Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1887
Complete Left, 16th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
I, WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM of 6 and 8 High Street, Highgate in the County of
Middlesex, Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the mechanism for gripping the cable-
known as a gripper-and to an elastic stop or buffer for the terminus of a cable line
to prevent damage to the gripper in case the driver of a car overruns the proper stopping
place.
My improved gripper is constructed and arranged as follows:-On to the under-
frame of the car, or preferably on to a frame supported by the axles of the wheels, I
fix a foundation plate to support the gripper. On to this plate are fixed two upright
stanchions to support and carry the mechanism for operating the gripper. The shank
carrying the fixed jaw of the gripper is fixed rigidly to a loose plate which rests on
the top of the foundation plate, and is locked down thereto by two sliding tongues,
one on each side thereof, which are forced forward to engage with the loose plate by
running nuts having inclined slots engaging with pins on the tongues, the said nuts
being operated either together or independently by a screw and hand wheel. The
sbanks carrying the moving jaw of the gripper are carried up through the loose plate
hereinbefore referred to, and are connected to, and operated by, a travelling nut and
screw, guided and supported by the stanchions previously alluded to. The screw is
operated by the usual handwheel and also by a lever connected to the screw spindle by
a double acting ratchet and pawl gear, whereby it may be turned in either direction
by varying the position of the pawl. The hand lever is preferably made telescopic so
that its effective length may be varied. By this arrangement the pitch of the screw
may be made much coarser than is usual when only a hand wheel is used, and thus a
quicker grip can be obtained on the cable, while the hand lever provides a ready means
of immediately increasing the grip when surmounting hills in bad weather, if the
power exerted through the hand wheel be insufficient. The jaws of the gripper are
constructed with recesses having soft iron dies fitting therein, and fixed by white metal
rivets. I mount a small roller vertically on each end of the moving jaw of the gripper

page_text: to prevent the rope chafing. On the shank carrying the fixed jaw of the gripper I
mount two small rollers one on either side thereof in such a position that they may
run on the vertical sides of the slot rail when the guage of the permanent way is
disturbed, or when the car is running round curves, and so keep the shanks of the
gripper from bearing against the sides of the upper edge of the slot rails.
By mounting the fixed part of the gripper on a plate that can be readily detached
from the foundation plate as hereinbefore set forth, a means is provided whereby the
driver can readily lift the entire gripper out of the cable-way after disengaging it
from the cable, for repairs or otherwise, as by forcing back the engaging tongues
hereinbefore described, and turning the gripper controlling handwheel as if to grip
the cable, the adjustable part of the gripper will be moved up into contact with the
fixed part, which it will then continue to lift until it is clear above the surface of
the road.
The second part of my invention, the elastic stop or buffer, is constructed and
arranged as follows;-On to the lower part of the slot rails in the cable way at the
terminus of the line, is bolted an hexagonal or other convenient shaped box, within
which are arranged four or more volute springs, preferably arranged in pairs with
their bases towards one another and having plates interposed between them. The
one end spring bears against the solid end of the box, and against the other end
spring is a plate to which is fixed one end of a piece of wire rope which is carried
through the springs out through the solid end of the box and thence round a small
pulley mounted in the forked end of a square rod or piston sliding freely in a channel
formed in the narrow part between the slot rails, the top of the box containing the
springs, and a false piece or pieces fixed by bolts in the sides of the slot rails. The
free end of the piece of wire rope is fixed to the slot rails, either by being clamped
between the two false pieces bolted thereto, or in any other convenient manner. The
free end of the square rod or piston extends beyond the box containing the springs,
and thus stands proud of it to received the shank of the gripper if the driver allows
his car to overrun its proper stopping place. When the gripper shank comes in contact
with the end of the square rod or piston, the latter is driven forward and compresses
the springs through the pulley and wire rope.
Dated this 16th day of June 1007
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM NEWBY COLAM of 6 and 8 High Street, Highgate, in the county of
Middlesex, Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers 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 improvements in the mechanism for gripping the cable,
known as a gripper, and to an elastic stop or buffer for the terminus of a cable line to
prevent damage to the gripper in case the driver of a car overruns the proper
stopping place.
My improved gripper is constructed and arranged as follows:-On to the under-
frame of the car, or preferably on to a frame supported by the axles of the wheels,
I fix a foundation plate to support the gripper. On to this plate are fixed two upright
stanchions to support and carry the mechanism for operating the gripper. The shank
carrying the fixed jaw of the gripper is fixed rigidly to a loose plate which rests on
the top of the foundation plate, and is locked down thereto by two sliding tongues
one on each side thereof, which are forced forward to engage with the loose plate by
running nuts having inclined slots engaging with pins on the tongues; the said
nuts being operated either together or independently by a screw and handwheel.
The shanks carrying the moving jaw of the gripper are carried up through the loose
plate hereinbefore referred to, and are connected to, and operated by, a travelling
nut and screw guided and supported by the stanchions previously alluded to. The
screw is operated by the usual hand wheel, and also by a lever connected to the screw
spindle by a double acting ratchet and pawl gear, whereby it may be turned in either
direction by varying the position of the pawl. The hand lever is preferably made
telescopic so that its effective length may be varied. By this arrangement the pitch
of the screw may be made much coarser than is usual when only a hand wheel is
used, and thus a quicker grip can be obtained on the cable, while the hand lever
provides a ready means of immediately increasing the grip when surmounting hills
in bad weather, if the power exerted through the band wheel be insufficient.
The jaws of the gripper are constructed with recesses having soft iron dies fitting
therein, and fixed by white metal rivets. I mount a small roller vertically on each
end of the moving jaw of the gripper to prevent the rope chafing. On the shank
carrying the fixed jaw of the gripper I mount two small rollers one on either side
thereof in such a position that they may run on the vertical sides of the slot rail
when the gauge of the permanent way is disturbed, or when the car is running round
curves, and so keep the shanks of the gripper from bearing against the sides of the
upper edge of the slot rails.
By mounting the fixed part of the gripper on a plate that can be readily detached
from the foundation plate as hereinbefore set forth, a means is provided whereby the
driver can readily lift the entire gripper out of the cable way after disengaging it
from the cable, for repairs or otherwise, as by forcing back the engaging tongues
hereinbefore described, and turning the gripper controlling hand wheel as if to grip
the cable, the adjustable part of the gripper will be moved up into contact with tho
fixed part which it will then continue to lift until it is clear above the surface of the
road.

page_text: The second part of my invention the clastic stop or buffer-is constructed and
arranged as follows:-On to the lower part of the slot rails in the cable way at the
terminus of the line is holted an hexagonal or other convenient shaped box, within
which are arranged four or more volute springs, preferably arranged in pairs with
their bases towards one another and having plates interposed between them. The one
end spring bears against the solid end of the box, and against the other end
spring is a plate to which is fixed one end of a piece of wire rope, which is carried
through the springs out through the solid end of the box, and thence round a small
pulley mounted in the forked end of a square rod or piston, sliding freely in a
channel formed in the narrow part between the slot rails, the top of the box
containing the springs, and a false piece or pieces fixed by bolts in the sides of the
slot rails. The free end of the piece of wire rope is fixed to the slot. rails, either by
being clamped between the two false pieces bolted thereto, or in any other convenient
manner. The free end of the square rod or piston extends beyond the box containing
the springs and thus stands proud of it to receive the shank of the gripper, if the
driver allows his car to over run the proper stopping place. When the gripper shank
comes in contact with the end of the square rod or piston, the latter is driven forward
and compresses the springs through the pulley and wire rope.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
Sheets No. 1 and 2 is a view in front elevation-partly in section on line y, y Figure 3
Sheet No. 5-of a gripper embodying my invention. Figure 2 Sheets No. 3 and 4
is a view thereof in sectional side elevation on line =, z Figure 3 Sheet No. 5.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 5 is a sectional plan thereof on line x, x Figure 1 Sheet No. 2.
Figures 4 and 5 Sheet No. 6 are views in cross section of the jaws of the gripper on
an enlarged scale, Figures 6 and 7 Sheet No. 7 are views in side elevation and plan
respectively partly in section-of the operating hand wheel and lever. Figure 8
Sheet No. 8 is a view in cross section of the elastic stop or buffer forming the
second part of my invention, and Figure 9 Sheet No. 8 is a view thereof in sectional
side elevation.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
On a suitable frame A, which may either form part of, or be attached to, the
underframe of the car, or may be supported by the axles of the wheels thereof, is
fixed a foundation or base plate B to which are fixed two upright stanchions C, C, to
support and carry the mechanism for operating the gripper in a manner that will
hereafter be explained. Resting in or on the foundation plate B is a loose plate D),
to the under side of which is attached the fixed shank E carrying the fixed jaw E¹ of
the gripper. The loose plate D is adapted to be locked down to the foundation plate B
by a pair of tongues G, G sliding horizontally in blocks B, B, formed on the
foundation plate B. The gripping ends of these tongues G, G, are bevelled to
engage with wedge-shaped pieces d, d on the plate D. One tongue being shown in
Figure 1 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawings, engaging with the plate D,
and the other clear thereof. The sliding tongues G, & are operated by pieces G, G¹,
adapted to be moved vertically, and operate the sliding tongues G, G through the
slots g', g, and the pins
The sliding pieces Gf & or by any other equivalent cam arrangement.
are adapted to receive the screwed ends of a pair of
screwed spindles H, H, mounted in suitable bearings h, h, on the stanchions C, (and
provided with hand wheels H', H' whereby they may be rotated to operate the
sliding tongues G, G, to lock down or release the loose plate D carrying the shank E
of the fixed jaw E of the gripper. If desired the screwed spindles H, H, may be
connected with one another so that the rotation of one would effect the rotation of
the other, or the sliding tongues may be so coupled together that the movement of
one would operate the other in a like manner. The handwheels H', H' are preferably
arranged immediately below the floor Z of the platform of a car, the said platform or
such portions thereof as may be necessary being hinged or arranged to lift to get at
the said hand wheels.
The moving jaw F1 of the gripper is carried by a moving shank F preferably

page_text: consisting of two limbs connected by a suitable cross plate as shown, and connected
by a cross head J and a pair of links K, K with a travelling nut L guided between
the stanchions C, C, and engaging with an endless screw M mounted in a suitable
bearing C on the tops of the stanchions C, C. The screw M is operated by both a
hand wheel N and a hand lever O. The former is fixed to the end of the screw in
the usual manner while the hand lever is connected to the screw by a reversible
ratchet and pawl gear of any suitable construction, the ratchet wheels o, o,
fixed to the screw M, and the double reversing pawl of mounted on the hand lever
as shown.
being
The lever is preferably made telescopic in its length as shown, so that the
leverage may be varied as required. The reversing pawl o' is controlled by a
suitable finger lever o2 and coupling rod o³. By using both a hand wheel and a hand
lever, the pitch of the screw M may be made much coarser than is usual when only a
land wheel is used, and thus a quick action can be obtained to pick up or grip the
cable by means of the hand wheel, while the land lever O and its reversible ratchet
and pawl gear provide a means of obtaining greater leverage to get a more powerful
grip of the cable when surmounting steep inclines in bad weather, or otherwise when
the grip obtained through the hand wheel is insufficient.
The underside of the moving jaw of the gripper is bevelled off towards the edge
nearest to the opening to the jaws of the gripper, so that when it is lowered to pick
up the cable it forces the cable aside and allows it to spring in between the jaws.
I therefore prefer to use narrow supporting pulleys for carrying the cable.
The jaws of the gripper E and F are recessed to receive soft iron dies e and f
which are fixed by white metal rivets e¹, f' etc. which merely keep the dies in place
in the recesses of the jaws and are subjected to no strain as the ends of the recesses
take all the thrust caused by the grip of the cable. By the use of these, soft iron
dies all undue wear on the cable X is avoided and a ready means of renewing the
gripping surfaces is provided.
On the shank E of the fixed jaws E¹ of the gripper are mounted two small
rollers E2 E2 one on each side thereof, in such a position that they will run on, or bear
against, the vertical sides of the slot rails-which are made of a section described and
shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawings, and
which form part of the subject matter of an application for a Patent filed contempo-
raneously with this application--when the gauge of the permanent way has become
disturbed or when the car is running round curves. By this means the shanks E
and F of the gripper are prevented from rubbing against the inner sides of the top
edge of the slot rails.
On each end of the gripper on the shanks carrying the moving jaw-are mounted
vertical rollers F2, F2 adapted to guide the cable between the jaws and so prevent it
chafing on the edges thereof.
When it is desired to lift the gripper clear of the cable-way and surface of the road,
the tongues G G are drawn back to release the plate B in the manner herein before
described. The hand wheel N is then turned to operate the screw M in the direction
necessary to close the jaws of the gripper. When this is effected the continued
rotation of the screw M causes the moving jaw of the gripper to lift the fixed jaw,
owing to the freedom of the plate D. It will be seen that the screw M is made
sufficiently long to allow of the entire gripper being lifted clear of the surface of the
track, through any suitable hatchway therein.
With this construction of gripper the cable can easily and readily be picked up by
the driver by means of the gripper alone. A great saving of time is effected in
inspecting or repairing the jaws of the gripper of a running car, or in moving the car
over a section of the track that may be blocked or otherwise rendered unfit for the
passage of the car with its gripper below the surface of the track.
Referring to Figures 8 and 9 Sheet No. 8 which illustrates the second part of my
invention, the stop or buffer consists of a bar or piston P sliding freely in a channel
'formed between the inner sides of the slot rails Y, Y, the top of a longitudinal box Q
holted to the undersides of the slot rails, by bolts q, q, and the underside of a pair of

page_text: packing pieces R, Ras shown. In the box, Q which is closed at its forward end but
open at its rear end, are arranged a series of four or more volute springs Q1, Q¹,
preferably arranged in pairs with plates Q2, Q2, etc. between them as shown. The
forward end of the rod or piston P is forked to adapt it to receive a small pulley P¹
mounted loosely on a pin p fixed in the prongs of the said fork. Through the
springs Q, etc. is passed a length of wire rope or chain S which is fixed or con-
nected to the plate Q2 bearing against the outer end of the spring at the rear end of
the box Q. This rope or chain after passing through the springs passes out through
a hole in the closed end of the box Q thence round the pulley P₁ after which it is
fixed to the slot rails by being passed through a recess r formed by and between the
packing pieces R, R which are fixed to the slot rails Y, Y by the bolts r¹, etc.
The rod or piston P is made of such a length that it will always stand proud of the
rear end of the box Qeven under the greatest compression of the springs Q1, Qetc.
When the shank of the gripper of a car comes in contact with the rod or piston P
through the negligence of the driver or through accident, it cushions longitudinally
against the springs Q', Q etc. through the rope or chain S, and so checks the speed
of the car by absorbing its momentum.
it will be obvious that the fixed end of the rope or chain S may be made fast to
any other convenient part of the track or framework of the cable way, and I would
have it generally understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and
arrangements of the several parts herein before described and shown, but hold myself
at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
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 cable tramway, a gripper constructed, arranged, and operating, as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. In a gripper for cable tramways, the combination with the loose plate carrying
the fixed jaw of the gripper, of the holding down tongues mounted in blocks on the
foundation plate and adapted to slide transversely to engage with the said loose plate,
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a gripper for cable tramways the combination with the loose plate carrying
the fixed jaw of the gripper, of the links and cross head carrying the shank of the
moving jaw, and adapted to receive a vertical movement by means of the travelling
nut working on the screw operated by a hand wheel and lever, as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In a gripper for cable tramways the jaws of which are operated by a rotating
endless screw, mounting the shank carrying the fixed jaw of the gripper on a loose
plate supported by a foundation plate carried by the axles or the underframe of the
car, and adapted to resist upward pressure by means of engaging tongues capable of
withdrawal when necessary, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a gripper for cable tramways the jaws of the grippers of which are operated
by a rotating endless screw, mounting the shank carrying the fixed jaw of the
gripper on a plate held down to the foundation plate carrying the gripper mechanism
by suitable engaging tongues, and capable on being released of rising with the moving
jaw of the gripper by the operation of the endless screw, as set forth.
6. In a gripper for cable tramways the moving jaw of which is operated by a
rotating screwed spindle, the combination with a hand wheel for operating the
said screwed spindle, of a hand lever pivotted on the said spindle and connected
thereto by a reversible ratchet and pawl gear, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a gripper for cable tramways the moving jaw of which is operated by a
rotating spindle, the combination with a hand wheel for operating the said spindle,
of a telescopic hand lever mounted loosely on the said spindle and connected thereto
by a reversible ratchet and pawl gear, as and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a cable tramway the gripper of which is operated by the rotary motion of a

page_text: screwed spindle, the combination with a hand wheel for operating the said spindle of
the auxiliary hand lover for operating the said spindle with increased leverage, the
loose plate carrying the shank of the fixed jaw of the gripper, the tongues for locking
the loose plate to the foundation plate carrying the gripper mechanism, and the screwed
spindles for operating the locking tongues through suitable sliding cams, as and for
the purpose set forth.
9. In a gripper for cable tramways, recessing the jaws to receive soft iron dies and
fixing the said dies by rivets of white, or other soft, metal, as set forth.
10. In a gripper for cable tramways the combination with the moving jaw operated
by a hand wheel through a suitable endless screw and travelling nut, of the auxiliary
telescopic hand lever adapted to operate the said endless screw through a reversible
ratchet and pawl gear, the loose plate carrying the fixed jaw adapted to be locked
down to the foundation plate carrying the gripper mechanism, the sliding tongues for
locking down the said loose plate the screwed spindles and sliding cam pieces for
operating the said tongues, and the detachable dies in the jaws, all arranged and
operating as and for the purpose set forth.
11. In a cable tramway, a stop or buffer constructed arranged and operating as and
for the purpose set forth.
12. In a cable tramway the combination with the slot rails and cable way of the
longitudinal box fixed to the said slot rails and containing voluto springs adapted to
cushion longitudinally, as set forth.
13. In a cable tramway the combination with the slot rails and the cable way, of the
longitudinal box containing four or more volute springs arranged in pairs with plates
between them, and adapted to cushion longitudinally, as set forth.
14. In a cable trainway the combination with the slot rails and the cable-way, of
the bar or piston sliding freely in a channel formed by and between the inner sides
of the slot rails, the top of the longitudinal box, and the underside of packing pieces
fixed between the said rails, as set forth.
15. In a cable tramway the combination with the slot rails, of the longitudinal
box containing volute or analogous springs adapted to cushion longitudinally, and
the bar or piston forked at its forward end to carry a small pulley, and adapted
to slide longitudinally in a channel formed between the slot rails, as set forth.
16. In a cable tramway the combination with the slot rails, of the bar or piston
sliding freely in a horizontal plane between the slot rails, and carrying a pulley
partially round which passes a length of wire rope or chain fixed at one end to the
slot rails and passing through the volute springs in the longitudinal box, and fixed to
a plate bearing against the rear spring, as and for the purpose set forth.
17. In a cable tramway the combination with the sliding bar or piston and the
longitudinal box containing the volute springs, of the packing pieces in the top of
the slot, forming a top to the channel in which the rod or piston slides, and providing
a means of attaching the fixed end of the rope or chain to the slot rails or frame of
the cable way, as and for the purpose set forth.
18. In a cable tramway the combination of the gripper and stop or buffer as herein-
before described, shown, and claimed, by the preceding claims.
D
1
ր A
1 1000
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.