GB752690A - Improvements in or relating to step-by-step mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

752,690. Ratchet gearing. NORTHROP AIRCRAFT, Inc. May 6, 1954 [June 8, 1953], No. 13215/54. Class 80(3) [Also in Group XXXV] In an electrically-actuated ratchet device for obtaining a' step-by-step rotation in one or other direction of a shaft 4 on the receipt, by one or other of two solenoids 16, of a series of electrical pulses, the shaft 4 carries a wheel 5 on each face of which is a set of ten ratchet teeth 9 engageable by facial ratchet teeth 14, 15 on the armatures 19 of the solenoids, and ball-and-inclined-plane means 21 are provided so that when a current pulse is received by one of the solenoids its armature 19 undergoes an angular movement simultaneous with its axial movement whereby the teeth 15 engage and turn the wheel 5. The periphery of the wheel 5 has ten lobes defining detents engaged by a spring-loaded roller 10 so that the wheel 5 is located in 36-degree steps. The ball means 21 is arranged so that the axial movement of the armature 19 is accompanied by an angular movement of 45 degrees. Ten degrees of this movement are employed in bringing the teeth 15, 9 axially into engagement, a 35-degree turning movement being therefore imparted to the wheel 5. The last one degree of each step is controlled by the roller 10 while' a spiral spring returns the armature 19. The return movement is assisted by the cam action of the ratchet teeth. The spring-loaded roller 10 is carried by a collar 12 with which the two solenoids are located by pin and slot connections 26.