IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bouch, of Shildon, in the County
Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES."
Sealed the 9th December 1862, and dated the 14th June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bouch at the
Office o
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on the 14th
June 1862.
I WILLIAM BOUCH, of Shildon, in the County of Durham, Engineer, do
bereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANES,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention applies chiefly to those machines known as
cranes," and which are fixed on trucks for use on railways.
"accident
I
My Invention consists in constructing cranes as hereafter stated.
connect the inner end of the jib to an axis, on which it is free to be moved
to alter its inclination without altering the angle of the castor wheel.
attach to the top or outer end of the jib, by universal joints, two legs, one on
each side of the jib. When the crane is out of use these legs are laid and
carried horizontally, but when the crane is required for lifting or pulling
heavy weights they are brought to the ground, and afford support to the jib:
I connect swinging bars and carrying bars to the rear of the crane, and fit to
the latter, by means of rollers or wheels, a counterbalance weight, the position

page_text: of which is adjusted so as to bring it nearer to or farther from the crane on
the carrying bars, by means of a chain coiled upon a barrel, and worked by
a worm and wheel. When the counterbalance is not required, it, together
with the swinging and carrying bars, are drawn up into a vertical position. I
attach two short legs by universal joints, similar to those at the outer end of
the jib, which are placed on each side of the truck or vehicle carrying the
crane; 'these are to be used for affording support to the crane when lifting
from the side. I also apply similar legs to each end of the crane carriage
or truck to prevent its moving when the crane is lifting or pulling from
either end.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Bouch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
⚫ December 1862..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BOUCH, of Shildon, in the County of Durham, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Bouch, Her special licence that I, the said William Bouch, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Bouch, 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
CRANES," upon the condition (amongst others), that I, the said William
Bouch, my executors or administrators, 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 'William Bouch, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement thereof, reference being nad to the Drawings nereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention applies chiefly to those machines known as "accident
cranes," and which are fixed on trucks for use on railways.
3
.
My Invention consists in constructing cranes as hereafter stated. .I
connect the inner end of the jib to an axis, on which it is free to be moved
to alter its inclination without altering the angle of the castor wheel. - I
attach to the top or outer end of the jib, by universal joints, two legs, one on
each side of the jib. When the crane is out of use these legs are laid and
carried horizontally, but when the crane is required for lifting or pulling
heavy weights they are brought to the ground, and afford support to the jib.
I connect swinging bars and carrying bars to the rear of the crane, and fit
to the latter, by means of rollers or wheels; a counterbalance weight, the
position of which is adjusted so as to bring it nearer to or farther from the
crane on the carrying bars by means of a chain coiled upon a barrel, and
worked by a worm and wheel. When the counterbalance is not required, it,
together with the swinging and carrying bars, are drawn up into a vertical
position. I attach two short legs by universal joints, similar to those at the
outer end of the jib, which are placed on each side of the truck or vehicle
carrying the crane; these are to be used for affording support to the crane
when lifting from the side. I also apply similar legs to each end of the
crane carriage or truck to prevent its moving when the crane is lifting or
pulling from either end.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a side elevation, and Figure 2
is a plan, of a crane constructed according to my Invention, and fitted to. a
railway truck.
A is the jib of the crane, free to move on its axis B without altering the
angle of the castor wheel C; D, D, are legs united by universal joints to the
top of the jib A; the full lines show these legs out of use and laid on the top
of the crane, while the dotted lines show them brought down to the ground,
and in the position they occupy when the crane is in use. E is the balance
weight hung from the swinging bars F, F, supported by the carrying
bars G, G; the dotted lines show the position when the crane is in use, and
the full lines when the weight and bars are raised for transport. H, H, are
wheels or rollers on the balance weight, by which it is supported and moved
along the carrying bars; I is a chain indicated by dotted lines passing round
a drum J, having motion communicated to it by toothed wheels and winch K,
whereby the balance weight and bars are raised or lowered. The crane is
worked by winch and toothed wheels in the ordinary manner, and is shewn

page_text: fitted to a truck with four wheels to run upon railways, provided with screw
breaks. The crane is free to revolve round a central pillar, and is provided,
with spur gear, handles, chains, and the other usual appliances to cranes.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Cranes,"-
First, constructing the jibs. of cranes with legs, in manner and for the.
purposes herein-before described..
Second,, fitting adjustable balance weights to cranes, in manner herein-
before described.
And, third, connecting the lower ends of the jibs. of cranes to the body
thereof, in manner and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bouch, have hereunto. set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, One thousand eight;
hundred and sixty-two.