GB2334565A

GB2334565A - Mounting a rotatable elongate member

Info

Publication number: GB2334565A
Application number: GB9823997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William David Steadman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-06
Filing date: 1998-11-04
Publication date: 1999-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-04
Also published as: GB2334565B; GB9823997D0

Abstract

In a mounting arrangement for a driven rotatable elongate member 12, for example a driven shaft of a bath lift, a driven mounting is releasably mounted at one end 14 of the elongate member 12. The driven mounting comprises a coaxial profiled pin 20 shaped to rotatably engage the member 12, for example by means of splines 22, the pin 20 also mounting a gear 28. At the other end of the arrangement 10 a freely rotatable mounting of the other end of the member 12 is provided by a second coaxial pin (40, Fig 7) which is of circular cross section.

Description

Mounting Arrangement This invention concerns a mounting arrangement, and particularly but not exclusively a mounting arrangement for a driven rotatable elongate member.

With driven rotatable elongate members such as a shaft for mounting a band in a bath lift, it is often desirable for the shaft to be readily removable from its mounting to permit for example replacement of the band. The mounting is also required to provide reliable and secure operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a mounting arrangement for an elongate member, the arrangement comprising a first member a free end of which is removably locatable within one end of the elongate member, the first member and/or the elongate member being shaped such that rotation of the first member causes rotation of the elongate member, the first member also mounting a means to permit driving thereof.

The first member is preferably elongate, though is desirably shorter than the elongate member.

Preferably the driving permitting means comprises a rotatable member in the form of a gear or wheel. The driving permitting means is preferably releasably mountable on the first member. The driving permitting means may comprise a sleeve, extending through which the first member is locatable, and upon which sleeve the rotatable member is fixedly mounted.

Means may be provided for securing the first member within the sleeve, and said means may comprise alignable holes in the first member and sleeve, and a fastening means locatable in said holes.

The driving permitting means may be rotatably mounted on a frame member. Bearings may be provided on the frame member engageable with the driving permitting means. The frame member may comprise a pair of spaced members, with the driving permitting means mounted on each and extending therebetween. The frame member is preferably arranged such that the elongate member extends from one side of the frame member, and the first member can be slid from the opposite side of the frame member when the fastening means is removed, to release the elongate member.

Splines may be provided on the first member or the interior of the elongate member, with complementary recesses on the other of the first member or elongate member interior.

The elongate member may have a profile which comprises the splines or recesses. Alternatively, the splines or recesses may be formed in the elongate member. As a further alternative, an inset including the splines or recesses may be fixed in said one end of the elongate member.

The mounting arrangement may also comprise a second mounting means for mounting said opposite end of the elongate member. The second mounting means preferably releasably mounts the elongate member, and desirably such that the elongate member is freely rotatable.

The second mounting means preferably comprises a second member a free end of which is locatable within the other end of the elongate member.

The second member is preferably elongate, though is desirably shorter than the elongate member. The second member may be made of a relatively low friction material, and may be made of nylon.

The second mounting means preferably comprises a sleeve mountable to a frame member, and extending through which sleeve the second member is locatable.

Means may be provided for securing the second member within said sleeve, and said means may comprise alignable holes in the second member and sleeve, and a fastening means locatable in said holes.

In an alternative arrangement, the free end of the second member may be in the shape of a ball such that the elongate member can pivot thereabout when said one end thereof is free.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of part of a mounting arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but from an opposite side; Figs. 4 and S are cross-sectional views of part of the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a further part of the arrangement of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 of a further mounting arrangement according to the invention.

Figs. 1-6 of the drawings show a mounting arrangement 10 for mounting a driven shaft 12 of a bath lift. The arrangement 10 comprises a driven mounting at one end 14 of the shaft (Figs. 1-3), and a freely rotatable mounting at the other end 16 of the shaft (Fig. 6).

Considering the mounting of the end 14 of the shaft, the interior of the shaft 12 at the end 14 is shaped to include a plurality of axially extending spaced recesses 18 on the interior of the shaft 12 (Fig. 5). The arrangement 10 comprises a first pin 20, along the free end of which are provided a plurality of splines 22 of a size and spacing to slidably locate in the recesses 18, such that rotation of the pin 20 causes rotation of the shaft 12. The free end of the first pin 20 is removably located in the end 14 of the shaft.

The first pin 20 extends through a sleeve 24. Alignable holes are provided through the pin 20 and sleeve 24, and these components 20,24 can be locked together by an Allen key 26 extending through the holes when aligned.

The sleeve 24 coardally mounts an annular gear 28, which gear 28 is engageable with a further gear driven by a motor (both not shown).

The arrangement 10 at the end 14 is mounted on a frame member 30.

The member 30 comprises a flat plate 32 and a broad U-shaped plate 34 mounted thereto by the ends of the side limbs of the U. This arrangement provides a space between the two parallel plates 32, 34 which locates the gear 28. Aligned holes are provided in the plates 32, 34 and lined with bearings 36 which mount the sleeve 24.

The gear 28 is mounted on the sleeve 24 by a number of tack welds 38 spaced around the circumference thereof. Whilst the majority of the above described components are made of steel, the pin 20 and bearings 36 are made of nylon.

In use, rotation of the gear 28 causes rotation of the sleeve 24 and pin 20 mounted therein, and hence the shaft 12. To remove the shaft 12 to for example replace a band thereon, the Allen key 26 is removed. The pin 20 can then be slid outwardly from the sleeve 24 such that the end 14 of the shaft is free.

Fig. 6 shows a non-driven mounting of the end 16 of the shaft. In this arrangement a similar second pin 40 is provided, but in this instance the pin 40 is of wholly circular cross-section. The pin 40 is again mountable in a similar manner in a sleeve 42 by an Allen key 44. The sleeve 40 is mounted within a further sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 is mounted to an opening in the frame 48 by a flange 50 on one end of the sleeve 46, and a nut 52 threadably engageable around the sleeve 42 and engageable against the other end of the sleeve 46.

Flg. 7 shows a similar arrangement to Fig. 6, except that the free end of the second pin 40 is in the form of a ball 54. This permits the shaft 12 to pivot thereabouts when the end 14 is free, and may mean that only the first pin 20 would require removal to free the shaft 12.

There is thus described a mounting arrangement which provides secure mounting for the shaft but permits the same to be readily removed when required. The arrangement is of relatively straightforward construction and can thus be robustly and inexpensively manufactured. Whilst the particular application of mounting a shaft in a bath lift is described, such an arrangement could be used in a wide variety of applications.

The internal shape of the one end of the shaft may be formed in a number of ways. For instance, the shaft may be moulded or otherwise formed with the spaced recesses. The recesses may be formed following formation of the shaft as a regular cylinder. As a further alternative, an appropriately shaped insert or inserts could be provided. Further modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the arrangements could be mounted to the respective parts of the frame in a different manner. The pins could be mounted to the sleeves in a different way.

The first pin and hence interior of the shaft could have a different configuration to provide rotation of the shaft.

The second pin may be made of a low friction material such as nylon, whether or not the end is in the form of a ball. When such a material is used, it may be possible to dispense with the further sleeve as the shaft will readily rotate relative to the pin.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

ams 1. A mounting arrangement for an elongate member, the arrangement comprising a first member a free end of which is removably locatable within one end of the elongate member, the first member and/or the elongate member being shaped such that rotation of the first member causes rotation of the elongate member, the first member also mounting a means to permit driving thereof.
2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first member is elongate.
3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the first member is shorter than the elongate member.
4. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the driving permitting means comprises a rotatable member in the form of a gear or wheel.
5. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the driving permitting means is releasably mountable on the first member.
6. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the driving permitting means comprises a sleeve.
7. A mounting arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the rotatable member is fixedly mounted upon the sleeve.
8. A mounting arrangement according to claims 6 or 7 wherein the first member is locatable extending through the sleeve.
9. A mounting arrangement according to claim 8 wherein means are provided for securing the first member within the sleeve.
10. A mounting arrangement according to claim 9 wherein said securing means comprise alignable holes in the first member and sleeve.
11. A mounting arrangement according to claim 10 wherein a fastening means is locatable in said holes.
12. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the driving permitting means are rotatably mounted on a frame member.
13. A mounting arrangement according to claim 12 wherein bearings are provided on the frame member engageable with the driving permitting means.
14. A mounting arrangement according to claims 12 or 13 wherein the frame member comprises a pair of spaced members, with the driving permitting means mounted on each and extending therebetween.
15. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the frame member is arranged such that the elongate member extends from one side of the frame member.
16. A mounting arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the first rriember can be slid from the opposite side of the frame member when the fastening means is removed, to release the elongate member.
17. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein splines are provided on the first member or the interior of the elongate member, with complementary recesses on the other of the first member or elongate member interior.
18. A mounting arrangement according to claim 17 wherein the elongate member has a profile which comprises the splines or recesses.
19. A mounting arrangement according to claim 17 wherein the splines or recesses are formed in the elongate member.
20. A mounting arrangement according to claim 17 wherein an insert including the splines or recesses may be fixed in said one end of the elongate member.
21. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the mounting arrangement also comprises a second mounting means for mounting the opposite end of the elongate member.
22. A mounting arrangement according to claim 21 wherein the second mounting means releasably mounts the elongate member.
23. A mounting arrangement according to claims 21 or 22 wherein the second mounting means releasably mounts the elongate member such that the elongate member is freely rotatable.
24. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the second mounting means comprises a second member a free end of which is locatable within the other end of the elongate member.
25. A mounting arrangement according to claim 24 wherein the second member is elongate
26. A mounting arrangement according to claim 25 wherein the second member is shorter than the elongate member.
27. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 24 to 26 wherein the second member is made of a relatively low friction material.
28. A mounting arrangement according to claim 27 wherein the second member is made of nylon.
29. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 21 to 28 wherein the second mounting means comprises a sleeve mountable to a frame member, and extending through which sleeve the second member is locatable.
30. A mounting arrangement according to claim 29 wherein means are provided for securing the second member within said sleeve.
31. A mounting arrangement according to claim 30 wherein said means comprise alignable holes in the second member and sleeve, and a fastening means locatable in said holes.
32. A mounting arrangement according to any of claims 21 to 31 wherein the second mounting means comprises a second member a free end of which is locatable within the other end of the elongate member and is in the shape of a ball such that the elongate member can pivot thereabout when said one end thereof is free.
33. A mounting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
34. A mounting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
35. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.