Improvements in Apparatus for Transporting Loads by Means of Travelling Ropes or Cables.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Transporting Loads by Means of
Travelling Ropes or Cables.
I, JOHN PEARCE ROE, of 150 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me No. 15913 of 1888, I have
described constructions of apparatus for transporting loads by means of travelling
ropes in which an adjustable grooved block or blocks provided with internal
projections (or recesses) is or are employed to engage with the helically twisted
strands of the rope for the purpose of fixing the apparatus to the said rope. To
render the apparatus effective whether ascending or descending gradients, one of
the grooved blocks, when two are used, is provided with a projection arranged to
engage under a strand of the rope and prevent the block slipping longitudinally in
one direction upon the rope, whilst the other block is provided with a projection
adapted to act in a similar manner and prevent its block slipping in the opposite
direction on the rope, one projection only being effectively engaged with the rope
at a time. When one adjustable block only is used, its groove is provided with
oppositely arranged projections, that or those one side coming into operation when
the apparatus is ascending a gradient, and that or those on the other side coming
into operation when the apparatus is descending a gradient.
In each of the above mentioned arrangements, the projection that is, (for the
time being), out of action, is liable under some circumstances to ride upon or assume
such a position relatively to the strand of the rope adjacent thereto as to interfere
with the proper engagement of the other projection with the rope, and an object
of this invention is to obviate this disadvantage.
For this purpose I so form and arrange the grooved block or blocks, or parts
carrying the projections, that only one projection at a time will be caused by the
action of the load carried to engage with or bear against a strand of the rope by
the action of the load carried.
According to one arrangement for this purpose the groove in the underside of
each block is made doubly inclined in the direction of its length, that is to say, is
made to incline upwardly and outwardly both in a fore and aft direction, or is
made of circular arc-shape, the projection on the front block being arranged at one
side of the forward portion of the groove therein and that on the rear block at the
opposite side of the rearward end of the groove therein & the two blocks are so
mounted in the frame of the apparatus that upon a sufficient change in the direction
of inclination of the rope, the frame, under the action of the load, will move
longitudinally, relatively to the block, and cause them to rock or turn upon the rope
in such a way that the projection that was previously in action will be raised out
of engagement with the rope, whilst the projection that was previously inoperative
will be lowered so as to engage the rope. This movement of the blocks may be
effected by pins carried by the frame and extending through slots in the adjacent
grooved blocks.
In a modified construction in which a single grooved block of the kind mentioned
is used in conjunction with a fixed grooved guide, the groove in the block is
provided with projections both at its forward and rearward ends, one of the
projections being adapted, when lowered by the action of the frame on the block,
to engage the rope when the same is moving upwardly, and the other when
Jowered, to engage the rope when it is moving downwardly, one projection only
being in action at a time.

page_text: In a further construction, each projection forms part of or is carried by a movable
holder arranged to work through a hole in the grooved block and acted upon by
spring, the arrangement being such that each projection will at all times be in
position to engage a strand of the rope when moved thereon in the proper direction,
and that although the inoperative projection for the time being will bear against
the rope it will be free to move upward being acted upon only by its spring and not
by the load carried, and will consequently not interfere with the proper action of
the projection that is, for the time being, operative. In this arrangement the
groove in the block, or in each block, may be straight.
When the projections are of such a form as to work against the underside of
the strands of the rope, they are liable to become wedged so tightly in place, after
working on a steep gradient, as to interfere with their ready disengagement from
the rope at the required times. To obviate this disadvantage I make each
projection with a vertical face adapted to act laterally against a strand of the rope,
instead of against the underside of the strand operated upon, the said vertical face
being made either flat and inclined to a vertical plane passing longitudinally through
the groove in the block, or of curved shape.
Dated 1:
Improvements in Apparatus for Transporting Loads by Means of
Travelling Ropes or Cables.
I, JOHN PEARCE ROE, of 150 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, 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:-
To
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me No. 15913 of 1888, I have
described constructions of apparatus for transporting loads by means of travelling
ropes in which an adjustable grooved block or blocks, provided with internal
projections (or recesses), is or are employed to engage with the helically twisted
strands of the rope for the purpose of fixing the apparatus to the said rope.
render the apparatus effective whether ascending or descending gradients, one of
the grooved blocks, when two are used, is provided with a projection arranged to
engage under a strand of the rope and prevent the block slipping longitudinally in
one direction upon the rope, whilst the other block is provided with a projection
adapted to act in a similar manner and prevent its block slipping in the opposite
direction on the rope, one projection only being effectively engaged with the rope
at a time. When one adjustable block only is used, its groove is provided with
oppositely arranged projections, that or those on one side, coming into operation
when the apparatus is ascending a gradient, and that or those on the other side,
coming into operation when the apparatus is descending a gradient.
In each of the above mentioned arrangements, the projection that is, for the
time being, out of action, is liable, under some circumstances, to ride upon or
assume such a position relatively to the strand of the rope adjacent thereto, as to
interfere with the proper engagement of the other projection with the rope, and
an object of this invention is to obviate this disadvantage.
To this end, I so form and arrange the grooved block, or blocks, or parts,
carrying the projections, that only one projection at a time will be caused, by the
action of the load carried, to engage with, or bear against, a strand of the rope by
the action of such load.

page_text: For this purpose the groove in the underside of each block is made doubly
inclined, or of a circular arc shape, in the direction of its length, so that when the
block is turned on the rope, as a bearing, in one direction, the projection within its
groove will be brought into proper position to engage a strand of the rope, and
when turned in the opposite direction such projection will be turned into its
inoperative position, and clear of the strands of the rope, so that it cannot then
interfere with the proper action of the operative projection in another block.
modified construction, the projection is carried by a movable holder and is held in
position by a spring.
In the accompanying drawings,
In a
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections illustrating my improved forms of grooved
blocks.
Fige. 3, 4 and 5 are side elevations illustrating the application of such blocks.
Figs. 6 and 7 show in side and end elevation respectively, a form of grooved
block with movable projection.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an end view, and an inverted plan, showing part
of a grooved block with an improved form of projection therein.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a gripping block of the kind referred to,
having in its underside a V-shaped groove 2 which according to this invention,
instead of being made straight as in my former constructions of such blocks, is
made either doubly inclined in the direction of its length as shown in Figs. 1, or
of circular arc shape as shown in Fig. 2, so that such block can turn or oscillate
upon the rope as a bearing, 3 being the projection formed on one side of such
groove for engagement with a strand of a cable.
Figs. 3 and 4 show two such grooved blocks applied to a frame or backbone 4,
the projection 3 on the front block 1 being at the forward portion of the groove
therein, and that (3*) on the rear block 1* being at the rearward portion of the
groove in such block.'"
With this construction assuming that the travelling rope 5
is running in the direction of the arrow, and that the portion thereof on which the
apparatus is applied commences to move in a downward direction, the frame 4,
under the action of the load carried thereby, will move longitudinally for a short
distance relatively to the blocks and rock or turn them on the rope into the
positions shown in Fig. 3, so that the projection 3 on the inner side of the forward
block, will be brought into the proper position to engage a strand of the rope,
whilst the projection 3* on the inner side of the rearward block, will be raised clear
of the rope as shown, and thus rendered inoperative thereon. When the rope
becomes inclined in the opposite direction, although travelling in the same
longitudinal direction as before, the frame 4 will move a short distance in the
opposite or backward direction and automatically move the blocks into the positions
shown in Fig. 4, in which the projection on the rearward block will be brought into
the operative position, and that on the forward block into the inoperative position.
The movement of the blocks may be effected by pins 6 carried by the ends of the
frame 4 and extending through slots 7 formed in the corresponding blocks. In
this way the projection that is for the time being out of action is prevented from
riding or assuming such a position relatively to a strand of the rope as to interfere
with the proper engagement of the other projection with the rope.
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement in which one rocking or oscillating block 1 only of
the kind described, is employed, the other end of the frame 4 being connected to
an ordinary V-grooved block 8 that merely serves as a support therefor, the
connection between the two being preferably such as to admit of a slight turning
movement of the block, relatively to the frame, as when passing over a rope sheave
or pulley. In this arrangement, each grooved end of the block 1 is provided with
a projection, one, say 3, being adapted to come into action on an ascending gradient,
and the other (3*) on a descending gradient, the one that is for the time being
inoperative, being held clear of the rope, as before.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified form of grooved block in which the projection 3 is
carried by a movable slide or holder 9 acted upon by a spring 10, the arrangement

page_text: being such that the said projection will always be in a position to engage the
rope when moved thereon in the proper direction, but will be pressed upon the rope
only by the spring, so that it is free to yield in an upward direction, when
inoperative, and thus cannot interfere with the proper action of the operative
projection in another block.
When the projections are of such a form as to work against the underside of
the strands of the rope, as described in my said former Specification, they are
liable to become wedged so tightly in place, after working on a steep gradient, as
to interfere with their ready disengagement from the rope at the required times.
To obviate this disadvantage I make each projection with a flat vertical face 3ª, as
shown in Figs. 8 and 9, or it may be with a rounded or curved vertical face,
adapted to act laterally against a strand of the rope, instead of vertically against
its underside, as heretofore, the said face when flat, as shown, being made inclined,
that is to say arranged in a plane inclined to a vertical plane ac, passing longitudinally
through the groove in the block.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In transporting apparatus of the kind wherein one or more grooved blocks
having an internal projection or projections, is or are employed to rest upon or
engage with a travelling rope, the construction of the groove in such a block in the
form of a double incline, or circular arc, in the direction of its length; so that
when the block is turned on the rope, as a bearing, in one direction, a projection
within its groove will be brought into proper position to engage a strand of the
rope, and when it is turned in the opposite direction, such projection will be turned
into its inoperative position, and clear of the strands of the rope, so that it cannot
then interfere with the proper engaging action of another projection either in the
same block or in another block, as set forth.
2. In transporting apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a grooved block in
which the projection to engage a helical strand of the travelling rope, is carried by
a movable holder and is held in position by a spring, so that whilst it is normally
held in position for use, it will be free to yield in such a way as not to interfere
with the proper action of the projection in the same or another block, substantially
as herein described.
3. For transporting loads by means of a travelling rope, my improved apparatus,
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively
to and shown in Figs. 3 & 4; in Fig. 5; and in Figs. 6 & 7 of the drawings
annexed.
4. Apparatus of the kind herein referred to for transporting loads by means of
a travelling rope, in which each of the projections 3 in a grooved block or blocks,
is formed with a vertical active face 3* that is either flat and inclined to a vertical
plane passing longitudinally through the groove in the said block, (Fig. 8 & 9) or
is of curved or rounded form, the projection in either case being adapted to
engage the side of a helically twisted strand of a rope substantially as herein
described for the purpose specified.
Dated this 7th day of September 1894.