Improvements in the Construction of Self-sustaining Hoists and Pulley Blocks, Applicable also to other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Self-sustaining Hoists and
Pulley Blocks, Applicable also to other Analogous Purposes.
We WILLIAM ROBERT HAY, of 16 Burlington Street, Ulverston, in the County
of Lancaster, and WILLIAM ARTHUR GROCOCK, of 20 Bucklersbury, in the City
of London, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates particularly to that class of lifting machinery known as
self-sustaining," in which an automatic brake comes into operation, by means of the
pressure exerted by the load; and is thrown out of operation by the motive power
applied at the driving end of the mechanism.
Some portions thereof are also applicable to other machines, in which an automatic
brake is required to sustain the load, upon the withdrawal of the motive power.
The object of our invention is to produce an automatic brake appliance which shall
be effectual in either direction in which the machine is turned, i.e. whether the load
tends to set the machine in motion in one direction or the opposite; which shall be
always free to revolve in either direction at the driving end of the machine; the
brake being automatically and instantaneously released ;- which shall be so arranged
that the brake may also be released by means of a lever, allowing the machine to
safely lower under perfect control in either direction, the load being operated upon,
with or without the assistance of further motive power; and which shall be of simple
construction.
In its simple form we carry out our invention as follows:-
A large wheel suitably grooved for the reception of a driving rope or chain, or
suitably formed to receive motion from any other driving medium, is conveniently
connected to another and smaller wheel, over which works the rope or chain for
suspending the load, by means of an extension of the wheel bosses or by a sleeve ;
the two wheels revolve upon a spindle or shaft, either fixed to the framework, or
free to revolve in fixed bearings on the same; at a certain point between the centres
of the driving and driven or hand and lift wheels, and on the same spindle or shaft,

page_text: .
a pivot or fulcrum is formed, in such a manner that, when power is applied for
raising or lowering the load on the one side, it to a limited extent raises or lowers
the other side, and releases a brake wheel from a brake strap or block in the usual
manner.
We make the fulcrum or pivot of the shape of a spheroidal bulb on the shaft or
spindle and the bearing or sleeve which works thereon is made in two parts,
securely connected together, in such a manner that the joint is situated in a line with
the centre of the bulb, and oach of the parts is turned out in a concave form suitable
to work thereon.
There is a certain amount of clearance at the extremities of the shaft or spindle on
either side of the bulb, from the bearing or sleeve, which extends in a gradually
reduced manner within to the bulb itself, where an easy working fit is provided.
There is also constructed, at or near the extremity of the oscillating bearing or sleeve,
a lever, surrounding by, a suitably made ring, the bearing or sleeve. The lever
works from a fixed fulcrum attached to the framework of the machine at one
extremity, and extends to a suitable termination at the other, for applying the
necessary power for quickly and easily loworing the load.
The action is as follows-
The weight of the load or of the lift cage and balance weight, deflects that end of
the bearing or sleeve on which the lift wheel is situated to a limited extent, and
raises the opposite end where the hand wheel is situated; thus applying a brake
wheel to a brake strap or block suitably fixed to the frame of the machine, with
sufficient force to sustain the load itself, and as the load increases or diminishes, in
like proportion the sustaining power is applied automatically..
On the other hand, when the band or driving rope or chain is pulled in a down-
ward direction, that end of the sleeve or bearing is deflected, and the brake-wheel at
the same time is free to revolve clear of the brake strap or block and the inside
bore of the sleeve or bearing revolves freely on the upper side of the shaft or spindle,
from the bulb to the extremity on that side of the machine. The before mentioned
lever, with a ring suitably formed to work at or near the extremity of this side of
the machine, allows the sleeve or bearing to deflect only in the direction of the are
struck from the contre of the fixed fulcrum of the lever, to the distance of the centro
of the sleeve as a radius; and, so long as this action is applied, the machine is free fo
revolve, irrespectively of the direction in which it is worked.
So long as the hand rope or chain is pulled the machine is free of the brake but,
immediately it is released, the weight of the load re-applies the brake, and, for
lowering quickly by the brake, the lever before mentioned is depressed at its
extremity, extended in a suitable manner; thus releasing the brake wheel from the
brake strap or block to any desired extent; and the liberation of the lever
allows the brake to be applied again automatically and instantaneously by the load
itself.
A cord may be attached to the end of this lover, and carried down through the
several floors of a building to give control to all levels.
Or the same result is obtained in precisely the same way with balls, in combination
with the bulb on the shaft or spindle, or, in lieu of the same, fitted in a groove or
grooves suitable to receive them, turned out of the shaft or spindle. The sleeve or
bearing works on these balls in a similar manner to that herein before described with
the bulb, and with or without any modification or combination of the bulb.
In multiple purchase lifts or hoists, with the power increased by means of toothed
wheels, we apply our invention as follows:-
The hand, or first motion shaft, is constructed similarly to the machine herein
before described, the hand-wheel being placed at or near the extremity of one end of
the sleeve or bearing, which revolves in a similar manner on the shaft or spindle;
and at or near the other extremity of the sleeve or bearing, is placed a small toothed-
wheel or pinion, in place of the before mentioned lift wheel, and a strap also is fixed
surrounding the periphery of the sleeve or bearing at this end, to which is attached
suspension bar, and which at its other end is attached to a frame suitably fixed for

page_text: carrying the necessary train of wheels and shafts, as may be requisite for the power
of lift desired, together with the lifting chain or rope wheel, and in such a manner
that the whole or part of the pressure of the load, may be applied for deflecting the
sleeve or bearing, and thus applying the brake automatically when required. This
power may also be provided for by the weight of the train of wheels alone, irrespectively
of the weight of the load on the lifting wheel shaft, and possesses the advantage of
producing less friction in the driving sleeve or bearing. The lowering lever is applied
to all theso modifications.
Our invention is also applicable to that class of lifting machinery, known as
pulley blocks, and the automatic brake is in this class of machine applied as
follows:-
11
The hand-chain or rope wheel is attached to a pinion by a suitable sleeve or con-
nection, which together are free to revolve on the periphery of the sleeve or bearing,
and which itself revolves on the shaft or spindle, as herein before described. On one
side of the pivot or fulcrum formed by the bulb or balls, this pinion gears into a
similar toothed-wheel, which is carried on a fixed spindle attached to an arm projecting
from the flange connecting the lift wheel to the before mentioned sleeve or bearing,
which sleeve revolves on the shaft or spindle on the other side of the pivot or fulcrum,
and the toothed-wheel, into which the pinion gears, also works into a fixed inverted
toothed-wheel, attached to the frame, in such a manner that it cannot revolve, but
causes the wheel working in its teeth to revolve within it, and thus to carry round
the lift wheel. The brake may be a block or strap, attached to the frame-work, and
the band wheel so made that it may be applied thereto in a similar manner to
that herein before described. The lowering lever also is applied in a similar
manner.
The devices above described are applicable to all kinds of lifting machinery, in
which the lifting mechanism is actuated by bolts, cords, ropes, or chains, and
which can be so arranged that the stress produced by the driving inedium on any
one shaft, shall have the effect of opposing and overcoming the stress produced by the
lond upon that shaft, and so lead to its oscillation, as herein before described, with the
bearing or sleeve.
The stress of the load may be acting in an upward, vertical, horizontal, or angular
direction; the use of a fow guide pulleys will in all cases bring the opposing stresses
into the requisito-direction.
The necessary arrangements are so obvious that they need not be more fully
described.
The arrangement of the oscillating sleeve or bearing and the friction brake with
spheroidal bulb or balls, or modifications of bulb or balls on the shaft or spindle,
may be introduced with advantage into many machines where a prompt stoppage is
required, immediately the driving or driven power medium is released.
"
In place of the lever suspended from a fixed fulcrum, to adequately apply the brake
in the required direction, and to avoid what is technically known as wobbling,"
suitable grooves or guides may be fixed for that purpose.
Dated Oth Anil 1888
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Pulley Blocks, Applicable also to other Analogous Purposes.
Wo, WILLIAM ROBERT HAY, late of 16 Burlington Street, Ulverston, in the
County of Lancaster, but now of 23 Durham Street, Stockton on Tees, in the County
of Durham Engineer, and WILLIAM ARTHUR GROCOCK, late of 20 Bucklersbury, in
the City of London, but now of 9 Horse Market, Darlington, in the County of Durham,'
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Our invention relates particularly to that class of lifting machinery known as "Self-
sustaining"; in which an automatic brake comes into operation by means of the
pressure exerted by the load; and is thrown out of operation by the motive power
applied at the driving end of the mechanism.
Some portions thereof are also applicable to other machines, in which an
automatic brake is required to sustain the load, upon the withdrawal of the motive
power.
The object of our invention is to produce an automatic brake appliance, which
shall be effectual in either direction in which the machine is turned, i.e. whether the
load tends to set the machine in motion in one direction or the opposite :--which shall
be always free to revolve in either direction at the driving end of the machine; the
brake baing automatically and instantaneously released which shall be so arranged
that the brake may also be released by means of a lever, allowing the machine
to safely lower under perfect control in either direction, the load being operated
upon with or without the assistance of further motive power :-and which shall be
of simple construction.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts..
In its simple form we carry out our invention as follows:-
A large wheel 6 suitably grooved for the reception of a driving rope or chain &
(Figs. 2, 3, 14 and 15) or suitably formed to receive motion from any other driving
medium, is conveniently connected to another and smaller wheel c, over which works
the rope or chain y. (Figs. 2, 3, 14 and 15) for suspending the load, by means of an
extension of the wheel bosses, or by a sleeve, the two wheels b and c revolve upon
a spindle or shaft a, either fixed to the framework n, or free to revolve in fixed
bearings on the same.
At a certain point between the centres of the driving and driven, or hand and lift
wheels b and c, and on the same spindle or shaft a, (Figs. 1, 5, 8, 14, 20, 21, 22,
23 and 24) a pivot or fulcrum a¹ is formed, in such a manner that, when power is
applied for raising or lowering the load on the one side, by means of the wheel b, it,
to a limited extent, raises or lowers the other end carrying the wheel c, and releases

page_text: the brake wheel b' from a brake-strap or block g, (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 16)
in the asual manner.
The periphery of the wheel b is formed as shown in section
in Figs. 1 and 8 to engage the brake block g.
We make the fulcrum or pivot a¹ in
the form of a spheroidal bulb, on the shaft or spindle a; and the bearing or
sleeve j, k, which works thereon is made in two parts, as shewn in Figs. 1, 5, 8
and 14, securely connected together in such a manner that the joint is situated in a
line with the centre of the bulb, and each of the parts.j and k. is turned out in a
concave form suitable to work thereon.
The bearing jk. may be secured in the outer sleeve by means of grub screws,
as shown in section in Fig. 1, or the construction may be varied and otherwise
united as shown in Figs. 5, 7, 8, 14, 20, and 21, the portions of the sleeve being
united by bolts Z.
There is a certain amount of clearance at the extremities of the shaft or
spindle a on either side of the bulb, from the bearing or sleevej k, which extends
in a gradually reduced manner within, to the bulb itself, where an easy working fit
is provided.
There is also constructed, at or near the extremity of the oscillating bearing or
sleeve k, a lever d, surrounding, by means of a suitably made ring, the bearing or
sleeve, see Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18 and 19. This lever works from a
fixed fulcrume attached to the framework of the machine, at one extremity,
extends to a suitable termination f, at the other, for applying the necessary power for
quickly and easily lowering the load.
The action is as follows
and
The weight of the load or of the lift Cage and balance weight, deflects that end of
the bearing or sleeve j, on which the lift-wheel is situated to a limited extent, and
raises the opposite end where the hand-wheel is situated; thus applying a brake
wheel to a brake-strap or block 9, suitably fixed to the frame w. (Figs. 1, 2, 7,
and 8) and (Figs. 3, 6, 15, and 16) of the machine, with sufficient force to sustain
the load itself, and as the load increases or diminishes in like proportion the sustaining
power is applied automatically. On the other hand, when the hand or driving rope
or chain is pulled in a downward direction, describing a compound curve, that
end of the sleeve or bearing k, is deflected, and the brake-wheel b', at the same time,
is free to revolve clear of the brake-strap or block g, and the inside bore of the sleeve
or bearing revolves freely on the upper side of the shaft or spindle a, from the bulb
to the extremity, on that side of the machine.
The before-mentioned lever, with a ring d, suitably formed to work at or near the
extremity of this side of the machine, allows the sleeve or bearing & to deflect in the
direction of the arc struck from the centre e of the fixed fulcrum of the lever, to
the distance of the centre of the sleeve, as a radius; and, so long as this action is
applied, the machine is free to revolve, irrespectively of the direction in which it is
worked. So long as the hand rope or chain is pulled, the machine is free of
the brake g, but, immediately it is released, the weight of the load re-applies the
brake-wheel b¹ to the brake g and for lowering quickly by the brake, the lever,
before-mentioned is depressed at its extremity, thus releasing the brake-wheel bi
from the brake-strap or block g, to any desired extent, and the liberation of
the lever, allows the brake to be applied again automatically and instantaneously
by the load itself.
The same result may be obtained in precisely the same manner with balls, in
combination with the bulb on the shaft or spindle a, (Figs. 20 and 22) or in lieu of
the same bulb, fitted in a groove or grooves suitable to receive them, turned out of the
shaft or spindle a (Figs. 21. 23 and 24). The sleeve or bearing jk works on these
balls in a similar manner to that herein before described with respect to the bulb and
with or without any modification or combination of the bulb.
A cord "
may be attached to the end of the lever and carried down
through the several floors of a building, to give control at all levels, (see Figs. 2.
3 and 15).
"
In multiple purchase lifts or hoists, with the power increased by means of toothed

page_text: wheels, we apply our invention as follows:-The hand or first motion shaft, is con-
structed similarly to the machine hereinbefore described, the hand wheel being placed
at or near the extremity of one end of the sleeve or bearing, which revolves in a
similar manner on the shaft or spindle; and at or near the other extremity of the
sleeve or bearing, is placed a small toothed wheel or pinion, in place of the before
mentioned lift wheel, a strap also is fixed surrounding the periphery of the sleeve
or bearing at this end, to which is attached a suspension bar and which at its other
end is attached to a frame suitably fixed for carrying the necessary train of wheels
and shafts, as may be requisite for the power of lift desired, together with the lifting
chuin, or rope wheel, and in such a manner that the whole or part of the pressure
of the load, may be applied for deflecting the sleeve or bearing, and thus applying
the brake automatically when required. This power may also be provided for by
the weight of the train of wheels alone, irrespectively of the weight of the load
on the lifting wheel shaft, and possesses the advantage of producing less friction in
the driving sleeve or bearing.
The lowering lever is applied to all these modifications.
Our invention is also applicable to that class of lifting machinery known as
Pulley Blocks, and the automatic brake is in this class of machine applied as
follows:-
The hand chain or rope wheel is attached to a pinion » by a suitable sleeve or
connection, as shown in Fig. 8 which together are free to revolve on the periphery
of the sleeve or bearing & and which itself revolves on the shaft or spindle a, as herein-
before described.
On one side of the pivot or fulcrum formed by the bulb or balls, this pinion gears
into a similar toothed-wheel q. (Figs. 8 and 12) which is carried on a fixed spindle s
attached to an arm projecting from the flanged end of connecting the lift
wheel c and the before mentioned sleeve or bearing, which sleeve or bearing j,
revolves on the shaft or spindle a on the other side of the pivot or fulcrum, to
the before mentioned sleeve or bearing; and the toothed wheel q into which the
pinion p gears, also works into a fixed inverted toothed wheel r. (Figs. 7, 8 and 11)
attached to the frame n by bolts ate and w, Fig. 7, in such a manner that it cannot
revolve, but causes the wheel 9 working in its teeth to revolve within it, and thus to
carry round the lift wheel c. The brake g may be a block or strap attached to the
frame work n, and the hand-wheel b. so made that it may be applied thereto in a similar
manner to that herein before described.
The block is hung by the suspending hook m, Figs. 7 and 8.
g
€
The lowering lever is applied as shewn in Figs 9 and 10, by firmly fitting one
end to a pin e, which pin works through the framework n, and on the other side is
firmly fitted the annular ring d surrounding the boss of the wheel 6 on one side, for
the purpose of relieving the periphery of the wheel from the brake block
(Fig. 8. The devices above described are applicable to all kinds of lifting machinery
in which the lifting mechanism is actuated by belts, cords, ropes, or chains;
and which can be so arranged that the stress produced by the driving medium on any
one shaft shall have the effect of opposing and over coming the stress produced by the
load upon that shaft, and so lead to its oscillation in a compound direction as herein- 4
heforo described with the bearing or sleevej k.
Fig. 17 is a section on the line 1-2 of Fig. 14.
Fig. 18. is a section on the line 3-4 of Fig. 14.
The stress of the load may be acting in an upward, vertical, horizontal, or angular
direction; the use of a few guide pulleys will in all cases bring the opposing stresses
into the requisite direction.
The necessary arrangements are so obvious that they need not be more fully
described. The arrangement of the compound oscillating, sleeve or bearing and the
friction brake, with spheroidal bulb or balls, or modifications of bulb or balls on the
shaft or spindle, may be introduced with advantage into many machines where a 5
prompt stoppage is required, immediately the driving or driven power medium is
released.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; we claim the following
features of our invention as being novel for the purposes described.
1. In the construction of self sustaining hoists and pulley blocks the applica-
tion and use of a spheroidal bulb pivot or fulcrum on a spindle or shaft,
combined with a concave bored sleeve or bearing formed in two parts surrounding
or working thereon; and its application to other analogous machinery for
automatically arresting motion by means of a friction brake substantially as
herein before described and shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 of the
drawings.
2. In the constraction of machinery as aforesaid the combination of bulb and balls
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs. 20
and 22 of the drawings.
3. In the construction of machinery as aforesaid the substitution of balls in lieu of
the said bulb substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn in
Figs. 21, 23 and 24 of the drawings.
4. In the construction of machinery as aforesaid the modification of the concave
bearing or sleeve substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 21 of
the drawings.
5. In the construction of machinery as aforesaid, the application and use of a
lowering lever, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown
at in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, and 19 of the drawings.
6. The general constructions, combinations and arrangements of the several and
respective parts together constituting our improvements in the construction of self
sustaining hoists and pulley blocks, applicable also to other analogous purposes,
substancially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 9th January 1889
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicants.