US 5,861,590 A · Cam-operated time quiet cycle selector

Abstract

An appliance timer has features to facilitate automated assembly or manual assembly. A timer housing base accepts timer components from two directions, and installation of components in either direction is along a straight axis. A motor in the timer engages a gear train which runs a drive cam. The drive cam imparts motion to a camstack which then engages timer blade switches, and the blade switches operate the appliance. A subinterval is also supplied on the timer to allow periodic operation of a switch without the use of the camstack. The timer also features a quiet manual advance which removes the blade switches from communication with the camstack to allow an operator to select various timer programs without any of the clicking noises that are usually associated with timer program selection. Furthermore, a detent slider is positioned in communication with the camstack to provide a tactile feel for the operator of the timer when selecting between various timer programs.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A quiet cycle selector for a cam-operated timer, comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a camstack carried in the housing for rotation having switch program blades corresponding to predetermined appliance functions and a drive surface;
(c) a camstack drive carried in the housing and operated by a motor to engage the camstack drive surface to rotate the camstack;
(d) blade switches placed in working relationship to the camstack switch program blades having switch blades with electrical contacts, cam-follower blades, cam-follower electrical contacts, and cam-follower riders engaging the switch program blades to open and close the electrical contacts with the cam-follower electrical contacts;
(e) a control shaft axially displaceable in the housing to a depressed position and an extended position providing an axis for rotation of the camstack with a ramped end and a control end;
(f) a switch lifter carried in the housing having a switch lifter ramp operated by the control shaft ramped end and a switch contacter to contact the cam-follower blades to disengage the cam-follower riders from the switch program blades when the control shaft is moved to the depressed position;
and,
(g) a drive lifter carried in the housing having a drive lifter ramp that is operated by the control shaft ramped end and a drive contacter to contact the camstack drive to disengage the camstack drive from the camstack drive surface when the control shaft is moved to the depressed position.

5 more elements

A master switch for a cam-operated timer, comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a camstack carried in the housing for rotation having switch program blades corresponding to predetermined appliance functions and a drive surface;
(c) a camstack drive carried in the housing and operated by a motor to engage the camstack drive surface to rotate the camstack;
(d) blade switches placed in working relationship to the camstack switch program blades having switch blades with electrical contacts, cam-follower blades, cam-follower electrical contacts, and cam-follower riders engaging the switch program blades to open and close the electrical contacts with the cam-follower electrical contacts;
(e) a control shaft axially displaceable in the housing providing an axis for rotation of the camstack having a depressed position and an extended position with a ramped end and a control end;
and,
(f) a switch lifter pivotally carried in the housing having a switch lifter ramp operated by the control shaft ramped end and a switch contacter to contact the cam-follower blades to open electrical.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cam-operated time quiet cycle selector

Life of this patent

Cam-operated time quiet cycle selector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35