Improvements in and relating to Grippers for Cable Tramways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th D.c., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Grippers for Cable Tramways.
I, WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM, Memb. Inst. C.E. of Billiter Buildings, in the
City and County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of mounting the grippers on the
cars or bogies used on cable tramways, the objects being-First, to suspend the
gripper and all its attachments directly and rigidly from the frame of the car or
bogie. Secondly, to provide for fixing the gripper either in the centre of the
wheel base of the car or bogie or at any distance in advance or behind that centre.
Thirdly, to allow the gripper to automatically adjust its position with respect to
the slot rail or cable on any curve, and fourthly, to provide for the ready and easy
detachment of the gripper from the car in case of accident.
The type of gripper that I prefer to use is that described and claimed in my
prior Patent No. 8687 of 1887, though my present invention is applicable also to
other types of grippers.
In the construction of gripper set forth in Patent No. 8687 of 1887 the fixed
jaw is carried by a single shank and the adjustable or moving jaw by two shanks,
but in my improved construction I prefer to carry the fixed jaw by two shanks and
the adjustable or moving jaw by one shauk which is adapted to slide between the
two shanks carrying the fixed jaw and to be connected to the operating mechanism
by means of a double link.
The two shanks carrying the fixed jaw are attached by means of suitable bolts
to a head which is preferably formed in two parts to allow for the easy and ready
removal of the operative part of the gripper when necessary. This head is carried
by two brackets to which it is attached by means of two transverse pins, the said
brackets being slotted to adapt them to slide on bars mounted on or attached to the
frame of the car or bogie. Between the end of the slot in each of the brackets
and the opposite face of the bar on which it slides are placed two plates or blocks
the adjacent faces of the said two plates or blocks being curved to a radius struck
from the centre of the gripper thus allowing the head carrying the gripper both a
horizontal radial motion from the vertical centre of the gripper, and also a
horizontal sliding motion to the right and left, the limit of the latter movement
being determined by means of bolts closing the ends of the slots in the brackets.
The standard for carrying the operating mechanism is fixed to the sliding
brackets carrying the head in any convenient manner.
To withdraw the gripper from the cable way the head is detached from the
sliding brackets by withdrawing the transverse pins, and it can then be raised clear
of the roadway by means of the operating mechanism as set forth in my prior
Patent No. 8687 of 1887, the standard being fitted with suitable catches to engage
with the head and so support it clear of the roadway.
In case of accident the lower part of the gripper may be dropped into the cable
way from whence it may be withdrawn through one of the hatchways-by with-
drawing the bolts fixing the shanks carrying the fixed jaw to the head and by
detaching the shank carrying the adjustable or moving jaw from the links
carrying it.
Dated this 13th day of December 1893

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Grippers for Cable Tramways.
I, WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM, Memb. Inst. C.E. of Billiter Buildings, in the
City and County of London, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of mounting grippers on the cars
or bogies used on cable tramways, and it consists in mounting the shanks carrying
the fixed jaw of the gripper on a divided or double head, carried by two brackets
mounted on two bars carried by or fixed to the frame of the car or bogie, the
objects being-First, to suspend the gripper and all its attachments directly and
rigidly from the frame of the car or bogie. Secondly, to provide for fixing the
gripper either in the centre of the wheel base of the car or bogie or at any distance
in advance or behind that centre. Thirdly, to allow the gripper to automatically
adjust its position with respect to the slot rail or cable on any curve, and fourthly,
to provide for the ready and easy detachment of the gripper from the car in case
of accident.
I attain this end by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings in
which :-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in side elevation-partly in section-
illustrating my invention,
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in front elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 Sheet No. 2 is a view in plan-partly in section-thereof.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The type of gripper that I prefer to use is that described and claimed in my
prior Patent No. 8687 of 1887, though my present invention is applicable also to
other types of grippers.
In the construction of gripper set forth in Patent No. 8687 of 1887 the fixed jaw
is carried' by a single shank and the adjustable or moving jaw by two shanks, but
in my improved construction I prefer to carry the fixed jaw by two shanks, and
the adjustable or moving jaw by one shank which is adapted to slide between the
two shanks carrying the fixed jaw and to be connected to the operating mechanism
by means of a double link.
The two shanks A, A, carrying the fixed jaw B are attached by means of
suitable bolts C, C, to a head D which is preferably formed in two parts as shown
by Figure 3 to allow for the easy and ready removal of the operative part of the
gripper when necessary.
The shank A carrying the adjustable or moving jaw B₁ is fixed to the operating
mechanism by means of a double link A. The head D is carried by two
brackets E, E, to which it is attached by means of two transverse pins F, F, the
said brackets having slots e to adapt them to slide on bars G, G, mounted on or
attached to the frame X of the car or bogie, parallel with the axles thereof.
Between the end of the slot e in each of the brackets E and the adjacent faces of
the bars G, G, on which they slide, are placed two plates or blocks H and H', the
adjacent faces of the said two plates or blocks being curved to a radius struck from
the centre of the gripper as shown by Figure 3, thus allowing the head D carrying
the gripper both a horizontal radial motion from the vertical centre of the gripper,
and also a horizontal sliding motion to the right and left, the limit of the radial
movement being determined by means of bolts e', e', closing the ends of the slots e, e,
in the brackets E, E.
The standard J for carrying the operating mechanism, which is preferably the
same as that described in my prior Patent No. 8687 of 1887, is fixed to the sliding

page_text: brackets E, E, carrying the head D by bolts as shown, or in any other convenient
and suitable manner.
To withdraw the gripper from the cable way the head D is detached from the
sliding brackets E, E, by withdrawing the transverse pins F, F, when it can be
raised clear of the roadway by means of the operating mechanism, the standard J
being fitted with suitable catches j,j, to engage with the head and support it clear
of the roadway.
In case of accident the lower part of the gripper may be dropped into the cable-
way from whence it may be withdrawn through one of the hatchways in the road-
by withdrawing the bolts C, C fixing the shanks A, A carrying the fixed jaw B to
the head D, and by detaching the shank A¹ carrying the adjustable or moving
jaw B' from the link A connecting it to the operating mechanism.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as
fairly fall within the spirit and scope of invention.
my
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.) The improved method of mounting the grippers of cars propelled by cable
traction, as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2.) Mounting the shanks carrying the fixed jaw of a gripper for cable tramways
on a divided or double head carried by brackets mounted on bars carried by the
frame of the car or bogie, in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
(3.) The combination with the gripper of a car propelled by cable traction, of
the divided or double head D supporting the shanks A, A carrying the fixed jaw
of the gripper, of the slotted brackets E, E carrying the said head, of the bars G, G
mounted on or carried by the frame of the car, of the insertion plates or blocks H
and H', of the transverse pins F, F, connecting the divided or double head D to
the brackets E, E, and of the double link A. connecting the shank A¹ carrying the
adjustable jaw of the gripper with the operating mechanism, all combined, arranged
and adapted to operate, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of September 1894.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.