Improvements in the Construction of Couplings for Screw Propeller and other Shafts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Couplings for Screw Propeller
and other Shafts.
I JOHN VERITY, of Bramley, in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention refers to improvements on an invention for which a Patent has
been granted to John Francis Hall and myself dated the 6th February 1886
No. 1789, for "Improvements in the Construction of Couplings for Screw Propeller
and other Shafts and my present invention is to render such couplings more
efficient in their working.
"
In the Specification of the Patent above referred to, two discs one on the end of
each shaft, are described having projecting jaws thereon, which fit between each
other and are for the purpose of communicating motion from one shaft to the other.
The centres of the discs are cupped, and receive a ball between them, such discs
being held together by bolts provided with spring washers. The jaws are
separated by parallel pieces and wedges, arranged alternately, the wedges being
adjusted by a ring situated on the outer periphery of one of the discs, such ring
having on part of its inner circumference, which projects over the wedge pieces,
the same number of cam surfaces as there are wedges. The ball which rests in the
cupped recesses, has two actions to perform, viz., receiving the end thrust of the
propeller shaft, and keeping the ends of the driving and driven shafts concentric
with each other. After long experience I have found that it is disadvantageous
to employ the ball for performing these two actions, and it is partly to obviate
the disadvantage of its use that I have invented the following improvements.
In the centre of the driving shaft I form a recess, into which is fitted a centre
piece having a flat or partially rounded exterior end surface, and being made
preferably of tempered steel. Around this centre piece is provided a projecting
ring, which is cast or forged solid with the said driving shaft, the periphery of such
ring being convex or rounded to any required extent.
A similar recess to that above described is formed in the centre of the driven
shaft, and a similar centre piece is fitted within same.
Discs having projecting jaws are formed on each shaft end in a similar manner
to that described in the Specification of the above mentioned Patent, and similar
bolts, parallel pieces, wedges, and cam ring are also employed.
A bearing ring of soft metal, such as brass, is placed within the jaws of the driven
shaft, which jaws hold the bearing ring firmly in position, and the interior of said
ring is of a similar diameter to the exterior diameter of the projecting ring on the
driving shaft.
On the shafts being brought together, the centre piece of the driving shaft comes
in contact with the centre piece on the driven shaft, and the projecting ring on the
driving shaft enters within the bearing ring which is held between the jaws on the
disc of the driven shaft. In this manner, it will be seen that the centre pieces take
the end thrust of the propeller, whilst the projecting ring on the driving shaft, and
the bearing ring on the driven shaft keep the ends of the two shafts in the same
centre or concentric with each other, at the same time allowing of the shafts freely
revolving when their axes have diverged slightly from the straight line, through
uneven wear in the bearings or from other causes.
Underneath the coupling I provide a tank, into which is placed oil or other
suitable lubricant. This is fed to the coupling by means of a curved tube which is
fitted thereon in such a manner that as such coupling revolves, the tube dips into

page_text: the oil or lubricant in the tank, taking up a quantity thereof, which passes down
the tube onto the working parts, thus effectually lubricating same.
Dated this 28th day of August 1893.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Couplings for Screw Propeller
and other Shafts.
I, JOHN VERITY, late of Bramley, in the County of York, but now of 14 Church
Road, Stanley, Liverpool, in the County of Lancashire, Engineer, 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 refers to improvements on an invention for which a Patent was
granted to John Francis Hall and myself, dated the 6th February 1886 No. 1789
for "Improvements in the Construction of Couplings for Screw Propeller and
other Shafts," and my present invention is to render such couplings more efficient
in their working.
"
In the Specification of the Patent above referred to, two dises, one on the end of
each shaft are described, having projecting jaws thereon, which fit between each
other and are for the purpose of communicating motion from one shaft to the
other. The centres of the discs are cupped, and receive a ball between them, such
discs being held together by bolts provided with spring washers. the jaws are
separated by parallel pieces and wedges arranged alternately, the wedges being
adjusted by a ring situated on the outer periphery of one of the discs, such ring
having on part of its inner circumference, which projects over the wedge piece, the
same number of cam surfaces as there are wedges. The ball which rests in the
cupped recesses has two actions to perform, viz.: receiving the end thrust of
the propeller shaft, and keeping the ends of the driving and driven shafts concentric
with each other. After long experience I have found that it is disadvantageous to
employ the ball for performing these two actions, and it is partly to obviate the
disadvantage of its use that I have invented the following improvements.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer
to like parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the portion of the coupling situated on the driven
shaft, Fig. 2 is a section of the coupling.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the portion of the coupling situated on the driving
shaft, and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the coupling.
According to my invention I form a recess A in the centre of the driving shaft B,
into which is fitted a centre piece C, having a large base and tapering at C₁ to a
small contact face which may have a flat or partially rounded exterior end surface,
and being made preferably of nickel, steel or other hard material. Around this
centre piece C is provided a projecting ring D, which is cast or forged solid
with the said driving shaft B, the periphery of such ring being convex or rounded
to any required extent.
A similar recess E to that above described is also formed in the centre of the
driven shaft F, and a similar centre piece G having a taper end G' is fitted within
same.
Discs H and J having projecting jaws K and L are formed on each shaft
end B and F, in a similar manner to that described in the Specification of the
above mentioned Patent, and similar bolts M, parallel pieces N, Fig. 3, wedges P,
and cam ring R are also employed.

page_text: A bearing ring S of soft metal, such as brass, is placed within the jaws L of the
driven shaft F, which jaws L hold the bearing ring S in position, and the interior
of said ring is of a similar diameter to the exterior diameter of the projecting
ring D on the driving shaft B.
On the coupling being brought together, the contact face of the centre piece C
of the driving shaft B comes in contact with the contact face of the centre piece G
on the driven shaft F, and the projecting ring D on the driving shaft Benters.
within the bearing ring S which is held between the jaws L on the disc J of the
driven shaft F. In this manner it will be seen that the centre pieces C and G take
the end thrust of the propeller, whilst the projecting ring D on the driving shaft B.
and the bearing ring S on the driven shaft F, keep the ends of the two shafts B
and F in the same centre or concentric with each other, at the same time allowing
the shafts B and F to revolve freely when their axes have diverged slightly
from the straight line, through uneven wear in the bearings, or from other
causes.
Underneath the coupling I provide a tank T, into which oil or other suitable
lubricant is placed. This lubricant is fed to the coupling by means of a curved
tube V which is fitted thereon by means of the brackets W and X, the said
bracket X having a hole in same into which is fitted the end of the tube V. A
hole Y is made in the coupling immediately below the hole in the bracket X, so-
that a free passage is made from the tube V to the interior of the coupling. As
the coupling revolves, the tube V dips into the oil or other lubricant contained
in the tank T, and a portion of the said lubricant is taken up, which runs down.
the tube V onto the working parts of the coupling, thus effectually lubricating
same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said:
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In couplings for screw propeller and other shafts, two centre pieces having
large bases and small contact faces substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In couplings for screw propeller and other shafts, a projecting ring having a
convex periphery, situated on one face of the coupling, in combination with a bearing
ring held within jaws situated on the other face of the coupling, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
3. In couplings for screw propeller and other shafts, the combination of the
centre pieces C and G, the projecting ring D, bearing ring S, and jaws K and L.
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In couplings for screw propeller and other shafts, a curved tube open at one
end and connected at its other end to the interior of the coupling, in combination.
with a tank containing oil or other suitable lubricant, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
5. In couplings for screw propeller and other shafts, the combination of the
tube V, brackets W and X, the said tube V communicating with the interior of
the coupling by means of the hole Y, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
6. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts
forming the coupling for screw propeller and other shafts, substantially as herein.
set forth.
Daten son ay ay 100.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant..