IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF HOISTING OR ELEVATING MACHINERY, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PURPOSES." OTHER LIKE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF HOISTING
OR ELEVATING MACHINERY, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR
PURPOSES."
OTHER LIKE
A communication from abroad by Eli Thayer, of Worcester,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON-
TROLLING THE ACTION OF HOISTING OR ELEVATING MACHINERY, AND PARTLY
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Eli
Thayer, of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The Invention herein described relates chiefly to that class of hydraulic elevators
or hoisting apparatus which are provided with one or more vertically moving
sections, and the said Invention comprises certain special mechanism, hereinafter
fully described, for arresting the upward and downward motions of a moving
section, parts of which mechanism are also applicable for other purposes.
I will first describe the mechanism illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
Drawing.
Figure 1 represents a central vertical sectional elevation of my improved cut-off
mechanism, and
Figure 2 is a similar view drawn to an enlarged scale of a portion of the same
illustrating the movement of the fluid-volume when the moving part descends,
Figure 3 is also a similar view drawn to an enlarged scale indicating the position
of the parts when the moving part has completed its downward movement.
This mechanism constitutes an improved cut-off for gradually arresting the.
progress of a moving body by the displacement of a fluid-volume, the latter being
forced by the action of a moving part through a constantly diminishing opening;
and its novelty consists mainly in constructing the movable and stationary portions
of the cut-off in such a manner that when the former has completed its movement

page_text: the opening between the two for the passage of the water will not be entirely
closed, the cut-off thus being what may be termed partial in its action, in contra-
distinction to one that completely closes the opening.
A, Figures 1 and 3, represents a base-plate, which may be of any suitable form,
and a, a tube rising from the same, and provided at its upper end with a stuffing
box a' of any suitable construction; B represents a cylinder of a length suitable
to the circumstances of the case, and fitted within the tube a at the lower end of
the same, as shown; C represents a plunger, which is provided at its upper end
with a cylindrical portion having a head c, which cylindrical portion is adapted to
move freely through the stuffing-box in a vertical direction; and the said plunger
is provided at its lower end with a tapering portion c¹ adapted to move into and
out of the tube or cylinder B. The greatest diameter of the tapering portion c¹ is
slightly less than the diameter of the cylinder B, as shown in Figure 3, and hence
the former cannot come into contact with the latter, although it approaches the
same very closely. D represents a fluid-volume, which may be of greater or less
amount, with which the tube a is supplied.
The operation of the parts above described is substantially as follows, that is to
Bay :-
The plunger in descending from its raised position is permitted to move freely
until its portion c¹ enters the upper end of the cylinder B, when its motion is
resisted with increasing power until its limit of movement is reached. The
resistance to its movement results from the limited area of the opening through
which the water-volume in the cylinder B displaced by the descending plunger is
caused to pass, as indicated in Figure 2, and the partial view adjacent thereto, and
as this area is constantly contracting or decreasing as the plunger descends it
follows necessarily that the resistance to the movement constantly increases.
Although the area of the opening constantly diminishes it is never actually closed,
the construction of the parts preventing this result.
If desired a spring E may be
employed to effect the return movement of the plunger.
Some of the advantages of the above described construction are as follow, that is
. to say :-
The plunger descends like a spring yielding under pressure, but without the
possibility of a rebound. Its final movement in descending and its initial movement
in ascending are gradual, so that no shock or jar will be felt.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction described; if desired the sides
of the plunger may be made parallel, and the sides of the cylinder tapering. The
resisting fluid also may be caused to pass around the plunger through the base-
piece.
The said cut off mechanism is applicable for many purposes; for instance, with
the spring it may be employed as a spring for railway vehicles or ordinary wagons,
also on draft chains and cables, and without the spring it may be applied to steam
and other elevators for the purpose of arresting the descent without shock or jar.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanisin illustrated in section in Figure 4.
A represents a base-piece having a diaphragm a with a central opening through
the same, as shown; a represents the bottom cap of a moving section, which is
provided with a solid projection a² having a straight and tapering portion adapted
to enter the opening in the diaphragm, as shown. The descent of the moving
section is gradually arrested by the entrance of the projection into the opening of
the diaphragm, a water-volume thus being caught and partially confined between
the bottom cap and the diaphragm.
I will now proceed to describe the mechanism shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Figure 5 represents a side elevation of my improved elevator partially in
section.
Figure 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of one tube
and the lower portion of another tube ascending through the former, the latter
being shown just at the point of coming to rest, and illustrates the manner of
arresting the ascent of the rising tube, and

page_text: Figure 7 represents on an enlarged scale the bottom portion of the tubes, and
illustrates the manner of arresting the descent of the tube.
The part of the Invention illustrated in these Figures consists mainly in con-
structing the bottom cap of a hydraulic elevator section with a tubular tapering
projection, and in employing the same in connection with a partially compressed
water-volume for the purpose of arresting the downward movement of the section,
and also in the employment in connection with the base collar of one section of a
stop-ring and a partially confined water-volume above it, the construction being
such that the upward movement of this section is gradually arrested, so that no
shock or jar occurs.
A, Figures 5 and 7, represents the foundation or base-piece consisting preferably
of a cylindrical casting, having the pipe section a with a proper flange for receiving
the collar of a pipe a which communicates with the accumulator a² when a pump
is employed, or otherwise directly with the main. a³ represents a diaphragm or
division plate in the base-piece, and having an opening through it, preferably
located in the centre, as shown. B, Figures 5 and 7, represents the standing pipe
or tube securely united to the base-piece by screw-threads, as shown; this pipe or
tube extends any desired distance in an upward direction. b, Figures 5 and 6,
represents a sleeve upon the top of the tube B; by means of this sleeve the
diameter of the same is enlarged for the purpose of affording proper space for a
volume of water and the packing devices hereinafter referred to. 61, Figure 5,
represents a shoulder upon the inside of the sleeve, and 62 an inclined face or wall,
the purpose of which will be fully hereinafter described. C, Figures 5, 6, and 7,
represents the first moving pipe, and c, Figure 5, a cap firmly secured to the bottom
of the same, and provided with a collar or flange c', and a tubular tapering
projection c², the purpose of which will be fully hereinafter described. The top of
the tube C is constructed precisely the same as the top of the tube B, and hence
the same will not be described. D, Figures 5 and 6, represents a stop or cut-off
ring encircling the pipe C and resting upon the top of the pipe B in the chamber
of the sleeve b, and free to move in a vertical direction. E, Figure 5, represents
a flange-ring encircling the pipe C and resting upon the shoulder b¹ of the sleeve b.
F, Figure 5, represents packing rings consisting of proper lengths of india rubber
tubes coiled upon the flange ring in such a manner as to break joint. G, Figure 5,
represents a clamping sleeve ring having a flange g and screws g', by means of
which the packing rings are properly compressed to make a tight joint,
The operation of this mechanism is substantially as follows:-
The water from the main pump is received in the chamber of the base-piece, and
is delivered from it through its central opening directly beneath the bottom caps of
the tubes, its pressure being thus exerted upon the tubes always in a vertical
direction. By means of the pressure exerted the tubes are elevated in the usual
well-known manner. The upward movement of the section is gradually arrested
at the proper point in the following manner, that is to say-As each section
approaches the end of its upward movement the collar c' of the bottom cap comes
in contact with the stop-ring D of the section below, and consequently lifts the
same. By the upward movement of the stop-ring the water-volume above it in
the chamber of the sleeve is displaced and caused to flow downward through the
space between the outer face and the adjacent wall of the sleeve, as indicated by
the arrows in Figure 6. As the water-space constantly decreases in area as the
stop-ring rises owing to the inclination of the wall, it follows that the water-volume
above it is forced through the water-space into the chamber below more and more
slowly, and consequently the motion of the section is arrested before the stop-ring
reaches the packing ring. By means of this gradual action the section is brought
to a full stop without the slightest shock or jar.
The downward movement of the section is gradually arrested at the proper time
in the following manner, that is to say:-As the section approaches the end of its
movement in descending, as indicated by the straight arrows, Figure 7, its tubular
tapering projection enters the central opening in the part below it, and gradually

page_text: diminishes the area of the same. The water volume in the chamber between the
two caps, or the lower cap and the diaphragm, and flowing through the opening as
indicated by the curved arrows, Figure 7, exerts a constantly increasing resistance
owing to the constantly diminishing area of the same; which resistance serves
finally to arrest the movement of the section.
Some of the advantages of this construction are as follow, that is to say:
By the employment of a tubular tapering projection in connection with the
diaphragm, or another cap for partially compressing,a water-volume, the downward
motion of the section is arrested with absolute certainty and without shock or jar;
and by the employment of the collar in connection with the ring and a confined
water-volume the upward movement of the section is arrested with absolute
certainty and without shock or jar.
The modification shewn in Figure 8 will now be described:-
A represents a base-piece provided with a diaphragm a having a central opening
adapted to receive the solid or hollow projection of a moving section, and a valve a¹
adapted to open in an upward dirtion as shown.
The operation is as follows, that is to say :-
The descent of the moving section is arrested in the same manner as before, the
valve a' being closed by pressure of the water-volume. When the controlling valve
however is opened to raise the elevator, the valve a¹ is instantly opened by the
pressure, so that the water-volume has ready entrance to the section above.
The special construction of the parts shewn in Figure 9 which are employed for
arresting the sections at the proper time in their upward movement will now be
described:-
A represents the upper end either of the fixed tube a, Figure 10, or a moving
section.
a represents an enlarged sleeve which is secured to the end of the tube
for the purpose of forming in connection with the lower end of the tube above a
chamber for containing a water-volume, as shewn. a', a¹, represent rings having
their adjacent faces recessed for the reception of an elastic tube a2*, as shown.
a², a², represent bolts, by means of which the two rings are secured together in
such manner that complete separation is impossible, while at the same time they
may approach or recede from each other within certain limits with perfect freedom.
The operation is substantially as follows, that is to say :-
At the proper time in the upward movement of any section the flange of its
bottom cap comes into contact with the inner edge of the lower ring and lifts the
same in the water-chamber. The water-volume which is displaced by its movement
passes from above down the sides of the same into the lower part of the chamber.
The upward movement of the lower ring is resisted by the water-volume above
which bears upon the upper ring. From this it follows that the elastic tube
between the two is compressed and caused to project into the space between the
rings against the walls of the chamber, and in consequence of this action the passage
of the water is resisted with increasing force until finally the movement of the
section is arrested.
The special mechanism illustrated in Figure 10 will now be described.
A, A, represent the movable sections of a hydraulic elevator, and a the fixed base-
piece provided with a diaphragm having a central opening; a' represents a tubular
projection of cylindrical form depending from the bottom cap of each section and
provided with the slots a² which may be either in the form of a parallelogram or a
triangle as may be desired. These slots however of whatever form they may be
made are so arranged as to furnish a diminishing area of opening from below
upwards; a represents passage-ways extending from the sides of the tubular
projection below the cap, and each provided with the valve at, as shown.
The operation of this special construction when the sections are descending is as
follows, that is to say:-
The projection a¹ of the lower section of the series when the latter has nearly
reached the limit of its downward movement enters the opening in the diaphragm
of the base piece, as shown in Figure 10. In consequence of this action the water-

page_text: volume between the bottom cap of the descending section, and the diaphragm has
no means of escape excepting through the slots of the tubular projection a¹, and as
the area of opening in these slots is constantly diminishing by the further entrance
of the tubes into the opening it follows that the resistance to the movement of the
descending section is constantly increasing, and in consequence of this increasing
resistance the movement at last is wholly arrested. The operation of the upper
section is precisely the same as that of the lower one, the tubular projection of the
descending section entering the tubular projection of the section below it in
the same manner that the projection of the lower section enters the opening in the
diaphragm.
The operation of this special construction when the sections are ascending is as
follows, that is so say,
When the movement of a descending section is finally arrested the only passage-
way from the chamber of the base-piece into the chamber below the diaphragm
and the bottom cap of the section (the valve at being closed) is that small portion
of the slots which has not been passed through the central opening. If however
water is now admitted to raise the elevator the valve at will yield instantly under
the pressure and expose the entire area of the bottom cap. The entire area thus
being exposed it follows that the sections start instantly when the regulating valve
is opened.
The modification shewn in Figure 11 will now be described.
A represents a fixed cylinder or tube provided with a supply pipe a, as shown;
al represents an inclined wall within the tube at its base and within each of the
auxiliary base-pieces hereinafter referred to, as shown.
a², a², represent the moving sections of the elevator, and a³, a³, auxiliary base
pieces suspended below the proper base of the sections by means of straps or other
proper fastening devices.
The operation is substantially as follows, that is to say:-
'-
The
The hydraulic pressure received through the supply-pipe being applied to the
moving sections, the same are elevated in the usual well known manner.
descent of the section is gradually arrested by the approach of the auxiliary
base-piece as to the inclined wall a¹ of the part below, in consequence of which
approach the area of the opening for the displaced water-volume is constantly
decreased.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
The novel apparatus or mechanism herein described for arresting the upward and
downward movements of hydraulic hoisting or elevating machinery, and for other
purposes as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)