IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Bell, of Great Ryburgh, Fakenham, in the County
of Norfolk, Smith, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
LIFTING CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Bell at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1881.
PHILIP BELL, of Great Ryburgh, Fakenham, in the County of Norfolk, Smith,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES.'>
My Invention consists of improved means of transmitting and applying the
power to and actuating the lifting rams of carraige lifters, whereby the power is '
applied or directed to the upper and lower end of the lifting ram at the same time,
by which means a steady and direct action is secured to the lifter.
In carrying my Invention into practice the power is first applied to the end of,
a lever, which takes its fulcrum from a bracket attached to a hollow column or
main standard of the lifter formed with the said lever, and projecting beyond the
fulcrum on which it radiates is a quadrant, the periphery of which is formed with
teeth which gear into a rack on the upper end of the lifting ram, so as to impart
a lifting or upward and downward motion to the aforesaid ram which works in the
hollow of the main standard or column; the end of the lever to which the power is
applied is formed with a curved or cam shaped slot in which works one end of a
link or connecting rod, the object of which is to transmit part of the power exerted
on the aforesaid lever and assist in actuating the lifting ram at its lower end,
which is formed with a rack to which the power and motion imparted to the said
link or connecting rod is transmitted by its connection with a short lever or lug
on a quadrant, the periphery of which is formed with teeth gearing into a pinion
working in the rack on the lower end of the lifting ram aforesaid, to which is
attached a spring catch or its equivalent so arranged as to fall into any of a series
of recesses formed in the main column or standard, so as to set or retain the ram
.

page_text: in position after having effected the lift; the said catch is worked or controlled
by means of a cord or chain to which it is attached, and which is led and connected
to the end or handle of the lever to which the power is first applied, so as to enable
the operator to fix or release the lifting ram at any desired position without
removing his hand from the said lever.
The said lifting ram is also fitted with moveable projecting arm or bracket,
made to fit into any one of a number of recesses formed on the said ram at suitable
distances to admit of the said arm or bracket being adjusted to lifts for which the
head of the said ram would be unsuitable. The bottom or foot of the main
column or standard is formed with studs or spikes for the purpose of improving its
holding power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Philip Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd September
1881.
PHILIP BELL, of Great Ryburgh, Fakenham, in the County of Norfolk, Smith.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
My Invention consists in improved means or apparatus for transmitting and
applying the power to and actuating the lifting rams of carriage lifters, in such a
manner that the power is applied or directed to the upper and lower ends of the
lifting ram at the same time, so that a steady and direct action is secured to the
lifter.
In carrying my Invention into practice the power is first applied to the end of
a lever, which has its fulcrum in a bracket attached to or forming part of the
hollow column or main standard of the lifter. The said lever has formed upon it
and projecting beyond the fulcrum on which it is free to turn a quadrant, whose
periphery is formed with teeth which gear into the teeth of a rack on the upper
end of the lifting ram, so as to impart a lifting or an upward and downward
motion to the said ram.
This ram works in the aforesaid hollow main standard or column. The end of
the lever to which the power is applied is formed with a curved or cam shaped
slot, in which works one end of a link or connecting rod, whose object is to transmit
part of the power exerted on the aforesaid lever and assist in actuating the
toothed lifting ram at its lower end. The power and motion imparted to the said
link or connecting rod is transmitted to the aforesaid toothed rack by the
connection of the said rod with a short arm or lug on a quadrant, whose periphery
is formed with teeth which gear into a pinion working in the rack on the lower
end of the lifting ram. To the latter is attached a spring catch, or its equivalent,
so arranged as to fall into any one of a series of recesses or teeth formed in the
main column or standard, so as to set or retain the ram in position after having
effected the lift or upward movement of the same.
Instead however of employing
the said spring catch to engage with recesses in the standard I prefer to use a
thumb screw which passes through the said column, and when screwed up engages
with the lifting ram so as to retain the same in the desired position. The bottom
or foot of the main column or standard is formed with studs or spikes for the
purpose of improving its holding power.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention I will now proceed to
more fully describe the manner of performing the same, with reference to the
accompanying Drawing, which represents my improved apparatus in side
elevation.
The power is first applied to the end of the lever (a), which is fulcrummed to
the bracket (b) attached to or forming part of the hollow standard or column (c).
The end of this lever (a) is connected to or has formed on it a quadrant (d), whose
periphery is formed with teeth which gear into the rack formed on the lifting
ram (e), to which is thus imparted an upward and downward movement on the
working of the lever (a).
The end of this lever (a) is provided with a slot (f), in which is fitted the
moveable pin (g) attached to the connecting rod (h). The latter is connected by
the pin (i) to an arm or lug on the quadrant (j), which gears into the pinion (k)
that imparts motion to the lifting ram (e) with which it gears; (g¹) is a thumb
nut which may be used to clamp the lever (a) and rod (h) together and prevent
the movement of the lifting ram.
To facilitate the raising of vehicles having low axletrees I provide the lifting

page_text: ram (e) with a screw stud (i), on which a bracket or foot (m) is adapted to be
screwed. The screw threaded aperture in this foot (m) occupies such a position
with regard to the lifting surfaces of the said foot, that by turning the latter to
the extent of one half of a revolution upon the screw threaded stud, the said foot
may be adapted to raise axletrees of different heights.
In some cases, and more particularly for raising light carriages, I dispense with
the connecting rod (h) the quadrant () and gear wheel (k), and employ the
lever (a) having the quadrant (d) on its end, only, for the purpose of raising and
lowering the toothed ram (e).
•
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it
understood that I claim,-
The apparatus or mechanism, consisting of the parts constructed, combined, and
operating substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Bell, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one..
PHILIP BELL. (L.S.)