US2082749A - Zero-setting device - Google Patents

Description

June 1,1937- R. E. HANDFORD 2,082,749

ZERO- SETTING DEVICE Original Filed July 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1, 1937.

R. E, HANDFORD ZERO- SETTING DEVICE Original Filed July 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

June 1, 1937. R. E. HANDFORD ZERO-SETTING DEVICE Original Filed July 25, l93l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1, 1937.

R. E. HANDFORD ZERO-SETTING DEVICE Original Filed July 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1, 1937. R. E. HANDFORD 2,032,749

ZERO-SETTING DEVICE Original Filed July 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W WQ if @414; gaz aa Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED STATES ZERO- SETTING DEVICE Reuben Ernest Handford, Luton, England, assignor, by mesne assignments, to L. N.,S. Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25, 1931, Serial No. 553,223 Renewed December 7, 1935 In Great Britain September 23, 1930 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in zerosetting devices: more particularly to apparatus for the retailing of petrol. The invention is concerned with apparatus of the kind in which the zeroizing of the indicator is effected by a fork member which can be moved to engage and rotate a cam connected to the indicator.

The main object of the present invention is to provide improved means which shall ensure that, when once the indicator has commenced to move to its zero positon, it shall complete its movement.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figures 1 and 2 jointly constitute a'vertical sectional view, Figure 2 being an' upward continuation of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with a front cover and dial removed; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation and Figure 6 is a plan view showing a variable velocity ratio device applied to the liquid measuring apparatus shown in Figures 1-4.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-4, I indicates generally a fluid flow responsive device which is actuated by fluid delivered thereto through a pipe 2, and 3 indicates a spindle which is driven by the device and which actuates in a manner hereinafter described a spindle 4 and a concentric sleeve 5 having pointers 6, 1 respectively thereon. The pointers move overa dial 8* callbrated in gallons and separately in fractions of a gallon, the pointer 6 moving through one complete revolution for each gallon delivered and the pointer I moving when the dial is calibrated to read up to 20 gallons through one twentieth of a revolution for each gallon delivered.

In order to zeroize of the pointers when it is desired to reset the meter, the following mechanism is provided. The spindle 4 and the sleeve 5 are provided with cams 8, 9, of the shape shown in Figure 4 adapted to be engaged by a fork member l0 secured to the lower end of a rod H which has a reduced portion l2 formed therein to form a shoulder normally engaged by three detents l3 under urgency of springs M. The upper end of the rod is enlarged to form a head l5 against which abuts one end of a compression spring 16 whose other end abuts against a block I! adapted to form an operating knob or for con nection to an operating lever (not shown). The enlarged end l5 of the rod works in, and the compression spring I6 is housed within, the upper portion of a tubular member l8 secured to the block l1 while the lower portion of the tubular member is reduced in outer and bore diameter,

lar piston 22 located within an oil-containing.

the latter constituting a guide for the upper portion of the rod below the head.

The reduction in the outer diameter of the lower portion of the tubular member provides a shoulder against which abuts the upper end of a return compression spring [9 whose lower end abuts against an inturned flange 20 formed 'on the lower end of a tube 2| which constitutes a housing for the return spring and at its upper end a guide for the unreduced portion of the tubular member l8, the extremity of the lower end of the reduced portion ofthe tubular member l8 being adapted to engage androck the detents A clashpot is provided comprising an annuannular reservoir 23'formed between the outer Wall of the tube 2| and the inner wall of a second tube 24, and secured by a ring 25 which screws on to the upper end of the tube 2|. The piston is formed with one or more passages 26 extending completely therethrough and is connected to the block H by rods 2]. Thus, the rate of movement of the block I1 and its associated parts is determined by the rate at which oil can pass through the passages 26 from one side of the piston 22 to the other. pacton the detents l3. 1

In operation, to zeroize the indicator pointers 6 and I the tubular member I8 is moved downwardly at a rate controlled by the dashpot and both springs l6 and I9 are compressed, the one between the block H and the enlarged head IS on the rod H (which is held stationary by the detents) and the other between the tubular member l8 and the inturned flange 20 on the fixed tube 2|. After the tubular member l8 has been moved a predetermined distance, the lower extremity of the reduced portion thereof engages with and rocks the detents l3 away from the shoulder on the rod II which is thereby released and urged downwardly by the spring I6 acting on the head I5 on the rod H. The jaw of the fork in the descent thereof engages the cams which latter are of course, in the position of registration of the pointers, displaced from the position shown in Figure 4 into a position in which they lie in the path of the fork; thus, when engagement has been effected, the continued movement of the fork will cause the cam to be returned to the position shown in Figure 4 and thus the indicator pointers are returned to their zero position.

When pressure'on the block fl is removed, the return spring l9 causes the tubular member l8 to rise to its normal position, the member carrying the rod H with it by virtue of the engagement The dash pot also prevents undue imof the shoulder formed by the reduction in bore diameter of the member with the underside of the head IS on the rod Ii, the rod again being held by the detents i3 which move into engagement with the shoulder thereon.

It will be seen that the zeroizing fork is retained by the detents until released by the tubular member Hi. It will also be seen that when once released the fork is permitted to move quickly into zeroizin g position under the action of the spring l6, while the return of the member, which in turn effects the return of the fork, is delayed or slowed down by the dashpot, thus insuring that when once the fork commences to move to eifect its zeroizing operation, the zeroizing movement shall be completed.

The tube 2| is screwed to a block 28 which is screwed into the casing 29 of the apparatus and also forms a housing for the detents l3 the tube 24 being positioned at its lower end by a reduced portion of the block 28.

The drive from the spindle 3 to the pointers is effected in the following manner. The spindle 3 is provided with a pinion 30 which transmits drive through reduction gearing 3! to a spindle 32 having a skew gearwheel 33 .in-mesh with a skew gear 34 on a spindle 35. This spindle is provided with a skew gear 36 in mesh with a skew gear 31 on the spindle 4 carrying the pointer 6 and also with a worm 38 in mesh with a Worm wheel 39 on a spindle 40 having a skew gear 4| in mesh with a skew gear 42 on the sleeve 5 carrying the pointer I the worm and wheel effecting a speed reduction of 20*1 of the sleeve 5 as compared with the spindle 4.

In order to allow the pointers to be zeroized without a corresponding movement of the liquid flow responsive device, the drive from the device to the pointers is effected throughiriction clutches 43, 44 which are interposed between the skew gears 31, 42 and the spindle 4 and sleeve 5 respectively, the clutches enabling the drive to be transmitted to the pointers from the fluid flow responsive device and also enabling the pointers to be zeroized independently of the device.

The fluid flow responsive device preferably is of the kind known as the rotary gyratory piston type and comprises a piston 45 which has a pin 46 constrained to follow a circular path by a central bowl 4'! and an annular ring 48, and which receives a vane secured to the casing 49, piston performing rotary gyratory movements and uncovering and covering inlet ports in communication with the pipe 2and outlet ports in communication with a discharge pipe 50. The pin 46 is extended to engage a disc 5! on the spindle 3 whereby the movements of the piston are transmitted as movements of rotation of the spindle 3.

The skew gear 33 on the spindle 32 is also in mesh with a second skew gear 52 which through a worm 53 effects the actuation of a counting mechanism 54.

The invention may obviously be applied to mechanisms having only a single pointer such as the pointer I, only a single zeroizing cam being provided.

accents two members and secured thereto by a rivet 59. The spindle 55 is rotatabiy mounted in a bracket Bil which is pivotally mounted on bushings El, 62 secured respectively in a cranked arm 53 and a frame 54 to which the arm 63 is secured; the spindle 32 which is to be driven is rotatably mounted in the bushes E I, 52, and is provided with a gear wheel 65 in mesh with the gear teeth on the ring 58 secured to the conical members.

The spindle 3 is provided with two discs denoted generally by A, B, which are engaged by the coned members and it will be seen that the spindle 3 is located on that side of the spindle 55 which is remote from the spindle 32 i. e. of the pivotal of the bracket 50.

The location of the pivotal axis of the bracket 80 in relation to the axes of the two spindles 3 and 55 is such that the said axis is displaced in the direction of rotation at the point of contact between the discs and conical members, from a line C-D passing through the axes of the two spindles 3, 55; we have found that a location which provides an eihcient drive occurs when the angle 0 between a line E, F passing through the pivotal axis of the bracket and the axis of the spindle 3, carrying the discs and a line G-H also passing through the pivotal axis of the bracket and the axis of the spindle 55 on which the coned members are mounted is approximately 10 when the discs and coned members are in engagement at the mean diam.eter of the coned members.

The discs A, B will, by the tangential driving force exerted between themselves and the conical members, tend to move about the pivotal axis of the bracket 60 to increase the radial force urging them into contact, and by arranging the parts with the angle referred to, this tendency is utilized to obtain a maximum of grip without however, introducing the tendency to jam which would occur if the angle were very small, or the tendency to slip if the angle were very large.

The disc A is in the form of a sleeve 66 having a circular flange 6T thereon to which is secured a ring 68 of fibre or other material having a high co-eiilcient of friction, the periphery of the ring of fibre being coned to be engaged by the coned flange on the sleeve 51. The second disc 13 is similarly constructed, 1. e. it comprises a sleeve 69, a conical flange ID and a ring ll of fibre and the sleeve 69 of the second disc is externally screw threaded to receive an internal screw thereof formed on the sleeve 66 of the first disc. The sleeve 69 is also screw threaded internally, the pitch of the internal threads on this sleeve being one half the pitch of the threads externally of the sleeve. The sleeve 66 of the first disc is connected to the spindle 3 so that the disc can slide but is prevented from rotating relatively to the shaft; this is effected by pinning to the spindle 3 a sleeve 12 having a projecting lug I3 constituting a key extending into a keyway formed internally in the sleeve.

The sleeve 69 of the disc B is similarly connected to the shaft by a sleeve 14 provided with an internal keyway 15 which receives a key 16 on the spindle 3 so that this sleeve 14 can slide but is prevented from relative rotation with respect to the spindle. with a projection l! which normally enters any one of a plurality of apertures in the flange portion 10 of the disc B, the projection 11 being caused to extend into the apertures by a spring 18 located around the spindle 3 and abutting at one end against a flange 19 formed on the sleeve This sleeve 14 is provided 14 and at the other end against a collar 80 screwed on and pinned to the extremity of the spindle 3.

The flange portion 10 of the disc B is provided with bevel teeth 8| which can be engaged by bevel teeth 82 formed on a spindle 83 having an operating handle 84, the whole forming an adjusting key for varying the velocity ratio between the discs and coned members the casing of the mechanismshown in Figures 1-4 being constructed to enable the adjusting key to be inserted into adjusting position. 1

The extremity of the spindle 83 is extended beyond the bevel teeth thereon and the extended portion is reduced in diameter to enter an aperture 85 formed in the spring pressed sleeve 14, the arrangement of the bevel teeth 81 on the flange I0 and the location of the aperture 85 being such that when the reduced portion of the spindle 83 is inserted into its aperture and the spindle is rotated, the sleeve M is by the initial rotation, slid against the action of its spring 18 to cause the projection 11 on the sleeve to move outof the apertures in the flange portion 10 of the disc B. This initial operation allows the disc B to be rotated as well as slidden relatively to the spindle 3 and continued rotation of the adjusting spindle 83 causes the disc to rotate whereby it is caused to move axially with respect to the spindle on account of the screw threads formed internally on the sleeve 69 of the disc B and on the. spindle. causes the disc A to move axially with respect to the spindle 3 on account of the co-operating screw threads formed externally on the sleeve 7 portion 69 of the disc B and internally on the sleeve portion 66 of the disc A. As the pitch of the screw threads on the spindle 3 and internally on the sleeve portion 69 is one half that of the screw threads externally of the said sleeve and internally of the sleeve portion 66, it will be seen. that rotation of the disc B by the adjusting spindle 83. will cause the two discs to move simultaneously" and through equal distances either towards or away from one another so that the discs are at all times symmetrical about the transverse mean centre line of the coned members. The axial movement of the discs effects a variation in the velocity ratio between'the discs and the coned members and hence between the spindles, which latter are allowed 'to accommodate themselves to the adjusted'positions of the discs by the pivotally mounted bracket 60 carrying the spindle 55 on which the, coned members are mounted.

Preferably there is provided a spring 86 which supplements the contact pressure between the coned members and discs, the spring being anchored at one end to the bracket 60 and at the other end to the frame. What I claim is: 11 In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means movable between an initial and zeroizing position for restoring the indicating device to its zero posi-.'

tion, means for biasing the restoring means into zeroizing position, a detent device for retaining the restoring means in its initial position, a zeroizing control -member for releasing the detent device, and a dashpot for delaying the return of the restoring means to its initial position to ensure completion of an initiated zeroizing operation. I

2. In a registering apparatus, the combination of an indicating device, means for restoring The rotation of the disc B also the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection withthe indicating device the. second of which is movable between an initial and zeroizing position, means biasing the second element into zeroizing cooperation with the first element, a detent device normally retaining the second element in its initial position, a zeroizing control member which releases the detent device, and a dashpot delaying the return of the second element to its original position to ensure the completion of an initiated zeroizing operation.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means for restoring the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection with the indicating device, means biasing the second element into zeroizing cooperation with the firstelement, a detent device normally retaining the second element in its inoperative position, a zeroizing control member which when moved in one direction effects release of the detent device, means for returning the control member to its original between the second element and the control,

member, and a dashpot delaying the return of the control member and hence the second element to their original position to ensure the completion of an initiated zeroizing operation.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means for returning the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection with the indicating device, a slidable sleeve, a spring housed in the sleeve and interposed between the sleeve and the second element, a detent for holding the second element against movement into zeroizing cooperation with the first element until the sleeve has moved a predetermined distance to .load the spring whereafter the sleeve releases the detent to permit the spring to move the second element to zeroizing position, a fixed abutment, a return spring interposed .between the fixed abutment and the sleeve, an. abutment on the sleeve, an abutment on the second element arranged to be engaged by the abutment on the sleeve to effect return movement of the second element when the sleeve is returned by'the return spring, and a dashpot for delaying the return movement of the sleeve and hence oi'tlie secondelement to its original position. a

5. In apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination of an indicating 'device, means for returning the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which -is in driving connection with the indicating device the second of which is movable between an initial and zeroizing position, a zeroizing control member, a spring for urging the second element into zeroizing cooperation with the first element, the spring being loaded by movement of the control member, .a detent device which reis in driving connection with the indicating de vice, a slidable sleeve, a spring hours i in the sleeve and interposed between the sleeve and the second element, a detent for holding the second element against movement into zeroizing cooperation with the first element until the sleeve has moved a predetermined distance to load the spring whereupon the sleeve releases the detent to permit the spring to move the second element into zeroizing position, a fixed abutment, a return spring interposed between the fixed abutment and the sleeve, an abutment on the sleeve, an abutment on the second element arranged to be engaged by the abutment on the sleeve to eiifect return movement of the second element when the sleeve is returned by the return spring, a tube surrounding and coaxial with the tubular housing, and an annular dashpot piston in the annulus between the housing and the tube, the piston being in drive connection with the sleeve to delay return movement of the sleeve and hence of the secon element to its original position.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of indicating means, means movable between an initial and zeroizing position to restore the indicating means to initial position, power storing means to actuate the restoring means, means to restrain the restoring means; means to release the restoring means and dashpot means to retard the return of the restoring means to initial position to ensure completion of an initiated restoring operation.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means for restoring the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection with the indicating device the second of which is movable between an initial and zeroizing position, means biasing the second element into zeroizing cooperation with the first element, a detent device normally rea rwaves taining the second element in its initial position, a aeroizing control member which releases the detent deqice, and means to retard the return of the second element to its original position to ensure the completion of an initiated zeroizing oporation.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means for restoring the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection with the indicating device, means biasing the second element into ceroizing cooperation with the first element, a detent device normally retaining the second element in its initial position, a zeroizing control member which when moved in one direction eii'ects release of the detent device, means for returning the control member to its original position, means for effecting return cooperation between the second element and the control member, and dashpot means to retard the return of the control memher and hence the second element to their original position to ensure the completion of an ir1itiated zeroizing operation.

10. In. apparatus of the class described, the combination of an indicating device, means for returning the indicating device to its zero position comprising two cooperating elements one of which is in driving connection with the indicating device, said second means being movable between an initial and zeroizing position, a zeroizing control member, a spring for urging the second element into zeroizing cooperation with the first element, the spring being loaded by movement of the control member, a detent device which retains the said second element until the control member has moved a predetermined distance to effect loading of the spring, and means retarding the return of the second element to its original position. i

REUBEN ERNEST HANDFORD.

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