IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES KNOWN 66 AS CAT-HEADS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Robert Ellis, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for an Invention cf IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES KNOWN
66
AS CAT-HEADS."
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Robert Ellis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1882.
FREDERICK ROBERT ELLIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES, KNOWN AS CAT HEADS."
My Invention relates to that class of crane appliances known as cat beads,
mostly for use in warehouses as a jib projecting from the warehouse into the street,
or other place and serving as a lead for the ropes, chains, or like appliances from
the warehouse whimsy, jenny, winch, or equivalent machine.
My Invention consists in constructing, mounting and situating the cat head in
such a manner that it will travel in and out from the warehouse, sill, wall, or other
place, where it is erected, such in and out travel being obtained by suitable gearing
from the whimsy, jenny, winch, or like appliance, or from self contained appliances,
that is an appliance mounted on the frame, which carries the cat head.
First Under one example I construct a cat head of an H iron, or tubular beam,
or a wooden beam on the outer end of which I mount the usual and suitable
sheaves. The under portion of the beam, or cat head, I provide with a shoe, or
flange, which is of length to correspond with the travel of the cat head. This
shoe, or flange rests between the collars of a roller, or guide, which is mounted or
carried on the sill, or other place from which the cat head projects.
The inner end of the beam forming the cat head is provided with a screwed rod
running parallel with and fixed to the beam. On this screwed rod is mounted a
screw nut carried in bearings and round the nut fixed thereto there is a worm.
wheel which is driven by a worm on a shaft, which receives motion from the
whimsy, jenny, winch, or like appliance. The motion is imparted so as to cause
the cat head to travel in, or out as required. A means of effecting this consists in
mounting three pulleys on the shaft, namely two loose pulleys and one intermediate
"

page_text: fast pulley. The pulleys are provided with driving bands namely a strait band
and a cross band so that motion in either direction can be imparted, thus causing
the cat head to travel in, or out as required, the strap receiving motion from the
whimsy, or like appliance.
Second Under another example I construct the screw on the end of and forming
part of the beam, which constitutes the cat head. The cat head is caused to
travel and work in and out by means of screw nuts, mounted thereon, such nuts
being carried in bearings and being driven by fast and loose pulleys or equivalent
appliances.
Third Under another example I construct a double toothed rack on the inner
end of the cat head. The travelling motion is imparted to the cat head by means
of toothed pinions, which gear into the upper and under teeth of the rack and at
the same time form a guide and bearing for the inner end of the cat head. The
pinions receive motion from fast and loose pulleys, or equivalent gearing.
Fourth Under another example I construct the cat head craned, or in the form
of a quadrant the travelling motion being imparted by means of a screwed
connecting rod working into and driven by a screw nut receiving motion by worin,
or suitable gearing.
In all cases the inner portion and the working gear of the cat head is carried on
suitable framework and bearings and where the self contained operating mechanism
is employed such as a winch gear it is carried by the same framework that supports
the cat head.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick John Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1882.
FREDERICK ROBERT ELLIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES KNOWN AS CAT HEADS.
My Invention relates to that class of crane appliances known as "cat heads,"
mostly used for warehouses, as a jib projecting from the warehouse into the street,
or other place and serving as a lead for the ropes, chains, or like appliances from
the warehouse whimsey, jenny, winch, or equivalent machine, and the following is
a description of my Invention in full, clear and exact terms sufficient to enable any.
one skilled in the art to which it belongs to manufacture and put my Invention
into practice, reference being had to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings
making a part of this Specification, which Drawings are marked with letters and
figures of reference corresponding with those used in the Specification, like letters
and figures being used to denote the same, or corresponding parts throughout the
various views.
My Invention consists in constructing, mounting and situating the "cat head
in such a manner that it will travel in and out from the warehouse, sill, wall, or
other place, where it is erected, such in and out travel being obtained by suitable
gearing from the whimsey, jenny, winch, or like appliances, or from self contained
appliances, that is an appliance mounted on the frame, which carries the
"cat
head."
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a side elevation of a "cat head" constructed
according to my Invention shown in combination with a reversable friction
hoist for which hoist I obtained former Letters Patent No. 1622 A.D. 1880.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1, the "cat head" in this case being shown
drawn in.
وو
A is the travelling "cat head" according to my Invention, which I construct of
an I iron, or tubular iron beam, or a wooden beam. On the outer end of the travelling
"cat head," or beam A, I mount the usual, or suitable sheave, or sheaves B. The
under portion of the beam or "cat head "A is provided with a flange, or shoe A¹,
which may run the whole length of the under part of the "cat head" and
corresponds with the travel of the "cat head." The "cat head" is mounted over
the sill, or lintel of the warehouse, so that the flange, or shoe A¹ rests between the
collars of the rollers, or guides C C which carry and support the "cat head' A.
The roller C is mounted on and revolves on the shaft, or spindle D, which is
supported by the brackets E as shown and in front of the lintel F. The roller C',
is carried by a bracket as shown and supports the main weight of the "cathead
A" when in. The roller C2 is carried by the same bracket and bears on the top
flange of the "cat head" and keeps the inner end of the "cat head" from tipping
up. The "cat head" A is provided with the screwed rod G which runs parallel
with the "cat head" and is of length to correspond with the travel of the "eat-
head." The screwed rod G is fixed between the brackets g g. On the screwed
rod G and between the cheeks J¹ of the bracket J, there is mounted a screw nut H,
the outer periphery of the nut being formed as a worm wheel and which is turned,
or driven by the worm K on the shaft L, which receives motion from the hoist M,
the motion being imparted by the pulley N so as to cause the "cat head." A to
travel in, or out as required. This in, or out travel is effected by the three pulleys
P P¹ P², which are mounted on the shaft L and driven by the belts R S from the
pulley N, the belt R being a straight belt and the belt S a crossed belt, the

page_text: pulley P being a fast pulley and the pulleys P1 P2 being loose pulleys. As the
belts R or S are thrown on the pulley P so is the travel of the "cat head" in, or
out as will be understood. The movement of the belts is effected by the forked
guide T which is operated by the rack and tooth wheel U which receive motions
from the sheaves V operated by an endless band, or its equivalent W.
In further explanation of the Drawings X is the endless band, or equivalent for
putting the hoist M in motion. Y is the hoisting chain Z the package to be
hoisted. By operating the band X, the hoist M is put into motion and the
package Z raised, or lowered and by operating the band W the in, or out travel
of the "cat head" is accomplished.
In the further carrying out of my Invention the screw G may be formed on the
end of the beam A, which constitutes the "cat head," as shown at Figure 3. The
"cat head" A in this case is caused to travel in and out by means of the screw
nut H which is carried on the screw G between the cheeks J¹ of the bracket J. The
nut H is provided with a belt pulley P and is rotated by straight and crossed belts,
loose pulleys P¹ P' being provided to receive the belts not in use.
According to another method to effect the in and out travel of the "cathead " A,
I construct a double toothed rack G on the inner end of the cat head A as shown
at Figures 4 and 5. The travelling motion is imparted to the cat head A. by
means of the toothed pinions H H which gear into the upper and under teeth of
the rack G and at the same time form a guide and bearing for the inner end of
the "cat head" A. The pinions H H' receive motion from fast and loose pulleys,
or equivalent gearing.
"
Under another example the in and out travel may be imparted to the "cat head
by means of a screwed, or a rack connecting rod G as shown at Figure 6; the
connecting rod being connected by screw, or toothed gearing.
Having now described my Invention and shown how the same may be put into
operation, I would have it understood that the Patent of which this is the
Specification is not limited to the precise arrangement and details shown in the
Drawings, but what I claim as secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is :-
First A "cat head" consisting of a beam such as A to which outward or inward
travel is imparted by a gear, such as the screw G in combination with the nut H,
the worm K, the pulleys P P1 P2 as herein described and shown in the Drawings
hereto annexed.
Second The construction and arrangement of a travelling "cat head," such as
herein described and shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Third The construction and arrangement of a travelling "cat head" such as
herein described and shown at Figure 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth The construction and arrangement of a travelling
"
"cat head such
as herein described and shown at Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Fifth The construction and arrangement of a travelling "cat head" such as
herein described and shown at Figure 6 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I the said Frederick Robert Ellis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.