US1265384A - Chair. - Google Patents

Description

G. R. REBIVIANN L W. H. HULTGREN.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1917. 1,2654. Patented May 7,1918.

` l* i' 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

5 wom/toas atto/Lne KMK G. R` REBMANN L W. H. HULTGREN.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 12. 19l7. 1,265,38@

Patented May 7,

G. R. REBIVIANN IL W. H. HULTGREN.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. IZ. I9I7.

. Patented May 7,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

z I I I I I l I GODIREY n. HEBM'ANN, or PHILADELPHIA, P/ENNs'YLvANIA, AND WILLIAM H.

, HULTGHEII, or nosELLE PARK, NEW Jnnsnr.

CHAIR.

To all lwliomz't may concern.'

Beit known that we, GODFREY R. REB- MANN, a citizen of'the United States,- residl bers, surgeons, etc., and involves the use of `fluid actuated by compressedair or .otherf pressure" supply, for elevating and loweringthe seat of th'echair.

More particularly, the invention involves a chair, the seat of which is supported by two telescoping plungers, the latter being mounted for operation within a casting vforming the base or pedestal for the. chair, and a reservoir containing an operating fluid, by means of which the plungers are main stationary. We have also providedl operated, yto move the chair seat `up and down as desired. The operating fluid, which is preferably oil, is actuated by -compressed air, the fluid and air being controlled by two valves operated by either one of' two pedals, the latter being so constructed and arranged, relative to the valves and to each other, that depression of one of the pedals will cause the seat of the chair to move upwardly, and depression of the .other .will cause it to move downwardly. pressure on either pedal the chair will re- 'l interlocking mechanism for the pedals to prevent their simultaneous operation.

ing device for the chair, to control its horizontal rotation, this brake being controlled'- bythe pedals and operated by a light presdown.

, We have provided also a brake or hol'dsure on eitherofthem, the valves being constructed so as to permit this slight depression of the pedals, without, however, causing the chair to be moved either up or v`We have provided means by which' the chair seat when nearing either -limit of its vertical travel, will be .broughtto rest grad.- uallyand without appreciable shock or jar.

YIn the drawings accompanying this appli- Lcation, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of Specification of Letters Patent.

With no Patenten May "z, isis.

Application ledApri112, 1917. Serial No. 161,896.

the base or pedestal ofthe chair; 2 is a sectional elevation view of the airA valve; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism connecting the lpedals with the fluid and air valves, and shows also in part secplan connectedto the fluid and air valves; and Fig. 6 is a section taken through the base of the chair, lshowing the Lair valve in section.

Like characters` of reference designatev like parts in thevarious `figures.

Referring to the drawlngs 1n detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, a casting formingthe base for th chair is designated 1, and 2 deslaten to which the seat of the ignates the chair is attached, and which is mountedv on the top of a hollow plunger 3. The lofwer end 'of this plunger is provided with a plug 4 screwed thereinto. .Screwed into the plug 4 and entering the plunger 3 is amember 5,

to hold packing 6 in position'between the'v member 5 and lthe plug 4. Extending through the platen 2 lis a rod 7, the lower a needle valve, the purpose of which will be pointed out hereinafter. The plunger 3 extends into and iskeyed to a hollowvplunger 8, the latter being mounted to -move inea cylinder 9 provided in the pedestal Orba-se 1. The lower end of the plunger 8, carries a member 10 screwed thereinto, and constituting in'conjunction withpacking 11 a bearing against the -cylinder 9. The mem-y ber10 has a projection 12, extending downwardly into a passage 13, communicatingA with` a reservoir 19, by way of' a valve cha-mber andp'assage 47.

The airvalve mechanism shown? in Fig. 2, comprises a casin 14within which 1s a rod 15, mounted or vertical movement therein. Carried on this rod is a valve 16,

end of which enters the member 5, to form adapted to be moved bythe rod to open and close a port 18 leadin'gthe vthe reservoir 19.

An exhaust port 17 isprovided in the cas- 'I ing 14, this port leadingto the atmosphere.

The valve 1G is self-adjusting, in that it' is constructed to have lateral ifnovementI on the-rod 15, being pressed -rmly against its 'seat by th'e air under pressure, which is admitted to the casing 14 by way of a pipe 20, which may be connected 'to any suitable source of pressure supply.

The fluid valve 23, shown in Fig. 1, comprises a stuiing box 21, throu h which passes the rod 22, connected -to t e hinged slide valve V23, this valve controlling the passage of Huid to and from the reser-i voir 19..

The brake yor holding device, which we have provided to control the rotation of the chair seat about its vertical axis, comprises, as willbe seen from Figs. 1 and 3, a bell crank lever 24, engaging at its upper end a member 25, which in turn engages a brake shoe 25 partially surrounding the plunger 8. The member 25 is provided for the purpose of preventing wear on the end of the lever 24, which would occur should the lever engage the brake shoe 25 directly. The other end of this lever is connected by a nut 26, and a link 27 screwed thereinto, and a member 28, to a rod 29, the latter being adapted to slide in a guide 30 attached to the pedestall. The nut 26 which is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 24, and the y threaded member- 27, are provided for the purpose of adjusting the brake pressureon the plunger 8, and also to take up such lost motlon as may develop by reason of the wear of the brakemember 25 and contigu.

ous parts.

The mechanism for operating the fluid and air valves, and the brake device, will now be described, this mechanism being best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The rod 22 to which the fluid valve 23 is pivotally connected,'is attached ,to a crosshead 32, this crosshead being mounted for vertical movement upon a guide rod 33, the latter being held in position in a guide casting 36. l The vother end of the crosshead 32 is connected to the rod 15 carrying the air valve 16. The rod 33 extends through the cross head 32, down through sleeves 37, 37, and a spring 34, and is free to be moved vertically, a head 35, being provided on its lower end, this head engaging the lower sleeve 37, as viewed in Fig. 3. The crosshead engages the upper sleeve 37 as viewed also in Fig. 3, so that normally the rod 33 and therefore the crosshead 32 will be 'in the posit-ion shown in Fig. 3, being held in such position b v the action of the spring 34. n

Connected to the crosshead 32 by means of a link 38, are pedals 39 and 40. The pedal carries an arm or lever 41, connected t0 the link 38 andthe pedal 39, carries a simi- -lar arm or lever 42, operating upon the lever 4 1 by'means ofv a pin 43.' The pin 43 is rigidly connected to the lever 41, its other end enterlng a squared bushing 43', carried 1n a slot in thelever 42, and adapted to have a slight lon 'tudinal movement therein.

Pressure on t e pedal 40, will, by means of the lever 41 and link 38, compress the spring 34, and move the crosshead 32 upwardly. So soon as the pedal is released, the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 3, by reason of the spring 34. Pressure on the pedal 39 will compress the spring 34 and move the crosshead 32, by means of the lever 42, pin 43, lever 41, and link 38, in the opposite direction to which it was lmoved when the pedal 40 was operated. As before, the parts will return to normal position when pressure on the pedal 39 is removed. Inasmuch as the rod 29 of the brake device is connected tothe cross head 32, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that operation of either pedal will release the brake, to allow the chair to be rotated about its vertical axis. By means of the interlocking of the pedals through the levers 41 and 42 and the pin 43 x and bushing 43', should the attendant inady mechanism already described, to open the passage' 13, communicating with the reservoir 19 byway of port 47, and at the same time the air valve 16 will be actuated to admit air under pressure, by way of the pipe 2O and port 18, to the passage 50 communieating with the reservoir 19, over the top of the fluid in said reservoir. So soon as the ciently to overcome the inertia of the plungers 3 and 8, andtheir load, the fluid will cause the plungers to move upwardly, the upward movement of the plunger 8, gradually displacing the iuid in the cylinder 9, land forcing the same through the ports 45 and 46 provided in the walls of the plunger 8, to the space beneath the plunger 3, to cause the latter to move upwardly relatively to the plunger 8. If the pedal 40 is now released, the valve 23 will be returned by the sprlng 34: to the position shown in Flg. 1, and the air valve to the position shown in Flg. 2, thus cutting off simultaneously, the passage of Huid to the bottom of the plunger 8, and the admission of air to the top of the iuld in the reservoir 19. The-chair will now be held stationary. Should'there be any leakage of air from the reservoir 19, and a consequent drop in pressure in the said reservoir, the iuid under the plungers will tend to flow back to the reservoir 19, due to the weight of the plungers and their load, but this will cause the valve 23 to be rotated pressure within the reservoir has risen sufli l about its pivot to close o the port 4,7 and thus prevent any discharge'of fluid from beneath the plungers; the chair therefore will remain nuits elevated position. y

Assuming now that it is desired to elevate .the chair still farther, the pedal 10 may be and their load', when it will rotate on its pivot, uncovering the port 47, and allow fluid to flow beneath the still farther. t. Should thev attendant neglect to remove his xfoot from the pedal 40, the plungers 8 plungersto elevate them Y and 3 will nevertheless come to rest auto-- matically and without shock or jar, by reason of the `fact that as the plunger 8 approaches its 'upper limit of, movement, it gradually closes oil" the ports and 46, thereby cutting oil the circulationof Huid from the cylinder 9, which is acting upon the plunger 3, and the plunger 8 will be prevented from moving upwardly any farther, by the member 10`carried at the 4bottom of said plunger seating against the shoulder 48 provided at the top of the cylinder 9.

To `lower .the chair, the attendant dei presses the pedal 39, to actuate the crosshead .32 downwardly as viewed in Fig. 4,

moving the valves 23 and 16\into position to permit the discharge of -luid from beneath the plungers 3 and 8, that beneath the plunger 8 iowing by way of passage 13 back to the reservoir 19, and that beneath the plunger 3 lowingback into-the'cylinder 9 as the plunger 8 moves downwardly, the air exhausting from the reservoir 19 by way of passage 50, and ports 18 and 17 to the atmosphere. Asthe plunger 8 nears'its lower limit of travel, the projection 12 on the member 10, by enteringithe passage 13 gradually cuts off the passage ,of fluid from beneath the plunger andthe plunger will come to rest.

gently and easily, with the projection 12 resting on the boss'l formed in the bottom 'of the passage 13, as shown in Fig. 1,.

`W'ith a load on the chair, with the chairy in elevated position, the luid in the reservoir 19, is under a pressure Adepending upon the weight of the chair and 'its load, and should the chair have been brought to rest on its up motion,the valve 23'will be inthe position shown in Fig. 1'. If theload on the chair were nowfremoved, the .chair will remain in the same position, although the` presf sure in the reservoir =wouldtend to force the Huid therein in a direction to low beneath the plunger 8, but this How is prevented by the valve 23, which has closed the passage 13, and the pressure from the reservoir 19 will merely press the valve more rmly against its seat 'to maintain the said passage closed. Or should the valve 23 be in position to close olf the port 47, due to leakage of air from the reservoir 19, with the chair at rest, or due to the fact that the chair was stopped on the down motion, leaving the passage 13 open, the pressure from the reservoir 19 if it exceeds the pressure on the fluid due to the weight of the chair with the load oi', would at once cause the valve 23 to rotate on its pivot. and immdiatelyrclose 0E the passage 13. vIf the pressure on the fluid due to the weight of the chair is higher than the pressure in the reservoir 19, the valve will be merely held more rmlyseated to close oft' ythe port47. Also it is to be-noted that should\ a person of comparatively light weight seate in the chair, be replaced by one of heavier weight, the extra load on the chair will not cause the chair to settle, for the valve 23 would at once close 0E `the port 47iand prevent any iow of Huid back to the reservoir 19.

It will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, that, we have provided the valves 23 and 16 with suiicient lap to permit the pedals 39 and 40 to be .operated to actuate the brake mechanism, without, however,`actua'ting the valves suiiciently to uncover the ports controlled thereby. y

Any air which may find its Way to the cylinder 9 may be exhausted therefrom, by merely unsci'ewing the rod 7 slightly, and raising the plungers 3 andz8 by hand, and then allowing them to settle back into place by their own weight; the fluid in the plunger 3 will How into the cylinder 9 and fill it up, and ythe' air will be forced out and through the Huid in the plunger 3, where it may escape to the atmosphere between th rod 7 and the seat of the chair.

It will be seen from the aforegoing, that we` have provided an apparatus of the class described, which is simple in construction,

positive in action, and which to be operated requires practically no exertion on the part of the operator.

l We have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, but we appreciate' without departing from the spirit and scope 0f our invention. We desire, therefore, not- `to be limited to the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts shown,

but whatwe claim as new, and desire to se- 1." In an adjustable chair, supporting cure by Letters Patent of the United States means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for placing under pressure a fluid in said chamber, to actuate the seat-supporting means, ports for the passage of fluid to and from said fluid chamber, and a slide valve automatically controlling said ports.

2. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for lacing under pressure a fluid in said cham er to actuate the seat-supporting means, pressure supply and discharge ports, and a slide valve automatically controlling the flow of fluid through said ports alternately for pressure or discharge.

3. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for placing a fluid under pressure in said chamber to actuate the seat-supporting means, ports for the passage of the fluid to and from the fluid chamber, a slide valve for controlling said ports, operating means therefor, and' means cooperating with said .valve whereby the latter will automatically close off' either of said orts Without actuation of the said operating means.

4. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for placing a fluid under pressure in said chamber to actuate the seat supporting means, ports for the passage of the fluid to and from the fluid chamber, a slide valve for controlling said ports, operating means therefor for adjusting the chair-seat-supporting-means, said valve operating automatically under the action of the fluid to close ofi' either of said ports Without actuation of the valve operating means.

5. In an 'adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply to generate pressure upon the fluid in said fluid chamber to adjust the chair seat supporting'means, a selfadjusting valve for the application of pressure from the pressure supply, and the yex-y haust of pressure to the atmosphere, a hinged slide valve actuated in part by the direction of flow of the fluid to and from the pressure chamber to automatically maintain the chair seat in any elevated position should a reduction or variation of pressure from any cause occur at the source of pressure supply. l

6. In an adjustable chair, plungers supporting the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a cylinder Within which said plungers may be moved, a pressure-regulating selfadjusting valve, a pressure supply controlled thereby, said valve being placed between the source of pressure supply and the fluid chamber, a hinged slide valve between the fluid chamber and the plunger cylinder, and interlocking pedals connected to the valves mechanically, by which manipulation of said pedals positively predetermines the direction of motion of the said plungers and therefore of the chair seat.

7. In an adjustable chair, plungers supporting the seat of the chair, afluid cham ber, a pressure supply for placing a fluid in said chamber under pressure to actuate the chair-seat supporting means, valves controlling the pressure supply and the flow of fluid under the action of the pressure supply, a brake to prevent horizontal rotation of one of the plungers, interlocking pedals having operating connections to the valves and the brake, and means for automatically returning the valves and brake to normal position by release of pressure from either one of the interlocking pedals. l

8. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid' chamber,a pressure supply for placing a fluid in said chamber under pressure to adjust the chair-seat supporting-means, a brake for the chair-seat supporting-means, a self adjusting valve controlling andV regulating the pressure supply, a slide valve actuated in part automatically by the direction of flow of fluid for controlling said fluid, interlocking pedals for controlling said valves and brake, and a compression spring guided in cup sleeves and reacting alternately for up or down motion, for returning automatically the entire operating mechanism to normaln position by which all pressure actuated parts .are' brought to restupon release of pressure sure supply, a slide valve controlling thev flow of the fluid under pressure and actuated in part automatically by the direction of flow of the fluid, a brake for preventing rotation of one of the said plungers which is adapted to `be rotated by hand, interlocking pedals controlling said brake and valves,

ports arranged to automatically limit the axial movement of the plungers under the action of the fluid under pressure, a valve Within the rotatable plunger for facilitating discharge of air whichv would prevent action of the pressure actuated parts, and also to facilitate replenishment of such fluid as may escape by reason of leakage, and means for effecting the automatic return to normal position of the operating parts of the mechanism, by which the telescopic plungers and pressure actuated parts are brought to rest upon release of pressure from either one of the said pedals.

10. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for placing the fluid in said chamber .under pressure to actuate the seat supporting means, hinged slide chamber to actuate said supporting means,

valve mechanism controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to and from said supporting means and operatingautomaticall to maintain the chair seat 'in elevate should the pressure on the Huid dueto the Weight of the supporting means and its load l 'exceed that due to the pressure supply.

'of Huid actuated by the ll. In any adjustable chair, the combination with a fluid chamber, supportingmeans for the'seat of the chair, a pressure supply for actuating the Huid 'in said chamber to actuate the supporting means, ports controlling the passage of fluid to said supporting means, a hinged slide valve controlling said y,ports and operating automatically by the 'pressure in the Huid to maintain the sup- .f

porting means in adjusted position. j

- 12. In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat ofthe chair, a fluid chamber, a pressure supply for placing the fluid under pressure in said chamber to actuate -zthe seat supporting means, ports for the passage of fluid to and from the fluid chamber, and hinged slide valve mechanism controlling the said ports.

13.'In an adjustable chair, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a fluid chamb er, a pressure supply for placing'the iuid in saidchamber under pressure to actuate said supporting means,- hinged slide valve said valve mechanism adapted to be operated byathe pressure on the fluid to maintain the chair.V stationary. j

14. In an adjustable chair,` supporting means for the seat` of the chair, a pressure supply for vplacing a fluid in said chairA under pressure -to actuate said supporting means, a valve for controlling the pressure supply, a valve for controlling the passage pressure supply, single means for actuatin `said valves simultaneously, and means or automatically restoring the valves to closed position, yone o f said valves when not actuated by the said single actuating means operating automatically t maintain the chair seat supporting l means stationary. j

15. In an adjustable ,-chair, supporting `means for the seat of the chair, a pressure supply for placingthe fluid in said chamber under pressure to actuate said supportmg means, valve l'mechanism for controlling the pressure supply andgthe passa e of. fluid actuated thereby, a single device or actuating said valve mechanism to elevate the chair, a single `device for actuating said valve mechanlsm to llower the chair, and

y means for preventing the simultaneous option of supporting means for'4 the seat of the Y eration of said single devices. v 16. In an adjustable chair,`the combinaposition v for placing'the fluid under pressure in said valve mechanisms for controllingv the pressure supply and the lpassage of fluid actuated thereby, single means foractuating said valve mechanisms simultaneously to cause the chair seat supporting means to be elevated, a single means for actuating the valve mechanisms simultaneously to lowerf the chair seat supporting means, and means operating automatically to always restore the valve mechanisms to position to main-v tain the chair seat supporting means in any desired position, said valves operating automatically to prevent movement of the chair ,seat supporting means in an ascending direction except, the pressure in the fluid due to the pressure supply exceeds that due to the Weight of the chair seat supporting means and its load.

' 17. In an adjustable chair supporting Vtuating the valve mechanism Will operate the mechanism for controlling the horizontal rotation of the4 chair seat without actuating thevalve mechanism to operative position.

' 18. In an adjustable chair, -the combination vvith a fluid chamber, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a pressure supply for forcingr fluid from said chamber beneath the supporting means, a hinged slide valve controlling the passage of fluid s to and from said fluid chamber, and adapt- Max ed to automatically prevent the passage of fluid beneath the supporting means shuld the pressure on the Huid due to the weight of the supporting means and its load be less than the pressure on the fluid due to the pressure supply. y v

19. In an adjustable chair, the combination with a fluid chamber, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a pressure supply for forcing fluid *from said chamber beneath the supporting means, ports controlling the passageof Huid to and from said Huid chamber, a hinged slide valve controlling said ports, and adapted .to automatically prevent tliefflow of iuid back to the fluid chamber should the pressure in the Huid chamber due to the pressure supply be lower than that on the fluid due to the lweight of thesupporting means and its load.' 20. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a fluid chamber, supporting means for the seat of the chair, a ressure supply for forcing fluid from sai chair beneath the supporting means, a hinged slide valve controlling the passage of fluid to and from said fluid chamber, and adapted to automatically prevent the passage of Huid to the supporting means should the pressure on the Huid due to the weight of the supporting means and its load be less than ,the pressure on the fluid due to the pressure supply.

21. In an adjustable chair, the combination with a fluid chamber, of supporting means for the seat of the chair, a pressure supply for actuating said uid to actuate the supporting means, a valve controlling the Huid, a valve controlling the pressure supply,.means for operating said valve simultaneously, and a spring compressed by movement of the valves to raise or lower the supporting means to restore the valves ber, a pressure supply for placing a fluid 1n saidchamber under' pressure to elevate the chair seat, and a hinged slide valve controlled by the pressure in the fluid for automatically maintaining the chair seat in elevated position.

23. In an adjustable chair, a fluid'chamber, hollow plungers therein forming a support for the seat of the chair, valve mechanism in one of said plungers for replenishing the Huid in said chamber with fluid from said plunger. y

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this speciication.

GODFREY R. REBMANN. WILLIAM H. HULTGREN.

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