IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING ΤΟ SPEED-ACCELERATING DRIVING MECHANISM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& C° Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING ΤΟ SPEED-ACCELERATING DRIVING
MECHANISM A communication to him from abroad by Lemuel Scudder
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1882.
33
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPEED-
ACCELERATING DRIVING MECHANISM [A communication to him from abroad by
Lemuel Scudder Fithian of Mount Clair, New Jersey, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to an improved mechanical movement, the object being
to obtain a high rate of speed from a moderate application of power, as hereinafter
more fully set forth.
To this end the said Invention partly consists in the combination with a main
driving shaft and gear wheels mounted fast and loose thereon, of a lever fixed to
said shaft, and intermediate gear-wheels journalled in independent bearings at an
inclination to the faces of the principal gear-wheel, whereby the initial power
applied to the main shaft is adapted to impart an increased speed to a sleeve which
is mounted loosely on said shaft and provided with means for transmitting its
motion to any desired point; the said Invention also consists partly in certain
peculiarities in the construction and arrangement of gear wheels as hereinafter
inore fully described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a shaft which is supported
in bearings formed in standards. Mounted firmly upon the said shaft, and secured
thereto by any suitable means, is an internally bevelled gear or cog wheel which
meshes with a smaller gear-wheel. This latter gear or cog wheel is placed at an
angle to the first named wheel and is bevelled to mesh properly therewith.
smaller gear-wheel is journalled independently in fixed bearings formed in a
horizontal bar, which is supported at a right angle to the shaft, on standards. The
fixed bar is so constructed as to pass around the shaft, being provided with a bend
The

page_text: which is arranged either above or below it, or the bar may be mortised or per-
forated for the passage of said shaft. At the point above where the smaller
gear-wheel is journalled, its supporting bar is so formed as to enable this gear-
wheel to mesh with the first named gear-wheel at the proper inclination. There is
a large double gear-wheel which may be of equal diameter with the first named
gear wheel and is mounted loosely on the shaft, being provided with an elongated
sleeve or hub by which it is steadied on said shaft. Upon the hub of the said
double gear-wheel, and integral therewith, is a bevelled pinion with which the
stationary intermediate gear-wheel is arranged to mesh. The large double gear-
wheel, when put in motion, is thus caused to revolve upon the shaft in a direction
opposite to that in which the shaft and the two other gear-wheels are revolving.
Secured to the shaft on that side of the double gear-wheel opposite to its pinion,
is a lever which is provided with a bent or slotted arm arranged to form a bearing
for an intermediate gear-wheel, which may be of equal diameter with the small
gear-wheel and is arranged at an inclination to the large double gear-wheel with
which it meshes. The movement of the double gear-wheel causes the said
intermediate gear-wheel to revolve in the same direction therewith, or in a
direction upon its own axis contrary to the revolution of the shaft, but as this
gear-wheel is journalled in the lever which is fixed to the shaft it will be obvious
that, as the shaft is revolved, this gear-wheel has also imparted to it a revolution
around said shaft.
The first named gear-wheel and the double gear-wheel are chambered so that
the bearings of the two intermediate gear-wheels may be arranged close to them
without impeding their movements.
The movable intermediate gear-wheel meshes with a bevel pinion which is
integral with an elongated hub or sleeve that is mounted loosely on the shaft. It
will thus be seen that the sleeve or hub is caused to revolve in the same direction
with the shaft, but at a greatly increased rate of speed.
To the sleeve or hub may be attached a gear-wheel or a pulley for transmitting
its motion to any desired point, and it may be also provided with a fly-wheel for
equalizing its motion.
By journalling the movable intermediate gear-wheel in a bearing adapted to
revolve with the shaft it is obvious that the former is enabled to exert a greatly
increased leverage upon the pinion which is attached to, and forms part of, the
sleeve, the fulcrum being gradually shifted as the shaft revolves. The increase in
the number of revolutions of the sleeve, as compared with the number of revolutions
imparted to the shaft, and to the gear-wheel first mentioned, will depend upon the
relative diameters of the intermediate gear-wheels and the number of cogs with
which the gear-wheel is provided. It is obvious, for example, that one revolution
of the large first named gear-wheel will impart to the small intermediate gear-
wheel as many revolutions as the diameter of the small gear-wheel is contained in
that of the large one, and that the large double gear-wheel will thus receive as
many more revolutions as the diameter of its pinion is contained in that of the
small gear-wheel, and so on. It is also obvious that the number of gear-wheels
and their relative diameters may be increased or diminished within proper limits
as found convenient so as to impart any desired speed to the sleeve without
increasing the initial power.
By this system of gearing the application of a moderate amount of power to the
shaft or first named cogged wheel will result in imparting great speed to the
revolutions of the sleeve and its attached gearing.
The construction of the large chambered gear-wheels is also such as enables the
bearings of the intermediate gear wheels to be placed in close proximity to the
large gear wheels, thus economizing space without interfering in any way with the
motion of the several gear-wheels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1883.
ACCELERATING DRIVING MECHANISM
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SPEED-
A communication to me from abroad by
Lemuel Scudder Fithian, of Mount Clare, New Jersey, United States of America
This invention relates to an improved mechanical movement; the object being
to obtain a high rate of speed from a moderate application of power, as hereinafter
set forth.
To this end the said invention consists partly in the combination with a main
driving shaft and gear wheels mounted fast and loose thereon, of a lever fixed to
the said shaft, and intermediate gear wheels journalled in independent bearings at
an inclination to the faces of the principal gear wheels whereby the initial power
applied to the main shaft is adapted to impart an increased speed to a sleeve
which is mounted loosely on the said shaft, and provided with means for trans-
mitting its motion to any desired point; the said invention also consists partly in
certain peculiarities in the construction and arrangement of gear wheels as
hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in section, showing the arrangement of parts according
to this invention, and
Figure 2 is an end view of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A indicates a shaft which is supported in bearings formed in the standards B. B.
Mounted firmly upon the said shaft, and secured thereto by any suitable means, is
an internally bevelled gear or cog wheel C which engages with a smaller gear
wheel D. This latter gear or cog wheel D is placed at an angle to the wheel C,
and is bevelled to engage properly therewith The gear wheel D is journalled
independently in fixed bearings formed in a horizontal bar E which is supported
at right angles to the shaft A on the standards F F. The fixed bar E is so
constructed as to pass around the shaft A, being provided with a bend which is
arranged either above or below it, or the bar may be mortised or perforated for the
passage of the said shaft. At the point above where the gear wheel D is journalled,
its supporting bar E is so formed, as to enable the gear wheel to engage with the
gear wheel C at the proper inclination, shown in Figure 1. G indicates a large
double gear wheel which may be of equal diameter with the gear wheel C and is
mounted loosely on the shaft A, being provided with an elongated sleeve or hub a
by which it is steadied on the said shaft. Upon the hub of the gear wheel G and
integral therewith is a bevelled pinion b, with which the stationary intermediate
gear wheel D is arranged to engage. The large gear-wheel G when put in motion
is thus caused to revolve upon the shaft A in a direction opposite to that in which
the shaft and gear wheels C and D are revolving
Secured to the shaft A on that side of the gear wheel G opposite to its pinion b
s a lever H which is provided with a bent or slotted arm arranged to form a
bearing for an intermediate gear wheel I, which may be of equal diameter with
he small gear wheel D, and is arranged at an inclination to the large gear wheel G
with which it engages. The movement of the gear wheel G causes the gear wheel I
o revolve in the same direction therewith, or in a direction upon its own axis
ontrary to the revolution of the shaft A, but as this gear wheel I is jourualled

page_text: in the lever H which is fixed to the shaft A it will be obvious that as the shaft
is revolved the gear wheel I has also imparted to it a revolution around the said
shaft.
It will be seen by reference to Figure 1 that the gear wheel C and G are
chambered so that the bearings of the gear wheels D and I may be arranged
close to them without impeding their movements
It
The movable intermediate gear wheel I engages with a bevel pinion c which is
integral with an elongated hub or sleeve K, mounted loosely on the shaft A.
will thus be seen that the sleeve or hub K is caused to revolve in the same
direction with the shaft A as shown in Figure 2, but at a greatly increased rate of
speed.
To the sleeve or hub K may be attached a gear wheel or a pulley for trans-
mitting its motion to any desired point, and it may be also provided with
a fly wheel for equalizing its motion.
By journalling the movable gear wheel I in a bearing adapted to revolve with
the shaft A it is obvious that the former is enabled to exert a greatly increased
leverage upon the pinion c which is attached to and forms part of the sleeve K,
the fulcrum being gradually shifted as the shaft A revolves. The increase in the
number of revolutions of the sleeve K as compared with the number of revolutions
imparted to the shaft A and to the gear wheel C, will depend upon the relative
diameters of the intermediate gear wheels, and the number of cogs with which
they are provided. It is obvious, for example, that one revolution of the large
gear wheel C will impart to the small gear wheel D as many revolutions as the
diameter of the small gear wheel is contained in that of the large one, and that
the large gear wheel G will thus receive as many more revolutions as the diameter
It is also
of its pinion b is contained in that of the gear wheel D and so on.
obvious that the number of gear wheels and their relative diameters may be
increased or diminished within certain limits, as found convenient, so as to impart
any desired speed to the sleeve K, without increasing the initial power.
By this system of gearing the application of a moderate amount of power to the
shaft A or gear wheel C, will result in imparting great speed to the revolutions
of the sleeve K, and its attached gearing.
The construction of the large chambered gear wheels C and G is also such,
as enables the bearings of the intermediate gear wheels D and I, to be placed
in close proximity to the large gear wheels, thus economizing space without
interfering in any way with the motion of the several gear wheels
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign Correspondent and the inanner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim
First. The combination with a shaft having gear-wheels connected by inter-
mediate gear-wheels journalled in independent bearings, of a lever fixed to the
said shaft, and forming a bearing for one of the said intermediate gear-wheels,
whereby the gear-wheel journalled in the said lever is adapted to have a revolution
about the main shaft in one direction, and a revolution upon its own axis in a
contrary direction, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with a shaft having a large double gear-wheel,
mounted loosely thereon, and a lever fixed to the said shaft, of a movable gear-
wheel journalled in bearings on the said lever at an inclination to the face of the
large gear-wheel with which it engages, and means, substantially as described, for
imparting motion to the large gear-wheel in a direction opposite to the revolution
of the shaft, whereby the gear-wheel mounted on the lever is caused to revolve
upon its axis in a direction contrary to its revolution about the main shaft as
set forth.
Third. The combination of a shaft mounted in suitable bearings, a chambered
gear wheel having an elongated hub and pinion integral therewith, and a sleeve
mounted loosely on the said shaft and provided with a pinion, an intermediate
gear-wheel journalled in an independent bearing and connecting one chambered

page_text: gear-wheel with the pinion on another chambered gear-wheel, a lever fixed to the
shaft and adapted to revolve therewith, and a movable gear-wheel journalled in
bearings formed in the said lever, and adapted to connect the large loosely mounted
gear-wheel with a pinion on the loose sleeve, whereby the said sleeve is adapted
to revolve with increased speed in the same direction as the main shaft, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the main shaft A journalled in suitable bearings,
the gear-wheel C and the lever H fixed to the said shaft, the gear wheel G and
the sleeve K mounted loosely thereon and provided with suitable pinions, the
bevel gear-wheel D journalled in independent bearings formed in a stationary
bar E arranged at an angle to the main shaft, and the movable gear-wheel
journalled in bearings formed in the lever fixed to the shaft, the said gear-wheels
D and being inclined to the faces of the large gear-wheel and gearing with the
same and with a pinion on the loose sleeve, whereby the latter is caused to revolve
in the same direction as the main shaft at an increased speed, substantially as
described.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty third day of February in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
WM. ROBT. LAKE (L.S.)