IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT- FASTENERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Steil, of Battersea, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT-
FASTENERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Steil at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1881.
WILLIAM HENRY STEIL, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT FASTENERS."
This Invention relates to an improved mode of joining the butt ends of machinery
driving belts, whether the same be made of leather, cotton, or other material, the
object of the Invention being to dispense with all lacing and sewing as now in
common use, and at the same time obtain a belt fastening of great flexibility and
strength.
The fastener consists of a strip of leather of suitable depth and length, which is
pierced at regular intervals as close to one edge as possible. Into the holes thus
made round or half round wires are introduced, and equidistant from the centre
of the leather these wires are bent to assume the shape of an ordinary staple.
The butt ends of the belt are placed against the strip of leather, and the staples
are inserted into corresponding holes made in the belt. When the staples are driven
home the belt is reversed, and the points of the staples are curved over with pliers
or pincers, and are clinched on the underside of the belt, which operation completes
the coupling.
If the strip of leather projects below the thickness of the belt on the underside
it must be pared down and the joint is finished. By the use of this fastener I
obtain an unbroken length of belting, great strength and endurance, and a simple
fastener that can be applied readily.
I also dispense with butt pieces on top of the belt, or an overlap, both of which
are very objectionable and cause considerable expense.
The fastener will be made in one piece to suit any width of belt, and it is only
necessary to disconnect one end when it is desired to shorten a belt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Steil in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th June 1882.
WILLIAM HENRY STEIL, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT FASTENERS."
This Invention relates to an improved mode of joining the butt ends of machinery
driving belts, whether the same be made of leather, cotton, or other material, the
object of the Invention being to dispense with all lacing and sewing as now in
common use, and at the same time to obtain a belt fastening of great flexibility and
strength.
The fastener consists of a strip of leather or equivalent material of suitable
depth and length, which is pierced at regular intervals as close to one edge as
possible. Into the holes thus mado short equal lengths of round or half round
wiro are introduced, and equidistant from the centre of their length these lengths
of wire are bent to assume the shape of an ordinary staple. The butt ends of the
belt to bo joined are placed against the strip of leather, and the staples are inserted
into corresponding holes previously mado in the belt ends. When the staples have
been driven home the belt is turned over, and the points of the staples are turned
inwards with pliers or pincers, and are clinched on the underside of the belt, which
operation completes the coupling.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a section, and Fig. 2. a plan view of
the improved fastener ready to be inserted into the belt ends; Fig. 3 is a section,
and Fig. 4 a plan view shewing the ends of a belt joined together by the fastenor;
Figures 5 and 6 are a section and side view respectively of the wire which I
prefer to use for the staples.
a is the strip of leather or other suitable material, the length of which is slightly
greater than the width of the belt (see Fig. 4). The depth of this strip I make
equal to at least three times the thickness of the belt. Near one edge of the
strip a I form a row of holes, into which short lengths of wire b are inserted. The
opposite ends of these lengths of wire bare turned down at points equidistant
from the centre of their length, and from the strip, so as to assume the form of an
ordinary staple (see Fig. 1); c is a belt, the butt ends of which are placed against
tho strip a, as shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the staples are inserted into
holes previously made in the belt ends. When the staples have been forced home
the ends are turned inwards and clinched on the underside of the belt, as seen at
Fig. 3.
The strip of leather a should project slightly beyond the underside of the belt,
so that it may raise, as they pass, the turned-in ends of the staples off the drum or
pulley, and thereby prevent noise.
The wire which I find to be best suited for the purposes of this Invention is split
or half round cottar pin wire, of charcoal iron or mild steel.
Although it is preferable to have the fastener in one piece, still for extra wide
belts it may be more convenient to have two or more short fasteners.
I would here remark that in piercing the holes in the strip a care must be taken
not to make them too large, as the staples when inserted therein should fit tightly,
so that they will be prevented from turning round or slipping out before the
fastener is applied to the belt.
By the use of this fastener I obtain an unbroken length of belting of great
strength and endurance, and the fastener can be applied readily.
I also dispense with butt pieces on top of the belt, or an overlap, both of which

page_text: are extremely objectionable and add considerably to the expense of the belt. When
it is desired to shorten a belt it will be necessary only to disconnect one end
previous to removing the desired portion, and the loose end can be refastened with
facility.
In like manner a piece can be added to lengthen a belt, or a bad piece cut out
and a new piece provided with one or more fasteners, as the case may be, can be
put in.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Belt Fasteners," and
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim,-
The combination of a strip of leather or other suitable material a with staples b, b,
arranged substantially as herein shewn and described, and constituting a belt
fastener for securing together the butt ends of leather, cotton, or other driving
belts, such fastener being applied in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Steil, have hereunto set my
band and seal, the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
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