IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66. Chancery Lane. in the County of Middlesex. Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Sellers and Coleman Sellers, of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton at
the, Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1861.
I. WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents. 66. Chancery Lane.
in the County of Middlesex. Civil Engineer. do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION," to
be as follows:
The object of this Invention is to effect the transmission of motion by
frictional contact, so as. Ist. to insure the adhesion of the surfaces in contact,
and to compensate for inequalities of surface, arising either from wear or
inaccuracy of workmanship, without affecting the positions of the centres of
rotation.
2nd, to furnish a ready means of changing the relative velocity of the driver
and driven.
And, 3rd. to prevent the strain on the journals being increased much, if any,
over whai is due to the power transmitted, as in ordinary cog gearing.
[Price Sd.]

page_text: The present improvements consist in the employment of disc wheels, which
transmit motion by frictional contact upon their sides. The frictional surfaces
are mounted on an intermediate shaft, and are pressed together by means of a
coiled spring so as to insure contact only upon the line of centres of any two
wheels. The edges or peripheries of the driving and driven wheels are placed
between the discs, and the pressure required to produce the necessary adhesion is
applied by means of the spring upon the opposite surfaces. The desired result
is obtained without producing much, if any, pressure upon the journals upon
which they revolve. The discs are fixed upon a kind of universal joint, and
the side pressure will, therefore, follow up the wear and inequalities of surface
without interfering with the position of the centres of rotation.
SPECIF
In pursuance of the conditionsof_the_Leuters
by the said William Edward Newton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66. Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex. Civil Engineer. send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, hearing date the Eighteenth day of June. in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did. for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton. Her special license that 1. the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns. or such others as I. the
said William Edward Newton, 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 "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING MOTION," being a communication from abroad.
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton,
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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I. the said William Edward Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed. to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to effect the transmission of motion by
frictional contact. so as. 1st, to insure the adhesion of the surfaces in contact.
and to compensate for inequalities of surface. arising either from wear or
inaccuracy of workmanship, without affecting the positions of the centres of
rotation.
2nd. to furnish a ready means of changing the relative velocity of the driver
and driven.
And, 3rd, to prevent the strain on the journals being increased much, if any,
over what is due to the power transmitted, as in ordinary cog gearing.
To understand fully the nature of the Invention. it is necessary to briefly
consider the forms of machinery now used for transmitting motion by frictional
contact. Of these the most common form is the ordinary belt and pulley. In
this the whole power transmitted tends to draw the two shafts together, thereby
producing a strain on the journals at least equal to the power transmitted.
The necessary amount of adhesion is obtained by tightening the belt, either by
making it long and running it horizontally, so that its own weight will give
the pressure on the contact surfaces, or the belt may be drawn very tight when
its ends are first united, and the belt will be kept tight by the elasticity of the
substance of which it is formed.
Another mode of causing friction of contact is by the use of an intermediate
or tightening pulley, which, when pressed against the slack side of the belt.
will keep up the pressure on the surfaces of the pulleys. This arrangement.
considering the great lateral strain on the two shafts. does not accomplish the
third object of the Invention, viz., having little or no pressure on the journals
or bearings from the force used in keeping the surfaces in contact.
The second object of the Invention can be obtained, when using the belt and
pulley, by making the well-known device of the two conical pulleys. with the
belt so arranged as to shift over their varied diameters: but in practice this has
been found to be very objectionable, owing to the tendency of the belt to climb
up to the highest part of the pulley, and the unequal stretching of the substance
composing the belt will be the result. Hence, although the belt and pulley
furnishes a means of transmitting motion by friction of contact. yet it does not
fulfil all the requirements that I have stated as the objects to be attained by
the present Invention.

page_text: Passing from the belt and pulley, the next device for transmitting motion
by frictional contact is, that which is usually called friction gearing: this in its
simplest form consists of two wheels with their shafts parallel, and having their
rims or edges forced together by pressure on their journals. This is not a
good arrangement, for the surface in contact is so small and the absorption of
power from the pressure on the journals so great. that but little effective power
can be transmitted. To obviate this difficulty a plan has long been in use,
which seems to work well in practice, vizt.. grooving the faces of the two wheels
with uniform grooves, having their sides slightly bevilled, so that when the
tongues of one are forced into the grooves of the other they shall wedge in, and
by that means have a great amount of adhesion with a diminished pressure on
the journals. This answers the requirement of the third object of the Invention,
but is not applicable to either of the other objects, because, in order to force
these tongues and grooves into one another, a change of position in the axis of
one or the other is necessary, and at the same time it is not applicable to those
cases where a change of velocity is desirable. The only way that friction
-gearing-bas heretofore been applied, so as to accomplish a change of velocity
between two limits of speed, is where a wheel is pressed against a face plate
whose axis is at right angles to the axis of the wheel and the relative speed of
the two shafts is governed by the position occupied by the wheel on the face
plate at a greater or less distance from its centre. But this device fails also
to meet the requirements above stated, as it is liable to all the objections urged
against the plain friction wheels, besides the grinding motion due to the position
of the axis of rotation.
The present improvements consist in the employment of disc wheels, which
Transmit motion by frictional contact upon their sides. The frictional surfaces
are mounted on an intermediate shaft, and are pressed together by means of a
coiled spring, so as to insure contact only upon the line of centres of any two
wheels the edges or peripheries of the driving and driven wheels are placed
between the discs, and the pressure required to produce the necessary adhesion
is applied by means of the spring upon the opposite surfaces. The desired
result is obtained without producing much, if any, pressure upon the journals
upon which they revolve. The discs are fixed upon a kind of universal joint,
und the side pressure will therefore follow up the wear and inequalities of
surface without interfering with the position of the centres of rotation.
To accomplish this result various plans may be adopted, some of which are
represented in the annexed Drawings making part of this Specification. in
which Fig. represents a front elevation of a machine arranged on the principle
of the present Invention; Fig. 2, represents a side elevation of the same

page_text: machine and Figs. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. and 8 are various modifications of the same
principle.
To accomplish the transmission of motion only, a. b. (Fig. 5) represent two
shafts placed parallel to each other, the one a. being the driver, and the other
b, the driven. On these two shafts are placed discs and c. having their
diameters less than the distance between the two shafts. The sides of these
dises are hevilled so as to make them thicker near their hubs than at their
periphery, as is shown by the dotted line. y. Midway between the edges of
these discs and on the plane of their shafts is placed an intermediate shaft d.
Upon this shaft are two discs e and e', of sufficient diameter to allow them to
overreach the peripheries of the discs and c. Their faces are bevilled to fit
the evil of the discs and e', and hence they will bear on the line of centres
between each two shafts respectively, and not over any extended area, as would
be the case if the discs were all flat, and touched over the surface of the seg-
ments opposed to one another. The discs e and e' are loose upon their shaft d,
and are forced together by a powerful spring . which can be compressed to
any required degree by a nut and washer g, thus keeping up the pressure on
the contact surfaces to the amount necessary for adhesion. without requiring
any adjustment of the centres of the shafts and b. The strain to produce
this pressure is a tensile strain on the shaft d, and hence is not applied
directly against the bearings of the shafts a and b, as is the case in the belt
and pulley, or the ordinary plain friction gearing. The only pressure from
this cause is the slight tendency to wedge out during the rolling motion on
the bevilled sides. This tendency is however diminished by making the sides
of the discs with only enough bevil to give clearance. In the operation of
this form of gearing it is evident that if the shaft be made to revolve. it
will (from the adhesion on the contact surfaces above described), transmit its
motion to the shaft through the intervention of the discs e and e', which act
as idlers. This represents one application of the Invention, and relates only
to the transmission of motion fulfilling the requirements of the 1st and
3rd objects of the present Invention, but is not applicable to the 2nd object,
or the furnishing a ready means of changing the relative velocity of the driver
and driven. To accomplish this. there are two general modes, the same in
principle. but differing in application. The first of which is represented in
Figs. 4 and 6. where it is shown that the discs and on the shafts a and b
are in diameter about two-thirds of the distance between the two shafts. Their
sides are bevilled as in the former case, not in a straight line. but in a curve,
making their sides convex. but still keeping them larger near the hub than at
their periphery. This curve is struck from a line midway between the two

page_text: shafts, as is shown by the dotted line. y. in Fig. 4. The discs e and e' are
made large enough in diameter to overlap the edges of the discs c and ' to
any required amount suited to the change of velocity required. The faces of
the discs e and e' are convex, and of the same curvature as the faces of the
dises and . They are dished out in their centres. leaving only a small.
rim for contact surface. They are provided with the same spring and nut g
and washer, as in the former case, but with the addition of balls and sockets
and in their centres, to allow their plane of motion to deviate from a right
angle to their axis, or so that they may be free to wobble on their shaft d.
Now, it is evident, that when the shaft is placed midway between the shafts
a and b (the diameter of the discs e and being the same), the motion of
the shaft a will be transmitted to the shaft b, through the discs e and e', as in
the former case, and the speed of the two shafts will be the same. If, how-
ever, the shaft d be moved towards the shaft-b, -even-so-far_as_to allow the
surface contact to be quite on the extreme edge of the discs c, as is shown-at-
Fig. 6, the contact surface on the disc c will be near the hub. hence the
arrangement will represent-a-wheel- of a given size driving a wheel of a much
smaller diameter through the intervention of an idler or loose intermediate
wincel, and the speed of the driven shaft will be accelerated. The reverse of
this, or a diminution of speed will take place if the shaft d be moved near
to the shaft a, and the speed can also be varied to any degree between the two
extremes of velocity. The reason for curving instead of bevilling the surfaces
in a right line, is to insure them fitting over the contact surface on the line of
centres, which would not be the case if bevilled in a right line, except in the
position to which the bevils were first adapted. The second general mode to
which I have made allusion is shown at Fig. 3, where the faces of the discs c
and c', also e and e', are curved in the same manuer as at Figs. 4 and 6, and
are provided with the same ball-and-socket movement, but the discs
are dished out, leaving the convex faces of the discs e and e' entire.
the shaft d occupies a central position the case is analogous to those already
described; but if it be brought near to one or the other of the shafts a or b,
the circumstances are changed, the discs e and el cease to be idlers, but serve
themselves to modify the speed: and the case would be analogous to the sub-
stitution of a pair of intermediate gear wheels of different diameters on one
shaft, taking the motion from a wheel of a given size on the driving shaft to
one of the same size on the driven shaft, the difference in speed being the
difference in the size of the two intermediate wheels.
and c
When
Figs. and 2 represent a machine arranged on the principle of the present
Invention, which will show the mechanic a good method of applying the

page_text: principle claimed. The shafts a and b are supported in a stand. the driving
shaft being provided with a crank .. The shaft d has its hearing in a
lever m. whose fulcium is provided with a broad surface. so that it may be
tightened up in any required position by the boli and nut o. The lever m is
of such a length between the fulcrum and the shaft d, as to make the centre
of the shaft d deviate as liule as possible from the plane of the shaft a and b
within the limits of its motion between them. To illustrate its operation, if
motion be given to the driving shaft by means of the crank 1, the speed of
the driven shaft b can be decreased or increased by moving the lever m to or
from the driving shaft.
Fig. 7 represents an application of the Invention for the conversion of rotary
into rectilinear motion. The driven disc is replaced by a straight strip of metal
c. having its sides curved in the same manner as the face of the driving die .
and the rectilinear motion of the strip or bar c¹ will be governed in its speed
by the position of the intermediate shaft d. in the same manner as in all the
former instances. In cases where it is not admissible to have the three shafis
a, d, and b. but where either the driver or the driven can be moved, a plan
may be adopted, as shown at Fig. 8. 10 give variation of speed. The discon
the shaft a has its sides bevilled in right lines as is shown by the dotted
line. The discs e and e' on the shaft bare furnished with long hubs.
also with springs f. and washers to each. The faces of the discs e and e' are
bevilled to match the faces of the disc c. and dependence is placed on the
length of the hubs of the discs and e', and the stiffness of the shafi bio keep
the surfaces in contact. In this case the speed is varied by changing the position
of the centre of the driver and driven in relation to each other. I do now, how-
ever. recommend this to be used except in extreme cases, and where there is
but little power to be transmitted. From the above illustration of various modes
of applying the principle of the Invention it will be evident that the essential
feature of the whole of them is the side clamping of the discs e and e¹. so as
to obtain the requisite amount of adhesion on the contact surfaces of the
discs and c'. This amount of adhesion is capable of being increased to any
required amount within the limits of the tensile strength of the shaft d.
The contact surfaces are on the line of centres between the shafts only. The
motion on these surfaces during revolution is a planishing motion, in which
new lines of contact are coming into play in a constant change, and the sur-
faces are capable of being kept well hubricated. And, further, the application
for producing change of velocity is a consequence of the mode of producing
the pressure on the sides of the discs. Hence, this principle must be the
fundamental one on which the theory of its operation is based.

page_text: In all the above illustrations I have presumed that the motion and power
required can be transmitted through one set of discs, but it is almost need-
less to say that where a great amount of power is to be transmitted, a number
of seis of discs can be placed side by side on the same shaft.
Having now described the present Invention in relation to its object, nature,
and theory of its operation. in such a manner as to enable the ingenious
mechanic to apply it to various kinds of machines. I wish it clearly under-
stood that do not confine myself to the precise form and arrangement
described, but what claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.
is.-
1st, the use of clamping wheels as above described, or their equivalents. to
transmit motion from one shaft to another.
2nd-the-use-of-clamping wheels, or their equivalents, arranged as herein
set forth. so that the relative position of the axis of one or-more--of such
wheels may be changed, so as to produce a change of velocity in the manner
specified.
In witness whereof, the said William-Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December. in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness.
J. W. MOFFATT.
66. Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)