An Universal Joint or Joint Coupling for Rotatory or Flexible Shafts, Axles, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
.
PRUVIDIONAL DIR
An Universal Joint or Joint Coupling for Rotatory or Flexible
Shafts, Axles, and the like.
We, WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN of 102 Ryland Road, Edgbaston, near the
City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, and JOHN BODINGTON, of 3 Bull Street,
Harborne, near Birmingham aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings or connections in the form of a universal
joint, for coupling or connecting together, sections of shaftings, axes, and the like,
whereby motion communicated to one shaft or axis, may be transferred to that of
another, when the directions of them, are not in the same straight line.
The motion thus transmitted from a driving shaft to a driven one, is variable in
proportion as the angle diminishes, and on the direction of inclination of the said
shaftings, or axes, becoming less than 140 degrees, they cease to act, unless two or
more shaftings in section of shafting be employed for the correction of such
inefficiency.
Thus, the object of our invention, is the communication of motion from one part,
or from one segment, of a shaft or axis, to another segment or part, when the
inclinations of them are changed, so that the machine to be driven, admits of
having its position changed, relative to the driving shaft or axis which is in
connection with the driven shaft, by which it is propelled.
In carrying out one form of our invention, the end of one section of a shaft or
axis, which is the driving one, is provided with an enlargement or circular collar
part, gapped inwardly, from its end, forming as it were, a double branched fork,
and within the gap, or between the branches of which, a tongue-shaped piece at
the adjacent end of the other or driven section, takes, and, on one of the said
sections being rotated, and with both of them confined within suitable bearings or
casings, the tongue-shaped piece of the one section, rolls or gyrates within the gap
or between the forked branches of the other section, when the said sections are
not in the same straight line.
If the obliquity of the sections is considerable, then the rotation is not communi-
cated equably to the driven one at all points of its rotation.
The tongue or he-part of the said inner connection is made alike unto a spear
head, or a tooth swelled about its middle, or in other words the said tongue or tooth
part, is reduced at its shank end, leaving the bulbous end to gyrate freely within
the forked end as aforesaid.
Enclosing and surrounding the joint as aforesaid, is a spherical double casing,
one section comprehending about two-thirds of a sphere, and with the inner part
terminated by a sleeve or tubular length, which takes and fits upon the shaft
section as aforesaid.
The other and secondary casing of the other shaft or axis section, is made in two
parts, a tubular or sleeve part, and a bulbous or headed part, united together by
stud screws, taking through the metal of the neck of the spherical part, and the
plain end, passing into holes in the sleeve or tubular part.
the
These casings are preferably made from stamped sheet steel, with the spherical
part of the one segment, working socketwise over the spherical part of the other
segment, so that the connection casings, work ball and socketwise one upon
other, and are prevented from turning, other than together, when motion is being
communicated, from one section to another, by a pin on one section, taking or
extending into a slot of the other, which may be made in halves, and connected
together by pins passing through flanges.
The rotation of the combined section and casing of the one part, admits of

page_text: communicating a rotatory motion to the section shaft or spindle and surrounding
casing of the other part, when the respective sections and casings are at an angle
or inclined one to another, in directions not less than 140 degrees.
We propose to employ a series of such shaft or axis sections and casings, as may
be desired to make up any length of shafting or spindling, and we propose that the
inner connections or joints of each section, should carry at one end, a he-part, and
at the other end, a she-part, as aforesaid; and that a length of shafting, is made up
of a series of concerted parts, which tend to correct each other, in respect to
variable motion 'communicated by each, consequent upon the relative angles at
which they are rotated.
The he and she-parts of the connection or joint, may be made from the
terminations of the sections, without the employment of enlargements.
A connection or joint thus formed, is a universal double joint or coupling,
arranged and disposed one within the other, and working in unison.
In a further form of our invention, one end of the casing of each segment, is
provided with an encircling ring, convexed upon its periphery or top side and
swivelly connected to the said end of the casing, which is preferably enlarged by
opposite screw pins, with stud ends, which form trunion centres, to admit of the
said ring turning.
:
The other end of the casing is cupped, wherein a like end as before described.
upon another segment, inwardly takes, and is there jointedly connected by pins or
studs, taking through the outside walls of the cup, and entering holes in the ring,
and which holes are in positions at right angles to the joint pins or studs,
connecting the ring to the end of the casing.
Thus, the section portions of the casings of the shaft or axis, through which
motion is to be communicated, terminate in parts, which admit of the said ends
revolving about each other, and likewise with the end of the section shaft or axis,
revolving gyratory one within each other, so that motion is communicated from
shaft section and casing respectively of one part, to the shaft section and its casing
of another part, hence a rotatory motion is communicated, when the sections are
directed at an angle.
The said connection or universal joint, is particularly applicable to shafts or axes
for the driving of shearing or clipping machines, for the shearing of sheep, and the
clipping of horses and other animals.
The said couplings or joints employed in the formation of a flexible shaft, are
applicable for machinery in general, in order that a shaft or axis may yield, so as
to reduce strain, in case of slight errors of level or allignment.
.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.
T
WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN,
JOHN BODINGTON,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Universal Joint or Joint Coupling for Rotatory or Flexible
Shafts, Axles, and the like.
We, WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN of 102 Ryland Road, Edgbaston, in the
City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, and JOHN BODINGTON, of 3 Bull Street,
Harborne, Birmingham aforesaid, Engineer, 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 couplings or connections in the form of a universal joint,
for coupling or connecting together, sections of shaftings, axes and the like,
whereby motion communicated to one'shaft or 'axis' may be transferred to that of
another, when the directions of them are not in 'the same straight line.
;
"

page_text: The motion thus transmitted from a driving shaft to a driven one, is variable in
proportion as the angle diminishes; and on the direction of inclination of the said
shafting or axes, becoming less than 140 degrees or thereabouts, they cease to act,
unless two or more couplings in a section of shafting be employed, for the
correction of such inefficiency.
Thus the object of our invention is the communication of motion from one part,
or from one segment of a shaft or axis, to another segment or part, when the
inclinations of them are changed, so that the machine to be driven, admits of
having its position changed, relative to the driving shaft or axis, which is in."
connection with the driven shaft, by which it is propelled.
In carrying out one form of our invention, the end of one section of a shaft
or axis, which is both driven, and a driver, is provided with an enlargement or
circular collar part, gapped inwardly from its end, forming as it were a double,
branched fork, and within the gap or between the branches of which, a tongue
shaped piece at the adjacent end of the other or driving section, takes, and on
one of the said sections being rotated, and with both of them confined within
suitable bearings or casings, the tongue shaped piece of the one section, rolls or
gyrates within the gap or between the forked branches of the other section, when.
the said sections are not in the same straight line.
If the obliquity of the sections is considerable, then the rotation is not communi-.,
cated equably to the driven one at all points of the rotation.
The tongue or he-part of the said inner connection is made alike in shape to a
spear head; or a broad tooth, swelled about its middle, or in other words, the said
tongue or tooth part is reduced at its shank end, leaving the bulbous end to.
gyrate freely within the forked end as aforesaid.
Enclosing and surrounding each shaft segment, is a bulbous ended casing, with.
one of the said ends made larger than that of the other, and with the said larger
one made attachable and detachable, and in segments..
!
When the said casings are in position for covering up, or enshrouding the short
length members of the shaft, and the joint couplings of them, a bulbous end of.,
one casing works upon or within a bulbous end of an adjacent or contiguous casing,
and which segment casings are prevented from independent rotation, and form the.
medium for both carrying the shaft length, and also keeping them together.
I propose that the casing at the inner or driving end of the shaft, should be,
carried by the bracket or fixed sleeve, from where the rotatory or driving motion
emanates, whilst the outer end should be connected to. the frame or body part
of the shearer or clipping machine.
The said connection or universal joint is particularly applicable to shafts or
axes, for the driving of shearing or clipping,achines for the clipping of .horses
or other animals.
The said couplings or joints employed in the formation of a flexible shaft, are
applicable for machinery in general.
Figure 1 of the accompany drawings, represents partly in elevation, and partly in
section, a length of flexible section shafting, and its casing, having, or being provided.
with, joint couplings or connections, made or fitted according to our invention.
Figure 2 represents an elevation, with the screw collar of the casing, in section,
of one of the joint couplings or connections.
Figure 3 represents 'partly in vertical section, and partly in elevation, the said
joint coupling or connection, Figure 2. In this view, it is shown how the tongue,
which is at one end of the section, engages with the bifurcated end of an adjacent
or contiguous section, and how the nearly spherical casings are connected, and turn
and gyrate together, by the pin on the one part, taking within a long slot or gap
in the other part.
Figure 4 represents the parts of the said coupling and outer casing separately.
Figure shows an end elevation of the sections of one of. the outer spherical
casing connections, and also a section of the sleeve of the inner casing connection,.
upon the dotted lines A B Figure 4.
:

page_text: Figure 6 represents front, side and end elevations of the she-end of one of the
segments or members, whilst Figure 7 represents front, side and end clevations.
of the he-end of one of the segments or members.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
I
The said length of flexible section shafting is composed of a series of segments or
short length members a, having at one end a tongue piece b, whilst the other end c,
is branched and bifurcated, and is adapted to receive the tongue piece b of an
adjacent or contiguous segment or short length member, having one end alike unto
the tongue piece b; whilst the other end is alike unto the end c.
Thus a length of flexible shafting is composed of short rod segments, each
having he and she terminations, and with the he termination of the one, presented
to and fitted within, the she termination of the other section, and which said sections
or short rod members, with joint couplings or connections at their ends, are
confined, kept together and encased through the medium of sleeved and bulbous
shroudings, made continuous by attachable connections.
The he-end b, which is shaped alike unto a long tooth, swelled about its middle
at b, or alike in shape to a spear head, has a collar, of about the breadth of the
tooth of the said he end, whilst the top, and bottom sides of the said tooth are flat,
so that the swell sides arch themselves from the extreme tip to the front of the
collar.
The other or she end c, of the segment or short rod member a, is composed of
forked branches c', with a plain or gapped recess or middle c², and with the plane
of the inside walls c³, of the said branches, running parallel, or nearly parallel,
with each other.
.
When put together, the tongue part gyrates within the other part, whereby
motion is communicated from one length to another, hence the communicating of
motion through the flexible shaft, which is connected at one end to a shaft in direct
communication with the source of power, and at the other end to the driving
mechanism of shearing, clipping or like appliance, machinery or instruments to be
driven.
Assuming that the power comes from the right hand end of the flexible shafting,
then the segments are both driven and drive respectively.
The coverings, shroudings or casings of each segment or short rod member, and
the joint couplings of them, are composed of sleeve sections d, with a bulbous
termination d, at one end, and an attached bulbous termination e, at the other end.
The bulbous termination d², is partially enveloped by the attached bulbous
termination of an adjacent or contiguous casing, alike unto that of the first named
end of the sleeve.
The inner bulbous part of the casing is made integral with the sleeve d, whilst
the attached bulbous part d, is composed of two parts e¹, e, which when brought
together over the integral bulbous part d', and with a pin e, taking into the
hole d', of the sleeve d, and with the nut or inside screwed collar f, taking upon the
outside wormed neck parts e', the whole becomes firmly connected together, thus
making a sleeve, having bulbous terminations, one end larger than the other, and
with the larger end taking, and working ball-and-socket-wise upon the smaller
bulbous end of the adjacent or contiguous casing.
To prevent the independent rotation of the casings, the inner bulbous part d', of
the casing d, has a pin d', which takes through the long slot e", of the outer bulbous
and attached casing e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First-In flexible shafting, composed of a series of segmental lengths or short
rod members, connected together by joint couplings, composed of he and she ends, the
he end consisting of a tooth or a long tooth. swelled about its middle spear shaped,

page_text: and the other end bifurcated, with the inner walls of the forked branches made
parallel, or approximately parallel, and within the recess thus formed, the said
middle swelled tongue, of a contiguous or adjacent section is inserted and gyrates,
on communicating rotatory motion from one segment to another.
Secondly-The improvements in the joint couplings or connections of flexible
shaftings, as described and set forth.
Thirdly-The improvements in the construction, arrangements and fittings of
the parts of the casings, as described and set forth.
Fourthly: In a flexible shafting and casing, the construction and arrangement
of the parts as described and set forth.
Dated in 10th day of Tune 1909
WILLIAM HAWKES BURMAN,
JOHN BODINGTON,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.