Line and program switch assembly for a timing mechanism

An electrical contact blade is manually operated through an actuator to close a circuit to a main power supply and another electrical contact blade is operated off of a cam to engage the manually operated blade to complete a program electrical circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Generally speaking, the present invention pertains to a timing mechanism 
which comprises a program cam and switch assembly selectively opening and 
closing electrical circuits to provide variable programs, power drive 
means applying power driven rotation to the cam assembly, and an 
electrical power line switch and program switch assembly comprising a 
power line switch including a line switch electrical contact blade 
electrically adapted to be connected to a main power supply, a manually 
operable actuator means engaging the line switch electrical contact blade, 
and at least one program electrical contact blade of the program switch 
assembly biased by a cam of the cam assembly to selectively engage the 
line switch electrical contact blade. 
The present invention is directed to a timing mechanism, and more 
particularly, to a timing mechanism utilizing a line switch. 
Timing mechanisms have been used for many years to control the operation of 
an appliance such as a washer, dryer and dishwasher. In most, if not all, 
of such application a line switch is usually used to provide a manual 
means of shutting off all electrical power to the timing mechanism. 
Generally speaking, such line switches are operable off of the main cam of 
the timing mechanism and thus use up space on the cam which could be made 
available for appliance program switching. In accordance with the present 
invention, a line switch assembly is provided which provides the 
capability of an additional program switching to be used in conjunction 
with the cam. Such an arrangement provides the advantage that when 
additional switching capability is required, the cost of an additional 
terminal block may be prevented. 
OBJECTS OR FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, a feature of the present invention to provide a 
cooperating power line switch and program switch assembly. Another feature 
of the invention is to provide a power line switch including a line switch 
electrical contact blade adapted to be electrically connected to a main 
power supply, a manually operable actuator means operating the power line 
switch, and an electrical contact blade of the program switch assembly 
engaging the power line switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a timing mechanism 10 employing 
the features of the invention. The timing mechanism, in general, includes 
a cam assembly 12 and switch assembly 14 which are carried in a housing 
16. Cam assembly 12 includes a cam stack 18 having a plurality of 
individual cams 20 thereon and which is rotatably carried on a shaft 22 
through a hub portion 24. The cam stack is rotated through a power drive 
means 26, such as a synchronous motor, the motor being coupled to a gear 
28 which is part of the camstack. Shaft 22 is manually axially indexable. 
Switch assembly 14 includes a plurality of electrical contact spring blades 
30 which engage or are otherwise biased by the cams 20 of the cam assembly 
to open and close electrical contacts 32 associated with each blade to 
complete electrical circuits and thus provide variable programs for an 
appliance, for example. 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combination 
electrical power line switch and program switch assembly 40 which provides 
for manual removal of electrical power from the timing mechanism as well 
as provide a program function. Prior art line switch assemblies have been 
separate and distinct from the program switches thus adding to the cost of 
the timing mechanism. 
Referring to FIG. 4, electrical power line switch and program switch 
assembly 40 includes line switch electrical contact blade 42, actuator 
means 44, and program switch assembly electrical contact blades 46 and 48. 
Line switch electrical contact blade 42 is electrically connected to a 
main power supply 50 such as an electrical outlet of a building where an 
appliance is situated. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each blade includes 
mating electrical contacts 42', 46', 46", and 48'. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, actuator means 44 includes a hub 52, which is 
carried on shaft 22 through knurl 54, and slider 56 which engages the hub 
and slides in slot 58. Slider 56 includes a shelf 57 which engages blade 
42. Hub 52 rotates with hub portion 24 of camstack 18 through a plurality 
of tongues 60 extending from the hub portion 24 and engaging web 62 
carried in hub 52. Hub 52 includes a tapered rim 64 against which the 
slider is biased. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, the operation of the timing mechanism 
can now be described. In FIG. 1, shaft 22 has been indexed out to allow 
the slider to move down rim 64. As better shown in FIG. 2, movement of the 
slider to this position closes contacts 42' and 46' to close the line 
switch to complete an electrical circuit to main power supply 50. In FIG. 
3, blade 48 has risen to the top of one of the individual cam 20 to close 
contacts 46" and 48' to complete a program circuit. 
With the shaft 22 indexed in, slider 56 moves to the outer edge 66 of rim 
64 (FIG. 4) to open the line switch through shelf 57. In this position, 
the position of contacts 46" and 48' is immaterial since the circuit to 
the main power supply 50 is open.