IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAPPLE BUCKETS AND FORKS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR WORKING THE SAME."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hodge, of Kingston upon Hull, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAPPLE BUCKETS
AND FORKS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES FOR WORKING THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hodge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1879.
THOMAS HODGE, of Kingston-upon-Hull, in the County of York, Engineer. “Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN GRAPPLE BUCKETS AND FORKS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES
FOR WORKING THE SAME.";
My Invention relates to improvements in and in connection with such grapple
buckets and forks (usually called self acting buckets and forks) as are formed in
two or more pieces hinged or jointed together so as to be capable of being opened
to receive between the jaws, halves, segments, or forks the article or articles,
matter or substance to be lifted; and capable of being closed so as to seize, grip, or
enfold gravel, stones, earth, grain, coal, and other substances.
The main objects of my Invention are,
-
First. To construct at low cost an efficient grapple bucket which shall be durable
in use, and possess great strength; and, second, to provide apparatus or appliances
for operating or giving the necessary opening and closing motions to the jaws or
pieces of the said grapple bucket or fork.
Under the first part of my Invention I construct each jaw, half, or segment of
grapple buckets of metal, ordinarily sheet iron or steel having tee or angle strengthen-
ing pieces rivetted or bolted side by side on the exterior surface of the said grapple
bucket. In some cases the sheet iron or steel forms part only of the bucket, the
remaining portion being formed by the extension of the tee or angle ribs beyond
the lower edge of the said sheet iron or steel. When so constructed the tee or
angle pieces are placed side by side close together, or at such distance apart as
may be found most suitable for seizing and holding.
Under the second part, I construct apparatus or appliances for operating or
giving motion to the opening and closing chain or rope of the grapple bucket or

page_text: fork in the following novel manner :-I support in bearings in any suitable frame-
work two barrels or drums, to one of which is attached the chain or rope for
operating or giving the opening and closing motion to the grapple bucket or fork;
to the other is attached a rope or chain, which is connected to a counterpoise or
weight at its other end. The said two barrels or drums are coupled by frictional,
toothed, or other gearing, and are of such diameter or are so geared that the
surface speed of the drum carrying the counterpoise or weight shall be in such
proportion to the surface speed of the opening and closing chain or rope, barrel, or
drum that the motion of the counterpoise or weight shall when the apparatus is at
work move a relatively short distance, say six or seven feet, for the full motion of
the opening and closing chain or rope, which latter may be thirty or forty feet
or more. A brake is fitted to one or other or both of the barrels or drums above
mentioned, so that the motion of the opening and closing chain may be arrested at
any time, in order to effect the opening and closing of the bucket or fork, being
raised or lowered by a crane, winch, or other hoisting and lowering appliance. The
apparatus described under the above second head may form part of the crane or
winch for raising and lowering the grapple bucket or fork, or it may be constructed
on a separate framework and made portable so as to be capable of being applied to
any existing hoisting, lowering, or traversing mechanism.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Hodge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th November
1879.
THOMAS HODGE, of Kingston-upon-Hull, in the County of York, Engineer. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN GRAPPLE BUCKETS AND FORKS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES
FOR WORKING THE SAME."
My Invention relates to improvements in and in connection with such grapple
buckets and forks (usually called self acting buckets and forks) as are formed in
two or more pieces hinged or joined together, so as to be capable of being opened
to receive between the jaws, halves, segments, or forks the article or articles,
matter or substance to be lifted; and capable of being closed so as to seize, grip,
or enfold gravel, stones, earth, grain, coal, and other substances.
The main objects of my Invention are,―
First. To construct at low cost an efficient grapple bucket which shall be durable
in use, and possess great strength; and, second, to provide apparatus or appliances
for operating or giving the necessary opening and closing motions to the jaws or
pieces of the said grapple bucket or fork.
Under the first part of my Invention I construct each jaw, half, or segment of
grapple buckets of metal, ordinarily sheet iron or steel, having tee angle or like
strengthening pieces rivetted or bolted side by side, preferably on the exterior
surface of the said grapple bucket. In some cases the sheet iron or steel forms part
only of the bucket, the remaining portion being formed by the extension of the tee
angle or like ribs beyond the lower edge of the said sheet iron or steel. When so
constructed the tee angle or like pieces are placed side by side close together, or
such distance apart as may be found most suitable for seizing and holding.
Under the second part I construct apparatus or appliances for operating or giving
motion to the opening and closing chain or rope of the grapple bucket or fork
in the following novel manner :-I support in bearings in any suitable frame-
work two barrels or drums, to one of which is attached the chain or rope for
operating or giving the opening and closing motion to the grapple bucket or fork;
to the other is attached a rope or chain, which is connected to a counterpoise or
weight at its other end. The said two barrels or drums are coupled by frictional,
toothed, or other gearing, and are of such diameter or are so geared that the surface
speed of the drum carrying the counterpoise or weight shall be in such proportion to
the surface speed of the opening and closing chain or rope, barrel, or drum that the
motion of the counterpoise or weight shall when the apparatus is at work move a
relatively short distance, say six or seven feet, for the full motion of the opening
and closing chain or rope, which latter may be thirty or forty feet or more.
brake is fitted to one or other or both of the barrels or drums above mentioned, so
that the motion of the opening and closing chain may be arrested at any time, in
order to effect the opening and closing of the bucket or fork, being raised or lowered
by a crane, winch, or other hoisting and lowering appliance. The apparatus
described under the above second head may form part of the crane or winch for
raising and lowering the grapple bucket or fork, or it may be constructed on a
separate framework, and made portable so as to be capable of being applied to any
existing hoisting, lowering, or traversing mechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
A
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is an end view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of a grapple bucket
constructed under my Invention; a are tee strengthening pieces (shown in detail
in Figs. 3, 4, & 5, Sheet 1), which are bolted on the exterior surface of sheet iron
or steel segments b. The segments b extend from the top frame c about half the
distance to where the jaws meet. The said sheet iron or steel segments may if

page_text: desired extend the whole distance from the frame c downwards. Instead of the
iron as shown the pieces d may be made of angle, half round, or other metal of
suitable section, and the said pieces may be bolted or secured on the inside instead
of the outside of the segmental plates b.
Fig. 6, Sheet IL, is a side elevation of apparatus or appliances under the second
part of my Invention; d is a power crane of ordinary construction for giving
motion to the grapple bucket or fork; e is a framework carrying two barrels or
drums f, g. To the barrel or drum f is attached the chain or rope h for operating
or giving the opening and closing motion to the grapple bucket or fork. To the
barrel or drum g is attached a rope or chain i passing over pulleys j, and connected ·
to a counterpoise or weight k. The barrels or drums f, g, are geared together by
means of frictional or toothed wheels ; m is a brake whereby the motion of the
barrels or drums f, g, may be arrested when desired. Instead of the above described
apparatus being separate from the crane d it may form part thereof. The raising
and lowering of the grapple buckets and forks is performed in the usual manner,
and the construction of the buckets is of any ordinary or desired kind.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation, Fig. 8 a side elevation, and Fig. 9 a front view,
showing in detail the construction of my apparatus, which is here illustrated fitted
with a brake specially adapted for use therewith, see Figs. 10, 11, 12, & 13. Like
letters denote the same parts, as in Fig. 7. The brake is formed in two parts m, n,
hinged or jointed together at o; each piece m, n, passes halfaround the brake
wheel p, and the parts are closed so as to grip the wheel, or opened so as to let
it rotate freely by means of the excentrics q on the shaft operated by the
handle s.
Having now described and illustrated the nature of the said Invention in such
manner that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I
claim,―
First Constructing grapple buckets or forks substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Second. Apparatus or appliances for opening and closing grapple buckets or
forks constructed, combined, and operating substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hodge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
NAMAC
WAYYE
set forth.
Second. Apparatus or appliances for opening and closing grapple buckets or
forks constructed, combined, and operating substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hodge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
: