IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIP PULLEYS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Barraclough, of Barnsley, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIP
PULLEYS."
Scaled the 2nd November 1877, and dated the 8th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Barraclough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1877.
JOSEPH BARRACLOUGH, of Barnsley, in the County of York, Engineer and Iron-
founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIP PULLEYS."
My Invention relates to the general construction, but more particularly to the
gripping jaws or clips; of what are known as "clip pulleys," which are used for
transmitting power through the medium of wire, hempen, or other ropes, and
generally for the purposes of hauling; winding, or other similar work.
In carrying out my Invention I make my pulley by preference in two parts or
halves, cach a counterpart of the other, the division being through the bottom of
the Vor groove formed in the periphery of the wheel, and dividing the arms and
the boss.
At equal distances round the flanges of the wheel I construct recesses or pockets
opening into the V or groove, the recesses on one side of the groove being opposite
to those on the other; by preference they are of a square or oblong shape, and have
also an opening through the back to the outside of the wheel flange.
The moveable jaws or clips aro made in two separate pieces, one half fitting into
the recess or pocket on one side, and the other half into the recess or pocket
opposite to it, and each having sufficient "play" to allow of a vertical movement.
When the jaws or clips are in working position, their inner or gripping surfaces
form a groove tapering towards the bottom, and which is rounded to suit the
diameter of the rope, a narrow space being left between the two jaws or clips to
allow of their boing forced closer together.
Each jaw is provided at the back with a boss or lug which passes through the
smaller opening at the back of the recess, and is fitted with a screw and washer, or
plate or other suitable equivalent, for the purpose of retaining tlio jaws in the recess
or pocket.

page_text: Under each pair of jaws or clips, and centrally with the groove, I form a suitable
hole for a spring, by preference of a spiral form, which, acting on a glut placed
under the jaws and in contact with them, forces them upwards towards the top of
the recess or pocket, and apart from each other, thus assisting in releasing the rope
at the proper time.
The normal position of the jaws or clips is at the top of the recess, as above
described, when under the influence of the spring, but when the pressure of the rope
comes upon them by the revolution of the wheel, the jaws are forced downwards,
the pressure of the rope being exerted on the rounded inner surface of the jaws,
and as the space between them becomes contracted, the rope is firmly gripped
by them, the amount of gripping power being in proportion to the strain applied to
the rope.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Barraclough in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1877.
JOSEPH BARRACLOUGH, of Barnsley, in the County of York, Engineer and Iron-
founder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIP PULLEYS.”
: My said Invention relates to the general construction, but more particularly to
the gripping jaws or clips, of what are known as "clip pulleys," which are employed
for transmitting power through the medium of wire, hempen, or other ropes, and
generally for hauling, winding, or other similar purposes.
In carrying out my said Invention I make my improved pulleys by preference in
two parts or halves, each a counterpart of the other, the division being through the
bottom of the V or groove formed in the periphery of the pulley, and dividing the
arms and the boss.
At equal distances round the flanges of tho pulley I construct recesses or pockets
opening into the V or groove, the recesses on one side of the groove being opposite
to those on the other; by preference they are of a square or oblong shape, and have
also an opening extending through the back to the outside of the flange.
The moveable jaws or clips are made in two separate pieces, one half fitting into
the recess or pocket on one side, and the other half into the recess or pocket
opposite to it; and each having sufficient "play" to admit of its receiving a vertical
movement.
.
When the jaws or clips are in working position, their inner or gripping surfaces
form a groove tapering towards the bottom, and, which is rounded to suit the
diameter of the rope, a narrow space being left, between the two jaws or clips to
allow of their being forced closer together.
Each jaw is provided at the back with a boss or lug which passes through the
opening at the back of the recess, and is fitted with a screw and washer, or plate
or other suitable, equivalent, for the purpose of retaining the jaws in the recess
or pocket.
..Under each pair of jaws or clips, centrally with and in the bottom of the groove
of the pulley, I form a hole or recess, in which I place a spring, by preference of a
spiral form, which, by acting on a glut placed under the jaws and in contact with
them, forces them upward towards the top of the recess or pocket, and apart from
each other, thus assisting in releasing the rope at the required time.
.The normal position of the jaws or clips is at the top of the recess, as above
described, when under the influence of the spring, but when the pressure of the rope
is caused to act upon them by the revolution of the pulley, the jaws are forced down-
wards (the pressure of the rope being exerted on the rounded inner surface of the i
jaws), and as the space between them becomes contracted, the rope is firmly gripped
by them, the amount of gripping power being in proportion to the strain applied to
the rope.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a half side elevation and half sectional eleva-
tion of a clip pulley constructed according to my said Invention; Figure 2 is a
transverse section of the same taken along the line 1-2 in Figure 1; and Figures
3, 4, and 5 are details drawn to a larger scale, and which will be herein-after
referred to.
A, A', represent the two halves of a pulley connected together by bolts and nuts B,
arranged at suitable intervals round the rim or periphery C, distance pieces a being
interposed between the halves A, A', for the purpose of maintaining them at the
required distance apart.
"
The flanges b, b, forming the ring or periphery C³, are arranged at reverse angles
in order that when the halves A, A¹, are connected together they shall form a V
groove (as shewn in Figure 3) for the reception of the hauling or winding rope.
At suitable distances apart round the inner faces of the flanges b, 61, there are
formed a number of recesses c, c¹, for the reception of movable clips D (one of which
is shewn detached in Figure 4), sufficient space being provided in the recesses to
admit of the clips sliding up and down therein; these clips consist of two jaws d, d', "
provided respectively with bosses or projections e, e¹, one to each jaw, which bosses
enter slots or openings f, f1, formed at the back of the recesses c, c¹, (and are secured
therein by screw bolts g and plates or washers h, which latter cover the openings f,f¹,
and excludo dirt therefrom.
The clips are maintained in their normal position, that is to say, at or near the
outer extremity of the recesses, as shewn in Figures 2 and 5, by means of springs E,
contained in holes or recesses i formed in the V groove of the pulley immediately
beneath the bottoms of the clips, which springs, by acting against gluts k, upon
which the clips bear, tend to force the said gluts and clips towards the outer ends of
the recesses.
The hauling or winding rope F, attached at one end to the implement or article
to be hauled or raised (as the case may be), is placed around the pulley between
the jaws d, d, so as to bear upon the curved portions 1, 1, of the clips, the free end
of the rope being connected to and wound upon a windlass or drum. On rotatory
motion being imparted to the pulley, the whole of the clips are caused to act in suc-
cession upon the rope so as to alternately grip and release it, the rope being however
constantly subjected to the gripping action of a certain number of the clips simul-
taneously during the revolution of the pulley.
Each clip acts in the following manner:-By reason of the motion of the pulley
the rope is subjected to tension, whereby the jaws d, d', overcoming the force of the
spring E, are caused. to slide down the inclined recesses c, cl, towards the centre of
the pulley, and at the same time, by virtue of the inclined shape of the recesses, to
approach towards each other and grip the rope F tightly between them. As how-
ever the pressure of the rope on the clip is reinoved by the continued motion of the
pulley, the spring E comes into action and raises the clip to its normal position, and
the jaws d, d, being then at their maximum distance apart, the rope is released from
their grip. This action takes place with each clip in its turn as the pulley rotates,
whereby the rope is caused to pass through or round the pulley, and the implement
or article is hauled or raised, as the case may be.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the horein-before in part rocited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment in clip pulleys of clips, each consisting of two parts or
jaws fitted so as to be free to slide in inclined recesses or guideways in the flanges
of the pulleys, the grip of the rope being effected by the motion of the jaws in one

page_text: direction under the pressure of the rope due to its tension, and being released by the
motion of the jaws in the opposite direction under the action of resilient devices
when the tension of the rope is slackened, substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly. The combination of a pulley made in two halves A, A¹, of a series of
clips made in two halves d, d, and fitted so as to be free to slide in inclined recesses
or guideways in the halves A, A¹, respectively of the pulley, and of springs E for
retaining and returning the clips in and to their normal position, all substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.:
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Barraclough, have to this iny Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this First day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH BARRACLOUGH. (L.S.)