US1633039A - Safety switch for centrifugal machines - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1927,

, 1,633,039 LE ROY c. scHENcK SAFETY SWITCH FOR CENTRIF'UGAL MACHINES Filed Jan. 7, 1927 45 &\ r x \1 K 9 Y Z] 11 8 12 E Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE;

LE 30"! O. SCHENCX, OF EAST IOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 TROYLAUNDRY IL- OHILTEBY (30., LTD., 03 EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW TYORK.

SAFETY SWITCH. FOB CENTBIFUGAL MACHINES.

Application med-Januar 7, 1927. Serial in. 159,507.

The present invention relates safety switches for centrifugal machines.

' adapted to receive t The present invention is particularly useful and will be described in connection with centrifugal extractors such as are used for extracting moisture from washed clothes. In a well known type of extractor a basket pended. from above and given a movement of rotation. In the event that the basket may be set up in the basket. It as been customary for the operator to .watch his extractor for a short time after loading the machine and setting same in operation, to

make sure that the load was not too greatlyv out of balance. In case the-operator should find that the load was too greatly out of balance, hewould stop the machine before it reached full speed and would distribute the goods more evenly. There have ,been instances, however, when the operator would load the basket, start the motor for. driving said basket and walk away. If the basket were badly loaded, considerable damage to the machine might result.

An object of the resent invention is to provide a safety switch for a centrifugal machine which switch,,.willresult in the eenergization of. thedriving motor in case g ations of more than a predetermined amwhich is sturdy, not like y to p itude are set up. I

A further object is.to provide a simple switch, which may be readily attached to' centrifugal extractors as now commonly known and used.

A further object is to rovide a switch t out of order, and which may be manu actured at relatively small cost. Referring to the drawin Figure 1 is a sectional VIGW'Of the upper portion of a centrifugal extractor showing one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto Figure 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale sho a rtion of the switch mechanism, said view ing taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 2.-2 of Figure 1; an v Figure 3 is a view taken along the same plane as Figure 2 but looking in the opposite direction.

shaft of a centrifugal machine which shaft will be prevented from rotating'at'danger- 110.

The numeral 1 indicates the rotatable e washed clothes is susrations tracted. A ve may have supported at the lower extremity thereof a basket of whirled to extract molsture therefrom. Said shaft is provided near its upper extremity with a bushingv 2 having a portion 3 presenting a spherical surface constitutingpart of a universal joint. The spherical portion code which are to be 3 is housed within a spherical bearing provided by thetop castin 4 and the bottom castmg 5, said top castmg 4, in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention,

comprising a rigid portion of an extractor.

The bottom casting 5 is resiliently supported on the top casting 4 by means of the bolts f reason of this construction,

Keyed to the upper extremity of theshaft 1 is the cup-shaped member 8, which constitutes one member of a mechanical clutch,

the cooperating member ofwhich is indicated by the numeral 9.- The numerals 10-10 lndicate blocks housed within the clutch member 8, which blocks under the effects of centrifugal force are adapted tofly outwardly against the inner wall of said clutch member 8 to have gripping engagement therewith. The clutch member 9 is adapted to be driven by any suitablesource of power, anelectric motor/ being preferred The details of'the clutch, comprising the members 8, 9 and 10, need not be described in detail, inasmuch as clutches suitable for the purpose will occur to those skilled in the clutch member 9 is driven at or above a predetermined speed, the blocks 10 willoutwardly into gr'pping the clutch member 8, w ereby to communicate a driving movement 'to said clutch member 8. Inasmuch as said clutch memi relationship wit art. Itniay be said, however, that when the bar 8 is keyed to the shaft 1, a turning movement will be communicated to said shaft 1. The shaft 1 carries at or near its lower extremity a basket (not shown) for holding the goods from which moisture is be exserious problem in the opervwe ation of centrifugal extractors arises from unbalanced loads. The present invention contemplates a structure whereby the shaft The switch box 11 comprises a housing 13,:

which provides bearings for a rotatable shaft 14. Secured to said shaft 14 is the arm 15, which has pivotally secured thereto the pair of switch contact members 16-16, which are .electrically connected together. Mounted upon the housing 13 is a cover plate 17, which may be made of insulating material and which provides a support for a pair of relatively stationary switch contact members 18-18. A spring 19 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a coil spring disposed upon the shaft 14. Said spring has one of its terminals in abutting relationship with the housing 13 and the other of its terminals in abutting relationshipwith the arm 15. Said spring normally holds the switch members. 16-16 in contacting relationship with the realtively stationary contact members 18-18.

Keyed to the shaft 14 is a lever 20, which lever has its end portion extendingv through an aperture 21 in'the casting 1 into proximity with. the clutch member .8.

The relatively stationary contact members 18-18 will'be connected in .the electrical circuit of the motor for driving the clutch member 9, whereby when the electrical connection between said contact members 18-18 is broken, theelectrical circuit of the driving motor will be interrupted. As noted above, the spring 19 normally holds the contact members 16-16 in contacting relationship with the members" 18-18. Inasmuch as said contact members 16-16 are connected together, an electrical connection is normally provided between the contact members 18-18. In case undesirable gyrations should be set up in the shaft 1, the clutch member 8 will be moved out of the symmetrical position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1, into. contacting relationship with the lever 20. This movement will result in movement of the lever 20, which in turn results in disengagement of contact members 1616 from the contact members 18-18, breaking the electric circiut of the driving motor.

According-to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, interruption of the electric circuit of the driving motor will be only temporary, the spring, 19 automatically moving the. contact members 16-16 into contact making position when the clutch member 8 is again at or near its symmetrical position. The net effect is, however, that it will be'impossible for the clutch member and shaft 1 to acquire a velocity such as will prolever. 20 has been moved outwardly by the 7 clutch member 8, the contact members 16-16 will be held out of engaging relationship with the contact members 18-18 until the operator has given attention to the machine and taken some positive steps to bring the 7 contact members 16-16 into en agingwrelationship with the contact mem ers 18-18.

Though the illustrated embodiment of the present invention shows the lever 20 to be in position to be operated by the clutch 111cmher 8, it will be understood thatsaid lever 20 may be located in position to be operated by any other part of the machine which is subject to undesirable gy'rations. Many other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is-clalmed is- 1. In a centrifugal machine, incombination, a relatively fixed housm a rotary member within said housing, an an electric switch carried by said housing for controlling the rotation' of said rotary member, said switch having means adapted to be engaged by said rotary member to open said switch when said rotary member acquires undesirable gyrations.

2. In a centrifugal machine, in combination, a relatively fixed housin a rotary I00 memberwithin said housing, an an electric switch for controlling the rotation of said rotary member, said switch having means adapted to be engaged by said rotary memher to open said switch when said rotary member acquires undesirable gyrations, said switch being mounted upon the outside of said housing and havin said means extending through the wall 0? said housing to the interior thereofinto proximity to said ro- I tary member.

3. In a centrifugal extractor, in combination, a rotary shaft, supporting means for said shaft permitting a universal movement thereof, a. clutch member secured to said shaft, a complementary clutch member for communicating the movement to said first mentioned clutch member, an electric switch for controlling the rotation of said complementary clutch member, said switch having means adapted to be engaged by said first mentioned clutch member too en said switch when said first mentione clutch member acquires undesirable gyrations.

)1 5 4. In combinatioma relativel fixed housshaft, a complementary. clutch member adaptedto communicate rotary movement to sa id' ousi tude are set up.

said first mentionedjclutch member, a switch for controlling the movement of said complementary clutch member, said switch being mounted upon the outside of said housing and havin means extending through the wall of mentioned 0 utch member in position to be engaged by said first mentioned clutch member when gyretions of predetermined ampli- -into proximity to said first 5. In a centrifugal machine, in combine tion, a rotarytshaft subject to gyrations, an electric switch for controlling the rotation of said shaft, said switch having means adapted to be'engaged by said shaft when gyrations of predetermined amplitude are set up.

Signed at East Moline, Illinois, this- 3rd day of January 1927.

in ROY c. SGHENCK.

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