IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OBSERVATORY OR LOOK-OUT TOWERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OBSERVATORY OR LOOK-OUT
TOWERS." A communication from abroad by Lemuel Baker Sawyer, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.
Sealed the 23rd May 1876, and dated the 4th April 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
OBSERVATORY OR LOOK-OUT TOWERS." A communication from abroad by Lemuel
Baker Sawyer, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.
This Invention relates to a structure for the convenience of persons who wish to
view a city or town and the surrounding country from an elevated standpoint.
In all large cities and towns the steeples of churches and the roofs of the most
elevated buildings are resorted to for the purpose of obtaining a bird's-eye view of
the town and surrounding scenery, but the number that can be accommodated or
that will avail themselves of the accommodation when to do so they have to
perform the laborious task of climbing to the elevated position up long and often
crooked or winding staircases and through dark passages is very limited.
The object of this Invention is to supply a want heretofore felt of a place where
large numbers of people can be safely and expeditiously raised to a sufficiently
elevated position to obtain a good view of a city or town and the surrounding
country without the severe toil of climbing stairs, or where they can remain
quietly at their case, either sitting or standing, and view the scenery as they are
moving up or down; and it consists :-
First. In the construction of a skeleton tower or openwork structure of great
height made up of a series of trussed columns or supports surrounding and radiating
from one or more well rooms extending from the base to near the top of said tower,
up and down which elevator cars are moved by steain or other suitable power for
the purpose of transporting passengers from the ground to a point near the top of
the structure, said structure and cars being so constructed and arranged that the
CD 01

page_text: passengers while ascending and descending may have a comparatively unobstructed
view of the surrounding scenery.
Second. In providing said skeleton or openwork structure with galleries or floors
surrounding said well rooms or hoistways at intervals where passengers so desiring may
land and tarry for a time before going higher, said galleries being enclosed to a sufti-
cient height for safety with wire netting or other suitable openwork, guard to
prevent accidents.
Third. In building upon the top of the tower, above the sheaves that support
the elevator cars, a room covering the whole area of the top of the tower, completely
enclosed with wire netting or other suitable openwork guard, which while it will
be a protection against accidents will present little or no obstruction to the view,
and also will present but little surface for the wind to act upon.
Fourth. In making the floor of this upper enclosure in the form of a series of
steps extending around the enclosure and rising toward the centre thereof, so that
those persons standing in the centre of the room can look over the heads of those in
front or near the outer circumference of the room in any desired direction.
Fifth. In the construction of a tower of the necessary height (which may vary
according to location) and of as small a diameter as is consistent with a proper
regard to strength, made preferably of wrought-iron plates riveted together in the
form of a hollow conical shaft in combination with an annular car surrounding said
shaft and adapted to be moved from the base to the top of said shaft or tower, and
vice versa, by means of suitable mechanism, said car being guided in its ascent
and descent by parallel guides (two or more) secured to the exterior of the tower.
Sixth. In providing said tower with horizontal arms or beams resting upon or
secured to the top thereof and projecting radially therefrom to points beyond the
exterior diameter of the car in combination with guys leading therefrom to suitable
anchorage in the ground, all so arranged that the car may be raised to the under
sides of said beam without being obstructed by the guys.
Seventh. In the combination of a tubular tower, an annular car surrounding
said tower, and guided in its ascent and descent by guides secured to the exterior
thereof and a counterpoise weight connected to the car by suitable wire ropes and
arranged to move up and down within the tubular tower, as will be more fully described.
Eighth. In the combination of a tower, an annular car surrounding said tower
and provided with doors through its outer and inner walls, suitable hoisting
mechanism for raising said car from the base to the top of the tower, and a gallery
surrounding the top or upper portion of the shaft having an exterior diameter
slightly less than the diameter of the opening through the car, all so arranged that
the car may be raised till its floor is on a level with or a short step below the
gallery floor, so that passengers desiring to remain up a longer time than the car
remains can step out of the car upon said gallery.
Ninth. In the combination with a tubular tower and an annular car surrounding
the same and working upon parallel guides upon the exterior thereof of a counter-
poise weight arranged to move up and down within said tower, and guided in its
ascent and descent by a wire rope passing through said weight and extending from
the bottom to the top of said tower and drawn taut between its two points of
attachment, as will be described.
Tenth. In the combination of an elevated tower of either the tubular or skeleton
form, an elevator car adapted to be raised from the base to near the top of said
tower, suitable hoisting mechanism for raising said car, a gallery near the top of
said tower upon which passengers may land from the car, a network enclosure at
the top of the tower above the highest point to which the car can ascend, and one or
more flights of stairs leading from said gallery to the upper enclosure.

page_text: tudinal section of the same; Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, in
Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a section through the upper enclosure on the line y, y,
in Figure 2, showing a plan of the floor of said enclosure.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tubular tower with an annular car surrounding
the same and guided in its ascent and descent by parallel bars secured to the exterior
of said tower; Figure 6 is a central vertical section of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a
horizontal section through the annular car on the line, , Figure 6; and Figure 8
is a plan of the horizontal cross beams at the top of the tower, shewing the arrange-
ment of the sheaves for supporting the car.
In Figure 1 and Figures 2, 3, and 4, is represented one method of obtaining the
object sought in making this Invention, in all of which Figures like letters refer to
the same parts.
A, A, are a series of trussed standards or supports arranged radially around one
or more well rooms B, B, within the structure, as shown in Figure 3.
Each of the trusses A, A, consists of two or more vertical or slightly inclined
posts a, a, extending from the foundation to the floor of the upper enclosure, made
preferably of angle iron, and connected together at suitable intervals by horizontal
tic beams band suitable diagonal braces c, so as to form a strong and firm support
for the load to be sustained thereby, and at the same time present a comparatively
small surface to the action of the wind and but little obstruction to the view of the
passengers as they ascend or descend.
The whole of the trussed supports A, A, are also connected by corresponding
horizontal girders d and diagonal braces e around the exterior diameter of the
structure, and also at the inner edges of said trusses around the well roonis B, B.
C, C, are two hollow cylinders or columns made of boiler iron arranged relatively
to the well rooms B, B, and trusses A, A, as shown in Figure 3, and connected
together and to the contiguous trusses upon either side by horizontal girders and
diagonal bracing corresponding to the construction of the trusses.
D, D¹, D, and D³ are galleries or landing floors covering the whole horizontal area of
the structure except the openings of the well rooms B, B, through the same, arranged
at equal distances apart and affording convenient way stations at which passengers
may land and tarry awhile before going higher, or if too timid to go higher.
The well rooms B, B, extend from the foundation nearly to the top of the
structure or to the under side of the beams which support the floor of the upper
enclosure E and the sheaves f, f, from which the cars are suspended.
F, F, are two passenger cars fitted to move up and down in the well rooms B, B,
being guided by suitable slides attached thereto and two or more parallel bars
projecting from the inner edges of two or more of the trusses A or the hollow
columns C, C, and suspended by two or more wire ropes g of suitable size. These
ropes are attached at one end to the car, and after passing over the sheaves f, f, are
cach connected at their other end to suitable hoisting drums (not shown in the
Drawings), placed in any convenient position below the base line of the tower, as
drawn, and operated by steam or other suitable power.
Each car will be provided with a suitable safety attachment to cach suspension
rope, so arranged that if the suspension rope should break it will immediately
engage with the guide bar and prevent the descent of the car. These safety attach-
ments are not shown in the Drawings as they form no part of the present Invention
but may be constructed and applied in any well known and approved manner.
At the top of the tower an enclosure E covering the whole horizontal area of the
structure is built, consisting of a light framework of angle iron covered with wire
netting or other suitable open work guard to prevent accidents.
Two flights of stairs J, J, lead from the upper gallery D³ to the enclosure E by
which passengers after landing on the gallery may ascend to the enclosure.
The galleries D, D1, D2, and D³ are also to be protected around their outer sides
and around the well rooms with wire netting extending to a height of, say, ten
feet, and over head from the well room to the outside of the structure parallel to thic
gallery floors, forming each gallery into an annular enclosure, to which access can

page_text: be had only through doors in said wire netting, opening to each of the well rooms
B, B, said doors (not shown in the Drawings) being so arranged and operated that
they cannot be opened except when the car is in position at the gallery.
The whole structure is to be a skeleton framework so that the passengers while
ascending or descending may have a comparatively unobstructed view of the
surrounding scenery as well as when in either of the galleries or the enclosure E,
the cars F, F, being provided with windows around their entire circumference, as
shown.
The cars may be so arranged and operated that one car shall counterbalance the
other, and one car may be ascending while the other is descending, or they may be
operated entirely independently of each other and each car be counterbalanced by
a weight arranged to move up and down in one of the tubes C, C; and there may
be one, two, or more cars used, according to the requirements of the locality where
the tower is built, a well room being provided for each car.
In the Drawings the wire netting i is shown about breast high on the galleries
and around the enclosure E for the purpose of more clearly showing the framework
of the structure.
The operation of this part of my Invention is as follows:-One of the cars being
down and a company of persons desiring to go up they enter the car, the door is
closed by the conductor, who then starts the machinery by means of a shipper cord
which passes up through the car in a well known manner, and the car begins to
ascend, the other car at the same time beginning to descend.
If any persons desire
to stop on either of the galleries the conductor by the proper movement of the
shipper rope stops the car, opens the door of the car and the entrance door to the
gallery, when such passengers as desire step out, the doors are again closed, and the
car continues its upward movement until it arrives at the upper gallery, when
the doors being opened by the conductor the passengers leave the car, stepping up
on the gallery D3 and ascending one of the flights of stairs J enter the enclosure E
where they are allowed to remain for a given length of time to take a view of the
scenery. At the proper time a number of persons are notified that their time is up,
and descending the stairs J to the gallery D³ they enter the car, the door of which
is closed by the conductor and the car begins to descend, the other car at the base
of the tower having in the meantime been filled with passengers beginning at the
same time to ascend.
This structure may be built of any desired height and size according to its
location and the probable amount of work to be done by it, and while its primary
object is to carry people to an elevated position for the purpose of obtaining a view
of the surrounding scenery it may be advantageously applied to shot towers and
lighthouses.
In Figure 5 and Figures 6, 7, and 8 is represented a modification of my Inven-
tion, in which A is a hollow column of plate iron made of any suitable height and
diameter, riveted at its base to a heavy cast-iron ring B which is securely bolted
to the top ends of a series of cast-iron columns C which in turn are firmly bolted to
the bed plate D resting upon and bolted to a stone foundation not shown in the
Drawings. The hollow shaft or tube A is made tapering from its base to the top,
and has firmly secured to its top the double plate cross beams E projecting radially
therefrom in a horizontal direction and having mounted thereon the sheaves a, a,
over which the suspension ropes b, b, pass from the car to the hoisting drums. Fis
an annular car surrounding the shaft or column A and fitted to move vertically
upon four guide rods or bars c, c, arranged parallel to and equidistant from the axis
of the column A and from each other, said guide bars being held firmly in place by
suitable diagonal braces and horizontal braces. The car F is provided with a
door opening through its outer wall, and a corresponding door opening through
the inner wall, the former being the means of entrance or exit when the car is at
the base of the tower, and the latter when it is at the top of the tower. G is a
narrow gallery surrounding the shaft A near its top, the exterior diameter of which
is somewhat less than the diameter of the vertical opening through the centre of the
I

page_text: car so that the car can be raised till its floor is on a level with or a short step only
below the level of the floor of the gallery, so that any persons who may desire to
remain up longer than the car remains may step on to the gallery and remain till
the car makes another ascent.
The suspension ropes b, b, are attached at one end to the car in such a manner
that the weight of the car shall compress springs, the reaction of which in case a
rope should break would cause the engagement of a suitable safety attachment
with the guide bars and prevent the car from falling. The other ends of the
ropes b, b, after passing over the sheaves a, a, at the top of the tower, being secured
to the drums H, H, at the base of the tower, the shafts of which have their bearings
on the columns C, C, and have mounted thereon the worm wheels I, I, engaging
with and operated by the right and left worms J, and J', as shown in Figure 6.
The car F has in its exterior wall a series of windows i, i, extending around its
entire circumference, through which the passengers may view the scenery during
the ascent or descent, or while remaining at the top of the tower.
A light roof L of sufficient diameter to cover the sheaves a, a, is placed above the
beams E, E, to protect the machinery from the weather.
M, M, are wire rope guys extending from the outer ends of beams E, E, to.
suitable anchorage in the ground at points equidistant from the base of the tower
and from cach other, adjusted to a suitable tension by the twin buckles j, j, said
guys being used to prevent any unpleasant vibration of the top of the tower in case
of a high wind.
The weight of the car is nearly counterbalanced by the weight N suspended
within the shaft A by means of four ropes k, k, which pass over the sheaves l, l,
mounted loosely upon the axis of the sheaves a, a, and are secured at their other
ends to the car F. The counterweight N is guided in its upward and downward
movement by the wire rope guide m drawn taut in a vertical position in the centre
of the shaft A, passing through the centre of the weight and firmly secured at its
top end to the beams E at their junction, and at its lower end to any suitable
portion of the base of the structure.
Either of the towers herein described may be erected in connection with a
building at its base, as shown, or they may be erected entirely independent of any
building at the base.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. An elevated tower consisting of a skeleton framework or structure in
combination with a car or cars adapted to be moved by steam or other power from
the base to the top of said tower, and vice versa, up and down suitable well rooms
provided for the purpose within said structure, all so arranged and constructed that
the passengers while moving up or down in the car can view the surrounding
scenery, as above described.
Second. An elevated look-out tower consisting of a skeleton or trussed framework
and provided with two or more galleries or landing places at equal intervals
between the base and top in combination with one or more elevator cars and
suitable hoisting mechanism for moving said cars from the base to the top of said
tower, and vice versa, substantially as described.
Third. In combination with an elevated look-out tower provided with an elevator
car and suitable hoisting mechanism for raising said car the upper gallery, stairs,
and openwork enclosure, as and for the purposes described.
Fourth. The openwork enclosure provided with a floor arranged in a series of
steps surrounding the enclosure and rising towards its centre, as and for the purposes
described.
Fifth. The employment in combination with an elevated tower of a car of annular
form surrounding said tower and working upon guides upon the exterior thereof
and a hoisting apparatus for raising and lowering the car, as above described.
Sixth. In combination with a tower and an annular car surrounding the saine

page_text: and adapted to be raised from its base to the top thereof, working upon parallel
guides secured to the exterior of the tower three or more horizontal arms or beams
projecting radially from the top of said tower, and guy ropes leading from the outer
ends of said arins or beams in an oblique direction to suitable anchorage in the
ground equidistant from the tower and from each other, all so arranged that the car
may be raised to the under side of said arms without coming in contact with the
guys, as above described.
Seventh. The combination of the tubular tower A, the annular car F working
upon parallel guides upon the exterior of said tower, and a counterpoise weight N
connected to the car by suitable flexible connections independent of the hoisting
ropes, and arranged to move up or down within the hollow drum, as above
described.
Eighth. The combination of the tower A provided with the gallery G and the
annular car F provided with a door in both its exterior and interior walls, and
adapted to move up and down said tower upon parallel guides secured to the
exterior thereof, as above described.
Ninth. In combination with a tubular tower and an annular car surrounding the
same, and working upon parallel guides upon the exterior thereof, a counterpoise
arranged to move up and down within said tubular tower, and guided in its ascent
and descent by a strained wire rope passing through said weight and extending
from the bottom to the top of said tower, as and for the purposes described.
Tenth. In combination with an elevated tower, of either the skeleton or tubular
form, an elevator car adapted to be raised from the base to near the top of said
tower by suitable hoisting mechanism a gallery near the top of the tower, a net-
work or skeleton enclosure above the highest point to which the car ascends, and
one or more flights of stairs leading from the gallery to said top enclosure, as above
described.
In witness whereof I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
HY. JA. NoONE.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)