AN IMPROVED FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR SHAFTS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM JAMES MACKENZIE of 142 Cecil Street, Greenheys, Manchester,
Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
FLEXIBLE COUPLING FOR SHAFTS," to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple flexible coupling or connection
between lengths of shafting such for example as the crank shaft of an engine and
the armature spindle of a dynamo-electric machine.
The improved flexible coupling consists of two cross pieces formed with eyes or
bosses which are keyed on the ends of the shafts to be connected, such cross
pieces being fitted one on each shaft to cross each other at about right angles and
their ends being connected together by a flexible ring or rings formed by preference
of steel wire or wire rope.
The bosses by which the cross pieces are keyed or secured to the adjacent ends
of the shafts may have simply two radial arms or a greater number or they may
be made in the form of discs fitted with grooved blocks to which the flexible ring
may be clamped or otherwise secured at intervals of its perimeter.
The axis of the flexible ring is coincident with the axis of the shafts, and the
ring itself is clamped at intervals to the arms of the cross piece or to the disc
on one shaft, and at intermediate positions it is clamped to the arms of the cross-
piece or to the disc on the end of the shaft to which the first shaft is to be
connected. The ends of the shafts may be a little distance apart in which case
the improved coupling device will permit of slight end play.
The flexible ring by yielding to the necessary extent during the rotation of the
shafts permits of the transmission of motion from shafts which may not be quite
in line with each other.

page_text: I, WILLIAM JAMES MACKENZIE, of 142 Cecil Street, Greenheys, Manchester,
Practical Electrician, 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 object of my invention is to provide a simple flexible coupling or connection
between lengths of shafting such for example as the crankshaft of an engine and
the armature spindle of a dynamo-electric machine.
As represented in side elevation at figure 1 and in end elevation at figure 2 of
the accompanying drawings the improved flexible coupling consists of two cross
pieces A, B, formed with eyes or bosses a, b, which are keyed on the adjoining ends
of the shafts C, C¹, to be connected, such cross pieces being fitted, one on each shaft
to cross each other at or about right angles and their ends being connected together
by a flexible ring D, or by several rings, formed of steel wire, wire rope or similar
material, and clamped or otherwise secured to the cross pieces. The bosses a, b,
which are keyed on the shafts may be formed with two radial arms A, A and B, B
as shown in figures 1 and 2, or, as represented in figures 3 and 4 they may have
three arms or a greater number, or they may be made in the form of discs fitted
with grooved blocks to which the flexible ring may be clamped or fastened at
several points. The axis of the flexible ring is coincident with the axes of the
shafts, and as represented the ring itself is clamped at two or more points to the
arms of the cross piece A on the shaft C while at intermediate points of its perimeter
it is clamped to the arms of the cross piece B on the adjoining shaft C¹. The ends
of the shafts C, C₁, may be some distance apart in which case the improved coupling
will permit of slight end play.
The flexible ring by yielding to the necessary extent during the rotation of the
shafts permits of the transmission of motion without jar or undue strain upon the
journal bearings in cases in which the coupled shafts are not quite in line with each
other.
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) The combination of parts constituting the improved flexible shaft-coupling
under its several modifications substantially as herein described, with reference to
the drawings annexed.
(2) In a coupling for connecting shafts or lengths of shafting the employment of
a flexible ring or rings in conjunction with discs, cross pieces or like devices secured
on the shafts substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this Twenty-second day of March 1886.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Agents,