US3586937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmed switching device including spark prevention
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-12-09
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A switching device controlling the various load circuits of a washing machine. The load circuits are controlled by respective electronic switches, which are in turn controlled by mechanical switches operated by cams on a cam disc assembly driven by a stepping motor. The stepping motor is controlled by respective command switches responding to different conditions in the washing machine, such as water temperature, water level, etc. The stepping motor has a secondary winding which transmits control signals through a pulse transformer to the electronic switches. The electronic switches are made conductive when the stepping motor is turned off and are made nonconductive when the stepping motor is turned on.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter U Holzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/54; H01H9/548; D; D06; D06F; D06F34/00; D06F34/08; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; H01H43/00; H01H43/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A programmed control system comprising an electrical load device, a load-energizing circuit connected to said load device, said load-energizing circuit including in series a mechanical switch means and an electronic switch means, cam means operating said mechanical switch means, stepping drive means operatively connected to said cam means to actuate said cam means in programmed steps, said drive means including an electric drive motor, an energizing circuit connected to said motor and including a command switch, circuit means to render said electronic switch means nonconducting responsive to energization of said motor, whereby to open said load-energizing circuit and to prevent sparking at said mechanical switch means during a motor-driven program step of said cam means, and means to render said electronic switch means conducting responsive to the deenergization of said motor at the end of a program step, whereby to restore said load-energizing circuit after the completion of the operation of said mechanical switch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A programmed control system comprising an electrical load device, a load-energizing circuit connected to said load device, said load-energizing circuit including in series a mechanical switch means and an electronic switch means, cam means operating said mechanical switch means, stepping drive means operatively connected to said cam means to actuate said cam means in programmed steps, said drive means including an electric drive motor, an energizing circuit connected to said motor and including a command switch, circuit means to render said electronic switch means nonconducting responsive to energization of said motor, whereby to open said load-energizing circuit and to prevent sparking at said mechanical switch means during a motor-driven program step of said cam means, and means to render said electronic switch means conducting responsive to the deenergization of said motor at the end of a program step, whereby to restore said load-energizing circuit after the completion of the operation of said mechanical switch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
The programmed control system of claim 1, and wherein the system includes several mutually independent load devices with respective load-energizing circuits connected thereto, each load-energizing circuit including in series a mechanical switch means and an electronic switch means, and wherein the cam means includes respective cam elements operatively engageable with said mechanical switch means according to the program, circuit means to simultaneously render all said electronic switch means nonconducting and to open the load-energizing circuits responsive to the energization of said motor to initiate a program step, and means to simultaneously restore conductivity of all said electronic switch means responsive to the deenergization of said motor at the end of a program step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmed control system of claim 2, and wherein said drive motor energizing circuit includes a plurality of different command switches connected in parallel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The programmed control system of claim 3, and wherein said motor is provided with a secondary winding generating respective distinctively different types of pulses responsive to energization and deenergization of said motor, and the circuit means to render the electronic switch means nonconducting and conducting is connected between said secondary winding and said electronic switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The programmed control system of claim 4, and wherein said electronic switch means comprises respective electronic flip-flop switches having inputs operatively connected to said secondary winding.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The programmed control system of claim 5, and wherein a pulse coupling transformer is connected between said secondary winding and the inputs of the flip-flop switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a programmed switching device, a step motor having a drive winding and a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to said drive winding, a cam switch assembly drivingly connected to said step motor, mechanical load switch means operated by said cam switch assembly, electronic switch means connected in series with said load switch means, control circuit means connecting said secondary winding to said electronic switch means for rendering the electronic switch means nonconducting responsive to energization of said drive winding and rendering said electronic switch means conducting responsive to deenergization of said drive winding, and energizing circuit means including at least one command switch connected to said driven winding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a programmed switching device, a step motor having a drive winding and a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to said drive winding, a cam switch assembly drivingly connected to said step motor, mechanical load switch means operated by said cam switch assembly, electronic switch means connected in series with said load switch means, control circuit means connecting said secondary winding to said electronic switch means for rendering the electronic switch means nonconducting responsive to energization of said drive winding and rendering said electronic switch means conducting responsive to deenergization of said drive winding, and energizing circuit means including at least one command switch connected to said driven winding.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The programmed switching device of claim 7, and wherein said electronic switch means comprises a flip-flop electronic switch having an input circuit controlling its conductivity and wherein said control circuit means comprises a pulse transformer having a primary winding connected to said first-named secondary winding and having a secondary winding connected to the input circuit of thE flip-flop electronic switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The programmed switching device of claim 7, and wherein said electronic switch means comprises a plurality of electronic switches and said load switch means comprises a like number of cam-operated mechanical switches, the respective electronic switches being connected in series with the cam-operated switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The programmed switching device of claim 9, and wherein said electronic switches are of the flip-flop type and have parallel-connected input circuits controlling their conductivity, said control circuit means comprising a pulse transformer having its primary winding connected to said step motor secondary winding and having is secondary winding connected to said parallel-connected flip-flop input circuits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |