US582809A - Conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Mod-el.) 7 Sheets-Sheet; 1. J. T. GOWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

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CONVEYING APPARATUS.

No. 582,809. Patented May 18,1897.

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Patented May 18, 1897.

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CONVEYING APPARATUS.

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CONVEYING APPARATUS. No. 582,809. Patsnted May 18,1897.

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UNITED STATES JAMES T. COVLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NEV JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

- -SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,809, dated May 18, 1,897.

Application filed May 18, 1895. Serial No. 549,816. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. CowLEY, of Lowell, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled` in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. A

My invention relates to conveying apparatus for transporting parcels from one point to another, and it is especially adapt-ed for conveying cash and parcels from one ioor or one track-level to another above or below.

My invention consists of certain novel features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the elevator with portions of the tracks above and below, and also showing one elevator in position to receive the carrier from the lower forwarding-trackand another elevator in position to return the carrier onto the main return-track. Fig. 2 is a similar view to that shown Ain Fig. 1, but showing one elevator raised from alnement with the lower forwarding-track up to alinement with the forwarding-track located above and showing another elevator in alinement with the main return-track above. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line b b, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View taken on the line a a., Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the elevators, partly in section, taken on the line c c, Figs. 1 and Fig. 6 is a side view of the carrier of usual construction. Fig. 7 is a side view of the terminal placed at the end of the line on the upper floor, showing an elevator for transferring the carrier from the lower forwarding-line on the upper oor to the upper return-line on the same tloor. Fig. S is a plan view of the same on line d d, Fig. 7, or line e e,Fig. 11. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the support for the ends of the forwardingtrack. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the elevatorsupporting catch. Fig. 11 is a front end vie7 of Fig. 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are detail views of the parts of the terminal station hereinafter referred to. Figs. 16,17, 1S, 19, 20, and 2l represent certain views of the elevator-carriage-operating mechanism, in which Fig. 16 represents an end View; Fig. 17, a longitudinal sectional view on the line CZ' d of Fig. 18. Fig. 18 shows a plan view in section on the line g g of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a front view of the elevator-operating mechanism, showing the belt-shifting mechanism. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism on the line e e of Fig. 1S, and Fig. 21 is a crossseetion of the clutch mechanism on the line ff of Fig. 20.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Supported by the main forwarding-track A near the elevator is a catch A2, whichvpasses through a sleeve A4, provided with a spring A5 and collarAG. This sleeve A4 is supported on the shaft A3, mounted in the lugs A7, which are fastened to the track A. Mounted on the end of the shaft A3 is a lever A3, to theend of which is pivotally secured the rod A9, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to the bell-crank lever A10, having a pin A11 in position to be engaged by the elevator-track B when the elevator reaches its lowest position.

When the elevator is in its lowest position, the pin A11 of the bell-crank lever A10 is pressed downward, which moves with it the rod A9 and lever A3, which is fastened to the shaft A3. This movement carries down the catch A2 out of engaging position with the axle y of the carrier y, which is guided in its travel by the guides A as it moves down the track A toward the elevator B. This lcatch A3, being pressed downward out of engaging position with the axle y of the carrier, allows the carrier y to pass onto the elevatortrack B. As the carrier passes onto the elevator-track B the forward end of the carrier strikes a lever F, mounted in the lug F', secured upon a suitable support. As the carrier strikes this lever F the lever is pushed backward, which moves withit the rod F3, one end of which is fastened to the bell-crank lever F3. To the opposite end of this bellcrank lever F3 is secured the rod F4, which extends upwardly and is fastened to the catch IOO 2 ssasoe F5, supported on the lug F6 and provided with the lower catch F7. Vhen this lever F is moved by the carrier through the connections just described, the catch F7 is moved out of engagement with the catch F 8 on the slide F21, which allows the slide F21 to drop until arrested by the stop F12. This slide F21 carries with it an arm F11, through which passes the rod F111, which extends downwardly and operates to start and stop the elevatoroperating mechanism hereinafter described. lVhen this slide F21 is dropped from engagement with the catch F7 to the' position shown in Fig. l and the elevator-operating mechanism is thrown into operation, the elevator, with the track B guided upon the elevator guide-rods C', supported by suitable braces E E' E2, is raised to alinement with the forwarding-track G above. (Shown in full lines, Fig. 2.) As the elevator approaches this position it carries with it the slide F21, carrying the rod F10 up so as to again engage with the catch F7, and this movement of the slide F21 will throw off the power from the elevatoroperating mechanism and the elevator will be allowed to settle down to alnement with the track G and will be supported in this position by the catch F11 catching under the lug B5 on the elevator, as shown in full lines, Fig. 2. This upward movement of the elevator is given by the operating-cables D D, which are secured to the yoke B5 on the elevator (see Fig. 5) and pass upward over suitable pulleys D2 and D5, supported on the crossbrace E2, and extend downwardly to suitable drums on the elevator-operatin g mechanism. This elevator-operating mechanism, which is shown in Figs. 1G to 2l, inclusive, is constructed as follows:

Upon the base N1 are fastened two stands N5, and in the upper end of these stands is journaled the shaft N2, upon each end of which are mounted drums N N1. These drums are provided with suitable spiral grooves upon which the lifting-cables D D' wind. Upon the center of this shaft N2 is mounted a hub N1', and upon this hub is mounted a gear-wheel N5 and also a friction-plate N2. Between the Iiange of the hub N5 and the gear N5 and also between the friction-plate N8 and gear N5 are placed two leather disks N7. Fitting in a recess in the friction-plate N8 is a spring-plate N11, provided with springs N10, which engage with the friction-plate N11. One end of the enlarged portion of the shaft N2 is threaded to receive the nut N11, which bears upon the hub of the spring-plate ND and is adapted to give the proper tension to the springsN10. UponthebaseN1arealsomounted two stands N12, 1o the upper ends of which are fastened a stationary shaft N13, and upon this shaft are loosely mounted pulleys N11 and The pulley N15 is mounted on a hub N15, provided with a gear N17, which engages with the large gear N Upon one end of this hub N11 is mounted a clutch N12, formed to receive the balls N21, and a plate N15 holds the balls N21 in place. The clutch N111 enters into a recess in the pulley N20, which is also loosely mounted on the shaft N15.

From the base N1 extends a stand O5, provided with a stud O2, upon which is journaled a belt-shifter O, formed at its top withasuitable yoke through which the belt N23 passes. From the lower end of this lever O extends an arm O', to which is attached the link O1, Fig. 19, and the opposite end of this link is fastened to the lever O5. One end of this le ver O5 is journaled upon the stand O5, and the opposite end extends upward to receive a loose stud O7, to which is attached one end of the rod F10. The pulleys N11 and N15are provided with the straight belt N25, and the pulley N211is provided with a cross-belt N22, so that the pulley N2O will revolve in an opposite direction from the pulleys N14 and N15, and the arrangement of the clutch N111 is such that the pulley N211 is free to revolve in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2O when the hoisting mechanism is not in operation.

To' the base N1 is fastened the stand O11, Fig. 19, to the upper end of which is journaled an arm O11 upon the stud O1 and provided at its upper end with a pulley O12, which is held in contact with the belt N22 by the spring O10, Fig. 19. Fastened to thearm O11 is a hook O15, projecting outward and in position to engage the pins O11 on the pulley N20, Figs. 16 and 18, should the belt N22 become displaced. The object of thisis to provide a safety-stop to catch and hold the pulley N211 in ease the belt N22 should break or run olf or become displaced.

In operation the lever O5 is normally held in a raised position by the rod F10, and in this position the belt N25 runs upon the pulley N14 and the elevator-lifting mechanism remains idle.

When the carrier runs on the elevator-earria-ge B and strikes the lever F, through the connections F2, F5, F1, F5, and F21, the rod F11 is dropped and the lever O5 is lowered, and the yoke of the belt-shifting lever O moves the belt from the pulleyN1'1 to the pulley N15. The lever F and the connections F2, F5, F1, F5, and F21 thus constitute means whereby the mechanism for moving the elevator is actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator. This pulley N15 being attached to the hub N15 and gear N11 this gear is revolved and moves with it the gear N5, and the gear N5 carries with it the hub N6 by the contact of the leather friction-disks N7. This hub N5 is secured to the shaft N2, upon which is mounted the drums N and N'. Around these drums N and N the lifting-cables D D are wound, which pass upwardly over pulleys D2 and D5. The opposite ends of these liftingcables are attached to the yoke B5 of the elevator-carriage, Fig. 5, and by the operation of these drums N and N by the pulley N15 IOO IIO

D D mechanism is provided for operating the elevator and moving the elevator-carriage. The cross-belt N22, working on the pulley N20, revolves the pulley N20 in an opposite direction to the pulleys N14 and N15. The object of this pulley N20 and clutch N13 working within the pulley is to govern the downward movement of the elevator-carriage and prevent the same from moving beyond a certain speed.

When the elevator-carriage B is released from the catch Il (see Fig. 2) by the carrier striking the lever L7, (see Fig. 4,) the weight of the elevator-carriage and the carrier combined is sufficient to turn the drums N and N4 to unwind the cable therefrom and revolve the drums in an opposite direction to that required to raise the elevator-carriage. As these drums revolve backward they carry with them the shaft N2 and gear N5, engaging with the gear N17, upon the hub of which is mounted the clutch N13. This movement of the clutch N18 is in the same direction as the pulley N20 is traveling, and the clutch N13 is so arranged that should the downward movement of the elevator cause the clutch N18 to revolve faster than the pulley N20 the clutch-balls N21 will wedge upon the inclined portion of the clutch N13and check the downward movement of the elevator. By this it will be seen that the downward movement of the elevator is controlled by the speed of the pulley N20, operated by the cross-belt N22, while the drums N and N are free to be revolved to raise the elevator-carriage.

The carrier is held on the elevator-track B in its upward movement by the catch B0, engaging with the forward axle 'y' of the carrier. This catch B6 is mounted on the shaft B7 on the elevator, (see Fig. 5,) and is provided with a spring B3 on the shaft B7. This catch has an arm B12, which extends downwardly and engages with the lugs B10 on the rod B11, which is supported on the side of the elevator-frame B4. This rod B11 is provided with a catch B13 at its upper end, which catch engages with and is lifted by the catch F14, whiehsupports the elevator in its raised position. As this catch B13 is lifted, carrying with it the rod B11 and the arm B12 ofthe catch B0, the catch'B6 is lowered out of engagement with the forward axle y of the carrier, and the carrier is allowed to pass onto the upper forwarding-track G.

As the carrier passes along the track G the axle y of the carrier engages with the finger F22, supported on the shaft F10, mounted in the lug F20 and secured to the track G. (See Fig. l.) Secured upon the end of this shaft F10 is a lever F13, and to the end of this lever is secured a rod F17. This rod F17 extends outwardly and is fastened at its opposite end to the catch F14.

As the aXle y of the carrier y engages with the linger F22 and pushes it forward as it travels over the track G through the connections on the shaft F19 and lever F1s and rod F17 the catch F14 is pushed out of engagement with the lug B3 on the elevator-frame B4 and the elevator is allowed to descend to its normal position, as shown in full lines, Fig. l.

The carrier will then pass along over the track G until it approaches a station or terminal when it will then leave the track G and pass onto the track G and will be arrested by the guide-rails G2, supported at the rear end by the brace G3.

The track G is supported, Figs. 7 and 11, by a suitable frame G4 and secured thereto by bolts G10, and said frame is adapted to slide upon the guides G5. This 'frame isfprovided at its top with a pulley G0, around which a suitable cord GT passes, and one end of said cord is fastened at G21 to the yoke G20 on the frame G4. This cord passes upwardly over a suitable pulley G22 and downwardly under pulley GG on the top of the frame G4, and then said cord passes upwardly around pulley G10 and downwardly through an eye on the end of the arm G0 and is provided with a handle G3, by which the elevator may be raised to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, in alinement with the upper returntrack K. From the bottom of this elevatorframe G4 there extends a rod J, upon the end of which is mounted a plunger J2, Fig. 13, which is adapted to work in an air-chamber J to regulate the rising and lowering of the elevator-frame G4. This rod J is provided with a notch J 3, Fig. l0, to be engaged by the end of the rod J 4 when theelevator is raised to alinelnent with the track K. This rod J4, mounted in the supports J 3 and J 0, by engaging with the notch J3 on the rod J, will support the elevator-frame G4 in its raised position.

After the carriery has been forwarded over the return-track K the elevatoris released from its raised position bythe attendant pulling on the handle J7, mounted on the end of the rod J4, and the rod J4 is pulled out of engagement with the notch J3 and the elevator is allowed to descend. When the attendant releases the handle J7, the action of the spring J 3, engaging with the collar J 0 on the rod J4, will return the rod J4 to its original position, ready to again engage with the notch J 3 when the elevator is again raised. Vhen the elevator is in its lowest position, the ends of the track G' will rest upon the support H3, mounted on the rods H2, which are supported by the base H. This support also supports the ends of the track G, and the track G and elevator-track G' are therefore held in alinement with each other.

The elevator-carriage G4 is provided with a pin G13. (See Figs. 7 and 15.) This pin extends outwardly in position to engage with the end of the dog G14 in its upward movement and will raise the end of the dog G14, mounted on the stud G15, Fig. l2, as the elevator is raised to alinement with the upper return-track K. This movement of t-he dog` G14 will, by engagement with the lever G16, mounted on the stud G17, move the rod G13in IOS IIO

ITS

the direction indicated by the arrow a, Fig. 7. This rod G18 extends outwardly along the track G, andthe opposite end is pivotallysecured to the catch F11, mounted on the lug F11". The movement of this rod G18, as before described, will therefore move the catch F1'1 out of engagement with the lugB on the elevator-frame B1 and will release the elevator from its raised position should the elevator fail to have been released by the carrier passing over the track G and engaging with the trip F21, as before described.

As lthe carrier passes over the return-track K and passes onto the elevator-track L, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the forward end of the carrier will engage with the end Ln of the lever L1', mounted in the lug L8, to which is secured the fiat spring L10, having its free ends bearing against the framework L11, and said spring' assists in returning the lever L7 toits normal position, Figs. 2 and l. This lever L7, bythe action of the carrier, will be pushed backward and will carry with it the rod L, which is fastened to the elevator-supporting catch L3, mounted in the lug L1, provided with the spring L, and the elevatorcarriage, with the carrier, will be allowed to descend to the position shown in full lines, Fig. l. The movement of the said elevatortrack L is controlled through the medium of the elevating cables D" and D, passing over the pulleys D7 and DS and then downwardly to independent mechanism similar to the mechanism previously described for the cables D and D.

\Vhen the carrier reaches the position shown in full lines, Fig. l, in alinement with the track M, and the carrier has passed onto the track M, the axle of the carrier will engage with the finger BF, secured to the shaft M2, mounted upon the lugs M3, and will move the finger M forward in the direction the carrier is traveling. This movement will carry with it the rod M4, one end of which is secured to the bell-crank lever M5. To the opposite end of the bell-crank lever M5 is secured the rod M, which extends upwardly and is secured to the arm MT of the catch M", mounted in the lug MS. This forward movement of the finger M', carrying with it the rods M1 and M1i and operating the catch M", will release the catch M" from the eat-ch M1O on t-he slide M11 and will allow the slide M11 to drop to the position shown in Fig. l. Secured to the slide M11 is the arm M12, through which passes the rod M111, provided at its up per end with a spring i111 and collar M15. 'lhis rod M13 passes downwardly to a suitable elevator-operating mechanism, the sam'e as before described for the other elevator, and the downward movement of this rod M13 will act to start the elevator-operating mechanism and return the elevator L to its normal position in alinelnent with the track K, and the carrier will travel along the track M to its destination.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the elevators for the forwarding-track and for the return-track are entirely independent of one another, and the object of using` independent elevators is to form a continuous line, both forward and return, over which the carriers may bc moved from one end of the line to the other, and the elevator of the forwarding-track is for the purpose of transferring only the carriers going forward and the elevator of the return-track is for the purpose of transferring only the carriers returning to the home station along the returntrack, so that where the elevator of the forwarding-track has received a carrier from one section of the forwarding-track and transferred it to another section of said forwarding-track the carrier, upon passing olf of the elevator onto the forwarding-track, in its movement operates mechanism which causes the elevator to return to alinement with that section of the forwarding-track from which it moved and in position to receive another carrier going forward. Now referring to thc return-track, the elevatorof said return-track receives a carrier returning and transfers it to alinement with another section of the retu r11-track, and upon said carrier passing off onto said section it operates mechanism which causes said elevator to return to alinement with said section of the return-track from which it moved. Thus the elevator or elevators in the foiwvarding-track transfer the carriers going forward without regard to how they return and the elevator or elevators in the return-track transfer the carriers returning without regard as to how said carriers were forwarded, and thus each line, with its elevators, is entirely independent of one another.

In United States Letters Patent dated Jan uary 5, 1897, and numbered 574,714, issued to the Lamson Consolidated Store Service'Company as my assignee, only one elevator for forwarding and returning the carriers is shown and described, and in said apparatus the elcvator receiving the carrier moving along the forwarding track transfers it to a station above and at which there is shown a short track onto which the carrier runs; but said elevator remains in alinement with said short track until the carrier is pushed back onto said elevator, when the elevator moves to alinement with the return-track, and as the carrier passes onto the return-track it operates in its movement mechanism which causes said elevator to return to alinement with the forwarding-track from which it first moved. In said patent the elevator is shown at the terminal of the line, whereas in this application the elevators are shown intermediate of the line, and there may be several elevators from the beginning to the end of the line wherever it is necessary to transfer carriers from one level to another.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the lower track and for transferring it to the upper track, mechanism for moving said elevator, and mechanism actuated by t-he carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement with the upper track and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with the lower track.

2. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the lower track and transferring it to the upper track, mechanism for moving said elevator, means whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator, and mechanism actuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement with the upper track and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with the lower track.

3. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lower return-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper track and for conveying it to the lower track, and mechanism actuated by the carrier for returning the said elevator to alinement with the upper track.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lower return-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper track and for conveying it to the lower track, mechanism for moving said elevator, and means whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing o from said elevator for returning said elevator to alinement with said upper track.

5. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lower return-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper track and for conveying it to the lower track,means for holding said elevator in alinement with said upper track and adapted to be actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator to release said elevator from said alinement, and to allow it to move into alinement with the lower track, means for holding said elevator in alinement with said lower track and adapted to be actuated by the carrier to release said elevator from alinement with said lower track, mechanism for moving said elevator, and means whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing off from said elevator to return said elevator to alinement with said upper track.

6. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lower return-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper track and for conveying it to the lower track, and mechanism actuated by the same carrier for returning said elevator to alinement with said upper track.

7. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lower return-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper track and for conveying it to the lower track, mechanism actuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator, and mechanism actuated by the same carrier for returning said elevator to alinement with the upper track.'

8. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from one track and for transferring it to the other track, mechanism for moving said elevator, means operated by the movement of the elevator to stop the moving mechanism when the elevator has reached the other track, and mechanism actuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement with said other track and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with the track from which it received the carrier.

9. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from one track and for transferring it to the other track, mechanism for moving said elevator, means whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator, means operated by the movement of the elevator to stop the moving mechanism when the elevator has reached the other track, and mechanism actuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement with said other track and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with the track from which it received the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 8th day of May, A. D. 1895.

JAMES T. COVLEY.

Witnesses:

DELIA S. PETERSON, L. H. TRow.

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