IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER CRANES. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Barclay, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER CRANES. WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Barclay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1881.
ANDREW BARCLAY, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER CRANES,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO EXCAVATING AND OTHER LIKE
MACHINES."
This Invention, which relates more especially to improvements in the con-
struction of steam and other cranes, is applicable either to travelling or stationary
cranes, and has for its object to enable the weight of the parts upon the carriage
or top framing to counteract with the greatest effect the weight suspended
from the jib of the crane, and to enable the crane to work freely under heavy
strains.
My improvements consist in constructing the top of the bogie upon which the
crane works, in the case of a travelling crane, with a central pin or pivot around
which the carriage turns, the said carriage being supported upon wheels running
upon a circular race fixed upon the top surface of the bogie. The upright of the
crane is supported upon and fixed to the top of the carriage, the position of the
said upright thereon being preferably at or near its outer edge; the upright is further
supported by a strut, the one extremity of which is fixed at the top of the upright,
the other being fixed to the carriage at a suitable position thereon, or any other
convenient support or supports may be employed. The jib of the crane is pivoted
at the outer edge or periphery of the carriage, preferably in proximity to the
upright. The working parts of the engine are mounted upon the carriage, and
may be for the most part arranged upon the lower part of the upright, the boiler

page_text: being preferably mounted in a position upon the platform diametrically opposite
to the position of the upright.
The rotation of the carriage is effected in the case of a steam crane from the
engine by gearing which imparts motion through a worm to a worm wheel keyed
upon a vertical spindle passing through the table, the said spindle having its lower
extremity provided with a pinion which gears with a stationary wheel fixed beneath
the carriage upon the central spindle of the bogie.
The bogie carrying the crane is caused to travel upon its rails by gearing from
the engine, the said gearing consisting of a pair of bevel wheels operated by friction
clutches keyed upon a horizontal shaft, the one of the said wheels gearing with a
bevel wheel keyed upon the top of a spindle which passes through the central
spindle or pivot round which the carriage turns, the lower extremity of the
inner spindle being provided with a bevel wheel which imparts motion to a
horizontal shaft, which communicates motion by a worm to one or more of the
travelling wheels of the bogie.
In the case of a stationary crane the gearing for rotating the carriage may be
arranged at the side of the crane, the central spindle in this case being formed
solid, but this arrangement may also be applied to travelling cranes.
In a crane constructed as herein before described the compression weight upon
the carriage of the crane is borne upon the wheel or wheels which are in proximity
with the fulcrum of the jib, and the central hollow spindle resists a wrenching or
tension strain.
A further improvement in the construction of cranes has reference to providing
means for adjusting the level of the bogie or carriage in order that the crane when
in operation may stand at a true level irrespective of the incline upon which the
rails may be laid. The improvement consists in providing the bogie with screws
working in brackets fixed to the side or sides of the bogie, the lower extremities
of the said screws resting upon the tops of the axle boxes of the wheels of the
bogie. By turning the screws the bogie at that end or side to which the screws
are attached is raised or lowered, the guides for the axle boxes regulating the
movements.
The herein before described improvements are applicable also to the bogies
or carriages of steam navvies or excavators, and to the bogies or carriages of other
similar machines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Andrew Barclay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February.
1882.
ANDREW BARCLAY, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM AND OTHER CRANES,
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO EXCAVATING AND OTHER LIKE
MACHINES."
My said Invention, which relates more especially to improvements in the con-
struction of steam and other cranes, is applicable either to travelling or stationary
cranes, and has for its object to enable the weight of the parts upon the carriage or
top framing to counteract with the greatest effect the weight suspended from the
jib of the crane, and to enable the crane to work freely under heavy strains.
My improvements consist in constructing the top of the bogic upon which the
crane works, in the case of a travelling crane, with a central pin or pivot around
which the carriage turns, the said carriage being supported upon wheels running
upon a circular race fixed upon the top surface of the bogic. The upright of the
crane is supported upon and fixed to the top of the carriage, the position of the
said upright thereon being preferably at or near its outer edge; the upright is
further supported by a tie, the one extremity of which is fixed at the top of the
upright, the other being fixed to the carriage at a suitable position thereon, but
preferably at a position diametrically opposite to the position of the upright, or
any other convenient support or supports may be employed. The jib of the crane
is pivoted at the outer edge or periphery of the carriage in proximity to the
upright. The working parts of the engine are mounted on the carriage, and may
be for the most part arranged upon the lower part of the upright, the boiler being
preferably mounted in a position upon the platform diametrically opposite to the
position of the upright so as to act as a counterbalance.
The rotation of the carriage may be effected from the engine by gearing which
imparts motion through a worm to a worm-wheel keyed upon a vertical spindle
passing through the table, the said spindle having its lower extremity provided
with a spur pinion which gears with a stationary spur wheel fixed beneath the
carriage upon the central spindle of the bogie; or the carriage may be rotated by *
gearing applied to one or more of the travelling wheels.
The bogic carrying the crane is caused to travel upon its circular rail. by gearing
from the engine, the said gearing consisting of a pair of bevel wheels operated by
friction clutches keyed upon a horizontal shaft, one of the said wheels gearing
with a bevel wheel keyed upon the top of a spindle which passes through the
central spindle or pivot round which the carriage turns, the lower extremity of the
inner spindle being provided with a bevel wheel which imparts motion to a hori-
zontal shaft which communicates motion by a worm to one or more of the travelling
wheels of the bogie.
In the case of a crane not having a longitudinal traverse on rails, the gearing
for rotating the carriage may be arranged at the side of the crane, the central
spindle in this case being forined solid; but this arrangement may also be applied
to travelling cranes.
A further improvement in the construction of cranes has reference to providing
means for adjusting the level of the bogie or carriage in order that the crane when
in operation inay stand at a true level irrespective of the incline upon which the
rails may be laid. The improvement consists in providing the bogie with screws
working in brackets fixed to the side or sides of the bogie, the lower extremities
of the said screws resting upon the tops of the axle boxes of the wheels of the

page_text: bogie. By turning the nuts within which the screws work, the bogie at that end
or side to which the screws are attached is raised or lowered, the guides for the
axle boxes regulating the movements.
The herein before described improvements are applicable also to the bogies or
carriages of steam navvies or excavators, and to the bogies or carriages of other
similar machines.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is, or may be used, or practically carried into effect, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say,
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, represents in side
elevation a portion of a steam travelling crane constructed according to my said
Invention, the parts of the crane which are not shown in the Figure being
generally shown in Figure 2, which is a similar view of a modification of certain
parts of my said Invention; Figure 3 is a transverse section partly in end elevation
looking from the boiler end of the crane.
With reference to Figure 1 the carriage A of the crane (upon which are arranged
the working parts of the crane) is supported upon wheels a running upon a
circular race a fixed upon the upper part of the bogie B which carries the central
hollow pin or pivot X around which the carriage A turns. The said central pin
or pivot X as shown in the detail view, Figure 1a, is constructed as a hollow shaft
which is screwed up rigidly within the extended bearing surface b of the wheel b¹,
which is fixed stationary upon the top of the bogie B. The said hollow shaft X is
formed preferably as shown with a ring or collar a, which rests upon the top of the
bearing of the wheel b¹, the lower extremity of the said shaft X being formed
with a screwed portion to receive the nut x for tightening up the said shaft
within the bearing b. The top of the said shaft X is similarly provided with a
nut or screws for the necessary adjustment of the working of the carriage A upon.
the shaft X. The bogie B is carried upon the travelling wheels b³ running upon
rails at which may be either the ground level or a supporting platform. The
upright C of the crane is supported upon and fixed to the top of the carriage, and,
as shown in the Drawing, is in a position at or near the outer edge of the said
carriage. The upright C is further supported by the tie C¹ which is preferably
fixed, as shown in Figure 2, to the top of the carriage in proximity to the boiler.
The jib D of the crane, Figure 2, pivoted at d, Figure 1, that is to say, at the
outer edge or periphery of the carriage and in proximity to the upright C. _The_
engine-to-work the crane is shown in the Drawings as consisting of two
cylinders E, E, the working parts of the engine being, as shown in Figures 1
and 3, mounted in proximity to the upright C. The boiler F is mounted
in a position upon the carriage A diametrically opposite to the position of the
upright C.
The rotation of the carriage A is effected in the arrangement shown in Figure 1
from the engine by gearing which imparts motion to a vertical spindle G passing
through the table A2, the said spindle being operated at the top of the carriage by
a worm and wheel y, the lower extremity of the said spindle having keyed upon it
a toothed pinion g¹ which gears with the stationary toothed wheel b' which is fixed
upon the bogie B. The gearing g at the top of the spindle G is provided with a
lever g³ by means of which the wheels can be put into and out of gear through an
ordinary friction clutch. The bogie B upon which the crane is supported is caused
to travel upon the rails b² by gearing communicated from the engine to the
wheels b of the bogie. The said gearing consists of a pair of bevel wheels H
operated by friction clutches worked by the hand lever h, the said gearing being
mounted upon the horizontal shaft h¹; one of the said bevel wheels H gears with a
bevel wheel 2 keyed upon the top of the spindle ³ which passes through the
hollow central pivot or spindle X round which the carriage A turns, as shown more
particularly in the detail view, Figure 1ª. The lower extremity of the inner

page_text: spindle h³ has keyed upon it a bevel wheel which imparts motion to a horizontal
shaft which communicates motion by a worm 6 to a worm wheel ³ formed
upon one or more of the travelling wheels bs of the bogie. In the arrangement
shewn in Figure 1 the aforesaid gearing is applied to one only of the wheels.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawings, which
represent a modification of my said Invention, with more especial reference to the
rotating of the carriage A', the gearing for rotating the said carriage is arranged at
the side of the said carriage, and it consists of a vertical spindle J, at the top of
which are mounted the two bevel wheels j, j, capable of being operated to turn
the spindle J in the required direction by means of the friction clutches j¹ Ï³,
regulated by the lever je. The lower extremity of the spindle J has keyed upon it
a worm j³ gearing with a worm wheel, which is mounted in proximity with and
upon the same axle as one of the travelling wheels a of the carriage A¹, this latter
gearing being shown more particularly in the detail view, Figure 2º. Motion of
rotation is thus given to one of the wheels of the carriage, whereby owing to the
weight upon the said wheel, which, as shown in the Drawing, has the greatest
weight upon it; a sufficient frictional contact upon the rail is obtained, and the
carriage is rotated as required.
By the herein before described construction of travelling crane I obtain the
greatest effect with a minimum of wear and tear, and strain upon the machine,
seeing that when the jib is loaded, the compression weight upon the carriage A of
the crane is borne upon the wheel or wheels which are in proximity with the
fulcrum of the jib and the central hollow spindle X, the construction of which
forms an essential feature of my said Invention, resists the wrenching or tension
strain.
Figures 4 and 5 represent in side elevation and in end elevation partly in section
respectively my further improvements in adjusting the level of the bogie or
carriage. In these Figures I have shown my improvements applied to a steam
navvy or excavator, the details of the working parts of which I have not described,
as my improvements are applicable to other similar machines.
With reference to the carriage of the navvy to which my Invention relates, the
said carriage K is provided with screws or adjusting rods k which work within
and through nuts or supporting pieces ¹, which are cast with or attached to
brackets bolted or otherwise secured to the side or sides of the carriage; the
lower extremities of the said screws or adjusting rods rest upon the axle boxes
of the wheels L of the carriage, the said axle boxes being between the guides l.
By rotating the squared portion or nut 3 of the supporting piece k' in the required
direction, the level of the carriage at that end or side to which the screws are
attached is raised or lowered, the guides 1 of the axle boxes / regulating the
vertical movement or adjustment.
Any suitable number of the hereinbefore described adjusting screws may be
employed, and they may be fixed at any convenient or suitable position at the side
or sides of the carriage.
The adjusting screws may also be employed for travelling cranes, such as are
herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, and they are equally
applicable to stationary as well as travelling cranes or navvies.
In Figure 2b, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, I have shown an arrange-
ment I adopt to prevent the wheels of the carriage, such as that shown in
Fig. 2, slipping when the said carriage is to be rotated. The travelling wheel a
is mounted upon a shaft a¹ which is mounted radially upon the carriage A,
Fig. 2, the inner extremity of the shaft being mounted in proximity to the
central pivot X, the outer extremity of the said axle a¹ being mounted through the
outer part or periphery of the framing of the carriage. The inner extremity of the
shaft al has keyed upon it a pinion a which gears through the intermediate
wheel as with a pinion a keyed upon a second radiating, shaft as, the outer
extremity of which has keyed upon it a travelling wheel a* which is thus caused
to travel upon the rail a simultaneously with the wheel a.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In the construction. of steam and other cranes and similar machines, the
combination of parts essentially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The construction of a central pivot for the working of the carriage and
other parts of the crane or like machine, consisting of a vertical shaft or spindle
constructed essentially as described and illustrated on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In the construction of cranes and similar machines, the employment of
radiating axles for the rotation of the carriage or other part of the machine,
essentially as described and illustrated with especial reference to Figure 2b of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of adjusting screws for adjusting the
level of the bogie or carriage of cranes or similar machines, essentially as described
and illustrated with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Barclay, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
ANDREW BARCLAY.
(L.S.)