US2212539A - Jack - Google Patents

Description

Aug 27, 1940- E. G. GUNN y 2,212,539

JACK

Filed Aug. 5, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 1 I @QAM l.I-xug-27, 1940. E GGUNNv ,y 2,212,539

JACK

f Filed Aug. 5, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ 2d F 23a. F 6. 1 7

Q zo Y /74 34 y 2f i i 22di y 34 l 45 L ,50 n

v I L l Patented Aug. 27, 194e Unirse srares amsn earner Iorigina My invention relates in general to improvements in jacks of the type in which the loadcarrying element is frictionally held against movement relative tothe sup-porting element with respect to which it is adjusted.

More specifically my invention relates to jacks of the type as disclosed Vin my copending appliv cation, Serial No. 246,048, filed December 16, 1938, and covers various improvements over and in addition to the structure disclosed in said application.

An important object of myinvention is to provide jacksof the type referred to with a housing structure which substantially encloses the working parts thereof for protection and at the same time serves `to perform operative functions with such parts when the jack is in operation. Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed drawings, which disclose two embodiments of my invention.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section, with'parts in elevation, of a jack structure according to my invention with parts arranged for lifting or loadelevational purposes.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. l, with parts in fragmentary elevation, disclosingv the arrangement Yof parts for releasing or load-lowering purposes. i

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional 'View taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower portion of the jack housingas disclosed in Fig. l, showing the reversible locking means which determines the arrangement of parts for load-elevational or load-lowering purposes.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but taken from the opposite side, showing `another embodiment of my invention. n

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, with a part in fragmentary elevation, of the jack housing of K Figure 5 as taken from the rear.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5, with parts in fragmentary elevation, disclosing the arrangement of parts for releasing or load-lowering purposes.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken I substantially along the linevVIIf-VIII of Fig; 5, with parts in elevation.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral l0 designates generally a jack according to this invention. This jackv has astandard ll upon which the operating housing 2 is mounted to move lengthwise. 1 The standard li `is inthe form of a cylindrical rod supportedby a base :member i3 having a detent ,lil inwhich the round end of the rod isseated.

The housing i2 is substantially cylindrical in shape, as shown in Fig. Y3, having side wall portions cut away to form `openings `l5 alongthe length thereof. At its upper end the housing is provided with a cap iii of larger diameter `than that of the housing. This cap' i6 is secured to the housing l l `bywelding or other suitable means,

or. can be a bulged portionintegral withjthehousingwalls.

Afportionof the side wall of vcap .i6 is pressed outwardly to form Ya projecting` peak il which projects outwardly above one of the openings .-I5. An `integral endwall .i6 of the housing is pro*- vided with an opening lithrough which the standard li is received. i

A load-carrying member 26 is rotatably secured to the cap I6 and is provided `with an opening 2i as a bearing in the top end of the housing for the standard il. This load-carrying member '2li is suitably .shaped to-engageand `carry the load to be raised orlowered.

The top end of the standard ll has pinched ears E2 for limiting theraising of the load-car rying member 26.. Limiting of the upward move-` ment on' the standard can `also be leffected by upsetting the top portion thereof as shown in Fig. 5.

A friction holding member comprises a pair of plates 23 having oset openings. 2d through which the standard l i extendsl The long ends of the plates extend through one of thehousing openings l to bear against the cap projecting peak il. A `shelf 2li is secured to the inside of and across the housing l2, by welding or other means, -at a `position adjacent the load-carrying end. A

central opening 26 is provided in this shelf through ,whichvthe standard extends freely. A

j coil spring 2l seats on the shelf 25 and urges upper shelf 32 and a lower coil spring 3B seats against the lower shelf 33.

`A flat vertically offset extension si projects `outwardly from the lower shelf 33 through the 'wider opening I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. At

two points adjacent the bottom end of the housing l2 slots 3S rand 3S are provided, as shown in Fig. Il. The lower slot 39 has a downward projection t while the upper slot has an upward projection tl, the latter being shown in locked position in Fig. 4. An vopening 4Z, larger than the projections 4D and 4I, is provided at one side of the extension-3l for locking the extension with the housing l2v at the predetermined points 38 and 39. By disengaging the extension 3l from either of the slots 38 or 39, the spring cage is capable of being moved longitudinally along .the standard il within the housing i2 by operating the extension plate manually. While this method only of locking the spring cage with the housing is shown in the drawings, other methods such as ,inclined slots in the housing or detents-in the extension plate can be used equally as well. Once the two parts are seated the springs in the cage provide the necessary tension or compression to hold them in engagement.

Referring again to Fig. 1, a friction control member comprises a pair of plates 43 having central openings M through which the standard il extends.. Normally these plates are held in a floating position on the standard in transverse relation to the axis thereof by the cage springs 35 and 36. A U-shaped housing l5 surrounds the standard and encompasses the plates li?, lengthwise thereof. This housing t5 extends through the openings l 5 in the housing walls and isprovided at itsl free end with a transverse opening llt. An operating lever socket il is pivotally connected to the housing 45 at the opening i6 by a bolt or rivet 43. The lever socket tlis also provided with an opening i9 through .which a bolt or rivet 50 pivotally supports the link 29 adjacent the pivot 33.

The link 29 extends upwardly into engagement between the slot 5l and the cap Iii. The lateral-` ly extending lug 28 of the link 29 bears upon the upper side of the top plate 23.

The'parts of Fig. 1 are so arranged lthat the operation'of the lever socket il causes the jack to operate` upwardly or in a loadfelevational direction. To operate in this direction, the spring cage Se is manually lifted to engage and lock in the slot 38. By so doing, the lower spring 35 urges the plates d3 upwardly. The link 29 limits the vertical movementA of the ends of plates i3 adjacentr thereto so that the opposite ends are urged upwardly to a point in which the plates assume a canted position. This canted direction is such that downward pressure on the plates i3 may be exerted without changing their position relative to the standard against which they frictionally grip. l

Powerfor lifting a load, carried by the member Et, is applied through the link 29 by a lever (not shown) which is inserted in the lever socket lll.

vWith the lever fulcrumed at the stationary pivot 48; an upward swinging movement thereof causes the link 29 to' lift the cap I6 together with the load-carrying member and the load (not shown). Asnthe cap and its dependinghousing l2 move upwardly, the lower spring 3% is contracted by the'locked shelf 33 moving with the housing. As

soonA as the lifting force is `relieved by swinging the operating lever downwardly, the contracted spring 36 expands to its full length ,and moves the control plates 43 vertically. During this movement the load is carried by the holding plates 23 which are canted to prevent downward, but not upward, movement. By swinging the operating lever upwardly and downwardly the load may gradually be raised.

In this manner the load is alternately carried by the friction members and results in a stepby-step upward or load-elevating movement.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means for reversing the movement of the load without affecting its raised position. This is shown in Fig. 2. While the raised load is` held in position by the holding plates 23, the extension plate 3l' is released from its locked position in the slot 38 and the spring cage lowered to a position in which it is again locked in the slot 39.

Compression of the spring 35 holds the plate 3l in locked relation between the opening fifi and the downward projection it of the housing l. As the movement of the ends of control plates 553, adjacent the link 2a, are limited in a downward direction the spring 35 urges the control plates to assume a canted position opposite that of the position in Fig. l. This canted direction is such thatupward pressure on the control plates t3 may be exerted without changing their position relative to the standard .against which they frictionally grip.

With the operating lever fulcrumed at the stationary pivot 8, a downward swinging movement thereof causes the lug 28 of the link 2a to bear upon the raised ends of the canted holding plates 23. By releasing the friction of these plates against the standard the load is dropped with they downward swinging ofthe operating lever. As soonas the lever swings as far downwardly as the operator desires, a reversing of the swing of this lever upwardly releases pressure on the plates 23 by the lug 28. v The spring 2l then cants the holding plates in a direction to hold the load stationary. The movement in a downward direction of the load-carrying housing i2 compresses the spring 35. By transferring the load from the control plates .13 to the holding plate 23; the compressed spring 35 expands to its full length to move the control plates downwardly.

In thisV manner the load is again alternately carried by the friction members and results in a step-by-step load lowering movement.

It is to be noted that a full control of the load, when moved in either direction, is possible at all times and that the jack housing is an important part inthe operating function of the jack.

Figs. 5 to 8 disclose another embodiment of this invention. All of the parts of Figs. 5 to 8, which are identical with those in l to 4, carry the same lreference numerals. `All of the parts which are similar but not identical, carry the same reference numerals with the addition of a subscript a,

The reference numeral generally designates the jack according to this embodiment. The cap ia is provided with a projecting peak ila which projects suicientlyoutward to enclose the free end of the link 29a. The standard has its free end v22a. upset yto limit vertical movement of the load-,carrying member 20. A spring shelf 25a is disclosed as being secured within the ,housing l2 by projections 25h therethrough instead of welding as in the previous embodiment i The embodiment disclosed in Figs.V 5 to 8 is Y'directed largely to the 4change in the operating lever mechanism. The U-shaped housing 45a is changed only with respect to its pivot ends 75 which extend suiiciently outward from the jack to allow for the operation of the link 29a in a more nearly vertical position. The housing 45a is provided with a pivot opening 45a to pivotally support the operating lever socket 41a by a bolt or rivet d3. As shown in Fig. 5, the socket Ma is shaped to receive a lever 52 for applying power to the jack.

The socket fila is also provided at its end with ,a pivot opening lita through which a countersunk rivet Sil (see Fig. 8) supports the lower end of the link 29a. The link 29a passes upwardly between the extensions of the U-shaped housing 45a `and between the control plates t3 and the operating lever pivot t8. At its upper or free end, the link 2da is provided with an inwardly extending lug 26a which bears downwardly against the holding platesv 23. The top of the link 28a bears upwardly against the cap i 5a and is confined therein by the projecting peak Ila.

Operation of the jack in this embodiment is similar to that of the previous embodiment, eX- cept that theswinging operation of the operating lever 52 for either load-elevational or load-lowering purposes is reversed due to the reverse position of the link pivot 50 relative to the operating lever pivot 58.

Fig. 5 discloses the arrangement of parts for elevating a, load by swinging the operating lever downwardly. Fig; 7 discloses the arrangement of parts for lowering the load by swinging the operating lever upwardly. Fig. 8 more clearly discloses the arrangement of parts of the operating lever mechanism.

. i movable thereon, a holding member adapted to frictionally grip the standard whenV canted in one direction and resist downward movement of the load-carryingv member thereon, a control lever mounted on the standard, means actuated by L said control lever for canting said holding member in the reverse direction to release its grip upon the standard, and a housing secured to and depending from the load-carrying member and surrounding said standard, said holding member being releasably supported against said housing at the load-carrying end in a canted position and operated by said control lever.

2. In a jack of the class described, the com-v bination of a standard, a frictional holding member and a frictional control member mounted on said standard and each adapted to grip the standard to hold said members against movement, a housing supported by the holding member and adapted at one end to support a load, said housing surrounding the standard and frictional members, an operating lever pivotally mounted on said control member, means operatively connecting said lever with the housing and holding member for moving the housing upwardly on said standard, said means being adapted to be actuated by said operating lever for releasing the holdingmember to lower said housing on the standard, and means for adjusting the control member to hold it against movement in either direction depending upon the direction of movement of the load-carrying housing.

3. In a jack of the class described, the oombination of a standard, a housing surrounding said standard and having one end adapted as a load-carrying member, upper and lower friction control members operatively associated with the housing and adapted to interlock with said standard when in relative angular position therewith, and reversible means associated with one of said control members for controlling both of them alternately for imparting a step-by-step movement to the housing in either direction.

4. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, an operating housing, a load-carrying member secured at one end of said housing, said housing and load-carrying member movable on the standard, a holding member Voperatively associated with said housing and adapted to frictionally grip the standard to hold the housing against movement in a downward direction when the holding member is canted in one direction, an operating lever mechanism mounted on said standard within and operatively asso-l ciated with said housing, and a link operated by said lever mechanism and operatively connected with the load-carrying end of said housing for raising the housing on the standardsaid linkfadapted to Cant the holding member in the reverse direction to release its gripping action on the standard and permit the housing to move downwardly thereon.

5. In a jack of the class described, thercombination of a standard, a load-carrying member movable on said standard, a housing secured to and depending from the load-carrying member and surrounding the standard, a holding member adjacent the load-carrying end of said housing, an abutment supporting seat in said housing below the holding member, resilient means supported bysaid seat to urge said holding member againstrthe end of said housing in a canted direction to frictionally grip the standard and hold i the housing against movement in a downward direction, an operating cage having resilient means carried by said standard within the housing and movable longitudinally therein, said cage being adjusted in either direction exteriorly of said housing, a control member associated with said cage to normally float freely between the resilient means therein on the standard, said cage adjustment canting the control member to grip the standard thereby determining the direction of movement of the housing on the standard, an

operating lever mechanism pivoted on said control member, and a link pivotally secured to said lever mechanism, said link being operatively associated with the load-carrying end of said housing for applying power thereto when acting in one direction and operatively associated with said holding member for' releasing it when acting in the opposite direction.

6. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, a load-carrying member movable on said standard, an elongated cap secured to and depending from the load-carrying member, a cylindrical housing secured to and depending from said cap, said housing having opposed wall openings along the length thereof, friction holding plates carried by the standard within the housing, a shelf extending transversely of the housing adjacent the load-carrying end thereof, a coil spring seated on said shelf to hold the holding plates against said cap in a canted direction to frictionally grip the standard and V7:5

lower shelves within said housing, said cage adapted to be adjusted in either direction eX- teriorly of said housing to a position in locked relation therewith to determine the direction of movement of the housing on the standard, friction control plates carried by the standard between the cage springs, an auxiliary housing encompassing the control plates, an operating lever pivoted on said auxiliary housing, a link pivotally secured to the operating lever having its free end confined between said cap and said holding plates, said cage adjustment canting the control plates about the axis of the lever pivot so as to grip the standard when the lever mechanism is operated whereby the link acts on the cap or holding plates depending upon the vdirectidn of movement of the housing.

'7. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, a load-carrying member movable on said standard, a housing secured to and depending from said load-carrying member,

said housing having wall openings along the length thereof, a friction holding plate adjacent the load-carrying end of said housing, a transverse shelf secured within the housing, a spring between said shelf and holding plate to hold the latter in a canted position to frictionally grip the standard and hold the housing against downward movement, a movable operating cage carried by the standard within said housing and dening upper and lower shelves, said cage adapted to be adjusted in either direction to a position in locked engagement with the housing, upper and lower springs seated against said shelves, a friction control plate supported between the springs of said cage and adapted to be canted to frictionally grip the standard when the cage is adjusted to a locked position, an operating lever pivoted to the control plate, and a link pivoted to said operating lever for applying power to lift the housing when said cage is adjusted to a position in which the control plate is canted in a direction to grip the standard against downward movement thereof.

8. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, a load-carrying member movable on said standard, a housing secured to and depending from said load-carrying member, said housing having wall openings along the length thereof, a friction holding plate adjacent the load-carrying end of said housing, a transverse shelf secured within the housing, a spring between said shelf and holding plate to hold the latter in a canted position to frictionally grip the standard and hold the housing against downward movement, a movable operating cage carried by the standard within said housing and defining upper and lower shelves, said cage adapted to be adjusted in either direction to a position in locked engagement with the housing, upper and lower springs seated against said shelves, a friction control plate supported between the springs of said cage and adapted to be canted to frictionally grip the standard when the cage is adjusted to a locked position, an operating lever pivoted to the control plate, and a link pivoted to said operating lever to act upon said holding plate independently of the housing for releasing the holding plate when said cage is adjusted to a position in which the control plate is canted in a direction to grip the standard against upward movement thereof.

9. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, a housing surrounding said standard and having oneV end adapted as a load-carrying member, said housing being movable on said standard, upper and lower friction control members operatively associated with the housing and adapted to interlock with said standard when in relative angular position therewith, and means associated with one of said control members for selectively canting said one member to determine the direction of movement of said housing on the standard.

10. In a jack of the class described, the combination of a standard, an operating housing, a load-carrying member secured at one end of said housing, said housing and load-carrying member movable on the standard, a holding member operatively associated with said housing and adapted to frictionally grip the standard to hold the housing against movement in a downward direction when the holding member is canted in one direction, a control member operatively associated with said housing and adapted to frictionally grip the standard when in canted relation therewith, an operating lever mechanism mounted on said control member and operatively connected to said housing and holding member, and means associated with said control member for selectively controlling the canted direction thereof whereby the operation of the lever mechanism moves said housing in one direction along the standard when the holding and control members are canted in the same direction and the housing moves alon/g the standard in the opposite direction when said members are canted in opposite directions.

G. GUNNI.

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