Improvements in and relating to Flexible Shafting.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Flexible Shafting.
1, ALFRED MAROTTE, of No. 30 Rue Godot de Mauroi, Paris, in the Republic'
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improved means which I have devised for transmitting
rotary motion to any distance, generally limited, along a path otherwise than that
of a straight line, comprising a flexible shaft with transmitting balls and movable
elements or members and capable of variable flexure, bending or curvature.
The elements of my flexible shaft comprise each a boly the two eals of which
are formed with claws that hold, embrace or imprison between them a ball or sphere.
The number of claws depends 'upon the diameter of the said ball or sphere. The
claws of one element are alternated with or form prolongations of one another and.
can have their ends of spherical or any other suitable form.
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The assembling of two consecutive elements can be effected by making the claws
of one of the elements alternate with those of the other, in such a manner that all
these claws embrace or imprison the connecting ball or sphere; when the ball is
in place, the claws are lightly hammered or bent onto the ball so as to form a
seating from which the ball cannot escape. All the elements or members, thus
mounted, are preferably enclosed in a flexible sheath, which, without impeding the
internal movements of the elements, allows them to freely transmit, to the work or
other resistance placed at one of the ends of the shaft, the initial or impressed
rotary motion. The sheath for any given curve or outline, previously determined
by the exigencies of each particular case, may be secured in position once for all,
and in such case can evidently be rigid. The elements or members, to which
1 preferably give the form of a slightly curved figure of revolution, may, if
desired, have a cylindrical form. In one arrangement of the elements the balls do,
not rest on the spherical seat formed between the claws, but only on the claws
themselves by the points of contact.
For large diameters, I can, if desired, form a recess in each element, in which
are introduced balls which enable the friction of the chain in the sheath to be very
considerably reduced.
Dated 30th day of December 1895.
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D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ALFRED MAROTTE, 30, Rue Godot-de-Mauroi, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with flexible shafting for
the transmission of rotary power and consists of a series of links connected together
hy means of hall

page_text: And in order that my inventiou may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 an end view of the links composing my improved
shafting.
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Fig. 3 is an elevation of two links connected together by means of a ball.
Fig. 4 is an elevation and Fig. 5 an end view of a modification of the links before
the connecting halls are placed in position.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal and Fig. 7 a cross section at line A-B and C, D, E, F
of Figs. 4 & 6 respectively.
Figs. 8 & 9 are respectively a plan and an elevation of flexible shafting adapted
for the transmission of rotary power at high speed.
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of a link made in parts.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1, 2 & 3, 1 form the
links a externally slightly curved and at each end with a suitable number of
claws b. The said claws are arranged to embrace the ball c which is placed into
the end or socket d.
It is evident that in this arrangement as well as in the two hereinafter described,
the ball may be replaced by any other organ of suitable shape.
The claws b may be formed alternately in relation to each other, as shown in
Figs. 19, or in a line, as shown in Fig. 10.
The link a, shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7, is formed longitudinally with a
channel e, the ball bearing against the interior of the claws b.
The link, shown in Fig. 10, is made in two parts a, a, screw threaded inside
and connected together by tube f.
Before connecting the links a together their claws b are open as shown in
Figs. 4, 6 & 10, so as to be capable of receiving the balls c. After having placed
a ball into the end of one link the respective claws are bent over the. ball so
as to grip. the same, as shown in Fig. 9. A link without a ball is then placed
against the ball in the first named link and its claws are also bent over the said
ball as shown in Fig. 3. This operation is repeated until a sufficient length of
shafting has been formed.
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As will be seen from Fig. 3 in flexible shafting constructed as described, the
links can oscillate and displace themselves in the same or different planes during
transmission of rotary motion from the head of the shaft to its opposite end or tool
or other resistance.
In use the shafting is incased in a flexible sheath which, permits the rotation as
well as the curving of the shaft therein and transmission of rotary power from one
end to the other without any hindrance.
This sheath may be made rigid for shafting rotating at a fixed curve.
In shafting of large diameter for the transmission of high speed an annular
groove g is formed, Figs. 8 & 9, in each link a adapted for the reception of
anti-friction balls h..
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 [
claim, is-
Flexible shafting composed of links a connected together by means of balls c
socketed in each extremity thereof between claws b, the said shaft in use being
incased in a flexible, sheath which permits of transmitting rotary power from one
end of the shaft to the other at any curve, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of September 1906
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F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.