IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT COUPLINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: We GEORGE RUSHWORTH and JOHN RUSHWORTH, of Primit Bridge Foundry,
Colne, in the County of Lancaster, Machinists, and Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT COUPLINGS," to
be as follows :—
This invention relates to an improved means of, and apparatus for, Coupling the
ends of Main Shafts and Counter Shafts. For this purpose, we employ a coupling,
or sleeve, which may be conically bored out, but we prefer to cast the holo conically
and longitudinally through the coupling, or sleeve, by means of a taper or conically
shaped "chill," during the process of moulding. This coupling, or sleeve is placed
over the parts to be united, in such a manner, that the ends of the shafts will
project about midway into the hole formed in the coupling, or sleeve, into which
are forcibly driven split, or divided cone pieces, or bush keys, so as to embrace and
couple the ends of the two shafts together. In order to prevent the possibility of
the ends of the shafts slipping endway or rotatively, we cut or divide the ends of
the shafts, so as to overlap and engage with each other in a dovetail manner.
"

page_text: We, GEORGE RUSHWORTH and JOHN RUSHWORTH of Primet Bridge Foundry,
Colne, in the County of Lancaster, Machinests and Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAFT COUPLINGS," 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 an improved means of, or apparatus for, coupling the
ends of main and countershafts.
For this purposes, we employ a coupling or sleeve with a conically shaped hole,
which during the process of moulding, we prefer to core out or chill by introducing
into the mould in which the coupling or sleeve is cast, a conically shaped "chill,"
the cool surface of which chills the melted metal in immediate contact, and at the
same time, forms a hole longitudinally through the coupling or sleeve, with a
surface perfectly smooth and durable, and equal in every other respect to the
ordinary bored coupling or sleeve, at a considerable reduction in the cost of its
construction.
Another important feature of our improved method of coupling, consists in
cutting or shaping the ends of the shafts to be united, as to form a kind of
wedge lengthwise on each shaft, that when the ends of the shafts are joined
together, and in their proper relative position, they will engage with each other
as a folding wedge, or in an half dovetail manner.
The coupling or sleeve is now drawn over the ends of the shafts, which,
projecting about midway into the cavity formed in the coupling or sleeve, are
firmly embraced by split or divided cone pieces or bush-keys, which are forcibly
inserted between, and parallel with, the sleeve or coupling and the adjoining
shafts; these shafts are prevented from shifting longitudinally, or slipping
rotatively, by the wedge or dovetail arrangement as above described.
And in order that our invention may be fully understood, and readily carried
into effect, we have hereunto attached the accompanying sheet of drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon; the same letters
referring to the same parts in the various figures.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively sectional, longitudinal and end elevations, in
which views is represented our improved method of coupling. Fig. 4 is a detached
view of the shaft ends, shewing the kind of dovetail or wedge like arrangement
disconnected from the coupling or sleeve. A and B represent two shafts to be
united; C is the split or divided cone pieces or bush-keys, which are forcibly
inserted between, and parallel with, the coupling or sleeve D, and the two
adjoining shafts A and B.
It will be readily seen by referring to Fig. 1, that by our improved arrangement,
all tendancy to longitudinal displacement of the two shafts, is impossible without
first splitting the outer shell, coupling or sleeve D, as the incline or wedge at the
end of one shaft would draw upon that of the other, with which it engages, and
would expand the semicircular portion at the ends of the shafts, which is however
prevented, as the tightly fitting bush-keys or split cone pieces embracing them, are
immovable so long as the outer shell remains intact,

page_text: We would here observe, that the cutting or shaping of the shaft ends to form
the dovetail or wedge will also half scarf the ends of the shafts, which, when placed
and secured in their relative position within the coupling or sleeve, will defy the
possibility of the shafts slipping rotatively.
Having now particularly and ascertained the nature of our said invention'
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
Firstly, forming a hole longitudinally through the coupling or sleeve by means of
a metal chill, as described for the purposes set forth.
Secondly, cutting or shaping the ends of the shafts, that they may when placed
together form a dovetail or folding wedge, as described and set forth.
Thirdly, the combination of the dovetail arrangement with a chilled coupling or
sleeve, substantially as described.