Improvements in Tumbler Bearings or their Equivalents for Overhead Travelling Cranes and the like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL DIEVITICATION.
'
Improvements in Tumbler Bearings or their Equivalents for Overhead
Travelling Cranes and the like purposes.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PETTINGER, of 156, Grimesthorpe Road, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Steam Crane Driver, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:
--
The object of my invention is to provide an effective and durable movable
bearing for the driving shaft or shafts of power driven overhead travelling cranes.
I effect this object by constructing the bearing on a ram or piston which is
made to slide vertically in and out of a box bracket, the bracket being bolted or
otherwise secured in a convenient position to the side of the shop, gantry, or
supports, or where it is used on a transverse carriage of a crane, it may be secured
to the beam or girder of the same.
Inside the cavity of the bracket I provide a hollow slide block, the cavity being
made long enough to allow of the block, which is attached to the piston or plunger
head which carries the bearing, to slide up and down the required distance when
the crane or carriage is passing a bearing.
a
Inside the hollow slide block last named, I provide what may be called
a. V plate with right and left handed diagonal slots to which are fitted pins
connected with right and left handed lock bars, the locks being actuated by
the V plate being made to rise and fall through the medium of a spindle and
roller. The slide block within the bracket is also made to slide up and down by
means of a similar spindle and roller. On the end carriage of the travelling
crane, or on a bracket attached thereto, or to the transverse carriage, or
in
a guide which is the
bracket attached thereto, I provide and fix
form of a double inclined plane with two paths one above the other.
path receives the upper roller which is attached to a spindle and which actuates
the rising and falling of the bearing which is carried by the plunger previously
referred to, and a second path which is parallel for the major part of its length
to the first named path carries the second or bottom roller which actuates
the V plate and lock bars.
The top
On the top side of the top path the incline is so formed at each end that when
the rollers enter upon the pathways, the top roller travels for a short distance
parallel without actuating the plunger except just sufficient to take the weight
of the plunger off the lock bars, whilst the bottom roller is rising up a short length
of incline of sufficient distance to actuate the V plates and their connections
with the lock bars, so that the lock bars are drawn inwards and the sliding block
inside the bracket is released. Immediately afterwards both rollers commence
to descend their respective inclines parallel to each other until the maximum
depression has been reached and for a short distance they run again parallel in
line with the path of the crane until the sleeve wheel has passed and cleared the
bearing, immediately after which both rollers commence to ascend the inclined
paths as the crane proceeds until it reaches a point where as at the commencement,

page_text: the top roller runs parallel with the path of the crane for a short distance whilst
the lower roller which actuates the lock bar is caused to descend a sufficient
distance to force the lock bars into the holes of the bracket, thereby leaving the
plunger and bearing securely and firmly locked in position until the return of the
crane or of another crane similarly fitted.
In order to make the above arrangement more complete in its action I cause
the top roller which actuates the movement of the ram to enter upon its path slightly
in advance of the bottom roller, so that by the time the bottom roller has com-
menced the short ascent at its entrance to the pathway, the lock bars have been
relieved of the weight of the plunger and its connections so that they can be
more readily withdrawn. By the time this is effected both rollers commence
the descent on their respective inclines as previously described until the position
has been reached when the lock bars have to be forced back in their respective
slots so as to secure the bearing before the guide leaves the same. This locking
arrangement is insured by the action of an incline formed on the underside of the
top pathway which causes the second or lock roller to descend a sufficient distance
to actuate the lock bolts into their desired position. It will thus be seen
that although the top roller is only actuated by the path upon which it rolls the
bottom roller which works between the upper and lower paths is actuated partly.
by its own pathway and partly by the underside of the upper pathway.
By this arrangement one guide plate suitably fixed to the end carriage or
girders of an overhead travelling crane, will suffice to actuate the whole of the
bearings in succession of the longitudinal driving shaft and a similar guide plate
attached to the transverse carriage would in like manner actuate all the bearings
in succession of the transverse driving shaft.
Dated this 20th day of July 1897.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Tumbler Bearings or their Equivalents for Overhead
Travelling Cranes and the like purposes.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PETTINGER, of 156, Grimesthorpe Road, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Steam Crane Driver, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide an effective and durable movable
bearing for the driving shaft or shafts of power driven overhead travelling cranes.
I effect this object by constructing the bearing on a ram or piston which by
means of a guide fixed to the end or to the transverse carriage of the crane is made
to slide vertically in and out of a box bracket, the bracket being bolted or otherwise
secured in a convenient position to the side of the shop, gantry, or supports, or
where it is used for a transverse carriage of a crane, it may be secured to the beani
or girder of the same.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which,
Fig. 1, is a general view of one of my improved tumbler bearings and the
guides by which it is actuated.
Fig. 2, being an end elevation of the same shewn partly in section.

page_text: Fig. 3, is a front elevation of one of my improved tumbler bearings, the ram
carrying the bearing being locked in its normal position. .
Fig. 4, is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 5, is a front elevation, the cover plate to the cavity of the bracket and
likewise the cover plate to the slide block being removed so as to shew the locking
appliances by which the ram carrying the bearing is secured in its normal
position.
Fig. 6, is a similar view the front being shewn open from top to bottom and
shewing the ram which carries the bearing depressed into its lowest position,
the lock bolts being withdrawn.
Figs. 7 & 8, are views of a modified form of construction of one of my
improved tumbler bearings in which the ram is dispensed with, the bearing being
attached directly to the hollow slide block, the locking arrangements and action
of this modified form being precisely the same as those shewn in the previous
views.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
Inside the cavity of the bracket, A, I provide a hollow slide block, B, the cavity
being made long enough to allow of the block, which is attached to the piston or.
plunger head, C, which carries the bearing, D, to slide up and down the required
distance when the crane or carriage is passing a bearing.
Inside the hollow slide block last named, I provide what may be called
a V plate, E, with the right and left handed diagonal slots, F1, F2, to which are fitted
pins connected with right and left handed lock bars, G1, G2, the locks being
actuated by the V plate, E, being made to rise and fall through the medium of
a spindle and roller, H. The slide block, B, within the bracket is also made to
slide up and down by means of a similar spindle and roller, I. On the end carriage
of the travelling crane or on a bracket attached thereto, or to the transverse
carriage or a bracket attached thereto. I provide and fix a guide, J, which is in
the form of a double inclined plane with two paths, K1, K2, one above the other.
The top path, K¹, receives the upper roller, I, which is attached to a spindle and
which actuates the rising and falling of the bearing which is carried by the
plunger previously referred to and a second path, K2, which is parallel for the
major part of its length to the first named path, carries the second or bottom
roller, H, which actuates the V plate and lock bars.
On the top side of the top path the incline is so formed at each end that when
the rollers enter upon the pathways, the top roller travels for a short distance
parallel without actuating the plunger except just sufficient to take the weight
of the plunger off the lock bars, whilst the bottom roller is rising up a short
length of incline of sufficient distance to actuate the V plates and their
connections with the lock bars, so that the lock bars are drawn inwards and the
sliding block inside the bracket is released. Immediately afterwards both rollers
commence to descend their respective inclines parallel to each other until the
maximum depression has been reached and for a short distance they run again
parallel in line with the path of the crane until the sleeve wheel on the travelling
crane shaft (not shewn in the drawings), has passed and cleared the bearing,
immediately after which both rollers commence to ascend the inclined paths
as the crane proceeds until it reaches a point where as at the commencement, the
top roller runs parallel with the path of the crane for a short distance whilst the
lower roller which actuates the lock bar is caused to descend a sufficient
distance to force the lock bars into the holes of the bracket, thereby leaving the
plunger and bearing securely and firmly locked in position until the return of the
crane or of another crane similarly fitted.
In order to make the above arrangement more complete in its action I cause
the top roller, I, which actuates the movement of the ram to enter upon its path
slightly in advance of the bottom roller, H, so that by the time the bottom roller
has commenced the short ascent at its entrance to the pathway, the lock bars have

page_text: been relieved of the weight of the plunger and its connections so that they can be
more readily withdrawn. By the time this is effected both rollers commence
the descent on their respective inclines as previously described until the position
has been reached when the lock bars have to be forced back in their respective
slots so as to secure the bearing before the guide leaves the same.
This locking
arrangement is insured by the action of an incline formed on the underside of
the top pathway which causes the second or lock roller to descend a sufficient
distance to actuate the lock bolts into their desired position. It will thus be seen
that although the top roller is only actuated by the path upon which it rolls the
bottom roller which works between the upper and lower paths is actuated partly
by its own pathway and partly by the underside of the upper pathway.
By this arrangement one guide plate suitably fixed to the end carriage or
girders of an overhead travelling crane, will suffice to actuate the whole of the
bearings in succession of the longitudinal driving shaft and a similar guide plate
attached to the transverse carriage would in like manner actuate all the bearings
in succession of the transverse driving shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a tumbler bearing for overhead travelling cranes and the like, the
combination of parts and appliances, comprising a sliding lockable bearing with a
guide, the guide being attached to the crane or crane carriage, the bearing being
constructed on a ram or piston which is made to lock and unlock and slide
vertically in and out of a box bracket, by rollers brought in contact with the
guide, as the crane or crane carriage passes the said bearing, in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated. •
a
2. In a tumbler bearing for overhead travelling cranes and the like, the
combination of parts and appliances, comprising a sliding lockable bearing with
guide, the guide being attached to the crane or crane carriage, the bearing
being constructed on a hollow slide block which is made to lock and unlock and
slide vertically in and out of a box bracket by rollers brought in contact with the
guide as the crane or crane carriage passes the said bearing, in the manner and
for the purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of April 1898.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.