US 5,949,038 AGranted

Cam-operated timer quiet cycle selector using a camstack with a plurality of drive teeth

AssigneeEmerson Electric Co.

InventorDaniel Keith Amonett

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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.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of manually setting an appliance timer, with the appliance timer having (i) a camstack which includes a plurality of program blades and a plurality of drive teeth defined therein, (ii) a plurality of switch blades, (iii) a camstack drive, and (iv) a control shaft which is positionable between a first position and a second position, comprising the steps of:

operating the appliance timer while the control shaft is positioned at the first position, wherein when the control shaft is positioned at the first position (i) the camstack drive is engaged with the plurality of drive teeth so as to cause rotation of the camstack, and (ii) the plurality of switch blades cooperate with the plurality of program blades so as to cause switching of the appliance timer during rotation of the camstack;
and
manually rotating the camstack to set the appliance timer while the control shaft is positioned in the second position, wherein when the control shaft is positioned at the second position (i) the plurality of drive teeth are positioned relative to the camstack drive so that the camstack drive is disengaged from the drive teeth during manual rotation of the camstack, and (ii) the plurality of program blades are positioned relative to the plurality of switch blades so that the camstack does not cause switching of the appliance timer during manual rotation of the camstack.

An appliance timer, comprising:

a camstack having a plurality of program blades and a plurality of drive teeth defined therein;
a plurality of switch blades operatively associated with said plurality of program blades;
a camstack drive operatively associated with said drive teeth;
and
a control shaft which is positionable between a first position and a second position, wherein when said control shaft is positioned at said first position (i) said camstack drive is engaged with said plurality of drive teeth so as to cause rotation of said camstack, and (ii) said plurality of switch blades cooperate with said plurality of program blades so that rotation of said camstack causes switching of said appliance timer, and
wherein when said control shaft is positioned at said second position (i) said plurality of drive teeth are positioned relative to said camstack drive so that said camstack drive is disengaged from said drive teeth, and (ii) said plurality of program blades are positioned relative to said plurality of switch blades so that rotation of said camstack does not cause switching of said appliance timer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/049,528Filed 27 Mar 1998 · continuation
Priority: 28 May 1996
Granted: 7 Sep 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H01H 43/102
Driving mechanisms: using a pawl and ratchet wheel mechanism
H01H 43/106
With timing of actuation of contacts due to a part rotating at substantially constant speed: manual programme selecting means
H01H 2043/107
Manual programme selecting means: bidirectional selecting means, e.g. the programme selecting knob being turnable in both directions
H01H
Electric switches