Abstract: A timing mechanism for use in an appliance such as a domestic clothes dryer, for example. The mechanism includes a synchronous motor and two output shafts. One output shaft is the conventional rotary output shaft of the speed reducing gear train associated with the synchronous motor. The second output shaft is the rotary axle of a Geneva follower gear that is driven by a Geneva driver gear that is in turn driven by a gear located intermediate the input and first output shaft of the gear train. The intermittent rotation of the second output shaft, wherein each intermittent rotation is accomplished in a relatively rapid time, permits a timing cam thereon to control a switch actuator to provide a precise and quite brief switching action of the order of five seconds, for example.

Abstract: Timing apparatus for controlling the ON-OFF operation of a lamp or appliance. The timing apparatus is plugged into an electric wall receptacle to energize an internal synchronous motor that turns a time dial with setting pins thereon. The pins control the opening and closing of internal switch means for the lamp or appliance. The apparatus is relatively small, and is simple to manufacture, assemble and service.

Abstract: A two speed manual preset timer in which the cam shaft is driven by a pair of constantly meshing gears having two mating segments of different but constant pitch radii. One pair of segments gives relatively high shaft speed in a sector of the timing range adjacent the OFF position for accuracy in short timings. The other pair of segments gives relatively slow shaft speed in a sector at the other end of the timing range for long timings. The segments of the gears are joined by transition segments of varying pitch radii, providing a sector of varying shaft speed between the short timing and long timing sectors.