GB1594676A - Means for holding shafts or the like - Google Patents

Description

(54) MEANS FOR HOLDING SHAFTS OR THE LIKE (71) We, COPAL COMPANY LIMITED, a joint-stock company of Japan, of Shimura 2-16-20, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to improvements in means for holding shafts, rods or the like.

Generally, in arrangements for holding a rotary shaft or rod between a pair of holding members, it is usual to provide the holding members with holes corresponding respectively to the cross-sectional area of the shaft or rod to be supported and to insert said shaft or rod through the holes. However if component parts are to be mounted on the rotary shaft or rod between the holding members, the work of fitting them is complicated.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a shaft or rod holding means enabling parts to be mounted on the shaft between the holding members to be readily fitted.

According to the present invention there is provided means for holding shafts or the like comprising a pair of side walls each including a slot open at one end and having a width capable of receiving a shaft or the like, at least one projection formed on an inside face of each said slot adjacent the rear end of said each slot spaced from a mouth of each said slot, and a slot shaped hole provided adjacent the bottom portion of each said slot and enabling the wall of each said slot to flex as said shall or the like passes over said projection, wherein that portion of each said side wall adjacent said projection is sufficiently thin as to be flexible, and wherein the bottom portion of said slot has a semicircular contour enabling said shaft to be rotatably held by said bottom portion and said projection.

Advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, which description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a disassembled perspective view of an essential part of a device embodying the present invention as applied to a digital clock, Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the connection of a main shaft, minute-drum and driving gear; Figure 3 is a partial view showing the connection of a frame and plate spring fitting rod; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of an essential part showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a body frame of a synthetic resin material and having a bottom wall portion 110, a right side wall portion 120, a left side wall portion 130, a top wall portion 140 and a rear wall portion 150. The wall portions 110, 120, 130, 140 and 150 are so formed as to be able to have a generally effective flexibility. Slots 1 20a and 1 30a extending horizontally toward the rear wall portion 150 from the front end edge are formed respectively in the right side wall portion 120 and left side wall portion 130. Projections 120b and 130b projecting into said slots are formed near the semicircular bottom portions of the respective slots 120a and 130a.Slot-shaped holes 120c and 1 30c are formed respectively in the side wall portions 120 and 130 adjacent the bottom portions of the respective slots 1 20a and 130a so that the flexibility may be higher near the projections 120b and 130b. Comparatively shallow slots 120d and 130d extending vertically toward the bottom wall portion from the top end edges are further formed respectively in both right and left side wall portions 120 and 130. The thickness of the front end corner portsion 1 20e and 1 30e of the side wall portions 120 and 130 separated respectively by the slots 120d and 130d are selected so that these portions are highly flexible. Notches 120f and 1 30f are formed respectively in portions forming the slots 120d and 130d.A square through hole 110d is formed in the bottom wall portion 110. Reference numeral 2 indicates a main shaft. A flange 2b and a portion 2c of somewhat larger diameter than the shaft 2 and of roughened surface are formed near one end 2a of said main shaft 2.

Reference numeral 3 indicates a bobbin-shaped minute-drum formed of a synthetic resin material. Minute-drum 3 has a shaft hole 3c of an inside diameter somewhat less than the outer diameter of the portion 2c of the main shaft 2 so as to be secureable to the main shaft 2 as will be described later, a rib 3d for forming a predetermined space between one side wall 3a and the flange 2b of the main shaft 2, ratchet teeth 3e formed so as to be annular on the outside surface of the side wall 3a and 60 holes 3f and 3g arranged at regular intervals respectively near the peripheral edge portions of both side walls 3a and 3b.Reference numeral 4 indicates a gear formed of a synthetic resin material, rotatably mounted on the main shaft 2 between the flange 2b of the main shaft 2 and the side wall 3a of the minute-drum 3 and having a rib 4a for forming a predetermined space between it and the side wall 3a of the minute drum 3 and three ratchet pawls 4b resiliently engaging with the ratchet teeth 3e. Reference numeral 5 indicates a group of 60 minute-indicating digit plates rockably fitted in the holes 3f and 3g of the minute-drum 3. Reference numeral 6 indicates an hour-drum. 48 holes are formed respectively near the peripheral edge portions of the side walls 6a and 6b of the hour drum 6. A gear 6c is integrally formed on the side of the side wall 6b. Reference numeral 7 indicates a group of 48 hour-indicating digit plates fitted rockably in the above mentioned holes of the hour-drum 6.Reference numeral 8 indicates a pinion secured to the main shaft 2. Reference numeral 9 indicates a synchronizing piece arranged between the minute drum 3 and hour drum 6. Reference numeral 10 indicates a plate spring for pressing the digit plates 5 and 7.

Reference numeral 11 indicates a plate spring fitting rod. A channel-shaped incision 1 la and a projection 1 ib are formed in each end portion of the plate spring fitting rod 11. Reference numeral 12 indicates a motor, 13 indicates a gear box and 14 indicates an output pinion.

Reference numeral 15 indicates a gear having pinions 16 and 17 integrally formed on both sides.

The clock device consisting of such component elements as in the above is assembled as follows.

First, as shown in Figure 2, the gear 4 is fitted to the main shaft 2, then the minute-drum 3 is fitted to it and the shaft portion 2c somewhat larger in the outside diameter than the shaft hole 3c is pressed into the minute-drum 3 so that the minute-drum 3 may be fixed and supported on the main shaft 2 where the rib 3d contacts the flange 2b. Thereby, the gear 4 will be properly supported between the flange 2b of the main shaft 2 and the side wall 3a of the minute-drum 3 and the ratchet pawls 4b will engage with the ratchet teeth 3e.

Then, the hour-drum (which has the inside diameter of the shaft hole made larger than the diameter of the main shaft and is rotatable with respect to the main shaft) is fitted to the main shaft 2 to which the minute-drum is secured and further the pinion 8 is fitted and fixed to the main shaft 2. The synchronizing piece 9 is disposed between the minute-drum 3 and hourdrum 6 so that the intermediate portion not illustrated may lie across the main shaft 2.

The time indicating block formed by the above is now inserted with the main shaft 2 so that the right side surface of the flange 2b of the main shaft 2 may be opposed to the left side surface of the right side wall portion 120 and the flange 8a if the pinion 8 may be opposed to the left side surface of the left side wall portion 130 within the slots 120a and 130a formed respectively in the right side wall portion 120 and left side wall portion 130 of the frame 1.In this case, the widths of the slots 120a and 130a are made somewhat larger than the diameter of the main shaft 2 and the parts of the projections 120b and 130b are made narrower than said diameter but, as the slotshaped through holes 120c and 130c are formed, if the main shaft 2 is pushed strongly, the thin portions will flex and, when the shaft 2 passes through, the flexed portions will recover due to their resiliency to prevent the shaft 2 from being pulled out. Therefore, the main shaft 2 will be rotatably supported in the bottom portions of the slots 1 20a and 130a. Further, the synchronizing piece 9 is inserted at the lower end 9a into the through hole 110d formed in the bottom wall portion 110 of the frame 1 and then is bent at the lower end to be prevented from being pulled out.

This time indicating block has been conventionally incorporated with the frame by inserting the main shaft 2 through the shaft holes made in the right and left side wall portions of the frame and therefore has required much time and skill. That is to say, in the conventional manner, first the main shaft is inserted into the shaft hole of the left side wall portion and is pushed in little by little, the hour-drum and minute drum are fitted in the order mentioned from the tip portion of the main shaft in a narrow space, the minute-drum is fixed to the main shaft and then the main shaft is inserted in the tip portion into the shaft hole of the right side wall portion and is treated to be prevented from being pulled out. Therefore, the assembling work has been very difficult.

On the other hand, in the shaft holding system according to the present invention, it is very simple to incorporate the time indicating block with the frame and it is also simple to disassemble and repair the block.

Then the fitting rod 11 supporting the plate spring 10 is fitted and fixed in the slots 120d and 130d of the right and left side wall portions 120 and 130 of the frame 1 with both end portions in which the incisions 1 la and projections 1 lib are formed so as to press the minute-digit plate group 5 and hour-digit plate group 7 in portions to prevent them from dropping.That is to say, as shown in Figure 3, if the fitting rod 11 is fitted in the end portion into the slot 1 20d (130d) and is pushed strongly, the projection 1 lib will push out the portion 1 20e (130e) and therefore said portion 1 20e (130e) will flex in the direction indicated by the arrow and, when the projection 1 lb engages with the nortch 120f (130J), the portion 120e (130e) will recover due to its resiliency so that the fitting rod 11 will be fixed so as not to be pulled out by being lightly pulled.

The operation of the clock device assembled as mentioned above shall be briefly described in the following.

When the motor 12 is rotated, through the gear box 13, the output pinion 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and will rotate the gear 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow. By this rotation of the gear 4, the minute-drum 3 rotates at a rate of one rotation per hour by the engagement of the ratchet pawls 4b with the ratchet teeth 3e and the hour-drum 6 will be rotated at a rate of one rotation per 24 hours in the same direction as of the minute drum 3 through the power transmitting device consisting of the main shaft 2, pinion 8, gear 15, pinion 16 and gear 6c. Thus, the minute-indicating digit plate group 5 and hour-indicating digit plate group 7 will be turned in turn to digitally indicate the time.

In the above explained embodiment, one projection 120b (130b) is formed in each slot 120a (130a) but, as shown in Figure 4, two such projections may be provided as opposed to each other in each slot so as to more positvely hold the main shaft 2. Further, even if the projection 1 lb provided in each end portion of the fitting rod 11 is formed on the back side of the fitting rod and the notch 120f(130f) is provided on the other side of the slot 120d (130d), the fitting rod 11 will be also able to be positively fitted to the side wall 120 (130).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Means for holding shafts or the like comprising a pair of side walls each including a slot open at one end and having a width capable of receiving a shaft or the like, at least one projection formed on an inside face of each said slot adjacent the rear end of said each slot spaced from a mouth of each said slot, and a slot shaped hole provided adjacent the bottom portion of each said slot and enabling the wall of each said slot to flex as said shaft or the like passes over said projection, wherein that portion of each said side wall adjacent said projection is sufficiently thin as to be flexible, and wherein the bottom portion of said slot has a semi-circular contour enabling said shaft to be rotatably held by said bottom portion and said projection.

2. Means for holding shafts or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. if the fitting rod 11 is fitted in the end portion into the slot 1 20d (130d) and is pushed strongly, the projection 1 lib will push out the portion 1 20e (130e) and therefore said portion 1 20e (130e) will flex in the direction indicated by the arrow and, when the projection 1 lb engages with the nortch 120f (130J), the portion 120e (130e) will recover due to its resiliency so that the fitting rod 11 will be fixed so as not to be pulled out by being lightly pulled. The operation of the clock device assembled as mentioned above shall be briefly described in the following. When the motor 12 is rotated, through the gear box 13, the output pinion 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 and will rotate the gear 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow. By this rotation of the gear 4, the minute-drum 3 rotates at a rate of one rotation per hour by the engagement of the ratchet pawls 4b with the ratchet teeth 3e and the hour-drum 6 will be rotated at a rate of one rotation per 24 hours in the same direction as of the minute drum 3 through the power transmitting device consisting of the main shaft 2, pinion 8, gear 15, pinion 16 and gear 6c. Thus, the minute-indicating digit plate group 5 and hour-indicating digit plate group 7 will be turned in turn to digitally indicate the time. In the above explained embodiment, one projection 120b (130b) is formed in each slot 120a (130a) but, as shown in Figure 4, two such projections may be provided as opposed to each other in each slot so as to more positvely hold the main shaft 2. Further, even if the projection 1 lb provided in each end portion of the fitting rod 11 is formed on the back side of the fitting rod and the notch 120f(130f) is provided on the other side of the slot 120d (130d), the fitting rod 11 will be also able to be positively fitted to the side wall 120 (130). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Means for holding shafts or the like comprising a pair of side walls each including a slot open at one end and having a width capable of receiving a shaft or the like, at least one projection formed on an inside face of each said slot adjacent the rear end of said each slot spaced from a mouth of each said slot, and a slot shaped hole provided adjacent the bottom portion of each said slot and enabling the wall of each said slot to flex as said shaft or the like passes over said projection, wherein that portion of each said side wall adjacent said projection is sufficiently thin as to be flexible, and wherein the bottom portion of said slot has a semi-circular contour enabling said shaft to be rotatably held by said bottom portion and said projection.

2. Means for holding shafts or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.