Improvements in Friction Grip Mechanism and Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Friction Grip Mechanism and Apparatus.
I, JOHN EDWARD EVANS-JACKSON of 45 Holborn Viaduct, London, Engineer
and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (communicated
to me by Edwin Stancliff of 62 West 66th Street, City, County and State of New
York, U.S.A. Inventor, and Thomas Orgill of Bond, Shelby County, Tennessee,
U.S.A., Manufacturer) 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 essentially of a shaft split on a plane that lies in the
general direction of the length of the shaft, the split extending across the width of
the shaft, with the two parts laid together so as to make the shaft complete, one
part being bevelled along one side by cutting away a portion of the face that
contacts with the other part in such manner as to form a longitudinal rocking edge
so positioned that if the parts are rocked relatively to each other upon this edge in
one direction their combined diameter is increased beyond their combined diameter
when the parts are rocked in the other direction.
My invention is applicable in various devices. I show in this application three
widely different devices in order to illustrate its scope.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are side views of three different bolts, showing my invention
applied in nut-locking bolts.
Fig. 4. is a cross section taken on the lines a-, of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The
lettering is that of Fig. 1. To make the lettering correspond to that of Fig. 2.
6 must be changed to b', and a to a'; and to make it correspond to that of Fig. 3,
must be changed to 6¹¹ and a to a¹¹.
Fig. 5 is a side view partly in section showing my invention applied in a
reversible ratchet.
Figs. 6 and 7 are detail cross-sections on the lines x-x and y-y respectively of
Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a pulley shaft and wheel and pillow blocks showing
my invention applied in a reversible clutch for a pulley wheel. The pillow blocks
are shown in cross-section, and the pulley wheel is broken away to the centre.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing my invention applied in a feeding device.
Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line of Fig. 9.
Referring now to the nut-locking bolts of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bolts are in two
parts. The split may extend along the entire length of the bolt, as shown in
Fig. 1, but this is not necessary, and the forms which I have shown in Figs. 2
and 3 have certain advantages which will be hereafter set forth. The surface of
separation of the two parts of a bolt severed in the manner represented in Fig. 1.
1s a plane surface that extends clear across its width and throughout the length of
the bolt. By this separation there is of course formed on each of the parts a and b
a plane face. These two plane faces are equal, and when the two are placed
together the bolt is complete. One of these parts, part b as shown, is bevelled by
removing from one edge a wedge-shaped piece. If the bolt is split, as shown, on
the plane which includes the central longitudinal axis of the bolt, this wedge-
shaped cut should not penetrate to the central longitudinal axis of the bolt; that
is, the portion of the flat face of part 6 cut away should be less than half of that
face. There is thus formed a rocking edge which lies parallel to the central
longitudinal axis of the bolt, and on that side of this axis which is toward the side
of the bolt from which the cut is started.
b
In a nut-locking bolt this bevel preferably in no case cuts away more than half

page_text: of the plane face of the part above referred to, and if the plane face lies in the
same plane with the central axis of the bolt less than half of the said plane face is
cut away. If exactly half is cut away the rocking edge will then coincide with the
central axis u of the bolt, and its diameter will not be altered by rocking the parts.
If more than half is cut away the device becomes substantially like that of Fig. 10
from the discussion of which below it will appear that the bolt if so cut could not
operate to lock the nut.
If the nut c is turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4, (which, with
a right handed screw is the direction that carries the nut on to the bolt), and the
part a is held stationary, as by the projection d of Fig. 1 fitting into a socket in the
work through which the bolt passes, the friction of the nut in the thread tends to
hold the face w of part 6 down on the flat face of the part a, and the nut turns on
to the bolt as though the bolt were not split. The two parts maintain their normal
combined diameter. But when the nut is turned in the opposite direction to take
it off, the friction of the nut turns the part 6 on the rocking edge w, thereby
increasing the combined diameter of the two parts of the bolt beyond their normal
combined diameter, and causing the nut to bind.
If dirt were to get in between the parts a and b so as to prevent the part 6 from
rocking as above indicated it would prevent the device from locking the nut. The
construction in Fig. 1 is open to this objection. It is removed in the construction
of Figs. 2 and 3, in which the nut covers one or two threads of the part 6' beyond
the end of the part a', and one or two threads of the part a' within the end of the
part b', so that the surface of separation between the two parts lies wholly within
the nut c when the bolt and nut are in place in the structure in which they are to
be used. These bolts will now be specifically described.
In the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the bolt is also split in two parts. One
part, a or all, carries the head and a portion of the thread of the bolt, and the
other part, 6 or 6", carries the remainder of the thread of the bolt.
The surfaces of separation of the parts of the bolt of Fig. 2 are marked by two
transverse lines started from opposite sides of the bolt, and near the opposite ends
of the thread, and a longitudinal line through the body of the bolt which joins the
inner ends of the two transverse lines. This longitudinal line represents a plane of
separation which extends entirely across the bolt from side to side. There is thus
formed upon each of the parts a¹ and 'a plane face, which extends clear across the
bolt from side to side, similar to the plane faces formed on the two parts of the holt
of Fig. 1, except that it extends only part way along the length of the bolt. Their
two plane faces are of course equal.
A longitudinal wedge is cut off by bevelling the part 6' in the same way that the
part of the bolt of Fig. 1 is bevelled. The shank of the part a' is squared and is
fitted into a suitable socket in the work through which the bolt passes, so that the
part a' shall be held stationary while the nut is being turned on the bolt.
The bolt of Fig. 3 is split on a diagonal, and the part 61 is bevelled in such
manner as to form a rocking edge which lies in a longitudinal plane through the
bolt. This rocking edge is in all respects similar to that on the part 6 of Fig. 1,
and on of Fig. 2, except that the plane or flat face on which it is formed lies in
a diagonal plane through the bolt, as stated.
To get the nuts off it is necessary to hold the parts b, 6¹ or 6" so as to prevent it
from rocking upon the rocking edge. I show the outer end of 61 and ¹¹ slotted
for this purpose.
The thread of the bolt and nut shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is not necessary to the
operation of my invention, since the friction between an unthreaded shaft and
sleeve can be made sufficient to rock a part like the part b, and 6" in the manner
before described, and I have shown, in Fig. 5, a reversible ratchet device which
embodies my invention.
There are two rocking pieces, e and f, which lie in notches in the side of the
shaft, g. These rocking pieces are prisin-shaped and are bevelled along opposite
sides, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The handle carries a sleeve, which has a rim j

page_text: that contacts with the rocking pieces e or f according to how the handle is set. If
set so that the rim j contacts with the piece e, which piece is shown in Fig. 6, the
handle turns freely to the right, but is locked when turned to the left, and if set so
that the rim contacts with the piece f, which is shown in Fig. 7, the handle turns
freely to the left, but is locked when turned to the right.
It will be observed from any one of the foregoing figures that the device will act
as a grip, whether the bevelled piece be made to rock on the other part of the
shaft, or vice versa. If in any one of the first three forms the part 6, 6' or 6" is held
and the part a, a¹ or a¹¹ is free to rock, the nut will turn off freely, but will not turn
on. For the nut, when it is turned on, will carry the part a. with it in the direction
of the arrow in Fig. 4, which will cause it to rock on to the rocking edge, w, and
cause the nut to bind.
I have shown in Fig. 8 an application of the principle set forth in the last
paragraph in the form of a reversible-clutch pulley wheel. As shown, the pulley
wheel kis mounted on a shaft made up of two parts, m and n, separated by three
surfaces of separation which are like the surfaces of separation of parts a¹ and 6¹ of
Fig. 2, already described. The longitudinal surface of separation includes the
central longitudinal axis of the bolt. And one of these parts, n, has a longitudinal
wedge cut away like that cut out of part 6' of Fig. 2. As in Fig. 2, this wedge
does not penetrate to this axis. Upon the edge thus formed either part, m or n
may be rocked. And if either is so rocked from a position similar to that of Fig. 4,
the combined diameter is increased beyond the normal diameter of the shaft and
the shaft binds the pulley wheel. The two parts m and n are mounted in pillow
blocks 11, and screws o o are provided, whereby either or both of the parts m and n
can be clamped. If the part m is clamped and the part n is free to rock, the pulley
wheel k can turn freely in the direction indicated by the arrow shown on the outer
face of the wheel. But if the wheel be turned in the opposite direction, the part n
will be rocked on to its rocking edge and bind the wheel. If the part m be
unclamped and the part n clamped, then the pulley wheel can turn freely in the
opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow but will be locked against turning
in the direction indicated by the arrow. If both parts, m and n, are clamped with
the two parts positioned to give the shaft its normal diameter within the sleeve or
hub of the pulley wheel, that is, with the two parts in the position similar to that
indicated in Fig. 4, the pulley wheel will turn freely in either direction. This
construction is useful as an element in a hoisting mechanism, if a strap be passed
over the pulley from the ends of which buckets are suspended.. Thus if the bucket
suspended from the side of the strap on the front side of the pulley is loaded and is
to be lifted, the part m is clamped and the pulley is free to turn in the direction of
the arrow, allowing the bucket to be hoisted, but as the pulley cannot turn in the
contrary direction the load will not run back from any point to which it may be
lifted. When the other bucket is loaded and is to be lifted the action of the friction
grip mechanism is reversed as above described.
By mounting the wheels of a car or wagon on axles with the friction grip
mechanism, it can be set to hold the car from running back when ascending a hill,
and when the car is descending the mechanism may be reversed so as to lock the
wheels if it is desired.
The devices shown in Figs. 5 and 8 have the features already explained with
respect to the nut-locking bolts of Figs. 2 and 3 viz.: that the entire surfaces of
separation between the two parts of the shaft lies within an encircling sleeve since
the length of the split is less than the width of the sleeve. Thus the sleeve covers
the longitudinal gap formed between the two parts by the bevel, and no dirt can
get in to prevent the parts rocking on the rocking edge formed by the bevel.
It is obvious that my invention may be applied in devices in which there is no
sleeve encircling the shaft, since one part of the shaft can be rocked upon another
part by contact with a flat surface.
In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown my invention applied to a feeding device, the
friction necessary to rock the part being obtained by contact with the material fed.

page_text: q
It is a device similar to that of Fig. 7, except that more than half of the flat face
of the part p is cut away to form the rocking edge. Or, to state it in another way,
the wedge-shaped cut penetrates beyond the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.
As in Fig. 7, the shaft is split on a plane that includes the central longitudinal axis.
The bevel is cut in the lower part, p, and when it is rocked on the part of the shaft
by moving the handle r to the right, the part p will rock into such position as to give
to the two parts a combined diameter equal to the normal diameter of the shaft.
This is the position shown in Fig. 10. When the handle is turned to the left the
part p will rock so as to give to the two parts a combined diameter less than the
normal diameter of the shaft. The materials can thus be fed forward very neatly
by moving the handler backward and forward, the circumference of the parts pand q
when gripping being circular, and the two parts turning on an axis through the
centre of the circle. The part p is kept in position by dowel-pins t t, and is
provided with teeth to give a better hold on the material. The device is provided
with a suitable framework as shown. It is applicable to the feeding of any
material of uniform thickness, such as strips of wood or metal, into mechanism
which acts on them as for example, for feeding wire into a stapling machine, for
feeding strips of metal to a punching press, and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In friction grip mechanism a shaft split on a plane that lies in the general
direction of the length of the shaft, the two parts being laid together so as to make
the shaft complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away
a portion of the face that contacts with the other part, in such manner as to form a
longitudinal rocking edge so positioned that, if the parts are rocked relatively to
each other upon this edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased
beyond their combined diameter when the parts are rocked upon this edge in the
other direction, substantially as described.
2. In friction grip mechanism a shaft split on a plane that lies in the general
direction of the length of the shaft, the two parts being laid-together so as to make
the shaft complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away
a portion of the face that contacts with the other part, in such manner as to form a
longitudinal rocking edge so positioned that, if the parts are rocked relatively to
each other upon this edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased
beyond their normal combined diameter, substantially as described.
3. In friction grip mechanism a shaft split on a plane that lies in the general
direction of the length of the shaft, the two parts being laid together so as to make
the shaft complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away
a portion of the face that contacts with the other part, in such manner as to form a
longitudinal rocking edge so positioned that, if the parts are rocked relatively to
each other upon this edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased
beyond their normal combined diameter, in combination with a sleeve encircling the
two parts of the shaft, and gripped thereby to prevent its turning freely in one
direction upon the shaft, substantially as described.
4. In friction grip mechanism a shaft split on a plane that lies in the general
direction of the length of the shaft, the two parts being laid together so as to make
the shaft complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away
a portion of the face that contacts with the other part, in such manner as to form a
longitudinal rocking edge so positioned, that, if the parts are rocked relatively to
each other upon this edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased
beyond their normal combined diameter, in combination with a sleeve encircling the
two parts of the shaft and gripped thereby to prevent its turning freely in one
direction upon the shaft, the length of the split being less than the width of the
sleeve, substantially as described.
5. In friction grip mechanism a shaft split on a plane that lies in the general

page_text: direction of the length of the shaft, the two parts being laid together so as to make
the shaft complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away
a portion of the face that contacts with the other part, in such manner as to form a
longitudinal rocking edge so positioned that, if the parts are rocked relatively to
each other upon this edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased
beyond ther normal combined diameter, in combination with a sleeve encircling the
two parts of the shaft and gripped thereby to prevent its turning freely in one
direction upon the shaft, and means for holding either or both of the parts to
prevent rocking, substantially as described.
6. Friction grip mechanism constituting a nut-locking bolt, the, threaded portion
of which is composed of two parts separated on a plane that lies in the general
direction of the length of the bolt, the two parts being laid together to make the
bolt complete, one of the parts being bevelled along one side by cutting away a
portion of the plane face that contacts with the other part, there being thus formed
a rocking edge which lies in the general direction of the length of the bolt, and is
so positioned that if the parts are rocked relatively to each other upon this rocking
edge in one direction, their combined diameter is increased beyond their normal
combined diameter, and the nut is turned off with difficulty, and turned on with
comparative ease, substantially as described.
7. Friction grip mechanism constituting a nut-locking bolt split on a plane that
includes the central longitudinal axis of the bolt, the two parts being laid together
so as to make the bolt complete, one of the parts being bevelled by cutting away a
portion of the plane face that contacts with the other part, less than one-half of the
said plane face being cut away, there being thus formed a longitudinal rocking edge
which lies parallel to the longitudinal axis and on the side from which the cut is
started, so that if the parts are rocked relatively to each other on this rocking edge
in one direction their combined diameter is increased beyond their normal combined
diameter, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of. February 1894.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.