Switching mechanism for appliance controller
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorMichael Baran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmer for controlling the actuation and deactuation of a plurality of load function switches. A motorized cam drum track moves a follower pivoted about a fulcrum pin. A solenoid controlled by a microcomputer slidably moves a bar operable to selectively latch and unlatch the fulcrum pin. When latched, the pin causes the follower to pivot and effect the actuation and deactuation of the associated switch in response to the cam track and the follower, when the fulcrum is unlatched, leaving the switch unmoved. The solenoid controls latching and unlatching independently of the cam drum rotation.
Claims12
A programmable switching array comprising:
- (a) at least one electrical switching means each having a set of contacts with one contact movable for making and breaking electrical contact therebetween;
- (b) cam means adapted to be cyclically driven;
- (c) follower means having a pivotable condition and a floating condition, and operable in said pivotable condition to be pivoted about a fulcrum by said cam means and effect said making and breaking of said set of contacts;
- (d) latchable means having a latched condition and an unlatched condition, and operable in said latched condition to provide said fulcrum for said follower means, and operable in said unlatched condition to enable said follower means floating condition;
- (e) actuator means operable for upon electrical energization and de-energization to move said latchable means between said latched condition and said unlatched condition;
- and,
- (g) circuit means, including microcomputer means, operable to energize and de-energize said actuator means in a pre-programmed sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.