US643348A - Belt-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

No. 643,348. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

A. L. EAToN. BELT FASTENER.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1899.)

(No Modei.)

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llNi'rnn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ANDREl/V `LINCOLN EATON, OF NET YORK, N. Y.

BELT-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 643,348, dated February 13, 1900..

Application filed April 12, 1899.

To all whom it may concer/"t:

Be it known that I, ANDREW LINCOLN EA- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Belt-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for joining the ends of power-transmitting belts, and belongs to that class in which a plate lies across the line of the abutting belt ends and is secured to the latter. lts object is to provide a plate which may be exactly and quickly applied and which will successfully endure and reliably hold under the severe strains to which it may be subjected.

The invention consists of a plate of thin metal provided with perforations on each side of the transverse center line adapted to receive rivets or analogous fastening devices by which it is secured to the abutting ends of the belt. The center line is plainly marked by slightly projecting points on the side edges, so that the plate may be properly located upon the line of abutment and also serving to strengthen ythe plate along such line. The metal adjacent to the perforations is raised or embossed, and the swells thus formed on opposite sides are joined by longitudinal connecting-ribs similarly produced, thus stiffeni n g the whole and aiding efficiently to withstand the tendency to flex or bend and again straighten in passing around the pulley, which, if allowed, soon produces fracture along the line of flexure. The swells also serve to elevate the rvetdieads to facilitate their removal when required, and means are provided for bracing or supporting the rivets, so that they will be held practically ata right angle to the plate under all conditions, and thus successfully resist the tendency to assume an angular position and pull out under excessive strains.

The invention also consistsin certain details of construction, to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show the invention as l have carried :itout in practice.

Figure l is a face view of a belt-joint l formed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a corresponding edge view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line -l 4 in the same figure. Fig. 5 is a face view of the plate alone. Fig.v 6is a section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a portion similar to Fig. 3, but on a larger scale. Figs. 8 and 9 are face views corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing different forms and sizes of plates.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A and A are the adjacent ends of a belt abuttingtogether along the line of separation a.

B B are the fastener-plates, struck by dies or otherwise from thin sheet metal, preferably low steel of suitable gage, having a general rectangular outline with rounded projecting corners B and outwardly-extending points B2, one on each side edge on the transverse center line. Perforations l), arrangedin pairs equally spaced on opposite sides of the centerline, receive rivets O or like securing means by which the plate is joined to the belt ends.

a slightly-raised circular portion or swell B3, from which extends a similarly-formed longitndinal rib B4, reaching the corresponding swell on the opposite side of the center line, as shown. The embossed or raised portions B3 B4 show on the upper or exposed face as convex embossing and on the lower face as corresponding sunken surfaces and serve the important function of stiffening the whole structure, as4 before stated. The swells B3 also serve to hold the rivet-heads C above the general surface of the plate, thus allowing them to be easily engaged bya cold-chisel or other tool when the rivets are to be removed to shorten the belt or for other reasons. A portion b of the plate immediately in rear of each perforation is not deiiected from the general plane and, with the opposite inner edge `h2 of the swell B3, serves to brace the rivet. As indicated in the figures, the tension on the belt tends to open the joint a and correspond ingly change the angle of the rivet relatively to the plate by forcing the lower end outward in the direction shown by the curved arrows Each perforation is partially surrounded by IOO in Fig. 7, which, if not resisted, would permit the body of the 4rivet to assume an angle so nearly in line with the plane of the belt as to endanger the hold and, if the strain were su flicient, to be withdrawn endwise and break the connection. The construction shown serves to preserve the relative angularityof the plate and rivet, the higher inner edge Z22 serves as an abutment for the upper end of the rivet, and the strain on the lower end is delivered leverwise upon the plate at the point b at the lower level. Thus if the rivet fairly fills the perforation it cannot be deflected until the metal at either b' or b2 gives way and allows the perforation to enlarge.

It is important that the opposite rivets composing each pair lie as nearly as may be in the line of direct strain, and this end is attained by carefully spacing the perforations b and producing an indicating-mark on the exact center line, by which the plate may be properly located. I prefer to make the marks in the form of points B2, as described, so that in addition to their indicating function they also serve to increase the strength along that line on which fracture due to flexing is most liable to occur. Thus formed and applied to the squarely-cut abutting ends of the belt with the points coincident with the line of separation the rivets when driven will lie in the desired positions. I have shown the rivets as of the bifurcated type and prefer that form for the reason that they may be more easily driven and when properly clenched, preferably with the curl of the points transverse to the belt, they hold reliably and project but little, if any, on the friction side of the belt.

The fastener is strong, cheaply manufactured, and is easily and accurately placed in position and fastened, but may be removed when occasion requires.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions without departing from the principle of the invention. Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.

There may be a greater or less number of perforations l). Fig. 8 shows a form adapted to receive four rivet-s. A short rib B5 aids in stiening this construction, which is intended to serve with lighter belts. Fig. 9 shows a single-link form of the invention, having but two perforations joined by a rib. Four, six, or more holes are preferable,as better adapted to resist racking and torsional strains, and I prefer placing` several plates side by side on a wide belt, as shown in Fig. l, to the employment of a single wide plate.

Care should be taken to insure that equal portions of the plate lie on each belt end. This is facilitated by the indicating-points B2. Instead of the forked rivets shown ordinary rivets adapted to serve with burs, as usual, may be employed, if preferred.

I have shown the plates slightly curved to conform somewhat to the pulleys on which the belt may run. The degree of curvature may be varied, or the plate may be plane. I prefer the whole as shown.

Although I have described the plate as formed of thin metal stamped to shape, it will be understood that it may he 'cast in malleable iron or other material.

I attach importance to the fact that the compression caused by the riveting forces the material of the belt into the concavities on the under face of the plate, and thus increases the frictional hold of the latter upon the belt.

I claimp l. The belt-fastener plate B in a single piece having perforations at opposite sides of the transverse center line adapted to receive the fastening means, struck-up ribs connecting the perforations upon opposite sides of said transverse centerline and projections on each side of said plate inthe plane thereof at right angles to the longitudinal center line and serving the double function of strengthening the plate at its longitudinal center and indicating the proper location of the transverse center line relatively to the belt ends with which it is used, whereby the plate is evenly spaced as to the ineetingends of the belt-sections, substantially as specified.

2. In a belt-fastener plate of thin metal having perforations adapted to receive rivets or analogous fastening means, a swell partially surrounding each perforation and formed by striking up the metal at those points, the supporting edge b formed by said swell serving as an abutment to the upper portion of the body of the rivet, in combination with an unelevated portion of the plate at a lower level forming the edge h2 and serving to support the body on the opposite side at that point, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

3. In a belt-fastener plate of thin metal havin g perforations on opposite sides of the transverse center line adapted to receive the fastening means, swells about said perforations and ribs connecting said swells, formed with the latter' by striking up the metal of those portions, and abutments for the rivet, all combined and arranged to serve substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

4. The plate B having the oppositely-arlranged perforations b h, rivets C, C extending through the latter, the swells B3 partially surrounding the perforations and forming with the plane of the plate the supporting edges b and b2 for said rivets, and the ribs B4 connecting opposing pairs of swells, all combined and arranged to serve substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDRE LINCOLN EATON.

Vitnesses:

ROBT. CONNOR, CHARLEs R. SEARLE.

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