Improved Universal Joints or Gimbals.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899
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Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1900 Accepted, 19th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Universal Joints or Gimbals.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and MARK BARR, of The
Linotype Works, Broadheath, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in universal joints or gimbals.
In carrying it into effect, the inner portion of the joint, being the equivalent
of the inner gimbal ring or of the ball of a ball and socket joint, is connected by
two ribbons, or thin, flat, flexible webs or plates of steel or equivalent elastio
material, to an external ring or frame. The ribbons are opposite each other and
in the same plane. They are conveniently made fast to the inner portion and
external ring or frame in any convenient way, but advantageously by the said
portion and ring being in halves in the plane of the ribbons, and the ribbon ends
being pinched between them. The said ring is connected in exactly the same way
as is the inner portion to it, to a pair of blocks which are-fixed as far as the com-
bination of the said ring and portion, is concerned. The two ribbons so connect-
ing the ring to the pair of blocks are opposite to each other, and at right angles
with the first mentioned pair because each pair is required to constitute an axis
of oscillation and such two axes must obviously be at right angles with each other.
It is immaterial whether the four ribbons be edge-up or on the flat, because the
strains to which they will be subjected are torsional. To prevent their action
being interfered with by the contour of either inner portion or external ring,
where the ribbons join them, the said contours are flat there, so that the ribbons
shall be pinched straight across them.
The inner portion and external ring or frame may be of any
but they are, preferably, of the same shape.
suitable
shape;
In use, the ribbons, especially those between the inner portion and the external
ring, may be subjected to bending strains severe enough to make them buckle and
tip both the said portion and ring or one of them out of their normal position.
To prevent that, there are guiding surfaces provided. These are the opposite
surfaces of the fixed blocks and the external ring, which surfaces butt up to each
other, the ring rubbing over the blocks; and the opposite surfaces of the said
ring and the inner portion on the ribbon sides of them respectively. The sides
at right angles with the above mentioned vertical surfaces are respectively con-
cave and convex, and butt up to each other to serve as further guiding surfaces.
If the external ring or frame and inner portion are round rings, the respective
surfaces must be spherically convex. If they are square, the said surfaces must
be convex or flat according to whether the ribbons are flat or edge-up.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1899.

page_text: Improved Universal Joints or Gimbals.
We, WILLIAM HENRY LOCK, Manager and Secretary of The Linotype Company
Limited, of 188, Fleet Street, in the City of London, and MARK BARR, of The
Linotype Works, Broadheath, in the County of Chester, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in universal joints or gimbals.
According to it, the inner portion of the joint, being the equivalent of the inner
gimbal ring or of the ball of a ball and socket joint, is connected by two ribbons
or thin, flat, Hexible webs or plates of steel or equivalent elastic material, to an
external ring or frame. The said ribbons are opposite to each other and in the
same plane. The ring or frame is connected in exactly the same way as is the
above mentioned inner portion to it, to a pair of blocks which are stationary as
far as the combination of the said ring or frame and inner portion is concerned.
The two ribbons so connecting the ring or frame to the pair of blocks are oppo-
site to each other and at right angles with the first mentioned pair, because each
pair is required to constitute an axis of oscillation, and such two axes must
obviously be at right angles with each other.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith,
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, of a round ring joint with flat ribbons.
Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, partly in section, of a square ring or frame joint with flat
ribbons.
Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in section, of a square ring or frame joint with ver-
tical or edge-up ribbons.
Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 1 is a round rod which it is desired shall be
mounted by an universal or gimbal joint about the centre 2 of the section illus-
trated, as an axis of oscillation in any direction.
3 is a round ring of rectangular cross, section, through which the rod 1 passes
and fits as tightly as may be required. 4 is a second round ring of rectangular
cross section, concentric with the ring 3, standing outside it in the same plane
and of about double diameter. 5, 5, are a pair of flat ribbons of steel or equiva-
lent elastic material. Each is made fast by its ends to the two rings, the two
aligned opposite to each other, both in the horizontal plane that intersects the
two rings 3, 4. To facilitate the connection of the ribbon ends with the rings 3, 4,
respectively, both rings are split along the central horizontal plane as indicated
by the contrasted sectioning of the two halves of the ring 3 in Figure 2, the ends
of the ribbons are laid between the two halves and screws 6, 6, are passed down
through one half ring and the ribbon ends down into the opposite half ring.
7, 7, are a pair of stationary blocks. They stand outside the ring 4 opposite to
each other and at about the same distance from it as the ring 4 from the ring 3.
They not only stand diametrically opposite to each other as do the two ribbons 5, 5,
but ine diameter that connects them is at right angles with the diameter that con-
nects the said two ribbons. 8, 8, are a second pair of ribbons connecting the
ring 4 to the pair of stationary blocks 7, 7, in exactly the same way as the pair 5, 5,
connect the ring 3 to the ring 4. They are flat as are the ribbons 5, 5, of the

page_text: same dimensions, stand in the same plane, and are held to the rings 4 and blocks 7,
by screws 9 in the same way. They likewise stand exactly opposite to each other
and at right angles with the pair 5, 5. The combination of rings, blocks and
ribbons being as above described, it is evident that the strains in the joint when
it is in action, fall upon one or both of the pairs of ribbons, and that such strains
are torsional: The amount of resilience in the ribbons 5, 5, 8, 8, need not be
more than is sufficient to return them into their normal positions after they have
been bent out of them by the working of the joint-they are not called upon to
either support the weight of the rings 3, 4, or that of the rod 1 or its equivalent,
or to return either of the three to its normal position.
To prevent the action of the ribbons 5, 5, 8, 8, being interfered with by the
convex and concave contours of the two rings 3, 4, where the respective ribbons
join them, the said contours 10, are straight there in order that the respective
ribbons shall be pinched straight across them, as shown in Figure 1.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, 1 is the central rod and 2 its axis of oscillation.
The round rings 3, 4, of the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and
described therewith, are replaced by two rectangular frames. 11 is the inuer
frame on which the rod 1 or its equivalent fits. in the same way as described with
reference to the rod 1 and the ring 3 of Figures 1 and 2, and is so for the equiva-
lent of the ring 3. 12 is the outer frame and is the equivalent of the ring 4.
The adjacent sides 13 of the two frames fit up to each other and when the joint is
in action rub over each other, the outer frame 12 supporting the inner one 11.
14, 14. are clearance spaces between each end of the inner frame 11 and the oppo-
site end of the outer frame 12. 15, 15, are the pair of ribbons connecting the two
frames 11 and 12. In respect of function, position and method of fixation to the
respective frames, they are counterparts of the ribbons 5, 5, above described.
16, 16, are their holding screws. But as the sides 13, of the two frames 11, 12,
fit up to each other there is a rectangular notch or indentations 17 in each side of
the outer frame to make room for the respective ribbon 15. 18, 18 are the pair
of stationary blocks corresponding with the pair 7, 7, of Figures 1 and 2. The
ends of the frame 12 fit up to the faces 19 of the respective block 18 and rub over
them when the joint is working, receiving support therefrom in the same way as
the sides 13 of the frame 11 from the adjacent sides of the frame 12. 20, 20, are
the pair of ribbons connecting the frame 12 by its ends to the respective block 18,
and correspond with the ribbons 8, 8, of Figures 1 and 2, in function, position
and method of fixation to the frame 12 and blocks 18. But as the ends of the
frame 12 fit un to the respective blocks 18; there is a rectangular notch or inden-
tation 21 in each block 18 to make room for the respective ribbon 20. 22, .22, are
the screws holding the said ribbons to the respective end of the frame 12 and
block 18.
It is immaterial for the purpose of the invention, seeing that the strains on the
ribbons are torsional only, whether they be flat as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4,
and described therewith-they may be edge up as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
1 is the rod and 2 its axis of oscillation as already described. 23 is the inner
frame 24, the outer one, the sides 25 of the former fitting up to the adjacent
sides of the frame 24 in the same way as the sides 13 in Figures 3 and 4. But
the ends 26 of the inner frame 24 are convex, fitting up to the corresponding con-
cave ends 27 of the outer frame 24. This combination of concave and convex
ends 26 and 27, is instead of the clearance spaces 14 of Figures 3 and 4, and pro-
vides for the inner frame being supported at its ends as well as over its sides.
28, 28, are the ribbons connecting the two frames 23 and 24. The two frames are
shown as split centrally to receive the ends of the ribbons. 29, 29, are the hold-
ing screws. 30, 30, are the indentations in the sides of the outer frame 24 to
make room for the said ribbons. 31, 31, are the stationary blocks; 32, 32, the
indentations to make room for the ribbons 33, 33, which connect the outer
frame 24 to them 34. 34. the screws to hold the said ribbons to the respective
block and frame.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
In a universal or gimbal joint, the combination of inner ring or frame;. outer
ring or frame; two flexible and elastic ribbons connecting the two rings, one
standing opposite to the other; two stationary blocks outside the outer ring or
frame; two flexible and elastic ribbons connecting the outer ring to the said
block, one standing opposite the other and at right angles with the first men-
tioned two.
.
1
1 1000
CHAS. S. WOODROFFE,
188, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.