Improvements in Pulley or Tackle Blocks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
Improvements in Pulley or Tackle Blocks.
1, HILARY CUBITT JOHNSON of Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of a pulley block which will
allow of the hook being readily disengaged when the rope or chain attached to the
load is taut. For this purpose two pulley blocks are connected side by side by a
pin joint at their lower ends and between the blocks there is located a spring
tending to separate them and the range of separation being limited by a slotted
metal plate which is engaged by an eye bolt at the top of each block. The two
blocks which may be regarded as a double pulley block may be locked together by
means of a hook which when it is desired to release a load from the blocks is
released, when the blocks open out at top from each other and at the same time
open a hook made in two parts one on each or depending from each block. Both
blocks are circumscribed vertically by a metal band or strap.
Dated this 14th day of Santambor 1902
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Pulley or Tackle Blocks.
I, HILARY CUBITT JOHNSON of Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Merchant, 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:-
In the use of ropes and chains provided with ordinary forms of hooks the weight
of the object, when supported or being lifted, keeps the rope or chain taut and
renders it difficult to detach the hook from the object, it being therefore usually
necessary to slacken the rope or chain to allow of the disengagement of the hook.
This difficulty is greater where it is desired to disengage the hook from an object
whilst the latter is suspended clear of the ground and when there is no opportunity
for creating the necessary slack, as for instance, in the case of dropping anchors
from their supports and lowering life boats from their davits. The object of the
invention is to overcome this difficulty and at the same time to obtain a novel and
improved kind of grip from the pulley blocks.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the grip and pulley block of the invention
in the closed position and Fig. 2 a similar view in the open position.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the block in the closed position.
A, A', are two single pulley blocks of any ordinary construction and of any
suitable material, those represented being assumed to be of wood. They are
vertically circumscribed by metal straps a, a, respectively. B, B', are hooks
depending from the blocks, the former forming the shanks and the latter the jaws
of the two members of a pair of grip tongs. It is of course apparent that the
blocks might be dispensed with and the device still be useful as a gripping device.
The two members are jointed or hinged together through lugs a², a³. d, d², are

page_text: eye bolts at the upper ends of the blocks. E is a metal plate with two longitudinal
slots e, e', and a transverse slot e². It is for the purpose of limiting the range of
separation of the blocks or shanks. It lies across the upper ends of the latter,
the eye bolts of which take into the slots e, e¹, and may move along them to
their extremities when the blocks are held against further separation. b, b', are 5
two flat metal springs each secured at the bottom end to a block and the upper
ends of both entered into the transverse slot of plate E. They are for the
purpose of maintaining the blocks with a normal tendency to spring apart at the
top. G is a locking hook for securing the blocks in the closed position, one end y
of the same being mounted on the eye bolt d and the other end gx, when the blocks
are to be held locked together, engaging the eye bolt d' on its outer side. This
end of the locking hook has an extension or trip by which the disengagement of
the hook G from the eye bolt d' may be readily effected by hand.
The operation of the device is as follows:-The rope or chain by which the
pulley or tackle block (or combined blocks) is supported, or elevated, or lowered,
is rove through the blocks and connected with any overhead pulley or tackle
employed. One of the hooks or jaws B, B¹, is engaged with the object to be
lifted and the two blocks or shanks then forced together against the resistance
of the springs and closing the hooks. The blocks are then locked together by
means of the hook G and in this position operate in the manner usual with, and
have all the advantages incidental to, ordinary double pulley blocks, their
additional function of acting as shanks for a grip in no wise interfering with
their operation as pulley blocks. When it is desired to drop the load held
supported in the hooks the hook G is manually withdrawn from engagement with
the eye bolt d' whereupon the springs, b', instantly force the blocks and hooks
apart so as to leave the load free to drop.
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 combination, two pulley blocks connected side by side by a hinge located
at their lower ends, two hooks or jaws depending one from each of said blocks, a
spring or springs bearing against and tending to separate said blocks, eye bolts
mounted one in each of said blocks, a slotted plate in slots of which said eye bolts
are entered, and a hook mounted upon one of the blocks and adapted to engage
with an eye bolt or other device mounted upon the other block, for the purpose
specified, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In combination, two pulley blocks each circumscribed vertically by a metal
strap or band and hingedly connected together side by side by a bolt or pin passing
through suitably apertured lugs formed in said bands at the lower ends of the
blocks, a spring or springs bearing against both blocks and tending to separate
them, eye bolts mounted one in each of the said blocks, a plate having recesses or
slots in which said eye bolts are entered, and a hook mounted upon one of the
blocks and adapted to engage with an eye bolt or other device mounted upon the
other block, for the purpose specified substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 8th day of June 1894.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.