US2931473A - Manually operable quadrant type timer mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 1960 J. A. CASTRICONE 2,931,473

MANUALLY OPERABLE QUADRANT TYPE TIMER MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR JOHN A. CASTR/CONE 8) WM; yoaw lfdLu/W M! 040 44,.

ATTORNM April 5, 1960 J. A. CASTRICONE 2,931,473

MANUALLY OPERABLE QUADRANT TYPE TIMER MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOI? JOHN A. CASTR/CO/VE A TTOR/VEYS April 1960 J. A. CASTRICONE 2,931,473

MANUALLY OPERABLE QUADRANT TYPE TIMER MECHANISM Filed June 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l/VVENTOR z/QHN A. CASTR/CO/VE BY ATTORNEYS MANUALLY OPERABLE QUADRANT TYPE TIMER MECHANISM John A. Castricone, Peoria, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Maryland Application June 22, 1956, Serial No. 593,196

Claims. (Cl. 192-35) The present invention relates to and has for its primary object the provision of a new and improved manually operable quadrant type timer mechanism.

The control timer mechanism of the present invention is intended primarily for use with domestic appliances of various types such as washing machines for the purpose of controlling the sequence of operations of the appliances. The mechanism includes a drive motor which may be electrically energized and which drives a switch assembly. The drive is so constructed and arranged that the switch assembly may be operated or adjusted manually to skip certain operations or to shorten them in accordance with the desires of the operator.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved timer mechanism including what might be considered a quadrant type manual operator.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a control timer having a quadrant type of operator for manual adjustment of the timer and which is also arranged selectively to engage or disengage the drive between the timer driving motor and a switch assembly driven thereby.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a quadrant type of operator comprising a manually operable control lever wh ch is both rotatable about a pivot axis and movable at right angles to the plane of rotation thereby to effect two distinct control operations of the timer, which control operations may be rotation of a control element of the timer and operation of a clutch disposed between the timer and its driving motor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved timer mechanism having a control cam assembly movable over a first and greater extent, e.g., rotatable through about 345, and a manually actuatable operating member movable over a second and lesser extent, e.g., rotatable or pivotally movable through about 120 between start and end points, whereby the control member is oscillatable through an angle of about 345.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved timer mechanism having control and operating elements movable to different extents and in which the operating element is constructed to act also as a position indicator.

in brief, the manually operable quadrant type control mechanism of the present invention includes an electric motor connected through suitable gearing including clutch defining gearing to a rotatable and axially movable cam shaft with which are associated a series of cams controlling switches which, in turn, control the sequence of operation of an associated appliance such as a washing machine. The cam shaft is adapted manually to be rotated in one plane to adjust the duration of a particular sequence or to skip certain sequences. The extent of rotation or angular movement of the shaft is chosen to be about 345. This rotation is effected by a manually operable quadrant type lever which is adapted to have movement in a second plane in order to effect engagenited States Paten meat of and disengagement of the clutch means between the motor and cam shaft. The extent of rotation or angular movement of the lever is chosen to be a lesser extent, such as about 120, whereby the lever moves only a relatively small amount and can be used as a position indicator. Because of its relatively slight movement it can be arranged more readily to indicate positions without necessity of having positions indicated completely around a circle. The arrangement is such that declutching is necessary in order to elfect manual adjustment of the switch. assembly and the arrangement is also such that when the clutch is disengaged the circuits controlled by the switches are deenergized thereby to prevent undesired operation of the various control mechanisms during manual adjustment of the timer control. In accordance with the present invention, a gear is fixedly secured to the cam shaft. This gear, and thus the cam shaft, is rotated by a segment type of gear rotatable in turn by a quadrant type of lever rotatable in a first plane. The quadrant type of lever is pivotally movable substantially couially of the cam shaft and it is provided with clutch operating means. Thus, as the lever is moved coaxially of the cam shaft, the cam shaft is moved axially to effect engagement and disengagement of the clutch.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of illustrative embodiments thereof in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a washing machine panel assembly including a control timer mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the staggered line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view illustrating de tails of the mechanism including primarily a lever assembly and associated gearing and clutch operating means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of construction including means associated with the lever assembly itself for preventing reverse movement of the lever.

Referring now to the drawings and first particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the control timer mechanism of the present invention is indicated as a whole by the reference character 19. As illustrated, it is mounted upon an appliance which may be a washing machine having a cabinet 12 of which only a part is shown and including a horizontally extending panel 14 of suitable configuration and a rear closure plate 16.

The timer mechanism of the invention is mounted upon a timer bracket 13 having a generally vertical or slightly inclined portion 29 and a lower support portion 22 which is secured in suitable manner to the rear portion 24 of the top panel 12, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The timer mechanism includes, in the main, an electrically energizable motor 30 and associated gearing 32 adapted either periodically or continuously and preferably irreversibly to drive a drive pinion 34. The mechanism includes also a rotatable cam-switch assembly indicated but diagrammatically and mounted on the structure 36 located to the side of the motor and gearing. The camswitch assembly includes a rotatable cam shaft 38 which is also movable axially for clutch and switch operation purposes. Upon the cam shaft is mounted a series of cams 40, of which but one is illustrated diagrammatically. Associated with these cams are a series of switches, not shown, which are utilized to control the sequence and duration of the various functions to be performed by the washing machine. As noted, the cam shaft 35 is not only rotatable but it is axially movable between the solid line position in which it is illustrated filed February 28, 1952, now Patent No. 2,756,856, and

assigned to the assignee of this application. In theclutch disengaged position, cam 40 also opens a circuit controlled by contacts 41.

As heretofore indicated, one of the primary features of the present invention is to provide a quadrant type of operator for the timer control in order to controlthe duration and sequences performed by the timer. The quadrant type of operator includes a lever indicated as a whole by the reference character 44. This operating lever is rotatably as well as pivotally movable relative to the cam shaft to which it is operatively connected by continually meshing gears including the gear 46 fixedly secured to the cam shaft 38 and a segment gear 48 angularly rotatable by lever 44 about an axis defined by pivot pin 50.

Rotary movement of the quadrant type operator 44 is '7 effected through a knob 59a mounted upon a generally horizontally and forwardly extending portion 51 of the lever.

tom of portion 52 there are provided a pair of generally triangular rearwardly extending portions 54 interconnected by a lever pin 56 extending through a casting 58 supporting gear 48 and through which the pivot pin g extends and upon which the casting is rotatable. The arrangement is thus such that as the lever 44 is rotated, it and the casting 5S and gear .8 rotate about the axis defined by pin 50. The lever, however, has a second degree of freedom of movement, this being pivotal movement about the pin 56 which thus enables the lever to be moved toward and away from the cam shaft 38. In order to facilitate construction of the gearing operated by the lever, the gear 48 is constructed as a separate segment gear and it is attached to an upwardly extending segmental portion 60 of the casting 58. The gear is secured in place in suitable manner as by the securing screws 62.

The axial movement of the cam shaft to effect engagement and disengagement of the cam shaft from the motor is effected by a clutch actuating plate 64- of segmental shape secured to the rear side of an indented portion 66 of the lever 44. The upper peripheral portion of the plate 64 extends into a groove .68 extending around the forwardly extending portion 70 of gear 4s. The construction is thus such that pivotal movement of the lever about the lever pin 56 effects back and forth movement of the plate 64 thereby to move the gear 46 and the shaft 38 axially from the solid line position in which it is shown to the dotted line position, and vice versa.

In order to provide an indication of the position of the cam assembly and therefore to indicate the particu lar operation being performed at any particular time, the manual knob 50a is provided with a pointer portion 72 cooperatively associated with a plastic dial 74 carrying suitable indicia of the operations and durations thereof performed by the appliance. The limits of movement of the lever arm 44 are determined by the spaced stops 76 and 78 illustrated in Fig. 3 and which extend forwardly from plate 26.

An advantage of the present construction is that the pperating-lever is movable back and forth'over a limited ally in a direction corresponding to the reverse move-v ment of knob 50a, i.e., the reverse movement being in a angular extent, such as about 120 as illustrated, while the cam shaft assembly is rotated over a greater angular extent, such as about 345. This makes it possible more rapidly to adjust the timer and also makes it easier to note the position of the timer when the lever is also used as an indicator. The positions are all indicated in such manner that they can be easily read. None has to be located at the bottom of a circular or in any upside down position. 1

The dial is surrounded by a bezel 76 and by ornamental structure 78 having a central decorative portion 80 spaced from the dial to provide a space 82 for projection of the portion 52 of the quadrant type-operator.

In the following description of operation of the apparatus, it is assumed, as heretofore indicated, that the gear 34 driven by the motor is driven irreversibly, i.e., the arrangement is such that the gear cannot be turned manueounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. However, the arrangement could be such that the gear 34 cannot be moved in either direction manually. Therefore, in order to adjust the position of the camswitch assembly, it is necessary'to declutch the cam shaft from The control lever includes also an intermediate generally downwardly extending portion 52. At the botp the movement is in reverse or forward direction.

moves the gear 46 and the shaft 38 to the left from its solid to its dotted line position, thereby to declutch gears 34 and 42. When the gears are declutched the operating lever 44, can be rotated in either direction in a plane at right anglesto the plane of pivotal movement for the purpose of either repeating an operation or shortening and possibly shipping on operation, depending on whether Rotation of the lever 44 results in rotation of the gear sup porting casting S8about the pivot pin 50. This, in turn, moves the gear 48 in one direction or the other about the pivot pin thereby to effect rotation of gear 46 and the cam shaft 38.

In the event that it is desired to apply the mechanism of the present invention to a drive between the motor and cam shaft which is revresible, i.e., manual operation of the cam shaft in either direction is possible, then it may be desired to provide some means for preventing movement in a reverse direction without declutching and deenergization of the control circuit. For this purpose the construction may include a pawl and ratchet means preventing reverse movement of the lever. Au arrangement of this character is shown in Fig. 6, to which referonce is now had, which figure also shows lever 44 dis posed in a generally horizontal position.

Referring now to Fig. 6 the lever 44 is provided at its underside with a pivotally movable pawl mounted for cooperation with a segmental arrangement of ratchet teeth 92 located below the pawl. The arrangement is such that the pawl 9i) rides over the teeth 92 when the lever is moved in forward direction but engages the teeth in order to prevent reverse movement ofthe lever 44 unless the lever 44 has been moved to its upper forward position, i.e., the position corresponding to the declutched position of the first described embodiment, in which the switch :21 is opened. With thisswitch opened the cam shaft can be moved in reverse direction without undesired operation of the elements controlled by the cam operated switches. Fig. 6 also illustrates that the mechanism may be mounted in various positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A control timer mechanism including an axially movable and rotatable camshaft, a control lever rotatably movable in a first plane at right angles to the principal axis of said cam shaft and pivotable substantially transversely of said first plane, and means interconnecting the lever and cam shaft providing for rotary movement of the cam shaft when the lever is rotated in said first plane and for providing axial movement of the cam shaft when the lever is pivotally moved in said second plane, said last mentioned means including a gear fixedly mounted on said cam shaft, a gear rotatably movable with said lever and in mesh with said first mentioned gear, and means pivotally movable with said lever for axially moving said first mentioned gear and cam sh ft.

2. A control timer mechanism including a cam shaft mounted for axial movement and rotation about a first axis, a gear fixedly secured to and movable with said cam shaft, said gear having a portion with a peripheral groove, a gear supporting element mounted for rotary movement about a second axis radially displaced from said first mentioned axis, a segmental gear mounted on said element and continuously enmeshed with said first mentioned gear, a manual operating lever, means securing said lever to said gear supporting element for movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said first and second axes and providing means whereby said gear supporting element may be rotated about said second axis to effect rotation of said first mentioned gear and cam shaft, and a segmental plate mounted on said lever and extending into said peripheral groove for effecting axial movement of said first mentioned gear and cam shaft in response to pivotal movement of said lever.

3. A control timer mechanism comprising a cam shaft having a plurality of switch actuating cam members mounted thereon for selective operation of switch means in response to rotation of said cam shaft, a drive motor having an output shaft, a clutch adapted to selectively interconnect said motor shaft and said cam shaft whereby said cam shaft is rotatable by said drive motor, said clutch interconnecting said shafts when said cam shaft is in one axial position and disconnecting said shafts when said cam shaft is in another axial position, a control lever rotatably movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of said cam shaft and movable into and out of said plane between a plurality of positions and reduction gearing interconnecting said lever and said cam shaft for effecting rotary movement of said cam shaft when said lever is moved at right angles to said axis and for effecting axial movement of said cam shaft when said lever is moved at right angles to said plane,

said gearing means providing one revolution of said shaft for substantially less than one revolution of said lever, whereby said lever may be moved in said second plane to disconnect said cam shaft from said motor and in said one plane to rotate said cam shaft.

4. A control timer mechanism comprising a cam shaft having a plurality of switch actuating cam members mounted thereon for selective operation of switch means in response to rotation of said cam shaft, a drive motor having an output shaft, a clutch adapted to selectively interconnect said motor shaft and said cam shaft whereby said cam shaft is rotatable by said drive motor, said clutch interconnecting said shafts when said cam shaft is in one axial position and disconnecting said shafts when said cam shaft is in another axial position, a control lever rotatably movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of said cam shaft and pivotable substantially transversely of said plane between a plurality of positions, and reduction gearing interconnecting said lever and said cam shaft for effecting rotary movement of said cam shaft when said lever is rotated at right angles to said axis and for effecting axial movement of said cam shaft when said lever is pivotally moved at right angles to said plane, said gearing means providing one revolution of said shaft for substantially less than one revolution of said lever, whereby said lever may be moved to one of said plurality of positions to disconnect said cam shaft from said motor and rotated in said plane to rotate said cam shaft.

5. A control timer mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes first and second intermeshing gears respectively connected to said cam shaft and to said lever, the effective diameter of said second gear being substantially three times the effective diameter of said first gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,552,135 Frink Sept. 1, 1925 1,646,440 Ashford Oct. 25, 1927 2,026,220 Denker Dec. 31, 1935 2,212,319 Gerdts Aug. 20, 1940 2,325,837 Dyer Aug. 3, 1943 2,540,723 Geldhof et al. Feb. 6, 1951 2,561,348 Dunham July 24, 1951 2,581,878 Pick Jan. 8, 1952 2,611,392 Johnson Sept. 23, 1952

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