Improved Means for Securing Concentric Parts together, applicable to Shaft Couplings, Wheels, Cannon, and the like."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
Improved Means for Securing Concentric Parts together, applicable
to Shaft Couplings, Wheels, Cannon, and the like."
I, EDWARD ANDERSON BLANTON Junior, of 43 Threadneedle Street, in the City
of London, 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 present invention relates to a coupling for shafts and similar devices, and it
has for its object to provide improved means whereby shafts, shaft sections and
other devices may be quickly and effectively coupled together and in such a manner
that they can be readily uncoupled when desired, and in these ends my invention
consists in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts having
the mode of operation substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown an embodiment
of my invention, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the
same:
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of portions of two shafts and the coupling separated
and partly in section in order to clearly show their construction:
Fig. 2, is a similar view of a modification in which there is a flanged coupling;
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, is a longitudinal partly vertical section of a modification; and
Fig. 5, is a longitudinal vertical section showing a shaft of the character described
acting as a coupling for driving and driven pulleys;
Fig. 6, is an elevation shewing the method of securing two concentric rings upon
a central part.
In the Complete Specification of an application filed the 17 Febry 1897 under
No 4314 is described a shaft provided with a series of curved integral wedge-shaped
bosses arranged in a circumferential line around the shaft adapted to be combined
with a hub having a series of recesses to engage the bosses, so that the hub can be
tightened on the shaft, and my present invention may be said to be an improvement
on the subject-matter of said l'atent and an extension or application of the same
general principles of construction applied more particularly to a shaft coupling.
In carrying out my present invention as illustrated more especially in Fig. 1,
A and B represent two shafts or shaft sections or similar devices which are to be
joined together, and C, represents the connecting or coupling sleeve.
The shafts or shaft sections to be joined are provided with a number of bosses
or wedge-shaped portions ab, respectively, extending longitudinally along the
shaft for a sufficient distance to form the coupling and preferably formed integrally
with the shaft. The number of bosses or wedge-shaped portions may vary accord-
ing to the requirements of any particular case, but in the drawings I have shown
ten wedges or bosses arranged circumferentially on the ends of the shaft sections
at equal distances apart. The outer surfaces of the bosses a, b, are on curves having
gradually increasing radii measured from the center of the shaft either in the form
of true eccentrics or involute curves or otherwise, the characteristic feature being
that the curved surfaces of the bosses have gradually increasing radii measured
from the center of the shaft, as more fully set forth in the specification above

page_text: referred to. The wedges or bosses preferably extend completely around the circum-
ference of the shaft, although it is evident that the object of the invention can be
accomplished to a greater or less extent by having the bosses extend partially
around the circumference, leaving plain surfaces of greater or less extent between
the lowest part of one boss and the highest part of the next succeeding boss, but
in all cases it is desirable to have the bosses symetrically arranged around the
circumference of the shaft so that it can be readily applied to the coupling sleeve
in different positions.
It will be seen that the ends of the shafts A and B, adjacent to each other have
the wedges or bosses arranged in opposition to each other, that is, the highest part
of the wedges or bosses a, on the shaft A, are farthest from the observer, while the
highest part of the wedges or bosses b, on the shaft B, are nearest to the observer,
making in fact right and left hand arrangemeints of the wedges or bosses on the
adjacent ends of the shafts to be coupled. The highest parts of these wedges or
Lesses are preferably on a longitudinal line with the remainder of the shaft, as
shown in the drawings, and the lower parts are formed by cutting away portions
of the shaft, although, of course, they may be otherwise made, and they may be
formed in a mechanical way, although I have found it most practicable to turn them
in a lathe. In this way the lower portions of the bosses are within the periphery
of the shaft, that is, the diameter of the shaft through the line including two of
the lower portions of opposite bosses is less than the diameter of the shaft, whilo
in the form shown the diameter through the highest parts of two opposite bosses
is the same as the diameter of the shaft. In some instances I find it udvisable to
cut away the periphery of the shaft at the ends of the bosses, as at a¹, although
this is unnecessary, as the lower portions of the bosses form abutments for the
coupling when desired.
When several sections of the shaft are to be joined, it is evident that the bosses
at the opposite ends are arranged in opposition, as indicated in connection with the
shaft A, and it will be seen that either end of the section can be united with the
coupling sleeve, as whichever end is presented to the sleeve the bosses will corre-
spond in direction with the recesses in the sleeve, as hereinafter more fully set
forth.
The connecting or coupling sleeve C, is provided with a number of recesses c, c¹,
in its bore or bearing surface, corresponding with the number of bosses or wedges
on the shaft, the recesses, however, being a little longer on their curved surfaces
than the outer surfaces of the bosses or wedges, so as to leave a slight space between
the thickened portion of the boss or wedge and the corresponding radial portion of
the recess.
The curved surfaces of these recesses, of course, are the complements
of the curved surfaces of the wedges or bosses on the shaft. The recesses extend
partially through the coupling sleeve from each end and commencing at each end
in opposition to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, that is, the high parts of
the recesses c, are toward the observer while the high parts of the recesses c¹, are
away from the observer, and preferably the high parts of the recesses c, are in line
with the low parts of the recesses c', although this is not essential. In practice I
prefer to have a plain cylindrical surface between the inner adjacent ends of the
recesses c, cl, as shown at c², although this is not essential.
It will be observed that the recesses of the coupling are in opposition to each
other, or as it may be termed righ right and left handed with relation to each other,
but it will also be observed that the coupling can be turned either end to with
relation to either one of the shafts A or B, as when turned in either position the
curves of the recesses will correspond in direction with the curves of the bosses
on either one of the shafts.
With this, construction of the parts in order to couple the shafts it is only
necessary to insert the ends of the shafts into the opposite ends of the coupling,
and then by slightly turning one of the shafts or shaft sections in the proper direc-
tion the coupling section is secured tightly on the shaft, the outer surfaces of the.
bosses bearing closely against the inner surfaces of the recesses in the coupling at

page_text: its opposite ends, and they will remain thus securely fastened together until one
portion of the shaft or the coupling itself is turned forcibly in the opposite direction,
when the parts will be loosened so that they can be readily removed.
In practice I have found that the bosses or recesses need have but a relatively
small rise between their lowest and highest parts. For instance in a shaft twa
inches in diameter on which there are ten bosses, one-thirty-second of an inch rise in
the cams is entirely sufficient, and in a shaft five inches in diameter with a similar
number of bosses the cams may have one-twentieth of an inch rise, and the lost
motion between the tight and loose position under these conditions does not exceed
one-sixteenth of an inch. It will thus be seen that the shafts and coupling sleeve
have very little motion with relation to each other between the tight and loose
position, and this is an important advantage in coupling shafts and other similar
devices. Furthermore, if for instance a pulley or other device is desired to bo
attached to the shaft sections, the bosses or wedges may be extended longitudinally
of the shaft, as indicated at B1, Fig. 3, and the pulley or other device may be slipped
over the end of the shaft section prior to its being coupled and can be secured on
the shaft by simply turning it slightly in a direction to bring the surfaces of the
bosses and recesses together, in a manner well understood.
In Fig. 1 the coupling sleeve is shown integral, while in Fig. 2 I have shown a
flanged coupling sleeve, which is exceedingly useful in many instances, as for
instance when it is desired to remove a shaft section without the necessity of moving
it longitudinally so as to interfere with its bearings or devices carried thereon or
otherwise, and in this case the coupling is made in two sections C. C³, with the
recesses c, cl, formed in the bearing surfaces of the two portions, the same as in the
coupling C.
The sleeve portion or flange C3, is also provided with a series of recesses &³, but
as shown in Fig. 2, these are in opposition to the recesses c, and the projecting
portion C, of the section C³, is provided with bosses or wedges c, and these are
arranged in the same relation as the bosses b, on the shaft section B, adapted to
engage the recesses c', so that a slight turn of either shaft section A or B or of the
either of the sections C or C, of the coupling will lock the parts together, and a
slight turn of either portion in the opposite direction will unlock or release them.
With this arrangement, as indicated in Fig. 3, the portion C, of the coupling
can be slipped longitudinally on the shaft section A, when both the portion of the
coupling and the shaft section can be removed laterally without the necessity of
moving either shaft section longitudinally, and this is a great convenience when for
instance any section of the shaft becomes injured or it is desired to change or
rearrange the pulleys or bearings of the shaft or for other reasons which are
apparent to those skilled in the art.
In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modification in which the shaft sections A, B, are
formed at their ends with sockets adapted to receive a shaft section D. This shaft
section, which in the present instance is shown as a short shaft so that the adjacent
ends of the sockets abut, but which, of course, can be a longer section separating
the ends of the sockets, is provided with the bosses or wedge-shaped portions a, b,
oppositely arranged adjacent its ends, and these bosses or projections fit corre-
sponding recesses c, c', in the sockets of the shafts A and B, and their purpose and
operation will be readily understood from what has been set forth above.
In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modification of what may be termed a coupling
between the driving and driven pulleys embodying the broad features of my present
invention. In this case the shaft A', is provided with two sets of bosses or wedge-
shaped portions a, b, at different parts of the shaft arranged with their highest
parts in opposition to each other, and moulded on the shaft and bearing on one
set of bosses is a driven pulley E, while mounted on the shaft and bearing on the
other set of bosses is the driving pulley F, the hubs of the pulleys being recessed,
of course, to correspond with the bosses or wedges. In this construction it will
be seen that the shaft itself acts practically as a coupling between the driving and
driven elements through the medium of the oppositely faced wedge-shaped, bosses.

page_text: In Fig. 6 the invention is shown applied to a series of concentric rings, and in
this Fig, G may represent for instance the tyre of a Railway wheel H the body of
the wheel and I the axle, or a ring carried thereby or G may be considered to be
the outer ring of a cannon, H an inner ring, and I the bored firing tube or the
parts G. H. I may represent the parts of many other devices. In building up
cannon it will be obvious that any number of such concentric rings may be
employed all being turned round so as to wedge tightly and the outer ring being
prevented from turning by locking it with a cotter pin or other device which
locking device will of course be required in the case of the railway wheel or any
part where it is necessary that no reversal of movement or unlocking of the parts
shall take place.
From the above illustrations and description, which need not be further
extended, the principles of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled
in the art, and the advantages thereof will be apparent, and it is evident that I
am not limited to the construction and arrangement of the parts shown in the
drawing, as the principles of the invention may be embodied in other forms and
under other conditions or applications without departing from the spirit thereof.
It will be manifest also to those skilled in the art that the invention provides a
self-centering and self-tightening construction but one which can be readily
loosened when for any purpose this is desirable.
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. The combination with two shaft sections each having a series of curved wedge-
shaped losses arranged in a circumferential line around its end, of a coupling sleeve
having two series of recesses to engage the bosses on the respective shaft sections,
the recesses being arranged in opposition to each other in the bearing of the
coupling sleeve, substantially as described.
2. The combination with two shaft sections each having a series of curved wedge-
shaped bosses arranged in a circumferential line around its end, of a flanged
coupling having two series of recesses to engage the bosses on the shaft sections
arranged in opposition to each other in its bearing and having a series of bosses on
the projecting portion and corresponding recesses in its flanged portion substan-
tially as described.
3. The combination in a coupling and driving mechanism, of driving and driven
elements and a connecting element having two sets of wedge-shaped bosses arranged
in opposition to each other and one set engaging with corresponding recesses on the
driving element while the other set engages with corresponding recesses on the
driven element, substantially as described.
4. The combination in a railway wheel or the like of an outer ring or tyre an
inner ring or body part and a series of curved wedge-shaped bosses carried by one
part and a series of corresponding recesses in the other part substantially as and
for the purpose described.
5. The combination in a cannon or article built up of a series of concentric rings
of a ring carrying on its outer and inner faces a series of curved wedge-shaped
bosses or a series of curved wedged-shaped recesses or both, adapted to fit corre-
sponding recesses or bosses carried by the ring next in order of the article
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1021
UJ
11907
PHILIP M. JUSTICE
55 & 56 Chancery Lane London Chartered Patent Agent
For the Applicant.