Improvements in Gripping Mechanism for Cable Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gripping Mechanism for Cable Railways.
We, JOHN HYDE PENDLETON, of No. 601 Hamburg Avenue, Brooklyn in the State
of New York, United States of America Civil and Mechanical Engineer, CORNELIUS
TIERS of No. 234 Fifth Avenue in the City of New York, in said State of New York,
President of the Rapid Transit Cable Company of said City and State of New York,
and ANDREW BRYSON JR. and LINCOLN Moss, the former of No. 18 West 21st Street
and the latter of No. 244 West 123rd Street both in said City of New York and both
Civil and Mechanical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The gripping device is upon a special car of each train of cars; we term this car a
"motor car
"and the cars connected to said motor car are drawn or pushed by the
motor car as the latter is carried along by the travelling cable.
The main frame of the motor car is supported by wheels and axles, and said frame is
composed of longitudinal and transverse beams and end sills framed or secured together
in any desired manner, and near the middle of the car there are supports and beams.
The gripping device is upon a transverse movable frame supported by the main frame
of the car in order that the gripping device may be applied to either one of two
cables running between the two rails of one track; thereby if one cable becomes
injured or inoperative or requires examination or repairs, the gripping device can be
transferred to the other cable, or when the cables are running at different speeds the
car can be connected to either cable as may be required.
The movable frame is composed of longitudinal and transverse beams bolted
together, and upon the transverse beams are slide blocks resting upon cross-beams of
the car frame that form ways for the block to slide upon when the movable frame is
shifted transversely of the car, and the amount of movement allowed to this frame is
equal to the distance between the two travelling cables. In order to give motion to
the movable frame and parts carried by it any suitable mechanism may be employed
such as a hand lever or screws driven by gearing but we prefer air cylinders with
pistons and rods connected with one of the longitudinal beams of the movable frame,
there being a cylinder near each end of the car. We provide a reservoir for air under
pressure, and the air cylinders are connected by pipes with this reservoir and there is
a four-way cock provided so that air may be passed to either side of the pistons in
the cylinders to move said pistons and the movable frame in the desired direction.
Bolts are used for holding the movable frame in position after it has been shifted,
and these bolts are moved by levers and links.
The gripping device is composed of grip-locks arranged in pairs upon an endless
belt, which belt is carried by drums or wheels mounted upon the movable frame before
spoken of; the grip-blocks aro preferably iron castings having flanges on their edges
between which flanges are packed layers of leather held in place by rivets passing
through the leather and flanges; the faces of these leather sections have nearly semi-
circular grooves therein into which the endless cable is received when the grip is
applied.
The grip blocks have bases by which they are fastened to the endless belt and said
endless belt is composed of two sets of endless bands connected to a wider belt by
rivets that pass through the base of the grip-blocks, the endless bands and the belt at
the outer edges of said parts.
This construction renders the belt flexible and allows the wider belt to arch upwardly
as the pairs of grip blocks are brought towards each other to grip the cable.
In order to close the grip blocks we make use of grip jaws through which the
endless belt and its ranges of blocks pass; these grip jaws are hinged together, and

page_text: each jaw is in two parts bolted together the inner faces of the grip-jaws are grooved
to correspond to the convex external portions of the grip-blocks, and the extreme ends
of the grip-jaws are flaring so as not to offer any obstruction to the grip blocks as they
slide in between the grip jaws.
The grip jaws are supported by hangers that have eyes surrounding the hinge pin
of the grip-jaws and said grip-jaws are opened and closed by means of lever arms and
links connected to a rack, which latter is raised and lowered by pinions upon the shaft
of a hand wheel; this latter has a ratchet wheel and pawl for holding the rack bar in
the position into which it may be moved.
When the car is at rest the grip jaws are usually open and the endless belt of grip
blocks is stationary.
When the cable is raised by the lifters hereafter referred to, grooved wheels are
brought into contact with said cable and they are revolved, and by belts and pulleys
said grooved or cable wheels give motion to the endless belt of grip blocks in the same
direction that the cable is moving, and in order to prevent the cable being lifted too
high we provide pendent shields upon the endless belt, that take the place of say every
sixth pair of grip blocks.
When the car is to be started, the hand wheel shaft and pinion before mentioned are
revolved and the rack bar raised so as to swing the lever arms outwardly and bring
the grip-jaws towards each other. During this movement the grip blocks are swung
towards each other and come at opposite sides of the cable and when they come into
contact with said cable they are moving at the same speed or nearly so of the cable,
the convex exterior surfaces of the grip blocks sliding freely upon the interior surfaces
of the grip-jaws but as the pressure of the grip-jaws is increased the friction between
the grip-jaws and the exterior surface of the grip blocks is increased and the car itself
receives motion from the grip and its movement is gradually accelerated until a speed
corresponding to that of the cable is obtained, when there will be no slip between the
grip jaws and grip blocks and the grip will hold firmly to the cable as long as the
proper pressure is maintained of the grip-jaws upon the grip blocks, but should it
become necessary to lessen the speed of the car, the hand wheel shaft and pinions
before referred to are turned back so that the endless belt of grip blocks may slide
more or less through between such grip jaws, and when the grip jaws are sufficiently
opened the car may be arrested by applying brakes to the same, during which time
the endless belt of grip blocks may be traveling freely with the cable, as it is not
necessary to open the grip jaws sufficiently to stop the endless belt or to drop the cable
except at the end of the route and when passing from one track to another.
The devices employed at the two ends of the car for lifting the endless cable into
the grip are similar in every respect and operated simultaneously.
The cable wheels before referred to are in pairs one pair near each end of the car and
said cable wheels are set at an inclination and the axis of each wheel is in a swinging
bearing supported by the movable frame before mentioned. The pair of bearings are
connected by toggle links and the latter are connected by a link to an arm upon a
horizontal shaft which we call the "first" horizontal shaft. There is a second hori-
zontal shaft having cams at its respective ends for operating the cable lifters, and each
lifter is made with a hooked lower end and it is connected at its upper end to an arm
on a short shaft which latter has a second arm that is connected to a bar having a
roller that is in contact with one of the cams before mentioned.
When it is desired to drop the cable from the grip, the hand wheel shaft before
spoken of is released by disconnecting the pawl from the ratchet wheel on said shaft
and the rack bar before spoken of descends and the grip jaws are opened and the grip-
blocks release their hold upon the cable but the cable is still held up by the grooved
cable wheels; as the rack bar descends further an arm upon said bar comes into
contact with an arm upon the first horizontal shaft partially turning said shaft. and by
an arm and link lifts the toggle links and swings the cable wheels away from the cable
so that the latter drops out of the grip.
. When it is desired to pick up the cable the second horizontal shaft is rotated and
one of its cams allows the lifter to drop; the lower end of the lifter is then swung

page_text: beneath the cable and the cam then raises the litter and cable to the proper height. A
pin upon the cam now comes into contact with the arm upon the first horizontal shaft
and turns the latter and the toggle links are straightened and the cable wheels swung
into contact with the cable: These cable wheels now give motion to the endless belt of
grip blocks.
One of the cams now allows the lifter to drop slightly and the second cam acting
through a lever and arms swings and raises the lifter to one side of the cable so as to
be out of the way. The grip is now applied by rotating the hand wheel shaft as before
explained.
The toggle links are fitted with springs so that the cable wheels may yield to any
bunch or enlargement of the cable passing between said wheels.
We provide inclines at those places in the road where it is desired to disconnect the
grip mechanism automatically: these inclines act upon a roller that is suspended by a
link from an arm on a crank shaft and this shaft in turning draws down a link that is
connected to the pawl that holds the ratchet wheel of the hand wheel shaft, thereby
releasing said shaft and allowing the rack bar to descend and open the grip as before
described. We provide a stop-lever to arrest the rotation of the second horizontal
or cam shaft at the proper point.
The pendent shields upon the endless belt of grip blocks may be availed of to put
said endless belt in motion because when the cable is lifted it presses against the under
sides of said shields and gives to them and to the endless belt the same speed of move-
ment as the cable if the car is standing still it is to be understood that this endless
belt of grip blocks is always put in motion before the grip is applied so as to prevent
wear upon the grip and cable.
We provide three holes in each end sill of the motor car in order that the draw bar
may be positioned according to whether the grip is central of the motor car or to one
side or the other of the central line of the car.
We apply a spring to the rack bar to aid in drawing down such rack bar when the
grip is released automatically and we also use a spring to aid in raising the toggle
links and separating the cable wheels.
Our gripping device may be used upon a car without the shifting frame before
described, and the endless belt of grip blocks may be rotated by motion taken from a
cable wheel that is upon a horizontal axis above the cable, the cable being brought into
contact with said cable wheel by a lifter that is fitted to be raised and lowered by levers.
and links and this lifter is pivoted so that it can be swung from beneath the cable when
the latter is to be dropped or when the lifter is lowered it can be swung beneath the cable
to pick the same up.
The grip blocks and endless belt may be used without the grip jaws, for each pair
of grip blocks may be provided with a rod having right and left hand screw threads
taking into cylindrical nuts upon the grip blocks, there being rollers upon the respective
ends of the screw rod to run against stationary rails, so that as the belt is moved along
the grip blocks can be tightened upon or loosened from the cable by rotating the screw
rod in one direction or the other according to which rail the rollers are brought into
contact with.
Dated this 21st day of May 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gripping Mechanism for Cable Railways.
We, JOHN HYDE PENDLETON of No. 601 Hamburg Avenue Brooklyn in the State
of New York, United States of America, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, CORNELIUS
TIERS of No. 234 Fifth Avenue in the City of New York, in said State of New York
President of the Rapid Transit Cable Company of said City and State of New York,
and ANDREW BRYSON Junior, and LINCOLN Moss, the former of No. 18 West
21st Street and the latter of No. 244 West 123rd Street both in said City of New
York and both Civil and Mechanical Engineers 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:-
--
In our present invention we make use of an endless belt provided with gripping blocks
and said belt passes around two belt wheels, and there are gripping jaws that act upon
the gripping blocks to press them against the cable to clamp the same, and the endless
belt is put into motion when the grip is to be applied, so that said belt will be travelling
at the same speed or nearly so of the cable when the gripping jaws are brought into
contact with said cable.
We mount the said gripping device so that it can be shifted transversely of the car
frame in order that the gripping device may be applied to either one of two cable:>,
running between the rails of one track thereby if one cable becomes injured or
inoperative or requires examination or repairs, the gripping device can be transferred
to the other cable, or when the cables are running at different speeds, the car can be
connected to either cable as may be required.
In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus with the framework and
axles in section; Figure 2 is an elevation of portions of the grip mechanism at one
end of the car; Figure 3 is a section near the line a Figure 1; Figure 4 is a
diagramatic plan view representing the manner in which the framework of the car
is made and showing also portions of the principal parts; Figure 5 is a detached view
of the apparatus for bolting the transverse moving frame; Figure 6 is a detached
plan view in larger size of the lifting mechanism and supporting wheels for the cable;
Figure 7 is a view in larger size ropresenting the principal parts of the cable apparatus
similar to those shown in Figure 2 and with the cable wheels open; Figure 8 is a
diagram representing the air reservoir and pipe connections to the air cylinders that
move the transverse moving frame; Figure 9 is a section of the four-way cock employed
with said air reservoir and cylinders; Figure 10 is a cross section in larger size of
the grip as open; Figure 11 is a similar view of the grip as closed; Figure 12 is a
section at the line, of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a vertical longitudinal section at
the line y, y of Figure 10 of part of the endless belt; Figure 14 is a view similar to
Figure 1 showing the same grip, but with a modification of the pick-up device; the
gripping device in this figure is not fitted to be shifted transversely of the car;
Figure 15 is an inverted plan of the grip partially in section and of a portion of the
endless belt Figure 16 is a section at the line z, z of figure 14; Figure 17 is a
section of the device for raising the cable, and Figure 18 shows a modification of the
devices for moving the grip jaws.
We remark that the gripping device is upon a special car of each train of cars; we
term this car a "Motor car," and the cars connected to said motor car are drawn or
pushed by the motor car as the latter is carried along by the travelling cable.
22
The main frame of the car motor is supported by the axles a and wheels a'. This
frame is composed of longitudinal beams A A A transverse beams A¹ and end sills A²²
framed or secured together in any usual manner and near the middle portion of the
car there are supports as shown in Figure 3 for the cross beams A that support the
floor sections A5 above which is a suitable cab or enclosure A6. The transverse
movable frame carrying the mechanism of the grip is composed of the longitudinal
beams B and transverse bearers B¹. The longitudinal beams B are above the trans-
verse beams B¹ and these latter are below the longitudinal beams A of the main

page_text: frame and between the cross beams A² thereof and there are slide blocks B³ fastened
upon the top of the transverse bearers B¹, and resting upon the beams A² and it is
preferable to make use of these transverse bearers B₁ near the two ends of the car
and the parts of the transverse sliding frame are bolted firmly together and such
frame can be slipped laterally, the blocks B³ sliding upon the cross-beams A² and the
bearers B beneath the longitudinal beam A.
The transverse sliding frame is constructed in such a manner that the amount of
movement that can be given to it is equal to the distance between one cable G and
the other cable G¹, as illustrated in Figure 3 where a portion of the railway structure
and cable supporting wheels are shown, the object being to bring the gripping
mechanism over either one cable or the other, so as to take the motion for the car
from either one cable or the other and it is to be understood that these two cables
are to be provided and run either at the same speed or at different speeds or at
different times, so that if one cable becomes injured or inoperative or requires examina-
tion or repairs, the gripping mechanism can be transferred to the other cable and
where the cables are running at different speeds the car can be connected to either
one or the other as may be required. We have represented horizontal wheels n
which are adapted to run against stationary side rails that prevent the car becoming
displaced or pressing too heavily against the flanges of the wheels a' by the tension
of the cable in passing around curves, such horizontal wheels however, are represented
in our application for patent of like date herewith.
In order to give the transverse motion to the frame B B' and the parts carried
by the same, any suitable mechanism may be employed, such for instance, as a hand
lever or screws driven by gearing, but we prefer and have represented the air
cylinders B with pistons and piston rods B connected with one of the longitudinal
beams B there being one of these air cylinders near each end of the car and at B7
Figures 3 and 8, a cylinder is represented as adapted to contain air under pressure.
and there are pipes leading from this air cylinder B' to the cylinders B³, as represented
in the diagram Figure 8 and there is one four-way cock shown sectionally in
Figure 9 by the turning of which in one direction air is admitted to the two
cylinders B to force the pistons inwardly and move the transverse sliding frame into
the position shown in Figure 4 or by turning this four-way cock into the other
position, air is allowed to escape from one end of such cylinders and the air under
pressure passes into the other end of such cylinders B to move the piston and the
rods 13 and the beams B B' and parts carried by the same towards such cylinders B³
and from the position represented in Figure 4 to the position adapted to grasp the
cable G¹.
In order to prevent the laterally moving frame from shifting its position after it
has been moved from one side to the other, we make use of the bolts C³ supported
upon the frame A and between the cross beams A² such bolts entering holes in the
transverse bearers B₁ and these bolts C³ are moved by suitable means such as the
levers (and links C as represented in Figure 5 it being understood that the bolts C¹³
are withdrawn before air is admitted into the cylinders B and then such bolts are
projected again into holes in the transverse bearers B₁ after the transverse moving
frame has been brought to the proper position and we remark that where but one
cable is made use of the transverse moving frame may be placed centrally of
the car.
We provide holes in the transverse bearers B₁ at the proper positions for holding
the frame B B either centrally or to either side of the car. By this arrangement
the motor is adapted to the cable whatever the position or direction of such cable
may be. Where the travel on a road is considerable, there may be two cables
constantly in use, and where there is but little travel there may be but one cable, the
grip being variable in position to suit the cable.
The belt wheels H are upon the shafts 10 and the endless belt K passes around
the said belt wheels and there are upon the belt K the grip blocks L. The grip
blocks L are preferably made of iron stings that are hollow, concave on their faces
and provided with ribs or flanges 20 on the edges. The bases 15 of the blocks are
じ

page_text: to be fastened to the endless belt K, we prefer however, to introduce the filling
plates or layers 16 which are riveted to the bases 15 by rows of rivets 17 and the
rivets or screws 18 connect the bases of the grip blocks to the belt K near its edge
and these rivets also pass through the filling plates or layers 16 so as to connect all
the parts together.
The inner surfaces of the grip blocks L are preferably of leather made as layers
or sections 19 packed closely in between the flanges 20 of the grip blocks L and there
are rivets 21 passing through the leather sections and through the flanges 20 so as
to hold these leather sections firmly into the grip blocks, and the leather sections
project inwardly beyond the flanges 20 sufficiently to form durable wearing surfaces
that are employed for gripping the cable, and these leather sections will last a long
while before they are sufficiently worn away to allow the flanges 20 to come into
contact with the cable, and before this happens the leather sections should be taken
out and new ones inserted.
The grip jaws M M¹ are pivoted together upon the longitudinal horizontal hinge 25
and it is preferable to make each grip jaw in two parts bolted tegether by the bolts 26
so that the lower portions of the jaws, which are liable to injury, can be removed and
replaced. In joining these two portions of the grip jaws it is preferable to make a
flange or rib at 28 passing into a recess upon the other portion of the grip jaw and
there may be keys at 27 in addition to the bolts 26 for connecting the parts together
and preventing end motion or a separation of the parts when in use. The grip jaws
are supported by the hangers B16 which have eyes surrounding the hinge pin 25 and
said hangers are bolted to the frame B Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. The inner faces of
the grip jaws are grooved to correspond to the convex external portions of the grip
blocks Land towards the end of the grip jaws they are beveled or made flaring as
seen in Figure 15, so that the extreme ends of such grip jaws are wider apart than
the external surfaces of the grip blocks as they occupy the open position shown in
Figure 10 even after the grip jaws may have been closed together into the position
shown in Figure 11 thereby the grip blocks will not come in contact with any
angle or obstruction as they slide in between the grip jaws as illustrated in
Figure 15.
Any suitable device may be made use of for swinging the grip jaws upon the hinge
or pivot 25, we however, prefer to make use of the lever arms O extending upward
from the upper portions of the grip jaws and provided with links 0' that are pivoted
to the upper ends of the lever arms and jointed together at 30 and to the vertical
sliding rack bar P and we have shown the pinions 31 hand wheel Q, ratchet wheel Q¹
and pawl 32 for moving and holding the rack bar P and opening or closing the
grip jaws M M¹.
It will now be understood that when the car is at rest the grip jaws M M¹ are
usually in an open position as illustrated in figure 10 and the endless belt of grip
blocks is stationary. When the cable G or G₁ is raised by the lifters F¹ and the
grooved guide wheels D D' commence to revolve, the endless belt of grip blocks is
moved in the same direction as that of the cable at the place where the cable is between
the grip blocks L and in order to prevent the cable being lifted too high, we apply
at intervals the pendant shields S that take the place of sets or pairs of grip
blocks and prevent the cable being raised above the concave surfaces of the grip blocks
as illustrated in Figure 10. When the car is to be started the hand wheel Q and
pinions are revolved and the rack bar P raised so as to swing the lever armis O
outwardly and bring the jaws M M¹ towards each other. During this movement the
grip blocks L L are also swung towards each other and come up at opposite sides of
the cable and in so doing the horizontal portion of the endless belt K that is between
the belt wheels H H' and adjacent to the cable is arched transversely and upwardly
into the position shown in figures 3 and 11 and when the grip blocks L coine into
contact with the sides of the cable, they are moving at the same speed or nearly so as
the cable, the convex exterior surfaces of the grip blocks sliding freely upon the
interior surfaces of the grip jaws M M and this movement is not interfered with by
the ends of the grip jaws M M² because such ends are bevelled to allow the grip

page_text: blocks to enter between them freely, and it is to be understood that the leather
sections 19 of the grip blocks L grasp or adhere to the cable without injuring the
same, and the leathers are not worn by the cable rapidly because the leather sections
and grip blocks are moving with the cable as the grip is applied but as the pressure
of the grip jaws is gradually increased, the friction between the same and the
exterior surfaces of the grip blocks is increased, and the car itself receive motion
from the grip and its movement is gradually accelerated until a maximum speed,
corresponding to that of the cable is obtained, when there will not be any slip between
the grip blocks and the grip jaws, and the grip will hold firmly to the cable so long
as the proper pressure is maintained of the grip jaws upon the grip blocks, but should
it become necessary to lessen the speed of the car the wheel Q and pinions are turned
back sufficient to lessen the pressure of the grip jaws, so that the grip blocks may
slide more or less through between such grip jaws, the endless belt K and wheels H H¹
revolving more or less with this movement and when the grip jaws are sufficiently
opened the movement of the car may be arrested by brakes applied to the same,
during which time the grip blocks and endless belt are travelling freely along with
the cable, and it is not necessary to open the grip jaws M M sufficiently for dropping
the cable except at the ends of the route, and when it may be necessary to pass from
one track to another.
The concave faces of the grip jaws M M are exposed to wear from the contact
therewith of the convex exterior surface of the grip blocks, and should these jaws
become too much worn or injured they can be replaced by removing the bolts 26 and
it will be apparent that as the jaws M M' are brought towards each other and the
relative positions of the grip jaws and grip blocks changed from that represented in
figure 10) to that represented in figure 11 there is a slight turning movement of the
one part in relation to the other until the lower surfaces of the bases 15 are brought
into contact or nearly so with the flat upper faces of the grip jaws above the concave
surface thereof, hence the friction for holding the grip blocks will be augmented
when the lower surfaces of the bases 15 come into contact with the upper surface of
the grip jaws, and in consequence of the rivets or other connections 18 being near
the outer edges of the bases 15 of the grip blocks, the endless belt K of leather or
other material is free to assume an arched or trough shaped condition as seen in
Figure 11 but as soon as the pressure of the grip jaws against the grip blocks is
relieved, the pairs of grip blocks will be swung apart as the endless belt assumes a
flat condition in approaching the belt wheels H or H¹ thus the grip blocks are self
acting as they swing apart for relieving the hold upon the cable or for dropping the
same.
As before mentioned, the helt K can be made of two or more layers and of any
suitable material, and it is, usually preferable to make use of longitudinal belts K¹
next to the belts K and running either the whole length of such belts K or else
running from one of the guide blocks S to the next, in order that the grip blocks L
and the filling pieces 16 may be more rigidly supported as they stand in the respective
ranges, so as not to depend only upon the strength of the belt K for connecting the
grip blocks L in the ranges, and these belts K₁ become part of the endless belt K
and simply serve to more firmly connect the parts together and furnish the required
strengun at the proper places.
In order to give motion to the belt wheels H we make use of the bands 13
passing around the pulleys 11 on the axis 10 or preferably connected to the sides of
the belt wheels H and we usually employ two pulleys to each belt wheel H one
pulley at each side thereof. The devices employed at the two ends of the car are
similar in all respects and they are operated simultaneously. We have therefore,
shown in Figure 1 the device for acting upon the cable at one end of the car only,
the other end being represented as broken off, and in figure 4 we have shown framing
from one end to the middle of the car and have shown the other end of the platform
or framing the intermediate portion being broken away and the description of the
cable lift and the wheels therewith connected as hereafter set forth is made with

page_text: reference to the devices at one end of the car, the devices at the other end being
identically the same and receiving motion simultaneously as hereafter set forth.
The bands 13 pass around guide pulleys 50 and around the pulleys 51 upon the
axes of the cable wheels D D. These cable wheels D D are set at an inclination
and the edges of such wheels are conical and grooved as seen in Figures 2 and 7.
The axis of each cable is set in a swinging bearing and these two swinging
bearings EE have for their pivot a stationary shaft or gudgeon 52 and this
stationary shaft or gudgeon 52 is supported by a frame E2 hanging below and bolted
to the frame arms Es that extend out below and beyond the beams B and are bolted
at their inner ends to such beams B and to the cross beams B₁ and it will be seen
upon reference to figures and 6 that the swinging bearings E El are made similar
to hinges and are on the projecting gudgeon 52. Upon the frame E2 is a slotted
guide arm F through which passes the lifting hook for the cable which is sup-
ported and actuated as bereafter described. There is a shaft F2 running longitudinally
of the car and supported in suitable bearings and having at each end a crank arm 53
from which extends a suspending link 54 passing down to the pivot 55 that unites
the two toggle links 56 together and the outer ends of these links are pivoted to the
swinging bearing E E' respectively, each toggle link is preferably made tubular as
shown sectionally in Figure 6 having a pin within the tube and an expansive
spring around the tube, the pin being connected to the knuckle or joint at one end
and the tube to the knuckle or joint at the other end of the toggle so that a slight
endwise yielding movement is allowed to the parts of the toggle links, and the extent
of motion is limited by the cross pin passing through the slot in the toggle bars.
When the shaft F2 receives a partial rotation in one direction the crank arms 5t and
links 55 raise the toggle links 56 and swing the bearings E E' upwardly and towards
each other thereby separating the cable wheels D D₁ so that the cable may drop out
from between them and when the shaft F2 receives a movement in the other direction
the cranks. 53 force the links 5t downwardly and straighten the toggle links 56
throwing the bearing E E' downwardly and outwardly to bring the conical edges of
the cable wheels D D¹ into contact with each other or nearly so and hold the cable G
or G' within the grooves of such cable wheels and the pressure of the toggle links
and their springs is sufficient to cause the cable wheels D D to revolve by contact
with the travelling cable when the car is standing still, and the springs of the toggles
yield if any bunch or enlargement on the cable passes between the wheels D D and
when the grip is applied to the cable and the car is moved thereby these wheels D D¹
may remain in contact with the cable when the car is travelling at the same speed
as the cable, but when the grip jaws M M¹ are partially opened by the action of the
hand wheel pinions 31 and rack bar P forcing down the links O¹ and drawing the
upper ends of the levers O towards each other then the cable wheels D D will
receive more or less rapid rotation from the contact of the cable with such wheels and
by the bands 13 and pulleys 11 the belt wheels H and belt K will be set in motion
and the gripping blocks upon such endless belt K will be moving at a corresponding
speed to the cable and thereby there will be little or no wear upon the gripping
blocks and when the pressure is again given by the gripping jaws M M' the exterior
surfaces of the gripping blocks will slide against the interior surface of the gripping
jaws until the car attains the same speed of movement as the cable.
We have found that the pendant shields S upon the belt K at intervals between
the ranges of gripping blocks are available in helping to start the belt K because
when the cable is lifted and taken between the pairs of wheels D D' the tendency of
the cable is to bow upwardly and press against the concave under faces of these
pendant shields and give to them and to the endless belt the same speed of move-
nient as the cable while the car is standing still, and this is an important feature as
the contact of the cable with the shields lessens the duty to be performed by the
belts 13 and should such belts slip or break the shields alone may be employed.
If these shields wear away, they can easily be taken off and others substituted or
else the faces of the shields can be renewed.

page_text: Upon reference to Figures 2 and 7 it will be noticed that the pivot 52 upon which
the beams E E swing is directly over the cable and comparatively near thereto,
hence, the weight of these bearings and of the cable wheels D D¹ acts with leverage
to cause the wheels D D' to grip the cables, hence, but little downward and outward
pressure by the toggles 56 is necessary and such toggles are required principally in
lifting the bearings and separating the wheels.
We here remark that it is sometimes necessary to throw off the grip mechanism
for dropping the cable automatically and with this object in view the pawl 32 that
holds the ratchet wheels Q is provided with a link 60 to a crank shaft 61 having at
one end an arm 62 and a hanging link 63 to the roller 64 that is raised automatically
by the incline 65, affixed to the guard rail of the railway structure. These parts are
shown in Figures 1 and 3, some portions of them in Figure 1 being dotted and a
link 66 extending from the car axle box to the axis of the roller 64 serves to steady
this roller but allow it to rise and fall, and when the pawl 32 is disconnected from
the ratchet wheel Q' either automatically as aforesaid or by the foot, the wheels QQ¹
are free to rotate and the rack bar P to descend by its weight and open the grip
jaws M M¹ sufficient to slacken the hold upon the cable or if the downward move-
ment of the rack bar P is continued the grip jaws will be opened sufficiently to drop
the cable, and upon reference to Figure it will be seen that an arm 67 on the rack
bar P at this time comes into contact with a crank 68 on the shaft F2 turning the
same and lifting the links 54 toggle links 56, and swinging bearings E E! to separate
the cable wheels D D¹ and drop the cable.
Upon reference to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the rack bar P is slotted
and that there is a stationary bar 70 passing through said slot to ensure a vertical
movement to the rack bar so that both grip jaws M M¹ will move uniformly in
opening and closing. This bar 70 is supported at its ends by the cross frame 71
which also forms a bearing for the shaft F2 and for shaft I next referred to. This
shaft I extends the whole length of the car and is supported at its ends in bearings 72
and there is a bevel gear I upon the shaft I and a bevel pinion I2 upon a vertical
shaft 13 with a crank handle 1 at the upper end by which means the attendant
can revolve the shaft 1 in either direction as desired. Upon the end of this shaft I.
are the cam wheels T and upon each of such cam wheels is a pin 73 and the crank
arms 53 at the ends of the shaft F are in the path described by the pins 73 so that
when the shaft I is rotated in the direction of the arrow, Figure 2, the crank
arms 53 and the shaft F2 are moved and the links 54 move the toggle links and
swinging bearings E E to bring the cable wheels D D towards each other as
before mentioned and the attendant stops the rotation of the shaft I in the position
indicated in figure 7 when the grip is applied but by the action of the pins 73 upon
the cranks 53 the joints of the toggle links 56 are thrown slightly below a straight
line so that the cable wheels D D₁ are retained in their position against the cable
until such time as the stop 67 is brought into contact with the crank 68 on the
shaft F as before described. When the shaft I has been turned slightly beyond the
position shown in figure 2 the depression 89 in the cam 80 comes under the roller 79
and the lifting hook F¹ is lowered sufficiently for the end to clear the cable and allow
such hook to be swung back and raised sufficiently to be out of the way of the guide
pulleys on the track as seen in figure 7.
A foot lever T6, Figures 1 and 7 may be used to fall into a notched disk T' shown
by dotted lines figure 7 and full lines figure 1 on the shaft I to hold the hook F¹ in
the position shown in figure 7 whether the wheels D D¹ may have been separated by
the action of the projection 67 or not.
Within bearings upon the frame F2 is a shaft 75 having at one end a crank arm 76
from the outer end of which the lifting hook F¹ before mentioned is suspended and
upon the other end of the shaft 75 is a crank arm 77 to the vertical slotted bar T¹
and the slot in this bar receives and is guided by the end of the shaft I there being
a washer or head upon the said shaft to hold the slotted bar T' in position and upon
the upper end of the slotted bar T¹ is a roller 79 above the cam portion 80 of the cam
wheel T. The shape of this cam 80 is illustrated in figures 2 and 7 and the object of
B

page_text: this cam is to raise and lower the lifting hook F' at the proper time such movement
being communicated through the slotted bar T', crank arm 77, shaft 75, and arm 76
to the lifting hook F¹.
In order to swing the lifting hook F laterally to pass it in below the cable pre-
paratory to lifting the same and to move the hook from below the cable in dropping
the same, we make use of a second shaft 81 above the shaft 75 and passing through a
bearing in the cross frame E2 at one end of which shaft 81 is an arm 82 and link 83
to the lifting hook F¹ and at the other end of this shaft 81 is an upright arm 84 with
a roller at the upper end adjacent to the cam 85 on the cam wheels T. The shape of
this cam 85 is represented in figures 2 and 7 and the relative position of the same
to the cam 80, and it is now to be understood that when the cam wheels T are rotated
in the direction of the arrows from the position shown in figure 7, the roller 79
passing down the inclines 88 lowers the lifting hook F to the position represented by
dotted lines in figure 7 and then the cam 85 acting against the arm 84 swings the
hook in beneath the cable, and the gradual inclination of the cam 80 lifts the slotted
bar T and the lifting hook until the cable arrives in the position required for the
cable wheels D D' to be closed in upon the same. At this moment the pins 73 act
upon the crank arms 53 links 54 and toggle links 56 to swing the bearings E' and
the cable wheels D D¹ so that the latter grasp the cable between them and the parts
assume the position indicated in Figure 2, and the further movements of the parts to
the position shown in figure 7 lower the hook slightly, draw it aside and raise it as
before mentioned, and it is not in the way in case the cable is to be dropped.
When the cable grip is central to the motor car the coupling to the draft bar of
the passenger cars will be central and connected to the hole 90 at either one end
of the motor car or the other. If the connection remains central after the transversely
moving frame had been forced over to one side or the other the tendency would be
to cause the flanges of the wheels A¹ of the motor car to bear irregularly upon the
track. If, however, a draft bar was made use of extending to the point 92 upon the
motor car immediately over the central portion of the grip connection the flanges of
the wheels would bear equally or nearly so against the track but in consequence of
the mechanism made use of difficulty has arisen in extending the draft bar to such
point. We therefore provide in the end sills holes 93 and a movable draw bar 94 for
coupling to the adjacent passenger cars and upon reference to figure 4 it will be
seen by the dotted lines between 92 and 94 that the movable draw bar 94 is in the
line of draft which if prolonged, would reach the point 92, hence these holes 93 in
the end sills of the motor car render it unnecessary to make use of a swinging draft
bar upon the motor car and accomplish the same useful object as would be accom-
plished if the draft bar upon the motor car was made use of, having its point of
attachment to such car immediately above the grip.
We find it advantageous to apply a contractile spring 104 to the lower end of the
rack P see figure 1, to aid in drawing down such rack and throwing off the grip when
the same is actuated automatically by the incline 65 acting on the roller 64 and con-
nections to the pawl 32 and this also assists in the movement when the cable is to be
dropped, and to aid in opening the wheels D D¹ to drop the cable; a contractile
spring 105 shown by dotted lines may be applied as represented in figure 2 so that
when the arm 68 is pressed down by the arm 67 the spring will aid in raising the
toggles 56 and separating the wheels D D'.
In figures 14. 15. 16 and 17 the endless belt K gripping jaws M M¹ and means for
opening and closing said jaws are the same as before described, but the wheels D D
are in fixed bearings and the cable is brought up against said wheels D D by the
lifters so as to put said wheels D D in motion and thereby give motion to the
drums H and endless belt K by the bands 13, that pass around the pulleys 51 and 11
upon the wheels D, and drums H respectively.
The lifters F are raised or lowered by means of the levers D12 links 3 and 6 and
lever E18 and the latter has a pawl 5 taking into a stationary rack F18 to hold the
lifters in the position into which they may be moved.
The lifters F are swung out from below the cable when the latter is to be dropped

page_text: by means of the attendant pressing upon the foot lever 8 which lever is connected
with the lifters F' by the cords 7 that pass around suitable guide pulleys as shown.
There is a spring at 6 which tends to swing the lifter under the cable when the lifter
is lowered to pick up the cable.
The car shown in figures 14, 15, 16, and 17 is not provided with the transverse
sliding frame B B' and the gripping mechanism is therefore not fitted to be shifted
transversely of the car, but it is secured to the main frame of the car.
Under some circumstances these grip blocks L and the endless belt K with which
they are connected may be made use of without the gripping jaws M M¹ and in order
to illustrate such use, we have shown in Figure 18 a right and left hand screw 40
with cylindrical nuts 41 applied to each pair of blocks and friction wheels 42, 43 at
the respective ends of the screw shafts 40 and stationary rails 44, 45 with which such
friction wheels 42 and 43 may be brought into contact, so that as the car moves along
or the belt is moved along by the cable, the gripping blocks can be tightened upon or
loosened from said cable by rotating the right and left hand screw, in either one
direction or the other, according to which of the bars or rails 44, 45 is brought or
comes into contact with the wheels 42 or 43.
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 :-
First. The combination with the wheels and main platform of a transversely moving
frame and the cable gripping mechanism supported by such transverse moving frame
so as to adapt the gripping mechanism to the position of the cable upon which the
same acts, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the car wheels and platform of a transverse movable
platform or frame supported by the main platform, cable gripping mechanism
supported upon and moving with such transverse platform, bolts for holding the
platform in the position to which it may be moved, air cylinders, pistons and piston
rods for giving motion to the platforın, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with the belt wheels and an endless belt having gripping
blocks, of gripping jaws for acting upon the gripping blocks, the cable wheels D DI
placed at an inclination and grooved for the reception of the cable, the swinging
bearings pivoted together and receiving the axes of the cable wheels and toggle
mechanism for swinging the bearings and moving the cable wheels towards or from
each other substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the endless belt having gripping blocks, and the
gripping jaws for acting upon the same, of the cable wheels D D¹ placed at an
inclination and grooved to receive the cable, swinging bearings for the axes of the
cable wheels, pulleys upon the axes of the cable wheels and belts extending therefrom
and pulleys and belt wheels for giving motion to the endless belt and gripping blocks
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the transverse moving frame B B¹ of the frame
arms E³ extending from the ends of the frame B B' the cross frame E2 the swinging
bearings E El pivoted upon the frame E2, the cable wheels D D set at an inclination
and grooved for the reception of the cable the axis of the cable wheels being
supported in the swinging bearings the toggle links pivotted together and to the
swinging bearings the shaft F arms 53 and links 54 for acting upon the toggle
links and moving the swinging bearings substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the swinging bearings E E¹ cable wheels D D¹ and
their axes within the swinging bearings of toggle links formed of two parts one
sliding within the other and expansible springs for giving pressure of the cable wheels
upon the cable substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the endless belt, and gripping blocks and belt
wheels, of the gripping jaws, the levers and toggles for acting upon the same, the rack
bar, pinions and hand wheel for opening and closing the gripping jaws, the ratchet

page_text: wheel and pawl for holding the parts in position, the roller 64, incline 65, the link for
holding the roller and the connection therefrom to the pawl for liberating the same
automatically and releasing the grip jaws, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the lifting hook F' of the arm 76 vertical bar T¹ and
cam 80 for raising and lowering the hook and the link 83 and the arm 84 and cam 85
for swinging the lifting hook beneath or away from the cable substantially as set
forth.
Ninth. The combination with the cable wheels D D' and swinging bearing for the
same, of the toggle links and mechanism for acting upon the same to swing the cable
wheels towards or from each other, the hanging lifting hook, and arm and links for
raising and lowering the hook and for swinging the same beneath or away from the
cable, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the gripping mechanism and the cable wheels D D¹
of the toggle links, the swinging bearings for the cable wheels, the shaft F2 extending
along the car and the crank arms 53 for giving motion to the toggle mechanism at
both ends of the car simultaneously, the shaft I, cam wheels T, lifting hooks F¹ links
and crank arms whereby the lifting hook is actuated in unison with the cable wheels,
substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination with the wheels and main platform, of a transversely
moving platform supported by the main platform, bolts for holding said trans-
versely moving platform in position and gripping mechanism supported by such
transversely moving platform, substantially as specified.
Twelfth. The combination with the wheels and main platform of a transversely
moving platform, gripping mechanism supported by such platform, a movable link for
connecting the motor car to the cars to be drawn there being holes in the end sill of
the main platform in a line extending to the centre of the transversely moving
platform or nearly so, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Thirteenth. The combination with the wheels and main platform on a motor car of
the transversely moving frame and a grip mechanism and a pick up device connected
to and supported by the transversely moving frame, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the wheels and main platform in a motor car of
the transversely moving frame the grip mechanism connected to and supported by the
said frame and mechanism for holding the said frame in the position to which it may
be moved upon the main platform substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination with the endless belt having gripping jaws and pendant
shields or chocks, of cable wheels to support the cable after it has been lifted and for
causing the cable to come into contact with the pendant, shields or chocks and give
motion to the belt while the car is at rest substantially as specified.
Sixteenth. The combination with the cable gripping mechanism of cable wheels D D'
in pairs and at an inclination and swinging bearings for such cable wheels and a
pivot for such swinging bearings which is above the cable so that the weight of the
parts will cause the wheels to press at opposite sides on the cable, substantially as
specified.
Seventeenth. The combination with the cable, of an endless belt, belt wheels around
which the belt travels, grip blocks in pairs upon the endless belt adapted to swing
apart for the reception or discharge of the cable, and mechanism for pressing the
grip blocks towards each other and at opposite sides of the cable, substantially as set
forth.
Eighteenth. The endless belt and belt wheels around which the belt passes, in
combination with grip blocks connected to the endless belt and sections of leather or
similar material within the grip blocks and recessed for the reception of the cable, and
mechanism acting upon the grip blocks for pressing them towards each other to grasp
the cable substantially as set forth.
Nineteenth. The grip blocks having convex exterior surfaces and sections of leather
or similar material in their inner faces, in combination with grip jaws grooved to fit
the convex exterior surfaces of the grip blocks and mechanism for acting upon the

page_text: grip jaws to move them towards or from each other and grasp the cable between the
surface of the grip blocks or to open such grip blocks and allow the cable to drop
substantially as specified.
Twentieth. The grip blocks L formed as hollow castings with the bases 15 in
combination with the sections or layers of leather or similar material introduced
within the grip blocks the filling plates or layers 16 connected to the bases of the grip
blocks and the endless belt K to which the bases of the grip blocks are fastened
substantially as set forth.
Twenty first. The combination with the endless belt K and the wheels H H of grip
blocks adapted to grasp the cable and provided with bases by which the grip blocks
are connected to the endless belt, and the pendant shields introduced at intervals and
secured to the belt for preventing the cable being lifted too high and ensuring the
proper grasping of the cable as the grip blocks are brought up at the sides thereof
substantially as set forth.
Twenty second. The combination with the endless belt and the grip blocks upon the
same in pairs and adapted to receive the cable between them, of the grip jaws having
concave faces for acting against the grip blocks, a pivot or hinge for connecting the
grip jaws together and levers for acting upon the grip jaws to open or close the same
substantially as set forth.
Twenty third. The combination with the grip jaws and the hinge or pivot for
connecting the same together, of levers for acting upon the grip jaws, links, a rack
and pinion for opening or closing the grip jaws and an endless belt between the grip
jaws, and grip blocks in pairs connected upon the belt and passing between the grip
jaws substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Twenty fourth. The combination with the pick up device and means for actuating
the same, of an endless belt or band and grip blocks upon such belt, belt wheels
around which the endless belt passes, a wheel receiving rotation from the cable and a
connection therefrom to the belt wheels for giving to the belt and grip blocks a
motion in the same direction as the cable substantially as set forth.
Twenty fifth. The combination with the endless belt and grip blocks connected
thereon of grip jaws, a pivot or hinge for connecting the jaws together, such grip
jaws being made in two parts and bolted together to allow for the removal of the
portions or jaws that act on the grip block for repair or renewal substantially as set
forth.
Twenty sixth. The endless belt or band and the grip blocks upon such belt in
combination with the belt wheels around which the endless belt passes and a wheel
receiving rotation from the cable and a connection therefrom to the belt wheels for
giving to the belt and grip blocks a motion in the same direction as the cable,
substantially as set forth.