Patent GB-1041603-A (GB)
Title: Time switch means for a clothes washing or dish-washing machine
IPC: H01H43/06
Filed: 1963-04-22
Abstract: 1,041,603. Dish-washing machines. W. HOLZER. April 22, 1963 [April 21, 1962], No. 15769/63. Heading A4F. [Also in Divisions D1 and H2] Time-switch means for a clothes or dishwashing machine comprise at least two time switches 1, 2 which can be set independently and which are so interconnected by locking means that when the first has completed its programme it releases a detent means and starts the second switch. Pointers 4 and 17 for the switches 1, 2 respectively, shewn in the "off" position in Fig. 1, are set first 1 and then 2 to desired times, as indicated by the scales shewn on the switch casings, by rotation in a clockwise direction to "set" positions as in Fig. 2. This rotation winds up springs 8, 19 between the shafts 3, 16 of the pointers and pins 7 on indexing discs 6, 18, which springs help to drive clockwork mechanisms (not shewn) which regulate the return movement of the pointers. Clockwise movements of the discs 6, 18 from the "zero" position are limited by projections 9, 21 engaging fixed abutments 10, 22 and these movements actuate switching cams (not shewn) to bring into operation circuits for, for example, a washing process and spin-drying process respectively of a clothes washing machine. The locking means inter-connecting the switches 1, 2 comprise a detent rod 24 articulated to the disc 18 of switch 2 which engages an abutment 27 of switch 1 and a rod 12 articulated to disc 6 of switch 1 which controls a brake lever 14 acting on a disc 15 driven by shaft 16 of switch 2. Thus when the switches are set as in Fig. 2 disc 6 of switch 1 actuates its associated switching cams and pointer 4 commences to return anti-clockwise under control of its clockwork mechanism. Disc 18 of switch 2 is prevented from actuating its switching cams by reason of the detent rod 24 and pointer 17 is held by the brake device 14, 15. When pointer 4 of switch 1 has returned to its "zero" position a cam projection 5 on the shaft 3 thereof engages the detent rod 24 and releases it from the abutment 27 and the pointer is released from the checking action of the clockwork mechanism and snaps back to the "off" position. This action is transferred by cam 5 to the pin 7 of disc 6 which latter moves from abutment 10 to the "zero" position, thus actuating the switching cams associated therewith to open the circuit controlled thereby. The indexing disc 18 of the second time switch 2 is unlocked by the release of detent rod 24 and its projection 21 snaps on to abutment 22 thereby actuating the associated switching cams to bring into operation the circuit controlled thereby. Simultaneously the brake lever 14 is retracted from disc 15, by the rod 12 moving with disc 6 of switch 1, to allow the pointer 17 to commence its return movement under control of its clockwork mechanism. This return movement continues until pointer 17 reaches "zero" when it snaps back to the "off" position, restoring the disc 18 to the "zero" position by engagement with a pin 20 thereon. The associated switching cams are thereby operated to open the circuit controlled thereby. If operation of the second switch 2 only is required, for a spin-drying process only of a washing machine, for example, the pointer 17 thereof can be set first to the desired period and the detent rod 24 released, by cam 5 engaging therewith, by momentarily moving pointer 4 of the first switch 1 half-way between "off" and "zero".