IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING AND ADJUSTABLE CLUTCHES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Samuel Taylor and Stephen William' Challen
of the Derwent Foundry Birmingham in the County of Warwick Engineers.
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING AND ADJUSTABLE
CLUTCHES
ย
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Samuel Taylor and
Stephen William Challen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 21st December 1882.
JOSEPH SAMUEL TAYLOR and STEPHEN WILLIAM CHALLEN of the Derwent
Foundry Birmingham in the County of Warwick Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-ACTING AND ADJUSTABLE CLUTCHES."
This invention is supplementary to our former Invention relating to self-acting
adjustable clutches for which a Patent No. 5187 A.D 1879 was granted to us.
These clutches are employed in machinery and machines for transmitting motion
to, and for arresting the motion of rotating shafts, and they are especially applicable
to power presses as by their use we are enabled to stop the rotation of the press
shaft at any desired point, either immediately before or after the press has delivered
it's stroke or at any intermediate part of its rotation coincident with the arresting
point to which the adjustment is set by means of a foot or hand lever, although
such lever be moved by the attendant before the press shaft in any single rotation
reaches such adjustable point.
Our improved clutch is applicable to the first motion shaft of all machines or
power presses, either of light or heavy construction in which it is desirable that
the motion of such shaft shall cease at any special point in its rotation. These
clutches may also be used as drivers in machines generally
According to our present improvements we add to the adjustable cam formerly
described a concentric ring formed in one piece with the cam, and bored out so as
to be capable of sliding lengthwise to and fro freely and without friction upon the
press shaft or it may be guided otherwise-Near to one end of the body of the
sliding cam we form an annular recess to receive an adjusting clip which embraces
the cam and is moved by means of the hand or foot lever by the attendant who

page_text: controls the working of the press or machine thereby-The other end of the cam
we so fashion in the form of a curved wedge or eccentric incline that it will lift,
depress, or operate, as the case may be the driving key, catchbolt or other device
which is employed to form the connection between the driving wheel and press
shaft while the press is working, but when lifted depressed, or operated upon will
break the connection when the action of the press is required to cease, the driving
wheel which actuates the press shaft and is mounted loosely thereon, being revolved
continuously by the moving power-The rotation of the clutch on the press shaft
is prevented by the clip, which is securely and immovably fixed in it's recess by a
screw or by other means after the adjustment of the cam incline has been set to 1
operate the driving key, catchbolt, or device at the required arresting point, the
rotation of the clutch with the shaft being prevented by the clip which is rigidly
held between two side arms that are operated by the foot or hand lever, and
whereby the cam incline of the clutch is forced towards the driving wheel, so that
when the projecting end of the driving key or bolt is brought into contact there-
with the key is lifted or the bolt withdrawn-A further movement of the clutch
against the wheel brings a concentric portion of it beneath the end of the key or
catch bolt which, so long as it continues to ride on this concentric surface of the
clutch, is kept out of action and during such time the press or machine ceases to
operate. But when the pressure of the foot or the hand of the attendant is
applied, the clutch is caused to slide back or retire from the wheel and then the
driving key or the bolt being free, is again forced, when the key way or recess in
the shaft comes round, to enter it, and the press or machine continues to work so
long as the cam incline is kept out of position for lifting or acting upon the
driving key or the catch bolt, but whenever the Attendant's foot is removed the
cam is forced towards the wheel and the key is drawn out of grip by the reaction
of the spring.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Samuel Taylor and Stephen William Challen in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June 1883.
J
Joseph Samuel. TAYLOR and STEPHEN WILLIAM CHALLEN of the Derwent
Foundry Birmingham in the County of Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING
AND ADJUSTABLE CLUTCHES
"
These self-acting and adjustable clutches are employed in machinery and
machines for transmitting motion to and arresting the motion of rotating shafts.
They may be made to set a shaft in motion or to stop its rotation at any special
fixed point, or this point may be made alterable and the clutch mado adjustablo
thereto.
.
They are especially applicable to power presses, as by their use the rotation of a
press shaft can be stopped at any desired point, either immediately before or
directly after the press has delivered its stroke, or at any intermediate part of its
rotation coincident with the desired arresting point to which the adjustment is set,
by means of a foot or hand lever, although such lever bo moved by the attendant
at any time before the press shaft in any single rotation reaches such adjustablė
point.
The present improvements are supplementary to our former invention relating
to self-acting adjustable clutches, for which a Patent No. 5187 A.D. 1879 was
granted to us. In using clutches made according to the specification of this former
Patent, it has been found in practice, that if the press shaft should accidentally or
by inadvertence be moved forward from the position where it was left by the
release of the grip of the clutch, that at the succeeding revolution of the driving
wheel the grip is renewed, and the remaining part of the revolution (thus inad-
vertently commenced) is completed-Now as there was a certain amount of risk in
this state of things which might have been productive of serious accident, we, in
order to remove all such risk, and make our clutches absolutely safe, have devised
and perfected the present improvements which, although somewhat differing in
the form and arrangement of the details einbrace the same principle of action
which, as in the former Patent is brought into operation by a foot lever under the
control of the attendant, who regulates the stopping, starting, and working of the
press or machine thereby.
Our improved.clutch is applicable to the main or first motion shaft of all
machines or power presses either of light or heavy construction, in which it is
desirable that motion shall cease or start at any given point; it may also .be
employed and made to act automatically in machines to set in motion .secondary.
shafts which are required to rotate intermittently, and our improved clutches may
also be used to control the working of machines generally.
According to our present.improvements we add to the clutch formerly described
a concentric ring, formed either in one piece with or attached to the cam portion
of the clutch, and bored out so as to be capable of sliding lengthwise to and fro
freely and without friction (preferably) upon the press shaft, or it may be guided
parallel therewith or otherwise. Near to one end of the body of the sliding cam
when made adjustable, we (in one modification) show an annular recess made to
receive an adjusting clip which, when the adjustment is set, is made firmly to
embrace the cam, which can then be moved by the foot lever; the other end or
face of the cam we so fashion in the form of a curved wedge or eccentric incline,
that it will either lift, depress, or operate as the case may be, the driving key,
which may be adapted either to the boss of the wheel in some presses, or to the
press shaft in others, and which is employed to form the connection in all methods

page_text: of construction between the driving wheel and the press shaft while the press is
working, but when lifted or depressed as the case may be, will break the con-
nection when the action of the press is required to cease, the driving wheel which,
when connected actuates the press shaft and is mounted loosely thereon, being
revolved continuously by the motive power. The cam does not at any time rotate
with the press shaft, but is held between two arms that guide its sliding motion.
These arms are operated by the foot lever, and the whole combination is so
contrived that when the foot pressure on the lever is removed the cam is imme-
diately forced towards the wheel by the reaction of a spiral spring or springs, and
the driving key is operated by the cam incline, so as to break the connection
between the driving wheel and the shaft, until the pressure of the attendant's foot
is again applied to the lever causing the cam to slide back and leave the key free
to be forced into grip by the reaction of another spring, which again starts the
working of the press; therefore in order readily to comprehend the following
description of the parts and details as shown on the drawings, it must be borne in
mind that, whenever the foot pressure of the attendant is applied to the lever, it
sets the press in motion, and during the time the pressure is continued the working
of the press goes on; but the moment the foot pressure on the lever is removed,
the spiral cam spring or springs force the cam incline again towards the driving
wheel so as again to operate the key and cause the working of the press to stop.
In further describing our present improvements wo make reference to two
modifications which, as applied to power presses, are exhibited in combination and
in detail on the two sheets of drawing hereto annexed, the modification shown on
Sheet 1 having the driving key or keys located in a suitable recess formed longi-
tudinally in the press shaft, and in the modification shown on Sheet 2 the driving
key is seen to be located in the boss of the wheel, which is enlarged for the
purpose. These two modified applications of the clutch necessarily cause
difference in the form and arrangement of some of the parts, which are susceptible
of many changes, although the same principle of action is maintained, and the
same effect is produced by all.
&
Sheet 1-A marks the frame or body of the press. B indicates the driving
wheel, which is kept in constant rotation by the motive power; it is mounted to
revolve freely on the press shaft C, on the extreme end whereof is fixed B', which
marks a collar, placed there to prevent the driving wheel working off the shaft, and
it also serves to keep the driving key C* in its recess or key way, which is cut
longitudinally in the press shaft. C' marks the companion key. The contiguous
ends of these two keys (see Figs. 8 and 9) are formed to act on each other in such
a way, that when as shewn in Fig. 6, the non-adjustable cam D is moved towards
the driving wheel, the free end of the key C' is depressed by the cam incline, and
in turn it forces down the free or contiguous end of the key C*; a further
movement of the cam against the driving wheel brings the concentric portion of
the cam D over the raised surface seen on the key C, the spiral key spring C' being
closed by the pressure, as seen in Figs 5 and 6. In this position the press ceases
to work, the keys being locked in the press shaft by the concentric portion of the
cam. When the cam by the pressure of the attendant's foot is drawn towards the
body of the press as seen in Fig. 4 the reaction of the key spring C raises the free
ends of both keys out of their recess in the shaft, and they are forced by the spring
into the first key way in the boss of the wheel that comes round, and by this
means the necessary. connection is made between the press shaft and the wheel,
whereby the press is started to work. The rotation of the cam D is prevented by
the projecting bar D' which works in and out of a guiding hole that is bored in the
press frame.
The sliding movement of the cam when it is drawn back from the
driving wheel B, is (as already explained) effected by the pressure of the attendant's
foot on the foot lever E which by means of the chain E pulls the lever arm E
that is fixed on the end of the rocking bar Es, against the projecting end of the
cam spring spindle D* and by this means also the closing up of the spiral cam
spring D³ on the spindle D', is effected-In this position the reactive power of the

page_text: cam spring is always tending to force the cam D towards the driving wheel by the
aid of the rocking bar Es, whereon are fixed the two arms E' which engage with
the cam studs D (see Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 12) and effect-the movement of the cam in
both directions either towards the driving wheel or back towards the press frame.
Figs. 11 show two views of the collar B-Figs 12 show two views of the cam when
made nonadjustable, as also seen in Fig. 7, and Figs 13 exhibit two views of the
cam D fitted with an adjusting spring clip F, to the opposite sides whereof the cam
studs D³ are fixed, instead of to the cam when the latter is made adjustable.
Figs 14 show two views of the adjusting clip F. When the cam of this modifi-
cation of the clutch is made non-adjustable, three key ways may be cut in the boss
of the wheel (shown by Figs 3, 5 and 10) so that in starting the press, the keys C¹¹
and C may enter the first that comes round, which will save time and prove an
advantage in the working of slow running presses. O shows a central passage
made in the end of the press shaft C for the admission of oil, which may be applied
while the wheel is running, and O' marks a screw plug that closes the passage and
excludes dust and dirt.
Sheet 2-On this sheet we exhibit in combination and detail the second
modification of our clutch, showing that the driving key is fitted in and carried
round by the boss of the driving wheel which, as in the first modification is kept
in constant rotation by the motive power. A marks the frame or body of another
description of power press, to which we show (see Figs 1 and 2) the application
of our improved clutch, the cam whereof can be made within itself either adjustable
(see Figs 9) or non-adjustable (see Figs 9*) as may be required. B marks the
driving wheel which, according to the size of the press, may be either a fly, or as
shown in the drawing by Figures 5, 6 and 8, a spur wheel with teeth. C marks
the press shaft, and C a recess in the shaft, into which the driving koy G (see
Figs. 5, 6 and 10) is forced by the reaction of the spiral key spring G which is carried
by the key spindle G' in one of the arms of the wheel (see Figs. 5, 6, 13 and 14)
which arm is bored out to receive it, the rim of the wheel opposite such arm being
fitted with a false tooth B', fixed in by a cotter B², (see Figs 15 and 16) the tooth
being capable of removal for the purpose of boring the arm and of introducing the
key spring G on the key spindle G³, the lower end whereof is screwed into tho
angular arm of the driving key G. (see Figs 5, 6, 13 and 14). G³ marks a small
arm or lift that operates the key and is fixed on the key bar G+, and G³ is a
small lever arm that is formed at the end in one piece with the key bar, which is
mounted in bearings cast on the boss of the driving wheel (see Figs 6, 7, 8 and 11)—
All these six parts from G to Go are applied to and carried round by the wheel.
C marks a collar that prevents the driving wheel working off the shaft end,
and C³ a plate that is screwed to the boss of the wheel (see Figs 5, 7, 19 and 20)
and prevents the wheel working towards the press, the press shaft being reduced
to form a shoulder. D marks a non-adjustable cam mounted to slide on the press
shaft between the body of the press and the wheel B. D' marks the cam incline,
and D' the cam spring spindles which are screwed into and project from the back
face of the cam, one at each side of the press shaft. These spindles serve as cam
guides and carry the spiral cam springs D³, and also the cam studs D, (see Figs 3,
4 and 17) and as the cam is moved to-and-fro on the press shaft, the spindles
work in and out of holes bored in the press frame to receive then and the cam
springs D³ which they carry. The adjustable cam shown by Figs. 9, is made in
two halves or parts, the back part D. being circular constitutes the external
concentric surface, and the other or front half De carries the cam incline, the two
parts being made adjustable relatively by means of the concentric slots D'in the
front half. After adjustment, the two parts are rigidly fixed together by means of
the two screws DB, which screws are turned by the key H. E marks the foot
lever, to which (see Figs 1, 2 and 4) is jointed the lower end of the connecting
rod El, the upper end of the rod being jointed to the free end of E which marks a
short lever arm, (see Figs 3 and 4) that is fixed on the rocking bar E. This bar
(see Figs. 2 and 3) is mounted in bearings fixed to the press frame, and upon it

page_text: are also fixed the two arms E, that engage with the cam studs D', and thereby
effect the to-and-fro movement of the cam D; and by this means (as in the first
modification) when the pressure is removed from off the foot lever E the cam is
forced by the cam springs D³ (see Fig. 4) towards the driving wheel, so that the
cam incline is brought into contact with the small boss or bowl that is seen on the
lever arm G³, and this arm as already stated operates the key bar G* on which it
is formed, and the slight rotary movement of the bar causes the small arm or
lift G³ to engage with the driving key G, by which means the key is forced out of
the recess C that is made to receive it in the press shaft C. In this position the
bowl on the lever arm G³. runs round on the concentric surface of the cam, and the
press ceases to work until the cam is again retired by the foot pressure on the
lever E, and when this is applied, the reaction of the key spring G³ again forces
the key into the key way in the shaft, and the press is again set in motion.
Having now in compliance with the conditions of the Letters Patent fully
described in combination and detail the construction, action, and mode of operating
our improved clutches, we wish to remark that, according to the description of
power press or machine to which these clutches may be applied, certain modifications
in the form and arrangement of the details may be necessary, but so long as our
principle of construction and action be maintained, we consider that all such
modifications are included within the scope and limits of our Patent Right, and we
therefore claim as follows that is to say -
First We claim the construction and use of clutches comprising the several
parts and details herein set forth and exhibited in combination; and the operating
of such clutches after the manner and for the purposes we have herein described.
Second We claim the use of an improved sliding cam in clutches made either
adjustable or non-adjustable, and the forming of such cam with a curved inclino,
and either an internal or external concentric surface, for the purposes herein
set forth.
Third We claim the moving of our improved cam in one direction by means of
a foot or hand lever, and in the opposite direction by means of the reaction of
springs after the manner described, and for the purpose of either arresting the
motion of, or communicating motion to rotating shafts.
In witness whereof we the said Joseph Samuel Taylor and Stephen William
Challen have hereunto set our hands and seals this eighteenth day of June
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.