IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING SHAFTING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SCREWS AND SHAFTS OF LATHES AND OTHER TOOLS AND MACHINES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Muir of the firm of William Muir and Company
of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Mechanical Engineer for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING SHAFTING ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE SCREWS AND SHAFTS OF LATHES AND OTHER TOOLS AND MACHINES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Muir at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1883.
ALFRED MUIR of the firm of William Muir and Company of Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING
SHAFTING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SCREWS AND SHAFTS OF LATHES AND OTHER
TOOLS AND MACHINES
The objects of my Invention are first to couple solid or tubular shafting without
any projection or without necessarily increasing the diameter of the shafts where
coupled Secondly-To make the leading screw of lathes or other long screws or
shafts of machine tools, cranes and the like, in two or more pieces, connected by
my improved coupling
In applying my Invention to coupling solid shafting I prefer to drill a hole of
suitable size and depth in the end of each shaft to be coupled; the ends of the
shafts are then cut across to form a clutch, with two or more projections and
recesses in each.
I fit a metal stud in the two holes in the ends of the shafts to be coupled and
secure this stud by small pins which pass through holes near the end of each shaft
and also through a hole in the stud.
By drilling the holes and using a stud as described, the coupled shafts are more
easily handled and erected, but the coupling may be made without these additions.
Tubular or hollow shafting can be coupled in the manner above described.
In applying my Invention to the leading screw of a lathe or other machine or
tool, I am able to form the screw in two or more pieces which has in some cases
great advantages.
To cut a screw for the purpose indicated great accuracy is necessary, and to
accomplish this I couple two or more lengths of the metal bars from which the

page_text: screw is to be made, and "turn" them in the lathe when coupled: the screw thread
is next cut, and these two lengths of the screw are completed; if it is necessary to
add other pieces to increase the length of the screw, I proceed by coupling a bar
of metal to one end of the finished screw, and putting the whole or one length of
the finished screw coupled with the unfinished bar into the lathe, and "turning "
and cutting the thread on the bar of metal last added.
The screw thread of leading or other screws formed in two or more pieces may
be cut by other methods than that above described.
It is obvious that a loose centre may be secured to the screw shaft at one or
both ends for the convenience of fixing it on the lathe centres, whilst being
"turned"
By adopting this part of my Invention, the leading screw or shafts of existing
tools may be increased in length by having one or more pieces added to them.
In fitting a leading screw made in two or more pieces to a lathe, I form collars
at each side of the bearing at the headstock end, and a bearing at the other end,
and to avoid any pull on the pins in the couplings I employ a tail pin against
which the end of the leading screw rests.
My Invention is particularly applicable for coupling the shafts of travelling
cranes, whether round or of other section.
I have described this coupling as formed by the two ends of the shafts fitting
into one another, in the manner of a clutch, the same object could be obtained by
cutting a slot or slots across the ends of the shafts and employing a loose piece to
connect or couple the shafts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Muir in the Patent Office on the 12th April 1884.
ALFRED MUIR, of the Firm of William Muir and Company, of Manchester in
the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLING
SHAFTING, ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE SCREWS AND SHAFTS OF LATHES AND OTHER
TOOLS AND MACHINES
"
My invention relates to improvements in coupling shafting, screws, and shafts of
lathes and machine tools, and the shafts of cranes and other machines or machinery :
and the objects of my Invention are―
First, to couple solid or tubular shafting without the use of any exterior sleeve
or cover, or without necessarily increasing the diameter of the shafts where
coupled.
Secondly, to construct the screw of a lathe or other long screw or shaft of a
machine tool, machine, crane or the like, in two or more pieces connected by my
improved coupling.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a view of three lengths or pieces in a line of shafting. Figs. 2 and 3
are views, partly in section, of two shafts coupled. Fig. 4 is a view of the screw
of a lathe or other machine composed of three lengths coupled. Fig. 5 is a view of
the first and second lengths of the screw coupled to a piece with a centre. Fig. 6
is a view of the piece with a centre, coupled to the second and third lengths.
Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, of the first length or headstock end of a screw,
coupled to a short piece which has a loose plug with a centre hole at the other end.
Fig. 8 is a view of the middle length of a screw coupled to a short piece at each
end each short piece having a loose plug with a centre hole. Fig. 9 is an end
view of a shaft or screw prepared for coupling. Fig. 10 is a view of a short piece
with a centre hole. Fig. 11 is a view of a short piece prepared for coupling at
each end and Fig. 12 is a view of a loose plug with a centre hole. Fig. 13 is a
view of two lengths of a shaft with two key-ways and Fig. 14 an end view of
the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In Fig. 1-a, b and c are three lengths of solid shafting coupled. Figs 2 and 3
are views of the two lengths a and b, showing the manner in which the coupling
is effected: the lengths a and b are first turned in the ordinary manner: holes a¹
and b¹ respectively are then drilled in them to receive the stud g: the end to be
coupled of the shaft a is cut across so as to form two projections a²; and two
recesses a as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 which correspond with and fit into similar
projections and recesses formed at the end of the shaft b: two projections and two
recesses at the end of each shaft divided by radial lines, see Fig. 7, are shown and
described but the number may be varied if desired.
Taper holes are drilled through each length a and b and through the stud 9;
when the ends of the lengths are brought together, taper pins h are driven through
these holes in the ends of the shafts a and b and through the stud g, thus
completing the coupling: the other end of the length b is coupled in a similar
manner to the length c and additional lengths may be coupled as required.
Tubular or hollow shafting can be coupled in the manner described as readily as
solid shafting, the studs g being fitted into the ends of the hollow shafts. The
studs
g and taper pins h are not an absolutely essential feature of the coupling but

page_text: they are convenient for holding the separate lengths of shafting together. In order
to make all the couplings alike it is desirable to work with two templates similar
to the piece k, see Fig. 10.
In Figs. 4 to 6. a, b, c, are three lengths of a lathe screw shown coupled
together in Fig. 4: in these views a is the end of the screw which works in a
- bearing near the headstock: b is the middle length prepared at one end to couple
to the length a and at the other end to the length c, which forms or may form one
end of the screw the couplings are made exactly as described with reference to
Figs. 1 to 3.
To make, say, a left hand screw of two or more pieces or lengths, I proceed in
the following manner: I take the headstock end or first length a of a turned shaft
and couple to it another length of "turned" shaft b prepared for coupling at both
ends in the manner already described: these two lengths a and b with a short
piece k (shown detached in Fig. 10) coupled to the end of the latter, are put into
a lathe to have the screw thread cut in them, see Fig. 5: when this is done the
two lengths are uncoupled, the length a removed and the short piece k substituted
and coupled to the other end of the length b; a third and last length c is then
coupled to the length b, see Fig. 6, and the pieces put into the lathe, where the
screw thread is continued from the length b and cut in the length c: as many
lengths as are required may be prepared and finished in this manner: The
lengths a, b, and c, when finished are coupled together as previously described, see
Fig. 4 and one continuous screw of any desired length is thus formed.
The method described is a simple and convenient manner of constructing a screw
formed of several lengths but it requires a lathe rather longer between the centres
than is sufficient to take in two lengths of the screw.
An alternative mode of cutting the continuous screw thread on the several
lengths forming the screw is to employ one or more pieces with centre holes for
the lathe centres and to couple in turn such piece or pieces to the end or ends of
each of the various lengths from which the screw is to be made.
I proceed in the following manner as illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8 :-The first
length a is coupled to one end of a short piece m, the other end of which is
coupled to a centre plug n or instead of the, plug n shown detached in Fig. 12
the centre piece k might be fused: these pieces are then put in a lathe and the
screw thread cut across the length a and the short piece m, see Fig. 7: the length
of the surface of this piece m must be an exact multiple of the pitch of the thread:
the length a is now finished and after being taken out of the lathe the piece m
with the plug n is coupled to the left hand end of the length b and a second
piece m and plug n are coupled to the right hand end and the pieces put in the
lathe the length b has the screw thread cut in continuation of that in the first
piece m across it and the second piece m, as shown in Fig. 8. When the thread is
cut the pieces shown in Fig. 8 are removed from the lathe, the plug n is taken out
and coupled to the other end of the second piece m which is then coupled to the
last length c and the screw thread is cut starting from the piece m across the
length c the three lengths a, b, c can now be coupled so as to form a continuous
screw.
The short piece or pieces m which are used to hold the different lengths a, b, c,
in the lathe when only one length is finished at a time, must be prepared with
a coupling at each end, and a centre plug n is coupled to either end as
required.
Screws for machines, made of two or more pieces, possess many advantages as
in case of wear or damage an old piece can be replaced by a new one, the length
of a screw can be increased or decreased and screws of great length can be made
in a lathe of moderate dimensions.
Lathe or other machine screws composed of several pieces or lengths in the
manner described should be held at each end so as to relieve the taper pins of all
"end thrust" or "pull'
"

page_text: Shafts with long key-ways or grooves for lathes, machine tools, cranes, and the
like can be constructed of several lengths coupled in the manner previously
described and as shown in Figs 13 and 14.
Each length is coupled to a template in which a key-way or key-ways is cut
and is then put on a planer or other suitable machine and a key-way or key-ways o
is cut in the length to correspond with the key-way or key-ways in the template.
After this operation the lengths a and b are coupled as shown in Fig. 13 and the
shaft with a continuous key-way or key-ways is completed. The shaft when
working must be supported in bearings at the ends to relieve the coupling of any
"end thrust or "pull
"
"
My improved coupling may be applied to shafts of square or other section.
In making and transporting the screws and shafts of large lathes, and other
machines, considerable difficulty and expense are experienced, owing to the length
and bulk of such pieces, but it is obvious that when made of short lengths, coupled
in the manner described, these and similar difficulties are overcome.
I am aware that prior to my Invention a clutch somewhat similar to my
improved coupling has been used on various machines; in such cases the clutch
has generally been formed in two separate pieces secured on the ends of the shafts
and in cases where it has been formed with the shafts it has always been applied
as a clutch for connecting shafts with each other or with wheels, so as to be
disengaged at pleasure, I therefore do not claim such a clutch but―
What I do claim as my Invention is-
1.-Constructing a line of shafting composed of several pieces coupled together
without any projection at the coupling, substantially in the manner shown and
described.
2.-Constructing screws of two or more pieces coupled, substantially in the manner
shown and described.
3.-Constructing shafts with a key-way or key-ways for machine tools, machinery,
or other purposes of two or more pieces coupled, substantially in the manner shown
and described.
4.-The projections a³ and recesses a³, divided by radial lines and the corre-
sponding projections and recesses on the several lengths of shafts or screws,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein shown and described.
5. The studs and taper pins h, substantially as shown and described for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Muir have hereunto set my hand and
seal this tenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
ALFRED MUIR (L.S.)

page_text: M
FIG. 8.
A
m