US1247760A

US1247760A - Automatic tension device.

Info

Publication number: US1247760A
Application number: US12820016A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick Wengraf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-10-28
Filing date: 1916-10-28
Publication date: 1917-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1934-11-27

Description

F. WENGRAF, AUTOMATIC TENsxoN muse. APPLICATION ULED GCT. 28. i916.

mfmm www@ Nov., 27,191?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

WITNESS F. WENGRAF. AUTOMATIC TENSION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILDJJCT. 28. I9I6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ZI A ITU/NVE I Pam-ted. Nov. 27, 191?.

FREDERICK WENGRAF, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC TENSION DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1191"?.

Application filed October 28, 1916. Serial No. 128,200.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK VVENGRAF, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Automatic Tension Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic tension applying devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient device of the class set forth, which is constructed of few standard parts, and which is economical to manufacture.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a simple device which will automatically apply tension to separated parts,

and which will automatically maintain the same amount of tension on the parts, regardless of the amount of give thereof.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown by the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional view partly in elevation of the'same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the tension spring removed.

Fig. l is a sectional view taken onthe line 4 4 Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a vehicle tire, and showing one application of the automatic tension device.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the non-skid tread employed ,in accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tread shown in Fig. 6.

Fig 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified structure embodying my invention. Y

The same part is designated by the same reference numerals wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

1n accordance with my invention pro.-

vide a casing 9 in which I mount two

arms

10, 11, respectively, which project out through the end walls of the casing as shown and one of which is adapted to slide or move lengthwise. rl`he arm 10 is curved or bent while the arm 11 is practically of uniform cross sectional area throughout, so that the surfaces of the arms come in contact with and bear against each other. The bearing or contacting surfaces of the

arms

10, 11, are

provided with teeth v12, as shown in Fig. 3, and cut in opiiositedircctions to allow the arms to move toward each other, that is, in wardly, toward the center of the casing, but to prevent the arms from moving away from each other, that is, outwardly or out of the casing. Each of the

arms

10, 11, is provided with a pin 13, to which is secured a tension spring 14, as shown, which spring acts to draw the respective arms toward each other as will be clearly understood.

Each of the

arms

10, 11, is also provided at their respective outer ends outside of the casing 9, with a hook memberl of any desired form, adapted to engage or be connected with the elements 16 uponwhich tension isdesired to be placed. It is desirable to lock this engagement, and for this pur pose, although I am not to be limited in this respect, I provide a well known form of spring clip 17.

To allow adjustment of the tension device, particularly when the device is first applied, I provide a push pin 18, which passes through the wall of the casing 9, and through the stationary arm 11, and which is provided with a flanged head 19 lying in a recess 20 cut in the bearing or contact surface of thearm 11, as shown in Fig. 3. The head 19 of the push pin 18 is rounded, as shown, and bears against the teeth 12 of the arm 10. Thus it will be seen that when the push pin 18 is projected inwardly, by pressure being applied thereto, the arm 10 is forced sidewise so that its teeth are pushed out of contact with the teeth of the arm 11, thereby allowing the arm 10 to be drawn as far outofthe casing 9 as the pin 13 thereof will allow. The spring 20, bearing against the arm 10 and the wall of the casing 9, causes the arm 10 to immediately bear against the arm 11 when the pressure against the push pin 18 is withdrawn. The hook members 15 arethensecured to the ends, say of the cable 16to which it is desired to apply tension, and the arm l0 is released. The spring 14 will then draw the arm l0 toward the arm 11, the respective teeth thereof presenting no opposition to this direction of movement, due to their direction of cut, but if additional exterior tension is applied to the member 16, tending to separate the

arms

10, 11, the teeth thereof engage with each other and prevent any movement of the arm 10, as is clearly shown.

In Fig. 5, I have shown my device as applied to a non-skid attachment for automobile tires, but it will be understood that my invention, as defined in the claims, is not to be limited to any specific use, as it is obvious that the device may be used in any instance where the slack between elements under tension is desired to be automatically taken up.

In the arrangement shown, the tire 21 is provided with two cables 22, one on each side thereof at its base, on which cables are mounted hook members 23, preferably provided with clip springs 24, as shown. These hook members receive the ends of any desired type of non-skid tread elements, such for instance, as the form designated by reference numeral 26. The automatic tensioning device designated at 29, is attached to the ends of the cables on each side of the tire.

Thus it will be seen that by employing the automatic tension device embodying my invention in connection with any form of non-skid attachment, the slack of the same is automatically taken up, all times a tight fit of the parts, thereby eliminating entirely the noise and rattle of loose parts of the non-skid attachments at present employed. Due to the fact that to enable the ready application and removal of the present non-skid attachments, they are made comparatively loose, there has been no effort heretofore to eliminate the noise and rattle caused thereby, but Vwhich is obviously objectionable. Y

While I have shown and describeda specific structure embodying my invention, Yit will beunderstood that manychanges, in detail, will readily occur to those skilled in the art, Ywithout departing from the broad scope of my invention, as defined in the claims. l

Therefore, what I claim as new and useful, and of my Vown invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. A device for maintaining tension, comprising a housing, a stationary arm and a movable arm located in said housing, means for' yieldingly maintaining said arms in contact with each other, means tending to draw saidarms longitudinally toward each other, and means for preventing said arms frm .being drawn longitudinally from each ot er.

maintaining atk prising a housing, a stationary arm and a movable arm located in said housing,means for yieldingly maintaining said arms in contact with each other, the respective contact-V ing surfaces of said arms being provided with oppositely cut-teeth, and means tending to draw said arms longitudinallytoward each other, said teeth being adapted to permit said movement, but to prevent longitudinal movement of said arms in the opposite direction.

4. A device for maintaining tension, comprising a stationary arm and a movable arm, means for yieldingly maintaining said arms in contact with each other, the respective contacting surfaces of said arms being provided with oppositely cut teeth, aspring connecting said arms to draw said arms longitudinally toward each other, said teeth being adapted to permit said movement, but

to prevent longitudinal movement of said arms in the opposite direction, and meansto yieldingly hold said teeth in engaging relation.

5. A device for maintaining tension, comprising a stationary arm and a movable arm,

means for yieldingly maintaining said arms in contact with each other, the respective contacting surfaces o-fsaid arms being provided with oppositely out teeth, Vmeans tending to draw said arms longitudinally .toward each other, said teeth being adapted to per.- mit said movement, but to .prevent longitudinal movement ofsaidarms in the opposite direction, and handoperated means for forcing said teeth out of engagement' to allow longitudinal movement of said movable arm in either direction. f

6. In a device ofthe Aclass described, a casing, a stationary andra movablearmlocatedtherein, extending in opposite longitudinal directions, Vand throughtheends of the casing respectively, Ysaid arms being in contact with each other Vand provided with oppositely cut teeth on theopposed surfaces thereof, to allow the inwardV movement of said movable arm relative to said casing, but to prevent the outward movement thereof,

a spring tending to draw said movable arm if into Vsaid casing, and means for yieldingly holding the teeth of said movable arm in contact .with the teeth of said` stationary arm. i 7. In a device of the class described, a

casing, a stationary and a movable arm located therein, extending in opposite longitudinal directions, and through the ends of the casing respectively, said arms being in contact With each other and provided with oppositely cut teeth on the opposed surfaces thereof, to allow the inward movement of said movable arm relative to said casing, but to prevent the outward movement thereof, a spring tending to draw said movable arm into said casing, and means for yieldingly holding the teeth of said movable arm in contact With the teeth of said stationary arm.

8. In a device of the class described, arms disposed in longitudinal relation to each other and permanently inclosed Within a casing, and one engaging upon the other, said arms being relatively movable longitudinally in one direction, and having means to engage each V'other to prevent relative longitudinal movement in the other direction.

9. In a device of the class described, arms disposed in longitudinal relation to each other and permanently inclosed Within .a casing, and one engaging upon the other, and means tending to relatively move said arms longitudinally in one direction, said arms having means to engage each other to Copies of this patent may be prevent relative movement in the other direction.

10. In a device of the class described, arms disposed in longitudinal relation to each other and permanently inclosed Within a casing, and one engaging upon the other, said arms being relatively movable longitudinally in one direction, and having means to engage each other to prevent relative longitudinal movement in the other direction, in combination with a cable having its ends connected to the outer ends of said arms.

11. In a device of the class described, arms disposed in longitudinal relation to each other and permanently inclosed Within a casing, and one engaging upon the other, said arms being relatively movable longitudinally in one direction, and having means to engage each other to prevent relative longitudinal movement in the other direction in combination with a cable having its ends detachably connected to the outer ends of said arms.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand on this 16th day of ctOber, A. D., 1916.

FREDERICK WENGRAF.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C."