Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Ascent of Factory and other Chimneys by Workmen for Repairs or other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Ascent of
Factory and other Chimneys by Workmen for Repairs or
other Purposes.
I, PATRICK LEITCH GRAY of Freelands Ratho, in the County of Midlothian,
Farmer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE ASCENT OF FACTORY AND OTHER CHIMNEYS
BY WORKMEN FOR REPAIRS OR OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
"
Under the methods of ascent heretofore practised repairs at the top of high
chimneys are attended with difficulty, danger to the workmen, delay and con-
sequent expense.
This Invention has for its object to minimize or diminish the difficulty, danger
delay and expense of such ascent and the apparatus constituting the Invention
consists of a parachute filled with gas and enclosed in a wooden or other cage
having a platform attached for the workman or men to stand upon. The cage
and parachute are connected by a rope or chain to an anchor or drum and allowed
to ascend after the manner of a captive balloon. The cage and platform are kept
steady and close to the chimney by two ropes or chains encircling the chimney
one rope or chain being attached to the upper and the other to the lower part
of the cage and platform. As he ascends and as the chimney tapers or becomes
less in diameter the workman by means of a capstan or its equivalent winds or
takes in the slack of the said ropes or chains which run over rollers to make
them work easily. The ropes or chains being thereby kept tight danger is reduced
to a minimum as even if the gas in the parachute escapes or is let off the cage
cannot descend on account of the taper and consequently increasing diameter of the
chimney below the part at which the cage is situated.
When the part to be repaired is reached the cage is fixed in any suitable
manner and the necessary materials can be drawn up by the capstan aforesaid or
otherwise.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Facilitating the Ascent of
Factory and other Chimneys by Workmen for Repairs or
other Purposes.
I, PATRICK LEITCH GRAY of Freelands, Ratho, in the County of Midlothian,
Farmer, 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:―
Under the methods of ascent heretofore practised repairs at the top or at any
considerable distance from the bottom of high chimneys have been attended with
difficulty, danger to workmen employed, delay and consequent expense.
This invention has for its object to diminish these drawbacks and as seen in side
elevation at fig. 1; in front elevation at fig. 2; and in plan at fig. 3, of the
annexed drawings the apparatus constituting the invention consists of a bag A,
of silk or of any of the other materials of which balloons are ordinarily made which
bag is enclosed within and connected to a framing or cage B, preferably for
lightness composed principally of wicker work, though wood or other like material
may be employed in its construction.
The frame or cage B, has a platform C, at its upper part for the workman or men
to stand upon and at its lower part the said cage or frame is, when an ascent is to
be made, connected by a rope or chain D, to an anchor or drum fixed in or placed
upon the ground adjacent to the chimney as seen at M, figure 4. By unwinding
the rope or chain from the anchor or druin M, the apparatus is allowed to ascend
after the manner of a captive balloon.
In so ascending and also in descending the cage B, is kept steady and close to
the chimney E, by two ropes or chains F, encircling the chimney an end of one
rope or chain being attached at or near one side of the upper part of the cage B, to
an eye bolt or its equivalent the rope or chain being thence passed round the
chimney and over a pulley or drum G, at the other side of the cage to a winding
drum H, whereto its opposite end is made fast. The lower rope F, is similarly
connected and conducted to a winding drum H¹, whereto it is also made fast, the
drums H, H, being as seen on the drawings both secured on the same spindle I,
which is at its upper end furnished with a hand wheel, crank, or its equivalent J,
for the purpose of turning the drums. As he ascends and as the chimney tapers or
becomes less in diameter the workman by turning the drums H, H, in onc
direction winds or takes in the slack of the ropes or chains which being thereby
kept tight danger is reduced to a minimum as even should the gas with which the
bag or balloon A, is charged escape or be let off the cage cannot descend on account
of the taper of the chimney shaft. To hold the spindle I, carrying the drums
stationary when the workman or men may be otherwise employed a ratchet
wheel, is secured on the spindle and a pawl y, engaged therewith; or other
equivalent apparatus may be provided for that purpose. To diminish friction and
enable the apparatus to ascend and descend more easily, curved rods K, each
carrying a series of rollers or bobbins L, are so secured at the front part of the

page_text: cage that the bobbins or rollers bear upon the chimney as seen at figure 3.
A series of loose bobbins or rollers may be placed on the ropes F, if desired for the
like purpose.
When the part of the chimney to be repaired is reached the cage is fixed by
engaging the ratchet and pawl x, y, and by preventing further length of rope
or chain being payed out at the anchor M, or in any other convenient manner and
the necessary materials are then drawn up on to the platform C, by hand or by a
capstan or other winding arrangement situated on the platform.
In lieu of employing ropes or chains F, to hold the cage to the chimney as set
forth the cage may both at its upper and lower parts have arms of lance wood or
other like material these arms partly surrounding the shaft of the chimney and
being capable of adjustment as the chimney decreases in diameter. For this
purpose the inner ends of the arms which are parallel with the sides of the cage
inay slide in tubes and have racks formed on or connected to them, ratchet wheels
being geared with these racks and operated to move the arms outwards or inwards
simultaneously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improved apparatus constructed substantially as herein before described and
in part shown on the drawings annexed and the employment thereof as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of October 1885.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
135, Buchanan St., Glasgow,
Agents.