Machine element or mechanism – Mechanical movements – Oscillation or reciprocation to intermittent unidirectional...
Patent
1989-04-25
1991-06-04
Braun, Leslie A.
Machine element or mechanism
Mechanical movements
Oscillation or reciprocation to intermittent unidirectional...
74148, 74149, F16H 3100
Patent
active
050203835
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure and, more specifically, to an intermittent rotation drive apparatus which utilizes air as the power source and employs a pawl-fed intermittent movement mechanism, and which is suitable for use in places where ordinary electric motors that utilize electricity cannot be used because explosives or combustibles are handled or because electromagnetic fields are present.
BACKGROUND ART
The so-called air motors have hitherto been provided as intermittent rotation drive apparatus which utilize air as the power source and employ a pawl-fed intermittent movement mechanism.
In general, such an intermittent rotation drive apparatus has a pawl member capable of moving linearly in response to air pressure so as to cause intermittent rotation of a gear-like rotary body.
An example of such intermittent rotation drive apparatus is known from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 46241/1983 which discloses a stepping motor.
However, any of the conventionally provided intermittent rotation drive apparatus, such as that described above, is capable of causing, by the use of air pressure, intermittent rotation only in one direction. No apparatus has hitherto been provided that is capable of causing intermittent rotation in either of two directions.
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure which is provided with means for selecting the direction of rotation, and which thus is thus capable of allowing the direction of rotation to be freely selected.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides an intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure comprising: a body receiving a piston capable of reciprocating within the body in response to air pressure; a hole formed in the piston and defined by a large mortise in the substantially central portion of the piston; a spindle extending through the hole; a roller housing mounted on the spindle in such a manner as to be rotatable relative thereto, the roller housing having a plurality of rollers disposed around the circumference thereof; a pair of pawl members pivotally supported by shafts fixed to the piston at positions at which the shafts extend in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the piston, the pawl members being adapted to feed the rollers by one pitch during the reciprocation of the piston, thereby causing rotation of the roller housing through a predetermined angle; and a selector lever capable of permitting the tip of only one of the pawl members to abut on the rollers. By virtue of this arrangement, therefore, when the selector lever is operated, one of the pawl members is selectively used, thereby enabling the rotary body to rotate in either of two directions.
The intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure according to the present invention may further comprise: a pair of single-action cylinders provided in correspondence with the pair of pawl members; and a pair of pushers capable of advancing and retracting in response to the action of the single-action cylinders, each of the pushers supporting one end of the selector lever, wherein when air pressure is selectively supplied to one of the single-action cylinders, the selector lever becomes slanted. With this arrangement, therefore, when the air pressure supplied to the pair of single-action cylinders is suitably controlled, the selector lever can be operated in such a manner as to make selection as to the direction of rotation. Thus, the direction of rotation can be controlled using the same power source as that provided for effecting intermittent rotation.
The intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure according to the present invention may further comprise: a rotor mounted on the spindle in such a manner as to be rotatable relative thereto and disposed in engagement with the roller housing, the rotor having vertical grooves and feed teeth
REFERENCES:
patent: 3802282 (1974-04-01), Cook
patent: 4350054 (1982-09-01), Werth, Jr.
patent: 4403523 (1983-09-01), Seger
patent: 4633723 (1987-01-01), Masovich et al.
Anchell Scott
Braun Leslie A.
Myotoku Ltd.
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