US1132496A - Attachment for chain-tighteners. - Google Patents

Description

A. J. STEPFENSEN. ATTACHMENT FOR. CHAIN TIGHTENERS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1914.

1,132,496. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS C(L, PHOTCLITHO,, WASHINGRJN, D4 C.

ANDREW J. STEFFENSEN, OF WOODS-TOOK, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIN-TIGHTENERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed June 6, 1914. Serial No. 843,512.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW J. STEFFEN- SEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Woodstock, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Chain-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in attachments for chain tighteners and has particular application to an attachment for the chain tightener of corn binders, although it is to be understood that the invention, in its useful application, is not limited to use in conjunction with the chain tighteners of corn binding machines, as the same may be employed in connection with the chain tightening devices of other machines.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide an attachment which will be found especially useful in conjunction with the drive chain 'tightener of Mc- Cormick corn binders and whereby the idle roller of the chain tightener will be securely and effectively held in adjusted position.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described which may be readily and quickly applied to the machine and which may be conveniently and accurately adjusted and securely held in the desired adjusted position.

With the above and other objects inview, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one of the driving wheels of a McCormick corn binder showing my invention applied. Fig. 2' is a view in side elevation of the attachment removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-1 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1 designates one of the traction wheels of a corn binder of the McCormick type, while 2 indicates a gear wheel disposed concentrically of the aXis of the traction wheel and secured to the inner face of the latter so that in the rotation of the gear wheel motion will be imparted to the traction wheel.

8 indicates a driving pinion fixed to a suitable shaft connected up with the source of power of the machine and ournaled in suitable bearings, while 5 designates an endless chain trained over the gear wheel 2 and the pinion 3 and adapted to impart movement to the traction wheel in the rotation of the pinion. The brace bar of the corn bmder is indicated at 6 and disposed in proximity to the gear wheel 2 and pinion 3, as usual. Depending from the support of the bearings of the pinion 3 is a lug 7 equipped at its lower end with a horizontal pivot bolt 8 and pivoted upon the bolt 8 is an arm 9 having the outer end thereof provided with a stub shaft upon which is journaled an idle roller 10 bearing against the under surface of the lower run of the chain. The confronting faces of the lug 7 and arm 9 are formed with teeth designed to interlock with one another and threaded upon one end of the pivot bolt 8 is a nut by means of which the teeth may be held in interlocking engagement. By means of this construction, it will be seen that when the nut 8 is loosened the arm 9 and roller 10 may be swung upwardly to increase the tension on the drive chain, while when the nut is tightened the teeth on the confronting faces'of the arm and lug will interlock and so hold the arm against downward movement. This particular type of chain tightener is now.

used on the McCormick corn binder for maintaining the chain taut and practice has demonstrated that the interlocking teeth on the lug and arm are insuflicient to maintain the arm and idle roller elevated in the continued movement of the chain, the teeth breaking off or separating under the strain and permitting the arm to drop under the action of the chain thereby slackening the latter and impairing the propelling mecha nism of the corn binding machine. In order to eliminate this and other objectionable features heretofore present, I employ an attachment whereby the arm 9 isheld in adjusted position and which coacts with the interlocking teeth on the lug and arm to prevent downward movement of the arm and idle roller in the operation of the propelling mechanism of the machine. In the present instance, this attachment comprises a segmental plate 11 formed with a longitudinal slot 12 struck on an arc corresponding with that of the plate and having one face thereof serrated as at 13.

14 indicates a substantially U-shaped clamping block having the outer ends of the limbs thereof formed with feet 15, 15 and the bottom faces of the feet are serrated to engage the serrated face of the plate 11. Formed in the feet 15, 15 are apertures registering with the slot 12 in the plate 11 and passed through these apertures and embracing the clamping block is a U-shaped clamping bolt 16 having the outer ends of the limbs thereof threaded to receive nuts 17 and washers 18 interposed between the nuts and the adjacent face of the plate 11. The lower end of the plate 11 is formed with an offset car 18 and passed through such ear is a pivot bolt 19 adapted to form an axle for the idle roller 10 of the chain tightener.

In practice, the plate 12 is disposed upon one side of the brace bar 5 in a substantially vertical position immediately adjacent to the pinion 3 and chain tightener, while the clamping block 1% is arranged at the opposite side of the bar, the serrated faces of the feet 15 interlocking with the similar face of the plate 11. The clamping bolt 15 is now placed about the block and the limbs of such bolt passed through the apertures or openings in the feet 15 and the slot 12 in the plate. The washers 18 and nuts 17 are now secured in position whereby the block 15 clamps against the brace bar 6 and so holds the plate 11 in proper position, the nuts 17 and slot 12 in the plate 11 enabling the attachment to be adjusted vertically relatively to the belt tightener. The opening in the ear 18 on the lower end of the plate 12 alines with the axis of the roller 10 and the bolt 11 is passed through the registering openings in the car 18, arm 9 and the hub of the idle roller, such bolt forming an axle for the roller. As the arm 9 is swung upwardly to take the slack out of the chain 5, the plate 11 is similiarly moved, the nuts 17 having been loosened, and when the chain is placed under the desired tension the nut 8 is tightened to inter lock the teeth on the confronting faces of the lug 7 and arm 9, and the nuts 17 tightened whereby the serrated faces of the feet of the clamping block 1-1 will be drawn into interlocking engagement with the serrated face of the plate 12. Thus, the chain tightener will be effectively and efliciently secured in position and held against move ment under the action of the belt in the operation of the propelling mechanism of the corn binding machine.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. It will be seen that I have provided a drive chain tightener attachment or adjunct whereby when the chain is placed under the desired tension the chain tightener will be securely and effectively held in adjusted position thereby eliminating the possibility of the chain be coming slack.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, 1 wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An attachment of the class described comprising an arcuate shaped plate having a slot formed therein and having one face thereof serrated, a substantially iJ-shapcd clamping block having feet formed on the outer ends of the limbs thereof and serrated to engage the serrated face of said plate, and a clamping bolt embracing said block and passed through said feet and slot.

An attachment of the class described comprising an arcuate shaped plate having a slot formed therein, a substantially U- shaped clamping block having feet formed on the outer ends of the limbs thereof and engaging one face of said plate, and a clamping bolt embracing said block and passed through said feet and slot.

3. The combination with a chain tightener of a corn binding machine, of means co'perating with said tightener to hold the latter in adjusted position and comprising a plate disposed at one side of the brace bar of the machine and having a slot formed therein, a substantially U-shaped clamping block embracing the brace bar and having feet formed on the outer ends of the limbs thereof in engagement with the adjacent face of said plate, a clamping bolt embracing said block and passed through said feet and the slot in. said plate, and a connection between the lower end of said plate and the chain tightener.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREWV J. STEFFENSEN.

Witnesses 2 A. J. MULLEN, N. M. THOMPSON.

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

Washington, D. G.

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