New or Improved Frictional Reversing Gear for Steam Winches, Crabs, or other Machinery for Lifting or Hauling.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Frictional Reversing Gear for Steam Winches,
Crabs, or other Machinery for Lifting or Hauling.
We, ALEXANDER WINTON ROBERTSON, and JAMES ROBERTSON, both of Custom
House Engine Works, Victoria Docks, E., 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:-
Our invention has for its object to provide a new or improved means of reversing
the motion of the drums or barrels of steam winches, crabs, and other machinery for
lifting or hauling; and consists in the application and arrangement of friction wheels
in the manner hereinafter particularly described, whereby the drum or barrel is
driven backwards for the purpose of running out or lowering the chain or rope
without reversing the Engine.
By this our invention a great saving in labor is effected, one lad being able easily
to manipulate a winch fitted with the reversing gear herein described; greater rapidity
in loading or unloading is obtained, besides less wear and tear of the Engine by reason
of it not being necessary to constantly stop and start same.
The arrangement is simple, convenient, and inexpensive, and will be readily under-
stood upon reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is an end view
of a steam winch fitted with our frictional reversing gear; Figure 2 a side view of same
partly in section through line A¹ B¹ Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional plan shewing in
detail the manner in which the intermediate friction wheel is preferably fitted or
connected to the sliding or travelling bar; while Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of
the same.
On the main driving shaft A we have a grooved wheel B, and on winch drum or
barrel we have a second grooved wheel D. A third and intermediate friction
wheel E is carried by a longitudinally sliding bar F, which bar travels in guides G
formed on end frame or standard H of winch. This sliding bar F receives its motion,
and thereby the intermediate friction wheel E is brought into, or out of, gear, by
means of lever I and connecting rod K. The lever I works upon an eccentric bush 7,
which carries the barrel shaft L. Said lever I is formed with an extension or lug M
to which one end of the connecting rod K is pivoted, the other end of such connecting
rod being attached to end of the sliding bar F which latter carries the intermediate
friction wheel E. The manner in which we prefer to mount this wheel E upon the
sliding har
as shewn particularly in the sectional views Figures 3 and 4. The
carrying pin or axle.a being formed with a wedge shaped head 6 which
into the sliding bar F. When it is desired to reverse the winch, the lever 1 is brought
over to the position shewn in Figure 1 when the barrel shaft L is slightly raised by
reason of its eccentric bearing and with it the friction wheels N Figure 2, thus taking
them out of gear with the forward motion gearing 0 on main driving shaft. The
sliding bar F is advanced from the position shewa in dotted lines Figure 1, and the
intermediate or reversing wheel E is brought into contact with the two grooved
wheels B and D fixed respectively on driving shaft A and winch drum or barrel C,
and thus the motion of the winch is reversed without reversing the Engine.
dovetailed
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In steam winches, crabs, or other machinery for lifting or hauling, the frictional
reversing gear consisting of a friction wheel on main driving shaft, a second friction
wheel on barrel or drum, and a third or intermediate friction wheel carried on a

page_text: bar sliding in suitable guides preferably formed on the end frame or standard of
the winch, brought into or out of action by means of lever and connecting rod cr their
equivalents, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, W.C., Agent for Applicants.