US3664207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual ratchet clutch drive
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-08-17
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A motor-driven cam-operated switch having a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close at least one switch means in response to rotation of the cam and having a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, is provided with a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion to the rotary cam. The drive train includes first and second ratchet clutches and drive means adapted to connect each of the clutch inputs to the drive motor and to connect each of the clutch outputs to the rotary cam such that the first clutch may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and the second clutch may be operative to drive the cam at low speed. Each of the ratchet clutches may include a toothed input member and a toothed output member. A shifting means is provided to selectively engage the toothed member of one of the ratchet clutches while simultaneously disengaging the toothed members of the other ratchet clutch.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick M White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H43/00; H01H43/10; H01H43/12; D; D06; D06F; D06F34/00; D06F34/28; D06F34/30; F; F16; F16H; F16H31/00; F16H31/001; H01H3/00; H01H3/22; H01H3/26; H01H43/005; D06F2101/00; D06F2101/14; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/52; D06F2105/56; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19219; Y10T74/19251; Y10T74/19279; Y10T74/19377; Y10T74/19386; Y10T74/19391; Y10T74/19395
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
397 words
In a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, the improvement of a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor to the rotary cam, comprising: a first ratchet clutch having an input and an output, said input and said output having associated respectively therewith a toothed input member and a toothed output member, said toothed members being adapted to transmit unidirectional motion therebetween when engaged, and adapted to transmit no motion therebetween when disengaged; a second ratchet clutch having an input and an output, said input and said output having associated respectively therewith a toothed input member and a toothed output member, said toothed members being adapted to transmit unidirectional motion therebetween when engaged, and adapted to transmit no motion therebetween when disengaged; shifting means adapted to selectively engage the toothed members of one of said ratchet clutches while simultaneously disengaging the toothed members of the other of said ratchet clutches; and drive means adapted to connect each of said inputs to the drive motor and to connect each of said outputs to the rotary cam such that said first ratchet clutch may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and the second ratchet clutch may be operative to drive the cam at low speed; whereby when said shifting means causes the toothed members of said first ratchet clutch to be engaged, the rotary cam will be driven at high speed, whereas, when said shifting means causes the toothed members of said second ratchet clutch to be engaged, the rotary cam will be driven at low speed; said shifting means comprising: a first biasing means associated with said first ratchet clutch and adapted to bias said toothed members thereof into engagement; a second biasing means associated with said second ratchet clutch and adapted to bias said toothed members thereof into engagement; and cam means associated with one of the toothed members of each of said ratchet clutches to selectively overcome the operation of one of said biasing means whereby the other of said biasing means is operative to engage its associated toothed members for the transmission of motion therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
397 words
In a motor-driven cam-operated switch having at least one switch means, a rotary cam adapted to selectively open and close the switch means in response to the rotation of the cam, and a drive motor adapted for connection to a source of electrical energy, the improvement of a two-speed drive train adapted to selectively transmit low or high speed rotational motion from the drive motor to the rotary cam, comprising: a first ratchet clutch having an input and an output, said input and said output having associated respectively therewith a toothed input member and a toothed output member, said toothed members being adapted to transmit unidirectional motion therebetween when engaged, and adapted to transmit no motion therebetween when disengaged; a second ratchet clutch having an input and an output, said input and said output having associated respectively therewith a toothed input member and a toothed output member, said toothed members being adapted to transmit unidirectional motion therebetween when engaged, and adapted to transmit no motion therebetween when disengaged; shifting means adapted to selectively engage the toothed members of one of said ratchet clutches while simultaneously disengaging the toothed members of the other of said ratchet clutches; and drive means adapted to connect each of said inputs to the drive motor and to connect each of said outputs to the rotary cam such that said first ratchet clutch may be operative to drive the rotary cam at high speed and the second ratchet clutch may be operative to drive the cam at low speed; whereby when said shifting means causes the toothed members of said first ratchet clutch to be engaged, the rotary cam will be driven at high speed, whereas, when said shifting means causes the toothed members of said second ratchet clutch to be engaged, the rotary cam will be driven at low speed; said shifting means comprising: a first biasing means associated with said first ratchet clutch and adapted to bias said toothed members thereof into engagement; a second biasing means associated with said second ratchet clutch and adapted to bias said toothed members thereof into engagement; and cam means associated with one of the toothed members of each of said ratchet clutches to selectively overcome the operation of one of said biasing means whereby the other of said biasing means is operative to engage its associated toothed members for the transmission of motion therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said cam means comprises: a first radially extending surface formed on one of said toothed members of said first ratchet clutch; a second radially extending surface formed on one of said toothed members of said second ratchet clutch; a movable cam adapted to selectively engage and move one of said radially extending surfaces thereby selectively disengaging the toothed members of one of said ratchet clutches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said movable cam comprises: an arm having a first cam surface formed adjacent one end thereof for engagement with said first radially extending surface, and a second cam surface formed adjacent the other end thereof for engagement with said second radially extending surface; said arm being pivotally mounted about a point intermediate the positions of said first and second radially extending surfaces; whereby, when said arm is pivoted in one direction said first cam surface is caused to engage said first radially extending surface and said second cam surface is caused to disengage said second radially extending surface of said first ratchet clutch and enabling the engagement of said second ratchet clutch, whereas, when said arm is pivoted in the opposite direction said seconD cam surface is caused to engage said second radially extending surface and said first cam surface is caused to disengage said first radially extending surface thereby disengaging second ratchet clutch and enabling the engagement of said first ratchet clutch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |