Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Elevators or Lifts.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Operating Elevators or Lifts.
I WILLIAM PARKER GIBSON of 15 Queen Street in the City of London 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 in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to improvements in auxiliary valves for operating the main
valve or valves controlling the movements of the power piston of an elevator mechanism
The
as also to the means of operating such auxiliary valves from the elevator car.
invention is particularly applicable and will be hereafter described as applied to a
hydraulic elevator. It may be remarked in passing that the improvements constituting
the present invention though illustrated in the drawings and hereafter described as
applied to an elevator mechanism having a power cylinder of the vertical type, are
equally applicable to elevator mechanisms containing a horizontal cylinder, or in which
the power piston has an oscillating motion.
.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of an elevator mechanism embodying my
improvements.
Fig. 2 is a plan view upon an enlarged scale of the auxiliary valve mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, also upon an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the lines 4 of Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 5 is a front view of part of an elevator car provided with the device for
actuating the auxiliary valves.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the same on the line 2 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a section on the line 3 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a modification of such apparatus.
Fig. 9 is a section on the line 5 of Fig. 8; and
Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections between the elevator
car and the said auxiliary valve mechanism.
Referring to Fig. 1 it will be understood that A represents the power cylinder
and B the power piston of an ordinary hydraulic elevator, C its circulating pipe,
Dits supply pipe and E its discharge pipe communicating with the discharge
outlet F, all of which parts are of the usual and well known constructions and
therefore need no further description here. The supply and discharge of the motor
fluid to and from the cylinder and its circulation from the upper to the lower end
thereof are controlled in the usual manner by means of the valve H mounted upon
the lower end of rod I contained within a valve-casing G. The rod I is extended
beyond the valve casing G and carries at its upper end a piston J working in a
cylinder K mounted upon the upper end of the valve casing G. The upper and
lower ends of the cylinder K communicate with the auxiliary valve mechanism by
means of pipes L M respectively. The auxiliary valve mechanisms for both of
these pipes being exact duplicates as to construction and mode of operation a
description of the construction and operation of one will suffice for an understanding
of the present invention.
The pipe M, through which water is admitted to the under side of the piston J,
communicates with a chamber a which chamber contains a valve 6 carried by a valve
rode which has mounted upon its upper end a piston d (see fig. 4) contained within
a chamber e. The chamber a communicates with a discharge chamber f baving
connected to it a discharge pipe N communicating in turn with the discharge
outlet F. The under side of the piston d and the upper side of the valve bare kept
constantly in communication with the source of water supply by means of a supply
chamber having connected to it a supply pipe O communicating either directly or

page_text: through the circulating pipe of the elevator mechanism as shown, with the supply
pipe D, see fig. 1. The piston d being of greater area than the valve the pressure
of the water thus supplied to the space between the valve band piston d will operate
to sustain the valve 6 in its raised position (as shown in fig. 4), the pressure of the
water upon the piston d aided, if desired, by the pressure of the spring counter-
balancing the downward tendency of the valve and piston and the downward pressure
of the water exerted upon the valve b. The supply chamber also communicates by
means of a duct or passage with a chamber k containing a valve controlling com-
munication between said duct and a duct or passage m leading to the upper side of
the piston d (see Fig. 4). The rod o carrying the valve passes upward through the
valve casing and upon the exterior thereof is connected to a lever n which in turn is
connected to the operating rope P as clearly seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 10. The said
operating rope is acted upon from the car in a manner hereinafter set forth and can
move the valve rod o and its valve I downward and open communication between the
ducts jm, the pressure of the water contained in the chamberk being sufficiently great
to hold the valve to its seat when the rope P is no longer deflected.
As before observed the foregoing description of the valve mechanism controlling the
admission of water to the lower side of the piston J through the pipe M, applies
equally well to the duplicate valve mechanism controlling the supply to its upper side
through the pipe L. The supply pipe O communicates through the supply chamber /
with the two valve mechanisms and the two mechanisms similarly communicate with
the discharge pipe N through the discharge chamber f. The lever of the latter
mechanism is, however, for the sake of convenience in describing the operation of the
mechanism, lettered n¹.
The operation of the apparatus will now be described. When, the piston B is at
rest the main valve H and its connections and the auxiliary valve mechanisms for
both sides of the piston J will occupy the positions shown in the drawing, communi-
cation being open between both sides of the piston J and the discharge chamber f;
and closed between the same and the supply chamber h.
When it is desired to cause
the ascent of the piston B and the descent of the car, the attendant will operate the
rope deflecting mechanism within the elevator car and thus actuate the lever n' and
cause the valve to move downward and open communication between the ducts j, m,
of the valve mechanism controlling communication to the upper side of the piston J.
Communication being tbus established between these two ducts water will pass from
the supply chamber h through the same to the upper side of the piston d against
which it will exert a pressure sufficient to move it and the valve & downward. The
valve when it has been moved down to its seat in the lower end of the chamber a
will shut off communication between the upper end of the cylinder K and the discharge
chamber, and open communication between it and the supply chamber h, the auxiliary
valve mechanism for the under side of the piston J remaining stationary, with com-
munication open between the under side of the piston and the discharge chamber, as
shown in Fig. 4. Water will then enter the upper end of the cylinder K and move
the piston J and the main valve rod I downward until the main valve H has been
moved sufficiently to open communication between the circulating pipe C and the
lower end of the cylinder A and permit the circulation of the water from the upper
to the lower side of the piston in the usual manner. To arrest the upward movement
of the piston B the attendant will release the pressure on the rope P and lever n¹, the
water beneath the valve then raising said valve and cutting off communication
between the ducts j, m.
The duct m of each valve mechanism communicates by a small discharge pipe g
with the discharge chamber f, and which pipe is permanently open, so that as soon
as the valve is closed the pressure upon the upper side of the piston d will be
relieved by the escape of the water above the same through the pipe g to the
discharge chamber, said piston and with it the valve & being raised by the pressure
of the water entering the chamber e, aided by the spring i, to open communication
between the pipe L and the discharge chamber and cut off communication between
said pipe and the supply chamber h. The attendant will at the same time so operate

page_text: the rope P and lever that the auxiliary valve mechanism of the pipe M, will be
actuated in the manner just described. Water will then enter the lower end of the
cylinder K and move the piston J upward, said piston forcing the water above it to
the discharge chamber. The upward movement of the piston will continue until the
valve I has been restored to its central position, that is, the position in which it is
shown in Figure 1, when the piston B will be arrested. If it is desired to cause the
piston B to move downward this upward movement of the piston J and valve H will
be continued until the latter has been moved sufficiently to open communication
between the lower end of the cylinder A and the discharge outlet F, when the water
will escape from the under side of the piston Band its downward movement be accom-
plished by the pressure of water upon its upper side in the usual manner. The
discharge pipes or passages y are provided with adjustable valves y by which the rate
of the discharge of the water can be regulated to correspond to the pressure of the
water in the supply chamber h and thus control the speed of closing the valves b.
The rope P which operates the valves is shown as located outside the car A' and
the car has secured to its front portion, upon the outer side thereof, a plate a¹ in which
is journalled the shaft of a pulley D', the periphery of which moves freely along, the
rope P without deflecting it. The front wall of the car has also fulcrumed to it at X on
its inner side a lever El carrying a pin & working in a slot c' in the wall of the car
and upon the outer side of said wall secured rigidly to a frame F¹. The frame F¹
carries at its upper and lower ends deflecting pulleys G₁ H₁ respectively in contact
with the rope P. The frame also carries a pair of smaller pulleys g¹h' arranged
opposite the pulley D¹ the shafts of which smaller pulleys enter and work in slots d' e¹
respectively formed in said frame. The shaft of each of the pulleys g₁ his journalled
in a head formed upon a rod j¹, one end of which passes through an opening in a
projection formed upon an arm f¹ projecting outward from the frame F¹. The
pulleys glare held normally in the outer end of their slots and in contact with the
rope P by means of springs l¹ secured between the heads i¹and the projections k¹ of
the arms, (see Fig. 5).
The operation of the apparatus described is as follows: To cause the movement of
the car in one direction the attendant will rock the lever E' downward into the position
shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby tilting the upper end of the frame F towards
the rope P and its lower end outward therefrom. When the frame has been thus
moved the pulley will be drawn out of contact with the rope, the pulley g' remaining
in contact therewith. The deflecting pulley G' moving with the frame, pressing
against the rope will deflect it out of its perpendicular position into the position shown
by dotted lines in Fig. 5, said rope at tho said time will be clamped between the
pulleys and D' with sufficient pressure to prevent the deflection of the rope by the
pulloy G from drawing upward the part of the rope below the pulleys D¹, g¹ and
consequently said deflection will exert a downward pull sufficient to operate the valve
operating connections to draw up the outer end of the lever n and open corresponding
valve thus causing the corresponding movement of the power piston and the car.
When this movement of the car has been secured the attendant will rock the lever E
back to its horizontal position, the deflecting pulleys G' H' and the pulleys g¹¹ then
returning to their normal position. To arrest the movement of the car the attendant
will rock the lever E' upward, thus moving the deflecting pulley G₁ out of contact
with the rope P and forcing the deflecting pulley H' inward to deflect the rope below
the pulley D and cause the pulley to clamp the rope tightly against the pulley D.
The deflection of the rope at this point will draw it upward and by operating lever n¹
and its corresponding valve 7 cause the main valve to return to the position from which
it was moved in starting. When the car has thus been arrested the attendant will
restore the lever E¹ to its horizontal position. To cause the opposite movement of the
car the attendant will again, rock the lever E' upward thereby raising the rope and
causing the proper movement of the power piston.
As shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the lever E' is fulcrumed as in the previously described
organization and is of bell crank form and at its vertical portion is provided with a
slot m³ in which works a pin b¹ passing through and working in a horizontal slot p¹ in

page_text: .
'
the wall of the elevator car and secured to the frame F¹, which is in this case
of S-shape. The ends of the frame pass through guide plates o' upon the wall of the
car, guiding the movement laterally of said frame. The frame F¹ carries deflecting
pulleys G H corresponding to the deflecting pulleys of the former construction.
Said frame is also provided upon opposite sides of the rope P with projectiong arms f
like the arms of said former construction and like said aruns provided with slots d'e
in which are journailed the shafts of pulleys g₁ h' respectively, held in contact with
the rope P upon opposite sides thereof by springs . Each of said pulleys g¹h has
opposed to it, upon opposite sides of the rope, a pulley D' corresponding to the
pulley D of the former construction, journalled in a plate a secured to the wall of the
elevator car.
In the operation of the apparatus when thus constructed the lever when rocked will
*move the pin in the horizontal slot and through it move the frame F¹ laterally from
right to left or left to right as the case may be, said frame being guided in a lateral
-path of movement by the guide plates o'. If moved to the left the frame F will
take the deflecting pulley H and the pulley ' out of contact with the rope P and
cause the deflecting pulley G₁ to deflect the rope above the pulley D', at the same
time by compressing the spring of the pulley g causing said pulley to press
the rope against the pulley D with the effect before explained. The lever E¹
will then be restored to its horizontal position. Further description is deemed
Junnecessary.
In addition to this auxiliary valve mechanism the rod I of the valve H may be
provided with the usual rack and pinion device for operating said valve direct by
separate ropes from the elevator car but this additional means of operating the valve
is really unnecessary.
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 :-
1. The combination with the cylinder K and piston J, of valves (6) controlling
the supply and discharge of the fluid to and from the cylinder upon the opposite sides
of the piston, the piston d connected to said valves b and constantly subjected upon
one side to the fluid pressure to close the valves, ducts leading from the supply side
of said valves to the opposite side of said pistons, and valves (1) controlling said ducts
so that the pressure can be equalized upon the opposite sides of said pistons to allow
the valves b to open the supply and close the discharge to the respective sides of the
piston J, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the cylinder K and piston J, of valves (b) controlling the
supply and discharge of the fluid to and from the cylinder upon the opposite sides of
the piston, the pistons d connected to said valves band of larger area than said valves,
and constantly subjected upon one side to the fluid pressure to close the valves, ducts
leading from the supply side of said valves to the opposite side of said pistons, and
valves (1) controlling said ducts so that the pressure can be equalized upon the opposite
sides of said pistons to allow the valves b to open the supply and close the discharge to
the respective sides of the piston J, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the cylinder K and piston J, of valves (b) controlling the
supply and discharge of the fluid to and from the cylinder upon the opposite sides of
the piston, the pistons d, connected to said valves band constantly subjected upon one
side to the fluid pressure to close the valves, ducts leading from the supply side of
said valves to the opposite side of said pistons, and valves (1) controlling said ducts
so that the pressure can be equalized upon the opposite sides of said pistons to allow
the valves b to open the supply and close the discharge to the respective sides of the
piston J and permanently open discharge passages (y) for allowing the fluid to escape
from the discharge side of said valves 1, substantially as described.
1. The combination with the cylinder Kand piston J, of valves & controlling the
supply and discharge of the fluid to and from the cylinder upon the opposite sides of
the piston, the pistons d connected to said valves b, valves l controlling the supply of

page_text: the fluid to one side of said pistons, permanently open discharge passages (9) for the
discharge of the fluid so supplied, and adjustable valves y for regulating the rate of
discharge, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a rope P connected to operate the stopping and starting
mechanism of the elevator, of gripping pulleys arranged to grip the rope with a
moderate pressure and a moveable deflecting pulley for deflecting the rope upon one
side of said gripping pulleys, substantially as described.
6. The combination with a rope moving freely over a pulley at the top of the
elevator shaft and having its ends connected to operate the stopping and starting
mechanism to cause the car to ascend and descend as the rope is moved in opposite
directions, of gripping pulleys arranged to grip the rope with a moderate pressure,
and movable deflecting pulleys located above and below said gripping pulleys and
arranged to deflect the rope upon opposite sides of said gripping pulleys, substantially
as described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.