US465191A - Pick-up and throw-off mechanism for cables - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. MULLER..

3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

lIGK-UP AND THROW-OFF MEGHANISM POR CABLES.

Patented Deo. 15,'189-1.

/TNESSES A TTOHNEYS (No Model.) i l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. MULLER. l P10K-UP AND THROW-OPP MEGHANISM FOR CABLES.

No. 465,191. Patented Dee. 15, 1,891.

N I 4 E NQ I TNE SSE S Y /N VEN TOH .L v da e sr/mv/@d ATTORNEYS 3 sheetssheet s.

(No Model.)

G. MULLER. l PICK-UP AND THROW-UPP MEGHANISM FOR CABLES. No. 465,19I. Patented Deo. 15, 1891,.V

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NVENTOH ATTUHNEYS UNITED STAT-ns ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MULLER, OF HOBOKEN, NEV JERSEY.

PICK-UP AND THROW-OFF MECHANISIVI FOR CABLES. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,191, dated December 15, 1891.

` l Application filed March 24, 1891. Serial No. 336,212. (No model.)

To all wiz/0m it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE MULLER, of Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and linproved Pick-Up and Throw-Oft Mechanism for Cables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to cable roads having a traveling single or double cable for propelling the cars,.the latter being adapted to be fastened to the cable by a grip, which may be of any approved construction, preferably, however, of the construction shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 352,255, granted to me November 9,1886. i

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism specially designed to enable the operator in charge of the car to quickly and conveniently throw off the cable after the latter is released by the gripping-jaws, or to pick up this or a second cable traveling in the same or in a different direction or at a dierent rate of speed, the operator being enabled to place the picked-up cable between the gripping-jaws of the grip.

The invention consists of an angular arm or arms, each connected with a pivoted guiding-arm, and a link pivotally connected with a sliding bar.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofgthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement as arranged for two cables, one of the cables being held in the grip on the car. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same with the cables thrown oft and the device in the position for picking up one of the cables. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line x of Fig. l; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are like views of the device as arranged for a single cable and in different position, illustrating the several steps vin picking up or throwing oft the cable.

The improved pick-up and throw-off mechanism is arranged on the grip-frame A, supported by suitable beams B, held on the car C. The grip-frame A extends downward through spect-ively. As illustrated Iin Figs. l, 2, and

3, the channel E contains two cables running in the saine direction, of which one may be an auxiliary cable adapted to be used in case of accident to the other cable, or the second cable may be traveling in a different direction and at a dilterent rate of speed, so that the operator in charge of the car is enabled to run the car in different directions and at different rates of speed, as desired.

On the gripping-frame A is arranged a suitable grip, which may be single or double, according to the number of cables in the channel E. It only one cable is'used, the grip is single, and if two cables are used a grip is arranged on each side of the frame, so as to grip either of the two cables. The grip may be of any approved construction. I prefer, however, the construction shown, which is identical with the construction of my previous patent above referred to. This grip consists, principally, of a fixed jaw G and a movable jaw G', pivotally connected with two levers G2 and G3, carrying the gripping-pulleys G4 and G5, above which are arranged pulleys Gr6 and G2, mounted to turn on fixed spindles secured to the frame A. The upper ends of the levers G2 and Gare connected with the ends of a chain G8, which passes `first around the pulley G11, held on a staff G10, arranged on one end of the car C, the chain also passing over a pulley G11, arranged on the opposite end of the car and secured toa staff G12, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By turning either of the staffs G10 or G12 the two levers G2 and G3 are simultaneously actuated, so that the gripping-pulleys Gt1 and Gj" are simultaneously moved toward or from the fixed pulleys GG and G7, respectively, so as to grip the-respective cable passed between the two pulleys of each set. At the same time the le vers G2 and G3 actuate the movable jaw G', so that finally the cable is firmly gripped between the two jaws G and G. In order to release the cable from the grip, the staff G10 or G12 is turned in an opposite direction, so as to cause the upper ends ot' the lever G2 or G2 to IOO swing away from each other, thereby opening A bar H is arranged longitudinally on the frame A and tted to slide vertically in suitable guideways H', secured on the frame A. The under side of the bar H is pivotally connected at or near its ends with the links I and I', extending downward and pivotally connected with angular arms J and J', re-

- spectively,pivotally connected with guidingble when moving rearward into position for` arms K and K', respectively, -each ofwhich has its pivot-pin K2 engaged in a vertical slot K3, form-ed in a bearing K4, fastened to t-heframe A. Each of the angular arms J and J' is formed at its lower end with a pulley or guide-wheel J2, adapted to engage the cable F. The vertical slots K3 permitthe pivoted pins K2 a free but limited up-andfdown .mo-v

tion to prevent binding of the arms K K' and to permit the angular arms J J' to swing upward on the links I I' in case the pulleys or guide-wheel J2 should strike against the capicking up the cable, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 5.

In order to hold the links Iandl' in propel' position, pawls L and L' are pivoted on the said links I and vI',` respectively, the said pawls being adapted to travel at their inner ends over the bearings K4, so as to hold the vlinks I I" and the angular arms J J' in the proper position, as illustrated in Fig. 5. A pin L2 on each of the links I and I' permits the upward swinging motion of the respective pawl L or L'. When the bar H is moved suddenly into a lowermost position, (see Fig. 6,) the pawls L and L' are liable to swing forward, bu-t are `prevented from passing too far by the stop-pins L2.

The bar H is connected with an upwardly` extending rod N, pivotally connected by a `link N with an arm O' of the bell-crank lever O, mounted on suitable tracks arranged on one of the beams B. The other arm O2 of the bell-crank lever O is connected with the ends of a chain P, which is passed over a pulley P', held on the staff P2, arranged on one end of the car, preferably on the outside of the staff G10, previously mentioned. 'Ihe stai' P2 is formed with a hand-wheel P3 for conveniently turning the pulley P so as to actuate the chain P. The latter also passes over a pulley P4, arranged on the other end of the car on a staff P5, provided with a hand- Wheelfor conveniently turning the said staff, and pulley P4 to enable the operator to actuate the chain P from this end of the car.

The operation is as follows: When the cable F is engaged by the grip, as illustrated in vthus been thrown off the car.

Figs. 1 and 3, and the operator desires to throw off the said cable F for any purpose, he rst actuates the grip, as above described, to release the cable from the sets of pulleys G4 G6 and G5 G7 and also from the jaws .G and G. The pick-up and throw-off mechanism is at this time in its uppermost position, and as soon as the gripping-pulleys G4 and G5 swing downward the cable passes upon the friction rollers or wheels J2 on the angular arms J and J The operator now turns the handwheel P3 so that the arm O2 of the bell-crank lever O swings in the direction of the arrow a', whereby the bar H is caused to slide downward, so that the links I and I swing outward, causing the angular arms. J and J' to move the cable from the fixed jaw G and the pulleys G4 and G5, the cable then resting only on the rollers J2. By a further movement of the bell-crank lever O in the direction previously mentioned, the bar H slides farther downward, so that t-he links I move in the same direction, the pawls Land L finally engaging with their inner ends the bearings K4. At this time a further downward motion of J', so that their lower ends, carrying the friction-rollers J2, swing'rearward and upward,

thereby disengaging the cable, the latter dropping down on the pulley F2. 'Ihe cable has Now when the operator desires to pickl up4 the cable vagain the rbell-crank lever O is caused to swing into itslowermost posit-ion, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the friction-rollers J2 then being in the rear of the cable and having theirpivots standing almost in a vertical position. The `operator now reverses the movement of the bell-crank lever O, so that the barI-I commences to slide upward, drawing up the links I and I', so that the pawls L L' glide at their rear ends over the bearings K4, thus permitting the links I and I to assume a nearly-vertical position.

(See Fig. 6.) This movement. of the links I and I' causes the angular arms J and J' to swing, with their frictionfrollers J2, downward and forward and under and to the rear of the cable, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and6. The angular arms J and J are caused to swing transversely, and at the same time their pivoted ends are moved up and down, so as to properly engage the cable and support the same for transmission to the grip. It is understood that the transverse as well as the up-and-down movement is controlled by the guiding-arms K K' and the pawls L L'. If the operator now causes a further movement of the bellcrank lever O in the direction of the arrow c', the cable F is lifted upward on the friction-rollers J2 of the angular arms J and J until the cable is finally lifted over the pulleys 'G4 and G5 and upon thetop or gripping surfaces of the jaws GG'. The operator now actuates the grip again, so as to close the sets of pulleys and the jaws to firmly grip the cable.

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Should the angular arms J and J, with their friction-rollers, come at any time in contact with any of the cable-supporting pulleys F2 F3, they will slightly swing inward and upward to a position similar to the one shown in Fig. 6, thereby easily riding over the supportingpulleys without losing their proper position relative to the cable.

It willbe understood that when the operator desires to pick up a second cable after the first cable has been thrown oft', he actuates the pick-up and throw-off device on the other side of the frame A in the same direction as above described, the said second mechanism being actuated from staffs Q, corresponding pulleys Q', and the chain Qconnected with the bell-crank lever R of the second device in the same manner as the chain P is connected with its bell-crank lever O.

It will be seen that this pick-up and throwo mechanism enables the gripman to take up a cable at will whenever desired, and to throw it off at the crossings or at the end of a section of a cable road or at the powerhouse. It will also be seen that by this arrangement in case of accident to the cable, the gripman can throw ott the injured cable and pick up the other vcable in the manner described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a pick-up and throw-off mechanism for cables, the combination, with a bar mounted Ato slide vertically, of links pivotally connected with the said bar, and transverselyguided angular arms pivotally connected with the said links, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a pick-up and throw-oft' mechanism for cables, the combination, with a bar mounted.

`to slide vertically, of links pivotally connected with the said bar, angular armspivot-all y connected with said links, and guidingarms pivotally connected with said angular arms, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a pick-up and throw-off mechanism for cables, the combination, with a bar mounted to slide vertically, and means, substantially as described, for imparting a vertical movement to the said bar, of links pivotally connected with the said bar, angular arms pivotally connected with the said links, each angular arm being provided with a frictionpulley to engage the cable, and pivoted guidearms pivotally connected with the said angularA arms and having their pivot-pins fitted to slide vertically, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a pick-u p and throw-ott mechanism for cables, the combination, with a bar mounted to slide vertically and means, substantially las described, for imparting a vertical movement to the said bar, of links pivotally connected with the said bar, angular arms pivotally connected with the said links, each angular arm being provided with a friction-pulley to engage the cable, pivoted guide-arms pivotally connected with `the said angular arms and having their pivot-.pins fitted to slide vertically, and pawls pivoted on the said links an d adapted to engage the bearings carrying the pivot-pins of the saidguiding-arms, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a pick-up and throw-oft mechanism for lcables, the combination, with a bar mounted to slide vertically and means, substantlally as described, for imparting al vertical movement to the said bar, of links pivotally connected with the said bar, angular arms pivotally connected with the said links, each a`n gular arm being provided with a friction-pulley to engage the cable, pivoted guide-arms pivotally connected with the said angular arms and having their pivot-pins fitted to slide vertically, pawls pivoted on the said links and adapted to engage the bearings carrying the pivot-pins of the-saidguiding-arms,

and a stop-pin on each of the said links to limit the movement ofthel said pawls, substantially as shown and described."y

6. In a pick-u p and throw-off mechanism'for cables, the combination, with a frame, of a bar fitted to slide on the said frame, linksl vpivotally connected with the said bar, angular arms pivotally connected with the said links and each having a friction-roller adapted to engage the cable, and guiding-arms pivotally connected with the said angular arms and pivoted on the said frame, as shown and described.

' 7. In a pick-up and throw-off mechanism for l cables, thev combination, with a frame, of a substantially roo bar itted to slide on the said frame, links pivotally connected with 'the said bar, angular arms pivotally connectedwith the said links and each havin g a friction-roller adapted to engage the cable, guiding-arms pivotally connected with the said angular arms and pivoted on the said frame, and bearings seto engage the cable, guiding-arms pivotallyv connected with the saidangular arms and pivoted on the said frame, bearings secured on the said frame and having vertical slots engaged by the pivots of the said guidingarms, and a pawl pivoted on each of the said A links and adapted to engagewith its free end the bearing for the corresponding guidingarm, substantially as shown and described.

f GEORGE MULLER' Witnesses:

1 THEO. G. HosTER,

EM. CLARK.

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