Improvements in Shaft Couplings for Vehicles and Portable Machinery.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shaft Couplings for Vehicles and Portable
Machinery.
We, GEORGE BROWNLEES of Narracoorte, Colony of South Australia, Coach-
smith, and ROBERT CHARLES MILLER of Casterton, Colony of Victoria, Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention applies specially to the method of attaching the shafts to street or
other vehicles, portable engines, argicultural or other machinery etc.
The object of our combination is two fold. Its first to provide a pin which
though it be effectually locked can be instantly removed from the coupling without
either spanner or other tool-thereby instantly releasing the shaft. Its second is
to provide a cheap article of manufacture which affords a ready means of discon-
necting the shafts from vehicles and also prevents all that shake or rattle at the
joints which is oftentimes so painfully manifest. Hitherto various devices have
been employed to accomplish like purposes. Our combination consists simply of a
special pin and a spring attachment which latter (all in one piece) not only
effectually locks said pin but also answers two other purposes, viz. :-an absolute
preventive of any unpleasant rattling at either the bolt or pin and also as a
substitute for the present plate or hold fast for bolting the strap to the splinter or
axle-bar.
But in order that our invention may be better understood we will now refer to
the accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this
Specification and read therewith.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they
occur in the several views.
Fig. 1, shews the coupling complete in every particular in which A is the spring
(bent as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.) A' the portion that acts as a plate
for securing strap D, B the shaft attachment C the coupling pin, D the axle
bar strap.
Fig. 2, shews the splinter or axle-bar strap D denuded of everything.
Fig. 3, shews the shaft attachment B also detached.
Fig. 4, shews the spring A (with a portion broken away to more clearly show the
shape of the spring) in which A¹ is the portion that acts as a plate for securing
strap D and A² the portion that by its elasticity prevents all rattling.
Fig. 5, shews the coupling pin C with the square shouldered recess E.
In Fig. 1, is given a view of the whole combination. It will there be seen that
the three purposes of locking the pin, preventing the shake at the joint, and a plate
for securing the strap to the splinter or axle-bar are all accomplished by one piece
of steel which is bent as shewn in the drawing. The shape of this spring is more
clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, where it is detached so that the whole of its
conformation can be at once seen.
In our first modification the spring may be comparatively speaking short and
rivetted or otherwise attached to the back of the fork F and brought down into
the recess E in the pin. It then only answers one purpose. The locking of
the pin.
In our second modification the spring is rivetted or otherwise attached to the
back of the fork F, one end is bent over to lock the pin in the shoulder E and the
other end bent up to prevent all shake in the joint pin. Two objects are thereby
accomplished. The coupling pin is not only quickly entered but almost as quickly

page_text: removed. Its entering is facilitated by the cone near the recess and directly said
cone has passed the spring the latter falls down into the recess thereby effectually
locking it. The removal of the pin is accomplished by pulling back the spring
with one hand and with the other withdrawing said pin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1stly. In a shaft coupling for vehicles as before described a flat spring (portion
of which fits into a recess in the coupling pin) which is bent to form the plate for
holding the splinter bar or axle strap and also bent to prevent any rattling of the
shaft or pin as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in the
drawings.
2ndly. In a shaft coupling for vehicles as before described the combination of a
coupling pin with a coned head and recess near same, with a flat spring (secured to
the axle bar strap) engaging in said recess, as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
3rdly. In a shaft coupling for vehicles as before described the combination of a
coupling, a pin with a coned head and recess near same with a flat spring (engaging
in said recess) which is attached to the splinter or axle-bar strap and is so bent as
to prevent any rattling of the shaft or pin as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
4thly. In a shaft coupling for vehicles as before described the combination of a
coupling, a pin with a coned head and recess near same with a flat spring (engaging
in said recess) which forms the plate for holding the splinter or axle-bar strap and
is so bent as to prevent any rattling of the shaft or pin as and for the purposes
herein before described and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of Auơnst 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.