IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLER AND OTHER SHAFTS AND IN CONNECTING RODS OF MACHINERY
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, of Liverpool, in the County.
of Lancaster, Steam Ship Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLER AND OTHER SHAFTS AND IN CONNECTING RODS OF MACHINERY."
Sealed the 23rd April 1880, and dated the 28th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th October 1879.
NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Steam
Ship Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLER AND OTHER SHAFTS AND IN CON-
NECTING RODS OF MACHINERY."
In transmitting power from prime movers to machinery and to screw and other
propellers it has been considered necessary hitherto to employ shafts of a nearly
uniform diameter throughout; but in such shafts much useless metal is employed,
the dead weight upon the bearings and consequently the friction being unduly
large and throwing an excessive amount of work on the engine and cranks.
These disadvantages it is the object of my Invention to avoid, and also to apply
the power at an increased leverage, thereby effecting considerable economy of
engine power.
To this end I distribute the metal employed in the construction of the shafts, so
as to form the shafts of different diameters either round, square, or polygonal in
cross section at different parts of their length. I propose to form these shafts in
sections or lengths which I couple together, utilizing the coupling so as to increase
the strength of the whole shaft, while at the same time I obtain increased rigidity
and transmit the power through the weakest part of the shaft by an increased
leverage, thereby enabling shafts of small diameter to resist great torsion strain.
For long shafting the couplings may be formed by square ends and sockets, inter-
locking teeth, or tongues and grooves, the strains being carried from one section of
the shaft to the other through parts of the coupling which are beyond the diameter
of the shaft..
Or I may sometimes form the shafts in two parts, one being forked and the
other provided with a disc, boss, or cross piece, in which are holes or sockets for the
prongs of the forked end to enter and lock therein.

page_text: In some cases I form the disc or boss on a diagonal line with respect to the axis
of the shaft, and the forks of unequal length by which means the prongs transmit
the strains from one section of the shaft to the other with a leverage and with a
lead. By this construction or distribution of the metal greater resistance to torsion
and an efficient leverage in the transmission of the driving power is obtained.
In some cases I make one end of both sections of the shafts forked, and couple
them to an intervening disc or boss of metal, the prongs entering holes or sockets in
the disc, boss, or cross piece at right angles to each other, this disc, boss, or cross
piece being arranged either diagonally at right angles to the axis of the shaft.
When one section only of the shaft is forked the prongs enter holes in the cross
piece of the other section; I may in this case carry the centre of the one half beyond
the crosspiece and let it into a socket formed between the prongs of the fork.
In place of a single fork a double fork with prongs at right angles to each other
may be employed. When many sections are employed in making up a long shaft
the couplings are arranged at different angles or radial lines so as to obtain a lead,
and utilize the advantage obtainable from the leverage gained at each coupling.
I also propose to construct connecting rods in sections in the manner above
described with reference to driving shafts.
In applying engine power to drive two or more lines of shafting, or two or more
wheels, the end of the crank shaft of the engine is provided with a disc or boss
having projecting pins which enter holes in an excentric disc; the strap surrounding
this excentric is connected to two or more connecting rods to two or more lines
of shafting or wheels set at any angle around the engine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th April 1880.
NICHOLAS DEMETRIUS SPARTALI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Steam
Ship Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLER AND OTHER SHAFTS AND IN CON-
NECTING RODS OF MACHINERY."
In transmitting power from prime movers to machinery, and to screw. and other
propellers it has been considered necessary hitherto to employ shafts of a nearly
uniform diameter throughout; but in such shafts much useless metal is employed,
the dead weight upon the bearings, and consequently the friction being unduly
large and throwing an excessive amount of work on the engines and cranks.
These disadvantages it is the object of my Invention to avoid, and also to apply
new power at an increased leverage, thereby effecting considerable economy of
engine power.
To this end I distribute the metal employed in the construction of the shafts so
as to form the shafts of different diameters either round, square, or polygonal in
cross sections at different parts of their lengths. I prefer to form these shafts in
sections or lengths which I couple together, utilizing the coupling so as to increase
the strength of the whole shaft, while at the same time I obtain increased rigidity
and transmit the power through the weakest part of the shaft by an increased
leverage, thereby enabling shafts of small diameter to resist great tortional strain.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3 three forms
the mode above referred to of constructing shafts, the remaining Figures
showing various modes of coupling together the sections of shafting.
J
For long shafting the couplings may be formed of square ends and sockets, as
shewn at Fig. 4, of bosses provided with interlocking teeth, as seen at Fig. 5, or of
tongues and grooves, as shewn at Fig. 6, the strains being carried from one section
of the shaft to the other through parts of the coupling which are beyond the
diameter of the shaft; or I may form the shafts with one part forked and the other
provided with a polygonal shaped boss, in which are holes or sockets for the prongs
of the forked end to enter and lock therein, as seen at Fig. 7, in which a small fork
is used, or at Fig. 8, in which a double fork with prongs at right angles to each
other is employed. In some cases I form the disc or boss on a diagonal line with
respect to the axis of the shaft and the forks of unequal lengths, by which means
the prongs transmit the strains from one section of the shaft to the other with a
leverage and with a lead. This form is shewn at Fig. 9.
By this construction or distribution of the metal greater resistance to tortion
and an efficient leverage in the transmission of the driving power is obtained.
In some cases I make the ends of both sections of the shafts forked, and couple
them to an intervening disc or boss of metal, the prongs entering the holes or
sockets in the disc, boss, or cross piece, this disc, boss, or cross piece being arranged
either diagonally or at right angles to the axis of the shaft. This arrangement will
be seen at Fig. 10.
When one section only of the shaft is forked the prongs enter the holes in the
cross piece of the other section. I may however in this case carry the centre of
the one half beyond the cross piece and let it into a socket formed between the
prongs of the fork. See Fig. 9.
When many sections are employed in making up a long shaft the couplings are
arranged at different angles or radial lines so as to obtain a lead and utilize the
advantage obtainable from the leverage gained at each coupling.
In Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 I have shewn other forms of coupling up the
various sections of shafting, all of which have the same object in view. The

page_text: peculiarities of these forms are sufficiently defined in the Drawing and will therefore
need no verbal explanation.
I also propose to construct connecting rods in sections in the manner above
described with reference to driving shafts.
Having now described the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Pro-
peller and other Shafts and in Connecting Rods for Machinery," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the
above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First. Constructing propeller and other shafts and connecting rods for machinery
as herein shewn and described, whereby the weight of the shafts may be greatly
reduced.
Second. The various modes, as herein shewn and described, of coupling up the
sections of shafting whereby an increased leverage is effected in working the shafts,
and a consequent economy of engine power results.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nicholas Demetrius Spartali, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.