US699529A - Nut-cracker. - Google Patents

Description

No. 699,529. Patented May 6, |902.

J. A. HUTCH'INSUN. NUT cnAcKER.

. (Application led. July 23, 1900.) 4(No Model.)

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NUiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. HUTCHINSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN E. I'IUTCI-IINSON AND CHARLES A. YATES.

NUT-CRACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,529, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed July 23, 1900. Serial No. 24,561. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HUTcHINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinNut-Cracking Devices; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art 1o to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to improvements in nut-cracking devices of the class in which nuts are cracked between a iixed jaw and a I5 lever-actuated jaw.

The especial objects of my improvements are to provide an ornamental and easily-operated device embodying means by which it is instantly and automatically adjustable to nuts of different sizes and whereby the pressure on the nuts may be regulated orcontrolled, to the end that the shell of dierent kinds of nuts may be cracked sufficiently to remove the meats and Without crushing the z5 latter. In many forms of nut-crackers special adjustment is required for each kind of nut, depending on the-thickness of shell, and even when such adjustment is had owing to the variation in the size of different nuts of aparticular variety some nuts will be cracked too much, While others will not be cracked sufficiently, `the' pressure being the same. Another objection to such nu t-crackers is that there are no means for controlling, regulating, or-limiting the pressure on the nuts. These are objections which I have overcome in my device, which consists generally of a xedjaw, which preferably or in the pattern shown is integral With a metal figure or body in the form of a squirrel, a verticallymoving plunger carrying a plate or jaw between which and the fixed jaw the nuts are cracked, collars which encircle the plunger and frictionally engage or grip it at opposite points, means for tripping or releasing these collars from engagement with the plunger, levers for operating the plunger, a spring for holding the plunger normally projected, and means for locking the plunger against down- 5o Ward movement when released from the grip of the collars.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the base of my device, which is preferably of such shape and size as to form a suitable holder or dish for the nuts. Rigidly secured to the base is a hollow frame B, which is made in the form of a squirrel sitting erect on a tree 7o stump. Within the stump or portion C are located the operative parts ofthe device, the

4necessary bearings being provided in the walls of suoli portion, as will be described in detail. Y

A vertically-moving tubular plunger D is positioned within the frame C and has secured to its upper end, which projects through a suitable opening in the top of the frame, a plate or jaw E, the upper face e of Which is 8o slightly dished to form a suitable seat for a nut and the stein e' of which enters the plu`n ger and forms a bearing or stop for the upper y end of a spiral springt. The jaw E is formed` With a tail or handle, by which it may be grasped With the fingers and pushed down against the tension of the spring b, which normally holds the plunger in its projectedor upward position. Encircling the plunger are three rings or collars 'c c' c2, the bores of Which 9o are formed at a slight angle to' a perpendicular line and each of- Which-is provided With lugs d d', projecting from opposite points on its periphery. These rings are loosely strung or arranged on the plunger, so that there is room for play or vertical movementloetween them, and their respective lugs extend at different radii. Surrounding the plunger and the grippingcollars is a sleeve or casing F, in which are formed slot-s f to receive the lugs roo d and openings f to receive the lugs d'. Around the sleeve is slidingly arranged a collar Gator-med with integral upwardly-extending arms g g g2, which are adapted to engage the lugs d, whereby the collars c, c, and c2 are supported in part at least. In the bottom of the collar G is a set-screw g3, by which the vertical play or downward movement of the collar is limited and regulated, as will be described. Normally the collars o, c', andc2 are held in a tilted position on the plunger, so that the sides ot' their bores are parallel with the sid-es ofthe plu nger, and the latter may be freely moved up and down, the spiral spring offering but slight resistance to the down ward' movement. In order to grip the plunger, the collars must be brought to a horizontal position, so that the edges of their bores will frietionally engage the sides ot' the plunger, and this is effected by raising the collar G by means of the sleeve F, which in turn is raised by the yoke-lever ILlwhich is operated by the lever S, which is in the form of the tail of the squirrel. The yoke-lever is fulcrumed at h in the frame B, has bearings h', in which rest lugs d2 on opposite sides of the sleeve F, and is provided with an extension h2, the

y hooked end of which is engaged by the lower yend of the lever S. The lever S is formed with a shoulder s and is provided with trunnions s?, which have bearings in the frame or casing B. When in upright position, the shoulder s ot` the lever engages the tail or extension ,70E the ring J, which surrounds the plunger near its upper end and is formed with an angular bore in the same manner as the collars c. The ring is loosely arranged on the plunger, slightly tilted, and with its extension resting on a pinj, which is secured in the casing. the plunger against downward movement by gripping irs sides in a manner similar to the action of the collars and is released by the shoulder s. of the lever striking against it when the lever is brought to its upright or normal position. Thus when it is desired to depress the lever a second time in the same y. operation in order to exert greater pressure on a nut ythe collars are released from contact the lower end of the spring b.

The parts being assembled in the manner shown, my device operates as follows: The plunger is depressed by grasping and press- The ring is adapted to hold ing downwardly the extension of the plate or jaw suiciently to admit a nut between the two jaws. The plate is then released, and the tension of the spring will hold the nut in place until the lever or handle is depressed, whereupon the plunger will be raised sufficiently to crack the nut by the collars gripping it at their several points of contact, the throw of the lever and the upward movement ot the collars being limited in the relative ar rangement of the parts. If further or greater pressure on the nut is desired, the lever is brought back to its upright or normal position, whereupon the collars are released and drop by gravity to their normal position, in which they are ready for a second gripping by repeating the depression ot' the handle, the plunger in the meantime being held rmly and positively in its projected position by the ring in the manner described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a frame having a fixed jaw, a vertically-moving plunger carrying a jaw, collars surrounding said plunger, said collars having their bores at an angle to the plane of the plunger, means for normally holding the collars out of frictional engagement with the plunger upon the upward movement of the latter, and levers for raising the plunger, substantially as set forth.

2. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a frame having a fixed jaw, a vertically-moving and spring-supported plunger carrying a jaw, collars surrounding said plunger, said collars having their bores at an angle to the plane of the plunger, a sleeve normally holding the collars out of engagement with the plunger upon the upward movement of the latter, a collar engaging said sleeve, and levers adapted to raise said collar and plunger, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a frame having a fixed jaw, a vertically-moving and spring-supported plunger carrying a jaw, collars surrounding said plunger, said collars having their bores at an angle to the plane of the plunger and provided with lateral lugs, a sleeve surrounding said collars and having openings engaging said lugs,a collar surrounding said sleeve and adapted to engage same, and levers for raising said plunger and collar, as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

JOHN A. IAIUTCIIINSON.

Witnesses: l

F. BENJAMIN, Guo. J. MUNRon.

IOO

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