Improvements in Belt Shifters.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1894-Accented, 8th Sept., 1894
Improvements in Belt Shifters.
I, FRANK TAYLOR, of Union Leather Works, Plymouth, in the County of
Devon, Belting Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in belt shifters by means of which certain
advantages are obtained.
In carrying my invention into effect I take a belt shifter of any of the usual well
known forms and consisting of one or more prongs or spindles, and I cut a screw
thread on the free ends thereof: then I provide the said prongs or spindles with a
sleeve constructed as hereinafter set forth. I punch or cut from leather or from
vulcanised fibre or other similar or equivalent material, a number of discs each
having a central hole or orifice, the diameter of the latter depending upon the
thickness of the prong or spindle. I then thread the said discs over the said
prongs or spindles so that they lie in parallel planes to which the spindles or prongs
on which they are threaded are normal.
Having threaded the discs on the spindles or prongs I then screw a nut down
over the threaded free end of the prongs or spindles upon the said discs so as to
compress them more or less tightly together.
If the cylinder now formed by the superposed discs is not sufficiently smooth and
regular in shape I may place it upon a lathe and turn it true.
When in use the edges of the belts come in contact with the edges of the discs
and may either slip over them or cause the said discs to rotate round the spindles
or prongs. The result is that there is far less wear and tear upon the edges of the
belts and this advantage is particularly noticeable in the case of leather link belts
and cotton and hair belting.
.
Аррпсация
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Belt Shifters.
I, FRANK TAYLOR, of Union Leather Works, Plymouth, in the County of
Devon, Belting Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in belt shifters by means of which certain
advantages are obtained.
In carrying my invention into effect I take a belt shifter of any of the usual
well known forms and consisting of one or more prongs or spindles and I provide
the said prongs or spindles with a sleeve consisting of a series of superposed discs
LP Q77

page_text: strung upon the said prongs or spindles, and consisting of leather, vulcanized fibre
or other similar or equivalent material. The said discs are maintained in position
by screw nuts or other equivalent devices.
When a shifter constructed under my invention is employed to shift a running
belt the edges of the said belt bear against the edges of the superposed discs.
Having thus described my invention in general terms, so as to indicate its scope,
I shall now proceed to describe it more in detail; and for that purpose I shall
refer to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific form of my invention
giving good results in practice.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation of a prong of a belt shifter as constructed under my
invention and shown as detached. Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a belt shifter of the usual type fitted with two prongs constructed
under my invention.
Figure 4 shows one of the discs hereinafter mentioned.
Referring to Figure 1, A is a long cylindrical spindle of wrought iron or other
suitable material. One end a¹ of this spindle is adapted for attachment to the
draw bar B of the belt shifter in any convenient manner. In the case illustrated
it is shown attached by means of bolts and nuts bb passing through the holes a³ a².
The other or upper end as of the spindle has a screw thread cut on it. C is a nut
adapted to screw on the upper or threaded end of the spindle. D, D, D, are
perforated discs of leather, vulcanised fibre or other like material, one of which is
shown separately in Figure 4. These discs are strung upon the said spindle as
will be seen in Figure 1 where there are 32 shown in position.
To build up one of my prongs the necessary number of perforated discs is
strung upon the spindle and then the nut C is screwed down over the threaded end
of the spindle upon the discs so as to clamp them together more or less tightly.
If the cylinder now formed by the superposed discs is not sufficiently smooth and
regular in shape I may place it upon a lathe and turn it true.
It is preferable not to clamp the discs down too tightly but to leave them
sufficiently loose to allow of their rotating round the spindle when pressed upon by
a moving belt.
When in use the edges of the belts come in contact with the edges of the discs
and may either slip over them or cause the said discs to rotate round the spindle.
The result is that there is far less wear and tear upon the edges of the belts and
this advantage is particularly noticeable in the case of leather link belts and cotton
and hair belting.
When in practice the edges of any of the discs get worn, the nuts can be
unscrewed, the discs taken off the spindle and then replaced upon the spindle in
different order, so that the worn discs may now occupy a position in which they
come less in contact with the moving belt.
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. The improvements in belt shifters substantially as set forth.
4
2. In a belt shifter, the employment of discs of leather, or other like material,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a belt shifter the combination of a spindle and a series of perforated discs,
the said discs being strung upon the said spindle.
4. In a belt shifter the combination of a spindle and a series of perforated
discs of leather, the said discs being strung upon the said spindle.
5. In a belt shifter the combination of a spindle having a screwed end, a series of
perforated dises and a nut, the said discs being strung upon the said spindle and
clamped together thereon by means of the said nut.
6. A belt shifter consisting of a draw bar with two prongs thereon the said

page_text: prongs being furnished with sleeves substantially as set forth with reference to
Figure 3.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1894.
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.