A NEW SYSTEM OF LIFT MOUNTING BY HAND WITH SCREW AND WHEEL WORK, WITH BEVEL OR CONICAL GEARING, KNOWN AS ASCENSEUR-COURTAUD
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Célestin Courtaud, of No. 22, Rue de Trévise, Paris
(France), for the Invention of "A NEW SYSTEM OF LIFT MOUNTING BY HAND
WITH SCREW AND WHEEL WORK, WITH BEVEL OR CONICAL GEARING, KNOWN
AS ASCENSEUR-COURTAUD."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 8th March 1876
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Célestin Courtaud at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1876.
"A NEW SYSTEM
CÉLESTIN COURTAUD, of No. 22, Rue de Trévise, Paris (France).
OF LIFT MOUNTING BY HAND, WITH SCREW AND WHEEL WORK, WITH BEVEL OR
CONICAL GEARING, KNOWN AS ASCENSEUR-COURTAUD."
The object of my Invention is the construction of a lift or elevator, which, being
worked by hand, and set up at a comparatively small expense, may be adopted
generally, but more particularly in establishments where motive power engines
cannot be used, whether by reason of the cost of fixing and working them, or from
any other cause.
My new or improved lift is composed of a toothed wheel set horizontally at the
bottom of the apparatus, and turning on a vertical shaft, pivoting on a lower
platform or frame, and set in motion by a pinion turned by the aid of a crank.
Beneath this main toothed wheel, and carried on the same vertical shaft, is another
toothed wheel of somewhat smaller diameter. This wheel, the divisions between
the teeth of which are close together, turns at the same speed as that which is
above it, the same shaft carrying both of them; it gears with and drives four
other amall toothed wheels, keyed upon four vertical screws, with thread of more
or less pitch, according to the ascending speed required. The bottom of these
screws ends in a pivot or spindle, and they turn in steps like the spindles of
mill-stones. The length of these screws is variable according to requirement, and
the height to which the loads are to be raised. They are intended to receive and
carry horizontal cross pieces, each of the ends of which is pierced with a screw
It is upon these horizontal cross-
tapped hole for the passage of the said screws.
pieces, covered with a flooring or platform, that will be placed the loads to be
raised.
►
My new or improved lift works in a manner resembling the method used for
closing the iron shutters of shops and warehouses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patents filed by
the said Célestin Courtaud in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th Sep-
tember 1876.
CÉLESTIN COURTAUD, of No. 22, Rue de Trévise, Paris (France). "A NEW SYSTEM
OF LIFT MOUNTING BY HAND WITH SCREW AND WHEEL WORK, WITH BEVEL OR
CONICAL GEARING, KNOWN AS 'ASCENSEUR-COURTAUD.'"
The object of my Invention is the construction of a lift or elevator, which, being
worked by hand, and set up at a comparitively small expense, may be adopted
generally, but more particularly in establishments where motive power engines
cannot be used, whether by reason of the cost of fixing and working them, or from
any other cause.
An apparatus embodying my Invention is represented upon the accompanying
Sheet of Drawing drawn to a scale of about 1/6th.
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the axis of the crank, and Figure 2 is a
plan view. The same parts are indicated by the same letters in each of these two
Figures.
A large toothed wheel R, placed horizontally at the bottom of the apparatus
and turning on a vertical shaft M, pivoting upon a lower platform or frame of
wood, metal, or masonry, is set in motion by a pinion P on the shaft C, which
has a square end to receive the crank handle N. Beneath this main toothed
wheel R, and carried on the same vertical shaft M, is another toothed wheel I
of somewhat smaller diameter. This wheel, the divisions between the teeth of
which are close together, turns at the same speed as that R, because the same
shaft carries both of them, and that they are fixed by the same key S; it gears
with and drives four other small toothed wheels B, B, B, B, keyed upon four
vertical screws A, A, A, A, with thread of more or less pitch according to the
ascending speed required. The bottom of these screws ends at X in a pivot or
spindle, and they turn in steps like the spindles of mill stones. These steps are
set in the frame or lower platform of the lift or elevator. The length of these
screws A, A, A, A, is variable according to requirement, and the height to which
the loads are to be raised. They are intended to receive and carry horizontal
pieces T, T, in form of a cross, each of the ends of which, pierced with a screw-
tapped hole of the diameter of the said screws, passes on to each one of these latter
(see plan, Figure 2). These horizontal cross pieces, the strength of which will be
regulated according to requirement, are intended to carry a plate or platform Q,
of wood or of metal, upon which will be placed the load to be raised or lowered.
The working of my improved lift will be immediately understood upon reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
When the crank N on the shaft C of the pinion P is turned, the teeth of this
latter, gearing with those of the wheel R, set in motion the toothed wheel I,
carried by the same vertical shaft M as the wheel R. The wheel I then gears
with and turns the four small toothed wheels B, B, B, B, which are set on a square
at the bottom of the screws A, A, A, A, which they cause to turn at a speed which
will be the greater the larger their diameter. In this movement the cross pieces T, T,
carried by the screws A, A, A, A, and upon which is fixed the platform. Q, rise or
descend accordingly as the crank is turned in the one direction or the other. m, m,
are guides fixed by screws or otherwise at the top of my elevator to secure the
screws A, A, A, A, in their proper place. Q₁ represents a second position of the
platform Q.
It will be evident from the above simple statement of the working of my
apparatus, which to some extent resembles the mode of closing the iron shutters
of shops and warehouses, that very numerous applications may be made of this
system, as simple as it is economical, and not only for manufacturing and commercial
purposes, but also for the merchant and royal navy, and for artillery.
For Commerce or Manufactures. In warehouses or other establishments to raise 5
loads from the cellars to the ground floor, or to the upper floors; in restaurants,

page_text: cafés, public houses and elsewhere, to raise and lower dishes, drinks, and other
things.
For Naval Purposes.-The applications of my elevator are also numerous; for
example, it may be used to lower goods into the hold, or to raise them from the
hold to the deck, thus dispensing with cranes. In the royal navy, especially in
turret ships, the platform of the turret might be furnished with a platform upon
my system, which will permit the lowering of the guns to the bottom of the hold
whenever it is desirable, either from bad weather or other cause, to give increased
stability to the ship, and the raising of the guns into position again with equal
facility. For serving the guns, several small lifts upon my.system might be used
to raise the ammunition from the magazine without fear of any shock or concussion,
the working of my apparatus being very smooth.
For Artillery Coast batteries, or those of iron cased block houses, might also
be placed upon a platform having my mechanical arrangement beneath it, and
the guns be thus raised or lowered according to requirement. In short the appli-
cations of my hand lift are as varied as they are numerous.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim as of my Invention,
and secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent-
The construction of a lift or elevator working by hand by the aid of a crank
and a novel combination of screws and toothed gearing, substantially as herein-
before described and shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, reserving the
right of constructing the cage inclosing the mechanism, not only of wood, as shown
on the accompanying Drawing, but of wrought or cast iron or other metal, or
even of brickwork or masonry, if I find it economical or preferable.
I also particularly claim every application which may be made of the principle
and mechanism of my improved lift or elevator, whether in such application two,
three, four or more vertical screws A be used to carry the platform intended to
receive the load, the said screws A having at their lower part a small toothed
wheel B, gearing with that I, carried on the same shaft M as the main wheel R
of which it follows the movement, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Célestin Courtaud, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
COURTAUD CELESTIN. (L.S.)
Witness,
ED. D'AUBRÉVILLE, C.E.