AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONVEYING ROTATORY MOTION TO AXLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Kenelm John Winslow, of Montpelier Row,
Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CONVEYING ROTATORY MOTION TO
AXLES"
Sealed the 4th April 1868, and dated the 18th November 1867.
COMP
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 18th November 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
ION filed by the said Kenelm Jonn
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, KENELM
JOHN WINSLOW, of Montpelier Row, Twickenham, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CONVEYING ROTATORY MOTION TO AXLES," and have petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that
I am the true and first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Kenelm John Winslow, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement:-
My Invention consists of an improved method of rotating axles on the
[P

page_text: ratchet principle in all machines, carriages, sewing machines, &c. worked
either by steam, manuel, or other power.
Two flexible connecting rods, chains, or bands act upon two palls respec-
tively suspended inside two hollow drums; these drums have the same centre
of motion as the axle to be turned. Each pall works on a cogged or
roughened wheel fixed on the axle, and is kept in position to work by means
of a slight spring. The connecting rods, chains, or bands after encompassing
the drums to which they are attached, are passed over pulleys placed in some
convenient part of the machine. The upper portion of one band and the
lower portion of the other are fastened respectively to the piston or other
motive rod. The machine being put in motion alternate action is given to
the palls, and continuous rotation imparted to the axle.
In some instances where my Invention is applied, viz., in velocipedes,
invalid carriages, small river boats, &c., it may be found desirable to use only
one drum, and in this case the drum would be made to recoil at the end of
each stroke by means of an indiau-rubber, spiral steel, or other spring, and so
be brought back in position for the succeeding forward motion. The slight
noise caused by the pall when trailing on the cogged or roughened wheel is
obviated by means of a rest moving free of the drum on which the pall would
lift itself during the reverse movement of the drum.
Figure 1 in the accompanying Drawing is a side view, and Figure 2 a
plan of my method of rotating axles; Figure 3 is a side view of the drum with
the outer plate removed.
A is the axle; B, B, are cogged wheels fixed on the axle, the cogs or
indentations being similar to those shewn in Figure 3. These cogged wheels
are enclosed in hollow drums C, C, which drums work loose on the axle or
on separate bearings. In each of the drums is suspended a pall D, which is
formed so as to tooth in the indentations in the cogged wheel, as shewn in
Figure 3. A slight spring E is used to keep the pall in position. The
method of rotating the axle is as follows:-Flexible rods, chains, or bands
are passed over each of the drums and fastened to them centrally; they are
thence carried over pulleys G, G; the upper part of the one band and the
lower part of the other being respectively attached to the piston or other
motive rod, as at F, F. The piston or other motive rod being put in motion
rotates the drums alternately backwards and forwards, and thus the axle
impelled by the action of the palls revolves continuously.
The method of preventing the noise which would otherwise be caused by
the palls trailing on the cogged wheel during the backward movement of the
drum is as follows:-H in Figure 3 is a plate of steel or brass moving loosely

page_text: and independently on the axle inside the drum; it is kept in position behind
the pall D by the stops K, K. When the drum is moved backwards the
pall at once lifts itself on to the rest H, off which again it works the instant
the drum moves forwards. The rest is provided with a counterbalance
weight L to render its action even.
It is obvious that by having another pair of palls suspended in the drums
so as to work the contrary way on the cogged wheels when required, the
reverse movement may be communicated to the axle by letting them down
and suspending the first pair.
Figure 4 is a side view, and Figure 5 is a plan of a velocipede, shewing the
method of rotating the axle by my Invention; Figure 6 is an interior view
of the drum with an ordinary ratchet wheel and without the rest, as described
in Figure 3. O is an india-rubber spring attached at one end to the frame-
work of the carriage, and connected by a cord (which is coiled in a groove
cut in a brass bearing Q) on the outside plate of the drum. The velocipede is
propelled by a motion similar to that of a man rowing, P being the handle,
S the stretcher or footboard, and U the seat. The handle is fastened at one
end to the strap R, which encircles and is attached at the other end to the
drum. When the handle is pulled by the person propelling the drum V
revolves, and thus, as previously described, motion is given to the axle. One
or more revolutions may be gived to the wheel at each pull or stroke according
to the size of the drum. At the end of each stroke the spring O being
stretched recoils the drum quickly backwards into position to receive the next
forward motion. In Figure 6 is shewn a self-acting arrangement for lifting
the pall off the ratchet wheel so as to allow the machine to be rolled back-
wards. W is a small iron arm or pin connected with the lower end of the
pall X, as shewn, which slightly projects through an aperture made in that
portion of the drum round which the strap is coiled, so that when the
machine is stationary (the pall being so arranged when the machine is at rest
as always to be at the uppermost side of the drum) it is found that the slight
pressure of the strap upon the projecting iron pin is sufficient to lift the pall
from the ratchet wheel.
I claim as my Invention,-
First. The hollow drums with interior appliances as described substantially,
and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the method of connecting the said
diums to flexible bands or chains, so that a backward movement of one drum
and a forward movement of the other are simultaneously produced by each
movement of the motive rod.
Second. The drum used singly with interior appliances, as described sub-

page_text: stantially, and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, including the india-rubber
spring, fixed so as to cause the recoil movement of the drum and the self-
acting apparatus for lifting the pall free of the ratchet.
KENELM JOHN WINSLOW. (..s.)
Witness,
JOHN L. POPPLESTONK,
Clerk to Messrs. Jones and Starling.
Solicitors,
11, Gray's Inn Square.