US2820369A - Intershaft drive - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1958 w. A. INGALLS INTERSHAFT DRIVE v INVENT0R. ,WILLIS A. INBALLB ill:

ATTDR'NEY Unite INTERSHAFT DRIVE Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,472

13 Claims. (Cl. 74-63) This invention relates to a mechanical drive for interconnecting for concomitant rotation a shaft and a sleeve shaft mounted internally and externally respectively of a stationary hollow supporting column.

In knitting machines for example, wherein a central hollow column or pedestal is employed for supporting the mechanism and a drive is required extending through the column as well as externally of the column, it has been the practice to employ spur gears in order to drive the inner shaft synchronously with the outer sleeve shaft. The present invention is directed toward providing a mechanism for completely eliminating such gearing and for providing a positive synchronous drive between the inner and outer shafts.

An object of the invention is to provide a drive between a central shaft located within a hollow column or pedestal and an external sleeve shaft around the column by employing projectable and retractable drive members or keys adapted to extend through an aperture in the pedestal or column, and which are cam shifted to effect a driving connection with the parts while projecting through the aperture.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. it is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through the drive;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a drive key.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a frame composed of frame members in the form of a stationary pedestal comprising a base 12 and an upstanding sleeve or column 14, the latter having an integral flange 16 rigidly secured to the base in any suitable manner, such as by screws 1%. The base 12 and the flange 16 provides an enlarged diameter housing beneath the flange in which is located the driving mechanism.

Extending upwardly through the stationary hollow column 14 is a drive shaft 20, which may be journalled in the column, and surrounding the column is a sleeve driven shaft 22, the lower end of which rests on a thrust bearing ring 24. The sleeve shaft 22 at its lower end, is threaded as at 26 into a drive plate 28, the drive plate being keyed to the hollow shaft 22 as desired. The shaft 22 has a shoulder 30 which is adapted to abut the plate 28 when the parts are securely screwed together. The plate 28 has a dependent outer annular skirt 32 in which there are provided a plurality of radial slots 34. It will be seen that the skirt overhangs the upper portion 40 of the pedestal base 12.

Within the base 12 and keyed to the shaft 20 is a drive Z,8Z,369 Patented Jan. 21, 1958 ice 2 disc 36, the upper face of which is provided with a plurality of radial slots 38 uniformly angularly spaced, the number of slots 38 corresponding to the number of slots 34 in the skirt 32. The upstanding portion 40 of the base 12 is cut away to provide an aperture as is indicated at 42 for an arc of approximately or more on one side. Within the radial slots 38 of the member 36 are slidably disposed a plurality of sliding keys 44.

Each of the keys is provided with a rectangular notch 46 for engagement with a cam whereby the keys may be projected radially or retracted as the shaft 20 and plate 36 rotate. On the under face of the flange 16 of the column 14 are secured earns 48 and 50. The cam 48 is adapted to extend into the notches 46 of the sliding keys while the cam 50 is adapted to engage the inner shoulder 52 of each of the keys.

As shown in Figure 2 it will be seen that certain of the keys such as 44' are in radially projected position whereby the keys enter the slots 34 of the skirt 32, such keys projecting through the opening 42 provided in the upper portion 40 of the pedestal base 12. The keys indicated at 44' are thus in driving relation whereas the remainder of the keys are in retracted position or partially retracted position. The inner surface 56 of the upper portion 40 of the base acts to retain the retracted keys id in retracted position until such keys are rotated to the region of the opening 42 whereupon snchkeys are cammed outwardly by the joint action of the cam surface 51 of the cam 50 and the cam surface 49 of the cam 48.

The keys are retracted as rotation continues by the inner cam surface 47 of the cam 48. The cams 5t and 48 may be of hardened material and secured to the under surface of the flange 16 by screws such as 66. The sliding keys will likewise be made of hardened material and be of sufficient thickness so as to eliminate any possibility of bending under load. The outer edges of the keys may be rounded as at 62 so as to facilitate their entrance into and out of the slots 34 of the skirt 32.

it will be seen from the above that as the shaft 2%) is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the keys as are sequentially projected and retracted by the cams 4S and 50 so as to lock the driving plate 36 to the slotted skirt 32 whereby a positive synchronous drive is effected between the shaft 20 and the hollow shaft 22. The load, as shown, is carried by three keys and it will be appreciated that by increasing the length of the opening 4-2 and increasing the arcuate length of the cams 4d and 50 that the number of keys active at any one time may be increased if desired. It will also be appreciated that the number of keys employed and their cross-section may be varied to suit the torque and load which it is desired to transmit.

in referring to the drawings the shaft 20 has been indicated as the driving shaft whereas the hollow shaft 22 has been indicated as the driven shaft. It will be appreciated that the hollow shaft 22 could be the driving shaft and the shaft 20 the driven shaft. It will be seen that by the construction shown that positive drive between the shaft 20 and the hollow shaft 22 is provided for without the use of gearing and that the angular velocities of the two shafts are positively held to be the same and that the possibility of back lash is substantially elimi nated.

While reference has been made to knitting machines, wherein the drive has application, it will be understood that the drive may be employed wherever internal and external shafts are arranged within and about a stationary hollow column or other hollow support or frame, or where two shafts cannot be directly coupled due to some barrier such as column 14, and base 12, and it is desired that the shafts rotate positively together.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an intershaft drive, in combination, a hollow pedestal base having a hollow column projecting therefrom, a shaft journalled within the column and projecting into the hollow base, a hollow shaft journalled around the column, and extending to the base, a disc mounted upon the shaft Within the base, a plate having a depending annular skirt affixed to the hollow shaft with the depending skirt overhanging a portion of said base and extending substantially to the plane of said disc, an arcuate aperture in the wall of said base lying substantially in the plane of said disc and skirt, said disc having a plurality of radial slots disposed in angular relation to one another around the disc, the angular circumferential spacing between slots being less than the angular arcuate length of said aperture, said skirt having slots corresponding to the slots in said disc, a plurality of keys, each slidably disposed in each of said disc slots, and cam means carried by the base and cooperating with said keys to project and retract said keys sequentially from a position within the base to a position projecting through said aperture into engagement with the slots in said skirt during an angular portion of the rotation of said keys less than the arcuate length of the aperture.

2. In an intershaft drive, in combination, a hollow pedestal base having an upstanding hollow column and flange mounted thereon, a shaft journalled within the column and projecting into the hollow base, a hollow shaft journalled around the column, and extending to the base, a disc mounted upon the shaft within the base, a plate having a depending annular skirt affixed to the hollow shaft with the depending skirt overhanging a portion of said base and extending substantially to the plane of said disc, an arcuate aperture in the wall of said base lying substantially in the plane of said disc and skirt, said disc having a plurality of radial slots in its upper face disposed in angular relation to one another around the disc, the angular circumferential spacing between slots being less than the angular arcuate length of said aperture, said skirt having slots corresponding to the slots in said circular plate, a plurality of keys, each slidably disposed in each of said disc slots and having a cam engaging notch in its upper edge, and cam means carried on the under face of the column flange and cooperating with the notches in said keys to project and retract said keys sequentially from a position within the base to a position projecting through said aperture into engagement with said skirt during an angular portion of the rotation of said keys less than the arcuate length of the aperture.

3. In an intershaft drive, in combination, a hollow pedestal base having an upstanding hollow column and flange mounted thereon, a shaft journalled within the column and projecting into the hollow base, a hollow shaft journalled around the column, and extending to the base, a disc mounted upon the shaft within the base, a plate having a depending annular skirt affixed to the hollow shaft with the depending skirt overhanging a portion of said base and extending substantially to the plane of said disc, an arcuate aperture in the wall of said base lying substantially in the plane of said disc and skirt, said disc having a plurality of radial slots in its upper face disposed in angular relation to one another around the disc, the angular circumferential spacing between slots being less than the angular arcuate length of said aperture, said skirt having slots corresponding to the slots in said disc, a plurality of keys, each slidably disposed in each of said disc slots and having a cam engaging notch in its upper edge, and cam means carried on the under face of said column flange, and in the angular sector of said aperture and cooperating with the notches of said keys to project and retract said keys sequentially from a position within the base to a position projecting through said aperture into engagement with said skirt during an angular portion of the rotation of said keys less than the arcuate length of the aperture.

4. Rotation transmitting mechanism for providing a drive between two concentric shafts, one located within a hollow stationary member, and the other journalled exterior of and around the hollow member, comprising in combination, a hollow relatively stationary member, a shaft supported for rotation within the member, a hollow shaft supported for rotation around the member, an arcuate aperture in the wall of the member, radially slidable keys carried by one of said shafts, and a plurality of radial key slots carried by the other, and means responsive to rotation of one of the members for sequentially projecting and retracting said keys into and through said aperture into engagement with the key slots of the other member, while the keys of said one member rotate through an angle less than and within the angular length of the arcuate aperture.

5. Rotation transmitting mechanism for providing a drive between coaxial shafts, separated by a barrier, comprising a barrier, a shaft supported for rotation with respect to the barrier on one side thereof, a second shaft supported for rotation coaxial in respect to said first shaft on the other side of said barrier, an aperture in the barrier disposed on an arc coaxial with the shafts, slidable keys carried by, one of said shafts, and a plurality of key slots carried by the other, and means responsive to rotation of one of the members for sequentially projecting and re tracting said keys into and through said aperture into engagement with the key slots of the other member, while the keys of said one member rotate through an angle less than and within the angular length of the arcuate aperture.

6. Rotation transmitting mechanism for providing a drive between two concentric shafts, one located within a hollow stationary member, and the other journalled exterior of and around the hollow member, comprising in combination, a hollow relatively stationary member, a shaft supported for rotation within the member, a hollow shaft supported for rotation around the member, an arcuate aperture in the wall of the member, radially slidable keys carried by one of said shafts, and a plurality of radial key slots carried by the other, and cam means coacting with the hollow stationary member and said keys and responsive to rotation of one of the members for sequentially projecting and retracting said keys into and through said aperture into engagement with the key slots of the other member, while the keys of said one member rotate through an angle less than and within the angular length of the arcuate aperture.

7. Rotation transmitting mechanism for providing a drive between coaxial shafts, separated by a barrier, comprising a barrier, a shaft supported for rotation with respect to the barrier on one side thereof, a second shaft supported for rotation coaxial in respect to said first shaft on the other side thereof, an aperture in the barrier eccentrio of the shaft axis, slidable means carried by one of said shafts, and a plurality of means complemental to said slidable means carried by the other, and means responsive to rotation of one of the members for sequentially projecting and retracting said slidable means into and through said aperture into engagement with the complemental means of the other member, while the slidable means of said one member rotate through an arc less than and within the arcuate length of the aperture.

8. An intershaft drive for two shafts separated by a frame member, comprising a frame, coaxial driving and driven shafts journalled in respect to said frame, a plurality of complemental means radially disposed from the axis of said shafts and mounted for rotation with said shafts, and disposed angularly with respect to one another about the axis of said shafts, each of said complemental means comprising two members adapted for intermittent engagement and disengagement therebetween for driving one shaft from the other at the same angular velocity, and means responsive to the rotation of one of said shafts for effecting engagement and disengagement of the members of each of said complemental means in sequence and at least once for each rotation of one of said shafts.

9. Rotation transmitting mechanism for providing a constant angular velocity drive between coaxial shafts separated by a barrier, comprising a barrier, coaxial driving and driven shafts journalled for rotation with respect to said barrier, on opposite sides thereof, a plurality of slidable means, carried by one of said shafts, and means complemental to said slidable means carried by the other, and adapted to be inter-engaged by sliding of the slidable means in an arcuate region radially disposed from the shaft axes, means responsive to rotation of one of said members for sequentially projecting and retracting each of said slidable means into and out of engagement with said complemental means of said other member during passage through a fixed arc of each complete rotation, and said barrier being in part disposed between said slidable means and complemental means at a region displaced from said are.

10. In a mechanism of the class set forth, a pair of coaxial shafts, one driving and the other driven, a driving member mounted on the driving shaft adjacent a driven member on the other, a plurality of slidable means radially disposed from the shaft axis and angularly disposed in respect to each other on one of said members, and complemental means adapted to be engaged by said slidable means on the other member, and means responsive to rotation of one of said shafts for sequentially projecting said slidable means into and out of active engagement with said complemental means during a fixed angular por tion of each complete rotation of said shafts, and support means having journals for each of said shafts and having a portion thereof disposed between said members angularly disposed from the active engagement region of said slidable means.

11. In a mechanism of the class set forth, a pair of coaxial shafts, one driving and the other driven, a driving member mounted on the driving shaft adjacent a driven member on the other, a plurality of slidable means radially disposed from the shaft axis and angularly disposed in respect to each other on one of said members, and complemental means adapted to be engaged by said slidable means on the other member, and means responsive to rotation of one of said shafts for sequentially projecting said slidable means into active engagement with said complemental means during a portion of each rotation, and effecting retraction of said slidable means from such engagement during a remainder portion of said rotation, and support means journalling both shafts.

12. In a mechanism of the class set forth, a pair of coaxial shafts, one driving and the other driven, a driving member mounted on the driving shaft adjacent a driven member on the other, a plurality of slidable means radially disposed from the shaft axis and angularly disposed in respect 0t each other on one of said members, and complemental means adapted to be engaged by said slidable means on the other member, and means responsive to rotation of one of said shafts for sequentially projecting said slidable means into active engagement with said complemental means during a portion of each rotation, and effecting retraction of said slidable means from such engagement during a remainder portion of said rotation, and support means journalling both shafts and having a portion thereof disposed between said members in the retraction region of said slidable means.

13. In a mechanism of the class described, a driving member and a driven member disposed adjacent one another and mounted for rotation on a common axis, a plurality of projectible and retractable means carried by one of said members disposed angularly with respect to each other and eccentric of the axis, and complementary means carried by the other of said members adapted to receive said members when projected, for driving one member from the other at constant angular velocity, and means responsive to rotation of one of said members for sequentially projecting and retracting said projectible means into and out of engagement with said complemental means during a fixed arc of each rotation of the members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 443,126 Van Wordragen Dec. 23, 1890 FOREIGN PATENTS 341,053 Germany Aug. 27, 1920 523,568 France Aug. 2, 1921

Images