IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER TRAVELLING CARRIAGES AND CRANES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lloyd Higginbottom and Thomas Mannock, both of Crown
Iron Works, West Gorton, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER TRAVELLING CARRIAGES AND CRANES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.'
"
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 21st May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lloyd Higginbottom and
Thomas Mannock at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st
May 1879.
LLOYD HIGGINBOTTOM and THOMAS MANNOCK, both of Crown Iron Works, West
Gorton, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER TRAVELLING
CARRIAGES AND CRANES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
The first part of our Invention relates to means whereby travelling carriages of
cranes, hoists, or any other travelling carriage or locomotive driven by power may
be varied in speed, or reversed at will, or the speed of other motions about such
machines may be varied or reversed likewise.
In order to carry out the first part of our Invention we place a disc at the end
of the revolving shaft, which actuates the machine, and which disc and shaft may
be made to revolve by any suitable means. Across the face of this disc and at right
angles to the first-named shaft, is placed the shaft which communicates motion to
the carriage or other mechanism, and on this shaft is mounted a friction wheel,
which slides upon a feather key across the face of the disc. By pressing the friction
wheel against the disc the revolving motion is obtained, and by moving the friction
wheel nearer or further from the centre of the disc, the relative speeds are varied.
Also, by moving the friction wheel entirely across the face of the disc, the direction
of motion is reversed. The centre of the disc is made slightly hollow, so that when
the friction wheel is brought opposite the centre, its edge is clear of the disc, and
the motion consequently ceases. If preferred, the friction wheel may receive a con-
tinuous uniform motion from the source of power, and the disc may be made to
revolve in either direction and at varying speeds.
The second part of our Invention has for its object the communication of motion
from a fixed source of power to a moving carriage, such as the carriage of a travel-
ling crane, or from the end carriage of a travelling crane to the crab. Thus we

page_text: propose
to make the crab with a chain barrel in the ordinary way, but to actuate it
entirely from the end of the crane by means of chains or ropes, so as to do away
with the platform which is usually required for the men who work the crab.
With this object we place on the shaft, which is usually furnished with handles.
a chain wheel, prepared in such a manner that the chain shall not slip upon it.
An endless chain is then passed over this chain wheel, and stretched the whole
length of the gantrys or path of the crab. This chain, at the outer end from the
power, passes over a pulley, and at the power end over another chain wheel, which
is actuated from the steam engine or other source of power. By this arrangement
it is clear that when the chain wheel at the power end revolves, the corresponding
chain wheel on the crab is also caused by the endless chain to revolve, and the
weight is lifted or lowered, while the crab is left free to traverse the whole length
of its path. To cause the crab to travel backwards and forwards along its path,
another chain wheel and pulley are used as before, but instead of the chain being
an endless one its two ends are fixed to the crab, which latter is moved thereby.
A pulley may be substituted for the chain wheel on the crab, which pulley may be
geared to the lifting barrel by means of a worm and wheel or other suitable gearing.
An endless rope is then passed round the pulley on the crab, and also round two
other pullies, one at each end of the path, one of these being driven by a disc and
friction wheel, as before described, or by another suitable mechanism. Thus the
attendant may cause the crab to hoist or lower, and by the chain before described
may move it to and fro without stirring from his position at the end of the path.
When it is desired to lift or lower the load at the same time that the crab or
carriage is travelling we adopt the following arrangement:-At the end where the
power is applied we mount the two chain wheels before described, one for working
the chain, which transmits power to the crab, and which we call the lifting chain,
and one for working the chain which moves the crab to and fro, and which we call
the traversing chain.
The traversing chain wheel turns freely upon its shaft, and is fixed to or cast
with a spur wheel, which gears in a spur pinion, which latter runs loose upon a
.countershaft worked from the engine or other source of power.
At each side of the pinion wheel a clutch is formed, which is slided in and out of
gear by a lever worked by hand. One of these clutches cannot revolve while the
other slides on a feather key on the countershaft, and revolves with it. By sliding
one clutch or the other in gear with the pinion the traversing chain wheel may be
held fast or driven by the countershaft, causing the crab to stand still, or move to
and fro at will.
The hoisting chain wheel also turns freely upon its shaft, and is cast with or
fixed to, 1st, a brake drum; 2nd, a spur wheel geared to a pinion on the counter-
shaft, this spur wheel and pinion being of the same sizes as those on the traversing
chain wheel before described; 3rd, a spur wheel geared to a pinion on the counter-
shaft as before, but the pinion is made larger and the spur wheel smaller than before.
Either of these two pinions can be caused to revolve with the countershaft by
clutches and levers as desired, or the clutches may be thrown out of gear and the
break applied, which holds the hoisting chain wheel still.
By this combination, 1st, the hoisting chain wheel and traversing chain wheel
may be both thrown in gear with the countershaft, when the crab will move along
its path, and the load will not be lifted or lowered; 2nd, by throwing the third
wheel and pinion in gear, the lifting chain wheel will run faster than the traversing
chain wheel and the load will be raised; and finally, the lifting chain clutches may
be thrown out of gear, and the load lowered by the brake. Friction wheels may be
substituted for the spur wheels and pinions.
If friction wheels are used we adopt the following arrangenient :-Upon the chain
wheel shaft we mount a large friction wheel, which is driven by either of two
smaller friction wheels mounted on two countershafts running in opposite directions.
The journals of these two countershafts are not fixed, but are formed in the reversing

page_text: or hand lever, one journal on each side of the fulcrum pin on which the lever oscil-
lates. By pulling the lever in one direction one of the small friction wheels is
brought in contact with the large friction wheel, thereby causing it to revolve, while
by reversing the lever the other small friction wheel is brought in contact, causing
the large friction wheel to revolve in the opposite direction. When the lever is
in its central position the large friction wheel rests against a brake, which may
be placed either between the small friction wheels or just outside them. The
break may also be fixed at the opposite side to the small friction wheels and
inside the rim of the large friction wheel. The main shaft, on which the large
friction wheel is mounted, has a little play allowed in its bearings, so that the chain
or rope which does the hoisting or travelling may pull the large friction wheel against
the break or against the small friction pulleys, as the case may be.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Lloyd Higginbottom and Thomas Mannock in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th November 1879.
LLOYD HIGGINBOTTOM and THOMAS MANNOCK, both of Crown Works, West
Gorton, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER TRAVELLING
CARRIAGES AND CRANES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
As the improvements forming the subject of this Invention come under two heads
we will proceed to describe them as follows:-
First. The Invention has for its object a means whereby travelling carriages of
cranes, hoists, or any other travelling carriage or locomotive driven by power, may
be varied in speed, or reversed at will, or the speed of other motions about such
machines may be varied or reversed; and―
Second. The Invention has for its object the communication of motion from a
fixed source of power to the end carriage of a travelling crane, or from the end
carriage of the crab of a travelling crane; and,
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail, we
have hereunto annexed two Sheets of Drawings, upon which letters of reference are
marked on corresponding parts on all the Figures alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The first part of our Invention, which has for its object the varying of the speed
and reversing the direction of motion of travelling carriages of cranes, is shewn on
Sheet 1 at Fig. 1, which represents in elevation the end carriage of a cord power
travelling crane. In this Fig. 1 rotary motion is communicated to the grooved
pulley A by a cord running along one side of the house in the usual way. The
circular disc B is mounted on the same shaft as the grooved pulley A, and revolves
with it. Underneath the disc, and in contact with its underside, is a friction wheel
C which slides on a feather key on the shaft D; this shaft is connected to the tra-
velling wheel of the crane by worm wheels, as shewn, or by other suitable gear.
The friction wheel C may be caused to slide along the shaft D by a lever and
handle placed in any convenient position. The action is as follows:-
When the attendant, by the lever and handle, drives the friction wheel C along
the shaft towards the right hand the shaft D will be caused to revolve at a speed
depending on the distance the friction wheel C is from the centre of the disc B, the
speed being greater as the friction wheel approaches the edge of the disc. If now
the friction wheel be moved towards the left hand across the centre of the disc the
same variation of speeds may be obtained, and at the same time the direction of
motion of the friction wheel C will be reversed, and the carriage caused to travel in
the contrary direction. To avoid wear and tear we make the disc B with a slight
depression in the centre, so that when the friction wheel C is in its central position
its edge is just clear of the under face of the disc B, and consequently no motion is
imparted to the friction wheel C, and the carriage remains at rest.
The whole of the remaining Figs. on Sheet 1, and those on Sheet 2, refer to the
second part of our Invention. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of our improved crane,
and Fig. 3 a plan of the gearing shewn in elevation at X of Figure 2.
The hoisting is effected by the lapping of the chain or rope A upon the barrel b,
which is caused to revolve by the cogwheel c gearing into the pinion d firmly keyed
on the shaft e, which shaft in an ordinary crane would be turned by handles. Upon
this handle shaft e we mount a chain wheel E with the groove prepared so that the
chain shall not slip upon it, and we wish it to be understood that wherever we
mention "chain wheel" we mean a wheel prepared with groove to prevent slip as
above. An endless chain is then passed over this chain wheel E, under the idle
pullies ff, over the chain wheel G and over the idle pulley g. The endless chain
now forms a positive connection between the chain wheels G and E, and the load
may be lifted or lowered by turning the chain wheel G, and this connection will not

page_text: be affected by the position of the crab H, which may stand at any point upon its
path between G and g.
In order to move the crab to and fro upon its path we mount another chain wheel
I loose upon the same shaft as G (see Figure 3), and a chain passing round this and
baving one end secured to the crab at h, while the other end passes over the idle
pulley g¹, and is secured to the crab at h¹. Upon turning the chain wheel I back-
wards or forwards the crab is caused to travel to and fro upon its path.
It is convenient in these cranes to be able to move the crab along its path at the
same time as the hoisting or lowering is going on, so as to save time. Figure 3 is
a plan of our method of doing this. The power is shewn as being taken froin the
crank shaft i of a steam engine, of which j is the crank and k the fly wheel. Three
sliding clutches 1, 11, 12, are mounted on the shaft i, two of which, and 1, are fitted
with feather keys and revolve with the shaft. The sliding clutch engages on one
side with the fixed frame of the engine or crane, and therefore cannot revolve,
although it may slide into gear with the pinion m², and prevent it from turning.
The engaging teeth on the frame side of this clutch are made twice as long as those
on the pinion side, so that they always remain in gear. The clutch can slide into
gear with the pinion m², and the clutch & may gear with either of the pinions m or
m. The three pinions are loose on the shaft i, and only revolve with it when
caused to do so by the clutches, at the will of the attendant. The chain wheel G,
which is connected with the hoisting gear of the crab by the endless chain, as before
described, is cast with or made fast to the spur wheels o and o¹; the latter spur
wheel o¹ has a break rin p fixed on one side which is embraced by a break band
connected by suitable levers under the control of the attendant. Both the spur
wlieels o and o¹, the chain wheel and break rim, are fast together, but revolve freely
on the shaft q. The traversing chain wheel I, which is connected to the crab as
before described, is cast with or firmly fixed to the spur wheel o², which is in turn
firmly fixed upon the shaft q. The action is as follows:-
TO LIFT THE LOAD.-The clutch is put in gear with the pinion m², and the effect
of this is to prevent the crab moving along its path; the clutch is then put in gear
with pinion m¹, and the engine started in the proper direction for hoisting. The
power then passes through the endless chain to the crab as before described.
TO TRAVERSE THE LOAD.-The clutch is put in gear with pinion m², and the clutch
12 withdrawn. The crab may now be traversed to and fro, according to the direction
the engine is working.
TO TRAVERSE AND LIFT THE LOAD AT THE SAME TIME.-The clutch is put in gear
with the pinion m, and the traversing clutch left in gear as before. As the pinion m
is much larger than pinion m² the hoisting chain g is moved at a greater speed than
the traversing chain I, and the load is consequently lifted or lowered according to
the direction the engine is working. When it is desired to use ropes instead of
chains we adopt the arrangement shewn in Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2. The hoisting
is accomplished by means of a barrel b and chain or rope, as before, but the large
cog wheel c gears with the worm d, which is driven by the shaft and grooved rope
pulley e. An endless rope is then passed over the pullies h and i, partially round
the idle pulleys fand g, and over the pulley e, which is geared to the hoisting barrel
bas before described. When the pulley h is caused to revolve rapidly the pulley i
is driven by the friction of the rope passing over it, and the load is lifted or lowered
according to the direction of motion. The pulley h may be driven by a friction
wheel c and disc B, as described in the first part of this Specification. The tra-
versing of the crab to and fro may be effected by a chain passing over a chain
wheel, and geared by a worm and wheel to a friction wheel m; this friction wheel
may be made to revolve in either direction by sliding one of the discs o or p against
its periphery. These discs o and p are placed on a feather key on the driving shaft
q so as to slide freely.
When it is desired to raise and traverse moderate loads friction wheels may be
used instead of toothed wheels, our arrangements for which are shewn in Figs. 8,
9, 10, and 11. In the crane shewn by Figs. 8 and 9 the crab is suspended

page_text: underneath a girder A of I section, the crab rollers a, a, running on the top side
of the bottom flange of the girder. Within the frame of the crab the chain or rope
barrel b revolves freely, and is driven by a pair of bevel wheels c, c, which in turn
are driven by the chain wheel d. An endless chain is passed under the chain
wheel & over the idle pulleys e and f, and around the chain wheel g. This forms a
positive connection between the moving crab and the fixed driving gear as before.
The crab is caused to traverse its path by a chain passing over the chain wheel h
and the idle pulley i, Fig. 9, and having its ends secured to the crab, as before
described.
The power is applied by an open and crossed belt or other gear to the two
countershafts and k, which run continuously in opposite directions. Each of
these countershafts carries a small friction wheel and The ends of the counter-
shafts nearest the friction pulleys and are not fixed, but take their bearings in
suitable holes formed in the hand lever m, which oscillates on a pivot p fixed to
the frame work. The attendant can by taking hold of the bottom end of the lever
and moving it to the right or left bring either of the friction pulleys or in con-
tact with the large friction wheel o, thereby causing it to revolve.
The large
friction wheel o is keyed on the shaft p, which also carries the chain wheel g firmly
keyed upon it. This chain wheel actuates the endless chain which by the gear on
the crab before described causes the load to be lifted or lowered. The journals r
and revolve in pedestals firmly fixed to the framework of the crane, but the
journals q and q¹ revolve in pedestals, which by having their bolt holes elongated
are allowed to slide on the framework of the crane. The tension on the chains
passing over the chain wheels g and his utilised to keep the friction wheels o and t
tightly held against their respective brakes u and v. The break u is so adjusted
that it keeps the friction wheel o just clear of the revolving friction wheels 7 and l
when the lever m is in its central position. The break v is adjusted to keep the
friction wheel t about one eighth of an inch clear of the friction wheel s, which is
keyed on the shaft p.
The action is as follows:-If the lever m is moved a little in the direction shewn
by the arrow the revolving friction wheel is brought against the wheel o, thereby
setting it in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow. This revolving motion
is conveyed by the endless chain to the crab wheels and barrel, and so the load is
raised. When the load is high enough the lever m is moved still further over in
the direction indicated by the arrow, which slides the shaft p still further to the
right hand, and brings the friction wheel t to revolve in the direction shewn by the
dotted arrow. By this means the chain wheel revolves and the crab travels out-
wards. As the friction wheels 8 and t are both of one diameter the chain wheels g
and will revolve at the same speed, and the traversing and hoisting chains
will be both paid out at the same speed, therefore the load will not be lifted or
lowered whilst the traversing is going on. The load may be lowered or traversed
inwards by moving the lever m in the contrary direction.
Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 11 a plan of our crane for lifting and traversing
heavier loads than the last crane described. The improvement here consists in
mounting the four friction wheels c and c¹ and d and don two shafts which run in
opposite directions, and are carried by brackets fixed to the crane girders A and A'.
Two brakes, one of which is shewn at e, Fig. 10, are also fixed upon the girders A
and A¹, and so adjusted that when the large friction wheels F and F¹ are pulled
against them by the tension of the hoisting and traversing chains all the friction
wheels are just clear of each other. The friction wheel F¹ is keyed on the shaft i,
as is also the chain or rope barrel j. The hoisting chain or rope has its end fixed
at K, and passes over the crab pulleys and under the block pulley m, and is
lapped round the chain barrel j. The crab B is caused to travel along the girders
A and A' by the traversing chain g, which passes over the chain wheel n, which is
secured to the large friction wheel F, but turns freely with it round the shaft eye.
The arrangement of crab B and traversing chain described is not claimed by us as
our Invention, as it has been in use in cranes for many years and manufactured by

page_text: many makers. The shaft i is carried in bearings formed in the levers n and n',
but the hole in the levers is elongated to allow the shaft to slide towards the break
and friction pulleys c and c' and d and d', which it does by reason of the tension
of the hoisting and traversing chains. The levers and n' are pivotted at the
extreme ends on the brackets o and o', which are fixed to the girders A and A¹, and
at the other end are free to move up and down at the will of the attendant.
action is as follows:-When the levers n and n¹ are in their central position the
friction wheels F and F¹ rest against the breaks and the crane is at rest.
The
When the attendant raises the lever n' the friction wheel F¹ is rolled off the
break, and comes in contact with the constantly revolving friction wheel C₁, and
the load is raised, or by depressing the same lever the friction wheel may be
brought into action and the load lowered. In order to traverse the crab the
lever is raised, which brings the friction wheel F against the friction wheel c and
the crab moves outwards, whilst if the same lever be depressed the friction wheel d'
is brought into action, and the motion of the crab is reversed.
The arrangement of friction wheels, brakes, and levers, as described above, may
be applied to hoisting direct from the barrel, as shewn on Sheet 1, Figs. 4 and 5.
In Fig. 4 the friction wheels A and A¹ which run continuously in opposite
directions are placed underneath the large friction wheel, in order that the load to
be lifted may increase the friction on the same. The brake is shewn between the
friction wheels A and A', but if preferred it may be placed at the top and inside
the rim of the large friction wheel, shewn by the dotted lines. The main axle i
must be at liberty to rise when lifted by the friction wheels off the brake. The hoist
is started, stopped, and reversed by the hand lever n, as before described.
In Fig. 5 another arrangement is shown, where the friction wheels A and A¹ and
the brake are fixed as to their relative positions, and the large friction wheel B is
rolled off the brake on to one or other of the continuously revolving friction wheels
A or A' by raising or depressing the lever n, as before described.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we wish it to be understood in conclusion that we do not wish to
limit ourselves to the details given, as the same may be varied or modified, but
what we do claim as novel and as of our Invention is,-
Firstly. The arrangement of friction wheel and disc for varying the travelling
speed and reversing the motion of power travelling cranes and other carriages
driven by power, as substantially described herein and shewn at Fig. 1 of the
Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of an endless chain and the gearing for working the
same, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3, and forming a power travelling crane.
Thirdly. The general arrangement of travelling crane with endless rope driven by
friction wheels, substantially as described herein and shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 of
the Drawings; and,
Lastly. The arrangement of friction gearing, brakes, and levers, substantially as
described herein and shewn in Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
In witness whereof, we, the said Lloyd Higginbottom and Thomas Mannock,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this the Fourteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
JOHN CHARLES ETCHELLS.
LLOYD HIGGINBOTTOM. (L.S.)
THOMAS MANNOCK.
(L.S.)