US2393138A

US2393138A - Cord winder

Info

Publication number: US2393138A
Application number: US532999A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leon P Borkoski
Original assignee: Electrolux Corp
Current assignee: Electrolux Corp
Priority date: 1944-04-27
Filing date: 1944-04-27
Publication date: 1946-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1963-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1946.- p, BORKOSK. 2,393,138

. CORD WINDER Filed April 27, 1944 Patented Jan. 15,

CORD WINDER Leon 1. Borkoski, Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electroiux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of Delaware i Application April 27, 1944, Serial No. 532,999

. 11 Claims.

. My invention relates to a cord winder which may be used for winding up any flexible cord as, for instance, the electric cord of various household appliances such as vacuum cleaners.

In application Serial No. 529,440, filed April 4,

1944, by Arnold H. Beede, there is shown a cord winder of this nature Which is provided with a member sensitive to the direction of movement of the cord for controlling the application of a brake which, when applied, prevents rotation of the drum under the influence of the rewind spring. This member includes a washer of felt or other suitable material through which the cord runs, with suflicient friction to displace the washer in the direction of movement of the cord.

In accordance with the present invention, this felt washeris replaced by a preferably resiliently supported member in sliding engagement with a rotating portion of the reel, such as the surface of the brake drum, so as to be sensitive to the direction of such rotation. This member is so arranged as to be removed from engagement with the reel when the cord is being unwound to thereby entirely relieve frictional resistance to such unwinding and to reduce wear. Also, in the Beede device, any dirt or dust adhering to the cord as it is drawn into the-winder, is wiped ed and collected by the felt washer with the result that the frictional resistance between the washer and the cord may change as the former becomes fouled. In the present application, on the other" tary impulse, after which it remains released until the cord is completely wound on the reel, or until winding the cord is stopped by grasping it and pulling it out slightly. r

The latter. which serves as a mounting plate for certain parts of the apparatus, is shown chiefly broken away in order to reveal the mechanism of the cord winder. I

Rigidly secured to both the front and back walls is ashaft is on which is rotatably mounted a cord reel 20. Fixed to the reel is a brake drum 22. A spiral spring 24 has its inner end anchored to the stationary shaft it, while its outer end is secured to a rotating part of the reel, such as the inner surface of the'brake drum 22.

A cord 26 is adapted to be wound on the reel 28 and passes in and out of the casing ill through an opening 28 formed in the side wall M. This cord is provided with an enlargement at the outer end thereof which is ofgreater diameter than that of the opening 28. As shown, this enlargement consists of the usual electric plug connector 30.

An arcuatebrake arm 32 partially surrounds I the drum 22 and is restrained against rotation by means of a pin 34 which is carried by the front wall it, and which engages an elongated slot 36 formed in the arm near one end thereof, thus permitting sideways movement and pivoting of the arm. The arm carries a pair of

brake shoes

38 and 46 which are shown as separate elements 'pivotally mounted on the arm by means of pins 42 and 4t, respectively. However, pivotal movement between the shoes and the arm is not essential and hence. the shoes could be made integral with the arm. As is clearly shown in Fig. i, the

, centers of the brake shoes are disposed a little Further objects and advantages of my inven-- tion will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanving'drawing which forms a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the parts in a still" diflerent position.

Referring to the figures, reference character it designates generally a housing having a. back wall l2, a curved side wall l4, and a top wall I6.

more than 180 apart around the drum and the distance between the faces of the two shoes is slightly less than the diameter of the drum. A coil spring 46 is connected between the end of the arm 32 remote from the pin 34, and a stationary pin 48 carried by the front wall 16. This spring urges the right end of arm 32, as viewed in Fig.1, upwardly and hence tends to press the shoes 38 and against the surface of the brake drum Pivotally mounted on a pin 50 carried by the front wall 18 is abrake releasing arm 52 which is provided with a manually operable button or the like 54 which projects through an opening 56 in the side wall 14. A coil spring 58, is connected between the arm 52 and a pin 60 carried by the front wall. and tends to rotate the arm in a counter-clockwise direction, such rotation being limited by a stop 6| projecting from the front wall. The end of the arm 52 opposite from the button 54 is provided with a pin 62 to which is connected one end of a link 64. The opposite end of this link is formed with an elongated, slot 66 which embraces a pin 68 secured to the brake arm 32, the pin and slot providing a certain amount of lost motion between the arm and the link. A stop I is carried by the front wall l6 and is disposed so as to limit movement of the arm 32 under the action of the lever 52 and link 54..

A catch member 12 is pivotally mounted on a pin I4 carried by the front wall and is provided with a projection I6 which is adapted to engage a similar projection I8 formed on the end of the brake arm. An over-center spring 80 is connected between the catch I2 and a pin 82 carried by the front wall I6, the tension of the spring tending to draw the opposite ends thereof towards each other. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. l, the center of the pin I4 being to the right of the line connecting the ends of the spring 80, the spring tends to rotate the catch I2 in a counter-clockwise direction, which rotation is limited by means of a stop $8 carried by the front wall l6. However, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2 or 3, the center of the pin I4 is to the left of this line, and hence the spring 80 tends to rotate the catch in a clockwise direction. Catch I2 is provided with an extension 90 which is located so as to be struck by a projection 92 on link 64 when the latter is moved downwardly, to thus pivot the catch in a clockwise direction so as to engage the hooks I6 and i8.

Secured to the catch I2 is a resilient arm 94 of generally U shape; The free end of this arm carries a short cylindrical rod 98 which. in the position of the parts shownin Figs. 2 and 3, is

urged into frictional engagement with the drum 22 by the resiliency of the arm. However, in

the position of the parts shown in Fig. l, the member 96 is maintained out of contact with.

reel 20 serving to wind up the spring 24. When the outward pull on the cord is relieved, the spring 24 immediately starts to rewind it by rotating the reel in a counter-clockwise direction, but as above described, the spring 46 applies the shoe to to the drum and tendency of the drum to rotate, in a counter-clockwise direction further increases the braking effect.

When it is desired to wind up the cord, the button 5 is momentarily depressed. This pivots the lever 52 in a clockwise direction, thus moving the link 64 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fi 2. This movement of the link causes the upper end of the slot 66 therein to engage the pin 68 so as to move this end of the brake arm downwardly, thus completely removing the shoe 40 from contact with the brake drum. At the same time, the projection 92 on the link 6d strikes the projection 90 on the catch I2, thus pivoting the latter in a clockwise direction so as to engage the hooks .16 and I8. -'1"his pivoting is first resisted by the over-center spring 86, but is thereafter aided by the spring, which hence tends to maintain the hooks 'IB and I8 in engagement. Pivoting of the catch I2 also brings the friction member 96 into engagement with the drum 22 and rotation of this drum in a counter-clockwise direction as the cord is wound up. tends to move the member 52 in a counter-clockwise direction, the lost mospring 48 urges the right hand end of the brake arm 32 upwardly so as to move the shoe into frictional engagement with the drum. With the parts in this position, any tendency of the drum to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of the spring 24, tends to further lift the brake shoe 80, thus forcing it more tightly against the surface of the drum. The reaction tothis force is taken by the brake shoe 38, and thus this shoe is held in frictional engagement with the drum. Incidentally, the greater port on of the force which applies the shoes to the drum, thus is not transmitted to the shaft I8, but is carried by the brake arm 32.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l, the cord 26 may be unwound by grasping it and pulling it outwardly through the opening 28. This causes the reel 20, together with the'brake drum 22, to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation of the drum tends to move the shoe .40 downwardly and away from the drum, thus relieving the frictional engagement between this shoe and the drum, the tension of the spring 46 being light enough so that it is substantially overcome by the tendency of the shoe 40 to be moved downwardly by the rotation of the drum. Thus, the brake, when initially applied by the spring 46, is self-energizing in one direction, but is self-deenergizing in the opposite direction.

The cord may thus be pulled out to any desired extent, the accompanying rotation of the tion provided between the pin 68 and the slot 66 in the link 64 permitting this movement of the lever without moving the brake arm 32.

The brake is thus held in released position by the over-center spring 80. This disengages the hooks I6 and 18, thus permitting the spring 48 to move the brake shoe 40 into engagement with the drum. If the pull on the cord ceases, the

rewind spring 24 starts to rotate the reel and drum in a counter-clockwise direction, thus energizing the brake as above described.

It will be noted that, during unwinding of the.

cord, the friction member 96 is completely removed from contact with the brake drum so that it imposes no resistance to movement thereof.

Furthermore, it is entirely out of contact with the cord and consequently dirt adhering to the latter has no effect on the action of the direction sensitive member 96.

- While I have shown and described one more or means inoperative to thereby permit winding of the cord, and means sensitive to the direction of rotation of said reel for maintaining said bralre means inoperative during rotation in said direction and for rendering said brake means operativein response to rotation of the reel in the opposite direction.

2. In a cord winder, a reel, a cord, means for rotating the reel in a direction to wind the cord ment with said rotating portion during continued rotation in said opposite direction.

3. In a cord winder, a reel, a cord, means for rotating the reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, brake means operative for restraining rotation of said reel only in said direction, manually operable means for rendering said braking means inoperative to thereby permit winding of the cord, a member frictionally engageable witha rotating portion of saidreel'for maintaining a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member to said drum, a manually operable member for releasing said brake member from said drum, a catch member engageable with said brake member for maintaining the latter released from said drum, means responsive to operation of said manually operable member for engaging said catch member with said brake member, and means sensitive to rotation of said reel in a direction unwinding the cord for disengaging said catch member from said brake member to thereby permit said spring means to apply the brake member to said drum.

7 In a cord winder, a' reel, a cord, a spring for rotating thereel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a brake drum rotatable with said reel,

a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member to said drum, a manually operable member for releasing said brake member from said drum, a catch member engageable with said brake member for maintaining the latter released means sensitive to rotation of said reel in a direcsaid brake means inoperative during rotationin said direction, means responsive to operation of said manually operable means for moving said member into frictional engagement with said rotating portion, said member being responsive to an initial rotation in the opposite direction for rendering said brake means operative,.and means for maintaining said member out of frictional engagement with said rotating portion during condrum, a manually operable member for'rele'asing.

said brake member from said drum, catch means for maintaining said brake member released from said drum, and means sensitive to rotation of said to said drum.:

from said drum, means responsive to operation of said manually operable member 'for engaging said catch member with said brake member, and

tion winding the cord for maintaining said catch member-in engagement with said brake member and sensitive to rotation of said reel in the opposite direction for disengaging saidcatch meniher from said brake member to thereby permit said spring means to apply the, brake'member 1 8.. In a cord winder, a reel, a rotating the reel in a direction to wind the 'cord thereon, a brake drum rotatable with said reel,- a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member tosaid drum, a manually operablemember for releasing said brake member from reel in a direction unwinding the cord therefrom for releasing said catch means to thereby permit the first-mentioned means to apply said brake member to said drum.

5. In a cord winder, a reel, a cord, a spring for rotating the reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a brake drum rotatable with said reel, a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum for restraining rotation of said reel, means tending constantly to apply said member to said drum, a manually operable member. for releasing said brake member from said drum, catch means for maintaining said brake member released from said drum, a catch member engageable with said brake member for'maintaining the latter released from said drum, means responsive 'to operation of said manually operable member for engaging said catch member with said brake member,

means frictionally engageable with said I drum andsensitive to rotation of said reel in a directionwinding the cord for maintaining said catch member in engagement with said brake member and sensitive to initial rotation-of said reel in the opposite direction for disengaging said catch member from said brake member to thereby permit said spring means to apply the brake-mem- [her to said drum, and means for maintaining the last-mentioned means out of frictional engageq ment with said drum during continued rotation of the reel in said opposite direction.

drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member to said drum, a manually operable ing said catch means to thereby permit the flrstmember for releasing said brake member from 'said drum, a catch member engageable with said to initial rotation of said reel in a direction unwinding the cord for disengaging said catch member frmn said brake member to thereby permit cord, aspring for reel, a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member to said drum, a manually operable member for releasing said brake mem- 7 her from said drum, a catch member engageable with said brake member for maintaining the latter released from said drum, means responsive to operation of said manually operable member for engaging said catch member with said brake v member, a resilient arm carried by said catch member frictionally engageable with said drum and sensitive to rotation of said reel in a direction winding the cord for maintaining said catch member in engagement with said brake memberand sensitive to initial rotation of said reel in the opposite direction for disengaging said catch member from said brake member to thereby permit said spring means to apply the brake member to the drum, and means maintaining said resilient arm out of frictional engagement with said drum when said catch member is disengaged from said brake member.

11. In a cord winder, a reel, a cord, a spring for rotating the reel in a direction to wind the cord thereon, a brake drum rotatable with said reel, a brake member frictionally engageable with said drum, spring means constantly tending to apply said member to said drum, a manually 0perable lever, a bias spring acting on said lever,

link means providing a lost motion connection and sensitive to rotation of said reel in a dlrec-- tion winding the cord for maintaining said catch member in engagement with said brake member and sensitive to initial rotation of said reel in the opposite direction for disengaging said catch member from said brake member to thereby permit said spring means to apply the brake member to the drum, and means maintaining said resilient arm out of frictional engagement with said drum when said catch member is disengaged from said LEON P. BORKOSKI.