Improvements in Machine Bands or Belting.
Year: 1889

page_text: Cate of Application, 27th June, 1889
omplete Specification Left, 17:h. Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine Bands or Belting.
I MATTHEW BIRD of 34 Reaston Street, New Cross Road, S.E. in the County of
Surrey, Waterproofer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a method for giving additional strength and pliability to
Bands or Belting for Machine purposes.
Instead of forming a single or double band or belt in strips or sections of Leather
and sewing, rivetting or otherwise securing them together in the length of same, as
is now commonly done and in general use. [ propose to so employ and use Leather
hides or other suitable material or substance in strips of suitable lengths and breadths
according to the size or width of the Belt or Band required to be made and I take,
lay and interpose a series of thin narrow strips of Metal of a highly pliable and
tenacious nature and of great strength, and by preference I would propose to use a
Metal or Material known as "Manganese Bronze or Brass," altho' I reserve unto
myself the right of using or interposing other suitable metal or material to give as
I desire increased pliability and strength without interfering with the requisite
adhesion or functional bearing surface or surfaces necessary as conducive to the multiple
of speed required in all classes of Machinery.
In the manufacture and employment of Machine Belting such as referred to by
this my present Invention, the strips of Metal to be so placed and interposed between
the inner and outer layers of either Leather or other Material, may be of equal or
varying breadths or thicknesses in their widths longitudinally, and they may be either
"lap-jointed," dovetailed," or otherwise fitted together and holes punched therein
and through at suitable positions and parts so as to be rivetted "metalwise" or other-
wise secured between or about the butt joints of the Leather or other material and
firmly secured and connected thereto.
29 68
I may in some cases prefer to so arrange that the longitudinal edges of the inter-
posed thin narrow metal strips may on both sides of the width or edges of the band
or belt be fixed as to assist in the wearing properties of the edges of the belt when
acted upon by the "Fork" or Clutch when being shunted to alter the driving
I would further
speed or on to the "slack" pulley or drum to stop the Machine.
"
propose to adopt and use at certain intervals in the length and breadth of the Band
or Belt a series of thin strips of Metal at or or about right angles to its length or at
acute angles thereto and between or over the horizontal strips of thin metal and that
of the Leather or other covering and securely rivetted, fixed or attached to same, so
as to assist in further keeping the longitudinal strips of Metal securely in position
giving additional strength and to assist in the twist or torsional throw of a Belt when
angled and crossed or working "skewwise" and to enable it to run free and steadily
without requiring too much "sag" or slack.
Belts made under my system and in their entirety I may propose to perforate or to
give slotted openings thereto at certain distances apart, and in the case of a Belt of
large breadth, these openings may if so found in practice assist in preventing an un-
necessary volume or quantity of air to be sucked in or drawn between the Belt and
the Pulley at the moment of surface contact and to some extent at such a period
permit of its escape.
Or I may propose in another instance to meet other considerations and conditions
and circumstances, to form or punch openings or slots throughout the length and
breadth of the Belt at suitable distances apart and fit or "jump" therein a Metal
cone or Cap which on the other hand may tend to give additional surface for the air

page_text: to be drawn in and between the pulley and drum and the Belt or Band acting thereon
to give additional "grip" where needed.
"
"
I may also in some cases or instances propose that in joining or lapping the longi-
tudinal strips of thin metal strips as before referred to for my purpose to make and
provide as at and about the inner portion or connection of attachment as in length to
length and the inner portion so formed as a stud to play laterally and to work in a
slot or groove so that it and they may readily take to the course of the Pulley or Belt
without any tendency to spring or buckle and take into a flat, horizontal or other
-position under strain during transmission from point to point or surface, and a similar
or like connection or connections may be given at or about the coupling of the ends
of the belt together.
MATTHEW BIRD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine Bands or Belting.
Í MATTHEW BIRD of 34 Reaston Street, New Cross Road in the County of Surrey,
Waterproofer, do bereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, and accompanying Drawing :-
This Invention relates to a method for giving additional strength and pliability to
Bands or Belting for Machine purposes.
"
Instead of forming a single or double Machine Belt or Band with strips of Leather
and then sewing or securing them together in their lengths as is now done in the
manufacture of Leather Belting. I take and use Leather hides or butts by preference
or other suitable inaterial or substance as may be preferred and form same in suitable
lengths and breadths to suit the particular purpose required and then provide a series
of thin narrow strips of Metal of a highly pliable nature and of great tensile strength
and tenacity and may prefer to use a material or substitute known as Manganese
Bronze or Brass" or any other metal or combination of same; and I then interpose
and place the thin narrow longitudinal strips of metal over and between the said
Leather facing or other covering employed, and in the length or connections of same
either lap-joint, dovetail or otherwise suitably fit them together, and punch holes
throughout same at suitable parts or portions and then cause them to be rivetted or
firmly secured to the lengths of the Leather or other material provided to form the
face of the Belt.
The outer of the thin narrow metal strips may be so arranged and fitted on either
side or edge of the band or belt as to assist in the wearing properties and durability
of the edges of the Belt when acted upon by the "Fork ог Clutch."
"
I further propose to employ at or about right or acute angles to the longitudinal
strips of thin metal referred to and that of the Leather or other substance forming
the face or frictional surface of the belt, a series of thin strips of metal which are
rivetted or firmly secured to same, the thin angular strips or stays further aiding to
secure the longitudinal strips of Metal forming portion of the belt together in position
with Leather or other suitable material and then firmly secure the whole together by
means of either counter sunk rivetting, or in other suitable and secure manner.
Machine belting so constructed will be found to possess great tensile strength like-
wise pliability in meeting the twist or torsional throw of a Belt when crossed or
angled and being practically almost unstretchable will cling well to the Pulley or
Drum.
In some cases I may prefer to provide at certain distances apart and throughout
the length, breadth and thickness of a Belt openings or slots, which in the system
I adopt of rivetting together will (especially in the case of broad widths of belting
being used) prevent any unnecessary volume of air being drawn in between the Belt
and the Pulley at the moment of surface, but allow of its escape freely.

page_text: Instead of forming openings throughout a Belt I may otherwise so provide as to
rivet same together by means of a Metal cone or cap which may on the other hand if
wished tend to assist in the air being further inducted between the pulley and the
working surface of the Belt..
I may prefer in some cases to form the ends of a Belt made on my system with
two or more metallic slots or grooves at one end into which corresponding metallic
stud attachments are fitted and provided at the other end of the Belt so that they may
be easily connected together or uncoupled and a somewhat similar connection or con-
nections may be likewise applied in securely and firmly holding or connecting together
the interposed longitudinal strips or lengths of Metal forming the main portion of the
Belt, and as well if wished to the diagonal ties or stays bracing them together, so as
to further assist in giving and permitting free and lateral play to the Belt while at
work.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1, exhibits a longitudinal portion of a
Machine Belt according to my Invention wherein A, A, indicates the longitudinal
strips of Metal connected together at certain distances apart and further held or
braced together in position by means of the angular stays or cross pieces B, B, which
are rivetted or suitably secured to same and to the inner facing or working surface
portion C, C, of the Belt formed of Leather or other suitable material. B, D are
hollow slots or openings formed throughout the combined thickness and length of the
Belt, which when covered and completed (as shewn at Figures 3, 4 and 5) is then
secured throughout together by means of hollow countersunk rivets or eyelets or in
other suitable manner.
Figure 2, is a like view but shewing that the thin longitudinal strips of Metal may
according to circumstances be of lesser number (according to size of belt and power
required), also varied in proportion throughout and the said longitudinal strips of
Metal A, A, can if wished be either lap jointed as shewn at A¹, or otherwise brought
and rivetted together and small slots or grooves may be formed as at B', into which
headed studs B2 are caused to take, thus allowing for any expansion or contraction
that may occur and giving pliability. Provision may likewise be made at the ends of
the Belt as before referred to so that they may be likewise easily and securely coupled
together or detached apart whenever needed as shewn at Figure 3, wherein B¹, is the
slotted portion or metal groove formed and B2 headed Stud or rivet.
I
Figure 4, shews an elevational view of a portion of a belt completed with an
external covering of Leather or other material, which is securely rivetted or otherwise
secured to the longitudinal strips of thin metal A, A, as well as to the under wearing
surface of Leather or other material employed. In connecting the surfaces together
may employ hollow countersunk rivets or "eye-lets" forming air outlets as at D, D,
or otherwise securing the outer or upper surface to the interposed longitudinal strips
of thin metal A, as well as to the under wearing surface of the Leather C, or other
material employed. Figure 5, is a similar view or portion of a Belt in which
instead of the hollow countersunk " eyelet or form of rivet, I may employ another
kind in form of a cap or inverted cup and entirely closed at the top or exterior part
of the belt (if desired) as shewn at F, F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
Firstly. In forming and making Machine driving Belts or Bands in a combined
manner and form, consisting of thin longitudinal strips of suitable metal of necessary
number and proportion according to the size of Belt required and in securely connecting
same together by means of cross inetal stays or diagonal bracing strips and in facing
or covering same with Leather or other suitable material on the wearing or under
surface as also on the upper or outer surface and then in rivetting or otherwise
securing the whole together for the object and purpose required and in manner
referred to; also by so applying a portion of the thin interposed longitudinal metal

page_text: strips towards the edges of Belting to protect them from wear and tear by the action
of the Fork or Clutch.
Secondly. In providing for the lateral expansion or contraction of Machine Belting
made according to my Invention and in giving greater pliability and ease in working
likewise in the method of coupling or connecting same together and in providing for
the ready escape of air between the working surface of the Belt and that of the Drum
or Pulley, or in other cases if desired in further retaining same as herein set forth
and described.
Dated this 17th day of Charming 1000