Improvements in Means for Joining the Ends of Power and Analogous Belts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1899-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Joining the Ends of Power and Analogous
Belts.
I, ANDREW LINCOLN EATON, of 76, Lexington Avenue, in the City of New
York, (Borough of Manhattan), County of New York, State of New York, United
States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
The invention relates to means for joining the ends of power transmitting and
other belts and belongs to that class in which a plate lies across the line of the
abutting belt ends and is secured to the latter. Its object is to provide a plate
which will successfully endure and hold reliably under the severe strains to which
it may be subjected, and which may be easily and quickly applied.
The invention consists of a plate of thin metal provided with perforations on
each side of the transverse centre line adapted to receive rivets or analogous
fastening devices by which it is secured to the abutting ends of the belt; the
centre line is plainly marked by slightly projecting points on the side edges so
that the plate may be properly located upon the line of abutment and also serving
to strengthen the plate along such line; the metal adjacent to the perforations
is raised or embossed and the swells thus formed on opposite sides are joined by
longitudinal connecting ribs similarly produced, thus stiffening the whole and
aiding efficiently to withstand the tendency to flex or bend and again straighten
in passing around the pulley, which if allowed soon produces fracture along the
line of flexure. The swells also serve to elevate the rivet heads to facilitate
their removal when required, and means are provided for bracing or supporting
the rivets so that they will be held practically at a right angle to the plate under
all conditions and thus successfully resist the tendency to assume an angular
position and pull out under excessive strains.
The invention also consists in certain details of construction to be hereinafter
described.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the
invention as I have carried it out in practice. Figure 1 is a face view of a belt
joint formed in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a corresponding
edge view; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line in Figure 1,
and Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 in the same figure:
Figure 5 is a face view of the plate alone; Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6
in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a sectional view of a portion similar to Figure 3 but en
a larger scale, and Figures 8 and 9 are face views corresponding to Figure 5 but
showing different forms and sizes of plates.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
A and A are the adjacent ends of a belt abutting together along the line of
separation a. 1, 13 are the fastener plates struck by dies or otherwise from
thin sheet metal, preferably low steel of suitable gauge, having a general rect-
angular outline with rounded projecting corners B₁ and outwardly extending

page_text: points B, one on each side edge on the transverse centre line. Perforations b
arranged in pairs equally spaced on opposite sides of the centre line receive rivets C
or like securing means by which the plate is joined to the belt ends. Each per-
foration is partially surrounded by a slightly raised portion or swell from
which extends a similarly formed longitudinal rib 13' reaching the corresponding
swell on the opposite side of the centre line as shown; the embossed or raised
portions BB show on the upper or exposed face as circular convex embossing
and on the lower face as corresponding sunken surfaces, and serve the important
function of stiffening the whole structure as before stated. The swells 133 also
serve to hold the rivet heads above the general surface of the plate, thus
allowing them to be easily engaged by a cold chisel or other tool when the rivets
are to be removed to shorten the belt or for other reasons.
A portion of the plate immediately in rear of each perforation is not deflected
from the general plane and with the opposite inner edge of the swell serves
to brace the rivet as indicated in the figures the tension on the belt tends to
open the joint and correspondingly change the angle of the rivet relatively to
the plate by forcing the lower end outward in the direction shown by the curved
arrows in Figure 7, which if not resisted would permit the body of the rivet to
assume an angle so nearly in line with the plane of the belt as to endanger the
hold, and if the strain were sufficient, to be withdrawn endwise and break the
connection; the construction shown serves to preserve the relative angularity
of the plate and rivet, the higher edge serves as an abutment for the upper
end of the rivet and the strain on the lower end is delivered leverwise upon the
plate at the point & at the lower level, thus if the rivet fairly fills the perforation
it cannot be deflected until the metal at either or gives way and allows the
perforation to enlarge.
It is important that the opposite rivets composing each pair lie as nearly as
may be in the line of direct strain and this end is attained by carefully spacing
the perforations & and producing an indicating mark on the exact centre line by
which the plate may be properly located. 1 prefer to make the marks in the form
of points 12 as described so that in addition to their indicating function they
also serve to increase the strength along that line on which fracture due to
flexing is most liable to occur thus formed and applied to the squarely cut
abutting ends of the belt, with the points coincident with the line of separation,
the riveis when driven lie in the desired positions. I have shown the rivets as
of the bifurcated type and prefer that form for the reason that they may be more
easily driven and when properly clinched, preferably with the curl of the points
transverse to the belt, they hold reliably and project but little if any on the
friction side of the belt.
I attach importance to the fact that the compression caused by the rivetting
forces the material of the belt into the concavities on the under face of the plate
and thus increases the frictional hold of the latter upon the belt.
The fastener is strong, cheaply manufactured and is easily and accurately
placed in position and fastened, but may be removed when occasion requires.
Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions without departing
from the principle of the invention. Parts of the invention may be used without
the whole. There may be a greater or less number of perforations b; Figure S
shows a form adapted to receive four rivets, a short rib aids in stiffening this
construction which is intended to serve with lighter belts. Figure 9 shows a
single link form of the invention having but two perforations joined by a rib,
Four, six or more holes are preferable as better adapted to resist racking and
torsional strains, and I prefer placing several plates side by side on a wide belt,
as shown in Figure 1, to the employment of a single wide plate.
Care should be taken to ensure that equal portions of the plate lie on each
helt end, this is facilitated by the indicating points 1.
Instead of the forked rivets shown ordinary rivets adapted to serve with burrs
as usual may be employed if preferred.

page_text: I have shown the plates slightly curved to conform somewhat to the pulleys
on which the belt may run, the degree of curvature may be varied or the plate
may be plane. I prefer the whole as shown.
Although I have described the plate as formed of thin metal stamped to shape,
it will be understood that it may be cast in malleable iron or other material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a belt fastener plate of thin metal having perforations adapted to receive
rivets or analogous fastening means, a swell about each perforation formed by
striking up the metal at those portions and serving the double function of
stiffening the plate at those points and holding the rivet heads above the general
plane of the plate, as herein shown and described.
In a belt fastener plate of thin metal having perforations adapted to
receive the fastening means, swells about said perforations and ribs connecting
said swells, formed with the latter by striking up the metal at those points, as
herein shown and described.
3. In a belt fastener plate of thin metal having perforations adapted to receive
rivets or analogous fastening means, a swell partially surrounding each perfora-
tion and formed by striking up the metal at those points, serving to support the
rivet head and offer an abutment to the upper portion of the body of the rivet.
in combination with an unelevated portion of the plate at a lower level serving to
support the body on the opposite side at that point, as herein shown and described.
4. In a belt fastener plate of thin metal having perforations on opposite sides
of the transverse centre line adapted to receive the fastening means. swells about
said perforations and ribs connecting said swells, formed with the latter by
striking up the metal of those portions, and the projecting points formed one on
each side of said plate on said line, as herein shown and described.
5. The plate B having the oppositely arranged perforations bb. rivets C. C¹
extending through the latter, the swells B partially surrounding the perfora-
tions and forming with the plane of the plate the supporting edges and 62 for
said rivets, and the ribs 13' connecting opposing pairs of swells, and the points B²
on the sides of said plate, all combined as herein shown and described.
Dated this 21st day of April 1899
ANDREW LINCOLN EATON.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.