Improvements in Ratchet Gear or Mechanis n for Producing an Intermittent Rotative Movement and Locking this Movement at its Completion.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ratchet Gear or Mechanis n for Producing an
Intermittent Rotative Movement and Locking this Movement at
its Completion.
I THOMAS MESSENGER, of 2 Clarence Lawn, Dover, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved mechanism or ratchet movement having for
object to ensure an accurate intermittent rotative movement of a disc, die, shaft. or
analogous part of a mechanism, through a given number of degrees of a circle.
and at the completion of this movement to positively lock this disc, lie, shaft or
analogous mechanical part in this exact position; my invention also comprising a
particular combination of my improved ratchet movement with the machine for
compressing substan es described in my Specification No. 2293 of 1888.
I will now proceed to describe my invention by reference to the accompanying
drawings upon which :-
:―
Figure 1 illustrates my ratchet movement at its commencement,
Figure 2 the same at half stroke and
Figure 3 the same at the completion of the movement.
Similar letters of reference indicating similar parts in each of the figures
respectively.
G indicates the ratchet, disc, or other similar part which it is required to rotate
intermittently through a portion of a revolution on a pivot. G. La ratchet lever
also pivotte at G and having a pawl D-A a rod connecting this ratchet lever to
another lever B vibrating on a fixed pivot M. and another rod C connects this lever
to the crank-pin H. A lug N is formed on the lever B'-N indicates another paw)
working on a fixed pin M.
The reciprocation of the lever B I have shewn in this instance as produced by a
crank pin, but any other reciprocating movement would answer the purpose.
At Figure 1, which illustrates the commencement of the movement, the disc G
(which by means of one of its lugs and the pawl N has remained locked in one
direction since its last movement) is ready for one of its intermittent movements, by
means of the pawl D, in the direction shewn by the arrow, the lug N¹ being all clear
to allow of this movement.
In Figure 2 the intermittent movement is shewn half completed by means of the
pawl D on the ratchet lever I operated by the connecting rod A, the lever B', the
other connecting rod (and the crank pin H, the lug N' still being clear to allow
this movement.
Figure 3 shows the intermittent movement completed by means of the parts
described, and at the same instant of time the lug N on the lever B³ has approached
and come into contact with one of the lugs on the disc; thus, at this instant the disc
is locked and absolutely prevented from moving in either direction, the lng on the
disc being gripped between the lug N' and the pawl D, and the pawl N has at the
same time dropped into gear with another lug on the disc to prevent any retrograde
movement of the disc when the ratchet lever commences its return movement in
order to produce another intermittent movement of the disc.
Thus the disc is compelled to make an exact movement through any desired
number of degrees of a circle and at the completion of this movement is positively
ocked in this exact position.
Premising that my invention may be used in combination with any machine in
which such a movement is required I will now describe a particular application
hereof to the improved machine for compressing substances described in my

page_text: Specification No. 2293 of 1888 reference being had to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings :-
:―
Figure 4 being a side elevation.
Figure 4 an end elevation and
Figure 6 a section through disc or die.
This improved ratchet gear relates only to the intermittent rotative movement of
the die of my compressing machine and therefore it will be unnecessary for me to
refer to any other parts of my compressing machine except those in connexion with
this intermittent movement, and as in Figures 1, 2 and 3 have endeavoured
diagramatically to illustrate the cycle of movements involved in one complete
movement of the die I do not here repeat this explanation and in Figures 4, 5 and 6
show the die at the completion of one of its movements only:-
B indicates the revolving shaft, H the crank pin and G the die of my compressing
machine, all the other letters indicating similar parts as in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
excepting that in this application, as the axis of the revolving shaft is at right angles
to the axis of this die, it becomes necessary to universally joint the connecting rod C
at both ends; the reciprocating motion may however be transmitted from the crank
pin by any other means (an ordinary dog link for example); and in order to reduce
the angular movement of this intermittent rotating die I now prefer to construct it
with six holes so that it will only have to rotate intermittently through an angle of
60° instead of 120° as when it had only three holes; this reduced angular movement
will enable my compressing machine to be worked at a greater speed than hitherto.
The working of the plungers will not be in any way affected, but three of the holes,
that is every alternate one,
will be idle ones at each movement of the die.
In reducing the angular movement of the die I also reduce the angular movement
of the lever B; I do not however limit myself to six holes in the die but may use a
greater or a lesser number according to requirement.
Instead of pivotting the ratchet lever Lat G in which case the die rotates as
shown in diagrams 1, 2 and 3, I may pivot it externally on the die as shewn
Figure 6, or in any other convenient manner.
The other parts are fully explained in diagrams 1, 2 and 3 and the operations of
the plungers in feeding, compressing and extracting the blocks moulded in the die G
remain the same as described in my Specification No 2293 of 1888.
Dated this Third day of February 1888.
For the Applicant,
W. E. GEDGE,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ratchet Gear or Mechanism for Producing an
Intermittent Rotative Movement and Locking this Movement at
its Completion.
I THOMAS MESSENGER, of 2 Clarence Lawn, Dover, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to an improved mechanism or ratchet movement having for
object to ensure an accurate intermittent rotative movement of a disc, die, shaft, or
analogous part of a mechanisin, through a given number of degrees of a circle, and
at the completion of this movement to positively lock this disc, die, shaft or
analogous mechanical part in this exact position; my invention also comprising a
particular combination of my improved ratchet movement with the machine for
compressing substances described in my Specification No. 2293 of 1888.
I will now proceed to describe my invention by reference to the drawings left with
the Provisional Specification, upon which :
:-
Figure 1 illustrates my ratchet movement at its commencement,

page_text: Figure 3 the same at the completion of the movement.
Similar letters of reference indicating similar parts in each of the figures
respectively.
Gindicates the ratchet, disc, or other similar part which it is required to rotate
intermittently through a portion of a revolution on a pivot G-La ratchet lever
also pivotted at G and having a pawl D-A a rod connecting this ratchet lever to
another lever B' vibrating on a fixed pivot M, and another rod C connects this lover
to the crank pin H. A lug N' is formed on the lever B-N indicates another pawl
working on a fixed pin M'.
The reciprocation of the lever B' I have shewn in this instance as produced by a
crank pin, but any other reciprocating movement would answer the purpose.
At Figure 1, which illustrates the commencement of the movement, the disc G
(which by means of one of its lugs and the pawl N has remained locked in one
direction since its last movement) is ready for on of its intermittent movements, by
means of the pawl D, in the direction shown by the arrow, the lug N¹ being all clear
to allow of this movement.
In Figure 2 the intermittent movement is shewn half completed by means of the
pawl D on the ratchet lever L operated by the connecting rod A, the lever B', the
other connecting rod C and the crank pin H, the lug N¹ still being clear to allow this
inovement.
Figure shows the intermittent movement completed by means of the parts
described, and at the same instant of time the lug N' on the lever B' has approache
and come into contact with one of the lugs on the disc; thus, at this instant the disc
is locked and absolutely prevented from moving in either direction, the lug on the
disc being gripped between the lug N and the pawl D, and the pawl N has at the
same time dropped into gear with another lug on the disc to prevent any retrograde
movement of the disc when the ratchet lever commences its return movement in
order to produce another intermittent movement of the disc.
Thus the disc is compelled to make an exact movement through any desired
number of degrees of a circle and at the completion of this movement is positively
locked in this exact position.
Premising that my invention may be used in combination with any machine in
which such a movement is required I will now describe a particular application
thereof to the improved machine for compressing substances described in my
Specification No. 2293 of 1888 reference being had to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the
drawings left with the Provisional Specification.
Figure 4 being a side elevation.
Figure 5 an end elevation and
Figure 6 a section through disc or die.
This improved ratchet gear relates only to the intermittent rotative movement of
the die of my compressing machine and therefore it will be unnecessary for me to
refer to any other parts of my compressing machine except those in connexion with
this intermittent movement, and as in Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have endeavoured
diagramatically to illustrate the cycle of movements involved in one complete
movement of the die. I do not here repeat this explanation and in Figures 4, 5
and 6 show the die at the completion of one of its movements only.
B indicates the revolving shaft. H the crank pin and G the die of my com-
pressing machine, all the other letters indicating similar parts as in Figures 1, 2
and 3, excepting that in this application as the axis of the revolving shaft is at right
angles to the axis of this die, it becomes necessary to universally joint the connecting
rod at both ends; the reciprocating motion may however be transmitted from the
crank pin by any other means (an ordinary dog link for example); and in order to
reduce the angular movement of this intermittent rotating die I now prefer to
construct it with six holes so that it will only have to rotate intermittently through an
angle of 60° instead of 120° as when it had only three holes; this reduced angular

page_text: movement will enable my compressing machine to be worked at a greater speed than
hitherto.
The working of the plungers will not be in any way affected, but three of the
holes, that is every alternate one, will be idle ones at each movement of the die.
%
In reducing the angular movement of the die I also reduce the angular movement
of the lever B¹; I do not however limit myself to six holes in the die but may use
a greater or a lesser number according to requirement.
Instead of pivotting the ratchet lever Lat Gin which case the die rotates as
shewn in diagrams 1, 2 and 3, I may pivot it externally on the die as shown Figure 6,
or in any other convenient manner.
The other parts are fully explained in diagrams 1, 2 and 3 and the operations of
the plungers in feeding, compressing, and extracting the blocks moulded in the
die G remain the same as described in my Specification No. 2293 of 1888:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what l
claim is :-
1. A ratchet movement whereby an accurate intermittent rotative movement of a
disc, die, shaft, or analogous mechanism through a given number of degrees of a circle
is ensured, and at the completion of this movement a positive locking of this disc, die,
shaft, or equivalent in this exact position, substantially as described.
2. My improved ratchet gear or mechanism for producing an intermittent rotative
movement and locking this movement at its completion, in combination with machines
for compressing substances, substantially as bereinbefore described and illustrated on
the drawing.
3. The hereinbefore described mechanism for producing an intermittent rotative
movement and locking this movement at its completion, in combination with any
machine in which such a movement is required.
Dated this First day of November 1890.