IMPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING APPARATUS AND ENGINES FOR OPERATING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING
APPARATUS AND ENGINES FOR OPERATING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication
from abroad by Charles Rollin Otis and Norton Prentiss Otis,
both of Yonkers, in the State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th December 1871.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING
A

page_text: APPARATUS AND ENGINES FOR OPERATING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention, or so much of it as more immediately relates to
hoisting apparatus such as is used for raising or lowering a cage or
platform up and down a hoistway, arranged to intersect or pass through
a series of floors or stories of a building for the purpose of delivering
passengers and merchandize, has for its object or objects more perfect
protection against accident from various causes to which the working
parts or ropes of the apparatus are exposed; likewise a more perfect and
controllable action generally of said apparatus.
To these ends a counterpoise, which may be of as great or greater
weight than the cage or platform, is combined with the latter through
the intervention of the hoisting drum. This counterpoise is connected
with the cage or platform through safety pawl attachments or stops
operating in conjunction with fixed vertical racks. Said counterpoise is
divided, one division or weight being attached to a rope which is con-
nected with the hoisting drum, that in its turn is connected with the
cage or platform through the hoisting rope, and the other division or
weight being attached to a rope which is connected with the cage through
the intervention of a safety drum. The cage or platform is provided with
adjustable angularly arranged guide rollers, which operate on or against
bevil faced uprights in the hoistway for easing and steadying the run of
the cage or platform in its ascent and descent through the hoistway.
•
Furthermore, the stop or supply valve of the engine which drives the
hoisting apparatus has combined with it a brake that is automatically
thrown into action to arrest the motion of the apparatus or its driving
mechanism when said valve is adjusted to shut off the steam, and that is
released from action when the valve is opened.
The safety drum or device is applied at or near the highest point of
the hoisting apparatus, whereby efficient provision is made for checking
or stopping the cage in its descent in case of the hoisting rope
breaking low down or in proximity to the hoisting drum.
A centrifugal governor trip motion and brake are combined with a
drum or pulley from which the cage or platform is suspended, preferably
with the safety drum for automatically stopping or checking said drum
when moving too fast. Means are also provided for automatically
stopping the hoisting engine on arrival of the cage or platform at the

page_text: top or bottom of the hoistway or at any given point, or on the hoisting
drum having made a given number of revolutions; likewise a break is
automatically and simultaneously applied. In case of the platform
being checked in its descent the motion of the operating drum is
stopped, and the slack of the hoisting rope prevented from becoming
entangled, said action taking place automatically by the putting on of a
brake and shutting off the supply of steam to the engine whenever the
drum or pulley over which the hoisting rope passes is released from
tension of said rope; or a like action takes place in case of the breakago
of the hoisting rope.
The operator in the cage can shut off by means of a rope passing
through the cage the supply of steam from the engine, and put on a
brake or brakes, or start and reverse the engine, and release the brake as
required. Again, the cage or platform is provided with two sets of stop
pawls operating independently of each other, and preferably combined
with the hoisting and safety drum ropes to give increased safety.
A self-lubricating loose pulley is used in the mechanism for trans-
mitting motion to the hoisting apparatus, said loose pulley having an
independent reservoir and supply chambers with passages in the hub for
automatically supplying lubricating material to the shaft of the pulley
when the latter is at rest, but stopping the supply when the pulley is in
motion.
The engine employed for driving the hoisting apparatus comprises
a peculiar combination of main piston valves, their passages and
eduction ways within the valve chest of the engine, and an outside
reversing valve, the same being applicable to engines working in com-
bination or having cylinders in duplicate, and whereby when such
engines are used for working a hoisting apparatus very efficient control
is obtained over the reversal of said apparatus in raising and lowering
persons or goods, and every facility afforded for stopping the same.
The steam cylinders are each provided with a pair of piston valves,
which work in valve cylinders and supply steam alternately to opposite
ends of their respective cylinders. The spaces between the piston valves
of the two cylinders are connected by a pipe, a branch from which leads
to the reversing valve box, in which a disc valve is mounted capable of
receiving an axial motion. This valve box receives this steam that is
supplied to the engine, and this direction of motion of the engine is

page_text: determined by the position of the disc valve. The exhaust steam also
passes to this valve, which opens a passage for its escape to a condenser
or otherwise. The opposite ends of the valve cylinders are connected
together, and the cylinders with one another; and from the connecting
pipe a branch passes to the reversing valve box. The valve cylinders
are provided near their ends with annular passages, which severally
connect with one end of the steam cylinders. By means of diagonal
openings these annular passages open into the valve cylinders, and thus
a way is opened for the passage of the supply and exhaust steam to and
from the working cylinders.
Furthermore, the cage or platform is provided with an electro-
magnetic annunciator in connection with a battery on the outside,
and wires provided with circuit closers to or from the several floors
intersected by the hoistway. By means of this provision communi-
cation may be made from any one or more of the floors with the operator
in or on the cage or platform announcing to him the particular floor
at which the cage or platform is next wanted, and so that he can
stop, or start, or reverse the engine as required to bring the cage or
platform to such floor.
Lastly, the cage or platform is also provided with a gas light,
drawing its supply of gas from a fixed pipe or point, but moving up
or down with the cage or platform in its travel.
It will be understood that the self-lubricating or a guide pulley
generally, and that the arrangement for supplying and cutting off the
steam to and from the engines is applicable to motive-power engines
generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED 30
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the 35

page_text: thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "INPROVEMENTS IN HOISTING APPARATUS AND ENGINES FOR OPERATING THE
SAME, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHer Purposes,”
being a communication to me from abroad by Charles Rollin Otis and
Norton Prentiss Otis, both of Yonkers, in the State of New York,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
:-
This Invention (or so much of it as more immediately relates to
hoisting apparatus such as is used for raising or lowering a cage or
platform up and down a hoistway arranged to intersect or pass through a
series of floors or stories of a building for the purpose of delivering
passengers and merchandise) has for its object or objects more perfect
protection against accident from various causes to which the working
parts or ropes of the apparatus are exposed, and also the obtaining a
more perfect and controllable action generally of the said apparatus.
To these ends a counterpoise, which may be of as great or greater
weight than the cage or platform, is combined with the latter through
the intervention of the hoisting drum. This counterpoise is connected

page_text: with the cage or platform through safety pawl attachments or stops
operating in conjunction with fixed vertical racks. This counterpoise is
divided, one division or weight being attached to a rope which is con-
nected with the hoisting drum, that in its turn is connected with the
cage or platform through the hoisting rope, and the other division or
weight being attached to a rope which is connected with the cage
through the intervention of a safety drum. The cage or platform is
provided with adjustable angularly arranged guide rollers, which operate
on or against bevel faced uprights in the hoistway for easing and
steadying the run of the cage or platform in its ascent and descent
through the hoistway.
Furthermore, the stop or supply valve of the engine which drives tho
hoisting apparatus has combined with it a brake that is automatically
thrown into action to arrest the motion of the apparatus or its driving
mechanism when the stop or supply valve is adjusted to shut off the
steam, and that is released from action when the valve is opened.
The safety drum or device is applied at or near the highest point
of the hoisting apparatus, whereby efficient provision is made for
checking or stopping the cage in its descent in case of the hoisting rope
breaking low down or in proximity to the hoisting drum.
A centrifugal governor trip motion and brake are combined with a
drum or pulley, from which the cage or platform is suspended (preferably
with the safety drum) for automatically stopping or checking the said
drum when moving too fast. Means are also provided for automatically
stopping the hoisting engine on arrival of the cage or platform at the
top or bottom of the hoistway, or at any given point, or on the hoisting
drum having made a given number of revolutions, likewise a brake is
automatically and simultaneously applied. In case of the platform
being checked in its descent the motion of the operating drum is stopped,
and the slack of the hoisting drum prevented from becoming entangled.
This action takes place automatically by the putting on of a brake and
shutting off the supply of steam to the engine whenever the drum or
pulley over which the hoisting rope passes is released from the tension
of the said rope, or a like action takes place in case of the breakage of
the hoisting rope.
The operator in the cage can shut off by means of a rope passing

page_text: brake or brakes, or start and reverse the engine and release the brake
as required. The cage or platform is provided with two sets of stop pawls
operating independently of each other, and preferably combined with
the hoisting and safety drum ropes to give increased safety.
A self-lubricating loose pulley is also used in the mechanism for
transmitting motion to the hoisting apparatus, this loose pulley having
an independent reservoir and supply chambers with passages in the hub
for automatically supplying lubricating material to the shaft of the
pulley when the latter is at rest, but stopping the supply when the
pulley is in motion.
The engine shewn in the accompanying Drawings employed for
driving the hoisting apparatus comprises a peculiar combination of
main piston valves, their passages and eduction ways within the valve
chest of the engine, and an outside reversing valve, the same being
applicable to engines working in combination or having cylinders in
duplicate, and whereby when such engines are used for working a
hoisting apparatus very efficient control is obtained over the reversal of
said apparatus in raising and lowering persons or goods, and every
facility afforded for stopping the same.
The steam cylinders are each provided with a pair of piston valves,
which work in valve cylinders and supply steam alternately to opposite
ends of their respective cylinders. The spaces between the piston valves
of the two cylinders are connected by a pipe, a branch from which leads
to the reversing valve box, in which a disc valve is mounted capable of
receiving an axial motion. This valve box receives the steam that is
supplied to the engine, and the direction of motion of the engine is
determined by the position of this disc valve. The exhaust steam also
passes to this valve, which opens a passage for its escape to a condenser
or otherwise. The opposite ends of the valve cylinders are connected
together and the cylinders with one another, and from the connecting
pipe a branch passes to the reversing valve box. The valve cylinders
are provided near their ends with annular passages which severally
connect with one end of the steam cylinders. By means of diagonal
openings these annular passages open into the valve cylinders, and thus
a way is opened for the passage of the supply and exhaust steam to and
from the working cylinders.

page_text: Fig. 11, Sheet II., is a sectional elevation of a hoistway intersecting a
series of floors and the cage of a hoisting apparatus shewn therein,
together with an electro-magnetic annunciator in the cage and connected
with a battery on the outside, furnished with wires having circuit closers
at the different floors for establishing communication between the latter
and the cage or platform; this Figure 11 also shows the gas lighting
attachment. Fig. 12 is a face view of said annunciator; Fig. 13 a
transverse section thereof; and Fig. 14 a diagram illustrating the
connection of the circuit closers with the battery and the floor wires.
Referring in the first instance or more particularly to Figures 1, 2,
and 3, Sheet I., of the Drawings, A, A, represents the uprights or sido
pieces of the hoistway, up and down which the cage B or travelling
platform moves, the cage being steadied and guided in its travel by
guide rollers b, b, working against bevel faced plates c, c, secured to the
inner sides of the uprights. These guide rollers are arranged in pairs
and are set at an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabouts to the
uprights, the bevel faces of the plates c, c, corresponding therewith, and
each pair of rollers being carried by adjustable boxes, which may be set
up by screws from the rear to adjust the rollers relatively to the plates.
O This combination of guide rollers and face plates steadies the cage
against lateral shake in various directions without having recourse to
guides on more than two of the sides of the cage. C, D, and E,
represent upper, lower, and intermediate floors of a building in which
the hoisting apparatus is arranged, but the latter is of course applicable
5 to a greater number of floors or stories. F is the hoisting drum, which
is arranged as also the engine that operates it below the lower floor D.
G is the hoisting rope, made fast at one end to the hoisting drum F and
arranged to run up over a sheave or pulley H situated at top of the
hoistway, and from thence down to the levers d, d, of the stop
O pawls e, e, which are connected with the cage and are controlled by a
spring operating to throw them into gear with safety rachets or
racks I, I, upon the lifting rope breaking or becoming slack during the
descent of the cage. The cage or platform is also provided with a
second set of stop pawls g, g, and levers i, i, controlled by a spring h. To
5 the levers i, i, a safety rope J is attached, made fast at its other end to
an upper safety drum K. These stop pawls 9, 9, when released also bite
into or gear with the racks I, I, the teeth of which are of hook form
and the several pawls are of a shape to correspond so as to obtain a

page_text: горе
more effective or surer hold of the load with less side strain on the
uprights of the hoistway. The pulley II over which the lifting rope G
passes has its shaft carried by boxes that are hung so as to be
capable of rising and falling within bearing blocks L. These boxes L
are connected by a chain or rope M passing over sheaves m, m, with a
break lever N carrying a weight 2, which when the break lever is free
to drop serves to apply the brake strap o to the one end of the safety
drum K. Attached to the safety drum and wound upon it in a reverse
direction to the safety rope J is another rope O that carries a counter-
balance weight P, which serves to partially balance the cage and to
revolve the safety drum and wind up the safety rope J during the
ascent of the cage. The hoisting drum F has also an additional
attached to it, and wound in a reverse direction to the hoisting rope G
thereon. This rope passes up and over an upper pulley R and over a
central groove in the safety drum K, and has attached to its free end an
additional counterbalance weight S, which combined with the weight P
fully or more than counterbalances the weight of the cage or platform.
The hoisting drum F and safety drum K are constructed with reversely
spiral grooves for reception and direction of the ropes G, Q, J, and O. In
this way or by these means the counterpoise or a portion of it is combined
with the platform or cage of the hoisting apparatus through the inter-
vention of the hoisting drum, and furthermore said counterpoise is
combined with the safety stop mechanism of the platform or cage
through the intervention of the hoisting drum.
By the combination of the counterpoise with the cage through the
intervention of the hoisting drum the said counterpoise acts upon the
platform or cage as effectually in all respects as though connected
directly with it, while it affords the advantage of enabling a counter-
poise either single or divided of greater weight than the cage to be used,
so that not only can the cage but also its load or a portion of such load
be counterbalanced, the excess of weight of the counterpoise when the
cage has no load being prevented from drawing up the cage by a brake
or stop motion used in connection with the hoisting drum. An
exclusively direct connection of the counterpoise with the platform or
cage does not admit of even as heavy a counterpoise as that required :
to balance the cage being used for the reason that it would prevent
the lowering of the cage.
By the combination of the counterpoise with the safety stop pawls or

page_text: mechanism of the platform or cage through the intervention of the
hoisting drum, the action of such stop mechanism is better insured in
case of breakage of the counterpoise rope, the counterpoise being
prevented from interfering with the action of said mechanism by taking
the weight of the platform or cage off the spring or springs which
control the safety stop mechanism.
Combined with the safety drum K and receiving motion therefrom by
means of cords and pulleys is a centrifugal governor T, that in case of
said drum moving too fast releases a trip motion y and allows a weighted
brake lever U to descend and throw into action a brake strap 9 on the
one end of the drum, and so checks or arrests the motion of the latter
and generally controls or affects the speed of the cage. This attachment
is mainly useful in case of the hoisting rope breaking or becoming
unduly slack from any cause.
The safety device before described being thus arranged at or near the
highest point of the hoisting apparatus, very efficient provision is made
for checking or stopping the cage in its descent in case of the hoisting
rope G breaking low down, that is, at or near the hoisting drum F when
the pawls connected with the rope G at the cage might fail to operate
by reason of the weight of the bottom portion of such rope lying
between the hoisting drum F and pulley H holding back said pawls.
When the weight of the cage B is borne by the hoisting rope G the
latter holds down the pulley H, and by the connecting chain M lifts the
brake lever N and releases the brake strap from the safety drum K,
and unless the cage be moving at an undue speed the brake strap q will
be also relieved of friction or pressure on said drum K and both sets of
stop pawls e, e, and g, g, will be held out of gear with the racks I, I; but
in case of the breaking of the hoisting rope or its slackening from any
cause the pulley H will be raised by the weight n, and the slack of the
hoisting rope is taken up and prevented from getting entangled with the
gearing or other part of the apparatus. The brake lever N in dropping
will put the brake strap o into action on the safety drum K, and the stop
pawls e, e, in consequence of the breaking of the hoisting rope, will be
free to gear with the safety racks I, I.
It will be seen that should the safety rope J also break or become
slack the stop pawls 9, 9, will afford additional protection by shooting
into ear with the cofat moko T T and onomatine Conoll

page_text: It will be understood that a spring might be substituted for the
weight n to give action of the pulley H and brake lever N, and where
ropes arc here referred to chains may be substituted. These modifications
are also applicable to other attachments herein-after described.
Arranged at the top of the hoistway or above it are also sheaves r, 8,
and below the hoistway guide pulleys t, and a fast reversely spiral-
grooved pulley V. A rope or chain W is passed around the sheave r,
and its ends wound around the pulley V in reverse directions and made
fast to it, subject to the direction of the guide pulleys in such manner
that the one vertical length or portion of said rope, which by its arrange-
ment and attachment, as described, becomes an endless one, passes
through the cage B or within reach of the operator in the cage. This
rope W has connected with it, as at u, (preferably by a sliding pocket so
as to provide for adjustment) a slack rope X that is passed over the
sheaves and made fast to a pulley, on the shaft of which is another
pulley vhaving fast to it a double rope X¹ that is connected with the
brake lever N. The pulley V when set in motion by the endless rope W
serves (as will be herein-after described according to the amount and
direction of the motion communicated to it) to operate the valve of the
engine which rotates the hoisting drum F, so as to open or shut off the
supply of steam to the engine or to reverse its action as required.
By means of the slack rope X and double rope X' which is connected
with the brake lever N, the breakage of the lifting rope G and
consequent fall of the break lever N not only applies the brake strap o
to the safety drum K, but by the pull of the brake lever on the slack
rope X¹ (so as to tighten the latter and set in motion the endless rope W)
steam is automatically shut off from the engine, thus stopping the
motion of the hoisting drum and avoiding entanglement of the hoisting
ropo and accident. By employing an endless rope W to operate the
valve, the person on the cage and in charge of it can also stop or start
the engine as required, both when the hoisting rope remains intact and
in case of accident, by setting in motion to a limited extent said endless
rope in either one of its two directions of travel, which he does by hand,
so as to actuate the engine supply valve through its controlling pulley V
in the requisite direction and to the necessary extent to shut off or let

page_text: on steam to the engine. In this way the operator in the cage can stop
the latter at any desired point and start it again by directly controlling
the motor which operates the hoisting apparatus, and by a suitable
construction of the engine valve, controlled by the pulley V, provision
is also made (by increasing the adjustment or movement of the endless
rope W in either direction beyond what is necessary to merely stop or
start the engine) for so operating the supply valve as to reverse the
motion of the engine and correspondingly change the directions of travel
of the cage, thus giving the person in charge of the latter direct control
over the motor and so to move the cage up or down as required. When
thus operating the endless rope W by hand the slack rope X will remain
loose, excepting in case of the breakage of the hoisting rope. Various
descriptions of valve or valves and intermediate devices may be used to
control the action of the engine by the operator in the cage, as
described, but an advantageous arrangement for the purpose will be
herein-after described.
The motor represented in the accompanying Drawings consists of a
steam engine having duplicate cylinders A', A', (see Figures 1, 2, 8, 9,
and 10, Sheet I). B', B¹, are pistons that through their respective rods
operate on a driving shaft S¹. The engine cylinders are connected
together by a main valve and steam passage chamber C¹. The passages
controlled by the supply valve may be made by coring the casting in
which the said chamber is formed, and which may be of the same piece
with the bed of the engine, so as to reduce the liability of leakage and
5 give increased stability generally. D' is the reversing valve chest, to
which steam is supplied from the boiler through the main valve
chamber C¹ by a pipe or passage; 6' and c' is the main exhaust pipe,
which is similarly arranged in relation to the valve chests; E', E¹, are
the main valves of double piston form working in cylinders F¹, F¹, and
O controlling the steam passages d¹, d³, and e¹, e¹, at opposite ends of the
engine cylinders A', A¹. A passage f¹ serves to establish communication
between the spaces lying between the heads of either double piston
valve E¹, E. The spaces outside the heads of the piston valves E', E',
are connected with each other, the two valve cylinders being united by
branches and passages g', g³, and h³, the latter having a branch a¹ which
opens into the reversing valve chest D'. The branch f' is also provided
with an extension ¹ in like manner in communication with the supply
valve chest D'. The passages d', d, e, e³, at opposite ends of the engine

page_text: cylinders are connected with the valve cylinders F¹, F¹, by a series of
oblique apertures A, A, arranged around the cylinders F', and opening into
annular passages m², m³, which form extensions of the passages d¹, d¹, e¹, e¹.
By this oblique construction of the apertures 1, P, the piston valves E', E',
are prevented from catching or cutting, and their travel is made smoother
or easier when crossing said apertures than if the latter were at right
angles to the travel of the valves. The reversing valve G¹ is of disc
construction and serves to control the passages c³, 1, ¹, which commu-
nicate with the outside valve chamber D¹. This valve G¹ is provided
with an exhaust cavity n' (shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 10), and an
inlet aperture o' receiving its supply of steam from the rear.
The operation is as follows:-Upon turning the valve G¹ to pass
steam through its aperture o¹ into the passage which communicates
by the pipe f¹ with the spaces between the heads of the piston
valves E', E', the exhaust cavity n' is brought over the exhaust pipe c¹
and branch which connects the end spaces in the cylinders of the
piston valves together; this causes the engine to run in one (or forward)
direction. Upon reversing the position of the valve G¹ so as to make
its steam aperture o' cover the branch and its exhaust cavity control
the exhaust passage c¹ and branch & the motion of the engine will be
reversed. Upon adjusting the lever or handle attached to the spindle
or stem 8¹ of the valve G' into an intermediate or horizontal position,
then the valve G' (which may be termed a supply and stop valve as well
as a reversing one) occupies an intermediate position so as to shut off
communication with both branches and k¹, thereby stopping the
engine. This system of valves and passages is applicable to steam and
other engines for various purposes.
The pulley V, to which motion is communicated by the endless
rope W to stop and start or reverse the motion of the engine and
hoisting drum as herein-before described, is made to control the valve Ga
in the following manner:-On the shaft a³ of the pulley V is a
pinion 68 which gears with a rack c³ that is connected with the lever or
handle of the valve, so that on the pulley V being turned by the
rope W to a certain extent in the one direction it adjusts the valve G¹ to
a position which will cause the engine to run in a forward direction, and a
the hoisting drum F to be rotated so as to move the cage B upwards,
and on turning the pulley V through the endless rope W to a like

page_text: extent from its first starting point in a reverse direction the valve G¹
will be adjusted to operate the engine backwards and cause the hoisting
drum F to be rotated so as to lower the cage. Upon adjusting the
pulley however to its normal position, that is to a position intermediate
of the adjustments necessary to run the engine in either direction, then
the valve G will be set so as to shut off the steam from the engine, and
the motion of the hoisting drum will be arrested. This latter is the
normal position of the valve and the one to which it is adjusted by the
tightening of the slack rope X' when the hoisting rope G breaks and
pulley H rises. It is also the normal position of the valve excepting
when the endless rope W is adjusted to run the cage up or down, and
at all other times such closed position of the valve is automatically
retained by a weight & connected by a chain or strap e' with a pulley ƒ"
on the shaft a² of the pulley V. Simultaneously with the closing or
opening of the valve G¹ a brake or divided brake strap 9 is auto-
matically applied to or removed from a brake wheel h² on a shaft * that
receives its motion by band wheels k², P³, and connecting band m³ from
the engine shaft S¹ by means of suitable gearing, (of which n³ is one
wheel) which serves to drive the hoisting drum shaft o. This forms the
brake motion connected with the hoisting drum, and it is operated
automatically, as described, by one or other of two reversely wound
chains q, q, on the pulley 72 fast to the shaft a³ of the pulley V.
According to the direction in which this shaft a³ is turned one or other
of the chains 23, 92, serve as either of them is wound up to pull on a
rods, and by means of the jointed connections u³ lift a weighted brake
lever that applies the brake strap g³ to the wheel h³. This occurs
simultaneously with the closing of the supply valve G¹, but on opening
the latter the tightened chain q³ is relaxed, and the weighted lever o³ is
dropped, causing the brake to be released. H³ is the governor of the
engine driven by bands from the axle of the brake wheel h³. The
band m³ which connects the band wheels ³, 1, passes under or partly
round a loose band tightening pulley I' that is self-lubricating to insure
its freedom of motion at all times, for which purpose it is constructed
as represented in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawing. This mode of
construction is applicable to loose pulleys generally. The hub a' of the
pulley I³ is cored out to form an annular chamber 6' around the bore c³.
This chamber constitutes the reservoir for the oil or lubricating material;
it has no direct communication with the bore of the hub, but communi-
cation is formed between it and the bore by one or more chambers ď³, ď³,

page_text: which constitute supply chambers partitioned off within the hub from
the reservoir by suitably coring the hub. These supply chambers
have openings e³, e, in their sides or ends communicating with the
reservoir 63, and openings f³, f, communicating with the bore of the
hub. These openings are intended to be filled or partly filled with wick
or other fibrous or capillary material to draw the oil from the reservoir
by capillary attraction, and supply it in moderate quantity between the
bore of the pulley and the shaft which carries the latter. A hole is
provided in the outer shell of the hub for the introduction of the oil into
the chamber 6³, and when the chamber is filled the said hole is closed by
a screw plug or other stopper g³.
Whenever the belt is thrown off or released from action on the pulley,
and the loose pulley becomes stationary or nearly so, the oil is supplied
in suitable quantity from the supply chambers &, d, between the bore
and the shaft; but while the band or belt is in action on the pulley, and
the latter is in motion, then the centrifugal force imparted to the oil in
the chambers throws the oil outwards from the bore and shaft, and
arrests the supply through the openings e³, e³.
cating material supplied when tho pulley is at
last for a long subsequent period when the pulley is running, and if the
supply were not checked or stopped during the period the pulley was
in motion it would be excessive.
The quantity of lubri
rest will be sufficient to
The next part of the Invention relates to means for effecting the
automatic stoppage of the engine of a hoisting apparatus on the arrival
of the platform or cage at the top or bottom of the hoistway, or at any
given level in the height thereof, either in the ascent or descent, or on
the hoisting drum having made a given number of revolutions in either
direction. By referring to Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, Sheet I., it will be
seen that the lever or handle 2 which controls the supply valve G¹ of
the engine has attached to it a rack a', which gears with a pinion 6ª on a
horizontal shaft c* that is supported in fixed bearings attached to the
frame. This shaft c* has a screw thread d' cut upon it for a portion of
its length, and is provided at such threaded portion with clutches e, e³,
the one of which e* may be adjustable to any desired or fixed point on
the screw thread, and both of which clutches are arranged freely within
a revolving sleeve or clutch box f' that is hung so as to be capable of
turning independently upon the shaft c', and is rotated by the mechanism
which drives the hoisting drum, as for instance by bevil gear g*, *. This

page_text: sleeve carries a sliding nut ", which is constructed to also form a
clutch capable of engaging with either of the clutches e*, e³, on the
shaft c, and which nut fits the screw thread d' between the
clutches e, e³.
The action of this automatic apparatus is as follows:-During the
hoisting operation when the hoisting drum F rotates in a direction to
raise the cage the bevil gears g, h, revolve the clutch box f*, causing
the clutch nut to be worked along the clutch box on the screw
thread d* towards the clutch e³, and finally (that is when the cage has
reached the top of its upward travel) causing the nut to engage with
such clutch e and rotato it, and the shaft c* in common with the clutch
box, thereby setting in motion the pinion 6, and operating the rack a
so as to close the steam supply valve G. A few revolutions of the
shaft will bring the valve lever r¹ into its middle or horizontal position,
and close the steam supply valve G¹. When the hoisting drum F is to
be reversed to lower the cage the valve lever is moved further in the
same direction as before by the operator in charge of the cage, as herein-
before explained. The motion of the engine being reversed the clutch
box is also reversed and caused to work the clutch nut in an
opposite direction, that is towards the clutch e*, and finally to engage
with the clutch e', and revolve the shaft c' in a direction to cause the
pinion 6 to operate the rack a*, so as to bring the valve lever back again
to its intermediate or closing position of the valve. This occurs when
the cage or platform has reached the bottom of the hoistway, or lowest
required point in its descent. The valve lever may be again shifted
(still further in a like direction) by the operator when it is required to
elevate the cage.
One or both of the clutches e, e³, may be made
adjustable by set screws or otherwise upon the screw thread d* to cause
the stoppage of the cage or platform at any height in its ascent and
descent, or to produce the stoppage of the drum after any number of
revolutions. The teeth or projections on the clutches e*, e³, and nut i',
should be so constructed or arranged as to admit of the clutches e*, e³,
being turned nearly a whole revolution independently of the nut **, in
order to provide for the turning of the shaft c* independently of the
clutch box by or during the adjustment or reversing of the valve by the
operator in the cage, as herein-before described.
In Sheet II. of the Drawings, Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate

page_text: one end of the tube and passing out at the other end thereof. By means
of this arrangement of the wires and flexible tube or hose provision is
made for the movement of the cage or platform up and down the hoist-
way free from entanglement with or disarrangement of the wires and
without disturbing the fixed connection of the said wires at their ends.
The connection of the battery wire d³ with the annunciator I³ is made
by or through a series of branch wires 7, connecting with a series of
electro-magnets M, N, O³, P³, Q³, and Ro, at one end, the magnets being
connected at their opposite ends by branch wires with the floor wires
i³, k³, l³, m³, nº, and o³. There are the same number of these magnets as
there are floors or rooms, and each magnet controls the numbered signal
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, of the room to which it belongs or with which it is
connected by one or other of the wires ³, k³, P³, m³, nº, or o³. The
opposite ends of these wires connect respectively with conductors u³ at
the different floors or rooms and the battery wire which runs down
one side of the hoistway, and is permanently secured below as at v³, and
is connected by branch wires to at each of the floors with springs x³ of
circuit closers Mr.
To expose or adjust any one of the numbered signals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6, in the cages corresponding with a particular floor or room from
which such exposure or adjustment to the operator in the cage is made
for the purpose of directing him to hoist or lower the cage to said floor,
the circuit closer M' of such floor is operated so as to bring its spring x³
into contact with the conductor us of said floor or room, thus closing the
circuit between the battery and the magnet corresponding with said
floor or room in the annunciator. This causes said magnet to attract an
armature y³, and release a catch that drops the numbered signal 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, or 6 attached to it, by which the operator's attention is directed
as required.
Fig. 11 also shews a gaslight attachment Iº connected with the cage or
platform B for lighting up the same when required. This gaslight,
which may carry any suitable number of burners, derives its supply of
gas by means of a rubber hose or flexible tube Lo fastened permanently
as at f* to a fixed point or supply pipe Sº in the hoistway, and in free or
loose connection with the gaslight I° (in a similar manner to the
arrangement of the flexible tube L³) with the cage, and whereby said
light is free to move up and down with the cage or platform in its
travel.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Hoisting Apparatus and Engines for Operating the same, Parts of
which Improvements are also applicable to other Purposes," as com-
municated to me by my foreign correspondent, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,—
First. The improvements in hoisting apparatus and engines for
operating the same, whereby greater protection is obtained against
accidents to which the working parts, chains, or ropes are subject, and a
more perfect controllable action of the apparatus is secured, as shewn
and described with reference to Sheet I. of the Drawings.
Second. I claim the peculiar construction of supply, stop, or reversing
valve G¹in combination with the system of steam passages shewn and
described with reference to Figures 8, 9, and 10 of the Drawings,
whether applied to steam or other engines.
Third. The construction of self-lubricating pulley, described with
reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings.
Fourth. I claim the arrangement described with reference to Figures
4 and 5 for automatically stopping the hoisting engine on the arrival of
the cage at the top, or bottom, or at any given level of the hoistway.
Lastly. I claim adapting the electro-magnetic "annunciator" to the
hoisting apparatus as described, whereby the operator in the cage is
enabled to stop and start the hoisting apparatus as may be desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Eighteenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.