Improvements in Steam Cranes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Cranes.
I, RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER, trading as Ransomes and Rapier of
9 Victoria Street Westminster, and Waterside Works Ipswich, Engineer and
Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows that is
to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve various constructive details
of steam cranes, to reduce excessive strains, and to facilitate rapid changes of
motion.
In carrying out my invention in the case of a crane constructed with a derrick
jib capable of being raised and lowered so as to have a variable horizontal radius
of extension, I carry the framing of the body of the crane as high as practicable,
at the side opposite to that at which the foot of the jib is connected to the body
and I cause the chain or chains for raising or lowering the head of the jib to be
acted on by gearing at the top of the said upwardly extended framing, in order that
the angle between such chain or chains and the jib may be as wide as possible, the
strain being correspondingly diminished.
The rotating body of the crane rests on rollers on a truck or carriage which is
mounted on three pairs of wheels, or on any suitable number of wheels according to
the size of the crane, the wheels running on rails which may be straight or curved.
One pair only of the wheels is driven by preference the middle pair, the others
being left free to accommodate themselves to the parts of the track they are upon.
The rotating crane body is confined concentrically upon the carriage by an inwardly
overhanging ring secured to the carriage by long bolts having helical springs on
them. An outwardly projecting ring fixed to the bottom of the crane body
extends under the inwardly overhanging ring fixed to the carriage, and small
rollers are interposed between the two rings. By screwing up the springs on the
long holding-down bolts, a part or the whole of the weight of the carriage can be
applied to the moving crane body which thereby acquires additional stability;
and much greater steadiness in working is the result.
The crane body, which as usual, has upon it the steam boiler and engine for
actuating the gearing, is made to rotate in the ordinary way by means of a pinion
gearing with a circular toothed rack fixed on the carriage. I however employ in
connection with the gearing for turning the crane body, and in connection with
the gearing for causing the crane to travel along the rails, arrangements of spring
drivers, in order to moderate the strains and prevent injurious actions liable to be
caused by quickly starting, stopping or reversing the motions of heavy bodies such
as the crane body and its load.
In one modification of spring driver devised for the purposes indicated, the
bevil or other wheel by means of which the driving action is communicated is loose
on the shaft to be driven, whilst there is fast on that shaft a disk having upon it
two or more pairs of helical or other suitable springs reversely set and having their
When the driving
outer ends bearing on dogs or projections on the driving wheel.
wheel is started in either direction it compresses one or other pair of the springs,
and the strain of overcoming the inertia of the heavy bodies is thereby rendered
less severe.
In another modification the driving wheel loose on the driven shaft
acts on a disk or boss fixed on the shaft through a number of rods or wires of
tempered steel disposed around and parallel to the shaft, and arranged so as to be
free to bend to a limited extent.
The engaging and reversing mechanism comprised in the gearing of the cranę

page_text: is made with improved parts. For simple engaging and disengaging purposes I
make one clutch disk with projecting fingers of triangular form the other disk
being made with counterpart notches or recesses. For reversing purposes I employ
conical friction clutches but instead of making the conical parts of small diameter
and within the bevil wheels I make them on the outer sides of and larger than
the bevil wheels, whereby a much better and more powerful control between the
parts is obtained.
Another improvement consists in applying springs in connection with some of
the axles of the carriage. In cranes of moderate size I prefer to use six wheels
and to have the middle axle without springs, but the other two axles are mounted
in axle boxes fitted with springs made somewhat stiff and without much movement,
so that when the crane passes over irregularities in the road, they will be com-
pensated for by the action of the springs, and the general distribution of the load
on the several axles will not be seriously interfered with as it is when no springs
are used.
In cases in which the gauge of the rails on which the crane carriage runs is
comparatively narrow I provide devices for extending the supporting base whilst
the carriage is stationary. For this purpose the wheel axles may be elongated and
have fitted on their outer ends pedestals or other supports adjustable to suit the
ground level. According to one modification levers centered on the ends of the
axles have jointed to them iron or steel girders or wooden beams to bear on
the sleepers or ground when the levers are fixed vertically by screw adjusting
gear. Instead of being fitted on the axles, the adjustable supports may be attached
to the carriage framing in a manner to allow of their being turned or moved into
or out of their supporting positions as require.l.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of Juin 1801
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Cranes.
I, RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER, trading as Ransomes and Rapier, of
9, Victoria Street, Westminster, and Waterside Works, Ipswich, Engineer and
Founder, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve various constructive details of
steam cranes, to reduce excessive strains, and to facilitate rapid changes of motion.
I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
to in describing my improvements.
Figure, 1, Sheet, 1, is a side elevation of a crane as constructed with some of my
improvements.
Figure, 2, Sheet 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing certain improved
connections between the rotating body of the crane and the truck or carriage on
which it rests.
Figures, 3, and 4, are sections as at right angles to each other of
tion of spring yielding mechanism interposed in the gearing.
modifica-
Figures, 5, and 6, are a sectional plan and a vertical section of a second
modification of the yielding mechanism and
Figures, 7, and 8, are an end elevation and a longitudinal section of certain
improved clutch and reversing mechanism.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated. Any parts or details the construc-
tion of which is not hereinafter particularly described, are to be understood as
made in existing steam-crane machinery.

page_text: In carrying out my invention in the case of a crane, such as is shown in Figure, 1,
constructed with a derrick jib, A, capable of being raised and lowered so as to
have a variable horizontal radius of extension, I carry the framing, B, B1, B2,
as high as practicable, at the side opposite to that at which the foot, A 1, of the
jib, A, is connected to the body, B; and I cause the chain or chains, C, for raising
and lowering the head, A 2, of the jib, A, to be acted on by gearing, D, at the
top of the said upwardly extended framing, B1, B2, in order that the angle
between such chain or chains, C, and the jib, A, may be as wide as possible, the
strain being correspondingly diminished.
The rotating body, B, of the crane rests on rollers (within a toothed ring, E)
on a truck or carriage, F, which is mounted on three pairs of wheels, G1, G2, G3,
(or on any suitable number of wheels according to the size of the crane) the wheels
running on rails, which may be straight or curved. One pair only of the wheels
is driven, by preference the middle pair, G 2, the others being left free to
accommodate themselves to the parts of the truck they are upon.
The rotating crane body, B, is confined concentrically upon the carriage, F, by
an inwardly overhanging ring, H, Figure, 2, secured to the carriage by long
bolts, J, having helical springs, J 1, on them. An outwardly projecting ring, K,
fixed to the bottom of the crane body, B, extends under the inwardly overhanging
ring, H, fixed to the carriage, F, and small rollers, K 1, are interposed between the
two rings. By screwing up the springs, J 1, on the long holding-down_bolts, J, a
part or the whole of the weight of the carriage, F, can be applied to the moving
crane body, B, which thereby acquires additional stability; and much greater
steadiness in working is the result.
The crane body, B, which as usual has on it the steam boiler, L, and engine, L1,
for actuating the gearing, is made to rotate in the ordinary way by means of. a
pinion, E 1, gearing with a toothed ring or circular rack, E. I however employ in
connection with the gearing for turning the crane body, B, and in connection with
the gearing for causing the crane to travel along the rails, arrangements of spring
drivers, in order to moderate the strains and prevent injurious actions liable to be
caused by quickly starting stopping, or reversing the motions of heavy bodies such
as the crane body and its load.
In one modification of spring driver devised for the purposes indicated, and
shown in Figures, 3, and 4, the bevil (or other) wheel, M, by means of which the
driving action is communicated, is loose on the shaft, N, to be driven, whilst there
is fast on that shaft, a disk, M 1, having upon it two (or more) pairs of helical
(or other suitable) springs, M 2, carried in sockets on the disks and having their
outer ends arranged to bear on dogs or projections, M 3, on the driving wheel, M.
When the driving wheel, M, is started in either direction it compresses one or
other pair of springs, and the strain of overcoming the inertia of the heavy bodies
is thereby rendered less severe. In another modification shown in Figures, 5,
and 6, the driving wheel or pinion, M, loose on the driven shaft, N, acts on a disk
or boss, P, fixed on the shaft, through a number of rods or wires, P 1, of tempered
steel disposed around and parallel to the shaft and arranged so as to be free to
bend to a limited extent. As shown, the rods, P 1, are fitted tightly into sockets
in the driver, M, their other ends being loose in larger sockets in the driven
boss, P.
The engaging and reversing mechanism comprised in the gearing of the crane
is made with improved parts which are shown in Figures, 7, and 8. For simple
engaging and disengaging purposes I make one clutch disk, Q', with projecting
fingers, Q, of triangular form, the other disk, Q2, being made with counterpart
notches or recesses. For reversing purposes I employ conical friction
clutches, R1, R2, S1, S2, but instead of making the conical parts of small
diameter and within the bevil wheels, T, I make them on the outer parts of
and larger than the bevil wheels, whereby a much better and more powerful
control between the parts is obtained.
Another improvement consists in applying springs, as indicated at, U, in

page_text: Figure, 1, in connection with some of the axles of the carriage. In cranes of
moderate size I prefer to use six wheels, and to have the middle axle without
springs; but the other two axles are mounted in axle boxes fitted with springs, U,
made somewhat stiff and without much movement, so that when the crane passes
over irregularities in the road, the irregularities will be compensated for by the
action of the springs, and the general distribution of the load on the several axles
will not be seriously interfered with as it is when no springs are used.
In cases in which the gauge of the rails on which the crane carriage, F, runs is
comparatively narrow, I provide devices for extending the supporting base whilst
the carriage is stationary. For this purpose the wheel axles may be elongated and
have fitted on their outer ends pedestals or other supports adjustable to suit the
ground level. Levers centered on the ends of the axles may have jointed to them
iron or steel girders or wooden beams to bear on the ground or on sleepers when
the levers are adjusted vertically by screws or other convenient means. Or instead
of being fitted on the axles the adjustable supports may be attached to the carriage
framing, F, in any convenient way allowing of their being turned or moved into
or out of their supporting positions as required.
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. The general arrangement and manner of combining the parts of steam cranes
substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures, 1, and 2, of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a steam crane having a rotating body and a jib capable of being raised
and lowered providing an elevated extension of the body framing at the side
opposite to the jib from the top of which extension the chain or chains proceed to
the head of the jib substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. The arrangement of overhanging and under-projecting rings, with spring-held
connecting bolts, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure, 2, of the accompanying drawings.
4. Combining with the gearing of a steam crane yielding spring-controlled
driving wheels, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
5. The improved forms of toothed clutches (Q1, Q2) herein before described
with reference to Figures, 7, and 8, of the accompanying drawings.
6. The improved forms of conical clutches (R1, R2, S1, S2,) hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure, 8, of the accompanying drawings.
7. In connection with a steam crane carried on a carriage mounted on three pairs
of wheels arranging the outer wheels with springs the middle wheels being without
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
8. The elongation of the axles of the crane carriage or the equivalent lateral
extensions to the carriage frame, for the application of temporary supports sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of April 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.