← Back to Patent Explorer
US3925629A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Variable time switch with variable control cam structure for different time periods and modes of operation

Assignee: TELECHRON Inc A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1974-10-16
•
Granted: 1975-12-09
•
Expires: 1994-10-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A time switch for automatically opening and closing switch contacts at pre-set times on consecutive days wherein an automatic cam is provided for automatically turning the switch ON and OFF at the same times on a number of consecutive days and a variable cam is provided for actuating the switch at preprogrammed different times on consecutive days. The AUTOMATIC cam is arranged for operating one pair of switch contacts while the VARIABLE cam is arranged for operating a second pair of switch contacts. A rotatable selector knob is provided with lugs for holding one or the other or both of said pairs of switch contacts in an open position to provide AUTOMATIC, VARIABLE, manual ON and manual OFF operation of the switch.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jr Harry Albinger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 13:16
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C23/00; G04C23/14; G04C23/34; G04C23/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53478

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 258 words
A time switch comprising: a. electrical switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for moving said switch actuator to cause said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; and d. said switch actuator means including a first cam means arranged for engagement with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at the same times during a number of consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member at the times set by said slectively positionable ON and OFF members, and said switch actuator including a second cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; and e. selector means for manually selecting operation of said switch means by said first cam means or said second cam means of said switch actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 258 words
A time switch comprising: a. electrical switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for moving said switch actuator to cause said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; and d. said switch actuator means including a first cam means arranged for engagement with said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at the same times during a number of consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member at the times set by said slectively positionable ON and OFF members, and said switch actuator including a second cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; and e. selector means for manually selecting operation of said switch means by said first cam means or said second cam means of said switch actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 89 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said selector means is movable to a first position to hold the switch in a manual ON position, to a second position to permit said first cam means to open and close said switch at pre-programmed said times on consecutive days, to a third position to manually hold the switch open in its manual OFF position, and to a fourth position to permit said second cam means to open and close the switch at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said first cam means includes a plurality of cam surfaces that are symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at the same times on consecutive days.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said second cam means includes a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at different times on consecutive days.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 74 words
A time switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch means includes two pairs of switch contacts and said first cam means is positioned adjacent to one of said pair of contacts for operating said one pair of contacts at the same times on consecutive days, and said second cam means is positioned adjacent to said other pair of contacts for operating said other pair of contacts at differEnt times on consecutive days.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a first lug for holding said first pair of contacts in an open position to thereby permit said second cam means to open and close said second pair of contacts at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 99 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means is movable to a first position for closing said one pair of contacts to hold the switch in a manual ON position, to a second position to permit said first cam means to open and close said one pair of contacts at pre-programmed same times on consecutive days, to a third position to manually hold both pairs of contacts open, and to a fourth position to permit said second cam means to open and close the second pair of contacts at pre-programmed different times on consecutive days.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 71 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a second lug for holding said second pair of contacts in an open position to thereby permit said first cam means to open and close said first pair of contacts at the pre-programmed same times of day on consecutive days which have been pre-set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members of said time of day member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 62 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a third lug for holding said first pair of contacts in a closed ON position to thereby hold said switch means in an ON position and to prevent said first cam means from moving said first pair of contacts to their open position on consecutive days of the week.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 31 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second cam means are integrally formed with each other and are simultaneously rotated upon rotation of said switch actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 112 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said switch actuator includes a plurality of gear segment means which are positioned adjacent to said ON and OFF members and wherein said ON and OFF members are provided with gear segment means which are complementary to the plurality of gear segment means which are provided on said switch actuator so that as said time of day member is continuously rotated as a function of time the gear segment means on said ON and OFF members will be consecutively brought into engagement with one of the plurality of gear segments on said switch actuator to thereby rotate said switch actuator one incremental movement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 53 words
A time switch as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second cam means are connected to the plurality of gear segment means so that the first and second cam means and the gear segment means are rotated in unison by the ON and OFF members of the time of day member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 59 words
A time switch as defined in claim 12 wherein a ratchet means is integrally formed with said plurality of gear segment means and a pawl is spring-urged into engagement with said ratchet means for resiliently holding the switch actuator means in one of a plurality of positions to which it may be moved by the ON and OFF members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 78 words
A time switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said selector means includes a first lug for holding said first pair of contacts in an open position and a second lug for holding said second pair of contacts in an open position to thereby hold the switch means in an open OFF position and to prevent operation of said switch means by either the first cam means or the second cam means on consecutive days of the week.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
A time switch as defined in claim 14 wherein said selector means includes a manually rotatable shaft and said first and second lugs are fixed to different portions of said shaft for manual rotation thereby.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 41 words
A time switch as defined in claim 15 wherein a spring finger is fixed to said manually rotatable shaft for cooperating with a plurality of notches to hold said selector shaft in its manual ON, manual OFF, VARIABLE, or AUTOMATIC position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 252 words
A time switch comprising: a. electricaL switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for incrementally moving said switch actuator as a function of time and for causing said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; d. said switch actuator means including a cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at slightly different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; e. said cam means including a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at said slightly different times on consecutive days; and f. said ON and OFF members including drive means for incrementally moving said switch actuator and its cam as a function of time two increments each day for providing two switch actuations each day.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 252 words
A time switch comprising: a. electricaL switch means having closed ON positions and open OFF positions; b. switch actuator means positioned adjacent to said switch means for actuating said switch means to an ON or an OFF position; c. a time of day member continuously rotated as a function of time positioned adjacent to said switch actuator, said time of day member having an OFF member selectively positionable on said time of day member for incrementally moving said switch actuator as a function of time and for causing said switch actuator to operate said switch means to an open OFF position, and an ON member selectively positionable on said time of day member for operating said switch actuator to move said switch means to a closed ON position; d. said switch actuator means including a cam means positioned adjacent to said switch means for opening and closing said switch means at slightly different times than the times set by said selectively positionable ON and OFF members for opening and closing said switch means at different times during consecutive complete rotations of said time of day member; e. said cam means including a plurality of cam surfaces that are non-symmetrically disposed on said cam means for operating said switch means at said slightly different times on consecutive days; and f. said ON and OFF members including drive means for incrementally moving said switch actuator and its cam as a function of time two increments each day for providing two switch actuations each day.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 124 words
A time switch as defined in claim 17 wherein said switch actuator includes a plurality of gear segment means which are positioned adjacent to the drive means on said ON and OFF members and wherein the drive means of said ON and OFF members are provided with gear segment means which are complementary to the plurality of gear segment means which are provided on said switch actuator so that as said time of day member is continuously rotated as a function of time the gear segment means on the drive means of said ON and OFF members will be consecutively brought into engagement with one of the plurality of gear segments on said switch actuator to thereby rotate said switch actuator one incremental movement.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-12-08 1979-06-09 1979-12-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-12-08 1983-06-09 1983-12-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-12-08 1987-06-09 1987-12-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag