US1620305A - Elevator - Google Patents

Description

Mac 8, 1927. 1,620,305

B. C. VAN EMON ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '7 11V VENTOR v ,5 6mm, Z/mr fi A TTORNE Y5 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

BURTON CHARLES VAN EMON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES M. KOFORD, TRUSTEE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ELEVATOR.

Application filed October 4, 1926.

My invention relates to the class of ramelevators, and is applicable to any condition which requires a separation of the ram from the platform, in order that the latter may be free to be moved about to various other positions. Such a condition, for example, new finds expression in theatres, where, for various scenic effects and other purposes, a platform'mounted upon tracks and adapted to be moved about horizontally upon a fixed stage or floor, is, when in one or more predetermined positions, brought into registry with one or more rams by which it may be elevated from and lowered to said floor.

Obviously, no permanent connection is available between the platform and ram, in such a case; and while the ideal connection or association is one of mere contact which when established would elevate, support and control the descent of the platform and by the Withdrawal of the ram from such contact upon the limit of platform descent to its support on the fixed floor, would fully free the platform to enable it to be moved about horizontally over and upon said floor, still such connection is deficient and impracticable in that it does not positively insure the horizontality of the platform nor give to it that rigid, fixed support which is absolutely required for the comfort and assured safety of the performers.

To secure such positive and safe connection between the ram and platform is the objectof my invention; and to this end my invention consists in a contact bearing between said members, and an associated clamping means automatically operative both for engagement and release. It also consists in the novel contact bearing and automatic clamp, which in their preferred form, I shall hereinafter fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes in structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my elevator, showing the ram released from the platform.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, showing the ram clamped to the platform.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the platform on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the Serial No. 139,299.

clamping members in plan, and the ram head and its bearing plate in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, enlarged, of one of the clamping members in engagement with the ram head-plate.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same.

1, in Fig. 1 is a cylinder, having a ram 2 operated by suitable pressure fluid admitted through the connection 3, the relief from pressure not being herein shown.

4 is a platform, adapted to rest normally upon and to be moved horizontally over a fixed floor 5, usually by means of wheels and tracks, not herein shown.

To the upper end of the ram 3 is fixed a head-plate 6, preferably made in sections bolted together about the ram as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. The plate 6 forms a project ing flange for the ram head and said plate may have any suitable contour, though an angular one, such as here indicated in Fig. 3 is preferred.

The ram with its flange-head plays up through the fixed floor 5 and makes contact with a pair of inner frame members 4 forming part of the structure of the platform 4.

As the ram rises, it elevates the platform from the fixed floor; and as it moves down, it controls the descent of the platform to said floor. hen the platform reaches and is supported by the floor, the ram, continuing to descend, removes its head-plate 6 from its contact with said platform thereby wholly freeing the latter for such horizontal movements upon the floor 5 as may be contemplated.

7 are clamping members. They are latchlike dogs pivotally depending from shafts 8 fixed in the frame members 4 of the platform 4. They may be in any required numher, in opposing pairs. In the present case, I show in Fig. 3 four such clamping dogs, two on each side.

Upon the shafts 8, are pivoted the angle lovers 9. There are four of these, one associated with each clamping dog. These levers are bifurcated, their spaced and connected depending arms lying on each side of the clamping dog and adjustably connected therewith by a screw 10. In the extremity of the horizontal arm of each lever 9 is a roller 11.

Behind each clamping dog 7, is a stop 12 mounted in the platform 4. The normal position of each clamping assembly, as defined by the screw 10 regulating the relation of the levers 9 to the dogs 7, and as limited by the stop 12 is shown in Fig. 1. The roller 11, by the gravity of its lever 9, projects slightly below the lower edge of the frame members 4 of the platform, and is there held by the contact of the back of the dog 7 with the stop 12. In this position the hook-end of the dog lies in a vertical plane immediately outside of the vertical plane of the edge of the head-plate 6, sufficiently to permit said plate to pass said hook-end in reaching the contact of the plate with the frame members 4 of the platform.

By referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that as the ram rises, its head or flangeplate 6 having passed the hook-ends of the dogs, and having contacted with the projecting rollers 11, has reached its contact with the frame members l of the platform 4, and in so doing has pressed said rollers up and caused the dogs 7 to swing their hook ends inwardly under and in engagement with the edge of the head plate 6.

This engagement is also shown on an enlarged scale in 4; and, 5, and said engagement firmly clamps the ram to the platform and continues unabated as long as the weight of the platform is borne by the ram.

But when the ram descends and the platform reaches and is supported by the fixed floor 5, the continued descending tendency of the ram relieves the rollers 11, and the weight of the levers 9 then swings the dogs out from engaging the ram head 6, so that said head and ram may return to normal position entirely clear of the platform which is thus free to be moved about on the fixed floor as may be intended.

I claim 1. In an elevator, the combination of a platform; a ram separable from said platform; and means for automatically clamping said platform and ram together upon and during the imposition of the platforms weight upon the ram, and automatically releasing the platform and ram when the latter is relieved of said weight.

2. In an elevator, the combination of a platform; a ram having a head plate adapted. by contact to raise and lower said platform; and means carried by said platform for automatically clamping the head plate upon and during the imposition of the plat forms weight thereon, and automatically releasing said head plate when relieved of said weight.

3. In an elevator, the combination of a platform; a ram having a head plate adapted by contact to raise and lower said platform; and means carried by said platform for automatically clamping the head plate upon and during the imposition of the platforms weight thereon, and automatically releasing said head plate when relieved of said weight, said means comprising swinging dogs, and gravity levers actuated by said head plate, for controlling said dogs.

4. In an elevator, the combination of a platform; a ram having a head plate adapted by contact to raise and lower said platform; and means carried by said platform for automatically clamping the head plate upon and during the imposition of the platforms weight thereon, and automatically releasing said head plate when relieved of said weight, said means comprising swinging dogs, gravity levers actuated by said head plate for controlling said dogs, and means for adjusting the relation of said dogs and levers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BURTON CHARLES VAN EMON.

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