Improvements in Mechanism for Changing the Speed of Rotating Shafts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1898.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Changing the Speed of Rotating
Shafts.
I, PAUL LEMAIRE, of Gomiécourt, in the Department of Pas de Calais, in the
French Republic, Landed Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for changing the speed of
rotating shafts. It is applicable under any circumstances where it is desired to
transmit the energy of one shaft rotating at a given speed into a second or further
shaft or shafts while setting it or them to rotate at a different speed or speeds,
respectively.
The nature of my invention will be clearly understood from the following description
of the embodiment of it with two shafts, the one the driver, and the other, the driven
The two are supported at right angles with each other, the end of the former
entering the side of a drum-shaped casing through the ends of which the other is
passed concentrically with it.
There is mounted upon the driven shaft, within the casing and near one end of
it, a freely rotatable sleeve with which is incorporated concentrically, an armless
pulley.
There is also mounted upon the same shaft, within the said drun likewise, but
near the opposite end of it, a second freely rotatable sleeve carrying a concentric
dise to which it is made fast. Thus, the pulley and disc stand opposite to each
other, the edge of the former to the face of the latter. It is at a point intermediate
of them, that the driving shaft enters the casing; and at that point, there is
provided a cone or other suitable type of gearing by which the pulley and disc above
imentioned, shall be driven in opposite directions by the said driving shaft.
The disc is further concentrically connected to a second disc which stands within
the edge of the armless pulley above mentioned. The smaller diameter of this
second disc leaves an annular space between its periphery and the internal surface
of the armless pulley; and in this annular space, there are supported, by arms
projecting from a third dise which is fast on the driven shaft and standing within
the armless pulley aforesaid, a series of loose rollers, one on each arm, and all having
their axes parallel with each other and with the other axes of the mechanisın. The
peripheries of these rollers are in contact with both the said periphery and internal
surface.
When, therefore, the driving shaft is rotated, the first disc and the armless pulley
are driven at the same rate but in opposite directions. The second disc partakes of
the velocity of the first one and the series of loose rollers on the arms above men-
tioned transmit through the third disc to the driven shaft, a velocity in proportion
to the excess of the diameter of the armless pulley over that of the second
disc

page_text: The exact amount of variation in the speeds of the two shafts, is according to the
relative diameters of the several contacting surfaces above described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Changing the Speed of Rotating
Shafts.
I, PAUL LEMAIRE, of Gomiecourt, in the Department of Pas de Calais, in the French
Republic, Landed Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the transformation or conversion
of speeds; by a differential system of concentric parts it permits of the conversion,
within the most extensive limits, of the number of the revolutions of a shaft, and of
the concentration of the corresponding factors of the work or power on one single
centre, and at several different rates of speed.
This Converter or transformer enables any possible number of revolutions to be
transformed and if necessary to attain zero; from which it follows that, with this
apparatus any number of intermediary velocities or revolutions can be realized
without it being necessary to increase the system by one single axle,
The initial motor shaft can be driven by a dynamo or electro-motor running at any
speed, by an hydraulic or other turbine, by a Laval turbine, by a steam engine
running at high speed, or by any kind of motor, and the apparatus converts the high
speeds of the governing machines into different numbers of revolutions of lesser
speed around one common centre without giving rise to any sensible loss of power.
The transformer can be used for driving any kind of mechanical parts, tools or
machine tools, axles, driving shafts of vehicles etc., running at different numbers of
revolutions.
The whole of the mechanisin is enclosed in a box or case, it is light and of small
dimensions; it can be fitted up anywhere, on the land, in water, on scaffolding etc.,
it can be hung from any kind of building or a shaft etc., and it can be used either in
a horizontal, vertical, or inclined position.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent my improved
speed transformer in several types of construction, but the principle in each case
remains the same.
and
Figures 1 and 2 show in longitudinal and transverse section respectively, one form,
Figures 3 and 4 show a front view and a transverse section respectively of a modified
type of construction.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show different views of the surface of rotation of the
modified type of construction, Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 10 shows another modification in the construction of the apparatus.
Similar reference letters denote the corresponding parts throughout these
drawings.
The apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a case or jacket j, perforated in
the centre and at each side by openings affording a passage for the axles g, i, i¹,
mounted to run with the least possible friction, antifriction rings 2, 2 or balls
being interposed; the axle g is integral with the finally moved or driven surface p.

page_text: The hollow axles i, are provided with surfaces or dises e and d driven by the prime
mover, submitted to an indefinite number of revolutions; these discs are
respectively connected with the cylindrical drums ¹, el. The fixed case j is
supported on the axle a, which axle imparts to the discs d and e two inverse circular
movements, from one and the same number of revolutions, and also to their concentric
drums d, el which are influenced by them.
Between the drums d¹¹ and ell there are placed three sheaves or rollers & running
loose upon their axles t, and by frictional contact are acted upon by the circular
inverse movements of the drums d¹¹, e¹¹.
It is evident that, the number of revolutions being the same, the disc p, conjointly
with its hollow axle g, will rotate in the direction of the greatest circumference and
that proportionately to the difference of the circumferential paths traversed.
For instance. In the same space, with the same axles, we propose the ratio of a to g,
equal to 1/100. Consequently the last driven member or notor p must rotate
by the difference of the circumferential paths of d¹¹ and ell, and in order to realize this,
the circumferential path of ell, is increased by the circumferential increase of 6 c'.
If this proportion is to be increased from a certain number of revolutions to zero
it will suffice to pass under the running sheaves or rollers a circumferential path
of ell equal to d, that is to say, to compensate the difference of the circumferences by
a corresponding difference of the speeds.
For the practical construction of the system the running sheaves can have toothed
edges constantly assuring the juxtaposition of the generators of the rotary movement
in any desired position. The pinion b-e would have also two toothed or milled edges
of the same pitch as the disc surfaces.
The speed of rotation of the drum el being still further increased, the running
sheaves or rollers x will be actuated by the movement of the drum and the last driven
axle g will rotate in the opposite direction in ratio to the differences of circunferences
and speeds..
It is thus possible, without modifying the speed and direction of the path of shaft a
to make the shaft g rotate at any speed either forwards or backwards, or if desired,
the proportion between the number of revolutions of the two shafts may be reduced
to zero.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent another construction of the apparatus. The
cylindrical casej of Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by two hemispherical caps connected
together by a screw-threaded metal belt or zone k, which carries the driving-shaft a
fitted at one end with the cones b, v, c, h, c', of which one part b, v, c¹ drives the
greatest surface of rotation d in conjunction with the disc w, whilst c, h, connected
to b, v, c¹ drive the double faced disc e which runs loosely on the stationary
nave o.
Owing to the circular motion of the conical surfaces c, h, the disc e actuates the
conic rollers x mounted in the face of the rolling plate or surface f, the details of
which are shown in Figures 5 to 9.
The plate or surface falso runs loosely round the stationary nave o, and, consequently,
participates in the differential movement of the sheaves or rollers a driven by c, h
actuating the double disc e, and also in the movement of the conic disc d connected
to that shown at u. The disc f is provided with notches intended to receive the
snugs of the frame p cast on to the tubular axle g of the last moved disc.
The rolling discs or surfaces are made in two parts which are shown with sufficient
clearness in the drawing; this enables one of these parts to be hardened at will, or
again, one of them can be cogged in case the number of revolutions must be strictly
determined.
This arrangement allows of all the parts composing the apparatus to approach or
converge round the axle a, viz., by means of facultative pressures or frictional contact
without exerting any effort on the axles, as these pressures counterbalance themselves
in the contrary direction.
Moreover it allows of infinite variations being obtained by means of the inclination
of the axles of rotation of the sheaves or rollers ., Figure 10 in ratio to the central
axle of rotation of the whole system.

page_text: In fact the plan of rotation of the axles t of the sheaves or rollers a, perpendicular
to the axle of rotation of the last motor, determines circumferential paths equal to
the discs e and u; but, assuming that the axles t of the sheaves or rollers are
inclined in ratio to the axle of rotation of the last notor-see Figure 10-it is evident
that this inclination will determine circumferential paths unequally traversed, which
will entirely modify the proportions of the number of revolutions.
Finally, the movement of the prime motor can be taken even in the axle of the
last motor, either in its prolongation, or by placing concentric axles one over the other,
that is to say that the disc d shall drive the sheaves b, c which are fast or loose as
desired in such a way as to get corresponding rates of speed or numbers of revolutions
at both ends of the main axle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An apparatus for changing the speeds of rotation of shafts, characterized by a
system of concentric hollow shafts i, y, with plates or discs e, d set in rotation,
either uniformly or differentially, in opposite directions, by the cones b, v, c, h, c¹ of
the first shaft a, in such a way that sheaves or rollers x, fixed loosely to the disc p of
the last shaft g and placed between the exterior circumference of the drum ell
connected with the disc e and the interior circumference of the drum du, connected
with the disc d', turn the disc p and the last shaft y either forwards or backwards at
different rates of speed, determined either by the proportion of the difference between
the two circunferences of the drums, or by the difference of the speeds of rotation of
the drums, or else leave the disc p and the last shaft at rest when the difference
of the circumferences is compensated by a greater speed of rotation of the smaller
drum ell.
2. The mechanism for changing the speed of rotating shafts modified from Claim 1
hereof so that the cones b, v, c, h, cl of the first shaft a, drive at different speeds in
an opposite direction the conic plate d connected to the disc u and the double conic
disc e, so that the sheaves or rollers a mounted in the surface of rotation of the last
moved disc f, turn this disc f and the shaft g at speeds determined by the difference
in the speeds of rotation of the discs e and d-u, Figures 3 and 4.
3. The mechanism for changing the speed of rotating shafts claimed under
Claims 1 and 2 hereof, modified in such a way that the movement of the first shaft. a
is utilized either in the axle of the last moved disc, or in its prolongation, or by
concentric hollow shafts one within the other.
4. The mechanism for changing the speed of rotating shafts claimed under
Claims 1 and 2 modified in such a way that instead of being either parallel or
perpendicular to the central axle of rotation of the system, the axlest of the sheaves
or rollers are inclined at any angle towards the central axle of the system with a
view to obtain infinite variations in the number of revolutions of the shaft g,
Figure 10.
5. The combination with the mechanism for changing the speed of rotating shafts
claimed under Claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, of plates or discs of rotation combined either
with cogged and hardened parts or with cogged and hardened parts supported by
non-tempered parts.
6. An apparatus for changing the speed of rotating shafts consisting of the whole
combination of parts constructed and arranged, substantially as described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant..