US3726155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
De-clutch mechanism in valve operator
Assignee: Philadelphia Gear Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-17
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1991-11-17
Abstract
Abstract In a de-clutch mechanism for shifting automatically between a primary drive and a secondary drive and in which the secondary drive actuates a cam and flipper mechanism to shift a clutch fork to shift a spring-loaded slidable sleeve clutch from primary drive to secondary drive, a secondary clutch mechanism is provided between the flipper mechanism and the clutch fork for assuring that the clutch fork can be returned from secondary drive to primary drive even though the flipper mechanism happens to be in such position relative to the flipper cam that the cam tends to block return movement of the flipper mechanism. As an additional feature, an anti-clicking arrangement is provided to prevent the flipper mechanism from being repeatedly struck by the flipper cam during secondary drive operation.
Inventors
- 👤 W Denkowski
- 👤 J Zouzoulas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:03
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H2700/00; F16H2700/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A valve operator having: a. a main drive shaft 36; b. motor drive means 38; c. coupling means 39, 40, 30, 32, 33, 34, 28 including a sliding clutch member 33 for coupling said motor drive means to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; d. manual drive means including a manual drive shaft 51; e. coupling means 65, 35, 33 including said sliding clutch member 33 for coupling said manual drive means to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; f. spring means 29 normally biasing said sliding clutch member in motor drive engagement; g. a clutch fork 62 pivotally mounted on a fixed support shaft 63 and engaging said sliding clutch member for shifting said sliding clutch member between motor drive and manual drive engagements; h. a flipper cartridge 66 pivotally mounted on said fixed support shaft; i. cam means 21 on said manual drive shaft for moving said flipper cartridge pivotally on said fixed support shaft; j. secondary clutch means 61, 26, 69 coupling together said flipper cartridge and clutch fork for causing the pivotal movement of said flipper cartridge to move said clutch fork pivotally on said fixed support shaft in a direction to shift said sliding clutch member out of motor drive and into manual drive engagement; k. said secondary clutch means including cam means 69 adapted to effect automatic decoupling of said flipper cartridge and clutch fork after said flipper cartridge has moved pivotally through an angle sufficient to shift said Sliding clutch member out of motor drive and into manual drive engagement; l. latch means 64, 11, 53, 54 for holding said clutch fork in manual drive engagement after said aforesaid shifting has taken place; m. tripper means 12, 11 actuated by said motor drive means 32, 14 for unlatching said latch means to allow said spring biasing means 29 to shift said clutch fork and sliding clutch out of manual drive and into motor drive engagement even though said cam means 21 on said manual drive shaft is in such position as to block return to said flipper cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
A valve operator having: a. a main drive shaft 36; b. motor drive means 38; c. coupling means 39, 40, 30, 32, 33, 34, 28 including a sliding clutch member 33 for coupling said motor drive means to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; d. manual drive means including a manual drive shaft 51; e. coupling means 65, 35, 33 including said sliding clutch member 33 for coupling said manual drive means to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; f. spring means 29 normally biasing said sliding clutch member in motor drive engagement; g. a clutch fork 62 pivotally mounted on a fixed support shaft 63 and engaging said sliding clutch member for shifting said sliding clutch member between motor drive and manual drive engagements; h. a flipper cartridge 66 pivotally mounted on said fixed support shaft; i. cam means 21 on said manual drive shaft for moving said flipper cartridge pivotally on said fixed support shaft; j. secondary clutch means 61, 26, 69 coupling together said flipper cartridge and clutch fork for causing the pivotal movement of said flipper cartridge to move said clutch fork pivotally on said fixed support shaft in a direction to shift said sliding clutch member out of motor drive and into manual drive engagement; k. said secondary clutch means including cam means 69 adapted to effect automatic decoupling of said flipper cartridge and clutch fork after said flipper cartridge has moved pivotally through an angle sufficient to shift said Sliding clutch member out of motor drive and into manual drive engagement; l. latch means 64, 11, 53, 54 for holding said clutch fork in manual drive engagement after said aforesaid shifting has taken place; m. tripper means 12, 11 actuated by said motor drive means 32, 14 for unlatching said latch means to allow said spring biasing means 29 to shift said clutch fork and sliding clutch out of manual drive and into motor drive engagement even though said cam means 21 on said manual drive shaft is in such position as to block return to said flipper cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said secondary clutch means includes: a. an annular outer race 67 on said flipper cartridge concentric with said fixed support shaft 63; b. a recess 26 in said annular outer race; c. a spring-loaded pin 61, 41 carried by said clutch fork and adapted to enter into said outer race recess; d. annular cam means 69 on said fixed support shaft 63 forming an inner race 69 concentric with said outer race 67 of said flipper cartridge; e. said inner race being engaged by said pin, whereby said pin is cammed out of said recess 26 upon sufficient angular movement of said flipper cartridge about said fixed support shaft, thereby to decouple said clutch fork from said flipper cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that: a. projecting means 59, 60 are provided on said pin 61 positioned to be struck by said tripper means 11 when said motor drive means are energized, thereby to assure that said spring-loaded pin 61 is out of said recess 26 in said outer race of said flipper cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that said cam means 21 for pivoting said flipper cartridge 66 includes means 22, 24 for extending the cam toward said flipper cartridge during an initial flipper-cartridge-engaging movement and then retracting the cam means 21 to avoid contact with said flipper cartridge during further rotation of said manual drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that: a. said annular outer race 67 on said flipper cartridge is provided with a second recess 56; b. a second spring-loaded anti-blick pin 68 is carried by said clutch fork and adapted to enter into said second recess 56 when said clutch fork is latched in manual drive engagement for preventing return of said flipper cartridge toward said manual-drive-shaft cam means 21 during manual drive engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further characterized in that: a. the angular width of said second recess 56 is sufficiently greater than the angular width of said second pin 68 to permit sufficient angular movement of said second pin in said second recess in a direction to permit sufficient angular movement of said clutch fork relative to said flipper cartridge to allow said clutch fork to shift said sliding clutch member out of manual drive and into motor drive engagement even though said flipper cartridge is blocked by said cam means 21.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that: a. said annular cam means 69 on said fixed support shaft 63 is located axially closer to said spring-loaded pin 61 than is said annular outer race 67 on said flipper cartridge; b. said pin 61 has a first portion which projects axially beyond a second portion in a direction toward said annular outer race on said flipper cartridge; c. said projecting first portion being in registry with said outer race, said second portion being in registry with said inner race.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that: a. said flipper cartridge has a portion which extends outwardly relative to said fixed support shaft; b. a cam follower roller 23 is mounted at the outer end of said outwardly extending portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 further characterized in that: a. spring biasing means 47 are provided for urging said flipper cartridge in a direction tendiNg to maintain said cam follower roller 23 in contact with said cam means 21 on said manual drive shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that said means for extending said cam means 21 toward said flipper cartridge includes: a. a cam slot 24 in said cam means 21; b. a pin 22 in said cam slot and fixed to said manual drive shaft 51.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |