or Transhipping Earth, Grain or other Material.
Year: 1884

page_text: or Transhipping Earth, Grain, or other Material.
We, ARTHUR MUSKER and CHARLES WALTER VAUGHAN both of Ipswich in the
County of Suffolk, Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS OR GRABS FOR EXCAVATING
OR ELEVATING OR TRANSHIPPING EARTH, GRAIN OR OTHER MATERIAL," to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object an automatic grab bucket better and simpler in
its action than those at present in use.
The invention is applicable alike to grain grab buckets grabs formed of a series
of prongs or other terminals now made for catching and raising materials. The
crane or hoist we also do not touch upon in our invention-using those now in use.
We also may use the well known triple windlass with two outside chains on
smaller barrels, winding one way, and the main chain on a larger central barrel
winding the other way. This windlass has its bearings in the main frame as usual,
and is employed in closing and opening the grab in the usual manner by means of
a cross bead sliding in or on the main frame, to which the grabs are pivoted or
hung. We however prefer for some purposes to use differential or other pulleys in
place of this windlass.
The following is a description of the novel points in our new grab according to
our latest design-we do not however bind ourselves to the exact arrangement
described as it will be obvious that in this, as in almost all mechanisms the parts
can be largely modified and yet be the same in principle and manner of application.
Instead of as is usual carrying up the main side frames to a considerable height,
and letting the cross head for opening and closing the grab, slide in guides therein,
we arch our main side frames over immediately above the compound windlass, and
continue the united frame upward from the centre of the arch as a hollow trunk
upon which the cross head slides, and through which the main chain descends. The
links from the outer corners (when closed) of the various segments of the grab (here-
after called the grab links) rise up to two, three or more armed bell crank lovers or
their equivalent, each grab link being jointed to or pivoted on one of the bell
crank levers which is attached to an arm of the cross head. From the jib head we
suspend a ring hanging loosely round the axis of the machine at some distance

page_text: from the trunk, and from this suspend two, three or more grappling hooks, each
one of which catch at times as hereafter explained on an arm or trigger of one
of the armed bell cranks. The remaining arm is preferably hooked downward
and in each case abuts against the central trunk, or hooks onto the top of it as
hereafter explained; or in place of using the grab links and bell cranks in this
manner the grab links may be slotted at their upper ends, and instead of engaging
with the triggers of the bell cranks, may be used to operate separate catches for
keeping the cross head at the top of the trunk. By this means the crane does not
need reversing the bucket or grab being lowered by the brake.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The grab being raised and held by the grappling hooks holding the triggers of
the three armed levers which are kept in position by the tips of their hooked arins
bearing against the central trunk. The hoisting chain is slacked off to allow the
The trunk and main
grab to open in the usual manner and discharge its contents.
frame descends. When they reach their lowest position the hooked arms of the
bell crank slip over the top of the trunk; the weight of the buckets on the grab
links pulling the bell crank round till the trigger arms stand at such an angle that
the grappling hooks can no longer hold and slip off. This releases the bucket, but
at the same time as the hooked arms have slid over the top of the trunk, they
maintain the bucket in its open position. When however the grab reaches the
ground or the material to be lifted the weight of the bucket is taken off the
crosshead, and the grab links being then in compression the trigger levers are
The chain
turned, thus allowing the cross head to be lowered on the trunk.
now being wound up causes the windlass barrel to wind up the chains connected
with the cross head, in the usual manner, and thus closes the grab, the chain
continuing winding up, the apparatus is hoisted with its load until the trigger
levers again engage with the grappling hooks, and be ready to allow the whole
operation to be performed again.
As a modification pulleys may be used, to gain power, instead of the windlass
barrel.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
and 323, High Holborn,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: or Transshipping Earth, Grain, or other Material.
We, ARTHUR MUSKER and CHARLES WALTER VAUGHAN both of Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS OR GRABS FOR EXCAVATING OR
ELEVATING OR TRANSSHIPPING EARTH, GRAIN OR OTHER MATERIAL," 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 for its object an automatic grab bucket better and simpler in
its action than those at present in use.
The invention is applicable alike to grain grab buckets, grabs formed of a series
of prongs or other terminals now made for catching and raising materials. The
crane or hoist we also do not touch upon in our invention using those now in use.
We also use the well known triple windlass with two outside chains on smaller
barrels winding one way, and the main chain on a larger central barrel winding
the other way or pulleys may be used to gain power instead of the windlass
barrel.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a side view of grab hoisted up full, partly in section.
Figure a front view of same.
Figure 3 plan of cross-head.
Figure 4 a slight variation of Figure 1, we may occasionally adopt.
Figure 5 side view of grab being let down empty and expanded.
In these A A are grappling hooks pivoted to lugs on annular casting E. These
hooks are shallow so that they can easily slip off the trigger hooks hereafter
described when the latter fall back. B tips of triggers C of which 1 to 4 are shown
pressing against trunk D and thus kept in position for enabling the hooks of C to
retain hooks A in clasp. CC lever triggers pivoted on pin H of cross-head G and
having three projections, a hook hooked into hook A when in the position shown
in Figures 1, 2 and 4, and liberated in Figure 5, a heel B pressing against trunk D
in Figures 1, 2 and 4, but liberated and above trunk D in Figure 5, and tail pieco
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 carrying the pin I to which the lever J is linked or
as shown in Figure 4 bearing against pin I to which is linked lever J. D trunk or
guide forming part of the main frame F, and having a hollow or space left for the
chain to pass through it, or between its parts. Two or more parallel bars steadied
by a ring of the top will answer the same purpose. E conical casting suspended
by chains from the jib head on lugs of which hooks A are pivoted by means of
pins. F main frame of grab. G cross-head carrying the chains of the outer barrel,
or other multiple purchase chains, also carrying pivoted to its lugs the trigger
levers C and the links J indirectly by means of these levers C as shown in
Figures 1 etcetera, or directly by means of pins I sliding in slots K as shown in
Figure 4. This cross-head is shaped to slide on trunk D which is hollow for the
chain to pass down.
H centre pins in cross-head G upon which trigger levers C turn. The distance
from these centres to the hooks of Ċ is much less than the distance of hook A from
its pivot, consequently when as hereafter described, the hook of C falls back it

page_text: stands at a much sharper angle with the line joining their two pivots than A does,
consequently A easily falls or slides off the hook of C. I pin in the eye of link J,
and either sliding in slots K as shown in Figure 4 or pivoted in C as shown in the
other Figures. J links for opening and closing the grab bucket. L tails of the
levers C bearing against pin I in Figure 4, and thus when the pin I sinks in slot K
it presses the tail of the lever J forward and consequently the heel B backward,
liberating the latter from the hook A.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The grab as shown in Figures 1 and 2 has been raised with its load and is held
by the trigger levers CC, which are kept in position by the heels B bearing against
the trunk or guide D, so that their hooks engage with the grappling hooks A. A.
To allow the grab to open and so discharge its contents the hoisting chain is
slacked off by brake or otherwise. The trunk D which is part of frame F
descends in consequence, and when in its lowest position relatively to the cross-
head G is so much below the heels B that the trigger levers are free to turn on
their centres H until the grappling hooks A slide off thus disengaging the grappling
hooks of the trigger levers, and at the same time allowing the heel hooks B to fall
over the top of the trunk and prevent it from rising as set forth in Figure 5. The
grab thus opened is now lowered onto the material to be raised till the grab ends
resting thereon the links J are forced up disengaging the heel hooks and bringing
the grappling hooks of levers C into hooks A. On now winding in the main chain
the grab closes with its own weight and it assumes the position shown in Figure 1.
In the modification shown in Figure 4 to allow the grab to open and so discharge
its contents, (by brake or otherwise) the hoisting chain is slacked off. The trunk D
which is part of the frame F descends in consequence, and when in its lowest
position in relation to the cross-head G, is so much below the heels B that the
trigger levers C are free to turn over on their centres H, until the grappling
hooks A slip off; thus disengaging the grab. At the same time the pins I which
are fixed in the links J have slipped down the slots K in the cross-head, thus
preventing the trigger levers from resuming their original position. This prevention
is accomplished by the ends L bearing against the pins I thus keeping the heels B
over the trunk and maintaining the cross-head in its top position.
The grab now being open and empty is lowered onto the material to be raised or
removed, immediately the bucket rests upon the material the pins I are forced to
the top of the slots K by means of the links J, thus freeing the cross-head G from.
the top of the trunk.
The chain is then wound up, closing and filling the grab in the ordinary manner
by means of the windlass barrel or other multiple purchase. The crane continues
hoisting until the trigger levers again engage with the grappling hooks A A, and is
then slewed round into the position required for discharging, the chain is then
slacked off and the whole operation is repeated as before described.
The advantages we claim for this invention are:-
It is very much cheaper to produce than any single chain grabs in the market,
owing to the few working parts which consist only of the trigger levers and the
grappling hooks contained in the suspended conical casting, and also because of the
very simple construction of the framo and cross-head.
It is automatic in its action, is thoroughly reliable, can be worked by any
ordinary crane, and is worked by only once hoisting and lowering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is
1st. The improvements in elevators or grabs for excavating, elevating or trans-
shipping earth, grain or other material as an entire combination, substantially as
described.
2nd. The manufacture and use of elevators or grabs for the purposes described, in
which a cross-head slides on a guide or guides attached to the main frame leaving

page_text: space for the hoisting chain to pass down inside and carries (1st) the multiple
purchase chains (2nd) trigger lovers bearing against the guide or guides and capable
of disengaging themselves from hooks suspended above by sinking back over the
top of the guide or into an indent in it and (3rd) the grab opening and closing
links by means of a pivot or pin having a limited amount of motion of translation
and bearing upon the trigger levers, substantially as described.
3rd. In elevators or grabs for the purposes described the trigger levers C
arranged each with a hook to catch in the grappling hooks, a heel pressing against
the plain continuation of the bucket frame and falling toward the centre over top
of the said continuation, and a third projection bearing against and actuated by the
pin passing through the upper ends of the grab suspending links, forming a
joint to which the upper ends of the grab suspending links are attached, whereby
the heel is locked over the top of the said continuation, substantially as and
for the purposes specified, the trigger levers C arranged each with a hook to
catch in the grappling hooks a heel or hook pressing against the plain continuation
of the bucket frame and falling towards the centre over the said continuation and
third projection, whereby the heel or hook is locked over the top of the said con-
tinuation, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
4th. In an elevator or grab for the purposes described, the combination of the
pivoted suspension hooks A, with hooked trigger levers C, bearing against the
guides and having a hook of much shorter radius from its pivot than A, hooking
into the latter, so that when the lever no longer has the guide to bear against, and
falls back, the hook C shall pass through a larger arc than hook A, and stand at
such an angle as to cause the grappling hooks A to slide off and thus disengage
themselves.
Dated the st 1
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.