US2229483A - Hearse - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1941;

H. A. TouLmNfJR HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 7' Sheets-Sheet 2' ATTORNEYS Jan. 21, 1941. H. A. I'OULMIN, JR 2,229,483

' HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 'T Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 21', 1941.

H. A. TOULMIN JR HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jmm HARRY A.TOULMIN,.Trt,

T $M-w mw lh Jan. 21, 1941. A TOULMlN, JR 2,229,483

nmnsn Filed March 27, 1959 Sheets-Sheet v HA RRY A. TouLm/mJk,

Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.229.483 BEABSE Harry A. Toulmin, In, Dayton; Ohio; ulignor to Commonwealth Engineering Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1939;8erial No. 264,299

- 10 Claims. (Cl. 214-43) and similar mechanism.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide means by which the table'supporting the casket, with the casket, can be movedfrom a 10ngitudinal position to a transverse position about a central axis within the confines of the casket and the table so that the rear end of the table and casket will not engage the wall of the hearse oppositeto that through which the casket moves.

It is' an object toprovide a mechanism and a method for moving a casket-supporting table with or without a casket thereupon, through a side door opening of materially lesser width than the length of the table or casket.

In particular it is the object of this invention to provide a table rotatable around a vertical axis arranged on the center line of the table and optionally closer to one end of the table than the other. v

It is a further object to provide means ofmoving the table bodily from a central 'position, longitudinally aligned with the major axis of the hearse, to a position with the center of thetable oil-center of the major axis of the hearse.

It is an object to provide means of simultaneously or successively rotating ,the table after its longitudinal axis has been thus displaced or while it is being so displaced.

It is the primary object of this, invention to provide a table in the hearse which rotates about I its vertical axis and successively or simultaneously or previously is moved towards one wall of the I hearse.

It is a further object to place the center of such rotative' movement closer to one end of the table than the other and preferably closer to the end that emerges from the hearse last or remains in the hearse. Heretofore, rotatable tables have not been'employed although desirable because of the simplicity of the construction and movement and because of the elimination of any guide tracks in the floor of the hearse. The reason such rotatable tables'rhave not been'employed has been that casket, in order to get the forward end through one side of the hearse, the rear end of the table and casket wouldstrike theother ,side of the hearse, preventing further rotating'and preventing exit of the table and casket. The present invention obviates this heretofore insurmountable diflicuity by flrstrmoving the table bodily laterally towards the wall 0! the hearse through which the table is to project. 'Then, according to this invention, simultaneously with such movement or after it has been performed, the rotation of the table about its c entral vertical axis takes place. In this way, the table and casket can berotated on'the vertical axis withgutthe rear ends striking the opposite wail of the hearse. 1 g

It is a further object to provide fully automatic electrical means for moving the table in or out through either, side door of the hearse. which is put into operation by merely pressing appro I priate button switches and which operates with a minimum of noise whereby the casket may be moved into or out of the hearse through the side door with the proper dignity.

Still another obiectis to provide a modified form of table operating means whereby the necessity for using a reversible operating motor is overcome. v

Still another object is to provide a modified form of fully automatic electrically controlled operating means for moving the casket supporting table hydraulically, thereby adding still fur ther to the quietness of operation while obtaining the other advantages of hydraulic operation. It is a further feature of this invention that by placing this center;v of rotation towards the rear of the table, this movement is facilitated. 2

Furthermore, it is possible by this invention to optionally unload the casket through the rear of the hearse.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, with the ,hearse walls in section, of the floor of the hearse and the'table and ca'sket disposed thereabove, showing the doors provided at each side and at the rear through which the table and casket are moved.

Figure 2 is a reduced diagrammatic plan view showing the position of the table and casket partially extended through-a side door opening Figure 3 is a similar plan view showing the tame and casket in their fully extended position.

Figure 4 is a vertical section, taken on the line 4-4, looking in the direction of the arrows, of

Figure 1, showing the operating mechanism for and rotating the table and casing motor employed in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 'l is a view similar to Figures, but showing'a modified 'iorm wherein two non-reversible operating motors are employed.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing another modification wherein two non-reversible operating motors are employed.

Figure 9 is a, view showingdiagrammaticallythe electrical means for controlling the operating motors of Figure 7. r

Figure 10 i a bottom plan view of hydrauli-= cally operated means for moving the table.

, Figure 11 is a view showing diagrammatically the electrical means for controlling the operating means of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference numeral l designatesgenerally the rear portion of the body of the hearse, having the customary floor 2 and having a door 3 at the rear through which the casket-supporting table t and/or the casket i, may be moved if desired. Located'in the right-hand side of the rear of the hearse is a door twhich is hinged in' the usual manner to the side wall. Located in the left-hand side is a similar door 5. These doors ti and b are located so that the table t and casket ll. when in their final transverse position shown in Figure 3, will clear both sides or the opening. The doors are relatively'narrow, being considerably narrower than the length of the table and casket, their exact width and location being determinm by the width of the table," the width of. the in= retorstandard 9 which forms'a pivotal support.

for the casket carrying table ti. This table is mounted upon casters it that rest on the surface of the floor 2.

t The pivot member 9 is connected to or integral with gear l l which engages with a rack it mount. ed at either end on brackets lt beneath the floor 2. This pivotal member ii and the gear ii are engaged by pin it, which extends through the gear it and into the member s and is integrally connected with and formed as a part of the worm nut it, which is threaded upon the worm "it. This worm it is pivotally supported by worm l t on the armature shaft 2d of the reversi blemotor 2 l.

In allot the forms shown in thedrawings, limit switches 22, 2t, audit are so disposed as to ap= propriately control the operation of the device in a. manner which .will presently appear. Limit switch 22 is normally closed and is opened by the turret t reaching the end of its travel to the left in. slot 8. Limit switch 23 is normally closed and is-opened by the turret f9 reaching the elitreme right-hand position shown in Figure 3. a limit switch 26 is open when the turret t is in to move, whereupon limit switch M- ton switches 25 and 2| are provided (Flgures'l and 6) on the inside oi the right-hand side of the hearse for control of, the movements of the table through door 4 and a similar pair of button switches tl and 28 are provided on the left-hand side or the hearse tor controlling movement or the table in and out of the opening made by door ll.

Referring to Figure 6 which shows the electrical connections for use with the form of Figures l to 5, assume that the table 8 is in the running position of Figure l, and it is desired to move it out of the right hand door opening. The op erator presses button switch 25 which causes winding at of solenoid 33 to move its armature and rod 8i upwardly, thereby closing contacts it, ti, 32 and, 88. Current thereupon flows through the field winding 86 of motor 2i and through the armature winding thereof in such direction as to movenut it to the right, thereby beginning to move table 6 transversely to the right-and at the same time causing rotation of turret 9 and table it by means of gear ll engaging rack it. The operator holds button switch 25 closed only long enough ior the table to begin hich was held open by turret t is closed and maintains cell it of solenoid 2t energized through contact at, limit switch ti being closed. The operator may then release button switch 25 and the motor it will continue to move the table out the righthand side of the hearse, until turret 3 reaches the end of slot ti when it strikes limit switch 23, opening it, thereby breaking the circuit to coil 35 of solenoid lit, and causing motion-transmitshown in Figure 6, by reason of springs til, thus breaking the circuits established by contacts'tt, st, 82 and ti t and stopping rotation of, motor 2i.

With the table in the position of Figure 3,12 it is desired to move it within the hearse. the operator presses button switch 25 for an instant sumelently to energize coil it of solenoid 29. Armature 229 then causes rod tl to move downwardly (Figure 6); establishing circuits through contacts dd, il, (it and it, current now being supplied to the held 8d of motor at in the same directhe hearse. This motion continues until the table is in the rimming position of Figure 1 when it is stoppedby the action of turret a striking limit switch as which opens the circuit to solenoid coil 39 established by cohtact' i i thereby causing rod ill to return to the center position and stopping motor 24.

Similar mechanism is provided for moving the table in and out of the opening provided by door it, switch 2t being employed to move the table.

out of the door, switch 28 to move it in from the position where it protects out door t, and limit switch tt being opened by turret t at the limit of its travel to theleft in slot: El. whereby to stop motor 2i.

Describing now the modification shown in Figures '7 and 9, there are employed .two motors tin and 2th for operating worm it, thereby eliminating the necessity for uising a reversible motor and eliminating the necml ty for using reversing switches for the motor, Motor am is adapted to move the table out door a while motor 2 to is adapted to move the table out door t. Likewise,

motor Ila is adapted to return the table from the position shown in Figure 3 and motor lib is adapted .to return the table from the position wherein it projects out door 5 A dog clutch II is disposed between motor 21a and worm il. Dog clutch is is likewise provided between motor ill! and worm i8. These dog clutches II and 4B are engaged by solenoids it and ll respec-v tively Referring particularlyto Figure 9, the

electrical operation is substantially the same as wardly establishes a circuit through contacts 50 through motor 2 la and solenoid 41, thereby causlug nut ii to be moved to the left.

In Figure 8 there is shown a modification wherein two non-reversible motors Zia and I ib operate worm iii. These motors are connected together by a coupling M, and are so electrically connected that only one of them is in operation at once. Thus motor 2 la in Figure B is employed to move the table leftward, while motor 2th I is adapted to move itrightward in the same manner as described in connection with Figure '1. When motor 2ia is energized, motor Mb is not energized and is rotated in a direction opposite to'its normal direction of rotation so that worm i6 is moved in accordance with the direction of rotation of motor 2hr. Likewise, whemmotor Mb is driving worm iii, motor Zia is inoperative and is merely rotated idly through coupling Di. For operating the modification of Figure B, an elec trical circuit precisely like that of Figure 9 is employed except that solenoids ti and 48 are dispensed with.

Referring to the modification shown in Figures 10 and i1, the turret 9 is propelled to and fro along slot t'hydraulically by means oi belt M which is fixedly attached to a plate 60a which surrounds rotatable pin to projecting upwardly in turret ii and which passes around rotatable pulleys ti and hi, being fastened on the side opposite from pin 60 to a stationary member M which may be fixedly attached to the chassis of the hearse so as to be immovable. Pulleys B3 and M are rotatable about vertical pivoting shafts 5B and 56 respectively. Pivot shafts iii and iii are moved laterally by rod 51 which passes through hydraulic cylinder 58 and is integrally attached to piston 59 which slid-es in ciyllnder 68. Thus the lateral motion of piston 59 is doubled when transmitted to turret 9 so that turret 9 moves exactly twice the distance through which piston 59 moves and pulleys BI and M are thus prevented from projecting outside the hearse by reason of this motion-doubling construction. Electric motor 2 io drives hydraulic? gear pump Ii which pumps liquid from tank 82 into valve cylinder Bl through port 12 and thence, depending upon the position of the valves in cylinder ll, into cylinder ll, thereby moving piston BI and turret I.

In cylinder BI there is disposed a rod 84 passing wtherethrough and upon which are mounted pistons Bl and 83 so that-by sliding rod 04, pump Bi is caused to pump liquid either into chamber 61 of cylinder bl or into chamber ll thereof. This selective operation is obtained by having ports 10 and 'lil so disposed relative to pistons ll and 88 that the entering liquid from post 12 can be connected either to port Iii or port 'ii. depending upon the lateral position of rod I l.

turn port ll When rod '4 is in the position shown in Figure 10, gear pump .il pumps liquid from port II to port 1i and thence into chamber 01. As piston ll moves to the right, a corresponding amount of liquid is iorced out of chamber GI and returns to reservoir OI through port-s IQ and II. Bimilsriy. when rod II is moved to the night (Figure 10), port I! is connected with port 10 and port H, which is now a return port connected to rewhioh returns the liquid from chamber 01 to reservoir II. Normally, rod 84 is held ina positionsuch that pump 8i would force liquid into cylinder- 81 by reason of spring ii. A

solenoid M isdisposed around rod 64 so that when the electrical circuit is estaiblished through solenoid 14-, rod ill is moved to the right (Figure 10), thereby connecting port ill with port in so that pump ll forces piston ll to the left (Figure Foroperatlng the hydraulic modification of Figure 10, the electrical circuit of Figure 11 is provided. This circuit ishubstantially the same as that prevously described, motor 2 to being nonreversi-ble and bcing'al-ways rotwted in the same direction whether the circuit to motor lie is established through contacts it or through con-. tacts i6. when it is desired to move the table leftw'ard with respect to the center line of the hearse, an electrical circuit is established through solenoid coil 38, causing rod 31 to move downwardly (Figure 11) so that the circuit through solenoid it is established by contacts ll, so that pump ti pumps liquid into the cylinder 8!, thereby forcing piston it and turret t to the lei t' with respect to the center line of the hearse. When it is desired to move the table rightward with respect to the center line'of the hearse, either by closing switch at or w, the electrical circuit established through coil to causes rod M to move upwardly (Figure ilk-thereby operating motor die,- contacts 'il remaining open so that rod 34 is in the position shown in Figure 10. whereby fluid is pumped into chamber 97, forcing piston W to the rgh t with respect to the center line of the hearse. a

An adyantage of the invention is that the motion of the table is irreversible so that the table is locked in'a given position. Thustable ii cannot be moved manually by pushing or pull ing it and it cannot be dislodged from therunning or transporting position shown in Figure 1 by the jars and vibrations attendant upon normal transportation. In the forms; shown in Figures 1 to 9, the nut it andworm ll constitute irreversible means for driving turret 8. In the modification of Figures 10 and 11 the piston II .and consequently turret I are prevented from Piston II is thus piievented from moving in either direction since liquid cannot be sucked upwardly or forced downwardly through locked-(i. e., stationary) pump Ii.

"As will be understood, gear ll need be merely 'a semicircular segment and need not be a full circular gear as shown.

Method'o! operation position with the longitudinal axis of the table and casket aligned with and coincident on the longitudinal axis of the hearse. The table and casket are equally disposed from either door or either wall of the hearse. This is the normal carrying and running position of the vehicle.

By reference to Figures 2 and 3, there will be seen the successive positions in unloading and carried .towards the right hand open door and side wall of the hearse. The center of pivotal support 9 is disposed upon the longitudinal axis of the table and is located closer to the rear of the table than to the frontthereof. As this lateral movement of the table, bodily towards the side wall of the hearse, is takingplace; the table and the casket on it begin v to rotate on this pivotal center and in so doing,

the forward end swings through the door opening left by the open door 4 and the rear end swings towardthe opposite side wall and door 5 without striking either. because the pivotal point of the pivot 9 has moved towards the opposite side wall.

When the movement is completed, thetable and casket .are substantially projected through the side of the hearse, in which position the casketcan be easily unloaded and in which position a casket can be easily loaded on the table. This compound movement of bodily lateral and rotary movement makes it possible to adopt a pivoted support for a table without having. the rear end of the table strike one wall of the hearse or'project beyond that .wall if the door in that side wall is open.

If it is desired to lengthen the table, the usual pull out Slide can be provided on one end thereof, so as to furnish an extended support for the casket as it moves from or on to the table during loading..' F

It will be observed that the casters II) are ten in number, six of them being located CODCEHtI'i-a cally aroundthe turret 9, thereby giving ample support to the casket and table in the combined lateral shift and rotary movement.

When in running position, the table can be locked by the usual pins, or other devices.

.1: it is desiredto unload the casket from the rear endof the hearse, the door 3 is opened. Under such circumstances, it is usual to provide, a slide extension .on the rear of thetable to facili-v tate unloading the casket. v

It will be understood that the drawinzsare purely diagrammatic and not to scale. If'de- .sired,.- a double door or very large single door can be provided. or a folding door on the side of the "hearse can be provided so that the door opening is of greaterwldth than the length of the table or casket. I

Thus there are important principles in this construction and in the operation thereof:

(a) The bodily movement 7 of the table and casket towards one side of the hearse.-

' ""f'(d) The irreversible drivin means forthe table so that it is locked in any given position degree of certainty in loadin transporting the casket.-

unloading and (e) The automatically operated movement of the table.

It will be understood that I. desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions i and uses. k

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In combination, a floor of a hearse, a table freely supported thereon, a parallel rack and worm, a gear engaging said rack, a pivotal support for said table connected thereto, a nut-on said worm connected to said gear andpivotal support, and means for rotating said worm whereby said table is caused to move laterally and rotatably. 1

2. In combination, a hearse floor having a slot therein, a table freely mounted upon said floor, a shaft connected to the bottom of said table projected through said slot, a rack adjacent said slot, a gear mounted on said shaft engaging said rack, a nut mounted on the bottom of said shaft, a worm in said nut arranged parallel to said rack and said slot, and means for actuating said worm for moving said not therealong and for moving said gear along said rack whereby the table is moved laterally bodily and simultaneously rotated. r

3. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in each of said sides, a table mounted upon a floor in'said hearse parallel to the sides of the hearse and having its ends projecting said sides if rotated a ut said pivot,- and means for rotating said table a t'said pivot and simul taneously laterally moving said pivot whilepre venting substantial longitudinal movement of said pivot in such manner as to project said table through either of said openings while preventing contact or the table with said sides.

4. In combination, a hearse havingsides, a door opening luone 01. said sides, a, table mounted upon a floor insaid hearse, automatic means for moving said table bodily laterally of: the hearse without substantial longitudinal movement thereof and simultaneously rotating said table opening in oneoi' said sides, a table mounted upon a floor in said hearse, manually initiated automatic means for moving said-table bodily laterally of the hearse and simultaneously rotating said table while substantially preventing forward movement thereof and for thereby moving said tablefrom a carrying podtion wholly within the hearse to a position where itprojects laterally through said opening. and means operated by said table when it leaves said carrying position for maintaining said automatic means operative without further manual assistance.

6. In combination, la hearse having sides, a door opening in one of said sides, a table mounted upon a floor in said hearse, manually initiated.

automatic means for moving said table bodily laterally of the hearse, and simultaneously rotating said table and for thereby moving said table from a carrying position to a position where it projects laterally through said opening and for moving it from the latter position into the former position, and means operated by said table when it leaves said carrying position for maintaining said moving means operative without further manual assistance and for rendering it inoperative when said table is returned to said carrying position.

7. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in one of said sides, a table mounted above a floor in said hearse, a turret projecting through said floor and in engagement with. said table, a lateral slot in said floor through which said turret is laterally movable, a worm parallel to said slot, a nut on said worm so engaging said turret that lateral movement of said nut is transmitted to said turret, a rack parallel to said slot, a gear fixedly attached to said turret and in engagement with said rack and reversible driving means for said worm operating to either move said table from a carrying position parallel to the longitudihal axis of the hearse to a loading and unloading position where it projects laterally through said opening or to return said table from said loading and unloading position to said carrying position.

8. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in one of said sides, a table mounted above a floor in said hearse, a turret projecting through said floor and in engagement with said table, a lateral slot in said floor through which mitted to said turret, a rack parallel to said 'slot, 2. gear fixedly attached to said turret and in en- .gagement with said rack, driving means at each end of said worm operating to move said table in opposite directions, one of said driving means being adapted to move said table from a carrying position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hearse to a loading and unloading position where it projects laterally through said opening and the other of said driving means being adapted to return said table from said loading and unloading position to said carrying position.

9. In combination, a hearse floor, a table and means thereunder for freely supporting the table on said floor, a pivotal support for said table, means for moving said support laterally without longitudinal movement and for rotating said table, said means comprising a worm and nut connected to said pivotal support forca'using lateral movement thereof, and a rack and gear pivot for said table disposed within the confines of said table, said table being so proportioned and so disposed with respect to said sides and door opening that it would strike one of said sides if rotated about said pivot, and means for rotating said table about said pivot and simul-- taneously laterally moving said pivot without longitudinal movement thereof in such manner as to project said table through said opening while preventing contact of the tablewith said sides.

HARRY A. TOULMIN, JR.

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