AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING REVOLVING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smith Raworth, of the City of Manchester,
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONNECTING
AND DISCONNECTING REVOLVING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES."
Sealed the 4th August 1868, and dated the 15th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith Raworth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th February 1868.
I, JOHN SMITH RAWORTH, of the City of Manchester, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING REVOLVING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention is founded on the following principle, namely, that if
a short helix of some elastic metal be slipped on to a shaft or pulley
which fits it rather tightly it will be found that if one end of the helix
be attached to some fixed object the shaft or pulley may be made to
revolve within the helix much more readily in one direction than in the
other, and if the helix be made long enough (that is, if it has a
Price 8d.]

page_text: sufficient number of turns in it), whilst allowing the shaft or pulley to
revolve easily in one direction it will entirely prevent it revolving in the
other direction.
The following are amongst the various purposes to which my Invention
may be applied :-
First. For communicating rotary motion from one shaft to another, or
from a shaft to a pulley, wheel, or crank, and vice versa.
Second. For a clutch whereby a shaft or wheel may be thrown in or
out of gear with another shaft or wheel without requiring the driver to
be brought to a state of rest.
Third. For all the purposes to which ratchet motions are now applied,
namely, for preventing rotary motion in one direction whilst allowing
it in the other direction, for converting reciprocating (rectilinear,
curvilinear, or rotary) motion into periodical- or continuous rotary motion
in any given direction, as in self-acting feed motions, treadle motions,
and others.
Fourth. For a brake.
I apply this Invention to the purposes above enumerated in the
following or other similar manner :-
First. In coupling two shafts I form a metal helix (by preference of
steel) of such a diameter that the ends of the shafts to be coupled
will fit it tightly; into this helix insert the end of each shaft; I
cover the whole with a casing of cast iron or other metal. When a
pulley has to drive a shaft, or vice versa, I slip a helix on to the shaft
as before and attach one end of it to the pulley. If the motion is to be
reversible two helices must be used, or in case one helix only is used
the pulley must take hold of it in the middle of its length. In some
cases I prefer to make the helices to fit the shaft loosely, and I get the
necessary bite on the shaft by a collar and set pin attached to the end
or ends of the helix.
Second. When this Invention is used as a clutch I make the helix
to fit the shaft or pulley to be driven loosely; one of its ends I fasten to
the driving wheel, pulley, or shaft, and to its other end I attach a
collar or pulley running loose on the shaft to be driven. When it is
. desired to put the shaft or pulley in gear with the driving wheel, pulley
or shaft, the motion of the loose collar or pulley which is attached
to one end of the helix must be arrested by a brake; this will tighten

page_text: the helix round the shaft or pulley, which will consequently revolve
with its driver as long as the brake is kept in forcible contact with the
loose collar or pulley.
Third. The instances in which this Invention may be used as a
ratchet are very numerous and too obvious to need much description.
When it is simply required to arrest the rotary motion of a shaft in one
direction while allowing it in the other I fit a helix to the shaft and
attach one end of it to some fixture in such a manner that it can be
easily disconnected, or I place a stationary round bar or stud near the
before-mentioned shaft, and to this bar or stud 1 fit a helix attached to
a spur or bevel wheel gearing into a suitable wheel on the rotating shaft.
When it is required to convert reciprocating motion into periodical
or continuous rotary motion in any given direction I proceed as
follows:-If a pulley or wheel on a shaft revolves first in one direction
and then in the other, and I wish the shaft to revolve in one direction
only, I make the connection between the wheel and the shaft by a
or levers are
helix, as has been already described; vibrating arms
connected with the shafts or pulleys which they are required to drive
in a similar manner. In order to convert reciprocating rectilinear
motion into continuous rotary motion I first of all change it into
reciprocating rotary motion and then proceed as has been already
described.
Fourth. When I use the helix as a brake I make it to fit the shaft
or pulley quite loosely, and I make it shorter than in the other cases
already described. One end of the helix I attach to a fixture and the
In some cases I use
other end I connect to a handle, lever, or screw.
a stationary shaft with a wheel revolving loose upon it and connected
with the stationary shaft by a helix fitted up in the same way as
been already described for a clutch.
has
In making the above-mentioned helices I do not coutine myself to
one or any number of threads.
This Invention in its various forms as above described is applicable
to a great number of well known machines and mechanical combinations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Smith Raworth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SMITH RAWORTH, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Smith Raworth, Her special license
that I, the said John Smith Raworth, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Smith Raworth, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for. " AN IMPROVED MODE
OF CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING REVOLVING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Smith Raworth, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Smith Raworth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
My Invention is founded on the following principle, namely, that
if a short helix or some clastic metal be slipped on to a shaft or pulley
which fits it rather tightly it will be found that if one end of the
helix be attached to some fixed object the shaft or pulley may be
made to revolve within the helix much more readily in one direction
than in the other, and if the helix be made long enough, that is, if
it has a sufficient number of turns in it) whilst allowing the shaft or

page_text: Figure 6, Sheet 1, is a longitudinal section, and Figure 7 an end
elevation of a pulley attached to a shaft in such a manner that the
connection between the two may be made or broken at pleasure. b is
the shaft;
is the pulley; and c¹ is a bush fixed to it by bolts d; c¹¹ is
a loose bush fitted with a set screw e. The helix a is made to fit
the shaft bloosely, so that it can slip round readily in either direction ;
one end of it is fastened to the bush c¹ and the other end is attached
to the loose bush c¹¹. When it is required to connect the pulley with
the shaft so that both shall revolve together it is necessary to tighten
the set screw e upon the shaft b, so that when the shaft begins to
revolve it will carry the brush c" with it through such part of a
revolution as is necessary to tighten the
after which the whole will revolve together.
the shaft by removing the set screw, e and substituting a brake strap
round the projecting part of the bush c¹¹ the shaft may be started
or stopped at pleasure as by a clutch by simply tightening or relicving
the brake.
helix upon the shaft,
When the pulley drives
Figure S, Sheet 1, is a cross section, and Figure 9 is a front
elevation of the handle shaft of a crane or winch fitted with a helical
brake according to my Invention. a is the helix wound round the
shaft and formed at one end al into a handle and at the other
end a into an eye which fits upon the stud
frame e.
A slight depression of the handle a¹ is
the helix take a very firm hold of the shaft.
screwed into the
sufficient to make
Figure 1, Sheet 2, is a front elevation, and Figure 2 an end
elevation of a foot lathe to be fixed upon a bench. b is a pulley
loose upon the spindle of the lathe and made of two diameters, so
as to give a change of speed; c is a small fly wheel; d is a cord
fixed at one end to a stud d', from which it passes over the pulley g
and then down in a loop to the pulley in the stirrup », thence over
the two pulleys and e, it is then coiled round the pulley b, then
over the guide pulley aud along the back of the lathe, where it is
joined to an elastic band which is fixed to a stud corresponding
with d. is the bench on which the lathe is fixed.
Figure 3 shews a section of the pulley b. is the helix; e is
the lathe spindle; c is the bush in the end of the pulley b.
The mode of driving the lathe is as follows:-The foot being
placed in the stirrup " and depressed the cord d is caused to travel,

page_text: thereby making the pulley band the lathe, spindle, and fly-wheel c
revolve. On raising the foot the elastic band at the back of the
lathe takes up the cord. The pulley slips back in the opposite
direction to that in which the fly wheel c continues to revolve. The
stirrup may be moved about to suit the convenience of the turner
by sliding the bracket m along the ledge which is provided on the
front of the lathe bed.
Figure 4, Sheet 2, is a side elevation, and Figure 5 a plan partly
in section of a ratchet lever to. work the screw of a slide rest; d is
the lever; c is the socket which fits the square on the screw to be
worked; a is a helix of two threads attached to a bush b which is
connected with the lever by a small feather.
Figure 6, Sheet 2, is an elevation of a "fiddle drill;" is the spindle
upon which are the pulleys b, 61, fitted internally with helices in- the
same way as is shown in Figure 3; e is the fiddle bow carrying
two strings d, d¹; these strings are coiled round their respective
pulleys in opposite directions, so that whichever way the bow is moving
one of the pulleys 6 or b₁ is revolving in the right direction for con-
tinuing the motion of the spindle c, while the other pulley slips back in
the opposite direction.
Figure 1, Sheet 3, is a vertical section, Figure 2 is a side elevation,
and Figure 3 a plan of a machine for grinding and polishing by means
of revolving wheels and brushes, and is designed principally for
household purposes.
e is the base plate carrying the bearings e¹, ell; b
is a spindle carrying a dished fly wheel g; a is the driving helix within
the pulley c, the recoil of which is effected by the spring d; is the
driving cord, one end of which is coiled upon the pulley.c the other
end being taken over the pulley , and then forming a loop under
the snatch block is fastened to the studs p; a stirrup m is fastened
to the snatch block ; is the polisher in its position on the spindle.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, represent other forms of polishing brushes and
leathers.
Figure 8, Sheet 3, is a side elevation, and Figure 9 is a plan of a
velocipede in which cranks are dispensed with and drivers substituted
according to my Invention. The driving wheels are keyed on to the
tubes which are loose on the axle c, shown enlarged in Figure 10.
The treadles are carried at one end upon the pulleys n while their
other ends are supported upon the drivers d', connection being made

page_text: between the treadle and pulley by a thin metal band which alternately
coils and uncoils itself upon the pulley, or a toothed rack and pinion
may be used. In the groove p¹ is wound a cord attached to an elastic
band to bring back the pulley and treadle after each stroke. The
large drivers d have cords e wound on them, which cords pass round
the pulleys and are attached to a cross head upon the steering
handle k. The upright rod m from the front axle carries a long socket
m² into which the steering handle k fits and within which it is at liberty
to move in the direction of its length; thus by pulling at the steering
handle the traveller can impart motion to the drivers d and therefore
to the driving wheels. The grooves are for the recoil springs as
described for p². The driving helices are fitted up as has been described
for the lathe and as shewn in Figure 3, Sheet 2.
The advantages of this velocipede over those of the ordinary con-
struction are numerous; first, the maker is not tied to a given size
of wheel; second, the wheels are independent of each other; third,
the full power of the body is developed, both hands and both feet being
employed; fourth, the motions of both hands and feet are perfectly
independent and unrestricted and may be stopped or continued at
pleasure fifth, in going down hill the traveller can take rest as the
axle runs round within the drivers, a brake being provided for
stopping.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described
several modes of carrying the same into operation, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that I do not confine the applications of my
Invention to the combinations shown in the Drawings; but I claim,
the use of the helix marked a for the purposes described and for all
similar cases where it may be employed, as, for instance, in driving
the fans of portable forges in sewing machines and in other cases
where the hand or foot is now employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith Raworth, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN SMITH RAWORTH. (L.S.)