US2304960A - Awning recessed door operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1942. E. H. SCHANE 2,304,960

AWNING RECESSED DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. :51, 1940 1 i I \91' 4 2 1 1 .3 i] 2.5 i {VENTOR 2 WA ED SCH/ME 4Z 2a /3 E76 OP/VEVS Patented Dec. 15, 1942 AWNING RECESSED DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Edward H. 'Schane, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The Farmer Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 31, 1940, Serial No. 355,043

4: Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in awning mechanisms, and more particularly to an improved awning recess lid controlling or operating mechanism of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,112,579, of March 29, 1938.

As is shown and described in the said patent, it has become good engineering practice to provide a recess above the windows in the front of the building into which the awning may be folded when not in use. These recesses are usually provided with a closure in the form of a hinged lid which may be opened to lower the awning and close it when the awning is folded up, thus not only protecting the awning when it is not in use, but hiding the unsightly appearing awning when it is folded. The lid may be pivotally connected to the edge of the recess or to a rod disposed within the confines of the recess, and in either event, means must be provided for swinging the lid about its pivot to open and close the recess. This means is preferably a nonreversible mechanism and may be connected either to the pintle to which the lid is secured or connected by separate linkage to the lid itself. In my prior patent, I disclosed a form of mechanism for controlling the movement of this lid which comprised a worm and a gear in mesh with each other, the gear being connected to the operating shaft and adapted to be driven by the worm to rotate the shaft. Devices of this type, although somewhat satisfactory, had the disadvantage that no great gear reduction was allowable because of the limited space, and hence with recess doors that were long, it required considerable effort for their operation. The size of the gears was limited due to the small space in which the mechanism was used. This item of limited space also prevented the convenient use of a train of gears. Furthermore, the gearing could not conveniently be housed, with the result that the lubrication of the same was somewhat of a problem.

By my present invention, I have provided a novel worm and gear connection where the advantages of a reduction drive is allowed without the disadvantage of taking up a large space. Still further advantages reside in the fact that with my improved construction I am able to completely house the mechanism in such a manner that it may be provided with lubricant at the factory and retain this lubricant over a considerable period of years without attention. Being housed, cheaper material may be used in the parts without danger of rusting. Rain and dirt cannot get into the parts and cause the same to become inoperative.

Still another advantage of the construction resides in so designing the housing that it may be mounted at various difierent angles and in different places, thus providing a more versatile mechanism.

Still other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawing and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in cross section of the forward portion of an awning recess showing in full lines the lid closed and in dotdash lines alternate portions taken by the lid when opened to various positions;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, being a vertical medial section through a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Throughout the drawing, like parts have been designated by like reference characters.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a recess l of generally rectangular cross-section is provided in the front of a building usually above the window. An awning with the usual lateral arms, not shown, is adapted to fold up into and be housed therein. The front of the recess is adapted to be closed, when the awning is folded, by a door 2 which is hingedly supported being rigidly connected to a rod 3 by clamping brackets 4, which brackets are connected to the lid by screws 5. Supports I are secured to the upper side of the recess by bolts 8 and are provided with downwardly and outwardly extending arms 9 in which the rod 3 is rotatably journalled.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific manner in which the lid or door is supported, as many other manners of hingedly supporting the door are well known to those versed in the art, one other such support .is shown in Fig. 6 of my herebefore mentioned Patent No. 2,112,579.

In the construction described herein, the lid rotates with the rod 3, and may be elevated to either of the positions shown by the dot-dash line in Fig. 1. Elevation or opening of the lid is accomplished by rotating the rod 3. Means for rotating the rod is provided and it is in connection with this mechanism that the present invention is particularly concerned.

Briefly, the rod rotating means includes a to be moved to any desired rotated position and there retained. In carrying out the invention I provide a gear case ill which includes pairs of like housings of the conformation best shown in Fig. 2. As will be seen from the drawing, this housingis generally rectangular, but tapers to a blunt point II at the end where it connects to the lid shaft 3. The tapered walls l2 and the small shaft gear l3 provide a construction which allows the shaft 3 to be placed in closer proximity to the front of the recess and closer to the top, and still not have the operating mechanisms extend beyond the front'of the building. A spur gear 113 is provided which may be integral with a shaft l3, which shaft extends beyond the confines of the housing end and is adapted to be connected by a sleeve coupling 40 to the shaft 3. Means for driving the gear i3 is provided and comprises a worm l4 which is pinned to a shaft enlarged worm gear segment 22, in mesh with the worm M and a small spur gear segment 23 in mesh with the lid shaftlspur gear l3. The gear segments .22 .and 23 extend on a common plane from opposite sides of a.hub 25. The hub 25 is provided with a bore 25 axially disposed relative to the gear segments and adapted to be rotatably journalled on a hollow spindle or bushing 21 whichis seated in counter-bores 28 of bosses 42 integral with. the housing walls (Fig. 3).

As previously stated, the housing comprises like halves. They are held inproper alignment by dowels 3E1. anditogether by bolts 3| and 32. The bolt or stud 32 passes through the spindle 2'? and screws into the other side of the housing. The bolt 32,.as mentioned,.not only serves to hold the housing in. assembledposition, but being provided with a bore 33 allows a bolt or stud 34to be passed therethrough to provide means for mounting the housing on the end wall of the recess. It is thus possible to hold the entire mechanism in position. with one bolt which, not only simplifies the mounting problem, but. allows the mechanism to be mounted at a point where the forces are more or less balanced, as well as eliminating the necessity of lugs on the side of the housing which would take up more room.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The parts during installation ar assembled and vheld .in position in. the two housing halves by the bolts 3!. and 32. The position to be taken by the mechanism relative to the shaft 3 and the sides .of the recess having been determined, a single hole is provided in the end wall of the awning recess, after which the mechanism is securedthereto by the bolt 34 as previously explained.

When it is. desired to open or close the recess, a winding brace and shaft is connected to the hook 2B and the shaft isv rotated thereby. The worm hl isthusrotated .and .in turn rotates the gear 25. I also contemplate using an electric motor connecting to the shaf [5, since the construction disclosed is readily adjusted to such a combination.

The worm I l being in mesh with the large segment 22 of the gear 25, and the small segment 23 on the other side of the gear being meshed with the drive gear l3, a considerable reduction drive is accomplished by the gear I3 with a minimum of gears, affording considerable saving in space.

Since by this arrangement the gear I3 may be made small, whereas it would otherwise have to be large to provide the desired mechanical advantage (see my Patent No. 2,112,579) it is possiblet'o enclose the same with a housing, which housing would otherwise have to be so large as tomakeitdiiiicult, if not impossible, to properly position it in the recess. Because the housing is tapered toward the end which extends into the corner of. the recess, it. is possible to position it closer. to thelid and upper wall of the recess. The advantages. of this will be obvious since it provides for a greater versatility of mounting. For instance, in the case where the lid is mounted on the gear shaft, it allows that mounting to be moved closer to the upper wall of the recess as well as. closer to the end, and in either event it allows, for a larger opening into thelrecess.

Having. thus described my invention in an embodiment thereof, I. am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the structure shown and described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An awning recess having a lid, a controlling mechanism for said lid comprising a housing, a. worm drive gear rotatably disposed in the housing, adriven spur. ar disposed in the housing and a shaft securedthereto extending out of'the housing. and being connected to said lid, means interposed between the worm and spur gear to providea. reduction drive therebetween comprising, a composite .gearhaving a gearsection-of large.ratio..connected to the worm, and agear section. of. small ratio connected to the spur gear, a. hollow spindle for. supporting the. composite gear, said housing provided with journals for supporting said spindleand supporting means for said mechanism extending. through said spindlefor,holdingtheassembly in the awning recess.v

2., Anap-paratus of. theclass described for:

opening and closing an .awning recess door includinga housing, aworm rotatably disposedin the housing, ashaft connected to said worm and extending outwardly. ofthe housing and having a coupling for turning. thesame, a driven gear rotatably supportedin. the housing, a shaft connected. to the driven. gear and to the awning remeshed with the worm, and a small gear; sector meshed wt h the driven gear and means forro-n tatably supporting said idler member compris;

ing a hollow spindle, said housing being provided with oppositely aligned bosses for receivingand holding said spindle and means extending through said housings and spindle to secure the mechanism in desired operative position relative to the awning door.

3. A-device of the class described including a housing formed of like halves and means for holding the parts of the housing together and in .lalignedrelation, aworm disposed in-one end of the housing and provided with a shaft extending out of the housing and means on said shaft to rotate the same, a driven gear of small pitch diameter in said housing and adapted to be connected to a shaft to be driven and having a shaft extending out of said housing for driving connection with another member, means interposed between said worm and gear for providing a reduction drive therebetween comprising a composite gear having a segment of large pitch diameter in mesh with said worm and a second segment of small pitch diameter in mesh with the driven gear, said composite gear having a hub, bosses formed in said housing and a hollow spindle adapted to be secured in said bosses and said composite gear being rotatably disposed on said spindle, said housing walls being formed with openings coaxial with said bosses and said spindle and adapted for receiving a bolt which passes through the housing, spindle and gear to secure the housing to a support.

4. A mechanism for operating an awning recess lid comprising a hollow housing formed of like halves with a tapered end portion adapted to be disposed in a limited space such as in the corner of an awning recess, a spur gear of small pitch diameter journaled in said tapered end section and having a shaft extending beyond the housing for connecting to an awning recess lid, means for operating said gear to open and close said recess lid comprising a worm gear rotatably journaled in the other end of said housing and having means extending out of the housing for turning the same, a reduction gearing connecting said worm to said first gear comprising a composite gear having a gear segment of large pitch diameter in mesh with said worm and a second gear segment of small pitch diameter in mesh with said first mentioned gear, a hub for said composite gear, bosses formed in said housing, a hollow spindle supported in said bosses and carrying said composite gear, said mechanism being arranged for disposal with the tapered or reduced end in confined spaces such as the corner of an awning recess, and said housing walls formed with openings coaxial with said bosses and said spindle and arranged to receive a securing means therethrough for securing the mechanism to a support.

EDWARD H. SCHANE.

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