US3234814A

US3234814A - Encased electrical time switch having externally operable setting means

Info

Publication number: US3234814A
Application number: US345391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Buckeridge Edward Thomas; Payne Leslie George Mountjoy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-03-15
Filing date: 1964-02-17
Publication date: 1966-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-15
Also published as: GB998890A

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 E. T. BUCKERIDGE

ETAL

3, 3 ,8 ENCASED ELECTRICAL TIME SWITCH HAVING EXTERNALLY OPERABLE SETTING MEANS Filed Feb. 17, 1964 United States Patent Ofiice smears ENQASED ELECTRIQAL TIME SWITCH HAVWG EXTERNALLY OPERABLE SETTING MEANS Edward Thomas Buclreridge and Leslie George Mountjoy Payne, both of New Bridge Works, Bath, Somerset, England Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,391 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 15, 1963, 10,319/ 63 5 Claims. (Cl. 74-568) This invention relates to an externally operable setting means for encased electrical time switches of the known kind in which there is a rotary dial graduated in time intervals, around the periphery of which dial are a number of switch-operating tappets which can be clamped fixedly in relation to the dial in adjustable positions so as to actuate a switch into ON and OFF positions as the dial is rotated by a timepiece such as a synchronous electric motor or a clockwork mechanism; such a kind of time switch is, for the purpose of the present invention, of the type enclosed within a casing having a transparent lid through which the dial may be viewed. Such a kind and type is referred to herein as an electrical time switch of the type described. in the following description a tappet means a member adjustably movable over the face of the time dial, adapted to be clamped in a requisite position, and carrying a pin or equivalent for engaging an electric switch operating part. The phrase consumer-operated tappet or consumer-tappet is used to describe such a tappet which is adjustable from the exterior of the encased time switch, such as by a consumer of the current under the control of the time switch.

Commercial Undertakings supplying electricity (in many countries and in many areas in the United Kingdom) allow consumers to use the supply at certain times of the day at a lower tariff than normally, these times being usually referred to as OFF PEAK periods. To enable this practice to be carried into effect, a time switch is usually mounted in a casing having a lid which can be closed and sealed so that an authorised representative of the Supply Undertaking, having set the ON and OFF tappets at time positions conforming with the limits of the OFF PEAK periods, can then close and seal the lid with the consequence that no consumption of electricity can take place outside said limits.

Normally, the foregoing arrangement means that the consumer, although prevented from using electricity outside the OFF PEAK limits, must necessarily have the supply switched on during the entire period between the limits. This is not always desirable; for instance, to quote one example, when the supply is required merely to store heat for use during a time outside the OFF PEAK period, then for reasons of economy the consumer may require to delay the switching ON time so that the maximum storage temperature will be reached at or shortly before the OFF PEAK limit when the supply would be cut oh. by the time switch, and since the heating requirements may vary it then becomes desirable to be able to vary this time when the heaters will be switched ON. This is only one example of need for the consumer to be able to shorten the period of consumption between the fixed limits which have been pre-set by the Supply Undertaking. Although, usually, it would be the ON switching operation which would be varied, it is to be understood that the OFF switching time-point may also be varied.

The object of the present invention is to enable the consumer to vary the ON or OFF time for the period .during which he is consuming electric current, within the .pre-sct OFF PEAK period, without opening the casing as sealed by the authorised servant of the Supply Under- 3,234,814 Patented Feb. 15, 1956 taking, and without liability of the OFF PEAK period being extended one way or the other, i.e. either past the fixed ON or the fixed OFF limits.

In general, the invention comprises a tappet mechanism for fixing to the transparent lid of a time switch casing, said mechanism having an operating knob or equivalent exterior of the lid for mounting in a position co-axial with the time dial of an enclosed switch, in combination with a tappet-holder and tappet for mounting on and rotation with the time dial, and means controlled by said knob to turn the tappet about the axis of said holder in relation to said time dial.

According to the said invention an electrical time switch of the type described is provided with a tappet-holder mounted on the dial to rotate therewith, said holder carrying a consumer-operated tappet adjustably rotatable in relation to the holder and co-acting with the dial, in combination with a device fixed to the transparent lid to enable the consumer tappet to be adjusted from the exterior of the casing, said device comprising a spindle passed through a hole in the lid and having an operating knob or equivalent mounted thereon outside the lid, and an arm or equivalent means mounted on and movable by the spindle inside the lid, said arm being disposed in con nectable relationship with gearing carried by the tappetholder through which the consumers tappet can be adjusted on the latter to a required dial position, said tappetholder comprising a first shaft for keyed attachment to the dial shaft, and the said gearing comprising a first gear wheel fixedly carried by said first shaft, a second gear wheel rotatably mounted on said first shaft and fixedly carrying the consumer-tappet, the two gear wheels being superimposed, of the same diameter, but with different teeth number, a planet pinion carrier rotatable on said first shaft and provided with a planet pinion engaging both gear wheels, said planet pinion carrier having a projection for engagement by the arm or equivalent mounted on the spindle of the said operating knob.

The tappet mechanism just described may be employed as an attachment for the purpose of adapting existing time switches to function according to the invention instead of constructing it as part of an encased time switch.

An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a face view of part of a dial with a tappetholder and consumer-tappet in position and is a section on the line Il of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE la is a fragmentary view of the time dial of FIGURE 1 on a smaller scale with the consumer tappet as the OFF tappet rather than the ON tappet as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a side view partly in section.

Like numerals of reference represent the same or corresponding parts in the two views.

In the embodiment an electric time switch of any suitable or known construction (not shown) is enclosed in a casing having a hinged lid capable of being sealed in the closed position and this is either entirely transparent or provided with a window, part of which is seen at 1, through which the time dial 2 of the switch is visible. The time dial is usually provided with at least one pair of ON and OFF tappets, but preferably two pairs so that two ON-OFF consumption periods within the full 24- hour range of the dial may be catered for. For OFF PEAK operation one consumption period is usually se lected for an evening time which could start at, say, 10 oclock pm. and terminate at 3 oclock a.m., and another perhaps for a short afternoon period. As usual the tappets are adjusted around the dial periphery so as to be clamped at predetermined time graduations whence they are carried round by the dial to operate the switch. The t-appets have pins or equivalent for engaging the switch mechanism and, for OFF FEAK periods with which the present invention is concerned, an authorized representative of the Electricity Supply Undertaking sets the tappets so that the ON tap pets switch on the supply at the commencement of the OFF PEAK. period, and the OFF tappets switch off at the conclusion. The lid is then closed and sealed. This is standard practice.

In the conventional construction of time switches there are two tappets, such as the tappets 5, each of which maybe clamped in a selected position to the time dial and each tappet contains means, such as a

21, 21, for operating the switch, one tappet being the ON tappet and the other being the OFF tappet as illustrated in FIGURES l and 1a. According to the particularly embodiment of the invention being described, the ON tappet is replaced by the stop 3 and the consumer-operated adjustable tappet 4 is included, having a pin 4a which not only serves to operate the switch to the ON position but also eo-acts with the edge 22 of the tappet 5 and the edge 23 of the stop 3 to prevent the consumer tappet 4 from being set to a position outside the time period defined by the tappet 5 and the stop 3. The OFF PEAK period selected for illustration is a night-time period between pm. and 3 am. Thus the fixed stop 3 is adjusted to the 10 pm. position as seen in FIGURE 1. The consumer-tappet 4 can be adjusted as will be described so as to enable the consumer to delay the switching ON of the current to some time later than that which has been pre-set by the stop 3. Alternatively the usual ON tappet may be left effective for switching ON and the adjustable tappet of the invention used as an OFF tappet in a position within the OFF PEAK zone but preceding the preset OFF timing, in a case where the consumer desires to commence consumption at the beginning of the OFF PEAK period but to out out earlier than at the end of such period. It will be appreciated that in this latter case the OFF tappet 5 will be replaced by a stop such as the stop 3'.

Centrally of the lid window 1, i.e. co-axially with the time dial 2, which is fixedly clamped on the spindle, indicated by dotted lines 19, of the time-piece, indicated by dotted lines 20, by means of the hollow shaft 2a in well known manner, there is mounted the first main part of the extra tappet mechanism of the invention. This is a manually operated device consisting of a knob 6 fixed to a spindle '7 which is passed from the exterior of the window 1 through a hole therein and is rotatably and slidably mounted in the hole, there being a compression spring 8 encircling the spindle and housed in a hollow of the knob so as normally to press the knob away from the window as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2. The end of the spindle inside the casing has a radial arm 9 extending from a mounting disc 11 frictionally clamped between annular flanges on the spindle which form a stop to limit the outward movement of the spindle '7 under the force of the aforesaid compression spring 8. By this construction and arrangement the knob may be pressed on to the lid window (full lines, FIGURE 2) so as to bring the radial arm 9 into engagement with the planet arm or planet pinion carrier 17 of an adjustable tappetholder assembly indicated generally by the reference A described in detail later and constituting a second main part of the tappet mechanism of the invention.

The adjustable tappet holder assembly A just mentioned is a self-contained element for fixing to the time dial 2 so as to rotate with the said dial and carry around the extra tappet 4 provided by the assembly when it has been adjusted through the medium of the aforesaid knob 6. The said tappet holder A is in the form of a first shaft 11 preferably longitudinally split at 13 at one end so as to frictionally fit within a hollow frontal extension 2b of the time dial shaft 2a which protrudes through the middle of the time dial; The shaft 2a-2b fixcd-ly'carries the said dial. With a time-piece employing a square-ended winding arbor for a reserve spring this arbor lies axially within this dial shaft 20, 2b and the said shaft 11 of the tappet holder assembly A is also hollow so as to clear the winding arbor. A radial pin, feather of the like 12 on the tappet holder shaft 11 engages a longitudinal slot on the end of the dial shaft 2!) to provide a positive driving connection from the dial shaft to the shaft 11.

The shaft 1 1 has mounted thereon first and

second gear wheels

13 and 14 which lie superimposed on one another, the first 13 being fixedly carried by the shaft 11 and the second 14 being rotatable thereon. These gear wheels have the same diameter but differ in the number of teeth (say 42 on one against 44 on the other) but for all practical pun-poses the pitch of each set of teeth may be regarded as similar. Also mounted on the shaft and rotatable with the second gear'wheel 14 to which it is fixed is the radially projecting consumer-tappet 4 which is suitably cranked to extend to the surface of the dial 2 to facilitate time-setting and to overhang the periphery of the dai'l so that the pin or projection 4a thereon can actuate a switch member either ON or OFF as previously explained (in the embodiment ON).

Also carried rotatably on this tappet-holder shaft 11 is the aforesaid planet pinion carrier 17 in the form of an arm extending radially, on which is rotatably mounted a planet pinion 15 meshing with both the hereinbefore described

gear wheels

13 and 14. The fixed wheel 13 causes the planet 15 to rotate on its own axis and roll around its toothed periphery, as and when the carrier 17 is turned on the axis of the tappet-holder shaft 11, while the rotating planet imparts rotational movement to the rotatable gear wheel 14 thus carrying around the consumer-tappet 4 for setting to a required time.

The gear train comprising

sun gears

13 and 14 and planet pinion 15 constitutes a well known type of high ratio differential gearing. For example, if the gear 14 has 44 teeth and the gear 13 has 42 teeth, then if the planet pinion 15 is rotated for one complete revolution in a clockwise direction (when looking at the knob) by rotating the knob 6 while pressed inwardly, then the pinion, in running around the gear 13, will be rotated through a total angle equivalent to 42 teeth and, since the gear 14 contains 44 teeth, it will be turned in the clockwise direction by an angle equivalent to two of its teeth and the tappet 4 will be rotated in the clockwise direction by i.e., part of a revolution. Due to the high ratio the drive is irreversible, that is to say, the tappet 4 may be rotated by driving the knob 6 but rotational pressure on the tappet 4 will not cause the planet gear 15 to be spun rapidly around to drive the knob 6, because the friction is too high. This is analagous to a high ratio worm gear in which the worm may be driven by rotating the pinion but the pinion cannot be driven by rotating the worm because the gearing locks due to friction. In consequence, the gearing not only serves to adjust the tappet 4 but automatically provides a lock so that the reaction pressure which is exerted upon it when it operates the switch does not cause any displacement of the tappet, and no special locking means need be provided.

On the axis of the planet pinion a pin 16 extends fixedly from the carrier 17 towards the first main part of the tappet mechanism i.e. the

aforesaid operating device

6, 7, 8, 9. Thus when the knob 6 of the latter is pushed in, the radial arm 9 on its spindle '7 is moved to a position where the said planet carrier pin 16 is in its path, and by this connectable relation between the arm and carrier rotation of the knob 6 brings about rotation of the planet carrier 17 and thus turns the tappet 4 to a time reading on the dial as required by the consumer.

In general, when using the auxiliary or consumertappet 4 the consumer presses in the knob so as to engage the planet carrier 17 through pin 16, and moves the carrier around the tappet-holder shaft 11, thus through the planet gearing 13, 14, 15 moving the tappet 4 to aselected time position between the OFF tappet 5 and the stop 3 which have already been pre-set to determine the limits of the OFF PEAK period. The pin la or consumer tappet 4 abuts the edge 22 of the tappet S and the edge 23 of the stop 3 at the respective ends of its arcuate travel and, in the case where the consumer tappet is the ON tappet, as shown in FIGURE 1, the pre-set ON stop 3 acts as the stop and not as a switching tappet. Accordingly the current, instead of being switched on by a tappet in the position of the stop 3, will not be switched on until the time dial 2 is rotated to the point at which the consumer tappet 4 is enabled to close the switch. In the example, as seen in FIGURE 1, the consumer has elected to switch on just before 12 oclock midnight.

When the tappet 4 contacts the switch mechanism pressure is transmitted back to the planet pinion 15. The gear ratio is such that any tendency of the planet to turn and roll on gear 13 is prevented, the mechanism becoming virtually locked by the gearing with the tappet remaining firmly in position to operate the switch. On the other hand when the mechanism is moved by the knob 6 there is free movement with very little pressure to be overcome in order to turn the tappet 4. The degree of friction between the mounting of the radial arm 9 on the knob spindle 7 is sufiicient to prevent Slip so as to do the work of adjusting the consumer tappet 4 but insufficient to stop the time .piece it the tappet is brought hard up against the tappets (or tappet and stop) which have been pre-set according to the OFF PEAK period, in which case the frictional mounting will slip.

We claim:

1. In an encased electric time switch including a time piece, a switch member, a time dial, a fixed tappet for operating the switch member in one sense which may be set and locked at any desired position on the time dial, a stop which may be set and locked at any other desired position on the time dial, the fixed tappet and stop defining a maximum time period during which the switch member may be closed, an externally operable setting means comprising an adjustable tappet rotatable with respect to said time dial to any desired position between said fixed tappet and stop for operating the switch member in the other sense, infinitely variable selflocking means protruding through the encased time switch for rotating said adjustable tappet, and coacting means on said stop and fixed tappet and said adjustable tappet which prevent said adjustable tappet from being set to a position outside said time period, whereby the actual time period during which said switch is closed may be varied within said maximum time period by the setting of said adjustable tappet.

2. In an encased electric time switch including a window, a time piece, a switch member, a time dial rotated flay the time piece inside said casing, a fixed tappet which may be set and locked at any desired position on the time dial to actuate the switch member to its ON position, :a stop which may be set and locked at any desired position on said time dial, externally operable setting means comprising an adjustable tappet rotatable around said time dial between said fixed tappet and said stop for actuating said time switch to its OFF position, a spindle :axially and rotatably mounted through said window to 'the interior of said casing, a knob outside said casing and mounted on the outer end of said spindle, a radial arm drivingly connected to the inner end of said spindle, a planet arm having a member engageable by said radial arm inside said window; high ratio differential planet gearing inside said casing having one sun gear drivingly connected to said adjustable: tappet, another co-axial sun gear drivingly connected to said time dial, and a pla et wheel mounted on said planet arm actuable by said knob 10 Niel? around said Sun gears in engagement with both of them, the two sun gears having slightly different numbers of teeth cut on the same pitch circle; said adjustable tappet being settable to any position between said fixed tappet and said stop by rotation of said knob; said differential gearing forming a lock for the position of said adjustable tappet except when said planet arm is actuated by said knob; whereby a predetermined maximum time period during which said switch member may be in its ON position may be preset by said fixed tappet and said stop, and the time at which said switch member is actuated to its OFF position is adjustable within the limits of said predetermined time period by the setting of said adjustable tappet.

3. In an encased electric time switch according to claim 2 including a spring to urge said knob and spindle outwardly of said casing, said member on said planet arm being engageable by said radial arm when said knob is pressed inwardly against the force of said spring, whereby said knob is normally disengaged from said planet arm and is engageable for setting said adjustable tappet by pressing said knob inwardly.

4. In an encased electric time switch including a window, a time piece, a switch member, a time dial rotated by the time piece inside said casing, 21 fixed tappet which may be set and locked at any desired position on the time dial to actuate the switch member to its OFF position, a stop which may be set and locked at any desired position on said time dial, externally operable setting means comprising an adjustable tappet rotatable around said time dial between said fixed tappet and said stop for actuating said time switch to its ON position, a spindle axially and rotatably mounted through said window to the interior of said casing, a knob outside said casing and mounted on the outer end of said spindle, a radial arm drivingly connected to the inner end of said spindle, a planet arm having a member engageable by said radial arm inside said window; high ratio diiferential planet gearing inside said casing having one sun gear drivingly connected to said adjustable tappet, another co-axial sun gear drivingly connected to said time dial, and a planet wheel mounted on said planet arm actuable by said knob to rotate around said sun gears in engagement with both of them, the two sun gears having slightly different numbers of teeth cut on the same pitch circle; said adjustable tappet being settable to any position between said fixed tappet and said stop by rotation of said knob; said difierential gearing forming a lock for the position of said adjustable tappet except when said planet arm is actuated by said knob; whereby a predetermined maximum time period during which said switch member may be in its OFF position may be preset by said fixed tappet and said stop, and the time at which said switch member is actuated to its ON position is adjustable within the limits of said predetermined time period by the setting of said adjustable tappet.

5. In an encased electric time switch according to claim 4, including a spring to urge said knob and spindle outwardly of said casing, said member on said planet arm being engageable by said radial arm when said knob is pressed inwardly against the force of said spring, whereby said knob is normally disengaged from said planet arm and is engageable for setting said adjustable tappet by pressing said knob inwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 37,110 12/1862 Rochow 74--802 791,124 5/1905 Baehr 74-526 FOREIGN PATENTS 768,961 5/1934 France.

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN N ENCASED ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH INCLUDING A TIME PIECE, A SWITCH MEMBER, A TIME DIAL, A FIXED TAPPET FOR OPERATING THE SWITCH MEMBER IN ONE SENSE WHICH MAY BE SET AND LOCKED AT ANY DESIRED POSITION ON THE TIME DIAL, A STOP WHICH MAY BE SET AND LOCKED AT ANY OTHER DESIRED POSITION ON THE TIME DIAL, THE FIXED TAPPET AND STOP DEFINING A MAXIMUM TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH THE SWITCH MEMBER MAY BE CLOSED, AN EXTERNALLY OPERABLE SETTING MEANS COMPRISING AN ADJUSTABLE TAPPET ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID TIME DIAL TO ANY DESIRED POSITION BETWEEN SAID FIXED TAPPET AND STOP FOR OPERATING THE SWITCH MEMBER IN THE OTHER SENSE, INFINITELY VARIABLE SELFLOCKING MEANS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE ENCASED TIME SWITCH FOR ROTATING SAID ADJUSTABLE TAPPET, AND COACTING MEANS ON SAID STOP AND FIXED TAPPET AND SAID ADJUSTABLE TAPPET WHICH PREVENT SAID ADJUSTABLE TAPPET FROM BEING SET TO A POSITION OUTSIDE SAID TIME PERIOD, WHEREBY THE ACTUAL TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH SAID SWITCH IS CLOSED MAY BE VARIED WITHIN SAID MAXIMUM TIME PERIOD BY THE SETTING OF SAID ADJUSTABLE TAPPET.