US2239156A - Detachable base - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 194.1.

INVENToR gfx/fone LEWIS ATTORNEY l Patented Apr. 22, 1941 Y UNTEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,239,156 DETACHABLE BASE Arthur A. Lewis, Vallejo, Calif. K Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. 298,252

4 Claims.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in a detachable base, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

tationary bases are used for supporting heavy objects such as motors and the like and these objects are usually bolted to the bases so as to be rigidly secured thereto. When a motor needs repairing, it is necessary that all of the bolts first be removed so that the motor may be freed from the base. This is especially diicult when the motor is supported by a base which in turn is secured to the side of a wall.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a base which is permanently secured to a foundation or other support, this base being provided with a portable top that may be rigidly secured to the base in a novel manner so as to be quickly removed. The novel means consists of wedges carried by the base and top and interlocking with each other. The base itself has one or more wedges with cam edges extending in a predetermined direction, these wedges being adapted to engage with other Wedges carried by the portable top and having cam edges complemental to the first edges. The portable top also has one or more wedges with cam edges extending in an opposite direction to the rst mentioned group of wedges. A key carrying one or more wedges complemental to the second group of wedges on the portable top, is slidably mounted in the base and engages with the second wedge group for rigidly securing the portable top to the base. Any means desired may be used for securing the key wedge to the base and locking it against movement.

The portable top is also provided with guides that enter grooves in the base and hold the top against lateral movement with respect to the base. The portable top carries the motor or any other object which may be bolted thereto. If it is desired to repair the motor, it is a simple matter to free the master key and remove its wedge from the portable top wedge so that the portable top may be removed from the base. The cam edges of the wedges carried by the base and portable top, forms a criss-cross pattern and assures a rigid connection between the two when the parts are assembled and locked in place by the key. The wedges permit wear to be automatically taken up. The device is extremely simple in construction andaiords a strong and rigid connection between two base members, while atthe .same

time permittinga quick detachment.

I'he device lends itself admirably to use in escape means for submarines. For example, the submarine itself may constitute the base of the device and carry the base wedges while a removable compartment for the submarine may constitute the portable top'and carry wedges complemental to the base wedges. The compartment can be large enough to house the entire crew when the submarine sinks and fails to come to the surface. The compartment may be freed from the submarine itself by removing the key that connects the two parts together, whereupon the buoyancy of the compartment will cause it to rapidly rise to the surface of the water, carrying the crew therewith.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which K Figure l is an isometric view of the base member alone;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the portab-le top by itself;

Figure 3 is an isometric View of the master key used for securing the portable top to the base;

Figure 4 shows the parts assembled and is a section along the line 4 4 of Figure 6;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device; and

Figure 6 isa section substantially along the line l--G of Figure 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a'base indicated generally at A. This base has a base wedge I, see Figure 1, integral therewith, and a wedge-shaped recess 2 provided adjacent to the wedge I. Two longitudinal grooves 3 and 4 are formed in the base and a T -shaped keyway 5 is placed between the grooves 3 and 4 and runs parallel therewith. A block 6 is mounted on the base and is positioned between the groove 4 and the T-shaped groove 5.

A portable top indicated generally at B in Figure 2', carries a master wedge 'I designed to enter the recess 2 in the base A, The wedge 'i has an inclined cam surface 8 adapted to contactwith the inclined cam surface 9 of the wedge I. I have Yshown only a single wedge I cooperat- Aing with a single wedge 1 for the sake of simplicity, although in actual practice a number of interlocking wedges I and l may be used.

The portable top B carries two integral guide members rIll and II designed to enter the guide grooves 3 and 4 in the base. The guide I 0 separates the wedge 'I from another wedge I2 that has a cam edge I3 extending in a direction opposite to the cam edge 8. The lower surface I2a of the wedge I2 is spaced above the top A' of the base A and the top of the wedge I is spaced below the undersurface of the portable top B. In Figure 3 I show a master key C and this key carries a locking wedge I4 provided with an inclined cam edge I5 that is adapted to contact with the inclined cam edge I3 of the wedge I2. The key also has a T-shaped member I6 slidably receivable in the T-shaped groove 5 formed in the base A.

A block I'I is integral with the master key C and is positioned in alignment with the block 6 when the key is mounted in the base. 'Ihe block Il has a threaded bore I8, see Figure 4, that receives a screw I9 which is threaded into a threaded bore 2D formed in the block 6. The screw I9 has a head 2l by means of which the screw is roover the base A so that its wedge 'I will have its edge 8 contact with the edge 9 of the wedge I. Space is provided between the bottom of the wedge i and the bottom of the recess 2 for wear and this space is shown at 23 in Figure 5. A space 24 may also be provided between the rear of the wedge 'I and the adjacent wall of the recess 2.

The portable top is now supportedon the base by the guides lil and II and the guides prevent lateral movement between the top and the base. The wedge I engaging with the wedge I prevents longitudinal movement between the portable top and the base in oney direction. The means for preventing longitudinal movement between' the portable top and the base in the opposite direction consists of the wedge I2 and the key wedge 4. The key C is moved into the groove 5 and is advanced until the edge I5 contacts with the edge I3. The screw 2i is screwed into the bore I8 of the block l'l for causing the wedge I4 to urge the wedge I2 downwardly toward the base. This will also urge the wedge 1 down toward the base because the movement of the key wedge I4 will tend to move the wedge 'I in the same direction and this will force the wedge 'I under the wedgeY I and urge the top B toward the base A. The screw I9 locks the wedge I4 and in turn is held against accidental rotation by the lock nut V22. l 4

As a further precaution for securing the key in position, I provide a tapered pin 25 that may be passed through aslot 26 in the portable topv and 'down into an opening 2'! in the block I'I`. The pin also extends down into an opening or bore 28 provided in the base A. The top of the pin projects a slight distance above the upper surface of the portable top for permitting the" ready removal of the pin.

It will be seen that the portable top is securely and rigidly attached to the base and is heldV against movement in all directions. The portable' top may be quickly freed from the base by `first removing the pin 25 and then unscrewing the bolt I9, whereupon the key C may be freed from the wedge I2 and the portable top maybe lifted from the base. 1 I Y The base may be said to' consister two parts in which both are secured together by wedging in one direction of movement and rewedging in the opposite direction of movement, thus compounding the wedging action. The movable wedge carried by the key makes the compound wedging effect possible, The key wedge lalso acts in tightening, securing and releasing all 0f the wedges. The guides I0 and II prevent lateral movement between the parts.

The compound wedging of the two parts saves time, labor and cost of replacement of parts. No resetting, chalking, or realignment of the parts is necessary. Only a few minutes `are needed to remove and replace equipment after the device is once installed. The device provides a base as strong as the material forming the base. The device is easy to operate and the key may be moved by hydraulic means or a rack and gear in place of the screw if desired. The portable top slides into and out of position. There is no vibrating or shifting of parts after they have been once set. I have provided an all purpose portable base which automatically wedges by movement in one direction. The angle of the wedges is varied to suit requirements.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should further be noted that during the engaging and disengaging of the cams, the top portion B cannot tilt or move in a zig-zag manner with respect to the base A. The top portion is vmaintained parallel with the base at all times during its connection and disconnection. If desired, the wedges I and I may be provided in pairs on both sides of the device in order to insure this uniform removal from and connection between 1 the top portion and the base.

' greater strain is placed on any one wedge than is placed on the others as the two parts are freed from each other or connected together.

I claim:

1. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof, a portable top intertting with the guideway and being movable along the base, the base having an inclined recess sloping downwardly at an angle, one wall of the recess dening an undercut base wedge having a pointed end at the top of the recess and an inclined cam surface extending downwardly therefrom, the top having an undercut master wedge xed thereto and accommodated in the recess of the base, the master wedge having an inclined cam surface made to bear against the inclined cam surface of the base wedge and coacting with the latter for drawing the top toward the base when the former is moved in one direction relative to the latter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with an inclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect to the inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking wedge anchored in the base and guided for movement along the base, the locking wedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as the inclined cam surface on said second wedge on the'top, whereby the latter will be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when the locking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, and means for moving the locking wedge along the base for locking the top to the base.

2. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof, a portable top interitting with the guideway and being movable longitudinally along the base, the base having an undercut wedge with an inclined cam surface on the lower side of the wedge, the top having an undercut master wedge fixed thereto provided with an inclined cam surface, the latter surface being made to bear against the inclined cam surface of the base wedge and coact therewith for drawing the top toward the base when the former is moved in one direction relative to the latter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with an inclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect to the inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking wedge anchored in the base and guided for movement lengthwise of the base, the locking wedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as the inclined cam surface on said second wedge on the top, whereby the latter will be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when the locking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, and means for moving the locking wedge longitudinally of the base for locking the top to the base.

3. In combination, a base having a guideway extending lengthwise thereof, a portable top inl terfitting with the guideway and being movable longitudinally along the base, the base having an undercut wedge with an inclined cam surface on the lower side of the wedge, the top having an undercut master wedge fixed thereto provided with an inclined cam surface, the latter surface being made to bear against the inclined cam surface of the base Wedge and coact therewith for drawing the top toward the base when the former is moved in one direction relative to the latter, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with an inclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect to the inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking Wedge anchored in the base and guided for movement lengthwise of the base, the locking wedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as the inclined surface on said second wedge on the top, whereby the latter will be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when the locking wedge is moved in one direction along the base, the top and base being shaped to provide an opening extending inwardly from one end of the base and underneath the top, and means including an adjustable element disposed in said opening for moving the locking wedge longitudinally of the base for locking the top to the base.

4. In combination, a base having a pair of spaced and parallel guideways extending length- Wise thereof, a portable top movable along the base and having parallel guide members riding in said guideways and holding the top from twisting, teetering and shifting laterally with respect to the base, the base having an undercut wedge with an inclined cam surface on the lower side of the Wedge, the top having an undercut master wedge fixed thereto provided with an inclined cam surface, the latter surface being made to bear against the inclined cam surface of the base Wedge and coact therewith for drawing the top toward the base when the former is moved in one direction relative to the base, the top having a second undercut wedge thereon with an inclined cam surface sloping in the opposite direction with respect to the inclined cam surface on the master wedge, a locking wedge anchored.

in the base and guided for movement along the base, the locking wedge having an inclined cam surface sloping in the same direction as the inclined cam surface on said second Wedge on the top, whereby the latter will be further urged toward the base and locked thereto when the locking wedge is moved in oney direction along the base, and means for moving the locking Wedge along the base for locking the top to the base.

ARTHUR A. LEWIS.

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