Patent GB-191314480-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Chair Operating Apparatus.
Inventor: ROTH CHARLES FREDERICK
IPC: A47C1/121
Filed: 1913-06-23
Granted: 1914-03-26
Abstract: 14,480. Roth, C. F. June 23. Folding and collapsible seats. -Relates to a folding chair, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and to means for folding and opening a number of such chairs simultaneously. The chair comprises a stationary side frame 5 and a movable side frame 6 connected to the former by parallel bars 16 forming the chair back. When iolded, Fig. 3, the frame 6 rests upon the frame 5. A rotatable rod 8 is carried in bearings 19 fixed to the stationary frame 5 of the chair, and to the rod 8 bars 20 are fixed engaging loosely at their other ends with bars 8<a> of the frame 6. Each bar 20 carries a toothed sector 21 engaging with a pinion 33 which when rotated folds the chair. The pinion 33 is keyed to a shaft 31 carrying a loose pinion 30, which can however be connected to rotate with the shaft 31 by means of a clutch 34. The clutch 34 normally engages with the wheel 30 by means of a spring 35, but can be released by a lever 36 and foot plate 37. As shown in Fig. 2, a number of chairs as described above can be folded by means of a rotatable shaft 24 below the floor which is provided with pinions 26 engaging through intermediate pinions 27 with the wheels 30. Figs. 1 and 5 illustrate the means for controlling the rotation of the shaft 24. A motor 40 rotates a shaft 41 on which are fixed toothed wheels 42, 43. The wheel 42 engages through an intermediate wheel 55 with a wheel 46, the wheel 43 engaging directly with a wheel 47. The wheels 46, 47 are mounted loosely on a shaft 44, which is connected through geariog to the shaft 24, Fig. 2. Each of the wheels 46, 47 is provided with a friction clutch face 48, 49. A reversing clutch 50 is keyed to the shaft 44 but is capable of longitudinal motion so as to connect either of the wheels 46, 47 to the shaft 44. The clutch 50 can be moved in either direction by a yoke 51 connected to an armature 52 between two electro-magnets 54. Fig. 5 shows the electrical connexions for controlling the magnets 54. A dynamo 66 is connected by a wire 67 to the motor 40, the other pole of the motor being connected by a wire 68 to the movable part 61 of a two-way switch. The contacts 59, 60 of the switch are connected by wires 71, 72 to the magnets 54. The dynamo 66 is also connected by a wire 69 to the magnets 54. Switches are placed in the leads at 70, 73, 78. Integral with the movable element 61 of the two-way switch is an arm 64 which is connected by a rod 65 with a crank-arm 22 fixed to the shaft 8, Fig. 3. Assuming the parts of the mechanism to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, and the chairs folded, to open the chairs the switch 73 is closed. The current flows through one of the magnets 54 and moves the clutch 50 to lock the wheel 47 on the shaft 44. The motor 40 thus rotates the shafts 44, 24 and the chairs are opened. During this process, the crank 22 actuates the bar 65 and the movable part 61 of the two-way switch is moved over to the contact 60. By now closing the switch 78, the current flows through the other magnet 54, and the clutch 50 fastens the wheel 46 to the shaft 44. The shafts 44, 24 are then operated in the reverse direction and the seats are moved to the folded position.