Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1887
Complete Left, 13th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved cable gripping mechanism so
constructed and arranged as to be capable of readily accommodating itself to the rise
and fall of the moving car-body without bearing with any great weight on the cable,
and adapted, also, to swing from side to side with the varying line of the cable in
turning curves without subjecting the cable to strain or wear.
My invention has also for its object to provide an improved and reliable means of
automatically releasing the grip jaws from the cable at a cable-crossing or other point
of obstruction without interfering with the mechanism by which the grip can be
controlled by the car attendant.
.
The invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of the cable-
gripping jaws and their accompaniments, and also in the mechanism whereby said
jaws are operated, either automatically or at the will of the attendant on the car-
platform, all of which will be hereinafter particularly set forth.
According to the said invention a stationary vertical plate is secured to the car-
frame in any suitable or well known manner, and recessed to receive a vertically-
sliding plate that supports the cable-gripping devices. This sliding plate is made to
move smoothly in the stationary plate by means of anti-friction rollers which are
supported in the stationary plate. To one side of the sliding plate is attached a pin
or lug for engagement with treadles by which the sliding plate can be raised when
desired. The sliding plate is held from lateral displacement by means of guides on
one side of the stationary plate the lower guide being made to serve also as a
stop to
prevent the sliding plate from dropping so far as to become disconnected from the
stationary plate.
In order to sustain a portion of the weight of the sliding plate and thereby relieve
the cable from excessive strain, a weight can be arranged in a recess of the stationary

page_text: plate, and be connected with the upper end of the sliding plate by means of a cord
or chain, passed over pulleys journailed in the upper part of the stationary plate. A
like result can be obtained by substituting springs for the weight above described,
said springs being arranged in corresponding recesses formed in the plates and
supported at their lower ends by the stationary plate in such a manner that at their upper
ends they will engage the upper walls of the recesses formed in the sliding plate, and
thereby sustain a portion of its weight. By either of these arrangements, comprising
one or more springs or weights, as preferred, the strain of the gripping devices on
the cable can be reduced to a minimum.
The lower end of the sliding plate is formed with perforated lugs or eyes for the
passage of the hinge-pins on which eyes of the swinging gripping jaws are journalled.
The gripping-jaws are closed securely by means of an external saddle that is journalled
or hinged by means of a pin to a perforated lug or eye at the lower end of a
vertically-sliding bar which moves in a recess formed on one side of the sliding
plate. This vertically sliding bar is formed with a longitudinal-slot having on each
side of its lower end an elongated perforation and above the slot is a triangular opening
in which is pivotted a pendulum or vibratory arm carrying at its lower end a hori-
zontally-projecting lug or locking-pin. In the slot is arranged a slide having a cam
attached to its upper end and a cross-head near its lower end. The cam is formed
with a concaved upper edge, whereby it is adapted to disengage the locking-pin from
its receiving-notch as hereinafter explained and the cross-head engages a pair of
rabbeted lugs or arms, which carry horizontally projecting pins that engage the
elongated perforations in the sliding bar for a purpose hereinafter described.
The cam and cross-head both project from the slide on the same side of the slot
and the vertically sliding bar and slide are held within the slotted or recessed sliding
plate by means of guides formed on or attached to said plates.
The locking-pin on the vibratory arm is adapted to engage a notch at the lower
end of a slot formed in a block which is arranged to slide vertically in a slot or
opening in the stationary plate that supports the gripping mechanism. This sliding
block is provided with suitable guides and carries a rack which engages a pinion
journalled to a block that is fixed to the sliding plate and adapted to move in a slot
or recess in the stationary plate.
The rabbeted lugs or arins above referred to, are attached to or formed on a pair
of vertical rods or bars, which are provided at their lower ends with jointed exten-
sions connected to a horizontal bar extending longitudinally between the hinged
gripping-jaws. At the upper ends these vertical rods or bars move in guide slots or
recesses formed in the sliding plate.
To each end of the horizontal bar is secured a bracket with which is loosely
connected a bifurcated hanger the upper end of which is journalled on one of the pins
by which the gripping-jaws are hinged to the lower end of the sliding plate. At the
outer ends of these brackets are journalled rollers one on each side of the cable
passage and at the inner ends of the brackets are larger rollers attached to connecting-
shafts that are journalled in the bifurcated hangers and pass loosely through vertically-
elongated slots formed in said brackets. On each of these connecting-shafts is a
grooved roller, that lies above the cable.
The horizontal bar carries on its upper edge two or more wedge-shaped lugs or
cams adapted to bear against the inner bevelled surfaces of the hinged gripping jaws
when the bar is raised and thereby press the jaws open and disengage them from the
cable after the saddle has been raised from contact with the outer surfaces of
said jaws.
The gripping jaws can be opened at the will of the attendant, while the locking pin
engages the notch by rotating the pinion in the proper direction to raise the block
thereby lifting the bar saddle and cam bar. The opening of the gripping-jaws is
effected automatically whenever the rollers come in contact with the ordinary bridges
or inclined ways that are usually placed in the cable-tunnel at cable-crossings, or
elsewhere, as required.
°
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that as the rollers at either end

page_text: of the grip come in contact with the bridges at a cable-crossing, said rollers will be
elevated sufficiently to carry one end of the horizontal bar slightly upward, thereby
raising the vertical bar at that end of the grip and causing its rabbeted lug to bear
against the under side of the cross-head. This cross head carries upward the slide
and attached cam a sufficient distance to cause the concavity of the cam to force the
locking-pin out of the notch against the slight pressure of a spring which normally
serves to hold said pin in its receiving-notch. After the locking-pin becomes
disengaged from the notch the continued upward movement of the rabbeted lug
brings its attached pin into contact with the upper end of the elongated perforation
in which it is engaged and thereby commences to move the sliding bar and attached
saddle upward, so as to disengage the latter from the gripping-jaws and permit them
to open and release the cable under the continued upward movement of the bar and
attached wedge-shaped lugs within said jaws. As the saddle and sliding bar rise
under the action of the lugs and attached pins the disengaged locking-pin will move
upward in the slot of the block without affecting the rack and pinion gearing
connected with said block, and the car with the opened gripping jaws will move
forward by its momentum until the cable is again gripped, or until the brakes are
applied should it be desired to bring the car to a stop. It will be observed that this
automatic action of the bar in unlocking and opening the gripping-jaws and of the
saddle in rising to permit the opening of said jaws, is entirely independent of the car
attendant or driver and requires no attention on his part. In passing over a bridge
at a cable-crossing the upward movement of the contacting rollers raises that end of
the bracket sufficiently to automatically actuate the unlocking mechanism of the grip
without affecting the hangers until the lower ends of the slots come in contact with
the shafts of the rollers by which time the unlocking of the grip has been effected so
that the upward movement of the hangers will elevate the plate and open grip-jaws
in season to avoid contact with the crossing cable, and the antifriction rollers will
carry the grip over the bridge without any liability of injury to the cables or gripping
mechanism.
In order to grip or release the travelling cable at will, the car attendant can
actuate the gripping mechanism either through a hand wheel on the shaft of the
pinion or through the ordinary hand-wheel shaft at either end of the car, said hand
wheel shaft being connected with the shaft of the pinion in any suitable manner such
as by means of rods or chains-and also, if desired, with the brake mechanism.
In actuating the grip through the pinion the engagement of the latter with the
rack will enable the sliding block to be raised or lowered, as desired. The notch of
this sliding block being engaged with the pin carried by the sliding bar it is obvious
that said bar and attached saddle will likewise be moved up or down, according to
the direction in which the pinion is turned, and the engagement of the sliding bar
with the pins carried by the lugs on the vertical bars will move the horizontal grip-
opening bar in like manner. In this method of operating the grip the spring retains
the pin in the notch to form a connection between the bar and block until such time
as the automatic opening and elevation of the gripping jaws is required to avoid
contact with a crossing cable or other obstruction. When the pin has been carried
upward in the slot past the spring in the automatic unlocking and upward movement
of the grip, the subsequent lowering of the sliding bar will carry said pin down past
the spring and into its normal position in the notch thereby securely locking the
gripping-jaws in contact with the cable.
دو
By means of the treadles the sliding plate and attached gripping-jaws can be raised
whenever desired. This vertically sliding plate and its connections are all so arranged
that the car body, supported on springs, as usual, can rise and fall freely without
disturbing the engagement of the gripping-jaws and cable, and without "kinking
or straining the latter, as is liable to occur with a fixed gripping device. The
arrangement of the weight or weights, or the spring or springs, for sustaining or
carrying the plate and attachments, serves to relieve the cable of the greater part of
the weight of the gripping devices, and thereby avoids the usual liability of cutting
or breaking the cable from excessive strain.

page_text: The flexible connection of the gripping jaws with the lower end of the sliding
plate by means of the hinge-pins, and the corresponding connection of the saddle
with the sliding bar and of the jointed bars enable the gripping-jaws to be swung
inward by contact with the usual inclined guide in turning a curve, so as to accom-
modate itself to the varying line of travel of the cable.
The internal faces of the gripping-jaws are recessed to receive an oblong longi-
tudinally-sliding frame, in which are journalled grooved gripping-rollers. On the
upper surface of the sliding frame are lugs or eyes for engagement with a longi-
tudinal bolt or rod by which the sliding frame is suspended from a lug in the central
upper portion of the recess formed in the gripping jaw.
-
The supporting rod or bolt is surrounded by a spring that tends to maintain the
frame, and attached rollers in a central position within the recessed gripping-jaw.
The gripping-rollers project on each side of their supporting-frames, and on their
inner sides may contact with V-shaped springs set in concave depressions formed in
the inner side walls of the gripping-jaws, said springs being formed of flat steel
leaves and provided with rounded iron bearing-surfaces at their ends.
If desired, the springs may be dispensed with and the rollers made to contact
directly with the depressions which form a series of corrugations or double inclines.
It is also obvious that instead of suspending the sliding roller-carrying frame with a
spring above said frame, it may be arranged with a spring, at each end. The upper
opposing edges of the roller-carrying frames are provided with interlocking teeth.
The pivots or journals of the horizontal gripping-rollers project down through slots
in the bottoms of the gripping-jaws, so as to assist in holding the roller-carrying
frames within the jaws without interfering with the longitudinal play of the rollers
in riding on the springs or on the double inclines formed by the depressions in the
act of gripping the cable. By means of the interlocking teeth both roller carrying
frames are made to move together, so as to prevent kinking or twisting the cable
in the act of engaging therewith. The transverse grooved rollers journalled in the
brackets at each end of the gripping jaws, and above the cable, are so arranged as to
bear on the cable in such a manner as to prevent the up and down bending thereof,
that is so liable to impair its integrity when engaged with gripping devices of
ordinary construction.
D
11
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to Rope-gripping Apparatus for Cable
Railways or Tramways.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved cable gripping mechanism so
constructed and arranged as to be capable of readily accommodating, itself to the rise
and fall of the moving car-body without bearing with any great weight on the cable,
and adapted, also, to swing from side to side with the varying line of the cable in
turning curves without subjecting the cable to strain or wear.
This invention has also for its object to provide an improved and reliable means of
automatically releasing the grip jaws from the cable at a cable crossing or other point
of obstruction without interfering with the mechanism by which the grip can be
controlled by the car attendant.
The invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of the cable-gripping
jaws and their accompaniments, and also in the mechanism whereby said jaws are
operated, either automatically or at the will of the attendant on the car-platform, all of
which will be hereinafter particularly set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cable gripping mechanism
embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line x, x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an inner side view of one of the hinged gripping-jaws, showing in section
its connection with the opposite hinged jaw and with the jaw-carrying plate.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of one of the gripping jaws on the line y, y, of
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the jaw carrying plate and connections, partly in
section, the gripping jaws being removed.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the gripping jaws and connections.
Figure 7 illustrates certain details in perspective.
Figure 8 is a view of a spring-bearing for the gripping rollers.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section of one of the gripping jaws illustrating a modifica-
tion in the arrangement of the springs for centering the carrying-frame of the gripping
rollers.
1. represents a stationary vertical plate which is secured to the car frame in any
suitable or well known manner, and recessed to receive the vertically sliding plate 2
that supports the cable gripping devices. This sliding plate 2 is made to move smoothly
in the stationary plate by means of antifriction rollers 3, (shown by dotted lines,

page_text: Figure 1) which are supported in the stationary plate. To one side of the sliding
plate 2, is attached a pin or lug, 4, for engagement with treadles 5 by which the
sliding plate can be raised when desired. The sliding plate 2, is held from lateral
displacement by means of guides 6, on one side of the stationary plate 1, the lower
guide being made to serve also as a stop to prevent the sliding plate from dropping so
far as to become dis-connected from the stationary plate.
In order to sustain a portion of the weight of the sliding plate 2, and thereby
relieve the cable from excessive strain, a weight 7 can be arranged in a recess 8, of
the stationary plate, and be connected with the upper end of the sliding plate by means
of a cord or chain, 9 passed over pulleys 10, journalled in the upper part of the
stationary plate. A like result can be attained by substituting springs 11, for the
weight above described, said springs being arranged in corresponding recesses, 12,
formed in the plates 1 and 2 as shown by dotted lines Figure 1, and supported at
their lower ends by the stationary plate in such a manner that at their upper ends
they will engage the upper walls of the recesses formed in the sliding plate, and
thereby sustain a portion of its weight. By either of these arrangements, comprising
one or more springs or weights, as préferred, the strain of the gripping devices on the
cable can be reduced to a minimum.
The lower end of the sliding plate 2 is formed with perforated lugs or eyes 13 for
passage of the hinge pins 14, on which the eyes 15, 16 of the swinging gripping
jaws 17 are journalled. The gripping-jaws 17 are closed securely by means of an external
saddle 18, Figures 1, 2 and 5 that is journalled or hinged by means of a pin 19, to a
perforated lug or eye 20, at the lower end of a vertically-sliding bar 21, which moves
in a recess 22, formed on one side of the sliding plate 2. This vertically sliding
bar 21, is formed with a longitudinal slot, 23, Figure 7, having on each side of its
lower end an elongated perforation 24, and above the slot 23 is a triangular opening, 25,
in which is pivoted a pendulum or vibratory arm 26, carrying at its lower end a
horizontally-projecting lug or locking-pin 27. In the slot 23 is arranged in a slide, 28,
having a cam 29, attached to its upper end and a cross-head 30 near its lower end.
The cam 29 is formed with a concaved upper edge, whereby it is adapted to disengage
the locking pin 27 from its receiving notch, as hereinafter explained, and the cross
head 30, engages a pair of rabbeted lugs or arms 31 which carry horizontally-
projecting pins 32, that engage the elongated perforations 24 in the sliding bar 21, for
a purpose hereinafter described.
By reference to Figure 2 it will be seen that the cam -29 and cross-head 30 both
project from the slide 28 on the same side of the slot 23; and it will also be seen that
the vertically sliding bar 21, and slide 28 are held within the slotted or recessed sliding
plate 2 by means of guides 33, formed on or attached to said plates.
The locking-pin 27 on the vibratory arm 26 is adapted to engage a notch 34 at the
lower end of the slot 35, formed in a block 36, which is arranged to slide vertically in
a slot or opening 37 in the stationary plate 1, that supports the gripping mechanism.
This sliding block 36 is provided with suitable guides, 38, and carries a rack 39 which
engages a pinion 40, journalled to a block 41, that is fixed to a sliding plate 2, and
adapted to move in a slot or recess 42, in the stationary plate.
The rabbeted lugs or arms 31, above referred to, are attached to or formed on a pair
of vertical rods or bars 43, which are provided at their lower ends with jointed exten-
sions 44, that are connected to a horizontal bar 45, extending longitudinally between
the hinged gripping-jaws. At the upper ends these vertical rods or bars 43 move in
guide slots or recesses 46, formed in the sliding plate 2.
To each end of the horizontal bar 45 is secured a bracket 47 with which is loosely
connected a bifurcated hanger, 48, the upper end of which is journalled on one of the
pins 14, by which the gripping-jaws 17, are hinged to the lower end of the sliding
plate 2.
At the outer ends of these brackets 47, are journalled rollers 49, one on each
side of the cable-passage, and at the inner ends of the brackets are large rollers 50
attached to connecting shafts that are journalled in the bifurticated hangers 48, and
pass loosely through vertically-elongated slots 51, formed in said brackets. On each
of these connecting-shafts is a grooved roller 52, that lies above the cable.

page_text: The horizontal bar 45 carries on its upper edge two or more wedge-shaped lugs or
cams, 53, which are adapted to bear against the inner bevelled surfaces of the hinged-
gripping jaws 17 when the bar 45 is raised, and thereby press the jaws open and
disengage them from the cable after the saddle 18. has been raised from contact with
the outer surfaces of said jaws.
The gripping-jaws can be opened at the will of the attendant, while the locking-
pin 27 engages the notch 34 by rotating the pinion 40 in the proper direction to raise
the block 36, thereby lifting the bar 21, saddle 18, and cam bar 45, The opening of the
gripping-jaws will be effected automatically whenever the rollers 49 come in contact
with the ordinary bridges or inclined ways as indicated by the line 49, that are
usually placed in the cable tunnel at cable-crossings, or elsewhere, as required.
:
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that as the rollers 49 at either
end of the grip come in contact with the bridges at a cable crossing, said rollers will
be elevated sufficiently to carry one end of the horizontal bar 45 slightly upward,
thereby raising the vertical bar 43 at that end of the grip and causing its rabbeted
lug 31 to bear against the under side of the cross head 30. This cross head 30 carries
upward the slide 28 and attached cam 29 a sufficient distance to cause the concavity of
the cam to force the locking pin 27 out of the notch 34 against the slight pressure of
a spring 54, which normally serves to hold said pin in its receiving-notch. After the
locking pin 27 becomes disengaged from the notch 34 the continued upward move-
ment of the rabbeted lug 31, brings its attached pin 32 into contact with the upper end
of the elongated perforation 24, in which it is engaged, and thereby commences to
move the sliding bar 21 and attached saddle 18 upward, so as to disengage the latter
from the gripping-jaws and permit them to open and release the cable under the con-
tinued upward movement of the bar 45, and attached wedge shaped lugs 53 within
said jaws As the saddle 18 and sliding bar 21 rise under the action of the lugs 31
and attached pins 32, the disengaged locking pin 27 will move upward in the slot 35 of
the block 36 without effecting the rack and pinion gearing connected with said block,
and the car with the opened gripping-jaws will move forward by its momentum until
the cable is again gripped, or until the brakes are applied, should it be desired to
bring the car to a stop. It will be observed that this automatic action of the bar 45,
in unlocking and opening the gripping-jaws, and of the saddle 18 in rising to permit
the opening of said jaws, is entirely independent of the car attendant or driver and
requires no attention on his part. In passing over a bridge at a cable crossing the
upward movement of the contacting rollers 49 raises that end of the bracket suffi-
ciently to automatically actuate the unlocking mechanism of the grip without affecting
the hangers 48 until the lower ends of the slots 51 come in contact with the shafts of
the rollers 50, by which time the unlocking of the grip has been effected, so that the
upward movement of the hangers 48 will elevate the plate and open grip-jaws 17 in
season to avoid contact with the crossing cable, and the antifriction rollers 50 will
carry the grip over the bridge without any liability of injury to the cables or gripping
mechanism.
In order to grip or release the travelling cable at will, the car attendant can actuate
the gripping mechanism either through a hand wheel on the shaft of the pinion 40 or
through the ordinary hand wheel shaft at either end of the car, said hand-wheel shaft
being connected with the shaft of the pinion 40 in any suitable manner-such as by
means of rods or chains-and also, if desired, with the brake mechanism.
In actuating the grip through the pinion 40 the engagement of the latter with the
rack 39 will enable the sliding block 36 to be raised or lowered, as desired. The
notch 34 of this sliding block 36 being engaged with the pin 27, carried by the sliding
bar 21, it is obvious that said bar and attached saddle 18 will likewise be moved up
or down, according to the direction in which the pinion 40 is turned, and the engage-
ment of the sliding bar 21, with the pins 32, carried by the lugs 31 on the vertical
bars 43, will move the horizontal grip-opening bar 45 in like manner. In this
method of operating the grip the spring 54 retains the pin 27 in the notch 34 to form
a connection between the bar 21 and block 36 until such time as the automatic opening
and elevation of the gripping-jaws is required to avoid contact with a crossing cable

page_text: or other obstruction. When the pin 27 has been carried upward in the slot 35 past
the spring 54 in the automatic unlocking and upward movement of the grip, the
subsequent lowering of the sliding bar 21 will carry said pin down past the spring
and into its normal position in the notch 34, thereby securely locking the gripping-
jaws in contact with the cable.
By means of the treadles 5 the sliding plate 2 and attached gripping-jaws 17 can
be raised whenever desired. This vertically-sliding plate 2 and its connections are all so
arranged that the car-body, supported on springs, as usual, can rise and fall freely
without disturbing the engagement of the gripping-jaws and cable, and without
kinking" or straining the latter, as is liable to occur with a fixed gripping device.
The arrangement of the weight or weights 7 or the spring or springs 11, for sustaining
or carrying the plate 2, and attachments, serves to relieve the cable of the greater part
of the weight of the gripping devices, and thereby avoids the usual liability of cutting
or breaking the cable from excessive strain.
The flexible connection of the gripping jaws 17 with the lower end of the sliding
plate 2 by means of the hinge-pins 14, and the corresponding connection of the
saddle 18 with the sliding bar 21 and of the jointed bars 43 and 44, enable the
gripping jaws to be swung inward by contact with the usual inclined guide in turning
a curve, so as to accommodate itself to the varying line of travel of the cable.
The internal faces of the gripping-jaws 17 are recessed as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4
and 9, to receive an oblong longitudinally sliding frame 55, in which are journalled
the grooved gripping-rollers 56. On the upper surface of the sliding frame 55 are lugs
or eyes 57, for engagement with a longitudinal bolt or rod, 58, by which the sliding
frame 55 is suspended from a lug 59, in the central upper portion of the recess 60,
that is formed in the gripping-jaw.
The supporting rod or bolt 58 is surrounded by a spring 61, that tends to maintain
the frame 55 and attached rollers 56, in a central position within the recessed gripping-
jaw. The gripping rollers 56 project on each side of their supporting frames 55, as
shown in Figures 4 and 9, and on their inner sides may contact with V shaped
springs 62, set in concave depressions 63 formed in the inner side walls of the gripping-
jaw, said springs being formed of flat steel leaves and provided with rounded iron
bearing-surfaces 64 at their ends as shown in Figure 8.
If desired, the springs 62 may be dispensed with and the rollers 56 made to con-
tact directly with the depressions 63, which form a series of corrugations or double.
inclines, as shown in Figure 9. It is also obvious that instead of suspending the
sliding roller carrying frame 55 as shown in Figure 3 with a spring, 6, above said
frame, it may be arranged with a spring 65 at each end as shown in Figure 9.
The upper opposing edges of the roller-carrying-frames 55 are provided with inter-
locking teeth 66 as shown in Figure 6.
The pivots or journals of the horizontal gripping-rollers 56 project down through
slots 67 in the bottoms of the gripping-jaws 17, so as to assist in holding the roller-
carrying-frames 55 within the jaws without interfering with the longitudinal play of
the rollers 56 in riding on the springs 62 or on the double inclines formed by the
depressions 63 in the act of gripping the cable. By means of the interlocking teeth 66
both roller carrying frames are made to move together, so as to prevent kinking or
twisting the cable in the act of engaging therewith.
The transverse grooved rollers 52, journalled in the brackets 47 at each end of the
gripping-jaws and above the cable, are so arranged as to bear on the cable in such a
manner as to prevent the up and down bending thereof that is so liable to impair its
integrity when engaged with gripping devices of ordinary construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I wish it understood that what I claim is :-
First. The combination, with a fixed gripper supporting plate, of a vertically-sliding
plate, a grip composed of two hinged jaws carried at the lower end of said sliding
plate, a horizontal cam-bar suspended between said jaws and adapted to open the same,

page_text: jointed bars or rods attached to said cam bar, a vertically sliding bar having a saddle
pivotted to its lower end and adapted to clasp the grip-jaws, said saddle-carrying bar
being connected with the jointed bars that are attached to the cam bar, a rack-carrying
slide-block connected with the saddle-carrying bar, and a pinion for actuating said
rack to open or close the gripping-jaws, substantially as described.
Second. The combination, with a fixed gripper-supporting plate and a vertically-
sliding plate carrying two hinged gripping-jaws, of a horizontal cam-bar suspended
between the gripping-jaws and having at each end a roller-carrying bracket, a
vertically-sliding bar provided with slots and perforations, a saddle pivotted to the
lower end of said bar and adapted to clasp the gripping-jaws, jointed rods attached
to the horizontal cam-bar and provided with rabbeted lugs having pins to engage
elongated perforations in the vertically sliding saddle-bar, a swinging arm pivotted in
said bar and carrying a locking-pin, a slide arranged in a slot in the saddle-carrying-
bar, and having at its lower end a cross-head to engage the rabbeted lugs and at
its upper end a cam to disengage the locking pin, and a slotted block supported in the
stationary plate of the gripper and provided with a notch to receive said locking pin,
whereby the gripping jaws are automatically opened and released from the cable by
the contact of the rollers in the brackets at the ends of the horizontal cam-bar with
guides placed in the cable-way at a crossing or elsewhere, substantially as described.
Third. The combination, with a grip comprising two hinged jaws, of an external
saddle, a sliding bar carrying the saddle, a sliding plate, means for lowering the bar
and saddle, and a horizontal cam-bar between the jaws connected with the sliding bar
and provided with rollers to come in contact with a guide in the cable-way, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination, with a stationary gripper supporting plate and a vertically
sliding plate carrying the cable-gripping jaws, of treadles engaging a pin or lug on
said sliding plate to raise or lower the said plate and attach gripping-jaws substantially
as described.
Fifth. The combination, with the hinged gripping jaws, of a horizontal cam-bar
suspended between said jaws and adapted to be actuated to open the same, and a
horizontal grooved roller carried in a bracket at each end of said bar and adapted to
bear on the cable, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with the hinged and internally-recessed gripping jaws, of a
longitudinally-sliding frame placed in each of said jaws, gripping rollers journalled in
said frames, and springs for centering the roller carrying frames, substantially as
described.
Seventh. The combination, with the hinged and internally-recessed gripping jaws
provided with a series of depressions or double inclined planes of a longitudinally-
sliding frame placed in each of said jaws, gripping-rollers journalled in said frames
and adapted to ride on the double inclined planes to grip the cable, and springs to
centre said frames, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with the hinged and recessed gripping-jaws having a
series of internal depressions and springs set in said depressions, of a longitudinally
sliding frame placed in each of said jaws, gripping-rollers journalled in said frames,
and springs to centre the said roller-carrying frames, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with the hinged and recessed gripping jaws, of the hori-
zontally sliding roller carrying frames placed in said jaws and provided with
interlocking teeth, and springs for centreing said frames, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination with the recessed and slotted hinged gripping-jaws, of
longitudinally-sliding frames placed in said jaws, gripping rollers journalled in said
frames, with their pivots or journals extended down into the slots in the bottom of the
jaws, and springs to centre said sliding frames substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination of the stationary plate 1, the vertically sliding plate 2,
the hinged gripping jaws 17, cam-bar 45, jointed rods 43, 44, the saddle 18, sliding
bar 21, having slot 23, perforations 24, and triangular opening 25, the arm 26,
pivotted in said opening and carrying a locking-pin 27, the lugs 31, attached to the
rods 43 and having pins 32 engaging the perforations 24, the slide 28, having a
R

page_text: cam 29, and cross-head 30, the block 36 having slot 35, notch 34, and rack 39, and
the pinion 40, substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination of the stationary plate 1, the vertically sliding plate 2,
the hinged gripping jaws 17, the cam-bar 45, having end brackets 47, carrying
rollers 49, the hangers 48 carrying rollers 50, the jointed bars or rods 43, 44, rabbeted
lugs 31 having pins 32, the saddle 18, vertically sliding bar 21 provided with slot 23,
perforations 24, and pivoted arm 26 carrying a locking pin 27, the slide 28, having
cam 29 and cross head 30 and the block 36 having slot 35 and notch 34, for receiving
the locking pin, substantially as described.
Thirteenth. The combination with the vertically sliding plate 2, and the gripping-
jaws 17 hinged to the lower end of said plate, of a vertically sliding bar 21, a
saddle 18, pivotted to the lower end of said bar and adapted to clasp the gripping
jaws, means for locking said bar 21 in a lowered position, a horizontal cam-bar 45,
suspended between the gripping-jaws and having end brackets 47, carrying rollers 49,
and means for connecting said cam-bar with the saddle carrying bar and its locking
mechanism, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. The combination with the sliding-plate 12, having eyes 13, of the
gripping-jaws 17, provided with eyes 15, 16 the hinge-pins 14, the hangers 48,
suspended from said hinge-pins, and carrying rollers 50, the cam-bar 45, provided
with end brackets 47, having a loose connection with the shafts of the rollers 50, the
rollers 49, carried by said brackets, the saddle 18, sliding bar 21, means for locking
said bar 21 in a lowered position, and means for connecting the cam-bar 45 with the
locking mechanism of the saddle-carrying bar 21, substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The combination of the hinged gripping jaws 17, the vertically movable
bar 21, carrying a saddle 18, adapted to clasp said jaws, the horizontal bar 45,
suspended between said jaws and provided with wedge-shaped lugs or cams 53, the
brackets 47 attached to the ends of said cam-bar and carrying rollers 49, means for
locking the saddle carrying bar in a lowered position, and means for connecting the
cam-bar 45 with the locking mechanism of the saddle-carrying bar, substantially as
described.
Sixteenth. The combination, with the hinged gripping-jaws 17, having recesses 60
and slots 67 of the longitudinally-sliding frames 55, placed in said jaws, and provided
with interlocking teeth 66, the gripping rollers 56, journalled in said frames with
their pivots extending into the slots 67, and springs for centreing said frames,
substantially as described.
Seventeenth. The combination with the hinged gripping-jaws 17, having recesses 60
and springs 62, of the longitudinally sliding-frames 55, having interlocking teeth 66,
the gripping rollers 56, journalled in said frames, and the spring 58, substantially as
described.
Th: 191
TI 100-
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.