Improvements in..Automatic Clips,or. Gripping, Mechanism for Rope Haulage.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in..Automatic Clips,or. Gripping, Mechanism for Rope
Haulage.
We, SEPTIMUS OLIVER of Tynemouth, in the County of Northumberland,
Mining Engineer, and THOMAS AINSLEY, of Taufield in the County of Durham,
Mechanical Engineer, do. hereby declare the nature of said invention 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 to a portable apparatus or device, for attaching to tubs,
waggons, or bogies, which will automatically grip ropes used for hauling them over
or along tramways or railways, and will keep a firm hold of the rope or other
appliance in rounding curves on gradients, and is automatically caused to
release its grip or hold of the rope, the "knock-off" being arranged in the usual
way where desired on the said lines of rails.
or
The apparatus is so arranged as to adapt itself to take firm hold of any size
of rope, automatically adjusting itself to all the variations in the diameters of the
rope and to curves of the line, and to prevent the tubs, waggons, or bogies, or
any of them, travelling at a greater or lesser velocity than the others, or than
that of the rope, whether on straight lines or curves; all variations of the speed of
the tubs, relatively to that of the rope on different gradients of the tramways,
railways, or inclines, being instantly checked by the apparatus reversing its action
aud gripping the rope at the opposite side thereby compelling the tubs to travel
at the same speed as the rope, and preventing any one tub or tubs of a train
overrunning and colliding with the tub or tubs in front. The "clip" or gripping
appliance will be made of cast steel, cast malleable iron, or gun metal, and will be
specially designed for strength with lightness, so that it can be readily attached or
detached, by the boys usually employed.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings we illustrate our invention as we, at
present, propose to carry it into practical working, Fig. 1 being an end view,
Fig. 2 a side view, and Figs. 3, 34, and 3B are plans in three different positions of
the gripping gear.
A. is the shank adapted to fix on the tub or waggon, and having a crosshead B.
with studs C C. formed upon it, D D. are a pair of quadrants moving radially upon
the studs C C. and geared to each other by teeth, connecting links, or other device,
on their lower peripheries, so that they rotate together equally in either direction.
These quadrants taper outwards toward the top, forming a fork to receive and
retain the rope, and are fitted with gripping teeth E E., preferably made of separate
ieces of hardened steel, fixed to the quadrant faces by fitting into dovetailed slots,
rivetted on faces or fixed securely in any other way, and also tapering outwards
therewith. The radius of the quadrant faces is such, that when they rotate on the
studs C C, in either direction from the central position (shewn on Fig. 3) they cause
the gripping teeth E E. to approach each other and take a firm grip of the rope,
which they slightly bend from a straight line (as shewn on Figs. 34 and 3B), in
which the quadrants are moving in the directions of the arrows, indicating
respectively the action when hauling the train of tubs or waggons and when
preventing the train overrunning the speed at which the rope may be travelling.
The strong dotted lines on Figs. 34 and 3B are intended to shew the quadrants
The gripping teeth,
acting upon a curve, purposely exaggerated as to curvature.
being made of hardened steel, retain their gripping edges over a long period;
and when worn by friction they are readily renewed.

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 :-
First. The improvement in automatic clips or gripping mechanism for rope
haulage, consisting in the application to the peripheries of radial quadrants of
gripping teeth, readily removable for adjustment, and so disposed relatively to each
other, that the automatic rotation of the quadrants on their centres, in one direction,
will cause the teeth in one quadrant to approach those in the opposite quadrant
with a gradually increasing grip when the rope is hauling, and by reverse action in
the opposite direction gripping the rope, when the speed of the tubs is unduly
accelerated, to prevent the tubs or waggons overrunning the rope, substantially as
herein before described.
Second. The automatic clip or gripping device, consisting of the various parts in
combination, arranged, constructed, and operating, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for Applicants.
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.,
Agent for Applicants.