Reeves Speed Control

[pcrov]

Cleaned up another pull from gramp's garage. Machined surfaces got grease, the rest a coat of boiled linseed oil. The side says "REEVES" and the wheel "REEVES SPEED CONTROL". Turning the wheel drives the top side to side on ways, limited by adjustable stops on the screw on either side.

I don't know what it is but at least it functions smooth now.

I've seen reference online to it maybe being a motor mount for a pulley-driven transmission(?). If anyone has an understanding of this thing I'd love to learn whatever you can share about it.

 

[RTM]

Early 70-80s variable speed drive. We had a few that were phased out as I was there post 1982. The two cones, adjusted by cranking, were used to set a speed. Wasn’t typically adjusted on the fly for our processes, but rather to adjust one piece to the next.


Someone posted a manual, and more somewhere on GJ.

 

[cvairwerks]

It's actually from the 1940's. It's essentially half of a Reeves drive system, that is spring loaded to change as the motor is moved in relation to the driven shaft. Closer to the shaft and the belt relaxes and the spring within the drive closes the gap on the motor pulley cones. Add tension and the gap in the cones opens up.

 

[pcrov]

Thank you both. I think I'm getting an idea of how it worked.

As an aside, I really like how the stops engage to counter the input rotational force directly rather than trying to stop the lateral movement at a mechanical disadvantage. I bet that's saved some threads.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here is a Reeves drive on a Powermatic band saw. It uses a fixed motor driving a countershaft with a spring loaded variable pitch sheave. In this configuration the driven shieve pitch / diameter is maually adjusted. It also has a high / low range gearbox for a wider speed range. A broad range of speeds is available from this type system. Edl

 

[pcrov]

Pictures are a great help. Thank you!

 

[RTM]

Machined surfaces got grease, the rest a coat of boiled linseed oil. The side says "REEVES" and the wheel "REEVES SPEED CONTROL". Turning the wheel drives the top side to side on ways, limited by adjustable stops on the screw on either side.

Buddy of mine was trying to use the base for something resembling a vise for lutherie, but I don’t know if he ever finished that idea, will need to check back.