Improvements in Travelling Cranes and other Cranes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Travelling Cranes and other Cranes.
We TANGYES Limited of Cornwall Works Soho in the County of Stafford
Engineers and THOMAS MEACOCK of No. 2 Waverhill Road Handsworth in the
County of Stafford Mechanical Engineer and CHARLES PENDLEBURY of No. 18
Linwood Road Handsworth aforesaid Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of tbis Invention to be as follows:-
The said invention has reference principally to cranes of the kind called travelling
cranes but the said invention is also applicable either wholly or in part to other
cranes such for example as foundry forge and warehouse cranes.
We will describe the said invention in connection with a travelling crane.
The improvements constituting the said invention consist principally in the con-
struction and arrangements of parts of hydraulic machinery hereinafter described
whereby the essential motions of the crane are effected by hydraulic power without
the use of telescopic pipe connections or other like connections. The said invention
further consists of the method hereinafter described of packing the pistons of the
hydraulic machinery which is employed.
In constructing a travelling crane according to the said invention we effect the
longitudinal motion of the cross girder on the gantry or rail path by the ordinary
cord rope shaft driving or hand gear.
We effect the motion of the carriage or
runner on the cross girder and also the motion of the lifting and lowering chain
carried by the said carriage or runner by means of the hydraulic mechanism and
appliances which we will proceed to describe..
We fix to the cross girder a pump or pumps preferably of the three throw type
the said pump or pumps supplying water or other liquid to hydraulic cylinders
the rams or plungers of which effect the required motions. A suction tank for
supplying water to the said pump or pumps is carried by the cross girder. The
capacity of the said tank is but little greater than the capacity of the pump or
pumps and the hydraulic cylinders as the water after having effected under pressure
the required motions is returned to the tank through a controlling valve operated
by the attendant. The pump or pumps may either be worked from the cord wire
rope or shaft gearing herein before referred to or by an independent motive power
such for example as an electro-motor.
The hydraulic cylinders we employ are of the usual multiple chain or rope type
either of single or double power each having a protruding ram with one or more
sheaves mounted at its head over which sheave or sheaves the multiplying chain
passes.
We preferably employ one hydraulic cylinder near one end of the cross girder
to effect the raising and lowering of the load and two hydraulic cylinders one near
one end and the other near the other end of the cross girder for effecting the
cross travelling backwards and forwards of the carriage or runner from which the
load is suspended. The several motions of the acting parts of the crane are con-
trolled by hand cords levers or rods which put to pressure or exhaust the hydraulic
cylinders.
The said cords or rods are in pairs one pair for controlling the lifting and
lowering of the load and another pair for the cross travel of the carriage or
runner on the girder. There is also another pair for effecting in the ordinary
way the longitudinal travel of the cross girder on the gantry or rail path. The
last named has no connection with the hydraulic machinery. By pulling one or
other of the cords of the first two pairs of cords referred to the cross travelling
of the carriage or runner in one or other direction on the girder. may be effected.
By pulling one or other of the cords of the other pair the raising and lowering

page_text: of the load may be effected. In some cases we effect the cross or travelling
motion of the carriage on the cross girder in the usual way, restricting the application
of hydraulic power to the raising and lowering of the load.
The lowering of the load is effected by putting the working valve in a position
to permit of the discharge of the contents of the hydraulic cylinder into the tank.
By opening the said valve slightly the slow escape of the water from the cylinder
into the tank permits only of the slow descent of the load which is of importance
in foundry and other work. The load can also be raised slowly by only slightly
opening the pressure valve. In this case the pump forces a portion of its water
through an automatic spring controlling or relief valve. A valve is fixed on the
exhaust pipe and automatically provides a large opening for lowering light loads
the opening automatically contracting when heavy loads are being lowered the
lowering thus being effected at a safe speed.
In order to indicate to the attendant the respective positions of the parts operated
upon by the cords each pair of cords is provided with an automatic adjustable
indicator. The said indicator consists of a rod connecting the lower ends of the
pair of ropes its normal position being horizontal. This rod carries at its middle
a weighted pointer which is always vertical. A light semi-circular dial is fixed
at its ends to the ropes and its ends are marked respectively "lift" and "lower."
By pulling the cord carrying the end of the dial marked "lift" the lifting of the
load is effected and by pulling the cord marked "lower" the lowering of the load
is effected. When the parts operated upon by the cords are at rest, the pointer
points to a sign on the dial indicating that the parts are at rest.
In order to permit of the packing and repacking of the rams of the hydraulic
cylinders with the ordinary shaped packing rings without disturbing the ram head
sheave bracket we employ a detachable sliding head which when the ram is fully
protruded from its cylinder permits of the removal of the old packing ring and
the substitution of a new one. We sometimes employ a metal ring divided
diametrically in halves for holding the packing in position.
or a
In order to utilise and economise power in the lifting or traversing of a load
that is in order to absorb the full hydraulic power in raising a light load quickly
heavy load slowly we employ the tripping gear usually employed in hydraulic
presses. By applying the said gear to hydraulic cranes one or more of the pump
plungers may be tripped or put into circulation the other pump plungers being
driven by the full driving power deliver a less quantity of water at a propor-
tionately greater pressure which acts on a uniform or constant area of the operating
ram. The automatic action of the tripping gear is effected by the load being raised
effecting a pressure in the pump delivery main directly proportionate to the weight
of the said load thus tripping the pump plungers accordingly.
The application of our improvements either wholly or in part to forge cranes
foundry cranes and other cranes differs in no essential respect from their application
to a travelling crane as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1000
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Travelling Cranes and other Cranes.
We TANGYES Limited of Cornwall Works, Soho in the County of Stafford
Engineers and THOMAS MEACOCK of No. 2 Waverhill Road Handsworth in the
County of Stafford Mechanical Engineer and CHARLES PENDLEBURY of No. 18
Linwood Road Handsworth aforesaid Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement:-
The said invention has reference principally to cranes of the kind called travelling

page_text: cranes but the said invention is also applicable either wholly or in part to other cranes,
such for example as foundry forge and warehouse cranes.
We will describe the said invention in connection with a travelling crane.
The improvements constituting the said invention consist principally in the con-
struction and arrangements of parts of hydraulic machinery hereinafter described
whereby the essential motions of the crane are effected by hydraulic power without
the use of telescopic pipe connections or other like connections. The said invention
further consists of the method herein after described of packing the pistons of the
hydraulic machinery which is employed.
In constructing a travelling crane according to the said invention we effect the
longitudinal motion of the cross girder on the gantry or rail path by the ordinary
cord rope shaft driving or hand gear. We effect the motion of the carriage or
runner on the cross girder and also the motion of the lifting and lowering' chain
carried by the said carriage or runner by means of the hydraulic mechanism and
appliances which we will proceed to describe.
We fix to the cross girder a pump or pumps preferably of the three throw type,
the said pump or pumps supplying water or other liquid to hydraulic cylinders
the rams or plungers of which effect the required motions. The pump or pumps
may either be worked from the cord wire rope or shaft gearing hereinbefore referred
to or by an independent motive power such for example as an electro-motor.
The hydraulic cylinders we employ are of the usual multiple chain or rope type
either of single or double power cach having a protruding ram with one or
more sheaves mounted at its head over which sheave or sheaves the multiplying chain
passes.
We preferably employ one hydraulic cylinder near one end of the cross girder
to effect the raising and lowering of the load and two hydraulic cylinders one near
one end and the other near the other end of the cross girder for effecting the
cross travelling backwards and forwards of the carriage or runner from which the
load is suspended. The several motions of the acting parts of the crane are con-
trolled by pairs of hand cords, levers or rods which put to pressure or exhaust
the hydraulic cylinders the positions of the cords levers or rods being shown by the
automatic indicator herein after described.
In order to permit of the packing and repacking of the rams of the hydraulic
cylinders with the ordinary shaped packing rings without disturbing the ram head
sheave bracket, we employ a detachable sliding head which when the ram is fully pro-
truded from its cylinder permits of the removal of the old packing ring and the
substitution of a new one. We sometimes employ a metal ring divided diametrically
in halves for holding the packing in position.
In order to utilise and economise power in the lifting or traversing of a
load that is in order to absorb the full hydraulic power in raising a light
load quickly or a heavy load slowly we employ the tripping gear usually
employed in hydraulic presses. By applying the said gear to hydraulic cranes one
or more of the pump plungers may be tripped or put into circulation the other pump
plungers being driven by the full driving power deliver a less quantity of water at a
proportionately greater pressure which acts on a uniform or constant area of the
operating ram. The automatic action of the tripping gear is effected by the load
heing raised effecting a pressure in the pump delivery main directly proportionate to
the weight of the said load thus tripping the pump plungers accordingly.
The application of our improvements either wholly or in part to forge cranes foundry
cranes and other cranes differs in no essential respect from their application to a
travelling crane as hereinbefore described.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings
the manner in which the said invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent in side elevation and plan respectively an overhead
travelling crane constructed according to this invention the said crane being capable
of being worked either by an endless rope or a longitudinal shaft or an electric
motor.

page_text: Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 represent appliances or adjuncts which we
use in combination with the cranes and Figures 3, 34, 30 and 3° represent other cranes
containing the said improvements as hereinafter particularly explained. We will first
describe the crane represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The saine letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1 and 2:
a, a are the guides or cross girders of the travelling crane; bare the end carriages
of the crane the wheels c c of which carriages travel on the fixed rails or gantry dd
longitudinally in a forward or backward direction; e is the cross travelling carriage
or runner of the crane and fare the rails on which the said travelling carriage
or runner e travels transversely to the right or left; is an ordinary multiplying
chain or rope lift hydraulic cylinder for raising the load by the protrusion of its
ram acting through the medium of the chain and pulley block k. The end of the
chain is fixed at and the manner in which the chain passes from the sheave at
the end of the ram h to the runner or carriage e and pulley block k will be readily
traced by an examination of Figure 2. The carriage or runner e has a traversing or
cross motion given to it along the girders a, a by means of a pair of hydraulic
cylinders 1, 2 of the same kind as the hydraulic cylinder g, the rams m, n of the said
cylinders being connected to the runner or carriage e by the chain o. The protusion
of the ram m from its cylinder causes the runner e to be moved to the right
hand on the girders a, a and the protrusion of the ram n from its cylinder causes the
runner e to travel on the girders a, a in the opposite direction or to the left hand, the
said rains respectively operating upon the runner e through the medium of the chain o.
To one of the cross guides a is applied a set of pumps at p preferably of the three
throw type the said pumps being worked by the rotating shaft q. By means of these
pumps the charging of the respective hydraulic cylinders gland with water under
pressure is effected for performing the operations of the crane. A suction tank for
supplying water to the said pump or pumps is carried by one of the cross girders a.
The capacity of the said tank is but little greater than the capacity of the pump or
pumps and the hydraulic cylinders, as the water after having effected under pressure
the required motions is returned to the tank through a controlling valve operated by
the attendant.
7'
The longitudinal travelling of the girders and their end carriages b, balong the
rails d, d is effected by the cross gear shaft (connected to the travelling wheels c, c
of the said end carriages b, b) by a belt motion worked from the rotating shaft y of
the
pumps. The pump shaft q is rotated by means of an endless rope passing over
the pulleys s, & in the ordinary way; or the said shaft g may be driven in other ways
as for example by an electric motor fixed directly to the shaft the driving power in
each case being independent of the crane.
An auxiliary pump or gearing to facilitate the working of the crane by hand power
may be used.
The several motions of the acting parts of the crane are controlled by pairs of hand
cords or ropes, levers or rods which put to pressure or exhaust the hydraulic cylinders
the positions of the said ropes or cords or rods being shown by the automatic indicator
hereinafter described. The said cords or rods are in pairs one pair for controlling the
lifting and lowering of the load and another pair for the cross travel of the carriage
or runner e on the girders. There is also another pair for effecting in the ordinary
way the longitudinal travel of the cross girders and their end carriages on the gantry
or rail path d, d. The last named pair has no connection with the hydraulic
machinery. By pulling one or other of the cords of the first two pairs of cords
referred to the cross travelling of the carriage or runner e in one or other direction
on the girders inay be effected. By pulling one or other of the cords of the other
pair the raising and lowering of the load may be effected. In some cases we effect
the cross or travelling motion of the carriage or runner e on the cross girders a, a in
the usual way restricting the application of hydraulic power to the raising and
lowering of the load.
The lowering of the load is effected by putting the working valve in a position to
permit of the discharge of the contents of the bydraulic cylinder into the tank. By

page_text: opening the said valve slightly the slow escape of the water from the cylinder into
the tank permits only of the slow descent of the load which is of importance in
foundry or other work. The load can also be raised slowly by only slightly opening
the pressure valve.
In this case the pump forces a portion of its water through an automatic spring
controlling or relief valve hereinafter described and represented in Figure 4.
This valve is fixed on the exhaust pipe and automatically provides a large opening
or passage for lowering light loads, the opening or passage automatically contracting
when heavy loads are being lowered, the lowering thus being effected at a safe speed."
The automatic exhaust water controlling throttle valve is represented in vertical
section in Figure 4. The said valve is placed upon the exhaust pipe a¹, a², the part a
being in connection with the pump cylinders and the part a' passing to the tank. is
the valve casing in which is placed the concentric stem or spindle s' having a throttling
block t' at bottom and a guide rod u at top: ¹ is the operating spring pressing at top
against the bracket w¹ and at bottom upon the spindles through the circular
plate y, y are tension rods for holding down the top bracket w. By means of
the packing leakage between the spindle s¹ and the valve casing is prevented.
31
:
The operation and working of the valve is as follows When a heavy load being
lowered a considerable pressure exists in the exhaust pipe a¹, a² which pressure acting
upon the area of the spindle and block t' causes the said spindle and block to rise
against the resistance of the spring &¹. The throttle block of the valve is thereby
raised in the exhaust pipe a¹ a² and partially stops the flow of the exhaust water in
the said pipe. When a light load is being lowered there is only a slight pressure in
the pipe a¹, a hence the spring depresses the spindle sand block into the
positions represented in the drawing thereby giving a free passage for the exhaust
water to pass through the pipe a' into the tank. In this way the lowering of varying
loads is effected at a uniform speed.
We will now describe the automatic adjustable indicator for indicating to the
attendant the respective positions of the parts operated upon by the cords, each pair
of cords being provided with an indicator. The said indicator consists of a rod or
cross bar connecting the lower ends of the pair of ropes its normal position being
horizontal. This rod carries at its middle a weighted pointer which is always vertical.
A light semi-circular dial is fixed to the rod or cross bar and its ends are marked
respectively "lift" and "lower." By pulling the cord carrying the end of the dial
marked "lift" the lifting of the load is effected and by pulling the cord marked
lower the lowering of the load is effected. When the parts operated upon by
the cords are at rest the pointer is situated at the middle of the dial and points to a
sign indicating that the parts are at rest.
33
One of the pairs of controlling cords and its automatic indicator are represented in
Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale in front elevation in Figure 5 and side elevation
in Figure 6.
In the said Figures 1, 5 and 6 the pair of controlling cords or ropes is marked b²²:
2 is the cross bar or rod of the indicator connecting together the lower ends of the
ropes 62, the normal position of the said bar being horizontal. The said bar carries
the quadrant frame or dial c²² is a weighted lever turning on a centre on the cross
bar d, the upper arm g² of the said lever constituting a pointer for the dial c². The
said weighted pointer is always vertical.
"
The operating of the cords is effected as follows. To lower the load the handle of
one of the cords is pulled down when the word "lower on the dial is brought to the
vertical indicating pointer 2 and to raise the load the handle h³ of the other cord is
pulled down so as to bring the word "lift" on the dial to the indicating pointer g².
By the use of the indicator represented the respective positions of the parts are indi-
cated and the use of the crane facilitated.
The valves controlled by the cords described for putting the cylinders to pressure
or exhaust are of the ordinary stop and release type commonly used in bydraulic
cranes we therefore do not think it necessary to describe thei.
We will now describe our improved arrangement for packing and repacking .the.

page_text: rams or plungers of the hydraulic cylinders of cranes without having to disconnect
the rams or plungers. This arrangement is represented in Figures 7, 8 and 9. In
Figure 7 the detachable head of the ram is represented connected to the hydraulic
cylinder and in Figure 8 detached from the hydraulic cylinder.
is the hydraulic cylinder and c' the ram or plunger; e' is the sliding detachable
head of the ram or plunger the said head being bolted to the cylinder d by the
flange and bolts g, the number of the said bolts being varied according to the size
of the cylinder employed: ', ' are the ordinary U shaped packing rings fitted in.
recesses in the sliding head of the ram and mouth of the cylinder as represented,
the packing ring in the head el being kept in its place by the semi-circular metal
rings. By removing the bolts at g₁ the detachable head e can be moved on its ram
and by fully protruding the ram from its cylinder, as seen in Figure 8, the old packing
rings may be removed and replaced by new ones.
Figure 10 represents the same arrangement of sliding detachable head as last
described but instead of using U shaped packing rings, an ordinary hat shaped
packing ring marked 2 is used, the said packing ring ² being kept in position by the
ring, made in halves.
We will now describe the tripping gear which we combine with the pump for the
purpose herein before pointed out.
The said tripping gear is represented in side elevation, partly in section, in
Figure 11 and in end elevation in Figure 12 in combination with a portion of the
pump of the crane.
is the pump plunger and d² the pump cylinder; is a trip valve fixed in any con-
venient position in the delivery pipe 2 of the pump. By means of the weight 12 at one
end of the lever m² acting through the strap n the valve is pressed down. The
weighted lever m² is connected through the rod o² and lever p² with the pump suction
valve q². Should the pressure in the pump delivery pipe become excessive the
trip valverises thereby lifting the weight and lever m² which lever acting through
the connecting rod o² and lever p² raises the pump suction valve q² and maintains it
off its seat until the pressure in the delivery pipe is diminished below the normal
pressure, when the parts return to the positions represented. By this means one or
more of the pump plungers is or are made temporarily to cease pumping into the
hydraulic cylinders of the crane thus facilitating the raising of light loads quickly
with all the plungers at work whereas for heavier loads the pumps trip to exhaust
automatically thus permitting the heavier loads being raised by greater pressure but at
slower speeds as herein before pointed out.
The tank for containing the suction water of the pumps and for receiving the
exhaust water may be placed in any convenient position on the girders or
guides a, a.
We will now describe the application of our invention to cranes other than power
worked overhead travelling cranes.
Figure 3 represents in side elevation a band driven overhead travelling crane and
Figure 3 a wall or foundry crane containing some of the improvements constituting this
invention. As the parts of the cranes Figures 3 and 34 are constructed and act substan-
tially in the manner hereinbefore described with respect to the crane Figures 1 and 2
we do not consider a further description of the same necessary.
We remark however
that the several parts of these cranes are marked with the same letters of reference as
corresponding parts of the crane Figures 1 and 2 and that the said hand cranes may
be worked from hanging chain bands t or they may be worked from rotary or
reciprocating handle or lover motions. In the foundry crane Figure 34 the hydraulic
cylinder and ram g, h for raising the load are arranged in the hollow vertical post or
upright of the crane as represented.
Figure 3 represents in side elevation a road or rail portable crane containing the
improvements and Figure 3° an end elevation of the carriage of the same. In the
said Figures 3 and 3, e is the carriage of the crane supported on the wheels c, c
travelling on the rails d, d: g h is the hydraulic cylinder and ram and j-the chain for
raising the load. The pulleys on the pump shaft q is rotated by an endless wire

page_text: rope band working in a groove or gutter below the level of the ground to
prevent obstruction. The rope is driven from any desired source of motive power
and any number of cranes may be operated from the same rope, the whole of the
operations of each crane being effected through the shaft q, that is, the lifting of the
load is effected by the hydraulic cylinder and ram and chain and the travel
of the crane along the rails d d is effected through an endless chain geared with the
rotating axis of the pulleys and axle of the crane carriage e. The slewing" or
swinging of the crane arm on its pivot or axis in either direction is effected by a
pair of cylinders m (one only of which is shown) pulling a chain 7 secured to the
central drum of the crane. The rope is deflected to the pulleys by the guide
rollers a¹, a¹ and the pulleys and guide rollers a¹, a' are carried by the bracket
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim as the said invention of "Improvements in travelling cranes and other
cranes":
First The combination with travelling cranes of the appliances hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings for
raising and lowering the load and for effecting the motion of the carriage or runner
on the cross girders or guides of the crane by hydraulic power substantially as
described and illustrated.
Secondly The adaptation to or the modifications of the hydraulic appliances
claimed in the prior claim to foundry, forge, warehouse and road or rail portable
cranes and other like cranes herein before described and illustrated in Figures 3A 3B
and 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly The automatic adjustable indicator hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings to be used with the pairs of
ropes, cords or rods by which the working valves of the hydraulic cylinders are
operated and the lifting and lowering of the load and the cross travel of the carriage
or runner on the girders or guides controlled.
Fourthly The construction and combination of the parts of the automatic spring
controlling or relief valve herein before described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the
accompanying Drawings, the said valve being placed in the exhaust water pipe in
connection with the pump tank for controlling the speeds of the loads being
lowered.
Fifthly The adaptation to or combination with the pump delivery mains of the
cranes of the tripping gear hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 11 and 12
of the accompanying Drawings for utilizing and economizing power in the lifting
or traversing of the load substantially as described and illustrated.
Sixthly The combination with the rams of the hydraulic cylinders of the cranes of
a detachable sliding bead constructed and used substantially in the manner berein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying
Drawings for facilitating the packing and repacking of the said rams.
Dated the Twenty-seventh day of November 1880.
TANGYES, LIMITED,
W. J. Parkins, Secretary.
THOMAS MEACOCK.
CHARLES PENDLEBURY.