IMPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING OR LIFTING APPARATUS OR MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1882. Communicated
to him from abroad by John Hedges Lidgerwood, of Morristown, New
Jersey, United States of America
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London " IMPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING OR LIFTING
APPARATUS OR MACHINES [A Communication to him from abroad by John
Hedges Lidgerwood, of Morristown, New Jersey, United States of America]
"
This Invention relates to improvements in hoisting or lifting apparatus of that
kind in which the chain or rope carrying the weight is coiled around a cylinder or
drum which is arranged upon a horizontal shaft in such a manner that it may, at
the will of the attendant, be caused either to rotate with the said shaft or to be
loose thereon in such a manner that it will revolve around the same.
The chief objects of the present Invention are to provide improved means for
ensuring good frictional contact between the drum and the shaft, or parts connected
therewith, when these parts are required to rotate together, and for readily connecting
and disconnecting the same when the apparatus is in use.
The said Invention consists in various improvements hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a drum baving a conical
friction-flange, at each end, the said drum being arranged loosely on the shaft, so
that the latter can turn without it; also, so that it can slide lengthwise of said
shaft to some extent. Near each end of the said shaft there is a wheel to the face of
which wooden sections are attached, which sections are secured thereto, preferably
by bolts, and together form a wooden disc on each wheel having its periphery
turned off at an angle corresponding with the angle of the said conical friction-
flange. The sections of wood are preferably made to have their inner ends rest on
the hubs of the said wheels which constitute a rear support against the inward
pressure of the flanges, and the wheels are preferably made with flanged metal
pieces between the sections of wood for securing better driving power than might
otherwise be obtained. One of these wheels is keyed fast to the shaft, the other being
movable longitudinally on the same. The latter wheel is prevented from turning
[Price 2d1

page_text: on the shaft by a key, which works in a slot, through the shaft, and engages in
slots in the hub of the wheel. This key is pushed forward against the wheel by a
rod in a central hole in the shaft, and the rod is pushed forward by a screw-pin
working in a stationary nut and is turned by arms at the end of the pin. The
endwise thrust on the shaft is sustained by a collar of another nut screwing on
said shaft against one bearing of the shaft.
A friction-strap for stopping and holding the drum is worked by a shaft and
lever. For clutching the drum to the shaft the screw-pin is turned so as to press
the movable wheel against the drum, and the latter against the fixed wheel, and for
releasing it the screw is reversed.
According to a modification of my Invention I construct the apparatus as follows
that is to say the friction-surface of an outer cone is composed of pieces of wood
confined endwise in a shell formed on the inner side of a wheel at one end of the
shaft. This wood is dovetailed in, and is turned off at an angle of from thirty to
forty degrees, to fit a conically-recessed disc, which is made fast on one end of the
drum. The outer cone therefore presents a surface composed of the ends of pieces
of wood as a frictional surface. As the drum is moved up to it friction is produced
to revolve the drum, and when the drum is thrown back by a spiral spring
provided for the purpose it revolves freely around the drum-shaft. In this modifi-
cation the frictional contact-surfaces are at one end only, instead of at both ends as
in the apparatus herein before described.
To govern the engagement and disengagement of the friction-surfaces I provide
a screw, which works through a bracket-nut and is operated by means of a hand-
wheel. There is a pin in the end of the drum-shaft, whic!" given a longitudinal
motion from the screw.
A gib passes through a slot in the shaft and encloses a loose collar, which collar
is forced against the end of the drum by the action of the screw and pin, the slot
through the shaft being sufficiently long to allow the gib to move back and forth.
Thus the drum can be moved up to the cone until the disc engages with it by
means of the hand-wheel operating the screw, pin, gib, and collar, and when the
hand-wheel is turned in the opposite direction the spring repels the drum until the
frictional surfaces disengage.
Instead of the hand-wheel, a lever-wheel or any suitable devices may be used for
the same purpose. By means of this mechanism the drum is made to take more or
less friction, as may be required. The attendant stands at the hand-wheel and
controls the drum with perfect precision, making it hoist, or let go, or be regulated
in any manner he may desire.
There is a driving-shaft, which communicates the power to the outer cone, by
means of a gear-wheel and pinion.
The drum shaft is supported on the frame by two standards, and steam or other
motive power is applied to a crank-pin on a wheel. At the other end of the
driving shaft is a fly-wheel, on which a belt may be used for driving a pump, or for
other purposes.