Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 18th Oct., 1887
I, GEORGE ARVIN FORD, Manufacturer, of No. 37 Eagle Street, Cleveland, Ohio,
United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in metal tackle-blocks; and consists in
certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and
pointed out in the claims.
Heretofore in the construction of metal tackle-blocks cheek-pieces made of flat
plates of wrought metal have been employed; but the thin edges thereof, that would
cut or bruise any wood-work that they might come in contact with and would fray
and injure the tackle-rope, rendered them so objectionable that they have generally
been abandoned. Besides, it was found that a flat plate of wrought metal, unless
made much thicker than was required for tensile strength, was not stiff enough to
hold the parts of the tackle-block rigidly, and with thick plates the reduction in
weight as compared with cheek-pieces of cast metal was not enough to compensate
for the objectionable features aforesaid. Cast-iron cheek-pieces have been used in
great numbers, but when made sufficiently strong to stand the rough usage they are
likely to be subjected to they are heavy and cumbersome. As lightness is a desirable
quality in a tackle-block, more recently malleable cast-iron has been employed
for the purpose, by means of which a great reduction in weight has been effected.
Malleable cast-iron, however on account of its liability to oxidize, is not well
adapted to marine or other uses, where the tackle-blocks are exposed to the weather.
In view of the difficulties aforesaid I have devised and found means of making the
cheek-pieces, center pieces, and end pieces-in fact the entire casing of the tackle-
block from thin sheets of wrought metal, preferably steel, the exposed edges
being flanged and rounded to give strength to the parts and to avoid the objectionable
features before mentioned, the result being a tackle-block of ample strength and
minimum weight.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a single
tackle-block embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation in transverse
section through the center of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the internal
mechanism, draft-straps, sheaves, &c., parts being broken away to show the

page_text: construction. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of a blocking that is mounted
on the sheave-axle between the draft-strap and cheek-piece. Fig. 5 is an elevation
in transverse section through the center of a double or two-sheave block. Fig. 6 is
an elevation in section on the line y y, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an elevation in section on
the line xx, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing one of the center pieces of the
casing detached. Fig. 9 is a detail of the blocking securing the sheave-axle.
Figs. 10 and 11 show plans respectively, of the inner and outer end plates of the
casing. Figs. 12 and 13 show, respectively, sections of the center piece and cheek-
piece on line ¹ x², Fig. 6. Figs. 14 and 15 are sections in detail, showing the
manner of supporting and securing the sheave-axle and blocking the cheek-piece as
against pressure or blows from the outside.
A represents the cheek-pieces, which are made from blanks of thin sheet metal,
preferably steel. These blanks are first heated and pressed into a die to flange
a rim around the edge thereof, the rim extending substantially at right angles to
the body of the blank, except that the corners are rounded a trifle, as shown more
clearly at a, Fig. 13. The blanks are next placed in a shallow die that fits the
outside thereof, and a former is laid inside the blank, and a portion, a³, of the rim is
flanged or folded over the former by means of laterally moving platens operating
simultaneously from opposite directions, but leaving the portion a' of the rim intact.
The former is of course made in pieces, so that it can be removed after the edges of
the rim have been turned inward, as aforesaid. The inwardly projecting portion a²
overlaps the sides of the sheave, but does not extend along the end portions of the
cheek-piece for want of metal in the blank. (Shown more clearly in Fig. 6.)
The notches a³ are made in the blank. When the upturned rim is made by the first
flanging operation, these notches are left on the edge of the rim in position to receive
the draft-strap B. The two flanging operations mentioned substantially complete the
cheek-pieces, except drilling or punching a few holes. The steel-plates from which
these cheek-pieces are made need not, for tackle-blocks of ordinary size, be more
than a sixteenth-inch in thickness, and consequently the weight of the same is
quite insignificant in fact, is usually less than the weight of the hook-while with
cast-iron cheek-pieces the weight of the latter is usually more than the balance of
the tackle-block. These steel cheek-pieces when flanged as aforesaid, are brought
to substantially the same form as the malleable-iron cheek-pieces shown and
described in United States Letters Patent No. 350,238, of October 5, 1886, but are
much lighter than it is practicable to cast them. The steel from which these cheek-
pieces are made can be bought in the market at a small advance over the price of
cast-iron, and as they are quickly and cheaply made when suitable dies and tools
have been provided, owing to their extreme lightness, they can be provided at a
less initial cost than either the ordinary cast-iron or the malleable cast-iron cheek-pieces.
The cheek-pieces are secured by thin wrought-plates C and C, preferably of
steel and made in pairs, with holes punched for the passage of the draft-strap
or straps, as the case may be, according as the tackle-block has one or more
sheaves. The plates are then pressed in a die and made to fit, respectively,
outside and inside the rim a', at the end portions of the cheek-pieces. The
ends of the inside plates, C₁, abut the bodies of the respective check-pieces,
while the outer plates, C, are made to fit nicely outside and come flush with the
outside of the cheek-pieces. The plates C and C¹ of course overlap the rin a¹, to
which they are bolted or riveted through and through. These plates, as shown in
Figs. 10 and 11, are for blocks with two sheaves, the inner pair of rectangular holes c
being for the inner draft-strap, B¹. By means of these plates the parts are secured
in the most substantial manner without materially increasing the weight of the block,
and the plates C¹ give a good finish to the work. If the tackle-block has two sheaves,
center pieces, D, are employed, the same being made of thin sheets of wrought metal,
preferably steel, pressed into the form shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 12, with
tongues d, that pass between the plates and C₁, to which latter they are bolted or
riveted through and through. The plates (and ( may be of any desired length,
according as the tackle-block has one or more sheaves, and according to the thickness

page_text: of the sheave, the latter being determined by the size of rope that is required. If the
sheaves E are to revolve on the pin or axle e, the sheaves are preferably of the variety
shown in United States Letters Patent No. 323,136, granted July 28, 1885.
In case anti-friction rollers F are employed, the sheave, in case of a single block,
and the one sheave in case of a double block, is made fast to the axle e, usually by
means of a driving fit. Thin straps A' are respectively riveted to the inside of the
cheek-pieces to re-enforce the latter where the axle e and pins pass, the latter also
passing through the draft-strap B, and having the rollers F journaled thereon.
Blocks G are bored to fit the axle e, and are placed between the draft-strap B and
the adjacent cheek-piece, thus forming a support for the latter as against blows or
pressure from the outside. These blocks G are also utilized for other purposes.
These blocks are notched at g, and made to embrace, respectively, the straps A and B,
(see Fig. 4.) and are cut away at G₁ to allow the roller F to come in contact with the
axle e.
(See Fig. 4.) The blocks G slide easily on the straps A and B, and
consequently the draft on the sheave presses the axle e against the rollers F, causing
the latter to sustain the entire draft, while the blocks G hold the axle laterally, so that
no wear is had on the straps and cheek-pieces. In case rollers F are employed, the
blocks G are preferably of suitable bronze or other anti-friction metal. Otherwise
these blocks may be of cast-iron, and need not be cut away at G². When the anti-
friction rollers are not used, the sheaves are of course journaled on the axle e, the
latter remaining stationary, and some means must be employed for holding the axle
endwise, and here again the blocks G are utilized. Corresponding holes, G¹ and e¹,
are made in the block G and in the axle e, such holes being preferably screw-threaded
to receive the threaded end of a small rod, H. The latter may extend through
suitable holes made in the plates C and C³, coming flush with the outside of the
plate C, or they may be cut a trifle shorter, so as to end just inside the plate C. In
either case the rod is accessible from the outside, and has a slot in the outer end to be
engaged by a screw-driver in assembling or disconnecting the parts. These rods
might be made in the form of pins or keys; but they would be more liable to loose
out and could not so well be removed. With such construction, the axle e being
rigidly secured between the draft-strap and the cheek-piece, the axle may be made
flush with the outside of the cheek-piece, and as no wear would come on the latter
nor any lateral strain on the axle, the re-enforcing-strip A¹ might be dispensed with.
I find that the better practice is to retain the strip A¹ on the larger-sized tackle-
blocks; but for smaller blocks I omit this strip, except in cases aforesaid, where the
anti-friction rollers are used.
:
In Figs. 5 and 15 the strip A¹ is omitted. The loop of the draft-strap or
straps receives the hook, (not shown), and in one of the tackle-blocks the draft-strap
extends through the block, and the ends thereof are connected by a pin or bolt, 6,
that secures
a becket, to which one end of the tackle-rope is fastened. (See
Figs. 1 and 2.) The same cheek-pieces may be used for a single or double block,
and any thickness of sheave, according to the size of the rope used, may be had
simply by making the plates C and longer or shorter. For very small tackle-
blocks the inside plate, C, is usually omitted, the outer plate being sufficient to hold
the parts. A cheek-piece might be made in halves and the abutting edges riveted
to the re-enforcing strip A¹; but such construction is not recommended. It is
believed that the introduction of steel plates flanged and shaped in the manner herein
described is a new departure in the art and one of great commercial value.
As an instance of the comparative lightness of my improved tackle-block, I will
state that a double block made to carry a three and three-eights inch rope, and such
as I am placing on the market for heavy work, weighs but eleven and three-quarters
pounds, including extra heavy hook and draft-straps, and of this the entire casing of
the tackle-block, including cheek-pieces, center pieces, and the four end plates, weighs
only two pounds and seven ounces. By comparing these figures with the weight of
tackle-blocks of ordinary construction a more definite idea can be had of my improve-
ment in this direction. Of course with tackle-blocks for light work these figures
could be greatly reduced,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, with cheek-pieces constructed from wrought metal having
inwardly projecting flanges thereon and a sheave mounted therein, of metal end
plates having holes for the passage of the draft-straps or strap, said end plates being
made to extend from one cheek-piece to the other and made to fit the rims of the
cheek-pieces, to which latter they are attached, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with cheek-pieces of wrought metal and a sheave mounted
therein, substantially as described, of end plates for connecting the cheek-pieces, said
end plates being of wrought metal, in pairs, and arranged, respectively, inside and
outside the flanges of the cheek-pieces, said end plates having holes formed therein
for the passage of the draft-strap, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with cheek-pieces, end plates securing the latter together, and
a draft strap extending through slots in the end plates, of a sheave, a sheave-axle
mounted in the strap and cheek-pieces, and a blocking mounted on the sheave-axle
between the draft-strap and cheek-pieces, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with cheek-pieces, end plates, draft-strap, sheave-axle and
sheave mounted thereon, and blocking mounted on the axle, substantially as indicated,
of a securing-bolt for fastening the axle and blocks together as against end movement
of the axle, substantially as set forth.
5. In a tackle-block, a suitable bolting device made to engage the sheave-axle and
located between the cheek-piece and draft-strap to hold the axle endwise, substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination, with cheek-pieces, re-enforcing strips, draft-strap, sheave-axle,
and sheave, substantially as indicated, of a blocking mounted on the axle between the
draft-strap and the re-enforcing-strip and made to embrace each and slide thereon,
substantially as set forth.