An Improved System and Means for Driving Newspaper Printing or like Machines at Variable Speeds by Electric Motors.
Year: 1898

page_text: printed
as amended in accordance with the decision of the Comptroller-
General, dated the 7th day of February, 1911.
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 28th June, 1899
An Improved System and Means for Driving Newspaper Printing or
like Machines at Variable Speeds by Electric Motors.
We, WALTER ANGOVE CLATWORTHY, of 29, Lily Avenue, in the City and
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY HOLMES,
AFRED HOLMES, JOHN HENRY HOLMES, LEONARD WILLIAM HOLMES, and
ELLWOOD HOLMES, trading as J. H. Holmes & Co., of Portland Road, in the City
and County of Newcastle upon Tyne, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to the driving, at very variable speeds, of newspaper
printing or like machines, in which a wide range of speed and power has been
found necessary in practice, and consists of a system of coupled electric motors
and controlling adjuncts, whereby a small power and electrical current, suited
to such power, and the machine producing it, is at command, for the first slow
running of such machine, when leading in the paper, and for an accurate
adjustment, of the position of the cylinders, when putting on the stereos, with
case for immediate stoppage at any point; and thereafter when all parts are.
adjusted, full power can be immediately applied without shock, and with the
advantage to the main motor that its armature shaft is already in motion, with
a slight torque, before it is called upon to exert its full driving power.
These advantages have not yet been effected by any usual mode of driving
such printing machines by a single electric motor, an attempt to produce the
slow motion of about 5 to 6 steady revolutions per minute,-required in such a
printing press for “ leading in" and for adjustment of stereo-cylinders,-by
a motor adapted for full power and the maximum speed, results in danger to the
motor by over heating, and it is either liable to stop altogether or to run away,
and is most uncertain of control. Complicated gearing and friction or other
clutches are also objectionable and noisy.
To carry our system into effect, we provide direct and simple connections
between the main driving motor spindle and the printing press or other like
machine, and upon such spindle we mount the main electric motor direct, and
connect thereto an auxiliary starting motor: the armature of the main motor
eing keyed direct on the shaft, and the armature of the auxiliary motor engaging
herewith by any suitable device, such as a self-releasing clutch, which will
permit of the armature of the auxiliary motor driving the said shaft in one
lirection, and of being left behind, at rest, when the main motor is driving the
aid shaft.
For the auxiliary motor we prefer to use a light high speed motor, running at

page_text: normal speed, even when the printing machine is at its slowest, and therefore
gear down the auxiliary motor to the main motor shaft, preferably by a worm
and worm-wheel. This motor is only of sufficient power to drive the printing
press or other machine at the slow starting and leading in" speed, so that
There is no danger of it running away. A combination starting and controlling
switch is used in conjunction with the two motors, and with the self-releasing
clutch, which may be brought into gear against a spring or weight reaction,
by a solenoid or similar electric device.
The first operation of the starting switch is to throw in the clutch gear of the
starting light motor, and the latter, which is preferably series wound, is then
started through a starting resistance, driving the main motor shaft and the
printing machine at a very slow speed, suitable for "leading in ". The current,
through the small motor and clutch solenoid, may also be arranged to pass
through the series coils and armature of the large motor, so that the latter,
even at starting, has a slight torque on it. A further movement of the com-
bination switch will cut out the smaller motor and clutch solenoid, and brings,
through a resistance, the full E.M.F. on the larger motor, which is already in
motion and partially excited, and which thus gathers up its full power without
shock, and the speed of which may be varied by the aforesaid switch inserting
or cutting out shunt or series resistances as required.
As the speed increases on. the main motor, the small motor self releases, and
remains at rest.
The auxiliary motor clutch can be operated by a hand lever if desired, and the
small motor can be kept running for purposes of adjustment of the cylinder,
on stoppage of the machine, until ready for printing.
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
An Improved System and Means for Driving Newspaper Printing or
like Machines at Variable Speeds by Electric Motors.
We, WALTER ANGOVE CLATWORTHY, of 29, Lily Avenue, in the City and
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Electrical Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY HOLMES,
AFRED HOLMES, JOHN HENRY HOLMES, LEONARD WILLIAM HOLMES, and
ELLWOOD HOLMES, trading as J. H. Holmes & Co., of Portland Road, in the City
and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to the driving at very variable speeds, of newspaper
printing or like machines, in which a wide range of speed and power has been
found necessary in practice, and consists of a-stem-of coupled electric motors
and controlling adjuncts, whereby a small power, and electrical current suited
to such power, and to the machine producing it, is at command for the first slow
running of such machine, when leading in the paper, and for an accurate
adjustment, of the position of the cylinders, when putting on the stereos, with
ease for immediate stoppage at any point: and thereafter when all parts are
adjusted, full power can be immediately applied without shock and with the
advantage to the main motor that its armature shaft is already in motion, with
a slight torque, before it is called upon to exert its full driving power.
These advantages have not yet been effected by any usual mode of driving

page_text: such printing machines by a single electric motor. An attempt to produce the
slow motion of about 5 or 6 steady revolutions per minute-required in such a
printing press for leading in, and for adjustment of stereo cylinders,-by
motor adapted for full power and the maximum of speed, results in danger
to the motor by over heating, and it is liable to stop altogether, or to run away,
and is most uncertain of control. Complicated gearing and friction, or other
clutches are also objectionable and noisy.
To carry our invention system into effect we provide direct and simple counec-
tion between the main and driving motor spindle, and the printing press or other
like machine, and upon such spindle we mount the main electric motor direct,
and connect thereto an auxiliary starting motor; the armature of the main
motor being keyed direct on the shaft, and the armature of the auxiliary motor
engaging therewith, by any suitable device, such as a self-releasing clutch,
which will permit of the armature of the auxiliary motor driving the said shaft
in one direction, and of being left behind at rest when the main motor is driving
the said shaft.
For the auxiliary motor we prefer to use a light high speed motor, running
at normal speed, even when the printing machine is at its slowest, and therefore
gear down the auxiliary motor to the main motor shaft preferably by a worm,
and worm-wheel. This motor is ouly of sufficient power to drive the printing
press or other machine at the slow starting and leading in speed so that there
is no danger of its running away.
A combination starting and controlling switch is used in conjunction with the
two motors, and with the self releasing clutch which may be brought, into gear
against a spring or weight reaction, by a solenoid, or similar electric device.
The first operation of the starting switch is to throw in the clutch gear of the
starting light motor, and the latter, which is preferably series wound, is then
started through a starting resistance driving the main motor shaft, and the
printing machine at a very slow speed, suitable for leading in.
A further movement of the combination switch brings, through a resistance
the full E.M.F. on the larger motor which is already in motion, and partially
excited, and which thus gathers up its full power, without shock, and the speed
of which may be varied by the aforesaid switch, inserting, or cutting out shunt
or series resistances as required.
As the speed increases on the main motor, the small motor self-releases and
remains at rest.
The auxiliary motor clutch can be operated by a hand lever if desired, and
the small motor can be kept running for purposes of adjustment of the cylinder
on stoppage of the machine until ready for printing.
And in order that our invention may be the better understood, we will proceed
to describe the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan of the circuits and relative electrical con-
nections between the devices, forming our improved electrical driving system;
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the combined switch by which
the system is set in operation and controlled.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the sliding switch block.
Fig. 6 is a detached elevation of the main switch F.
Fig. 7 is a plan and Fig. 8 is an elevation of the combined main and
auxiliary motors.
A is the large or main motor, and B is the small or auxiliary motor, shown
diagrammatically as to circuit connections in Fig. 1, and as to mechanical
arrangement in Figs. 7 and 8. C is a double contact sliding switch, serving
mechanically to close electrically-held contacts or switches E. F, and J in the
order named. E being the contact switch to effect excitation of the small

page_text: auxiliary motor, and by a solenoid H to throw in the clutch (Figs. 7 & 8)
between the auxiliary motor B, and the shaft of the main motor A. F is the
main, switch or contact for the main current, and J is the switch or contact for
the main motor A, the field of this latter being excited preferably by a shunt
current, as shown at a Fig. 1. P. P. are push buttons, serving to short circuit
the electro magnets of the electrically-held switches E. J.
The construction of the combined sliding switch C is as follows:
The sliding double contact block or cross head is mounted upon a screwed
shaft D, turned by a handle or wheel d. The cross-head e carries two bridge
contacts Fig. 5, bridging between the two sets of parallel contacts G, G,
and K K. the former for the smaller motor, and the latter for the large motor,
the said contacts being divided in parts, with intermediate resistances, to
control the current as to its gradual effects upon the motors.
The cross head has a projecting nose c adapted to engage under tappets on
the spindle of the switch contacts E, F, and J. The nose is considerably
elongated in the direction of the travel of the cross heade to maintain mechani-
cally for a short time the closure of the switch contacts E and J, as these switch
levers are so heavily spring-pressed by a coil spring about their pivots, that
these contact levers, will at once rise by the action of such recoil spring unless
held by the nose ¹, or by the electromagnets E' and J.
In the case of the contact switch F, this is so lightly spring-pressed, that it
will not automatically recoil from the jamming contact piece. and is not there
fore electrically held, and in this case the pivot of the lever has a double forked
tappet f f as shown in Fig. 6. so that the switch lever is closed by the travel
of the cross-head catching one arm of the forked tappet by the narrow right
angled piece of the nose in one direction, and is opened by the return travel
of the cross-head e catching the other arm of the tappets f. f'.
The arrangement of the two motors is as follows. The main motor A has its
shaft directly connected to the first motion shaft of the driven machine, such as
a newspaper printing machine.
The auxiliary motor B, with its shaft at right angles to that of the main
motor gears with a continuation of that shaft by a worm and worm wheel bb,
The small motor may thus run at its best and highest speed, whilst only rotating
the main shaft at a slow speed, as is required.
The worm wheel shaft of the auxiliary motor is connected to the main shaft
of the motor by a sliding saw toothed clutch operated by a lever and solenoid H:
The ascent of the solenoid core throws the clutch into gear.
When the main motor A is started, and over-runs the small motor B, the
inclined faces of the teeth of the clutch, throw the latter out of gear. at the
same time depressing the solenoid core, so as to touch and connect the two
contacts Figs. 8 and 1, closing a circuit that short circuits the electro-
magnet E allowing the switch E to open and cut off the supply current to the
auxiliary motor and the solenoid in consequence of which the small motors comes
to rest.
The operation and sequence of movements is as follows:-
When the handle or wheel d on the switch screw (see switch drawing) is
turned, the screw I) is turned, causing the cross-head (carrying the bridge
contacts ee for the small and large motors respectively) to travel along. This
ross head has a projecting nose which first engages with a small tappet on
the spindle of the small motor switch E, which it closes against the action of
a spring, and holds on mechanically until further movement of the cross head
disengages the tappet. Before this latter point is reached, the main switch F
has been closed by the same cross-head in a similar manner, and this switch is held
frictionally by its own spring contacts, until released by the return of the cross
head. On closing the main switch F, the electric current traverses the small
motor contacts G. and its resistances, until it reaches the small motor switch E,
the current then follows two paths, one being through the switch E direct to

page_text: the small motor; then round the magnetic solenoid H, away to the opposite
pole; the other path is through the magnetic "hold-on" bobbins of the small
motor switch E, and of the large motor switch J, direct to the shunt field of
the large motor, and away to the opposite pole. The current in this second
path does not attain its full strength until all the small motor contacts G G and
the resistances are cut out. When this point is reached, the current is strong
enough to fully energize the large motor field, and the switch magnetic bobbin,
and to retain the switch lever in the contact bars, by the adhesion of the iron
armature on the switch lever to the iron ends of the switch bobbins, so that there
is no further need of mechanical assistance by the cross head.
When the current traverses the switches, and the small motor and magnetic
solenoid the latter is instantly powerfully energized. The solenoid is attached
to the end of a lever in connection with the strap of a sliding clutch. When
the solenoid is energized, the clutch is thrown instantly into gear. This sliding
clutch is mounted (free to slide on shaft and feather) on the shaft of a bronze
worm wheel, which is driven by a steel worm directly connected to the small
motor shaft. The other half of the clutch is keyed direct to the projecting end
of the large motor shaft, the opposite end of the same being directly coupled,
geared or otherwise connected, to the driving shaft of the printing machine.
The motion of the small motor is thus transmitted through the worm gear,
clutch, and large motor, to the printing machine, the latter being driven at a
very slow speed. A pair of contacts are fitted in connection with the lever, and
the core of the solenoid is so arranged that, when the sliding clutch is out of
gear, these two contacts are electrically connected, forming a low resistance
path for the current, which circulates round the small motor switch bobbin E'.
two wires being taken, one from each contact, to each end of this bobbin. If
the cross head and bridge contacts are now moved along further the magnetic
adhesion switch J is closed, in a similar manner to the other switch, and held
on magnetically. Current, now travels through the large motor switch con-
tacts K and resistances, across the bridge contact, D, through the switch J,
As the
direct to the large motor armature, and away to the opposite pole.
resistances in the large motor circuit are gradually cut out, the large motor begins
to drive the printing machine, and relieves the small motor of its load. The
teeth or jaws of the clutch between the small motor worm-wheel shaft, and the
large motor shaft are so constructed that, as soon as the shaft of the large motor
gains in speed on the small motor worm-wheel shaft, the sliding half of the
clutch is forced to disengage. As previously explained this sliding motion is
used for closing contacts, causing short circuiting of the magnetic bobbin of
the small motor switch E. This switch then breaks circuit and the small motor
and its gear and clutch stop running. Further movement still of the cross
head and the bridge contacts. cause an increase in speed by inserting resistances
in the large motor field circuit (contacts marked L are used for this purpose).
To stop the machine slowly, the handle and screw are turned in the reverse
direction, until the cross head pushes off the main switch F, thus cutting off
the supply entirely. If it should be found necessary to instantly stop the
machine, a number of push buttons P, P, are distributed about the printing
machine where desired, which will short circuit the magnetic bobbins of both
switches, causing the switches to break circuit.
The same effect would be produced by any stoppage of the current and the
latter cannot be turned on again to the motors, until the sliding switch Chas
been brought back to normal, and the current re-established through B and A.
in succession with the proper gradation of resistance, thus protecting the motor
from internal injury by too sudden an application of current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1st A system-or-method-of-electrically driving a newspaper printing machine

page_text: or the time; at very diverse-speeds, consisting of the use of an auxiliary motor
in addition to and driving by power-gear-through, the shaft of n-main-motor, beth
for the purpose-of-driving the printing machine at-n-slow-and-steady rate-when
required, and-for-starting the printing-machine-from-rest,-to-enable the main
motor-to gather up power and drive-without-shock-or-excessive-current, cubstan-
tially as described.
2nd. In-an-electrical-driving-device, a-main motor, coupled-or-geared-direet, to
the-main-chaft-of-a-driven-machine, in combination with an auxiliary light, motor,
power-geared-to-the-shaft of the main motor, and a self-releasing-clutch-between
auxiliary meter, and main motor shaft, disengaging and--entting out, the auxiliary
motor, so-soon as the main meter-over-runs-the-latter, substantially-as-described.
1st. 3rd. In an electrical driving device, consisting of the combination of an
auxiliary and main motor, the combination with a clutch between the said
motors, of an electrically operated device such as the core of a solenoid, to
connect up the clutch, and which is adapted at the same time, when the clutch
is drawn back by the main motor overrunning the auxiliary motor, to cut off
the supply current from the auxiliary motor, and thus bring it to rest, sub-
stantially as described.
2nd. 4th. In an electrical driving device, consisting of the combination of an
auxiliary and a main motor, a combination-switch, operated by a single handle,
adapted by our progressive movement, to first start the auxiliary motor and
eventually, when desired, to start, and regulate the speed of the main motor,
and having electrically-held switches, controlling the supply current to the main
and auxiliary motors, which are adapted instantly to stop either or both the
motors, by the operation of stop-pushes, located where desired, or to break the
supply circuit to both motors upon the failure of the supply current, substan-
tially as described.
3rd, 5th. The arrangement and combination of parts and devices forming a
system for electrically driving a heavy machine at an alternative slow speed
with small power, or fast speed with full power, such as a newspaper printing
machine or the like, substantially as described herewith and illustrated in the
drawings annexed hereto.
Dated this 27th day of fannaur 1 200
FELL & JAMES,
1. Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.