A PORTABLE TRAVELLING MACHINE SCAFFOLD
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FRANK WEST of N° 12 Limes Grove Lewisham in the County of Kent do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for A PORTABLE TRAVELLING MACHINE
SCAFFOLD to be as follows:-
The scaffold consists of two principal parts viz: a lower platform and a smaller
climbing stage above.
The former is fitted with two small bogie-frames the wheels of which travel on
metals laid on sleepers in the ordinary way; whilst the latter, fitted on its underside
with necessary gearing is made to climb up and down four vertical posts erected
and rigidly fixed to the lower platform and each having a metal rack extending
from the top to the bottom. The climbing or ascending stage may be left
stationary at any height and is securely held by the gearing.
The lower platform is preferably of rectangular form and framed of wood or
other suitable material, fitted with the necessary pivots, plates, and friction-rollers
for the bogie-frames which are constructed in the ordinary manner except that the
wheels on one side run loosely on their axles to enable the machine to turn round
sharp curves.
The four upright posts, before referred to, which are used as guides and supports
to the ascending stage and which are generally erected on the plan of a parallello-
gram, are made either of wood or metal (preferably of light steel) or a combination
of both and to any length or scantling either in one length or more and are properly
secured to the lower platform whilst the tops of them are kept firmly in position by
means of a metal frame having sockets into which the posts are inserted. In order
to brace the posts and to counteract any racking strains to which they may be
subjected, cross-stays of light steel wire, secured by suitable fastenings, are fixed
between them but where they would be an obstruction they are omitted and in lieu
thereof single stays aro fixed in an oblique direction outside the posts. The metal
racks extend from the top to the bottom of each post and are fixed to the faces most
convenient for the gearing of the ascending-stage. Although four posts are
mentioned as being necessary for the scaffold described herein yet I do not confine
myself to that number nor to the plan on which they may be erected.
The smaller ascending-stage lightly constructed and enclosed by the four posts
has bearings fixed on its under side in which work shafts with pinions gearing into
the vertical racks fixed to the four posts. The shafts also are so geared together by
means of bevel wheels that a worm gearing into a worm-wheel keyed to one of them
and actuated by manual power on the upper side of the ascending stage causes that
stage to be raised or lowered or secured in position at any required height. In
those cases where the use of other appliances makes it necessary and where the four
posts do not stand at the angles of a parallellogram, one of them being set-in a short

page_text: distance, the gearing on the under side of the ascending stage is slightly modified
to enable the pinion to gear into the rack which is fixed on the outer face of that
post instead of on the inner. As a further tie to the scaffold, rollers are fixed to
the ascending-stage and embrace the posts. To make the whole more stable the
lower platform may be ballasted down by means of bags of earth, and such like,
placed upon either (or each) end of it, and also by making use of the rail-grip fixed
beneath the lower platform and consisting of two jaws which may be kept together
by means of a sliding ring and kept tightly to the rail by means of a screw working
in a nut fixed to the underside of the lower platform or carriage. This rail-grip is
so arranged by being fixed to a radial arm,that it may be made to grip the rail at
the curves as well as on the straight portion.
-
To make use of the scaffold, the earth upon which the sleepers are to be laid is
first roughly levelled; the sleepers are laid upon it; and the rails, secured together
by fish-plates, are laid upon them and fixed. At the quoins of the building the
rails aro bent to a sharp curve and a guide-plate is fixed to the sleepers close to the
curve of the inner rail. The sleepers may be ballasted or staked down, as the case
may require, but it is only necessary to take this precaution on the side of the scaffold
more remote from the work. The inner-rail should be kept about two feet away
from the work (for plain work) as that distance will enable the machine to clear
(with a safe margin) the quoins. If it be required to take the machine nearer to
the work, I hinge 'the front board of the upper ascending stage so that on turning
the angles it may be turned back out of the way. For all practical purposes,
however, a distance of two feet away for the rail will bring the platform sufficiently
near to the work.
The scaffold may be made to any reasonable height and may be rendered more
or less stable by altering the gauge of the rails.
I sometimes lay the rails upon a timber staging erected near the work especially
in thoroughfares where there is great traffic.
Many advantages are to be claimed for this system of scaffolding but amongst
them may be mentioned (a) its extreme lightness compared with that ordinarily
used and therefore the great saving to be effected in the cost of cartage; (b) its
portability, each part having been specially designed to take to pieces and to pack
into as small a compass as possible; (e) its cheapness and saving in the unnecessary
use of material, compared with ordinary scaffolding, as this scaffold exists only at
the point of operation and only during the time that it is actually required thore;
(f) its non-interference with the work, as no putlog or bolt holes and such like are
required, the scaffold being entirely independent of the work as well as self-
supporting; (g) the great saving in labour usually expended in erecting and
removing scaffolding; and (h) that it is a necessary auxiliary to overcome the
obstacles in concrete building construction.
I claim as my invention: (1) The construction and use of a scaffold moving
mechanically in two directions, vertical and horizontal or compounds of these two,
substantially as described herein; (2) The system of raising or lowering the stage
and securing it in position by means of pinions racks and endless-screw as well as
the system of bracing the posts all as herein described. (3) I am aware that bogie-
frames have been formerly used for turning curves I do not therefore claim such bogies
in themselves but what I claim is the use of bogie-frames as applied to scaffolding
substantially as described herein. (4) The application of an independent travelling
scaffold, substantially as described herein, to concrete building construction.
Dated this thirteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, FRANK WEST of No 12 Limes Grove Lewisham in the County of Kent,
Computing Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A PORTABLE
TRAVELLING MACHINE-SCAFFOLD and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The scaffold, three views of which are shown in the accompanying drawing,
consists of two principal parts viz: a lower platform, marked A, and a smaller
climbing-stage above, marked B.
The former (A) is fitted with two small bogie-frames, C and D, the wheels of
which travel on metal rails laid upon sleepers in the ordinary way; whilst the
latter (B), fitted on its underside with the necessary gearing is made to climb up
and down four vertical posts (shewn in the plan at E, F. G. and H) erected and
rigidly fixed to the lower platform and each having on one face a metal rack.
extending from the top to the bottom. The climbing or ascending stage B may bo
left stationary at any height, being securely held by the gearing.
The lower platform A is preferably of rectangular form and framed of wood or
other suitable material fitted with the necessary pivots, plates and friction-rollers
for the bogie-frames C and D, which are constructed in the ordinary manner
except that the wheels on one side, J, run loosoly on their axles to enable the
machine to turn round sharp curves; in some cases I make all the wheels to run
loosely on their spindles.
The four upright posts, E. F. G and H, before referred to, which are used as
guides and supports to the ascending stage B and which are generally erected on
the plan of a parallelogram, are made either of wood or metal (preferably of light
steel) or a combination of both (as in H) and to any length or scantling, either in
one length or more, and are properly secured to the lower platform A; whilst the
tops of them are kept firmly in position by means of a metal frame K, of г section,
baving sockets into which the posts are inserted. In order to brace the posts and
to counteract any racking strains to which they may be subjected, cross stays of
light steel-wire L. M and N, secured by suitable fastenings, are fixed between
then; where they would be an obstruction they are omitted and in lieu thereof
single stays, O and P, are fixed in an oblique direction outside the posts. The
metal racks extend from the top to the bottom of each post and are fixed to the
faces most convenient for the gearing of the ascending stage. Although four posts
are mentioned as being necessary for the scaffold described herein, yet I do not
confine myself to that number nor to the plan on which they may be erected.
The smaller ascending-stage B, lightly constructed and enclosed by the four
posts, has bearings, Q. R. S. et cetera, fixed on its under side in which work shafts
with pinions (as at T. U. V. and W) gearing into the vertical racks fixed to the
four posts. The shafts also are so geared together, by means of bevel-wheels, as
at X and Y, that a worm Z,-gearing into a worm-wheel keyed to one of them
and actuated by manual power applied through the wheel a on the upper side of
the ascending stage (B),-
- causes that stage to be raised or lowered or secured in
"

page_text: position at any required height. In those cases where the use of other appliances.
makes it necessary and where the four posts do not stand at the angles of a
parallelogram one of them being set-in a short distance (as at H), the gearing on
the under side of the ascending-stage is slightly modified to enable the pinion to
gear into the rack which is fixed on the outer face of that post instead of on the
inner. As a further tie to the scaffold, rollers, b, c, d. e. f. g. h. and i, are fixed to
the ascending stage and embrace the posts. To make the whole more stable, the
lower platform may be ballasted down by means of bags of earth, and such like,
placed upon either (or each) end of it, and also by making use of the rail-grip,
fixed beneath the lower platform and consisting of two jaws kept together, in order
to grip the rail, by means of a sliding ring and kept tightly to the rail by means
of a screw working in a nut fixed to the under-side of the lower platform or
carriage. This rail-grip is so arranged, by being fixed to a radial arm, that it
may be made to grip the rail at the curves as well as on the straight portion.
One rail-grip only is generally needed and that is fixed on the side of the carriage
more remote from the work.
To make use of the scaffold, the earth upon which the sleepers are to be laid is
first roughly levelled; the sleepers are laid upon it; and the rails, secured together
by fish-plates, are laid upon them and fixed. At the quoins of the building the
rails are bent to a sharp curve and a guide-plate is fixed to the sleepers close to
the curve of the inner-rail. The sleepers may be ballasted or staked down, as the
case may requiré, but it is only necessary to take this precaution on the side of the
scaffold more remote from the work. The inner-rail should be kept about two
feet away from the work (for plain work) as that distance will enable the machine
to clear (with a safe margin) the quoins. If it be required to take the machine
nearer to the work I hinge the front board of the upper ascending-stage so that on
the machine passing round the angles of the structure, the board may be turned
back out of the way. For all practical purposes, however, a distance of two feet
away for the rail will bring the platform sufficiently near to the work.
The scaffold may be made to any reasonable height and may be rendered more
or less stable by altering the gauge of the rails.
I sometimes lay the rails upon a timber staging erected at a certain height from
the ground near the work, especially in thoroughfares where there is great traffic.
Many advantages are to be claimed for this system of scaffolding but amongst
them may be mentioned (1) its extreme lightness compared with that ordinarily
used and therefore the great saving to be effected in the cost of cartage; (2) its
portability, each part having been specially designed to be taken to pieces and to
be packed into as small a compass as possible; (3) its cheapness and saving in the
unnecessary use of material compared with ordinary scaffolding, as this scaffold
exists only at the point of operation and only during the time that it is actually
required there; (4) its non-interference with the work, as no putlog or bolt-holes
and such like are required, the scaffold being entirely independent of the work as
well as self-supporting; (5) the great saving in labour usually expended in erecting
and removing scaffolding; and (6) that it is a necessary auxiliary to overcome the
obstacles in concrete building construction.
Having now 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
1. The construction and use of a scaffold moving mechanically in two directions,
vertical and horizontal, or compounds of these two; substantially as before
described herein.
2. The system of raising or lowering the stage and securing it in the required
position by means of pinions, racks and endless screw, as well as the system of
bracing the posts; all substantially as beforo described herein.
3. I am aware that hogie frames have been formerly used for turning-round
curvës, I do not therefore claim such bögies in themselves but what I claim is

page_text: the use of bogie-frames as applied to scaffolding, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and
4. The application of an independent travelling-scaffold substantially as described
herein, to concrete building construction.
Dated this thirteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighty-