IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND ARRESTING MOTION IN MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aldridge Weston, of Ridgewood, Bergen
County, New Jersey, in the United States of America, and of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND
ARRESTING MOTION IN MACHINERY."
Sealed the 13th March 1874, and dated the 15th September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th September 1873.
I, THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Ridgewood, Bergen County, New
Jersey, in the United States of America, and of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for ** IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND
ARRESTING MOTION IN MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
My Invention in its several parts consists in the various mechanical
devices and mechanical combinations herein-after described, the purposes
and objects of which are to transmit or regulate or arrest motion in

page_text: machinery for hoisting weights, driving and stopping machines, and. the
various other applications of which the several parts of my said In-
vention are or may be capable.
The first part of my Invention consists of an improved friction clutchi
for driving machinery of various kinds and for stopping or controlling
the same, and it is thus constructed:-I take the clutch brake, repre-
sented in Figs. 1 to 4 of the Drawings attached to the Specification of
my Letters Patent, No. 2494, of 22nd August 1872, and instead of
employing the single strap, therein shown in the said Figures, I employ
a compound strap passed more than once around the friction pulley in
the following manner :- Assuming, for brevity, that the said friction
pulley is three inches wide on its face, I attach to the disc or drum to be
driven, or which may be the driver, two straps, each of them one inch in
width, parallel with each other, but with a clear or vacant space of one
inch in width between them. These two parallel straps pass around the
friction pulley once or any less required portion of a circle, and their
ends then terminate in a cross piece uniting them, to which is also fixed
the end of a single strap of sufficient width to occupy the vacant strip of
space between the two straps first named; this single strap is then con-
tinued around the pulley in the same direction for a whole circle, or any
less portion thereof, and its other end is attached to the other disc or
drum or piece corresponding to the loose disc in Fig. 1 of the Drawings
and Specification above referred to. This construction of strap gives
large wearing surface and increased holding power, and by an obvious
modification permits the strap to be coiled more than twice around the
pulley if required.
In applying this part of my Invention as a brake only I form upon
the frame of the hoist or other machine a containing rim for the straps
to expand within concentrically around the pulley, and upon the shaft
itself as a fulcrum I swing a hand lever to operate. the brake, its short
end carrying the free or moving end of the strap or straps and moving
therewith concentrically along the pulley rim when working the said
straps, and its longer end is extended to any convenient length for the
hand of the operator. An eccentric, cam, or paul is hung to this hand
lever and acts upon the exterior of the containing rim to lock the lever
at any desired point, and the lever may be so placed as by its gravity to
free the straps from the pulley. This construction of friction strap is

page_text: obviously applicable to all friction clutches in which flexible straps are
employed.
The second part of my Invention is an improved friction driver,
especially adapted to transmitting or arresting motion in driving mill or
other shafts, and is thus constructed :-I pivot upon the driving pulley,
which may also be the driven one, one or more eccentric clamps or arms,
their centres of motion being near the centre of the pulley. Their
outer ends are curved or formed to embrace the rim of another disc or
pulley requiring connection and disconnection with the first-named
pulley. These arms are kept in frictional contact with the second-named
pulley or disc by springs, in which position power and motion may be
transmitted from one pulley to the other by the eccentric action of the
said arms.
To disconnect the same I employ a sliding collar upon the
shaft grooved to receive the usual forked lever, and this collar has
curved arms or pins, one to each of the eccentric arms or clamps. The
collar slides upon a longitudinal key on the shaft, and when pushed
towards the eccentric arms the pins or arms attached to the collar being
curved or wedge formed for the purpose raise the eccentric clamps from
their contact with and grasp upon the second-named disc or pulley.
The two pulleys or discs are thus disconnected. Where the pulley
carrying the eccentric arms is the driven one its motion may be arrested
by simply interposing a fixed bar or abutment of any kind into the
path of revolution of the eccentric arms to catch the free ends of
the same, and lift them from their grip upon the other or driving
pulley.
་
The third part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of
frictional gripping levers especially suited for transmitting intermittent
or vibratory motion into continuous circular motion for driving rotatory
shafts, drill spindles, and other purposes. Upon the shaft to be driven
I fix a pulley with a plain outer friction rim. Upon each side of the
same and turning upon the shaft as a common axis is a plain lever, the
outer or vibrating ends of which are united as a solid piece of hollow or
tubular section, screw threaded in its interior to receive the solid
screwed end of a handle for operating the said levers. The inner end of
this handle is cupped or hollowed to receive the globular end of a
thrusting bar or connecting rod, occupying lengthwise the space between
the levers, and it terminates at its inner end in a saddle or concave
shoe, which is in frictional contact with the pulley rim. The connecting
.

page_text: rod has its inner end seated at a point in the saddle or shoe outside the
centre radial line of the levers and a spring attached to the levers tends
always to press the connecting rod and shoe towards the centre radial
line of the levers. The toggle or eccentric action between the said
levers and connecting rod gives to the handle a powerful grasp upon the
pulley and shaft in one direction and entire freedom therefrom. if the
handle be moved the other way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey, in the
United States of America, and of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Aldridge
Weston, my 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,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND ARRESTING
MOTION IN MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-.
My Invention in its several parts consists in the various mechanical
devices and mechanical combinations herein-after described, the purposes
and objects of which are to transmit or regulate or arrest motion in
machinery for hoisting weights, driving and stopping machines, and the
various other applications, of which the several parts of my said Inven-
tion are or may be capable.
The first part of my Invention consists of an improved friction clutch
for driving machinery of various kinds, and for stopping or controlling
the same, and it is thus constructed :-I tako the clutch brake repre-
sented in Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings attached to the Specification of
my Letters Patent, No. 2494, of 22nd August 1872, and instead of
employing the single strap therein shewn in the said Figures, I employ
a compound strap passed more than once around the friction pulley in
the following manner:-Assuming for brevity that the said friction pulley
is three inches wide on its face, I attach to the disk or drum. to be
driven, or which may be the driver, two straps, each of them one inch
in width parallel with each other, but with a clear or vacant space of
one inch in width between them; these two parallel straps pass around
the friction pulley once or any less required portion of a circle, and their
ends then terminate in a cross piece uniting them, to which is also fixed
the end of a single strap of sufficient width to occupy the vacant strip
of space between the two straps, first named; this single strap is then
continued around the pulley in the same direction for a whole circle or
any less portion thereof, and its other end is attached to the other disk
or drum or piece corresponding to the loose disk in Figure 1 of the
Drawings and Specification above referred to. This construction of strap
gives large wearing surface and increased holding power, and by an
obvious modification permits the strap to be coiled more than twice
around the pulley if so required.
In applying this part of my Invention as a brake only I form upon
the frame of the hoist or other machine a containing rim for the straps
to expand within concentrically around the pulley and upon the shaft

page_text: itself as a fulcrum; I swing a hand lever to operate the brake, its short
end carrying the free or moving end of the strap or straps and moving
therewith concentrically along the pulley rim when working the said
straps, and its longer end is extended to any convenient length for the
hand of the operator. An eccentric cam or pawl is hung to this hand
lever, and acts upon the exterior of the containing rim to lock the lever
at any desired point, and the lever may be so placed as by its gravity to
free the straps from the pulley; this construction of friction strap is
obviously applicable to all friction clutches in which flexible straps are
employed.
The second part of my Invention is an improved friction driver
especially adopted to transmitting or arresting motion in driving mill or
other shafts, and is thus constructed:-I pivot upon the driving pulley,
which may also be the driven one, one or more eccentric clamps or arms,
their centres of motion being near the centre of the pulley. Their outer
ends are curved or formed to embrace the rim of another disk or pulley
requiring connection and disconnection with the first named pulley.
These arms are kept in frictional contact with the second named pulley
or disk by springs, in which position power and motion may be trans-
mitted from one pulley to the other by the eccentric action of the said
arms. To disconnect the same I employ a sliding collar upon the shaft
grooved to receive the usual forked lever, and this collar has curved arms
or pins, one to each of the eccentric arms or clamps. The collar slides
upon a longitudinal key on the shaft, and when pushed towards the
eccentric arms, the pins or arms attached to the collar being curved or
wedge formed for the purpose raise the eccentric clamps from their
contact with and grasp upon the second named disk or pulley. The two
pulleys or disks are thus disconnected. Where the pulley carrying the
eccentric arms is the driven one, its motion may be arrested by simply
interposing a fixed bar or abutment of any kind into the path of
revolution of the eccentric arms to catch the free ends of the same and
lift them from their grip upon the other or driving pulley.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improved arrangement of
frictional gripping levers, especially suited for transmitting intermittent
or vibratory motion into continuous circular motion for driving rotatory
shafts, drill spindles, and other purposes. Upon the shaft to be driven
I fix a pulley with a plain outer friction rim, upon each side of the
same and turning upon the shaft as a common axis is a plain lever, the

page_text: outer or vibrating ends of which are united as a solid piece of hollow
or tubular section, screw threaded in its interior to receive the solid
screwed end of a handle for operating the said levers. The inner end of
this handle is cupped or hollowed to receive the globular end of a
thrusting bar or connecting rod occupying lengthwise the space between
the levers, and it terminates at its inner end in a saddle or concave shoe,
which is in frictional contact with the pulley rim. The connecting rod
has its inner end seated at a point in the saddle or shoe outside the
centre radial line of the levers, and a spring attached to the levers tends
always to press the connecting rod and shoe towards the centre radial
line of the levers. The toggle or eccentric action between the said levers
and connecting rod gives to the handle a powerful grasp upon the pulley
and shaft in one direction, and entire freedom therefrom if the handle be
moved the other way.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
The first part of my Invention is illustrated by Figures 1 to 6, like
letters of reference referring to corresponding parts.
Figure 1 represents in elevation the compound friction strap A, B,
forming the prominent feature in this part of my Invention, and placed
in its acting position upon a friction pulley, as, for instance, the friction
pulley C in Figure 1 of the Drawings attached to the Specification of
my Letters Patent, No. 2494, dated 22nd August 1872.
Figure 2 represents in plan the compound strap A, B, uncoiled; and
Figure 3 represents the compound strap made in a single piece by
welding or otherwise.
Figure 4 represents the compound strap modified for coiling thrice
around a pulley.
Figure 5 represents in elevation, and Figure 6 in section through the
dotted line X, X, the side or end of a hoisting machine to which my
Invention is applied for the purposes of a friction brake.
The compound strap is thus applied to a friction pulley commencing
at the eye A¹ (Figure 1) or tail of the strap:-Its single part A passes
centrally around the pulley face to a cross piece A², beyond which the
strap is bifurcated, its two numbers B, B, being then continued around

page_text: the pulley face, one on each side of the single part A, and terminating
in eyes or other suitable connectors at B', B¹.
Should the strap be required to make a third convolution or any part
thereof, the pulley must have proportionately greater width of face, and
the additional length of strap must be formed, as shown at B³, B²,
Figure 4, which portions B2, B3, when applied to the pulley will lie
respectively one upon each side of the part B, B.
For brake purposes I thus apply my Invention:-Upon the side frame
of the hoist, as for instance D, Figure 5, I cast or fix thereupon a con-
taining rim D', at one end of which the fixed end B¹ of the compound
friction strap, already fully described, is secured, and within which said.
rim the strap, when expanded and out of action, is compelled to take a
concentric form free from any contact with the pulley face. Upon the
shaft E as a fulcrum I place a hand lever E, its shorter end F¹ being
cranked to enter within the eye or loop at the free or moving end A¹ of
the strap, and its longer end F³ is extended to any convenient length for
the hand of the operator. The exterior of the rim D' has teeth D² cast
thereon for the action therewith of the differential palls or catches F³,
carried on the lever F, for locking the brake in any desired position.
Instead of the palls and teeth a cam or eccentric may be employed
with like effect.
The compound friction strap forming the prominent feature of the
first part of my Invention is applicable to a great variety of friction
clutches and brakes employing straps, and amongst them with particular
advantage to the following enumerated examples described in the Speci-
fications of my previous Letters Patent, videlicet:-No. 2494, of 22nd
August 1872, Figure 1 to 9, and Figures 16 to 19; No. 960, of
March 15th, 1873, Figures 1 and 2, Figures 7 to 10, Figures 11 and 12,
Figures 17 and 18.
The second part of my Invention is illustrated by Figures 7 and 8
of the accompanying Drawings. Upon a driving pulley A (which
may also be the driven one) I pivot the eccentric arms or clamps B
which turn upon studs B¹, and the outer ends B³ of the said arms
are curved or cranked, as shown in Figure 8, and more plainly in
Figure 10, so as to grasp or embrace the rim of another disk or
pulley C requiring to be connected with and disconnected from the

page_text: first-named pulley A. The arms B are pressed by springs B* into
frictional contact at their ends B³ with the rim of the pulley C, in
which position the pulley C may drive the pulley A in the direction
of the arrow in Figure 7, or A may drive C the contrary way. The
frictional bite which the arms B have upon the disk C is due to
their eccentric action combined with the frictional effect of any initial
pressure applied to them, as in this instance, by means of the springs B‘.
To disconnect the same I employ a sliding collar D with wedge-formed
prongs or forks D¹. These wedges D partly occupy and slide across
slots in the rim of the pulley A, and when pressed forward by advancing
the collar D nearer to the pulley A, the wedges act against and gradually
force or lift the eccentric arms from their grasp upon the pulley C, and
free the latter from its frictional connection with the pulley A.
If desired the aforesaid disconnecting motion given to the wedges D¹
may serve simultaneously to connect the eccentric arms B with an
annular rim E, shown in dotted lines, and forming part of another
pulley, which may be driven or may drive in a contrary direction
to the pulley C, and thus furnish a convenient reversing motion. This
duplex action of the wedges in both connecting and disconnecting the
coupling may be thus explained.
It is obvious that by lifting the arms or clamps B from the pulley C
their outer ends B³ are carried radially further out of the slots on the
rim of the pulley A, and the said outer extremities are projected beyond
the edge of the pulley A, as shewn in Figure 7, and in which position
thus driven by the wedges D the arm B would abut forcibly against
an annular rim, such as shown in dotted lines E, and the pulley carrying
the said rim could thus be driven in the direction of the arrow, or drive
in a contrary direction.
According to this mode of constructing my Invention the initial
pressure may be applied to the eccentric arms either by springs or
wedges, as may be most convenient.
For heavy duty the wedge action is preferable through the facility
for intensifying the force by simply diminishing the angle of the wedge
at the part where its ultimate action is required.
To increase durability the rubbing ends of the eccentric arms may
be extended in the circumferential line of the pulley rims A and C,
or may have segmental brake blocks of like form pivotted thereto.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The improved friction clutch and brake herein-before described
and illustrated by Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The improved friction clutch or driver herein-before described
and illustrated by Figures 7 to 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The improved adjustable frictional gripping levers herein-before
described and illustrated by Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.