GB1575997A - Apparatus for producing motion of a workpiece - Google Patents

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MOTION OF A WORKPIECE: (71) We, FIFTH PATROY PTY. LTD., a Victorian Company, of 576 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to, be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for producing motion of a workpiece and refers particularly to an improvement or modification in the apparatus described in earlier application numbered 27729/76 (Serial No.

1,564,623) filed 2 July, 1976.

In the specification of the abovementioned earlier application there is disclosed an apparatus for producing motion of a workpiece-particularly an external rear vision mirror for vehicles-which has two relatively offset drums whereby roation of one drum causes movement of the workpiece about a first axis, and rotation of the second drum causes movement of the workpiece about a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being mutually perpendicular.

Larger vans and trucks are required to have externally mounted rear vision mirrors as internal rear vision mirrors are ineffective. These external mirrors are of some considerable vertical height. There is therefore, no need for adjustment of such a mirror about a horizontal axisthat is, vertical adjustment, to allow for different heights of drivers and so forth.

However, there still exists the need for adjustment of the mirror about a vertical axis-that is, horizontal adjustment, to allow for unwanted movements in the mirror, different drivers, and ,so forth.

It is the principal object of the present ivnention to provide apparatus for producing motion of a workpiece which is an improvement or modification of that shown in 27729/76 (Serial No. 1,564,623) and which provides for motion about one axis only.

With the above and other objects in mind, the present invention provides drive apparatus for producing motion of a work piece about one axis only, said apparatus comprising a housing, a drum mounted within said housing and arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis, a controller, and a guidepiece; said controller having a first end pivotally mounted in a recess within said housing, said controller passing through said drum and said guidepiece, whereby movement of said controller about said first end causes said drum to rotate; said guidepiece substantially restricting movement of said controller to one plane only.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be de scribed a preferred construction of a drive apparatus incorporating the features of the present invention, the description being by way of non-limitative example only and with reference to the accompanying illu strative drawing. The drawing is a hori zontal cross-section through the drive ap paratus, the cross-section being taken slightly below the central plane of the drive apparatus.

The drive apparatus illustrated in the drawing is somewhat similar to that illu strated in Figure 12 of the aforesaid ear lier application 27729/76 (Serial No.

1,564,623). The contents of the specifica cation of that application are hereby in corporated herein. Here, however, there is provided a housing 10, a drum 12, a controller 14, and a guidepiece 16.

The housing 10 is made in two parts-a major part 18 and a minor part 20-which form a hollow interior 22. The two parts 18 and 20 are secured together by a bolt 24 threadingly engaging in a threaded blind-hole 26 in minor part 20. Adjacent its outer end, minor part 20 is provided with a cylindrically-shaped recess 28 having chamfered edges 30.

The major part 18, at its outer end 32, is integral with the guidepiece 16. The guidepiece 16 has a hollow cylindrical por tion~;-34 tending outwardly from end 32 of; part~ 18; which portion 34 has an exter nål- screwsthread 36. The inner-end wall 38- 6f, 'portion' "has an elongate opening 40 therethrough. The opening 40 is generally co-planar with recess 28 and is of a height slightly gréater than the diameter of controllerb This restricts the possible movement of controller 14.

Mounted' within hollow interior 22 is the drum 12. The drum 12 is of a suitable diameter and is of a thickness equal to the separation of the major and minor parts 18, 20., The drum. 12 is attached to the parts 18, 20 on its longitudinal axis by pins (not shown) so that it can rotate about those pins. Vertically below the pins is a passage 42 passing through the drum 12 and which flares outwardly at each side of the drum 12. The inner cable 44 of a Bowden cable passes around the drum and is secured thereto by a screw 46. Thus, rotation of the drum ,12 causes movement of the cable 44.

The controller 14 comprises an elongate shaft 54 which has an inner end 48 in the form of a bulb, which bulb is located in recess 28 to enable the controller 14 to pivot thereabout. A small spring 50 is placed in recess 28 to prevent unwanted rattling. Intermediate its length the con troller has a second bulb 52 which locates tightly in passage 42 in drum 12. The shaft 54 passes through the opening 40 and extends outwardly to a sufficient extent to enable correct use.

As the passage 42 is located beneath the longitudinal axis of the drum 12 and as the controller 14 is restricted by opening 40 to be only capable of movement in the horizontal plane, movement of the outer end of the controller 14 will cause it to pivot about bulb 48. This, in turn, will cause bulb 52 to move and will thus cause drum 12 to rotate about the pins (not shown). Rotation of the drum 12 causes cable 44 to move which, in turn, moves the particular workpiece which it is desired to move.

Whilst there has been described a pre ferred construction of a drive device in corporating the preferred features of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many varia tions or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the essential nature of the present invention, the scope of which is -readily understandable from the following claims.

Claims (7)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Drive apparatus for producing motion of a workpiece about one axis only, said apparatus comprising a housing, a drum mounted within said housing and arranged to rotate about its'longitudinal axis, a controller, and a guidepiece; said controller having a first end pivotally mounted in a recess within said housing, said controller passing through said drum and said guidepiece, whereby movement of said controller about said first end causes said drum to rotate; said guidepiece substantially restricting movement of said controller to one plane only.

2. Drive apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has a major part and a minor part which combine to form a hollow interior, said drum being located in said hollow interior.

3. Drive apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said recess is located in said minor part.

4. Drive apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said guidepiece is located at an outer end of said major part, said guidepiece being integral with said major part.

5. Drive apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guidepiece comprises a hollow cylindrical portion extending out wardly from said outer end, an inner end wall for said hollow cylindrical portion, and an elongate opening in said inner end wall through which said controller passes, said elongate opening restricting movement of said controller to one plane only.

6. Drive apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said drum has a passage therethrough relatively offset having a bulbed portion adapted to seat in said passage.

7. Drive apparatus for producing mo tion of a workpiece substantially as here inbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.