Improvements in and connected with Screw Propeller and other similar Shafts.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Screw Propeller and other
similar Shafts.
I, CHARLES JOHN COPELAND, of 11, Red Cross Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention has reference primarily to tail-shafts of screw propellers, and
my invention will be described chiefly as applied to or in connection with such
shafts; but it relates also to other rotative shafting-including crank-shafts--work-
ing under torsion, and subject to similar or equivalent actions and stresses.
It is generally known that the tail-shafts of ships' screw propellers are very
liable, after certain length of use and wear, to develop flaws or cracks, running
generally in a direction transversely to the axis of the shaft; and these flaws
are generally considered to be due to the peculiar tortional stresses and vibrating
actions to which they are subjected in their ordinary working. Actual breakages
of such shafts are very common, while it is still more common that they are con-
demned by inspectors as being dangerous and unfit for further use on account
of flaws or cracks, which are produced after they have been used for some time.
Now the object of the present invention is mainly to produce shafting which
shall not possess the weaknesses in the respects referred to, but shall be able to be
used under conditions as described without liability of developing flaws or defects
as specified, or if such flaws are developed they will not be so dangerous as in
homogeneous shafts.
According to this invention, an iron or steel shaft is so constructed, and of
such a nature, that the grain or fibre of the metal does not run transversely to
the direction of the stress, i.e. the torsional stress of the shaft-which is trans-
versely to its axis, but substantially in the same direction; that is to say, it is
made and consists of a rolled bar or bars wound or coiled spirally, the convolu-
tions being welded together at their sides one to the other, and constituting when
made, a cylinder, with the grain of the metal running circumferentially-i.e.
spirally round it. Hence the grain of the metal lies or runs in the direction
of the torsional stress or strain under which the shaft works when in use.
The convolutions of the metal bar or bars are wound or coiled so as to leave a
space or core internally, thus producing a hollow shaft.
According to one mode of or means for manufacturing the shafting, the bar
of which it is to be made, is, while hot, coiled up into a parallel spiral form, by
and between three (or more) rollers, the spiral being produced within a space
between the rollers, with its axis parallel with the axes of the rollers. The end
of the bar being bent at its end, is introduced at right angles to the rollers, and
t one end of the press; and as the rollers are revolved, their friction on the
par feeds it in and bends or coils it round between them into the spiral form;
geared or driven face plate, collar, or equivalent device at the end of introduc-
ion providing an abutment or resistance by which the coil is forced longitudinally
877

page_text: along the press; and the spiral nature of the coil, together with the rotative
action of the rollers, also assist in this longitudinal feed or movement. The spiral
coil as made, passes axially out of the presses at the opposite end to that at which
it is introduced.
In some cases, if the friction of the rollers on the bar to be coiled is not suffi-
cient to feed in the bar at the commencement or part being first made, a dummy
coil or cylinder, attached to the end of the bar by a suitably shaped mandril,
or other, fastening, is employed. This dummy would be placed in position in the
space between the rollers, and their friction upon it would cause it to revolve,
and so draw in the bar. After a certain amount of bar has been coiled in the press,
the dummy would no longer be required.
The rollers of the press in one case consist of three rollers, two below in the
same horizontal plane, and one above, with its axis above the centre of the space
between the two lower rollers. The two lower rollers are adjustable laterally
by suitable adjustable hearings, while the upper roller is adjustable vertically
by suitable vertical adjusting screws; and this roller may be balanced and
adapted to be moved up and down by balanced levers or equivalent means.
In some cases, discs or rollers, having their axes parallel with the axes 'of
the rollers, are employed to act as spacing rollers to keep the convolutions of
the coil apart while they are being dormed; these devices and rollers being
so arranged and disposed that their edges or peripheries enter in between the
convolutions of the bar.
As regards the press or machinery described, it is to be stated that the inven
tion is not restricted to the construction more particularly specified.
Dated this 02nd J...
1007
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents,
15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in and connected with Screw Propeller and other
similar Shafts.
I, CHARLES JOHN COPELAND, of 11, Red Cross Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference, primarily, to tail-shafts of screw propellers, and
my invention will be described chiefly as applied to, or in connection with, such
shafts; but it relates also to other rotative shafting--including crank shafts-
working under torsion, and subject to similar or equivalent actions and stresses.
It is generally known that the tail-shafts of ships' screw propellers when
of steel, or a mixture of scrap iron and steel, are very liable, after
certain length of use and wear, to develop flaws or cracks, running
generally in a direction transversely to the axis of the shaft; and these flaws
are generally considered to be due to the peculiar torsional stresses, and vibrating
actions, to which they are subjected in their ordinary working. Actual breakage
of such shafts are very common, while it is still more common that they are con-
demned by inspectors, as being dangerous and unfit for further use, on account
of flaws or cracks, which are produced after they have been used for some time.
Now the object of the present invention is, mainly, to produce shafting which
shall not possess the weaknesses in the respects referred to, but shall be able to be

page_text: used under conditions, as described, without liability of developing flaws or defects,
as specified, or, if such flaws are developed, they will not be so dangerous as in
homogeneous shafts.
same direc-
According to this invention, the shaft is made of wrought iron, and is con-
structed, and of such a nature, that the grain or fibre of the metal does not run
transversely to the direction of the stress, i.e. the torsional stress of the shaft-
which is transversely, to its axis, but substantially in the
tion; that is to say, it is made and consists of a rolled bar
or.. bars
wound or coiled spirally, the convolutions being welded together at
their sides one to the other, and constituting, when made, a cylinder,
with the grain of
the metal running circumferentially-i.e. spirally--
round it. Hence the grain of the metal lies or runs in the direction
of the torsional stress or strain under which the shaft works, when in' use.
The convolutions of the metal bar or bars are wound or coiled so as to leave a
space or core internally, thus producing a hollow shaft.
According to one mode of, or means for manufacturing the shafting, the bar
of which it is to be made, is, while hot, coiled up into a parallel spiral form, by
and between three (or more) rollers, the spiral being produced within a space
between the rollers, with its axis parallel with the axes of the rollers. The end
of the bar, being bent at its end, is introduced at right angles to the rollers, and
at one end of the press; and, as the rollers are revolved, their friction on the
bar feeds it in, and bends or coils it round between them into the spiral form;
a geared or driven face plate, collar, or equivalent device, at the end of introduc-
tion, providing an abutment or resistance, by which the coil is forced longitudinally
along the press; and the spiral nature of the coil, together with the rotative
action of the rollers, also assist in this longitudinal feed or movement. The spiral
coil, as made, passes axially out of the presses at the opposite end to that at which
it is introduced.
In some cases, if the friction of the rollers on the bar to be coiled is not suffi-
cient to feed in the bar at the commencement or part being first made, a dummy
coil or cylinder, attached to the end of the bar by a suitably shaped mandril,
or other fastening, is employed. This dummy would be placed in position in the
space between the rollers, and their friction upon it would cause it to revolve,
and so draw in the bar. After a certain amount of bar has been coiled in the press,
the dummy would no longer be required.
The rollers of the press, in one case, consist of three rollers, two below, in the
same horizontal plane, and one above, with its axis above the centre of the space
hetween the two lower rollers. The two lower rollers are adjustable, laterally,
by suitable adjustable bearings, while the upper roller is adjustable, vertically.
by suitable vertical adjusting screws; and this roller may be balanced and
adapted to he moved up and down by balanced levers, or equivalent means.
In some cases, discs or rollers, having their axes parallel with the axes of
the rollers, are employed to act as spacing rollers to keep the convolutions of
the coil apart while they are being formed; these devices and rollers being
so arranged and disposed that their edges or peripheries enter in between th
convolutions of the bar.
As regards the press or machinery described, it is to be stated that the inven-
tion is not restricted to the construction more particularly specified.
The shaft, according to this invention. and the mode of manufacture, is illus-
irated in the accompanying drawings. In these, Figure 1 is a cross section of
a bar to be coiled and used in the manufacture of the shaft; Figure 2 is a
view showing part of the bar coiled, and before welding: Figure 3 is an outside
elevation: and Figure 4 an end view, showing a complete tail shaft.
Figure 5 is an end view, and Figure 6 a side elevation of the machine for
coiling the bar; and Figure 7 shows an end view of means for starting the
bending of the coils.
Figure 8 shows a crank shaft according to the invention.

page_text: Referring now to the drawings, the iron bar a, Figure 1, from which the shaft
is made, is wider at the outer edge than the inner; the section having the figure
of an inverted truncated cone, the base of which will be the outside of the shaft.
By this means, when the shaft is coiled, the action will be brought somewhat'
near the rectangle.
This bar is coiled into the form shown in Figure 2, by machinery, such as
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings; and, when sufficient length of
coil has been produced, it is welded up by suitable means, in any well known
way, so producing a hollow shaft. In the case of a tail shaft, when a length
of shaft has been made sufficient for the shaft, the flange to attach it to the rest
of the shaft is welded on, and then the whole article turned to the required size.
In the completed shaft, as stated, the direction of run of the fibre will be in the
direction of the convolutions of the spiral bar from which it is made; and these
are shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3.
The tail shaft illustrated in Figure 3 is shown provided with a coupling flange b
on one end, and a tapered part e, on which the propeller boss is fitted, and with
intermediate liners d, forming the journals on which the shaft is borne, and which
work in bearings.
The mode of coiling the bar is shown in Figures 5 and 6; and it consists of
the empolyment of three rollers e, which are revolved, and in introducing the bar
(the end of which would preferably be provided with one or more turns or coils
to start it), laterally, into the side of the machine between the rollers, and then
revolving these rollers. The friction due to their pressure on the coil will draw
in the bar, and, as it is drawn in, it is also pressed forward longitudinally between
the rolls, this being caused or assisted by the collar el on the upper roll, against
which one side of the bar will come, and against which a thrust in the longitudinal
direction is obtained.
A diagram of a means of starting the coil is shown in Figure 7, in which the
end a¹ of a bar would be bent round, and introduced into a hole in a face plate f,
which would be driven by suitable power, whilst the bar would be guided by the
three rollers f¹, which would be loose, and suitably supported in a frame. When
a coil is thus bent it is placed in the rollers shown in Figures 5 and 6, as described,
the upper roller being first moved up, and then, when the coil is in, brought
down into position, as shown in the figures, and the roll set in action. When
a bar has been completely, or nearly completely coiled, it will be taken out of the
rolls, and the greater part of it welded up; and to the tail end of this bar which
will be left, another bar is welded, when the already coiled portion is put into rolls
again and a further length added.
The means of raising the upper roller e, consists of the removable bearings h,
carrying said roll, which is adapted to slide up and down in the frame i, it being
balanced by the weighted levers 7, and pressed down by the screws k.
The crank shaft shown in Figure 8 consists of the two shaft portions !, each
with a flange 11, webs m, and a crank pin n.
The two portions 7, and the crank pin m, consist of coiled and welded iron bar,
the convolution of the coils, and direction of grain of the metal, being shown by
the dotted. lines, while the webs m, or cheeks, would be forged in the ordinary
way. These flanges also would be welded on to the ends of the shaft portions 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The herein described improved propeller or like shaft, viz.:—a shaft of
wrought iron, having the fibre or grain of the metal running in the direction of
the torsional stress or strain under which the shaft is adapted to work when in
use, and produced by coiling a wrought iron bar into a spiral, and welding the
convolutions together; substantially as and for the purposes set forth..

page_text: 2. The hollow shafts shown in Figures 3 and 8, respectively, made of coiled
wrought iron welded bar, a, shown in Figures 1 and 2; particularly as set forth.
3. The manufacture of hollow wrought iron propeller and like shafts, for opera-
ting under torsion, by first coiling a wrought iron bar of the form described, in
rollers, in the manner set forth; and then welding the convolutions, together;
substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 24th day of December 1897.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents,
15, Water Street, Liverpool.