Patent GB-241340-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in a spring apparatus to mechanically harness store and transmit power
IPC: F03G1/00
Filed: 1924-08-26
Abstract: 241,340. Tydings, J. Aug. 26, 1924. Spring power-storing mechanism. - Spring drums 35, 135, Fig. 2, are mounted to revolve on two independent arbors, and are provided with independent winding means for each drum, the second of which means is brought into operation as the winding of the first drum is completed, and with automatic means arranged to operate when the first spring is run down to release the succeeding spring arbor. The input power shaft 2, Fig. 1, drives the shaft 7 through gearing 5, 6 and from thence through gearing 8, 9 and 108, 109 drives shafts 10, 110 having clutch members 12, 13<a>, 112, 113 slidably mounted thereon. The complementary clutch member 34 of the spring drum 35 is carried on a sleeve 33 integral with the side disc 36 of the drum, the spring 58 being connected to a barrel 44 which passes through the other side disc 37 and which carries a ratchet wheel 45 provided with a holding pawl 46. The spring 58 is wound from the shaft 7 through the clutch members 12, 34 the member 12 being moved along the shaft 10 and disengaged from the member 34 on completion of winding by a carriage 16 actuated through a rack-pinion 19 on a shaft 20 which is driven by an arcuate rack 23 on a disc 24 from a pinion 32 on the sleeve 33. The spring 158 is similarly wound, a second arcuate rack 244 being provided on the disc 24 and adapted to drive gearing 245 - - 251 to bring the clutch members 112, 134 into engagement as the winding of spring 58 is completed. The pawl 46 is adapted to be disengaged from the wheel 45 by the rotation of a crank 57, Fig. 3, and, the drum 35 being held by pawls 41, the spring 58 rotates the barrel 44 and transmits power to the shafts 62, 66. Rotation of the wheel 45 simultaneously transmits motion through a pinion 221 and a train of gears 214 - - 219 to actuate an arcuate rack 213 on the gear 214, the motion being so timed that through pinions 212, 209 a racked slide is actuated to remove a pawl 146 from the wheel 145 and to release the second drum 135 when the drum 35 is sufficiently unwound. On the shaft 10 and adjacent to the clutch 13a a sleeve 69 is mounted having complementary clutch members 70, 71 whereby a portable spring power-storing device may be charged, gearing 72 - - 82 of the type described above for actuating the carriage 16 to disconnect the clutch members being provided. The portable device comprises a truck 85, Fig. 6, carrying a shaft 88 and a drum 89, the latter having side discs 90, 91 and three arbors on the shaft 88 each provided with a ratchet-wheel 99 and with a spring pawl engaging teeth on the shaft 88, and each being attached to a spring, the other end of which is attached to the drum. When charging the device it is run up on a track 83 to engage the clutches 71, 84, the drum 89 being thereby rotated to wind the springs. In unwinding, the springs may be arranged to drive the truck 85. The clutch member 113 may be caused to engage its complementary clutch member 170 to charge a second portable device at a predetermined time, e.g. when the members 13<a> and 70 are disengaged, by means of gearing 234 - - 240 driven by a second arcuate track 233 on the disc 77 and actuating the carriage 116.