Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1888
Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1888
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has for its object to provide a universal shaft-coupling of simple
construction for connecting shafts placed at a variety of angles or at different levels,
or both, and which will be noiseless in its action and will transmit motion steadily
from one shaft to another with a perfectly uniform and regular speed without regard
to the load, thus avoiding the sudden jerks and irregular motion common to universal
shaft-couplings as heretofore constructed, and which have, rendered them unsuitable
for general purposes. To this end the said invention consists in the combination,
with a pair of shafts adapted to run at different angles or levels, or both, and each
having a slot at its extremity, of an intermediate connecting shaft supported in
suitable bearings between the ends of the two main shafts and having a slot at each
end, and a pair of coupling-links or connecting-pieces bifurcated at each end to form
jaws, and arranged one between each of the main shafts and the adjacent end of the
intermediate connecting-shaft and coupled with said shafts by a pair of oscillating or
rocking bars each pivoted at its center on a pin or bolt within the slotted end of one
of the said shafts in line with the axis thereof and having its opposite ends pivoted or
journaled within the adjacent jaws of the coupling-link, by which construction and
arrangement the power is transmitted from one shaft to the other in a direct axial
line and a steady and uniform motion insured under all conditions, as hereinafter
more particularly set forth; and the said invention also consists in certain combinations
of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter set forth and specifically
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:
:-
Figure 1 is a plan representing two shafts placed at right angles to each other and

page_text: connected by a universal shaft-coupling constructed in accordance with this
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of the same with the parts in a different
position.
Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line of figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line y y of figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan representing two shafts placed at an obtuse angle to each other
and connected together by the said improved coupling without the employment of an
intermediate shaft.
In the said drawings, A B represent two main sections or pieces of shafting
supported in suitable bearings and arranged at right angles to each other, each shaft
carrying at one end a pulley and having its opposite end a, provided with an open slot b.
Between the two slotted ends a, a, of the shafts A B, and at an obtuse angle to said
shafts, is placed a short intermediate connecting-shaft D, which runs in suitable
bearings on a block or support c, and is provided at each end with an open slot f.
Between the slotted end a of each of the shafts A B and the adjacent slotted end of
the intermediate connecting-shaft D, is placed a coupling-piece or link G, of the
form shown in figure 1, each end being bifurcated to form a pair of jaws g g. Between
the outer ends of each pair of jaws gg is pivoted or journaled at its opposite ends by
means of screws or pins hh, a flat bar i, which is thus free to turn or rock on its
longitudinal axis between said jaws g g, and the two bars ii of each link or coupling
piece Gare placed. one within the open slotted end of the main shaft A or B, and the
other within the adjacent open slotted end of the intermediate connecting-shaft D.;
each bar being pivoted at the center of its length on a pin or bolt k, within the end
of the shaft in line with the axis thereof, whereby, as the shafts and coupling-links G
are rotated, the bars ii will oscillate on the axial pins & within the slotted ends of the
shafts in which they are placed, and thus cause the power to be transmitted from one
shaft to another in the direct line of the center of rotation or axis of each shaft, and
by the employment of the intermediate shaft D, in connection with the coupling-links
and their oscillating bars ii, as described, sharp angles are avoided, and the power is
transmitted from one shaft to another with a smooth, easy, and uniform motion
whether the load be more or less, and all jerks or irregularity of motion are thereby
avoided desiderata hitherto unattained in universal shaft-couplings as hitherto
constructed..
By thus transmitting the power to or from each shaft through or by means of a
single bolt or pin passing transversely through the line of the center of rotation or
axis of the said shaft and through the center of the oscillating bar which rocks
on said bolt or pin as a center within the slot at the end of the shaft and is
pivoted or journaled between the adjacent jaws of the coupling-links, as described, a
steady, and perfectly regular motion is produced without jar or vibration, thus
adapting the said improved coupling for general use under all conditions, as it will
operate perfectly when the shafts are coupled at different levels and will admit of
their being placed at a great variety of different angles.
Where two shafts placed at an obtuse angle to each other are to be connected
together the intermediate shaft D, above described may be dispensed with, in which
case only a single coupling-link G, is required as seen in figure 5, the two bars ii of
the coupling-link being pivoted within the slotted ends of the two shafts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described universal shaft-coupling, consisting of an intermediate
shaft supported in suitable bearings between two main shafts, and a pair of coupling-
links or connecting-pieces provided with jaws at their opposite ends and arranged
one between the end of each main shaft and the opposite end of the intermediate
shaft and connected with the ends of said shafts by means of a pair of oscillating
bars, each pivoted at its center within the slotted end of one of the said shafts in

page_text: line with the axis thereof and having its opposite ends pivoted or journaled within
the adjacent jaws of the coupling-link, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In a universal shaft-coupling, the combination with a pair of shafts A B, each
having a slot at its end, of an intermediate connecting-shaft D, supported in
suitable bearings between the ends of the shafts A B and having a slot at each end,
and a pair of coupling-links or connecting pieces G G, bifurcated at each end to
form jaws gg and arranged one between each of the main shafts and the adjacent
end of the intermediate shaft and connected with said shafts by a pair of oscillating
bars i, each pivoted at its center on a pink, within the slotted end of one of the
said shafts in line with the axis thereof, and having its opposite ends pivoted or
journaled within the adjacent jaws of the coupling-link, all operating substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
3. In a universal shaft-coupling, the combination with a pair of shafts adapted
to run at different angles or levels, or both, and each having a slot at its extremity,
of a connecting piece or link G, having its opposite ends bifurcated to form jaws,
and a pair of oscillating bars ii, each placed within the slotted end of one of the
shafts and pivoted therein at the center of its length directly in line with the axis
of the shaft by means of a pin or bolt k, and having its opposite ends pivoted or
journaled within the adjacent jaws of the coupling piece or link G, all operating
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant..