Improvements in Flexible Shafting.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN HOWARD, of 137, Elizabeth Street, Sydney,
in the Colony of New South Wales, Machinist.]
Improvements in Flexible Shafting.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This invention consists of improved apparatus for conveying motive power to
machine sheep shears, horse clippers, and analogous machines.
Motion is conveyed from the motive power shaft to the improved flexible driving
gear by means of friction or other suitable gearing that may be constructed and
arranged in any convenient manner. The flexible shaft is constructed in two or more
sections, each section being composed of a single rod or tube. The sections are
connected together by means of an improved flexible joint. The flexible joint may
consist of a short length of moderately stout springy wire formed into a helix, or a
short length of other suitable material may be utilized for the purpose. The two ends
of the helix of wire (or other material of which the flexible joint is composed) are
connected to the opposite ends of the rods or tubes of which the sections are made,
by means of screw caps or ferules, or other suitable appliance. Each opposing end
of the sections carries a forked or bifurcated sleeve in which the rods or tubes com-
posing the sections are free to move. The forked portions of the sleeves extend
beyond the ends of the rods or tubes, and are articulated together. These forked
sleeves serve as a guard to the flexible joint that connects the opposing ends of the
sections, and ensures that the two ends of the flexible joint shall be retained constantly
in one plane. The driving gear or flexible shafting is attached to the machine by
means of a screw or other suitable device.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the flexible joint ;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a section of the apparatus, shewing the position of the parts when the
joint is bent.
A A are the rigid rods or tubes forming the sections of the shaft. B is the helix
of wire or other material forming the flexible joint. CC are the forked or bifurcated
sleeves articulated at D. The helix of wire is shewn in the drawings as attached to
the opposing extremities of rods or tubes A A, by means of screw caps or ferules EE
(see Figs. 1 and 3). In Fig. 3 may also be seen a universal or gimbal joint F, at the
extremity of the upper section of the flexible shaft, for the purpose of connecting the
shaft to the motive power. As the sections move into the positions shown in Fig. 3,
the rods or tubes A will slide outwards through the sleeve C, until they are stopped by
the screw caps or ferules E. While in this position, the whole shaft will be slightly
lengthened, owing to the flexible joint taking a shorter course, or cutting off a
corner.
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 from
abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In flexible shafting, the forked or bifurcated articulated sleeve C, as specified,
-- 1 -- :llatented in the drawing.

page_text: 2. In flexible shafting, connecting the opposing ends of the rigid sectional rods or
tubes together by means of a helix of wire or other flexible joint that is protected and
guided by a pair of articulated forked sleeves, as described and as illustrated in the
drawing.
Dated thie 1ot done of. Al 1900
NEWTON & SON,
''Agents for the 'Applicant.