Lowering them into Graves.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1889
Specification Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1389
Lowering them into Graves.
I, JAMES HENRY FERRABEE, of 40 Rowley Street, Stafford, in the county of Stafford-
shire, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a bier which while offering every facility
for placing a coffin thereon and for carrying or wheeling the same shall also afford
means whereby the said coffin may be easily and safely lowered into the grave.
The bier may be made of a form suitable for carrying only, or it may be made
suitable for wheeling only, or may be made so as to allow of either carrying or wheeling,
but whichever of these forms is adopted the means for lowering the coffin are always
provided.
In the form suitable for carrying only I prefer to make the bier as follows.
A strong, light, frame is first constructed having two side bars or rails with the ends
terminating in handles, and two cross rails.
At the four corners where the cross rails join the side rails are provided legs, of
suitable height, and preferably spread somewhat at the lower ends. The whole then
resembles very closely an ordinary bier except that it has no bottom or floor. The
length between the two cross rails, and the width between the two side rails, are cach
somewhat greater than the length and width respectively of the largest coffin for which
the bier is intended to be used, so that the coffin may be passed through the bier
frame.
To support the coffin short bars are provided which are carried in holes or eyes in
the sides of the frame.
These bars are removed to allow of the coffin being lowered and when in place are
retained by springs, pins, or other security.
-
Carried in bearings upon the frame are rollers, or reels, of sufficient length, or
otherwise having sufficient adjustment, to accominodate various sizes of coffin.
Each roller, or reel shaft, has upon one end a worm wheel.

page_text: cross shaft "1" so that the reels "1" all revolve together and the coffin
221" is
lowered horizontally whereas with the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 either
the foot or the head may be depressed so as to incline the coffin if so desired.
*:
Figs. 8 and 9 shew a modification in which the two head reels "f" are mounted.
on the same shaft "e" and the two foot reels "fa" are mounted on a similar
shaft These shafts "e" and "e3" lie across the frame in bearings "d¹." The
bearings" may be adjustable lengthwise on the frame "a" and secured by
nuts tu. or they may be fixed permanently for a medium sized coffin, in which case-
they would accommodate coffins considerably smaller or larger.
"
"
Two of the bearings "d" carry the worms
* k1" upon the shafts "1" in such a
manner that when the bearings "d" are moved along the frame "a" the worms
are carried with them.
The shafts are provided with featherways and the worms "A" with feathers.
so that wherever the four bearing framos "d" are placed the worms always revolve-
with the shafts. The fixed bearings "d² d3" with their collars keep the shafts " 18"
from moving end wise.
If desired the handle "m" with its shaft "12" and bearing "" may be removed
and both worms ""mounted on the same shaft . In this case the coffin can only-
be lowered in a horizontal position.
A long plain roller or the modification shewn in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used,
in place of the reels "f. f¹ƒ ƒ³."
The worms". " may have one, two or other number of threads or teeth to give.
the desired speed to the reels or rolls.
The worms and worm wheels may if necessary give place to pinions and wheels of a.
screw or helical type of teeth.-A ratchet wheel and pawl, a friction brake, or other
device may be employed to hold the worm shafts if required.
Any of the methods of lowering may be employed with any of the biers and the
lowering handles may be arranged in various ways.
Wood or metal may be used for the frames, etc. as found most suitable.
The bier is used in the following manner. The webs or bands are fastened to and
wound upon the reels and the cross supporting bars are placed in position and
secured.
The coffin is placed upon the bars and wheeled or borne, as the case may be, to the
grave side. Two short pieces of timber are placed across the grave one at the
head the other at the foot and on to these the bier is lifted standing upon its four legs..
A turn is now given to the handle or handles the webs passing from reel to reel under
the coffin at the head and foot are strained and lift up the coffin from the supporting.
bars which then being withdrawn allow of the coffin being easily and safely lowered
into the grave. If the wheeled bier is used the cross timbers are not required but.
longitudinal ones may be used instead for the wheels to run upon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is:
1. In a bier the employment of the improved mechanism, consisting of the-
reels "ffff" the bands "." the shafts "e. e e e "the bearings "d. d' d² d³"
the worn wheels "j." the worms "k. k" the shafts "1" "2" and handles ".
for lowering a coffin into a grave all substantially as described.
m. ml".
2. In a bier the employment of the adjustable reels to suit varying sizes of coffin
substantially as described.
3. In a bier the employment of the roll divided in sections by flanges substantially
as described.
"
4. In a bier the combination of the supporting bars "o." made to slide in and out
of the holes or eyes "p. p" in the frames " a. a with the improved mechanism for
lowering a coffin into a grave substantially as described.
5. In a bier the combination of the buckles, hooks, or other easily disconnected
fastenings for the purpose of joining the lengths of band, cord or web to each other

page_text: and to the reels or rollers with the supporting bars and the improved niechanism for
lowering a coffin into a grave substantially as specified.
6. The combination of the improved mechanism for lowering a coffin into a grave
with a carrying bier having supporting bars ", 0. ." handles "b." and "c." substantially
as described.
1
7. The combination of a carrying bier, having supporting bars, handles, legs, and
improved mechanism for lowering a coffin into a grave, with a wheeled carriage, having
a removable steering handle, on to and off from which carriage said bier can be
easily lifted substantially as described.
8. In a bier the combination of the improved mechanism for lowering a
coffin into a grave, and the supporting bars, with a wheeled carriage substantially as
described.
Dated this 19th day of February 1889