IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR SUSPENDING LAMPS AND OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:-
Year: 1885

page_text: other Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firmn of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR SUSPENDING LAMPS AND
OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to devices for suspending lamps and other articles.
The improved device consists of a rotary drum; an arbor to which this drum is
fitted; means, preferably consisting of a spring arranged within the drum, for
rotating the drum in one direction; and a cord or chain, or cords or chains, wound
upon the drum and adapted to suspend the lamp or other article and tending to
rotate the drum in the other direction.
One feature of my improvement consists in arranging the arbor in a vertical
position and passing a suspending cord or chain over a guide arranged on a brake,
so that the weight of the suspended article will cause the brake to act against the
drum.
Another feature consists in arranging the brake so that it will act upon one end
of the drum regardless as to whether the arbor is arranged in a vertical or
horizontal position.
Another feature consists in providing for applying the brake by sliding the drum
on a frame along the arbor.
Another feature consists in employing a spring for relieving the drum from the
brake.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Devices for Suspending Lamps and
other Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 devices for suspending lamps and other articles.
The improved device consists of a rotary drum, an arbor to which this drum is
fitted and means, preferably consisting of a spring arranged within the drum, for
rotating the drum in one direction, and a cord or chain, or cords or chains, wound
upon the drum, adapted to suspend the lamp or other article and tending to rotate
the drum in the other direction.
One feature in my invention consists in arranging the arbor in a vertical
position and passing a suspending cord or chain over a guide arranged on a brake
so that the weight of the suspended article will cause the brake to act against the
drum.
Another feature consists in arranging the brake so that it will act upon one end
of the drum regardless of whether the arbor is arranged in a vertical or horizontal
position.
Another feature consists in providing for applying the brake by sliding the drum
or a frame along the arbor.
Another feature consists in employing a spring for relieving the drum from the
brake.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1, is a top view of a suspending device
embodying my improvements. Figure 2, is a horizontal section thereof taken at
about the middle of a drum comprised in the same. Figure 3, is a side view of
the suspending device looking in the direction indicated by the arrow x, Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a side view of the suspending device looking in the direction indicated
by the arrow y Figure 1. Figure 5, is a vertical section of the suspending device
taken as indicated by the dotted line z z Figure 2. Figure 6 is a top view of a
suspending device embodying my improvement in a slightly modified form.
Figure 7, is a side view of this suspending device looking in the direction indicated
by the arrow c Figure 6; and Figure 8, is a vertical section of this suspending
device taken as indicated by the dotted line v v Figure 6. Similar letters of
reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring first to the example of my improvement which is illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
A designates a loop which may be hung on a hook or other appendage of a
ceiling or other object. This loop is connected to an arbor B. As shown the arbor B
has at the upper end a neck a or portion of smaller diameter than the portion
below it, and the loop A has a hole or eye b which receives the neck a within it.
The neck is externally screw threaded and has a nut C applied to it.
The nut C
as shown, has a cylindric body c which extends into the hole or eye of the loop A

page_text: and a flange which extends above the lower portion of the loop A containing the
hole or eye b. After the nut has been applied to the neck a of the arbor the end
of the neck will preferably be upset to preclude the nut from coming off. Thus
the loop and arbor are secured together with a swivel joint. The arbor can be
turned around relatively to the loop without becoming detached from it.
Immediately below the neck a of the arbor B the arbor is provided with a
polygonal boss d, and below this boss has a cylindric body e. The body is provided
with a longitudinal groove g. At the lower end of the body e is a laterally
extending flange f. Below the flange f is a portion b of small diameter.
parts of the arbor may be made integral.
All these
D, designates a spider or device consisting of a number of arms extending from
a common central portion which is provided with a hole so that it can fit upon the
body e of the arbor B. When in place upon the body e of the arbor B this
spider D rests upon the flange f thereof and is thus supported.
E designates a cylindric drum having flanges i between which are wound upon
it cords or chains F whereby a lamp or other article may be suspended. This
drum as shown is open at the bottom but it is closed at the top with the exception
of a central hole enabling it to fit upon the body e of the arbor B. At the bottom
edge the drum rests upon the arms of the spider, these arms being shouldered at
the outer end to enable them to aid in holding it concentric with the arbor. The
drum and the spider also may rotate upon the arbor B. It must be understood
that the arbor B supports the spider and consequently supports the drum also.
The drum is rotated by the unwinding of the cords or chains F from it. A
counterbalance is intended to be combined with the drum for the purpose of
resisting the unwinding of the cords or chains and thereby sustaining the article
attached to the cords or chains. I have shown in this example of my improvement
a counterbalance G consisting of a convolute spring. This spring is coiled around
the arbor B. One end is bent back to form a hook j which engages with the
groove g in the body of the arbor. The other end is bent to form a hook k which
engages with the drum. When the drum is rotated in one direction the spring
will be coiled up more closely. When relieved of the force which coiled it and kept
it coiled up it uncoils and rotates the drum in a reverse direction.
H designates a frame which has a central opening adapted to fit the body e of
the arbor B. It extends above the drum E and is adapted to impinge upon the
top of the same so as to act as a brake upon it. As shown it has on the under
side a circular piece of india rubber, leather or like material R fitted into a groove
whereby it will be secured in place. This ring forms a brake which will act upon
the top of the drum when the frame is moved down'sufficiently far.
I designates a spring consisting of a strip of metal having at the center a
polygonal hole which fits the polygonal boss d, and having its ends fastened by
screws or other means to the top of the frame H. This spring rests on the upper
end of the body e of the arbor B hence the frame H is hung by the spring from the
upper end of the body of the arbor. The spring will keep the frame normally so
elevated that the frame will not act upon the drum. The frame may however be
drawn down upon the drum against the resistance of the spring by which it is
hung.
The frame H has downwardly extending arms m. Upon these arms are guides
for the cords or chains F. These guides, as here shown, consist of pulleys J
mounted on studs or pins extending from the arms m.
The cords or chains F pass
from the drum E over the pulleys J and thence to the article to be supported.
The pulleys occupy such position that the cords or chains will draw the frame H
down upon the drum E. The weight of the article supported by the cords or
chains always draws and holds down the frame H with a force corresponding
with its weight. When the article supported is raised and the cords or chains
consequently relaxed the frame H will be raised by the spring I out of contact
with the drum E. The drum then will be rotated by the counter balance spring to
wind up the cords or chains.

page_text: Owing to the spring I being provided with a polygonal hole engaging with the
polygonal boss d of the arbor B it prevents any rotary motion of the frame H
relatively to the arbor or conversely of the arbor relatively to the frame.
A canopy K shown in dotted lines may be applied to the suspending device and
secured by screws n to the arms m of the frame H.
The example of my improvement which is shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8 is very
similar to the one heretofore described.
The arbor B is similarly connected to the loop A.
similarly to the drum before explained, except that it
as a closed top.
The drum E is constructed
has a closed bottom as well
The arbor, the drum and the spring G are combined as in the other example of
my improvement.
The arbor B has affixed to it near the lower end a friction plate L forming a
brake for the drum E. Preferably this will be faced with india rubber, leather or
other like material. Around the body of the arbor B between the bottom of the
drum E and the friction plate L a spiral spring M is coiled. This keeps the drum
separated from the friction plate except when it is overcome by other force.
The
The top of the drum E has around its central opening an upturned rim o.
frame H rests upon and is supported by the rim o. When the cords or chains
applied to the drum pull down the frame H, the latter forces the drum E down
upon the friction plate L with a force due to the weight of the article attached to
the cords or chaius. When the article attached to the cords or chains is lifted the
cords or chains release the frame H whereupon the spring M raises the drum out
of contact with the friction plate L
On the polygonal boss & of the arbor B an arm N is mounted. The arm is
interlocked with the boss so that it cannot turn independent of the arbor. This
arm N bears against a projection p on the frame H and thereby prevents the
arbor B from turning with the drum E when the latter is turned by the unwinding
of the cords or chains F.
The parts of the suspending device which I have described may be made of any
appropriate metals.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a suspending device for a lamp or other article the combination of a
drum, a vertically arranged arbor to which the drum is fitted, and a friction brake
provided with a guide, a cord or chain wound upon the drum, passing around the
guide and adapted to suspend a lamp or other article substantially as specified
whereby the weight of the suspended article will cause the brake to act upon the
drum.
Second. In a suspending device for a lamp or other article the combination of a
drum an arbor to which the drum is fitted, a friction brake provided with a guide
and acting against one end of the drum, and a cord or chain wound upon the drum,
passing around the guide and adapted to suspend a lamp or other article sub-
stantially as specified whereby the weight of the suspended article will apply the
brake to the end of the drum.
Third. In a suspending device for a lamp or other article, the combination of a
drum, an arbor to which the drum is fitted, a friction brake, and a frame movable
in the direction of the length of the arbor and provided with guides for cords or
chains wound upon the drum, substantially as specified whereby while the article
attached to the cords or chains is being lowered the cords or chains will force the
drum and friction brake together, and while the article attached to the cords or
chains is being raised the brake is released and the drum may rotate freely to
rewind the cords or chains.
Fourth. In a suspending device for a lamp or other article, the combination of
a drum, an arbor to which the drum is fitted, a friction brake, a frame movable in

page_text: the direction of the length of the arbor, and provided with guides for cords or
chains wound upon the drum, and a spring for moving the friction brake and drum
apart, substantially as specified whereby while the article attached to the cords or
chains is being lowered the cords or chains will force the drum and friction brake
together, and the said spring will release the drum from the action of the friction
brake when the cords or chains are relaxed.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.