Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM LOWRIE Engineer of 163 Isledon Rd Finsbury Park, in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A FLEXIBLE COUPLING,
to be as follows:-
My invention is a Flexible Coupling to Connect together 2 Shafts, and prevent
internal strains, if not running in a true line with each other I propose to fasten
on to each shaft to be coupled, a metal disc, and leave a space between their faces,
and round the periphery of both, wind some flexible material, such as leather,
canvas or other suitable material, and fasten it securely on to both, the flexibility
of the material, between the two discs, will allow the shafts to run slightly out of
a straight line,

page_text: I WILLIAM LOWRIE of 163 Isledon Road Finsbury Park, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A FLEXIBLE
COUPLING and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In coupling two Shafts together with any ordinary metallic Coupling, it is found!
that the slightest inaccuracy in setting, (the shafts being run at a high speed)
brings into action violent strains and any vibration of one shaft is transmitted to
the other through the Metallic Coupling.
In order to avoid this I employ a flexible material which I fix round the
periphery of two discs, each of which are rigidly connected to the shafts, one to
cach shaft. Around these discs I place a ring or strip of flexible material which I
grip to the discs by means of an outer loose ring or I further employ two such
loose rings the inner one of which I make in one or several pieces. For gripping
I employ the outer ring which I press into place by means of a round nut, bolts
& nuts, Cotters, or other mechanical means. I also leave a space between the
shafts or discs to allow room for the movement of the flexible material.
Referring to the drawings annexed Figures 1, 3, & 5 shew three different
methods in cross section Figures 2, 4, & 6 being clevations of the same respectively.
1st In the Flexible Coupling represented by Figs No 1 & 2 A A, are the two
discs rigidly fixed to the two shafts B B, required to be Coupled a space C being
left between them. D is the strip or ring of Flexible material, F F, are the loose
outer rings. In this case only one ring being employed. E E, are the bolts & nuts
for fixing F F, to the discs A A₁.
In this case I form the discs A A₁ on the periphery into an outside cone the
smaller diameters being farthest away from each other. The outer rings F F₁
I make to slide over the projecting bosses of the disc A A, and' on the inside
annular surface of the ring I form a cone corresponding to the cone on the periphery
of the discs A A₁.but larger so as to leave a space for the flexible material D.
I also make the surfaces of the two cones rough so as to assist the grip.
The Flexible material being placed round the periphery of the discs A A, the
outer rings F F₁ are pressed over it by means of the bolts and nuts E E₁. The
pressure thus produced holds the Flexible material firmly against the peripheries
of the discs A A, and the rotary motion of one shaft is transmitted to the other
through the Flexible material D alone.
2nd In the Flexible Coupling represented by Figs 3 & 4 I form the discs A A₁
and the outer rings F F₁ the same as in the first case but in addition I insert
intermediate rings G G, between the flexible material and the outer rings F F₁.
These intermediate rings G G, I form with a cone on their inside annular surfaces,
and make such rings larger than the cones on the discs A A, to leave a space for
the Flexible material.
In addition, on the outsido annular surfaco I also form an outside cone fitting
into the cone on the inside annular surface of the outer rings F F, and also I cut
up this ring into several sections as shewn at G₂ Fig. 4. The Flexible material
being placed round the periphery of the discs A A, the sections of the intermediate
rings Ġ G, are placed over it, the outer rings F F, are then pressed into place by
the round nuts H H₁. The pressure thus produced holds the Flexible material
firmly against the periphery of the discs A A, and the rotary motion of one shaft
is transmitted to the other through the Flexible material D alone.

page_text: 3rd In the Flexible Coupling represented by Figs 5 & 6 I employ intermediate
rings KK, each having cones on their outside surfaces fitting into the cones on the
outer rings F F₁; but I make the inside annular surface of these intermediate
rings K. K, also the peripheries of the discs A A, parallel with the axis of the
shafts B B. These intermediate rings K K' I make in one piece and of a slightly
larger diameter than shewn in the drawings Figs 5 & 6. I also split these rings
as shewn at K, Fig 6 leaving this split wide enough for the ring to close round tho
Flexible material Ď. The Flexible material being placed round the peripheries of
the discs A A, I place the intermediate rings K K, over and press the outer
rings F F, into place by means of the washers L L, & cotters M M₁. The pressure
between the surfaces of the cones or rings F F, & K K, closes the rings K K, thus
gripping the Flexible material D against the periphial surfaces of the discs A A₁.
The pressure thus produced holds the Flexible material firmly against the
peripheries of the discs A A, and the rotary motion of one shaft is transmitted
to the other through the Flexible material D alone.
I also employ a combination of the above methods, for instance-I might arrange
the outer ring F F, in ench or any form to be pressed into place with bolts & nuts
as at E E, Figs 1 & 2, with round nuts as at HH, Figs 3 & 4 or with cotters as
at M M, Figs 5 & 6 I also might form the intermediate rings G. G. Figs 3 & 4
with one split similar to the intermediate rings K K, Figs 5 & 6, or I might
make the intermediate rings K K, in a number of sections similar to the inter-
inediate rings G G, Figs 3 and 4.
"
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st A Shaft Coupling in which flexible material is wound round coned discs, one
on cach shaft and secured by rings coned on the inside, with or without
intermediato rings substantially, and for the purposes described.
2nd A Shaft Coupling in which flexible material is wound round discs, one
on each shaft, and secured by an intermediate ring coned on the outside,
and an outer ring coned on the inside, substantially, and for the purposes
described.