IMPROVE- MENTS IN CLUTCHES AND THEIR APPLICATION TO RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
FREDERIC GEORGE RILEY Langley Lane South Lambeth Road in the County
of Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CLUTCHES AND THEIR APPLICATION TO RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus by means of which a wheel,
pulley or other mechanism for transmitting power revolving loosely on a stationary
shaft may become secured, and impart its motion and power to the shaft, and the
methods by means of which this may be utilized for raising and lowering goods or
weights.
In order to make my invention understood, I will more particularly describe the
same and its working referring to the drawings annexed. Fig 1. is a side elevation in
section Fig 2 is a plan and Figs 3 and 4 are sectional elevations of the arrangement
I employ for a power hoist or lift. The main bracket B which may be secured in
any convenient position, supports in suitable bearings the main shaft S, attached to
this at one end is the worm W, gearing in the Worm-wheel W W, the latter being
fixed to the counter shaft W. S, and revolving in a suitable bracket W B bolted
on to the main bracket B-The countershaft W S is provided with a drum or
wheel R. W around which passes the rope or chain carrying the weight to be raised
or lowered. On the main shaft S revolve freely in reverse directions the two
wheels or pullies C and D; separating these and secured to the shaft are the two
clutch, boxes E and F, between E and F is the double cone piece G which has a
sliding motion in and out of E and F, the surfaces of the cones thus engaging on a
number of pins or jaws e and f which have a radiating movement in and out
through the clutch boxes, at right angles to the shaft. Encircling the pins and
surrounding the clutch boxes are two band springs e 1 and f1 which are held in
position by the fixed stops e 2 and ƒ2.
The double cone piece G is operated by the lever H (the latter being suspended
in the fulcrum h working in a bearing in the Bracket B) by means of the roller I
working in the groove -The lever H is prolonged to be accessible from any
convenient position-To operate the lift in either direction, the cone piece G is
CD 031

page_text: given a stroke by pressing the lever H, and the inclined surface of the cone
engaging with the radiating pins forces the band spring to take a larger
circumference thus bearing on the inner surface of the revolving pulley or wheel
which overhangs the clutch, creating a frictional attachment and compelling the
whole to revolve, thus causing the weight to be raised or lowered by means of the
worm, worm wheel and rope or chain wheel.
To stop the motion thus acquired the cone piece is withdrawn from the clutch
box, the band spring then forces the pins or jaws back to their normal position.
By pressing the lever in the opposite direction the cone piece is forced into the
other clutch box operating on this in the same manner and giving the shaft S the
reverse motion as desired.
In using this mechanisin for raising or lowering goods or passengers by means of
a cage at a fixed or determinable travel, I employ, in order to make this automatic
in its stoppages at desired positions the arrangement shown in section and in
elevation in figs 5 and 6.
I retain the lever H, which is shortened and provided with roller I on its lower
extremity operating on cone piece G as before. The other extremity of lever H
bas connected to it by means of the crank pin J, the rod K which is jointed to the
spindle L working through bearing M on the bracket B.
This spindle has a spring secured in position by the collar O, exerting a tension
downwards against the lower side of the bearing M. The lever H has a bell-crank
arm Pat right angles to it, at the end of P is fastened the chain, which, being
carried over suitable guides is led through the cage and provided with projections
in the usual manner for the cage to engage with. When the lift is stationary the
spring N exerts its tension through the centre of the connecting pin J on to the
fulcrum h retaining the cone piece G in the centre and out of gear with either of
the clutch boxes. To impart motion to the cage the chain is pulled and operates
on the bell crank arın P causing the lever H to move out of its vertical line, thus
enabling the spring N to exert its tension on the pin J, causing the roller I on the
opposite extremity of the lever H to force the cone piece Ginto the clutch box,
engaging same as before described and giving the required movement to the cage.
When the cage has taken its determined travel, it engages on the projection
provided on the chain and throws levor H back into its normal position and stops.
To reverse the motion of the cage, the chained is pulled in the opposite direction
causing the spring N to act on the other clutch box; starting the cage, which takes
the desired travel and stops by automatically throwing the lover back as before-
The tension on the lever is regulated by the nut Q on the spindle L. compressing
or releasing the spring N as desired; or the spring can be dispensed with and the
reverse pendulum lever R shown by the dotted lines used in its place.
A modification of my clutch is shown in sectional elevation in fig 7: in section
through the clutch box in fig 8: and in detailed sections in figs 9, 10 and 11.-In
this arrangement the two wheels C and D revolve on a fixed shaft S in opposite
directions as before and they are provided on their inner circumference with a
screw thread of a suitable pitch and d. Separating them are the two clutch
boxes E and F secured to the shaft S by means of a feathers enabling them
to revolve with the shaft but travel on it. Between these is also the double cone
piece G secured in the same way. The shaft S is provided with two collars T
and T which keep the loose wheels or pullies in position and also take the thrust
of the springs t and t. The band springs are dispensed with, the pins or jaws e
and fare retained and their heads are prolonged forming a continuous circumference
outside the clutch box, a screw thread of a similar pitch to c and d being formed on
their outer surface. The operation of starting is the same as before, the jaws or
pins being normally as in fig. 9 are thrown out by the cone piece G into position
shown in fig 10 and under the strain of their work slip and travel round until they
assume the position as shown in fig 11: when the revolving pulley or wheel having
acted as a nut operating on the thread of the jaws in the clutch boxes arrives at

page_text: the end of its stroke and causes the whole to revolve permanently in its direction
until the cone piece is withdrawn, the jaws or pins being then unsupported are
forced out of gear and the spring t which has become compressed forces the clutch
box back to its first position.
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
First A clutch on a stationary shaft operated by forcing out a radiating
number of jaws or pins engaging with a revolving surface over their faces either
by intervention of band springs on their own surfaces as described.
Secondly-The arrangement of a sliding and gripping clutch by means of a
screw thread as described and shown in figs. 7-8 9-10 and 11.
Thirdly The arrangement of two clutches applied for raising and lowering
weights described in figs 1-2-3 and 4 and for automatically holding in gear,
stopping and regulating the tension for working same as shown in figs 5 and 6.
Dated this first day of December 1884.