Improvements in Cash and Package Carriers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
Improvements in Cash and Package Carriers.
I, EMANUEL C. GIPE, residing at No. 801, Teutonic Building, No. 172, Washing-
ton Street, Chicago, Illinois, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that class of package carriers in which a suitable basket
or receiver is detachably connected with a car adapted to roll upon a suspended
wire or rod, said device being provided with means whereby the basket may be
raised and lowered by the operator at either end of the line, and locked to or
released from the car through the action of suitable automatic mechanism; and
the object of my invention is, among other things, to so arrange and construct
said mechanism that by pulling upon a given cord connected with a stirrup
adapted to suspend the basket while being raised and lowered, the basket may, by
the same movement of the stirrup, be alternately released from and locked to the
car. Other objects are to provide simple automatic means for locking the car to
and releasing the same from the bumpers,-to provide simple and novel means for
suspending the basket below but out of contact with the car when not in use; for
holding the releasing stirrup in a given normal position, and in providing
improved means for guiding and controlling the propelling mechanism, all of
which is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the
claims.
In the drawings,-
Figure 1, is a side view of a package carrier mechanism embodying the features
of my invention;
Figure 2, is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3. is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the left hand end of said
carrier mechanism, said view being partly in section;
Figure 4, is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view in detail of a part
of the locking mechanism showing the same in a locked position, said view being
taken upon line 4-4, Figure 7;
Figure 5, is a similar view showing the parts as they would appear in an
unlocked position;
Figure 6, is a like view showing the parts as they would appear when the
basket is about to be locked to the car;
Figure 7, is a transverse vertical sectional view in detail of the stirrup mech-
anism for locking the basket to and releasing it from the car, together with means
for normally controlling said stirrup, and holding the same in a disengaged
position;
Figure 8, is a plan view in detail of the plate from which the basket is sus-
pended and which serves to connect the same with the car; and
Figure 9, is a view of the parts shown in Figure 5 and 6, but representing
them in slightly different relative positions.
Referring to the drawings, a and respectively represent the usual vertical
standards which are rigidly attached to the ceiling in any suitable manner.

page_text: Attached to the lower end of the standard a is a sleeve c having lugs d-d formed
thereon whereby to connect the usual diagonal braces e-e which are in turn
secured to the ceiling. An arm f is extended forward from the sleeve and serves
not only as a means for anchoring one end of a wire i, thereto, but a cross-bar g¹,
Figures 2 and 7 secured thereon, serves as a means for supporting pulleys sis, and
other parts which will be hereinafter described. The standards 6 b, consisting of
parallel bars, are secured in a similar manner to that of the standard a, and are
braced by means of diagonal braces which are attached to the opposite ends
of a cross-bar 2. The latter is bolted between flanged plates, Figures 1, 2
and 3, formed upon the lower end of said bars. Depending from the bottom
plate bare two parallel flanges 6, which lie in the same planes respectively with
those of the standards b. Between said flanges as well as between the lower ends
of the standards are mounted winches hh, Figure 3, to which are attached
ratchet wheels controlled by pawls h² h² as shown. Wires - are attached
to the winches respectively which may be tightened in the usual manner by
means of a suitable key. The wires are passed through bores as shown in cross
pieces by which said wires are maintained in the same vertical plane.
rod 7, better shown in Figure 3, is projected loosely through a bore in a cross-
piece at the bottom of the flange To the opposite end of the rod is attached
a combined bumper and catch m having an upwardly extended arm m³, through
which the wire is loosely passed, thus serving to support said bumper and to
hold the same in alignment with the wires. Spiral springs Pl, are mounted
upon the rod upon opposite sides of the plate to enable the part m to act as
a buffer.
°
A
The opposite end of the wire is passed through a bore in a lug g, Figure 7,
and fastened to a pin f upon the arm f. The rod is passed through a bore in
the fitting upon the lower end of the standard a and is permanently attached
thereto. A bumper m² is secured to said fitting and connected to the wire j in
the same manner that the bumper m is connected at the opposite end.
It will thus be seen that the wires i jare in the same vertical plane throughout
their length, the object of the former wire being to simplify the framework by
supporting the forward pulleys and other parts of the propulsion mechanism
hereinafter described. Clamped to the wire in the manner indicated in
Figures 1 and 2, are cross-Lars -0, provided with depending arms on to which
are attached pulleys n²², 0202, the axes of which are in substantial allignment
with the wire j.
Mounted upon the wire jare wheels p-p from which is suspended the frame q
of a car adapted to be propelled upon the wire by means of an impulse, as herein-
after described. Pivoted to the opposite sides of the car are catches -r, which
are held in normal positions respectively, by means of a spring ³, Figure 3. Each
of said catches is provided with a part 2 which passes over the wire j, the oscil-
latory movement being limited in both directions by suitable stops adapted to
engage the end of the car. A bar which connects downwardly inclined parallel
arms of said catch, serves to engage and interlock with the bumper m in the
manner clearly indicated in Figure 3, a roller being mounted upon said bar to
lessen the friction as it rides up upon the incline m³. The propelling mechanism
at the transmitting station is as follows: An arm s, Figures 1 and 2, is rigidly
attached to the standard a and is extended rearwardly therefrom. Upon the stan-
darda is mounted a pulley s¹ and upon the arms a secondary pulley s A cord s³
has one end attached to a snatch-block thence over the pulley through
the snatch-block, over the pulley s¹, around one of the pulleys n², thence rear-
wardly around the catch r of the car, forward to and around the second pulley 2,
thence back over the pulley s¹, through the snatch-block, thence around the pulley
and back to the snatch-block to which it is attached. A cord t enables the snatch-
block to be actuated by the operator. A rod 1, Figure 1, is rigidly attached to
the snatch-block at one end and pivotally attached to the cross-bar a at the other,
and thus serves as a guide in directing and steadying the movement of the snatch-

page_text: block, and in preventing the latter from swaying unduly, as it is liable to do with-
out this device. By the arrangement described of the cord and pulley mechanism
in conjunction with the spring catches r, the car is released from its connection
with the bumper, the initial strain upon the cord serving to lift the catch r,———
and is propelled with the requisite speed and force along the wire j, to the receiv
ing station where the catch upon the opposite end of the car is brought into
engagement with the bumper and automatically locked thereto; in the meantime
it is brought into engagement with the propelling cord at the receiving station
which is in contact with the catch r, as shown in Figure 3, ready to release and
impart a backward impulse to the car.
At the receiving station there is provided a snatch-block having a handle vl
thereon and the cord is trained from said snatch-block over a pulley a sup-
ported by the standard bars b, thence beneath the pulley of the snatch-block,
thence over a pulley 2 upon an arm u³, thence over one of the pulleys, beneath
the wire j, over the other pulley back to the pulley 2, through the snatch-
block, over the pulley and back to the snatch-block to which it is attached.
A rod 2 like the rod, is rigidly attached to the snatch-block and pivotally to
the cross-bar o. Said rod passes between the vertical bars b, which thereby form
guards to prevent any lateral movement of the rod and enable the propelling
mechanism to be operated with the utmost smoothness and ease. By the use of
my improved propelling mechanism including the series of pulleys, the speed is
greatly increased.
In Figures 4 to 8 inclusive, I have shown my improved mechanism for locking
the basket to the car and releasing the same therefrom. The usual basket w,
which is represented in Figure 1, is provided with suspending wires w shown in
the figures fast above referred to, which wires are clamped at the top to a locking
plate w³.
Openings are formed in the plate leaving a central cross-bar ic³, which is adapted
to engage the lock. Pivoted at g' in the frame q is an oscillatory knuckle having
detents qq and for the purposes hereinafter stated. A retaining dog is
also pivoted within the frame at a¹ and is preferably provided with the spring 2
by which to force the free end downwardly. A trigger is pivotally attached to
the end of the dog a, while a spring is attached to the dog and arranged to
bear upon the square end of the trigger. The latter is thus held in a normal
position with relation to the dog it, while at the same time it is free to yield
therefrom in either direction in the manner hereinafter stated.
Guides extend downwardly from the bottom of the car, the same being
provided with inclined converging faces q', which are adapted to engage the cross-
bar when the latter is lifted, and to guide it into contact with the knuckle q².
Pulleys are supported upon cross arms arranged upon opposite sides of the
bars, and similar pulleys are mounted upon a cross-bar g, better shown in
Figure 7, beneath which are secured vertically arranged tubes g2g2 containing
spiral springs g³ Cords are trained over the pulleys and extended down-
wardly through the tubes g², and upon the protruding ends of said cords are
attached acorn shaped bulbs 88, which are adapted to engage the lower ends of
the spiral springs when the cords are drawn upwardly. Attached to the
bulbs are short chains as shown, which are connected with a stirrup y which
hangs normally at such a height, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, as to
permit the part of the car to freely pass thereover.
The plate is notched inwardly as shown at Figures 7 and 8, so that
when the basket is suspended from the car and the latter is moved to its initial
position, the chains or arms of the stirrup are received into the notches
leaving the stirrup y immediately below the cross-bar w³, as indicated in dotted
lines in Figure 4. The notches c are enlarged at their inner ends as shown
at wow, to receive the parts y of the stirrup. By means of this construction the
plate and stirrup are practically locked to each other as long as the two are in
thus

page_text: relation specified, and hence the shaking of the basket will not cause it to become
disconnected therefrom.
Attached to the rear end of the arms is a vertical rod z which extends down-
wardly therefrom and is provided with a bend z¹ near the upper end, which is
substantially at right angles thereto, and a bend 2 in an opposite direction at
the bottom. The bends 21 22 respectively, form arms or stops for the engagement
of a loop 9, upon the cords so, which are thus brought together and provided with
the usual handle s10, which enables the operator to raise and lower the basket.
Inasmuch as it is not desirable to raise the basket and lock it to the car each time
after its return from the wrappers' desk until it again becomes necessary to use
it, I employ the bar z with the arm z 2, the latter being used from which to
suspend the basket normally out of the way. By releasing the loop 9 from the
arm and catching it upon the arm ¹ the basket may be lowered to the desired
height for loading.
Having thus described the various parts of my improved device I will now
explain its operation. The basket being loaded, the operator pulls upon the
cords from which the basket is suspended as shown in Figure 1. until the bar 103
of the plate w² is brought into contact with the detent q of the knuckle q2 which
is in the position shown in Figure 5.
By lifting the basket until the plate 2 is in contact with the bottom of the
car the part 5 of the knuckle is thrown so as to permit the dog a to fall, thus
engaging the detent with a shoulder upon said dog and locking the knuckle
positively in position as shown in Figure 4, when the detent 3 is thrown beneath
the bar w3 which is thereby securely locked to the car. By the action of the dog x
the free end of which moves in the arc of a circle, the lower end of the trigger ³
is thrown against a flange as shown, upon one side of the stirrup y but is per-
mitted to yield through the action of the spring to allow the stirrupy to fall
into its normal position as soon as the tension is released upon the cord. The
recoil of the springs g³, which are in engagement with the parts when the stirrup
is raised, serve to overcome the weight of the handle $10, and to lower the
stirrup, thus leaving the car free to pass over it without contact. The car is
then propelled to its destination in the manner and by means of the propelling
mechanism hereinbefore described, and returned to the sender's station. Upon the
return of the car to the transmitting station the operator again pulls upon the
handle 10, lifts the stirrun into contact with the trigger a³, which has been thrown
into position to engage the stirrup by the action of the spring at, see Figure 4,-
and the trigger being raised, lifts the dog and releases the detent 5 from con-
tact therewith. The weight of the basket serves to move the part o² into the.
position shown in Figure 5, and the basket is free to be lowered. It will be
observed that the stirrup y is notched as shown at y², Figure 4, which notch
engages the end of the trigger and holds it in contact with the stirrup until the
latter is raised to its full height. This action is permitted by the vielding of the
pivoted trigger, the end of which would. when raised to given height, slip off
from the stirrup and fall back, thereby defeating the purpose intended.
As soon,
however, as the stirrup is lowered, the spring acting upon the upper end of the
trigger causes it to assume the position shown in Figure 5, so that when it is
desired to re-engage the bar w with the knuckle the stirrup may be lifted up to
the full limit without engaging the trigger as shown in Figure 6. It will thus
be seen that my improved locking mechanism is so constructed that a given
unward movement of the stirrup may serve to release the basket from the car
while the next upward movement thereof serves to lock it. The advantages of
this feature are too obvious to require mention.
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 package carrving mechanism the combination with a car and a detach-

page_text: able basket, and a suspending locking-bar attached to the basket, of said locking
mechanism consisting of an oscillatory toothed knuckle adapted to be engaged by
a suspending locking bar, a dog for holding said knuckle in either of two extreme
positions, a stirrup for raising and lowering said basket in a path to bring said
locking bar into contact with the knuckle, and a releasing trigger constructed to
lie in the path of movement of the stirrup when the parts are in locked positions
and out of said path when they are reversed, whereby the same movement may
serve to alternately release the basket from or lock the same to the car, substan-
tially as described.
2. In a package carrying mechanism, the combination of a car, a detachable
basket and a locking mechanism consisting of an oscillatory pivoted knuckle
having a series of detents thereon, a pivoted dog for maintaining said knuckle
in one of two extreme positions, a trigger for lifting said dog when in a locked
position, a cross-bar attached to the basket for engaging said knuckle and a stirrup
adapted to engage said trigger when the parts are in locked positions respectively,
substantially as described.
3. In a package carrying mechanism, the combination with a car and a detach-
able basket and a suspending locking-bar attached to the basket, of said locking
mechanism consisting of an oscillatory toothed knuckle adapted to be engaged by
a suspending locking-bar, a dog for holding said knuckle in either of two extreme
positions, a stirrup for raising and lowering said basket in a path to bring the
locking bar into operative contact with the knuckle, means such as the springs g³
and bulbs for normally holding said stirrup out of contact with the car, and
a releasing trigger constructed to lie in the path of movement of the stirrup when
the parts are in locked positions and out of said path when they are reversed, sub-
stantially as described.
4. The combination with a car and a detachable basket of an automatic locking
mechanism in which is combined a suspending locking-bar upon the basket, an
oscillatory toothed knuckle adapted to engage said bar, a dog for holding said
knuckle in one of two extreme positions, a yielding trigger provided with means
for holding the same in a normal relation with respect to the dog but to permit
the same to yield when force is applied thereto, and a stirrup in operative con-
nection with the basket suspending cords, said stirrup being arranged to engage
said trigger only when the latter is in one of two extreme positions, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with a car and a detachable basket of the plate w having
notches, a stirrup adapted to be suspended from the operating cords, in allign-
ment respectively with said notches, said stirrup being provided with the parts y
adapted to engage the notches in said plate when the basket is suspended there-
from, suitable locking mechanism and means for releasing the same through the
operation of said stirrup, substantially as described.
movable car, a
6. The combination in a mechanism of the class described of
detachable basket, cords for raising and lowering said basket to and from the
ear and a depending rod having horizontal arms extending therefrom at predeter-
mined distances whereby the suspending cord may be hooked thereto and the
basket suspended at different heights without locking the same to the sub-
stantially as described.
car,
7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a car and a
detachable basket, of propulsion cords trained over pulleys and in operative con-
nection with the car, a secondary wire, a snatch-block and a rod pivoted to the
snatch-block and to said secondary wire at a point above the track-wire and for-
ward of the normal position of the car, substantially as described.
8. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a car and a
detachable basket, of propulsion cords trained over pulleys and in operative con-
nection with the car, of a secondary wire, a snatch-block, a rod
pivoted to the snatch-block and to a point upon said secondary wire
above the track-wire, said pivotal point being between the two stations, and guides

page_text: for preventing a lateral movement of said rod when the propulsion mechanism is
operated, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of April 1899.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.