Improvements in Elevators or Lifts.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elevators or Lifts.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS AND COMPANY, a corporation.
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, of New York,
in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to that class of elevator apparatus in which a cage is
caused to rise and fall within a well by the action of a cage operating engine; the
nature of which apparatus will be understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which-
Fig. 1 is an elevation in part section, showing a well, cage, operating engine and
appliances connected therewith and forming part thereof.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation through the well, showing the parts.
illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional elevation of the elevator engine shown in
Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations illustrating the method and means of controlling the
stopping and starting device, being enlarged views of the means illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Figs. 6 to 11 are views illustrating special forms of valve operating appliances.
Figs. 12 to 18 are views illustrating a modified form of valve operating appliance
in connection with a cage and horizontal engine, and rigid valve operating rod
suspended adjacent to the cage.
>
Figs. 19 to 23 are views illustrating means for operating the stopping and starting
valve or other device through the medium of two suspended cables.
Figs. 24 to 29, illustrate a modification, in which two suspended cables are used,
together with a safety appliance for arresting the engine should the cables break.
Fig. 30 is an elevation in part section, illustrating a method of operating the
stopping and starting device through the medium of a travelling cable, and means
for controlling said device, and a friction brake, from within the cage.
A represents the well in which the cago B of the elevator travels, the said well
extending past the different floors of a building, and past the door-ways thereof as
usual, the cage being supported by flexib e cables or suspensories 6, which pass over a
guide pulley 7,and downward to the engine. As shown the engine C is a hydraulic engine
having a cylinder 8, piston 9, piston rods 10, and cross head 11, carrying a grooved
wheel 12, round which the cable 6 passes, extending thence to an eye bolt 13, so that
as the piston descends the cage will be elevated.
Parallel to the cylinder 8 extends a pipe 14, which may communicate at the upper
end with a pipe 15, leading to an elevated water tank, or it may communicate
through a branch 16, with a pipe leading to the water main of a city, when the city
pressure is sufficient for operating the engine, and the pipe 14 communicates with the
upper end of the cylinder 8, through a port 17 Fig. 3 and at the lower end connects
with a pipe 19, through an opening 21, closed by a check valve 20, the pipe 19
communicating with the lower end of the cylinder 8 through a port 18. A valve
casing D communicates through ports 22, 23 respectively, with the pipes 14 and 19,
and is provided with a valve E consisting of a thimble with packings of such length.
as to wholly cover either of the openings 22 and 23, and secured to a stem 24, carrying
a packed disc 25 which slides in the casing and prevents water from passing from
between the valve and the disc out of the top of the casing. The valve casing D
communicates at the bottom with a pipe 26, leading to a discharge tank.

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with its piston and pipes, and the valve casing D, and its val
and ports, constitute together what is termed the "main engine," and when the val
is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the port 18 being closed, the engine will be
rest. If, however, the valve E is elevated the water can pass from below the piston
through the port 18, and pipe 19 to the valve casing, and out of the latter to th
discharge pipe 26, and the water under pressure enters the top of the cylinder
through the port 17, and depresses the piston, raising the cage.
When it is desired to arrest the cage the valve is brought to the position show
in Fig. 3, but if it is desired to lower the cage the valve E is carried downward belo
the pipe 19, thereby putting the bottom and the top of the cylinder in communicatio
through the pipe 19, valve chest D, and pipe 14, the latter remaining in fre
communication with the water supply, so that the pressure upon both sides of th
piston 9 is the same, and the weight of the cage will then carry up the piston rod
and piston, and the water will circulate through the pipe 14, from the space above the
piston downward to the space below the piston. Inasmuch as the space occupied by
the piston rods reduces the capacity of that portion of the cylinder above the piston 9
the water discharged from above the piston would not suffice to fill the space below
the latter, but the free communication of the pipe 14 with the water supply permits
sufficient quantity, in addition to that discharged from above the piston, to pass below
the latter to meet the demand.
above the pipe 19, when the pressure of the "water will be wholly upon the top of
When the cage is to be raised the valve E is lifted
the piston, and the water from below the piston can escape freely to the discharge
pipe 26.
hi
In order to prevent the sudden shock that would result if the water below the
port 18 was absolutely confined in the lower end of the cylinder when the piston
passes below the port 18, said piston is provided with a dependent flange 27, gradually
tapering towards the lower end, so as to leave an annular space between it and the
inside of the cylinder, which space gradually contracts towards the body of the piston,
so that when the flange begins to pass the port 18 there is space for a comparatively
free flow of water from below the piston, which space is gradually contracted until the
flange has passed entirely below the port.
If the piston descends with great rapidity the partially confined water will act as
a buffer to gradually arrest the movement of the piston, and should the valve E be
closed suddenly while the piston is moving rapidly downward in the cylinder 8, the
increased pressure below the piston will lift the valve 20, permit the water to escape
upward and equalize gradually the pressure upon both sides, thereby arresting the
movement of the piston without shock.
The piston is provided with a perforation 28, extending completely through the
same from top to bottom, and closed at the top by a flap valve 29, which prevents water
from passing downward, but which will lift to permit a portion of the water to pass
upward from below the piston to the top should the water be suddenly confined below
the piston during the movement of the latter, thereby preventing the too sudden arrest
of said movement.
A pipe 30 communicates through branches provided with cocks, with the lower
part of the pipe 19, with the lower end of the cylinder 8, and with the cylinder at a 4
point above the top of the piston when the latter is in its lowest position, and also
with a receptacle enclosed by a flange 31, round the packings for the piston rods at
the top of the cylinder head. The said pipe 30 also feads to the discharge pipe 26,
so that when desired the water can be drawn completely from all portions of the
engine into the discharge, and any water that leaks through the packings can be 5
carried off. A curved pipe 32 provided with a cock extends from the top of the
cylinder over the flange 31, and serves as a means of withdrawing any air that may
accumulate in the cylinder, and should any water pass with the air it is discharged
into the receptacle enclosed by the flange 31, and passes off to the discharge
pipe.
It has been common to operate the valves of hydraulic elevator engines by hand
ropes arranged adjacent to the cage so as to be moved by the operator therein and
55

page_text: connected directly to the valve operating devices. This has been found to involve a
great deal of labor upon the part of the attendant in the larger and quicker running
apparatus employed at the present time, and therefore an auxiliary engine F is employed
to impart movement to the valve E, and the said auxiliary engine is provided
with a small valve which controls the motor fluid to and from said engine, which
auxiliary valve can be operated with but little exertion on the part of the attendant
in the cage, through the medium of suitable connecting devices.
As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the auxiliary engine F is provided with a cylinder 33,
piston 34, the piston rod of which is connected to the stem 24 of the valve E, and
with a valve chest 35, provided with a valve 36, and stem 37, a discharge pipe 38
and another pipe, not shown, admitting the motor fluid, which may be the fluid used
for operating the main engine, or another fluid. By shifting the valve 35, the motor.
fluid is directed to one side or the other or is cut off from the piston 34, so as to raise
or lower the said piston, or hold it in equilibrium, imparting like movements to the
main valve E.
In order to accurately adjust the main valve the auxiliary engine is so constructed
that the adjustment of the auxiliary valve is made the means of, 1st effecting an
adjustment of the main valve to the same proportionate extent, and 2nd, of then
arresting and holding the main valvo in position.
The operating cable a, b, is connected at one end to the free end of a lever 80
pivoted at the other end to the frame of the engine and connected by a link 81 with
another lever $2 which is pivoted to the rod 21 connecting the auxiliary piston and
main valve, and the auxiliary valve rod 37 is connected to the lever 82. When the
cable a is moved to raise the lever 80, the lever 82, and auxiliary valve are raised
and the motor fluid is transmitted to the auxiliary engine to depress the piston thereof
and with it the main valve. As the main valve descends with its stem 24 the
lever 82 is depressed and with it the auxiliary valve and as. the latter is brought to a
central position the supply of motor fluid to the auxiliary engine is cut off and the
motion of the piston is arrested.
If the auxiliary valve 36 is in the first instance lifted to a great extent to fully
open the lower port of the auxiliary engine a more extended movement is required
to return the valve 36 to a central position, which will not result until the main valve has
arrived at a position to fully open the port 18, but if the auxiliary valve is lifted but
slightly so as to slightly open the port of the auxiliary engine, a slight movement of the
main valve will suffice to restore the auxiliary valve to a central position and the main valve
will be arrested after it has opened the port 18 only to a small extent. By thus
connecting the main valve and auxiliary valve so as to permit an independent move-
ment of the auxiliary valve, but also so that the main valve shall restore the auxiliary
valve to its closed position, the adjustment of the auxiliary valve to any extent will
result in a proportionate automatic adjustment of the main valve, and if the auxiliary
valve is carried slowly in either direction the main valve will follow it and will be
arrested simultaneously with the arrest of the auxiliary valve. This mode of automatic
adjustment may be embodied in different forms of devices.
Thus in the form of auxiliary engine shown in Figs. 6 to 11, the valve casing A
contains both the main valve and the piston of the auxiliary or operating engine.
The main valve A' is of such length or has such a lap as to permit a limited
movement in either direction opposite the discharge port, without uncovering the
same.
The piston P of the auxiliary engine is connected to the valve A' by a rod R, and
a rod R extends through the head of the cylinder or casing, and is provided with a
lateral arm S for the purpose described hereinafter.
Attached to that port C, of the casing which constitutes the cylinder of the auxiliary
engine, is a valve-casing V with an internal lining Lof brass or other suitable material
projecting in the form of a tube beyond the ends of the casing, and within this lining
slides the auxiliary valve B¹.
Transverse ports afford a communication between the cylinder C, and the
valve casing V and are arranged along the length of the cylinder C, for the

page_text: Distance that the piston P is to travel therein. These ports are arranged as shown in
Fig. 7.
A port or passage P¹ extends from the upper face of the piston P to the periphery
of the same, at a point opposite the ports 66 and is of such width as to extend across
the series of ports.
The auxiliary valve B contains a central channel or passage which communicates
through holes N with a circumferential recess N of the valve, so that upon lifting the
valve to uncover any of the ports above the upper face of the piston P, the water will
flow from the space above the piston, through the recess N2, holes N and channel f
to the lower or discharge end of the valve chest.
There is another and wider circumferential recess R³, so arranged that when its
lower edge is carried below the bottom of the piston P, a communication will be
formed through the uncovered ports b', and through said recess R³, with the passage P1,
which permits the water under pressure from the supply reservoir to pass from beneath
to the top of the piston.
The stem of the valve is provided with shoulders o o¹ between which extends the
arm S, the shoulders being so far apart as to permit such a play of the valve indepen-
dent of the piston, as to uncover the ports above or below the latter, whatever may
be its position in the cylinder C, but sufficiently near together to prevent the recess R²
from being raised above or carried below the passage P¹.
The operation of the entire apparatus is as follows: To raise the car the valve B' is
moved upward by vibrating a lover 0. The instant a part of one of the ports above
the upper face of the piston P is uncovered water from the upper end of the cylinder C
passes through said port and through the recess N2 and holes N into the channel f of
the auxiliary valve, and is carried by a connecting pipe P³ from the valve chest V
into the discharge pipe..
The area of the piston P is greater than that of the valve A' so that there is an
excess of pressure upon the under side of the piston which will cause the latter to rise
carrying with it the main valve A' and this upward movement of the piston will
continue so long as the valve B₁ continues to move upward or is in a position to
uncover any of the ports above the piston.
If during the upward movement of the piston P it is desired to arrest the same to
hold the valve A' in the position which it then occupies, this may be effected by carry-
ing the valve B' a little downward until all the ports above the piston are cut off from
communication with the recess N³.
When the piston P is raised so as to lift the lower edge of the valve A' above the
bottom of the port the water will flow from below the main piston which will begin
to descend and raise the cage.
desired to arrest the same by closing the main valve, this is effected by carrying the
If during the upward movement of the cage it is
lever O to a horizontal position, which will bring the valve B¹ to a central position 4
within its chest, the recess R² as the valve B descends, uncovering the ports below
the piston and permitting the water to flow under pressure through the ports bb',
recess R³ and passage P₁ to the top of the piston, when the latter will descend in con-
sequence of the pressure upon the top of the valve A¹ the pressures upon the opposite
faces of the piston P being equal. As the valve B' is brought to a mid position in the
chest, the piston P, will descend to the position shown in Figure 6 and the valve A'
will be arrested in position to close the discharge.
When the cage is to descend the valve B' is moved downward and the water will
flow to the top of the piston P and lower the latter with the valve A¹.
The upward movement of the main piston is arrested by bringing the valve B¹ to 5
a mid-position, when the escape of water from above the piston P will permit the
latter to ascend under pressure from below until it is in a central position in the
cylinder C, and the valve A' closes the port x.
It will be seen that by the construction described a slight movement of the auxiliary
valve B in either direction will instantly be followed by a corresponding movement 5
of the piston P in the same direction, which movement will be continued as the move-
ment of the valve B₁ is continued, and will be arrested almost simultaneously with

page_text: the stoppage of the said valve, so that the attendant in the cage by manipulating the
devices connected with the valve B' has positive control of the main valve A' and may
lift or lower it to any desired extent, and arrest it at any point with certainty but
without the labour which is occasioned by having said valve connected directly with
the operating mechanism in the cage.
The movement of the piston and main valve will be almost coincident with that of
the auxiliary valve, as to the time and extent, providing the ports and passages
are large enough to permit the water to flow with the desired rapidity; it is however
desirable to limit the speed at which the main valve can be moved to prevent a too
sudden stopping or starting of the car. To this end the area of the ports is regulated
or limited to permit the water to flow at such a slow speed as will secure the desired
movement of the main valve. The necessary area of the ports is found by experiment
to bear a very small ratio to that of a main valve, so that the auxiliary valve may be
of a small size and will require but a very small effort on the part of the attendant in
the car to operate it.
The arm $ serves in conjunction with the stops o o' to connect the auxiliary piston
and main valve directly to the auxiliary valve, and to limit the throw of the auxiliary
valve in respect to the piston, so that the two will move together except for a slight
lost motion permitted by the stops and it also prevents the piston P from turning in
the cylinder.
In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification in which the discharge passage from
above the piston P is through the stem of the main valve A¹ and through said valve
directly into the discharge pipe. The port P¹ (indicated partly by dotted lines) in
this case extends to one side of a second passage P2 leading from the edge of the
piston opposite the row of ports, through the stem and valve A' as shown. The
valve chest V in this case is closed at the lower end, and is packed at the upper end
around the rods, and the discharge water from above the piston P passes from the
recess N into the port P2 instead of being discharged into the channel of the
valve B'.
A channel I extends completely through the valve B' so that the latter is nearly
balanced by nearly equal pressure upon the opposite ends, and a hole 12 affords a
communication between the interior of the casing A and the bottom of the valve
chest V, to allow water to escape from the valve chest as the valve B' approaches
the lower extremity of its travel.
If any leakage should occur from the lower to the upper side of the piston the
latter will gradually move downward until the ports are uncovered when the flow of
water from above the same, through the uncovered ports, will cause it to stop or rise.
These movements will not open the main valve, in consequence of the extra length or
lap of the latter, permitting a limited play without opening the discharge pipe or
port ..
In Figs. 12 to 18 is illustrated another form of auxiliary engine for operating
the main valve.
In this construction the elevating engine is shown as consisting of a horizontal
cylinder A provided with a piston A, a piston rod carrying a travelling sheave A
round which and round sheaves A' A³ passes the cable or flexible suspensory A³ the
end of which is connected to the cage C, travelling between guides upon vertical
supports A Aº.
The motor fluid is conducted by a supply pipe S² to a valve casing $ and flows to
and from the end of the working cylinder A through a pipe A1 and is discharged
from the valve casing SS through a discharge pipe D.
The valve casing S8 is enlarged at one end to form a cylinder (Figs. 14 and 17 of
an auxiliary valve actuating engine, the piston P of which is connected by a stem R
with the main valve a Fig. 17 and the said sten extends through a packed opening in
the head H of the cylinder.
The pressure of the motor fluid is controlled by the adjustment of the auxiliary or
engine valve V Fig. 14 which slides in a chest V communicating through a port o

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connected by any suitable appliances with the cage C₁so that the attendant therei
at a point adjacent to the head H, and the auxiliary valve
can adjust such valve.
To standards or.stationary supports S is pivoted a lever LA, connected by a link
with the valve V, and the casing of the latter is provided with a port, communi
cating through a pipe d¹, Figs. 12 and 17, with the water supply, for instance, with
the chest or casing S. The casing V has a discharge port y communicating with a
pipe d, leading to the main discharge pipe D.
The shifting rope or other appliance or device leading to the cage is connected to
the lower end of the lever L', so that by vibrating said lever the auxiliary valve V
may be carried to the positions necessary to close the port o or open it to the
discharge or to the supply ..
between the piston P and the head of the cylinder C will pass to the discharge
If the valve V is thrown to the right the water
porty, under the action of the pressure upon the left face of the piston P, and the
latter will move to the right, and open the pipe A10 into the discharge D) so that the
water will be discharged from the main cylinder and the main piston A² will be
carried towards the head H2 of the working cylinder by the weight of the cage in
descending. If the valve Vis moved to the left, the pressure from the supply upon
the right hand face of the piston will carry the said piston and valve a to the left, and
will admit the water under pressure against the right hand face of the working
piston A³, and will carry the latter and the sheave A to the left, thereby raising
the cage.
In order that the adjustment of the auxiliary valve may effect a corresponding and
proportionate adjustment of the main valve a, a partial connection is made between
the piston rod R and the auxiliary valve, through the medium of the lever L', which
is forked and provided at each end with a barrel B, and with a yielding jaw B,
Figure 16, the stem S of which extends through the said barrel, and against which
bears a spiral spring S2 tending to thrust the jaw inward.
The piston rod R has an extension B³ provided with shoulders E E', midway
between which on the sides are rounded lugs or enlargements E² (Figure 1), for 3
a purpose described hereinafter.
To limit the movement of the jaws B' B', check nuts N (Figure 16) are screwed
upon the threaded ends of the stems S.
When the parts are in the position shewn in Figures 14 and 15, the elevator is at
rest and the jaws B B are in contact with the lugs E2, and are forced back into the 3
barrels. If now the lever L is forced to the left so as to carry the auxiliary valve VI.
to the left and admit the pressure upon the right hand side of the piston P, the
jaws B will be carried to the right from the lugs D and the piston P and main
valve a will be carried to the left, thereby opening the pipe A10, and permitting the
water to flow against the right hand face of the working piston A² and move the 40
latter to raise the cage.
As the valve a nears its position at the left the lug E by contact with the upper end
of the lever I will carry the latter. to the left until it is in a vertical position and the
valve V closes the port o, when the further movement of the valve a will be arrested,
leaving the post leading to the pipe A wholly open.
.
45
Should it now be desired to arrest the upward movement of the cage, the lower end
of the lever L' is carried to the right, when the pressure upon the left face of the
piston 1', will carry the same towards the right until the lugs E' are brought against
the jaws B, when the lever L will be moved until it is in an upright position and the
valve V closes the port o when the further movement of the parts will stop, at which 50
ime the valve a will close the end of the pipe A10 and the further movement of the
main piston will cease.
If it should now be necessary to lower the cage the lower end of the lever L' is
oved to the right, permitting the water to discharge from the right of the piston P,
hen the latter will move to the right and the valve a will uncover the end of the 55
ipe A and the cago will descend. The piston P will continue its motion to the right

page_text: of the pipe A¹º.
until the end of the pipe A10 is wholly uncovered, when the contact of the lug E' with
the upper end of the lever L' will carry the latter to a vertical position, when the
valve will close the port o, and the valve a will be arrested at the right of the end
By the means above described, pressure is brought to shift the valve a to one side or
the other of the pipe A10 to discharge the water from the main cylinder, or admit it under
pressure thereto, and the movement of the piston P in either direction causes the
lever I and the valve V' to be automatically brought to a central position and arrest the
valve a as it reaches the termination of its movement in either direction, or when it
arrives in a position to close the pipe A10, upon moying towards the latter from either
terminal position. While the frictional contact of the lugs E with the lever I or
the clamps thereof is sufficient to ensure the movement of the lever with the piston
rod to close the port o and arrest the valve a in its mid-position, it is not so great but
that the operator may readily carry the jaws past the lugs whenever it is necessary to
move the lever L in either direction to shift the valve VI and open the port o to start
the cage in either direction. The port o is thus automatically closed by the action of
the piston as soon as the valve a closes the pipe A10, and also as soon as the said valve a
reaches either of its terminal positions, and the lever L' is capable of being
adjusted independently of the piston rod, but is always moved automatically by
the latter at the termination of its proper movement, so as to close the port o.
It will be obvious that other means than those described for creating a frictional
resistance to the movement of the lever L¹ past a point mid-way between the stops E E¹
may be employed, for instance, the lugs E may be of rubber, and the forked ends of
the lever L may carry rollers which will be brought against the lugs and compress the
same as the lever swings past them, and the lugs may be directly upon the piston rod,
instead of upon the flat bar 133 attached to or forming part of the piston rod.
The strength or grip with which the jaws act upon the lugs may be readily adjusted
by using caps N, screwing upon the external threaded portions of the barrels B, and
capable of being set to compress the springs S to any desired extent.
The engine valve as well as the main valve a may be of different forms according
to the character of the main engine and of the valve operating engine, anil
different connections between the piston rod and the engine valve may be employed
for operating the said engine valve positively and directly from the movement of
the piston rod.
One means of operating the engine valve from the cage is illustrated in Figures 12
and 13, and consists of a vertical rod or shaft arranged in proximity to the path of the
cage, connected, to the engine valve and capable of being turned or rocked from within
the cage whatever may be the position of the latter.
The rod or shaft It consists of bent strips or plates connected to form a hollow
angular tube and provided at the top and bottom with bearing pieces B B7 adapted to
sockets in brackets B+ B5.
To prevent undue friction at the lower bearing end of the shaft IR, the latter
is provided at the upper end with a cap b, which bears upon the top of the
bracket B, and supports the entire weight of the tube, this mode of support having
the further advantage of preventing any springing or buckling of the shaft, and
maintaining it perfectly straight throughout.
An arm R is secured by nuts to the lower hearing piece of the shaft below the
bracket B, and is connected by a rod R³ to the end L of the lever L'.
Upon the shaft R' is fitted a tube or sleeve S³, so as to slide easily upon the shaft
without turning independently of the latter, and the said sleeve S³, which is cylindrical
externally, is fitted to a bearing in a bracket B connected to the car, so as to be carried
with the latter in its vertical movements.
A bevel pinion e is secured to or forms part of the upper end of the sleeve S³, and
gears with a beveled pinion upon a shaft g turning in a horizontal bearing in the
bracket B, and carrying a lever L³, which extends through a slot into the cage in a
position convenient to be operated by the attendant. By raising or lowering the
lever L³ the attendant can rock the pinion f, and thereby turn the pinion e and with it

page_text: the sleeve and the shaft I° so as to swing the arm R² and vibrate the lever L this
operation being effected at any point in the well in which the cage may be placed and
when the latter is moving or at rest.
The vertical shaft may without departing from the principle of the invention be
supported in a different manner from that described, may be differently connected
to the valve or valve operating appliances, and different means may be used for turning
the shaft from within the cage, as will be obvious to any skilled mechanic, and this
mode of operating valves from a vertical shaft may be employed in those cases where
the main valve is operated directly without the use of an auxiliary engine.
A preferable means of operating the valve, whether the main valve or the
auxiliary valve, is by means of flexible cables adjacent to or passing through
the cage in connection with an operating handle and cable tightening devices
operated thereby.
The said cables may be either stationary or traveling cables. Stationary cable
connections will be first described on reference to Figures 19 to 29.
One form of valve operating device having suspended stationary cables is illustrated
in Figures 19 to 23.
eye
In Figure 15, the cage A is shown as supported by a flexible suspensory or cable 1,
and adjacent to the path of the cage within the well is suspended the shifting cable,
which may be in one piece with the opposite ends attached to eye bolts 2, 2, at the top
of the well, as in Figure 19, or it may consist of two separate pieces, as in Figure 21,
there being in each case two parallel cable sections 5, 6, hanging from the
bolts 2,
within the well.
The cable is connected in any suitable manner to the shifting device, as for instance,
by passing the same around two guide pulleys 3, 4, at the bottom of the well, and
attaching the central portion to a lug or bracket 7, extending from a shifting bar 8,
as in Figure 19, or by connecting the ends of the separate cable sections to a
lever 15, to which the stopping and starting device may be connected as in other
elevators.
The tightening device shown in Figure 19 consists of a bar or frame 9, carried by a
shaft 10, extending through the side of the cage, and provided with a land wheel 11,
at the inner end, and also with studs 12, 13, the former carrying two grooved
pulleys 14 and 15, arranged side by side, and the latter carrying two grooved pulleys 16
and 17, similarly arranged.
The section 5, of the shifting cable, is passed beneath the pulley 14, and over the
pulley 16, and hangs downward from the latter, while the section 6 passes beneath the
pulley 17, and over the pulley 15, and thence downward, so that the tilting of
the bar or frame 9, in the direction of the arrow, Figure 19, will draw upon the
section 6, of the cable, and slacken the section 5, thereby moving the stopping and
starting device in one direction, while a reverse movement of the bar or frame
will tighten the section 5, and slacken the section 6, and reverse the position of the
stopping and starting device, while the vertical movement of the cage does not alter
the tension on, or position of, either cable section. The cage, therefore, may be started
and stopped at any point by the use of a single hand device within the cage, although
two suspended cable sections are employed, thereby securing by the manipulation of
a single device from within the cage, a positive movement of the stopping and starting
device in each direction, a result which cannot be attained by the use of a single
suspended cable, while the operations upon the two cable sections are effected with as
much certainty and with as little liability to mistake as when a single cable only is
employed.
In the construction shown in Figures 21, 22 and 23, a lever 9, connected with a
hand lever 11, within the cage carries two grooved pulleys 26, 27, and guide
pulleys 28, 29, 30, 31, turn on studs projecting from the cage, the cable section 5,
passing around the pulleys 28, 26, 29, and downward to the lever 15, and the cable
section 6, passing around the pulleys 30, 27, 31, and downward to the said lever.
When the lever 11 is swung in the direction of the arrow, Figure 21, the section 6 is
drawn between the pulleys 30, 31, and tightened, and the other section is released, and

page_text: when the movement of the lever 1.1, is reversed the section 6 is loosened and the
section 5 tightened, thus vibrating the lever 15, according to the position it is desired
to impart to the stopping and starting device.
Another valve operating device having suspended stationary cables is shown in
Figures 24 to 29. In these figures A represents the cage or car; B the engine
cylinder; D the valve casing; and i a shaft, by rotating which in opposite directions
the engine valve is raised and lowered.
The shaft 1, is provided with a pulley 2, round which the lower ends of two
ropes 3, 4, are wound in opposite directions, the upper ends of said ropes being
connected to eye bolts 5, 6, at the top of the well. Instead of two ropes a single rope may
be used, having its ends connected to the eyo bolts and its central portion wound round
the pulley 2; in either case the tightening of one portion 3 or 4 of the rope and
simultaneous loosening or slackening of the other portion would result in a rotation of
the pulley 2, and a movement of the valve in the casing D.
In order to effect the rotation of the pulley 2, from the cage by the simultaneous
tightening and slackening of the two portions of the rope, each rope or each portion
of the rope is passed round two pulleys, two pairs of pulleys being mounted upon a
bar 7, secured centrally to a shaft S, extending through the side of the cage. The
said bar carries upon projecting studs 9, 10, a pair of pulleys 11, 12, round which
the portion 3 of the rope or cable passes, first under the pulley 11, and then over the
pulley 12, and upon the same studs turn the two other pulleys 13, 14, the portion 4,
of the cable passing beneath the pulley 14, and over the pulley 13, and the cable is
of such length that both portions of the cable will be taut and the valve will be in
its central position when the axis of the pulleys are upon a horizontal plane.
It will be seen that when the frame or bar 7 is swung in the direction of the
arrow, Figure 27, the portion 3 of the cable will be contracted, and the portion 4 will
be simultaneously slackened, thereby imparting rotation to the pulley 2 in direction
of its arrow, Figure 24, and moving the valve, and that by swinging the bar 7, in
the opposite direction, the portion 4 of the cable will be tightened, and the portion 3
slackened, reversing the movement of the valve.
The horizontal arrangement of the pulleys when the valve is in mid position is
important, because the swinging of the frame in either direction from a horizontal
line or plane draws upon one section of the cable to precisely the same extent as it
pays out or slackens the other, while any other arrangement of the pulleys would
result in paying out one portion of the cable to a greater extent than the other is
drawn upon, so that the slackened portion is liable to slip from the pulleys, as the
cage travels up and down past the suspended cable.
The vibrating frame for supporting the pulleys may be constructed in different
ways; it is preferable, however, to make it in the form of a bar provided with studs,
as this arrangement is compact and occupies but little room beyond the outside of the
cage.
It is not essential that the pulleys be carried in circular paths, as they may be
moved upon vertical lines in opposite directions. For instance, the adjacent pulleys
of each pair may turn upon studs (Figures 28, 29) projecting from a slide 15, moving
in a guide 16, at the side of the cage, and the two slides may be moved vertically in
opposite directions by being connected to the cross bar 7, secured to the shaft 8,
extending inside of the cage.
The operating wheel or lever 17 may be connected directly to the end of the shaft 8;
it is best, however, to provide the latter with a toothed wheel 18, Figure 25, gearing
with a small pinion 19, upon the shaft 20, carrying the hand wheel or lever 17 so as to
increase the leverage and prevent too abrupt a movement of the frame or carrier
supporting the pulleys.
In order to insure an instant arrest of the cage, should either portion of the
operating rope break, a detent is arranged to support a weight in an elevated position,
or resist the action of a spring, which weight or spring when released will act upon
the valve operating devices, to bring the valve to its mid-position and arrest the
movement of the cage.

page_text: musy a forked bar 21, Figure 24, is hung loosely to the shaft 1, and carries a
its upper end a grooved pulley 22, of such width that the two portions 3, 4, of the
cable pass in contact with the opposite edges of the pulley and sustain the latter in a
nearly vertical position above the shaft 1.
To the periphery of the pulley 2, and to the lowest part of the periphery when the
valve is in its mid-position, is secured a flexible strap or band 24, carrying at the
lower end a block 25, having a notch, and provided with a hook for attachment to a
weight or spring 26.
To the frame of the machine is pivoted to swing horizontally a detent arm 27,
which extends between the forks e, e, of the bar 21, and when the weight or
spring 26 is lifted, may be brought into the notch of the block 25, so as to leave
the belt 24 slack, and permit the pulley 2 to rotate freely in each direction to the
extent necessary to operate the valve.
So long as the shifting or hand rope or cable is intact the parts will maintain the
position shown in Figures 24 and 26 but should either portion of the cable break,
the pulley 22 will no longer have any lateral support and will fall to one side,
vibrating the forked bar 21, and bringing one of the forks against the detent arm 27,
and throwing it out of the notch, so that the weight or spring draws taut the
strap 24, and pulls it downward until the pulley 2, is brought to such position as to
close the valve and stop the movement of the cage.
As the valve operating cable is suspended from stationary supports, the valve
cannot be automatically closed by the contact of the cage with stops upon the cable,
as usual, means are provided, therefore, whereby the pulley supporting frame or other
pulley operating device, may be automatically moved to shift the valve as the cage
approaches the limit of its movement in each direction.
is a stop block or plate 30, having an inclined face arranged to make contact with a
Thus, at the top of the well
friction roller upon an arm 33, extending from the bar or frame 7, and thereby tilt
the latter to close the valve as the cage reaches the limit of its upward movement and
another contact plate 31, similar to the plate 30, but in a reversed position, is
placed near the bottom of the well in a vertical plane a little to one side of that
of the plate 30, in position to make contact with a friction roller upon an arm 34 of
the frame 7.
The arms 33 and 34 are set at such an angle to the frame 7, that their contacting
points will be nearly level with the centre of vibration of the frame, when the latter
is tilted up or down to its maximum extent, so that there will be no tendency to a
thrust back from the bearing point towards the axis of the frame, which might result
if the said bearing was at the end of an arm in line with the bar or frame 7, so that
the bearing point would be above or below the axis of the frame at the time of
contact. By placing the plates 30, 31, upon different planes, or off-setting them,
each plate only makes contact with the arin with which it is to operate, the other 4
arm passing the plate at one side.
"It will be evident that a cross bar or lever secured to the shaft 1, and having
the two sections 3, 4, of the cable connected to its ends would be an equivalent of
the pulley 2.
In Figures 1 to 5 there is illustrated another means of employing two suspended 4
cables or
a single doubled cable suspended from its upper ends for operating the
valve or other stopping or starting device, but the cables instead of being suspended
from fixed points are movable vertically to a limited extent.
single cable consisting of metallic or fibrous material doubled. to constitute two
As shown there is a
parallel sections a, b, which pass around guide pulleys 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and the 50
cable is connected at one point in any suitable manner with the operating valve of
the elevator, as for instance, it is connected to the lever 80, before described.
The upper end of each section is connected to an inverted T-shaped bar G, which
passes between suitable guides, and is adjustably connected by a pin 66, with the
end of a lever 40, pivoted to a bracket 50, the opposite end of the lever 40 supporting 55
weight W, preferably sufficiently heavy to overcome the frictional resistance of
the stopping and starting valve.

page_text: The cage B is provided with any suitable cable tightening device whereby either
section a or b may be drawn upon, thereby drawing down the bar G, and slackening.
the other section and imparting a travelling movement to the cable upon the
supporting pulleys in one direction or the other and operating the stopping and
starting valve. As shown there are two grooved pulleys 51, 52, turning upon
fixed studs outside the cage in position for the section a, b. to pass between them,
each tangential to one of the pulleys, and another pulley 53 is arranged between
the sections a, b, above the pulleys 51 and 52 and is carried by an arm 54 pivoted
to a short shaft 56 extending through the side of the cage and carrying an inner
slotted arm 57, receiving a pin upon an operating lever 58 within the cage.
If the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4. and the lever 58 is moved to
throw the pulley 53 to the left the section a will be deflected by the pulley 58,
over the pulley 51, and will be contracted and drawn upon, thereby drawing down
the bar G. As the bar G descends from the draft upon the section a, the section b
will be slackened, but the weight W will exert such a tension upon the deflected
section a, as will tend to create an upward draft upon this portion of the cable, and
cause the same to travel around the guide pulleys, taking up the slack resulting
from the slackening of the section b and imparting movement to the valve in one
direction.
When the operating handle 58 is moved to bring the wheel 53 to its central
position shown in Figure 4, the weight W will lift the bar G, thereby drawing
upon the section of the cable which travels around the guide pulleys until the
slack of the section a is wholly taken up and the parts are restored to their normal
position.
As the valve is moved from its central position in one direction to start the cage
when the cage is descending, and in the opposite direction when the cage is ascending,
the pulley 53 will be brought to operate upon one section during the descending
movement of the cage and upon the other section of the cable during the ascending
movement, so that the wear upon the sections will be practically uniform.
The arrangement above described also serves practically as a safety device,
inasmuch as the breaking of either section of the cable will permit the weight W
to exert its force to elevate the bar G, thereby drawing upon the other section until
the valve reaches a mid-position, when the movement of the engine and of the cage
will be arrested.
The bar G is provided with a series of openings 67 so that the parts may be
adjusted with the lever 40 in a horizontal position when the parts are in place to hold
the valve in its mid position.
In order to ensure the proper dratt upon the deflected portion of the cable, it is
desirable to limit the movement of the bar and this is effected by means of suitable
stops. Thus a sector 60 is hung at the side of the lever 40, and is provided with a
curved rack 65, with which engago a pawl 64, upon the lever 40, so that the sector
and lever will swing together, and a rod 61 hangs from the sector 60, passes through
a perforated stud h, and is provided with two stop nuts 62, 63. When one of the
sections of the cable is deflected and the bar G descends so as to slacken the other
section to a sufficient extent the nut 63 contacts with the stud h, and prevents the
further descent of the bar G, so that the further deflecting action of the pulley 52
will exert a draft upon the deflected section of the cable and compel the latter to
travel until the slack resulting from the loosening of the other section is taken up.
If the sector 60 was secured immovably to the lever 40, the expansion of the cable
resulting from use or heat would gradually carry the weighted end further down and
the stop nut 63 further from the stud h, causing a variable action of the stopping
and starting device when, however, the parts are constructed as shown, the stop 62
will contact with the stud h, when the left end of the lever is depressed below a
horizontal position and the movement of the sector is arrested, while the lever
descends and the pawl engages with the rack so that the two will rise together and
whatever may be the angle of the lever 40 resulting from taking up the slack and

page_text: when the valve is in its mid position, the amount of movement when necessary to
carry the stop 63 upward into contact with the stud will always be the same.
Another arrangement in which a single travelling cable is employed is shown in
Figure 30, in which X represents the cage, A the engine cylinder; G the valve
casing having the usual valve E and stem a; and R a lever upon the case, one arm u
constituting an operating handle in the cage, and the other arm t extending
horizontally below the cage. The valve stem a is connected to the free end of a
pivoted lever carrying a pulleys and weight we, and the valve operating cable a
is secured at one end to the arm t of the lever R, and passes downward and under
the pulleys upward over a pulley Q', and downward, and is attached to the
cage X.
The pulley is carried by a weighted lever p which tends to keep the cable
taut, but is limited in its movement by a stop e, so that when the lever R is moved
to raise the arm t, the lever p will be raised and the valve E lifted. When the
movement of the lever R is reversed the cable is slackened and the weight w carries
down the lever and valve and these operations may be effected when the cage is in
any position as the cable travels round the pulleys Qands.
from being shifted too suddenly the stem a carries a piston fitting a cylinder and
To prevent the valve
provided with a contracted opening y through which a liquid in the cylinder must
pass from one side to the other of the piston before the valve can be moved, the
rapidity of the movement depending upon the size of the opening y.
To insure that the cylinder shall always be full of fluid, a pipe c connects said
cylinder with the adjacent circulating pipe of the engine.
In modern elevators where the cages are heavy, travel at a high rate of speed, and
yet must be arrested suddenly, a great strain comes upon the parts of the apparatus
from the sudden arrest of the movements of the cage.
is
In order to avoid this strain a brake device is employed, as best illustrated in
Figure 30. In the construction shown in the said Figure, a metallic rail
extended vertically along the path of the cage, there preferably being two parallel
rails one being opposite each side of the cage, and the latter carries a brake device T
of any suitable construction by means of which a shoe or clamp can be applied to
the rail with such friction as to retard and resist the movement of the cage and
gradually bring it to a stop. In the construction shown in Figure 30, the clamp is
connected with or forms part of a lever g which is connected by an adjustable
connecting rod with the arm of the lever R by which means the movement of
the lever R in order to shift the valve and arrest the movement of the operating
engine is also made the means of applying the brake and the parts are preferably
so adjusted that the brake is applied just as the motor fluid is cut off from the
engine. The brake device is so constructed that the brake will be applied by either
lifting or depressing the lever g, so as to secure the frictional resistance when
the lever Ris moved in either direction to arrest the cage in ascending or
descending.
In the different forms of apparatus herein before described reference has been
made to the valve that controls the movement of the engine and different means havo.
been specified for adjusting the position of said valve from the cage it will be
evident, however, that such adjusting means may be employed for varying the
position of any of the usual stopping and starting devices for elevators, as for
instance water and steam valves, belt shifters, electrical switches, or any other
devices the movements of which control those of the elevating engine.
Dated this 26th day of September 1888.

page_text: -
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elevators or Lifts.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS AND COMPANY, a Corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, of New York,
in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
These improvements relate to that class of clevator apparatus in which a cage is
caused to rise and fall within a well by the action of a cage operating engine the
nature of which apparatus will be understood by reference to the drawings filed with
the Provisional Specification in which :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation in part section showing a well, cage, operating engine and
appliances connected therewith and forming part thereof.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation through the well, showing the parts
illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional elevation of the elevator engine shown in
Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 aro elevations illustrating the method and means of controlling the
stopping and starting device being enlarged views of the means illustrated in Figs. 1. 2
and 3.
Figs. 6 to 11 are views illustrating special forms of valve operating appliances.
Figs. 12 to 18 are views illustrating a modified form of valve operating appliance in
connection with a cage and horizontal engine, and rigid valve operating rod suspended
adjacent to the cage.
Figs. 19 to 23 are views illustrating means for operating the stopping and starting
valvo or other device through the medium of two suspended cables.
Figs. 24 to 29 illustrate a modification, in which two suspended cables are used,
together with a safety appliance for arresting the engine should the cables break.
Fig. 30 is an elevation in part section, illustrating a method of operating, the
stopping and starting device through the medium of a travelling cable, and means for
controlling said device and a friction brake from within the cage.
A represents the well in which the cage B of the elevator travels, the said well
extending past the different floors of a building, and past the door-ways thereof as
usual, the cage being supported by flexible cables or suspensories G, which pass over a
guide pulley 7, and downward to the engine. As shown the engine C is a hydraulic
engine having a cylinder 8, piston 9, piston rods 10, and cross head 11, carrying a
grooved wheel 12, round which the cable 6 passes, extending thence to an eye bolt 13,
so that as the piston descends the cage will be elevated.
Parallel to the cylinder S extends a pipe 14, which may communicate at the upper
end with a pipe 15, leading to an elevated water tank, or it may communicate
through a branch 16, with a pipe leading to the water main of a city, when the
city pressure is sufficient for operating the engine, and the pipe 14, communicates
with the upper end of the cylinder S, through port 17 Figure 3 and at the
lower end connects with a pipe 19, through an opening 21, closed by a check
valve 20, the pipe 19 communicating with the lower end of the cylinder 8 through a
port 18. A valve casing D communicates through ports 22, 23 respectively, with
the pipes 14 and 19, and is provided with a valve E consisting of a thimble with
packings of such length as to wholly cover either of the openings 22 and 23, and
secured to a stem 24, carrying a packed disk 25 which slides in the casing and
prevents water from passing from between the valve and the disk out of the top of
the casing. The valve casing D communicates at the bottom with a pipe 26 leading
to a discharge tank.
The cylinder 8, with its piston and pipes, and the valve casing D, and its valve

page_text: and ports, constitute together what is termed the "main engine" and when the valve
is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the port 18 being closed, the engine will be at rest.
If, however, the valve E is elevated the water can pass from below the piston 9
through the port 18, and pipe 19 to the valve casing, and out of the latter to the
discharge pipe 26, and the water under pressure enters the top of the cylinder 8
through the port 17, and depresses the piston, raising the cage.
When it is desired to arrest the cage the valve is brought to the position
shown in Fig. 3, but if it is desired to lower the cage the valve E is carried downward
below the pipe 19, thereby putting the bottom and the top of the cylinder in com-
munication through the pipe 19, valve cliest D, and pipe 14, the latter remaining in
free communication with the water supply, so that the pressure upon both sides of
the piston 9 is the same, and the weight of the cage will then carry up the
piston rods and piston, and the water will circulate through the pipe 14, from the
space above the piston downward to the space below the piston.
the space occupied by the piston rods reduces the capacity of that portion of
Inasmuch as
the cylinder above the piston 9, the water discharged from above the piston would
not suffice to fill the space below the latter, but the free communication of the pipe 14
with the water supply permits a sufficient quantity, in addition to that discharged from
above the piston, to pass below the latter to meet the demand. When the cage is to
be raised the valve E is lifted above the pipe 19, when the pressure of the water
will be wholly upon the top of the piston, and the water from below the piston can
escape freely to the discharge pipe 26.
In order to prevent the sudden shock that would result if the water below the
port 18 was absolutely confined in the lower end of the cylinder when the piston
passes below the port 18, said piston is provided with a dependent flange 27, gradually
tapering towards the lower end, so as to leave an annular space between it and the
inside of the cylinder, which space gradually contracts towards the body of the piston,
so that when the flange begins to pass the port 18 there is space for a comparatively
free flow of water from below the piston, which space is gradually contracted until
the flange has passed entirely below the port.
If the piston descends with great rapidity the partially confined water will act as a
buffer to gradually arrest the movemement of the piston, and should the valve E be
closed suddenly while the piston is moving rapidly downward in the cylinder 8, the
increased pressure below the piston will lift the valve 20, permit the water to escape
upward and equalize gradually the pressure upon both sides, thereby arresting the
movement of the piston without shock.
The piston is provided with a perforation 28, extending completely through the
same from top to bottom, and closed at the top by a flap valve 29, which prevents
water from passing downward, but which will lift to permit a portion of the water to
pass upward from below the piston to the top should the water be suddenly confined
below the piston during the movement of the latter, thereby preventing the too sudden
arrest of said movement.
A pipe 30 communicates through branches provided with cocks, with the lower
part of the pipe 19 with the lower end of the cylinder S, and with the cylinder at
a point above the top of the piston when the latter is in its lowest position and also
with a receptacle enclosed by a flange 31, round the packings for the piston rods
at the top of the cylinder head. The said pipe 30 also leads to the discharge pipe 26,
so that when desired the water can be drawn completely from all portions of the
engine into the discharge, and any water, that leaks through the packings can be
carried off. A curved pipe 32 provided with a cock extends from the top of the 5
cylinder over the flange 31, and serves as a means of withdrawing any air that may
accumulate in the cylinder, and should any water pass with the air it is discharged:
into the receptacle enclosed by the flange 31, and passes off to the discharge pipe.
It has been common to operate the valves of hydraulic elevator engines by hand
ropes arranged adjacent to the cage so as to be moved by the operator therein and 5
connected directly to the valve operating devices. This has been found to involve a
great deal of labor upon the part of the attendant in the larger and quicker running:

page_text: apparatus employed at the present time, and therefore an auxiliary engine F is
employed to impart movement to the valve E, and the said auxiliary engine is provided
with a small valve which controls the motor fluid to and from said engine, which
auxiliary valve can be operated with but little exertion on the part of the attendant in
the cage, through the medium of suitable connecting devices.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the auxiliary engine F is provided with a cylinder 33,
piston 34, the piston rod of which is connected to the stem 24 of the valve E, and
with a valve chest 35, provided with a valve 36, and stem 37, a discharge pipe 38
and another pipe, not shown, admitting the motor fluid, which may be the fluid used
for operating the main engine or another fluid. By shifting the valve 35, the motor
fluid is directed to one side or the other or is cut off from the piston 34, so as to raiso
or lower the said piston, or hold it in equilibrium, imparting like movements to the
main valve E.
In order to accurately adjust the main valve the auxiliary engine is so constructed
that the adjustment of the auxiliary valve is made the means of-1st effecting an
adjustment of the main valve to the same proportionate extent, and 2nd of then
arresting and holding the main valve in position.
The operating cable a bis connected at one end to the free end of a lever 80 pivoted
at the other end to the frame of the engine and connected by a link 81 with another
lever 82 which is pivoted to the rod 24 connecting the auxiliary piston and main valve,
and the auxiliary valve rod 37 is connected to the lever 82. When the cable a bis
moved to raise the lever 80, the lever 82, and auxiliary valve are raised and the motor
fluid is transmitted to the auxiliary engine to depress the piston thereof and with it the
main valve--As the main valve descends with its stem 24 the lever 82 is depressed
and with it the auxiliary valve and as the latter is brought to a central position the
supply of motor fluid to the auxiliary engine is cut off and the motion of the piston
is arrested.
If the auxiliary valve 36 is in the first instance lifted to a great extent to fully
open the lower port of the auxiliary engine a more extended movement is required to
return the valve 36 to a central position, which will not result until the main valvo
has arrived at a position to fully open the port 18, but if the auxiliary valve is lifted
but slightly so as to slightly open the port of the auxiliary engine, a slight movement
of the main valve will suffice to restore the auxiliary valve to a central position and
the main valve will be arrested after it has opened the port 18 only to a small extent.
By thus connecting the main valve and auxiliary valve so as to permit an independent
movement of the auxiliary valve, but also so that the main valve shall restore the
auxiliary valve to its closed position, the adjustment of the auxiliary valve to any
extent will result in a proportionate automatic adjustment of the main valve, and if
the auxiliary valve is carried slowly in either direction the main valve will follow it
and will be arrested simultaneously with the arrest of the auxiliary valve. This
mode of automatic adjustment may be embodied in different forms of devices.
Thus in the form of auxiliary engine shown in Figs. 6 to 11. the valve casing A.
contains both the main valve and the piston of the auxiliary or operating engine.
The main valve A¹ is of such length or has such a lap as to permit a limited movement
in either direction opposite the discharge port, without uncovering the same.
The piston P of the auxiliary engine is connected to the valve A by a rod R and a
rod R extends through the head of the cylinder or casing, and is provided with a
lateral arm S for the purpose described hereinafter.
Attached to that portion C of the casing which constitutes the cylinder of the
auxiliary engine, is a valve-casing V with an internal lining L of brass or other suit-
able material projecting in the form of a tule beyond the ends of the casing and
within this lining slide the auxiliary valve B¹.
Transverse ports afford a communication between the cylinder C, and the valve
casing V, and are arranged along the length of the cylinder for the distance that
the piston P is to travel therein. These ports are arranged as shown in Fig. 7.
A port or passage P¹ extends from the upper face of the piston P to the periphery

page_text: of the saine, at a point opposite the ports, and is of such width as to extend
across the series of ports.
The auxiliary valve B' contains a central channel or passage which communicates
through holes N with a circumferential recess. N of the valve, so that upon lifting
the valve to uncover any of the ports above the upper face of the piston 1', the water
will flow from the space above the piston, through the recess N³, holes N, and
channel to the lower or discharge end of the valve chest.
There is another and wider circumferential recess R² so arranged that when its
lower edge is carried below the bottom of the piston P, a communication will be
formed through the uncovered ports 61, and through said recess R2, with the passage P¹,
which permits the water under pressure from the supply reservoir to pass from
beneath to the top of the piston.
The stem of the valve is provided with shoulders oo¹ between which extends the
arm S, the shoulders being so far apart as to permit such a play of the valve inde-
pendent of the piston as to uncover the ports above or below the latter, whatever may
be its position in the cylinder C, but sufficiently near together to prevent the recess R²
from being raised above or carried below the passage P¹.
The operation of the entire apparatus is as follows:-
To raise the car the valve Bis moved upwards by vibrating a lever O. The instant
a part of one of the ports above the upper face of the piston P is uncovered, water
from the upper end of the cylinder C passes through said port and through the
recess N2 and holes N, into the channel of the auxiliary valve, and is carried
by a connecting pipe P from the valve chest V into the discharge pipe.
The area of the piston P is greater than that of the valve A', so that there is
an excess of pressure upon the underside of the piston, which will cause the latter
to rise, carrying with it the main valve A¹, and this upward movement of the
piston will continue so long as the valve B₁ continues to move upward or is in a
position to uncover any of the ports above the piston.
If during the upward movement of the piston P it is desired to arrest the same
to hold the valve A' in the position which it then occupies, this may be effected
by carrying the valve B₁ a little downward until all the ports above the piston
are cut off from communication with the recess N².
When the piston P is raised so as to lift the lower edge of the valve A¹ above
the bottom of the port the water will flow from below the main piston, which
will begin to descend and raise the cage. If during the upward movement of the a
cage it is desired to arrest the same by closing the main valve, this is effected by
carrying the lever O to a horizontal position, which will bring the valve B¹ to a
central position within its chest, the recess R2 as the valve B' descends, uncovering
the ports below the piston and permitting the water to flow under pressure through
the ports, recess R2 and passage P, to the top of the piston, when the latter 4
will descend in consequence of the pressure upon the top of the valve A', the
pressure upon the opposite faces of the piston P being equal. As the valve B¹ is
brought to a mid-position in the chest, the piston P, will descend to the position
shown in Fig. 6 and the valve A will be arrested in position to close the discharge.
When the cage is to descend, the valve B is moved downward and the water 4
will flow to the top of the piston P, and lower the latter with the valve A¹.
The upward movement of the main piston is arrested by bringing the valve B¹
to a mid-position, when the escape of water from above the piston P will permit
the latter to ascend under pressure from below until it is in a central position in
the cylinder C, and the valve A¹ closes the port x.
5
It will be seen that by the construction described a slight movement of the
auxiliary valve B', in either direction will instantly be followed by a corresponding
'movement of the piston P in the same direction, which movement will be continued
as the movement of the valve B₁ is continued, and will be arrested almost simul-
taneously with the stoppage of the said valve, so that the attendant in the cage 5
by manipulating the devices connected with the valve B' has positive control of

page_text: the main valve A¹, and may lift or lower it to any desired extent, and arrest it
at any point with certainty but without the labor which is occasioned by having
said valve connected directly with the operating mechanism in the cage.
The movement of the piston and main valve will be almost coincident with that
of the auxiliary valve, as to time and extent, providing the ports 161, and passages
are large enough to permit the water to flow with the desired rapidity; it is
however desirable to limit the speed at which the main valve can be moved, to
prevent a too sudden stopping or starting of the car. To this end the area of the
ports is regulated or limited to permit the water to flow at such a slow speed as
will secure the desired movement' of the main valve. The necessary area of the
ports is found by experiment to bear a very small ratio to that of a main valve,
so that the auxiliary valve may be of a small size, and will require but a very
small effort on the part of the attendant in the car to operate it.
The arm S serves in conjunction with the stops o o¹ to connect the auxiliary
piston and main valve directly to the auxiliary valve, and to limit the throw of
the auxiliary valve in respect to the piston, so that the two will move together
except for a slight lost motion permitted by the stops, and it also prevents the
piston P from turning in the cylinder.
In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modification in which the discharge passage from
below the piston P is through the stem of the main valve A¹ and through said valve
directly into the discharge pipe. The port P¹ (indicated partly by dotted lines) in
this case extends to one side of a second passage P2 leading from the edge of the
piston opposite the row of ports through the stem and valve A' as shown.
valve chest V in this case is closed at the lower end, and is packed at the upper end
around the rod and the discharge water from above the piston P. passes from the
recess N into the port P2 instead of being discharged into the channel of the valve B¹.
The
A channel I extends completely through the valve B', so that the latter is nearly
balanced by nearly equal pressure upon the opposite ends, and a hole L affords a
communication between the interior of the casing A. and the bottom of the valve
chest V, to allow water to escape from the valve cliest as the valve B' approaches the
lower extremity of its travel.
If any leakage should occur from the lower to the upper side of the piston, the
latter will gradually move downward until the ports are uncovered when the flow
of water from above the same, through the uncovered ports, will cause it to stop or
rise. These movements will not open the main valve, in consequence of the extra
length or lap of the latter, permitting a limited play without opening the discharge
pipe or port a.
In Figs. 12 to 18 is illustrated another form of auxiliary engine for operating the
main valve.
In this construction the elevating engine is shown as consisting of a horizontal
cylinder A. provided with a piston A2 and piston rod carrying a travelling sheave A',
round which and round sheaves A*, A³, passes the cable or flexible suspensory A³,
the end of which is connected to the cage C travelling between guides upon vertical
supports A, Aº.
The motor fluid is conducted by a supply pipe S to a valve casing S3, and flows
to and from the end of the working cylinder A, through a pipe A10, and is discharged
from the valve casing S8 through a discharge pipe D.
The valve casing S is enlarged at one end to form a cylinder C. Figs. 14 and 17
of an auxiliary valve actuating engine, the piston P of which is connected by a
stem R with the main valve a Fig. 17 and the said stem extends through a packed
opening in the bead H of the cylinder.
The pressure of the motor fluid is controlled by the adjustment of the auxiliary or
engine valve V, Fig. 14. which slides in a chest V communicating through a port o
with the engine cylinder at a point adjacent to the head H, and the auxiliary valve is
connected by any suitable appliances with the cage (, so that the attendant therein
can adjust such valve.
To standards or stationary supports S is pivoted a lever L', connected by a link L
;
'

page_text: WICH the valve V, and the casing of the latter is provided with a port æ, communi-
cating through a pipe d' Figs. 12 and 17 with the water supply for instance, with the
chest or casing S³. The casing V has a charge port y, communicating with a pipe d,
leading to the main discharge pipe D.
The shifting rope or other appliance or device leading to the cage is connected to
the lower end of the lever L, so that by vibrating said lever the auxiliary valve V
may be carried to the positions recessary to close the port o or to open it to the
discharge y or to the supply a. If the valve V is thrown to the right the water
between the piston P and the head of the cylinder C will pass to the discharge port y
under the action of the pressure upon the left face of the piston P, and the latter will
move to the right, and open the pipe A into the discharge D, so that the water will
be discharged from the main cylinder, and the main piston A2 will be carried towards
the head H of the working cylinder by the weight of the cage in descending. If the
valve VI is moved to the left, the pressure from the supply upon the right hand face
of the piston will carry the said piston and valve a to the left, and will admit the
water under pressure against the right hand face of the working piston A², and will
carry the latter and the sheave A7 to the left, thereby raising the cage.
In order that the adjustment of the auxiliary valve may effect a corresponding and
proportionate adjustment of the main valve a, a partial connection is made between
the piston rod R and the auxiliary valve, through the medium of the lever L', which
is forked and provided at each end with a barrel B, and with a yielding jaw B1,
Fig. 16 the stem S5, of which extends through the said barrel, and against which
bears a spiral spring Stending to thrust the jaw inward.
The piston rod R has an extension B³ provided with shoulders E E¹ midway
between which on the sides are rounded lugs or enlargements E (Fig. 15) for a
purpose described hereinafter.
To limit the movement of the jaws B B', check nuts N8 (Fig. 16) are screwed
upon the threaded ends of the stems S³.
When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the elevator is at
rest and the jaws B B are in contact with the lugs E, and are forced back into the
barrels. If now the lever L' is forced to the left so as to carry the auxiliary valve V¹
to the left and admit the pressure upon the right hand side of the piston P, the
jaws B will be carried to the right from the lugs E and the piston P and main valve a
will be carried to the left, thereby opening the pipe A10, and permitting the water
to flow against the right hand face of the working piston A2 and move the latter to
raise the cage.
As the valve a nears its position at the left the lug E by contact with the upper
end of the lever L will carry the latter to the left until it is in a vertical position and
the valve V closes the port o when the further movement of the valve a will be
arrested, leaving the port leading to the pipe A10 wholly open.
Should it now be desired to arrest the upward movement of the cage, the lower
end of the lever is carried to the right, when the pressure upon the left face of
the piston P, will carry the same towards the right hand until the lugs E2, are
brought against the jaws B', when the lever L' will be moved until it is in an upright
position and the valve V closes the port o, when the further movement of the parts 4
will stop, at which time the valve a will close the end of the pipe A1 and the further
movement of the main piston will cease.
If it should now be necessary to lower the cage the lower end of the lever Lis
moved to the right, permitting the water to discharge from the right of the piston P,
when the latter will move to the right and the valve a will uncover the end of 5
the pipe A and the cage will descend. The piston P will continue its motion to the
right until the end of the pipe A is wholly uncovered, when the contact of the
lug E' with the
when the valve Per end of the lever L' will carry the latter to a vertical position,
of the end of the pipe A¹º.
will close the port o, and the valve a will be arrested at the right
By the means above described, pressure is brought to shift the valve a to one side
or the other of the pipe A, to discharge the water from the main cylinder, or admit”
5

page_text: it under pressure thereto, and the movement of the piston P in either direction causes
the lever L and the valve V' to be automatically brought to a central position and
arrest the valve as it reaches the termination of its movement in either direction, or
when it arrives in a position to close the pipe A10, upon moving towards the latter
from either terminal position. While the frictional contact of the lugs E with the
lever or the clamps thereof is sufficient to ensure the movement of the lever with
the piston rod to close the port o and arrest the valve a in its mid-position, it is not so
great but that the operator may readily carry the jaws past the lugs whenever it is
necessary to move the lever I in either direction to shift the valve VI and open
the port o to start the cage in either direction. The port o is thus automatically
closed by the action of the piston as soon as the valve a closes the pipe A10 and also
as soon as the said valve a reaches either of its terminal positions and the lever L' is
capable of being adjusted independently of the piston rod, but is always moved
automatically by the latter at the termination of its proper movement, so as to closo
the port o.
It will be obvious that other means than those described for creating a frictional
resistance to the movement of the lever L' past a point mid-way between the stops E, E'
may be employed, for instance, the lugs E may be of rubber, and the forked ends
of the lever I may carry rollers which will be brought against the lugs and compress
the same as the lever swings past them and the lugs may be directly upon the piston
rod, instead of upon the flat bar B³ attached to or forming part of the piston rod.
The strength or grip with which the jaws act upon the lugs may be readily
adjusted by using caps N, screwing upon the external threaded portions of the
barrels B, and capable of being set to compress the springs S³ to any desired
extent.
The engine valve as well as the main valve a may be of different forms according
to the character of the main engine and of the valve operating engine, and different
connections between the piston rod and the engine valve may be employed for
operating the said engine valve positively and directly from the movement of the
piston rod.
One means of operating the engine valve from the cage is illustrated in Figs. 12
and 18, and consists of a vertical rod or shaft arranged in proximity to the path of
the cage, connected to the engine valve and capable of being turned or rocked from
within the cage whatever may be the position of the latter.
The rod or shaft R consists of bent strips or plates connected to form a hollow
angular tube and provided at the top and bottom with bearing pieces B° B7 adapted
to sockets in brackets B* B*.
To prevent undue friction at the lower bearing end of the shaft Rs, the latter is
provided at the upper end with a cap b, which bears upon the top of the bracket B',
and supports the entire weight of the tube, this mode of support having the further
advantage of preventing any springing or buckling of the shaft, and maintaining it
perfectly straight throughout.
An arm R is secured by nuts &¹ to the lower bearing piece of the shaft below the
bracket B, and is connected by a rod R³ to the end of the lever L.
Upon the shaft R³ is fitted a tube or sleeve S³, so as to slide easily upon the shaft
without turning independently of the latter, and the said sleeve S³, which is cylindrical
externally, is fitted to a bearing in a bracket B connected to the car, so as to be carried
with the latter in its vertical movements.
A bevel pinion e is secured to or forms part of the upper end of the sleeve S³, and
gears with a beveled pinion upon a shaft g turning in a horizontal bearing in the
bracket B, and carrying a lever L³, which extends through a slot into the cage in
a position convenient to be operated by the attendani. By raising or lowering
the lever L³ the attendant can rock the pinion f, and thereby turn the pinion e and
with it the sleeve S³, and the shaft R' so as to swing the arm R and vibrate the
lever L' this operation being effected at any point in the well in which the cage
may be placed and when the latter is moving or at rest.
The vertical shaft may without departing from the principle of the invention be

page_text: supported in a different manner from that described, may be differently connected
to the valve or valve operating appliances, and different means may be used for
turning the shaft from within the cage, as will be obvious to any skilled mechanic,
and this mode of operating valves from a vertical shaft may be employed in those
cases where the main valve is operated directly without the use of an auxiliary engine.
A preferable means of operating the valve, whether the main valve or the
auxiliary valve, is by means of flexible cables adjacent to or passing through the
cage in connection with an operating handle and cable tightening devices operated
thereby.
The said cables may be either stationary or travelling cables. Stationary cable
connections will be first described on reference to Figs. 19 to 29.
One form of valve operating device having suspended stationary cables is
illustrated in Figs. 19 to 23.
In Fig. 15, the cage A is shown as supported by a flexible suspensory or cable 1,
and adjacent to the path of the cage within the well is suspended the shifting cable;
which may be in one piece with the opposite ends attached to eye bolts 2, 2, at the
top of the well, as in Fig. 19, or it may consist of two separate pieces, as in Fig. 21,
there being in each case two parallel cable sections 5, 6, hanging from the eye bolts 2,
within the well.
The cable is connected in any suitable manner to the shifting device, as for
instance, by passing the same around two guide pulleys 3, 4 at the bottom of the
well, and attaching the central portion to a lug or bracket 7, extending from a
shifting bar 8, as in Fig. 19, or by connecting the ends of the separate cable sections
to a lever 15, to which the stopping and starting device may be connected as in
elevators.
The tightening device shown in Fig. 19 consists of a bar or frame 9, carried by a
shaft 10, extending through the side of the cage, and provided with a hand wheel 11,
at the inner end, and also with studs 12, 13, the former carrying two grooved
pulleys 14 and 15, arranged side by side, and the latter carrying two grooved
pulleys 16 and 17, similarly arranged.
The section 5, of the shifting cable, is passed beneath the pulley 14, and over
the pulley 16, and hangs downward from the latter, while the section 6, passes
beneath the pulley 17, and over the pulley 15, and thence downward, so that the
tilting of the bar or frame 9, in the direction of the arrow Fig. 19, will draw
upon the section 6 of the cable and slacken the section 5, thereby moving the
stopping and starting device in one direction, while a reverse movement of the bar
or frame will tighten the section 5 and slacken the section 6, and reverse the
position of the stopping and starting device, while the vertical movement of the
cage does not alter the tension on, or position of, either cable section. The cage,
therefore, may be started and stopped at any point by the use of a single hand
device within the cage, although two suspended cable sections are employed, thereby
securing by the manipulation of a single device from within the cage, a positive
movement of the stopping and starting device in each direction, a result which
cannot be attained by the use of a single suspended cable, while the operations
upon the two cable sections are effected with as much certainty and with as little
liability to mistake as when a single cable only is employed.
In the construction shown in Figs. 21, 22 and 23 a lever 9 connected with a
hand lever 11 within the cage carries two grooved pulleys 26, 27, and guide
pulleys 28, 29, 30, 31, turn on studs projecting from the cage, the cable section 5
passing around the pulleys 28, 26, 29, and downward to the lever 15, and the
cable section 6, passing around the pulleys 30, 27, 31, and downward to the said
lever. When the lever 11, is swung in the direction of the arrow Fig. 21, the
section 6 is drawn between the pulleys 30, 31, and tightened and the other section
is released and when the movement of the lever 11, is reversed, the section 6 is
loosened and the section 5 tightened thus vibrating the lever 15 according to the 5
position it is desired to impart to the stopping and starting device.
Another valve operating device having suspended stationary cables is shown in

page_text: Figs. 24 to 29. In these figures A represents the cage or car; B the engine
cylinder D the valve casing; and 1 a shaft by rotating which in opposite directions
the engine valve is raised and lowered.
The shaft 1 is provided with a pulley 2 round which the lower ends of two ropes 3, 4,
are wound in opposite directions, the upper ends of said ropes being connected to eye
bolts 5, 6 at the top of the well. Instead of two ropes a single rope may be used,
having its ends connected to the eye bolts and its central portion wound round the
pulley 2 in either case the tightening of one portion 3 or 4 of the rope and simulta-
neous loosening or slackening of the other portion would result in a rotation of the
pulley 2 and a movement of the valve in the casing D.
In order to effect the rotation of the pulley 2 from the cage by the simultaneous
tightening and slackening of the two portions of the rope, each rope or cach portion
of the rope is passed round two pulleys, two pairs of pulleys being mounted upon a
bar 7, secured centrally to a shaft S, extending through the side of the cage. The
said bar carries upon projecting studs 9, 10 a pair of pulleys 11, 12 round which
the portion 3 of the rope or cable passes, first under the pulley 11 and then over the
pulley 12, and upon the same studs turn the two other pulleys 13, 14 the portion + of
the cable passing beneath the pulley 14 and over the pulley 13 and the cable is of
such length that both portions of the cable will be taut and the valve will bo in its
central position when the axis of the pulleys are upon a horizontal plane.
It will be seen that when the frame or bar 7 is swung in the direction of the arrow
Fig. 27 the portion 3 of the cable will be contracted, and the portion 4 will be
simultaneously slackened, thereby imparting rotation to the pulley 2 in direction of its
arrow Fig. 24, and moving the valve, and that by swinging the bar 7 in the opposito
direction, the portion 4 of the cable will be tightened and the portion 3 slackened
reversing the movement of the valve.
The horizontal arrangement of the pulleys when the valve is in mid position is
important because the swinging of the frame in either direction from a horizontal line
or plane draws upon one section of the cable to precisely the same extent as it pays
out or slackens the other, while any other arrangement of the pulleys would result in
paying out one portion of the cable to a greater extent than the other is drawn upon
so that the slackened portion is liable to slip from the pulleys as the cage travels up
and down past the suspended cable.
The vibrating frame for supporting the pulleys may be constructed in different
ways it is preferable, however, to make it in the form of a bar provided with studs,
as this arrangement is compact and occupies but little room beyond the outside of
the cage.
It is not essential that the pulleys be carried in circular paths, as they may be moved
upon vertical lines in opposite directions. For instance, the adjacent pulleys of each
pair may turn upon studs (Figs. 28, 29) projecting from a slide 15 moving in a
guide 16 at the side of the cage and the two slides may be moved vertically in opposite
directions by being connected to the cross bar 7 secured to the shaft S extending inside
of the cage.
The operating wheel or lever 17 may be connected directly to the end of the shaft 8;
it is best however to provide the latter with a toothed wheel 18 Fig. 25 gearing with
a small pinion 19 upon the shaft 20 carrying the hand wheel or lever 17 so as to
increase the leverage and prevent too abrupt a movement of the frame or carrier
supporting the pulleys.
In order to ensure an instant arrest of the cage, should either portion of the
operating rope break, a deient is arranged to support a weight in an elevated position,
or resist the action of a spring, which weight or spring when released will act upon
the valve operating devices to bring the valve to its mid-position and arrest the
movement of the cage.
in
Thus, a forked bar 21, Fig. 24, is hung loosely to the shaft 1 and carries at its upper
end a grooved pulley 22, of such width at the two portions 3, 4, of the cable pass
contact with the opposite edges of the pulley and sustain the latter in a nearly vertical
position above the shaft 1.

page_text: the periphery of the pulley 2 and to the lowest part of the periphery when the
valve is in its mid-position, is secured a flexible strap or band 24, carrying at the
lower end a block 25, having a notch e, and provided with a hook for attachment to a
weight or spring 26.
To the frame of the machine is pivoted to swing horizontally a detent arm 27,
which extends between the forks ee of the bar 21, and when the weight or spring 26,
is lifted, may be brought into the notch e of the block 25, so as to leave the belt 24
slack, and permit the pulley 2 to rotate freely in each direction to the extent necessary
to operate the valve.
So long as the shifting or hand rope or cable is intact the parts will maintain
the position shewn in Figs. 24 and 26 but should either portion of the
cable break the pulley 22 will no longer have any lateral support and will fall to
one side, vibrating the forked bar 21," and bringing one of the forks against the
detent arm 27, and throwing it out of the notch a, so that the weight or spring
draws taut the strap 24 and pulls it downward until the pulley 2 is brought to
such position as to close the valve and stop the movement of the cage.
As the valve operating cable is suspended from stationary supports, the valve cannot
be automatically closed by the contact of the cage which stops upon the cable, as usual,
means are provided, therefore, whereby the pulley supporting frame or other pulley
operating device, may be automatically moved to shift the valve as the cage
approaches the limit of its movement in each direction.
the well is a stop block or plate 30, having an inclined face arranged to make
Thus, at the top of
contact with a friction roller upon an arm 33, extending from the bar or frame 7, and
thereby tilt the latter to close the valve as the cage reaches the limit of its upward
movement and another contact plate 31, similar to the plate 30, but in a reversed
position, is placed near the bottom of the well in a vertical plane a little to one side
of that of the plate 30, in position to make contact with a friction roller upon an
arm 34 of the frame 7.
The arms 33 and 34, are set at such an angle to the frame 7, that their contacting
points will be nearly level with the centre of vibration of the frame, when the
latter is tilted up or down to its maximum extent, so that there will be no tendency
to thrust back from the bearing point towards the axis of the frame, which might
result if the said bearing was at the end of an arm in line with the bar or frame 7,
so that the bearing point would be above or below the axis of the frame at the
time of contact. By placing the plates 30, 31, upon different planes, or off-setting
them, each plate only makes contact with the arm with which it is to operate, the other
arm passing the plate at one side.
It will be evident that a cross bar or lever secured to the shaft 1, and having the two
sections 3, 4, of the cable connected to its ends would be an equivalent of the pulley 2.
In Figs. 1 to 5 there is illustrated another means of employing two suspended
cables or a single doubled cable suspended from its upper ends for operating the
valve or other stopping or starting device, but the cables instead of being suspended
from fixed points are movable vertically to a limited extent.
single cable consisting of metallic or fibrous material doubled to constitute two parallel
As shown there is a
sections a, b, which pass around guide pulleys 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and the cable is 4
connected at one point in any suitable manner with the operating valve of the elevator
as for instance it is connected to the lever 80, before described.
The upper end of each section is connected to an inverted T-shaped bar G, which
passes between suitable guides, and is adjustably connected by a pin 66, with the end
of a lever 40, pivoted to a bracket 50, the opposite end of the lever-40, supporting a 5
weight W, preferably sufficiently heavy to overcome the frictional resistance of the
stopping and starting valve.
The cage B, is provided with any suitable cable tightening device whereby either
section a or may be drawn upon, thereby drawing down the bar G, and slackening
the other section and imparting a travelling movement to the cable upon the supporting 5
pulleys in one direction or the other and operating the stopping and starting valve.
As shown there are two grooved pulleys 51, 52, turning upon fixed studs outside the

page_text: cage in position for the sections a, b, to pass between them, each tangential to one o
the pulleys, and another pulley 53 is arranged between the sections a, b, above the
pulleys 51 and 52 and is carried by an arm 54 pivoted to a short shaft 56 extending
through the side of the cage and carrying an inner slotted arm 57, receiving a pin
upon an operating lever 58, within the cage.
If the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 and the lever 58 is moved to throw
the pulley 5 to the left the section a will be deflected by the pulley, 53, over the
pulley 51, and will be contracted and drawn upon thereby drawing down the bar G.
As the bar G descends from the draft upon the section a, the section b, will be
slackened, but the weight W will exert such a tension upon the deflected section a
as will tend to create an upward draft upon this portion of the cable and cause the
same to travel around the guide pulleys, taking up the slack resulting from the
slackening of the section b and imparting movement to the valve in one direction.
When the operating handle 58 is moved to bring the wheel 53 to its central
position shown in Fig. 4 the weight W will lift the bar G thereby drawing upon
the section of the cable which travels around the guide pulleys until the slack of the
section a is wholly taken up and the parts are restored to their normal position.
As the valve is moved from its central position in one direction to start the cage
when the cage is descending, and in the opposite direction when the cage is ascending,
the pulley 58 will be brought to operate upon one section during the descending
movement of the cage and upon the other section of the cable during the ascending
movement, so that the wear upon the sections will be practically uniform.
The arrangement above described also serves practically as a safety device,
inasmuch as the breaking of either section of the cable will permit the weight W to
exert its force to clevate the bar G, thereby drawing upon the other section until the
valve reaches a mid position, when the movement of the engine and of the cage will
be arrested.
The bar G is provided with a series of openings 67, so that the parts may be
adjusted with the lever 40 in a horizontal position when the parts are in place to hold
the valve in its mid position.
In order to insure the proper draft upon the deflected portion of the cable, it is
desirable to limit the movement of the bar G and this is effected by means of suitable
stops. Thus a sector 60 is hung at the side of the lever 40, and is provided with
a curved rack 65, with which engages a pawl 64 upon the lever 40, so that the
sector and lever will swing together, and a rod 61 hangs from the sector 60 passes
through a perforated stud and is provided with two stop nuts 62, 63.
When one
of the sections of the cable is deflected and the bar G descends so as to slacken the
other section to a sufficient extent the nut 63 contacts with the stud and prevents
the further descent of the bar G, so that the further deflecting action of the pulley 52
will exert a draft upon the deflected section of the cable and compel the latter to
travel until the slack resulting from the loosening of the other section is taken up.
If the sector 60 was secured immovably to the lever 40 the expansion of the cable
resulting from use or heat would gradually carry the weighted end further down
and the stop nut 63 further from the stud causing a variable action of the stopping
and starting device when, however, the parts are constructed as shown the stop 62 will
contact with the stud when the left end of the lever is depressed below a horizontal
position and the movement of the sector is arrested while the lever descends and the
pawl engages with the rack so that the two will rise together and whatever may be
the angle of the lever 40 resulting from taking up the slack and when the valve is in
its mid position the amount of movement necessary to carry the stop 63 upward into
contact with the stud will always be the same.
Another arrangement in which a single travelling cable is employed is shown in
Fig. 30 in which X represents the cage, A the engine cylinder, G the valve casing
having the usual valve E and stem a, and R a lever upon the cage, one arm u
constituting an operating handle in the cage and the other arm t extending horizontally
below the cage. The valve stem a is connected to the free end of a pivotted lever

page_text: carrying a pulleys and weight w and the valve operating cable is secured at one
end to the arm of the lever R and passes downward and under the pulleys upward
over a pulley Q and downward and is attached to the cage X.
The pulley is carried by a weighted lever p which tends to keep the cable taut
but is limited in its movement by a stop e so that when the lever R is moved to raise
the arm the lever p will be raised and the valve E lifted. When the movement of
the lever R is reversed the cable is slackened and the weight we carries down the
lever and valve and these operations may be effected when the cage is in any
position as the cable a travels round the pulleys Q and s. To prevent the valve from
being shifted too suddenly the stem a carries a piston fitting a cylinder j and
provided with a contracted opening y through which a liquid in the cylinder must
pass from one side to the other of the piston before the valve can be moved, the
rapidity of the movement depending upon the size of the opening y.
To insure that the cylinder j shall always be full of fluid, a pipe c connects said
cylinder with the adjacent circulating pipe of the engine.
In modern elevators where the cages are heavy, travel at a high rate of speed, and
yet must be arrested suddenly, a great strain comes upon the parts of the apparatus
from the sudden arrest of the movements of the cage.
In order to avoid this strain a brake device is employed as best illustrated in
Fig. 30. In the construction shown in the said figure, a metallic rail is extended
vertically along the path of the cage there preferably being two parallel rails one
being opposite each side of the cage, and the latter carries a brake device T of any
suitable construction by means of which a shoe or clamp can be applied to the rail
with such friction as to retard and resist the movement of the cage and gradually
bring it to a stop. In the construction shown in Fig. 30, the clamp is connected
with or forms part of a lever g which is connected by an adjustable connecting rod h
with the arm of the lever R by which means the movement of the lever R in order
to shift the valve and arrest the movement of the operating engine is also made the
means of applying the brake and the parts are preferably so adjusted that the brake is
applied just as the motor fluid is cut off from the engine. The brake device is so
constructed that the brake will be applied by either lifting or depressing the lever g,
so as to secure the frictional resistance when the lever R is moved in either direction
to arrest the cage in ascending or descending.
In the different forms of apparatus hereinbefore described reference has been made
to the valve that controls the movement of the engine and different means have been
specified for adjusting the position of said valve from the cage it will be evident,
however, that such adjusting means may be employed for varying the position of any
of the usual stopping and starting devices for elevators, as for instance water and
steam valves, belt shifters, electrical switches, or any other devices the movements of
which control those of the elevating engine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination in an elevating apparatus, of the cage, and an engine provided
with a cylinder, piston and piston rod, circulating, supply and discharge pipes, and
controlling valve, and means substantially as described, for reducing the shock upon
the sudden arrest of the piston at any point, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the cage and its operating engine and valve, of an
auxiliary valve operating engine provided with a valve and connections, substantially
as described, between the auxiliary valve and the cage.
3. The combination with the cage of an elevator, of an operating engine provided
with a valve, an auxiliary engine connected to operate said valve, and having a valve
connected to be operated from the cage, and also connected with a part of the engine
to be restored to its normal position as the main valve is adjusted by the action of the
auxiliary engine, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. An elevating apparatus provided with a cage and an operating engine and
controlling valve, connections between the cage and the said valve, and a safety device
constructed substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figs. 24 and 26.
5. An elevating apparatus provided with a cage, and operating engine and controlling
valve connected with a valve operating device upon the cage, a friction clamp carried
by the cage and connected to be operated by the valve operating device upon the
cage, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with the cage, of an actuating engine provided with a valve,
and an auxiliary valve controlling engine, provided with a channeled piston travelling
opposite a series of perforations in the cylinder, and an auxiliary valve connected
with the cage, and controlling the fluid through said perforations, substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11.
7. The combination of an elevator cage, operating engine and valve, and a valve
controlling device suspended adjacent to the path of the cage, and an operating handle
within the cage having a sliding connection with said controlling device, whether the
latter be in the form of a rod or cable or cables, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with an elevator cage, and the starting and stopping valve or
other controlling device, of suspended cables adjacent to the path of the cage, con-
nected with said controlling device, and cable tightening pulleys arranged upon the
cage to be operated therefrom to contract either cable at the will of the attendant,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the cage, operating engine, valve, and suspended cables
connected with said valve, of cable operating pulleys carried by a frame or lever, and
stop plates 30 and 31, arranged to operate as described with reference to Figs. 24 to 27.
10. The combination with the cage, operating engine and stopping and starting
devico of an elevator, of a travelling cable suspended within the well connected with
the cage and with the stopping and starting device to operate the latter, and means
for operating upon said cable from within the cage, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination with the cage, operating engine, stopping and starting device
and travelling cable, of a weight connected with said cable to take up the slack thereof,
substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with the cage and elevator engine and stopping and starting
device, of two suspended cables connected with the stopping and starting device,
supported by a counter-weighted lever at the upper end, and device upon the cage for
deflecting either section of the cable at the will of the operator, substantially as set
forth.
13. The combination with the elevator cage, an engine, valve operating cables
suspended from a counterbalanced lever and a sector having a movement limited by
stops, and with a ratchet engaging with a pawl upon the lever, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
14. The herein before described constructions of the cage operating engines and
devices for operating the stopping and starting valve or device, as set forth and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 17th day of June 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.