IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION CLUTCHES AND FRICTION PULLEYS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Grayson, of Leeds, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION CLUTCHES AND FRICTION
PULLEYS." A communication from abroad by Charles Henry Addyman, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.
aled the 12th December 1876, and dated the 15th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Janes William Grayson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th June 1876.
JAMES WILLIAM GRAYSON, of Leeds, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN FRICTION CLUTCHES AND FRICTION PULLEYS." A communication from abroad
by Charles Henry Addyman, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
The Invention consists of an arrangement of friction clutch, as hereafter described,
for the purpose of transmitting power and motion to shafting and drums or pulleys,
by which also the power and motion to the shafting can be cut off as occasion
might require, so that the shafting or machinery in the rooms of a mill or other
works may be stopped without disturbing the power or motion in the remaining
part of the mill or other works.
The Invention consists of an external box or shell, in the interior of which is
provided a metal split ring; within the ring and on the face of a disc are provided
two expanding levers. These expanding levers may be pressed open or apart from
each other by means of a wedge, which may at pleasure be passed in between them,
causing the split ring within the box or shell to expand and to fix itself securely
therein. By withdrawing the wedge the split ring resumes its former position.
The above friction clutch may be applied in a similar manner to ordinary friction
clutches, and is exceedingly simple, having no set screws or springs requiring re-
adjusting, rendering it exceedingly unlikely to get out of repair. It can be applied
to every description of machinery where friction can be used to advantage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James William Grayson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
December 1876.
JAMES WILLIAM GRAYSON, of Leeds, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN FRICTION CLUTCHES AND FRICTION PULLEYS." A communication from abroad
by Charles Henry Addyman, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
The Invention consists of an arrangement of friction clutch, as hereafter described,
for the purpose of transmitting power and motion to shafting and drums or pulleys,
by which also the power and motion to the shafting can be cut off as occasion
night require, so that the shafting or machinery in the rooms of a mill or other
works may be stopped without disturbing the power or motion in the remaining
part of the mill or other works.
The Invention consists of an external box or shell, in the interior of which is
provided a metal split ring; within the ring and on the face of a disc are provided
two expanding levers. These expanding levers may be pressed open or apart from
each other by means of a wedge, which may at pleasure be passed in between them,
causing the split ring within the box or shell to expand and to fix itself securely
therein. By withdrawing the wedge the split ring resumes its former position.
The above friction clutch arrangement may be applied in a similar manner to
ordinary friction clutches, and is exceedingly simple, having no set screws or
springs requiring re-adjustment, rendering it exceedingly unlikely to get out of
repair. It can be applied to every description of machinery where friction can
be used to advantage.
Various modifications of the Invention are shewn on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Firstly. Figure 1 represents a side elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation, and
Figure 3 an end elevation of one of the parts.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 .are details of the various
parts of the clutch drawn for convenience on a smaller scale.
a is an external rim or box, which is shewn cast on (or it may be otherwise
attached to) a loose pulley b; but it may also be applied to other gearing in a
similar manner. In the interior of the rim or box a is fitted a split inetal ring c,
which is enclosed within the interior of the rim or box a by means of a suitable
plate d; within the split ring c are fitted the expanding jaws or levers e, the ful-
crum of which is at the point f. The plates g and are for retaining the expanding
levers or jaws e within the split ring c; these expanding jaws e may be pressed
open at i by means of the wedge J, which is passed through the plate d (being
carried by a suitable bracket on a socket K). In order to expand the ring c the
wedge is passed in between the jaws e ut l, thereby opening them, which movement
acts upon the split ring c at m and causes to expand, thereby fixing itself firmly
within the box a. By withdrawing the wedge J from between the jaws e at 7 they
close again, and the split ring c resumes its former position and looseness within
the box a. The detail Figures are all marked with corresponding letters to those
employed in describing the above friction clutch. The bracket socket K may be
actuated by any ordinary known means, also the construction of the same may be
varied to suit circumstances.
Secondly. A modification of the above-described arrangement of friction clutch
is shewn at Figures 17, 18, and 19.
Figure 17 is a side view; Figure 18 a section on line I, J, Figure. 19; and
Figure 19 is a section through line G, H, Figure 18.
i is the rim within which the split ring 2 is arranged; the rim 1 is here repre-
sented as a loose pulley on shaft-3. The ring 2 is kept within the recess 4 by
means of the plate 5. In the division of the ring 2 at 6 two levers 7 are arranged,
and between these the wedge-shaped slide 8 passes, as seen at Figure 19, to open

page_text: the two levers 7, which opening expands the divided ring 2, causing it to engage
or tighten within the rim 1 in the recess 4 in which it is placed, so that the two
will revolve together in either direction. To release the ring and rim 1 from
such engagement withdraw the wedge 8, and to ensure such disengagement it is
preferred to employ a spring 9 to close the levers 7 after the withdrawal of the arm
or wedge-shaped slide 8.
Thirdly. Figures 21, 22, and 23 represent another modification, Figure 20 being
a side view of the shaft and clutch applied; Figure 21 a central section through
the clutch on line A, B, of Figure 22; Figure 22 a transverse section on line C, D,
Figure 21; and Figure 23 a transverse section on line E, F, Figure 22.
a is a shaft on which are arranged the cone pulleys b, here represented simply as
a sample of how this modification may be applied. On the said shaft a a loose
pulley c is arranged, which on one side is formed with an open chamber or recess,
within which a divided ring d is arranged of slightly less diameter than the rim, as
seen in Figure 21. The ring d is set or mounted on a plate e, which is keyed fast
to the shaft a, a flange f being formed on the plate e for supporting the ring & at
the division of the ring d, and through the flange fa lever g is arranged, as seen at
Figure 22, so that by the turning of the said lever to the right or left the ring d
will be expanded to fill the rim of the pulley, and this expansion is produced
by means of a socket on the shaft a, which slides longitudinally, and from which
a wedge i extends through the plate e against the said lever g, as seen in Figures
22 and 23. By this incline or wedge i being forced inwards the lever g will be
turned or pressed out of its line of rest, as denoted in dotted lines g¹, Figure 22,
which expands the ring to closely fill the rim of the pulley, creating sufficient
friction to cause the pulley and plate to revolve together, which (the plate being
keyed to the shaft) causes the shaft to revolve with the pulley so long as the ring
is held expanded, but as soon as the arm or wedge i is removed to allow the ring to
contract, which it does by its own elasticity, then the plate and shaft remain
stationary while the pulley continues to revolve. A bearing i is arranged within
the flange e to support the side of the arm opposite the lever. This arrangement
dispenses with the necessity of the fast and loose pulley usually employed, and
consequently with the wear and tear of the belts occasioned in shifting from a fast
to a loose pulley.
Fourthly. A further modification is shewn at Figures 24 and 25, which are
respectively an end elevation and section.
a is a split ring, which is inserted in the recess b of the pulley c in a similar
manner to the herein described, and secured to the plate d by means of the screw e;
within the open part of the split ring a is provided the wedge f, which, on being
moved upwards, expands the split ring a, this operation being performed by means
of another wedge g, which is passed through the plate d and under the wedge f,
which has the effect of causing the wedge f to rise in the opening in the split ring a,
causing it thereby to expand, producing the same effect as the herein-before described
arrangement.
While this Invention is illustrated as applied to the loose pulley of a shaft, it
will be evident to those skilled in mechanics that this Invention may be applied as
a brake to revolving wheels, the plate or divided ring being held stationary and in
the same relative position to the revolving wheels as here described, and can also
be applied to every description of machinery where such friction can be used to
advantage, such as a coupling for connecting or disconnecting lengths of shafting.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention for "Improvements in
Friction Clutches and Friction Pulleys," and shewn by Drawings how the same may
be carried into practice, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to
the exact limits, details, or configuration of the various parts I have explained and
shewn, as the same may of course be varied or modified without in any way
departing from the nature of the said Invention; but what I do claim and desire
to be secured to me by Letters Patent is-
First. The arrangement and application of divided or split ring c within the rim a

page_text: in combination with the levers e, and provided with mechanism for opening the
said levers, substantially as shown and described in the first part of the Invention.
Second. The arrangement and application of a divided or split ring 2 within the
rim 1, in combination with the two levers 7, provided with mechanism for opening
and closing the same, substantially as shown and described in the second part of
the Invention.
Third. The arrangement of clutch consisting of a divided or split ring & on the
plate e and within the rim c, combined with the lever g and sliding arm or wedge i,
operating to engage or disengage the plate e with or from the said rim c, substan-
tially as shown and described in the third part of the Invention.
Fourth. The arrangement of divided or split ring a in combination with wedges
f and
for the purpose of expanding and contracting the ring a, substantially as
shown and described in the fourth part of the Invention.
Fifth. The arrangement and application of a divided or split ring in combination
with sliding wedge appliance for expanding it, all substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James William Grayson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAS. W GRAYSON. (LS.)