US288690A - cabman - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Q I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. P. OARMAN,

. CABLE GRIP. I No. 288,690. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. P. OVARMAN."

CABLE GRIP; No. 288,690. I Patented Nov. 20', 1883;

UNITED I ST TES- PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. CARMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CABLE-GRIP.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,690, dated November 20, 1883.

Application filed September 11, 1883. (No model.)

. ground tube or tunnel, the car being connected with it by a suitable gripping device passing down through a slot in the road-bed.

My invention consists in a grip having flexible or jointed jaws, means for retaining the cable between the jaws when partially opened, and for throwing it out completely when desired, and a-peculiar lever-and-pawl mechanism for operating the jaws to grip or release the cable, all of which I shall hereinafter fully explain by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my grip. Fig. 2 is a side elevation and vertical section through the jaws of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a grip adapted to conform itself to curvatures in the line of travel of the cable, to be operated readily and rapidly, and to retain or throw off the cable when necessary, all its parts op crating with effectiveness and advantage.

A is the frame, carrying the lower jaw, B. C is the upper jaw, sliding in the frame and actuated by bar D, which passes up through the frame or bar E, by which the grip is hung or secured in the dummy or car. The upper end of the bar D is jointed at d, and is pivoted in the elbow-shaped end of the operating-lever S, which is pivoted at its angle ate in the 'top of an extension-frame, c, of bar E. The frame Ais suspended from the bar E by means of arms a. The general operation of these parts is obvious. The movement of lever S raises and lowers the lifting-bar D, and through it the upper jaw, O, to release or grip the traveling cable between itself and the lower jaw.

Agreat difticulty has heretofore been encountered in making cable-cars turn curves or corners. The chief obstacle has been the want of a suitable gripping device adapted to conform itself to thecurves and follow readily the course of the cable. This result I accomplish by making the jaws B (J jointed, so that they may bend themselves as the cable bends, and still keep hold without strain. The jaws B O are made in parts, jointed at b c by any kind of hinge which will permit lateral bending. I have here shown a mortise-and-tenon joint or hinge. Both jaws are provided with removable shoes or faceplates, so that they may berenewed when necessary. The jaws being thus adapted to bend, the frame A must likewise move to permit the movement of the jaws. Accordingly the top of arms a arejournaled or pivoted, by means of pins or bolts 19, in sockets or bearings 11 in the bar E, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

To hold the jaws rigid when desired, I have pins 11, passing down through bar E into the tops of arms a. Upon a straight road these pins are allowed to remain inserted, as there is no need for the jaws to bend; but upon ap- I proaching a curve they are withdrawn, and the jaws are free to conform themselves to the course of the cable.

In the ordinary gripping devices, wherein a lever is used to operate the jaws, it is made to engage with a curved bow-rack, to hold'it in any desired position. This large rack isinconvenient, and very much in the way. I dispense with it entirely by the use of the following construction: Upon one end of the hanging bar E is pivoted a guide-bar, T, bent or angled at 15. Its upper end is bifurcated and embraces the operating-lever S, which is pro vided with' a long slot, 8, through which a cross-pin, t, passes from the guide T. I11

the forked endof guide T is pivoted at its angle, a pawl, Q, actuated by a spring, q, and engaging with a series of teeth or ratchets, 8 formed on the edge of the lever S. In order to disengage the pawl, to permit the free operation of the lever, I have a rod, U, passing down through a beveled socket, a, in the pawl, and attached above to-the angle of a bent lever, V, pivoted on the main lever S. NVhen the lever V is pressed in, the rod U forces back and up the pawl Q, disengaging I it from the rack. When released, the spring q returns the parts to' position. In the ends of jaw B are mounted spindles H, in the slotted ends of which are j ournaled grooved face-pulleys I. These are in line,with the lower jaw,

Ion

and travel normally in a vertical plane, the

, cable resting upon them. Near each end of jaw B is made arecess, i, in which operate pinions h, Fig. 2, upon the inner ends of spindles II. These mesh with vertical racks J, extending up in guides in the frame A, said racks being adapted to be raised and lowered by means of pins or lugs Z, which extend into slots 9' in the faces of the racks. The pins are secured to short arms 1", which project from each end of the sliding jaw C. When the sliding jaw is simply raised to release the cable temporarily, the pins Z do not reach the top of slots j, and therefore do not affect the racks; but when it is desired to throw the cable off entirely, the sliding jaw is raised higher until its pins Z come in contact with the top of slots \Vhen the racks are raised, these move the pinions h,

' elevated to be out of the way.

turn the spindles H, and oscillate the pulleys I, turning them down to a horizontal, and carrying off the cable from the jaws. To return the racks to position, I have springs Y, as shown, under the influence of which the pulleys are returned again to a vertical plane.

In order to confine the cable between the jaws, when temporarily separated, I mount vertical rollers K under the front edge of the up per jaw. These are adapted to fit in sockets is, prepared for them in the lower jaw. iVhen the jaws are separated but little, the rollers K guard the opening; but when the jaw G is raised high enough to throw the cable off, as heretofore described, the rollers are sufficiently The upper jaw, 0, being jointed, Ihave a cross-head, d, on the bar D,which equalizes the strain on the whole length of the jaw.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cable grip, the meeting jaws for gripping the cable, said jaws being flexible or jointed in two or more parts, to enable them to conform to curves and variations in the line of travel, substantially as herein described.

. 2. In aeable-grip, the pivoted frame A and lower jointed or flexible jaw, B, in combination with the jointed or flexible upper jaw, O,

mounted to reciprocate in frame A, and means for reciprocating it, substantially as herein described.

3. In a cable-grip, the supporting or suspending frame or bar E, the frame A, having arms a, pivoted or j ournaled in bar E, and the flexible or jointed lower jaw, B, in combination with the flexible or jointed upper jaw, O, and means for reciprocating it, substantially as herein described.

4. In a cable-grip, the supporting or suspending frame or bar E, the frame A, having arms a, pivoted in said bar, the locking-pins 1), through said bar into arm a, for holding the frame A rigid, and the flexible or jointed lower jaw, 13, in combination with'the flexible or jointed upper jaw, O, and means for reciprocating it, substantially as herein described.

5. Ina cable-grip, the flexible or jointed sliding upper jaw, O, in combination with the lifting and depressing bar D, having crosshead d, bearing on all the joints of the upper jaw to equalize the pressure, substantially as herein described.

6. In a cable-grip, the supporting frame or bar E and the lower jaw, in combination with the upper jaw, G, and the means for reciprocating and adjusting it, consisting of the jointed bar D, pivoted elbow-lever S, having slot 8, and ratchet s, the pivoted angled guide T, having pin it, fitting said slot, the spring-pawl Q in said guide. and engaging with ratchet, and the pivoted angled lever V, and rod U, connected with said pawl for disengaging it, substantially as herein described.

7. In a cable-grip, loosely-mounted pulleys connected with the grip and sustaining the cable in front and rear, in combination with the reciprocating jaw of the grip, and suitable devices connected with said jaw, and the pulleys whereby, upon the opening of said grip by the movement of the jaw, said pulleys may be turned to carry the cable away from the grip, substantially as herein described.

8. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw and the cable-sustaining vertical pulleys mounted on oscillating spindles or shafts in each end of the jaw, in combination with means operated by the reciprocating upper jaw when opening to oscillate said shafts and turn the pulleys toward a horizontal to throw the cable from the grip, substantially as herein described.

9. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw and the cable-sustaining vertical pulleys mounted on oscillating spindles or shafts in each end of the jaw, in combination with the means for oscillating said shafts and turning the pulleys to throw the cable away from the grip, consisting of the sliding slotted racks J, the arms r on the sliding upper jaw, having pins Z, fitting the slotted racks, and the pinions h on the oscillating shafts, substantially as herein described.

10. In a cable-grip, the lower jaw having the sockets 7c in the edge of its face, in combination with the reciprocating upper jaw, having the vertical rollers K in the edge of its face, and adapted, when said jaw is raised partially to guard the cable, and when closed down to enter the sockets, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN F. CARMAN.

Witnesses:

O. D. COLE, J. H. BLOOD.

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