US123161A - Improvement in hydraulic elevators - Google Patents

Description

ATENT FFICE.

HEEMON L. ENsIGN, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS.

Specification fornlin g part of Letters Patent N o. 123,161, dated January 30, 1872.

SPECIFICATiON.

I, HERMON L. ENSIGN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Hydraulic Elevators, of which the following is a specification:

The nature ofthe present invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of our elevating-tank and supply/tanks, whereby the elevating-tank is made to receive a suitable quantity of water to elevate the platform; and in the novel construction and combination of a ballgovernor and brake, which are arranged to automatically control the movement of the platform, as the whole is hereinafter ful- 1y described and shown.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of the drum, brake, and governor; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of the elevator as it is in position in a building; Fig. 3, an enlarged bro ken sectional elevation of the elevating-tank and one of the snpply-tanks, showing the novel construction of the valves by means of which the elevatingtank is filled.

E represents the vertical wall of a building, and F G H I the joists forming the oors of the several stories. D represents an ordinary elevating-platform, which is held/in position in its vertical movement by means of guides K K', Fig. 2, and which is raised and lowered by means of a rope, b, passing over a drum, R. The opposite end of the rope b from that end fastened to the platform D is fastened to an elevating-tank, J, which is supplied with water from tanks A B G, as hereinafter shown, and which is held in proper position in its vertical movement by means ofthe guide K. The lower ends ofthe tanks A B C, adjoining the elevating-tank J, are provided with valve-doors m, Fig. 3, Which are hung to the tanks at k, and swing inside of them, and which are provided with projecting nbs f, extending outwardly to the valves as in the elevating-tank J. This valve w is hung to the tank at h, and is arranged to swing outwardly from it, and it is held shut as against the pressure in the tank J by means of a rubber strap, e, Fig. 3, which is fastened to the valve and tom'the opposite side of the tank from the valve. The device for opening the valves m a: consists of a lever, j', which is pivoted to the tank J at a, and which is operated by a cord, c, passing over thesame drum R that the rope b passes; said cord c projecting down to the platform D, so as to be in reach of the operator. This arrangement is such that, when the cord c is drawn upon, the short end of the lever f7 will force the valvexopemand, consequently, forcethe valve m inwardly, so that water will readily dow from either of the tanks A B C into the tank J. The devices for braking or controling the motion of the drum R and movement' of the platform D are as follows: A bevel-gear wheel, l?, is fastened to the same shaft, Q, that the drum R is, and, when rotated with the drum, drives a bevel-pinion, O. This pinion supports two or more standards, Z, Fig. 1, to the top ends ofwhich is fixed a sleeve, d, of suitable strength to support the levers v c of a ballgovernor, which are pivoted to it. lW Wrepresent connecting-rods, which are jointed to the upper ends ofthe levers t o, and to an npper sleeve, said sleeve bearing on a shoulder formed on the brake-rod U. This rod has bearings in an upper frame-piece, y, and in a lower frame-piece, S, and to its lower end is fastened a curved spring-brake, T, Figs. 1 and 2, which is formed on a quicker curve than the brake-wheel N, O11 which it operates, so that when the rod forces the springT down the latter will have a friction-surface of nearly its entire lengt-h. The operation of the governor is such that when the balls are thrown outwardly by the increased motion of the pinion O the connecting-rods lV will draw the sleevex downwardly, and, consequently, cause the rod U to move downwardly and set the brake T to the brake-wheel N, inasmuch as the rod U only has a vertical movement, while the governor and sleeves rotate around it. The rod U also performs the function of holding the 'pinion O in position to rotate and carry the governor by means of the aforesaid standards Z. At the bottom of the tank J is a valve, r, which is operated by a cord, a, and used to discharge the water of tank J into any of the tanks A B (l by means of a curved pipe, g, said cord coming, after passing over the druln lt, down to within reach of the operator standing on platform D.

The operation is simple and as follows: The platform D in Fig. 2 is shown at the bottom of the lower story. Now, when any weight thereon is to be raised, sufficient water from tank A is to be let into tank J to elevate the platform and its load thereon, the valves closing automatically when the cord o is loosened, and the tank J begins to move down. Any of the tanks A B C can be used to supply tank J, aocordin g to its position, and the lower tanks Awill receive the Water from tank J when it has too much therein to elevate a light load. In practice I intend to use any suitable stopping device, so that the plat-form may be held in any given position, and so that the valves m w may be held opposite to each other when the tank J is being filled. By this means a simple, cheap, and safe elevator is provided, saving the cost of an engine and liability of fire theretached to the tank to use in case of re in other parts of a building. The eleva-tor is adapted to all places where a sufficient supply of water can be had at a suitable height in a.building.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United Statesl. The combination of the platform D, elevating-tank J, one or more supply-tanks, A B C, brakeT U, and governor t Vila;l d Z, as set forth.

2. The combination of valves m a: 1, nibs f, tanks A B C, platform D, rope b, rubber strap e, and governor, as described and set forth.

HERMON L. ENSIGN.

Witnesses:

G. L. GHAPIN, E. J. OHAPIN.

Images