An Improved Key for Fastening Wheels and other similar Objects to their Axles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
An Improved Key for Fastening Wheels and other similar Objects
to their Axles.
We, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS Engineer, and WILLIAM CHARLES SMYTHE,
Electrical Engineer, both of the City of Wellington, in the Colony of New
Zealand 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 has been designed for the purpose of providing a simple and
comparatively inexpensive key or wedge for fastening wheels and other objects in
which an ordinary key seat has been formed, to their axles or shafts and in such a
manner that the said key can be readily slackened, or removed without injury to
the key or the object which it is intended to fasten or secure.
It consists in forming on the outer or thick end of the key a boss or projection of
such a size that a hole may be formed in the said boss or projection in the direction
of the length of the key, and a screw thread formed in the said hole into which a
screw or bolt is fitted which by being screwed against the body or boss of the
wheel or object will readily withdraw the key, at the same time that the key can
be driven in the usual manner by hammer or drift, as will be understood from the
following description reference being made to the accompanying drawings on which
similar letters refer to similar parts in both the figures.
Fig. 1. is a sectional view of the boss of a wheel (a) fixed on the shaft (6) by our
improved key (c) which has a boss or projection (c¹) into which the bolt or screw (d)
is screwed so as to move freely when turned.
Fig. 2. is an end view of the same.
It will be seen from this description of the several parts and by reference to the
drawings that our improved key consists of a key (c) made in the ordinary manner
and driven into the key bed of the boss (a) and on the shaft (6) as is usual for the
bosses of wheels, levers, screw propellers, and other objects that have to be keyed
to their shafts, but the outer end of the key is formed with a boss or projection (c¹)
of sufficient size to be drilled and tapped for the reception of the screw (d), the
drilled hole being (by preference) countersunk as shewn at (c³); when it is desired
to withdraw the key (c), the screw (d) is screwed up so as to come in contact with
the boss (a) and by using a lever for this purpose of sufficient power the key (c)
can be readily withdrawn from the wheel although previously fixed by considerable
force.
It will be evident that two or more screws might be used instead of one, and that
the key might be made to project beyond the boss or projection (c¹) and thus more
effectually protect the screw from injury.
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 :-
In a key for fastening wheels and other similar objects to their shafts or spindles
the boss or projection (c) having an internal screw thread fitted with a screw (d),
substantially as and for the purposes specified, and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 95th day of Santamber AD 1891
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.