US2417303A - Fan gear assembly - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1947. JORDAN 7 2,417,303 FAN GEAR ASSEMBLY Filed June 20, 1345 Illl INVENTOR.

of---the fan base II.

Patented Mar. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES 2,417,303 FAN dean ASSEMBLY Richard H. Jordan,

- Dominion corporation of Ohio Mansfield, Ohio, assigncr to Electrical Manufacturing, End, a

Application June 20, 1945, Serial No; 600,571

My invention relates to an oscillating mechanism for an electric fan and in particular to the housing for the working parts of that oscillating mechanism.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved oscillating mechanism for an electric fan in which the working parts are entirely within the housing.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an oscillating mechanism including an axle in which the housing ha-s'internal slot means for holding the axle.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an oscillating mechanism in which the gears may be mounted on the inserted from the top of the housing and into slots on the inside of the mechanism housing.

A further object of my invention is to provide an oscillating mechanism for an electric fan which is sturdy in construction and easy to assemble.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved housing for the working par-ts of an oscilating mechanism.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a fan embodying my oscillating mechanism;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View, being shown in cross-section, of mv oscillating mechanism,

' certain parts being omitted for clarity;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of my invention taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, certain parts being omitted for clarity; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4- 3 of Figure 3.

With reference to my drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, the reference character ii! represents a fan motor supported by the fan base It to rotate the fan blades l2. An oscillating mech anism It may be operated by the rotor shaft M to oscillate the fan with respect to the fan base. The oscillation of the fan disburses the air currents produced by the fan blades [2.

The fan motor 50 which rotates the fan blades i2 includes field lamination l8 and rotor lamination ll, which are carried by the rotor shaft I 4. The motor may be pivotally supported upon an adjustable-support arm lll'wl'iich is a part This adjustable support -arm I 8-mayb pivotally mounted on-thepivot Y i rod 1 l9 between thepivot mounting members -2I' extendingtupwardly from the base- H; A set" axle and the axle thenv 16 Claims. ((31. 236-4264) screw 28 threaded into the pivot mounting members 26 and engaging the support arm [8 may be employed to lock the adjustable support arm in the desired position. The fan motor ill may be oscillatively supported above the support arm it by the support shaft 22; It is understood that other suitable means may be employed to mount the fan motor on a fan base.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, my oscillating mechanism it comprises primarily a gear box housing 25, a transmitting gear 26, and a revoluble shaft 271' which carries the cam lever 28. The transmitting gear 25 drivingly connects the rotor shaft is to the revoZub-le shaft 21. The cam lever 28 is fastened on one end to the revoluble shaft 22 and on the other end to alink 29 which is also fastened to the base- H. The rotor shaft I4 re-' volves the revoluble shaft 21 to oscillate the fan by means of the cam lever 223 and the link 29.

The gear box housing 25, as used in my oscillatin'g mechanism 83, has a bottom 34, side walls 35,

and a cover or top 36. It is noted that the housing completely encloses the working parts of oscilating mechanism l3.

In actual practice, the bottom and side walls of my gear box housing may be cast as a single unit or they may be constructed by other suitable means. The bottom 34 has a tubular shaped member fill extending downwardly therefrom for sup-porting the revoluble or cam drivingsh'aft 21. This tubularshaped member 4| may be cast with the bottom 36 or it may be fastened by other suitable means, such for example welding, to the bottom 3 3.

The tubular shaped member 4| may serve as a bearing for the cam driving shaft 21. The side wall includes a mounting wall 31 and supporting wall portions it and M. The mounting wall 3? has a mounting bracket 38 which extends outwardly from the sides of the oscillating mechanism to engage the field lamination I6 of the motor iii. A mounting bolt 39 extends through openings in the mounting bracket 33 and through the field lamination it, thus holding the oscillating mechanism it on the motor l0. It is understood that other suitable means may be employed to fasten the oscillating mechanism l3 to the motor H3.

The rotor shaft it, which extends through an opening in the mounting wall and into the gear box housing 25, may be mounted in a'bearing 60.

I have employed abearing support plate 6| which niay-befastened by screws 62 to the mounting wall it for holding the bearing in the opening in the mounting wall'portion'tl of the sidewall 35.

against which A felt pad 63 may be placed about the bearing 60 and between the bearing support plate 6! and the mounting wall 31. Although I have used this particu ar bearing for my rotor shaft, it is understood that any suitable style of bearing may be employed. I Y

The supporting wall portion 43 of the side wall 35 extends from one end of the mounting wall portion 31 and substantially perpendicular to the mounting wall portion 3?. A supporting wall portion 46, which is similar to extends substantially parallel to the wall portion 43 and from the opposite end of the wall portion 3'5. These supporting wall portionsds and 44 thus form the opposite walls of the gear box housing 25 and support the transmitting gear 26. In my description, I will describe the supporting wall portion M. It is understood that the supporting wall portion 43 ha the same respective parts as the wall portion id, and that the respective parts of these two wall portions 43 and 44 are substantially alignedwith each other.

The supporting wall portion M has an internal surface to which is on the inside wall of the gear box housing 25, and a top end surface 45 the cover or top 26 of the gear box housing is held. 'A substantially T shaped slot 41 extends from the top end surface 46 toward the bottom 34 and ends in a substantially semicircular bearing surface 48. The substantially T shaped slot 41 opens on the internal surface 45 and also on the end surface 45. Although I have used a substantially T shaped slot, it is understood that slots of other designs may be employed with which the same results may be obtained. The substantially T shaped slot includesa back slot portion and a front slot portion 52. The back slot portion 5!, which is furthest from the internal surface 45, is wider than the front slot portion 52 which opens on the internal surface to. The side of the back slot portion 5I which is closest the internal surface 45, defines an inside slot surface 49, formed by the flange 50, and an inside slot surface 52 formed by the flange 5 1. The flange 54 is larger than the flange Ell, thus making the space between'the flanges 50 and 54 less than the diameter of the transmitting gear axle 12. The transmitting gear 26 is supported between the wall portions 43 and at by holding the transmitting gearaxle E2 on the slot bearing surfaces to. The end of the axle which is inserted in the substantially T shaped slot at has a fiat portion on the rounded surface thereof, which-engages the flange 54 to prevent rotation of the transmitting gear axle 32. The transmitting gear thus revolves on the axle inserted instead of the axle revolving on the slot bearing surface.

Lips or flanges 55, which are located at the outside top end of the side wall 33, provide means for fastening the cover thereto. These flanges 55 are located on the supporting wall portions M and 43 and extend outwardly from the top end surface thereof. The cover or top 36 may be stamped from sheet steel and has flanges 56 positioned for alignment with the lips or flanges 55. After the parts have been placed in the gear box'housing 25, the flanges 56 on the cover may be pressed around the lip or flange 55 on the supporting wall portion to fasten the cover to the gear box housing 25. opening 57' which is in alignment with the tube shaped bearing 4| on the bottom. The revoluble or cam driving shaft 27 extends upwardly through this opening 51. I have chosen this type the wall portion 43,-

The cover has an cillating mechanism it, the

sure of the preferred by way of exampleand that numerous changes of cover because of its practicability and simplicity to manufacture, butit is understood that other types of covers and means. for fastening these covers may be employed.

The transmitting gear 26, which drivingly connects the cam driving shaft 2? to the rotor shaft it of the fan motor ill,'includes a gear to and a worm gear 5!. The gear iii and the worm gear H are fastened together and are revolubly mounted on the axle The axle ":2 extends between the supporting wall portions t3 and 44 and is supported by the T shaped slots 61. Spacer washers 13 may be used to prevent the gear iii and the worm gear it from rubbing the internal wall surfaces 45. In assembling the osgears It and H may be mounted on the axle '52, which may thenbe dropped into the T shaped slots M. Lugs l4 may then be inserted into the slots and between the axle l2 and the cover 35 to hold the axle l2 against the bearing surface 58. The gear 1% drivin ly engages the worm 15 on the end of the rotor shaft M, which extend-e into the gear box housing 25. These gears may from metal or. other suitable materials which are machinable. V

The revoluble or cam driving shaft 2? includes a lower shaft member 80, a gear 81, and an upper shaft member 82. The cam lever 28, which cooperates with the link 29 to oscillate the fan, is fastened to the external end portion 86 of the lower shaft member 89. The other inner end of the lower shaft member 30, which is within the housing 25, has a shoulder at and a threaded extension 85, extending outwardly from the shoulder 8B. The gear Si is floatingly mounted'on the shoulder 84 and about the threaded extension 85. The upper shaft member has a threaded hole 88 for engaging the threaded extension on the lower end thereof, and a knob 89 on the upper end thereof. I have placed a washer or collar .99 about the threaded extension 85 and between the gear- 3! and the upper shaft member 82. This gear 8! isdrivingly engaged to the worm gear H. When the upper shaft member 82 is tightened onto the lower shaft member 80, thus frictionally engaging the gear 81 to the lower shaft membertll, the revoluble. or cam driving shaft 2'! is revolved by the gear. This frictionally engaging the gear ill with the shoulder 84 to rotate the 'revoluble shaft 2? provides clutch means for the oscillating mechanism 13, whereby the fan may be made to oscillate at any desired time. s

The rotor shaft continually turns the transmitting gear 26, which in turn continually turns the gear 8!. When the operator wishes to oscillate the fan, he simply tightens the clutch by turning the knob 89 to cause tionally drive the cam driving shaft 27.

Although I have described my. invention, with a certain degree of particularity in its preferred form, it is understood that the present discloform has been made only in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and'the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: V v 1 1. In a housing for an oscillating mechanism having an axle, a first wall portion having an internal surface and a top end surface, a second .wall portion substantiallyparallel to the first wall portion and having an internal'surface and a top be constructed the gear 83 to fricand the said end surface and second Wall I x on the said internal surface and top end surface "and terminating in a substantially semicircular 'coverengaging said end surface to hold the in and terminating in a bearing surface, said second wall portion having slot-means opening on the said internal surface and top-end surface and terminating in a bear ing surface, said slot means inatli'e'first Wall 1301"- 'tion' and the said slot means in the second wall portion being aligned'whereb'y the axle may be inserted in the slot means, an insertable member freely inserta-ble in said slot'means for holding "the time in the slot'means and against the bear-- ing surfaces, and a cover engaging said end sure face' to holdthe insertable member in the slot means.

said

2, In 'a housing for an oscillating mechanism having an 'axle, afirst wall portion having an "internal surface and atop end surface, a secondf wall portion substantially parallel to the first Wall portion and havingan internal surface and a top end surface, said internal surface of the first wall portion facing the said internal surface of the secondwall portion, said first wall portion having slot means opening on the said internal surface terminating in a substantially semicircular bearing surface, said portion having slot means opening bearing surface, said slot means in the first wall portion and the said slot-means in the second wall portion being aligned whereby the axle may be inserted in'theslot means, an insertabie membei'" freely insertable in said slot means for holding the axle in the slot means and against the substantially semicircular bearing surfaces, and a sertable member in the said slot means,

3. ,In an oscillating mechanism having an axle, housing means having a first and a second Wall portion, said'first and seconcl'wall portions each having slot means with a portion of the slot means defining bearing surface, said bearing surface in the firstwall portion being aligned with the said bearing surface in the second wall portion, means cooperating with the slot means for holding the axle againstthe bearing surface said Wall portion and said axlehaving' cooperat ing means for preventing. turning of said axle relative to said housing.

4. In an oscillating mechanism having an; axle, housing-means having afirst and a second wall portionrsaid first-and said sec-ond Wall portions each having Twshaped slot means therein-With w a, portion' of-the slot means defining asubstam tially semicircular bearing surface, said T shaped slot means thereby defining flange means extending along said slot means and from said hearing surface, said slot means including a first portion disposed between said flange means and a second portion disposed behind said flange means, said bearing surface in the first wall portion being aligned with the said bearing surface in the second Wall portion whereby said axle may be inserted into said slot means, and means insertable in said second slot portion and behind said flange means for cooperating with said slot means for holding the axle against the said bearing surfaces.

5. In an oscillating mechanism for oscillating an electric fan including a rotor shaft and a fan base, a gear box housing having a bottom, a side Wall and a cover, a gear and a Worm integral "With each 'other and "disposed 1 substantially at rightangles' to the said M being drivingly connected an axle extending through the said gear-and the i said worm for revolubly supporting the same,

rotor shaft," said -gear to the said rotor-shaft,

said gear and said'worm being free to rotate'on s'aidaxlesaid side Wall being integral with the said bottom and having having a, first'wall portion with mounting means a top'edge, said sidewall for mounting the said oscillating mechanism and *with an opening throughwhich an en-d of the said rotor:- shaft extends into the said housing,

tially at'right angles to the said second and said third wall portion each having slot means with the slot means in each of the wall portions facing each other said side wall having said side wall having a second and a third Wall portion oppositely disposed and each substansaid first wall portion,

and" being aligned to receive the opposite ends of the said axle, saidslot means opening on the saidtop edge of the wall and terminating in a bearing end surface near the base for supporting the said axle, means for holding the said 'axle against the curved end surface and in the said recess, fastening means on the top edge for the fastening of the cover thereto, said cover and said-bottom being provided with openings th'erethrough and having a shaft iournaled v and side wall with an opening in said side wall on the said shaft upon which therein with the shaft at substantially right angles to the said axle, and

with each end of the said shaft extending outwardly beyond the said housing, a'lever on one end of the said shaft, a link for connecting the said lever and the said fan base, a gear drivingly connected to the said worm and mounted upon the said shaft, a cfllar the said gear may ride, and means revoluble on the other end of the said shaft and operable to clamp the said gear against the saidcollar for drivinglyconnecting the same to the said shaft whereby revolving the shaft oscillates the fan With respect to the-fan base.

6. In an oscillating mechanism for'an electric and revoluble shaft, a

" 'throughwhich the said revoluble shaft extends into-said housing, transmitting gear means'ineluding an axle" revolublysupported within the said housing and drivingly engaging the said revoluble shaft; said axle being supported at substantially right angles to the said revoluble shaft, said side wall having slot means on oppositely disposed sides of the said housing and facing each other with one end of the slot means opening at the top of the housing for receiving the ends of the said axle, spacer member for insertion into the said slot means between the said axle and the said cover to prevent the said axle from moving towards the said cover,'said cover and said bottom portion having aligned openings with shaft means revolubly mounted therein and extending outwardly therefrom, said shaft means being substantially at right angles to said axle, cam means fastened to one end of the said shaft means and connected to the said fan base, said shaft having driving gear means engaging the said transmitting gear means with clutch means within the shaft means for drivingly engaging the shaft means with the said driving gear means, and means for operating the clutch means whereby, when the shaft means is drlvingly engaged with the said transmitting each other for receiving said 7. In an'oscillating mechanism for a fan, said oscillating mechanism having an axle, a gear box housing having a side wall, said side wall having a first wall portion with an opening therethrough and with mounting means associated therewith, said side wall having a second wall portion extending from one end of the said first wall portion, and said side wall having a third wall portion substantially parallel to the said second wall portion and extending from the opposite end'of the said first wall portion,

, said slot means in the said second and third wall portions being substantially in alignment with each other for receiving said axle said slot means and said axle having cooperating means for preventing turning of said axle in said slot means.

8. In an oscillating mechanism for a fan, said oscillating mechanism having an axle, a gear box housing having a side wall; said side wall having a first wall portion with an opening therethrough and with mounting means associated therewith, said side wall having a second wall portion extending from one end of the said first wall portion, and said side wall having a third wall portion substantially parallel to the said second wall portion and extending from the opposite end of the said first Wall portion, said second and third wall portions each having an inside surface and a top end surface with the said inside surfaces facing each other, the said second and the said third wall portions having slots of substantially T shaped cross-section opening on the said inside surfaces and extending from the top end surface thereof and terminating in a substantially semicircular bearing surface, the said slots of substantially T shaped cross-section in the said second and third wall portions being substantially in alignment with axle, said T shaped slot means thereby defining flange means extending along said slot means and from said bearing surface, said slot means including a first portion isposed between said flange means and a second portion disposed behind said flange means, and means insertable in said second slot portion and behind said flange means for cooperating with said slot means for holding said axle therein and 55 against said bearing surfaces. c

9. In an oscillating mechanism having an axle, housing means having a first and a second 'wall portion, said first and second wallportions each having slot means with a portion of the slot 8 c means defining bearing surface, said bearing surface in the first wall portion being substantially aligned with the said bearing surface in the second wall portion, means cooperating with the slot means for holding the axle against the bearing surface when the axle is inserted in the slot means, said slot means and said'axle having cooperating means for preventingrotation of said axle in said slot means. c

10. In an oscillating mechanism for an electric fan having a fan base and removable shaft, a housing having a top cover, a bottom portion, and side wall with an opening in said side wall through which the into said housing, transmitting gear means in cluding an axle revolubly supported within the said housing and drivingly engaging thesaicl revoluble shaft, said axle being supported at substantially right angles to the said revoluble shaft, said side wall having slot means on oppositely disposed sides of the said housing and facing each other with one end of the slot means opening at the top of the housing for receiving the ends of the said axle, said slot means and said axle having cooperating means for preventing rotation of said axle in said slot means, spacer member for insertion into the said slot means between the said axle and the said cover to prevent the said axle from moving towards the said cover, said cover and said bottom portion having aligned openings with shaft means revolubly mounted therein and extending outwardly. therefrom, said shaft means being substantially at right anglesto said axle, cam means fastened to one end of the said shaft means and connected to the said fan base, said shaft having driving gear means engaging the said transmitting gear means'with clutch means within the shaft means for drivingly engaging 40 the shaft means with the said driving gear means, and means for operating the clutch means whereby, when the shaft means is drivingly engaged with the said transmitting gear means, the fan is oscillated with respectto the fan base.

RICHARD JORDAN.

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 375,158 Hill Dec. 20, 1887 1,145,292 Buck .July 6, 1915 1,169,297 Steiner Jan, 25, 1916 2,154,767 Newnham Apr. 18, 1939 2,364,860 Lloyd 1 Dec. 12,1944

said revoluble shaft extends

Images