AN IMPROVEMENT IN STRAP OR BELTING GUIDES OR FORKS
Year: 1885

page_text: I FRANK REDDAWAY of the firm of Frank Reddaway and Company of the
Victoria Mills, Cheltenham Street, Pendleton in the County of Lancaster, Fire
Hose and Belting Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STRAP OR BELTING GUIDES OR FORKS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to the strap forks which are used in connection with
machinery belting to guide the belts or to shift them upon their drums or pulleys
or to transfer them from one pulley to another as is well understood. Such forks
bear upon the edges of the belts when shifting them and when the belts are made
of cotton canvas or woven material the rubbing of the edges of the belt against
the tines of the fork causes the said edges to become worn and damaged so that
the durability of the belt is decreased. To lessen this destructive action I make
each tine round or partly round and I mount upon each tine a roller or a removable
tube which comes in contact with the edge of the belt when the fork is brought
into operation and by revolving greatly lessens the friction or rubbing action upon
the belt so that the durability of the belt is greatly increased. Each tine of the
fork may be turned to fit the bore in the roller or tube from end to end or the
latter may work upon a collar on one end of the tine and upon the boss of a
retaining nut at the other end or I may provide the fork with rollers forined with
journals which would be mounted to revolve in bearings provided in the fork
which would be modified in form to meet the requirements of the case. Although
my Invention is specially adapted for use in connection with belts made of woven
material it may also be used in connection with other belts as for example such as
are made of leather or caoutchouc.

page_text: An Improvement in Strap or Belting Guides or Forks.
I FRANK REDDAWAY of the firm of Frank Reddaway and Company of the
Victoria Mills, Cheltenham Street Pendleton in the County of Lancaster Fire
Hose and Belt Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STRAP OR BELTING GUIDES OR FORKS" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
My Invention relates to the strap forks which are used in connection with
machinery belting to guide the belts or to shift them upon their drums or pulleys
or to transfer them from one pulley to another as is well understood. Such forks
bear upon the edges of the belts when shifting them and when the belts are made
of cotton, canvas or woven material the rubbing of the edges of the belt against
the tines of the fork causes the said edges to become worn and damaged so that
the durability of the belt is decreased. To lessen this destructive action I make
each tine round or partly round and I mount upon each tine a roller or a révolvable
Lube which comes in contact with the edge of the belt when the fork is brought
into operation and by revolving greatly lessens the friction or rubbing action upon
Each tine of the
the belt so that the durability of the belt is greatly increased.
fork may be turned to fit the bore in the roller or tube from end to end or tho
latter may work upon collars or I may provide the fork with rollers formed with
journals which would be mounted to revolve in bearings provided in the fork
which would be modified in form to meet the requirements of the case. Although
my Invention is specially adapted for use in connection with belts made of woven
inaterial it may also be used in connection with other belts as for example such as
are made of leather or caoutchouc.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the two leading methods
whereby I carry iny said invention into effect the two examples differing in
respect of the manner of mounting the rollers. In Fig. 1 a. a are the rollers
which are of a tubular form and are mounted upon the limbs or tines b. b. of a
strap fork. To enable the said rollers to revolve upon the said limbs each limb is
turned to a cylindrical form or is formed with collars which are so turned or the
limb is provided with a turned collar at one end and the boss of a nut c. which in
the example is employed to keep the roller in position serves the purpose of a
second collar the roller revolving upon the two collars. A washer or loose collar
riveted, piuned or secured in a suitable manner may be substituted for the nut c.
or a screw or screw bolt baving a fast head may press through the roller and enter
a tapped hole in the strap bar or in the part d. or be secured by means of a nut as
indicated in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2 the rollers are formed with gudgeons or journals
which work in bearings formed in the strap fork bar e. and in the outer ends of
brackets f. f which are secured to the said bar. This arrangement or a similar
arrangement wherein solid rollers provided with end journals would be employed
may be preferred in some cases as the rollers will be likely to revolve with less
friction and any required amount of strength can be obtained by making the
brackets f. f. strong enough to suit the requirements.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,
1. The strap fork having rollers or revolvable tubes mounted upon its limbs or
tines or upon parts which take the places of the ordinary fork limbs substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
2. In strap forks or guides or appliances for shifting driving belts the rollers
formed or provided with end journals mounted in bearings as substitutes for the
non-revolvable parts which are ordinarily used.
3. The combination of parts forming the strap fork or guide as represented in
Fig. 2 of the drawings.