US2200586A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

` May 14, 1940.,

T. R. sPALDlNG 2,200,586

TIMING DEVICE Filed July 8, 193B Y1 l Imis- @I x El; j

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ATTORNEYS Patente-cl May 14, 1940 PATENT', OFFICE TIMIN G DEVICE Thomas It. Spalding, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to The K-W Ignition Corporatiom/Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 8, 1938, Serial No. 218,127

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to timing devices for periodically operating an electric circuit or circuits, either to make or interrupt the same.

The principal object of the present invention 5 is the provision of a novel and improved timing device of the character referred to, simple in construction, reliable and stable in operation, low in current consumption, and operable in any position.

l The invention resides in certain novel details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the speciiication.

Fig. 1 of the drawing showsa device embody- 20 ing the present invention used to periodically complete one circuit and periodically interrupt another circuit for a predetermined interval of time.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of a portion of Fig.

25 l. with parts broken away to show the means of adjusting the vibrating contacts.

Referring to the drawing, the relay designated generally by the reference character A is of conventional construction comprising an operating 30 coil Ill wound about a core II and a pair of normally open spring contacts I2 and I3, the righthand ends of which contact members are insulated from but fixed to a bracket I4 formed yintegral with or iixed to a frame member I5, in

:l5 any convenient manner. The contacts I2 and I3 are adapted to be closed upon energization of the operating coil Ill through the medium of an armature I6 pivotally connected adjacent its right-hand end to the frame I5 by members I1.

The armature IB is continuously urged in a clockwise direction by a tension spring I8 connected to the right-hand end of the armature and to a projection I9 on the frame I5. Move- A, ment of the armature I6 under the actionv of the 4D spring I8 is limited by a stop member 20 xed to the free end of the armature and adapted to engage underneath a projection on the operating coil IIJ. The free end of the armature I6 is also provided with an angular member 2|, made of insulating material, fixed thereto and provided with a small aperture 22 through which the free end of the contact I2 projects. The construction is such that when the armature is drawn 55 towards the core II the upper contact I2 engages purpose hereinafter referred to.

IIil, a manually controlled contact switch 4I, and

`the relay B, whereupon the armature 32 and the tacts I2 and' I3 associated therewith to open, thus 'interrupting the operating circuit for relay B `which, in turn, releases the spring member or lreed 29 carrying the lower contact 21 of the nor- ,ma'lly closed contacts of relay B. When the ar (Cl. F75-320) the lower contact I3 completing an electric circuit hereinafter referred to.

The right-hand relay, designated generally by the reference character B, comprises an operating coil wound about a core 28 and a pair of normally closed spring contacts 21 and 28 located in operative relation to the core 26. The lower contact 21 is carried on or iixed to the free end of a spring arm or reed member 29, the left-hand end of which is fixed to a bracket 30 supported '10 on an insulating member 3l fixed to the upper end oi the operating coil 25 in any suitable manner. vA member 32 nxed to the underside of the free end of the spring member 29 serves as an armature. The upper contact 28 is carried by -15 the free end of a spring arm or reed member comprising an upper member 34 made of relatively thin resilient material and having a curved portion 35 the left-hand end of which is connected to a resilient member 36 having less spring -20 tension than the member 35. The member 36 is connected about midway between its ends to a member 31 which forms a support therefor. The right-hand end of the member 38 projects underneath the free end of the portion 35.1or a 25 The member 31 is carried by the member 3| previously referred to through the medium of a bracket 38.

The normally open contacts I2 and I3 of relay A are connected in series with a source of electrical energy, in the present instance a battery 4U, and with the operating coil 25 of relay B, and the normally closed contacts 21 and 28 of relay B are connected in series with the battery the operating coil VI0 of relay A. When the 35 switch 4I is closed, the operating circuit for relay `A is completed from the battery fm through line 52, switch 4I, line 53, operating solenoid Il), line 54, spring arm 29, lower contact 21, upper contact 28, spring arms 34 and 35, members 31 and 33, and line 55 back to the opposite side of the battery 40 operating relayA A to close the contacts I2 and I3, completing the operating circuit for 4 lower contact 21 of the relay B are drawn toward o the core 26 and the spring arm or reed 23 which carries the same ilexed. As soon as the contacts 21 and 28 part, the operating circuit for relay A is interrupted, permitting the normally open conmature 32 and the lower contact 21 are released from the core 26 they spring upwardly, and the contact 21 strikes the upper contact 28. Thereafter the contacts vibrate or bounce for an interval of time depending upon the characteristics of the spring arms 29 and 34 etc. The right-hand end of the spring member 36 which projects underneath the free end of the spring member 34 prevents the upper spring member from damping the vibration of the lower spring or reed member.

The frequency of the oscillations of the current in the operating circuit of relay A increases as the amplitude of the spring members decreases and the characteristics of the operating circuit of relay A are such that lthe relay will not respond to the closing of the contacts 21 and 28 of relay B until the frequency of the oscillations of the current in the operating circuit thereof reaches a predetermined amount depending upon the characteristics of the circuit. In other words the operating circuit` for relay A will not be reestablished until the contacts have almost stopped vibrating or bouncing. In the embodiment of the invention shown this condition is brought about `by means of a resistance 42 and a condenser 43 connected in series circuit with each other and in parallel circuit with the op,- erating coil I0 of relay A. Preferably, provision is made for varying either the resistance or the condenser, in the present embodiment the resistance 42, so that the characteristics of the circuit may be changed, or the circuit tuned, and, in turn, the interval of time that the circuit to the relay B remains open adjusted. A variable condenser and a xedrresistance may be em ployed in place of the Xed condenser and variable resistance shown, if desired. If adjustment or variation of the time interval is not desired a fixed resistance and a fixed condenser or some equivalent arrangement maybe employed. In order to further stabilize the operation of relay A a high resistance 44 is connected in shunt circuit with the normally closed contacts of relay B.

The high resistance 44 connected in shunt circuit across the contacts of relay B and in turn across the operating circuit of relay A, causes a small amount of current to flow through the operating coil of relay A even though the contacts of relay B are open. This continuous current flowing through the operating coil of relay A causes the operating coil of relay A to maintain the contacts of said relay closed longer than would be the case in the event this current was not present. This has a stabilizing effect on the relay in that there is less variation in the length of time that the contacts of relay A are closed, than would otherwise be the case. Without this stabilizing current, the operation of the relay A insofar as the length of time that the contacts thereof are opened and closed, is more or less erratic but by increasing the period of time that the contacts are closed decreases the variation mentioned and stabilizes the mechanical operation of the relay.

The interval of time that the circuit to the relay B is maintained open may also be varied by changing the characteristics of one or both of the spring or reed members 29 and 34. In the embodiment of the invention shown, provision is made for damping the vibrations of the upper reed member 34 through the medium of a screw 45 adjustably threaded into a member 46 carried by the bracket 43 and located above the curved portion 35. The period of vibration of the reed member 34 may be shortened by turning the screw 45 in a right-hand direction thus projecting the end thereof further from the member 4B and into closer proximity to the reed member. It will be understood that means other than that shown may be made for varying the characteristics of the reed member, and in turn the period of vibration of the member.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the operating circuit for the relay B will be periodically opened or deenergized for a predetermined interval of time by virtue of the fact that periodically the relay A is rendered inoperative for a time interval. The fact that the operating circuit to relay B is periodically deenergized for a predetermined time interval, which interval may be varied in the preferred embodiment shown, can lbe taken advantage of to control an auxiliary circuit or circuits in various ways. shown an auxiliary relay 41 is connected in series with the contacts i2 and I3 ol` relay A. This relay 41`is energized simultaneously with relay B and is provided with a plurality of contacts 48 and 49, the upper of which controls a normally open circuit 50 while the lower contact 49 controls a normally closed circuit 5l. It will be readily apparent that the auxiliary relay 41 may be omitted and an auxiliary circuit controlled through the medium of additional contacts i controlled directly by the relay A, etc. The fact that the operating circuit of relay B is periodically energized can also be taken advantage of in a plurality of different ways to control an auxiliary circuit or circuits. However, any additional relay or the like placed in the o erating circuit of relay B will have an effect on the characteristics of the circuit and must be compensated for.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described with considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement shown which may be varied within the scope of the invention and it is my intention to hereby cover al1 adaptations, modifications and arrangei ments thereof that come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In combination a pair of relays, means for causing the operation of one of said relays to complete an operating circuit for the second of said relays,-means for causing the operation of the second of said relays to interrupt the operating circuit for the first of said relays, and means for preventing the subsequent operation of the first of said relays for an interval of time, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of normally closed contacts carried by reed members and operatively associated with the second of said relays.

2. In combination a pair of relays, means for causing the operationl of one of said relays to complete an operating circuit for the second of said relays, means for causing the operation of the second of said relays to interrupt the operating circuit for the rst of said relays, and means for preventing the subsequent operation of the first of said relays for an interval of time, said means comlprising a pair of normally closed contacts carried by reed members operatively associated with the second of said relays and adapted to vibrate when the operating circuit to said second relay is interrupted, the characteristics of the operating circuit of said rst relay being such that the relay is non-responsive for a period of time While said normally closed contacts are vibrating.

3. In combination oi a pair of relays, a pair of normally open contacts operatively associated with the first of said relays and connected in series With the operating circuit of the second of said relays, a pair of normally closed contacts operatively associated with the second of said relays and connected in series in the operating circuit of the irst of said relays, a resistor in shunt connection with said normally closed contacts, said normally closed contacts being carried on reed members adapted to vibrate when the operating circuit to the second relay'is interrupted, the characteristics of the operating circuit of the rst relay being such that said relay is inoperative for a period of time while said normally closed contacts are vibrating, and means 4for varying the characteristics of the operating circuit of the rst relay.

4. In combination a pair of relays, a pair of normally open contacts operatively associated with the first of said relays and connected in series with the operating circuit of the second of said relays, a pair of normally closed ccntacts operatively associated with the second of said relays and connected in series in the operating circuit of the first of said relays, a resistor in shunt connection with said normally closed contacts, said normally closed contacts being carried on reed members adapted to vibrate when the operating circuit to the second relay is interrupted, the characteristics of the operating circuit of the rst relay being such that said re lay is inoperative for a period of time While said normally closed contacts are vibrating, means for changing the period oi vibration of one of said reed members, and means for varying the characteristics of the operating circuit of the first relay.

THOMAS R. SPALDING.

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