US2411038A - Power unit - Google Patents

Description

Nov. l2, 1946. E, E, HETTEEN 2,411,038

POWER UNIT Filed July 20, 1944 vveN-roe EDG/ne HE7-TEEN Patented Nov. 12, 1946 OFFICE- POWER UNIT Edgar E. Hetteen, Roseau, Minn. Application July 20, 1944, Serial No. 545,842

I (c1. 2541s6 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in power units and more particularly to a portable power unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable power unit which is highly efficient and compact, .and which has a wide range of use.

A further object is to provide a small compact power unit utilizing a conventional automobile starter motor -as its source of power, which may be electrically connected to a conventional automobile storage batterywhereby the power unit may be mounted on a small truck or other vehicle and derive its power directly from the usual storage battery thereof, said starter motor comprising the usual Bendix drive for operatively connecting the motor to the power transmitting means between the motor and the hoisting drum. A further object is to provide a small compact power unit comprising a hoisting ydrum provided with a brake drum at one end having a, brake band partially encircling the brake drum, and a starter motor Abeing mounted on the support and having a driving connection with the hoisting drum, said driving connection including an endless belt or chain, and a rock shaft being mounted on the support and having an arm secured .theretoone end of which is connected. to the brake band, and a second arm being secured .to the rock shaft and having aroller mounted at its outer end having a running connection with a run of .the chain or belt whereby the Itension .therein` Will actuate` the rock shaft land automatically release the brake band, when the chain is rotatingina direction toliftaload. I I

-Other `objects ofthe invention reside in the unique construction ofthe brake and its operating means; in the arrangementof the rock shaft and brake band whereby the brake is automatically released each .time the hoisting drum is rotatedin a directionto lift -a load, and wherebywhen the drive chain is slack, the brake` is automatically set; in the provision of electrical means for swinging the brake lever into brake releasing position; and, in the general arrangement of the various parts of the `mechanism whereby they cooperate to partially provide a highly eicient power unit which is small and compact in size, and which readily lends itself for use on trucks, road working machinery, including snow plows, and the` like, for lifting or lowering the ground engaging tools thereof, and which power unit may also beused in numerous otherplaces requiring vthe use of a powerful hoist: llgilum j .n r Other-objects of the invention will `appear from the following description and the yaccompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exactlfeatures shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawing: A

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved power unit showing the lower run of the drive chain rotated in a direction to wind the cable onto the drum and whereby the brake band is automatically released;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 with some of the parts omitted; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the brake band in braking engagement with the drum to control the unwinding of the cable.

The novel power unit herein disclosed is shown comprising a suitable base or support 2 which may be of any particular form and construction applicable for the purpose. V A

A suitable hoisting drum 3 is mounted on the base 2 at one end thereof and has a shaft 4 which may be rotatably mounted in suitable bearing pedestals 5 and 6 secured to the base 2. The hoisting drum 3 is shown provided at one end with a brake drum 'l which is partially encircled by a conventional brake band 8 `having one end anchored to a fixed support such as a pin 9 secured to the base 2. A suitable cable II is coiled about the ho-isting drum 3 in the usual manner, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. I

A brake lever I2 is secured to one end of a4 rock shaft I3, shown mounted in bearings I4 and i5 which, for. convenience, may be integrally cast with an upright bracket I B secured to the base 2. .To simplify construction, the rock shaft I3 may lbe integrally formed with the brake lever, I2, as indicated in the drawing.

V.An arm Il is secured to the rock shaft I3 and has one end of a connecting rod I8 pivotally connected thereto by a pin I9. The oppositeV end of the connecting rod `I8 is secured to the free end of the brake band 8 as shown at 2 I.

Adjacent to the opposite end of the rock shaft I3 there is mounted an arm 22 which is disposed in opposed relation to the ar'm I'I. The arm 22 is shown carrying a suitable roller 23 which engages t the lower run 24 of a` chainor belt ."5'having secured to the hoisting drum 3, and a sprocket pinion 2'I secured to one end of a countershaft 28. A suitable spring 29 is sho-wn having one end connected to the brake lever I2 and its opposite end to a fixed support such as the bracket 6. The spring 29 constantly urges the brake lever I2 in a direction to set the brake band 8.

The countershaft 28 is shown mounted in suitable bearings 3| and 32 which may be integrally formed with the bearing bracketv I3. A spur gear 33 is secured to the countershaft 23 and constantly meshes with a pinion 34 of a conventional Bendix drive, indicated by the numeral 35 in Figure 2. The Bendix pinion h34 is operatively connected to the usual drive shaft of a conventional automobile starter motor, generally designated by the numeral 36 in Figures 1 and 2. Thev starter motor 36 and Bendix drive 35 are well known in the art, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to herein illustrate the same in detail.

Means is preferably provided forrelectrically re-` leasing the brake band 8, when desired, ahdmay consist of a suitable solenoid-actuated device, generally designated by the numeral 3l. This device is shown having a reciprocallymounted armature or member 38 projecting from one end thereof. The armature 3,8 has one end of a flexible connection 39 secured thereto whose opposite end is connected to the brake lever I2 as shown. The solenoid actuated drive 37 may be mounted upon a suitable bracket 6I secured to the base 2, and is provided with a, suitable electric control circuit, not shown, having a connection with a suitable source of electric power such as the conventional storage battery of a truck or an automobile, or with some other source of low voltage` current supply.

The novel power unit hereindisclosed has been found particularly useful on vsmall trucks wherein it may be utilizedA in connection with hoisting apparatus. It hasvalso been found extremely practical on numerous types of road working equipment because of its simplicity and compactness, and also because it maybe operated directly from the usual storage battery of the truck or vehicle at low cost. g. j

While I` have herein referred to the motor as being a conventional automobile starter motor, in some instances it may be found desirable to use some other form of low voltage motor suitable for tlfle'purpose.v Also, if the hoist is to be permanently located ina fixed position inv a building, a conventional motor may be employed whereby it maybe connected in the usual power or lighting circuits of the building.

The roller 23 secured to the arm`22 of the rock shaft I3 is so related to the lower run 24 of the chain 25, that when the chain is rotatedfin the direction indicatedby the arrows in Figure 1, as when winding the cable II onto the Vhoisting drum 3, the'ten'sion in *theV lower run 24 o f the chain will cause the chain to swing the arm 22 downs Wardly thereby to rotate the rock shaft AIll in a vdfirection to release the brake band 8 from the brake drum yl. When the cable II is being'unwound from the hoisting .drum 3 the lower run 24 ofthe chain may be slack, as .indicated in Figure 3, whereby the spring 2S connected to theupper end ofl the brake Ylever LIE,` may swing the brake lever I2 into the position shown in Figure l, thereby to automatically set the-braketband and retard or interruptf rotation of thefhcisting drum3. '1`f jf If desiredthebrake may be. instantly released..

4 at any time by actuation of the solenoid 31, aS will be readily understood.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is vcapable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto. I claim as my invention: 1. A power unit-comprising a support, a hoisting drum mountedthereon and provided with a brake drum, a brake band partially encircling the brake drum and having one end anchored to a fixed support, a counter shaft, a flexible endless member for transmitting power from the. counter Shaft 'to the brakedru'm; an automobile, starter motor for driving the counter shaft,v La rock shaft having an arm secured thereto, one endiof which is connected to the free end of thefbrake band, a second arm secured to the rock shaft and having a roller mountedv at the free end thereof, the roller on said second' arm having a `running connection with a run of the flexible drive member whereby when said run is taut, said second arm is actuated to rotate the rock shaft whereby the brake band is automatically released from the brake drum, and spring means constantly urging the roller into contact with the run of said drive member and whereby when fsaid run lis slack, the spring means will automatically set the brake.

2. A power unit comprisinga support, a hoisting drum mounted thereon and yprovided with 'a brake drum, a brake band partially 'encircling the brake drum and having one endV anchored to a fixed support, a counter shaft, v,an endless drive member for transmitting DOWer fromthe 'counter shaftto the brake drum, an automobile starter motor for driving thecounter shaft,aA rock shaft, a brakev lever mounted on therock shaft, Yan arm secured to the rock' shaft and having' one end operatively connectedV to the free` end of, the brake, band, a second yarm seycuredjto the .rock shaft in opposed relationto. the rst mentioned arm, a roller'mounted at the outerend of, 'd second arm and havinga running conn,ection with a run of the endlessdrive rnernber'wlfereby When Said ril-,r1 is taut Sailsond arm is actuated to rotate the-rckshaft and thejrebyecer the release of the brake bandv from` the prakt-:fy drum, and Swirlsv meansH constantlyiureicg the .brake lever in a diretion'lto Setth brake; said brake lever Providing means, whereby .an'operater' may manually manipulate thefblakjto, co, ro 't rotation cf the Winding drum; I

i 3,- 1A power' uriit cmpisnsiasupporta intk drum mounted thereon` and iarovidedpwith brake firme;A a brake band partiallyenirclne the brake l.drum and havinfey Drie. endanchoredgto n edsu'ppprt, ak counter shaft, a chain'drive for transmitting pcwer'from the countershaftfto the hoisting-drur'n,V an automobile s tarterfmotor for driving the counter shaft, a rock shaftna brake lever fixedly` mounted on the. rock schaft, anjarmV securedlvto the rock shaft and .having a wnceenonycth the brake band, secondjafi secured .toV the frock shaft, a roller,mountl the outer end Vor said second armanchayi running connection with ar run of the vdr whereby when saidl l chain run -is taut, lt

is actuated to partially rotate the rock shaft whereby the brake band is expanded to release the hoisting drum, a spring constantly urging the roller into contact with the run of said drive element whereby when said run is slack the spring will rotate the rock shaft in the opposite direction and thereby automatically set the brake,

said brake lever providing means whereby an operator may manually manipulate the brake to control the rotation of the Winding drum, and electric means associated with the brake lever for electrically moving said lever into brake releasing position.

EDGAR E. HET'I'EEN.

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