# US 5,701,784 A · Mechanism to convert angular reciprocal movements into intermittent unidirectional rotary movement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,784 A - Document ID: US5701784A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/725,462 - Filed: 1996-10-04 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-07-24 - Inventors: Alvin A. Laplante - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701784A ## CPC - F16D 41/066: all members having the same size and only one of the two surfaces being cylindrical - A47C 3/0255: {pivotally mounted in the base frame, e.g. swings} - Y10T 74/1526: Oscillation or reciprocation to intermittent unidirectional motion - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract There is provided in combination a first member and a second member movable in a reciprocal angular movement, and an articulation between the first member and the second member. The articulation comprises a shaft and a mechanism to convert the angular reciprocal movements of both members into an intermittent unidirectional rotary movement of the shaft. The mechanism of the articulation comprises a pair of ball bearings having each an outer race mounted in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member, and also having each an inner race mounted in a fixed and coaxial relationship with the shaft. The mechanism further has a pair of flanges, being each mounted adjacent and coaxially a respective bearing, and also in a fixed relationship with a respective first or second member. Each flange has one-way clutch acting on the shaft in a first direction, whereby a movement of either the first member or the second member in the first direction causes the flange fixed to that first member or to that second member to clutch onto the shaft and to rotate the shaft in that first direction. Conversely, a movement of either first or second member in a second direction causes the flange fixed to that first member or to that second member to slide on the shaft, preventing thereby a movement of the shaft in the second direction. Thus during movement of the members, the inner races of the bearings of the articulation are rotated intermittently in the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In combination; a first member movable in a first reciprocal angular movement having a first direction and a second direction, a second member movable in a second reciprocal angular movement, said first reciprocal angular movement and said second reciprocal angular movement being parallel and directionally opposite, and an articulation between said first member and said second member, said articulation comprising a shaft and a mechanism to convert said first and said second angular reciprocal movements of said first member and said second member into an intermittent unidirectional rotary movement of said shaft, said mechanism comprising; a pair of ball bearings having each an outer race :mounted in a fixed relationship with a respective said first member or said second member, and having each an inner race mounted in a fixed and coaxial relationship with said shaft, a pair of flanges being each mounted adjacent and coaxial a respective said bearing and also in a fixed relationship with a respective said first member or said second member, each of said flanges having one-way clutch means acting on said shaft in said first direction, whereby a movement of either said first member or said second member in said first direction causes said flange fixed to said first member or to said second member moving in said first direction to clutch onto said shaft mad to rotate said shaft in said first direction, and a movement of either said first member or said second member in a second direction causes said flange fixed to said first member or to said second member moving in said second direction to slide on said shaft, preventing thereby a movement of said shaft in said second direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein both said bearings are held on said shaft by means of a washer and a screw threaded axially into each end of said shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange has a plurality of mounting holes drilled through said flange in a perpendicular orientation with a plane of said flange, said plurality of mounting holes comprising a first set of holes countersunk on a first side of said flange, and a second set of holes countersunk from a second side of said flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said flange is attached to a respective said member by means of screws through said mounting holes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange is circular and has a circular central opening, said central opening being dimensioned with a loose running fit over said shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said one-way clutch means comprises at least one cylindrical hole enclosing a ball and a spring, said cylindrical hole being oriented from a point on a circumference of said flange towards a substantially tangential intersection with said central opening of said flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ball is dimensioned with a loose running fit inside said cylindrical hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein a maximum length of a chord of a segment of said cylindrical hole at said tangential intersection is less than a diameter of said ball inside said cylindrical hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein a maximum length of said chord is between about 0.65, to about 0.95 a diameter of said ball. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cylindrical hole is closed by a spring pin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one cylindrical hole is three cylindrical holes equally spaced around said central opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member each has a machined cavity the shape of one of said bearings, to receive a respective said bearing therein. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member each has a machined cavity the shape of one of said pair of bearings collated side by side to one of said pair flanges, for receiving a combination of one of said pair of bearing and one of said pair of flange therein. ### Claim 14 A bearing assembly for installation in a mechanism to convert reciprocal angular movements into an intermittent unidirectional rotary movement, said bearing assembly comprising: a bearing having an inner race wider than an outer race, and a flange rotatively mounted on the extended portion of said inner race, said flange having one-way clutch means therein, acting on an extended portion of said inner race in a first direction relative to a plane of rotation of said bearing, whereby a movement of said flange in said first direction, causes said flange to clutch onto said inner race to rotate said inner race in said first direction, and a movement of said flange in a second direction opposite said first direction, causes said flange to slide on said inner race, preventing thereby a movement of said inner race in said second direction from said movement of said flange in said second direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flange has a plurality of mounting holes drilled through said flange in a perpendicular orientation with a plane of said flange, said plurality of mounting holes comprising a first set of holes countersunk on a first side of said flange, and a second set of holes countersunk from a second side of said flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein said flange is circular and has a central opening, said central opening being dimensioned with a loose running fit over said extended portion of said inner race. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said extended portion is grooved and wherein said flange is retained on said extended portion by means of a snap ring in said groove. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flange is circular and has a circular central opening, said one-way clutch means comprising at least one cylindrical hole enclosing a ball and a spring, said cylindrical hole being oriented from a point on a circumference of said flange towards a substantially tangential intersection with said central opening of said flange. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein a maximum length of a chord of a segment of said cylindrical hole at said tangential intersection is less than a diameter of said ball inside said cylindrical hole.