Improvements in Machinery for Lifting and Lowering Heavy Bodies.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machinery for Lifting and Lowering Heavy Bodies.
RICHARD GAY, of Corbett Street, Smethwick in the County of Staffordshire
Engineer, EDWIN ATKINSON WHITEHEAD, and DAVID THOMAS YOUNG and HARRY
WILLIAM YOUNG of Ryland Street Works, Birmingham in the County of Warwick-
shire, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention consists in Improvements in Pulley Blocks and Hoisting Appliances
used for the purpose of raising and lowering weights and heavy bodies, whereby the
load in being raised is safely sustained when the hand power is released, and whereby
it is possible to lower either by the reverse pulling of hand chain or rope, or by
means of the brake at will. We further arrange our lifting chain, that a double lift
is possible, by having a hook at each end of same, and we allow the load to descend
by brake from either book, or we pull the same down by reverse motion of hand
chain at pleasure.
We will describe our invention in connection with a Pulley Block.-We construct
a frame having essentially two sides formed of one casting or otherwise with equal
advantage. And we mount the main lifting chain wheel upon an axle (carried in
this frame) to which also is secured the main toothed wheel; or we form the toothed
wheel and the chain wheel as one and the same casting or part of the block. When
we wish the axle or spindle to remain stationary we employ a pinion mounted upon
a second spindle carried by the frame, to which by preference is attached the hand,
chain or rope wheel, which pinion by gearing into the toothed wheel gives motion to
the main lifting wheel.
Upon the pinion shaft we place a split disc having projections or pins against
which a cam or cams may be caused to press for the purpose of forcing open the
segments or two parts of the split disc; and thereby causing a projecting tooth or
teeth or suitably formed surface to engage with recesses, serrations, or with equal
advantage a smooth surface formed upon or forming the inner surface of a loose
brake ring which encases or covers the split inner disc.
Upon the whole of the internal surface of this brake ring we sometimes cut or
form grooves or teeth to receive the projecting tooth or teeth from the inner disc,

page_text: when the same is forced open or expanded; or we allow the inner surface to remain
smooth when we wish to depend upon the frictional resistance caused by the smooth
inner disc being forced open or expanded.
The expansion of the inner disc is affected automatically by means of the load
hanging on the chain; that is to say, whichever side the load hangs upon the wheel,
it causes such a movement of the pinion upon its spindle that obliges the split disc to
expand and engage with the brake ring in the side which will prevent its motion in
the direction necessary for the descent of the load, but at the same time leaves it free
to move in opposite direction.
The brake ring we cause to be held by two or more circular segments attached to
the lower cross arms of jointed levers.
Upon the upper cross arms of these levers we attach a connecting ring or rings
from which the block is suspended when lifting a load.
The action of the load thus acting upon the cross arms being to clip by its lower
arms the brake ring and thus arrest its tendency to motion caused by the internal
teeth being pressed against by the load; of course we wish it to be understood that
we can lower the load by pulling the hand chain wheel so that this resistance is
overcome.
.
We further secure to the top cross arms of the jointed levers a hand lever so
arranged that by pulling the same we cause the lower cross arms to open and thus
release the pressure on the brake disc, when it is desired to lower by the brake
alone.
We modify this arrangement for actuating the expanding disc to suit the particular
requirements of the pulley block, or hoist; but the application of our invention to such
cases and to hoisting appliances other than pulley blocks, differs in no essential respect
to its application to a double lift pulley block as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1888
GEO. C. MARKS,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Lifting and Lowering Heavy Bodies.
We RICHARD GAY of 59 Corbett Street Smethwick in the County of Stafford,
EDWIN ATKINSON WHITEHEAD of Snow Hill Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
DAVID THOMAS YOUNG and HARRY WILLIAM YOUNG of Ryland Street Birmingham
aforesaid. Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained' in
and by the following statement:-
Our invention consists in Improvements in Pulley Blocks and Hoisting appliances
used for the purpose of raising and lowering weights and heavy bodies, whereby the
load in being raised is safely sustained when the hand power is released, and
whereby it is possible to lower either by the reverse pulling of hand chain or rope
or by means of the brake at will. We further arrange our lifting chain that a
double lift is possible by having a hook at each end of same, and we allow the load
to descend by brake from either hook or we pull the same down by reverse motion of
hand chain at pleasure.
We will describe our invention in connection with a Pulley Block. We construct
a frame having essentially two sides formed of one casting or otherwise with equal
advantage. And we mount the main lifting chain wheel upon an axle (carried in this
frame) to which also is secured the main toothed wheel, or we form the toothed wheel
and the chain wheel as one and the same casting or part of the block.
When we
wish the axle or spindle to remain stationary we employ a pinion mounted upon a
second spindle carried by the frame to which by preference is attached the hand chain
or rope wheel, which pinion by gearing into the toothed wheel gives motion to the
main lifting wheel.
Upon the pinion shaft we place a split disc having projections or pins against
which a cam or cams may be caused to press for the purpose of forcing open the
segments or two parts of the split disc, and thereby causing a projecting tooth or
teeth or suitably formed surface to engage with recesses, serrations, or with equal
advantage a smooth surface formed upon or forming the inner surface of a loose brake
ring which encases or covers the split inner disc.
Upon the whole of the internal surface of this brake ring we sometimes cut or
form grooves or teeth to receive the projecting tooth or teeth from the inner disc,
when the same is forced open or expanded; or we allow the inner surface to remain
smooth when we wish to depend upon the frictional resistance caused by the smooth
inner disc being forced open or expanded.
The expansion of the inner disc is effected automatically by means of the load
hanging on the chain; that is to say, whichever side the load hangs upon the wheel,
it causes such a movement of the pinion upon its spindle that obliges the split disc to
expand and engage with the brake ring in the side which will prevent its motion in
the direction necessary for the descent of the load, but at the same times leaves it
free to move in opposite direction.

page_text: The brake ring we cause to be held by two or more circular segments attached to
the lower cross arms of these levers. Upon the upper cross arms of these levers we
attach a connecting ring or rings from which the block is suspended when lifting
a load.
The action of the load thus acting upon the cross arms being to clip by its lower
arms the brake ring and thus arrest its tendency to motion caused by the internal teeth
being pressed against by the load; of course we wish it to be understood that we can
lower the load by pulling the hand chain wheel so that this resistance is overcome.
We further secure to the top cross arins of the jointed levers a hand lever so arranged
that by pulling the same we cause the lower cross arms to open and thus release the
pressure on the brake disc, when it is desired to lower by the brake alone.
We modify this arrangement for actuating the expounding disc to suit the particular
requirements of the pulley block, or hoist, but the application of our invention to such
cases, and to hoisting appliances other than pulley blocks differs in no essential
respect to its application to a double lift pulley block as hereinbefore described.
In order that our invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly
understood we hereunto append five sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to and representing examples of the application of our invention.
On sheet Figures 1 and 2 are side and end elevations of a pulley block con-
structed according to our invention in which the weight acts at one end of the
lifting chain only, that is the arrangements are designed to be self sustaining only
when the weight to be lifted is suspended from that end.
Figures 3. 4 & 5 are sections through the brake ring, segments and cams according
to different modifications.
On sheet 2 Figures 6 and 7 show side elevations and a plan of our invention as
applied to a wall hoist.
On sheet 3 Figures 8 and 9 are side and end elevations of our inventions as applied
to a self sustaining crab suitable for overhead travelling cranes.
Figures 10 and 11 are end and front elevations of the application to a self sus
taining hoisting crab.
r
On sheet 4 Figures 12 and 13 are side and end elevations of a pulley block according
to our invention arranged to be self sustaining with the weight hanging upon either
end of the lifting chain.
Figures 14, 15, 16 & 17 are sections of the shaft, cams, segments, and brake ring
illustrating matters hereinafter described.
Figure 18 is a side elevation showing a different method of clipping the external
surface of the brake ring on a smaller scale.
On sheet 5 Figures 19 and 20 are side and end elevations of a self sustaining geared
block arranged to be self sustaining with the weight hanging at either end of the
lifting chain.
Referring to sheet 1 Figures 1 and 2 A. A. are side plates or frames held in position
by the distance bolts a b, the lower bolt a also acts as a shaft or spindle carrying the
spur wheel B to which is attached the lifting chain wheel, C, D, is a pinion wheel
keyed to the spindle or shaft c and gearing into B, it is driven from the hand chain
wheel E also keyed on c. The brake ring F is concentric with the spindle e and
communicates with it by the loose segments or blocks dd (see Fig. 3) which fit the
internal surface of F and are thrust against it when required by the cams e e formed
on the spindle c. The brake ring F is clipped upon its external surface by the lower
ends of the cross arms GG which pivot freely upon the upper distance bolt b. The
upper ends of the cross arms are connected by the links to the swivel g and the
suspending hook H. The whole weight to be lifted therefore causes the cross arms
to clip the exterior of the brake ring with a pressure varying with the weight. The
lever I pivotting at h connects to the short link i pivotting at & by the pin and
thereby forms a toggle joint which enables the cross aruis GG to be separated when
required and so release the brake ring. The action in lifting and sustaining is as
as follows. In lifting, the hand chain wheel is revolved in such a direction that the

page_text: the cams.
cams ee on the spindle c move in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 3) by this, the
loose segments or blocks d d are carried round freely within the brake ring F without
pressing upon its inner surface. The weight must be suspended from the side of the
lifting chain wheel which allows of this. If the hand chain is let go, then the weight
at once tends to revolve the spindle c in the direction opposite to the arrows, and the
cams ee then expand the segments or blocks d d against the inner surface of F and
so seize with any desired force which varies with the weight upon the block. The
pressure brought to bear upon the inner surface of the brake ring by any given weight
depends upon the leverage of the weight on the cams and the wedging inclination of
The pressure also upon the exterior surface of the brake ring by the cross
arms depends upon their proportions and the lengths of the links ff. The proportions
are arranged in such a manner that any weight within the power of the block is
sustained when the hand chain is let go in any position to which it may have
been raised. The weight may be lowered slowly by pulling the hand chain in the
reverse direction with sufficient force when the friction on the outer surface of the
brake ring F is overcome and the ring moves within its clipping surfaces. When
it is desired to lower rapidly the brake lever I is pulled down by a rope or chain
when the cross arms are caused to expand by the toggle and so release the brake
ring F and allow it to revolve freely. When constructed according to Fig. 3
friction alone is depended on to prevent the spindle c from moving when the
cams e press the segments dd against the inner surface of F and so sustain the
load, but in Figs. 4 and 5 notches and teeth are shown which may be made to
engage when the projections on the segments are thrust out by the cams ee and so
sustain the load.
On sheet 2 Figs. 6 and 7 show the application of our invention to a wall hoist.
The arrangement of the brake ring and other sustaining mechanism is precisely
that hereinbefore described hut the method of causing the cross arms to close and
so clip the brake ring is different. In this case the side plates A A are prolonged
and hinge upon a pin m carried between a back plate K and the front bar L.
The motion is limited by pins n in AA working in slots in another front bar M
and the back plate K. The outer ends oo of the cross arms GG are shaped to
fit circular or inclined surfaces pppp so arranged that any movement from the
central position up or down causes them to close and clip the brake ring F with a
force depending upon the load. The slots might be cut in a direction parallel to
the axis of the side plates in which case the chain could be led away in front, in that
case also the surfaces pppp would close the cross arms. The chain can therefore be
led away in any direction within a half circle from: the front of the wall hoist and
still act to operate the self sustaining mechanism.
The brake lever I is in this case arranged to bring the plates carrying the hoist
to a central position and so release the brake ring and allow it to revolve freely for
lowering rapidly. It may do this by a cam as shown upon the drawing or any other
suitable mchanical equivalent.
If the lifting chain is led downwards then the lever I must act to elevate in taking
off the cross arm clips, that is the lever must always act in opposition to the direction
of the motion given by the strain upon the chain. The handle Ehere actuates the
pinion D instead of the chain wheel E used in the block. The wheel N serves to
guide the chain round the lifting chain wheel C.
On sheet 3 Figures 8 & 9 show our invention as applied to a self sustaining crab
suitable for overhead travelling cranes. The mechanism of brake ring internal
segments and cams and external clip is exactly the same as herein before described for
a hoisting block, the cross arms however are made to clip the brake ring F by
sustaining one end of the lifting chain which passes round a return block and the
other end after passing round the lifting chain wheel is fixed to the main frame of the
crab.
The drawings are easily intelligible without further explanation.
Figures 10 and 11 show our invention applied to a self sustaining hoisting crab,

page_text: the brake ring F in this case is clipped by an ordinary brake strap O held in tension
by a weighted lever P or a spring.
The brake ring F has the segments and cam herein before described and the crab
is therefore self sustaining The other parts are not modified from the arrangements
usual in such crabs. The invention may be applied in this manner to all classes
of jib cranes crabs and winches.
On sheet 4 Figs. 12 and 13 show a pulley block according to our invention but
which is arranged to sustain the weight on either end of the lifting chain. To
enable us to do this the expanding cam moving with the spindle c is constructed
as shown in section at Figures 14 and 15. It consists of a movable plate r
preferably steel (Fig. 14) sliding freely through a slot in the spindle c as determined
by cam shaped recesses s. t. into which it fits in the face of the lifting chain wheel C.
The wheel Ĉ is driven from the spindle c by a feather key u let into the spindle,
the key way v. w. allows of a certain amount of independent movement of a feather
key u so that if the load depends from the side Q then in lifting, the key u
presses against the side if the load depends from the side R then the key u presses
against the side w.
The position of the steel plate is dependent therefore on the position of the
key u with reference to the key way w and it may project on either side of the
spindle according to that position. When in the position shown in Fig. 14 with
the weight depending on the side Q, if the spindle c is moved by the hand wheel to
hoist then the segments or blocks (see Fig. 15) are moved in the direction of the
arrows and slip easily round the interior of the brake ring F, but if the weight is
allowed to hang. then the spindle moves in the direction opposite to the arrows and
the portion of the steel plate shown as up, wedges the upper block against the
ring F.
?"
The other segment is loose and not pressed against the ring. If the weight
depends from the side R of the chain wheel then the relative position of the key
changes and the steel plate projects on the lower side as shown in Fig. 16. Then
if the lifting is arrested the lower block is thrust out, so that whichever end of the
chain has the weight one brake block acts to make it self sustaining. On Fig. 13
it will be seen that there are two brake rings FF and they are arranged that
opposite alternate segments or blocks shall seize in either, direction. We prefer to
use the two in this case but a very efficient block can be made with only one friction
ring and one segment or block seizing at a time.
The method of opening the cross arms on Fig. 12 is different from that herein-
before described, the lever I here separates by means of a wedge block as is clearly
shown.
Figure 18 shows a method of avoiding crossing the arms but clipping the brake
ring with any desired force.
On sheet 5 Figs. 19 and 20 show a block similar in every respect to that last
described but geared to the chain wheel as in the first case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our sai!
invention and in what manner it is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1st. The use in hoisting machines of an automatic brake with cams, and expanding
or contracting segments acting upon an internal or external circular surface, to
allow free rotation of a spindle in one direction but to seize upon rotation of the
spindle in the opposite direction substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
2nd. The use in hoisting machines of an automatic brake with sliding cam or cams
and expanding segment or segments acting upon an internal circular surface and
arranged to seize when a load is acting on a spindle in either direction, but free to
rotate in the direction of lifting the load in either case substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 3rd. The use in hoisting machines of an internal cam and segment brake together
with an external clip brake sustantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
4th. The arrangements for causing a hoisting machine to be self sustaining with
the load suspended from either end of the lifting chain substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
5th. The improved general arrangements of hoisting machines substantially as and
for the purpose herein before described.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham,
Agents for Applicants.