Improvements in Means for Adjusting Rim-plates with the Arms of Wrought-iron Pulleys and Securing the Two Together.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Adjusting Rim-plates with the Arms of
Wrought-iron Pulleys and Securing the Two Together.
I, JAMES SHEPHERD of Holly House Davenport near Stockport in the County of
Cheshire, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The object of this invention is to provide a ready and efficient method to adjust
the rim plates of wrought iron pulley's by means of moveable collars or bands on the
arms of a pulley.
Also to provide a means whereby the rim-plate and arms of a pulley can be more
firmly secured together than the prevailing practice admits of.
To correctly understand the provisions of this invention it is desirable to state that
the present general practice with makers of wrought iron arm pulleys is to employ
round iron bars for the arms of a pulley of any required length having a collar or
band forged on the bar within a short distance of one end so as to form a head upon
which the rim plate of the pulley rests when in position. The plate forming the rim
of the pulley is drilled or punched to receive the top portion of the arms above the
collar or band, and the drilled or punched holes in the plate are deeply countersunk.
After the rim plate is fixed on the arms in position, the top portion of each arm above
the collar or band is rivetted down into the countersink of the plate so as to bind the
plate and the arms together. Any want of accuracy in the length of an arm from
the top surface of the collar or band to the true centre of the boss of the pulley
always occasions an untrue pulley, and irregularity over the surface of the rim-plate.
To overcome these defects various means are employed. When arms are slightly
longer than they should be they are bent by blows from a hammer so as to reduce their
direct vertical length. If an arm is short it is swaged out to the required length, or
it is drawn slightly out of its holding in the boss of the pulley. These practices
tend to looosen the rim-plate at its connection with the arms of a pulley.
To obviate these defects and to obtain a true and strongly made pulley, I employ
for the arms plain lengths of round iron without any forged parts whatever. The
required lengths for the arms are cut from straight round bars of iron. Each length
is screwed down at one end for a short distance and is fitted with a wrought iron,
steel or malleable iron nut of suitable dimensions for the thickness of the bars used,
and is screwed down near to the bottom of the thread so as to form a collar or
band round the bar leaving a short projecting length for rivetting purposes.
The thread in the nut on the top side forming the collar or band is channelled or
grooved out slightly so as to form a recess below the rim plate where it is fixed
in position. The rim-plate at the parts where the arms pass through it are
countersunk round the holes to an angle of about 45 degrees.
After the arms are secured in the boss of the pulley their length over all from
the true centre of the boss to the top of the nut forming the collar or band can be
adjusted by means of the nut, until they are all exactly of one length and the rim
plate of the pulley is circularly true. After this is effected the top portion of the
arms is rivetted down into the countersinks formed in the rim plate, and in the
process of rivetting down the bottom edge of the countersunk plate is forced into
the groove or channel formed round the upper surface of the nut below it making the
connection between the arms and the rim-plate much firmer than can be obtained by
a simple countersink only. For the safe and satisfactory working of wrought iron
arm pulleys that are made up of a number of separate parts it is absolutely necessary

page_text: to avoid all irregular and distressing strains in the building of a palley, and as far
as possible to secure a solidity to the whole.
This invention enables these essential objects to be practically attained.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Adjusting Rim-plates with the Arms of
Wrought-iron Pulleys and Securing the Two Together.
I JAMES SHEPHERD of Holly House Davenport near Stockport in the County of
Cheshire, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a ready and efficient method to adjust the
rim plates of wrought iron pulleys by means of moveable collars or bands on the arms
of a pulley, so as to secure an equal and exact length over all the arms in a pulley,
measuring from the centre of the boss to the top side of the collar or band of the arm
upon which the rim plate is fixed.
By means of these moveable collars or bands, the length of an arm can be increased
or shortened, and the rim plate of a pulley adjusted until it is perfectly circular
without bending, swaging, or drawing the arms out of the boss, or otherwise distressing
the general construction of a pulley in the process of its manufacture.
Also to provide a means whereby the rim plate and arms of a pulley can be more.
firmly secured together than at present is obtained in practice by depending upon a
shallow rivet head, barely in depth the thickness of the rim plate, as a means to secure
the two together.
In the construction of wrought iron arms for pulleys I use only plain lengths of
round bar iron of any suitable diameter. One end of the bar is screwed down the
required distance, and is fitted with a wrought iron, steel, or malleable iron nut. This
nut is recessed or grooved out to a little below the bottom of the thread, and about
or of an inch deep on one side only. The nut is screwed tightly on the bar to
within a thread of the bottom, forming a collar or band on the bar or arm, with the
recessed or grooved surface of the nut uppermost. The completed arms when
securely fixed in the boss of a pulley may be slightly irregular in length-This
defect is easily overcome by raising or lowering the collared nut until there is
perfect equality in length throughout the arms in a pulley, measuring from the true
centre of the boss to the top of the collars. By this plan the rim plate can be
adjusted perfectly true and circular before it is turned or ground over its outer
surface, thereby saving much labour, and retaining an equality of thickness in
the rim.
To obtain a firm connection between the arms and the rim plate in the building or
construction of wrought iron pulleys, I make provision by means of a recess or groove
cut or pressed in round the upper surface of the collar or band on the arms, for
increasing the depth of the rivet head when formed by bending the inner edge of the
counter sunk rim plate into the recess of the collar or band below it. When this
: process is efficiently carried out a very substantial increase of strength in the con-
struction of wrought iron pulleys is obtained, whether moveable, or fast forged collars
on the arms are used, and this portion of my invention is applicable to either
description of arms.
Having now described the nature of my invention I will proceed by reference to the
accompanying drawings to describe the several parts as arranged.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
Figure 1. A is a section of an ordinary wrought iron rim plate through the arm

page_text: hole or countersink before riveting up. B is a round screwed bar in elevation,
and C is the recessed nut in section forming the moveable collar or band of the arm.
Figure 2. A represents a section of a rim plate, and B and C are sections of the
screwed bar and moveable collar or band after adjustment, and the riveting of the
arm in the rim plate is completed, shewing the increased depth of a rivet head formed
on the arm as a means of securing the rim-plate in position.
Figure 3. A is the outer edge of a rim plate B and C a completed arm in
elevation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The manufacture and use of wrought iron pulley arms having moveable
collars or bands for the purpose of supporting and adjusting the rim-plate of a pulley
to a true circle.
Secondly. Forming recesses or grooves round the upper surface of moveable
collars or bands on wrought iron pulley arms, as a means to obtain a deep rivet head
on the arm when closed down in the counter sink of the rim plate.
Third. Forming recesses or grooves round the upper surface of forged or fast
collars or bands on wrought iron pulley arms as a means to obtain a deep rivet head
on the arm when closed down in the countersink of the rim plate.
Dated this 25th day of July 1890.
JAMES SHEPHERD.