IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS AND BRAKE APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS AND BRAKE APPARATUS." (A com-
munication from abroad by Léandre Mégy and Jose de Echeverria, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.)
This Invention has for object improvements in frictional couplings and brake
apparatus, and has reference to means for effecting the connection and the
disconnection of mechanical appliances, which have in turn to be independent of
each other, or be in firm connection amongst themselves.
In the Specification of a Patent, No. 1777 of 1870, granted to Léandre Mégy, Jose
de Echeverria, and Felix Bazan, there is described an internal spring coupling and
brake, and it is to couplings containing similar internal springs that this Invention
applies.
The expansion spring consists of a nearly circular elastic metal blade introduced
by force within the interior of a hollow pulley, which may be used either as a loose
or not to the axis as may be desired.
0 against the interior circumferential wall of the pulley, which serves as a casing for
When the free expansion of the spring is not opposed, it applies itself strongly
the other more or less firmly, the limit being dependent on the force of expansion
it, and the friction that ensues between the two parts connects them the one with
of the spring, and in this condition the pulley answers to a fixed pulley. The
spring is carried round by a collar or carrier to which it is connected by a tinger or
Price B
[Price B]

page_text: projection, so that any movement given to the shaft on which the collar or carrier
is fixed is transmitted by the collar or carrier to the spring, and thence to the
pulley when the spring is in its extended attitude.
On the contrary, if the two free ends of the spring are caused to approach each
other, and the diameter of it be thus diminished, its frictional connexion with the
pulley is destroyed and the uncoupling is effected.
This Invention comprises means for acting on the ends of the expansion spring
so as to destroy or to effect the frictional connexion between the spring and the
pulley, and consequently to disconnect or connect the two, as also a mode of later
displacement of the said spring, for effecting the same object.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, which is added by way of illustration to
facilitate an understanding of the general nature of the Invention, there are shewn
four ways in which the Invention may be applied.
In Fig. 1, A is the driving shaft; B, the collar or carrier keyed on the shaft A
which carries B round in its movement of rotation; C, a pulley forming a case for
the spring and provided when required with a pinion; this pulley runs loose on the
bosses of the collar B; R is the spring above referred to; T, a recess provided in
the collar or carrier to receive the projection T¹ attached to the spring and by
which it is driven. At each of the extremities of the spring R there is attached
a bycket or lug. On the first of these brackets is fixed the end of a small chain D
which passes over a roller on the second bracket, returns over a roller on the first,
then over another roller on the second bracket, and thence over the rollers E
and G to the collar M, which turns with the shaft A, but may slide on it.
obvious that if by any means the collar M is caused to move lengthwise of the
shaft A the small chain D will be tightened or slackened according to the direction
of movement, and the ends of the spring R will be brought nearer together or
further apart, thus effecting the uncoupling or coupling as the case may be.
It is
In Fig. 2 the levers E oscillate freely round their axes which traverse the collar or
carrier B. Antifriction rollers E¹ on these levers roll on the faces of two wedges or
inclined planes D, connected to the collar M and sliding in grooves cut in the shaft.
It will be seen that in moving the collar towards the right or left, the friction
rollers are forced wider apart or brought nearer together, and the spring is contracted
or extended.
In Fig. 3 a small chain is attached by one end to one extremity of the spring,
passes over a friction roller near the other extremity of the said spring, and is
fixed by its other end to the boss of a flywheel V. This flywheel runs freely on
the boss of the collar or carrier C which is keyed on to the shaft A¹ situated in the
line of the prolongation of the shaft A, and on which is fixed the pulley B. A
collar or clutch M slides on the shaft A¹ by means of a forked lever which is
operated by a pedal P terminating in a skid acting as a brake against the rim of
the flywheel. The collar or clutch M engages with the boss of the flywheel V by
teeth or claws. In the positions shewn in the Drawing the pulley B and the
collar G are in frictional connection by the extension of the spring R against the
interior surface of the pulley B, and the shafts A, A¹, are then coupled together.
When it is desired to cause this connection to cease the pedal P is depressed,
whereby the skid S is applied against the fly wheel V at the same time that the
collar M is drawn towards the right hand, and disengages itself from the said
flywheel; the fly wheel is thus stopped, whilst the pulley B and the collar G
continue to revolve, which has the effect of extending the small chain, and of
drawing nearer together the two extremities of the spring R; the frictional con-
nection is thus destroyed and the two shafts uncoupled.
In Fig. 4 the collar or carrier B is fixed on the driving shaft A, the casing C is
fixed on the shaft A', and the connection between B and C is effected by the
intermediary of the spring R.
The two extremities of the spring R are connected by right and left handed
screws engaging in the same nut E, carrying a worm wheel F, the teeth of which
in one

page_text: direction or in the other, the two extremities of the spring become wider apart or
together, and the coupling or uncoupling of B and C is effected.
nearer
To operate the endless screw in the direction and at the moment desired, there
is placed on the axis of this screw a toothed wheel H engaging with two other
5 wheels R, R'. The wheel R¹ itself gears with the wheel R. Each of the wheels
R, R", carries on its axis a paddle wheel or star I or I'; these wheels are carried
round by the collar B in its movement of rotation.
By means of a lever K a rod is operated which carries two tappets or fingers
J, J', which can be placed in the plane of rotation of the wheels I, I', and thereby
0 can cause the rotation of the said wheels by striking against their paddles. By
moving the lever K towards the right or left, according to the direction of move-
ment of the shaft A, the wheel I or the wheel I¹ will be turned at will, and conse-
quently the connection or the disconnection of the shafts will be effected.
In order that the spring may not be too much extended or compressed, the
5 wheels I and I¹ are arranged in such manner that at the same time that they turn
on themselves they become displaced laterally on their axes so as to escape the
action of the tappets or fingers J, J¹, at the desired moment.
In the case of small coupling apparatus, instead of the action taking place on
the extremities of the spring as just indicated, it is displaced laterally without
0 altering its form; by being passed from the interior of the pulley it serves to
couple to the similar interior of an adjacent refuge pulley. The spring is in such
case attached to a circular carrier fixed on the collar, which is displaced longi-
tudinally on the shaft by means of a rod operated from the outside; under these
circumstances the spring is displaced in the manner of a piston, and is passed at
5 will from the interior of the refuge pulley to the interior of the driving pulley, and
reciprocally, according as it may be desired to effect coupling or uncoupling.
The means hereinabove described and illustrated are also applicable as adjusters
(limiteurs) of force, and may be regulated from time to time as desired, or once
for all

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th April 1882.
A com- 5
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS AND BRAKE APPARATUS."
munication from abroad by Léandre Mégy and Jose de Echeverria, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
This Invention has for objects improvements in frictional couplings and brake
apparatus, and has reference to means for effecting the connection and the dis-
connection of mechanical appliances which have in turn to be independent of each 1
other and in firm connection amongst themselves.
In the Specification of a Patent, No. 1777 of 1870, granted to Léandre Mégy,
Jose de Echeverria, and Felix Bazan, there is described an internal spring coupling
and brake, and it is to couplings containing similar internal springs that this
Invention applies.
The expansion spring consists of a nearly circular elastic metal blade introduced
by force within the interior of a hollow pulley, which may be used either as a
loose or a fast pulley according as it is for the time being secured or not by the
internal spring to the axis.
When the free expansion of the spring is not opposed it applies itself strongly 2
against the interior circumferential wall of the pulley which serves as a casing for
it, and the friction that ensues between the two parts connects them the one with
the other more or less firmly, the limit being dependent on the force of expansion
of the spring, and in this condition the pulley answers to a fixed pulley. The
spring is carried round by a collar or carrier, to which it is connected by a finger 2
or projection, so that any movement given to the shaft on which the collar or
carrier is fixed is transmitted by the collar or carrier to the spring and thence to
the pulley, when the spring is in its extended attitude.
On the contrary, if the two free ends of the spring are caused to approach each
other and the diameter of it be thus diminished, its frictional connection with the 3
pulley is destroyed and the uncoupling is effected.
This Invention comprises means for acting on the ends of the expansion
spring so as to destroy or to effect the frictional connection between the spring and
the pulley, and consequently to disconnect or connect the two, as also a mode of
lateral displacement of the said spring for effecting the same object.
Referring to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figs. 1 shew a vertical
longitudinal section and a vertical transverse section of one form of coupling
embodying this Invention.
A is the driving shaft; B, the collar or carrier keyed on the shaft A, which
carries B round in its movement of rotation; C, a pulley forming a case for the 4
spring, and provided when required with a pinion; this pulley runs loose on the
bosses of the collar B. R is the spring above referred to; T, a recess provided in
the collar or carrier to receive the projection T₁ attached to the spring and by which
it is driven. At each of the extremities of the spring R there is attached a
bracket or lug. On the first of these brackets is fixed the end of a small chain D, 4
which passes over a roller on the second bracket, returns over a roller on the first,
then over another roller on the second bracket, and thence over the rollers E and G
to the collar M, which turns with the shaft A but may slide on it. It is obvious
that if by any means the collar M is caused to move lengthwise of the shaft A, the
small chain D will be tightened or slackened according to the direction of movement, 5
apart, thus
effecting the uncoupling or coupling, as the case may be.

page_text: Figs, 2
the engagement and disengagement of the clutch according to this Invention.
The levers E oscillate freely round their axes which traverse the collar or
carrier B. Antifriction rollers E' on these levers roll on the faces of two wedges
or inclined planes D connected to the collar M and sliding in grooves cut in the
shaft. It will be seen that in moving the collar towards the right or left, the
Stiction rollers are forced wider apart or brought nearer together, and the spring is
contracted or extended.
Figs. 3 are end and side elevation (the latter partly in section) of a shaft coupling
arranged according to this Invention.
A small chain is attached by one end to one extremity of the spring, passes over
a friction roller near the other extremity of the said spring, and is fixed by its
other end to the boss of a fly wheel V. This fly wheel runs freely on the boss of
the collar or carrier C, which is keyed on to the shaft A' situated in the line of the
prolongation of the shaft A, and on which is fixed the pulley B. A collar or
clutch M slides on the shaft A¹ by means of a forked lever, which is operated by a
pedal P terminating in a skid S acting as a brake against the rim of the fly wheel.
The collar or clutch M engages with the boss of the fly wheel V by teeth or claws.
In the positions shewn in the Drawing the pulley B and the collar C are in
frictional connection by the extension of the spring R against the interior surface
of the pulley B, and the shafts A, A', are then coupled together. When it is
desired to cause this connexion to cease the pedal P is depressed, whereby the
skid S is applied against the fly-wheel V, at the same time that the collar M is
drawn towards the right hand and disengages itself from the said fly-wheel. The
By wheel is thus stopped, whilst the pulley B and the collar C continue to revolve,
which has the effect of extending the small chain and of drawing nearer together
the two extremities of the spring R; the frictional connection is thus destroyed
and the two shafts uncoupled.
Fig. 4 shew in transverse section another arrangement of shaft coupling, and
also the same coupling (to a smaller scale) applied to a screw shaft.
The collar or carrier B is fixed on the driving shaft A; the casing C is fixed on
the shaft A¹, and the connection between B and C is effected by the intermediary
of the spring R.
The two extremities of the spring R are connected by right and left handed
screws engaging in the same nut E carrying a worm wheel F, the teeth of which
engage with the threads of an endless screw. According as the screw turns in one
direction or in the other the two extremities of the spring become wider apart or
nearer together, and the coupling or uncoupling of B and C is effected.
To operate the endless screw in the direction and at the moment desired there is
placed on the axis of this screw a toothed wheel H engaging with two other
wheels R, R¹; the wheel R' itself gears with the wheel R". Each of the wheels R, R",
carries on its axis a paddle wheel or star I or I¹. These wheels are carried round
by the collar B in its movement of rotation.
By means of a lever K a rod is operated which carries two tappets or fingers J, J',
which can be placed in the plane of rotation of the wheels I, I', and thereby can
cause the rotation of the said wheels by striking against their paddles. By moving
the shaft A, the wheel I or the wheel I will be turned at will, and consequently
the lever K towards the right or left, according to the direction of movement of
the connection or the disconnection of the shafts will be effected. In order that the
spring may not be too much extended or compressed, the wheels I and I are
arranged in such manner that at the same time that they turn on themselves they
become displaced laterally on their axes, so as to escape the action of the tappets or
fingers J, J', at the desired moment.
the extremities of the spring, as just indicated, it is displaced laterally without
In the case of small coupling apparatus, instead of the action taking place on
couple to the similar interior of an adjacent refuge pulley. The spring is in such
altering its form; by being passed from the interior of the pulley it serves to

page_text: caso attached to a circular carrier fixed on the collar, which is displaced longi-
circumstances the spring is displaced in the manner of a piston, and is passed at
tudinally on the shaft by means of a rod operated from the outside. Under theme,
will from the interior of the refuge pulley to the interior of the driving pulley and
reciprocally, according as it may be desired to effect coupling or uncoupling.
The means hereinabove described and illustrated are also applicable as adjusters
(limiteurs) of force, and may be regulated from time to time, as
for all.
desired, or once
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, as communicated to me as aforesaid, I would have
it understood that what is considered to be novel and original, and is therefore
claimed as secured to me under the Letters Patent herein before first in part
recited is,―
In frictional couplings and brake apparatus,-
1. The combination of means for effecting connection and disconnection, substan.
tially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 1 of the Drawings, for
the purposes specified.
2. The combination of means for effecting connection and disconnection, substan.
tially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 2 of the Drawings, for
the purposes specified.
3. The combination of means for effecting connection and disconnection, substan-
tially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 3 of the Drawings, for
the purposes specified.
4. The combination of means for effecting connection and disconnection, substan-
tially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 4 of the Drawings, for
the purposes specified.
5. The method of effecting connection and disconnection by means of a spring in a
circular collar fixed upon a carrier, and capable of lateral displacement by a rod
operated from without, in order that the spring may be passed at will from the
interior of a refuge pulley to the interior of a fixed pulley, according as it is desired
to effect connection or disconnection, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.