IMPROVEMENTS IN GUY CRANES AND OTHER SIMILAR CRANES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Booth, John Booth, and Jeremiah Booth, of
Rodley, near Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers and Copartners,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUY CRANES AND OTHER SIMILAR
CRANES."
Sealed the 6th May 1864, and dated the 12th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Booth, John
Booth, and Jeremiah Booth at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th November 1868.
We, JоsЕгп ВOOTH, JOHN BOOTH, and JEREMIAH BOOTH, of Rodley, near
Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers and Copartners, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUY CRANES
AND OTHER SIMILAR CRANES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the arrangement and application of a portable
steam engine, boiler, and suitable gearing to guy cranes, such as are used
in working stone quarries, and in the application of double pullies used there-
with, whereby much greater power can be employed than by the system of
manual labour at present adopted, and the cranes are enabled to be used with
much greater efficiency than heretofore.
The steam engine and boiler apparatus as employed by us is so arranged
that it can be readily attached to and disconnected from the crane. The
steam engine is of the ordinary simple construction, and is fixed upright to the
back of the crane by means of bolts; it is connected by pipes with the boiler,
which is fixed on a plate supported by rods attached to the back part of the

page_text: The water tank for supplying the boiler is also fixed and supported
on the plate, by this means the usual setting is dispensed with, and the
steam engine and apparatus turn with the crane and act as a counterbalance
to the gib. A powerful brake is connected with the apparatus, and at the
gib end of the crane are double pullies, one above the other, and the lifting
chain works into a large block at the lower end; these may be used with guy
cranes worked by horse, steam, or other power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Booth, John Booth and Jeremiah Booth in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
BOOTH, JOHN BOOTH, and JEREMIAH BOOTH, of Rodley, in the Parish of
Leeds, in the County of York, Ironfounders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Joseph Booth, John Booth, and Jeremiah Booth, Her
special license that we, the said Joseph Booth, John Booth, and Jeremiah
Booth, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Joseph Booth, John Booth, and Jeremiah Booth, our executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 GUY CRANES AND OTHER
CRANES," upon the condition (among others) that we, the said Joseph
Booth, John Booth, and Jeremiah Booth, by an instrument in writing
under our 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Booth, John Booth, and
Jeremiah Booth, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described

page_text: and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Our Invention consists in the arrangement and application of a portable
steam engine, boiler, and suitable gearing to guy cranes, such as are used in
working stone quarries and in the application of double pullies used therewith,)
whereby much greater power can be employed than by the system of manual
labour at present adopted, and the cranes are enabled to be used with much
greater efficiency than heretofore.
The steam engine and boiler apparatus as employed by us are so arranged
that they can be readily attached to and disconnected from the crane. The
steam engine is of the ordinary simple construction, and is fixed upright to
the back of the crane by means of bolts; it is connected by pipes with the
boiler, which is fixed on a plate supported by rods attached to the back part
of the crane.
The water tank for supplying the boiler is also fixed and
supported on the plate, by this means the usual setting is dispensed with,
and the steam engine and apparatus turn with the crane and act as a counter-
balance to the gib. A powerful brake is connected with the apparatus, and
at the gib end of the crane are double pullies, one above the other, and the
lifting chain works into a large block at the lower end; these may be used
with guy cranes worked by horse, steam, or other power.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation shewing the guy
crane, gearing engine, boiler, water tank, rods for supporting boiler, &c.,
and rods for supporting the gib, also the double pullies and casting for
receiving them with the block at the bottom, also shewing the ends of two
guys attached at the top for supporting the whole. In some cases more than
two guys may be used. Figure 2 is a back elevation of crane and two guys
shewing engine and boiler, &c.; Figure 8 is a top view of guy crane shewing
the top of boiler, crane, and gearing, also the pin where the guys fit upon with
the guys removed, and the position of chain in the centre of the casting for
double pullies at the gib end and on the barrel.
A1, Figure 1, is the crane upright which forms part of the crane; B, a casting
at the bottom, made with a centre pin C for the crane to turn in a cup or
step D, which is fixed into a stone or other fixing for the crane to rest upon,
and the casting F, at the bottom of gib A2, is connected to it by means of a
pin G, so that the gib may be readily lowered down or connected again when
removed. On the top of the same upright is another casting H for receiving
the pin I at the top, by which the crane is held up and allowed to turn, and

page_text: to which the guy plates j, j, are attached. On the same casting are two
bosses cast to it, one on each side, and loose washers for the same for securing
the four iron rods L1, L2, which support the boiler and water tank on the one
side and the gib on the other. These rods are easily disconnected by un-
screwing the nuts which fasten them, and may as readily be attached, so that
the apparatus can, without difficulty, be taken down, removed, and set up
again as may be found convenient. At the bottom ends of rods LI are two
nuts on each rod for adjusting the boiler to its proper height which fit into
two brackets. The gib A2, which forms another part of the crane, is sup-
ported in an oblique direction by the rods L2; on the top end of this gib is a
casting M made to receive two pullies N, N, the position of which pullies is
marked in dotted lines on the casting M, Figure 1, see also Figure 3, and
which pullies are arranged to work one above the other in or on the casting M;
there is also a lug M on this casting. The chain can be worked with a
single or double thread over the top pulley. The Drawing shows the large
block O (Figure 1) and chain in position for working three threads with the
double pullies N, N. By attaching the end of the chain to the lug M,
instead of to the block O, first passing the chain round a second pulley in
block O, the chain may be worked with four threads and much greater power
obtained. The said crane upright A1 and gib A2 are generally made of
Memel timber or oak, or both, and they might be made of wrought or cast
iron and of different dimensions, as found necessary as to lengths and thick-
nesses. The crane is held-up or supported by means of two or more guys P, P,
which are usually made of timber or iron, and fitted with plates J, J, and
bolts on both ends of each guy P, P. The steam engine which works the
crane is fixed upright by bolts at the back of the said crane upright, and in
removing the crane it is not necessary to take the engine from the crane
upright. The cylinder R is placed uppermost, and the power is communicated
downwards to the gearing of the crane, and the crank shaft S (Figure 3) of
the engine fixes upon the top part of the crane sides or fixings T (Figures 1
and 3), and works the gearing of the crane. The said engine is fitted with link
motion, lever, and guard, so that it can be worked each way round or stopped
when desired with the greatest facility. The said engine is connected by pipes Q,
and attached with bolts to the boiler, so that it is readily disconnected or
attached. There is a stop valve U to shut off the steam entirely from the
engine. The exhaust pipe V passes from the engine into the water tank W,
which is fixed near the boiler on the plate X at the back of crane. The said
pipe V passes once or twice along the inside of the tank W, and then goes
through on one side of it, or it may be made to pass out of the water tank

page_text: into the chimney, by this means the water is heated before going into the
boiler. This tank W can be made either of wood or iron, and is fitted with a
loose cover at the top. The engine has a boiler pump Y (Figure 1) fixed to
the said crane upright Al with screws or bolts, which pump is for the purpose
of feeding the boiler by means of the pipes which connect the water tank with
the pump and the pump with the boiler, and a check valve Z prevents the
water passing out of the boiler towards the pump; these pipes are connected
with the water tank by means of nuts; there is also a union joint in the pipe
near the pump, and a tap near the water tank to regulate the supply of water
to the boiler.
The arrangement of suitable gearing to guy cranes, as shewn in the said
Drawings, is as follows:-In front of the said crane upright Al and at
the top side of gib A2 is a plain crane roller 1-(Figures 1 and 3), the diameter
of which may be varied. A flange is cast on one end of the roller, and a large
spur wheel 2 is fitted upon the roller at the other end. The wheel boss is
bevelled; this wheel has arms or spokes on both sides, and a flange cast up to
the pitch line on both sides of the cogs; the chain coils upon this roller or
barrel.
On the shaft 3 (Figure 1) is a pinion wheel 4 (Figures 1 and 3) with a
flange on each side to pitch line which works into the said wheel 2. On the
same shaft 3 is a wheel 5 (Figure 3) keyed to the shaft; this wheel is driven
by the slip wheel 18 (on the shaft S), by which the first or lesser power is
obtained. On the same shaft 3 is also a wheel 6 (Figures 1 and 3), which is
driven by the slip wheel 12 (also on the said shaft S), by which a second or
greater power is obtained. On the shaft 19 is a wheel 18, which is driven by
the pinion wheel 17 (on the end of the said shaft S), Figures 1 and 3, and
there is also on the said shaft 19 a pinion wheel 20, which drives the said
wheel 6; by the application of this shaft 19, and the said wheel 18, and pinion
wheel 20 the third or greatest power is obtained. Only one power can be
used at one and the same time; and when any one power is intended to be
used, such of the said two slip wheels, the said wheels 18 and 20, and the
said shaft S, as are necessary for obtaining the other two powers as aforesaid,
must be put out of gear; and, in order to lower the burthen, such of the
same wheels and shaft, as are necessary for obtaining, as aforesaid, the power
in use for the time being must also be put out of gear. On the same shaft 3
is keyed a break wheel, which is fitted with a powerful double break 8
(Figures 2 and 3) with iron hoops and wooded inside, and fixed with studs
into the said crane side T, and connected with a lever 10 (Figures 1 and 3),
going from the studs towards the said water tank W, where the engine driver

page_text: stands to work the engine. The lever 10 is balanced with a weight, so that
when the engine driver slackens or takes his foot from the said lever 10 it
eases off the friction on the break wheel, and lowers the load, (the said slip
wheels 12 and 13, the said wheels 18 and 20, and the said shaft 19 being first put
out of gear). The said slip wheels 12 and 13 work on feathers on the said
crank shaft S, and have grooves in them for the levers 15 and 16 (Figure 3),
with lever guards to each lever, so that either the said wheel 18 or said
wheel 12 can be put in or out of gear as required. On one end of the crank shaft S
is the fly wheel E, on the other end is the said pinion wheel 17; this pinion
wheel 17 works into the said wheel 18, keyed on the end of the said shaft 19,
and fixed upon the back of the said crane side T nearest to the boiler. The
said shaft 19, and the said wheels 18 and 20 attached thereto, when not in
use are moved out of gear by being pulled end ways, and there is a clapper 22
(Figures 2 and 3) fixed to keep the shaft and wheels in gear when required.
Each of the said two crane sides T are fitted with two brackets K. (Figures 1
and 3); these brackets are fixed to the said crane upright, and the said crane
sides T are bolted to these brackets, and can easily be taken off without dis-
turbing the brackets. The journal bearers for shafts S, 19 and 3 are moveable
and fitted with bolts to the crane sides; they can be easily removed when
required. The bearings for the roller shaft are formed and bored in the said
crane sides T. The two journal bearings on the end of the said crank shaft S are
bushed with brass, or these might be replaced by pedestals, if found desirable.
There are four journal bearings for the crank shaft, one on each side of the
crank fitted on the engine frame, and one on each of the said crane sides T.
The boiler is fixed vertically on a plate X at the back part of the crane, which
plate consists of angle iron braces, cross stays, brackets, and wrought-iron
plates bolted to two castings 24 (Figure 1), which castings are bolted to
the said casting B on the bottom of the said crane upright Al. Under the
plates for supporting the boiler are fixed two axletrees fitted with four broad
wheels 25, so that when the crane is to be removed to another place planks
may be put under the said wheels 25, and when the plate ✗, the water tank,
and boiler are disconnected from the crane upright they can be run back and
removed as required.
The boiler is made with a fire-box and ordinary grates in the bottom. The
boiler itself is larger than the fire-box, which admits of water all round the
fire part; there is an opening made through the fire part and through the
space where the water is. The boiler is fitted with an outer casing, which is
about the height of the water line, and is lined round inside and on the top
with circular fire-bricks, and is a conductor of heat to the boiler. Near to the

page_text: opening, in the space between the outside of boiler and inside of brickwork in
the casing, is fixed a brick midfeather to cause the flame and smoke to pass i
round the boiler before entering the chimney bottom, whereby much heating
surface is obtained. In the bottom of chimney is fixed a loose lid so as to
clean it out. The iron plates on the top of casing are so bolted that they can
be taken off to clean the flue part. On the top of the iron chimney are fixed
a damper and lever, so that the draught can be regulated. The boiler is fitted
with lid, cross bar, bolts, and nuts, and firing-hole door, an archway being
formed in the casing for the same, also safety valve lever and weight, steam
gauge, and water gauge; other kinds of boilers might, however, be used. The
steam engine and boiler apparatus, the gib and the gearing, are all attached to the
crane upright A1 by bolts, pins, cotters, and nuts, and can be readily attached to
and disconnected from the crane. The engine, boiler, water tank, and gearing
all turn with the crane on the said centre pin C, and act as a counterbalance to
the gib.
The Figure 4 shows a worm roller, which might be applied to these cranes
instead of the plain roller, the diameter being made of the required size.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,―
First, the arrangement and application of a portable steam engine, boiler,
water tank fittings, and suitable gearing to guy cranes, forming a combination
of parts arranged and applied substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly, the arrangement and application of the casting M at the end of the
gib, as described and shewn in the Drawings, in combination with the double
pullies, one above the other, used therewith, which may also be used with guy
cranes worked by horse, steam, or other power.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Booth, John Booth, and
Jeremiah Booth, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
JOSEPH BOOTH.
(L.B.)
JOHN BOOTH.
(L.B.)
JEREMIAH BOOTH. (L.B.)