Back to results
US 4,108,268 AGranted
Actuator for self-propelled sweeper
AssigneeClarke-Gravely Corporation
InventorThomas S. Block
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive actuator for a self-propelled sweeper is disclosed including a wheel shaft supported on the frame of the sweeper for at least limited rotation and having a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted thereon. A powered jackshaft is rotatably mounted on a frame and carries a drive member positioned to operatively engage the ground engaging wheel when the jackshaft is moved towards the wheel. A link connects the wheel shaft to the jackshaft and an actuator including a rod shifted by a pivotable handle rotates the wheel shaft thereby moving the drive member into engagement with the ground engaging wheel through movement of the link.
Claims18
A drive actuator for a self-propelled device of the type including a power unit comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel shaft supported at its ends for rotational movement on said frame;
- a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel shaft;
- a jackshaft rotatably mounted and supported at both ends on said frame in spaced relationship with said ground engaging wheel and for limited movement about one end thereof towards and away from said ground engaging wheel, said jackshaft being rotated by said power unit;
- linkage means interconnecting said wheel shaft and said jackshaft for moving said jackshaft towards and away from said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft;
- drive means on said jackshaft for rotating said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft and movement of said jackshaft;
- a handle supported by said frame and including a pivotally mounted portion movable between a first and second position;
- and
- actuator means at least partially enclosed within said handle and shifted by said pivotally mounted portion of said handle for rotating said wheel shaft when said handle portion is moved between said first and said second positions whereby said drive means rotates said ground engaging wheel.
6 more elements
A drive actuator for a self-propelled device of the type including a power unit comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel shaft supported at its ends for rotational movement on said frame;
- a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel shaft;
- a jackshaft rotatably mounted on said frame in spaced relationship with said ground engaging wheel and for limited movement towards and away from said ground engaging wheel, said jackshaft being rotated by said power unit;
- linkage means interconnecting said wheel shaft and said jackshaft for moving said jackshaft towards and away from said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft;
- drive means on said jackshaft for rotating said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft and movement of said jackshaft;
- a handle supported by said frame and including a pivotally mounted portion movable between a first and second position;
- and
- actuator means shifted by said pivotally mounted portion of said handle for rotating said wheel shaft when said handle portion is moved between said first and said second positions whereby said drive means rotates said ground engaging wheel,
- said linkage means comprising:
- a clutch arm secured to said wheel shaft and extending radially therefrom.
- an arm supporting said jackshaft and extending radially therefrom, said arm being pivotally mounted at one end to said frame;
- and
- a link connected at one end to said clutch arm and at the other end to said arm.
11 more elements
A self-propelled apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a power unit mounted on said frame and having an output shaft;
- a handle including at least one leg secured to said frame at one end and a control member shiftably mounted to said leg at the other end;
- a wheel shaft supported on said frame for at least limited rotation;
- a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel shaft;
- actuator means interconnecting said control member and said wheel shaft for rotating said wheel shaft upon movement of said control member;
- a jackshaft;
- means for rotatably mounting said jackshaft on said frame and for allowing limited movement of said jackshaft towards and away from said ground engaging wheel;
- biasing means operatively connected to said jackshaft for biasing said jackshaft away from said ground engaging wheel;
- a drive member non-rotatably secured to said jackshaft and positioned to operatively engage said ground engaging wheel when said jackshaft is moved towards said ground engaging wheel;
- linkage means connecting said wheel shaft to said jackshaft for moving said jackshaft towards said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft;
- and
- transmission means operatively connected to said power unit for transmitting power from said power unit to rotate continuously said jackshaft;
10 more elements
A self-propelled apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a power unit mounted on said frame and having an output shaft;
- a handle including at least one leg secured to said frame at one end and a control member shiftably mounted to said leg at the other end;
- a wheel shaft supported on said frame for at least limited rotation;
- a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel shaft;
- actuator means interconnecting said control member and said wheel for rotating said wheel shaft upon movement of said control member;
- a jackshaft;
- means for rotatably mounting said jackshaft on said frame and for allowing limited movement of said jackshaft towards and away from said ground engaging wheel;
- a drive member non-rotatably secured to said jackshaft and positioned to operatively engage said ground engaging wheel when said jackshaft is moved towards said ground engaging wheel;
- linkage means connecting said wheel shaft to said jackshaft for moving said jackshaft towards said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft;
- and
- transmission means operatively connected to said power unit for transmitting power from said power unit to rotate said jackshaft;
- said means for mouting said jackshaft comprising:
- a first bearing mounted on said frame and rotatably supporting one end of said jackshaft;
- and
- an arm assembly pivoted at one end to said frame and including a second bearing for rotatably supporting the other end of said jackshaft.
13 more elements
A self-propelled apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a power unit mounted on said frame and having an output shaft;
- a handle including at least one leg secured to said frame at one end and a control member shiftably mounted to said leg at the other end;
- a wheel shaft supported on said frame for at least limited rotation;
- a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on said wheel shaft;
- actuator means interconnecting said control member and said wheel shaft for rotating said wheel shaft upon movement of said control member;
- a jackshaft;
- means for rotatably mounting said jackshaft on said frame and for allowing limited movement of said jackshaft towards and away from said ground engaging wheel;
- a drive member non-rotatably secured to said jackshaft and positioned to operatively engage said ground engaging wheel when said jackshaft is moved towards said ground engaging wheel;
- linkage means connecting said wheel shaft to said jackshaft for moving said jackshaft towards said ground engaging wheel upon rotation of said wheel shaft;
- and
- transmission means operatively connected to said power unit for transmitting power from said power unit to rotate said jackshaft, said actuator means comprising:
- a first clutch arm non-rotatably secured to said wheel shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom;
- and
- an actuator rod connected at one end to said first clutch arm and engaged at the other end by said control member,
- said handle leg being tubular and said actuator rod extending within said handle leg.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.