Improved Apparatus for Operating Elevators or Lifts.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Operating Elevators or Lifts.
I WILLIAM PARKER GIBSON of 15 Queen Street in the City of London 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:-
This Invention relates to improvements in speed governing apparatus for clevators
or lifts and to means for operating the valve or other device which controls the move-
ments of the car.
The invention will be fully understood from the following description reference also
being made to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an elevator mechanism embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the construction of the speed governing
apparatus.
Figures 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating modifications which will be.
hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a further modification of an elevator
car equipped with means for operating the valve which controls the movements of
the car the governor being omitted.
Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of a deflecting apparatus carried by the car for
operating the valve mechanically in case of a failure of the electrical apparatus.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of said deflecting apparatus.
It is to be understood that in the drawings A¹ represents an ordinary elevator car
and B its hoisting cable. The main valve or other device which controls the move-
ments of the car, and which is not herein shown, is operated by means of hydraulic
pressure controlled by an auxiliary valve apparatus C, which is of any suitable form
for the purpose, but is preferably of the form shewn in another application for
Letters Patent (No. 15762 of 1889) filed by me and which need not therefore be
herein more particularly described. This auxiliary valve apparatus contains two
valves a which control the movements of the elevator car in opposite directions.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2 the construction therein illustrated will
now be described. The construction of the speed governing apparatus proper may
be briefly stated as consisting of a sheave A mounted to turn loosely about a shaft a
secured in a standard upon the framework of the elevator shaft. Motion is com-
municated to the sheave A by an endless cable K passing around it and around a
second sheave O at the bottom of the elevator shaft, said cable being also secured to
the elevator car as shown so as to be caused to travel therewith in the usual manner.
The sheave A has pivotally secured to its outer face a pair of swinging levers c to
which are connected a pair of arms e extending outward from the faco of the sheave A
with their outer ends converging slightly towards each other and secured pivotally in
ears formed upon a sleeve B mounted loosely upon the shaft a, and are held in their
normal positions by means of light springs d secured to the face of the sheave A and
bearing against the levers c. The sleeve B has also loosely mounted uron it a collar C
to which is pivoted the bifurcated end of a rod D, the other end of which is pivoted
to an arm extending from a rock-shaft journaled in bearings provided in standards g
and carrying a pair of arms , i, for operating the electrical connections hereinafter
described, communicating respectively with the operating connections of the valve
mechanism and the safety appliances, of the elevator. Mounted in a plate secured to
the framework opposite the shaft are a pair of push buttons j, k, or other suitable
circuit closing devices, the former of which control; an electric circuit 1, 2, which
includes an electro-magnet F which is arranged to operate the valve mechanism to

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move the main valve of the elevator to position to arrest the descent of the car,
the latter of which controls an electric circuit, 3, 4, including an electro-magnet G
located beneath the elevator car and having its armature arranged to rock the shaft H
carrying the fingers V abutting against the safety wedges 1. both circuits being pro-
vided with a battery J located in any convenient position. The arms h, i, are so
located upon the shaft that the arm will make contact with its push button j so
as to close the circuit through the magnet F slightly in advance of the contact of the
arm with its push button to close the circuit through the magnet G.
The operation of the apparatus thus organized is as follows: So long as the car
descends at normal or proper speed the governor apparatus will remain inoperative,
the sheave A not being revolved upon the shaft by the cable K with sufficient
velocity to throw the levers coutward against the pressure of the springs d. As soon,
however, as the descent of the elevator becomes unduly accelerated from any cause,
as, for example, by carelessness of the attendant or the breaking of its hoisting cable,
the increase of speed will be communicated to the sheave A which then revolving at
increased speed will throw the levers c outward, said levers in their outward move-
ment spreading the arms e. As the arms e are thus spread they will draw the sleeve B
inward along the shaft a, thereby rocking the arms i upward into contact with their
respective push-buttonsk, the contact of the arm with the push button j taking
place slightly in advance of the contact of the arm with the push button k.
arm comes in contact with the push button; it will close the circuit through the
magnet F, thereby operating the main valve to retard or stop the car. If, however,
the speed of the car is not arrested by the closing of the circuit through the
magnet F the shaft ƒ' will be rocked still farther and the arm i will then press the
push button inward and close the circuit. 3-4 through the magnet G. The closing
of the circuit through the magnet G energizes said magnet, which will then rock
the shaft H and raise the finger V and force the wedge upon each side of the
car into position between the guides L and the beam M upon the bottom of the car,
thus preventing the further movement of the car.
As the
The energizing of the magnet F to arrest the descent of the car or to move it
upward when stationary, in the regular working of the elevator, may be accom-
plished through a branch circuit 5, 6 connected to the circuit 1, 2 and provided
with a push button or other circuit closing device 7 within the car for closing the
circuit through the magnet F. The car is also provided with an electric circuit 8, 9,
having a push button or other circuit closer 10 and including an electro-magnet N
which operates the mechanism for moving the main valve of the elevator to cause
the car to descend in any of the ways now well known in connection with elevators.
To arrest the car in its descent or to move the car upward from a stationary
position the attendant will press the button 7, thereby closing the circuit through
the magnet F and causing the movement of the main valve into position to arrest
the downward movement of the car or to 'cause its ascent as the case may be. To
arrest the car in its ascent or to cause it to move downward from a stationary
position the attendant will press the push button 10 and close the circuit through
the magnet N, thereby moving the valve into position to arrest the upward move-
ment of the car or to cause it to move downward.
Any suitable valve mechanism may be used and as such mechanism forms no
part of my present invention it is not herein described. The speed governing
apparatus of the present invention may be applied to valve mechanisms which are
operated by mechanical instead of electrical connections from the car, and also with
any form of safety appliance other than that illustrated, as, for example, the well
known pawl and ratchet mechanism.
The construction illustrated in Figure 3 is the same as that described, with the
exception of the addition of mechanism connected to the speed governor proper
and operated thereby for automatically operating the valve mechanism to arrest
the car at its upper and lower limit of movement when through any cause the valve
mechanism of the elevator has not been previously operated by the attendant for
this purpose. The sheave A is in this case secured to its shaft a which is loosely

page_text: mounted on bearings in the standard b. The shaft a is also elongated so as to
provide an extension which is screw. threaded as shown. The screw threaded
portion of the shaft i has mounted upon it a travelling nut n which is held against
imovement with said shaft and caused to travel along the same from end to end by
a projection upon its under side which enters a groove formed longitudinally in a
fixed guide m. The nut is also provided at its upper side with a projection o
for forming or operating circuit closers for branch circuits 12, 13 and 14, 15
which connect with the circuits of the magnet F and N respectively.
The
mechanism described operates with the sheave A but independently of the speed at
which the car ascends or descends, the movement of the nut n along the shaft a
to close the circuits 12, 13 and 14, 15 being so timed that such closing will not
take place until the car has about reached its upper or lower limit of movement,
as the case may be.
The operation of the speed governing apparatus in this case is the same as before
described: The operation of the automatic stop mechanism, is as follows: When
the car is ascending the cable K moving therewith will cause the sheave A to revolve
in the usual manner and through it the shaft a. As the shaft à revolves its threaded
extension working in the nut a will move .it towards the branch circuit 14, 15 and
into position to close the circuit through the magnet N energizing said magnet and
securing the operation of the valve mechanism heretofore described for arresting
the upward movement of the car. When the car is descending the sheave A and
shaft a will be revolved in the opposite direction, the nut n then being moved
towards the branch 12, 13 and into position to close the circuit through the magnet F,
energizing the same and operating the valve mechanism to arrest the downward
movement of the car as heretofore described.
car.
It is manifest that many changes may be made in the connections for and the
manner of operating the valve mechanism and safety devices. An example of one such
change is illustrated in Figure 4. In this case the valves a b' instead of being controlled
by electro-magnets F N are operated by ropes P P which pass through or adjacent to
the car and are either operated by hand or by a deflecting pulley T carried by the
The circuit 3, 4 includes the magnet G for operating the safety appliances as in
the former constructions, but in this case the circuit 1-2 instead of including a
magnet for operating directly upon the valve mechanism, includes a magnet L
secured in a bracket at the upper end of the elevator. The magnet L may be of
the ordinary form but will preferably be of the solenoid type, as shown. The
core p of the solenoid is connected to a deflecting pulley 9 for deflecting one of the
ropes P to operate the valve mechanism to stop the car in its descent. Journalled in
a bracket upon the frame of the elevator, below the deflecting pulley 9 and upon
the opposite side of the rope P is a stationary pulley upon which said rope is
drawn upward when deflected by the deflecting pulley
The ropes
P may be
fixed at the upper end of the elevator shaft but they will preferably pass over
pulleys R and be provided at their ends with weights S which are sufficient to
counter-balance the weight of the respective ropes and keep them taut without
exerting any or but little tendency to move the valves. To prevent the weights
from being raised when the ropes are deflected so as to prevent the valves from being
operated the ropes are provided with stops u which engage with fixed guides.
The apparatus operated by the governor to close the circuits 1-2 and 3-4 is
the same as first described.
The operation of the other apparatus when thus organized is substantially the same
as that heretofore described in connection with Figures 1 and 2, except that in this
case the electrical connections with the governor operate upon the rope P instead of
directly upon the valve mechanism.
In the form of apparatus shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 it will be seen that at
the top of the shaft and adjacent to the two ropes P, P, are a pair of stationary
pulleys tt, the deflecting pulley 9 being between the ropes and free to move in opposite
directions so as to deflect either one of them over the corresponding pulley t and thus
draw upward upon the rope so as to operate the valve al or 61, as the case may be,

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and cause the car, to ascend or descend; or icome to rest. Connected to the pulley
and extending upon the opposite sides, thereof, is, a rod p which forms or is connected
to the armatures of a pair of electro-magnets L L which are so arranged that when;
energized, they will attract their respective, armatures, and, thus draw. the pulley,,in,
one direction or the other; according to, which magnet, is-energized,, so, as,,to,deflect,
one of the ropes, as the case may be, and operate the corresponding valve of the
auxiliary valve mechanism.
The magnets L L may be of the ordinary form, but, are preferably of the.solenoid
form, as herein illustrated, the opposite ends of the rod p, extending through the, coils.
of the magnets and forming, the, armatures or cores.. The magnets. LL are included
in electric circuits 16 and. 16-17. which include a suitable battery, as indicated at, J,
and also include push buttons or other circuit closers 7, 10 carried upon the car. The
wires which form the circuits, including the magnets and the push, buttons, are,..of.
course, sufficiently slack to permit the.required movements of the car.
The term "push-button "as. herein used is, to be understood as including any other,
form of circuit closer.
The operation of the organization thus described is as follows:-.
To cause the. car to move in one direction the attendant,in the car,will operate,the,
push-button 7, thereby closing the circuit, through the magnet, and causing it to.
attract. its armature and move the pulley. so as to deflect the left, hand rope. P
and operate the valve a', which valve will, through suitable connections, cause the car
to move in the desired.direction.
•
To cause the car to move in the reverse, direction the attendant. will operate. the,
push-button 10 thereby closing the circuit through the other magnet and in the same.
manner deflecting the right hand rope P so, as to operate the valve and cause.the.
car to move in the reverse direction.
The magnets L L and pulleys t t and q will preferably be located at the top. of the
elevator shaft, as shown by full lines in Figure 5, but they may, if preferred, be carried
by the car, as indicated by dotted line in said Figure.
In addition to the electrical appliances which have been described for, controlling the
movements of the car it is, desirable, to provide means by which the, valve can be
positively controlled. through mechanical connections in case for any reason the
electrical.connections become temporarily, deranged or inoperative. For this purpose
the ropes P P will preferably pass through or adjacent to, the car, as before stated,
and the car will be provided with, two stationary deflecting pulleys. 18 located upon
opposite sides of the respective ropes and with a movable, deflecting, pulley. T located
between the ropes,and either.above or below, the pulleys 18. The pulley, T, is carried
by an arm 19 projecting from a shaft 20 which is, supported in the; side of the car
and is provided. with, a hand, lever 21, which is located in the car, in, convenient
position.
In the ordinary operation of the elevator, the deflecting mechanism just described
will remain idle, but in case-for any reason the electrical apparatus becomes inoperative
temporarily, the attendant can by, operating the, lever, 21 rock the pulley, T, in either
direction so as to deflect either one of the ropes and thus have positive, control of. the
valves ab and through them of the valve or other mechanism C, which, controls, the
movements of the car. *
The deflecting apparatus operated; by the, electro-magnets, and, also the, deflecting
apparatus controlled by the lever 21 are preferably of the form, shown,, but, they
may be, modified considerably, without, departing from the essential, feature of the
invention.so long as they provide means for deflecting the respective, ropes as they
are required..
Having now, particularly described and ascertained the nature of "the said, Inven-
tion, and in what manner, the same is to be performed; 1 declare that what I
is :-
claim
1: The combination in an elevator mechanism, of, an electro-magnet for, operating,a

page_text: circuit closer, and a speed governor operated by the movement of the car and arranged
to operate said circuit closer to close the circuit through said magnet when the speed
of the car increases beyond the proper limit, substantially as described.
2. The combination in an elevator mechanism, of an electro-magnet for operating a
valve mechanism to stop the car, an electro-magnet (G) for operating the safety
appliances of the car, electric circuits including said respective magnets, a circuit
closer for each of said circuits, and a speed governor operated by the movement of the
car and arranged to operate said circuit closers to close the circuits through the
respective magnets successively when the speed of the car increases beyond its proper
limit, substantially as described.
3. The combination in an elevator mechanism, of a rope (P) connected to operate a
valve mechanism to stop the car, a deflecting pulley (7) for deflecting said rope to
operate the valve mechanism, an electro-magnet for operating said deflecting
pulley, an electric circuit including said magnet, and a circuit closer, and a speed
governor operated by the movement of the car and arranged to operate said circuit
closer to close the circuit through said magnet when the speed of the car increases
beyond the proper limit, substantially as described.
4. The combination in an elevator mechanism of a rope (P) connected to operate a
valve mechanism to stop the car, a deflecting pulley (9) for deflecting said rope
to operate the valve mechanism, an electro-magnet for operating said deflecting
pulley, an electro-magnet (G) for operating the safety appliances of the car, electric
circuits including said respective magnets, a circuit closer for each of said circuits,
and a speed governor operated by the movement of the car and arranged to operate
said circuit closers to close the circuits through the respective magnets successively
when the speed of the car increases beyond its proper limit, substantially as described.
5. The combination in an elevator mechanism, of electro-magnets (FN) for
operating the valve mechanisms to control the up and down movements of the car,
electric circuits including said respective magnets, a cable (K) driven by the car and
passing over a sheave A, a threaded shaft driven by said sheave, a nut n travelling
upon said shaft and operating to close the circuit through the respective magnets
as the car reaches the limit of its up and down movements, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the elevator car, of an auxiliary valve mechanism for
controlling the movements of the car, ropes suspended from the top of the shaft and
connected to said auxiliary valve mechanism to control the same, a deflecting
mechanism consisting of deflecting pulleys for deflecting said ropes, electro-magnets
for operating said deflecting mechanism, and electric circuits including said magnets
and push buttons located upon the car, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the elevator car, of. an auxiliary valve mechanism for
controlling the movements of the car, ropes suspended from the top of the shaft and
connected to said auxiliary valve mechanism to control the same, a deflecting
mechanism consisting of deflecting pulleys for deflecting said ropes, electro-magnets
for operating said deflecting mechanism, electric circuits including said magnets and
push buttons located upon the car, a deflecting mechanism consisting of deflecting
pulleys carried by the car, and a hand lever for operating said deflecting mechanism,
substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1889
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.