Improvements in and appertaining to Clutch Couplings for use in connection with Metal Cutting and Milling Machines, or for similar other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb.; 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1805
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Clutch Couplings for use in
connection with Metal Cutting and Milling Machines, or for
similar other purposes.
We, STEPHEN STELL and GEORGE STELL, both of Alkincoate Works,
Keighley in the County of York, Engineers and Machine Tool Makers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
The object of our invention is the production of a clutch coupling that shall
perform its functions, of coupling or engaging one rotary part to another, with
precision regardless of the speed at which such parts are moving, thus these may
be used in connection with rotary shafts or parts for varied purposes while
our improvements appertaining to the said clutch couplings make same especially
applicable for use in connection with metal cutting and milling machines more
particularly those for cutting or forming teeth of wheels.
In accordance with our invention we mount in a suitably formed disc or plate,
a series of pins or studs in a circle around the axis of rotation of said disc. These
pins or studs are arranged to extend from said disc parallel with its axis and each
of these is preferably placed to be in contiguity with its neighbouring stud on each
side so that they fill or nearly fill the circular space in which they are mounted.
On each stud is mounted a spring which at all times presses same when free into a
normal forward position in which position the ends of all the studs are in the
same plane.
The other part of the coupling consists of any appropriately formed piece for
attachment to the rotary shaft or part, or for running loosely thereon, and on this
piece are formed or attached projections for contact with the studs mounted in the
dise above described. When these projections which are the same distance from
the axis of rotation as are the studs are brought into contact with these said studs,
by the lateral movement of the disc or the piece carrying these projections, those
of said studs which are pressed upon endwise by said projections are thus noved
or caused to recede so that said projections are allowed to pass into their circular
path of motion for the next stud not thus acted upon to carry with it in its said
circular course.
From this it will be seen that since the studs may be thus caused to recede no
matter whether each of the projections presses upon oue or more of them, the
coupling of one part to the other may be performed at whatever speed these said
parts are revolving.
The piece upon which the projections are formed or fixed as above described
may be of circular or other shape, but when used in connection with the gearing
and parts for clamping the position of the piece of metal under operation in a
metal cutting or milling machine, we form this part so that it may have a radia
arm for contact with a circular, rim attached to any fixed part of the machine.
This arm being caused by a spring to press when free upon the outer edge of said
rim in order that it may be thereby caused to enter a notch or opening made in
said rim when brought opposite same as hereinafter described.
The disc carrying the yielding studs is arranged to revolve loosely on its shaft
while the piece above described is made so that it may move laterally, as on a
feather or key, on said shaft, but when revolved it conveys its rotary motion to
the said shaft.

page_text: Mounted upon the framework of the machine is a lever upon the arm of which
is mounted a suitably formed ratchet for contact with the radial arm of the piece
carrying the projections above described. This lever and its ratchet are operated at
the proper time by any suitable motor part of the machine so that on each of the
cutting operations of the machine being completed and when the parts are just
finishing their return movements, this lever and its ratchet are moved to force the
radial arm out of the notch in the circular rim into connection with the studs of
the continuously rotating disc by which the coupling piece is rotated. And as it
thus revolves its radial arm is moved clear of the ratchet on the lever so that its
operating spring causes it to press against the rim which at this part keeps it
coupled to the disc until it reaches the notch therein on which it enters after
having completed one revolution. The ratchet on the lever arm being arranged by
being hinged so as to allow it thus to enter the notch in the rim notwithstanding
its presence at this time.
The rotary motion of the radial arm is conveyed by suitable gearing with change
wheel, worm and other well known devices to move the article under operation as
above described.
For effecting the reverse action of the parts for feeding the work to the cutting
tools the clutch coupling above described, together with any of the well known
operating mechanism is made use of.
STEPHEN STELL,
GEORGE STELL,
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.
Improvements in and appertaining to Clutch Couplings for use in
connection with Metal Cutting and Milling Machines, or for
similar other purposes.
We, STEPHEN STELL and GEORGE STELL, both of Alkipcoate Works,
Keighley in the County of York, Engineers and Machine Tool Makers, 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, that is to say :-
The object of our invention is the production of a clutch coupling that shall
perform its functions of coupling or engaging one rotary part to another with
precision regardless of the speed at which such parts are moving, thus these
may be used in connection with rotary shafts or parts for varied purposes, while
our said improvements appertaining to the said clutch couplings make saine
especially applicable for use in connection with metal cutting and milling machines
more particularly those for cutting or forming the teeth of wheels.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings
:
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations of the clutch as seen in opposite directions.
Fig. 3 is longitudinal section of same.
Figs. 4, 5 and 5 are side and front elevation and top view, respectively, of a
milling or metal cutting machine adapted to cut the teeth of wheels provided
same are straight or ordinary spur wheels or of the class known as worm wheels,
and show the application of our improved clutch to this class of machine.
Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively side elevation and end view of another form of
metal cutting machine such as might be used for cutting both bevel and mitre as
well as spur gear wheels, and illustrate the altered positions into which the clutch
mechanism may be placed.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts in all the drawings.

page_text: In accordance with our invention we mount in a suitably formed disc or plate a
a series of pins or studs in a circle around the axis of rotation of said disc. a.
These pins or studs are arranged to extend from said disc a within which they
are made moveable so that they may slide in a direction parallel with its axis and
each of them is preferably placed to be in contiguity with its neighbouring stud
on each side so that they fill or nearly fill the circular space in which they are
mounted. On or behind each stud b is a spring e which at all times presses same
when free into a normal forward position in which position the ends of all the
studs b are in the same plane.
The other part of the coupling consists of an appropriately formed piece d for
attachment to the rotary shaft e or d for sliding upon a key on the axial-part f¹
of the screw f, and on this piece d or dare formed or attached projections d' for
contact with the studs mounted in the disc a above described. When these
projections d, which are the same distance from the axis of rotation as are the
studs b, are brought into contact with these said studs 6 by the lateral movement
of the disc a or that of the piece d or d carrying said projections d' and which is
the case in both of the methods herein illustrated, those of said studs b, which
are end wise pressed upon by said projections d', are thus moved and caused to
recede so that said projections d' are allowed to pass into their circular path of
in its circular course.
motion for the next stud not thus acted' upon to carry with
From this it will be seen that since the studs 6 may be thus caused to recede no
matter whether each of the projections di presses upon one or more of them, the
coupling of one part to the other part a may be performed at whatever speed
these said parts are revolving.
The pieces d or d upon which the projections are formed or fixel as above
described may be of circular form as is the piece or when it is used in connection
with the shaft g, gearing g¹ and other parts for changing the position of the piece
of metal (shown in broken lines Fig. 5) under operation in a metal cutting or
milling machine, we form this part d so that it may have a radial arm k for contact
with a circular rim m attached to any fixed or relatively fixed part m² of the
machine. This arm is operated upon by a spring n (see Fig. 3) which causes it
to press when free upon the outer edge of said rim m in order that it may be made
to enter a notch or opening m³ in said rim m when brought opposite same as is
hereinafter described.
The disc a in this case runs loosely on the shaft g and derives its motion from
the shaft a' by means of the belt or cord a³ which is kept at all times in a proper
state of tension by the weight a*, while the piece d is made so that it may move
laterally as on a feather or key or otherwise on said shaft g but when revolved it
will convey or impart its rotary motion to said shaft
g.
Mounted upon the part m of the machine is a lever o upon which is mounted
the ratchet p for contact with the arm k. This lever o is operated at the proper
time, as by the sliding movement of the part m (which is caused to move backward
and forward on the bed piece q by the screw f as is hereinafter explained) through
the medium of its axial pin lever and chain, which latter has one end
attached to the lever while its other is fixed to a stationary part of the
machine, so that on each of the cutting operations of the machine being completed
and when the part m¹ together with the parts it carries and which includes the
piece of metal h, are just finishing their return movement this lever o and its
ratchet p are moved to force the arm k out of its notch m³ in the rim m into
connection with the studs on the continuously rotating disc a by which means the
piece d is rotated. And as it thus rotates its arm k is moved clear of the ratchet p
on the lever o so that its operating spring n causes it to press against the rim m
which at this part keeps it coupled to or in gear with the studs 6 and disc a until it
reaches the notch m² in said rim m on which it enters after having completed one
revolution and so its motion as also that of the shaft g is arrested. By the
ratchet p being hinged or pivoted on the lever o it allows the arm k to press it out
of its path on completing its circuit thus although its lever o may not have been

page_text: as yet moved from the advanced position it has been forced into, still this pushing
aside of the ratchet enables or allows the arm k to enter its notch m².
The rotary motion of the arm k is conveyed by the shaft g, gearing wheels g',
shaft g and worm and wheel connections to the shaft g³ upon which the piece of
metal is mounted to he operated upon so that same is moved and successively
brought into position as desired.
For causing the part m¹ to move at one time to advance its piece / towards the
cutter or cutting shafts and at the other time to recede therefrom, the clutch
coupling consisting of the disc a, studs and the part hereinbefore described are
mounted upon the part of the screw f. In this case the disc a is made to run,
loosely upon the part and is rotated by the gearing u from the main shaft a³ at
an increased rate of speed as compared with that of the part of the clutch t
which is rotated in the opposite direction to the disc a by the gearing w regulated
to be driven at a slower rate from the same shaft a², while the part & carrying the
clutch part is made to slide upon a key or feather on said part 1, so that when the
part is in gear with the part motion is imparted at a comparatively slow rate to
the screw and in such a direction as will cause the part m¹ to advance towards
the cutter to feed the work thereto, while when the projections d' on the part
are in gear with the studs on the disc a a quick return motion is imparted to the
screw and the engaging and disengaging of these clutches and d² is effected by
the part m moving the rod e. through the medium of the lever y² and rod y³,
(which movement is in each direction accelerated by the inclined piece y and
spring y after said rod has reached the middle part of its path of motion) which
imparts such motion to the fork or clutch lever z as will be well understood.
The motor parts of the machine illustrated by Figures 6 and 7 are arranged so
that the cutter is moved towards and from the metal piece which it has to operate
upon, in contradistinction to moving the metal to the cutter as herein before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :--
1. The combination in a clutch coupling of a series of resiliently mounted studs,
a dise or plate for carrying same and means for operating in connection with these
studs substantially as herein specified.
2. The combination in a clutch coupling, of a series of studs, a disc for carrying
same, a clutch part mounted to slide in a lateral direction to engage therewith and
means for operating said clutch part substantially as herein specified.
3. The combination of clutch mechanism constructed as herein described, means
for operating said clutch mechanism and parts forming a milling or metal cutting
machine substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of clutch mechanism, means for operating same and the
other parts forming the complete mechanism. substantially as herein set forth and
described and as illustrated by Figs. 4, 5 and 5 of the drawings.
5. The combination of the clutch mechanism and other parts forming the
complete machine as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings and substantially
as herein specified.
Datel this 20th dex of Kahruarv 1805
STEPHEN STELL,
GEORGE STELL,
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.