US1797080A - Reversing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1931. H. w. EICHER. SR

REVERS ING MECHANI SM Filed July 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mm 17, 1931. H. w. EICHER s 1,797,080

REVERSING MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnumlfoz Mlielzenflr Patented Mar. 17, 1931 HARRY WALTER EICHER, SR, OF SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA REVEBSING MECHANISM Application -fi1ed- July 81, 1928. Serial No. 296,457.

This invention relates to a reversing. mechanism and it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind adapted to be associated with the valve mechanism of a ,5 motor and wherein said mechanism may be caused to be inoperative during the stroke of a piston comprised in the motor to cause the drive shaft of the motor to be operated in areverse direction.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange ment of the several parts of my improved reversing mechanism whereby certain importantadvantages are attained and the device '15 rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in sect-ion and partly in elevation illustrating in part the reversing mechanism as herein embodied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustratso ing the coacting clutch members as comprised in the reversing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan with a part in section of the structure as illustrated in Fig ure 2;

Figure 4 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating one of the clutch members as herein employed;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a second clutch member, the relation of the clutch member illustrated in Figure 4 being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines; I

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the clutch member illustrated in Figure a be ing diagrammatically indicated by broken lines in a second position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the motor with certain of the parts coinprised in the reversing mechanism being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines.

-As disclosed. in the accompanying drawings M denotes a motor of the type described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 203,144, filed July 2, 1927 and wherein the cylinder 1 has reciprocating therein a piston 2 operatively connected with a crank or drive shaft 3. Extending along one sideof the engine block is a chest C having suitable communication through the pipe line 4 with a desired source of compressed air or other fluid under pressure.

The wall of the cylinder 1 adjacent to the chest C isprovided with the intake ports 5 in communication with the cylinder 1 adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and with the chest C. This wall of the cylinder is also provided with an exhaust port 6 in communication with the chest C.

Coacting with the ports 5 and 6 is a slide valve 7 provided with the usual exhaust passage 8 of such dimensions to provide communication between the port 6 and one of the ports 5 when the valve 7 is in one position and between said port 6 and the second port 5 when the valve 7 is in its second position.

The Valve 7 has associated therewith an operating rod 9 which is operatively connected, as at 10, with a suitably supported valve operating crank shaft 11. The shaft 11 is rotated to effect the desired time movement of the valve 7 through the medium of the guide chain 12 meshing with a sprocket wheel 14 carried by the shaft 11 and also operatively engaged with a sprocket wheel 15 loosely mounted upon the crank shaft 3.

Immediately adjacent to the sprocket wheel 15 the shaft 3 has mounted thereon a clutch member 16. This member 16 is keyed, as at 17, to the shaft 8 for rotation therewith but free for movement lengthwise of the shaft. The opposed faces of the sprocket wheel 15 and the clutch member 16 are pro vided with interlocking or intermeshing clutch elements 18 so that the member 16 and sprocket wheel 15 may be caused to rotate in unison with the shaft 3. i

The clutch member 16 is normally urged toward the sprocket wheel 15 through the instrumentality of the expansible coil spring 19 of requisite tension. The inner face f the member 16 is provided with a pair of circumferentially spaced blocks 20 each of which being provided with a stem 21 freely directed through the member 16. Each of the blocks is constantly urged outwardly and maintained in contact at all times with the op posedfaces of the sprocket wheel through the medium of the expansible member 22, herein disclosed as a coil spring, encircling the stem 21. Each of the blocks is freely received within a pocket or recess 23 provided in the member 16 and the spring 22 hereinbefore referred to is interposed between said block 20 and the inner end wall of the pocket 23. The face of the sprocket wheel 15 opposed to the clutch member 16 carries a fixed block 24- positioned in the path of travel of the blocks 20 when said sprocket wheel 15 and member 16 have rotary movement one with respect to the other.

The member 16 is adapted to be manually moved by a fork 24 or otherwise as preferred to disengage the clutching elements 18 and at which time the member 16 will rotate independently of the sprocket wheel 15 and the shaft 11, but during this independent rotation the blocks 20 will be maintained in contact with the sprocket wheel 15 or suiiiciently projected to assure the block 24 being in the path of travel of the blocks 20. 1

The blocks 20 are interposed in the path of the blocks 24 at all times so as to provide positive assurance that the sprocket 15 will be rotated notwithstanding the declutching operation of the member 16. It will of course be understood that the member 16 is slidable on the shaft 3 and when the clutch has been disengaged from the sprocket 15, the member 16 is adapted to have independent movement with respect to the sprocket 15. This movement, however, is limited by reason of the blocks 20 and 24 and the blocks 20 will be yieldably held or interposed in the path of the blocks 24 by reason of the slidable mounting of the blocks in the" member 16, the spring 23 constantly urging the blocks 20 outwardly and against the opposing or abutting face of the sprocket 15.

V hen the member 16 is declutched from the sprocket wheel 15 the member 16 will have rotation independently of the sprocket wheel 15 for a period of time to permit the piston 2 to complete a throw whereupon the relation of the open and closed ports 5 with respect to the piston 2 will be reversed so that upon admission of the compressed air or other fluid under pressure within the cylinder will result in the shaft 3 being rotated in a reverse direction. When the member 16 has completed the desired independent rotation with respect to the sprocket wheel 15, one of the blocks 20 will have contact with the block 24 of the sprocket wheel 15 thus assuring the requisite rotation of the sprocket wheel 15 to maintain this new relation of the ports 5 with rc spect to the piston 2. This action will continue as long as the member 16 is in de clutched position but when the member 16 is released for return movement under the action of the spring 19, the clutching elements 18 will automatically intermesh. Upon the next declutching action of the member 16 the second block 20 will have contact with the block 24, as illustrated in Figure 6, resulting in the shaft 3 being caused to rotate in its first direction.

The clutching member 16 may be provided with a gear portion 25 so that, if desired, the member may be used as a power take-off medium.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a reversing mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim In combination with a cylinder, a piston working therein, a shaft in driven connection with the piston, said cylinder being provided with means to admit motive fluid within the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, a valve, means for operating the valve to control the admission of said fluid within the cylinder, a member loosely mounted on the shaft and operatively connected with the means for operating the valve, a clutching member rotating with the shaft and normally in engagement with said first named membcr to cause both of the members and the shaft to rotate in unison, a block fixedly se cured to one of the members, a second block slidably mounted in the other member, said second block having a reduced stem and a spring loosely mounted about said stem, said spring engaging at one end against said member and at the opposite end against the inner face of said block whereby to constantly urge said block outwardly of the member and against the opposing face of the other member, the second member and shaft, when said second member is in declutching position, having movement independently of the first member until the slidable block has contact with the fixed block.

In testimonywhereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY \VALTER EICHER, Sr.

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