GB174256A - Method and means of transportation by aerial ropeways - Google Patents

Abstract

174,256. Gorrie, J. A. Nov. 18, 1920. Overhead travellers and transporters.-A trolly 3 for an aerial ropeway 1, 2 is provided with means for hoisting the load through a multiple-block svstem, locking and supporting the fall-block 5 on the trolly whilst transporting, the supporting jaws being opened by direct contact with the fall block and closed automatically, and means for releasing the load to permit of lowering whilst the trolly is held at any predetermined point on the ropeway. As shown in Fig. 1, a bracket 6 is suspended from the trolly and carries pulleys 12, 13 forming a multipleblock system with the pullevs 14, 15 of the fallblock. The load is hoisted bv the cable 4, anchored at 4<a>, the fall-block 5 passes up between locking-jaws 19, 20, Fig. 3, on a frame 16 suspended from the bracket 6, and the jaws are then closed beneath the block by springs so that the weight of the load is supported from the trolly. The T-shaped arrangement of the pulleys ensures that the fall-block hangs vertically and in alignment with the supporting-jaws, but the frame 16 may have hinged guides for the block. When the toad is thus supported, the trolly is hauled towards the left by the cable 4 to the terminal or unloading point shown in Fig. 1, where it is held by pawls. In this position the locking-jaws 19 20 engage a collapsable wedge 26 on a frame 29 which is held vertical by an arm 30 engaging an arm 31 on the trolly. When the weight of the load is taken by the hoisting-cable, the wedge is expanded by a spring so as to release the jaws from beneath the fall-block. After lowering, a cap is placed on the fall-block to prevent its entering the jaws, and a light hauling-down rope is attached to the shackle of the block. The block is then raised, and the trolly is run out for the next load by means of the back rope 7. The bracket 6 may be fixed on the trolly, or the frame 16 may be pivoted directly to the carrier. In a modification, Fig. 5, the hoisting, locking, and supporting system comprises a fall-block 5 suspended from a multiple pulley-block 33, in which one member serves merely as a guide pulley, the end of the cable 4 being anchored horizontally. Pivoted on the block 33 are vertical jaws 36, 37 for supporting the fallblock in the raised position. The provision of a guide-pulley in the upper block ensures that the fall-block and the jaws are always in line at any inclination of the suspending-bracket 32. The jaws are held towards the closed position by a spring acting on toggle-levers 40, 41, and are released automatically by the cord 42. This cord is pulled by a spring on the trolly which is extended by a stop at the terminal station engaging a lever on the trolly.