Improvements in Vehicle Shaft Couplings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vehicle Shaft Couplings.
I, RICHARD MULHOLLAND, of 17, West Fifth Street, in the City of Dunkirk,
County of Chautauqua, State of New York, United States of America, Carriage
Manufacturer, 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 a vehicle shaft coupling, and has particular reference
to the class of coupling wherein either the draw bar or the shaft connection is
made in parts, and provided with means for properly securing the parts together,
and whereby the shafts may be readily and quickly detached from or attached to
the vehicle. Heretofore this class of shaft couplings have been made with a station-
ary member or part, and a movable member or part, with an open space between
the members or parts to provide for the closing of said parts, as they wear from
pressure when in use, but this is found to be objectionable as dirt lodges between
the open members or parts and works into the inner bearing, causing friction
and quick wearing out of the bearings. Another objection to some of the coup-
lings as heretofore made, is the complicated use of links and joints to close and
open the members or parts. These links and joints add to the cost of production,
and make the coupling look clumsy and heavy in appearance.
The objects of my invention are to produce a shaft coupling of this character
with but few parts having means when closed together to prevent the entrance
of dirt: to provide a suitable bushing for the socket in which the shaft connection
is seated, and to dispense with all unnecessary links and joints thus producing
a simple, neat, and cheaply constructed coupling.
My invention further relates to certain details of construction, all of which will
be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed. For a full understand-
ing of the merits and advantages of the invention, reference is to be had to the
accompanying drawings, and the following description.
The improvement is susceptible to various changes in the form, proportion
and minor details of construction without departing from the principal or sacri-
ficing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an
adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the preferred construction in its closed position.
Fig. 2 represents a side view of the preferred device in its open position, with the
shaft part partially removed.
Fig. 3 is a bottom view with the shaft part removed.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on or about line a a, Fig. 3, the shaft part being
omitted.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on or about line bb, Fig. 1, the shaft part being
omitted.
Fig. 6 is a detached bottom view of the stationary member or part.
Fig. 7 is a detached plan view of the washer blank.
Fio S represents a side view of the modified device closed.

page_text: Fig. represents a side view of the modified device open.
Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the modification.
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section on or about line e c, Fig. 10, the shaft part
being omitted.
Fig. 12 is a transverse section on or about line f f, Fig. 10.
Fig. 13 is a similar section on line ff, Fig. 10, the shaft part being removed,
Fig. 14 represents a detached view of the modified form of washer, employed in
connection with the modified device.
In referring to the drawings in detail, like numerals designate like or corre-
sponding parts in the several figures.
In the preferred construction, I represents the axle and 2 denotes a stationary
draw bar forming one member or part of the coupling which is attached to the
under side of the axle, by the axle clip 3, in the usual well known manner, and
extends forward from the axle.
A longitudinal groove 4, extends from the forward end of the bar 2, a suitable
distance along the lower surface, see Fig. 6, the purpose of which will be clearly
hereinafter explained, and the surface of the upper side is provided with a depres-
sion or semi-spherical ball cavity 5, and transverse semi-circular depressions or
grooves 6, extend from said cavity 5, to and through the sides of the draw bar 2,
and at an intermediate point between the axle 1, and the ball cavity 5, on the
upper side of the draw bar 2, is a hinged joint 6", by which one extreme of the
movable member or part 7, is hinged to the draw bar 2.
In the under side of the movable member 7, is a depression or semi-spherical
ball cavity 9, having semi-circular depressions or grooves 9", extending transversely
through the sides of the movable member and corresponding with the grooves 6,
in the stationary part.
The stationary part and the movable part, are so arranged and connected to each
other, that when they are closed together the semi-spherical cavities and the semi-
circular grooves form a hollow spherical space from which openings, circular in
cross section, extend through the sides of the coupling.
A hardened leather lining 8, is pressed into each of the two cavities 5 and 9.
These leather linings 8. are first made in flat blanks as shown in Fig. 7, having
indentations cr slots 10, cut at suitable intervals in their edges to remove the
excess of material, so that the leather will not wrinkle at the edges when shaped
into the concavo-convex form required to closely fit the sides of the cavities 5 and 9,
when pressed into place.
They are also chamfered off on the sides as indicated at 11, in Fig. 7, to leave
semi-circular openings in the proper places to provide for the journals or round
bolt parts of the couplings, which pass through the circular openings extending
through the sides of the coupling members or parts and formed by the semi-
circular grooves 5" and 9, when the stationary member and the movable member
are closed, and the ball part of the coupling is in place. A circular flange 12,
projects from the upper edge of the ball cavity 5, in the stationary member 2.
and is adapted to fit in the circular groove 18, in the movable member 7, formed
by the enlargement of the edges of the cavity 9.
This groove and flange afford means for allowing a slight intervening space
between the adjacent edges of the coupling parts when they are closed and the ball
part of the coupling is in place, and at the same time act to prevent the entrance
of dirt or dust into the interior of the ball and socket joint thereby greatly lessen-
ing the friction and wear of the bearing parts of the coupling, the intervening
space between the edges of the parts gradually lessening as the lining wears, and
the wear is taken up by the spring means hereinafter described.
14 represents the rear end of a vehicle shaft and shaft iron, which is provided
with a transverse extension having an enlargement or ball portion 18, which is
adapted to fit into the depressions or cavities and 9, of the coupling. 19 repre-
sents the shanks or bolt parts of the axle clip 3, having nuts 20, which fasten
the stationary draw bar 2, in place on the axle.

page_text: A transverse depression 21, is formed in the upper surface of the bar 2, and a
rectangular shaped loop portion 22, is pivotally suspended from the bar with one
of its side parts resting in the depression.
The opposite side part of the loop passes through an opening in the locking
lever 23.
This lever 23, is provided with an offset part or eccentric 24, the purpose of
which will be explained further on.
The end 25, of the movable member or part is provided with a hinge, by which
one end of an angular locking spring arm 26, is hinged to said member.
The locking spring arm 26, is adapted, when the parts of the coupling are closed,
to seat in the longitudinal groove 4, in the lower surface of the bar 2, and bas a
raised or enlarged end 27, provided with a concaved surface into which the
eccentric 24, of the lever 23, is adapted to seat and turn when the said lever is
moved upon the arm to firmly fasten the two parts or members of the coupling
together and the lever in a closed position.
The spring locking arm 26, is preferably formed as shown in the drawings,
in which one end of a flat piece of spring material is looped around the bolt of the
hinge 25, the shorter end 28, of the spring piece extending beneath the longer
part and serving to re-enforce and strengthen said longer part when the arm is
in its closed position.
The operation of my improved shaft coupling is as follows,-
The ball parts 18, of the shaft irons 14, are inserted in the cavities 5 and 9, and
the movable member 7, is closed upon the fixed draw bar or part 2, and the hinged
spring arm 26. is moved upon its pivot into the depression or groove 4.
When the locking lever 23, is swung forward upon its pivot and the eccentric 24,
is turned in the concaved end 27, it presses and hears upon the end of the arm 26.
the eccentric part of the lever 23, being slightly below the plane of the arm, so that
it presses against it, and when the lever 23, is forced forward upon the arm the
eccentric turns past the centre in the concavity or depression in the enlarged
end 27, thereby firmly clamping and locking the draw bar 2, and the movable
member, together and also holding the lever and spring arm rigidly in place.
In the modified form shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the modified
stationary draw bar which I designate by the numeral 29, is attached to and extends
forward from the axle, and terminates at its outer end in the hinge joint 30, and
a depression or semi-spherical ball cavity 31. is provided upon the under side of
the bar between the hinge 30, and the axle I, and a semi-circular depression or
groove 32, extends from said cavity through the side of the bar.
The movable member 3, is hinged to the har at the joint 30, and is provided
with an extension 34.
A semi-spherical depression or cavity 35, is provided in the movable member 83,
and a semi-circular depression or groove 36, corresponding to the depression or
groove 32, in the bar extends from said semi-spherical depression 35, transversely
through the side of the member.
The bar and the movable member are also provided with a circular groove 87,
and a circular flange 38, similar to the groove 12, and the flange 13, shown in my
preferred construction.
The vehicle shaft is provided with a journal or bolt part 39, extending at sub-
stantially right angles to the main part of the shaft, and having an enlarged
or ball end 40, which is supported in the spherical space formed by the two semi-
spherical cavities when the coupling parts are closed.
The bolt parts of the axle clip are formed with one longer than the other and a
spring clamp 41, is pivotally secured to the longer part, and is adapted to be
turned upon its pivot, to a portion over the extension 34, of the movable member,
thereby firmly clamping the two parts of the coupling together.
The clamp has a lit 42, and the extension 34, is provided with a longitudinal
depression 43, into which the tit is adapted to seat.
The cavities in the parts or members of the modified construction are also fitted

page_text: with leather linings, the form of the blank being shown in Fig. 14, and has inden-
tations or slots 10, similar to the blank in the preferred construction, and as but
one opening extends through the side of the coupling, but one side of the blank is
chamfered.
The advantages of my improved shaft coupling, are that it has but few parts,
and these are so constructed and arranged with reference to the axle, that the axle
clip is made to perform the double duty of securing the coupling to the axle, and
also acting as the means for pivotally supporting the clamping device for securing
the movable parts together, thus producing a strong, neat, safe, and quick shifting
shaft coupling, which can be cheaply and economically manufactured.
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. A vehicle shaft coupling, comprising two members hinged together, and
having sockets for the reception of the shaft end, means for locking said members
together, and an upwardly extending flange surrounding the edge of the socket
upon the lower member adapted to fit in a depression in the edge surrounding
the socket in the upper member, the meeting edges of both members exterior to
the flange and depression extending outwardly to the sides thereof, in a horizontal
direction, as set forth.
2. A vehicle shaft coupling comprising two members provided with cavities for
the reception of the shaft end; the lower member having a horizontal top edge
terminating interiorly in an upwardly extending flange surrounding its cavity and
the upper member having a horizontal bottom edge terminating in an interior
groove surrounding its cavity; the horizontal edges of the two members meeting
and the flange extending into the groove when the two members are in their
elosed position, as set forth.
3. A vehicle shaft coupling comprising a stationary member attached to the axle,
and a movable member hinged to the stationary member, both members having
cavities and semi-circular openings, adapted to receive the enlarged end of a shaft
connection, an angular spring arm pivoted to the movable member and adapted
to be swung around the stationary member, and having a concaved part and a lock-
ing lever having an eccentric adapted to turn in said concaved part, as set forth.
4. The combination with a vehicle shaft provided with an extension having an
enlargement, of a coupling comprising a stationary member rigidly attached to the
axle, a movable member hinged to the stationary member, a spring arm pivoted
to the movable member and adapted to swing around and bear upon the stationary
member on the side opposite the movable member, and a device adapted to swing
over the lever to hold it in its position and the two members firmly closed, as set
forth.
5. The combination with a vehicle shaft provided with an extension having an
enlargement, of a coupling having depressions in which the enlargement is adapted
to be supported, and comprising a stationary member, a movable member hinged to
said stationary member, an angular spring arm pivoted to the opposite end of the
movable member, and adapted to extend around the end of the stationary member,
and a lever for firmly holding the two members together in their closed position,
as set forth.
6. The combination with a vehicle shaft, provided with an extension having
an enlargement, of a coupling having depressions in which the enlargement is
adapted to be supported, and comprising a stationary member having a longitudinal
groove, a movable member hinged to said stationary member, an angular arm
pivoted to the opposite end of the movable member, and adapted to extend
around the end of the stationary member, and seat in the longitudinal groove, and
a clamp for firmly holding it in said groove and the two members together in their
closed position, as set forth.

page_text: 7. The combination with a vehicle shaft coupling, comprising a stationary part
and a movable part hinged together and formed with semi-spherical cavities and
transverse semi-circular openings, adapted to receive the end of a spherical shaft
connection, of a longitudinal extension pivoted to the movable part, and project-
ing longitudinally around the stationary part, and means for locking said exten-
sion in its position around said stationary part and thereby securing the stationary
and movable parts together in their closed position, as set forth.
8. A vehicle shaft coupling, comprising a stationary member attached to the
axle, and a movable member hinged to the stationary member, having a longitu-
dinal arm pivoted thereto, both members having sockets to receive the end of an
enlarged shaft connection, and a clamping device supported from the axle and
adapted to be moved into position to press upon the arm, for securing the coupling
in its closed position, as set forth.
9. A vehicle shaft coupling, comprising a stationary member attached to the
axle, and having a transverse depression, a movable member hinged to the station-
ary member; both members having cavities and transverse semi-circular open-
ings; a longitudinal arm pivoted to the movable member and adapted to be swung
around the end of the stationary member, and a locking lever swinging from the
transverse depression in the stationary member and adapted to be moved into
position to press upon the lever for securing the coupling members together in
their closed position, as set forth.
10. A vehicle shaft coupling, comprising a stationary member attached to the
axle and having a lower surfaced longitudinal depression and upper surfaced
semi-spherical cavity, transverse semi-circular openings extending from said
cavities through the sides of the member, and a transverse top depression, a movable
member hinged to the stationary member and having a lower surfaced cavity and
transverse semi-circular openings, a longitudinal arm pivoted to the movable
member, and adapted to be swung around the end of the stationary member into
its lower surfaced longitudinal depression, a loop swinging from the transverse
top depression and a lever pivotally attached to the loop and having an eccentric
part adapted to bear upon the end of the spring arm for securing the arm in the
longitudinal depression and fastening the coupling members together, as set forth.
11. The combination with a vehicle shaft coupling comprising a stationary
member rigidly attached to the axle, and a movable member having a longitu
dinal device hinged to the stationary member, both members having depressions
to receive the end of an enlarged shaft connection and a clamping device adapted
to be moved upon the longitudinal device for locking the two members together,
as set forth.
12. The combination with a vehicle axle and a shaft, of a shaft coupling com-
prising two members, a spring arm pivoted to one member and adapted to extend
around the other and a lever having an eccentric part adapted to bear upon the
end of the spring arm for locking the two members together, as set forth.
T
1
111 1
1000
RICHARD MULHOLLAND.