Expanded scale timer and method of operating such
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorRalph H. Allison, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expanded scale timer has means adapted to be driven for indicating the operating time of the timer, and a pair of means are conjointly and relatively movable for respectively driving the indicating means at different predetermined speeds. Means is provided for effecting actuation of the driving means conjointly to drive the indicating means through one of the driving means at one of the speeds and for effecting actuation of the other of the driving means relative to the one driving means to also drive the indicating means at another speed with the one driving means being overridden by the indicating means.
Claims31
An expanded scale timer comprising means adapted to be driven for indicating the operating time of the timer, a pair of means conjointly and relatively movable for respectively driving the indicating means at different predetermined speeds, and means for effecting actuation of the driving means conjointly to drive the indicating means through one of the driving means at one of the speeds and for effecting actuation of the other of the driving means relative to the one driving means to also drive the indicating means at another speed with the one driving means being overridden by the indicating means.
An expanded scale timer comprising means adapted to be driven from an operator selected time set position toward an at-rest position for indicating the remaining operating time of the timer, a pair of means for respectively driving the time indicating means at different predetermined speeds during different predetermined periods of time to return the time indicating means from its selected time set position to its at-rest position, and means for urging the driving means into clutching engagement, the urging means being operable generally to slip one of the driving means engaged with the indicating means when the other of the driving means is drivingly engaged with the indicating means to drive it at one speed during one time period and also to effect the clutching engagement of the driving means upon disengagement of the other driving means from the indicating means to drive it through the one driving means at another speed during another of the predetermined time periods.
An expanded scale timer comprising an electric motor, a low speed pinion and a high speed pinion adapted to be displaced toward respective time setting positions, means operably displaced generally from an at-rest position in response to an operator applied force thereon for selecting a desired operating time for the timer, the operating time selecting means including a cluster gear conjointly displacable therewith, the cluster gear having a continuous gear portion meshed with the high speed pinion and a segment gear portion for meshing engagement with the low speed pinion, means for urging the low speed pinion and the high speed pinion into clutching engagement, the clutching engagement initially effecting conjoint displacement of the low speed pinion with the high speed pinion through the meshing of the high speed pinion with the continuous gear portion of the cluster gear in response to the operator applied force and the urging means thereafter acting to slip the high speed pinion upon the driving engagement of the segmented gear portion with the low speed pinion to permit further relative displacement of the low speed pinion toward its time setting position, a drive train between the motor and the low speed pinion, means operable generally in response to the displacement of the operating time selecting means for controlling energization of the motor, the motor being energized by its controlling means upon the displacement of the operating time selecting means from its at-rest position thereby to actuate the drive train for returning the low speed pinion from its time setting position and conjointly driving the segmented gear portion therewith until it disengages the low speed pinion while the urging means acts to slip the high speed pinion in its meshing engagement with the continuous gear portion of the cluster gear, and the urging means acting to effect the clutching engagement of the high speed pinion to the low speed pinion for conjoint return displacement therewith generally at the time of the disengagement of the segmented gear portion from the low speed pinion wherein the cluster gear is thereafter driven through the meshing engagement of its continuous gear portion and the high speed pinion to return the operating time selecting means to its at-rest position and thereby de-actuate the controlling means to de-energize the motor.
A method of operating an expanded scale timer having means operable generally for indicating the remaining operating time of an operator selected time period, and a pair of means for driving engagement with the indicating means during the selected time period comprising the steps of:
- a. overriding one of the driving means in its engagement with the indicating means and actuating the other of the driving means in its driving engagement with the indicating means for a period of time in excess of a predetermined time period which generally constitutes the selected time period;
- and
- b. disassociating the other driving means from its driving engagement with the indicating means at the end of the excess time period and generally simultaneously therewith actuating the driving means conjointly for effecting the driving engagement of the indicating means by the one driving means through the predetermined time period.
A method of operating an expanded scale timer having means adapted to be driven for indicating the remaining operating time of the timer, and a pair of means for driving the time indicating means comprising the steps of:
- a. slipping one of the driving means in overridden relation with the time indicating means and actuating the other of the driving means for driving the time indicating means;
- and
- b. actuating the driving means conjointly for effecting the driving of the time indicating means through the one driving means and generally at the same time interrupting the driving association between the other driving means and the time indicating means.
A method of operating an expanded scale timer having means adapted to be driven for indicating time, and a pair of means for driving relation with the time indicating means comprising the steps of:
- a. overriding one of the driving means in its driving relation with the time indicating means and moving the other of the driving means into driving relation with the time indicating means to effect the driving thereof;
- and
- b. disassociating the other driving means from its driving relation with the time indicating means and generally simultaneously clutching the driving means together for effecting the driving relation of the time indicating means by the one driving means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.