IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL WHEEL GEARING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL WHEEL GEARING." A communication
from abroad by John B. Tibbits, of Troy, New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL WHEEL
GEARING [A communication from abroad by John B. Tibbits of Troy, New
York, United States of America.]
This invention relates to improvements in frictional wheel gearing for trans-
mitting motion to the shafts of dynamo-electric and other machines. Its chief
object is to provide each machine with multiplying gear suitable to the speed at
which it requires to be driven and to so arrange and construct the said multiplying
gear that its parts shall be capable of adjustment, and that all the frictional contacts
shall be metal against paper or other suitable elastic material.
In carrying the said invention into practice, I prefer to construct the driving
rim in two parts, in such a manner as to present on its interior surface two bevelled
and slightly curved faces separated by a ring or rings of india-rubber, paper, or
other elastic material, so as to be capable of adjustment by means of an external
screw-thread on the one part fitting into a corresponding internal screw-thread on
the other part, or by other suitable means; but the said rim may be made in one
piece if desired.
Upon the shaft of the machine to be driven I fix a hollow spindle composed
partly of metal and partly of paper, or other elastic material, to form its frictional
surface. Between this spindle and the rim I provide a suitable number of inter-
mediate frictional wheels, preferably three pairs, upon shafts supported at each end
in bearings carried by a circular or other suitably shaped frame. This frame is

page_text: secured either to the frame of the machine or to the support upon which the
machine is fixed and consists of two parts, one on each side of the apparatus bolted
together and capable of adjustment as regards their distance from each other; or
it may be of other suitable construction.
The intermediate frictional wheels are made of paper, or other elastic material,
secured at both sides by metal plates, bolts being passed through them and
fastened by nuts on their outer ends. The inner plate may be formed with a bush
fitting on to the shaft, the said bush passing through the outer plate and the
projecting portion thereof being screwed to receive two nuts, by means of which
the plates can be drawn together and the paper, or other elastic material,
compressed when necessary.
The outer metal plate is formed with a broad rim, the periphery of which is in
frictional contact with the paper or elastic part of the hollow spindle herein before
described; and the paper or elastic parts of the intermediate wheels are bevelled
and slightly curved, and are in frictional contact with the bevelled curved faces of
the rim. When motion is imparted to the rim, the said motion is transmitted to
the shaft of the machine by means of the intermediate frictional wheels and the
hollow spindle, the speed being increased in proportion to the relative sizes of the
rim, the intermediato wheels, and the hollow spindle upon the shaft of the machine.
These relative sizes are determined by the speed at which the machine requires to
be driven.
When the frictional or contact surfaces of the rim and intermediate wheels
become worn they can be adjusted either by unscrewing the two parts of the rim
until a proper adjustment is obtained, or by letting together the two parts of the
frame of the apparatus, 50, as to bring the bevelled faces of the intermediate
wheels up to the interior faces of the rim, or by compressing the paper or elastic
portion of the intermediate wheels, as herein-before described. The bearings for
supporting the shafts of the intermediate wheels may, also be made capable of
adjustment when the frictional surfaces of the hollow spindle and intermediate
wheels become worn.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTIONAL WHEEL-GEARING
A communication from abroad by John B. Tibbits, of Troy, New York, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in frictional wheel-gearing for trans-
mitting motion to the shafts of dynamo-electric and other machines. Its chief
objects are to provide each machine with multiplying gear suitable to the speed at
which it requires to be driven, and to so arrange and construct the said multiplying
gear that its parts shall be capable of adjustment and that all the frictional contacts
shall be metal against paper or other suitable elastic material.
According to the said invention I construct a driving rim, by preference, in two
parts in such a manner as to present on its interior surface two bevelled or, if
desired, slightly curved faces capable of adjustment by means of an external screw-
thread on the one part, fitting into a corresponding internal screw-thread on the
other part, or by other suitable means; but the said rim may be made in one piece,
if desired. Upon the shaft of the machine to be driven, I fix a hollow spindle
composed partly of metal and partly of paper or other elastic material to form its
frictional surface. Between this spindle and the rim I provide a suitable number
of intermediate frictional wheels, preferably three pairs, upon shafts supported at
each end in bearings carried by a circular or other suitably shaped frame.
frame is secured either to the frame of the machine or to the support upon which
the machine is fixed and consists of two parts one on each side of the apparatus,
bolted together and capable of adjustment as regards their distance from each
other.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,
This
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the ends of the intermediate wheels, the
end of the hollow spindle and other parts.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1 showing part of the frame of the
machine to which the gearing is to be applied.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the driving rim showing the same constructed
in two parts.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the intermediate wheels, and
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the improved frictional
wheel gearing, showing one of the intermediate wheels, and part of the shaft of the
machine to be driven.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.
In Figures 1 and 2 the driving rim A is shown as constructed in one piece and
its interior surface has two bevelled or inclined faces. Upon the shaft B of the
machine to be driven is secured the hollow spindle C. The supporting frame is
formed of two annular plates D, D', secured by means of nuts upon the bolts E
which are firmly fixed in the frame of the machine to which the gearing is to be
applied. In suitable bearings in the annular plates D, D', are placed the shafts F
carrying the intermediate frictional wheels G. These intermediate frictional wheels
consist essentially of a body H (Figure 4) of paper or other elastic material secured
at both sides by the metal plates I, K, the bolts L being passed through them and
fastened by nuts on their outer ends. The inner plate I is formed with a bush

page_text: fitting on to the shaft F the said bush passes through the outer plate K, and the
projecting portion thereof is screw-threaded to receive two nuts M M by means of
which the plates I and K can be drawn together and the paper or other elastic
material compressed when necessary. The outer metal plate K is formed with a
broad rim or flange, the periphery of which is designed to be in frictional contact
with the paper or elastic part of the hollow spindle C (Figures 1 and 2). The
paper or elastic parts of the intermediate wheels are bevelled or slightly curved
and are designed to be in frictional contact with the bevelled faces of the rim.
The hollow spindle C is formed of two metal rings or collars one of which is
firmly secured to the shaft B; between these two collars is the paper or elastic
material which can be compressed by means of the screw N.
When motion is imparted to the rim A by means of a belt, for instance, the said
motion is transmitted to the shaft B of the machine by means of the intermediate
frictional wheels G and the hollow spindle C, the speed being increased in
proportion to the relative sizes of the said rim, the intermediate wheels, and the
hollow spindle. These relative sizes are determined by the speed at which the
machine requires to be driven.
In Figure 3 the driving rim A is shown as constructed in two parts a, b; the
part a has an internal screw-thread and into it fits the other part b which has a
corresponding external screw-thread. Between the two parts is inserted a packing c
of paper or other elastic material.
When the frictional or contact surfaces of the rim and intermediate wheels
become worn, they can be adjusted either by unscrewing the two parts of the rim,
until a proper adjustment is obtained or by reducing the distance between the
two annular plates D, D¹, (which can be effected by decreasing the length of the
distance pieces d upon the bolts E) so as to bring the bevelled faces of the
intermediate wheels up to the interior faces of the rim or the adjustment can be
made by compressing the paper or elastic portion of the intermediate wheels as
herein before described. The bearings for supporting the shafts of the intermediate
wheels may, if desired, be made capable of adjustment when the frictional surfaces
of the hollow spindle and intermediate wheels become worn.
In Figure 5 the driving rim A is shown as constructed in two parts a, b, and the
outside surface of the part a is slightly convex and smooth, to receive a belt of
suitable material. On the inside surface of the part a is formed a screw thread
extending from one side of the rim to the centre. The other part of the said
inside surface is smooth and inclined. The part b of the driving rim is provided
with an external screw-thread and is screwed into the part a of the said rim; the
inside surface of the part b is smooth and inclined in the opposite direction to that
of the part a.
The intermediate wheels G are approximately cylindrical in form and of suitable
size to adapt them to the driving rim A and the hollow spindle C with which they
are to be used. They are made in two separate parts c and f, each part being of
the same size, and the larger ends being placed together; the outside surfaces of
the parts e, f, are inclined to correspond with the inclined inside surfaces of the
driving rim A. Upon the inner and outer ends of the parts e, f, are collars or
flanges g, gl, thus forming a space in which is packed and properly secured paper
or other suitable elastic material. The larger end of the part f, with the exception
of the opening in the centre, is closed, while the larger end of the part e is open.
Around the core in the part e, but not secured to it, is placed a spiral spring / of
suitable strength and size, one end of which, when the two parts are brought
together in proper position, will bear against the inside of the collar or flange g of
the part e and the other end against the plate or bottom covering of the larger end
of the part f. The larger ends of the said parts are placed together, but not
attached to each other, so as to allow of their being separated by the action of the
spring h. A shaft F having a journal at each end passes through each of the
parts e, f, to this shaft the latter are secured in such a manner that they will rotate

page_text: therewith but may be moved lengthwise of the said shaft by the action of the
spring h. If the said intermediate wheels are made in one piece or used without
the spring they should be firmly fixed to the said shaft. The journals at each end
of the shaft F rest in bearings which are movable in the frame & upon which they
are placed, for the purpose of allowing them to be acted upon by the tightening or
loosening of the inner half of the driving rim and by the spring h.
The hollow spindle C is of suitable size and has a central opening through
which the shaft B of the machine to be driven is passed and to which it is secured
in any suitable manner. The said hollow spindle is of the same length as the
intermediate wheels and its outer surface is formed to correspond with that of the
said wheels. At each end of this hollow spindle C is a collar or shoulder having an
outside surface of some elastic material and on a line parallel with its axis. At
each of the outer ends of the said collars or shoulders is placed a washer or riml
which is held in position by a nut m, screwed upon a projection from the said
spindle. The collars or shoulders at each end of the spindle are of the same width
as the collars or flanges g on the intermediate wheels. The part b of the driving
rim A is screwed into the part a sufficiently to bring the outer surface of the
intermediate wheels in contact with the inner surface of the rim and also with the
outer surface of the collars or shoulders of the hollow spindle C. It is intended
that the outer surface of each of the intermediate wheels between the collars or
flanges g at each end, which surface is formed of paper or other suitable elastic
material, should press firmly against the inside surface of the rim which is of
metal. And the collars or flanges g at the ends of the intermediate wheels, which
are of metal, are intended to press firmly against the collar or shoulder at each end
of the hollow spindle C the outer surfaces of which are of some suitable elastic
material. Thus are brought together at each point of contact a hard metal and an
elastic substance.
The operation of the said wheel gearing is improved by making the outer
surface of the intermediate wheels G convex to conform to the inside surface of
the rim A thus causing a divergence of the pressure from the centre to the farthest
point of the shaft touched by the spindle C, but my improvements can be applied
where the lines of the inside surfaces of the rim are reversed and the form of the
intermediate wheels and hollow spindle are made to suit such change.
Motion is communicated to the rim A by means of a belt or other suitable device
applied to the outer surface thereof and by it to the intermediate wheels which
transmit it to the shaft B which may be employed for any suitable purpose. The
bearings of the shafts carrying the intermediate wheels may be placed upon any
suitable frame or support.
The rim A and the intermediate wheels and hollow spindle therein enclosed are
also capable of acting as a balance wheel.
The alternation of elastic with non-elastic material in the contact surfaces, as
above described tends to perfect the absorption of molecular vibration, generated
by motion in the non-elastic material into and through the elastic material.
In some cases I arrange the intermediate wheels in such a manner as to secure
by the use of a single automatically acting intermediate wheel, in connection with
two or more intermediate wheels, acted upon by contact with the said rim a
guidance of the said rim in the vertical plane of the orbits of the intermediate
wheels; and I interpose an elastic medium of resistance to the excentric or reci-
procally deflecting action inherent in the operation of the said rim. By this
means I also secure the maximum freedom in the excentric deflecting motion
incident to the operation of the said rim. The combination with this arrangement.
of an interior section of the said rim working by a screw-thread enables me to
compensate for wear and maintain a uniform restraining action upon the motion
of the said rim excentrically, while at the same time favouring the highest frictional
efficiency of the contact surfaces.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I am aware that prior to this invention friction rollers or pulleys acted upon
by a movable rim and acting in turn upon a spindle have been made, I do not
therefore claim such a combination broadly but I claim ;
First. A rim driven by a belt or other suitable means and operating on inter-
mediate wheels which transmit motion to a hollow spindle fixed on the shaft of a
dynamo-electric or other machine, the said rim being constructed in two parts,
joined by screw threads so as to facilitate the fitting together of the several parts
of the gearing, and to afford positive means for compensating for wear, substantially
as set forth.
Second. The combination of material and arrangement of the same in an inter-
mediate wheel so as to ensure the contact on the frictional surfaces of metal with
paper or other clastic material in the operation of the said intermediate wheel
between the interior surface of a driving rim on the one hand and the exterior
surface of a hollow spindle or shaft on the other hand substantially as set forth.
Third. The distribution of the contact points in frictional wheel-gearing; so as
to afford in the lines of force incident to operation a divergence of pressure from
the rim acting as a driver on to the spindle or shaft that is driven, thereby taking
hold of the said spindle or shaft on the maximum of its length available for the
purpose, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The construction of an intermediate wheel in such form as to secure an
automatic action in the said wheel by means of a coiled spring or other suitable
device, favoring the attainment of a constant and uniform pressure between the
contact surfaces of the said wheel and the corresponding surface of the driving rim
on the one hand and that of the driven spindle or shaft on the other hand
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In frictional gearing operated from a rim, the arrangement of the inter-
mediate wheels so as to ensure, by the use of a single automatically acting
intermediate wheel in connection with two or more intermediate wheels acted upon
by contact with the said rim, a guidance of the said rim in the vertical plane of
the orbits of the intermediate wheels, in combination with the interposition of an
elastic medium of resistance to the excentric or reciprocally deflecting action
inherent in the operation of the said rim, substantially as described.
Sixth. In frictional gearing operated from a rim, the arrangement of the inter-
mediate wheels so as to secure, by the use of two or more intermediate wheels
acted upon by contact with the said rim, in connection with a single automatically
acting intermediate wheel, the maximum of freedom in the excentric deflecting
motion incident to the operation of the said rim, in combination with an interior
section of the said rin working by a screw-thread, so as to compensate for wear,
and maintain a uniform restraining action upon the motion of the said rim
excentrically, while at the same time favoring the highest frictional efficiency in
the contact surfaces, substantially as described.
Seventh. In frictional wheel-gearing composed of a rim acting through inter-
mediate wheels upon a hollow spindle fixed on the shaft of a dynamo-electric or
other machine, such alternation of elastic with non-elastic material in the contact
surfaces, as will tend to perfect the absorption of molecular vibration, generated
by motion in the non-elastic material, into and through the elastic material,
substantially as described.
Eighth. The part b of the rim having a screw-thread cut upon the outer surface
thereof, in combination with the part a of the said rim having a corresponding
screw-thread cut upon the inner surface thereof, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of the rim having a concave or a convex inner surface,
with three or more intermediate wheels having a corresponding external surface
and parallel collars or flanges at each end thereof, and a hollow spindle with a
straight or concave external surface and parallel shoulders or collars at each end
thereof, substantially as described.

page_text: Tenth. The combination of a metallic substance with an elastic substance in the
intermediate wheels, the rim, and the hollow spindle, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
T17 M DOPT TAKE