US3370556A - Mechanical counterbalance system - Google Patents
Mechanical counterbalance system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3370556A US3370556A US589445A US58944566A US3370556A US 3370556 A US3370556 A US 3370556A US 589445 A US589445 A US 589445A US 58944566 A US58944566 A US 58944566A US 3370556 A US3370556 A US 3370556A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- arm
- carriage
- movement
- frame
- pivot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
- A47B27/00—Drawing desks or tables; Carriers for drawing-boards
- A47B27/14—Adjustable underframes
Definitions
- a counterbalance system for a drafting table in which the table top is mounted for vertical movement relative to a supporting frame which includes an arm pivoted in the frame and operativelyconnected to the table top with spring means to urge the arm in table elevating direction and such spring means are connected to the frame and to a carriage slidably mounted on the arm and connected by a link to the frame so that movement of the table top and of the arm changes the position of the carriage and compensates the variation in the force of the spring as the table top moves vertically.
- the present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to mechanical counterbalance systems, and especially such systems intended for use as counterbalances for a drafting table.
- a particular example of a device requiring a mechanical counterbalance system is a drafting table in which the table top is mounted for vertical movement, so that the operator can quickly and easily adjust its height to suit himself, the counterbalance being operative to reduce the effective weight of the table top.
- Simple spring counterbalance arrangements that have been used hitherto usually have the disadvantage that the force supplied by the springs varies widely with the movement of the table top, due to changes in the spring elfort as they change in length.
- a mechanical system comprising a frame, an arm mounted on the frame for movement about a pivot, and means urging the said arm for movement about the pivot over a predetermined range of such movement with a compensated torque characteristic
- said urging means comprising a carriage mounted on the arm for radial movement towards and away from the pivot, biasing means connected between the frame and the carriage and urging the carriage and thereby the arm for said movement with a force that changes with the movement, and constraining means operatively connected between the frame and the carriage and constraining the carriage for the said radial movement upon said movement of the arm, such that the change of the radial distance of the carriage from the pivot compensates for the change of the force provided by the biasing means.
- FIGURE 1 is a general perspective view of the drafting table with parts thereof shown broken away as necessary for the operating mechanism to be seen, and
- FIGURES 2 and 3 are cross sections of respective details, taken respectively on the lines 22 and 33 of FIGURE 1.
- the drafting table illustrated herein comprises a table body 10 mounted on two spaced elongated parallel feet 11, the body supporting a table top 12 by means of an intervening leg support structure, which comprises two spaced leg assemblies 13.
- the arrangement is such that the table top can be raised or lowered relative to the body, (as indicated by the arrows 14), and can be tilted at different inclinations relative thereto, (as indicated by the arrows 15).
- the table top 12 can be of any conventional construction, and is rigidly secured to two supporting members 16 which are pivotally connected by a pivot pin 17, about a generally horizontal pivot axis, to a respective downwardly-extending leg member 18 of the associated assembly 13. Each member 16 is also pivotally connected by a pin 19 to a subsidiary leg member 2t), the axes of the pins 17 and 19 being parallel to one another, the member 20 being capable of telescoping motion within the associated main leg member 18 to permit the above-described tilting motion of the table top 12.
- Each leg assembly 13 is individually mounted for free vertical movement in the table body 10 between two pairs of grooved rollers 21, the two pairs being spaced vertically from one another, and the two rollers of each pair engaging opposite sides of the main leg member.
- the rollers 21 are mounted in two spaced parallel channel members 22, disposed with their mouths facing one another, the members 22 in turn being securely mounted in any suitable manner on the frame 23 of the table body.
- the frame 23 comprises rigid members connected in a box-like structure, to which decorative panels such as 24 are fastened, but other arrangements may be employed, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
- a chain 25 has one end fastened to the lower end of one main leg member (eg the left band member in FIGURE 1) passes vertically upward and over a sprocket 26 at the upper part of the frame, then horizontally and over another sprocket 27; the chain continues vertically downward, passes in a tight loop around a pin 28 mounted on an arm 29 close to one end thereof, and then passes vertically upward and over another sprocket 30, its other end being fastened to the lower end of the other leg member.
- the arm 2? is pivotally mounted at one end inthe table frame 23 by a horizontal pivot pin 31 for movement in the directions of the arrows 32, the arm extending transversely between the two leg members.
- the length of the arm is of course determined primarily by the maximum movement required at its free end to accommodate the maximum vertical movement of the leg assemblies 13.
- a carriage member 33 constituted by a short channel piece with its mouth opening downwards, embraces the arm and is mounted on the arm upper surface for movement longitudinally thereof by means of two spaced rollers 34, which are interposed between the arm upper surface and the base of the carriage channel.
- the carriage is constrained to move along the arm in the directions of the arrows 35, and over a predetermined range of movement, by a constraining arm 36 of predetermined length.
- the arm 36 is connected at its ends to predetermined points on the frame 23 and carriage member 33 by respective pivot pins 3 and 38v
- Means for urging the free end of the arm 29 downwards about the pivot 31, and thereby counterbalancing the weights of the table 12 and the leg assemblies 13, comprise a plurality of tension springs 39 (only four shown), each connected at one end to the carriage 33 and at the other end to another channel member 40, which is disposed with its mouth opening upwards.
- the channel member 40 is held securely against the urge of the springs by a screw-threaded bolt 41 passing freely through an aperture in a circular cross-section rod 42, the rod being engaged between bracket members 43 on the lower part of the table frame.
- the bolt also passes through the base of the channel member 40 and through a nut 41' that is held against rotation by its engagement with the side walls of the channel.
- the bolt 41 can rotate about the pivot provided by the rod 42, so that the channels 33 and 40 always face one another and the springs 39 are of minimum length.
- the tension of the springs 41 is readily adjusted by rotating the bolt 41, the head of the bolt being accessible at all times without removing any part of the table casing. Referring especially to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the loop of chain 25 about the pin 28 is held fixed by a bolt and nut fastening 44, which passes through opposed links of the chain and is also readily adjusted.
- a drafting table including a mechanical counterbalance system and comprising a frame, a drafting table leg assembly mounted by said frame for generally vertical movement with respect thereto, a table top mounted by said leg assembly for vertical movement relative to said 4 frame, an arm mounted on the frame formovement about a pivot, means urging the said arm for movement about the pivot over a predetermined range of such movement with a compensated torque characteristic, said urging means comprising a carriage mounted on the arm for radial movement towards and away from the pivot, biasing means connected between the frame and the carriage and urging the carriage and thereby the arm for said movement with a force that changes with the movement, and constraining means operatively connected between the frame and the carriage and constraining the carriage for the said radial movement upon said movement of the arm, such that the change of the radial distance of the carriage from the pivot compensates for the said change of the force provided by the biasing means, andmeans mechanically connecting said arm and said leg assembly whereby the weight of the leg assembly and the table top are counterbalanced by
- a drafting table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said carriage comprises a channel member embracing the arm, and bearing means interposed between the arm and the base of the channel.
- a drafting table as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said carriage comprises a channel member embracing the arm, and bearing means interposedbetween the arm and the base of the channel.
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- Tables And Desks Characterized By Structural Shape (AREA)
Description
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US589445A US3370556A (en) | 1966-10-25 | 1966-10-25 | Mechanical counterbalance system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US589445A US3370556A (en) | 1966-10-25 | 1966-10-25 | Mechanical counterbalance system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3370556A true US3370556A (en) | 1968-02-27 |
Family
ID=24358053
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US589445A Expired - Lifetime US3370556A (en) | 1966-10-25 | 1966-10-25 | Mechanical counterbalance system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3370556A (en) |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3638584A (en) * | 1969-05-21 | 1972-02-01 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Drafting table construction |
US3710735A (en) * | 1971-01-04 | 1973-01-16 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Table and elevation lock therefor |
FR2184499A2 (en) * | 1967-09-26 | 1973-12-28 | Alain Richard | |
US3807821A (en) * | 1972-07-26 | 1974-04-30 | Amf Inc | Dispenser |
US4130069A (en) * | 1976-11-24 | 1978-12-19 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Vertically-adjustable two-post drafting table |
US4351245A (en) * | 1980-09-04 | 1982-09-28 | Laporte Joseph L | Counterweight system |
US4360180A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1982-11-23 | Jeandal | Device for locking the drawing board of a drawing table assembly |
DE3240659A1 (en) * | 1981-11-12 | 1983-05-19 | C. & H. Leuthäußer Inh. Hilmar Leuthäußer, 8631 Wiesenfeld | Table, in particular drawing, writing or typing table |
US4605189A (en) * | 1983-09-07 | 1986-08-12 | Alpia S.A. | Anti-fail device for locking a drawing-board pillar against motion |
US4751884A (en) * | 1985-10-09 | 1988-06-21 | Hauseman, Inc. | Height adjustable work top |
US4898103A (en) * | 1987-06-16 | 1990-02-06 | Willy Fleischer | Desk construction |
US4926760A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1990-05-22 | Sack Allen J | Self leveling tables |
US5313892A (en) * | 1991-10-21 | 1994-05-24 | Tice William A | Table with height and tilt adjust |
US5687655A (en) * | 1996-04-18 | 1997-11-18 | Hon Industries Inc. | Adjustable height load bearing support structure |
US5722513A (en) * | 1995-06-20 | 1998-03-03 | Pentalift Equipment Corporation | Scissor lift |
US6220185B1 (en) * | 1998-04-07 | 2001-04-24 | Fleischer Büromöbelwerk GmbH & Co. KG | Table, in particular for video workstations |
US20040035336A1 (en) * | 2002-08-26 | 2004-02-26 | Coble Fred Whittaker | Elevating desk/work surface |
US10010169B2 (en) | 2011-04-02 | 2018-07-03 | Eric Arthur Grotenhuis | Computer work desk |
USD887190S1 (en) * | 2018-08-02 | 2020-06-16 | Hi-Max Innovation Co., Ltd. | Tiltable fixed base for table |
US20230160118A1 (en) * | 2021-02-16 | 2023-05-25 | Si Yang RYU | Sewing machine table |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1859456A (en) * | 1929-10-02 | 1932-05-24 | Nestler Richard | Drawing table |
US2560928A (en) * | 1946-06-15 | 1951-07-17 | American Mach & Foundry | Article storing and dispensing device |
US2710780A (en) * | 1953-01-05 | 1955-06-14 | Lawes Bros Ltd | Tiltable drawing table top counterbalance structure |
US2982050A (en) * | 1958-10-16 | 1961-05-02 | Mayline Co | Adjustable support for drafting table |
US3123024A (en) * | 1964-03-03 | Self-leveling devices | ||
US3140559A (en) * | 1961-07-31 | 1964-07-14 | Hamilton Mfg Co | Drafting table |
US3213809A (en) * | 1964-01-13 | 1965-10-26 | Mayline Co | Adjustable table and brake mechanism therefor |
US3273517A (en) * | 1964-02-12 | 1966-09-20 | Hamilton Mfg Co | Drafting table |
-
1966
- 1966-10-25 US US589445A patent/US3370556A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3123024A (en) * | 1964-03-03 | Self-leveling devices | ||
US1859456A (en) * | 1929-10-02 | 1932-05-24 | Nestler Richard | Drawing table |
US2560928A (en) * | 1946-06-15 | 1951-07-17 | American Mach & Foundry | Article storing and dispensing device |
US2710780A (en) * | 1953-01-05 | 1955-06-14 | Lawes Bros Ltd | Tiltable drawing table top counterbalance structure |
US2982050A (en) * | 1958-10-16 | 1961-05-02 | Mayline Co | Adjustable support for drafting table |
US3140559A (en) * | 1961-07-31 | 1964-07-14 | Hamilton Mfg Co | Drafting table |
US3213809A (en) * | 1964-01-13 | 1965-10-26 | Mayline Co | Adjustable table and brake mechanism therefor |
US3273517A (en) * | 1964-02-12 | 1966-09-20 | Hamilton Mfg Co | Drafting table |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2184499A2 (en) * | 1967-09-26 | 1973-12-28 | Alain Richard | |
US3638584A (en) * | 1969-05-21 | 1972-02-01 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Drafting table construction |
US3710735A (en) * | 1971-01-04 | 1973-01-16 | American Hospital Supply Corp | Table and elevation lock therefor |
US3807821A (en) * | 1972-07-26 | 1974-04-30 | Amf Inc | Dispenser |
US4130069A (en) * | 1976-11-24 | 1978-12-19 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Vertically-adjustable two-post drafting table |
US4360180A (en) * | 1979-02-12 | 1982-11-23 | Jeandal | Device for locking the drawing board of a drawing table assembly |
US4351245A (en) * | 1980-09-04 | 1982-09-28 | Laporte Joseph L | Counterweight system |
DE3240659A1 (en) * | 1981-11-12 | 1983-05-19 | C. & H. Leuthäußer Inh. Hilmar Leuthäußer, 8631 Wiesenfeld | Table, in particular drawing, writing or typing table |
US4605189A (en) * | 1983-09-07 | 1986-08-12 | Alpia S.A. | Anti-fail device for locking a drawing-board pillar against motion |
US4751884A (en) * | 1985-10-09 | 1988-06-21 | Hauseman, Inc. | Height adjustable work top |
US4898103A (en) * | 1987-06-16 | 1990-02-06 | Willy Fleischer | Desk construction |
US4926760A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1990-05-22 | Sack Allen J | Self leveling tables |
US5313892A (en) * | 1991-10-21 | 1994-05-24 | Tice William A | Table with height and tilt adjust |
US5722513A (en) * | 1995-06-20 | 1998-03-03 | Pentalift Equipment Corporation | Scissor lift |
US5687655A (en) * | 1996-04-18 | 1997-11-18 | Hon Industries Inc. | Adjustable height load bearing support structure |
US6220185B1 (en) * | 1998-04-07 | 2001-04-24 | Fleischer Büromöbelwerk GmbH & Co. KG | Table, in particular for video workstations |
US20040035336A1 (en) * | 2002-08-26 | 2004-02-26 | Coble Fred Whittaker | Elevating desk/work surface |
US10010169B2 (en) | 2011-04-02 | 2018-07-03 | Eric Arthur Grotenhuis | Computer work desk |
USD887190S1 (en) * | 2018-08-02 | 2020-06-16 | Hi-Max Innovation Co., Ltd. | Tiltable fixed base for table |
US20230160118A1 (en) * | 2021-02-16 | 2023-05-25 | Si Yang RYU | Sewing machine table |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SECURITY NATIONAL BANK, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A. THE; A NATIONAL BANKING Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 Owner name: CHEMICAL BANK, A BANKING INSTITUTION OF NY. Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 Owner name: CONTINENTAL ILLINOIS NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO., OF Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 Owner name: BANK OF CALIFORNIA N.A. THE; A NATIONAL BANKING AS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 Owner name: CHEMICAL BANK, A BANKING INSTITUTION OF, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KEUFFEL & ESSER COMPANY A.N.J. CORP;REEL/FRAME:003969/0808 Effective date: 19820323 |