IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE. FOR REPAIRING BROKEN SHAFTS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Turner, of Southampton, in the County
of Hants, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COUPLINGS MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE. FOR REPAIRING BROKEN SHAFTS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1875.
I, CHARLES TURNER, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR REPAIRING BROKEN
SHAFTS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide arrangements where coup-
lings can be applied to repairing broken pipes and also shafts in
connection with rolling mills and such like mechanism, although the

page_text: Invention is specially useful for repairing shafts of machinery on board
ship when at sea when same become broken.
In carrying out my said Invention I prefer to adopt arrangements
substantially as follows:-For coupling in case of a breakage between
the bearings or usual couplings there are two main parts, the gland and 5
the driving socket or stuffing box. These two main parts are each
divided in two parts connected together by inclined teeth so formed that
when they are driven up the gland or driving socket forms solid rings
fitting closely or nearly so upon the shaft. The gland is filled with a
ring of india-rubber packing, except for a small space at each end, into 1
which dished rings of soft metal are introduced, and also a ring of
leather in the middle. The gland and the driving socket are united by
compound bolts formed of steel wire rivetted through solid wrought-
iron ends, on the outside of which the usual screws are cut. The nuts
are double, and of wrought iron, but lock nuts and plates are used in 1
some instances. V grooves are cut on the shaft and on the inside of
the socket in order to give the elastic packing a better hold.
The action of the coupling is as follows:-The gland and the driving
socket having been placed on the shaft in their two parts and driven up
together, but not tightly, the india-rubber packing and the soft metal a
rings are introduced into the gland. The bolts are put into their places,
and driven up tightly. The action being to expand the soft metal rings
which prevent any of the india-rubber packing squeezing out at the
ends, while at the same time the india-rubber packing is compressed and
forced inwards and outwards into the V groooves on the shaft and the
socket connecting the shaft and socket, and thus uniting the broken ends
of the shaft firmly together.
In the coupling to be used when a breakage occurs in the flanges of
an ordinary coupling the bolts are removed and pins used in their places.
The gland and driving are exactly the same in principle as above, but a
two glands are used and a double ended driving socket. Ordinary bolts
with double screwed ends are used instead of compound ones; the
action of this coupling is the same as the coupling first described.
In the coupling to be used when a breakage occurs in a bearing the
usual brasses are to be removed, and angle brasses introduced in their
places, so as to leave a clear space of not less than two inches round the

page_text: shaft. The coupling itself is formed in two parts, each consisting of
wrought-iron recessed rings, each ring being in two parts united together
by dovetailed keys. Tapering rings of soft metal are introduced into
each of the wrought-iron rings, the recesses being turned slightly oval
in order to prevent the soft metal rings from turning round either in
the wrought-iron rings or upon themselves. It is intended to make
these soft metal rings elastic by laying a series of small thin steel tubes
or coils of steel wire into the moulds, and casting the soft metal round
them. The double dovetailed keys above referred to have forked keys
at one end, and screwed ends at the other..
The action of this coupling is as follows:-The rings are driven up
but not quite tightly upon the double dovetailed keys. The forked keys
are then driven down so as to draw the two halves of the left-hand ring
tightly together, and tight upon the key itself. The nuts are then drawn
up, and as the right-hand ring is drawn towards the other ring the
tapering rings of soft metal are wedged tightly together, and press them-
selves tightly into the V grooves, thus uniting the two broken halves of
the shaft firmly together.
Although the above description refers particularly to repairing broken
shafts the arrangements for coupling pipes are similar in effect and
construction as before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
TURNER, of Southampton, in the County of Hants, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Turner, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Turner, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Turner, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the t
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COULPINGS MORE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR REPAIRING BROKEN SHAFTS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Turner, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and 1
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Turner, do hereby declare 1
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
The object of this Invention is to provide arrangements where coup-
lings can be applied to repairing broken pipes, and also shafts in :
connection with rolling mills and such like mechanism, although the
Invention is specially useful for repairing shafts of machinery on board
ships at sea when same become broken.
In carrying out my said Invention I prefer to adopt arrangements
which are substantially as follows:-For coupling in case of a breakage
between the bearings or usual couplings there are two main parts, the
gland and the stuffing box. These two main parts are each subdivided
into two parts, connected together by inclined teeth, so formed that
when they are driven up the gland and stuffing box forms solid rings
fitting closely or nearly so upon the shaft. The gland is filled with a
ring of elastic packing, except for a small space at each end, into which
dished rings of soft metal are introduced, and also a ring of leather in
the middle of the elastic packing when in two parts. The gland and the
stuffing box are united by compound bolts formed of steel wire rivetted
through solid wrought-iron ends, on the outside of which the usual
screws are cut. The nuts are double, and of wrought iron, and lock

page_text: nuts and plates are used in some instance. V grooves are cut on
the shaft and on the inside of the socket, or they are otherwise roughed
in order to give the elastic packing a better hold.
The action of the coupling is as follows:-The gland and the driving
socket having been placed on the shaft in their two parts are driven
up together, but not tightly, the elastic packing and the soft metal rings
are introduced into the gland. The bolts are put into their places, and
drawn up tightly, the object being to expand the soft metal rings, which
prevent any of the elastic packing squeezing out at the ends, while at
the save time the elastic packing is compressed and forced inwards and
outwards into the V grooves or roughing on the shaft and the socket,
connecting the shaft and socket, and thus uniting the broken ends of the
shaft firmly together.
In the coupling to be used when a breakage occurs in the flanges of
an ordinary coupling the bolt are removed and pins used in their places.
The gland and stuffing box are exactly the same in principle as above,
but two glands are used, and a double ended stuffing box. Ordinary
bolts with double screwed ends are used instead of compound ones. The
action of this coupling is the same as the coupling first described.
In the coupling to be used when a breakage occurs in a bearing the
usual brasses are to be removed, and angle brasses introduced in their
places, so as to leave a clear space of not less than two inches round the
shaft. The coupling itself is formed in two parts, each consisting of
wrought-iron recessed rings, each ring being in two parts united together
by double dovetail keys. Tapering rings of soft metal are introduced
into each of the wrought-iron rings, the recesses being turned slightly
oval in order to prevent the soft metal rings from turning round either
in the wrought-iron rings or upon themselves. It is intended to make
these soft metal rings elastic by laying a series of small thin steel tubes
or coils of steel wire into the moulds, and casting the soft metal round
them. The double dovetailed keys above referred to have forked keys
at one end, and screwed ends at the other.
The action of this last mentioned coupling is as follows:-The rings
are driven up but not quite tightly upon the double dovetailed keys.
The forked keys are then driven down so as to draw the two halves of
the left-hand ring tightly together, and tight upon the key itself. The

page_text: nuts are then drawn up, and as the right-hand ring is drawn towards
the other ring the tapering rings of metal are wedged tightly together,
and press themselves tightly into the V grooves or roughing, thus uniting
the two broken halves of the shaft firmly together.
Although the above description refers particularly to repairing broken
shafts, the arrangements for coupling pipes are similar in effect and
construction as before described.
Having thus far particularly described the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in general terms indicated in what manner the same is to be
performed or carried out in practice, I now proceed to particularly
describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried into practical use by the following descriptive statements, which
refer to Drawings of examples of construction, it being understood that
the foregoing statements are to be resorted in aid thereof if found
requisite, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the ordinary form of coupling for a
breakage between the bearings and usual couplings.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1; it consists of two main
parts, the gland A, A, or driving socket, and the stuffing box B, B.
These two main parts are each divided in two parts connected together
by inclined teeth, so formed that when they are driven up the gland A, A,
and stuffing box B, B, form solid rings fitting closely, or nearly so upon
the shaft. The stuffing box B, B, is filled with a ring of india-rubber
packing C¹, C1, C2, C², except for a small space at each end, into which
dished rings of soft metal D, D, are introduced and sometimes a ring of
leather, as shewn in the Drawing. The gland A, A, and the stuffing
box B, B, are united by compound bolts E, E, formed of steel wire
rivetted through solid wrought-iron ends, on the outside of which the
usual screws are cut. The nuts are double and of wrought iron. Lock
nuts and plates are used in some instances, as shown in the Drawing.
V grooves G, G, are cut or the shaft and on the inside of the stuffing
box B, B, or they are otherwise roughed, in order to give the elastic
packing C', 0, 0, 0, a better hold.
The action of the coupling shewn in Figures 1 and 1' is as follows:-
The gland A. A. and the stuffing box B. B. having been placed in the

page_text: shaft in their two parts and driven up together, but not too close; the
india-rubber packing C', C¹, C³, C³, and the soft metal rings D, D, are
introduced into the stuffing box B, B. The bolts E, E, are put into their
places and drawn up tightly, the action being to expand the soft metal
which prevents any of the india-rubber packing squeezing out at the
ends, while at the same time the india-rubber packing is compressed and
forced inwards and outwards into the V grooves or other roughing on the
shaft, and in the stuffing. box connecting the shaft and socket, and thus
uniting the broken ends of the shaft firmly together.
Figure 2 is section on line A, B, (Figure 2), Figure 2' being
sectional elevation of the form of coupling to be used when a breakage
occurs in the flanges of an ordinary coupling. The bolts E, E, are removed
and pins used in their places. The gland A, A, and stuffing box B, B, are
exactly the same in principle to Figure I., but two stuffing boxes B, B,
B, B, and a double ended gland A, A, A, A. Ordinary bolts E, E, with
double screwed ends are used instead of the compound ones. The action
of this coupling is exactly the same as Figures 1 and 1*.
Figure 3 is sectional elevation of form of coupling to be used when a
breakage occurs in a bearing; Figures 3" and 3° are end elevations of
Figure 3. The usual brasses are to be removed and angle brasses to be
introduced in their places, so as to leave a clear space of not less than
two inches round the shaft. The coupling itself is formed in two parts
each consisting of wrought-iron recessed rings A, A, A, A, as shewn in
the Drawing, each ring consisting of two parts united together by the
double dovetailed keys B, B, also shewn in the Drawing. Tapering
rings of soft metal C, C, C, C, are introduced into each of the wrought-
iron rings A, A, A, A, the recesses being turned slightly oval in order to
prevent the metal rings C, C, C, C, from turning round, either in the
wrought-iron rings A, A, A, A, or upon themselves. It is proposed to
make these soft metal rings C, C, C, C, elastic by laying a series of
small thin steel tubes or coils of steel wire into the moulds and casting
the soft metal round them.
The double dovetailed keys B, B, above referred to have forked keys
b, b, at one end, and screwed ends b¹, b¹, at the other.
The action of the coupling is as follows:-The rings A, A, A, A, are

page_text: are then driven down so as to draw the two halves of the left-hand ring
A, A, tightly together, and tight upon the keys themselves. The nuts
6', 6', are then drawn up and as the right-hand ring A, A, is drawn
towards the other ring A, A, the tapering rings of soft metal C, C, C, C,
are wedged together and press themselves tightly into the V grooves or
other roughing, then uniting the two broken halves of the shaft firmly
together.
Figure 3 shews one of the forms of bearing proposed to be used
in connection with coupling, Figure 3.
Figure 4 is end elevation of an alternative form of coupling to be used if
required instead of the arrangements shewn in Figures 1 and 1*; Figure 4*
is a sectional elevation; it consists of a stuffing box B, B, only no gland
is required. The packing C is to be of soft metal, india-rubber, or gutta
percha, cast in sections in closing split tubes of thin steel to act as
springs, as referred to in the description of Figures 3, 3º, 3º. By driving
up the folding wedges D, D, D, D, at the top and bottom of the stuffing
box C, these tubes are forced together causing them to expand both
inwards and outwards, thus forcing the soft metal C or other soft
packing both inwards into the ✓ grooves or other roughing on the
shaft and inside the stuffing box B, B.
Figure 5 is end elevation shewing arrangement for a permanent
coupling; Figure 5ª is sectional elevation of Figure 5; it comprises a
stuffing box B, forged solid, and two glands A, A, A, A, forged in a
similar manner, as shewn in the Drawing. The india-rubber packing C, C,
and the dished rings of soft metal D, D, to be as in Figure 1, except that
the india-rubber C, C, is to be of a double conical instead of a paralled
section to fit the conical ends of the two lengths of shaft. These two
lengths of shaft are also to be united by a cup-and-ball joint H, as shewn
in the Drawing. The tightening is a manner similar to that described
and shewn in Figures 1 and 1ª.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the combination
of an iron or metal stuffing box in connection with an elastic packing
and grooves or roughing up the shaft, and the application and use
of the several details of the said Invention of " Improvements in

page_text: Couplings more especially applicable for Repairing Broken Shafts and
Pipes," substantially as herein-before set forth and described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings or any mere variation
thereof.
In witness whereof, I the said Charles Turner, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
0
Witness,
J. G. W. ALDRIDGE,
3, Lower Queen's Terrace,
Southampton.
CHARLES TURNER. (L.s.)