US1299444A - Sled. - Google Patents

Description

W. FALWELL.

SLED.

APPLICATIONHHED JAN. 25. l9I-7.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

W. FALWELL.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 25. I917.

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 gnwntoz I W. FALWELL.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 19W.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Apr. 8,

'w. FALWELL.

SLED.

AYEPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 191.1

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4 v 40 position,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WRAY FALWELL, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO BROWN BAG FILLING MACHINE COMPANY, OF FITCHIBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

SLED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed January 25, 1917. Serial No. 144,487.

production of a greater curvature in such runners with the use of the same steering connections heretofore employed. A further object is to give a construction of runner and mounting which will produce a banking effect at the sametime that the runner is flexed. Another important purpose is to give such construction in flexing runner sleds that the runners will more efliciently return to normal position alined with the mean direction of the deck of the sled. A further object is to enable the attainment of these objects without a material departure from the structural details of sleds as at present manufacured, but utilizing stock material in a new arrangement and relation Wherebythe new results are attained.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will appear from the construction and arrangement and combination of parts comprising one of the possible embodiments of my invention, hereinafter described and shown in the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a bottom view of the sled in normal position,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the sled'inturning position,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the sled,

Fig. 1 is a front 'view'thereof inturning Fig. 5 is a bottom view showing a means for positively returning the parts to normal position, resiliently,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modification of the runner construction,

Fig. 7 is a cross section of the sled,

Fig. 8 is across section of the runner at its super-flexible portion.

Fig. 9 is a detail cross section of the connection between the runner and leg of the standard,

Fig. 10 is a detail cross section of the runner,

. Fig. 11 is a lateral elevational detail of av modified form of connection between the front and rear runner sections,

Fig. 12 IS a bottom view of the construction of my invention where four legs arerequired,

Fig. 13 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional detail of a form of runner, a

Fig. 15 is a detail of the manner of attachment of theintermediate legs to the body in the last mentioned modification.

There is illustrated a sled comprising runners 10 upon which there is mounted a pluralitypf longitudinally spaced benches 11, these lncluding the standards 12 having divergent leg portions 13, upon which rest .the bars or bolsters 14. Upon the'bolsters the usual deck 15, and short side raves 16 are mounted, the latter being on the outer ends of the bolsters 14. The deck and raves are also provided with a cross bar 17 intermediately of the body of the sled, secured upon the underside of the deck, this bar being similar in form to the bolsters 14. The runners may be curved upwardly at their forward parts in accordance with the usual practice in the construction of flexible runner sleds, and if desired the. raves '16 may be extended and secured pivotally to the upper ends of the runners, in accordance .with the customary practice, although not so shown in the present instance, as I prefer for the, sake of economy and other reasons to employ at each side a link 18 comprising simply a piece of strap metal pivoted upon the bolt 19 by which the forward end of the rave is secured upon the forward bolster 14, the forward end of the link 18 being secured flatly upon a cross bar 20, the forward end of each runnerbeing formed with an ear 21 disposed flatly against the underside of the bar 20, the link 18, bar 20, and ear 21 at each side being pivotally secured by a-single bolt 22 holding them snugly together. 'The deck includes the usual middle stave 23, elongated at its forward end to provide an anchorage stem 24:, upon which is pivoted therear ends of a steering lever 25 having a longitudinal slot 26 invits forward end receiving slidably the headed bolt27 fixed centrally in the bar 20. The lever 25 is formed as usual of two plates, between which the steering bar 28' inner part provided with a slot 30 concentric with the pivot opening at the outer side having bolts 31 engaged loosely therein. Gontrary to general practice in the construction of such sleds, the standards at both front and I rear are rovided .with the slots-30 so that both the out and rear standards may rotate upon a vertical axis, which, in association .with other details of construction to be described enables a new action in runners of this character'and with the type of steering connection shown; p

'In the action of the sled as will be subsequently apparent, when a turn is made the runners are tilted'toward the axial center upon which the turn is made, at their upper parts, and by the form of connection described between the up er ends of the runners andthe bar 20, the bar becomes flexed as shown in Fig. 4,.the resiliency .of the bar 20-serving toaid very materially; in return of the parts to normal. position when th steering bar is released from stress. 0 What may be termed the foot portlons 32' of the legs are bifurcated as usual, but, con-f 1 .trary to usual construction in such devices 4 are not riveted rigidly upon the runners, but

are extended divergently',-the central or stem flange 33'zof'the runner engaging snuglyin the crotch between the furcations, the attaching bolts 34* by which the-runners are P 5 secured to the feet being riveted firmly in the feet, these bolts being fittedsnugly in the apertures of the feet. The apertures in the runner, however, through which the bolts extend, in each instance, is made much larger than the-bolts so that the runner is 'free to' same crosssectlonal dimenslon throughout lts have a rocking movement laterally until checked by "thei furcations, so that the runner-maybe tilted to present its lower face laterally in one direction or the other,

and aw y from the normalposition, In

such 'vement the upper edge of the runner rests at all times snugly'in. the, crotch as before stated, so that ample support is secured. By reason of the customary bend: ing of the foot portions longitudinally of the runner and away from each other, as 86 shown at 35, it will be seen that the bearing between the foot 32 and the runner is quite extensive, and that the support does not occur solely between .the extreme'edge portion in the crotch. and the upper side of the runner, which would tend to produce excessive wear. By this form of mounting of the runner, when the steering bar 28 is turned andthe upper end portion of the runners are pressed laterally, the runners are free to turn, and it will be seen that the direction of this turning movement is such that the sides of the runners toward the inside of the curve produced are turned downward, so that a fullbanking effect is produced,. as 30 sirable also to bend the inner edge of each runner' downwardly, slightly, as shown at 36, see Figs. 9 and 10, this edge being moved farther downward at the outer side of the 5 sled with respect to a turn when being made, which by reason of the fact that the weight of the rider is thrown upon that side, makes the hold of the device upon glac snow, or

ice highly eflicient. Howeveig'it will be ap- 0 parenttliat even with a plain T-section runner the device will produce a highly eflicient' banking effect. A hollow ground runner slllsown in Fig. 14, may be used to good effect, 3 0.

Intermediatel of the length, of the run-,

- ner, over a portion thereof which I prefer to locate'approximately in line with the middle of the deck, although this exact location is not arbitrary, the lateral flanges at the lower side of therunner are cut awa or the runner otherwise formed without t eflanges, for a distance of SeVeral1nches,-more or less, as

shown at 4-0, Figspl and 2,and as clearly apparent in the enlarged cross section of the runner Fig.. 10. By this construction in the runner, when thesteering bar 28 is operated 1 the runnersflex with great ease, especially 7 over the portion {10, resulting in the dispo tion t0, while practically the entire ron't portionof the; runner extends at an angle to lOllgitudinal medial line of the sled corre-" spondingto the direction of the forward part ofthe portion 40, whereas in a runner of the length, only the rearmost and foremost parts of "the runners would have such-direction, while the intermediate portions would bedirected at much lesser angles to the longitudie na-l medial line, so that t of the'sled-Ito corresponding'degree of move-- ment in the steering connection wouldloe much -less'than is the case where my im- 4 proved construction is employed,

e turning efliciency I in which the end portion of the runner is moved by the steering connection corre-,

sponds to the distance between the forward end of the runner and the pivot bolt 19 in the foremost bolster. whereas in the prior construction the radius of such movement corresponds to the distance between the forward end of the runner and the rearmost point of rigid connection between therunner and the deck. This radius in prior devices would ordinarily not be less than twice the radius of movement in my sled. and ordinarily much greater than that.

'By the employment of my invention it is possible to utilize a cheap steel for the construction of the major portion of the run aiers, while yet retaining the full advantage 'of a high grade steel in the flexing portion,

as shown in Figs. 11, 6, Where the rear section 41 and front section 42 of the runner are formed separately, the front end of the rear section stopping short of the rear end of the front section a' distance of several inches. A spring section 43 is provided, connecting-the adjacent ends of the runner sections,comprising a flat blank of high grade steel in cluding end portions disposed in alinement adapted to be riveted against the inner side of the runner sections 41, 42 as shown, the

intermediate portion of the section 43 being offset upwardly, permitting the adjacent extreinitiesof the runners to be turned upwardly as" at 44, just within the offset portion of the spring section 43. The mounting of the runner so constructed is the same as before described, and its action very much the same as that of the runners first de-- struction suchas shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be employed. In Fig. 12 there is shown a sled having four standards. The front standard A and the rear standard B, are constructed in the same manner as the standards-befo're described herein, and mounted in the same manner upon the bolsters, as

, well as the same connections employed beflat portions with an-elongated slot 45, ex-

tending at right angles to the mean direction of the runner, and a largebolt 46 is en-v gaged through this slot and with the bolster I 47 thereover, the bolt 46 being sufiiciently smaller in diamter than the width of the slot 45 to permit free movement of the standards laterally as well as pivotally with respect to the body of the sled. The steering connections are, otherwise the same as before described, and the manner of connecting the runners to the standards C is the same as the connections employed between the standards 12 and runners 10, as first mentioned. The super-flexile portion of the runners, however, is preferably located about midway of the length of the deck, as shown at 40 although if found desirable this super-fiexile portion may be located farther forward or to the rear, if desired without even impairing the action of the device, these modifications being considered sufliciently obvious to require no illustration. portions 40 may be decided by test, showing the highest efficiency. The super-flexile portion of the runner is then preferably. located between the two inner standards as at 40*. In this way the two inner standards at each side move laterally when the runner is flexed, and in the constructionshownin Fig. 11 the central standard C is moved laterally by fiexure of the runner.

If thought preferable the central bolsters 47 upon which the intermediate standards C are mounted may be fixed on the standards, made free of the deck and slidable thereunder, in accordance with the customary practice in the front bolsters of present sled constructions, as shown in the patent to Allen, numbered 797,338, in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 a means for utilizing the links 18 in connection with auxiliary resilient elements to return the runners to normal position is shown. In this case, the links 18" corresponding to the links 18 before de' scribed are mounted upon the forward bolster 14 and connected to the cross bar 20 in the same way as before described, but from their rear pivots arms 45 integral with the links are extended rearwardly and inwardly beneath the deck 15, stopping short of the middle bar 17 a sufficient distance to swing clear of this .bar under-steering operation of the sled. The arms 45 are apertured at their extremities, and helical springs 46 of suitable weight are engaged therewith and connected to the forwardbolster 14 by means of eye bolts 47. The tensions of these springs being equal, they will tend to return the steering parts'to normal position, as will be readil understood.

In the operatlon of the sled, initial move ment of the steering bar will produce sim-: ply a tilting movement of the runners, which,

for slight turning movement may be found sufficient to guide the sled.. After a short The location of the degree of tilting movement, however, sufli cient produce the desired banking e-lfect,

the lower part of the flange 33 of the run ners strikes against one of the furcations of the foot, while the upper part of the flange 33 is held securely in the crotch of the foot,

preventing further tilting movement. From this pomt continued movement of the bar 28 w1ll produce flexing action in the runners.

A slight torsional strain of the runner also occurs permitting some lost motion, so to speak, between the forward end of the run:

ner and the foremost standard. This lost motion due to the torsional yielding of the runner will be less in my device, however, than in the ordinary runner, because of the provision of the super-flexile portion- 40 as described.

. By having the runners hollow ground, as 7 shown, the curved concave face intersecting the lateral edge faces of the runners, I am able to make the sled runners function in the same manner as the runners of skates, for turning on icy surfaces, which is a feature that has never been before attained in sled runners.

It is found in the operation of the sled that the runners will tend to bow upwardly slightly in the middle, when flexed and this may be overcome by slightly bowing the runners downwardly, without detracting from their normal efficiency. h v

What is claimed: a

1. In a sled, a body including a deck, standards therefor having a fixed relation to the'plane of the deck, runners mounted on the-lower ends of the standardsfor lateral tilting movement thereon to incline their lower faces laterally in either direction from normal posltion, and means to turn the runners simultaneously.

2. In a sled, a su erstructure, a 'runner' mountedin supporting relation thereto at each side movable bodilyat its intermediate part relatively to the superstructure, and

including front and rear runner sections and a resillent connection therebetween constructed to resist vertical flexure, and more at each side, loose connections between the runners andlegs whereby the rurmer may be tilted laterall saidrunners being curved upwardly at eir forward ends, and means to coact between thezbody and said forward superstructure, resilientdirectly between and forming a connection betweenthe front andrear runner sections.

. 4-. In a flexible guiding runner sled,- a. body having 'legs thereonpa flexible runner 11. Ina sled, a body,

ends to flex the runners,whereby the runners w1ll be tilted when flexed, for the purposes described.

5. A sled comprising a body, legs thereon having bifurcated divergent extremities, runners having upper edge portions set in the crotches of said bifurcations, fastening connections between the runners and le constructed to permit lateral tilting of therunners, and means to tilt the runners. 6. In a sled having laterally tilting runners and means to tilt them, said runners being curved upward at their forward ends, a Y

flexible cross piece having snu pivotal connections with the forward ends of the runners, said cross piece tending to retain the runners in normal position.

7. A sled comprising a rigidly constructed body, longitudinally. spacedlegs mounted movement of all on a thereon for jturnin vertical axis, a flexible runner at each side attached to the legs, said runners having an intermediate portion of. much greater 'flexibility than their. forward"and .rearward parts, and being free for 'lateral movement at said intermediate parts, and means cooperative between the body and forward ends.

of the runners for flexure thereof. 8. In a sled of the character described, the

combination of a body, legs pivoted thereon on vertical axes, a runner at each side mounted on the legs for tilting movement,

the runners, being projected forwardly and curved upwardly, and means cotiper'atlng between body and forward ends of the runners for lateral flexure thereof, whereby they will be flexed and tilted.

- 9. In a sled of the character described a front and rear runner sections mounted thereunder for its support and for movement into angular longitudinal relation and for lateral tilting movement to incline their lower faces laterally in either direction from normal, means to limit tilting movement of the runners, and means to move the forward upper part of the runners laterally.

10. In a sled of the character described, a

body, a flexible tiltable runner mounted thereon, means to limit tilting of the runner, and means to-move the runner for tilting to its limit and beyond, including a latorally movable member connected pivotally to the runner above the axis of its tilting movement.

a plurality of standards, at least one being movable, a runner mounted on the standards for pivotal movement on a longitudinal horizontal axis whereby the runner may betilted laterally, means to limit tilt' movement of the runner on the standar s and means to move one part of the runner laterally, including an eccentric connection. a

12. In arunner of the character described, runner, and means to move said upward exa; body, a plurality of standards at each tension. 10 side, at least one being movable, said stand- In testimony whereof I have afiixed my ards having divergent feet portions, a run-' signature.in presence of two witneses.

5 ner mounted between the furcations for lat- WRAY FALWELL.

eral tilting movement, said furcations being Witnesses: disposed to limit tilting movement of the H. L. WoonwARD,

runner, an upwardly extended part on said i ULRIc T. MENGERT.

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