Improvements in Aerial Hoisting and Transfer Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aerial Hoisting and Transfer Apparatus.
I, WILLIS DURWOOD SHERMAN, of 85--93 Ninth Street, in the City of
Brooklyn, State of New York, U.S.A., Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in aerial, hoisting and transfer apparatus,
and especially to the combination in such apparatus of an extensible boom for
carrying the load to a given point, which said boom oscillates about the centre of
the movement of the carriage which operates the main cable or bridge.
The invention also relates to the combination with the apparatus of a hoisting
mechanism proper whereby the cables or ropes which actuate the carriage of the
main cable, the trolley, the fall and the boom may be each controlled independently
of the movements of the other ropes or cables, so that the load may be raised or
lowered, the main cable swung to and fro about its centre, the trolley impelled
backward or forward, and the boom thrown in or out or oscillated about the centre
of its movements independent of the movement of the other portions of the
apparatus.
Referring to the drawings which. accompany the Specification to aid. the
description.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken, of the apparatus showing the relative
position of the carriage, trolley and boom.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same parts as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective, on a very large scale, of the boom, and the several ropes,
or cables, (Fig. 3* being a detail showing the construction of the boom,);' and
Fig. 4 is a similar view of the carriage which actuates the main cable... It will
be noticed that the ropes or cables indicated in Fig. 3 extend to the carriage shown
in Fig. 4, being represented in each view by the same letters.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the hoisting apparatus proper, illustrating the
relative position of certain of the drums and winches.
41
Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly broken and sectioned of the same parts as tare
shown in Fig. 5, but the drum F and its gears are removed for clearness.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the front of certain drums and winches.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the gearing for operating the carriage: rope and trolley
rope. In order to show the gearing and clutches clearly, the drums and winch: are
removed from this view.
"
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively diagrammatic representations of the main
cable, the carriage rope and the trolley rope, and Figs. 8 and 9 represent their
respective ropes in the simplest form in which the same can be rove, illustrating
the principle of my invention in this respect.
i
The apparatus is erected on timber trestles indicated by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in
Fig. 1, the trestles being supported upon foundation X, X, X, X'; at: one side
are horizontal timbers, 12, shaped on an arc of a circle from the centre of
oscillation O of the boom, 13 is a rack on timber 12; 14, 15, being rails on the
upper and lower side of said timber, which are engaged by the wheels 16, 17 of a
carriage P. Said carriage P consists of a yoke P, carrying wheels 16, 17; and a
vertical shaft p, provided with the pinion pl meshing in rack 13 and having a lbose
sheave 2 and fast sheave p. The boom Q slides through a housing N, pivoted
on the framework by the pin 0, and provided with anti-frictional rollers, as

page_text: shown; the rear end of said boom passes through a rear housing K, provided with
anti-frictional rollers k, which housing is in turn pivotally supported from a
housing N', which slides on the cross-timber 20, (Fig. 3). Said housing N¹ has a
sheave 21 on an axis 22, carrying the worm 23, meshing in the gear 24, on the axis
of a vertical drum I, by which the rope M¹ which oscillates the boom is operated.
Said boom is preferably formed of sheet metal plates, strengthened at the corners
with angle iron, as shown in Fig. 3*. The main cable or bridge A, being fixed in
the yoke Pl, is carried around a sheave 26, at the front end of the boom Q,
preferably through the interior of the boom and to a becket of a sheave 25, as
shown in Fig. 3. Around this sheave 25, is passed a smaller rope or cable D, the
branches of which extend around sheaves 27, 28, to the rear end of the boom,
thence to turn buckels 29, and are fastened in ears 30, which are practically in the
line of the centre of oscillation of the boom, on the housing N. Thus the said
main cable A, has one length or whip A* extending forward parallel to the boom;
thence a length A' extending backward parallel to the boom and thence a third
length A extending forward parallel to the boom to the centre of oscillation, as
shown in Fig. 8, which illustrates the simplest arrangement of reaving the main
cable; the sheave 25, and the small rope D, being only used to equalize the strain
of the main cable on each side of the boom and not affecting the principle of
reaving the cable. The strain of the main cable is thus equalized, the weight on
the trolley has no tendency to move the boom either backward or forward, and,
the main cable remains taut notwithstanding the motion of the boom.
The carriage rope E, is carried around the sheave 3 on the carriage P with a
turn around the same,
if necessary, and one length E is led forward parallel to the.
boom and around the sheave 21 on the housing N¹, thence around guide sheaves 32,
33, 34, and around the drum F, thence back and around a sheave 35, preferably on
the same axis as sheave 33, around a sheave 36 on the same axis as sheave 32 but
in the direction opposite to that in which it rounded said sheave 32, and thence
back into itself to the sheave p³. The aforesaid sheaves 32, 36, are mounted on
an axis which is practically in the line of the centre of oscillation O, and supported
in a casting pivoted on a base plate 37 (Fig. 3). The said rope E, E, has two
lengths EE respectively extending substantially parallel to the motion of the
boom from the carriage to the centre of oscillation thereof, and this arrangement
permits the said rope to remain taut under all conditions. The arrangement and
position of the sheaves 33, 35, and the drum F can be raised as desired.
The longitudinal boom rope M, goes from the becket of sheave 40 to and
around the sheave 41, at the front end of the boom, back around the sheave 40 on
the housing N; thence around guide sheave 42, being wound on the drum G;
thence around guide sheaves 43, 44, and around a guide sheave 45, on the rear end
of said housing N. Thence around a sheave 46, near the rear end of the boom
and back to a fastening in the becket of said sheave 45. Thus the drum G, will
move the boom out forward or back as desired, and the rope M will remain always
taut, notwithstanding the movement and oscillation of the boom, the deviation of
the sheaves 40, 45 being of no practical consequence.
The transverse boom rope M is fixed to each end near the extremities of the
cross timber 20, and goes thence to and around the aforesaid drum I, and the said
drum I, will move the housing N' to the one side or the other on the timber 20, as
desired, carrying the rear end of the boom in the corresponding direction. The
worin gear 23, 24, and the pinion p₁ are so related to each other, that the motion
of the carriage P, as affected through the motion of the rope E, and the motion of
the housing N', as affected through the rope M', shall be in the same direction and
through equal arcs, and I find, in experience, that the variation of the distance
traveled by the housing N¹ on the timber 20 does not practically vary from the
length of the corresponding arc.
The trolley rope B, starts from the trolley R, goes around the sheave p² of the
carriage P, thence over a sheave 48, to the rear end of the boom Q, under guide
sheave 49, to and around sheave 50, mounted at practically the centre of

page_text: oscillation O, thence around guide sheave 51, 52, to and around drum F', being
wound thereon as often as necessary; thence back and around the sheave 53 ou
the same axis as sheave 52 to and around a sheave on the same axis as sheave 51,
around a sheave 54 on the same axis as sheave 50, back and around a sheave 55
on the same axis as sheave 49, around a sheave 56 on the same axis as sheave 48,
preferably forward through the boom to a sheave 60, at the front end thereof, and
thence back parallel to the boom to the trolley where it is fastened. Thus the
rope B consists, first, of a whip or length B extending forward parallel to the
hoom of a length B' which extends backward from the front to the rear end
thereof; of a length B2 which extends forward from the rear end of the boom to the
centre of oscillation, the position of the drum F¹ and of the guide sheaves between
the centre of oscillation and said drum being immaterial. Under all circumstances
the trolley rope will thus be taut and its drum will not be required to take up any
slack. The trolley rope can also move in one direction or the other, notwith-
standing the motions of the boom and without affecting the boom, and the boom
can move in any direction, notwithstanding the motion of the trolley rope and
without affecting the same.
3
The fall rope C, having one end fixed in the yoke of the carriage 4, goes to
sheaves 65, 66 on the trolley R, making a loop around the fall block 67, and by
sheave 66 leads forward to a sheave 68, on the front end of the boom; thence
back preferably through the boom, and around the sheave 69, under a guide sheave
on the same axis as the aforesaid sheave 49, around a sheave 70, which is practically
at the centre of oscillation of the boom and around guide sheaves which are
respectively on the axes of the aforesaid sheaves 51, 52, and to the hoisting
winch F, to which it is secured. Thus the fall rope again has three principal
whips or lengths, which are parallel to the boom and go to the centre of oscillation
thereof, the position of the winch F and guide sheaves between the centre of
oscillation and the said winch being immaterial.
THE HOISTING APPARATUS PROPER.
The aforesaid trolley rope B, fall rope C, and carriage rope E, are led respectively
around the drum F1, the winch F2, the drum F, and the boom rope M is led around
the drum G. Said drums and winches F, F1, F2 are preferably each set loosely on
a fixed shaft 75, mounted in bearings 76 (Fig. 6). Drums F, F1 have gears F, F³,
respectively. The winch F2, has an annular V-shaped groove 80, adapted to
engage a corresponding annular V-rib 81, formed on the gear Fe. Said gear F
meshes with a gear F8, which is ultimately driven from the engine T, by suitable
train of gearing.
The clutch mechanism of the winch F2 is operated by means of the sliding
rod 84 which threads in the differential nut 85, having a handle 86, the end of
rod 84 engaging by means of a washer 87, with the hub of the winch F² as
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. As the nut 85 revolves in the one direction or
the other, the rod 84 moves longitudinally to and fro, in the one case forcing the
groove 80 upon the V-rib 81, and thereby causing the winch to revolve with the
gear F, in the other case, withdrawing the groove from the said V-rib 81, and
allowing the winch to remain stationary, or turn back when the load is lowered.
Said winch may be provided with any suitable brake.
The gears of the drum F, mesh with the gears 90, 91, which are respectively
loose on the main shaft T and counter-shaft T, said shaft T, being connected by
a train of gearing t³, t, ts, with the main shaft T¹. The gear F meshes with
gears 92, 93, which are respectively loose on the aforesaid shafts T1, T2. The
arrangement of the gears F F and the gears 90, 91, 92, 93 will be understood by
comparing Figs. 5 and 7, the latter fig. presenting a plan view of said gears 90, 91,
92, 93, as they appear when the drums F F and gears F4 F5 are removed.
order to stop and start the said drum F the following construction is employed:
Said gears 90, 91, are each provided with one part of a clutch, the other part. of
In

page_text: which is secured to collars 96, having a sliding fit on the shafts T1, T2, said collars
being engaged and moved lengthwise of said shafts T1, T2, by the fingers 97, that
are pivoted in slots 101, of horizontal beams 100, that are connected with collars 98
which slide on horizontal rods 99. The said beams 100, are moved lengthwise
to and fro by means of the levers V, V₁. The aforesaid slots 101, each have a
portion parallel to the motion of the beams and a portion making an angle there-
with and toward the gears 90, 91 (Fig. 7). Thus the movement of the said
beams 100, in the one direction, will connect the gear 91 with its corresponding
collar, at the same time disconnecting the gear 90 from its collar, and the drum F
will be revolved in the one direction, while the reverse movement of the said 1
beam 100 will connect the gear 90 with its corresponding collar and disconnect the
gear 91 from its collar, and the drum F will revolve in the opposite direction.
When the said beam is in the middle position, indicated in Fig. 7, both gears 90, 91
will be disconnected from their corresponding collars, and the drum F will be
stationary. In a similar manner and with the agency of the gears 92, 93 the
drum F is started and stopped. The drum G is hung on an axle that is carried
by a frame W. A lever V2 is pivoted at w, and carries a train of gears w¹, w² of
which the gear w¹ revolves on said pivot w, and the gear w² is carried at the end of
said lever V. By depressing the lever V2 the gear w² will mesh with the gear on
the drum F and by elevating said lever V2 the gear w² will mesh with the gear 92
and the drum G will be revolved in the one direction or the other. When the
lever is in the middle position the said drum G may be stationary. By reason of
the independent motions of the drums F F and winch F2 the load can be raised
or lowered, the carriage oscillated in the one direction or the other, the trolley can
be moved out or in, the boom thrust out or drawn back without affecting any one
of the other movements.
It will be understood, that I do not restrict myself to the particular form of
friction clutches shown. Any other suitable clutch may be applied to my invention
without material change of the same.
N³ and N are friction rollers of the housing N₁, to work on the cross
timber 20.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I. declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In hoisting and transfer apparatus, the combination with a main cable or
bridge and a trolley, of an extensible boom adapted to carry an end of the main
cable and to reciprocate in a line which is substantially parallel with the main
cable whereby the effective length of the said. main cable can be increased or
diminished as described.
2. In hoisting and transfer apparatus, the combination of a track arranged on a
circular arc, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, a main cable or bridge carried
by said carriage, and an extensible boom arranged to oscillate about the centre of
said track and carry an end of said cable, also to reciprocate in a direction
substantially parallel to the main cable, substantially as described.
3. In hoisting and transfer apparatus, the combination of a track arranged on a
circular arc, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, a cable carried by said carriage,
a boom adapted to carry an end of said cable, and housings for said boom, one of
which is arranged to oscillate about the centre of said track and the other to move
laterally in the plane of said track.
4. In hoisting and transfer apparatus, the combination with a track, an oscillatory
extensible, boom, a carriage and a trolley, of a main cable, a trolley moving rope,
and a fall rope, and said cable and ropes each leading to the centre of the boom's
oscillation and being provided with three whips or lengths which are substantially
parallel to the boom...
5. The combination with the extensible boom, the carriage, the trolley, and the
main cable or bridge supported by said boom and carriage, of the fall "rope, the

page_text: trolley moving rope, the carriage moving rope, and the boom extending rope, of a
winch for the fall rope and drums for the other ropes, which said winch and drums.
are each arranged to be driven independently of the others.
6. The combination with the extensible boom, the carriage, the trolley, and the
main cable or bridge supported by said boom and carriage, of the fall rope, the
trolley moving rope, the carriage moving rope, and the boom extending rope, of a
constant motion main shaft, and a winch for the fall rope and drums for the other
ropes, said winch and drums being each arranged to be independently driven from
said main shaft.
7. The combination in hoisting and transfer apparatus of a main shaft, gear
trains driven therefrom and actuating a counter shaft in the reverse direction from
the main shaft, loose gears on said main and counter shafts arranged to operate
drums for the carriage and the trolley rope, and clutch mechanisms on said main and
counter shafts for engaging and disengaging said loose gears.
Dated this 18th day of May 1895
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.