Improvements in Capstans.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec.. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Capstans.
I, CHRISTOPHER MARDON TAYLOR, of the Firm of C. M. Taylor and Alfred
Bodley, Iron Founders, Engineers, and Boiler Makers, of Commercial Road,
Exeter, in the County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
The present invention relates to capstans in which means are provided for
driving the barrel or drum at different speeds to suit the load, and consists in
improved means whereby such change of speed can be effected without having to
change the direction of rotation of the actuating or driving mechanism.
For this purpose I employ a shaft mounted in suitable bearings at the top of the
capstan, such bearings being formed in a casting or part secured to the central
spindle of the capstan, while the shaft is provided with suitable crank handles or
other means for rotating same, and carries a bevel pinion gearing with a bevol
wheel formed on the outer edge of a ring which is capable of rotating loosely round
the central spindle and which wheel is enclosed within the drum or barrel of the
capstan.
The boss or sleeve of the ring referred to has a spur pinion formed upon or
secured thereto. Below this ring is a plate or frame which is secured to the
central spindle of the capstan, and which carries a stud pinion gearing with the
spur pinion on the boss of the ring. The pinion carried by the plate gears with
an intermediate stud pinion also carried by said plate, such intermediate pinion
gearing with an internal toothed wheel formed on a second ring which like the
first named ring is capable of rotating freely round the central spindle of the
capstan, and which second ring is also enclosed within the drum or barrel.
It will thus be seen that the rotation of the main driving or bevel pinion in one
direction will cause the first mentioned ring to revolve in a given direction and at a
certain speed by directly gearing with the bevel wheel formed on such ring, while
at same time the pinion on the boss of this first ring will through the first and
intermediate stud pinions carried by the fixed plate or frame and the internal
toothed wheel, cause the second ring (on which such internal toothed wheel is
formed) to revolve in the same direction as the first ring but at a slower speed.
It is therefore only necessary to connect either the first or the second named
ring to the barrel or drum of the capstan in order to drive the latter at a greater
or less speed, while the direction of rotation of the main driving bevel pinion
remains constant. For the purpose of effecting such connection I employ a pin
or its equivalent to render one or other ring solid with the barrel or drum, such
pin being mounted so that it can slide in a vertical slot in the top end of the
barrel or drum and opposite the outer surfaces of the two rings above referred
to. These outer surfaces are each provided with a series of recesses at regular
intervals, with which the above mentioned pin can engage when same is opposite
to any one of them and has been moved to the required position to do so.
When
in the central position the pin will engage neither of the rings, but by raising
same such pin will be caused to engage one of the recesses of the upper ring,
while by lowering it the pin will engage one of the recesses of the lower ring,
and the drum or barrel will be consequently driven at a higher or lower speed
according to the particular ring the pin engages. The pin is raised or lowered by
means of a pivoted hand lever, with a slot in which the head of the pin engages.
It will be seen that when the pin engages neither of the rings the drum or barrel
of the capstan will be free to rotate round the central spindle without being

page_text: actuated by the driving mechanism, and a suitable brake may be provided for
controlling the speed of same.
It will be further understood that by changing the direction of rotation of the
driving mechanism the rotation of the drum or barrel may be reversed, while still
retaining the power of varying the speed in the manner above described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Capstans.
I, CHRISTOPHER MARDON TAYLOR, of the Firm of C. M. Taylor and Alfred
Bodley, Iron Founders, Engineers, and Boiler Makers, of Commercial Road,
Exeter, in the County of Devon, 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 :-
The present invention relates to capstans in which means are provided for
driving the barrel or drum at different speeds to suit the load, and consists in
improved means whereby such change of speed can be effected without having to
change the direction of rotation of the actuating or driving mechanism.
For this purpose I employ a shaft mounted in suitable bearings at the top of the
capstan, such bearings being formed in a casting or part secured to the central
spindle of the capstan, while the shaft is provided with suitable crank handles or
other means for rotating same, and carries a bevel pinion or pinions gearing with a
bevel wheel forined on the outer edge of a ring which is capable of rotating loosely
round the central spindle and which wheel is enclosed within the drum or barrel of
the capstan.
The boss or sleeve of the ring referred to has a spur pinion formed upon or
secured thereto. Below this ring is a plate or frame which is secured to the central
spindle of the capstan, and which carries a stud pinion gearing with the spur
pinion on the boss of the ring. The pinion carried by the plate gears with an
intermediate stud pinion also carried by said plate, such intermediate pinion gearing
with an internal toothed wheel formed on a second ring which like the first named
ring is capable of rotating freely round the central spindle of the capstan, and
which second ring is also enclosed within the drum or barrel.
It will thus be seen that the rotation of the main driving or bevel pinion in one
direction will cause the first mentioned ring to revolve in a given direction and at
a certain speed by directly gearing with the bevel wheel formed on such ring,
while at same time the pinion on the boss of the first ring will through the first and
intermediate stud pinions carried by the fixed plate or frame and the internal
toothed wheel, cause the second ring (on which such internal toothed wheel is
formed) to revolve in the same direction as the first ring but at a slower speed.
It is therefore only necessary to connect either the first or the second named
ring to the barrel or drum of the capstan in order to drive the latter at a greater
or less speed, while the direction of rotation of the main driving bevel pinion
remains constant. For the purpose of effecting such connection I employ a stud,
pin or its equivalent to render one or other ring solid with the barrel or drum, such
pin being mounted so that it can slide in a vertical slot in the top end of the
barrel or drum and opposite the outer surfaces of the two rings above referred to.
These outer surfaces are each provided with a series of recesses at regular
intervals, with which the above mentioned pin can engage when same is opposite to
any one of them and has been moved to the required position to do so. When in
the central position the pin will engage neither of the rings, but by raising same
such pin will be caused to engage one of the recesses of the upper ring, while by

page_text: lowering it the pin will engage one of the recesses of the lower ring, and the drum
or barrel will be consequently driven at a higher or lower speed according to the
particular ring the pin engages. The pin is raised or lowered either directly by
hand or through a pivoted hand lever, with a slot in which the head of the pin
engages, and suitable means will be provided for fixing the pin either in its raised
or lowered position.
It will be seen that when the pin engages neither of the rings the drum or
barrel of the capstan will be free to rotate round the central spindle without being
actuated by the driving mechanism, and a suitable brake may be provided for
controlling the speed of same.
It will be further understood that by changing the direction of rotation of the
driving mechanism the rotation of the drum or barrel may be reversed, while still
retaining the power of varying the speed in the manner above described, or the
reversing of the barrel can be effected without altering the rotation of the handles
as more fully hereinafter described.
But in order to enable my invention to be readily understood I will proceed to
describe same by the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved capstan partly in section.
Fig. 2 a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a plan view thereof with the top cap or cover of the capstan removed, and
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view showing the lower internal toothed wheel and the
intermediate gearing connecting it with the upper bevel wheel.
A is the driving shaft or spindle mounted in bearings B secured to the central
spindle C of the capstan, which is actuated by crank handles D or other suitable
means.
In the drawings the driving shaft A is shown as being provided with ordinary
reversing mechanism to enable the motion of the capstan to be reversed without
altering the direction of rotation of such driving shaft such reversing mechanism
consisting in two pinions E mounted loosely on the driving shaft and each provided
with a clutch coupling e, in combination with an intermediate clutch sleeve F keyed
to the driving shaft A but capable of sliding thereon and under the control of
lever G, serving to connect either pinion E with the driving shaft A at will,
according to the direction of rotation of the capstan desired. It will however be
understood that when not desired to employ reversing mechanism, the driving
shaft A will be provided with a single driving pinion E only, same being
permanently secured to such driving shaft.
The pinion E gears with a bevel wheel G formed on the outer edge of a ring
which is capable of rotating loosely round the ceutral spindle C, and is enclosed
within the drum or barrel H of the capstan.
The boss of the wheel G¹ has a spur pinion I formed on or secured thereto.
Below the bevel wheel G¹ a plate or frame K is secured to central spindle Ċ
and carries a stud pinion L gearing with pinion I on wheel G', as well as with an
intermediate stud pinion M, also carried by the plate or frame K. The intermediate
stud pinion M gears with an internal toothed wheel N formed on a second ring
which is also capable of rotating freely round the central spindle C, and also
enclosed within the barrel H of the capstan.
:
It will be seen that the pinion E mounted on the driving shaft A will when
actuated cause wheel G' to revolve in one direction at a certain speed, and at
same time through spur pinions I, L, M, will cause wheel N to revolve in the
same direction but at a slower speed.
It therefore follows that by connecting either wheel G¹ or wheel N with the
barrel or drum H of the capstan the latter will be driven at a greater or less
speed in the same direction while the direction of rotation of the driving shaft A
remains constant.
The means for connecting either wheel G¹ or wheel N with the barrel or
drum H of the capstan consist of a pin or stud O which is mounted so that it can
slide in a slot in the top or head of the barrel or drum H, and by raising it to the

page_text: “position shown in Fig. 1, pin will enter between two of the teeth or projections g
formed on the periphery of wheel G' and thus connect the latter to the barrel or drum,
while when lowered to the position shown in Fig. 2 the pin O will enter between
two of the corresponding teeth or projections on the periphery of wheel N and
50 connect the latter to the barrel or drum. The pin O may be raised or lowered
by hand as shown in the drawing and held in the position to which it is shifted by
means of the biuding screw O', or such piu may be shifted by means of a hand
lever pivotted to the head of the capstan barrel or drum, suitable means being
provided to fix such lever after the pin has been moved to the desired position.
When the pin O occupies an intermediate position between the wheels G¹ and N
-so that it does not engage the teeth or projections on either, the barrel or drum H
will be able to rotate free without being actuated by the driving mechanism.
One, two or more pawls P are pivoted to the base of the drum or barrel and
-engage a ratchet wheel Q fixed to the deck, so as to prevent the drum or barrel
revolving except in the direction desired, and by turning such pawls on their
pivots from one side of the centre to the other, same will effect the desired object
whichever way the drum or barrel is to revolve.
The rope or chain passes either round the main of the drum or barrel, or the
chain may pass round the usual chain wheel R. at the bottom of such drum or
barrel, being kept in place by the guide rolls S, the position of which can be
shifted to suit the direction of pull of the chain.
I prefer to secure the central spindle C to the deck or part where the capstan
is to be fixed, in the manner shown in the drawings, which consists in letting a
socket T into the deck from the underside and securing same by bolts t The
.bore of socket T is conical and bottom of spindle C is correspondingly tapered
to fit same and is fixed into the bore of the socket by a stationary key let in the
spindle. The lower end of spindle C passes through the socket 1 and receives a
.nut C, by which it is securely fastened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved means, for actuating the drum or barrel of capstans, consisting
of a toothed ring actuated by a pinion on the driving shaft and free to revolve
independently of the drum or barrel, the boss of such ring carrying a pinion
gearing with an intermediate pinion mounted on a fixed plate or bracket, and which
engages another pinion also mounted on said plate or bracket, the latter pinion
gearing with an internal toothed wheel also free to revolve independently of the
drum or barrel of the capstan, the whole in combination with meaus for connecting
either the toothed ring or the internal toothed wheel to such drum or barrel, all
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a capstan the employment of two wheels both free to revolve independently
of the drum or barrel thereof, one of such wheels being actuated directly from the
driving shaft of the capstan while the other is actuated through intermediate
gearing from the first named wheel so as to revolve in the same direction as the
latter, the whole in combination with means for connecting either wheel to the
drum or barrel at will, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. The improved capstan constructed and operating substantially as specified.
Dated this 10th 1.
AT
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicaut.