US869410A - Insulating-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 29, 1907.

A. W. BERRESFORD.

INSULATING COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.21,1903.

2 sums-SHEET 1.

PATENTED OCT; 29, 1 907.

A. W. BBRRBSFORD.

INSULATING COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1903.

2 8HEET8-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. BERRESFORD, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

INSULATING-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed February 21'. 1903- Ssrial No. 144-488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. BERREsi-ORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Insulating-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for'coupling parts of electrical apparatus and insulating said parts from each other. The improved coupling is particularly designed for use in connection with .field rheostats adapted to be mounted onswitch boards, and its employment therein enables certain features of construction which overcome disadvantages heretofore present in such rheostats.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention; Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a field regulator in which my improvements are employed; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a:z Fig. '1 showing the coupling in elevation, and, Fig. '4 is aperspective view of the coupling, one of the yokes being withdrawn from the insulating block.

In these drawings is shown a switch board 1. In rear thereof is arranged a base 2 which carries contact buttons 3 connected by resistances 4 in the usual manner. The base is provided with lugs 5 which rest upon the rear of the switch board, andis held in position by bolts 6 which pass through said lugs.

On each side of the base are washers 7 which are supported in position by pins or studs 8 fastened thereto and seated in recesses in the base. A shaft 9 passes through an opening in the base which is slightly larger than the shaft and said shaft is journaled in said washers. The ends of said shaft project beyond said washers and on the rear end of the shaft is fastened an arm or lever 11 which carries a brush 12 adapted to engage the contact buttons on the base.

- Through an opening 13 in the switch board extends a shaft 14 which is not as large as the opening. This shaft is journaled in alinement with the other shaft in plates 15 secured to the switch board by bolts 16. The front plate is preferably circular and constitutes a dial for the rheostat. On the outer end of the shaft 14 is a hand wheel 17 for turning the same and operating the rheostat.

In order to provide a readily separable connection between the shafts 9 and 14 and to insulate said shafts from each other, I have contrived .the following construction'. The yokes 18 have hubs 18, which fit loosely on the adjacent ends of the shafts and which may be set in position thereon by the thumb setscrews 18*, extending laterally of the shaft. It will be seen that the set'scre ws are readily accessible for manipulation when the shaft of an operating handle on the switchboard is coupled to the shaft of a rheostat or other device on the rear of the switchboard. An insulating block 19, preferably of circular form, is interposed between said yokes. The yokes are preferably arranged at right angles to each other and at their extremities are provided with lugs 20 which enter corresponding recesses or notches 21 formed in the insulat ing block. The block 19 of insulating material insulates the two parts of the shaft from each other and by a loose separable connection mechanically unites them so that rotation of one will rotate the other. Thus, with this arrangement, the yokes 18 act as dogs to transmit the movement of the shaft 14 to the insulating disk and from the insulating disk to the shaft 9, said dogs being at all times effectively insulated from each other.

In field rheostats, as heretofore constructed, a single shaft was employed and the handle had its hub insulated from the shaft to protect the operator from shock by the current. In order that the rheostat might be set at varying distances in rear of the switchboard to suit the circumstances, the rheostats were constructed with a long shaft. After the rheostat was s et in position the end of the shaft protruding in front of the switchboard was cut off the desired length and then the hand wheel applied thereto. The parts of the rheostat were assembled except the handle when the rheostat was shipped. In many instances the shaft was bent in transportation of the device and this 00- casioned considerable difficulty in putting the rheostat in an operative position. This inconvenience has been entirely obviated by the coupling which I have difficulty or inconvenience.

It will be obvious that to assemble the parts of the coupling, all that is necessary to be done is to remove the yoke from the shaft carrying the hand wheel and cut the shaft the proper length, after which the insulating disk may be interposed between the yokes and the latter may then be readily adjusted and set in position on the shafts.

It will be seen that my coupling is of the type known as universal. By a universal coupling I wish to be understood as designating that class of couplings which will permit the shafts connected by said coupling, to

rotate freely although the shafts are not in perfect agtial alincinent.

My coupling is also a separable coupling by which I wish to be understood as designating a coupling that may be disconnected without the use of tools or the the coupling and while the coupling is in its completed working condition. I

Herein is shown and described only the preferred manner of carrying out. my invention, but I am aware that various changes may be made therein, as tor instance, the number oi lugs and recesses might be increased or diminished, or their relative positions might he changed. I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shaft coupling, the combination with coupling members, of lugs extending longitudinally from each of said members, and an insulating block having notches into which the lugs on one of said members may extend and separate notches for accommodating the lugs on the ther of said members.

2. In a'shat't coupling, the combination with yokos se cured to the respective shaft parts, ot' forwardly extending lugs integrally formed on said yokcs, and an insulating block having notches into which the lugs on one of said yokes maycxtend and separate notches tor accommodating the lugs on the other of said yokes.

3. In a shaft coupling, the combination with coupling members secured to the, respective shaft parts, of forwnrdlycxtending lugs for each of said coupling members.

each of said dogs having a forwardly extending lug, and an insulating block having a notch wherein the lug of one of said dogs may engage and a separate notch in which the lug oi: the other of said dogs may engage.

5.. in a shaft coupling, the combination with the respective shaft parts, of an insulating block disposed between said shaft parts and having notches in the periphery thereof, a dog secured to one of said shaft parts and having forwardly extending lugs engaging in corresponding notches in said block and a similardog secured to the other of said shaft parts and having its lugs engaging in separate notches in said block.

(i. in a shaft coupling, the combination'with the respective shaft parts, of an insulating block disposed between said parts, a (log member on each of said parts, and lugs on each of said dog members, the lugs on each of said dog members extending therefrom toward the other dog memher, said insulating block having a. set of notches within which the lugs 'on one of said dog members may engage and a separate set of notches wherein the lugs upon the other of said (log members may engage.

7. in a shaft coupling, the combination with the respec tive shaft parts, of a dog member secured to each of said parts, forwardly extending lugs on each of said dog members, all of said lugs being disposed to rotate in a common plane. and an insulating block separating said dog members and spacing the lugs on one of said members from the lugs on the other of said members.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR W. BERRESFURD.

Witnesses M. ii. Roi'HFoRD. EDWIN B. ii. 'iowmc. Jr.

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