Year: 1885

page_text: I DANIEL I. MILLER of No 413 West 125th Street New York in the County and
State of New York, United States of America Civil Engineer 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 :-
Some parts of this Invention are adapted exclusively for use on Railways in
which twin cables are employed said cables being for optional use, so that either
Iay be used while the other is under repairs or so that when both of the cables
are in working condition they may be relieved by being gripped by the alternate
cars of the road. Other parts are equally adapted for use on railways which
employ by a single cable.
The grip is constructed with a main yoke which may be secured in any suitable
manner to the under side of the car though preferably through the medium of
brackets depending from the timbers of the car-frame-To this yoke is connected
the stationary jaw of the grip through the medium of shanks or suspenders formed
This con-
in two pieces or sections spliced together in any suitable manner.
struction permits that portion of the shank which comes more or less into contact
with the grip-slot rails to be readily removed and replaced when worn at a very
small expense. The movable jaw is connected by thin plates with a cross-head
or slide, said jaw and slide being guided and confined to a strictly vertical
movement by the shank of the stationary jaw and the main yoke. Journaled in
the main yoke of the grip is a rock shaft which has secured to its respective ends.
two crank arms, one of which is connected with the cross-head or slide of the
movable jaw of the grip through the medium of a link, and the other is provided
with a wrist pin with which engages a rod connected with the grip operating
The crank arm first
mechanism situated at the end platform of the car.
mentioned and the link form a toggle connection between the rock shaft and
the sliding cross head of the moveable jaw, the connection between said crank
arm and link being an adjustable one which allows the toggle connection between
the rock shaft and moveable jaw to be lengthened to compensate for the wearing
away of the gripping dies. The adjustable connection consists of a bolt whose
square or other enlarged head fits snugly within a longitudinal under cut groove

page_text: in the arm, and whose shank passes through an eye near the extremity of the
link. The position of this bolt relatively to the rock-shaft is regulated by a
set, screw swiveled into the crank arm and tapped into the head of the bolt. By
turning this set screw the bolt is moved farther from or nearer to the rock-shaft,
as the case may be; and the length of the connection between the latter and the
moveable jaw accordingly lengthened or shortened. This adjustable connection
is however susceptible of some modification. For example an eye may be formed
in the end of the link and a rotatable disc placed and held therein, said disc being
also secured eccentrically to the crank arm by means of a bolt or wrist pin on
which it turns freely. By turning the said disc within the eye of the link the
length of the toggle connection is altered said dise being heid in the position to
which it is set by a jam screw threaded into the link. The lower jaw of the
grip is provided at or near its extremities with antifriction rollers which serve
to elevate the cable and guide it as it passes between the two jaws of the grip
clear of both of them and they are apart. With a double grip two of such rollers
are of course employed at each end, secured to the respective ends of a shaft
running in a horizontal journal box occupying a transverse aperture through the
frame of the jaw. This aperture is elongated vertically for permitting the journal
box to move up and down, a spring being placed beneath it for holding it
normally elevated when the jaws are apart and permitting it to be depressed
when the cable is gripped. The journal box is provided at or near one end with
a flange or shoulder and at the other with a washer and nut which rest against
the opposite faces of the grip frame and serve to contine said box to a strictly
vertical movement. In applying the grip a quick preliminary movement is
desired for bringing the jaws into contact with the cable while a more powerful
movement is required for biting the cable and preventing its slipping. To
accomplish this a rock shaft is placed under the platform of the car and a disc
having an eccentric wrist pin keyed or otherwise secured to said shaft said wrist
pin being engaged by one end of the rod which forms the connection between the
grip and its operating mechanisın, as above mentioned. Secured to this shaft is
also a circular rack with the teeth of which engages a pawl secured to a vibrating
operating lever by which said shaft is rocked. A dog is pivoted beneath the
platform of the car for engaging the teeth of the circular ratchet and preventing
a retrograde movement thereof. This dog bangs normally out of engagement
with the ratchet and is carried into contact therewith by depressing a pin or
other device projecting upward through the floor of the car. A trip is also
provided for throwing the pawl of the operating lever into engagement.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved grip showing the jaws closed or
nearly so.
Figure 2. is a view of the lower part of the grip, partly in section and partly in
elevation, showing the jaws open.
Figure 3 is a plan or top view of the upper part of the grip.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the upper part of the grip, the rock shaft
and crank arms being shown in elevation.
Figure 5 is an elevation of one of the crank arms,
Figure 6 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of one end of the lower jaw of the grip showing
the vertically elongated aperture within which the journal box of the cable
guiding and supporting rollers work.
Figure 8 is a plan thereof.
Figure 9 is a vertical axial section of the cable guiding and supporting sheaves,
together with their journal-box and the end of the lower jaw of the grip, the
section being taken on the line 9-9 figure 1.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a car showing a grip and the improved grip-
operating mechanisin applied thereto.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the same.

page_text: Figures 12 and 13 are respectively transverse sectional elevation and a side
elevation of another form of the mechanism for adjusting the length of the toggle
connection between the moveable jaw of the grip and the rock shaft.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 are detail views to be hereinafter referred to.
1. represents the main yoke of the grip which may be secured to the timbers 2
of the car by simple brackets 3 but are preferably hung in the slotted brackets 4,
being locked therein by means of the swinging dogs 5, as shown in Figures 10, 14
and 15. To this yoke 1 is connected the stationary jaw 6 of the grip through the
medium of hangers or suspenders, which are shown in Figure 1 formed in two
pieces 7, 8, spliced together in any suitable or well known manner.
This con-
struction permits the upper parts 7 of the shank which come more or less in
contact with the grip-slot rails, to be readily and cheaply removed and replaced
when they become worn. The moveable jaw 9 is connected by thin plates 10
with a slide or cross head 11 which latter is guided and confined to a strictly
vertical movement by the grooves 12 formed in the yoke, the moveable jaw of
the grip being similarly confined and guided by the suspenders or hangers of the
fixed jaw which it embraces as shown at 13 in Figure 1. 14 is a rock shaft
journaled transversely of the car in the fixed yoke 1, said shaft having crank
arms 15 and 16 secured to its respective ends. The arm 15 is formed with a
longitudinal under cut groove 17, as shown in Figure 6 within which works
the square or other shaped head 18 of a bolt 19, whose shank passes through
and is secured by a nut to the upper extremity of a link 20 whose lower
extremity is secured to the slide or cross head 11 of the moveable jaw 9.
21 represents a set screw swivelled in the arm 15 and tapped into the head 18
of the bolt 19, by which it is moved toward or from the rock shaft 14. This
constitutes a toggle connection between the rock shaft 14 and the moveablo
jaw of the grip with means for lengthening said connection for compensating
for wear on the faces of the grip dies: a modification of the mechanism for
adjusting the length of this connection shown in Figures 12 and 13. In this form
of the device the upper end of the link 20 is formed with an enlarged eye within
which fits a disc 22. Through this disc and to one side of the centre thereof passes
a bolt or wrist pin 23 which projects from the outer face of the crank arm 15. By
turning the disc 22 the length of the toggle connection is altered, said disc being
held in any position to which it is set by a jam screw 24. The other of these
crank arms 16 is provided with a wrist pin 25 with which engages one extremity
of a rod 26 for connecting it with the operating mechanisin to be hereinafter fully
described. 27 represents pulleys secured to the lower jaw of the grip for supporting
the cable and permitting it to run freely between the two jaws of the grip without
coming into contact with either when the said jaws are separated. When the grip is
double two of these pulleys are employed at each end being secured to the opposite
ends of a shaft 28 which passes through a journal box 29. This box is preferably
square in cross-section exteriorly and fits within a vertically elongated aperture 30
cut through the fixed jaw, a stout coiled spring 31 being placed beneath it for the
purpose of elevating said pulleys when the jaws are separated and permitting their
depression when they are closed for gripping the cable. 32 is a flange or shoulder
formed at or near one end of the box and 33 a nut and washer on the other end
thereof said flange and washer resting against the opposite faces of the jaw 6 and
serving to confine the journal box 20 to a strictly vertical movement. 34 repre-
sents a roller one of which is secured to each end of the grip for the purpose of
relieving the shank of the grip of as much as possible of the strain to which it is
subjected in deflecting the sheaves which support the cable within the conduit
which is fully described in a prior application for letters patent. 35 represents
lugs or spools which are moved to one side or the other by suitable connections
from the platform for the purpose of discharging the cable from between jaws of
the grip but as they are not herein claimed a particular description is not necessary.
The connecting rod 26 may pass directly to the operating mechanism at one end of
the car if desired although it is preferred to connect it with both platforms through

page_text: the medium of a lever 27 fulcrummed at its midlength or thereabouts and connected
at its respective ends with rods 20 extending to the respective platforms. The
operating mechanism may be the same on both platforms so that a description and
illustration of one will suffice. The extremity of the rod 26ª is connected to a
wrist pin 28 projecting eccentrically from a disc 29 secured to a horizontal shaft 30
supported in suitable brackets 31 secured to the under side of the platform. Secured
to this shaft 30 is also a circular ratchet wheel 32. 33 represents the operating
lever which fits at its lower end in a socket 34 formed in a block 35 having an eye
or aperture through which the shaft 30 passes loosely said shaft constituting the
fulcrum upon which the operating lever 33 oscillates. 36 is a pawl pivotted to the
operating lever 33 and engages with the circular ratchet for rotating the shaft 30
and 37 is a trip lever for controlling the position of the pawl 36. 38 is a pawl
depending from a small shaft in the rear of the shaft 30, and 39 a vertical rod
extending through the platform of the car and engaging at its lower end with a
heel of the pawl 38 for pressing it into engagement with the circular ratchet 32
and holding it against rotation when the jaws of the grip are closed.
When the operating lever 33 is thrown forward it will through the medium of
the pawls 36 and ratchet wheel 32 rotate the shaft 30 and disc 29, and the move-
ment of the rod 26 produced thereby will be at first rapid and gradually decrease
in speed until the wrist pin reaches the limit of its forward movement the latter
part of the movement being much more powerful than the former.
The frame or supporting yoke of the grip is hung in brackets 4 depending from
the timbers of the car frame and is locked to position by means of swinging dogs 5
as hereinbefore described.
A simpler embodyment of my invention is shown at the other end of the car
consisting of a vertical rock-shaft constituting the operating handle or staff a crank
arm secured to its lower end and a wrist pin secured to the extremity of said crank
arm to which wrist pin the connecting rod 26ª is connected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performned I declare that
what I claim is
First. A grip for cable railway cars having one of its jaws connected to a yoke
by means of suspenders each made in two pieces spliced together to facilitate
replacing the upper parts when they become worn by contact with the slot irons.
Second. The combination with the stationary and moveable jaws of a grip of a
crank-shaft journaled in the frame or yoke of the stationary jaw, the adjustable
crank arm secured to said shaft and the link connected at its respective ends to
said arm and the slide of the movable jaw thereby forming a toggle connection
between the two jaws substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination with the stationary and the moveable jaw of a grip of
the crank-shaft journaled in the yoke of the former the crank arm secured to said
crankshaft the sliding bolt secured to said crank arm and the link connected at its
respective ends to said block and the slide of the moveable jaw as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. In a grip the stationary jaw, a horizontal crank shaft mounted in the
attaching yoke thereof and a crank arm projecting from said shaft; in combination
with the moveable jaw a slide to which it is secured and a link positively connected
at its respective ends to said crank-arm and slide by means of pivot pins substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The grip constructed with a fixed jaw connected to a suitable supporting
yoke, a moving jaw operated by a slide guided in the supporting-yoke a crank-shaft
and toggle-link for operating the moving jaw and a screw adjusting the position
of the toggle-joint-bearing and consequently the length of the toggle joint and thus
regulating the play of the moving jaw as herein set forth.
Sixth. In a double grip for use in connection with twin cables the combination 5
of the lower jaw, having a vertical transverse opening formed in each end thereof;

page_text: a journal box secured in said opening; an axle carried by said journal box, and
the cable-supporting sheaves carried at the respective ends of the said axle,
substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the lower jaw 6 having the transverse opening 30
of the journal-box 29 having the flange or shoulder 32 and nut 33; the axle 28
carried by said journal-box and the cable-supporting-sheaves 27 carried at the
respective ends of said axle substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. A grip for cable railway cars having near each end a pair of rollers for
carrying the moving cable when the car is at rest, fixed to a shaft running in a
journal-box supported on springs, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the fixed jaw having a rigid yoke or shank and
the moveable jaw having a slide; of an arm connected at one extremity to the yoke
of the fixed jaw; a link connected at one extremity to the slide of the moveable
jaw: an adjustable connection between said arm and link and means for operating
them substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the yoke of the fixed jaw and the slide of the
moveable jaw, of the arm 15 connected at one extremity to the former and the
link 20 connected at one end to the latter; the sliding bolt 18-19 secured to
the arm 15 and to which the free extremity of the link 20 is attached and the set
screw 21 for controlling the position of the bolt 18-19, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with a grip, of a grip operating mechanism, for
imparting a quick preliminary movement and a slower and more powerful final
movement to the jaws of the grip, consisting of a rock shaft; an operating handle
and an eccentric wrist-pin to which the connecting rod is secured, substantially as
set forth.
Twelfth. The combination with a grip of mechanism whereby the jaws are given
a quick preliminary movement and a slower and more powerful final movement as
set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with the grip and the connecting rod extending
to the platform of the car, of a grip operating mechanism, consisting of a rock-shaft
an eccentric wrist-pin carried thereby to which the connecting rod is secured, a
circular ratchet secured to the shaft, an operating lever fulcrummed upon the shaft,
a pawl pivotted to the operating lever and engaging said ratchet, and a trip,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the grip-frame, of the brackets in which it
is hung and the detent for retaining it as set forth.
T
บ ป
•
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent.