IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRAPPLING AND HOISTING STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roy Stone of the City and State of New York United
States of America for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
GRAPPLING AND HOISTING STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roy Stone at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1883.
ROY STONE of the City and State of New York, United States of America
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRAPPLING AND HOISTING STONE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES
"
I make use of a range of radial claws jointed at their inner ends to a crown
piece and springs are applied to the claws that tends to close them downwardly
and towards each other. The springs are associated with braces that prevent the
claws being opened too far, or the joints injured. To the central crown piece a
vertical rod is connected by a ball joint and coupling. The hoisting ropes or chains
are applied to the upper part of the vertical rod, and there is a pulley with a small
winch barrel and chains, to a sliding sleeve that is provided with pulleys and
chains to the outer portions of the claws so that the claws are opened by drawing
up the sleeve. There are two ropes or chains to the apparatus, one serves for
opening the claws and holding them open by the weight of the apparatus hanging
upon such rope as the grapple is lowered by such rope: the other rope
raise the apparatus and the stone or other article that is grasped by the claws of
the grapple. It is to be understood that when the grapple has been lowered and it
rests upon the stone or other article to be grasped, the claws and crown turn upon
the ball joint to adapt themselves to the shape of the article to be grasped and the
claws are pressed towards each other by the springs and they seize the article
to be raised and hold the same as the lifting rope or chain is drawn upon
used to
When this grapple is used for submarine excavation it may be worked by a
derrick or crane upon a scow or float. In using said grapple for handling stone in
tunnels and excavations it is preferable to make the same as short as possible and
to handle the same by a crane that is provided with a turntable base and a vertical

page_text: mast supported at the top by guys, or a pivot entering a drill hole in the top of
the tunnel. The mast is made of two parts between which are pivotted lazy-tongs
or cross bars and there are ropes or chains and winch barrels operated by steam
power or cranks and friction or brake wheels all arranged in connection with the
lazy-tongs, and the aforesaid grapple that is connected with the outer end of the
lazy-tongs arms, so that the lazy tongs can be raised or lowered at the outer end
and extended or contracted by changing the angle at which the bars cross each
other thereby the grapple can be lowered and drawn back or moved further away
and turned around with the mast and turntable so as to reach and grasp any stone
or other article within-its range, and then lifted and transferred to a car, or to any
other desired position. The power to operate the crane and grapple may be com-
pressed air passing to an engine on the turntable, and this turntable is generally
used upon a truck or car wheels so as to be moved upon a track from place to
place.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Roy Stone in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July
1883.
ROY STONE of the City and State of New York, United States of America
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GRAPPLING AND HOISTING STONE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES
"
I make use of a range of radial claws jointed at their inner ends to a crown
piece and springs are applied to the claws that tend to close them downwardly and
towards each other. The springs are associated with braces that prevent the claws
being opened too far or the joints injured. To the central crown piece a vertical
rod is connected by a ball joint and coupling. The hoisting ropes or chains are
applied to the upper part of the vertical rod and there is a pulley with a small
winch barrel and chains to a sliding sleeve that is provided with pulleys and chains
to the outer portions of the claws so that the claws are opened by drawing up the
sleeve. There are two ropes or chains to the apparatus, one serves for opening
the claws and holding them open by the weight of the apparatus hanging upon
such rope as the grapple is lowered by such rope; the other rope is used to raise
the apparatus and the stone or other article that is grasped by the claws of the
grapple. It is to be understood that when the grapple has been lowered and it
rests upon the stone or other article to be grasped the claws and crown turn upon
the ball joint to adapt themselves to the shape of the article to be grasped and the
claws are pressed towards each other by the springs and they seize the article to be
raised and hold the same as the lifting rope or chain is drawn upon.
When this grapple is used for submarine excavation it may be worked by &
derrick or crane upon a scow or float. In using said grapple for handling stone in
tunnels and excavations it is preferable to make the same as short as possible and
to handle the same by a crane that is provided with a turntable base and a vertical
mast supported at the top by guys or a pivot entering a drill hole in the top of the
tunnel. The mast is made of two parts between which are pivoted lazy-tongs or
cross bars and there are ropes or chains and winch barrels operated by steam power
or cranks and friction or brake wheels, all arranged in connection with the lazy
tongs and the aforesaid grapple that is connected with the outer end of the lazy
tongs arms, so that the lazy tongs can be raised or lowered at the outer end and
extended or contracted by changing the angle at which the bars cross each other,
thereby the grapple can be lowered and drawn back or moved further away and
turned around with the mast and turntable so as to reach and grasp any stone or
other article within its range and then lifted and transferred to a car or to any
other desired position. The power to operate the crane and grapple may be com-
pressed air passing to an engine on the turntable and this turntable is generally
used upon a truck or car wheels so as to be moved upon a track from place to
place.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the crane with the base in section.

page_text: Fig. 8 is a plan view of the skirt or pulley frame partially in section and the
cords or chains to the arms of the claws.
Fig. 9 is a cross section in larger size of the connecting bolt between the grapple
and grapple arm
Fig. 10 is an elevation of the hoisting apparatus as applied to an ordinary
platform car; the grapple in this figure is shown partly in section.
Fig. 11 is a diagram representing the car as in a tunnel and showing a device
for bracing the mast in cases where guy ropes or chaines cannot be employed.
I will first describe the apparatus shown in figs 1 to 9 inclusive.
The mast A is usually provided with a platform B and wheels C at its lower end
and with a guy pintle or block D at the top. Any suitable means however may.
be used for supporting the mast A and allowing it to revolve or to be revolved in
conveying the stone or other substance from one place to another.
I prefer to make the platform B circular in form and fastened to the mast A and
to inclose the same by a cylindrical ring E with internal gear teeth near the top
and to support this rim E by the frame F that rests as a truck frame upon the
wheels C so that the apparatus may be moved from place to place with and by the
truck F C upon a railway track G.
When this crane is to be used in a fixed position the wheels and track will not
be required.
The bottom of the mast should be supported by the screw a that rests in a cavity
in the base block H. By turning down this screw a the mast and platform will be
lifted from the frame of the truck so that the crane will turn freely at the top
pintle and upon the end of the screw a within the socket of the base block. A set
screw should be provided at e to press upon the screw a and cause it and the mast
to turn together.
In cases where an engine is provided on the platform for operating the various
drums and pulleys and the boiler is not on said platform, it will be preferable to
make the screw a tubular so as to pass through the same and through an opening
in the mast a flexible tube d by which steam or air under compression can be
conveyed to the engine.
By passing the air conveying tube up through the base block and screw as
shown the crane is free to be turned around for transferring the stone from one
place to another.
It is to be understood that the operative parts of my apparatus may be revolved
by hand power through cranks and gearing or that steam or other power may be
employed.
In fig. 10 I have shown an engine and mechanism for operating the hoisting
drums which engine will be hereafter described.
The mast A may be of wood or metal and it is preferably made in two parts or
with a central longitudinal opening as shown for the pulleys and lazy arms herein-
after described so that the parts may move in a vertical plane passing centrally
through the mast.
The lazy arms K L are pivoted together at f and the grapple arm M is pivoted
at one end to the arm K and there is a link N pivotted at g to the end L and at
i to the center of M.
These bars or arms K L M N form parallel motion or "lazy tongs" arms that
can be opened or closed and in so doing they are lengthened or shortened.
The inner end of the arm K is pivoted at o and the outer end of the arm M is
provided with a grapple claw or other device for grasping and raising the stone or
other article to which it is applied.
It will be understood that the lazy arms can be raised or lowered by means
hereinafter described and that the arm K will swing upon the pivot o in the path
indicated by dotted arcs.
arm K.
The grapple arm M can also be turned upon its joint that connects it with the
Hence the outer end of the arm M can be elevated or depressed and can
be at a distance from tlie mast or near to the platform and the parts can be revolved

page_text: with and by the mast and platform. Hence the grapple or boisting device at the
end of the arm M can be brought to any place within the range of the apparatus
for lifting a rock or other article, after which the mast and parts can be turned
around and the lazy arms raised or lowered, extended or contracted so as to
transfer such stone or article to the proper place for delivery, such as a car or
truck, and place such stone thereon.
In order to revolve the platform and mast, I make use of a pinion n upon the
platform gearing into the teeth of a stationary circular rack upon the truck
frame F and said pinion is revolved by a crank and hand power or by connection
to an engine.
The circular rack and pinion may be below the platform B instead of being
above the same as shown.
The arms K should be double so that the grapple arm M passes in between them
at one end. The arm L is between them in the middle and the winch barrel P is
between them at the pivot o which pivot o also forms the shaft by means of which
the barrel P is revolved. There are jaw plates or bearings P' on the mast A for
the support of the pivot shaft o and arms K.
At one end of the pivot shaft o there is to be a crank or other suitable connection
to power by means of which the barrel P can be turned when required and the
ratchet wheel Q on the shaft o is held by a pawl lever R. The edges of this
wheel Qare however beveled as shown at 2 figs. 2 and 3 and the lever Rterminates
at one end as a fork 3 that is, at the sides of the inclined edge.
When the lever R is raised the pawl 4 holds the teeth of the wheel Q and
prevents it from turning.
When the lever R is depressed the pawl 4 is disengaged and the fork 3 applies
friction to the inclined edges of the wheel Q and according to the force applied, so
the wheel Q and barrel P will be allowed to turn more or less rapidly as the
rope or chain 5 unwinds from the barrel P. This rope or chain passes from the
barrel P over a pulley 6 at the end of the arm L and is fastened at its ends to the
mast or platform. Hence when the rope 5 is wound upon the barrel P the arm L
is brought more nearly into line with the arm K or the reverse when the barrel P
is allowed to revolve as the rope 5 unwinds.
By this operation the grapple arm M is swung in or out, up or down and turned
upon its joint the links N forming the parallel motion connection between L
and M.
It is not necessary to place the barrel P upon the pivot o as said barrel may be
upon bearing supported by the platform. In this case the rope 5 will go from the
barrel up over the pulley 6 and down to the pivot o or arm K.
The spring 8 acts upon the lever R to throw the pawl 4 into contact with the
teeth of Qand hand or foot power may be applied to move the lever R the
other way.
In order to raise and lower the outer end of the arm K and to sustain the same
when in position, I make use of the clewis pulley 10 at the joint 7 with the rope
or chain 12 passing from the eye 13 around such pulley 10 then over the pulley 14
to the barrel S which is upon a shaft that is supported in bearings 15 upon the
platform B and the wheel 16 is provided with teeth and bevelled edges and there is
a lever 17 having a pawl and fork like the pawl and forked lever R so that the
barrel S can be held by the pawl when the rope 12, has been wound up to the
desired place by a crank or other appliance; or said barrel may revolve as the
rope draws off and the arm K swings downwardly the friction of the fork upon
the inclined edges of 16 regulating the speed of movement. By the devices before
described I am able to move the crane portion of my hoisting apparatus and
raise or lower the outer end of M and bring the same nearer to or farther from
the mast.
I will now describe the improved grapple and show the manner of applying the
same to the crane.
The grapple is made with a central stem p and a ball at its lower end, the

page_text: same being confined by a cup o̟ that is screwed upon the upper end or shank of
the crown and there is a coupling & sliding upon the stem p and entering the
upper end of the cup 9 to keep the parts properly in line with each other while
the grapple is being lowered or opened.
The couplings however will rise and allow the crown to turn upon the ball
joint whenever the teeth at one side rest upon the stone or article to be raised
and the teeth on the other side are unsupported. This allows the grapple to
accomodate itself to the shape of the article to be seized.
In order, however, to shorten the length of the grapple and to retain it firmly in
place I employ a cross bolt a passing through jaws at the end of the grapple
arm M. This bolt has a hole across it through which the upper end of the stem p
is passed up vertically and secured by a cross pin or bolt a³ (see figs 7 and 9) so
that the grapple may hang vertically from said bolt which turns in its jaws as the
crane is raised or lowered. The rope or chain 20 passing from the sliding sleeve,
goes over the sheaves 62 at the outer ends of the cross bolt to the winding up
drums t' upon the same shaft as the drum p'.
Upon drawing the rope or chain 21 off the drum p' the rope 20 will be wound
upon the spirally grooved drums and in doing this the sleeve will be drawn up
and the claws opened by the ropes or chains 32. The reverse movement allows
the claws to close by the action of springs and in so doing the cords 20 are drawn
off the drums t¹ and the rope or chain 21 is again wound upon p' by the rotation
of the same and drawn off the drum t².
In order to operate the rope 21 I employ the drum t2 the same being revolved
by a crank or other suitable means, the rope 21 passing over the pulley 24 down
to such drum t². In cases where the grapple is used without the lazy tongs and
said lazy tongs are replaced by a boom extending from a mast on the car or scow,
the wheels p and t' for the ropes 20 and 21 will be supported in a frame at the
upper end of the rod p as shown in fig. 12. The operation of opening and closing
the grapple by the ropes 20 & 21 is the same as before described. The grapple
and its load are raised by the chain c¹º.
There is a brake lever u that applies a friction to the edge of the drum t² to
hold the same from turning back when the grapple is opened. By relieving the
said lever u the drums are allowed to revolve backwardly as the springs close the
claws of the grapple.-Sometimes in moving the lazy arms the rope 21 may
become unduly slack and be liable to become entangled. I use a weight u³ with
rope 28 over a pulley 30 to a drum 29 on the same shaft as the drum t². The
weight tends to turn the shaft and the drum t² and thus take up any slack rope
if such results from the movement of the crane.
In order to shorten the grapple I make the projecting skirt or pulley frame w
around the sleeve and place upon it at equal distances apart the same number of
pulleys that there are claws to the grapple-say eight-and pass the chains or
ropes from the hinged arms e over these pulleys to the similar arms on the
opposite side.
I prefer to use the chains or ropes double or endless the same passing from the
eye in the arm e at one side up over one of the pulleys then to the opposite arm e
and back over the pulley at the opposite edge of the pulley frame, so that the
chains will act with uniformity in opening the claws as the sleeve and pulley
frame are drawn up by the action of the wheel p rope 21 drum t¹ and rope or
chain 20.
In some instances the claws become broken by undue strain or carelessness. I
provide for renewing the pivot pins and for removing the broken claws easily, by
making the crown piece with vertical radial slots at equal distances around such
crown pieces with channels in the faces of the slots to receive the pivot pins.
These pivot pins 6s are to be dropped in from the top of the crown and they pass
down to the bottoms of the slots and are there held in place in the position to form
the pivots on which the claws swing and each claw is made with a hooked joint
at the upper end, the slot or mouth of the hook being uppermost so that when the

page_text: outer end of the claw is raised up to the position shown by dotted lines the hook
can be passed in behind the pivot pin and the claw swung down to its place.
It is to be understood that the claw cannot be unhooked from its pivot pin when
in use, because the slot that receives the circular end of the claw is recessed to the
same shape as the circular head, and the joint can not be unhooked until the claw
has been moved considerably higher than the place to which the claw opens when
in use.
I have shown each claw as provided with a two part sliding brace composed of
a rod e pivoted to the cup 9 and sliding in a tube e this tube e¹ is pivoted to the
claw at e and there is a helical spring 34 around the rod and tube.
The springs aid in closing the jaws and the rods e when the jaws are fully
opened bear upon the heels of the claws and form stops that prevent the claws
opening too far and at the same time relieve the pivot pins of the claws from
strain.
The claws are made with ribs 36 running along near the outer edges of the
backs of the claws so that the joints e³ for the ends of the tubes e* and the joints
of the arms that are made with stop toes as shown in fig. 4 may come in
between these flanges and the binge pins of such joints pass through these flanges
as shown.
Said flanges however converg towards the ends of the claws and unite
in single strengthening ribs as shown. This construction allows the springs and
braces to occupy the space between the flanges as the claws are opened up into the
position shown in fig. 5.
If either claw is broken, its brace has to be unbolted and turned up out of the
way to allow the claw to be unhooked at the joint and another claw hooked into
place.
If either pivot pin of the claw is bent or broken it can be driven up out of the
grooves that hold its ends after the claw has been removed.
Where the mast is provided with a pintle at its top as seen in figs. 1 & 3 it is
best in tunnels to bore a vertical hole in the rock for receiving said pintle. These
holes should be made in succession as the crane is moved along from place to place,
as the tunnel progresses.-In order however to accomodate the inequalities in the
hight of the roof of the tunnel, the top pintle must be raised or lowered.-To effect
this object a telescopic mast may be provided; but I prefer to use a fork e7 for the
base of the pintle as shown in figs. 1 & 3 and pass this fork at the sides of the
upper end of the mast into strong guide bands that form slides for the fork.-This
fork can be raised to bring the pintle into the drill hole after which the fork is
sustained from sliding down by a pin or spike inserted into the mast at the lower
end of the fork or through one of the bands and fork.
My improved claw with a hook joint at it inner end might be used with a crown
provided with screw bolts or pins inserted into or through the jaws instead of the
joint pins dropped into the grooves in the faces of the jaws.
Referring now to fig. 10 I remark that the crane and grapple represented therein
are the same as those before described excepting such slight modifications in the
crane and arrangement of ropes and pulleys to adapt it to an ordinary platform car
and hoisting engine.
The mast A is provided with tubular pintles a and D at bottom and top respec-
tively. The pintle a is made as a tube with a flanged portion for connecting it to
the under side of the mast and this tubular portion passes into a tubular bearing
secured to a base block upon the platform of the car.
The pintle D at the top of the mast is received in a bearing formed with the
strap no that is on the braces A* which latter extend from the two corners of the
rear of the car where they are secured by straps and bolts. The mast turns
upon these pintles a and D and to partially revolve said mast and bring the
grapple to the desired place I make use of a small rotary engine M' that commu-
nicates motion by the gearing m³. m² to a shaft m³ in bearings on the support for
the mast.
Around this shaft there is passed one or more turns of a rope or chain m
.

page_text: preferably the latter that passes in opposite directions around a grooved disk m' at
the base of the mast and the ends of said chain are secured to said disk. Hence
when the engine M is started by moving the lever n' motion is communicated to
the shaft m and chain m² and the mast is turned in one direction or the other
according as the lever n' is moved to the right or left.
At N³ I have shown a steam cylinder, piston and connecting rods for giving
motion to the hoisting gearing and drums t2. S and P-The gearing is rotated
continuously but the drums t2. S and P are revolved only when their respective
clutch levers n'. no and no are moved by the attendant.
The chain or rope 21 for operating the grapple is connected to the drum t² and
leads from said drum up over the pulley m³ then down through the tubular
pintle D and under the pulley 24 to the drum P-The ropes or chains 12 and 5
for operating the lazy tongs are connected with the drums S and P' respectively.
The rope or chain 12 leads from the drum S up over a pulley at the side of and on
the same pivot as m³. then down through the tubular pintle D and under a pulley
at the side of and upon the same pivot as the pulley 24, then around a sheave 10
upon the lazy tongs to an eye 15 upon the mast where it is secured.
The rope or chain 5 leads from the drum P under the pulley m¹ in the base for
the mast, then up through the tubular pintle a over the pulley m¹³ and under the
pulley P on the pivot of the lazy tongs; then up and over a pulley 6 at the end of
the arm L and down to a clevis on the pivot o where it is fastened.
The operation of the crane fig. 10 is precisely the same as that described with
reference to the crane figs. 1, 2 & 3 I have shown two parallel arms K' L' added to
the lazy tongs to increase the reach of said tongs.
Upon the brace A* I have shown a winch m³ for giving tension to a guy rope m³.
that leads from the winch barrel up and over a sheave m¹ upon the brace A³ near
the top of the mast. The end of this guy rope may be fastened to any convenient
object such as a stake driven into the earth. When the crane is used in a tunnel
it is seldom that guy ropes can be used for want of an object to which the ropes
can be fastened. To meet this I provide a brace composed of a vertical tubular
rod o'. o³ and horizontal supporting arm 08. 0°-The rod o. o³ is pointed at its end
to enter slight cavities or holes made in the roof and floor of the tunnel and said
tube is divided and made with right and left hand screw threads at its adjoining
ends for the nut o so that said tube can be lengthened or shortened to accomodate
the hight of the tunnel. The horizontal arm is made of two tubes one sliding
within the other. One o8 is connected by a pivot pin to an adjustable sleeve o' on
the vertical tube o' and the other oº is connected with the strap n on the brace A*
and is made with two pivot joints one at right angles to the other so as to form an
universal joint and allow the arm to occupy a position to accommodate the position
of the mast with reference to the vertical rod o₁. Clamp screws o₁ passing through
the tube o are employed for firmly clamping the tube o. after said tube has been
adjusted to place.
I claim as my Invention
First. The combination with the mast of the lazy arms, mechanism for raising
and lowering the outer end of the said lazy-arms and mechanism for drawing the
ends of the arms toward each other, or the reverse, and extending or contracting
such arms substantially as set forth. Second. The vertical mast slotted longitu-
dinally in combination with the arms K pivoted at the mast, the grapple arm M
pivoted to the end of the arm K and the arms L N forming parallel motion bars and
mechanism to act upon the arms K and L to swing the lazy arms and move the
end of the grapple arms outward or inward, upward or downward, substantially as
set forth. Third. The combination with the pivoted mast of the lazy arms, the
platform, the truck, the screw for raising the mast, the drums, ropes or chains,
pulleys and means for holding and revolving the respective drums whereby the
lazy tongs can be swung around to any position and extended or contracted,
raised or lowered substantially as set forth.-Fourth. The combination with the
mast and lazy arms of a grapple at the end of the lazy arms, springs for closing the

page_text: claws of the grapple, and the drums p' and ' and ropes or chains 20 and 21 for
opening the grapple, substantially as set forth.-Fifth. The combination with the
grapple claws q stem p and ball and socket joint of the cross bolt a to which the
stem is connected, the skirt or pulley frame and pulleys, the rope or chain 21 and
the ropes or chains from the pulley frame to the respective claws, substantially as
set forth Sixth The combination with the joint crown stem and ball and socket
joint of the claws q2 having ribs on the back edges, the extension braces and their
joints passing in between the ribs, and the springs surrounding the extension
braces substantially as set forth.-Seventh.-The combination with the claws and
joint-crown in a grapple of the arms e passing in between the ribs at the back of
the claws and a joint pin and stop toe for such arms and the sliding pulley frame
and ropes or chains passing from such arms and over the pulleys substantially as
set forth-Eighth The combination with the joint crown in a grapple of claws
having hook joints at the upper ends, whereby the claws can be disconnected
without removing the pivot substantially as set forth-Ninth. The combination
with the grapple claws having hooked joints of the joint crown having radial slots
for said joint hooks, slots in the faces of such radial slots and joint pins or pivots
held at their ends in such slots substantially as set forth-Tenth. The combination
in a grapple of a series of radial claws, a crown or head to which they are hinged,
springs for closing the claws, chains for opening the same and pulleys for such
chains, substantially as set forth. Eleventh. The combination with the hinged
claws and their head of a ball and socket joint, a rod connected to the same and
mechanism for opening and closing the claws, substantially as set forth.-
Twelfth. The combination in a grapple of hinged claws, a ball and socket joint, a
coupling and the actuating rod substantially as set forth whereby the claws are
retained in their proper relation to the rod substantially as set forth.-Thirteenth.
The combination with the claws and their crown joints of two part braces
extending from the backs of the claws to the outside of the socket or cup,
substantially as set forth-Fourteenth. The combination with the claws, their
crown joints and stem of two part braces hinged at their ends and helical springs
around such braces, substantially as set forth.-Fifteenth. The combination with
the stem, the claws and their crown joint, of double chains to each pair of opposite
claws, the sheaves and mechanism for moving the frame, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Roy Stone have hereunto set my hand and seal
this Fifth day of July A.D. 1883.