US2629475A - Scrambling switch - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1953 D HOOKER 2,629,475

' SCRAMBLING SWITCH Filed Sept. 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 172 1' 2 0/01 1' Dona/cl .iZ/[ooar Feb. 24, 1953 n. E. HOOKER 2,629,475

SCRAMBLING SWITCH Filed Sept. 21, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 for:

and/d ll/yooer I Feb. 24, 1953 D. E. HOOKER 2,6

SCRAMBLING SWITCH Filed Sept. 2]., 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1521412202: D nald Z uYaoZrer .1 crazy Patented Feb. 24, 1953 SCRAMBLING SWITCH Donald "E. Hoker, Sk0kie,Ill., assignor to 'Raymond T Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application september 21, 1949;81erialNo. 117,031 7 17 Claims. (Cl. 192142) This invention pertains to electrical switchin apparatus, timers, and variators referred tohereinafter as .a scrambling means or switch and characterized mainly by the use of motor-driven .switch'operating means and clutch means actuated in an irregular pattern through the agency .of .an irregularly operating cam control.

The principal object of the novel apparatus is the operation of one or more control switches .at irregularintervals with .a practically imperceptiblepattern of repetition wherebyto scramble the operation of the control switches for any desired application, for instance, in conjunction with amusement apparatus wherein the control .switc'hes may be connected to render various scoring circuits operative or inoperative in a .h-iehly variable manner.

.Another application .of such a. scrambling switch may be in conjunction with various types of electrically operated training mechanisms, for example, in a photoelectric marksmanship training apparatussuch as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,442,240, .in which a simplified version of the present apparatus is disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11 thereof.

The present improvements are also useful in conjunction with or as variants of the switching mechanisms shown in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,291,749 and 2,138,243.

*Thevarious aspects of novelty and utility characteristic of thepresent improvements reside in detailsof the construction and operation of the embodiments described'hereinafter in view ofthe annexed drawings, .in which:

Fig. '1 is an exploded perspective of oneform of scrambler control;

"Fig. is .a .skeletonized andexploded schematic of amodifiedform .ofscram'bler utilizing a compound form of scrambling cam;

Fig. a fragmentary side elevation of a control unit embodying the compound cam scrambler -illustrated .in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 'isa transverse section .of the compound scrambling cam .means seen .in the direction-of lines 44 of Fig. 3; i

Fig. '5 is a transverse sectional fragment .of the secondary scrambling cam means of the device of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of lines .5--5 thereof;

Fig.6 is'a'transverse fragmentary section lookingin the'direction of :lines 56 of Fig. 3;

:ASummary of operation will be .foundllereinafter.

. Referring .to Fig. 1 .a motor 12, .caused .to .be

"continuously running during .the operation .of

the scrambler, Iturns a-driving shaft 13 equipped with aconventional type of slip clutch including, for example, a pressure spring [4 and one or'more frictional clutch discs 15, driving'ly engageable with coacting clutch disc means l6, fixed-to a cam disc 11 having an irregularly developed cam periphery 18, engaged by a riding brake or stop pawl l9, urged by spring means 20 on pin :21 so that the pawl l9 moves back and forth in response to the cam pattern.

The cam disc I1 is provided with a plurality of irregularly positioned stop pins 22, which bear against a pivot-or stop arm '23 on a pivoted arm 24, turning on pin means 25 and urged toward the cam'by spring means 26.

The stop arm .24 .has an extension 24A which .rides on'the irregular periphery 2"! of a secondary cam 28 on a driven shaft 29, concentric with the drive shaft l3, with .the result that "the stop arm 24 will be moved in and out of the path of the pins 22 varying distances at difierent times, and when completely out of blocking position relative to pins .22 the cam disc I! will take motion through the action of the clutch means -|-5-,I6 and therebycause a similarin and out'movement of the brake pawl I9 and its integral stopping pawl 19A, the latter being normally urged by spring 20 into the path of a plurality of stop pins 30 on a driven cycling "or stop disc *3! to free the latter for rotation at various times through another slip clutch means 32.33 provided said disc is released for motion in amanner now to be described.

The cycling or stop disc3-I is'provided with one or more peripheral brakeformations or notches 34 and 35 into which projects the stopping end 36 of an armature 3l-urged by springmeans 38 toward the disc, the "foregoing parts constituting a second or'indexingbra'ke means.

Energization of the Cycling solenoid 39 by any desired circuit means connected to terminals 40 will result in withdrawal of the stopping end 35 from a notch 3-5 to free the stopdisc at for rotation through the intermediary of clutch means '3 2-33, it being understood'that-thedrivingshaft -I3 is disposed to rotate freely within the driven shaft 29 and drives the second "clutch means 32'3.3 for rotation of disc 3| notwithstanding the fact the cam disc I! maybe arrested.

The release of the cycling and brake .disc 3! by energization of solenoid means 33 .causes the secondary cam .disc .28 to.r0,tate. in step by reason of .the, interconnecting rod means .42 between mem ers :28 .and -3.l., there being on ormore control switches 43 actuated by cams lfastpnrthe "59, said driving shaft extending through entire control unit.

driven shaft 29, the switch or switches 33 being adapted to having their terminals connected in any desired circuit to be controlled.

Upon release as aforesaid the cycling disc 3| may rotate not more than a half revolution in the example shown, since there are two notches 3435. However, disc 3| may be stopped in any of several-positions between the half-revolution limits by impingement of any of the intervening pins 33 against the stop pawl IEA, if the latter happens to be in stopping position. As a result switch or switches 43 may be operated Various amounts to close one or more contacts, it being understood that in practice there are a plurality of the cam and switch devices 33-34 with the cams displaced different amounts, so that different switches are opened and closed different amounts in the various angular positions of the shaft 29.

From the foregoing description, it will now appear that as soon as the cycling brake disc 3| takes motion the secondary cam 28 is likewise moved with a resultant displacement of the stop arm means 2d-2-4A and corresponding positioning of the stop pin 23, and the further result that the cam dis-c I! may or may not move varying amounts to change the position of the stopping pawl |9A as a result of, the movements of the riding arm l9 following the cam pattern on cam disc Accordingly, the pattern of the cam periphery I 8 and location of pins 22 on disc I! determines the stopping positions of pawl I9A, and in turn the displacements of the secondary cam 28 deter- .mine the movements of disc I! with the ultimate result that the driven shaft 29 has its angular position changed repeatedly but in a pattern so variable as to avoid predictable positions of the switch control cams 44 and the switches 43.

A further feature in the timing function of this embodiment resides in the provision of a starting switch |2A for the scrambler motor and a supervisory switch 41, having terminals 48 which shunt the switch I2A, the contacts of'switch 4'! being closed by the solenoid plunger 31 when the latter is withdrawn to release the cycling or brake disc 3|; thus disc 3| may start and stop a plurality of times (depending upon the number and spacing of pins 33) before the half revolution is completed.

Switch |2A is int-ended to be momentarily closed merely to start motor |2 at the beginning of a predetermined period of intended operation, and the solenoid terminals it are connected to be momentarily energized by switch 40A preferably simultaneously with the switchI-EA, as indicated by the dash-dot line connecting said switches, so that motor |2 starts and solenoid 35 is mementarily energized long enough to withdraw the brake stop 35 to permit the cycling disc 3| to make the necessary half revolution, the time required for the latter, however, being variable for the reasons hereinabo-ve stated.

A primary cam disc 53 is arranged to float on the shaft 5| and is normally stopped by stop pin 54 on pawl 55, part of the stop arm 58, which is pivoted at 51 (analogously to stop arm 24 of Fig. 1). However, when the stop 54 is withdrawn from pins 53A the cam disc '53 is free to be rotated through slip clutch means 59 driven from shaft 5|.

A' compounding cam 58, positioned close to the primary cam 53, is fast on shaft 5| and rotates continuously, whereas the cam 53 may rotate only intermittently when freed by stop 54.

A cam rider or brake pawl 50 is positioned to engage the peripheries of both of the scrambling cams 53 and 58 to be pivoted back and forth to dispose a brake or stop projection 6| in and out of the path of pins 62 on a cycling or stop disc 53 having stop notch-es 6'4 and 65 180 apart. A second stopping or braking projection 36 on solenoid plunger 51 (urged upwardly by spring 68) engages in either of the notches 64 or 65 normally to arrest the cycling'disc 53. When the solenoid 69 is energized by any desired means through terminals 10 the plunger 61 is with-drawn and disc 33 is freed to be rotated through slip clutch means 12 driven from shaft 5|.

Whenever the cycling or stop disc 53 is freed for rotation as aforesaid a secondary scrambling cam M, tied to disc 63 by rods I5 and floating on shaft 5|, rotates one or more control cams 16 to actuate corresponding control switches 11 in various manners for the control of circuits connected to terminals 18.

The stop arm 5Bis provided with a cam rider 56A riding the periphery of secondary cam 14 to swing the stop arm 56 back andforth and posi tion the stop pin 54 variously for controlof the primary cam disc 53 analogously to the arranger In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the basic elemerits of the scrambler of Fig. 1 are reproduced with additional scrambling means in the nature of a compound cam means of modified character. For purposes of illustration, the commercial embodiment of the compound cam mechanism, as

shown in Figs. 4. through 6,is depicted schematically to include a driving motor 50, a driving shaft 5|, and a pin disc 52 rotatingly fixed thereto and providing an abutment for clutch means the ment of Fig. 1.

A feature of the arrangement of Fig. 2 resides in the use of a plurality of compoundin cams 53 and 58 closely positioned and having their peripheral cam formations correlated in accordance with a predetermined desired camming pattern such that the shifting of the cam 53 (when freed by stop 54) will result in a compounding of the net cam surface to be engaged by the rider 60 so that the cam pattern possible through the relative displacements of the compounding cams 53 and 58 is greatly extended and rendered more complex and unpredictable, particularly with respect to possible repetitions of the possible permutations over a relatively short period of time.

Stated in another way, the. compound scrambling cam means makes possible in a compact and reliably operating unit a greatly amplified scrambling pattern, it being understood that the cam means 5358M maybe still further expanded by addition of similarly interacting compound and secondary cams and associated stop means 54-'56A-B3B| to procure an even greater complexity of scrambling action.

A further timing feature in conjunction with the embodiment of Fig. 2 resides in the supervisory switch means H for the motor circuitthe latter being momentarily closed by any operation of switch 50A to start the motor and the solenoid winding 69 being simultaneously energized by switch 13A which may be arranged for joint operation with switch 53A, as indicated by the dash-dot arrow, with the result that solenoid plunger 31 is attracted to close switch contacts 1|, shunting the motor switch 50A so that the motor is energized for the duration of a half revolution of cycling brake or stop dis'c 63; however, the time :required for disc :63 to complete said half revolution will be variable, dependent arponthe spacing and number of stop pins 62,

analogously' to'the motor timing circuit described --through slip clutch means 12 and is joined to the-secondary cam '14 and a plurality of control switch :cams 1'6 by'the tie-rod means 15.

Cams actuate their respective control switches "Tl, mounted on a-bracket'plateTIA.

The stop arm 56 pivots on :pin means 51, mounted on offsets of the journal plate 8|, and {is yieldingly urged "by the spring means 51A to'project'the stop screw 54 for engagement with pins'53A on the primary cam 53 and also to pro- ,J'eC't the camrollerBSA for engagement with the "periphery of the secondary cam 14.

;One form of development of the compound cam 'meansis depicted in Fig. 4, "from which it will-appear that. the primary and compounding cams 53 and .58 may be angular-1y displaced relative "to each other to present 'a different peripheral surface to the cam rider Bflfor in- 'stance,lby assuming that'the lobe 53X were displaced in a clockwise direction toward the lobe 158K, therebypresenting to the rider 60 a longer .camface than would be the case if said rider 6!] were to engage either of .theilobes 53X or 58X alone.

,FiromFig. 4 it will also be apparent how the cam rider 60 and particularly its stop portion 6| may be permitted to move toward the left into the path of any of the pins 62.

The engagement of the secondary cam rider MA with the irregular Peripheral portions of the secondary cam M is illustrated .in Fig. 5, which .alsodepicts the relationshipof one of the control-switches W with one of the plurality of control cams .16 rotating jointly with the sec- ,ondarycam 14 (and thecycling disc 53).

.It .will .be apparent that the number of cams maybe increased to expand the compounding effeet to procure .a ,greatly extended resultant scrambling pattern; and this may be .achieved either by the arrangement depicted .in Fig. 1, utilizing remotely,situatedcoaxial cams with interrelated or mutually interacting stop brake means, or ,by the arrangement of .Fig. 2 where .the compounding .cams are .adjacently situated andhavea common rider to follow the resultant ,ceim pattern, with a stop brake means for one or moreof .the compounding cams to cause a shift in .thephasing orlrelative angular displacements of ,theseveral compounding cams.

-'It will also be understood that the cycling disc ymay be contrived to have additional or difierentlyp'hased or angularly situated stopping notches to modify the cycling action thereof. Moreover, thesuperyisory switch means for the motor and enacting with the cycling disc means may be omitted andthemotor. allowed .to run continuously or under control .of any desired switch means to .achieve continuous scrambing of the action of the controlswitches.

Summary of Operation 'mhe operation *ofthe embodiment: of Fig. ,1 has asits ultimate-object .ascrambled orirregularoperation of rotatably driven means or controlled instrumentality,-such as the cam switches 143.

Motor 12 isgstarted by operation of switch 12A, which has a jointly operated switch A acting at the sametime to energize brake coil .39, the latter-attracting "the plunger .31 to withdraw sthe brake part 3.6 from notch 35in cyclingdisc 531 :on the driven shaft 29.

Upon starting of motor 12, the long driving shaft 13 thereof rotate and drives the secondary .or driven shaft 29 .(which :floats on the:main shaft l3) through slip-clutch means 32-33.; :and as soon as brake or stopping part 3'6 disengages the .notch 35, the cycling disc :will start to turn, and the brake part 36 cannot again stopdiscqfi until another stop notch 34 comes aroundnpposite brake or stop part 38.

Where the starting switch |2A4DA is .rofthe momentary variety, the holding switch-'41 shunts switch 12A to keep the motor running for at least one-half cycle of disc3 I, because the brake plunger 3! maintains the hold switch 41 closed-owing to the face that the plunger part 36 Titles on the periphery of disc 3| until the next notch 34 is available for it to enter.

So long as the secondary or driven shaft 29 is free to rotate the switch 43 will beactuated by the cam 44.

However. the device includes a first brake means for starting and stopping the driven shaft 29 in an irregular manner, and this means includes a stopping pawl I 9A urged by spring '20 to engage spaced stop pins 30 on the cycling disc.

The stop pawl ISA is moved into and out of position to engagethe-stop pins by the action of a companion or riding pawl 19 os-cillated by a first cam means such as cam disc H, which is also driven through a slip-clutch 15-!6, so that it can be startedand stopped by the withdrawal or engagement of a second, brake means including the stop arm 23 with stop pins 22 on this first cam disc H.

In its turn, the first irregular cam disc I"! is controlled by a reflex brake means including the oscillating arm 24 moved by pawl 24A which rides another or secondary irregular cam means 28, which, however, is rotated by the secondary or driven sleeve shaft 29, so that the operations of the primarycam I! in freeing the cycling disc 3! are refiexed back to itself by the secondary cam 28, and there ,is a mutual controlling interaction of these scrambling cams which can be said to be a function of the irregularities .of their respective cam patternsor peripheries l1 and 21. and the spacing and number of stop pins 22 and 30.

When the next notch 34 comes around to the brake or stopping part 36 so that the latter-can drop into such notch, the holding switch 41 will open the stop motor l2, thus completing an operating cycle.

The brake plunger 31 cooperating with cycling disc 3|, constitutes a third brake means which is operable independently of the other two brake means !9-i9A and 23-24A; and as many stop notches 34, 35 may be provided as desired-on the cycling disc for the third brake means. It will also be noted that the spacing of stop pins 22 .and so for the first and second brakes is not uniform. It is contemplated that anynumber of controlled instrumentalities or switches 43 may he :used.

It .Will thus be seen that the embodiment of Fig. 1 employs .arform .of compounded cam tarirating by employing at least two irregular cams l1 and 28 having a mutual or reflexed interaction to achieve the ultimate irregular control motion of the driven shaft and such instrumentalities as may be actuated by it.

Moreover, the irregularity of movement of the driven shaft is further controlled and influenced by making the operation of the third brake means or pawl I9A and pins 3!! on cycling disc 3! irregular, as pointed out above.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the principle of operation is the same as that described for Fig. 1, With the difference that the compounded or reflexed cam action is expanded by adding to the first cam means a compounding cam 58 in proximity to the primary cam 53 so that the periphcries of both cams will (as the cam faces from time to time permit) simultaneously be confronted and engaged by the cam rider 6% of the first brake system.

The tertiary or compounding cam 58 is fast on the main driving shaft and rotates as long as motor 50 runs.

But'the primary cam 53 (like cam i? in Fig. l) is driven intermittently through a slip-clutch means 59, so that there is a relative angular displacement between the primary cam 53 and the third or compounding cam 58,- which changes from time to time to define a resultant cam pattern to the rider 60, as a function of the starting and stopping of cam 53.

As in the case of the arrangement of Fig. 1, the action of the secondary or reflex cam id is reflected back to the primary cam means 53 58; but this in turn will ultimately be reflected back 'tothc secondary cam, while the tertiary compounding cam will affect the primary cam system, or more properly, will affect the resultant cam pattern of the compound primary cam system as defined by the two earns 53 and 58.

i. The two motors l2 and 50 (schematicall representing the motor 84 of Fig. 3) are preferably of the type having built-in speed reducing means so that the main driving shafts l3 and M are turned slowly to make the operations of the controlled switch means 43 or 1'! correspondingly slow in the commercial embodiment of the device as depicted in Fig. 3.

Thus, the control device will be seen to include the driving and driven parts with braking devices operated by cams started and stopped thereby, and the cam and brake actions being reflexive or mutually interdependent to compound and expand or complicate the cam action over a long cycle before the control pattern is likely to be repeated.

The invention claimed is:

1. A scrambling and variator control including rotatably driven control means, a drive shaft therefor, a motor driving said shaft, means providing a yieldable coupling between said drive shaft and driven means, a cycling brake disc rotatable with the driven means, an electromagnetically releasable indexing brake cooperable with said disc and operable to release the latter for predetermined rotative displacements and automatically stop the disc thereafter, a control in strumentality actuated from said driven means, scrambling stops arranged in predetermined angular spacing on said cycling disc, a second brake movable into and out of stopping relations with said scrambling stops, scrambling cam means driven from said drive shaft, said cam means including relatively angularly shiftable cam elements, stop means actuated through rotation of said driven means for intermittently effecting a shifting of the angular relationship between said cam elements, a second brakecoacting with said cam means for movement thereby into and out of stopping relations as aforesaid to hold or free said cycling brake disc against rotation at times when said first brake is released, circuit means for energizing said motor, and circuit means for releasably energizing said electromagnetic brake means.

2. Control apparatus according to claim 1 an further characterized. in that said scrambling cam means includes at least two adjacently situated cams rotatably coaxially, at least one of said adjacent cams being driven from said shaft through yieldable coupling means, said adjacent cams having peripheral scrambling patterns developed for compounding by relative angular shifting, as aforesaid, to alter the resultant peripheral cam pattern thereof, said second brake having a common riding means presented to ride said peripheral cam pattern for actuating the second brake as set forth, said stop means acting to hold the yieldably coupled one of said cams to eifect the relative angular shifting aforesaid.

3. A scrambling switch including a rotatably driven switch member, a rotatable driving member and motor means for driving the same, slipclutch means yieldingly coupling the driving and driven members, a first scrambling cam rotated through-slip-clutch means by the driving member, a second scrambling cam rotated with the driven member, releasable brake means normally holding the driven member against rotation and actuated by said first cam to release the driven member for rotation at times and for predetermined amounts of angular travel dependent upon the scrambling cam pattern of said first cam, together with stop means for the first cam and actuated by the second cam to stop and free the first cam in rotation dependently upon the cam pattern of the second cam and the relative angular relationships of both cams.

4. A scrambling mechanism for operating a controlled instrumentality irregularly and including a driving shaft and driving motor therefor, at least a primary cam and a secondary cam and yieldable clutch means drivingly coupling said cams for rotation by said shaft, a stop disc and an instrumentality-actuating member driven jointly with said secondary cam, a riding pawl following the cam pattern of said primary cam and including a stop pawl moved thereby into and out of stopping relations with said stop disc dependently upon the cam pattern of said primary cam, stop means arranged irregularly on said stop disc for stopping cooperation with said stop pawl in stopping relations as aforesaid, a second stop means cooperable with said primary cam to stop and free the latter in rotation dependently upon movements of said second stop means relative to said primary cam, said second stop means including a follower member engageable with said secondary cam for moving the second stop means relative to the primary cam as aforesaid, a controlled-instrumentality operating member moved jointly with said secondary cam, and a controlled instrumentality actuated by movements of said instrumentality-operating member.

5. In a scrambling switch, a driving shaft, a rotatably driven section including at least a stop disc, a scrambling cam means and at least one switch-operating member all coupled to be jointly rotatable, slip-clutch means yieldingly coupling said shaft and driven section, releas- 9r able-l brake; means. normallyholding, said stop disc against rotation, a second scrambling, cam means-i andcoupled by slip-clutch means; to be driven from said shaft, said, second cam means coacting-with said brake meansto. move and releaseh the latter at intervals as afunction of the cam pattern, of said second cam. means,.- stop means actuated by the first-named cam means for holding: and freeing: rotation of a cam element of said second-named: cam means, control switch means actuated by said switch-operating member responsive to rotative movements thereof,, andv a: motor energizable to drive said shaft.

6. Apparatus according toclaim: andrfurther characterized bythe provisionof an energizing circuit for said motor,, a starting switch in said,- circuit, a supervisory running, switch connected to shunt said starting switch when the supervisory switch isclosed, an electroimagnetically releasable indexing brake cooperable'with; said stop discyand normally stopping thessameat predeterminedpositions; index means angularly spaced on; the stop disc and cooperablec-with said indexing brake to; permit a maximum determined angular travel of saiddisc between said posit-ions: when said index brake is released and said disc: is free: to; rotate, said supervisoryswitchbeing closed by; said indexbrake int releasing operation? thereof whereby toshunt said-startingiswitchnand hold the: motor in operation for a period at least sumcientto permit said'maximum traver of\ the stop disc; l

7-. In 'ascrambling, switch, driving: and driven rotatable means and slip-clutch means coupling the same, controls-switch means-actuated by said driven means, releasable brake'meansoperable tOghO'ld' or" permit: unrestrained travel of said driven means in rotation, changeable compound cam means actuating: said? brake means for the purposes aforesaid, said cam. means including; a plurality of coaXiall'y rotatabl .camsdrivenfiom said driving means and at least one of which cams is driven as aforesaid through slip-clutch meansaaby said driving means'so as to be holdable relativetto'movement, of another? of said cams, stop meansi operable to: freezionarrest": rotation ofi'theLzhcldable one. oil said cams, and a: further cam means rotatable with said driven means for variably actuating said stop means to hold and free the holdable cam and thereby modify the resultant cam pattern of said compound cam means.

8. In a scrambling control for switch mechanisms, a drive shaft and means for driving same, first and second scrambling cams driven from said shaft, slip-clutch means coupling the first cam to said shaft such that the first cam may be held against rotation, a stop disc and third cam jointly rotatable through slip-clutch means from said shaft, a switch-operating member rotatably driven by connection with said stop disc, control-switch means actuated by said operating member, a riding pawl engageable with cam track portions of said first and second cams and including a brake pawl following movements of the riding pawl to act upon said stop disc in difierent positions of the riding pawl determined by either one or both of the cam tracks, according to the relative angular displacements of said first and second scrambling cams from tim to time, for the purpose of freeing or holding rotation of said stop disc, together with stopping means actuated by the third cam, dependently upon the cam pattern thereof, for holding the first cam to change the angular displacement between the first.v and, second. cams, whereby rot'ation of-said stop discandjointly movable members iscontroll'ed, inpart atleast, as a function of. the resultant campatterns of said fi'rst', second, and thirdcams actingatlany. particular time respectively upon said. riding. pawl and" said stepping means.-

9.. Thecombinationset forthin. claim 8 and further characterizedby the provision of indexing parts on said stop disc, a spring-urged indexing brake cooperablewith-said'indexing parts tastop the. discin predetermined angular. positions, and means for releasing said indexing brake,

10. Apparatus according to claimt8' and'further characterized-by the provision oflangularly paced indexing formations-on saidsto disc, an electromechanical brake engageable withv said. indexing formations, means for operating said braketo free and hold the disc for limitedrotation. predetermined angularv amounts dependent upon the, an gular spacing betweenisuccessive-indexing-formations, said driving means for the shaftbeing an electric motor, anoperating circuit'for said-motor, aistarting switch in said circuit, a supervisory holding switch. operable to shunt saidstarting switchand actuated t cooperatively with saidelectromechanical brakeresponsive to disc-freeing operation thereof for the duration of any ofsaid predetermined amounts oflimited rotation-oi said disc-following energizationlof saidmotor by oper ation of said starting, switch,

11. In a scrambling switch, a motor-p a drive shaft drivenbysaid motor, at leasttwo compoundingcams, one of whichv is driven through slip-clutch means from-said shaft-and theother of which is driven positively by said shaft, la-brake member movable back and-forth by riding: engagement with cam track portions of either. or both ofsaid camsinvariable displacement depending upon aresultantcam pattern deter-mined at any instant by therelative rotative positions of saidcams with respect to-each otherarotatively driven means yieldingly coupled: to be. driven, when unrestrained from said shaft, controls switch-means: actuated bycertain. movementseof said driven means, a rotatable stop member mow able with said driven means, stop element located in a prescribed pattern of angular spacing on said stop member and engageable by said brake member in certain positions thereof to prevent rotation of the stop member; additional stop elements located in a prescribed pattern of angular spacing on at least one of said compounding cams, a stopping device movable into and out of stopping relation to said last-mentioned stop elements to hold or free rotation of said last-mentioned cam, spring means normally urging said stopping device into position for stopping engagement with any of said additional stop elements on the compounding cam positioned by the latter for such engagement; means rotating with said driven means and acting in certain predetermined positions of angular displacement thereof upon said stopping device to move the latter out of stopping position relative to additional stop elements on the compounding cam, as aforesaid, together with a second brake means operable to hold said stop member in certain rotative positions independently of any freeing action of said first brake means, and means for actuating said second brake means.

12. A variable-action control device comprising a source of driving power including a rotated shaft; a first irregular cam means rotated through a yieldable coupling with said shaft; a rotatably driven means also driven through yieldable coupling means from said shaft; an instrumentality to be controlled actuated by said driven means; a second irregular cam means rotating cooperably with said driven means; brake means for the driven means and actuated by said first cam means to start and stop the driven means intermittently as a function, at least, of the irregular cam pattern of said first cam means; a reflex brake means actuated by the second cam means intermittently as a function, at least, of the irregular cam pattern thereof, to arrest and free the first cam means for intermittent rotation.

13. A control device according to claim 12 further characterized in that said first cam means includes a compounding cam system comprised of at least two cams, one of which is rotated'by said shaft relative to the other when the latter is arrested by said reflex brake means, and the respective peripheries of said compounding cams define in their relative angular relations a changeable resultant cam pattern.

14. In a variable control mechanism, a drive shaft and a driven shaft; slip-clutch means coupling said shafts; a first cam means rotated by the drive shaft; a second cam means rotated by the driven shaft; a first brake means actuated by the first cam means for holding and freeing the driven shaft; a reflex brake means actuated by the second cam means for holding and freeing the first cam means; a third brake means operable independently of the first brake means and the reflex brake means for controlling operation of said driven shaft; and a, controlled instrumentality actuated dependently upon rotation of the driven shaft. 15. In a variating control device, a driving member and a driven member; slip-clutch means drivingly interconnecting said members; a first cam 'means rotated by the driving member through slip-clutch means; a second cam means rotated by the driven member; a first brake means operable to hold and free the driven member and actuated by the first cam means; a second brake means for holding and freeing the first cam means and actuated by the second cam means;

. 12 and control switch means actuated by the driven member.

16. In a variating control device, a driving member and a driven member; slip-clutch means drivingly interconnecting said members; a first cam means rotated by the driving member through slip-clutch means; a second cam means rotated by the driven member; a first brake means operable to hold and free the driven member and actuated by the first cam means; a second brake means for holding and freeing the first cam means and actuated by the second cam means; and control switch means actuated by the driven member; a third brake means including a cycling member rotating with said driven member and having angular spaced stopping parts thereon c-ooperable with the third brake means whereby the latter can stop the driven member only in certain rotated positions thereof.

1'7.-For a variable control device, compound control cam means including two cams mounted to rotate about a common axis; means for jointly rotating said cams; means yieldingly coupling at least one of said cams for rotation by the rotating means as aforesaid, such that the one cam is holdable and can be held while the other is rotatively displaced relative thereto, said cams respectively having peripheral cam patterns correlated such that the two cams in various conditions of rotative displacement with respect to each other will jointly define a resultant cam pattern which changes according to such displacement; and brake means for holding and freeing the holdable cam to effect relative displacement of said cams and change the resultant cam pattern as aforesaid.

DONALD E. HOOKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,701,399 Vickery Feb. 5, 1929 2,328,905 Holston et a1 Sept. 7, 1943 2,442,240 Hooker et a1 May 25, 1948

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