IMPROVE- MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF PORTABLE MACHINERY, AND FOR CHOCKING OR SECURING THE TRAVELLING WHEELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Clayton and Joseph Shuttleworth, both of
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF PORTABLE
MACHINERY, AND FOR CHOCKING OR SECURING THE TRAVELLING WHEELS."
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 21st July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathaniel Clayton and
Joseph Shuttleworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st July 1876.
NATHANIEL CLAYTON and JOSEPH SHUTTLEWORTH, both of Lincoln, in the
County of Lincoln, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF PORTABLE MACHINERY, AND FOR CHOCKING OR
SECURING THE TRAVELLING WHEELS."
This Invention relates to improved means or apparatus for adjusting the position
of portable machinery, and for securing the travelling wheels during the operation
of the machine or during its transport by railway or steam vessel.
The improved means of adjusting the position of portable machinery during
work consist partly in the attachment at each end of such machine of a plumb line
by two small angle brackets composed by preference of cast iron. These brackets
are each provided with two vertical flanges for attachment in the corner formed by
the junction of the vertical post of the frame with the side boarding by means of
ordinary wood screws; one being placed near the top and the other near the bottom
of the frame, or the brackets may be so formed as to be attached to the outer angle
of a vertical frame post if preferred.
The bracket near the top of the frame has a small hole tapering narrower down-
wards drilled in its horizontal surface for receiving the knotted end of the plumb
line. The lower bracket is attached near the bottom of the frame, and has a hole
drilled in its horizontal surface larger than the one in the upper bracket, but
concentric with it, that is to say, so that a line drawn through the centres of theso
two holes will be parallel both with the upright of the frame and the side boarding;
or the lower hole may consist of a longitudinal slot running parallel with the side
of the machine, and with its centre line at the same distance therefrom as the

page_text: centre of the hole in the upper bracket. The plumb line passes through the hole
or slot in the lower bracket, and has a tapered plumb bob of the usual form attached
below. The cord is left sufficiently long for the bob to be placed at rest in a hole
cast in the lower bracket whenever the machine is travelling.
In lieu of forming holes in the brackets as before mentioned a notch and pin
may be formed in the upper bracket for receiving the cord and a point on the lower
bracket projecting upwards.
For supporting the plumb bob while the machine is travelling a peg or hook is
placed on the side of the machine above the lower bracket on which to hang the
plumb bob.
For levelling up the travelling wheels when standing on uneven ground a pair of
wooden chocks or wedges are placed under the tire of the wheel or wheels which
require raising, and these wedges are drawn towards each other by the means next
herein-after described.
According to one modification a shaft is employed moving in suitable bearings in
one of the wedges, and having a crank at each end and a lever at one end, the said
lever projecting in a direction opposite to that of the cranks. The cranks are
attachable by hooks, which they carry to 2 chains affixed one at each side of the
opposite wedge or chock. When so attached, and the lever is pulled towards the
opposite chock, the cranks draw on the chains and cause the wedges to approach
one another, thus raising the wheel which is placed between them. On the lever
being returned to its original position the chains slacken, when a fresh link may
be placed on the hooks of the cranks and another pull be given to the lever. This
process is continued until the plumb line on the machine coincides with the centre
of the slot or round hole in the lower bracket, when the lever is secured in position
by means of a short chain and hook at its end, which hook is inserted in a link of
one of the side chains. The long chains are attached to the other chock in a
central position. The chocks may be made reversible, so that when one end is
worn the other end may be brought into use.
According to another modification in lieu of employing the cranked shaft a loose
forked lever may be used having a fulerum piu projecting inwards from the end of
each fork, and another pin, termed a crank pin, with enlarged head projecting
outwards at a short distance from each fulcrum pin. The fork embraces one of the
wedges, and the said wedge is fitted with a metal fulcrum plate on each side,
having a series of inclined rows of notches with which the fulcrum pins in the a
lever engage successively. The outer pins on the lever may be fitted with hooks to .
receive the links of the side chains, or in lieu of the side chains rods may be
used with several holes to suit different sizes of wheels. After having pulled down
the lever and drawn the chocks together the lever is raised and the fulcrum pins
dropped into the next lower notches in the fulcrum plates for a further adjustinent.
When the fulcrum pins reach the lowest notch in the row the lever is lifted entirely
out of that row, and the fulcrum pins are dropped into the highest notch of the
row next behind, the lifting then continues as before until the plumb line coincides
with the centre of the hole in the lower angle bracket.
In order to allow of the shifting of the lever from one row of notches to the 4
other the side rods are provided with an elongated loop on the end which holds the
opposite chock or wedge, such loop fitting loosely on a pin which curves upwards
from each side of the chock, or other suitable means may be provided for the same
purpose. The forked lever is preferably constructed in two parts for the sake of
convenience. The forked part is made of wrought, malleable, or cast iron, or of 5
any other suitable material, and is provided with a socket for receiving a plain
straight iron lever of any length, which is secured by a pin passing through holes
in the fork and lever. This pin is attached to the fork by a short chain, and after
levelling-up a wheel and withdrawing the lever from the fork the pin is inserted in
one of several holes. bored in one side of the chock, namely, into whichever hole 5
will enable it to support the fork in its proper position, that is to say, with the
fulcrum pins and crank pins in a line with the side chains or rods, in which position

page_text: there is no tendency for the lever to rise by the strain due to the weight resting on
the wedges, the cranks being then at the dead point.
For the purpose of withdrawing the chocks from the wheels readily each chock
or wedge has a narrow mortice on the top close to the tire of the wheel. This
mortice is lined with iron for the purpose of receiving the handle end of the lever,.
which is curved, so that when the point enters the mortice the back of the curved
part may be pressed against the wheel tire for withdrawing the chock.
Either of the forms of chocks may be used also for securing the wheels of portable
machinery on railway trucks or the decks of steam or other vessels, but those with
chains are preferred.
For securing them on railway trucks one or both of the chocks is or are fitted
with spikes, which are forced into the wooden deck of the truck either by the
tightening of the side rods or chains, or by a separate lever or other suitable
mechanism after the wheel is locked.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nathaniel Clayton and Joseph Shuttleworth in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th January 1877.
NATHANIEL CLAYTON and JOSEPH SHUTTLEWORTH, both of Lincoln, in the
County of Lincoln, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR
ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF PORTABLE MACHINERY, AND FOR CHOCKING OR
SECURING THE TRAVELLING WHEELS."
Our said Invention relates to improved means or apparatus for adjusting the
position of portable machinery, and for securing the travelling wheels during the
operation of the machine, or during its transport by railway or steam vessel.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we shall proceed to
particularly describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several Figures
on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, similar letters of reference indicating like parts
in all the Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent side elevations of a
portion of a portable machine, with some of our improvements applied thereto; the
parts being shewn in two different positions in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
Figures 3, 3, and 4 are plans of portions of the apparatus detached.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are similar views to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, illustrating a
modification of this part of our Invention.
Figures 9 and 11 are side elevations; and Figures 10 and 12 corresponding plans
illustrating respectively two modifications of other parts of our Invention; and
Figure 13 represents a side elevation drawn to a reduced scale of a complete
portable machine with our Invention applied thereto.
The improved means of adjusting the position of portable machinery during work
consist partly in the attachment at each end of such machine of a plumb line a
(Figures 1, 2, and 13) by two small angle brackets b, b', composed by preference of
cast iron; these brackets are each provided with two vertical flanges c, c, for
attachment in the corner formed by the junction of the vertical post of the frame
with the side boarding e by means of ordinary wood screws, the one b being placed
near the top, and the other b¹ near the bottom of the frame, or the brackets b, b¹,
may be supported so as to be attached to the outer angle of a vertical frame post if
preferred.
The bracket b near the top of the frame has a small hole ƒ (see Figure 4) tapering
narrower downwards drilled in its horizontal surface for receiving the knotted
end a¹ of the plumb line a. The lower bracket b¹ is attached near the bottom of
the frame, and has a hole f¹ (see Figure 3) drilled in its horizontal surface larger
than the one in the upper bracket b, but concentric with it, that is to say, so that

page_text: a line drawn through the centres of these two holes f, f, will be parallel both with
the upright of the frame and the side boarding e; or the lower hole f¹ may
consist of a longitudinal slot (as shewn in Figure 3a) running parallel with the side
of the machine, and with its centre line at the same distance therefrom as the
centre of the hole in the upper bracket. The plumb line a passes through the hole
or slot in the lower bracket b₁, and has a tapered plumb bob g of the usual form
attached below. The cord a is left sufficiently long for the bob g to be placed at
rest in a hole h (Figure 3) cast in the lower bracket b¹ whenever the machine is
travelling (as shewn in Figure 2).
In lieu of forming holes in the brackets as herein-before described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the modification illustrated by Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 may
be adopted.
According to this arrangement the upper bracket bis provided with a notch f²,
and a pin 3 (see Figures 5, 6, and 7), for receiving the cord a, and the lower
bracket bis formed or fitted with a point f projecting upwards, as shewn in
Figures 5, 6, and S.
For supporting the plumb bob g while the machine is travelling a peg or hook h
is placed on the side of the machine above the lower bracket b¹, on which to hang
the plumb bob, as shewn in Figure 6.
For levelling up the travelling wheels when standing on uneven ground a pair of
wooden chocks or wedges are placed under the tire of the wheel or wheels which
require raising, and these wedges are drawn towards each other by the means next
herein-after described.
According to one modification which is illustrated in detail in Figures 9 and 10,
and shewn applied to a travelling machine on the left-hand side of Figure 13, a
shaft A is employed moving in suitable bearings in the chock or wedge B, and
having a crank C at each end, and a lever D at one end, the said lever being formed
in one with the corresponding crank, and projecting in a direction opposite thereto. -
The cranks C, C, are attached by hooks E, E, which they carry to two chains F, F,
affixed one at each side of the opposite wedge or chock B¹. When the hooks E, E,
are to be attached to the chains F, F, the lever D is placed in the position indicated
by dotted lines in Figure 9, and the hooks having been each caused to engage with
a link of its corresponding chain F the lever D is pulled towards the opposite
chock B, the cranks C, C, thus draw on the chains F, F, and cause the clocks B, B',
to approach one another, thereby raising the wheel G which is placed between
them. On the lever being returned to its original position, as indicated by the
dotted lines, the chains F, F, slacken, when a fresh link may be placed on the
hooks E, E, of the cranks C, C, and another pull be given to the lever D. This
process is continued until the plumb line a on the machine coincides with the
centre of the slot or round hole f¹, or the point f, as the case may be, of the lower
bracket b¹, when the lever D is secured in position by means of a short chain H and
hook Hat its end, which hook is inserted in a link of one of the side chains F, as
shewn in Figure 9. The chains F, F, are attached to the chock B¹ in a central
position. It is preferred to make the chocks reversible as shewn, that is to say,
with their two ends i, i¹, of similar form, so that when the end is worn the other
end may be brought into use.
According to another modification, which is illustrated in detail by Figures 11
and 12, and in its application to a portable machine on the right hand side of
Figure 13, in lieu of using the cranked shaft A with its lever D, a loose forked
lever D¹ is employed, such lever having a fulcrum pin projecting inwards from
the end of each branch of the fork, and another pin m with enlarged head pro-
jecting outwards at a short distance from each fulcrum pink. The fork l, l, embraces
the chock B, and the said chock is fitted with a metal fulcrum plate I on each side,
having a series of inclined rows n, n³, n², of notches o, o¹, o², with which the fulcrum
pins k, k, in the forked lever D¹ engage successively. The outer pins m, m, on the
lever D¹ may be fitted with hooks to receive the links of the side chains F, F,
(Figures 9 and 10), or in lieu of the side chains rods F, F, may be used, as shewn

page_text: in Figures 11 and 12, such rods being connected at one end to the chock B₁, and
provided at their opposite ends with a series of holes p, p, p, into one or the other
of which, according to the size of the wheel, the corresponding pin m is inserted.
In operating with this apparatus the lever D¹ is first placed in the position indi-
cated by the dotted lines in Figure 11, with each fulcrum pin k engaging in the top
one of the notches o of the inclined row n of its corresponding fulcrum plate I; the
lever D is then moved downwards in the direction of the arrow until it is brought
into about a horizontal position, whereby the chocks B, B, are drawn together, after
which the lever D¹ is raised to its former position, and the fulcrum pins k, l, are
dropped into the next lower notches o of the inclined rows n, n, in the respective
fulcrum plates I, I, and the lever D¹ is drawn down again, as before, and so on in
succession, moving each fulcrum pin at each succeeding adjustment into a lower.one
of the notches o of the inclined row n until the pins reach the lowest notches in
the respective rows n, n; the lever is then lifted entirely out of that row, and the
fulcrum pins k, l, are dropped into the highest set of notches o¹ of the row n¹ next
behind, and the preceding operations are repeated, after which, if necessary, the
notches o2 of the inclined row n² may be brought into use, the lifting being continued
until the plumb line a coincides with the centre of the hole f¹, or with the point f*
of the lower angle bracket b¹.
In order to allow of the shifting of the lever from one row of notches to the other
the side rods F¹, F, are each provided with an elongated loop q on the end which
holds the opposite chock, such loop fitting loosely on a pin ?, which curves upwards
from each side of the chock, or other suitable means may be provided for the same
purpose. The forked lever D', l, l, is preferably constructed in two parts for the sake
of convenience. The forked part 1, 1, is made of wrought, malleable, or cast iron, or of
any other suitable material, and is provided with a socket for receiving a plain
straight iron lever D¹ of any required length, which is secured by a pin s passing
through holes in the socket portion and the lever D¹. This pin is attached to
the fork by a short chain &, and after bevelling up a wheel and withdrawing the
lever D from the fork the pins is inserted in one of several holes t, t, bored in
one side of the chock B, namely, into whichever hole will enable it to support the
fork 1, 1, in its proper position, that is to say, with the fulcrum pins h, k, and crank
pins m, m, in a line with the rods F¹, F¹, or side chains, as the case may be, in which
position there is no tendency for the lever to rise by the strain due to the weight
resting on the chocks, the cranks being then in the dead point.
For the purpose of withdrawing the chocks froin the wheels readily the chock B
is formed with a narrow mortice u on the top close to the tire of the wheel. This
mortice is lined with iron for the purpose of receiving the handle end u³ of the lever
D', which is curved, so that when the point enters the mortice the back of the
curved part may be pressed against the wheel tire for withdrawing the chock.
Either of the forms of chocks may be used also for securing the wheels of portable
machinery on railway trucks, or the decks of steam or other vessels, but those with
chains are preferred.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The employment for adjusting the position of portable machinery and
securing the travelling wheels of chocks or wedges placed one at each side of the
wheel to be lifted and secured, one of such chocks or wedges carrying side chains,
whilst the other chock or wedge supports a shaft which is permanently mounted in
bearings therein, and is provided with cranks having hooks permanently attached
thereto for engaging with the links of the side chains, and is also provided with a
lever for actuating such crank shaft, the whole being constructed and arranged so

page_text: as to operate substantially as berein-before described and illustrated by our
Drawings.
Secondly. The employment for adjusting the position of portable machinery, and
securing the travelling wheels of chocks or wedges placed one on each side of the
wheel to be lifted and secured, one of such chocks or wedges carrying side chains or
rods connected to crank pins on an actuating lever, whilst the other chock or wedge
is provided with inclined rows of notches or teeth forining a progressive fulcrum for
such actuating lever, the apparatus being combined with means for admitting of the
adjustment of the lever without the detachment from the crank pins of the side
chains or rods, and being constructed and arranged generally so as to operate sub-
stantially as herein-before described and illustrated by our Drawings.
Thirdly. The employment in combination with the apparatus for lifting and
securing the travelling wheels of portable machinery of plumb lines and auxiliary
devices for indicating the position of the machine relatively to a vertical or horizontal
plane, all substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by our Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said, Nathaniel Clayton and Joseph Shuttleworth,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the Eighteenth day of
January One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
NATHANIEL CLAYTON, (L.S.)
JOSEPH SHUTTLEWORTH. (L.S.)