IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON ROOFS AND BRIDGES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THEIR ERECTION
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Buckwell, of Phoenix Stone Works, East
Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON ROOFS AND BRIDGES, AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THEIR ERECTION."
Sealed the 23rd October 1860, and dated the 26th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Buckwell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th April 1860.
I, WILLIAM BUCKWELL, of Phoenix Stone Works, East Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF IRON ROOPS AND BRIDGES, AND
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THEIR ERECTION," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of applying rods, which are sub-
jected in the building of roofs or bridges to tensile strain, so that their full
cross section shall be available for the support or stiffening of the structure.
To effect this object I avoid the use of punched bolt holes in the tie beam rods
to secure the rods in position, and employ, in lieu of bolts or such like fasten-
ings, a tie or coupling of peculiar construction, which may be made com-
pensating where great variations of temperature render the same desirable.

page_text: The tie beam rods I form with rounded shoulders at their coupling ends, and
I cause the rods to be coupled to overlap sufficiently to allow of my improved
fastening being inserted between them. To the upper and under side of tl:o
rods I apply metal trusses (say brass, when compensation is required). The
ends which bear against the tie rods I slot, to allow them to embrace the rods,
and I fit them with a cross pin, which bears against the inner side of the
adjacent shoulder of the tie rod. The other ends of the trusses at either side
of the tie rods abut against each other, and bolts from suspended plates pass
outwards and between the abutting ends of the trusses, and are secured by
nuts outside the coupling. These plates are circumscribed by a pair of rings.
which form bearing surfaces for the plates. The pins in the trusses on the
opposite sides of the tie rods may be linked together if thought desirable, and
it is by an opening or lug bearing upon pins that lie against the shoulders of
the tie rods that I secure these rods to supporting cast-iron or other pillars,
the ends of the open link or lug, being tapped and inserted into the pillar, at
the inner side of which binding nuts are applied to these ends.
For lifting the beams of roofs and bridges and other weights into position.
1 employ lifting gear of the following construction, the main objects being to
obtain uniform leverage capable of being multiplied to any required extent,
and to prevent the twisting of the hauling rope or chain. The lifting genr
I mount in a carriage with travelling wheels, and this carriage I mount on
another carriage similarly provided, so as to secure a lateral and a backward
and forward movement. This apparatus may be said to consist of a chain
barrel, mounted on a central horizontal shaft, which is driven by spur gearing
on a shaft mounted parallel therewith and on one side thereof. Chain pullies
on either end of this shaft, with V-grooves, are provided, to enable the
attendants to impart motion thereto by means of endless chains or ropes lying
in the grooves of the pulleys. Above the chain barrel shaft, and in a line
with the driving shaft, is another shaft, fitted with spur gearing and chain
pulleys, which may be used when additional power is required to be exerted to
raise a heavy load. On this shaft a spur wheel is mounted, so that it may be
thrown in or out of gear with a pinion on a third driving shaft, fitted with
chain pulleys. By this arrangement, therefore, the lifting power may be still
further auginented, the workmen applying themselves to the chains carried by
these additional pulleys. The traverse of the apparatus over the rails on
which the travelling wheels bear is in like manner effected by chains and
pulleys, which set in action worm shafts in gear with worm wheels on the
axles of the travelling wheels. The hauling chain I use double, forming a
double ring of recesses in the barrel for the same to bed into, and I connect

page_text: them together by a beam hook connection at their ends, and thereby prevent
the chain from twisting.
For raising the smaller weight I use a portable arrangement, provided with
four rollers instead of a barrel, over and under which to pass the hauling
rope or chain, and to these rollers I apply skew gearing for driving them.
The rope I first pass under one roller, then under the roller in the sanic line,
then back to a roller situate under the first, round that roller, and forward to
and over the fourth roller. By this means all tendency in the bauling chain or
rope to slip is avoided.
The same plan of V-pullies and ropes or chains as above described is used
for setting the apparatus in action.