IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR SHAFTINGS AND IN HUBS FOR WHEELS OR PULLEYS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of
Harris and Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COUPLINGS FOR SHAFTINGS AND IN HUBS FOR WHEELS OR PULLEYS."-A com-
munication from abroad by John Charlton, of the City and County
of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Mechanician.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th August 1873.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR SHAFTINGS AND IN HUBS FOR WHEELS OR PULLEYS," a
communication to me from abroad by John Charlton, of the City and

page_text: County of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America, Mechanician, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to couplings for shaftings and to pulley or
wheel hubs, and consists of a body formed with clamps and an exterior
portion in connection with tightening screws, bolts, or wedges, forming 5
what may be termed a covered coupling.
It also consist in conical screws, wedges, or .bolts for tightening the
clamps, which are so formed as to adapt the coupling to receive and hold
the ends of shafting of varying diameters.
It also consists in forming the clamps in parts so that one shaft may 10
be coupled or uncoupled and tightened or loosened without interferenco
of or interfering with or disturbing the other shaft.
It also consists in clips auxiliary to the clamps for preventing longi-
tudinal movement of the shaft.
For the above purposes the body of the coupling is formed with a 1
central opening therethrough, and partly around this central hole a
longitudinal separation is formed, between the periphery and the central
opening so as to form a segment of a circle which when longitudinally
divided will form jaws or clamps whose inner faces constitute a portion
of the central opening. The clamps therefore consist of curved pieces 2
extending longitudinally, and have their ends facing each other. They
are adapted to be moved toward or from the shafting or axis in the
central opening so as to embrace the same or recede therefrom. To this
end on the outer faces of the clamps near the ends thereof are formed
conical grooves, which extend longitudinally, and corresponding conical 2
grooves are also formed on the adjacent portions of the coupling
surrounding the clamps, into which are inserted conical screws, wedges,
or bolts.
If desired the bolts, wedges, or screws may extend transversely through
the clamps, and access be had thereto through relative openings in the
surrounding portion of the body, but the operation is in a manner similar
to that before described. The clamps are also divided transversely so as
to make four of them, whereby the pair of clamps at one side is inde-
pendent of that on the other, whereby one shafting may be coupled or
uncoupled and tightened or loosened without interference of interfering
with or disturbing the other shafting.
...

page_text: Should there be any variation in the diameters of the shafts the clamps
on the opposite sides of the body of the coupling will accommodate
themselves thereto, whereby it is not absolutely necessary that the shafts
should be actually of the same diameter, although it is not well to
employ shafts wherein the difference is material.
Clips are secured by bolts or otherwise to the ends of the body of the
coupling and adapted to enter notches in the shafting to prevent longi-
tudinal motion thereof in the coupling.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 35, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day. of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Joseph. Barnard Mills, Her
special license that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said.
Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, 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 Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR
SHAFTINGS AND IN HUBS FOR WHEELS OR PULLEYS," a communication to me
from abroad by John Charlton, of the City and County of Philadelphia,
in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanician,

page_text: The clamps consist of curved pieces extending longitudinally, and
have their ends at a facing each other. They are adapted to be moved
toward the shafting or axis in the opening B so as to embrace the same
or recede therefrom. To this end I form on the outer faces of the clamps
near the ends a conical grooves which extend longitudinally, and I
likewise form on the adjacent partitions of the part E of the body A
corresponding conical grooves, into which are inserted conical screws,
wedges, or bolts F.
It will be perceived that the clamps C, C, may be readily forced
against the shafting or axis by properly inserting the screws, wedges, or
bolts. Should the body and shafting or axis become loose they are
readily tightened by forcing the screws, wedges, or bolts further into the
conical openings. The shafting or axis may be uncoupled from the
body A..by operating the screws, wedges, or bolts so that they withdraw,
whereby the clamps expand or open, and thereby release their hold.
The bolts, wedges, or screws may extend transversely through the
clamps, and access thereto be had through relative openings in the
portion E of the body, but the operation is in a manner similar to that
which has been described. The clamps C are divided transversely at G
so that the pair of clamps at one side is independent of that on the other
side, whereby one shafting may be coupled or uncoupled and tightened
or loosened without interference of, interfering with, or disturbing the
other shafting. If one shaft is loose and requires tightening, or for
reasons must be removed, the proper operation may be performed without
reference to the other shaft. Should there be some variation in the
diameters of the shafts the clamps on the opposite sides of the body A.
will accommodate themselves thereto, whereby it is not absolutely
necessary that the shafts are actually of the same diameter, although it
is not well to employ shafts wherein the difference is material.
Clips Harc secured by bolts or otherwise to the ends of the body A
and adapted to enter notches in the shafting as auxiliary to the clamps
for preventing longitudinal movements of the shafting, which feature is
especially serviceable in cases where gearing is used with shafting. The
device will be found to be simpl, practical, and useful.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode
in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what claim is

page_text: First. A covered coupling, consisting of the clamps formed in the
body A. and the portions D, E, in combination with tightening screws,
wedges, or bolts, operating together as described.
Secondly. The conical screws, wedges, or bolts, and the conical
openings in connection with the clamps C and body A, applied and
operating as described.
Thirdly. A coupling adapted to receive and hold the ends of shafting
of varying diameters, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourthly. The clamps divided transversely so that one pair or set is
independent of the other pair or set, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fifthly. The body cored or separated to form the segments of a circle,
which is divided at a in connection with the transverse division at G,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixthly. The auxiliary clips or fastenings H, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-four.
B. J. B. MILLS. (L.s.)