US293949A - clark - Google Patents

Description

(No Model;) 5 SheetsSheet 1.

CLARK.

' $TORE SERVICE SYSTEM. No. 293.949. Patented Feb; 19, 1884.

' ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Pholoh hograp flr. Waslliflgion, D.C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

CLARK. V STORE SERVICE SYSTEM. 7 N0. 293,9491- Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

WITNESS INVBNTOR n, PETERSKPMRn-Liihogl upher. Wallinglom n. c.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3. i

'M.OLARK.

.' STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

(No Model.)

N0. 293,949; Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

llllllml lfl o lllllllllllllllllllll I llllllll llilllllllllllllllllil 'llllllll VINVENTOR V I (4'43 -9 M WITNESSES:

M ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Phnla-Uthugnphur. wnhin um n.c.

5 SheetsShee 4.

M. CLARK.

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

' Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR SATTOBN WITNESSES (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. 1 M. CLARK.

STORE SERVICE SYSTEM.

No. 293,949. Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

N, Pains Pholo-Lxlhognphnr. Washinglun. a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE. 7

MILTON CLARK, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR To THE CONTI- .NENTAL CASH OAR OOMPANYOF BALTIMORE, or SAME PLACE.

STORE-SERVICE SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,949, dated February 19, i884.

' Application filed January 23,1884. (No model.)

To. aZZ whom it may concern.

.Beitknown that I, MILTON CLARK, of Balcentral station or cashiers desk track-wires radiate in various directions to the several salesmens counters, the carriers depending from overhead wheel supports or cars adapted to travel by gravity to and. from the central station, according as the outer end of the track-wire is raised above or lowered beneath a horizontal plane. The velocity of movement of the car in each case is necessarily dependent upon the angle of inclination of the track to this plane. The outer stations or salemens counters being, however, at varying distances from the cashiers desk, it is evident that to produce uniformity of speed throughout the entire system, insuring like inclination for each track and equal velocity of movement for all the cars, it is needful that means should be provided, in connection with each track, for bringing the several wires with certainty into the proper plane of inclination. These means should, moreover, be as far as possible under the immediate supervision and control of the cashier, and should not be left to the carelessness or inefficiency of the general force of salesmen. It is desirable, therefore, that the inner or fixed ends of the system at the central station should be readily adjustable in different horizontal planes, according to and corresponding with the distances of the outer or movable ends from such central station, so that in. the event of a desired shifting of the outer end of any one of the wires from a distant salesmans counter to one nearer the cashiers desk, or vice versa, the proper grade or inclination may be at once established by proper vertical adjust- 2, represents a'detail of the same.

ment of the fixed end. My present invention is adapted to secure these desirable results, and by it I am also enabled to stretch or tighten sagging wires with ease and celerity. At the salesmens stations I also provide appropriate safeguards against reckless operation of the gravity-switch, whereby injurious jars and strains beyond the normal wear and tear upon its constituent parts are avoided and the occasion for repairs materially lessened,

Referring more particularlyto the accompanying drawings, in which like letters indicate like parts, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents inside elevation a single wire of my system extending from the cashiers desk to one of the salesmens counters. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, represents in side elevation an enlarged view of a salesmans station, showing more clearly the,

details of the gravity-switch. Fig. 7, Sheet Figs. 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 3, represent in front,top, and side elevation, respectively, the means of adjustment at the cashiers desk. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, represents a'detail of the same. FigJS, Sheet 4, represents the system in plan. Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 5, represent in side elevation anodifications of the arrangement of devices at the salesmans station. Figs. 11 and 12, Sheet 5, represent in top and side elevation (the latter partly in section) a modification of the central or cashiers adjusting-plate.

A represents the cashiers desk, and H H. II, &c., the various wires leading to salesmens counters at varying distances there from, B B B &c.

F is a car in transit upon one of the wires, and G G spring-retaining stops or buffers at the ends of the line.

E represents the salesmans shelves, in front of which is arranged the gravityswitch, secured thereto in the ordinary manner by brackets 00 11 sustaining the vertical guide-rod T and the fixed pulley IV.

' In prior devices embodying these generic features it has been usual to connect the end and side bails for the operating-cord Q. In-

2 wanna stead of hanging cords terminating in handpulls, generally employed for raising and lowering the slide, I may substitute the endless cord Q and winding-drum It. By this construction the salesman is prevented from operating the slide with such rapidity as to cause it to strike violently against the bracket X and sleeve W, which has been the occasion of much annoyance and expense with the hand-pull hangers. The operation of turning the winch of the winding-drum necessarily involves a gradual ascent and descent of the slide,whieh reaches its upper and lower limits without perceptible shock or jar.

At the cashiers desk, and preferably suspended from the ceiling by a sustaining shoulderpost, D, are situated the two pairs of guide-rails M N. These may have, as represented in the drawings, an upward curvature, or, in some instances, may be straight and parallel throughout. The post D passes between the pairs of rails, and has an upper fixed collar, 1), and screw-nuts c c and d, clamp ing the rails firmly upon the post. The rails are thus held apart a distance equal to the diameter of the post, leaving a longitudinal passage between each pair, the two being separated also by an intervening space equal to the distance between the screw-nuts. In the longitudinal grooves are situated the sliding bolts I, extending through the grooves and passing through the angled guide-plates J to which theyv are secured by bolt-heads and retaining-nuts. One or more lock-nuts f f serve to secure the bolts in any position along the length of the rails. Upon the bolts are situated the adjustable sleeves L, provided with binding-screws S, and forward right-angled extension-arms K, carrying the transverse bolts This bolt is provided with a retaining-nut, m, lock-nut a, and head 0 adapted for the reception of a turning key or wrench. The track-wires H II, &c., are attached to theseboltsinanysuitablemannerforinstance, as represented in Fig. 6by passing the end of the wire through a perforation in the bolt and forming such end into a loop or knot. In some cases, however, I contemplate dispensing entirely with the sleeve-pieces L, attaching the wires directly to the vertical bolt I, and at any desired height upon said bolts. This arrangement I may adopt either when the rails are upwardly curved or when they are arranged, as they may be, in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal position.

From the description of parts the inode of operation of my device is apparent. V7 hen it is desired to change the grade of any of the tracks, the sliding sleeve L may be moved up along the bolt I. This will suffice for small changes in the inclination of the tracks. If

the sleeves are not used, the wires may be secured directly to the bolts and at the desired height. Greater changes in the inclination of the wires are obtained by loosening the locknuts of the bolts and moving the latter along the guides to a higher or lower horizontal plane, as the case may be.. The slack of the wires, occasioned by sagging, may be taken up by loosening the loek-nut a and revolving the transverse bolt 1? by a wrench or key engaging with the bolt-head r, or otherwise.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have illustrated modifications of my gravity-switch. In both these cases the pulleys W" are situated upon the summit of the upright standards T, thus giving a greater play to the carriage Z, running on wheels Z Z. In Fig. 9 the rope is operated by the hand-pulls T T", and in Fig. 10 by the winding-drum R. In place of the carriage, Fig. 9, may be substituted the sleeve-piece U of Fig. 2, which may be in like manner operated by hand-pulls T T.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a horizontal center plate,which maybe used at the cashiers desk in place of that shown on Sheets 1 and 2. The wires H II II, &c., lead to the various saleinens counters, and are attached to upright bolts I, playing in grooves in the plate, and secured in position by the heads M", &c., and lower nuts, 2 z, Locking-nuts f f serve to secure the bolts at any desired point. The wires may also be attached at any point up or down along the height of the bolts, as shown in Fig. 12. The center plate is preferably made oftwo pairs of railsjoincd or hooped at their ends, and united by transverse crossties tt', dc. It may consist, however, of merely a lower plate grooved and provided with upright headed bolts projecting above the plate,

said bolts being secured in the groove and at their lower ends by locking and retaining nuts. The heads on the belts in either case are shaped for engagement with a turning key or wrench for tightening the wires.

It is evident that some form of sliding piece other than the carriage or sleeve may be employed in connection with my upright standard, rope, and winding-drum or handles. In my seventeenth claim, therefore, I use the word sliding-piece generically to cover all. such forms.

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

1s I r 1. A storeservice system consisting of aseries of wires radiating from a central or cashiers station to various salesmens counters or sub-stations, and provided with means at the central station for varying the grade of any or all of said wires, substantially as described.

2. A store-service system consisting of a series of wires radiating from a central or cashiers station to various salesmens counters or sub-stations, andprovided with means for moving any or all the ends of the wires at the central station to different elevations or horizontal. planes, substantially as described. v

3. A storeservice system consisting of aseries of wires radiating from a central or cashiers station to various salesmens counters or sub-stations, and provided with means for ICO moving the ends of the wires to the right or left of the vertical planes in which they are originally placed, substantially as described.

4. A store-service system consisting of aserics of wires radiating from a central station to various sal esmen s counters or sub-stations, and provided with means for tightening or stretching each of the said wires. 1

5. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided with horizontally movable attachments for the inner ends of the wires, substantially as described.

6'. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided with vertically-adjustable attachments for the inner ends of the wires, substantially as described.

7. In a store-service system, a central fixture provided with horizontally and Vertically adjustable attachment forthe inner ends of the wires, substantially as described.

8. In a store-service system, a central fixture composed of guide-rails and connectingbolts, substantially as described.

9. In a store-service system, the combination of guide-rails M N, having a central opening, with the adjustable bolts I I, provided with means for locking them in any position upon said rails, substantially as described.

10. In a store-service system, the guiderails M N, having an upward curvature, in combination with the adjustable locking-bolts I I, substantially as described.

11. I11 a store-service system, the adjustable bolts I I, in combination with sleeve-clamps L, having means for attaching thereto the wire H, substantially as described.

12. In a store-service system, the bolts I I, in combination with sleeve-clamps L, having extended arms K K and transverse bar P, provided with key-head r, and lock-nut a, substantially as described.

13. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted to be raised and lowered at the salesmans end with upright standard T, sleeve-piece U, having lugs or bails V V, rope Q, and drum R, substantially as described.

14.. In astore-service system, thecombination of a wireway, adapted to be raised and lowered at the salesmans end, with upright standard T, sleeve U, having lugs or bails V V, rope Q, and handles T T, substantially as described.

15. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted to be raised and lowered at the salesmans end,'with upright standard T, carriage Z, with wheels Z Z, rope Q, and drum R, substantially as described.

16. In a store-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted to be raised and lowered at the salesmans end, with upright standard T, carriage Z, with wheels ZZ, rope Q, and handles T T, substantially as described.

17. In a stove-service system, the combination of a wireway, adapted to be raised and lowered at the salesmans counter, with an up right standard, apiece sliding thereon, to which the end of the way is attached, a rope, and winding-drum, substantially as described.

18. In a store-service system, a center plate at the cashiers desk,flat or horizontal throughout, and provided with a series of tighteningbolts, substantially as described.

19. In a store-service system, a center plate at the eashiers desk,fiat or horizontal throughout, and provided with a series of tighteningbolts adjustable in the grooves of said plate, substantially as described.

I11 testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON CLARK.

Witnesses:

A. B. SUAL, A. G. DAVIS.

Images