IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS AND HOISTING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm, of, Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS
AND HOISTING MACHINES." À communication from abroad by Cyrus Baldwin,
of Brooklyn, King's County, New York, United States of America, Civil
Engineer.
Sealed the 13th October 1877, and dated the 24th August 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August 1877.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firin of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS AND HOISTING MACHINES." A.communication from abroad
by Cyrus Baldwin, of Brooklyn, King's County, New York, United States of America,
Civil Engineer.
The accompanying Drawings will serve to illustrate my Invention, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing one form of my elevator.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of another form; Figure 3 is a vertical section
of the water valve and chamber used in connection with the form of elevator
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is also an elevation, partly in section, of a third form of the apparatus,
and Figure 5 is a transverse section of the base taken in the line x, x, Figure 4.
The Invention relates to hydraulic elevators and hoisting apparatus for use in
buildings, hotels, mines, or elsewhere, for raising and lowering persons, goods, or
material, to or from different floors or levels, and it consists in the methods for
constructing and operating the various apparatus, as I will now proceed to describe.
The first part of the Invention, represented by Figure 1, consists,
First. In raising the elevator carriage by the weight, or the pressure and weight,
of the water upon the piston, and the normal pressure of the atmosphere above the

page_text: piston, such forces being applied by drawing the water from the cylinder below the
piston.
Secondly. Of a piston to travel within the cylinder with a column of water above
and below it.
And, Thirdly. In the employment of compressed air in addition to the head
of water for increasing the pressure upon the piston to raise the car.
P is the elevator carriage connected to the piston B, by several ropes q, q, which
pass up over a fixed pulley wheel R, thence to a gin block A, which may be pro-
vided with a weight S if desired, and their standing parts are secured above as
shown, the carriage being guided within the well T in the usual or any preferred
manner. The piston and weight on the block A may constitute a counterpoise for
the carriage. The piston is attached to the gin block by guide rods u, u, and
traverses the cylinder C located within the well or at any convenient point near it.
When the carriage is at the lowest point of its course the piston is at the upper
end of the cylinder. To raise the carriage the valve rope W, which passes from a
valve wheel D up through the car, and thence over a sheave X at the top of the
well, is pulled by the operator within the car to open the valve attached to the
wheel D, so as to admit the water from the city mains, or a suitable tank through
the pipe E on top of the piston, and at the same time open an exit pipe F at the
lower end of the cylinder for discharging the water therefrom below the piston.
This causes the piston to descend and the carriage to be raised. The descent of the
piston is due, first, to atmospheric pressure above the piston caused by the discharge
of the water below the piston, and secondly, the weight of the water acting directly
upon the piston, to which may be added in certain cases the pressure of the water.
upon the piston acting as a variable force dependent upon outside circumstances,
as for example, the pressure in the city mains, or the difference in height between
the tops of the cylinder and the level of the water in an elevated tank Z, if the
latter is used. The atmospheric pressure decreases in force as the column of water
beneath the descending piston decreases in height, but its loss is compensated for by
the lengthening of the column above the piston, the water from below the piston
discharged through the pipe F directly into the sewers, or it may be led into a tank
from which it can be raised by suitable means to a tank in the upper story.
To lower the carriage the valve rope is pulled to set the valve upon the wheel D
in the opposite direction, and thus allow one column of water to balance the other
in the cylinder and pipe E, the water above the piston passing out of the cylinder
through the pipes E and F back into the cylinder, again under the piston, the
piston itself ascending in the meantime, being moved by the greater weight of the
carriage. The carriage thus sinks noiselessly and smoothly, its speed regulated by
the operator in opening or closing the valve, and outside of his control by the size
of the pipe E.
Any desired speed may be obtained, and a certain range is allowed the operator,
but each machine may be so set that the maximum speed desired by the proprietor
cannot be exceeded. It stops automatically at the top and bottom, and may be
called from one floor to another by pulling the operating rope at the door where it
is wanted, or by an electrical annunciator or other suitable means. The carriage
is stopped at any point by turning the valve, so as to arrest the flow of water as
will be readily understood.
In some cases the water to raise the carriage is supplied from a tank Z at the top
of the building. The tank is made air-tight, provided with a safety valve A¹, and
connected from the bottom with the cylinder C and pipe E above the piston by a
vertical pipe B¹. Water is supplied to the tank through a pipe C³, whose discharge
end is turned down, so as to below the level of the water in the tank.
The atmosphere within the tank is compressed to a greater or less degree,
according to the force required by pumping the water from a suitable reservoir
through the pipe Cl. By this means the pressure of the air within the tank is
added to the head of water therein for the purpose of causing the piston to descend
when it becomes necessary to raise the carriage. This construction may be used

page_text: either in connection with the supply pipe E, or the latter pipe may be used merely
as a circulating pipe, which construction I prefer. Upon opening the valve the
pressure from the tank Z communicated through the pipe B¹ will depress the piston
and raise the carriage, and upon closing the valve communication will be established
from the pipe F through the circulating pipe E, cylinder C, and pipe B¹ to the tank,
whereby the hydrostatic pressure above and below the piston will be equalized, and
the carriage will descend by its own gravity, as the water flows from the space
above to that below the piston.
The second part or modification of my Invention, represented by Figures 2 and 3,
relates more particularly to those elevators in which the car is raised by pumping
water into a long upright tube, so as to exert its force upon a long piston contained
in the tube and secured to the bottom of the car, the descent of the car being
effected by exhausting the water from the tube beneath the piston. The water is
pumped directly into the tube and therefore every stroke of the pump is felt by
the car giving to it a jarring, jerking motion, and rendering its ascent unsteady and
slow.
The object of this part of my Invention is to impart a steady and easy motion to
the car in its ascent, and to drive it at any required speed. To this end it consists,—
First. In a steam and water piston of different diameters, mounted upon the same
stem, within separate cylinders, which are connected respectively with the steam
boiler and piston tube of the car, the area of pressure being greater upon the steam
piston than upon the water piston, so that the pressure of steam shall be concen-
trated by the water piston upon a small column of water under the car to move it
from the bottom to the top of a building at one stroke of the combined pistons for
the purpose of preventing any jarring or jerking motion of the car.
It further consists in counterbalancing the weight of the car and its piston by a
column of water communicating with the water cylinder for the purpose of avoiding
the expense and trouble attending the use of weights, cords, and guiding sheaves,
with elevators of this class.
It further consists in a graduating water valve contained within a valve chamber,
interposed in the connecting pipe between the water cylinder and tube of the car
piston for the purpose, or regulating the descending speed of the elevator, without
impeding the flow of water to the tube when the car ascends.
It further consists in employing the counterbalancing column of water to assist
the steam pressure in raising the elevator car.
And it consists, finally, in the means for operating the steam valve.
In the accompanying Drawings A is the upright piston tube let into the ground
beneath the lower floor of a building; B is the piston contained therein, and secured
to the under side of the car C; and D is a packing of any proper kind to prevent
the water being forced out of the top of the tube around the piston; E is the
water cylinder communicating with the tube through the pipe F; and G is the
steam cylinder of larger diameter than the water cylinder, supported upon the latter
in any convenient manner, but having no communication therewith; H is the steam
piston and I the water piston, placed within their respective cylinders upon opposite
ends of a single valve stem J, passing through suitable stuffing boxes in the proxi-
mate heads of the two cylinders, as shown in Figure 1; K is a valve chamber
connected with a steam boiler by the pipe L, and provided with a suitable valve by
which the steam is supplied to the cylinder G above the piston H, or shut off there-
from. The valve stem is connected to a bell-crank lever M mounted upon the top
of the steam cylinder, and the lever is joined by a rod N to a sheave O on the
frame P of the elevator car. The shipper rope Q of the elevator makes one turn
around the sheave after passing over the guide sheaves R, R¹, at the top and bottom
of the frame P. S is a water tank placed at any convenient point at the top of the
building, and communicating through a pipe T with the water cylinder above the
piston I, as shown. The tank is placed at such height that the column of water on
the piston I will nearly counterbalance the elevator car, the latter preponderating
slightly in weight, so as to descend by gravity and lift the water into the tank.

page_text: The water cylinder beneath the piston I, as well as the tube A of the car piston,
are primed or filled with water from this tank, when the water piston is raised
above the entrance to the pipe T.
When it is desired to raise the car the shipper rope is operated to shift the steam
valve and let the steam into the cylinder above the piston H. The pressure of the
steam on this large piston is concentrated by the smaller water piston I upon the
small column of water extending from the cylinder E to the tube A, and raises the
car from the bottom to the top of the building at one downward movement or
stroke of the steam and water pistons. This causes the car to move steadily, and
prevents the jarring, jerking motion incident to elevators of this class. The weight
of the water in the tank S and pipe T rests upon the water piston and assists the
steam pressure in raising the car. The car, in its ascent, comes against a stop u on
the shipper rope, and moves the latter to close the steam valve, thus shutting off
the supply of the steam to the cylinder G, and causing the car to stop.
When the car is to descend the shipper rope is operated to move the steam valve,
so that the steam in the cylinder above the piston H shall exhaust through the
pipe J. This permits the car to descend by gravity, moving up the two pistons
H, I, against the counterbalancing weight of the water in the tank S and pipe T,
such water being raised by the piston I into the tank. By this method of counter-
balancing the car the expensive and troublesome weights, cords, and sheaves are
disposed with, and the movements of the car rendered steadier and more uniform.
W is a valve chamber interposed in the pipe F, and provided with a hinged or flap
valve X adapted to open when the car is ascending and to close when it is descending.
The centre of the valve is cut out or perforated for the passage of the water from
under the descending car to the water cylinder E, the size of such opening regulating
the flow of the water and therefore the speed at which the car descends.
The valve chamber forms an enlargement of the pipe F, and therefore permits the
use of a valve sufficiently large to swing clear of the ends of the pipe and permit a
free flow of water to elevate the car. A second stop y on the shipper rope serves
'to operate the steam valve and shut off the steam from the cylinder G when the
car reaches the limit of its descent.
The third part or modification of my Invention, represented by Figures 4 and 5,
has for its object to produce a cheap and effective hoisting apparatus for general use
in buildings, in loading and discharging vessels, and in hoisting merchandize from
wharves, etcetera; but while this is the primary object to be obtained, the character
of the Invention renders it easily applicable to passenger or car elevators.
The ordinary steam hoisting apparatus requires so much machinery to operate it
that the occupants of a building frequently prefer to dispense with the use of an
elevator rather than spare the room for the introduction of the machinery, and
subject the building to the alterations and attendant expenses necessary therefor.
My. Invention is designed to overcome these objections, as the apparatus occupies
but little room and can be applied with but little trouble and expense.
The Invention consists, in general terms, in an upright water cylinder containing
a horizontal shaft or drum, at or near its base, within the water space, which shaft
is connected by cords or chains with a piston adapted to travel in the cylinder.
Outside of the cylinder the ends of the cross shaft are provided with large drums,
to which the hoisting ropes are attached, and then pass up to the top of the building
over suitable sheaves, and down to the carriage or car. To hoist the carriage water
is let into the cylinder under the piston, causing the latter to ascend within the
cylinder, and so unwind the connecting chains and turn the horizontal drum. This,
of course, rotates the large exterior drums and winds the hoisting ropes upon them,
thereby raising the carriage, as will be readily understood. The carriage is lowered
by its own gravity, or by an added weight when the supply of water is cut off from
the cylinder, and the discharge opened so that the water can escape from under the
piston.
In the accompanying Drawings A is the upright cylinder mounted upon a base B,
and when placed in a building, preferably located in the basement or cellar; C is

page_text: the horizontal shaft or drum passing through the base B or lower end of the
cylinder, and working within the water space, and D is the piston arranged in the
cylinder above the drum to which it is connected by the chains E, E. The ends of
the drum extend to the walls of the cylinder, while the journals f pass through the
walls to receive the large hoisting drums G, G, outside the cylinder.
$
The walls of the cylinder are preferably recessed from the outside for the reception
of a series of antifriction rollers h, h, surrounding the journals to afford rolling
bearings therefor and reduce the friction. The journals are packed upon the inside
of the cylinder by washers I, I, of suitable packing material mounted upon them
between the ends of the horizontal drum and the inner walls of the cylinder, as shown.
The piston is also provided with a suitable packing J secured thereto by an annular
top piece k, which is made removable for repairing or renewing the packing. The
under side of the piston is recessed or made hollow, and is provided with a central
boss to which a short cross bar L is pivoted, so that its ends shall receive the upper
ends of the connecting chains E, E, upon opposite sides of the boss. The lower ends
of the chains are attached to the extremities of the horizontal drum, and when,
wound up thereon, the chains travel inward toward each other, being guided by
the spiral grooves m, m. The pivoted connection of the chains with the piston,
equalizes the draft or strain upon the chains, so that they shall wind uniformly
upon the drum without tipping the piston or causing it to bind within the cylinder,,
while the location of such pivoted connection within the hollow piston prevents it
from being broken or injured by contact with the drum, and also enables the
entire length of the chains between the piston and drum to be utilized for.
winding.
If desired the drum may be left plain, but I prefer to provide it with grooves, as
they better direct the winding of the chains; N, N, are the hoisting ropes attached
to the exterior drums G, G, and from thence extending up over the sheaves 0, 0,
and down to the carriage; Q is the water pipe connected with base of the
cylinder, and provided with a cock or valve which may be operated by a shipping
rope or other suitable means to let the water into the cylinder for raising the
piston to discharge the water from the cylinder for lowering the piston, and for
cutting off both the supply and discharge for stopping the car.
The top of the piston is provided with a cord, bar, or other suitable handle, by
which the piston may, when necessary, be lifted out of the cylinder, the upper end
of which is left open for this purpose.
.
What I claim as new, according to the first part of my Invention, is,―
1. In a water elevator a moveable piston combined with a stationary upright
cylinder having a water supply above and a water discharge below the piston, for
the purpose of raising the elevator carriage by atmospheric pressure and the weight,
or the combined weight and pressure of the water above the piston, when the water
below the piston is discharged, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the elevator cylinder and the carriage, of a piston con-
nected with the carriage, and adapted to travel in the cylinder with a column of
water above and below it, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. The cylinder C containing a travelling piston connected with an elevator
carriage, the cylinder being jointed by a pipe or conduit provided with a valve by
which the passage of the water from one side of the piston to the other can be
controlled at the will of the operator, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the guide rods u, u, with the piston B, and travelling gin
block A, substantially as described.
And what I claim as new, according to the second part of my. Invention, is,-
1. In a hydraulic elevator a steam and water piston of different diameters
mounted upon the same stem within separate cylinders which are connected
respectively with the steam boiler and piston tube of the car, the area of pressure
being greater upon the steam piston than upon the water piston, so that the
pressure of steam shall be concentrated by the water piston upon a small column of
water under the car to move the latter from the bottom to the top of a building, or

page_text: to any point between the bottom and top at one stroke of the combined pistons,
for the purpose of preventing any jarring or jerking motion of the car, substantially
as described.
2. Counterbalancing the weight of the elevator car and its piston by means of a
column of water communicating with the water cylinder above the water piston,
substantially as described.
3. A graduating water valve and valve chamber interposed in the connecting
pipe between the water cylinder and tube of the car piston, for the purpose of
regulating the descending speed of the elevator, without impeding the flow of
water to the tube when the car ascends, substantially as described.
4. The counterbalancing column of water combined with the connected steam
and water pistons, to assist the steam pressure. in raising the elevator car,
substantially as described.
5. The steam valve operated from the shipper rope, through the medium of the
bell-crank lever M, the connecting rod N, and the sheave O, substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the compound cylinders of different diameters, the
compound pistons contained therein, the counterbalancing column of water, and the
graduating valve with the tube A and piston B of the elevator car, substantially as
described.
And what I claim as new, according to the third part of my Invention, is,-
1. The hoisting apparatus consisting of an upright water cylinder containing a
piston connected by chains or cords to a horizontal drum placed within the water
space at the base of the cylinder, two large exterior hoisting drums mounted upon
the projecting ends or joints of the horizontal drum, and the hoisting ropes con-
necting such exterior drums to the carriage or elevator car, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the upright water cylinder of the horizontal interior
drum, the large exterior hoisting drums, and the piston connected to the horizontal
drum within the cylinder, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the upright water cylinder of the small interior drum,
and the large exterior hoisting drums mounted substantially upon the same shaft
with the interior drum, substantially as described.
4. The horizontal drum mounted in the base B or lower end of the water cylinder
with its journals supported by the antifriction rollers h, h, substantially as described
for the purpose specified.
5. The arrangement of the packing or washers I, I, upon the journals of the
horizontal roller between the ends of the latter and the inner walls of the water
cylinder, substantially as described.
6. The piston D connected to the horizontal drum by chains which are arranged
to prevent the piston from binding or tipping in the cylinder when the chains are
wound upon the drum, substantially as described.
7. The hollow or recessed piston D connected to the chains of the horizontal
drum by means of the boss and pivoted bar L, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.