US1182464A

US1182464A - Mechanical release device.

Info

Publication number: US1182464A
Application number: US7649616A
Authority: US
Inventors: James Herbert Emery
Original assignee: DORA B EMERY
Current assignee: DORA B EMERY
Priority date: 1916-02-05
Filing date: 1916-02-05
Publication date: 1916-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1933-05-09

Description

J. H. EMERY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. ISIS.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES:

IN I/ggf? Q 0% A TTOR/V E Y .l. H. EMERY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5. I916.

Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

A TTOR/VEY "NE COLUMBIA PLANOuR/mrl 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

- inafter described and then more llhlm %TATE% if JAMES HERBERT EMERY, or MORSEMERE, new sunset, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF fro none 13. nMEnY, or MORSEMERE, new JERfSEY.

MECHANICAL RELEASE DEVICE.

menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, James HERBERT EM- nay, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morsemere, in the county of Bergen and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Release Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawin z,

My invention refers to an automatic mechanical release device which is adapted to hold certain mechanical parts in a fixed position until a certain pressure is applied thereto or a certain weight thereon increases to a degree where a releasing effect is essential, and then to automatically effectuate the release so that the parts of any particular mechanism withwhich the device is used may instantly assume a different relation to each other for the performance of the necessary functions of said mechanism.

The object of the invention therefore is to provide a simple, efficient, and mechanical automatic release; and it also relates to various details and peculiarities in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts, substantially as will he hereparticularly pointed out in the claims. p

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation in partial section of my improved automatic release device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, Fi 3 isa perspective view of the device applied for use in connection with a steam boiler. Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified form of the device which adapts it for usewith a water flushing tank having therein a float valve. V

' Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout thedilferent figures of the drawing.

1 denotes ainain frame of any desired pattern or shape, and designed for attachment in any manner at a point where the device is neededto perform its functions. In one end of this frame ispivoted by means of the pivot 2 a lever 3, preferably of bifurcated form and carrying at its opposite end some suitable ball or counterbalance 4. The same pivot 2 serves as a fulcrum fora horizontal lever 5 situated alongside: ofthe lever 3 and between the parallel bifurcated sides thereof, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1

and 2. One end of the lever 5 projects beyond the lever 3 and is adapted to receive the weight or pressure of a contacting de vice, such as a pin or'arm, an example of which vis indicated at 6, while the opposite end of the lever 5 has a lip 7 that engages the inclined face 8 of a trip lever 9 pivoted Patented May a, thin. V

at 10 to the lever 3, and having. at its lower end a catch 11 that engages a spring finger 12 which is secured in some suitable way to the frame 1, said spring finger at'its upper end being preferably provided witha small antifriction roller 13 which falls into the notch in the catch 11, the roller permitting the catch to engage and disengage freely. l urtherm'ore, the trip lever 9 is pro vided with an upwardly-projecting arm 14;, through which passes a screw rodl having thereon a set-screw 16 and being provided with a spring 17 which connects with an eye 18 fastened to the lever 5. The tension of the spring 17 can, therefore, be easily adjustedby the set-screw 16. The effect of the spring 1'? is to draw the trip lever 9 toward the lever 5 so that the face 8 will be ver the lip 7 with more or less tension and consequently will regulate the pressure which the free end of the lever 5 is required to overcome in order that it may be depressed sufficiently to cause the lip 7 to lift the inclined face Sand oscillate the trip lever 9 sufficiently to disengage the catch 11 from the spring detent 12, the occurrence of which disengagement will obviously allow a further pressure on the end of the lever 5 to depress said lever still farther, and lift the lever 3 and trip 9, as also catch 11. The parts are restored to the position where the catch 11 again engages the finger 12 by the weight of the hall or counterbalance 4 at the end of the bifurcated lever 3 when the depressing action on the outer end of lever 55 ceases to act.

Assumingthat the parts are in the position shown in'Figs. l and 2 and that a wei ht, as for instance the weight 6 in Fig. 1 or some other example of pressure means is resting on the end of the lever 5, it will be understood that so 1on as the weight 6 remains the same, the parts of the release device will not change their positiombut I if there is superadded to this device other weights or pressures increasing the ponderability, of the same, such increase oflpressure will depress lever 5 and when the movement of lever 5 reaches a point where the tension of thespring is overcome by the action of the lip 7 riding on the inclined face 8, the trip lever 9 will be turned on its pivot 10 and will pull out .the spring 17 so that the catch 11 will be disengaged and the lever 5 will thus be overcome by the pressures represented at 6 so that the device 6 will be set free. The catch 11 is preferably formed with a rounded end 19 which will easily ride over the roller 13, when the pressure of the part 6 hasbeenrelaxed, so that the catch 11 may be thrustunder the roller 13 by the reaction of the spring 17.

It will be obvious that a device of this kindmay serve for many difierent kinds of mechanism, and I do not wish to be restricted to any particular one. In order that the same maybe more thoroughly understood and its prlnclples more fully appreciated, I have shown in Fig. 3 how the d.e--

' vice may be applied to a steam boiler, and

7 be applied.

in Fig. 41 I have indicated a modification in f the construction of the device which adapts the same for controlling the closing of the float valve in the flush tank of a water closet or other closet combination. It may be said however that these are only two of many examples which are selected as being helpful in the explanation of a Wide variety of uses to which the automatic release may Referring now to the case of the steam boiler as shown in Fig. 3, I will explain the same. "At the top of the steam boiler 20 is the usual lever 21 pivoted in the sup-,

port 22 and embraced by the fork 23 which is actuated by the steam pressure in the member 2 1-. On one end of the lever 21 is a counterbalance 25, while at the otherv end is attached a' chain 26 which extends down 'wardly to the draft door atthe bottom of the furnace. When the steam pressure at 24-. rises it will lift the weight 25 and will 'corre-' spondingly'lower the chain 6 and close the draft door. The weight 25 can be adjusted on the lever 21 so as to vary the amount of pressure required to lift said weight, and consequently close the draft. lVhen the steam pressure reduces, obviously the draft door automatically opens and the fire is given a chance to speed up again. In applying my invention to a device of this kind, I arrange the lever '5 so that it will occupy the normal position shown in Fig. 1 where the catch 11 is engaged with the detent 12 at a time when the pressure of the steam has risen to a predetermined degree as regulated by the position of the Weight 25 and where it is desired to hold the pressure, at which time the lever 21 rests on the lever 5. Since the steam pressure has risen sufficiently to V loosen the chain 26, the draft door will be 0 closed and the steam pressure will be sufficient to keep the lever 21 for the time being resting upon the lever 5 of the releasing device. Obviously while the draft door remains closed, the lever 21 will rest with an increasing pressure on the lever 5 as the uplifting pressure of the steam on the lever 21 decreases. It is found, however, in practice that in a steam heating system the steam will remain in the radiators with considerable pressure and giving forth a large amount of heat for a considerable time after the draft has been closed, and consequently the lever 5 will continue in its normal position as shown in Fig. 3 for some little time, that is to say the decrease in the pressure of the steam would not be suiiicient until some time has elapsed to force down the lever 5 far enough to disengage the catch 11; although if the lever 5 were not there the lever 21 might be caused to drop by the weight 25 so that the draft door would begin to open immediately upon the slightest decrease of pressure, but with my improved device though the steam pressure reduces yet it is not until the pipes have cooled a good deal that the weight of the lever 21 and the counterbalance 25 will be enough to depress the lever 5, disengage the catch 11, lift lever 3 and trip 9 and consequently allow the lever 21 to fall back to a point where the chain 26 will open'the draft door and vigorously renew the draft so that the fuel will be again rekindled and combustion greatly increased. Consequently bythese means of checking the otherwise automatic action of the steam for a short period, I am enabled to effect a considerable saving in the fuel used. e V 7 Referring now to Fig. 4 I have there shown a modification of the invention foreffecting a release of the buoyant float belonging to a float valve in a flush tank. The weight 4 usedwith the arm 3 in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is omitted, and the arm 3 is changed in form, being lever 10 pivoted at 11, while the lever 5 is transmuted intothe form'of a lever 27 having a rearwardly extending arm 28 which passes beyond the trip lever 9 for some distance and accordingly performs the same function as the weight 4:. The frame 1 is substantially the same as in Fig. 1 and is secured to some convenient wall, frame, or support. In: levers at 10 is pivoted the trip lever'9 having the catch 11 which enwater closet or other water receiving com:- partment where it is desired to operate such a valve by means of a float 35 lying in the water and buoyant therein. This float is shown at 35 consisting of a buoyant ball which is attached rigidly to the end of the rod 32. Obviouslythe connection of the rod 32 with the end 31 of the link 30 enables the link 30 when a sufficient pressure is imparted thereto, to lift the lip 7 and trip the lever 9 so as to disengage the catch 11, then lift trip 9, the effect of which will be to allow the valve 33 to be closedby the action of the float 35. The parts are so arranged and related that the valve 33 will discharge water into the tank 36 and cause a buoyant effect upon the float 35 until such buoyancy attains a degree where it will act upon the link 30 and disengage the trip lever 9 from detent 12 when it will rise instantly and close the valve so that there may be no further discharge of wateruntil the valve is again opened. The opening will occur obviously as soon as the contents of thetank 36 are discharged,which will allow the ball 35 to quickly drop and allow the

levers

27 and 28 to drop likewise. There is, therefore, a distinct advantage gained in enabling the tank to. fill more quickly and at any desired height since the valve will remain wide open until the tank is 3 full and then will quickly close, and there will not be the same slow closing and consequently decrease in the filling action until the tank is full, which occurs with the present arrangement where the float 35 rises slowly on the rising water level and thereby acts gradually on the valve 33. I, therefore, save much water. The operating water level can be made much lower than usual and still have the rod 32 kept straight. There are numerone other incidental advantages which will be readily seen. With this construction of modified form of release device, I employ a similar spring device for tensioning the trip lever 9, though the parts are reversed to correspond to the shape and relation of the mechanical features, such spring part in this case consisting of a spring 37 which is fastened to the upper arm 14 of the trip lever and, is attached to a rod 38 which passes through the bent end of the lever 27 and is provided on its screw-threaded section with an adjusting nut 39.

Various other modifications may be devised without exceeding the scope of the invention; also it will be evident that numerous changes in the details of the various parts and their operative relation and mechanical combination may be made without going outside of the legitimate sphere of the invention, and I, therefore, reserve the liberty of so doing as experience may find to be desirable.

It will be obvious that the spring 17 may have substituted therefor a mechanical equivalent in the form of a weight which can be arranged upon an extension of the trip lever,

as for example as shown in dotted lines 1n Fig. 1, the arm 9 is extended in the form of the arm 42 carrying an adjustable weight This weight being beyond the center 10 of the pivotal point of the trip lever and being adjustable may be a fair substitute for the at the end of the second lever, and a tension device between the trip lever and said sec ond lever.

2. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted lever, a second lever pivoted to the first, a trip lever pivoted to the first lever and engaged by the end of the second lever, and an adjustable tension device between the trip lever and said second lever.

3. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted member carrying a counterweight, a lever pivoted on the fulcrum of said member, a trip lever pivoted to said member and engaged loosely by the end of said lever, a tension device between the trip lever and the aforesaid lever, together with a detent normally engaged by the trip lever.

4,. In a releasing device, the combination of a pivoted lever,'a' second lever supported on the pivot of the first and having a lip at one end, a trip lever pivoted to the first lever and having an inclined face engaged by the lip of the second lever and having also a catch and an upwardly extending arm, a tension device between said latter arm and the aforesaid second lever, and a detent normally engaged by the trip lever.

5. In an automatic release device, the combination with a main lever having a lip at one end, means for pivotally supporting said lever, a trip lever, means for pivotally supporting it, a tension device attached to the trip lever and the main lever.

6. In an automatic release device, the combination with a main lever having a lip at one end, means for pivotally supporting said lever, a trip lever, means for pivotally supporting it, a tensiondevice attached to the trip lever and the main lever, and a detent which is normally engaged by the trip. lever.

7. In an automatic releasing device, the combination with a 'main lever, means for pivotally supporting the same, a trip lever having an inclined face engaged by the end of the mainlever and having also a catch, tensioning means between the trip lever and the main lever, counterbalancing means for the main lever, and a detent normally engagjed by the catch.

S. In an automatic releasing device, the combination with a main lever having a lip at one end, a supporting lever in which the mainlever is pivoted, said supporting lever being likewise pivotally carried by the same means, a trip lever pivoted in the supporting lever and having a fiat inclined face on which the lip of the main lever rides, said trip lever iaving also a catch, and a tension device consisting of a spring and a rod provided with an adjusting screw, the same being arranged between the trip lever and the main lever for regulating the pressure at which the main lever operates, and counterbalancing means on the supporting lever.

9. The combination with a pivotedmain lever, of a loosely supported trip lever hav ing a fiat inclined face engaged by the end of the main lever and tripped by the movement of said lever, said trip lever having a catch, a spring device between the trip le- 11; In an automatic releasing device, the

combination with a main lever, means for pivota'ily supporting said lever, a trip lever pivoted in the main lever, said trip lever being pro *ided with means for regulating the pressure required to trip it, and a detent which is normall engaged by the trip lever;

In testi ture. 7 JAMES HERBERT EMERY.

mony whereof '1 afiiX my signa- Gopies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,'D. G. v