Improvements in Moveable Scaffolds or Travelling Platforms.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Feb.. 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moveable Scaffolds or Travelling Platforms.
I, KARL ALBERT FROSELL, of Smyrna, in the Empire of Turkey, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in moveable scaffolds, or travelling plat-
forms, and the object of it is to provide for facilitating the lateral movement of such
platform or scaffold by individuals or agencies other than the occupants of the said
platform.
In carrying the invention into effect, I provide a proper number of vertical posts
and fit them and the scaffold with suitable devices of the hole and stud type for
providing for the motion of the scaffold in either a vertical or a horizontal direction
and also for its retention upon the said posts, at any given point.
With reference to and providing for a lateral motion I fit the posts or poles with
wheels or wheeled platforms at their bottom ends, or instead of this last mentioned
wheel device, any other equivalent one adapted to provide for the lateral motion of
the poles may be used.
After the cage or platform has been moved a short distance laterally, the bottom
or shoe of the above mentioned poles can be levered along the pavement in' the
ordinary way.
The device for giving lateral motion to the platform is according to my invention,
of the rope and pulley type, and I prefer that the ropes should work outside the
poles aforesaid.
The apparatus for raising and lowering the platform consists of two levers having
one fulcrum common to both, on which fulcrum there is also fixed a grip or catch.
The shorter ends of the said lever work in two guides on the platform, and the
latter is provided with a second grip, distinct from the grips above mentioned
according to the holes in the posts, so that as the platform moves up, or down the
two grips shall engage in two holes at one and the same time, that is to say, that
the two grips shall engage in their respective holes alternatively.
In lowering the platform, I avail myself of a spiral thread of, preferably, quick
pitch, which when open causes the lower grip to press towards the post and when
fully out opens the same by making it fast to the upper grip, and by sinking the
above mentioned levers a short distance, the spiral being open, the platform is sunk
until the lower grip has gone into the next hole below. At this moment all the
weight of those in the platform is on the lower grip. The upper grip can then be
moved another hole below and so on. By these means the platform is gradually
sunk and owing to the grip catching continuously it cannot be lowered in any other
way thus avoiding any danger.
Dated this 18th day of August. 1899
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Moveable Scaffolds or Travelling Platforms.
I, KARL ALBERT FROSELL, of Smyrna, in the Ottoman Empire, Merchant, 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 relates to improvements in moveable scaffolds or platform's such

page_text: as are used by bricklayers, masons, painters and others engaged in dressing and
pointing the external faces of walls, or in painting the frames of the windows and
doors therein.
It consists in improved devices for raising and lowering the moveable scaffold
with a climbing action and motion, as well as for shifting the scaffold laterally for
the
purpose of bringing it in front of another width of work.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation illustrating the construction of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a detail sectional side elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 omitting the
raising and lowering levers.
Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation omitting the disengaging gear.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation illustrating more particularly the process of shifting a
scaffold pole.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the shifting strut and the guide for the shifting rope.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the top roller guide closed. The dotted lines shew
it open.
Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the same guide closed, omitting the pivotted roller.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a two pole moveable scaffold.
Fig. 9 is a front elevation illustrating a modified form of claw to be used with a
notched bar on the hollow pole.
'
Fig. 10 is a side elevation corresponding therewith.
Fig. 11 is a plan taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a front elevation illustrating a modification of the bar illustrated in
Figs. 1 to 4 and 8.
Fig. 13 is a plan on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a modification of the claw and notched bar illustrated
in Figs: 9, 10 and 11.
Fig. 15 is a side elevation corresponding therewith.
Fig. 16 is a plan on the line 16-16 of Figs. 14 and 15.
THE COMPOSITE SCAFFOLD POLE.
a is the bottom scaffold pole; and b, the head pole or capital. Both of these are
square in cross section the former for the purpose of preventing the hollow pole
next described turning upon it; and the latter, to prevent it turning within the
hollow pole. This latter, c, is as heretofore, in cross section, a square tube of a
proper size to fit and slide up or down the pole a and to receive the pole > socket-
wise. Its ends are protected by ferrules c¹.
The heel of the bottom scaffold pole is shod with a metal shoe. This consists of
a ring or a cup a¹ and a cross. The arms a of the cross are bent upwards in a
circular direction and made fast to the side of the ring symmetrically. Each arm
is continued past the ring and terminates in an eye a³. The shoe is made fast to
the heel of the pole with the eyes a standing parallel with the four faces of the
pole respectively. a is a solid moveable base block. A central cavity is formed
in the top face of a proper size to receive as much of the shoe as is necessary to
prevent the pole slipping. The sides of this cavity are concaved to the same arc as
the arms a are bent to.
a, are a series of equidistant and equal holes formed in the pole a through it
from front to back, and as is a strong pin of the right section to fit easily therein
and long enough to project beyond both the front and back faces of the hollow
pole c.
The head pole b projects downwards into the hollow pole c for a distance far
enough to keep it steady in and on it. Its projection above it is used to carry part
of the shifting devices and is maintained by the straps described further on resting
upon the top of the hollow pole c. The three poles thus fit together and in such a
way that they are virtually one, and the base a' and the shifting gear described
further on, acting together, suffice to maintain the composite pole in a vertical
position.

page_text: THE MOVEABLE SCAffold.
This consists of a strong floor d, corner uprights d' a hand or safety rail d' carried
by them, such additional horizontal rails as may be desirable, a subsidiary floor d³
hinged to the front side of the floor and adapted to make it up to the wall and
telescope handrails d', d. These latter slide backwards and forwards through
eyes d. Each eye has a screwed shank which passes through the respective hand
rail d' and carries on its inner end a wing nut by which the rail d can be held in
any position. The subsidiary floor d', and the two rails when they are out as far
as the wall, i.e., in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, serve to steady the composite
scaffold pole and the scaffold.
dis a hole in the floor d large enough to allow the hollow pole c to pass through.
The scaffold as a whole is held to the said pole, and its steady motion up or down
it, provided for by means of two roller guides each of which embraces the pole.
Each guide consists of a ring d preferably of angle iron, necessarily of the same
cross section as the hollow pole c, and large enough to clear it as it moves up and
down it, four rollers do, their axles do, and four pairs of web do projecting vertically
from the ring, the two of each pair forming a right angle with each other
coincident with the respective external angle of the ring, and in which webs the
said axles have their bearings. The latter are so positioned in their webs that the
rollers are all equally in contact with the pole c and are outside, i.e., respectively
above and below their rings d. So far the two guides are alike in respect of con-
struction and operation. The rear side of the top one is pivotted in the manner
shewn in Figs. 1, 6 and 7. The axle of this particular side has no bearing in
either of the respective webs. Instead thereof it projects through both webs, each
end standing between a pair of horizontal webs d", d. One end of the axle terminates
in an eye did is a bolt passed downwards through the eye and the web between
which it stands. This forms the pivot of the side in question. d" is a stop pin which,
by being passed through two holes in the opposite pair of webs d", d" in front of the
axle and after the latter has been pushed in between the webs, closes the guide and
The bottom guide
keeps the pivotted roller up to the respective face of the pole
fits within the hole in the floor d. The top one is held at a suitable distance
above it by three stays d" which spring from the said floor.
C.
THE RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM.
e, e are a pair of vertical and parallel guide rods. Their top ends are made fast
to the front side of the top guide, and their bottom ends to a bridge piece el which
is made fast to the floor d. These two rods stand symmetrically right and left of
the centre line of the scaffold pole. is a stout slider. It is provided with four
eyes e, two on each side of it, which embrace the respective guide rod e. et is a pin
fast to, and projecting centrally from, the front face of the slider. e, e are a pair
of levers. They are counterparts of each other and have a common fulcrum in the
pin e, their handles standing on opposite sides of the fulcrum. e', e are two
equal links. Each is pivotted by one end to the outer end of the respective
lever es, e, and by the opposite end to an eye e°. These are made fast to the
floor d symmetrically right and left of the hole d. 0 is a metal bar morticed
centrally into the front face of the pole c. In this bar and the pole behind it
I form a series of equidistant and equal holes e", el aligned vertically with each
other. ff are a pair of bell crank levers. The former has its fulcrum in a pair
of projections" on the bottom face of the slider e and the latter, in the top of a
crutchf³ which stands up from the bridge piece e' between the guide rods e.
shorter arms of these levers project behind the plane in which their fulcra stand.
The upper extremities of the longer arms of the levers, 11 terminate in claws f,f,
the faces of which are convex upwards and backwards from, the pole. A claw face
The

page_text: is deeper than a hole from top to bottom, so that when a claw is in its hole, the top-
of it is outside and above the hole and to the front of the plate eo. In point of
position these claws are always aligned with each other and opposite the vertical
centre line of the post c. As to size, either of them is adapted to enter and to hold
the scaffold suspended from any of the holes e". Suitable devices are provided for
the purpose of forcing a claw into the holes whenever it is opposite any one of
them. They are, preferably, of the spring type. That on the top claw f is a
loop the ends of which are wound round and made fast to the extremities of
pins f, while its operative end f8 bears upon the back of the catch and pushes it
towards the pole c. The bottom claw f' is kept up to the plate e10 and forced into
the holes e whenever it is opposite to any one of them by a spiral spring f' which
is made fast by one end to the short arm of the bell crank lever f¹ and by the other
to an adjustable double socket f10 which is held fast to the guide rods above the
fulcrum of the said lever. Any equivalent spring adapted to keep the claws in
contact with the face of the pole and to drive them into the holes when they are
opposite to them, may be employed. "," are notches in forward extensions of
the slider and the socket. They serve as guides for the claws.
The disengaging mechanism which is brought into operation prior to lowering
the scaffold is as follows:-g is a vertical cylinder pivotted near its bottom end on
the outer end of the short arm of the bell crank lever f¹. g, gare the cylinder
ends. 92, 9 are a pair of thimbles of double diameters. By the larger of these
they are adapted to slide up and down the cylinder, and by the smaller, through
the ends. is a spiral spring permanently in compression. It is strong enough
to keep both thimbles with their larger diameters up to the respective ends of the
cylinder. 9 is a rod fitting within, and adapted to slide in either direction through
the thimbles. The top end of it as well as the outer end of the shorter arm of the
bell crank lever f, are so made that they can be easily connected together or
disconnected. g, g' are two collars fast upon the rod g', the latter to the bottom
and the former nearer the top. When the rod 9' is at the top of its stroke-the
position illustrated by the full lines of Fig. 2-the distance between the thimble ²
and the collar g' is a little less than that between the supporting faces of any two
adjacent holes e¹¹.
THE SHIFTING GEAR.
is a frame fixed fast to the head pole b, preferably to the rear face of it.
63, 63 are a pair of compressors, each pivotted upon its own axis 6. Their operative
surfaces are toothed. 6, are a pair of extensions, each one on the inner side of
the respective compressors. 6, are a pair of springs fast by their upper ends
to a ledge above the compressors, and by their lower ends to the respective
extensions *, *. The function of these springs is to rock the compressors outward
and upward until they compress and hold the safety rope fast against the top of
the frame ². is a rope bifurcated at one end. Each bifurcation is made fast to
an extension b. The shifting strut consists of a pair of arms 68, 68 which are fixed
to the hollow pole c in the way described, further on, and from which they project
symmetrically to the rear thereof. Each arm is extensible by any suitable means..
According to the construction illustrated, each arm. 8.bas eyes L, projecting
from it through which a second arm 10 can be moved to and fro. is a roller.
It is carried by the outer end of the arm 60 and is always in the horizontal, plane.
1 is a set screw. 313, 6 are braces from one.arm 68 to the,other.
The strut is fixed to the pole c by means of a shackle ¹. This is made adjustable
at any height on the pole by having one side detachable. The shackle is held to
the pole by drawing the detachable side. and..the opposite side together by wing
nuts engaging with the screwed ends of the shackle sides.
The arms, are pivotted upon a pair of studs 616, 618 projecting from the shackle
sides. 17, 17 are stop pins adapted to prevent the weight of the strut outside the
pivots pulling it down.
6. is the safety rope. 61, 61 are two fixed points at about the same level as the

page_text: head pole one on each side of the latter. They are preferably provided by stout.
pegs driven into the cornice or parapet of the wall, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.
0 is an eye supported by two arms 1,61 in a central and stationary position in
front of the scaffold. These arms are made fast to the head pole b just below the
frame b already described. 6" is a cleat. It is carried at the end of a rod 123.
which projects from the foot of the hollow pole c to the front of the scaffold. The
shifting ropes 6 are represented as prolongations of the safety rope 618. Half of
the whole rope is passed through the frame between the compressors and the
frame top, and both halves are then made fast to the fixed points 1, 1, 19-
respectively, e.g., by giving each one a few turns round its peg if pegs be used.
The shifting ropes are led from the said points towards the pole, downwards
through the eye 620, and are made fast to the cleat . The safety rope is thus
out of the way of mischievous individuals on the ground, who then cannot get at
it to injure it. The shifting ropes, too, hang outside the hollow pole instead of
being led downwards inside it and their cleats are on the hollow pole instead of being
at some distance from it. 6 is a hand lever; and an upwardly pointing hook
fast to its side near the front end of it.
The invention made as above described is used as follows: :-
The scaffold is set on the ground and the top guide opened. The hollow and
head poles, with the strut properly adjusted for distance from the wall as well as to.
miss windows and the like, can now be set up through the open side of the top
guide without letting them down through it, or lifting the scaffold over the hollow
pole. The bottom pole a with its pin a in the proper hole is then got into
position and the shifting ropes 62, 6, made taut to their cleat 6". The safety
rope is freed from the compressors by
turn is likewise made taut. Both claws
of the hollow pole and the levers e, e
lines of Fig. 3.
in
pulling on the rope 67 which in its
are in as many holes e in the face
the position No. 1 shewn by the full.
TO RAISE THE SCAFFOLD UP THE POLE C.
I assume that the levers stand in position No. 1, Fig. 3. The rod g³ is unfastened
from the bell crank lever f. The levers e, e are next raised from the position.
No. 1 to position No. 2. This raises the slider up to the top of the guides, and
consequently pushes the top claw f* out of the bottom hole but two-see the
dotted lines of Fig. 2-and leaves it opposite the next hole above into which it.
is forced by the spring f'. The vertical motion of the slider suffices to disengage
the claw from the hole because its front edge is convex upwards and backwards
and the top of it was outside the hole and above it. During the time that the
claw was passing from one hole to the one above it, the scaffold was suspended
by the claw. The levers are then pulled down into position No. 3, with the
result that the scaffold is lifted for the distance of one hole into the position indicated
by the dotted lines of Fig. 3. During this lift, the claw has been disengaged from
the hole in which it was and engaged in the one above by the spring pulling its.
shorter arm up.
A double motion of the levers lifts the scaffolds the distance.
separating two holes.
TO LOWER THE SCAFfold dowN THE POLE.
I assume that the levers stand in position No. 2 of Fig. 3, the corresponding.
position of the scaffold being the one illustrated by the full lines of Fig. 2. The
rod is connected to the short arm of the bell crank lever f. The immediate
result is that the thimbles g, g³ are pulled into the position illustrated in Fig. 2
by the washer and the spring g' acting together. The handles of the levers are
next pressed down a little, just enough to take the weight of the scaffold off the
top claw which is forthwith pulled out of its hole by the resilience of the
spring acting upon the thimble 3 and using the other one g² as a fixed base of
operation. The levers are then pushed towards the position No. 1, Fig. 3, where-.

page_text: upon the weight of the scaffold pulls it down until the claw is opposite the next
lower hole when it is forced into the same by the spring f. During the descent of
the scaffold, the claw f' has remained in its hole. The new position of the top claw
and of the disengaging gear is indicated by the dotted lines of Fig. 2 and by the
full lines of Fig. 3. The washer 97 has been carried down away from the cylinder
and the collar 9 brought down low enough to exert some pressure upon the cylinder
top g. The levers now standing in position No. 1, Fig. 3, are again pressed down
a little partly to take the weight of the scaffold off the claw and partly to
increase the pressure upon the cylinder top. The said claw is forthwith pushed
out of its hole by the rock of the bell crank lever f¹ upon its fulcrum f³ which rock
is caused by the said pressure, into the position indicated by the dotted lines of
Fig. 2.
The weight of the scaffold once more pulls it down the pole until the claw³ is
opposite the next lower hole. During its descent, the claw has remained in its
hole, therefore the rod g has been stationary. The projecting thimble comes
into contact with the washer and is, with the spring and the thimble, pushed
up into the position illustrated by the full lines of Fig. 2; the cylinder g and the
bell crank lever f¹ are rocked on the pivot and the claw is forced into the
said next lower hole. The levers are now in position No. 2, Fig. 3.
It is a matter of indifference in which of the two positions the levers may be
when the scaffold has to be either raised or lowered. They are started to the
other of them, the corresponding claw being either disengaged raised and forced
into a higher hole, or disengaged, lowered and forced into a lower hole as the case
may be.
TO SHIFT THE SCAFFOLD TO EITHER HAND:-e.g., TO THE RIGHT HAND.
This operation will be understood from a reference to Figs. 3 and 4. The
compressors are pulled away from the safety rope by pulling the rope b'. The
pendant or shifting ropes 6, are loosened from their cleat 6 and, after their
ends have been carried to the right hand of the pole, the right hand one is hauled
OD.
12
The hauling is from the right hand peg 6", consequently the head of the pole
is pulled over along the safety rope into the position illustrated by the dotted lines
of Fig. 4, the other rope 20 being paid out as much as its fellow is hauled in. The
hook on the side of the hand lever 24 is then engaged in either the front or rear
eye a³ of the pole shoe, and the extremity of the short arm brought to rest upon
the ground to the right hand of the base block a', the longer arm standing up on
the left hand. Power is applied to the last mentioned arm, and the block levered
along until it is vertically under the head of the pole. The ropes 26, 26 are then
made fast to their cleat and the rope b' slacked till the compressors 12, 12 hold the
safety rope between themselves and the top of the frame.
When the pole is pulled over, the head is of course brought lower and when the
base block is moved, the head is raised again. The pivotal connection of the
shifting strut to the pole provides for it accommodating itself to both of these
motions of the pole head.
A scaffold to work on a single pole is necessarily limited in point of length.
When it is desirable or necessary that that limit of length be exceeded, a twin pole
modification is made use of. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 8. The same
references are used as with the single pole construction. The differences in detail
are as follows.
The base block at. This is long enough to provide cavities for both the poles.
It is shifted by using a lever to each pole at the same time.
The levers. There is only one to each slider. But the longer arms of both
stand towards each other and are linked together by any suitable device, e.g., a
stud e projecting from the side of one of the lever near the outer end and engaging
in a slot es in the other lever.
The shifting strut. One arm and roller are fixed to the outside of each pole c

page_text: and the detachable side is long enough to engage all the four screwed ends of the
sides of the two shackles 6. The braces bare lengthened accordingly.
The shifting gear.
The eye is supported preferably in a central position
between the two poles. The rope 6 also occupies a central position. It is
bifurcated three times, once to each pole, and each bifurcation once to each of the
respective compressors. The cleats for the three ropes 17, 128, 18 are fixed in any
convenient position.
The scaffold may be as long as would make the use of more than two poles
desirable. But no matter how many poles are used there is only one base block
and shifting gear common to them all for they must all be moved at once.
It must be distinctly understood that although the hollow pole is the one up or
down which according to my invention the scaffold climbs with a one-before-the-
other clawing motion and action, I do not limit myself to the minor details of the
construction of the claw and of the bar to which it clings, but may use any one
which may be suitable.
For instance, according to the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 the flat
recessed bar e with its series of equidistant holes el is replaced by a T bar e.
The flanges of it are recessed flush with the face of the pole e from which the
web el projects at a right angle. eels are a series of equidistant notches cut
therein. These notches are inclined downwards from the front edge of the web
and backwards towards the flanges. The longer arm of the bell crank lever has a
pair of forwardly extending webs ele, els formed upon it. These webs stand apart
far enough to allow of their embracing the web of the bar which serves as a guide
for the lever. 7 is a pin extending from web to web of the claw and near enough
to the front edges of the latter to allow of it resting in the bottoms of the notches
which are shaped to correspond.
The construction illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 is characterised by the use of a
channelled bar 18 fixed flush with the face of the scaffold. It has equidistant
holes in it in the same way as has the bar 10. The channel serves as a guide
for the claws 4, 5, and in so far replaces the notches".
In Figs. 14, 15, and 16, the bar is of T section with duplicate webs e¹, eto. It
is notched in the same way as the bar e. The long arm of the bell crank lever
rides up and down the channel between the two webs which therefore act as guides.
The pin is passed through its nose at right angles with it from which it projects
right and left."
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 1
claim is :-
1. The combination of moveable scaffold pole or poles and a moveable scaffold
capable of being raised or lowered thereupon by a claw gearing actuated by lever
aud spring mechanisms whereby the scaffold is held suspended by the engage-
ment of one claw in and with the pole whilst the other claw is pulled out of
engagement, moved opposite its next point of engagement and engaged therewith,
as set forth.
2. The combination of moveable scaffold, scaffold pole, or poles a vertical series
of equidistant holes or notches or their equivalent in one face thereof, a pair of
levers pivotted upon or to the scaffold, a pair of claws under the control of the
said levers and adapted to engage with the said holes or notches in succession and
in either direction according to the motion of the said levers.
3. The combination of moveable scaffold, scaffold pole or poles, a vertical series
of equidistant holes or notches in the one face of the pole a claw pivotted upon a
block moveable vertically with reference to the scaffold by levers having their
fulcra in or attached to the scaffold, and a second claw pivotted on a tixed point of
the scaffold, spring devices adapted to drive the claws into the holes or notches
against which may respectively be, and a detachable connection between the two

page_text: claws consisting of a spiral spring held within a closed cylinder, thimbles pro-
.jecting from the ends thereof, a rod releasably connected to one claw and adapted
to move through the said thimbles and spring and through collars in the said rod
whereby the motion of the rod is communicated to the said cylinder.
4. The combination of scaffold pole, or poles, moveable scaffold, vertical series
of holes or detents on the face of the said pole, a duplex lever and claw gear on
the platform and a claw disengaging mechanism all co-operating together as
herein before set forth with reference to the lowering of the scaffold.
5. The combination with the pole or poles of a moveable scaffold, of a safety
rope releasably held fast to the head of it, and made fast by its ends to as many
fixed points respectively right and left of the pole, shifting ropes made fast by
their ends to fixed points respectively right and left of the pole, a device in the
head of the pole through which the shifting ropes are passed downwards and by
means of which a pull on either of the pendant shifting ropes will cant the head
of the pole, as set forth.
6. The combination of scaffold pole, or poles, safety rope, fixed points right and
left thereof to which the ends of the said rope are made fast, a releasable device
. adapted to hold the pole head to the rope, and shifting ropes made fast to fixed
points right and left of the pole and having their hauling parts hanging outside
the said pole.
7. The combination of moveable scaffold, scaffold pole or poles, a vertical series
of equidistant holes or notches or their equivalent in one face thereof, a pair of
levers pivotted upon or to the scaffold, a pair of claws under the control of the
said levers and adapted to engage with the said holes or notches in succession and
in either direction according to the motion of the said levers, and pivotted shifting
strut capable of adjustment in point of projection rearwards from the pole.
8. The combination of the composite scaffold pole, or poles the moveable scaffold,
the raising mechanism, the claw disengaging and the lowering mechanisms the
shifting gear and the safety rope and its attachments, as set forth.
Dated this 10th der of Tan 1902
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.