OR IMPROVED COUPLING AND BREAK FOR TRANSMITTING OR REGULATING OR ARRESTING MOTION
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aldridge Weston, of Birmingham, in the
"
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
NEW OR IMPROVED COUPLING AND BREAK FOR TRANSMITTING OR REGULATING
OR ARRESTING MOTION."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th January 1863.
I, THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COUPLING AND BREAK FOR TRANSMITTING OR REGULATING OR
ARRESTING MOTION," to be as follows:-
My said Invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts herein-
after described, whereby two shafts or other bodies capable of rotary motion
on a common axis, or on axes in a line with each other, are so coupled together
that rotary motion in the one may be transmitted to the other, or rotary motion
in the one may be either retarded or arrested by the other. In the interior
of a hollow cylinder I place a series of disks, the said disks have holes in their
axes, and have such a circumferential figure that they are incapable of a
rotary motion in the hollow cylinder containing them, that is, they cannot
rotate independently of the said cylinder. The said disks are however capable
of a sliding motion in the line of the axis of the said cylinder. I will herein-
aftor call these disks the cylinder disks. Through the holes of the cylinder
disks a shaft passes carrying a second series of disks, which I will herein-after
call the shaft disks. The said shaft disks are of smaller diameter than the
cylinder disks, and can slide upon the said shaft, but cannot rotate excepting

page_text: with the shaft. The cylinder disks and shaft disks alternate with each other
in the hollow cylinder, that is, each cylinder disk, except the end one, is
between two shaft disks, and each shaft disk is between two cylinder disks.
The cylinder disks are capable of rotating only with the cylinder, and the
shaft disks are capable of rotating only with the shaft. When the alternating
disks are not in contact they do not interfere with each other's motion, that is,
the cylinder and cylinder disks can rotate without interfering with the shaft
and shaft disks, or the shaft and shaft disks can rotate without interfering
with the cylinder and cylinder disks. If, however, the shaft disks and the
cylinder disks with which they alternate are brought into contact and pressed
together, the friction between the two sets of disks will, according to the
number of disks employed and the force with which they are pressed together,
either retard or arrest any rotary motion which either set may have. In the
latter case, if the pressure be made sufficiently great, the two sets of disks,
and consequently the hollow cylinder and shaft, are securely coupled together,
and the rotary motion of the one may be transmitted to the other. The
compression of the disks together may be effected in the following manner :-
The shaft has on it two collars, one fixed and the other loose, between which
collars all the disks are situated. By means of a screw nut on the shaft the
loose collar may be forced with any required pressure towards the fixed collar,
and the two series of disks thus compressed between the said fixed and loose
collars. Or both collars may be loose and capable of moving on the shaft.
Other arrangements for compressing the disks may be employed. The
cylinder disks may be prevented from rotating independently of the hollow
cylinder containing them in various ways. Thus the said cylinder disks may
have a polygonal figure, the interior of the hollow cylinder having a like
figure in cross section; or the cylinder disks may be circular, and have
on one or more points of their peripheries pins or projections taking into
longitudinal slots or grooves in the interior of the cylinder. The shaft disks
may be prevented from rotating on the shaft by making the shaft square, and
making the holes in the disks of a similar figure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
$

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Aldridge Weston, Her special licence, that I, the said Thomas
Aldridge Weston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED COUPLING AND BREAK FOR TRANSMITTING OR
REGULATING OR ARRESTING MOTION," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:
My said Invention consists of the arrangement or combination of parts
herein-after described, whereby two shafts or other bodies capable of rotary
motion on a common axis, or on axes in a line with each other, are so coupled
together that rotary motion in the one may be transmitted to the other, or
rotary motion in the one may be either retarded or arrested by the other. In
the interior of a hollow cylinder I place a series of disks, the said disks have
holes in their axes, and have such a circumferential figure that they are
incapable of a rotary motion in the hollow cylinder containing them, that is,
they cannot rotate independently of the said cylinder. The said disks are,
however, capable of a sliding motion in the line of the axis of the said cylinder.
I will herein-after call these disks the cylinder disks. Through the holes of
the cylinder disks a shaft passes carrying a second series of disks, which I
will herein-after call the shaft disks. The said shaft disks are of smaller
diameter than the cylinder disks, and can slide upon the said shaft, but cannot
rotate excepting with the shaft. The cylinder disks and shaft disks alternate
with each other in the hollow. cylinder, that is, .each cylinder disk, except the

page_text: end one is between two shaft disks, and each shaft disk is between two cylinder
disks. The cylinder disks are capable of rotating only with the cylinder, and
the shaft disks are capable of rotating only with the shaft. When the alter-
nating disks are not in contact they do not interfere with each other's motion
that is, the cylinder and cylinder disks can rotate without interfering with the
shaft and shaft disks. If, however, the shaft disks and the cylinder disks
with which they alternate are brought into contact and pressed together, the
friction between the two sets of disks will, according to the number of disks
employed, and the force with which they are pressed together, either retard or
arrest any rotary motion which either set may have. In the latter case, if the
pressure be made sufficiently great, the two sets of discs, and consequently
the hollow cylinder and shaft, are securely coupled together, and the rotary
motion of the one may be transmitted to the other. The compression of the
disks together may be effected in the following manner :-The shaft has on it
two collars, one fixed and the other loose, between which collars all the disks
are situated. By means of a screw nut on the shaft the loose collar may be
forced with any required pressure towards the fixed collar, and the two series
of disks thus compressed between the said fixed and loose collars; or both
collars may be loose and capable of moving on the shaft
Other arrangements for compressing the disks may be employed. The
cylinder disks may be prevented from rotating independently of the hollow
cylinder containing them in various ways. Thus the said cylinder disks may
have a polygonal figure, the interior of the hollow cylinder having a like figure
in cross section; or the cylinder disks may be circular, and have on one or
more points of their peripheries pins or projections taking into longitudinal
slots or grooves in the interior of the cylinder. The shaft disks may be pre-
vented from rotating on the shaft by making the shaft square, and making the
holes in the disks of a similar figure.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent the simplest form of my Invention applied as
a coupling for revolving shafts, Figure 1 being a longitudinal vertical section
representing the coupling in action, and Figures 2 and 3 transverse sections
of the same taken through the lines E, F, G, H, respectively.
The same
letters of reference are employed to indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
a is a shaft, to which is secured by a key b the hollow cylinder c, shown in
transverse section in Figure 2. d is another shaft, the square part of which is

page_text: shown in section in Figure 2. The said shaft d has a bearing or journal in the
nut e, and another bearing at its end in the cylinder c at i. The nut e is screwed
on its exterior to fit or engage with a corresponding screw cut in the cylinder. c.
f. f, are angular disks, shown in elevation in Figure 3; 9, 9, are circular disks,
the outline of which is shown in the section, Figure 2; h is a wooden disc to
give elasticity to the pressure applied by the screw nut e. The series of
hexagonal disks have circular openings, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, in
which the shaft d may rotate freely, and the said discs are rather smaller in
diameter than the interior of the cylinder in which they are situated, so that
they may move longitudinally therein, but are prevented from rotating in the
said cylinder by their angular figure. The series of circular disks g, g, have
square openings fitting loosely the shaft d, which prevent them rotating on it,
but allow them to move longitudinally; the outline of the disks g, g, is circular,
allowing them to rotate within the hexagonal cylinder c. when required.
Having described the construction of this form of my Invention, I will now
describe its action. The nut e being withdrawn, so that it exerts no pressure
upon the first of the disks f. against which its inner end bears, the shaft d, with
its series of disks g, g, may rotate in its bearings without giving motion to the
shaft a.
In like manner the shaft a may rotate with its series of disks f, t,
without giving motion to the shaft d. To establish frictional connection
between the two shafts a and d, the nut e is screwed inwards compressing
all the disks of both series together, and compressing them between the said
nute and the inner end of the cylinder c. Thus one of these shafts may be
made to drive or rotate the other with a degree of force regulated by the pres-
sure of the nut e. The frictional connection of the two shafts produced by
the pressure of the nut e upon the disks may be increased to any degree by
adding to the number of disks. Frictional coupling for shafting may thus be
obtained of small diameter to transmit any amount of power suited to the shaft,
and which may be controlled by a single screw nut.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, represent a coupling constructed according to my
Invention for connecting or disconnecting shafts when in motion; Figure 4 is
a longitudinal section representing the coupling in action; Figure 5 is a trans-
verse section, and Figure 6 an elevation of one of the disks The same letters
indicate the same parts in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
cylinder, secured by the key b to the shaft a.
cut lengthwise in its interior, into which the
disks fenter, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. j is a collar screwed and pinned
upon the end of the shaft d, its exterior having a bearing in the cylinder c.
a and d are shafts; c is a hollow
The said cylinder c has a groove
tongues or projections upon the

page_text: The hollow shaft k
Upon the shaft d a
Lengthwise upon the shaft d a groove d³ is made, into which the tongues or
projections of the disks g, g, enter, as will be understood by an examination
of Figures 4 and 5. The outer disk g¹ of the series g, g, is made larger in
diameter than the others to wholly close the outer end of the cylinder c, as
shown in Figure 4. is a hollow shaft with a feather or projection | extend-
ing into the groove in the shaft d, the said feather or projection / being
similar in section to the projections upon the disks g, which enter the same
groove d². On the exterior of the hollow shaft k a screw is cut, and a corre-
sponding screw is made in the centre of the hand wheel e.
abuts against the boss or centre of the hand wheel n.
screw m is cut, and a corresponding screw is made in the centre of the hand
wheel n. The two series of disks and g are arranged alternately with each
other, as herein-before explained with reference to. Figures 1, 2, and 3, and
there is also a wooden disc o to give elasticity under pressure. The hand
wheel e being screwed backwards towards the hand wheel n so that no pres-
sure is exerted through the disk g' upon the series of disks, the shaft d, as
well as the two hand wheels e and n, disk g¹, and the disks g, will be at rest
while the shaft a revolves, carrying with it the cylinder c and disks
f. If the rotation of the shaft α be in the direction of the
arrow, the screw upon which the hand wheel n traverses being a right-handed
one, the said hand wheel n is screwed up, pushing before it towards the shaft a
the hollow shaft k and hand wheel e until it receives, together with the disks g,
shaft d, and hand wheel e, the rotatory motion of the shaft a; and after this
motion is transmitted from the shaft a to the shaft d the frictional connection
between the said shafts a and d may be further increased by checking the
rotation of the hand wheel n, the rotation of the said hand wheel being in the
direction of the arrow and the screw upon which the said hand wheel traverses
a right-handed one. Should the velocity be too great to allow of checking
the speed of the hand wheel n by grasping it with the hand, other means must
be adopted, as, for example, a simple wooden lever pressed against its peri-
phery. To disconnect the two shafts a and d when rotating, as shown, it is
only required to check the motion of the hand wheel e which traverses upon
the left-handed screw of the hollow shaft k. When the coupling is in action
all the parts may have the positions shown in the Figure. If the driving
shaft a rotates in a contrary direction to that indicated by the arrow, the
shafts a and d are connected together by using the hand wheel e, and discon-
nected from each other by using the hand wheel n. By giving the disks f
and g the sectional figure represented in Figure 4 they are stronger and have

page_text: a better bearing against the hollow cylinder c and shaft d respectively than
they would have were their sides parallel, and maintain more accurately a
position at right angles with their common axis.
Figure 7 represents in vertical longitudinal section a break constructed
according to my Invention applied to a hoisting machine. a is a pinion shaft
on which the pinion bis keyed. Winches or cranks are applied to the square
ends of the shaft a. On the angular part a of the shaft a are a series of
disks c, c, rotating with the shaft a and capable of sliding upon it; d, d, are
disks alternating with the disks c, c, the said discs d, d, being hexagonal and
capable of sliding in the hexagonal box e, but incapable of rotation. The
box e is fixed to the frame of the hoist; g is a screw worked by the hand
wheel, the said screw g engaging with the hollow screw in the circular end
of the hexagonal box e. By means of the hand wheel the screw g may be
made to advance into and may be withdrawn from the end of the box c and
the two series of disks c, c, and d, d, compressed together, so as to arrest the
motion of the shaft a or liberate it, so as not to impede the motion of the said
shaft a.
Figure 8 represents, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section,
the barrel of a hoisting machine, to which my Invention is applied.
a is a
shaft situated in the axis of the drum or barrel b, upon which it may be allowed
to run loosely, or be geared therewith in the following manner: The part a
of the shaft a is square or hexagonal, and carries the series of disks c, c,
which said discs rotate with the shaft, and are capable of sliding upon it. The
end of the drum b is hexagonal internally, and is provided with a series of
discs d, d, having a hexagonal figure. The said disks d, d, can only rotate
with the drum b, but are capable of a sliding motion in the part b². e is a
hand wheel on the screw box f, which said screw box works on the screwed
part of the shaft a. By turning the hand wheel e in the direction proper to
drive home the screw box f, the said screw-box f is made to press against the
collar h, and compress together the disks c, c, and d, d, against the collar i.
The barrel b and shaft a are thus connected, and can only rotate together. By
turning the hand wheel e in the direction contrary to that described, the screw
box f retires from against the collar h, and the said collar no longer compress-
ing together the disks c, c, and d, d, the barrel b is liberated from the shaft a,
and may move independently of the said shaft a. This modification
of my Invention may be applied to capstans, the interior of chain wheels; and
other like machines.
Figure 9 represents, in elevation, a modification of the arrangement last
described. The pinion a is connected with and disconnected from the shaft b

page_text: by two series of disks (shewn in dotted lines), the action of which disks is
the same as that of the disks, Figure 7. a is the hand wheel by which the
compression and liberation of the discs are effected. The pinion a gears into
a toothed wheel (not shewn in the Drawing) on the shaft of the drum or barrel.
When it is wished to permit the shaft b to rotate in either direction, the pall c
is lifted from the ratchet wheel d; when it is wished to permit the shaft b to
rotate in one direction only, the pawl c is made to engage in the teeth of the
ratchet wheel d on one or other side of the said ratchet wheel. When it is
wished to prevent altogether the rotation of the shaft b, the pin e is inserted
in a hole in the framing f immediately over the pall c to prevent the rising of
the pall.
Figure 10 represents, in plan, a modification of my Invention applicable :o
the heaviest kinds of shafts, and Figure 11 represents a portion of the same
in side elevation. a and b are two shafts which are to be geared to or un-
geared from one another. The shaft a carries a series of disks c rotating
with it, and capable of sliding upon it; the shaft b has a cylindrical box d.
having in its interior a series of disks e capable of sliding within the said box,
but incapable of rotating within the said box. The said disks e are prevented
from rotating in the box d by means of tongues or projections on their peri-
pheries engaging in the groove f in the interior of the said cylindrical box d.
g is a toothed wheel, the bush h of which is made into a screw box, which
said screw box works upon the screw i on the shaft a; k is a wheel keyed to
the shaft a. The periphery of the said wheel is provided with a series of
angular grooves which gear with the grooved pinion on the shaft 1; when
the said shaft is pressed against the wheel k, the said grooved wheel and
pinion k, k, constituting the gearing known as "Robertson's Patent Frictional
Gearing." The shaft also carries the pinion m gearing with the toothed
wheel g; the shaft 1 works in bearings on the frame n, turning on the centre o
on the bed plate p. By means of the lever q, cam r, and slot s in the frame n,
the shaft may be brought to and fixed in the position represented in the
Drawing, in which position the wheels and k gear with the pinion m and
the grooved pinion 2 of the shaft 1 respectively. When the several parts are
in the positions represented in the Drawing, the shafts a and b are geared
together, but by the rotation of the shaft a in the direction indicated by the
arrow; the shafts a and b will be ungeared from one another. The action of
the parts is as follows:-The wheel k transmits rotatory motion through the
pinion to the shaft 1. The pinion m communicates to the toothed wheel g
rotatory motion of a somewhat higher velocity than that of the shaft a and
wheel k in consequence of the diameter of the pinion m being greater than that

page_text: of the pinion. In consequence of the higher rate of motion or the wheel g,
it retires from the box d upon the screwed part of the shaft a;
and no longer pressing upon the disks c and e, the shaft bis liberated from
the shaft a, as will be understood by the explanation herein-before given of
the action of the two series of disks upon one another. When the wheel g
has moved sufficiently far on the shaft a to detach it completely from the shaft b,
the wheel k may be thrown out of gear with the pinion by turning the
lever q into a position at right angles to that shewn in the Drawing In order
to gear the shaft b with the shaft a, the several parts must be brought into the
following positions:-The lever q being in the position last described, that is,
at right angles to the position represented, the wheel k has no action on the
pinion k². The rotatory motion which the toothed wheel g com-
municates to the pinion m in consequence of the friction of the
screw box h upon the screw i is arrested by means of the hand wheel t, by
turning which hand wheel t, a break at u similar to that represented in Figure 7
is brought into action, and the pinion m is fixed. As the toothed wheel g can
no longer rotate, the screw i, by its rotation, cause the screw-box h to advance
into the box d keyed to the shaft b. The disks c and
compressed by the screw box h and the shafts a and b geared together. By
means of the hand-wheel the break at u is thrown out of gear, and the
pinion m being now at liberty to move the wheel g and screw box h, begin to
rotate with the shaft a, and the said screw box h has no traversing motion
upon the screw i. By unscrewing the nut which fixes the lever q in its place,
and removing the lever q and cam r, the frame n may be turned upon the
centre o, and the shaft and pinions m and k removed beyond the range of
the wheels g and k.
e
are
The elevation, Figure 11, represents the bed plate p and parts carried
thereby. Disks of wood or other elastic material may be introduced between
the disks cand e at different points in the box d for the purpose of giving
elasticity to the pressure applied to the said disks. Two of these elastic disks
are represented at v, w, in Figure 10. When the shaft a rotates in a contrary
direction to that indicated, the operations described for connecting and dis-
connecting are reversed. When the shaft a is at rest, it may be coupled with
and uncoupled from the shaft b by means of a winch or lever applied to the
square end of the shaft 1, by which winch or lever the required rotatory motion
may be given to the said shaft 1.
Figure 12 represents in section, and Figure 13 in elevation, a modification
of my Invention, which has for its object to prevent the communication of
undue strains in toothed gearing. a is the angular. driving shaft carrying the

page_text: discs b which slide upon it, but cannot rotate independently of it; c, c, are a
series of disks alternating with the disks b, b. The said disks c are much
larger in diameter than the disks b, and are so formed that when compressed
together they constitute a pinion or toothed! wheel; as represented in Figure 13.
By means of the screw d'on the shaft a, and the screw nut e upon the screw d,
the disks b and c may be compressed together with such force that the toothed
wheel or pinion formed by the disks c may yield, and not be carried round by
the shaft a when the resistance to the motion of the toothed wheel c exceeds
that to which the apparatus is adjusted.
Figure 14 represents in elevation an arrangement exactly similar to that
represented in Figures 12 and 13, excepting that instead of the disks c being
formed into a toothed wheel they are formed into a ratchet wheel.
Figures 15, 16, and 17 represent my Invention applied to the joint of a pair
of compasses; Figure 18 represents ny Invention applied to the rest of a lathe;
and Figure 19 represents my Invention applied to any revolving shaft or valve
spindle, the motion of which it is required to arrest or control. As, however,
I believe the applications of my Invention represented in Figures
15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, will be sufficiently understood by the description
herein-before given, I do not think a further description of the same
necessary.
Figure 20 represents in elevation, and Figure 21 in vertical section, and
Figures 22 and 23 in end elevation, the application of my Invention to differ-
ential pulleys. In using the said pulleys for hoisting, it is necessary that the
two pulleys of different diameters be firmly fixed together, whereas in lowering
it is convenient to allow one pulley to move without the other: In order to
effect this the larger pulley a is keyed to the shaft b, while the smaller pulley c
is keyed to the box d. The said shaft b and box d carry alternate series of
disks of the kind herein-before explained, and by means of the hand wheel e
upon the screwed end of the shaft b the said alternating disks may be screwed
so tightly together that the box d and shaft b can only rotate together. Or
by the motion of the hand wheel e in a contrary direction, the pressure on the
disks may be relaxed, and the pulleys a and c made to move independently
of one another. In lowering it is necessary that the larger pulley a be kept
stationary, which is effected by means of the pall taking into a ratchet
or toothed wheel. A ratchet may be formed at the bottom of the groove of the
pulley; or instead of a separate toothed wheel the pawl may engage in the
teeth of the chain wheel itself.
Figure 24 represents in section another modification of my Invention applied
to a differential pulley. The pulley a is keyed to the shaft b, which carries one

page_text: series of disks. The other pulley c has a small hollow cylinder d working on
the bush e of the wheel a, and the collar f sliding on the shaft b. The hollow.
cylinder d has the other series of disks alternating with the disks carried by
the shaft b; g is a wheel, the bush h of which is formed into a screw box, and
works upon the screwed end i of the collar f. The screw box h bears against
the collar k fixed on the-end of the shaft b. By turning the wheel g the collar f
may be made to slide in either direction on the shaft b, and thereby compress
together or liberate the two series of disks, and gear together the pulleys a
and c, or ungear the said pulleys from one another.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the Drawings,
as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Inven-
tion; but I claim as my Invention, the new or improved coupling and break
for transmitting, or regulating, or arresting motion, herein-before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, a coupling and
break, consisting essentially of two series of disks, the disks of one series being
incapable of rotation excepting with one of the two axles or other bodies to be
geared to or ungeared from one another, and the disks of the other series
being incapable of rotation, excepting with the other of the said axles or
bodies, the disks of each series alternating with those of the other series, and the
whole of the disks capable of a sliding motion in the line of their axes, so that
they may be either separated from one another, or pressed against one another,
so as to produce the amount of friction necessary for communicating the motion
of one series of disks to the other series, or for enabling one series to regulate
or arrest the motion of the other.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON. (L.S.)