US3144787A

US3144787A - Driving arrangements for toy devices and the like

Info

Publication number: US3144787A
Application number: US9857A
Authority: US
Inventors: Griessl Rudolf
Original assignee: MARKES AND CO KG
Current assignee: MARKES AND CO KG
Priority date: 1959-02-20
Filing date: 1960-02-19
Publication date: 1964-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-18

Description

Aug. 18, 1964 R GRIESSL DRIVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR TC JY DEVICES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 19, 1960 PUDOLF GR/ESSL 6y WSW United States Patent 2 Claims. (a. 74-665) The present invention relates to improvements in driving arrangements for toy devices, such as toy cranes, mechanical men and the like, and more particularly to a drive which is capable of bringing about and fully controlling a given number of functions with the help of a lesser number of driving motors.

In certain types of toys, the interesting feature resides in the performance of various functions which may but preferably should not be carried out in a predetermined sequence. For example, the functions performed by a toy crane may include advancing the crane, turning the housing of the crane, lifting or lowering the crane arm, and lifting or lowering the load-supporting cable.

In the presently known toy devices of this general character, the various functions may be brought about with the help of motors in one of the following ways: According to one method, each function is controlled by a separate motor which brings about the advantage that a selected function may be initiated and directly controlled independently of the other function or functions and also that, therefore, the toy device may simultaneously perform two or more entirely independent movements. On the other hand, such systems necessarily utilize a considerable number of motors which increases the initial and maintenance cost of a so constructed toy, particularly if the toy is operated by electric motors. In the above described example, the toy crane would utilize four separate motors.

According to another presently known method, two or more functions may be initiated and controlled by a single electric or other motor. In such instances, the motor is operatively coupled with and transmits rotation to suitable levers, gears, speed reducers and other motion transmitting and/ or transforming assemblies which initiate the respective functions in a given sequence. While such constructions obviously reduce the manufacturing cost because they utilize a lesser number of motors, the user must be satisfied with a more monotonous performance because he cannot change the sequence of various operations at his own but can only trigger a fixed sequence of movements, i.e. depending upon the connect-ion between the motor and the movable components of a toy device, the latter will execute two, three or more movements whose timing and sequence cannot be changed by the player.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a driving arrangement for toy devices of the type required to perform two or more movements which is constructed and assembled in such a way that a single motor may initiate two functions and may cause such functions to be carried out in any given sequence.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a driving arrangement of the just outlined characteristics in which a single motor may initiate two independent functions and may cause such functions to be carried out for any desired length of time.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a driving arrangement of the above described type which is of very simple construction, which is reliable in operation, which is of compact and space-saving design, and which may be put to a number of uses not only in various toy devices but for many other purposes wherever two functions must be performed independently of each other but not at the same time.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a driving arrangement which comprises a driving member connected to and rotatable in two opposing directions by a single driving motor, preferably an electric motor of the direct-current, reversible-polarity type, two driven members, and transmission means adapted to preferably automatically couple the one or the other driven member with the driving member in such a way that the first driven member remains idle when the motor rotates clockwise to drive the second driven member, and that the second driven member remains idle when the motor rotates in anticlockwise direction to rotate the first driven member.

For example, the transmission means for establishing a driving connection between the driving gear, which is normally fixed directly to the motor shaft, and the two driven shafts may comprise a simple or composite intermediate gear which is in constant mesh, or at least constantly in rotary-motion-receiving connection with the driving gear and which is mounted on a carrier member adapted to swing about an axis preferably coinciding with the axis of the driving gear. The intermediate gear is thus movable into mesh with the one or the other of two driven gears each of which is mounted on and preferably fixed for rotation with the respective driven shaft. The swingable member may reciprocate between the two stops which are disposed at the opposing sides of the carrier and which abut against the latter when the intermediate gear is in mesh with the one or the other driven gear.

When the improved driving arrangement is utilized in a toy device, e.g. a toy crane or the like, each driven shaft is preferably connected with a self-locking assembly which prevents unintentional rotation thereof in response to the gravitational force of parts operatively connected therewith. For example, if a driven shaft is connected'with and is utilized for lifting the arm of a toy crane, it may be coupled with a worm and a worm gear which prevent unintentional descent of the arm when the driven shaft is disconnected from the motor at a time when the crane arm is in partially or fully lifted position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of two specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a toy crane embodying the driving arrangement of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 is a similar front elevational view of a modified driving arrangement which comprises a swingable member adapted to alternately move an intermediate gear into mesh with the one or the other driven gear.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a driving motor 1 of the reversible type whose shaft 2 is coaxial and rigidly connected with a driving gear 3. The latter meshes with a first intermediate gear 9 which is rotatably mounted on a swingable member or carrier 10. This carrier is swingable about the axis of driving shaft 2 into and between two extreme positions in which it abouts against one of two spaced stops or arresting pins 9a, 9b. The stops 9a, 91) may be mounted directly on the housing of driving motor 1 and are disposed at the opposing sides of the carrier 10. The pivot axle 9c of the intermediate gear 9 carries a second intermediate gear 11 which meshes with the driven gear 6a or 6b depending upon whether the carrier 10 abuts against the stop or 9b, respectively. The driven gears 6a, 6b are coaxial and rigidly connected with the driven shafts 4a, 41), respectively, and are disw posed at the opposing sides of gear 11. The shaft 4a is coaxial and rigidly connected with a worm 12a which meshes with a worm wheel 13a connected with the drum 14a of a cable 15a, the latter being utilized to lift or lower the arm A of a toy crane which is shown in FIG. 1. The other driven shaft 4b is utilized for lifting or lowering a load L which is connected to a second cable 15b, the latter being anchored in a second cable drum 14b which is rotatable by a worm wheel 13b meshing with the worm 12b on the driven shaft 4b. The worm assemblies 12a, 13a and 12b, 13b constitute two self-locking devices which prevent the arm A and load L from unwinding the

cables

15a, 15b when the respective driven gears 6a, 6b are disconnected from the intermediate gear 11. For example, FIG. 2 shows that the carrier 10 abuts against the left-hand stop 9a whereby the gear 11 meshes with the driven gear 6:: and rotates the same in such direc tion as to wind the cable a onto the drum 14a and to thereby lift the crane arm A by pivoting it in clockwise direction about the pivot axle 16 (see FIG. 1). The driven gear 6b is disconnected from the gear 11 whereby the load L would normally cause the drum 14b to pay out the cable 15b were it not for the self-locking means 12b, 13b which prevents such rotation of the drum 14b.

By rotating the driving shaft 2 in clockwise or anticlockwise direction, and by moving the swingable carrier 10 into abutment with the stop 9a or 9b, each of driven shafts 4a, 4b may also be rotated in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. However, it is preferred to bring about swinging movements of the carrier 10 in a fully automatic way, e.g. merely by reversing the polarity of the motor 1; in such instances, releasable couplings may be provided between the worm wheels 13a, 13b and drums 14a, 14b respectively, which enable an operator to permit a descent by gravity of the crane arm A and load L when the respective driven shaft is disconnected from the gear 11. The friction between the driving shaft 2 and swingable carrier 10 is normally sufiicient to move the latter between and into abutment with the stops 9a, 9b when the direction of the motor 1 is reversed.

Referring now in greater detail to FIG. 1, the toy crane comprises a housing 17 for the motor 1 and other component parts of the driving arrangement shown in FIG. 2. The cable 15b is led over a pulley 18 at the upper end of crane arm A; the other cable 15a has its free end connected to a bracket 19 extending from the median portion of the crane arm. A second motor may be provided in the housing 17 for rolling the toy crane on its wheels 20 and for performing a further function, for example, for turn ing the base 21 about a vertical axis.

It will be seen that the driving arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 also comprises a driving member 3 which is rotatable in clockwise and anticlockwise directions; driven members 4a, 4b; and a transmission 6a, 6b and 9-11 which is adapted to automatically connect the driving member with the one or the other driven member in such a way that one driven member is rotated when the engagement between the other driven member and the driving member is discontinued, and vice versa.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A driving arrangement for alternately rotating two driven shafts comprising, in combination, a reversible electric motor having a driving shaft; a driving gear coaxially mounted on and rotatable by said shaft in clockwise and anticlockwise directions; a carrier swingably mounted on said driving shaft; intermediate gear means rotatably mounted on said carrier and meshing with said driving gear; a first and a second driven shaft disposed at the opposing sides of said carrier and each parallel with said driving shaft; a first and second driven gear coaxial with and drivingly connected to said first and second driven shaft, respectively, said carrier swingable into a first position in which said intermediate gear means meshes with said first driven gear, and into a second position in which said intermediate gear means meshes with said second driven gear whereby said intermediate gear means is adapted to rotate the first driven shaft when the carrier is in said first position and to rotate the second driven shaft when the carrier is in said second position; first selflocking means comprising a first worm coaxially connected with the first driven shaft and a first worm Wheel meshing with said first worm for holding the first driven shaft against rotation when said intermediate gear means is out of mesh with said first driven gear; and second selflocking means comprising a second worm coaxially connected with the second driven shaft and a second worm wheel meshing with said second worm for holding the second driven shaft against rotation when said intermediate gear means is out of mesh with the second driven gear.

2. In a toy, a driving arrangement for alternately rotating two driven shafts, said arrangement comprising, in combination, a reversible electric motor having a driving shaft; a driving gear coaxially mounted on and rotatable by said shaft in clockwise and anticlockwise directions; a swingable carrier on said driving shaft; intermediate gear means rotatably mounted on said carrier and meshing with said driving gear; a first and a second driven shaft disposed at the opposing sides of said carrier and each parallel with said driving shaft; a first and a second driven gear coaxial with and drivingly connected with said first and second driven shaft, respectively; first and second stop means for said carrier, said carrier swingable into a first position into abutment with said first stop means in which said intermediate gear means meshes with said first driven gear, and into a second position into abutment with said second stop means in which said intermediate gear means meshes with said second driven gear whereby said intermediate gear means is adapted to rotate the first driven shaft when the carrier is in said first position and to rotate the second driven shaft when the carrier is in said second position; first self-locking means comprising a first worm coaxially connected with the first driven shaft and a first worm wheel meshing with said first worm for holding the first driven shaft against rotation when said intermediate gear means is out of mesh with said first driven gear; and second self-locking means comprising a second worm coaxially connected with the second driven shaft and a second worm wheel meshing with said second worm for holding the second driven shaft against rotation when said intermediate gear means is out of mesh with the second driven gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,655 Isbell May 6, 1873 378,088 Foote Feb. 21, 1888 557,571 Fish et al Apr. 7, 1896 983,602 Caine Feb. 7, 1911 991,521 Maize May 9, 1911 1,504,237 Halverson Aug. 12, 1924 1,571,610 Tingley Feb. 2, 1926 1,801,139 Chalek Apr. 14, 1931 2,020,802 Saver Nov. 12, 1935 2,423,243 Lovely July 1, 1947 2,624,214 Arensberg Jan. 6, 1953 2,896,873 Mageoch July 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 894,343 Germany Oct. 26, 1953

Claims

1. A DRIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR ALTERNATELY ROTATING TWO DRIVEN SHAFTS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING A DRIVING SHAFT; A DRIVING GEAR COAXIALLY MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE BY SAID SHAFT IN CLOCKWISE AND ANTICLOCKWISE DIRECTIONS; A CARRIER SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON SAID DRIVING SHAFT; INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIER AND MESHING WITH SAID DRIVING GEAR; A FIRST AND A SECOND DRIVEN SHAFT DISPOSED AT THE OPPOSING SIDES OF SAID CARRIER AND EACH PARALLEL WITH SAID DRIVING SHAFT; A FIRST AND SECOND DRIVEN GEAR COAXIAL WITH AND DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND DRIVEN SHAFT, RESPECTIVELY, SAID CARRIER SWINGABLE INTO A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS MESHES WITH SAID FIRST DRIVEN GEAR, AND INTO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS MESHES WITH SAID SECOND DRIVEN GEAR WHEREBY SAID INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS IS ADAPTED TO ROTATE THE FIRST DRIVEN SHAFT WHEN THE CARRIER IS IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND TO ROTATE THE SECOND DRIVEN SHAFT WHEN THE CARRIER IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION; FIRST SELFLOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST WORM COAXIALLY CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST DRIVEN SHAFT AND A FIRST WORM WHEEL MESHING WITH SAID FIRST WORM FOR HOLDING THE FIRST DRIVEN SHAFT AGAINST ROTATION WHEN SAID INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS IS OUT OF MESH WITH SAID FIRST DRIVEN GEAR; AND SECOND SELFLOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A SECOND WORM COAXIALLY CONNECTED WITH THE SECOND DRIVEN SHAFT AND A SECOND WORM WHEEL MESHING WITH SAID SECOND WORM FOR HOLDING THE SECOND DRIVEN SHAFT AGAINST ROTATION WHEN SAID INTERMEDIATE GEAR MEANS IS OUT OF MESH WITH THE SECOND DRIVEN GEAR.