IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS AND MECHANISM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OR TRANSPORT OF LOADS OR WEIGHTS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Robinson, of Settle, in the County of York,
Coal Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS AND
MECHANISM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OR TRANSPORT OF LOADS OR WEIGHTS."
Sealed the 27th January 1857, and dated the 28th July 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
July 1856.
I, HENRY ROBINSON, of Settle, in the County of York, Coal Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS
AND MECHANISM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OR TRANSPORT OF LOADS OR WEIGHTS," to be
as follows:-
My Invention is particularly applicable to the conveyance or transport of
coals and other minerals, either above or below the surface of the ground. It
consists in a single or double endless rope or chain, supported at intervals on
pulleys, which have their bearings attached to posts or pillars, or otherwise
fixed above the surface over which the load is to be transported. The endless
chain or rope passes round a drum or a series of pulleys at each terminus.
Rods are attached at intervals to the endless rope or chain on which the loads
to be transported are suspended, the pulleys supporting the chain or rope have
only bearings on one side of them, so that the rods on which the loads are

page_text: suspended need only be bent to pass on one side clear of the pulleys, or the
endless chain or rope may be placed between two pulleys, so that the sus-
pending rod passes between them; or a double endless rope or chain may be
used, carried at each point of support by two pulleys, the suspending rod being
attached to both ropes or chains, and passing between the two pulleys. If
the substance to be transported is of the character of coal, or other mineral, it
is placed in baskets or other receptacles which can be readily attached to or
detached from the suspending rods. When the endless chain or rope is moved
(one side going in the opposite direction to the other), the attached loads are
carried along with it. Motion is imparted by rotating the drums or the series
of pulleys at one or both termini. This may be accomplished by suitable
gear, either by hand or power. When the endless chain or rope is loaded
only in one direction, and the weights to be transported have to descend, a
"brake" arrangement may only be required at one of the termini, to provent
a too rapid movement. A series of endless ropes or chains, arranged as above
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Robinsou in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ROBINSON, of Settle, in the County of York, Coal Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry. Robinson,
Her especial licence that I, the, said Henry Robinson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Robinson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree. with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARRANGEMENTS AND MECHANISM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OR TRANSPORT OF LOADS
OR WEIGHTS," upon the condition. (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Robinson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Robinson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per÷
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention is particularly applicable to the conveyance or transport of
coals or other minerals, either above or below the surface of the ground. It
consists in applying to this purpose a single or double endless rope or chain,
supported at intervals on pulleys which have their bearings attached to posts or
pillars, or otherwise fixed above the surface over which the load is to be
transported. The endless rope or chain passes round a drum or a series of
pulleys at each terminus. Rods are attached at intervals to the endless rope
or chain on which the loads to be transported are suspended. The pulleys
supporting the rope or chain have only bearings on one side of them, so that
the rods on which the loads are suspended need only be bent or curved so as
to pass on one side clear of the pulleys; or the endless rope or chain may be
placed between two pulleys, so that the suspending rod passes between them,
or a double eulless rope or chain may be used, carried at each point of support
by two pulleys (one for each rope or chain), the suspending rod being attached
to both ropes or chains, and passing between the two pulleys. If the substance
to be transported is of the character of coal, or other mineral, it is placed in
baskets or other receptacles which can be readily attached to or detached
from the suspending rods. When the endless rope or chain is moved (one side
going in the opposite direction to the other), the attached loads are carried
along with it. Motion is imparted by rotating the drums or the series of
pulleys at one or both termini. This may be accomplished by suitable geer,
by animal, or steam, or other motive power. When the endless rope or chain
is loaded only in one direction, and the weights to be transported have to
descend, a brake arrangement may only be required at one of the termini to
prevent the too rapid movement. A series of endless ropes or chains, arranged
as above described, may be combined together.
The Sheet of Drawing annexed hereto, and the following explanation thereof,
will render perfectly clear the manner in which I carry my Invention into
effect.
Fig. 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal elevation or section; Fig. 3, a
cross section, shewing the arrangement of single or double endless rope or
chain, according to my Invention, for the transport of loads or weights.
a is

page_text: the endless rope or chain, which passes round a drum or pulley b at each
terminus, having its bearings in a suitable frame b¹. The rope is supported
at intervals by pulleys having bearings in a frame or bracket, which is secured
to a beam c, carried by three posts or pillars d, fixed in the ground. In mines,
the ends of each cross beam may be fixed in holes formed in the sides of the
way, but where the roof of the mine is bad, and requires supporting by posts
and cross beams, then the bearings of the pulleys for carrying the rope or
chain may be attached to the cross beams. The height of the endless rope or
chain from the ground is immaterial, so that the load or receptacle attached
to the suspending rod will clear the ground or surface over which it has to
be transported. In the example shewing the manner in which my Invention
may be carried into effect, one terminus is supposed to be on an higher level
than the other, and the gradient or path of the rope is one uniform incline:
Where this can be arranged it is preferable, but it is not indispensable to the
proper working of the endless ropes or chains, which may form a parallel to
the ground or surface over which they pass. Fig. 1 also shews the endless
rope or chain in a straight line, it may be curved, but it is better straight.
In fact, the same rules which govern the formation of a road or railway should
be observed in arranging the path or gradient of the endless rope or chain.
The loads to be carried should be suspended on the rope or chain at equal
distances apart. When coal is to be transported, and in wagons or baskets
similar to those used in collieries, eyes are fixed to the wagons or baskets, so
that they can be readily hooked to the suspending rods. The baskets or
wagons are attached to the suspending rods after they have passed the
drum at a short distance from it, and they are detached before they arrive at
the drum (b), the weight being removed from the suspending rods when they
pass round the drums at each terminus. Frames or other receptacles may be
suspended from the rods into which the wagons, baskets, or other object or
substance to be transported may be placed; these frames or receptacles being
arranged so as to pass near to platforms at each terminus, for convenience in
.placing and removing the object or substance to be transported. Wagons of
coal may be conveniently attached to and detached from the endless rope or
chain, by arranging a short length of rails at each terminus opposite each point
of attachment and detachment, the gradient of the rails being inclined to that
of the endless rope or chain (as shewn), and at such distance below the endless
rope or chain, at the point of attachment or detachment, as to allow the hooks
at the ends of the rope or chain attached to the suspending rods to be hooked
to or unhooked from the eyes fixed to the wagon.
Suppose a wagon is to be attached by this arrangement, there is sufficient

page_text: slack chain or rope in the suspending rods or chains to allow it to be hooked,
and as the endless rope or chain moves forward, the wagon is dragged down
the inclined rails till the slack on the rope or chain is taken up, when the
wagon is wholly suspended and carried by the endless rope or chain. When
the wagon arrives at the other terminus its wheels will come in contact
with the short length of inclined rails, and will be dragged up them; the
wagon is then moved forward, to bring it vertically under the suspending
rods, when it is readily detached, as the rope or chain attached to the suspend-
ing rod will at this point be sufficiently slack. Baskets or other receptacles
or objects may be attached and detached in the same manner, by means of a
porter wagon or carriage, by which the load may be brought to the proper
point of attachment, and received at the proper point of detachment; when
the load is attachel the porter wagon will be allowed to move by the drag
of the suspending rods till the load is lifted from it. In detaching, the porter
wagon is placed so that the load will come over it, and then it is allowed to
move with the endless rope or chain, or is moved a little in advance, to cause
the suspending ropes or chains to become slack, to enable the load to be
detached from the hooks. Motion may be imparted to the single or double
endless ropes or chain by giving rotating motion to the drums at one or both
termini; in the arrangement shown it is only applied at one terminus. A
bevil wheel is fixed on the axis of the drum b, which geers with another on a
shaft 6, in suitable bearings. This shaft may be the crank shaft of a steam
engine, or an intermediate shaft; or another bevil wheel may be fixed to this
shaft, gearing with one, or a vertical shaft, fixed in suitable bearings; this
vertical shaft may have arms fixed to it, so that animal power may be applied
to rotate it (as in the common "gin "), which will thus give motion to the
drum around which the endless rope or chain passes. The motion imparted
to the endless rope or chain may be constant and uniform, or it may be
intermittent, stopping to give time for attachment and detachment of the
load. When the loads to be transported have to descend, a brake apparatus
may be only required. This may be of ordinary arrangement, made to act
on the drum b, or a separate drum fixed on the axis of the drum b.
Figs. 4 to 15 of the Drawings shew certain details, which I shall now
proceed to describe. Though ropes or chains may be employed in carrying
out my Invention, I prefer and recommend a wire rope or ropes, and this is
supposed to be used in all the modifications hereafter described. Figs. 4, 5,
and 6 have reference to a single round rope; Fig. 4, represents a section of
the rim of the drum; Fig. 5, a side view of a supporting pulley and its
frame; and Fig. 6, its end view. d, part of the central post supporting the

page_text: cross beam c; e is a cast-iron frame, secured to the beam c by bolts; this
frame has bearings for a shaft f, on the end of which a grooved pulley g is
placed; this pulley supports the rope a. The suspending rods h are attached
to the rope as follows:-A piece k is secured to the rope a, by. rivets passing
between the strands of the rope, as shewn. It has a whole through it, into
which fits the bent end of the suspending rod , which is secured in it by a
cotter or pin. This arrangement allows the rod to maintain the vertical
position, and accommodate itself to the inclined gradient of the rope. I is a
piece fixed to the frame as a guide to the rod h when it passes the pulley g,
to prevent contact with it, which may occur from oscillating movement in the
load. Fig. 4 (as before stated) shews the section of the rim of the drum b,
and the manner in which the suspending rod h passes round it; Fig. 7, Fig. 8,
and Fig. 9, has reference to a single flat rope; Fig. 7 is an end view; Fig. 8,
an edge or side view. The pulley 9 is fixed on the end of a shaft, and is
supported in bearings, as explained in reference to Fig. 5 and 6; a part k,
secured to the rope by rivets, has bearings formed in it for a swivel piece k¹;
this piece has a hole through it, so that the forked end of the suspending
rod h can be jointed to it, as shewn, by a bolt h¹, secured by a suitable pin
or cotter. This arrangement allows the suspending rod to give way, as in
Figs. 5 and 6, and also allows of the rope twisting half round, to pass round
the drums b at each terminus of the endless rope, as shewn in Fig. 9, which
shews a section of the rim of the drum (6) and the position of the suspending
rod h, and parts in connection when passing round it. Fig. 10 shews the
method of supporting a round or flat rope between two pulleys, so that the
suspending rod can pass clear between them. In this case the axis of the
pulleys g are placed in an inclined position, so as to separate the lower edges
of the pulleys and leave a clear space for oscillation of the load. e, frame;
f, shaft or axes; 9, pulleys. The round rope d is shewn in full lines, the
flat in dotted line. The form of the edges of the pulleys g for round ropes
is shewn in full line, for flat rope in dotted line. In this case the suspending
rod is supposed to be attached to a loop m, formed by splicing a small wire
rope into the main rope (see Fig. 11). Fig. 12 shews a section of the rim
of the drum b, and a view of the suspending rod h, and connected parts, when
passing round the drums. Figs. 13, 14, and 15 are Figures having reference
to double ropes; each rope supported on a separate pulley, the suspending
rod or rods being attached to both ropes, and passing between both pulleys;
Fig. 14 is an edge or side view; and Fig. 15, an end view. 9 are pulleys
arranged in bearings, as before described; a, are the ropes, connected by cross
pieces k, rivetted to them; these cross pieces k form a bearing for the picce

page_text: k, to which the suspending rod h is jointed. The rod by this arrangement
can swivel, as described in reference to Figs. 7; 8, and 9, as the double rope
has to twist half round in passing round the drum b, same as the flat-rope.
Fig. 13 shews a section of the rim of the drum for this double rope and the
suspending rod as it passes round it; n is a pulley or roller, which may be
employed, if thought advisable, to prevent the ropes from getting off the
pulleys g. Fig. 11 shews a suspending rod, and a cross bar attached to it,
with two short chains, having hooks to hook in the eyes of a basket or wagon;
it may be made in the form shewn in dotted line.
I have now particularly described my Invention, and the mode in which
it may be carried into effect, and wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the details herein given, so long as the peculiar features of
my Invention be retained. I claim as my Invention the mode of transporting
loads or weights, above or below the surface of the ground, on endless ropes
or chains, supported at intervals on antifriction pulleys, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
HENRY ROBINSON. (L.B.)