US1464815A - Machine element - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, T1923. y 1.194648% W. F. GEHRIG MACHINE ELEMENT Filed y 25, 1922 INVENTOR gi /47g Patented Aug. 14, 1923,

WILLIAM GEHRIG, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, =oo.,, 11m, 0F BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO ESSEX SPECIALTY A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

MACHINE ELEMENT.

Application filed May 25, 1922. Serial No. 563,733.

accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in machine elements; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of universal fulcrum or pivotal support and combined self-clamping lock for adjustably pivoting and supporting rectilinear rods for various mechanical purposes.

The invention has forits principal object to provide a novel construction of universal self-clamping support for adjustably mounting a rod or the like, so that the latter is capable of a four-fold movement, viz, oscillatory or pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, oscillatory or pivotal movement in a vertical plane, longitudinal movement in either direction, and rotary movement about its longitudinal axis in either direction.

Other objects of this'invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of-the ame.-

/Vith the various objects of this invention inview, the same consists, primarily, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the Various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 7

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, with a part of the mounting broken away to show the means for supportingthe rod; Figure 2 is a plan or top view; Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 33 in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a detail transverse section through the rod and hemispherical clamping members, the latter being in position to be assembled with the former.

S m l r h r e s at reference a e em ployed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates any suitable base or foundation upon which the support is fixed. Secured upon said base 1, by screws 2, or by any other suitable fastening means, or in any other suitable manner, is a hearing standard, clip or bracket. having a bottom portion 3 resting upon the base 1,-and through which the fastening screws 2 pass. Connected with-said bottom portion 3, at

the sides of the latter and preferably as integral parts thereof, are apair of upwardly extending standard members 4:, which are laterally spaced apart and opposed one to the other. Said bearing standard, clip or bracket is preferably made of sheet metal, of such qualitie that said standard members 4 are possessed of a requisite degree of springiness or resiliency. Normally said standard member i are inclined toward or converge somewhat toward each other, as indicated by the dotted position of the same shown in Figure 3, so that when moved apart, they will be placed under a tension tending to move the same toward each other, and thereby will grip and ex ert pressure upon any element supported between the ame under such conditions. Said standard members t are provided, adjacent to their upper .free ends with circular hearing openings or seats 5'which are transversely alined one with the other. interposed between said standard members, so as to be'engaged thereby and seated movably relative to said bearing openings or seats 5, is a split spherical carrier consisting of two, preferably separate, substantially hemispherical members 6 and 7 having their rounded outer faces respectively seated or journaled in the respective bearing openings 'or seats 5 of said standard members. Said hemispherical members 6 and 7 are preferably hollow (although it is not absolutelyfessential that they should be), and

their opposed sides or inner faces are providedfwith indentations or notches 8 diametrically aligned so as to form seats or guideways to straddle and engage a straight rod 9 or similar element, which is interposed between said hemispherical members 6 and 7 so as to be supported thereby in diametrical extension therebetween in such manner as to be capable of a longitudinal adjusting movement and also an axial rotary adjusting movement relative thereto.

It will be noted from an inspect-ion of the drawings, that said carrier rod 9, by reason of the novel mounting of the same, is capa.- ble of a substantially universal adjustment, whereby the same may be disposed ina great variety of positions. The adjustable movements thus rendered possible to the rod 9 are four-fold, viz, oscillatory or pivotal movement in. a vertical. plane (as indicated by dotted; lines; in Figure 1) oscillatory or pivotalmovement in a horizontal plane (as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.) longitudinal movement in either direction; and rotary movement about itslongitudinal axis inieither-direction. Owing to the fact that said resilient or spring-like standards a are placed under tension when the parts are assembled, it follows that the hemispherical members 6 and 7 will be pressed toward each. other, thereby frictionally engaging and grippingthe rod 9 supported intermediate the same, so that oscillatory movements, in either: horizontal or vertical planes, which are imparted to said rod 9 will betransmitted to saidhemi'spherical members 6 and 7, which will consequently pivot or fulcrum suchmovements by reason of the rotation of the members 6 and 7- inthe bearing openings or seats 5 of the standard members i, without danger of disengaging the rod itself from its operative assembled relation as dis posed between said hemispherical members. To move the rod longitudinally, or to rotate the; same on its longitudinal axis, sutlicient force, properly directed, is applied to the rod to overcome the frictional grip of said hemispherical members, so that the rod will slide or rotate relative to the seats or notches 8.

While the supporting means for mounting the rod will thus readily admit of a de sired range of four-fold adjusting movements, as described, said means by reason of its character and construction, provides a very important additional function, viz, that the rod 9- will be frictionally gripped and clamped or held stationary in any position to which it hasbeen adjusted, and will thus maintain its adjusted position.

This functioning is due to the fact that the spring-like standard members 4: bear frictionally and tensionally' against the hem ispherical members 6 and 7', and in turn force the latter-into frictional binding engagement with the rod 9,and consequently such frictional resistances thus established,

tend, first to bind or hold the hemispherical members 6 and 7 against free rotation relative to the bearing openings or seats 5 of the standards I, and, second, tend to bind. or hold the rod. 9. against free longitudinal or rota-tive movement relative to said hemispherical inembers; such movements being possible only when a proper manipulative force sufficient to overcome such resistances is applied.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of its opposite convex surfaces rotatably journal'ed in said bearing openings, and arod extending diametrically throughsaid' split spherical body so as to be frictionally engaged thereby but movable relative thereto, the tension of said standards upon said split spherical body tending to constantly thrust the members of the latter into frictional binding relation tosaid rod'.

2. In a deviceof the kind described, a pair of opposed standards having bearingopenings, a pair of hemisphericab members intermediate said standards having their convex faces seated respectively in said bearing openings, said standards being under spring tension tending to constantly press said hemispherical members together, said hemispherical members having alined diametrically disposed seats at their opposed faces, and a rod extending between said hemispherical members and frictionally engaged by the seats thereof.

In testimony that I claim" the invention set forth above I havehereunto set my hand this 11th day of May, 1922.

WILLIAM F. GEHRIG.

Witnesses:

Gnonen D. Krona-nus, FLORA MILLER,

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