US2673472A

US2673472A - Variable speed mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2673472A
Application number: US166828A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick D Dickas; Ned R Logan
Original assignee: SIDNEY MACHINE TOOL Co
Current assignee: SIDNEY MACHINE TOOL Co
Priority date: 1950-06-08
Filing date: 1950-06-08
Publication date: 1954-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-30

Description

March 30, 1954 F. D. DlcKAs ET AL VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8, 1950 d m L .m

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March 30, 1954 F. D. DlcKAs l-:TAL 2,673,472

VRIABLEl SPEED MECHANISM Filed June 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 30, 1954 Filed June 8, 1950 F. D. DxcKAs ETAL VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 irme/vir March 30, 1954 F. D. DlcKAs ET AL 2,673,472

VARIABLE SPEED MEHANISM Filed June 8, 19504 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 `INVENTOR. Fringe/a a Wa/95 armen/5%- March 30, 1954 F. D. QICKAS ET AL 2,673,472

VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM v Filed June 8, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

I N- M inde/V47* Patented Mar. so, 1954 VARIABLE SPEED MECHANISM Frederick D. Dickas and Ned R. Logan, Sidney, Ohio, assgnors to The Sidney Machine Tool Company, Sidney, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 8, 1950, Serial No. 166,828

10 claims. 1

This invention relates to variable speed mechanisms and more particular to a mechanism ofthe type in which a combination of gears is movable into mesh with any one of a series of axially alined gears.

One object. of the invention is to provide such a mechanism with improved means for selectively meshing a single gear with any one of a series of axially alined gears.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism having simple and easily operated means for moving a single gear axially into line with a selected gear and then moving the same about a fixed axis into mesh with said selected gear.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which both movements may bel imparted to the gear by a'single operating device.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which the gear is moved transversely to its axis, during its alining movement, to a position adjacent to but spaced from the selected gear and is thereafter moved a further distance transversely to its axis to mesh the same with a selected gear.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide such a mechanism in which a single gear is prevented from engaging any gear of said series of gears unless it is accurately alined with the selected gear, and in which the gear is held against axial movement after it has been meshed with said selected gear.

Other objects of the invention may appear as the mechanism is described in detail.

In these drawings, Fig. l is a longitudinal section taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

1Eig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4---4V of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 isa rear elevation of the apparatus with the housing partly broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

In these drawings We haveV illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and have shown the same as designed primarily for use in a power operated lathe, but it is to be understood that the mechanism as a whole, as well as the several parts thereof, may take various forms and may be designed for use in machines of various kinds without departing from` the. spi-rit of. the invention.

In the particular embodiment here illustrated the mechanism is mounted in a gear box, or housing, IG, having end walls II and l2, a front wall I3, a rear wall Ill, and partitions I5 and I6. A shaft il is rotatably mounted in the housing in suitable bearings in the partitions I5 and i6. Mounted on this shaft is a series of gears I8. In the present embodiment of the invention these gears increase progressively in diameter from one end of the series to the other end thereof and constitute a cone gear unit. The several gears are rigidly secured to the shaft il' for rotation therewith. Power is delivered to the cone gear unit from a shaft I9 mounted in suitable bearings in the partitions i5 and I6 and in the end wall I2, and extending parallel with the shaft Il. This shaft is driven from an input shaft 20 mounted in bearings in the end wall l2 and the partition I5, having at its outer end means whereby it may be connected with a source of power, and having thereon, preferably between the end wall I2 and the partition I6, a small diameter gear, or pinion, 2 I and a larger gear 22. Mounted on the shaft IS is a gear unit comprising a large diameter gear 23 and a small diameter gear, or pinion, 24, the two gears being rigidly connected one with the other and being slidably mounted on the shaft I9 for movement lengthwise thereof to mesh the gear 23 with the pinion 2! or to mesh the pinion 24 with the gear 22. Thus the shaft I9 may be rotated at either of two speeds. The gear unit 22B-24 may be actuated in any suitable manner, as by means of a conventional shifting device 25, as shown in Fig. 4.

A gear 26 is mounted on the shaft I9, between the partitions I5 and IE, for movement lengthwise thereof and for rotation therewith. A gear 2l meshes with gear 26 and is supported for movement lengthwise of the shaft I9 to bring the same into line with a selected one of the gears I8 of the cone gear unit, and for substantially vertical movement into and out of mesh with the selected gear, and is preferably supported on the shaft I9 forpivotal movement about the axis thereof. It is here shown as rotatably mounted on a short shaft Sil, the ends of which are mounted on a supporting structure SI which is mounted on the shaft I9 for pivotal movement with relation thereto and for movement lengthwise thereof. Preferably the gear supporting structure is substantially U-shape in cross section and is provided with upright portions 32 in which the shaft 3u is mounted and these upright portions are provided adjacent the forward end of theA structure withaperturestoreceivethe shaftf i9 andpivotally support the structure thereon. The gear 26 is arranged between the upright portions 32 of the supporting structure and these portions are spaced apart such a distance that the gear 26 may rotate freely with relation thereto but is held against material axial movement with relation thereto. Thus the gear 26 moves with the gear supporting structure when the latter is moved lengthwise of the shaft I9. Means are provided, as will be hereinafter described, for moving the supporting structure and, therefore, the gears 23 and 21 lengthwise of the shaft I9 to move the gear 21 into line with a selected gear of the cone gear unit.

Means are also provided for moving the gear supporting structure 3| about its pivotal axis to move the gear 21 into and out of mesh with a selected gear of the cone gear unit. This means may be of any suitable character but preferably comprises a second supporting structure 33 pivotally mounted on the shaft I9. As here shown, the structure 33 is of a width slightly greater than the length of the cone gear unit and is provided at its forward end with upright portions 34 which are apertured to receive the shaft and are arranged close to, or in contact with, lthe bearings in the respective partitions l and I6 for the shaft E9 to hold the structure against axial movement with relation to the shaft. The gear supporting structure 3| and the gear 23 are mounted on the shaft I9 between the end portions 34 of the structure 33 and thus the gears 23 and 21 have longitudinal movement sufcient to permit the gear 21 to be moved into line with any gear or the cone gear unit. The rear portion of the structure 33 is arranged below, and forms a support for, the rear end of the gear supporting structure 3|, so that the gear supporting structure will be moved upwardly or downwardly about its pivotal axis by the movements of the second structure 33 about its axis. Preferably the second supporting structure 33 is provided at its rear end with means for raising or lowering the gear supporting structure 3| as the latter moves lengthwise of the shaft I9, thereby moving the gear 21 toward or from the cone gear unit as it moves lengthwise of the shaft 9. Thus the gear 21 is spaced substantially the same distance from each gear of the cone gear unit as it moves into line therewith, and only a relatively short vertical movement of the gear supporting structure is necessary to mesh the gear 21 with the selected gear of the cone gear unit. In the present instance this is accomplished by rigidly securing to the rear portion of the structure 33 an elongate member 35 having a cam surface on which the rear portion of the gear supporting unit is supported, the gear supporting unit being preferably provided with a roller 36 which engages the cam. As shown in Fig. 5 this cam member 35 is in the nature of an upright plate the upper edge of which is inclined upwardly toward the smallest gear of the cone gear unit and is provided in its upper edge with supporting surfaces, or seats, 31 in line with the respective gears of the cone gear unit to receive the roller and firmly support the gear 21 on the cam in line with the selected gear, so that the upward movement of the rear portion of the structure 33 will move the gear into mesh with the selected gear and will firmly retain the same in such mesh so long as the structure 33 is retained in its elevated position. ,The supporting structure 33 may be moved about its pivotal axis in any suitable manner, such as that hereinafter described.

Means are provided to insure the proper alinement of the gear 21 with a selected gear of the cone gear unit before it is moved into mesh therewith and thus prevent the gear 21 from engaging or clashing with any of the gears of the cone gear unit. This means preferably comprises a series of stops so arranged with relation to the gears of the cone gear unit that the movement of the gear 21 toward that unit will be interrupted if the gear 21 is not accurately alined with a selected gear of the cone gear unit. As best shown in Fig. 5, this device comprises a stop plate 38 rigidly mounted in the housing above the rear end of the gear supporting structure and is provided with a plurality of recesses 39 arranged in line with the respective gears of the cone gear unit and each adapted to receive a part carried by the gear supporting structure 3 I, such as a stud 40. Each recess 39 is of a width just slightly greater than the diameter of the stud 4G so that the stud may freely enter the same when properly alined therewith but will engage with the edge of the stop plate at one side or the other of the recess if the gear is improperly alined, thereby interrupting the movement of the gear 21 toward the cone gear unit. Each recess is of such a depth that the end of the stud 43 will engage the base of the recess when the gears have been properly meshed and will prevent upward pressure being exerted on the gear 2l while it is in mesh with a selected gear, and the narrow width of the recess will prevent any appreciable axial movement of the gear 21 while in mesh with a selected gear.

Power is transmitted from the cone gear unit to a shaft 4|, rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the partitions l5 and I6. Mounted on the shaft 4I for rotation therewith and for axial movement with relation thereto is a gear 42 which is adapted to mesh with an intermediate gear of the cone gear unit. Mounted on the shaft 4| on one side of the gear 42 is a gear 43 which is in permanent mesh with the smallest diameter gear I8 of the cone gear unit. This gear 43 is rotatable on the shaft 4|, is held against axial movement with relation thereto` and is provided at its inner end with clutch jaws 44 adapted to mesh with clutch jaws 45 on the adjacent side of the gear 42, when that gear is moved lengthwise of the shaft 4| toward the gear 43. This movement of the gear 42 into mesh with the gear 43 disconnects the gear 42 from the intermediate gear of the cone gear unit so that the gear 42 is connected with the cone gear unit only through the gear 43. Mounted on the shaft 4| on the other side of the gear 42 is a third gear 46 which is rotatable on the shaft and is held against axial movement with relation thereto and which is in permanent mesh with the largest diameter gear of the cone gear unit. This gear 46 is provided with clutch jaws 41 adapted for interengagement with clutch jaws 48 on the gear 42 when that gear is moved toward the gear 4S and out of mesh with the intermediate gear of the cone gear unit. Thus when the gear 42 is in its intermediate position, in mesh with the intermediate gear of the cone gear unit, the shaft 4| will be rotated by that intermediate cone gear, and the gears 43 and 43 will rotate freely on the shaft 4|. When either gear 43 or gear 46 is clutched to the gear 42 the gear 42 will be out of mesh with the cone gear unit and the shaft 4| will be driven by the cone gear with which one of the gears 43 or. 46 is in mesh. Any suitableA means may be provided for; sniffing.. the gear 4r and in the present" instance the hub ot the gear 42" i's provided with a conventionalv groove 4'9 to receive a shifting element such as that shown at 5t. The shifting element 5U is here shown as rigidly secured to asleeve 5I which is slidably mounted on a shaft 52`and is provided with means whereby it can be moved lengthwise of the shaft, such as the groove 53 to receive a shifting element.

One end of the shaft 4! extends beyond its bearing in partition l5 and' has securedk thereto a gear' 54 which meshes with a gear 55 rigidly secured to a tubular shaft 56. Splined ori-the shaft 55 is a clutch unit' including a clutch member 5'! which is movable into and out" of engagement with a complementary clutchv member' 58 on an output shaft 59 rotatably mounted in a bearing in the end wall I I and h'avingat its' outer end means whereby it may be connected with a device to be driven, as shown at tt. The clutch unit also includes a gear ti which, when the clutch membert has been disengaged from the clutch member 58', may be moved into mesh with a' gear 62 on a second output shaft' t3, mounted' in bearings in thev end wall I I and having means whereby it may be connected with a device to be driven.

Thus the power' is delivered from the input shaft 2d to the shaft I'9 at either of two speeds and is delivered from the shaft i9 to the cone gear unit at a speed determined by the selected cone gear with which the gear 2*! is meshed. Power is delivered from the conegear unit to the shaft il! at either of three speeds, depending upon which one of the three gears, t2, 43, or (l5, constitutes the driving connection between the cone gear unit and the shaft 4l, The power may be delivered from the shaft fr! at either of two speeds dependent upon which one of the two output shafts ed and 63' is connected with the shaft 4I As has been above stated, movement may be imparted to either of the two structures 3| and 33 in any suitable manner, but preferably selecting and actuating means are provided of such a c character that the movement of the gear supporting structure 3! lengthwise of the shaft I9 and its movement about the axis of that shaft may be controlled by a single actuating device.

in the particular construction here shown the front wall I3 of the housing is provided with a bearing B4 in which is rotatably mounted a sleeve t5, provided with a head 66 to limit the inward movement thereof. Rigidly secured to the inner end portion of the sleeve is a gear t?, which meshes with a toothed rack til which is rigidly secured to the upper end of an angular bracket 69 which is movable lengthwise of the shaft I e and is here shown as mounted on a rod 'lil and held against pivotal movement thereon. The rearwardly extending portion ofthe bracket 69 is provided with a slot l! into which extends a lug 72 secured to the gear supporting structure 3! and extending forwardly from the axis thereof. Thus the rotation of the sleeve t5 will move 'the bracket and the gear supporting structure lengthwise of the shaft i9. Slidably mounted in the sleeve te is a rod, or plunger, 'E3 the inner end of which projects rearwardly beyond the gear El and has secured thereto a supporting member, or yoke, i4, to the lower portion or which. the upper end of a link l5 is pivotally connected, the lower portion of the link being pivotally connected with a part 'E5 which is rigid with the structure 33 and extends forwardly beypndmthe. shaftl I9. A'ni operating, memben, or handle' l1 is pivotally mounted ona lug '18. extending forwardlyv from the forward end. of the sleeve $5' and spaced from the axis. of `the latter. The rear face' of the handle Ti is preferably recessed, as'shown' at' 'IlLlt'o receive the lug '18, and the' forward end of the plunger i3 extends into this recess. Theplunger is provided with a transverse slot 8U through which extends a pinv 8! mounted in .the side walls ofthe recess 79. Preferabl'y the sidewalls are provided with slots 8G, shown at Si?, to receive the ends of` the pin 8! and permit the handle to move with relation to the plunger as it' moves about its pivotal connection with the lug '18. Thus the movement of the handle about the axis of the sleeve will rotate the latter and move the gear supporting structure 3! lengthwise ofthe shaft I9, and the movement' of the handle about its pivotal connection with the sleeve will impart longitudinal movement to the plunger and move the structure 33 about the axis of the shaft I 9.

In Fig. 2 theactuating mechanism is shown in the position which it occupies when the gear 2T is in mesh with a selected gear of the cone gear unit. Whenthe gear 21 is not in mesh with any gear of the cone gear' unit, and the parts are in their normal positions, the handle 'll' will be in an upright position and the plunger i3 will project rearwardly beyond the rear end of the sleeve such a distance that the link 'l5 will be inclined rearwardly and upwardly and the forward portion 'I6 of the supportingt structure 33 will have moved upwardly and' the rear portion thereof f will be in its lowermost. position, as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and' the gear supporting structure 3|v will be supported on the structure 33 in its lowered position. With the parts in these positions the handle -T is actuated to rotate the sleeve and move the gear supporting structure 3! lengthwise ofthe shaft. I94 to a selected position and the handle is then moved outwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 2, to move the plunger 13' forwardlyV and thereby move the link I5 to a vertical position and by so doing move the supporting. structure 33 about itsf axis to move the rear portion thereof upwardly and thereby move the rear portion of the gear supporting structure 3|' upwardly and thus move y the gear 2'! into mesh with the selected gear calibrated to indicate to the operator the rate of movement to be imparted to the cone gear unit. Preferably the head 6B of the sleeve 65 is provided with a spring detent 85 to retain the sleeve in the position to which it has been adjusted. In the form here shown the dial is substantially semi-circular in form and is divided into a. plurality of segmental sections S5 and 81, and the severalsegmental sections t5 and 81 are divided intoV a plurality of radial sections 88', andv each segmental section is provided witha series of designations indicating the output speeds required for ai particular operation. ln the present instance the several divisions of the outer segmentalsections 8s are provided with designations which indicate to the operator the number of threads per inch to be out on a threaded work piece. The radial sections of the several. segmental sections 8'! are provided with designations to indicate the feed per Lich for each. rotation of the work piece. Thus the op- 7 e erator has only to rotate the pointer 'H into line with the radial series of dial segments which includes the designation of the particular work to be done, and then move the handle outwardly.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as many modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having fully shown and described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, means for moving said structure lengthwise of its said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a second structure mounted for pivotal movement about the last mentioned axis and Ahaving cam means for connecting the same with said gear supporting structure and moving the latter in a direction to mesh the gear thereon with said selected gear, and means for actuating said structures.

2. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, means for moving said structure lengthwise of its said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a second structure mounted for pivotal movement about the last mentioned axis, and having a part provided with projections thereon extending lengthwise of and spaced from said last mentioned axis to engage said gear supporting structure in all operative positions of the latter lengthwise of said last mentioned axis, said projections adapted to support the gear supporting structure, and means for actuating said second structure to move said gear supporting structure in a direction to mesh the gear thereon with said selected gear.

3. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said series of gears and spaced laterally therefrom, a gear supporting structure mounted on said shaft for movement lengthwise thereof and for movement about the axis thereof, a gear mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and connected with said structure for movement therewith lengthwise of said shaft, a second gear rotatably supported on said structure in spaced relation to said shaft and meshing with the first mentioned gear, and means for moving said structure lengthwise of said shaft to position said second gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a second structure pivotally supported on said shaft, held against movement lengthwise of said shaft and having an elongate part provided with support seats, said elongate part being parallel with and spaced from said shaft and extending beneath said gear supporting structure in all positions of the latter lengthwise of said shaft, and means for actuating said second structure to move said 8 gear supporting structure in a direction to mesh the gear thereon with said selected gear.

4. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said series of gears and spaced laterally therefrom, a gear supporting structure mounted on said shaft for movement lengthwise thereof and for movement about the axis thereof, a gear mounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith and connected with said structure for movement therewith lengthwise of said shaft, a second gear rotatably supported on said structure in spaced relation to said shaft and meshing with the first mentioned gear, a second structure pivotally supported on said shaft, held against movement lengthwise of said shaft and having an elongate part parallel with and spaced from said shaft and extending beneath said gear supporting structure in all positions of the latter lengthwise of said shaft, said elongate part being provided with support surfaces in line with the respective gear in the said series of gears, an actuating mechanism including a rotatable part and a longitudinally movaable part, means operated by said rotatable part for moving said gear supporting structure lengthwise of said shaft, means operated by said longitudinally movable part for moving said second structure and said gear supporting structure about the axis of said shaft, and means for successively actuating said parts.

5. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said series of gears and spaced laterally therefrom, a gear supporting structure mounted on said shaft for the movement lengthwise thereof and for movement about the axis thereof, a gear mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and connected with said structure for movement lengthwise of said shaft, a second gear rotatably supported on said structure in spaced relation to said shaft and meshing with the rst mentioned gear, a second structure pivotally supported on said shaft, held against movement lengthwise of said shaft and having a part spaced from said shaft and extending beneath said gear supporting structure in all positions of the latter lengthwise of said shaft, an actuating mechanism including a sleeve rotatable in a fixed bearing, an elongate member slidably mounted in said sleeve, a rack and gear connection between said sleeve and said gear supporting structure for moving the latter lengthwise of said axis, said second structure having a part extending beyond said shaft toward said actuating device, a link connecting said part of said second structure with said elongate member and operable by the axial movement of the latter to move said second structure about the axis of said shaft, an operating member connected with said sleeve on a transverse axis spaced from the axis of said sleeve to rotate the latter and connected with said elongate member at a point spaced from said transverse axis, and movable about said transverce axis to impart axial movement to said elongate memberA 6. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears of progressively increasing diameters rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, means for moving said structure lengthwise of said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a cam member having supporting engagement with said structure to move the latter about its axis to a position determined by the movement of said structure lengthwise of its said axis, and means for thereafter imparting further movement to said structure to mesh the gear thereon with said selected gear.

7. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears of progressively increasing diameters rotatable about a common axis, a rotatable shaft extending lengthwise of said series of gears and spaced laterally therefrom, a gear supporting structure mounted on said shaft for movement lengthwise thereof and for movement about the axis thereof, a gear mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and connected with said structure for movement therewith lengthwise of said shaft, a second gear rotatably supported on said structure in spaced relation to said shaft and meshing with the rst mentioned gear, and means for moving said structure lengthwise of said shaft to position said second gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears and for then moving the same about said shaft to mesh said second gear with said selected gear, said means including a normally stationary elongate cam extending lengthwise of said last mentioned axis in supporting relation to said structure and having parts to move said structure about said last mentioned axis as it moves lengthwise thereof and to successively position said gear predetermined distances from the respective gears of said series of gears, and means for inparting transverse movement to said cam to impart further movement to said structure and thereby mesh the gear on the latter with said selected gear.

8. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears of progressively increasing diameters rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, means for moving said structure lengthwise of said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a second structure mounted for pivotal movement about the last mentioned axis, an elongate cam carried by said second structure and extending lengthwise of said last mentioned axis in supporting relation to said gear supporting structure, and having parts to support said gear supporting structure and said gear predetermined distances from the respective gears of said series of gears, and means for imparting pivotal movement to said second structure after said gear has been positioned in line with a selected gear of said series of gears and thereby mesh said alined gears.

9. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears of progressively increasing diameters rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, means for moving said structure lengthwise of said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears, a second structure mounted for pivotal movement about the last mentioned axis, an elongate cam carried by said second structure and extending lengthwise of said last mentioned axis in supporting relation to said gear supporting structure, said cams having parts spaced substantially uniform distances from the respective gears of said series of gears to positively support said gear supporting structure with said gear in line with and spaced from said selected gear, and means for actuating said second structure to impart further movement to said gear supporting structure and mesh the gear thereon with said selected gear.

10. In a variable speed mechanism, a series of gears rotatable about a common axis, a gear supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending lengthwise of and spaced laterally from said series of gears and for movement lengthwise of its said axis, a gear rotatably supported on said structure and movable therewith, and means for moving said structure lengthwise of its said axis to position said gear in line with a selected gear of said series of gears and for thereafter moving said structure about its said axis to mesh said gear with said selected gear, said means including a part rigidly connected with said gear supporting structure, a part having cam seats thereon coacting with said gear supporting structure and a stationary member having a plurality of parts arranged with relation to the respective gears of said series of gears to be engaged by said rigidly connected part of said supporting structure when the latter has been moved about its said axis to move the gear thereon into mesh with a gear of said series of gears and prevent any axial movement of the gear on said supporting structure.

FREDERICK D. DICKAS. NED R. LOGAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent France Apr. 14, 1939