Improvements in or relating to Cranes, Fire-escapes, and suchlike Structures.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1898
Comentada Onnaifination aft 05th Ann 1000
Accented
44th Jul
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cranes, Fire-escapes, and suchlike
Structures.
DAVID ROCHE, 50, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, London, W., Retired Mariner, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to cranes, fire escapes
and suchlike structures. In carrying out my invention I pivot the crane structure
or fire escape to a platform of suitable construction. Upon the limbs of the
crane T provide sliding bearings which are carried upon a spindle carrying wheels.
These wheels may be brought into contact with the ground when required and
used for the transport of the crane, structure or fire escape. Upon the platform
I provide two surfaces which may be set at the required incline and upon which
surfaces auxiliary wheels carried upon the spindle aforesaid bear. The crane,
structure or fire escape is balanced by means of weights which may be fixed to
the spindle or by any other convenient arrangement. The crane carries a block
or the like through which a rope. or cord passes, and to which the bucket, cage,
or other article is attached. Through the action of the adjustable surfaces afore-
said the crane when in operation may be made to move in the required direction
upon its pivots upon the platform after the load has been raised to the required
height or has been removed from acting upon the crane. The whole may be
arranged upon a suitable pivot or such other convenient arrangement for the
purpose of rotation. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the crane is
being operated the action of the adjustable surfaces aforesaid will cause it to
move in the required direction without the necessity of a separate winding
apparatus for this purpose. In other words, the crane, structure, or fire escape
is to all intents and purposes practically balanced and may be caused to move
on its pivot in either direction according as to how the balance or centre of
gravity is adjusted.
It will be seen that the same principle described in the foregoing may be
applied to the davits of ships boats and the like and will thus greatly facilitate
the getting in and out of such boats.
Improvements in or relating to Cranes, Fire-escapes, and suchlike
Structures,
I, DAVID ROCHE, of 50, Ranelagh Road, Ealing, in the County of Middlesex,
Retired Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to cranes, fire escapes
and suchiike structures. In carrying out my invention I pivot the crane, struc-
ture, or fire escape to a platform of suitable construction. Upon the limbs of
the crane I provide sliding bearings for a spindle carrying wheels. These wheels
may be brought into contact with the ground when required and used for the
transport of the crane, structure, or fire escape. Upon the platform I. provide
two surfaces which may be set at the required inclination and upon which sur-
faces auxiliary wheels carried upon the spindle aforesaid bear. The crane,
structure or fire escape may be balanced by means of weights which may be fixed
to the spindle or by any other convenient arrangement. The crane carries a
block or the like through which a rope or cord passes, and to which the bucket,
cage or other article is attached. Through the interaction of the adjustable
surfaces and auxiliary wheels aforesaid the crane when in operation may be made
to move in the required direction upon its pivots upon the platform after the
load has been raised to the required height or has been removed from acting
upon the crane. The whole may be arranged upon a suitable pivot or such
other convenient arrangement for the purpose of rotation. By this arrangement
it will be seen that when the crane is being operated the action of the adjustable
surfaces aforesaid will cause it to move or cant in the required direction without
the necessity of a separate winding apparatus for this purpose. In other words
the crane, structure, or fire escape is to all intents and purposes practically balanced
and may be caused to move on its pivot in either direction according as to how
the balance or centre of gravity is adjusted.
It will be seen that the same principle described in the foregoing may be
applied to the davits of ships, boats and the like and will thus greatly facilitate the
getting in and out of such boats.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one method of applying this invention to a
fire escape or water tower:
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the invention as applied to a crane;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one method of applying this invention
to a ship's davits :
Figure 4 shows in perspective a detail of the davit, and,
Figure 5 is a perspective view of another detail relating to the same.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The jib A of the fire escape or water tower is piyoted in any convenient manner
at its lower end to a base B. The jib may be of any well known construction
and is provided with two sliding members C hereinafter referred to as intermediary
members. An axle D is passed through the members C and projects beyond
the same on either side. On the axle D and in close proximity to each of the
intermediary members C are mounted rollers or auxiliary wheels C, which are
free to turn on the axle, and beyond the auxiliary wheels are mounted the usual
road wheels D upon which the fire escape is carried during transit. Directly
below the auxiliary wheels Care provided two adjustable inclined supports C
These supports are each pivotted at one end to the base B3, whilst the other end
is supported by a hinged strut or leg C3 and any convenient stops or sockets may
be provided on the base B to receive the ends of the struts C, when the latter
are in the raised position shown in the drawings. The base B is provided with
an extensible portion B' and adjusting or levelling devices B2 are provided at the
corners of the base and its extensible portion B' may be made fast in any desired
position by means of any convenient device, such as wedges 133 which may be
driven in between a member of the extensible portion B1 and a socket B*, through
which the former passes. Tackle E is arranged between the axle D and the
base B and a line from one end of the tackle is secured to the windlass E.

page_text: The operation of the fire escape is as follows:-
Presuming the jib A to be normally in the vertical position, as when resting
against stops such as F, the inclined supports C being in the raised position as
shown in the drawings, the escape is placed facing the point it is desired to reach
and is levelled laterally by means of the adjusting devices B2; the telescopic jib A.
is then raised to the desired height and a man ascends in order that he may
perform any work he is required to do from the escape. If, now, the tackle
is released, the weight of the man upon the jib A will cause the latter to cant
forward, which forward movement will be gradually stayed in the following
manner:-
As the jib A cants forward the auxiliary wheels C₁ roll upon the inclined sup-
ports C and cause the intermediary members C to slide upon the jib and at
the same time the axle D and the wheels D' are raised as the wheels C travel up
the inclined supports C². It will be seen that by this action the intermediary
members C and auxiliary wheels Care made to act between the jib A and the
inclined supports C² as a sliding strut or wedge. As, however, the members C
slide upon the jib A their purchase upon the latter is gradually increased until
the tendency of the wheel C to gravitate down the inclined supports C², (owing
to the weight of the wheels D₁, members C and axle 1), may be sufficient to
overcome the canting action of the jib A. A point may thus be found on the
inclined supports C2 where the tendency of the intermediary members C to
gravitate is proportional to the tendency of the jib A, carrying any weight which
may be placed upon it to cant forward.
In order that the auxiliary wheels C¹ may be prevented by any accident from
over-running the inclined supports C², the latter may be provided at their upper
ends with a stop, or their surfaces upon which the wheels C₁ run may be so
curved that their end portions shall be parallel with the jib when the same is so
canted as to bring the 'wheels C₁ to bear upon the said end portions of the
inclined supports C. It is obvious that when the jib A and the inclined supports
are parallel to one another there will be no tendency to cause the wheels C¹ to
travel further along the inclined supports C³.
If it is not desired that the jib A should cant to the full amount allowed by
the length of the inclined supports C³ the intermediary members C may be
held in any position by the tackle E and windlass so that the desired amount
of cant only is permitted to the jib A.
The tackle E and windlass E may also be used as a further precaution against
the wheels C over-running the inclined supports C².
In order that the jib A may be allowed as wide an angle of cant as possible,
the extension B may be run out when necessary to give the required stability
to the base B.
When it is desired to convey the fire escape from one place to another, the
jib A is brought back by the tackle E and windlass E' towards the stops F,
and the struts C of the inclined supports C2 are folded back thus permitting the
inclined supports C2 to fall upon the base B. The wheels D₁ will then be resting
upon the ground surface and if the windlass E is further operated so that more
of the tackle E is drawn in, the base B will be raised from the ground and drawn
up towards the axle D. If the fire escape is to be carried down a narrow, street
or passage the jib A is locked by any convenient device against the stops I and
is thus kept in the vertical position. In general practice however, the jib A
would be lowered into an approximately horizontal position for transit the fore
end of the base being lashed or hooked on to the jib so that the base may not
swing on the axle D and by chance strike the ground.
If after transit with the jib lowered as last described the base B is again
allowed to fall upon the ground and the jib A hauled upon by the tackle E it
will be found that the forward end of the base B tends to rise instead of the
jih A. To prevent this rising of the base extensible leaves B are provided so

page_text: that as the jib is raised by the tackle E the wheels are drawn back upon the
leaves B and thus hold the base B down.
If preferred the auxiliary wheels C¹ may be so arranged that during this
operation of raising the jib they may roll upon the supports C2 whilst the latter
are folded down upon the base B. It is obvious that by this means the forward
end of the base B may be prevented from rising whilst the jib is being. raised
and the extensible leaves B5 may be dispensed with. In place of the wheels C¹
rolling upon the reclining supports C2 they may of course be made to roll upon
any other convenient device either temporarily placed upon the base Bor
permanently secured to the same.
.
It will be understood that although the weight of the wheels 1) and other
parts acting upon the intermediary members C have been described as sufficient
to bring the jib A back into its vertical position, when free of any abnormal
weight the jib A may if desired be so arranged as to overbalance the gravitating
action of the intermediary members in which case the canting of the jib A will
always be controlled by the tackle E and windlass E¹.
When it is desired to use the fire escape as a water tower a tubular connection
or hose section A' may be mounted in one of the sliding members of the jib A.
The ends of this tubular member A¹ may be provided with threaded portions or
unions in order that the fire hose may be attached to its lower end and then
raised to the desired elevation by means of the sliding members of the jib A to
which the said hose section A is attached. Any convenient form of nozzle
may be attached to the upper end of the tubular connections A¹.
Figure 2 shows the same mechanism applied to a crane, with a few modifications.
The jib A is pivotted at its lower end as before to the base B, and provided with
intermediary members C, auxiliary wheels C¹, inclined supports C³, struts C,
and an axle D, as in the case of the fire escape described above. In order that
a purchase may be obtained upon the jib A for a device to counter-balance the
weight of the jib, a gallows G having a cross member G¹ is secured to the stops F
or to any other convenient support arranged upon the base B. Upon the
member G of the gallows are arranged pulleys or grooved wheels H, H¹ respec-
tively. A windlass G2 and a break device H2 both of any convenient construction
are secured to the base B preferably in front of the gallows G.
A rope H³ is
secured to the upper portion of the jib A carried over the pulley H on the gallows (1,
round the brake device H2, from which it is passed over the pulley H' on the
gallows G and provided at its free end with a weight H+.
A
A second rope G³, secured to the windlass G2, is passed over a pulley G+,
mounted at the top of the jib A, and is provided at its free end with any con-
venient device by which it may be secured to any load it is desired to raise.
third rope G, secured to the upper end of the jib A, is passed through a block or
thimble G attached to the free end of the rope G³, and the free end of this
rope G is passed round a cleat G7 or other device by which it may be held.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-
Under normal conditions the jib A is kept back against its stops F by the
weight H pulling upon the rope H. When the jib is in this position the load
to be raised is attached to the free end of the rope G3 and this load on being raised
slightly will immediately cause the jib A to cant forward against the action of
the weight Hand of the interaction of the intermediary members C and inclined
supports C2, as described with reference to Figure 1. If the jib A is not required
to run out its full limit, it may be checked by bringing into action the brake
device H2, which will immediately hold the rope H, thus checking the forward
movement of the jib A. This brake device H2 is also used in order that the
jib A may not return before the operation of removing the load from the rope G³
is completed, and if desired, it may also be used to keep the jib A in a vertical
position until the load has been raised the required height, when the brake device
may then be released and the load carried out by the canting of the jib to the
point where it is required to be deposited,

page_text: If it is preferred at any time not to use the cant of the jib A for placing the
load at the required distance from the base of the jib A, the rope G may be.
used to draw in the load so that it does not fall at a point immediately below
the pulley G, over which the rope runs.
The crane may be provided with wheels similar to the wheels D' of the fire
escape so that it may be made portable, and the base may be provided with the
members B, B2, B3, described with reference to Figure 1, or it may be mounted
upon a turn-table such as is commonly used with cranes.
In applying this invention to a ship's davits, (Figure 3), the davits A2 corre-
spond to the jib A of the fire escape or crane. The upper portion of each of
the davits A2 is curved in the usual manner and may be made of circular cross
section whilst the lower portion is of rectangular cross section and is pivotted at A³
to the base of a standard J. The standard J is divided or bifurcated and is
provided at its upper end with brackets J¹ connected together on the inboard
side of the standard. Each davit is provided with an intermediary member C,
axle 1), auxiliary wheels C and an inclined support C2 similar to those described
in Figures 1 and 2. The intermediary member C slides upon the lower part of
the davit A2 and is provided with rollers C to lessen the friction between the
surfaces of the two members, which are in contact. The roller or wheel C is
slightly modified being provided with a flange C, in order that it may be kept in
track upon the inclined support C2, and the inclined support C may be either
secured rigidly to the standard J and the strut C or it may be pivotted to each
of these members.
The upper ends of the davits A³ are connected by a brace A+, and tackle A
is arranged between the brace A+ and a support A
The axle 1 which passes through the intermediary members C of each of the
davits A2 is provided with tackle E, and a windlass E', this latter being secured
to the deck of the ship in any convenient manner at a point slightly in the rear
of the davits.
Each of the davits A2 is provided with tackle L for raising and lowering the
boat L' in the well known manner and springs or buffers L2 may be arranged
upon the brace A on that side which faces the boat L', in order that the latter
may not be damaged by collision with the brace.
A recess J2 is provided in each of the brackets of the standards J, and
when the boat L' is in the raised position and at rest upon the davits A² its keel
is directly over the recesses 12. When in this position a wedge J is forced into
each of the recesses J2 so that the weight of the boat L' rests directly upon the
standards J. The wedge J is provided with a groove J (Figure 5) to receive the
keel of the boat L'.
The operation is as follows:-
-
When in the position of rest indicated in the drawings, the keel of the boat L'
is vertically above a point a little to the seaboard side of the heel of the davits A²,
so that the centre of gravity of the davits is slightly to the front of their pivots A³.
In order, therefore, that the davits A2 may be canted forward to enable the boat L'
to be lowered it is only necessary to release the tackle E.
In case of list the tackle A5 is used to start the davits in their forward move-
ment. The support A6 to which the tackle A is secured is placed in advance of
the brace A to permit of this initial movement of the davits necessary in cases
of list, before the davits can be lowered under the action of gravity by the tackle E..
The wedges J having been removed and the davits allowed to cant forward as
described (the intermediary members C. co-operating with the inclined supports (2
as already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2) the boat L' may be
lowered by the tackle L in the usual manner.
When raising the davits the tackle A is allowed to remain slack and the
tackle E only brought into operation. The axle D is thus drawn back together
with the intermediary members C which latter force the davits A2 back against
the portions described above as connecting the brackets J' of the standards J.

page_text: The davits may then be locked by means of any convenient device such as J³
as security against their being displaced by lurching of the vessel. The wedges J
are then placed in position in the recesses J2 of the brackets J' and the keel of
the boat L resting in the recesses J of the wedges J3 prevents the boat L' from
swinging upon the davits. The usual lashing may also be used to further secure
the boat on the davits.
It will be seen from the above that various modifications may be made in
applying this invention to mechanisms of different constructions without depart-
ing from the nature of the invention, for instance, the intermediary members C
might be made to slide upon the inclined supports C, the auxiliary wheels or
rollers C being dispensed with, or the said auxiliary wheels or rollers C might be
made smaller and placed in the face of the members C; also the rollers C used in
the intermediary member C of the davits (Figure 4) may be used in the corre-
sponding members of the crane or fire escape.
Again, in any of the mechanisms described the supports C2 may be so arranged
that they are not normally inclined but are only inclined when the apparatus is
in position for working, and the supports C may in all cases be made fixtures if
desired as described with reference to Figure 3. Also the position of the sup-
ports C² may be varied, i.e., instead of their being placed below the jib they may
be placed above the same if found convenient in which case the jib would be
suspended from the supports. In place too of the tackle E and windlass E¹ a
worm and worm wheel may be used for controlling the cant of the jib or if tackle
is used a brake device may be employed as in the apparatus described with
reference to Figure 2, the gallows being either used or dispensed with and the
jib arranged to either cant forward, or back against its stops, automatically.
The inclined supports may be made of any curvature so that if desired the
jib or davits of the mechanism with which they may be used may be caused to
cant forward more rapidly when the wheels C₁ are travelling over one portion
of the inclined supports than when they are passing over another portion of the
said supports. The gallows described with reference to Figure 2 may be used
with the mechanism described with reference to Figure 1, or the mechanism in
Figure 2 may be arranged as that shown in Figure 1. The base of either
the fire escape or crane may be provided with side extensions if desired similar
to the extension 33¹. The base of the crane may also be provided with a rear
extension upon which the cart to be loaded or unloaded may be run or a weight
placed to give the crane additional stability when raising a heavy load. The
guy or guide line G5 Figure 2 may of course be used if desired with the fire
escape for lowering a basket, for instance, in rescue work. Springs may of
course be provided between the wheels D and the load they carry whether in
the portable fire escape or crane. Further a tilting frame such as that described
in the Specification No. 5759 of Letters Patent granted to David Roche on the
9th day of March 1898, for use with a tipping bucket, may be applied to the
erane. The bucket and shoot may be dispensed with and the frame used for
raising loads at a distance from the foot of the crane and automatically depositing
such loads at or about the base of the same.
It is also obvious that the standard J of the davits A2 may be made in any
convenient form without departing from the nature of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a crane or the like the combination with the jib of inclined supports
such as Cup which a balance weight or load has to travel as the jib tilts forward
for the purpose of balancing the latter.
2. In a crane or the like the combination with the jib of one or more wheels
such as C¹ or D' which rise as the jib is canțed for the purpose of balancing the
latter,

page_text: 3. In a crane or the like the combination with the jib of an inclined support
and a member such as C (with or without a roller C) operated by the joint action
of the jib and support so that its motion shall have a vertical component for the
purpose described and with or without controlling tackle or gear for that member.
4. In a crane or the like the combination with the jib of an inclined support
and a member such as C (with or without a roller C) carrying road wheels and
operated by the joint action of the jib and support so that its motion shall have
a vertical component for the purpose described.
5. In a portable crane or the like of the kind described an extensible base
such as B B with or without levelling devices for the purpose described.
6. In a crane or the like the combination with a jib inclined support and
member such as C co-operating as described of a counterbalancing guy H³ and
a braking device for that guy.
7. In a crane or the like the combination with a pivotted jib or davit A2 of a
standard having the inclined support secured on it and having brackets at its
upper end for the load and of a member C provided with a roller and sliding on
the jib or davit substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a crane or the like the combination with two or more devices such as are
claimed in Claim 6 of a brace such as A or D with or without buffers on it and
means in case of list to start the jibs or davits on their outward movement sub-
stantially as described.
9. In a crane or the like the combination with a jib controlled in the manner
described of a guide line such as G for the purpose described.
10. In a crane or the like the combination with a jib controlled in the manner
described of a gallows frame for the purpose specified.
11. In a crane or the like the combination with a jib A pivotted to a base B
and carrying rollers or wheels C of a device by which the wheels C may be used
to hold the forward end of the base down whilst the jib is being raised sub-
stantially as described.
12. The complete apparatus substantially as and for the purpose described or
illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2, of Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.