HOISTING AND TRAVERSING GOODS AND OTHER LOADS WITH A SINGLE ROPE
Year: 1885

page_text: Rope or Chain.
BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE Civil Engineer 37 Victoria St Liverpool JAMES
NEVILLE Engineer 93 Leadenhall St Liverpool do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for HOISTING AND TRAVERSING GOODS AND OTHER LOADS WITH A
SINGLE ROPE to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in an improved arrangement by which the hoisting and
traversing of goods and other loads can be effected with a single rope-The
following is a description of one adaptation of our arrangement in its application
to warehouses or dock sheds, and when water power is available.
The elevating or hoisting is effected by means of a hydraulic ram, the sides of
the cylinder of which are continued upwards to steady and form a guide for the
head of the ram, and are attached at their upper ends to the traversing girder I or
other section, such girder we either sling to the roof of the upper floors of the
warehouse or support it on light iron stanchions or columns in such a way as to
offer no obstruction to the passage of the goods to be hoisted and traversed such
columns may be made so as to travel in a circular direction when required.
On the flanges of the girder we provide a light carriage running on the said
flanges and carrying the suspension pulley hooks and links, the pulley is hung
from the carriage by means of a cross armed frame the centre of which carries the
axle of the pulley and to the end of these cross arms we attach one end of the rope
from which it passes under the girder to a large pulley mounted on the end of the
traversing girder after passing over this pulley the rope is then continued over
the guide rollers mounted on the upper flanges of the girder until it arrives at the
opposite or other end of the girder where it passes over another large pulley, and
from thence is passed down to the drum or pulley of a water engine hoist, mounted
on the side of the cylinder of the hydraulic ram, the rope after passing under the
drum of the engine or hoist is then passed over the pulley or roller at the head or
upper end of the hydraulic ram, and then passes down and under another pulley
attached to the side of the cylinder of the hydraulic ram and is then passed
upwards and over a pulley mounted on a bracket bolted to the underside of the
traversing girder or it may be bolted to the sides of the hydraulic ram guide the

page_text: rope then passes to the pulley carried by the carriage and is terminated by an
ordinary hook or hoist links, it will be seen by the foregoing description that only
one rope is used.
The action of the hoist when working is as follows.
The goods having been attached to the hoist hook or chains, water pressure is
applied to the bydraulic ram and as it ascends it shortens the distance trom the
end of the rope to the ground, and the goods are therefore hoisted to the height
desired, the water pressure is then turned on to the water engine and as one end of
the rope is permanently attached to the traversing carriage as described, and the
other end of the rope supports the load, and therefore both ends of the rope are
rigidly held to the carriage constituting the rope an endless one, the revolution of
the drum or pulley of the water engine can be made to draw the goods either
towards it or from it for the full length of the traversing girder, by simply making
the engine revolve the drum in one direction or the other.
By the attachement of ropes to the levers actuating the hydraulic ram and the
water engine, and the continuation of such ropes above and along the full length
of the girder the action of the hoist can be manipulated at any given position
without the necessity of visiting the engine or the hydraulic ram.
Our invention is equally applicable to ordinary forms of winches other than
hydraulic, and by the use of our invention the ropes can be made to traverse the
various rooms in a warehouse, and the regulation or control of the action of
hoisting and traversing can be effected at any part of the building and by the use
of our invention in multiple we can effect various and contrary motions of hoisting
and traversing in various rooms at the same time.
The following are some of the novel advantages derivable from the use of our
invention when applied to a dock shed, it will permit us to load off or stow goods
without the use of trucks bogies or trolleys and with two men only, it requires
eight men and a steam winch at present.
If used as a crane over the hatch of a ship it will admit of one two four and up
to eight hoists being used at will and independently of each other, without the use
of stages or any men on deck.

page_text: Hoisting and Traversing Goods and other Loads with a Single
Rope or Chain.
BENJAMIN HOWARTH THWAITE Civil Engineer 37 Victoria St Liverpool JAMES
NEVILLE 93 Leadenhall St Liverpool do hereby declare the nature of our inven-
tion for HoISTING AND TRAVERSING GOODS AND OTHER LOADS WITH A SINGLE
ROPE, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists in an improved arrangement by which hoisting and
traversing of goods etcetra can be effected with a single rope.
The following is a description of one adaptation of our arrangement in its
application to warehouses or dock sheds and where water power is available.
The elevating or hoisting is effected by means of a hydraulic ram, the sides of
the cylinder of which are continued upwards to steady and to form a guide for the
head of the ram and are attached at their upper ends to the traversing girder
of I or other section.
Such girders are either slung to the roof or to the upper floors of a warehouse,
or are supported on light iron stanchions or columns in such a way as to offer no
obstruction to the passage of the goods to be hoisted and traversed, such columns
may be made so as to travel in a circular direction when required.
On the flanges of the girder, we provide a light carriage running on the said
flanges, and carrying the suspension pulley hooks and links, the pulley is hung
from the carriage by means of a cross armed frame, the centre of which carries the
axle of the pulley, and to the end of these cross arms we attach one end of the
rope, from which it passes under the girder to a large pulley mounted on the end
of the traversing girder, after passing over this pulley the rope is then continued
over the girder rollers mounted on the upper flanges of the girder, until it arrives
at the opposite or other end of the girder, where it passes over another large
pulley, and from thence it passes down on to the drum or pulley of a water engine
hoist, mounted on the side of the cylinder of the hydraulic ram, the rope after
passing under the drum of the engine or hoist is then passed over the pulley or
roller at the head or upper end of the hydraulic ram, and then passes down and
under another pulley, attached to the side of the cylinder of the hydraulic ram,
and is then passed upwards and over a pulley mounted on a bracket attached to
the underside of the traversing girder or it may be bolted to the sides of the
bydraulic ram guides: The rope then passes to the pulley carried by the carriage,
and is terminated by an ordinary hook or hoist links.
It will be seen by the foregoing description that only one rope is used.
The action of the hoist when working is as follows→
The goods having been attached to the hoist hook or chains, water pressure is
applied to the hydraulic ram, and as it ascends, it shortens the distance from the
end of the rope to the ground, and the goods are therefore hoisted to the height

page_text: required, the water pressure is then turned on to the water engine, and as soon as
one end of the rope is attached to the traversing carriage, as described, and the
other end of the rope supports the load, and therefore both ends of the rope are
rigidly held to the carriage, constituting the rope an endless one, the revolution
of the drum or pulley, of the water engine, can be made to draw the goods, either
towards it or from it, for the full length of the traversing girder, by simply
making the engine rovolve the drum, in one direction or the other.
By the attachment of ropes to the levers actuating the hydraulic ram, and the
water engine, and the continuation of such ropes above and along the full length
of the girder, the action of the hoist can be manippillated at any given position,
without the necessity of visiting the engine or the hydraulic ram.
Our invention is equally applicable to the ordinary form of winches other than
hydraulic, and by the use of our invention, the ropes can be made to traverse the
various rooms in a warehouse, and the regulation or control of the action of
hoisting and traversing, can be effected at any part of the building, and by the use
of our invention in multiple, we can effect various and contrary motions of hoisting
and traversing in various rooms at the same time.
The following are some of the novel advantages derivable from the use of our
invention when applied to a dock shed it will permit us to load off or stow goods
without the use of trucks bogies or trolleys and with two men only.
If used as a crane, over the hatch or hatches of ships, it will admit of one two
four and up to eight hoists being used at will, and independently of each other,
and can be arranged to work in combination with a corn elevator.
The accompanying drawings shew the application of our invention in single and
multiple arrangement more directly in this instance, for unloading from ships and
for dock warehouses.
But although these drawings shew three methods of applying our invention, we
wish it to be distinctly understood, that we do not confine ourselves to the exact
arrangements shown, as it will easily be seen, that we could vary the details
thereof, without departing from the nature of our invention.
Referring to the drawings Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a side and end elevation
of our single arrangement in which we make use of hydraulic power, also shewing
section of traversing girder Fig. 2ª.
Figs. 3 and 4, are details of the adjustable rollers for carrying ropes.
Figs. 5 and 6, are respectively a part plan and side elevation of traversing
arrangement; and part details of elevating arrangement of our invention in
multiple application; also shewing arrangement for elevating jibs to clear rigging
of ships and for convenience in other ways.
Fig. 7 is a part elevation shewing hoisting pulleys at the feet of the hydraulic
cylinders.
Figs. 8 9 10 and 11 shew details of our arrangement for moving the traversing
jibs and girders laterally for convenience.
Fig. 12 shews a part end view and section of our invention in multiple
.application.
Fig. 13 shews a plan of the feet of the hydraulic cylinders, shewing pulleys and
sbafting which we may actuate either by steam manual or hydraulic power.
Fig. 14 is a diagram shewing our arrangement for elevating jib of hoists to clear
the rigging of vessels and for convenience.
Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18, shew our crane arrangement in combination with an
ordinary winch,
Figs. 21 and 22 shew our brake and controlling arrangement.
Referring to figs. 1 and 2, which shew our invention in single arrangement, a is
the elevating ram which is steadied in its ascent by the guides b, which are
attached at their upper ends to the traversing girder c, running on the flanges of
this girder we provide a carriage d, which carries the suspension pulleys ball hooks
and links e. the pulley f is hung from the carriage d by means of a cross armed
frame g¹, provided with a central pulley axis i, and attached to one end of the

page_text: rope j, which passes under the girder and under and over a pulley k, mounted at
the end of the traversing girder, The rope passes over guide rollers on to the
other end of the girder, where it passes over and under a large pulley m to the
drum or pulley n of a water engine o, or any other mechanical hoist of ordinary
construction, which may be mounted on to the side of the cylinder.
The rope after passing under the drum of the engine or hoist o passes over the
pulley or roller at the upper end or head of the hydraulic ram p, and then passes
down and under another pulley q attached to the side of the cylinder of the
hydraulic ram, the rope again passes upwards and over a pulley r mounted on a
bracket bolted on to or otherwise attached to the guide b or to the traversing
girder c, the rope then passes over the pulley i of carriage d and is terminated
with cast iron ball s and hook e.
Attached to each of the water or other valves t, if other power besides that of
water is used, are ropes u which pass upward and along and over the traversing
girder c by which at any point the valves which control the action of elevating
and traversing the goods, can be actuated.
In the multiple arrangement as shewn on figs. 5 6 7 the same letters refer to the
same respective parts, with the additional letters or figures hereinafter mentioned,
In our multiple arrangement instead of the water or other motive power engine
being mounted on the side of the hydraulic ram cylinder, which in the multiple
arrangement might produce confusion, separate driving shafts are provided for
each crane actuated by independent motors.
Instead of the ropes following the course described for the single rope crane they
take the following course-
Commencing at the traversing carriage d to which one end of the ropes ; are
attached, the ropes pass to the large pulley m, at one end of the girders, they pass
under and over these pulleys, and continue over the girders to pulleys v working
horizontally and are diverted at right angles, passing over pulleys w, near to the
upper ends of the hydraulic rams, and descending to pulleys x, at the side of the
feet or base of the cylinders, of such rams, the ropes there pass to the rollers or
pulleys at the heads of the respective rams, passing down to, and twice under
the pulleys or rollers y, under the feet of the hydraulic cylinders, and the ropes
pass three times over the pulleys or rollers p and then pass down to the pulleys x¹
then ascending to pulleys w-attached to the girder c, finally passing to the
horizontal pulleys A attached to the traversing girders c and from thence to the
pulleys k attached to the other end of the girder c-passing over this pulley and
returning under the girder c to the carriage d where the ropes terminate with the
balls and hook e-To hoist the jibs or ends of the girders c, when not in use,
the jibs care provided with powerful hinges B, which permit the jib to be
elevated as shewn in diagram fig. 14, either by means of a winch, preferably of the
worm and screw type as shewn, or of the ordinary winch form placed on the
traversing girders c or between them.
The suspension bars D are so arranged as to provide for the elevation of such jibs.
All the jibs and girders c, can be moved laterally (for convenience in hoisting
from the hatches of ships and to allow the hoists to be worked in combination with
a corn or other elevator) by means of the arrangement shewn by figs. 8 9 and 10,
which consists of a ratchet and drum winch arrangement E, provided in such
positions as to allow us to move the girders parallel, and attached to the columns F
supporting the cross girders I.
By working this winch E its rope G (which is connected to a pulley H which is
attached to the end of the cross girder I) draws the traversing girders c along, the
movement of the latter is facilitated by rollers J.
Referring to figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18, shewing our invention working in
combination with an ordinary steam hoist winch. The elevating arrangement is
effected by utilising an ordinary winch 1 to elevate the pulleys 2 instead of the
bydraulic ram in our other arr ingements.

page_text: Following the course of the rope 3 it will be seen that one end passes upwards
from the pulleys 4 at the foot of the elevating guides 5 to the underside of the
upper floor, when it passes over a pulley 6 and along the underside of the upper
floor to another pulley 7, at the end of the building. It then descends to the
lower floor, where it passes under pulleys carried by the floor, and is attached at
its end to the traversing carriage 8 which runs on rails 9 slung from the floor
joists 10, as shewn by figs. 19 and 20.
The other end of the rope terminates with the cast iron ball and hook arrange-
ment as shewn in figs. 12, 6, and 7, the plans shewing the other arrangements of
our invention, the rope 3 passes from the traversing carriage 8 to a pulley at the
opposite end of the building, it then ascends to the jib 11 of the hoist passing over
the upper elevating pulley block 12, passing down to the pulley 4 at the foot of
the elevating pulley guides 5, and passing under this pulley it is again continued
upwards to the pulley block 13 along side the other; at the head of the elevating
pulley guides 5, the rope passes over the pulley 13, and is again continued
downwards, to the pulley 4 immediately, under it, and at the foot of the elevating
pulley guides 5, and passing under this pulley 4 it is continued to the pulley 6,
hung from the floor overhead, as already described. By this arrangement, hoisting
and traversing can be effected in any room-from a crane which may be placed in
the upper or top storey of the building.
Even a single crane arrangement, with its endless rope passing down one side
and through the various rooms of a building, can be inade to act for traversing
and hoisting (in any of the storeys, by fixing horizontal traversing girders and
carriage with its compliment of ball pulley and hook :), by simply attaching each
end of the ropes provided for each floor, to the ropes of the crane;-at each side of
the building The traversing carriage can be drawn in either direction—and the
hoisting can be effected in the usual manner described for our invention.
The supplementary ropes can be quickly attached by means of adjustable hooks
to the main rope of the crane.
Of course each set of traversing girders passes across the rooms to each side of
the building where the upward and downward crane rope is located.
This arrangement permits the advantages of a single hoist and traversing
arrangement to be enjoyed at alternate periods by the occupants of each storey.
It will be seen that m transmit the traversing motion to the pulley shaft 4 at
the foot of the elevating guide 5 by straps or ropes 14 from drums or pulleys 15
on the driving shaft 16 of the winch, to pulleys 41 and 42.
We control and command the action of our hoisting and traversing motion in
the following manner, and as shewn in figs. 17 21 and 22.
A balanced lever 17 is connected, by means of ropes 18, passing over pulleys 19
placed above each end of the lever 17, to the various rooms. By pulling these
ropes 18, one end of the balanced lever 17 is lifted up-moving the strap shifting
fork 20 from one pulley 41 to the other 42, and as one of these latter pulleys is
driven from the driving pulley or drum 15, by a parallel belt 14, and the other by
a crossed belt 142, it will be seen that the direction of the motion is reversed by
shifting the belt from one pulley to the other.
When the controlling rope is let free, it allows a weighted lever 21 (which is
connected to the centre of the balanced lever 17 by a link 22 at the centre) to fall
lifting the brake strap 16 up towards the rim of the pulley 17, and arresting the
motion.
When ropes are used instead of belts for transmitting the power, by simply
lifting one end of the balanced lever 17 wedge clutch 24 is set in action, putting
a pulley in motion in one direction, and by lifting the other end of the lever the
motion is reversed.
By letting go the controlling rope 18 the weighted brake lever 21 pulls the
balanced lever 17 level, and consequently throws the wedge clutch 24 out of gear.
The fall of the weighted lever 21 brings the brake strap 23 into action and
arrests motion.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we now claim is
1st The method of hoisting and traversing by means of a single rope substantially
as herein shewn and described.
2ndly The method of applying our invention in multiple substantially as herein
shewn and described.
3rdly The manner of elevating the jib girders substantially as herein shewn and
described.
4thly The method of moving the girders laterally as herein shewn and described.
5thly The application of our invention to ordinary steam hoists for hoisting and
traversing in different rooms from one hoist substantially as shewn and described.
6thly The method of control and brake action of the hoisting and traversing gear
substantially as shewn and described.