Ralph Terry Robinson

US Patent:

41921364, Mar 11, 1980

Filed:

Mar 24, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/780842

Inventors:

Ralph C. Robinson - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

General Time Corporation - Thomaston CT

International Classification:

G04B 1902

US Classification:

368222

Abstract:

A digital readout apparatus includes a housing, a plurality of members providing, respectively, a presentation of units-of-minutes, tens-of-minutes, and hours, a shaft for supporting the members within the housing for movement in rotation imparted either by a timed or manual setting input to the member of lowest order. The digital readout apparatus also includes an endshake element received on the shaft between the hours member and the housing. The endshake element includes cam structure on a side surface which cooperates with cam structure similarly contoured on the housing thereby through selective rotational adjustment of the endshake element relative to the shaft, both the hours and tens-of-minutes members are moved axially along the shaft relative to the units-of-minutes member which is fixed to the shaft for varying clearance between the members. The apparatus also includes means for periodically drivingly connecting pairs of members whereby a member of lower order may drive the member of next higher order.

US Patent:

40836738, Apr 11, 1978

Filed:

May 11, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/685322

Inventors:

Ralph C. Robinson - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

General Time Corporation - Thomaston CT

International Classification:

F23N 522

US Classification:

431 87

Abstract:

A portable heating apparatus includes a catalytic bed, a fuel for the catalyst and an electrical circuit operative at a preset time and throughout a predetermined duration of time for igniting the fuel. The circuit includes a transducer in the form of a resistive heating element connected to a source of power and a pair of switches, all arranged in series with the power source. One switch comprises a motor driven time indicator and the other switch comprises a timer which is manually latched closed and automatically unlatched upon closure of the time indicator. The duration of time during which the latter switch remains closed after unlatching may be adjusted.