Improvements in Couplings for Shafting.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Shafting.
CHARLES WILLIAM LANCASTER, Engineer and Machine Maker, 27 Corporation
Street, Manchester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
$6
This invention relates to couplings used for the purpose of securely coupling
together the ends of two shafts, dispensing with the costly coupling known as the
Hange" coupling or with other couplings which have to be keyed on the shafts
and the putting-together and uncoupling of which, is attended with much labour
and loss of time.
My improved couplings are made in two halves, the divisional line between the
two halves running parallel to the axis of the shafts which have a groove cut in
their extremities, vertical to the axis of the shafts, which groove forms approxi-
mately one fourth of a circle in each end of the shafts. When joined together,
the groove in the end of one shaft and the corresponding groove in the end of the
other shaft form approximately a semi-circle. One half of the coupling is recessed
with a semi-circular groove into which a round solid washer or disc is placed and left
to project from the inside of the coupling to enter the grooves cut in the ends of the
shafts to be coupled. The other halt of the coupling is then attached to the first
half by means of bolts or otherwise.
Another means of accomplishing the object is to leave two or more recesses in
one half of the coupling which correspond with two or more recesses drilled or cut
into the two ends of two shafts, these recesses being filled in with a stud or plug,
about one half of which enters the recess in the coupling and the other half (or
portion of a half) enters the recesses in each end of the shaft.
The second half of the coupling serves the purposes of keeping the first half in close
contact with the shafts and keeping the disc or studs or plugs in their respective
recesses, and also of balancing the coupling. Beyond keeping the two halves of the
coupling together there is no further strain on the bolts or connections which connect
the two halves of the coupling.
In place of bolts to connect the two halves of the coupling rings or hoops
may be used, driven on to the two ends of the coupling, which may be made to
taper slightly towards the two ends; or these hoops may be held on by set screws
or otherwise.
Dated this 19th day of June 1893.
CHARLES W. LANCASTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Couplings for Shafting.
CHARLES WILLIAM LANCASTER Engineer and Machine Maker 27 Corporation
Street, Manchester, 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 relates to couplings used for the purpose of securely coupling
together the ends of two shafts, dispensing with the costly coupling known as the
flange-coupling or with other couplings with keys and keyways which have to be

page_text: keyed on the shafts and the putting-together and uncoupling of which, is attended
with much labour and loss of time.
These improved couplings are made in two halves bored a little smaller than
the diameter of the shafts to be coupled, the divisional line between the two halves
running parallel to the axis of the shafts which shafts have a groove cut in their
extremities, vertical to the axis of the shafts, which groove forms approximately
one fourth of a circle in each end of the shafts. When joined together, the
groove in the end of one shaft and the corresponding groove in the end of
the other shaft form approximately a semi-circular groove into which a round
washer or disc is placed and left to project from the inside of the coupling to
enter the grooves cut in the ends of the shafts to be coupled. The other half
of the coupling is then attached to the first half by means of solid or split hoops
or rings.
Another means of accomplishing this object is to put two or more recesses in
one half of the coupling, which recesses correspond with two or more recesses
drilled or cut into the two ends of two shafts, these recesses being filled in with
a stud or plug, about one half of which enters the two recesses in the coupling
and the other half (or portion of a half) enters the recesses in each end of
the shaft.
The second half of the coupling serves the purposes of keeping the first half
in close contact with the shafts and keeping the disc or studs or plugs in their
respective recesses. Beyond keeping the two halves of the coupling together
there is no further duty for the second half of the coupling because there is no great
strain on the hoops or connections which connect the two halves of this type of
coupling, the whole of the torsional and shearing strain being borne by the one half
of the coupling which is provided with the recesses for the disc or plugs, and by
the disc or plugs themselves.
And in order that it may be fully understood and readily carried into effect I will
describe the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of a coupling consisting of 2 halves 1 and 1ª.
The upper half 1 is grooved or recessed to receive one half of the washer or disc 4,
the other half of the disc 4 fitting into corresponding grooves or recesses cut
in to the ends of the two shafts 2 & 2º. The two halves of the coupling 1 and 1
are held together by the rings or hoops 3 which are driven over the ends of the
coupling 1 & 1" which is turned to taper from the middle towards each end.
Figure 2 shows a similar coupling with but one spring hoop 3 in the centre
which hoop 3 is split at 4 and can be driven over the coupling to a small recess
turned circularly into the outside of the coupling at 5 which recess will keep the
hoop 3 in its place and into which recess the hoop 3 will spring. This type of
coupling may be turned cylindrical or may also taper towards each end, and may be
taken to pieces and the shafts uncoupled in a few seconds by springing the hoop
open with a suitable tool or wedge introduced at 4 and sliding the hoop off the
coupling.
In the coupling as represented by Figure 3, two recesses at 4 & 4ª which
correspond with two similar recesses drilled or cut into the shafts 2 & 2º, these
4 recesses being filled by 2 plugs as shown at 4b, one half of each plug 4 fitting
the recesses 4 & 4* in coupling 1, and the other half of each plug fitting the
corresponding recesses near the two ends of the shafts 2 and 2 at 4 & 4ª.
The other half (1) of the coupling is then placed over the shafts and the hoops 3
are diven on. The coupling as illustrated by Figure 3 may also be made
with a split hoop or ring as 3 in Figure 2 made to spring into a recess 5 as shown
in Figure 2.
In couplings of this description nearly the whole of the strain created by
torsion in the shafts is borne by the recessed half 1* of the coupling and by the
plugs at 4 & 4* in Figure 3 and the disc 4 in Figure 1, and the hoops 3 have
very little strain on them and little more duty to perform than to hold the two

page_text: halves of the couplings together and to keep the diso or plugs 4 in their respective
recesses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The arrangement of the type of couplings as shown in Figures 1, 2 & 3 combined
with one or more split or whole hoops for the purpose as herein fully described and
illustrated by annexed drawings.
Dated this 19th day of March 1894
CHARLES W. LANCASTER.