US3895379A

US3895379A - Two-way toggle actuated mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3895379A
Application number: US480732A
Authority: US
Inventors: Grover K Houpt; Peter J Bergman
Original assignee: American Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Sycon Corp
Priority date: 1974-06-19
Filing date: 1974-06-19
Publication date: 1975-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-15
Also published as: CA1003665A; DE2521077A1; GB1512064A

Abstract

This two-way toggle mechanism is shown for use in providing stepped increments of rotation of a wheel or the like in either of two rotary directions as desired. It comprises a mount on which the wheel or the like is mounted and on which a two-way toggle is pivotally mounted. The toggle is connected by linkage means to an escapement-like member which is also pivotally mounted. It has two arms curved toward one another which engage projections located on one side of the wheel. Movement of the escapement moves the wheel incrementally in a direction depending upon the direction of the movement of the toggle.

Description

" TFF'I'FWIUL 15 ms SHEET CIRCUIT NTEGRATED H P-55mm 15 ms 8 95. 3 79 SHEET 2 FIG.3

FIG. 4

1 TWO-WAY TOGGLE ACTUATED MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism for moving a rotary member such as a wheel in either of two opposite rotary directions in step-wise fashion and in particular to such a mechanism for use in a timing or counting device.

2. Prior Art Toggle-actuated mechanisms which rotate, step-wise, a wheel or disc in a single direction are known and, in fact, are the subject matter of US. Pat. No. 3.8 l 3,668, issued May 28, 1974 to Donald Ross. In a counting or timing mechanism of the type described in the latter patent which actuates an alarm or switch at the end of a predetermined count or time, it is often useful during the cycle of operation to increase or decrease the number to be counted or the interval of time to be measured. Hitherto, mechanisms were provided for increasing the count by moving a toggle in a single direction to rotate one or more of the number wheels or discs forward a desired number of steps. However, in order to reduce the count, it was necessary to move the unidirectional toggle for each number wheel or disc ahead and through the highest digit in order to reach a digit lower than the one originally set. This proved troublesome and unnecessarily time-consuming. Time is often important when it is desired to change the length of a timing cycle which has been set for a predetermined number of seconds. Such other two-way toggles as are known are relatively expensive to make and subject to mechanical failure.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a two-way toggle-actuated mechanism for incrementally rotating a wheel, disc or the like in either rotary direction, especially one which is relatively inexpensive to make and free from undue mechanical breakdowns.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A two-way toggle-actuated mechanism for moving a wheel or the like step-wise comprising a mounting means on which a wheel or the like is mounted for rotary movement. A pivotally-mounted toggle which can be stroked in either of two opposite directions is connected by linkage to a pivotally mounted escapement member which engages projections formed on one side of the wheel. Movement of the toggle in one direction causes a corresponding pivotal movement of said escapement member which causes said wheel to move one step in a predetermined rotary direction. Movement of the toggle in the opposite direction causes opposite rotary movement of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective and schematic view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the toggleactuated mechanism shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the other side;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wheel, the escapement member, the linkage and the two-way toggle portions of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 when the toggle is depressed thereby causing the wheel to be rotated one step in the counterclockwise direction;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary. perspective view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 when the toggle is raised thereby causing the wheel to move clockwise one step;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 with some parts omitted to clarify the operation of the parts behind them; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the escapementlike member in accordance with the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. I, there is shown a two-way toggle mechanism 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. It comprises a mounting means 13 made of an appropriate plastic or other material having a horizontal shaft 13a molded thereon which extends laterally from the interior to support a number wheel 14 or the like for rotary movement thereupon. A toggle I5 is pivotally mounted on another, smaller, laterallyprojecting shaft 13b molded on said mounting means l3.

An escapement member 27 is also mounted on a laterally projecting tubular shaft 22. The escapement 27 has two facing

curved arms

27a and 27b which engage, successively, the raised projections 14!) formed on one side of the wheel 14. Depending upon whether the toggle 15 is stroked downward or upward, the movement of the

curved arms

27a and 27!) will cause the wheel l4 to rotate incrementally either in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

Associated with the side of the wheel 14 opposite the side on which the projections 1411 are located is a decimal-binary switching means which is not part of the present invention but which is fully described in the aforementioned patent. It is briefly described to show a typical environment in which the present invention has found great utility. It converts each rotary step of the wheel I4 to a different positioning of the elongated conductors 16 relative to the generally U-shaped conductor 170. Each different position corresponds to a representation of a binary digit and, in conjunction with the integrated circuit 11 connected thereto. together with the voltage supply 12, produces an electrical signal representative of the binary digit for application to an appropriate circuit (not shown).

DOWNWARD TOGGLE STROKE OPERATION The mechanism and operation of the two-way toggle will now be described in greater detail. When the toggle portion is stroked downwardly as shown in FIG. 5, the rear toggle portion 15d, which is integrally molded therewith pivots upward. It is connected to a linkage member 18 which may be made of metal or the like, and which is generally L-shaped. The leg portion of the linkage member 18 is provided with a generally elliptical perforation 18a through which the terminal portion 150 of the toggle, which has a generally hat-shaped configuration, is passed. The position of the portion 15c relative to the angle of the axis of the aperture 18a is such as to keep the portion 15d always coupled with the member 18.

When the toggle is not being stroked, the

escapement arms

27a and 27b have their extremities straddling the projection 14b of the wheel 14 which would be located at the 3 oclock" position when viewed from the side as seen in FIG. 2. Movement of the toggle portion a downward causes the L-shaped linkage member 18 to move upward and to assume a more vertical position relative to the horizontal. The upper end of the member 18 has a round aperture through which the shaftlike projection 27d of the escapement 27 is passed. Therefore, the escapement is moved pivotally in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 7 against the bias exerted by the spring on the upper pivoting member 21 which bears against the shaft 27d of the escapement. The arm 27a moves counterclockwise and rides up the segment 13m as the lower arm 27b propels the wheel 14 counter-clockwise by pressure upward against the lower edge of the particular projection 14b that had just previously been in the 3 o'clock position. This counter-clockwise movement continues to the end of the down stroke. Then the end of the lower resilient detent finger 1311, which is inte grally molded into mounting structure 13 in opening 13 and is normally biassed in the direction of the wheel 14, snaps into the one of the lands 14c which has come into the 6 oclock position. Finger 1311 has at its end a curved boss or protuberance 13i which snaps into the land 14c then in the 6 oclock position. Simultaneously, the boss (not shown) at the end of the other detent finger 13g snaps into the 12 o'clock" land Me.

When the toggle 15a is then released, it is restored to its rest position by the downward pressure of the upper pivoting member 21 on the shaft 27d by virtue of the decompression of spring 25. Spring 25 is connected between the free ends of

members

21 and 23, the latters edge resting against horizontal portion 13f. As the member 21 is pulled down it moves the escapement 27 clockwise whose upper arm 27a slides off segment 13m into the land 140 which is just above the projection 14b then in the 3 oclock position (as viewed in FIG. 2.). The lower arm 27b meanwhile slips over the lower edge of that 3 o'clock" projection 14b. At the toggle neutral or rest position. as stated above, the extremities of the

arms

27a and 27b are positioned in the lands 14c on either side of the 3 o'clock" projection 14b. The downward movement of the member 21 is limited by the upper surface of the horizontal portion 13f.

UPPER TOGGLE STROKE OPERATION When the toggle is moved upward as shown in FIG. 6, the toggle portion 15d pivots counter-clockwise (as seen in FIG. 6) thereby pulling down the L-shaped linkage member 29, and causing escapement 27 to pivot clockwise. As the escapement 27 rotates clockwise the extremity of the arm 27a bears down against the upper edge of the wheel projection 14b then in the 3 o'clock position and propels it downward until the bosses of the two flexible detent fingers 13g and 1311 respectively engage the next diametrically opposed rectangular lands now located at the l2 oclock and 6 oclock positions whereupon the wheel 14 has been advanced one step. Meanwhile the extremity of the lower arm 27!) has been flexed upward (toward the reader as seen in FIG. 7) as it passes onto the lower elevated segment 13n. At the same time. clockwise movement of the projection 27d of the escapement causes the lower pivoting member 23 to pivot clockwise thereby extending the spring 25 which is connected between its free end and the free end of upper pivoting member 21.

On release of the toggle 15, the decompression of the spring 25 pulls up the lower pivoting member 23 which nudges projection 27d of the escapement 27 counterclockwise until the extremity of the arm 27b slides into the land 14c just below the 3 oclock" projection 14b and the extremity of the upper arm 27a slides into the next higher land so that they straddle the 3 oclock" projection. As seen in FIG. 2, when the toggle is at rest, the two

members

21 and 23 help to fix the position of the escapement 27 (and the wheel) by simultaneously exerting downward and upward pressure respectively on the projection 27d. The

angled portions

15e and 15f serve as limits to the pivotal movement of the toggle in the respective up and down strokes of the latter.

As the wheel 14 is rotated to the desired setting position the conductive portions 16a, which are biassed toward the wheel, engage higher or lower peaks" or valleys" in the concentric grooves Me. This causes the conductors 16, which are anchored toward their lower ends within their respective channels 13c formed in mounting structure 13 by pin 19, to move correspondingly into or out of engagement with portion of the U-shaped conductor 17 in the same manner as explained in the above-mentioned patent. The pin 19 passes through a horizontal groove 13d formed in the structure 13 and to the left of the bent portions 16b that pass through apertures in the channels 13c into the adjacent groove 13d.

TOGGLE LOCK OPERATION It is often desirable to provide a mechanism for locking the toggle to prevent alteration of the setting of the timer. Toward this end a locking plate 30 is provided having a thickness somewhat smaller than the width of the notch 15b of the toggle. Plate 30 can move laterally within its own plane when propelled by corresponding movement of pins 31 that may be linked to a cylindrical key-operated mechanism (not shown) for example. The pins 31 pass through apertures 30a in the plate 30. At its upper edge plate 30 has

trapezoidal teeth

30b, 30c, 30d, 30n. Tooth 30b fits in notch 15b when plate 30 has been moved to the locking position.

Teeth

30c, 30d, 30n fit into corresponding notches 15b in the next adjacent toggle actuated wheel setting mechanisms (not shown) used to set the other digits in the other places of the number.

Still other modifications, which do not depart from the essence of the present invention, will occur to those skilled in the art upon perusal of the description and drawings herein. Consequently, this invention should be limited by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanism for moving a wheel or the like stepwise in either of two opposed rotary directions comprising:

a. mounting means.

b. a wheel mounted for rotary movement on said mounting means,

c. manually operable means pivotally mounted on said mounting means for movement in either of two opposed directions.

(I. an escapement pivotally mounted on said mounting means and engaging one lateral surface of said wheel.

e. linkage means connected between said escapement and said manually operable means for transmitting movement of said manually operable means in one direction to said escapement and transmitting movement of said manually operable means in a second and opposite direction to a corresponding opposite movement of said escapement, said escapement movements also causing corresponding movements of said wheel.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is a toggle. wherein said wheel has a plurality of spaced projections on one side thereof and wherein said escapement has two arms which engage said projections to move said wheel one step at a time.

3. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein means are provided to restore said toggle to a neutral position after each stroke.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said restoring means comprise upper and lower pivoting arms which bear upon said escapement in opposite directions.

5. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is a toggle having a portion thereof which cooperates with a movable member to prevent stroking of said toggle.

6. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said projections are radially disposed on said side of said wheel, wherein said escapement has two oppositelycurved flexible arms which propel said wheel by pushing against the edges of said projections and wherein said mounting means urges the extremity of one of said arms away from said wheel during a toggle stroke while the extremity of the other curved arm is pushing said edge of said projection to rotate said wheel.

7. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes detent means which releasably engage the lands between said projections to substantially immobilize said wheel after each stroke of said toggle.

8. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes a plurality of channels for engaging a corresponding plurality of conductive means and a groove adjacent said channels, said groove being in communication with said channels by means of apertures formed in the latter, said conductive members having portions thereof passing through said apertures into said groove.

9. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said upper and lower pivoting arms are respectively connected at one end to a portion of said mounting means and wherein said escapement has a shaft-like projection on which the inner edges of said arms bear in the neutral position of the toggle.

10. The mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said detent means comprises two diametrically opposed resilient fingers integrally formed in said mounting means, each of said fingers having a boss at one end thereof which engage diametrically opposite lands in said wheel.

11. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said toggle has surfaces thereof which cooperate with said mounting means to limit the stroke of said toggle.

Claims

1. A mechanism for moving a wheel or the like step-wise in either of two opposed rotary directions comprising: a. mounting means, b. a wheel mounted for rotary movement on said mounting means, c. manually operable means pivotally mounted on said mounting means for movement in either of two opposed directions, d. an escapement pivotally mounted on said mounting means and engaging one lateral surface of said wheel, e. linkage means connected between said escapement and said manually operable means for transmitting movement of said manually operable means in one direction to said escapement and transmitting movement of said manually operable means in a second and opposite direction to a corresponding opposite movement of said escapement, said escapement movements also causing corresponding movements of said wheel.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said manually operable means is a toggle, wherein said wheel has a plurality of spaced projections on one side thereof and wherein said escapement has two arms which engage said projections to move said wheel one step at a time.

6. The mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said projections are radially disposed on said side of said wheel, wherein said escapement has two oppositely-curved flexible arms which propel said wheel by pushing against the edges of said projections and wherein said mounting means urges the extremity of one of said arms away from said wheel durIng a toggle stroke while the extremity of the other curved arm is pushing said edge of said projection to rotate said wheel.