An Improved Fastener or Device for Joining or Connecting the Ends of Bands, Straps, Ropes, and the like Employed for Transmitting Motive Power or for other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1888
An Improved Fastener or Device for Joining or Connecting the
Ends of Bands, Straps, Ropes, and the like Employed for
Transmitting Motive Power or for other Purposes.
I, HENRY UHLENRUTH of La Fleche Sarthe in the Republic of France 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 :-
This Invention relates to an improved fastener or device for joining or connecting
the ends of leather, rubber, woven or other driving bands or belts employed in
transmitting motion to machinery the said fastener being also applicable for joining
or connecting the ends of harness straps or the ends of ropes employed in mines or
other similar bands or flexible connections. This fastener is automatic in its action
that is to say it is self tightening the strain tending to separate the belt strap band or
other connection to which it is applied having the effect of tightening the grip of the
fastener.
A fastener or connecting device constructed according to this Invention is formed
by two eccentrics whose axes or centres of rotation are connected by a suitable link
or links the said eccentrics having roughened or toothed surfaces acting as jaws
between which the ends of the band rope or the like are gripped and pressed together
in such a manner that any force tending to draw apart the said ends increases the
pressure of the said surfaces.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation partly in section
of a fastener constructed according to this invention with the jaws in the closed
position and Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views representing the fastener with the jaws in the
open position.
Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the fastener and Figure 6 represents this
form of the fastener applied to the ends of a belt or strap.

page_text: Referring to Figures 1 to 4 the fastener illustrated in these figures is composed of
two eccentrics A each capable of partially rotating upon the pins or axes C connected
by a link B preferably made of steel.
The acting surfaces or jaws of these eccentrics are provided with teeth or
serrations a between which the ends of the belt or strap are compressed as indicated
at E Figure 6. On the side opposite to that on which the serrated jaws are situated
the eccentrics A are provided with projections D which are acted on by the belt or
strap as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 in such a manner as to force the
jaws together and cause them to engage with and compress the ends of the said belt
or strap.
In the case of the fastener illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 these projections are
dispensed with but the action of the eccentrics in compressing the ends of the belt
or strap between the jaws provided with the serrations a is the same as in the
arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 as will be readily understood
on referring to the drawing.
In order to connect the ends of a belt or band by means of this fastener a cut or
slot is made in the two ends that are to be joined and the two ends are then bent
or turned at right angles to the other part of the belt and placed together side by
side (as indicated in Figure 6 and in dotted lines in Figure 1) so that the two
eccentrics A can be slipped over the said ends the link B entering the said slot. The
two eccentrics are then partially rotated on their axes so as to nip the ends between
the toothed or roughened surfaces or jaws of the said eccentrics and cause the ends of
the band to be firmly held and pressed together. Under these conditions it is evident
that any strain on the band simply tightens the grip of the fastener thereon.
The fastener may be provided with any suitable number of connecting links B and
may be made of any suitable dimensions according to the purpose to which it is to be
applied. The ends of a driving band or the like may be connected by one fastener or
by any desired number of fasteners arranged side by side if required and the form
or degree of eccentricity of the acting surfaces or jaws may evidently be modified
according to the nature of the bands or other articles the ends of which are to be
connected or joined by the improved fastener.
This fastener is more particularly intended for joining the ends of driving bands
or belts but it may evidently be employed with advantage for connecting the ends of
other bands or straps such as harness straps for example or for connecting the ends
of ropes employed in mining and other operations or in any case where it is necessary
to promptly and firmly connect the ends of straps, ropes or the like.
This improved fastener possesses the following important advantages viz.
The ends of the band or the like are compressed automatically the pressure increasing
in proportion to the strain on the band or the like. This constitutes an important
advantage over fasteners depending on the action of screws or clinched
rivetted claws.
or
No metal being brought in contact with the pulley the band or the like runs
smoothly and without noise.
The band or the like not being weakened by rivet or other holes does not wear out
so quickly as when perforated.
There are no screws or bolts to be tightened or loosened and keys or turn screws
are consequently dispensed with the fastener being self tightening and admitting of
being put on or taken off with the greatest facility without tools. This advantage is
of great value owing to the saving of time in tightening belts or the like.
The fastener not being brought in contact with the pulleys is not liable to become
worn by friction as in the case of ordinary studs, rivets, laces, and the like.
Fasteners are sometimes composed of rigid plates which are incapable of adapting
themselves to the curvature of the pulleys this being a serious disadvantage especially
in the case of wide bands or belts. The improved fastener made according to this
invention is entirely free from this defect as it in no way interferes with the flexibility
of the belts or bands which are consequently enabled to lie closely against the curved
surfaces of the pulleys.

page_text: This improved fastener does not cause any jerks or noise even when applied to
belts or hands running at high speeds and working on pulleys of very small diameter
and is consequently well suited for straps driving centrifugal pumps, fans, dynamos,
wood working machinery and the like. It can be applied with advantage to belts or
bands running at any speed whether straight or crossed or when running on fast or
on loose pulleys.
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 fastener or device for joining or connecting the ends of driving
bands or other straps ropes or the like consisting of eccentrics connected by a link or
links substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
•
2. The improved fastener or device for joining or connecting the ends of driving
bands or other straps ropes or the like consisting of eccentrics A provided with
projections D and connected by a link or links B arranged and operating substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
3. The combinations and arrangements of parts constituting an improved fastener
or device for joining or connecting the ends of driving bands or other straps ropes
or the like by a grip which tightens in proportion to the strain on the band or the
like substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
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