Improvements in Electric Cable Traction Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cable Traction Apparatus.
I, RICHARD LAMB, of 1 Broadway, New York City, Lumber Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A main cable supported upon suitable brackets extending along the route of the
proposed cable way and connected with one pole of a dynamo. Upon the cable is
suspended a two-wheeled car or trolley, from which hangs an arm provided at its
lower end with the operator's seat. In a journal box attached to the pendent
arm is journalled a shaft carrying at one end a worm wheel shaft and at the
opposite end a grooved sheave, the said grooved sheave receiving upon it one or
two convolutions of a traction cable also supported by the bracket and connected
with the remaining pole of the dynamo. The traction cable is also grounded at
the end farthest from the dynamo, and the same pole of the dynamo is preferably
grounded. The pendent arm carries an electric motor, the armature shaft of which
is provided with a screw engaging the worm wheel on the shaft of the grooved
sheave. Current is taken for the propulsion of the electric locomotive from the
main cable and is returned to the dynamo by the traction cable.
When the locomotive or trolley is used for the propulsion of boats, or of wagons
on an ordinary road, it is connected by a suitable rod or cable with the boat or
wagon, and current regulating devices are provided for controlling the motion of
the motor. When the cable way is used for hauling logs from the interior of a
forest, a separate trolley is connected with the locomotive by means of one or more
rods, and is provided with a pendent arm having at the lower end thereof a locking
tackle block which may be used for raising aud sustaining logs and other bodies.
The bracket by which the main and traction cables are supported is devised for
attachment to posts or trees, with a view to their removal and reattachment to other
supports.
Dated this 20th dor of Iul 1804
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Cable Traction Apparatus.
I, RICHARD LAMB, Lumber Manufacturer, of 1 Broadway New York City, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus for
handling logs by means of electricity as a motive power;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the locomotive without the gear covering;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the log-carrying trolley;
Figure 5 is a detail transverse section of the seat for the motorman and pocket
for ballast;
Figure 6 is a side elevation showing auxiliary apparatus for hauling logs to the
place of loading.

page_text: apparatus to the cable between supports;
Figure 8 is a detail view of clamps applied to the supporting cable for holding a
strut; and
Figure 9 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus applied to the propulsion
of canal boats.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective mechanism for
conveying logs from the interior of a forest, for conveying other heavy bodies, for
the propulsion of canal boats, and similar work.
My invention consists in a supporting cable resting on brackets attached to fixed
supports, a propelling trolley adapted to run on the cable and provided with an
electric motor, a winding drum or sheave driven by the same, and a fixed traction
cable wrapped around the winding drum or sheave and serving as a fulcrum to the
electric motor and as a conductor for the current. It also consists in the combination
with the propelling trolley or locomotive, of a log-carrying trolley placed on the
supporting cable and connected with the locomotive. It also consists in the
combination with the locomotive, of a counterweight or balance for trimming
the locomotive so that it will maintain a practically vertical position. It also
further consists in the combination with the locomotive, of a seat for the motorman,
all as will be hereinafter more fully described.
The bearing cable A, which supports the log-carrying trolley and the locomotive,
extends over brackets B, attached to trees or posts C. The bracket B, in the
present case, is formed of a T-iron bar a having the web b cut away at the lower
ends of the bracket, the body of the bar being bent at an angle of 45°, and slotted
to receive the spike c, which is driven into the post C. To the upper surface of the
T-iron bar, uear its upper end, is attached an eye-plate d.
Two braces D, each having a pointed hook e on one end and an eye f on the
opposite end, are connected with the eye-plate d, and the hooked ends of the braces
are driven into the tree or post C. Near the mid-length of each brace is formed an
enlargement g, and a chain h passes around the braces above the enlargement, and
its ends are fastened together so that when the chain is twisted, the braces D will
be drawn toward each other, and the hooked ends of the braces will be securely
held in their places in the tree or post C.
To the upper end of the T-iron bar a is attached a saddle E, for supporting the
bearing cable A. The saddle E is provided with a recess for receiving the end of
the bar a, and another recess for receiving the heads of the bolts by which the
saddle is secured to the T-iron bar. The saddle, and the bolts by which it is
secured in place, are insulated electrically from the bar a, and are constructed to
shed rain. The saddle E is made concave in a transverse direction and convex in
a longitudinal direction, to adapt it for receiving the cable A.
To the lower part of the bar a is attached a horizontal bar i, which is supported
at its outer end by a brace j, attached thereto and extending upward to the bar a;
to which it is secured. The bar has at its free end a casting k, having a
V-shaped notch for receiving the traction cable F, which normally rests in a
recess formed in the casting k, at the bottom of the notch. At the mouth of the
V-shaped notch the casting is provided with projections m, which extend inwardly
toward each other and serve to prevent the traction cable from accidentally leaving
its support.
the
On a
The bearing cable A is clamped on the saddle E by a clip n,
and upon
cable A is placed a trolley G, formed of the plates o o, connected by studs p p',
upon which are placed the grooved wheels H, which ride upon the cable A.
stud which extends through the plates o o¹ is suspended a bar I, the said bar
being provided at its upper end with a heavy arm for receiving the stud 9, the
said armr being secured to the bar I, by means of a U-bolt r¹, which extends over,
and embraces the said arm, with its ends extending downwardly through the flange
at the upper end of the bar I. The lower end of the arm r has a downwardly

page_text: curved flange which extends beyond the sides of the bar 1, and is curved
downwardly to protect the joint between the arm and bar from rain and dust, and
between the arm r and the bar I, is placed suitable insulating material, and the
ends of the U-shaped bolt and the nuts thereon are insulated from the bar I.
The bar I, extends downwardly, and at a point opposite the traction cable F, is
bowed outwardly, and the lower end of the said bar is offset so that it hangs nearly
in line with the cables A, F. To the bar I is secured an electric motor J, of any
approved construction, and the armature shafts of the electric motor extends
upwardly and is provided with a worm K, which revolves between thrust blocks tt',
between which and the ends of the worm are placed steel balls forming ball
bearings above and below the screw.
The thrust blocks t t' are attached to the web of the hanging bar I, and to the
said bar is secured a casting L, used to bring the point of application of the
pulling or connecting rod h¹ directly under the cable A. The casting L is
provided with a sleeve M, in which is journalled a shaft N. Upon the front or
outer end of the shaft N is secured a worm wheel O, which is engaged by the
worm K, and upon the inner end of the said shaft is secured a sheave P, around
which the cable F is wrapped. The sheave P is preferably elliptically grooved,
and the worm wheel and worm are enclosed in a casing containing oil, so that the
worm gearing is constantly and thoroughly lubricated, while at the same time dust
is excluded.
To the lower end of the bar I, is attached a bracket u which supports the
seat for the motorman. The back of the seat is made hollow, as shown in
Figure 5, for the reception of the weight or ballast for counterbalancing the
motor J, and causing the bar I to hang vertically. An arm w, secured to the lower
end of the bar I, extends diagonally to the rear of the seat v, and from the said
har is suspended a weight a', which may be moved back and forth to counterbalance
the motor J.
The main parts of the motor J are preferably enclosed, and the armature shaft s
of the said motor carries an inverted hollow cone b', which extends over the journal
box of the motor and is designed for excluding oil from the worm gear, and also
rain and dust.
The seat is supported at the front by connection with the bar I, and the back
of the seat is sustained by a brace c', attached to the seat back and to the bar I,
near the bend therein, as shown. To the bar I, is attached a horizontal bar d',
which is curved outwardly, as shown in Figure 2. This bar serves as a guard
to prevent the motor from accidentally striking a tree or the bracket in passing
over the bracket, a vertical roller k¹ being suspended from the bar i, for engaging
the said bar d¹.
On the supporting cable A, a short distance from the locomotive is placed a
log-carrying trolley Q, similar in construction to the trolley G, having plates o³, o³,
studs p, p, grooved wheels H', and the bar 1', extending downwardly and curved
outwardly opposite the traction cable F. The lower end of the bar I¹ is provided
with a link for receiving the locking tackle block R, by means of which the
log or other load is lifted and sustained. The trunnion is electrically insulated
from the bar I'.
To the bar I', at or near its mid-length, is attached a bar e¹, having eyes on
opposite ends for receiving the hooks f¹. The bar e' is arranged to admit of its
revolving on the end of the connector S which connects the locomotive with. the
log-carrying trolley. The connector S, in the present case, is formed of two
bars g, h, connected together at the hook f', the bar g¹ being attached at the
opposite end to the bar of the locomotive, near the upper end thereof, and the
bar being connected with the casting L opposite the sheave P. Instead of using
the connecting bars g¹, h', I may dispense with the bar y' and use only the bar hl.
The log-carrying trolley Q is furnished with a curved guard bar like the bar d',
carried by the locomotive.

page_text: The motor of the locomotive is provided with a starting box and reversing
switch T, both of which are of the usual construction.
The current which drives the motor J arrives by the cable A, passes through
the trolley and an insulated conductor to the motor, and returns by the bar 1,
sheave P, and traction cable F, which is preferably grounded. When the motor
is in operation, the sheave P, by engagement with the cable F, winds up and at
the same time plays out the said cable, and draws along the log-carrying trolley Q,
and the log supported by it.
When the log is at some distance from the cable A, I arrange an auxiliary
cable U, for the purpose of conveying the log to the vicinity of the cable A. For
this purpose I carry the auxiliary cable around a horizontal snatch block ",
to a second block at the post or tree C, thence upward to a snatch block secured
to the post or tree some distance above the cable A, thence to the log to be drawn
forward, as shown in Figure 6. In this case the forward movement of the
locomotive and log-carrying trolley carries the cable U forward and thus draws
the log toward the cable A.
In Figure 7, I have shown a method of doing the same thing at any point
between the supports of the cable A, by employing a strut abutting against a tree
or other solid object at one end, and embracing the cable at the other end.
In Figure 9, I have shown the application of my improved system to the
propulsion of canal boats. The cables A, F, are arranged along the side of the
canal, and the locomotive is placed on the cable A and made to engage the cable F,
as in the other case. The log-carrying trolley is of course dispensed with, and a
cable or tow line which leads from the locomotive to the boat, carries conductors
which are readily connected with a resistance box and reversing switch at the end
which termiuates on the boat. The locomotives are not to pass each other, but
when boats passing in opposite directions, meet, the boatmen exchange locomotives
by exchanging tow lines, the wires in which are then connected to rheostats on the
boats, the motors are reversed, and the boats proceed as before. In lieu of
carrying the conductors through the tow line, the resistance box and reversing
switch may be carried by the locomotive, and the motorman may ride with the
locomotive as in the case of the logging system.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. In an electric cable-way, the combination of a supporting cable, a traction
cable, and an electric locomotive suspended from the supporting cable and
constructed to engage the traction cable, substantially as specified.
2. In an electric cable way, the combination of a supporting cable, a traction
cable, a locomotive suspended from the supporting cable and constructed to
engage the traction cable, and a log-supporting trolley connected with the electric
locomotive, substantially as specified.
3. The combination, with an electric locomotive, suspended from a supporting
cable, of an adjustable ballast, substantially as specified.
4. The combination with a traction cable, of a cable supporting bracket
furnished with a V-shaped notch and having projections extending inwardly over
the V-shaped notch, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination, with a suspended electric locomotive, of a seat for the
motormau, substantially as specified.
6. In an electric cable-way, the combination of a supporting cable, a traction
cable, a bracket for suspending the supporting and traction cables, a trolley
adapted to run on the supporting cable, an electric motor carried by the trolley,
and a sheave for engaging the traction cable, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of a supporting cable, a suspended locomotive, a traction
cable engaged by the locomotive, an auxiliary cable, and snatch blocks for changing
the direction of the auxiliary cable, substantially as specified.

page_text: 8. In an electric cable-way, the combination with the electric motor, of a tow
line carrying electrical conductors, substantially as specified.
9. In an electric cable-way, the combination of a traction cable carrying the
propelling current, and an electric locomotive provided with a grooved wheel
running on the traction cable and adapted to take the current from the traction
cable, substantially as specified.
Dated this 8th day of August 1894.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.