Improvements in and relating to Variable Speed Countershafts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by MARTHA WHITE, of 132 North Pearl Street,
Buffalo, New York, United States of America, Married Lady.]
Improvements in and relating to Variable Speed Countershafts.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 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:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in variable speed countershafts,
their starting, stopping, and reversing mechanism, and to certain details of con-
struction all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of the device complete.
Fig. 2, represents a front end elevation, showing a face view of the driving
friction disk.
Fig. 3, is a vertical longitudinal section on or about lines a a, and bb, Fig. 4.
Fig. 4, represents an inverted plan view, showing the mechanism for varying
the speed, and the frame-work from which it is suspended.
Fig. 5, is a vertical cross section on or about line cc, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, represents a vertical section on or about line dd, Fig. 1.
Fig. 7, is a detached perspective view of the combined toggle case and lever.
Fig. 8, represents a perspective view of the pivoted thrust box at the end of the
main shaft, showing its two parts separated.
Fig. 9, is a horizontal section of the lower portion of the hanger 4 and combined
toggle case and lever, on or about line ee, Fig. 3, showing the closed position of
the toggle.
Fig. 10, is a similar section showing the toggle open.
Fig. 11, is a fragmentary top plan view of the carriage portion and adjacent
parts, a horizontal section being cut through the hanger 57.
Fig. 12, represents a section on or about line ff, Fig. 11.
Fig. 13, is a section cutting horizontally through line gg, Fig. 12.
Fig. 14, represents a detached front elevation showing a suitable device for
taking up the slack in the cable, chain, or rope used with this device.
Referring to the drawings in detail,- 1 and 2, represents the frame-work to
which the hangers 3 and 4, are suspended or secured by holts 5, see Fig. 4.
The frame-work above referred to inay be constructed of any suitable material,
cast iron or wood, if made of cast iron it can be cast in one piece, if constructed
of wood, it is preferably made in two parts 1 and 2, the part 1, being rigidly
secured to the part 2, by means of a bolt 6, substantially as shown in Fig. 4.
When the device is designed to be used as an overhead countershaft it may be
attached to the ceiling in any well known way.
The hangers 3 and 4, are preferably constructed of cast metal and may be
formed in one piece, the two being preferably connected by a hollow or tubular
portion 7, the portion 8, (see Fig. 3) being cast in one piece with it or otherwise
rigidly secured in place within the said hollow portion 7, the object of this
portion 8, will appear further on.
The driving shaft 9, is mounted in boxes 10 and 11, in the hangers 3 and 4.

page_text: To the driving shaft 9, is rigidly secured by set screws 12, see Fig. 3, the
driving pulley 13, and at the forward end of the driving shaft 9, is rigidly secured
a driving disk 14, and at the rear end is a longitudinal thrust bearing 15,
see Fig. 3, where a section through the boxes inclosing this bearing is shown, with
the bearing in place therein.
On the driving shaft 9, is rigidly secured in any well known way, by set
screws 16, for instance, (see Fig. 3,) two bevel driving wheels 17 and 18, their
smaller sides facing each other. The working faces of these bevel driving
wheels are preferably composed of paper, but any suitable material may
be used.
To a lug on the hanger 4, is pivoted by a pin 19, the combined toggle case and
lever arm 20, at the lower end of this lever arm is an angular depression or
recess 21, forming one-half of the toggle case, and directly opposite the recess 21,
is another recess 22, below the box 11, in the lower part of the hanger 4, which is
stationary and unyielding, the recess 22, forming the other half of the toggle
joint case, see Figs. 3-6-7-9 10, where these toggle joint recesses are
shown.
The longitudinal thrust bearing 15, at the end of the driving shaft is mounted
in a babbitt box 23, see Fig. 3, also Fig. 6. The babbitt metal being inclosed
within the two-half box portions 24 and 25, which are securely fastened together
by a bolt 26, see Figs. 1 and 3, the bolt 26, passing through the holes 27, shown
in Fig. 8.
On each side of the lower portion 25, of this inclosing box is a trunnion 28,
shown in Figs. 1-6 and 8.
When this box is secured and provided with babbitt metal above described,
and substantially as shown in Fig. 3, the lever arm 20, is put in place.
The lever arm 20, is provided with an opening 29, (see Fig. 6,) large enough to
allow it to pass over the thrust box, 24-25, the trunnions 28, passing into the
openings 30, see Figs. 1 and 7, the arm 20, is now dropped slightly to allow the
openings 31, see Fig. 7, to receive the trunnions which act as supporting pivotal
bearings upon which the arm 20, may turn.
one end
Within the tubular portion 7, is a spiral spring 32, (see Fig. 3) having
resting against or secured to the supporting portion 8, and at the opposite end is
a disk 33, having a pin 34, to keep it central against the spring 32, so that it is
compressed between the portion 8, and the disk 33.
The end of the spring 32, and the disk 33, passes through an opening in the
hanger 4, see Figs. 1 and 3.
At the outer side of the disk 33, is a conical depression; the point of a set
screw 35, which screws through the top of the arun 20, and is secured by a jamb
nut 36, fits in said depression. The object of the screw 35, is to adjust the force
of the spring 32.
In boxes 36, at the lower ends of the hangers 3 and 4, is mounted a shaft 37,
capable of a longitudinal movement in said boxes. To or near one end of the
shaft 37, is pivoted the metallic portion 38, of a wooden shifting bar 39, the
wooden portion 39, being secured to it by bolts 40.
This shifting bar portion 38, is provided with a hole which is enlarged slightly
from the centre outward each way, substantially as shown at 40%, in Fig. 3, 50
that the lower end of the shifting bar is capable of a lateral as well as a forward
and back movement.
The upper end of the bar 38, projects up between the recess 21, in the lower
end of the arm 20, and the recess 22, below the box 11, in the hanger 4, and is
provided with a recess 41, on each side, see Figs. 9 and 10, also Fig. 3.
The toggle bars 42-43, are placed so that one end of the bar 42, fits in the
recesses in the bar 38, and its opposite end rests in the bottom of the opening 21
in the arm 20, while one end of the toggle bar 43, rests in the depression on the
opposite side of the bar 38, and its opposite end rests in the depression 22, in the
lower part of the hanger 4, see Figs. 3-9 and 10.

page_text: On each opposite side of the bar 38, is rigidly secured to the slinft 37, by set
screws a collar 44, see Figs. 1-3 and 4.
To the horizontal shaft 37, is rigidly secured by a set screw 45, or other well
known means, an upright standard 46, through which the shaft 9, slips easily, see
Figs. 1-3 and 5, at the top of the standard 46, is a vertical shaft 47, upon which .
is a winding drum 48, having a spiral groove 49, and a bevel driven wheel 50;
I have shown the spirally grooved drum and bevel driven wheel in one integral
piece, the preferred form, but they may be made in parts and secured together if
desired. The upper end of the vertical shaft 47, projects into a slot 51, i a
plate 52, which is secured by holts 52, (see Fig. 5) to the transverse bars 53
and 54, which project out horizontally from the hollow portion 7. It will be
noticed I have shown this hollow portion 7, as oval in cross section, (see Fig. 5;)
but any other suitable form will answer, a longitudinal view of the slot 51, is shown
in section in Fig. 3, and a transverse section is shown in Fig. 5.
The object of the slot 51, is to steady the top of the vertical shaft 47, as it is
moved lengthwise of the slot as will 'more clearly hereinafter appear.
Secured to the end of the frame piece 1, by bolts 55, is a hanger 56, and
directly opposite it at the end of the frame piece 2, is another hanger 57, also
secured by bolts 55. At the lower ends of ench of the hangers 56 and 57, is
rigidly secured two parallel shafts, 60 and 61. These shafts are preferably made.
round in cross section and are arranged transversely to the shafts 9 and 37, or
parallel with the driving disk 14.
On the shafts 60 and 61, is mounted a sliding carriage 62, in which is mounted a
shaft 63, in boxes 64 and 65, see Fig. 3.
At the outer end of the shaft 63, is a surrounding groove 66, (see Fig. 3) a
slotted plate 67, having a downward projecting portion 68, which fits into the "
groove 66, is secured by a set screw 68, to the portion 69, at the end of the box 64,
in which is an adjusting screw 70, and the usual jamb nut, sec Fig. 3.
To the opposite end of the shaft 63, is rigidly secured in any well known way,,
the driven disk 71, I have shown it attached to the tapered end of the shaft by a
nut 72, which answers the purpose very well. The driving disk 14, is also
secured to the driving shaft 9, in a similar manner, as will be seen by reference to
Fig. 3.
In the working face of the driven disk 71, near the periphery, is a ring of..
paper 73, which forms the frictional contact with the driving disk 14, when in
operation. This paper ring is inserted in a groove made in the metal disk and is
secured by screws 74, substantially as shown in Fig. 3.
Between the boxes 64 and 65, is firmly secured to the shaft 63, a driving
pulley 75.
Projecting out from one side of the boxes 64 and 65, is two pairs of lngs or
ears 76 and 77, between which is pivoted the two arms 78-79 of a tightening
pulley frame, the cross piece 80, connecting with the arms 78 and 79, is located su
as to act as a counterweight, see Figs. 1-2 and 4. The lower portions of the
arms 78 and 79, are provided with boxes 81 and 82, in which is mounted a shaft 83,
carrying a tightening pulley 84, see Fig. 3, also Figs. 1-2 and 4.
The carriage 62, carrying the driven disk 71, is adapted to be moved back and
forth on the bars or shafts 60 and 61, and thereby move the driven disk across the
face of the driven disk.
This movement is obtained by means of the power that operates the driving
pulley 13, one end of a rope or cord 87, or chain, or the equivalent thereof, is
secured to the drum 48, near its upper end by a suitable holding device 85, see
Figs. 1-3 and 5, the opposite end is then passed around the palleys 88 and 89,
see Fig. 4, from thence it passes to and is secured to one side of the carriage
releasing device 90, which will be described further on.
Another rope or chain, 87, or the equivalent thereof is secured at one end to the
lower part of the drum 48, by a similar fastening device 85, the opposite end is
then passed over or around the grooved pulleys 91 and 92, and from thence it

page_text: passes to and is secured to the other side of the carriage releasing device, sec
Fig. 4.
The carriage releasing device consists of a jaw 93, pivoted to one side of the
carriage by a pin 94, see Fig. 12, it is fitted so as to slide back and forth along
the shaft or bar 61, with the carriage of which it forms a part and is clamped
tightly to the shaft or bar 61, by a bolt 95, and a spring 96, the force of which may
be adjusted by the nut 96.
90 represents a link which fits loosely in the laterally Haring opening 98, sec
Figs. 12 and 13, and is provided with a square pin, or substantially square
pin 99, which projects down between the jaw 93, and the portion 62°, of the
carriage frame.
When the link 90, is in its normal position it is the position shown by the dotted
lines 97º, see Fig. 13, but when it is moved to either side, by a pull on the rope 87,
or 87, for instance the rope 87, as shown in Fig. 13, the two corners of the square
bolt as the link 97, is turned to one side causes the jaw 93, to open and thereby
release the carriage so it can be easily moved along the bars 61 and 62, and the
moment it is released the spring 96, acts and brings the link 90, again to its normal
position and the driven disk carriage is clamped fast by the jaw 93, and held
securely in the position to which it may have been adjusted.
To the underside of the hanger 56, I have shown a curved rod 1°, secured by a
set screw 2º, to the lower end of which is attached a speed indicator 3°, having
on its face a double series of figures 4 and 5, for indicating the speed. When
this device is used on an engine lathe the figures 4°, would indicate the
normal speed of the lathe, and when the back gear of the lathe is
brought into action the figures 5e, will indicate the reduced speed, see Figs. 1-2
and II.
An indicator pointer is suspended so as to operate in a slideway in the speed
indicator 3, it is suspended by a cord 6, which extends up and over a grooved
roller 7, see Figs. 1-2-4 and 11, from thence it passes horizontally or substan
tially so and is secured to a convenient point in the driven disk, carriage or frame,
for instance at the point 8e, shown in Figs. 3 and 11.
In Fig. 14, I have shown a suitable means for taking up the slack in the rope or
chain and holding it when thus taken up.
It is located on the carriage releasing device link 90, and consists of an upright
bar 3', either having a screw threaded portion 4', or a series of ratchet teeth, over
this upright bar 31, is a spiral spring 5, and supported on the spring is a perforated
plate 6', to which the ends of the rope (which passes up through holes in the
link 97,) are secured in any well known way, referring to Fig. 14, the dotted lines 7,
represent a pivoted pawl which engages with the teeth in the upright bar 3', by
means of a spring not shown on the drawings.
The operation of this device is as follows:-
If at any time the ropes 87-87, should become slack, the spiral spring 5', will
force the plate 6', upward and thereby draw up the slack rope, the pawl 7', as it is
also moved up at the same time will engage with the teeth in the upright bar 3',
and prevent the slack thus taken up from being drawn back again.
The operation of the variable speed countershaft, is as follows:-
When it is desired to bring the driven disk into action, the lower end of the
shifting bar is moved forward by the operator, the toggle joint is brought into the
position shown in Fig. 9, which operation allows the spring 32, (see Fig. 3,) to
come into action and force the top of the arm 20, outward and that portion below
the pin 19, inward, thereby causing the rotating driving disk to be forced against
the face of the driven disk and give it a rotating. motion, which motion may be
varied to any speed desired.
When the shifting bar is moved backward or away from the operator the toggle
is in the position shown in Fig. 10, and the driving disk is drawn from the driven
disk and its motion ceases.
When it is desired to vary the speed, the shifting bar is moved sideways, either

page_text: way or at right angles to the movement for starting or stopping the driven
disk, when this movement of the shifting bar is made the toggle bars act as a
fulcrum.
A movement of the lower end of the shifting bar in the direction of the arrow V,
Bee Figs. 1 and 3, will cause the shaft 37, to be moved in the same direction, thereby
bringing the face of the bevel 'friction wheel 50, in contact with the bevel friction
wheel 18, causing it to rotate, which operation will rotate the winding drum 48,.
and wind up, for instance, the rope or chain 87, while it is unwinding the rope or
chain 87, thereby moving the driven disk across the face of the driving disk in one.
direction and varying the speed of its rotation.
A movement of the lower end of the shifting bar in an opposite direction will
bring the face of the bevel wheel 50, in frictional contact with the bevel wheel 17,
and away from the wheel 18, thereby reversing the action and moving the driven
disk in an opposite direction across the face of the driving disk, thereby reversing
the motion of the driven disk or varying its speed.
During this operation of varying or reversing the motion of the driven disk, the
ropes or chains 87 and 87, are wound and unwound in the spiral groove 49, and
the grooved wheels 88 and 91, rise and fall on their shafis 1 and 2 as the rope
or chain does while thus being wound or unwound on said drum.
It will be noticed that the driven friction disk is set at a very slight incline to
the face of the driving disk so that a portion of one side only will be in frictional..
contact with the driving disk. It will be also noticed that the driven friction disk.
is not moved by hand across the face of the driving disk but it is actuated or
moved by the power that operates the driving shaft, through the bevel driving
wheels, the power being brought into action by means of the shifting bar.
The shifting bar 39, only, (which requires but little power to operate it) being
moved by hand to cause the engagement or disengagement of the driving and.
driven friction gearing above described, which engagement is maintained only long.
enough to allow the driven disk to be moved to the point desired, which..
movement stops the instant the shifting bar is returned to a vertical or normal:
position.
This construction is very important in a device of this kind because the power:
required to move the driven disk over the face of the driving disk, would in many
instances be too great to be operated by hand.
Toothed gearing or other forms of gearing may possibly be used instead of the
friction wheels above set forth and would be an equivalent thereto, but I prefer
the mechanism herein before mentioned because its engagement and disengagement
is quiet, certain and easy, while the ready engagement of toothed gearing is not
certain, and when engagement does take place, it is sudden, jarring and noisy,.
and often injurious in its action.
It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2, that as the driving pulley 75, on the
driven disk shaft is connected by a belt 18, to a pulley of some kind below it for
driving a lathe or other machine, a line connecting the two pulleys must be a line
radiating from the movable center of the driving pulley 75, to the substantially.
stationary center of the pulley it is intended to drive, consequently the traveling
movement of the pulley 75, would be in the line of a circle of which the driven
pulley would be the center, whereas the movement of the carriage, its driven
friction disk and the driving pulley 75, is in a substantially straight line across the
face of the driving disk.
The object of the weighted portion 80, is therefore to operate automatically and
take up the slack above mentioned every time the speed of the driven disk is.
required to be varied, and thereby keep the belt 15, taut at all points, of the
movements of the driven friction disk.
It will be readily seen that it is very important in this construction to have a
suitable means acting automatically as above described, for taking up the slack at
every portion of the movements of the driven friction disk. It is necessary that
every time the driven disk is adjusted to a given speed to have it locked in

page_text: position, and it is equally as necessary that the belt on the driven disk pulley be
taut at every such adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a frictional gearing, the combination with two disks, the operative faces
of which are unobstructed and at a slight angle to each other and contact only on
a line, the line of contact of one of the disks being always at the same distance
from its center, while the line of contact of the other disk may be varied, of means
for relatively moving said disk so that one may pass entirely across the face of the
other one, whereby the speed and direction of the gearing may be changed at will,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a friction gearing the combination. with two disks, the operative faces
of which are unobstructed and at a slight angle to each other, and contact only
on a line, of means for moving one of the disks toward and away from, or entirely
across the face of the other disk, whereby they may be placed in or out of
operative position and the speed and direction be changed at will, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination with supporting hangers,
of a driving shaft mounted in suitable boxes in said hangers, a driving disk at
one end of said shaft, an arm pivoted to the rear hanger, a yielding spring
engaging with said arm, a box pivoted in said arm below its pivotal center, a
thrust bearing connecting said arm with the opposite end of the driving shaft, a
toggle joint having one end of one of its members located within a recess in the
lower end of the pivoted arm, and the other member having one end located in a
recess in the lower portion of the rear hanger, and a pivoted shifting bar having
depressions at each side of its top end in which are located the two opposite ends of
the toggle joint bars, for moving the driving shaft and its driving disk away from
the driven disk, substantially as described.
4. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination with a driving friction disk,
its driving shaft and operating mechanism, of a supporting frame, a slideway
mounted thereon, at right angles to the driving shaft, a sliding guide mounted, on
said slideway, a driving pulley and a driven disk on said 'carriage facing the
driving disk at slight incline thereto so that a portion of one side only is in
contact therewith, two driving bevel wheels on the driving shaft, a vertical shaft
between said wheels, a bevel driven wheel, and winding drum mounted thereon,
cords or cables connecting the winding drum with the driven disk carriage, and a
pivoted shifting bar and its connecting mechanism for moving the driven bevel
wheel to or in engagement with one or the other driving bevel wheel, and thereby
causing a movement of the driven disk on the face of the driving disk, for the
purposes described.
5. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination of a supporting frame, a
driving shaft capable of a rotary movement in its bearings, two bevel driving
wheels and a driving friction disk mounted on said shaft, in combination with a
supporting frame, a transverse slideway, a carriage thereon, a driven friction disk
mounted in said carriage on said slideway at a slight incline to the one face of the
driving disk so that the portion only on one side of its center is in frictional
contact therewith, a driven bevel wheel, means connecting it with the driven
friction disk carriage, a shifting bar, and means for bringing said driven bevel
wheel into engagement with one or the other bevel driving wheel on the driving
shaft and thereby causing a movement of the driven friction disk on the face of the
driving friction disk, substantially as described.
6. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination of a depending supporting
frame, a driving shaft mounted thereon, capable of a longitudinal and a rotated
movement in its bearings, a driving disk rigidly secured to the forward end of said
shaft, an arm pivoted to the rear frame piece, a spring for moving said arm on' its

page_text: pivotal center in one direction, means for adjusting the force of said spring, a
pivoted box, a thrust bearing connecting the lower end of said arm with the rear
end of the driving shaft, and a shifting bar and connecting mechanism for moving
the pivoted arm in an opposite direction against the force of said spring, and
thereby operating the driving disk, substantially as described.
7. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination with the driven disk
carriage and a slideway on which it travels, of a clamping device, a spring for
closing the same and holding the carriage to the slideway at any point to which it
may be adjusted, a carriage releasing bar and means for operating it and opening the
clamp and releasing the carriage and moving the latter, substantially as described.
8. In a variable speed countershaft, the combination with the driven disk
carriage and slideway upon which it slides back and forth, of a pivoted clamping
bar and a closing spring for locking the driven disk carriage when adjusted to
the desired point, and means substantially as above described, whereby the driven
disk carriage is released just prior to being moved and instantly locked the
moment the desired adjustment is made.
9. In a friction gearing, the combination with two rotatable disks, the operative
faces of which are unobstructed and at a slight angle to each other so that a
portion of one disk at an invariable distance from its center is in contact with the
face of the other disk over which it is movable, of means for moving it toward or
from the center or entirely across the face of said disk, whereby the speed or
direction of the gearing may be changed, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE &. Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.