Improvements in Snatch or other Blocks.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 20th June, 1883
Complete Accepted, 20th July, 1888
Improvements in Snatch or other Blocks.
1, HENRY ALFRED ROOKE of 17, Goree Piazzas Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Block and Spar Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
In snatch blocks and other pulley blocks, it is very desirable to be able to insert the
rope at any point without having to thread it through by inserting the end.
To this end blocks have been made and patented, in which one pivot of the hook is
journalled to one check, and a link hinged to the other check is passed over the other
pivot or journal, or the hook is attached to a projection on one cheek, and is held by
a spring or other catch on the other check."
Now the disadvantages of these forms are, that either they are troublesome to open
and close, or the pulley can be used while they are open, and consequently all the strain
is brought by careless usage to bear on one check and its connections. Now by my
invention I hinge the bridge piece in which the hook swivels, to the one check, and
hold it in place by a link hinged to the other cheek, or held by a loop or ring in the
other check, so that it is free to catch with its loose end on a corresponding catch or
hook on the bridge piece. A pin or other fastening passed through a hole in the
latter then locks it in place. By this means it is found impossible to work the apparatus
unless the bridge is locked to the other cheek, and thus the strain is brought equally on
both, and the side strain so fatal in other cases, avoided.
This invention is applicable to almost all pulley blocks, even sheave blocks, as the
chain or rope can be much more easily passed through the side in folds than end wise.
In the case of sheave blocks with several pulleys, the partitions must be mado
strong enough to be supported at one end and middle only, or must themselves be
linked.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: improvements in Snatch or other Blocks.
I, HENRY ALFRED ROOKE of 17 Goree Piazzas, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Block & Spar Maker 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 snatch blocks and other pulley blocks, it is very desirable to be able to insert the
rope at any point without having to reeve it through by inserting the end.
To this end, blocks have been made and patented in which one pivot of the hook is
journalled to one check, and a link hinged to the other cheek is passed over the other
pivot or journal, or the hook is attached to a projection on one cheek and is held by a
spring or other catch on the other cheek.
Now the disadvantages of these forms are, that they are either troublesome to open
and close, or the pulley can be used while the catch is open, and consequently all the
strain is brought, by careless usage, to bear on one cheek and its connections.
The object of my invention is to remedy these defects, by constructing the snatch
blocks as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an edge view, and
Figure 2 a side view of the improved block.
I hinge the bridge piece A in which the hook B swivels, to the one cheek or cheek
strap C, and hold it in place by a link D hinged to the other check or check strap C,
or held by a loop or ring in the said check, so that it is free to catch with its loose end
on a corresponding catch or hook a in the bridge piece A.
passed through a hole in the latter, locks the link in place, so that it cannot come off
A pin a¹ or other fastening
the hook. By this means, it is found impossible to work the apparatus unless the
bridge is linked to the check or check strap C, and thus the strain is brought
equally on both checks, and the side strain so fatal in other cases, avoided.
The snatch block shown on the drawings is made entirely of metal, but it is obvious
that the invention is equally applicable to blocks having wooden checks, in which case
the bridge piece and link are connected to their respective checks by suitable straps or
bands, preferably by the usual central cheek straps through which the pulley axle
passes.
This invention is applicable to almost all pulley blocks, even sheave blocks, as the
chain or rope can be much more easily passed through the side in folds than endwise.
In the case of sheave blocks with several pulleys, the partitions must be made
strong enough to be supported at one end and middle only, or must themselves be
linked.
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. In a snatch block, the combination of the hook bridge piece A, hinged at one end

page_text: to one side check or strap, and having a hook or catch a at its other end, the link D
hinged or linked to the other side check or strap and engaging at its free end with the
said hook a, and a locking pin a' for securing the said link, substantially as and for tho
purposes described.
2. In a snatch or other block, a bridge piece carrying the swivel hook and hinged
to one of the block checks or straps in such a manner that the block cannot be used
until the said bridge piece is properly secured to the opposite cheek or strap, substantially
as described.
H. A. ROOKE.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.