GB824988A - Improvements in or relating to spring motors - Google Patents

Abstract

824,988. Spring power-storing apparatus. TENSATOR Ltd. March 21, 1958 [March 22, 1957], No. 9421/57. Class 10. A spring motor comprises a rigidly held drum 13, Figs. 1, 2, a spool 15 rotatable about the drum axis, satellite storage drums 18 spaced from the drum 13 and freely mounted between the spool end plates and a spiral spring 19 coiled around each drum 18 with its free end attached to the drum 13. Each spring 19 is pre-stressed and tends to wind on to its associated drum 18 to rotate the drum, and hence the spool 15, around the drum 13. In a modified motor having five satellite drums 39, Fig. 4, one spool endplate has driving teeth 35 and the spool is held against rotation whilst a drum 40-fixedly held by a square winding spindle 33-is rotated to wind the springs thereon. A pawl and ratchet device 37 prevents backslip. In a cable &c. retrieving apparatus the cable (not shown) is normally coiled upon a spool 55, Fig. 5, in which position each spring 69 is coiled on its drum 68. On withdrawal of the cable the drums 68 rotate about a fixed drum 53 upon which winds each spring 69. On release of the cable the springs 69 return to the drums and the cable is rewound. Rotation of the spool 55 is limited by a non-rotatable nut 61 which moves along a rotating screw 59 until it meets either the screw head 60 or a pin 63. Rotation of the nut is prevented by the engagement of a slot in the nut with a spline 62 on the side of a bore 58.