Year: 1896

page_text: JOHN GEORGE FIEGENEN of the Bedford Engineering Co., Bedford and EDWARD
GEORGE FIEGEHEN of Stafford Lodge, Ampthill Road Bedford, Mechanical En-
gineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of an improved method of operating the longitudinal tra-
versing motion of overhead Travelling Cranes the parts of which are constructed
combined and operate in the manner hereinafter set forth.
This invention is more especially applicable to overhead travelling cranes worked
by electrical energy but is also applicable to similar cranes worked by other motive
power.
We will now describe the invention as applied to an Electric Overhead Travel-
ling Crane. For moving this crane along the gantry rails the truck or main
structure is fitted with travelling wheels geared in a suitable manner to receive
the power necessary to impart motion these wheels being connected or coupled by
means of a cross shaft running from end to end of the crane girders. In order to
impart motion to the aforesaid cross shaft we place an electric motor preferably
at one end of one of the crane girders the power given by this motor being con-
veyed by means of a light shaft carried in suitable bearings to a worm and wheel
or other suitable reduction gear fixed at the centre of the girder this reduction
gear being coupled to the main shaft by means of mitre or other suitable gearing.
In order to operate or reverse the direction in which the crane is required to
travel we provide a suitable reversing arrangement along the line of the before-
mentioned light shaft preferably at the motor end.
By means of our improved method we obtain in the travelling of an overhead
crane along its gantry an even and smooth motion and cause the travelling wheels
coupled to each end of the cross shaft to start to revolve at the same instant thereby
obviating the skewing and consequent racking strains imparted to the framing
or truck of an overhead travelling crane when the power for rotating the cross
shaft is applied at one end of the shaft.
The application of our improved method of operating the longitudinal traversing
motion of an overhead travelling crane whether driven by steam gas or other motive
ower differs in no essential particular from the arrangement herein before
lescribed.
JOHN GEORGE FIEGEHEN,
EDWARD G. FIEGEHEN.

page_text: We, JOHN GEORGE FIEGEHIEN of the Bedford Engineering Co., Bedford and
EDWARD GEORGE FIEGEHEN of Stafford Lodge, Ampthill Road, Bedford, Mecha-
nical Engineer, 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:-
Our invention consists of an improved method of operating the longitudinal
traversing motion of overhead Travelling Cranes worked by electricity the parts of
which are constructed, combined and operate in the manner hereinafter set forth.
We will now describe the invention as applied to an Electric Overhead Travel-
ling Crane. For moving this crane along the gantry rails the truck or main
structure of the crane is fitted with travelling wheels geared in a suitable manner
to receive the power necessary to impart motion,. these wheels being connected or
coupled by means of a cross shaft running from end to end of the crane girders.
In order to impart motion to the aforesaid cross-shaft we place an electric motor,
preferably at one end of the crane girder as shewn, the power given by this motor
being conveyed by means of a light shaft carried by preference in suitable
swivelling bearings to a worm and wheel or other suitable reduction gear fixed at
or near the centre of the length of the crane girder, this reduction gear being
coupled to the main cross shaft by means of mitre or other suitable gearing. The
beforementioned light shaft being coupled, by preference, direct to the armature
spindle of the driving motor causes the reduction gear worm-which slides on a
feather on the said light shaft to rotate at the same speed as the motor, thereby
obtaining the necessary high speed of the said worm at or near the centre of the
length of the crane girtler without introducing the weight and incon-
venience caused by fixing the driving motor close up to the said reduction gear.
Although we hold the placing of the said worm reduction gear at the centre of the span
of the girder as the best practice, we do not bind ourselves to this position since it
can, if desired, be brought to either end of the said span.
By means of our improved method we obtain in the traversing of an electric
Overhead Travelling Crane along its gantry an even and smooth motion and cause
the travelling wheels coupled to each end of the cross shaft to start to revolve at
the same instant thereby obviating the skewing and consequent racking strains
imparted to the framing or truck of such crane when the power for rotating the
cross shaft is applied at one end of the said shaft. We are also enabled, by placing
the motor at the end of the girder, as shewn, and using the beforementioned high
speed shaft, to get the whole of the shafting, brackets and gearing close up to the
web of the girder, thereby relieving the said girder of the side or tortional strain
due to the usual overhang of the cross shaft, brackets and gearing employed for
this purpose.
By applying the power for driving at or near the centre of its length we are
also enabled to considerably reduce the size and weight of the said cross shaft and
its bearings. We also concentrate the whole of the parts on the outside of one of
the girders, as shewn, so that this motion is entirely independent of the crab and
does not offer any impediment to the free travel of the latter from end to end of
the girders.
We will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing,
our Improved Traversing Motion for Overhead Travelling Cranes as applied to
such a crane worked by electricity:-

page_text: Fig. 1 shews an elevation of a portion of the crane to which this motion is
applied.
Fig. 2 shews a plan of the same portion of the crane, A-B being the centre
line of span of one of the main girders.
For the purpose of moving the crane along the gantry rails the truck or main
structure, consisting of the two girders M with a cradle D at each end, is fitted
with travelling wheels C running in the cradles D, one or more wheels in each
cradle being suitably coupled to a cross shaft E, running in flexible bearings F,
by spur gear as shewn at G or other suitable means.
In order to ensure a smooth and even traverse and to prevent the skewing of
the truck upon the gantry rails, we apply the power for moving the crane at or
near the centre of the length of the before mentioned cross shaft E as hereinafter
described. We place a motor H preferably at one end of the crane girder, as
shewn, the power from this motor being transmitted through a light high speed
shaft I, carried in suitable flexible bearings J and running at the same speed as
the motor, to a worm and wheel reduction gear K which, in turn, is coupled in a
suitable manner, as at L, to the cross shaft E, which latter, being geared to the
travelling wheels C as before described, imparts the necessary traversing motion
to the crane, this motion being caused to run in either direction by suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim as our invention. of
Improved Traversing Motion for Overhead Travelling Cranes:-
1. The method of applying the motive power for driving the longitudinal tra-
versing gear of an electric overhead Travelling Crane at or near the centre of the
span of one of the main girders by means of worm reduction gear, substantially
as described and shewn in the accompanying drawing, whereby all skewing and
racking on the gantry rails is overcome.
2. The arrangement of a high speed shaft for conveying power from an electric
motor fixed, by preference, at or near the end of the crane girder, as shewn in the
accompanying drawing, to the beforementioned worm reduction gear, thus reduc-
ing vibration of the girder at its centre.
3. The combination and use of flexible couplings and swivelling bearings upon
both the cross shaft and high speed shaft of an electric overhead Travelling Crane,
whereby the seizing of the said shafts due to the deflection of the main girders is
obviated.
4. The arrangement and combination of parts by which the whole of the
gearing for operating the longitudinal traversing motion of an electric overhead
Travelling Crane is placed close to the web of the main girder, whereby the usual
twist on the girder and consequent vibration is considerably reduced.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts as described and illustrated
whereby the longitudinal traversing motion of an electric overhead Travelling
Crane is entirely self contained on the outer side of one of the main girders, as
shewn, thereby offering no obstruction or impediment to the other motions of the
crane.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts wherein the longitudinal tra-
versing motion of an electric overhead Travelling Crane is driven by means of an
electric motor in combination with worm reduction gear fixed on the outer side
of one of the main girders of such crane.
Dated this 7th day of September 1897
JOHN GEORGE FIEGEHEN,
EDWARD GEORGE FIEGEHEN.