May 21, 1963 E. T.

OSON 3,090,578
SPRING COUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM
Filed June 7, 1961

INVENTOR.
Awaafwa Zozsom

- 124-26
1770% way
United States Patent Office
3,090,578
SPRING CouNTERBALANCE MECHANISM,
Eugene T. Olson, 2905 Lincoln NE Mineolis, Mia.
Filed June 7, 1961, Ser. No. 115,366
3 Caims. (C. 242-107.5)
This invention relates to counterbalances and Ore
particularly to a spring counterbalance mechanism.
Some forms of counterbalance units incorporate a ten
sion spring which permits only a limited distance of move
ment for the weight being counterbalanced. Others in
corporate a recoil spring which allows uneven counter
balance tension throughout the travel distance of the
weight. Still others incorporate a flexible cable as the
tie means between the weight being counterbalanced and
the counterbalance unit itself. Cables very often cause
undesirable twisting torque of the reel it is Wound upon
as well as of the housing.
In addition to the undesirable twisting torque often as
sociated with a cable, there is often undesirable uneven
winding of the cable upon the counterbalance reel which
may cause the cable to ultimately slide off of the reel
surface.
It is to the elimination of the above mentioned un
desirable features of counterbalances which the present
invention is intended to overcome. Accordingly:
An object of this invention is to provide a counter
balance having structure and components which elimi
nate twisting side torques; o 30
Another object of this invention is to provide a device
of the class described which is so constructed and ar
ranged that the variations in tension of the counterbal
ance will be minimized;
A further object of this invention is to provide ad
justability for counterbalances of different Weights with
out changing of counterbalance units;
A still further object is to provide a reel having braces
which stabilize the reel against twisting in addition to
providing a guide for the weight strap, and other desir
able features;
A further object is to provide a counterbalance which
stresses simplicity of design and construction, and which
lends itself easily to construction and repair.
These and other objects and advantages of the inven
tion will more fully appear from the following descrip
tion, made in connection with the accompanying draw
ing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same
or similar parts throughout the several views and in
which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a counterbalance
shown as it would be positioned on a frame (shown in
phantom drawing), and a typical weight secured thereto
(also in fantom drawing);
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top view of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of
FIGURE 2 taken on line 3-3;
FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIGURE
3 taken on line 4-4; and
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a brace
as it appears on the reel discs (shown in phantom draw
ing).
Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, a weight
9, typified by a block and which requires counterbalanc
ing, is supported by a spring counterbalance referred to
generally as 10 which has a partially enclosing housing
or cover 11, made from sheet material, which has formed
as a part thereof its own mounting feet i2. Mounting
feet 12 in turn have mounting holes 13 for securement
of the housing to a frame 14. 70
Shown mounted across the housing, in FIGURE 2,
is a bolt or shaft 15 having a head 16 adapted to be held
3,090,578
Patented May 21, 1963
2
by a wrench. Between the head 16 and housing 11 is
a washer 17. Secured upon the threaded portion 18 of
shaft 15 is a nut 19 which is in turn welded at 20 to
a tension lever 21. Again a washer 22 is interposed
between the tension lever 2 and housing 11. It may be
pointed out at this time that the threaded portion 18
extends only to the washer 22 so that when the nut 9
is engaged upon the threaded portion 18 to the end of
the threads, further engagement of the nut will be pre
10 vented thus causing the shaft 15 to rotate. It is this
feature which allows the shaft 15 to be rotated and ac
cordingly the recoil spring tension adjusted, as will be
explained subsequently.
To prevent reverse rotation of the tension lever 21
15 when it is under tension, a tension tie 23 is provided which
is simply a band of sheet metal, or similar structure, se
cured at ends 24 by a bolt and nut combination 25 to
the housing 1.
20
Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the internal con
Struction of the counterbalance 10 will be explained. Ro
tatably secured to the shaft 15 by means of bearings 26
is a reel 27. The reel in turn has a pair of reel discs
23, which are secured to the bearings 26, and a plurality
25
of continuous brace structures 29 which define a sub
stantially circularly oriented supporting edge referred to
generally as 30, around the periphery of the reel discs
28. The Supporting edge is defined by the channel area
31 of the braces 29 (see FIGURE 4).
Noting FIGURES 4 and 5 particularly, the braces 29
consist of a supporting mid-portion 32 which is radially
recessed with respect to the humps 33 located at either
end thereof. Humps 33 have a reverse bend 34 which
interfits with the outer peripheral edge 35 of the reel
35 discs 28. Continuous with the humps 33 are mounting
ends 36 which are welded at 37 to the reel discs for
positive securement thereto.
As Seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the braces 29 and
reel discs 28 define an open space 38 within which a
40 recoil spring 39 is located and confined. It is found
that when a recoil spring of steel tape, of considerable
stiffness, is used, an optimum recoil characteristic is
achieved which allows substantially even tension on the
reel 27 when the reel is actuated. Because of this type
of material used, the recoil spring 39 will have a tend
ency to expand outwardly and therefore rides on the inner
pheriphery surface 40 of the supporting edge 30. The
recoil spring, of course, is radially confined by the braces
29. The outer end 41 of the recoil spring 39 is hooked
50 about a brace for securement to the reel. The inner
end 42 is Secured to the shaft 15 by means of an anchor
System, 43.
The anchor system consists of a pair of anchor
plates or discs 44 which have holes 45 for interfitting with
55 the shaft 15. Welded between the anchor plates, and
thereto, is an anchor nut 46. Threaded through the
nut and in engagement therewith is an anchor bolt 47
which is also projecting through the shaft 15, as seen
in FIGURE 4. The purpose of projecting anchor bolt
60 47 through the shaft is to prevent relative rotational
movement between the shaft and anchor system 43.
Also forming a part of the anchor system is an anchor
washer 48 which is drawn into clamping contact with
the inner end 42 of the recoil spring 39 for securement
65 thereto. Inner end 42 also has a hole therethrough
which anchor bolt 47 projects through.
Shown wound upon the supporting edge 30 of the reel
is a weight strap 49 which is secured by a hook means
50 at the inner end thereof to an anchor pin 51. The
anchor pin in turn is secured across the reel discs and
protrudes therethrough for positive securement thereof.
The outer end of the weight strap is shown as it is
 3,090,578
3 k
protruding exteriorly of the housing for mounting to a
weight.
It will be noted at this time that the recoil spring 39
extends substantially the width of the inside dimension
between reel discs 28. With this maximum width of the
recoil spring, an optimum spring characteristic may be
attained. In addition there is even radial force on the
supporting edge 30 and, therefore, the recoil spring
exerts no twisting torque upon the reel mechanism. The
weight strap 49 is also substantially the width of the
channel 31. Again, by providing a wide Weight strap,
twisting torques are eliminated.
In the assembly of the counterbalance, a recoil Spring
is secured at its inner end 42 to the anchor assembly 43.
The tension lever 2 is then rotated whereby to cause
the recoil spring to be drawn or reeled into the open
space 38. During this assembly, the reel is held station
ary and the recoil spring is caused to feed between
braces 29 into the open space 38. When the outer end
41 of the recoil spring is drawn into the open space 38,
it is then hooked to any one of the braces 29 as shown
in FIGURE 3.
With the recoil spring installed, the weight strap 49
then has the inner end thereof hooked upon the anchor
pin 51 and, by continued rotation of the tension lever,
has the full travel length of the weight strap wound
upon the supporting edge. At this point the tension lever
is locked in position by the tension tie 23. It is now
seen that any unreeling of the weight strap will cause
increasing tension on the recoil spring, and consequently
upon the reel 27 and strap 49. If increased tension is
desired on the weight strap, the tension lever may be
wound additional turns while holding the protruding end
of the weight strap stationary.
Accordingly then, a conuterbalance is provided which
has no twisting torque associated therewith and, because
of the components incorporated, has a substantially even
tension on the weight strap through the contemplated
amount of run-out thereof. In addition, this simple
design lends the counterbalance to ready adjustment for 40 adapted for attachment to a substantially heavy weight,
different weights without changing counterbalance units. and a stiff but flexible recoil spring wound about said
Also, by incorporating braces secured across the reel
discs, an additional stabilizing effect is achieved while . to one of said braces, said recoil spring further being con
at the same time providing a channel guiding means for
the winding and unwinding of the weight strap.
It will, of course, be understood that various changes
may be made in the form, details, arrangements and
proportions of the parts without departing from the Scope
of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A spring counterbalance comprising, a housing
adapted to be mounted to a frame structure, a shaft
mounted across said housing, a reel rotatably Secured
on said shaft and having two similar and substantially
circular reel discs secured in spaced relation on said shaft
and a plurality of flat and narrow braces secured across
4
the outer edges of said reel discs whereby said discs and
said braces define an open space between said shaft and
said braces, an anchor pin secured across said reel discs
adjacent the outer edges thereof, a stiff but flexible metal
weight strap wound externally upon said braces having
one end secured to said anchor pin and the other end
protruding exteriorly of said housing in a free end adapt
ed for attachment to a substantially heavy weight, and
a stiff but flexible recoil spring wound about said shaft
O and secured at one end thereto and at the other end to
one of said braces, said recoil spring further being con
fined to said open space and further having a width sub
stantially the distance between said reel discs.
2. A spring counterbalance as set forth in claim 1
5 wherein said braces comprise a continuous supporting mid
portion extending the distance between said reel discs, a
hump formed at both ends of said mid-portion and inter
fitted with the outer edges of said reel discs, and mounting
ends secured to said reel discs at the outer ends of said
20 humps, whereby said supporting mid-portion is radially
recessed from said humps whereby to form a channel for
seating of said weight strap.
3. A spring counterbalance comprising, a housing
adapted to be mounted to a frame structure, a shaft
25 mounted across said housing, a reel rotatably secured on
said shaft having two substantially circular reel discs se
cured in spaced parallel relation to said shaft by means
of a pair of bearings, said reel also having a plurality of
flat and narrow braces secured across the outer edges of
30 said reel discs whereby said discs and said braces define
an open confinement between said shaft and said braces,
said braces also having a radially recessed supporting mid
portion when positioned across the outer edges of said
discs, an anchor pin secured across said reel discs adjacent
the outer edges thereof but within said open confinement,
a stiff but flexible metal strap wound externally upon said
braces within said radially recessed portion, said strap
having one end secured to said anchor pin and the other
end protruding exteriorly of said housing in a free end
shaft and secured at one end thereto and at the other end
fined to said open space and further having a width sub
45 stantially the distance between said reel discs.
References Cited in the file of this patent
- UNITED STATES PATENTS
116,108 Sterns ---------------- June 20, 1871
50
511655 Small et al. ------------ Dec. 26, 1893
532,130 Woodward et al. -------- Jan. 8, 1895
681,864 Wallace et al. ---------- Sept. 3, 1901
1,105,680 Mitchell----------------- Aug. 4, 1914
1,679,573 Hind ------------------ Aug. 7, 1928
55
1,795,529 Watson et al. ---------- Mar. 10, 1931