US2285941A - Control head - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1942.

A. OBERHOFFKEN CONTROL HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1939 INVENTOR. ALEXANDER OBERHOFFKEN June 9, 1942. A. OBERHOFFKEN CONTROL HEAD Filed Sept. 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALEXANDER OBERHO FFKEN I. Zi2

Patented June 9, 1942 CONTROL HEAD Alexander Oberhoffken,

Oakland County, Mich., assignor to American Forging and Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Southfield Township,

Application September 18, 1939, Serial No. 295,534

12 Claims.

This invention relates to operating mechanisms for manual control of remotely located apparatus. While disclosed in connection with the operation of vehicle brakes, it will be recognized that the invention'is equally applicable to many other uses.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified actuating assembly for brake mechanisms and the like, so constructed that greatly increased actuating power may be imparted to the brakes or other controlled mechnaism by means of a handle or the like which, despite the increased operating force available, travels through a much shorter distance than the operating handles or levers of devices now used for the same purpose. A related object is to obtain such desirable short travel of the actuating handle by means which automatically varies the ratio or mechanical advantage between the handle and the load in accordance with the resistance of the load. With my improved operating means a high ratio is provided during the initial movement, which is required to take up any slack in the mechanism, and such slack is therefore taken up very quickly with but short travel of the operating handle, while when the resistance increases, as for example, when the brake shoes are actually being forced against the drums, the ratio is automatically changed so that further movement of the handle applies much more power to the shoes, yet no special manipulation on the part of the operator is required to effect such change of ratio, which occurs automatically during a simple continuous push or pull upon the operating handle.

A further object is to provide such operating .means which is of very simple and inexpensive character, and to incorporate therein combined gearing and locking mechanism so arranged that the locking mechanism normally holds the handle against movement, yet is releasable automatically by movement of the operating handle in either direction. Such movement also acts to change the operating ratio, as previously stated.

An additional object is to provide such mechanism which is adapted to be formed entirely of sheet metal, and to be enclosed in a compact tubular housing, as well as to be operable by a straight push or pull upon the operating handle.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invening a handle I5.

tion and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, part- 1y broken away, of operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections taken substantially on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed section of the engaging parts of the gear means, taken on the same plane as Figure 1 and showing the parts on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a somewhat modified construction.

Figure '7 is a plan View thereof.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sectional details taken substantially on the lines 88, 99, and Ill-Ill respectively, of Figure 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character l0 designates a tubular sheet metal casing, of rectangular cross section, adapted to be mounted, as by means of the bracket [2, upon the rear of the supporting panel [4, which, in

the illustrative construction shown may be the instrument panel of a motorcar. A rod [6 extends into the casing I0 and slidably projects through and from the instrument panel, carry- Slidable in the casing I0 is a hollow sheet metal cage, 20, which supports the gear cluster 22, 23, journaled therein upon the cross pin 24. Also supported in the cage is a locking dog or pawl 25 bearing upwardly against and partly trapped between abutment pinsZfi-Zl, also fast in the side walls of the cage. The dog is movable downwardly away from the pins, but normally maintained in engagement therewith by a leaf spring 30, hooked or otherwise held in the cage directly therebeneath. The ends of the dog which engage the pins 262'| will be seen to be rounded, to permit the dog to rock upon either one of the pins while its opposite end swings downwardly away from the other pin. The operating rod 16 is pivoted to the dog 25, as by means of pin 33, at a point below the pins 26-2l, and the aperture I! in the panel I4 through which the rod projects is large enough upon the handle tends to swing the pawl in the 5 opposite direction, and force the nearer end thereof downwardly away from the pin'26. The spring 30 is strong enough to prevent such rocking of the pawl unless considerable resistance opposes movement of the handle. Unless such resistance is encountered, the pawl remains engaged with the pins, and the eiiort exertedupon the handle simply slides cage in casing; Hi.

When the pawl is in its normahraised position, it serves to lock together a' pair of" rack 15.

assemblies 35-36. Rack assembly 35 is formed in two sections which extend. on either side of the centrally disposed rack 36. The rack assemblies are slidable with relation to each other.

in. the cage 20 and. casing. ll], their teeth extend- 20 ing downwardly to mesh with the; teeth of the gear portions 22, 23. A transverse tooth 34'carried by the dog normally projects. into aligned teeth of the two rack assemblies, to hold the latteragainst.relativemovement. The twoouter 5 rack portions 35, projectfrom the farther end of the casing IO Where they are welded or otherwise secured together and provided with an opening, as 31', to, which may be attached a cable or other operating means (not shown) fortrans- 3'0 mitting to thebrakes. or other mechanism to. be controlled the. motion. imparted to the: handle. The. teeth of. rack sections 35will' be seentoxproject downwardly farther than those of rack section 36,. rack sections 35 being proportioned to 35* mesh with the. smaller gear sections 22 of the cluster gear, while rack section 36. is proportioned to mesh with the larger gear'section 23. The gear sections 22-23 are formed separately but site end of the dog movingaway from the pin 21 and the spring being compressed; the racks are then released and the gear cluster is free to roll, the backward pull of the load accordingly locks the rollers 38, 39 and these, through the gear cluster, prevent the rack from being pulled back by the load. Since the gear portions 22, 23 are of different diameters, and they are journaled in the cage, continued pull upon the handle, tending to pull the cage in the same direction, causes the gear cluster to roll along the racks. The reaction is taken by the rack 36 and clutch rollers. 38, 39, and due to the different' tooth spacing and diameter of the gear sections, rack sections 35 are forced to move in the same direction as the handle, at a greatly reduced speed and. with greatly multiplied force. This movement is of course effective to set the brake or other mechanism with great power, although such multiplied power is only made available when needed, that is, to actually set the brakes or mechanism, and the total travel of the handle is considerably less than is required when conventional levers or the like are used, since the multiplying action does not obtain throughout the entire travel of the handle, as it does with such conventional levers.

When the brakes have been fully set, they are held by the rollars 38, 39-, and the dog 25 is free to rise, and is urged-into the space between any rack teeth which may be aligned therewith. If none are so aligned, and the dog tooth cannot engage between any of the rack teeth, this will be seen to be of noconsequence.

When it is desired to release the brakes, a push upon the handle rocks the dog in the opposite direction, swinging its nearer end downwardly away from pin 26. The cage is then free to travel to the right, as viewed in Figure 1.

welded or otherwise secured together to turn The first rolling movement of the gear tends to as a unit.

Tapering top and bottom edges 42, 4.3 are pro- Vid'ed at-the rear of rack section 36, adjacent the top and bottom walls of the casing l0. Rollers free the brakes'or other controlled mechanism, while when the cage moves far enough so that its rearedges engage the rollers 38, 39, these rollers are thereby pushed away from the wedging 38, 39' are engaged with the inclined surfaces 42, surfaces 42 453; and the entire cage and rack 43,. respectively, and also normally held in wedging. engagement with the interior of the casing, by means of aspring. 40. The arrangement of these rollers. willbe seen. to be such. as toprevent assembly is thus free to slide all the way to the right.

In the somewhat modified construction shown in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, parts similar to those movement ofthe. rack 33 to. the right, as Viewed '50: already described have been given corresponding in Figure 1, while allow-ing. free movement of the rack to the left.. Clearance is provided between the other rack sections 35 and the rollers, whose action isthusv not. interfered with by the rack sections 35, although the rollers extend. the full '55, the controlled apparatus, by means of the openwidth of the-interior of the casing, and are slidable therein.

The operation of. the described apparatus is as follows: Assume that it. is. desired to apply the brakes or other mechanism,. which is effected by pulling upon the handle. I-fthere is clearance or slack tobe taken up, or the resistance of. the load isfor any other reason slight at the beginning, the spring 30 is. of sufficient strength to Which. are. thus simply pulled as a unit by the handle during the initial movement, the cage 23 traveling. with theracks, and the clutch rollers.

38, 3,9 sliding along the interior of the casing It... When the resistance of the. load increases 70 sufficiently, howevenas, for example, when all off the clearance in the brake rigging has been taken. up, and the shoes are beginning tov press against the drums, continued pull'upon the handle rocks the dog'25 about the pin 26, the ippo- T reference numerals, distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each. The central rack portion 35A will be seen to constitute, in this embodiment, the rack adapted to be secured to ing 31A formed in its rearwardly projecting extremity. The outer rack portions 36A do not project downwardly as far, and mesh with the larger gear portions 23A of the gear assembly, whose central portion designated 22A is in this embodiment the smaller.

The dog 25A is similarly operable by means of the rod [6A carryingthe handle I 5A. The rod in p this embodiment is formed of tubular sheet metal maintainthe dog in. engagement withboth racks,

and has spaced arms at its farther end embracing opposite sides of the dog, beneath which a pair of coiled'springs 30A are. trapped, one beneath each end' and bearing upwardly'thereagainst to maintain' such ends normally in engagement with pins 26A2.1A. The springs are positioned by upturned-earsv 45, and clutch pins 38A, 39A held by spring means 40A against. the tapered wedging surfaces at the rear end of rack assembly 36A. The operation of these and of the other parts of this embodiment, being similar to those already described, are believed to need no detailed redescription. By spacing the rack sections 36A which take the reaction forces in this manner, it will be seen that the rollers 38A, 39A are very positively maintained in transverse aligned relation.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, said support being of tubular form, a rack slidable therein, one-way hold means reacting upon said rack and support to oppose movement of the rack in one direction while permitting such movement in the other direction, another rack connected to the load and movable independently of the first mentioned rack, gearing journaled in the carrier and interconnecting said racks to constitute said power multiplying means, said lock-out means normally holding said racks and carrier together for unitary movement, the handle being connected to the look-out means, said lock-out means also being supported by and movable both with and independently of the carrier, spring means opposing independent movement of said lock-out means and normally maintaining the same in holding position with sufiicient force to enable movement of the carrier by effort applied to the lock-out means without moving the look-out means with relation to said carrier, said lock-out means being movable to released position upon application of suflicient power thereto through the handle when the resistance of the load is sufiicient to allow such force to overcome the spring means, portions being arranged to limit movement of the lock-out means with relation to the carrier, whereby when the holding means is released the carrier is movable by the handle to actuate said gearing and move one rack with relation. to the other and to said support at a different driving ratio.

2. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connectible to said carrier to move the same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-way holding means normally opposing movement of said rack in one direction, load-actuating means connected to and actuable by said gear and connectible to a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked position in which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative movement, said carrier being movable by the handle with said dogging means either in locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the same rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load may be moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging is released, through said gear, rack and load-actuating means.

3. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connectible to said carrier to move the same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-way holding means normally opposing movement of said rack in one direction, load-actuating means connected to and actuable by said gear and connectible to a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked position in which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative movement between the gear, rack and carrier, said carrier being movable by the handle while said dogging means is in either locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the same rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load may be moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging means is released, the latter movement being effected through said gear, rack and load actuating means, including means yieldably opposing release of said dogging means, said handle being connected to said dogging means and the dogging means being releasable against the opposition of said spring means by exertion of sufficient pressure in either direction thereupon through said handle, movement of the carrier by the handle tending to rotate said gear when the dogging means is released, and exertion of sufficient pressure to release the dogging means depending upon the reaction resulting from the resistance of the load.

4. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connectible to said carrier to move the same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-way holding means normally opposing movement of said rack in one direction, load-actuating means connected to and actuable by said gear and connectible to a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked position in which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative move ment between the gear, rack and carrier, said carrier being movable by the handle while said dogging means is in either locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the same rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load may be moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging means is released, the latter movement being effected through said gear, rack and load actuating means, said support being of substantially rectilinear internally open form and said carrier comprises a cage slidablestherein,saidrack extending movably through said support and cage, said one-way holding means including. an anti-back element normally reacting against saidrack and support, said holding means being engageable and releasable by said carrier when the latter is moved in one direction by the handle, tothereby permit free travel of the rack and allow free movement of the load-actuating means and the load connected thereto.

5. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocablerelatively to said support and. connectible to said carrier to move the-same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-way holding means normally opposing movement of said rack in one direction, load-actuating means connected to and actuable by said gear and connectible to a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked position in which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative movement between the gear, rack and carrier, said carrier being movable by the handle while said dogging means is in either locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the same rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load maybe moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging means. is released, the latter movement being effected through said gear, rack and load actuating means, said support being of elongated and interiorly open construction and said carrier is slidable therein, said rack extending through said carrier and having one end projecting therefrom, said one-way holdmeans including an anti-backing element reacting against said end of the rack and against the support, an additional gear of diiferent dimensions actuable'by said first gear and rotatable as a unit therewith, said. load-actuating means comprising another rack meshing. with said last mentioned gear, said dogging means when locked forcing both racks to move as a unit with the carrier,

6. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support,

a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connectibleto said carrier to move the same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-Way holding means normally opposing movement-of said rack in. one

7 direction,load-actuating means connected to and actuable-by said gear and connectible to a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked positioniin which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative movement between the gear, rack and carrier, said carrier being movable by the handle while said doggingmeansisin either locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the same rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load may be moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging means is released, the latter movement being effected through said 'gear, rack and load actuating means, said support being: of elongated and interiorly open construction and saidcarrier is slidable therein, said rack extending' through said carrier and having one end projecting therefrom, said one-way holding means including an anti-backing element reacting against the rack and against the support, an additional gear of diiferent dimensions actuable by said first gear and rotatable as a unit therewith, said load-actuating means comprising another rack meshing with said last mentioned gear, said dogging means when locked forcing both racks to move as a unit with the carrier, said dogging means being releasable by exertion of sufficient force thereupon by the handle in either direction, and the force exertable upon the dogging means in one direction depending upon the resistance of the load.

'7. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connectible to said carrier to move the same, a gear journaled in said carrier, a rack along which said gear is rollable, said rack also being movable with relation to the support, one-way holding means normally opposing movement of said rack in one direction, load-actuating means connected to and actuable by said gear and connectible to' a load, to actuate the latter in response to movement of said gear, dogging means actuable by said handle to and from a locked position in which it prevents relative movement between the load actuating means and carrier and so prevents relative movement between the gear, rack and carrier, said carrier being movable by the handle while said dogging means is in either locked or released position, whereby the load may be moved directly by the handle and at the samev rate as the carrier, when said dogging means is locked, or the load may be moved in one direction at a different relative speed when said dogging means is released, the latter movement being eiTected through said gear, rack and load actuating means, said support being of elongated and interiorly open construction and said carrier is slidable therein, said rack extending through said carrier and having one end projecting therefrom, said one-way holding means including an anti-backing element reacting against the rack and against the support, an additional gear of different dimensions actuable by said first gear and rotatable as a unit therewith, said load-actuating means comprising. another rack meshing with said last'mentioned gear, said dogging means when locked forcing both racks to move as a unit with the carrier, said dogging means being releasable by exertion of sufficient force thereupon by the handle in either direction, and said one-way holding means being engageable and releasable by said carrier.

8. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, holding means normally preventing retrogradev movement of the load, at least a part of said lock-out means being incorporated in and also forming a part of said holding means.

9. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, holding means normally preventing unwanted retrograde movement of the load, at least a part of said lock-out means including a one-way clutch element also forming a part of said holding means, said carrier being movable with relation to the load when said lockout means is released, and means actuable by movement of the carrier with relation to the load for releasing said one-way clutch element.

10. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, said carrier is movable with relation to the load to operate said power multiplying means, said power multiplying means comprising a pair of racks, one connected to and movable with the load and the second movable independently of the load and the carrier, gear means carried by the carrier and meshing with both of and providing interconnection between said racks, said gear means and said two racks having differentiation tooth arrangements whereby movement of the gear means with relation to both racks tends to advance one rack with relation to the other, and reaction means preventing unwanted movement of the second mentioned rack.

11. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, said carrier is movable in the support with relation to the load, said power multiplying means comprising a pair of racks,

movable in the support substantially parallel to the carrier. one connected to and movable with the load and the second movable independently of the load and carrier, gear means carried by the carrier and meshing with both racks to provide geared connection therebetween, a gear portion meshing with one rack being of different diameter from a gear portion meshing with the other rack, whereby movement of the carrier with relation to both racks tends to advance one rack with relation to the other, said lock-out means comprising a holding element normally held against movement with relation to the carrier and held in but movable from a position in which it holds both racks against movement with relation to the carrier, said handle being connected to said holding element and movable independently of the carrier, to release said holding element and thereby to permit independent movement of said racks, said means responsive to changing resistance of the load comprising spring means yieldably opposing independent movement of said handle and holding element, and means normally opposing movement of said second mentioned rack in one direction.

12. Operating means for remotely located apparatus, comprising in combination with a support, a carrier movably supported thereby, a handle reciprocable relatively to said support and connected to said carrier to move the same, means including power multiplying means for connecting said carrier to a load, lock-out means normally preventing said power multiplying means from functioning and connecting said carrier and load at a different ratio, means responsive to changes in reactive forces resulting from load variations operative to release said lock-out means and thereby render said power multiplying means operative, to change the driving ratio between the handle and the load, said carrier is movable in the support with relation to the load, said power multiplying means comprising a pair of racks, movable in the support substantially parallel to the carrier, one connected to and movable with the load and the second movable independently of the load and carrier, gear means carried by the carrier and meshing with both racks to provide geared connection therebetween, the gear portion meshing with one rack being of different diameter from the gear portion meshing with the other rack, whereby movement of the carrier with relation to both racks tends to advance one rack with relation to the other, said lock-out means comprising a holding element normally held against movement with relation to the carrier and held in but movable from a position in which it holds both racks against movement with relation to the carrier, said handle being connected to said holding element and movable independently of the carrier to release said holding element and thereby to permit independent movement of said racks, said means responsive to changing resistance of the load comprising spring means yieldably opposing independent movement of said handle and holding element, one way restraining means normally opposing movement of said second mentioned rack in one direction, and means responsive to predetermined movement of said carrier with relation to said second mentioned rack to release said one way restraining means.

ALEXANDER OBERHOFFKEN.

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