Improvements in Hoisting Engines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hoisting Engines.
1, OTTO FLOHR, of 557 Masten Street, Buffalo, in the County of Erie and
State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical 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:—
The objects of this invention are to provide ready and convenient means for
changing the speed of the gearing through which the hoisting-drum is driven, and
provide means for locking the hoisting-drum fast in order to hold the load in any
position, and to improve the construction of the friction-clutch by means of which
the winding-drum is united to the hoisting-gear, and the means for applying such
clutch.
My invention is in part applicable to all kinds of hoisting machinery wherein a
winding-drum is employed driven from the crank-shaft of an engine or otherwise
through gearing but is also in part confined in its application to drums driven
through the medium of a friction-clutch.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of sufficient of a hoisting-engine to illustrate my invention, the
saime being partly broken away and the remaining portions closed together.
Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, similarly broken away.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, cut in the several planes,
as denoted by the lines 3 3 in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view in section on the line 44 in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical axial section through the drum in the two planes denoted
by the lines 55 in Figures 3 and 9.
Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal sections on a larger scale cut in the plane of the
lines 6 6 in Figures 2, 3, and 8.
Figure 8 is a fragmentary front view on the same scale as Figures 6 and 7 and in
vertical section on the lines 88 in Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the clutch, partly in section, on line 99 in
Figure 5.
Referring to the drawings, let A designate the drum-shaft of the hoisting-engine,
B the driving-gear fixed thereto, C the winding drum mounted loosely thereon,
and D the fixed framework of the engine. In hoisting, the gear B is rotated by
the engine, of which the pitman and crank U are shown in full lines in
Figures and 2 and in dotted lines in Figure 3. The drum C is coupled to the
gear through the medium of the friction clutch, and is revolved thereby until the
load is raised to the desired height. Then, when it is desired to lower the load,
the friction-clutch is partially released and the drum is thereby permitted to be
revolved backward by the descent of the load, the rapidity of its backward
revolution being governed by the clutch, which then acts as a friction-brake.
I will briefly describe the clutch. The gear-wheel B is formed with an annular
overhanging flange a, and within this flange is placed the divided friction-ring E,
Figure 9, which is divided at diametrically-opposite points into half sections. The
friction-ring is carried with the drum, the latter being formed with an expanded
flange b, to which the ring is connected by carrying-pins F, so that the ring is
forced to turn with the drum. The sections of the ring are drawn together by
springs, and are forced apart by toggle-arms 1 1, Figures 5 and 9. These
toggle-arms abut at their outer ends against the divided ring and at their inner
ends against a ring or knee-piece H., which is free to slide longitudinally on the
።
3;

page_text: hub of the gear B. As it is forced to the right in Figure 5, it straightens the
toggle-arms and expands the friction-ring, thereby locking the drum C to the gear B.
The advancing and retractile movements of the knee-piece H are imparted to it
through the medium of rods K. K, one of which is shown in Figure 5, which are carried
by the drum and slide longitudinally through holes therein, and are fixed at their
front ends to a sliding-sleeve L, which is mounted to slide freely on the shaft A,
and has an annular groove 4, into which projects a toc extending downwardly from
the rear end of a slide P. This slide moves in bearings or slideways formed at the
top of the bearing-cap M, and motion is imparted to it by means of a screw R,
turned by a crank S and engaging a fixed nut in a yoke Q. As the screw is turned
in one direction, it transmits motion through the slide to the collar and applies
the clutch, and when turned in the other direction it releases the clutch.
The winding drum is driven, as is usual, through the intervention of gearing
from the crank-shaft V of the engine. In the construction shown this shaft has
crank-wheels U U fixed on its opposite ends, with crank-studs ninety degrees apart
engaged by the pitmen OO of the two pistons of the engine. On the shaft Vis
mounted a pinion J, which is connected to the shaft through the medium of a
spline or feather on the shaft and a set-screw in the boss of the pinion, whereby
the pinion may be slid along the shaft and fixed in any position by tightening the
set-screw. When it is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is in mesh with
the gear B, so that the latter is rotated in the direction of the arrow 10 in Figure 3
and at a relatively high speed.
In order to drive the gear B and the drum at a relatively low speed other
gearing is provided. A swing-frame G (shown best in Figures 3 and 4) is pivoted
on a shaft and has a handle G at its front end, by which to raise or lower it.
It is fastened in either position by putting a pin or bolt g through the frame G and
through one or other of two holes and in the fixed frame of the machine,
which holes are adapted to register with the hole in the frame G when the latter is,
respectively, in its lowered and raised position. The frame G carries a shaft or
stud T, on which are mounted a gear-wheel W and a pinion e, which are fixed
together, either through the medium of the shaft T, to which both are keyed, as
shown in Figure 4, or in any other suitable manner. On the crauk-shaft V, and
in addition to the sliding pinion J, is fixed immovably a pinion, arranged to one
side of the gear B, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This pinion is in the same plane
with the gear W, and the pinion is in the same plane with the gear B..
When the engine is quick-geared-that is, when the gear B is being driven
directly from the crank-shaft by means of the pinion the swing-frame G is
dropped to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3, so that the pinion is out
of mesh with the gear B and the gear W is out of mesh with the pinion q. To
prevent any accidental raising of the frame which might bring the gears into mesh,
the frame G is fastened down by passing the ping through the holes g':
When it is desired that the drum shall be slow-geared, the pinion is loosened
and slid along on the shaft V until it is beyond the plane of the gear B, as shown
in dotted lines in Figure 2, and the frame G is lifted to the position shown in
dotted lines in Figure 3, thereby bringing the gear W and pinion into mesh
respectively with the pinion q and gear B. The frame is fastened in this position
by passing the pin through the upper hole g. The motion of the crank shaft is
then transmitted through the pinion to the gear W and through the pinion we to
the gear B, whereby the latter is driven in the direction of the arrow 11 in Figure 3,
and at a much slower speed than before, the precise speed being determined by the
proportions of the several gears.
The slow and quick motion change-gear just described admits of a change from
slow to quick speed, or vice versu, being very rapidly effected, introduces no weak
or defective mechanical parts, and brings the change-gears and their frames out of
the way where they cannot foul with the winding-rope and where they are not
liable to be injured.
In order to lock the winding-drum fast in any position, either to hold the load

page_text: suspended or for other purpose, I provide the locking device which I will now
describe. The flange cat one end of the drum C is pierced with holes d d at
intervals, these holes being all equally distant from the centre. On the adjacent
side frame D is mounted a bearing-block D', in which slides a cylindrical bolt X,
the axis of which is parallel, or approximately so, with the shaft A. and at the same
distance therefrom ns the holes d'd, so that when the bolt is projected at a time
when one of these holes is in line with it, it enters the hole, as shown in Figure 2,
and thereby locks the drum fast to the frame. The bolt X is moved by means of
a lever over it, which lever is fulcrummed on a pin or bolt passing through an
upward projection on the frame D¹. The end of the bolt X is preferably rounded
to facilitate its entrance into the hole. Whenever it is desired to lock the drum
fast in any position, it is turned sufficiently to bring the nearest hole into line with
the bolt, whereupon the latter is projected by the lever X, through the hole. The
load may be thus held without reference to the clutch or the engine, so that by
freeing the clutch the engine might be rotated for doing some other work, or by
leaving the clutch in engagement the engine is locked fast and cannot turn. This
improved locking device is greatly superior to any means heretofore applied for
holding the load suspended, since after it is once applied it involves no attention
and no exercise of strength on the part of the workmen, cannot accidentally
become released, and is not liable to breakage or injury. Taken in connection
with my improved friction-clutch, it enables the ordinary strap-brake heretofore
applied to the winding-drums of hoisting-engines to be omitted. Such brakes have
heretofore been applied for two purposes-namely, first to hold the load suspended,
and, second, to lower the load slowly and control the speed of its descent. The
first of these functions is performed by my improved locking device, while the
friction clutch performs the second. In Figures 3 and 5, the gear B is formed with
two eccentric annular and approximately-cylindrical flanges a and e. The inner
flange a receives the frictional contact of the ring E, as heretofore.
The outer
flange has the cog-teeth formed on its exterior. The two flanges are connected by
the web of the wheel, which is extended beyond the flange a and joins the flange e.
Between the two flanges are a series of radial ribs h, which serve to connect the
two flanges together after the manner of a truss and greatly strengthen the flange a
against the bursting strain of the expanding-ring within it by transmitting a
portion of this strain outwardly and distributing it to the flange e, while they also
stiffen and brace this flange against the strains it receives through the cog-tecth.
For ordinary hoisting purposes I employ the means for releasing the clutch
shown in Figure 5, wherein a screw R has its end swivelled to the slide P and its
threads engage female threads in the fixed yoke Q but for pile-driving and other
purposes where a very quick release of the drum is desired, I employ the con-
struction shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The screw R is formed with right and left
hand threads, of which the right hand threads engage the yoke Q, while the left
and threads engage female threads in the slide Por in a separate nut fastened to
he slide. Both threads are preferably single and of the normal pitch, so that no
novement can be transmitted through the slide to the screw, and consequently the
clutch cannot release itself, so that the handle may be let go without thereby
hrowing off the clutch. At the same time a greater movement is given to the
lide with a given radial movement or oscillation of the screw, since the movement
mparted to the slide is the sun of the movements due to the pitch of the two
hreads of the screw. In Figure 6 the slide is shown drawn fully back, while in
Figure 7 it is thrust partly forward by a turn of the screw.
onstruction is that wherein the slide is provided with a separate uut, as shown
The preferred
tY, this nut being inserted into a vertical mortise formed through the slide in such
ortion thereof, that the movement of the slide leaves it always inclosed in the
ideway, where it is held in place by the top plate N, as well as by the screw.
he nut is formed exteriorly in the shape of a rectangular block, which makes a
ose fit endwise with the mortise.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saкd inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is:
1. The combination, with the drum-gear and driving-shaft of a pinion on the
latter, a swing-frame, a gear-wheel carried by said frame and adapted to mesh with
said pinion, and a pinion carried by said frame fastened to said gear-wheel and
adapted to mesh with said drum-gear, whereby when the swing-frame is in one
position said gears are in mesh and when it is in the other position they are out of
mesh.
2. The combination, with the drum-gear and driving-shaft of a pinion mounted
on the latter meshing with said drum-gear when in the plane thereof and adapted
to slide on said shaft out of the plane of said drum-gear, another pinion fastened on
said shaft in a different plane from the drum-gear, a gear-wheel in the plane of said
latter pinion, a pinion fastened to said gear-wheel and in the plane of the drum-
gear, and a swing-frame carrying said gear-wheel and pinion and adapted to move
them into or out of mesh with said driving-shaft pinion and drum-gear, respectively.
3. The combination, with the drum-gear and driving-shaft, of a pinion on the
latter, a gear-wheel adapted to mesh with said pinion, a pinion fastened to said
gear-wheel and adapted to mesh with said drum-gear, a swing-frame carrying said
gear-wheel and pinion and adapted to bring them into or out of mesh with
said driving-shaft pinion and drum-gear, respectively, and fastenings for fixing
said swing-frame in either position.
4. The combination, with a friction-clutch, of mechanism for engaging and
disengaging it, consisting of an annularly-grooved sleeve carried with the rotating
parts, a slide engaging said sleeve, and an operating-screw formed with right and
left hand threads engaging female threads in said slide and in a fixed part, whereby
the turning of said screw imparts a quick motion to said slide, while the rotation of
the screw by the thrust of the slide is prevented.
5. The combination, with a friction clutch, of mechanism for engaging and
disengaging it, consisting of an annularly-grooved sleeve carried with the rotating
parts, a slide engaging said sleeve and formed with a mortise, a nut inserted in said
mortise, an operating-screw formed with right and left hand threads, one of which
engages said nut, and a fixed nut or re-enforce engaging the other threads of said
screw.
Dated this 18th day of November 1890.
OTTO
FLUHK,
By his Agents, F. W. Barker.