Improvements in the Construction of Flexible Driving Shafts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
D
Improvements in the Construction of Flexible Driving Shafts.
We, PHILIP ASHBERRY, Burngreave Road, Manager, and WALTER BARNES,
Intake Road, Ivory Carver, both of Sheffield in the County of York, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of flexible driving
shafts, and refers more particularly to shafts used for driving mechanical clippers
for sheep and other animals, in which a high speed of revolution is required.
We have illustrated our invention on the annexed sheet of drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the different figures.
Fig. 1, represents the end of the flexible shaft for attachment to the driving
motion.
Fig. 2, the lower part of vertical shaft in driving motion, to which the shaft is
attached.
Fig. 3, section of shaft with coupling screw.
Fig. 4, end of shaft for driving clipper.
In carrying out our invention, the object of which is to obtain a perfectly
smooth and very pliable or flexible metallic driving shaft, that will be capable of
rotating at a high speed inside an outer covering of leather or the like with the
minimum of friction, and maximum of driving power and without heating or burning
the cover; we take a number of lengths of steel wire, preferably square or there-
abouts in cross section and coil it to the required diameter, and so that the coils are
close together as seen in Fig. 1 marked A.
Each end of the coil is then prepared with an internal screw thread B, cut in
the bore of the shaft as shown in Fig. 1, part of the shaft being cut away to exhibit
the interior.
a
These lengths of tubular flexible shafting may now be hardened and tempered,
or a specially hard steel may be used that will not require hardening, and they are
connected by means of coupling screws C, preferably made of steel, and having
central collar C¹, of the same diameter as the shaft or thereabouts, the threads of
the screw being made right or left hand according to the direction the shaft is
intended to revolve and so that it may not become unscrewed.
The end of the shaft D, which is to be attached to the driving gear may be solid
or tubular it is secured to the flexible shaft by a coupling screw in the manner
before described, and is provided with a projecting stud E; the end of the driving
shaft F, (which is preferably a vertical shaft driven by a wheel and pinion) is
tubular or partly tubular, having a longitudinal slot G, returned a short distance at
its top end, to receive and retain the projecting stud E, and so communicate its
rotary motion to the flexible shaft. The opposite termination H, which is to be
attached to the clipper, is attached to the coiled shaft in the manner before described
or by a solid screwed projection on the end of H, and we use a slot I, to engage
with a stud on the driving shaft of the clipper, which permits of a little longitudinal
play when the clipper is moved into various positions while at work.
The end pieces D, and H, and the coupling screws C, may be made of steel,
phosphor bronze, or other suitable metal, as we do not bind ourselves to the material
used, although we prefer steel.
We wish it to be clearly understood that we are aware that flexible shafting bas
already been made by coiling wire, or rods, and therefore we do not claim such

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed. we declare that what
we claim is :-
A flexible metallic shaft. made in lengths of coiled wire A, secured or coupled
together by coupling-screws C; engaging with a screw thread formed in the coiled
wire A, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated.
A flexible metallic shaft made in lengths of coiled wire A, connected by coupling
screws C, engaging with a screw thread cut in the interior of the coil A, and having
at one end a solid or tubular connecting piece D, to fit into the hollow shaft of the
driving gear, and at the other end a tubular slotted endpiece H, to connect it with
the clipper.
Dated th
F
1001
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.