Arrangement for maintaining a shiftable member in a plurality of shifted positions

• US 3,891,182 A
• Filed: 10/17/1973
• Issued: 06/24/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gunther Schwerin
• Original Assignee: Gunther Schwerin
• Inventors: Schwerin, Gunther
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Application Number:
  US05/407,256
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 251/297,75 137/624.27 74/527,538
• US Class Current: 251/297
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/0704 comprising locking elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/065 using a spring-loaded ball
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

A housing member has an interior passage and a slide member is located in this passage and shiftable axially of the same between an arrest and at least one further position. An assembly is also located in this passage and includes a slidable control member which contacts the slide member and a biasing spring which biases the control member into such contact. A first recess is formed in one of the members and an arresting element of circular crosssection is received in this first recess and in part projects from the same. A second recess is formed in the control member and adapted to have the element snap into and out of it. The second recess is at least in part bounded by a flanking surface having a first portion which engages the arresting element when the slide member is in the rest position thereof, and which first portion includes a first angle with the longitudinal axis of the passage. The flanking surface further has a second portion which engages the arresting element when the slide member is in its further position, and this second portion includes with the longitudinal axis a larger second angle.

Claims

1. In an arrangement of the character described, a combinatioN comprising a housing bounding an interior passage having a longitudinal axis;

a first member coaxially accommodated in said passage and having an axially extending first sliding surface and an annular free end portion provided with at least one radially extending through hole;

a second member coaxially accommodated in said passage and having an axially extending second sliding surface contacting said first sliding surface and provided with at least one arresting recess, one of said first and second members being stationary with respect to said housing and the other being mounted for movement with respect to said one member so that said sliding surfaces slide on one another;

at least one arresting element of circular cross section received in said radial through hole and displaceable therein and having a diameter exceeding the length of the latter;

means for moving said other member between at least one arresting position in which said through hole faces said arresting recess and said arresting element is partially received in the latter, and a rest position in which said through hole faces said second sliding surface and said arresting element bears against the same;

a third member coaxially accommodated in said passage so as to have a limited degree of movement relative to said first member proportionate to the displacement of said arresting element, and having at least one flanking surface abutting against said arresting element and having a first surface portion closer to said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a first acute angle, and a second surface portion farther away from said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a second acute angle larger than said first acute angle; and

means for biasing said third member toward said rest position with attendant abutment of said first surface portion with said arresting element when the latter is received in said arresting recess and of said second surface portion with said arresting element when the latter bears against said second sliding surface, whereby the radial forces acting between said arresting element and said second member when said second surface portion acts on the former are significantly lower than those occurring when said first surface portion acts on said arresting element so that the latter is reliably received in said arresting recess while the friction between the same and said second sliding surface is reduced.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said arresting recess is formed in said second sliding surface, and said control recess is formed in an outer circumferential surface of said third member.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first, second and third members together define an annular space into which said arresting element projects out of said arresting recess.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second surface portions are straight in axial direction of said passage.

5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first member is a valve member of a slide valve.

6. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said first member has a free end located in said passage, and said third member abuts said free end.

7. In a control arrangement, a combination comprising a housing bounding an interior passage having a longitudinal axis;

a first member coaxially mounted in said passage for axial movement with respect to said housing and having an axially extending first sliding surface and an annular free end portion provided with at least one radially extending through hole;

a second member rigidly connected to said housing and coaxially accommodated in said passage and having an axially extending second sliding surface contacting said first sliding surface and provided with at least one arresting recess;

at least one arresting element of circular cross section received in said radial through hole and displaceable therein and having a diameter exceeding the length of the latteR;

means for moving said first member between at least one arresting position in which said arresting element is partially received in said arresting recess, and a rest position in which said arresting element bears against said second sliding surface;

a third member coaxially accommodated in said passage so as to have a limited degree of movement relative to said first member proportionate to the displacement of said arresting element, and provided with a control recess having two flanking surfaces at least one of which abuts against said arresting element and has a first surface portion closer to said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a first acute angle, and a second surface portion farther away from said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a a second acute angle larger than said first acute angle; and

means for biasing said third member toward said rest position with attendant abutment of said first surface portion with said arresting element when the latter is received in said arresting recess and of said second surface portion with said arresting element when the latter bears against said second sliding surface, whereby the radial forces acting between said arresting element and said second member when said second surface portion acts on the former are significantly lower than those occurring when said first surface portion acts on said arresting element so that the latter is reliably received in said arresting recess while the friction between the same and the said second sliding surface is reduced.

8. In a control arrangement, a combination comprising a housing bounding an interior passage having a longitudinal axis;

a first member rigidly and coaxially attached to said housing and having an axially extending first sliding surface and an annular free end portion provided with at least one radially extending through hole;

a second member mounted in said passage for coaxial movement with respect to said housing and having an axially extending second sliding surface contacting said first sliding surface and provided with an arresting recess;

at least one arresting element of circular cross section received in said radial through hole and displaceable therein and partially projecting radially outwardly therefrom;

means for moving said second member between an arresting position in which said arresting element is received in said arresting recess, and a rest position in which said arresting element bears against said second sliding surface;

a third member coaxially accommodated in said passage so as to have a limited degree of movement relative to said first member proportionate to the displacement of said arresting element, and having a flanking surface abutting against said arresting element and having a first surface portion closer to said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a first acute angle, and a second surface portion farther away from said first member and enclosing with said longitudinal axis a second acute angle larger than said first acute angle; and

means for biasing said third member toward said rest position with attendant abutment of said first surface portion with said arresting element when the latter is received in said arresting recess and of said second surface portion with said arresting element when the latter bears against said second sliding surface, whereby the radial forces acting between said arresting element and said second member when said second surface portion acts on the former are significantly lower than those occurring when said first surface portion acts on said arresting element so that the latter is reliably received in said arresting recess while the friction between the same and said second sliding surface is reduced.