US3737597A

US3737597A - Cam operated timer switch assembly with manually adjustable cam and clutch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3737597A
Application number: US00190738A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Jones; R Wilkinson
Original assignee: PR Mallory and Co Inc
Current assignee: Duracell Inc USA
Priority date: 1971-10-20
Filing date: 1971-10-20
Publication date: 1973-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-05
Also published as: AU4717472A; CA959526A; IT966442B; JPS4848973A; GB1373442A; AU460460B2; SE391592B

Abstract

Manual axial and rotational indexing of a cam carrying shaft engages a clutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to a cam means carried by the shaft, and causes engagement of a means to retain the clutch in engagement.

Description

United- States Patent 91 Jones et al.

CAM OPERATED TIMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE CAM AND CLUTC MECHANISM Inventors: Lewis E. Jones; Richard W. Wilkinson, both of Indianapolis, Ind.

P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc., Indianopolis, Ind.

Filed: 0111.20, 1971 Appl. No.: 190,738

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,546,557

Primary ExaminerJ. R. Scott Attorr zy fiiehard HfChildress, Robert F. Meyer and Henry W. Cummings et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Manual axial and rotational indexing of a cam carrying shaft engages a clutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to a cam means carried by the shaft,

US. Cl. ..200/3s BA, 200/38 R 1 1. c1. ..H0lh 7/08, HOlh 43/10 causes engagement a means the clutch F ield of Search ..200/3s ,engagemem' 12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures so I I U a 7o z i 12/1970 Bowman etal; ..200/38A 1 CAM OPERATED'TIMER SWITCHASSEMBLY WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE CAM AND CLUTCH MECHANISM I thetimer and to start the timer once the program is set.

For example, the program of the timer may be manually setby rotating the cam carrying shaft to a predetermined starting point with the cam carrying shaft being manually indexed in or out to apply power driven rotation to the cam programming means of the timer.

The present invention is concerned with a timer wherein its program may be manually set through manual rotation of the cam carrying shaft with power driven rotation being applied to the cam programming means by axially indexing the cam carrying shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide such a timer which is neat compact, and easy to produce.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of such a timer having clutch means coupling a cam means to a motor drive means, the clutch means being engaged-when the cam carrying shaft is axially indexed. Still another object of the invention is to provide such a timer having a clutch means coupling a cam means to a motor drive means with means to hold the clutch in engagement after the clutch has once been engaged.

Yet another object of theinvention is the provision ofa timerwherein manual axial rotation and indexing of a cam carrying shaft engages a clutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to a cam means and wherein stop means retains the clutch means in engagent r Another object of the invention is the provision of a timer including a shelf means providing a means to seat a mor/able contact blade and aid in its-alignment. 1 A further object of the inventionis theprovision of a timer wherein. a cam means is carried by a hub and wherein? the hub portion engages'an aperture of the cam means which is slightly larger than the hub.

- These and other objects. of theinvention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the timer of the present invention; and r FIGS; 2 and 3 are side elevations in partial section showing the elements of the timer in different operating modes.

Generally speaking, theobjects of the invention are accomplished by providing a timer which in general comprises a cam carrying shaft,,a motor drive means, cam means rotatabl'y' carried by the cam carrying shaft and electrical switch means responsive to. rotation of the cam means, spring biased clutch means selectively coupling the cam means tothe motor drive means, a collar having an arcuate step carried by the cam carryin'g' shaft and engaging the cam-means, stop means, manual axial and rotational indexing of the cam carrying shaft engaging the'clutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to the cammeans' and engaging the-stop means with the step to retain the clutch means in engagement.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a timer l0 employing the principles of the invention. Timer lO in general includes a suitable motor 16 such as a syn.- chronous motor coupled to a speed reducing means such as a gear train enclosed in housing 18 which is:

. connected to an output pinion 20. Timing section 14.

ring 27, and the end plate 30 cooperatively mate each other through cooperating notches and protrusions 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, and 48-50. The cooperating

notches

36 and 38 also receive electrical switching means 24 so as to be cantilevered by the housing, while cooperating notches and protrusions 44-46 cantilever a portion of the means 28 which retains the 'clutch means in engagement. I

Cam means 22 includes a single cam 22 .in the shape of a ring andhaving a circular recess 19 carried on a hub portion 48. Hub portion 48 is fixedly carried on cam carrying shaft 50 through splines 52. Clutch means 26 includes a gear 54 rotatably carried on a hub 64, co= operating

clutch faces

58 and 60 having serrations 58' and 60 and coil spring 62. As shown, clutch face58 is staked or otherwise fixedly carried by gear 54,. while clutch facev 60 is integral with hub 48. Hub extends through the double-D aperature 65 of cam 22" arid into the double-D recess 67 of collar 72'. A150 included-as part of the clutch means 26'is a flat spring 68 having peripheral leafs 68', As will be apparent, spring 68 provides a means whereby the

serrations

58 and 60" may be readily engageable. Electrical switch means 24 includes a movable contact blade 23. and 'afixed contact blade 21 each having electrical contacts 23 and 21' adapted to engage one another. Electrical terminals 29 are integral with each of the contact blades. The means 28 holding the clutch means 26 into engagement includes a stop means 70 and collar 72 carried on cam carrying shaft 50 and engaginghub 48 of the cam means 22. Stop means 70 includes a tab 74 carried by a spring blade 76 which iscantilevered through the cooperation of notch 44 and protrusion 46.

78' at the outer diameter of the collar.

In operation, manual rotation of cam carrying shaft 50 sets the desired program for the timer by setting the circular distance step 22" of cam 22' must travel before the step reaches cam follower 2370f moveable contact blade 23. Once the desired program hasb'een. set, cam carrying shaft 50 isthen axially indexed. inwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, :toengage the; clutch through engagement of the serrations 58'- and 60': of clutch faces 58 and 60, the faces being properly mated with the aid of flat spring 68. During manual rotation and axial indexing of the cam carryingshaft, tab 74 engages arcurate step 78 to hold thecollar 72and thus the clutch faces together. Cam 22 is then rotated through motor 16. Asv shown in FIG. 2, when the end of the desired program or its cycle has been reached ridge 78 engages tab 74 to move it out of engagement with the collar thus allowing the clutch means 26 to become disengaged. Cam carrying shaft 50 is retracted until tab 74 engages circular recess 19 in cam 22.

Aperture 65 is slightly larger than hub 48 such that there is a certain amount of play between the hub and cam 22'. This results in a quick brake of electrical contacts 21' and 23' when follower 23 engages step 22". Shelf means 80 provides a means for the movable blade 23 to be seated to thus limit its travel when follower 23 engages step 22" of cam 22'. Shelf means 80 includes an L-shaped member 82 extending from a base 84, and a wedge 86 carried by the base. The shelf means is carried by ring shaped member 25 through the cooperation of notch 40 and protrusion 42 carrying L- shaped member 82. Movable blade 23 rests on base 84 and wedge 86 helps both blades maintain axial alignment.

What is claimed is:

l. A timer comprising:

a. a cam carrying shaft,

b'. a motor drive means,

c. a cam ring including a hub carried by said cam carrying shaft, said hub having a first clutch face, and electrical switch means responsiveto rotation of said cam ring, 1

d. a gear having a second clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft, and a coil spring disposed between said first and second clutch faces, each of said clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted to engage one another,

e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam ring, and

f. stop means engaging said arcuate step,

g. manual axial and roational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging said first and second clutch faces so as to apply motor driven rotation of said cam ring and engaging said stop means with said arcuate step to retain said first and second clutch faces in engagement.

. 2. A timer according to claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a spring member connected to a wall of the timer housing.

3. A timer according to claim 2 wherein said spring member is a blade contilevered from said wall.

4. A timer comprising:

a. cam carrying shaft,

b. amotor drive means,

c. cam means rotatably carried by said cam 'carr' ying shaft, and electrical switch means responsive to rotation of said cam means,

d. clutch means coupling said cam means to said motor drive means, 1

e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam means,and f. a spring blade connected to a wall of a housing for the timer,

g. manual axial and rotational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging said clutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to said cam means and I engaging said spring blade with said arcuate step to retain said clutch means in engagement. 5. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said spring blade includes a tab carried at its free end, said tab enmeans includes a cam ring carried by a hub having a clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft; and said clutch means includes a gear having a clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft, each of said clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted to engage one another, and a coil spring disposed between said faces.

8. A timer according to claim 7 wherein said clutch means further includes a spring means disposed between said gear and an end wall of said timer. v

9. A timer according to claim 4'wherein said hub engages an aperture of said cam which is slightly larger than said hub.

10. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said electrical switch means includes fixed and moveable contact blades cantilevered in a wall of the timer housing and having cooperating electrical-contacts.

v 11. A timer according to claim 10 further including a shelf means disposed at the free end of said bladesv and carried by a wall of the timer housing for'limiting the travel of said moveable'blade and for maintaining alignment of the blades.

12. A timer according to claim 11 wherein said shelf

Claims

1. A timer comprising: a. a cam carrying shaft, b. a motor drive means, c. a cam ring including a hub carried by said cam carrying shaft, said hub having a first clutch face, and electrical switch means responsive to rotation of said cam ring, d. a gear having a second clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft, and a coil spring disposed between said first and second clutch faces, each of said clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted to engage one another, e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam ring, and f. stop means engaging said arcuate step, g. manual axial and roational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging said first and second clutch faces so as to apply motor driven rotation of said cam ring and engaging said stop means with said arcuate step to retain said first and second clutch faces in engagement.

2. A timer according to claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a spring member connected to a wall of the timer housing.

4. A timer comprising: a. cam carrying shaft, b. a motor drive means, c. cam means rotatably carried by said cam carrying shaft, and electrical switch means responsive to rotation of said cam means, d. clutch means coupling said cam means to said motor drive means, e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam means, and f. a spring blade connected to a wall of a housing for the timer, g. manual axial and rotational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging said clutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to said cam means and engaging said spring blade with said arcuate step to retain said clutch means in engagement.

5. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said spring blade includes a tab carried at its free end, said tab engaging said arcuate step.

6. A timer according to claim 5 wherein said collar has a ridge engaging said spring blade to move it out of said arcuate step.

7. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said cam means includes a cam ring carried by a hub having a clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft; and said clutch means includes a gear having a clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft, each of said clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted to engage one another, and a coil spring disposed between said faces.

8. A timer according to claim 7 wherein said clutch means further includes a spring means disposed between said gear and an end wall of said timer.

9. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said hub engages an aperture of said cam which is slightly larger than said hub.

10. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said electrical switch means includes fixed and moveable contact blades cantilevered in a wall of the timer housing and having cooperating electrical contacts.

11. A timer according to claim 10 further including a shelf means disposed at the free end of said blades and carried by a wall of the timer housing for limiting the travel of said moveable blade and for maintaining alignment of the blades.

12. A timer according to claim 11 wherein said shelf means includes a base, and L-shaped member extending from said base engaging said wall, and a wedge carried by said base.