Mechanism for converting oscillatory rotation of input shaft to unidirectional rotation of output shaft

A mechanism for converting oscillatory rotation of an input shaft to unidirectional rotation of an output shaft, the mechanism comprising

• (a) a frame,
• (b) an input shaft journalled to the frame, the input shaft defining an input axis and being rotatable about the input axis,
• (c) an output shaft journalled to the frame, the output shaft defining an output axis and being rotatable about the output axis, the output axis being normal to the input axis,
• (d) bevel gears including a first gear mounted around the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the first gear and the input shaft, a second gear mounted around the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the second gear and the input shaft, and a third gear coupled to the output shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the third gear and the output shaft, the first and second gears being spaced axially from each other along the input shaft, the third gear being intermeshed with each of the first and second gears, the first gear having a bearing surface, which is smooth except for a single recess, the second gear having a bearing surface, which is smooth except for a single recess,
• (e) means including a first pawl, which is mounted to the input shaft in a manner permitting the first pawl to move between an operative position wherein the first pawl extends into the single recess of the first gear and an inoperative position wherein the first pawl is withdrawn from the single recess of the first gear and which is biased toward its operative position, for coupling the first gear to the input shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the first gear and the input shaft in the operative position of the first pawl and for decoupling the first gear from the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the first gear and the input shaft in the inoperative position of the first pawl, and the first pawl being biased against the bearing surface of the first gear so as to permit relative movement between the first gear and the first pawl except in the operative position of the first pawl,
• (f) means including a second pawl, which is mounted to the input shaft in a manner permitting the second pawl to move between an operative position wherein the second pawl extends into the single recess of the second gear and an inoperative position wherein the second pawl is withdrawn from the single recess of the second gear and which is biased toward its operative position, for coupling the second gear to the input shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the second gear and the input shaft in the operative position of the second pawl and for decoupling the second gear from the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the second gear and the input shaft in the inoperative position of the second pawl, the second pawl being biased against the bearing surface of the second gear so as to permit relative movement of the second gear and the second pawl except in the operative position of the second pawl.

A mechanism for converting oscillatory rotation of an input shaft to unidirectional rotation of an output shaft, the mechanism comprising

• (a) a frame,
• (b) an input shaft journalled to the frame, the input shaft defining an input axis and being rotatable about the input axis,
• (c) an output shaft journalled to the frame, the output shaft defining an output axis and being rotatable about the output axis, the output axis being normal to the input axis,
• (d) bevel gears including a first gear mounted around the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the first gear and the input shaft, a second gear mounted around the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the second gear and the input shaft, and a third gear coupled to the output shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the third gear and the output shaft, the first and second gears being spaced axially from each other along the input shaft, the third gear being intermeshed with each of the first and second gears, the first gear having a bearing surface, which is smooth except for a pair of first recesses in diametric opposition to each other, the second gear having a bearing surface, which is smooth except for a pair of second recesses in diametric opposition to each other,
• (e) means including a pair of first pawls, which are mounted to the input shaft in diametric opposition to each other in a manner permitting each first pawl to move between an operative position wherein such first pawl extends into a respective one of the first recesses and an inoperative position wherein such first pawl does not extend into either first recess and each of which is biased toward its operative position, for coupling the first gear to the input shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the first gear and the input shaft in the operative positions of the first pawls and for decoupling the first gear from the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the first gear and the input shaft in the inoperative positions of the first pawls, the first pawls being biased against the bearing surface of the first gear so as to permit relative movement between the first gear and the first pawls except in the operative positions of the first pawls,
• (f) means including a pair of second pawls, which are mounted to the input shaft in diametric opposition to each other in a manner permitting each second pawl to move between an operative position wherein such second pawl extends into a respective one of the second recesses and an inoperative position wherein such second pawl does not extend into either second recess and each of which is biased toward its operative position, for coupling the second gear to the input shaft so as to enable conjoint rotation of the second gear and the input shaft in the operative positions of the second pawls and for decoupling the second gear from the input shaft so as to permit relative rotation between the second gear and the input shaft in the inoperative positions of the second pawls, the second pawls being biased against the bearing surface of the second gear so as to permit relative movement of the second gear and the second pawls except in the operative positions of the second pawls.