Improvements in or connected with Lifts, Hoists, and analogous Machinery.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Lifts, Hoists, and analogous
Machinery.
We, CHARLES MUSKER and ARTHUR MUSKER, both of Dundas Street, Bootle, in
the County of Lancaster, Hydraulic Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference mainly to hydraulic lifts, hoists or analogous machinery
wherein the power applied is automatically regulated or adjusted or controlled-or
partly so according to the load or weight upon the cage, or its equivalent, of the
lift or hoist to be elevated or raised, by or through such load or weight, the actual
power to lift or raise the apparatus being applied by two or more powers or power
cylinders.
The chief objects of the present invention are to provide a valvular apparatus for
use in connection with such lifts, hoists, or the like employing variable powers,
which shall be simple and cheap in itself, in which the liability of derangement and
getting out of order, or leakage by wear, is obviated, and which shall be quick-
acting when set in operation or started, and work with little friction.
According to this invention, under one arrangement for use in cases where two
powers or power cylinders are employed, we employ a chamber having a diaphragm
of a flexible nature, in connection with which works a valve, such valve being moved
on and off its seat, and opens and closes a passage in said chamber connected with
the second power cylinder as the diaphragin is moved from its normal position, or
assumes such position, which positions are caused by or due to the varying
pressure acting upon it-the diaphragm. The water for supplying the second
power cylinder is conveyed to the chamber by a pipe controlled by an ordinary
hand actuated controlling valve, which supplies and shuts off and exhausts water to
and from the cylinders; and the pressure water to the first power cylinder may be
also taken from this diaphragm chamber. In connection with this chamber, is a
second chamber, to which water of a suitable and steady pressure is admitted ; and
this pressure is adapted to act on the diaphragm in the opposite direction to that
which the pressure water acts, and this pressure serving to close the valve
controlling the supply to the second power cylinder. Or, in lieu of this steady
pressure, a dead weight may be used if desired. The steady pressure is obtained,
in one case conveniently, by connecting the second chamber of the apparatus with a
convenient part of the service or system, as to the valve side of the pipe supplying
pressure water to the apparatus. The apparatus and parts are so arranged and constructed
that the pipe supplying the second power cylinder as well as the first, will be open
at the starting of the lift, in all cases, as the valve controlling the second power
cylinder will be kept off its seat when the apparatus is at rest, by a weight. In
action, when the hand controlling valve is open, water passes to the valvular
apparatus and so to the cylinders and starts the apparatus lift or hoist, then if the
pressure in the valve chamber should be comparatively small owing to a light load,
or to the velocity of movement of the lift, the steady pressure in the other chamber
acting upon the diaphragm being greater, would move the valve onto its seat (or the
dead weight if used would do so) and cut off supply to the second power cylinder.
In this idle action, or in any idle action, of the second cylinder, such cylinder is

page_text: .
filled with water at low pressure from an ordinary tank through which the exhaust
passes, such supply taking place past an ordinary lift or non-return valve into the
second power cylinder supply pipe, the flow in the opposite direction being stopped
hy the closing of the valve.
In the case of there being three powers or power cylinders, a third annular
chamber would be used for the third power cylinder, with valve and weight similar to
the second power chamber described, the steady power chamber (in case such
chamber be used) being between the second and third power valve chambers, and
common to both. The amount of stroke of the valve of the second or second
and third power cylinder for controlling the supply of water thereto is small, and
thus the movement of the diaphragm and the size of the parts will be very small.
By the employment of apparatus such as described, the moving parts have no
ports to pass over, the stroke is short and the apparatus quick acting, and there is
practically no friction, while at the same time, the whole apparatus is simple and
inexpensive.
In another form of valvular apparatus arranged to act according to the method and
set forth above with reference to the diaphragmatic construction of apparatus, we use
instead of the diaphragm, a piston working in a cylinder with cup-leathers or other
suitable packing, one end of which cylinder is in communication with the supply
inlet and first power supply pipe, and also the second power supply pipe, the latter
being controlled, that is opened and closed, by a valve worked by or connected with
the piston; and whilst there is connected with this piston a weight tending to keep
said valve off its seat. The opposite end of the cylinder is connected with a
steady pressure supply which tends to move the piston in the opposite direction to the
pressure water and weight, and close the valve. Or, as above described, this steady
pressure may be obtained by a weight. Similarly to the case first described, there
may be provided in connection with such an apparatus, a second valve and pipe
connected with and for controlling a third power cylinder. The actions and effects
of this modification is, or these modifications are, similar to those of the
diaphragmatic apparatus first described. The amount of movement of the piston or
pistons in this latter case is small and the pipes to the power cylinders being at
the end, the controlling cylinder piston does not move or pass over any ports or
openings, and so damage or uneven wear to the piston or its packing, owing to this, is
obviated; and in this case also, the stroke or travel being short, the apparatus is
quick acting and the friction small, and besides this, the apparatus is simple and
inexpensive.
The invention is not restricted to the exact forms of apparatus more particularly
hereinabove specified, as these may be modified or varied without departing from the
general characteristics or features of the invention.
Dated this 17th day of December 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Lifts, Hoists, and analogous
Machinery.
We, CHARLES MUSKER and ARTHUR MUSKER, both of Dundas Street, Bootle, in
the County of Lancaster, Hydraulic Engineers, 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 mainly to hydraulic lifts, hoists or analogous
machinery wherein the power applied is automatically regulated or adjusted or

page_text: controlled or partly so-according to the load or weight upon the case, or its
equivalent, of the lift or hoist to be elevated or raised, by or through such load or
weight, the actual power to lift or raise, the apparatus being applied by two or more
powers or power cylinders.
The chief objects of the present invention are to provide a valvular apparatus for.
use in connection with such lifts, hoists, or the like, employing variable powers,
which shall be simple and cheap in itself, in which the liability of derangement, and,
getting out of order, or leakage by wear, is obviated, and which shall be quick-
acting when set in operation or started, and work with little friction.
According to, this invention, under one arrangement for use in cases where two
powers or power cylinders are employed, we employ a chamber having a diaphragm
of a flexible nature, in, connection with which works a valve, such valve being
moved on and off its seat, and opens and closes a passage in said chamber connected,
with the second power cylinder as the diaphragm is moved from, its normal position,
or assumes such position, which positions. are caused by or due to the varying,
pressure acting upon it-the diaphragm. The water for supplying the second power
cylinder is conveyed to the chamber by a pipe controlled by an ordinary hand
actuated controlling valve, which supplies and shuts off and exhausts water to and
from the cylinders; and then the pressure-water to the first power cylinder may be
also taken from, this diaphragm, chamber. In connection with this chamber, is a
second chamber, to which water of a suitable and steady pressure is admitted; and,
this pressure is adapted to act on the diaphragm in the opposite direction to that
which the pressure water acts, and this pressure serving to close the valve
controlling the supply to the second power cylinder. Or, in lieu of this steady
pressure, a dead weight may be used if desired. The steady pressure is obtained, in
one case conveniently, by connecting the second chamber of the apparatus with, a
convenient part of the service or system, as to the valve side of the pipe supplying
pressure water to the apparatus. The apparatus and parts are so arranged and
constructed that the pipe supplying the second power cylinder as well as the first,
will be open at the starting of the lift, in all cases, as the valve controlling the
second power cylinder will be kept off its seat when the apparatus is at rest, by a
weight. In action, when the hand controlling valve is open, water passes to the
valvular apparatus and so to the cylinders and starts the apparatus lift or hoist, then
if the pressure in the valve chamber should be comparatively small owing to a light
load, or to the velocity of movement of the lift, the steady pressure in the other
chamber acting upon the diaphragm being greater, would move the valve onto its seat
(or the dead weight if used would do so) and cut off supply to the second power
cylinder. In this idle action, or in any idle action, of the second cylinder, such
cylinder is filled with water at low pressure from an ordinary tank through which
the exhaust passes, such supply taking place past an ordinary lift or non-return valve,
into the second power cylinder supply pipe, the flow in the opposite direction being.
stopped by the closing of the valve.
In the case of there being three powers or power cylinders, a third annular
chamber would be used for the third power cylinder, with, valve and weight similar
to the second power chamber described, the steady power chamber (in case such
chamber be used) being, between the second and third power valve chambers, and
common, to both. The amount of stroke, of the valve of the second or second and.
third power cylinder for controlling the supply of water thereto is small, and thus
the movement of the diaphragm and the size of the parts will be very small.
By the employment of apparatus such, as described, the moving parts have no
ports to pass over, the stroke is short and, the apparatus quick acting, and there is
practically, no friction, while at the same time, the whole apparatus is simple and,
inexpensive.
In another form of valvular apparatus arranged to act according to, the method,
and set forth above with reference to the diaphragmatic construction, of apparatus,,
we use instead of the diaphragm, a piston working in a cylinder with cup-leathers

page_text: or other suitable packing, one end of which cylinder is in communication with the
supply inlet and first power supply pipe, and also the second power supply pipe,
the latter being controlled, that is opened and closed, by a valve worked by or
connected with the piston; and whilst there is connection with this piston a weight
tending to keep said valve off its seat. The opposite end of the cylinder is
connected with a steady pressure supply which tends to move the piston in the
opposite direction to the pressure water and weight, and close the valve. Or, as
above described, this steady pressure may be obtained by a weight. Similarly to the
case first described, there may be provided in connection with such an apparatus, a
second valve and pipe connected with and for controlling a third power cylinder. The
actions and effects of this modification are or these modifications are, similar to those
of the diaphragmatic apparatus first described. The amount of movement of the
piston and pistons in this latter case is small and the pipes to the power cylinders
being at the end, the controlling cylinder piston does not move or pass over any
ports or openings, and so damage or uneven wear to the piston or its packing, owing
to this, is obviated; and in this case also, the stroke or travel being short, the
apparatus is quick acting and the friction small, and besides this, the apparatus is
simple and inexpensive.
The invention is not restricted to the exact forms of apparatus more particularly
hereinabove specified, as these may be modified or varied without departing from
the general characteristics or features of the invention.
Drawings illustrative of this invention are hereto annexed, and shew
constructions or modifications thereunder.
two
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, Figure 2 an outside elevation or end view of
one arrangement or modification; and Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the
other modification.
The apparatus shewn are of the kind in which a cylinder and a piston working
in it are used, the piston being acted upon by the pressure of water.
Referring to the drawings, a is the cylinder, and 6 the piston working therein;
c is a valve upon the upper end of the piston b, working in connection with a
seat d in the cover of the cylinder, and controlling the conduit e, which leads from
said cylinder to the cylinder of a second power cylinder of a double power lift or
hoist, the connection between them being by a pipe connected with the branch e'.
1 and flare branches on the upper side of the piston b, connected with and
leading the pressure water to the first power cylinder, which it may be assumed,
will be controlled by a hand actuated valve in the usual way.
h is a branch connected with some part of the water source system, in which
a steady pressure would exist, say to a supply port in connection with and
controlled by the hand operated controlling valve, or the ordinary supply pipe for
the pressure water therefrom. i is a weight of the lever j which acts upon the
end of the spindle connected with the piston b, and tends to depress the piston b,
and move the valve d away from its seat.
According to the partial load, i.e. the load at which it is desired the valvular
apparatus shall come into action, and cut off pressure supply to the second power
cylinder, and to the pressures which will exist in the different parts of the hydraulic
system connected with the multiple power lift, the weight i will be adjusted upon
its lever j, to exert the requisite degree of pressure upon the piston to effect the
action and adjustments required.
When the lift or hoist is not being used, the position of parts of the valvular
apparatus will be that shewn in the drawing, namely, the piston 6 would be at
the bottom of its stroke, so that the valve c would be off its seat; and the
conduite and the second power cylinder would therefore be in direct connection,
through the branch b, with the first power cylinder or pressure water supply:
then, both power cylinders of the lift or hoist will come into action at the
commencement of the lifting and hoisting stroke or action.
Upon opening the hand controlling valve, water will at once pass to both the

page_text: cylinders of the lift or hoist, through the passages f, fl, and according to the load
on the lift or hoist, the velocity at which such load will be lifted or hoisted will!
depend; and according to this velocity, so will be the pressure on the top of the
piston b. That is, if the load should be light, the velocity at which the lift or
hoist will move, will be relatively great, and, inversely, accordingly as this velocity
is bigh, the pressure on the top of the piston will be small,- -as it will be in the
pipes supplying the power cylinders. Then, as to the pressure on the underside-
of the piston b, this will be practically constant under all conditions, owing to its
having practically no movenient, (not as in the case of the water delivered to the
power cylinder, which is in rapid movement), and in some measure to its supply
pipe being connected with the service supply from the hand valve at a point inore.
or less close to such valve; and it will in consequence, be at full or nearly full
service pressure, thus giving practically this constant full pressure on the underside
of the piston. When, therefore, the load is small, say a certain proportion of the
full load, the velocity of the lift or hoist, and flow of water through the pipes
and parts high, and its pressure in the service pipe of the lift reduced in
consequence, the superior pressure on the underside of the piston will lift it, and
will move the valve c onto its seat d, and so cut off the supply to the second
power cylinder, reducing the apparatus to a single power hoist or lift.
Should, however, the load be large, that is above a given proportion of the-
maximum load capable of being lifted, then the piston will remain down, as the
pressure upon its upper side, due to that of the water, plus that of the weight i,
will be greater than that acting on the underside, and will keep it down.
Referring now to the drawing shewn in Figure 3, in this the automatic valve-
is of duplex construction, and is used in connection with a treble power lift or
hoist. The first power cylinder of the hoist or lift will be worked by the hand
actuated valve, as usual, and the two other power cylinders will be worked by
the apparatus shewn. One part, generally designated No. 2, of this apparatus,
will be used for controlling the action of the second power lift or hoist cylinder ;.
that marked No. 3 will be used for controlling the action of the third power
cylinder. In this case, the cylinders a at the upper sides of the pistons are
connected with the supply to the first power cylinder by the branches f, f', as in
the apparatus above described, and the passage f*.
The spaces beneath the pistons b are in communication with the pressure water
from the hand operated controlling valve, and with each other by a passage h¹.
The pressure upon the upper side of the pistons is supplemented in this case by
the weights and levers j, which are quite independent of each other, and act
upon the spindles & connected with the pistons b, pressing them normally downwards..
In other respects than these the respective parts designated under Nos. 2 and 3
are substantially identical with that shewn in Figure 1.
The action as regards No. 2 apparatus is identical with that described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2.
the
With regard to No. 3, for controlling the supply to the third power cylinder,.
should the pressure on the piston b, due to the load, be sufficiently great to keep
these pistons down, and the valves c off their seats, they will remain as they exist
prior to the supply of water to the lift cylinders, that is, the supply conduits e
which they control will remain open to the second and third power cylinders..
Should, however, the load be less than that which requires all three
power cylinders.
to lift it, then No. apparatus will be first operated, the weight thereon being
so adjusted, that the difference of pressure on the underside, and that
upper side (including that of the weight i), will be smaller than the difference
which will operate No. 2 apparatus, and thus the valve c of No. 3 apparatus will
be first closed when the load is a certain quantity below the maximum; and then,
in the case of the load being still smaller, No. 2 apparatus will also come into
operation and close its valve c. The proportion and degrees of varying or different.
loads under which these Nos. 2 and 3 apparatus will come into action, is regulated
by the position at which the weights i are adjusted upon their lovers j.
upon

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An automatic valvular apparatus for multiple or variable power for hydraulic
lifts or hoisting apparatus of the kind herein referred to, consisting of a cylinder
or casing having a movable piston or body therein, and a valve thereon, and a
valve seat in one end of said cylinder or case in connection with which said valve
operates, to close or open same and supply or cut off water to one of the power
cylinders of the hoist or lift, one side, (ie. the side on which the valve is provided
on said piston or moving body) being in communication with the service supplying
the first power cylinder of said apparatus, and the other side also being in
communication with the pressure water supply at a suitable point; operated
substantially as described.
2. An automatic valvular apparatus for multiple or variable power hydraulic
lifts or hoisting apparatus of the kind herein referred to, consisting of a cylinder a,
having passages ff and communicating with the first and second power cylinders
of the apparatus, and a branch h communicating with the service pressure water,
the piston b working in said cylinder, a valve c operated in connection with the
conduit c, and a weight i; substantially as set forth with reference to and shewn
in the drawings.
3. The automatic valvular apparatus for hydraulic lifts or hoisting apparatus of
the kind herein referred to, arranged and constructed particularly as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 3 of the drawings, and described with reference
thereto.
Dated this 16th day of September 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.