Improvements in the Construction of Expanding Friction Clutches Employed in Hydraulic Mangles for Finishing Linen, Jute, and similar Goods, and in other Machinery.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
Improvements in the Construction of Expanding Friction Clutches
Employed in Hydraulic Mangles for Finishing Linen, Jute, and
similar Goods, and in other Machinery.
I, WILLIAM FLECK REYNOLDS, of Britannia Foundry, Belfast, Ireland,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In hydraulic mangles it is usual to construct expanding friction clutches in
the following manner;
Upon the shaft to which motion is to be imparted, through the friction clutch,
a wheel is mounted so that it may revolve freely; the arms of this wheel are
kept to one side and the underside of the rim, being machined, presents a
smooth, broad surface for contact with the expanding or driven part of the
clutch. A centre piece composed of a nave and four arms, placed at right angles
to each other in the same plane, is keyed to the shaft: two of these arms,
diametrically opposite to each other, are of cylindrical cross section and are
embraced by sockets provided in two loose sliding pieces which are fitted to
these arms the heads of these sliding pieces are machined to correspond closely
with the underside of the wheel rim above described.
In suitable provisions in the ends of the remaining two arms studs are fitted,
at points equidistant from the centre of the shaft and in such a manner that
the axes of these studs shall be parallel to the axis of the first described pair
of arms the ends of these studs are threaded and engage with similarly
threaded nuts provided for their reception in the sliding pieces mounted on
the cylindrical arms or guides. At points central in the length of these studs
levers are keyed, one to each stud, and these levers are coupled by means of
links to a disc sliding on a feather provided for it in the shaft. It is obvious
that if this disc be moved along the shaft the levers keyed to the studs will
participate in its motion and so cause the studs to revolve partially in their
seats with the result that the sliding pieces above described will recede from
or approach towards the centre of the shaft in the former case frictional contact
between the machined heads of the sliding pieces and the underside of the wheel
will cease,
in the latter contact will be set up and the shaft will revolve.
In order to simplify the above described construction and at the same time
to supply means whereby more positive and powerful contact between the under-
side of the wheel rim and driving heads, may be ensured I convert the sockets,
at present formed in the said sliding pieces or heads, into hydraulic cylinders,
the cylindrical arms or guides upon which they slide serving for the rams of
these cylinders, I dispense with the actuating studs and substitute in their
stead plain guide bars, not necessarily of round cross section. In the centre of
the shaft upon which the clutch is mounted and to a distance, from either end,
far enough for my purpose I provide a hole for the conveyance of fluid under
pressure and connect this hole by suitable means to the nave and thence through
the centres of the cylindrical arms or rams to the hydraulic cylinders.
The

page_text: fluid supply I obtain from the accumulator which forms part of this machine
or from other source and control its admission to and release from the cylinders
automatically from the mangle itself or by hand or by other convenient means.
To maintain the sliding heads at the correct radial distance from each other
in the absence of the screwed studs and also to ensure to them a more rapid
action when the fluid is being exhausted from them I fit spiral springs to each
at convenient points for the above purposes and fasten the other ends of these
springs in suitable positions to the centre or nave or to the arms which formerly
held the actuating studs. To cushion the heads against shock at release I fit
suitable springs upon which they may abut around the bases of the rams.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of one
hydraulic cylinder and ram applied to each sliding piece or head, as above
described, but may employ two or more in conjunction with each head as
may find it convenient or advantageous in carrying out my invention.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1899.
Improvements in the Construction of Expanding Friction Clutches
Employed in Hydraulic Mangles for Finishing Linen, Jute, and
similar Goods, and in other Machinery.
I, WILLIAM FLECK REYNOLDS, of Britannia Foundry, Belfast, Ireland,
Manager, 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:―
In hydraulic mangles it is usual to construct expanding friction clutches in
the following manner;
:
Upon a shaft to which motion is to be imparted, through the friction clutch,
a wheel is mounted so that it may revolve freely; the arms of this wheel are
formed at one side so that the inside of the rim, being machined, presents a
smooth, broad surface for contact with the expanding or driven part of the
clutch. A centre piece composed of a nave and tour arms placed at right angles
to each other in the same plane, is keyed to the shaft; two of these arms
diametrically opposite to each other are of cylindrical cross section and are
embraced by sockets provided in two loose sliding pieces which are fitted to
these arms. The heads of these sliding pieces are machined to correspond
closely with the inside of the wheel rim above described.
At the ends of the two remaining arms, studs are mounted in any suitable
manner at points equidistant from the centre of the shaft, the axes of these
studs being parallel to the axis of the first described pair of arms; the ends
of these studs are threaded and engage with similarly threaded nuts provided
for their reception in the sliding pieces mounted on the cylindrical arms or
guides. At points central in the length of these studs levers are keyed, one to
each stud, and these levers are coupled by means of links to a disc sliding on
a feather provided for it in the shaft. When this disc is moved along the
shaft, the levers keyed to the studs participate in its motion and so cause the
studs to revolve partially in their seats, with the result that the sliding pieces
above described recede from or approach towards the centre of the shaft; in
the former case frictional contact is set up between the machined heads of the

page_text: sliding pieces and the inside of the wheel rim, causing the shaft to revolve,
while in the latter case the frictional contact ceases.
The object of my invention is to simplify the above described construction,
and at the same time to provide means whereby more positive and powerful
contact between the inside of the wheel rim and the driving heads may be
ensured.
For this purpose I convert the sockets, at present formed in the said sliding
pieces or heads, into hydraulic cylinders, the cylindrical arms or guides upon
which they slide serving for the rams of these cylinders; I also dispense with
the actuating studs and substitute in their stead plain guide bars, not neces-
sarily of round cross section. In the centre of the shaft upon which the clutch
is mounted, and to a convenient distance from either end of the shaft, I provide
a passage for the conveyance of fluid under pressure, and connect this passage
by suitable means to the nave, and thence through the centres of the cylindrical
rams or arms to the hydraulic cylinders. The fluid supply I obtain from the
accumulator which may form part of these machines, or from other source,
and automatically control its admission to and release from the cylinders from
the mangle itself, or by hand or other convenient means.
To maintain the sliding heads at the correct radial distance from each other
in the absence of the screwed studs, and also to ensure a more rapid action of
the said sliding heads when the fluid is being exhausted from them, I fit spiral
springs to each at convenient points, the other ends of these springs being con-
nected by suitable means to the centre or nave, or to the armis which formerly
held the actuating studs.
!
To cushion the sliding heads against shock at release I fit suitable springs,
upon which they may abut, around the bases of the rams.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which similar parts are similarly
lettered,
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, of an expanding friction clutch
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the shaft, nave, and
rams, showing the means employed for admitting motive fluid to the cylinders.
aa are the hydraulic cylinders formed in the sliding heads pp, and bb are
the cylindrical arms of the centre piece which serve as rams to these
cylinders.
!
cc are the guide bars or drivers, which slide in suitable sockets and transmit
the driving power from the shaft to the sliding heads pp when the shaft
is the driver, and from the sliding heads pp to the shaft when the shaft is
to be driven.
o is the wheel rim or outer shell of the clutch.
d is the central passage in the shaft for admission of fluid under pressure,
the length of this passage being determined by the distance of the clutch from
the end of the shaft; the inlet passage d is connected to the nave f of the centre
piece r by means of pipes ee, and from thence to the cylinders aa by means
of passages gg in the rams bb.
hh are the spiral springs fitted in the sliding heads pp, the said springs
being connected to the centre piece preferably by means of the plates kk and
screwed tension rods mm.
ss are the cushion springs fitted round the bases of the rams bb.
The action is as follows:-
:
When fluid under pressure is introduced at d, the pressure is at once trans-
mitted through the passages ee and gg to the cylinders a a, causing the sliding
heads pp to recede from each other and come into contact with the shell o, with
a force proportionate to the pressure employed: driving friction is thus set up
between the shell o and the shaft , and the system is in gear. When the fluid
pressure is removed, the springs hh, which have been compressed by the outward
movement of the sliding heads pp, react upon their respective heads, expelling

page_text: the fluid from the cylinders and causing the said sliding heads pp to recede
from contact with the outer shell : this puts the system out of gear.
The springs ss around the bases of the rams bb serve as cushions to absorb
the momentum of the sliding heads pp and prevent shock on the return
movement.
The cylinders may if desired be formed in the centre piece r in lieu of in
the sliding heads pp: in this case the rams are attached to the sliding heads,
thus giving the saine effect on pressure being applied.
I also wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of one
hydraulic cylinder and ram applied to each sliding piece or head, as above
described, but may employ two or more in conjunction with each head as I
may find it convenient or advantageous in carrying out my invention.
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. In hydraulic mangles or like machines, the employment of expanding
friction clutches actuated by hydraulic pressure applied directly to the sliding
heads through the shafts on which the clutches are mounted, substantially as
shown and described.
2. In hydraulic mangles or like machines, the employment of expanding
friction clutches in which the sliding heads are simultaneously expanded by
direct hydraulic pressure in one or more cylinders formed within each said
sliding head, suitable means being provided for driving and releasing the sliding
heads, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a friction clutch in which the sliding heads are expanded by fluid pres-
sure, the employment of screwed tension rods m, plates k, and springs h, to
obtain a quick release on the pressure being removed, substantially as described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The complete friction clutch, comprising shaft, shell o centre piece r,
sliding heads pp, cylinders aa, rams bb, guides or drivers C C, fluid
passages d, ee, gg, tension rods m, plates k, springs h, and springs ss, all
arranged and operated substantially as and for the purposes described, and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1899.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.