IMPROVEMENTS APPLIC- ABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY AT HIGH SPEEDS.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Russell Gubbins, of Upper Thames Street in the
City of London, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS APPLIC-
ABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY AT HIGH SPEEDS.
ALSO
caled the 4th July 1876, and dated the 13th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Russell Gubbins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1876.
RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS, of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY AT HIGH
SPEEDS."
The principal object of my Invention is to drive the spindles of rotary fans or
blowers and to reduce the friction of the running surfaces to such an extent that
the spindles may be driven at great speed with a considerable economy of the driving
power usually required for such purposes. To this end, the spindle to be actuated
is hung in a vibrating counter-balanced frame, and is driven by the friction of contact
of a small pulley thereon, with the peripheries of a pair of driving wheels which are
coupled together by means of a driving band. The spindles of fans or blowers have
heretofore been driven by the friction of contact of a small pulley on the fan spindle
against the periphery of a large driving wheel, against which the small pulley is
pressed by the force of a spring or a weighted lever. It has, however, been found
that when the parts are driven in this manner a very great deal of unnecessary
friction is created, and a considerable amount of extra power is required to drive the
machine.
According to my invention there are two driving wheels or pullies, one of which
is mounted in stationary bearings and the other in bearings in a vibrating counter-
balanced lever, which being capable of rocking on its centre of motion will allow
its driving pulley to bear against the underside of the small pulley on the fan spindle
and thereby cause the upper side of the latter to bear against the periphery of the
other driving wheel or pulley. The peripheries of the two large driving pullies or
wheels are perfectly cylindrical, and they are coupled together by means of a driving
band, so that their surface speed is the same but in order to prevent the band from
riding off their peripheries, a central projecting rib is formed thereon, and in the face
of the small pulley on the fan spindle, a corrresponding groove is made to receive
[Price Gd.]

page_text: these projecting ribs leaving a cylindrical band on each side for the corresponding parts
of the driving pullies to bear against: The fan spindle is also mounted in bearings in
a vibrating counterbalanced frame which is so weighted that the spindle only bears
but lightly on the driving pullies, and is in fact suspended in equilibrio, so that the
lower driving pulley will not have to support it, but will simply keep the small
pulley in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the driving pullies. By this
arrangement of parts, the friction of the rubbing surfaces is reduced to a minimum,
and consequently the power required for driving the fan will be economized.
Although I have described my Invention as being particularly applicable to fans
or blowers, it is equally applicable to other machines which. require to be driven at
great speeds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Russell Gubbins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1876.
RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS, of Upper Thames Street, in the City of London, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO ROTARY FANS OR BLOWERS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR DRIVING OTHER MACHINERY AT HIGH
SPEEDS."
The principal object of my Invention is to drive the spindles of rotary fans or
blowers, and other devices or mechanism which require to be driven at high speeds,.
and to reduce the friction of the running surfaces to such an extent that the spindles
may be driven at great speed with a considerable economy of the driving power
usually required for such purposes. To this end, the spindle to be actuated is hung
in a vibrating counterbalanced frame, and is driven by the friction of contact of a
small pulley thereon, with the peripheries of a pair of driving wheels which are
coupled together by means of a driving band. The spindles of small fans or blowers
have heretofore been usually driven by the friction of contact of a small pulley on
the fan spindle against the periphery of a large driving wheel, against which the
small pulley is pressed by the force of a spring or a weighted lever. It has, however,
been found that when the parts are driven in this manner, a very great deal of
unnecessary friction is created, and a considerable amount of extra power is required
to drive the machine.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, I have shewn my Invention
adapted to drive the spindle of a hand power fan or blower for blowing a single
blacksmith's fire, or for ventilating purposes, but it is equally applicable for driving
the spindles of large fans actuated by steam or other power, and also for driving
circular saws or other mechanism which requires to be driven at high speeds.
Fig. 1, Sheet I. is a side elevation of a hand-power rotary fan or blower with my
improved driving gear adapted thereto. Fig. 2, is a front elevation of the same,
with the driving band removed, in order that the peculiar form of the pullies may
be more clearly seen.
Fig. 3, Sheet II. is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of a fan or blower
intended to be actuated by steam or other motive power.
It will be seen that on the larger apparatus shewn at Figures 3 and 4, there are
two pairs of driving wheels or pulleys a, a', one pair on each side of the fan or
blower b, but not attached to the fan case or shell. With the hand blower one pair
of driving pulleys is found sufficient. The large driving wheel or pulley a, is mounte
in stationary bearings in the fixed frame c, and the other wheel or pulley a¹, is
mounted in bearings in a vibrating counterbalanced lever d, which being capable of
rocking on itscentre of motion d¹, will allow its driving pulley a¹, to bear against
the underside of the sinall pulley e, on the fan spindle, and thereby cause the uppe
side of the latter to bear against the periphery of the other or large driving whee
or pulley a. The peripheries of the two large driving pulleys or wheels a, a', are

page_text: perfectly cylindrical, as will be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 4, and the two
wheels of each pair are coupled together by means of a driving band f, so that their
surface speed is the same.
In Fig. 4 the driving bands are removed from the driving wheels or pulleys. In
order to prevent the band f, from riding off the peripheries of the wheels or pulleys
a, a', a central projecting rib a². is formed thereon, and is continued all round cach
of the pulleys. In the face of the small pulley e, on the fan spindle, a corresponding
groove is made to receive these projecting ribs, as seen best at Figures 2 and 4,
leaving a cylindrical band on each side of the groove for the corresponding parts of
the driving pulleys a, a¹, to bear against. The fan spindle is also mounted in
bearings in a vibrating counterbalanced lover frame y, whose centre of motion is at
g. This lever frame is so counterbalanced that the fan spindle only bears but
lightly on the driving pulleys, and is in fact suspended in equilibrio, so that the
lower driving pulley a, will not have to support it, but will simply keep the small
pulley e, in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the driving pulleys a, a¹.
By this arrangement of parts the friction of the rubbing surfaces is reduced to a
minimum and all undue strain is taken off the belt; consequently, the power
required for driving the fan will be considerably reduced. It will of course be
understood, that in order to actuate the several parts, power must be applied from
any prime mover to the spindle of the large driving wheels or pulleys a, the bearings
of which are stationary and rotary motion is transmitted from the large pulleys to
the smaller ones in the manner already explained. When two pairs of friction
wheels are employed as at Figs. 4 and 5, the frame g is made capable of swivelling
as shewn at g, thus causing the two wheels to bear equally upon the large driving
pullies a. The same arrangement may, if necessary, be applied to the frame d, which
carries the wheels a¹.
When the improved mode of driving is adapted to large fans or blowers (intended
to be actuated by steam or other motive power, as in Figures 3 and 4), I construct
the fan casing or shell independent of the framing which carries the gearing, the
fan spindle e therefore is in no way connected with the fan casing. This latter,
being made separate and distinct from the fixed framing, is provided with flanges
which rest upon and are supported by flanges cast on the side standards as will be
best understood by referring to the sectional plan view, Fig. 5. As the fan casing
or shell has no bearings to support, and is not subjected to any torsion, it may be
made of sheet iron, or if preferred, it may be cast in one piece and properly cored
out, an opening being left to allow the blades of the fan to be introduced when the
fan and its casing are in place, the opening whereby the fan was introduced into
the casing is closed by means of side plates 61, 61, as shewn at Fig. 6, which is an
elevation of the fan casing detached from the framing.
Although I have above shewn and described my improved mode of driving
spindles as particularly applicable to fans or blowers, it will be evident that it is
equally applicable for driving the spindles of other machines which require to be
rotated at great speeds; it will not be necessary, however, to shew any more
examples of the mode of applying my Invention, as the construction and mode of
adapting the driving pulleys to the spindle required to be driven will be the same
in all cases.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements applicable to rotary fans
or blowers, which improvements are also applicable for driving other machinery at
high speeds," and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,-
The general arrangement of parts above described for driving the spindles of
rotary fans or blowers or other machinery, such arrangements consisting mainly of a
pair or pairs of large driving pulleys constructed, arranged, and] operated as herein
set forth, so as to act on opposite sides of the spindle or pulley to be driven.
I claim particularly the combination with the small pulley e (on the spindle to
be driven) of the large driving pulleys a and a¹, and their coupling band or bands ƒ
as and for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: I also claim mounting the spindle (to be driven) and also the spindle of the
lower driving pulleys in rocking lever frames, as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
I further claim constructing the peripheries of the large driving pulleys a and a¹
with cylindrical faces and a central continuous projecting rib, as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Russell Gubbins, have hereunto set my
band and seal, the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
RICHARD RUSSELL GUBBINS. (L.S.)