US3170563A - Power transmission mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1965 Filed May 7, 1963 s. PETERSON 3,170Q563 POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SEYMOUR PETERSON ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1965 s. PETERSON POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1963 rI:41I!I!ilrlllllllllrlllllllllldllla. III-in:

mn%w m m m p w M mm 5 Feb. 23, 1965 Filed May 7, 1963 s. PETERSON 3,170,563

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7 /7 INVENTOR. I Seguoun PETERSON AT TORNEYS United States Patent 4 3,170,563 Ice Patented Feb. 23,1965

3,170,563" POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Seymour Peterson, Dassel, Minn., assignor to Storm Industries, Inc, Based, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 7,1963, Ser. No. 278,627

3 Claims.- (Cl. 198-137) means.

More specifically, my invention envisions an endless power transmitting belt formed from spring steel or the like and entrained-over a plurality of guide wheels having relatively thin peripheral portions and under sufficient tension thereagainst' to impart a cross-sectional radius to said belt at their respective points of contact. With such an arrangement, I have found that the spring steel belt is retained in operative position on the guide wheels whenever the axis of rotation thereof is normal to the path of the belt. Consequently, by slight tilting of the axis of selected adjacent. guide wheels the belt, at chosen points along its path of travel, may be caused to incline or decline as desired.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described wherein means is provided for varying the tension of at least one of the guide wheels with respect to the belt so as to vary the tension exerted by all of the guide wheels on the belt.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein means is provided for tilting the axis of a selected one or more of the guide wheels. 7

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein one of the longitudinal edges of the belt is left free for mounting ofarticle-supporting platforms and has such platforms mounted thereon.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which incorporates a minimum of working parts and consequently may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described which is durable in use and relatively foolproof in its operation.

- .15 function of providing a continuous article-transporting The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters in dicate like parts throughout the several views: a

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a conveying system constructed in acordance with my invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen substantially from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 7-7 of FIG. 1, on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a further view in vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the belt shown in FIG. 1 showing conveying platforms attached thereto; and

FIG; 10 is a view in vertical section as seen from th line 10-10- of FIG. 9.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings,

the letter A indicates in its entirety a frame-like supporting structure upon which is mounted at spaced points therealong, a plurality of generally horizontally disposed rotary guide wheels 1. Each of the guide wheels 1 is mounted for rotation on generally vertically disposed shafts 2 suitably mounted in vertically spacedupper and lower bearings 3, 4. For a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, thebearings 3, 4. associated with at least one of the guide wheels 1, is so constructed to permit'tilting of the axis of the associated shaft 2. Specifically, and as shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 7, this is accomplished by means mounting the upper bearing 3 for lateral sliding adjustments in a direction transversely of the axis of its shaft 2. Thus, plate-like bearing mount 5, secured to web elements 6, is longitudinally slidably adjustable with respect to frame members 7 through the mediumrof nut-equipped locking bolts 8 which project through the bifurcated outer ends of the web elements 6 and through slots 9 defined by said frame elements 7, responsive to tightening and loosening movements of the nuts 10 on adjustment bolts 11. On the other hand, movement of the bearing plate 5 in the opposite direction is accomplished by tightening and loosening movements of the lock nut 12 on adjustment bolt 13, when the nuts associated with the clamping bolts 8 have been loosened, thereby causing said clamping bolts 8 to move within their respective bifurcations 14.

Entrained over the guide wheels 1 is an endless spring metal belt 15, the transverse width of which is relatively great as compared to the relatively thin peripheral portions 16 defined by the guide Wheels 1. As shown, the plane of each of the guide wheels 1 is generally parallel to the path of travel of belt 15, and is so positioned with respect thereto as to cause engagement of the peripheral portion 16 with the central portion of the belt 15 intermediate its longitudinal upper and lower edges 17, 18, respectively.

As shown, the guide wheel 1a is mounted for movable adjustments toward and away from engagement with the belt 15 whereby to vary the force exerted by all of the guide wheels 1 on said belt 15. Preferably, and as shown, this is accomplished through the medium of securing the wheel 1a to a sub-frame 19 which is superimposed upon the main frame A and is mounted for sliding movements with respect thereto by a jackscrew 20 and a travelling nut 21, the former carried by the main frame A and the latter by the sub-frame 19. To facilitate manual adjustment the screw 20 is provided with asprocket 22 over which is entrained a chain 23. Chain 23 is also entrained over a sprocket 24 fast on a rotary shaft 25 carried by the main frame A immediately below the subframe 19. Shaft 25 is provided at its outer end with a crank 26.

While I wish it to be understood that the means for imparting driving movements to the belt 15 may be through any given one of the guide wheels 1, or alternatively through independent means not shown, nevertheless such movement, as shown, is imparted to the belt 15 through conventional power transmission mechanism identified generally at 27, and connected to a source of power, not shown, through power input shaft 28.

With the novel combination and arrangement of parts above described, wherein the belt is caused to assume a cross-sectionally arcuate condition at each point of contact with'the guide wheel's 1 (similar to a crown pulley),

the relatively thin H peripheral portion. of each wheel tends to seek the transverse center of the belt 15, between the longitudinal edges 17, 18, even when the axis of rotation istilted slightly for the purpose of raising or lowering the beltat'any point along its path of travel. Consequently, the opposite edge portions 17, 18 of the belt 15 are left .free for mounting of article carrying platforms,

such as the platforms 29, secured to the upper longitudinal edge 17. Platforms 29 are in the nature of -egg'collec-' tion cups associated with the egg collection systenrsuch as shown in myPate'nt 3,042,184.

'My invention hassbeen thoroughlytested and found l to be completely satisfactory :fot the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have shownra preferred embodiment thereof; 1 wish it to be understood that same may be capable of modification Without departurerfrom V the scope and spiritof the What is claimed is: V

1. Power transmission mechanism .comprising:' (a) 'an endless relatively-widemetallic spring belt, (11') anda plurality of guide wheels mounted for rotation on axes generally, parallel to the plane of said appended claims.

belt andat longitudinally spaced points along the" path of travel defined-by said belt, a V (c) saidlguide wheels having axially relatively thin peripheral portions engaging the adjacent portion of said belt intcrmediatevits opposite side edges with sufiicie'nt force .to impart a cross-sectional radius thereto at said points; V

of travel defined by saidbelt;

peripheral portions engaging the ad acent portion of said belt intermediate its opposite side edges withi sulficient force to impart alcross sectional radius thereto at said points, 7

of said belt for suppor-tingand conveyingarticles. 3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which saidmeans comprises a plurality of longitudinallyi spaced article-H w supporting platforms carried by the upper portion of said belt. H a v References Cited by theExarninen V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,563

3/39 Warner "198184 2,334,959 .9/45 Pearson 198lO9 -X" 2,711,130 "6/55 Guettler l9 8 l67 X 2,855,094 10/5 Zebarth 4198-230 7 SAMUEL F. COL E MANQ PI imm'y Examiner.

ERNEST A; FALLER, JR., Examiner.

and at longitudinally 's'pacedpoints alongthe path (c) said guide wheels having axially: relatively '.thin

(d) and meanscarried by oneof the longitudinal edges

Claims (1)

1. POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) AN ENDLESS RELATIVELY WIDE METALLIC SPRING BELT, (B) AND A PLURALITY OF GUIDE WHEELS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AN AXES GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BELT AND AT LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS ALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL DEFINED BY SAID BELT. (C) SAID GUIDE WHEELS HAVING AXIALLY RELATIVELY THIN PERIPHERAL PORTIONS ENGAGING THE ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID BELT INTERMEDIATE ITS OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO IMPART A CROSS-SECTIONAL RADIUS THERETO AT SAID POINTS, (D) AND MEANS FOR TILTING THE AXIS OF ONE OF SAID GUIDE WHEELS WHEREBY TO VARY THE PLANE OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL DEFINED BY SAID BELT.

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