IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS OR THE LIKE
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Julius Boult at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1883. A communication
from Gilbert Ruggles Elliott and Milton Clark. both of Boston State of
Massachusetts, United States of America
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WIRE ROPE TRAMWAYS OR THE LIKE' [A
communication from Gilbert Ruggles Elliott and Milton Clark, both of Boston
State of Massachusetts, United States of America]
This invention relates to improvements in that class of devices which are
employed for transporting and carrying articles from one point to another and
means for checking or stopping the carrier, as it reaches its destination, with as
little shock or noise as possible and consists of a suspended car or carrier supported
by grooved wheels suspended on an elevated cable wire or wire rope covered or not,
and the objects of these improvements are:
1.) A car or carrier having an upper platform or covering and a bottom tray
which are adapted to be brought in contact with each other automatically and
thus prevent any article therein contained from falling out
2.) An adjustable stop or check block having an inclined plan and hollow rest
for the wheels of the carrier and a head or buffer to prevent shock and
3) To provide means to deaden noise while the travelling wheels are passing
over the cable.
A horizontally suspended wire cable, which is secured to suitable supports is
covered by vulcanized rubber or by any other suitable material for the purpose of
preventing or deadening the noise of the passing carrier.
This cable is adapted to support a carrier which consists of the following
mechanism: Said carrier is suspended by means of grooved pulleys connected to
an upper platform or covering by hangers. To the covering lid are pivotted toggle
links, two on each side of the carrier (more or less may be used when found
advantageous) the other ends of the toggle links being attached to a tray. These
toggle links may be made very light and of sheet metal, also, they can be
constructed of different thicknesses as the case may require.

page_text: This tray or box is protected when closed (being its normal condition) by the
covering, which is made slightly longer and wider than the tray, so as to extend
over a rim or border.
Each pair of the pivotted toggle links are connected by means of a rod around
which is a spiral spring suitably connected and secured on one side to the upper
toggle links and on the other to the lower toggle links.
To the under part of the tray is secured a ring or handle the purpose of which
will be more fully described hereinafter. On the cable is secured an adjustable
stop or checkblock composed of two depending arms which are adapted to fit
over the cable and under which they are united by means of screws or bolts.
The forward part of the stop or check-block forms an inclined plane then by
curving downward forms a seat for the reception of the grooved wheel, then by
curving upward forms a buffer to which is attached a suitable elastic material the
purpose of which will be described hereinafter.
The operation is as follows:
The adjustable stop or check block having been suitably secured in its position
on the cable and the carrier also suspended from the same, the operator starts the
carrier by a push along the cable, it travelling on the same and up the inclined
plane until the wheel falls into the seat being there arrested from further move-
ment by the curvature of the seat. Supposing the box is closed, i.e. in contact.
with the cover, the operator wishing to load simply takes hold of the ring herein-
above mentioned and lowers the tray to any desired level the springs on the toggle
link allowing of this movement
To shut the tray all that is necessary is to let go the ring when by the tension
of the springs it will return to its place