Improvements in Yielding Couplings for Rotating Shafts.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 26th Aug. 1887.
Improvements in Yielding Couplings for Rotating Shafts.
I OSBORNE REYNOLDS of the Owens College Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Professor of Engineering do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN YIELDING COUPLINGS FOR ROTATING SHAFTS, 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 improvements in yielding couplings for rotating shafts and
the chief object of my Invention is to provide a simple reliable and compact coupling
to connect shafts of which the axes though parallel may be out of line and to entail
the least possible friction also which can be readily released to disconnect the coupled
shafts when required.
I attain this object by the construction and arrangement of mechanism or means
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line X Y Fig. 2 showing the ends of two
shafts coupled according to my Invention. Figure 2 is an end view of the improved
coupling and Figure 3 shows two views of a key for turning the screwed studs to
secure or release the coupling.
The two shafts to be coupled together are designated a and b respectively and upon
the end of the shaft a is keyed one half of a flanged coupling with the flange
nearest the end of the shaft the other half d of the 'flanged coupling is keyed upon
the end of the shaft but reversed that is with the flange farthest from the end of
the shaft and over the boss of the half coupling d is a ring e of which the central
aperture is of sufficient size to permit the necessary amount of play. I also employ
four links and eight screwed studs g gh and respectively.
To make up the improved coupling I proceed as follows:-I secure one end of each
of the links by means of the two studs g g to the flange of the half coupling d
and the other ends of the said links by the studs to the ring e. Similarly I
secure one end of each of the two links 23 by means of the two studs ii' to the
ringe and the other ends by the studs to the flange of the half coupling c and
thus connect the two shafts a and together by a yielding coupling which will secure
exactly similar rotation in the shafts so long as they are parallel although the axes are

page_text: not in the same straight line and which entails very little friction and will allow of a
certain amount of play by permitting the axes of the shafts to move out of line with
one another.
It is necessary that the heads of the studs are free or loose in their holes to permit
the couplings to yield.
To disconnect the two shafts all that is required is simply to unscrew the studs k k
by means of the key shown in Figure 3 and release the ends of the links
are fastened to the flange of the half coupling c.
³ which
When disconnected I propose to hold the links to prevent them from swinging
on their respective studs by means of screwed studs in one of which is indicated
by dotted lines Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is—
1. The improved yielding coupling consisting of two flanged pieces one secured
on each of the shafts to be coupled each of which flanged pieces is connected by
links and screwed studs or equivalents to a ring or its equivalent substantially in the
manner herein shown and described or any mere modification thereof.
2. The combination with the flanged half coupling keyed on the shaft a and
connected by the links ff and studs g g' and hh to the ring e or any suitable
equivalent of the flanged half coupling d keyed on the shaft and connected by the
links and the studs and to the said ring e substantially as herein set
forth for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with two flanged half couplings of a ring or equivalent part
connected to the flange of each half coupling by links and screwed studs substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Dated this 6th day of July 1887
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for Applicant.