Machine element or mechanism – Automatic operation or control
Patent
1990-07-26
1992-04-28
Herrmann, Allan D.
Machine element or mechanism
Automatic operation or control
74 972, 741002, 74106, G05G 1700, H01H 1336
Patent
active
051077140
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mechanical abutment, adapted for being released under the action of a control element using a very small energy and the operation of which uses the property of a flexible profile to buckle under the effort to which the abutment is subjected, by deformation and bending of one at least of its sections.
DISCLOSURE OF THE PRIOR ART
Many embodiments of mechanical abutments are already known, used notably in some differential electrical switches or in hooking systems, in which an energy accumulator, usually a strongly compressed spring, is abruptly released for acting on a mechanism the operation of which fulfills a safety function (opening of a relay, interruption of a circuit, operation of a latch, casting-off of a load or of a previously immobilized element . . . ). The charge applied to the spring is generally maintained by a bearing member forming an abutment, which can abruptly retract under the effect of a control element actuated once it has passed beyond a predetermined set threshold by a given value, measured permanently and adapted in particular for providing the effort necessary for the control element. The latter is termed generally in the following description as "triggering element". Various embodiments of such triggering elements to be used as switches or circuits breakers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,708, DE-A-2 744 963 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,599.
On the other hand, it is a standard mater to provide means for a demultiplication of the control effort of the abutment, made for example of a set of levers or of toggle joints; the triggering element may be then made of any appropriate device, of thermal (bimetallic strip), electrical (electromagnetic relay), or mechanical origin (lever, clamp . . . ), for providing as a function of the measured value an effort which is minimum but sufficient for producing, once the set value has been passed, the liberation of the abutment and the release of the compressed spring.
But all these standard systems require many parts for making them, the structure of which is generally complex and which increase substantially the cost price, with moreover a response time which is not always instantaneous between the action of the triggering element and the liberation of the abutment, due in particular to the necessary transmission and demultiplication of the movements.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a releasable mechanical abutment avoiding these disadvantages due to the use of a flexible profile having, with respect to the compression effort which is exerted on the abutment, a high rigidity, together with a large buckling capacity, allowing the instantaneous release of said effort by retraction of the abutment under the effect of a triggering element, requiring for being used only a minimum effort, and therefore a very reduced control energy.
In other words, the gist of the invention lies in the design of a mechanical abutment of great rigidity but capable of retracting instantaneously upon a minimum mechanical energy application, which can notably be provided by or from the measured value as such when it passes beyond a predetermined threshold, whereby the retraction of the abutment can moreover act, if need be, on means adapted for bringing said value within the adopted set threshold.
On the other hand, its object is, due to the use of single mechanical part having at least one flexural preferential section, adapted for initiating the buckling and retraction effect of the abutment, to provide an assembly where the releasing energy does not depend, or only in a negligible way, on the abutment effort as such, where no significant overload is involved for this release and which ensures an automatic resetting without any dead point to be passed, the flexible profile returning to its initial position as soon as the abutment effort has stopped, which has a reduced mass in movement and is finally practically independent of the outer conditions for its response.
To this effect,
REFERENCES:
patent: 2253552 (1941-08-01), Burch
patent: 2266537 (1941-12-01), Elmer
patent: 2428172 (1947-09-01), Miller
patent: 2429074 (1947-10-01), Rugh
patent: 2468673 (1949-04-01), Kaminky
patent: 2521015 (1950-10-01), McLaren et al.
patent: 2669618 (1954-02-01), Bradley
patent: 2968708 (1961-01-01), Sagona
patent: 3050599 (1962-08-01), Brevick
Euphya
Herrmann Allan D.
Krolikowski Julie
Plottel Roland
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