US1533652A - Prepayment electric fan - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1925. 1,533,652

f- G. E. LE couNT PREPAYMENT ELECTRIC FAN Original Filed Aug.- 2A, 1922 Fgj.

Sheets-Sheet 1 f6 by His Acccnrwfrey4 April 14, 1925. 1,533,652

G. E. LE COUNT PREPAYMENT ELECTRIC FAN Original Filed Aug. 24, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: George E- Le Gemt,

by ggtbomey ratchet disk 39 adapted to be enga-ged and stepped around by the paWl 35, and in order to prevent retrograde movement thereof it is provided with a circular series of indentations 40 with which engages aspring plunger 4l seatedin the boss 34 parallel to the axis thereof.

The pedestal is provided at its upper end' with a crown flange 42 having rabbit-ted engagemci'it With a circular shoulder on the motor frame and a radial set screw 43 tapped into the wall thereof and adapt-ed to engage a notch 44 in the periphery of the boss 34 to lock the motor in fixed relation therewith. The outer end of' the set screw is provided with a lock nut 45 to prevent it vtrom working loose.

The neck of the pedestal is bored out. vertically 'for the reception of the shank 46 of a bearing support or bracket 47 having a longitudinal bore for the reception of the hollow shaft 37 and its upper end threaded tor the reception of a nut,l 48 by which it is firmly secured from vertical movement and the latter is locked in position by a set. screw 4). To prevent rotary movementof the bracket 47, a dowel pin 5() is provided and to lock the hollow shaft 37 therein a. radial setscrew 5l is tapped through the Wall of the shank 46 and entered in a notch Jformed in the side of the hollow shaft and this set screw 5l is concealed and locked by a second set screw 52 tapped through the Wall of the neck of the pedestal.

The vertical Worm shaft 38 meshes atits lower end with a Worm Wheel 531 formed integrally with a lead nut 54 horizontally journalled in the bracket 47 and retained from axial movement by a` split collet 55 engaging al peripheral groovetherein. It Will be observed. that this nut is at the end of the speed reduction gear train, by virtue ot which it is given one rotation in several hundred thousand rotations of the fan blades and extending over a time. period of one or more hours according to gea-r ratios employed.

The coin-controlled means is arranged in a side enlargement oit the pedestal l in which is formed apocket. or coin receptacle 56 and a coin slot 57.` Extending horizontally across the upper end of the receptacle and below the coin slot is the means whereby upon the insertion .ot a proper coin the electric circuit may Abe closed for actuation ot the tan for thel prescribed period* of time. This means comprises a bearing sleeve 58 having coin detector slots in top and bottom walls, the upper slotbeing oft a length and Width to exclude an oversize coin. Journalled in the sleeve 58 is the hand operated coin barrel 59 in the :torni of a tubular sleeve having only o-ne coin slot therein and pro` vided at its outer end with an inwardly extending stub shaft 60 and a handle or knob 6l, vwhile near its inner end is provided an arcuateslot` 62 of more than a half circle, as indicated in Fig. 4, to permit it to be rotated through 180O Without interference with the means for retaining it against axial movement consisting of the vertical guide tube 63. The coin barrel 59 has an internal bore of a diameter such that when a proper sized coin is ent-ered therein it will, While resting on the lower inner wall, extend outwardly in the slot but just Within the outer periphery of the barrel so as to clear the side of the slot in the sleeve 58 and permit the barrel and coin to be rotated without inter- 'terence therefrom, as indicated in Fig. l. Disposed concent-rically of the. coin barrel 59 is the coin plungery 64 capable ot axial and rotary movement therein. The plunger 64 has a longitudinal cross slot at its outer end and extending to the dotted line 66, and accordingly in excess of whatI is needed tor the entrance. of a single coin but for a purpose to be. set forth below. The outer end off the plunger is bored out to receive the stub shaft 60 upon which it is journalled. The coin plunger 64 has at its center pairs ot longitudinal grooves 67 and 68 with which engages a yield-able brake member in lthe form of a steel ball 69 forced upwardly by a spring plunger 7 0 in the guide tube 63 threaded into a tapped hole in the. pedestal. lVhen a coin is inserted, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, it locks the barrel 59 to the plunger 64 so that the latter may be rotated against the opposition of the yieldable brake through a halt turn where the coin is tree to pass out through the lower slot in the bearing sleeve 58, as indicated in Fig. 6, and enter the coin receptacle 56.

f The coin plunger 64 is also provided near its center with the timing switch 10 comprising an insulated block 71 having part of its length formed into cam surfaces with longitudinal contact bars 7 2 moulded therein, as shown in Figs. l and S. while its outer end 73 beyond the ends of the contact bars is reduced in diameter, as indicated in Figs.

1 and 9, so that when the plunger 64 has moved to the lett, as shown in Fig. l, tar enough to displace the active contact bar 72 `from 'under the spring switch contact 9.;

the latter drops down upon the reduced end 73 and breaks the circuit with a snap action.

Just. beyond the switch block 7l the plunger is provided with a thread 74 tor engagement with the lead nut 54 at the end of the timing gear trainl` While the ext-renie end 7 of the plunger is turned cylindrically and journalled in the bearing bracket 47 which lat-ter also carries at its lower en'd a. horizontal bar 76 of insulation on which the spring contacts 9 and 11 are supported.

It will be understood that each time the plunger 64 is coupled to the coin barrel 59 by a coin and Vrotated counterclockwise l; friction'clutchjoperating to hold vthe plunger atjthe'end of each vlra'lf= 'turn from being re turned' with 'the return movement of the coin" aierevith te the discharge 'or lthe com, it-wu be unscrewed from the lead "nut 54 'a' corresponding 'half 'turn'iofthethreads 74, the

barrel. This operation may be repeateda number of times in succession for the insertion -a't one time of five orl six coins until the' plunger has been unscrewed'from ythe lead nut sufficiently to bring the end `66 of its coin'slot into position to interfere with the passage of addition-al coins. yThe opera- 1 tion of the fan through the timing gear upon the lead nut 54 acts to draw the plunger 64 back to the position indicated in Fig. k1 and, of course, the time of 'operation will correspond Ito the number of half turns given the' A plunger G4 through entrance of coins.

y The coin receptacle 56 has inthe outer wall thereof af displaceable trap door 5 in the form of a steel disk having `on its inner wall a suitable lock 7 6 with a spear head 7 7 arranged to `ente-r an oblong hole in l an escutcl'ieon 78 fixed in therear wall of the receptacle land interlocked therewith.

vThe lower end jof the pedestal is enclosed bylaniron 'plate 79 having ka spur 80 ladapted i to enter a notch '81 in the inner wall of the -pedestal opposite the `coin receptacle, and

near its opposite edge `is a' tapped boss 82 adapted to beengaged by a set 'screw 83 extending through the bottom of the lcoin receptacle Iso that it can Ibe manipulated only whenV the latter is open land thus prevent ac cess to any of the operative parts by unauthorized persons.

A coin or operation counter gear S4 inthe form of a. cyclometer is secured to the inner wall of the coin receptacle over a. window aperture 85 cut therein opposite the trap 757 so that when the latter 'is open the counter may be read. The counter is provided with the usual ratchet Wheel 86, with which engages areciprocating rack 87 connected `at the upper end of is stem S8 to the spring yplunger 7 0, so 'that it is depressed each time guided in a correspondingly apertured bushing S9 threaded into the lower end of the guide tube 63 and fixed by a lock ynut 90. The rack 87 is in the form of a nut threaded upon its stem and its teeth, are in the form of spaced collars so that it may be rotated while maintaining continuous engagement with the ratchet wheel 86 and i-t is fixed in adjusted position by a lock nut 91.

In the modi-fied construction shown in Figs. 10 to 14, the motor shaft 4t is provided with a worm 13 at the rear end thereof which meshes with a. Worm wheel 14: fast on a shaft 15 exte-nding diagonally to the neck of the motor where itis provided with a second Worm 17 meshing with a second worm wheel 18 fast-'on a shaft 19 having a third "worm and 4worm wheel engagement with a vertical shaft 37" provided 'at its lowerend with a slot "and vcotter pin conL .nection with a worm shaft '37 which meshes with 'a lead 'nut 541".

In this modification the motor frame 2 is provided at its lower side with a large bfoss 34 adapted to vseat upon an internal shoulder 91 in the neck of the pedestal 1" where'it is secured by a plate 92 screwed thereto Land underriding the internal shoulderl 91. A

radial thumb screw 113 operatesto clamp the motor frame in adjusted position rela tive to the pedestal.

The pedestal l and coin receptacle 56" are arranged similar to the construction first described. In the place of a bearing sleeve 58 A'an arcuate detector 'plate 93 provided with dowel pins 94 is positioned within the coin slot 57 in a seat cut in a cylindrical Ibearing support for 'thecoin barrel 59', the coin plunger G4", worm shaft 37 and counter 'Sil'. n

. The coinvbarrel 59" is held against axial movement by a set screw 96 tapped through the wall of the support 95 and projecting at its inner end into an arcuate slot G2.

e The coin plunger (511" is journalled at vits outer end -in a b'eai'fing 97 lformed in the in-4 ner end ofthe handle or knob 61,` while its opposite end' is provided with a screw thread 74 in engagement with the lead nut 54.

The friction `clutch for the coin plunger comprises two steel balls 69 disposed in a transverse aperture in the plunger and yieldingly pressed outward by a spring 9S disposed between them. These balls normally engage V-shaped grooves 67 formed internally of a ring 99 fixed in the bearing sup port 95. Other slots 68 are also provided for a purpose to be set forth below.

The switch block 71 and contacts 72 are the same as in the construction first described. The stationary contacts 9 and 11 differ only in that they are made somewhat: shorter and are supported on an insulating block 76, secured transversely to the bea-ring support 95. The counter gear 84k is secured by screws across the inner end of the bea-ring support and extending into the bore thereof with its ratchet wheel 86 in position to be engaged by an eccentric finger 100 slida-blc in the end of the coin plunger 64.

The bearing support is detachably secured in position by a set screw 101 extending through an interior wall of the pedestal and engaging a notch formed in the periphery of the support.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 13 and 14, it will be noted that the coin slot in the coin barrel 59 or 59 is formed by the removal of an arcuate segment of nearly 180o and a length greater than the diameter of the coin and so positioned relative. to the slo-t 62er 62 that the upper or leading edge 102 thereof will normally stand clear of the detecting or entrance slot for the coin, while its lower edge 103 is positioned to close the exitslot and provide a step on which the coin rest-s, while the coin barrel is being given its half turn, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 13. Upon completion of the half turn of the coin barrel, the arts will be positioned, as indicated in "igs 6 and 14, so that the coin is free to pass out through the lower slot into the coin receptacle 56 or 56.

It is to be noted that the leading edge 102 of the coin barrel slot passes the. detector slot and shuts it before the coin plunger has been moved to release the clutch ball G9 or 69 from engagement with the coacting groove 67 or 67', and in case the coin barrel be turned in the opposite direction before the coin plunger has been rotated far enough to bringits opposite V groove into contact with the clutch ball, it cannot positively7 return the coin plunger, and in case of those parts being frictionally engaged by gum or grit the plunger will be arrested by a shallow groove 68 or 68 engaging with the clutch ball before the coin is brought near the entrance slot, although the edge 102 of the barrel slot may have been moved back sufficiently to clear the entrance slot.

Vhile I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted. thereto.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

l. A prepayment electric fan with a hollow pedestal having housed therein an electric switch, coin controlled setting means therefor, a timing geartrain, and electric connections between said motor and said switch.

2. A prepayment electric fan having a supporting pedestal, a timing gear train driven by the fan motor and extending into said pedestal, an electric switch having a rotary shaft, a common bearing support for said shaft and the end member of said gear train, and coin-contro=lled means for setting said electric switch in said pedestal.

3. A prepayment electric fan having a supporting pedestal, a lead nut disposed in said pedestal, a timing gear train driven by the fan motor and driving said lead nut, a coin-controlled switch shaft engaging said lead nut, and a common bearing support for said nut and said shaft.

1. A prepayment electric fan having a supporting pedestal pivotally and detachably connected thereto, a timing gear train driven by thc fan mot-or and extending into said pedestal, an electric switch for controlling the motor located in said pedestal and actuated in one direction by said gear train, and coin-controlled means for setting said switch in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of May, 1924.

GEORGE E. LE COUNT.

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