Improved Means for Controlling the Movement of Elevator Cars, Applicable also to other Purposes, such as for Steering Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1890-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Controlling the Movement of Elevator Cars,
Applicable also to other Purposes, such as for Steering Vessels.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS AND COMPANY, a Corporation
organized and existing under the Laws of the State of New York, of New York,
in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to an organized apparatus for operating electrically the main
valve or other mechanism which controls the movements of an elevator. The invention
consists broadly of an organized system of electrical connections by which the elevator,
having been stopped at any point, will be prevented from starting in the opposite
direction; of an organization which combines with electrical appliances for actuating
the controlling mechanism of the elevator a means by which said mechanism can be
operated mechanically from the car in case of an emergency; and of a novel form of
an auxiliary valve apparatus combined with electrical connections for actuating the
main valve or other controlling mechanism of the elevator.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 shows in sectional view a portion of a building containing an elevator
equipped according to this invention, showing the relation of the several parts.
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the several electric circuits, and the means by which
the movements of the elevator are controlled through said circuits either from the car
or any portion of the building.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the auxiliary valve apparatus and its electro-motor
by which the main valve or other controlling mechanism of the elevator is moved in
one direction.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same.
Referring to said drawings, A denotes an elevator shaft, B the car, a hydraulic
cylinder or other motor by which the car B is raised, and D the hoisting cable, all of
E represents the
which parts are organized in the usual and well known manner.
mechanism for controlling the movements of the elevator, which in the case shown
is the main or induction and exhaust valve of the cylinder C and is of any suitable
construction to allow the water to be admitted to the cylinder C to cause the car to
ascend when the valve is in one position, to allow the water to escape from the
cylinder, to permit the car to descend when the valve is reversed; and to close both
the induction and exhaust to stop the car when the valve is an intermediate or mid
position. Such cylinders and valves are in common use and their construction is
well known, so that it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate or describe the
same in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the cylinder C may if preferred
be arranged vertically instead of horizontally, and may be provided with the well
known circulating pipe, or may be a motor of any of the forms common in elevators.
The mechanism for controlling the movements of the elevator car is therefore the
main valve or other mechanism which controls the movements of the elevator motor,
and this mechanism is determined by the character of the motor employed. With
the controlling mechanism is connected a motor of suitable construction. One form
will now be described. FI is a piston which works in a cylinder F and is connected
by a rod F to the main valve or other controlling mechanism. The cylinder F2 is
provided with induction and exhaust pipes G, G₁, forming ports through which the
water is allowed to flow into and out of the cylinder upon the opposite sides of the

page_text: piston F, moving it and the connected main valve upward or downward as it is desired
to cause the car to descend or ascend.
The pipes G, G¹, are controlled by means of what are termed auxiliary valve
mechanisms H, O, which are operated by electro-motors under the control of the
conductor, or of a person at any landing.
The electro-motors are herein shown as ordinary electro-magnets and will he
hereinafter termed " magnets" but the term is to be understood as including any
form of electro-motor which can be energized or put into motion by an electric
current.
As the auxiliary valve mechanisms H, O, are connected by the pipes G, G¹,
with
the valve operating cylinder F2, these mechanisms may be placed in any convenient
position in any portion of the building either near to or remote from the main valve
of the elevator. In the drawings they are shown as enclosed in a caso attached to
the wall upon the first story of the building, while the elevator operating mechanism
with its main valve are located in the basement. The valve mechanisms H, O, are
alike in construction and operation and have for convenience a common water supply,
one valve controlling the pipe G and the other the pipe G¹. I, J, represent the valve
controlling magnets which are energized through electric circuits which include
batteries K, or other suitable generators of electricity, and appropriate circuit
closers L, M, located at the different landings and on the car.
The construction and operation of the auxiliary valve mechanisms H, O, will now
be described. As these two mechanisms are exact duplicates, a description of one will
apply to both.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it is to be understood that a is a valve cylinder or
casing containing two valve seats c², 2, at the opposite ends of a bushing b, having
perforations c¹ and two circumferential heads 61, 62, which are securely fastened in the
casing. Opposite the seats c² are the auxiliary induction and exhaust valves d, e,
which are connected by a valve- rod f, to which a spiral spring f¹ is applied to hold
the valve d, against its seat and the valvo e away from its seat. The valve casing is
enlarged at one end to form a chest or cylinder af in which is fitted a piston g attached
to the valve rod f.
Communicating with the chest a¹ is a pipe which is controlled by a valve h³,
termed for convenience a primary valve, the rod h of which is adjustably connected
by the nuts to a lever carrying at its free end an armature j' held within the magnetic
field of the electro-magnet J by means of the suspension rod having a nut
which the downward motion of the lever is limited.
by
The water supply k communicates with the valve casing a and also with the top of
the pipe h, as shown, and the induction and exhaust pipes G, G', communicate with
the casings a of the respective valve mechanisms between the heads 61, 62, of the
bushing . Each of the casings a is provided with a waste pipe 7 which communicates
with the space between the valve e and piston g, and each of the pipes is provided
with a small open waste pipe m which communicates with the pipe h, between the
piston g and valve h³.
The operation is as follows: The valves d are normally held against their seats c²,
and the valves e are held away from the seats by the springs f¹, and also by the
pressure of the water from the supply pipe k, thereby preventing any water from
entering the pipes G or G¹ to act upon the piston F1 and operate the main valve.
While the pressure of the motor fluid is thus cut off from the piston the water
upon both sides of the piston can flow freely therefrom through either pipe G, G¹,
the valve casing a, and waste pipe l, to permit the piston to be moved in either
direction.
As soon, however, as either one of the magnets I or J is energized by the closing
of the electric circuit through said magnet, its armature will be attracted, thus raising
the lover and primary valve ³ and allowing water from the pipe to enter the
chest a' and act upon the piston g, and as the area of the piston g exceeds that of the
auxiliary induction valve d, the latter and the valve e will be moved, the valve e to its
seat, and the valve d away from its seat and the water will enter by the valve d and

page_text: pass through the openings c¹ to the pipe G or Gas the case may be, and to the
cylinder, causing the piston F' to be moved and operate the main valve to cause
the car to ascend or descend. The valve ³ will be maintained open and the piston F¹
will continue to move until the circuit through the magnet is broken, when the magnet
will be de-energized and its armature released, when the weight of the lever, aided
by the pressure of the water in the pipe h upon the valve ³ will at once close the
latter, thereby removing the pressure from the piston g. The water between the
valve and the piston g will then gradually escape through the pipe m, thereby
allowing the spring to close the auxiliary induction valve d so as to shut off the
further flow of water to the cylinder F, and at the same time the auxiliary exhaust
valve e will be opened to allow the water contained in the pipe G or G' as the case
may be, and in the end of the cylinder F2 with which that pipe communicates, to pass
freely into the waste pipe 1. By the closing of the circuit through the other magnet
the same operation will take place in the other auxiliary valve apparatus, thereby
admitting water to the other end of the cylinder F2 to act upon the opposite side of
the piston F and move the main valve in the opposite direction, and this being con-
tinued to a sufficient extent the main valve will be reversed and the car will be caused
to move in the opposite direction, or, if it is desired to simply stop the car, the circuit
will be broken as soon as the main valve arrives in its mid position, when the motor
fluid will be cut off from the cylinder F2, and the car will then remain at rest. As
the piston F is moved in either direction by the admission of water to one end of the
cylinder F, the water in the other end of the cylinder will find an unobstructed
escape through the pipe G, or G', as the case may be, and past the auxiliary exhaust
valve e to the waste pipe 1. The waste pipes m are, as will be observed, always open
for the escape of water from the cylinder al, but these pipes being of small size as
compared with the pipes h, the water will not escape with sufficient rapidity to prevent
the pistons g from operating properly.
The system of electrical connections by which the magnets I, J, are energized
to operate the primary valves h³ to control the movements of the elevator car as just
described, may vary to a great extent, but a practical arrangement will now be
explained on reference to Fig. 2. In this explanation it will be assumed that the
auxiliary valve apparatus H which is operated by the magnet I, controls the ascent
of the car and that the auxiliary valve apparatus O which is operated by the
magnet J controls the descent of the car.
In the organization herein shown the two magnets are energized by separate
generators K, K. This is preferable but is not in all cases necessary as in some
cases a single generator may be employed for both magnets. The magnet I is located
in an electric circuit formed of wires or electrical conductors 2 which circuit includes
one of the two batteries K, and a push button or other circuit closer 10 located
upon the car B. The course of this circuit and also of the other circuits to be
referred to can readily be traced by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. The term
push button" is herein used for convenience and is to be understood as including
any means for making and breaking the circuits. The magnet J is located in a
similar arranged circuit 3 which includes the other one of the two batteries K and a
push button or other circuit closer 11 also located upon the car.
"
From the description of the operation of the auxiliary valve apparatus which has
already been given, it will readily be seen that by operating the button 10 to close
the circuit 2 and energize the magnet I the car will be caused to ascend, and that
by releasing said button 10 so as to break the circuit 3 and de-energize the magnet I,
the movement of the piston F1 will be arrested, the valve E being held in the
position to which it has been adjusted, and by then operating the button 11 to close
the circuit 3 and energize the magnet J, the speed of the car will be reduced, or it
will be stopped or caused to descend according to the length of time the circuit 3 is
kept closed.
There are many cases where it is desirable, in addition to the means for controlling
the movements of the elevator from within the car, that there should also be provided
means by which a person at any landing can cause the car to ascend or descend to

page_text: that landing. To enable this to be accomplished the circuits 2, 3, are respectively
provided with branch circuits or loops 4, 5, which include push buttons or other
circuit closers 12, 13, located at each landing, as also indicated in Fig. 2. By this
means a person at any landing can, by operating the button 12 or 13, complete
and break the circuit and cause the car to ascend or descend as the case may be to
that landing, and can then arrest the car by operating the other button in the same
manner as already described in connection with the buttons upon the car.
The
push buttons of only one landing are indicated in the drawings, but it will readily
be understood that the buttons at any number of landings can be arranged and
connected to the circuits 2, 3, in the same manner.
From what has been said it will be seen that the two circuits 2, 3, with their
respective branches 4, 5, are sufficient to enable a person either in the car or at any
landing to cause the car to ascend and descend and come to rest at any desired
point. In order, however, to bring the car to rest and retain it at any point, it is
necessary, as has been explained, to break the circuit as soon as the car stops, as
if the circuit continues closed after the car has stopped, the piston F¹ will continue
to move and the main valvo will move onward past its mid position and thus cause
the car to start in the opposite direction from that in which it was moving before it
stopped.
If the person operating the elevator is skilful and attentive this will occasion no
special difficulty because such a person will be able to break the circuit at the
proper time to retain the car in whatever position it is stopped. With an unskilful
or inattentive operator however, this might occasion some trouble and annoyance, and
it is therefore desirable to provide means by which, when it is desired to stop and
retain the car in any position without reversing its movement, the circuit will be
automatically broken at the proper time to effect this result.
For this purpose the circuit 2 which includes the magnet I and one of the
batteries K is provided with a branch circuit--which includes a push button or
circuit closer 14 located upon the car and also a pair of spring contact plates or
brushes 16 adjacent to the cylinder F.
This branch 6 is in turn provided with a branch 7 which leaves the branch 6
between the button 14 and the brushes 16 and unites with the circuit 3 at a point
between the battery K and the button 11.
This branch is also provided with a pair of brushes 17 similar to the brushes 16.
The circuits 2, 3, are also connected by a branch 8 which connects the two circuits at
a point near the buttons 11, 14.
The brushes 16, 17, are located adjacent to a rod 18 which is operated to move in
unison with the main valve in any suitable manner. Thus the rod 18 is connected to
the rod of the piston F' and reciprocates through guides secured to the sides of the
cylinder F2. Or this rod may be similarly reciprocated by some other moving part of
the mechanism. This rod is provided with oppositely inclined shoulders 19 forming
a circuit closer which is so arranged that when the main valve is in its mid position so
as to stop the car, the circuits through the branches 6, 7, will both be broken. When,
however, the valve is moved upward from its mid position so as to cause the car to
descend, the brushes 16 will be acted upon by the circuit closer 19 so as to be brought
together, thereby closing the circuit through the branch 6, which circuit will then
remain closed until the valve is moved back to its mid position. As the valve is
moved downward from its mid position so as to cause the car to ascend, the brushes 17
will be operated in the same manner to close the circuit through the branch 7, which
circuit will remain closed until the valve is again moved back to its mid position. It
will readily be seen, however, that as soon as the valve moving in either direction
arrives at its mid position the circuits through both the branches 6, 7, will be auto-
matically broken.
Assuming now that the main valve has been moved downward from its mid position
so as to cause the car to ascend, and at the same time close the circuit through the
branch 7, it is only necessary in order to stop and retain the car at any point, to press
the button 14.

page_text: The circuit will then be completed from the button through the wires 6, 7, 8, to the
battery K and from the battery through the wires 3 to the magnet J, and from the
magnet through the wires 3, 8, 2, 6, to the button. This will energize the magnet J
and cause the main valve to ascend until it arrives at its mid position when the circuit
through the branch 7 will be automatically broken, thereby de-energizing the magnet
and preventing the main valve from being moved upward past its mid position so as to
reverse the movement of the car, and this will be the case whether the attendant
releases the button 14 or not. If the main valve has been moved upward from its mid
position so as to cause the car to descend, the operation of stopping and retaining the
car will be the same except that in this case the circuit will be closed through the
branch 6, so that upon pressing the button 14 the circuit will be completed from
the button through the wires 6, 2, to the other battery K and from the battery through
the wire 2 to the magnet I and from the magnet through the wires 2, 6, to the button,
thereby energizing the magnet I and causing the main valve to move downward until
it arrives at its mid position.
To enable the same operation to be performed from any landing, it is only necessary
to provide the branches 4 with branches 9 which connect with the branch 6 and in
which are located push buttons 15 at each landing, and to connect the branches 4, 5,
as indicated at 1.
In addition to the electrical appliances which have been described for actuating the
controlling mechanism in the ordinary working movements of the elevator, it is
desirable that means should be provided by which, in case of an accident or in case
the electrical appliances should for any reason become ineffective, the conductor can
have control of the main valve or other controlling mechanism by means of mechanical
connections. For this purpose the rod F is provided with the usual rack which is
engaged by a pinion upon a shaft 21 having a pulley 20, around which passes a hand
rope which extends around pulleys located at the top and bottom of the shaft and
passes through the car in the usual manner.
It has been already stated that the auxiliary induction and exhaust valves d, e, are
normally maintained in such position as to afford an unobstructed escape for the water
through the pipes G, G¹, from both sides of the piston F. From this it results that
in caso the auxiliary valve mechanisms fail to act, the main valve will not be locked
by the water in the cylinder F2, but will be free to be operated by the hand rope 22
or other mechanical connection. This hand rope will not be used in the ordinary
working of the elevator, but in case of any emergency as before stated, the conductor
can by means of this hand rope operate the main valve and thus have mechanical
control of the movements of the elevator, as in the old way. It is understood that
any of the other forms of mechanical connections by which the conductor in the car is
enabled to control the main valve may be applied and used in place of the simple
hand rope shown, and are apt to be regarded in this connection as equivalent of said
rope.
The form of motor C for operating the elevator which is herein shown has been
selected merely for the purpose of illustrating the application of the invention. Any
other suitable form of motor may of course be employed.
In Figs. 5 to 9 are illustrated modified forms of devices for carrying out the
operations herein before described.
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the modified system of electrical connections.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism for controlling the movements
of the elevator car.
Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail which will be hereinafter
referred to.
Fig. 9 is a plan section taken on the line a, Fig. 7.
This apparatus consists of a cylinder 13 having an induction port D' through which
the water under suitable pressure is admitted to the cylinder; a port (3 through
which the water passes from the cylinder D³ to the main cylinder, and a port D²
through which the water is discharged after performing its work.

page_text: The valve consists of two pistons D' and D combined with pistons D', D', which
work in the cylinder D³ and are so arranged that when in their central or mid
position they cut off communication between the port C³ and both the ports D', D²,
but by being moved from their mid position they establish communication between
the ports D and C³, so as to allow the water to enter the main engine cylinder, or
they may be moved to allow the water in the main cylinder to pass through the
ports C and D, and escape, thus arresting the movement of the elevator car or
causing the car to descend or ascend in the well known manner. Communicating
with the ends of the cylinder D³ above and below the pistons D', D', are induction
and exhaust pipes E', E, through which water is admitted to and exhausted from the
cylinder D to operate the pistons D4, D7, and their connected main valve in the
manner just described. These induction and exhaust pipes are controlled by an
auxiliary valve apparatus E which is operated by electro-motors under control of the
conductor in the car or of a person at any landing, as before described.
This auxiliary valve appiratus consists, primarily, of a valve composed of two
pistons a located in a valve chamber and so arranged that when in their mid position
they close the openings of the induction and exhaust pipes E', E', shown in dotted
lines Fig. 9. The chamber in which the auxiliary valve is located is provided with an
induction pipe E³, which opens between the two pistons a of the valve, and with
exhaust passages E4 which lead from the opposite ends of the valve chamber outside the
pistons a to an exhaust pipe E. The rod E' upon which the pistons a are secured
passes through a stuffing box in the end of the valve chamber and is connected to a
pivoted lever E to which is secured an armature E8, which is acted upon so as to rock
the lever in opposite directions by two electro-motors E, E, located upon the
opposite sides of the armature. The lever E is normally held by springs E' in a
mid position so as to hold the armature E centrally between the two electro-motors
and the auxiliary valve in position to close both the induction and exhaust
pipes E', E².
The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows:-
The pistons a forming the auxiliary valve, are, as before stated, normally held by
the equalizing springs E7 in position to close the induction and exhaust pipes E¹, E,
and thereby prevent any water from entering those pipes to act upon the pistons D*, D',
and operate the main valve. As soon, however, as one of the magnets (E', for
example) is energized by the closing of the electric circuit in which the magnet is
located, the armature E will be attracted, thereby rocking the lever E and moving
the auxiliary valve so as to open communication between the induction pipe E³ and
the pipe E, and thereby allow the water to enter the pipe E' and pass to the
cylinder D³ above the piston D'. At the same time the pipe E' and the passage E' at
that end of the auxiliary valve chamber will be brought into communication, so as to
allow the water confined in the cylinder D³ below the piston D' to escape through the
pipe E and pass to the exhaust pipe E. This will cause the main valve to move
downward and allow the water to pass from the induction port D¹ into the port C³
and thence to the main cylinder and act upon the piston in that cylinder so as to raise
the car. As soon as the circuit through the magnet E is broken the magnet will be
de-energized so as to release the armature E, and as soon as this is done the
equalizing spring E' will rock the lever E' back to its mid position and thereby
restore the pistons a forming the auxiliary valve to the position to close both the
induction and exhaust pipes E¹, E2, and shut off the further admission and exhaust of
water to and from the cylinder Ds and thus arrest the movement of the main valve
and hold it in any position in which it is at that time. By closing the circuit through
the other magnet the auxiliary valve will be moved in the opposite direction, thereby
admitting water to the cylinder D³ beneath the piston D' and allowing the escape of
the water from above the piston D4 so as to move the main valve upward, and this
being continued the main valve will be reversed so as to cause the car to descend, or,
if it is desired to simply stop the car, the circuit will be broken as soon as the main
valve arrives in its mid position and the car will then remain at rest.
The system of electrical connections by which the magnets E, E, are energized

page_text: to operate the auxiliary valve as just described, will now be explained, special
reference being made to Fig. 5.
One pole of each of the magnets is connected to a wire 2, which includes a suitable
generator, as a battery F, and leads to the elevator car where it is connected to two
wires 3, 4, which return to the other poles of the respective magnets. The courses of
these circuits and also the circuits to be hereinafter referred to can readily be traced
by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. The wires 2, 3, 4, are connected to the
travelling car by being formed into a cable which hangs in the shaft with sufficient
slack to allow the travel of the car. The circuits 2, 3 and 2, 4, thus formed--cach of
which includes one of the magnets-are provided with push buttons or other circuit
closers 5, 6, located upon the car.
From the description of the auxiliary valve apparatus which has already been
given, it will readily be seen that by operating the button 5 to close the circuit 2, 3,
and thus energize the magnet E10 the car will be caused to descend and that by
releasing said button so as to break the circuit 2, 3, and de-energize the magnet and
then operating the button 6 to close the circuit 2, 4, and energize the magnet E³, the
car will be stopped or caused to ascend, according to the length of time the circuit 24,
is kept closed."
To enable a person on a landing to operate the car the circuits 2 3, and 24, are
respectively provided with branch circuits 78 and 79, which include push
buttons 10, 11, located at each landing, as indicated in Fig. 5. By this means a
person at
any landing can by operating the button 10 or 11 cause the car to descend
or ascend, as the case may be, to that landing, and can then arrest the car by
operating the other button in the same manner as already described in connection
with the buttons upon the car.
To automatically arrest the car as before described, there is provided a circuit closer
which is operated by the car, and which consists of a contact plate 0 (see Fig. 8)
having a spindle O' which enters a socket 03 set into some convenient portion of the
car, preferably near its bottom, and is provided with a spring 02 which acts to press
the plate O outward so that as the car moves up and down the elevator shaft the plate
passes in contact with a series of plates M, N, (Fig. 5) arranged on the side of the
shaft and located respectively just above and below the position of the plate O when
the car is in position at each landing. These plates M, N, are connected with each
other and with the wires 3, 4, by means of wires 13, 17 and 13, 16, and the plate O is
connected to the wire 2 by means of a wire 14 which includes a push button 15
located upon the car. The wires 16, 17, include circuit closers consisting of spring
contact plates R, R', which are located adjacent to a rod R² which forms an extension
of the rod Ds of the main valve, or which is connected to the main valve or some
other moving part of the engine so as to be moved in unison with the valve. This
rod R2 is provided with two oppositely arranged shoulders which are so located that
when the main valve is in its mid position neither of the pairs of contact plates R, R¹,
will be acted upon, and the circuits through the wires 16, 17, will be broken, but that
when the valve is moved up or down from its mid position, one of the other of the
pairs of contact plates (depending upon which way the valve is moved) will be
engaged by the corresponding shoulder upon the rod R² so as to bring the plates
together and close the circuit through the wire 16 or 17 as the case may be. The
contact plates M, N, are of such length vertically that the length of time which the
plate O will remain in contact with either of the plates as the car is descending or
ascending will be just sufficient to allow the main valve to move to its mid position
and arrest the car; and the plates are so positioned with relation to the different
landings that whenever the plate O passes out of contact with the plate M as the car
descends, or out of contact with the plate N as the car descends, the car will be in
proper position in front of the landing.
Assuming now that the main valve has been moved downward from its mid position
so as to cause the car to ascend and thus bring the contact plates R' together so as
to close the circuit through the wire 17 at that point. It is only necessary then in
order to stop the car and retain it at any landing, to press the button 15 as the car

page_text: approaches the landing. As soon as the contact plate O arrives in contact with the
plate M, the circuit will be completed through the magnet E, thereby energizing
that magnet so as to operate the auxiliary valve and cause the main valve to move
upward until it arrives at its mid position so as to stop the car. As soon as the
valve arrives in this position the shoulder on the rod R2 will pass out of contact
with the plates R' and thus automatically break the circuit through the wire 17 and
arrest the main valve and retain the car in proper position at the landing. If the
main valve has been moved upward from its mid position so as to cause the car to
descend, the operation of stopping and retaining the car will be the same, except
that in this case the plates will be brought together so as to close the circuit
through the wire 16 and the plate O will come into contact with the plate M_so as to
close the circuit through the magnet E instead of through the magnet E10. To
enable the same operation to be performed from any landing, the elevator shaft is
provided with a second series of contact plates M³, N', corresponding to the
plates M, N, and arranged at the sides of the latter plates in position to be also
engaged by the plate O carried by the car, so that when the plate O is in contact
with the plates M, M, and N, N¹, it serves to connect them electrically. These
plates are connected with each other and with the wire 7 by wires 18 which include
push buttons 19 located at each landing. By operating the buttons 19 the car will
be automatically arrested in proper position at any landing the same as in operating
the button 15 upon the car as just described.
In order that the circuit through which the valve or other controlling apparatus
is operated is automatically broken at the proper time to prevent the slamming and
violent action of said apparatus, the construction shown in Figs. 10 to 12 may be
used.
Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the organization of the apparatus
embodying this feature of the invention, and
Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged details.
The elevator motor and the mechanism for controlling its movements, the electro-
motors and connections for operating the same and the system of electrical connections
through which these motors are energized from the car to control its movements,
are substantially the same as heretofore shown and described.
The main valve D or other controlling mechanism is controlled by means of
electro-motors which are arranged to act upon the valve through suitable connections,
as, for instance, a valve operating engine having an auxiliary piston c which is con-
nected to the rod w of the main valve and works in a cylinder d into which water is
admitted under suitable pressure through the pipes f, g, to drive the piston in
opposite directions as before described. The pipes f, g, are controlled by auxiliary
valves as has been already described. The magnets E, F, are included in electric
circuits 23 and 24, which include push buttons 12, 13, carried upon the car and
also suitable battery power, as indicated at G. The elevator is also provided in
addition to the apparatus for operating its controlling mechanism electrically, with
an ordinary hand rope H which is arranged in the usual manner for operating the
main valve D.
The operation of the system thus far described is as follows:-
To cause the car to ascend the button 12 will be operated to close the circuit 24,
through the magnet F. This will operate the corresponding primary valve o and
admit water to the cylinder thereby operating the piston and auxiliary valve h
to allow water to pass through the pipe and enter the auxiliary cylinder d to move
the piston e downward and thus operate the main valve D to admit water to the
cylinder C. When the valve device D has been opened to the proper extent, depending
upon the speed at which it is desired to move the car, the conductor will break the
circuit through the magnet F and allow the primary valve o to close. The spring
will then at once restore the auxiliary valve to its normal position (the water in the
cylinder escaping through the permanent exhaust) so as to cut off communication
between the pipes n and fand open communication between the pipe f and the
exhaust.

page_text: This will remove the pressure from the auxiliary piston c and arrest the movement
of the main valve. To stop the car or cause it to descend the conductor will operate
the push button 13 to close the circuit through the magnet and operate the other
primary and auxiliary valves to admit the water through the pipe g to move the main
valve upward.
If the car is to be stopped the circuit through the magnet E will be broken as soon
as the main valve has arrived at its mid position, but if the car is to descend the
circuit through the magnet will be maintained until the main valve has been reversed
so as to allow the water to escape from the cylinder C. To stop the car in its descent
the operation is reversed.
From the foregoing it will be seen that so long as the circuit through either one
of the magnets E, F, remains closed the corresponding primary valve o will remain
open and the pressure upon the primary piston will maintain the auxiliary valve / in
position to allow water to continue to enter the cylinder d and move the piston c and
the main valve until these parts reach the limit of their movement by being brought
in contact with some stationary part, and if the water enters the auxiliary cylinder
under a considerable pressure, as is frequently the case, the shock occasioned by thus
arresting the main valve and the auxiliary piston is damaging and disagreeable. To
prevent the shock caused by moving the main valve abruptly to the limit of its move-
ment, it has been found desirable, even when the valve is operated by a hand ropo,
to cause the rope to pass through a stationary guide, as 14, and to provide the rope
with stops 15, arranged upon opposite sides of the guide and so positioned as to limit
the movement of the rope in either direction and arrest the main valve before it
arrives at the extreme limit of its movement.
Where the main valve is operated through the medium of electrical connections,
such as are herein shown, it can, as already explained, be arrested at any point by
simply breaking the circuit through the magnet E or F as the case may be, at the
proper time and by this means, if the conductor is skilful and attentive, all liability
of shock to the valve and its connections can be avoided, but it is found that in many
cases the skill and attention of conductors cannot be relied upon for this purpose.
In order, therefore, to avoid all liability of a shock to the machinery occasioned by
failure of the conductor to break the circuit before the main valve reaches the
extreme limit of its movement, or, in those cases where the ordinary hand rope is
used as an adjunct to the electrical connections before the valve has been moved so
far as to bring one of the stops 15 violently against the guide 14, thus causing a shock
and strain upon the rope, the circuits 2 3, 24, are provided with circuit closers 8, 9,
of any suitable form, but preferably composed of brushes or contact springs, as shown,
which are acted on by rods 16, 19, connected to the valve rod w, or by any other part
of the apparatus; as, for example, the pulley 17 around which the hand rope H
passes which moves in unison with the inain valve in such manner as to automatically
break the respective circuits just before the main valve reaches the limit of its
downward and upward movements, but to maintain the circuits closed at all other
times. The rods 16, 19, or other parts which form the circuit closers are suitably
insulated from each other and from the other parts of the apparatus to prevent the
current from being diverted from the circuits.
With the system thus organized the operation is as follows:-
:-
So long as the main valve is at any point between the upward and downward
limits of its working movements, the rods 16, 19, will be in position to maintain
both of the circuits 23 and 24, closed, so that by operating the respective push
buttons 12, 18, the valve can be moved in either direction. As soon, however, as the
valve reaches the upward limit of its working movement, that is to say, the point
beyond which it is desired it should not move, the rod 16 will disconnect the brushes
of the circuit closer 8 to automatically break the circuit through the magnet E and
thus, as before explained, arrest the valve before any shock can be occasioned and
before the stop 15 is brought violently against the guide 14 so as to put undue
strain upon the hand rope. The circuit closer 9 will then, however, be in position to
close the circuit through the magnet F so that the main valve can be moved in the
B

page_text: opposite direction to stop or reduce the speed of the car or reverse its movement.
As the main valve moves downward the circuit closer 8 will again close the circuit
through the magnet E and as it reaches the downward limit of its working movement
the circuit closer 9 will break the circuit through the magnet F and arrest the valve
the same as before.
The system as herein illustrated is also provided with circuits 2, 3, 5, and 2, 4, 6, 5,
which include the battery or generator G, and a push button 18 upon the car and
respectively include the magnets E, F, and circuit closers 10, 11, which are
operated by a moving rod 7 to close the respective circuits as the main valve is
moved downward and upward from its mid position and to break both the circuits
when the valve is at its mid position.
By this means the main valve can be automatically arrested in its mid position so as
to stop the car at any point by operating the push button 18 as before described.
In Figs. 11 to 17 is illustrated the before described parts in connection with an
automatic circuit breaker having two sections, one of which is set to any point by
the operator and the other of which is connected to travel with the object moved,
so that when the latter gets to a position determined by that to which the first
circuit breaker section was set, the circuit will be broken and further movements
arrested.
In said drawings
Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the circuit breaker as arranged on an elevator cage,
and its connections.
Fig. 12 the arrangement of the valve actuating devices with said connections.
Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the circuit breaker in a position different from that
shown in Figure 11ª.
Fig. 14 is a section on the line 41–44, Fig. 11ª
Fig. 15 is a view in part section illustrating another means for controlling the
circuit breaker from the cage.
Fig. 16 is an elevation illustrating another means of controlling the circuit breaker
from the cage and of operating the stopping and starting device.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a modified form of the reversing switch device.
The parts shown in Fig. 12ª correspond essentially with those heretofore described
and shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and need not he here described in detail.
1 is the cage; 2 the hydraulic engine provided with a stopping and starting
valve moving in a casing a' under the action of a pinion upon the shaft carrying
a pulley b; 21 is the auxiliary engine having a piston 30 connected with the valve
stem 31, the flow of the motor fluid to and from the auxiliary engine 21 being
controlled by the two valve devices 3 and 4, the former in the line of pipe 32
communicating with the lower end of the auxiliary cylinder, and the latter in the line
of pipe 33 communicating with the upper end of said cylinder, and the valves of said
valve devices being constructed as before described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as
to control the admission and discharge of water from either end of the cylinder in
such a manner as to raise, lower, or hold in position the piston 30 and the main valve
connected therewith.
Heretofore the electrically controlled valves of such apparatus have been operated
by currents directed by switches within the cage in such manner that it has been
impossible for the operator to know the position to which the main valve is set
except so far as he can judge of the same by the speed of movement of the cage.
In order to obviate this defect means are provided whereby the operator may
complete and break the circuit including each electro-magnet, so as to apply or
remove the pressure to operate the main valve, and whereby the parts of the circuit
controlling or breaking device change their position according to the position of the
main valve, and such change is indicated to the operator, while the circuit is
automatically broken as soon as the main valve reaches its desired position.
The circuit breaker is in two parts, one of which is moved and controlled in its
position by the operator, while the position of the other is determined automatically by
the position of the main valve.

page_text: These parts may be constructed in different ways, but as shown in the drawing
the part under the control of the operator is a disc 24 of non-conducting material
or having a peripheral portion of non-conducting material and turning upon a
central axis, and provided with an operating handle 25. The peripheral portion is
cut away at one side to make a flat face a upon opposite sides of the point where a
contact plate 18 secured to the disc breaks the line of said face, so that a conductor
travelling along said face must contact at one point with said plate 18. The other
part of the device which is controlled by the position of the main valve, consists of a
disc 40 concentric with the disc 24 and carrying two separated and insulated
contacts 15 and 16, each of which bears upon the edge of the disc 24, and when the
latter is turned to a sufficient extent will in traversing the edge a bear upon the
contact plate 18.
The contact plate 18 is in electrical connection with a wire v, connected at its
opposite end with the contact 15, and including in its line the battery and the electro-
magnet 5, and the plate is also in communication with a wire u, the opposite end of
which connects with the contact 16, and which includes in its line the battery and the
electro-magnet 6, and by bringing the plate 18 into contact with the contact 15 a
circuit is completed through the magnet 5, and the valve of device 3 is opened and by
bringing the plate 18 into contact with the contact 16, circuit is completed with the
magnet 6, and the valve of the valve device 4 is opened, while by removing the plate
from position with the contacts 15 and 16 each valve is restored to its normal closed
position.
If the disc 40 and its contents were stationary or fixed the movement of the
disc 24 in either direction would finally bring the plate 18 into contact with
the contact 15 or 16, and so long as the contact with either was maintained
the connected valves would remain open and the movement of the main valve would
continue, but it would be impossible for the operator to know with any certainty
the position which the main valve occupies at any time. It will be evident, however,
that if one of the parts of the circuit breaker is so connected with the main valve as to
move therewith, the position of such part will at once indicate to the operator the
position of the main valve, and the operator may discern with precision the proper
time with which to make or break the contact between the part 15 or 16 and the
part 18. One means of connecting the main valve and the disc 40 carrying the
parts 15 and 16, is shown in Figs. 11ª and 12ª, and is constructed as follows:-
An endless rope 8 which may extend through the cage so as to constitute a hand
rope passes round guide pulleys and round the pulley b, and is connected to one end
of a lever 9 which supports a pulley 13. Round the pulley 13 and round a drum 14,
connected with the disc 40, passes an endless cable 22 which is suspended within the
well and in the loop of which hangs a pulley 23, to which is attached a weight 41, the
endless cable 22 being thus connected with the cage by its connection with the drum 14
and travelling as the cage moves freely round the pulleys 13 and 28. When, however,
the pulley is turned, on the raising or lowering of the main valve the cable 8 is
caused to travel in one direction or the other and the lever 9 is raised or lowered,
thereby raising or lowering the cable 22, and thus turning the drum 14 in one
direction or the other, carrying with it the disc 40 and the contact parts 15 and 16.
A finger s extends from the drum adjacent to a graduated plate U-D, so that the
operator can more readily perceive the extent to which the drum and its connected
parts have been moved, and the parts are all so connectel and arranged that when the
main valve is in its inid or closed position the fingers will be vertical, and when the
main valve is depressed so as to cause the descent of the cage the fingers will swing
to the right, while when the main valve is raised to cause the ascent of the cage the
finger will swing to the left, the distance between the middle graduation and the finger
indicating the extent to which the main valve has moved from its mid position in
either direction.
In operating the above described device the parts when at rest occupy the positions
shown in Fig. 11ª, and if the operator desires the cage to rise he turns the disc 24
until the plate 18 contacts with the arm or contact 15, when the main valve will begin

page_text: to rise, the operator continuing to hold the disc 24 stationary by means of the handle 25.
This movement of the main valve however will at once impart motion to the rope 8 so
that the lever 10 is depressed, thereby rotating the disc 40'in the direction the contrary
of its arrow and carrying the contact 18 away from the contact 15 and on to the
insulated portion of the disc 24, when the electro-magnet 5 is at once demagnetized
and the valve of the device 3 is closed, the further admission of fluid to the engine 21
is arrested so that the piston 30 and the main valve are brought to rest and the
movement of the disc 40 is discontinued with the pointer s in such a position as will
indicate the extent to which the valve has been moved.
The above described operation will open the main valve to a very limited extent
only inasmuch as the disc 40 begins to move as soon as the contact is made between
the parts 15 and 18, and the part 15 thereafter passes from the part 18. If a greater
movement of the main valve is required the operator continues to move the disc 24 so
as to cause it to travel with the disc 40 and maintain the contact of the parts 15 and 18,
and the main valve will thus continue its movement until the operator ceases to turn
the disc 24 when the part 15 will immediately be carried froin the part 18 and the
further movement of the main valve and its connected parts will be arrested. A
similar effect is produced in connection with the valve of the device 4 when the
disc 24 is turned to bring the part 18 into contact with the part 16.
Although in Figs. 11 and 12" the circuit breaker is shown as being carried by
the cage, this is not essential as it may be upon a stationary part of the apparatus, the
part 18 being operated from the cage through the medium of any suitable devices.
Thus in Fig. 15 the disc 24 is shown as provided with a central hub 42 and wing 43
fitting within the circular casing 44, provided with a partition 45 forming two
chambers on the opposite sides between said partition and the wing 48, and these
two chambers communicate through flexible pipes 50 and 51, with tubes 60, 61,
leading to similar chambers in the casing 46 upon the cage provided with a par-
tition 47 and enclosing a hub 48 upon a shaft to which is connected an operating
handle 25, from which hub extends a wing 49. By moving the handle 25 water or
other liquid is forced from one of the chambers of the casing 46 into the connected
chamber of the casing 44, and the hub 42 and the disk 24 connected therewith are
turned in one direction, a reverse movement being imparted by swinging the handle 25
in a reverse direction. The movement of the disc 24 is also transmitted to the
handle 25 and indicates to the operator the position of the valve as before.
Another means for operating the part 24 of the circuit breaker at a distance from
the cage is illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17, in which such part is shown as geared
with the main valve rod 31, and provided with a ratchet wheel 6 which may be turned
by the vibration of a double pawl or escapement lever F, pivoted to a standard and
actuated by the vibration of the lever 53 of an electro-magnet C, a spring 54 serving
to move the lever 53 in one direction, while a reverse movement is imparted upon
exciting the magnet. The extent to which the ratchet G and its connected parts are
turned will depend upon the number of vibrations imparted to the pawl F, and these
will depend upon the extent of the movement of a toothed circuit breaking wheel R
arranged upon the cage, provided with an operating handle P, and pointer s, and
operating on contacts M, N, connected by flexible conductors with the electro
magnet.
It is of course necessary to turn the ratchet wheel G sometimes in one direction
and sometimes in the other, and for this purpose the wheel is provided with two sets
of ratchet teeth in reverse directions, and the pawl F while normally engaging with
one set of the teeth is adjustable so as to be thrown into engagement with the other
set when desired. Different adjusting means may be employed, for instance, the pawl
is pivoted to the lever d at t, Fig. 17, so as to swing upon said pivot to engage with
either ratchet a or b of the wheel G, a spring c tending to throw the pawl into
engagement with the ratchet teeth of the wheel b, and an electro-magnet i is arranged
to act when excited upon its armature i, and throw the pawl into position to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel a, a stop a preventing the actual contact of the
armature with the magnet The exciting of the magnet I and the reversing of the

page_text: position of the pawl is effected by completing the circuit by means of a key of a
circuit breaker in the cage, preferably connected with the operating handle P so that
said circuit is completed whenever the said handle moves to one side of the centre of
the plate U-D.
While the invention has been described in connection with elevating apparatus it
is available for other purposes as for instance for steering apparatus, where the pilot
house takes the place of the cage and where the movement of the rudder-operating
engine or apparatus actuates one of the parts of the circuit breaker.
Dated this 4th day of September 1889
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Controlling the Movement of Elevator Cars,
Applicable also to other Purposes, such as for Steering Vessels.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS AND COMPANY, a corporation
organized and existing under the Laws of the State of New York, of New York,
in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 relates to an organized apparatus for operating electrically the main
valve or other mechanism which controls the movements of an elevator. The inven-
tion consists broadly in an organized system of electrical connections by which the
elevator, having been stopped at any point, will be prevented from starting in the
opposite direction; of an organization which combines with electrical appliances for
actuating the controlling mechanism of the elevator a means by which said mechanism
can be operated mechanically from the car in case of an emergency; and of a novel
form of auxiliary valve apparatus combined with electrical connections for actuating
the main valve or other controlling mechanism of the elevator.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the drawings
accompanying the Provisional Specification in which
Fig. 1 shows in sectional view a portion of a building containing an elevator
equipped according to this invention, showing the relation of the several parts.
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the several electric circuits, and the means by
which the movements of the elevator are controlled through said circuits either from
the car or any portion of the building.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the auxiliary valve apparatus and its electro
motor by which the main valve or other controlling mechanism of the elevator is
moved in one direction.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same.
Referring to said drawings, A denotes an elevator shaft, B the car, Ca hydraulic cylinder
or other motor by which the car B is raised, and 1) the hoisting cable, all of which
parts are organized in the usual and well known manner. E represents the
mechanism for controlling the movements of the elevator, which in the case shown is
the main or induction and exhaust valve of the cylinder C and is of any suitable con-
struction to allow the water to be admitted to the cylinder to cause the car to
ascend when the valve is in one position, to allow the water to escape from the
cylinder, to permit the car to descend, when the valve is reversed; and to close both
the induction and exhaust to stop the car when the valve is in an intermediate or mid
position. Such cylinders and valves are in common use and their construction is
well known, so that it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate or describe the same
in detail. It is to be understood, however, that the cylinder C may if preferred be
arranged vertically instead of horizontally, and may be provided with the well known
circulating pipe, or may be a motor of any of the forms common in elevators. The
mechanism for controlling the movements of the elevator car is therefore the main

page_text: valve or other mechanism which controls the movements of the elevator motor, and
this mechanism is determined by the character of the motor employed. With the
controlling mechanism is connected a motor of suitable construction. One form will
now be described.
F is a piston which works in a cylinder F2 and is connected by a rod I to the main
valve or other controlling mechanism. The cylinder F2 is provided with induction
and exhaust pipes G, G₁, forming ports through which the water is allowed to flow
into and out of the cylinder upon the opposite sides of the piston F1, moving it and
the connected main valve upward or downward as it is desired to cause the car to
descend or ascend.
The pipes G. G, are controlled by means of what are termed auxiliary valve
mechanisins H, O, which are operated by electro-motors under the control of the con-
ductor, or of a person at any landing. The electro-motors are herein shown as
ordinary electro-magnets and will be hereinafter termed "magnets" but the term is
to be understood as including any form of electro-motor which can be energized or
put into operation by an electric current.
As the auxiliary valve mechanisms H, O, are connected by the pipes G, G', with
the valve operating cylinder F2, these mechanisms may be placed in any convenient
position in any portion of the building either near to or remote from the main valve
of the elevator. In the drawings they are shown as inclosed in a case attached to
the wall upon the first story of the building, while the elevator operating mechanism
with its main valve are located in the basement. The valve mechanisms H, O, are
alike in construction and operation and have for convenience a common water supply,
one valve controlling the pipe G and the other the pipe G₁. I, J, represent the
valve controlling magnets which are energized through electric circuits which include
batteries K, or other suitable generators of electricity, and appropriate circuit
closers LM, located at the different landings and on the car.
The construction and operation of the auxiliary valve mechanisms H, O, will now
be described. As these two mechanisms are exact duplicates, a description of one
will apply to both. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it is to be understood that a is a
valve cylinder or casing containing two valve seats c2 c² at the opposite ends of a
bushing b, having perforations c¹ and two circumferential heads 6, 3, which are
securely fastened in the casing. Opposite the seats c³, are the auxiliary induction and
exhaust valves d, e, which are connected by a valve rod f, to which a spiral spring¹
is applied to hold the valve d, against its seat and the valve e away from its seat.
The valve casing is enlarged at one end to form a chest or cylinder a¹ in which is
fitted a piston attached to the valve rod f. Communicating with the chest a¹ is a
pipe, which is controlled by a valve ³, termed for convenience a primary valve,
the rod *, of which is adjustably connected by the nuts to a lever j carrying at its
free end an armature held within the magnetic field of the electro-magnet J by
means of the suspension rod ja having a nut by which the downward motion of the
lever is limited.
The water supply k communicates with the valve casing a and also with the top
of the pipe h, as shown, and the induction and exhaust pipes G, G¹, communicate
with the casings a, of the respective valve mechanisms between the heads 61, 62, of
the bushing b. Each of the casings a is provided with a waste pipe which com-
municates with the space between the valve e and piston 7, and each of the pipes 1,
is provided with a small open waste pipe m, which communicates with the pipe h,
between the piston g and valve h³.
The operation is as follows: The valves d are normally held against their seats c³,
and the valves e are held away from the seats by the springs f¹, and also by the
pressure of the water from the supply pipe k, thereby preventing any water from
entering the pipes G, or G¹, to act upon the piston F₁ and operate the main valve.
While the pressure of the motor fluid is thus cut off from the piston F¹ the water
upon both sides of the piston can flow freely therefrom through either pipe G, G¹,
the valve casing a, and waste pipe 1, to permit the piston to be moved in either
direction.

page_text: As soon, however, as either one of the magnets I, or J, is energized by the closing
of the electric circuit through said magnet, its armature will be attracted, thus raising
the lever and primary valve h³ and allowing water from the pipe h, to enter the
chest a' and act upon the piston g, and as the area of the piston g, exceeds that of the
auxiliary induction valve d, the latter and the valve e, will be moved, the valve e to
its seat, and the valve d, away from its seat, and the water will enter by the valve d,
and pass through the openings el to the pipe G, or G¹, as the case may be, and to the
cylinder F, causing the piston F1, to be moved and operate the main valve to cause
the car to ascend or descend. The valve h³ will be maintained open, and the piston F¹
will continue to move until the circuit through the magnet is broken, when the
magnet will be de-energized and its armature released, when the weight of the
lever, aided by the pressure of the water in the pipe, upon the valve h³, will at
once close the latter, thereby removing the pressure from the piston g. The water
between the valve ³ and the piston y will then gradually escape through the pipe m,
thereby allowing the spring f¹ to close the auxiliary induction valve d, so as to shut
off the further flow of water to the cylinder F, and at the same time the auxiliary
exhaust valve e, will be opened to allow the water contained in the pipe G, or G', as
the case may be, and in the end of the cylinder F2 with which that pipe communicates,
to pass freely into the waste pipe 1. By the closing the circuit through the other
magnet the same operation will take place in the other auxiliary valve apparatus,
thereby admitting water to the other end of the cylinder F to act upon the opposite
side of the piston F and move the main valve in the opposite direction, and this being
continued to a sufficient extent the main valve will be reversed and the car will be
caused to move in the opposite direction, or, if it is desired, to simply stop the car,
the circuit will be broken as soon as the main valve arrives in its mid position, when
the motor fluid will be cut off from the cylinder F2, and the car will then remain at
rest. As the piston F¹ is moved in either direction by the admission of water to one
end of the cylinder F, the water in the other end of the cylinder will find an
unobstructed escape through the pipe G, or G, as the case may be, and past the
auxiliary exhaust valve e, to the waste pipe 7. The waste pipes m, are, as will be
observed, always open for the escape of water from the cylinder a', but these pipes,
being of small size as compared with the pipes h, the water will not escape with
sufficient rapidity to prevent the pistons g from operating properly.
The system of electrical connections by which the magnets 1, J, are energized to
operate the primary valves h³ to control the. movements of the elevator car as just
described, may vary to a great extent, but a practical arrangement will now be
explained on reference to Fig. 2. In this explanation it will be assumed that the
auxiliary valve apparatus H which is operated by the magnet I. controls the ascent
of the car and that the auxiliary valve apparatus O which is operated by the
magnet J, controls the descent of the car.
In the organization herein shown the two magnets are energized by separate
generators K, K. This is preferable but is not in all cases necessary as in some
cases a single generator may be employed for both magnets. The magnet I is
located in an electric circuit formed of wires or electrical conductors 2 which
circuit includes one of the two batteries K, and a push button or other circuit
closer 10, located upon the car B. The course of this circuit and also of the
other circuits to be referred to can readily be traced by reference to Fig. 2 of
the drawings. The term "push button" is herein used for convenience and is to
be understood as including any means for making and breaking the circuits.
The magnet J is located in a similar arranged circuit 3 which includes the
other one of the two batteries K and a push button or other circuit closer 11 also
located upon the car.
From the description of the operation of the auxiliary valve apparatus which
has already been given, it will readily be seen that by operating the button 10 to
close the circuit 2 and energise the magnet I the car will be caused to ascend,
and that by releasing said button 10 so as to break the circuit 3 and de-energise
the magnet I, the movement of the piston will be arrested, the valve E being

page_text: held in the position to which it has been adjusted and by then operating the
button 11 to close the circuit 3 and energise the magnet J, the speed of the car
will be reduced, or it will be stopped or caused to descend according to the length
of time the circuit 3 is kept closed.
There are many cases where it is desirable, in addition to the means for controlling
the movements of the elevator from within the car, that there should also be provided
means by which a person at any landing can cause the car to ascend or descend to
that landing. To enable this to be accomplished the circuits 2, 3, are respectively
provided with branch circuits or loops 4, 5, which include push buttons or other
circuit closers 12, 13, located at each landing, as also indicated in Fig. 2. By this
means a person at any landing can, by operating the button 12 or 13, complete and
break the circuit and cause the car to ascend or descend, as the case may be, to that
landing, and can then arrest the car by operating the other button in the same manner
as already described in connection with the buttons upon the car.
The push buttons of only one landing are indicated, in the drawings, but it will
readily be understood that the buttons at any number of landings can be arranged and
connected to the circuits 2, 3, in the same manner.
From what has been said it will be seen that the two circuits 2, 3, with their
respective branches 4, 5, are sufficient to enable a person, either in the car or at any
landing, to cause the car to ascend and descend and come to rest at any desired point.
In order, however, to bring the car to rest and retain it at any point, it is necessary,
as has been explained, to break the circuit as soon as the car stops, as if the circuit
continues closed after the car has stopped, the piston F will continue to move and the
main valve will move onward past its mid position and thus cause the car to start in
the opposite direction from that in which it was moving before it stopped.
If the person operating the elevator is skillful and attentive this will occasion no
special difficulty because such a person will be able to break the circuit at the proper
time to retain the car in whatever position it is stopped. With an unskillful or
inattentive operator however, this might occasion some trouble and annoyance, and it
is therefore desirable to provide means by which, when it is desired to stop and retain
the car in any position without reversing its movement, the circuit will be auto-
matically broken at the proper time to effect this result.
For this purpose the circuit 2, which includes the magnet I and one of the
batteries K, is provided with a branch circuit 6 which includes a push button or circuit
closer 14 located upon the car and also a pair of spring contact plates or brushes 16
adjacent to the cylinder F2. This branch 6 is in turn provided with a branch 7 which
leaves the branch 6 between the button 14 and the brushes 16 and unites with the
circuit 3 at a point between the battery K and the button 11. This branch 7 is also
provided with a pair of brushes 17 similar to the brushes 16. The circuits 2, 3, are
also connected by a branch 8 which connects the two circuits at a point near the
buttons 11, 14. The brushes 16, 17, are located adjacent to a rod 18, which is
operated to move in unison with the main valve in any suitable manner. Thus the
rod 18 is connected to the rod of the piston F" and reciprocates through guides
secured to the sides of the cylinder F2. Or this rod may be similarly reciprocated by
some other moving part of the mechanism. This rod is provided with oppositely
inclined shoulders 19 forming a circuit closer which is so arranged that when the main
valve is in its mid position so as to stop the car, the circuits through the branches 6, 7,
will both be broken. When, however, the valve is moved upward from its mid
position so as to cause the car to descend, the brushes 16 will be acted upon by the
circuit closer 19 so as to be brought together, thereby closing the circuit through the
branch 6 which circuit will then remain closed until the valve is moved back to its
mid position. As the valve is moved downward from its mid position so as to cause
the car to ascend, the brushes 17 will be operated in the same manner to close the
circuit through the branch 7, which circuit will remain closed until the valve is again
moved back to its mid position. It will readily be seen, however, that as soon as the
valve moving in either direction arrives at its mid position, the circuits through both
the branches 6, 7, will be automatically broken,

page_text: Assuming now that the main valve has been moved downward from its mid position
so as to cause the car to ascend, and at the same time close the circuit through the
branch 7, it is only necessary in order to stop and retain the car at any point, to
press the button 14. The circuit will then he completed from the button through the
wires 6, 7, 8 to the battery K and from the battery through the wires 3 to the
magnet J, and from the magnet through the wires 3, 8, 2, 6, to the button. This
will energize the magnet J and cause the main valve to ascend until it arrives at
its mid position when the circuit through the branch 7 will be automatically broken,
thereby de-energizing the magnet and preventing the main valve from being moved
upward past its mid position so as to reverse the movement of the car, and this will
be the case whether the attendant releases the button 14 or not. If the main valve
has been moved upward from its mid position so as to cause the car to descend, the
operation of stopping and retaining the car will be the same except that in this case
the circuit will be closed through the branch 6 so that upon pressing the button 14,
the circuit will be completed from the button through the wires 6, 2, to the other
battery K and from the battery through the wire 2 to the magnet I and from the
magnet through the wires 2, 6, to the button, thereby energizing the magnet I, and
causing the main valve to move downward until it arrives at its mid position.
To enable the same operation to be performed from any landing, it is only necessary
to provide the branches 4 with branches 9 which connect with the branch 6 and in
which are located push buttons 15 at each landing, and to connect the branches 4, 5,
as indicated at 1.
In addition to the electrical appliances which have been described for actuating the
controlling mechanism in the ordinary working movements of the elevator, it is
desirable that means should be provided which, in case of an accident or in case the
electrical appliances should for any reason become ineffective, the conductor can have
control of the main valve or other controlling-mechanism by means of mechanical
connections.
For this purpose the rod F is provided with the usual rack which is engaged by a
pinion upon a shaft 21 having a pulley 20, around which passes a hand rope which
extends around pulleys located at the top and bottom of the shaft and passes through
the car in the usual manner.
It has been already stated that the auxiliary induction and exhaust valves d, e, are
normally maintained in such position as to afford an unobstructed escape for the water
through the pipes G, G₁, from both sides of the piston F. From this it results that
in case the auxiliary valve mechanisms fail to act, the main valve will not be locked
by the water in the cylinder F2, but will be free to be operated by the hand rope 22
or other mechanical connection. This hand rope will not be used in the ordinary
working of the elevator but in case of any emergency, as before stated, the conductor
can by means of this hand rope operate the main valve and thus have mechanical
control of the movements of the elevator, as in the old way.
It is understood that any of the other forms of mechanical connections by which
the conductor in the car is enabled to control the main valve may be applied and used
in place of the simple hand rope shown, and are to be regarded in this connection as
equivalent of said rope.
The form of motor C for operating the elevator which is herein shown has been
selected merely for the purpose of illustrating the application of the invention. Any
other suitable form of motor may of course be employed.
In Figs. 5 to 9 are illustrated modified forms of devices for carrying out the opera-
tions herein before described.
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the modified system of electrical connections.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechanism for controlling the movements
of the elevator car.
Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail which will be hereinafter
referred to.
Fig. 9 is a plan section taken on the line x Fig. 7.

page_text: This apparatus consists of a cylinder D³ having an induction port D' through which
the water under suitable pressure is admitted to the cylinder; a port C³, through
which the water passes from the cylinder 13 to the main cylinder, and a port D
through which the water is discharged after performing its work. The valve consists
of two pistons D and D, combined with pistons D, D, which work in the cylinder D³
and are so arranged that when in their central or mid-position they cut off commani-
cation between the port (³ and both the ports D1, D2, but by being moved from their
mid position they establish communication between the ports D' and C³, so as to
allow the water to enter the main engine cylinder, or they may be moved to allow the
water in the main cylinder to pass through the ports (3 and D2 and escape, thus
arresting the movement of the elevator car or causing the car to descend or ascend in
the well known manner. Communicating with the ends of the cylinder D³ above and
below the pistons D', D' are induction and exhaust pipes E1, E2, through which water
is admitted to and exhausted from the cylinder D³ to operate the pistons D*, D', and
their connected main valve in the manner just described.
These induction and exhaust pipes are controlled by an auxiliary valve apparatus E
which is operated by electro motors under control of the conductor in the car or of a
person at any landing, as before described.
This auxiliary valve apparatus consists, primarily, of a valve composed of two
pistons a (Fig. 9) located in a valve chamber and so arranged that when in their mid
position they close the openings of the induction and exhaust pipes E', E³, shown in
dotted lines Fig. 9. The chamber in which the auxiliary valve is located is provided
with an induction pipe E³ which opens between the two pistons a of the valve, and
with exhaust passages E which lead from the opposite ends of the valve chamber
outside the pistons a to an exhaust pipe E. The rod E³, upon which the pistons a
are secured, passes through a stuffing box in the end of the valve chamber and is con-
nected to a pivotted lever E to which is secured an armature E, which is acted upon
so as to rock the lever in opposite directions by two electro-motors E, E, located
upon the opposite sides of the armature. The lever E is normally held by springs E7
in a mid position so as to hold the armature E³ centrally between the two electro-
motors and the auxiliary valve in position to close both the induction and exhaust
pipes E¹, E².
The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows:-
:-
The pistons a, forming the auxiliary valve, are, as before stated, normally held by
the equalizing springs E', in position to close the induction and exhaust pipes E', E²,
and thereby prevent any water from entering those pipes to act upon the pistons D4, 17,
and operate the main valve. As soon, however, as one of the magnets (E', for
example) is energized by the closing of the electric circuit in which the magnet is
located, the armature Es will be attracted, thereby rocking the lever E and moving
the auxiliary valve so as to open communication between the induction pipe E³ and
the pipe E and thereby allow the water to enter the pipe E and piss to the
cylinder D³ above the piston D'. At the same time the pipe E2 and the passage E* at
that end of the auxiliary valve chamber will be brought into communication, so as to
allow the water confined in the cylinder D³ below the piston D' to escape through
the pipe E and pass to the exhaust pipe E. This will cause the main valve to move
downward and allow the water to pass from the induction port D' into the port C¹³
and thence to the main cylinder and act upon the piston in that cylinder so as to
raise the car.
As soon as the circuit through the magnet E is broken, the magnet
will be de-energized so as to release the armature E and as soon as this is done the
equalizing spring E7 will rock the lever E back to its mid position and thereby
restore the pistons a, forming the auxiliary valve, to the position to close both the
induction and exhaust pipes E', E2, and shut off the further admission and exhaust of
water to and from the cylinder D³ and thus arrest the movement of the main valve
and hold it in any position in which it is at that time. By closing the circuit through
the other magnet the auxiliary valve will be moved in the opposite direction, thereby
admitting water to the cylinder D³ beneath the piston D' and allowing the escape of
the water from above the piston D', so as to move the main valve upward, and this

page_text: being continued the main valve will be reversed so as to cause the car to descend, or,
if it is desired, to simply stop the car, the circuit will be broken as soon as the main
valve arrives in its mid position and the car will then remain at rest.
The system of electrical connections by which the magnets E³, E10 are energized to
operate the auxiliary valve, as just described, will now be explained, special reference
being made to Fig. 5.
One pole of each of the magnets is connected to a wire 2, which includes a suitable
generator, as a battery F, and leads to the elevator car, where it is connected to two
wires 3, 4, which return to the other poles of the respective magnets. The courses of
these circuits and also of the circuits to be hereinafter referred to can readily be
traced by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. The wires 2, 3, 4, are connected to
the travelling car by being formed into a cable which hangs in the shaft with sufficient
slack to allow the travel of the car. The circuits 2, 3, and 2, 4, thus formed each of
which includes one of the magnets are provided with push buttons or other circuit
closers 5, 6, located upon the car.
From the description of the auxiliary valve apparatus which has already been given,
it will readily be seen that by operating the button 5 to close the circuit, 2, 3, and
thus energize the magnet E10 the car will be caused to descend and that by releasing
said button so as to break the circuit 2, 3, and de-energize the magnet and then
operating the button 6 to close the circuit 2, 4, and energize the magnet E', the car
will be stopped or caused to ascend, according to the length of time the circuit 2, 4,
is kept closed.
To enable a person on landing to operate the car the circuits 2, 3, and 2, 4, are
respectively provided with branch circuits 7, 8, and 7, 9, which include push
buttons 10, 11, located at each landing, as indicated in Fig. 5. By this means a
person at any landing can, by operating the button 10 or 11, cause the car to descend
or ascend, as the case may be, to that landing and can then arrest the car by operating
the other button in the same manner as already described in connection with the
buttons upon the car.
To automatically arrest the car as before described, there is provided a circuit closer
which is operated by the car, and which consists of a contact plate O (see Figure 8)
having a spindle Of which enters a socket 03, set into some convenient portion of the
car, preferably near its bottom, and is provided with a spring 02, which acts to press
the plate outward so that as the car moves up and down the elevator shaft and the
plate passes in contact with a series of plates M, N, Fig. 5 arranged on the side of
the shaft and located respectively just above and below the position of the plate O,
when the car is in position at each landing. These plates M, N, are connected with
each other and with the wires 3, 4, by means of wires 13, 17, and 13, 16, and the
plate is connected to the wire 2 by means of a wire 14, which includes a push
button 15 located upon the car. The wires 16, 17, include circuit closers consisting
of spring contact plates R, R', which are located adjacent to a rod R2, which forms
an extension of the rod D8 of the main valve, or which is connected to the main valve
or some other moving pars of the engine so as to be moved in unison with the valve.
This rod R² is provided with two oppositely arranged shoulders which are so located
that when the main valve is in its mid-position neither of the pairs of contact
plates R, R', will be acted upon, and the circuits through the wires 16, 17, will be
broken, but that when the valve is moved up or down from its mid-position, one of
the other of the pairs of contact plates (depending upon which way the valve is
moved) will be engaged by the corresponding shoulder upon the rod R² so as to bring
the plates together and close the circuit through the wire 16 or 17 as the case
may be.
The contact plates M, N, are of such length vertically that the length of time
which the plate O will remain in contact with either of the plates, as the car is
descending or ascending, will be just sufficient to allow the main valve to move to
its mid position and arrest the car; and the plates are so positioned with relation to
the different landlings that whenever the plate O passes out of contact with the plate M

page_text: as the car descends, or out of contact with the plate N, as the car descends, the
car will be in proper position in front of the landing.
As
Assuming now that the main valve has been moved downward from its mid-
position so as to cause the car to ascend, and thus bring the contact plates R¹ together
so as to close the circuit through the wire 17 at that point. It is only necessary
then, in order to stop the car and retain it at any landing, to press the button 15 as
the car approaches the landing. As soon as the contact plate O arrives in contact
with the plate N the circuit will be completed through the magnet E, thereby
energizing that magnet so as to operate the auxiliary valve and cause the main
valve to move upward until it arrives at its mid position so as to stop the car.
soon as the valve arrives in this position the shoulder on the rod R² will pass out
of contact with the plates R' and thus automatically break the circuit through the
wire 17 and arrest the main valve and retain the car in proper position at the
landing. If the main valve has been moved upward from its mid position, so as to
cause the car to descend, the operation of stopping and retaining the car will he the
same, except that in this case the plates R will be brought together so as to close the
circuit through the wire 16 and the plate O will come into contact with the plate M
so as to clore the circuit through the inagnet E' instead of through the magnet E.
To enable the same operation to be performed from any landing, the elevator shaft
is provided with a second series of contact plates M', N', corresponding to the
plates M, N, and arranged at the sides of the latter plates in position to be also
engaged by the plate O carried by the car, so that when the plate O is in contact with
plates M, M, and N, N¹, it serves to connect them electrically. These plates are
connected with each other and with the wire 7 by wires 18 which include push
buttons 19 located at each landing. By operating the buttons 19 the car will be
automatically arrested in proper position at any landing the same as in operating the
button 15 upon the car, as just described.
In order that the circuit through which the valve or other controlling apparatus
is operated is automatically broken at the proper time to prevent the slamming
and violent action of said apparatus, the construction shown in Figs. 10 to 12 may
be used.
Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the organization of the apparatus
embodying this feature of the invention, and
Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged details.
The elevator motor and the mechanism for controlling its movements, the electro-
motors and connections for operating the same and the system of electrical con-
nections through which these motors are energized from the car to control its
movements, are substantially the same as heretofore shown and described.
The main valve D or other controlling-mechanism is controlled by means of
electro-motors which are arranged to act upon the valve through suitable connections,
as, for instance, a valve operating engine having an auxiliary piston c, which is
connected to the rod w of the main valve and works in a cylinder d into which
water is admitted under suitable pressure through the pipes f, g, to drive the piston
in opposite directions, as before described. The pipes f, g, are controlled by auxiliary
valves h, as has been already described.
The magnets E, F, are included in electric circuits 2, 3, and 2, 4, which include
push buttons 12, 13, carried upon the car and also suitable battery power, as indicated
at G.
The elevator is also provided in addition to the apparatus for operating its con-
trolling mechanism electrically, with an ordinary hand rope H which is arranged in
the usual manner for operating the main valve D.
The operation of the system thus far described is as follows:
To cause the car to ascend the button 12 will be operated to close the circuit 2, 4,
through the magnet F. This will operate the corresponding primary valve o and
admit water to the cylinder k thereby operating the piston and auxiliary valve h
to allow water to pass through the pipe f, and enter the auxiliary cylinder d to

page_text: move the piston c downward and thus operate the main valve D to admit water to the
cylinder C. When the valve device D has been opened to the proper extent,
depending upon the speed at which it is desired to move the car, the conductor will
break the circuit through the magnet F and allow the primary valve o to close.
The spring will then at once restore the auxiliary valve h to its normal position (the
water in the cylinder & escaping through the permanent exhaust) so as to cut off
communication between the pipes n and f, and open communication between the
pipe and the exhaust. This will remove the pressure from the auxiliary piston c
and arrest the movement of the main valve. To stop the car or cause it to descend
the conductor will operate the push button 13 io close the circuit through the
magnet E and operate the other primary and auxiliary valves to admit the water
through the pipe g to move the main valve upward. If the car is to be stopped, the
circuit through the magnet E will be broken as soon as the main valve has arrived
at its mid position, but if the car is to descend the circuit through the magnet will
be maintained until the main valve has been reversed so as to allow the water to escape
from the cylinder C. To stop the car in its descent the operation is reversed.
From the foregoing it will be seen that so long as the circuit through either one
of the magnets E, F, remains closed the corresponding primary valve o will remain
open and the pressure upon the primary piston will maintain the auxiliary valve in
position to allow water to continue to enter the cylinder d and move the piston c
and the main valve until these parts reach the limit of their movement by being
brought in contact with some stationary part, and if the water enters the auxiliary
cylinder under a considerable pressure, as is frequently the case, the shock occasioned
by thus arresting the main valve and the auxiliary piston is damaging and disagreeable.
To prevent the shock caused by moving the main valve abruptly to the limit of its
movement, it has been found desirable, even when the valve is operated by a hand
rope, to cause the rope to pass through a stationary guide, as 14, and to provide the
rope with stops 15, arranged upon opposite sides of the guide and so positioned as to
limit the movement of the rope in either direction and arrest the main valve before it
arrives at the extreme limit of its movement.
Where the main valve is operated through the medium of electrical connections,
such as are herein shown, it can, as already explained, be arrested at any point by
simply breaking the circuit through the magnet E or F, as the case may be, at the
proper time and by this means, if the conductor is skillful and attentive, all liability
of shock to the valve and its connections can be avoided, but it is found that in many
cases the skill and attention of conductors cannot be relied upon for this purpose. In
order, therefore, to avoid all liability of a shock to the machinery occasioned by failure
of the conductor to break the circuit before the main valve reaches the extreme limit
of its movement, or, in those cases where the ordinary hand rope is used as an adjunct
to the electrical connections, before the valve has been moved so far as to bring one
of the stops 15 violently against the guide 14, thus causing a shock and strain upon
the rope, the circuits 2, 3, 2, 4, are provided with circuit closers 8, 9, of any suitable
form, but preferably composed of brushes or contact springs, as shown, which are
acted on by rods 16, 19, connected to the valve rod w, or by any other part of the
apparatus; as, for example, the pulley 17 around which the hand rope H passes,
which moves in unison with the main valve in such manner as to automatically break
the respective circuits just before the main valve reaches the limit of its downward
and upward movements, but to maintain the circuits closed at all other times. The
rods 16, 19, or other parts which form the circuit closers are suitably insulated from
each other and from the other parts of the apparatus to prevent the current from
being diverted from the circuits.
With the system thus organized the operation is as follows:-
So long as the main valve is at any point between the upward and downward limits
of its working movements, the rods 16, 19, will be in position to maintain both of the
circuits 2, 3, and 2, 4, closed, so that by operating the respective push buttons 12, 18,
the valve can he moved in either direction. As soon, however, as the valve reaches
the upward limit of its working movement, that is to say, the point beyond which it

page_text: is desired it should not move, the rod 16 will disconnect the brushes of the circuit
closer 8 to automatically break the circuit through the magnet. E and thus, as before
explained, arrest the valve before any shock can be occasioned and before the stop 15
is brought violently against the guide 14 so as to put undue strain upon the hand
rope. The circuit closer 9 will then, however, be in position to close the circuit
through the magnet F so that the main valve can be moved in the opposite direction
to stop or reduce the speed of the car or reverse its movement. As the main valve
moves downward the circuit closer 8 will again close the circuit through the
magnet E and as it reaches the downward limit of its working movement the circuit
closer 9 will break the circuit through the magnet F and arrest the valve the
same as before.
The system as herein illustrated is also provided with circuits 2, 3, 5, and 2, 4,
6, 5, which include the battery or generator G, and a push button 18 upon the car
and respectively include the magnets E, F, and circuit closers 10, 11, which are
operated by a moving rod 7 to close the respective circuits as the main valve is
moved downward and upward from its mid-position and to break both the circuits
when the valve is at its mid-position. By this means the main valve can be auto-
matically arrested in its mid-position so as to stop the car at any point by operating
the push button 18, as before described.
In Figs. 11 to 17 is illustrated the before described parts in connection with an
automatic circuit breaker having two sections, one of which is set to any point by
the operator and the other of which is connected to travel with the object moved, so
that when the latter gets to a position determined by that to which the first circuit
breaker section was set, the circuit will be broken and further movements arrested.
In said drawings:—
Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the circuit breaker as arranged on an elevator cage,
and its connections.
Fig. 12, the arrangement of the valve actuating devices with said connections.
Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the circuit breaker in a position different from that
shown in Fig. 11ª.
Fig. 14 is a section on the line 44-44, Fig. 11ª.
Fig. 15 is a view in part section illustrating another means for controlling the
circuit breaker from the cage.
Fig. 16 is an elevation illustrating another means of controlling the circuit breaker
from the cage and of operating the stopping and starting device.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a modified form of the reversing switch device.
The parts shown in Fig. 12 correspond essentially with those heretofore described
and shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and need not be here described in detail.
1 is the cage 2 the hydraulic engine provided with a stopping and starting valve
moving in a casing a', under the action of a pinion upon the shaft carrying a pulley b;
21 is the auxiliary engine having a piston 30 connected with the valve stem 31, the
flow of the motor fluid to and from the auxiliary engine 21, being controlled by the
two valve devices 3 and 4, the former in the line of pipe 32, communicating with
the lower end of the auxiliary cylinder, and the latter in the line of pipe 33, commu-
nicating with the upper end of said cylinder, and the valves of said valve devices being
constructed as before described and shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to control the
admission and discharge of water from either end of the cylinder, in such manner as
to raise, lower, or hold in position the piston 30, and the main valve connected
therewith.
Heretofore the electrically controlled valves of such apparatus have been operated
by currents directed by switches within the cage in such manner that it has been
impossible for the operator to know the position to which the main valve is set except
so far as he can judge of the same by the speed of movement of the cage. In order
to obviate this defect means are provided whereby the operator may complete and
break the circuit including each electro magnet, so as to apply or remove the pressure
to operate the main valve, and whereby the parts of the circuit controlling or breaking
device change their position according to the position of the main valve, and such

page_text: change is indicated to the operator, while the circuit is automatically broken as soon
as the main valve reaches its desired position.
The circuit breaker is in two parts, one of which is moved and controlled in its
position by the operator, while the position of the other is determined automatically by
the position of the main valve. These parts may be constructed in different ways, but
as shown in the drawing the part under the control of the operator is a disc 24 of non-
conducting material or having a peripheral portion of non-conducting material and
turning upon a central axis, and provided with an operating bandle 25.
peripheral portion is cut away at one side to make a flat face a, upon opposite sides
of the point where a contact plate 18 secured to the disc breaks the line of said face,
so that a conductor travelling along said face must contact at one point with said
plate 18.
The
The other part of the device, which is controlled by the position of the main valve,
consists of a disk 40 concentric with the disc 24 and carrying two separated and
insulated contacts 15 and 16, each of which bears upon the edge of the disc 24, and
when the latter is turned to a sufficient extent will in traversing the edge x, bear upon
the contact plate 18.
The contact plate 18 is in electrical connection with a wire, connected at its
opposite end with the contact 15, and including in its line the battery and the electro
magnet 5, and the plate is also in communication with a wire u, the opposite end of
which connects with the contact 16, and which includes in its line the battery and the
electro magnet 6, and by bringing the plate 18 into contact with the contact 15, a
circuit is completed through the magnet 5, and the valve of device 3 is opened and by
bringing the plate 18 into contact with the contact 16, a circuit is completed with the
magnet 6, and the valve of the valve device 4 is opened, while by removing the plate
from pōsition with the contacts 15 and 16, each valve is restored to its normal closed
position.
If the disc 40 and its contacts were stationary or fixed, the movement of the disc 24
in either direction would finally bring the plate 18 into contact with the contact 13
or 16, and so long as the contact with either was maintained the connected valves
would remain open and the movement of the main valve would continue, but it would
be impossible for the operator to know with any certainty the position which the main
valve occupies at any time.
It will be evident, however, that if one of the parts of the circuit breaker is so
connected with the main valve as to move therewith, the position of such part will at
once indicate to the operator the position of the main valve, and the operator may
discern with precision the proper time with which to make or break the contact
between the part 15 or 16 and the part 18.
One means of connecting the main valve and the disc 40 carrying the parts 15
and 16, is shown in Figs. 11" and 12" and is constructed as follows:
An endless rope 8, which may extend through the cage so as to constitute a hand
rope passes round guide pulleys and round the pulley b, and is connected to one end
of a lever 9, which supports a pulley 13. Round the pulley 13, and round a drum 14,
connected with the disc 40, passes an endless cable 22, which is suspended within the
well and in the loop of which hangs a pulley 23, to which is attached a weight 41,
the endless cable 22, being thus connected with the cage by its connection with the
drum 14 and travelling as the cage moves freely round the pulleys 13 and 23. When,
however, the pulley is turned, on the raising or lowering of the main valve, the
cable 8, is caused to travel in one direction or the other and the lever 9 is raised or
lowered, thereby raising or lowering the cable 22, and thus turning the drum 14 in
one direction or the other, carrying with it the disc 40 and the contact parts 15
and 16. A finger s, extends from the drum adjacent to a graduated plate U-D, so
that the operator can more readily perceive the extent to which the drum and its
connected parts have been moved, and the parts are all so connected and arranged
that when the main valve is in its mid or closed position the fingers will be vertical,
and when the main valve is depressed so as to cause the descent of the cage the fingers
will swing to the right, while when the main valve is raised to cause the ascent of the

page_text: cage the finger will swing to the left, the distance between the middle graduation and
the finger indicating the extent to which the main valve has moved from its mid-
position in either direction.
In operating the above described device the parts when at rest occupy the positions
shown in Figure 11" and if the operator desires the cage to rise, he turns the disc 24
until the plate 18 contacts with the arm or contact 15, when the main valve will begin
to rise, the operator continuing to hold the disc 24 stationary by means of the
handle 25. This movement of the main valve however will at once impart motion to
the rope 8, so that the lever 10 is depressed, thereby rotating the disc 40 in the
direction the contrary of its arrow and carrying the contact 18 away from the con-
tact 15 and on to the insulated portion of the disc 24, when the electro magnet 5 is at
once demagnetized and the valve of the device is closed, the further admission of
fluid to the engine 21 is arrested so that the piston 30 and the main valve are brought
to rest and the movement of the dise 40 is discontinued with the pointer s in such a
position as will indicate the extent to which the valve has been moved.
The above described operation will open the main valve to a very limited extent
only inasmuch as the disc 40 begins to move as soon as the contact is made between
the parts 15 and 18, and the part 15 thereafter passes from the part 18. If a greater
movement of the main valve is required, the operator continues to move the disc 24,
so as to cause it to travel with the disc 40 and maintain the contact of the parts 15
and 18, and the main valve will thus continue its movement until the operator ceases
to turn the disc 24, when the part 15 will immediately be carried from the part 18
and the further movement of the main valve and its connected parts will be arrested.
A similar effect is produced in connection with the valve of the device 4, when the
dise 24 is turned to bring the part 18 into contact with the part 16.
Although in Figs. 11ª and 12ª, the circuit breaker is shown as being carried by
the cage, this is not essential as it may be upon a stationary part of the apparatus, the
part 18 being operated from the cage through the medium of any suitable devices.
Thus in Figure 15, the disc 24 is shown as provided with a central hub 42 and
wing 43, fitting within the circular casing 44, provided with a partition 45, forming
two chambers on the opposite sides between said partition and the wing 43, and these
two chambers communicate through flexible pipes 50 and 51, with tubes 60, 61 leading
to similar chambers in the casing 46 upon the cage provided with a partition 47, and
enclosing a hub 48 upon a shaft to which is connected an operating handle 25, from
which bub extends a wing 49. By moving the handle 25, water or other liquid is
forced from one of the chambers of the casing 46, into the connected chamber of the
casing 44, and the hub 42 and the disc 24 connected therewith are turned in one
direction, a reverse movement being imparted by swinging the handle 25 in a reverse
direction. The movement of the disc 24 is also transmitted to the handle 25 and
indicates to the operator the position of the valve as before.
Another means for operating the part 24 of the circuit breaker at a distance from
the cage, is illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, in which such part is shown as geared
with the main valve rod 31, and provided with a ratchet wheel G, which may be turned
by the vibration of a double pawl or escapement lever F, pivotted to a standard and
actuated by the vibration of the lever 53, of an electro magnet C, a spring 54, serving
to move the lever 53 in one direction, while a reverse movement is imparted upon
exciting the magnet. The extent to which the ratchet G and its connected parts are
turned will depend upon the number of vibrations imparted to the pawl F, and these
will depend upon the extent of the movement of a toothed circuit breaking wheel R
arranged upon the cage, provided with an operating handle P and pointer s, and
operating on contacts M, N, connected by flexible conductors with the electro magnet.
It is of course necessary to turn the ratchet wheel G sometimes in one direction and
sometimes in the other and for this purpose the wheel is provided with two sets of
ratchet teeth in reverse directions and the pawl F while normally engaging with one
set of the teeth is adjustable so as to be thrown into engagement with the other set
when desired. Different adjusting means may be employed, for instance, the pawl is
pivotted to the lever d at t, Fig. 17, so as to swing upon said pivot to engage with

page_text: either ratchet a or of the wheel G, a spring c tending to throw the pawl into
engagement with the ratchet teeth of the wheel b, and an electro magnet I, is arranged
to act when excited upon its armature i, and throw the pawl into position to engage
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel «, a stop 9 preventing the actual contact of the
armature with the magnet. The exciting of the magnet I, and the reversing of the
position of the pawl is effected by completing the circuit by means of a key of a
circuit breaker in the cage, preferably connected with the operating handle P so that
said circuit is completed whenever the 'said handle moves to one side of the centre of
the plate U-D.
While the invention has been described in connection with elevating apparatus it is
available for other purposes as for instance for steering apparatus, where the pilot
house takes the place of the cage and where the movement of the rudder-operating
engine or apparatus actuates one of the parts of the circuit breaker.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The within described improvement in controlling-mechanism for elevators com-
prising controlling valves, electro motors for operating the same, and circuit closers
upon the car and at the landings, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination in a controlling mechanism for elevators, of a main engine
having a valve, and engine for moving said valve and valves controlling the flow of
motor fluid to and from the latter engine and electro motors operating said valves and
circuit closers upon the car and at the landings, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
clevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F1 for operating said mechanism, ports for
allowing the water to flow into and out of said cylinder upon both sides of said piston,
and an auxiliary valve apparatus controlling said ports and normally maintained in
position to open the ports to allow the water to flow out of the cylinder from either
side of the piston, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F1 for operating said mechanism, ports for
allowing the water to flow into and out of said cylinder upon both sides of said piston,
and auxiliary valves controlling said ports to cause the piston to move in opposite
directions and normally maintained in position to open the ports to allow the water
to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the piston, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F' for operating said mechanisms, ports for
allowing the water to flow into and out of said cylinder upon both sides of said piston,
auxiliary valves for controlling said ports to cause the piston to move in opposite
directions, and springs arranged to normally maintain said valves in position to
open the ports to allow the water to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the
piston, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F¹ for operating said mechanism, an auxiliary
valve for controlling said piston, which is normally maintained in position to allow
the water to flow out of the cylinder, a piston for operating said auxiliary valve and a
primary valve for controlling said last piston, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston for operating said mechanism, an auxiliary
valve for controlling said piston, which is normally maintained in position to allow
the water to flow out of the cylinder, a piston for operating said auxiliary valve, a
primary valve for controlling said last piston, and a permanently open exhaust
between said last piston and said primary valve, substantially as described.
8. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary
D

page_text: valve apparatus controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position
to allow the water to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the piston, and a
rope connected to operate said controlling mechanism from the elevator, substantially
as described.
9. An electro-magnet 1 or J for actuating the controlling mechanism of an elevator,
a circuit closer (14 or 15) in circuit with said magnet and a circuit closer (19)
operated by a moving part of the clevator mechanism to close the cirenit through said
magnet when the car is in motion and to break the circuit through said magnet when
the car is at rest, as in Figs. 2, 5 and 9, substantially as described.
10. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of electro magnets I, J for actuating said controlling mechanism to cause
the car to move in opposite directions, a circuit closer (14) on the car, which is in
circuit with both of said magnets, and a circuit closer (19) operated by a moving
part of the elevator mechanism to close the circuit through one of said magnets when
the car is in motion and to break the circuits through both of said magnets when the
car is at rest, substantially as described.
11. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements; of electro-magnets I, J for actuating said controlling mechanism to cause
the car to move in opposite directions, circuit closers (15) located at the landings and
in circuit with both of said magnets, a circuit closer (19) operated by a moving part
of the elevator mechanism to close the circuit through one of said magnets when the
car is in motion and to break the circuits through both of said magnets when the car
is at rest, substantially as described
12. The combination with an elevator car and mechanism for controlling its
movements, of electro-magnets I, J, for actuating said controlling mechanism to
cause the car to move in opposite directions, circuit closers (10, 11) upon the car, one
of which is in circuit with each magnet, a third circuit closer (14) which is in circuit
with both of said magnets, and a cirenit closer (19) operated by a moving part of the
elevator mechanism to close the circuit through one of said magnets when the car is
in motion and to break the circuits through both of said magnets when the car is at
rest, substantially as described.
13. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F2 and piston F1 for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary
valve apparatus controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position
to allow the water to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the piston, an
electro-magnet for actuating said auxiliary valve apparatus, and an electric circuit
including said magnet and a circuit closer upon the car, and a rope or its equivalent
connected to operate said controlling mechanism from the elevator car, substantially
as described.
14. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator car, of a cylinder and piston for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary valve
apparatus controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position to allow
the water to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the piston, two electro-
magnets for actuating said auxiliary valve apparatus to cause the car to move in
opposite directions, two electric circuits including said magnets and circuit closers
upon the car, and a rope or its equivalent connected to operate said controlling
mechanism from the elevator car, substantially as described.
15. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator car, of a cylinder and piston for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary valve
apparatus controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position to
allow the water to flow out of the cylinder from either side of the piston, two electro-
magnets for actuating said auxiliary valve apparatus to cause the car to move in
opposite directions, two electric circuits including said magnets and circuit closers
upon the car, a rope connected to operate said controlling mechanism from the
elevator car, and stops (23) upon said rope arranged to be engaged by a moving part
of the elevator before the car reaches the limit of its movement in either direction,
substantially as described.

page_text: 16. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F and piston F¹ for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary
valve apparatus controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position
to allow the water to flow out of said cylinder from both sides of said piston, an
electro-magnet for actuating said auxiliary valve apparatus, and an electric circuit
including said magnet and a circuit closer upon the car, substantially as described.
17. The combination with the mechanism for controlling the movements of an
elevator, of the cylinder F and piston F for actuating said mechanism, an auxiliary
valve apparatus for controlling said piston and normally maintained in an open position
to allow the water to flow out of said cylinder from both sides of said piston, two
electro-magnets for actuating said auxiliary valve apparatus to cause the car to move
in opposite directions and two electric circuits including said magnets and circuit
closers upon the car, substantially as described.
18. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of an electro-magnets for operating said controlling mechanism, a circuit
closer (15 or 19) in circuit with the magnet and a circuit closer operated by the car
to close the circuit through the magnet shortly before the car arrives at a landing,
substantially as described.
19. The combination with an elevator and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of an electro-magnet for operating said controlling mechanism, a circuit
closer (15 or 19) in circuit with the magnet and a circuit closer operated by the car
to close the circuit through the magnet shortly before the car arrives at a landing
and to break the circuit as the car arrives at the landing, substantially as described.
20. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of an electro-magnet for operating said controlling mechanism, a circuit
closer (15 or 19) in circuit with said magnet, a circuit closer (R or R¹) operated by a
moving part of the elevator mechanism to close the circuit through the magnet when
the car is in motion and to break the circuit when the car is at rest, and a circuit
closer operated by the car to close the circuit through the magnet shortly before the
car arrives at a landing, substantially as described.
21. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of electro-magnets for operating said controlling mechanism to cause the
car to move in opposite directions, a circuit closer (15 or 19) in circuit with both the
said magnets, and a circuit closer operated by the car to close the circuit through one
of said magnets shortly before the car arrives at a landing going down; and through
the other of said magnets shortly before the car arrives at the landing going up,
substantially as described.
22. The combination with an elevator car and the mechanism for controlling its
movements, of electro-magnets for operating said controlling mechanism to cause the
car to move in opposite directions, a circuit closer (15 or 19) in circuit with both the
said magnets, a circuit closer operated by the car to close the circuit through one of
said magnets shortly before the car arrives at a landing going down and through the
other of said magnets shortly before the car arrives at the landing going up, and
circuit closers (R R') operated by a moving part of the elevator mechanism to close
the circuit through one of said magnets when the car is in motion and to break the
circuits through both of said magnets when the car is at rest, substantially as
described.
23. The combination with an elevator car. its motor and the main valve for con-
trolling the movements of the motor, of an electro-magnet for controlling the
movement of the main valve, an electric circuit for energizing said magnet, and a
circuit closer operated by a moving part of the mechanism to break the circuit through
the magnet as the main valve reaches the limit of its working movement, substantially
as described.
24. The combination with an elevator car, its motor and the main valve for
controlling the movements of the motor, of electro-magnets for controlling the move-
ments of the main valve in opposite directions, electric circuits for energizing said
magnets and circuit closers operated by a moving part of the mechanism to break the

page_text: circuits through the respective magnets as the main valve reaches the limit of its
working movement in opposite directions, substantially as described.
25. The combination of a circuit breaker, and an apparatus controlled thereby,
said circuit breaker consisting of two parts moveable one independently of the other,
one capable of being moved by the attendant and the other connected to be moved by
the movement of the apparatus controlled by said circuit breaker, substantially as set
forth in connection with Figs. 11° to 17.
26. The combination with the cage and starting and stopping device and controlling
electro-magnets of an elevator, of circuits including said magnets, and extending to
the cage and a circuit breaker in two parts one connected with an operating handle
within the cage, and the other connected with the stopping and starting device to be
moved with the latter to break the circuit as the said device attains its desired position,
substantially as described.
تيمم
1
1000
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.