Improvements in Scaffolds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar.,
1891
Improvements in Scaffolds.
We, GUSTAV BEHNCKE, Decorator, and LEOPOLD JOHN FRANK, Carpenter,
both residents of the City of Oshkosh, County of Winnebago, State of Wisconsin,
U.S.A., with Post Office address the same, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SCAFFOLDS, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention relates principally to a scaffolding or staging for inside decorating
and finishing, and the objects of our invention are to provide a simple and safe
means of raising or lowering the staging, and to equalize the raising power so that
the platform shall be exactly level at all times. We attain these objects by the
mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-
Fig. 1 is a side view of the staging and front view of the raising and lowering
device, and
Fig. 2 a front and side view of the same, respectively.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A, A, are the stanchions, which, with the cross-piece B, and the feet C C, form
the supporting frame, two of which are usually used to support the plank D upon
which the decorator stands, as shown in Fig. 2.
The plank D is supported and carried by the bar E in each frame, which slides
up and down in grooves in the stanchions A A, and is attached to the rope e e,
which passes upwards over the pulleys c c and downward to where the ends wind
and unwind upon the spools or drums ii of the windlass as the rod G is turned
forward and backward by the crank H. The pawl & engages the ratchet wheel m,
attached to said rod, so as to stop its revolution when desired.
We allow the rope e to continue through an eye or opening in the bar Eat e¹, and
secure it by the set screw for other suitable gripping device, compressing it tightly
against the side of the opening e¹. We regard this as an important feature of our
invention as by this means the bar E can at any time be adjusted to a level, which.
is very necessary to prevent tools, material &c. from rolling or sliding from the
plank D. If independent ropes are attached at each end of the bar E, they soon
become of unequal length in operating the machine, and we have found this to be
the case even where wire cable is used.
In our invention we have only to loosen the set screw, adjust the bar E to a
level and reset the screw.
The drums ii are exactly of the same circumference, so that by turning the
crank H on each machine the hoisting-rope winds equally upon each side and the
bar E, always at a level, is thereby raised or lowered to any desired position.
It is not necessary to remove anything from the plank D, and the decorator need
not at any time descend from the plank D, as he can be raised or lowered by his
assistants, the windlass giving sufficient power for that purpose,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
.1.
In a scaffold, the combination of upright supporting frames, a windlass at the
lower part of each frame, pulleys at the top, a rope having its ends secured to the
windlass drum and passing upwardly over the pulleys and then downwardly,
sliding bars or supports for a platform, each bar being provided with an eye or
opening through which the central part of the rope passes, and a gripping "device
for preventing the rope from slipping in the bars substantially as shown.
Ken mac su T
September Toy.
GUSTAV BEHNCKE.
LEOPOLD J. FRANK.