IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING CRANES AND TRAVERSERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Alexander Newton, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRAVELLING CRANES AND TRAVERSERS."
Sealed the 10th October 1879, and dated the 17th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Alexander Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1879.
GEORGE ALEXANDER NEWTON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAVELLING CRANES AND TRAVERSERS."
This Invention consists in a new arrangement of driving applicable to any form
of traversing crane or traverser, but more especially to overhead travelling cranes.
It consists essentially in arranging a separate engine or pair of engines for each
mode of action, that is, one for longitudinal motion, one for transverse action, and
the third for raising and lowering. The main traversing shaft is made square
(feathered or angular) as usual, and on this shaft a wheel with square slotted or
angular bearing slides, and is connected by spur wheel or otherwise with the engine
driving the same. The barrel and carriage axles are coupled to their engines by
means of spur gearing or other simple ordinary gear, nearly all the complication
of bevel wheels, cones, et cetera, so plentiful on travelling cranes driven from one
engine being thereby avoided. The crane is consequently less liable to accident.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Alexander Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th October 1879.
GEORGE ALEXANDER NEWTON, of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES AND TRAVERSERS, AND IN THE MODE OF
ACTUATING THE SAME."
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an overhead traversing crane arranged according to
my Invention, and Fig 2, an end elevation of the same. Like letters in each refer
to like parts.
This Invention consists in a new arrangement of driving applicable to any form
of traversing crane or traverser, but more especially to overhead travelling cranes.
It consists essentially in arranging a separate engine or pair of engines B, C, and D,
fitted with reversing gear for each mode of action, that is, B for longitudinal motion,
DAJT

page_text: C for transverse action, and the third, D, for raising and lowering. The main
traversing shaft L is made square, feathered, or angular, as usual, and on this shaft
a wheel K' with square slotted or angular bearing slides, and is connected by spur
wheel or otherwise with the engine driving the same. The barrel O and carriage
axles P are coupled to their engines, as shown, by means of spur or other simple
ordinary gearing, and can be manipulated with much greater rapidity, safety, and
Each engine can act as its own brake, and all can be working at once if
desirable, while the paucity of gearing and absence of clutch boxes decrease friction,
greatly lessen the wear and tear, and consequently the chance of break downs.
ease.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
A is the boiler; B, C, and D, the engines respectively for longitudinal motion,
transverse motion, and hoisting (the letters being placed on the cylinders); E are
the steam pipes for supplying steam to the engines with valves F to regulate the
admission of steam to each; G, water gauge with blow off tap; H, starting and
reversing handles for the different engines; I, connecting rods; K, spur gearing
actuating the longitudinal traversing motion; L, square shaft on which the spur
wheel K slides with hinged topple support L1; M, spur gearing actuating transverse
motion; N, spur gearing and purchase wheels attached to chain barrel O for raising
and lowering; P are the carriage axles; Q, chimney; R, exhaust steam pipe; and
S, damper.
The engines working each different motion of the crane being geared directly to
the spindles of the carriage wheels or the chain barrel, as the case may be. I thus
do away with nearly all the complicated gearing of bevel wheels, cones, friction
pulleys, et cetera, so plentiful on traversing cranes as at present constructed, thereby
much simplifying and reducing the machinery necessary, economize time, labour,
and fuel, place the working parts more completely in command of the attendant,
and consequently render the crane less liable to be disabled through accident.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The manufacture of cranes or traversers, as described, with a separate engine
geared into and working the traversing motion independent of the winding engine,
instead of having one engine to do both actions as heretofore.
2nd. The cranes or traversers herein described having separate engines working
the winding, transverse, and longitudinal motions, instead of one engine being
geared to all three.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Alexander Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
GEORGE A. NEWTON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN O. O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
of 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool,
and
323, High Holborn,
London,
Patent Agents and Solicitors.