US3811019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary-drum programming timer device
Assignee: SOLARI AND C UDINE SpA
•
Filing: 1972-11-03
•
Granted: 1974-05-14
•
Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A revolving-drum programming device is disclosed, which essentially comprises a grooved intermittently driven main drum, a comblike member in which a few teeth are left unaltered and others are suppressed, said comblike members being inserted in the drum grooves, a spatial cam rotated so as to make a revolution at every stepwise movement of the drum, said cam cooperating with a first cam follower, a second follower being provided, mechanically connected to the first follower so as to positively or negatively engage the teeth of said comblike members, the second follower being connected to a signal generating device. The apparatus can be supplemented by additional main drums and one or more auxiliary drums, so as to provide a wide range presetting for the cases in which certain points of the programme are to be suppressed or repeated. The advantage is to provide a compact assembly along with an accurate presetting of programmes, which can be set, even minute by minute, for periods as long as an entire week. The programming device can be used, for example, for controlling the lighting of luminous signs, for periodically actuating sound signalling devices and for many other like uses.
Inventors
- 👤 F Solari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:33
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C23/00; G04C23/14; G04C23/34; H; H01; H01H; H01H43/00; H01H43/10; H01H43/12; H01H43/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A programming device comprising at least one cylindrical main drum, means for imparting incremental stepwise rotation to said drum about its longitudinal axis, said drum having formed on its outer cylindrical surface a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced apart axially extending longitudinal grooves corresponding to the number of rotational steps imparted to said drum during each complete revolution thereof; an elongate comblike member longitudinally extending in respectively each of said grooves and having teeth pointing radially outwardly of said drum and projecting therefrom, each said comblike member including a plurality of said teeth in longitudinally equally spaced apart relationship, at least some of said teeth being removed so as to provide preselective variable sequence of teeth and tooth gaps, a rotary cam operatively to said main drum; means for rotating said cam one revolution about its rotational axis for each incremental rotational forward step of said drum; a first cam follower in operative engagement with said cam; said rotary cam having a camming sequence defining as many work positions different from each other in correspondence with the maintained teeth and tooth gaps in each of said comblike members; at least one second follower engageable with the teeth of each said comblike member; means operatively connecting said second follower to said first follower so as to be movable from engagement with one teeth to engagement with a following one of said maintained teeth and tooth gaps of each said comblike member and, subsequently in conjunction with a forward incremental step of said drum into engagement with a first tooth of an adjacent following comblike member at each shift of said first follower from one to another of said work positions on said rotary cam; and signal generating means operatively connected to said second follower and adapted to emit signals of different values responsive to engagement of said second follower with either a maintained tooth or tooth gap of the comblike member being engaged thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A programming device comprising at least one cylindrical main drum, means for imparting incremental stepwise rotation to said drum about its longitudinal axis, said drum having formed on its outer cylindrical surface a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced apart axially extending longitudinal grooves corresponding to the number of rotational steps imparted to said drum during each complete revolution thereof; an elongate comblike member longitudinally extending in respectively each of said grooves and having teeth pointing radially outwardly of said drum and projecting therefrom, each said comblike member including a plurality of said teeth in longitudinally equally spaced apart relationship, at least some of said teeth being removed so as to provide preselective variable sequence of teeth and tooth gaps, a rotary cam operatively to said main drum; means for rotating said cam one revolution about its rotational axis for each incremental rotational forward step of said drum; a first cam follower in operative engagement with said cam; said rotary cam having a camming sequence defining as many work positions different from each other in correspondence with the maintained teeth and tooth gaps in each of said comblike members; at least one second follower engageable with the teeth of each said comblike member; means operatively connecting said second follower to said first follower so as to be movable from engagement with one teeth to engagement with a following one of said maintained teeth and tooth gaps of each said comblike member and, subsequently in conjunction with a forward incremental step of said drum into engagement with a first tooth of an adjacent following comblike member at each shift of said first follower from one to another of said work positions on said rotary cam; and signal generating means operatively connected to said second follower and adapted to emit signals of different values responsive to engagement of said second follower with either a maintained tooth or tooth gap of the comblike member being engaged thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A programming device according to claim 1, said rotary cam including a peripheral groove extending thereabout, said groove being formed into a plurality of contiguous groove sectors conforming in number to the teeth of one each of said comblike members, each but a last one of said groove sectors being formed by a first portion having an increasing radius and a constant height with respect to the cam rotational axis and by a second portion having a constant radius and a height which is variable with respect to the cam rotational axis, the last groove sector being formed by a first portion with increasing radius and a constant height with respect to the cam rotational axis and a second portion having a radius constant and a height variable in an inverse relationship with respect to the cam rotational axis so as to be connected with a first end of a first groove sector, the further end of each successive groove sector communicating with a first end of each subsequent contiguous groove sector by a step having a decreasing radius; said first follower comprising a timing mechanism maintained in engagement with said cam groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A programming device according to claim 2, comprising an arm rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of said main drum; means for translating said arm along said drum; said timing means being fastened to said arm; said second follower comprising a pin for actuating said signal generating means; a lever rotatable about an axis parallel to that of the drum slidably supporting said pin; resilient means connecting said lever to said arm so as to urge said lever into a condition of engagement of said pin with the teeth of the comblike member being selectEd from time to time, and said resilient means simultaneously impressing on said lever a rotation so as to be resiliently responsive to the rotation of said arm while fastened to said arm so as to follow the translational motions thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A programming device according to claim 1, comprising at least one auxiliary drum adapted to be incrementally rotated stepwise about its longitudinal axis; means operatively connecting said auxiliary drum to said main drum so as to be driven thereby through a forward incremental step for at least every fraction of revolution of said main drum, said auxiliary drum having on its outer cylindrical surface a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly spaced apart axially extending longitudinal grooves corresponding to the number of rotational steps imparted to said auxiliary drum during each full revolution thereof; a shaped plate being located in each of said grooves; an extension on the second follower being adapted to engage said plate so as to lift said second follower from engagement with the comblike member selected at that instant of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A programming device according to claim 1, said main drum comprising 144 axial grooves, and each of said comblike members having 10 teeth including said maintained teeth and said tooth gaps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A programming device according to claim 4, said auxiliary drum having 14 axial grooves, said means operatively connecting said auxiliary drum to the main drum so as to impart to the former an incremental step forward at each half-revolution of said main drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A programming device according to claim 4, comprises a plurality of further main drums; said further main drums being coaxial and integrally fastened to said main drum; and additional second followers being operatively connected to said first follower and said second follower adapted to simultaneously engage the comblike members of said additional main drums and in the same manner in which said first-mentioned second follower engages the comblike members of said main drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A programming device according to claim 7, comprising additional auxiliary drums in coaxial relationship with and integrally fastened to said auxiliary drum, said additional auxiliary drums having grooves adapted to house additional shaped plates for disengaging said additional second followers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |