IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CRANK SHAFTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Paterson Houston, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CRANK
SHAFTS."
Sealed the 20th March 1877, and dated the 20th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Paterson Houston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1876.
ROBERT PATERSON HOUSTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CRANK SILAFTS."
This Invention has for its objects the construction of crank shafts in a more
perfect, accurate, and economical manner than heretofore. It consists chiefly in
constructing a built up crank shaft by bolting the webs of the cranks to the shaft,
instead of forging the whole out in one piece. The pin also is made in a separate
piece. The pieces being smaller insure better forgings and castings, and must
necessarily be more economical. By these means I ensure the greatest accuracy of
construction, while at the same time the fibre of the iron in every part follows
approximately the line of strain.
Another great advantage consists in the great ease with which it can be repaired,
the failure of a crank pin, for instance, being remedied in a few hours at farthest,
instead of condemning the whole shaft, as it alway is the case in the ordinary make
of shafts.
There are several modes of carrying out my Invention into practice. In one
plan I construct flanges or couplings on the ends of the shafts. The webs consist
of flat thick plates. Through these plates the crank pin passes, and is screwed
with nuts, pins, or other contrivances. Between the web plates the said crank pin
is shouldered or passes through a thimble. The web plates themselves are usually
bolted to the flanged ends of the shaft, and sometimes a projection on the centre of

page_text: the shaft is turned to accurately fit a corresponding hole in the web plate; other-
wise a hole is tapped into the end of the shaft, and a pin accurately fitting a hole
in the web plate is screwed in. This I will call the centre pin. In erection the
line shafts being placed in position the crank pin is placed in the web plates, and
these latter attached to the shafts by the centre pins. The webs or shafts are now
turned round till the bolt holes meet, when the bolts are inserted and their nuts
screwed up. All parts being planed or turned true to template, accuracy is ensured.
The nuts of the bolts can be locked or guarded in several ways to prevent them
slacking back.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Paterson Houston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
June 1877.
ROBERT PATERSON HOUSTON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CRANK SHAFTS."
This Invention has for its objects the construction of crank shafts in a more
perfect, accurate, and economical manner than heretofore. It consists chiefly in
constructing a built up crank shaft by bolting the webs of the cranks to the shaft,
instead of forging the whole in one piece. The pin also is made in a separate
piece, or the two webs and the pin may be forged in one piece; the pieces being
smaller insure better forgings and castings, and must necessarily be more
economical. By these means I ensure the greatest accuracy of construction, while
at the same time the fibre of the iron in every part follows approximately the line
of strain.
Another great advantage consists in the great ease with which it can be repaired,
the failure of a crank pin, for instance, being remedied in a few hours at farthest,
instead of condemning the whole shaft, as is always the case in the ordinary make
of shafts.
There are several modes of carrying out my Invention into practice. In one
plan I construct flanges E or couplings on the ends of the shafts D. The webs B, B,
consist of flat thick plates. Through these plates the crank pin A passes, and is
secured with nuts, keys, pins, or other contrivances. Between the web plates the
said crank pin is shouldered or passes through a thimble C. The web plates
themselves are usually bolted to the flanged ends of the shaft, and sometimes a
projection G on the centre of the shaft is turned to accurately fit a corresponding
hole in the web plate, or the coupling end of the shaft fits accurately into a recess
in the web plate; otherwise a hole is tapped into the end of the shaft, and a pin
accurately fitting a hole in the web plate is screwed in. All parts being planed or
turned true to template, accuracy is ensured. The nuts of the bolts can be locked
or guarded in any of several well-known ways to prevent them slackening back.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the principle of making
a crank shaft in various pieces, as shrunk-on webs have long been known, and so
have independent crank pins, but what I believe to be new and desire to protect
under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The mode of constructing crank shafts by coupling the ends of the shafts
to the webs by means of bolts, screws, or similar appliances in the form of a
coupling.
2nd. A crank shaft, consisting of the shaft or shafts D, web or webs B, and
pin A, the shafts and webs being made in separate pieces, and planed or turned

page_text: true and united by means of bolts or other appliances, instead of being shrunk or
keyed on.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Paterson Houston, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
0, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
R. P. HOUSTON. (L.S.)