IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND ARRESTING MOTION IN MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aldridge Weston, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and of Ridgewood, New Jersey, in the
United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND ARRESTING MOTION
IN MACHINERY."
Sealed the 2nd September 1873, and dated the 15th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aldridge
Weston at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition on the 15th March 1873.
I, THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of
5 Warwick, and of Ridgewood, New Jersey, in the United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND ARRESTING
MOTION IN MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
My Invention in its several parts consists in the various mechanica]
O devices and mechanical combinations herein-after described, the purposes
A

page_text: and objects of which are to transmit, or regulate, or arrest motion in
machinery for hoisting weights and other purposes to which my said
Invention is or may be applicable.
For convenience of description I will number the several parts of my
Invention consecutively.
First. My Invention consists in combining with the apparatus
described in my English Letters Patent, dated 22nd August 1872,
No. 2494, the frictional incline devices of my English Patent, of 6th
June 1868, No. 1867, by which combinations the severe longitudinal
strains upon the shafts occurring by use of the last-named patented
Invention are reduced to any degree desired, and by which I obtain
either quick or continuous safety lowering motions with increased con-
venience, efficiency, and durability of the working parts, and also other
obvious advantages in operating machinery of the class described in the
Specifications of the said two Letters Patent.
Second. I construct an improved friction coupling in the following
manner :- -Upon an ordinary rotating shaft I place loosely two pulleys
with their rims formed for the action thercon of a brake, strap, or
lever, or formed to be grasped by the hand. Their contiguous or
proximate bosses are threaded the one into the other or are formed
with corresponding inclined screw surfaces; in the latter case where
required I interpose between the said inclined surfaces a loose collar
with similar screw surfaces on each of its sides, corresponding with
those on the bosses of the pulleys, so as to obtain more range of
longitudinal motion by the inclines ascending each other. The outer
side of one pulley rubs against a large collar upon the shaft to keep
the pulley in position. The outer side of the other pulley (that is to
say, the pulley which slides along the shaft) bears against a solid cone
forming part of a cone clutch; and I provide springs of a spiral or other
convenient form to press the cone backwards against the loose pulleys
and inclines. The said cone or other clutch requiring like compression
is forced into action by arresting one of the loose pulleys in its rotation,
and it is released by the recoil of the springs when the other loose pulley
is in its turn arrested from rotating by friction upon its rim, or by
otherwise retarding it.
Third. For the purpose of operating friction clutches having seg.
mental brake blocks I place upon the outer side of each block a small

page_text: friction roller or plain stud, which entering within an eccentric groove
or cam face provided for it upon the adjacent side of a pulley or hand
wheel loose on the same shaft, may receive therefrom, when the pulley
is turned, a radial motion in or out from the shaft for engaging or
disengaging the said blocks by friction with the rim of the friction
pulley and shaft carrying it. The cam faced or eccentric grooved
wheel is obviously also suited to act in like manner upon a lever end
for operating a friction strap by tightening or releasing the same.
Fourth. For greater safety and durability in the elastic friction straps
of clutches and brakes employing such rubbing surfaces, I construct
the brake pulley in such cases with annular concentric rims formed
one within the other on a common flange or back. Against the open
side of the said pulley I place a disc carrying the friction straps for
acting on the said concentric rims, the straps being arranged thereon
concentrically within each other, each strap having one end pinned
firmly to the disc, and the free ends of the straps are pinned to a
common lever by which they are simultaneously strained or loosened.
For still further safety and durability I make the said straps to consist
each of several layers or thin straps united as one of laminated structure,
so that increased elasticity as well as safety from breakage is thereby
attained, and to aid each strap the better to adapt itself to its rim or
pulley face, and to render the action easier, I introduce near one end
or at any convenient point a slight curve or corrugation, the limited
spring action of which acts as an equalizer of the strains thereon.
Fifth. As a new and improved mode for operating friction straps
in brake clutches (by which I mean clutches which are also capable
of efficient and continuous brake action), I fasten one end of the
friction strap to the rim of a pulley of such diameter that the strap
when expanded lies snugly around its inner surface, and the other
or free end I fasten to the corner or moving end of a plate, lever,
or disc, preferably of square outline, its opposite corner pivotted to the
pulley flange, and its centro cut away to allow a slight vibratory action
clear of the shaft. An ordinary brake pulley is placed within the strap
for it to act upon, which is effected by the oscillation of the plate lever
as follows:-The plate lever or oscillating plate has upon its upper
corner, midway between the pin and free end, a stud which enters
an eccentric groove formed in the adjacent side of a loose pulley or
hand wheel. The "to-and-fro" rotation of the latter acting through the

page_text: 144 5330
operated by hand or by any other convenient means of giving it "to-
and-fro" rotation.
Another mode of operating the oscillating lever in the last described
arrangement is as follows:-Regarding the rectangular oscillating plate t
or lever with its pivoted or moving angles or corners in a horizontal
line, I place midway between the said points at the lower edge of the
pulley carrying the said lever and strap, the pivoted end of a pair of
knee joints or toggles pivoted on a trunion or universal joint, and
diametrically opposite the other end of the knee joints or toggle is
similarly pivoted to the upper corner of the oscillating plate. The
.centre of the toggle is made open to clear the shaft and work freely
of it. By forcing the said toggle inwards against the pulley or
straightening it, the oscillating lever is lifted and the strap strained
around the plain pulley it encircles. By drawing the said toggle
outwards or bending it the strap is freed and a common sliding collar
connected with the toggle effects both these movements.
Sixth. In order to transmit rotatory motion to a shaft I employ
the following new and useful device:-I place upon the shaft a fixed
pulley with its rim formed for frictional action of T section. Two
blocks curved convexly to the concave form of the inner rim face
have horns or long lugs reaching around the edges of the rim and
extending outside and beyond it. Between these lugs upon a transverse
bolt or pin uniting them is suspended a block with its inner face
concave to rub upon the convex or exterior periphery of the said rim.
The two inner blocks have fixed studs at their lower ends, one on
each side the pulley, and carrying each a lever or link which extends
'outwards in a plane parallel to the pulley. The outer ends of these
two levers are united by a common cross head adjustable upon them
'by screw nuts, and midway between them a third link or lever is
pivoted upon the said cross head with its inner end in like manner
pivoted to the lower part of the outer friction block having the concave
face, the centre of motion of the two outer levers and that of the
inner one being eccentric to each other, the former being upon the
inner blocks, and the latter on the outer one, whilst the ends of all
three are united in a common cross head, a powerful pinching acting
is obtained upon the rim of the pulley when the cross head is lifted

page_text: and the hold is released upon lowering the same. An alternate up-
and-down motion of the cross head will therefore rotate the shaft
which carries the aforesaid pulley and apparatus, and this rotation
may be continuous by employing two pulleys with the gripping appa-
ratus described, one of which drives as the other "lets go'
" in a
manner well known in ships' windlasses, employing other forms of
gripping levers having also an alternate up-and-down motion. The
last-described combination of three eccentric levers and a common cross
head is also effective as a means of compressing friction clutches, by
placing the same at the outer end of the shaft, the two outer levers
being pivoted to the bearing of the shaft, and the middle one to a rod
or collar for transmitting the leverage to the coupling or brake.
Seventh. Another construction of brake clutch according to my
Invention is the following:-Upon an ordinary shaft I place a winding
drum loose thereon, and having one of its ends or flanges enlarged to
exceed in diameter a plain pulley adjacent thereto and keyed on the
shaft. To the enlarged flange of the drum I secure one end of a friction
strap, which passes around the fixed pulley one or more times, and its
other end is pinned to the near side of a rope wheel, pulley, or spur
wheel placed loosely on the shaft for operating the friction brake and
hoisting drum. The strap is set with a tendency to contract itself
around the fixed pulley, and its contraction is further aided by a spring
uniting the drum flange and loose wheel. An ordinary catch wheel
retains the shaft from backward motion. In the act of hoisting, the
contractile tendency of the strap is aided by the spring and by the force
applied to the hoisting wheel in wrapping the strap tightly around the
pulley. In lowering a load the backward rotation of the hoisting wheel
by hand or other power overcomes the spring, partially uncoiling the
strap from the fixed pulley, the barrel following with a safety motion
which continuously checks itself. By placing the fixed pulley between
the catch wheel and hoisting wheel with the strap and spring attached
to the two last named parts a rapid lowering motion may be obtained for
the shaft and barrel, which in this case are fixed to each other under
control, however, by means of the hoisting wheel.
Eighth. As an improvement in the brake clutch shewn in Figures 1 to 4
and Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings accompanying the Specification of
:] Taman Dabant of Anouot 99nd 1079 I combine thewowwith

page_text: the essential principle of my disk clutch, of Patent dated January 29th
1863, No. 263, by simply allowing the pulley or pulleys to slide upon their
keys under the applied initial pressure, thus compressing between them
the alternate loose disks, the friction on the sides of which, upon the
principle of the last named Patent, further aids the friction of the
straps in their efficiency; and although it seems needless to provide for
further power in frictional action still if required it may be obtained by
employing a compound clutch, such as last referred to, or any one of
the brake clutches in the Specification of my said Letters Patent of
22nd August 1872, to exert its force through a second brake clutch,
which it may operate by any one of the several suitable devices described
in the Specification of the last named Patent for operating one pair or
set of friction faces by another set.
Ninth. For the purpose of arresting motion in a hoisting platform or
cage, such as ordinarily used for transferring goods or passengers in
vertical lifts and mine shafts, and for thus preventing accidents by the
breakage of the hoisting rope and arresting the same prior to actual
breakage during the undue stretching and elongation of the rope, which
sometimes precedes breakage, I employ the following apparatus :- -Upon
the guides or sides of the shaft-way, in which the cage ascends and
descends, I bolt or secure a flat bar, preferably of wrought iron with
mortises or depressions therein, at regular intervals, forming a line of
internal sockets in place of the projecting rack teeth often used in like
situations as a part of a safety apparatus. Upon the angles or uprights
of the cage I hang a series of palls or detents, one above the other, and
spaced apart or "pitched" differentially or vernier fashion with regard
to the mortises in the rack bar, that is to say, allowing twelve mortises
or sockets to occur in six feet of the bar. I place eleven palls in an
equal length upon the corner or upright angle post of the cage. Behind
the line of palls I place a sliding bar with short curved springs riveted
thereon, one spring opposite the back of each pall. Should the slide bar
be raised the springs come into action against the palls, pressing them
outwards against the mortised bar, when any one of them which chances
to coincide with a mortise enters therein and arrests further downward
motion of the cage. The palls, slide bar, and mortise bar may be applied
to two or more sides of the cage and shaft, and the slide bars, where
two or more are used, may be united by suitable cross bars above and
below, forming a light frame; and this frame and system of catches are

page_text: thus operated:-A light independent chain or rope extending the whole
height or length of the hoist-way or shaft is attached to the aforesaid
slide bar or frame. This independent chain or safety chain must be
driven at the same rate of speed as the hoisting chain and cage, following
the cage in all its movements, but it must be driven independently
thereof from any convenient shaft, so that any downward motion of the
cage, arising from the elongation or breakage of its suspending chain by
the corresponding change in the relative positions of the cage and slide
bar, presses the springs of the latter against the palls, arresting the
descent of the cage by their engagement with the fixed mortise toothed
bar above mentioned. The safety chain may be worked from an ordinary
independent winding drum, or it may be an endless chain stretched
around a top and bottom wheel. Instead of attaching the safety
chain to the slide bar or slide frame it may pass through an opening
therein with stops above and below, allowing a slight play or loose
motion between the chain and frame or slide. This form of safety chain
may be used to operate other forms of grappling apparatus upon the
cage; and in some cases I place upon the independent safety chain a
wedge, point upwards, and above it out of contact and carried by the
cage, sliding bolts, or loose wedges, which in case of the cage descending
relatively to the safety chain are forced into action against vertical
guides in the shaft-way to arrest the cage from falling.
Tenth. For the purpose of transmitting, regulating, and arresting
motion with better effect more dispatch and convenience in my
differential pulley, described in Letters Patent of April 25th 1859,
No. 1063, I combine therewith the incline or screw surfaces of my
Patent dated 6th June 1868, No. 1867, by making the two differential
sheaves separate from each other and providing the boss of one of them
with the said incline face, and a corresponding incline face upon the
shaft or upon a sliding collar operated by a chain wheel, sprocket wheel,
or other convenient mode of applying power. When hoisting the inclines
firmly lock together by friction the halves of the differential sheave. In
lowering a greatly increased rate of descent is obtained, avoiding the
tedious lowering motion of the simple differential pulley made according
to my said Patent, yet with the safety due to the self-checking property
of the inclines of my aforesaid Patent of 1868, when applied for that
purpose, in order to regulate the speed of hoisting, proportionately as
near as may be to the load or power, I form one part of the said

page_text: differential sheave of several diameters with a movable gate or safety.
piece instead of the fixed keepers before used, so that the chain may be
readily shifted from one diameter to the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, and of
Ridgewood, New Jersey, in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, Her
special licence that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Aldridge Weston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATus FOR TRANSMITTING, REGULATING, AND
ARRESTING MOTION IN MACHINERY," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :—

page_text: My Invention in its several parts consists in the various mechanical
devices and mechanical combinations herein-after described, the purposes
and objects of which are to transmit, or regulate, or arrest motion in
machinery for hoisting weights, and other purposes to which my said
Invention is or may be applicable.
For convenience of description I will number the several parts of my
Invention consecutively.
First. My Invention consists in combining with the apparatus described
in the Specification of my English Patent dated 22nd August 1872,
No. 2494, the frictional incline devices of my English Patent of 6th
June 1868, No. 1867, by which combinations the severe longitudinal
strains upon the shafts occurring by use of the last named patented
Invention are reduced to any degree desired, and by which I obtain
either quick or continuous safety lowering motions with increased con-
venience, efficiency, and durability of the working parts, and also other
obvious advantages.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 a sectional view illustrating this
part of my Invention. The drum A with flange h, loose disks E¹, D,
with their contained straps E, F, and pulleys C, G, are substantially
similar to the corresponding parts lettered similarly in Figures 7 and 8
of the Drawings annexed to the Specification of my aforesaid Patent,
No. 2494, of 1872, with which parts I combine the frictional incline
driver I according to my aforesaid Patent No. 1867, of 1868, as follows:
-The outer disk D has its boss formed with an inclined or screw
surface d adapted to the corresponding incline i of the driver I, the outer
side of which is made for frictional action against the fast collar b;
these parts together with the common ratchet wheel J being in con-
formity with my last named Patent, No. 1867, of 1868.. The advantages
of this combination may be thus explained:-When the incline d is
placed direct upon the drum A its pitch or slope must be small to cause
a wedging action or thrust upon the side of the fixed collar band ratchet
wheel J sufficiently to sustain the load by friction upon the very limited
surfaces of the said parts b, J, but by introducing between the said
inclined and drum A the friction pulleys C, G, straps E, F, a largely
increased area of frictional surface is obtained, in the manner fully
explained with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings of my said
Letters Patent, No. 2494, of 1872, thus relieving the collar b, ratchet

page_text: wheel J, and adjacent parts from severe duty and wear, and permitting
the pitch or inclination of the inclines d, i, to be proportionately increased.
It is unnecessary to enumerate and describe particularly all the com-
binations of which the several parts of the two aforesaid Inventions
are capable, as the same may be used in any order and in any relation
with each other required in the practical application of my said Inven-
tions, the foregoing combination represented in Figures 1 and 2 forming
an example thereof.
The second part of my Invention is the improved friction coupling,
shown in Figure 3, in which A and B are pulleys placed loosely upon a
driving shaft C, their rims formed for the frictional action of a brake,
strap, or block; their adjacent bosses a, b, are formed with corresponding
incline or screw surfaces; D is a cone, sliding upon a key d; a corre-
sponding hollow cone is formed within the pulley E or other part to be
driven; G is one of several springs employed to press the cone D and
pulleys A, B, backwards towards the fixed collar F, and F¹ is another
fixed collar to confine the pulley E to its position upon the shaft. The
frictional surfaces formed by the contiguous bosses of the cone D and
pulley B, as also those of the collar F and pulley A, must each be of
larger diameter than the inclines. The action is as follows:-The
driving shaft C being in rotation in the direction of the arrow upon
arresting temporarily the motion of the pulley A the inclines will ascend
cach other and firmly press the cone D into the cone E, transmitting
motion thereto by their mutual friction. Upon pressing temporarily the
rim of the pulley so as to arrest its rotation briefly the inclines descend
upon each other, withdrawing their pressure from the cones; the recoil
of the springs G then pushes the cone D along the shaft out of contact
with the cone or pulley E, which is thus released from its frictional union
with the shaft C. Instead of inclines the pulleys A, B, may have their
bosses threaded into each other, the said screw threads being however, like
the inclines represented in the Drawing, of less diameter than the
frictional surfaces of the outer bosses of the said pulleys. Instead of the
cones D, E, a disk clutch, as described in the Specification of
my Letters
Patent of 1863, No. 263, may be employed, or any other form of clutch
requiring similar longitudinal compression.
The third part of my Invention is an improved method of operating

page_text: F is an ordinary ratchet wheel to
The blocks D, D', turn upon
Figures 4, 5, and 6, in which A is a shaft; B, a winding drum placed
loosely thereon; C, a disk keyed to the shaft; and D, D', are the seg-
mental brake blocks faced with wood or other suitable material. In
the said blocks are fixed studs d², d³, entering the eccentric curved
grooves e, e¹, in the driving wheel E.
prevent the shaft turning backwards.
studs d', d³, fixed in the disk C. Upon applying driving power to the
rope wheel E which is loose upon the shaft the eccentric or cam faced.
grooves e, e¹, exert a forcible wedging action upon the studs d², d³,
pressing the wood faces of the blocks D, D₁, against the inner rim of
the drum flange B', and thus transmit by friction the applied force to
overcome the load upon the drum D. Upon applying the driving power
so as to partially rotate the loose wheel E in a contrary direction, the
brake blocks D, D', are drawn inwards and the drum released therefrom,
so that it may run backwards freely. By holding the driving rope
carried by the wheel E in both hands, so that the wheel may be quickly
moved either way, the pressure on the brake blocks may be instantly
varied for controlling the descent of a load at any desired speed; the
driving rope thus becomes an efficient controller for lowering loads. It
is necessary that the studs d², d³, be pressed with equal force, and moved
in or out radially an exactly equal distance, and this is secured by
making the centre hole of the wheel C rather too large for the shaft.
The wheel C thus adjusts its force equally between the studs, as it can
move eccentrically to the shaft if needed. The cam faced or cccentric
grooved wheel and driving rope are obviously also suited to act in like
manner upon a lever end for operating the friction strap of a friction
clutch by tightening or releasing the same.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to giving greater safety and
durability to the elastic friction straps of clutches and brakes employing
such rubbing surfaces. This part of the Invention is shewn in Figures
7, 8, 9, and 10, Figure 7 being an end view; Figure 8, a longitudinal
section; Figure 9 is an outside view of the drum cover and lever
carrying the friction straps herein-after described; and Figure 10 is a
vertical section of the same.
A is a shaft; B, a cable holder or drum, or other part requiring
frictional connection with the shaft A. The drum B has a cover or
hollow cylinder secured to it by bolts b¹; in the hollow space thus
enclosed a pulley C is keyed to the shaft.
Upon the said pulley C arc

page_text: concentric friction rims c¹, c², for the frictional action therewith of the
straps D¹, D. The fixed ends of these straps are pinned at x, x, to
the cover b. The free or moving ends are similarly pinned at 1, 2, to
the lever D which turns upon a fixed stud & on the cover b. E, is a
hand wheel with an eccentric groove e, into which enters the stud d of
the lever D. The hand wheel E is loose upon the shaft, and it is held
in position thereon, or compressed with frictional effect, by the screw
nut F operated by a lever f.
The operation of connecting or controlling by frictional action the
union of the parts A, B, is as follows:-To connect the drum with the
shaft, the hand wheel E is rotated in the direction of the arrow suffi-
ciently to carry outwards the stud d³, moving the lever D until the
straps are strained around the concentric rims of the pulley C. The
straps are made as nearly as possible of suitable lengths to adapt them-
selves with equal force to both rims c¹, c²; but in order to compensate
for all inaccuracies in this respect, a few faint corrugations or waves are
introduced in each strap near its moving end, as shewn in Figure 10.
These corrugations form a kind of spring, the yielding of which tends to
equalize the strain with the other strap, and proportion the frictional
action equally to each. Upon moving the hand wheel E backwards to
release the lever D and straps from strain, the drum and parts attached
will follow steadily; the backward motion of the hand wheel and the
load upon the drum may thus be lowered with absolute safety. To
secure the hand wheel E from being driven backwards by the stud d' on
the lever D, it is squeezed by the screw nut F to give it a partial
frictional connection at its centre with the shaft; but should it bo
required to let the drum and attached parts, and also the wheel E, run
back freely, the pressure of the screw nut F may be wholly withdrawn.
By this part of my Invention I obtain great security under heavy loads
by the use of two or more straps acting simultaneously and indepen-
dently. If desired, the straps may be laminated or made up of several
layers for obtaining further strength, flexibility, and safety from
breakage. Instead of attaching the drum cover b, lever D, and straps to
the drum B they may be attached to the shaft by keying the cover b
thereto. The friction rims C³, C³, are in this case cast upon the drum B.
By this modification the safety lowering motion is lost, but an efficient
frictional connector is obtained for driving the drum B, and controlling
it in lowering at any speed however rapid. The hand wheel E may in

page_text: upon
the latter modification become a driving wheel in the manner of the
driving wheel C, Figures 4, 5, and 6. The rims G, G¹, formed
the
cover 6 secure concentricity in the straps when expanded, so that they
are wholly free from the friction rims C¹, C², when so required.
The fifth part of my Invention is shewn in Figures 11 and 12, and
consists of a new and improved mode of operating friction straps in break
clutches, by which I mean clutches which are always capable of efficient
and continuous brake action.
A is a shaft; B is a disk or short cylinder keyed thereto; and C is a
drum or other body requiring frictional connection with the shaft A.
The drum C has an enlarged flange C¹, and friction rim C² cast or formed
with it, and adapted for the frictional action of the strap 6 carried by the
disk B. D is an oscillating plate lever turning on a stud d³ in the back
of the disk B, its moving angle or corner d' embracing firmly the free
end 6¹ of the strap b. 62 is a bolt passing through a slot in the lever D,
and fixed firmly in the back of the disk B. The head of this bolt and a
suitable washer underneath serve to guide the lever D in its up-and-
down motion. Upon a stud d fixed to the upper part of the ring lever D
is a swivel block d² pinned transversely to the toggle arm E. The sliding
collar F, grooved for the usual forked lever used in such instances, forms
a swivel block for the broad end of the arm E, the pin e securing it thereto.
The collar F is free to turn upon the shaft in like manner as the swivel
block d² turns upon its pin. By these means the toggle or lifting action
of the arm E upon the ring lever D is secured with freedom when the
sliding collar F is traversed or slid upon the shaft for the purpose of
tightening or releasing the strap 6, and connecting or disconnecting the
shaft and drum. At the end 6' of the strap are screw nuts to adjust its
length, and at e¹ is a set screw through the arm E to limit its inward
motion from passing a vertical line or any other desired limit. The
lever D, as a means of translating the longitudinal motion of the collar F
into the curvilinear motion at right angles of the strap end 6', may be of
square or other exterior outline, provided it is opened in its centre so as
to be clear of the shaft as it moves up and down. The rim of the disk B
is made of such diameter that the strap 6 when expanded lies snugly
around its inner surface. It is thus compelled to expand concentrically,
and not in an irregular figure. It is secured to the rim by a common
screw pin 63. The up-and-down motion of the plate lever D may be
transmitted from the collar F by other means than the arm E last

page_text: described, according to certain modifications of this part as my Inven-
tion, as I will now describe:-A pair of toggle arms or knee joints, of
which the arm E may be regarded as one member, may be employed, one
end pivotted to the lever D similarly to the arm E, the other end in like
manner carried by a pin and swivel block fixed diametrically opposite
upon the back of the disk B. In this modification the toggle arms must
have a central opening to embrace the shaft without touching it, so as to
allow of their oblique motion when operated by the usual sliding collar
similar to F. For shafts which are at rest when the coupling is operated
a simple hand wheel, with eccentric groove to receive the pin d, may be
used similar to the driving wheel E, Figure 5, and in this case the arm E
and collar F are not required.
The sixth part of my Invention is shewn in Figures 13, 14, and 15,
and consists of an improved method of transmitting rotation to a
windlass, or other shaft by the vibratory or up-and-down motion of a
lever or levers. A is the shaft to be driven and B a pulley keyed
thereon; the rim of the pulley is of T section adapted upon its inner and
outer faces to the frictional action of the nipping blocks C, C, and D.
The two inner blocks C, C, are firmly keyed to the short cross shaft O¹,
one at each end, between them; the block D is suspended from the shaft
so as to swing freely thereon; and the upper end of the block D is forked
to admit a loose roller C2 upon the shaft to facilitate the downward or
falling motion of the blocks and attached parts; E, E, are two levers
having their inner ends sunk into or pinned on to each block C, C, and
capable of partial rotation thereon; the outer ends of these levers are
secured to a cross head F by screw nuts f, f, affording a means of
adjustment. G is a thrusting or connecting rod extending from a
journal pin or bearing in the common cross head F to a similar bearing
in the hinged block D. H is an ordinary suspension rod to transmit to
the cross head F an up-and-down motion from any convenient source.
The levers E, E, and G having eccentric centres of motion at their ends
in the blocks C, C, D, exert a powerful compression upon the said
blocks, and the rim of the pulley when the cross head is lifted upwards,
such upward motion giving a partial rotation to the shaft by the
gripping action of the blocks C, C, D, and attached levers. This partial
and intermittent rotation of the shaft by using one set of gripping levers
as described, may be made continuous by employing two sets acting
alternately as usual, in ship's windlasses. Among the advantages thus

page_text: obtained by my Invention I will enumerate the facility for adjusting the
"bite" of the levers E, E, and G, their very powerful gripping pressure
upon the pulley rim, the large wearing surface of the hinged nipping
blocks C, C, and D, with great certainty and freedom of action from the
small angular motion of the levers upon their centres, and the easy down
motion of the moving parts upon the roller C². In Figure 16 is shown
an application of a portion of this improved pinching apparatus to the
purpose of furnishing the required intial pressure to friction brakes, and
clutches operated by such end thurst or compression. A is the outer
end of a revolving shaft; B is the pillow block; C is the sliding cover
or part of the brake requiring to be forced inwards; C¹ is a transverse
key attached thereto; C³ is a pushing rod; which parts are forced
inwards upon the brake or clutch in the following manner :-E, E, and
G, are levers similar to those in Figures 13 to 15, with a corresponding
adjustable cross head F. The thrust lever G is jointed to a hinge G³,
and the levers E, E, are jointed or pinned to a block E¹ which is bolted
to the pillow block B. The upper end of the hinge G' is steel faced to
press upon the hardened outer end of the pusher C². Upon raising the
cross head F, the powerful compressing action of the levers explained
with reference to Figures 13 to 15 is brought to bear upon the brake or
clutch, by the means already referred to. Where two sets of such
compressing levers are employed one at each outer end of the shaft A, a
thrust bearing of reduced diameter is formed upon a boss projecting
inwards from the block E into a recess formed within the shaft, as shewn
at E².
The seventh part of my Invention consists of another construction of
brake clutch, and is shewn in Figures 17 and 18, in which A is a shaft,
and B a drum loose thereon; C is a pulley keyed to the shaft, with its
rim adapted to the frictional action of a strap D; E is a driving wheel
placed loosely upon the shaft. The strap D has one end secured by a
pin d to the flange 6 of the drum B, and its other end after passing once
or twice round is secured by a pin d¹ to the driver E; F is a spiral
spring, exerting its force to draw the two ends of the strap and pins d, d¹,
together, and thus contract the strap around the pulley C. Instead of a
spiral spring one of C form, as shewn in dotted lines, may be used, or
both may be used together; and the strap may be formed with an
independent contractile tendency of its own. so as the more effectively to
embrace the pulley C. G is a common ratchet wheel, fixed to the shaft
to prevent it moving backwards. The action is as follows:-Upon

page_text: :
-
rotating the driving wheel in the direction of the arrow the load upon
the barrel B is raised, the driving force being transmitted from the pin ď¹
in the wheel to the strap D attached at d to the flange of the drum B.
Upon ceasing to hoist the load will remain in suspension unless it is
sufficient to overcome the frictional union of the strap D, and pulley C,
allowing the load to be no greater than will remain in suspension; it may
be lowered with a self-arresting safety motion by working the driving
wheel E backwards upon the shaft in a contrary direction to the arrow
in Figure 17, such motion of the driver temporarily overcoming the
spring F in its pull upon the strap D the load following and the whole
of the parts being continually restored to their former relative position
by the contractile effect of the spring or springs E. By placing the fixed
pulley C between the driver E and catch wheel G the catch wheel being
then loose upon the shaft and the barrel being removed to another part
of the shaft and keyed thereto, and the strap D and spring F being
placed between and upon the said catch wheel and driver E a rapid
lowering motion may be obtained for the shaft and barrel, which however
is self-arrested by the spring F, as explained with reference to Figures 17
and 18.
The eighth part of my Invention also has reference to brake clutches,
and may be explained by reference to Figures 1 and 2, and it consists
in making the pulleys G, G, capable of sliding upon their keys, so that
the initial pressure applied to the first or outer disk D is transmitted
longitudinally through both disks and pulleys, bringing their sides into
frictional contact and creating friction thercon, after the manner and
principle of my Invention of disk brakes described in the Specification
of my Patent of January 29th, 1863. Figures 7 to 8 in the Drawings
accompanying the Specification of my Patent of August 22nd, 1872,
also shew a brake clutch to which this improvement may be added by
simply allowing the pulleys to slide upon their keys when forced longi-
tudinally, and thus compressing between them the intermediate loose
disks, the friction upon the sides of which further aids the frictional
effect of the straps upon the pulley rims. Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings
accompanying the Specification of the last-named Patent shew a clutch
capable of like improvement by making its single friction pulley to
slide upon its key.
The ninth part of my Invention consists of an improved appliance for

page_text: cord or chain breaking, and is illustrated by Figure 19, in which A is a
bar of iron perforated with mortises or indentations a; B is the post or
timber forming an angle or side of the cage; D, D, are palls hung by
pins to the post B; E, E, are springs, one to each pall, and are rivetted
to a slide bar C. The mortises a are spaced apart differentially or vernier
fashion, so that for example twelve of them occupy a length of six feet,
whereas in the same length there are eleven palls hung to the cage B.
The slide bar C is attached to an independent check chain, driven at the
same speed as the main lifting chain, both upwards and downwards, but
driven independently from any convenient shaft. Should the lifting
chain break, the downward motion of the cage and its palls B relatively
to the bar C will bring the springs E all into forcible action against their
respective palls B; the palls are thus pressed outwards against the
mortises, and owing to the differential or vernier arrangement, above
described, an engagement will occur once in each half inch of motion
of the twelve mortises along the line of the eleven palls, giving the
advantage of frequent stops with a coarsely pitched rack bar A. The
racks may be placed at the angles of the hoistway or in any convenient
situation on its vertical sides, and corresponding slide bars C may be
united at their top and bottom ends into a frame, which may be operated
as the single bar described and illustrated, and by any other convenient
means other than the well-known auxiliary check chain mentioned.
The tenth part of my Invention is shown in Figure 20, and consists of
the following improvements in the differential pulley described in the
Specification of my Letters Patent of April 25th, 1859, No. 1063 :-Upon
the shaft A are placed loosely the two separate chain sheaves B, C; B,
the larger one, has an incline faced boss, corresponding to a similar
inclined faced collar E, fixed to the shaft, the said incline arrangement
being according to the Specification of my Letters Patent dated 6th June
1868, No. 1867. E is a spring driver connecting the two inclines, to
which it is pinned at its ends, exerting its clastic force so that the .
inclines tend to ascend each other; D is a fixed collar and F is a pall to
prevent the smaller sheave having any backward motion. Upon applying
rotatory force to the shaft in the direction of the arrow for hoisting the
pinching action of the inclines by friction upon the two detached sheaves
keeps them firmly locked to each other; upon turning the shaft back-
wards for lowering a load the larger sheave B follows, whilst the smaller
one C remains at rest. The action of the inclines in yielding a safety

page_text: lowering motion is fully explained in the Specification of my said Letters
Patent last mentioned. The elastic driver secures the two inclines in
firm contact with each other when the pulley sheaves are unloaded.
The pall hung to the frame prevents the small sheave C being carried
round by the friction upon it from the sheave B and collar D, so that
the unloaded chain may be run off from the large sheave D by driving
the shaft backwards as freely as when there is a suspended load to pull it

page_text: Eighth. Constructing apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figure 16, for giving initial pressure to
friction brakes and clutches.
Ninth. Constructing brake clutches, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 17 and 18.
Tenth. Constructing brake clutches with the pulley or pulleys capable
of sliding on their keys, as and for the purpose herein-before described
under the eighth head of this Specification.
Eleventh. Constructing apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figure 19, for arresting motion in the cage
or platform of hoists in the case of the lifting cord or chain breaking.
Twelfth. Constructing differential pulleys, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figure 20.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.