US2214556A - Level maintaining device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 10, 1940. R. L. JEWELL LEVEL MAINTAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l lay/22 2 ,4 9

ATTORNEYS.

p 0, I940 R.- L. JEWELL LEVEL MAINTAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W BY fvzfi I ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 PATENT. QFFICE.

LEVEL MAINTAINING DEVICE Raymond L.-..-Jewell,...,Millcreek; Township, Erie County, Pa... assignor to .American- Sterilizer. Company. Erie;.Pa., a corporationof Pennsyl Vania;

Application January 14, IQSBL- 'Serial No. 251,018

12 Claims. (Cl. 20[l--83) The present invention is designed-to maintain i Featiuzes and details of the. invention will appear from the specification and claims.:=

Preferred embodiments of the -.inv.ention.xar.e 15 "illustrated insthes..accompanying.drawings as fol.-.

lows:

Fig.1 shows-an elevation, partly in'section, of. a switch element andcontrols-therefor, the parts being in 'a vertical: position,:-and with the g switch in the on position.

Fig. 2 shows a section-on the line 2-1-2 in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 shows a view of a switchsimilar to -:Fig.

1,but withtheusupport inclinedpas indicated in the line l'.-I, .V-V indicating the vertical line as 25;;related to the switchmemben.

Fig. 4 a similar view withsanzopposite inclination from :that of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 a similar view with thesupport; and: switch members in vertical relation, ,but with the switch in off position.

Fig. 6 a front elevation-.partlyjinsection on the line 66 in Fig. 7.

Fig. '7 a side elevation of .the switchcontrol- I ling mechanism. 351;", Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.,;6,-but showing the support I inclined.

Fig. 9 a view similar-to Fig. 6,. but with=.a tilted adjustment. of the switch tubes.

Fig. 10 a view showing the adjustment of the-- ..tubes similar to Fig. 9, but with .an .inclination of the support.

- In the structure as shown in Figs. 1.to 5, I marks the'frame of theswitch support. This has a projection 2 on which the switch member is mounted. A pin 3 is fixed in the-projection 2, the opposite. endof the pinbeing supported by an arm 4 extending from the. frame. A mount ing 5 is pivoted on the pin.3. This mounting.

asshown, is U shaped with'two -downwardly ,.extending arms between which=a..tilting: holder 6 is pivoted. The-outer oneof the arms is-shown broken away at 5a.

The tilting holder is provided with-aseriesof clips 1, in whichthemercurygtubes. 8 are placed in the usual manner.--.. The. usual. terminals-.9

extend from the mercury tubes, the switch as showny-being closed when the tube is in horizontal position.

A post I I extends from the mounting 5, and thisis connected by a link It] with a controlling 5 arm l2; The arm I2 is pivoted on the base I3 of theirame by means of a pin I4. The controlling arm has a bell crank arm I5. Asshown the switch is subjected'to control of a pressure device l6, having 'its movable pressure elementqo llengaging the'bell crankarm I5 at I8. -A springiS opposes the pressure element Iii-and" engages-the arm I5 at- 2il.- The spring I9 may be thrown into operated position by acontrol member 2 l, which may 'be manually' actuated for throwingthepressure control in or out of action:- As shownythe pressure control-is in action, but when themember-Z i is rocked, the roller 22, carried by the member, engages the arm IZ directly'and thus controls it,- through manual 2554.

manipulation-of the member 2L As the arm I2 is. moved, either by the pres-=- sure device -or manu-ally through the -member 2i,-this:move1ne11t is communicated through the link 19 to the mounting '5, and the switch member orholder is tilted-so as-tothrow the switch olf or on. A push-member 23 extends-from the upper end of the-armand engagesat 2@ swinging bar -25'-mounted on-the frame-I. A

its lower 7 position. The action of the push'pin'23 is such spring. 26 yieldingly holds the bar 25 in that as the arm' I2 moves oif or on, the push pin tends to carry it past :the center and to-its final adjustment through the urge of the spring-26u These parts so far.-as described,. are substan 1 tially. those illustrated and described in Patent 1,991,940. issued. on. February 19,. 1935;.Ron. my application. In thatlpatent thedevice is utilized for controlling a:sterilizer,. and in placing such.

. 40.? anxinstrument. or any similar instrument, on

ship board or on supports havingvarying move-s ment. the-movement of the support is sufficient. to interfere with the proper functioning of.:the;-.

switch.v The .present tinvention. is designed .2130 :43

maintain the switch in its adjustedposition, not withstanding. .the rolling .or moving of .the. sup-. port-and at. thesame time permitting an ad-.. justment ofv the switch without. interfering with such control.

Anintermediategear '21 issjournaled on 113118; pin 3.1 This-gear meshes with a-gear 28, jour na-led on a pin :29. extending from theuprojec-s tion2 ofithe frame. Anarm 30 .extends from;

the -gear:.i28.;.and. a .weight 3|. .is suspended-.bygw

ber as adjusted, either on or off regardless of same number of degrees that the support swings from the perpendicular maintained by the Weight and indicated by the lines VV. This is accomplished because the gears 32 and 28 have the same diameter and respond with equal turning movements. When the mounting 5 is swung on the pin 3 through the action of the link l0 and arm l2, the gear 32 rolls around the gear 21 to the new adjustment giving to the mercury tubes or switch member, its proper inclination. This movement is made without effecting any movement of the gear 29 and consequently places the gear 32 in its new position in such relation as to respond to the movements of the support with relation to the weight, or in other words, to maintain a constant level of the switch memthe movement to which the support may be subjected.

While I have illustrated the invention, I am having a preferred relation to a mercury switch. It is, in its broader terms, applicable to any device, the level of which it is desired to maintain.

While I have shown gear wheels or gear segments involving rolling teeth, it will be under- ;stood that any positively engaging rotative parts communicating motion in the general manner of gears accomplish the purpose, and in referring to gears I do not wish to be limited to the ordinary tooth wheel.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 10, arm 2a extends from the frame I and a post 33 projects from the arm 20. and is provided at its end with a pintle 34. An arm 35 extends from the projection 2a and a screw 36 extends through the arm and is provided with a pintle 31 at its end,

said pintle being concentric with the pintle 34. A tilting frame 38 has side arms 39 and 48, which are pivoted on the pintles 31 and 34 respectively. The arm 40 has an extension 4! on which the weight 42 is mounted. A tube carrying plate 43 has the downwardly extending arms 44 and 45. These arms are secured on pintles 46 and 4'! mounted in the armsor plates 39 and 49 respectively. The clips 1, tubes 8, and terminals 9 are mounted on the plate 43 and form the elements of the mercury switch. The arm 45 has the extension 48 and this extension is connected by a pivot pin 49 with a link 50, the link 58 being connected to the rock arm l2 in the manner of the link 10 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The operating lever I2 is operated in the same manner as in the preceding figures and provides the adjustment of the switch in the same manner through the link 50.

In the operation of the modification, it will be noted that if the switch is; closed with the mercury tubes in horizontal position as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, the tubes remain at right angles to the arm 40, 4i and as the arm 40, 4| is maintained in a vertical direction through the gravity acting on the weight, the tubes remain horizontal and in closed position. This is accomplished because the pivot pin 49 .and pintle 34 are concentric so that the relation between thearms 40, 4i and the tubes is not disturbed by any movement such as the inclination of the support as indicated in Fig. 8. When the arm I2 is moved to open the switch, the link 50 acting on the extension 48 swings the plate 43 to efiect the inclination of the tubes, as shown in Fig. 9. This throws the pintle 49 slightly out of concentric position relatively to pintle 34 but inasmuch as the line connecting the pivots of the link 50 passes through the axis of the pintle '34, the variation of inclination of the tubes due to swinging the support as shown in Fig. 10 is very slight and does not efiect a closure of the switch as the support is inclined and the relative position of the parts are changed through the maintenance of the vertical position of the arm supporting the weight. While, therefore, there is a slight movement of the parts in the open position of the switch and thus lacks the complete neutralizing of such movement as in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the modification presents a practical structure satisfactory for most installations and with fewer parts and cheaper construction.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member to be controlled; a pivotal mounting for the member; a support for the mounting; a weight pivotally hung on the support; means communicating the movement of the weight relatively to the support to the mem ber; and devices adjusting the mounting and with it the control of the member, said means maintaining its operative relation with the member with each adjustment.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member to be controlled; a tilting mounting for the member; a pivoted mounting for the tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear in driving connection with the tilting mounting; an intermediate gear rotatively mounted on the axis of the pivoted mounting; and a gear in driving connection with the weight, the intermediate gear meshing the other two gears andcommunicating movement to the tilting mounting corresponding to the relative movement between the weight and support- 3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member to be controlled; a tilting mounting for the member; a pivoted mounting for the tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear in driving connection with the tilting mounting; an intermediate gear rotatively mounted on the axis of the pivoted mounting; a gear in driving connection with the weight, the intermediate gear meshing the other two gears and communicating movement to the tilting mounting corresponding to the relative movement between the weight and support; and means adjusting the member to vary its relative position. I

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member to be controlled; a tilting mounting'for themember; a pivoted mounting for the tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear centered on the axis of the tilting mounting and fixed relatively thereto; an

intermediate gear rotatively mounted on the axis tilting mounting for the member; a pivoted mounting for the'tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear centered on the axis of the tilting mounting and fixed relatively thereto; an intermediate gear rotatively mounted on the axis of the pivoted mounting; a gear centered on the axis of the pivot of the weight and fixed relatively thereto, the intermediate gear meshing the other two gears; and means adjusting the member to vary its relative position.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a member to be controlled; a tilting mounting for the member; a pivoted mounting for the tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear in driving connection with the tilting mounting; an intermediate gear rotatively mounted on the axis of the pivoted mounting; a gear in driving connection with the weight, the intermediate gear meshing the other two gears and communicating movement to the tilting mounting corresponding to the relative movement between the weight and support; and means acting on the pivotal mounting adj sting the member to varying relative positiony '7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tilting switch to be controlled; a pivotal mounting for the switch; a support for the mounting; a weight pivotally hung on the support; means communicating the movement of the weight relatively to the support to the switch; and means adjusting the mounting, said means and devices maintaining substantially their operative relation with the switch in each adjustment as the support is inclined.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a tilting switch to be controlled; a tilting mounting for the switch; a pivoted mounting for the tilting mounting; a pivotally hung weight; a gear in driving connection with the tilting mounting; an intermediate gear-rotatively mounted on the axis of the pivoted mounting; a gear in driving connection with the weight, the intermediate gear meshing the other two gears; and means acting on the pivoted mounting adjusting the switch to on and 01f position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support; a frame pivotally mounted on the support; a weight suspended from the frame; a tilting mounting pivoted on the frame; a member to be controlled carried by the mounting; and means connected to the mounting moving the mounting for tilting the member, the connection and movement of the means and pivots of the frame and mounting being related to maintain substantially their operative relation as the support is inclined.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support; a frame pivotally mounted on the support; a weight suspended from the frame; a tilting mounting pivoted on the frame; a member to be controlled carried by the mounting; and means connected to the mounting moving the mounting for tilting the member, the connection of the means in one adjustment of the parts being substantially concentric with the pivot of the frame, the connection and movement of the means and pivots of the frame and mounting being related to maintain substantially their operative relation as the support is inclined.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support; a frame pivotally mounted on the support; a weight suspended from the frame; a tilting mounting pivoted on the frame; a member to be controlled carried by the mounting; and means connected to the mounting moving the mounting for tilting the member, the connection of the means in one adjustment of the parts being substantially concentric with the pivot of the frame and the direction of the movement of the connection being across the axis of the frame, the connection and movement of the means and pivots of the frame and mounting being related to maintain substantially their operative relation as the support is inclined.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support; .a U shaped frame pivotally mounted on the support; a weight suspended from the U shaped frame; a tilting mounting pivoted between the arms of the frame; an operating arm on the tilting mounting; means connected to the tilting arm for actuating the mounting, said connection being substantially in the axis of the frame; and a member to be controlled carried by the mounting.

RAYMOND L. JEWELL.

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