Apparatus for Producing, Gauging, Testing, and Measuring Helical and similar Surfaces, such as those of Screw Propellers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Producing, Gauging, Testing, and Measuring Helical
and similar Surfaces, such as those of Screw Propellers.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES CARTER of Mansion House Chambers, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Consulting, Mechanical and Marine Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to my invention 1 construct an apparatus by which I am enabled to
produce correctly helical and other surfaces, and with slight modification also to be
used for gauging or testing such surfaces.
On a suitable standard I mount a radial arm which is capable of revolving and
on this arm I mount, in the case of an apparatus for moulding the faces or beds for
propeller blades, two guides or slides, in which work at right angles thereto an
both parallel with the standard two sliding racks, or their mechanical equivalents,
which have gearing therewith, pinions mounted on a radial shaft parallel with the
arm. At the inner end of this shaft is a friction wheel which runs on a friction
disc fixedly mounted on the standard in such manner that when the radial arm is
revolved the friction wheel is revolved thereby communicating motion to its shaft
and consequently to the racks. The racks have mounted thereon a shaped bar or
straight edge which on the apparatus being set in motion forms, on the loam or
other moulding material a correct helix. To mould propeller blades where it is
necessary or advisable to make a screw of increasing or diminishing pitch in a
radial direction, 1 mount each rack independently and obtain the motion of each
from a separate friction wheel or roller one shaft being radial as before described
while the other is carried parallel to the arm and diametrically over to the other
side of the disc and preferably above the centre of the standard, means being
Where it is
provided for causing both shafts to revolve in the same direction.
required to produce a screw of the opposite hand I may have reversing apparatus
or I detach the racks with their guides and fix them on to the opposite sides of the
pinions thus producing motion of the racks in the contrary directions otherwise
the arrangement of the apparatus may remain unaltered. In order to utilize the
apparatus as a pitchometer, the standard is or may be dispensed with and means
provided for registering the number of revolutions made by the radial shaft or
shafts as compared with the angular motion of the radial arm the action of the
apparatus is reversed, and the radial shaft in that case is actuated by the sliding
racks. In the case of measuring a propeller when fixed in position the apparatus
may be temporarily fixed to the propeller shaft nut boss or other centre.
To mould propeller blades where it is necessary or advisable to make a screw of
increasing or diminishing pitch in a circumferential direction across the face of the
blade I change the position of the friction rollers upon the radial shaft or shafts
during the angular movement of the radial arm by means of a cam screw, tooth
wheels or other mechanical device and thus cause the pitch to vary as desired.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1893.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.

page_text: Apparatus for Producing, Gauging, Testing, and Measuring Helical
and similar Surfaces, such as those of Screw Propellers.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES CARTER of Mansion House Chambers, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Consulting Mechanical and Marine 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 :-
According to my invention I.construct an apparatus by which I am enabled to
produce correctly helical and other surfaces, and with slight modification also, to
be used for gauging or testing such surfaces.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an apparatus for moulding
the faces or beds for propeller blades, in front elevation and
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 Sheet 2 represents an apparatus for moulding the faces or beds for
propeller blades where if desired the pitch of the screw may be increased or
diminished in a radial or circumferential direction in front elevation.
Figure 34 is a detail view.
Figure 3B is a cross section on line a-b, Figure 3ª..
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 a plan thereof.
Figure 6 represents a planing or shaping machine for planing propeller blades or
producing similar helical surfaces, in front elevation.
Figure 7 is an end elevation thereof and
Figure 8 a plan thereof.
Figure 9 Sheet 3 represents a milling or grinding machine for propeller blades
or for producing other helical surfaces, in front elevation.
Figure 10 Sheet 4 represents a machine for gauging testing and measuring
helical and similar surfaces.
Figure 11 is an end elevation of part of such apparatus.
Figure 12 is a plan thereof and
Figure 13 is a front view of the recording dial.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2: On a suitable standard A having a bed or
foundation AI mount a radial arm B which is capable of revolving and on this
arm I mount two guides or slides C C³, in which work, at right angles thereto two
sliding racks D D or their mechanical equivalents which have, gearing therewith,
pinions E E' mounted on a radial shaft parallel with the arm B. At the inner
end of this shaft F is a friction wheel G which runs on a friction disc H mounted
on the standard in such manner that when the radial arm is revolved the friction.
wheel G is revolved, thereby communicating motion to its shaft and consequently
to the racks D D'. The racks have mounted thereon a straight edge I or other
shaped bar or tool which on the 'apparatus being set in motion forms on the loam or
other moulding material a correct helix. K, K¹ and K2 are steadying rollers
mounted on the framework of the radial arm B and running on the friction disc H.
Where it is required to produce a screw of the opposite hand I may have reversing
apparatus or I detach; the racks D D' with their guides C C' and fix them on to
the opposite sides of the pinions E E thus producing motion of the racks in. the
contrary directions, otherwise the arrangement of the apparatus may remain
unaltered.
The desired pitch of the helix to be formed is obtained by fixing the friction
wheel G on the shaft F at the proper distance from the centre of the vertical
shaft as indicated on the scale B' above the friction wheel.

page_text: Instead of using a table H and friction wheel G (or friction wheels G G' as
hereinafter described) I may obtain the motion of the straight edge I or the like
by means of any equivalent gearing either direct from the vertical standard or
elsewhere, the changes in pitch being obtained by wheels or screws of varying
pitch or in any other convenient manner.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5: On a suitable standard A having a bed A'
I mount a radial arm B which is capable of revolving and on this arm I mount two
guides or slides C C¹, in which work, at right angles thereto, and both parallel with
the standard A, two independent sliding racks D D', or their mechanical equivalents,
which have gearing therewith, pinions E E' mounted respectively on the parallel
shafts F F¹. At the inner end of the radial shaft F' is a friction wheel G¹, which
runs on a friction disc H mounted on the standard A and at the other end of the
radial shaft F is provided a gear wheel F2 which by the intermediate wheel F³ (for
causing both shafts F F to revolve in the same direction) gears with the wheel F*
on the other side of the disc H which wheel is keyed on to the shaft F' having
mounted thereon the other friction wheel G. When the radial arm B is revolved.
the friction wheels G G¹ also revolve, thereby communicating motion to the
shafts F F¹ and consequently also to the racks D D'. The racks have mounted
thereon or jointed thereto a straight edge I or shaped bar. I prefer to adjustably
bolt the straight edge to arms D2 D3 which have vertical parts sliding in corre-
sponding recesses in the racks and are clamped at the desired altitude by set
screws D D. K is a steadying roller mounted on the framework of the radial
arm B and running on the friction disc H. On the apparatus being set in motion,
the straight edge I forms the desired helix on the loam or other moulding material.
Where it is required to produce a screw of the opposite hand I may have reversing
gear or I detach the racks D D' with their guides and fix them on to the opposite
sides of the pinions E E¹ thus producing motion of the racks in the contrary
directions, otherwise the arrangement of the apparatus may remain unaltered.
To mould propeller blades where it is necessary or advisable to make a screw of
increasing or diminishing pitch in a circumferential direction across the face of the
blade I change the position of the friction rollers G G upon the radial shaft or
shafts during the angular movement of the radial arm B by means of a cam, screw,
tooth wheels, or other mechanical device and thus cause the pitch to be varied. As
an example I have shown an adjustable friction wheel O which has at the inner
end of its shaft a bevel wheel O' and this wheel gears with a bevel wheel O2. The
wheel O2 again communicates motion to the wheels 03 and 0. Referring to the
detail views Figures 3 and 38 which represent the friction wheel G and parts
connected (the arrangement of the friction wheel G¹ being similar) the shaft F³
has a slot and a screw Fe working therein and co-axially therewith and on this
screw is mounted a nut or screwed projection F' which is fixed to or in one with
the friction wheel G in such manner that according to the position of the friction
wheel O on the table the bevel wheel O2 has a more or less rapid motion which is
communicated to the gear wheels 03 and O* and consequently causes the friction
wheels G and G¹ to move towards or away from the centre during their revolution
on the table H thus producing a variation of the pitch. Or instead of using the
circular wheel 02, I may dispense with the same and make the other bevel
wheels O¹ 03 and O' gear together.
Or, instead of making the friction wheels G G¹ move radially in addition to their
revolving movement, they may be fixed on their shafts and their motion may be
communicated to either or both of the racks DD' in such manner that the speed of
descent of the latter may be varied at desire. This I attain by introducing speed
multiplying reducing or varying gear between the racks and the shafts D D in any
well known manner.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8 which represent a planing or shaping machine :
On a suitable standard A which is keyed to a foundation plate A'I mount a
revolving movable bed B on which the propeller or other work is securely bolted
or clamped down and above this bed is a fixed radial arm B on which I mount two

page_text: guides or slides C C¹ in which work at right angles thereto two sliding racks D D¹
or their mechanical equivalents, which have gearing therewith pinions EE' mounted
respectively on parallel shafts F F¹. At the inner end of the radial shaft F¹ is a
friction wheel G¹ which runs on a friction disc H fixedly mounted on and moving
with the revolving bed B and at the other end of the shaft F is provided a gear
wheel F which as before described receives its motion from the friction wheel G.
When the revolving bed B moves, the friction wheels G G also revolve, thereby
communicating motion to the shafts F F₁, and consequently also to the racks D D'.
The racks have mounted thereon or jointed thereto a bar I' fashioned to have
sliding thereon or therein a saddle or the like I' which carries the tool I. This
saddle is by means of a screw 13 and bevel wheels I or otherwise capable of moving
backwards and forwards along the bar I'motion being obtained from a shaft I³
which by bevel gearing 16 or otherwise receives motion in both directions by means
of the two loose and two fast pulleys l' actuated by open and crossed belts in the
well known manner. The bar I is provided at its outer end with a bracket 1³
within which are the bevel wheels I and the shaft I has a groove and feather so
that motion is communicated from the shaft irrespective of whether the bar I' is
at the top or the bottom of the said vertical shaft I. The saddle with the
tool I consequently moves backwards and forwards taking a cut on the surface of
the propeller P, any suitable arrangement being utilized for changing the belts at
each end of the desired stroke. C2 C3 are lever cams connected together by levers
or toggle joint arrangement to clamp the racks while the tool is acting to prevent
it from running in or altering the depth of the cut. B' is a worm gearing with
teeth on the periphery of the bed B for revolving same. B3 B are scales on the
arm B' which show the amount of pitch for the racks D D¹ respectively. I have
not shown any special means for adjusting the various parts by hand or communi-
cating motion to the revolving bed or to change the direction of motion of the
tcol because such details are common knowledge to those skilled in the art of making
machine tools and because I do not wish to unduly render the drawings complicated.
It is also evident that it will be advantageous to counterbalance certain parts of the
apparatus by weights or otherwise and that anti-friction devices may be employed
wherever advisable.
Referring to Figure 9, which shows the tool for grinding or milling: I mount
a radial arm B, which is capable of revolving, on a suitable standard A fixed in an
angularly shaped foundation plate or bracket A', in such manner as to leave a clear
space underneath and all round for the work P. On this arm B, I mount, as
described before, two racks D D¹, which receive motion by intermediate gearing
from the friction wheels G G'. The milling or grinding tool I, mounted on the
shaft L, receives motion from a reversible electric or other motor M by means of
the friction or other wheels M¹ and M². The wheel M³ gears with the wheel M*
mounted on the screwed shaft I³ which actuates the saddle 12 in which is mounted
the tool I. When the tool arrives at the end of its radial travel the motor is
reversed in any well known manner and takes a cut back, and so on, as described
with reference to the planing machine. 1° 1° are adjustable bearings or steadying
blocks to prevent "spring." Or instead of using the steadying blocks the tool may
be mounted on a saddle sliding on the bar I'. The arm B is kept stationary during
cach cut in the case of radial cuts and may be suitably supported at its outer end.
The feed screw 13 may be made with a handle or hand wheel on the end or else-
where and the self-acting feed be dispensed with so that the tool can be shifted by
hand alone at every cut. The radial arm B may also have reciprocating angular
motion imparted to it in any convenient manner and then the tool may take
circumferential cuts. The tool is here shown mounted on a radial shaft, but it
might also be mounted at a right or any other convenient angle thereto, with
suitable intermediate gearing.
Referring to Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 showing a gauging, testing or measuring
machine The apparatus is here shown with a standard A, but if desired this may
be dispensed with and the machine may be temporarily fixed to the propeller shaft,

page_text: nut, boss or other centre. On the standard A. or other suitable support I mount
as before described a movable arm B which is capable of revolving and on this
arm I mount a saddle C having guides for a rack Ď and a bearing or housing for a
pinion E which is provided with a feather and is loosely mounted on a shaft F
having a groove so that the pinion always revolves with the shaft wherever the
saddle may be on the radial bar B. At the outer end of the shaft F is the dial X
provided with gearing inside so that any revolving movement of the pinion is
registered thereon by the pointer. The lower end of the rack D is provided with
a small wheel I in order to permit it to freely pass over the propeller blade.
Y is a set screw to clamp the saddle in position on the radial bar B. W, W are
two clamps on a table T for limiting the radial movement of the bar B in order to
prevent the wheel I from running off the edge of the propeller blade. Z is a
counterweight to balance the bar B. The table or plate T is divided near its edge
into a number of segments of convenient size, say sixteen as shown. The clamps
are then so arranged that as many segments as possible are included without
allowing the wheel I to run off the blade. In working, the wheel I is placed in
position and the pointer at zero. The arm B is then revolved from one clamp W
to the other and when arrested by said other clamp the pitch is read off. The dial
shown has three scales, but I do not limit myself to any number; these scales are
so proportioned that they accurately record the total vertical distance that would
be passed through by the wheel I in one complete revolution of the arm B, (that is
the pitch), their relative circumferential length and division being so adjusted that
the scales accurately record the pitch whether the bar is limited in its travels to
one, two or three equal segments of the circle as may be convenient having regard
to the width of the surface to be tested or measured, that is to say, the outer scale
is so divided that the pitch is given when the arm passes through three segments,
the middle scale indicating when motion is limited to two segments and the inner
scale when the motion is limited to one segment. The equal segments can be made
to contain any suitable number of degrees, the dial gearing being made to corre-
spond. As aforesaid I do not limit myself to using three scales, but may use one
obtaining the variations of relative velocity between the shaft F and the index
finger by means of internal adjustable gear within the gauge casing or elsewhere.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An apparatus for producing, gauging, testing or measuring helical and similar
surfaces such as those of screw propellers consisting of a standard or its equivalent
on which is mounted a radial arm and means for causing a tool or pointer on such
radial arm to describe a helix of uniform or varying pitch around the axis of such
standard.
2. An apparatus for moulding the faces or beds for propeller blades or for
similar helical surfaces consisting of a standard A provided with a radial arm B
having guides C C¹ in which are mounted racks DD' gearing with pinions E E¹
which receive motion on the revolution of the arm B from a friction wheel G
moving over a stationary table H and communicate that motion to the straight
edge I substantially as described and shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
3. An apparatus for moulding the faces or beds for propeller blades or for
similar helical surfaces consisting of a standard A provided with a radial arm B
having guides CC in which are mounted racks D D₁ gearing with pinions E E¹
which receive motion on the revolution of the arm B from friction wheels G G'
moving over & stationary table H and communicate that motion to the straight
edge substantially as described and shewn with reference to Figures 3, 4
and 5.
4. An apparatus for planing propeller blades and similar helical surfaces
consisting of a fixed standard A with a fixed radial arm B' guides C C' racks D D'
having pinions E E' gearing therewith which receive motion on the revolution of

page_text: the revolving bed B and table H and communicate that motion to the bar Ion
which the reciprocating tool I is mounted substantially as described and shewn with
reference to Figures 6, 7 and 8.
5. An apparatus for grinding or milling propeller blades and similar helical
surfaces consisting of a standard A provided with a radial arm B, guides CC¹
racks D D having pinions E El gearing therewith which receive motion on the
revolution of the arm B from friction wheels G G¹ and communicate that motion to
the bar I¹ on which the rotary tool or cutter I is mounted substantially as described
and shown with reference to Figure 9.
6. An apparatus for gauging, testing and measuring propeller blades and similar
helical surfaces consisting of a standard A or its equivalent having a radial
arm B, guide or saddle C, rack D, having a wheel I and with a spindle E for
communicating motion to the pointer of a dial or other indicator X to register the
motion of such wheel in a direction parallel with the axis of standard of such
wheel I substantially as described and shown with reference to Figures 10, 11, 12
'and 13.
•
7. The constructions shown on the drawings.
day of August 1894.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.