US2981807A - Day and night distinguishing clock controlled switch - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1961 R. D. SMITH 2,981,807

DAY AND NIGHT DISTINGUISHING CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

April 25, 1961 R. D. SMITH 2,981,807

DAY AND NIGHT DISTINGUISHING CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Feb. 13, 1956 5 Sheets-Shee 2 IN VEN TOR.

April 25, 1961 R. D. SMITH 2,981,807

DAY AND NIGHT DISTINGUISHING CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Feb. 13, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @ugr Il 51%. 12

IN VEN TOR.

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Unted States Patent() DAY AND NIGHT DISTINGUISHING CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Raymond D. smith, 95s Main si., Easton, coin.

Filed Feb. 1s, .11956, ser. No. 564,905

l11 claims. (c1. V:zoo- 38) This invention relates to time telling instruments or chronometers and particularly to clockwork operatively combined with, or incorporated within, a clock controlled electric circuit controlling unit or time switch such as includes circuit making-and-breaking mechanism operating automatically at selectively settable times of day or night.

A time switch of this nature is proposed in my U.S. patent, Reissue No. 23,783, wherein the electric circuit controlling unit may comprise a traveling, contact-activating element driven by clockwork to revolve constantly at a speed of one revolution in 24 hours. In the time switch of said patent there is a conventional l2-hour clock VCe chronism with the sectional l2-hour, day-and-night markings on the 2li-hour scale.

Successful embodiments of the invention are set forth in the yfollowing description having reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein certain parts `are lined for the colors red and black.

Y Fig. l shows in front view a time indicating electric circuit controlling device embodying one form of the invention in which the clock hands point to time-of-day, and in which it can be known by newly provided signal means that an internally concealed clock driven electric contact-activating element is synchronized in proper relation to a 24-hour scale having 12hour day-and-night sections.

Fig. 2 is a similar view in which the clock hands are in similar angular positions but known by observation of the signalling means to be telling time-of-night instead of time-of-day.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a different setting of the contrasting color bands which display the day and/ or night time periods during which the clock controlled switch will remain respectively open or closed. y

Fig. 5 shows a setting of the color bands that indicates a condition of the time switch whereby the load current will remain always olf andvrncver become automatically switched on.

face swept by clock hands rotating about an axis vfor'telling time in conventional manner and in addition there is a stationary circular 24-hour scale of time indicia concentric Awith the clock *face and separately settable ind-icators that are selectively turnable to various stations on the circle in register with'the 24hour scale. Such indicatorstn the time 'switch of the patent are operatively associated with clockwork controlled switch operating mechanism Ifor.automatically switching a load circuit Vat s predetermined times which constantly remain displayed by the position of the settable indicators as'station'ed in register with'the 2li-hour scale.

Brit in the time switch of the aforesaidpatent there is need for, and not present, some 'visible signal means by which'to know whether the telling of time ydisplayed in usual manner by the angular postionof the conventional clock hands is time of day or whether itis time of night, since one Arevolution of the hourhand ofrthe rclock takes place duringthe day and thel next revolution -takesfplac'e duringthe night. An 'example 'of such need is when the -clock hasv been thrown oil time by a period of inaction. yO'nputting the time switch back into use in such circumstances the 'clock hands must not only be y Fig. 6 shows a setting ofthe color bands that indicates a condition of the time switch whereby the load current will always remain on .and never become automatically switched off. l

Fig. 7 'on an enlarged scale is a view taken partially .in section on `the plane .7 7 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of 'the arrows.

Fig. 7a is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the signal giving parts of Fig. 7. o f Fig. 8 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the clock face, the day-or-night indicating signal and the clock hands. i'

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged views ofthe indicator setting spindles taken respectively on the planes 9--9 and 10-10 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. ll, 12 and 13 are views taken in section on the planes t11--11, v12-12 and 13-13 respectively, in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows. z

Fig. 14 shows a modified relationship of the clockLfae and the 24-hour dial wherein the latter forms a ring'enset at the correct time telling position on 'the :clock face o but the position` on the aforesaid clock kdriven electric con# tact-activating element in its circle of travel/relative `to the 24-hour scale must be known inasmuch as {Such element can have two diametrically 'opposite positions coi;- respondi'ngto anysingleposition of the-hour hand.` This is because the -hour hand makes two revolutions whilethe clock drivenelectric contact-activating element is making only one revolution. In the aforesaid patent this condie ktion of proper synchronism between travelingcontact-ac tivating element land `24l1`our `AScale for settingtheftimes.

for "automaticswitch Iaction 'can not be 'ascertained 'by merely"viewingeiiternally visible parts of 'the because thontact-activating elementjssconceaed within the switch mcchanismbyopaqueness of the aforesaidr time Thepresentfm ternally ,visibleparts ofl the timeI switch', whether', thegclock Jhandarare telling time of; day or timexof night :and

time'fswifch' spectively opposite sides-of the latter coaxially lrotatable ringgears 10 and f11. These gears are alike exceptf'that gear 1,0is fast to ring 28 while gear 11 can rotatie-relatively thereto. By means of an internal ke'y'way` in ring 2 8, that is receptive lto-a rearwardly bentrear 27"-on `a white-indicator disc27, the turning of ring gear 10 turns l disc'2f7 and stations it in selective rotary positions. By

. mearsfof a pin 61 projecting -forward` from Lring :gear 11 anawhieh engages shane. in a Iadia1emenSiOnz6 of'fa red indicator disc `26, the turning of ring gear 1-1 turns disc 26, and relatively to discZl ifdesired. -Thus. eacl1 whether"A the contact activatingielement f is in lpropersyh- `ost/discs Z6J-and12r7 can fbe kvstationed independently .of thfother insele'ctive "rotary positions v)about a hollow stationary; 'main 4:bearing post A15` lwhich .supports them i andwhcliris.A fixedlyirnounted in .an iaperture `in ian interespanso?. Y. r

mediate `frame plate 21 of insulative material. Post 15 i at its front end supports a clock dial 34.

Ring gear is turned by means of a meshing pinion 13 that is caused to rotate in unison with its spindle 4t) by means of a spline 70 which as shown in Fig. 1Q permits spindle 40 to slide axially inrelation to Ypinion 13. Spindle 40 is equipped with a ha'ndle'knob`40' accessible outside of housing'25. Pinion 13 carries a Y guard flange-12 that overlaps the front face of ringvgerar 10. Gear 11 is turned by a similar meshing pinion 12 that is caused to rotate in unison withlitsspindl'e 39 by means of a spline'70 which as shown in Fig. V9 permits spindle 39 to slide axially in relation to pinion 12. Pinion 12 carries a guard flange'41 'that overlaps therear face of hub ring 28. Spindle 39 is equipped'with aY handle knob 3 9' accessible outside'of'housig Y25. Other but `sigationary guard 'anges maintain ring' gears 10 and'11 `close to front frame plate `2t) two such anges comprising depending portions of a clip-like Yretainerft thatstraddles the top edge of plate 2) and is Ysecured thereto by thespacer posts 23.` Retrogressive or clockwise turning of the ring gears 10 and 11 is limited toY a small extent by two leaf spring clicks 47 that engage with the teeth of both ring Vgears in amanner freely Yto permit rotary setting of the indicator discs 26 and v 27 in only a counter clockwise direction.Y Clicks 47 are extensions of -another clip-shaped member of resilient sheet metal that straddles'th'e bottom edge offrarriel pla te 2Q and s'secured thereto by spacer posts 23. i

The turning of each of spindles 39 and 40 is frictionally opposed by means ofn a vlivef brake Acone `38 whiclris fixed on thev spindleby ahlset screw 43 and rubs rotatively against a'ldead brake cone 37'that is fixedly mounted in frame plate 20 and affords rotary bearing for the spindle 3,9 or40 lwhich extends through it. The mutually engaged smooth friction affording conical `surfaces of each set of brake cones 38 and 37 are kept constantly pressed together by theaxially ,exertedtension o f a cupped spring washer 44 whoseforceiof axially exerted tension is adjustably maintained byvthrust determining nuts 52 both having threaded engagement with the spindle 3 9 or 40. e The function ofthe brake cones is to holdeach of the indicator discs 26'v and 2.7V stationary against any tendency toward rotary displacement caused by turning of the other disc. Such `tendency arises from the fact that thediscs are radially split and helicallyinterleayed with eachother as described in my reissue Pati discs wherein the said commutative track is conductive around the complete circle at the rear surfaces rof the stationed on post 15 by the head flange' of an externally threaded bushing 35 which bushing engages internal threads in the front end of the post. AAt least the rear surface of clock dial 34 is insulative and serves axially to retain the interleaved signal discs 26 and 27 in their swivelling relation on the bearing post 15. The discs are constantly pressed Vforward against a conductive washer 69 clampedbetween the frontend of post 15 4and clock dial34. `The axial expansion of a spring coil 60 exerts thrust between a conductive washer 59 stationed against the shoulder on post 15 and the flange of an axially slidable conductive sleeve 67 that is constantly thrust forward against the discs 26 and 27 by spring 60. The front colored faces of discs 26 and 27 y are constantly visible fully or in part through an annularspace about the clock dial,34 between the latter and a stationary mat ring 62 carrying a circuitous 24-hour Yscfale 68 of time indicia.v

In the time switch of my aforesaid patent there were ournalled inside of a main bearing post, comparable i topost 15, a hollow shaft such as 16 for the hour hand 31, and' inside ofsuch hour hand shaft a spindle 17 for -the minute hand 3 0 ofthe clock. According to the present improvements there is in addition sleeved between the hour hand shaft 16 andthe bearing post 15 an extra or signal imp elling hollow shaft`33 which is rotatablcyindependently both of shaft 16 and spindle 17. Signal shaft 3 3 rotates at the sameangular lspeed at which the` wiping contact element 29 travels, namely onen revolution in twenty-fourhouzrs. Trains'of gears,

j comprising clock work by which the hereinbefore described parts 29, 16, 17 and 33 are rotated simultaneously Aand in proper synchronism, are described in fuller detailfh'ereinafter.

I he functionof the extra orisignal shaft y33 is to carry entNo. Re. 23,783. In other words, each disc overlaps 'and extends through a split portion of the other disc and is mounted to be turnable relatively'theretojand rela- "tively to a'scale 68 of time designating indicia. The rear face of discf27 whose front face is, Say; White'is continuously conductiveand the; rear face oli-disc 26 whose front face is a contrasting color` such `aslred is continuously insulative at such common radius `of curvature as provides a continuous vcircular commutative track composed of exposed component reary surfaces of;V .said discs that Vare wipedv continually vby the tip ofja V clockwork driven Y revolving contact lelement 29. The whole, or any arcuate extent, of such` circularcommutative trackl can be composed of conductive orginsulative components by the manual setting ofthev discs 2 6, 27 vin selective circular relation to each other as well as in relation ftol the frame Ypl'ateiZtLjV Relative movement of the interleaved discsin Aone rotary direction is limited by abutment ofthe ear 27. onwhite disc 27 against 'the radial extensionn26" of reddisc -26 toa relativeposition 'of the discs wherein the saidncommutatiye V track is insulativelaronnd the` complete c irclefa't ythe rear sur- .faces of theV discs in the settingshown in Figfifwhile' 'relative' movement between `these samediscs-in"tl:x eV op- 'posite" rotary direction'isflimited by abutment 'ofaf stud` 71 on `:white disc`s27 against the dead-end `of an arcuate ynotch .72, in red ldisc 26'. toi a# relative.. position. fof'fth'e and impel in front of clock `dial .34 in close face-to-face concealing relation thereto a.V signal affording rotor or blind 32 which therefore performs one cycle of revolution ever 24 hours. In cooperation with an orbit of insignia in the form of segments 7 4, 75 of contrasting colorsLon thecentral surface of vstationary clock face 3 4 .e'ach ofV half circular extent, and/or suitable markings 0n the aforesaid24-hour scaleto distinguish timeof-day from time-of-night such Vas indicia 68 at which a pointerjZjon vthe yrotating signal discv 32 is aimed or radiallyfbeamed, .herotor 32 comprisesmeans to signalg. substantially'throughontfeachof its successive halfcycles "of revolution, indications fof respectivelyl differing Vand"fdistinguishable character eachof which indications 'revolution of the `rotor.

persists 4'throughout one of v the alternaterhalf-:cycles of Y The area of the frontfaceof'the clock dial 34'that1is directly lback of rotor 32 is colored white in its upper halfcircularsegment 74 j and is colored black in the' lower halffcirculaijse'grnent 7 5.' Rotor 32 contains a' small f ape'rture" $2?. that.A of less than ninety degreescircular ex'- tent'sweepsaround progressivelyin front oflsuch alternmating white and black segments. Thusregardless of .whetherv aperture 3 2 does or does not' 'have a pointed shapebeafnednt the zza-hourscsle 62 an indiation win ybe sgnalledithat harlock isxtening' time-ofxiaywhenleverwhite isfvisible through the aperture/32" or that the -clock `lisltellingftimekof-nightwhenever black 5 is lvisible through the aperture. Rotor 32 is so synchronized with the wiper contact 29 that a radial line bisecting aperture 32', or whatever pointing device may take its place, co-

incides with the rotary position of the current making and breaking tip end of said contact. Such synchronized relation, when once established, will be maintained permanently because yboth the rotor 32 and contact 29 are driven at the same rotary speed. In the absence of aperture 32 some other pointed symbol on rotor 32, or some rotating element such as an extra clock hand, may be rotated by signal shaft 33 to serve as a pointer beamed radially outward from the axis of revolution of the clock hands. This will give equivalent indication by which it can be known that the hour hand 31 of the clock is running on its time-of-day cycle if such symbol points at any part of the upper or white half of the circular extent of the 2li-hour scale 62, or that the hour hand of the clock is running on its time-of-night cycle if the symbol points at any part of the `lower or black half of the circular extent of the 24-hour scale.

Suitable trains of gears for transmitting drive from a one-revolution-per-hour power pinion 1 of an electric clock motor 63 to hour hand 31, minute hand 30 and the signal rotor 32 simultaneously are as follows. Motor pinion 1 may have l5 teeth of 48 pitch and be in mesh with gear 2 having 60 teeth of 48 pitch. Gear 2 is loose on a countershaft 18 that is journalled 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 5 having 19 teeth of 48 pitch fixed to a gear 3 having 60 teeth of 48 pitch. A yieldable drive, to permit slippage for setting the clock hands in correct time telling position, is transmitted vfrom loose gear 2 to fixed gear 3 in usual manner by means of an axially expansive, cupped, spring washer 57 bearing frictionally between gears 2 and 3. Gear 3 is in mesh with the minute hand spindle pinion 4 having, as does the motor pinion 1, teeth of 48 pitch. Pinion 5 is in mesh with the hour hand spindle gear 6 having 57 teeth of 48 pitch. A pinion 22 is also iixed on counter-shaft 18` and has 9 teeth of 40 pitch and is in mesh with the signal shaft gear 19 'having 54 teeth of 40 pitch located just at the rear of intermediate plate 2-1. It has been mentioned that a similar pinion 7 located at the front of plate 21 having 9 teeth of 40 pitch is in mesh with the wiper contact driving gear 8 having 54 teeth of 40 pitch.

The mat ring 62 is lodged by meansof its peripheral edge in a bezel 36 which in turn may be lodged in the sight aperture of a housing 25 of insulative material on which the front frame plate 20, together with intermediateframe plate 21 and the motor carrying frame plate 76, are removably mounted by means of plate spacing posts 23 and 24 and screws 77. The peripheral margin of a dished transparent crystal 78 is held between the mat ring 62 and bezel 36.

It has been mentioned that spring washer 57 permits slippage between power driven gear 2 which is loose on countershaft 18 and gear 3 which is iixed on countershaft 18 in order to permit manual setting to proper time of day or night ofall the clockwork impelled parts hereinbefore referred to including contact nger 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 20 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. l2 terminals of any electric load circuit to be alternately made and broken automatically by the clockwork impelled rotary travel of the resilient leaf element '29m-wiping contact with the respectively conductive and insulative rear surfaces of indicator discs 27 ^and 26 are represented by two :lead wires k81 and 82. `Load lead 81 is attached '.to tan @insulated )binding post .49 mounted, on

(i the insulative motor frame plate 76 and which holds xed on the latter the conductive resilient leaf collector brush 4 8 which bears constantly and conductively on the yconcluetive full-circular mounting band 73 from which branches thetraveling leaf contact element 29. The other load lead 82 is attached to a bus bar 53 that is tightly lodged under and in electrical contact with the ange of `the vmain bearing post 15 that abuts the front face ofthe insulative intermediate frame plate 21.

Thus the conductive circuit from lead 82 to lead 81, when the clock controlled ,switch is closed, can be traced as follows: 82, 53, 15, 69, 27, 29, 73, 48, 49, 81. As long as the tip of traveling contact 29 is separated from con ductive disc 27 by the intervention of insulative disc 26, the circuit from lead 82 to lead 81 remains broken.

An example of practical use of my improved time telling instrument is for successively turning on and turning o the current to a radio receiver automatically at pre determined times, such as at a'time of day for awakening in the morning and later at a time of night for silencing the radio after having gone to sleep. In Fig. 1 the hands of the clock show the currently existing time to be 3:50. It is known to be 3:50 in the afternoon both because the aperture 32 exposes a portion of the white segment 74 therethrough and also because the tapering or elongated shape of aperture 32' points to the white half of the 24- hour scale `62. In Fig. 2 twelve hours have elapsed and the clock hands 31, 30 are again in the same position indicating the time to be 3:50. Now however the time =is known to be 3:50 am. at night because the aperture -32 exposes therethrough a portion of the black'segment 75 and also because the aperture points to the blackened half of the 24-hour scale 62. In each of Figs. l and 2, the red color of indicator disc 26-is set to extend from 7:00 a.m. to midnight on the 24hour dial 62and vthe white of indicator disc 27 extends from midnight to`7:00 am. on the same dial. Thus vduring each full day portion-and night portion of a twenty-four hour period the load circuit, comprising say a radio receiving set fed by leads 81, 82 (Fig. l2), will remain energized from 7:00 arm. to midnight and will remain deenergized from midnight to 7:00 a.m. To perform repeatedly and automatically in this manner requires no daily resetting of any of the controls ofthe clock or time switch because the colored indicating discs 26, 27 constantly remain wherever they are selectively stationed such asin their relative and valg:- solute positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the color bands 26, 27 have .been reset to different relative and absolute arcuate kpositions on the circle by which it is known `that the load current will be energized from 4:00 p.m. (in the afternoon) -to 7:00 pm. (in the evening) and thereafter will be deenergized from 7:00 p.m. (in the evening) to 4:00 p.m. (in the afternoon). Thus if the electrical load controlled by the time switch is the oven of an electric cooking range and the time of day when setting the instrument is 9:00 a.m. (in the morning), as indicated to be the time of dayby the hands of the lclock giving attention also to the rotary position of aperture 3%2 in Fig 3, then when 4:00 pm. (in the afternoon) arrives the trailing tip of contact wiper 29, traveling clockwise in radial alignment land in unison with'the pointed end of aperture 32', will drop olf from the edge of the radial split in the rearwardly presented insulative face of disc 26. This automatically begins the cooking of the meal inthe oven of the range even if everybody is absent fromhorne. When 7:00pm. (in the evening) arrives, the intended time of serving the evening meal, the ranger oven will automatically be turned olf and the cooking will cease because at that'time as shown in Fig. l1/the trailing tip of contact wiper 29 will havejust passed the dividingline between the red of indicator disc 26 and the white of indicator disc 27. If nobody is present to open the oven the fully cooked meal will-be relieved o'f heatingan'd will not become overcooked. 1 s f the innermost dial 34'. ymarkings enables the hour graduations 45 to be located,

.rivets .86 or in other suitable ways.

"apaiser h -n Fig. 5, the color bands 26, 27 are shown to be Vso relatively stationed circumferentially that no red color appears in the annular space between the clock face 24 and the 24hour scale 62 which space therefore is completely white. In other words no color of red shows at the widthless radial split 51 in disc 27. e This means that the trailing tip of contact wiper 29 is constantly traversing always an insulative path along the rear insulative surface of disc 26 wherefore the load circuit will rem-ain always -deenergized and will not at anytime be closed automati- `cally by continuous running of the clock. In Fig. the

clock hands 30, 31 when viewed in conjunction with the rotary position of aperture 32', tell that the time of day currently is 6:00 p.m.

.rear conductive surface of disc 27 wherefore the load circuit will remain always closed and will not at any time be opened automatically by the continuous running of the clock whose hands 30, 31 in Fig. 6, in conjunction with the rotary position of aperture 32', tell that the present time is 6:00 am.

In the modied construction of Fig. i4 the hour graduations 45 are shown tobe carried in a circumferentially 'outermost position by the mat 62 instead of by dial 34',

.and the scale of 24hour time indicia 68 is carried on This reversed arrangement of if` preferred, on or circumferentially outside of and round about the crystal 78, or on or circumferentially outside Iof and round about the crystal retaining bezel 36, as `for instance on the'front face of casing 25 or some equivalent housing structure.

In Fig. 7a, a mechanical modification is shown wherein the black and white signal segments 75, 74 are centered yat'the axis of the clock hands and carried on the front face of the signal rotor 32a instead of being stationary. Thus they revolve clockwise just at the rear of a stationary mask or blind 85 that covers and conceals these segments andis fastened toY stationary dial 34 or 34 by e The mask or blind 85 contains a stationary aperture` 85 which may be like aperture 32' through which is exhibited the black of the here traveling segment 75 whenever any portion of same is visible through aperture 85 and exhibits the white of the here traveling segment 74 whenever any portion of the latter is visible through aperture 85'. These traveling black and white segments 75 and 74 in Fig. 7a are arranged in such rotary relation to the hands of the clock 30, 31 and travel in such synchronism with the trailing -tip end of wiping contact 29 in relation to the stationed position ofeaperture 85 that black is exhibited through said aperture throughout the period of time from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 am., and white is exhibited through the aperture from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.rn., it lbeing underfstood that rotor 32a travelscontinually clockwise at the rate of one revolution in 4twenty-four hours. If desired,

the mask'or blind 85 may be made of transparent or translucent material with markings thereon to take the place of aperture 85.

The foregoing vand many other variations land equivalents ofthe shapes and arrangement of parts herein chosen to illustrate the improvements come within the vprinciples ofthe 4invention intended to be covered by the I claim: e l v 1. In a settable time switch, the combination of, clock circular conductive switch track and onv its front face a corresponding circular extent of distinctive color, a c ooperative split disc bordering on said scale having on its rear face an insulative switch track and on its front face a corresponding circular extent of contrasting color, each of said discs overlapping and extending through a split portion of the other disc and being mounted to be turnable relatively to said other disc and relatively to said scale of indicia in indicating register therewith, at least one of said discs being opaque, means to turn said discs and station them individually -in selective positions in Vcircular register with said scale of indicia, a traveling contact at the rear of saiddiscs concealed by said opaque disc and connected to be driven by said clockwork in a circular path in constant wiping engagement sequentially with said tracks, a load circuit connected to be controlled by the cooperation of said contact with said tracks in such manner thatY said circuit is closed or opened upon the passage of said contact from one to the other of said tracks past the split in one or the other of said overlapping discs, and a signal giving rotor at the front of said disc including an element connected to be driven by said clockwork to sweep along said circular extents of contrasting colors in synchronism with the travel of said concealed contact in a manner to indicate when said contact passes the splits in said discs and shifts from contact with one of said tracks into contact with the other track whereby to make and break the load circuit.

2. In a settable time switch the combination defined in claim l in which the said signal giving rotor is one of mutually registering elements having constantly changing circular relationship, one of said elements being connected to be impelled in a circle by said clockwork, and one of said elements bearing night and day distinguishing insignia extending serially about said circle, said day distinguishing insignia extending continuously rthroughout substantially a half portion of said circle and said night distinguishing insignia extending continuously throughout substantially the remaining half portion of said circle. Y 3. In a settable time switch, the combination defined in claim 2, in which the one of the said elements which carries the said insignia is stationary and the other of said elements revolves in the said circle.

4. In a settable time switch, the combination defined in claim 2, in which the one of the said elements which carries the said insignia revolves in the'said circle and the other of said elements is stationary.

5. In a settable time switch, the combination defined in claim 2, in which the said element which does not carry the said insignia overlaps the said element which does carry the said insignia and is shaped and disposed relatively thereto progressivelyto mask and expose sequential portions of said insignia.

l6. In a settable time switch, the combination defined in claim 5, in which the said element which does not vcarry the said insignia is operatively opaque and contains a sight aperture located in the said circle in front of the said insignia thereby to limit to a restricted area the portion of said insignia that is visible throughsaid aperture. e

7. In a settable time switch, the combination defined in claim 6, in which the said aperture is elongated radially outward toward the said `circle to function as a pointer. 8. In a chronometer, a clock driven time'telling hand rotatable about an axis, signal devices for distinguishing V time of dayfrom time of night, including the combination of cooperative elements including al circular orbit of insignia centered at said axis in part comprising a surface of half circular extent presenting a distinctive signalling appearance, and a blind in front of said orbit of insignia in sulhciently close face-to-face relation thereto to conceal said insignia, said blind having an aperture at a radial distance from said axis to register with said 'orbit and of less lthan .ninety vdegrees. circular extent, means to cause onerof said elements to' revolve about said axis at the speed of one revolution in twenty-four hours while the other element remains stationary, whereby said surface will be exhibited through said aperture continually for at least twelve hours to signal the incidence of day time or night time.

9. In a chronometer, signal devices as defined in claim 8, in which the said half circular surface revolves and the said blind is stationary.

10. In a chronometer, signal devices for distinguishing time of day from time of night, including the combination of, cooperative elements including a circular orbit of insignia in part comprising a stationary surface of half circular extent presenting a distinctive signalling appearance, and a blind supported to revolve in front of said orbit of insignia in suiciently close face-to-face relation thereto to conceal most of said insignia, said blind having an aperture radially in register with said orbit and of less than ninety degrees circular extent, means to cause said blind to revolve at the speed of one revolution in twenty-four hours while said insignia remain stationary, whereby said surface will be exhibited through said aperture continually for at least twelve hours to signal the incidence of day time or night time.

11. In a chronometer, signal devices as defined in claim 10, together with a stationary scale of time graduations surrounding the said orbit, the said aperture being of pointed shape and so disposed in said blind that the point of said shape aims outward from said orbit toward said time scale whereby progressively to indicate diterent time graduations in said scale.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 23,783 Smith Feb. 16,1954 2,202,581 Hammer May 28, 1940 2,300,950 Lux Nov. 3, 1942 2,410,724 Elliott Nov. 5, 1946 2,554,063 Serrine May 22, 1951 2,587,026 Beiser Feb. 26, 1952 2,667,921 Doyle Feb. 2, 1954 2,677,732 Miller May 4, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 371,859 Germany Mar. 19, 1923 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. '2,981,807- April 25g 1961 Raymond D., Smith It is hereby certified that error' a ent requir'lng correction and corrected below..

ppeerr-s in the above number-ed patthat the said Letters Patent should read as cation,y line 4, for Easton, Conn," read vRaymond Main St. Bridgeportg Conm) SEA L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE April 25V 1961 Raymond D, Smith lIt is hereby certified ent requiring correction and corrected below.

that error appears in the above numbered patthat the said Letters Patent should read as In the heading t o the printed specification,7 Smith, 955 M ain St., Easton, Conn," D. Smith, Eastonv Conn.. (955 Main St Signed and sealed this 31st Vday line 4, for

read Raymond q Bridgeport9 Conm) of October 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:y ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer C Commissioner of Patents USCOMMDC

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