Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1888
Specification Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
I BENJAMIN WILLCOX of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by La Société des Usines Franco-Russes of Paris in the
Republic of France 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 an improved coupling which is more particularly designed
for use in combination with marine engines for connecting the crank or engine shaft
to an independent shaft carrying the propeller. This coupling can also be employed
for coupling shafts of any other description employed in transmitting motive power
by rotary motion and is so arranged that it can be applied to shafts whose axes of
rotation are not truly in line or on the same level and facility is afforded for connect-
ing and disconnecting the shafts when required. This feature constitutes an important
advantage especially in the case of marine engines when it is necessary to change
frequently from running under steam to running under sail and vice versa.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in section a coupling according
to this invention and figure 2 represents another section taken at right angles to the
first. Figure 3 shows the coupling in end elevation.
In these figures A represents the engine or motor shaft and H the shaft to be
driven such as a propeller shaft for example. On the extremity of the shaft A is
fixed a crank or arm B and on the corresponding extremity of the shaft H is fixed a
disc T. The arm B carries a crank pin C firmly fixed in position by a nut D. The
projecting part of this pin works in a bearing E forming one head of a connecting
rod or frame E E' provided at its opposite extremity with another similar head E
working on a crank pin F fixed in the disc T by a nut G in a similar manner to the
pin C (figure 2). It is evident that by means of this arrangement the coupling
is enabled to act even when the axes of the shafts A and H are not truly on the same
level or in the same line. The disc T is provided with three holes or openings for
:D 017

page_text: purposes hereinafter explained. When the parts are in the position illustrated in the
drawing one of these holes is occupied by the pin F (figure 2) the second hole
indicated at a figure 2 is arranged opposite the end of the pin C to facilitate the
removal of the fatter as hereinafter explained and the third hole shown at a¹ in
figure 3 being situated at the same distance from the pin F as the hole a serves for the
reception of the pin C. when the shafts are disconnected.
The drawings represent the parts in position for connecting the shafts A and H.
In order to disconnect the shafts the nut D is removed and the pin C. is driven out of
the hole in the crank arm B into the hole a (figure 2) in the disc T this hole being
made somewhat larger than the pin to allow for a slight inequality in the position of
the shafts A and H. The pin can then be drawn out by hand or by screwing eye
bolts into the end and using mechanical power if the weight be considerable. The
connecting piece or frame E E¹ is then turned upon the pin F as a centre until
the head E is brought opposite the hole a Figure 3. The pin C is then put into
the head E from the opposite side to that on which it was taken out
partly projects into the hole a' in which it is secured by the nut D.
so that it
To reconnect the two shafts it is simply necessary to replace the parts in the position
indicated in the drawing. In doing this it may be found that the holes in the crank
arm B and in the head E cannot be brought into line without causing one of the
shafts to describe a part of a revolution. To enable this to be done in the case of
heavy machinery the disc T is provided with helicoidal teeth gearing with an endless
screw or worm as indicated partly in dotted lines in figures 1 and 3 so as to enable
the requisite purchase or power to be obtained for rotating the shaft A.
Figures 4 and 5 are two sectional views taken at right angles with one another
illustrating a modification of the arrangement. Figure 6 drawn to a larger scale
illustrates a detail employed in connection with this modification.
The same letters of reference are employed to mark the same parts as in the
arrangement firstly described. The connecting piece E E' in place of being turned
upon the pin F as a centre when the shafts are disconnected is provided with means
for retaining it in the same position relatively to the disc T. the hole a¹ being dispensed
with. With this object the crank pin C is fixed in the arm B figure 4 by means of
a screw V retained in position so as to be capable of rotatory but not of longitudinal
motion by means of a ring or collar c. This screw is provided with a large head or
dise provided with radial holes for the reception of handspikes or levers for
turning the screw V which is prevented from working back and loosening the crank
pin by a set screw v.
The pole a in the disc T corresponding with the hole a in the arrangement pre-
viously described being opposite the crank pin C is fitted with a lining or box d
closing one end of the hole and carrying a screw V' provided with an external band
wheel M. This screw is prevented from moving longitudinally in one direction by a
nut e figure 6 whereby its position can also be adjusted and is supported in the
other direction by a spring which allows it slight amount of longitudinal play or
movement.
The drawing shows the parts in position for connecting the two shafts A and H.
To disconnect the shafts the screw V is turned by means of the capstan head b in
such a
manner as to push the pin C. into the hole a the said pin being guided
and prevented from turning by means of a projection or finger (figure 4) sliding
in a groove in the side of the box d. When the pin C. has advanced a certain distance
into the hole a it meets the end of the screw V₁ and may force this screw back slightly
by compressing the spring but at this moment the threads on the screw V havo
worked out of the threads in the pin and on turning the screw V₁ by means of its
hand wheel M. the threads of this screw engage with corresponding threads in the
end of the pin C (figure 4) which is then pulled forward into the hole a by the said
screw V¹ until its other end is clear of the arm B. The nute may then be tightened
so as to retain the parts firmly in position. The connecting piece is now secured at
both ends (E and E). to the disc T which is entirely disconnected from the crank
arm B. It will be observed that during the shifting of the pin C the connecting

page_text: piece E E was continuously supported by the body of the said pin and that a slight
inequality or difference in level between the shafts would have no effect on movements
of the pin.
To reconnect the shafts the hole a in the disc T is brought opposite the eye or
hole in the crank arm B and the hand wheel M is turned until the end of the pin C has
been pushed into this hole. When the screw V₁ has worked out of the screw in
one end of the pin the screw in the other end of the pin engages with the screw V
which is then turned by means of its capstan head until the pin C is drawn home
in the arm B and the shafts A and H are connected as before.
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 :-
1st. An improved coupling for propeller shafts and other shafting employed in the
transmission of motive power consisting of a crank arm (B) and a disc (T) or
their equivalents connected together by a connecting piece or frame (E E¹) one of
the heads (E) of the said connecting piece being capable of being connected with
the eye of the crank arm or with a hole (a¹) in the disc in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1, 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. A coupling for propeller shafts and other shafts for transmitting motive
power consisting of a crank arm (B) and a disc (T) or their equivalents connected
together by a connecting piece (E E¹) permanently attached to the disc one of the
heads (E) of the said connecting piece being capable of being connected either with
the eye of the said crank or with a hole (a) in the disc the whole operating in
the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein before described with reference
to figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The several combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the improved
coupling for propeller and other shafts substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 31st day of December 1887.