IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS.
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Watson, of Bromley Street, Commercial
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS.
Sealed the 17th November 1868, and dated the 18th May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Watson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th May 1868.
I, GEORGE WATSON, of Bromley Street, Commercial Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING
WEIGHTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an improved pulley block. I employ a
pulley sheave having chambers, sinkings, or feathers on its periphery
to receive the links of a chain; this pulley is attached to a worm
wheel acted on by a worm or screw having a spindle which may be

page_text: worked by chain wheel and endless chain, lever handles, band, rope,
or otherwise. My block may have any number of pulley sheaves, and it
may be made as a single or combined pulley block. It can be used for
lifting only or for lifting and lowering at the same time, and be worked
in conjunction with another block below or without such block, the chain
being of any required length.
To apply my Invention to cranes, hoists, travelers, or other means
for raising weights, I propose to employ the worm wheel and worm or
screw as before described in a frame or pulley block to be worked by
wheel and endless chain, band, lever, or otherwise.
The advantages I obtain by this application of the worm wheel and
screw arc, great power in a small compass, simplicity in construction,
and greater security in the impossibility of the weight running down,
the chain sheave being held fast by the worm wheel which cannot turn
whilst the worm or screw is at rest.
My improved apparatus may be constructed of any suitable material,
cast iron, malleable cast iron, wrought iron, or brass, cither wholly or in
part, as occasion may require.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Watson in the Great Scal Patent Office 2
on the 17th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WATSON, of Bromley Street, Commercial Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Watson, Her special licence, that
I, the said George Watson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Watson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from

page_text: time to time and at all times thereafter during the time thercin
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING WEIGHTS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Watson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Watson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this my Specification, and
to the figures and letters of reference placed thereon, similar letters of
reference being placed upon and denoting similar parts in each of the
Figures respectively.
My Invention consists of an improved pulley block constructed after
the following manner:-I employ a pulley sheave having chambers,
sinkings, or feathers on its periphery to receive the links of a chain;
this pulley is attached to a worm wheel acted on by a worm or screw
having a spindle which may be worked by chain wheel and endless
chain, lever handles, band, rope, or otherwise. My improved block may
have any number of pulley sheaves and it may be made as a single or
combined pulley block. It can be used for lifting only or for lifting
and lowering at the same time, and be worked in conjunction, with
another block below or without such block, the chain being of any
required length.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Fig. 1 is an end view of a
pulley block made according to my Invention, the chain not being
shown over the sheaves in order to make it appear that the one is plain
and the other feathered; Fig. 2, side view of a single pulley block made
according to my Invention with crank handles applied; and Fig. 3, side
view of a pulley block partly in section shewing the gearing of the

page_text: worm wheel and screw; Fig. 4 shews an extra length of frame for a
block without ordinary sheave, and having a forked end for preventing
the chain doubling up or riding in the sheave.
A, worm or screw; B, worm wheel; C, pulley sheave with feathers
or chambers or sinkings to receive and work the chain; D, ordinary
pulley sheave; E, small chain wheel for which may be substituted a
cranked or other lever; F, frame of cast, malleable, or wrought iron;
G, extra length of frame for a block without ordinary sheave to it;
H, ordinary gin block; I, ordinary swivel hook; J, crank handles.
The action of my improved pulley block will be at once understood
by reference to the Drawing. The worm wheel B and sheaves C and D
being on the same axle on turning the screw A to the right or left
by the chains and wheels E or cranks J the weight is raised or lowered,
and as previously stated can be left at any height without fear of
running down, as the worm wheel B cannot be turned by the sheave but
only by its screw.
The advantages I obtain by my improved pulley block are, great
power in a small compass, simplicity in construction, and greater
security in the impossibility of the weight running down, the chain sheave
being held fast by the worm wheel which cannot turn whilst the worm
or screw is at rest.
I also apply my combination of sheave with worm wheel and screw
to cranes, hoists, travelers, or other means for raising weights in a
frame or pulley block to be worked by wheel and endless chain, band,
lever, or otherwise.
My improved apparatus may be constructed of any suitable material,
cast iron, malleable cast iron, wrought iron, or brass, either wholly or in
part, as occasion may require.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have. it distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
given and illustrated in the annexed Sheet or Drawing as such may be
modified without departure from the principle of my Invention which
I declare to be, and I claim,—
The application of the worm wheel and screw to a pulley block,
substantially as described.

page_text: Also, the application of the same combination of worm wheel and
sheave to travelers, cranes, hoists, and other analagous means of raising
and lowering weights.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Watson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GEORGE WATSON. (L.S.)