Improved Means for Regulating the Descent or Ascent of Hoists and other Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Regulating the Descent or Ascent of Hoists and
other Apparatus.
I, ALFREDO RAMONEDA HOLDER, of Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly describes and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improved means for regulating the descent or ascent of
hoists and other apparatus working between guides, whereby the upward or the
downward movement is prevented from taking place at a speed beyond that at which
the apparatus is constructed to work; such improved means comprising what may
be termed a gravity-safety-catch which comes into action or jams on any part of the
mechanism breaking or becoming deranged, and the movement of the hoist or other
apparatus reaching the desired limit of acceleration.
In the accompanying diagrams,
Fig. 1 represents in vertical section the recessed or notched guide and the part
of the framework of the hoist or cage containing the gravity-ball which enters
successively the recesses or notches in the guide the representation of the part of
the framework being repeated five times in order that the gravity-ball may be
shewn in five different positions.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section illustrating the action of the parts when the move-
ment of the apparatus is arrested by the gravity-safety-catch.
Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with Fig. 1, but shewing two gravity-safety-
catches instead of one.
Fig. 4 is a face view of the framework of the hoist or cage;
Fig. 5 being a corresponding view of the guide.
A is one of the stationary guides formed with recesses or notches A'. B is part
of the framework of the hoist or cage having a recess or notch B' containing a
gravity-ball C. The back of each recess or notch A is formed by inclines a and a';
the back of the recess B' being also formed by inclines band '.
If the hoist or cage be descending, as indicated by the arrow y, the ball (, under
the influence of gravity, rolls from position I off the inclined plane a' and is caused,
by contact with the end of the plane a', to roll up the inclined plane to
position II.
As the hoist or cage B continues to descend, the ball C, resting on
the plane, falls to position III out of contact with the end of the plane a', and
then begins to roll, under the influence of gravity, down the inclined plane and
against the inclined plane a to position IV, thence to position V and finally to
position I. The ball C enters each of the recesses A in succession; similar
movements taking place cach time the ball passes from one to another of the
recesses A¹.
Owing to the inertia of the ball C, if the hoist or cage B descend too rapidly,
the ball gets jamined between one of the inclined planes a' and the inclined plane b,
as shewn in Fig. 2; thereby arresting the movement of the hoist or cage.
to
When the hoist or cage is ascending, the ball C is forced up the inclined plane 61
by contact with each of the inclined planes a and rolls off the inclined plane
each of the inclined planes a' under the influence of gravity.
may
Instead of one gravity-ball, I prefer to use two gravity-balls (and C as shewn
in Fig. 3; the latter being contained in a recess B*. The ball (** and recess B*
be of precisely the same size and shape as the ball C and recess B. Under
these circumstances, the recesse: B and B are arranged at such a distance apart
that, when the ball is in position III, the ball (* may be in position ; one
ball or the other being thus ready to act immediately the hoist or cage acquires too
great a speed of descent or ascent.

page_text: :
It is obvious that instead of a ball C or balls C and C*, rollers may be employed;
the same result being accomplished.
The gravity-safety-catch above mentioned may be applied to only one, or to
more than one, of the guides between which the hoist or cage works.
This gravity-safety-catch may be used between adjacent surfaces of parts of
machines, where it is desired to control the speed of one of the parts, even if such
parts be at an inclination; provided that the degree of inclination is not sufficient
to prevent the rolling of the ball or roller from one recess to another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 claim :-
1. The improved means for regulating the descent or ascent of hoists and other
apparatus, arranged or operating substantially as herein described.
2. For regulating the descent or ascent of hoists and other apparatus, the com-
bination, with a guide A having recesses or notches A', of the framework of the
hoist or cage B having a recess or notch B¹, or recesses or notches B' and B*, con-
taining a ball or roller C, or balls or rollers C and Cx, substantially as herein
set forth.
Dated this 17th day of April 1891.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.