Improvements in Belt Couplings.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Belt Couplings.
I, JOHN HEMPSTALK, Shipwright, of Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of belt couplings which embody a clamping
device for securing the ends of the belt with perforations or stitching. It has for
its object to provide an improved belt coupling of this character which will possess
advantages in point of simplicity, adaptability, ease of adjustment and operation,
effectiveness, and general efficiency and which may be employed to readily and
conveniently take up or lengthen the belt.
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The clamping device is constructed substantially in the form of a buckle embody-
ing a central cross bar, end cross bars and longitudinal side bars connecting the
several cross bars. The end cross bars are preferably cylindrical in cross section,
and side faces of the central cross bar are preferably beveled inwardly and
downwardly.
In practice, the ends of the belt are passed under the end cross bars of the
buckle or clamping device and their inner ends are turned upwardly in the opening
or space between the central cross bar and end cross bar so that the upturned end
projects upwardly against the beveled face of the central cross bar and bears against
the same.
The clamping wedges are inserted in and correspond to the openings in the
buckle between the cross bars. The wedge blocks or pieces have their outer edges
concave so that they surround and bear against the convex face of the cylindrical
end cross bar and are adapted to turn thereon in their clamping functions. In
the clamping operation, the inner end of the wedge blocks is forced downwardly
and bears against the upturned end of the belt, so that it firmly binds or clamps
said end against the face of the central cross bar.
It will be understood that, by reason of the improved construction and arrange-
ment embodied in my invention, any strain or "pull" of the belt only serves to
more tightly bind or clamp the coupled ends, the tendency being to force the wedge
blocks downwardly so that they more tightly bind the end of the belt against the
central cross bar of the buckled coupling.
Ordinarily it will not be necessary to provide any further securing means for the
end of the belt and all stitching or perforation of the ends is obviated, but, if
desired, and under some circumstances by preference, the transverse bolts may he
passed through perforations in the portions of the adjoining ends of the belt which
project above the central cross har. These bolts are secured in position just above
the said cross bar, and their projecting heads and nutted ends serve to retain the
wedge blocks down in normal position or against accidental disengagement from
the buckle.
It will be noted that my invention enables the convenient and ready adjustment

page_text: or readjustment of the ends of the belt as desired, "to take up" or shorten or
lengthen the belt to any suitable degree.
Dated this 7th day of October 1897
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Belt Couplings.
I, JOHN HEMPSTALK, Shipwright, of Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand, 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 that class of belt couplings which embody a clamping
device for securing the ends of the belt without perforations or stitching. It has
for its object to provide an improved belt coupling of this character, which will
posess advantages in point of simplicity, adaptability, ease of adjustment and
operation, effectiveness and general efficiency and which may be employed to
readily and conveniently take up" or lengthen the belt.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of my improved belt coupling.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of my improved belt coupling showing method of
coupling the ends of belts or straps, with screw, pin, or cotter for securing and
preventing the wedge blocks from working loose.
Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 1.
The clamping device is constructed substantially in the form of a buckle,
embodying a central cross bar A, end cross bars B, and longitudinal side bars C,
connecting the several cross bars. The end cross bars B are preferably cylindrical
in cross section, and side faces of the central cross bar are preferably bevelled
inwardly and downwardly, or as shown at Fig. 2.
In practice, the ends of the belt D are passed under the end cross bars B of the
buckle or clamping device, and their inner ends are turned upwardly in the opening
or space between the central cross bar and end cross bar, so that the upturned
end projects upwardly against the bevelled face of the central cross bar A, and
bears against the same.
The clamping wedges E are inserted in and correspond to the openings or spaces
in the buckle between the cross bars. The wedge blocks or pieces E have their
outer edges concave, so that they surround and bear against the convex face of the
cylindrical end cross bars B, and are adapted to turn thereon in their clamping
functions. In the clamping operation, the inner end of the wedge blocks E, is
forced downwardly and bears against the upturned end of the belt, so that it firmly
binds or clamps said end against the face of the central cross bar A. The wedges
may be either loose or hinged to the bars as desired.
It will be understood that, by reason of the improved construction and arrange-
ment embodied in my invention, any strain or "pull" of the belt, only serves
to more tightly bind or clamp the coupled ends, the tendency being to force the
wedge blocks downwardly, so that they more tightly bind the end of the belt
against the central cross bar of the buckled coupling.
Ordinarily it will not be necessary to provide any further securing means for the
end of the belt and all stitching or perforation of the ends is obviated, but, if
desired and under some circumstances by preference, the transverse bolts F or

page_text: other fastener such as pins or cotters may be passed through perforations in the
portions of the adjoining ends of the belt, which project above the central cross
bar A. These bolts pass through the said cross bar, and their projecting heads and
nutted ends serve to retain the wedge blocks down in position, or against accidental
disengagement from the buckle.
It will be noted that my invention enables the convenient and ready adjustment
or readjustment of the ends of the belt as desired "to take up" or shorten or
lengthen the belt to any suitable degree.
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 strap fastener or coupling consisting of a buckle with central cross bar A,
and loose or hinged clamping wedges E, for holding the ends of the belt, as shown
and described.
2. A strap fastener or coupling consisting of a buckle with bevelled central cross
bar A, loose or hinged clamping wedges E, and pin, cotter, or bolt F, as and for
the purposes shown and described.
Dated this Sixth day of July 1898.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.