IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR TRANSMITTING MOTIVE POWER.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Désiré Goubet, Civil Engineer, and
Jean Noel Monrocq, Printer, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 123,
Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR TRANSMITTING
MOTIVE POWER.'
"
Scaled the 21st September 1875, and dated the 28th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Désiré Goubet
and Jean Noel Monrocq at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 28th April 1875.
We, CLAUDE DÉSIRÉ GOUBET, Civil Engineer, and JEAN NOEL
MONROCQ, Printer, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 123, Paris, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
TRANSMITTING MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
The Invention which forms the subject of the present application for
Patent makes a radical change, and at the same time effects a great
improvement in the plant of factories and works, in so far as regards
the transmission of motive power from an engine or prime mover to all
the machines, apparatus, and tools which it drives.

page_text: Fransson umers from that generaµy ionowed in your
chief points upon which our Invention is based, these are,-
1. The entire suppression of belts and their replacement by steel or
iron chains of a particular type or form.
2. The fitting of the fly whool of each machine or tool loosely on its
shaft instead of keying it thereto, so as to render the fly wheel quite
independent of the machine, the working of which it regulates at
the moment the machine stops which can thus be done absolutely
instantaneously.
3. The driving of each tool or machine through the intermediation of
a spring clutch mounted on the tool or machine shaft so as to prevent
shocks at the time of putting into work.
4. The introduction of ratchets on the driving shaft at the point where
it transmits the motive power to the tool with the object of enabling the
latter to profit by the sudden motions which accelerations of spoed of
the prime mover tend to give it. It is upon these data (which may be
applied conjointly or separately), and to realize in the most advantageous
manner the conditions incident theroto, that the apparatus and devices
for transmitting power which we now proceed to describe aro con-
structed.
In most cases the adoption of our Invention will render, if not
compulsory at least decidedly preferable, the placing of the driving
shaft under the floor instead of as usual overhead, and the application
we are about to explain is to a machine with the driving shaft so
placed.
The main shaft of the machine to bo driven is situated either in the
same vertical plane as the driving shaft, or more or less out of that
vertical plane, according to circumstances, and these two shafts com-
municate by a chain instead of by an ordinary driving belt. This chain
which is of iron, or preferably of steel, is made in a special manner.
Each link consists of a flat shank connected at each end to a knob which
has a cylindrical hole formed transversely through it. The two knobs
may be placed at opposite sides or both at one side of the shank, and the
shank may be straight sided or otherwise. The several links are joined
together by placing the end of one against the end of the next, and then
uniting the two by a pin or rivet which is passed through their cylindrical

page_text: holes, and then clinched into countersinks formed at the edges of the
holes. The fitting of the rivets is as tight as possible, but sufficiently
free not to interfere with the play of the joint necessary in the chain as
it bends in passing over a pulley and again straightens. Other forms
of link made on the same principle may be used, for example, a link in
the form of a fork, with knobs placed symmetrically at the same end of
the shank, and the same width apart as the shank so as to receive the
shank of the next link.
The two chain pulleys, one on the driving shaft and the other on the
shaft of the machine have the form of a gear wheel with a groove in the
middle of the felloe or rim. The shanks of the links lodge in the groove
while the knobs with their internal rivets engage in the spaces or
hollows of the two toothed checks. Each knob is thus held between two
consecutive teeth, on the sides of which either at the entry or at the exit
it finds a point of support which considerably diminishes the work of the
rivet. The rivet not being in direct contact with the pulley has only to
resist drawing strains; it receives no shock at the time of change of
form of the chain, and is thus removed from all cause of wear which
so soon deteriorates the kinds of chains now in use, such as those in
which the pin or pivoting axis bears directly upon the rim of the
pulley.
The chain pulleys instead of being keyed on their shafts after the
modes generally adopted are on the contrary loose on their shafts, and
they are connected to them by clutches, the construction and action of
which we will proceed to descri
The fly wheel has its nave or centre keyed on the same socket or
sleeve as the nave of the chain pulley of the machine; as this chain
pulley is fitted freely on its shaft it results that the fly wheel like the
pulley is loose on its shaft. The principal advantage of this novel
0 arrangement is that the fly wheel is rendered independent of the
machine, and is detached therefrom at the moment the machine should
stop working. This is the only way of producing an instantaneous
stoppage by dispensing with a brake, the action of which is often
imperfect.
5
The socket or sleeve above named is in a piece with a clutch on which
a ratchet wheel is fixed concentrically. All these parts form with the
flv vhool one and the same niece, which is loose on the shaft where it is

page_text: retained at one side by the bearing and at the other by a ring. Imme-
diately adjoining the clutch the shaft carries the engaging apparatus.
It consists essentially of a drum the rim of which has a groove to receive
the fork of a clutch lever. The nave of this drum which is connected to
the rim by a plate is keyed on the shaft, so that it can slide freely
towards the clutch, being held only at the other side by a ring. In this
sliding movement the drum draws with it a counter clutch which is
fitted to its nave. This counter clutch is connected to the drum by a
volute spring formed of a band of steel, which is hooked or attached at
one end to the rim, and at the other to the counter clutch by a dovetail
joint. The opening of the drum opposite the plate is closed by a cover
carrying two pauls or clicks for acting on the teeth of the ratchet.
To put the parts into gear it is sufficient to push the drum and its
clutch by means of the forked levers, so that it engages with the other
clutch. The two clutches thus turn together but before their rotation
can be communicated to the drum, it is necessary for the spring to wind
up so as to present a resistance equal to that of the power to be trans-
mitted. It is only from this moment that the drum with its nave and
consequently the shaft participate in the rotation of the chain wheel
and fly wheel. The tension of the spring is produced very quickly; this
very rapid action is sufficient to diminish the shocks at the time of
putting the machine into work.
During the working of a machine or tool the resisting power often.
varies between considerable limits. These variations would necessitate
alterations of tension and slackoning of the spring, and would con-
sequently occasion injurious shocks if we had not interposed the play of
the ratchet and pauls, which prevent the spring slackening. As long
as the power to be transmitted increases the pauls allow the spring to
wind up, and they ride freely over the ratchet teeth; but as soon as the
power diminishes, the pauls being engaged between the teeth, where they
are pressed by their springs, prevent the unwinding of the spring by
locking its return movement.
The object of the mechanism we have just described is to make the
transmission of the motive power very smooth and regular. But there
remains however to prevent the tool or machine partaking of quick or
sudden movements, caused by the engine running fast, and to take
advantage of those accelerations of speed. We obtain this result by a

page_text: ratchet arrangement on the driving shaft. This ratchet mechanism is
composed of a ratchet toothed clutch keyed on the driving shaft along
which it can slide, being constantly pushed in one direction by a coiled
spring. This clutch acts on a similar clutch formed on the nave of the
chain pulley. When the driving shaft receives from the prime mover
an accelerated impulse, the first clutch transmits it to the chain pulley
and from that to the machine, the speed of which gains several turns
over that of the driving shaft. During this differential rotation the
clutch on the chain pulley of the driving shaft clears several teeth of the
corresponding clutch, which moves therefrom by compressing its spring,
but as soon as the prime mover and consequently the driving shaft have
returned to their normal pace, this clutch pushed by its spring regains
the opposite clutch and will only quit it again when there is a fresh
acceleration of speed. The driving pulley is mounted loosely on its
shaft, where it is maintained laterally by two rings, it can be connected
with the shaft either by the toothed clutch which is operated by a forked
lever or by a friction plate. This plate which is keyed on the shaft, and is
likewise shifted by a forked lever, will allow the machine to be put into
work gradually and without shock by first turning the fly wheel alone
and engaging the driving pulley with the shaft.
In some cases we make our improved chains with teeth on the back
or outer edge for the purpose of transmitting rotary motion. When the
chain acts as a pinion the breadth of the teeth is only equal to that of
the shank of cach link, and they are spaced irregularly on the chain so
as to present the desired angular intervals, when the chain is bent round
to gear with a pinion. The teeth of the chain when it is intended to act
as a rack occupy the whole breadth of the chain; they are hollowed
underneath to allow the teeth of the guide pulleys to pass. The teeth
are formed only on part of the chain in order to transmit an inter-
mittent rotation to a pinion.
Our Invention applies not only to machines and tools but also to the
engine itself for working the driving shaft. The large fly wheel of the
engine is loose on its shaft, which novel peculiarity by allowing of the
instantaneous stoppage of all transmission, and of all the machines in
the factory or works will prevent many accidents.
The large fly wheel will only be in action when its use is required,

page_text: ought to regulate. In order to facilitate the putting of the engine itself
into work, it will be well to have a small additional fly wheel keyed on
its shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Claude Désiré Goubet and Jean Noel Monrocq
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CLAUDE
DÉSIRÉ GOUBET, Civil Engineer, and JEAN NOEL MONROCQ, Printer, of
Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 123, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said Claude Désiré Goubot and
Jean Noel Monrocq, Her special licence, that we, the said Claude Désiré
Goubet and Jean Noel Monrocq, our executors,- administrators, and
assigns, or such others as wo, the said Claude Désiré Goubet and Jean
Noel Monrocq, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, uso, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for " IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR TRANSMITTING MOTIVE POWER," upon tho
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Claude Désiré Goubet
and Jean Noel Monrocq, our executors or administrators, by an instru- ||
ment in writing under our, or one of our or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW VE
that
TA the said Blanda Del

page_text: lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
The Invention which forms the subject of the present application for
Patent makes a radical change, and at the same time effects a great
improvement in the plant of factories and works in so far as regards the
transmission of motive power from an engine or prime mover to all the
machines, apparatus, and tools which it drives.
Our mode of transmission differs from that generally followed in
four chief points upon which our Invention is based. Those are,—
1. The entire suppression of belts and their replacement by steel or
iron chains of a particular type or form.
2. The fitting of the fly wheel of cach machine or tool loosely on
its shaft instead of keying it thereto, so as to render the fly wheel
quite independent of the machine, the working of which it regulates
at the moment the machine stops, which can thus be done absolutely
instantaneously.
3. The driving of cach tool or machine through the intermedia-
tion of a spring clutch mounted on the tool or machine shaft, so
as to prevent shocks at the time of putting into work.
4. The introduction of ratchets on the driving shaft at the point
where it transmits the motive power to the tool with the object of
enabling the latter to profit by the sudden motions which accelerations
of speed of the prime mover tend to give it. It is upon these data
(which may be applied conjointly or separately) and to realize in tho
5 most advantageous manner the conditions incident thereto, that the
apparatus and devices for transmitting power which we now proceed to
describe are constructed.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings is a sectional elevation, and Figures
2 and 3 are elevations of the two opposite sides of apparatus constructed
O according to this Invention for transmitting motive power to drive a
tool or machine.
Figure 3 is a transverse section; Figures 4 and 5 represent (full size)
a piece of the special type or form of chain we employ.
Figure 6 represents an arrangement of our chain formed with teeth, so
35 as to transmit motion at the exterior. The tecth formed on the back of

page_text: the said chain differ according to whether they should act as a pinion,
Figure 7, or as a rack, Figure 8.
In most cases the adoption of our Invention will render, if not
compulsory at least decidedly preferable, the placing of the driving shaft
under the floor instead of as usual overhead, and the application we
are about to explain is to a machine with the driving shaft so placed.
The main shaft A of the machine to be driven is shewn as situated
in the samo vertical plane as the driving shaft B, but it is clear
that its position may be more or less out of that vertical plane,
according to circumstances, and these two shafts communicate by
a chain C instead of by an ordinary driving belt. This chain, which
is of iron, or preferably of steel, is made in a special manner, of
which Figures 4 and 5 represent two modifications. Each link
consists of a flat shank c connected at each end to a knob d, which
has a cylindrical hole e formed transversly through it. The two knobs
may be placed at opposite sides (Figure 4), or both at one side (Figuro 5)
of the shank, and the shank may be straight sided or otherwise. Tho
several links are joined together by placing the end of ono against the
end of the next, and then uniting the two by a pin or rivet f which is
passed through their cylindrical holes e, c, and then clenched into
countersinks formed at the edges of the holes. The fitting of the rivets
is as tight as possible, but sufficiently free not to interfere with the play
of the joint necessary in the chain, as it bends in passing over a pulley
and again straightens. Other forms of link made on the same principle
may be used, for example, a link in the form of a fork (see Figure 9)
with the knobs placed symmetrically at the same end of the shank, and
the same width apart as the shank, so as to receive the shank of the
next link.
The two chain pulleys D and E one on the driving shaft and the other
on the shaft of the machine, have the form of a gear wheel with a
groove g in the middle of the felloe or rim. The shanks of the links
lodge in the groove while the knobs with their internal rivets engage in
the spaces or hollows of the two toothed checks. Each knob is thus
held between two consecutive teeth h, h, on the sides of which, either at
the entry or at the exit, it finds a point of support which considerably a
diminishes the work of the rivet. The rivet not being in direct contact
with the pulley has only to resist drawing strains. It receives no shock
at the time of change of form of the chain, and is thus removed from

page_text: all cause of wear, which so soon deteriorates the kinds of chains now
in use, such as those in which the pin or pivoting axis bears directly
upon the rim of the pulley.
The chain pulleys D and E, instead of being keyed on their shafts A
and B after the modes generally adopted, are on the contrary loose on
their shaft, and they are connected to them by clutchos, the construction
and action of which we will proceed to describe.
The fly wheel V has its nave or centre keyed on the same socket or
sleeve F as the nave of the chain pulley D. As this chain pulley is fitted
freely on its shaft A it follows that the fly wheel, like the pulley, is loose
on its shaft. The principal advantage of this novel arrangement is that
the fly wheel is rendered independent of the machine, and is detached
therefrom at the moment the machine should stop working. This is the
only way of producing an instantaneously stoppage by dispensing with
a brake, the action of which is often imperfect.
The socket or sleeve F is in a piece with a clutch G on which a
.ratchet wheel H is fixed concentrically. All these parts form with the
fly wheel V one and the same piece, which is loose on the shaft A, where
it is retained at one side by the bearing, and at the other by a ring a.
Immediately adjoining tho clutch G the shaft A carries the engaging
apparatus. It consists essentially of a drum, the rim J of which has a
groove to receive the fork of a clutch lever K. The nave I of this
drum, which is connected to the rim by a plato, is keyed on the shaft A
so that it can slide freely towards the clutch, being held only at the
other side by a ring j. In this sliding movement the drum draws with it
a counter clutch L, which is fitted to its nave I. This counter clutch
is connected to the drum by a spring R formed of a band of steel,
which is hooked or attached at one end to the rim J, and at the other
to the counter clutch L by a dovetail joint. The opening of the
drum opposite the plate is closed by a cover N carrying two pauls or
clicks n, n, for acting on the tecth of the ratchet H. For greater
clearness we have shown in Figure 1 the parts in the positions they
respectively occupy when disengaged.
To put the parts into gear it is sufficient to push the drum and its
clutch by means of the forked lever K so that it engages with the other
clutch G. The two clutches thus turn together, but before their rotation
can be communicated to the drum it is necessary for the spring R to

page_text: wind up so as to present a resistance equal to that of the power to be
transmitted. It is only from this moment that the drum with its navo,
and consequently the shaft A, participate in the rotation of the chain
wheel and fly wheel. The tension of the spring is produced very quickly.
This very rapid action is sufficient to diminish the shocks at the time of
putting the machine into work.
During the working of a machine or tool the resisting power often
varies between considerable limits. These variations would necessitate
alternations of tension and slackening of the spring, and would conse-
quently occasion injurious shocks if we had not interposed the play of :
the ratchet H and pauls n, n, which prevent the spring slackening. As
long as the power to be transmitted increases the pauls allow the spring
to wind up, and they ride freely over the ratchet teeth, but as soon as
the power diminishes the pauls, being engaged between the teeth, where
they are, pressed by their springs m, m, prevent the unwinding of the
spring by locking its return movement.
The object of the mechanism we have just described is to make the
transmission of the motive power very smooth and regular. There
remains however to prevent the tool or machine partaking of quick or
sudden movements caused by the engine running fast, and to take
advantage of these accelerations of speed. We obtain this result by a
ratchet arrangement on the driving shaft B. This ratchet mechanism is
composed of a ratchet toothed clutch M keyed on the driving shaft,
along which it can slide, being constantly pushed in one direction by a
coiled spring K. This clutch acts on a similar clutch P formed on the
nave of the chain pulley E. When the driving shaft receives from the
prime mover an accelerated impulse the clutch M transmits it to the chain
pulley E, and from that to the machine, the speed of which gains several
turns over that of the driving shaft. During this differential rotation
the clutch P on the chain pulley of the driving shaft clears several teeth
of the clutch M, which moves therefrom by compressing its spring K,
but as soon as the prime mover, and consequently the driving shaft, have
returned to their normal pace this clutch M, pushed by its spring,
regains the opposite clutch P, and will only quit it again when there is
a fresh acceleration of speed. The driving pulley E is mounted loosely
on its shaft B, where it is maintainod laterally by two rings b, b. It can
be connected with the shaft, either on the one side by the toothed
clutch M, which is operated by a forked lever Q, or on the other side by

page_text: a friction plate S. This plate, which is keyed on the shaft B, and is
likewise shifted by a forked lever T, will allow the machine to be put
into work gradually and without shock by first turning the fly wheel
alone and engaging the driving pulley with the shaft.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are sufficient to explain the use of our improved
chains when made with teeth on the back or outer edge for the purpose
of transmitting rotary motion. When the chain acts as a pinion (sec
Figure 7) the breadth of the tecth is only equal to that of the shank of
cach link, and they are spaced irregularly on the chain, so as to present
the desired angular intervals when the chain is bent round to gear with
a pinion o (see Figure 6). The teeth of the chain when it is intended to
act as a rack occupy the whole breadth of the chain. They are hollowed
underneath to allow the teeth of the guide pulleys to pass. The teeth
are formed only on part of the chain in ordor to transmit an intermittent
rotation to a pinion Y (Figure 6).
Our Invention applies not only to machines and tools, but also to the
engine itself for working the driving shaft. The large fly wheel of the
engine is loose on its shaft, which novel peculiarity, by allowing of
the instantaneous stoppage of all transmission and of all the machines
in the factory or works, will prevent many accidents.
The large fly wheel will only be in action when its use is required,
that is to say, during the transmission of power, the speed of which it
ought to regulate. In order to facilitate the putting of the engine itself
into work it will be well to have a small additional fly wheel keyed on
its shaft.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, wo declare that we claim,—
First. The employment in lieu of belts in machinery for transmitting
motive power of metal chains formed substantially as herein-before
described, of links with knobs, and gearing with toothed pulleys or
pinions.
Second. Mounting the fly wheel of machines or tools loosely on its
shaft, and fitting it on a socket or sleeve which carries the driving
pulley and forms a clutch, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The spring engaging apparatus, composed of a drum keyed on
its shaft, and connected by a spring with a clutch to gear with the clutch
on the slcevc, substantially as hercin-before described.

page_text: Fourth. The ratchet and pauls for preventing the said spring
slackening, as herein-before described.
Fifth. The ratchet mechanism on the driving shaft for allowing the
machine to make an advance when the engine races or suddenly in-
creases its speed, substantially as herein-before described.
Sixth. The general combination or arrangement of parts for trans-
mitting motive power, herein-before described and represented in the
annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Claude Désiré Goubet and Jean
Noel Monrocq, havo hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth
day of September, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
E
O. D. GOUBET.
(L.S.)
Witness,
CHARLES FROSSARD,
23, Boulevard de Strasbourg,
a Paris.
J. N. MONROOQ. (L.S.)