US1495916A - Downhill check for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

May 27,1924.

'W. MCNAMES DOWNHILL CHECK FOR VEHICLES 2 SheeLS-Shel l yFiled May 9 1.921

May 27 ,v 1924. y 1,495,916

W. MONAMES 4 yDQWNHILL CHECK FOR VEHICLES Filed May 9. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet@ ma.. m

Zd WZWMWMS Patented May 27, 1924.

UNITED STAUTES- WILLIAM MCNAMES, or ABERDEEN, soltr'r-H DAKOTA.

DOWNHILL CHECK FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed May 9, 1921. Serial No. 467,980.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, VILLIAM McNAMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Brown and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Downhill Checks for Vehicles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved device which is designed for checking forward movements of vehicles on inclines in case the engine accidentally stops or for any other reason necessitating stoppage of the vehicle on a down-grade. Y

The principal object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability which will eHectively accomplish the desired results and yet not raise the rear end of the vehiclepif of the ground as do many other similar devices of this class.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which is composed of comparatively few strong and durable parts which are such that they can be connected to the vehicle by inexperienced persons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts shown in section, of a device constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same in operative positionV on a vehicle chassis. 1

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device in inoperative position. j

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation with the ground engaging shoe in section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the manner of connecting the device to the chassis.

Figure 5 ,is a detail perspective view of the shoe.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the attaching means.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken substantially on the plane of the line 7-7 of Fig. I.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the invention, I wish to point out that I have disclosed many parts which are substantial duplicates of the corresponding parts disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 467 ,979, filed May 9, 1921, forfan improved anti-skid device for automobiles. These parts that I have reference to are specifically described in the above named application and constitute no part of this invention. Therefore, they need be only referred to briefly. To this end, 1 designates an attaching plate disposed on the rear axle .housing II and clamped thereon by any suitable means, such for instance by the U-bolts 2. Here, I may point out that this attaching plate has associated with it, like the one shown and described in the aforesaid,

application, novel anchoring means 3 for preventing possible slippage and rotation thereof on the axle housing, this means coacting with the spring as shown. Extend'- ing crosswise of the attaching plate 1 and beyond the longitudinal edges ofthe latter is a second plate 4 provided at its forward end with a guide 5 for passage of the operating cable 6. The rearwardly extending and depending portion 7 of this plate 4 instead of being solidl like the corresponding parts shown in my co-pending case above named,is bifurcated near its lower end as indicated at 8 forming'a pair of arms 9, the lower ends of which are bent upon themselves to form bearings 10 for the journalling of a pivot pin 11 which serves as a mounting means for an extensible leg 12 which is connected thereto intermediate its ends as shown.

The parts above referred to with the exception of the leg 12 are substantial duplicates of. the corresponding parts shown and specifically described in my co-pending case already named, it being understood that the plate 4 is bifurcated at 8 vto 'accommodatethe vparticular'kind of legy herein shown. It may be stated that the legl could well-be of the same construction as the one shown in the application under consideration. However, I prefer to vary the construction thereof and construct the same so as to include a tubular upper section 13, and a cylindrical plunger or lower section 14 which is slidable in the hollow portion of said upper section. The upper end o-f the section last named is designed to be received between a pair of jaws 15 carried by the depending portion 7 of the plate 4L. It is to be noted that these jaws are so constructed and 'the upper end of this sectional leg is likewise so constructed that when it is received between said jaws, it is held against undue and undesirable movement by friction. 'Referring now to the lower end of this tubular section 13, it will be seen that it is provided at diainetrically opposite points with guide-slots 16 in which the lateral extensions 17, carried by the lcylindrical section 14 have limited sliding movement. Arranged within the socket or hollow portion of the section 13 is a ,coiled spring 18 which bears against the upper end of the part 14: and serves to force the latter downward for a purpose to be herein described.

The invention in addition to embodying the aforesaid parts includes a pivotally mounted ground-engaging shoe 19 which in its preferred form is equipped on its upper face with spaced ears 2O between which a cross-headQl on the lower end oi the leg section 14 is received and pivotally connected at 22. Attention is directed to the fact that the cross-head 21 is reduced in width toward its opposite ends so as to permit. pivotal movement ot the shoe yet limit such movement so that it will not assume an undesirable position. lt may also be uientioned that opposite ends of the shoe are upturned as indicated at 23 to prevent these ends; fromV digging into the surface and hanging, and not permitting etliective operation of the device.. The only other part of the invention not yet described is a brace 24 secured to the plate et and including spaced arms 25 straddling the upper end of the leg section 18 and having their lower ends engaged with the bearings 10 to rein 7 force and increase the rigidity of the depending portion 7 of this plate.

In operation, the leg is normally suspend ed iii the inoperative position disclosed in Fig. 2, being held in such position by means of 'the cable 6 which extends forwardly through the guide 5 and to a convenient point on the vehicle for operation the driver or other occupant. By releasing the cable 6, the leg 'l2 and toot 19 will drop by gravity and the foot will engage the ground being held in yielding ycontact with the latter by means of the spring which eX- erts a downward pressure on the leg section 14. l/Vhen the shoe thus contacts the ground, it will actlike a brakev and serve to bring the vehicle to a standstill. It is obvious that when the upper portion of the leg section 13 swings between the jaws 15,

Vthe rearward swinging movement of the leg prising attaching means including a plate adapted for crosswise disposition on and connection to the rear axle or a vehicle,a leg pivoted intermediate its ends on said plate, spaced jaws on said plate Vbetween which the upper end of said leg` is received and frictionally gripped when in operative position, and a ground-engaging element on the lower end of said leg.

2. A device of the class described coinprising attaching means for connection to a part of the vehicle, a slotted tubular legsection pivotally connected to said means, a spring-pressed sectionv telescopiug into said tubular section and equipped with pins projecting slidably through said slots, a head on the lower end of said second-named section, and a surface-engaging slice pivotally connected with said head.

3. A device of the class described coinprising a plate for crosswise disposition on.

and connection to the rea-r axle of anV auto- 'mobile, includinga depending rearwardly Vextending bifurcated portion, a leg,pivoted to and movable between the furcations of saidplate, a brace carried' by the latter including spaced arms between Vwhich the upper end'of said leg is disposed when in operative position, anda ground-engaging element on the lower end of said arms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM Menaiiins.

subjoined

Images