US2823698A - Adjustable timer - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1958 H. E. LARISON 2,823,698

ADJUSTABLE TIMER Filed July 26, 1954 45heets-Sheet 1 DRIVE GENEVA RIM ,Zfizg n for: raid E15 arzaon Feb. 18, 1958 H. E. LARISON 2,823,598

ADJUSTABLE TIMER Filed July 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u a l /E\ 128 2 E 56 g @03 i I Z? 7 1 (at 4 272 7/6 72 f0 71' 144 3 2 Warm?! Elarzlsmz United States Patent ADJUSTABLE TIMER Harold E. Larison, Anderson, Ind., assignor to Lynch Corporation, Anderson, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 26, 1954, Serial No. 445,519

18 Claims. (Cl. 137-622) This invention relates to an adjustable timer which may be used for timing various operations of a glassware forming machine or the like by timing the flow of air to and from pneumatically operated units of the machine.

One object of the invention is to provide a timer wherein each valve unit is adjustable throughout a full 360 of rotation independent of all other valve units in the timer and wherein adjustment of any valve unit may be accomplished while the timer is operating.

Another object is to provide an assembly wherein cylindrical timing valve units are rotatable in a cylindrical housing, the assembly thereof being comparatively simple due to an arrangement whereby the timing valve units are stacked in the housing, each unit being sealed relative to the housing and relative to its adjacent units in such manner that inlet and outlet spaces are provided for connecting all of the units together and independent trip line connections are communicated with the respective units throughout their entire 360 of rotational adjustment.

Still another object is to provide timing valve units, each of which comprises an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder so that space is provided within the inner cylinder for a timing shaft and cams, and space is provided between the two cylinders for inlet air, the space in the inner cylinder also being to receive outlet air and an annular groove around the outer cylinder providing space to communicate with a trip line connection at one point around the periphery of the cylindrical housing.

A further object is to provide a timing valve unit having inner and outer cylinders mechanically connected together, the means of mechanical connection including a boss containing a valve unit having an inlet connected with the space between the two cylinders, an outlet connected with the space within the inner cylinder, and a trip line connected with an annular groove around the outer cylinder, there being provided sealing means on opposite sides of said annular groove and in one end of the inner and outer cylinders so that when a plurality of said units are stacked in a cylindrical housing said spaces are sealed off from each other, and from the annular groove.

Still a further object is to provide in the cylindrical housing, means for supplying actuating fluid to the space between the inner and outer cylinders and exhausting actuating fluid from the space within the inner cylinders, trip valves of the timing valve units having stems projecting into the inner cylinder and a timer shaft being located therein and provided with cams to coact with the stems for operating the trip valves.

An additional object is to provide a fully adjustable timer with means to indicate the individual adjustment of each unit and to also indicate synchronism of the timer shaft with the feeder shaft of a glass furnace.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combina tion of the various parts of my adjustable timer, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and "ice 2 illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an adjustable timer embodying my present invention, certain drive connections to the timer assemblies (two of which are illustrated) being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a timing valve unit, a number of which are used in each timer assembly.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 1 showing the relationship of indicator dials for the feeder and the timer.

Fig 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the timer assemblies and shows diagrammatically two of the valve units connected to a spool valve and an actuating cylinder.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5'--5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 4 being taken on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is an elevation as on the line 66 of Fig. 5, a portion of a housing cover being broken away to show details of the gearing for actuating certain indicating dials for the valve units.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 7--7 ,of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5 and shows a trip valve in closed position.

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view showing the trip valve in open position; and j Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8 showing the trip valve unit in elevation.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a gear drive housing and 12 a cylindrical timer housing mounted thereon, as by cap screws 14. In the lower end of the cylindrical housing 12 is an end plate 16 and in the upper end thereof is an end plate 18.

The end plate 16 carries a bearing 20 and the end plate 18 carries a bearing 22 for journaling a vertical tubular timer shaft 24. The timer shaft 24 is operatively connected by a key 26 to a sleeve 28 that is mounted in the bearing 20 and which has thereon a worm gear 30 meshing with a worm 32 (see Fig. 7) on a worm shaft 34.

Returning to Fig. l, a motor M has a motor shaft 36 for driving a positively infinitely variable gear P. I. V. from which the slow speedshaft 38 extends. This shaft is connected with a shaft 42 by bevel gears 40, the shaft 42 extending into a clutch designated as such and the outgoing shaft of the clutch being shown at 44 passing through a Geneva drive that drives the glassware machine table. The shaft 44 drives the shaft 34 so that whenever the clutch is operated to render the table operative it also rotates the shaft 34 for rendering the timer operable in timed relation to .the table, the timer of course timing the actuating air to various operating mechanisms of the glassware forming machine in relation to the intermittently operable table driven by the Geneva drive in the usual manner.

A set of bevel gears 46 is shown for driving a shaft 48 which drives the feeder and also a shaft 50 of my timer on which is mounted a worm gear 52 (see Fig. 7). The worm gear 52 rotates a worm 54 mounted on a shaft 56 (see Fig. 1) that extends upwardly through the tubular timer shaft 24 and has an indicating dial 60 adjustably mounted thereon by means of a cap screw 62. The timing shaft 24 has a similar dial 58 mounted thereon and secured thereto by a key 64, the purpose of this arrangement being such that the indicating pointer 66 of the dial 58 (see Fig. 3) can be matched with the indicating pointer 68 of the dial 60 for indicating the position of the feeder whereupon the clutch can be thrown. in for rotating the table and the timer in synchronism with the feeder.

Two of the timer assemblies are shown in Fig. I- and similar parts are given the same reference numeral for each, the main difference being the omission of the feeder indicating shaft 56 and its dial 60 in the right hand assembly; Both assemblies are driven'in similar manner by their worm gears 30 meshing with the two worms'32 on the shaft 34, sections of which are coupled together at 35 as shown in Fig. 7.

Stacked between the lower end plates 1 6'and the upper end plate 18 is a plurality of timer valve units A, one of which is shown in Fig. 2. I will now describe in de tail one of the units, reference being had particularly to IFigs. 4 to where the details are shown in larger sca e.

Each unit A comprises an outer cylinder 70 and an inner cylinder 72 which are mechanically connected together by webs 74 and a boss 78. The outer cylinder fits within the cylindrical housing 12 and the inner cylinder provides space for the timer shaft 24.

The arrangement just referred to provides space 80 between the outer cylinder 70 and the inner cylinder 72 and space 82 Within the inner cylinder 72. Also, outside the outer cylinder 70 is spaced provided by an annular groove 84 in the outer surface of the outer cylinder.

O- rings 86, 88, 90 and 92 are provided in the upper end of each inner cylinder 72, in the upper end of each outer cylinder 70, and in the periphery of the outer cylinder 70 above and below the annular groove 84, which are located in suitable grooves provided therefor. Likewise, the bottom plate 16 is provided with the O- rings 86, 88, 90 and 92, whereby this plate is sealed relative to the cylinder and relative to the lowermost timing valve unit, and each of the timing valve units is sealed relative to the cylindrical housing 12 and relative to its next above unit with the top unit sealed relative to the upper end plate 18, as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 4. At the same time, each of the units A can be rotated through 360 of rotation without breaking any of these seals.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a trip valve unit B is shown in the form of a cylindrical body in a bore 96 of ;he boss 78. The body 94 is retained therein by a cap The body 94 has a valve seat 100 against which a valve head 102 is normally seated by a spring 104. The valve head 102 terminates in a valve stem 105 projecting within the inner cylinder 72 and the valve is adapted to be opened by a cam 106 secured in a keyway 108 of the cam shaft 24 by cap screws 110. Preferably, the cams 106 (one for each trip valve unit B) are aligned with each other by their location in the keyway 108 which provides a reference point around the periphery of the timing shaft to which the timing valve units A can be adjusted as will hereinafter appear.

'In Fig. 8 the annular groove 84 communicates with the interior of the inner cylinder 72 by reason of the following passageways. Referring to Fig. 10, the annular groove 84 is notched at 108 and passageways 110 extend inwardly therefrom to communicate with an annular groove 114 around the body 94. Ports 116 extend from the annular groove 114 to the interior of the body 94 and ports 118 extend through the stem 105 to a central bore 120 thereof, one end of which is plugged as ndicated at 121. The stem is provided with ports 122 n alignment with ports 124 and 126, annular grooves bemg provided at the outer ends of the ports 122 and 124 to provide for communication regardless of rotary relationship of 94- and 105. Arrows a, b, and c are shown in Figs. 8 and 10 to indicate the flow of air, the trip valve being closed as illustrated.

When the trip valve 102 is opened, as in Fig. 9, due to the coaction of the cam 106 with the stem 105, air flows from the space 80 as indicated by the arrows d and e through ports 128 in the boss 78 and ports 130 in the valve cap 98, then past the valve seat and 7 through the ports" 1'16 and the annular groove114,- the passageways and the notches 108 to the annular groove 84 as indicated by the dotted arrow f in Fig. 10.

For each annular passageway 84 there is a cavity 132 in the cylindrical housing 12 having a flanged fitting 134 thereon for connection to trip lines such as shown diagrammatically at 136 and 138 in Fig. 4. These connect to opposite ends of a spool valve cylinder 140 in which is the usual spool valve 142 and the cylinder is connected by lines 144 and 146 to opposite ends of an actuating cylinder 148. A piston 150 in the cylinder 148 has a piston rod 152 extending therefrom to actuate any one of the many instrumentalities used in the glassware forming machine such as mold opening and closing equipment and the like. Other spool valves may be connected with valves for controlling air and the like in a well known manner and it is believed unnecessary to illustrate all the dilferent applications as they are more or less standard where existing types of timers have been used for their operations.

The spool valve cylinder 140 is also illustrated as having an inlet 154 for the main air and a pair of exhausts 156 and 158 so that the operation of the second from the bottom valve, for instance, in Fig. 4 has moved the spool valve toward the right in order to permit air from 154 to pass through 144 and the cylinder 148 back of the piston 150 while air in front thereof exhausts through 146 and 158, all as indicated by arrows.

The cylindrical housing 12 is provided with a main air inlet 160 as shown in Fig. 4, which communicates with an annular groove 162 in the lower end plate 16 and by suitable cavities 164 therein, separated by webs 74 at top and bottom as in the timing valve units A, through the spaces between the bottom webs 74 of the lowermost timing valve unit A to the space 80 therein and from this space likewise to the spaces 80 of all the units A and finally to a space 166 in the top end plate 18 whereby air supplied to 160 is distributed to all of the units A and equalized throughout their spaces 80 with the help of the space 166 just referred to. Obviously, all of the spaces 82 within the inner cylinders 72 communicate with each other and the air dumped therein from each of the pilot valve units A may partially flow through the bearings 20 and into the drive gear housing 10 from which it may be discharged through a suitable opening and partially flow through passages 163 in the units A (see Fig. 5). The air from 163 enters a groove around the unit and through this groove finds its way to a perforation 167 and discharges through openings 169 to atmosphere. Since the dumped air is charged with atomized oil it serves to keep the bearings and other parts it comes in contact with well lubricated. It also provides positive internal pressure to keep out foreign matter.

The periphery of each timing valve unit A is provided with worm teeth 168 with which a worm 170 meshes (see Fig.5). The worms 170 are mounted on worm shafts 172 through the openings- 169 where they terminate in heads 174 with which a removable adjusting crank 176 may be selectively associated for rotating the worms and thereby adjusting the units A throughout 360 of rotation relative to the cylindrical housing 12.

For indicating the degree of adjustment in relation to a reference position which is usually taken as zero degrees in respect to the feeder operation (the time that the feeder drops a gob of glass into the mold) the worm shaft 172 is provided with a spiral gear 178 meshing with a spiral gear 180 on an indicator shaft 182. This shaft is journalled in bearings 184 which in turn are supported on a cover plate 187 having journalled therein a pair of indicator shafts and 198.

The shaft 182 is provided with a spiral gear 186 mesh ing with a spiral gear 188 on the shaft 190 and is provided with' a worm 194 meshing with a worm gear 196 on the shaft 198. Indicator dials 192 and 200, respectively, are mounted on the indicator shafts 190 and 198 and may, as illustrated in Fig. 6, be marked with indicia from O to 9 on the dial 192 to indicate 10 of rotation and from 0 to 320 in 40 steps on the dial 200 to indicate 360 of rotation. Thus, if a certain valve is to be set for 42 the crank 176 therefor is rotated until 40 appears on the dial 200 opposite the indicator mark 202 thereof and then further rotation is given the crank 176 until 2 on the dial 192 comes opposite the pointer 204. Thus, any one of the valve units A may be set at the desired angular relation to the feeder position represented by O on all dials, and the adjustment of any one of the valve units is independent of each of the others. At the same time, due to the sealing arrangement and the connections of the spaces 80 together and to the cavity 164 and the inlet 160, and the spaces 82 connected to atmosphere, together with the annular grooves 84 connected to their respective cavities 132 and fittings 134, proper flow of air in all positions of adjustment is had.

The arrangement is such that assembly of a timer is comparatively simple, consisting of stacking the preassembled timer valve units A in the cylindrical housing 12 and closing them in with the upper end plate 18. Where additional valve units are desired, the cylinder 12 and the timer shaft 24 can be made longer and the same valve units and end plates used as in the shorter timers. Thus, the device is peculiarly adapted for making up any size timer without changing the dimensions of but a few parts.

The timer also has the advantage of full adjustability for each of the valves included in the assembly and the adjustment can be made while the timer is in operation, thus eliminating the necessity of having to stop the operation of the glassware forming machine to make adjustments. This, obviously, is a great advantage where slight adjustments are necessary to improve the quality of ware that is not coming up to certain standards as it leaves the glassware forming machine. Any individual operating unit of the machine can thus be readily adjusted to correct its performance with a minimum of time and effort when a timer of the herein disclosed type is used. Once the desired results are attained, the dials can be charted for future use when again making the particular item involved.

The timer housing completely encloses the entire timing mechanism, thus eliminating the possibility of foreign matter getting into the mechanism and the positive air pressure inside the housing aids in this respect. The housing is also designed to act as an air tank which assures full pressure at each valve so that fast, full-pressure trips of the valves are had whenever they are opened.

Individual valves may be removed for repair or replacement in a matter of minutes from the outside without disassembling the timer. This is accomplished by rotating the unit A from which the valve is to be removed to the zero position so that the valve is opposite the flanged fitting 134, whereupon the fitting can be removed and a socket wrench inserted to coact with the head of the cap 98 for removing it, whereupon the entire valve unit may be removed.

The length of the trip cam at any one valve may be changed as these cams can be made short, regular length, or long. This is accomplished by removing the cam shaft after removing the top of the timer, whereupon the cam shaft may be lifted out of the socket 28 at the lower end to which the cam shaft is keyed by the key 26.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my adjustable timer without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a timer of the character disclosed, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of annularly chambered timer valve asaaess units stacked therein, each rotatable relative thereto and each including a trip valve carried thereby for establishing selective communication between the annular chamber and the outside or inside of each unit, double sealing means for the periphery of each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing, said housing having an aperture for each of said units between its double sealing means for communication with the respective spaces outside said units, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing and extending through the open center formed by the annular chambers of said units, a series of axially aligned cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said trip valves, and means for rotating each of said units and its trip valve relative to said cylindrical housing to vary the relative angular setting of said trip valves.

2. In a timer of the character disclosed, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of annularly chambered timer valve units stacked therein, each rotatable relative thereto and each including a trip valve carried thereby for establishing selective communication between the chamber and the outside or inside of each unit, means for double sealing the periphery of each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing, said housing having an aperture for each of said units between its double sealing means for communication with the respective spaces outside said units, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing and extending through the open center formed by the annular chambers of said units, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said trip valves, and means for rotating each of said units and its trip valve relative to said cylindrical housing and independent of the other units to vary the relative angular settings of said trip valves, said trip valves being accessible for replacement through said apertures.

3. In a valve timer, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of double-walled cylindrical timer valve units stacked therein, means for double sealing the periphery of each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing, a valve in each of said units and including a seat, a valve plug and a stem biased toward said timer shaft, said seat being located to control air flow through the outer wall of said double-walled valve unit and said stem being located to control air flow through the inner wall thereof, means for supplying air to and exhausting air from the space between the two walls of said units and the space within the inner walls thereof, said housing having individual air connections to each of said valve units between the double seals thereof, a series of cams on said cam shaft, one for engaging each of said valve stems to open said valve plugs relative to their respective seats, and means for rotatably adjusting each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing to vary the relative angular setting of said valves.

4. A valve timer comprising a cylindrical housing, end plates in said cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked in said cylindrical housing between said end plates and each rotatably adjustable relative to said cylindrical housing, means for sealing the periphery of each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing and the end units relative to said end plates, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing, each of said units having an opening at its center to receive said timer shaft, a valve in each of said units and including a seat and a valve plug and stem biased toward said timer shaft, 8. series of axially aligned cams on said cam shaft, one for engaging each of said valve stems to open said valve plugs relative to their respective seats, worm gear means for rotating each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing to vary the relative angular settings of said valves, and indicator dials geared to each of said worm gear means to indicate the angular relation of the respective units to a reference position of said cam shaft.

5. In a valve timer of the character disclosed, a cylindrical housing, end plates therein, a plurality of timer valve-unit'sstacked in said cylindrical housing between said end 'plat'est andeach'rotatablerelative to said cylindrical housing, means for sealing the periphery of each of said timervalve units relative to said cylindrical housing and the end units of the stack relative to said end plates, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing, each of said units having an open center through which said timer shaft extends, a trip valve in each of saidunits, a series of cams on said cam shaft, one for operating each of said trip valves, and worm gear means for'rotating each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing'to vary the relative angular settings of said trip valves while said timer shaft is rotating.

6. A timer of the character disclosed comprising a cylindrical housing, end plates in said cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked in said cylindricalhousing between said endplates and each rotatable relative thereto, means for sealing the periphery of each of 'said units relative to said cylindrical housing and the end units relative to said end plates whereby said units may be rotated relative thereto without breaking said seals, a timer shaft at the center of said cylindrical housing, each of said units having an opening at its center for said timer shaft, a valve in each of said units, a series of axially aligned cams on said cam shaft, one for operating each of said valves, worm gear means for rotating each of said units relative to said cylindrical housing to vary the relative angular setting of said valves, and a pair of indicator dials geared to each of said worm gear means to indicate coarse and fine settings of the respective units relative to a reference position of said cam shaft.

Z. A timer of the character disclosed comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed in all positions of rotation relative thereto, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of axially aligned cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, and means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve unit.

8. A valve timer comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be camengaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, means for sealing adjacent inner cylinders relative to each other, means for sealing adjacent outer cylinders relative to each other, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, and means for rotating each of said outer cylinders around said timer shaft to vary the timing of said valve units.

9. A timer ofthe character disclosed comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting Webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders anda valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, said inner and outer cylinders being. sealed relative to each other to provide actuating fluid. spaces within said inner cylinders and between said inner and outer cylinders, atimer shaft extending. through' said inner cylinders, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of. said valve stems, means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to individually vary the valve timing, said valve units having inlets and outlets, one of which communicates with one of said spaces and the other of which communicates with the other of said spaces, actuating fluid being supplied to one of said spaces and discharged from the other, and individual trip line connections to each of said timer valve units.

10. A timer of the character disclosed comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, said inner and outer cylinders being sealed relative to each other to provide actuating fluid spaces within said inner cylinders and between said inner and outer cylinders, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to individually vary the valve timing, said valve units having inlets and outlets, one of which. communicates with one of said spaces and the other of which communicates with the other of said spaces, actuating. fluid being supplied to one of said spaces and: discharged from the other, and individual trip line connections to each of said timer valve units, said outer cylinders having peripheral grooves communicating with said trip line connections and with said valve units to receive actuating fluid therefrom and return actuating fluid thereto.

11. In a timer, a cylindrical housing, closure plates at the ends thereof, a plurality of timing valve unit-s stacked in said cylindrical housing between said closure plates and each rotatable in said housing and relative to said closure plates, each of said timing valve units comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, a timing shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve unit, and indicator dials geared to each of said means to indicate the angular relation of the respective valve units to a reference position of said timer shaft.

12. In a timer, a cylindrical housing, end plates there in, a plurality of timing valve units stacked in said cylindrical housing between said end plates and each rotatable therein, each of said timing valve units comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders having an annular groove around its outer face, a timing shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams thereon, one for operating each of said valve stems, a trip valve connection to said cylindrical housing in register with each of said annular grooves, worm gear means for rotating each of said units around said timer 9 shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve unit, indicator dials geared to each of said worm gear means to indicate the angular relation of the respective timing valve units, and means for communicating the respective valve units through said boss with said annular groove.

13. A timer of the character disclosed comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem.

adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve unit, means for supplying air to one end of said cylindrical housing to the space in each of said units between said inner and outer cylinders thereof, each valve unit having an intake communicating with the space between its inner and outer cylinder, means along the exterior of said cylindrical housing for communicating each valve unit with a device to be operated by actuating fluid supplied thereto by said valve units, the means of communication including an annular groove in said timing valve unit to effect such communication throughout 360 of adjustment of the unit relative to said cylindrical housing, and means for dumping the air from said valve units into said inner cylinder upon said cams disengaging said valve units.

14. In a valve timer, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of axially aligned cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve units, means for rotating each of said timer valve units around said timer shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve, means for supplying air from one end of said cylindrical housing to the space in each of said units between said inner and outer cylinders thereof, each valve unit having an intake communicating with its respective space just referred to, means along the exterior of said cylindrical housing for communicating each valve unit with a device to be operated by actuating fluid supplied thereto by said valve units, and means for dumping the air from said valve units into said inner cylinders upon said cams disengaging the valve units.

15. A timer comprising a cylindrical housing, end plates therein, a plurality of timer valve units stacked therein between said end plates and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, connecting webs between said inner and outer cylinders, a connecting boss between said inner and outer cylinders and a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem adapted to be cam engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said outer cylinders being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and being sealed relative thereto, a timer shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of axially aligned cams on said timer shaft, one for operating each of said valve stems, means for supplying air from one of said end plates to the space in each of said timing valve units between said inner and outer cylinders thereof, each valve unit having an intake communicating with such space, means along the exterior of said cylindrical housing for communicating each valve unit with a device to be operated by actuating fluid supplied thereto from said valve units, the means of communication including an annular groove around said outer cylinder to efiect such communication throughout 360 of adjustment of said timer valve units relative to said cylindrical housing, and means for dumping the air through said valves into said inner cylinders upon said cams disengaging said valve stems.

16. In a fluid pressure timer, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timing valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, means mechanically connecting said cylinders together including a boss between said inner and outer cylinders, a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem within said .inner cylinder adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said timing valve units being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and sealed relative thereto, means for sealing the end of one unit relative to the end of the next unit to isolate the space outside of said outer cylinder from the space between said inner and outer cylinders and the space between said inner and outer cylinders from the space within said inner cylinder, said valve unit having an inlet communicating with one of said spaces, an outlet communicating with the other of said spaces, and a control passageway communicating with the third of said spaces, means for supplying actuating fluid to said one of said spaces, exhausting actuating fluid from said another of said spaces, and connecting a device to be fluid operated to the third of said spaces, a timing shaft extending through said inner cylinders, a series of cams thereupon, one for operating each of said valve stems, and means for rotating each of said timing valve units around said cam shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve.

17. In a fluid pressure timer, a cylindrical housing, a plurality of disk-like timing valve units face-to-face therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, means mechanically connecting said cylinders together including a boss between said inner and outer cylinders, a valve unit in said boss which is normally closed and has an inwardly directed valve stem within said inner cylinder adapted to be cam-engaged for opening the valve unit, each of said timing valve units being rotatable in said cylindrical housing and sealed relative thereto, means for sealing the adjacent faces of said units relative to each other to isolate the space outside of said outer cylinders from the space between said inner and outer cylinders and the space between said inner and outer cylinders from the space Within said inner cylinders, said valve unit having an inlet communicating with one of said spaces, an outlet communicating with the other of said spaces, and a control passageway communicating with the third of said spaces, means for supplying actuating fluid to said one of said spaces, exhausting actuating fluid from said another of said spaces, and connecting a device to be fluid operated to the third of said spaces, a timing shaft extending through said inner cylinders, and a series of cams thereupon, one for operating each of said valve stems.

18. A fluid pressure timer comprising a cylindrical housing, a plurality of timing valve units stacked therein and each comprising an outer cylinder, an. inner cylinder, means mechanically connecting said cylinders together including a boss between said inner and outer cylinders, a valve unit in said boss which is adapted to be camengaged for opening the valve unit, each. of said timing valve units being rotatably adjustable in said cylindrical housing and sealed relative thereto, means for sealing the top of one unit relative to the bottom of the next unit to isolate the space outside of said outer cylinders from the space between said inner and outer cylinders and the space between said inner and outer cylinders from 2,823,698 11 12 the space within said inner cylinders, said valve unit References Cited in the file of this patent having'an inlet; communicating with one of said spaces, UNITED STATES {,ATENTS an outlet communicating with the other of said spaces,

and a control passageway communicating with the third 1,605,652- DOtterWeich 1926 of said spaces, means for supplying actuating fluid to 5 1,611,091 W W 1926 one of said spaces, exhausting actuating fluid from an- 1,652,345 Vennum 13, 1927 1,945,724 Beebe Feb. 6, 1934 other of said spaces, and connecting a device to be fluid operated to a third of said spaces, a timing shaft extend- 1,959,811 y May 22, 1934 ing through said inner cylinders, a series of cams there- 2,511,184 Wanlng J1me 1950 upon, one for operating each of said valve stems, means 10 2,645,450 Chessman y 1953 2,783,775 Fullwood Mar. 5, 1957 for rotatably adjusting each of said timing valve units around said cam shaft to vary the timing of its respective valve unit, and means for indicating the adjustment of said timing valve units individually.

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