Patent Grant
7287712
This invention relates to transmission devices having a rotary input shaft and oscillating output shaft, including a device to change the angle of oscillation, such as used in rotary sprinkler heads for irrigation where water causes the sprinkler to rotate in order to provide water precipitation over a desired area.
Oscillating transmission devices for rotatable sprinklers have been known in the prior art for use in irrigation. Patents setting forth a background for this invention are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,038,666; 3,107,056; 3,645,451; 3,713,584; 3,724,757; 3,854,664; 4,272,024; 4,353,507; 4,568,024; 4,624,412; 4,625,914; 4,634,052; 3,383,647; 3,526,363; and 5,115,977.
Patent application Ser. No. 932,470, filed Nov. 18, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,370, for “A TRANSMISSION DEVICE HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE OSCILLATING OUTPUT”; patent application Ser. No. 037,704, filed Apr. 13, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,867, 378, for a “SPRINKLER DEVICE”; patent application Ser. No. 183,071, filed Apr. 19, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,924, for a “SPRINKLER DEVICE WITH ANGULAR CONTROL”; patent application Ser. No. 245,126, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,542, for a “REVERSING TRANSMISSION FOR OSCILLATING SPRINKLERS”; and patent application Ser. No. 626,993, filed Dec. 13, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,991, for a “GEAR DRIVEN TRANSMISSION FOR OSCILLATING SPRINKLER”, all filed by Carl L. C. Kah, Jr., are related to this divisional application of patent application Ser. No. 08/269,342.
Patent application Ser. No. 932,470, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,370, discusses the need to maintain a continuous bias on the reversing transmission's gear cage which alternately shifts a pair of terminal gears carried on a gear cage assembly into and out of engagement with an output shaft ring gear during the period that a reversing toggle is being moved over its reversing overcenter position. Maintaining a bias on the driving terminal gear insures that it will not become disengaged during stopping or starting of the drive when the reversing toggle bias has been lifted off.
Also disclosed was a reversing gear drive configuration in which the driving pinion was always engaging the output gear with the reaction force on the driving terminal pinion gear tending to hold the driving gears in engagement with the driving input gear during driving in either direction and input shaft torque is not applied to the shiftable gear cage in a manner to cause the gear cage to be disengaged in either of its driving engagement positions.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,991, issued Sep. 22, 1992, several oscillating sprinkler drive configurations are shown having a shiftable gear cage bias means for continuously biasing the gear cage towards one driving engagement direction or the other up to the moment the gear cage is shifted overcenter.
An object of this invention is to have a transmission for alternately driving an output gear to oscillate it, by one driving gear and then another, with spring means being provided to prevent the transmission from being placed in an “off” position with neither driving gear positioned to drive the output gear upon starting.
Another object of this invention is to have an oscillating transmission with a pivoted gear cage having two drive gears, a first clockwise drive gear and a second counter-clockwise drive gear, for alternate driving engagement with an output gear to oscillate it, a first and second overcenter spring, means act on said gear cage in one direction to place one drive gear into driving engagement with said output gear while placing said other drive gear out of driving engagement. To reverse the position of the drive gears, the first spring means has its biasing force removed from the gear cage to be placed in an overcenter position to bias the gear cage in the opposite direction so that the other drive gear can be placed in driving engagement with said output gear and the one drive gear can be placed out of driving engagement, said second spring means retaining the one drive gear in driving engagement until the first spring means is biasing the gear cage to the reverse position and has overcome the second spring means to place it in an overcenter position; the second spring means thus acts together with the first spring means to pivot said gear cage to its reverse position. The second overcenter spring means insures that during the time that the pivoted gear cage is not being biased by the first overcenter spring means that it remains in one driving position or the other, and cannot be left in a “dead-center” position where neither of the two drive gears is in driving engagement with said output gear.
A further object of this invention is to provide an oscillating transmission which has an angular positioning member for directly setting the oscillating angle and a shaft with an adjusting, or setting, slot accessible on the top of an oscillating output cap. The slot has an arrowhead at one end indicating the position of an adjustable reversing actuator within the transmission, and an arrowhead is placed on the top of the output cap indicating the position of a fixed reversing actuator within the transmission. Indicia representing angles can be placed around the output cap to aid in positioning the setting slot at a desired angle. The ability to look at the adjustable angular selection dial and see at a glance what arc a particular unit is set for, provides an enhanced marketability for products using this drive, especially in the sprinkler field. When used as a sprinkler device, the sprinkler devices can be removed from a lawn location for cleaning or inspection and when it is desired to reinstall the sprinkler device, the desired angle of oscillation can easily be set by simply looking at the top of the device and if it is not already properly set, a rotatable member can be pointed at the desired angle position indicated on the top of the sprinkler device.
Another object of this invention is to provide for a driving connection between a rotating input shaft and an output gear for oscillating the output gear and providing for changing the angle of oscillation. The output gear has a fixed projection thereon to reverse rotation at one side of the angle and a cylindrical member mounted for rotation with said output gear has an adjustable projection to reverse rotation at the other side of this angle, relative rotation of said cylindrical member with said output gear changing said angle of oscillation.
A further object of this invention is to provide an oscillating transmission having a ring gear mounted for rotation with means for oscillating said ring gear; a toggle means reverses the rotation of said ring gear from one direction to the other, with contact means rotated by said ring gear engaging said toggle means to reverse rotation from one direction to the other, said contact means are two projecting members, with means mounting said two projecting members for relative movement to vary the angle at which said toggle means is actuated, said one projecting member being mounted on said ring gear while said other projecting member is mounted for rotation within said ring gear. Means connect said other projecting member to said ring gear for being driven thereby to contact said toggle means to reverse rotation of said ring gear, and means disconnect said other projecting member from said ring gear when said other projecting member is rotated to vary the angle between the projecting members.
An object of this invention is to provide a transmission having an oscillating output ring gear with a hollow shaft at the center thereof, said oscillating hollow shaft providing the output of the transmission such as by a gear attached thereto, a cylindrical member being mounted for rotation with said hollow shaft, an adjustable projection extending from said cylindrical member to serrations on the interior of said ring gear for contacting an actuating means to reverse transmission direction, said serrations connecting said adjustable projection to said ring gear for being driven thereby, said serrations providing for relative movement when said cylindrical member is rotated to vary the angle of rotation; said cylindrical member can be rotated directly through the hollow shaft.
Another object of this invention is to provide a torque-limiting member between said cylindrical member and said hollow shaft for providing for rotation of said cylindrical member without placing undue forces on any other operating parts.
Another object of this invention is to provide an oscillating transmission having an oscillating ring gear with a hollow shaft at the center thereof, said oscillating hollow shaft providing the output of the transmission, a nozzle head oscillated by said ring gear for receiving a flow of water through said transmission.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved oscillating drive having a reversing gear cage and toggle device mounted on a base member for oscillation, said gear cage having two spaced driving gears always engaging an output gear with one spaced driving gear having an idler gear, either driving gear is driven by a spur gear on an input shaft located in the space between one driving gear and idler gear to drive the output gear, said input shaft extending through said space from said base member with a sleeve therearound with said gear cage having an elongated opening around said sleeve, the length of the elongated opening determining the engagement of the teeth of the spur gear with its cooperating driving gear or idler gear to prevent excessive or unnecessary interaction between the gears.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved oscillating drive having a reversing gear cage wherein said gear cage is alternately biased by first biasing means in one or the other of two driving positions to provide for oscillating movement, second means being provided for biasing said gear cage in one of said directions to maintain a driving engagement when said first biasing means has been removed.
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved oscillating drive having a reversing gear cage with two spaced driving gears always engaging an output gear; either driving gear is driven by an input shaft, located in the space between the driving gears, to drive the output gear; the reaction force on the driving gear tends to hold the reversing gear cage and driving gear into engagement with the input shaft.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved oscillating drive having a toggle device mounted on a base member for oscillation, stops are provided between said toggle device and base member for (1) limiting the biasing load on gears during operation; and (2) providing ease of spring insertion during assembly.
A further object of the invention is to apply the important concept of continuous gear cage engaging bias toward driving engagement for reversing transmissions used in oscillating sprinkler drives to ensure proper operation under all conditions of operation, setting, handling, and installation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified shiftable pinion gear configurations in which, the shiftable gear cage which now is only a shiftable gear carrier for a single driving pinion gear and which remains in constant engagement with the output ring gear is shifted about the output ring gear center to engage one or the other of two counter rotating input shafts to achieve the reverse driving action. An overcenter driving engaging bias is provided which will insure the proper driving position of the driving pinion carrier until shifted to its reversed position by a shifting arm which has a lost motion connection to allow the shifting arm to be moved over it's overcenter biasing spring position before it engages the carrier to shift it out of driving engagement and carry it over its center so that the gear cage carrier's overcenter bias can then be applied in the reversed direction to carry the gear cage (carrier) into its full driving position in a reversed driving direction and maintain the driving pinion gear in proper reverse driving position until again shifted to provide driving engagement in the opposite direction.
Another transmission configuration is also shown where the reversing toggle's overcenter bias is a single spring and is also used to directly bias the gear cage assembly in its driving position in either direction. At the bias spring neutral center position of the reversing toggle, any gear cage movement towards premature disengagement of the driving terminal gear changes the overcenter relationship of the single overcenter reversing biasing spring, (acting on the single driving pinion gear cage (carrier)) to reverse the direction of its engaging bias and causes the driving pinion gear cage (carrier) to be shifted to its reversed driving position causing the desired reversing action while maintaining the driving engaging bias up to the moment of the reversing action occurring and then reapplying it in the reversed direction.
A third transmission configuration is shown where the overcenter carry action of a shifting arm is provided by the deflection of a spring member which carries the driving pinion gear cage (carrier) member overcenter once it has been driven out of driving engagement by the action of one of the arc control contact members being driven against the spring member shifting arm.
Because of the need to minimize the outside diameter of the gear drive assembly to reduce the sprinklers housing size and pressure surface and the central flow area needed to get water to the sprinklers oscillating nozzle a very compact and simple reversing gear arrangement is needed. Also the sprinkler mechanism needs to operate reliably for a long period of time in a very harsh environment of dirt and dirty water with no corrective attention. It is an object of this invention to provide improved and simplified reversing drive means for oscillation nozzle sprinklers for high reliability and more liberal manufacturing tolerances and ease of reliable product assembly.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved oscillating drive reversing gear mechanism with two oppositely rotating input shaft is spaced apart with a shiftable gear carrier (cage) for a single driving pinion gear which is shifted between engagement with one or the other of the counter rotating input shafts and the output drive gear to achieve the reversing drive of the output shaft. The reaction force of the driving gear on the driving pinion gear and shiftable gear cage carrier tends to hold the reversing gear cage and driving gear into engagement with the input gear in either of its driving positions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable, simplified oscillation sprinkler transmission where the reversing gearing may be replaced by a friction rubber wheel drive to provide a friction driving connection between the input shaft and the output drive means. This can also provide the clutching action to prevent damage to the gear drive if the nozzle and output shaft is force rotated. The manufacturing tolerances would also be much less restrictive for a friction drive than a pure reversing gear drive and have substantially fewer parts than the slip clutch to output shaft arrangement described and shown for the pure gear drive. These features are a further object of the invention.
Referring to
Base member 4 has an opening 10 therethrough positioned to one side for receiving a rotary input shaft 12. Rotary input shaft 12 can be driven by a fluid turbine. The upper part 14 of the opening 10 is enlarged to receive an annular flange 16 on the input shaft 12. A reversing gear cage 18 is positioned within said cylindrical housing 2 adjacent said base member 4 and the reversing gear cage 18 is formed having a top plate 20 and a bottom plate 22 with cooperating center openings 21 and 23, respectively. The bottom plate 22 has an opening 24 therein to receive the rotary input shaft 12, the upper end of which is formed as a spur gear 26. A cylindrical shaft 28 extends downwardly from the bottom of the bottom plate 22 around opening 24 and extends into the upper part 14 of the opening 10 to provide for pivotal movement of the reversing gear cage 18 while the cylindrical shaft 28 properly positions the input shaft 12 and spur gear 26 above the top of the bottom plate 22 by enclosing the annular flange 16. An integral shaft 25 extends downwardly from the bottom of top plate 20 to engage a cylindrical opening 27 extending downwardly from the top of input shaft 12 through the centerline of the spur gear 26.
As shown in
Two gears 42 and 44 are mounted on integral shafts 46 and 48 extending downwardly from top plate 20 of the reversing gear cage 18 and they extend in a clockwise direction from the integral shaft 25. Integral shaft 46 is positioned so that gear 42 will engage the spur gear 26 and shaft 48 is positioned so that gear 44 engages gear 42 and extends outwardly over the edges of top plate 20 and bottom plate 22 so that it can drivingly engage said output ring gear 50. Integral shafts 36, 38, 40, 46 and 48 of top plate 20 extend into matched openings in bottom plate 22 and have a snap engagement at their ends with said openings to fix said top plate 20 and bottom plate 22 of the reversing gear cage 18 together.
A hollow actuating post 60 extends upwardly from the top of the bottom plate 22 at a point on the other side of the center opening 23 from the opening 24, and on a radial line passing through the center of the opening 24; said arrangement permits arcuate movement of hollow actuating post 60 about the center of opening 24, cylindrical shaft 28 and spur gear 26, as reversing gear cage 18 is moved between its clockwise driving position and counter-clockwise driving position. A short integral shaft 62 extends downwardly from the bottom of top plate 20 to have snap engagement with the hollow actuating post 60.
It can be seen that when the reversing gear cage 18 is positioned clockwise around input shaft 12, as shown in
To bias the reversing gear cage 18 in a clockwise direction to have gear 34 engage ring gear 50, or bias the reversing gear cage 18 in a counter-clockwise direction to have gear 44 engage ring gear 50 for oscillating movement of output ring gear 50, a reversing toggle device 64 is positioned between the top plate 20 and bottom plate 22 of reversing gear cage 18. The reversing toggle device 64 is formed having a C-shape with an arcuate inner surface 66 greater than 180 degrees for rotation about a cylindrical member 68, extending through the center openings 21 and 23 of top plate 20 and bottom plate 22 of reversing gear cage 18. Cylindrical member 68 will be hereinafter discussed as to its structure and use.
The C-shape of reversing toggle device 64 has two arms 70 and 72 with spring seat notches on their outer surface at 74 and 76, respectively; said spring seat notches 74 and 76 being 180 degrees apart. Cooperating spring seat notches 78 and 80 are placed on projections 82 and 84, extending upwardly from the top surface of base member 4, adjacent the gear teeth of output ring gear 50. The spring seat notches 78 and 80 are located on a diametrical line through the centerline of the cylindrical housing 2, said diametrical line being 90 degrees to a line passing between the center of opening 24 of bottom plate 22 and the centerline of the cylindrical housing 2.
An overcenter spring means 90 extends between spring seat notch 74 on reversing toggle device 64 and spring seat notch 78 on projection 82 of base member 4, and a cooperating overcenter spring means 92 extends between spring seat notch 76 on reversing toggle device 64 and spring seat notch 80 on projection 84 of base member 4. Spring means 90 and 92 bias reversing toggle device 64 in a clockwise direction as viewed in
Reversing toggle device 64 has a relatively wide radial arm 86 extending outwardly from the center portion thereof between the arms 70 and 72, to a location spaced inwardly from the gear teeth of ring gear 50. An arcuate opening 88 is placed in said radial arm 86 at a radius to receive the hollow actuating post 60 of the reversing gear cage 18.
Movement of toggle device 64 in either clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to just over its centerline position, reverses the biasing direction of each overcenter spring means 90 and 92, changing the biased position of toggle device 64. Toggle device 64 has an end of arcuate opening 88 which contacts hollow actuating post 60 to bias the reversing gear cage 18 in the same direction as the toggle device 64 changing the reversing gear cage 18 drive connection to output ring gear 50. It can be seen that this movement of toggle device 64 controls movement of reversing gear cage 18 between clockwise and counter-clockwise movement.
The radial arm 86 of reversing toggle device 64 has an upstanding projection 94 for rotating said toggle device 64 in a counter-clockwise direction and an outwardly extending radial projection 96 for rotating said toggle device 64 in a clockwise direction to move it to the overcenter position where the overcenter spring means 90 and 92 take over and bias the toggle device 64 and, in turn, reversing gear cage 18 to its engaged position with output ring gear 50. Upstanding projection 94 extends upwardly from the end of the top of radial arm 86 to a point above the teeth of the ring gear, and the outwardly extending radial projection 96 extends from the bottom of the radial arm 86 and under the output ring gear 50 adjacent its lower edge. Actuation of projection 94 and 96 will be hereinafter described.
To maintain a biasing force on reversing gear cage 18 at all times, to keep a driving gear 34 or 44 into engagement with ring gear 50, a downwardly projecting member 31 is located on the bottom of bottom plate 22 of the reversing gear cage 18 and extends into a recess 33 formed in the top of base member 4. Downwardly projecting member 31 is positioned below the actuating post 60 with a spring seat notch 35 facing outwardly along a radial line through the center of cylindrical shaft 28. A cooperating spring seat notch 37 is positioned on the outer wall of recess 33 on a line passing through the center of cylindrical shaft 28 and the center of the cylindrical housing 2. An overcenter spring means 39 extends between spring seat notch 35 on downwardly projecting member 31 and spring seat notch 37 on the outer wall of recess 33. Overcenter spring means 39 (and spring means 90 and 92) are formed from ribbon-like spring material, for example, steel, and shaped with an intermediate arcuate portion and oppositely directed straight portions to engage spring seat notches. Each end of the straight portions have serrations 41 to grip the spring seat notches. Overcenter spring means of this type, and others, are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,713,584; 3,724,757; and 3,107,056. Other types of overcenter spring means can be used. The biasing force of overcenter spring means 39 is made less than the combined biasing force of overcenter spring means 90 and 92, so that overcenter spring means 39 will only maintain the driving gear of reversing gear cage 18 in engagement until the overcenter spring means 90 and 92 actually go over center and force the toggle device 64 to the other side, the toggle device 64 contacting the actuating post 60 of the reversing gear cage 18 to carry the reversing gear cage 18 with it, breaking loose the driving gear from ring gear 50, at which time spring means 90 and 92 overpower the spring means 39, carrying the gear cage 18 overcenter to reverse the biasing force of spring means 39, spring means 90, 92, and 39, biasing the opposite driving gear of gear cage 18 into engagement. This prevents the reversing gear cage 18 from becoming positioned with both drive gears 34 and 44 out of engagement with ring gear 50. The reversing gear cage spring means 39 thus ensures that the drive gear of the reversing gear cage 18 remains engaged with ring gear 50 during stopping and starting torque changes through the range of rotational arcs where the gear cage 18 is not biased by the toggle device 64 loading against post 60 to hold the drive train in engagement.
Output ring gear 50 and cylindrical member 68 are mounted for rotation with each other in cylindrical housing 2 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. A fixed projection 100 extends downwardly from the bottom edge of output ring gear 50 to contact the outwardly extending radial projection 96 when ring gear 50 is being driven in a clockwise direction by gear 44 of reversing gear cage 18 (see
An angularly adjustable radial projection 200 extends radially from an annular flange 102 on top of cylindrical member 68 to contact the upstanding projection 94 of toggle device 64 when ring gear 50 and annular flange 102 are being driven in a counterclockwise direction by gear 34 of reversing gear cage 18 (see
Output member 49 includes a cylindrical shaft member 51 with a radial flange 53 extending outwardly from a midportion thereof. A cylindrical flange 55 extends downwardly from the end of the radial flange 53, with output ring gear 50 being formed at the bottom thereof. Cylindrical shaft member 51 has an upper hollow output shaft portion 51A extending upwardly through opening 8 to the exterior of the cover 6 and a lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B extending into cylindrical member 68.
The upper hollow output shaft portion 51A forms an annular groove 104 with the top of cover 6. An annular resilient sealing member 106 is located in said groove 104. An output cap 108 is placed over the end of upper hollow output shaft portion 51A with its lower end enclosing the annular resilient sealing member 106. The output cap 108 is fixed to the upper hollow output shaft portion 51A by a pin 110. Other desired fixing means can be used.
The upper surface of radial flange 53 of output member 49 has a raised portion adjacent said upper hollow output shaft portion 51A on which a thrust washer 57 is placed to engage the inner surface of integral cover 6. The lower surface of radial flange 53 has a cooperating contour with the top surface of annular flange 102 on the top of cylindrical member 68 to limit the angular movement between the mating flanges 53 and 102.
An annular notch 69 is formed in the inner end of annular flange 102 facing the lower surface of radial flange 53 and upper part of cylindrical portion 51B. An annular resilient sealing member 71 is positioned in annular notch 69 to seal the gear housing from pressure in the annular passage through the central shaft area.
A slight rounded projection 73 extends from the top of top plate 20 of reversing gear cage 18 over integral shaft 25 to properly space it from the bottom of annular flange 102.
An annular groove 63 is placed in the top surface of annular flange 102, with an integral stop member 65 being placed therein. Said integral stop member 65 is positioned in said annular groove 63 a few degrees counter-clockwise of the adjustable radial projection 200 (see
A plurality of serrations 59 extend around the inner circumference of cylindrical flange 55 between the radial flange 53 of output member 49 and the internal teeth of ring gear 50. Serrations 59 are positioned to engage an angular holding pointer 61 on the adjacent end of angularly adjustable radial projection 200.
The lower part of cylindrical member 68 is formed having a smaller cylindrical section 68A, said smaller cylindrical section 68A forming an inner annular step 75 where it meets the upper larger portion of cylindrical member 68, and an outer rounded step 77. To receive the lower end of cylindrical member 68 and smaller cylindrical section 68A, base member 4 has a second opening 79 therethrough axially aligned with outlet opening 8. Second opening 79 has a small portion 81 of reduced diameter forming an annular step 83, and a small end portion 85 of a further reduced diameter which is threaded forming an annular step 87.
The upper part of cylindrical member 63 engages second opening 79 and smaller cylindrical section 68A engages the reduced diameter of portion 81 with the bottom end of smaller cylindrical section 68A engaging annular step 87. This forms an annular chamber between annular step 83 and outer rounded step 77. An annular resilient sealing member 89 is placed in said chamber against annular step 83, and a seal retaining ring 91 is placed between said sealing member 89 and the rounded step 77. This provides for proper positioning of cylindrical member 68 in cylindrical housing 2 and provides for sealing at that point. An adaptor 93 is threaded in opening 85 having an opening 95 therethrough for directing a liquid, such as water, into cylindrical section 68A, if desired.
An angular positioning member 3 interconnects the lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B and cylindrical member 68 to set a desired angular position therebetween to control the oscillating angular movement of upper hollow output shaft portion 51A. Said lower cooperating cylindrical portion 513 extends into cylindrical member 68 approximately one-half of the distance to annular step 75. The inner surface of the upper portion of cylindrical member 68 has four equally spaced longitudinal turning grooves 5 extending from the annular notch 69 to the inner annular step 75. Angular positioning member 3 has a centerbody 7 with four equally spaced vane members 9 thereon. The lower portion of the vane members 9 extend into the cooperating grooves 5 from the bottom thereof up to approximately the lower end of lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B. The vane members 9 are integrally attached to centerbody 7 up to this point. The vane members 9 then taper inwardly and extend upwardly as four individual projections 11 into the lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B. This cylindrical portion 51B has serrations 13 therearound for engagement by tapered, or pointed, outer ends 15 on projections 11 to connect angular positioning member 3 to cylindrical portion 51B of output member 49.
Centerbody 7 of angular positioning member 3 has crossed slots 112 aligned with vane members 9 to receive the flat paddle 114 of an angular positioning or setting shaft 116. Angular positioning shaft 116 extends through output cap 108, presenting a small adjusting, or setting, slot 118 to the top of the output cap 108; said small slot having an indicating arrowhead at one end indicating the position of the angularly adjustable radial projection 200, while an indicating arrowhead on the output cap 108 indicates the position of the fixed projection 100. An annular flange 121 on angular positioning shaft 116 prevents the flat paddle 114 from becoming accidentally disconnected. A seal 124 extends between the output cap 108 and angular positioning shaft 116.
Gear teeth 120 are located around the output cap 108 to provide an external drive. An opening 122 is provided in output cap 108 to serve as a nozzle opening and it is aligned with the fixed projection 100. Angular degree settings can be inscribed in the top surface of the output cap 108 to set a desired oscillating angle.
In driving operation, input shaft 12 turns clockwise driving output ring gear 50 in an oscillating motion through a predetermined angle set by adjusting slot 118. This angle is shown as 180 degrees in the Figures. Starting from
During the driving operation, fixed projection 100 is directly driven by ring gear 50 but angularly adjustable radial projection 200 is driven by ring gear 50 through serrations 59 and 13. Output member 49 has an equal number of serrations 59 and 13 above ring gear 50 and in cylindrical portion 51B, respectively. Angularly adjustable radial projection 200 has the angular holding pointer 61 on its outer end providing a direct driving connection with one serration of serrations 59, so ring gear 50 can drive the angularly adjustable radial projection 200. This angularly adjustable radial projection 200 has a special contour 204 on each side to mate with a contour 97 on upstanding projection 94. As contour 204 is driven against contour 97, the angular holding pointer 61 is held in its proper angle setting serration 59. This action is obtained by an angled surface 206 on the end of angularly adjustable radial projection 200 which extends outwardly in the direction of movement of the ring gear 50 to engage a mating angled surface 98 on upstanding projection 94. These angled surfaces 206 and 98 prevent the angular holding pointer 61 from bending in the direction the serrations 59 are moving and therefore preventing a serration 59 from being pulled over the angular holding pointer 61. This action is employed to self-lock the output cap to its last set position in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions of movement of ring gear 50.
Angularly adjustable radial projection 200, extending from annular flange 102, has inner cylindrical member 68 providing an indirect driving connection with serrations 13 through which ring gear 50 can drive the annular flange 102 and angularly adjustable radial projection 200. Angular positioning member 3 interconnects lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B to cylindrical member 68 through serrations 13 in lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B and cooperating grooves 5 in cylindrical member 68. Tapered, or pointed, outer ends 15 on projections 11 extend into serrations 13 and the ends of vane members 9 extend into the cooperating grooves 5.
Rotation of lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51A turns serrations 13 which then rotate the ends 15 of projections 11 of angular positioning member 3; this rotates vane members 9 and cylindrical member 68 with its radial projection 200. Rotation of cylindrical member 68 through serrations 13 provides for slippage prevention. As lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51A rotates, or drives, angular positioning member 3, the ends of vane members 9 in grooves 5 are dragged slightly rearwardly by cylindrical member 68, placing a slight curve in the ends 15 of projections 11. The serrations 13 push, or bite, into the ends 15 and tend to have a fixed relationship, and prevent slippage and overriding. This arrangement also aids in maintaining the preset angular setting indicated on the output cap 108.
To set the angle between the fixed projection 100 and angularly adjustable radial projection 200, the adjusting slot 118 is observed to note the indicated angular setting. If the new desired angular setting is larger than the indicated setting, the output cap 108 can be held and the slot 118 moved clockwise to the larger desired oscillating angle. In all but one case, the angular setting can be made larger by merely holding the output cap 108 and pointing the arrowhead of slot 118 at the larger angle position. In this one case, the angle is set as described below for a smaller angular setting. In
Movement of slot 118 rotates setting shaft 116 and flat paddle 114 clockwise. Flat paddle 114 rotates angular positioning member 3 and in turn cylindrical member 68 through vane members 9 and cooperating grooves 5. Tapered outer ends 15 on projections 11 are forced over the serrations 13, aided by bending of vane members 9 by the drag on the ends of vane members 9 in grooves 5, and angular holding pointer 61 on angularly adjustable radial projection 200 is forced over the serrations 59 to a new cooperating position with the serrations for the new angular setting.
If the new desired angular setting is smaller than the indicated setting, the output cap 108 is rotated clockwise as far as it will go with cooperating stop projection 67 engaging integral stop member 65, if it will rotate clockwise at all; if the output cap 108 cannot be rotated clockwise, it is rotated counter-clockwise as far as it will go, to actuate toggle member 64, and then rotated clockwise as far as it will go, as mentioned above. From this clockwise position the output cap 108 can be held and the slot 118 moved clockwise to the smaller desired oscillating angle.
Movement of slot 118 rotates shaft 116 and flat paddle 114 as before, to force the tapered outer ends 15 and angular holding pointer 61, over the serrations 13 and 59, respectively, to the new angular setting.
In the setting of the oscillating angle by turning the setting shaft 116, if the motion of cylindrical member 68 is restricted and the setting shaft 116 turned with excessive force, the vane members 9 will bend out of grooves 5, preventing any breakage by forcing setting shaft 116 (see
The output cap 108 can have its oscillating motion connected to a device requiring an oscillating input by a gear meshing with gear teeth 120. Other drive means can be used, such as pullies.
If it is desired to use the transmission device 1 as an oscillating sprinkler head, a liquid such as water, can drive a turbine connected to input shaft 12 and then be directed into opening 95. From opening 95 the liquid will pass through the smaller cylindrical section 68A where it enters the larger part of cylindrical member 68 between the four spaced vane members 9. The liquid then flows past individual projections 11 around shaft 116 in the lower cooperating cylindrical portion 51B of cylindrical shaft member 51 into the upper hollow output shaft portion 51A and into the output cap 108. The liquid is directed outwardly from the output cap 108 through the oscillating nozzle opening 122.
The modified transmission device 1A of
In
Added to the modification is a cylindrical member 168A extending into hollow output shaft portion 51A and center cylindrical member 130 for connection to annular flange 102A to mount it for rotation in output ring gear 50 and provide for rotating the flange 102A and adjustable radial projection 200. The connection of adjustable radial projection 200 on flange 102A to ring gear 50 through pointer 61 and serrations 59 is as shown and described for
An annular groove 83A is placed in the top of center cylindrical member 130 around cylindrical member 168A for receiving a seal 89A, and an annular groove 69A is placed in the output member 49 around cylindrical member 168A for receiving a seal 71A.
It can be seen that this modification provides a simple mounting and setting arrangement for flange 102A and adjustable radial projection 200. To indicate the angular setting of the transmission, an indicating arrowhead is placed on the edge of member 108A indicating the position of fixed projection 100, while an arrowhead is placed on one end of slot 118A indicating the position of angularly adjustable radial projection 200.
The driving operation of this modification is the same as that of
As seen in
In this modification, the downwardly projecting member 31B of the bottom plate 22 of the reversing gear cage 18, is formed as approximately a one-half portion of the projecting member 31 of
This requirement is to only move the reversing gear cage 18 in one direction back into engagement after the output shaft 51 has manually been turned clockwise externally forcing the teeth of driving gear 44 out of engagement and removing the biasing force through the toggle device 64. This requirement is for a very small angle of gear cage 18 movement clockwise. Other positions of the gear cage 18, outside of the small angle referred to, permit a gear, 34 or 44, of the gear cage 18 to engage the ring gear 60, by biased toggle device 64 or by torque applied by the spur gear 26 to the gear cage 18. Those gear cage 18 locations are between a first position where radial projection 96 has been moved by fixed projection 100 to remove gear 44 from engaging ring gear 50 while removing the biasing toggle force, and a second position where the end of arcuate opening 88 first permits driving gear 34 to engage ring gear 50 for a driving action.
The cam action biasing configuration of
Another advantage is that the biasing force of this configuration can be designed to remain relatively constant over the movement range that bias is applied. This configuration could, of course, be designed to also provide for bias in the other direction if needed, by putting an angled surface 35B on the other end of downwardly projecting member 31B. The arc through which the bias operates can be predetermined by the length of the angled surface 35B.
The transmission device 1B of
The base member 4B has the recess 33 removed and presents a flat surface 140 around center upstanding cylindrical member 130, for the toggle member 64A to be located on for oscillating movement around center cylindrical member 130. A raised pad 142 on flat surface 140 is arcuate in shape and is positioned to provide a stop surface at either end, equally spaced from the center of spur gear 26A and rotary input shaft 12A, for toggle device 64A, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A bearing sleeve 28A is press fitted into enlarged part 14A of opening 10 over annular flange 16 and projects above the raised pad 142 and flat base plate 144 of toggle device 64A to the bottom of the spur gear 26A to provide a stop surface on two sides for gear cage 18A for a purpose to be hereinafter described.
Toggle device 64A comprises the base plate 144 which is substantially circular in shape having an outer cut-out portion 146 to encompass raised pad 142, having cooperating end stop surfaces to have contact with the ends of raised pad 142 to provide a limiting movement between the reversing toggle device 64A and the base member 4B for operation and assembly. Base plate 144 has two opposed inner cut-out portions 148 and 150, opening to the outer surface of cylindrical member 130. The outer surface of cylindrical member 130 has diametrically opposed spring seat notches 152 and 154; spring seat notch 152 faces cut-out portion 148 and spring seat notch 154 faces cut-out portion 150. The outer portion of cut-out portion 148 has a spring seat 156 and the outer portion of cut-out portion 150 has a spring seat 158, said spring seats 156 and 158 being diametrically opposed and spaced equidistant from spring seats 152 and 154, respectively.
An overcenter spring means 160 extends between spring seat notch 156 on reversing toggle device 64A and spring seat notch 152 on base cylindrical member 130, and a cooperating overcenter spring means 162 extends between spring seat notch 158 on reversing toggle device 64A and spring seat notch 154 on base cylindrical member 130. Spring means 160 and 162 bias reversing toggle device 64A in a clockwise direction as viewed in
The base plate 144 has an upstanding projection 94A for rotating said toggle device 64A in a counter-clockwise direction when contacted by the angularly adjustable radial projection 200, and an outwardly extending radial projection 96A for rotating said toggle device 64A in a clockwise direction when contacted by the fixed projection 100. Another projection 170 extends upwardly from plate 144, radially inward of projection 94A and attached thereto, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Gear cage 18A is formed having a top plate 20A and a bottom plate 22A with cooperating concentric center openings 21A and 23A, respectively, for placing over base cylindrical member 130. Bottom plate 22A rests on the base plate 144 of toggle device 64A. The bottom plate 22A has an elongated opening 24A to receive the rotary input shaft 12A and bearing sleeve 28A, to provide a limiting movement between the gear cage 18A and the base member 4B for operation; this limiting movement being determined by the length of the elongated opening 24A. This distance could limit the travel of the gear teeth of gear 34A or 42A towards engagement with the gear teeth of spur gear 26A. Spur gear 26A extends upwardly from the top of bottom plate 22A to the top plate 20A.
As shown in
Two gears 42A and 44A are mounted on integral shafts 46A and 48A extending downwardly from top plate 20A of the reversing gear cage 18A and they extend in a clockwise direction from the spur gear 26A. Gear 42A is an idler gear and is spaced from gear 34A to permit alternate engagement with spur gear 26A therebetween. Gear 44A is mounted to extend over the edges of top plate 20A and bottom plate 22A so that it engages output ring gear 50. Integral shafts 40A, 46A, and 48A of top plate 20A extend into matched openings in bottom plate 22A and have a snap engagement at their ends.
To provide for the “lost motion” connection of toggle device 64A with respect to rotation of gear cage 18A, an arcuate cut-out 172 is placed on bottom plate 22A to encompass projection 170; the ends of cut-out 172 providing the limits of rotative movement of projection 170, and therefore, relative movement of toggle device 64A with gear cage 18A. Actuating post 60 and arcuate opening 88 provide this “lost motion” connection in the transmission device 1 of
In driving operation, input shaft 12A turns clockwise driving output ring gear 50 in an oscillating motion through a predetermined angle set by adjusting slot 118A. This angle is shown as 180 degrees in the Figures. Starting from
The shiftable gear cage of
With the shifting gear cage arrangement of
In
The outer portion of cut out portion 33B of lower gear cage 22B also has a cooperating spring seat notch 37B. An overcenter gear cage bias spring 39B extends between spring seat notch 35B on the cylindrical member 130 and spring seat notch 37B on lower plate 22B of the gear cage. 18B. Spring 39B now biases the gear cage 18B of this configuration in a clockwise or counterclockwise driving position until positively shifted by the action of the overcenter toggle shifting arm 64 as previously discussed for the reversing configuration of
The gear cage bias incorporated in this manner provides the same advantage for this gear cage as desired and previously described for the toggle device of
As previously explained for the camming surface gear cage biasing spring discussions, once the engaging bias of the reversing toggle device 64 has been removed and not carried over center to be reapplied, if there is no secondary engaging biasing force on the gear cage 18, rotation of the nozzle and output shaft 51 rotates the output gear carrying the driving pinion 34 or 44 of the gear cage out of driving engagement and the drive will not start itself again if left in a neutral position.
The primary reason to have the gear cage bias for this configuration is to allow the sprinkler nozzle to be manually rotated back and forth during installation and arc of oscillation adjustment to verify the ground coverage of the oscillation of the sprinkler. This would be especially true for sprinklers that did not incorporate the feature disclosed in the patent application Ser. No. 932,470, filed Nov. 18, 1986, where the arc of oscillation set is indicated on the top of the sprinkler. As the sprinkler nozzle is manually rotated back and forth the gear cage biasing spring keeps the gear cage driving pinion gear 34C from being carried overcenter and prematurely engaging the other input shaft spur gear 27C stopping the manual rotation of the nozzle turret before it correctly indicates the operating arc of sprinkler coverage which it is needed to know when the sprinkler is being installed.
Another benefit of the gear cage bias spring is that it can carry the gear cage further overcenter into engagement and allow the rotational travel of the shifting arm toggling device to be less than might be required if it were also required to bias the gear cage all the way into full driving engagement of the gearing. The toggle device now functions only as an overcenter carry mechanism for the gear cage bias once the gear cage has been driven out of driving engagement. This additional engagement travel is illustrated in
The widened cut-out opening 172B which provides the lost motion connection between the shifting toggle device 64B and the gear cage 183 then allows the toggle to be further overcenter in the shifting direction for greater overcenter rotational torque by the toggle device 64B produced by its overcenter bias springs 160B and 162B before it again engages the other end 174B of cutout opening 172B to drive the gear cage out of driving engagement counter-clockwise and then over power the remaining bias of the gear cage bias spring 39B to carry it overcenter and achieve the reversing action.
The gear cage 18B is shown being biased fully clockwise with its driving terminal gear 34B engaging input shaft 26B and output shaft ring gear 50B for driving the output shaft in a counter-clockwise direction.
The gear cage 18B biasing spring 39B exerts an engaging bias clockwise as shown against spring notch 37B on the inside surface of cut-out 33B which has been added to the now enlarged gear cage lower plate 22B diameter in this area. The other end of spring 39B is secured in an additional notch 35B in the outside surface of cylindrical member 130.
The pitch diameter of the gear teeth has been increased to have a larger number of smaller teeth in the driving terminal gears and input shaft spur gear and output shaft ring gear.
Gears are shown without teeth in some Figures, showing only the pitch circles and outside diameters for illustration of each of the gears.
The smaller gear teeth allow shifting from driving engagement in a clockwise direction through neutral to a driving direction counter-clockwise to be accomplished with a smaller annular rotation of the gear cage and smaller rotational travel of the shifting toggle.
Larger gear teeth are not required for biting engagement to hold the gear cage in driving engagement as the driving reaction force of the output ring 50B gear through the driving terminal gear 34B center shaft 40B to the shiftable gear cage 18B forces the gear cage in a backward rotational direction toward engagement with the input shaft 26B.
Referring to
Water passes up through the center of the base member 4C through hole 17C in cylindrical member 130C and up through the hollow center of output shaft 51C into the rotating nozzle assembly 3 for ejection out of the nozzle opening 122C.
Base member 4C has an upstanding cylindrical member 130C. There is an annular groove around the inner top surface of upstanding cylindrical member 130C in which a resilient seal 89C is placed to separate the water from direct access to the gear box. Another seal 69C is placed between annular flanges 102C and 53C to prevent dirty water from entering the gear box area.
Base member 4C has two openings 10C and 11C therethrough positioned to one side and circumferentially separated from each other for receiving rotary input shafts 12C and 14C.
Below the surface 140C of base member 4C are two cavities 16C and 17C which intersect to allow gear 13C and 15C on input shafts 12C and 14C to interact and cause input shaft 14C to be driven in a reverse direction to that of input shaft 12C which is connected though its lower shaft 12C to a source of rotational power such as a water turbine enclosed in the lower part of housing 2C. The upper end of each of the counter rotating input shafts 12C and 14C are formed as spur gears 26C and 27C respectively. These spur gears are shown without teeth in
The single shiftable driving gear 34C is carried on the gear cage 18C (shifting carrier) of this invention.
As shown in
The shiftable driving gear 34C is also mounted to extend over the outer edge of lower gear cage 18C rib 30C to engage the output ring gear 50C so that it may drive the output ring gear 50C in a clock wise or counter clockwise direction when it is shifted by gear cage 18C to engage input shaft spur gear 26C or 27C.
A reversing gear cage assembly, or shiftable drive assembly, 18C is positioned within said cylindrical housing 2C adjacent said base member 4C and the reversing gear cage assembly 18C is formed having a top plate 20C and bottom plate 22C with cooperating center openings 21C and 23C, respectively.
The gear cage 18C (shifting gear carrier) of this invention needs only one shiftable connecting pinion gear 34C that is shifted between engagement with one or the other of the counter rotation input shafts spur gears 26C or 27C to connect oscillating driving power to the output ring gear 50C.
The single shiftable connecting pinion gear 34C is mounted on shaft 40C extending downwardly from the top plate 20C. Posts 46C and 48C also extend down from top plate 20C and the stepped reduced diameter lower ends (38C for shaft 40C) respectively extend into matched openings in the bottom plate 22C and have a snap engagement at their ends with said openings to fix said top plate 20C and bottom plate 22C of the reversing gear cage (carrier) assembly 18C together.
As shown in
A reversing toggle shifting arm device 64C is positioned just above the reversing lower gear cage plate 22C and is also positioned around the cylindrical member 130C of base member 4C. The reversing toggle device 64C has a center opening 66C fitted around cylindrical member 130C at the inner end of a radial arm 86C and positioned for partial rotation around cylindrical member 130C. An actuation arm 94C extends upwardly from the radial arm 86C of toggle device 64C for contact by radial contact member 100C and 200C rotated by ring gear 50C to rotate reversing toggle device 64C in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction respectively.
On either side of the shifting arm 86C are overcenter biasing spring notches on the outer side surfaces at 74C and 76C being 180 degrees apart. Cooperating spring seat notches 78C and 80C are placed on projections 82C and 84C, extending upwardly from the top surface of base member 4C, adjacent the gear teeth of output ring gear 50C. The spring seat notches 78C and 80C are located on a diametrical line through the center line of the cylindrical housing 2, said diametrical line being 90 degrees to a line passing between the center of the cylindrical housing and bias spring notch 37C on the outside wall of cavity 33C below the top surface 140C of base member 4C.
An overcenter spring means 162C extends between spring seat notch 74C on reversing toggle device 64C and spring seat notch 78C on projection 82C of base member 4C, and a cooperating overcenter spring means 160C extends between spring seat notch 76C on the reversing toggle device 64C and spring notch 80C on projection 84C of base member 4C. Spring means 160C and 162C bias reversing toggle device 64C in a clockwise direction as viewed in
To maintain a biasing force on reversing gear cage 18C at all times, to keep the shiftable driving pinion gear 34C into driving engagement with the ring gear 50C and one of the input shafts spur gear 26C or 27C, a downwardly projecting member 31C is located on the bottom of gear cage bottom plate 22C of the reversing gear cage 18C and extends into recess 33C formed in the top of base member 4C. Downwardly projecting member 31C is located on the plate 22C below the shifting area 172C with a spring seat notch 35C facing outwardly along a radial line through the center of cylindrical member 130C. A cooperating spring notch 37C is positioned on the outer wall of recess 33C on a line passing through the center of cylindrical member 130C.
Overcenter spring 39C (and spring means 160C and 162C) are formed from ribbon-like spring material, for example steel, and shaped with an intermediate arcuate portion and appositely directed straight portions to engage the spring seat notches.
The biasing force of overcenter spring means 39C is made less than the combined biasing force of overcenter spring means 160C and 162C at the rotation position of disengagement, so that overcenter spring means 39C will only maintain the driving gear of reversing gear cage 18C in engagement until the overcenter spring means 160C and 162C actually go overcenter and force the toggle device 64C to its overcenter other side, the toggle device 64C lower extension arm 90C then contacting the end surface 173C or 174C of the gear cage notch area 172C which constitutes a mechanical lost motion connection between reversing toggle means 64C and shiftable gear cage (carrier) 18C.
For this configuration, as shown in
The rotational driving action of arc control contact member 100C or 200C as shown which do rotate with the nozzle and output drive means are moved against the actuation arm 94C of reversing toggle 64C rotationally driving the reversing toggle overcenter of its biasing springs 160C and 162C and now causing the gear cage to be rotated by the action of lower extension arm 90C contacting the end surface 173C or 174C of the gear cage notch. The gear cage 18C is now move out of driving engagement over its bias means 39C center reversing its biasing direction to now cause the connecting gear driving pinion gear 34C to be moved to engage the other counter rotating input shaft spur gear 26C or 27C and causing the output ring gear 50C to be driven in the opposite direction.
In all of the configurations disclosed in this continuation in-part application, the reaction force on the driving connecting pinion gear reversing gear cage and output gear are to hold engagement with the input shaft spur gear during driving, however a gear cage biasing spring is still provided to further ensure that as previously discussed in patent applications Ser. No. 932,470, filed Nov. 18, 1986, that should the sprinkler nozzle output shaft be turned manually from the outside during handling installation or adjustment that it not be left with the reversing toggle positioned sufficiently off of engagement with the reversing gear cage so that the gear cage driving pinion gear teeth will not be touching the teeth of one of the input shaft spur gear 26C or 27C which would then not allow it to walk the gear cage back into the full engagement position either clockwise or counter clockwise and drive the output ring gear.
It should be noted that if the reversing toggle is not holding the gear cage driving pinion 34C into engagement with one of the input shaft spur gears 26C or 27C and there is no gear cage bias provided when the output shaft ring gear, as shown in
Also the gear cage biasing spring as previously discussed can be used to provide additional rotational travel for the gear cage over that provided by the reversing toggle overcenter springs which for the configuration of springs shown the springs tend to jump out of their end notches 74C or 76C if the rotation of the reversing toggle device 64C exceeds more than 30 degrees on either side of center. Since it is desired to have a lost motion connection between the reversing toggle device 64C and the gear cage 18C where the reversing toggle springs are sufficiently overcenter before the toggle engages the reversing gear cage on the other side of center to over power the gear cage biasing spring before or as it is driving the gear cage put of engagement, a substantial amount of this available 30 degrees is consumed prior to the gear cage being contacted to move it.
The addition of the overcenter biasing spring to the gear cage thus also reduces the sensitivity of the reversing mechanism to manufacturing tolerances ensuring reliable operation under all conditions.
In the configuration shown in
Concentric output shafts 251 and 51D pass through the center hole 61 in the output driving member 49D, through a thrust bearing washer 57, out of cylindrical housing 2D through its center opening 8D and are locked together in a nozzle assembly 3D or may be a single piece. Means can be provided to change the angular relation of shafts 251 and 51D and respective contact members 100D and 101D, if desired.
The inner concentric output shaft 251 also has a radial annular flange 104D. Both radial flange 102D of output shaft 51D and radial flange 104D of output shaft 251 have radial contact members 101D and 100D which are arcuately positioned as desired to achieve the desired oscillation arc control by their action when contacting the actuation arm 94D of the reversing mechanism.
In the reversing mechanism configuration shown in
The gear cage 18D now takes the form of a shiftable yoke 22D which surrounds the cylindrical member 130D and has clearance areas 23D and 24D to avoid shifting interference with counter rotating input shaft spur gear 26D and 27D.
The shiftable yoke 22D is stepped downwardly at 28D on each side connecting across on the bias spring side to allow clearance for the single biasing spring coils to pass between the toggle arm 86D and the top of the shiftable yoke 22D along the portion of the yoke. Again a single connecting pinion gear 34D is shifted from driving engagement between the output ring gear 50D and one of the counter rotating input spur gears 26D or 27D for driving the output ring gear 50D in one direction or the other. The shifting arm reversing toggle device 64D is however still rotated through its clockwise and counter clockwise shifting positions about cylindrical member 130D. However the overcenter bias is now not provided by two individual springs on either side of the toggle arm. Instead a single biasing spring 500 is provided which simultaneously biases the gear cage 180 and reversing toggle device 64D. This is now possible to have a single spring directly act on both the overcenter gear cage 18D and overcenter reversing shifting toggle arm 64D since the reversing gear cage pivot has been located to the outside of the shaft axis of the gear cage connecting driving pinion gear 34D and achieves correct driving engagement for reaction force biting engagement when it is moved in, the opposite direction to that of the shifting arm toggle device 64D which must be shifted in the direction of rotation of the output shaft 51D to achieve the reversing action when contacted by arc control contact members 100D or 101D which are rotatable with the nozzle and output shafts.
A multiple coil wire gear cage biasing spring 500 is shown with one end 501 being bent down and inserted into a hole 502 in the yoke 22D at its outside center edge away from the gear cage pivot shaft 19D. The other end 503 of the wire spring 500 is bent upward and is placed through a hole 504 towards the end of the toggle shifting arm 86D away from the rotation center for the toggle device around cylindrical member 130D. This hole 504 in out-board of the hole 502 for the spring end through the shifting yoke 22D of gear cage 18D so that as the shifting arm 64D is rotated by the arc control contact means 100D or 101D contacting the upper end of the biasing spring wire end 503, which extends upward to also serve as the actuation arm 94D for the reversing toggle means 64D, the biasing spring end hole 502 in the gear cage 18D will pass hole 504 in the toggle 64D at an outside radius so that the coil 506 and legs 507 and 508 of the single biasing spring 500 will be rotated to the inside where there is adequate clearance for it to be reversed toward the inside the opposite of what is shown in
Stops 510 and 512 are provided to limit the rotational travel of the reversing toggle 64D so that the connecting biasing spring 500 can now force the gear cage 18D overcenter to the other shifting position and the toggle 64D to its other overcenter reversed position.
The advantage here is the simplicity of a single biasing spring for production assembly and the simultaneous reversal of the shifting toggle arm device 64D and gear cage 18D engagement bias. The gear cage is biased into engagement up to the moment of shifting, whether the transmission is driving itself or the output shaft and ring gear are being manually positioned as may sometimes be done during installation. There is no need for the shifting toggle springs to have to overpower the gear cage bias spring.
To now describe the gear cage 180 in more detail, it consists of an upper plate 20D and a lower plate 22D or yoke. The single driving pinion gear is mounted on a shaft 40D extending downwardly from the upper plate 20D through the center of shiftable connecting driving pinion gear 34D and into a mating hole on an arm portion 30D of the lower gear cage plate 22D which extends toward the center of the housing 20 from the gear cage pivot 19D. The shiftable connecting driving pinion gear 34D overhangs the sides of arm portion 30D so as to have clearance to engage input shaft spur gear 26D or 27D.
A portion of the lower gear cage plate 22D yoke is stepped downwardly at 28D and 29D and connected with plate surface 21D to form a completely hooped yoke around cylindrical member 130D. The stepped surface at 28D and 29D can serve as an angular (rotational) stop for the gear cage to control the engagement pressure of the driving pinion gear against the input shaft spur gears 26D and 27D. Lower connecting surface 21D of the lower gear cage plate 22D or yoke provides vertical clearance space for the legs 507 and 508 and coil 506 of the biasing wire spring 500 to pass over each other during toggling.
The shiftable connecting pinion gear 34D maybe replaced by a rubber wheel if so desired which is only a friction drive providing a clutching action if the nozzle and output drive shaft are force rotated past the normal reversing stops where gear engagement in a reversed driving direction would normally have stopped further rotation in that direction instead of providing the slip clutch between the output shaft 51D and the output driving member 49D, shown for
The upper end of the biasing spring wire 500 which is extending upwardly through the reversing toggle device arm 64D now serves as the toggle device actuation arm 94D which when contacted by the arc control contact member 100D or 101D carries the toggle shift device over its bias center in the direction of rotation of the driving ring gear 50D of output driving member 49D.
This wire shifting actuation arm 94D can be bent out of the way of the arc control contact members also acting as a clutch to prevent damage to the reversing mechanism during forced rotation of the sprinkler nozzle outside of the reversing limits of the transmissions.
The reversing transmission shown in
Detail of the actuation wires stiffening posts configuration is shown in
To have this work properly the overcenter biasing force necessary to carry the gear cage overcenter must become less than the force necessary to disengage the shiftable driving gear as th deflection force for carry over must be accumulated against any driving reaction force on the gear cage and the gear cage biasing spring force. Once the gear cage overcenter carry action begins, the bendable actuation wire 94E force continues to diminish as it is returned to its neutral upright position while producing the overcenter carry action for the reversing gear cage.
The shaped end of gear cage biasing leaf spring 39F has two different slopes as shown at 402 and 403 and 404 and 405 on either side of its center positions. The gear cage shifting arcuate movement for this configuration is totally balanced with full engagement of the connecting driving pinion gear 34E occurring at the same angular displacement of the gear cage on either side of its overcenter position.
The force necessary to overpower the gear cage biasing spring is greater when the gear cage camming leg 31F is engaging the steeper surface 402 or 405 of the biasing leaf spring 39F than when the spring is deflected and it is being forced over its more gradually sloped surface 403 or 404 surfaces. This is the action desired to enhance the action of the overcenter carry wire configuration of
The shape of the shiftable gear cage 18G is changed from that shown in
The gear cage pivot shaft 700 pivots in a hole 702 through surface 140C in base member 4C. The pivot shaft 700 extends upward out of surf ace 140C and is fixed in hole 704 in an inwardly extending rib 30G of the lower gear cage plate 22G of the shiftable gear Cage 18G. Driving gear 34G, carried by a shaft 40G mounted between top plate 20G and lower plate 22G of gear cage 18G, extends over the side edges of the rib 30G so that the driving gear 34G can be shifted around pivot shaft 700 to engage either of the spur gears 26C or 27C of counter rotating input shafts 12C and 14C. Shaft 40G has a reduced diameter lower end 38G which has a fixed snap engagement with a matched opening in the lower gear cage plate 22G. Other posts 46G and 48G extend between top plate 20G and lower gear cage plate 22G to fix said top plate 20G and lower plate 22G together.
The shaft hole 712 in driving gear 34G is slightly enlarged for a loose fit on the shiftable gear cage shaft 40G to accommodate the slight change in radius from the shaft 40G to the output ring gear 50C as the gear cage 18G rotates.
The operation of this modification of the reversing gear drive shown in
Thus, while I have illustrated and described my invention by means of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/935,725, filed Aug. 24, 2001, now abandoned which is a division application of Ser. No. 09/592,843, filed Jun. 13, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,597 which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/863,739, filed May 27, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,545, which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/269,342, filed Jun. 30, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,390.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040108392 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09592843 | Jun 2000 | US |
| Child | 09935725 | US | |
| Parent | 08863739 | May 1997 | US |
| Child | 09592843 | US | |
| Parent | 08269342 | Jun 1994 | US |
| Child | 08863739 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09935725 | Aug 2001 | US |
| Child | 10681817 | US |
