IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND LOWERING REVOLVING SHUTTERS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Kirby, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the
County of Lancaster, Richard Brady, of Belfast, in the County
of Antrim, Ireland, and William Batison Kirby, of Preston, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND LOWERING REVOLVING
SHUTTERS."
Sealed the 20th January 1871, and dated the 27th July 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Kirby, Richard
Brady, and William Batison Kirby at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 27th July 1870.
We, THOMAS KIRBY, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster,
RICHARD BRADY, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, and
WILLIAM BATISON KIRBY, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR MACHINERY FOR RAISING AND LOWERING REVOLVING SHUTTERS," to
be as follows: :-
Kirby's Invention (Patent Specification No. 1170, A.D. 1866) consists
in fitting to one or both ends of the roller round which the shutter coils.

page_text: a conical grooved pulley increasing or diminishing in proportion to the
shutter. Where there is not sufficient space for such a cone he employs
a deeply grooved pulley in which a chain is fixed corresponding in
thickness with the shutter. This Invention is found in practice to be
defective, viz., when the shutter has been run down to the bottom it
often happens that the balance is not perfect so that the shutter rises
gradually again, or the shutter falls heavily to the bottom when within a
short distance of the bottom. If additional weight be employed to
prevent it from going down too heavily then the shutter as it approaches
the top will run up with a "bang." If, on the other hand, weight be
taken off the one that is too light, then, as the shutter runs up to thẻ
top it will not stop there but will fall down a short distance. To
remedy these defects is the object of our present Invention, which is.
as follows: Instead of the aforesaid cone we employ at one or both
ends a drum having attached to it a wide chain, the thickness of which
is found by multiplying the thickness of the shutter by the number of
times the roller revolves for raising or lowering the shutter. The end of
chain fastened to the roller is fastened at the. edge close to the roller
while the end fixed to the weight is attached by the opposite side of the
chain to the roller. As the shutter coils and uncoils the power of the
weight diminishes or increases in proportion. The drum may or may
not have a screw-shaped groove for the chain. Where there is not
sufficient space at the ends we would fix a pulley to each end of the
roller and attach at one end a chain thicker than the shutter, and to the
other end of the roller a chain thinner than the shutter. Supposing now
the shutter is all on the roller then enough weight should be put on to
balance; if on drawing the shutter down it should go too heavily down
then a portion of weight should be taken off the thin chain and placed
on the thick chain till a perfect balance is obtained. If, on the other
hand the shutter has a tendency to rise some weight should be taken
from the thick chain and placed on the thin chain till a proper balance
is obtained.
Another part of our Invention consists in fitting to one or both ends
of the roller a central spindle or stud, having a pinion gearing into an
internal tooth wheel fixed to a pulley fitted to and having its journals
running in a bracket, and having its journals out of centre one-fourth the
thickness that the shutter increases by being coiled up, viz., if the shutter
is of an inch thick, and coils three times round the roller, the diameter

page_text: I
of the latter measures 42 inches more in diameter outside the coil; one-
fourth of 4%, inches is 1½ inches, which is the distance from the centre
of pulley to centre of journal of the internal tooth wheel. The size of the
latter is double that of the pinion multiplied by the number of times
that the pinion or the roller turns by the descent of the shutter, con-
sequently in this case 6 inches. At the outer edge of the pulley there
is a chain and weight attached to balance. As the shutter is drawn
down the centre of the pinion advances towards the centre of the
pulley, whereby the power of the weight increases just in proportion to
the increased weight of the shutter as it rolls down; the centre of the
roller in moving forward also causes the shutter to hang perpendicularly
in its groove. A pin in the centre of the pinion moves in a slot half
round the pulley for keeping pinion and wheel in proper gear. The
pulley and wheel moves half round while the roller with its pinion
revolves three times in the example here given.
The next part of our Invention consists in fitting to one or both ends
of the roller a drum, similar to that mentioned in the first part of our
Invention, and to the same is attached a chain, the other end of which
is fastened to a lever pulley or compensating balance; the changeable
power of the lever is found by multiplying the thickness of the shutter
by the number of revolutions of its roller in descent. The diameter of
the same is found by multiplying the diameter of the drum by its.
number of revolutions.
The next part of our Invention consists in fitting centrally to one or
both ends of the roller a spindle having two wheels attached to it. The:
larger one gears into an internal tooth wheel on a pulley; the diameter
of the internal tooth wheel is found by multiplying the wheel that gears,
with it by the number of revolutions of the shutter coil roller. The,
aforesaid small wheel or pinion gears into an eccentric tooth wheel and,
is by a strap held in gear with the same for the purpose of keeping the
roller in its proper place in a slot formed in the pulley having the
internal tooth wheel. When the shutter is run up on the roller. its
spindle moves in the slot governed by the eccentric tooth wheel, the
weight applied to the pulley at the same time loses its power just in
5 proportion as the shutter decreases in weight. The shutter is thereby
always hanging perpendicularly in its groove.
Another part of our Invention refers to shutters of two or more
widths where there is only space at one end for two widths, or if four

page_text: ones.
+
widths, only room at two sides for weights. For such cases we propose
to use hollow wood or metal cylinders for the shutters to coil on; if in
four widths we carry shafts through the two outer hollow rollers from
the two middle ones; we are thereby enabled to work the weights of
the two middle shutters along with those belonging to the two outer-
Where there is not sufficient space for weights we propose to
work the shutters by means of a lever at the bottom of the window,
the lever being fixed to an eccentric, which causes a pulley to revolve.
The chain coils round this pulley and raises or lowers the shutter
thereby. These latter parts may be arranged out of sight and out of
the way.
Another part of our Invention consists in methods of keeping the
shutter perpendicularly over the groove. One way is to fit the roller
with a pinion gearing into an eccentric tooth wheel having its eccentric
bearing in a bracket while the centres of wheel and pinion are joined by
a strap which keeps them in constant gear. As the roller revolves the
pin or spindle of the pinion rolls along on the top of the bracket
because of the eccentricity of the wheel. This is the simplest and most
frictionless means yet invented for the object stated. Another way is
to make the spindle of the roller with a notch in one side which fits
corresponding projecting teeth or pins on a bracket; as the roller
revolves the notch takes into the teeth, and thus the centre of the roller
is continually shifted. There is also cut another smaller notch in the
spindle opposite the afore-named notch. This small notch takes into
other smaller projecting teeth or pins cast on the bracket, thus ensuring
a steady rolling motion.
⚫ The last part of our Invention consists in adapting the various above-
described constructions to raising and lowering shutter over railway
carriage or engine shed doors. Levers have to be connected at a
considerable distance from the shed shutters to other levers or points,
which come in contact with wheels of carriages, so that by the time
that a carriage has reached the shed the shutter is raised and out of
the way. By this means breaking of doors and other inconveniences
are avoided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Kirby, Richard Brady, and William
Batison Kirby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th January
1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Wе, THOMAS
KIRBY, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, RICHARD
BRADY, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, and WILLIAM
BATISON KIRBY, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Thomas Kirby, Richard Brady, and William
Batison Kirby, Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Kirby,
Richard Brady, and William Batison Kirby, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Kirby, Richard
Brady, and William Batison Kirby, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING REVOLVING SHUTTERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Kirby, Richard Brady, and
William Batison Kirby, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent.
"C
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Kirby, Richard Brady,
and William Ratican Vinho do homah doolove the nationa.

page_text: reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
of reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
Kirby's Invention (Patent Specification No. 1170, A.D. 1866) consists
in fitting to one or both ends of the roller round which the shutter coils
a conical grooved pulley increasing or diminishing in proportion to the
shutter. Where there is not sufficient space for such a cone he employs
a deeply grooved pulley, in which a chain is fixed corresponding in
thickness with the shutter. This Invention is found in practice to be
defective, viz., when the shutter has been run down to the bottom it
often happens that the balance is not perfect, so that the shutter rises
gradually again, or the shutters falls heavily to the bottom when within a
short distance of the bottom. If additional weight be applied to prevent
it from going down too heavily, then the shutter as it approaches the
top will run up with a "bang." If on the other hand weight be taken
off the one that is too light, then as the shutter runs up to the top it
will not stop there, but will fall down a short distance.
To remedy these defects is the object of our present Invention, which
is as follows: Instead of the aforesaid cone we employ at one or both
ends a drum having attached to it a wide chain, the thickness of which
is found by multiplying the thickness of the shutter by the number of
times the roller revolves for raising or lowering the shutter. The end
of chain fastened to the roller is fastened at the edge close to the roller
while the end fixed to the weight is attached by the opposite side of the
chain to-the roller. As the shutter coils and uncoils the power of the
weight diminishes or increases in proportion. Sometimes we prefer to
fasten the chain to the roller by the furthest edge and to attach the
weight by the edge nearest to the shutter. The drum may or may not
have a screw-shaped groove for the chain.
Fig. 1 represents an elevation, and Fig. 2 an end view of this arrange-
ment..
The chain A is fastened to the drum B, which has a screw-shaped
groove for the chain to go in. It will be observed that the rivet joints
of the chain at the upper or pulley end are on the inside, as shewn at
Fig. 1ª, and gradually and in a straight line are shifted towards the
outside, the weight being attached there, as shewn at Fig. 2. The
consequence of this arrangement is that the weight is at its greatest
power when the shutter is all off the roller, and vice versa.
Where

page_text: there is not sufficient space at the ends we fix a pulley to each end of
the roller and attach at one end a chain thicker than the shutter, and to
the other end of the roller a chain thinner than the shutter.
Supposing now the shutter is all on the roller, then enough weight
should be put on to balance; if on drawing the shutter down it should
fall down too heavily then a portion of weight should be taken off the
thin chain and placed on the thick chain till a perfect balance is obtained.
If, on the other hand, the shutter has a tendency to rise, some weight
should be taken from the thick chain and placed on the thin chain till a
proper balance is obtained.
This part of our Invention is represented by Fig. 3, which is an
elevation, and Fig. 4, which is an end view. One end of the roller B
has a thin chain A, and the other end a thick chain A'.
A modification of this plan is illustrated by Figs. 3ª and 4ª, the former
being an elevation and the latter an end view. We employ here deep
grooved pulleys at the ends of roller. On one side of the roller and
opposite to the shutter we put a chain A of sufficient strength to bear
the weight, but thinner than the shutter, the weight P being sufficient
to raise the shutter. On the other end of roller and on the same side of
roller as the shutter is fastened to we attach a chain A¹ and a smaller
weight P¹, which consequently comes down as the shutter comes down.
Now if, when the shutter is run up to the top, it be found that the weight
on A is too heavy, owing to the shutter « losing" quicker than the
weight, then we are enabled to counteract this by adding weight to the
small weight P¹, and vice versa, a perfect balance may thus be obtained.
As shewn on the Drawing Fig. 4ª the chain A is all coiled up on the
pulley and the weight P at its greatest leverage while the shutter is all
down and at its greatest weight also. The small chain A¹ with its
weight P' is also down but offers only a comparatively small resistance.
If the shutter be now raised the chain A will uncoil and lose its power,
.but being thinner than the shutter it does not lose its power in the same
ratio, and the small chain A' compensates for this by being coiled up
and its weight P¹ increasing in leverage; R is a guide pulley for leading
the chain A' away from the style of the window. Where there is not
room for a weight at both ends we put a double pulley at one end.
Another part of our Invention is shewn in sectional plan by Fig. 5,
and in end view by Fig. 6, and consists in fitting to one or both ends of
the roller B a central spindle or stud D, having a pinion P gearing into

page_text: an internal tooth wheel W, here cast in one with a pulley fitted to and
having its journals running in a bracket and having them out of centre
one-fourth the thickness that the shutter increases by being coiled up,
viz., if the shutter is % of an inch thick and coils three times round the
roller the diameter of the latter measures 4½ inches more in diameter
outside the coil, one-fourth of 42 inches is 1½ inches which is the
distance from the centre of pulley to centre of journal of the internal
tooth wheel W. The size of the latter is double that of the pinion P
multiplied by the numbers of times that the pinion or the roller turns
by the descent of the shutter, consequently in this case 6 inches. At
the outer edge of the pulley there is a chain A and weight attached to
balance. . As the shutter is drawn down the centre of the pinion
advances towards the centre of the pulley whereby the power of the
weight increases just in proportion to the increased weight of the shutter
as it rolls down; the centre of the roller in moving forward also causes
the shutter to hang perpendicularly in its groove. A pin in the centre
of the pinion moves in a slot S half round the pulley for keeping pinion
and wheel in proper gear. The pulley and wheel move half round
while the roller with its pinion revolves three times in the example
here given. A somewhat similar arrangement but with an external
toothed wheel will be described with reference to Figs. 13 and 14.
The next part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8 of which
the former is an elevation partly in section, and the latter an end view.
It consists in fitting to one or both ends of the roller a drum B similar to
that mentioned in the first part of our Invention, and to the same is
attached a chain A, the other end of which is fastened to a lever pulley
or compensating balance M; the changable power of the lever is found
by multiplying the thickness of the shutter by the number of revolutions
of its roller in descent. The diameter of the same is found by multiply-
ing the diameter of the drum by its number of revolutions, Another
form of compensating balance is shewn by Figs. 7 and 8, the former
being a side elevation, and the latter an end view of the same. The
chain is here attached at both ends to the double pulley A, B, and coils
upon the smaller one A. As it coils on itself it resists the weight in
proportion as the shutter loses. The drum B might equally well be
made a deeply grooved pulley as shewn in dotted lines. Figs. 9 and 10
illustrate in end elevation and longitudinal section an arrangement of
revolving shutter gear, which is specially suitable for more widths than

page_text: one, and where the weights must go down at one end. A small pinion A
is fixed to the axle of the roller, and gears into the internal teeth of a
tooth wheel I, in a similar manner as described with reference to Figs. 5
and 6. The roller axle works in a quadrant slot in the fixed bracket L.
The spindle of the roller and the spindle of the tooth wheel I are held
together by a strap C, the outer lower edge of which is provided with
teeth which gear into a pinion D in one with the wheel E which gears into
a pinion B. The latter is cast solid on the tooth wheel I. The spindle
of the pinion D and wheel E passes through the bracket L. The tooth
wheel I has also a rim of external teeth which gear into a pinion F which
at one end has a deeply grooved pulley p for the chain having a weight
suspended to it and giving motion to the whole mechanism. Supposing
the pinion F which is ¼ the size of the wheel I to revolve four times, the
wheel I will revolve once. The pinion B cast in one with it and being
half the size of the wheel E into which it gears, the latter as well as the
pinion D are caused to make half a turn. D being half the size of Cat
that place it is clear that C will make one-fourth of a turn, and con-
sequently throw down the roller spindle to the bottom of the quadrant
slot. The shutter consequently always hangs perpendicularly over the
groove. The pinion A on roller spindle is one-fourth the size of the
internal tooth wheel it gears into, and hence the roller must turn four
times for every turn of the wheel I. The latter works on a fixed centre
on the bracket. The pinion F may have a small shaft carried from it
out to the side of the window where the pulley p is attached. This
arrangement refers to shutters of more than one width, and is illustrated
by Fig. 10. R is the roller having the gear at one side as shewn. The
spindle of pinion F. is continued beyond the adjoining roller R¹ and has
there the pulley p with chain and weight.
Another part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12, the
former being a sectional elevation, and the latter an end view. It refers
to shutters of two or more widths where there is only space at one end
for the weights for two widths, or if four widths, only room at two sides
for weights. For such cases we use hollow wood or metal cylinders C
for the shutters to coil on, if in four widths we carry shafts through the
two outer hollow rollers from the two middle ones. We are thereby
enabled to work the weights of the two middle shutters along with
those belonging to the two outer ones. Where there is not sufficient

page_text: space for weights we work the shutters by means of a lever at the
bottom of the window, the lever being fixed to an eccentric which causes
a pulley to revolve. The chain coils round the pulley and raises or
lowers the shutter thereby. These latter parts may be arranged out of
sight and out of the way.
Another method of keeping the shutter perpendicularly over the groove
is illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14, and consists in fitting the roller with
a pinion P gearing into an eccentric tooth wheel E having its eccentric
bearing in a bracket L, while the centres of wheel and pinion are joined
by a strap K which keeps them in constant gear. As the roller revolves
the pin or spindle of the pinion rolls along on the top of the bracket
because of the eccentricity of the wheel.
A modification of this arrangement is shown at Figs. 15 and 16, the
former being an elevation and the latter an end view. The roller
spindle has two round pins B, B, which gear into an eccentric tooth ]
wheel E with deep teeth, and having its eccentric bearing in a fixed
bracket. The action is the same as in the last named arrangement.
This is the simplest and most frictionless means yet invented for the
object stated.
The last part of our Invention consists in adapting the various above a
described constructions to raising and lowering shutters over railway
carriage or engine shed doors. Levers have to be connected at a con-
siderable distance from the shed shutters to other levers or points which
come in contact with wheels of carriages so that by the time that a
carriage has reached the shed the shutter is raised and out of the way.
By this means breaking of doors and other inconveniencies are avoided.
One arrangement of mechanism for raising and lowering railway shed
shutters is shewn by Fig. 17. When the carriage R is pushed against
the projecting horn on the bell-crank lever C the same swings back
into the position shewn in dotted lines. The chain L which is attached-a
to it is thereby pulled back also. The chain L passes round the pulley
B, whereby the pulley A attached to it or keyed on to the same shaft is
caused to turn. To the pulley A is fastened the chain M which passes
over the pulley G on the shed shutter roller. A chain N is attached to a
bell-crank lever C¹ and wound round the pulley B. The carriage wheel
coming in contact with the horn or point on bell crank C the shutter is
raised and the carriage can pass in. The other bell crank C₁ may have

page_text: a similar horn or point or instead of that a lever weight E either hinged
at P or made to move in a slot so that the wheel of the carriage either
causes it to go down or to be pushed into the horizontal position. The
balance weights D and D' counterbalance the weight of the shutters.
The proper leverage for the shutter is here obtained by a thin and a
thick chain and a deep grooved pulley as explained with reference to
ordinary shutters.
And having now described the nature of this our Invention we
declare that we claim as our improvements,
Firstly. The use of a chain, the thickness of which is the thickness of
a revolving shutter multiplied by the number of turns of the roller of
the same for raising or lowering the same, in the manner and for the
purpose described.
Secondly. The use of a thick and a thin chain or a heavy balancing
weight and light counterbalancing weight for the rollers of revolving
shutters, in the manner and for the purpose described.
Thirdly. The use of a pinion on the roller spindle of a revolving
shutter working in a slot and gearing into an internal or external tooth
wheel fixed to or in one with a pulley running eccentrically in a bearing
or bearings arranged in a fixed bracket, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Fourthly. The employment of a compensating lever pulley for revolving
shutters, substantially as described.
Fifthly. The employment of a wheel on the roller spindle of a
revolving shutter gearing into an internal tooth wheel, the roller
spindle working in a slot, also the arrangement described with reference
to Fig. 10, all substantially as and for the purpose described.
Sixthly. The employment in revolving shutters of two or more widths
of hollow drums for the shutters to coil on for the purpose of working
two shutters by means of raising and lowering gear arranged all on one
side. Also the employment of a lever eccentric and pulley at or near
the bottom of the window as described, where it is not convenient to
- employ balance weights, all substantially as described.
Seventhly. The employment of a pinion or pin teeth on the roller
spindle gearing into an eccentric tooth wheel working in or on a fixed
bracket.

page_text: Eighthly. The self-acting apparatus for raising and lowering railway
shed doors, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Kirby and Richard Brady,
for ourselves and on behalf of the said William Batison Kirby,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.
THOMAS KIRBY.
(L.S.)
RICHARD BRADY. (L.S.)