IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CHUCKS FOR CONNECTING AND HOLDING SHAFTING, SPINDLES, TOOLS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Reuben John Lines, of Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS
OR CHUCKS FOR CONNECTING AND HOLDING SHAFTING, SPINDLES, TOOLS,
AND THE LIKE"
Sealed the 4th May 1880, and dated the 10th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Reuben John Lines at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1879.
REUBEN JOHN LINES, of Northampton, in the County of Northampton, Engineer.
“IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CHUCKS FOR CONNECTING AND HOLDING
SHAFTING, SPINDLES, TOOLS, AND THE LIKE."
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of coupling or
chuck for connecting and holding shafting, spindles, tools, and the like, and consists
generally of of a piece of metal bored true from end to end, the hole through the
said coupling being grooved or not as found expedient, and being of considerably
larger diameter in the middle than at each end." The metal of a portion of the
enlarged part in the middle of the coupling is by preference made thinner with a
view to rendering the same more elastic or yielding. An external screw thread is
formed at each end of the coupling piece for smaller sizes, over which a nut is made
to fit, but the said screw thread is made much smaller or tapered where the nut
goes on, in order to allow the coupling to be tightened well up on the shafting or
other article. Two or more longitudinal slots are cut across the screw threads at
each end of the coupling so as to enable it to spring, and then to grip more firmly
when tightened by the nuts. In some cases holes fitted with set screws are drilled
and tapped in one or more of the parts divided by the before mentioned slots. In
large sized couplings lugs may be provided near each slot, with bolts for drawing
the parts together, in substitution for the hereinbefore described nuts and threads
used in the smaller sizes of couplings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Reuben John Lines in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
May 1880.
RUEBEN JOHN LINES, of Northampton, in the County of Northampton, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS OR CHUCKS FOR CONNECTING AND HOLDING
SHAFTING, SPINDLES, TOOLS, AND THE LIKE."
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of coupling
or chuck for connecting and holding shafting, spindles, tools, and the like, and
consists of a piece of metal (preferably cast steel), bored true from end to end, the
said coupling piece and the opening through the same being of considerably larger
diameter in the middle than at each end. The metal of the enlarged part, or a
portion thereof, in the middle of the coupling is by preference made thinner than
the rest, with a view to imparting greater spring or elasticity to the holding or
gripping portions of the coupling, as will be hereinafter more clearly shown. An
external screw thread is formed at each end of the coupling piece in the smaller
sizes of couplings, over which a nut or internally screwed collar is fitted. The said
screwed portions are made to taper slightly towards the ends where the nuts or
collars enter thereon, and two or more slits are cut longitudinally in the said ends
across the screw threads, such slits extending into the enlarged part of the coupling
piece in order to enable the split parts to spring more freely and take a firmer
grip on the shafting or parts to be coupled or held when tightened up. In some
cases set screws may be provided in one or more of the intermediate parts between
the before mentioned longitudinal slits, and if desired a keyway may be made in
one or more of such divisions, so that when necessary the coupling can be further
secured by being keyed onto the shaft. In larger sized couplings lugs may be
provided near each longitudinal slit with cross bolts for drawing the parts together,
in substitution for the herein before described nuts or screwed collars and external
Bcrew threads used in the smaller makes.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings is a longitudinal section of one form of my improved
coupling, showing one of the tightening nuts or collars in position, and Figure 2 is
a corresponding end elevation of the same with the nut or collar omitted.
The body of the coupling is made by preference of cast steel, and of increased
diameter in the middle of its length, as shown at at a, with a tubular neck b, b, of
smaller diameter on each side of the enlarged portion a. The thickness of metal at
the part a should be rather less than that of the extended tubular parts b, as shown,
in order that when split longitudinally in two or more places, as at c, c, the
intermediate or divided portions may be free to spring or yield slightly. The outer
ends of the tubular parts are slightly tapered and have each an external screw
thread formed thereon, over which fits a nut or plain screwed collar d, one of such
collars being shown in position screwed up in Figure 1 of my Drawings, and when a
screwed collar is employed it should be formed with suitable flat faces on the
outside for the reception of a key or wrench. After the original casting is made I
cut the screw threads on each end of the tubular portion 6, and finish the
longitudinal slits c, extending them into the enlarged portion a of the casting, as
shown. I then screw on the nuts or collars d until the divided ends are contracted
or pinched together slightly. The casting is then, and whilst still in its contracted
condition, bored out truly to the size of the shafting it is intended to receive, and
one or more keyways e and set screws f, if required, are made and fitted therein.
The nuts or collars d are then removed, allowing the ends to spring outwards or

page_text: open slightly, and the coupling will then slide freely onto the shafting, but when
the parts are contracted or pinched together, either by the screwing up of the nuts
or collars d onto the tapered ends, or by the tightening of the bolts in the lugs as
before explained, the parts will be caused to grip the shaft and form a true and
parallel fit. The slits c should be as narrow as possible compatible with the proper
play or spring of the divided parts. In that division of the coupling wherein the
keyway is formed, I sometimes drill and tap a hole for the reception of a bolt or
pin (not shown in my Drawings), to form a fulcrum for a lever to be applied against
the side of the coupling for removing or tightening up the key when employed in
conjunction with my said coupling.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The peculiar construction of coupling or chuck formed with a hollow enlargement
in the middle, and with split tubular ends, the longitudinally divided parts of which
spring from the said enlargement, and are tightened up either by external screwed
nuts or collars or by bolts passing through lugs on the said divided parts, which are
provided or not with key ways and set screws, as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reuben John Lines, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
REUBEN JOHN LINES. (L.S.)