IM- PROVEMENTS IN CONVEYING OR TRANSMITTING MOTION FOR EFFECTING MECHA- NICAL OPERATIONS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Andrew Dewar, of the City and County of
Aberdeen, North Britain, Surgeon Dentist, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CONVEYING OR TRANSMITTING MOTION FOR EFFECTING MECHA-
NICAL OPERATIONS"
Sealed the 20th May 1856, and dated the 1st March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Andrew Dewar
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st March 1856.
I, HENRY ANDREW DEWAR, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North
Britain, Surgeon Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVEYING OR TRANSMITTING MOTION FOR EFFECTING
MECHANICAL OPERATIONS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to a general system or mode whereby rotatory motion
may be conveyed or transmitted from any convenient source, so as to be
effectively available for the performance of a great variety of operations, at all
angles and in all positions or localities within certain predetermined limits at
the will of the operator, who directs the conveyed motion or power with his
hands or other indirect means.
In carrying out this Invention for general workshop purposes, the apartment
in which the work of whatever kind is to be done, is fitted up with some con-
tinuously available source of power, such as an over-head vertical shaft. The

page_text: lower end of this shaft is connected to an articulated chain of shafting, long
enough to reach to the most distant point in the room where the operator
intends to work. This chain of shafting consists of short inflexible lengths,
which are jointed to each other so as to form a continuous chain, by means of
a series of what are known as "Hookes' joints or universal joints. The rotatory
motion of the primary power shaft may thus be conveyed along the articulated
descending shaft to the furthest end of the latter, just as if an inflexible shaft
were used for its transmission. This jointed shaft is protected and covered
over with an articulated tube, having-simple spherical joint pieces corre-
sponding with each shaft joint coupling, and working in concert with such shaft
joints in as far as the lateral action of the shaft is concerned. This tubular
covering answers to carry the bearings or journals for the articulated shafting,
so that each length in the articulated shaft has thus a bearing or bearings
capable of moving laterally with it. At the end of the articulated line of
shafting, which projects from its tubular covering for the purpose, provision is
made for the attachment thereto of various operating tools, such, for example,
as drills, saws, grindstones, polishers, and cutters, or abraders, or shapers of
various kinds. Hence the workman possesses the power of using any operating
tool at pleasure, and as the rotatory motion is continuous and perfect, the
workman has an admirable command over his various operations. The seal
and gem engraver and cutter, and the lapidary, for example, can thus operate
in a most convenient and effective manner upon their works. Several of such
articulated and universally flexible shafts or conveyers of motion may be fitted
up in a workshop over or near the work bench; so that two or more operators
may pursue their avocations" simultaneously. The mechanical dentist may
facilitate his operations very greatly by the aid of this system of operating, as
the fine tools employed upon this minute work may be thus.applied in a most
effective manner, either upon work in ithe, hand, on the bench, or in the vice,
and particularly in a patient's mouth.
0 1
Similarly the sculptor may thus fit up cutting or abrading: tools for executing
works of art, as by using rapidly revolving tools he can put delicate finishing
touches upon his work in the most perfect manner. The system. is generally
applicable to nearly every variety of mechanical operations;. whatever may.be
the material operated upon The universal coupling joints of the articulated
shafting may be of various kinds, either's the open Hookes, joint" or modi-
fications thereof, or the solid spherical joint of the class introduced some years
ago.by Mr.John: George Bodmer, and instead of a continuous enveloping tube
with spherical joints; a partial: cover; only may be used for protecting and
screening, theljointed shaft, and caoutchouc, or other flexible coverings. may be

page_text: fitted up to cover the-joints, whilst instead of a tubular holder at the operating
end an open or skeleton holder may be used. The essence of the Invention is
the obtainment of what may be termed a flexible operating power, by means of
which operating motion of various kinds may be transmitted from a given
source or reservoir of motive power to various quarters, and in all positions of
action at the will of the operator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Andrew Dewar in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th August 1856."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL. COME, I,. HENRY
ANDREW DEWAR, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain, Surgeon
Dentist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day. of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in, the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself,. Her heirs.and. successors, give and grant unto me,.the said
Henry Andrew Dewar, Her special license that I,. the said Henry Andrew
Dewar, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Henry Andrew Dewar, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVÉ-
MENTS. IN CONVEYING OR TRANSMITTING MOTION FOR EFFECTING: MECHANICAL
OPERATIONS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Andrew Dewar, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same. was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six. calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Andrew Dewar, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-.

page_text: My said Invention relates to a general system or mode whereby rotatory
motion may be conveyed or transmitted from any convenient source, so as to
be effectively available for the performance of a great variety of operations at
all angles and in all positions or localities within certain pre-determined limits
at the will of the operator, who directs the conveyed motion or power with his
hands or other indirect means.
In carrying out this Invention for general workshop purposes, the apartment
in which the work of whatever kind is to be done, is fitted up with some con-
tinuously available source of power, such as an over-head vertical shaft. The
lower end of this shaft is connected to an articulated chain of shafting, long
enough to reach to the most distant point in the room where the operator
intends to work. This chain of shafting consists of short inflexible lengths,
which are jointed to each other so as to form a continuous chain by means of
a series of what are known as "Hooke's joints," or universal joints. The
rotatory motion of the primary power shaft may thus be conveyed along the
articulated descending shaft to the furthest end of the latter, just as if an
inflexible shaft were used for its transmission. This jointed shaft is protected
and covered over with an articulated tube, having simple spherical joint pieces
corresponding with each shaft joint coupling, and working in concert with such
shaft joints in as far as the lateral action of tlie shaft is concerned. This
tubular covering answers to carry bearings or journals for the articulated
shafting, so that each length in the articulated shaft has thus a bearing or
bearings capable of moving laterally with it. At the end of the articulated
line of shafting which projects from its tubular covering for the purpose,
provision is made for the attachment thereto of various operating tools, such,
for example, as drills, saws, grindstones, polishers, and cutters, or abraders, or
shapers of various kinds. Hence the workman possesses the power of using
any operating tool at pleasure, and as the rotatory motion is continuous and
perfect, the workınan has an admirable command over his various operations.
The seal and gem engraver and cutter, and the lapidary, for example, can thus
operate in a most convenient and effective manner upon their works. Several
of such articulated and universally flexible shafts or conveyers of motion may
be fitted up in a workshop over or near the work bench, so that two or more
operators may pursue their avocations simultaneously. The meclianical dentist
may facilitate his operations very greatly by the aid of this system of operating,
as the fine tools employed upon his minute work may be thus applied in a
most effective manner either upon work in the hand, on the bench, or in the
vice, and particularly in a patient's mouth. Similarly the sculptor may thus
fit up cutting or abrading tools for executing works of art, as by using rapidly

page_text: revolving tools he can put delicate finishing touches upon his work in the most
perfect manner. The system is generally applicable to nearly every variety of
mechanical operations, whatever may be the material operated upon. The
universal coupling joints of the articulated shafting may be of various kinds,
either the open "Hooke's joint," or modifications thereof, or the solid spherical
joint of the class introduced some years ago by Mr. John George Bodmer.
And instead of a continuous enveloping tube with spherical joints, a partial
cover only may be used for protecting and screening the jointed shaft; and
caoutchouc or other flexible coverings may be fitted up to cover the joints,
whilst instead of a tubular holder at the operating end an open or skeleton
holder may be used. The essence of the Invention is the obtainment of what
may be termed a flexible operating power, by means of which operating motion
of various kinds may be transmitted from a given source or reservoir of motive
power to various quarters, and in all positions of action at the will of the
operator.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I have
hereunto appended, and shall now proceed to describe, a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings, shewing a mode of carrying the said Invention into practical
effect.
a
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a perspective view, showing a workman
in the act of using a rotatory tool, driven by means of my improved mechanism
for transmitting motion; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism;
Figure 3 is an elevation corresponding to a portion of Figure 2; Figure 4 is
à partially sectioned elevation of a slightly modified arrangement of some of
the details; and Figures 5, 6, and 7 represent some of the tools, for working
which the mechanism is adapted. The motion, which in this instance is
derived from a vertical shaft or spindle A (Figure 1) over-head, is transmitted
through an articulated chain of shafting, contained in and supported by a series
of metal tubes B, connected together by bollow sperical joints C. There are
various ways of constructing the shafting, but I have found the plan shown in
Figures 2 and 3 to be the simplest and best. The tubes Bare lengtlis of plain
tubing, and the cups forming the spherical joints C are inserted into the ends
of the tubes and soldered therein. In these spherical joints the cup on the
end of one length of tubing works inside the cup on the length joined to it.
The inner cup is made in one solid piece to correspond to more than the hemi-
sphere, but the outer cup is in two pieces, which together make more than the
hemisphere, the piece D being attached by pins and screws, and se: ving to
hold the parts of the joint together, whilst it has freedom to work. The
rotatory motion is transmitted through spindles or lengths of shafting E, passing

page_text: be
through the tubes B, and connected at each of the spherical, joints Ciby
universal joints F. ..In this arrangement of joint, a semicircular or forked
piece G is soldered on the end of each spindle length E, and the cross piece, F
has its four points working in apertures or bearings in the fork ends. Two
diametrically opposite points, working, in the, fork, ends of one spindle length,
and two diametrically, opposite points at right angles to the other two, working
in the fork ends of the other spindle length. The bearings in the fork ends
are by preference open, as shown in Figure 2, to facilitate the putting together
of the parts, the whole being held together. by the, piece D. Each spindle
length E is in two pieces, each piece, with, its forked end attached, being
inserted into the tube from opposite ends.. The two pieces of each length are
connected by a coupling H, inserted, into the tube, before the soldering therein
of one of the cups of the spherical joint C. This coupling, may be fixed on the
spindle. by means. of. a screw inserted through an aperture I made in the
tube B for that purpose. Instead of the cross piece F, a ring J, as shown in
Figure.4,. may be used for the universal joint between the spindle lengths, and
the connections between the ring and the forks, G,may be, by screws; as shown
in Figure 4.;. but in order to put this joint, together it will be necessary to
draw the joint out of the cup of the spherical joint C. For this purpose the
spindle may either be drawn out of the coupling II,, or the tube B
may.
made telescópic, as, shown in. Figure 4, so as to slide or close up and expose the
end of the spindle. One portion of the tube B is made with a socket K, into
which the other portion of the tube is fitted. The end of the socket is slit,
and is fitted with a griping ring L capable of being screwed up to tighten the
socket upon the inserted tube... Any convenient, number of lengths or joints
may be employed, according, to the distance through which the motion has to
be transmitted. The extreme or end length is represented at, M, in Figures. 2
and 3. In this length, the spindle. E projects, beyond, the tube, B, and is fitted
with a socket or tool holder N into which a tool is inserted, such as a drill O, as
shown in Figures 2 and 3, a small saw, as in Figure 6, a grinding.or polishing
stone, 'as in Figure 7, or any other, instrument. or.,tool which is required to
rotate whilst working. Where the tool is required, to act in a cavity, into
which the long length M.cannot be got, the, arrangement represented, in
Figure 5 may be adopted. Here a drill, or other tool held in a small bracket
piece Q, is driven by means of. a pair of small bevil wheels R, the driver
having an elongated boss.S formed with a socket to receive the end of the
spindle E of the length M.. .This contrivance is fitted upon the end of the
tube B by means of a sheath T attached to the bracket Q, which can be fixed
on the tube by means of. the. jointed, ring U partly attached to the tube... In.

page_text: this manner the tool P is directed at a right angle to the length M, and the
instrument can be inserted into a cavity so as to act laterally therein. In
Figure 1, a workman is represented as operating upon a die with a rotatory
tool, the motion of which is communicated to it by a long chain of jointed
spindles or shafting, and he can direct the tool with the greatest facility,
working with it in fact as easily as an artist works with his pencil. The
arrangement is obviously applicable for working various kinds of tools, and
the strength and proportions of the various parts may be modified in accordance
with the particular nature of the work upon which the mechanism is to be
employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of jointed spindles or
shafting carried or supported or covered by jointed tubes for transmitting
rotatory motion to instruments or tooks, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of actuating rotatory instruments or tools by
means of any convenient number of spindles or lengths of shafting connected
together by universal joints, and carried or sustained in or covered by tubes
connected together by spherical joints, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Andrew Dewar, have hercunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
HENRY ANDREW DEWAR. (L.S.)