US1484501A - Odometer - Google Patents

Description

, 1,484,501 E. R. HUNTLEY ODOMETER Feb. 19 1924.

Filed Jan. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheetl ATTORNEY Feb. 1-9 1924. ,Y 1,484,501 j E. Rg, HUNTLEY ODOMETER Filed Jan. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l v 23 A INVENTOR.

H' E' y Effe# R /fl//r//ey Y PBx/Z E E l 'ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES g 1,484,501 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST R. HUNTLEY, or TOLEDO, oHIo, AsSIGNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To IN- DUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, or TOLEDO, oHIo; A CORPORATION or DELA- WARE.

ODOMETER.

Application med January e, 1919. serriaiNo. 269,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST R. HUN-TLEY, residing at Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certainvnew and useful Improvements in Odometers, ofL

which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates kto speedometers and more particularly to the odometer thereof.

The principal object of thisinvention is to provide means for resiliently retaining' lthe transfer pinions in mesh with the transfer elements on the registering wheels to effect smoother co-operation of these parts and eliminate the possibility of these parts binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide combined means for resiliently mounting the transfer pinions and supporting one end of a rotating shaft. ,y n

With these incidental objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of invention and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and the preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. I is a front view of the speedometer` with the speed graduated dial partly broken away to disclose the odometer.

Fig. II is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the rline II--II of F ig. I. n

ig. III is a front elevation of the frame carrying the various mechanisms.

Fig. IV is a detail cross-sectional view through the frame, the section being taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a cross-sectional view through the frame, the section being taken as on the line V-V of Fig. III.

Referring to Fig. I of the drawing, the speedometer is mounted in a casing ,20 having a fiange 21 by which it is secured to the instrument board or other Suitable part of the vehicle.

The supporting frame 23` (Figs. III, IVv

and V) is of skeleton form and comprises a plate portion 24 and an integral curvedl portion 25. Projecting` from this frame are three integral arms, 26, 27 and 28 on the outer ends of which is mountedthe indicating dia1"29 (Fig. I), having the usual speed graduated g scale.

Mounted on a rod`30 (Figs. I and II),

the usualsight openings in the dial 29. The

construction-o f-these wheels and the operating means for the units wheel ofeach register`are'more fully shown vand described in co-pend'ing application, Serial No. 269,337, filed January 2, 1919, and reference may be had thereto if desired.

Securedto the left hand side of each` reg- A isteringwheel 31 and 32 is the usual notched disc 34 and securedto the right hand yside is the usual gear 33 (Fig. I). Co-operating with each disc 34 of one registering wheel andv the gear 33 of the registering wheel of the next higher order is a transfer pinion 35 (Fig. II) loosely mounted on a rod 36.

Asis well known in'thefart, the pinions'35` are provided' with alternate long' and short teeth so that as one registering wheei passes from` 99y to 0 the notch in its disc 34 cooperateswith a longtooth on the corresponding pinion 35 and thereby rotates this7 ing transferring operations, with the result that these operations are not smooth and easy and possibly the teeth become worn or break. In order to eliminate this difficulty and overcome the friction resulting therefrom, the rod` 36 is resiliently mounted to move bodily and slightly away from theV registering wheels when one or more of the transfer pinions tend to bind with the corresponding gears and discs on the registering wheels. To this end a plate or member 38 of flexible metal is formed with a central portion 39 (Figs III,VIV and V) and end portionsv 40 bent at. right angles to the cenerally extending flanges 41 forming bases by which the member 38 is mounted on the frame Q3 by means of screws as shown in Fig. lll. The end portions 40 of the member 38 are provided with slots 42 in which the ends of the shaft 36 are positioned. Integral with each end portion l0 and to one side thereof is a spring finger 43, which is connected at its lower end to the portion 4r) and is free at its upper end. rllhe member 38 is cut or stamped from a. plate of sheet metal and then the member is bentto form the end portions et() the bases L.l1 and the tingers 3. As shown in Fig. 1V t-he lingers i3 engage the rod 36 so that the fingers together with the lower side of the slots 42 support the rod 36.

From the above description it can be seen that the fingers 43, which act as leaf springs, support the rod 36 in the grooves a2 and that when there is any imperfect action between the transfer pinions and the discs 3l and the gears 33, while transfers are being effected the rod 36 is moved slightly outward from the registering wheels against the action of the spring lingers which after the transfer is effected or the imperfect action is passed move the rod and transfer pinions to their normal positions, the transfer pinions 35 being retained in engagement vith the gears 33 at all times.

The indicating mechanism and odometer are operated by an operating shaft 45. (Fig. l1). This shaft, which is arranged obliquely te the frame is supported at one end by ball bearings 46 mounted in a bearing cup 47 and at its opposite end is supported by ball bearings i8 mounted in a bearing plate 49 fast on the frame 23. The bearing cup 47 is mounted in one end of al tubular extension 50 of the frame. rlhe lower end of the shaft is provided with a pin 57 adapted for connection with the one end Of the flexible shaft (not shown) driven by a moving part of the vehicle, as is well known in practice.

Screw threads 5S formed on the upper end of the shaft #l5 mesh with a gear 59 which actuates the registering wheels of the odometer as fully described in the aforesaid co-pending application.

The lgovernor shaft G1 (Fig. Il) has cenical ends and its right hand end is supported by ball bearings mounted in a bearing cup GQ'suppoi-ted in an opening in the frame 23. rllhe left hand end of the shaft is supported by ball bearings mounted. in a bearing cup 63 which is positioned in an opening in the center of the central portion 39 of the member 33 (Figs. HI and V). The portion 39 of the member 3S is flexible and the member 38 er that portion lying between the ends et() is so mounted in respect to the shaft 61 that the portion 39 is slightly bowed to press the bearings firmly against the end of the shaft. 1t is obvious that with this form of supporting means the wear of the shaft at the bearings is automatically taken care of as the portion 39 is constantly tending to straighten out. This form of mounting prevents the shaft from becoming loose in the bearings and therefore eliminates all noise which would accompany such looseness.

Thc governor and operating connections are more fully shown and described in copending application Serial No. 269,339, liled January 2, 1919, and are not shown or described in much detail herein, as the novel features claimed herein do not reside in the specific forni of governor or operating connections. Fast on the shaft 61, near its right hand end as viewed in (Figure Il), is :i frame ($9 provided with three pairs of laterally extending arms T Pivoted between each pair of arms is a barrel shaped weight 7e which is eut away on one side of its axis so as to leave a circular projection 7 The right hand end of a ribbon 79, which is formed of metal or other suitable material, is fastened to each weight 74. A sleeve b2 is loose on lthe shaft 6l and a coiled spring SG, which is compressed between the sleeve S2 :ind the frame (39, tends to move the sleeve 82 axially toward the left. The left hand ends of the ribbon 79 are fastened to the sleeve SQ. Fast on the shaft l5 is a worm gear 90 meshing with the worm 91 cut in the governor shaft (il so that the shaft rotates the governor shaft.

Normally, when the shaft (S1 is not rotating the spring 86 retains the sleeve 82 in the position shown in (Fig. Il) and through the ribbons T9, causes the weights to assume the positions shown in this figure. lVhen the shaft 61 is rotated the weights Til rotate about their a.\;is because of the centrifugal action and move the sleeve 82 toward the right against the action of the spring 86, the errcent of movement of the sleeve SQ being dependent upon the speed of rotation as is readily understood.

A member 93, pivoted on the frame 2'), has one arm 91 carrying a stud 95 projecting into a groove 96 in the sleeve 82. The member 93 also has an arm 9T having teeth meshing with a pinion 9S fast on a shaft 100 carrying the indicator hand 102 (Fig. l). A coiled spring 103 (Fig. Il) is connected to the member to move the member and hence the indicatr'ir hand 192 to norn'ial position. lt can be seen that movement of the sleeve 82 by the governor rotates the meinber 93 to corresponding extents as the stud extends into the o nove 95 in the sleeve This rotation ot tr nien. ier 93 is coniniunicated to the indicating hand through the arm 93, gear 9S and shaft 190 so that the indicating hand is moved over the scale on the dial to indicate the speed of the vehicle.

While the kform of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted lll() to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein described, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with said units, common means for supporting said transfer devices, and means co-operating with said supporting means to retain resiliently the transfer devices in co-operating relation with said registering units.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering wheels, transfer elements on said Wheels, transfer pinions co-operating with said transfer elements, a rod supporting said pinions, and resilient means supporting said rod.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with said registering units, a rod carrying said transfer devices, means for supporting said rod, and spring fingers on said supporting means and co-operating with said rod to resiliently retain the transfer devices in cooperatingaelation With the registering units.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering Wheels, transfer elements on the registering wheels, transfer pinions meshing with the transfer Wheels, a rod carrying the transfer pinions, stationary means supporting said rod, and spring means co-operating with said rod to resiliently retain the transfer pi nions in mesh with the transfer' wheels.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering Wheels, transfer elements on the registering Wheels, transfer pinions meshing with the transfer elements, a rod carrying the transfer pinions, stationary means supporting said rod, and spring fingers on said supporting means and engaging said rod to resiliently retain the transfer pinions in mesh with the transfer elements.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering units, transfer elements co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying said transfer elements, sheet metal supporting means having slots in which the rod is positioned, and spring arms enga ing the rod to retain resiliently the trans er elements in co-operating relation with the registering units.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of arplurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices, plate portions having slots for guiding the rod, and a spring finger integral with each plate portion and to the one side of the plate portion for engaging the rod.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices and a metal plate having end portions supporting said rod, and spring fingers on said end portions co-operating with said rod.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices, a metal plate comprising end portions, having slots for guiding the rod and spring fingers engaging the rod, and a central bowed portion supporting one cnf, of said shaft and adapted to resiliently press against said end of the shaft.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying the registering units, a metal plate having end portions supporting said rod, and a flexible central portion, having a bearing at its center for supporting one end of said shaft, said central portion being slightly bowed by the end of said shaft.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices, a metal plate provided with end portions having slots for guiding the rod with spring fingers engaging the rod and a central bowed portion arranged to support one end of a shaft adapted to extend transversely of said bowed portion.

12. In a device of the class described, a sheet metal support having parallel end walls, bearings therein for the ends of a shaft, a transverse connecting element joining said end Walls and supported Wholly thereby, said connecting element beingresilient and having intermediate its ends a bearing adapted to receive one end of a shaft arranged at substantially right angles to the first named shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ERNEST R. HUNTLEY.

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