Improvements in or relating to Hooks applicable for Use in connection with Cranes, Derricks, Machine-shop Plants, and in other Situations.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
Improvements in or relating to Hooks applicable for Use in
connection with Cranes, Derricks, Machine-shop Plants, and in
other Situations.
A communication by PHILETUS WARREN GATES, of No. 50, South Clinton
Street, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States
of America, Manufacturer of Machinery.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 transfer hooks and the same as adapted for use in
connection with cranes, derricks and the like arranged relatively to one another,
and right and left of the transfer hook in different parts of a machine shop or other
place; and it consists in so constructing such a transfer hook that the load to be
transferred can be hung upon its lower portion and the respective crane books can
enter an idle engagement device of the transfer hook either on the right or left
side of the upper portion of said transfer hook without being interfered with by the
crane hook which is in action, or by the lower part of the transfer hook; and when
such engagement of either of the crane hooks with an engagement device is fully
effected the upper portion of the transfer look will automatically adjust itself so as
to have the suspended load or weight come on the sustaining points of the
transfer hook, which are in the same vertical line, and, while this is so, the idle
transfer hook-engaging device will be moved laterally or to one side of said line
and thus placed in condition for receiving a crane hook which, at a certain stage,
comes into play for receiving the load being transferred; and this operation takes
place whether a right hand or a left hand engagement hook be brought into action
for taking the transfer load; and during the transfer from one crane hook to
another, any interference of the load carrying hook is avoided, that is, a crane
lifting hook which may be in use at a given time does not interfere with a crane
hook which is to take hold of the transfer hook on which the load is
suspended.
The invention also consists in the combination of the peculiar transfer hook with
right and left cranes adapted for working with the engagement devices of the upper
vibrating portion of the transfer hook, all as hereinafter more particularly described
and set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification;
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of the improved transfer hook with a load suspended
upon it, and with a crane hook in engagement with one of its engaging portions,
this view illustrating the manner in which the upper portion of the transfer hook
adjusts itself so as to throw an idle engaging device in position for receiving the
hook of the crane which is to receive the load being transferred, such latter crane
hook and adjuncts also being shown in said view ;
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of the improved transfer hook and other parts, as

page_text: shown in Fig. 1., but the idle crane hook and an engagement device of the transfer
hook are shown in engagement relation with one another, and ready to transfer the
load from the first mentioned crane hook;
Fig. 3. shows the parts as they appear after the transfer has been fully
effected;
Fig. 4. represents a top plan view of the two cranes in their relative positions ;
Fig. 5. is a vertical transverse section of the improved transfer hook ;
Fig. 6. is a broken transverse section showing a shouldered bolt, instead of a bolt
with a sleeve on it ;
Fig. 7. is a side elevation, illustrating this invention, of a transfer hook with its
engaging portion constructed of a single plate, and with oblong engagement passages
through said plate for the crane hooks, respectively, to enter during the transferring
operation;
Fig. 8. is a front edge view of the construction shown in Fig. 7, and ;
Fig. 9. is a modification of the plate shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
The transfer hook consists of a hooking portion B, and an upper engagement
portion A, pivotally connected by a pivot bolt 3, which serves with a nut on its
end as a clamping means. The preferable manner of constructing the engagement
portion is, to employ two triangular shaped flat plates as a, a', rounded at their
corners, and so spaced that sufficient room is allowed between them for the entrance
of crane hooks, said plates being separated and held apart by means of shouldered
screw bolts on the ends of which nuts are applied, said bolts and nuts also serving
for clamping the plates together. Before inserting the pivot bolt 63, the flattened
enlarged upper end of the perforated hooking portion B is inserted between the
cornered portions of the two plates a, a'; and when the perforation in the portion B
coincides with both holes in the plates, the pivot bolt 3 is passed through these holes,
as well as through the perforation of the hook portion B, and the whole clamped
together by turning up the nut on the end of the bolt. The screw bolts b1, b2 which
are applied near the other two corners of the plates a, a¹ form right and left
engagement portions for right and left crane hooks C', D'. In constructing these
engagement devices, the shoulders for keeping the plates apart may be formed,
either by means of sleeves as b applied on the bolts so as to lie between the plates,
the bolts being passed through holes in the plates and through the sleeves, and the
whole clamped together by turning up the nuts on one of the ends of the
respective bolts; or the shoulders may be formed directly on the bolts b₁, 6.
The two constructions just described being as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.
The transfer hook might be made of a single plate as a², said plate having crane
hook engagement passages 6, 68, through it; or headed crane hook engagement
studs as 6, answering the purpose of the bolts 61, 62, may project from the face of
the plate at the proper corners. When a single plate is employed, the upper end a³
of the hooking portion B is bifurcated so as to allow a corner of the plate to be
inserted between the jaws thus formed, and the bolt is passed through the plate
and the jaws of the end a³, so as to connect the hooking portion B to the
engagement portion, and allow a pivotal movement of the same for a like purpose,
as when the portion A is made of two plates as a, a', in the manner shown in the
other views of the drawing.
It will be observed that the transfer book is so formed and constructed of two
pivotally connected parts, and with its two crane hook engaging devices or
bolts 1, 2, and pivot bolt 3 so located, relatively, that the bolt 3 and one or the
other of the crane hook engagement devices b', 62, will always lie in a vertical line
with each other when the load is suspended on the hooking portion B, and at the
same time the idle crane hook engagement device will be thrown on one side of the
vertical line and thereby brought into position for being conveniently engaged by
another crane hook at the proper time for transferring the load; and this
engagement will not be interfered with by the crane book then bearing the load,
nor by the load; and at the same time the lift of the load will be directly in line
with the yoke carrying the hoisting pulley, which latter result is important and

page_text: desirable. The same operation takes place whether a right hand or a left hand
crane hook is bearing the load. The article or load to be carried is suspended by
chains or otherwise from the hooking portion B. Each of the cranes C and D, is
provided with a lifting hook C¹ and D', respectively, and each of said hooks has a
connection, by means of a swivel f, with the lower portion of the yoke f', which
yoke is suspended by having its ends respectively journaled on the ends f of
the axle of the pulley wheel H. The pulley wheel H is supported by rope h
passed around it, and is suspended from the top of the crane.
The cranes
are provided with the usual windlasses and pulleys for operating the lifting ropes.
In Fig. 1. the load is shown suspended from the chains, and in Fig. 2. it is
shown in the act of being transferred from the right to the left crane hook. In
Fig. 2. the crane hook has been placed under the idle crane hook engagement
device, or bolt 62, and thus, when the suspending rope of the hook is sufficiently
drawn upon, the weight will be transferred from the hook D' to the hook C¹, and the
right hand crane hook now being released from the bolt by hand or otherwise, the load
will be transferred to and carried by the left hand crane as illustrated in Fig. 3. of
the drawing. When the transit is about to be made, if the hooks C₁ or D' are not
in the proper position for engaging the transfer hook, they are, respectively, turned
on their swivel connections until they are caused to assume the position shown in
the drawing Figs. 1 and 2.
By this invention the transfer of very heavy loads from one crane to another
can be readily and easily accomplished, and without any interference of one crane
hook with anotber during the transferring operation; also without any danger of loss
from the falling of the load in the act of transfer. Preference is given to the
triangular shape of the transfer hook with triangularly arranged bolts, as this form
offers the least obstruction to the engagement of the crane hooks with the engage-
ment devices of the transfer hook, when the weight is suspended upon the transfer
hook; but, of course the shape may be varied without departing from this invention.
The transfer hook shown in Figs. 78 and 9 is useful for light bodies, but for heavy
loads the construction in the other views of the drawings is the best on account of
its strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
--
1. A transfer hook comprising two members or portions; to wit, a lower hooking
portion B for connecting with the load to be transferred, and an upper crane
hooking portion A having right and left crane hook engagement devices, one of
which always stands lateral to a vertical line passed through the one in use, when
the load is suspended on the transfer hook, substantially as described.
2. A transfer hook comprising two members or portions, to wit, a lower hooking
portion B for connecting with the load to be transferred, an upper crane hook
engagement portion A having right and left crane hook engaging devices, and a.
pivotal connection between the portions A and B of the transfer hook; the
construction being such that the portion A tilts either to the right or left, and
throws an idle crane engaging device to one side of a vertical line passed through the
pivot bolt 3 and the engagement device in use when the load is suspended upon
the hooking portion B, substantially as described.
3. A transfer hook comprising portions A and B. pivoted and clamped together
by bolts and nuts; the upper portion being formed of two plates a, a¹ and held
apart by shoulders of the engagement devices, and the perforated end of the
hooking portion B, substantially as described.
4. A transfer hook comprising two members or portions, to wit, a lower hooking
portion B, and an upper crane hook engaging portion A of triangular form, and
having right and left crane hook engaging devices, and being pivotally connected
to the hooking portion B, substantially as described.
5. The combination with right and left crane hooks, of a transfer book formed

page_text: of portions A and B pivoted together, the portion A being provided with crane
hook engaging devices, an idle one of which always lies lateral to a vertical line
passed through the pivotal connection when the weight is suspended on the transfer
hook, and the said engagement devices of the portion A and the pivot of the
hock B, being arranged triangularly on the portion A substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of January 1895.