US1578004A - Counterweighted lowering floor - Google Patents

Description

March 23 1926. 1,578,004

' T. M. BRINTNALL COUNTER WEIGH'IED LOWERING FLOOR Filed-Oct. 29 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 5-- INVENTOR. 7.7% firm/m l W? A TTORNEY.

March 23 1,578,0fi4

v T. M. BRHJTNALL.

CDUNTER WEIGHTED LOWERING FLOOR Filed Oct. 29 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet ATT6RNE..

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. BRIN-TNALL, OF 'LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIGNOR TO TI-I E BRINT- INALL 'MANUFACTURING COMPANY, -A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

I COUNT-ERWEIGHTED LOWERING FLOOR.

Application-filed October 29, 1924. Serial No. 746,583.

TooZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. BRINT- .NALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State'of California, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Counter-weighted Lowering Floors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to lowering floors, such as are used in front of bank vaults and the like.

The principal object of my inventionais to provide for easy and smooth operationso that a floor may be readily and .noiselessly raised or lowered without appreciable physicalefiort on the part of the operator.

-Another object of the invention is .torprovide mechanism for operating floors of .the character described, whereby theaction is practically automatic, and does not require power means or .means forstoring up energy.

Anotherobjectof the invention is to provide a construction for such floors, whereby an entire unit may be built, assembled, and tested before being placed in the pit which it is to occupy, and whereby the assembly may be installed in or removed from a pit as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and accurate means for adjustingthe mechanism in orderthat the point of -mostefiicient operation may be reached immediately the assembly is installed.

--Ano-ther object of the .inventionis to provide simple and efficient locking means for holding the floor in elevated position .so that it cannot descend prematurelyor accidentally.

Still other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and will be better understood by virtue of the order of their occur- ':rence.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings apractical embodiment of my invention.

In the said drawings;

Figure 1, is a view in section, mainly on a line 11 of Fig. 5 of the said embodiment, showing the principal part of the operating mechanism in plan.

Fi ure 2, is a View in side elevation of the completely assembled device as it would appear before being placed in its pit, or as it would appear as'seenxfrom along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3, 1s a plan view of the complete embodiment as it appears infront of a vault relativev to the complete assembly.

Figure 5, isa View in section .seen on a line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6, is a fragmentary view in vertical section substantially on the same line on which Fig. 2 is taken, but showing only the coacting parts which form the so called looking mechanism.

Figure 7, is a fragmentary view-in vertical section similar to Fig. 6, but showing only the details of certain coacting. parts which will be specifically designated and (described hereinafter.-

Figure 8, is a view in vertical section of one corner of a modified form of "flo'or,:showing the details of a part hereinafter known as. the auxiliary guiding means.

Figure 9, is a View in section seen on a line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Figure 10, is afragmentary View. in vertical section of the modifiedconstructionfor the parts shown in Fig. 7

In the embodiment illustrated there is provided a large floor plate 12, carried by arectangular frame 13, of angle iron construction. The frame is reenforced by .in-

termediate cross members or ang le iron 14, to which are secured, as at 15 perpendicular angle irons 16. The latter in the embodiment shown are A four in number and provide rigidly depending. members to which are vattached lower transverse irons 18. It will be at 22 and23. Saidlegs and pitcasing-are incorporated in a single removable unit which also includes a rectangular frame 25. Said frame is made up of a rectangular arrangement of channel members 25, 25 etc. Said channels are disposed below the pit casing and substantially intermediate of the ends of the legs. Frame 25, legs 22 and 23, and the pit casing 21, may be assembled as a unit before being set in the pit.

In installing the complete device the said unit is first placed in the pit, together with attached mechanisms about to be described, and subsequently the floor and the door frame are set in normal position above frame 25. The bottom cross members 18, of the floor assembly, are arranged to extend outwardly at each end, as at 27, under the 1011- gitudinal channel members of frame 25. Therefore in installing the unit, said cross members 18, are attached to the depending members 16, only after the floor is positioned. The extended ends of members 18 are fitted, each with a bolt and jam nut, 27' and 28, respectively; the end of the bolt being arranged to abut the transverse frame member so that the uppermost position of the floor is predetermined.

A counter weight is provided for the floor in the form of a tray 30, adapted to carry miscellaneous objects 31, so that its weight may be added to as desired to bring the net counter weight effect to the desired point. The floor plate is generally surfaced by a suitable floor composition 32, such as cork, which is held to the floor plates at suitable points by short studs 33. Studs 33 are each provided with a bore 34, whereby a screw 35 may be employed to hold the floor plate and composition assembly to the frame members. In other words, the floor plate and composition are first secured to each other by the studs. The screws may then be employed to hold the entire covering to the angle iron frame members. lVhen the entire floating unit of floor, floor covering and frame are assembled, Ol)]OtS may be add-.

ed to the contents of the counter-weight tray until the total weight is that of the floating floor assembly.

The counter-weight is operatively and directly connected with the floor through a plurality of cables 40, running over grooved pulleys 41. Each cable is frictionally engaged with the pulley by means of a clamp 42, so that the cable cannot slip relative to the pulley. The diameter of the pulleys is such that they do not turn much as one half of a revolution at any time. The pulleys are arranged in pairs on shaft 43; one pulley at each end of a shaft. Each shaft is held in bearings 44 and 45, respectively, which are secured at 46 to the top surface of the corresponding frame member 25'. Although notshown in the c rawing, minimum friction bearings should be employed to provide for easy movement of the pulleys. Obviously, with correct bearings, careful balance and accurate counter-weight, the floor may be raised and lowered without appreciable effort.

The floor may be moved into lowermost position merely by placing one foot thereon and riding it down. In fact, with careful counter-balancing, a very slight weight added on the floor will move it to such position. The pulleys are fixed to the shafts, as by set screws 47, and to move the floor to raised position, it is only. necessary to impart a partial revolution to the shafts jointly. This is done through the medium of crank arms 48, 49 and 50, respectively, and links 51, 52 and 53, together with a bell crank 54. Crank arm 48 is fixed to one of the shafts, while the crank arm 50 is connected to the other shaft. The link is connected to respective cranks by crank pins, such as 55. Therefore, the shafts will always operate in synchronism. The link 52 is connected to the bell crank 54, as at 56, and the link 53 connects the bell crank to a vertically movable push rod 57 The pit casing is supplemented by a lever casing 61, which is disposed around three sides of the space 61; said space is actually an extension of the pin and contains the above mentioned links. In alignment with the lever casing there is provided a small box-like casing 58 for the bell crank 54 and for the other parts about to be described. A fixed transverse shaft62 is provided in casing 58, on which shaft the bell crank oscillates. It will be apparent now that when the floor descends, the push rod 57 will ascend. To raise the floor, the push rod 5'? is moved downwardly to effect the ascension of the floor.

The operation of raising and lowering the floor is practically apparent from the foregoing and I will now describe the means by which the floor is locked in uppermost position, so that it may uphold any normal weight imposed upon it. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the floor assembly carries transverse members 63, which project at each end, as at 64, beyond the vertical members. Said ends are arranged, when the floor descends, to come into abutment with the perimeters 65 of cams, such as 66. The cams are fixed by set screws 67, to shafts 68. In the embodiment shown, there are two shafts; one for each two cams, the cams being four in number. By means of a link, such as 69, and pivot pins 70, one cam on one shaft connected directly with a corresponding cam on another shaft, so that the cams and shafts will rock in synohronism.

For the purpose of rocking the cams when required, there is provided a push rod 71. Said red, by means of a pivot pin 72 is connected to a link 73. Said link, by another pivot pin 72, is connectedpivotally with '76. Said crank arm i s'-keye'd,"asat 77, to-one of. the rock shafts, wherebydepression of push rod 71, rocks the shafts andmovesthecams to the dotted line'position shown inFig. 6. When the cams are moved-out from under the abutting transverse members, the flooris .free to be ridden down to lowermost position. 'The crank arm 76 is weighted, asat 7 8, and it yieldablytendsto return the cams to vertical position. Therefore, when the floor is raisedto uppermost positiomtlie weight moves the cams into operative position and automatically locksthe floor in the uppermost position. Stops 80 are provided to limit forward movementofthe cams.

The door'jamb of the vault is indicated by the numeral 81. In installing my automatic floor, the pit, including the lever pit, is extended over to the amb and is of such length that the door 89. is always in the pit,

\vlietliei' in partial or full open position. A

small fixed floor'84c is provided under the open door. The usual bridge 85 is provided leading from the 'fioorto the vault tloor 86. The construction, arrangement and-purposes of the bridge,-and the fixed floor 84 are known to those skilled in the art and is fully set forth in my co-pending' application, Serial No. 743,030 filed Oct. 11, 1924. The floor is narrowed at the end remote from the bridge 85, in order to clear the said stationary floor 84. v

The operation of the complete embodiment is quite apparent from the foregoing description of the operation of the several parts and assemblies just described. Referring to Fig. 3, the operation may be further explained as follows :To close the vault door, the bridge is first moved back into the vault. The bridge may be hinged, as at 90, to the floor, so that it may be readily moved out of the way of the closing door. The operator may stand at any convenient point, such as at the point indicated at 91. He places a foot on the push rod and de presses it slightly to release the cams and allow the floor to move downwardly. He places the other foot upon the floor and rides it. down to lowermost position. In such lower position the floor will not interfere with the closing of the door. The operator then may walk across the lowered floor to the door and swing it around to the closed position. IVith the door closed, he places a foot on the other push rod and presses lightly thereon. Depression of said push rod acts through the pulleys and attached shafts to raise the floor to the uppermost position, as described. Now the floor is level with the ante-chamber floor 92 and no open pit is extant.

When it is desired to open the vault door,

the floor is first lowered in'thein'anner just described, the door 15 open-ed and the floor is again raised, whereupon the bridge is placed-in position. Itwillbe apparent now that the fioor maybe raised and lowered without the aid of outside power, without stored energy and without the use of the operators hands. In fact, by treading'first on one-push rod,then on the floor, and sub- -sequently on-the other push rod, he puts the lowering floor through its complete cycle of movements almost without thought or effort on his part, and co-incidentalwiththe usual'task'of opening and closing the vault door.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the pulleys and cables above described are dispensed with, and instead the counter-weight pan is con nected with the floor by a balance arm 95.

Said arm is 'trunnioned at 96 in a bearing the other end of the link .is connected, as at 101 to the balance arm. The parts just described are merely a substitute for the palleys and cables and do not alter the operation of the floor. However, the pulleys and cables keep the floor in correct position in the pit and do not produce side thrust. In the embodiment being described, sli ht side thrust is produced. Therefore, rollers or casters 102 are attached to the floor plate, as at 103. The rollers may ride in vertical channels 104, to guide the floor vertically.

lVhile I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention and a modified construction for a part thereof, I do not limit myself to any specific construction or arrangement of parts, and may alter the construction and arrangement of parts as I desire or as occasion requires, without enlarging the scope of my invention, within the appended claims.

I claim 1. In combination with a vault having a door, a pit in front of said vault and door, through a part of which said door moves to be opened or closed, a floor arranged to move vertically in said pit, a counter-weight for said floor, means operable from a point immediately adjacent said pit for imparting upward movement to said floor, rigid means arranged to automatically move under said floor as it reaches uppermost position; said means adapted to uphold, any normal weight subsequently imposed on said floor, and means operable to release said rigid means from engagement with said floor.

2. In a device of the class described, upright leg members, a pit casing supported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members, longitudinal frame members intermediate of the upper and lower ends of said leg members, transverse rock shafts sup ported by said longitudinal members, a floor movable vertically in the space encompassed by said casing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weight below said floor movable vertically in said space and below said longitudinal members, means connecting said counter-weight to said floor through the medium of said rock shaft whereby rocking thereof in one direction will raise said floor and lower said weight.

8. In a device of the class oescribed, upright leg members, a pit casing supported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members, longitudinal frame members inter mediate of the upper and lower ends of said leg members, transverse rock shafts supported by said longitudinal members, a floor movable vertically in tie space encompassed by said casing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weight below said floor movable vertically in said space and below said longitudinal members, means connecting said counter-weight to said floor through the medium of said rock shaft whereby rock ng thereof in one direction will raise said floor and lower said weight, and

means for imparting a rocking stroke to said shafts.

4. In adevice of the class described, upright leg members, a pit casing supported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members, longitudinal frame members intermediate of the upper and lower ends of said leg members, transverse rock shafts supported by said longitudinal members, a floor movable vertically in the space encompassed by said casing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weight below said floor movable vertically in said space and below said longitudinal members, means connecting; said counter-weight to said floor t irough the medium of a rock shaft whereby rocking thereof in one direction will raise said floor and lower said weight, other rock shafts supported by said longitudinal frame members, and rigid means fixed to said other rock shafts whereby one stroke of said other rock shafts will bring said rigid means under said floor to prevent descent thereof, and means operable from above and immediately adjacent said floor for holding said rigid means temporarily out of floor supporting position.

THOMAS M. BRINTNALL.

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