IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC HOISTING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Betts Brown, of Rosebank Iron Works,
Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian, North Britain, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC HOISTING APPARATUS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Betts Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1880.
ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC HOISTING
APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to hydraulic hoisting apparatus of the kind in which a
ram working in a long cylinder is made to impart a multiplied motion to a rope or
chain by means of a combination of pulleys, and the Invention comprises various
improvements, the principal object being to arrange the external moving parts in
an advantageous manner at the upper end of the cylinder, which is placed
vertically. The improved arrangement is well suited for ships, as the external
moving parts can be all upon a deck, whilst only the cylinder and a pipe-like
adjunct (hereinafter described) extend below the deck, and no opening in the deck
is left. The same features will also be advantageous when the apparatus is fitted
in a warehouse or is otherwise located.
The cylinder is made by preference of steel, and is bolted up to the under side of
a casting comprising the head of the cylinder and a plate carrying the stationary
pulleys, of which pulleys there are two on one side and one on the other. The plate
is formed with a raised rim to retain any leakage water, and carries the valve
details by which the passage of the water to and from the cylinder is controlled.
The ram is fitted with a head carrying three pulleys, and the rope or chain, the end
of which is fixed to the side of the cylinder head, first passes over one of the ram
pulleys, next round one of the two stationary pulleys on one side, then over the
second ram pulley to the stationary pulley on the other side, whence it passes over
the third ram pulley, and finally under the last stationary pulley, from which it is
led to where the hoisting action is required. To one side of the ram head there is
fixed a rod of square section, which passes down a pipe parallel to the cylinder
and is of a length corresponding to that of the ram. The rod is twisted and passes
Dins G71

page_text: through a short tube which fits it and which is retained between guides, and the
twist of the rod causes the tube to rotate as the rod rises or descends. The tube is
screw-threaded externally, and has on it a nut with studs which engage with a
forked lever on a rocking shaft, and the rocking shaft has on one end of it a lever
or crank carrying the fulcrum of the hand lever by which the valve is worked.
The usual catch plate is arranged in connection with the hand lever, and is provided
with an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the lever to any particular
length of hoist less than the maximum for which the apparatus is made. The
object of these parts is to obtain the automatic stoppage of the ram whenever the
desired length of hoist is reached. The lever is first moved into a position to open
the valve, but as the ram rises its side rod makes the tube on it rotate, and this
tube acting on the nut and rocking shaft shifts the fulcrum of the hand lever so as
to close the valve on the required length of stroke being effected.
In some cases two sets of the apparatus are combined, being arranged so that
either is complete in itself and can be used separately, whilst the ropes or chains
from both can be applied together to an extra load. To admit of this being done
satisfactorily and with safety the two cylinders are connected by a pipe with a
stop valve, which is opened when the two are to be worked together, and then they
may be controlled by a single hand lever, the arrangement insuring the application
of an equal strain to and by both.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Betts Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1881.
ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC HOISTING
APPARATUS."
My said Invention relates to hydraulic hoisting apparatus of the kind in which
a ram working in a long cylinder is made to impart a multiplied motion to a ropo
or chain by means of a combination of pulleys, and my Invention comprises various
improvements, the principal object being to arrange the external moving parts in
an advantageous manner at the upper end of the cylinder, which is placed vertically.
My improved arrangement is well suited for ships, as the external moving parts
can be all upon a deck, whilst only the cylinder and a pipe-like adjunct (hereinafter
described) extend below the deck, and no opening in the deck is left. The same
features will also be advantageous when the apparatus is fitted in a warehouse or is
otherwise located.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing hydraulic hoisting apparatus as made
with my present improvements.

page_text: Figure 1 of the Drawings is a plan of the apparatus as with the ram and pulleys
carried by it removed; Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the valve; and Figures 3
and 4 are sectional side and end elevations with parts broken away to reduce their
length. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same
5. or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The cylinder 5 may be made of castiron or of steel, the latter being preferred if
conveniently and economically obtainable. It is bolted up to the underside of a
casting comprising the head 6 of the cylinder and a plate or bedframe 7, carrying
the stationary pulleys 8, 9, 10, of which pulleys there are two on one side and
one on the other. The plate 7 is formed with a raised rim 11 to retain any
leakage water, and carries the valve details by which the passage of the water.
to and from the cylinder 5 is controlled. The ram 12 is fitted with a head 13,
carrying three pulloys 14, 15, 10, and the rope or chain (indicated by broken lines in
Figures 3 and 4) has its end fixed to a forked snug 17 at the side of the cylinder
head 6. The rope or chain first passes over one 14 of the ram pulleys, next
round one 8 of the stationary pulleys on one side, then over the second ram
pulley 15 to the stationary pulley 9 on the other side, whence it passes over the
third ram pulley 16, and finally under the last stationary pulley 10, from which it
is led to where the hoisting action is required.
To one side of the ram head 13 there is fixed a rod 18 of square section,
which passes down a pipe 19 parallel to the cylinder 5, and is of a length
corresponding to that of the ram 12. The rod 18 is twisted and passes through
a short tube 20, which fits it, and is retained between the plate 7 and a bracket
guide 21; and the twist of the rod 18 causes the tube 20 to rotate as the rod.
rises or descends. The tube 20 is screw-threaded externally, and has on it a
nut 22, with studs which engage with a forked lever 23 on a rocking shaft 24, the
nut 22 being guided and prevented from turning by a short vertical rod 25 fixed
to the bracket 21, and passing through a hole in a lateral enlargement formed on
the nut. The rocking shaft 24 extends across towards the other side of the bed
plate 7, and has fixed at its further end a lever or crank 26 carrying the fulcrum
of the hand lever 27 by means of which the valve is worked. The usual catch
plate 28 is arranged in connection with the hand lever 27, and is provided with an
adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the lever to correspond to any
particular length of hoist less than the maximum for which the apparatus is made.
The object of these parts is to obtain the automatic stoppage of the ram whenever
the desired length of hoist is reached. The valve rod 29 is jointed to the hand
lever 27 at a point between the fulcrum, which is at the bottom end of that lever,
and the catch plato 28. The hand lever 27 is first moved into a position to open
the valve, but as the ram 12 rises its side rod 18 makes the tube 20 on it
rotate, and this tube acting on the nut 22, and through it and the lever 23 on the
rocking shaft 24, moves the lever 20, and thus shifts the fulcrum of the hand
lever 27 in a manner to close the valve on the required length of stroke being
effected.
To admit of the hand lever 27 being easily worked, notwithstanding that the
water acting in the apparatus is of considerable pressure the valve is by preference
arranged as shown in Figure 2. The valve rod 29 does not directly act on the
main slide valve 30, but moves a small slide valve 31 which works on a port face
on the back of the main valve 30. The main valve 30 is made with cylindrical
cavities 32, in which can work suitably packed plungers 33, these plungers bearing
against the ends of the valve casing, and being guided by projecting guide strips
on the casing fitting loosely in grooves in the plunger ends. Three passages are
controlled by the sinall valve 31, one communicating with the exhaust cavity of
the main valve 30, and the others with the cylindrical cavities 32, and when the
small valve 31 is moved so as to admit the water into the cylindrical cavity 32 at
one end, the main valve 30 is by the pressure acting therein moved in the direction
of the other end. The water under pressure enters the valve casing by an inlet
passage 34, and after acting in the cylinder 5 passes off by an outlet passage 35,

page_text: the inner end or port of this last being always covered by the main valve 30. The
passage 36 to the cylinder 5 is between the inlet and outlet passages 34, 35,
and communicates with one or other of these, or is closed according to the position
of the main valve 30, as is well understood.
In some cases two sets of the apparatus are combined, being arranged so that 5
either is complete in itself, and can be used separately, whilst the ropes or chains
from both can be applied together to an extra load. To admit of this being done
satisfactorily and with safety the two cylinders (5) are connected by a pipe fitted
with a stop valve, which is opened when the two are to be worked together, and
then they may be controlled by a single hand lever, the arrangement insuring the 1
application of an equal strain to and by both.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, by that what I believo to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein- 1
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of hydraulic hoisting
apparatus, substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore described.
2. The centering of the valve lever on a fulcrum, which is moved by the
hydraulic ram in a manner to make the lever move the valve back again after
being shifted, substantially as herein before described.
3. The combination of the twisted rod (18), externally screwed tube (20), and
nut (22), for deriving from the hydraulic ram a comparatively short movement for
acting on the valve lever (27), as hereinbefore described.
4. The arranging of the valve gear and pulleys on a bed plate (7) at the upper
end of the cylinder (5), so that only the cylinder and the lateral pipe (19) extend
below the deck or platform on which the bed plate (7) is fixed, as hereinbefore
described.
5. The combining of two hydraulic hoisting cylinders and accessories, the
cylinders being connected by a pipe fitted with a stop valvo so that they can be
used together or separately, as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, have hereunto set my
haud and seal, this Twenty second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
ANDREW BETTS BROWN. (L.S.)