AN IMPROVED CHUCK OR SHAFT COUPLING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Myddleton Butler, of the Kirkstall Forge, near
Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CHUCK
OR SHAFT COUPLING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Myddleton Butler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th March 1879.
HUGH MYDDLETON BUTLER, of the Kirkstall Forge, near Leeds, in the County
"AN IMPROVED CHUCK OR SHAFT COUPLING."
of York.
In applying my Invention to coupling shafts I make use of two split taper metal
bushes of cast iron or other suitable metal, which are bored to suit the shafts to be
coupled together, which may be of the same or of different sizes, and the outsides
are chased one with a right hand and the other with a left hand thread to
screw into either end of the outer casing of the coupling. The larger ends of the
metal bushes are of square, hexagon, or other shape inside or outside, in order that
they may be tightened or loosened with a key; or they may be round with holes
drilled in the ends to receive a hook wrench.
I make the outer casing of the coupling of cast iron or other metal, and bore a
hole in either end converging towards the centre, which holes are chased in order
that the split taper metal bushes may be screwed into them. When the taper
bushes are screwed into the outer casing they grip the shafts and make a perfect
coupling, and owing to one bush having a right handed and the other a left handed
thread, the shafts in revolving have a tendency to tighten them.
When my Invention is employed as a chuck I use only one split taper metal
bush and bore or cut the inside of it to suit the shape of the article to be chucked.
The outer casing is bored and chased to suit the split taper bush, and may be
attached to or form part of the lathe or other spindle.
These split taper bushes may be chased either the whole or part of their.
length.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hugh Myddleton Butler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th September 1879.
HUGH MYDDLETON BUTLER, of the Kirkstall Forge, near Leeds, in the County
of York. "AN IMPROVED CHUCK OR SHAFT COUPLING."
My Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of chucks for
lathes and other purposes, and in shaft couplings.
Firstly. With regard to shaft couplings, I make the body or outer casing in one
piece and cylindrical outside. This outer casing is cast with a central hole con-
verging from either end towards the centre; this concentric hole is bored out and
chased either the whole or part of the length from both ends to receive two taper
bushes or hollow cones of malleable cast iron or other metal, one at either end.
These taper bushes or hollow cones are turned the same taper as the inside of the
outer casing, and are chased either the whole or part of their length, and the
periphery, of the same is either continuous or may be formed in ridges so as to
reduce the friction in screwing in. The insides of these taper bushes or hollow
cones are bored out to receive the ends of the two shafts to be coupled together,
which may be of the same or of different diameters. Further, these taper bushes
are each split longitudinally so as to allow them to spring in when being screwed
into the outer casing. The larger or outer ends of these split taper bushes or
hollow cones are cast either square, hexagon, or other convenient shape, either upon
the outside or inside, to allow of a suitable key being employed to screw them into
the outer casing, and also to loosen them when required; or the end may be formed
with a flange with holes drilled or cast in the periphery of the same to receive a
hook wrench or bar. When these two split taper bushes are screwed into the
outer casing above described they are made to grip upon the shafts, and thus make
a perfect and truly concentric coupling requiring no keyways in the shafts nor
experienced labour in putting up. When a shaft is a little above or below its
nominal size, in the first case it is only necessary to drive a wedge into the slit in
the split taper bush provided for that shaft, and thus open it out to allow the shaft
to enter it, and in the second case to screw the split taper bush further into the
outer casing to procure the necessary grip upon the shaft.
As a modification of the above the outsides of the split bushes I make turned a
plain taper, the inside of the outer casing being also bored the same taper, and
instead of procuring the grip upon the shafts by screwing the split bushes into the
outer casing, as fully described above, I propose to drive them into the outer casing
by means of suitably forined sets; then by boring out further, and screwing the
ends of the outer casing, a suitably formed nut or washer which is cast with a
central hole rather larger than the size of the shafts to be coupled together, the
outside being turned and chased to fit the ends of the outer casing, is screwed into
the ends of the outer casing by means of a hook wrench up against the split bushes,
and prevents the same working loose or 'out; or the same may be perforined in any
other more convenient way. Further, I also drill a hole of convenient size through
the outer casing in the centre, the object of this hole being, firstly, to enable the
man putting up the coupling to see that the two shafts meet in the centre, and so
avoid the error of one shaft being introduced into the coupling so far as to enter
the split bush provided for the other shaft; and, secondly, to avoid the error of
either shaft not being introduced into the coupling far enough when they would be
in danger of working out. This hole also allows a wedge or chisel to be introduced
to aid in driving back the split bushes when uncoupling is required. In con-
structing chucks for lathes or other machines the body of the chuck may be either
separate from or form part of the lathe, spindle, or other machine, and it is bored
out taper, and screwed either the whole or part of its length to receive a taper
bush or hollow cone of cast steel or other suitable metal. This taper bush or hollow

page_text: cone is turned the same taper as the inside of the body of the chuck, and it is
chased either the whole or part of its length, and the periphery of the same is either
continuous or may be formed in ridges, so as to reduce the friction in screwing in.
The larger or outer end of this taper bush or hollow cone is cast either square,
hexagon, or of other convenient shape, either upon the outside or inside, to allow a
suitable key being employed to screw it into the body of the chuck; or the end may
be formed with a flange with holes either cast or drilled in the periphery to receive
a hook wrench or bar. This taper bush is split once longitudinally so as to
allow it to spring in when it is screwed into the body of the chuck. The inside of
this split taper bush or hollow cone is cast the shape of the article which is required
to be chucked, and it is bored out or cut as is deemed necessary. Where different
sizes of the same shaped article are required to be chucked in the same lathe or
machine, the inside of the split taper bush is made sufficiently large to chuck the
largest article and liners are used for the smaller ones; or a split taper bush may
be provided for each size of article, being all the sanic size outside, the insides being
made to suit each size of article. When this split taper bush therefore is screwed
into the body of the chuck above described by means of the keys or bar, it is made
to grip upon the article to be chucked or upon the liners, and they in their
turn upon the article, and thus makes a perfect chuck, no centreing being
required. As a modification of the above the outside of the split taper bush
can be turned a plain taper, the inside of the body of the chuck being also
bored the same taper, and instead of procuring the grip upon the article by
screwing the split taper bush into the body of the chuck, as fully described
above, propose to drive them in by suitably formed sets; or they can be
drawn in by bolts or any other convenient method, and the split taper bush
can be held in position by means of nuts, as fully described above in reference to
my improved coupling.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 an end view of one of my improved
couplings for shafts. In these views A is the outer casing, and H, H', are split
taper bushes, which are screwed into the casing to grip the ends of the shafts to
be coupled; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification of my improved
coupling for coupling shafts of equal diameters; Fig. 4 is a similar view of a
coupling for coupling shafts of different diameters; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section
of the outer casing; Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the split taper bushes or hollow
cones; Fig. 7 is an end view of the outer casing; Fig. 8 is an end view and section
of the nuts; Fig. 9, three views of set used for driving into the outer casing the
split taper bushes; Fig. 10, two views of wrench used for screwing up the nuts;
Fig. 11, two views of steel drift used for driving back the split taper bushes when
uncoupling is required. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the several Figures.
A represents the body of the coupling or outer casing; this outer casing is cast
with a central hole, which is bored taper from either end, converging towards the
centre to receive the split taper bushes H, H. It is further bored and chased at
either end to receive the nuts B, B. It will be perceived that the split taper
bushes H, H, may be readily wedged against the shafts R, R, by driving them into
the outer casing A by means of the set J, the driving power of the coupling.
depending upon the force which is expended in driving these split taper bushes in,
no keys being required in the shaft. Should there be any variation in the dia-
meters of the two shafts, though supposed to be of the same diameter, the split
taper bushes will accomodate themselves to such variation, and still chuck the shaft
truly concentric, as will be readily perceived, therefore great exactness in the
diameters of the shafts is not essential to the effectual working of this improved
coupling. When a shaft is a little above its nominal size in diameter, and any
difficulty is experienced in causing the same to enter the split taper bush provided

page_text: for it in the coupling, that difficulty can be overcome by driving a wedge into the
slit C in the split taper bush, by which means it can be opened out sufficiently to
admit the shaft. Again, if a shaft is slightly too small it is simply necessary to
drive the split taper bush further into the outer casing, there being an allowance
made in the length of the split taper bushes and outside casing to admit of this
variation. After the two split taper bushes have been securely driven in, the two
nuts B, B, are screwed in as tightly as possible by means of the wrench K, which
enters the notches D, D, D. When uncoupling is required, the nuts B, B, are first
removed, then the steel set L is introduced between the slit or opening C in one of
the split taper bushes shewn in Fig. 6, and is thus employed to drive out the split
taper bush at the other end, and afterwards by acting upon the remaining split
taper bush in the same manner it is driven back also. Care however should be
taken when coupling that the slits C should be put diametrically opposite to each
other, and thus the steel set L will come against the middle of the whole part of
the opposing split taper bush. Through the outer casing A, I drill a hole T in the
centre, the object of this hole being, firstly, to enable the man putting up the
coupling to see that the two shafts which he is coupling together meet in the centre,
and so avoid the error of one shaft being introduced into the coupling so far as to
enter the split taper bush provided for the other shaft; and, secondly, the error of
either shaft not being introduced into the coupling far enough when they would be
in danger of working out or loose.
My improved chucks are shewn in Figs. 12 to 15; In Fig. 12, M represents a
lathe spindle or the spindle of any other machine requiring the chuck; N, the body
of the chuck, which is bored out taper and screwed half of its length to receive the
split taper bush or hollow cone O, the larger or outer end of which is formed
with a flange, into the periphery of which are cast or drilled holes to receive the
bar P; E shews the longitudinal slit; Fig. 13 is a front view of the split taper
bush; Figs. 14 and 15 shew different forms of liners for chucking round bars or
other articles. The inside of the split taper bush O or liners F and G can be cast
any shape to suit different articles to be chucked, and can be bored out or cut as
is deemed necessary. The lathe or other spindle M is bored out and chased to
receive the split taper bush O, or the body of chuck N can be bolted to any
ordinary face plate.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,―
Firstly. The improved couplings for shafts as shewn and described.
Secondly. The improved modes of securing the split taper bushes in the outer
casing of the coupling as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The hole drilled through the outside casing of the coupling for the
purposes described.
Fourthly. The chuck, consisting of an outer casing or body fixed to or forming
part of the lathe spindle, or spindle of other machine, in combination with a
split taper bush and the necessary bar or key, operating together as shewn and
described; and
Lastly. The mode of constructing chucks whereby they are adapted to receive
and hold articles of any shape and size, or of varying sizes of the same shape,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Myddleton Butler, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy nine.
HUGH M. BUTLER. - (L.S.)