IMPROVÉ- MENTS IN LIFTS FOR TRANSFERRING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND HEAVY WEIGHTS FROM THE LOWER TO THE UPPER FLOORS OF HOTELS, CLUB HOUSES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS WITH GREATER SAFETY MEAN HERETOFORE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Cowan, of Rose Cottage, Mansfield Road,
Kentish Town, Saint Pancras, Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVÉ-
MENTS IN LIFTS FOR TRANSFERRING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND HEAVY WEIGHTS
FROM THE LOWER TO THE UPPER FLOORS OF HOTELS, CLUB HOUSES, AND OTHER
BUILDINGS WITH GREATER SAFETY MEAN HERETOFORE"
XT
Sealed the 2nd January 1866, and dated the 10th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Cowan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the 10th
July 1865.
1
I, DAVID COWAN, of Rose Cottage, Mansfield Road, Kentish Town, Saint
Pancras, Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFTS FOR TRANSFERRING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND HEAVY
WEIGHTS FROM THE LOWER TO THE UPPER FLOORS OF HOTELS, CLUB HOUSES, AND
OTHER BUILDINGS WITH GREATER SAFETY THAN HERETOFORE," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
That this Invention or improvements in lifts consists in the application of
one or more screw shafts in a vertical position working in box nuts fixed to
the lift, and turning round in a shoe step at the bottom and a bearing at the
top, or suspended upon friction rollers that roll 'round with the shaft. When
one shaft is used it will pass through the centre, and when two shafts are

page_text: inside
used one will be at each end or side of the lift. The screw shaft or shafts
-being made to rotate by some motive power, water, steam, gas, manual
labour, or otherwise, will cause the lift to ascend or descend, or stop in any
position at pleasure by means of a cord or rod, or both, passing through the
lift; the lift working over it and fixed to levers at top and bottom in con-
nection with the motive power. The party in the lift will bave complete
control of its movement by having pegs or notches on the said rod adjusted
to suit the different floors, these pegs catch a spring lever handle in the lift,
and will of itself stop at each floor unless made to pass by the person
putting his hand upon the spring lever or by setting the lever at first starting
to stop at any floor required; and also if the shafts are long and subject to
vibrate, one or more diagonal braces or diaphragms that move in grooves of
the lift frame, 'having a hole or holes in the centre of each for the shaft or
shafts to pass through, which hole or holes may be either plain or screwed to
fit the shaft or shafts. These braces are to prevent vibration and jar of the
shaft or shafts, either in the screw or hydraulic lifts, they rise and fall with
the lift, and may be at any interval of distance. And also for greater safety
I use one or more toothed racks that form part of the guide grooves of the
lift, with worm wheels fixed to the lift, and working in the racks, and made
to revolve by the same motive power that turns the screw.shaft or otherwise.
This also raises and lowers the lift, and may be used separately or, in
combination with the screw shaft.
My claim is for the application of the screw shaft, racks, and worm wheels
to raise and lower lifts with greater safety, and the diaphragm brace to prevent
vibration and jar of long shafts of lifts, and also the combination.of.the several
parts before-described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Cowan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID .30
COWAN, of Rose Cottage, Mansfield Road, Kentish Town, Saint Pancras,
Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Ier 35
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the.

page_text: said David Cowan, Her special licence that I, the said David Cowan, my
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David
Cowan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should, and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and'.
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFTS FOR TRANS-:
PERRING PASSENGERS, GOODS, AND HEAVY WEIGHTS FROM THE LOWER TO THE UPPER
FLOORS OF HOTELS, CLUB HOUSES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS WITH GREATER SAFETY THAN
HERETOFORE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Cowan,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after. the date of
the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Cowan, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, that is to say:-.
:
That this Invention or improvements in lifts consists in the application of
one or more screw shafts in a vertical position working in box nuts fixed to
the lift, and turning round in a shoe step at the bottom, and a bearing at the
top, or suspended upon friction rollers that roll round with the shaft. When
one shaft is used it will pass through the centre, and when two shafts are
used one will be at each end or side of the lift. The screw shaft or shafts
being made to rotate by some motive power, water, steam, gas, manual
labour, or otherwise, will cause the lift to ascend or descend, or stop in any
position at pleasure, by means of a cord or rod, or both, passing through the
lift, the lift working over it and fixed to levers at top and bottom in connection
with the motive power. The party in the lift will have complete control of
its movement by having pegs or notches on the said rod adjusted to suit the
different floors; these pegs catch a spring lever handle in the lift, and will
of itself stop at each floor unless made to pass by the person inside putting
his hand upon the spring lever, or by setting the level at first starting to stop
at any floor required. And also if the shafts are long and subject to vibrate
one or more diagonal braces or diaphragms that move in grooves of the lift
frame baving a hole or holes in the centre of each for the shaft or shafts to
pass through, which hole or holes may be either plain or screwed to fit the

page_text: shaft or shafts. These braces are to prevent vibration and jar of the shaft or
shafts either in the screw or hydraulic lifts, they rise and fall with the lift,
and may be at any interval of distance. And also for greater safety I use
one or more toothed racks that form part of the guide grooves of the lift, with
worm wheels fixed to the lift and working in the racks, and made to revolve
by the same motive power that turns the screw shaft or otherwise; this
also raises and lowers the lift, and may be used separately or in combination
with the screw shaft.
My claim is for the application of the screw shaft, rack, and worm wheels
to raise and lower lifts with greater safety, and the diaphragm brace to prevent
vibration and jar of long shafts and lifts, and also the combination of the
several parts before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Cowan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
DAVID COWAN. (L.S.)