COVER FOR A TIMING MECHANISM

COUVERCLE DE MINUTERIE

English Abstract

HOUSING FOR A TIMING MECHANISM
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A housing for a timing mechanism includes a cup-shaped member
with an open end and a cover closing the open end. A side wall of the
cup-shaped member includes a terminal block with slots to receive
electrical terminals. The cover includes a wire receiving block having
a groove for receiving wire and is adpated to mate with the slots in
the terminal block.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:-
1. A housing for a timing mechanism comprising a
cup-shaped member having a base, side walls, and an open
end; a terminal block carried by one of said side walls;
a plurality of slots in said terminal block opening toward
said open end and adapted to receive electrical terminals;
a wire receiving block carried by a cover and adapted to
mate with said terminal block; and a groove in said wire
receiving block opening toward said slots.
2. A housing according to claim 1 wherein said groove
runs transverse to an axial length of said electrical ter-
minals and extends an entire length of said wire receiving
block.
3. A housing according to claim 1 further including
holding means carried in said groove to aid in maintaining
said wire in a fixed position.
4. A housing according to claim 3 wherein said holding
means comprises at least one protrusion extending from an
inner surface of said groove.
5. A housing according to claim 4 wherein said protru-
sion extends entirely around said inner surface.

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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Generally speaking, the present invention pertains to a housing
for a timing mechanism which comprises a cup-shaped member having a
base, sidewalls, and an open end; a cover closing the open end; a
terminal block carried by one of the sidewalls; a plurality of slots
in the terminal block opening toward the open end and adapted to
receive electrical terminals; a wire receiving block carried by the
cover and adapted to mate the terminal block; and a groove in the wire
receiving block for receiving wires and opening toward the slots.
The present invention pertains to a timing mechanism and more
particularly to a housing for such a timing mcch~nism which provides
for a means to securely carry electrical terminals and to provide a
means to feed electrical leads to the electrical terminals. The
invention is particularly useful in timing mechanisms which are used in
appllances such as microwave ovens, dryers and dishwashers.
FEATURES OR OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A feature of the present invention is to provide a housing for a
timing mechanism. Another feature of the invention is to provide such
a housing having a terminal block and a mating wire receiving block
for feeding electrical leads to the electrical terminals. Still another
feature of the invention is to provide such a housing wherein the terminal
block includes slots adapted to receive the electrical terminals.
Another feature of the invention is to provide such a housing wherein
the wire receiving block includes a groove receiving wires and opening
to the slots in the terminal block. These and other features of the
invention will become apparent from the following description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded view of a timing mechanism showing the
features of the invention.

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Figure 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a timing mechanism
10 which in general includes a motor drive means 12, cam means 14, and
switch means 16 which are responsive to a rotation of the cam means.
Motor drive means 12 includes a synchronous motor 18 and a gear train
carried within housing 20 and having an output member 22. Cam means
14 and switch means 16 are carried within a housing 24 wh~ch includes
a cup-shaped member 26 having sidewalls 23, 25, 27 and 29 and an open
encl 31 which is closed by a cover 28. Motor drive means 12 is carrled
on the outside oF cover 28 through screws 30 and 32 which extend
through ears 33 and 35, and apertures 34 and 36 and engage threaded
bores in cup-shaped member 26.
A shaft 38 includes a hub portion 40 and extends through aperture
42 in cup shaped member 26 and aperture 44 in cover plate 28. Cam
means 14 includes a pair of rings 46 and 48 which are carried on hub 40
through their respective bores 46' and 48'. Each of the bores includes
a plurality of ridges 50 and 52 extending lengthwise therein which tend
to reduce the rotational friction between the cams and hub 40. Each of
the cams are coupled to the hub portion 40 for rotation therewith
through a tang (not shown) extending from the hub portion and
engaging notches 56 and 58 of the cams.
A clutch 60 permits manual rotation of the cams independent of
motor drive means 12. Clutch 60 includes a spring 62 which is
frictionally carried against an inner wall of hub portion 40. Tangs
66 and 68, which extend from distal ends of the spring, straddle one of
the legs 70 of output member 22 of motor drive means 12.
Switch means 16 includes a plurality of movable blades 72, 74,
76~ 78 and 80. As shown, each of the spring blades is integrally

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constructed with electrical terminals 86. Each of the spring blades
includes mating electrical contacts 89 and blades 76 and 78 include
cam follower 79 which engages cams 46 and 48 to be opened and closed
through notches 46" and 48" of the cams.
In operation, cams 46 and 48 are manually rotated through shaft
38 independent of motor drive means 12 through spring clutch 60 to
provide a desired program. Power driven rotation is applied from
motor drive means 12 through legs 70 of output member 22 which engage
spring 62 to rotate hub 40 through its frictional engagement with the
hub. Rotat;on o~ hub 40 causes rotation of cams 46 and 48 through lost
~ot~on connection provided between a tang ~not shown) oF ~he hub 40 and
notches 56 and 58 to selectively activate spring means 16.
In accordance with the present invention, the housing 24 provides a
means to securely carry electrical terminals 86 with their respective
spring blades and also provides a means to receive electrical leads
and feed them to the electrical terminals. More specifically, there
is provided a terminal block 90 in side wall 29, the terminal block
having a plurality of slots 92 adapted to receive electrical terminals
86. The terminals, with their respective spring blades, are rigidly
~ held within each of the slots 92 through projections 88 that are lanced
from the terminals and carried in notches 94 formed in the slots. Cover
28 includes a wire receiving block 96 which, when the cover is in
position, mates with terminal block 90. A groove 98 extends across
the w;re receiving block transverse to the axial length of the combina-
tion electrical terminals and spring blades for receiving lead wires
100 and 102. In order to maintain the wires in a relatively fixed
position, there is a holding means 104 provided in the groove. Holding
means 104 includes a pair of projections or ridges 106 and 108 extending
around the lnner surface of the groove.

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To assemble the housing with the electrical terminals 86 and lead
wires 100 and 102, the electrical terminals are first placed into
position in the slots 92 and the lead wires are positioned in groove
98. The terminal ends 110 and 112 are then inserted into a crimped
portion 114 of the electrical terminals and then cover 28 is placed
; lnto position.
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