US717901A - Mechanical movement. - Google Patents

Description

' PATENTBD JAN. 6, 1903.

J. 1). MoFARLAND, JR- MEGHANIGAL MOVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

' @z W J Z;

UNITED ST TES P TENT OFFICE.

JAMES I). MCFARLAND, JR., OF FRUITVALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN BRUCKMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

' SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 717,901, dated January 6. 1903.

Application filed June 16,1902- Serial No. 111,902. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. MCFARLAND, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Fruitvale, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Mechanical Movements for Explosive-Engines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates generally to a mechanical movement which is herein specifically applied to an engine of the four-cycle oscillating explosive type.

The invention consists, essentially, of three tracks or guides lying in the same general plane and extending in the same general die rection, a switch-arm pivoted to the central track and adapted to swing from side to side against one or the other of the outer tracks, arms pivoted on the latter and each arm connected with the switch on the opposite side thereof, whereby the oscillation of the arm in one direction acts positively to cause the switch to oscillate in the same direction, and a carriage reciprocable between said tracks and adapted on each reciprocation to engage one of said arms to operate the switch and cause the carriage on its return movement to travel upon another track.

It comprises details which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of an oscillatingcylinder engine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section transversely through the cylinder and switch-plate on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of Fig. 3 with the arm 17 omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the switch-plate on the line m, Fig. 4. i

A represents the frame of an oscillatingcylinder engine. The cylinder 2 is provided with the pivots 3 at its outer end, by which it is supported in the frame.

4 is a plate secured to the cylinder at a point adjacent to the pivot end. This plate carries the electrodes and 6, which extend through the cylinder into the combustionchamber. The electrode 5 is stationary and is in electrical connection with the engine, while the electrode 6 is rotatable and insulated andis connected with the battery. The

.contact by means of a spring 16.

9 is a plate having the slots ,l0 10 secured to the plate 4 and disposed in suitable relation to the electrodes. The slots 10 10" are separated fora portion of their length by the partition 11. A switch 12 is pivoted to the partition and is movable in the space at the end thereof and is adapted to swing from side to side against the .outer wall of one or the other of the slots. The

plate has a central wedge-shaped projection 13 in line with the switch, so that when the latter is alined with the partition 11 the partition, switch, and projection 13 will form a continuous division-wall between the slots. The pivot of the switch extends below the plate 9 and is provided with arms 14, which are adapted to be engaged to oscillate the switch. This oscillation is effected by means of the bell-crank levers 15, which are fulcrumed one on each side of the plate 9 and have one arm operating above the plate and the other arm curved and operating beneath the plate and each lever havingits lower arm engaging an arm 14 on the side opposite to which said lever is fulcrumed, so that the oscillation of the upper arm in one direction will cause the switch to turn in the same direction. Conversely, when the switch is turned in the opposite direction it will carry the same lever-arm back with it. The disposition and length of the upper lever-arms 15 15' are such that when-for example, as in Fig. t-the switch lies against the wall adjacent to the arm of 15 the arm of 15 will incline substantially parallel with the switch and will bridge over the rear end of slot 10 and will form a continuous line with the wall of the wedge .13 adjacent to the switch.

Upon the frame A and in suitable position to the above-described mechanism is a bracket or projecting arm 17, supporting a carriage which is reciprocable in the slots 10 10 with the oscillation of the cylinder and effects a contact with an arm 18 on every fourth oscillation to rotate the electrode 5 and cause the explosion. The carriage may consist of a block slidable on the arm 17, or, as I prefer, it may consist of a finger 19, pivoted to the arm, as at 20, having an oscillating movement at right angles to the plane of oscillation of the cylinder. By means of spring 21 the pivot-bolt 20 can be kept tight, so that the finger will always move against considerable resistance, which is desirable in operation, so that the finger may act properly in relation to the switch. The disposition of the parts is such that the finger will be at the switch end of the slots when the cylinder has reached the limit of oscillation in one direction, and the slots will be long enough to freely accommodate the finger during the complete oscillation of the cylinder in the other direction.

In operation assume that the operation of the cylinder has brought the finger 19 to the end of slot 10 and that the switch is in the position shown in Fig. 4. As the cylinder swings back the finger moves till it strikes the upper 1ever-arm 15 and straightens the latter out till itis parallel with the slot. This movement of the lever, however, causes the switch to turn; but its length is so proportioned that it does not interfere with the finger, but falls in behind the latter and rests against the outer wall of the slot 10 as the finger and cylinder reach the end of their movement, so that on the next oscillation of the cylinder the finger will be directed into slot 10. On the return of the finger into slot 10 a similar operation of the switch takes place to divert the finger, and the latter moves back and forth first in one slot and then in the other, however rapid may be the speed of the engine. Just as the switch turns into slot 10' behind the finger the latter engages the arm 18 to rock the electrode 5 and cause the spark. The impulse of explosion and the consequent movement of the piston and cylinder cause the finger to travel along the switch into slot 10. The return movement of the finger in slot 10 corresponds to the period of exhaust. The movement back into slot 10 corresponds to suction. The return movement in slot 10 corresponds to compressiou.

The mechanism thus described affords a simple positive automatic sparker for fourcycle engines of the oscillating type.

It is obvious that the same principle of an automatic switch and reciprocating carriage may be utilized and applied in a variety of ways not necessary here to mention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of three guide members disposed side by side, a switch pivoted to the intermediate member, and bell-crank levers fulcrumed one on each side of said central member, said bell-crank levers connected with the switch whereby the latter is oscillated in unison with said levers.

2. The combination of three guide or track members disposed side by side, a switch pivoted to the intermediate member, a lever-arm pivoted to each of the outer tracks and connections between said arms and the switch whereby the latter is turned to engage one or the other of the tracks according as a respective arm is moved to lie parallel with its track.

3. The combination of three guide or track members, a switch pivoted to the intermediate guide and adapted to be swung from side to side to engage one or the other of the outer guides, arms pivoted upon the latter, connections therebetween and the switch, and a movable part engaging said arms alternately to throw the switch.

4. The combination of a slotted guide-plate, a switch pivoted between the slots of said plate and adapted to swing from side to side and engage the outer walls of either of 'said slots, bell-crank levers disposed one on each side of said switch and each having one arm engaging the opposite side of the switch, the other arm of said levers extending into the path between said guides and a carriage movable between said guides.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES D. MCFARLAND, JR.

Witnesses:

S. H. Nouasn, H. F. DEXTER.

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