US1197014A - Perambulator. - Google Patents

Description

A. C. CUNNINGHAM.

PERANIBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1915.

1,197,014. l Patentedsept. 5, 19116.L

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A. C. CUNNINGHAM.

PERANIBULATOR.

APPucATmN FILED MAR.15,'1915.

1,1 97,014. Patentedept. 5,1916.

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PERAMBULATOR.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application lfiled March 15, 1915. Serial No. 14,510.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALONZO C. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norma, in the county of Scott and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Perambulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to perambulators.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel means associated with the wheels of the device for automatically imparting movement thereto in opposite directions so that the device will move back and forth over a predetermined length, thus providing an eiiicient device of this character whereby great labor and trouble are obviated.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved means for mounting the automatically operating means in the frame of the carriage in such a manner that when desired, the automatic operating means will not interfere with the movingv of the carriage from place to place by manual operation.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved means for transmitting power from the spring actuated driving shaft to the driven shaft, the transmitting means being peculiarly associated with the casing so that the automatic operation of the vehicle can be dispensed with, when desired.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved gearing for engagement with` the driven shaft for alternately imparting movement to the carriage in opposite directions.

A still further object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel resilient means associated with the rear shaft or driven shaft for absorbing the shocks and jars likely to be transmitted thereto upon meshing of the intermittent gear therewith whn the device is being automatically operate A still further object of my invention resides in the provision cfa device o-f the character described that is simple' in construction, eflicient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims fo-rming a part of this specification.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side .eleva-I tional view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of my invention, illustrating especially the construction of the intermittent gear as well as the means for removably mounting the gears on the rear axle or driven shaft for obviating shocks and jars likely to be transmitted thereto upon the meshing of the gears; Fig. 4: is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a compartment for receiving the means for transmitting power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, the dotted lines showing the position assumed by the means for maintaining the gears out of mesh with each other when it is desired to use the device in the ordinary manner; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating to advantage the improved means for controlling the transmission of power to the carriage wheels, the dotted lines indicating the position assumed by the improved means when the device is being used in the ordinary manner. e

t Referring more particularlyto the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a carriage comprising a body l, having a bottom 2, side pieces 3 and end pieces 4, the body being rotatably supported by means of wheels 5 rigidly carried on the rotatably mounted forward aXle 6 and rear aXle or driven shaft 7.

In order to automatically actuate the carriage alternately in opposite directions, I have rotatably mounted a shaft 8 through the lower portion of the front end piece 4L and a suitable bearing 9 carried on the under surfaces of the bottom 2, the shaft 8 being arranged longitudinally thereof and having its respective terminals 'extending through and being positioned beyond its journals. Disposed yabout the shaft 8 which constitutes the driving shaft of the carriage is a coil spring 10, one end of which is rigidly connectedl tothe shaft; the other end of which is rigidly connected to the forward end piece as illustrated to advantage in Fig.

2 of the accompanying drawings. A crank 110 handle 11 is removably associated with the projecting end of the shaft and constitutes a suitable means for rotating the shaft and consequently winding the spring. A large gear 12 is rigidly mounted on the opposite projecting end of the shaft, the gear extending through transverse slots 13 in the bottom and positioned partly within the rectangular casing 14C in the rear end of the body.

In order to transmit powerfrom the driving shaft 7, .I have rotatably mounted another shaft 15 in the casing, one end being journaled within the peculiarly formed opening 16 in one end of the casing, the opposite end being rotatably mounted in the controlling means for the transmission means, the construction of which controlling means is to be hereinafter described. A pinion 17 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 15 and arranged in mesh with the large gear 12 so that when the shaft 8 is rotated the gear 12 will consequently rotate the shaft 15 through the medium of the gear 17. Also mounted in the shaft 15 in spaced relation to the pinion 17 is another gear 18 which is arranged in mesh with the pinion 19 rigidly carried by a stub shaft 20 rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 2l, Asecured to the under surface of the bottom about the transverse slot 22 through which operates the pinion 19. This stub shaft 2O projects beyond one of the bearing brackets 21 toward the driven shaft 7 and has rigidly mounted thereon my improved intermittent beveled gear 23, the gear operating in a transversely extending slot 24 in the bottom 2. The beveled gear 23, which is automatically rotated, alternately engages the beveled gears 25 and 26 disposed on the axle 7 and arranged within the longitudinally projecting terminals of the transverse slot 24. In order to absorb shocks and jars likely to be imparted to the gears 25 and 26 when they are meshed by the intermittent beveled gear 23, I have disposed coil springs 27 about the rear axle or driven shaft 7, the respective ends of which springs are rigidly connected to the shaft 7 and the respective gears.

In order to control the transmission of power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, I have provided my hereinbefore mentioned controlling means, which in this instance consists essentially of a substantially rectangular plate 28, one end of which is pivoted by means of a suitable fastening device 29 to the inner surface of the rear end of the body within the casing 16, the opposite or free end of the plate being provided with a longitudinally arranged slot 30 in which is engaged the laterally extending lug 31 of the key 32 rotatably mounted in any preferred manner in the rear end of the body, the linger pieceY of the key being arranged exteriorly of the rear end so as to be readily engageable by one hand of the operator when desired. Since one end of the shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in the opening 33 in the pivotally mounted plate 28, it will be readily appreciated that when the key 32 is rotated, the free end of the lug will engage the Lipper side of the slot thus swinging the. plate upwardly about its pivot and consequently causing the gear 13 to be disengaged from the pinion 19. When the controlling means is in this position, the body may be moved in any direction in the usual manner through the medium of a handle 3i which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the sides 3, care being taken that the intermittent beveled gear be arranged when the controlling means is being actuated in such a manner that the teeth thereon will not be engaged by the beveled gears 25 and 26.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Assuming that it is desired to automatically acuate the carriage back and forth over a predetermined area of ground, the crank handle 11 is rotated so that the spring 10 can be wound. The key 32 is now actuated so that the shaft 15 will move downwardly causing the pinion 17 to engage the large gear 12 on the driving shaft and the gear 18 to mesh with the pinion 19 on the stub shaft whereupon rotary motion is consequently imparted from the shaft 8 to the shaft 15 and thence to the stub shaft 20 through the medium of the gears in the manner mentioned. The intermittent beveled gear carried by the stub shaft consequently alternately engages the yieldingly mounted beveled gears 25 and 26. Assuming that the intermittent beveled gear 23 is being rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the teeth thereof being in mesh with the beveled gear 26 cause the same to move rearwardly, which rearward movement lasts until the teeth of the beveled gear have become. disengaged from the beveled gear 26 duringits rotation, whereupon the teeth of the intermittent beveled gear 23 will now engage the beveled gear 25 and cause the same to move forwardly, thus producing aydevice that is automatically operated to alternately move forwardly and rearwardly over a predetermined area of ground obviating inconvenience and forming an efficient labor saving arrangement.

Although I have shown'and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details shown; however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the novel means for automatically actuating the carriage through the medium of the intermittent gear forward and backward over a predetermined area as well as the novel imparting power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft or rear axle. Great stress is also laid upon the means for controlling the transmission of the power between the driving and the driven shafts.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost. y

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A perambulator including a driving shaft rotatably mounted thereon, resilient means for actuating the driving shaft, a

driven shaft, means for transmitting motionv from the driving shaft to the driven shaft for intermittently engaging the driven shaft for propelling the body forwardly and rearwardly during the operation of the driven shaft, shock absorbing means associated with the driven shaft, and means for controlling the operation of the transmitting means between the shafts.

2. A perambulator including a body, forward and rear axles rotatably mounted thereon, wheels carried by the axles, a driving shaft rotatably mounted on the body, means for transmitting power to the driving shaft, said rear axle constituting a driven shaft, an intermittent gear for trans# mitting motion to the rear axle for alternately moving the body forwardly and rearwardly during the operation of the driving shaft, and means for controlling the actuation of the intermittent gear. 4

3. A perambulator including a body, forward and rear axles mounted thereon, said rear axle constituting a driven shaft, wheels carried by said axles, a driving shaft rotatably mounted on the body, a coil spring disposed about the driving shaft, means for winding the spring consequently imparting power to the driving shaft, a` rotatably mounted intermittent beveled gear, means for transmitting power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft for removably disengaging the transmitting means from the intermittent gear for propelling the vehicle alternately forwardly and rearwardly, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for means for controlling the operation of the driven shaft.

4. A perambulator including a body, forward and rear axles rotatably mounted thereon, said rear axle constituting a driven shaft, wheels rotatably mounted on said axles, a driving shaft, a stub shaft rotatably mounted on the body, an intermittent beveled gear carried by the stub shaft, a rotatably mounted shaft arranged above the driven shaft, and operatively and removably connected with the driven shaft and with the stub shaft for transmitting motion from the driven shaft to the stub shaft to consequently cause the intermittent beveled gear to rotate the drivenshaft for propelling the vehicle alternately forwardly and rearwardly.

5. A perambulator including a body,for l.

ward and Vrear axles rotatably mounted thereon, said rear axle constituting a driven shaft, a driving shaft, a stub shaft rotatably mounted on the body between the driving and driven shaft, an intermittent beveled gear carried by the stub shaft and adapted for imparting an alternate rotary movement to the driven vehicle shaft, another shaft rotatably mounted above the driven shaft, and arranged to transmit motion from the driving shaft, and means for moving the last mentioned shaft upwardly out of operative connection with the shaft to permit of the use of the perambulator in the usual manner.

6. A perambulator including a body, forward and rear axles rotatably mounted thereon, said rear axle constituting a driven shaft, beveled gears yieldingly mounted on the driven shaft, wheels rotatably mounted on the said axles, a driving shaft, means for imparting power to the driving shaft, a large gear carried by the driving shaft, another shaft rotatably mounted on the body, a pinion carried by said second mentioned shaft for engagement with the large gear, another gear mounted on said last mentioned shaft, a stub shaft mounted on said body, a pinion carried by said stub shaft for engagement with the gear on the second mentioned shaft, an intermittent beveled gear carried by said stub shaft for alternately engaging the beveled gears on the rear axle for moving the vehicle forwardly and rearwardly during the operation of the driving shaft, and means for moving' said second mentioned shaft to disengage said gears and pinions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO C. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

EARL DYER, W. H. TAYLOR.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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