US955709A - Speed-indicator. - Google Patents

Description

C. SPRATT L F. J. SHENTON.

SPEED INDICATOR.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1909. 955,709. Patented Apr.\19, 1910.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

v vll//l//f Y G. SPRATT & F. J. SHENTDN.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAB. s, 1909.

955,709, Patented A111219, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i i ing parts, than has heretofore been done.

. spring.

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oEEIoE.N

CHARLES SPRATT, OF NEW CROSS, AND FRANCIS JAMES SIIEN'LON, 0F THORNTON HEATH, ENGLAND.

SPEED-INDICATOR.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed March 8, 1909.` Serial No. 482,100.

England, electrical engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Speed-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to speed indicators especially adapted for use in connection with motor cycles, motor cars,and machinery in general.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and sensitive as w'ell as positive in action.

A still further object of the invention is to provide lan operating means for an indicator which will materially lessen the friction, and consequently the wear on the work- With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and i ointed out in the claims hereto appende it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departinoP from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages o the invention.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a front ele.- vation of the device. F ig` 2 is a vertical sectional View through the saine, showing some of the parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a top 'plan view of the centrifugal regulator.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a modified form of the sprin and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the preferable 'construction ofthe Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken through the sleeves and the operating rod. l i

The invention comprises a casing c, which is preferably tubular, and bent so that the opposite ends are arranged at right-angles j to each other. Arranged within and closing one end of the said casing is an end cap c1,`

j havin having an inwardly extending circumferential flange c2, which bears against the casing and is retained inthat position by means cf set-screws c3, or other suitable fastening means. The end cap c1 is provided wi h a central depending and integral sleeve c4 employed for a purpose hereinafter describe The invention further comprises a cover t,

which is provided. with 'a circumferential A flange t2. This ange is referably cut-out around its out-er edge to orm a seat, which is adapted to be positioned upon the oircumferential flange c2 of the 'end' cap 01 and thereby form a closed receptacle:` The cover is furthermore i provided with fa. 'c'en- `tral opening `t3 which is in alinement with the sleeve c4 of the end cap. Arrangedl t f within the ,said sleeve c4 is a rod or sha which is connected to a rotary or ijexible shaft g1 or other transmission mechanism, said mechanism being adapted to f'receive its motion from an rotating or moving part` of a machine. This -rod extends within the beforementioned receptacle for a short distance, and has a reduced end fsf around which is secured a suitable bearing disk f1 having a series of anti-friction ba s f2, or the like, arranged between it and the end cap c1. i v

The invention lwhich is provided with a central opening d1,

said disk bein spaced from the bearin disk f1 by -antiriction balls u and arranged above the same in such a manner that the reduced end f3 of the shaft f is arranged within the central opening d1, the opening` being of sufficient diameter to insure a free movement for the said disk df The upper surface h is dished for a purpose hereinafter described, and is provided at its outer upper edge with a circumferential cut-out portion d* adapted to form a seat `for an upstanding flange or wallI e. Arranged within the said wall e, and above the dished disk d, is a spider j which comprises a hub a plurality of spaced and radially exten ing legs y, the connecting portions 7'3 of the legs at the hub being curved. The up er surface of the spider 1s formed fiat, and vthe under surfaces of the legs are shaped to conform to the sha e of the dished disk d, as is clearly shown y reference to fiirther comprises a disk d Fig. 2 of the drawing. The spider is positively secured to the shaft by set screw z' which passes through the hub and into the reduced end f3 of the said shaft. Thus it 5 will be observed that the spider and the bearing disk are carried by and rotated by the shaft, and the dished disk d, carrying the wall c, is loosely mounted with respect to the said shaft. Resting on the up- ].0 per sur`ace of the disk Z and arranged between the radially extending legs is a plurality of balls 7c, each having a diameter slightly greater than the depth of the spider.

Arranged to lie upon the balls 7c, and withrin the circumferential wall e, is a flat disk Z, @preferably made of steel, although other suitable material can be employed, if desired. Secured to this disk at its center, is

an upwardly extending rod m which eX- tends through the central opening t3 of the cover t. This shaft extends above the said cover for some distance and is provided at its end with a rack-bar a. A sleeve g/ is arranged around the said shaft below the rack-bar and is integral with the said cover t. This sleeve is providedvnear its lower Y end with a longitudinal slot p, and an additional sleeve is arranged over the lower portion of the said sleeve, and is provided with a pin p1, adapted to engage the rod m, and operate in the said slot. The upper end of the sleeve y is provided with a shoulder y1. Below and bearing against the said shoulder is a plate 151, which is held in po-l sition by means of an adjustable collar v and set-screw el. Seated upon the upper i edge of the small or outer sleeve c is a spring 0. This spring is preferably formed as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, and is formed of a flat piece of spring metal shaped to -form a plurality of points. These points are curved upwardly and are adapted to bear against the underside of the plate tl. y A. modified form of the spring is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The spring comprises a hub portion having a plurality of radially extending projections 01, between each two of which, is arranged a plurality of similar projections 02 and o3 respectively of different lengths. It will thus be seen that while only three different sets of projections are shown in this figure, more can be employed equally as well if desired.

Suitably connected to the top t is a plurality of brackets gy-Q adapted to support a shaft r having a pinion g1 mounted thereon, and arranged in a position to coact with the said rack-bar n of the rod m. A spiral spring s has one end fixed to the shaft r and 50 the other end to the' plate t1. This spring is employed for a purpose hereinafter described. The shaft r is arranged at rightangles to the rod m 'and extends in a central manner to the end a of the casing. The end a is provided with a suitable scale a1 and the 65 end of the shaft r is provided with a pointer b. A suitable lubricator cup w is arranged on the top of the casing c and is provided with a depending spout w1, the end of which is arranged directly above the rack-bar n in order that oil may be imparted to all the works in a very effective manner. A spring s1 is employed and has one end secured to the shaft-supporting bracket by a screw or other suitable means s, the other end adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the shaft 1 for a purpose hereinafter described.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the rotation of the shaft f carrying the spider will cause the balls to travel in an outward and upward Vdirection. The outward movement of the balls over the inclined or dishedsurface h ofthe l disk cl will elevate the disk Z, andtherack-g bar n which is carried by the rod m and elevated by the said disk Z, will rotate the pinion g1 on the shaft r and consequently move the pointer b. It will also be seen that the rod m and the outer sleeve to which the spring 0 is attached, are prevented from ro- 90 tating by the stud p1 which connects the two parts together and passes through the guideslot p in the inner sleeve y.

The spring o, against which the disk Z moves, must be so graduated as to allow for the variation of the centrifugal action at different speeds, so as to cause the pointer b to move uniformly on the scale. Should the modified form as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing be employed, the first effort of the 10 disk Z would depress the largest projection 01. As the speed is increased, the disk is elevated by movement of t-he balls, and the second series of projections o2 will be acted upon in a like manner, and then, when the l0 speed is increased still further, the' other or smaller set of projections 03 will be likewise acted upon. It will also be observed that the disk d and the wall e thereof will not travel in accordance with the spider j, l1 as there will be a certain play of the disk d at different speeds, thus preventing the balls 7c from traveling in the same path, and there* by lengthening the life of said parts by lessening the wear in any one place. The coiled 11 spring s is more sensitive than the spring 0,

and therefore, slight movements are better indicated with its use, as will be well under- Istood. The spring s1 which bears against` portion of the shaft a" tends to dampen any 1i unnecessary vibrations and prevents flickerings of the pointer.

That we claim is l. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointer rotatably 1I mounted at ene side thereof, of a shaft aron its end with a dished disk, a spider carried by the shaft and arranged within the disk, a plurality of balls Acarried by the disk and spaced from each other by the spider, and means for rotating the pointer, said means having a part which is arranged to liest `on the balls and to be actuated by the outward and consequent upward movement of the said balls upon the rotation of the said shaft.

3. lIn a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointer rotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a closed receptacle arranged within the other end, a shaft arranged to extend within the receptacle and provided at its end with a loosely mounted ball-carrying receptacle having an outwardly inclined upper surface, a spider carried by the shaft and arranged within the receptacle and between the balls and spacing the latter, and a disk resting upon and supported by the balls and provided with means for actuating the pointer upon the rotation of the shaft and spider and the consequent rotation of the said balls.

4. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointer rotatably mounted at one side thereof and a closed receptacle at another side, of a shaft arranged to extend within the said receptacle and provided at its end with a ball-carrying and rotating means including an outwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, a shaft for the pointer provided with a pinion, and a disk adapted to lie on the balls and having a rod provided with a rack-bar adapted to engage the said pinion, and thereby rotate the pointer upon the outward and upward movement of the balls when the irst-men tioned shaft is rotated.

5. In a speed. indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointer rotatably mounted at one side thereof, Vof a shaft arranged within the easing, a receptacle loosely mounted on the shaft and comprising a bearing disk having an outwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, a spider arranged within the receptacle and fixed to the shaft, a plurality of balls arranged within the receptacle and spaced apart by the spider. another disk arranged at the top of the receptacle and independent of the shaft, and means for rotating the pointer` said means being connected to the last-mentioned disk which rests upon the balls, and said ineaus heilig adapted to be actuated by the outward and consequent upward movement of the balls upon the rotation of the said shaft.

In a speed indicator, the Combination with a casing haviuga pointer rotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a closed re ceptaele arranged within the casing at another side, of a shaft arranged to extend within the said receptacle and provided at its end with a loosely mounted ballecarrtving disk having an outwardly and upwardly inclined upper surface, a shaft adapted to ro tate the pointer and provided with a pinion, an inner sleeve arranged on the closed receptacle and below the pinion and provided with a slot in one end thereof, a plate rigidly secured around the said slecv. at one end, and an outer sleeve arranged on the other end thereof and provided with a pin adapted to pass through and beyond the slot of the inner sleeve, a spring supported by the outer sleeve and adapted to bear against the said plate, a disk arranged within the receptacle and adapted to rest upon the balls, a rod ex tending from the disk and within the said inner sleeve, said rod being fixed to the outer sleeve by the said pin, a rackbar extending beyond the end of the inner sleeve and adapted to engage the pinion, the outward and consequent upward movement of 'the balls upon the rotation of the shaft being adapted to elevate the disk and rack-bar against the spring and thereby rotate the pointer-carrying shaft.

7. In a speed indicator, the combination with a casing having a pointer rotatably mounted at one side thereof, and a cap arranged at another side, said cap having an outstanding sleeve, of a shaft having a re duced inner end arranged within the said sleeve and extending within the casing beyond the cap, a bearing disk loosely mounted on the reduced end of the shaft and having V an outwardly and upwardly` inclined upper surface, a spider arranged above the disk and carried by the shaft, `said spider comprising a hub portion having a plurality of radially extending legs, a plurality of balls arranged on the said dist and spaced apart by the legs of the spider, a cover for the said cap arranged within the casino', a second sha ft adapted to rotate the pointer and provided with a pinion, a sleeve arranged ou the cover and below the pinion and provided with a longitudinal slot, a plate rigidly secured around the sleeve at one end, an outer sleeve arranged on the other end thereof and provided with a pin adapted to pass through and beyond the slot of the inner sleeve, aspring supported by the outer sleeve and adapted to bear against the said plate, a

second disk arranged Within thereceptacle disk and rack-bar against the snring and and adapted to rest upon tlie balls7 a rod exthereby krotate the pointer-carrying shaft.

tending from the said disk and arranged In testimony, that We claim the foregoing within the said inner sleeve, said rod being as our invention, We have signed our names 5 fixed to the outer sleeve by the said pin, a in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

rack-bar extending beyond the end of the CHARLES SPRATT. inner sleeve and adapted to engage the pinn FRANCIS JAMES SHENTON. ion, whereby an outward and consequent up- Witnesses: ward movement of the balls upon the rota- J. S. WITHERS, lo tion of the shaft is adapted to elevate the W.' CHOWLES.

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