Range control system

Claim 2

A range control comprising: at least two devices actuable to provide heat; an adjustable thermostat to actuate said devices including a member movable to adjust the thermostat; and means responsive to movement of the self-same movable member to change the heat supplied by said devices in addition to modulation thereof by the operation of said thermostat, said movable member being a rotatable shaft, said means including an annular auxiliary member rotatable relative to said shaft, said auxiliary member having an inward radial projection, said shaft having an outward radial projection to engage said inward projection, said means including a leaf spring electrical conductor and first and second fixed contacts, said auxiliary member having an outward radial projection to hold said conductor in contact only with said first contact, said conductor being sprung to engage said second contact, releasable detent means to prevent rotation of said auxiliary member in first and second positions when said conductor engages said first and second contacts, respectively, said auxiliary member having the letters BBARKOEIL thereon on the arc of a circle concentric with the axis thereof, no substantial space being provided between said letters except the letters I and L, one letter space being provided between the letters I and L, and fixed Means to mask at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces, said fixed means being adapted to expose the word BAKE when said annular member is in said first position and to expose the word BROIL when said annular member is in said second position, the angular extent of both of said projections being substantially less than 360*, said shaft having a knob fixed thereto with a projection to cover all the holes in said fixed means when said knob is turned to one predetermined position, and to expose said holes when it is turned to another position, and stop means to limit movement of said auxiliary member beyond said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 3

A range control comprising: at least two devices actuable to provide heat; an adjustable thermostat to actuate said devices including a member movable to adjust the thermostat; and means responsive to movement of the self-same movable member to change the heat supplied by said devices in addition to modulation thereof by the operation of said thermostat, said movable member having two opposite extreme limits of travel, said means being actuable by said movable member only at said extreme limits of travel, said movable member being movable a predetermined distance at each end of its travel to actuate said means, said predetermined distance being substantially smaller than the entire travel of said movable member, said movable member being a rotatable member, said means including an auxiliary member rotatable concentric with said movable member, said auxiliary member having a first radial projection, said movable member having a second radial projection to engage said first projection, said means including a mechanism actuable by rotation of said auxiliary member to one of extreme limits of its travel, said mechanism being adapted to change the heat supplied by said devices, said auxiliary member having the letters BBARKOEIL thereon on the arc of a circle concentric with the axis thereof, no substantial space being provided between said letters except the letters I and L, one letter space being provided between the letters I and L, and fixed means to mask at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces, said fixed means being adapted to expose the word BAKE when said annular member is in said first position and to expose the word BROIL when said annular member is in said second position.

Claim 4

A range control comprising: at least two devices actuable to provide heat; an adjustable thermostat to actuate said devices including a member movable to adjust the thermostat; and means responsive to movement of the self-same movable member to change the heat supplied by said devices in addition to modulation thereof by the operation of said thermostat, said movable member having two opposite extreme limits of travel, said means being actuable by said movable member only at said extreme limits of travel, said movable member being movable a predetermined distance at each end of its travel to actuate said means, said predetermined distance being substantially smaller than the entire travel of said movable member, said movable member being a rotatable member, said means including an auxiliary member rotatable concentric with said movable member, said auxiliary member having a first radial projection, said movable member having a second radial projection to engage said first projection, said means including a mechanism actuable by rotation of said auxiliary member to one of extreme limits of its travel, said mechanism being adapted to change the heat supplied by said devices, said auxiliary member having the letters BBARKOEIL thereon on the arc of a circle concentric with the axis thereof, no substantial space being provided between said letters except the letters I and L, one letter space being provided between the letters I and L, and fixed means to mask at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces, said fixed means being adapted to expose the word BAKE when said annular member is in said first position and to expose the word BROIL when said annular member is in said second position.

Claim 5

An oven comprising: a housing; at least first and second devices mounted inside said housing, both of said devices being actuable to provide heat; an adjustable thermostat having a base fixed relative to said housing, said thermostat including a main member mounted on said base and movable to adjust the thermostat temperature setting, said thermostat being responsive to the temperature inside said housing and having control means actuable to vary the heat output of each one of said devices when connected thereto; an interlock, said main member being coupled to said interlock to actuate it to first and second stable states in response to movement of said main member to first and second spaced and different predetermined positions, respectively, said interlock being actuated to change from said second state to said first state when said main member is moved to said first position, said interlock being actuated to change from said first state to said second state when said main member is moved to said second position, said interlock being adapted to change states only upon arrival of said main member at said positions, said main member being free to move in the space between said positions without changing the state of said interlock so long as said main member does not actually arrive at either one of said positions, the state of said interlock being independent of said main member location so long as said main member is located in the space between said positions and does not actually arrive at either one of said positions, said interlock including coupling means actuable in response to movement of said main memBer to said first and second positions to connect said control means to said first and second devices, respectively, said interlock being actuable in response to movement of said main member to said first position to disconnect said second device from said control means when said first device is connected thereto and vice versa when said main member is moved to said second position, movement of said main member to a predetermined selected position corresponding to a predetermined temperature setting causing said thermostat to control the said heat outputs of said first and second devices when said interlock is in said first and second stable states, respectively, said thermostat being adapted to control the heat outputs of both of said first and second devices but only one at a time, said selected position being between but not actually at said first and second positions; and display means connected to said coupling means to indicate selectively which one of said devices is connected to said control means.

Claim 6

An oven comprising: a housing; at least first and second devices mounted inside said housing, both of said devices being actuable to provide heat; an adjustable thermostat having a base fixed relative to said housing, said thermostat including a main member mounted on said base and movable to adjust the thermostat temperature setting, said thermostat being responsive to the temperature inside said housing and having control means actuable to vary the heat output of each one of said devices when connected thereto; an interlock, said main member being coupled to said interlock to actuate it to first and second stable states in response to movement of said main member to first and second spaced and different predetermined positions, respectively, said interlock being actuated to change from said second state to said first state when said main member is moved to said first position, said interlock being actuated to change from said first state to said second state when said main member is moved to said second position, said interlock being adapted to change states only upon arrival of said main member at said positions, said main member being free to move in the space between said positions without changing the state of said interlock so long as said main member does not actually arrive at either one of said positions, the state of said interlock being independent of said main member location so long as said main member is located in the space between said positions and does not actually arrive at either one of said positions, said interlock including coupling means actuable in response to movement of said main memBer to said first and second positions to connect said control means to said first and second devices, respectively, said interlock being actuable in response to movement of said main member to said first position to disconnect said second device from said control means when said first device is connected thereto and vice versa when said main member is moved to said second position, movement of said main member to a predetermined selected position corresponding to a predetermined temperature setting causing said thermostat to control the said heat outputs of said first and second devices when said interlock is in said first and second stable states, respectively, said thermostat being adapted to control the heat outputs of both of said first and second devices but only one at a time, said selected position being between but not actually at said first and second positions; and display means connected to said coupling means to indicate selectively which one of said devices is connected to said control means.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein said shaft has a knob fixed thereto with a projection to cover all the holes in said fixed means when said knob is turned to one predetermined position, and to expose said holes when it is turned to another position.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said fixed means includes stop means to limit movement of said auxiliary member beyond said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means turns one of said devices off when the temperature inside said housing is greater than said set temperature, and turns said one device on when the oven temperature is less than said set temperature, said one device being that particular device which happens to be connected to said control means by said coupling means at a particular time.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said interlock includes a bistable auxiliary member, said main member being movable into engagement with said auxiliary member at two points to move said auxiliary member back and forth between two extreme limits of its travel, said coupling means being engageable by said auxiliary member to connect both of said devices to said control means, but only one at a time, said members having a lost motion connection therebetween.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said control means includes an electrical switch, said coupling means including first and second circuits connected with said first and second devices, respectively, said circuits being actuable to cause said devices to provide heat, each of said circuits having a gap therein, said coupling means including connection means actuable in response to movement of said main member to one of said first and second positions to connect said switch in series in both of said gaps but in only one of said gaps at a time and to complete only the one circuit having the said switch connected in the gap thereof, said connection means being selectively actuable by and being engageable by said auxiliary member movement of said auxiliary member in one direction causing said switch to be connected in said first circuit and disconnected from said second circuit, movement of said auxiliary member in a direction opposite said one direction causing said switch to be connected in said second circuit and disconnected from said first circuit.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said interlock includes detent means mounted on said auxiliary member mounting means in a position to hold said auxiliary member in a substantially fixed but releasable position at each of the extreme limits of its travel.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein both of said members are rotary, said auxiliary member having a cylindrical surface rotatable concentric with its axis of rotation, said detent means including an inward radially extending pawl and a spring between said mounting means and said pawl to urge said pawl into engagement with sAid surface, said surface being smooth except for two inwardly extending, angularly spaced grooves lying in a rotary path extending beneath said pawl, and a stop fixed relative to said mounting means to prevent rotation of said auxiliary member beyond each end of its travel to protect said connection means from overtravel of said auxiliary member.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 10, wherein said connection means includes at least one electrical switch.

Claim 15

The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means includes an electrical switch, said coupling means including first and second circuits connected with said first and second devices, respectively, said circuits being actuable to cause said devices to provide heat, each of said circuits having gap therein, said coupling means including connection means actuable in response to movement of said main member to one of said first and second positions to connect said switch in series in both of said gaps but in only one of said gaps at a time and to complete only the one circuit having the said switch connected in the gap thereof.

Claim 16

The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein said display means is fixed to said auxiliary member and movable back and forth therewith in a manner to indicate which device is connected to said control means by said coupling means, said auxiliary member being at one extreme limit of its travel to cause said display means to indicate the said connection of said first device, and at the other extreme limit of its travel to cause said display means to indicate the said connection of said second device.

Claim 17

The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said interlock includes a bistable auxiliary member, said main member being movable into engagement with said auxiliary member at two points to move said auxiliary member back and forth between two extreme limits of its travel, said coupling means being engageable by said auxiliary member to connect both of said devices to said control means, but only one at a time, said members having a lost motion connection therebetween.

Claim 18

The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein the travel of said main member between said first and second positions thereof is substantially larger than the travel of said auxiliary member between said extreme limits of travel thereof.

Claim 19

The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein said control means includes an electrical switch, said coupling means including first and second circuits connected with said first and second devices, respectively, said circuits being actuable to cause said devices to provide heat, each of said circuits having a gap therein, said coupling means including connection means actuable in response to movement of said main member to one of said first and second positions to connect said switch in series in both of said gaps but in only one of said gaps at a time and to complete only the one circuit having the said switch connected in the gap thereof, said connection means also including at least one electrical switch having a leaf spring contact arm, said auxiliary member having a notch therein to engage said arm, detent means between said base and said auxiliary member to hold said auxiliary member in a substantially fixed, but releaseable position at each of the extreme limits of its travel, and a stop for said auxiliary member at each of said limits.

Claim 20

The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein said auxiliary member has first and second sets of letters thereon, said first set including the letters B, R, O, I and L, said second set including the letters B, A, K and E, said letters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first member contiguous to the said letters B, R, O and I, respectively; a third member fixed relative to said base and having a construction to mask all of the letters in both of said sets, but not all at one time, said third member having a construction so as to mask all of the letters of said first set without masking any of the letTers of said second set and vice versa, said third member being opaque except for certain aperture means therethrough, said aperture means always masking at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces, engagement of said main member with said auxiliary member causing said auxiliary member to move back and forth between two positions relative to said base and in directions along a line, all of said letters being aligned in succession along said line; and means to mount said auxiliary member movably relative to said base, said aperture means including five spaced apertures located on approximately the same said line, each aperture having a width equal to the width one letter space and being at least as large as one letter in height, each said aperture being spaced from each aperture adjacent thereto a distance approximately equal to one letter space width, said two positions being spaced apart one letter space, said letters being arrange in a series in the order B, B, A, R, K, O, E, I and L, no substantial space being provided between the letters except the letters I and L, one blank letter space being provided between the letters I and L.

Claim 21

The invention as defined in claim 17, wherein said main member has opaque means fixed thereto to mask all five of said apertures simultaneously when said thermostat is in the ''''off'''' position, said opaque means being movable with said main member to several locations over the travel of said main member where said opaque means does not obstruct the view of any of said letters which lie in registration with said apertures.

Claim 22

The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein said auxiliary member has first and second sets of letters thereon, said first set including the letters B, R, O, I and L, said second set including the letters B, A, K and E, said letters B, A, K and E being positioned on said first member contiguous to the said letters B, R, O and I, respectively; a third member fixed relative to said base and having a construction to mask all of the letters in both of said sets, but not all at one time, said third member having a construction so as to mask all of the letters of said first set without masking any of the letters of said second set and vice versa, said third member being opaque except for certain aperture means therethrough, said aperture means always masking at least five alternate ones of the letter spaces, engagement of said main member with said auxiliary member causing said auxiliary member to move back and forth between two positions relative to said base and in directions along a line, all of said letters being aligned in succession along said line; and means to mount said auxiliary member movably relative to said base, other of said members being said aperture means including five spaced apertures located on approximately the same said line, each aperture having a width equal to the width one letter space and being at least as large as one letter in height, each said aperture being spaced from each aperture adjacent thereto a distance approximately equal to one letter space width, said two positions being spaced apart one letter space, said letters being arranged in a series in the order B, B, A, R, K, O, E, I and L, no substantial space being provided between the letters except the letters I and L, one blank letter space being provided between the letters I and L.

Claim 23

The invention as defined in claim 19, wherein said main member has opaque means fixed thereto to mask all five of said apertures simultaneously when said thermostat is in the ''''off'''' position, said opaque means being movable with said main member to several locations over the travel of said main member where said opaque means does not obstruct the view of any of said letters which lie in registration with said apertures.