Improvements in Hoisting and Transfer Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hoisting and Transfer Apparatus.
I, WILLIS DERWOOD SHERMAN, of 91, Ninth Street, Brooklyn, King's County,
New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto three sheets of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the movable transverse wire rope track with its
trolley, showing the parallel stationary side tracks and their supports in cross-
section ;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the stationary elevated side tracks, with
its appropriate carriage and the devices for operating the same;
Figure 3 is a plan of the two parallel elevated tracks, with their movable
transverse wire-rope track and the carriages, trolley, and sheaves or pulleys
appertaining thereto;
Figure 4 is a detail view of one end of one of the elevated side tracks, with
its appropriate sheaves or pulleys, carriage, and mechanism for operating the
same;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the winch and drums for operating the
apparatus; and
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing in perspective, the scheme of sheaves
and ropes involved in the construction and operation of the apparatus.
Like letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the
figures.
This invention has relation to apparatus for hoisting and transferring from one
point to another, within a yard or work shop, heavy articles, such as sewer pipe,
blocks of cement or stone, castings of all kinds, or heavy pieces of machinery and
ordnance in finished or unfinished condition. Heretofore it has been customary to
effect such transfers by the device known as a travelling crane necessitating
two movements or lines of movement at right angles to each other and necessarily
involving heavy and cumbersome apparatus; but by my invention the article to be
lifted and carried may be transferred to the point where it is to be deposited in
any direction, by means of the system of sheaves, ropes, travelling carriages and a
In this manner,.
trolley, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
I dispense entirely with the heavy, expensive and cumbersome machinery of a
travelling crane; my apparatus can be erected and put in complete working order
at comparatively small expense; and I effect a great and important saving in both
time and labor in operating it.
My apparatus involves six separate and distinct, but co-operating elements or
features, as follows: 1, a substantially built frame or scaffolding with parallel sides
at even height, adapted to support two parallel elevated tracks; 2, a system of
stationary sheaves or pulleys affixed to said frame; 3, a system of ropes operating
in conjunction with the aforesaid pulleys; 4, a system of sheaves and carriages
operated by and in conjunction with the ropes and pulleys; 5, a transverse
movable wire-rope track, connecting the two parallel elevated and stationary
tracks; and, 6, a hoisting machine involving one hoisting winch and two revolving
drums, which may be of any approved construction. It is the combination of
these six elements, in the manner hereinafter set forth, which constitutes the
essential feature of my invention and on which its merits as a practical time and
labor saving device, chiefly depend.
Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the parallel stringers or

page_text: supports of the elevated tracks, of which there are two, B and C, on each side.
The stringers A. A, are carried by braced posts D, at a suitable height above the
ground, or the floor of the shop, and extend longitudinally and parallel to each
other the entire length of the yard or shop on opposite sides thereof. On each side
there is an upper track, B, and a parallel lower track, C, both of which consist of
flat plates of metal bolted to heavy metal yokes, E, as illustrated more clearly in
Figures 2 and 3; said yokes being bolted to the inner sides of the stringers, A, by
stout and strong bolts inserted transversely through the stringers. The rail
carrying yokes, E, extend a little above and below the upper and under sides of
the stringers (see Figure 1), so as to leave a narrow space between the inwardly
projecting flat rail and the top and bottom of the stringer which it overlaps.
Upon these top and bottom rails, B and C, on each side, travel the two carriages
between which is suspended the movable wire-rope track, F. Each of these
carriages comprises a strong bail-shaped yoke or frame G, forming a support
and means of attachment for the appropriate end of the wire rope-track, F.
The yoke appertaining to the carriage travelling on the left hand rail I have
designated by reference letter G, while that appertaining to the rails on the
opposite side, or right-hand side of the yard, is marked G. Besides these
yokes G and G, each carriage consists of A top traveller marked,
respectively H and H', and a side traveller, marked, respectively, I and I. In
Figure 1, one of these carriages is shown in side elevation; in Figures 2 and 4 it is
shown in front elevation, and in Figure 3 we have a plan or top view, so that by
reference to these several figures, the construction of the carriage will be
readily understood. The object of the top traveller is to support the carriage
upon the top rails, B, while the object of the side traveller is to form bearings
for the sheaves whereby the trolley (as hereinafter described) is operated. The
yoke, G and G₁, not only forms a bearing or connecting medium between the
top traveller and the side traveller, but forms a bearing for a set of horizontal
sheaves and pulleys, the arrangement and function of which will be hereinafter
described.
On reference to the figures above referred to, it will be observed that the top
traveller H and H', of each carriage has two flanged wheels, one at each end,
which run upon the flat top-rail B, with the flange of the wheel bearing against
the outer edge of the rail; the side traveller I 1', the ends of which project beyond
those of the top traveller, has two sheaves or pulleys, the pair appertaining to the
traveller, I, being marked i and i', while the pair appertaining to the traveller I',
of the opposite carriage is marked 12 and 13. The yoke, G³, appertaining to the
carriage on the right-hand track is provided with a set of four sheaves, marked,
respectively, a, b, c, and d; and the yoke, G, appertaining to the carriage on the
left side-track is provided with two horizontal sheaves, e and f
In addition to these sheaves, each of the carriage yokes G and G¹, is provided
with a horizontal top and bottom sheave or grooved pulley, shown at j and k,
respectively, the location and function of which will be best understood by
reference to Figures and 2. These horizontal grooved wheels, j and k, are
journaled in the bifurcated outer end of the yokes, G and G1, and run horizontally
upon the inner ends or edges of the top and bottom rails, B and C, respectively,
thus operating to hold the carriage upon the rails end wise, or against tensile or
lateral pull, in like manner as the "thrust" or downward push upon the carriage is
sustained by the wheels, hh, of the top traveller, H.
We have seen that the transverse wire-rope track, F, is suspended between and
supported by the inner ends of the carriage yokes, G and G, so as to move with
the carriage as these are moved forward and back upon their elevated tracks.
Upon this movable track, F, runs a two-wheeled trolley, the frame J, of which
carries at its lower corners the hoisting-sheaves, K K; the trolley-frame being
supported upon its track F, by the grooved track-wheels, L L. Below the track
trolley, J, is suspended, by the hoisting rope, the hoisting sheave or block, M,
provided with a hook, as usual.

page_text: At any suitable point within the yard or work-shop is located a hoisting machine
by which the pulleys, carriages, and trolleys are operated through the medium of
the peculiarly, arranged scheme or system of wire-ropes illustrated in Figure 6.
For the sake of convenience, I prefer to locate the hoisting machinery in a shed
or cage at one corner of the yard or shop, and on the same elevation as the
elevated side-tracks, as represented in Figure 1, because, when so located, the
engineer manipulating the hoisting machinery will have a bird's eye view of
the entire yard, free from obstruction, so that he can so manipulate the machinery
as to effectually control the same with reference to the work to be done. In
Figure 5, I have shown one form of hoisting machinery adapted to be used in my
invention; but as the machinery, per se, forms no part of my invention and can be
changed at will for different types of hoisting machinery which will answer the
same purpose, so much only of said hoisting machinery will be referred to and
explained as is necessary to arrive at a correct understanding of the peculiar
arrangement and operation of the ropes, sheaves, carriages, &c., which derive
motion from, and are guided by, this machinery.
The hoisting and guiding machinery, the construction of which will be understood
more clearly by reference to Figure 5, consists of a hoisting winch N, which may
be thrown into or out of operation by means of the clutch mechanism, R, operated
by means of the lever, R. This winch is also provided with a brake, S, operated
by means of a lever or treadle shown at T. The main shaft, N', by means of
which this winch is operated, receives a rotary motion by means of a pulley, P, and
endless belt, Q; the other end of said belt passing around the main drive-wheel of
an engine located on the ground below. The pulley, P, has a continuously
revolving motion, and by means of the clutch mechanism, R, the winch N may be
revolved as desired, through the instrumentality of lever, R', while, at the same
time, when the winch is disengaged from the shaft, for the purpose of lowering
the article attached to the block at the end of the hoisting rope, the speed
of the winch may be controlled through the instrumentality of the brake, S, and
lever, T.
Upon a shaft, N2, journaled in suitable bearings, are journaled two drums, O
and O', each one of which is provided with a circumferential cog wheel adapted to
engage a pinion which, through intermediate mechanism, receives a revolving
motion from the main shaft, N. By operating lever, P¹, the drum, O, may be
thrown into or out of operation while by operating lever, P2, drum O, may
be similarly thrown into or out of operation. Thus it will be seen that a hoisting
machine adapted to be used in conjunction with my invention, must contain three
separate drums or winches adapted to be operated independent of one another, or
in combination with one another, as may be desired, eiz., a hoisting drum or
winch N, the function of which is to hoist or elevate the article to be lifted and
carried in the yard; a drum, O, adapted to operate the ropes which give motion
and direction to the travelling carriages which run on the stationary side-tracks;
and an additional drum O, which operates and gives motion to the trolley which
runs upon the wire track suspended between and supported by the two carriages
running on the stationary elevated tracks. In other words, the function of the
winch, N, is solely to raise and lower the block which is suspended from the
trolley; the function of the drum, O, is to move the carriages forward and back
upon their respective tracks; while the function of the drum, O', is to move the
trolley forward and back upon its movable wire-rope track, F. By suitable
machinery, these three drums, N, O and O¹, are so constructed and arranged that
they may all be operated independent of one another, or in conjunction with one
another, by the levers, R', P, and P2, by the engineer standing in the elevated shed
or cage which contains the hoisting machinery.
The hoisting rope, designated by the numeral 1, is attached firmly to and starts
from the hoisting winch or drum, N is then carried over fixed guide-sheaves, l, m, n,
and o, and then runs along-side the elevated track on that side of the yard till it
reaches the horizontal sheave, d, which, as we have seen, is the lowermost in the

page_text: series of four horizontal sheaves journaled on a common vertical axle, one above
the other, within the yoke, G', appertaining to the carriage on that (right hand)
side of the yard. Passing around this horizontal bottom sheave d, the hoisting
rope, 1, goes on over one of the trolley sheaves, K, down through the hoisting-
block M, up again over the other trolley sheave, K, and across the yard, (below
the rope-track, F,) to and around the horizontal bottom sheave, f, within the
yoke, G, appertaining to the carriage on that (left-hand) side of the yard. From
this sheave,, rope, 1, again crosses the yard, underneath the track-rope, F, running
across the sheave c, within yoke G', opposite, around the same, and then along-side
the elevated track on that (right-hand) side of the yard to a bolt or staple, X,
which is securely fastened near the end of the track and to which rope, 1, is firmly
fastened. Thus we have seen that one end of this rope (1) is fastened to the
hoisting drum, N, while its other end is firmly fastened in the staple, X, at the end
of the track; said rope involving, in the order named, the sheaves, l, m, n, o, d, the
two trolley sheaves, K, K, and trolley block, M, sheaves, f and c, down to its
point of attachment, X. When winch, N, is revolved, rope, 1, will draw up the
block, M, and any weight attached thereto, and will also take up any slack in the
hoisting rope.
The guiding of block, M, with the weight attached to it, after it has been lifted
a sufficient height to clear the ground and any obstructions thereon, is effected by
means of the carriage drum, O, by means of which the carriage ropes, 2 and 3, are
manipulated. These two ropes operate in conjunction with the sliding carriages
and their sheaves, and certain stationary sheaves or pulleys, which latter are located
and arranged as follows: At the outer end of the (let us say) right hand track,
there are three sheaves, p, q and ", revolving in vertical planes on a common
horizontal axle; and at the corresponding end of the opposite or left hand track,
there are two sheaves, s and t, similarly arranged and journaled. At the opposite
end of this same left hand track, there is one sheave, u, revolving (like sheaves s and t)
in a vertical plane; two others, and w, which revolve in horizontal planes,
one (w) below the other (v). At or near the corresponding end of the opposite or
right hand track, we find two horizontal pulleys, æ and y, also arranged one below
the other, (corresponding to v and w on the opposite side) and a horizontal sheave
or pulley, . The remaining one or two sheaves which enter into this combination
will be described in their proper place.
Now, starting from the inner or farthest end of the side carriage, I', appertaining
to the right hand track, is a pulley rope, 2, which runs along-side the track to its
end, where it goes around sheave, z, and then comes back, or doubles on itself,
around the carriage sheave 2, from where it goes back to the horizontal sheave, a,
after passing around which it crosses the yard over to sheave, w, at the opposite
side, then forward along-side the track on the left hand side of the yard, till it
reaches the stationary sheave, s, at the end; passing around this sheave, rope, 2,
doubles upon itself and goes back to and around the carriage sheave, i, appertaining
to the carriage on the left side of the yard; then the rope again doubles upon
itself and goes forward alongside of the track, to and around the stationary
sheave, t, from which, doubling upon itself for the third time on that side of the
yard it goes back to and is firmly fastened in the adjacent end of the side
traveller, I. Thus it will be seen that one end of this carriage rope 2, is fastened
to the inner end of the right hand carriage traveller, I', and the other end to the
outer end of the left hand carriage traveller, I; the sheaves involved being the
following, in the order named, viz. z, i, x, w, s, i, and t, as will appear more clearly
on reference to Figure 7.
Another rope, marked by the numeral 3, is fastened to the inner end of the side
traveller, I, which runs upon the left hand track, passes rearwardly to and over
the stationary sheave, U, at the end of the track, and then doubles upon itself and
runs forward to and around the traveller sheave, i¹, then up to and around the
stationary horizontal sheave, e, from that point across the yard (crossing rope 2,)
to sheave, y on the other side, and from this sheave to and once around the drum, O,

page_text: and then up to and over a stationary horizontal guide sheave, a¹; along the track
on that side of the yard to the stationary sheave, p, which corresponds to and faces
the sheave, s, at the corresponding end of the opposite track, then rope, 3, doubles
upon itself and extends to the sheave, ³, appertaining to the side carriage, I¹,
belonging to the right hand track, and from this point rope, 3, again doubles upon
itself and runs to and around the stationary guide sheave 7, from which point said
rope, again doubling upon itself, extends to the adjacent end of the side traveller I',
to which it is securely fastened, opposite to the point of attachment of the other
rope 2. Thus it will be seen that one of these carriage operating ropes (2) is
fastened at one end to one end of the side traveller, I, appertaining to the left
hand track, while the other end of the same rope is fastened permanently in the
opposite end of the opposite side traveller, I'; while, in like manner, the other carriage-
operating rope, 3, is fastened permanently to one end of this right hand traveller, I',
while the other end of the same rope, after passing over the carriage operating
drum, O, is similarly fastened to the inner end of the opposite traveller, I, opposite
to that end of said traveller to which the rope 2, is permanently attached.
other words, rope, 2, is fastened to the outer end of the left hand traveller, I, and
the inner end of the right hand traveller, I', while its consort, 3, is fastened at
the outer end of the traveller, I, but at the inner end of the left hand
traveller, I said rope, 3, being the only one which passes over and is operated by
drum, O.
In
One rope more remains to be described, viz., rope 4, which is the one by means
of which the trolley is operated. This rope is fastened to one end of the trolley
frame, J, said frame running upon the transverse wire-rope track, F. by means of
its grooved wheels, L L. Rope, 4, then passes to the left to and around the
horizontal sheave, e, which is journaled within the yoke, G, appertaining to the
left band carriage; from this sheave said rope, 4, doubling upon itself, runs back
across the yard to the horizontal top pulley, a, which is journaled within the
carriage yoke, G', appertaining to the right hand carriage; from this point rope, 4,
extends along the right hand track to the stationary sheave, r, at the outer end of
said track, around said sheave and, doubling upon itself, rope, 4, extends back to
a stationary horizontal guide sheave, a², back of and journaled upon the same shaft
as sheave, a', which has been described in connection with rope 3. From this
sheave, a², rope, 4, extends down to and once around the operating drum, O', and
then up to and around a guide sheave, a³, which is journaled upon the same shaft
as the guide sheave, o, which has been described in connection with the hoisting
rope, 1. From this sheave, a³, rope 4, extends forwardly alongside of the right
hand track to the horizontal sheave, b, which is the second one from the top of the
set or series of four sheaves (a, b, c, and d) journaled upon a vertical shaft within
the yoke, G', appertaining to the right hand carriage; and from this sheave, b,
rope, 4, extends approximately at right angles to the trolley frame, J, to which it
is fastened opposite to the point of attachment of its other end. This completes
the course of the fourth and last rope, involving the drum, O¹, the trolley which
travels upon the movable wire-rope track, F, and the following sheaves and pulleys
in the order named, (starting from the left side of the trolley), viz.: e, à, r, a²,
drum, O¹, sheave, a³, sheave, b, and back to trolley, J.
Of these four separate ropes, the first, marked 1, is, as we have seen, the hoisting
rope proper for raising or lowering the hoisting block M, with its rope and taking up
all slack; ropes Nos. 2 and 3, being fastened to opposite ends of opposite carriages,
operate said carriages by running them forward or back upon their respective
stationary elevated side tracks, so as to run the movable transverse rope track, F,
forward and back; while the last rope, marked 4, operates to run the trolley, J,
forward and back upon said rope-track, F. Rope, 1, is operated by the hoisting
drum, N; rope 3, (through which its consort, 2, is indirectly operated), is worked
by the drum, O; and lastly the trolley rope 4, is operated by the drum O', and it
follows that by working these three drums, N, O, and O', all the ropes with their
appropriate sheaves, carriages, and trolleys, may be worked by a single operator

page_text: standing within the cage at one corner of the yard simply by manipulating the
levers and brakes appertaining to the three drums, N, O and 04. This is one of
the great advantages of my invention, because it enables a single operator to move
the hoisting block M, to any point within the yard or workshop where its services
are required, and after the hook has been fastened in the cradle or chains from
which the article to be moved is suspended, the block may be lifted by throwing
drum, N, into operation, to any required height so as to clear obstacles within the
yard, and by then throwing either one, or both, of the drums, O and O¹, into
operation, the carriages which travel on the elevated tracks, as well as the trolley
which travels upon the flexible track suspended between these carriages, may be
thrown into operation so as to carry the block, M, with the article suspended from
it to any point within the yard.
It is obvious that the operating drums, N, O, and O', may be operated simul-
taneously, without waiting one for the other, so that the processes of hoisting and
directing the course of the article suspended from block, M, may be simultaneous.
In the operation of a so-called travelling crane, as is well known, the operations of
raising an article from the ground and then carrying it to the point where it is to
be deposited, involves at least two, and usually three, separate and successive
operations, viz., first, the elevating of the article from the ground, and second, the
movement of the carriage in a longitudinal direction, to which motion is usually
added a motion in a transverse direction. But by my system of ropes and
sheaves &c., these three compound motions or movements may be effected simul-
taneously by simultaneously operating the three drums, N, O, and O', thus saving
considerable time. Again, it will be observed that the arrangement of the
stationary and movable sheaves, appertaining, respectively, to the stationary tracks
and movable carriages, is such as to form compound blocks so as to greatly reduce
the power required to lift and move an article of given weight. In other words,
instead of mounting the several sheaves appertaining to a compound block within
a common shell, the sheaves are distributed over a wide area and sometimes at
right angles to one another, yet effecting the same result as in an ordinary
compound block, viz., reducing the power required to perform certain work to a
minimum.
i
Another important advantage resulting from my invention as hereinbefore
described, is this, that the operator is enabled to manipulate the entire combination
of movements from an elevated commanding point, which is stationary, and from
which he can control and regulate all movements of the hoisting rope and trolley.
By sufficiently elevating the cage which contains the operating machinery, as
herein before described, the operator has a complete bird's eye view of the entire
field before him, which enables him to direct, with absolute accuracy, the delivery
of the article to be carried by the trolley, as well as to direct the movement of
the carrying trolley to the proper point where the article is to be grasped and
lifted. It is needless to point out that, in this manner, great saving of time as well
as labor may be effected, while, at the same time, the whole operation, from
beginning to end, can be supervised and managed by a single person having control
of the operating mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of the hoisting drum, N, rope, 1, sheaves, l, m, n, o, d, f,
and c; trolley, J, and hoisting block, M; substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and set forth.
2. The combination of the drum, O, rope, 3, and sheaves u, i¹, v, y, a', p,
3 and q;
travellers, I, and I'; trolley J, and hoisting block, M; substantially as and for the
purpose herein shown and set forth.
3. The combination of the carriage or traveller, I, having sheaves, i, and ¹;
rope, 2 carriage or traveller, I', having sheaves, and 13³; sheaves, u, v, y, a¹, p, q,

page_text: s, t, w, a, and z; drum, O, trolley, J, and hoisting block, M, substantially as and
for the purpose herein shown and set forth.
4. The combination of the drum, O', rope, 4, sheaves, e, a, r, a, a³, and b;
trolley, J, and hoisting block, M; substantially as and for the purpose herein.
shown and set forth.
5. The carriage comprising the yoke, G, top traveller, H, having wheels, h, h
side traveller, I, having sheaves or grooved wheels, i and ¹; sheaves, e and f
journaled on a vertical shaft within the yoke and top and bottom guide sheaves, j
and k; substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.
6. In a hoisting and transfer system the combination with the elevated parallel
frames, and tracks, the sheaves, u, v, w, p, q, r, s, t, and, secured to said frames,.
the travelling vokes connected together by a rope or cable F, the sheaves, i, i,
secured to said yokes, the trolley having sheaves, L, L, and K, K, and the ropes
passing over said sheaves, the hoisting block and rope and means for transmitting
motion to said yokes, trolley and hoisting block, substantially as described.
7. The right hand carriage comprising the yoke, G¹, top traveller, H', having
wheels, side traveller, I', having sheaves or grooved pulleys, 2 and 3:
sheaves, a, b, c and d, journaled on a vertical axle within yoke, G'; and top and
bottom guide sheaves, j and k; substantially as and for the purpose herein shown
and set forth.
8. The combination of the drums, N, O, and O'; ropes 1, 2, 3, and 4; left hand.
carriage comprising the top traveller, H, side traveller, I, and yoke, G, with their
appropriate sheaves as described; right hand carriage comprising the top traveller, H',
side traveller I, and yoke, G', with their appropriate sheaves as described ;.
flexible track, F, connecting the yokes, G and G₁; trolley, J, and block, M ;
substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.
9. The combination of the stationary elevated tracks arranged parallel to each
other and in the same horizontal plane; the carriages running on said tracks.
and constructed as described; the flexible and movable track, F, connecting said
side carriages; the trolley, J, running upon the flexible track; hoisting block, M:
ropes 1, 2, 3, and 4; and drums or winches adapted to operate said ropes either
independent of or in combination with, one another; substantially as and for the
purpose herein shown and set forth.
10. The combination of the horizontal stringers or track supports, A ; yokes, E,
upper track plate, B, and lower track plates, C, overlapping, respectively, the
upper and under side of the stringer and leaving a narrow space between the
overlapping part of said track plates and the upper and under side of the body
of the stringer; substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.
11. The combination of the parallel stringers, A, top tracks, B, bottom tracks, C,.
left hand carriage having yoke, G, right hand carriage having yoke, G', flexible
track, F, connecting said yokes, G, and G', trolley, J, hoisting block, M,
ropes 1, 2, 3, and 4, hoisting drums N. O and O₁; and the set or series of
stationary and movable sheaves operating in conjunction with the aforesaid ropes,
carriages, trolley, and hoisting mechanism; substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and set forth.
12. In a hoisting and transfer apparatus, the combination with the compound
mechanism for effecting the movements of the hoisting and carrying trolley, of an
elevated cage containing the operating mechanism whereby the person in charge of
said mechanism is enabled to get a bird's eye view of the field of operation i.e., the-
field covered by the hoisting and transferring mechanism and its adjuncts,.
substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.
Dated this 27th day of March 1893
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant..