US2729415A - Adjustable bracket - Google Patents

Description

3, 1956 M. 1.. SMALLEGAN 2,729,415

ADJUSTABLE BRACKET Filed Noy. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 F W\/ INVENTOR.

/ 5 Mam 0v L. j/w/iuian/v ATTORNEY United States Patent-O ADJUSTABLE BRACKET -Marvin 1L. Smallegan, Zeeland, Mich assignor to Automatic Poultry Feeder Company, Zeeland, Mich a cor .pol'ation of Michigan Application November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,353 ,2 Claims. (Cl. 248-444) This invention relates to conveyor equipment and more .particularly to an adjustable leg structure for supporting constitutes a material improvement over these structures in that it is quickly and easily vertically adjustable. At the same time, when set at aparticular height, its locking action is positive, preventing slippage even under extreme conditions of vibration. My invention permits a wide range of height adjustment by a mechanism both simple and sturdy. The trough or conveyor'bed is at all times transversely level when the trough is locked in any particularvertical position. My invention provides asturdy support capable of withstanding severe loads without danger of failure and without danger of tipping sideways.

These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be readily seen by those acquainted with the design and construction of materials handling equipment upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary, plan view of a conveyor trough supported by my improved adjustable 'le'g.

Figure 2 is a side, elevation viewof a conveyor trough supported by my improved adjustable leg.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the-plane Ill-Ill of 'Figure 2 showing the trough in locked position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the same plane as Figure 3 but showing the trough in unlocked position.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of one of the locking mechanisms for my improved adjustable leg.

In executing the objects and purposes of my invention, I have provided a base having a pair of vertical, spaced, parallel legs each having a plurality of upwardly inclined slots each open at its upper end. The slots in each leg open oppositely to the slots in that of the other leg. On the trough are mounted a pair of slides, each slide surrounding one of the legs. Each of the slides has a slot inclined oppositely to the slot in the associated leg. Also mounted on the trough are a pair of cranks, one crank being adapted to seat in the slots in each of the legs whereby the trough hangs upon the cranks when the cranks are seated at the bottom of a slot.

In the following description the terms upwardly and downwardly are frequently used and are to be taken to mean upwardly as my invention is normally used and as my invention appears in Figure 3 and downwardly away therefrom. The terms inwardly and outwardly are also frequently used and are to be taken to mean inwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the trough and outwardly away therefrom.

2,729,415 fatented Jan. 3, 1956 Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base member to which are welded a pair of vertical members or uprights 11. The uprights are preferably rectangular in cross-section and are aligned with their long-cross-sectional dimension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base member 10. The uprights 11 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit the trough 12 to slide freely between them.

Each of the uprights has a plurality of preferably-equally spaced slots 13. Eachof the slots 13 opens through the outward side of the upright 11 and is inclined downwardly from this opening. The closedends of the slots 13in each leg are vertically aligned. .Each of the slots 13' injone of the uprights 11 is spaced the same distance from the basemember 10 as the corresponding slot 13 in the other upright 11. The slots in-one of the uprights 11 diverges in an upward direction from the slots in the other upright 11.

On each side of the trough 12 there is mounted a U- shaped slide 29. The U-shaped slides 20 are designed toreceive the legs 11 therethrough and guide the trough in its travel during vertical adjustment. The slides 20 seat closely about the legs 11 but permit free sliding movement between these parts. Each of the slides 20 has an L-shaped arm 21 projecting therefrom adjacent the trough. The ends of each of the arms 21 extends outwardly from the trough parallel to the sides of the slide 20 surrounding-the upright 11. The outwardly projecting end of each of the arms 21 is apertured to receive one end of a hanger or crank 22. The crank 22 is free to pivot vertically in the apertures. The central portion of the crank extends outwardly. When in a substantially horizontal position, the central portion of each of the cranks extends outwardly beyond the legs. Opening through the outside face of each of the slides 20 isan upwardlyand inwardly inclined slot 23 arranged at a right angleto the slots .13 .in .the adjacent uprights 11. The length of each of the slots 23 is such that its closed end is vertically aligned with the inward ends of each of :the

slots inthe adjacent leg "11. At vthe outward lower end of each of the slots 23 is an upwardly inclined lip 24. The purpose of this lip will be discussed under Operation.

Each support for thetrough consists of a base -10,'-a pair or" uprights "11, .and a pair of-slides '20, one on each side of the trough l2. The-supports are spaced apart along the trough at whatever .spacing is necessary -to provide satisfactory support for the trough under the particular operating loads expected.

Operation A pair of slides 20, with the cranks 22 mounted thereon, are secured, one on each side of the trough 12, by any suitable fastening means such as welding or bolts. The slides 20 are each centered about a line perpendicular to the center line of the trough. With the cranks 22 pivoted downwardly to rest upon the lips 24 (Figure 4) the trough is placed over the uprights 11 of a support and passed downwardly with the uprights ii passing through the slides 2d. With the cranks 22 thus pivoted outwardly and downwardly away from the trough, the slides may pass up or down the uprights 11 without the cranks 22 engaging the slots 13 in the legs 11. When the trough has been lowered to a position just above the desired level, the outer ends of the slots 23 and 13 are aligned. With the open ends of these slots aligned, the cranks 22 are pivoted upwardly and inwardly to enter the slots. Release of the trough will permit it to drop forcing the cranks 22 inwardly until each crank rests at the lower inward end of a slot 13. At this point the cranks 22 will act as hangers supporting the trough.

The cranks are held against movement in any direction by the weight of the trough and the intersection of the slots 13 with the slots 23. The width of the slots 23 is such that the cranks 22 are free to travel an arcuate path about their pivot point without binding against the walls of the slot. This is necessary since the pivot point of each of the cranks 22 is stationary with respect to the adjacent slot 23 whereas these pivot points are movable with respect to the slots 13.

If it is desired to raise or lower the trough, the trough is merely pulled upwardly, forcing the cranks 22 outwardly under the influence of the outwardly moving point of intersection between the slots 23 and the slots 13 as the slides move upwardly with respect to the uprights 11. When the cranks 22 reach the outward limit of their travel, they rest upon the lips 24 and the slides may then be raised or lowered with respect to the uprights 11 without interference from the cranks 22. When the trough has been raised or lowered the desired distance, the cranks 22 are again pivoted inwardly to engage the slots 13 and the trough released to draw the cranks 22 inwardly until they rest at the ends of the slots 13. The lips 24 hold the cranks 22 in a vertical position, preventing them from pivoting downwardly to interfere with vertical adjustment of the trough.

It is seen that my invention provides positive support for the trough at each level of adjustment. Once the trough is in position, it cannot slip downwardly nor is it readily movable out of adjustment by raising except by a force sufficient to lift the whole weight of the trough. Further, my invention automatically levels the trough transversely. Vertical adjustment of the troughs may be readily made without tools. No parts need to be loosened or subsequently tightened nor does it require the services of more than one operator to efiect an adjustment. The degree of vertical adjustment which may be effected at each move can be determined by the number of slots used in the uprights 11, the greater the number of slots 13 and the more closely they are spaced the smaller the amount of adjustment that may be made at each vertical movement of the trough. It will be recognized that the uprights 11 need not necessarily be seated upon a base but may just as Well be suspended as hangers from an overhead structure.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it Will be recognized that many modifications thereof may be made, each without departing from the principle of my invention. Each of these modifications is to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable stand having a vertical standard and a bracket slidably mounted thereon, said bracket adapted to be attached to a conveyor bed, the combination comprising: a plurality of vertically spaced slots in said standard open at one end, all of said slots opening through one edge of said standard and inclined downward from said open end; a U-shaped hanger having a web and a pair of ends, said ends being pivotally mounted to said bracket and said web selectively engaging in one of said slots; a lip on said bracket; said lip being above the point of pivotal attachment of the ends of said hanger to said bracket and spaced outwardly from said edge of said standard, said lip being in the path of travel of the web of said hanger; said hanger being free for upward pivotal movement With respect to said bracket as its web enters said slots.

2. In an adjustable stand having a pair of vertical standards and a bracket slidably mounted on each of said standards, said brackets adapted to be attached to opposite sides of a conveyor bed, the combination comprising: a plurality of vertically spaced slots in each of said standards open at one end, all of said slots opening through one edge of said standard and inclined downwardly from said open end; the open ends of said slots in one of said standards facing oppositely from the open ends of said slots in the other of said standards; a pair of U-shaped hangers each having a Web and a pair of ends, said ends of each of said hangers being pivotally mounted to one of said brackets and each of said webs selectively engaging in one of said slots of the adjacent one of said standards; a lip on each of said brackets; said lips being above the point of pivotal attachment of the ends of said hangers to said brackets and spaced outwardly from said edge of the adjacent standards, said lips being in the path of travel of the webs of said hangers; each of said hangers being free for upward pivotal movement with respect to its adjacent bracket as its web enters said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,698 Denton Sept. 5, 1871 164,771 Sanders June 22, 1875 1,400,960 Lambert Dec. 20, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,953 France Dec. 24, 1904 694,687 France Apr. 30, 1930

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