US3838609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
De-clutch mechanism in valve operator
Assignee: Philadelphia Gear Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-24
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-08-24
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 shifter mechanism to shift a clutch fork to slide a spring-loaded slidable sleeve clutch from primary drive to secondary drive, a secondary clutch mechanism is provided between the shifter mechanism and the clutch fork for assuring that the clutch fork can be returned from secondary drive to primary drive even though the shifter mechanism happens to be in such position relative to the shifter cam that the cam tends to block return movement of the shifter mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 W Denkowski
- 👤 J Zouzoulas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/04; F16K31/05; F16H; F16H37/00; F16H2700/00; F16H2700/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
A valve operator having: a. a main drive shaft (36); b. a motor drive shaft (30); c. coupling means (32, 33, 34) including a sliding clutch member (33) for coupling said motor drive shaft to said Main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; d. a manual drive shaft (51); e. coupling means (65, 35, 33, 34) including said sliding clutch member (33) for coupling said manual drive shaft to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; f. spring means (29) normally biasing said sliding clutch member (33) to couple said motor drive shaft to said main drive shaft; g. a clutch fork cartridge (60) pivotally mounted on a fixed support shaft (63) and having fork arms (62) engaging said sliding clutch member (33) for shifting said sliding clutch member from motor drive to manual drive positions; h. a shifter cartridge (79) pivotally mounted on said fixed support shaft (63) and having a lever arm (66) having thereon a cam follower roller (23); i. vertebrate cam means (21a, 21b, 21c) on said manual drive shaft for engaging said cam follower roller (23) for moving said shifter cartridge pivotally on said fixed support shaft; j. secondary latch means (71) coupling together said shifter cartridge and clutch fork cartridge whereby when said secondary latch is engaged pivotal movement of said shifter cartridge by said cam means causes said clutch fork cartridge and said shifter cartridge to move pivotally together on said fixed support shaft in a direction to shift said sliding clutch member (33) out of motor drive and into manual drive position; k. latch means (53, 64) for holding said clutch fork cartridge in manual drive position after shifting of said sliding clutch into manual drive position; l. and tripper means (14, 12, 11) actuated by rotation said motor drive shaft for unlatching said latch means (53, 64) and disengaging said secondary latch means (71) to allow said spring biasing means (29) to shift said sliding clutch (33) out of manual drive position and into motor drive position independently of said shifter cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
A valve operator having: a. a main drive shaft (36); b. a motor drive shaft (30); c. coupling means (32, 33, 34) including a sliding clutch member (33) for coupling said motor drive shaft to said Main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; d. a manual drive shaft (51); e. coupling means (65, 35, 33, 34) including said sliding clutch member (33) for coupling said manual drive shaft to said main drive shaft according to the position of said sliding clutch member; f. spring means (29) normally biasing said sliding clutch member (33) to couple said motor drive shaft to said main drive shaft; g. a clutch fork cartridge (60) pivotally mounted on a fixed support shaft (63) and having fork arms (62) engaging said sliding clutch member (33) for shifting said sliding clutch member from motor drive to manual drive positions; h. a shifter cartridge (79) pivotally mounted on said fixed support shaft (63) and having a lever arm (66) having thereon a cam follower roller (23); i. vertebrate cam means (21a, 21b, 21c) on said manual drive shaft for engaging said cam follower roller (23) for moving said shifter cartridge pivotally on said fixed support shaft; j. secondary latch means (71) coupling together said shifter cartridge and clutch fork cartridge whereby when said secondary latch is engaged pivotal movement of said shifter cartridge by said cam means causes said clutch fork cartridge and said shifter cartridge to move pivotally together on said fixed support shaft in a direction to shift said sliding clutch member (33) out of motor drive and into manual drive position; k. latch means (53, 64) for holding said clutch fork cartridge in manual drive position after shifting of said sliding clutch into manual drive position; l. and tripper means (14, 12, 11) actuated by rotation said motor drive shaft for unlatching said latch means (53, 64) and disengaging said secondary latch means (71) to allow said spring biasing means (29) to shift said sliding clutch (33) out of manual drive position and into motor drive position independently of said shifter cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said secondary latch means includes a recess (81) carried by said shifter cartridge and a pin (71) carried by said fork cartridge spring biased in a direction to cause an end portion of said pin to enter said recess in said shifter cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said tripper means includes lever means (72) for withdrawing said pin (71) from said recess (81) when said tripper means is actuated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shifter cartridge is spring biased (47) in a direction to urge said cam follower roller (23) toward said cam means on said manual drive shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam means on said manual drive shaft comprises a plurality of annular cam elements, said cam elements having forwardly projecting vertebrate cam means and rearward recess means for receiving said vertebrate cam means of an adjacent annular cam element, said annular members being adapted to nest with each other when said vertebrate cams are in axial alignment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein at least some of said annular vertebrate cam elements include forwardly projecting drive lugs and other of said cam elements have lug recesses for receiving said drive lugs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said manual drive shaft includes a drive pin for engaging one of said annular vertebrate cam elements for driving said element rotationally and axially.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3168841A
Cited
US3726155A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |