US 9,279,463 B2Granted

Pivot control mechanism

OwnerGeorge Jiri Balastikinventor

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Abstract

A pivot control mechanism selectively controls rotation of a pivot control shaft by an electric impulse from a solenoid, which locks the pawl into the ratchet, thereby permitting the shaft to rotate in a selected direction. When a passage direction is chosen, the cam followers move out of the home position of a lofted ratchet over the peak position to the next home position. Guiding pins controlling the axial motion of the lofted ratchet in conjunction with the compression springs secure the cam followers in the home position. A shock absorber acting on the cam is used to prevent the turnstile from over rotating with any great amount of force, softening the return of the cam followers to the home position. A micro switch, when activated, sends a signal to the control board, which through the action of the solenoid, locks the pawls into the ratchet.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A turnstile pivot control mechanism adapted to electronically facilitate selective passage between two defined areas, said turnstile pivot control mechanism comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, adapted to be coupled to a turnstile;
and
a ratchet mechanism for selectively locking the turnstile pivot control mechanism in place, the ratchet mechanism comprising:
a ratchet having a continuous cam surface with a plurality of apexes disposed at spaced intervals therealong;
and
at least one rigid pawl, engaging the ratchet, so as to lock the shaft in place when engaged, so as to prevent rotation of a turnstile coupled to the shaft, wherein the at least one rigid pawl has an obtuse angle;
and
at least one actuator, coupled to a corresponding one of the at least one rigid pawl, to allow said at least one rigid pawl to be rotated to selectively engage and disengage with the ratchet to selectively lock and release the pivot control mechanism;
wherein the ratchet further comprises grooves having an obtuse angle for easy engagement or disengagement of the at least one rigid pawl and for locking the pivot control mechanism in position;
a cylindrical cam, spring-loaded and slideably mounted so as to slide coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the cylindrical cam having a continuous waveform cam surface formed on one end of thereof, with a plurality of home positions and a plurality of peak positions therealong;
and
at least one cam follower, normally urged into engagement with said continuous waveform cam surface of the cylindrical cam, biasing said pivot control mechanism to one of said plurality of home positions such that when a user pushes on a turnstile coupled to the shaft and releases the turnstile coupled to the shaft, the turnstile coupled to the shaft returns to one of said plurality of home positions.

9 more elements

A turnstile pivot control mechanism construction adapted to electronically facilitate the selective passage between two defined areas, said pivot control mechanism comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, adapted to be coupled to a turnstile;
a cylindrical cam, spring-loaded and slideably mounted so as to slide coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the cylindrical cam having a continuous waveform cam surface formed on one end of thereof, with a plurality of home positions and a plurality of peak positions therealong;
and
at least one cam follower, normally urged into engagement with said continuous waveform cam surface of the cylindrical cam, biasing said pivot control mechanism to one of said plurality of home positions such that when a user pushes on a turnstile coupled to the shaft and releases the turnstile coupled to the shaft, the turnstile coupled to the shaft returns to one of said plurality of home positions.

1 more element

A turnstile pivot control mechanism adapted to electronically facilitate the selective passage between two defined areas, said pivot control mechanism comprising:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, adapted to be coupled to a turnstile;
at least one spring-loaded cam follower coupled to a shock absorber;
and
a shock absorber cam, coupled to the shaft and having a continuous cam surface engaging the at least one spring-loaded cam follower, with a plurality of apexes disposed at spaced intervals therealong such that as the shaft is rotated by a turnstile, the apexes of the shock absorber cam depress the at least one spring-loaded cam follower such that the shock absorber absorbs shock of the turnstile when turning;
a ratchet mechanism for selectively locking the turnstile pivot control mechanism in place, the ratchet mechanism comprising:
a ratchet having a continuous cam surface with a plurality of apexes disposed at spaced intervals therealong;
at least one rigid pawl, engaging the ratchet, so as to lock the shaft in place when engaged, so as to prevent rotation of a turnstile coupled to the shaft, wherein the at least one rigid pawl has an obtuse angle;
and
at least one actuator, coupled to a corresponding one of the at least one rigid pawl, to allow said at least one rigid pawl to be rotated to selectively engage and disengage with the ratchet to selectively lock and release the pivot control mechanism;
wherein the ratchet further comprises grooves having an obtuse angle for easy engagement or disengagement of the at least one rigid pawl and for locking the pivot control mechanism in position;
a cylindrical cam, spring-loaded and slideably mounted so as to slide coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the cylindrical cam having a continuous waveform cam surface formed on one end of thereof, with a plurality of home positions and a plurality of peak positions therealong;
and
at least one cam follower, normally urged into engagement with said continuous waveform cam surface of the cylindrical cam, biasing said pivot control mechanism to one of said plurality of home positions such that when a user pushes on a turnstile coupled to the shaft and releases the turnstile coupled to the shaft, the turnstile coupled to the shaft returns to one of said plurality of home positions.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.