IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS OR DEVICES FOR IMPARTING AND CONTROLLING MOTION
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No 9, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS
OR DEVICES FOR IMPARTING AND CONTROLLING MOTION" A communication
from abroad by Alexander Kuk Rider, of Walden, Orange County, in the
State of New York, United States of North America
Scaled the 17th July 1877, and dated the 10th February 1877.
28
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Benson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1877.
MARTIN BENSON, of No 9, Southampton Buildings, London IMPROVEMENTS
IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS OR DEVICES FOR IMPARTING AND CONTROLLING MOTION
A communication from abroad by Alexander Kirk Rider, of Walden, Orange
County, in the State of New York, United States of North America
"
My improvement consists in making a frictional coupling or clutch for driving
any kind of machinery to which it is applicable, or to be employed as a brake for
ietaiding motion in machinery, wholly or in part, or to act as a governor for regu-
lating or transmitting a given amount of power, or as a safety guard or coupling to
prevent parts of machinery from breaking or being damaged to which it may be
applied, and for other suitable purposes, or employed in ratchet drills, and for any
other 1otating or partly rotating devices for tiansmitting, governing, or retarding
motion or power
The Invention consists of a screw spiral or helical friction coll composed of any
required number of turns or threads made fast at one of their ends, but left free at
then opposite end or ends, and so arranged with relation to one or more frictional
recesses, drums, cylinders, or devices on the outside or inside of the said coil that a
comparatively slight contact or pressure applied to the coil will cause the several
threads thereof to gradually come into frictional contact with the said cylinder or
device and so produce an accumulated or accumulating friction dependent upon the
number of threads in the coil, as will more fully be understood from the following
description of my Invention under certain applications -
Fig 1 represents a longitudinal section of the frictional clutch mechanism applied

page_text: to a pulley shaft for transmitting motion to the shaft B by a belt through the
pulley and coupling, Fig 2 is a perspective view of the frictional coil detached, and
Fig 3 is a longitudinal section of the frictional device applied to a ratchet drill.
The shaft B is shewn carrying a loose pulley a with the functional coupling
attached, A is the friction coil, which owing to its action I term the accumulator,
and is secured or fastened at b on the diving shaft B, and is made and arranged to
fit loosely within a fiiction recess, pulley box, or case C, which forms part of the
clutch or coupling, and in this instance is attached to and forms part of the pulley,
which works loose on the shaft B
In constructing and applying the fictional coil or accumulator A. for some pui- ]
poses it is first formed as a plane hollow pulley made of cast or wrought metal, if
desired, and closed at one of its ends, and fit to the shaft B, afterwards a narrow
spiral groove is cut entirely through and around its cylindrical body so as to form
preferably a single spiral thread of any required number of tuins for getting the
iequisite frictional force, or the coil A inay be made of wrought iron by winding a 1
bai of the proper dimensions around a mandiill, and after attach one end of it to a
flange or hub fastened to the shaft B The pulley a runs loose on the shaft B when
the coupling coil A is not in gear D, D, is an expanding yoke for putting the
friction clutch in action, fitted loose on the shaft B, within the fictional coil or
accumulator A, the yoke is made sufficiently thin at its inner portion for
slightly spinging outward against the outside thread of the coil A by means of
the cone E acting on the projecting ends ff, of the expanding yoke D; the cone
pieca E is fit loose on the shaft B, and is worked by a forked lever F, the ends of
which are shewn in a groove in the cone
L
The coupling is put in action by forcing the cone E into the yoke D, which
springs' sufficient to force the outer coil of the accumulator against the case C,
causing the resistance thereby produced, and which is opposed to the tangential
movement of the first tuin to successively tighten each turn of the coil till the whole
number of turns in the accumulator from the point of first contact to the last end
thereof, and firmly held against the case C by the accumulated fiction of all the
tuins, and as the friction is proportioned to the number of tuins employed, it may
be increased to any desired extent by increasing the number of tuins or threads_in
the accumulator
კ
Fig 3 represents the Invention applied to a matchot drill; S is the centic hub or
dull holder, outside of which and between it and the case C, having the dull stock
handle g, attached to it is arranged the accumulator or coil A. fastened at its inner
end b. In this application of the Invention the "bite" or starting function of the
coil is produced by making the first free or outer tuin of the coil a somewhat tight
fit within the caso C, and as the coil or accumulator is constructed to be more or less
elastic, it will give abundant friction when the case C is turned in one direction to
but on
bing all the tuins of the coil in diving fictional contact with the case,
tuining said case C in an opposite duection, all the tuins of the coil, excepting a
portion of the outer fiee turn thereof will be released, as the tangential motion will
tend to close the coil and withdraw it from contact with the case C
In the application of the Invention as a brake the number of turns of the coil A
may be reduced and the primary or starting friction on the outer turn be propor-
tionately increased, and in the application of the Invention as a friction governor
the coil A should be so proportioned that its outer turn will spring outwards by
its centrifugal force sufficiently to check or control the rotating velocity of the
governor.
In the foregoing examples of the application of my Invention, I have described
the accumulator or friction coil as acting by expansion or increase of its diameter
against an enclosing case or other frictional operating device, but it may be arranged
without changing its peculiarity as a function producing device or coupling, to act in
the reverse direction, that is, by contraction or decrease of its diameter against a
friction operating device arranged within the coil
The form of the accumulator or friction coil may also be changed. When great

page_text: compactness is desued it may be of a volute or scroll form, and it need not neces-
sarily be circular, but be divided up into a polygonal construction to give it a series
of short bearings It may also be composed of more than one picce, if desired.
These and other changes, including various means, such as toggle levels or other
devices in place of the expanding yoke shown in Fig 1 for inducing the primary
friction of the coil or accumulator may be adapted, if desued, without departing
from the distinguishing feature or pinciple of action of my Invention
For
Instead of using the yoke D as described for smaller fictional couplings, the cone
piece E can be made to force out the coil or accumulator A, aud thereby dispense
with the yoke, but as a rule it will be preferable to use the yoke in all cases
some purposes, if desued, the frictional surfaces of the coupling device may be
covered with leather or other known substances usually employed for increasing
frictional hold.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Martin Benson in the Gicat Seal Patent Office on the 7th August
1877
MARTIN BENSON, of No 9, Southampton Buildings, London
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN FRICTIONAL COUPLINGS OR DEVICES FOR IMPARTING AND CONTROLLING
MOTION" A communication from abroad by Alexander Kuk Rider, of Walden,
Orange County, in the State of New York, United States of North America
My improvement consists in making a fictional coupling or clutch for driving
any kind of machinery to which it is applicable, or to be employed as a brake for
retarding motion in machinery wholly or in part, or to act as a governor for regn-
lating or transmitting a given amount of power, or as a safety guard or coupling to
prevent parts of machinery from breaking or being damaged to which it may be
applied, and for other suitable purposes, or employed in ratchet drills, and for any
other rotating or partly rotating devices for transmitting governing, or retarding
motion or power
The Invention consists of a scrow spial or helical friction coil composed of any
required number of turns or threads made fast at one of then ends, but left free at
their opposite end or ends, and so arranged with relation to one or more fictional
1ecesses, drums, cylinders, or devices on the outside or inside of the said coil that
a comparativety slight contact or pressure applied to the coil will cause the several
threads the cof to gradually come into fictional contact with the said cylinder o1
device and so produce an accumulated or accumulating fiction dependent upon the
number of threads in the coil, as will more fully be understood from the following
description of my Invention under certain applications
-
Fig 1 represents a longitudinal section of the fictional clutch mechanism applied
to a pulley shaft for transmitting motion to the shaft B by a belt through the pulley
and coupling, Fig 2 is a perspective view of the frictional coil detached, and
Fig 3 is a longitudinal section of the fictional device applied to a ratchet duill
The shaft B is shewn carrying a loose pulley a with the fictional coupling
attached, A is the friction coil, which owing to its action I term the accumulatoi,
and is secured or fastened at b on the driving shaft B, and is made and arranged to
fit loosely within a fiction rocess, pulley box, or case C, which forms part of the
clutch or coupling, and in this instance is attached to and forms part of the pulley
which works loose on the shaft B
In constructing and applying the frictional coil or accumulator A for some pur-
purposes it is first formed as a plain hollow pulley made of cast or wrought metal, if
desired, and closed at one of its ends, and fit to the shaft B, afterwards a narrow
spual groove is cut entirely through and around its cylindrical body so as to form
preferably, a single spiral thread of any required number of turns for getting the
requisite frictional force, or the coil A may be made of wrought iron by winding a

page_text: bar of the proper dimensions around a mandrill, and after attach one end of it to a
flange or hub fastened to the shaft B when the coupling coil A is not in gear
D, D, is an expanding yoke for putting the frictional clutch in action fitted
loose on the shaft B within the frictional coil or accumulator A The yoke 18
made sufhciently thin at its inner portion for slightly springing outward against
the outside thread of the coil A by means of the cone E acting on the projecting
ends ff, of the expanding yoke D, the cone piece E is fit loose on the shaft B,
and is worked by a forked lever F, the ends of which are shown in a groove in
the cone
The coupling is put in action by forcing the cone E into the yoke D, which
springs sufficient to force the outer coil of the accumulator against the case C
causing the resistance thereby produced, and which is opposed to the tangential
movement of the first turn to successively tighten each tuin of the coil till the
whole number of tuins in the accumulator from the point of first contact to the last
end thereof, and firmly held against the case C by the accumulated friction of all
the turns, and as the friction is proportioned to the number of turns employed it may
be incicased to any desired extent by increasing the number of turns or threads in
the accumulator
Fig 3 represents the Invention applied to a ratchet drill, S is the central hub
or dill holder, outside of which.and between it and the case C, having the drill stock
handle G attached to it is arranged the accumulator or coil A fastened at its inner
end 6 In this application of the Invention the "bite" or starting friction of the
coil is produced by making the first free or outer turn of the coil a somewhat tight
fit within the case C, and as the coil or accumulator is constructed to be more or less
elastic, it will give abundant friction when the case C is turned in one direction to
bring all the turns of the coil in driving frictional contact with the case, but on
turning said case C in an opposite direction, all the turns of the coil excepting a
portion of the outer fice tuin thereof will be released, as the tangential motion will
tend to close the coil and withdraw it from contact with the case C
In the application of the Invention as a break the number of turns of the coil A
may be reduced and the primary or starting fiction on the outer turn be propor-
tionately increased, and in the application of the Invention as a friction governo
the coil A should be so proportioned that its outer turn will spring outwards by
its centrifugal force sufhciently to check or control the rotating velocity of the
governoi
In the foregoing examples of the application of my Invention I have described the
accumulator or friction coil as acting by expansion or increase of its diameter
against an enclosing case or other frictional operating device, but it may be arranged
without changing its peculiarity as a friction producing device or coupling to act
in the reverse direction, that is, by contraction or decrease of its diameter against a
friction operating device arranged within the coil
The form of the accumulator or friction coil may also be changed When great
compactness is required it may be of a volute or scroll form, and it need not neces-
sanly be cucular, but be divided up into a polygonal construction to give it a series
of short bearings. It may also be composed of more than one piece, if desired
These and other changes, including various means, such as toggle levers or other
well known devices in place of the expanding yoke shewn in Fig 1 for inducing
the primary fiction of the coil or accumulator may be adopted if desired without
departing from the distinguishing feature or principle of action of my Invention
Instead of using the yoke D as described for smaller functional couplings the
cone piece E can be made to force out the coil or accumulator A, and thereby
dispense with the yoke, but as a rule it will be preferable to use the yoke in all
cases For some purposes, if desned, the frictional surfaces of the coupling device
may be covered with leather or other known substances usually employed for in-
creasing fictional hold
Fig 4 represents another application of the frictional device to gear wheels. In
this case the dium or cylinder portion C is attached to the gear wheel G on the

page_text: shaft B This shaft is provided with a driving pulley I for working the shaft II
though the gear wheels Ġ, G', when it is desued to stop or start the shaft H the
frictional device is thrown out or in gent as the case may requie When thrown
out of gear the shaft B continues to evolve while the gear wheels G, G, and
shaft H are at rest If desued the fictional device could be attached to the gear
wheel G¹ and shaft H, then when it is out of gear the shaft Band gear wheels G, G',
would revolve while the shaft II is at rest The screw frictional spitals only act in
one duection for diving purposes, that is, a right hand spinal works or drives &
shaft in one dnection, while if it is wished to revolve the saine shaft in an opposite
direction a left-hand screw fuctional spiral would have to be used, or instead of a
left-hand the night-hand screw functional spinals could be employed to work the
shaft in both directions, are placed on each side of the pulley or gear wheel,
as the case may be
Fig 5 represents another application of the frictional device applied to a counter-
shaft B, furnished with a set of cone pulleys W for working a lathe or simila put-
poses, the diving pulley a on the shaft B is shewn in section, and provided with
the fictional device similar to the plan represented in Fig 1, and and herein-before
described Similar letters shew corresponding parts of the frictional coupling The
Drawings in this case are sufficiently plain to understand the improvement as
applied in Fig 5 without the aid of further Specifications
Fig is another application of the improvement to the bevel gear wheel J' on
the shaft B for working the bevel wheel J on shaft II provided with pulley K
Motion may be imparted to the bevel gear J, J, by a belt on the pulley Lattached
to the shaft B, which makes the pulley K the duven pulley, or if desired the
pulley K can be made the driver, and pulley L the diven pulley through the
bevel gearing J, J' The fictional spiral would be adopted to suit the direction
required for the shafts to work in eithoi case The fictional device may be attached
to either side of the bevel gear J' or to the inside or outside to suit the position of
the parts or machinery Seperate views of the yoke D are shown on Sheet 1,
agunst which the conc oi compress E acts for pressing the ends of the yoke against
the frictional coil A The yoke is usually made of steel to give it springing powers
and fit loose on the hub of the coil A to revolve free
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
working it in various applications, what I claun 19,-
First A. fictional producing device or accumulator constructed of a spial or
helical coil made fast at one of its ends, but free throughout the remainder of its
length, to be used as a friction coupling, as and for the purpose herein-before
described
Second The combination of a spiral of helical friction coil or accumulator, made
fast at its one end, but fiee throughout the remainder of its length, in combination
with one or more fictional drums, cylinders, or operating devices arranged for
acting against or by the tuins of the frictional coil, substantially for the inanner
and the purposes herein-before described
Third The expanding yoke D, or its equivalent, in combination with the frictional
coil A, for the purposes herein-before described
Fourth The cone E, in combination with the expanding yoke D and the friction
coil A, substantially as herein-before described
Fifth The combination of the frictional coil or accumulator A, the case drum or
friction operating device C, the expanding yoke D, the cone E, and the shaft B, sub-
stantially as herein-before described
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
5517AAL