Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOSEPH WALWYN WHITE, of Marshlea, Farnworth-in-Widnes, Lancashire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to aerial ropeways on which the load is carried by a number
of ropes running parallel with one another, and consists of means for straining
such ropes and equalizing their tension.
Assuming for example that a ropeway comprises four ropes, the extremities of
the ropes at one end of the ropeway or span may be made fast or anchored. At
the other end of the ropeway or span, the extremities of the ropes are attached
to the crossheads of four presses, or rams working in cylinders containing water
or other fluid under pressure. Each of the pressure chambers or cylinders of
said presses communicate with one another by means of an omnibus main which
may be connected with a hydraulic accumulator. Therefore the
pressure exist-.
ing in each press is practically the same, and consequently the four individual
ropes of the ropeway are subjected to the same tension and each rope thus assumes
the same catenary curve, thereby assuring that the load will be equally carried in
proper proportion by each individual rope, the weights of the ropes being assumed
equal.
rope
Another advantage accruing from this invention is that in the event of one
breaking, the easment of pressure in its hydraulic press is divided amongst the
other presses of the remaining ropes, whereby the latter assume a greater
catenary curve and the weight supporting power of the remaining ropes thus
automatically becomes approximately equal to that of the original number of
ropes. A further advantage of this system is that as the load approaches the
supporting tower and the tension on the ropes decreases, the hydraulic presses
draw up or tighten the ropes and so reduce the ascending gradient up which the
load is travelling.
"
These tightening presses may be placed at each extremity of the ropeway span,
and if they are only placed at one end I prefer to place them at the "approach
end in cases where the load only travels in one direction.
This invention may be used where continuous ropes are used, carried on
number of supports, or where separate ropes are used for each individual span.
Dated this 15th 1. Ը
1000
a
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool.
Agent for the Applicant."

page_text: I, JOSEPH WALWYN WHITE, of Marshlea, Farnworth-in-Widnes, Lancashire,
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:
-
In order to convey heavy loads across large spans of aerial ropeways, I distri-
bute the load amongst a number of ropes, so that each rope will have a com-
paratively small burden, and whereby if one rope gives way the remaining ropes
will support the load. In order to ensure that the load shall be equally dis-
tributed amongst these carrying ropes, and in order that such ropes shall lie
parallel with one another, it is necessary that the tension of each rope shall
be equal, the weights of the individual ropes being assumed to be equal.
Assuming, for example, that a ropeway comprises four ropes, and that the
extremities of the ropes at one end of the ropeway or span are made fast or
anchored, then the other extremities of the ropes are-according to my invention―
attached to the cross-heads of four presses or rams working in cylinders con-
taining water or fluid under pressure. Each of the pressure chambers
cylinders of said presses communicate with one another by means of an omnibus
main, which conveys the fluid under pressure and which may be connected
to a hydraulic accumulator. Therefore the pressure existing in each press is
practically the same, and consequently the four individual ropes of the ropeway
are subjected to the same tension, and each rope thus assumes the same catenary
curve, thereby assuring that the load will be equally distributed between the
ropes.
ог
In the drawing hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 is an
end elevation, drawn diagramatically, of the supporting tower at one terminus of
my improved ropeway.
A, B, C, D, are guiding sheaves over which the four carrying ropes E, F, G, H,
pass. These guiding sheaves are preferably arranged in echelon, so that the
ropes do not interfere with each other. It will be seen that the carrying ropes
pass over their guiding sheaves and thence downwards to the cross-heads, J, of four
hydraulic presses, K, which are arranged upon the supporting tower. L is a
pump which forces water at great pressure into the accumulator, M, from which
high pressure water is conducted to the hydraulic press cylinders by means of the
omnibus main N, and branches O.
It will be seen that my method of connecting each ram cylinder to an accumu-
lator by means of an omnibus main ensures that an equal pressure is maintained
in each cylinder and that each carrying rope is subjected to the same tension.
The length of each carrying rope is so adjusted relatively to the cross-head
of its pressure ram that the ram remains at about half stroke in ordinary work-
ing. By this means the rams serve as a compensating device whereby any
temporary slackness or increased tension of the ropes
hydraulic accumulator, omnibus-main, and the pump, are so operated that the
compensated for. If the
volume of water available for operating the rams remains constant, the effect will
be that if one of the ropes breaks and eases its ram, the water which enters this
ram cylinder will be abstracted from the omnibus-main and from the other
cylinders, thereby casing the pressure in such other cylinders, and consequently
easing the tension of the remaining ropes. Consequently there will be an increase
in the catenary curve of the remaining carrying ropes which will be thus endowed
with the same or approximately the same carrying power as that possessed by the

page_text: original number of ropes, by virtue of the law that the weight that a rope will
carry is proportional to its catenary curve.
Another advantage afforded by my improved arrangement of pressure rams
upon an omnibus-main is that all variations in length of ropes, owing to varia-
tions in temperature, are compensated for.
The strength of the carrying ropes can be periodically tested by increasing
the pressure within the ram cylinders.
In cases where it is required to carry much heavier loads than usual, this may
be accomplished by reducing the pressure within the pressure cylinders, whereby
the ropes are slackened and their catenary curve increased. Such pressure may
be reduced by reducing the weight on the accumulator, or by reducing the weight
upon the relief valve m.
Instead of attaching a rope's end directly to a ram cross-head, the connection
may be made through a multiplying gear whereby a considerable length of rope
is affected by a comparatively short movement of the ram cross-head.
A further advantage afforded by the system herein described is that as the load
approaches the supporting tower on which the rams are disposed, and the tension
on the ropes consequently decreases, the presses draw up or tighten the ropes and
so reduce the ascending gradient up which the load is travelling.
By so arranging weights upon the accumulator M that they are only effective
when a high pressure is required, and so that they are non-effective when such
pressure can be dispensed with, the tension on the ropes can be automatically
adjusted to the load which they are carrying. For instance, if a series of weights
are superimposed upon the accumulator cage, that is to say the stationary frame
or guide which surrounds the accumulator, so that they are borne by such cage
when the accumulator has sunk to its lower position, and so that the accumulator
lifts and bears such weights as it rises, the weights will be effective on the accumu-
lator only when an increased pressure exists in the ram cylinders, and will be
non-effective when a low pressure exists in such cylinders. The following
examples will illustrate my meaning:-
(a) When there is no load on the ropes the rams are extended beyond their
normal position, and water is abstracted from the accumulator, which falls to a
low level. The load on the accumulator will then be at its minimum, as in the
act of falling the accumulator has deposited some of its weights upon the accumu-
lator cage.
(b) When there is a normal load on the ropes the rams are withdrawn some-
what, and water is driven out of their cylinders and into the accumulator, which
thus rises, and in the act of rising it lifts, seriatim, some of the weights which were
borne by its cage.
The water pressure thus automatically increases with an
increased necessity for rope tension.
(c) Where there is a heavy load on the ropes, the rams are withdrawn more
than normally, and extra water is forced into the accumulator, which thus rises
above its normal height and in its ascent, it picks up a greater number of balanc-
ing weights, so that the pressure of water is increased in proportion to the load
upon the ropes.
It must be understood that the immediately preceding paragraph does not refèr
to an abnormally heavy load, for which as stated before it is advisable that
the catenary curve of the ropes should be increased by easing their rams as already
described.
Any suitable number of carrying ropes may be employed, and are preferably
disposed in two rows, one upon each side of the carrying vehicle P.
The pressure rams may be placed at each extremity of a ropeway span; but if
they are disposed at one end only, and the traffic on such ropeway is in one
direction only, I prefer to place them at the arrival terminus, for the purpose
of reducing the catenary curve of the carrying ropes as the load approaches such
terminus, as already described.
Where the individual ropes of a multiple ropeway such as herein referred to

page_text: are of equal weight and intended to bear an equal share of the load, the pressure
ram of each rope must be of the same capacity or area, but there may be instances
where one or more of a series of ropes will be of a greater weight or intended to
bear a larger proportion of the load than that borne by the other ropes, and in
these cases the pressure area of the rams will be suited to the requirements of the
individual ropes which they strain, so that the tension on each rope will be pro-
portionate to the load it has to carry.
a
This invention may be used where continuous ropes are used, carried on
number of supports, or where separate ropes are used for each individual span.
Although in the foregoing description there has been specified the use of
hydraulic rams for the purposes of my invention, I would have it understood that
I contemplate the use of steam or air or other fluid pressure for the purpose of
operating the rams and for straining the carrying ropes of a ropeway.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described method of straining the carrying ropes of aerial rope-
ways, which consists in connecting each rope thereof with the cross-head of a
pressure ram, and in connecting the pressure cylinders of said rams by means of
an omnibus-main, whereby an equal pressure is maintained upon each ram and an
equal strain is imposed upon each rope, substantially as herein described.
2. The employment in combination with a series of hydraulic ram presses con-
nected by an omnibus-main and operating to strain the carrying ropes of an
aerial ropeway, of a hydraulic accumulator whose function is to increase the pres-
sure within such ram presses as the necessity for an increased pressure arises,
substantially as described.
Doted this 15th
C
הד
1
1000
J. A. COUBROUGH,
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool.
Chartered Patent Agent
Agent for the Applicant.