Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1888
Complete Left, 3rd May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 8th June, 1888
We, WILLIAM JOSEPH EADINGTON CARR, of 610, Osage Street, Leavenworth,
and JOHN EADINGTON CARR, of 3rd and Elm Streets, Leavenworth, in the County
of Leavenworth, and State of Kansas, United States of America, Mining Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new and improved cable grip for tramcars worked on
the cable system, which is simple and durable in construction and very effective in
operation.
The cable grip is attached to the front of the car to be propelled, by a connecting
rod or link The grip comprises an under fixed jaw and an upper movable jaw, both
having curved gripping faces adapted to embrace and grip the cable between them,
said face being lined with soft metal to avoid injury to the cable. The upper movable
jaw is attached to a shank fitted to slide in guides in a casing to which the lower jaw
is fixed, and the movable jaw is operated by a cam acting on the upper end of the
shank, the cam being provided with trunnions which form its fulcrum, and with a
handle for operating it. A lug or projection fixed on the handle near the cam,
engages with the upper bevelled end of one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted on the
front plate of the casing, whilst the other arm of the bell crank lever takes under a
pin projecting from the shank of the movable jaw through a slot in the front plate of
the casing. The trunnions of the cam are supported in vertically adjustable hearings
fitted in guide slots formed in the upper part of the casing of the grip, the bearings
being each movable up and down by an adjusting screw, so that by turning the
adjusting screws the bearings are raised or lowered, and the cam and movable jaw
adjusted in relation to the fixed jaw, whereby all wear of the cam and jaws can be
aken up.
The operation is as follows;-By moving the handle forwards, the cam depresses
he movable jaw, and causes the cable to be firmly gripped between the jaws. The
movement of the cable now propels the car, or train of cars, to which the grip is
connected by the link before mentioned. By the backward movement of the handle,

page_text: +
the movable jaw is raised, through the agency of the bell crank lever, and the jaws
are released from the cable. Should, whilst the grip is engaged with the cable, the
arm strike against an obstacle in the roadway, the arm will be thrown rearwardly
automatically thus disengaging the grip from the cable and preventing a collision of
the car.
In a modification, the upper end of the shank of the movable jaw is inclined and
provided with a central longitudinal groove into which fits a tongue on a wedge
interposed between the shank and the cam, and secured by a set screw, the upper
edge of the wedge on which the cam acts being parallel with the face of the movable
jaw. In lieu of the bell crank lever before described, a spring held in a clamp fixed
on the cover plate raises the movable jaw. The action is otherwise similar to that
before.described.
The wear and tear of the jaws and of the cam on the wedge, is taken up by adjusting
the latter on the inclined upper edge of the shank of the movable jaw. In both
arrangements, the grip is placed on the cable sidewise, as the jaws are open on one
side, and the grip can be detached from the cable and from the car.
The use of the improved grip permits of starting the car or train of cars, without
jar to the train or cable; it can pull or push cars; and it can be used for holding
cars back when the latter travel down an incline.
Dated this 92nd day of January 1888
W. J. E. CARR.
J. E. CARR.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Cable Grips for Cable Propelled Tramway Cars:
We, WILLIAM JOSEPH EADINGTON CARR of 610, Osage Street, Leavenworth, and
JOHN EADINGTON CARR, of 3rd and Elm Street, Leavenworth, in the County of
Leavenworth, and State of Kansas, United States of America, Mining Engineers, 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 :-
on
This Invention relates to a new and improved cable grip for tramcars worked
the cable system, which is simple and durable in construction and very effective in
operation.
The Invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same,
as will be fully described hereafter, and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which figure 1 is a side elevation of a car provided with the improve-
ment; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improvement, with the jaws in an open
position; Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of the same on the line x-x of
figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same with the front plate removed and
the jaws in a closed position; Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the cam
bearing, with parts in section. Figure 6 is a transverse section of the same, on the
line yy of figure 5; Figure 7 is a side elevation of the cam for operating the
movable jaw; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of the improvement,
with the jaws in an open position. Figure 9 is a vertical cross section of the same,
on the line z z of figure 8; and figure 10 is a side elevation of the same with tho
front plate removed, and the jaws in a closed position.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The car T which is to be provided with the cable grip A, is also provided with a
hook or ear U on which hooks the link or rod D pivoted to one of the bolts C or C
of the cable grip A. On the casing B is formed the stationary lower jaw E, the
curved gripping portion of which is lined or faced with soft metal F to prevent the
wear of the cable G, and the upper movable jaw H is similarly faced with a soft
metal F and is provided with a shank H₁ fitted to slide in the guides B¹ in the
casing B. The movable jaw H is operated by a cam I acting on the upper end of
the shank H', the cam being provided with trunnions J which form its fulcrum and
with a handle I for operating it. A lug or projection K fixed on the handle I' near
the cam I engages with the upper bevelled end of the arm L' of a bell-crank lever L
pivoted on the front plate B2 of the casing B, whilst the other arm L' of the bell
crank lever takes under a pin H2 projecting from the shank H¹ through a slot B³ in
the front plate B2 of the casing B. The trunnions J of the cam I are supported in
vertically adjustable bearings N fitted in guide slots B* formed in the upper part of
the casing B, the bearings N being each movable up and down by an adjusting
screw screwing in the casing B, its lower end extending into a recess N¹ in the

page_text: top of the bearing N, and terminating in a head, into the neck 0¹ above which
projects a set screw P screwing through the outside of the bearing N. By turning
the adjusting screws 0 the bearings N are raised or lowered, and the cam 1 and
movable jaw adjusted in relation to the fixed jaw, whereby all wear of the cam and
jaws can be taken up.
The operation is as follows:-By moving the handle I' in the direction of the
arrow a¹, the can I acting on the top edge of the shank H¹ depresses the jaw H and
causes the cable G to be firmly gripped between the jaws H and E. The movement
of the cable G now propels the car, or train of cars, to which the grip is connected
by the link D, as shewn in figure 1. By the descent of the shank H', the pin H²
acting on the arm L² of the bell crank lever L brings the arm L¹ into a nearly
vertical position, so that when it is desired to release the cable G from the grip A, the
movement of the arm I¹ in the inverse direction of the arrow a¹ will, by the
action of the pin K on the bevelled end of the arm L¹, cause the arm L²
to swing upwards in the direction of the arrow b¹ and by acting on the
pin H raise the jaw H out of contact with the cable G which is thus released.
Should, whilst the grip is engaged with the cable G, the arm I strike against an
obstacle in the roadway, the arm will be thrown rearwardly automatically, thus
disengaging the grip from the cable and preventing a collision of the car T with the
obstacle. The soft metal jaws F and F can easily be replaced by new ones, when
they are worn out.
In the modification shewn in figures 8, 9, and 10, the upper end of the shank H¹
...of the movable jaw H is inclined and provided with a central longitudinal groove
into which fits the tongue H³ of a wedge H4 interposed between the shank and the
cam and secured by a set screw H' screwing into the plate H¹ and against the said
tongue H³. The upper edge of the wedge H on which the cam acts is parallel with
the face of the jaw H and flush with the faces of the shank H¹ with which the
wedge slides up and down in the guides B¹.
In lieu of the bell crank lever L before described, a spring R held in a clamp
fixed on the cover plate B2 engages with the pin H2 for the purpose of raising the
movable jaw. The action is otherwise similar to that before described.
The wear and tear of the jaws and of the cam I on the wedge H₁ is taken up by
adjusting the latter on the inclined upper edge of the shank H by the set screw H³.
In both arrangements the grip is placed on the cable G sidewise, as the jaws H and E
are open on one side, and the grip can be detached from the cable G, by freeing the
link or rod D from its ear or hook U on the car A.
The use of the improved grip permits of starting the car, or train of cars, without
jar to the train or cable; it can pull or push cars; and it can be used for holding
cars 'back when the latter travel down an incline.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inen-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a cable grip, the combination with a casing and a 'fixed jaw formed thereon,
of a movable jaw adapted to slide in the said casing, and means, substantially as
described, for operating the said movable jaw, as set forth.
2. In a cable grip, the combination with a casing and a fixed jaw formed thereon, of
a movable jaw adapted to slide in the said casing, a can operating on the said movable
jaw, and bearings vertically adjustable in the said casing and carrying the said cam,
substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a cable grip, the combination with a slotted casing carrying a fixed jaw, of a
movable jaw fitted in a recess of the said casing and provided with a pin projecting
through the slot of the casing, a cam for pressing the said movable jaw downward
and a bell-crank lever pivoted on the said casing and operating with one arm on the
pin of the movable jaw, said bell-crank lever being operated by a pin on the said cam
substantially as shewn and described.
:
4. In a cable grip, the combination with a slotted casing carrying a fixed jaw, of a

page_text: movable jaw fitted in a recess of the casing and provided with a pin projecting
through the said slot of the casing, a cam pivoted in vertically adjustable bearings
and operating on the said movable jaw, a pin or lug secured on the said cam,
and a
bell-crank lever pivoted on the said casing and provided on one of its arms with an
inclined face on which operates said pin of the cam, while the other arm of the bell-
crank lever operates on the said pin of the movable jaw, substantially as shewn and
described.
5. In a cable grip, a casing carrying a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw fitted in a
recess of the casing in combination with a cam operating on the said movable jaw and
provided with trunnions, bearings into which the said trunnions fit, and set screws
for raising and lowering the said bearings, substantially as shewn and described.
6. In a cable grip, a casing carrying a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw fitted in a
recess of the said casing, in combination with a cam operating on the said movable
jaw and provided with trunnions, bearings carrying the said trunnions, and mounted
to slide vertically in slots formed in the said casing, a set screw screwing in the said
casing and entering a recess in the said bearings, and a second set screw, screwing in
the said bearings and engaging in a neck in the first-named set screw, substantially
as shewn and described.
7. In à cable grip, the combination with a casing and a fixed jaw formed thereon
and provided with a curved gripping face lined with soft metal, of a movable jaw
having a similar gripping face and adapted to slide in the said casing, a cam operating
on the said movable jaw and pivoted in the said casing, a pin or lug formed on the
said cam and a bell-crank lever on one arm of which operates said pin, the other arm
of the said bell-crank lever being adapted to act on a pin of the said movable jaw,
substantially as shewn and described.
8. In a cable grip, the combination with a casing and a fixed jaw formed thereon,
of a movable jaw adapted to slide in the said casing, a wedge held on the upper
inclined end of the said movable jaw, and a cam pivoted on the said casing and
operating on the said wedge, substantially as shewn and described.
9. In a cable grip, the combination with a casing and a fixed clamp held thereon,
of a movable clamp adapted to slide in the said casing, a wedge held adjustably on
the upper inclined edge of the said movable jaw, a cam pivoted on the said casing
and operating on the said wedge and a spring operating on the said movable jaw,
substantially as shewn and described.
10. In a cable grip, the combination with a slotted casing carrying a fixed jaw, of
a movable jaw fitted in a recess of the casing and provided with a pin projecting
through the slot of the casing, a spring secured to the casing and having its free end
resting under the said pin, and a cam for operating the movable jaw, substantially as
herein shewn and described.