US581547A - Power-transmitting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. FRIZELL.

POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

No. 581,547. Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

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Ja s 67070225 e C (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P.- PRIZELL. POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

"P" I- I u mm \T\ Wifiw 6445 62 8 1 1 scams PETERS cu wumu-ma wuumorou u c NITED STAT S ATENT FFICE JOSEPH P. FRIZELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581 ,547, dated April 27, 1897.

Application filed July 30, 1896. Serial No. 601,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. FRIZELL, of Boston, county'of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Power-Transmittin g Mechanism,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a powertransmitting mechanism and is embodied in a single shaft having two or more independentlyoperated driving-wheels and means whereby any of said wheels can be independently stopped and when started can be brought up to speed and the power thereof applied without affecting the independent operation of the shaft and without any shock or strain.

The object of the invention is to provide such a connection between each of a number of driving-wheels and a shaft common to all that the latter, although adapted to be driven by any or all of the said wheels, is capable of rotation independently thereof, so that if it is desirable to shut down the power applied to any one of the driving-wheels the consequent slowing down and stopping thereof will not affect the rotation of the shaft, which will go on independently thereof, and, conversely, when any one of said driving-wheels is idle and power is applied thereto it can be controlled so as to gradually increase in speed until it finally reaches a speed equal to that of the shaft, upon which it will take up its work without any shock or disturbance, the device being preferably so arranged that the relative speeds of the driven and driving members are within the observation of the attendant who is manipulating the controlling device through which the force is applied. To accomplish this, the driving-wheelsffor example, two or more wheels operated by separate motors, as steam-engines, turbine waterwheels, or electric motorsare mounted on a single shaft, so that the said wheels and shaft are normally capable of independent rotation, and the hub of each wheel is provided with a keyextending inward therefrom toward the shaft, the said key being yieldingly pressed inward, as by a spring, and the shaft is provided with a groove extending longitudinally along the same, one side of said groove terminating in an abrupt shoulder, while the other side slopes gradually outward toward the periphery of the shaft. rection of rotation of each driving-wheel is such that the key will enter the groove along the sloping side thereof and will bring up against the shoulder, so that as the shaft and the wheel rotate in the same direction the said shaft will be positively driven by said wheel when the key is in engagement with the shoulder.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a portion of a shaft having drive-wheels applied thereto in accordance with the invention, there being for convenience only two drivewheels shown. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the shaft and one of the drivewheels connected thereto. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of a portion of the shaft and one of the wheels, a portion of the latter being broken away; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the hub and shaft, showing the key withdrawn and locked in its withdrawn position.

The drive-wheels A, each of which is herein shown as provided with a beveled gear A meshing with a corresponding beveled gear B on a vertical shaft B, driven by'a suitable motoras,for example, a turbine water-wheel or steam-engineare each mounted on the shaft b, which is adapted to be driven thereby and which is shown as provided with a pulley if, from which power maybe taken, said shaft 1) being represented as the main shaft in a shop or factory. Each of said wheels A is provided with a 'hub a, having a key a radially movable in a recess a the said key preferably extending completely across from one side of the hub to the other and being provided with a stem at, having a nut a screwed onto the outer end thereof and adapted to bear against the flattened surface a of said hub. The said key is normally pressed inward toward the center of the hub by means of springs a of any suitable construction, the said springs being preferably bow-springs, secured at one end by screws or bolts a to the surface of the shoulder a at each end of the said hub, the said springs extending around the hub and engaging at their opposite ends with projections a extending upward from The dithe top of the key through the slot 64 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, extends completely through the shoulder portion of the hub. The hub a of each of the said drive-wheels forms a bearin g therefor on the shaft 7), which is common to all, and said hub is capable of rotation independently of said shaft, which is provided with a longitudinal groove Z2 having a long inclined surface Z2 and terminating in an abrupt shoulder Z), as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Assuming, therefore, that the wheel A is driven in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, and the key a pressed inward by its springs a it is obvious that the said key will reach the position shown in Fig. 2 and engage the shoulder Z9 thus tending to rotate the shaft 1) in the same direction. If, however, the power applied to any wheel is shut down, the shaft 1), which, as shown in Fig. 1, is also driven by one or more similar wheels, each having an independent motor, will continue to be rotated independently of the drive-wheel A, the shoulder b traveling away from the key a which will ride up the incline and around the shaft, dropping over the shoulder at each revolution.

The invention, as has been stated, is es pecially applicable to cases where waterpower is used in conjunction with steam, it being obvious that when the water-supply is somewhat low it is advantageous to employ steam alone, while either the steam-motor or one or more water-motors, all operating on the same shaft, can be independently applied or shut down at any time. Further than this, it is obviously of advantage in many itSGS to provide a number of similar motors, any of which can be operated or shut down to com pensate for variations in load. As soon therefore as it is apparent that the power applied to any one of the drive-wheels is unnecessary or inefficient the said power can be shut down, and when the wheel has ceased to tnrn the key a may be withdrawn and maintained withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 4:, by turning up the nut a so that the clickiu g or pounding of the key is prevented. Then when it is desired to again turn on the power the key is released and the dropping thereof over the shoulder at each revolution will be apparent by the clicking sound, so that the attendant as he manipulates the controlling device (Z, which is conventionally shown in Fig. 1, is enabled, by observing the clicks, the frequency of which will obviously diminish as the motor speeds up, to so control the motor that the power thereof is at last applied to the shaft without any shock.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific construction herein shown ,nor to any particular application thereof, since it is obvious that the construction shown may readilybe modified, while theinvention may be usefully applied in any case where two or more motors of any kind are applied toca single shaft if itis desirable to use any motor or group of motors independently of the others.

I claim- 1. The combination with a driven shaft, of two or more independent motors therefor, a power-transmitting device connected with each motor and adapted to cooperate with said shaft, the said shaft and power-transmitting devices constituting members of clutches or couplings, and engaging portions of said members adapted to engage and remain in engagement during the movement of one member relative to the other in one direction but not in the other, whereby any motor or group of motors may be shut down or started up independently of the rest, while the said shaft is being driven, substantially as described.

2. The combination with ashaft provided with a groove on its surface terminating in an abrupt shoulder, of two or more independently-operated driving-wheels mounted on said shaft and capable of rotation thereon, a key mounted in a radial groovein the hub of each of said wheels, springs connected to said hubs and said keys respectively to produce an inward movement of said keys, and means for maintaining said keys out of engagement with said shoulder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witn esscs.

JOSEPH P. FRIZELL.

\Vitnesses:

ll. J. LIVERMORE, N. P. FORD.

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