A Hydraulic Crane.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Hydraulic Crane.
Communicated from abroad by WALTER WOOD of 400 Chestnut Street Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Merchant.
I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No. 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a hydraulic crane in which the crane instead of revolving
around a fixed centre, as in ordinary cranes, is permitted to travel on tracks supported
in a suitable manner and arranged so as to cover any or all parts of the floor over
which it is placed. In this improved crane the machinery which actuates the crane
may be placed upon the crane itself, but it is preferable that the hydraulic cylinders
be arranged at an appropriate station on the floor or elsewhere. In a crane of this
description there are three motions desired, viz.
1st. To lift a load from the floor.
2nd. To transfer the load from one end of the building toward the other, by the
movement of the crane upon its track.
3rd. To transfer it from one side of the floor toward the other, which is
accomplished by a trolley running upon a bridge of the crane itself.
The lifting motion may be accomplished by a cylinder having a continuous rope
and the power be applied directly to the rope which runs over the trolley and down
through the sheaves. This cylinder may either have a single plunger or plungers of
different diameters to accomodate the varying rate or the load to be lifted.
The movement of the crane upon its track is accomplished by a cylinder which
may work into a device for multiplying its speed. Any suitable device may be used
for causing the crane to travel squarely upon its track.
.
The third motion, namely, the transfer of the trolley from one end of the bridge
toward the other can be accomplished by a third cylinder working with a rope con-
nected with the trolley itself, but, as it is more desirable to avoid complication of
machinery, the trolley may be actuated from both or one or the other of the ropes
used in the first two motions. This may be accomplished by devices of brakes or
friction clutches.
Dated this Twenty ninth day of November 1889
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
A Hydraulic Crane.
Communicated from abroad by WALTER WOOD of 400 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Merchant.
I WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE of No. 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
This Invention relates to that class of lifting apparatus commonly known as
Travelling Cranes, the characteristic features of which apparatus are as follows:-
A pair of parallel tracks or ways, suitably mounted along the walls of the building
wherein the crane is to be employed, or in any other convenient location, carry a
transverse bridge provided with suitable wheels or rollers for free movement along

page_text: said ways. Upon this bridge is a carriage or trolly which runs upon suitable rollers
so as to traverse the bridge from end to end, said trolly is in turn provided with
pulleys or sheaves to carry a lifting rope descending in a bight or loop therefrom,
and at the lower end of said bight a fall-block, or sheave provided with a hook is
suspended.
Thus the apparatus as a whole comprises the capacity for three movements; to wit,
longitudinal travel of the bridge along the ways, transverse shifting of the trolly
along the bridge, and vertical raising or lowering of the fall-block.
For purposes of convenience in description, these movements will hereafter be
referred to respectively, as the bridge movement, the trolly movement, and the
lifting movement.
As such cranes have heretofore been constructed, these movements have usually
been effected either by machinery mounted bodily upon the bridge itself, or
else by means of gearing mounted upon the bridge and trolly, which gearing
received its motion from endless belt-shafts or other running devices provided with
means of engagement with said gearing. This system of construction greatly
increases the weight of the bridge and complicates the mechanism directly connected
therewith; and furthermore, requires the use of special devices to preserve the
alignment of the bridge with relation to the ways. Moreover, where the movements
are derived from a running belt it is attended with all the disadvantages which are
well known incidents to this method of conveying power.
The use of hydraulic power as the actuating mechanism for the several movements
is most desirable, owing to the perfect control and great capacity thereof, but
obviously the mounting of hydraulic cylinders and plungers upon the bridge itself,
or the utilization of such power as a means of actuating the running belt, would
involve disadvantages more than likely to offset its desirable features.
My Invention when used in its entirety, permits the application of hydraulic power
for the production of all three movements, and enables me to derive said movements
from points of actuation entirely independent of the bridge structure, the thrust of
hydraulic plungers being applied to ropes, chains or cables, which are directly
connected with the several moving parts. Thus the bridge is freed from cumbersome
appliances, and the convenient grouping or location of the hydraulic apparatus is
attained.
My organisation of such rope connections will moreover be found useful in cases
where parts only of my invention are employed, since it is not only adapted for use
in connection with hydraulic devices, but other types of actuating mechanism as well;
hence while the best embodyment of my invention is found in the use of a hydraulic
system, it must be understood that certain features are claimed irrespective of the
particular actuating mechanism used in connection therewith.
In so far as my invention is intended to permit placing the actuating machinery at
a point independent of the bridge, it consists in the peculiar novel arrangement
of the rope or ropes used for producing the three motions heretofore alluded to;
these ropes being so arranged that while the point of actuation is stationary
the bridge and its trolly can move in any direction, without changing the height of the
load, or the load can be raised or lowered, or shifted laterally without moving the
bridge.
In the accompanying diawings I have illustrated the invention in a series of
perspective partial views of the bridge and its ways, desiring to avoid the unnecessary
complication which would result from a complete delineation of the features which
are well known in connection with cranes of this class. Furthermore, I have shown
only hydraulic cylinders and plungers as the actuating mechanism, deeming it best
not to complicate the views by showing other actuating mechanism which might be
substituted therefor.
It is evident that the primary and most natural mode of producing the three
movements is to provide each member with a separate rope. Should, however, it
be desirable to dispense with one of the ropes, one of the remaining two can be

page_text: employed in the place of the one dispensed with by the use of the brakes, whereby
such rope can for the time being be attached to that member which it is desired to
move. Thus by placing brakes upon the trolly and braking the lifting rope thereto,
the trolly can be made to move while the load remains at the same height. Again if
it be found desirable to use only one rope, instead of three, the lifting rope can be
utilized for moving either the bridge or the trolly by placing brakes at the appropriate
points.
The following reference to the drawings will explain the different types of such
possible attachment.
In Fig. 1, the device is illustrated with separate ropes and hydraulic plungers for
effecting all three movements.
In Fig. 2, two of the movements: viz., the trolly movement and the lifting move-
ment are derived from the same rope, while the rope for effecting the bridge
movement is of course distinct, and is omitted in order to avoid unnecessary
complication.
In Fig. 3, the bridge movement and the lifting movement are derived from the
same rope, the rope for effecting the trolly movement being in this instance oniitted
from the illustration, for the same reason.
In Fig. 4, the bridge movement and the trolly movement are derived from the same
rope, the rope for effecting the lifting movement being omitted.
In Fig. 5, all three movements are derived from the same rope.
In the types shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, therefore, it must be understood that the
devices omitted from the illustrations are to be supplied by combining with the
member which is to be actuated, suitable mechanisin, and preferably such as is
indicated in Fig. 1, for producing that particular movement.
A description of these different types of invention will now be taken up in detail.
Referring to Fig. 1, A represents the bridge provided with rollers, b, adapted to
travel upon the longitudinal ways, B. The trolly as a whole is indicated at C, and is
adapted to run upon the bridge by means of the rollers, c. E is the fall-block
suspended beneath said trolly in the manner to be hereinafter described, and V, W,
X, and Y, indicate a group of hydraulic cylinders provided with plungers, F, H, K,
and J respectively. A fifth plunger, I, is also shown, but to avoid confusion the
representation of the cylinder is omitted. Said cylinders are of course to be con-
nected by suitable pipes with a source of hydraulic pressure, and provided with
controlling valves, whereby the actuation of the plungers in one direction or the
other is permitted. These details, being well understood in hydraulic devices, are
not shown in the drawings.
In connection with the cylinders, V and W, I have shown devices for multiplying
the thrust of the plunger, which may of course be conveniently used in connection
with all the plungers if desired, but which are especially useful in connection with
the bridge movement because of the greater extent thereof as compared with the
other two movements.
Referring to the cylinder V, it will be seen that at the top of its plunger is a
sheave, g, and at or near the lower end of the cylinder itself are two sheaves, GG.
By carrying the rope, around these sheaves, in the manner indicated, it will be
seen that the thrust of the plunger will be multiplied in extent of rope movement in
correspondence with the number of turns which said rope takes.
The devices for effecting the bridge movement are as follows:-
The two ends of the rope, f, are directly attached to the bridge near the respective
ends thereof, at points .gu; thence on one side it passes around a pulley, N, and
on the other side around a pulley R, which pulleys are mounted at or near one
end of the ways, B B. For convenience of description this will be hereafter called
the initial end of the line, as in the illustration it is nearest to the actuating
mechanism, while the other end of the ways will be referred to as the distant end of
the line. After passing around said pulleys, N, R, said rope f, passes down over the
pulleys N R to the sheaves G, upon the lower part of the cylinder V, and
thence rises and completes its circuit around the sheave 9, upon the end of the plunger.
.

page_text: The two ends of the second rope h, are attached at the respective ends of the
bridge, A, but upon the opposite side thereof to the points of attachment of the
rope, Said second rope, h, leads on the one side around a pulley, O, and upon
the other side around a similar pulley, Q, each of which is mounted at or near the
distant end of the line of ways.
The respective portions of said rope return from said pulleys, and Q, to the
initial end of the line, where they pass around pulleys, M S, respectively, and thence
down over pulleys, M* S*, to the sheaves at the bottom of the cylinder W, and over
the sheave upon the plunger H, thereof in a manner similar to that described in the
case of the first rope.
If, now, the plunger, F, be actuated in one direction and the plunger, H, in the
other, the bridge will be moved towards or from said plungers by the direct pull upon
the ropes, for h, as the case may be, the other rope being paid out in correspondence
with such pull. It will be seen that the perfect alignment of the bridge upon its ways
is thus preserved, as the point of attachment of the respective ropes are in proper
correlation, and the strain at both ends is necessarily equal.
The devices for effecting the trolly movement will now be described.
Said trolly, C, consists of a frame or truck having rollers, e, adapted to run upon
the bridge, and is provided at each end with horizontal pulleys, d. The hydraulic
plungers for producing the trolly movement are indicated at 1, J, and the respective
ropes thereof, i, j, are represented as directly attached to the ends of the plungers,
without the intervention of any multiplying devices, although the same could readily
be combined therewith if desired.
The rope i, leads from the plunger I, over a pulley L*, and around a pulley L,
situated near the initial end of the line; thence it feads around a pulley, n, mounted
at one end of the bridge, thence it passes around the horizontal pulley d, at the
proximate end of the trolly, thence returns to the end of the bridge where it entered,
passes away around a pulley, l, and thence leads to a fixed anchoring point, P, at the
distant end of the line. The other rope, j, leads from the plunger J, over a
pulley Ux, thence around a pulley U, at the initial end of the line, thence to the
bridge, where it passes around a pulley, r, at the end thereof; thence it leads to and
around the other pulley, d, upon the end of the trolly and returns to the end of the
bridge passing away around a pulley, s, and leads to a fixed anchoring point, D, at the
distant end of the line.
It will be seen that by actuating the plungers, I, J, in opposite directions, their
respective ropes, i, j, can be hauled in and paid out in correspondence, and that bence
the trolly will be shifted along the bridge in one direction or the other, by the rope
which is hauled in.
The devices for effecting the lifting movement are as follows:-
A single rope alone is necessary for illustrating the simplest type of such move-
ment, and in this instance it is represented as directly attached to a plunger, K.
Thence it rises over a pulley, Tx, passes around a pulley, T, at the initial end of the
line, leads to one end of the bridge where it passes around a pulley, p, and thence leads
to the trolly. Here it descends over one of four pulleys indicated by a, descends to
the fall-block, where it passes around one of the sheaves, e, thereof, and then rises
again to the trolly and passes away over a second pulley, a, thereof; thence it leads
to the other end of the bridge, passes around a pulley m, returns to the trolly, descends
over a third pulley, a, thereof, to the fall-block, passes around a second sheave, e,
thereof, rises over a fourth pulley, a, upon the trolly, and thence returns to the end of
the bridge where it first entered, passes away around a pulley, o, and leads to a fixed
anchoring point, t, at the distant end of the line.
Said rope, k, is hauled in by the retraction of the plunger, K, into its cylinder X, to
raise the fall-block and produce the lifting movement. The weight upon the fall-block
is of course sufficient to effect the descent, whenever the same is permitted by the
outward movement of the plunger, K, from the cylinder.
The mutual relation of the several moving parts and their respective actuating ropes
is such as to permit each movement without interference with the other. Thus when

page_text: the bridge is shifted, the trolly ropes, i, j, running freely upon their pulleys at the
ends of the bridge and ends of the trolly, and the lifting rope, k, running freely upon
its pulleys at the ends of the bridge, at the trolly, and at the fall-block, will
all remain of constant length, and neither the height of the fall-block above
the ground, nor the position of the trolly with relation to the bridge, will be
varied.
Similarly, when the trolly is shifted, the bridge may remain stationary, and as the
lifting rope runs freely over the trolly pulleys and around the sheaves of the fall-block
the lifting rope remains of constant length and the height of the fall-block is not
varied. So when the lifting rope alone is actuated, it is obvious that neither the
bridge nor the trolly need be moved. On the other hand, when it is desired to effect
any two, or, in fact, all three of these movements simultaneously, such action is
permitted without mutual interference, and there is thus the capacity for conjoint or
separate use of all the groups of actuating mechanism.
Referring now to Fig. 2, where the trolly movement and the lifting movement are
derived from the same rope, the method of arrangement is as follows:-
Z', Z, represent a pair of hydraulic cylinders having plungers, I¹ I¹, to which the
two ends of the rope are attached. The bridge is represented by A¹, the trolly by C¹,
the fall-block by E', and the bridge ways and rollers by B1, 61, respectively.
The rope, ¹, leads from one of the plungers over the pulley L', at the initial end of
the line and thence to the bridge where it passes around a pulley, r¹ near one end
thereof, thence leads to the trolly where it leads down over the pulley, a¹, around the
sheave, e', of the fall-block, and thence rises upon a second pulley, a', upon the trolly.
Thence it leads from the other end of the bridge from that at which it enters and
returns after passing around a pulley, m', to the pulley s', where it leaves the bridge,
passing around a pulley, Q1, at the distant end of the line, and thence returning over
the pulley U, at the initial end of the line to a point of connection with the other
plunger I¹.
Referring now to the trolly it will be seen that the pulleys, a', are each provided
with brakes, v¹, actuated by levers w¹, having dependent hand-ropes, ¹. These brakes
are so constructed as when applied to clamp the ropes, i¹, against the face of the pulley
and also clamp the pulley itself against rotation. Supposing the brakes to be. thrown
out of operation, or in what may be called their norinal position, the lifting rope, i,
will run freely over the trolly pulleys a', and the lifting movement will be effected by
the necessary movement of the plungers I.
If, however, the brakes, ¹, be applied, by pulling upon their hand-ropes and
actuating levers, that portion of the rope which is intermediate between said pulleys,
and which constitutes the bight for the fall-block, becomes temporarily inoperative
and any pull upon one end of the rope, i, accompanied by a corresponding paying off
movement of the other end of the rope will shift the trolly along the bridge
in one direction or the other, the fall-block remaining of course at a constant
height.
The third type of variation is that shown in Fig. 3, where the bridge movements
and the lifting movements are derived from the same ropes. Here the arrangement
of the ropes and pulleys is precisely the same as that just described with reference to
Fig. 2, except that the brakes are not applied to the trolly pulleys but are applied to
the pulleys at one or both ends of the bridge, as indicated by ². Said brakes are
provided with levers, w³, and hand ropes 2. The other parts of the structure and
actuating mechanism are indicated by corresponding letters to those of Fig. 2, except
that the power of the letter is expressed by 2 instead of by 1. Thus the bridge is
indicated at A2, the trolly at C2, etc.
In view of the preceding description, it is not deemed necessary therefore to repeat
in detail the construction and arrangement of the various parts, but merely to state
that when the brakes are in their normal position or inactive, the lifting movement of
the fail-block E³, will be accomplished in the usual manner, but when they are
applied to the pulleys, ², m², by the intermediate portion of the rope becoming

page_text: temporarily inoperative, the fall-block remains at a constant height and the bridge is
shifted in correspondence with the plungers I².
In Fig. 4, the third type of variations is illustrated, where the bridge movements
and the trolly movements are derived from the same rope. In this instance the
ropes for the two plungers are preferably separate, as shown, one of the ropes 23,
being attached to one end of the trolly and the other of said ropes being attached to
the opposite end of the trolly. Each of the ropes leads from its point of attachment
at the trolly around pulleys upon the bridge arranged in precisely the same manner
as has been described with reference to the last two figures, and the bridge
pulleys, ³, m³, are provided with brakes 3, operated in the same manner as the
brakes described with reference to Fig. 3, except that the rope upon which they act is
in the present case the trolly rope instead of the lifting rope.
When said brakes are inactive the trolly will of course be shifted along the bridge
by the movements of the rope ³, in one direction or the other, but when the brakes are
applied the trolly remains stationary with relation to the bridge, and the bridge - itself
is shifted in correspondence with the movements of the plungers.
Fig. 5, represents the final type of variations where all three movements are taken
from the same rope. This rope is of course the lifting rope and is represented at **,
its two ends being connected with the plungers I. Tracing the path of the rope from
one of said plungers, it leads over the pulley, LA, at one end to the initial end of the
line, thence around the pulley 4, at one end of the bridge, thence over the trolly
pulley a', and after descending in a bight around the sheave e, of the fall-block, rises
over the second trolly pulley a. Thence it passes to the pulley m', upon the other end
of the bridge, returns to the pulley s, where it leaves the bridge, passes to the distant
end of the line around the pulley Q, to the pulley U4, at the initial end of the
line, and thence to the other plunger.
In this case not only the bridge pulleys, m³, are provided with brakes v², but
the trolly pulleys, a, are also provided with brakes va, actuated by means of levers w³,
and hand-ropes a as in the other cases.
24
When all the brakes are in their normal position, or inactive, the rope
becomes a simple lifting rope and will raise the fall-block or permit it to descend in
correspondence with the movement of the plungers. When, however, either of the
sets of brakes is applied the point of their application becomes temporarily the point
of fixed attachment of the actuating ropes, therefore the member to which they are
applied will be shifted. Thus if the application be made to the trolly pulleys, a², the
rope will still run freely around the bridge pulleys, 4, m³, and the trolly movement
will be effected along the bridge, the fall-block remaining at a constant height and the
bridge remaining at a constant position upon its ways. If, however, the brakes be
applied to the bridge pulleys, 7, m³, all the intermediate portion of the rope becomes
temporarily inoperative, and while the trolly and fall-block both remain unchanged
with relation to the bridge, the bridge itself will be shifted upon its ways in
correspondence with the movements of the plungers.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, as before stated, the representation of the rope which is to
effect the three movements is omitted, as any attempt to illustrate it would result in
an unnecessary complication of the views, but it is obvious that in connection with
the several groups the omitted movement could readily be supplied by combining
with the devices which are shown a rope of the kind shown in Fig. 1, for producing
such movement. I do not therefore deem it necessary to describe in detail the method
of applying such actuating rope. Furthermore, it must be observed that although
the ropes are in no instance indicated as terminating at the ends of the plungers, an
endless rope actuated by means of a drum or similar device around which it is coiled
might be substituted therefor. As such drum rotates, one end of the rope would of
course be paid off in correspondence with the amount pulled in upon the other end
and thus the same result would be obtained as has been described in connection
with the plungers whose movements are described as being opposite but in
correspondence.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a travelling crane of hydraulic actuating mechanism
situated at a point independent of the crane structure, and means substantially as set
forth whereby the movement of said actuating mechanism is transmitted to the moving
members of said crane.
2. In a
travelling crane, the combination with the bridge, trolly and fall-block, of
ropes connected with each of said members, which ropes lead thence to an actuating
point or points independent of the bridge, and hydraulic cylinders and plungers
at said actuating point or points connected with said ropes, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a travelling crane, the combination with the bridge, trolly and fall-block of
individual ropes connected respectively with each of said members, which ropes lead
thence to actuating points independent of the bridge, and actuating mechanism for
said ropes, substantially as set forth.
4. In a travelling crane, the combination with the bridge, trolly and fall-block, of
a rope directly connected with one of said members, which rope leads to an actuating
point independent of the bridge, brake-mechanism whereby said rope may be tem-
porarily applied to one or both of the remaining members, and actuating mechanism
for said ropes, substantially as set forth.