IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION,
I, HARRY WOOD KERLE of N° 141 Pitt Street Sydney in the Colony of New
South Wales Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of hydraulic elevators in which the power is
communicated to the load to be lifted through multiplying gear and which are
commonly known as Multiplying in contradistinction to "Direct Acting"
elevators and my improvements may be applied to such multiplying elevators
whether they have a vertical horizontal or intermedially-inclined cylinder. It has
been specially devised in order to effect a considerable saving of power and by it
the appliances for carrying or attaching the load may be raised or lowered with
but a very small expenditure of power, a load may be lowered with no expenditure
of power at all and in some cases any force generated or produced in excess of the
pressure supply by the lowering of a heavy load may be stored up or conserved by
being admitted to the pressure supply reservoir or "accumulator."
My improvements in hydraulic elevators consist first and essentially in supplying
pressure at the back or lowering side of the ram or piston or upon a piston or
pistons in a supplementary cylinder or cylinders to support or overcome tho
difference of weight of the hoisting chain or cable and its attachments on either
side of the suspending sheave or pulley whether the excess be on the side of the
ram the counterbalance &c or on the side of the appliances for carrying or attaching
the load or vice versa.
My second improvement consists in supplying water preferably portion of the
waste or exhaust water to the cylinder or cylinders so that said water may enter
and fill such cylinder or cylinders behind the ram or pistons ready for the applica-
tion of pressure or to act as a cushion and which would otherwise have to be filled
from the pressure supply. My third improvement consists in the novel construction
of supply and cut off valves for simultaneously applying the pressure where needed
and opening the reverse side of ram or the supplementary cylinder or cylinders to
the waste or exhaust water supply.
My improvements further consist in the several novel combinations and
arrangements of parts hereinafter particularly set forth.

page_text: In one form of my improved elevators the pressure to support or overcome the
difference of weight of the hoisting chain and attachments (the excess in this case
being on the side of the ram the counterbalance &c) is applled upon an annular
piston at the back or lowering side of the ram or piston. For this purpose the
area of said annular piston must be proportioned with reference to the pressure
supply. In another form of my improved multiplying elevators the pressure to
support or overcome the difference of weight of the hoisting cable and attach-
ments (the excess in this case being on the side of the carrying or attaching
appliances) is applied to one or more rams or pistons in a supplementary cylinder
or cylinders and whose area or united areas are proportioned in like manner to
that just before described The supplementary cylinder or cylinders may be
arranged with the main cylinder "side by side ог tandem" fashion as preferred.
To carry into effect my second improvement the waste or exhaust water from the
cylinder or cylinders is led into a tank or reservoir of a capacity not less than that
of the main cylinder or of the united cylinders and which tank is at a higher level
than such cylinders. My improved valve is a piston valve that is a multiple piston
works within a cylinder having the necessary openings or ports to main cylinder
at its head (and at its foot when the annular piston is used) or to supplementary
cylinders when such are used to the pressure supply and to the tank or waste or
exhaust reservoir as hereinafter more fully described.
"
"
But in order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now describe
the same with reference to the drawings hereto attached.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a multiplying elevator constructed according
to my invention and in which an annular piston at the back of the ram or piston
is used to receive the pressure to support or overcome the difference of weight on
the hoisting chain and attachments. Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 of a similarly constructed elevator but the
manner of gearing or multiplying is somewhat different. Figure 4 is a sectional
plan of Figure 3. In these two examples the excess of weight is on the side of the
ram the counterbalance &c that is to say these are somewhat heavier than the
carrying or attaching appliances.
A is the cylinder-B the ram head or piston-C and D supply ports at head and
foot respectively and E the waste or exhaust water tank or reservoir-A' is inside
hend of cylinder-and A is annular space around the ram B-A is stuffing box
and gland and A5 feet or brackets for securing cylinder B¹ is piston pole or ram-
B annular piston at back-B³ outside guide rods-C¹ and D' are pipes-E' is
connecting pipe to tank E and E' overflow pipe therefrom.
With special reference to the supply and cut off valve which in these two
instances are quadruple piston valves F is the cylinder or casing-C² and D² supply
ports to main cylinder-C and D³ exhaust ports to pipe E' leading to tank E-
C and D are spaces between two top and bottom pistons respectively and
F space between the top and bottom pair of pistons- pressure supply port-
G is handwheel-G¹ pinions-G' rack-H piston rod and H¹ H³ H³ H* pistons.
In Figures 1 and 2 J J are brackets on head of cylinder A carrying sheaves or
loose pulleys J' and J and K is cross head on end of ram B₁ carrying sheaves
or loose pulleys K₁ K' and K³ the chain or hoisting rope being securely fastened
to the cylinder A or to its supports and reeved round sheaves K¹ J K³ J* K³ and
round idle sheaves in suitable position as is well understood and fastened to a
cage or other means for attaching loads. In Figures 3 and 4 the cross head K and
sheaves K' are not attached to the ram and stuffing boxes and glands A³ are at
head of cylinder-A being stuffing box for passage of ram-Band B are rods
carrying straps J for one or more sheaves J¹ the multiplying being performed by
means of other idle sheaves as is well understood.
The mode of operation is as follows-Suppose a loaded cage to be at the bottom
of its travel ready to be raised then the piston B and ram B¹ are in the position
shown in the drawings-Handwheel G is now turned so as to bring the pistons

page_text: H³ in position to open the ports (as shown in the drawing) so that the
pressure supply will enter port F and pass through F1 C2 C¹ C to cylinder end A'
and act on piston B and as is well understood raise the load to the required height-
at the same time there is free communication from the annular space A² to tank E
by the passages marked D D1 D2 into valve cylinder F below valve H' and from
thence through passages D³ El to the tank. To stop the ascent the pressure supply
is cut off by pistons H and H2 of the valve the water remaining in annular
space A being still free but when load is removed the valve is further moved
when the water is closed therein by pistons H3 and H and acts as a cushion the
pressure being at the same time relieved from piston B and communication opened
to through C C C F above H¹ C³ and E-To lower the empty cage the valve
is so placed that pressure enters F passes through F¹ D² D¹ D to annular space A'
and exerts its force on annular piston B thus supporting or overcoming the excess
of weight of the ram the counterbalance &c above that of the cage and allowing
the cage to descend-At this time end A' of the cylinder A is open through C C¹ C²
and F above H' and passage and pipes C³ and E¹ to the tank E into which the
waste or exhaust water is discharged To lift the cage empty it is only necessary
to relieve the pressure on the annular piston B-Both ends of cylinder being
opened to the tank the top or head A¹ by C C C F above H¹ and C³ and the
annular space A' by D D D F below H and D³ the weight of the ram and
attachments will lift the empty cage or the cage with a load the united weight of
the cage and load not exceeding the proportional weight of said ram and attachments
to the height required. To lower with a load the pistons of the valve are so
placed that both A and A² may be in communication with tank E or that A¹
may communicate with tank E through C C C F above H¹ und C³ and A2 with
the accumulator by D D D F¹ and F.
Referring to Figures 5 to 8
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a multiplying elevator constructed according
to my invention and in which the rams or pistons in supplementary cylinders
receive the pressure necessary to support or overcome the difference of weight on
the hoisting cable and attachments Figure 6 is a sectional plan of same. Figure 7
is a similar view to Figure 5 of a similarly constructed elevator the manner of
gearing or multiplying being somewhat different. Figure 8 is a sectional plan
of Figure 7. In these two examples the excess of weight is on the side of the
carrying and attaching appliances.
A is the main cylinder-and A' the main ram or piston-B B the supplementary
cylinders and B' B¹ the supplementary rams or pistons-C is supply port of main
cylinder and D supply ports to the supplementary cylinders E the waste or exhaust
water tank or reservoir-A are stuffing boxes and glands for the rams plungers
or rods-A³ and A' are feet or brackets the former for securing the cylinders together
and the latter for fixing them in their desired position-C' is pipe to connect the
supply and cut off valve with the main cylinder A-while D' is pipe from the
supplementary cylinders B to said valve.
With special reference to the supply and cut off valve which in these two
instances are triple piston valves F is the cylinder or casing C is supply port or
opening leading to main cylinder A-and D2 D2 are supply ports leading to
supplementary cylinders B-C³ is exhaust port to pipe E¹ connected to tank E
while E' is overflow branch-D³ is space between two lower pistons and Fl space
between top piston and bottom pair of pistons-F² pressure supply port-
G handwheel-G₁ pinion-G' rack-H piston rod and H H² H³ pistons.
In Figures 5 and 6-J J are brackets on head or cover of cylinder A carrying
sheaves or pulleys J' and J2 and K is cross head on rams A¹ and B¹ carrying loose
pulleys K K and K³ the chain being reeved as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 while in Figures 7 and 8 the glands A' are at opposite end of
cylinders the piston rods A² and B² passing through them and carrying straps or

page_text: brackets J for one or more sheaves the multiplying being performed by idle
sheave pulleys in convenient position as is well understood-L are drain and
air pipes.
The mode of operation is as follows:-A load having to be raised say in a
cage the valve is so placed or regulated by turning handwheel G that the water
under pressure entering at F2 will pass through FCC and C into cylinder A
and through D2 D¹ and D into cylinders B and exert its force on rams or pistons A¹
and B and raise the load the required height. To lift an empty cuge the valve
is so placed that the pressure passes through F F¹ D'D' and D into cylinders B
and acts upon rams or pistons B' and so raises the empty cage or acts as a
counterbalance for such-At the same time the valve leaves passage C C³ C° F
below H³ C3 and E' to tank E open so that cylinder A may fill with the water
therefrom. To lower the cage with or without a load cylinder A is open to
tank E through C C C F below H³ C3 and E' and cylinders B are also open to
the same through D D D F below H³ C and E or when the load is sufficiently
heavy cylinders B are open to the pressure supply through D D' D' F¹ and F' the
cylinder A being still open to tank E.
Referring to Figures 9 to 18.
I have shown in section various modifications of the previously described
In
arrangements in which the main principle of my invention is retained.
Figures 9 to 13 and 16 to 18 the excess of weight of the hoisting chain or cable
and its attachınents on either side of the suspending sheave or pulley is on the
side of the ram the counterbalance &c as in Figures 1 to 4 while in Figures 14 and
15 it is on the opposite side as in Figures 5 to 8.
In Figures
10 and 11-A is main cylinder A' main ram or piston-A2 piston
on the other side or reverse to main ram or piston-A³ piston rod or rods (in
Figure 10 A³ is a ram or plunger) A+ (in dotted lines) tail rods and counterbalance
weight which may be applied if desired-C is supply port to one end of cylinder-D
the same to the other end of cylinder. These arrangements are used in conjunction
with the exhaust water tank and the quadruple valve as shown in Figures 1 to 4.
To elevate a load pressure is supplied through port C to piston A' to lower the
empty cage or attachment pressure is supplied through port D to piston A² to
clevate the empty cage pressure on piston A2 is relieved and to lower with a load.
pressure is relieved from both A¹ and A².
Figures 12 and 13 show horizontal arrangements of multiplying elevators.
Figure 12 shows any modification of what are termed "Cherry's hoists" in which
the power is applied to a pitch wheel on a drum shaft by means of a pitch chain.
An idle sheave or pulley added to the "tail" end of the cylinder and the pitch
chain is passed around it and made fast to the back of the piston--A is main
cylinder A ram or piston A² piston on the back or reverse side of main ram or
piston-C ordinary supply port-and D reverse or back supply port-B is the
ordinary pitch chain and B³ my additional pitch chain B₁ cylinder therefore and B
piston to prevent communication between the ends of main cylinder-B³ is pitch
wheel and B additional pitch wheel which may be used for conveying power but
is preferably idle.
.
Figure 13 shows my modification of an elevator in which the chain or cable
being attached to the cylinder passes over a sheave or pulley in or on the end of
ram or piston rod and is then attached to a chain. pulley or drum shaft. I add a
tail rod or ram or back piston rod carrying a second sheave or pulley and the chain
or cable is then passed from cylinder round piston rod pulley once or twice round
chain or cable pulley or drum shaft round tail-rod pulley and back to cylinder or
the chain or cable froin back end of cylinder may pass round a tail-rod pulley to a
second sheave or pulley on the drum shaft-A is main cylinder-A' main side of
piston A² piston lack or reverse side-B piston rod or ram-and B₁ tail-rod or
ram B and B being sheaves or pulleys and B chain or cable pulley-C and D
are supply ports to A and A² respectively.

page_text: In the two latter modifications the exhaust tank and quadruple valve of Figures
1 to 4 are also used and their action is as may be clearly seen somewhat similar to
that described with reference to those figures.
Figure 14 shows a tandem arrangement of Figures 5 and 6 and Figure 15 shows
how the same may be arranged to occupy a far shorter space the supplementary ram
being inserted telescopically within the body of the main ram which is thus formed
into a cylinder-In these two figures the exhaust tank and the triple valve are
used similar to those in Figures 5 to 8 and parts which serve similar purposes are
marked with similar letters of reference to those in said Figures 5 to 8 and the
mode of operation is also similar.
Figures 16 17 and 18 show further modifications and also illustrate means by
which the pressure is divided namely applied to various areas of pistons to elevate
a heavier or lighter load as the case may be A is main cylinder--B supplementary
cylinder tandem fashion as shown in Figures 16 and 17 or telescopically within the
body of the main ram as shown in Figure 18.-A' is main ram or piston-A' back
or reverse side of same-B₁ supplementary rain or piston-C is main supply port-
C supplementary supply port-and D port to back or reverse side. In operation a
light load is raised or elevated by the weight of the ram the counterbalance &c
being relieved of its controlling power which is done by opening port D to the
waste or exhaust port thus relieving A2 and allowing the said weight to operate
A medium load is elevated by admitting the pressure to A¹-a greater load is
elevated by admitting the pressure to B-a still greater load by admitting the
pressure to A' and B' at the same time. To raise the carrying or attaching
appliances with but a light load the cylinders at each end are open to waste tank
and the weight of the ram counterbalance &c will overcome the proportional load
without the assistance of pressure.
It will be seen that the cylinder or cylinders might be in a horizontal instead of
a vertical position or intermedially inclined the only extra requirement being a
counterbalance weight in the place of the weight of the ram or piston Also that
the area of the annular piston or of the supplementary rams or pistons with the
given pressure must be proportioned to the excess of weight and it is not necessary
that there be two cylinders for there might be one or three or more and such
cylinders might be placed "tandem fashion instead of side by side Instead of
using the water from a tank at a higher level I might of course use water from an
accumulator or under other pressure for my purposes.
"
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to any particular manner or means for
carrying my invention into effect so long as the nature thereof be retained but what
I believe to be new and thereforo claim as my improvements in hydraulic
elevators is
First. Supplying pressure to support or overcome the difference of weight in the
hoisting chain or cable and attachments on either side of the suspending sheave or
pulley substantially as herein described and explained.
Second. Filling the cylinder behind the advancing ram or rams or piston or
pistons from a reservoir of water (preferably the waste or exhaust water) ready for
the application of pressure or to act as a cushion substantially as herein described
and explained.
Third. The combination and arrangement with the cylinder or cylinders of a
tank or reservoir of a capacity not less than the capacity of the cylinder or of the
united cylinders at a higher level than said cylinders substantially as herein
described and explained.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of parts with or without the supply
and cut off valve substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figures 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and the modifications thereof illustrated in
Figures 10 11 and 16 to 18 of the drawings.

page_text: Fifth. The combination and arrangement of parts with or without the supply
and cut off valve substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figures 5 and 6 and 7 and 8. and the modifications thereof illustrated in
Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings.
Sixth. The special combination and arrangement of parts marked F C C³ C* D*
D3 D and F with the parts marked G G H H H H³ and H forming my
quadruple piston valve substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings.
Seventh. The special combination and arrangement of parts marked C² C D D³
F F and F with the parts marked G G¹ G H H H and H³ forming my triple
piston valve substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in
Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings.
Eighth. The combination and arrangement of the parts marked B B B³ D
and A with the quadruple piston valve and the exhaust or waste water tank
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 12 of
the drawings.
Ninth. The combination and arrangement of the parts marked B₁ B³ D A² and
the chain or cord with the quadruple piston valve and exhaust or waste water
tank substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figure 13
of the drawings.
Dated this fourteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and eighty