Improvements in or connected with Gripping Mechanism for Cable Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1894-Accepted. 1st Dec., 1894
TROVISIONAL DEBATION
Communicated from abroad by GUSTAVE FISCHER, Engineer of the Office of
Public Works Department, New South Wales Government, Sydney. New
South Wales.]
Improvements in or connected with Gripping Mechanism for Cable
Railways.
I, FREDERICK JOHN PICKERING CHEESBROUGH of the Firm of Cheesbrough
& Royston, Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, of 15, Water
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention has reference to gripping mechanisms connected with cable
railways, that is, the means connected with a car or vehicle running on such a
railway for mechanically taking hold of and making fast to the moving or
travelling rope disposed below the car or train.
According to this invention a gripping mechanism is of the kind adapted to be
lowered and raised and wherein jaws or clamps are employed to grip or clasp the
rope, the jaws or clamps being raised to clear the sheaves which support the rope
at different intervals. In the present invention the gripping mechanism is first
caused to partially surround the rope and then lift it before a tight grip of the jaws
thereon is effected, so that said jaws are lifted clear of the rope supporting sheaves,
and then when it is so elevated, the jaws are adapted to be closed and make a fast
grip or frictional connection with the travelling rope. Thus the jaws can never be
closed sufficiently tight on the rope to move the car or train until the gripping jaws
have been raised to such a height as to clear all carrier sheaves in the road. Also,
by this invention vertical lurching of the rope, which takes place, especially in long
cables when running slack, cannot cause the gripping device jaws to foul the sheaves
or otherwise damage the mechanism.
The whole mode of operation of the mechanism is that, assuming the car is at
rest and the gripping mechanism in its upper position, it is first lowered until the
gripper jaws are on a level with the rope. The jaws are then operated so as to
get under or partially under the rope without gripping same, and then the gripping
mechanism and the rope with it is raised so that the jaws stand above the level of
the rope supporting sheaves. Then the jaws are moved or closed so as to grip
tightly the rope, whereupon the car or train is moved with the rope, and without
liability of damage or breakage, through the jaws or gripping parts coming into
contact with said sheaves by premature starting, or by lurching of the rope, or
otherwise.
The mechanism works in such a manner and is so constructed, that the mechanism
or means for closing the jaws of the gripper, moves the lifting or raising mechanism
or means of the raising and lowering frame when being operated; so that the said
frame and jaws are not permitted to remain in this lowered position when the jaws
of the gripper are being closed on the rope.
A special construction involving the improvements above, described is as
follows:-
:―
To a suitable part of a car or vehicle there is mounted a carrier or supporting
frame, in which is carried and works a vertical frame having the gripping jaws

page_text: secured on the lower end thereof; the fixed supporting frame and the vertically
movable frame being connected together through a lever, by means of which the
said movable frame is moved up and down, and so the jaws are lowered and raised,
for the purposes of lifting the rope above the level of the sheaves, it also
enabling the jaws to be clear of them when the car is stationary On this
vertically sliding frame is a second frame-which has independent motion in said
sliding frame for actuating, i.e, closing and opening the gripping jaws, such frame
being operated through a lever mounted on or near the same horizontal axis as
the aforesaid lever, and also working in or near the same vertical plane in which
the lowering lever moves. These levers may have detent and releasing mechanisms
of suitable known kind, working in connection with a notched or toothed quadrant
mounted on the upper end or part of the raising and lowering frame. These levers
may be of different lengths for convenience of operation, the shorter one being for
say lowering the frame, and the long one for actuating the gripping jaws. The
apparatus may be so adapted that when the car is at a standstill, the gripping
jaws actuating lever will be at one end of the quadrant and the jaws open and the
frame lowering lever at another part away from same. To lower the frame, the
lowering lever is pressed towards the gripping lever, or so far only, until the grip-
man feels that he has either come onto the rope or carrier sheave. The gripping
lever is then moved backwards, in which action it carries with it the lowering
lever. In this movement of the gripping lever, the dies close partially about the
rope, and when the lowering lever is moved thereby as described the rope is
lifted, but before the jaws close sufficiently to grip the rope and move the
train or car, the parts are so arranged that the frame will have been lifted to
such an extent as to clear the sheaves. Then by further moving the levers in
the same direction, the rope becomes tightly gripped and the car or train
moved by it.
The parts are so arranged that when the levers stand at a point between the
extremes or ends of the stroke of the lever and quadrant, a full sized rope
would be gripped-and the gripping jaws raised to the required extent, clear of
the sheaves, but not a rope of smaller diameter as for instance when it becomes
worn. The further portion for movement however provided for, enables ropes
of smaller diameter, as when worn, to be gripped by the further movement of the
gripping lever and the closing of the gripping jaws caused thereby ; but the parts
are so arranged that little or no movement, vertically, of the lifting and lowering
frame takes place during this action. Thus, where there are in cable-ways
ropes of different diameters, due to wear of parts thereof, the said ropes can he
dealt with and lifted and gripped in the manner described with equal facility,
and so the necessity of constant alterations of distances between the jaws is
avoided.
The sliding frame is kept up or balanced by spiral springs vertically arranged on
each side of the centre thereof, and say just within the vertical bars forming the
side members of the sliding frame; whilst the part which operates the gripping
jaws may slide on said vertical bars, and be connected to its operating lever by a
crosshead sliding within or on guides within the lowering frame, such guides being
on or forming part of the fixed carrier frame in which the whole mechanism
is mounted.
The fixed carrier frame may be connected up with the frame of the car on which
the apparatus is mounted, through rubber or like elastic media by which slight
movement is obtained, or it is not absolutely rigid.
The gripping jaws are constructed in halves, and are adapted to move about a
common axis towards and away from the vertical plane in which the apparatus
and the rope and sheaves lie; and these parts are adapted to be operated by
toggle-joints, from bars or the frame which slides or moves vertically on the main
lowering frame. The gripping jaws are mounted on a longitudinal horizontal
spindle supported in and by the lower ends of said raising and lowering frame.
The jaws may have several toggle-links connecting them with their sliding

page_text: actuating frame or bars, to which they are connected by a common spindle running
through all.
Dated this 19th day of January 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gripping Mechanism for Cable
Railways.
I, FREDERICK JOHN PICKERING CHEESBROUGH of the Firm of Cheesbrough
& Royston, Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, of 15 Water
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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 has reference to gripping mechanisms connected with cable
railways, that is, the means connected with a car or vehicle running on such a
railway for mechanically taking hold of and making fast to the moving or travelling
rope disposed below the car or train.
According to this invention a gripping mechanism is of the kind adapted to be
lowered and raised and wherein jaws or clamps are employed to grip or clasp the
rope, the jaws or clamps being raised to clear the sheaves which support the rope
at different intervals. In the present invention the gripping mechanism is first
caused to partially surround the rope and then lift it before a tight grip of the jaws
thereon is effected, so that said jaws are lifted clear of the rope supporting
sheaves, and then when it is so elevated, the jaws are adapted to be closed and
make a fast grip or frictional connection with the travelling rope. Thus the
jaws can never be closed sufficiently tight on the rope to move the car or train
until the gripping jaws have been raised to such a height as to clear all
carrier sheaves in the road. Also, by this invention vertical lurching of the
rope, which takes place, especially in long cables when running slack, cannot
cause the gripping device jaws to foul the sheaves or otherwise damage the
mechanism.
The whole mode of operation of the mechanism is that, assuming the car is at
rest and the gripping mechanism in its upper position, it is first lowered until
the gripper jaws are on a level with the rope. The jaws are then operated so as
to get under or partially under the rope without gripping same, and then the
gripping mechanism and the rope with it is raised so that the jaws stand above the
level of the rope supporting sheaves. Then the jaws are moved or closed so as to
grip tightly the rope, whereupon the car or train is moved with the rope, and
without liability of damage or breakage, through the jaws or gripping parts coming
into contact with said sheaves by perinature starting, or by lurching of the rope, or
otherwise.
The mechanism works in such a manner and is so constructed, that the mechanism
or means for closing the jaws of the gripper, moves the lifting or raising mechanism
or means of the raising and lowering frame, when being operated; so that the said
frame and jaws are not permitted to remain in this lowered position when the jaws
of the gripper are being closed on the rope.
A special construction involving the improvements above described is as
follows:
To a suitable part of the car or vehicle there is mounted a carrier or supporting
frame, in which is carried and works a vertical frame having the gripping jaws
secured on the lower end thereof; the fixed supporting frame and the vertically

page_text: movable frame being connected together through a lever, by means of which the
said movable frame is moved up and down, and so the jaws are lowered and raised,
for the purpose of lifting the rope above the level of the sheaves, it also enabling
the jaws to be clear of them when the car is stationary. On this vertically sliding
frame is a second frame-which has independent motion in said sliding frame for
actuating, i.e. closing and opening the gripping jaws, such frame being operated
through a lever mounted on or near the same horizontal axis as the aforesaid lever,
and also working in or near the same vertical plane in which the lowering lever
moves. These levers may have detent and releasing mechanisms of suitable known
kind, working in connection with a notched or toothed quadrant mounted on the
upper end or part of the raising and lowering frame. These levers may be of
different lengths for convenience of operation, the shorter one being for say
lowering the frame, and the long one for actuating the gripping jaws. The
apparatus may be so adapted that when the car is at a standstill, the gripping jaws
actuating lever will be at one end of the quadrant and the jaws open and the frame
lowering lever at another part away from same. To lower the frame, the lowering
lever is pressed towards the gripping lever, or so far only, until the gripman feels
that he has either come onto the rope or carrier sheave. The gripping lever is
then moved backwards, in which action it carries with it the lowering lever.
In this movement of the gripping lever, the dies close partially about the rope,
and when the lowering lever is moved thereby as described the rope is lifted,
but before the jaws close sufficiently to grip the rope and move the train
or car, the parts are so arranged that the frame will have been lifted to such
an extent as to clear the sheaves. Then by further moving the levers in
the same direction, the rope becomes tightly gripped and the car or train moved
by it.
The parts are so arranged that when the levers stand at a point between the
extremes or ends of the stroke of the lever and quadrant, a full sized rope would
be gripped and the gripping jaws raised to the required extent, clear of the
sheaves, but not a rope of smaller diameter as for instance when it becomes worn.
The further portion for movement however provided for, enables ropes of smaller
diameter, as when worn, to be gripped by the further movement of the gripping
lever and the closing of the gripping jaws caused thereby; but the parts are so
arranged that little or no movement, vertically, of the lifting and lowering frame
takes place during this action. Thus, where there are in cable ways ropes of
different diameters, due to wear of parts thereof, the said ropes can be dealt with
and lifted and gripped in the manner described with equal facility, and so the
necessity of constant alterations of distances between the jaws is avoided.
The sliding frame is kept up or balanced by spiral springs vertically arranged
on each side of the centre thereof, and say just within the vertical bars forming
the side members of the sliding frame; whilst the part which operates the gripping
jaws may slide on said vertical bars, and be connected to its operating lever by
a crosshead sliding within or on guides within the lowering frame, such guides
being on or forming part of the fixed carrier frame in which the whole mechanism
is mounted.
The fixed carrier frame may be connected up with the frame of the car on which
the apparatus is mounted, through rubber or like elastic media by which slight
movement is obtained, or it is not absolutely rigid.
The gripping jaws are constructed in halves, and are adapted to move about the
common axes towards and away from the vertical plane in which the apparatus and
the rope and sheaves lie; and these parts are adapted to be operated by toggle-
joints, from bars or the frame which slides or moves vertically on the main
lowering frame. The gripping jaws are mounted on a longitudinal horizontal
spindle supported in and by the lower ends of said raising and lowering frame.
The jaws may have several toggle links connecting them with their sliding
actuating frame or bars, to which they are connected by a common spindle running
through all.

page_text: In the drawings illustrating this invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cable gripping apparatus according to the
construction more particularly specified above, mounted on a car; and Figure 2 is
a transverse section of same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the gripping jaws or mechanism;
Figure 4 is a plan taken at the line B B Figure 3; Figure 5 is an outside end
view of the gripping jaws; and Figure 6 is an end view taken at the line CC
Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a cross section or end view shewing the picking up position of the
grip; Figure 8 shews the running position of the grip; and Figure 9 is the releasing
position.
Figure 10 is a side elevation partly in section; Figure 11 is a part sectional
plan and Figure 12 is an end view partly in section, of the actuating gear of the
apparatus.
Figure 13 is a side elevation, Figure 14 an end view, and Figure 15 a detail
shewing the actuating levers of the mechanism.
Referring to these drawings, a is the car or vehicle, to a suitable part of which
there is attached and mounted a supporting frame for the mechanism, generally
designated b, in which there works the vertical sliding frame c, carrying at its
lower end the gripping jaws d. The fixed frame b is supported from the car by
the plates and rods b', such plates being supported at their edges by longitudinal
beams, as shown, and the rods having rubber springs 62 at their ends at which they
are carried by the car, by which too great rigidity is obviated, or a small amount
of elasticity of mounting is afforded. The vertical sliding or moving frame c
comprises the vertical bars c¹ carrying at their upper ends the quadrant c² and the
bridge piece c³, and at the lower ends, a shaft c', on which the gripping jaws d are
mounted and rock.
The fixed supporting frame b, and the vertical sliding frame c, are connected
together through the actuating lever e¹, which is supported by a fulcrum pin f to
the bridge piece c³, and coupled up to 6 by the links fixed on b; while the upper
part of the said lever works in connection with the quadrant as hereafter
described. In connection with the lever e¹ the second lever is arranged,
fulcrumed on the pin f, such lever being that for actuating the gripping jaws or
dies. The means of actuating the gripping jaws d consists of a plate h having at
its upper part a cross bead h¹, sliding in the tubular bridge part 6 of the fixed
frame; and this is connected to the lever e² through the pir h² on h¹, and a
link ex, the upper end of which is fastened to the disc e on the pin.f, operated by
the lever e² by a pin joint, eccentric to the main supporting pin of the levers el e³,
as shewn in detail in Figure 15. The outer lever e¹ is of duplex construction,
viz. consists of double bars, as shewn, with the quadrant bars lying between
them; while the lever is single and works between the bars c².
The plate his guided by the plates * sliding on c', and is connected by links h³
to the upper end of jaws d.
The lever e at the part at which it is connected to the frame c, and its support,
are so arranged and disposed that the lift of the frame c becomes less for each unit
of distance of movement of the lever e¹ over the quadrant in the lifting operation;
while in the case of the lever e², the parts connecting it with the jaw actuating
plate h are so arranged and disposed that in this lifting action when both levers are
moved together, the amount of movement of the jaws is relatively great during the
latter part of the strokes of said levers over the quadrant.
The normal position of the sliding frame c is the upper one, and this frame is
pressed upwards by the springs i, which are supported in hollow or tubular portions
of and within the fixed frame 6 at either side as shown, and act upwards on said
frame through the adjusting studs j fixed and working in the bridge 3 of said
frame; thus the gripping jaws will when they are moved down towards the cable,
in the gripping action, be moved against the resistance of the springs i.
The cable in connection with which the gripper works is designated k, the

page_text: sheaves are 1, and the slotted street rail m. These are all of ordinary con-
struction; and the sliding frame c passes through and runs along in this slot, it
being made as narrow as possible as usual.
The levers e and e², are provided, respectively, with catches e³, e', worked by
ordinary press levers e and e as usual, the catches ese being adapted to engage
with notches in the upper edge of the quadrant c².
The action will now be described :-
Assuming the rope k to be running on the sheaves, and the gripper entirely
disengaged from it, and the gripping lever e² to be in the position B in Figure 1,
and the jaws as in Figure 9; and the lever el in position A with the frame cup :-
to pick up the rope, the lever el is pushed over by the gripman to the position B
whereby the sliding frame c will be pushed or pressed down (or so far only until he
feels he has either come on to the rope or carrier sheave) compressing the springs i,
and bringing the levers together: the jaws being still open. The jaw actuating
lever is then moved in the direction towards position C, Figure 1, and being
within the lever e as shewn and described, it carries it--with it. The jaws d
by this movement, at first close on the rope so as to take hold of it, as shewn in
Figure 7, and then are lifted by the frame c and close on the rope simultaneously;
before, however, the dies can close sufficiently on the rope to grip it to such an
extent as to cause the car or train to be moved, the elevation of the frame e has
advanced so much as to bring the lowermost points of the jaws or gripping dies
above the horizontal plane or level in which the tops of the pullies or sheaves / lie,
as shewn in Figure 8 by the dotted lines. Then by further moving the lever -
and with and by it the lever e-to the position A, Figure 1, the cable is tightly
gripped, namely, takes the position shewn in full lines in Figure 8, and the car or
train is moved.
The position A is one in which the grippers would grip a new or unworn rope ;
whereas the position marked D is that to which the levers would be moved to grip
a fully worn one, and, according to this invention, the levers and their connections
and mode of mounting or fixing are so arranged-as above stated, that in moving
from A to D, while the lift of the frame c would be very small owing to the
relative positions of the fulcrum and the lower end of the lever e¹ and the
supporting links 9: the dies or jaws d in that movement would make a large closing
movement, owing to the link ex (see Figure 15*), being so mounted on the boss e
of the lever 2 as to give this movement, at this part of the stroke over the
quadrant the amount of jaw closure may, say, be from a diameter of 1 inches to
of an inch in this part of the stroke.
:
This latter characteristic is very important where roads have to be dealt with in
which ropes in different stages of wear have to be used; namely, owing to it, the
necessity of constant alterations to distance between the dies or gripping jaws are
avoided.
It has long been the aim of engineers to reduce as much as possible the wear on
ropes and gripping mechanism of cable tramways, as the cost of their renewal and
maintenance forms a most serious item in the working expenses of a road. In all
arrangements heretofore, however, there have been two very serious defects, to
overcome which in the present improvements have been accomplished.
As is well known, the rope takes a considerable sag between carrier sheaves on
the road, amounting sometimes to as much as 3 inches, consequently it is natural
that it is desirable to keep the running position of the gripper with as little
clearance from the top of sheaves as possible.
Now supposing in the case of existing types of gripping apparatus, as in the
"Vogel" grip, the gripman, having lowered the gripper close up to a carrier
sheave, to grip the rope tightly without taking his feet quickly off the depressing
lever, the gripper would come into contact with the sheave, this contact would most
likely break the latter, or the grip, besides giving the gripmau a shock, with
perhaps serious results. The same contingency must be looked forward to in con-
sequence of the vertical lurching of the cable which becomes noticeable on long

page_text: roads when the rope runs slack, as it is difficult to keep the springs, which support
the gripper, always at the exact tension to counteract this tendency to vertical
vibration, (except by making them excessively stiff, and thereby entailing
unnecessarily heavy work on the gripman) which, as the clearance from sheave is
only about ", again introduces the danger of coming into contact with the sheaves,
thereby risking a smash. It is claimed that this invention avoids these
contingencies, besides introducing several other improvements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is-
1. The berein described improvement connected with cable railway gripping
mechanism, consisting in first causing or adapting the gripping jaws or dies to take
hold of or grasp the cable or rope, but without gripping same so as to move the
gripper or car, and in this condition lifting said gripper above the level of the rope
carrying sheaves, and then causing the said jaws or dies to grip the cable or rope
and effect a tight connection, and the traction or movement of the car or train: for
the purposes set forth.
2. In a cable railway gripping mechanism, the combination of rope or cable
gripping jaws or dies carried by a vertically moving frame; an actuating lever
attached at one part to a fixed point of or on the car or vehicle, and at another to
said moving frame; a frame or part connected with said jaws or dies carried in said
moving frame, for actuating said jaws or dies; and an actuating lever connected
with said jaw moving frame or part; said levers being mounted and carried on the
said vertically moving frame, and adapted to be moved and actuate said parts
substantially as in the manner, and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. In a cable railway gripping mechanism, wherein a vertical frame with
gripping jaws or dies, and levers for actuating said frame, and jaws or dies, are
employed, adapting and constructing the connections and parts of said frame, jaws,
and levers, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth, whereby a
relatively large range of movement of the jaws or dies is effected during the latter
part of the stroke of said levers.
4. In a cable railway gripping mechanism, the combination and arrangement of
two hand operated levers e adapted to work together about the quadrant
mounted on the lifting frame of the mechanism, particularly as in the manner herein
set forth, and shewn in the drawings hereto annexed.
5. In a cable railway gripping mechanism, the particular arrangement and
construction of spring mechanism within the fixed frame b, and jaw crosshead and
guide, as herein set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
6. The cable railway gripping mechanism having its parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate particularly as set forth with reference to and as shewn in
the drawings hereto annexed.
Dated this 20th day of October 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool.