Multiple Memo Timing Device With Adjustable Pin Conductors

Abstract

Timing device comprising clock means having a contactor arm and a conducting ring with conductor pins selectively set therein at locations corresponding to selected times, and a switching means including rotary cam means and switches and under the control of the clock means for simultaneously or separately controlling the connection of power source to one or more loads.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to timing devices, and more particularly to a multiple memo timing device or predetermined time setting device.

Timers have many uses, for example, in automatic control systems, preset operation of appliances, etc. Most times have only one pair of contacts for single energization of electrical apparatus in accordance with the time interval desired. Thus, they are limited to controlling only a single or single group of apparatus. Accordingly, using prior art timers, each appliance or equipment which is desired to be controlled requires a separate individual timer.

Moreover, with prior art devices, the time-setting range of most timers is short, for example, about 12 hours per cycle. In many cases, however, where there are numerous appliances or equipment desired to be operated at different times, the time setting range is often greater than several 12 hour cycles. Some group of appliances may require operation at the same time either for the same or different periods. In these cases, prior art times have been found to be inadequate.

There are also so called memo timers, which operate to remind a person prior to a predetermined time. However, most such memo timers cannot perform several additional chores such as preset operation of electrical apparatus, at preset working time as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a multiple purpose timing device adapted to be selectively used as a clock, working timer, or memo timer, depending on the desired results.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple time-setting timing device for simultaneously or separately controlling at least one operation of at least one electrical appliance. A clock means is provided with a moveable contacting arm, at least one conducting ring and at least one switching means to produce the aforementioned control.

A further object of this invention is to provide a timing device capable of controlling various working time durations for at least one controlled apparatus.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a timing device for producing a predetermined signal at prescribed intervals, the signals being produced by a particularly shaped cam and its related contacts of a switching means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a timing device adapted for use with high load current, wherein an actuating switching means is independent of the controlled load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts in partial pictorial view, an illustrative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1A depicts an elevational section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict a simplified circuit diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing respectively "ON" and "OFF" states of the associated switching means;

FIG. 3, depicts a simplified circuit diagram of another illustrative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a simplified circuit diagram of a further illustrative embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a simplified circuit diagram of a still further illustrative embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts a simplified circuit diagram of a still further embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2A and 2B, there are depicted a timing device comprising a clock 10 and one or more switching means 20. Clock 10 which may be electrically powered is conventionally constructed, including a synchronous motor 19, a plurality of gears 17 with hour and minute hands. Clock 10 further comprises a moveable contacting arm 11 with one or more moveable contactors 11A.sub.1.sub.-n and one or more contacting rings 15.sub.1.sub.-n provided outside of the dial plate. Contacting ring 15.sub.1.sub.-n may be connected electrically to one or more switching means 20A, 20B and 20C---20N. The contacting ring 15.sub.1.sub.-n comprises a number of time setting holes 150-1,150-2,150-3 . . . 150-N. The time setting holes are positioned along the ring and spaced at an equal radial distance from each other. The time setting holes 150 are bored through the dial plate into the housing of clock 10, so as to facilitate the insertion of time setting pins 13. The pins 13 are used to set the time the device will operate the apparatus desired to be controlled.

Synchronous motor 19 is connected to power supply 100 and may be energized thereby accordingly. Motor 29A-29C of switching means 20-A-20-C are energized through a circuit comprising one terminal L.sub.1 of power supply 100, terminal 10A, spring contacting member 10B, moveable contacting arm 11, moveable contacting 11A, time setting pin 13, contacting rings 15-1-4, associated contacts of the switching means, motor 29A-C, and the other terminal L.sub.2 of power supply 100. Switching means 20A-C will be actuated under the predetermined time setting as desired. The operation of each switching means will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A through 6.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2A and 2B, switching means 220 comprises synchronous motor 229, coaxial cams 221 and 222, and a plurality of positioning contacts 223, 224 and 225. Motor 229 and cams 221,222 are both operated mechanically through axis 21 as shown in FIG. 2A, and a plurality of gear means, not shown. In this manner, the rotational speed of cams 221 and 222 can be synchronized or unsynchronized with that of clock 10, depending upon the desired matching of a train of gear wheels thereof.

In operation, suppose the time at which the load 200 is to be operated is at 6:00 o'clock, and the termination time is at 1 quarter hour thereafter. Hence, one time setting pin 13 is inserted into a time setting hole adjacent to number 12 on the dial plate, and another pin 13 is inserted into a time setting hole adjacent number 3 on the dial plate as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. Motor 229 of switching means 220 is energized through a circuit comprising one terminal L.sub.1 of power supply .phi., movable contacting arm 11, time setting pin 23, arm 25, contacts 225, arm 26, motor 229, and another terminal L.sub.2 of power supply 100. Cams 221 and 222 begin to rotate in a clockwise direction at a predetermined speed. As soon as projection 221A of cam 221 rotates, the pair of contacts 224 are closed. After projection 221A rotates over 180.degree., projection 221A engages arm 25, and opens the pair of contacts 225. Motor 229 is thus caused to stop. The larger diameter portion 222B of cam 222 also rotates a corresponding number of degrees and engages projection 226 of arm 22 and closes pair of contacts 223. Hence, current from power supply 100 flows to input terminal L.sub.11 and L.sub.12 of load 200 through closed pair of contacts 223. Load 200 may be any type of domestic appliance, automatic equipment,etc, which is required to be controlled to operate at prescribed time intervals.

Concurrently, movable contacting arm 11 rotates out of engagement with the first time setting pin 13. The above mentioned circuit of motor 229 will not be closed until movable contacting arm 11 rotates in a clockwise direction into engagement with a second time setting pin 13 positioned adjacent number 3 on the dial plate as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B.

With the circuit of motor 229 closed, cams 221 and 222 continue to rotate in a clockwise direction. The larger diameter portion 22B rotates out of engagement with projection 226 of arm 22, pair of contacts 223 are opened, and load 200 stops operation. It will be appreciated that the timing device of this invention is particularly advantageous for continuous intermittent operation of electrical apparatus. By merely changing the inserted positions of the time setting pins 13, suitable change in control times can be effected with ease and simplicity.

FIG. 3 depicts clock 10 and switching means 320 which are almost the same as the previously discussed embodiments, except in switching means 320 there is only one break-make switch 400 used instead of two switches each having a separate function; and the shapes of the cams 321 and 322 are slightly modified. Hence, description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 4, clock 10 is relaced by an ordinary switch 40. One terminal L.sub.1 of power supply 100 is connected to input terminal L.sub.11 of load 200 in two different ways, one is through closed contacts 323 and the other is through contacts 42 and 41. Although contact 41 is switched off, i.e., to contact 43, load current still flows to load 200 through closed contacts 323 due to projection 426 being pressed by cam 421. The load circuit will not be opened until cam 421 rotates out of engagement with projection 426. Hence, this embodiment can be used as a time delay switching means, such as for example to operate any domestic appliance. As to the duration of delay time, those skilled in the art may readily modify or vary the shape of the cams or position of the switching contacts to accomplish the desired results.

FIG. 5 depicts clock 50 provided with a plurality of time setting pins 53 on one conducting ring. Switching means 520 comprises the same elements as described above except the contacting area of the larger diameter portion 522A of cam 522 is reduced. The contacting time of portion 522A and projection 526 is decreased, while the contacting time of contacts 526 therefore becomes longer than the embodiment describe above. In addition, as seen in FIG. 5, motor 529 is not energized until projection 521A has rotated one complete revolution under such condition that movable contacting arm 51 is out of engagement with any time-setting pin 53. The contacting time of this embodiment is much longer than the interrupting time. Accordingly it is particularly useful for controlling electrical appliances, apparatus, etc, such as for example an electric cooker which may be on for a long time and off for short time breaks.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is depicted a stillfurther embodiment of the present invention which may be adapted for use with electric bells or any other types of signal generators for visually or audially signalling the beginning and end of predetermined time periods. This can be done by simple alteration of time setting pins 63.

According to this embodiment, clock 60 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5. Switching means 620 comprises a main cam 620A with associated pairs of contacts 623,624 and 625 and an auxiliary cam 620B with associated pairs of cntacts 626,627. It is to be noted that the numbers of revolutions of the auxiliary cam 620B may be selected to be a multiple number of that of the main auxiliary cam 620A, preferably 10 to 1. For example, one may select the ratio such as 5 to 1, wherein it would take 1 minute for one operating revolution of auxiliary cam 620B, while it would take 5 minutes for each operating revolution of main cam 620A.

Also, the conducting duration of the pairs of contacts which are operated by the urging of the main cam, should not be more than the duration which is needed for one revolution of auxiliary cam 620B. As soon as motor 629 is actuated, main cam 620A and auxiliary cam 620B begin to rotate in a clockwise direction. Projection 621A1of smaller diameter cam 621A urges the pair of contacts 625 to close and electric bell 200 is operated, only by the signal producing projections 622B1 and 622B2 urging contacts 626 into a closed state. When the smaller diameter cam 621A further rotates over a half revolution, the projection 621A1 of cam 621A urges contacts 623 to be closed, during the time projection 622A2 rotates away from projection 624, and contacts S.sub.624.sub.-3 and S.sub.624.sub.-4 are closed. In that event, operation of electric bell 200 is accomplished only by waiting for another signal produced when cam 621B urges contact 627 to be closed. It is evident that the form of signal produced by the electric bell or any other automatic signalling generator can be readily altered by one skilled in the art with careful arrangement of the number of positons of the projections on the cam, and designing a suitable shape for the cam, or further arranging the conducting state or number of contacts in relationship to the associated cams.

Various modifications and variations of the foregoing embodiments would be evident to one skilled inthe art, and all such modifications and variations are to be considered within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Timing device for controlling interconnection between an input means and an output means, comprising clock means having a face with time thereon, a minute hand and an hour hand rotatable about a common axis; a plurality of conductive rings disposed concentrically about said axis and about said face; insulating means for said rings; a plurality ofholder means disposed close to and in electrical contact with said rings; means for connecting said ring means to said output means; a plurality of conductive pin means selectively positionable within said holder means, said holder means being associated with selected times on said face; an insulating arm rotatable about said axis in synchronism with said minute hand or said hour hand; a plurality of first contacts on said insulating arm disposed concentrically to said axis and contactable to respective pin means; a plurality of second contacts disposed on said insulating arm concentric to said axis; a plurality of conductive means disposed within said insulating arm and interconnecting respective arms of said first and second contacts; a plurality of terminals contactable with respective arms of said second contacts; and means for connecting said second contacts to said input means.