AN IMPROVED SHAFT OR TUBE COUPLING
Year: 1884

page_text: We, JAMES MILLER and LAWRENCE GRAYSON both of Adelaide in the province
of South Australia Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
AN IMPROVED SHAFT OR TUBE COUPLING in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of our invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive appliance for
the purpose of coupling together shafts or tubes By the use of our invention the
two ends of the shafting are kept perfectly in line and caused to run true with each
other, whilst from its simplicity no skilled labor is required in fixing or unfixing
the same. In the event also of a belt pulley or gear wheel coming where the
coupling occurs they can be fixed as easily to the coupling as to the shaft itself.
The principle of our invention consists in the use of a sleeve slotted through
longitudinally along one side and partially on the opposite side to enable it more
easily to adapt itself to the size and shape of the ends of the shaft Or preferably
the sleeve may be made of two separate semicircular pieces. This sleeve should
taper slightly from its centre towards each end and should be provided with two
movable ferules or thimbles having internally a similar taper to that of the sleeve.
It will be seen that by driving these ferules towards the centre of the sleeve the
ends will be compressed and caused to embrace firmly the ends of the shafting or
tubing Or the sleeve may be made with a screw thread on its tapered ends and
the thimbles or ferules provided internally with a corresponding thread. Should
the latter form be adopted it is necessary to drill a hole through one side of the
thimble when by means of an ordinary coupling wrench they can be screwed up
as may be required.
In the use of our improved coupling for tubes conveying water steam or
compressed air, where it is necessary that the joints should be perfectly tight, a
short length of lead or india rubber piping or canvas hose should be previously
pushed on to each end of the tube and afterwards our coupling attached thereon
in the ordinary manner.
By reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that
Fig I Is a side sectional view showing the position of the sleeve on two shaft

page_text: Fig II Is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ends of the shafts the sleeve
and the two ferules all in position.
Fig III Is a sectional end view of ferule.
Fig IV Is a sectional end view shewing the two halves of the sleeve.
Fig V Is a sectional end view of shaft, shewing the sleeve in two semicylindrical
pieces and secured to the shaft or tube by means of the ferules as shewn.
The various parts may be made of malleable cast or wrought iron but preferably
of steel They may also when made of the latter material be compressed to
shape and gauge by means of Hydraulic pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1st The whole appliance for coupling shafts or tubes as a combination substan-
tially as herein described.
2nd A sleeve slotted through longitudinally along one side and partially on the
opposite side or preferably in two semicircular piecos substantially as herein
described.
3rd The combination with the above of two ferules or thimbles with or without
an internal screw thread substantially as herein described.
Dated this First day of November 1991