Improvements in Belt-fasteners.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
Improvements in Belt-fasteners.
I, CONRAD RÜGER, of Basle, Switzerland, Mechanician, 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 improvements in belt fasteners and in carrying out the
invention I employ a curved metal plate the underside of which is provided with a
number of pins and bosses, the latter of which serve to receive screws for holding
or clamping the ends of the belt.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a plan of the underside of the improved belt fastener.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same and
Figure 3 is a sectional view shewing the belt fastener applied to the ends of
a belt.
A is a plate of malleable cast iron or other suitable metal the ends of which are
slightly bent to form a curved surface on the belt in the direction of its length in
order to secure better contact with the surface of the pulleys; the ends of the plate
are formed somewhat thinner than the central part.
The plate A is formed along the middle of the under or inner side with a rib B,
at both sides of which rib are arranged a number of perforated symmetrical bosses C
formed slightly conical and provided with screw threads c, to receive screws D; the
ends of the plate A are provided with a number of pins or teeth E symmetrically
arranged.
The ends of the belt to be connected together by the fastener are cut rectangularly
and in order to apply the fastener it is placed with its inner side uppermost on a
solid block or the like, one of the belt ends is then placed upon it in such a manner
that the cut end rests against the rib B and by means of slight blows with a hammer
marks for the holes to receive the bosses C and the pins Ę are produced.
Holes and recesses for the bosses and the pins or teeth are punched in both belt
ends by means of suitable punches and the belt is then secured or clamped to the
plate A by the screws D.
The height of the conical bosses C on the plate A is preferably somewhat less than
the thickness of the belt so that when the screws D are screwed into the bosses C,
the heads d of the said screws D are embedded in the thickness of the belt and cannot
come into contact with the pulleys.
By this arrangement the more the belt is stretched, the deeper will the pins or
teeth E enter into it whereby the ends of the belt will be more firmly secured together
or coupled.
It is obvious that the improved belt fastener can be manufactured in various sizes
and the number of screws D and pins E employed will vary according to the width
of the belt.
In fasteners for double belts the pins E and the bosses C are made longer. In
order to prevent misplacing the fastener after the holes have been punched in the
belt and thereby causing an interruption in the work, one side of the fastener can
be provided with one pin E less than the other side.
The belt-fastener can he employed with equal advantage for woven, knitted or
leather belts. The improved belt-fastener possesses the following advantages.
1. It can be easily and quickly fastened to any belt.
II. By its use no metal parts are in contact with the pulleys and the objectionable
noise caused by the ordinary metal belt-fastener is prevented.
III. The belt ends press firmly against the plate A and the surface of the belt is
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quite even, that is to say, has no raised parts which would be liable to catch a
workman's dress or otherwise.
IV. If the belt, stretches the fastener can easily be taken off and after the belt is
cut it can be fastened on again; or the fastener can be taken off one belt and be
fastened to another.
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. A belt-fastener comprising a curved plate of malleable cast-iron or other suitable
metal which plate is somewhat thinner at the ends than at the centre and is provided
at the inner side with a cross rib, rows of pins and screw threaded bosses, so that
when the fastener is applied to a belt the cross rib is between the two ends of the
belt and the pins are caused to enter recesses in the belt, while the bosses enter into
suitable holes formed in the belt and serve to receive screws the heads of which
are embedded in the thickness of the belting, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved belt-fastener, hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 9th day of December 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.