Patent Publication Number: US-6698075-B1

Title: Holding device of timing belt wheel structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a holding device of a timing belt wheel structure, and more particularly to a holding device that can be used to hold and position timing belt wheel structures of different sizes, types and specifications without having to prepare holders of different sizes, types and specifications, thereby enhancing convenience in operation and maintenance of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A first conventional holder  1  of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the prior art shown in FIG. 1 has a top end provided with two protruded teeth  2 , and a bottom end provided with two protruded teeth  2 ′. Thus, the holder  1  can be inserted between two opposite timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure, whereby the protruded teeth  2  and  2 ′ can be inserted into and secured in the toothed grooves of the two opposite timing belt wheels  8 , to prevent the two opposite timing belt wheels  8  from being rotated, thereby facilitating the user replacing the timing belt  9  of the timing belt wheel structure. However, the first conventional holder only has a fixed size and cannot be used to hold and position timing belt wheels of different sizes, types and specifications, so that the user has to prepare multiple holders of different sizes, types and specifications to fit the timing belt wheels of different sizes, types and specifications, thereby causing inconvenience in operation and maintenance. 
     A second conventional holder of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises two arm plates  3 , and a connecting member  4  mounted between the two arm plates  3 . Each of the two arm plates  3  is pivoted with the connecting member  4  by a locking member  5 . Each of the two arm plates  3  has a first end formed with an upright fixing snap  302  vertical to the arm plate  3 , and a second end pivoted with a movable snap  304  by a securing member  6 . The movable snap  304  is opposite to the fixing snap  302 . The fixing snap  302  is laterally protruded with a snap tooth  3022 , and each of the movable snap  304  is laterally protruded with a snap tooth  3042  that is opposite to the snap tooth  3022  of the fixing snap  302 , so that the snap tooth  3022  of the fixing snap  302  can mate with the snap tooth  3042  of the movable snap  304  to be inserted into a timing belt wheel structure for holding and securing the timing belt wheel structure. 
     In operation, referring to FIG. 3, the second conventional holder can be used to hold and secure two timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure. First, each of the two locking members  5  and each of the two securing members  6  are loosened. Then, the second conventional holder can be inserted between the two timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure. The distance and the angle between the two arm plates  3  can be adjusted to fit the relative position of the two timing belt wheels  8 , and each of the two movable snaps  304  may be driven, so as to adjust the distance between the movable snap  304  and the fixing snap  302 , so that the snap tooth  3022  of the fixing snap  302  can mate with the snap tooth  3042  of the movable snap  304  to be inserted into the toothed groove of the outer periphery of the two timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure for holding and securing the two timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure. Then, each of the two locking members  5  and each of the two securing members  6  can be tightened, so as to secure and position each of the two arm plates  3  and each of the two movable snaps  304 , so that the two timing belt wheels  8  of the timing belt wheel structure can be secured and positioned by the snap tooth  3022  of the fixing snap  302  and the snap tooth  3042  of the movable snap  304 , thereby facilitating the user replacing the timing belt  9  of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a holding device that can be used to hold and position timing belt wheel structures of different sizes, types and specifications without having to prepare multiple holders of different sizes, types and specifications, thereby greatly enhancing convenience in operation and maintenance of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a holding device of a timing belt wheel structure, wherein each of the snap plates has a simple configuration, so that the snap plates can be worked easily, thereby reducing costs of fabrication. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a holding device of a timing belt wheel structure, comprising two links, a first holding member secured on a first end of each of the two links, and a second holding member movably mounted on each of the two links so as to adjust the distance between the first holding member and the second holding member, wherein: 
     each of the first holding member and the second holding member includes a first snap plate, a second snap plate, and a locking bolt; 
     the first snap plate has a first end formed with a bent snap portion and a second end provided with a shaft tube; 
     the second snap plate has a first end formed with a bent snap portion and a second end provided with a threaded tube juxtaposed to the shaft tube; and 
     the locking bolt has a first end extended through the shaft tube and screwed into the threaded tube, so as to combine the first snap plate and the second snap plate, thereby forming the first holding member and the second holding member. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first conventional holder of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second conventional holder of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the prior art; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic operational view of the second conventional holder of a timing belt wheel structure as shown in FIG. 1 in use; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holding device of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the holding device of a timing belt wheel structure as shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the holding device of a timing belt wheel structure as shown in FIG. 4 in use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 4 and 5, a holding device of a timing belt wheel structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises two links  10 , a first holding member  20  secured on a first end of each of the two links  10 , and a second holding member  30  movably mounted on each of the two links  10  so as to adjust the distance between the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30 . 
     Each of the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30  includes a first snap plate  22  and  32 , a second snap plate  24  and  34 , and a locking bolt  26  and  36 . The first snap plate  22  and  32  has a first end formed with a bent snap portion  222  and  322  and a second end provided with a shaft tube  224  and  324 . The second snap plate  24  and  34  has a first end formed with a bent snap portion  242  and  342  and a second end provided with a threaded tube  244  and  344  juxtaposed to the shaft tube  224  and  324 . 
     The locking bolt  26  and  36  has a first end extended through the shaft tube  224  and  324  and screwed into the threaded tube  244  and  344 , so as to combine the first snap plate  22  and  32  and the second snap plate  24  and  34 , thereby forming the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30 . The locking bolt  26  and  36  has a second end provided with a butterfly head  262  and  362 . 
     In addition, the shaft tube  224  and  324  has an end face formed with a plurality teeth  2242  and  3242 , and the threaded tube  244  and  344  has an end face formed with a plurality engaging teeth  2442  and  3442  meshing with the teeth  2242  and  3242 . Preferably, the teeth  2242  and  3242  are arranged in a radiating manner, and the engaging teeth  2442  and  3442  are arranged in a radiating manner. In such a manner, the shaft tube  224  and  324  is locked on the threaded tube  244  and  344  rigidly and stably, thereby enhancing the combination strength of the first snap plate  22  and  32  and the second snap plate  24  and  34 . 
     The first holding member  20  further includes two connecting members  28  each mounted between a respective one of the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  and a respective one of the two links  10 . Each of the two connecting members  28  is formed with a mounting hole  282 . The first end of each of the two links  10  is formed with a reduced connecting shaft  12  extended through the mounting holes  282  of a respective one of the two connecting members  28  and snapped with a snap ring  16 , thereby securing each of the two connecting members  28  on the respective link  10 , and thereby positioning the first holding member  20  on the two links  10 . The first end of each of the two links  10  is formed with a stop  14  located adjacent to the reduced connecting shaft  12  and rested on the respective connecting member  28 , so that the connecting member  28  is clamped between the snap ring  16  and the stop  14 . 
     In addition, each of the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  is provided with two connecting ears  226  and  246  each formed with a pivot hole  2262  and  2462 . Each of the two connecting members  28  is provided with a pivot rod  286  extended through the pivot hole  2262  and  2462  of a respective one of the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  and snapped with a snap ring  288 , so that each of the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  is pivotally mounted on the respective connecting member  28 . 
     The second holding member  30  further includes two sliding members  38  each mounted between a respective one of the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  and a respective one of the two links  10 . Each of the two sliding members  38  is formed with a mounting hole  382  for passage of the respective link  10 , so that each of the two sliding members  38  is slidably mounted on the respective link  10 . Each of the two sliding members  38  is screwed with a bolt  384  which has a distal end rested on the respective link  10 , thereby positioning each of the two sliding members  38  on the respective link  10 . 
     In addition, each of the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  is provided with two connecting ears  326  and  346  each formed with a pivot hole  3262  and  3462 . Each of the two sliding members  38  is provided with a pivot rod  386  extended through the pivot hole  3262  and  3462  of a respective one of the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  and snapped with a snap ring  388 , so that each of the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  is pivotally mounted on the respective sliding member  38 . 
     The holding device further comprises a catch member  40  mounted on a second end of each of the two links  10  for combining the two links  10  so as to retain the second holding member  30 , thereby preventing the second holding member  30  from detaching from the two links  10 . Preferably, the catch member  40  is extended through the second end of each of the two links  10  and has two ends each formed with a limit portion  42  to prevent the catch member  40  from detaching from each of the two links  10 . 
     In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-6, the holding device can be used to hold and secure two timing belt wheels  90  and  90 ′ of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     First of all, the locking bolts  26  and  36  and the bolt  384  of each of the two sliding members  38  are unscrewed, so that the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  and the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  can be pivoted freely, while the second holding member  30  can be displaced on the two links  10 , so as to adjust the distance between the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30 . 
     Then, the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30  of the holding device can be inserted between the two timing belt wheels  90  and  90 ′ of the timing belt wheel structure, with the snap portion  222  and  242  of the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  being inserted into the toothed groove of the outer periphery of the timing belt wheel  90  of the timing belt wheel structure. Then, the locking bolt  26  is screwed and locked, so that the first snap plate  22  and the second snap plate  24  of the first holding member  20  are combined and fixed closely without movement. Then, the second holding member  30  can be displaced on the two links  10 , so that the snap portion  322  and  342  of the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  are inserted into the toothed groove of the outer periphery of the timing belt wheel  90 ′ of the timing belt wheel structure. Then, the locking bolt  36  is screwed and locked, so that the first snap plate  32  and the second snap plate  34  of the second holding member  30  are combined and fixed closely without movement. Finally, the bolt  384  of each of the two sliding members  38  are screwed and locked, so that the second holding member  30  is fixed on the two links  10 . 
     In such a manner, the two timing belt wheels  90  and  90 ′ of the timing belt wheel structure are fixed by the holding device, thereby facilitating the user replacing the timing belt  92  of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     Accordingly, in accordance with the holding device of the present invention, the relative position between the first holding member  20  and the second holding member  30  and the relative angle between the first snap plate  22  and  32  and the second snap plate  24  and  34  can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit the relative position of the two timing belt wheels  90  and  90 ′, so that the holding device of the present invention may be used to hold and position timing belt wheel structures of different sizes, types and specifications without having to prepare multiple holders of different sizes, types and specifications, thereby enhancing convenience in operation and maintenance of the timing belt wheel structure. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.