IMPROVE- MENTS IN WINCHES AND CRANE BARRELS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Archer, junior, of the Dunston Engine Works,
Dunston, in the County of Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WINCHES AND CRANE BARRELS, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS
APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Archer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1878.
THOMAS ARCHER, junior, of the Dunston Engine Works, Dunston, in the County
of Durham, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINCHES AND CRANE BARRELS, PART
OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS."
My Invention consists of mounting the barrel or drum of a winch, crane, or of
other similar mechanical appliances loosely upon a driving axle. One end of the
barrel revolves in a union supported by the framework of the apparatus, the other
end slides upon or over the frustrum of a cone.
Wrought or keyed onto the aforesaid driving axle is an eccentric or cam which,
when the driving axle is revolved by any approved means, actuates a cog wheel
gearing into cogs forming the interior of the before-mentioned frustrum of a cone,
loosely mounted upon the driving axle. The opposite end of the axle is supported
in a bearing connected by the aforesaid union to the drum.
Many advantages are derived from these arrangements and construction of
winches :-
First. Any extra strain coming suddenly upon the rope, the barrel will slightly
give upon the friction cone.
Secondly. The working strain on the rope may be always regulated or adjusted
by means of the union at the opposite end to meet the requirements of the work.
Thirdly. By turning the union the drum can be put in or out of gear more readily
than by the present system of working winches.

page_text: For the purpose of converting either a part or the whole of an ordinary winch to
work on my improved principle, or should the high purchase be desired or necessary,
I screw the pinion wheel on its driving axle, and between it and the frame of the
winch I place a strong spiral spring, which receives, together with the friction cone,
any extra weight felt or coming suddenly upon the rope.
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Archer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th September
1878.
THOMAS ARCHER, junior, of the Dunston Engine Works, Dunston, in the County
of Durham, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINCHES AND CRANE BARRELS, PART
OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO WINDLASSES AND CAPSTANS."
My Invention consists of mounting the barrel or drum of a winch, crane, or other
similar mechanical appliances loosely upon a driving axle supported in the frame-
work of the apparatus. One end of the said drum is deeply recessed and formed
with teeth round the interior which gear into and are driven by a broad toothed
wheel of a less diameter, partly received within the said recess. The outer or re-
maining portion of this wheel is also enclosed by a short cylindrical cap or cover
corresponding in form and dimensions to the recessed portion of the barrel; con-
sequently the before-mentioned toothed wheel is completely housed and protected
from dust, dirt, and the weather.
The driving axle of the apparatus passes loosely through the centre of the barrel,
as before stated, and through the centre of the said cylindrical cover.
The toothed
or driving wheel, however, is mounted upon an eccentric part of the said axle, which,
when in motion, causes the driving wheel to revolve and engage with the teeth
forming the interior of the recess and of the cover.
As thus described, no motion would be conveyed to the barrel, and the apparatus
would be what is termed "out of gear." It is, however, readily put into working
order by fixing or rendering stationary by any improved means the before-
mentioned cylindrical cover. This is most conveniently accomplished by means
of a break band surrounding the outer circumference of the cylindrical cover,
and worked by a hand lever or binding screw. The cover becoming thus fixed
or immoveable acts as an abutment for the driving wheel to butt against and
carry round the barrel or drum of the apparatus.
When the winch or crane is subject to severe strains or sudden shocks, endangering
the safety of the rope, chain, or cable, I modify the above arrangement, and construct
the recessed portion of the barrel of a conical shape, and without teeth to receive a
friction cone, the base of which is recessed and provided with teeth corresponding
with those of the cylindrical cover before mentioned. A part of the driving axle
is surrounded in this arrangement by a bush or sleeve. This sleeve is so arranged

page_text: as to loosen or tighten the friction cone within the recess as will be herein-after
more particularly specified.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention more fully by aid of the accom-
panying Drawing, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a winch barrel and gearing constructed after
the method of my Invention, and employed for general purposes; and Figure 2, an
end view of the same.
Figure 3 is a steam winch provided with a safety friction cone to relieve the rope,
chain, or cable of any sudden shock or severe strain.
Figure 4 is a special winch employed for raising and lowering simultaneously two
weights.
Figure 5 is a capstan fitted with my improvements; and Figures 6 & 7 are various
details.
In all these Figuros A, A, is the framework of the winch, and A¹ that of the
capstan supporting in proper bearing the driving axle b, b, upon which the driving
cam c, c, is formed; d, d, is the driving wheel mounted upon the aforesaid cam, and
engaging with the teeth surrounding the recessed portion e of the barrel F, and
likewise with those within the cylindrical cap or cover g. This cap or cover cor-
responds in form and dimensions with the recess c, of which it is, so to speak, a
Or the cover
counterpart. It may form, as in Figure 4, a part of the framework.
may, as in Figure 1, be rendered immoveable in its bearing by the operation of a
break band actuated by a hand lever. In the former instance the barrel cannot
revolve by the gravity of the lifted weight, which must remain stationary until the
winch handles are turned to lower or raise the same. The latter arrangement will,
when the break is taken off or the friction reduced, allow the barrel to revolve and
lower the suspended weight; it also constitutes an expeditious means of putting
into and out gear the working parts of the apparatus. The use of the pawl is
dispensed with in both cases.
In Figure 3 the winch barrel F is fitted with a friction cone i capable of travelling
longitudinally upon the driving axle b. This motion is imparted to the friction cone
by means of a bush or sleeve / screwed at one end into the boss of the barrel F,
and having two collars at or near the other end between which the cone i may
freely revolve.
It is evident from the foregoing that on turning the head * of the screwed
portion of the said sleeve, the friction cone will either recede within or protrude
from the recess at the will of the operative, and thus produce more or less friction
between the inner surface of the barrel and the friction cone, according to the
requirements of the case, and to the degree of strain it is intended the rope or chain
should safely benr.
The aforesaid sleeve revolves with the barrel between which and itself there is
sufficient friction of surfaces. To turn the screw head * while the barrel is in
motion (or at rest), and thereby produce the longitudinal motion in the friction cone,
1 employ a novel arrangement, shewn more clearly at Figure 6, side view. This
consists of a hand lever m whose forked ends ride loosely over the head k* of the
secured portion of the sleeve. The head has deep indentations around its circum-
ference, as shown, into any one of which the catch n may be made to enter by
gripping with the band the cain lever o together with the handle of the
hand lever m. By this operation the small cain o* is brought into play, and the
catch thereby thrust into one of the indents. This act accomplished, the
sleeve and friction cone are under control, and may be screwed up or loosened
at will. Upon disengaging the hand from the handle p, the springs 8 and 8*
restore the hand lever to its normal condition, while the balance weight t returns
it to its former position. Or the balance weight may be dispensed with, and
the lever kept within bounds by a chain secured to the frame of the apparatus.
In the capstan, Figure 5, the parts similarly marked to the foregoing are simi-
larly employed, and therefore require no special explanation. The frame A¹is bolted

page_text: to the deck of the vessel, and the cable wound round the barrel F as is usually the
case.
To meet any sudden strains likely to arise from the upheaving of the vessel, or
from any other cause, I fit the cam c loosely upon the driving axle b.
An elongated keyway, shown by dotted lines in the Figure, is cut in the interior 5
surface of the cam to receive a key projecting from the driving axle. Should any
sudden strain come upon the cable, the driving axle would give to the shock. The
convolute spring u keeps the axle down to its proper position.
The remaining parts of the various Figures being of ordinary construction, no
explanation of them is required, but would add that for the convenience of 1
construction, the screwed portion of the sleeve in Figures 3 and 6 is made distinct
from the sleeve proper to which it is secured by set screws u, v, sco Figure 7.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature and object of my
said Invention, together with the means of carrying the same into practical effect, I
will conclude by observing that what I claim as my Invention, and secured to me 1
by the above in part recited Letters Patent is, the improvements in winch and crane
barrels and other similar mechanical appliances, substantially as herein-before more
particularly specified and illustrated upon the accompanying Drawing, or any mere
modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Archer, junior, have hereunto set my 2
hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.