Improvements in Rendering Lifting Machinery Self Sustaining, Applicable also for Instantaneously Stopping Belt Driven Machinery on the Withdrawal of Power.
Year: 1885

page_text: [Reprint. This Specification has been reprinted in consequence of an amendment
made by Order of the Comptroller prior to the sealing of the Patent.]
Improvements in Rendering Lifting Machinery Self Sustaining,
Applicable also for Instantaneously Stopping Belt Driven
Machinery on the Withdrawal of Power.
JOHN SANDERS STEVENS, and CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR, Engineers, both of
Janus Works, Queens Road, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of their invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING LIFTING
MACHINERY SELF SUSTAINING, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY STOPPING
BELT DRIVEN MACHINERY ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF POWER to be as follows:
Our invention relates particularly to that class of lifting machinery known as
"Self-Sustaining"; in which an automatic brake comes into operation by means of
the pull exerted by the load, and is thrown out of operation by the application of
motive power at the driving end of the mechanism. Some portions of it are also
applicable to other Machines, in which an automatic brake may be required to come
into operation immediately upon the withdrawal of the motive power.
The object of our invention is to produce an automatic brake apparatus which
shall be effectual in either direction, i.e whether the load tends to set the machine
in motion in one direction, or the opposite; which shall at the same time be free
from the jerks and irregular motion common to many previous forms of self-
sustaining brakes; which shall be always free to receive motion in either direction
at the driving end of the mechanism, the brake being automatically thrown out of
action; which shall be so arranged that the brake may also be thrown out of action
by means of a lever, leaving the mechanism free to revolve in either direction under
the influence of the load, and without applying farther motive power; and which
shall be of very simple form.
In its simplest form we carry out our invention as follows:-
A Shaft bas secured to it at one end a large wheel, suitably grooved for the
reception of a driving rope or chain, or suitably formed to receive notion from any
other driving medium, and at the other end a smaller grooved or other wheel is
secured, over which is passed the rope or chain for suspending the load.
The shaft is carried in one long bearing placed between the wheels, and mounted
upon a bracket in such a manner as to allow a small amount of oscillation of the

page_text: bearing and shaft-One end of the long bearing terminates in a flange or mouth of
relatively large diameter, suitably turned to form one cheek of a friction clutch.
A similar flange is mounted loosely upon the shaft, with its face turned toward the
bearing Between the two a third and double faced flange is placed, and is secured
to the shaft. The loose flange is provided with bosses or lugs at the side, from
which two bolts are carried, at an inclination to the horizontal, to two corresponding
lugs upon the fixed bracket-These bolts are adjustable as to length, and provided
with lock nuts They pass through another pair of lugs placed on the side of the
enlarged end of bearing. A limited amount of play is provided in all the lugs:
The bolts are adjusted to such a length as will just allow the centre flange secured
to the shaft to run freely.
The action is as follows:-The weight of the load, or of the lift cage and
balance weight, deflects that end of the shaft from which it is suspended, and the
arrangement of the bolts is such that they then draw the loose flange, the centre
flange on the shaft, and the enlarged end of bearing, all into contact and with
considerable force.
The bearing of course cannot revolve, the loose flange cannot revolve being
prevented by the bolts passing through the three sets of lügs,-and the friction set
up is sufficient to prevent the centre flange from revolving between the other two;
the whole Machine is therefore held fast, and the greater the amount of the load,
the more tightly are the frictional surfaces forced into contact.
On the other hand, when the hand or driving rope or chain is pulled in a down-
ward direction, that end of the shaft is deflected, and as this tends to straighten the
links or bolts, the friction flanges are released sufficiently to allow the Machine to
revolve. This action takes place quite irrespectively of the direction in which the
Machine is to be worked..
So long as the hand rope is pulled the machine is free, but immediately it is
released, the weight of the load reapplies the brake. For lowering quickly by the
brake, we inount a lever on the fixed bracket, or in any other suitable position, so
that by depressing one end of the lever, it may be made to raise the end of bearing
nearest the load, or depress the opposite end, thus releasing the brake to any
desired extent.-Liberation of the lever allows the brake to go on again.
A cord may be carried down from the lever through several floors, to give
control at all levels.
The friction flanges may be placed at either end of the bearing, the only
difference being that for one end the links or bolts must incline downwards from
the loose flange, and for the other, upwards.
Or
Or the same result is obtained if the links are placed parallel with the shaft,
and the centre of oscillation placed either above or below that centre line.
the centre of oscillation may be placed above or below, and the links given some
inclination also.
In cases where much brake power would be required, the enlarged end of the
bearing and the flange secured to the shaft would be extended and modified, so as
to form the well known "Weston friction clutch." By mounting the bereinbefore
described arrangement in a light suspending frame or cradle with hook, we
construct a simple portable form of self-sustaining hoist.
In some cases it is desirable to place the hand wheel at some distance from the
load wheel, leading to the use of a long shaft, for which a single bearing would be
quite unsuitable. We then place a bearing at each end, carrying each bearing
upon the horizontal arm of a bell crank, the other arm of each bell crank standing
vertically upwards. These vertical arms are tied together in any suitable way,
for instance, by a light rod, cord, or chain. The deflection of one end of the shaft
will then cause the elevation of the other, and vice versa. Either of the bearings
may have the friction clutch arrangement as previously described, save that the
links or bolts are carried to the vertical arm of the bell crank, instead of to the
supporting bracket. The action in all other respects is the same.

page_text: In the case of a shaft mounted in two bearings as last described, our invention
is sometimes modified by omitting the friction brake at the end of one of the
bearings, and replacing it by an ordinary brake wheel secured to the shaft at the
load end, which would drop into a fixed brake block under the influence of
the load, and be lifted out when the hand rope is pulled.
In double purchase lifts and hoists, with power increased by means of toothed
wheels, we apply our invention as follows.
We take a shaft, with hand wheel, one central bearing, and friction clutch
arrangement all as first described, but the load wheel is replaced by a pinion.
The load wheel is secured to a spur wheel which gears with the pinion. The
two wheels run loosely on a pin secured between two parallel bars, which bars
enclose the wheels. These bars are secured together, and are at one end pivotted
to the frame of the machine, or to any convenient fixed point, while at the other
end they are jointed to that end of the long bearing of hand shaft next the pinion.
Half of the weight of the load, (or any other proportion desired) is thus brought to
bear upon the pinion end of the hand shaft, with results as previously described.
In the case of a double purchase arrangement in which the load is always lifted
by turning the mechanism in one direction, we carry out our invention in a more
simple form. The load wheel together with its spur wheel revolves upon a stud, or
they are mounted on a shaft running freely in ordinary bearings, rigidly secured to
the frame of the machine.
The driving shaft is extended backwards, and on the back end a weight is
secured, sufficient to balance the driving wheel and rope at front end of the shaft,
and also to produce a small amount of brake friction. When raising or lowering
the load by means of the driving wheel, the brake is automatically released as
before described. But if the load tends of itself to run down, the load spur wheel
becomes the driver, and transmitting its motion to the teeth of the pinion upon the
driving shaft by a downward pressure, increases the brake power to a degree
proportionate to the load. The load may be lowered by a lever as already
described.
1
The weight at the back end of driving shaft is made adjustable as to position,
and is in that way made available as a variable balance to suit different lengths
and weights of driving rope, or other inconstant elements of weight and leverage.
The arrangement is equally applicable to a train of any number of shafts and
toothed wheels-It possesses the advantage of producing less friction in the bearing
of the driving shaft.
In another modification for double purchase lifts we use two shafts as usual,
parallel to each other. The hand shaft is carried at the back end in a bearing
with a small amount of freedom, and the front end of the load shaft is carried by a
similar bearing.
The opposite ends of both shafts are mounted in bearings attached to the ends
of a rocking bar, crossing the machine diagonally, so that as the hand wheel end of
one shaft rises, the cage wheel end of the other falls. A friction clutch brake as
previously described is mounted on either shaft.
The fulcrum of rocking bar is made adjustable along that bar, and is secured in
any required position to another diagonal bar fixed to the frame of the machine-
In this arrangement, or in that wherein the wheels run between two parallel
pivotted bars connected to the oscillating bearing, the friction clutch brake may be
omitted, and a brake wheel secured to, or formed with, the load wheel, and
arranged to drop into a fixed brake block by the pull of the load, and to be lifted
out by the pull on the hand rope.
If still more lifting power is required, either of the double purchase modifi-
cations described may be readily converted into a treble purchase arrangement, by
the interposition of a third shaft between the hand and load shafts, provided that
the load end of the load shaft is caused to transinit some of its load to one end of
the hand shaft, as described.
The releasing lever is applicable to all the modifications.

page_text: The devices as described are applicable to all kinds of lifting machinery in which
the lifting mechanism is actuated by belts, cords, ropes, or chains, and which can
be so arranged that the stress produced by the driving medium on any one shaft,
shall have the effect of opposing and overcoming the stress produced by the load
upon that shaft, and so lead to its oscillation as described.
The stress of the load may be acting in an upward vertical, in a horizontal, or in
any angular direction; the use of a few guide pulleys will in all cases bring the
opposing stresses into the requisite directions-The necessary arrangements are so
obvious that they need not be fully described.
The arrangement of oscillating shaft and friction brake, with links as described,
may be introduced with advantage into many machines where a prompt stoppage
is required, immediately the belt is thrown off. In such a case the device may be
applied to any intermediate, or counter-shaft, the loose pulley being made of con-
siderably smaller diameter than the fast pulley, and coned up in the well known
manner, so that the tension of the driving belt is reduced when on the loose pulley,
sufficiently to allow the tension of the driven belt to predominate.-But when the
driving belt is shifted to the larger fast pulley, its increased tension acting upon
a superior leverage gives it predominence and releases the brake. If the coning is
provided on the loose pulley, the brake is thrown off before the belt touches the
fast pulley.

page_text: Improvements in Rendering Lifting Machinery Self Sustaining,
Applicable also for Instantaneously Stopping Belt Driven
Machinery on the Withdrawal of Power.
JOHN SANDERS STEVENS, and CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR, of Janus Works,
Queens Road, Battersea, S.W. do hereby declare the nature of their invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING LIFTING MACHINERY SELF SUSTAINING, APPLI-
CABLE ALSO FOR INSTANTANEOUSLY STOPPING BELT DRIVEN MACHINERY ON THE
WITHDRAWAL OF POWER 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 particularly to that class of Lifting Machinery known as
"Self Sustaining," in which an automatic brake comes into operation by means of
the pull exerted by the load, and is thrown out of operation by the application of
motive power at the driving end of the mechanism. Some portions of it are also
applicable to other machines, wherein an automatic brake may be required to come
into operation immediately upon the withdrawal of the motive power.
The object of our invention is :-(a) to produce an automatic brake apparatus
which shall be effectual in either direction, i.e. whether the load tends to set the
machine in motion in one direction, or the opposite; (b) which shall at the same
time be free from the jerks and irregular motion common to many previous forms
of Self Sustaining brakes; which shall always be free to receive motion in either
direction at the driving end of the mechanism, the brake being automatically
thrown out of action; (c) which shall be so arranged that the brake may be
thrown out of action by means of a lever, leaving the mechanism free to revolve in
either direction under the influence of the load, and without applying farther
motive power.
In its simplest form we carry out our invention as follows. In the description
of the drawings the same reference letters apply to the same or corresponding parts
throughout the figures. A shaft A, see figs. 1, 2, and 3, has secured to it at one
end a large wheel B, suitably formed for the reception of a driving rope or chain,
or to receive motion from any other driving medium, and at the other end a
smaller grooved or other wheel C is secured, over which is passed the rope or chain
for suspending the load. The shaft A is carried in one long bearing D, placed
between the wheels B and C, and mounted upon a bracket E, in such a manner as
to allow a small amount of oscillation of the bearing and shaft. One end of the
long bearing D terminates in a flange or mouth F, of relatively large diameter,
suitably machined to form one cheek of a friction clutch. A similar flange G, is
mounted loosely on the shaft A, with its face toward the bearing. Between the
two flanges, a third and double faced flange H is placed, and is secured to the shaft.
The loose flange G is provided with bosses or lugs at the side, from which two
bolts I, I, are carried in an inclined direction to two corresponding lugs upon the
fixed bracket E. These bolts are adjustable as to length, and provided with lock
nuts. They pass through another pair of lugs placed on the side of the enlarged

page_text: end of bearing D. A limited amount of play is provided in all the lugs. The
bolts are adjusted to such a length as will just allow the centre flange й to run
freely.
The action is as follows. The weight of the load, or of the lift cage and balance
weight, deflects that end of the shaft from which it is suspended, and the arrange-
ment of the bolts I, I, is such that they draw the loose flange G, the centre flange H,
and the enlarged end of bearing F into contact, and with considerable force. The
bearing D cannot revolve, the outer flange G cannot revolve, and the flange H is
gripped between them with sufficient force to prevent it from revolving, and the
whole machine is therefore held fast. The greater the load the more tightly are
the frictional surfaces forced into contact. On the other hand, when the hand or
driving rope (or chain) is pulled in a downward direction, that end of the shaft is
deflected, and, as this tends to straighten the links or bolts I. I., the friction flanges
are, released sufficiently to allow the machine to revolve. This action takes place
quite irrespectively of the direction in which the machine is to be worked. So long
as the hand rope is pulled the machine is free; but immediately it is released, the
weight of the load reapplies the brake.
For lowering quickly by the brake we mount a lever J on the fixed bracket E,
or in any other suitable position, so that by depressing one end of the lever, it may
be made to raise the end of bearing D nearest the load, or depress the opposite end,
thus releasing the brake to any desired extent. Liberation of the lever J allows
the brake to go on again. A cord may be carried down from the lever through
several floors to give control at all levels.
The friction flanges F. G. H. may be placed at the opposite end of the bearing D,
as in fig. 4, the only difference being that the links I. I. must then be inclined
upwards from the loose flange G, instead of downwards. The same results are
obtained if the links I. I. are placed parallel with the shaft, and the centre of
oscillation placed above that centre line, as in fig. 5, or below it as in fig. 6; the
friction flanges however are placed at opposite sides of the centre of oscillation for
these two cases respectively. Again the centre of oscillation may be placed above
or below, and the links given some inclination also as in figs 2 and 4.
In some cases where much brake power would be required, the enlarged end of
the bearing and the flange secured to the shaft would be extended and modified so
as to form the well known "Weston's friction clutch." This modification is shewn
in figs 7 and 8.
By mounting the herein before described arrangement in a light suspending frame,
see figs 9, 10, 11, and 12, we construct a simple portable form of Self sustaining
hoist. In this arrangement the handwheel B is made in one piece with a long
sleeve A, which takes the place of the shaft. The load wheel C is mounted on
this sleeve, and held tightly up to a shoulder by means of the bolt K. The shoulder
is notched as for a coupling, see fig. 8, and the two wheels are thus locked together.
In this hoist, as there is no permanent weight of cage and balance to counteract
the downward pull of the band chain, the latter would, owing to its greater
distance from the centre of suspension, over balance the load chain, and hold the
brake off. If a load were then attached, the machine would revolve in preference
to depressing the load end of the apparatus. It is therefore requisite that the
brake should be normally active, independently of the load, the latter only
intensifying the action. For this purpose we extend the bolt K, and place upon it
a weight L, sufficient to over balance the weight of band wheel B and its chain.
If a portable hoist of the last described form were made for heavy loads, the
hand wheel B would be. inconveniently large, and for the purpose of releasing the
brake, its distance from the point of suspension would be so great as to be
impracticable. We reduce. the size of the wheel, and bring both the hand and
load wheels close the point of suspension, in the arrangement shewn in figs 31,
32, 33, and 34. The hand wheel B is secured to a hollow. sleeve A, formed in one
piece with the toothed pinion H. The sleeve passes through an oscillating bearing D,
fitted with the flanges F and G, and tie bolts I. I. as before. The pinion H takes
.

page_text: the place of the fixed flange H of previous figures. A second shaft M, is carried
at one end in a swivelling bearing N, and at the other end in a bearing O, which
is linked up to bearing D, so that oscillations of the latter must be in part
transmitted to shaft M. Secured to the shaft M, are a toothed wheel P gearing
with pinion H, and also the load wheel C. A small spring L is placed beneath
one end of bearing D, to counteract the weight of the wheel B and its chain, and
so keep the brake on. The two oscillating bearings are carried inside frames Q,
suspended from a hook R. The action is similar to that previously described. The
downward pull of load on wheel C, depresses one end of shaft M, pulls with it the
clutch end of bearing D, and tightens up the friction flanges on to the pinion H.
A pull on the hand chain has the opposite effect, and releases the pinion H.
A lever action as already described is sometimes added. The centres of oscillation
are proportioned relatively to the gearing, so that the ratio of oscillating leverage
is slightly in excess of the ratio of gearing, and the release of the brake takes
place therefore with a lighter pull than that necessary to lift the load.
In some cases of fixed hoists, it is desirable to place the hand wheel at some
distance from the load wheel, leading to the use of a long shaft, for which a single
bearing would be quite unsuitable, see figs 13 and 14. We then place a bearing at
each end, carrying each bearing upon the horizontal arm of a bell-crank S. S., the
other arm of each bell-crank standing vertically upwards. These vertical arms
are tied together in any suitable way, for instance, by a light rod, cord, or chain.
The deflection of one end of the shaft will then cause the elevation of the other,
and vice versa. Either of the bearings may have the friction clutch arrangement
as previously described, save that the links or bolts I. I. are carried to the vertical
arm of the bell crank, instead of to the supporting bracket. The action is in all
other respects the same as in fig 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the case of a long shaft mounted in two bearings as last described, our
invention is sometimes modified by omitting the friction flanges F. G. H. at the
end of one of the bearings, and replacing them by an ordinary brake wheel H,
figs 15 and 16, secured to the shaft A at the load end, which would drop into a
fixed brake block F, under the influence of the load, and be lifted out when the
is pulled.
hand rope
In double purchase lifts and hoists with power increased by means of toothed
wheels, we apply our invention as follows. We take a shaft A, figs 17 and 18,
with hand wheel B, one central bearing D, and friction clutch arrangement F. G. H.,
all as first described, but the load wheel is replaced by a pinion T. The load
wheel C, is secured to a toothed wheel P, which gears with the pinion T. The
two wheels C and P run loosely on a pin secured between two parallel bars M,
which bars enclose the wheels. These bars are secured together, and are at one
end pivotted to the frame of the machine, or to any convenient fixed point, while
at the other end they are jointed to that end of bearing D next the pinion T.
Half of the weight of the load, (or any other proportion desired) is thus brought
to bear upon the pinion end of the shaft A, with results as previously described.
It is obvious that a train of toothed wheels in any number of steps, or purchases,
may be similarly mounted between the swinging bars M, see figs 19 and 20, giving
any amount of lifting power, and still transferring to shaft A sufficient of the load
to put the brake on.
In the case of a double purchase arrangement in which the load is always lifted
by turning the mechanism in one direction only, we carry out our invention in a
more simple form, see figs 21 and 22. The load wheel C together with its toothed
wheel P revolves upon a stud, or they are secured to a shaft M. running freely in
ordinary bearings rigidly secured to the frame of the machine. The shaft A is
extended backwards, and on the back end a weight L is placed, sufficient to
balance the wheel B and its rope, and also to produce a small amount of brake
friction. By sliding the weight along the shaft, its effect may be adjusted to suit
varying weights of rope. When raising or lowering the load by means of the
wheel B, the brake is automatically released, as before described; but if the load

page_text: tends of itself to run down, the toothed wheel P becomes the driver and trans-
mitting its motion to the teeth of the pinion T, upon the shaft A, by a downward
pressure, puts on the brake by depressing that end of the shaft as before, and to a
degree proportionate to the load. This arrangement is also applicable to a train
of any number of shafts and toothed wheels.
A superior arrangement of the last described device, and one which we prefer to
adopt in practice, is shewn in fig 23 and 24. The load wheel C, together with its
toothed wheel P, are secured to a shaft M, which revolves in ordinary fixed
bearings secured to the frame. The shaft A is fitted at its front end with an
additional bearing U, mounted upon a lever V. On this lever a weight L is
placed, for the purpose of counter balancing the weight of wheel B, and its hand
rope. By sliding the weight along the lever, its effect may be adjusted to suit
varying weights of rope. The weight is sometimes replaced by a spring; the
action and results are the same as in figs. 21 and 22 as regards the brake, but the
working friction is less, and the range of application to varying proportions
greater. The lever V is extended in both directions, and a cord attached to the
weighted end enables the attendant to increase the brake power by hand for
emergencies, while a cord at the other end, if pulled, will release the brake and
lower the load.
In the arrangement shewn in fig 17, 18, 19, and 20, our invention may be
carried out by omitting the friction flanges F. G. H., and using instead an
ordinary brake wheel H, secured to the load wheel C. figs 25 and 26, arranged to
drop into a fixed brake block F, by the pull of the load, and to be lifted out by
the pull on the hand rope.
The devices as described are applicable to all kinds of lifting machinery in which
the lifting mechanism is actuated by belts, cords, ropes, or chains, and which can
be so arranged that the stress produced by the driving medium on any one shaft,
shall have the effect of opposing and overcoming the stress produced by the load
upon that shaft, and so lead to its oscillation as described. The stresses may act in
any direction, and are not confined to the vertical.
Figs 27 and 28 shew one arrangement by which the load chain may be led in an
upward or any other desired direction.
The arrangement of oscillating shaft and friction brake with links as described,
may be introduced with advantage into many machines where a prompt stoppage is
required immediately the belt is thrown off. In such a case the device may be
applied to any intermediate or countershaft, the loose pulley being made con-
siderably smaller in diameter than the fast pulley, and coned up in the well known
manner, so that the tension of the driving belt is reduced when on the loose pulley,
sufficiently to allow the tension of the driven belt to predominate. But when the
driving belt is shifted to the larger fast pulley its increased tension acting upon a
superior leverage gives it predominance and releases the brake. If the coning is
provided on the loose pulley, the brake is thrown off before the belt touches the
fast pulley. Two methods of effecting this are shewn in figs 29 and 30.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
are aware of the Patent of Alfred Attwood and Thomas Walter Barber N° 187383
and that we make no claim to the rocking motion therein described, nor do we
claim anything that is covered by the said patent, but that what we claim is
(1.) The arrangement of single spindle lifting apparatus, with oscillating bearing,
combined with the automatic friction brake, as described and shewn in figs 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.
(2.) The combination of the automatic friction brake actuated by links, as
described and shewn in figs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 with any oscillating shaft.
(3.) The combination of an oscillating shaft with a "Weston's friction clutch"
actuated by links, as described and shewn in figs 7 and 8.

page_text: (4.) In a lifting apparatus, the combination of an oscillating shaft, an automatic
friction brake as described, and a lever for the purpose of releasing the brake, as
described and shewn in figa 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
27 and 28.
(5.) The portable forms of lifting apparatus with automatic brake, as described
and shewn in figs 9, 10, 11, 12, 31, 32, 33 and 34.
(6.) The arrangement of lifting apparatus with one long shaft, and two bearings
mounted on bell cranks, linked together, combined with an automatic friction brake,
as described and shewn in figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16.
(7.) The arrangement of lifting apparatus with increased power by means of
toothed wheels and extra shafts, in which the load wheel is carried in a pivotted
frame partly supported by one end of the motive power shaft, combined with an
automatic friction clutch brake, as described and shewn in figs 17, 18, 19 and 20.
(8.) The arrangement of lifting apparatus with increased power by means of
toothed wheels and extra shafts, in which the downward effort of the load is
transmitted to the driving shaft through the teeth of the wheels only, combined
with the automatic friction brake, as described and shewn in figs 21, 22, 23
and 24.
(9.) The combination of the automatic friction brake and oscillating shaft, with
an adjustable weight as described and shewn in figs 11, 21, 22, 23 24 and 28.
(10.) The combination of the oscillating shaft, and automatic friction brake
actuated by links, with any machine as and for the purposes described.