Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Aug., 1888
I, SAMUEL GREEN BENNETT of Tresleigh, Ox Hill Road, Handsworth in the county
of Stafford, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of an arrangement by means of which absolute safety is
secured to a hoist or lift when the chains or ropes from which same is suspended are
accidentally broken or when the elevator does not act properly.
The elevator or machine for working the hoist may be of any ordinary type, while
the hoist is worked in the usual manner by means of chains or ropes. The hoist
is fitted with the ordinary guide frame which is constructed of wood or iron as may
be most convenient. To this guide frame is attached an additional guide. This
additional guide is constructed preferably of cast iron, wrought iron being occasionally
employed, partially, for same. It is of suitable lengths and joined together by means
of bolts and nuts or other methods so as to make it into one continuous vertical guide.
This additional guide is generally secured to one side of the usual guide frame being
equal in height to same. It is constructed of any suitable section and is provided
with slot holes about 2 feet apart or at any convenient distance to suit the require-
ments of the hoist. In each of these slots there is fixed a central spindle or pin on
which a flat piece of iron, which I call a step, is loosely mounted, so as to allow it to
be raised when required, and at other times to fall or drop as far as the slot will allow
it, by its own gravity. When it thus drops it projects into and beyond the body of
the guide frame sufficiently far to prevent the cage passing it. When therefore
owing to some accident the cage falls, its descent is effectually prevented by the next
step. It will thus be seen that the additional guide presents a series of steps each of
which would prevent the fall of the cage.
When the cage is required to descend, the steps have to be raised to allow it to pass.
I therefore attach to the back of each step a continuation or "horn," the same being
preferably jointed to the step. To the winding drum attached to the elevator I fix a
light chain which is conveyed over a pulley at the bottom of the hoist, vertically to
077

page_text: the top of the guide frame. It thence descends again to the bottom of the guide
frame its traverse being in the same direction, and at the same speed, as the cage. In
a suitable position 1 fix a series of "strikers" which are constructed preferably
of iron, with surfaces at an inclined plane to the chain, such inclination being for
purpose of ensuring easy working. The number of the strikers would depend upon
the depth of the cage, generally however about three strikers being employed.
These strikers when descending strike the horn attached to the step and lower same
to allow the striker to pass. This of course lifts the step so that it becomes flush with
the guide frame. The first striker just precedes the cage thus lifting the step as the
cage approaches that portion of the guide frame, each step being lifted in succession
as it continues to descend. I generally construct the side of the cage where the steps
operate with recesses or slots, and in a cage of ordinary height should use say two of
such slots. This would prevent the cage falling so far as it otherwise would do, since
one or other of the steps would almost instantly enter one of the slots, or engage the
bottom of the cage.
As however the steps would by their own gravity fall into the
said slots they are prevented from so doing by providing a sufficient number of
strikers to lift the whole of the steps presented to the side of the cage when it passes.
The position of such strikers is accurately timed by placing them on an adjustable rod.
The chain which actuates the strikers is generally independent of the cage ropes or
chains and where it forms a continuation of them it is made much lighter for the
striking gear.
It is evident that when the cage is being raised it lifts each step in succession and
allows each striker to pass the step thus raised-When the cage is descending however
the strikers precede the cage and lift the steps. When the chains or ropes break, the
striking gear at once ceases to operate as the drum of the elevator ceases to revolve,
and thus the steps projecting into the guide frame prevent the cage descending.
Dated this 26th day of September 1887.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Hoists or Lifts.
1 SAMUEL GREEN BENNETT of Tresleigh, Ox Hill Road, Handsworth, in the county
of Stafford, 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 :-
This invention consists of an arrangement by means of which absolute safety is
secured to a hoist or lift, when the chains or ropes from which the same is suspended,
are accidentally broken, or when the elevator does not act properly.
The elevator or machine for working the hoist may be of any ordinary type, while
the hoist is worked in the usual manner by means of chains or ropes. The hoist
is fitted with the ordinary guide frame which is constructed of wood or iron, as may
be most convenient. To this guide frame is attached an additional guide. This
additional guide is constructed preferably of cast iron, wrought iron, or timber, being
occasionally employed for same. It is of suitable lengths and jointed together by
means of bolts and nuts, or other methods, so as to make it into one continuous vertical
guide. This additional guide is generally secured to one side of the usual guide
frame being equal in height to same. It is constructed of any suitable section and is"
provided with slot holes about 2 feet apart, or at any convenient distance, to suit the
requirements of the hoist. In each of these slots there is fixed a central spindle
or pin, on which a flat piece of iron which I call a step, is loosely mounted, so as to
allow it to be raised when required, and at other times to fall or drop as far as the
slot will allow it, by its own gravity. When it thus drops it projects into and beyond
When
the body of the guide frame sufficiently far to prevent the cage passing it.
therefore owing to some accident the cage falls, its descent is effectually prevented by
the next step. It will thus be seen that the additional guide presents a series of steps,
cach of which would provent the fall of the cage.
When the cage is required to descend, the steps have to be raised to allow it to pass.
I therefore attach to the back of each step a continuation or "horn," the same being
preferably jointed to the step. To the winding drum attached to the Elevator 1 fix
a light chain which is conveyed over a pulley at the bottom of the hoist vertically to
the top of the guide frame. It then descends again to the bottom of the guide frame,
its traverse being in the same direction, and at the same speed as the cage. In
a suitable position I fix a series of "strikers" which are constructed, preferably
of iron, with surfaces at an inclined plane to the chain, such inclination being for the
purpose of ensuring easy working. The number of the strikers would depend upon
the depth of the cage, generally however about 3 strikers being employed. These
strikers when descending strike the horn attached to the step, and lower same to
allow the striker to pass. This of course lifts the step so that it becomes flush with
the guide frame. The first striker just precedes the cage thus lifting the step as the
cage approaches that portion of the guide frame, each step being lifted in succession
as it continues to descend. I generally construct the side of the cage where the steps

page_text: operate, with recesses or slots and in a cage of ordinary height should use say two of
such slots. This would prevent the cage falling so far as it otherwise would (lo, since
one or other of the steps would almost instantly enter one of the slots, or engage the
bottom of the cage.
As however the steps would by their own gravity fall into the
said slots, they are prevented from so doing, by providing a sufficient number of
strikers to lift the whole of the steps presented to the side of the cage when it passes.
The position of such strikers is accurately timed by placing them on an adjustable rod.
The chain which actuates the strikers is generally independent of the cage ropes or
chains and where it forms a continuation of them it is made much lighter for the
striking gear. It is evident that when the cage is being raised, it lifts each step in
succession and allows each striker to pass the step thus raised. When the cage
is descending however the strikers precede the cage, and lift the steps. When
the chains or ropes break, the striking gear at once ceases to operate, as the drum of
the elevator ceases to revolve, and thus the steps projecting into the guide frame
prevent the cage descending.
The details of my invention will be further ascertained by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shews a front elevation of the hoist: Fig. 2
the details of one length of the cast iron additional guide with the strikers; Fig. 3 રા
sectional plan of same: Fig. 4 a side elevation of cage with a modification in the
form of guide frame and strikers: Fig. 5 a front view of part of the supporting frame
shown in Fig. 4.
The cage is shewn at A the usual guide frame at B, the additional guide at 0,.
which is sometimes made of cast iron in suitable lengths and jointed as at D. Fig. 2.
or is constructed of wrought channel iron as E. Fig. 4 & 5. The guide C. the
enlarged details of which are shewn at D & E contains a series of steps F. which are
loosely mounted on a spindle G which permits the step to fall by its own gravity, so
that it projects beyond the body of the guide frame as shewn. The steps are provided
with a continuation H which sometimes is jointed to the step as shewn at I Fig. 2
but is generally plain as shewn in Fig. 4. These steps are continued generally to the
level of the top floor of the hoist, but it is not necessary they should extend to
the hottom of hoist well, but only to the bottom floor. They can also be applied
to one side of the cage only, as in Fig. 1, or to both sides as would be the case
in Fig. 4, the latter form generally being preferred.
The winding drum J Fig. 1 actuates the light chain K which is conveyed to
the top of the guide frame as shewn in drawing, when it descends again towards the
bottom of the cage, its traverse being in the same direction and at the same speed as
the cage. To this chain a series of strikers L are attached. These strikers are
mounted on a frame M which may be constructed tubular and weighted with shot
when required. When the chain K is an endless one, it is evident the striker frame
need not be weighted. The strikers may be constructed of various designs as long as
they raise the above mentioned steps. In Fig. 2. I shew a cheap arrangement
mounted on a rod, each striker L being adjusted by means of the screws and nuts as
shewn the strikers being provided with ears through which the guide ropes or wires
pass as shewn at N Fig. 3. A superior arrangement of strikers is shown at Fig. 4
each striker consisting of a roller O, which is sometimes covered with leather or
india rubber, to make the roller noiseless. These rollers are mounted on levers P and
are kept in a horizontal position by means of the balance weights Q. These rollers.
engage the horns just at the right moment to lift the steps F and thus allow the cage
to pass. To the frame on which the rollers are fixed an indicator R is secured which
projecting through a slot S. into the cage, shows at once when any adjustment of the
frame is required, which is readily obtained by the screw and nut at T.
;
In some places the striking gear is placed at right angles to the cage as shewn at
Fig. 2 & 3 where the strikers are made to engage in recesses U in the side of the cage.
In other cases the arrangement in Fig. 4 and 5 is adopted where on each side of the
cage I attach the supporting frame V which is securely attached to the cage as shewn.
In this supporting frame I arrange at suitable distances, the transverse rests or bars W
each one of which engages in its turn with the steps. In these rests I generally place

page_text: india rubber cushions X which if the cage falls, would reduce the vibration when they
rest upon the steps.
In order to cheapen the cost of erecting these hoists I frequently construct the guides
of wood as in an ordinary hoist, and at suitable distances I screw or otherwise attach,
a short cast or wrought iron frame, somewhat similar in shape to those attached to the
channel iron guides shewn in Fig. 4. These frames support both ends of the spindles
on which the steps are mounted. To transmit equally the strain I employ a wrought
iron strap, of convenient section, which is bolted or secured to the said wooden guide,
and which would act also as a guide for the cage. It will be readily seen that this
arrangement enables my invention to be applied to existing hoists.
When a double set of steps are employed the light chain K is attached to the
additional chain which works the extra set of steps by means of a shacklo or any
convenient method.
Of course the steps can be applied to the hoist at any angle, or if preferred they may
work horizontally, in which case they would be retained in the position required to
intercept the cage by means of springs or other convenient method of operating them,
the strikers suitably arranged being used for moving them to allow the cage to pass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1 The construction and use of safety steps as described in the foregoing specifica-
tion, or any modification thereof embodying the principle of the invention, when used
in combination with any hoist or elevator of any description, or applied at any angle.
2 The construction and use of the strikers for actuating the steps as described in the
foregoing specification, or any modification thereof.
3 The combination of the safety steps with the striking gear, together with the use
of the chain or rope K for actuating the striking gear.
4. The construction and combination of the parts constituting the supporting
frame V for carrying the cage in case of accident.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of July 1888.