IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING, CONTROLLING, AND FOR VARYING THE SPEED OF SHAFTS AND MACHINERY
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Robinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
August 1868.
I, ROBERT ROBINSON, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer and Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING, CONTROLLING, AND FOR
VARYING THE SPEED OF SHAFTS AND MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a means of conveying or transmitting a rotary
motion to all machinery required to be driven by varying speeds, and
where it is desirable to regulate the speeds without stopping the machine,
which I effect as follows:-I provide two shafts, which for distinction
may be called first and second motion shafts, which I would fix in journals
or bearings free to revolve. These shafts I place at suitable distances in
parralel line with each other, which I in part make hollow with a slott
through. Upon each of these shafts I fix a band pulley, which is made
in two halves, known in the trade as an expander, in each half of which I
fit a key, bush, or nut, which passes through the slott and is securely
fastened to cach half of the pulley, through one of which I pass a right

page_text: and the other a left hand screw, which I pass up the centre to the outer
end of each shaft, securing it at the end by collar and plate free to revolve
and long enough to admit of change wheels where required. On the end
journal of each shaft, first and second, I fit a tooth or worm wheel free
to revolve. This wheel may be made round on the rim for convenience
of turning by hand if required. On the outer side of these journals and
on the ends of these shafts I fix a wheel, and on the aforesaid screws I fix
a wheel of the same of the same size. In the plate of the aforesaid worm
or hand wheel I fix a stud, on which works a double pinion, which gears
into the aforesaid wheels, thus it will be seen while the shafts are in
motion, if the hand wheel remains stationary, the screw in the centre
of the shafts will revolve at the same speed as the shafts, and no change
can take place in the position of the expanders. Under each of the
worm wheels or in any other convenient position I fix a worm or pinion
and shaft of sufficient length to reach from the first to the second
motion shafts and by suitable fixed bearings. I support the shafts and
worms or pinions in gear with the two worm wheels, then by turning
this shaft it will be seen that the expander on first motion shaft will be
closed, while the expander on the second motion shaft will be opened,
or vice versa, or in accordance with the screws being cut right or left
handed, as may be required.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-A rotary motion having
been given to the first motion shaft from a main driver or intermediate
shaft in the ordinary way I place a band or gut on the expander on the
first motion shaft while it is closed, and pass such band or gut over
the expander on second motion shaft while it is open, thus the speed of
the second motion shaft will be increased in velocity, then by gearing
the second motion shaft with any machinery any necesary variation of
speed may be obtained in proportion to the range or sizes of the
expanders. By these means I obtain about the same variation of speeds
as I have in my Patent frictional apparatus, dated Jan 8th, 1867,
numbered 51. Where it is desireable to obtain a variation of speed while
the shafts or machines are in motion, this may be done by working
the aforesaid worm wheel shaft by direct gearing ratchet wheel,
or by changeing the numbers of wheels and pinions in connexion
with the first and second motion shafts and screws, or otherwise. In
some cases I would dispense with the connexion in the manner
described from one expanding pulley to the other, in place of which I

page_text: would fix one or more springs of sufficient strength to close the expander
and give a sufficient tension to the band to drive the machinery required.
I do not confine myself to the position of shafting described where the
bands or gut can be conveyed by guide pullies to the second shaft; in
all such cases it is available when variations of speeds are required in
tools and general machinery.