IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WINCHES.
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Latham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1881.
ERNEST LATHAM, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM WINCHES.'
"
The object of my Invention is to so dispose and arrange the parts ordinarily
employed, and also to so combine these with a lever having new functions, that
advantages are obtained in many respects over those winches heretoforo in use,
more particularly, (1), in occupying less surface space, say, on the deck of a ship;
(2), in obtaining augmented power or speed without toothed or like gearing; (3),
in securing quietness and steadiness in working; and, (4), in admitting of ready
attachment to the lever named of connecting rods for imparting motion to pumps
and the like.
A winch constructed in accordance with my Invention consists essentially of a
strong framework carrying two steam cylinders with pistons and rods. The said
rods are attached to a lever free to rock on a supporting or carrying link. A con-
necting rod couples each lever with a disc crank secured to each end of the axle
carrying the winding or cargo barrel. On the axle carrying the winding or cargo
barrel is a pinion (or pinions) free to be moved into or out of gear with a spur
wheel or spur wheels socured to a shaft or shafts. The said shaft (or shafts) is
fitted or provided with one or more warping ends, and may also carry a winding
barrel or winding barrels. The spur wheels may be moved into and out of gear
with the pinions instead of the said pinions being movable.
Valve gear of any ordinary kind is employed, but that known as Joy's valve gear
is preferred.
Connecting rods can readily be attached by studs or otherwise to the levers for
working pumps, and for other work required on board ship.
The Drawing hereunto annexed is a side elevation illustrative of a winch con-
structed under my Invention.
a, bed plate; b, side frame; c, cylinder; d, piston rod attached to the lever e;
f. link supporting the end of the said lever e; g, connecting rod coupling e with the
disc crank on the axle i; j, winding or cargo barrel; on i is a pinion which gears
with the spur wheel k; l, shaft; m, warping end.

page_text: reversing gear shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The construction and disposition of the
other parts of the winch correspond with those described under Figs. 1 and 2, and
like letters denote the same parts.
In the winches above described, and in winches constructed in accordance with
my Invention generally, the speed of the periphery of the winding barrel, whether
on the crank shaft or on a counter shaft, such as the one to which the warping ends
are fixed, is a speed about the same as the speed at which the crank pin revolves.
Practically my new winches secure the equivalent of direct action. The rope is
drawn in with a speed equal to that at which the crank pin moves.
It will be obvious that the number and size of the winding drums or cargo
barrels and warping ends may be varied; that the piston rods, connecting rods, and
links which couple with the levers may be variously disposed as regards distance
from each other and their relative position; that any suitable valve gear, such as
that known as Joy's, may be used; and that the pinions or spur wheels may be so
arranged that they can be moved into and out of gear with each other at pleasure
in any convenient manner.
It will further be observed that pump rods and pieces to which it is desired to
give a reciprocating motion may advantageously be coupled to the levers e.
Having now particularized and illustrated my said Invention so that others will
be enabled to construct my improved steam winches, I claim,-
First. Steam winches with the parts disposed and arranged substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein setforth.
Second. Steam winches with the parts disposed and arranged in combination
with levers, substantially as berein setforth.'
Third. The combination of the levers e with engines and winding and cargo
barrel shafts, substantially as herein setforth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Latham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TDNEST TAMTAM
TONES TATAME