A Universal Joint for Transmitting Motion from one Shaft to another.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Universal Joint for Transmitting Motion from one Shaft
to another.
I, FREDERICK YORK WOLSELEY, of the Union Club, Sydney, in the Colony of New
South Wales, and the Oriental Club, Hanover Square, in the county of London,
Gentleman, 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 improvel universal joint for transmitting motion from
one shaft to another.
According to my invention the two shafts are connected by means of two gear-
wheels the teeth of which are constructed in such a manner that they can gear
together at an angle, in the same manner as bevel wheels, and also gear face to
face so as to work in the same axial line in a similar manner to clutches.
The ends of the shafts carrying the said gear-wheels are mounted or journalled in
sockets which are jointed together on a line tangential to the pitch lines of the said
gear wheels at the point of contact.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawing which represents my universal joint as applied for
transmitting motion to an apparatus for shearing sheep.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the said sheep shearing apparatus having the said joint
applied thereto; and
Figure 2 is a side view of the same showing the joint in section ;
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the parts of the joint in a different position
from that shewn in figure 2.
Figures 4 to 9 are views of details hereinafter described.
a indicates the driving shaft, which, as shown in the drawing, is adapted to be
connected to a flexible shaft to which motion may be imparted in any suitable manner,
and indicates the shaft to be driven.
c, c¹² are the gear-wheels which are secured upon the ends of the shafts a,
respectively, and are constructed as shown in figures 4 and 5, which represent
one of the said wheels in front and side view respectively. It will be noticed that
by constructing the wheels c, c¹ in the manner shown, they are enabled to gear
together when face to face, as shown in figure 2, or at an angle to each other,
as shewn in figure 3.
d, e are the sockets in which the shafts a, b are respectively journalled: the socket d
is shown in sectional side elevation and in end elevation in figures 6 and 7 respectively;
and the socket e is shown in end elevation and in longitudinal section in figures 8
and 9 respectively. These sockets are provided with lugs f,fas shown, so that they
can be jointed together by screws 9, 9, the axis of the joint being, as hereinbefore
stated, tangential to the pitch line of the gear wheels cc', so that whatever may be
the angle at which the socket d is placed relatively to the socket e, the said gear
wheels will always remain in engagement. It will be understood from the foregoing
description that the necessary movement in one direction is provided for by jointing
the socket d to the socket e: the necessary movement in the other direction, that is to
say, in a direction at right angles to that in which the sockets d and e can be
moved, being obtained by the rotation of the said sockets relatively to their
shafts.
When using the joint in connection with sheep shearing apparatus it is advan-
tageous to cover the joint with leather shields h, i to prevent the wool being caught
hy the rear-wheele

page_text: k is a collar which is screwed upon the exterior of the socket e so as to cover the
junction of the shields h and i with the said socket e.
It is obvious that although I have described my joint as applied to apparatus for
shearing sheep it is also applicable for transmitting motion from one shaft to another
for driving machinery for other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. An universal joint comprising two gear-wheels secured to the adjacent ends
of the driving and driven shafts, and adapted to work both as bevel-wheels and as
clutches, in combination with two sockets forming bearings for the adjacent ends of
the said shafts, which sockets are jointed together on a line tangential to the pitch
lines of the said gear wheels, substantially as described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved universal joint herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 22nd day of May 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.