Automatic Gripping Apparatus for Attaching Suspended Loads to Overhead Hauling Ropes for Aerial Cable Lines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Gripping Apparatus for Attaching Suspended Loads to
Overhead Hauling Ropes for Aerial Cable Lines.
...
I, JULIO FRIGARD, of Cartagena, Murcia, Spain, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-'
This invention relates to the system of transporting loads by aerial cable traction
lines where the load is suspended from an overhead travelling rope and it consists
in improved apparatus for effecting an automatic grip on the overhead hauling
rope by means of the weight of the suspended load.
I will describe the said apparatus with reference to the, accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 shews a front view of the apparatus at the moment when passing one of the
guide pullies on which the hauling rope runs; Fig. 2 shews a side view of the same
at the moment when the load after being lowered by the hauling rope placed at
a greater or less angle is transferred to the single rail rigid railway K..
If at this moment the suspension frame M M of the load moves to the right
hand, with the weight bearing upon the rail K by means of the wheels. J the
gripping apparatus will become detached from the hauling rope, and the load will
then travel along the rail, free of the rope. If on the other hand the suspension
frame of the load is moved in the contrary direction with the inclined rope travel-
ling in an upward direction, the load will be raised off the rail K and the gripping
apparatus will be made to automatically grip the rope which will then convey the
load, away in the upward direction.
"
Fig. 3 shews a plan of the gripping apparatus, and Figs. 4 to 12 shew detached
parts thereof to a larger.scale.
A is a box or casing of cast steel enclosing the operative parts of the apparatus
which consists of two jaws B of suitable strong metal or other material of the form
shewn in the detached elevation at Fig. 7 and in the separate plans at Figs. 5 and 6.
These jaws have grooved gripping surfaces, the grooves being formed to corre-
spond with the twist of the rope strands, so as to fit the rope like a screw-nut when
gripping it. The cylindrical outer ends of the jaws fit into corresponding hollows
in the box A as indicated at Figs. 1 and 4, being held therein by having a flange
formed at one end, and a washer secured by a screw at the other end, as shewn
at Figs. 5 and 6.
On the outside of the box A are formed cylindrical studs I constituting pivots
on which is hung the looped rod G of the suspension frame M that carries the load.
When the box A with the gripping jaws B is placed upon the hauling rope and
a load is suspended from it, the load, in tending to pull the box downward, will
cause the jaws B to turn with their cylindrical ends acting as pivots in the recesses
of A so that the gripping surfaces move in an upward direction, until they grip
the rope firmly this being the position shewn at Figs. 1 and 7. When on the
other hand the suspension frame M bears with its wheels J upon the rail K, thereby
relieving the box A of the downward pull, the pivots of the jaws B in rising slightly
relatively to the rope, the jaws, in dropping slightly will open somewhat and
will consequently release the rope, as indicated by the position at Figure 4.
877

page_text: It is essential for the proper gripping action of the jaws B that, when gripping,
the horizontal centre lines passing through their pivots, shall be at a higher level
than the horizontal centre line passing through the hauling rope as indicated at
Figs. 1 and 7. The box A has at its middle a rectangular hollow A¹ in which
can slide a locking bolt E shewn detached in front and side views at Figs. 11 and 12.
This bolt has a slot in which is contained a cam D shewn separately in front
and side views at Figs. 9 and 10, which cam is fixed on an axis C shewn separately
at Fig. 8, carried in holes in the box A outside of which it has fixed to it a looped
arm F. When this arm is moved into the horizontal position shewn in full lines
at Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it turns the cam 1) so as to move the locking bolt E downward
so that its lower ena projects between the notches B of the jaws B, and thus pre-
vents these, when in the gripping position from turning downwards into the open
position, so as to release their hold on the rope, in the event of an accidental upward
jerk of the suspended load. When on the other hand the arm F is turned into
the vertical position, indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 1, the cam D is turned so as
to raise the bolt E and thus leave the jaws B free to turn downward and release
the rope.
Owing to the suspension frame G M being suspended from the pivots I on the
gripping apparatus, the latter can assume any angular position corresponding to
that which the hauling rope may be made to assume, while the load always hangs
vertically downward therefrom as shewn at Fig. 2.
The guide pulley H for the hauling rope has its periphery formed with three
grooves as shewn at Fig. 1, the central one being for the rope, while the two side
ones are for the lower extremities of the jaws B to fit into so that these can pass
over the guide pulley while gripping the rope.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for securing a suspended load to a hauling rope, the combina-
tion with a casing or box A from which the load is suspended, of two gripping
jaws B pivotted in the casing and having grooved surfaces for gripping the rope
the jaws being so arranged that when the casing is subject to a downward pull
by the load, the gripping surfaces in moving upward are made to grip the rope
firmly between them, while when the casing A is relieved of the load, the jaws
in moving downward open out so as to relieve the hauling rope, substantially as
described.
2. In combination with the gripping apparatus referred to in the first claim
the use of a sliding locking bolt E so arranged and operated by a cam or excentric
and looped arm F, that when moved downward it enters between the jaws B so
as to lock them in the gripping position, while when it is raised up it leaves the
jaws free to open so as to release the hauling rope substantially as described.
3. The use in combination with gripping apparatus such as is referred to in
the first claim, of guide pullies for the hauling rope, having in addition to the
groove for the rope, two lateral grooves so formed as to allow the ends of the grip-
ping jaws to pass over the pulley, substantially as described.
4. Apparatus for securing a suspended load to a hauling rope, combined and
operating as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 29th day of December 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.