US364489A - Half to edward d - Google Patents

Description

(Nd Model.)

1111mm. TENSION DEVICE FOR CABLE RAILWAYS. .No. 364,489.

Patented June 7, 1887..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. DALE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDWARD D. DOUGHERTY, OF SAME PLACE.

TENSION DEVICE FOR CABLE RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,489, dated June 7, 1887.

Application filed December E 1886. Serial No. 221,107. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. DALE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Cable Railways; 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.

My invention relates to tension devices for cable railways.

The object of my presentinvent-ion is to provlde a compact mechanism whereby the tension of a traction-cable may be regulated and the slack or looseness of the cable occasioned by stretching or other causes may be taken up automatically after a proper adjustment of working parts of the device in relation to the cable is made.

A further object is to provide a tension-regulating device that is simple in construction, reliable in action, and will be accurately adjustable to suit the varying strain on the running cable from changing draft resistance.

A further object is to construct a self-adjusting or automatic tension-regulator, that will have few working parts, that are all accessible,

and may be manufactured and kept in working condition at a low cost for construct-ion and repairs.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, that will be hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tension apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, A represents two similar vertical standards or frames, made of metal or other proper material. These upright frames are preferably constructed wider at the base A, to give necessary stability and brace them to resist side strains. The side edges, a a, are inclined toward each other, as shown in Fig. 1, and at the top are'joined to form half-shells b. A cap, I), is fitted in place upon each standard to form, with the halfshells 7), two journal-boxes, whose axial centers are in the same horizontal plane.

The beams B are webbed in a manner-usual to secure necessary strength and reasonable lightness, and are secured together by the transverse bolts 0 e, and also by the journalshafts g that are inserted in holes made for their reception in the ends of the walking beams B.

The grooved pulleys O D are rotatively mounted on the transverse shafts g 9. They are preferably made of equal size, and their perforated hubs are made of a proper length each side of the grooved centers of the wheels, so that the grooved faces of these pulleys will be in the same vertical plane.

A proper frame, I, is provided at the rear of the upright frame A A, to support horizontally the sliding carriage h, which latter is provided for the support of the idler-pulley E. Awindlass, F, is attached to work on the side of the frame I, and by rope or chain and sheaveblocks G G the pulley E may be made to recede from the frame A A.

At a proper point above the frame I two similar grooved pulleys, I, are shaft-mounted to rotate together. Above the pulleys and to their rear two similar pulleys, J ,are rotativel y adjusted to any suitable frame or fixed point. The pulleys I and J are placed in the same vertical plane, respectively, so that the parallel chains or wire ropes H H will work properly when located in the grooves of these pulleys.

The chains or ropes H H" are secured to the lower shaft, 9, that is aflixed to the walkingbeams B, and extend rcarwardly in running contact with the pulleys I and over the pulleys J, and. thence downward to connect to the weight K. This weightK maybe a solid block, or may be in the form of a box, with'a suit able means of connection to its supporting ropes or chains, the box being of a capacity to hold weight in excess of the maximum demands of the service. Lead or other heavy material may be placed therein in proper amount to attain the desired result.

In operation the endless cable M is wound around the driving-drum L, then adjusted in position on the pulleys O D, and also on the pulley E. The cable is stretched to remove slack or looseness by drawing the carriage h, with its mounted pulley E, to the rear by the Windlass F and chain blocks G G. The, attached chains or wire ropes H H should be of such relative length that the weight K will be raised free and thus suspended, as shown in Fig. 1, when any increase of draft onthe running cable by the attachment of additional carstherete causes a change in tension of the cable. This change will be properly compensated for by the vibration of the beam and the elevation proportionately of the end 9 of the walking-beams B, as it is evident that the upward movement of the pulley O and itssnp portingshaft 9 will pull the ropes or chains H H and thus cause an elevation of the weight K. A decrease of draft strain will be compensated for and an equilibrium be maintained by the descent of the weight K.

It is apparent from the foregoing that this compensating device will adjust the tension of the cable automatically to suit variations caused by the hooking on or dropping of cars on the line, when a proper adjustment of relative parts has been provided by a graduation of the suspended weight to the maximum strain it is designed to counteract.

The several elements embodied in this compensating device are of simple construction and consequent cheap production, and, as ready access is afforded to adjust and lubricate the running bearings, excessive wear of frictional surfaces is avoided, and consequent 40 a flexible device connecting the weight and v walking-beam.

2. The combination, with a supported walking-beam having grooved pulleys mounted thereon and an endless cable, of a counteracting weight and a flexible connection between the weight and walking-beam, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with an endless cable, of a driving-drum, a supported walkingbeam, pulleys on the beam, a sliding carriage carrying a cable-pulley, means for sliding the carriage, two chains or ropes, pulleys to support the chains or ropes, and a variable weight, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN H. DALE.

Witnesses:

S. W. Roor, W ALTER H. Lnrr.

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