V-slots in the outer periphery. A single coil spring is provided for each finger and this spring is engageable with either of the two V-slots to lock each finger in either an extended or retracted position. A cam follower, which is positioned to actuate a switch, is mounted such that a retracted finger will not engage the cam follower, but an extended finger will engage the cam follower to actuate a switch. Each actuating finger can be readily changed from either an extended to a retracted position, or from a retracted to an extended position, as desired.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a switch actuator device which can be readily programmed for various conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, partially broken away to show parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing; and

Patented Nov. 3, 1970 FIG. 3 is a side view showing another embodiment of an actuating finger.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a drum 11 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 12. Shaft 12 is rotatably driven by gear train 13 from any suitable power source (not shown) such as an electric motor. A plurality of rows of actuating fingers 14 are slidably attached to drum 11 and, for purposes of illustration, three rows of fingers are shown with 20 fingers being in each row. It should be understood, of course, that a greater or lesser number of rows and also a greater or lesser number of fingers in each row could be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

As best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, each finger 14 is provided with an outer V-shaped groove 15 around its circumference and also an inner V-shaped groove 16. A single coil spring #17 is provided for each finger 14, and coil spring 17 is provided in a slot 1 8 in drum 11. The width of slots 18 are such that springs 17 can be expanded when fingers 14 are moved in a direction such that the springs are no longer seated in a V-shaped groove.'By way of example, drum 111 might be assembled from an inner cylinder 21 and an outer cylinder 22, with slots 18 being machined, or otherwise formed, in inner cylinder 21. Outer cylinder 22, which has a plurality of holes of sutficient diameter to permit fingers 14 to slide therethrough, serves as a cover or cap to retain springs 17 in their respective slots 18.

Fingers 14, when extended, are engageable with a cam plate 23 which, in turn, is engageable with the plunger 24 of a switch 25. On the other hand, when fingers 14 are retracted, fingers 14 will pass beneath cam plate 23 and switch 25 will not be actuated.

In FIG. 3 of the drawing, there is shown another embodiment of a finger 14 having an additional circumferential groove 26. As springs 17 provide substantial locking force on fingers 14 when the springs 17 are seated in the V-shaped grooves, groove 26 is provided so that a suitable tool can engage groove 26 to facilitate movement of fingers 14, particularly when changing from a retracted to an extended position.

In operation, assuming a finger 14 is in a retracted position, spring 17 would be seated in V-groove 1'5 and, when drum 11 is rotated, the retracted finger will pass beneath cam plate 23. Assuming now that it is desired to change a finger 14 from a retracted position to an extended position, finger :14 is pulled outwardly, as by engaging a pulling tool in groove 26. As finger 14 moves outwardly, spring 17 is forced out of V-groove 15 and is expanded. When V-groove 16 reaches spring 17, spring 17 snaps into V-groove 16 to lock finger I14 in an extended position. Any finger 14 in an extended position will, when it moves against cam plate 23, cause cam plate 23 to move and, in turn switch 25 is actuated.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a relatively inexpensive actuating device which can be utilized for coding, cycling, and the like, and that the coding or programming can be readily changed.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. An actuator device for a plurality of switches having cam means for actuating the plungers of said switches comprising:

a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in juxtaposition to said cam means, said cylindrical drum having tion or an extended position for engaging said cam an outer cylinder with a plurality of bores and an means.

inner cylinder with a plurality of bores equal in References Cited number to the number of bores in said outer cylinder UNITED STATES PATENTS with each said bore in said inner cylinder having a counterbore at its outer end, said inner and outer cylinders being arranged so that said bores are in alingment to provide a plurality of apertures each having a circumferential slot therein, FOREIGN PATENTS a plurality of actuating fingers slidably mounted one 10 1,154,866 4/ 1958 France- 1,968,499 7/1934 Mills. 2,669,615 2/1954 Cox.

each in each said aperture, each said actuating finger 1,072,690 1/1960 y having first and second V-shaped grooves around the 304,614 /1958 reat Bl'ltaln. circumference thereof, and a third circumferential 1,142,024 1/1963 ygroove for engagement with a pulling tool, and

a plurality of spring locking rings positioned one each 15 ROBERT SCHAEFER Pnmary Examiner in each said circumferential slot, said spring locking R, A, VANDERHYE, A i t E i rngs being engageable With said first and second V- shaped grooves whereby each said actuating finger U.S.Cl. X.R. can be selectively locked in either a retracted posi- 200-38