Cones, Window Blind Rollers, and similar Articles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 12th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
Cones, Window Blind Rollers, and similar Articles.
WILLIAM HARSON BAYLY VANES of 111 Park Road, Aston, Birmingham Medical
Student do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists of improvements in friction appliances and is applicable to
pulleys, speed cones &c. so that motion from a driving shaft can be imparted to them
or withdrawn from them at pleasure. It is also applicable to the working of a blind
roller so that this can be made to revolve or to remain fixed in any desired position.
In applying my invention to a pulley, I use a hollow circular box. The outer side
of the base of this is firmly attached to the boss of the pulley, the driving shaft passing
loosely through the boss of the pulley and the centre of the base of the box. The rim
of the box is consequently arranged centrally round the driving shaft. Upon the
driving shaft and inside the circular box, I fasten firmly a short cylinder through the
axis of which the driving shaft has been passed. The diameter of this cylinder is less
than that of the inside of the circular box so that when in position there is a circular
space left between the inside of the box and the outside of the cylinder. I also use a
flat steel band shaped and coiled like an ordinary clock mainspring. The outer end
of this band is firmly attached to the inside of the circular box (near its outer edge)
and the coils are spirally wound upon the cylinder in the space between it and the
circular box. The direction of the winding of the coils is the same as that of the
rotation of the shaft. The inner free end of the steel band forms the inmost coil, and
each succeeding coil overlaps the previous one; about three coils are sufficient.
In the inside of the circular box, and between its base and the cylinder, I place a
piece of metal shaped like the letter C. Its diameter is slightly less than that of the

page_text: cylinder. I also use a small spiral spring. One end of this spring is fixed to the
inside of the base of the circular box and the other end is fixed to one end of
the C piece of metal just described, the arrangement being such that the C piece of
metal and the short spiral spring when in position would together form a nearly
complete ring through the centre of which the driving shaft passes loosely. The
action of the spring is such as to pull the C piece of metal in advance of the motion
of the driving shaft. The inner end of the steel band is loosely fastened by a screw to
a portion of the outer rim of the C piece of metal. The length of the steel band is
carefully adjusted so that when pulled forward by the short spiral spring (through the
agency of the C piece of metal), the coils will tightly grip the cylinder and so com-
municate to the circular box (to which is fastened the outer end of the steel band) the
rotary movement of the cylinder. This gripping action of the steel band will be
materially increased by the rotary movement of the cylinder. The pulley will thus
revolve simultaneously with the driving shaft. To arrest the motion of the pulley,
it will be necessary to uncoil the steel band from the cylinder and so release its grip.
I effect this uncoiling by pulling back the C piece of metal in an opposite direction to
the movement of the shaft. For this purpose I cut a slot in the rim of the box
immediately over the position of the C piece of metal, the direction of the long axis
of the slot being at right angles to the axis of the shaft. Through this slot I pass
a small rod, and screw one end of this rod into the rim of the C piece of metal.
The free end of this rod is of sufficient length to project a little outside the slot.
Upon the outside of the circular box I place a somewhat broad metal ring; the
inside diameter of this ring is triflingly larger than the outside diameter of the
circular box. This metal ring is capable of a sliding movement along the circular
box. On the inside of this metal ring I form two straight grooves cut through
part of its thickness only. The direction of these grooves is such as to form
the containing sides of an angle the bisecting line of which would be parallel to the
axis of the driving shaft. One of these grooves engages the free end of the rod already
referred to, and the other groove engages a stud fixed in the rim of the outer box at
such a position that when the rod is at the forward end of the slot in the circular box
(and the steel band is consequently gripping the cylinder) the stud and the rod would
respectively be at the ends of the grooves which are away from the apex of the angle
they contain. When the metal ring is slid along the rim of the circular box the stud
and the free end of the rod travel towards the apex of the angle of the grooves, and
are thus brought nearer to one another. The stud is however fixed, and consequently
the effect of this sliding of the metal ring is concentrated in pulling back the rod and
with it the C piece of metal and the inner end of the steel band. The gripping action
of the band is thus destroyed. When the metal ring is slid in the opposite direction
the rod and the stud will recede from one another and so allow the gripping action of
the steel band to be restored.
Instead of these grooves in the metal ring, the free end of the rod may be directly
screwed into the metal ring. When it is desired to arrest the gripping power of the
steel band, and so stop the motion of the pulley, a friction brake is applied to the
metal ring by means of which its motion (and consequently that of the C piece of
metal) is partially arrested so that the rod recedes to the area end of the slot and thus
pulls back the Ċ piece of metal and destroys the grip of the steel band upon the
cylinder. When the brake is removed the rod is advanced again by the action of the
spiral spring and the grip of the steel band is restored.
It is obvious that a speed cone &c. may be similarly driven at pleasure by attaching
it instead of the pulley to the base of the circular box. In applying my invention
as a shaft coupling I fasten the circular box by its base to the end of the one shaft,
and the cylinder to the corresponding end of the other shaft. The arrangement
and action are otherwise as previously described.
In applying my invention to a blind roller, I prefer to use a coiled wire in place of
the coiled flat band. One end of this coiled wire is attached to one of the brackets
in which the roller revolves and the coils of the wire are passed spirally round the
roller in a direction opposite to that of the winding of the blind. The coils are so

page_text: arranged as to slightly grip the roller the friction thereby resulting being such as
to cause the coils to grip the roller more tightly when any attempt is made to
unwind the blind. The free end of the coiled wire is bent so as to project hori-
zontally from the axis of the blind roller. When it is desired to unwind the blind
it is only necessary to pull back (preferably through the medium of an attached cord)
the free end of the coiled wire. The grip is thus released and the blind can be
unwound. In again winding up the blind the direction of the movement is reversed
so that the tendency is to unwind the coils of wire and in this direction the grip of the
coils offers no resistance to rotation.

page_text: "
Improvements in Friction Appliances Suitable for Pulleys, Speed
Cones, Window Blind Rollers, and similar Articles.
I WILLIAM HARSON BAYLY VANES, of 111 Park Road, Aston, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 consists of improvements in friction appliances and is applicable to
pullies, shafts, speed cones &c. so that motion from a driving shaft can be imparted to
them or withdrawn from them at pleasure. It is also applicable to the working of a
blind roller so that this can be made to revolve or remain fixed in any desired position.
In applying my invention to a pulley I use a hollow circular box. The outer side of
the base of this is firmly attached to the boss of the pulley, the driving shaft passing
loosely through the boss of the pulley and the centre of the base of the box. The rim
of the box is consequently arranged centrally round the driving shaft.
Upon the driving shaft and inside the circular box I fasten firmly a short cylinder
through the axis of which the driving shaft has been passed. The diameter of this
cylinder is less than that of the inside of the circular box so that when in position
there is a circular space left between the inside of the box and the outside of the
cylinder. I also use a flat steel band shaped and coiled like an ordinary clock main-
spring. The outer end of this band is firmly attached to the inside of the circular box
(near its outer edge) and the coils are spirally wound upon the cylinder in the space
between it and the circular box. The direction of the winding of the coils is the same
as that of the rotation of the shaft. The inner free end of the steel band forms the
inmost coil and each succeeding coil overlaps the previous one. About three coils are
sufficient.
In the inside of the circular box and between its base and the cylinder I place a
piece of metal shaped like the letter C. Its diameter is slightly less than that of the
cylinder. I also use a small spiral spring, one end of this spring is fixed to the inside
of the base of the circular box and the other end is fixed to one end of the C picce of
metal (just described), the arrangement being such that the C piece of metal and the
short spiral spring when in position would together form a nearly complete ring
through the centre of which the driving shaft passes loosely. The action of the spring
is such as to pull the C piece of metal in advance of the motion of the driving shaft.
The inner end of the steel band is loosely fastened by a screw to a portion of the
outer rim of the C piece of metal. The length of the steel band is carefully adjusted
so that when pulled forward by the short spiral spring (through the agency of the
C piece of metal) the coils will tightly grip the cylinder and so communicate to the
circular box (to which is fastened the outer end of the steel band) the rotary movement
of the cylinder. This gripping action of the steel band will be materially aided by the
rotary movement of the cylinder. The pulley will thus revolve simultaneously with
the driving shaft.

page_text: e
To arrest the motion of the pulley it will be necessary to uncoil the steel band from
the cylinder and so release its grip. I effect this uncoiling by pulling back the
C piece of metal in an opposite direction to the movement of the shaft. For this
purpose I cut a slot in the rim of the box immediately over the position of the C piece
of metal, the direction of the long axis of the slot being at right angles to the axis of
the shaft. Through this slot I pass a small rod and screw one end of this rod into the
rim of the C piece of metal. The free end of the rod is of sufficient length to project
a little outside the slot. Upon the outside of the circular box I place a somewhat
broad metal ring; the inside diameter of this is triflingly larger than the outside
diameter of the circular box. This metal ring is capable of a sliding motion upon the
circular box. In the inside of this metal ring I form two straight grooves cut through
part of its thickness only. The direction of these grooves is such as to form
containing sides of an angle the bisecting line of which would be parallel to the a s
of the driving shaft. One of these grooves engages the free end of the rod already
referred to and the other grooves engages a stud fixed in the rim of the outer box at
such a position that when the rod is at the forward end of the slot in the circular box
(and the steel band is consequently gripping the cylinder) the stud and the rod would
respectively be at the ends of the grooves which are away from the apex of the angle
they contain. When the metal ring is slid along the rim of the circular box, the stud
and the free end of the rod travel towards the apex of the angle of the grooves and are
thus brought nearer to one another. The stud is however fixed, and consequently the
effect of this sliding of the metal ring is concentrated in pulling back the rod and with
it the C piece of metal and the inner end of the steel band. The gripping action of
the band is thus destroyed.
When the metal ring is slid in the opposite direction, the rod and the stud will
recede from one another, and so allow the gripping action of the steel band to be
restored. Instead of these grooves in the metal ring, the free end of the rod may be
directly screwed into the metal ring. When it is desired to arrest the gripping power
of the steel band, and so stop the motion of the pulley, a friction brake is applied to
the metal ring by means of which its motion (and consequently that of the C piece of
metal) is partially arrested so that the rod recedes to the arrear end of the slot and
thus pulls back the C piece of metal and destroys the grip of the steel band upon the
cylinder. When the brake is removed the rod is advanced again by the action of the
spiral spring, and the grip of the steel band is restored.
It is obvious that a speed cone may be similarly driven at pleasure by attaching it
instead of the pulley to the base of the circular box.
In applying my invention as a shaft coupling I fasten the circular box by its base
to the end of the one shaft and the cylinder to the corresponding end of the other
shaft. The arrangements and actions are otherwise as previously described.
In applying my invention to a blind roller I prefer to use a coiled wire in place of
the coiled flat steel band. One end of this coiled wire is attached to one of the
brackets in which the roller revolves and the coils of the wire are passed spirally
round the roller in a direction opposite to that of the winding of the blind. The coils
are so arranged as to slightly grip the roller, the friction thereby resulting being such
as to cause the coils to grip the roller more tightly when any attempt is made to
unwind the blind. The free end of the coiled wire is bent so as to project horizontally
from the axis of the blind roller. When it is desired to unwind the blind, it is only
necessary to pull back (preferably through the medium of an attached cord) the free
end of the coiled wire. The grip is thus relaxed and the blind can be unwound.
In again winding up the blind the direction of the movement is reversed so that the
tendency is to unwind the coils of wire, and in this direction the grip of the coils offers
no resistance to rotation.
With the aid of the accompanying drawings I will now proceed to describe how my
invention is to be carried out.
Fig. I is a vertical section of the circular box. Fig. II is a transverse section of
the circular box taken on the line A B of Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical section of
the cylinder. Fig. IV is a vertical section of the circular box and the cylinder

page_text: & shews their relation to one another when in working position. Fig. V is a
transverse section of the flat steel band. Fig. VI is a vertical section of the C piece
of metal. Fig. VII is a vertical section of the sliding metal ring. Fig. VIII is a
vertical section of the various parts when in working order and Fig. IX is a transverse
section taken on the line D E of Fig. VIII. In all these figures the various letters
represent the same parts.
a a represents the base of the circular box and b b its rim, c c is a section of a boss
cast upon the outside of the base to better allow of the attachment of the pulley.
For this purpose the boss of the pulley is made sufficiently large to be capable of
being passed over cc, and the two bosses can then be keyed together in the ordinary
way. Through d the driving shaft passes somewhat loosely. Fig. III shews a short
cylinder fixed upon the driving shaft inside the circular box as shewn at e in
Figs. IV and VIII by the key f. The diameter of this cylinder is less than that
of the circular box so that there remains a circular space y in Figs. IV, VIII
and IX between them. Fig. V is a transverse section of the flat steel band, the
outer end his firmly fastened to the inside of the circular box, for this purpose holes
may be bored in the end and this can be fastened by screws passing through these
holes into tapped holes in the circular box shewn at h¹ h' in Fig. I. The spiral
winding of the coils upon the cylinder is shown at k¹² in Fig. VIII the coils
occupying the space y shown in Figs. IV, VIII and IX and the winding being in
the direction of the rotation of the shaft. In the inside of the circular box and
between its base and the cylinder, that is in the space shewn at in Fig. IV, I place
a piece of metal shaped like the letter C and shewn in transverse section in Fig. VI.
Its diameter is slightly less than that of the cylinder so that the steel band when
gripping the cylinder does not engage it (the C piece of metal). I also use the small
spiral spring m, m², m² Figs. VI and IX; one end of this spring m² is fixed to one
end of the C piece of metal and the other end m¹ is fastened to the inside of the base
of the circular box. m³ in Fig. II is a tapped hole to allow of this fastening; the
spring is arranged so as to pull the C piece of metal forward in advance of the motion
of the shaft. A hole is bored at the end i Fig. V of the steel band, so that the end
can be slipped over the stud i, Figs. VI and IX in the C piece of metal. The length
of the steel band is carefully adjusted so that when pulled forward by the short spiral
spring through the agency of the C piece of metal the coils will tightly grip the
cylinder and so communicate to the circular box (to which is fastened the outer end
of the steel band) the rotary movement of the cylinder. The pulley will thus revolve
simultaneously with the shaft. To pull back the C piece of metal and so partially
uncoil the steel band and release its grip, I cut a slot n Figs. I. II. IV. VIII. and IX
in the rim of the box immediately over the position of the C piece of metal, the
direction of the long axis of the slot being at right angles to the axis of the shaft.
Through this slot I pass the small rod o Figs. VI. VIII and IX and then screw this
rod into the C piece of metal as shewn in the same figures at o'. The free end of
the rod o³ is of sufficient length to project a little out of the slot as shewn in Figs. VIII
and IX. Upon the outside of the circular box I place a broad metal ring shewn in
vertical section in Fig. VII and also at p in Fig. VIII. p in Fig. IX represents
a transverse section of this ring. This ring is triflingly larger than the outside
diameter of the circular box so as to allow the ring a sliding movement along
the box. In the inside of this ring I make two straight grooves
(Figs. VI.
VIII, IX) cut through part of its thickness only. The direction of these grooves
(shewn in Fig. VII) is such as to form the containing sides of an angle the
bisecting line of which would be parallel to the axis of the driving shaft.
of these grooves engages the free end o² of the rod and the other groove engages
a stud (Figs. I. II. IV and IX) fixed in the circular box at such a position that
when the rod o is at the forward end of its slot, and the steel band is consequently
gripping the cylinder, the stud and the rod would respectively be at the end of
the grooves which are away from the apex of the angle they contain that is at q
Figs. VII and IX. When the metal ring is slid along the circular box in the
direction of the arrow q¹ Figs. VII and VIII, the stud and the free end of the rod
One

page_text: engage the grooves at the ends q' q¹ Fig. VII and are thus brought nearer to one
another. The stud is however fixed, and consequently the effect of this sliding of the
metal ring is concentrated in pulling back the rod and with it the C piece of metal and
the inner end of the steel band. The band being thus partly uncoiled its gripping action
is destroyed and the pulley is no longer driven by the shaft. When the ring is slid
in the opposite direction, the rod and the stud will engage the ends q² ² of the
grooves and will thus recede from one another. This receding action (which is
assisted by the spiral spring) is concentrated upon the rod (as the stud is fixed). The
inner end of the steel band is thus pulled forward and by the rotary movement of the
cylinder becomes tightly coiled upon it, so that the cylinder and the outer box revolve
simultaneously and the pulley is again drawn. This sliding of the metal ring can be
effected by a fork the arms of which engage the broad grooves Figs. VII and VIII
in its outer surface.
It is obvious that a speed cone &c. may be similarly driven at pleasure by attaching
it instead of the pulley to the base of the circular box.
In applying my invention as a shaft coupling I fasten the circular box by its base to
the end of the one shaft, and the cylinder to the corresponding end of the other shaft.
The arrangements and actions are otherwise as previously described.
In applying my invention to a blind roller I prefer to use a coiled wire in place of the
coiled flat steel band. One end of this coiled wire is attached to one of the brackets
in which the roller revolves and the coils of the wire are passed spirally round the
roller in a direction opposite to that of the winding of the blind. The coils are so
arranged as to slightly grip the roller, the friction thereby resulting being such as to
cause the coils to grip the roller more tightly when any attempt is made to unwind
the blind. The free end of the coiled wire is bent so as to project horizontally from
the axis of the blind roller. When it is desired to unwind the blind, it is only
necessary to pull back (preferably through the medium of an attached cord) the free end
of the coiled wire. The grip is thus relaxed and the blind can be unwound. In again
winding up the blind the direction of the movement is reversed so that the tendency
is to unwind the coils of wire, and in this direction the grip of the coils offers no
resistance to rotation.
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 :-
The improvements in friction appliances hereinbefore described and illustrated
which consist essentially of the use of a flat coiled steel band or a coiled wire so that
by tightly coiling the band or wire on a cylinder, the cylinder communicates to the
band or wire, and consequently to whatever may be attached to the outer end of the
coiled band or wire, its own motion, and so that when the band or wire be partially
uncoiled such motion is no longer communicated; and where the coiled band or wire
being itself fixed and coiled upon a cylinder, that cylinder is free to revolve only in
the direction opposite to that of the direction of the coils until such time that the grip
of the band or wire be destroyed by partially uncoiling the band or wire.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicant.