Improvements in Apparatus for Hoisting and Conveying or Transporting Building and other Materials.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in Apparatus for Hoisting and Conveying or
Transporting Building and other Materials.
I, NIELS CHRISTIAN SCHOUBOE, of 11, Willemoesgade, Copenhagen, Denmark,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for conveying or transporting building and
other materials which is more particularly designed for hoisting and distributing
building materials which are adapted to work continuously and automatically. In
the operation of this apparatus as applied for example to the transporting or convey-
ing of building materials, the materials to be conveyed are charged into skips which
then run by their own weight on a railway provided on the scaffolding of the building
to a hoist which is driven by suitable motive power and by which the said skips are
automatically raised and run along an inclined railway provided on the scaffolding on
a level with that portion of the new building which is in progress. During their
travel the skips can be stopped and discharged at any desired place or places accord-
ing to requirement. After having been discharged the skips are run back to the
hoist by which they are automatically conveyed back again to the lowermost line of
rails for the purpose of being charged anew and beginning a fresh journey.
A suitable form of apparatus according to this invention is illustrated by way of
example in the accompanying drawings in which,―
Figure 1 illustrates the general arrangement of the apparatus in side elevation.
Figure 2 illustrates a skip with its crab in side elevation and in front end
elevation.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing details of the hoist with the devices for trans-
ferring the skips to the several railways.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3 showing the arrangement of the lower railway.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device for stopping the skips.
Figures 6 and 7 are plans of Figure 3, showing the arrangement of the upper
railway.
Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the device for preventing the crab of the skip
from running off the railway a.
The apparatus comprises a hoist proper of ordinary construction which is driven by
a portable engine or any other suitable means, and two or more railways which are
suitably arranged on the scaffolding of the building. In Figures 1 and 3 two
railways a, b, and c, d are shown arranged on the scaffolding B; one railway a b
being situated at the foot of the building at a suitable height above the ground,
whilst the other railway c d is fixed to the scaffolding at any height which is
necessitated by the progress of the building operations for the time being. The
railway a b begins at the hoist A, preferably at the place where the skips are lowered,
and it runs in one or more curves alongside the materials situated at the foot of the
building, with a uniform descending gradient back to the foot of the hoist A where
the railway ends at that side of the hoist where the building materials are to be
hoisted, so that a crab placed on the railway and carrying a skip will be able to run

page_text: over the railway a b solely by the action of its own weight. The other railway c d
is arranged on the scaffolding B on a level with the place where the men are at work
and it runs from that side of the hoist A where the materials are hoisted, in one or
more curves with a suitable descending gradient past the places where the materials
are to be discharged, and thence back to the hoist where the empty skips are
lowered.
The railways a b and c d may be composed of iron rails of any suitable section,
(angle iron for instance) which are supported on brackets as shown that are fixed in a
suitable manner to the scaffolding B. As shown the longitudinal edge of the vertical
member of the angle iron rail c serves as a guide for the crab, whilst the member
that bears upon the bracket is employed for fixing the rail. The railways may be
provided in the usual manner with switches and points in order to allow of the use
of a number of railways having all a descending gradient towards the same side and
serving to convey the skips to any desired place close to where the materials are to be
used by the workmen.
The crabs g which are adapted to run on wheels on the rails are similar to the
crabs which are in general use with wire ropeways. The skip j is suspended by
means of a bent arm h from the crab g in such a manner that the skipj hangs in the
central plane of the crab g. The skip j is so constructed and arranged that when
loaded it has a constant tendency to rotate in the direction of the arrow 1,
and when empty to assume the position shown in Figure 2. These tendencies
are produced by reason of the inclined end wall k of the skip j, and of the
position of its point of suspension. The rotation of the skip can be prevented by
means of the lever m which is provided at the side of, the skip j and which is
adapted to be retained by a stop n provided on the skip body.
The hoist A-may be of any suitable_kind. As shown, it consists of a framing
composed of iron bars of suitable shape in section, and provided at top and bottom
One of the
with chain pulleys o over which an endless chain ŕ (Figure 3) runs.
chain pulleys is driven by means of a portable-engine-or other suitable motor.
At the top of the framing there are also provided guide pulleys s over which pass
ropes t.
These ropes are each attached at one end to the respective hoist carriages u¹
and u², whilst at their other ends they carry counter-weights v which are intended to
counterbalance approximately the weights of the articles attached to the ropes.
The hoist carriages u¹ and u² are composed of an iron frame w of suitable shape
in section (Figure 3) provided with wheels x, y which roll on the front and rear
sides respectively of the iron bars of the hoist framing, and are guided thereby in
their up and down movements.
mounted a
is
The hoist carriages u¹ and u² are constructed differently according to the purpose
for which they are intended. The carriages are intended for travelling on the
ascending side of the hoist, and the carriages u² are designed for the descending side
of the hoist (Figure 3). On the frame w of the hoist carriage u¹ there
horizontal arm a¹ which is provided with a shackle b¹ to which the rope t is attached.
The lower railway a b ends at a in a pivoted part c¹ which is composed of two flat bars
and which is capable of turning in a vertical plane. The crab g with the skip
adapted to run out upon this pivoted arm c¹ which is arranged to embrace with its
outer end the arm of the hoist carriage u¹ so that the arın a¹ is situated between
the outer ends of the flat pieces when the hoist carriage is in its lowest
position. The crab with the skip can then roll off the railway a on to the arm a¹.
The hoist carriage u¹ which is slightly heavier than its counterweight (Figures 1
and 4) will then automatically assume its lowest position when it is left to itself. The
upward movement of the counterweight is limited in a suitable manner, or the boist
carriage is made to strike against a suitably arranged stop. On the hoist carriage u
there is also provided a pawl d¹ one end of which is adapted to enter between the
links of the chain when required. The pawl d¹ is connected to the arm a¹ of
the hoist carriage u¹ in such a manner (such as for instance by means of parallel
bars) that the pawl will always be parallel to the arm a¹ in its movements:

page_text: On a crab g running on to the arın a' of the hoist carriage u¹, the crab will strike
against the pawl d and will press it into the links of the chain and thus couple the
hoist carriage u¹ to the chain r. In order to prevent the crab g from running back
off the arm a¹, there is provided in the upper edge of the arm a¹ a depression e
into which one of the wheels of the crab enters. The pivoted part e¹ of the rail-
way a rests in its lowest position on a stop f¹ provided on the arm a¹ of the hoist
carriage u and as it is moved up with the hoist carriage u¹, the movable part c¹ is
rotated and raised into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, in which
position it is held by suitable means until the hoist carriage u¹ moves down again.
These means comprise a rod g¹ which is capable of moving longitudinally in bearings
on the pivoted part c¹ and which is pressed by a spiral spring in the direction
indicated by the arrow ¹. A link which is formed at one end with a longitudinal
slot connects the rod g¹ with a lever m¹, one arm of which projects beyond the
end of the pivoted part c¹, and the other arm of which takes in the longitudinal slot l¹.
The other end of the rod g¹ bears against a bent-up bar n' which is mounted on the
fixed part of the railway a at an angle with the latter.
As the hoist carriage u¹ moves upward, and rotates the pivoted part c¹ as already
stated, the stop f¹ on the arm a¹ slides first along the lower edge of the pivoted
part caad then against the lever m¹. The latter then assumes the dotted position
(Figure 3) whereupon the stop f¹ releases the lever m¹. But during the rotation of
the pivoted part c¹, the rod g' has slidden along that surface of the bar n¹ which is
facing it.
When the pivoted part c¹ assumes the position shown in dotted lines, then
the rod is raised above the end of the bar n¹ and will therefore slide automatically
over the bar n¹, whose movement is limited by a stop. The pivoted part c¹ will now
after its release by the arm a¹ have a tendency to return into the horizontal position,
but this is prevented by the rod g¹ which bears with one end upon the end surface of
the bar n, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.
When the hoist carriage u¹ moves down, the stop f¹ will strike against the end of the
lever m and will rotate the said lever in such a manner as to move the rod g¹ in
the opposite direction to the arrow j¹, and thus release it from the bar n¹; consequently
the pivoted part c¹ will fall down. The arrangement is such that at the moment
when the rod g¹ is released the hoist carriage will have just moved down to such an
extent that the pivoted part c¹ will come to rest upon the stop fl.
The attainment of this object is also aided by the fact that the hoist carriage has
a certain velocity of fall, whereas the velocity of the pivoted part c' is nil at the
moment it is released.
When the hoist carriage ¹ arrives at the railway c the arm a² moves in between two
fixed plates p¹ which form an extension of the railway c. The bevelled front edge of
the arm a pushes back a movable bolt q¹ which is acted upon by a spring 1 that
pushes the bolt forward again after the arm a¹ has passed so that there is no
possibility of the hoist carriage u¹ falling down when disconnected from the hoisting
chain.
This disconnecting is effected by means of a bevelled plate s¹ which is fixed to the
hoist framing A and which is struck by the stop t¹ that is mounted on a parallel bar
of the pawl d'. In this manner the pawl d¹ is pushed back and the crab g is knocked
forward so that it runs off on to the railway c. The crab g with the skip j then in
moving past a pivoted arm v¹ (which is mounted on the railway and which is in
engagement with the bolt q¹) rotates the said arm whereby the bolt q is drawn
back. By this means the hoist carriage a is set free and allowed to descend, its
descent being retarded by the counterweight v. The bolt q¹ moves back immediately
into its operative position.
The disconnecting of the hoist carriage u¹ from the chain r is effected when the
arm is situated slightly higher than the plates p¹ and the crab g is set in motion
before the carriage is entirely disconnected. For the purpose of providing an inclined
plane in this case between the arm a¹ and the railway c there is arranged between
the plates plan arm which is pivoted on a pin w¹, and whose end engages the
bevelled part of the arm a¹ before the latter moves upward.

page_text: The skip j which now runs on the railway cd is discharged at the required place
and then arrives at the hoist carriage u² at the railway d for the purpose of being
lowered. The hoist carriage u² is similar to the carriage ¹, but the parts necessary
for coupling it to the chain are not provided, because no such coupling takes place.
Between the plates which form the arm a¹ of the carriage u² there is arranged a
lever c² which is adapted to rotate on a pivot 62 and whose free outer end is situated
between two plates d² that form the termination of the railway d, when the hoist
carriage is its upper position.
The counterweight of the hoist carriage u² is somewhat heavier than the latter, but
somewhat lighter than the combined weight of the latter and an empty skip.
Consequently the hoist carriage u² when empty will always be in the upper position.
The extent of the upward movement of the hoist carriage u² is limited by two
steps e2 and 2 which are provided on the outer end of the arm c² and on the hoist
framing respectively.
A crab g with a skip coming from the railway d and running out over the plates d²
will run over the lever c² and on to the plates ¹ in which position its weight will tip
the lever c² inwards. In this manner the crab g will assume an inclined position
towards the hoist framing whereby its position during the descent is rendered more
secure. When the skip is on the carriage u², the latter will descend and will be
stopped when it arrives at the same level as the railway b. When it has reached the
bottom, one end of the lever c bears against a stop 12 of the hoist framing, whereby
the lever c² is rotated in such a manner that the crab g with the empty skip can roll
away from the hoist framing and on to the railway b.
As soon as the crab with the skip has left the hoist carriage u², the latter is raised
by the counterweight and returns to the top to the railway d.
In order to prevent_a_crab g_from_running off the railway-d-before-the-hoist-
carriage has assumed the top position, a bent lever g² (Figures 5 and 6) is mounted
on the scaffolding B close to the railway d. This lever g² is capable of being rotated
-in-a-vertical plane and is arranged-in-such a manner that one of its arms is situated
above the railway d, whilst its other arm is situated below the said railway. The
arm which is situated over the railway slides in its rotation along a fixed arm h²
which serves as a support for the same. So long as the upper arm of the lever bears
upon the railway d the crab prevented from running off the said railway. But the
arm c² of the hoist carriage u² is provided with a stop m² which, when the hoist
carriage assumes the top position, acts upon the lower arm of the lever g² and rotates
the latter in such a manner that the upper arm is raised off the railway d and the
crab with the skip can run freely off the railway d on to the carriage. When the
hoist carriage is being lowered the bent lever g² falls down by its own weight and bars
all passage over the railway d. The empty skips are filled with the materials lying
at the foot of the building and when left to themselves they are conveyed to the place.
of working where they are discharged and they are then run back to the charging
place.
A modification of the arrangement for preventing a crab on the railway a from
running out on to the pivoted part c¹, whilst the hoist carriage u¹ is ascending, is
illustrated in Figure 8.
The pivoted part c¹ is formed with a nose z¹ and is balanced by a counterweight y¹
in such a manner that the part c¹ can be set in any suitable inclined position. The
nose bears against a stop a² on the arm a¹. Consequently the pivoted part c¹ is
correspondly rotated on its pivot by the arm a¹ in its ascent and descent.
This apparatus may be also employed for other purposes, such as for instance
conveying grain, coal and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. Automatic and continuously operating apparatus for transporting or conveying
building and other materials comprising in combination. a continuously onerating

page_text: hoist of the endless chain type, a lower railway running with a descending gradient
from the descending side of the hoist past the charging places and back to the
ascending side of the hoist, an upper railway running with a descending gradient
from the ascending side of the hoist past the discharging places and back to the
descending side of the hoist, skips (or the like) adapted to run on said upper and
lower railways and hoist carriages adapted to receive said skips and to be coupled to
and uncoupled from the chain of the hoist as required, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as described.
2. Conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, in which
the filled skips after running on to the ascending hoist carriage u¹ couple the latter
to the continuously moving hoisting chain and are thereby hoisted up to the end o
of the upper railway with simultaneous operation of a pawl such as for the purpose
of preventing the hoist carriage u¹ from falling back, the hoist carriage u¹ is uncoupled
from the hoisting chain, so that the crab such as g which carries the skips is then
pushed off the hoist carriage on to the railway c, on which it runs past the respective
discharging places, and finally leaving the end d of the upper railway runs upon a
descending einpty hoist carriage u² and descends together with the latter to the lower
railway, where a stop such as 12 stops the carriage u² automatically releases the skip,
and allows the latter to run back automatically to the starting place, the whole
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 2,
counterbalancing the hoist carriages in such a manner that the carriage which effects the
hoisting of the filled skips, has when empty, a tendency to fall, whilst the carriage u²
which is arranged diametrically opposite thereto has a tendency to descend when
loaded with the empty skip, substantially as herein before described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
4. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claims 1 and 2,
the combination of a spring-pressed rod g¹ arranged on the pivoted part c¹ and resting
with one end upon a rotary arm ¹ provided on the railway a, a slotted link ¹
connected to the other end of the rod g₁ and a pivoted lever m¹ engaging with one
end in the slot in the link the free arm of said lever m¹ being adapted to be
rotated by a stop f¹ on the hoist carriage according to the direction of the motion
of the latter, for the purpose of causing the pivoted part c¹ either to remain in its
raised position or to move down into its normal position where it is locked, the whole
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 2, the
provision of a depression e¹ in the carrying arm a¹ into which a wheel of the hoisted
crab enters after the pawl d has been moved, for the purpose of securing the crab
with the skip in this position from running off, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claims 1 and 2,
a lever rotatably mounted on the hoist carriage for limiting the upward movement
of the hoist carriage ², the arrangement being such that a stop e provided on the
arm of the lever, engages one end of the railway, whilst the other arm of the
lever hears against a stop f2 on the hoist framing and thus forms a connecting
track from the railway to the hoist carriage, substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
7. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore referred to,
mechanism for preventing the crab from prematurely running off the railway d,
comprising a bent lever g² one arm of which is situated across the railway d so as to
bar the same when the hoist carriage u² has not yet attained the level of the said
railway, but which is automatically raised by the hoist carriage ² to open or unbar
the railway & when the hoist carriage 2 has reached the level of the said railway,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

page_text: 8. In conveying or transporting apparatus of the kind specified in Claims 1 and 2,
a lever which is pivoted on the pivoted part .c! of the railway c, and which is
rotated on the passage of the hoist carriage, and then forms an inclined plane or
track between the arm a' of the hoist carriage it and the railway c, which allows the
crab to run safely and with acceleration on the railway c, substantially as described 5
.with reference to the accompanying drawings..
Dated this 23rd day of February 1899.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55, and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.