Improvements relating to Apparatus for the Transmission of Rotary Motion
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb, 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
IONAL DIECITATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus for the Transmission of Rotary
Motion
I, ALFRED LYSTER SHEPARD, of 8 West Kensington Gardens, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
My invention relates to an improved clutch for transmitting motion from one shaft,
pulley or similar piece of mechanism to another
The main object of my said invention is to provide means whereby the connection
of a rotating shaft with a shaft which is at rest can be effected without the objection-
able shock or jar experienced with devices previously employed for this purpose My
invention also affords the advantage that the speed of the shaft to which motion is
transmitted through the clutch may be varied in a simple and effectual manner
An important feature of my said invention is the construction of the clutch in
such a manner that, when a brake is applied to a portion thereof, motion will be
transmitted by the clutch from the driving shaft to the shaft to be driven, and
when the said brake is taken off, the clutch will revolve idly.
In cases where it is desired to connect two shafts in line with each other by
means of the clutch, I provide at a short distance from the extremity of each of
the shafts a loose disc or collar which can be easily rotated on the shaft, and I
fix on the extremity of each shaft a toothed wheel or pinion These toothed wheels
or pinions are geared with one or more toothed wheels or pinions mounted upon
a shaft carried by one or both of the said dises or collars. I prefer that the gearing
should be enclosed in a cylindrical box or drum which may or may not be formed on
or attached to the said discs or collars, suitable provision being made for oiling and
inspecting the gearing inside this drum.
A brake is arranged in combination with the said discs or collars for the purpose of
arresting or retarding their rotation when required.
When the driving shaft revolves, the toothed wheel or pinion fixed thereon being
geared with that carried by the discs or collars, the latter will also be caused to
revolve. When, however, the brake is applied to the said discs or collars, motion
will be imparted through the gearing from the driving shaft to the shaft to be
driven thereby, the velocity of rotation of the latter shaft varying according to the
pressure of the brake upon the said discs or collars, that is to say, if the brake be
appled with sufficient force to arrest the motion of the said dises or collars, the velocity
of the shaft to be driven will be equal to that of the driving shaft, while by varying
the force applied to the brake, the speed of the shaft to be driven relatively to that of
the driving shaft may be varied at pleasure. Therefore the two shafts can be connected
in such a manner as to avoid any shock or jar, the motion of the driven shaft being
gradually accelerated until the said shaft rotates at the desired velocity.
Although I have above described my invention more particularly as applied to
shafts in line with each other and having their ends abutting, it is evident that my
said invention may also be applied, with slight alterations in the details, to form the
connection between pulleys and the shafts on which they revolve, and in other cases
in which an occasional connection is required, and for regulating and controlling the
motion transmitted.
In some instances, I modify the construction of my apparatus to adapt it for use in
cases where the motion of a shaft has to be reversed

page_text: I use either parallel or cylindrical toothed wheels or pinions or I use conical or
bevel wheels or pinions Moreover, I can, if desired, substitute for such toothed
wheels or pinions, cylindrical or comical frictional rollers.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Apparatus for the Transmission of Rotary
Motion.
I, ALFRED LYSTER SHEPARD of 8 West Kensington Gardens in the County of
Middlesex. Electrical 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 invention relates to an improved clutch for transmitting motion from one
shaft pulley or similar piece of mechanism to another.
The main object of my said invention is to provide means whereby the connection
of a rotating shaft with a shaft which is at rest can be effected without the
objectionable shock or Jar experienced with devices previously employed for this
purpose. My invention also affords the advantage that the speed of the shaft to
which motion is transmitted through the clutch may be varied in
effectual manner.
a simple and
An important feature of my said invention is the construction of the clutch in
such a manner that, when a brake is applied to a portion thereof, motion will be
transmitted by the clutch from the driving shaft to the shaft to be driven, and
when the said brake is taken off the clutch will revolve idly.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section and
Figure 2 is a side elevation with one of the side plates or flanges removed and partly
in section illustrating my improved clutch.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A, A', are the shafts or spindles which it is desired to connect.
B, B, are loose discs or collars one of which is mounted on each of the shafts A, A¹
at a short distance from the extremity thereof, and which can be easily rotated on the
said shafts.
C, C are toothed wheels or pinions fixed on the extremities of the said shafts.
The toothed wheels or pinions C, C¹ are geared with toothed wheels or pinions D, D¹
mounted upon a shaft or spindle E supported in suitable bearings in the said discs or
collars, and in the web or central portion of a drum or casing F enclosing the above
mentioned gearing. The discs or collars B are attached to the said drum or casing F
by means of screws B₁ or in any other convenient manner and suitable provision is
made for oiling and inspecting the said gearing when desired. G is a strap brake by
means of which the rotation of the said drum or casing and consequently that of the
discs or collars B can be arrested or retarded when required.
When either of the shafts say for instance the shaft A revolves, the toothed wheel
or pinion C fixed thereon is rotated and through the toothed wheel or pinion D geared
therewith the drum or casing F and the discs or collars B are also caused to revolve
the toothed wheel or pinion D¹ running around idly upon the toothed wheel or
pinion C¹ fixed upon the shaft A'. When however the brake G is applied to the drum
or casing F motion will be imparted through the gearing wheels C, C and D, D₁
from the shaft A to the shaft A¹, the velocity of rotation of the latter shaft, varying

page_text: according to the pressure of the brake G upon the said drum or casing F that is
to say, if the brake be applied with sufficient force to arrest the motion of the
said drum or casing the velocity of the shaft A¹ will be equal to that of the
shaft A while, by varying the force applied to the brake, the speed of the shaft A¹
relatively to that of the shaft A may be varied at pleasure. Therefore the rotating
shaft A can be connected with the shaft A which is at rest in such a manner as
to avoid any shock or jar, the speed of the said shaft A¹ being gradually accelerated
until the said shaft rotates at the desired velocity. The same result will be obtained
if the shaft A¹ be rotated while the shaft A is at rest.
Although I have described my invention more particularly as applied to shafts in
line with each other and having their ends abutting, it is evident that my said inven-
tion may also be applied, with slight alterations in the details, to form the connection
between pulleys and the shafts on which they revolve, and in other cases in which an
occasional connection is required and for regulating and controlling the motion
transmitted.
In some instances, I modify the construction of my apparatus to adapt it for use in
cases where the motion of a shaft has to be reversed
I can if desired employ cylindrical conical or other suitable friction rollers in lieu of
the toothed wheels or pinions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the said invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed I wish it understood that I claim―
The improved clutch comprising the drum or casing and means for arresting or
retarding its motion substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
A. L SHEPARD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.