US2941322A - Machine for supporting and rotating electric signs - Google Patents

Description

E. R. HARMON 2,941,322 MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATING ELECTRIC SIGNS June 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1957- INVENTORZ ATTORNEYS E. R. HARMON June 21, 1960 MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATING ELECTRIC SIGNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1957 N 2345 W $44.44 K R mm HR 4 m m I 6 D Q H M a 1; 3 x k x I H H 7. w {.J. 7 G I: 5| W :1 w H II/ HW W, a a 0 4 ATTORNEYS. i

MACHINE FOR SUPPORTING AND RDTATING ELECTRIC SIGNS Edwin R. Harmon, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to Pacific Turning Unit Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Utah Filed June '24, 1957, Ser. No. 667,476

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to machines for rotating electrically lighted display signs, particularly the outdoor types of neon signs that are widely used for advertising display purposes.

Various forms of so-called turning units have been developed heretofore to meet demands for electric display signs that slowly and continuously rotate. How'- ever, these machines leave much to be desired. They are clumsy in construction and expensive to produce. Moreover, they require frequent repairs.

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine of the type concerned which is relatively simple "and compact in construction, comparatively inexpensive to produce, requires little attention and repair during use, is applicable to most of the usual sizes and styles of electrical display signs, effectively locks the sign against rotation in either direction when the motor is not running, may be provided easily and inexpensively with conveniently adjustable variable speed mechanism, directly supports as well as motivates the display sign, and provides simple and eifective electrical connection for the motivated sign.

In the accomplishment of these objects, an important structural feature is the provision of a power transmission gear box that surrounds the standard or shaft upon which the sign is mounted for rotation and replaces one of the ordinarily required bearings therefor, the standard or shaft being hollow and open-ended so that the electric wiring for the sign passes therethrough and through the gear box, establishing electrical connection between the electrical supply lines and the usual commutator in a most effective, compact, and economical manner.

Important also is the power transmission arrangement, which employs both a pulley drive and a double worm type of gear train for transmitting rotation of the motor to the sign mount at suitable speed reduction ratio. The provision of a worm at both the power input and the power output ends of the gear train provides positive locking of the mechanism against motion in either direction when the motor is not running, thereby insuring stability of the sign when not rotating. The provision of a pulley drive as a component of the power transmission arrangement enables use of a conventional expansion pulley of Reeves type as a quickly and easily adjusted variable speed mechanism.

Another feature in instances where large signs are to be turned is th manner in which a clutch is provided on the hollow standard or shaft for protecting the mechanism against heavy wind loads exerted on the sign. For lighter signs, the pulley drive affords the use of a pulley clutch to accomplish the same thing.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the particular preferred embodiments illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention adapted for use with large signs;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary vertical section taken along theline '7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 1, but illus-- trating a somewhat different embodiment of the invention adapted for use with small signs.

Referring to the drawings:

The embodiment of Figs. 1 through 7 is adapted to support and rotate relatively large and heavy signs which, by reason of their size, are subject to excessive counter torque stresses developed by wind loads exerted against the sign. As illustrated, the machine is arranged to be incorporated within the sign, although its position may be reversed so as to be surmounted by the sign.

In the form illustrated, the machine comprises a base- 10 adapted for securement, as 'bymeans of bolts 11, to' a fixed support, for example a' post 12.

A hollow and open-ended standard or shaft 13 has. its

lower end extending through base 10 and rigidly afiixed" thereto.

Rotatably mounted on standard 13 by means of an.

antifriction thrust and radial bearing 14 is mounting means, here having the form of a largely open housing 15..

Securely attached to the floor of the housing is a motor 16, preferably an electric motor.

The standard 13 has an upward extension 17 secured thereto (by means of set screws 27, Fig. 3), and such extension extends upwardly beyond the housing and through a gear box 18 to a termination which projects above the gear box and carries thereon a series of electrical commutator rings 19, there being three such rings in this instance.

The gear box 18 rests upon the top plate 15a of hous-,

ing 15, being provided with a pair of elongate and integrally for-med feet 18a for the purpose, and is secured in place upon the housing by means of bolts 20, Fig. 2.

Within gear box 18 is a train of power transmitting gears adapted to be driven by pulley drive connection with the motor 16 and to, in turn, drive the rotating components of the machine by worm and worm gear drive connection with the standard 13 and extension thereof 17. Also carried by gear box 18, preferably within and exteriorly thereof and formed integrally therewith, as shown, are bearing members 18b and 180, respectively, for the sleeve 22 which is mounted on extension 17 of standard 13.

In the present instance, a clutch arrangement serves to interconnect worm gear 21 of the gear train in gear box 18 with the composite standard 13, 17, thereby providing a safety factor in the event greater than a predetermined countertorque is effective on the drive gears by reason of excessive wind loads on the sign.

To provide the clutch interconnection, worm gear 21- lar set screws 27, and the two drum sections are normally held tightly together by means of a clutch band 28 hearing against friction clutch facings 29" of the respective drum sections. The tightness of clutch'band 28 may be adjusted by turning screws 30, Fig. l, to establish a desired stress point at which torque exerted counter to the direction of rotation of worm gear 21 will cause the clutch to slipand so relieve the 'countertorque stresses on the drive gears. e

For the purpose of providing an eflicient and positive lock for the sign against rotation in either direction when the motor 16 is idle, the gear train within gear box 18 comprises an input or driven worm 31, Figs. 6 and 7, a driven worm gear 32 in mesh therewith, and an output or drive worm 33, Figs. 3, 5, and 7, in mesh with worm; gear '21.

Input or driven worm 31 is rigidly afiixed to a shaft 34 carrying driven pulley 35, Fig. 1, of the pulley drive connection, drive pulley 36 of such pulley drive connection being rigidly affixed to the drive shaft 16a of motor 16 and the two pulleys 35 and 36 being interconnected by a drive belt 37.

Output or drive worm 33 is rigidly ailixed to a shaft 38, Figs. and 7, intermediate the length thereof, such shaft carrying at one of its ends driven worm gear 32 and at its opposite end a worm 3'9 operative in a grease or oil reservoir 40 to continually feed lubricant into the gear box through one of the .shaft bearings 41, see Figs. 5 and 7.

It can be seen that, by the provision of a double worm gear traimnot only is power transmitted in an appropriate and highly effective manner, but positive locking of the sign against movement in either direction when the motor is idle is achieved without the need for expensive and cumbersome auxiliary mechanism.

' The pulley drive connection between motor '16 and power input shaft 34 of the gear box makes for compactnessof construction and is otherwise highly advantageous in that it makes possible the use of one or both pulleys of expansible Reeves type, so that the speed of rotation may be easily and quickly varied for any given installation without the provision of expensive and cumbersome variable speed mechanism.

Electrical power leads for both the motor and the sign itself, here the three wires 42, 43, and 44, Figs. 2 and 3, are brought into the post 11 at any convenient location (not shown), and are conveniently passed upwardly through the open lower end and the hollow interior of standard proper 13' and of standard extension 17 to electrical connection with the respective commutator rings 19 at the upper end of the standard extension, the open upper end of such standard extension providing convenient access to the electrical connections.

It will be remembered that neither the standard proper nor its extension rotates in this arrangement of the ma chine. Since they remain stationary at all times, they provide a convenient conduit for any number of power leads required for the motor and the electric sign proper.

The commutator brushes 45 are advantageously stacked as illustrated, see Figs. l4, being supported by a bracket 46 secured to and extending upwardly from housing Binding posts 47, Fig. 3 and 4, carried by a short standard 48, which rises from bracket 46 coextensively with the assembly of stacked brushes 45, are electrically connected with the respective brushes in more or less conventional manner, as indicated, and provide convenient electrical connections for the power supply leads going to the motor and the sign, respectively.

. In'operation, the housing 15, gearbox 18, motor 16, and pulley-drive connection between motor and gear box Drive worm 33 travels around worm gear 21, the latter actingas a reaction member.

- It should be noted that'the gear drive to the rotating components of the machine is direct, and that such drive '70 rotate with the sign within which the'machine is encased.

furnishes, in efiect, an upper bearing for the machine, making it unnecessary to supply more than the one antifriction bearing 14.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 is even more compact in construction than that just described. It is designed for smaller and lighter signs, and is provided with a one piece standard 50 of comparatively short length and uniform diameter.

Such standard extends through the gear box 51, and directly carries the worm gear (not shown) correspond ing to 21 of the first embodiment, it being understood that no clutch is incorporated with the standard in this embodiment. The base 52 and antifriction bearing 53 correspond to 10 and 14 of the first embodiment.

In this second embodiment, it is convenient to configurate the housing 54 to accommodate the motor 55 directly above the gear box and standard. Otherwise, the power transmission mechanism is the same as in the first embodiment, although one of the pulleys of the pulley drive connection may be constructedas a clutch if desired as a safety precaution.

In this second embodiment, it is convenient to mount the brush-supporting bracket 56 directly upon the gear box, as illustrated.

As mentioned previously, the machine may be used in reverse manner to that specifically shown and described, in which case the base 10 or 52 will be uppermost and will be surmounted by the sign. The housing 15 or 54 will be rigidly aflixed to the post 11 or other stationary support, and the composite standard .13, 17 or unitary standard 50 will become a rotating shaft. Power supply connections will be made with the brushes, which will,

remain stationary, while motor and sign electrical connections will be made with the commutator rings, which will rotate with the shaft, base, and sign. 18 or 51 will remain stationary along with the housing, and power output worm 33 will therefore not revolve around worm gear 21, but will serve to impart rotational movement thereto in conventional manner.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and de-. scribed with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it should be realized that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the essential vcontributions to the art made by the teach-' ings hereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for supporting and rotating electric signs, which machine includes a hollow shaft, a housing accommodating at least part of said shaft, an electric motor within said housing, electric supply wiring extending through said shaft, commutator means carried by the shaft and interconnecting said supply win'ng with electrical leads to the motor and the electric sign, respectively, and a thrust bearing for said shaft, the combination with said shaft of a speed reduction gear box through which the shaft extends and fromopposite sides of which it projects, the said thrust bearing being associated with the portion of the shaft which extends from one side of the gear box and the said commutator means being associated with the portion of the shaft which extends from the opposite side of the gear box, and the gear box being supported by said housing; bearings for said shaft carried by the top and bottom sides, respectively, of said gear box; gearing within said gear box for driving said shaft, said gearing including a worm wheel afiixed to said shaft, and drive gears including a worm meshing with said worm wheel; and drive means connecting said motor with said gearing. p

2. The combination in claim 1, wherein the. gearing further comprises a second worm wheel;.a shaft mounting said worm and said second worm wheel in common; a second. worm in mesh with said second worm wheel; and apower input shaft on which said second worm-is mounted, the drive means being connected in drive rela tionship with said input shaft.

Gear box 3. The combination in claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft comprises a hollow shaft member extending through the thrust bearing, a hollow shaft extension of said hollow shaft member fitted into the latter and rigidly secured thereto, and a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said hollow shaft extension, the gearing being connected in drive relationship with said sleeve member; and wherein there is additionally provided clutch means, comprising a clutch drum rigidly secured to said sleeve member, a second clutch drum rigidly secured to said hollow shaft member, and a clutch band hugging said clutch drums.

4. The combination in claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft comprises a hollow shaft member extending through the thrust bearing, a hollow shaft extension of said hollow shaft member fitted into the latter and rigidly secured thereto, and a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said hollow shaft extension, the worm wheel being afl'ixed to said sleeve member; and wherein there is additionally provided clutch means, comprising a clutch drum rigidly secured to said sleeve member, a second clutch drum rigidly secured to said hollow shaft member, and a clutch band hugging said clutch drums.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,655,524 Teague Jan. 10, 1928 2,022,105 Coons Nov. 26, 1935 2,084,915 Leitch June 22, 1937 2,157,199 Doering May 9, 1939 2,555,070 Wood May 29, 1951 2,556,472 Gray June 12, 1951 2,673,778 Wood Mar. 30, 1954 2,741,861 Roe Apr. 17, 1956

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