Emerson Electric Company

Emhart Industries, Inc.

Nidec Motor Corporation

David E Zink

Daniel K Amonett

Ellis Paul Lipp

Benjamin F Chestnut

Garry A Stout

Thomas A Neese

Charles V Edwards

Michael A Naylor

Jack D Sanders

Leslie S Jordan

An electric switch assembly comprises a circuit board; a light source mounted on the circuit board; a thumbwheel knob rotatably mounted on the circuit board; a transparent surface that moves with the thumbwheel knob and on which a symbol is applied or formed; and a light guide for directing light from the light source to the transparent surface to illuminate the symbol.

Illuminated thumbwheel switch assembly

A device enables a camstack in an appliance timer to be rotated without applying electrical power to the switches of the appliance. The device includes a knob having an elongated actuator extending from a lower surface of the knob to an outboard end, the elongated actuator having a shoulder between the outboard end of the elongated actuator and the knob, a camstack shaft for rotating a camstack used to selectively engage cam followers for controlling operation of an appliance cycle, the camstack shaft including a passageway for telescopically receiving the elongated actuator extending from the knob, a switch actuator having a hub and a radial flange, the hub having a passageway for receiving the outboard end of the elongated actuator up to the shoulder so the actuator is axially moved by depression of the knob, a switch having one contact mounted on one end of a resilient member configured to urge the one contact toward another contact to close the switch, and a slider having a first end and a second end, the first end of the slider contacting the radial flange of the switch actuator and the second end of the slider being coupled to the resilient member of the switch so that depression of the knob moves the radial flange of the switch actuator with respect to the first end of the slider to urge the resilient member and the one contact away from the other contact to open the switch.

Camstack timer with momentary start switch

An appliance timer incremental drive is provided with an electronic circuit that generates a nonvarying camstack motor advancement pulse that cooperates with a cam-operated motor control switch. When the motor control switch is closed, a power circuit is completed with a camstack drive motor and the camstack rotates. When the motor control switch opens, the power circuit is also open, so the camstack is stationary. The camstack remains stationary, delayed, until the electronic circuit, which operates independently from the camstack, provides a nonvarying camstack advancement pulse to power the camstack drive motor to rotate the camstack.

Timer motor incremental drive

An anti-rotational device for a cam-operated timer is used in appliances with timer control knobs that recess when the appliance is operating. A spring biased axially displaceable shaft that carries a circular disc having teeth peripherally disposed around its circumference is provided. When the shaft is axially displaced by pressure on the timer control knob, the teeth on the circular disc engage raised tabs on the timer's housing, and the engagement prevents the shaft from rotating.

Anti-rotational device for a cam-operated timer

A uni-direction rotation device in a cam-operated timer is accomplished by coupling the timer control shaft to the camstack with a semi-circular tang and semi-circular slot connection. When the timer control knob is rotated in the biased or right direction, the slot is coupled to the tang, and the timer can be set. But when the timer control knob is rotated in the unbaised or wrong direction, the slot is uncoupled from the tang and the timer control knob rotates freely, so the timer cannot be set.

Uni-directional rotation device for a cam-operated timer

The component mounting plate of a control console for an appliance such as a washer or dryer is retractable so that the console's knobs are flush with the appliance's outer trim panel.

Retractable component mounting plate for a control console

A timing mechanism has a rotating camstack which opens and closes electrical contacts that are carried by electrical contact blades which are actuated by the camstack. One of the two cooperating electrical contact blades is also actuated by a first sliding member that is manually operated by an actuator to open and close a circuit to a main power supply. Manual rotation of the camstack to set a program is prevented when the circuit to the main power supply is closed by a second sliding member that is simultaneously operated off the same actuator. A step in a cam associated with the electrical contact blade to the main power supply opens the circuit to the main power supply when there is a malfunction.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

David E Zink