NEW OR IMPROVED CLUTCH GRIPPING OR RATCHET MECHANISMS FOR PORTABLE FORGES AND WHICH are also SUITABLE FOR OTHER MACHINES OR APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Hardinge at the Office of
tho Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October 1881.
JAMES HARDINGE of Parliament Street Westminster London S.W. in the
County of Middlesex Consulting Engineer "NEW OR IMPROVED CLUTCH
GRIPPING OR RATCHET MECHANISMS FOR PORTABLE FORGES AND WHICH are also
SUITABLE FOR OTHER MACHINES OR APPARATUS."
The object of my Invention is the construction of a simple and effective clutch
ratchet or gripping apparatus or device whereby a reciprocating action can bo
converted into that of a rotary or rotatory motion.
In the outer casing or sheath of what I term the clutch or ratchet box I cast one
or more recesses at a suitable angle or angles for the purpose of receiving one or
more loose pieces of metal (preferably of a wedge shape or that of a bolt shape with
suitable taper such piece or pieces acting as the gripping tightening or actuating
catch or catches by automatically or otherwise dropping into a suitably toothed or
geared pinion or ratchet wheel working loosely upon a spindle in the inside of this
said casing sheath or aforesaid clutch or ratchet box.
By having one of these said parts (i. e. either the toothed pinion or the clutch or
rachet box) securely fixed to the machine wheel tool or other device or to any
part thereof requiring to be rotated and the other part so constructed as to run
loosely on a spindle independently of though nearly in close contact with the other
either the aforesaid ratchet wheel or the clutch and ratchet box (as desired can be
alternately pulled or worked one way and then in the other direction for the purpose
of alternately tightening and releasing the said wedgo or other gripping piece or
pieces in the said clutch or ratchet box when in or out of contact with the said
ratchet wheel. Rotary motion may be imparted to the machine either by an
alternate "backward and forward" and "up and down" "see saw or in any other
suitable direction or manner. This movement can be effected and thereby a rotary
motion obtained by means of an arm lover, bolt or belts, toothed or other geared
wheel or wheels, pinions, rack tooth or other constructed quadrant or any other
device when suitably connected so as to obtain (preferably by two straps for pulling
either the toothed pinion or the clutch or ratchet box first in one direction and then
in the other) the rotary motion in the manner above described and set forth.
When set in operation the aforesaid wedge wedges or other shaped gripping
piece or pieces drop into the said toothed ratchet wheel and the rotary motion is
thereby effected: The teeth of the said ratchet or toothed wheel are formed or

page_text: constructed at such an angle or angles and in such a manner that the wedge and
wedges or other gripping pieces are alternately allowed automatically or otherwise
to drop into gear and forced out again (by the special angular shape of the tooth
or teeth) to take a fresh grip and in so doing the rotary motion obtained is not
impeded in the said taking of any fresh grip in the ratchet wheel by the upward
or downward pressure of the actuating lever.
If a quicker action of the gripping piece or pieces is required it is only necessary
to place a small spiral or other spring at the back part of the wedge or other
gripping piece or pieces and thus throw same into gear more instantaneously
a screwed cap or caps can also be made to receive this spring or springs and
be placed on the outside of the clutch or ratchet box directly over or at the
extremity of the recess or recesses which contain the wedge or other shaped
gripping pieco or pieces.
The same aperture or apertures for the screwed cap or caps can also be utilized
for cleaning out and finishing up the recesses to receive the wedge or other shaped
gripping piece or pieces.
The same object of obtaining rotary motion can also be attained whether either
the recessed casing or the toothed ratchet wheel is affixed to the whole or part of
the machine to be rotated and a modification of the same principle can be made by
arranging the teeth around the inside rim or flange of the aforesaid clutch or
ratchet box. This internal gearing requires the gripping piece or pieces to be
placed between guides or projecting lugs in and operating outwards from the centre
of the clutch or ratchet box and to be thrust or allowed to drop or pass outwards
to gear into the said internal teeth of the clutch or ratchet box. To ensure the
wedge wedges or other shaped gripping pieces operating more instantaneously it is.
necessary to apply a band or other spring (somewhat similar to that of an ordinary
clock spring) around the spindle one end of which being affixed to the said spindle
and the other end to the inner part of the clutch or ratchet box. By a downward
pressure on the operating handle the said spring is caused to open or expand and
so force the wedge or wedges into the internal gearing of the ratchet box and on
the said handle being raised the spring is contracted and the wedge or wedges
allowed to return or pass back again towards the centre.
Another kind of modification of clutch or gripping mechanism I construct with
one or more rollers or balls running on an inclined plane of a curved or arched
(outwards from the centre) construction and such rollers or balls being by pre-
ference milled or serrated externally for the purpose of increasing the gripping or
biting power of the said rollers or balls on the smoth or rough survice on the
arched inclined plane and the circular interior part of the clutch or ratchet box.
With the modification or exception of milled serrated or otherwise roughened balls
or rollers running loosely on an inclined and arched plane the general principle of
system is similar to those before described.
It is obvious therefore that by the before described ratchet clutch or gripping
actions that the rotary motion imparted to the machine or any part of same can
only be in one direction and that there can be no "dead centres to overcome
or any cessation of movement so long as the operating means is applied and
continued.
This simple method of producing rotary motion by means of a reciprocating or
up and down" action is particularly adapted to the operating of portable fan
forges lifting and winding gear, pulley blocks, sewing machines velocipedes and
to numerous other uses to which such a motion is applicable.