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US 4,297,546 AGranted
Actuating means for switch operation in timing apparatus
AssigneeAMF Incorporated
InventorClaude V. Koch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Switch actuating mechanism for use in a timing device. The mechanism is simple, easy to manufacture, and is reliable in operation. The mechanism is selectively adjustable to maintain the switch continuously ON, continuously OFF, or ON and OFF in response to time setting pins on a rotating time dial.
Claims11
Timing apparatus for controlling the energization of an electrical plug receptacle into which the cord of a lamp or appliance, or the like, may be plugged, comprising
- a case having front and back walls,
- an electrical plug receptacle adapted to receive the prongs of an electrical plug,
- electrical switch means within said case having only one movable contact blade that may be selectively moved to open and close contacts of the switch means,
- said contact blade normally spring biasing said contacts to their closed positions,
- means for connecting said switch means to a source of electrical power,
- electrical conductor means connecting said switch means to said plug receptacle for energizing the plug receptacle when the switch means is closed and for deenergizing the plug receptacle when the switch means is open,
- a time dial mounted on said case for rotation relative to said case,
- an electrical motor mounted in said case,
- means for energizing said motor,
- gear train means coupling said motor to said time dial to rotate said time dial as a function to the rotation of said motor,
- a plurality of time setting pins slidably mounted on the periphery of the time dial, each pin being slidable between an inner and an outer position, said inner and outer positions being along a path that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the time dial,
- said setting pins having peripheral edges that comprise the outermost periphery of the time dial,
- a switch actuator pivotally mounted for rotation about an axis that is parallel to, and fixed with respect to, the axis of rotation of said time dial,
- said switch actuator having a free end that contacts said peripheral edges of the setting pins at an actuation position when the setting pins are in their inner positions but being out of contact with the peripheral edges of the pins when the setting pins are in their outer positions,
- said free end of the switch actuator having such an extent relative to the circumference of the time dial with pins thereon that adjacent pins in their inner positions on the dial will continuously support said free end of the actuator as the adjacent pins pass the actuation position but a setting pin in its outer position that is between two pins in their inner positions will allow the actuator to pivot below the peripheral edges of the two inner pins and into the space therebetween,
- push rod means for engaging said movable contact blade of the switch means,
- said switch actuator urging said push rod means into engagement with said contact blade to move the blade to open the contacts of the switch means only when the free end of the switch actuator is in contact with the peripheral edge of a setting pin that is in its inner position.
14 more elements
A switch actuation mechanism for use on timing apparatus that includes a switch contact blade that is movable from a first position at which switch contacts are closed to a second position at which said switch contacts are open, and wherein said timing apparatus further includes a time dial that is rotatable about a first axis, said mechanism further including
- a plurality of time setting pins slidably attached to the periphery of the time dial, each pin being selectively slidable between an inner and an outer position along a path that is both generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the time dial and normal to the surface plane of the time dial,
- said setting pins having peripheral edges that comprise the outermost periphery of the time dial,
- a switch actuator pivotally mounted at one end for rotation about a second axis that is fixed and parallel to said first axis,
- said switch actuator having an opposite free end that contacts said peripheral edges of the setting pins at an actuation position when the setting pins are in their inner positions but being out of contact with said peripheral edges when the pins are in their outer positions,
- said free end of the switch actuator having such an extent relative to the circumference of the time dial with pins thereon that adjacent pins in their inner positions on the dial will continuously support said free end of the actuator as the adjacent pins pass the actuation position but a setting pin in its outer position that is between two pins in their inner positions will allow the actuator to pivot below the peripheral edges of the two inner pins and into the space therebetween,
- movable push rod means located between the switch actuator and the contact blade of the switch means and selectively engagable with both,
- said switch actuator urging said push rod means into engagement with contact blade to move the blade to open the contacts of the switch means only when the free end of the switch actuator is in contact with the peripheral edge of a setting pin that is in its inner position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.