IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS BY HYDRAULIC POWER, APPLICABLE TO SHIPS CRANES AND WINCHES, PORTABLE CRANES, LIFTS, HOISTS, TURN-LIANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: .:
THE
LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Lafargue, of Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, for 121 Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
LIFTING AND MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS BY HYDRAULIC POWER, APPLICABLE
TO SHIPS CRANES AND WINCHES, PORTABLE CRANES, LIFTS, HOISTS, TURN-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Lafargue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November 1880.
ALPHONSE LAFARGUE, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY R
APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS BY HYDRAULIC POWER,
APPLICABLE TO SHIPs' CRANES AND WINCHES, PORTABLE CRANES, LIFTS, Hoists,
TURN-TABLES, PILE-DRIVING MACHINES, AND OTHER LIKE APPLIANCES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
ships cranes and winches, also to portable cranes, lifts, hoists, and turn-tables, and
other like machines or appliances actuated by hydraulic power.
In the Provisional Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated the
25th day of May 1880, No. 2122, for Improvements in Hydraulic Steering
Apparatus, Part of which is Applicable to other Purposes." an important feature
consisted in dispensing with the medium of an accumulator, which had previously
heen found indispensable as applied to all known systems of hydraulic machinery
of the same or similar character to those therein specified.
The said Provisional Specification fully described the application of the improve-
ments to steering gear for ships or vessels, but did not describe in detail the
improved construction of cranes and other machines to which the Invention was
applicable, and my present improvements consist in the improved arrangement and
construction of cranes and other machines or apparatus to which my improved
hydraulic apparatus is applicable.
My improvements reduce considerably the first cost of erection, as also the cost
of maintenance, repairs, and working expenses of all hydraulic machines used
intermittently. My improvements also allow of the whole hydraulic apparatuș

page_text: being made and arranged more compactly, which is of great advantage in cases
where a single hydraulic machine or only a small number of hydraulic machines
are required to be used at one time, or where an hydraulic machine is required to
be of a portable nature.
The application of this improved system consists in providing a small double
acting hydraulic force-pump of such construction as may be termed an accumulator
pump, which is put in direct communication with the working cylinder of either
ship's cranes, winches, portable cranes, lifts, hoists, and turn-tables, and Figures L
and 2 (Sheet 3) of the Drawings, which will be attached to the Final Specification
of the Letters Patent before referred to, show an hydraulic crane suitably arranged
and-constructed-in-accordance-with-my-present improvements-for-working-on-ships
decks.
This improved construction of crane is arranged to work either single or double
power according to the load required to be raised, and may be described
follows:-
as
An hydraulic cylinder forms the crane pillar above deck, and is attached firmly
to a cubical chamber forming part of a hollow cylindrical casing constituting the
crane pillar below deck, and which is allowed to revolve with the upper crane
portion intact. The hydraulic cylinder above deck is provided with a working
cylinder, the piston rod of which actuates multiplying sheaves connected with
ajib revolving at the base round a base plate fixed on the deck, and this
hydraulic cylinder is fitted with a platform for an attendant to work the valve
levers.
The pressure pipe conducts the water under pressure direct from the pumps to
the cylinder without using an accumulator.
For single power lifts a valve allows the pressure to pass to the upper and lower
surfaces of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at one and the same time, when by
reason of the area of the upper surface being less than that of the lower the piston
is forced up and the load is thereby raised, the water from the smaller chamber
exhausting into the larger chamber in place of into the waste tank.
In order to construct a double power lift in accordance with my improvements a
plug (or its equivalent) is turned so as to shut off the pressure from the upper
chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, and allow any water therein to be forced out
through the pipe communicating with the exhaust.
In constructing a winch or a portable crane lift or hoist in accordance with my
improvement, the hydraulic arrangement for lifting is in general principles similar
to that above described.
In applying my improvements to a ship's winch it has its working cylinder fixed
io a frame work firmly bolted to the deck, and dispenses with a crane jib; but in
order to multiply the height of lift the ram and chain work in combination with
a drum and axle arrangement.
The portable crane is so constructed in accordance with my improvements that
its lifting cylinder is firmly attached to a simple iron girder frame-work which
carries a platform, water tanks, and coal bunker, a small boiler, and a pumping
gear with connections, as well as the attendant working the crane.
The whole of this apparatus is supported on four or more wheels, according to
the size of the crane, which wheels are placed so that their axes radiate from” the
centre of the vertically placed lifting cylinder.
The whole of the apparatus can be turned on a circular base plate by a secon
hydraulic cylinder placed vertically directly underneath the lifting cylinder which
contains a piston, the piston red of which forms a hollow trunk terminating in a
nut and cross-head arranged to travel in vertical guides. The said nut and cross-
head work up and down a spiral bolt firmly fixed to a portable truck, carriage, or
lower frame-work on wheels, causing the whole upper frame work with its lifting
cylinder, crane jib, pumping gear, and other parts to revolve together right or left
in accordance with the water pressure being admitted to the upper side of the
piston or exhausted from the same,

page_text: I will now describe my improvement in the construction of an hydraulic lattice
hoist or elevator.
For this purpose at the base of the hoist I arrange an hydraulic cylinder
having chambers of differential area suitable for raising either a light or a heavy
load.
The hydraulic apparatus for transmitting power to the hydraulic cylinder from
the pump or pumps is the same or similar to that previously described as applied
to my improved cranes.
The upper end of the piston rod is connected by a cross-head or bar working in
guides at each end. To the cross bar one or more series of lazy tong levers are
jointed, the central joints of each series being guided by the before mentioned side
guides. The other extremities of each series of lazy tong levers carry friction
rollers upon which the cage or platform of the hoist is supported, and by this
means is elevated or lowered.
The cage or platform is furnished with suitable guides and friction rollers to keep
it in a vertical position.
The application of my improvements to actuale turn-tables by hydraulic power
consists in applying apparatus somewhat similar to that described with reference
to the slewing platform of the portable crane previously described.
For this purpose immediately under the centre of the turn-table an bydraulic
eylinder is fixed and arranged for transmitting power to a cross-head having a nut
formed with an internal screw thread or inclined plane, which is made to correspond
with a vertical screw bolt firmly fixed to the centre of the underside of the revolving
platform or table.
The hydraulic apparatus employed is the same or similar to that previously
described for actuating portable hydraulic crane.
An
The application of my improvements to the construction of pile-driving machines
is the same or similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to hoists.
hydraulic cylinder of differential area is employed for raising the driving weight
or monkey attached to a series of lazy tongs, which weight may vary according to
the size of pile being driven.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Pateni filed
by the said Alphonse Lafargue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1881.
ALPHONSE LAFARGUE, of Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION-OF-MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR LIFTING AND MOVING HEAVY WEIGHTS BY HYDRAULIC POWER,
APPLICABLE TO SHIPS CRANES AND WINCHES. PORTABLE CRANES, LIFTS, Hoists,
TURN-TABLES, PILE-DRIVING MACHINES, AND OTHER LIKE APPLIANCES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
ship's cranes and winches, also to portable cranes, lifts, hoists, and turn-tables, and
other like machines or appliances actuated by hydraulic power.
In the Provisional Specification of Letters Patent granted to me and dated the
25th day of May 1880, No. 2122, for improvements in hydraulic steering apparatus,
part of which is applicable to other purposes, an important feature consisted in
dispensing with the medium of an accumulator, which had previously been found
indispensable as applied in all known systems of hydraulic machinery of the same
or similar character to those therein specified.
The said Provisional Specification fully described the application of the improve-
ments to steering gear for ships or vessels, but did not describe in detail the
improved construction of cranes and other machines to which the Invention was
applicable, and my present improvements consist in the improved arrangement and
construction of cranes and other machines or apparatus to which my improved
hydraulic apparatus is applicable.
My improvements reduce considerably the first cost of erection, as also the cost
of maintenance, repairs, and working expenses of all hydraulic machines used
intermittently. My improvements also allow of the whole bydraulic apparatus
being made and arranged mere compactly, which is of great advantage in cases
where a single hydraulic machine or only a small number of hydraulic machines are
required to be used at one time, or where an hydraulic machine is required to be
of a portable nature.
The application of this improved system consists in providing a small double
acting hydraulic force pump of such construction as may be termed an accumulator
pump, which is put in direct communication with the working cylinder of either
ship's cranes, winches, portable cranes, lifts, hoists, and turn tables, and Figures 1
and 2 (Sheet 3) of the Drawings which were attached to the Final Specification of
the Letters Patent before referred to show an hydraulic crane suitably arranged
and constructed in accordance with my present improvement for working on
ships decks.
This improved construction of crane is arranged to work either
single or double power, according to the load required to be raised, and may be
described as follows:-
A hydraulic cylinder forms the crane pillar above deck, and is attached firmly
to a cubical chamber forming part of a hollow cylindrical casing constituting the
crane pillar below deck, and which is allowed to revolve with the upper crane
portion intact. The hydraulic cylinder above deck is provided with a working
cylinder, the piston rod of which actuates multiplying sheaves connected with a jib
revolving at the base round a base plate fixed on the deck, and the hydraulic
cylinder is fitted with a platform for an attendant to work the valve levers.
The
pressure pipe conducts the water under pressure direct from the pumps to
the cylinder without using an accumulator.
For single power lifts a valve allows the pressure to pass to the upper and lower
surfaces of the piston of the bydraulic cylinder at one and the same time, when by

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 (Sheet 1) shew an hydraulic crane, suitably arranged, con-
structed. and combined in accordance with my present improvements for working
on ships decks.
This crane is arranged to work either single or double power, according to the
load required to be raised.
This improved crane may be described as follows:-The cylinder forms the
crane pillar above deck, and which is attached firmly to a cubical chamber forming
part of a hollow cylindrical casting constituting the crane pillar & below deck, and
which is allowed to revolve with the upper crane portion intact. The pressure
pipe e conducts the water under pressure direct from the pumps to the cylinder à
without using an accumulator.
For single power lifts the valve allows the pressure to pass to the upper and
lower surfaces of the piston at one and the same time, when, by reason of the
area of the upper surface being less than that of the lower, the piston is forced up
and the load is thereby raised, the water from the smaller chamber exhausting into
the larger chamber in place of into the waste tank.
The valve leverf when reversed lowers the load by allowing the lower chamber
of the cylinder to exhaust through the pipe g. from whence the water falls down
inside the hollow pillar, and is caught in a kind of trap forming part of the crane
pillar base plate, and is carried by a pipe g' back to the tank.
In order to make a double power lift the plug is turned so as to shut off the
pressure from the upper chamber a' of the cylinder, and allow any water therein
to be forced out through the pipe i communicating with the exhaust.
In constructing a winch or a portable crane, lift, or a hoist in accordance with my
improvements the hydraulic arrangement for lifting is in general principles similar
to that above described.
In applying my improvements to a ship's winch it has its working cylinder fixed
to a framework firmly bolted to the deck and dispenses with a crane jib, but in
order to multiply the height of lift the ram and chain work in combination with
a drum and axle arrangement.
The portable crane shown by Figure 3 is so arranged and constructed in
accordance with my present improvements that its lifting cylinder a is firmly
attached to a simple iron girder framework b. which carries or forms a platform
with water tank and coal bunker, a small boiler, and a pumping gear e, with
connections as well as the attendant working the crane.
The whole of this apparatus is supported on four or more wheels i, according to
the size of the crane, which wheels are placed so that their axes radiate from the
centre of the vertically placed lifting cylinder a.
The whole of the apparatus can be turned on a circular base plate / by a second
hydraulic cylinder g placed vertically directly underneath the lifting cylinder .
The cylinder y contains a piston, the piston rod of which forms a hollow trunk
terminating in a nut and cross head g₁ arranged to travel in vertical guides g².
The said nut and cross head gl work up and down a spiral bolt firmly fixed to a
portable truck, carriage, or lower frame work on wheels, as shown, causing the

page_text: whole upper frame work with its lifting cylinder, crane jib,pumping gear, and other
parts to revolve together right or left in accordance with the water pressure being
admitted to the upper side of the piston or exhausted from the same.
I will now describe my improvements in the construction of an hydraulic lattice
hoist or elevator, a side and front view of which is shown by Figures 4 and 5.
Sheet 2, of the Drawings.
For this purpose at the base of the hoist I arrange an hydraulic cylinder a,
having chambers of differential area suitable for raising either a light or a heavy
load.
The hydraulic-apparatus for transmitting power to the hydraulic cylinder a from
the pump or pumps is the same or similar to that, previously described as applied
to my improved cranes, or it may be from an ordinary hydraulic main.
The upper end, of the piston rod is connected by cross head or bar
working in guides at each end. To the cross bar one or more series of lazy tong
levers b, b, are jointed, the central joints of each series being guided by the before
mentioned size guides. The other extremities of each series of lazy tong levers b
carry friction rollers upon which the cage or platform of the hoist is supported,
and by this means is elevated or lowered.
The cage or platform is furnished with suitable guides and friction rollers to
keep it in a vertical position.
The application of my improvements to actuate turn tables by hydraulic power,
consists in applying apparatus somewhat similar to that described with reference to
the slewing platform of the portable crane previously described.
For this purpose immediately under the centre of the turn table A, represented
by Figure 6. Sheet 2, of the Drawings, an hydraulic cylinder is fixed and
arranged for transmitting power to a cross head having a nut formed with an
internal screw thread or inclined plane, which is made to correspond with a vertical
screw bolt firmly fixed to the centre of the underside of the revolving platform
or table A.
The hydraulic apparatus employed is the same or similar to that previously
described for actuating the portable hydraulic crane.
The application of my improvements to the construction of pile driving machines
is the same or similar to that herein before described with reference to hoists, and
Figures and S. Sheet 3. shew side and front views of a pile driving machine
arranged in accordance with this part of my improvements.
An hydraulic cylinder of differential area is employed for raising the driving
weight or monkey & attached to a series of lazy tongs e, which weight & may vary
according to the size of pile being driven.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice. I would remark that I do not claim
any of the mechanical paris taken separately as applied to either of the purposes
hereinbefore referred to, which are well known and in common use, neither do I
claim the application of hydraulic apparatus generally to the within named
purposes. but what I claim is.-
First. The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of mechanical
parts constituting my improved bydraulic crane for working on ships' decks, and
arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before
described and represented by Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
constituting my improved portable hydraulic crane, arranged to act substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and represented with
reference to Figure 3, Sheet 1, of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third. The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of mechanical
parts constituting my improved hydraulic lift or hoist, arranged to act substantially
in the manner hereinbefore described and represented by Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2,
of the Drawings hereto annexed,

page_text: Fourth. The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of mechanical
parts constituting my improved hydraulic turn table arranged to act substantially
in the manner hereinbefore described and represented with reference to Figure 6,
Sheet 2, of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fifth. The improved arrangement, construction, and combination of mechanical
parts constituting my improved hydraulic pile driving machine, arranged to act
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and
represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Sixth. I claim the improved arrangement, combination, and application of
hydraulic apparatus, substantially such as hereinbefore described. for actuating a
ship's winch, or for other like purposes.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Alphonse Lafargue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
ALPHONSE LAFARGUE. (L.S.)