US2500709A - Rotary file and braking means therefor - Google Patents

Description

March i4, 195@ R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREFOR 4 sheets-shea 1 Filed Nov. 2l, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

March 14, 1950 Filed Nov. 21, 1947 R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March M, 195@ R. P. SCHOLFIELD ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREF'OR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 2l, 1947 March M, 1950 R. P. sci-AOLFAELD A 25999799 ROTARY FILE AND BRAKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 21, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 I ma we '59 /06 los l INVENTo-R. Rz'chardRScllolield cards on the drum. v

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNI TED?" STATES PTENT OFFICE- Richard P. scholeld, White Plainsm. YQ Application November 21, 1947, serial Nb'. 787,409" s claims. (c1. 19a-sr` `The 'present invention, relates lto `rotary files and, more particularly', to files of the type comprising filing drums `rr'iounted ior'rotation about their axes and'l havingmeans associated with their periph'erie's" for removably securing thereto a plurality ofl'ingcards. l

Filingequi'pment ofi this/type is Aused. for keep-- ing recordsfof a'widefvarety of'types, and it is often desired topo'st entriesuppn the cards Whilel the same are mountedupo'n thev drum periphery, while in othercases tlhjewc'arcls are removed, entries are typed thereon,`vand'thecards replaced. In either case, and duringthe operation of manually inspecting the cards,l to Ilocate a particular one or the like, it is, or the utmost importance that the rotatable drum'be restrained against rotation anduheldiirrnlyin/one position, to resist the turning, forces imparted thereto bythe operator and `by 'the unbalanced Weight of the In ,the prior patent to; Scholi'ield yet al., No. 2,046,655,7aone-way brake, between the rotat-` able drum and anon-rotatable supporting shaft is showin., to prevent rotation ofl the drum in a rearward direction, andgthe construction there provided hasjbeen of substantial" utility and con stitutes an improvement over prior rotary illes. However, the construction of'that patent includes no means forz preventingfrotaton ofthe drum in a forward ,directiongfor' instance, upon'the application of turning forces thereto, as a 'result of the posting of entries by the operator upon cards secured to the forward, downwardly turning surfaceof the drum periphery.

,The primaryobject ofthe present invention is to provide, in combination witha rotary file, a. brake imechanisrnwhichwill prevent rotation of the drum in 'both directions; 'upon theapplication of turningy forces to the drum 'in either di,- rection,yet which will be instantlyfreleased, 'to permit rotation of the drum in 'either direction upon the application of turning forces toa handie mechanism associatedwith the drum.

. A furtherobject of the invention isto provide, in combination with 'a rotaryfile,"an"improved, automatic brakemechanism and handle mechanism for releasingthe brake'and turning the drum.

Anotherobjefct ofthe-invention isto provide" automatically*operating'-twoeway brakes ifor rotary -les which will resist'relativelygreat turning forces-applied `Ato the card carrying drums"4 in through-the insriemaiay of associated handle me'clian'i'sms. n l ,l i, Another Objectis to,` provide specic' improvements in such` brake mechanisms;

Other and further objects' land 4vadvantages dfv the invention willrv be, ,apparent yfrom a consideri@k ation of theffollowing description of certain pre-fk erred embodiments ofI ,the invention shown in the, accompanying' drawingain which,

`Figure 1 is 'av plan ,view landpartial se'zction of a idling drumv and its supporting elements;

tFigure 2 a V`frag.,mentarysection,'and elevationon lan,enlarged,scale looking from' theleft of Figure 1, substantially on'the line 2-2`of Figuol urel; T y Figure isasectiof Lo n',lii"ife `ii-ivirof Figure 2; Figures 4, 5, and' v6 'are fragmentary sections on linesLl-IL 5 5, and S-S, respectively, of'Fig- AkFigure 7 isfan enlargedfragr'nentary section online'iT'iofFigure;

Figure 8` is, ,ai,i,e,nlarged fragmentary section online-BofFigureGg V Figure 9 isa view similar toligure 2 of a mod` iiied formo brake mechanism;

Figures .10 and 1,1 are sections on lines liii-II) and |I'l i, respectively, of'Figure 9; l x vliigures 1,2 and 1,3 aresectionalviews takenjon lines l2-I2 and 134-13, respectively, of Figure 10;, Figure vlll'is` an', enlarged section and elevation, on line 14e-I4 of Figure 13, and

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic, side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a preferred form of handlemechanism. i y a The iling drum I6 vpreferably comprises a rim member Il having a plurality of outwardly pro-V jecting, circuinferentially extending. headed card retainingrails, l2, i3, associated therewith, uponwhich a plurality'of.. carols I4 may be removably retained, for instance, by means of vkey-A hole shaped slots i5, as is Well understood in. the art. The rim, is preferably` mounted upon shoulders associated with dished heads IB, one of whichisshown in ig'urel, terminating `in out- Wardly projecting vflanges |1,'i8, arranged to lie alongthe lateral edges of the cards l5.

The drum heads' may be journalled by suitv able bearings 2E) upon anon-rotatable shaftZl,

having itsends 22,. 23,',supported in suitable sock# et members"'24, 25, the'shaft ends and sockets v -beingrprovided with cooperating latsurfaces to prevent rotation' of theshaft.r

The brake "meclianism represented generally at 28, lis housedwithin a casingf'29"havingra outer face, defined by concentric inner and outer walls 39 and 40, constituting brake surfaces. Slidably mounted in the channel 38 for relatively free movement with respect thereto is ashoe 43, xedly attached to the housing 29 by screws 44.

l The shoe 43 is provided with terminal extensions l 45, 46, having outer surfaces shaped to provide seats for rollers 41, 48, the bottoms of the seats being inclined radially outwardly away from the ends of the extremities so that they are deeper at the outer ends 49 and 50 and shallower at the inner ends 5|, 52.

Also slidably mounted in the channel 38 of brake member 31 are two oppositely disposed shiftable brake shoes 53, 54, having their side walls in free sliding engagement with the walls of the channel and ycarrying at their adjacent ends, pins 55 and '55, serving as retaining means for a coil compression spring 51, urging the shiftable shoes towards the shoe 43 fixedly attached to the housing 29.

The shiftable shoes are provided with terminal portions or fingers 59, 60, having'surfaces shaped to provide seats cooperating with the rollers 41 and 48, the seats being deeper at the free ends 6|, 82, and inclined toward the shallower ends Adjacent their opposite ends, the shiftable shoes are provided with circumferentially elongated slots 85, 68, which receive pins 81, 88, carried by an outer plate 10 having a shouldered central aperture 1|. A hub member 12 secured by screws 13 to the inner plate 33, is provided with a flange 14, mating with the shoulder of the plate 10 and preventing axial movement of the latter end of the intermediate parts relative to plate 33.

Surrounding the shaft 23 is a handle 15, which may have three or more arms 16, 11, 18, the centrial portion of which is attached to the outer plate 10 by suitable means, such as screws 80 (Figure 2).

It is thought that the operation of the first form of the invention, just described, will be `clear from a consideration of the relationship `of parts shown in the accompanying drawings. `The inner plate 33, brake surface channel member 31 and hub 12 are all fixed to the non-rotatable shaft 23 and are therefore non-rotatable. whereas the housing 29, brake shoes 43. 53, and 54, outer plate 10 and handle 15, together with the filing drum I0 are `rotatable with respect to the shaft. With the parts in the position of rest. however, as shown in Figure 5, the brake mechanism is effective to prevent rotation of the drum under the influence of turning forces imparted thereto in either direction. For instance.

if rotational force is imparted to the drum and.

therefore, to the housing 29 and shoe 43 in a clockwise direction. the shallow end 52 of the seat for roller 48 will engage the roller and will tend to roll the same up upon the shallow end 64 of the shiftable brake shoe 54, thereby forcing the latter shoe outwardly against the outer wall of the channel 38, causing the parts to jam.

During this attempted movement, of course, the other brake shoe 53 is ineffective, since the roller 41 is at the deep end of the two seats.

If rotational force is imparted to the drum in a counterclockwise direction, exactly the opposite effect is produced and roller 41, riding up onto the shallow ends 5| and 63 of the two seats forces the shiftable shoe 53 outwardly into engagement with the outer wall 40 of the channel, preventing rotation of the drum in a counterclockwise direction, the other brake shoe 54 being ineffective at this time.

Thus, the drum is normally locked against rotation in both directions, under the influence of turning forces applied to the drum.

If, however, the handle mechanism 15 is shift ed in a clockwise direction, Figures 2, 4, and 5, pin 68 disposed in slot 66 pulls the shiftable shoe 454 downwardly so that the roller 48 lies in the deep ends 50 and 62 of its seats. Turning forces are transmitted through the roller 48 to the shoe 43 and from the latter through screws 44 to the housing 29, thereby to turn the drum in a corresponding direction, the brake shoe 53 being ineffective to restrain rotation in this direction.

Similarly, when turning forces are imparted to the handle in a counterclockwise direction, the pin 81 in the slot `|55 of shiftable shoe 53 draws the latter downwardly, causing the roller 41 to lie in the deep ends 49 and 6| of its seats and transmitting turning forces through the roller to the terminal portion 45 of shoe 43 and from the latter to the filing drum.

Of course, when the handle is released the brake is instantly and automatically applied to restrain rotation in eitiher direction.

Another form of brake mechanism, shown in Figures 9-14, may be mounted within the same housing 29, secured by screws 3| to the drum head I6. In this case, an inner plate 85 is similarly keyed to the flat portion'35 of shaft 23, the plate being provided with an axially outwardly projecting flange 88 having a radially inner circumferentially continuous wall 81 constituting a fixed brake surface. Within the central recess defined by the flange 86, there are arranged a plurality of brake elements, including a centrally iapertured shoe 89 rotatably surrounding the shaft 23 and having a plurality of centrally bored and tapped studs 90 projecting outwardly therefrom. The shoe 89 also carries three pins 9| serving as retaining devices for a spring, hereinafter described.

Laterally of the central shoe 89 are a pair of segment shaped shoes 92, 93, having their arcuate surfaces mating with the inner surface 81 of the ange 86. The outer surfaces of the shoes 92, 93, however, are recessed as at 94, 95, and provided with substantially radially disposed, flat end surfaces 96, 91 and angularly disposed chordal bottom surfaces 98. 99, providing recesses for rollers |00, I 0|, the rollers being constantly urged toward the end walls 9S, 91 by leaf springs |02, |03, seated in recesses 94 and 95.

Between the adjacent surfaces of the segmental shoes 92. 93 and the central member 89 are a pair of wedge members |05, |06, having studs |01, |08 projecting outwardly therefrom. A Wishbone tvpe spring |09 having a'central section |04 threaded between the pins 9|, 4has its ends and ||2 embracing the studs |01, |08,- thereby constantly urging both of the wedge members |05 and |06 into operative position, toward the right in Figure 13, this movement being limited by stop pins |05' and |06' projecting from the edge faces of the central shoe 89.

:moa-rca 'At the outer f ace of the shoes B9, 52, :and $3 there is an annular plate |I'5, having a c ,entlalr aperture surrounding the shaft 23 and merging into laterally projecting slots H5, into which the studs |91 and |98 loosely project. The axial ly inner end of the outer sur-face of plate H5 .is shaped to provide an undercut groove 'l |8, for the reception of a split ring H9,y having its inner surface shaped to mate therewith, and adapted to be secured to the inner plate 85 by screws |20.

The outer plate H5 has a plurality of en larged openings |23 which loosely receive the studs 99, for limited circumferential lost motion. A plurality of screws |24 extends through holes in the housing 29 and into the tapped bores `of studs 99, to secure the various parts to the housing.

The handle |21 is secured in outwardly spaced,

relation to the housing 29 and the plate ||5 by a plurality of headed screws |229v extending through spacer sleeves |39, disposed in enlarged openings |3| in the housing 29 and bearing against the outer surface of the plate H5, for relative cire cumferential lost motion of the handle with rc spect to the housing.

In the operation of this form of the invention, turning forces imparted to the d-rum are .transmitted through housing 29 and screws |24 to the central shoe 99 of the brake mechanism and from the latter, through thewedges |95, |05 to the arcuate shoes 92 and 93. Rotation in a clock-.- wise direction, Figure 13, would be permitted by roller |99 in the slot 94, since, when the roller is in the deep end of the recesses, abutting the rear wall 9S, its circumference is `substantially out of contact with surface 3'! of the fixed flange 86. However, rotation in this direction is restrained by the other roller, |01, which immediately jams between the circumferential surface 8,1 and the ohordal bottom 99 of recess 95. Similarly, rotation as a result of forces imparted to the drum ,in the opposite direction is restrained by roller |90, jammed between the surface 81 and the bottom 98 of yrecess 94,

Turning forces imparted to the handle mechanism are directly transmitted through screws |28 to the outer plate H5, rotation of the latter relative to the housing 29 being permitted by the space between the margins of the enlarged openings |3| and the sleeves |39. Rotation of the plate ||5 in the clockwise directions causes engagement of the margin of slot with pin k|08 carried by wedge |06, thereby withdrawing that wedge and permitting the shoe 93 to move radially inwardly. Spring |93 engaging roller ||l| limits the rolling movement of the latter along the bottom 99 of recess 95 and prevents the jamming of the roller. With shoe 93 in the relieved or retracted position, turning forces are imparted to the studs 99 by the margins of the openings |23 in plate I l5, whereby the drum may be rotated in a clockwise direction, since the studs are xedly attached to the housing 29 by screws |24.

Turning forces imparted to the handle in the opposite, counterclockwise direction function in a. similar manner. Wedge |05 is withdrawn, to relieve the outward force on shoe 92, thereby preventing the roller lllil from jamming between the surface 91 and the bottom 98 of recess 94. Hence, the drum may be rotated quitev readily in a counterclockwise direction by appropriate manipulation of the handle mechanism.

It will be understood that, upon release of the handle, the brake shoes are immediately and automatically shifted to their operative positions,

thereby preventing rotation of the drum under the influence of turning forces imparted thereto; The invention is not limited to the details of 'construction shown in the accompanying draw.- ings and described above, but includes all medi.-

ications coming within the appended claims and their equivalents..

vI claim: f

'1. A rotary iile lcomprising a, non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filing drum journalled for ro tation thereon, a handle mounted for rotation coaxially ofthe shaft, a brake mechanism inter.- posed between the drum and the shaft, and con-s neotions between the handle and the brake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a cire oumferentially continuous braking surface fixed to the shaft, a shoe fixed to the drum slidable along saidsuraCe, a pair of shiftable shoes cooperating with the fixed shoe, means normally causing one shoe to jam against said surface upon attempted rotation of the drum in one di: rection, means normally causing the other shoe to jam against said surface upon attempted rotation of the drumin the other direction, where-.-

l by the drum is normally restrained against rota.-

tion in both directions, and a connection between.

said handle and the shiftable shoes to shift the latter away from said surface and preventing jamming thereof upon the application thereto of turning forces in the rst mentioned directions, whereby the drum may be rotated in either direction by the handle.

2. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filing drum journalled for ro! tation thereon, a handle mounted for rotation coaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed between the drum and the shaft, and con: nections between the handle and the brake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a circumferentially continuous braking surface fixed to said shaft, a pair of shiftable shoes rotatable with .the drum, a roller associated with each shoe adapted to jam against said surface when' turning forces are imparted to the drum and to the shoes in opposite directions, said rollers being free in the other directions, said connec tion between the handle and each shoe serving to shift the shoes to inoperative positions upon the application of turning forces thereto.

3. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filing drum journalled for rotation thereon, a handle mounted for .rotation coaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed between the drum and the shaft and connections between the handle and the brake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a brake drum fixed to the shaft having an internal braking surface, a pair of jam type oppositely acting one-way brake shoes in the brake drum connected for rotation with the ling drum, each shoe being shiftable inwardly to an inoperative position, a movable wedge behind each shoe, and spring means normally urging the wedges to shift the shoes outwardly, said connections between the handle and the brake mechanism comprising a lost motion connection between the handle and each wedge, effective to shift the wedge and the associated shoe to* the inoperative position upon the application of turning force to the handle in thek direction normally restrained by the shoe, whereby the filing drum may be rotated by the handle in either direction, but rotation of the drum is restrained in both directions by the shoes, upon the application of turning forces to the ling drum.

4. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a filing drum journalled for rotation thereon, a, handle mounted for rotation coaxially of the shaft, a brake mechanism interposed betweenthe drum and the shaft and connections between the handle and the brake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a brake drum fixed to the shaft, having a circumferentially continuous internal braking surface, a pair of shoes rotatable with the filing drum disposed Within the brake drum, mounted for radial shifting from an outer, operative position to an inner. inoperative position, a pair of wedges behind the shoes, spring means normally urging the Wedges in a direction to project the shoes in an outer position, and a roller interposed between each shoe and the braking surface, one arranged to jam and prevent rotation of its associated shoe in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction, whereby the filing drum is normally restrained against rotation in both directions, said connections including a lost motion connection between the handle and each of said Wedges, effective to move each wedge against the force of said spring means to shift the associated shoe to the inoperative position when turning force is imparted to the `handle in the direction normally restrained by the associated roller. v

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that each shoe has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with thebrake drum surface and interrupted by a recess having a bottom on a chord of the arc, and in that the rollers are disposed in said recesses.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that each of said brake shoes has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with the braking surface and interrupted by a recess defined by a substantially radial end wall and a chordal bottom, and in that the rollers'are disposed in the recesses so formed. Y

'7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 characterized in that each of said brake shoes has an arcuate peripheral surface mating with the braking surface and interrupted by a recess defined by a substantially radial end wall and a posed in the recesses with a spring associated with each roller normally urging the same toward the radially disposed end wall of its recess.

8. A rotary le comprising a non-rotatable supporting shaft, a ling drum journalled for rotation thereon, a .handle mounted for rotation coaXiaIly of the shaft, abrake housing carried by the drum, rotatable therewith and surrounding a portion of the shaft, a brake mechanism in the housing, and connections between the handle and the brake mechanism, said mechanism comprising a member fixed to the shaft having a circumferentially continuous, radially inwardly facing, stationary braking surface, a shoe Xed with respect to and rotatable with the casing and positioned for free sliding movement in both directions relative to said surface, and a pair of shiftable shoes connected to receive rotational force from the fixed shoe and having oppositely acting, one-way jamming connections with said surface under the influence of such force to restrain rochordal bottom and in that the rollers are distation of the drum and casing in both directions said connection between the handle and the brake mechanism comprising means extending from the handle through the casing with capability of lost motion with respect thereto,'oper atively connected to the shiftable shoes for shifting each to the inoperative, non-jamming position upon the application of turning force to the handle in the direction of drum rotation normally restrained by that shoe.

RICHARD P. SCHOLFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France July 6, 1907

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