US2531971A - Adjustable locking device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1950 L. L. DEAL 2,531,971

ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3l, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet L l mw l* 1 vll/1111101111( ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1950 L. DEAL 2,531,971

ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIII INVENTR ZIM/5 117ml MMM ATTORNEY Nw. 28, 195o l.. L. EAL 2,531,971`

ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVICE Filed nec. 31, 194e s sheets-sneet s HTTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1950 ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVJICE.

Louis L. Deal, Rye, yN. Y., assigner -to Deal Slide- Lock Devices, Inc., vNew York, N. Y., acorporation 4,of New York Application December 31, 1946, :Serial No. 271-95393 13 claims.

"The 'present invention lrelates `to locking devices and more particularly "to a type of locking device which maybe referred '.to -as an adjustable slide `lock, .one example Iof which iis shown in Re-eissue Patent No. 20,327.

"The Ipresent lock embodies features and advantages .over the lock of said v11e-issue patent, and its iusemay fbe prefer-red in certain instances.

obiect 4of the .present invention is to provide a newand improved Slide lock.

vaAno'ther-obect oflthe invention .is -to provide a new-'and improved slide lock which may be readily adjusted to different positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new .and .improved slide Clock adapted `to be more securely iockedin ades'ired position.

.Stillenother ,object liis to provide a Anew and improved slide lock adapted :to Areadily operate along acurvedpath.

A lfurther obi-,iect is '.to provide la slide lock adapted to .minimize "the possibility Vof lost motion in -the lock.

`A Vs'tillxfurther .object is Lto Yprovide a new and improvedzengine.controlling :mechanism embodying the :present vslide ylock.

AOtherear-id -further objects of ythe invention will be .obvious upon Van understanding of ythe lillustrative embodiIner-itA about fito lbe described, or will be `indicated -in fthe appended claims, and various advantages vnot 'referred to :herein will occur 'to .one skilled in -the art upon `employment of the linven'tioni-n practice.

Apreferred Aembodiment of the invention has been chosen '-for lpurposes of illustration and description and shown fin y.the .accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

fEig. `1 is la `sectional -v-iew, partly broken away, showing a A-pi-"e'fer-red embodiment of `the invention;

F2 is `a View taken'along the :line .2 2 -of Fig. 1';

f-Fig. 53 is .a plan view showing the-slide lock illustrated -in Fig. 1;

Fig '4 is -ra A'plan View, partly broken away, lof the islide lock shown i-riFii-g. '3;

Fig. '5 vr'is-a View along lthe 'line-5 5 Vof Fig. '-1; Fig.`-'6 is a view along the line '6--6 of 3Fig. 1; Fig; 7=Iis a view along =Ithe'line -il -of Fig. 1; =Fig.ff8 iis an exploded Yperspective view illustrating-another lform of fthe invention;

'Fig. t) is la 'longitudinal sectional view showing the :parts fof1Eh`g.f8.in assembled relationship;

l'O t-isfia vsectional v`.view 'taken :along .the 'line lib-1201er Fig. `9;

Fig. 11 .a View showing the invention .einbodied with one-form vof controlling .'means;

:Fig :1;2 isa sectional view .along the line i12-L2 of Eig. .1.1.;

Figs, 13a-nd `13a Aare exploded perspective .views showing details o f slide locks which Ymay be embodied in the controlling means of Rigs. 11 and 12;

nig. 51,4 .is a sectional-view, partly broken away, showing :a modified form of the invention;

Fig. Z15 is a :sectional l.view illustrating .the vention .embodied in `a lock adapted 'to travel in a curved path;

Fig. lo Yis a 'View .along the fline :I6-L6 of Fig. 15);

Fig. 17 iis .a :view along Vthe "line Vl'I---H .of Fig. 1.5.; .and

Fig. .18 isaperspective -view illustrating a modi.- ed form .of locking member.

Referring more particularly to Figs. '1 tto ,7, thereis fshowna plate .-or ibase member 1| vhaving a lock.2 secured v:thereto The flock 2 is shown generally inoFig. v3, fand in Agreater detail `in the other gu-res.

A ,connecting member .or extension 4 at one end of the flock is adapted to be .attached to .a suitable .pa-rt `of ithe vmachine lor mechanism `'to be actuated, and :this .connecting imember lf4 may in fturn be .operated by..a lcontrol1ing extension `.i connected with.-the :member #l through the -intermed-iation =of ithe zlock 12. ,As will be hereinafter brought out in greater detail the controlling member i5 :is :adapted l'to tbe selectively .adjusted, by any suitable lever or `handle '1, to obtain an-ydesired setting .of Vthe connecting member .or Yextension .t `.and Athe .part vwhich may fbe connected with it; le. g., ;an .engine throttle, ffeed adustment or :the like. The'lock i2 .maintains the :adjusted .position of l.the extension 4 until-a new setting 'fis made by means .of the control lever or handle 1.

As shown binfligs. 1- fto '7, )the lock :comprises a casing, .channel or 4guidefli containing 4a plurality offzholding or `locking members, il, lil, and l2 adapted to nrmly. engage .with upstanding portions for walls |23 and lltwof Ltheguide -'8 :to secui-'ely retain thef'locking members in position. Themhannel 3 itself :may :be fxed :in anysuitable position, depending 4upon the .particular .use ito be a-made .of zit, iby screws .or ybolts `Hi extending through apertures at v.the bottom of the channel Sand into `the plate 2|.. l

:iD-he iholding or locking amembers are provided with inclined surfacesY ma, Mb, il2a, :and i|2b adapted to facilitate lateral or transverse movement of the members into contact with the walls I3 and I4 of the guideway 3, as will be hereinafter described in detail. For convenience the holding or locking members may be referred to as wedges and the locking of the members with the walls of the channel 8 may be termed a wedging action. In the preferred embodiment, the outermost locking members or wedges I and II are sho-wn with their inclined surfaces cooperating with or complementing the inclined surfaces of the intermediate or inner locking member I2; the complementary inclined or wedging surfaces facilitate lateral movement or spreading of the Wedge members into gripping engagement with the walls I3 and I4 of the channel member As the right wedge member and intermediate wedge member are pressed toward each other, their complementary inclined surfaces Ilia and I'Za in effect slide along each other and their side faces or edges move into engagement with the side walls I- and I4 of the channel member 8; a similar action occurs as the inclined faces lib and IED of the left and intermediate wedge member move toward each other. The tighter the wedges are pressed together or toward each other, the more firmly they grip or engage with the wall portions I3 and I il of the channel member and the more firmly they serve to maintain in position a mechanism with which the lock is connected. While any suitable angle may be used for the inclined faces of the Wedges, angles approximately those shown in the drawings have been found to perform satisfactorily in usage.

rThe wedge members I0, II and I2 may normally be urged or pulled toward each other to hold them in an adjusted position within the channel 8 by springs i8 located within recesses 25 of the intermediate wedge I2, the spring being connected with the right and left wedges by connecting members 2| having hook or tab p0rtions 22 at one end thereof and apertures 23 at the other ends thereof fitting over pins 25 carried by the outer wedge members. The springs I8 are held in compressed position by the connecting members 2l so as to normally pull the outer wedge members firmly against the intermediate member; this causes the inclined surfaces of the various members to slide along each other and the side surfaces of the Wedge members to grip against the wall portions of the channel or guide 8.

In order to facilitate lateral movement or spreading of the wedge members with respect to each other, to assist in conveying a strain or load to the guide 8, and to minimize any possibility of objectionable jamming, a thin flexible member or ribbon 26 may be secured adjacent the ends thereof to a wall of the guide with an intermediate portion thereof passing between the complementary inclined surfaces of the wedge members. The flexible member or ribbon 25 also minimizes the possibility of one or more of the wedge members being accidentally jarred or moved out of position. The lock may be utilized without the flexible member but its use is preferred since it contributes toward more satisfactory operation of the lock. A thin flexible ribbon of steel has proven quite satisfactory in actual use but a ribbon or cable made of any other suitable material may be used.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that a force applied inwardly in a longitudinal direction against either the right or left wedges i@ and iI tends to lock or secure the device more tightly in position within the guide 8. Likewise any force applied to the intermediate or central wedge member I2 in a longitudinal direction also tends to lock the device even more firmly in position. By suitably connecting the wedge members with the extension or connecting member il and the controlling extension 5, the slide lock may be utilized to retain the extension or connecting member l in any given position, and yet to have the slide lock readily adjustable to a new position by the controlling extension 5, In Figs. 1 to '7, the connecting member 4 is shown operatively connected with the intermediate wedge I2 by an overlying plate 28 and screw 2.... A force applied to the extension arm I tending to move it either to the right or to the left (Figs. 1 4) serves only to hold the extension d even more firmly in position within the channel due to the gripping action of the wedges with the side walls I3 and I4 of the guide 8.

The slide lock may be made movable along the guide B to obtain any desired setting or adjustment by connecting the outer wedges I0 and II, through bolts SI and 32, with a substantially U-shaped cover or plate member 34. member 34 is preferably provided with a pair of elongated apertures or slots 35 and 36 extending around the studs or bolts 3l and 32 secured to the outer wedge members IB and II. The dimensions and disposition of the slots is such that only their inner edges are adapted to contact with the sides of the bolts 3l and 32 so that as the controlling extension 5 is moved longitudinally toward either the right or left, as shown in Figs. l to 4, the effect is to create a pulling tendency on one of the outer wedges I0 or II. For example, assume the controlling extension 5 is moved to the right (Fig. 4). The inner contracting edge of slot 35 presses against the adjacent side of bolt 3l and pulls right wedge member i0 away from the flexible strip 26, thus tending to separate complementary inclined surfaces Ia and I2a of the right and intermediate wedges. The holding or gripping action between these two wedges is thus overcome and since the intermediate Wedge member I2 is connected by the member 2! with the left wedge, the tendencyv is to move the inclined surface I2b of the intermediate member away from complementary inclined surface IIb of the left wedge member.

The connecting member 2I causes intermediate wedge I2 to follow wedge I0 and left wedge II to follow wedge I2 when right wedge I is moved to the right. Thus the device is unlocked from gripping engagement with the side walls I3 and lll of guide member 8.

A similar action occurs as the controlling extension 5 is moved toward the left. In this instance the inner edge of the slot 3B contacts the side of the bolt 32 secured to the left wedge member, the left wedge member tends to move away from the complementary inclined surface IZb of the intermediate member, the opposite complementary surface I2a of the intermediate wedge member tends to move away from the co-operating inclined surface Illa of the right wedge member, and the lock is freed for ready movement toward the left. For convenience the controlling extension 5 may be connected to the lever or control arm l, pivotally secured by a bolt 3'! to the plate or mounting part I.

The plurality of co-operating wedge members, here shown as three in number, forms a compact slide lock and the complementary inclined surfaces give an improved wedging or gripping The plate aci-.ion between 'me sie-es of me wedgesana the walls of the 'guide "8. An 'enlargedlgripping surface is prev-idea Lbetween the Side sans 13 and i and vthe largefsurfa-ce larea presented `vbythe side edges of the wedge members. The utiliza# tion-oi an intermediate wedge member and lcon'- necti'ng the driven end Yoi ythe 'mechanism to it, provides a vconstruction embodying fa minimum fof backlash -or lost motion; the fintermediate wedge 1s locked tight in either dircltion by thefoutsid'e wedges so that it `immediz'ttely tends 'to resist `pressure Yin either direction.

Figs. 8, '9 I and =l0 illustrate -a `slide lock k'generally simi-lar to that illustrated yand described in con'- ncnon 'with Figs. 1 through -l1, 'but 'embodying certain l'other desirable ieatures. shown in the-se figures the sndeioek eqmpn'ses `rintermediatfewedge di), holdin-g membersdl v'and 42, respectively, and ajflexible v strip member "43 passin'gibetween the complementary Ainclined 'surfaces of therespective members. A locked/member has ya pin i5 jthereon "adapted tofit into an aperturegli in "tlie `intermediate wedge member anda throttle connection o r otherjmember 50 to beflocked in position may be vconnected witl'i the locked member by a suitable'threaded or other suitable connection 5 2. Each o the outwardly disposed'le'ft and right holding orwedge members 4l and "42 is 'adapted to be connected withfan unlocking or controlling membfer52 'through the intermediation ofpins 5'3 and '54 on :the latter whicniproject in to 'elongated apertures or slots .'and '5l of the outer ywedge members. f 'The outer w'edge menibersmay "benormally urged inwardly toward the intermediate wedge member im, totherebyfacilitate 'engagement with theside 'walls of a guided/ay, by springs '58 angd59 in recesses '5l Jand B2 ofthe'outer wedge members and Vretained within therfec'esses by tab portions or shoulders 5d andli adjacent the ends ofthe unlocking member 52. 'The unlocking vrr'ierriber '52 may 'be connected with afcon'tro'l rod or'ha'n'dle by ajsuitable vextension, 'flexible shaft or :othermeans 61. The lock shownin exploded relationship inFig. 8 is shown assembled withinatube-like guideway 68 in Fig. 9. AThe 'tubelike guid'eway 68 retains the parts together in assembled relationsnipjand the ends of thefle'xible member 43 mayextjend along the tube with tab Aportions or lugs "6'9 ,and Til projecting .around the ends of the 'tu'belike member '68 and secured thereto "sc as Ato retain "it in opera'- tive position .at all time s. Asbro'ught outin connection .wi'th Figs. 1 through 7, the locked member operatively connected with the `lintermediate wedg'emember is securely retained 'in asetfor adjusted position at au times. Adjustment 'or .theiock .to a newse'ttingmay readily be made 'by moving the controlling 'extension t1 longitudinally wim respect to v'the tube-'like member 6.8; as the 'controller member .61 moves the unlockingA member 1toward the .left (Figs. 8 land 9) thepinfor projection 5.3 presses 'against the left side ofthe elongrated slot A56 releases .thegr-ipping engagement with the tube :wa-11S' t0 .feiliiniefmoring the. .lock to a new position. v.the controlling extension El is pressed towardthe right the pin 54 on the unlocking member 552 presses against :the right side of the recess or .slot v51 .fin the `right wedge member 42 and pullstheentire slidelocl toward the Vright along through the Vtube-like 7member 168. In Figs. 11, 12 anais me f siidelock shown embodied in a controlling mechanismsuch as a aboutira thrtn'eeenoiof the type osent enaeetiii wit vthe control yof daireraift f fgines. Forms lof Sljde looks Whi'h may -be utilizd vwith throttle control are 'illustrated n Athe 'explo d perspective views `of Figs. 1 3 and r-Ihe vform illustrated in Fig. L1B :compri-ses' an intermediate wedge member "HQ outer wedge member l2 and l3 springmernbers or resilient means I'M and 15 adapted to -t 'into recesses 76 and Tl of the intermediate Wedge H5 and connecting links 13 and frs haii-ills, apertures adjacent one end vthereof'ad aptedto ftover :pins A80 and Blof the 'outer wedge members '12 and 13? 4and `hai/n n; tab'portions at the loppositejends thereof adapted' to j ijlt jinto the recesses 16 'and "Fl and over the ends of the Springs 'M *and iin suchfmannei as to 'urge'the 'three wedge members toward Aeach other. The forni illustrated in Fig. 13o, has the resilient 'members 'Maand 75a located within jref c'essesjTtfa and 11d provided at the outer ends of the iifolding 'or wedge members `12oI land "13d, Downwardly extending lend orabutment portions o ijthe saddle or cover member 82 may be used to retain 'tlies'prings Ma and 15u in operative posinon within the recesses. when assemmeo'witha gui'aeway me projections `om, 1cm 'and .ma .er the wedge member project outwardly 'through suitable Vapertures in the -cover member '8 2 'and the inwardly 'extending flanges oa 1.channel or guide member extend through 'me slot-s shown at opposite sides ol 'the cover member adjacent the portion .where Ythe'downwar'dly extending abutments join with the c over member.

The vgeneral constructions .are's'i'n'i'ilai1 to those previously described and they are adapted togt into ,and travel alonga similar guidew'ay i83 with a ilexiblelstrip v84 'being secured Ito the gu'ideway adjacent the ends thereof .and passing 'between the complementary or cooperating inclined sur'- faces .of the wedge vmer'nbers ITI, .72, 13"(Fig. ,1'3`) or 11a, 12u13@ (Fig. 13a).

The gui'deway .83 vmaybe)mounted in suitable operating position by screws, .bolts or .other suit"- able .means .to a mountingplated. A locked or controlling member'or lever` 88 may be A connected adjacent its lower end with /ajcarburetoramay b'e pivoted .intermediate its `.ends tothe mounting plate B6 by a pinor other means 85, and may have@ 510MB einem@ the vereren@ thereof litt-ing about@ pinor projection 9| of .the intermediate wedge member 'H Ihus the .pivoted lever or shaft- 88 is connected with the intermedie ate -holding'wedgefo thefslide lock so thatitfwill beretained in .secured position in a'manner similar to that previously described Preferably the locked lever 88 -is provided with an angled or ofiset portion 93, the reason Yf or whichwill be clear in vconnection with the description of the controlling handle 94.

jAlso mounted .on the same pivot or pin 89 which carries the vlocked lever 58 is the lower part of a controllingor unlocking lever Se that extends upwardlyirom the pivot and is `provided with widened portions at opposite sides thereof adjacenttheslide lock and with an laperture or recess 96 adjacent the slide 'lock into which may project the offsety upper `portion of 4the locked lever .88. Theupper partof the lever i!!! is shown with a-kno'b 9'5 to facilitate gripping.

Each :side of the youtwardly extending portion of the .controlling lever 9d "is shown with ka -cur'vedor arcuate surface '98 and S9 located intermediate mrojections H11., i192 or milza, '1026i oijthe outer wedges. 12,13 f or 12a, :13a ,;respectivel y. The springs 14, l5 or 14a. 15a and connecting links T8, 13, or 82 of Fig. 13a, serve to urge the projections toward the curved surfaces 98 and 99 of the controlling lever 94; it has been found that a satisfactory construction is one embodying a very slight amount of clearance or play between an inwardly facing surface of a projection IM, |92 or liHa, |i|2a and a curved surface 98 or 99 of the controlling lever.

rIhis construction insures secure retention of the slide lock and locked member 88 in a set position within the guideway 83 and yet facilitates ready adjustment to a new position upon movement of the controlling knob 95 and controlling lever 94 toward the left or right (Fig. 1l). As the controlling lever 94 is moved toward the left in Fig. l1 the curved surface S8 presses outwardly against the inner side of the projection ||l| or Hita and is effective to overcome the resilient effect of the slide lock springs, to permit movement of the entire lock toward the left; as the wedge member 'l2 or 12a. is thus moved toward the left the intermediate wedge member 1l or 'l la and right wedge member 'I3 or 13a follow along through the guideway 83. The locked lever 88 may thus be moved to a new setting. A similar action occurs as the knob 95 and unlocking lever 94 is moved toward the right.

A cover plate |35 may be secured over the operating parts of the throttle control by screws or bolts |86 and the levers 33 and 94 maybe maintained in operative position closely adjacent the slide lock by spacers or washers lill. An arcuate shaped cover plate |(|8 provided with a slot |219 may be fitted between the mounting plate 86 and cover plate |95 to minimize entry of foreign objects into the slide lock.

In Fig. 14 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, having one or more spring members and |I2 connecting an intermediate wedge with the right and left wedge members. This construction may be preferable in certain instances to the connecting members 2| and springs i8 described in connection with Figs. 1-7. The lock of the form shown in Fig. 14 may be connected with a suitable connecting extension and controlling extension similarly to the embodiment of Fig. 1-7.

In Fig. l5 the slide lock is shown adapted to travel along an arcuate or curved path. A curved guide member i il! has therein outer wedge members H6 and Hl' and an intermediate wedge member H8 having curved outer sidesY adapted to move firmyl into frictional engagement with the side walls ||9 and |23 of the guide channel H4. A flexible strip |22 is shown passing between the complementary surfaces of the wedge members and secured adjacent the ends thereof to a siee wall of the guide member. The right and left wedge members H6 and are provided with pins |23 and |24 to which are secured the ends of resilient members or springs |25 effective to normally urge the outer wedge members toward the intermediate wedge; the opposite ends of the springs |25 are shown secured to projections |21 of an extension arm |28 pivotally secured by a bolt |38 to the plate |28 which is in turn adjustably connected with the intermediate wedge H8 by a screw or bolt |29.

One end of the extension arm |28 may be connected by a lever portion |3| with the mechanism to be held in position by the slide lock; the opposite portion |32 of the extension arm |28 preferably projects into an opening |315! of a control arm |35 which is pivoted adjacent its lower part by the bolt or screw |30 to the mounting plate |26. The control arm |35 has connected therewith laterally extending portions |31 and |38 having elongated apertures or slots is!) adjacent the outer ends thereof through which project the pins |23 and |24 of the outer wedge members H6 and As the controlling arm or extension |35 is moved toward the right or left (Fig. l5) the inner edges of the slots |40 press against the pins |23 or |24 of the right or left wedges, depending upon the direction in which the arm |35 is moved, and are effective to shift the slide lock wedges as a unit to a new desired position. Since the extension arm |28 is secured to the intermediate wedge I8, any force applied adjacent the lower part of the extension arm tending to move it out of an adjusted position serves only to clamp or engage the locking wedges more firmly in their set position. A cover plate 35! (Figs. 16 and 17) may be secured over the operating parts by bolts threaded into apertures ldl.

t will be understood that a locking device of the type described in connection with Figs. 1 through i3 may be utilized instead of the curved form of Figs. l5, 16 and 17. However the latter device offers certain advantages in some instances.

The wedging or locking members hereinabove described may be cut or formed from suitable bar stock, may be formed by casting operations, or they may be manufactured by securing together several thicknesses of sheet material to form a laminated wedge of the type illustrated in Fig. 18. The separate thicknesses or lamif. nations |62 of the wedge shown in Fig. 18 may be more readily stamped out by punch presses and thereafter secured together by spotwelding or by pinning them together through the apertures M3 formed during the stamping operations. Any type of wedge member performs satisfactorily in actual usage.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved slide lock which is adapted to securely maintain in adjusted posi- Y tion a mechanism with which it is operatively connected. While the slide lock holds a throttle, feed mechanism or the like, securely in a set position it may be readily adjusted to a new setting by a control rod or handle connected therewith. The slide lock of the present invention is of relatively simple construction, possesses few parts and is readily adapted to withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of radially spaced opposed curved walls forming a curved guideway, a plurality of members having complementary inclined end surfaces and having exterior surfaces shaped to conform substantially to the curvature of said radially spaced curved walls and slidable therealong, yieldable means normally urging said members together to thereby effect movement of said inclined surfaces with respect to each other and engagement of the members with curved portions of said guideway walls, and means for selectively positioning said members with respect to said guideway.

2. a deyiee ofthe class described, the combinationl of. a curved Vguideway, a` plurality of spect tosaidguideway.

3. In a device of the ,Class described, the @0mi bination. of a. guide comprising radially spaced opposed walls each having a substantially arcuate form and said walls forming an opening of uniform crossesection, a plurality of. members associatedA with` said guide4 having arcuate surfaces in engagement with one of said Walls and having inclined wedging surfaces, an additional member located in teriorlyv withrespcct to said first mentioned members having an arcuate surlf ace in engagement withanother of said walls and h aving inclined: we dg-ing surfaces facing toward and adapted to co-operate with thefnclined surfaces on. said first members, and means normally urging said members toward each other to effect engagement of the `members with portions ofV said. guide.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a channel having a substantially uniform effective width and radially spaced opposed walls of arcuate form, a plurality of members associated with said `guide having. inclined end surfaces and substantially arcuate: side portions movable tiene at gelistete-1s an additnnal member located interiorly with respect to said first mentioned members having inclined surfaces facing toward and adapted to co-operate with the inclined surfaces on said first members and also having a substantially arcuate side portion thereafter movable along an arcuate wall, and means normally urging said members toward each other to effect engagement of the members with arcuate wall portions of said guide.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guide having radially spaced opposed walls of substantially arcuate form, a plurality of members associated with said guide having inclined spreader surfaces and arcuate wall-engaging surfaces, an additional member located interiorly with respect to said first mentioned members having inclined spreader surfaces adapted to co-operate with the inclined surfaces on said rst members and having a wall engaging surface, means normally urging said members toward each other to effect lateral spreading and engagement of the arcuate surfaces of the members with arcuate portions of said guide walls, an arm operatively connected with said interiorly located member adapted to be retained in a set position by said device, and means operatively connected with said rst mentioned members for changing the position of said device and establishing a different setting of said arm.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular enclosing guide, a plurality of co-operating members enclosed within and movable through said guide having opposed inclined faces forming wedging surfaces, and having faces engageable with one wall of the tubular guide, an additional member having inclined faces forming wedging surfaces and'having a face engageable with. an opposite wall of the guide, a flexible member'operatively secured to the guidel at spaced points and extending rbe'- tween the inclined faces ofsaid members, yieldable means normally urging said members into engagement with the flexible member, and into engagement with opposite4 walls" of *thev tubular guide and means operatively connected with said members for releasing engagement with walls of the tubular guide and facilitating adjustment thereof.

7. In a device of the, class described, the combination of a guide. including spaced wall portions, a centralV wedge member having oppositely outwardly facing inclined. surfaces and a face slidable along one ofA said. wall portions, an elongate flexible member connected at spaced locations with said wall portion' along which the central wedge member is slidable and extending over said oppositely outwardly facinginclined surfaces, a plurality of wedge members having inwardly facing inclined surfaces adapted to press. the flexible member against the oppositely outwardly facing inclined: surfaces of said cen tral wedge memben' yieldable means normally urging said wedge members toward each other' to grip said flexible member betweenthe co-operating inclined surfaces,a member connected with said central. wedge` member against relative movement along the Yguide-away with respect thereto adapted to: bey retained in! an adjusted position, and means for selectively positioning the wedge members with respect to the guide.

8. In a device: of the class described, the com bination of a guide having substantially parallel wall portions, a central wedge member having outwardlyY facing inclined surfaces, a flexible member connected with the guide at spaced lo'- cations and extendingl over said inclined surfaces, al plurality of outwardly disposed wedge members'having inclined.` surfacesv adapted to press the flexible' memberagainst the outwardly facing "inclined surfaces of said central wedge member, yieldable means normally urging said wedge members toward each other to grip said flexible member between the co-operating inclined surfaces, a pivotally mounted member connected with said central wedge member against end-play along the guide and normally `iixedly retained in anradjusted position, and a pivotally mounted member operatively connected with said outer wedge members for selectively positioning the wedge members with respect to the guide.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guide, a central wedge member having outwardly facing inclined Surfaces, a flexible member connected with the guide at spaced locations and extending over said inclined surfaces,

a plurality of outwardly disposed wedge mem-r bers having inclined surfaces adapted to press the flexible member against the inclined surfaces of said central wedge member, projections on said outer wedge members extending out of the plane thereof, yieldable means normally urging said wedge members toward each other to grip said flexible member between the co-operating inclined surfaces, a pivotally mounted -member connected with said central member adapted to be retained in an adjusted position, and a second pivotally mounted member having surfaces adapted to press against the projections of said outer wedge members in the general direction of movement of said second pivotally mounted member upon movement thereof to selectively position the wedge members with respect to the guide.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway including spaced wall portions, a plurality of spaced members in said guideway engageable with a wall thereof, each having an inclined spreader surf ace and provided with an outer end portion substantially filling the space between said wall portions, an additional member in said guideway intermediate said spaced members engageable with a wall of said guideway and having inclined spreader surfaces adapted to complement said first mentioned inclined spreader surfaces with end portions thereof terminating intermediate the outermost ends of said spaced members, and yieldable means normally urging said members together to thereby effect engagement of the members with said wall portions of the guideway.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway, a plurality of wedging members engagable with said guideway having inclined spreader surfaces, an additional Wedging member intermediate two of said rst mentioned members having inclined spreader surfaces adapted to complement said first mentioned inclined spreader surfaces and having a surface engageable with said guideway, a flexible member connected with the guideway and extending between said inclined spreader surfaces, and means for shifting the position of said spreader surface members.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway having spaced walls, a plurality of outwardly disposed wedge members in said guideway having inclined surfaces, an additional wedge member in said guideway between said outer wedge members having inclined surfaces adapted to co-operate with the inclined surfaces of said outer wedge members to lock and unlock the members with walls of the guideway, a flexible member connected at spaced locations thereon with one of said guideway walls and extending between said co-operating inclined surfaces of the wedge members, and means for shifting the position of said wedge members along the guideway.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway including spaced wall portions, an inner member in said guideway slidable along one Wall thereof having inclined wedging surfaces thereon, an outer member in said guideway adjacent each end of said inner member slidable along another wall thereof each having an inclined wedging surface facing toward and co-operating with the inclined surfaces of said inner member to lock said members to walls of the guideway and each having an outermost end portion located beyond outermost end portions of said inner member, a exible member in said guideway connected at spaced locations with said wall along which the inner member is slidable and extending between said co-operating inclined surfaces of the inner and outer members, yieldable means urging said inner and outer members toward each other and against said exible member, and means for moving said inner and outer members along said exible member and said guideway.

LOUIS L. DEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 843,253 Barker Feb. 5, 1907 1,121,148 Stoughton Dec. 15, 1914 1,458,581 Kirby June 12, 1923 1,764,937 Bonal June 17, 1930 2,295,731 Groves Sept. 15, 1942 2,380,030 Deal July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 654,254 France Apr. 29, 1929

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