Year: 1888

page_text: JAMES GASKELL, 1 Blake Street, Hall Street, Burslem, Staffordshire, Engineer,
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:-
My invention relates to improvements in cranes and similar appliances for lifting
weights; by which means, I can easily ascertain the weight of the article lifted
whilst suspended from the chain or rope.
In order to accomplish the foregoing, I attach the pulloy from which the chain or
rope is suspended, to a suitable lover; one ond of said lever I support upon suitable
knife-edge bearings, the other end I connect by a link or shackle to the short end of
another lever, which, for clearness in description I term a weigh-beam. This said
weigh-beam having its fulcrum close to the before named link or shackle, I place
above the first named lever, so that when the long end of weigh-beam is depressed,
it will lift the first named lever and thus support the weight suspended from chain or
rope. To the long end of said weigh-beam I attach a chain or rod, said chain or rod
being connected to a spring balance or other suitable, appliance for weighing with,
such as a steel-yard, to indicate to scale the weight supported by the crane chain or
rope, its dial or graduated surface being marked accordingly. Said spring balance
or other suitable appliance being so arranged that it may be easily put in or out of
gear by the operator.
In order that the weight lifted shall not act upon the spring balance or other
suitable appliance employed when not required, I attach a stop bar to the end of first

page_text: named lever, and which, by coming into contact with a flange attached to framework
of crane, prevents said lever being depressed beyond a certain distance; thus allowing
the crane to be used either with or without the weight indicator.
In order that my invention and the mode of operating same may be properly under-
stood, I will proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate a method of carrying it out.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a crane fitted with my invention, a portion of the frame-
work being omitted to allow the details to be clearly shewn. Fig. 2 is a front view
of fig. 1 without the frame-work of crane, and fig. 3 is a plan of lig. 2.
The crane A shewn in fig. 1 represents an ordinary type, supported at both top and
bottom. To the frame of said crane I attach bearings B, which are preferably of a
knife edge form, to support one end of lever C, said lever having attached to it
pulley D from which the chain or rope is suspended. The other end of said lever C
is attached to and supported by weigh-beam H, by means of link or shackle E, in
the interior of which are suitable knife edge bearings F and G, said weigh-beam H
being also supported by a knife edge gudgeon I resting upon blocks J, one of said
blocks being placed at each side and attached to crane fraine. To the long ond of
said weigh-beam HI attach chain or rod K, by means of link 14, said link being
employed to allow chain or rope M to pass through on its way to winding barrel N,
and, assuming spring_O_to be employed to measure the weight lifted, the other end
of said chain or rod K I connect to said spring by toothed rack P, which, gearing
with pinion Q upon dial spindle, moves or rotates hand or pointer R as the length of
spring Ovaries, such variation measuring to a known scale the weight lifted by chain
or rope M.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew plainly and to a larger scale, dial S and the arrangements for
moving hand or pointer R, rack P being held in gear with pinion Q by two small
rollers at the back as shewn. Underneath dial S the apparatus for moving the spring
or other suitable weighing appliance in or out of gear is placed, said apparatus
consists of a shaft T supported by suitable bearings at each end, to said shaft I
fasten one end of lever U, the other end of said lover being formed to an arc of a
circle.
Spring O is connected to this lever U by a chain or cord fastened to the bottom of
circular arc, so that when lever U is moved by handle V, fixed to shaft T, it will
always allow the chain or rod K, when strained to be in a perpendicular direction.
The remaining letters of reference are as follows :-W, is a steel-yard shewn in
position, and in which case spring O, and dial S, are not required and may be removed.
✗, is a guide pulley to conduct chain or rope M, in a horizontal direction through
the centre of bearings B and lever C; Y, is the stop bar attached to end of lever C,
which, when in contact with flange Z, fixed to frame-work of crane sustains the
weight suspended from chain or rope M, without transmitting it to the weighing
appliance, which would then be inoperate or out of gear.
The method of operating my invention is as follows:-The article to be weighed
is attached to chain hook and lifted by the usual gearing, and whilst said article
is suspended, handle V, is depressed and held by a suitable catch attached to side of
crane. Said lever V being keyed upon the same shaft as lever U, puts the weighing
appliance in gear by depressing the long end of weigh-beam H, consequently lifting
the short end together with link or shackle F and lever C attached to it, to their
central position, so that the stop bar Y is not in contact with flange Z attached to
crane frame; and, assuming spring O to be used, hand or pointer R would indicate
the weight lifted.
Or the weighing appliance may be put in gear before the weight is lifted if desired:
the result being the same in both cases.
I would also have it distinctly understood that I do not bind myself to the exact
details of construction herein described and illustrated, as the same may be modified
to suit varying circumstances without departing from the essential features of my
invention,

page_text: 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 :-
In apparatus of the class hereinbefore indicated;
1. The combination of lever C, shacklo E, and "weigh-beam" H, substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. For use and in combination with the above, shaft T, and levers U and V,
for the purpose of putting weigh-beam H in or out of gear, substantially as herein
set forth.
ינג
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1000