US2309214A - Roller device - Google Patents

Description

ROLLER DEVICE Filed Oct. 31, 1941 2 SheetsSheet l Jan. 26, 1943. c, REY 2,309,214

' ROLLER DEVICE Filed Oct. 51, 1941 N 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1943 -UNITED STATES PATENT orslcs ROLLER. DEVICE Charles J. Roy, Wellston, Mo.

Application October 31, 1941, Serial No. 417,393

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a roller device particularly adapted for use in connection with any article for which a firm support is required during use of the article or machine but which must be moved to different positions or locations from time to time.

An object of the present invention is to provide a roller device having castors and an easily operated mechanism for moving the castors into and out of service position so that the article or machine may be handled by a single operator regardless of size or weight.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be installed on articles or machines now in use, such as table power saws, washing machines, sheet metal shears, long tables and many other articles and machines, or may be readily built into such articles or machines during course of construction.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few simple strong and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a side elevation of a roller device constructed in accordance with the invention, shown in released position on a work table.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the work table and roller device, showing the roller device in operative or service position to permit the table to be rolled to a different location.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, i6 designates a table top and i designates the supporting legs of a table, used as an example of an article to which the roller device may be applied.

The roller device, in accordance with the invention, comprises levers I2 secured to the inner sides of the legs H by leaf hinges Hi, the ends oi the levers to which the hinges are secured being sloped as shown at M to permit the levers being swung upwardly toinclined released position, or to permit the levers being swung to the horizontal or operative position. Each lever is equipped on the bottom, near the hinged end, with a castor l5 which is adapted to engage the floor when the lever is in horizontal position and elevate the respective leg I i above the floor and thereafter support the weight of the table while the table is being rolled on the castors to a new location. In operative or service position the levers on the same end of the table are aligned and abut each other at the free ends, see Figure 2.

As best shown in Figure 4, a pair of guide bars It are secured to the legs I at the same end of the table and engage the sides of the levers l2 to prevent the lateral displacement of the levers and to guide the levers during rocking movement I thereof from the released position shown in Figure 1 to the operative position shown in Figure 2. Helical springs I! are secured at the upper ends to the legs I l and are secured at the lower ends to the levers l2 and normally support the levers in raised position.

A reinforcing frame and mechanism carrying member is secured to the legs I l and comprises longitudinally disposed braces l8 and transversely disposed braces l9, secured to the inner faces of the legs above the levers I2.

The two levers IE on the same end of the table are bridged by, and contact with, the head 20 of a plunger 2| when the levers are in raised position, see Figure 1. The plunger is substantially rectangular in cross section as shown at 22, see Figure 3, and is slidably fitted to move vertically in an opening of similar shape formed in a guide 23 which is secured to the outer face of the respective transversely disposed brace Hi. The springs I! normally held the plungers 2| in raised position to project above the guides 23 due to contact of the levers I2 with the heads 20 of the plungers, see Figure l.

A shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in openings 25 formed in the transversely disposed braces IS. The ends of the shaft project beyond the braces and are equipped with cam disks 2% which are secured eccentrically thereto. The cam disks are superposed above the plungers 2| and are spaced from the transversely disposed braces l9 by spacing washers 21, see Figure 4. A lever 28 is fixed to the shaft for rotating the shaft.

The lever 28 normally abuts the top ed e of one of the longitudinally disposed braces l8 and in this position of the lever the low side of each cam disk 26 is presented to the respective plunger. When the lever 28 is rotated through an arc of about 180 degrees from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 the high side of each cam disk will be presented to therespective plunger to move the plunger downwardly so that the plunger head rocks both respective levers l2 to service position for elevating the table above the floor on the castors I5.

A stop 29; see Figurel is secured to:the.inner face of one. of. the transversely disposed braces I9 and limits rocking movement of the lever to operative position.

Since the operation of these parts has been described as the description of the parts progress it is thought the invention will be fullyunder stood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A roller device comprising a pair of castorcarrying levers disposed between and hinged toth'elegs'of a table or other machine; springs.

connected" to the legs normally supporting the leversin raised position to dispose. the casters out'of'contact' With a floor, aframe on the legs above the levers, guides onv the frame, plungers mount'ed t'o-slide vertically in the guides having.

h'eads contacting-th'efreeends' of the: levers, a

shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, cams fixed to the shaft contacting with the upper ends of the plungers, a lever for turning the shaft to cause the cams to lower the plungers against the pull of the springs to swing the levers downward and dispose the castors below the legs, and guides fixed to the legs and engaging the levers to hold the levers against accidental lateral movement.

2-. A- structure as of claim 1 andiin-which the head of each plunger bridgesthefree ends'of the respective pair of castor carrying levers disposed on.-the legs of the same end of the table or machine as the plunger, and in which said springs constantly hold the levers in contact with the lower side of said head.

3. The structure as of claim 1 and in which the hinge of each lever is a leaf hinge having one leaf thereof secured to a sloped outer end of the corresponding lever to permit the lever to swing upward until the leaves of the hinge engageeach other.

4*..The structure as of claim 1 and in which.

said springs are: helical. springs. connected; to the legs and to the free endsof thelevers.

CHARLES J REY;

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