Improvements in Flexible Couplings for Shafting and for Transmitting Power.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
BUYIONAL
DIBUIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Couplings for Shafting and for
Transmitting Power.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH of 161 Trinity Road, Upper Tooting, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in flexible couplings for shafting and for
transmitting power.
In carrying out my invention I employ a band of some flexible material such as
leather which is placed around pins or studs carried on the end of one shaft and
is adapted to bear against other pieces or studs carried on the end of the other
shaft, such leather band forming a flexible connection between the shafts which
allows of a considerable amount of movement between them or divergence in the
lines of same and yet compels the shafts to rotate together.
In one form of my invention I place a disc on the end of each shaft facing
each other, one disc carrying two pins at opposite points, around which is placed
an endless band of leather, such band passing between four studs arranged in
pairs on opposite points of the second disc and placed nearer the centre than the
studs in the first disc. The rotation of the disc carrying the band will cause the
latter to bear against the pins of the other disc and to rotate same therewith,
the arrangement allowing the shafts to be driven in either direction.
It will be seen that as the only connection between the shafts is a leather one,
the two shafts are for electrical purposes insulated from each other.
Dated this 25th day of November 1893.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Couplings for Shafting and for
Transmitting Power.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH of 161 Trinity Road, Upper Tooting, in the
County of Surrey, 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 improvements in flexible couplings for shafting and for
transmitting power.
In carrying out my invention I employ a band or strap of some flexible
material such as leather which is placed around pins or studs carried on the end of
one shaft and is adapted to bear against other pieces or studs carried on the end
of the other shaft, such leather band or strap forming a flexible connection between
the shafts which allows of a considerable amount of movement between them or
divergence in the lines of same, and yet compels the shafts to rotate together.
One method of carrying out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of two shafts having my invention
applied thereto.

page_text: Fig. 2 is an end elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing two positions of the coupling illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2, and
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another form of coupling.
In this form it will be seen I place discs ab on the end of the shafts a¹ b
respectively, such shafts facing each other. The disc a carries two studs cc at
opposite points, around which is placed an endless band d of leather, such band
passing between four studs e ee e arranged in pairs on opposite points of the disc b
and placed nearer the centre than the studs care on the disc a. The rotation of
the disc a carrying the band will cause the latter to bear against two of the pins e e
which are diagonally opposite each other, and thus to rotate the shaft b¹. The
arrangement allows the shafts to be driven in either direction, and as will be
understood also to move considerably in respect to each other without interfering
with the driving of same. It will be seen that as the only connection between the
shafts is a leather one the two shafts are for electrical purposes insulated from
each other. In place of the studs, lugs or projections may be cast upon the
.discs.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the one link does duty for either
direction of driving as will be seen by reference to Fig. 3 which shows the link in
its two positions, but in certain cases where it is necessary to reverse suddenly
against a load this causes a knock and strain upon the leather link and studs, and
in this case the method illustrated in Fig. 4 is preferable where by employing four
driving studs c c c c instead of two and the double band d, the relative movement
between disc and disc is very little when the direction of rotation is reversed. It
will be evident that several variations may be made upon the arrangement of
couplings illustrated, and it will be therefore understood that I do not confine
myself to same, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a flexible coupling a band or bands (or strap) interposed between the two
shafts at approximately right angles thereto, and means carried by the two shafts
for transmitting and receiving the torsional strain respectively, substantially as
described.
2. In a flexible coupling a band or strap interposed between the two shafts at
approximately right angles thereto, studs or the like carried by one shaft for
supporting the band or strap, and studs or the like carried by the other for receiving
the torsional strain, substantially as described.
3. The flexible couplings constructed and arranged substantially as described
and illustrated.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.