US269916A - Expansible wheel - Google Patents

Description

INVENTR (No Model.)

" E. S. GHATFIELD.

BXPANSIBLE WHEEL.

llnrrnn STATES Arent rares..

EXPANSIBLEWHE'EL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 269,916, dated January 2, 1883,

A pplioation filed November l1, 1832.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, EBEN S. OHATFIELD, of Hyde Park, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansible Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

My improvements relate to a special construction of sprocket or chain wheels, whereby they are not only expansible, but also better adapted for heavy chains, and for lifting and conveying material by means of the chains, and for firmly holding` the adjustable radial arms or sections oi' the wheelin their adjusted positions to resist the weightand strain of the chain and of the bodies which may be lifted or conveyed by it.

Figure l is a face view, and Fig. 2 a view of the opposite face, of myimproved wheel; Fig. 3, its center plate detached 5 Fig. 4, a perspective of one of the radial arms; Fig. 5, a central section of two of the wheels ou a common shaft,the shaft being broken partly away; and Fig. 6, apiece ot' chain with blocks attach-ed.

The main body of the wheel is composed of a plate, A, having a central hub, and ot' a series of radial peculiarly-constructed sprocketpieces B, hereinafter more fully described. The perimeter ofthe plate A, instead of being circular, is polygonal, having as many angles c as there are radial arms or sprockct-peces, and it is beveled or rounded ott' at one side of its perimeter, as shown at d, to adaptit to the corresponding under side of the flanges e of the pieces B. That side or facef of the wheel to which these pieces B are attached has a series of tapering or V-shaped projections orlugs, g, cast integral with the plate, and extending a short distance from the outer edge ofthe plate toward the center of the wheel, and slots hare cnt through the body of the plate to admit of adjustably attaching to it the shanks of the piecesB by means of adjusting screws or boltsz'.

The pieces B are made as follows: Their outer ends are severally made with a deep longitudinal groove, j, and two shallower recesses (No model.)

or grooves, lc k', and in these grooves k k', about midway of theirlengths, are projecting nibs or pins l l', adapted to take hold of and carryA those links of alinked chain which would lie dat, while the interveninglinks, which lie edgewise when on the piecesB, drop into the deeper grooves j. That. flange e ot' each ofthe pieces B which is adjacent Ato the outer edge of plate Ais curved on its under side,as shown, to conform to the part l ot' the plate, so that when the two are brought close together they may bear upon each other, thus supporting the ange,

Suitable bolts or screws, i, which may he provided with wa-shers a and nuts, if desired, are passed through the slots h, and serve to hold the several sprocketpieces B against the plate, and set-screws o, which enter threaded holes in the inner ends of these pieces, abut against the central hub, p, of plate A, and serve the double purpose of meeting the thrust -and strain on the sprocket-pieces When the chain is on and performing its duty, and also ot' adjusting these pieces outward or inward from the center hen it is desired to enlarge or diminish the size ofthe wheel to tighten or slacken the chain, so as to adjust the wheel to the chain to cause the nibs to strike the links at the proper time and place to overcome the stretching due to wear, &c.

For heavy work or for lifting, ordinary expansible pulleys are impracticable, because the belts must slip, nor t'or such work will it do to have the periphery of the wheel in true arcs of a common circle, for the same reason. I therefore make the outer ends of the pieces B straight, as shown, instead of curved, and they are thus also adapted each to receive a link ofthe chain substantially in the manner of ordinary non-expansible or solid sprockets.

The screws o should hav'e square or polygonal heads, so as to be readily turned and set by a wrench. Instead ot' thesescrews, wedges or cams may be employed, or other appropriate device which can be interposed between the hub and the inner ends otl the radial sprocketpieces to sustain the thrust.

It will be evident that minor variations in the form and construction may be made without departing from the spirit and principle of' my invention. For instance, the nibs l may be longer or shorter or differently located on the IOS end of the pieces 13;' or there may be more or 1 ss of them, to adapt them to the character of the chain employed. Any number of pieces B may be employed, theplate in such case being adapted for the desired number. My wheel is adapted or adaptable for belts as Well as for chains. l have found it very successful asa con veyer for bark in a tannery, and for such and kindred purposes of eonveying or lifting l attach to the outer side of the chain or belt bars or other devices, as shown as q in Fig. 6.

I claim- 1. The expansiblesprocliet-Wheel described, composed ot' the plate A, its hub p, slots h, and

EBEN S. CHATFIELD.

Witnesses:

H. L. KRIGBAUM, WM. WILLs.

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