Improvements in Grip Mechanism for Cable Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grip Mechanism for Cable Railways.
I, CHARLES ISAAC EARLL, of 121 East Twenty-sixth Street, New York, in the
County of New York, and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in grip mechanism for cable railways, the
objects thereof being to readily grip and ungrip the cable in starting and stopping
the cable car, and also from the car and automatically to operate and release the
movable jaw and throw out the cable.
In carrying out my invention I employ devices operated from the car for
raising and lowering the movable jaw to grip and ungrip the cable in stopping
and starting the car; also devices operated from the car for releasing the movable
jaw and throwing out the cable from the grip together with devices connected with
the slot rails of the cable conduit for automatically performing the same operation.
These devices may be operated from either end of the car or from an intermediate
point when a special grip car is used. All of these devices are hereinafter more
fully described.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating my improvements with the parts in the
position occupied when the cable is gripped.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section at the line ww of Fig. 1, showing the gripping
mechanism and in addition a cross section of the slot rails and end elevation of
the ejector bars connected therewith.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of said parts.
Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation with the parts in the position they will assume
when the movable jaw is fully raised.
Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation with the parts in the position they will assume
when the movable jaw is operated and the cable simultaneously released and
thrown out or ejected either from the car mechanism or automatically.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan at the line of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a sectional plan at the line y y of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a detached vertical section at 4, 4, of Fig. 5.
Fig. 9 is an elevation illustrating a modification of my device and
Fig. 10 is a vertical section at zz of Fig. 9.
A represents the yoke frame carrying the operating mechanism and which yoke
frame is supported from the truck of the car. The longitudinal girders K have
connected to them the cross carrying bars I.
The carrier sleeves H surround and are adapted to move lengthwise upon the
bars 1 and these sleeves have rising pins H' which pass through holes made in
the respective ends of the yoke frame A and the yoke. frame and the grip
mechanism supported thereby are thus connected to and carried by the cable car.
The yoke frame A is made with depending ribbed portions 1 to which the
vertically placed outer shanks B B' are secured by the bolts 2 and standards A' A³
rise from the said yoke frame to receive and act as bearings for the rock
shafts c c. The vertically placed intermediate shanks C C¹ and central shank D
occupy the space between the outer shanks B B₁ and are in the same plane there-
with so as to pass freely through the slot between the slot rails N N'. The
blocks a a are secured upon the opposite faces of the shanks C C' and the
ro
37

page_text: crosshead plates bb' are bolted to the opposite faces of the central shank D and
their free ends extend across the shanks C C and over the adjacent edges of the
outer shanks B B' whereby the outer shanks B B act as guides for the plates b b¹
and shank D and the plates 6 61 act as guides for the shanks C C¹.
с
connect the
dd' represent rocker arms upon the rock shafts c c and these rocker arms are
connected by a link e.
Rocker arms h h are also
ends of these rocker arms
within the open yoke frame A.
C
connected to the shafts c c and links i
with the upper ends of the intermediate shanks C C¹
A rocker arm g is connected to the shaft c and a connecting rod 3 passes from
its upper end to one end of the cable car; and a connecting rod 5 from the other
end of the cable car is connected to the upper end of the rocker arm d' by a
pivot pin g¹.
A lever forked at its lower end is pivoted to the yoke frame A by the pivot
pin 6 and a rock shaft k¹ passes through this lever and to the outer end of this
rock-shaft is connected a rocker arm k whose lower end is connected to the rock
shaft by the link e¹ and rocker arm f, which latter is connected to the rock
shaft c¹.
The rock shaft k¹ carries a pawl m. and the upper end of the lever / is provided
with a connecting rod and coupling 4 extending in both directions to the respective
ends of the cable car.
Within the forked lever upon the pivot pin 6 is mounted a tumbler n and
links o o¹ are pivoted to said tumbler and to the central shank D upon the opposite
faces of the crosshead plates. 1. The tumbler n is provided with a notch 10
for the pawl m and a projection 11 against which the cross web of the lever !
bears, and the axial center of the pin 20 connecting the rocker arm k and link e
in the normal position of the parts agrees essentially with the axial center of the
pivot pin 6 so that in the position Fig. 1 it is possible to rock the lever! by the
connecting rod 4 and by means of the pawlm tumbler n and links o o¹ to raise
and lower the central shank D without moving or throwing out the pawl mor
operating the rocker arm k or disturbing any of the other parts of the grip
mechanism.
The lower jaw E is secured to the outer shanks B B' and is, stationary.
The upper jaw G is secured to the central shank D and is vertically movable
therewith. The lower jaw E is a casting with central end mortises for the outer
shanks B B and the upper jaw G is also a casting with a central mortise for the
shanks B B which pass through it and for the central shank D to which said jaw
is attached by the rivets 9.
These jaws are made with recesses to receive the grip shoes and ss which
act upon the cable S and said grip shoes are held removably in place in said
recesses by the pins 7, 8.
A lifter bar F is illustrated as made in two similar parts which are securely
riveted to the intermediate shanks C C' and to each other upon the opposite
aligned faces of the shanks, and the respective ends of said bar are secured
together by rivets 12 and are provided with pins 13.
The respective ends of the lower jaw E are provided with depressions or
recesses extending across the said jaw widthwise and L L are ejectors whose
inclined flaring lower ends are received in said recesses.
These ejectors extend up through the jaw G and through the lifter bar F and
their upper ends are slotted for the pins. 13 of said lifter bar.
The lower edges of the lifter bar F are inclined in opposite directions from the
central portion toward the ends, and I provide in the cable conduit and preferably
connected to the under side of the slot rails inclined ejector bars 0 0¹ whose
purpose will be hereinafter more fully described.
In the position of the parts Fig. 1 the cable shown in dotted lines is supposed
to be gripped between the jaws E G pressure being applied through the connecting
rod 4 lever pawl m tumbler n and links o o' to force down the central shank D

page_text: and movable jaw G upon the cable, this pressure being augmented in proportion
to the power applied by the operator on the cable car in drawing upon the rod 4.
To ungrip the cable in order to apply the usual brakes and stop the cable car
for passengers to alight, the connecting rod 4 is pulled upon in the direction of
the arrow 21, Fig. 1, operating the lever and causing its cross web to bear upon
the projection 11 of the tumbler n and raising said tumbler n, links o o', shank D
and upper jaw G to whatever extent may be necessary to free the cable. To
start the car the motion of these parts is reversed and the shank D and jaw G
are forced down as heretofore described.
There are times when it is desired to throw out the cable entirely and this
operation shown by Fig. 5 may be effected in two ways, either by the operator on
the car, or automatically. When effected by the operator on the car one of the
connecting rods 3 or 5 is pulled upon (according to the direction in which the car
is moving) in the direction of the arrow and the rocker arms g, d and k on the
shaft and the rocker arms d', ' and f on the shaft o' together with the links e el
are operated and swung over toward the position shown in Fig. 5, raising the
links, intermediate shanks C C¹ and lifter bar F and moving the pins 13
upward in the slots of the ejectors L L' and simultaneously pushing forward the
link e swinging the rocker arm k upon the rock shaft and raising the pawl m
out of engagement with the tumbler n. This movement brings the blocks a a¹ up
against the crosshead plates b b and the pins 13 to the upper ends of the slots of
the ejectors L L¹.
The further movement upon the aforesaid parts brings them into the full position
shown in Fig. 5 wherein' the intermediate shanks CC by their blocks a a', the
plates bb and shanks D have lifted the movable jaw G off the cable and the lifter
bar F secured to the shanks CC has elevated the ejectors LL' and caused their
inclines to act upon the cable and eject or slide it out of the grip mechanism. In
this operation the position of the lever is not affected.
When the cable is ejected automatically the operation is accomplished by the
ejector bars 00' shown in the end view Fig. 2 and in dotted lines Fig. 5.
These ejector bars 001 are illustrated as connected by bolts 15 to the foot
plates of the slot rails N N¹ or said ejector bars 00' may be connected to the
conduit structure in any desired manner, and they have inclined edge faces that
come within and rise between the vertical inner faces of said slot rails.
In the movement of the cable car and as the grip mechanism comes along to the
fixed ejector bars 00' the under inclined edges of the lifter bar F ride up the
inclined edges of these ejector bars 00' lifting the bar F and intermediate
shanks C C connected therewith. This movement brings the blocks a a' up to the
plates bb and the pins 13 to the top of the slots of the ejectors LL' and
simultaneously by the links i swings the rocker arms hh shafts ce¹ rocker
arms d d'flinks e el rocker arm k and rock shaft k¹ and lifts the pawl m from the
tumbler n releasing the shank D and movable jaw G and the further movement of
the parts just described elevates the jaw G and ejector bars 0.0¹ and slides the
cable out of the grip mechanism.
When these parts return by the descent of the moving jaw to a normal position
the tumbler n is rotated and the pawl m turned down to place against the tumbler
thereby bringing the center of the pin 20 connecting the rocker arm k and link e¹
into axial line with that of the pivot pin 6.
In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the upper jaw T is stationary and
is secured to the outer shanks B B and the lower jaw V is movable and is secured
to the central shank D the blocks a a¹ are not employed, the tumbler n is of
slightly modified form, and the pawl m is made with a hooked end to engage the
lower edge of the said tumbler. Otherwise the construction and operation of the
other parts is the same as heretofore described.
In this modification the lower movable jaw is raised and the cable gripped by
pulling on the rod 4 in the direction of the arrow 22, Fig. 9, and this jaw is dropped
and the cable released or ungripped by tripping the pawl m by the mechanism

page_text: heretofore described by pulling on either rod 3 or 5 from the cable car, or
automatically by the ejector bars 001 in the trench raising the lifter plate F and
when the lower jaw V drops and the lifter bar F raises the ejectors LL' by the
automatic action of the bars 0.0, the cable is slid out of the grip mechanism by
the inclines of the ejectors L L'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of a tumbler and a pivot therefor and connections from said tumbler to said
movable jaw and to the car for operating said tumbler, a pawl engaging the tumbler
and devices for disengaging said pawl from said tumbler to permit the jaws to open
and release the cable, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of a shank carrying the movable jaw, a tumbler and links connecting the
said tumbler with the shank a lever operated from the car and a pawl carried by
said lever and engaging the said tumbler, whereby the movable jaw is operated to
grip and ungrip the cable, substantially as specified.
Third. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of a shank carrying the movable jaw, a tumbler and links connecting the
said tumbler with the shank, a lever operated from the car and a pawl carried by
said lever and engaging the said tumbler, and devices acting upon the said pawl for
disengaging it from the tumbler, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of the central shank D connected to the movable jaw, the tumbler n and its
connection to the shank D, the lever and the rod 4 for moving said lever from the
car, and a pawl m pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage the tumbler for
operating the movable jaw, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of the central shank D connected to the movable jaw, the tumbler n and its a
connection to the shank D, the lever 1, the pivot pin 6 upon which both the
tumbler n and lever are mounted, and the rod 4 for moving said .lever from the
car, and a pawl m pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage the tumbler for
operating the movable jaw, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a grip mechanism, the combination with a stationary and a movable
jaw, of the central shank D connected to the movable jaw, the crosshead and guide
plates bb' upon the upper end of said shank, the tumbler n having a notch 10 and
projection 11, the links pivoted to and connecting the tumbler and shank D, the
rocking lever and a connection therefrom to the car, a pawl pivoted to said lever
and engaging the tumbler in the notch 10, whereby the lever and pawl move the 4
tumbler and parts operated thereby in one direction and the lever and projection 11
move the tumbler and parts in the other direction, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In a grip mechanism the combination with a stationary jaw, a movable
jaw and their shanks and the mechanism for operating said jaw, of the intermediate
shanks CC the lifter bar F-secured thereto, the ejector bars 001 in the cable 4
trench for acting upon and automatically lifting the bar F and the ejectors L. L'
connected to and operated by the bar whereby the movable jaw and cable are
released or ungripped and the cable thrown out, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. In a grip mechanism, the combination with the stationary and the
movable jaws and their shanks, of the intermediate shanks CC, the lifter bar F 5
and blocks a a' secured to said shanks CC, the ejectors L.L'extending through the
lifter bar and having slotted connections at their upper ends and inclines at their
lower ends received in recesses in the lower jaw, and means for raising the lifter
bar F to release or ungrip and throw out the cable, substantially as set forth.
}
Ninth. In a grip mechanism, the combination with the movable jaw, its shank D, 5
the pawl and mechanism engaged by said pawl and connected to the shank, and

page_text: devices for operating the same in gripping the cable, of the rock shafts cc, the
rocker arms ddf and k, the connecting links eel and the rock shaft k¹ to which said
pawl is pivoted, and mechanism substantially as specified for operating the
aforesaid rock shafts, arms and links for moving the said pawl to release the movable
jaw, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination with the gripping jaws, the means for actuating and.
holding the same, and a cable ejector, of a lifter bar movable independently of the
gripping jaws and their shanks, stationary inclines within the cable trench and with
which the lifter bar comes into contact and is raised, and connections from the
lifter bar by which the grip holding mechanism is first disconnected and then the
gripping jaws are opened and the ejector raised for throwing out the cable,
substantially as specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.