Improvements in and relating to Machinery Driving Belts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machinery Driving Belts.
We, JAMES HENDRY, and ALEXANDER HENDRY, both of 41 Canning Street.
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Saddlers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to
be as follows:-
This invention bas reference to and comprises improvements in the modes and
means of constructing, or connecting up fastening and jointing machinery driving
belts or straps formed of narrow strips of leather laid longitudinally on edge parallel
side by side, of the breadth the belt requires to be in thickness, and which will
make these belts stronger, and more efficient for passing round the driving pulleys
than they have been as heretofore constructed.
The invention consists, first, in a new mode and means of building up and securing
together this class of belts, which is formed of longitudinal strips of leather set on
edge, each strip being of a width equivalent to the thickness of the belt. These
improvements under one arrangement consist in cutting and stretching the
longitudinal strips of leather to their approximate uniformn width or size, and then in
punching or boring them at equal distances apart to a very exact pitch, the strips
being fed through between rollers intermittently to suit the pitch by regulating ratchet
and wheel gearing under or in front of the punching or boring machine, and stopped
at each action for and while punching or boring the hole; and the machine for this
purpose might be made to feed forward and punch or bore a number of strips at a
time. To form the belt these strips would be built up on edge side by side to con-
venient widths secured together by screws or screw wire preferably alternately
from opposite sides for narrow belts, and proportionate to the thickness of the belts
and strength required. But for broad belts alternate bored holes would be left
through these widths without screws, so that by one arrangement in building the belts
two, three, or more of these first. widths would be secured together by screws
through the alternate holes passed quite through the other widths for belts of two
widths, or more than half through the centre width for three or more widths from
the widths on opposite sides, and thus build up a very broad belt most equal and
uniform in working, strength, and durability. The screw wire or screws would be
made with a wide pitched fine thread, such as used for the securing of the leather
soles of hoots or shoes, or the finer pitches of wood screws, and for the larger sizes of
belts might have screw heads, which would be inserted from the opposite sides
and sunk into the outer edge leather of each width of the belt, the points passing
through or nearly through to the opposite edges of the widths; while the screws
securing the widths together need only pass half in or so through the widths from
the opposite sides. These widths, or belts formed of these widths when so screwed
together would be passed through between rollers and over a scutching knife
machine to shave them to an exact uniformn thickness.
A further improvement relates to the jointing or splicing of the ends of these
belts, which consists in splicing them in a stepped manner edgeways, whether made
in one, two or more widths, as before described, that is, one end of each width
would be spliced in steps of divisions on each side from its sides towards the centre
part equal to the whole or half of the distance between the screws and the thickness
of each strip of leather; and the outer edge parts would be similarly spliced in
steps towards their ends to fit into the stepped spaces of the central or intermediate
spliced parts, and have the screws inserted through the holes alternately from the
opposite sides, or right through the whole width. "When the belt is desired to be
built up in one width, instead of in separate built widths as herein before described,
the punched strips would be all put together or threaded at intervals with wires

page_text: through them to keep the holes in line, and the screw wire or screws would be
screwed by a screwing machine either, wholly in from the one edge right through the
whole width of built strips or belt, or partially in from opposite sides to break-bond
with the interior ends of the screw wire inserted from the opposite sides, and the
outer or edge strips of the belts would preferably be made of the thicker and
tougher kinds of leather to withstand the friction of the shifting belt forks. And
although it is preferred to punch or drill the holes to exact pitches in the separate
strips after they have been stretched, in some cases, as for the thicker kinds of
belts, the strips after being stretched might be glued or cemented together in any
desired width of belt or proportionate width on flat tables by clamps to keep them
all even and flat and then have the holes bored and pitched through the centre of
the whole width of these so put together, and have the screw wire or screws
afterwards inserted from one or both sides. And the screw wires or screws would
be screwed in while the bands were being passed over a flat table with the holes
in the leather in line with the axis of the rotating spindle, and the screw wire or
screws. The screwing mechanism might be substantially of the character of that
used for screwing the screw wire into the heels of boots and shoes and the rotating
screw spindle have cutters at the point so that it could cut off the wire as it
screwed each into the length desired; and the screw spindle would be made hollow
for the wire to pass through it from a reel rotating on a frame with it at the inner
end, the front part of the spindle being made in expanding and contracting segments
with conical screw ferrule for contracting these to grip the different sized screw
wires, analogous to the spindles and chucks of watchmakers' turning and screw
lathes.
Dated the 11th
1000
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machinery Driving Belts.
We, JAMES HENDRY, and ALEXANDER HENDRY, both of 41 Canning Street,
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Saddlers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say :—
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the modes
and means of constructing, or connecting up fastening and jointing machinery
driving belts or straps formed of narrow strips of leather laid longitudinally on
edge parallel side by side, of the breadth the belt requires to be in thickness,
and which will make these belts stronger, and more efficient for passing round
the driving pulleys than they have been as heretofore constructed.
The invention consists, first, in a new mode and means of building up and
securing together this class of belts, which is formed of longitudinal strips a of
leather set on edge, each strip being of a width equivalent to the thickness of
the belt.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or
carrying the same into effect or practice may be properly understood we have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which the same reference
letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figures 1 and 2 are a side view or plan partly in section and an edge view
respectively, showing a short part of one improved construction of narrow belt, A
in which all the layers or strips a are secured together by screw nails b b¹
extending right through them from edge to edge alternately inserted from opposite
sides preferably with heads 6'.
Figures 3 and 4 are views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, but in which
the screw nails pass alternately from opposite edges to more than halt the

page_text: breadth of the belt A. which is formed in two main sections or parts put together
at the centre joint A¹.
Figure 5 is a side or plan view partly in section of an arrangement of broad
belt A in which the strips a are first put together in three main sections or
parts A', A', each formed of a series of narrow strips a put together at the joint
lines A A
Figures 6 and 7 are a side and edge view respectively showing a section A', A',
of belt A to illustrate one mode of how the strips a are put together to form a
section A, A, before being made up into a complete belt A.
Figure 8 is a side or plan view of a broad belt A as built together from a number
of sections A A¹ of the strip a shown in Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a side or plan view partly in section, corresponding to Figure 3, but
showing a different way of securing the strips a and sections A', A', of these
together by screw nails bb and flattened metal pins c.
Figure 10 shows an edge and side view of part of one of the strips a which go
to make up the sections AA' and belts A as stretched and punched with holes a¹, a¹¹,
ready for being put together by their screws or pins b, c.
Figure 11 shows a view of one of the screw nails used for securing the
strips a together.
Figure 12 shows different views of the metal strips c for securing the leather
strips a together.
And
Figures 13 and 14 show a side and end section respectively of a mechanical
arrangement of mechanism for punching the holes in the leather strips a at equal
distances apart.
Referring to these drawings:-The improvements under one arrangement
consist in cutting and stretching the longitudinal strips of leather a see Figure 10,
to their approximate uniform width of which the belt A is to be made in thickness,
and then in punching or boring them with round or flat holes a¹ or a", respectively
at equal distances apart to a very exact pitch, the strips being fed through
between rollers intermittently to suit the pitch by regulating ratchet and wheel
gearing under or in front of the punches of the machine, and stopped at each
action for and while punching or boring the hole. One arrangement of this
machine as shown in Figures 13 and 14 consists of a spindle B rotating in a
headstock B, B", projecting up from a hollow soleplate B2, and driven by a pulley
and band CC at one end from any adjacent motive power gearing. This
pulley C by a crank pin C reciprocates a connecting rod C2 jointed at its
outer free end to a lever C³, keyed on the one end of a spindle C carried in
bearing brackets C³, on one side of the bed frame B. The spindle C, so
oscillated has another lever D keyed on it which by a connecting rod D'
reciprocates the lever D and ratchet pawl D2 taking into a ratchet wheel D³,
keyed on the one end of the rotating spindle E carried in slotted bearing
standards EE with springs, above the bearing bushes of this spindle, to allow
it to slightly rise and fall to suit the thickness of leather strips fed in under
A
the rough surface feeding wheel E2 secured the shaft E.
sponding rough surface feeding wheel E is mounted on a spindle exactly
under the top feeding
to the
wheel E in a bearing bracket screwed
underside of the bed frame B⁹. These feeding wheels E³, E³, work
within a slotted transverse guide plate F, secured on the top of the bed
frame B, through and over which slotted plate the endless strips a of leather,
(previously cut and prepared out of the hides to the proper width and thickness,)
are led and fed by the said wheels EE. Or when desired, another set of these
wheels E, E, might be fitted at the other side of the frame B2, as dotted in
at E, E, actuated by wheel gearing E to draw forward the strips a of leather,
through the guide plate F, in combination with the wheels E, E³. The strips a
of leather are drawn forward under a punch F¹ secured on the lower end of a
vertical slide plate F", working in the front slotted guide head B" of the boss-
head 13, carrying the spindle B, this slide F" being reciprocated by a stud at its
on
corre-

page_text: upper inner end and heart-shaped cam or other cam or crank movement fitted on
the end of the rotating shaft B. The punch F' works through a presser foot and
rod F³, which keeps down the leather while the punch is rising, by the power of
the spring F, both released and raised by the top end F of the slide plate F
while the strip a of leather is intermittently fed forward by the feed wheels to the
proper distance to have the round holes a', or the flat holes a", Figure 10,
punched in them at the regular distances apart, and at each revolution of the
spindle B and pulley C, the punch coming down and acting while the strip a of
leather is stationary and the connecting rod C is making its instroke to take the
ratchet lever and pawl D" D2 of the feeding wheels E' E' in the backward
direction, the ratchet wheel being prevented from turning back by spring or silent
friction pawls fitted at D', so as to give an equal feed forward of the strips a, of
leather at each outward or forward action of the pawl levers D", D. And
although only one slotted transverse guide plate F and one punch F', is shown in
this arrangement of mechanism it will be understood that two, three, or more of
these may be similarly fitted to feed forward and punch a number of strips a at
the same time, making the feeding rollers E' E or E" E", broad enough to feed
forward all these strips. To form the belt these strips a would be built up on edge
side by side to convenient widths secured together by screws or screw wire as
shown in the several figures at b, ', preferably alternately from opposite sides for
narrow belts A, as shown particularly in Figures 1 to 4 the screws being made of
a size proportionate to the thickness of the belt not to weaken or make it too rigid.
But for broad belts alternate bored holes, as shown at a in Figures 6 and 7,
would be left through these widths or sections A', A', without the screws so
that by one arrangement in building the belts A, as shown in Figures 3 to 9, two
three or more of these first widths or sections A', A', Figures 6 and 7, would be
secured together by the screws b, b', through the alternate holes a' passed partially
or half through the other widths for belts of two three or more widths, as shown
at in Figures 3, 5, and 8, and thus build up a very broad belt most equal and
uniform in working, strength and durability, as shown in Figure 8, from each side
of the centre section indicated at A2, which is shown put together by screw wires 2
without heads 6. The screws and screw wire would be made with a wide
pitched fine thread, such as used for the securing of the leather soles of boots or
shoes, or the finer pitches of wood screws, as shown in Figure 11, and for the
larger sizes of belts would preferably have screw heads 64, which would be inserted
from the opposite sides and sunk into the outer edge strips a* of each width or
section A', A', of the belt A the points passing through or nearly through to the
opposite edges of the widths or sections A', A', while the screws securing the
widths together need only pass half in or so through the widths from the opposite
sides, as shown at 63, in the several figures. These widths or sections A', A', or
belts A, formed of these widths when so screwed together may be passed through
between rollers and over a scutching knife machine or emery or sandpaper surface
to shave them to an exact uniform thickness, and smooth surface. Referring to
Figure 8, the centre section indicated at A² would be first put together by securing
all its strips a by screw wires, or screw nails b, b', at the alternate distances or
punched holes a. While the intermediate sections, or outer sections A' A' would
be secured by the screws b, ', passed in from the outer edges of the centre and
previously secured sections, as shown dotted in in this figure, each piercing the
former section sume distance in the alternate holes a' as shown at b. Instead of
securing these strips a of the sections and belts by screws b, b', or 2, as so far
described, they may be secured by flat rolled wire of tough iron or mild steel, such
as used for the making of reeds, and indicated at c in three forms in side view and
end section in Figure 12, for being inserted into corresponding punched flat holes a"
shown in Figure 10, and either bave spread out heads c' on one end, and have the
other end i twisted and cut off by pliers at the opposite edge of the strips or
sections, as indicated in the alternate holes and spaces in Figure 9; or both ends
of the wire may be so twisted after being inserted through the strips or sections as

page_text: shown at e, ell, in Figure 123; or these flat strips may have expanded heads cat
the one end, and screw nuts e' at the other end as indicated in side and end view
in Figure 12. For twisting the ends at Figure 12 the strips a and belt woull be
gripped by a clamp or otherwise a short distance from the ends while being
twisted.
A further improvement relates to the jointing or splicing of the two ends of these
belts A to cach other when completing them for any exact length and driving
purpose which consists in splicing them in a stepped manner edgeways, whether
made in one, two or more widths, as before described, that is, one end of each width
of the belt would be spliced in steps of divisions on each side from its sides towards
the centre part equal to the whole or half of the distance between the screws,,
and the thickness of each strip a of leather and having the step preferably between
the screws bb, as indicated at din Figure 1; and the outer edge parts would be
similarly spliced in steps towards their ends in the converse manner to fit into the
stepped spaces of the central or intermediate spliced parts, and have the screws bb
inserted through the holes alternately from the opposite sides, or right through the
whole width between the stepped parts d. Or instead of thus stepping the spliced
parts they may be cut or planed to a smooth angle to fit each other from the one
end of the splice to the other, in reverse directions, as indicated at d¹, d', in
Figures 3 and 9. Or each section A', A', may be so spliced in straight angled
lines all in the same direction as indicated by the lines d, d, in Figures 5 and 8.
But it is preferred to splice or joint the ends of the outer edge rows or lines a*
of the belts at a different part from the inner splices d to d², as indicated at a³,
and to make them a little thicker and of tougher leather than the inner strips a,
to withstand the action of the belt forks. The strips a to form these belts A
are all cnt to the width of the thickness of the belt, as herein before described
and as shown in Figure 10 to a large scale, and the strips a may be kept the
thickness of the whole hide, as indicated in Figures 1 to 7, or they may be cut
out of split hides and made up preferably of the splits on the flesh side of the
hide, which are harder and tougher than the outer or hair side of the hide, and
stretch more equally, and indicated by the narrower thicknesses in the broad
belt Figure 8. When the belt is desired to be built up in one width instead of
in separate built sections, as hereinbefore described, the punched strip a would
be all put together or threaded at intervals with small wires through the holes a
or a to keep these in line and the screw wires or screws may be screwed by a
band brace or by a screwing machine either wholly in from the one edge right
through the whole width of built strips a or belt A, or partially in from opposite
sides, as indicated respectively in Figures 1 and 3 to break-bond with the interior
ends of the screw wire inserted from the opposite sides. And although it is
preferred to punch or drill the holes a to exact pitches in the separate strips a
after they have been stretched as hereinbefore described, in some cases, as for
thicker kinds of belts, the strips after being stretched might be glued or cemented
together in any desired width of belt or proportionate width on flat tables by clamps
to keep them all even and flat and then have the holes a bored and pitched through
the centre of the whole width of these so put together, and have the screw wire
or screws afterwards inserted from one or both sides. And the screw wires or screws
would be screwed in while the bands were being passed over a flat table with the
holes in the leather in line with the axis of the rotating spindle, and the screw
wire or screws. The screwing mechanism might be substantially of the character
of that used for screwing the screw wire into the heels of boots and shoes and the
rotating screw spindle bave cutters at the point so that it could cut off the wire as
it screwed each into the length desired, and the screw spindle would be made
hollow for the wire to pass through it from a reel rotating on a frame with it at the
inner end, the front part of the spindle being made in expanding and contracting
seginents with conical screw ferrule for contracting these to grip the different sized
screw wires, analogous to the spindle and chucks of watchmakers, turning and
screw lathes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The mode or method of manufacturing machinery driving belts, consisting
in cutting thin long strips of leather and punching same by mechanism with holes
at regular distances apart, and then building these strips up on edge and securing
them together by screws, screw nails or flat wire, in one or more longitudinal
sectional parts, substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. The constructing of machinery driving belts of a series of strips of
leather set on edge, and secured together by screws, screw nails, or flat wires,
substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Third. The constructing of machinery driving belts in longitudinal sections, each
composed of a series of strips of leather set on edge, and secured together by
screws, screw nails, or flat wires, to make the belts of any breadth desired,
substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The constructing of machinery driving belts of a series of strips of
leather set on edge, having their ends spliced together in a stepped or angled
manner, whether made in one or more widths, and secured together by screws,
screw nails or flat wire, substantially as and in the manner herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 9th May 1891
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.