US1829364A - Switch controlling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1931. J. METTLER 1,829,364

SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANI Sll Filed Feb. 28, 1929 (r I flT TOR/VEY Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEF METTLER, OF ZU G, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOB T LANDIS & GYR, A.G., A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF SWITZERLAND SWITCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Application filed February 28, 1929, Serial No. 343,286, and in Switzerland March 1, 1928.

constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illus- 0 trate one embodiment of the invention, and

together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mechanism embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a section taken onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1; and

Figures 4 to 7 are detailed sectional views of a portion of the mechanism with the parts in their several positions.

The present invention provides a controlling mechanism for use with electric switches V and other apparatus whereby a series of definite operations can be repeated at definlte,

predetermined and variable intervals, the operations being automatically controlled by the mechanism of the present invention. The

inventionxalso provides a simple, compact and reliable controlling means for accomplishing these and similar functions and is particularly use ful with sw tches constructed to control a plurality of circuits, and to cffeet the closing and opening of these circuits at different times. 7

Other features of the invention will be initially pointed outin connection with the following detailed descriptions of the pres- 0 ent preferred embodiment of the invention,

and it will be understood that the foregoing and general description are both exemplary and explanatory, but. not restrictive of the invention.

The invention in its present preferred embodiment comprises, in its main features, a rotatable member provided with a plurality of arms extending therefrom, and having pivoted thereon a switch actuating link which, on motion of the disc, sets the switch,

in one of its several positions to effect the desired change in the circuit relations. This disc is preferably driven by a spring which is kept continually under tension by suitable power means and furnishes the necessary en- 1 ergy to effect the switching operations. Stoos are provided, cooperating with the rotatably ,mounted arms, to normally hold the arms against rotation and for periodically releasing the stops there are provided a plurality.

of pins mounted on the day disc of a clock mechanism, which pins contact with and move the stops out. of the way of the arms and allow the arms to have a partial rotation resulting in a corresponding movement of the switch operating link. Preferably, the arms are not of uniform length and require a different amount of movement of the stop to release the different arms, whereby undesired operation of the switch is prevented, the dif-i ferent amount of movement of the stops being imparted to them by varying the length of the pins on the day-disc. In the present embodiment, the invention is shown as applied to a controlling mechanism in which the parts are built in units so the severalportions of the controlling mechanism can be separately assembled or replaced without disturbing the mechanism as a whole.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention as illustratedby the accompanying drawings 2 The switch actuating means, in the present embodiment, comprise a rotatable member 10 mounted on shaft 11, said rotatable member being provided with a plurality of arms 12, 13 and 14 of different lengths, and also carrying a pin 15 by which link 16, connect ng the rotatable member to the switch operating arm 17, is pivotally mounted. I The specific form of switch is not material to the present invention, but may conveniently comprise, as here shown, an insulating base member 20 on which two fixed contacts 21, 22 are mounted in different planes, with which contacts movable spring mounted contacts 23, 24 cooperate. For moving the movable contacts at different times, there is provided an insulated bar 26 supported by end frames 27 pivoted by pin 28 in end bracket 29. An arm 17 extending from the end frame 27 is pivotally connecting with connecting link 16. As shown, both circuits are closed, and a slight movement of bar 26 would move contact 23 to open one circuit, while a further movement will move contact 24 and open the second circuit.

For moving the rotatably mounted arms and thereby actuating the connecting link. there isprovided a spring 30 attached to gear 31 and loosely coiled around shaft 11, being attached at one of its ends to drum 32, mounted on shaft 11 and connected thereto by a friction coupling, not shown. Shaft 11 is mounted in bearings formed in a detachable frame 33 secured to the front plate 34 of the controlling clock mechanism.

Stop mechanism is provided for allowing intermittent rotation of the rotatable arms and, as embodied, this stop comprises a U- shaped member 35 pivotally mounted on a shaft 36, projecting forwardly from the front fiat portion of bracket 33, the member 35 being provided with an arm 37 extending to one side thereof. Mounted on shaft 36 and fastened to the U-shaped member 35 is a secondary stop 38 projecting a short distance rearwardly eng ing and temporarily restraining the lOtfltlOll of the arms after the arm has been released by the U-shaped stop member 35. These stops are normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by spring 40 fastened to the rearwardly extending portion of stop 38 and also fastened to an extension 41 of bracket 33. For limiting the extent of motion of these stops 35 and 38, the rear leg 42 of the U-shaped member is slotted at its upper end 43 and a depending finger 44, secured to extension 41, extends into the slotted end. Arms 12, 13 and 14, at their ends are provided with forwardly bent portions 46, so that only this bent portion will engage with stop 38 and the arms can rotate freely when released from the stop, the relation of the arms and stops being most clearly shown in Fig. 2.

For insuring correct sequential operation of the switch actuating means and for correcting incorrect operation of the switch actuating means, the arms 12, 13 and 14 are made of different lengths, and, as shown, arms 12 and 13 are of different length while arm 14 is slightly longer and requires a greater angular movement of stop 35 for its release. For producing the different angular movements of the stop 35 arm 37 is provided with a forwardly spaced plate 48, rigidly mounted thereon, the top edge of the plate 48 being slightly lower than the top edge of the arm 37, so that as it contacts with short actuating pins, only a small angular motion of the stops will be produced. Arm 37 will contact with longer pins and be moved through a greater angle to release the longest of the rotatable arms 14.

The clock mechanism for controlling the stops comprises a day disc 50, mounted by shaft 51 on frame 34, and is here shown as of the usual Landis 8:. Gyr type, in which the day disc is turned by gear 53 meshing with a driving pinion of the clock mechanism, not shown. The day disc 50, at its peripheral edge is provided with a flat annular portion 54 to which the usual. form of controlling pins 56, 57 are clamped by arms 58, supported on shaft 51.

For continually maintaining the actuating spring 30 in a fully tensioned condition, gear 31 is loosely mounted on shaft 11 and meshes with pinion 59 driven by the day-disc driving gear 53 so that as the day-disc is driven, gear 31 is also driven and continually winds up spring 30. Overwinding is prevented by the friction clutch described above.

Where desired to reverse the sequence of the switching operations, a hole. 60 is provided for receiving pin 15 and this hole is spaced 180 from the hole normally receiving the pin.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is substantially as follows:-

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, day-disc 50 rotates and pin 56 engages plate 48 as shown in Figure 4, moving stop 35 to the left whereby arm 12 is released and moved by spring 30 until it contacts with stop 38, pin 56 then moves further and moves of]? the plate 48 allowing stops 38 and 35 to move to the right and release arm 12, allowing arm 12 to rotate until arm 13 contacts with stop 35. As arms 12, 13 and 14 are rotated by spring 30, connecting link 16 is pushed down, moving bar 26 to move contact 23 and open this circuit. As the next short pin 56 engages plate 48 a partial rotation of the arms occurs moving bar 26 to move contact 24. The next pin should be a long pin 57, (Fig. 5) and this will move arm 37 to release the long arm 14 (Fig. 6) and as pin 57 moves off the arm 37, the arm 14 will rotate a half-revolution, closing both switches and resetting the mechanism in position of Fig. 1.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. Switch controlling mechanism in'cluding in combination a plurality of rotatabl mounted arms, a stop positioned in the pat of the arms, a clock driven member, and a plurality of variably positionable means on said member to move, the stop different distances for releasing difl'erent arms.

2. Switch controlling mechanism including in combination a plurality of rotatably mounted arms, said arms being of different lengths, means for rotating the arms, a stop and means for movin the stop to different positions to release di erent arms.

3. Switch controlling mechanism including in combination a plurality of rotatably mounted arms of different lengths, means for rotating the arms, a stop to control rotation of the arms, a clock-driven disc, and a plurality of pins on said disc, said pins differing from each other and being adapted to move the stop to several different positions to selectively release said arms.

4. Switch controlling mechanism including in combination a plurality of rotatably mounted arms of different lengths, means for rotating the arms, a sto to control rotation of the arms, a clock-driven disc and a plurality of pins on the disc to selectively operate the stop for the several arms.

5. Switch mechanism including in combination a switch adapted to control a plurality of circuits, a switch operating member adapted to operate the switch to individually control the circuits, a clock-driven disc and means on the disc for selectively controlling the operating member.

6. Switch mechanism in'cluding in combination a switch adapted to control a plu- 40 rality of circuits, a switch operating member having a plurality of arms of difl'erent lengths, a stop movable to several difl'erent positions to selectively control movement of the arms, a clock driven disc and means on the disc to move the stop to its several positions to control the movement of the switch operating member and the opening and closing of several circuits.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my so name to this specifi'cation.

JOSEF METTLER.

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