Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for Hauling Vessels up Rapids and other Places, and for other Hauling Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for
Hauling Vessels up Rapids and other Places, and for other
Hauling Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (a communication from abroad by Walter J. Hammond, of Sao Paulo,
in the Republic of Brazil) to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to winch and safety mechanism in connection with .
machinery or apparatus for hauling, and the invention is particularly applicable for
hauling vessels up rapids in rivers although it may be used for other hauling
purposes.
Hitherto the chain which has been passed over or around a wheel having stops and
grooves on its periphery to hold the said chain has been liable to slip and in so slipping
sometimes to break, thus endangering the safety of the vessel or other load being
hauled. Now by my invention I provide means to prevent the chain slipping, and if
by any chance the chain should break I also provide means for arresting it.
According to my invention I place a wheel (having its periphery formed to
correspond with the periphery of the chain wheel) above the chain wheel so that the
hauling chain passes between these two wheels. The axle of the upper wheel is carried
by a hinged arm which at its opposite or outer end is hinged to the main framework
of the hauling mechanism. There is a spindle threaded at its upper end which passes
through the hinged arm and through that part of the framework to which the hinged
arm is jointed; the spindle carries or is threaded into a collar having a washer at
bottom with a lug thereon to take into a correspondingly shaped recess in the hinged
arm so that by screwing down the collar on the spindle and washer the lug or pro-
jection is kept in the recess in the hinged arm. On the lower end of the spindle and
between it and the underside of the framework, there is a helical spring which as the
collar is brought down becomes compressed and in such manner as to keep the hinged
arm close to the framework and the top wheel close to the hauling chain wheel, the
said spring being strong enough to prevent the chain jumping out of its bed in the
chain wheel, but in the case of a jam of the chain occurring the spring allows
the upper wheel to rise a short distance from the lower wheel, thereby preventing
either of the wheels or their connections from breaking.
Provision is made for arresting the chain in the event of its breaking, by causing it
to pass over a platform and guide wheel which latter is mounted on arms fixed to a
spindle operated by a lever so that when the hauling commences the wheel can be
raised above the level of the platform in such manner that if the chain breaks, the
wheel falls to its original position and the chain is caught by catches which are
provided on the platform between it and the wheel; the chain being thus caught, a
pin may be passed between the links for greater security.
Friction rollers are or may be fitted at the bows, for example, three of such rollers
may be used one at bottom for the chain to travel over, and one on each side to take
the friction according to the direction in which the chain is travelling; by this means
the friction is reduced no matter at what angle the chain may be.
Dated the 6th day of December 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for
Hauling Vessels up Rapids and other Places, and for other
Hauling Purposes.
I, WILLIAM HORATIO HARFIELD, of Mansion House Buildings, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (a communication from abroad by Walter J. Hammond, of Sao Paulo,
in the Republic of Brazil) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvements relate to winch and safety mechanism in connection with
machinery or apparatus for hauling, and the invention is particularly applicable to
vessels hauling themselves up rapids in rivers by means of a chain laying along the
river bed and attached or anchored at the ends, although it may be used for other
hauling purposes.
Hitherto the chain which has been passed over or around a wheel having stops and
grooves on its periphery to hold the said chain has been liable to slip and, in so
slipping sometimes to break, thus endangering the safety of the vessel or other load
being hauled.
My invention has for object to prevent the chain from slipping and for this purpose
I employ a wheel adapted to press upon the links of the chain as they pass over the
chain wheel. In order to arrest the chain, in case, by any chance, it should break, I
provide a platform or stopper fitted with a rising and falling guide wheel over which
the chain is passed, so that, should the chain become broken the guide wheel
will be caused to fall and lower the chain into a recess or stop adapted to firmly
hold it.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section.
Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 is a central vertical section illustrating the means I employ in connection
with hauling machinery or apparatus for preventing the hauling chain from slipping.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating the means I employ for arresting the
chain in case of it breaking, the guide wheel and the chain which is being hauled,
being shewn in the position they occupy so long as the chain remains whole.
Figure 5 is a similar view but shewing the position assumed by the guide wheel
and chain in case of the latter becoming broken."
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5 partly in section.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
I will first describe my improvements by reference to Figures 1 to 3.
a is the chain wheel over which the chain b Figure 1 passes in the usual manner
when being hauled, and c c are guide wheels for the said chain, all of ordinary
construction.
d is my wheel adapted to press upon the links of the chain as they pass over the
chain wheel a. The periphery of the said wheel d is for this purpose formed with
teeth to correspond with the intervals between the teeth of the chain wheel a, the
wheel d being placed above the chain wheel so that the hauling chain passes between
them.
The chain wheel may be driven by hand or steam power in any convenient manner.
The axle d' of the wheel d is carried by an arm e which at its opposite end is hinged
at f to the main framework g of the hauling mechanisın. A spindle screw-threaded
at its upper end passes through the hinged arm e and through that part of the frame-
work g to which the hinged arm e is jointed; over the screw-threaded part of the
spindle h works a hand wheel i having a sleeve or extended boss ; and a washer k at
the bottom having lugs thereon which bear in recesses m in the hinged arm e.
On the lower end of the spindle h, and between it and the underside of the frame-

page_text: work 9: is a helical spring n which as the hand wheel i is screwed down becomes
compressed and thereby keeps the hinged arm e close to the framework g and the
wheel d in close contact with the hauling chain-wheel a the said spring n being strong
enough to prevent the chain b from jumping out of its bed in the chain wheel; in the
case of the chain becoming jammed, however, the spring n will allow the wheel d to
rise a short distance from the chain wheel a thereby preventing either of the wheels a
or d or their connections from breaking.
Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 I will describe the means I provide for
arresting the chain b in the event of its breaking. For this purpose I cause it to pass
over a platform o and a guide wheel p which latter is mounted in arms q fixed to a
spindle operated by a lever s so that when the hauling commences in the direction
of the arrow Figure 4 the wheel p can be raised from the position shewn in Figures 5
and 6 above the level of the platform o as shown in Figure 4. Should the chain >>
break, the wheel p would be carried by the chain to its lowered position as in
Figures 5 and 6, the chain, in falling, being caught in the recess t provided on the
platform or stopper o; the chain being thus caught, a pin u can be passed between
the links for greater security.
It will be obvious that friction rollers may be fitted at the bows of the vessel, for
example, three of such rollers may be used, one at the bottom for the chain to travel
over, and one on each side to take the friction according to the direction in which the
chain is travelling; by this means the friction is reduced no matter at what angle the
chain may be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The combination with the chain wheel of machinery or apparatus for hauling
vessels up rapids and other places and for other hauling purposes, of a wheel adapted
to press upon the links of the hauling chain in such a manner as to keep them from
rising or slipping over the stops or teeth in the chain wheel substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with machinery or apparatus for hauling vessels up rapids and
other places and for other hauling purposes of a chain platform or stopper having a
rising and falling guide wheel over which the chain is passed and a recess or stop
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4,
5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved hauling machinery hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved chain platform or stopper hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of September 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.