IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS OR ELEVATORS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyrus W. Baldwin, of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State
of New York, United States of America, but temporarily of 14, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS OR ELEVATORS, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cyrus W. Baldwin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1880.
CYRUS W. BALDWIN, of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York, United
States of America, but temporarily of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS OR ELEVATORS,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to the peculiar form and arrangement of apparatus
employed for raising or lowering persons, luggage, merchandise, or materials by
means of a cage or platform placed in hotels or other buildings or places where
persons or materials are to be moved from floor to floor or level to level The
manner of utilizing these improvements so far as they relate to the lifts or elevators
employed in hotels or other buildings, together with a description of the various
forms of apparatus employed, is hereinafter described; it being understood that
the same general form of apparatus may be employed in mines or other places
where weights or materials are to be moved.
The elevator cage or platform may be of any size, form, or description desired,
and may or may not be fitted with safety catches. The cage is lifted or lowered
by one or more ropes or chains, ropes composed of wire strand being deemed most
suitable. The ropes are carried from the top of the cage over a fixed pulley at the
top of the well within which the cage travels, from thence down and under a loose
or moveable pulley block, and then up to the ring or beam to which the end is
secured. It will thus be seen that if the loose pulley is drawn downward the cage
must ascend; while if the cage descends the pulley must rise. To regulate the
movement of this pulley (and consequently of the cage) it has heretofore been
proposed to attach to its axle or shaft a suitable guide rod or rods connected with a
piston working in a water cylinder, in which water is alternately admitted upon
either side of said piston; and this arrangement alone is not now claimed, as this

page_text: Invention consists in the arrangement and form of apparatus by which the water
cylinder is utilized in the manner hereinafter set forth, and to the peculiar form and
arrangement of the piston and piston rods employed when the water is taken from
a water main or other source of supply, and after being once used is allowed to
run to waste or is discharged into a tank or cistern, as may be preferred. This
Invention further relates to the arrangement of parts whereby the safety governor
hereafter described is made to act automatically on the safety catch or brake when
the rate of descent of the cage becomes too rapid from any cause.
In one
form of this Invention a water supply pipe is carried from the top of the cylinder
to the water supply at the bottom of a second water cylinder hereafter more fully
described.
A second water pipe is carried from the bottom or base of cylinder number one
to the top of cylinder (number two, all for purposes herein after set forth. The
second water cylinder is fitted with a piston mounted upon a piston rods or rods,
which after passing through suitable stuffing boxes connects with and terminates in
a third or steam piston, which in its turn works in a third or steam cylinder. The
second and third cylinders may be of the same size, but it is preferred to make
them of different areas, the steam cylinder being preferably the larger and so
proportioned in regard to the first cylinder that one stroke of the steain piston
acting by and through the piston of the second water cylinder shall suffice to force
a sufficient quantity of water into the top of cylinder number one, to drive its
piston to the bottom of its cylinder, and thereby raise the cage to the top of the
well. From the top of the water cylinder number two a second pipe leads to a
water cistern or supply tank. The steam cylinder is fitted with steam inlet and
exhaust pipes, the operation of both being governed from the cage by means of an
endless operating rope, which passes over sheaves at the top and bottom of the well
in which the cage travels. A bight of this rope is taken around a pulley fixed in
any convenient locality in regard to the steam cylinder. Eccentrically placed with
respect to the axle of the said pulley is a connecting rod, which by means of a bell
crank or other arrangement of levers is made to open and close the steam inlet and
exhaust pipes of the steam cylinder. The movement of the operating rope is also
made to open and close a shut off water valve in the water supply pipe to the top
of cylinder number one. When this valve is closed the water upon the top of
piston number one is held stationary, consequently holding and supporting the
cage and its superimposed load at any point, which it may occupy when the valve is
BO closed. The entire operation with this form of the Invention is as follows:-
Say, the cage is at the bottom of the well, and it is desired to take it to the top,
stopping momentarily at the second floor or level; the attendant moves the operating
rope, slightly opening the steam inlet, closing the exhaust and opening the shut off
water valve in the supply pipe to cylinder number one. The steam rushes in forcing
down piston number three, and through its connecting rod piston number two, the
water beneath which being thereby forced out through the connecting pipe to
the top of cylinder number one, forcing its piston down and thereby raising
the cage. The water from beneath piston number one passes out through its
connecting pipe to the top of piston number two. The second floor or level having
been reached the attendant pull the operating rope, thereby shutting off the steam
and at the same time closing the water cut off valve, and the cage immediately
comes to rest. Steam is again admitted, and the water shut off valve opened, and
the cage ascends to the top of the well. To cause the cage to descend, the exhaust
and water valves are opened, and the steam inlet closed. The action of gravitation
causes the cage to descend. The piston in cylinder one ascends and forces the
water back through the connecting pipe to the bottom of cylinder number two,
forcing its piston up, and the water above it being forced not only back to the
under side of piston number one but also partially back to the cistern or supply
tank. A modification of this Invention is under certain circumstances desirable.
Said modification consists of dispensing with the second water cylinder and
utilizing the steam cylinder for both steam and water. The cistern or supply tank

page_text: may also be dispensed with, the combined steam and water cylinder in this case.
being placed at such a heighth as to give a counter balancing column of water
nearly equal to the weight of the cage. Under these circumstances steam is
admitted upon the top of the piston, which may be of the ordinary kind, or the
so-called "oil piston" may be employed, or the steam may be allowed to play
directly upon the water, forcing the water from beneath down upon the top of
piston number one, which descends as the cage rises, the water from beneath said
piston being forced in its turn from the side of the cylinder near its base through a
connecting pipe into a tank or cistern placed at such a heighth as to counter
balance the pressure of water in cylinder number one. To prevent any jar or
shock to the cage, and to prevent any possibility of the piston striking the cylinder
head, a "follower" slightly smaller in diameter than the piston may be fitted to
the end of the piston, said follower confining a small body of water between the
piston and cylinder head, and only permitting of its escaping gradually through
small openings in the follower through which the water escapes, eventually passing
through the connecting pipe to the counter balancing tank.
The connecting pipe from the combined steam and water cylinder is in this case
fitted with a water shut off valve operated as and for the purposes before set forth.
When it is not desired to use the same water beneath piston number one more
than once it is preferred to form the piston with water ways, said water ways
being closed by means of suitable valves during the downward stroke of the piston
and opened during its upward stroke by means of a valve rod working in the
hollow piston rod; the valve rod may be square or round, and is preferably of
smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the hollow piston rod.
The space between the valve and piston rods is preferably left open to the water
by means of openings (in close proximity to the piston) in the piston rod or sleeve,
the latter being more fully hereinafter described. Any jar or shock to the cage
caused by the sudden closing of the shut off and discharge valves is prevented by
the pressure of water beneath the piston raising the valves in the water ways, the
water itself passing from beneath to the top of the piston. The valves may be
secured to the valve rod by means of a key or cotter, or in any other convenient
manner. The foregoing arrangement may be modified by making the piston rod
solid, and surrounding it by a hollow sleeve of larger diameter; said sleeve may
be provided with a screw-thread working in a lifting nut, the valve cover rising
and falling in guides when the sleeve is turned.
In either case the space between the piston and valve rod or sleeve is closed at
the top by means of suitable packing or stuffing boxes. The rotation of the sleeve
may be governed from above by means of gear or bevel wheels, while in the case
of the valve rod an eccentric may be employed, the movement in either case being
governed from the cage by means of the operating rope which passes around a
pulley connected by a lever or other device to the shaft of the eccentric or valve
gear. When the valve rod is governed by the eccentric it is advisable that the
valve rod should be set nearly or quite at its full outward stroke, as otherwise the
power of the eccentric due to its own weight and that of the valve rod would be
exerted at all times to keep the valves closed, the operation of the piston being
briefly as follows:-The water shut off valve leading to the top of cylinder number
one is opened at the same time as the valve in the discharge pipe. The piston is
caused to descend by the pressure of the water above, assisted by the pressure of
the atmosphere caused by the discharge of water from beneath. Having reached
the bottom of its stroke the shut off and discharge valves are closed, and the water
ways in the piston are opened by means of the valve rod or sleeve as the case may
be. The cage descends and the piston ascends, the water that was above simply
passing through the water ways in the piston to its under side, when the whole
operation may be repeated. Under certain circumstances it may be found more
convenient to operate the water way valves from the underside of the cylinder, and
in this case the valves may be raised by means of forked arms raised and lowered
by means of a screw nut turned by and riding freely on a square valve rod without

page_text: vertical movement; said rod being carried through the piston and encased in or
surrounded by the hollow piston rod above. The movement of the valve rod may
be governed from the cage by means of the operating rope and suitable gearing
connected therewith; the same gearing may be made to open and close the shut off
and discharge valves.
When it is desired to use a piston with open water ways in conjunction with the
third or steam cylinder the connecting pipe from the lower part of cylinder number
one should be fitted with a suitable valve, and after being disconnected from the
top of cylinder number two should be carried down so as to discharge the water
into a tank or cistern; from said cistern a pipe, fitted with an upwardly opening
flap valve, leads to the bottom of cylinder number two for the purpose of supplying
said cylinder with the water which is required to be forced into the top of cylinder
number one during the next stroke of the piston. With this arrangement of
apparatus steam is used alternately on both sides of the steam piston, cylinder
number two becoming a vacuum pump, the piston of which is worked from and by
the steam piston, the elevated supply tank being under these circumstances
dispensed with. For the purpose of preventing the too rapid descent of the cage,
or the falling of the same, should the elevating rope break, it is preferred to use a
:-A rope
safety governor and catch arranged and operated in the following manner :-
is carried from the underside of the safety platform upon which the cage rests
up and over a pulley at the top of the well; to the end of the rope is then secured
a suitable weight. When the cage rises the weight descends, and vice-versa.
When the pulley revolves freely, this weight is just counter-balanced by the action
of a spring beneath the safety platform to which the other end of the rope is
secured. Should the rate of descent of the cage, and consequently the revolutions
of this pulley become too rapid, the pulley is stopped by means of the action of an
ordinary governor fitted with suitable catches. The amount of power required to
draw up the weight over the now stationary pulley overcomes the power of the
spring, which is compressed, and thereby raises a pivotted safety pin which enters
the wooden guide bar upon which the cage travels. The weight of the cage forces
the pin still farther into the wood, and the pin in its turn raises a wedge which
acts between the cage and the guide. The greater the weight the greater the force
exerted by the pin on the wedge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Cyrus W. Baldwin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th July
1880.
CYRUS W. BALDWIN, of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York, United
States of America, but temporarily of 14, Southampton Building, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC LIFTS OR ELEVATORS,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to the particular form and arrangement of apparatus
employed for raising and lowering persons, lugage, merchandise, or materials by
means of a cage, platform, or other device placed in hotels or other buildings or
places where persons or materials are to be moved from floor to floor or level to
level.
The manner of utilizing these improvements, so far as they relate to the lifts or
elevators employed in hotels or other buildings, together with a description of the
various forms of apparatus employed, is hereinafter described, it being understood.
that the same general form of apparatus may also be employed in mines or other
places where weights or materials are to be moved. The elevator cage or platform
may be of any size, form, or description desired, and may or may not be fitted
with safety catches. To better and more clearly explain the nature of these
improvements, the manner in which the same may be practically utilized,
reference is made to the annexed Drawings which form part of this Specification,
and in which Fig. I. represents one form of this Invention in so far as it relates to
the manner of and apparatus for supplying and discharging the water by which
the piston in cylinder A is operated; Fig. 2 represents a view in elevation of the
cage, and a second arrangement of apparatus by which it may be raised or per-
mitted to descend; Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive represent various views in section and
elevation of the piston with open water ways and piston rods, as hereinafter
described; Figs. 11 to 14 represent in detail portions of the safety governor and
beam. The cage is lifted or lowered by one or more ropes or chains, ropes composed
of wire strand being deemed most suitable. The ropes are carried from the top of
the cage E, Fig. 2, over a fixed pulley at the top of the well within which the cage
travels, from thence down and under a loose or moveable pulley block F, Figs. 1
and 2, and then up to the ring or beam to which the end is secured; it will thus be
seen that if the pulley F is drawn downward the cage must ascend, while if the
cage descends the pulley must rise. To regulate the movement of this pulley, and
consequently of the cage, it has heretofore been proposed to attach to its axle or
shaft a suitable rod or rods connected with a piston working in a water cylinder, in
which water is alternately admitted upon either side of said piston, and this
arrangement alone is not now claimed, as these improvements consist in the
arrangement and form of apparatus by which the water cylinder is utilized in the
manner bereinafter set forth, and to the peculiar form and arrangement of the
pistons and piston rods employed when the water is taken from a water main or
other source of supply, and after being once used is allowed to run to waste, or is
discharged into a tank or cistern, as may be preferred; these improvements further
relate to the arrangement of parts whereby the safety governor, hereafter deseribed,
is made to act automatically on the safety catch or stop when the rate of descent of
the cage becomes too rapid from any cause. In one form of this Invention a
water supply pipe "a," Fig. I is carried from the top of the cylinder A to the
water supply at the bottom of a second water cylinder B, hereafter more fully
described. A second water pipe b is carried from the bottom or base of cylinder A
to the top of cylinder B, all for purposes hereinafter set forth. The second water
cylinder is fitted with a piston c mounted upon a piston rod or rods, which after
passing through suitable stuffing boxes connects with and terminates in a third

page_text: or steam piston “d," which in its turn works in a third or steam cylinder C. The
cylinders B and C may be of the same size, but it has heretofore and is now
preferred to make them of different areas, the steam cylinder being preferably the
larger, and so proportioned in regard to cylinder A that one stroke of the steam
piston d acting by and the piston c shall suffice to force a sufficient quantity
of water into the top of cylinder A to drive its piston "e" to the bottom of its
cylinder, and thereby raise the cage to the top of the well.
From the top of cylinder B a second pipe leads to a water cistern or supply
tank D. The cylinder C is fitted with steam inlet f and exhaust pipes "g," the
operation of both being governed from the cage by means of an endless operating
rope h, h, which passes over sheaves at the top and bottom of the well in which the
cage travels. A bight of this rope is taken around a pulley I placed in any con-
venient locality in regard to the cylinder C. Eccentrically placed with respect to
the axle of said pulley is a connecting rod, which by means of a bell crank or other
arrangement of levers "i" is made to open and close the steam inlet and exhaust
pipes of the steam cylinder simultaneously. The movement of the operating rope
is also made to open and close a shut off water valve J in the water supply pipe a.
When the valve J is closed the water upon the top of piston "e" is held stationary,
consequently holding and supporting the cage and its superimposed load at any
point which it may occupy when the valve is so closed. The entire operation with
this form of the Invention is as follows:-Say, the cage is at the bottom of the
well, and it is desired to take it to the top, stopping momentarily at the second
floor or level. The attendant moves the operating rope "h," "h," slightly, first
opening the steam inlet fand closing the exhaust "g." By a further movement of
the operating he opens the shut off water valve J. The steam rushes into
cylinder C, forcing down piston d, and through its connecting rod piston c, the
water beneath which being thereby forced out through the connecting pipe "a" to
the top of cylinder A, forcing its piston "e" down, and thereby raising the cage. The
water from beneath piston e passes out through its connecting pipe b to the top of
piston c. The second floor or level having been reached the attendant pulls the
operating rope h, h, thereby shutting off the water and at the same time closing
the steam inlet, and the cage immediately comes to rest. Steam is again admitted
and the water shut off valve opened, and the cage ascends to the top of the well.
To cause the cage to descend the exhaust g and water valve J are opened; the
action of gravitation causes the cage to descend. The piston in cylinder A ascends
and forces the water back through the connecting pipe a to the bottom of
cylinder B forcing its piston c up, and the water above it being forced, not only
back to the underside of piston e, but also partially back to the cistern or supply
tank D. A modification of this Invention is, under certain circumstances, desirable
(see Fig. 2). Said modification consists of dispensing with the cylinder B, and
utilizing the steam cylinder for both steam and water. The cistern or supply
tank D may also be dispensed with, the combined steam and water cylinder M
being placed at such a heighth as to give a counterbalancing column of water
nearly equal to the weight of the cage. Under these circumstances steam is
admitted upon the top of the the piston K, which may be of the ordinary kind, or
the so called oil-piston may be employed, or the steam may be allowed to play
directly upon the water, forcing the water from beneath down upon the top of
piston "e" which descends as the cage rises, the water from beneath said piston
being forced in its turn from the side of the cylinder near its base through a
connecting pipe into a tank or cistern G placed at such a heighth as to counterbalance
the pressure of water in cylinder A. To prevent too great a shock to the cage and
to prevent any possibility of the piston striking the cylinder head, a flanged
follower, see L, Fig. 6, slightly smaller in diameter than the piston may be fitted to
the end of the piston, said follower confining a small body of water between the
piston and cylinder head, and only permitting of its escaping gradually through
small openings in the flanged follower through which the water escapes, eventually
passing through the connecting pipe to the counterbalancing tank G. The

page_text: connecting pipe from the combined steam and water cylinder M is in this case
fitted with a water shut off valve J operated as and for the purposes before set forth.
It is sometimes preferable to make piston "e " in cylinder A with water ways "1,"
Fig. 4, said water ways being closed by means of suitable valves m during the
downward stroke of the piston, and opened during its upward stroke by means of
a valve rod "o" working in the hollow-piston rod P; the valve rod may be square
or round. Any jar or shock to the cage caused by the sudden closing of the shut
off and discharge valves is prevented by the pressure of water beneath the piston
raising the valves m in the water ways, the water itself passing from beneath to
the top of the piston, and thereby equalizing the pressure. The valve may be
secured to the valve rod by means of a key or cotter, or in any other convenient
manner. The foregoing arrangement may be modified by making the piston rod p,
Fig. 10, solid and surrounding it by a hollow sleeve R of larger diameter; said
sleeve may be provided with a screw thread working in a lifting nut V, the valve
cover being suitably guided in its rise and fall when the sleeve R is turned. In
either case the space between the piston and valve rod is closed at the top by means
of suitable packing and stuffing boxes. The rotation of the sleeve may be governed
from above by means of gear or bevel wheels, see Fig. 9, while in the case of the
valve rod an eccentric S, Fig. 3, may be employed, the movements in either case
being governed from the cage by means of the operating rope which passes around
a pulley connected by a lever or other device to the shaft T, Figs. 3 and 9, of the
eccentric or valve gear.
When the valve rod is governed by the eccentric it is advisable that that the rod
should be set nearly or quite at its full outward stroke, as otherwise the power of
the eccentric due to its own weight and that of the valve rod would be exerted at
all times to keep the valves closed, the operation of the piston being briefly as
follows: The water shut off valve leading to the top of cylinder A is opened
at the same time as the valve in the discharge pipe. The piston is caused
to descend by the pressure of water above assisted by the pressure of the
atmosphere caused by the discharge of water from beneath. Having reached the
bottom of its stroke the shut off and discharge valves are closed. To cause the cage
to descend the water ways "1" in the piston are opened by means of the valve rod o
or sleeve R, as the case may be. The cage by its own weight descends and the
piston ascends, the water that was above simply passing through the water ways
in the piston to its underside, when the whole operation may be repeated. Under
certain circumstances it may be found more convenient to operate the water way
valves from the underside of the cylinder, and in this case the valves may be raised
by means of forked arms r, Fig. 6, raised and lowered by means of a screw nut a
turned by and riding freely on a square valve rod without vertical movement,
said rod being carried through the piston and encased in or surrounded by the
hollow piston rod above. The movement of the valve rod may be governed from
the cage by means of the operating rope and suitable gearing connected therewith ;
the same gearing may be made to open and close the shut off and discharge valves.
When it is desired to use a piston with open water ways in conjunction with the
form of apparatus shown in Fig. I. the connecting pipe 6 should be fitted with a
suitable valve, and after being disconnected from cylinder B should be carried down,
as shown by the dotted lines, so as to discharge into a tank or cistern V; from
cistern V a pipe t leads to and terminates in the cylinder B, the end of such pipe
being covered by an upwardly opening flap valve. With this arrangement of
apparatus steam is used alternately on both sides of the steam piston "d,"
cylinder B becoming a vacuum pump, the supply tank D and its connecting pipe
being under these circumstances dispensed with. The valve J may also be omitted
and an ordinary outwardly opening flap or other valve substituted. For the
purpose of preventing the too rapid descent of the cage or the falling of the same
should the elevating rope break, it is preferred to use a safety governor and catch
arranged and operated in the following manner :-
A rope is carried from the under side of the safety platform upon which the cage

page_text: rests up and over a pulley "w," Fig. 11, at the top of the well. To the end of the
rope is then secured a suitable weight W, Fig. 2. When the cage rises the weight W
descends, and vice-versa.
When the pulley revolves freely the weight of W is just counterbalanced by the
action of a spring x, Figs. 2 and 13, beneath the safety platform to which the other
end of the rope is secured. Should the rate of descent of the cage, and consequently
the revolutions of the pulley "w," become too rapid, the revolution of the pulley is
stopped by means of one of the pirotted arms y, y, on the governor Y striking
against the catch Z, owing to the action of centrifugal force causing said arms y, y,
to overcome the power of the springs z, z, Figs. 2 and 12. The amount of power
required to draw up the weight over the now stationary pulley w overcomes the
power of the spring x, which is compressed, and thereby raises a pivotted safety
finger a¹, Figs. 13 and 14, which enters the wooden guide bar b¹ upon which the
cage travels, or if the bar be metal catches in teeth thereon. The weight of the cage
forces the finger a' still further into the wood, and the finger in its turn raises a
wedge c¹ which acts between the beam of the safety platform and the guide. The
greater the weight the greater the force exerted by the finger a¹ on the wedge c¹,
and the more tightly is the safety beam forced against the guide bar.
Instead of attaching the hoisting rope to the top of the cage it may be attached
to rods d', d', running from an iron or other beam E' placed beneath the cage, and
which in this case would form part of the safety platform.
Automatic stops are placed as usual on the operating rope h, h, to prevent the
possibility of the cage rising too high or striking the bottom of the well. I would
have it understood that my present Invention consists principally in and relates to
improvements on the Inventions previously made by means set forth in Specifications
No. 3219, dated 24th August 1877; No. 2863, dated 18th July 1878; and No. 4105,
dated 10th October 1879.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same may
be practically employed, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination, as represented in Fig. I., of cylinders A, B, and C, with
their pistons and connecting pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. Cylinder M placed at such a heighth as to give a counterbalancing
column of water as described (in connection with Fig. 2) in combination with the
cylinder A, piston e, and tank G, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The combination with cylinder A of a piston with open water ways, the
valves of which are governed by means of valve rods or sleeves operated substan-
tially as, by, and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a water cylinder and piston with water beneath
of the flanged follower L with graduated discharge, substantially as and for the the
purpose described.
Fifth. The safety governor Y with pivotted arms y, y, and springs z, z, substan-
tially, as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus W. Baldwin, have hereunto set my hand
11000