New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-07

to the cross beam Of the car. The groJVed pui''s
on which the governor balls or arms are carried
is driven by the usual rope Under normal speed
thcs. Governor balls are held inward by a spring
but whenever they are thrown outward by
slight Increase Of speed they engage trigger
which releases the compressed spring shown III
the cut. This. acting through powerful wedges
and jaws grips the guide rail with force OF
many tons. bringing the car TO standsuH
within distanc" Of 4 few feet.
Another ingenious feature Of this device is
that it acts only when the elevator is descend
ing. which fact permits Of the device being set
for descending speeds but slightly in excess Of
the :. FORMAL without interference with any speed
that may Dee practical on the ascending trip.
This safety stop b. one of the distinctive feat
urrs 81 the Spraguc electric elevator. 1t is the
most certain in it, action II any practical safety
stop that has yet been devised and seems u IN
sure absolute protection against falling cages
Another essential fcatur" Of perfect elevator
safety D. embraced ln this DEVICE, w, mat tne
clamp shoes arr never subjected 10 wear, hence
their gripping power is always AT A maximum
Furthermore. the stain on tn" governor rope IS
always constant and very small until the SAFETY
clutch &, released. and then the strain on the
rope is relieved instead II being Increased as IN
thu ordinary practice.
This salty can hc adjusted 20 act At any de-
sired rate of speed and. % n any time II should
hc necessary, tho stop can be- sprung from tho
car by tho operator This IS done 10y merely
pulling a small lever placed conveniently near
the operator When the car is again under con-
troll the stop can DE easily released and the car
freed. It is not possible. though. 20 lock the
safety device open without deliberate intention
on the part of the operator.
So complete. efficient and counterguardcd are
these safety appliances that il is difficult To con-
cciyc If any uutoWard conditions that would re-
suit IN injury or mishap To passengers. Every
safety device is i'm full sight. both on the car
and on the machine, and To such perfection Of
safety has the system been brought that In its
O.. ina tI.r. hoe ..p
been L single accident or disaster in which the
occupants OF Spraguc elevator were hurt or
even seriously disturbed.
AN AUTOMATIC BRAKE.
Efficient as is the device just described it is
but one among the safety appliances of this Gle
vator. 1t is quite possible that through care
lcssncs5 on the part Of the operator, or some
dsarrangcment of the mechanism. speed
which might be above the normal might. never
thccss. Tot be- sufficient 10 call for the decisive.
sudden and effective oprratinn of the safety
clutch described which nigh, be- designated
the emergency stop I'm such case an ecctri-
cal braking device comes into automatic action
and. without any marked disturbance. or sud
den arrest of the motion, quietly but effectively
applies brake upon the operating motor until
the speed Of the caI is reduced 10 the normal.
Then the intelligent brake releases its grip on
the motor and returns the cage To the control
of it, human operator.
Nothing is Icft To chance. and the operator is
not relied upon too far Beyond the devices al
ready mentioned. the operating lever is Itself 4
safety device. All of the mechanism that is seen
in tn, cage is an ordinary-looking lever or
handle projecting from a small metal box. ~
opcrat. tn. car this lever is turned To the right
for the ascent and To- the left for the desc emit
If for any reason the operators hand is re-
moved from tho lever. it instantly flies to It's
upright. central position. and the car gently but
quickly stops
In case the elevator operator. through care
lcssncss or other cause. did not properly stop
the cage at either the top or the bottom Of its
shaft. or IN the event of the controller not
acting or m safety clutch refusing 10 work
H., r. are at both top and bottom double cloctri-
cal and mechanical limit stops. carefully graded
for the gradual and easy arrest Of the car travel
Another provision that adds am important clc-
p.nt ~ safety g. the electrical brake. Whirh IS
automatically applied Whenever tho cage Is
brought 90 % stop COZ the current fails from any
cause. ana which prevents any movement eX-