US689044A - Scuttle. - Google Patents

Description

No. 689,044. Patented Dec. l7, l90l. J. FORMES.

SCUTTLE (Application filed Sept. 24, 1901.; (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet l.

v INVENTOI? Jbim i'armes, BY

A 7TOHNEY8 No. 689,044, Patented Dec. l7, I901. J. FORMES,

SCUTTLE.

(Application filed Sept. 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IN VE N T OH J07? Farmes.

ATTORNEYS Fries.

JOHN FORMES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SCUTTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,044, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed September 24, 1901. Serial No. 76.335- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN FORMES, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, borough of Manhattan, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scuttles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to scuttles, and relates particularly to a scuttle which can be opened or closed and secured in either of such positions by means of a device which is operated from a convenient point by a rope connected therewith.

The object of the invention is to provide a scuttle with means for raising or lowering the shutter with increased facility and, further, to afford means for automatically securing the shutter when raised and automatically locking the same when lowered.

The invention consists of a scuttle com prising a scuttle-frame, a shutter hinged thereto, a rack arranged on the under side of the shutter, a lever pivotally secured to one side of the frame and having a spur-wheel adapted to engage the rack, a ratchet and pawl controlling the lever, and intermediate means connected with the rope for actuating the pawl, so that by pulling the rope in a vertical or oblique direction the ratchet is either opened or closed, respectively.

The invention consists, further, of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the scuttle, showing the means for raising the shutter. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the scuttle with the shutter in closed position, showing the means for locking the same. Fig. 3 is a similarview showing the shutter as it is rising; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the scuttle-frame, to which is hinged at one side the shutter A. Arranged on the under side of the shutter, adjacent and parallel to one of the side edges, is the rackway a, and along the front edge is provided a latching means adapted to engage the locking-cleat a on the inner side of the front of the frame A. The latch is composed of two hanging hooks a connected by a bar a and pivoted in hangers 00, secured to the under side of the shutter.

Pivotally mounted on the side of the frame A, in line with the rackway a and a suitable distance from the back, is the lever L, which is provided at its free end with the spur- Wheel S and the projection l, the former of which being adapted to engage the rack a when the shutter is in a raised position, and the latter, cooperating with the latching means, moves the hooks a outwardly to engage with the locking-cleat a. The opposite end of the lever L has formed integrally therewith the ratchet R, and mounted on the same pivotal center with the lever is the straight lever L, which connects with the pawl P, carried on a suitable hanger secured to the side of the frame and provided with the depending finger p for the purpose of limiting the upward action of the pawl.

In order to operate the lever L, and thereby raise the shutter, the rope O is connected with the lever adjacent its free end and passes around the pulleyprovided on the hinged side of the frame, then downwardly to a convenient point where it can be manipulated. An intermediate rope or chain 0 connects the main rope with the straight lever L, which actuates the pawl, throwing the same in or out of engagement with the ratchet R, according to the character of the pull exerted upon the rope at the grip G.

In accordance with the above description the operation of opening and closing the scuttle is as follows: A direct vertical pull is exerted upon the rope, which causes simultaneously the pawl to disengage from the ratchet by means of the intermediate rope and straight lever and the lever to rise, bringing the spur-wheel into engagement with the rackway and at the same time the disengaging of the latch-hooks from the lockingcleat. When the lever is slightly raised,

the projection at its end is moved out of contact with the latch-hooks, which latter swing back to the line of gravity, a position in which they are free from the locking-clear], so that the shutter can be raised. By continuing the direct pulling upon the rope the lever is raised, the spur-wheel moving in the rackway until the shutter is opened to its limit, whereupon the rope is pulled obliquely, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to relieve the pull upon the intermediate rope, permitting the pawl to drop into engagement with the ratchet, thereby securing the lever into its raised position. \Vhen it is desired to close the scuttle, a direct vertical pull is exerted upon the rope, which throws the pawl out from the ratchet, so as to permit the shutter to lower. After the shutter is seated upon the scuttle-frame and the spur-Wheel moves out of engagement with the rackway,

the lever drops of its own weight, causingthe projection on its end to move the latch-hooks under the locking-cleat on the frame, thereby locking the scuttle automatically.

The advantages of the invention are its simplicity, utility, and cheapness of manufacture. It is operated so that the unlocking, closing, or locking of the scuttle can be accomplished without the necessity of ascending to the roof of the building by merely pulling an operating-rope arranged to be ac cessible at a convenient point. Thus the invention obviates the danger and inconvenience of raising, propping open, closing, or locking the scuttle in the manner hitherto necessary.

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

1. A scuttle, consisting of a scuttle-frame, a shutter hinged to one side thereof, a rackway secured to the under side of said shutter adjacent one edge thereof, a lever pivotally mounted on one side of said frame and in line with said rackway, a spur-wheel provided in the free end of said lever adapted to move in said rackway, a ratchet formed at the opposite end of said lever, a pawl for engaging said ratchet, means for-raising said pawl, and means for operating said pawlraising means and said lever, substantially as set forth.

2. A scuttle, consisting of a scuttle-frame, a shutter hinged to one side thereof, a rackway secured to the under side of said shutter adjacent one edge thereof, a lever pivotally mounted on one side of said frame and in line with said rackway, a spur-wheel provided in the free end of said lever adapted to move in said rackway, a ratchet formedat the opposite end of said lever, a pawl for engaging the same, a straightlever mounted concentrically with said lever, and connected with said pawl, an operating-rope connected with the outer end of said lever and passing over a pulley suitably provided on the back of said scuttle-frame and an intermediate rope connecting said operating-rope and said straight lever, substantially as set forth.

3. A scuttle, consisting of a scuttle-frame, a shutter hinged to one side thereof, a lever for raising or lowering the same, means for securing said lever in raised position, a projection provided at the free end of said 1e ver, latch-hooks secured to said shutter adjacent its front edge, and a locking-cleat arranged on the inner face of the front of the scuttle-frame adapted to engage said latchhooks, substantially as set forth. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN FORMES.

Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, GEORGE GABEL.

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