Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Coupling Shafts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 27th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Coupling Shafts.
I, ALWIN BEUGGER, of Winterthur, Switzerland, residing at Rewentlows-
gade No. 18 Copenhagen, Denmark, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for coupling rotating shafts in such a
manner, that while one rotates in one direction only, the other can be caused
either to rotate in the same or in the opposite direction at the same or at a
different speed. The coupling is so arranged that if it is desired that the driven
shaft shall rotate in the same direction and with the same speed as the driving
shaft the two shafts will be connected with each other by an ordinary friction
coupling or by a clutch whereas if the shafts are to rotate in the opposite direction
or at different speeds, the motion and power is transmitted by an arrangement of
toothed wheels or friction wheels etc.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through coupling apparatus according to this
invention.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating modified forms of such apparatus.
On the shaft a¹ is fixed a friction disc f¹ formed with a projecting portion in
which is fixed a pin m. Upon this pin m are fixed a pair of planet wheels d' d²
rigidly connected to each other and preferably of different diameter. Two or
more pins m each provided with a pair of planet wheels may be employed. Upon
the other shaft a² which is movable in a longitudinal direction by means of a
forked lever fitting the shaft between the collars u are fitted a pair of toothed
wheels gearing respectively with the above named planet wheels d' d². The
wheel t is rigidly connected with the shaft a² and is provided with a rim or flange k
of such form that it can be coupled to the friction disc f'. The other wheel ² is
loose upon the shaft a² and is also provided with a rim or flange k² whereby it can
be coupled with a fixed friction disc f carried by a bracket. The wheels t' and t²
may if desired be each fitted with a liner or bush which by means of a feather is
connected to the shaft a² but which is movable in a longitudinal direction the
shaft a² being in this case immovable longitudinally.
Instead of friction coupling clutches a toothed or other kind of coupling may
be arranged in such a manner, that both shafts, when rotating in the same direction
and with the same speed are directly coupled together, the motion being transmitted
direct from one shaft to the other whereas when it is desired that the two shafts
should rotate in opposite directions or at different speeds, the wheel 2 is coupled
to the fixed disc f which serves as a leading wheel for the planet wheels and the
motion is transmitted from one shaft to the other through the toothed gearing.
Instead of toothed wheels there can also be employed for connecting the planet
wheels with the wheels on the shaft a friction wheels as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3,
or endless chains and chain wheels as shewn in Fig. 4 or rope contrivances.
The apparatus works in the following manner :-
If the shaft a² is pressed towards the end of the shaft a¹ by means of the lever u
which engages with the collars so that the rim or flange k¹ of the wheel engages
with the groove in the friction disc f', the ends of the shafts a¹ a² will be directly
coupled together and they will move in the same direction and with the same
speed. The pin m and the planet wheels d¹ and d² will move together round the
centre of the main shafts but the planet wheels will not rotate around their own
axis. The wheels 2 though geared with the planet wheels d' d' do not move

page_text: relatively to these so that no power is transmitted through the teeth of the wheels,
there is no loss of power by friction from this cause and no noise. The propeller
shafts of launches may conveniently be connected in the manner described to the
crank shafts when going ahead.
If the lever which engages with the collars u is drawn back in the opposite
direction, the connection between k¹ and f' will be broken and connection between 2
and will be made. The friction discf being secured to a fixed bracket, the
wheel 2 is held fast as soon as its rim or flange k² engages with the groove in the
bracket. The wheel 2 serves then as a leading wheel for the planet wheel d²
which rolls round the circumference of the wheel 2 at the same time communi-
cating a rotating motion round the pin m to the other planet wheel d. If the
planet wheel d is larger in diameter than the planet wheel d² as shown, the
wheel and consequently the shaft a² will rotate in the opposite direction to
the shaft a¹. If both planet wheels are of the same diameter, the shaft a² will
remain at rest and if d is smaller than d² the shaft a² will rotate in the same
direction as shaft a' but at different speed. In the special case of the planet
wheel d' being larger than d2 and the amount of gearing from wheel t² to wheel t¹
being as 1:2 the shaft a² will move with the same speed as the shaft a' but in
the opposite direction. This connection may with advantage be used in launches
for connecting the crank shaft with the propeller shaft when going astern.
If the lever u which engages with the collars w is in such a position that no
power will be transmitted from the shaft a¹ to the shaft a² the latter will remain
stationary, while the planet wheels will both rotate round their own axis and
revolve round the axis of the main shafting; in this case the wheel t¹ becomes the
leading wheel and wheel t2 revolves loosely round the shaft a².
The gearing between the wheels d' d², t, t2 may, of course be varied so as to
have the shafts running at a uniform speed in opposite directions, or at a greater
speed in one direction than in the other. In the case of planet wheels of equal
size, the apparatus will act as a brake if the wheel 2 be coupled to the bracket f";
this arrangement may be used with hoists or winches in cases where it is desired
that the motor shaft may continuously run in the same direction while the load
can be stopped and held fast in any position.
Dated this 10th day of Anril 1893
A. BEUGGER,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Coupling Shafts.
I, ALWIN BEUGGER of Winterthur, Switzerland, residing at Rewentlowsgade
No. 18 Copenhagen, Denmark, 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 relates to apparatus for coupling rotating shafts in such a manner,
that while one rotates in one direction only, the other can be caused either to
remain stationary or rotate in the same or in the opposite direction at the same or
at a different speed. The coupling is so arranged that if it is desired that the
driven shaft shall rotate in the same direction and with the same speed as the
driving shaft the two shafts will be connected with each other by an ordinary
friction coupling or by a clutch whereas if the shafts are to rotate in the opposite
direction or at different speeds, the motion and power are transmitted by an
arrangement of toothed wheels or friction wheels etc.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through coupling apparatus according to this
invention.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating modified forms of such apparatus.

page_text: On the shaft a' is fixed a friction disc f¹ formed with a projecting portion in
which is fixed a pin m. Upon this pin m are fixed a pair of planet wheels d' d²
If desired
rigidly connected to each other and preferably of different diameters.
two or more pins m each provided with a pair of planet wheels may be employed.
Upon the other shaft a² which is movable in a longitudinal direction by means of
a forked lever fitting the shaft between the collars are fitted a pair of toothed
wheels gearing respectively with the above named planet wheels d' d². The
wheel t is rigidly connected with the shaft a and is provided with a rim or flange
of such form that it can be coupled to the friction disc f. The other wheel t² is
loose upon the shaft a² and is also provided with a rim or flange (2) whereby it
The wheels t'
can be coupled with a fixed friction disc 2 carried by a bracket.
and t may if desired be fitted with a liner or bush which by means of a feather is
connected to the shaft a² but which is movable in a longitudinal direction the
shaft a being in this case immovable longitudinally.
Instead of friction coupling clutches a toothed or other kind of coupling may
be arranged in such a manner, that both shafts, when rotating in the same direction
and with the same speed are directly coupled together, the motion being trans-
mitted direct from one shaft to the other whereas when it is desired that the two
shafts should rotate in opposite directions or at different speeds, the wheel t² is
coupled to the fixed disc which serves as a leading wheel for the planet wheels
and the motion is transmitted from one shaft to the other through the toothed
gearing.
Instead of toothed wheels there might be employed for connecting the planet
wheels with the wheels on the shaft a friction wheels as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3,
or endless chains and chain wheels as shewn in Fig. 4 or wheels connected by
ropes.
The apparatus works in the following manner :-
If the shaft a² is pressed towards the end of the shaft a' by means of the lever u
which engages with the collars so that the rim or flange of the wheel t¹ engages
with the groove in the friction disc f¹, the ends of the shafts a¹ a² will be directly
coupled together and they will move in the same direction and with the same
speed. The pin m and the planet wheels d' and d² will move together round the
centre of the main shafts but the planet wheels will not rotate around their own
axis. The wheels t¹ t2 though geared with the planet wheels d' d² will not move
relatively to them so that no power is transmitted through the teeth of the wheels,
there is no loss of power by friction from this cause and no noise. The propeller
shafts of launches may conveniently be connected in the manner described to the
crank shafts when going ahead.
If the lever which engages with the collars u is moved back in the opposite
direction, the connection between 2 and 2 will be made. The friction disc f
being secured to a fixed bracket, the wheel 2 will be held fast as soon as its rim
or flange k² engages with the groove in the bracket f. The wheel t² serves then
as a leading wheel for the planet wheel d² which rolls round the circumference of
the wheel t² at the same time communicating a rotating motion round the pin m to
the other planet wheel d. If the planet wheel d' is larger in diameter than the
planet wheel d² as shown, the wheel t¹ and consequently the shaft a2 will rotate in
the opposite direction to the shaft a'. If both planet wheels are of the same
diameter, the shaft a² will not be rotated but will remain at rest while if d' is
smaller than d² the shaft a² will rotate in the same direction as shaft a¹ but at a
different speed. If the planet wheel d¹ be larger than d and the amount of gearing
from wheel t to wheel t¹ be as 1:2 the shaft a² will move with the same speed as
the shaft a' but in the opposite direction. This connection may with advantage
be used in launches for connecting the crank shaft with the propeller shaft when
going astern.
If the lever which engages with the collars u is in such a position that no power
will be transmitted from the shaft a¹ to the shaft a² the latter will remain stationary,
while the planet wheels will both rotate round their own axis and revolve round

page_text: the axis of the main shafting; in this case the wheel t¹ becomes the leading wheel
and wheel 2 revolves loosely round the shaft a².
The gearing between the wheels d' d², t¹ t2 may, of course, be varied so as to have
the shafts running at a uniform speed in opposite directions, or at a greater speed
in one direction than in the other. In the case of planet wheels of equal size, the
apparatus will act as a brake if the wheel t2 be coupled to the bracket f; this
arrangement may be used with hoists or winches in cases where it is desired that
the motor shaft may continuously run in the same direction while the load can be
stopped and held fast in any position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for coupling shafts comprising two clutches or couplings k¹, f¹,
and one or more pairs of planet wheels, each pair comprising two toothed
wheels d d rigidly connected to each other and rotatable on a pin (m) driven from
the shaft (a), and two toothed wheels mounted upon the other shaft (A2) and one
of which (t) is firmly connected to the shaft (a2) and the other (62) is loose upon
the said shaft the arrangement being such that the shaft (a2) can on itself (or a
bush or liner thereon) being moved longitudinally in one direction be coupled
directly to the shaft (a¹) through the clutch or coupling whilst on the said
shaft (or bush or liner) being moved in the contrary direction said shaft will be
coupled to the shaft a' through the said planet wheels actuated by the stationary
wheel substantially as described.
2. A shaft coupling constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
with reference to Fig. 1, or to Figs. 2, 3, or 4 of the drawings whether or not the
gear wheels have the relative proportions shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of July 1893
A. BEUGGER,
By L. W., per F. B.