US3231692A - Program sequence timer - Google Patents

Program sequence timer Download PDF

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Publication number
US3231692A
US3231692A US106730A US10673061A US3231692A US 3231692 A US3231692 A US 3231692A US 106730 A US106730 A US 106730A US 10673061 A US10673061 A US 10673061A US 3231692 A US3231692 A US 3231692A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
disc
case
slide element
timer
wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US106730A
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English (en)
Inventor
Emil R Plasko
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Original Assignee
American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp filed Critical American Radiator and Standard Sanitary Corp
Priority to US106730A priority Critical patent/US3231692A/en
Priority to GB14900/62A priority patent/GB990188A/en
Priority to BE616826A priority patent/BE616826A/fr
Priority to FR895854A priority patent/FR1324515A/fr
Priority to CH511262A priority patent/CH397045A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3231692A publication Critical patent/US3231692A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H43/00—Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed
    • H01H43/10—Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed with timing of actuation of contacts due to a part rotating at substantially constant speed
    • H01H43/12—Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed with timing of actuation of contacts due to a part rotating at substantially constant speed stopping automatically after a single cycle of operation
    • H01H43/124—Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed with timing of actuation of contacts due to a part rotating at substantially constant speed stopping automatically after a single cycle of operation using a disc
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/15—Intermittent grip type mechanical movement
    • Y10T74/1503—Rotary to intermittent unidirectional motion
    • Y10T74/1508—Rotary crank or eccentric drive
    • Y10T74/1518—Rotary cam drive
    • Y10T74/1523—Radial cam

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a program timer, i.e., a device for closing a multiplicity of electrical circuits in a predetermined or preselected manner so that the circuits may be utilized to control the operation of various electrical devices such as electric motors, electrically-oper-
  • the invention is applicable for the control of such devices as automation machinery and home appliances such as clothes washing machines.
  • One object of the invention is to provide a program timer which is characterized by small size and low manufacturing cost.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a timer including a novel assembly of two molded mating case sections, each having special internal projections, lugs and guide surfaces formed integrally therewith to mount the operating components of the timer.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide a timer which incorporates an indexable timer disc characterized by a rapid indexing motion for thereby breaking contact welds.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a timer including a novel low cost arrangement of rotary timer disc and electrical brush assemblies.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a timer wherein the timer-controlled circuits are automatically unloaded during the indexing stroke of the timer disc so as to prevent arcing across the timer contacts.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a timer having a master switch, together with a novel axially shiftable stem for operating same, said stem having a novel integrally formed detent means for retaining it in two positions of adjustment.
  • FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the invention taken on line 11 in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line, 4-4 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating a performance characteristic of the FIG. 1 embodiment.
  • a washing machine timer including two plastic case sections 10 and 12, said sections being of generally dish-like character with peripheral wall portions thereof having their edges mating with one another to cause the sections to fit one against another.
  • Suitable U-shaped clips are preferably provided to lock the two case sections together.
  • Section 10 comprises a top wall 14, rear wall 16, right end wall 18, left end wall and front wall 22.
  • Case section 12 comprises a bottom wall 24, rear wall 26, right side wall 28, left side wall and front wall 32.
  • bottom wall 24 is provided with a downwardly extending wall portion 34 and a laterally extending wall portion 36, said wall portions forming a well or pocket for receiving the conventional electric ice timer motor 38.
  • the lead-in wires for this motor are shown at 40.
  • Motor 38 is provided with an output gear 42 which meshes with a larger gear 44, a suitable pin 45 being provided on the motor casing to mount the larger gear for rotary movement.
  • gear 44 is provided with a projection 46, said projection forming a cam surface 48 located eccentrically of the axis of pin 45.
  • projection 46 is in horizontal alignment with a slot 50 formed in the undersurface of slide element 52.
  • the slide element is mounted for back and forth movement on guide surfaces formed by rectangular blocks 60 and 62 formed integrally with case bottom wall 24. Sidewise movement of the slide element is prevented by the walls 64 and pins 66, said walls and pins being formed integrally with the corresponding rectangular blocks for manufacturing economies. Undesired upward displacement of the slide element is prevented by two pins 68 formed integrally with the top wall 14 of case section 10. It will be noted that all of the guide surfaces for the slide element are formed at the time the case sections are molded and that no separate inserts or other costly guide mechanisms are required.
  • the slide element as shown in FIG. 1 is biased against wall 26 by means of a compression spring 70, which is trained between a seat formed by the spaced walls 72, and the laterally extending shoulder 74 formed integrally on the slide element.
  • the slide element is provided with an extension 76 to prevent the spring from buckling or slipping off the slide element.
  • the slide element is provided with an integrally formed reed-like pawl 78 of relatively small lateral thickness, the arrangement being such that under certain conditions the pawl is permitted to flex or bend as necessary to permit movement of the large timer disc 80.
  • the center portion of this disc is keyed to the non-circular enlarged portion 82 of the stem 84 which is mounted for rotary motion in semicylindrical hub 86 and cylindrical hub 88 as best shown in FIG. 2.
  • the shaft 84 rotates with the timer disc when it is desired to temporarily or otherwise interrupt the timer operation a manual pull is exerted on stem 84 to cause same to be shifted axially. During this axial shift the timer disc remains in place without axial movement.
  • Disc 80 is keyed to shaft portion 82, but the shaft does not serve as the sole support for the disc.
  • the shaft does not serve as the sole support for the disc.
  • the periphery of disc 80 is provided with teeth 92 configured to define driver surfaces 94 and cam surfaces 96.
  • disc 80 has just been indexed through one increment of its motion, and cam surface 48 has not yet reached the slot surface 54 to begin the next movement of slide element 52.
  • gear 44 is powered clockwise from its illustrated position the cam surface 48 J strikes surface 54, and the eccentricity of surface 48 about pin 45 causes the slide element 52 to be slowly retracted away from case rear wall 26.
  • pawl '78 is drawn past the cam surface 96, but disc 80 is prevented from substantial rearward motion by the pawl 98 (to be described hereinafter).
  • the spring 70 causes the slide 52 to move very rapidly toward wall 26 so as to index the disc 80 in a clockwise direction.
  • the time during which cam surface 48 engages surface 54 is appreciably longer than the time during which surface 48 engages surface 56 so that the time period for retracting the slide element away from wall 26 is appreciably greater than the time period required for spring 70 to subsequently advance the slide element toward wall 26.
  • the index stroke of slide 52 is rapid and the slide retract stroke is slow as will be observed from the graph shown in FIG. 6.
  • the slight angle of surface 56 to the directional plane 58 prevents impacting of the slide 52 by spring 70 and suitably controls its speed.
  • pawl 98 is formed and mounted in a simplified manner.
  • the pawl is formed as a one piece element, including a hollow hub portion 97, an upper detent arm portion, and a lower spring arm portion 101.
  • This one piece element is freely mounted by slipping the hub portion over a pin 99 which is formed integrally with case bottom wall 24.
  • spring arm portion 101 engages case wall 26 to resiliently urge the detent portion against the disc teeth 92.
  • the upper and lower surfaces of disc 80 are provided with printed electrically conductive track portions 100, said track portions being arranged as arcuate track areas centered about the axis of shaft 84 so that during rotation of the disc the various printed track areas traverse the electrically conductive brush elements denoted by numerals 102.
  • the various printed track areas traverse the electrically conductive brush elements denoted by numerals 102.
  • the nature of the printed tracks 100 will in different instances be varied according to the natures of the different programs which it is necessary for the timer to deliver.
  • the twelve lower brushes 102 are formed as inserts in a molded block 104, said block having its lower face abutting against the surface of case wall 24 and having its upper face abutting against the downwardly extending portion 106 of the case top wall 14.
  • the undersurface of block 104 is provided with depressions which fit over and around buttons 108 formed integrally with case wall 24, the arrangement being such that black 104 is locked in place when the two case sections and 12 are secured together, as by the aforementioned U-clips.
  • the right end portions of the lower brushes 102 are located within a molded flange portion 110 of the block 104.
  • the upper face of each brush lies in the plane of the upper surface of flange 110 so that when a female type lead-in connector (not shown) is manually telescoped onto flange 110 the various brushes 102 will connect with the conductive portions in the connector to thus take current from and deliver current to various electrical devices which the timer is designed to control.
  • side wall 28 is cut away, as at 112, to form an open space into which the aforementioned female connector can be extended.
  • the upper set of brushes 102 is imbedded in a molded block 104a constructed generally similarly to block 104, except for its location in the case.
  • block 104 is located in the lower area of the case adjacent its right front corner
  • block 10411 is located in the upper portion of the case adjacent the rear right corner.
  • Block 104a is provided with recesses similar to the recesses which receive projections 108, the only difference being that in this case the buttons are formed on the top case wall 14 instead of on the lower case wall 24.
  • the molded block 104a is retained in place by means of an upwardly extending portion 106a formed integrally with the case bottom wall 24.
  • an opening similar to opening 112 is provided in rear wall 26 to permit access to the flange of block 106a for connecting same with a lead-in female connector (not shown).
  • an unloading mechanism including a series of surface discontinuities or projections 114.
  • these projections are formed on the underside of disc 80 below the teeth 92, with the terminal points or ends of the tracks 1110 being located on imaginary'radial lines just clockwise of imaginary radial lines passing through the leading edges of said projections.
  • the projections could be replaced by depressions, the term surface discontinuities being employed to cover both constructions.
  • a master control switch arm 116 formed as an insert in the block 104, said master control arm having a rigid upwardly extending operator portion 118 which rides along the undersur-face of disc '80.
  • the left end of arm 116 carries an electrical contact which registers with a superja-cent contact 120 suitably carried on a bracket 122.
  • this bracket is of generally U-shaped character, with a web portion 124 and two leg port-ions extending downwardly therefrom.
  • One of the leg portions 126 carries a contact which registers with .a contact carried by a leaf spring arm 128, the arrangement being such that a conductive circuit is formed through arm 116, bracket 122, and leaf spring arm 128.
  • the operator 118 will be engaged by one of the projections 114, whereupon the operator and arm 116 will be depressed so as to break the engagement with contact 120 and thereby interrupt the master control circuit for brushes 102.
  • the master control circuit is suitably connected into the circuitry formed by the brushes 10-2 so that the conductive tracks 100 are de-energized as they make and break their connections with brushes 102.
  • the terminal ends of the tracks 100 are located on radial lines which pass through points slightly clockwise of the driver surfaces 94 on teeth 92, so that the circuit is broken at 120 just slightly before the conductive tracks 100 engage or disengage the brushes 102.
  • switch arm 116 opens just prior to opening of brush 102.
  • the opening of switch 116 takes place just at the start of the index stroke as will be evident from FIG. 6. Since the index stroke is characterized by a very rapid disc speed (and consequent inertia force) any contact welds at 120 are broken easily.
  • An illustrative sequence of movements involves a relatively slow retraction of slide 52 away from wall 26, a relatively fast starting movement of the slide toward wall 26, an opening of the contact at 116, a make and/or break of one or more brushes 102, a closing of the contact at 120, a cessation of the index stroke, and a slow retraction of the slide 52.
  • the projections 114 are preferably provided only on those teeth which correspond wit-h the beginnings or ends of the tracks 100; consequently arm 116 is moved to the circuit-unloading position only during the periods of potential arcing.
  • the circuits for the brushes may also be unloaded by the switch arm 128.
  • This switch arm extends from block 104 past shaft 84 into vertical registry with the contact carried by bracket leg 126.
  • the contact of switch arm 128 may be disengaged from the leg 126 contact by upward axial motion of shaft 84.
  • shaft 84 is manually pulled upwardly the shoulder 130 thereof strikes switch arm 128 to cause its contact to leave the contact carried on leg 126, to thus break the master control circuit for brushes 102.
  • the detents 132 on the shaft are moved radially inwardly to permit of their passage through the hub 88.
  • the shaft is provided with two through slits 134, said slits serving to make the outer web portions 135 of the shaft stiffly resilient so that during upward shaft movement the detents 132 will snap inwardly and then outwardly to releasably lock the shaft in its upward position of adjustment.
  • the shaft is limited in its upward movement by engagement of shoulder 130 with the lower surface of hub 86.
  • the shaft may be returned downwardly by a deliberate manual push on a knob (not shown) which is secured to shaft 34-.
  • This arrangement of axially shiftable shaft and switch arm 128 is generally conventional, the present invention being concerned therewith only in the fact that a novel detent structure and case structure is incorporated to simplify the general arrangement.
  • the operation of the timer is initiated by manual depression of shaft 84 to its illustrated position wherein the master control circuit is completed at 120 and 128.
  • the energiZati-on of motor 38 causes the gear 42 to begin its continuous rotation, whereupon the gear 44 is thereby rotated to cause its cam 48 to traverse the cam surfaces 54 and 56.
  • the slide 52 is slowly retracted while pawl 98 holds the disc 80 against counterclockwise movement.
  • the compression spring 7 0 snaps the slide 52 rapidly toward wall 26 to thus index the disc 86 rapidly in the clockwise direction for a distance slightly greater than the distance of a'tooth 92.
  • projections 114 become operative to unload the conductive tracks 1%, and during such index stroke-s the conductive tracks make and/or break their connections with the brushes 1&2 as previously described.
  • the illustrated embodiment is characterized by extreme parts simplicity, particularly as regards the case construction, slide-disc arrangement, circuit-unloading means 112, brush-block construction at 102 and 104, detent-shaft arrangement at 132 and 84, disc anti-wobble means 90, and pawl-spring arrangement at 8 and 101.
  • a multiplicity of control circuits comprising a series of stationary reed-like switch arms, and a series of printed circuit tracks located on the timer element for traversing said arms; and means including surface discontinuities directly on the timer element, and a master switch having an actuator located in the path of the surface discontinuities for automatically unloading the circuits during their opening and closing periods.
  • a rotary timer disc having peripheral teeth thereon; arcuate electrically conductive tracks on at least one face of said disc; a brush assembly disposed adjacent said one disc face, said brush assembly including a mounting block and a series of reed-like brush elements extending therefrom into engagement with the adjacent tracks on the disc face; a slide element mounted for rectilinear movement in a plane parallel to the disc plane; a pawl carried by the slide element and engaged with the disc teeth so that movement of the slide element in one direction causes the pawl to advanceably index the disc by pressure on a disc tooth, and movement of the slide element in the reverse direction causes the pawl to reset itself for engagement with a succeeding disc tooth; a rotary cam disposed adjacent the slide element for pressure engagement therewith; cam-engageable follower surfaces on the slide element arranged so that during a portion of the cam movement the slide element is moved relatively slowly in the aforementioned reverse direction; and spring means arranged to be loaded by movement of the slide element in the reverse direction so that when the
  • a case including two parallel case walls; a rotary timer disc disposed between said walls; an axially shifta'ble circuit-unloader stem slidably keyed to the center portion of said disc to normally rotate therewith during its period of rotation; and means for supporting the disc against w-obbling, including at least three pinlike project-ions extending from each of the aforementioned case walls into engagement with the adjacent face of the disc at points spaced inwardly of the disc periphery.
  • a case including two relatively closely spaced parallel case walls; a rotary indexable disc disposed between said walls and parallel thereto; a set of printed circuits on at least one face of said disc; and at least .one brush assembly mounted between said Walls so that said one set of circuits is engaged by a set of brushes; said one brush assembly comprising a mounting block and reed-like switch elements extending therefrom into engagement with said one disc face, said mounting block having a relatively thin plug-on portion adapted to receive a plug type connector and a relatively thick anchoring portion contiguous with the two case walls.
  • a case including two relatively closely spaced parallel case walls; a rotary indexable disc disposed between said walls and parallel thereto; a set of printed circuits on each face of said disc; and brush assemblies mounted between said walls so that each set of circuits is engaged by a set of brushes; each brush assembly comprising a mounting block and reed-like switch elements extending therefrom into engagement with the disc surface, each mounting block having a relatively thin plug-on portion adapted to receive a plug type connector and a relatively thick anchoring portion contiguous with the two case walls.

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  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US106730A 1961-05-01 1961-05-01 Program sequence timer Expired - Lifetime US3231692A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US106730A US3231692A (en) 1961-05-01 1961-05-01 Program sequence timer
GB14900/62A GB990188A (en) 1961-05-01 1962-04-17 Program controller
BE616826A BE616826A (fr) 1961-05-01 1962-04-24 Compteur à programme
FR895854A FR1324515A (fr) 1961-05-01 1962-04-27 Compteur à programme
CH511262A CH397045A (fr) 1961-05-01 1962-04-27 Dispositif de commande de circuits électriques à programme

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US106730A US3231692A (en) 1961-05-01 1961-05-01 Program sequence timer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3231692A true US3231692A (en) 1966-01-25

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ID=22312947

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US106730A Expired - Lifetime US3231692A (en) 1961-05-01 1961-05-01 Program sequence timer

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3231692A (fr)
BE (1) BE616826A (fr)
CH (1) CH397045A (fr)
GB (1) GB990188A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3819886A (en) * 1970-09-03 1974-06-25 Mallory & Co Inc P R Cam-operated timer with rotary switch means including movable contacts on the cam
US4579014A (en) * 1984-09-06 1986-04-01 The Scott & Fetzer Company Incremental drive for a sequential timer

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1529220A (en) * 1921-10-28 1925-03-10 Yale & Towne Mfg Co Electric controller
US1622027A (en) * 1926-03-22 1927-03-22 Couchman Archie Lubricating system
US1738444A (en) * 1927-12-10 1929-12-03 William E Nagem Automatic circuit closer for electric signal lights and signs
US2257537A (en) * 1939-10-04 1941-09-30 Samburg Maurice Automatic tuning mechanism for radio receivers
US2532627A (en) * 1946-10-02 1950-12-05 Chicago Coin Machine Co Multiple switch
US2710323A (en) * 1949-06-06 1955-06-07 Andrews John Lewis Electric burner switch
US2736204A (en) * 1956-02-28 Indexing apparatus
US2877317A (en) * 1957-02-05 1959-03-10 Gen Electric Switching mechanism for timer
US3028458A (en) * 1959-06-24 1962-04-03 Controls Co Of America Sequence timer
US3053947A (en) * 1959-06-15 1962-09-11 Kingston Products Corp Sequential timer

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2736204A (en) * 1956-02-28 Indexing apparatus
US1529220A (en) * 1921-10-28 1925-03-10 Yale & Towne Mfg Co Electric controller
US1622027A (en) * 1926-03-22 1927-03-22 Couchman Archie Lubricating system
US1738444A (en) * 1927-12-10 1929-12-03 William E Nagem Automatic circuit closer for electric signal lights and signs
US2257537A (en) * 1939-10-04 1941-09-30 Samburg Maurice Automatic tuning mechanism for radio receivers
US2532627A (en) * 1946-10-02 1950-12-05 Chicago Coin Machine Co Multiple switch
US2710323A (en) * 1949-06-06 1955-06-07 Andrews John Lewis Electric burner switch
US2877317A (en) * 1957-02-05 1959-03-10 Gen Electric Switching mechanism for timer
US3053947A (en) * 1959-06-15 1962-09-11 Kingston Products Corp Sequential timer
US3028458A (en) * 1959-06-24 1962-04-03 Controls Co Of America Sequence timer

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3819886A (en) * 1970-09-03 1974-06-25 Mallory & Co Inc P R Cam-operated timer with rotary switch means including movable contacts on the cam
US4579014A (en) * 1984-09-06 1986-04-01 The Scott & Fetzer Company Incremental drive for a sequential timer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB990188A (en) 1965-04-28
CH397045A (fr) 1965-08-15
BE616826A (fr) 1962-10-24

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