US1995220A - Reversing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 19, 1935.

H. A. PECK REVERSING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept'. 30, 19.32

'March 19, 1935.y H. AfPEcK l1,995,220

REVERSING MECHANISM Filed Sept.4 so, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 2 March 19, 1935. H, A. PECK- REVERSING MEcHANIsM v March 19, 1935.

H. A. PECK REVERS ING- MECHANISM 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 30, 1932 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 REYERSING MECHANISM Herbert Allen Peck, Glenside, Pa., assignor to American Engineering Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 30, 1932, Serial No. 635,651

12 claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic drive mechanisms, and a principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the stated character in the form of a compact and highly efiicient unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the stated character incorporating means for automatically and periodically reversing the direction o'f drive. the mechanism-by reason of this device and also of its compact form being Well adapted for driving the cylinders of washing and like machines.

The invention further resides in certain novel structural details and mechanical features hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevational and partial sectional view illustrating a drive unit made in accordance with my invention:

Fig'. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and partial sectional view illustrating certain details of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 4, and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views in perspectiveof elements of the mechanism.

With reference to the drawings, the drive mechanism forming the subject of my invention takes the form of a compact unit comprising a base 1, upon one end of which is mounted an electricmotor 2 which is directly connected to a hydraulic mechanism 3 mounted upon the other end of the base 1 and incorporating a pump unit 4 and a motor unit 5. The pump unit 4 as shown in Fig. 1 is directly coupled to the shaft 6 of the electric motor 2. This pump preferably is o'f the positive displacement variable and reversible stroke type illustrated, for example, in United States Patent No. 1,077,979, and the transmission unit as a whole including the pump 4 and motor 5 may be' of the general character illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,152,729.

The pump 4 comprises in the present instance' a rotary cylinder block 7,

which element is. coupled to the shaft 6 and a ring 8 which sur! rounds the cylinder body and constitutes a sup-` purposes the ring 8 is mounted in guide blocks 11, `11, which blocks are slidably mounted in the pump housing and are adjustable through the mediumof rods 12, which in the present instance project upwardly through the said housing into 5 a casing 13 mounted on the housing. The casing v13 houses a vertically movable cross head 14, to

'hand wheel 26 at the top of the casing. Rotation of the stem 25 through the medium of the hand wheel 26 causes a convergent or divergent movement of the nuts 21 and 22, which as shown in Fig. 4 are located at opposite sides of and in the path of the cross head 14 in its movement with the pistons 15 and 16.

From the outer ends of the cylinders 17 and 18 ducts 27 and 28 respectively extend through the casing 13 to a valve chamber 29. The chamber 29 also communicates through a spring-regulated exhaust valve 31 with a pipe 32 which extends downwardly to the hollow interior of the casing 1, this casing constituting a reservoir for a liquid medium, as hereinafter set forth. Also communicating with the chamber 29 is a pipe 33, this pipe extending, as shown in Fig. 2, to the discharge side of a gear pump 34 mounted at the outer end of the motor 2 and operatively connected with the latter. The intake side of the pump 34 is connected through a pipe 35 with the reservoir chamber within the base 1. Connecting the pipe 33 with the said reservoir is a bypass 36 containing a'pressure relief valve 37, theinterior of which is shown in Fig. 5. As therein illustrated, the bypass channel 36 is normally closed by a ball Valve 38 which is held to its seat by a calibrated spring 39. Fluid pressure in the upper portion of the channel 36 exceeding a predetermined maximum as controlled by the spring 39 forces the Valve 38 from its seat, permitting flow of fluid through the said bypass 36 from the pipe 33 to the reservoir in the base l.

' Within the chamber 29 is positioned a vvalve 41. this valve being formed upona-stem 42, see Fig. 8. The stem 42 is'journaled in` the casing 13. the ends of the stem projecting beyond the casing. as shown in Figs. l and 2. One projecting end of the stem is provided with a rectangular portion 43 for reception of a wrench, and the other end of the stem is connected through a coupling 44 with oneend of a shaft 45, the other end of this shaft being journaled in a casing 46 mounted on the end of the housing of the fiuid motor 5. That end of the shaft 45 which projects into the interior of the casing 46 has loosely mounted thereon a worm wheel 47, and has secured to its extremity a member 48, .the said wheel 47 and the member 48 being shown respectively in Figs. 6 and 7. The member 48 has projecting from its inner face a segmental lug 49 which abuts the adjoining face of the worm wheel 47; said adjoining face of the worm wheel being provided with a circumferential series of tapped openings 51 for reception of screws 52 by means of which lugs 53,-and 54 may be secured to the face of the wheel." It will be apparent that the position of the lugs 53 and 54 will determine the amount of free motion between the member 48 and the wheel 47, and that the amount of said free motion may be varied between zero and a predeterlmined. maximum by adjustment of the lugs 53 and 54.

The worm wheel 47 meshes with a worm 55 on a vertical shaft 56 journaled in the casing 46. Adjacent its lowerend, this shaft 56 carries a worm wheel 57 which meshes with a worm 58 on a shaft 59 journaied in the housing of me fluid motor 5. This shaft 59 isr operatively connected with the motor 5 and constitutes the driven shaft of the power unit.

The reservoir within the base l constitutes the makeup tank for the fluid 'system including the pump 4 and the motor 5, and is operatively associated with said uid pumpand motor in the usual manner. When the motor 2 is energized, it will be apparent that the pump 4 is actuated to drive the iluid motor-5, which in turn drives the driven shaft 59. The rate and direction of discharge of fluid from the pump 4 to the motor 5 is controlled as previously set forth through the medium of, the guide block 11the cross head 14 and the pistons 15 and 16. The pistons 15 and 16 in turn are controlled and actuated by fluid pressure generated by the gear pump 34. In alternative positions of the valve 4l, this fluid pressure from the pump 34 is applied to the ducts 27 and 28 respectively, the other duct of the couple being connected with the exhaust or discharge pipe 32. Assuming, for example, that the mechanism is in operation with the valve 4l adjusted as shown in Fig. 4, it will be apparent that fluid pressure applied through the pipe 33 will be directed to the outer end of the c'ylinder 17 and will tend to force the pistons 15 and 16 downwardly. This movement of fthe pistons is permitted by reason of the-connection of the cylinder 18 with the exhaust pipe 32. Downward movement or the pistons 15 and 16 will carry the cross head 14 downwardly to the point where it is arrested by the stop 21.- This downward movement of the cross head 14 also adjusts the guide block 11 to cause a discharge from the pump unit 4 to the motor 5 at agiven rate and in a given direction, resulting in a predetermined actuation of the motor and rotation at a predetermined rate of speed and in a predetermined direction of the driven shaft 59. This; operation continues until such time as the shaft 59 has made suilicient rc t olutions to bring one or other of the lugs 53 and 54 on the worm wheel 47 into engagement with the lug 49 on the member 48.

Continued rotation in the same direction of the shaft 59 results in a rotation through the member 48 of the shaft 45 and of the valve stem 42, which shifts the valve 41 to the alternative position' wherein the duct 33 is connected with i the duct 27, while the duct 28 is connected with the discharge duct 32. This reversal of the valve 4l effects a reverse movement of the pistons l5 and 16 and a consequent readjustment of the guide block 1l into a position reversing the direction of discharge of the fluid pump 4, thereby also reversing the direction of rotation of the fluid 'motor 5 and of the shaft 59 actuated thereby.

By adjusting the stops 21 and 22, the rate of discharge of the pump in either of its alternative adjusted positions may be regulated as required, this rate of discharge determining the rate of rotation of the driven shaft 59. Regulation of the extent of the rotary movement of the shaft 59 between reversals is effected through adjustment of the lugs 53 and 54 on the worm wheel 47. Movement of the shaft 59 may be interrupted without interruption in the operation of the electric motor 2 by adjusting the stops 21 and 22 through the medium of the hand wheel 26 to their most proximate position engaging opposite sides of the cross head 14 whereby said cross head is adjusted to and held in an intermediate position corresponding to the neutral position of the guide block l1. In this neutral position, the ring 8 is held concentric with the cylinder body 7, so that although the pump elements are still actuated by the electric motor`2, the pump discharge is reduced to zero. Operation of the fluid motor .5 is thus interrupted. When the pistons 16 and 17 occupy either of the normal operative positions, the pressure developing in the pipes due to the continued operation of the gear pump 34 is relieved through the relief valve 37 and the, bypass 36.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the device constitutes a highly desirable power unit well adapted by reason of its compactness of form, flexibility an'd fool-proof operation and simplicity of control for actuation of reversible rotary cylinder washing machines and the like. The mechanism, however, is not restricted to such use, and affords a highly desirable form of power unit for use where automatic reversal of driven parts is required.

A further desirable feature of the mechanism resides in the fact that the characteristics of the iiuid motor 5 are such that the reversing operations are effected smoothly and without vibration or undue wear upon any of the actuating parts.

There may be modification in detail arrangement without departure from the essential features of the invention.

I claim:

1. A power drive device for reversing mechanisms comprising an electric motor, a reversible discharge fluid pump connected with said motor, reversing gear for the pump, a continuously-operating fluid motor operatively connected with the pump, and including a shaft directly and continuously driven `by the fluid motor, said shaft adapted for connection to mechanism to be driven by said power drive device, and means for directly connecting said shaft with the reversing gear of said pump for automatic periodic actuation of said gear independently of the mechanism connected to and driven by said shaft, said power drive device including the automatic reversing means constituting a completely operative selfcontained and self-reversible drive unit opermechanism connected to and driven by said shaft, k

and an automatic control for said actuating means directly operated by the shaft ofthe fluid motor and comprising means for regulating the frequency of Asaid reversals for anyA motor speed,

said power drive device including the said automatic reversing means constituting a completely operative self-contained and self-reversible drive unit operating independently of the driven mechanism to which it may be connected.

3. A power drive device vfor reversing mechanisms comprising an electric motor, a reversible discharge fluid pump connected with said motor, a continuously-operating fluid motor connected with the pump and including a shaft directly and continuously driven by the fluid motor, said shaft adapted-for connection to mechanism to be driven by said power drive device, means for regulating the rate of discharge of said pump to thereby control the speed of operation of said fluid motor and shaft, reversing mechanism for said pump, actuating means for said reversing mechanism operated independently of the mechanism connected to and driven by said shaft, and an automatic control for said actuating means directly operated by the shaft of the fluid motor and comprising means for regulating the frequency of said reversals for any motor speed, said power drive device including the automatic reversing means constituting a completely operative self -contained and self-reversible drive unit operating independently of the driven mechanism to which it may be connected.

4. A power drive device for reversing mechanisms comprising an electric motor, a reversible discharge fiuid pump connected with said motor, a continuously-operating fluid motor operatively connected with the pump and including a shaft directly and continuously driven by the fluid motor, said shaft adapted for connection to mecha'nism to be driven by said power drive device, fluid-actuated reversing mechanism for said pump operated independently of the-mechanism connected to and driven by said-shaft and including an independent source of fluid pressure actuated by said electric motor, a valve for controlling the actuation of said reversing mechanism, and means for directly connecting said valve with the shaft of the uid motor whereby a predetermined movement of said motor and shaft in either direction effects a reversal of the discharge of said fluid pump, said last-named direct connection including an adjustable lost motion device for regulating the frequency of said reversals, the power drive nected with the pump and including a shaft directly and continuously driven by the fiuid motor, said shaft adapted for connection to mechanism to be driven by said power unit, fluid-actuated reversing mechanism for said pump operated yindependently of the mechanism connected to and driven by said shaft, a valve for controlling the operation of said reversing mechanism, and means for actuating said valve direct from the shaft and in timed relation with the operation of the fluid motor, said valve-operating means being adjustable to vary the 'frequency of said reversals, the power drive including the said valve and its actuating means constituting a completely operative self-contained and self-reversible drive unit operating independently of the driven mechanism to which it may be connected.

6. A power unit for reversing mechanisms cornprising an electric motor, -a reversible discharge fluid pump connected with said motor, a rotary fluid motor operatively connected with the pump, a rotary shaft operated bysaid fluid. motor, fluidactuated mechanism for reversing said pump, a valve controlling the operation of said reversing mechanism, a worm shaftoperatively connected with said motor-driven shaft, a second shaft operatively connected with the valve, a worm wheel loosely mounted on said second shaft and meshing'with said worm, a member fixed to said second shaft, said member and worm having interlocking lugs establishing a driving connection between the said shafts, and means for relatively adjusting said lugs to vary the amount of or to eliminate the lost motion between said lug-carrying member and the worm wheel to thereby vary the extent of movement of said motor-driven shaft between reversals.

7. In a power unit, the combination with a source of rotary power, a reversible discharge fluid pump connected therewith, and a fluid motor operatively connected with said pump, of a reversing mechanism for said pump comprising avalve member, a shaft extending from said valve and arranged to actuate the same, a second shaft driven directly by the fluid motor, and means operatively connecting the first and second shafts whereby a predetermined movement of said motor in either direction actuates said valve to effect a reversal of the discharge of said fluid pump.

8. In a power unit, the combination with a,

source of rotary power, a reversible discharge fluid pump connected therewith, and a fiuid motor operatively connectedwith said pump, of a reversing mechanism for said pump comprising a valve member, a shaft extending from said valve and arranged to actuate the same, a second shaft driven directly by the fiuid motor, and means operatively connecting the first and second shafts whereby a predetermined movement of said motor in either direction actuates said valve to effect a reversal of the discharge ofl said fluid pump, said last named operative connection comprising an adjustable lost motion device for regulating the frequency of said reversals.

9. In a power unit for reversing mechanism, the

combination with an electric motor, a reversible discharge fluid pump driven thereby, and al fluid motor operatively connected with the pump, of a fluid actuated reversing mechanism for said pump including a pair of pistons and an inedependent source of fluid pressure actuated by said electric motor, a valve operable to effect passage of said fluid pressure against one or the other of said pistons and actuate the latter in alternately opposite directions to reverse said pump, and

means operatively connecting said valve with the fluid motor whereby a predetermined movement of said motor in either direction actuates the valve to effect a reversal of the discharge of said fluid pump.

10. In a power unit for reversing mechanism,

` the combination With an electric motor, a reversible discharge fluid pump driven thereby, and a vfluid motor operatively connected with the 10y pump, of a fluid actuated reversing mechanism for said pump including a pair of -pistons, and an independent source of fluid pressure actuated by said electric motor, a valve operable to effect passage .of said fluid pressure against one or the other of said pistons and actuate the latter in alternately opposlte directions to reverse said pump, and means operatively connecting said valve with the fluid motor whereby a predetermined movement of said motor in either direction actuates the valve to effect a reversal of the discharge o f said fluid pump, said last named operative connection comprising an adjustable lost motion device for regulating the frequency of said intervals.

11.. In a power unit for reversing mechanism, the combination with an electric motor, a reversible discharge fluid pump driven thereby, and a fluid motor operatively connected with the pump, of a fluid actuated reversing mechanism for said pump including a pair of pistons and an independent source of fluid pressure actuated by said `electric motor, a valve operable to effect passage of said fluid pressure against one or the other of said pistons and actuate the latter in alternately opposite directions to reverse said pump, a shaft extending from the valve and arranged to actuate the latter, a second shaft driven directly by the fluid motor, and means operatively connecting the first and second shafts whereby a predetermined movement of said motor in either direction actuates the valve to effect a reversal of the discharge of said fluid pump.

12. In a power unit for reversing mechanism, the combination with an electric motor, a reversi- `ble discharge fluid ,pump driven thereby, and a fluid motor operatively connected with the pump, of a fluid actuated reversing mechanism for said pump including a pair of pistons, and an independent source of fluid pressure actuated by said electric motor, a valve operable to effect passage of said fluid pressure against one or the other of said pistons and actuate the latter in alternately oppositey directions to reverse said pump, a shaft extending from the valve and arranged to actuate the latter, a second shaft driven directly by the fluid motor, and means operatively connecting the .first and second shafts whereby a predetermined movement of said motordn either direction actuates the valve to effect a reversal of the discharge of said fluid pump, said last named operative connection comprising an adjustable lost motion device for regulating the frequency of said reversals.

HERBERT ALLEN PECK.

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