Rotating shaft mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11022170-B2
Application number	US-201715822377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A rotating shaft mechanism includes a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, a central shaft rotatably connected to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and an adjusting unit disposed on the central shaft. The adjusting unit includes an adjusting ring disposed around the central shaft, a first washer disposed around the central shaft and configured to generate a force to the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion. A position of the adjusting ring with respect to the central shaft is axially adjustable for adjusting the force so that the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion is rotatable or fixed relative to the central shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first body comprising a first connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the first connecting portion having a first hole extending therethrough and a recessed portion defined within an upper surface of the first connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the first hole;
a second body comprising a second connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the second connecting portion having a second hole extending therethrough which is axially-aligned with the first hole, wherein a groove is defined within an upper surface of the second connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the second hole, and wherein the second connecting portion is seated within the recessed portion of the first connecting portion such that the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions are flush with each other;
a central shaft extending through the aligned holes of the first and second connecting portions, the central shaft rotatably received therein and defining a pivot axis; and
an adjusting unit disposed on the central shaft, comprising:
an adjusting ring disposed around the central shaft on a side facing the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions;
a fixing seat disposed around the central shaft between the adjusting ring and the first and second connecting portions;
a first washer disposed around the central shaft between the fixing seat and the first and second connecting portions; and
a second washer disposed around the central shaft and against the first washer on a side facing the first and second connecting portions, the second washer engaging the upper surface of the first connecting portion between the recessed portion and the first body and engaging the upper surface of the second connecting portion surrounding the groove;
wherein a position of the adjusting ring with respect to the central shaft is axially adjustable to apply pressure to the fixing seat and the first and second washers along the pivot axis towards the first and second connecting portions such that the second washer frictionally engages the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions to prevent relative rotation between the first and second bodies about the pivot axis.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the groove is covered by the second washer to form a gap.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second washer is a non-elastic washer.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second washer is made of metal.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first washer is an elastic washer.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first washer is made of nylon.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fixing seat is configured to receive the first washer.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting unit further comprises at least one elastic washer disposed around the central shaft and between the adjusting ring and the fixing seat, and the position of the adjusting ring with respect to the central shat is axially adjustable so as to compress or release the elastic washer.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the elastic washer is a disc washer, a Belleville washer or a conical washer.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one friction washer disposed around the central shaft and between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

11. An apparatus, comprising:
a first body comprising a first connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the first connecting portion having a first hole extending therethrough and a recessed portion defined within an upper surface of the first connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the first hole;
a second body comprising a second connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the second connecting portion having a second hole extending therethrough which is axially-aligned with the first hole, wherein a groove is defined within an upper surface of the second connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the second hole, and wherein the second connecting portion is seated within the recessed portion of the first connecting portion such that the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions are flush with each other;
a central shaft extending through the aligned holes of the first and second connecting portions, the central shaft rotatably received therein and defining a pivot axis; and
an adjusting unit disposed on the central shaft, comprising:
an adjusting ring disposed around the central shaft on a side facing the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions;
a first washer disposed around the central shaft between the adjusting ring and the first and second connecting portions; and
a second washer disposed around the central shaft and against the first washer on a side facing the first and second connecting portions, the second washer engaging the upper surface of the first connecting portion between the recessed portion and the first body and engaging the upper surface of the second connecting portion surrounding the groove;
wherein a position of the adjusting ring with respect to the central shaft is axially adjustable to apply pressure to the first and second washers along the pivot axis towards the first and second connecting portions such that the second washer frictionally engages the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions to form a static disposition therewith and to prevent relative rotation between the first and second bodies about the pivot axis.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the adjusting unit further comprises a fixing seat disposed around the central shaft and configured to receive the first washer.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the adjusting unit further comprises at least one elastic washer disposed around the central shaft and between the adjusting ring and the fixing seat, and the position of the adjusting ring with respect to the central shaft is axially adjustable so as to compress or release the elastic washer.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the elastic washer is a disc washer, a Belleville washer or a conical washer.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising at least one friction washer disposed around the central shaft and between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

16. An apparatus, comprising:
a first body comprising a first connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the first connecting portion having a first hole extending therethrough and a recessed portion defined within an upper surface of the first connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the first hole;
a second body comprising a second connecting portion laterally-extending therefrom, a distal end of the second connecting portion having a second hole extending therethrough which is axially-aligned with the first hole, wherein a partially annular groove is defined within an upper surface of the second connecting portion, concentric with and surrounding the second hole, and wherein the second connecting portion is seated within the recessed portion of the first connecting portion such that the upper surfaces of the first and second connecting portions are flush with each other;
a central shaft extending through the aligned holes of the first and second connecting portions

Assignees

• Sintai Optical Shenzhen Co Ltd
• Asia Optical Co Inc

Inventors

• Luo Sheng
• Zhao Lian
• Liu Hua-Tang
• Chen Yue-Ye
• Qiu Ke-Yu
• Cao Jia-Jun

Classifications

• G02B7/06 Primary

  Focusing binocular pairs · CPC title

• Y10T403/32918

  fork and tongue · CPC title

• F16B43/002

  with special provisions for reducing friction · CPC title

• F16C11/045 Primary

  with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02) · CPC title

• F16C11/103

  frictionally clamped · CPC title