Improvements in Pulleys or Wheels and the Axles thereof.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
Improvements in Pulleys or Wheels and the Axles thereof.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BLESSLEY, of No. 1 Exchange Place, Middlesbrough-on-
Tees, in the county of York, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in pulleys or wheels employed for trans-
mitting motion and in the axles thereof, the object of such improvements being to
allow the angle at which the wheel is driven in relation to its shaft being varied either
by the independent movement of the wheel or of the shaft.
The axle of the wheel is of a spherical form and the circumference is provided with
a number of fixed teeth or projections, or with a series of pockets or recesses into
which fit loose balls, a portion of each ball projecting beyond the surface of the axle.
In the
The said axle either forms part of the shaft or it is keyed on to the same.
centre of the wheel is a spherical recess or chamber, with openings at its sides for the
passage of the axle, such openings being of sufficient size to allow of any desired
movement of the shaft. The inner surface of the said spherical recess or chamber has
a number of grooves extending from side to side and corresponding in number to the
balls or other projections on the axle, which balls or projections fit into the said grooves
and are free to move laterally therein, without affecting the wheel or shaft, as the case
may be, when the angle of the wheel to the shaft is altered either by the movement of
the wheel or the shaft. Any revolving movement of the shaft is transmitted to the
wheel by the projections or projecting portions of the balls bearing against the sides of
the grooves.
The wheel is maintained in its position by suitable guides, frames or supports, ball
bearings being, by preference, provided for the wheel to work on.
When the axle is provided with projecting teeth, the latter are of any suitable form
and have, in some cases, rollers mounted thereon for the purpose of reducing friction,
the grooves are also made of any suitable form, but are, by preference, of a rectangular
section.
で

page_text: The whole or a portion of one side of the wheel is made detached in order to allow
of the insertion of the axle into the spherical recess or chamber, and such detached
portion is secured to the main body of the wheel by bolts or other suitable
means.
'
I WILLIAM HENRY BLESSLEY of No. 1 Exchange Place, Middlesbrough-on-
Tees in the County of York, Architect do hereby 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in pulleys or wheels employed for trans-
mitting motion and in the axles thereof, the object of such improvements being to
allow the angle at which such a wheel is driven in relation to its shaft being varied
either by the independent movement of the wheel or of the shaft.
The axle of the wheel is of a spherical form and the circumference is provided with
a fixed tooth or projection or a number of fixed teeth or projections or with a pocket
or recess.or a series of pockets or recesses into which fit loose balls or other moveable
projections, a portion of each ball or projection extending beyond the surface of the
axle. The said axle either forms part of the shaft or it is keyed or otherwise fixed on
to the same. In the centre of the wheel is a spherical recess or chamber with openings
at its sides for the passage of the axle such openings being of sufficient size to allow of
any desired movement of the shaft. The inner surface of the said spherical recess or
chamber has a groove or recess, or a number of grooves or recesses extending from
side to side and corresponding in number to the balls or other projections on the axle,
which balls or projections fit into the said grooves and are free to move laterally therein
without affecting the wheel or shaft, as the case may be, when the angle of the wheel to
the shaft is altered either by the movement of the wheel or the shaft. Any revolving
movement of the shaft is transmitted to the wheel by the projections or projecting
portions of the balls bearing against the sides of the groove or grooves.
The wheel is maintained in its position by suitable guides, frames, or supports, ball
bearings being by preference provided for the wheel to work on.
The teeth or other projections whether fixed or moveable are of any suitable form,
but preferably of a spherical shape and loose for the purpose of reducing friction.
The grooves are also made of any suitable form to suit the projections.
The whole or a portion of one side, or part of the wheel is made detached in order
to allow of the insertion of the axle into the spherical recess or chamber, and such
detached portion is secured to the main body of the wheel by bolts, or other suitable
means.
°

page_text: It is clear that the fixed teeth or projections or the loose balls or other moveable
projections may be placed on or in the inner surface of the spherical chamber or recess
forming the centre portion of the wheel instead of being placed on the axle as before
described in which case the grooves in which the projections travel would be made in
the spherical axle; or again both the spherical axle and the spherical chamber may be
grooved to correspond with one another, and bails be placed to move loosely in the
said grooves, travelling partly in the groove in the axle and partly in the corresponding
groove in the wheel chamber.
It is not, however, essential that the axle and the centre portion of the wheel should,
in all cases, both be spherical in shape. For instance, when the centre of the wheel is
spherical in shape and is grooved then the axle need only have the projections or balls
of the shape and in the positions they would be in were the axle spherical in shape and
But in either of these cases at least two balls or projections would be
required and the bearing of the axle on the wheel would be wholly by means of the
balls or projections impinging on the sides of the said grooves.
vice versa.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying drawings my invention,
first, as applied to a machine in which the angle of the shaft in relation to the wheel is
varied from time to time for the purpose of guiding or steering the machine or a
portion thereof without affecting the direction in which the wheel rotates and in the
second place as applied to a wheel made to revolve at a required angle to the shaft
without altering the position of the shaft.
Figs. I II and III shew the first arrangement. Fig. I is a section through the centre
of the wheel and axlo of an apparatus for propelling a tricycle by means of the hands
and at the same time steering the machine. A is the shaft with a spherical axle B.
The axle is here shewn with two pockets or recesses in the centre of the circumference
and at opposite sides thereof. Into each of these pockets is placed a ball C moving
freely therein, and (as regards a portion of the ball) projecting beyond the surface of
the axle. D is the spherical recess or chamber forming the centre portion of the
wheel in the inner surface of which are two grooves or sinkings EE into which the
projecting portions of the balls C. C. fit and move laterally therein when by means of
the handles F. F. the angle of the shaft in relation to the wheel is changed. The
wheel G is kept in its place by the guides or supports H. H. having ball bearings and
secured to the frame of the machine by the supports or stays I. I. and steadied as
regards the upper part thereof by the stay J. KK are the connecting rods loosely
fixed to the shaft A at one end and attached in any suitable manner to the steering
apparatus at the other end and by means of which the machine is turned at the will of
the operator without interfering with the action or direction of the wheel G.
endless chain passing over the wheel G is connected with the driving wheel of the
machine. The centre portion of the wheel is made in two pieces and screwed or
bolted together after the axle and balls are in position. Both the handles are here
shewn as on the same side of the shaft, but it is obvious that they may be placed on
opposite sides when required. It is clear, also, that in place of the handles pedals
may be substituted and the apparatus be driven by the feet instead of the
hands.
.
An
Figs. VII. VIII. IX. X and XI shew the second arrangement. Fig. VII is a
section through the shaft and wheel for turning a belt or band. The shaft A is here
shewn with the spherical axle B keyed on to it. In the circumference of the axle are
four grooves E E E E converging towards the centre of the shaft and at right angles
to one another dividing the circumference into four equal parts as shewn in Fig. IX.
Into these grooves fit and travel the four balls C. CC. C. (see Fig. X) which are in
this instance placed in pockets or recesses in the inner surface of the spherical recess
or chamber forming the centre portion of the wheel. A portion of this chamber is
detachable in order to admit the spherical axle, and the portion so removeable is bolted
on or otherwise fixed after the axle and balls are in their place. The guides or
stays I. I. and the ball bearings H. H. keep the wheel at the required angle to the
shaft. Fig. VIII is a side view of the axle and Fig. IX the end view of the same
shewing the grooves in which the balls travel. Fig. & is the side view of one portion

page_text: of the spherical chamber forming the centre portion of the wheel and shewing the
position of the balls; and Fig. XI is the loose portion of the wheel which forms the
other part of the spherical chamber and which is bolted on or otherwise fixed aftèr
the axle is placed in position.
Figs. IV and V are sections through another form of axle and spherical
chamber shewing fixed projections in the latter instead of moveable balls.
Fig. Vl is an illustration shewing a spherical axle and spherical chamber both of
which are grooved to receive the loose balls which are placed in them so as to
travel partly in the grooves in the axle and partly in the grooves in the wheel
chamber.
Figs. XII. XIII. XIV and XV shew the fixed projections arranged on the axle.
These projections are each in the form of half a sphere projecting beyond the surface
of the axle (which is non-spherical), and bearing upon the sides of the grooves in the
spherical recess or chamber. Fig. XII is a section through the centre of axle and
wheel. Figs. XIII and XIV are the side and end views respectively of the axle and
Fig. XV shews one half of the spherical chamber.
Fig. XVI is an example of a non-spherical centre portion to the wheel with fixed
projections working in the grooves in a spherical axle ; L. L. being guides to keep the
axle in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
⚫claim is―
1st. The spherical axle having a tooth, ball or other projection, or a number of teeth,
balls or projections in the circumference thereof, either fixed of moveable which
projection or projections fit into a groove or grooves extending from side to side in
the inner surface of a spherically shaped recess or chamber forming the centre portion
of the wheel substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2nd. The axle other than spherical in shape having two or more teeth, balls or
other projections, either fixed or moveable, which teeth balls or projections fit into
grooves extending from side to side in the inner surface of a spherically shaped recess
or chamber forming a portion of the centre of the wheel substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described.
3rd. The spherical recess or chamber forming the centre portion of the wheel in or
on the inner surface of which is a tooth, ball or other projection, or are teeth, balls or
other projections either fixed or moveable which projections fit into a groove or
grooves extending from side to side in the spherically shaped axle substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described.
4th. The wheel having in the centre portion thereof, which is non-spherical in
shape, two or more teeth, balls or other projections either fixed or moveable which
teeth, balls or other projections fit into grooves extending from side to side of a
spherical axle substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
5th. The spherically shaped axle with the spherically shaped chamber or recess
forming the centre portion of the wheel, both the axle and the chamber having cach
a groove or grooves corresponding with one another and extending from side to side
thereof, and having a ball or balls travelling loosely in the said groove or grooves,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.