Improvements in Machinery for Taking Up Slack Chains or Ropes of Cranes, or other Machinery Working a Grab- bucket, Skip, Grab-fork, or similar Contrivances.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Taking Up Slack Chains or
Ropes of Cranes, or other Machinery Working a Grab-
bucket, Skip, Grab-fork, or similar Contrivances.
I, JAMES WILLIAM STYLES, of the Strand, Williamstown in the Colony of
Victoria, Pattern Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TAKING UP SLACK CHAINS OR BOPES OF
CRANES OR OTHER MACHINERY WORKING A GRAB-BUCKET, SKIP, GRAB-FORK OR
SIMILAR CONTRIVANCES" to be as follows:-
«
Prior to this invention it has been the custom in almost every case where a
weight is used to take up the slack chain of cranes or like contrivances to use
pitched" sheaves or pulleys recessed to receive and hold the chain from slipping.
These "pitched" pulleys or sheaves necessitate the use of chains having all the
links of equal dimensions and of the same "pitch" as the recesses in the pulleys
or sheaves, so that a rope cannot readily be substituted for a chain, while the
latter has sometimes to be of special make, and is therefore, not always obtainable
in the open market. Now, my invention admits of any ordinary chain, of suitable
strength, being used, as also, and by preference, of a rope.
As the
Furthermore, each pulley or sheave absorbs power by friction, so that where a
series of them are employed for taking in the slack of chains or ropes the loss of
power is very considerable. Now as the slack chains or ropes by my method would
be merely wound round a drum or drums the loss of power by friction would be
only nominal, as would also the wear and tear on the chains or ropes.
friction is small so therefore the weight actuating the winding barrels or drums
would be comparatively small also. The leaders or guides, and other parts could
of course, be made correspondingly light, and the whole contrivance having fewer
working parts than others, demands less attention from the person in charge.
The weight in my case is attached by a rope or chain to the smaller of two
drums which are keyed or otherwise fixed to a shaft:
These two barrels or drums are of suitable dimensions and can have spiral
grooves around them for winding a chain or rope into, or they can be made plain.
Said chain or rope passes upwards and over a flanged roller or sheave, fixed at a
suitable elevation, above the winding barrel or drum and thence downwards to the
smaller barrel or drum. (For this weight I would by preference take a pile driving
ram, so that if the motive power actuating the grab-crane or other contrivance,
should be used in driving piles, the weight described above would answer for part
of the pile driving plant.) This weight travels upwards and downwards and is
kept in position by leaders or guides, of metal or other material, "channel" iron
being preferred,

page_text: '
To the larger winding barrel or drum, I also attach either a chain or rope, the
latter by preference. This chain or rope is quite distinct from that on the lesser
winding barrel or drum and runs from the barrel or drum to, and passes over a
sheave placed at the jib-head of the crane and thence passes downwards and is
fastened to the grab-bucket, skip, grab-fork or similar contrivance.
By preference I use ropes instead of chains for both my winding barrels or
drums, inasmuch as they are lighter, produce less vibration in the machine to
which they are applied and the friction on the parts with which they come in
contact is much less than if chains were used.
The method of working my invention of winding barrels or drums and a weight
is substantially as follows, that is to say:-when the grab-bucket or other
contrivance is being hoisted upwards towards the jib-head by the steam or other
motive power, actuating the crane, the weight herein described descends; and in
the act of doing so, unwinds its own chain or rope from off the lesser barrel or
drum. As both barrels or drums are fixed on to the one shaft the act of unwinding
the chain or rope coiled round the lesser barrel or drum, causes the larger barrel or
drum to revolve and as the chain or rope is wound round this barrel or drum in the
opposite direction to the chain or rope on the lesser barrel or drum, it follows as a
matter of course that the unwinding of the chain or rope of the lesser barrel or
drum winds the other chain or rope around the larger one. And thus as the grab
bucket or other contrivance is hauled up towards the jib-head of the crane by its
hoisting chain, the slack of the chain connecting it with the larger barrel, or drum,
is wound round the latter' so as to be always kept taut.
And conversely when the grab-bucket or other contrivance descends from the
jib-head of the crane the chain or rope connecting it with the larger winding barrel
or drum is unwound from the latter, while the chain or rope connecting the weight
with the lesser barrel or drum is wound round it, and thus, as the grab-bucket or
other contrivance descends for another load of earth or other material, the weight
ascends its guides or leaders, and is then again in position to actuate the two
winding barrels or drums as before.
A rim is placed on one or both ends of either or both of the two winding barrels
or drums. And a brake band actuated by a handle in the ordinary way may be
placed around one or more of the rima. The attendant can, by moving the brake
handle cause the brake band or bands to compress the rim or rims and thus
regulate the speed at which the grab-bucket or other contrivance shall descend
from the jib-head of crane, or he can hold it stationary at any required elevation
below said jib head while it discharges its load, or for any other purpose.
A coiled spring or springs can be used either instead of or in combination with
the weight already described, for actuating the winding barrels or drums. If used
in combination with a weight, the spring or springs may be coiled round the shaft
of the winding barrels or drums, in the hollow disc or discs formed at either end of
it by the brake rim or rims upon which the brake band or bands act. This
auxiliary spring or springs would be coiled round the shaft of the winding barrels
in such a direction as would assist the weight in winding the chain or rope upon
, the larger barrel or drum.
By the use of one or more coiled springs of sufficient power, the weight with its
leaders, chain or rope and its drum and other parts might be dispensed with
.altogether.
In that case only the larger winding barrel together with its brake rim or rims
and the brake band or bands would be needed to take up the slack of the opening
chain of a grab-bucket, skip, grab-fork, or similar contrivance.
Dated this thirteenth day of November One thousand eight hundred and

page_text: Bucket, Skip, Grab Fork, or similar Contrivances.
I, JAMES WILLIAM STYLES of the Strand, Williamstown, in the Colony of
Victoria, Pattern Maker, 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:-
"
"
Prior to this invention, it has been the custom in almost every case where a
weight is used to take up the slack chain of cranes or like contrivances to use
pitched" sheaves or pulleys, recessed to receive and hold the chain from slipping.
These pitched pulleys or sheaves necessitate the use of chains having all the links
of equal dimensions and of the same 'pitch" as the recesses in the pulleys or
sheaves, so that a rope cannot readily be substituted for a chain, while the latter
bas sometimes to be of special make and is therefore not always obtainable in the
open market.
Now my invention admits of either a rope or an ordinary chain of
suitable strength being used for this purpose. I prefer a rope.
Furthermore, each pulley or sheave, absorbs power by friction, so that where a
series of them are employed (as is commonly the case) for taking in the slack of
chains or ropes the loss of power is very considerable. Now as the slack chains
or ropes by my method would be merely wound round a drum or drums, the loss
of power by friction would be only nominal, as would also the wear and tear on
the chains or ropes. As the friction is small, so therefore the weight actuating
the winding barrels or drums would be comparatively small also. The leaders or
guides and other parts could of course be made correspondingly light, and the
whole contrivance having fewer working parts than others, demands less attention
from the person in charge.
"
The weight in my case is attached by a rope or chain to the smaller of two
drums, which are keyed or otherwise fixed on one shaft. These two barrels or
drums are of suitable dimensions for the purpose required and can have spiral
grooves around them for winding a chain or rope into, or they can be made plain.
Said chain or rope to which the weight is attached passes upwards, and over a
flanged roller or sheave fixed at a suitable elevation above the winding barrel or
drum, and thence downwards to the smaller barrel or drum. (For this weight
I would by preference take a pile-driving ram, so that if the motive power actuating
the grab crane or other contrivance should be used in driving piles, the weight
described above would answer for part of the pile driving plant). This weight
travels upwards and downwards and is kept in position by leaders or guides of
metal or other material, "channel" iron being preferred.
To the larger winding barrel or drum I also attach either a chain or rope, the
latter by preference. This chain or rope is quite distinct from that on the lesser
winding barrel or drum, and runs from the barrel or drum to, and passes over
a sheave placed at the jib-head of the crane, and thence passes downwards and is
fastened the grab-bucket, skip, grab-fork, or similar contrivance.
*

page_text: By preference I use ropes instead of chains for both my winding barrels or
drums, inasmuch as they are lighter, produce less vibration in the machine to which
they are applied, and the friction on the parts with which they come in contact is
much less than if chains were used.
A rim is placed on one or both ends of either or both of the two winding barrels
or drums. And a brake band actuated by a handle in the ordinary way, may be
placed around one or more of the rims. The attendant can by moving the brake
handle cause the brake band or bands to compress the rim or rims and thus regulate
the speed at which the grab-bucket or other contrivance shall descend from the jib-
head of crane, or he can hold it stationary at any required elevation below said
jib-head while it discharges its load, or for any other purpose..
A coiled spring or springs can be used, either instead of or in combination with
the weight already described for actuating the winding barrels or drums. If used
in combination with a weight, the spring or springs may be coiled round the shaft
of the winding barrels or drums in the hollow disc or discs formed at either end of 1
it by the brake rim or rims upon which the brake band or bands act. This
auxiliary spring or springs would be coiled round the shaft of the winding barrels
in such a direction as would assist the weight in winding the chain or rope upon
the larger barrel or drum.
By the use of one or more coiled springs of sufficient power, the weight with its 1
leader chain or rope, and its drum and other parts. might be dispensed with
altogether. In that case only the larger winding barrel together with its brake rim
or rims, and the brake band or bands would be needed to take up the slack of the
opening chain of a grab bucket, skip, grab-fork, or similar contrivance.
Referring to my drawing hereto attached illustrating my said invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable steam crane for working a grab-bucket
and which embodies my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the parts forming my invention.
Figure 3 is a front view of the winding drums and their supports and also shows
the edge view of the chain or rope pulley, for leading the chain or rope from my
smaller drum over the vertical boiler.
Figure 4 is an alternative means for arranging the supports and guides for the
weight without passing the chain over the boiler.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line a a in Figure 2 shewing the spiral
spring, which may be used as an auxiliary, to retain the actuating chain or rope of
the bucket or fork taut. This spring, if of sufficient power may be used without
the weight.
In these Figures. A is the larger, and B the smaller winding drum keyed on the
one shaft C, which is supported on the bracket bearings CT. A¹ is the rope or
chain secured to the drum A, and leading over the sheave A' at the jib-head to the
grab-bucket D. B¹ is the rope or chain secured to the smaller drum B and passing
over the pulleys B' on the top of the vertical boiler E, and said chain has secured
to its end, the weight B³, which works in the guides formed of channel iron B*.
In Figure 4, the channel iron support and guides B are placed in front of the
boiler E, and the weight B³ works between the support and the boiler as shown.
A³ are the brake bands supported on the brake rings A*, which are at the ends of
the drum A, and these brake bands are actuated by the lever A³ on the brake
shaft A, which is supported in bearings in two of the brackets C¹. F (Figure 5)
is the spiral spring placed within said brake rings, and whose outer end is affixed
to the lug F projecting from the bracket C¹, and its inner end is secured to the
shaft C or to a collar C upon it as shewn.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the grab bucket or other contrivance
is being hoisted upwards towards the jib-head by the steam or other motive power
actuating the crane, the weight B³ descends and in the act of doing so unwinds its
own chain or rope B¹ from off the lesser barrel or drum B. As both barrels or
drums are fixed on to the one shaft C, the act of unwinding said chain or rope B¹
from the lesser barrel or drum B causes the larger barrel or drum A to revolve, and

page_text: BO wind its chain or rope A¹ upon itself by reason of its being wound round this
barrel or drum A in the opposite direction to the chain or rope B¹ on the lesser
barrel or drum B.
And conversely, when the grab bucket D or other contrivance descends from the
jib-head of the crane, the chain or rope A¹ connecting it with the larger winding
barrel or drum A is unwound while the chain or rope B¹ connecting the weight B*
with the lesser barrel or drum B is wound up and so raises the weight B³ and
allows the chain or rope A¹ to descend with the grab-bucket or other contrivance
to be refilled with another load of earth or other material.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise arrange-
ment and details of my invention herein described and explained and illustrated in
my drawings, nor do I confine myself to having only one pair of winding barrels
interposed between the power and the load as one or more pair may be used.
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
.
My improved contrivance for taking up the slack chains or ropes of cranes or
other machinery working a grab bucket, skip, grab fork or similar devices which
contrivance consists of the combination of the parts marke A, B, and C, either
with or without the spring F and brake bands A³, such parts to be used for the
purposes and combined and arranged with the other mechanical details substantially
as herein described and explained.