US1354003A - Hub-odometer - Google Patents

Description

0. n. RICHARD. HUB ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 191. 1 54,003. Patelltedsept- 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. D. RICHARD.

HUB ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1917- 1,354,003. PatentedSept. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFHIE.

CHARLES RONA? BECK-KARE, GE NEW YORK, El. 2'.

HUB-OBQMETEJR.

Application filed .Tune 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. RICHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hub-Odometers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mileage recorders, and more particularly has special reference to devices known as hub-odometers, or devices carried by the hub of a vehicle wheel for registering the number of miles traveled by the vehicle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth having novel means for driving the register mechanism. That is to say, the present invention contemplates a practical and reliable operating mechanism for a mileage recorder or counter of the rotary type, whereby either backward or forward movement of the vehicle wheel may be accurately recorded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantial construction wherein the relatively delicate operating mechanism for the register will be carefully mounted and protected, both from the weather, oil, dirt and grease and also from shocks and jars incident to the varying wheel load thrusts occuring between the vehicle wheel and the axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and eflicient connection between the axle and the register mechanism, whereby the latter will be held in a relatively fixed position within the odometer casing, and not in any way affected by the movement of the vehicle wheel. v

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. V

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my improved odometer.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rotor element of the odometer, and the register operating mechanism, the register being partly broken away to more clearly show the latter.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of a carrier Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

1917. Serial N0. 174,078.

plate and operating mechanism for the register carried thereby.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, illustrating more clearly the relation of the operating parts of the register mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rotor element of the odometer showing more clearly the cam for actuating the yoke of the register operating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan View of the yielding coupling element utilized between the axle and the stationary element of the odometer.

Similar references designate corresponding (parts thronghout the several figures of the rawlngs.

In carrying the present invention into effect, it is proposed to provide an odometer construction wherein the register device is stationary, while the casing which houses the same rotates with the hub. Accordingly, it is contemplated to provide a register device having a novel connection with the axle of the wheel whereby the same may be held sta-' tionary in the casing carried by the hub of said wheel, while at the same time, it is also proposed to provide a novel register operating mechanism which includes a two-way camming device and a combined advancing and check element which operates to both advance and check the rotation of the wheel which operates the register itself, always in one direction, regardless of the direction in which the vehicle moves.

Accordingly, the invention preferably includes in its organization a substantially frusto-conical casing member 1 having therein the window 2, and provided at its large open end with suitable threads 3 for receiving the threaded portion of the vehicle wheel hub H. This casing or shell is'preferably provided with an interior shoulder S having adjacent thereto a threaded portion 4. for receiving the externally threaded flange 5 of the rotor element 6.

The said rotor element 6 preferably has formed in each face thereof a recess, designated respectively B and R, and is also provided with a central opening 7 Concentric with said opening 7 and at one end thereof, is provided a bearing projection or hub 8, while at the opposite end of the opening there is further rovided a second bearing projection or huli 9, the latter loosely receiving thereon the stator element 10, which is located entirely Within the recess R,

while the projection 8 has fitted thereto a. suitable operating ear 11, whlch is located in the recess R. his construction may be clearly observed from. Fig. 1 of the drawings, and also from Fig. 5, which shows the rotor element 6, in such a manner that the mounting of the gear 11 on the bearing projection 8 may be readily understood. As will be observed from Fig. 5, the gear 11 15 preferably locked to rotate with the bearing projection 8 by means of a pin 12, though, of course, equivalent means may be utilized.

A ain referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it Wlll be observed that the register device designated in its entirety by the reference character D is suitably mounted on a carrier plate 13 having a centrally arranged supporting post 14 for loosely entering the opening 7 in the rotor element, whereby the movement of the latter may not be imparted to the carrier plate. The extremity of the post 14 is preferably reduced in diameter, as shown, and connected by means of a pin 15, or its equivalent, with the stator element 10, which latter is connected with the axlerA of the vehicle wheel by means of a novel and practical coupling device, designated gen-.

erally as C, and hereinafter more fully described. The register device D, above referred to, is preferably of the rotary type, and includes a shaft 16 having thereon a ratchet disk 17 adapted to be operated upon by a novel register operating mechanism which includes a'two-way cam device actu ated by the gear 11 on the projection 8 of the rotor element 6.

In connection with the register operating mechanism which transfers movement to the ratchet wheel 16 from the rotor element, ref erence will first be made to the two-way cam device which compels the register to move in the same direction at all times regardless of whether the vehicle is traveling backward or forward. This two-way cam device essentially comprises the cam members 18 and 19 both of which are concentrically mounted upon a suitable supporting spindle 2O arranged at one side of the post 14 of the carrier plate 13. The engaging faces of each cam member have complementary double beveled projections so that when the cam 19 rotates in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, it will impart a reciprocating motion to the other cam 18. In order to provide for the necessary rotary movement of the cam 19. the same is preferably carried by a sleeve 21 which is mounted on the spindle 20, and constitutes a bearing for the spindle in the carrier plate 13. The end of the said sleeve 21 opposite the cam 19 projects beyond the rear face of said carrier plate and has rigidly secured thereto a suitable operating gear 22 which is adapted to mesh directly with the gear 11 carried on the hub extension 8 of the rotor 6.

The other cam member 18 which'is loosely 4 mounted on the spindle 20 is rigid with the lower end 23 of a swin ing arm 24 carried by a suitable rock shaft, as will-presently appear, and the said lower end of the arm is engaged by one end of a spring 25 which is confined between a washer 26 on the end of the spindle 20 and the rear face of said end 23 of the arm, whereby the spring will force the cam member 18 into engagement with the cam 19. Therefore, it will be apparent that when 'the cam member 19 is rotated through the movement of the intermeshed gears 11 and 22, the cam member 18 will be reciprocated on the spindle 20 against the tension of the spring 25, and thus move the lower end of the arm 24. This action is provided for by the special formation of the engaging or working faces of the cams 18 and 19 which as previously pointed out are complementary double beveled camming faces.

As previously indicated, the cam member 18 of the two-way cam device is carried by one end of a swinging arm 24, which is fastened to a rock shaft 27 by means of a pin 28, which rock shaft 27 is respectively journaled in the offset bearing arms 29 and 30 of the carrier plate 13. These offset bearing arms are preferably of different length, that is, the arm 30 nearest the ratchet wheel 17 of the register device D is preferably of such length as to accommodate a novel arrangement of driving pawls for the said ratchet wheel which also act as a check to prevent any retrograde movement of the wheel under the jars and shocks of travel.

The end of the shaft 27 which projects through the offset arm 30 has rigidly fitted thereto a pinion 31 having eccentrically mounted thereon a suitable pawl 32 adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17. This pawl is preferably maintained 1n engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 33. In addition to supporting the shaft 27, the arm 30 also carries at one side of the shaft 27 a gear 34 meshing with the gear 31 and having eccentrically pivoted thereto a pawl 35 which is preferably under tension of a spring 36. and also engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17. Thus, the arm 30 supports a combined check and advancing pawl device for operating the ratchet wheel 17. That is to say, the intermeshed gears 31 and 34 respectively carrying the eccentrically mounted pawls 32 and 35 cooperate to alternately advance the ratchet disk 17 and also act as a check as previously pointed out. When the shaft 27 is ocked the gear 31 oscillates, and thereby imparts a reverse oscillating motion to the gear 34. Thus, when the shaft 27 rocks in a counter-clockwise direction, the gear 31 will cause its pawl 32 to push downwardly against the teeth 01 ter operating mechanism,

essence the ratchet wheel 17 and thus advance .he-

same, while at tie same time, the gear 34 will be moved in a clockwise direction, whereby its pawl 35 will trail idly over the teeth of the ratchet wheel. When the shaft 27 rocks back the other way, 2". e. in a clockwise direction, the reverse action takes place, the pawl 35 becoming the driving pawl;

Referring now to the manner of operation of the mechanism, it will be apparent that the register device D being supported on the carrier plate 13, which is connected with the stator element 10, will occupy a relatively fixed position in the casing of the odometer, while the movement necessary to actuate the register operating mechanism is imparted by the gear 11 associated with the rotor element 6. That is to say, when the vehicle wheel moves in either a back ward or forward direction, the rotor element 6 of the device will cause a corresponding movement of the gear 11 which will rotate the gear 21 and consequently the cam 19, and the latter will, with the help of the spring 25, reciprocate the cam 18 on the spindle 20 and rock the swinging ;arm 24. Thus, ment on account of the cam 18 bearing against the cam 19, and the swinging movement of the arm 24 is turned into a rocking movement of the shaft 27, since the said arm is connected to the latter by means of the pin 28, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This rocking movementof the shaft 27 causes a reciprocating movement of the gear 31 and since the latter is meshed with the gear 34, it will be apparent that these gears will always oscillate in opposite directions. Thus, while the shaft 27 is rocking in a counter-clockwise direction, the pawl 32 of the gear 31 will cause the ratchet disk 17 to rotate the space of one tooth forward, while the pawl 35 of the gear 34 will be pulled up. into such a position with respect to another of the teeth of the ratchet disk that when the shaft 27 rocks in a clockwise direction, it will advance the disk 17. Accordingly, it will be apparent that while the pawl of one gear is advancing, the pawl of the other gear is coming into position to get behind the tooth of the ratchet wheel to advance the latter when the shaft 27 rocks in a reverse direction.

Having above described the novel regisreference will now be made to the practical feature of the invention which provides for holding the plate 13 which carries the register deviceD stationary, that is, the means which connects the said'plate with the axle A of the vehicle. As previously indicated, the said plate 13 is provided with a centrally located integral post 14 which is connected-by means nected as at 42. The body of t the arm 24 is given a swlnglng move-- end of said rock shaf device for operating Ar a a pin 15 with the stator ciement and. this stator element is in turn connected by a novel ieldabie coupling with the To provide for the engagement of this novel coupling device with the stator 10, the lat ter is preferably formed with suitable sockets 38 in its rear face, for receiving the studs 39 of the said coupling device C. This coupling device C preferably comprises two bowed spring sections 40 and 41,,each including a similar number of radially disposed spring arms which are hin 'edly conhe section 41 is preferably provided with the key studs 43 similar to the studs 39 for entering a suitable socket 44 in the endof the axle A. Thus, when the odometer is applied to the hub of the vehicle wheel, the coupling device C is positively interlocked with the stator element of the mechanism, and also with the axle on which the wheel is held stationary, but is not subjected to any lateral thrusts, shocks or jars that may occur between the hub of the wheel and the axle.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent without further description, andit will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

claim:

1. A hub odometer including a rotor element, a stator element, a register device connected with said stator element and having an operating wheel, and means for operating said register device including "a rock shaft having an operating engagement with said wheel of the register device, a two-way cam device for operating said rock shaft including a swinging arm carried by said shaft and having a cam at its free end, a sleeve mounted at right-angles to said rock shaft and carrying another cam for engaging with said cam on the swinging arm, a gear carried by the end of said sleeve opposite the, cam, and a gear carried by the rotor element for meshing with said other gear.

2. A hub odometer including a rotor element, a stator element, a carrier plate connected with said stator element, a register device havin an operating wheel mounted on said carrier plate, means for operating said register device including a rock shaft journaled in said carrier plate above the register device, means connected with one t, for operating the opre'gister, a two-way cam said rock shaft includa swinging arm mounted upon the other of the rock shaft, a sleeve loosely journaled in the carrier plate, a cam at one end of said sleeve, a gear at the other end of said crating wheel of the sleeve, :1 spindle mounted insaid sleeve and extending toone side thereof, a cam carried by the free end of said swinging arm and slidable on the spindle, a spring on said spindle for pressing said latter cam into engagement with the cam on said sleeve, and a gear carried by the rotor element for actuating the gear on the sleeve.

3. A hub-odometer including a casing, a register device therein, a rotor element carried by the casing and operatively connected with the register device, a stator, and a coupling unit interposed between the stator and fixed part of the vehicle consisting of articulated spring sections provided at their meeting portions with complemental pintlepin receiving portions for receiving a hinge pintle-pin.

t. A coupling device for hub odometers including the combination with a vehicle wheel axle and a stator element, of a yieldable coupling device connecting the stator and axle, said coupling device including duplicate sections having a plurality of radial bowed spring arms hingedly connected at their meeting ends, and each section having means for detachably engaging with the stator and axle respectively.

5. A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers includin a ratchet operating wheel for the register, intermeshed gears having eccentrically mounted pawls for alternately engaging the teeth of said wheel, a rockable shaft connected with one of said gears and means for oscillating said shaft.

6. A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers including a ratchet operating wheel for the register, intermeshed gears, spring-pressed pawls eccentrically carried by said gears and having their free ends arranged to advance the ratchet wheel alternately, an oscillating shaft for one of said gears, and means for operating said oscillatmg shaft.

A driving mechanism for hub odometer registers including an operating wheel, intermeshed gears having eccentrically mounted pawls, and an oscillating operating shaft connected with one of said gears.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES DONAT RICHARD.

GEo. J. CORBE'IT.

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