Patent Application
20110198478
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to supports for machines, and more particularly, to a multistage adjustable support assembly for providing a machine with both fine and coarse altitude-adjusting functions.
2. Description of Related Art
An example of a conventional support for large machines is shown in
However, the foregoing way for accomplishing coarse altitude adjustment which involves the operation of a forklift and complicated operation conducted by several workers under the machine is not only time-consuming but also dangerous to the workers.
On the other hand, the threaded post 5 usually has the threads formed equidistantly. While the thread pitch made relatively large brings up the problem about imprecision and errors of combination between the threaded post 5 and the axial hole, leading to imprecise leveling of the machine, the thread pitch made relatively small that satisfies the requirement of precision is inefficient in coarse adjustment. Thus, the conventional support with such a threaded post 5 is a compromise either way. In short, the threaded post 5 of the conventional support fails to simultaneously achieve quickness and precision of its adjustment in the axial hole due to its constant thread pitch. Hence, there is a need for a support that is suitable for both coarse and fine altitude adjustments of machines.
To summarize the problems of the prior art, the conventional support for heavy machines is designed for direct fine altitude adjustment of machines only. In coarse altitude adjustment, the conventional support requires time-consuming and dangerous operations, and its threaded post with constant thread pitch fails to achieve convenient coarse and fine altitude adjustments. In view of the above-recited shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a multistage adjustable support assembly.
The multistage adjustable support assembly includes a connecting sleeve axially formed with an axial hole, which is formed with at least one internal threaded portion, an adjustable threaded post received in the axial hole, peripherally formed with at least one first threaded portion for being screwedly coupled with the internal threaded portion, and axially formed with a through hole that is provided therein with at least one second threaded portion, and a support axially extended upward with a rotatable threaded post that is peripherally formed with at least one external threaded portion for being screwedly coupled with and movable along the through hole. The first threaded portion has a thread pitch greater than a thread pitch of the second threaded portion. The multistage adjustable support assembly allows both fine and coarse altitude adjustments of an external article it supports with respect to the support.
One objective of the present invention is to make use of the different thread directions and thread pitches of the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion of the adjustable threaded post to quickly achieve coarse adjustment and fine adjustment of the altitude of the external article with respect to the support.
Another objective of the present invention is to move the external article upward or downward by directly using the adjustable threaded post, so as to eliminate the complex, time-consuming and dangerous operations required by the prior art where a forklift has to lift the external article to allow worker to assemble or disassemble pads below the lifted external article.
Another objective of the present invention is to position the adjustable threaded post and rotatable threaded post by the presence of the first adjusting nut and the second adjusting nut, so as to improve the strength of the multistage adjustable support assembly.
The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
Referring to
The adjustable threaded post 20 is received in the axial hole 11 and peripherally formed with at least one first threaded portion 21. The first threaded portion 21 is composed of left-hand threads corresponding to and configured to be screwedly coupled with those of the internal threaded portion 111. The adjustable threaded post 20 is axially formed with a through hole 22, which has there in at least one second threaded portion 221 with right-hand threads. The first threaded portion 21 has a thread pitch greater than that of the second threaded portion 221.
The first adjusting nut 30 is screwedly coupled with and movable along the adjustable threaded post 20 by rotating with respect to the first threaded portion 21 in order to position the adjustable threaded post 20.
The support 40 is axially extended upward with a rotatable threaded post 50, which is peripherally formed with at least one external threaded portion 51. The rotatable threaded post 50 is screwedly coupled with and movable along the through hole 22 by rotation. Therein, the external threaded portion 51 is composed of right-hand threads. The support 40 is mounted with at least one fastening nut 41 that is screwedly coupled with the rotatable threaded post 50 so that the rotatable threaded post 50 has its lower end firmly coupled with the support 40 in order to ensure that when the rotatable threaded post 50 rotates inside the through hole 22, the support 40 is secured from coming off.
The second adjusting nut 60 is screwedly coupled with and movable along the rotatable threaded post 50 by rotating on the external threaded portion 51 for positioning the rotatable threaded post 50. A reinforcing nut 61 provided under the second adjusting nut 60 is screwedly coupled with the rotatable threaded post 50 for reinforcing the second adjusting nut 60.
Basing on the above structure, the operational principle of the disclosed assembly will be illustrated below.
As shown in
Since the first threaded portion 21 and the second threaded portion 221 of the adjustable threaded post 20 are composed of the left-hand threads and the right-hand threads, respectively, and have different thread pitches, it is possible to coarsely and finely adjusting the altitude of the bottom of the external article 70 with respect to the support 40.
Referring to
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment and it is understood that the embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.
