US1035368A

US1035368A - Automatic mail and package carrier.

Info

Publication number: US1035368A
Application number: US59703410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Chester A Lowe; John C Atkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-12-13
Filing date: 1910-12-13
Publication date: 1912-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1929-08-13

Description

c. A. LOWE 8 J. 0. ATKINSON.

AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE CARRIER.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 13, 1910.

c. A. LOWE & J. c. ATKiNSON.

. AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED 1030.13, 1910.

z fi. N m ,v H an I va 90H AH flZ w n 6 7 Am w d m4 w R UM m P G. A. LOWE & J. G. ATKINSON.

AU' OMATIG MAIL AND PAGKAGE CARRIER. APPLIOATIOILIILED DEC. 13, 1910.

G.v A. LOWE & J. G. ATKINSON. AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.'13, 1910.

Patented Aug. 13; 1912.

4 snnn'rsanziinv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER A. LOWE AND JOHN C. ATKINSON, 0F CLARINGTON, OHlIO.

AUTOMATIC MAIL AND PACKAGE CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed December 13, 1910. Serial No. 597,034.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHESTER A. Lowe and JOHN C. ArnrNsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Clarington. in the county of Monroe and State of Ohio, have invented,new and useful Improve ments in Automatic Mail and Package C'ar riers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention provides a carrier system particularly designed for use in rural districts for delivering mail, packages, or parcels.

In its specific adaptation the invention provides means for delivering mail to residents in sparsely settled districts or to. transmit mail from a station to the post oiiice'or other point of distribution, said system er. 1 i212" bodylng a carrier which 18 automaticati g propelled upon an elevated line and adapted to be returned to the point of starting at a predetermined time.

The invention contemplates a carrier provided with a spring motor and combining therewith a reversing mechanism adapted to be automatically actuated or manually operated according to the existing conditions, the motor having a time mechanism which may be set to trip the reversing mechanism so as to start the carrier on its return trip s. given time.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming, a part of the application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carrier system embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the spring motor and time mechanism, showing the reversing mechanism in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a side view of the spring motor. 'Fig. 4 is a front View of the time mechanism and the means coiiperating therewith for automatically releasing the reversing mechanism from the stronger spring. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4:, showing the lever tripped. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66, looking to the left. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the trip wheel, the lever cotiperating therewith and the rod to which the stronger spring is attached. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7

around sprocket having the rod released. Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8, looking to the left. Fig. 10 is a detail section of the trip wheel, showing the notch in the outer side thereof. Fig. 11 is a detail view in end elevation of the casing containing the motor and the parts associated therewith for driving the carrier.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all'the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The carrier is indicated by the letter A and comprises a box 1, or like receptacle, for receiving the mail, parcels, or other matter to the transported, and a casing 2 containing the motor, the time and the reversmechanisms. Access is had to the box eptacle 1 by means of a suitably ar- 5 door 3, which may be fastened in any :anner. The operating mechanism is housed within the casing 2, which is located above the box or receptacle 1 for conven ience,

said casing being pointed at opposite ends so as to ofifer the smallest amount of resistance to the passage of the carrier through the air. Hangers 4 and 5 support the carrier and are provided with grooved wheels 6 and 7 at their upper ends arranged to travel upon an elevated track or line 8 consisting of a cable or wire. The lower ends of the hangers 4 and 5 are connected with the carrier by means of swivel joints, thereby avoiding strain. One of the supporting wheels is utilized as a driver to propel the carrier. A sprocket wheel 9 has connection with the wheel 6 selected as the driver and the force for propelling the carrier is applied to the sprocket wheel 9 by means of a sprocket chain 10, which passes

wheels

12 and 13 secured upon shafts 14 and 15, which are mounted in a frame 16 adapted to have a movement imparted thereto, whereby power may be applied directly to one or the other of the shafts 1 1 or 15. The shaft-14 has a friction wheel 17 secured thereto and the shaft 15 has a friction wheel 18 fastened thereto. The friction wheels 17 and 18 are located so as to aline and to engage with the rim 19 of a friction wheel 20. The rim 19 of the friction wheel 20 incloses the friction wheel 17 and a portion is arranged between the adjacent parts of the friction wheels 17 and 18. Movement of the frame 16 brings one or the other of the friction wheels 17 or 18 into engagement with the rim 19' of the friction wheel 20, thereby driving the sprocket chain 10 in one direction or the other according to the desired direction of travel of the carrier. t

The frame 16 may be mounted in any manner and for simplicity it is shown pivoted at 21 to a bracket 22 or like pa'iitab tached to the main frame or part ofthe casing 2.

Springs

23 and 24 have connection with the frame 16, said springs being of different tension, the spring 23 being stronger than the spring 24. The springs 23 anc When the spring 23 is under tension it overcomes the force of the spring 24 and moves the frame 16 so as to bring the friction wheel 18 into engagement with the rim of the friction wheel 20, thereby driving the carrier in one direction, but when the spring 23 is relieved of tension the spring 24 comes into play and moves the frame 16 in the opposite direction and brings the friction wheel 17 into engagement with the rim of the friction wheel 20, thereby reversing the carrier or driving the same inan opposite direction. The

springs

23 and 24 may be connected to the frame 16 in any manner. A rod 25 is connected with the outer end of the spring 23 and is mounted in a suitable guide 26.

1 The motor embodies a frame 27 and a train of gearing mounted in the frame, said train of gearing embodying a spring driven shaft 28, a governor shaft 29 and a power shaft 30. Any variety of governor may be connected with the shaft 29. The power shaft 30 has the friction wheel 20 secured thereto. The power shaft 30 is driven in one direction only. The provision and arrangement of the friction wheels 17, 18 and 20 results in driving the axle positively in either direction upon the track or elevated line 8. lVhen the carrier reaches the end of the line in one direction its movement is arrested by means of a stop 31, which is yieldable to prevent shock. Upon reversing the operating mechanism by moving the frame 16 the carrier is driven so as to re turn upon the line to the place of starting, its motion being arrested when the carrier reaches the end of the line and comes in contact with a stop or buffer arranged to arrest its movement.

The carrier may be reversed by hand or automatically by means of atime. mechanism. The rod 25 has a hook or stop 32,

which is adapted to engage one end of alever 33,which is mounted upon a fulcrum pin 34. The lever 33 is mounted to turn and to move axially on the pin 34 and is pressed inward b .means of a spring'35, which is mounte' upon the fulcrum pin and confined between the lever 33- and' a 24: are preferably of the helical type and are adapted to be subjected to tension.

heal'd or shoulder formed on said ffulcrinn pin. A- release lever 36 is pivoted at its inn'r end and has a short arm 37, which i frame 16 to bring the friction wheel 17 into engagement with the friction wheel 20 to 3 reverse the carrier. The lever 33 has ger 38 projecting at. a right angle -there'-' from and adapted toengag'e a trip wheel 39, which is mounted upon the part ofthe time mechanism carrying the hour hand 40 so as to rotate therewith. The-trip wheel 39 has'a groove 41. in .its outer edge to receive the end of the finger 38 so as to prevent lateral displacement thereof when moving thelever 33 laterally. by means of the lever 36 to effect disengagement of the rod 25 therefroxm A notch 42 is" formed ina' side of the trip wheel 39 and its inner wall inclinesto' form a.v cam for-the ,finger 38- to ride upon so as to move the inner end of the lever 33 laterally to clear the trip wheel so that the time mechanism may "continue to operate. The outer end of the notch 42 communicates with the groove 41- and when 7 said notch registerswiththe finger 38 the latter enters said notch and at the same time is moved laterally to clear the walls of the notch. lVhen .th-e finger 38 enters the 1 notch 42 the outer end of the lever 33 moves so as to release the rod 25, which *is drawn toward .the frame 16 by means of'the spring 23, the latter being at the same time relieved of all tension. When the carrier is started from one end of the line the rod, 25 is drawn away from the frame 16, thereby subjecting the spring 23 to tension and moving the frame 16 against the tension of the lighter spring 245, said rod 25 being held in the adjusted position by engaging the hook or stop 32 thereof with the outer end of the lever 33.- spring the carrier is driven upon the line to the oppositeend thereof by the means'herein disclosed. When the carrier reaches the opposite end-of the fine its movement is arrested by'imeans of the stop '31 and upon releasing the rod'25 either by tomatically by the mechanism the spring 23 is relieved o-f'tension and'the frame 16 is moved by the spring'24, thereby reversing the carrier which is returned to the place of starting. I

The time mechanism com'prises a frame 43, wh'ich supports. the time movement. A dial 44 is movable and is adapted it) be-seE cured in the adjusted position by a set screw 45, or like fastening. An indicating point 46 is provided upon the frame 43, the same Upon winding the motor hand or auset for its return it is being arranged opposite the finger 38 of the lever 83. The trip wheel 39 has the hour hand 40 connected thereto and is movable upon the shaft of the movement usuallg receiving the bands which cooperate wit the dial to indicatethe time. p

is to be returned at a given time the dial 44 isset so that the required time comes opposite. the indicator 4:6 and the trip wheel 39 is moved so that the hour hand 40 will point to the time upon the dial corresponding. with that at which the carrier, is started out-on its trip, I When the carrier reaches the end'of the line its movement will'be' arrested and in the event of the reversing'mechanism not being tripped by hand it will be automatically operated by the time mechanism when the hour hand reaches the hour indicated upon the dial. When the hour hand reaches a point opposite the indicator LG the notch 42 of the trip and the latter entering the notch results in a reversing of the carrier in the manner stated. Should the party at the receiving end of the line desire to return the carrier earlier than the time only necessary to operate the lever 36, thereby releasing the rod 25 and admitting the spring 24 tocome into play to actuate the reversing mechanism in the manner stated.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the methodvof operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation of the invention, togetherwith .now consider to be the embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is'merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when'desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

, Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is':-

1. In combination a line, a carrier mounted upon the line, a spring motor mounted upon the carrier, power transmitting means between'the spring motor and line, a reversing mechanism, and springs of difi'erenttension acting upon the reversing mechanism, the stronger spring when under tension overcoming the tension of the weaker spring to hold the reversing mechanism in position for applying the driving ower for propelling the carrier in one direction and the weaker spring coming into play whenthe stronger spring is relieved of tension to operate thereversing mechanism to drive the carrier in an opposite direction to return the same to the place of starting.

2..In combination a carrier, a spring motor for driving the carrier mounted thereon,

, said motor embodying able frame, two wheels mounted upon the 1 movable frame for't-ransmitting power from When the carrier relieving the strongenspring wheel 39 is brought in register with the finger 38 the device which we.

a drive wheel, a movthe drive wheel, springs of different tension arranged to exert a orcefor 'moving the frame in opposite directions, the stronger spring when under tension overcoming the force of the weaker spring, and means for of tension to permitthe'weaker 5 ring to come into play to move the frame or reversing the motor to drive the carrier in the opposite direction.

In combination a carrier,

including a drive wheel, a movable frame, a reversing mechanism mounted upon said movable frame and adapted to 0060 erate with said drive wheel, springs of di erent tension normally exerting a force to move said frame in opposite directions, means for holding the stronger of the springs under tension, and means for releasing the stronger spring to permit the weaker spring to come into play to shift the movable frame and reverse the movement of the carrier.

4. In combination a carrier, nism therefor including a drive wheel, a movable frame, reversing mechanism mounted upon the movable frame and adapted to cooperate with the said drive wheel, springs of different the frame to move the same in opposite d1- rections, means for holding the stronger spring under tension, a manually operable device for releasing the said spring tensioning means, and automatic means for releasing the s ring tensioning means independently of the manually operable means.

5. In combination a carrier, drive mecha-. nism therefor including adrive wheel, a movable frame, reversing mechanism mount ed upon the movable frame and adapted to cooperate with the said drive wheel, springs of different tension exerting a force upon the'frame to move the same in opposite directions, a rod connected with the stronger spring, a lever for engaging said rod to hold the spring connected therewith under tension, and a releasing lever for disengaging said rod from the-holding lever. a

6. In combination a carrier, drive mecha- Y nism therefor including a drive wheel, a. movable frame, reversing mechanism mounted upon the movable frame and adapted to cotiperate with the said drive wheel, springs of different tension exerting a force upon the frame to move the same in opposite directions, a rod connected with the stronger drive mechaspring, a lever for engaging said rod to hold the spring connected therewith under tension, a movable trip wheel for holding the lever in operative position and having a cutaway portion to admit of the lever automatically releasing the said rod, and means operating mechanism mounted upon the carrier an tension e xertinga force upon Y tor and line for propelling the carrier infor automatically bringing theportion of the trip wheel into a definite position to effect release of the said rod to relieve the stronger spring of all tension. 4

7. In combination an elevated line, a carrier mounted to travel upon said line, a spring motor mounted upon the carrier, power transmitting means between the moeration to effect a return of the carrier to the place of starting. v

9. In combination acarrier,'driving mechanism therefor, power transmitting means including 'a reversing mechanism, a rod for holding the reversing mechanism in one po sition, a lever for engaging said rod mounted toh'ave both a pivotal and alateral movement, and means for moving the'last mentioned lever laterally substantially as and for the purpose specific eluding a reversing mechanism; means exerting opposed forces of different strength upon the reversing mechanism, and means for automaticallyreleasing the stronger of the forces to admit of the weaker force coming into play for throwing the reversing mechanism into active operation.

8.v In combination a line, a carrier mounted to travel upon the line, a spring motor mounted upon, the carrier and'embodying a friction wheel having a laterally extending rim, a movable frame, two friction wheels mounted upon the movable frame and having'a portion of the rim of the motor driven friction wheel coming between them, means for transmitting power from the two friction wheels mounted upon the mova-ble frame through the drive wheel of the carrier mounted upon the line, springs of dif-; ferent 1tension I(Zach adapted to exert a force tures in presence oftwowitnesses. upon tie mova le frame to throw one of the two friction wheels into engagement with the rim of the friction drive Wheel, a rod X mechanism therefor,

power transmitting means lncludmg a the inner wall clined to efl'ec ment.

connected with the stronger spring, a lever Witnesses: 7 for engaging said rod to hold the stronger C. M. MESSERLY, spring under tension, and manually operable E. M NAHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington. D. C. V

cutaway I and automatic means for releasing said rod l to bring the reversing mechanism into op- 10.- In combination a carrier, driving '5". reversing mechanism, arod for holding the reversing mechanisnr'iir" one position, a-levcr for engaging said rod mounted to have both a pivotal and a lateral movement, said l'ever having a finger pro- -jecting therefi om aboutat a right angle," and a trip wheel toengage said finger and having a portion cut'from one side having bf the cutaway portion iua lateral movement of the lever simultaneously with its pivotal move-- In testimony ,whereof we aflix our signa-