IM- PROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS OR LIFTS FOR HOTELS, WAREHOUSES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, E.C., Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS OR LIFTS FOR HOTELS, WAREHOUSES, AND OTHER
STRUCTURES." A communication from abroad by Otis Tufts, of Boston,
United States.
Sealed the 16th March 1860, and dated the 19th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 19th September 1859.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, E. C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS OR LIFTS FOR HOTELS, WAREHOUSES,
AND OTHER STRUCTURES," (communicated to me from abroad by Otis Tufts, of
Boston, United States,) to be as follows:-
These improvements have for their object the rendering of the conveyance
of persons, baggage, or goods vertically to or from the different stories of
hotels, public buildings, or warehouses, more safe, convenient, and in fact
practicable, than by former methods.
The Invention consists of two general parts; firstly, the means for effecting
the raising and stopping of the elevating carriage; and, secondly, the means
for controlling the descent of the same.

page_text: The elevating power employed is that of a large screw placed vertically,
and made to revolve by suitable gearing at its lower end. This screw is a
cylinder of iron, and may be cast in sections of convenient length, and, say, of
ten or twelve inches in diameter; upon this is cast a broad square thread,
having a rapid pitch. The screw is secured to the building by bearings, which
project from a vertical timber, and which encircle the screw at the places
where the sections are affixed together, the screw being smaller at those parts,
so that the bearing need not extend out beyond the surface of the cylinder.
Its weight, and that of the load, may be sustained wholly by the step at the
bottom. A nut is made to travel upon this screw, and consists of a cylinder,
smooth upon the interior, and somewhat larger in the bore than would suffice
to merely admit the thread of the screw. A female screw is formed in this
nut by inserting, at suitable distances and positions, friction rollers set in
frames. A portion of these serve to steady the nut in its due position, and
are set in on different sides of the nut, so as to travel upon the cylindrical part
of the screw, while, to save friction, they are placed with their axes at such
inclination to the axis of rotation of the screw, that each rolls upon the
cylinder in a direct line as the nut ascends or descends, the inclination being
according to the pitch of the thread, and thus there is no sliding laterally of
the rollers. Another set of rollers is inserted also from the outside, the
purpose of which is to travel upon the upper side of the thread, and thus
cause the nut to be raised when the screw is revolved in the proper direction.
The axes of these are horizontal, and the rollers are, in effect, carriage wheels
travelling upon a rail wound spirally along a cylinder. The nut is not per-
mitted to turn around, and it has a vertical slot throughout its length on one
side, whereby it may pass the arms of the bearers before described, as for
sustaining the vertical position of the screw. Around or upon the nut thus
constructed the platform is built, of such size as will but just pass readily
through the openings in the floors, and to obviate the disposition to turn
around in one direction, which will be caused by the action of the screw,
there is a vertical rail running upon the side of the opening or well, and
a single wheel on the carriage runs against the said rail. The platform
may be built up at the sides and covered at top, and have doors which
are opened and closed automatically by the action of a cam properly
located on the building to act upon a system of levers under the platform at
the proper times, which will be just as the bottom of the doors has passed
above the level of each floor. Similar levers upon the building, acted on by a
cam placed on the carriage, operate to open and close doors upon the well or
opening in which the carries moves. There is an arrangement for throwing

page_text: the driving belt out of or into gear automatically when the carriage arrives at
the top of the screw, or at the bottom respectively, and this is made to connect
from top to bottom by a rod which passes through the carriage, in order that
it may be operated by a person inside when it is desired to stop at any par-
ticular floor. There is also a friction brake of ordinary construction to hold
the carriage in position at such stopping, but operated by a cord, which passes
likewise through the carriage, in order that it too may under control of the
person within.
The second prominent feature of this Invention is, the means of effecting
the descent of the carriage. It is intended that its gravity shall be the power
to effect such descent, but that power would be subject to constant acceleration,
and hence the Inventor has devised a peculiar retarding apparatus. At the
moment when the hoisting machinery is thrown out of gear with the driving
power, it is transferred to the retarder, and the principle depended on for duly
controlling the rate of descent is the passage of water through apertures of
given size. The manner in which the Inventor avails himself of this principle
is by the use of closed cylinders, having a piston in each, with apertures
through the piston, through which the water may pass from end to end as the
piston is driven by its gearing connected now with the descending carriage.
The piston may be composed of two plates, having openings which coincide
when fully open. One of these plates is to be fixed upon the piston rod,
while the other is affixed upon a tube encircling the said rod, and forming
a part of it, until the stuffing box is passed, where it can be made to partially
rotate, and thus close the openings in the piston by moving the plates upon
each other. This rotating of the tube may be effected by an ordinary ball or
other governor. This system of retarding the return revolution of the screw,
whereby the descent of the carriage is permitted, is equally applicable to the
drum on which a rope has been wound, in cases where that is the method
employed to raise the platform or carriage, as is commonly the case in the
elevators or lifts used in warehouses.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, 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 ELEVATORS OR LIFTS FOR HOTELS, WAREHOUSES,
AND OTHER STRUCTURES," (a communication from abroad by Otis Tufts, of Boston,
United States,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawings
hereunto annexed (that is to say):-
:-
These improvements have for their object the rendering of the conveyance
of persons, baggage, or goods vertically to or from the different stories of
hotels, public buildings, or warehouses, more safe, convenient, and in fact,
practicable, than by former methods.
The Invention consists of two general parts; firstly, the means for effecting
the raising of the elevating carriage or platform, and the stopping of the same
at any desired point; and, secondly, the means for controlling the descent of
the same.
The elevating power employed is that of a large screw placed vertically,
and made to revolve by suitable gearing at its lower end. This screw is a
cylinder of iron, and may be cast in sections of convenient length, and, say,
of ten or twelve inches in diameter; upon this is cast a broad square thread,
having a rapid pitch. The screw is secured to the building by bearings, which
project from a vertical timber, and which encircle the screw at the places

page_text: where the sections are affixed together, the screw being smaller at those parts,
so that the bearing need not extend out beyond the surface of the cylinder ;-
its weight and that of the load may be sustained wholly by the step at the
bottom. A nut is made to travel upon this screw, and consists of a cylinder,
smooth upon the interior, and somewhat larger in the bore than would suffice
to merely admit the thread of the screw. A female screw is formed in this
nut by inserting, at suitable distances and positions,, friction rollers set in
frames. A portion of these serve to steady the nut in its due position, and
are set in on different sides of the nut, so as to travel upon the cylindrical
part of the screw, while, to save friction, they are placed with their axes at
such inclination to the axis of rotation of the screw, that each rolls upon the
cylinder in a direct line as the nut ascends or descends, the inclination being
according to the pitch of the thread, and thus there is no sliding laterally of
the rollers. Another set of rollers is inserted also from the outside, the
purpose of which is to travel upon the upper side of the thread, and thus
cause the nut to be raised when the screw is revolved in the proper direction.
The axes of these are horizontal, and the rollers are, in effect, carriage wheels
travelling upon a rail wound spirally along a eylinder. The nut is not per
mitted to turn around, and it has a vertical slot throughout its length on one
side, whereby it may pass the arms of the bearers before described as for
sustaining the vertical position of the screw. Around or upon the nut thus
constructed the platform is built, of such size as will but just pass readily
through the openings in the floors, and to obviate the disposition to turn
around in one direction, which will be caused by the action of the screw,
there is a vertical rail running upon the side of the opening or well, and a
single wheel on the carriage runs against the said rail. The platform may be
built up at the sides, and covered at top, and have doors which are opened
and closed automatically by the action of a cam properly located on the
building to act upon a system of levers under the platform at the proper times,
which will be just as the bottom of the doors has passed above the level of
each floor. Similar levers upon the building, acted on by a cam placed on
the carriage, operate to open and close doors upon the well or opening in
which the carriage moves. There is an arrangement for throwing the driving
belt out of or into gear automatically when the carriage arrives at the top
of the screw or at the bottom respectively, and this is made to connect from
top to bottom by a rod which passes through the carriage, in order that it
may be operated by a person inside when it is desired to stop at any particular
floor. There is also a frietion brake of ordinary construction, to hold the
carriage in position at such stopping, but operated by a cord which passes

page_text: likewise through the carriage, in order that it too may be under the control
of the person within.
The second prominent feature of this Invention is the means of effecting
the descent of the carriage. It is intended that its gravity shall be the power
to effect such descent, but that power would be subject to constant accele-
ration, and hence the Inventor has devised a peculiar retarding apparatus.
At the moment when the hoisting machinery is thrown out of gear with the
driving power it is transferred to the retarder, although that does not begin
to operate whilst the break is applied; and the principle depended on for
duly controlling the rate of descent is the passage of water or other fluid
through apertures of given size. The manner in which the Inventor avails
himself of this principle is by the use of closed cylinders, having a piston in
each, with apertures through the piston, through which the water may pass
and repass as the piston travels from end to end of the cylinder. The piston
may be composed of two plates, having openings which coincide when fully
open. One of these plates is to be fixed upon the piston rod, while the other
is affixed upon a tube encircling the said rod, and forming a part of it until
the stuffing box is passed, where it can be made to partially rotate, and thus
close the openings in the piston by moving the plates upon each other. This
rotating of the tube may be effected by an
ordinary ball or other governor.
This system of retarding the return revolution of the screw, whereby the
descent of the carriage is permitted, is equally applicable to the drum on
which a rope has been wound, in cases where that is the method employed to
raise the platform or carriage, as is commonly the case in the elevators or
lifts used in warehouses.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the screw which
the Inventor employs as an elevating power, and of the peculiar nut he had
devised to travel upon it; Figure 2 is a vertical central section through the
same; Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections on the lines x ...... and
y......y respectively of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a like sectional view, with
the carriage attached (but reduced in size); Figure 6 is a like view, shewing
the gallery or "well" in which the carriage is made to operate; Figures 7
and 8 are front and side elevations respectively of the carriage as connected
with apparatus for causing both the ascent and descent; Figure 9 is a top
or plan view of the elevating and lowering machinery; Figures 10, 11, and
12 are views of parts in detail, fully referred to herein. Similar letters
indicate like parts in all the Figures.
The elevating column or screw seen at a, extends from the bottom to the
tp of the building. It may be made of cast iron, in sections of convenient

page_text: length, and be a cylinder of, say eight to twelve inches in diameter. Upon this
screw a broad square thread thread is made, which should have a rapid pitch, as
shown. The several sections are coupled together by pins or journals b, so
united to each other that the rotation of one section upon its axis will be im-
parted to the others. The ends of the sections, where so coupled, do not come
together, the pin between being of sufficient length to admit a bearer or
support c, which at one end is to be firmly affixed to a permanent portion of
the building, and at the other encloses the journal pin b, thus supporting the
screw a in a vertical position. The screw is made in sections of convenient
length for casting, and such bearers are placed at all of the couplings, whereby
the weight of the screw may be very much less than would be required if it
were to be made in one continuous length, and without support, except at its
ends. In arranging the couplings care is to be taken that the thread on each
section occupies the position it would have if the screw were cast in one piece.
The weight of the screw and of its load, may be sustained wholly by the step
at the bottom, and hence the bearers 6 are only required to secure the screw
against deflecting from the perpendicular, if that is the line of travel. The nut
which the Inventor prefers to employ upon this screw, consists of cylinder d
of cast or plate metal, made smooth upon the interior and somewhat larger. in
the bore than would suffice to merely admit the thread of the screw. A female
screw is formed within this cylinder by inserting, at suitable distances and
positions, friction rollers set in frames. A portion of these, as seen at e, serve
to steady the nut in its due position, and are set in on different sides, as shewn
in Figure 3, so as to travel upon the cylindrical portion or core of the screw α,
while to save friction they are placed with their axes at such inclination to the
axis of rotation of the screw, that each rolls upon the core thereof in a direct
line as the nut ascends or descends, the inclination being according to the pitch
of the thread, and hence there is no sliding laterally of these rollers. The
other set of rollers fis inserted also from the outside, and the purpose of these
is to travel along the upper side of the thread sustaining the entire weight of
the nut and of the carriage which may be built around or upon it. They thus
cause the carriage to be raised when the screw is revolved in the proper
direction. The axes of the rollers ƒ are horizontal, as seen in Figure 2, and
these rollers are in effect carriage wheels travelling upon a rail wound spirally
along a cylinder. The nut is not to be permitted to turn around, and for this
purpose a guide rail g, Figures 5 and 6, is provided upon some suitable portion
of the building within the gallery, and a spur 9' upon the carriage affixed to
the nut, which spur travels along the rail as the carriage ascends and descends.
The nut has a vertical slot on one side throughout its entire length, whereby it

page_text: may pass the arms of the bearers c, which sustain the screw in position.
Around or upon the nut thus constructed a platform A is built, of such size as
will but just pass readily through the openings in the floors, and this platform
will be kept in proper direction by the spur and guide rail above described, the
different floors through which the platform passes forming galleries or landings
at which the platform may be stopped when desired, either in ascending or
descending. The platform is built up at the sides and covered at the top, so
that those inside may be protected from anything which might fall into the
well or aperture in which the carriage travels. This carriage may have doors
which are so arranged as to be opened automatically by the arrival or stopping
of the carriage at any of the landings, and there may be also similar doors
upon the landings or galleries. A variety of devices, either upon the carriage
to cause its doors to be so opened by coming into contact with a fixed point on
the gallery, or upon the gallery, actuated by a point on the carriage to cause
the doors of the gallery to be withdrawn, will be readily made by a skilful
mechanic.
An arrangement of levers is shown in Figure 5 for opening the doors of the
carriage, the levers being under the floor thereof, and the ends of the same,
which project out as at h, are thrown back into the positions shown in dotted
lines by coming into contact as the carriage ascends or descends with the cam h',
Figures 6 and 8, on the gallery, whereby the door is made to slide to one side.
A similar arrangement is shewn in Figure 12 for opening the doors of the
gallery. The platform A therein shewn is that of a square carriage, and the
contact of the end of the lever h with the cam h' on the carriage will cause
the door to be withdrawn, as shewn in dotted lines. By similar devices the
doors of the carriage and of the landings or galleries may be locked by the
action of the carriage, as it starts either to go up or down, and be unlocked
again when the carriage arrives at the next landing.
The carriage is made to ascend by causing the screw a to rotate in the
proper direction through any suitable system of gearing attached to it. In the
Drawings it is shewn as having a bevel gear i, Figure 8, by which the motion is
given from a horizontal shaft . Attached to or connected with this shaft is
a friction strap break of ordinary construction, which is operated by a cord j,
which passes up through the interior of the carriage and over a sheave at the
top of the building down to the strap, whence, by pulling on this cord a person
in the carriage may apply the break. This, however, should not be done until
the driving power had been disengaged, and to effect this there are two rods
passing also through the carriage, as K and K¹, which operate a shipping
apparatus of common construction for shifting the driving belt from the fixed

page_text: to the loose pulley on the shaft . At the top of the building these rods are
connected by a chain which passes over a pulley, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8,
and here there is also a counterbalancing metallic sector 1, the object of which
is to throw off the belt automatically when the carriage arrives at the top, and
which it effects by being thrown over when struck by the top of the carriage.
A cylinder constructed according to the second part of this Invention is
shewn in section at m, Figures 10 and 11, and exteriorly in Figures 7, 8,
and 9. The connecting rod from the piston n is attached to a crank on a
shaft o, which is thrown into gear with the shaft when the hoisting belt is
shifted to the loose pulley, and then the carriage, if not held by the friction
break, will begin to descend, thus putting the shaft 1 in rotation in a reverse
direction. The rapid rotation of this is retarded through the intermediate
shafts o with which it is now in gear, since the pistons in the cylinders can
only travel so fast as the water in one end will permit by its passage through
the apertures in the said pistons. There should properly be two of these
cylinders, having their connections with cranks set at a right angle to each
other for greater steadiness. The manner in which the Inventor controls the
rate of descent is by altering the size of the apertures in the pistons. The
piston, Figures 10 and 11, consists of two plates m¹ and m", the rod of the
upper plate being a tube through which the rod of the lower plate passes.
Holes mare made through these plates, which shall coincide when fully
open. The outer or tube portion of the piston rod may be attached to the
cross head, and the end of the rod of the lower plate pass through that, as
seen in Figure 11, and it has an arm p upon that end, by which it may be
turned so as to reduce the size of the openings. This arm extends into a
vertical slot in a horizontal bar q, and by moving this bar laterally the open-
ings in the pistons may be altered. A "fly ball," or other suitable governor,
may be attached to control the movement of the bar q, and thus the rate of
descent will be rendered uniform whatever may be the weight on the carriage
or platform. This system of retarding the return revolution of the screw,
whereby the descent of the carriage is permitted, is equally applicable to the
drum on which a rope has been wound, in cases where that is the method
employed to raise the platform as is commonly the case in the elevators used
in warehouses. In addition to the retarder, a spring of some proper con-
struction may be employed, upon which the carriage or platform shall strike
as it approaches the bottom of the building, and thus come to a rest more
gently.
The operation of the various parts of this Invention will be as follows:-

page_text: The rotation of the screw in the proper direction causes the ascent of the
carriage; as a landing is reached, the doors, both of the carriage and of the
galleries, will be first unlocked and then opened; if the carriage is not then
stopped by the person in charge inside these doors will at once be closed and
locked, so that all liability to accident may be avoided, and the same will be
repeated until the carriage shall arrive at the top of the building. At this
time the top of the carriage will strike the sector, and throwing it over, will
throw off the driving belt, and at the same time engage the driving shaft with
that of the fluid retarders. The descent will then commence by. the weight of
the carriage causing the screw to rotate in reverse direction, but this will be
controlled to any desired degree of speed by the position of the openings in
the pistons of the retarders. On reaching a landing below, the doors will be
unlocked and opened, when if the carriage be not then stopped, the doors will
be at once closed and locked, and so on to the bottom. Here may be an
arrangement for throwing the driving apparatus into gear again, similar to
that at the top for throwing it out, and thus the carriage would travel back-
wards and forwards continuously. If the conductor wishes to stop at any
point when the carriage is ascending, he pulls upon the rod K, thereby throwing
off the driving gear, and at the same time draws the cord j, thereby applying
the friction brake, and retaining the screw from further return rotation. If
then he wishes to ascend, he releases the cord j, and pulling the rod K², throws
the screw out of gear with the retarding apparatus, and into gear with its
driving apparatus, when the ascent recommences. If desired, the trains for
unlocking and for opening the doors can be so arranged, that if the conductor
does not wish to stop at any particular landing, he can throw those out of
action. In the Drawings the screw and nut are shown as enclosed within a
casing A¹, the carriage being affixed upon the nut by means of an arm extend-
ing through a slot along the whole length of the casing; this, however, is not
necessary, being merely a question of appearance.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First, the employment of a screw, in combination with the carriage or
platform, in the construction of an "elevator" or lift for hotels, warehouses,
and other structures, as herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second, the construction of a screw for the purpose of elevating in such
manner that it may have stays or bearers at intervals, substantially as herein-
before set forth.

page_text: Third, the construction of a nut to play upon a screw, as herein-before
described, with an opening along the side of the said nut to enable it to pass
the bearers or stays, as set forth.
Fourth, the construction of the nut or carriage, with wheels or rollers
running upon the thread of the screw, substantially as herein-before described.
Fifth, the controlling of the descending motion of elevators, lifts, or
hoisting apparatus by means of fluid retarders, substantially as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the regulating of the action of fluid retarders by means of a governor,
substantially, as herein-before described.
Seventh, the providing of the platform with side walls, and also with doors
or gates, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth, causing the unlocking automatically of the doors or gates of the
carriage, or of the landings or galleries, or both, by an action of the carriage
itself on approaching or arriving at the proper place for opening the said
doors, as also causing in like manner the fastening of the same on starting
again, as herein-before described.
Ninth, causing the opening automatically of the doors of the carriage or
galleries, or of both, by an action of the carriage itself on approaching or
arriving at the proper place for such opening, as also causing in like manuer
the closing of the same on again starting, as herein-before described.
Tenth, passing the shipping rods, as well as the cord or rod that operates
the friction break, through the enclosed carriage, for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.