Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
THOMAS LAWRIE, of 51 Haymarket, London, Architect, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide proper protection to openings to Public
House Cellars, or other places in Floors, Roadways or Pavements, when the Flaps
or Covers to such openings are raised or removed.
For this purpose I prefer to use a flap hung on centres parallel with the front
of the Building, and with a counterbalance weight to render the working of same
easier, but I do not claim such counterbalance as part of my invention.
To the underside or edge of such flap or cover I attach a railing preferably of
iron, with the outer bar of same of such a radius that it will pass close to the front
edge of opening, and through guides fixed to the sides or front of such opening,
this bar being prolonged to such a length as to give the requisite stiffness to the
Railing when it is up above the opening.
Another mode of providing such protection is by means of bars and levers, I provide
in each outer corner of opening or other suitable position, straight rods, tubes, or
posts, working vertically in Guides fixed to the Walls of such opening; on the
sides of such openings I provide a lever bar turning on a fixed pin at one end, and
with two joints in same, one at the other end, and one at such intermediate position
as shall give the requisite length of movement required, from the end of this lever
a short connecting rod with joint at each end is provided to communicate a vertical
motion to the angle bar or post from the radial motion at the end of lever. From
the intermediate joint in lever bar, a similar connecting rod is taken to a joint in the
flap, the action being, that on raising the flap the outer end of lever is raised by
means of the connecting rod between such lever and flap, and a vertical motion
thus communicated to angle posts by the other connecting rod between it and the
end of lever. The two sides are protected by one or more chains, or similar
contrivances, connected to the angle posts at one end and to the flap at the other.
The front is protected by one or more loose bars, with ends turned down, so as to

page_text: drop into eyes on the angle posts, or with chains with hooks at end for a similar
purpose, or with any other contrivance or form of connection that will provide for
the removal of the front protection, to facilitate the delivery of goods, or for giving
ingress or egress to such cellar or other opening.
A locking arrangement can also be provided if required to prevent such railing
being lowered from the outside.
و,
The "
Pulley used for taking casks in and out of Public House Cellars, or a
ladder for providing ingress or egress, may be made to act as a counterbalance to
flap and railing, by being hinged in any ordinary manner to Wall at upper end,
and connected with back end of flap by chain or other connection, so that on the
flap being opened, it will automatically raise a railing to protect the opening, and
at the same time lower the " pulley or ladder to its proper position for use, and
the closing of flap would take such "pulley" or ladder up over head so as to leave
the whole floor space clear.
رو
Dated this 20th day of April 1888.

page_text: I THOMAS LAWRIE of 51 Haymarket, London Architect do hereby declare the
nature of this 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 this invention is to provide proper protection to openings for Public
House Cellars, or other places in Floors, Roadways or Pavements when the flaps or
covers to such openings are raised or removed.
For this purpose I prefer to use a flap or flaps hung on Centres, bearings or
hinges parallel with the front of the Building (but this position is not compulsory)
with a counterbalance weight of any convenient form attached to same to render its
working easier, but I do not claim such counterbalance to flaps as part of my
invention except as in combination with the other portions of same.
The manner of providing such protections will be more readily understood by
reference to the drawings.
In sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a section of an automatic protection for cellar openings in
which the flap is shewn as raised, and the position of rods, levers, chains &c. when
closed shewn by the dotted lines. In each outer corner of opening, or other
suitable position I provide straight rods tubes or posts a, working vertically in
guides fixed to the sides of such openings the upper guides are shewn in detail
sheet 1, fig. 3 shewing a guide for a round post, and fig. 4 one for a Tee iron post,
the front portions being left free to allow the joint of short arm or connecting rod
to pass. To raise the angle post I provide a lever bar c turning on a fixed pin at
one end and with two holes for pins of joints of connecting rods working on same,
one at the outer end e for short connecting rod of angle post, and one at such
intermediate position f as shall give the requisite length of movement required,
from the outer end of this lever a short connecting rod y with joint at each end is
provided to communicate a vertical motion from the end of lever to the angle post.
From the intermediate joint fin lever bar another connecting rod z is taken to a
joint on the flap & the action being that on raising the flap the outer end of lever
bar is raised by means of the connecting rod between lever and flap and a vertical
motion thus communicated to angle posts by the other connecting rod between
it and the end of lever. The two sides are protected by one or more chains, or
similar contrivances, connected to the angle posts at one end and to the flap at
the other. The front is protected by one or more loose bars with ends turned
down so as to drop into eyes on the angle posts, or with chains with hooks at ends
for a similar purpose, or with Gates or any other contrivance that will provide for
the removal of the front protection, to facilitate the delivery of goods, or for giving
ingress or egress to such cellar or other opening.

page_text: In figure 2 sheet 1 is shewn an automatic arrangement for protection when the
opening is in the crown of an arch or floor where there is not a wall to fix guides
to for angle posts & where obstruction by such posts could not be permitted. In this
case the angle posts turn on pins or joints at the bottom m and have an arm forming
part of such post n and a short nib at back p stopping against the stud a this arm n
is connected to the flap at one end i and to the arm n by the connecting rod; having
the long slot at its lower end, the action being that on raising the flap the connecting
rod moves some distance without raising the angle post, so as to allow it to pass the
flap, till it brings the end of the slot h to a bearing against the pin in end of arm u it
then begins to raise the arm and the angle post with it, and when perpendicular is
stopped by the nib p against the stud.
In sheet 2 are shewn various modifications of protections for openings, in fig. 1 a
railing or panel a is attached with the outer bar b of such a radius that it will pass
close to the front edge of opening and through guides c fixed to the sides or front of
such opening, this bar being prolonged to such a length as to give the requisite stiff-
ness to the Railing when it is up above the opening.
In figure 2 the outer post d has a toggle joint at c and has a connecting rod falso
jointed at the same place, and at the other end g jointed to the bar carrying counter-
balance which is formed of suitable shape for the purpose.
In figure 3 are 2 arms (there may be one or any number) turning on a
pin at the lower end and connected at their outer ends by chains or other
contrivances with one end attached to flap, and the other to cill or some other part
round the opening. These arms may be plain or toggle jointed as preferred.
In figure 4 which is a front view when flap is open, the flap has two panels or gates
hung to it, the one at i being shewn in its proper position when forming a protection
to the opening and the one at k shewn folded back on flap, they can be folded one
over the other flat against flap when shut so as to economise space.
In figure 5 is shewn a modification of fig. 3 with one tubular arm m with a
lengthening piece n sliding in same, a chain o being fixed at one end to side of
opening, and at the other to end of lengthening piece & passing over the pulley p,
on the flap being raised, as the chain o tightens it will pull out the lengthening
bar to any required distance thereby providing protection further out than is shown
in figure 3. The ends or sides can be protected by chains &c. as in other
protections.
In figure 6 is shewn a means of providing much higher protection than is at
present afforded by the ordinary cellar flaps opening sideways, and is formed with
two flaps, panels or railings hinged to the existing flaps & with a fixed arm to same
at g, these arms are connected to the opposite flaps by toggle jointed rods s the
action being that on raising the flaps the rods raise the two flaps or railings on the
opposite flaps.
The protections at sides of any of these flaps may be made of Canvas, Leather or
other substance solid in appearance, or netting, in lieu of chains or bars, or may be
formed with bars or tubes sliding in and out of other tubes telescopically,
The protections when raised can be locked by pins, bolts, spring catches, or any
other convenient mode of fastening or they may be raised by springs or counter-
balances liberated by the act of raising the flap.
In all cases flaps may be made in one or more portions so that it shall not be
necessary to always open the entire space.
5:
The Pulley" used for taking casks in and out of Public House cellars, or a
ladder for providing ingress or egress may be made to act as a counterbalance to flap
and railing by being hinged in any ordinary manner at upper end, and connected
with back end of flap by chain or other connection, so that on the flap being opened
it will automatically raise a railing to protect the opening, and at the same time lower
the "pulley" or ladder to its proper position for use, and the closing of flap would
take such pulley" or ladder up over head so as to leave the whole cellar space
clear.
"

page_text: 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. Protecting cellar or other openings by raising Bars, Railings, chains, flaps, Rods
Levers or other contrivances or appliances round such openings either automatically
by the simple action of opening the flaps or covers of such openings, or in any other
manner substantially as herein before described.
2. Protecting cellar or other openings by chains, bars, gates, flaps or other
appliances or contrivances attached to such flaps.
Dated this Terranter first day of January 1889