US1196363A - Centrifugal controller for adding-machines. - Google Patents

Description

J. HUNTER & H. KUNTZLER.

CENTRIFUGAL CONTROLLER FOR ADDING MACHINES.

APPLICATlON mm DEC.29, 1908.

1 1 96,36 3. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

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J. P. HUNTER & H. KUNTZLER. CENTFHFUGAL CONTROLLER FOR ADDING MACHINES. APPLlCATION FILED DEC.29, 190B.

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J. P. HUNHR H. KUNTZLER. CENTRIFUGAL CONTROLLER FOR ADDlNG MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED DECILLJ. 1901 1,196.363. lutvntvdAug. 29,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PIRRONG HUNTER AND HENRY KITNTZLER, OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ADDER MACHINE COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed December 29, 1908. Serial No. 469,758.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that we, JOHN PIRRONG HUNTER and IIENRY Kil'N'rzLnR, citizens of the United States, and residents of Wilkes- Barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Controllers for Adding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to controllers for the motor actuators of adding machines and similar mechanisms and its novelty consists in the construction and adaptation of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Vhen motors are employed to supply power to machines of this class, and especially when they are energized from alternating currents, there occur variations in the speed of the motor. It is expedient, if not actually necessary, that the motor should not be coupled to the adding machine to actuate it until a certain speed of rotation has been attained, and it is the purpose of this invention to prevent such coupling from taking place until the proper speed has been arrived at.

Attempts have been made to accomplish this purpose by electrical means, that is, by providing a resistance or some similar electrical contrivance which would not permit the coupling mechanism to be energized until the current supplied to the motor had developed a certain voltage, but this form of device introduced foreign factors into the problem and made its operation uncertain.

By means of the present invention a simple, efficient positive mechanical controller is provided and there is no danger of its failure to operate from any external cause.

In the followin specification, the invention is shown an described as applied to the Wales adding machine, such as is shown, for instance, in United States patents to Vales, 797,032, August 15, 1905; McFarland, 842,232, January 29, 1907, and Mc- F arland and Wales, 880,157, February 28, 1907, and to a peculiar driving mechanism attached thereto, but it will be understood that it is equally applicable to other adding machines and other forms of driving mechanism and power transmitting devices.

The power transmitting mechanism referred to is described and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 902103, issued to Charles N. McFarland October 28, 1908, and in brief, comprises a drum actuated from a continuously rotating motor, a shaft on which the drum is loosely mounted to revolve, a carrier rigidly mounted on the shaft, a control ring mounted to rotate on the shaft and provided with projecting toes, a driving arm eccentrically mounted onthe carrier, means for placing a constant tension on the driving arm, a connection between the control ring and the driving arm, a holder adapted normally to keep the driving arm out of contact with the revolving drum inside of which the carrier is mounted, means for interrupting the function of such holder comprising a depressible actuator key, and means also whereby the function of the holder may be automatically restored. In effect, when the actuator key of that "mechanism is depressed, the clutch shaft is rotated a fraction of a revolution and such motion is adapted to be transmitted to the operative mechanism of the adding machine.

The means intermediate the drum shaft of the power transmitting mechanism, and the operative mechanism of the adding machine, hereinafter described, is different from that described in the patent above referred to and forms the subject matter of another application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed Dec. 28, 1908, Serial No. 469,529.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation and partial vertical section of a device embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a miniature view, showing the power transmitting mechanism disconnected from the adding machine and replaced by a handle; Fig. 3 shows the same parts as Fig. 1, but with the rack bar at the end of a stroke, and Fig. 3 shows the method of disconnecting the rack bar from the operative rock shaft of the adding machine. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the centrifugal governor, partly broken away, to show the method of mounting the independent sectors. Dotted lines show the positions of the sectors when expanded by centrifugal force. Fig. 5 is a detail rear elevation of the disk, relatively to which the sectors slide; Fig. (i is a sectional view through the governor; Fig. 7 is a detail front view of one of the sectors alone: and Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a sector.

Referring to the drawings, 1 isthe base of an adding machine and 2 is a part of one of its side frames of which there are two, one on each side of the machine. 3 is an operative rock shaft transmitting power to the mechanism of the adding machine. Secured to this shaft, or moving in harmony with it, is a lever. indicated at 4 and provided with a stop foot 5 to limit its movement in one direction.

Mounted on a pair of elbow levers 20, which move together, is a depressible actuator bar 21 adapted to be moved vertically. The levers 20 are adapted to swing on pivots 22 projecting from the frame 2 of the machine. At their lower extremities they are coupled by a link 23 so that they will move together, and to one of them at 24, is pivoted a link 25 which in turn is pivoted to a crank 26 rigidly secured to a rock shaft 27 to the other end of which is secured a crank which in turn, is pivoted to a vertically placed actuator link 29 pivoted on a crank 30 mounted on a rock shaft 31, which in turn, is connected to the device by which the function of the holder of the ])ower-transmitting mechanism is interrupted and restored. This train of mechanism comprises the motor actuator.

A motor is indicated at 100. A shaft 101 moved therefrom, as-hereinafter described, carries a worm 102 in mesh with a worm gear 103 rigidly secured to a shell so that the gear and shell shall rotate on an intermediate clutch shaft 105 on which they are loosely mounted. A control ring provided with projecting toes 114 and slots 121 is mounted on the shaft 105. A holder consisting of an arm 151 is adapted, by means of a stud 152 mounted near its end, to engage the toes 114, and it is provided with an arm 153 having a restoring roller 154. In the Patent No. 902,103, abox e referred to, the coupling and clutch mechanism is fully described and such description need not be repeated here. It is sufficient to say that when the actuator bar 21 and link 29 are depressed, the clutch shaft is revolved a fraction of a revolution depending on the number and position of the toes 114.

A lock, which forms the subject matter of another application for Letters Patent, filed June 30, 1908, on which Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,080,515 issued Dec. 2, 1910, comprises a locking arm formed of an upward extension of the crank 26. This arm is provided with a slot 32 adapted to engage a pin 33 projecting from the frame of the machine to limit the movement of the arm which has a laterally projecting flange 31. Loosely mounted to oscillate at a convenient point near the arm 26, for instance, on the frame 2 is a cooperating lock plate 35 having a projecting arm 36 with a lateral flange 37 adapted to engage the flange 34, and a second arm 38 having an inwardly extending flange 39 adapted to be engaged by the stop foot The lock plate is also provided with a slot 10 adapted to engage a pin -11 projecting from the frame 2. A spring 43 is adapted to move the arm 30 downward and the arm 28 upward.

The motor 100 is provided with an armature shaft 1000 which is adapted to be detachably secured to the auxiliary worm shaft 101 by means of a. coupling. In the form of device shown. this consists of a sleeve secured to the shaft by a pin or bolt, and which sleeve is recessed to engage a pin projecting radially from the shaft 1000. This is a form of coupling which permits of a quick engagement and disengagen'ient of the two shafts. Any suitable form of coupling may, however, be used.

The power transmitting mechanism is mounted in a sub-frame and the clutch mechanism itself is arranged within a shell or inclosure to protect it from dust and injury. The frame is adapted to be detachably secured to the base 1 of the machine by bolts or screws, or in any other suitable manner.

Mounted on the shaft 105 and turning with it is a crank 00 having a plurality of arms 61 each provided at their outer extremities with suitable rollers 62.

Secured to a convenient member of the operative mechanism of the adding machine, for instance, the operative rock shaft 3 is a gear 370 provided with teeth 371, so that when the gear is oscillated, the shaft 3 is oscillated by it.

Mounted intermediate the multiple crank 60 and the gear 370, is a loosely moving member 65 driven from, but not connected to the crank 60 and having teeth meshing with the gear 371 to transmit the power from the shaft 105 to the shaft 3 when the actuator bar 21 is depressed and the clutch mechanism is rendered operative. This member 65 i in the form of a bar having a slot 66 adapted to engage a supporting and guiding roller 63 pivoted to the clutch inclosure. It also is provided with a depending arm 67 adapted to be engaged on its inner face by the rollers 62 on the crank 60, whereby it is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig, 1. On its upper front edge it is provided with teeth 69 constituting a rack adapted to engage the teeth 370 of the gear 371.

Arranged beneath the bar 65 or on the side opposite to the teeth 69 is a support and guide, consisting of a bracket carrying a roller 64 adapted 'to engage the edge of the bar 65, and the latter rests upon it. This construction is simple and tends to secure steadiness of motion in the bar 65.

' Secured to the end of the shaft 101 is the controller or lock comprising the following parts: A hub '7 rigidly fastened to the shaft by a key, pin, or other suitable means. is provided with a disk 70 having a plurality of radial slots 71 symmetrically placed near its periphery. The hub is grooved at 72 and provided with rods 73 (Figs. 5 and 0) crossing the groove within the hub. The hub is also provided on the other side of the disk 70. with radial pins 74 identical in number and substantially in line with the slots 71. Arranged around the hub 7 are a plurality of sectors or locking members 75 corresponding in number with the slots 71. Each seetor is provided with a radial recess 70 to receive one of the radial pins 74, and each is provided with a threaded aperture 77 (Fig. 7) in which is secured a screw 78 adapted to pass through the corresponding slot 71, and the end of which screw is connected to its corresponding cross rod 73 by a coiled spring 79. Each sector or locking member has an outwardly extending peripheral flange 700, all of the flanges forming inefl'ect, a. complete annular flange.

Mounted on the rock shaft 31 is a locking arm 290 with an inwardly projecting tip 291. and so arranged with respect to the arm 151 that when the roller 15; on this arm is engaged with one of the toes 11 then the tip 291 rests against theannular flange 700 of the controller, and so long as this engagement continues none of the parts can be moved. If, however. the sector or locking member 75 which is in contact with the tip 291 is moved radially outward. then this tip 291 can be moved in toward the motor and the arm 151 can be rocked by the shaft 31 to disengage the roller 152 from the toe 114 and permit the countershaft 105 to rotate the crank 00 to move the rack (15 to actuate the rock shaft 3 of the machine.

Normally the parts are in the positions shown in I igs. 1 and 3 when the motor is idle and if the bar 21 is depressed. the machine does not operate because the arm 151 cannot be disengaged from the toe 111 of the control ring 113. If. however. the speed of the motor 100 is increased and the shaft 101 is rotated more rapidly. then as the hub T and disk 70 revolve more rapidly. the sectors or locking members 75. under the influence of centrifugal force. move radially outward on their respective pins 74 and against the restraining action of their springs 79 until the sectional peripheral flange 700 is in such a position that it no longer affords an obstacle to the inward movement of the tip 291 of the locking arm 290, and if now the actuator bar 21 is depressed, then the arm 151 can be rocked to release its roller 152 from the toe 114 of the ring 113, and the motor can be, and is. coupled through the clutch mechanism counter shaft 105 and rack 05 to the main shaft 3 of the adding machine. So long as the shaft 101 is rotated at a speed suflicient to throw the sectors 75 centrifugally out of the path of the. tip 291 the actuator bar is operative, but when'the speed is insulticient for that purpose springs 79 retract the flanges 700 of the sectors to bring them into the path of the arm 290 to lock the arms 290 and 151 against operation and render the actuator bar inoperative. The inner edge 701 of the flange 700 is made sloping and so is the inner upper edge 292 of the tip 291 in order to facilitate the disengagement of the tip and flange as the sectors 75 move inwardly radially. Obviously the controller locks the starting key or actuator 21- against operation when the motor is idle.

What \veclaim as new is:

1. The combination with a machine; a motorto drive the same: a normally idle clutch to couple the machine and motor:' and an actuator to effect the operation of said clutch: of m ans adapted to prevent effective operation of the actuator until the inotor has attained a predetermined speed.

comprising a rock shaft turned by the actuator during the coupling operation; an arm turning with the shaft: and a rotary stop connected with the motor and normally interposed in the path of the arm. and adapted to be. shifted by centrifugal force, out of said path.-

2. The combination with a machine: a motor to drive the machine; means to couple the motor and machine: and an actuator to control said means; of means to prevent the operation of the actuator until the motor has attained a prtuletermined speed. coinprising a revolving stop actuated froni the motor and normally interposed in the path of the actuator mechanism. and adapted to be shifted by centrifugal force out of said path.

3. The combination with a clutch: and controlling means therefor; of a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means. the said device comprising a hub: radial guides secured thereto: a disk; locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along the disk: and a spring secured to each locking memher and the hub.

4. The combination with a clutch: and controlling means therefor: of a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means. the said device comprising a huh; radial guides secured thereto; a disk 139 locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along thedisk, the disk having slots therein. one for each locking member; a pin on each wing adapted to move in its slot; and a spring secured to each pin and the hub.

The combination with a clutch; and controlling means therefor; of a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means, the said device comprising a hub; radial guides secured thereto; a disk; locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along the disk, the disk having slots therein, one for each locking member; a pin on each wing adapted to move in its slot: and a spring secured to each pin and the hub on that side of the disk opposite the locking members.

6. The combination with a machine; a motor; and mechanism whereby they may be coupled together, including a shaft; of an arm moving with the shaft; a centrifugal controller adapted to be rotated from the motor, and including a member normally adapted to contact the arm to prevent its movement, said member adapted to be moved out of contact with the arm by centrifugal force when the controller is rotated.

7. A machine, a motor, mechanism whereby they may be coupled together, including a shaft. an arm moving with the shaft; and a centrifugal controller driven from the. motor confprising a plurality of members radially movable under the action of centrifugal force, and each provided with a flange adapted normally to contact with the arm to prevent its movement.

8. A centrifugal controller comprising a plurality of yieldingly held wings. each provided with a flange constituting as a whole a substantial annulus, in combination -with an arm adapted to contact with the annulus when the controller is at rest, and to move within the annulus when the effective diameter of the latter is increased by centrifugal force.

9. The combination with a machine; and an operative. rock shaft: of a continuously running motor; a mechanism between the motor and said shaft whereby they may be temporarily engaged to actuate the machine: a holder normally adapted to prevent said engagement; an actuator adapted to move said holder out of normal position to per 'mit such engagement: and mechanical means adapted to prevent such movement until the motor has acquired a predetermined speed.

10. The combination with the operative rock shaft of an adding machine or similar mechanism. of a continuously running motor. a mechanism between the motor and said shaft whereby they may be temporarily coupled together to actuate the machine, a holder normally adapted to prevent said coupling, an actuator adapted to move said holder; and mechanical means adapted to prevent such movement until the motor has acquired a predetermined speed, and to automatieally restore the parts to their original positions when the speed is subsequently reduced.

11. A centrifugal controller comprising a plurality of yieldingly held locking members, each provided with a peripheral flange constituting as a whole a substantial annulus, in combination with an arm adapted to contact with the annulus when the controller is at rest, and to move within the same when thelocking members are moved radially by centrifugal force, the arm and flanges having sloping contacting surfaces whereby the radially inward movement of the locking members will automatically disengage the arm therefrom.

12. The combination with a machine: a

motor; and coupling mechanism therefor;

of an actuator, including a swinging arm; and a device rotated by the motor, including a member normally adapted to lie in the path of the swinging arm, said member adapted to be moved out of the path of the arm by centrifugal force.

13. The combination with a machine; a motor; and coupling mechanism therefor; of an actuator, including a swinging arm; and a device rotated by the motor. including an annulus formed of separable sectors movable radially under centrifugal force and normally in contact with the arm to prevent effective operation of the actuator.

14. The combination with a machine: a motor therefor: and intcrmittent means to effect the transmission of power fr an the motor to the machine; of an actuator to control the operation of the intermittent means: and a centrifugal device driven by the motor and adapted directly to prevent ellective operation of the actuator when the motor is turning at less than a predetermined speed.

15. The combination with a machine. of a motor therefor, a clutch intcrnu-diate the said motor and machine and. having an intermittent action, manual means to cause the actuation of the clutch. and means governed by the motor to prevent the manipulation of said manual means.

10. In combination. a motor with rotating shaft. a clutch, clutch-actuating means, an auxiliary shaft. a coupling connecting the auxiliary and motor shafts. a worm carried by the auxiliary shaft to drive the clutch,

and a centrifugal device mounted upon the,

auxiliary shaft and adapted to control the cllatch-actuating means.

17. In combination. a motor. a clutch, clutch-actuating means. a shaft adapted to be connected with the motor and be driven thereby. a worm mounted upon the shaft to drive the clutch. and a centrifugal dcvicc mounted upon the shaft and adapted to control the clutch-actuating means.

18. The combination with a machine; of a shaft; a centrifugal device mounted on the shaft; a coupling on the shaft to connect it with a source of power: a worm on the shaft intermediate the centrifugal device and the coupling; a worm wheel driven by the worm: and clutch mechanism intermediatethe worm wheel and machine, and controlled by the centrifugal device.

11!. The combination with a machine; of a shaft: a motor: a coupling at one end of the shaft to releasably connect it with the motor: a worm on the shaft: a worm wheel driven by the worm; a clutch mechanism interposed between the worm wheel and machine: and a centrifugal device on the shaft aml adapted to control the actuation of the clutch mechanism.

'30. The combination with a machine: a motor: transmission mechanism between the motor and the machine: and an actuator to control the transmission mechanism: of a centrifugally operated member also driven by the motor: and means connected with the actuator and adapted to contact the centrifugally operated member. to lock the actuator against operation when the motor is idle.

.21. The combination with a machine; a motor: intermittent drive mechanism between the motor and the machine: and an actuator to control the drive mechanism: of a centrifugally operated means driven by the motor to lock the actuator against operation.

2; The combination with a machine: a motor to drive the machine; and an actuator to control the connection between the motor and the machine; of a centrifugally operated lock driven by the motor. and comprising a series of expansible members having arcuate flanges adapted to form a substantially unbroken annulus when the. lock is at rest. to lock the actuator against operation.

22%. The combination with a machine: a motor: coupling mechanism between the motor and the machine: a restraining member to normally hold the coupling mechanism idle: and an actuator to trip the restraining member: of a centrifugally operated lock driven by the motor and adapted. when at rest. to prevent operation of the actuator.

it. The combination with a machine: a motor connected with the machine; and an actuator to control the operativeness of the connection; of a motor-controlled lock for the actuator. including a series of centrifugally operated. expansible members. radial guides on which the members are shiftable. and flanges on the members to form a substantial annulus when the members are at rest; and an arm connected with the actuator to strike the annulus. 1

25. In combination, a driving-member, a driven member, a normally restrained clutch therebetween, manipulative means for releasing the clutch. and a lock for said means comprising a revolving stop actuated from the driving member normally interposed in the path of said means and adapted to be moved therefrom by centrifugal force.

26. In combination, a clutch, controlling means therefor, a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means, thesaid device comprising a hub, radial guides secured thereto, a disk, locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along the disk and a spring secured to each locking member and the hub.

27. In con'ibination, a clutch, controlling means therefor, a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means, the said device comprising a hub, 'adial guides secured thereto, a disk, locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along the disk, slots in the disk, one for each wing. a pin on each locking member adapted to move in the slot and a spring secured to each pin and the hub.

28. In combination, a clutch, controlling means therefor. a centrifugal device to limit the movement of said controlling means, the said device comprising a hub, radial guides secured thereto, a disk, locking members adapted to move outwardly on the guides and along the disk, slots in the disk, one for each locking member, a pin on each locking member adapted to move in the slot and a spring secured to each pin and the hub on that side of the disk opposite the locking members.

29. In combination, a driving member, a driven member, mechanisms whereby said members may be coupled together, including a shaft. an arm moving with the shaft and a centrifugal controller adapted to be rotated from the driven member and provided with a member adapted normally to contact with the arm to prevent its movement and to be moved out of contact therewith by centrifugal force when the controller is rotated.

30. In combination. a driving member. a driven member. a mechanism between said members whereby they may be. temporarily engaged. to drive said driven member. a holder normally adapted to prevent said en gagement and an actuator adapted to move said holder out of normal position to permit such engagement and mechanical means adapted to prevent such movement until the driving. member has acquired a predeter mined speed.

31. In combination, a driving member. a driven member. a coupling mechanism for said members. a manually operated actuator therefor including a swinging arm, and a locking member rotated by said driving member, said lockingfmember being nor-' mally disposed in the path of the swlnging arm and adapted to be moved out of said path by centrifugal force.

32. In combination, a driving member, a driven'member, a coupling mechanism for said members, a manually operated actuator therefor including a swinging arm, and a device rotated from the driving member, including an annulus formed of separate sectors movable radially under centrifugal force and normally preventing the arm and the actuator from moving to an operative position.

33. In combination, a driving member, a driven member, intermittent means for the transmission of movement from the driving men'ibe-r to the driven member, an actuator to control the operation of said intermittent means, and a centrifugal device driven by the said driving member and adapted directly to prevent movement of the actuator when the driving member is not moving at a predetermined speed. I

34. The combination with a machine; a motor to drive the machine; a transmission mechanism including an intermittently operable connection, between the motor and the machine; and manually-controlled means to cause the actuation of the intermittently operable connection; of means controlled by the motor to prevent the effective operation of'the manually-controlled means until the motor has attained a sufficient speed.

\Vitness our hands this 22nd day of December, 1908, at W'ilkes-Barre, Pa.

JOHN PIRBONG HUNTER HENRY KUNTZLER. \Vitnesses:

\VILLL-ui R. Baum, ALLAN C. MCDONNELL.

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