IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND- LASSES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS, AND FOR CHECKING AND STOPPING MACHINERY OR CARRIAGES IN MOTION
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Martin, of Haydon Bridge, in the County of
Northumberland, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIND-
LASSES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS, AND
FOR CHECKING AND STOPPING MACHINERY OR CARRIAGES IN MOTION."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 1st February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Martin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1878.
THOMAS MARTIN, of Haydon Bridge, in the County of Northumberland,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR RAISING
AND LOWERING WEIGHTS, AND FOR CHECKING AND STOPPING MACHINERY OR
CARRIAGES IN MOTION."
My Invention has reference to the arrangement and application of a friction
clutch or check designed to increase the simplicity and efficiency of windlasses and
such like apparatus, and applicable also as a brake to machinery or wheeled
carriages.
"
I propose to make a metal barrel to be wedged or otherwise firmly fixed on the
barrel of a windlass or capstan in the same manner as the main ring for "pawls
and the hoisting ring are fixed on at present. This barrel is to carry on one end
a peculiar clutch herein-after described, and on the other end a fixed cone. Between
these is a chain sheave or "lifter," to run loose on the metal barrel with a coned
rim on one side of it to fit the fixed cone upon the end of the barrel.
"
When the chain round the "lifter" is to be run out the clutch is released, and the
"lifter
runs loose upon the barrel, and the speed can be regulated by holding the
clutch tight or slack by means of a hand spike or handle, or the running out of the
chain can be stopped entirely.

page_text: When the chain is to be hauled in the clutch is checked into gear, and the lifter
or chain sheave is then firmly jammed and held between the barrel cone on one
side, and the clutch on the other, the weight having a tendency to increase the
If
"grip," and when thus fastened, all is ready for heaving in the usual way.
required, the heaving gear and "paul" rings may be attached to the metal barrel,
so as to be fitted on the windlass or capstan as part of the apparatus.
The clutch or check consists of two parts, one fixed upon the metal barrel
as described, and the other free to move round it to a limited extent in either
direction. The adjacent sides or faces of these two parts form inclines or wedges,
each pair of inclines on the one face fitting between a pair of inclines on the other,
so that when in one position and perfectly in contact, the clutch is closed or folded
and does not act on the chain "lifter," which then runs free on the barrel, but when
the loose part of the clutch is slightly rotated in either direction by a hand spike or
otherwise, the action of tlie inclines or wedges is to expand the clutch and force the
coned rim of the chain "lifter" into frictional contact with the fixed cone of the
barrel, with which the chain "lifter" will then revolve.
The arrangement of barrel and chain "lifter" above described will suit for either
larboard or starboard side of a vessel, being both right and left handed, and can be
applied to any ordinary wood or other windlass or capstan without disturbing the
existing hoisting or "paul" gear.
When applied to act as a brake to machinery or to wheeled carriages, my
improved clutch apparatus is intended to be fixed in the same manner upon one of
the spindles or axles in such a way as to be brought into action upon the revolving
machinery or upon the wheels of the carriage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st July
1878.
THOMAS MARTIN, of Haydon Bridge, in the County of Northumberland, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES AND OTHER APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND
LOWERING WEIGHTS, AND FOR CHECKING AND STOPPING MACHINERY OR CARRIAGES
IN MOTION."
My Invention has reference to the arrangement and application of a friction
clutch or check designed to increase the simplicity and efficiency of windlasses and
such like apparatus, and applicable also as a brake to machinery or wheeled
carriages.
"
I propose to make a metal barrel to be wedged or otherwise firmly fixed on the
barrel of a windlass or capstan in the same manner as the main ring for "pawls
and the hoisting ring are fixed on at present. This barrel is to carry on one end a
peculiar clutch herein-after described, and on the other end a fixed cone. Between
these is a chain sheave or "lifter" to run loose on the metal barrel, with a coned
rim on one side of it, to fit the fixed cone upon the end of the barrel.
When the chain round the "lifter" is to be run out the clutch is released, and the
"lifter" runs loose upon the barrel, and the speed can be regulated by holding the
clutch tight or slack by means of a handspike or handle, or the running out of the
chain can be stopped entirely.
When the chain is to be hauled in the clutch is checked into gear, and the lifter
or chain sheave is then firmly jainmed and held between the barrel cone on one
side, and the clutch on the other, the weight having a tendency to increase the
"grip," and when thus fastened, all is ready for heaving in the usual way. If
required, the heaving gear and "pawl" rings may be attached to the metal barrel,
so as to be fitted on the windlass or capstan as part of the apparatus.
The clutch or check consists of two parts, one fixed upon the metal barrel as
described, and the other free to move round it to a limited extent in either direction.
The adjacent sides or faces of these two parts form inclines or wedges, each pair of
inclines on the one face fitting between a pair of inclines on the other, so that when
in one position and perfectly in contact the clutch is closed or folded, and does not
act on the chain "lifter" which then runs free on the barrel, but when the loose
part of the clutch is slightly rotated in either direction by a handspike or other-
wise, the action of the inclines or wedges is to expand the clutch and force tho
coned rim of the chain "lifter" into frictional contact with the fixed cone of the
barrel with which the chain "lifter" will then revolve.
The arrangement of barrel and chain "lifter" above described will suit for either
larboard or starboard side of a vessel, being both right and left handed, and can be
applied to any ordinary wood or other windlass or capstan without disturbing the
existing hoisting or "pawl" gear.
When applied to act as a brake to machinery or to wheeled carriages, my im-
proved clutch apparatus is intended to be fixed in the same manner upon one of
the spindles or axles in such a way as to be brought into action upon the revolving
machinery or upon the wheels of the carriage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings shews (partly in section) my
Invention applied to the axle of a windlass.
Fig. 2 is an end view shewing in section the leading or guide pipe, having an
ordinary chain stopper fixed on it worked by a lever.
Fig. 3 shews partly in section my Invention applied to a windlass, without dis-
turbing the axle on the "bitts or framing.
"

page_text: Fig. 4 shews my Invention applied as a brake to a wheeled vehicle. This
arrangement of my apparatus is applicable also to machinery in motion.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is the barrel formed with an octagonal hole in it
for wedging or fixing it on the axle of the windlass. This barrel carries on one side
of it a friction cone B (or other equivalent means of contact may be used) which
may be either cast in one piece with the barrel A, or be keyed or fastened thereon.
On the other end of the barrel A is a friction clutch consisting of two parts, one
of these, C, is loose upon the barrel A, is free to move thereon to a limited extent in.
either direction, and is provided with sockets to receive levers for turning it; the
the other part Ca is keyed or otherwise fixed firmly upon the barrel A. It is con-
venient to make the part Ca in halves to facilitate fixing. The adjacent sides or
faces of the two parts C, Ca, form inclined planes or wedges, each pair of inclines
in the part C fitting between two corresponding inclines in the part Ca, so that
when these parts are in actual contact with the meeting points of the inclines of C
opposite those of Ca, the clutch is folded or closed, but when the loose part C is
slightly rotated either way upon the barrel A, by a lever or other means, its inclines
travel on those of Ca, and thus the clutch is opened or expanded. Between the
friction cone B (or its equivalent) and part C of the friction clutch, is the chain
sheave or "lifter" D running loose upon the barrel, and having a coned rim D* (or
other frictional appliance suited to operate in connection with the cone B or its
equivalent as herein-after described). When the chain cable round the sheave or
"Îifter" D is to be run out, the clutch C, Ca, is partly released, and the sheave or
"lifter" D thus allowed to run loose upon the barrel A, the speed being regulated
or the chain stopped entirely by turning the loose part C by a lever or handspike,
and holding it tight or slack against the fast part Ca, by which action the part D*
(or its equivalent) of the sheave or lifter D is forced into contact with or allowed to
.retire from the cone B or its equivalent.
When the chain cable is to be hauled in the clutch is expanded so as to jam the
sheave or
"lifter" D between the clutch and the cone B or its equivalent (the
weight tends to increase the "grip "); all is now ready for heaving in by the usual
purchase. The toothed wheel E of the purchase may be attached to the barrel A as
shewn, or may be fixed upon the axle of the windlass.
In the arrangement shewn in Fig. 3, the necessary friction between the barrel A,
the clutch C, Ca, and the sheave or chain lifter D is obtained by a double cone
action, an addition being made to the sides of the sheave or lifter of two concentric
rings F, F, in halves, one of which has a doubly tapered or inclined annular pro-
jection or conical ring G outside, which engages in frictional gear with a corres-
ponding doubly tapered or inclined groove in the rim B, cast with or keyed on the
barrel A. This arrangement enables all the parts to be put on in halves and bolted
or clamped together as requisite in applying my Invention to existing windlasses
without removing the axle out of the "bitts."
The arrangements described are suitable for either larboard or starboard side of
vessel, being both right and left handed.
My Invention can be applied to any ordinary wooden or other windlass (without
disturbing the existing hoisting gear); and by making the parts in halves as just
described, my apparatus can be fitted without taking the windlass to pieces.
Referring to Fig. 4, A, A, are the wheels of a vehicle; B is the framework; C, C,
are suspending brackets (which may be arranged to act also as springs); D, D, are
the brake blocks, which are fastened to extensions of the non-rotatory parts E of the
clutch, which are able to move lengthwise. F is the rotative part of the clutch
fitted between the two non-rotatory parts with which it engages by its inclines or
wedges in the manner described in reference to preceding arrangements, so that on
the part F being rotated, it forces the brake blocks into frictional contact with the
rims of the wheels, or allows them to recede therefrom, according as the clutch is
expanded or closed by means of a handle or lever G (Fig. 5); or my apparatus may
be applied by arranging the clutches upon a spindle, axle, or shaft in such a way

page_text: that they will act by frictional contact with suitable surfaces formed upon wheels
on such spindles, axles, or shafts, or upon the revolving parts of machinery.
The mode of applying my Invention to capstans and other apparatus for raising
and lowering weights requires no special description, as it will be clear to any
competent person from the description already given with reference to windlasses.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be or may be carried into practical effect, I hereby declare that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters
Patent herein-before in part recited is,-
1. Arranging clutch apparatus for windlassés and other apparatus for raising and
lowering weights, and for checking and stopping machinery or carriages to operate
on the principle of the inclined plane or wedge, so that by rotatory movement the
clutch may be engaged with or disengaged from the object to be controlled, substan-
tially as described.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved windlass, constructed,
arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2
of the Drawings.
3. The combination of parts constituting the emproved windlass, constructed,
arranged, and operating as shewn in and described with reference to Fig. 3 of the
Drawings.
4. The arrangement and application of brake apparatus shewn in and described
with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Martin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS MARTIN. (L.S.)