A New or Improved Device for Limiting the Strain Thrown on Cables and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Limiting the Strain Thrown
on Cables and the like.
I, EMILIO CARLES Y AMAT of 9 and 11 Vergara Street, Barcelona, Spain, Manu-
facturer, 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 device forming the object of this invention consists essentially of a hook which
is held by a lever, the latter being controlled by a spring. This spring is regulated
to the limit of strain at which the cable is to work, and is fitted in the base piece of
the device.
The device referred to is represented on the annexed drawing. Fig. 1. is a front
view, the supporting plate forming one of the sides being supposed to be removed in
order to allow the internal mechanism of the apparatus to be seen.
Fig. 2. is a side view.
This device is intended to be interposed between the cable and the mechanism
from which it receives or to which it transmits the strain.
On the base piece A, I fix the spring C which is composed of several thin plates of
steel made fast to the base piece by means of a bolt M. The strength of this spring
depends on the number, kind, size and thickness of the lamina of which it is
composed and by simply changing the spring the apparatus may be regulated so as to
effect the required disengagement and consequently the release of the cable when the
strain has reached the limit desired.
The base piece A also serves as a support for the spindle D of the lever E placed
between the hook B and the spring C. This lever consists of an arm E³, the
extremity of which is supported by or rests against the end of the spring C, and has
on the side and at a point situated near to its axis of rotation a notch or indentation
with which the stud F of the hook B engages, thus forming a lever with the two
arms at a very acute angle.
The hook B is connected with the cable G by means of the ring B¹, whilst the
base piece A is in turn connected by means of the ring A¹ and the cable H with
the mechanism which produces the strain. The position of the apparatus may be
altered at will.
In all cases the strain exerted between the cables H and G is transmitted to the
lever E placed between the stud F and the spring C. This spring prevents the
lever from responding to the strain until overcome by this strain. When this takes
place the lever E turns on its spindle D, the stud F slips out of the notch and
the cable G is released.
In order that no damage may be caused by the cable G when released, owing to
its sudden recoil, I may connect the cables G and H by means of a rope or chain to
prevent the said recoil, or I could attach them to a cord or chain which would act,
at the time of the cable being slackened, on a brake or on a stopping device on the
motor.
The hook B is forked so as to allow of the passage of the lever E, but I may make
it of any other desired shape.

page_text: The frame is completed by a plate I which is screwed on to the base piece by
means of bolts. This plate serves as a support for the spindle D of the lever E.
The base piece A is further furnished with a catch K controlled by a spring K¹
the object of which is to prevent the disengaging of the hook B when the apparatus
is not in use. In order to remove the hook B, that is to say, to release it from the
lever E, it is necessary at first to push the catch K against the spring. K', until the
hook can be withdrawn without touching it.
The pin L is an additional device intended to prevent the lever E from getting out
of place.
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 new or improved device for limiting the strain thrown on cables and the
like, substantially as set forth.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 19th
1000
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent. For the Applicant.