Improved Belt Shifting Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Belt Shifting Apparatus.
I, LUIGI ARMANNI of 88 and 90 Tabernacle Street, London E.C. Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved belt shifting apparatus used for shifting
belts from and to the fast and loose pulleys of shafts transmitting motion to
machinery.
-
In existing apparatus used for such purpose, reverse actuating movements by the
operative or machine attendant are required for effecting the lateral shifting of the
fork or equivalent means used for shifting the belt from the loose pulley to the fast
pulley of the countershaft or other driving shaft for setting the machine in
operation, and for the reverse operation of shifting the belt from the fast pulley to
the loose pulley for stopping the operation of the machine. It occasionally happens,
from the necessity of this reverse actuation to effect the reverse operations, especially.
in the case of the breaking of a tool or other accident happening to the machine,-
when it is of extreme importance that the operation of the machine should be
instantly stopped to prevent further injury accruing from the accident,-that, from
the operative's attention being particularly directed to the machine and to the
circumstances attending and consequences of the accident, he loses valuable time,
in the excitement of the moment, in his hesitancy as to the proper motion of the
two to be given to stop the operation of the machine.
Existing apparatus used for such purpose consists of pendant levers which require
to be shifted from side to side in reverse directions to effect the reverse operations,
or of pendant rods which require to be turned about their axes in reverse directions
to effect said reverse operations.
Moreover, said levers and rods, being rigid and pendant, require that the machine
should be vertically beneath the countershaft, so that they should be within reach
of the operative, and hence, they cannot be advantageously used in cases where, as
frequently happens, the machine cannot be placed beneath but has to be placed at
a lateral distance from the countershaft.
The especial object of this invention is to remedy these defects and to provide a
belt shifting appliance in which but one and the same actuating motion is required
to be given by the operative either to shift the belt so as to set the machine in
operation or so as to stop the operation of the machine, so that the operative can,
at any time, have no hesitancy as to the proper, actuating movement to be given
either to set the machine in operation or to stop. its operation. Moreover, the
improved apparatus is equally applicable whether the machine be situated
immediately under or at a lateral distance from the countershaft.
To this end, the invention consists in effecting the reciprocating or end wise
movements in both directions of the belt shifter rod, by means of an oscillating
lever, the movements of which are effected by a pendant striker pivotally connected
to a vertically reciprocating guided striker-rod to which operative motion is
imparted by a flexible pendant connection requiring, at each operation, to be
simply pulled downwardly by the operative, the recovery of the striker rod and
attached striker, after each such operation, being automatically effected by a spring
or equivalent means, which also positively ensures the resetting of the striker in
position for effecting the next succeeding shifting operation.
The apparatus may be conveniently supported by a hanger or by a carrying
plate attached to a hanger intermediate of the usual hangers supporting the
countershaft

page_text: The oscillating lever is formed, at its upper end, with a double incline, the
declivity of each incline terminating in a cup-like catch, and is connected, at its
lower end, with the belt shifting rod in any suitable manner adapted to impart
end wise movements thereto in both directions from its own oscillating movements,―
and is pivotally supported, at an intermediate part, by a shouldered pin carried by
the hanger or plate and secured by a nut.
The striker is pivotally connected to the vertically guided striker rod vertically
above the pivot of the lever, and is vertically pendant therefrom, and normally
hangs over one or other of the inclined or cup-like catch parts of the lever, so as to
be operative in reversing the position of the latter each time it is pulled down by
the attendant, so that following actuations of the apparatus by the attendant will
reverse the position of the lever and, consequently, will respectively shift the belt
to and from the fast pulley.
The striker-rod is suitably guided at its upper and lower ends, and is fitted or
adapted with a surrounding helical spring or with equivalent means of automatically
returning it to its normal position ready for the next operation, immediately upon
being released from the pull of the attendant.
The upper end of the striker is preferably flattened and abuts against a projecting
part of the supporting plate so as to be positively caused to reassume its proper
pendant position each time the spring returns the striker-rod to its normal
position.
The lower end of the striker may be fitted with a wheel or runner so as to
facilitate its traverse down the inclines and engagement with the cup-like catches
of the lever.
The lever and connected belt shifter rod are locked in each position until the
next positive movement effected by the next pull of the operative, so preventing
any lateral strain of the belt or any tendency of the belt due to the shape of the
pulley from shifting the fork.
The pendant connection from the vertically guided rod to the operative, being
flexible, (it may consist simply of a cord and convenient handle,) permits of the
apparatus being applied with equal advantage whether the machine be situated`
either immediately under or at a lateral distance from the countershaft, as, in the
former case, the cord depends to a convenient position for use, and, in the latter
case, it can be guided to such position by a pulley supported in a line with the
vertically guided rod and by another pulley supported above the machine.
The apparatus may be so modified in its arrangement as that the striker will act
upon a lower part of the oscillating lever the upper end of the latter being connected
to the belt shifter rod.
Dated this 10th day of July 1893.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Belt Shifting Apparatus.
1, LUIGI ARMANNI, of 88 and 90 Tabernacle Street, London, E.C,. 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:—
This invention relates to improved apparatus for shifting belts from and to the
fast and loose pulleys of shafts transmitting motion to machinery..
In existing apparatus used for such purpose, reverse actuating movements by
the operative or machine attendant are required for effecting the lateral shifting of
the fork or equivalent means used for shifting the belt from the loose pulley
to the fast pulley of the countershaft or other driving shaft for setting the machine

page_text: in operation, and for the reverse operation of shifting the belt from the fast pulley
to the loose pulley for stopping the operation of the machine. It occasionally
happens from the necessity of this reverse actuation to effect the reverse operations,
especially in the case of the breaking of a tool or other accident happening to the
machine, when it is of extreme importance that the operation of the machine
should be instantly stopped to prevent further injury accruing from the accident,
that, from the operative's attention being arrested and particularly directed to the
machine and to the circumstances attending and the consequences attendant upon
the accident, he loses valuable time in the excitement of the moment, in his
hesitancy as to the proper motion of the two to be given, to stop the operation of
the machine.
Existing apparatus in general use for such purpose, consists of pendant levers
which require to be shifted from side to side in reverse directions to effect the
reverse operations, or of pendant rods which require to be turned about their axes:
in reverse directions to effect said reverse operations.
Moreover, said levers and rods, being rigid and pendant, require that the machine
should be vertically beneath the countershaft, so that they should be within reach
of the operative, and hence, they cannot be advantageously used in cases where, as
frequently happens, the machine cannot be placed beneath but has to be placed at
a lateral distance from the countershaft.
The special object of this invention is to remedy these defects, and to provide
a belt shifting appliance in which but one and the same actuating motion is required
to be given by the operative, either to shift the belt so as to set the machine in
operation or so as to stop the operation of the machine, so that the operative can,
at any time, have no hesitancy as to the proper actuating movement to be given,
either to set the machine in operation or to stop its operation. Moreover, the:
improved apparatus is equally applicable whether the machine be situated
immediately under or at a lateral distance from the countershaft.
On the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1, represents the improved apparatus in front elevation, and
Fig. 2, represents the same in side elevation.
To the aforesaid end; the invention consists in effecting the reciprocating or,
end wise movements in both directions of the belt shifting rod a, by means of an
oscillating lever b, the movements of which are effected by a pendant striker c,
which is pivotally connected to a vertically reciprocating guided striker-rod d, to
which operative motion is imparted by a flexible pendant connection e, requiring,
at each operation, to be simply pulled downwardly by the operative, the.
recovery of the striker rod and attached striker, after each such operation, being
automatically effected by a spring or equivalent means f; which also positively.
ensures the resetting of the striker in position for effecting the next succeeding.
shifting operation.
The apparatus may be conveniently supported by a hanger, or by a carrying-
plate g, attached to a hanger intermediate of the usual hangers supporting the
countershaft.
The lever b, is formed at its upper end with a double incline, the declivity b¹ of
each incline terminating in a cup-like catch 62. It is connected at its lower end 6³,
with the belt shifting rod a, in any suitable manner adapted to impart endwise.
movements thereto in both directions from its own oscillating movements.
It is pivotally supported at an intermediate part, as at 6, by a shouldered
pin, carried by the hanger or plate g, and secured by a nut h'. It is also formed
with projections 6, adapted, in each of its extreme positions (vide the full and
dotted lines in Fig. 1.) to abut against the plate g, or other fixed part of the
apparatus, and with other projections &, adapted to engage with an incurved part d²,
of the striker-rod when in its normal position (Fig. 2) so that, in each of such
positions, it is arrested and locked until its next actuation by the flexible connection e,
so that whatever tendency there may be in the belt or otherwise to shift the lever,
is wholly prevented.

page_text: The striker is pivotally connected at c', to the striker-rod vertically above the
pivot, of the lever b, and is vertically pendant therefrom and normally hangs over
(vide full lines Fig. 1,) one or other of the inclined or cup-like catch parts of the
lever, so as to be operative in reversing the position of the latter each time it is
pulled down by the attendant, so that following actuations of the apparatus by the
attendant will reverse the lateral position or deviation of the lever, and consequently
will respectively shift the belt to and from the fast pulley, as will be clearly
comprehended on reference being had to Fig. 1. Its upper end c³, is preferably
flattened and abuts against a projecting part g', of the supporting plate 9, or other
fixed part of the apparatus so as to be positively caused to reassume its proper
pendant position (vide the full lines Fig. 1,) each time the spring returns the
striker rod to its normal position. Its lower end c³, may be fitted with a wheel or
runner so as to facilitate its traverse down the inclines and engagement with the
-cup-like catches of the lever b.
The striker-rod or a connected extension thereof is suitably guided at its upper
end by the projecting part g', and at its lower end by the head of the pin h, or
otherwise in any suitable manner. As represented, it is surrounded with a hèlical
spring f, used as the means of automatically returning it to its normal position
ready for the next operation, immediately upon being released from the pull of the
.attendant.
The pendant connection e, from the vertically guided rod to the operative, being
flexible, (it may consist simply of a cord and convenient handle) permits of the
apparatus being applied with equal advantage whether the machine be situated
either immediately under or at a lateral distance from the countershaft, as, in the
former case, the cord depends to a convenient position for use, and, in the latter
-case, it can be guided to such position by a pulley supported in a line with the
vertically guided rod and by another pulley supported above the machine.
The apparatus may be so modified in its arrangement as that the striker will-
act upon a lower part of the oscillating lever, the upper end of the latter being
connected to the belt shifting rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
In belt shifting apparatus:-
1. Effecting the reciprocating movements of the fork or belt shifting device by
means of an oscillating lever the movements of which are effected by a pendant
striker pivotally connected to a vertically reciprocating guided striker-rod, the
one movement of which is effected by a direct pull, the return movement being
automatically effected by a spring or equivalent means, which also positively
ensures the re-setting of the striker in position for the next actuation, as
set. forth.
2. A belt shifting fork or the like;-an oscillating lever formed with a double
inclined and cup-ended top and connected to the belt shifting rod or fork;-a
pendant striker pivotally connected to a vertically reciprocating guided rod;-a
-connection for operating the same by pulling thereon;-and a spring or equivalent
means for automatically returning the same, as set forth.
3. The arrangement of apparatus operating in such manner hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The modified arrangement hereinbefore described.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.