US687650A

US687650A - Tachometer.

Info

Publication number: US687650A
Application number: US4162400A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin Place
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-12-31
Filing date: 1900-12-31
Publication date: 1901-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1918-11-26

Description

Nn. 687,650. Patented Nov. 26, 19m.

. E. PLACE.

TACHOMETEB.

(Application led Dec. 31, 1900.) (No Mudgl.) v 2 Sheets-Sheei I.

lll/111111 No. 687,650. Patented Nav., ze, mol.

E. PLACE. TAcHomETEa.

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77765505 s QM M; m

NITED STATES lUirnNT Fries.

EDWIN PLACE, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

TACHOMEEl-i.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere Patent ne. 687,650, dated November 2e, 19061.

Application filed December 31, 1900. Serial No. 41,624. (No model.)

To` all whom it may concern:

` Be it known that I, EDWIN PLACE, a citizen l of the nited States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tachometers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a par't of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several gures.

Figure l of the drawings is a view in front elevation, partly in section, of my improved tachometer. Fig. 2 is a View of the same, partly in central vertical section, on the broken line`2 2 in Fig. l, and partly in ele- Vation. Fig. 3 is a view infront elevation 'of the cylindrical gear-case. Fig. 4 is a view of the gear-rack and spindle broken away at both ends. the gear-case on the broken line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a view in front elevation of a broken-away portion of the tubular inclojsure for the gear-rack, showing the gear-case in front elevation. Fig. 8 is a detail view, part-ly in section, showing the stepped bearing for the inner end of the shaft for operating the centrifugal mechanism and connections between said shaft, centrifugal mechanism, and spindle operated thereby. Fig. 9 is a view of the same, partly in vertical `cross-section, on the broken line 9 9 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view in horizontal cross-sec,-

tion, taken on the broken line 10 10 in Fig.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of Referring to the drawings, the case of the instrument comprises two parts 1 and 2, one containing a chamber for the centrifugal mechanism and the other a chamber for the 'gear mechanism, which operates the index. The shaft 3 extends axially through the chamber formed by the inclosure 1, being provided with bearing-supports in the'end walls of the inclosure adapted to permit a rotative movement of said shaft, and the bearing-support for the inner end of said shaft being in the form of a stepped bearing, as shown at et, adapted to resist an inward thrust of said shaft. The outer end of said shaft projects through the end wall of the inclosure and is provided with an outer shaft member 5,capa ble of endwise movement thereupon, the coilspring 6 being interposed between said shaft members, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer member 5 is provided with an angularlypointed outer end 7, adapted to fit a similarlyformed recess in a rotating object, as in the end of a shaft, (not shown,) in the usual manner to cause the rotary movements of said object to be transmitted to the tachometer'shaft. By interposing the spring 6 between the shaft members I am able to force the pointed end of the outer member againstthe rotating object with considerable force without subjecting the stepped bearing at the inner end of the tachometer-shaft to undue friction and wear, such as to interfere withV the uniformity of its operation and the accuracy of the instrument. The inclosure 1 also contains the centrifugal mechanism, which comprises4 the spring-plate 8, having its ends secured at 9 to a boss 10, xed upon the shaft 3, and its middle portion bowed and provided with a slot 11, adapted to receive and fit and move upon the Vinner flattened portion 12 of the shaft 3.v The arms of the bowed spring-plate maybe provided with weights 13 in any known form. Rotary movements imparted to the shaft 3 will thus cause revoluble movements of said weights, and centrifugal force will cause the outward movement of said weights and a iattening movement of said bowed spring varying in accordance with the speed of the moving parts.

The centrifugal mechanism may be caused to operate an index in any known manner. I have shown a spindle 14, extending axially IOO of pins or rivets 18.

througha tubularinclosure 15, located within the inclosure 2, the lower end of said spindle projecting through a central aperture 16, formed in the step bearing-block 17, secured upon the upper end of the flattened portion of t-he shaft 3, which is preferably bifurcated, as shown, the bifurcate ends being secured in recesses in the bearing-block 17 by means The bearing-block 17 forms practically the end of the shaft 3, and the shaft is thus provided with an axial end aperture 16, and the transverse slot 19 between the bifurcate arms intersecting said axial aperture. The end of the spindle 14 which projects down through the central aperture 16 is provided with a transverse aperture 20, through which a wire link 21 is passed f and extended out through the transverse slot 19, having its ends introverted to embrace the side edges of the spring-plate, as shown in Fig. 9, thus connecting said plate and spindle without weakening the spring or interfering with the movement of either part. The spindle-shaft 3 and centrifugal mechanism are thus connected to rotate in unison, while the movements of the bowed portion of the spring due to variations in centrifugal force will cause reciprocating movements of the connected spindle 14, which may be caused to operate an index in any known manner.

The spindle 14 is preferably provided with an annular toothed gear-rack 31, adapted to operate the index by suitable gear connections. As a means for supporting such mechanism I provide a cylindrical gear-case 21, adapted to be inserted transversely through apertures in the cylindrical inclosure 15 and frictionally held therein. This gear-case is preferably provided with oppositely-located slots 22, which permit the cylinder to be compressed or contracted while being inserted in apertures in the inclosure 15, slightly smaller than the diameter of the gear-case, the resilient expansive force of the case-wall being sufficient to securely hold it in place. Said slots 22 are located diametrically opposite each other and permit the spindle 14 to pass diametrically through the gear-case. Portions of the gear-case wall are cut and bent inwardly to form bearing-

supports

23 and 24 for the inner ends of the axially-arranged index-shaft 25 and pinion-shaft 26, parallel with the axis of said case and eccentric thereto. Outer bearing-supports for said shafts 25 and 26 are formed in the I-plate 27, which extends transversely of the front end of the case and is frictionally held in slots 28, formed in the front end of the case-wall. The pinion 29 is fixed upon the shaft 26 in position to mesh with a pinion 30, fixed upon the index-shaft, and also to be engaged by a gear-rack 31, comprising a series of annular teeth on that portion of the spindle 14 which passes through the gear-case. The reciprocating movements of the spindle induced by its connection with the centrifugal mechanism will thus cause operation of the index 33,

fixed upon the shaft 25 and adapted to rotate in proximity to a dial 34, fixed upon the inclosure 2 and covered, if desired, by a glass 35.

By having the gear-rack 31 extend diametrically through the gear-case and the pinion 29 supported eccentrically in said case I am able by a slight rotary adjusting movement of the frictionally-held case to force the pinion 29 into more or less close mesh with the gear-rack to take up lost motion and compensate for wear, and this without disturbing the axial position of the index shaft. To permit of such rotaryadjusting movement of the gear-case, the slots 22 are made of a width somewhat greater than the diameter of the gearrack.

If desired, the spindle 14 may be provided with a piston 36, located in a cylindrical chamber 37, formed in the tubular inclosure 15 by the diaphragms 38, thereby forming a dashpot construction, which serves as a brake to prevent a too-sudden movement of the operating parts.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a shaft having a flattened portion; and means for rotatively supporting said shaft in operative connection with a rotating object; of centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaft and comprising in part a spring plate having its middle portion bowed and providedwith a slot adapted to receive and tit the flattened portion of said shaft and move thereon as the rotary speed of said shaft varies; and an indicator connected with said centrifugal mechanism.

2. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a shaft rotatively supported by bearings at or near its opposite ends and having in one end an axial aperture and near said end a transverse slot intersecting such axial aperture; and means for supporting said shaft in operative connection with a rotating object; of centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaft; an indicator; a spindle operatively connected with said indicator and having its end located within the apertured end of said shaft; and mechanism ex= tending through the transverse slot in said shaft and connecting said spindle with said centrifugal mechanism.-

3. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a shaft having a flattened portion, an axial aperture in one end and a transverse slot in its attened portion intersecting said axial aperture; means for rotatively supporting said shaft in operative connection with a rotating object; and centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaf t comprising in part a spring-plate having its middle portion bowed and provided with a slot adapted to receive and fit the flattened portion of said shaft and move thereon as the rotary speed of said shaft varies; an indicator; a spindle operatively connected with said indicator and having a transverselyapertured end located within IIO I 3ro the apertured end of said shaft; and a link passed through the transverse aperture in said spindle and slot in said shaft with its ends embracing the side edges of said springplate, substantially as described.

4. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a shaft having an axial end aperture; means for rotatively supporting said shaft in operative connection with a rotating obj ect; and centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaft; of an endWise-movable spindle having one end supported and reciprocatory in said apertured end of said shaft; said shaft and spindle being connected to rotate in unison; means for rotatively supporting the other end of said spindle; an indicator; and operative connections between said spindle and said indicator and centrifugal mechanism respectively, substantially as described. v

5. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a shaft having an axial end aperture; means for rotatively supporting said shaft in operative connection with a rotating object and centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaft; of a rotary andendwise-movable spindle provided with an annular toothed gear-rack and having one end rotatively reciprocatory in the apertured end of said shaft and connected to rotate therewith; means for rotatively supporting the other end of said spindle; an indicator; gear connections between said indicator and gear-rack; and operative connections between said spindle and centrifugal mechanism, substantially as described.

6. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with centrifugal mechanism; means for supporting the same in connection with a rotating object; and a gear-rack in operative connection with said centrifugal mechanism;

of a tubular inclosure and support for said gear-rack a tubular gear-case inserted transversely through apertures in said tubular inclosure and frictionally held therein; an index-shaft and gear connections between said shaft and gear-rack supported by said gearcase; and an index7 substantially as described.

7. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with an index-operating gear-rack; and a cylindrical inclosure therefor; of a slotted cylindrical gear-case inserted transversely through apertures in said cylindrical inclosure and frictionally held therein with said rack extending diametrically through its slotted portion; a pinion meshing with said gearn rack, and rotatively supported in said gearcase with its axis parallel with the axis of said case and eccentric thereto; an index; an index-supporting shaft axial to said case; and a pinion on said index-shaft meshing with said eccentric pinion, substantially as described.

8. In a tachometer, or the like, the combination with a rotary shaft adapted to connect with a rotating object; a supporting-case 3 and centrifugal mechanism connected with said shaft; of a spindle reciprocatory in suitable bearings and connected with said centrifugal mechanism to be reciprocated thereby; an index; connections between said index and reciprocatory spindle; a dash-pot cylinder inclosing said spindle and a piston on said spindle located within said cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of December, 1900.

EDWIN PLACE.

Witnesses:

H. W. DENNINGTON, DANIEL l?. I-IALTON.