An Improvement in Tubular Shafts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FRANZ REULEAUX, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer.]
An Improvement in Tubular Shafts.
We, THE MANNESMANN TUBE COMPANY Limited, of Landore, R.S.O. South
Wales, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
Tubular shafts such as are employed for driving marine propellers and communicating
rotary power for other purposes, are necessarily of large diameter so that there is
great friction in the bearings in which they revolve.
Our invention relates to a construction of such shafts whereby we are enabled to
reduce the diameter and friction of their bearings in the following manner.
We insert the end of the tubular shaft into a cupped boss which is keyed or forged
on a solid shaft of sufficient strength to convey the power through it, this shaft
revolving in an ordinary bearing suited to its diameter, which may be much less than
that of the tubular shaft. In order to secure the end of the tubular shaft within the
cupped boss, we make this boss internally conical and introduce into it a conical sleeve
divided at one part or at several parts of its circumference.
By means of longitudinal bolts and nuts we strain this sleeve into the boss so that
it is made to clamp firmly the end of the tubular shaft embraced by it.
The sleeve may also have inwardly projecting teeth entering notches in the end of
the tubular shaft and serving as drivers.
When bearings are required at intermediate parts of a tubular shaft, we divide the
shaft into parts and between each two of these parts we introduce a length of solid
shaft with its bearing, this shaft having at each end of it a cupped boss and clamping
sleeve as above described to hold the ends of the two parts of the tubular shaft, which
are thus coupled together with a bearing of moderate diameter between them.
The coned boss may be made in two parts, a disc forged or keyed on the end of the
solid shaft, and an internally coned shell fitting on the periphery of this disc. This
construction facilitates separation of the parts of the shaft when required, as, on the
clamps being loosened, the shell can be disengaged from the disc and shifted length-
wise along the shaft which is then free to be removed laterally.
Dated this 9th day of November 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Tubular Shafts.
Wo, THE MANNESMANN TUBE COMPANY Limited, of Landore, R.S.O.. South
Wales 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:
Tubular shafts such as are employed for driving marine propellers and communicating
rotary power for other purposes are necessarily of large diameter so that there is
great friction in the bearings in which they revolve.
;
Our invention relates to a construction of such shafts whereby we are enabled.to
reduce the diameter and friction of their bearings in the following manner.
We insert the end of the tubular shaft into a cupped boss which is keyed or forged
on a solid shaft of sufficient strength to convey the power through it, this shaft
revolving in an ordinary bearing suited to its diameter, which may be much less than
Pic 1

page_text: that of the tubular shaft. In order to secure the end of the tubular shaft within the
cupped boss, we make this boss internally conical and introduce into it a conical sleeve
divided at one part or at several parts of its circumference.
By means of longitudinal bolts and nuts we strain this sleeve into the boss so that
it is made to clamp firmly the end of the tubular shaft embraced by it.
The sleeve may also have inwardly projecting teeth entering notches in the end of
the tubular shaft and serving as drivers.
When bearings are required at intermediate parts of a tubular shaft, we divide the
shaft into parts and between each two of these parts we introduce a length of solid
shaft with its bearing, this shaft having at each end of it a cupped boss and clamping
sleeve as above described to hold the ends of the two parts of the tubular shaft, which
are thus coupled together with a bearing of moderate diameter between them.
The coned boss may be made in two parts a disc forged or keyed on the end of the
solid shaft, and an internally coned shell fitting on the periphery of this disc. This
construction facilitates separation of the parts of the shaft when required, as, on the
clamps being loosened, the shell can be disengaged from the disc and shifted length-
wise along the shaft which is then free to be removed laterally.
is a
Fig. I of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section partly in elevation
of a coupling for tubular shafts according to this invention. Fig. II is a transverse
section of the tubular shaft showing the coupling in elevation. Fig.
transverse section of the tubular shaft with the sleeve upon it. Fig. IV is a side
elevation of one form of the intermediate coupling shaft. This shaft A may have
the end dises E made in one piece. with it as shewn in Fig. IV, or these may be
separate picces keyed on the shaft as shewn in Figs. I and II. When they are
made as plain discs as shewn in Fig. IV and at El in Fig. I they have fitted on
them internally coned sockets as shewn at B₁ Fig. 1. Or each of these sockets
may be in one piece with the disc as shewn at B2 E' in Fig. I. Within the
socket is fitted an externally coned sleeve C which is split at one part of its
circumference and has slots for bolts D at other parts. The end of each tubular
shaft along with the sleeve (being introduced into the socket B, or B₂, the
bolts D are tightened up so that the sleeve is made to grasp firmly the end of
the tubular shaft centering it truly with the intermediate shaft A, and communicating
the driving strain through the bolts D as well as the frictional contact of the
slcove with the socket and the shaft. For more effectual communication of the
driving strain, segment pieces F projecting from the face of the disc E may enter
notches made in the end of the tubular shaft.
There is a convenience in making the socket B, a separate piece from the disc E,
fitting on to the edge of E, with a slight taper, because when it is required to displace
or replace a length of tubular shaft, the bolts D, being removed, the socket B, can be
driven off the disc E, and it along with the sleeve C can be slid lengthwise along the
tubular shaft, leaving the shaft free to be moved sideways.
In case the socket B, and sleeve C should stick fast in their coupling position, they
may be loosened by tightening setting screws G which pass through the dise E and
press against the sleeve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
A coupling for tubular shafts consisting of a short intermediate shaft of diameter
suited for a bearing, having at each end a coned socket fitted on it or made in one
with it, to receive a coned split sleeve tightened by bolts so as to embrace firmly the
end of the tubular shaft, substantially as described.
Date
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.