Improvements in Reversing Mechanism.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reversing Mechanism.
SAMUEL GRIFFIN Engineer Kingston Iron Works Bath Somersetshire do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for stopping or reversing the
motion of a rotating shaft while the shaft or other mechanism from which it is
driven rotates in one direction only. Such mechanism being suitable for trans-
nitting motion to the propellor shafts of boats and launches, driving shafts of
locomotives and tram cars and such like purposes.
In order to accomplish this object I employ two bevil or mitre driving wheels
which are in gear with a third or transmitting wheel diametrically opposite each
other. These driving wheels will consequently (when in motion) rotate in opposite
directions.
Each of the before mentioned driving wheels is suitably arranged to receive
motion from a friction or other clutch and are respectively fitted near the ends of
the driving and driven shafts so as to revolve freely upon them. Upon the ends
of the before mentioned driving and driven shafts respectively (which project
beyond the before mentioned driving wheels concentric with each other) are fitted
two suitable friction or other clutches which are secured circumferentially by means
of feathers being at the same time free to slide longitudinally so as to approach or
recede from each other. The outer ends of these clutches when caused to recede
from each other will engage respectively with the before mentioned driving wheels
and when drawn together will engage with each other. The necessary endlong
motion may be imparted to these clutches by means of any suitable mechanism.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the before mentioned clutches are
drawn together so as to interlock with each other the driving and driven shafts will
both rotate together in the same direction the before mentioned driving wheels at
the same time remaining motionless-when it is desired to reverse the motion of
the driven shaft-the before mentioned clutches are caused to recede from each
other until their outer ends engage with the respective driving wheels on the
driving and driven shafts. Motion is thus transmitted from the driving shaft by
means of its driving wheel through the transmitting wheel to the driving wheel on
the driven shaft which consequently now rotates in a direction opposite to that of
the driving shaft. To interrupt the motion of the driven shaft it is only necessary
to release the before mentioned clutches both from engagement with each other as
well as with the driving wheels.
It will be obvious that when the driving and driven shafts are both rotating
together in the same direction they behave sensibly as a solid and continuous shaft
all motion, noise and wear and tear of tooth gearing being entirely obviated-the
tooth gearing being brought into action only when it is desired to reverse the motion
of the driven shaft.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1892
SAMUEL GRIFFIN.

page_text: OLDING mechanis
I, SAMUEL GRIFFIN of Kingston Iron Works, Bath in the County of Somerset,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for stopping or reversing the
motion of a rotating shaft while the shaft or other mechanism from which it is
driven rotates in one direction only; such mechanism being suitable for trans-
mitting motion to the propellor shafts of boats and launches, driving shafts of
locomotives and tram cars and such like purposes.
In order to accomplish this object I employ two bevel or mitre driving wheels
(which are in gear with a third or transmitting wheel) diametrically opposite each
other. These reversing driving wheels will consequently (when in motion) rotate
in opposite directions. Each of the before mentioned driving wheels is suitably
arranged to receive motion from a friction or other clutch and are fitted respectively
near the ends of the driving and driven shafts so as to revolve freely upon them→
motion in one direction only being imparted through these wheels..
Upon the ends of the before mentioned driving and driven shafts respectively
(which project beyond the before mentioned driving wheels concentric with each
other) are fitted and fixed two suitable friction or other clutches which are secured
circumferentially by means of feathers and being at the same time free to slide
longitudinally so as to approach or recede from each other.
The outer ends of these clutches when caused to recede from each other will
engage respectively with the before mentioned driving wheels and. when drawn
together will engage with each other. The necessary end long motion may be
imparted to these clutches by means of any suitable mechanism.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
When the before mentioned clutches are drawn together so as to interlock with
each other the driving and driven shafts will both rotate together in the same
direction the before mentioned driving wheels at the same time remaining
motionless.
When it is desired to reverse the motion of the driven shaft the before mentioned
clutches are caused to recede from each other until their outer ends engage with
the respective driving wheels on the driving and driven shafts. Motion is thus
transmitted from the driving shaft by means of its, driving wheel through the
transmitting wheel to the driving wheel on the driven shaft which driving wheel by
its clutch in gear therewith now revolves the driven shaft which consequently, now
rotates in the direction opposite to that of the driving shaft.
To interrupt the motion of the driven shaft it is only necessary to release the
before mentioned clutches both from engagement with each other as well as with
the driving wheels.
It will be obvious that when the driving and driven shafts are both rotating
together in the same direction they behave sensibly as solid and continuous shaft
all motion noise and wear and tear of tooth gearing being entirely obviated, the
tooth gearing being brought into action only when it is desired to reverse the
motion of the driven shaft.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe my present invention with reference
to the drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows sectional elevation complete.
Fig. 2 shows sectional elevation through feathers H H¹ and split friction
rings M M L L'.
Fig. 3 shows section on-line N*-N* Fig. 2 and Z-Z Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 shows plan of taper ended sliding feather and split friction rings.
A is driving shaft.
A shaft to be driven.
B bevel wheel running loosely on driving shaft A.
B' bevel wheel running loosely on driven shaft A'.
C transmitting wheel gearing with the wheels B B' and rotating on fixed stud D
which is fitted in the framing E.
F boss firmly fixed to driving shaft A.
F¹ boss firmly fixed to driven shaft A¹.
G sliding collar firmly attached to taper ended feather H.
G sliding collar firmly attached to taper ended feather H¹.
I right and left handed screw which communicates motion to the sliding
collars G G by means of the levers J J'.
Kloose friction clutch having the interior fitted with the split friction
rings L L'.
M M split friction rings fitted to the chambers in the bevel wheels B B¹.
NN taper slots in friction rings..
The action is as follows:-
When the sliding collars G G¹ are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 i.e. at
mid travel the taper ended feathers H H to which they are respectively fixed will
be in the position shown in Fig. 4 consequently the friction rings M M L L will.
be closed on the fixed bosses FF1 respectively and the driving shaft A will con-
sequently be free to revolve without imparting motion either to the bevel wheel B
or the driven shaft A!.
When however the sliding collars G Gare caused to recede from each other by
the action of the right and left hand screw 1 the rings M M will gradually be
forced open against their seatings on the loose bevel wheels B B₁ respectively by
the action of the taper ended keys H H sufficient grip will thus be obtained to
firmly connect the bosses F F with the bevel wheels B B' and so rotate the fixed
bosses F F respectively.
The motion of the driving shaft A will now pass by the bevel wheels B through
the transmitting wheel C to the bevel wheel B' and thence through the friction
ring M and boss F¹ to the driven shaft A. The motion of the driven shaft A¹
will now be in a reverse direction to that of the driving shaft A.
In order to transmit the motion from the driving shaft A direct to the driven
shaft A in the same direction it is only necessary to reverse the action of the
sliding collars G G and cause them to approach each other by means of I
and JJ.
The inner ends of the taper feathers H H¹ will now expand the friction
rings L L and the latter will now be gradually tightened against their respective
seatings in the loose friction clutch K-the rings M M being by the same action
released from their contact and grippage with the loose wheels B B¹. The driving
and driven shafts A A' are now firmly locked together and revolve in the same
direction.
When the sliding collars G G¹ and feathers are in their normal or central
positions between M-L and M'-L' respectively, the driving shaft A runs free
without imparting any motion to the driven shaft A-which is thus easily con-
trolled and can be thus driven either in one direction or the other or remain
stationary as desired.
In Fig. 2 the bosses F F¹ are shown overlapping each other so that the split

page_text: friction ring L when expanded will grip the boss F1 and the split friction ring L
when expanded will grip the boss F thus double grippage is obtained and the loose
friction clutch K is dispensed with in this modified construction shown in this said
Fig. 2.
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated.
these may be modified without departing from the nature of my invention.
-as
I also wish to remark that I make no claim separately to any of the parts which
are well known and in common use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
:-
1. The improved mechanism for transmitting motion from a driving shaft to a
driven shaft and reversing or stopping the latter at will consisting of the com-
bination of a boss fixed on each said shaft a bevel cog wheel loosely mounted on
each said shaft and the means for making a clutch connection of the two bosses
direct to one another to drive in the forward direction and the further means to
make clutch connections between the two bosses respectively and said cog wheels
:so as thus to reverse the direction of rotation of the driven shaft or same may be
stopped altogether substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
⚫set forth.
2. In reversing mechanism of the character herein before set forth I claim taper
ended sliding feathers such as H and H simultaneously acting either towards or
away from each other in combination and acting in conjunction with split rings
such as M M and L L said split rings being thereby expanded in pairs sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and ilustrated
by way of example in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. I claim the arrangement and combination of taper ended sliding feathers H H
controlled and actuated respectively by collars such as G G₁ split rings such
as M M L L expanded in pairs by the simultaneous action of said taper ended
feathers bosses such as F F fixed on the driving and driven shafts A A
respectively and bevel gear wheels B B loose on said shafts with an intermediate
bevel gear wheel C such mechanism acting substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by way of example in the drawings
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 5th day of December 1892
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.