US2161962A

US2161962A - Instrument supporting device

Info

Publication number: US2161962A
Application number: US133585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clyde L Hunsicker
Original assignee: AARON S GREEN; MARTIN L GREEN
Current assignee: AARON S GREEN; MARTIN L GREEN
Priority date: 1937-03-29
Filing date: 1937-03-29
Publication date: 1939-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1956-06-13

Description

June 13, 1939. c. L. HuNslcKER INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jin w ATTORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT SU PPORTIN G DEVICE Application Maich 29,

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to equipment for adjustably supporting various instruments, as for example ophthalmological instruments used in the testing of eyes andthe fitting of glasses.

It is an object of the invention to generally improve upon apparatus of the above character whereby the instrument or device being supported, can be conveniently adjusted toi a desired position, and can be held in such position While the instrument is in use. In the `past such apparatus has been constructed in such a manner as to be difficult to manipulate, both with respect to adjusting the instrument to a desired position, and with respect to retaining the instrument in the desired .location after adjustments are made. One type of apparatus which constitutes an improvement over the prior art, is disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 91,464, led July 20, 1936. The subject matter of the present case can be deemed a further improvement, particularly with respect to the means employed for counter-balancing certain parts, and the means for retaining a particular adjustment.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, illustrating apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing a part which can be utilized in conjunction with the base illustrated in Fig. 2, to form a modified type of supporting means.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view, in 45 cross-section.

Fig. 'I is a cross-sectional .view taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional detail, illustrating a modied form of counter-balancing means connected to the chain.

The apparatus illustrated in the .drawings consists generally of a pedestal I 0, which carries a tubular casing II. Within Ythe casing' H .there 1937, Serial No. 133,585

isa tracking means designated .generally at I2, which is engaged by a carriage I3. A horizontal arm I4 is mounted upon the carriage I3, and Vthe free end of `this arm has a pivotal connection I6, with the member ITI. Itis upon the member I l that the ophthalmological instrument .or like ,device is mounted, and the features of the apparatus to be presently described enable substantially universal Vadjustment of the instrument within a prescribed space, with reten- ,tionof the instrument in a desired adjusted position.

lTo describe the pedestal I 0 in detail, it consists of a base 2 I, carrying a vertically extending tube 22.

2| so that the pedestal can either be mounted in close juxtaposition with a wall, or secured to the oor at a point remote from the wall. Thus `as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the base is formed of two parts 21a. and 2lb, which when secured together form a base which is` circular in contour. The plane iof division .between the two parts 2Ia and 2lb is vertical, and o-ifset from the center `of the tube 22, so that the base part 2Ia forms of itself a complete supporting part. With the two base parts 2Ia and 42lb secured together, vby screws or ,like attaching means, the base is suitable vfor attachment to the floor at any .point remote from a wall. If it is desired to mount the .base close to a wall surface, then the base part 2lb is removed,v and a supplemental plate 23 atitached to the base part.2la, as by means of screws 24. The base part ZIacan nowbeplaced in close Yproximity with a wall surface, as shown Iin Fig. 1, .and plate V23 can be secured to the wall by means of screws -26 (Fig. 4).

`The casing II is journalled withrespect to tube 22,'whereby the casing may rotate about its vertical axis. Thus the lower end of casing `I I is shown having a telescopical t within the tube .22, and the upper end of tube 22 isengaged bya collar 28, which `is secured to the casing I I. This ,collar is split to afford the resilient portions 29, .which areY shown engaged by a clamping screw 3I and nut 32. By tightening nut V32, sleeve ,28 is caused to grip the tube 22, thus retaining the casing Ill in a fixed angular position with respect `to ,the ,base supporting pedestal.

The tracking means I2 can bebest'understood by reference to Figs. 5, 6` and 7. It ,consists of three vertically extending

rods

33, 34 and 35, which are spaced equal distances apart. 'I'he ends of theserods aresecured to upper Land lower `

members

31 and 38, with both of these member being secured to the casing `I I.

It is preferable to construct the base?.

The carriage I3, which engages the tracking means I2, consists of a metal body 39. Two sets of tracking wheels or rollers 4| and 42 are mounted upon the body 39, with the'rollers of the two sets being disposed in planes which are at an acute angle with respect to each other. These rollers engage the

tracking rods

33, 34 and 35 in the manner illustrated particularly in Fig. 7. Arm I4 is in the form of a metal tube, having its one end tted into and secured to the body 39 of the carriage.

The counter-balancing means for the carriage and arm, and also for the parts carried by the arm, is preferably constructed as follows: Below the tracking means and within the tube 22 of the pedestal, there is a counter-balancing weight 44. Attached to this weight there is a flexible cable or chain 46, which has been referred to in the appended claims as a flexible retention element. The other end of chain 46 has an attachment 41, to the carriage body 39. `The intermediate 4portions of the chain are looped over a number .of sprocket wheels, including a sprocket wheel 48,

the

sprockets

49, 5I and 52, and relative movement takes place between the laterally looped portionV of the Vchain and the arm. As will be presently explained such lateral movement is utilized in connection with means for restraining the carriage and arm against Vertical movements.

The alternative use of a spring in place of the counter-balancing weight 44, is shown in Fig. 9. In this instance a compression spring 56 is provided, which has its upper end seated upon member 38, and its lower end seated upon a thrust `member 51. Thrust member 51 is attached toa pull rod 58, which has an attachment 59 to the vend of the chain, and which also carries a sprocket wheel 6I.V Another sprocket wheel 62 is jmounted upon the under side of member 38, and

thechain is engaged over these sprockets in the 'manner shown in Fig. 9. ,Thus downward pull of spring 56 upon the rod 58, is transmitted to the 4chain 46, and the motion multiplied.

'Ihe pivotal connection |6 between Varm I4 and member I1, preferably has its axis arranged vertically, and is formed between the cooperating 'castings vor like members 63 and 64 (Fig. 6) Casting 63 is secured to the outer end of the rarm I4, while casting 64 serves as a mounting for the memberu I1. `Casting' 64 is provided with a cylindrical bore to'loosely t the sleeve 66. One end of this sleeve is seated upon casting 63 and the'other end seated upon an end cap 61,which Vin turn is clamped to the casting 64, by screw 68. The' upper end face` of casting V64 is provided with an annular'recess 69, which accommodates a split ring'1I.. A pin'12 serves to anchor ring 1I tor the casting v63.y The ends o'f the split ring arebevelled as indicated at 13, to cooperate with kan expanding pin 14. k'I'his pin is slidably mounted in the lower end portionof Vcasting 63, and when it is forced downwardly to expand ring 1I, the Vring gripsthe'outer peripheral surface of recess 69, Vto frict'ionally retain the'casting 64 fast with respect to casting 63.V

The means for actuating the pin 14, is correlated with means for restraining the chain 46 against movements relative to the arm I4. This means is preferably in the form of a brake shoe 16, which is disposed immediately below the sprocket wheel 5|, and which is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 11. The intermediate portion of lever 11 has a fulcrum connection 18, with the upper end of pin 14. 'I'he outer end of lever 11 has a pivotal connection 19, with a plunger 8|. A compression spring 82, has its lower end seated upon plunger 8I, and its upper end seated upon a ferrule 83, which is attached to the casting 63.

In order tol raise the plunger 8|, and thus simultaneously releas-e shoe 16 and also the'expanding pin 14, means are employed including a single operating member 84. This operating member has a pivotal connection 86V with the ferrule 83. It also has a pivotal connection 81 with the upper end of a link 88, the lower end of this link having afpivotal connection to the plunger 8|. When member 84 is swung to the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 6, link 88 raises.

plunger 8I, thus causing retractionY of p-in 14 and shoe 16. However, when member 84 is swung to the right as Viewed in Fig. 6, spring 82 presses plunger 8| downwardly, and thus force is applied Vdownwardly upon the expanding pin 14, to ex-V pand ring 1I, and likewise force is applied upwardly upon shoe 16, to press this shoe into braking -engagement with the adjacent portion of chain 46. Therefore when member V84| is in the released position, illustrated in Fig. 6, carriage I3 can be freely raised or lowered with respect to v the tracking means, and member I1 can be swung about to different angles with respect to the arm I4. To retain the instrument attached to arm I1 in a desired position, member 84 is moved to the braking position previously described, toI restrain pivotal movement between member I1 and arm I4, and vertical movements of this arm rela-v tive to the supporting means.

Operation of the complete apparatus will be apparent from the above description. With the nut 32' in clamped position, arm I4 will be held against movements about a vertical axis. However, when nut 32 is released the angular position of arm I4 can be changed,;as desired. With the member 84 in released position, arm I4 and carriage I3 can be readily moved to different Vervtical positions, by a relatively slight amount of manual effort. An operator may Y apply such forces to the instrument mounting member I1 or to the instrument itself, Vwhile the instrument is being shifted to the location desired. There- `after only one operation is required, namely movement of member 84 to braking positiomto retain the instrument'in relatively Vfixed position.

I claim: i l

1. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively fixed mounting, verticallyr 'extending tracking means, means for journalling said tracking means with respect to said mounting, whereby the tracking means is rotatable about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging said trackingj means and capable of Vertical movement with respect to the same, a laterally extending arm having one end of the same secured to said'carriage, la flexible retention element having one end of the same attached to the carriage, a wheel mountedY near the upper end of the tracking'meansand over which the retention element is looped, means vadjacent the lower end of saiditracking means I' Y .and serving to apply downward pull-'tothe other 75 ing,

end of'said retention element, said element having a laterally extending loop of the same positioned within said arm, and means carried by said arm and serving to releasably restrain the element against movement with respect to the arm.

2. In an adjustable support for instruments, a mounting, tracking means carried by the mounta carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm xed to the carriage and extending laterally from the tracking means, a fl-exible retentionv elementA having a laterally extending loop disposed within said arm, wheels mounted upon the carriage and upon said arm, upon which said element is engaged, whereby when the carriage is moved with respect to the track, said element is caused to enter and leave said arm, and releasable means for retaining said element in a relatively fixed position with respect to said arm, whereby said arm is releasably restrained against movement with respect to the tracking means.

3. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively xed mounting, vertically extending tracking means journalled upon said mounting, whereby said tracking means can swing about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging said tracking means, an arm fixed to the carriage and extending laterally from the tracking means, a flexible retention element, means connected to one end of said element for applying force in one direction, an attachment between the other end of said retention element and said carriage whereby the weight of the carriage and the arm is counterbalanced, a portion of said el-ement extending along the carriage and having movement relative to the carriage when the carriage is raised or lowered, and means for releasably gripping and restraining said portion of the flexible element against movement with respect to said carriage, whereby the carriage is releasably restrained with respect to movements along the tracking means.

4. In an adjustable support for instruments, a relatively xed mounting, vertically extending tracking means journalled upon the mounting, whereby the tracking means may rotate about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm mounted upon the carriage and extending laterally from the tracking means, a flexible retention element, means attached to one end of said element adjacent the lower end of said tracking means, and serving to apply downward force upon the same, a connection between the other end of said retention element and said carriage, a wheel mounted adjacent the upper end of said tracking means and over which the retention element is tracked, whereby' that portion of the retention element between said wheel and said force applying means, moves relative to the carriage when the carriage is moved with respect to the tracking means, and means for releasably locking said portion of the flexible element with respect to the carriage.

5. In an adjustable support for instruments, a mounting, a vertically extending tracking means journalled to the mounting, whereby the tracking means can rotate about a vertical axis, a carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm xed to the carriage and extending substantially horizontally from the same, a flexible retention element, means for applying counter-balancing force to the lower end of said retention element, said lower end being below thertracking means, a connection between the other end of the retention element and said carriage, a wheel mounted near the upper end of the tracking means and over which the retention element is looped, at least three wheels mounted upon the carriage and the arm, said wheels engaging and retaining a laterally extending loop formed in that portion of the flexible element extendingrbetweenthe rstmentioned wheel and the lower portion ofithe tracking means, and means mounted upon `saidv arm at a point remote from said tracking means for releasably restraining said flexible element against movements with respect tothe arm.

6. In an adjustable support `for instruments, vertically extending tracking means, a carriage engaging the tracking means, a ksubstantially horizontally extending arm secured to the carriage, a member pivotally connected to the free end of said arm and adapted to serve as a mounting for an instrument, the pivotal connection between said member and said arm being on a vertical axis, and clutching means associated with said pivotal connection and serving toV releasably retain said member in a xed angular position with respect to said arm, said clutching means including a split ring and means for expanding said ring to engaged position.

7. In an adjustable support for instruments, vertically extending tracking means, a carriage engaging said tracking means, an arm secured to said carriage and extending outwardly from the same in a general horizontal position, a member pivotally connected to the free end of said arm and adapted to serve as a mounting for an instrument, a exible retention element associated with said tracking means, wheels mounted upon the carriage and upon the arm, said retention element being engaged with respect to said wheels whereby a loop of said retention element is disposed within said arm, said loop being movable with respect to the arm upon moving the carriage along the tracking means, and means for releasably restraining movements of the retention element with respect to said arm and for releasably restraining said member against pivotal movement with respect to the arm, said lastV means including a single manually operating member.

8. In an adjustable support for instruments, vertically extending tracking means, a carriage engaging the tracking means, an arm having one end of the same secured to the carriage and extending laterally from the tracking means, a exible retention element, means engaging one end of said retention element and serving to exert downward pull upon the same, a connection between the other end of the retention element and the carriage, a wheel mounted near the upper end of the tracking means and over which the retention element is engaged, wheels mounted upon the carriage and upon the arm, said wheels serving to engage and retain a laterally extending loop formed in that portion of the retention element which lies between the first named wheel and the low-er end of the tracking means, and

disposed within the arm, whereby as the carriage is moved with respect tothe tracking means said flexible element is caused to enter and leave the arm, a member pivotally connected to the free end of said arm and adapted to serve as a mounting for an instrument, the pivotal connection between said member and the arm being on a vertical axis, clutching means associated with said pivotal connection and serving to releasably retain said member in a substantially i'lxedV angular position with respect to said arm, a member having releasable braking engagement with said flexible element, thereby serving to retain the Vcarriage against movement relative to the tracking means,'and meansincluding a single operating member carried by the free end of the arm, for simultaneously actuating bothsaid clutching -means and said braking means. Y

force to the lower end of said retention element, said lower end being below the tracking means, a connection between the other end of the retention element and said carriage, a wheel mounted near the upper end of the tracking means and over which the retention element is looped, and at least three wheels mounted upon the carriage and the arm, said wheels engaging and retaining a laterally extending loop formed in that portion of the flexible element lextending between the first-mentioned wheel and the lower portion of the tracking means. Y ,Y

CLYDE L. VHUNSICKER.