IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OR OTHERWISE MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Thomas Peter Néwbon, and Thomas Smith,
of Fenchurch Street, Naval Architects, and James Brown, of Follit
Street, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OR OTHERWISE MOVING HEAVY
WEIGHTS."
Sealed the 24th June 1859, and dated the 24th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Thomas Peter
Newbon, Thomas Smith, and James Brown at the Office of the Commis-
sioners of Patents, with their Petition, on' the 24th December 1858.
We, JAMES THOMAS PETER NEWBON, and.THOMAS SMITH, of Fenchurch Street,
Naval Architects, and JAMES BROWN, of Follit Street, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OR OTHERWISE MOVING HEAVY
WEIGHTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of machinery or
apparatus and gearing "more particularly adapted for the raising or lifting
and lowering out of ship's anchors, and for other similar purposes, but the said
Invention may also be applied for the raising or lowering, or the holding or
retaining of heavy weights or bodies under strain. The inconveniences which
pertain to the windlasses and capstans in ordinary use on board of ships and

page_text: other vessels are well known, and the amount of labour required to work them
as also the risks to which those employed about them are often subjected,
render it highly important that a more convenient, safe, and manageable
apparatus should be substituted for them. The employment of chain barrels
or chain sheaves with the bottom of the grove suitably formed for receiving
and bedding the links of chains have been applied in various situations, and
capstan windlasses with horizontal chain pullies have been introduced in ships,
and have been worked below the line of deck, upon which the capstan head is
fitted. But this Invention relates, first, to the construction of groved drums,
pulleys, or barrels as described with worm and wheel gearing; and second, to
the novel contrivance herein described for compressing the links of chains
after they have been hauled in or are held on by machines or apparatus
according to this Invention, or when such chains have been hauled or secured
by any similar apparatus..
The first part of our said Invention as before stated, relates to the use and
.employment of grooved drums, pulleys, or barrels so formed as to receive
between the side cheeks thereof (which thus form the grove therein) one line
of chain which only partially surrounds it; instead of coiling thereon, the bottom,
or the bottom and sides of such grove being so cast or otherwise formed as to
receive and retain each link of the chain in its position as it is brought upon
the barrel in the course of its rotation. These groved drums, sheaves, or
barrels are fitted upon horizontal shafts, in whatever position or situation they
may be employed, and when used on board of ship, they may be fitted below
the deck from which they are worked, or they may slightly project above the
line of the deck; or when fitted in a suitable frame, may be mounted on and
stand at a suitable height from the deck upon which or from which they are
worked. Such groved drums, pulleys, or barrels may be employed singly, or
more than one such groved drums, pulley, or barrel may be employed for
each line of chain, and where more than one is employed to act upon the
same line of chain, they may be arranged one directly above the other, or the
one in advance of the other at any suitable level, according to the direction or
pull of the chain, whether such chain be employed as a ship's cable, or for
any other purpose about a ship, or in or about any machinery or for any other
purpose on land. The groved drums, pulleys, or barrels constructed as
described are to be fitted upon horizontal shafts, and to be worked or actuated
by means of a worm wheel or wheel into which a worm or screw works
tangentially, and which tangential screw or worm may be applied at the top or
bottom, or at either side of the wheel into which it is geared, and rotary motion
may be communicated direct thereto, or suitable gearing may be introduced

page_text: either for the purpose of changing the direction of motion, or the speed of
working.
For the convenience of working the apparatus when employed either for
raising heavy weights or hauling with considerable force, or when holding on
or retaining a load or strain, or when lowering out or permitting the free
outrunning or overhauling of the chain, the mechanical appliances employed
in addition to those already described are respectively brought into or put out
of use when necessary, such as the addition of a brake or friction wheel cast
on to or connected with the sides of the groved chain, pulley, drum, or barrel,
and also of a ratchet wheel and palls for retaining tooth by tooth the chain
during its progress, and in addition to these well-known mechanical contri-
vances a chain nipper or compressor constructed according to the second part
of this Invention, and a hinged or other form of chain stopper may be com-
bined within the same framing, or in any more convenient position. Thus when
raising an anchor or lifting a heavy weight motion would be communicated
through the worm and wheel to the groved drum or pulley, and the ratchet
wheel and palls may be used in aid. When the chain has to be held in its
position, the palls and ratchet wheel will assist in retaining the load or puli,
whilst the compressor and the stopper will, if used, further secure the chain in
its position.
When lowering out a light load or overhauling the chain, the compressor
and stopper are taken off or out of action, and by means of a suitable clutch the
groved drum or pulley may be entirely disengaged from the wheel gearing, and
be permitted to turn freely, uninterrupted or unimpeded by the other parts of
the apparatus, and may be entirely under the controul of the brake and friction
strap.
When it is desireable, as when apparatus according to this Invention are
used instead of the ordinary windlasses on board of ships for raising and
lowering two chain cables and anchors, and in other cases of a similar dual
character, we fit two chain drums, pulleys, or barrels, each with its break or
friction wheel, and its ratchet wheel and disengaging gear, upon a suitable long
and strong shaft, upon which is securely fitted the worm wheel or tangent
wheel (or more than one may be fitted thereon), and when the other is com-
municated to the worm or screw and worm wheel, one or both of the drums,
pulleys, or barrels may be worked.
The chain compresser which we have referred to as the second part of our
Invention consists in so arranging the lever or bar acting upon the compressor
jaw that where a crank arm is used for bringing the said compressor jaw close
to, the position of rest shall be bejond the dead centre of the crank, and that

page_text: when the compressor is pulled home the crank shall abut or take its bearing
upon a stop or block, or when an eccentric or its equivalent is eniployed
instead of the crank the extent of motion of the compressor jaw will regulate
the amount of eccentricity, and the dead point should be when the eccentric
has been turned to the greatest extent for the purpose of bringing the moveable
and fixed jaws together or the moveable jaw and the gripping plate into close
contact.
Instead of working the friction band or brake by means of a lever, we
employ a screwed shaft and nut with a lever handle or wheel at the upper or
lower end thereof for giving motion thereto, as a more regular and gradual
application of friction may be thus insured, and without involving risk to
those applying the brake.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Thomas Peter Newbon, Thomas Smith, and James
Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
THOMAS PETER NEWBON and THOMAS SMITH, of Fenchurch Street, Naval
Architects, and JAMES BROWN, of Follit Street, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said James Thomas Peter Newbon, Thomas Smith, and James
Brown, Her special licence that we, the said James Thomas Peter Newbon,
Thomas Smith, and James Brown, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said James Thomas Peter Newbon, Thomas
Smith, and James Brown, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING OR OTHERWISE
MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said James Thomas Peter Newbon, Thomas Smith, and James Brown, by an
instrument in writing under our, or one of our hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Thomas Peter Newbon,
Thomas Smith, and James Brown, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying Drawings:-
This Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of machinery or
apparatus and gearing more particularly adapted for the raising or lifting and
lowering out of ship's anchors, and for other similar purposes; but the said
Invention may also be applied for the raising or lowering, or the holding or
retaining of heavy weights or bodies under strain.
The inconveniences which pertain to the windlasses and capstans in ordinary
use on board of ships and other vessels are well known, and the amount of
labor required to work them, as also the risks to which those employed about
them are often subjected, render it highly important that a more convenient,
safe, and manageable apparatus should be substituted for them.
The employment of chain barrels or chain sheaves with the bottom of the
grove suitably formed for receiving and bedding the links of chains have been
applied in various situations, and capstan windlasses with horizontal chain
pullies have been introduced in ships, and have been worked below the line of
deck upon which the capstan head is fitted; but this Invention relates, first, to
the combination of grooved drums, pullies, or barrels, as described, with worm
and wheel gearing; and, second, to the novel contrivance for compressing the
links of chains after they have been hauled in or are held on by machines or
apparatus according to this Invention, or when such chains have been hauled
or moved by any similar apparatus.
The first part of our said Invention, as before stated, relates to the use and
employment of grooved drums, pulleys, or barrels, so formed as to receive
between the side cheeks thereof (which thus form the groove therein) one line
of chain, which only partially surrounds it, instead of coiling thereon; the
bottom, or the bottom and sides of such groove being so cast or otherwise formed,
as to receive and retain each link of the chain in its position as it is brought
upon the barrel in the course of its rotation. These grooved drums, sheaves,
or barrels, are fitted upon horizontal shafts in whatever position or situation
they may be employed, and when used on board of ship they may be fitted
below the deck from which they are worked, or they may slightly project
above the line of the deck, or when fitted in a suitable frame, may be mounted.

page_text: on and stand at a suitable height from the deck upon which or from which
they are worked. Such grooved drums, pulleys, or barrels may be employed
singly, or more than one such grooved drum, pulley, or barrel may be
employed for each line of chain, and where more than one is employed to act
upon the same line of chain, they may be arranged one directly above the
other, or the one in advance of the other, at any suitable level according to
the direction or pull of the chain, whether such chain be employed as a ship's
cable, or for any other purpose about a ship, or in or about any machinery, or
for any other purpose on land. The grooved drums, pullies, or barrels con-
structed as described, are to be fitted upon horizontal shafts, and to be worked
or actuated by means of spur or bevil gearing; or, as we prefer, wherever the
same can be applied, to fit upon the horizontal shaft carrying the grooved
pulleys, a worin wheel or wheel into which a worm or screw works tangentially,
and which tangential screw or worm may be applied at the top or bottom, or
at either side of the wheel into which it is geared, and rotary motion may be
communicated direct thereto, or suitable gearing may be introduced, either for
the purpose of changing the direction of motion, or the speed of working.
For the convenience of working the apparatus, when employed either for
raising heavy weights, or hauling with considerable force, or when holding on
or retaining a load or strain, or when lowering out or permitting the free
outrunning or overhauling of the chain, the machanical appliances employed
in addition to those already described are respectively brought into or put out
of use when necessary, such as the addition of a break or friction wheel, cast
on to or connected with the sides of the grooved chain, pulley, drum, or barrel;
and also of a ratchet wheel and pall for retaining tooth by tooth the chain
during its progress; and in addition to these well-known mechanical con-
trivances, a chain nipper or compresser constructed according to the second
part of this Invention, and a binged or other form of chain stopper may be
combined with the machinery and apparatus described, within the same framing,
or in any more convenient position. Thus, when raising an anchor or lifting
a heavy weight, motion would be communicated through the worm and wheel
or other gearing to the grooved drum or pulley, and the ratchet wheel and
pall may be used in aid. When the chain has to be held in its position, the
palls and ratchet wheel will assist in retaining the load or pull, whilst the com-
presser and the stopper will, if used, further secure the chain in its position.
When lowering out a light load, or overhauling the chain, the compressor and
stopper are taken off or out. of action, and by means of a suitable clutch, the
grooved drum or pully may be entirely disengaged from the wheel gearing,
and be permitted to turn freely uninterrupted or unimpeded by the other parts

page_text: of the apparatus, and may be entirely under the control of the break and
friction strap.
When it is desirable, as when apparatus according to. this Invention are
used, instead of the ordinary windlasses on board of ships for raising and
lowering two chain cables and anchors, and in other cases of a similar dual
character, we fit two chain drums, pullies, or barrels, each with its break or
friction wheel, and its ratchet wheel and disengaging gear upon a suitably
long and strong shaft, upon which is securely fitted the worm wheel or tangent
wheel (or more than one may be fitted thereon), and when the motion is com-
municated to the worm or screw and worm wheel, one or both of the drums,
pullies, or barrels may be worked.
The chain compresser which we have referred to as the second part of our
Invention, consists in so arranging the lever or bar acting upon the compresser
jaw that where a crank arm is used for bringing the said compresser jaw
close, the position of rest shall be beyond the dead centre of the crank arm,
and that when the compresser is pulled home, the crank shall abut or take its
bearing upon a stock or block; or when an eccentric or its equivalent is
employed instead of the crank, the extent of motion of the compresser jaw will
regulate the amount of eccentricity, and the dead point should be when the
eccentric has been turned to the greatest extent for the purpose of bringing
the moveable and fixed jaws together, or the moveable jaw and the gripping
plate into close contact. Instead of working the friction band or brake band
by means of a lever, we employ a screwed shaft and nut, with a lever handle
or wheel at the upper or lower end thereof for giving motion thereto as a
more regular and gradual application, and friction may be thus ensured and
without involving risk to those applying the brake.
In the accompanying Drawings, Sheets 1 and 2 represent several views of
apparatus constructed according to this Invention.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, represent different views to the same scale of
an arrangement of machinery or apparatus intended to be applied to act
singly or independently upon each line of chain, and if fitted on board of ship
may be fitted one on each side of the fore hatchway, or in any other position
convenient to or opposite to the line of the hawse hole or opening through
which the chain ascends to the deck. Fig. 4 exhibits a plan view on deck
of the fore part or bow portion of a ship, showing the manner in which we
prefer to fit two separate or distinct setts of the apparatus constructed
according to our Invention, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the deck being
removed from over the apparatus, the better to enable its arrangement and
mode of working to be seen.

page_text: Fig. 1 is side elevation on a large scale of the machinery and gearing con-
structed according to our Invention, suited for acting upon or operating a
ship's cable; Fig. 2 being a front elevation partly in section of Fig. 1 ; and
Fig. 3 is a plan view of Figs. 1 and 2. In the several Figs. the same letters
of reference refer to corresponding parts.
A is the deck line; B, the combing or side frame to which the apparatus
and its framework are respectively attached; C, the chain cable; D, the drum
or chain wheel, having suitable side choks or ribs within the taper groove for
receiving the links of the chain, the groove being wider at top and of suitable
depth, the ribs or tooth-like projections radiate from the centre and admit of
several sises of chain being employed as occasion may arise; E, the shaft
upon which the chain wheel D works loose at the one end, and at the other
carries the worm wheel F, which is acted upon or turned by the worm or
screw G, which is shewn as supported in the bracket H, having a shaft
.working in bearings therein by which motion is communicated from the deck
either by means of a moveable capstan head, as shewn, or otherwise, as may
be preferred. The shaft E is fitted with a feather, and has working upon it a
sliding clutch I, which takes into a corresponding projection cast upon the
side of the chain wheel or pulley D, around which, and on the same side of
which, the ratchet wheel K is cast or fitted thereto. On the opposite side of
the chain wheel or pulley D is cast (or it may be attached thereto) the friction
drum or brake wheel L, which is surrounded by the brake strap or friction
band M acted upon by means of the screw shaft N, worked or turned by
means of the handle O. The clutch I is shown as being worked from the
deck by means of the lever P; Q is a fixed jaw or compresser bar, and R is a
moveable lever jaw for compressing the links of the chain between it and the
fixed jaw or bar Q; this is moved or acted upon by means of the crank S to
which it is connected by means of the connecting rod or bar T, and set in
motion or thrown in or out of gear by means of the lever handle V on deck,
placed in any convenient position, having a crank at its lower end connected
with the crank S, or it may work direct on to the axis of the crank S. Fig. 4
shews the general arrangement of the whole to a smaller scale.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 1, is a side view in section of one set of apparatus, or one
half of a double arrangement of gearing; and Fig, 2 is a plan view of a
double set of apparatus intended to be employed as a substitute on board of
ships for the ordinary windlas and capstan gear for raising and lowering out
anchors, &c., the two sets of apparatus constructed according to this Invention
being worked, actuated, or set in motion by one capstan head or its equivalent,
or by means of one line of shafting and gearing having motion communicated

page_text: thereto from the main engine or a donkey engine, or from any other source or
power fitted or employed on board the ship or other vessel.
Two chain wheels or drums, as before described, are shewn as being fitted
upon the same shaft, upon which they revolve separately, and are caused to
revolve upon motion being given to the shaft, by means of cone friction clutches
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2, or by the ordinary clutch box arrangement
in ordinary use. The main shaft is made proportionately strong and works in
suitable bearings. Upon the centre of its length is securely fixed a worm
wheel at each side of which is shewn a ratchet wheel having several palls
taking thereinto. A feather key is let into the shaft at or near each end for
the clutch box or friction drum to slide upon. Upon one side of each chain
wheel or drum is cast a friction or brake wheel, and on the opposite side of
each the interior cone is formed and turned out for receiving the cone, friction
drum, or clutch box, by which the chain wheels or drums are carried round.
Instead of the worm or screw for actuating the worm wheel working
vertically and taking on to one side of the worm wheel, as described and shewn
in Sheet 1, Figs. 1 to 4; it is here applied horizontally, and the shaft is shewn
as being carried horizontally aft, as far as may be convenient, and motion is
communicated thereto by means of a pair of mitre wheels geared together
between a suitable bracket bearing, and a vertical shaft is shewn as carried up
above the deck, but instead thereof any other convenient arrangement and
mode of working may be substituted, or the gearing may be driven by means
of the main steam engine or by a donkey engine. The chain compresser
before described may be applied as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in Sheet 1,
and in addition thereto any other well-known arrangement of chain stoppers
may be added.
Fig. 3 shews a general plan view of the apparatus shewn in Figs. 1 and 2,
fitted on board a ship.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, in Sheet 2, letters of reference are unnecessary, as
the construction, arrangement, and mode of fitting and working will be readily
understood by those conversant with such like machinery having reference to
the Figures in Sheet 1.
Fig. 4, Sheet 2, shews an improved arrangement of chain compresser, which
we prefer to employ in various situations. a is the fixed bar or compresser
piece; b, the chain; c, a double arm or bent lever, vibrating or moving on the
pivot or bolt d; to each end of this compresser lever arm a chain is attached,
the other ends of these chains are curled round the sheave or pulley f, which
being turned by a spindle or shaft through its axis pulls to or closes the
moveable compresser arm upon the link, whilst the other end of the bent lever

page_text: is hauled in or pulled close to the drum or pulley, when the compresser jaw is
opened and the chain released.
In the accompanying Drawings we have preferred to shew apparatus con-
structed according to our Invention intended for use on board of ships and
other vessels; but apparatus similarly constructed and arranged may be
employed for other purposes, such as for the hauling-up apparatus of "patent
slips," and ship's platforms or "heaving-up ways," and in a variety of other
situations where crabs, windlasses, capstans, capstan windlasses, and other
such machinery and apparatus have hitherto been employed.
Having now described our said Invention, and illustrated the same with the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawing, we claim the novel arrangement of
machinery and apparatus herein described for raising and lowering or other-
wise moving heavy weights or holding on or retaining bodies under strain.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Thomas Peter Newbon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
JOHN SIMPSON,
18, Salisbury St., Strand, W.C.
J. T. P. NEWBON. (L.S.)