AN IMPROVED DOUBLE PULLEY BLOCK WITH LOAD-SUSTAINING ACTION,' APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Gee, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DOUBLE PULLEY BLOCK
WITH LOAD-SUSTAINING ACTION,' APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 16th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Gee at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th November 1877:
JOSEPH GEE, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Engineer. "AN IM-
PROVED DOUBLE PULLEY BLOCK WITH LOAD-SUSTAINING ACTION,' APPLICABLE
ALSO FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to an improved double pulley block with load-sustaining
action, applicable also for other useful purposes, and consists of two separate axles,
one above and the other below a right angled set axle, with a worm or endless
screw upon it.
The upper and the lower axles have each a worm wheel and a chain wheel upon
it, so that one portion of an endless chain may be caused to travel up on one side
of, say, the lower chain wheel, and another part of the same chain up on the oppo-
site side of the upper chain wheel.
The two chain wheels are preferably of the same diameter, as are also the two worm
wheels, which are operated by the worm fitted between them. By this arrange-
ment the weight of a load is borne by two chain wheels direct from opposite corner
sides of the block frame, and in a central vertical line with the axis of the two
wheels, and of the worm which lies centrally between them.
The wheels are supported within side cheeks like ordinary sheave runners, and
an extension of the worm axle carries a hauling wheel which can be operated in
any convenient manner.
The lift chain may be endless, so that the two "lights" are formed, both of
which may be furnished with hooks or other appliance for attaching a load to. By
this means the "bight," which is being lowered while a load is being lifted, can
be used for lifting the next load by.

page_text: I have referred to both chain wheels being of the same diameter, but they may
be of different diameters if necessary.
The system of double chain wheels above described is applicable to the traction
chains of engines, such as are used for agricultural and like purposes, also to steering
gear of ships or vessels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Gee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th May 1878.
JOSEPH GEE, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Engineer. "AN IM-
PROVED DOUBLE PULLEY BLOCK WITH LOAD-SUSTAINING ACTION, APPLICABLE ALSO
FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to an improved double pulley block with load-sustaining
action, applicable also for other useful purposes, and consists of two separate axles,
one above and the other below a right angled set axle, with a worm or endless
screw upon it.
The upper and the lower axles have each a worm wheel and a chain wheel upon
it, so that one portion of an endless chain may be caused to travel up on one side
of, say, the lower chain wheel, and another part of the same chain up on the oppo
site side of the upper chain wheel.
The two chain wheels are preferably of the same diameter, as are also the two
worm wheels, which are operated by the worm fitted between them. By this arrange-
ment the weight of a load is borne by two chain wheels direct from opposite corner
sides of the block frame, and in a central vertical line with the axis of the two.
wheels, and of the worm which lies centrally between them.
The wheels are supported within side cheeks like ordinary sheave runners, and
an extension of the worm axle carries a hauling wheel which can be operated in
any convenient manner.
The lift chain may be endless so that two
$
bights" are formed, both of which
may be furnished with hooks or other appliance for attaching a load to. By this
means the "bight," which is being lowered while a load is being lifted, can be
used for lifting the next load by.
I have referred to both chain wheels being of the same diameter, but they may
be of different diameters if necessary.
The system of double chain wheels above described is applicable to the traction
chains of engines, such as are used for agricultural and like purposes, also to steering
gear of ships or vessels.
The Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view having the frame removed; A, B, are the upper
and lower axles, having the two worm wheels C, D, thereon; E, F, are the chain
wheels, which are mounted upon the same axles A, B, but at a slight distance from
the worm wheels, that the chain G which is fitted upon thein may work freely when
moving at an angle, and without coming into contact; H is the worm fitted upon

page_text: a shaft I or axle set at right angles to the axles of the wheels C, D, as to gear into
both of them to actuate both at one time, one to the right and one to the left. The
outer end of the shaft I has a hauling wheel J upon it, and this has a rope K,
or it may be a light chain, or in some cases bevil gearing may be connected to
drive it.
Figure 2 is a face view with one check plate L removed; and Figure 3 is an
edge view of a complete block of my Invention, the frame having a swivel hook M
upon its upper end to enable the block to be suspended from a roof beam, a crane,
jib, or other apparatus, or as found convenient, the chain being removed from the
latter Figure that the whelps of the chain wheels may be more clearly seen.
The chain G is endless and is "given off" from the upper parts of the wheels
from their opposite corners, as shown in Figure 1.
Suppose a load to be suspended upon the hook N at the lower bight of the chain
G, the turning of the worm H by the wheel J in one direction would cause the
two parts a, b, of the chain to lift, and the parts c, d, to lower, the load being held
without fear of slipping, or of the chain running down should the hauling rope be
"let go." The same is the case should the hauling wheel J be turned in the opposite
direction to lower a load, the lowering of the load being at all times dependent
upon the rotation of the worm, whether from the bight having the hook N upon it,
which supports the load, or the other bight, both of them being available for
lifting or lowering purposes, as will be understood.
The weight of a load is always divided upon the two axles, and move in a
central vertical line mid-distance between them, consequently the labour of lifting
a load is considerably reduced than when the two lift wheels are upon the same
axle, besides the strain being upon two axles of support instead of upon one.
I purpose using the pulley block in the manner represented in Figures 1, 2, and
3, but it may be used lying flat upon one of its side cheeks P, P, as I have shown
in Figure 4, where it is fitted in connection with the steering gear of a ship, the
worm axle I having the tiller wheel Q fitted upon its fore end for the purpose.
The bights of the chain G are passed round small runner blocks e, f, on the ends
of a quadrant R, which is centred upon the rudder post S. By this means a rudder
can be "brought over'
"and held in that position with perfect freedom, and with
certainty, without the wheel being lashed, as is now done when in a strong seaway,
the danger of the wheel "flying back" when the rudder is struck is also
obviated.
My double sheave block is applicable to agricultural machinery, such as under an
engine to haul ploughs or other implements to and fro across a field, or to other
useful purposes in which the movement of a heavy body is required; in a ship
building or other yard, for instance, heavy pieces of machinery, baulks of timber, or
other plant can be shifted with facility, the apparatus forming, to speak, a
portable jack or winch.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the apparatus above described, com-
posed of chain and worm wheels on separate axles, and actuated by an intermediate
worm in combination with an endless lift chain, having two bights, and working
from opposite corner sides of the frame in which the apparatus is fitted, all as
described, and as shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness.whereof, I, the said Joseph Gee, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.