US235597A - Benjamin f - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

.B. RWALTERS.

Elevator.

Patented Dec. 14,1880.

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UNITED STATES ?ATENT Urmcn.

BENJAMIN F. \VALTERS, ()F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,597, dated December 14, 1880.

Application filed October 19, 1880. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. WALTERs, a citizen of the United States, residing atNorfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an elevator containing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

The operative parts of the elevator are portedin a suitable frame.

In the drawings the frame is represented as being formed of uprights A, joined by cross beams or girts. Within the frame thus formed are mounted the upper shaft, B, and the lower shaft, B. The ends of the lower shaft, 13, are situated loosely in vertical slots 0, formed in the supporting-frame. The slots permit the shaft to rise and fall automatically in order to adjust itself, such automatic adjustment being made necessary by the shrinking and expanding of the ropes.

' Upon the shaft B B are mounted the grooved wheels D D. E E are the endless ropes moving within the wheels D D.

The carrying devices are represented as being formed of platforms F. They are attached to the ropes E in such manner that they can be used while rising for elevating materials, and while descending for carrying material downward. I prefer to attach the platforms to the ropes by means of metallic collars Gr, having laterally-projecting ears 9, through which pass clamping-bolts g.

g g are bolts passing through the platform F and through the collars g, or between said collars. I

By these devices the inner side of the platform can be securely fastened to the ropes.

H H represent yokes or stirrups, there being two of them on the upper side and two on the lower side of each platform, they being supplaced in the planes occupied by the ropes E E, respectively.

I I are sliding braces or links, constructed to engage with the yokes or stirrups H H by means of collars i at the outer ends of the braces or links. They are secured to the ropes E by means of metallic collars I, to which collars the links or braces I are, respectively, pivoted.

By examining the drawings it will be seen that this construction provides a firm support for the platform at all times and in all positions, and at the same time provides a flexibility of adjustment, so that when the platforms are passing around the wheels D or D the braces I can readily adjust themselves to any position.

Any desired number of platforms may be used. It will be understood that when the platforms are descending they can be utilized for lowering material as readily as they can be utilized for elevating when they are ascending.

The lower shaft, B, hangs loosely in the slot 0, the weight of the shaft and the wheels D being sufficient to keep the parts under proper tension.

After the material has been elevated to the desired point it may be removed in any preferred manner.

I am aware that heretofore use has been made of an elevator having endless chains, a platform attached to the chains, rotatingdrums to propel the chains, and links which support the platform, and which are arranged to have their outer ends moved inwardly and outwardly, they being connected by links reciprocating in slots in the platform; but by an examination of Fig. l of the accompanying drawings it will be seen that my links are totally disconnected at the outer ends, so that the platform can readily adjust itself and be always perpendicular to the rope, whether moving in a straight line or in a curved line around the wheels.

If the outer ends of the sliding links be connected together, as is the case in constructions prior to mine, the upper link begins tomove inward before the lower one, and causes the platform to be thrown into a position oblique to the path of the ropes to a greater or less extent. Moreover, when the outer ends of the links are attached together, there results in nch straining of the parts,which I avoid by leaving these links disconnected and attaching them to the platform by means of stirrups, which permit them to play freely independently of each other.

As I prefer to employ a tight continuous rope for many purposes, (especially for the advantages of increased friction,) it is necessary to provide a method of fastening the platform and the sliding links to the rope different from that heretofore used where chains with open links were employed. This attachment I provide by the above-described peculiarly-shaped clamps I and G, whereby a firmhold is obtained upon the rope without interfering with its passage around the wheels.

\Vhcn, instead of a drum, use is made of large curved wheels with considerable open space between them, there is much danger of lateral displacement of the platform while passing around the wheels. To avoid this, and to insure that the platforms shall be always held in proper position relative to the wheels, Iprovide each platform with an inwardly-extending plate which, when it (the platform) is passing around the wheels, lies between the latter and bears against the inner sides of both of the wheels to counteract any displacing tendency.

What I claim is- 1. In an elevator, the combination of the following elements: the ropes E, the wheels D, the platform F, provided with the stirrups H H, and the links I I, situated, respectively, above and below the platform, and having their outer ends connected independently of each other to the platform by the separate stirrups H H, as set forth.

2. The combination of the following elements: the wheels D, the continuous ropes E, the platform F, the clamping-collar G, the clamping-bolt 9 the collar 1, clamped to the ropes, and the sliding link I, pivoted to the collar 1, as set forth.

3. The combination of the following elements: the shafts B B, the wheels D and D, arranged to leave open spaces between the inner sides of the wheels of each pair, the platform F, provided with an extension proj ectingin wardl y beyond the plane of the ropes,

and the sliding links 1, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. WALTERS.

Witnesses:

WM. W. OLD, WM. H. VVALES, Jr.

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