Improvements in Electric Cranes and similar Revolving Appliances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cranes and similar Revolving Appliances.
I, JAMES GEORGE WILLCOX ALDRIDGE, Engineer, of 9, Victoria Street, in the
County of London, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to convey the electric current from the
stationary post to the jib or revolving structure.
The top of the crane pin is fitted with an insulating plug through which the
nain conductors pass and are connected to bow-shaped brushes fixed on the plug
and that are pressed outwards by bow-shaped springs also fixed on the plug. The
brushes bear against insulated rings connected to the conductors from the motors
but mounted one above the other in cylinders fixed on the crane cabin floor. The
crane and cabin floor thus rotate without interfering with the conductors.
The brushes are made of gauze similar to that used for dynamo brushes and
on the outside diameter is placed a thin strip of copper to take the wear, and
that can be easily renewed. The two ends of each brush are made solid and also
the cable ends for the purpose of making good connection.
L of T 1900
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.
Improvements in Electric Cranes and similar Revolving Appliances.
I, JAMES GEORGE WILLCOX ALDRIDGE, Engineer, of 9, Victoria Street, in the
County of London, 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: —
This invention has for its object to convey the electric current from the
stationary post to the motors on the revolving structure.
The top of the crane pin is fitted with an insulating plug through which the
main conductors pass and are connected to bow-shaped brushes fixed on the plug
and that are pressed outwards by bow-shaped springs also fixed on the plug. The
brushes bear against insulated rings connected to the conductors from the motors
but mounted one above the other in cylinders fixed on the crane cabin floor. The
crane and cabin floor thus rotate without interfering with the conductors.
The brushes are made of gauze similar to that used for dynamo brushes and
on the outside diameter is placed a thin strip of copper to take the wear, and
Din 971

page_text: that can be easily renewed. The two ends of each brush are made solid and also
the cable ends for the purpose of making good connection.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings Fig. I is a vertical section,
and Fig. 2 a horizontal section through the top of a crane pin constructed and
arranged according to this invention.
The coupling of which a detail drawing is shown, is fixed to the floor of the
crane cabina and therefore rotates with it. It consists of the upper and lower
positive and negative cylinders made of cast iron and lined with brass or gun
metale. The cylinders bare insulated from each other by an annular ring of
insulating material e bolted together by bolts & that are insulated by means of
washers m.
In the upper part of the crane pin is fitted an ebonite plug f secured by the
screws and provided with an upright carrying the positive and negative
contacts. Each contact consists of a flexible ring of gauze copper with solid
ends. The conductors are bolted to blocks o and bolts pass through the
rings, blocks o and upright and secure the whole in position. A steel ring i
is inserted inside the copper gauze ring to force the ring outwards and maintain
a good contact between the gauze ring and the inside of the cylinder b. A thin
copper ring is fitted outside the copper gauze ring to take the wear and is readily
renewable. From the cylinders the cables are taken to the switchboard or motors
from terminals j.
A wood cover is fitted into the top of the coupling and the apparatus is entirely
covered with a box fixed to the floor as may be necessary and intended to form a
small seat for the driver when the cranes are standing still for a short time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The electric coupling consisting of a rigid cylinder adapted to rotate on
its axis and a fixed flexible ring mounted inside the rotating cylinder and forced
to bear against it.
2. The electric coupling consisting of insulated rigid cylinders arranged one
above the other and adapted to rotate together about the same axis and of corre-
sponding insulated flexible rings mounted on a fixed support within the rotating
cylinders and each forced to bear against its corresponding rigid cylinder.
3. The improved coupling for electric cranes and similar revolving structures,
substantially as described with reference to the drawing.
Dated this 28th day of March 1900.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE.
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.