IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING BUILDING BLOCKS OF STONE, CONCRETE, OR OTHER MATERIAL, AND FOR DISENGAGING SUCH BLOCKS FROM THE LIFTING APPARATUS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough
Park, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING BUILDING BLOCKS OF STONE,
CONCRETE, OR OTHER MATERIAL, AND FOR DISENGAGING SUCH BLOCKS FROM
THE LIFTING APPARATUS."-A communication from abroad by Darnton
Hutton, of Beverwyk, in the Kingdom of Holland.
Sealed the 13th July 1869, and dated the 14th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th May 1869.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton,
in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIPTING BUILDING BLOCKS
OF STONE, CONCRETE, OR OTHER MATERIAL, AND FOR DISENGAGING SUCH BLOCKS
FROM THE LIFTING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for lifting
building blocks of stone, concrete, or other material, and for disengaging
such blocks from the lifting apparatus.

page_text: The lifting apparatus consists of two similar bent levers connected
together back to back by a link jointed to each lever at a point inter-
mediate of its length. One end of each lifting lever is intended to enter
a lewis hole formed for it in the stone or other block; these holes arc
cut in an inclined direction, so as to recede from each other as they
descend into the block, and the ends of the lifting levers which enter
them have each a small tooth. The outer ends of the lifting levers
stand outwards away from each other, and are connected by a short
chain with a ring link in the middle, and the lifting chain is connected
with the ring by a hook. When the strain comes on the lifting chain,
the teeth on the lifting levers penetrate the outer sides of the lewis holes
and prevent the withdrawal of the levers. When the block is lowered
to the position required, and it is desired to release it, the hook of the
lifting chain is made to disengage itself from the ring into which it
takes, and for this purpose a horn or tail, is provided at the back of the
hook, and a cord is then attached to it, which when pulled upon through
the hook into such a position as to clear the ring, there is a light chain
passing from the lifting chain to the link connecting the two lifting
levers, so that the lifting chain may bring up the lifting apparatus
with it. When this light chain is drawn up and the outer ends of the
lifting levers being free their other extremities draw easily out of the
lewis holes.
The releasing apparatus above described may be applied with the
ordinary lewis, which may be disengaged by turning them with the
light chain through the medium of screw slots, guiding bars, levers,
or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Georgo Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 13th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County
of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-

page_text: second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her
special licence that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my ex-
ecutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING
BUILDING BLOCKS OF STONE, CONCRETE, OR OTHER MATERIAL, AND FOR DISEN-
GAGING SUCH BLOCKS FROM THE LIPTING APPARATUS," a communication to
me from abroad by Darnton Hutton, of Beverwyk, in the Kingdom
of Holland, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for lifting
building blocks of stone, concrete, or other material, and for disengaging
such blocks from the lifting apparatus, applicable especially when
building under water.
The lifting apparatus consists of two similar bent levers connected
together back to back by a link joined to each lever at a point inter-
mediate of its length. One end of each lifting lever is intended to enter
a lewis hole formed for it in the stone or other block; these holes may
be cut in an inclined direction, so as to recede from each other as they
descend into the block, and the ends of the lifting levers which enter
them have each a small tooth. The outer ends of the lifting levers
stand outwards away from cach other, and are connected by a short
chain with a ring link in the middle, and the lifting chain is connected

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a side elevation of
apparatus arranged according to this Invention for lifting and dis-
engaging building blocks.
a, a, are two bent levers connected by the link jointed to each of
them; is a chain connecting the outer ends of the levers, and
having a ring link c in the middle, to which the lifting chain is
attached. The strain resulting from the weight of the block which is
being lifted acting through the chain c tends to separate the lower ends
of the levers a, which are in the inclined lewis holes, as is indicated in
Figure 1, and to make the teeth a', a', on the levers bite into the sides
of the lewis holes, and so a very firm hold on the block is obtained.
It is not essential that the lewis holes should be inclined to each other.
The lifting chain has at its end a hook d with a horn or tail d' at its
back, to which a light line e is fixed. The hook d engages with the a
ring c¹ for raising or lowering the block or conveying it from place
to place by means of the lifting chain; but when it is desired to

page_text: disengage the lifting tackle from the block the hook is readily caused
to leave the ring e' by tightening the line e whilst the lifting chain is
slack. is a light chain passing from the lifting chain to the link b, an
eye at the end of the chain being fixed by a pin to the link, the pin
passing through the two side checks of the link. When the hook d has
been disengaged from the ring and the lifting chain is drawn up,
the chain ftightens whilst the chain c is slack, and then the levers a will
freely leave the lewis holes.
Figure 3 is a front elevation, and Figure 4 a side elevation of lifting
apparatus, in which the disengaging hook and chain to lift the lewiscs
are combined with lewises of another form, and which are released by
turning them partly round in the lewis holes.
a, a, are the lewises, which, as is indicated in Figure 5, are inserted
into the block into holes oblong in section and under cut at their inner
cuds; the lewises when so inserted are turned one quarter round, which
causes their heads to enter under the shoulders formed in the lewis
holes; c is a chain connecting the lewiscs with a ring c in the middle
to receive the disengaging hook d as before; e is the line attached to
the horn or tail of the disengaging hook; f is the chain for lifting the
lewises, it is attached at one end to the lifting chain, and at the other
to the frame g, between the two side bars of which the lewises pass.
Spiral slots are formed in the stems of the lewises at a', a¹, and bolts g'
fixed into the frame g pass through these slots. The frame y may be
be made to extend to some distance on either side of the lcwises to
receive bridle or guiding ropes, by which the block is directed to its
place. Whilst the block is being raised and lowered or conveyed from
place to place, and the weight is on the lewises, they will remain
securely in their places in the lewis holes; but when the block has been
deposited and the lifting chain has been disengaged from the ring c¹,
they are easily turned. The lifting chain being then raised by the
chain draws up the frame g, and so causes the pins g' in it acting on
the inclined grooves a¹ to turn the lewises and free their heads from the
under cut recesses in the lewis holes; the lifting apparatus is in this
way completely disengaged from the block.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, and Figure 6 a side elevation of similar
lifting and disengaging apparatus, in which the lewises are made with
arms a* and the frame g with inclines 9* to act on these arms and
disengage the lewises when the lifting chain is unhooked.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is, the construction of lever lewises or lifting lever apparatus,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings.
I also claim the disengaging apparatus consisting of the hook & with
its horn or tail d' and line e and the chain arranged to lift the lewises
out of the lewis holes, substantially as described.
I also claim the general arrangement of apparatus for lifting building
blocks of stone, concrete, or other material, and disengaging such blocks
from the lifting apparatus, substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have
hercunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
uinc.