Improvements in Shaft Clutches and Gear for Operating same.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1893--Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shaft Clutches and Gear for Operating same.
I, AUGUSTE COURTIAL, Founder and Machine Maker, of Turiu in the Kingdom
of Italy, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in shaft couplings and in gear for
operating same, the object of my invention being to provide an arrangement of
apparatus by which the main shafting of a workshop may be promptly stopped in
the event of a workman becoming caught by some of the machinery, or to enable
it to be stopped quickly for other purposes, though the apparatus is equally
applicable for the stopping of the shafting of single machines and the like.
In the event of the apparatus being used for the stopping of the entire machinery
in a workshop it is preferably placed as close to the motor end of the main shaft as
possible, an apparatus adapted for this purpose being shown in the accompanying
drawing in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan of same.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the coupling device only.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the stopping device only, and
Fig. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of a part of the mechanism for
operating the stopping device.
In the drawings A is a suitable base plate which may be affixed to a wall or the
like, on a bracket B of which is held the driven shaft B' which transmits the power
through the workshop or the like.
The driving shaft B' which is at the motor end is carried in the usual way by
suitable brackets and has affixed to it by a key or keys a block C' forming part of
a suitable coupling device of which the block C forms the other part. The block C
is provided with an internal or female screw thread as shown in Fig. 2, such screw
thread engaging with a corresponding male thread D loose on the shaft B' to
which thread D is secured a ratchet wheel E having any convenient number of
teeth. The block C is capable of sliding upon the shaft B' which is provided
with collars M, N, O, as shown for the keeping the vations parts in position.
A pawl F pivoted at I in a suitable bracket is arranged on the base A, such
When the
pawl having an extension aim F which carries a balance weight G.
pawl is in the position shown in Fig. 3 which is its normal position when the
shafting is running, the arm F rests upon a projection P (Fig. 4) of an arm P
This arm P has
which is pivotally hung to a bracket H as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4.
an extension to which is attached an armature plate Qadapted to be attracted by
the electro magnet shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.
The ratchet wheel E is formed with a semi-circular recess in the hub in which is
placed loosely a corrugated strip of metal K while the inside face of the collar O
is undulated to correspond with the corrugations of the strip K, such collar O being
fixed on the shaft close up to the strip or spring after the latter is in, place. In this
way the ratchet E is caused to rotate with the shaft B, but if the ratchet E is
suddenly stopped for the purpose hereinafter explained the undulated portion of the
collar will compress the strip K and ride over same thus preventing the shock
When it is desired to
which might occur from the sudden stoppage of the shaft.
stop the shafting a push button (of which there may be any suitable number on the
circuit of the electro magnet) is operated so that the magnet is caused to draw the
armature Q towards it thus releasing the arm F1 and causing the latter to drop so
as to bring the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel and thus hold the
latter. The result of this is that the motion which the block C has had imparted

page_text: to it by the rotating shaft will cause it to screw itself upon the screw D so as to
withdraw itself from the block C₁, thus opening the clutch and releasing the
shaft B' from the driving shaft B².
It will be evident that in place of operating the arm P by means of an electro
magnet and armature it may be operated by means of bell wires controlled by bell
pulls placed in different parts of the workshop.
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 :-
1. In combination, a driving and a driven shaft, a clutch mechanism, apparatus
for opening said clutch for disengaging the shafts, and means for controlling such
apparatus from a distance substantially as described.
2. In combination, a driving and a driven shaft, a clutch mechanism, a female
screw on one part of the clutch, a male screw on the driven shaft, a ratchet on the
latter, means for stopping the rotation of the ratchet wheel, an armature and an
electro magnet for controlling said means, an electric circuit and means for closing
said circuit to disengage the clutch mechanism through the movement of the
armature, substantially as described.
3. In combination, a driving and a driven shaft, clutch mechanism, a female screw
on one part of the clutch, a male screw on the driven shaft, a ratchet on the latter,
a counterweighted pawl for engaging with the ratchet, a pivoted arm for holding
said pawl clear of the ratchet, and means for operating said arm from a distant
point, substantially as described.
Dated the 3rd day of August. 1893
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.