Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 25th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
I WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS of 128A Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to
me from abroad by James Macdonald of Chicago in the State of Illinois United
States of America Mechanical Engineer) to be as follows :-
This invention consists of an improved friction clutch, having a lining of paper
which may be readily removed and replaced and which possesses great adhesive
qualities when in use. Rigidly keyed to a driving shaft is a sleeve upon which is
mounted a ring which is loosely interlocked with a second and split ring so that they
may revolve independently of each other, both being loosely mounted upon the sleeve.
Between the end of the sleeve and an adjustable collar which is attached to the
driving shaft is a loose disc connected with the split ring by means of a pin passed
loosely through the disc, the two being caused to move in unison upon the shaft.
A lever for the hand is pivoted to the disc and is loosely connected by links with the
split ring thus enabling the two rings to be moved longitudinally upon the sleeve.
A further link connects the first ring with a knee joint the arms of which are
jointedly connected with a split expansion ring bolted upon a lug cast to the sleeve.
The sleeve extends beyond the end of the driving shaft and is bored out sufficiently
to permit a bushing to be inserted which surrounds the end of the shaft to be driven
and causes the two shafts to be kept in line. A friction cylinder or shell is rigidly
attached to the shaft to be driven and has a friction lining within consisting of a ring
of compressed paper preferably formed in two or more pieces, though it may consist of
a single strip of paper strawboard or the like of the proper length bent within the
cylinder or shell. A flange is bolted upon the face of the shell in such a way as to

page_text: prevent the lining from slipping or revolving within it and also so as to be flush with
the surface of the lining thus permitting the expansion ring before referred to be
passed in or out. Upon operating the hand lever and expanding the ring against the
friction surface the shell is caused to revolve and with it the shaft. By constructing
the lining in the manner described, the entire surface of the interior may be utilized
as a friction surface which not only insures a greater exercise of power but greatly
reduces the expense of construction.

page_text: A communication from abroad by JAMES MACDONALD, of Chicago, in the State of
Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
I, WILLIAM RIGHTER COMINGS of 128A Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London, 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:―
The invention consists of an improved friction clutch having a lining in the hollow
cylinders or rims thereof which may be readily removed and replaced, and which
possesses great adhesive qualities when in use, all of which is hereinafter more
particularly described and claimed.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood reference is made to
the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification in which
Fig. 1 represents a side view of my improved friction clutch.
Fig. 2. is a central longitudinal, sectional view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view upon the line x-x, Fig. 1, viewed in the
direction of the arrow there shown, a portion of the flange being broken away and
the rim of the shell appearing in section.
Fig. 4 is a plan view in detail of the expansion ring, a portion being broken away
to show the operating mechanism.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view upon the line y-y, Fig. 1, showing the end of the
coupling mechanism.
Fig. 6 shows a transverse sectional view of the cylinder or shell and its friction
lining, and
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view in detail, of a portion of the outer rim of said
cylinder and lining.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.
A, in the drawing represents the driving shaft, and B, the shaft to be driven.
Keyed rigidly to the former is a sleeve A¹, upon which is loosely mounted a ring C,
provided with an exterior groove c and a flange c¹. A split ring D, provided with an
interior grooved and a flange d' which form counterparts to the groove and flange cc',
is loosely placed upon the sleeve A¹, and the two rings C, D, loosely interlocked as
shown in Fig. 2, so that they may revolve independently of each other. The split
ring D, is made in two parts as shown in Fig. 5, attached to each other by means of
screws d. Between the end of the sleeve A, and an adjustable collar E, which is
attached to the shaft A, by means of a set screw e is placed a loose disc F, which is
connected with the split ring D, by means of a pin f, Figs. 1 and 2, passed loosely
through the disc F, and rigidly attached to the ring D, as shown, so that whilst D,
can slide freely along the sleeve A¹, it is prevented from rotating relatively to F.

page_text: A hand lever G, is pivoted to the disc F, at g, and is loosely connected by links
(one of which is shown in Fig. 1) to the split ring D; thus enabling the two rings D
and C, to be moved longitudinally upon the sleeve A¹. A link , connects the ring C,
with a pin H, which forms the axis of a knee-joint, the arms h', h¹, of which are
jointedly connected with a split expansion ring J, which has cheeks or lugs 1, 1, which
fit against the sides of the arm or lug A2, cast upon the sleeve A¹, so making the
ring J rotate with the shaft A. The ring J, is kept in place by the plate m and bolt n
screwed into lug A², or if preferable the plate m may be formed in one piece with the
ring J, by which means the latter can be bolted to A³, or plate m may be altogether
omitted and replaced by pins x passing from, ring J, and resting on the flange of A¹,
and being held thereby by plates 1. The sleeve A¹, extends beyond the end of the
shaft A, and is bored out sufficiently to permit a. bushing b, Fig. 2, to be inserted,
which surrounds the end of the shaft B, and causes the two shafts to be kept in line.
A friction cylinder or shell K, having a web k, and hub k², is rigidly attached to the
shaft B, by means of a set screw. Within this friction cylinder K, is placed a
friction lining L, consisting of a ring of compressed paper, preferably formed in two
or more pieces, as shown in Fig. 3, though it may consist of a single strip of paper,
straw board or the like, of the proper length bent within the cylinder or shell K, as in
Fig. 6.
A flange K¹, is bolted upon the face of the cylinder or shell K, by means of
bolts, so placed that one half of the bolt passes through, or is embedded within the
paper L, thus serving to prevent the lining from slipping or revolving within the
cylinder. The interior of the flange K', is flush with the surface of the lining L, thus
permitting the expansion ring J, to be readily passed therein or removed therefrom.
Upon operating the hand lever G, and expanding the ring J, against the friction
surface L, the cylinder or shell K, is gripped and if the shaft A, is in motion is caused
to revolve and with it the shaft B. By constructing the lining L, in the manner
described, the entire surface of the interior may be utilized as a friction surface, which
not only insures a greater exercise of power, but greatly reduces the expense of
construction as well as the cost of keeping the same in repair. Instead of the cost of
constructing and adjusting within the ring a large number of wooden blocks, as is
usually done, the paper strip, cut to the right width and length, may be inserted in
place, and the flange K', properly secured, when the clutch is ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A friction cylinder for clutches, provided with a lining of compressed paper,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a friction clutch, the combination of a cylinder or shell mounted upon a
shaft, an interior lining of compressed paper applied to the inner surface thereof, an
expansion ring mounted upon a shaft and arranged to bear against said surface, and
means for expanding said ring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated the 25th day of August 1887.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.