US3756089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linkage for narrow environments
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-15
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A low profile linkage movable in narrow environments to drive pivotable members. A plate has lugs spaced along one edge, pivotally connected to mating lugs along an edge of the driven pivotable member. A link connects a drive lever to the plate to drive the plate and pivot the pivotable member. The link includes two spaced tabs extending from an integral bolt. The integral bolt and a pair of flanged sleeve bearings extend through a hole in the plate. The tabs receive between them a self-aligning bearing and an end of the drive lever. The plate and link are permitted slight misalignment with the lever which is centrally pivoted for planar pivotal movement. An additional bearing, which may be self-aligning, may connect a drive member to the lever''s remaining end.
Inventors
- 👤 H Haladay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:31
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C13/00; B64C13/24; F; F16; F16H; F16H21/00; F16H21/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In drive linkage for moving a pivotable member, the linkage to be located where available space in one direction is restricted near the pivotal support axis of the member; the combination comprising a relatively thin plate, spaced plural means supported on the plate for pivotally connecting the plate to the pivotable member along a common pivotal drive axis shared by the plate and the pivotal member, and means connected to the plate for substantially linear shifting of the plate perpendicular to the direction of said pivotal support axis, to thereby pivot the pivotable member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In drive linkage for moving a pivotable member, the linkage to be located where available space in one direction is restricted near the pivotal support axis of the member; the combination comprising a relatively thin plate, spaced plural means supported on the plate for pivotally connecting the plate to the pivotable member along a common pivotal drive axis shared by the plate and the pivotal member, and means connected to the plate for substantially linear shifting of the plate perpendicular to the direction of said pivotal support axis, to thereby pivot the pivotable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said spaced plural means are substantially thinner than the dimension in which available space is restricted, and the means for moving the plate comprises means for forcing the plate back and forth within the limited available space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 1 in which the connecting means comprises a series of spaced lugs linearly arrnaged on the plate, and the lugs define therebetween spaces adapted to receive mating lugs on the pivotal member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination according to claim 3 in which the lugs are bored along an axis parallel to the direction in which the mating lugs are linearly arranged to provide means for receiving a pin to pivotally connect the lugs on the plate with the lugs on the pivotable member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the plate moving means includes a lever and a link connected between the lever and the plate, said lever being responsive to driving forces applied thereto to shift the plate and thereby pivot the pivotable member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination according to claim 5 further including a first bearing means interconnecting the link and the lever, and a second bearing means interconnecting the link and the plate, the link and the first and second bearing means providing means facilitating arcuate movement of the lever relative to the plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 5 further including means for permitting tilting misalignment of the plate relative to the lever sufficiently to permit said plate edge to move arcuately relative to the pivotal support axis of the pivotable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein the misalignment permitting means comprises a self-aligning bearing connecting the link with one of the lever and plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 7 in which a self-aligning bearing interconnects the link and the lever, and said link defines a yoke at one end receiving the bearing and an arm of tHe lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 7 in which the lever is a bell crank lever, adapted centrally to pivot, and thereby to translate driving movement applied thereto in a first direction to movement applied in a second direction to the plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination according to claim 10 wherein the bell crank lever terminates in yoke means at its end remote from the link, is adapted to receive a further drive member, and a self-aligning bearing is received within the yoke means for interconnecting the further drive member and the bell crank lever.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination according to claim 5 further including two bearings connecting the link is driving relation between the lever and the plate, one of said bearings constraining movement other than about a single pivotal axis, the other bearing allowing universal pivotal movement about more than a single pivotal axis to thereby permit at least slight misalignment of the plate and the lever.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein the link comprises an integral bolt and a pair of spaced tabs extending from the bolt, the bearing constraining movement is supported on the bolt to permit pivotal movement about the bolt, and the bearing permitting universal movement is a spherical bearing held between said tabs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the tabs is separable from the integral bolt, and the bolt is threaded and adapted to hold at least one separable tab captive thereon by receipt of an internally threaded member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein the bearing on the bolt is at least one sleeve bearing with radially outwardly projecting flanges for projection beyond the edge of an associated hold through which the bolt and sleeve bearing extend, the bolt is finely threaded, and the link and the threaded member further include means for locking the internally threaded member against movement when the threaded member is tightened on the bolt sufficiently to adequately support said at least one separable tab without binding the parts pivotally interconnected by said sleeve bearing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Drive means for pivoting a member about a support axis and containable within a narrowly confined space adjacent said support axis; the combination including a first plurality of spaced lugs on the member shortly offset from said support axis, a plate with a second plurality of lugs disposed in spaces between the first plurality of lugs, means pivotally interconnecting the first and second lugs along a drive axis spaced from the support axis, pivotable support means in addition to said pluralities of lugs located along said support axis and pivotally supporting the member, and means for driving the plate to move the interconnected first and second lugs relatively to said support axis thereby to pivot the pivotable member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
Drive means for pivoting a member about a support axis and containable within a narrowly confined space adjacent said support axis; the combination including a first plurality of spaced lugs on the member shortly offset from said support axis, a plate with a second plurality of lugs disposed in spaces between the first plurality of lugs, means pivotally interconnecting the first and second lugs along a drive axis spaced from the support axis, pivotable support means in addition to said pluralities of lugs located along said support axis and pivotally supporting the member, and means for driving the plate to move the interconnected first and second lugs relatively to said support axis thereby to pivot the pivotable member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said first and second plurality of lugs are narrow in comparison with the available space and are bored along a line parallel to said support axis and are pinned together by a pin through the first and second plurality of lugs, one of the first and second plurality of lugs being pivotable relative to said pin, the pivotable support means along the support axis being similarly narrow, and the distance between said pin and said support axis providing a moment arm within the available space.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein the driving means includes a lever for moving the plate, and means interconnecting the lever and the plate for permitting pivoting of the plate sufficiently out of planar alignment with the lever as required by movement of the lugs arcuately relative to said support axis.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein the driving means includes a lever for moving the plate, and means interconnecting the lever and the plate for permitting arcuate movement of the lever in a direction in which the plate is constrained against arcuate movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cOmbination according to claim 16 wherein the plate and the driving means are housed between closely spaced walls constituting airplane structure, the plate and the driving means being movable generally parallel to the walls and within the space between the walls to pivot the member into and out of alignment with the walls.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 20 wherein the walls are exterior walls forming an airfoil, and the pivotable member is a control flap with exterior air surfaces angularly movable relative to the walls to control airplane flight.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |