US741583A - Burial apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD OCT. 18, 1903.

J; E. LAWRENCE. BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001'. 20. 1902.

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J. E. LAWRENCE. BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902. I

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N0 MODEL.

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PATENTED 001. 13-, 1903;

-- J. B. LAWRENCE.

BURIAL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET s.

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a \QEQQEEQEQQA PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903.

J. E. LAWRENCE- BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00120. 1902.

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NO MODEL.

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No. 741,583. PATENTED 001. 13, 1903..

J. E, LAWRENCE.

.BURIAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20. 1902. N0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET 5L' 1 Hoznus no. "raises. I

UNITE STATES rammed October 13, 190:5.

Y PAT -ENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. LAWRENCE, or WOLOOTT, NE YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FLORIDA E. LAWRENCE, OFWOLCOTT, NEW YORK.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

srEGxEIcATIoN i orming part of Lette jl tent No. 741,583, dated October 13, 1903.

' Application filed October 20,1902. Serial No. l27,996. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concerit:

Be it known that I, JosEPH LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wolcott, in the county of Wayne and State of New York, have invented a new and'useful Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. r Y r This invention relates generally to burial apparatuses, and has for its object to provide a device by means of which a cofiln or casket can be lowered into the grave by means of one man, who can also regulate the speed of descent.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable frame, so that the device can be quickly and easily adjusted to fit around various-size graves and to accommodate caskets of difierentsizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which shall be ornamental in its character, and thereby relieve the graveopening of its gruesome aspect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suitable case in which the apparatus can be conveniently packed and carried as a part of the undertakers'ou tfit.

With these and certain other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview showing my invention as applied to a grave. Fig. 2 is a view showing one end of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a view showing one corner of the ornamen tal screen being setin place, said screen being omitted from the other views. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view taken through one end of the apparatus, disclosing the operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line5 5 of Fig. 4:. .Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operating-lever .and treadle connected therewith. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan view of the said treadle.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the detachable ,tension device. Fig. 11 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation,

detached from the said supporting-strap. Fig.

13 is a view illustrating the sectional supporting-bar adapted to roll on and. support the coffin or casket prior'to being deposited upon the supportin g-straps by means of which it is lowered into-the grave. Fig. 14. is a plan view of the said sectional supporting-bar. Fig. 15 is a view of the entire apparatus arranged in the case. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the lever employed for operating the lowering mechanism to raise or adjust the latter. Fig. 17 is an enlarged elevation, partly broken away, of the operatinglever, showing in dotted lines the position of the several parts when the latch is disengaged from the segment. Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail section drawn on about the line 18 18 of Fig. 17, and Fig. 19 shows detail of the several parts shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

In carrying out my invention I employ an adjustable rectangular frame A, which is adapted to be supported upon brackets B, arranged adjacent to the edge of the grave, so that the said frame will surround the grave and will be held a slight distance above the mound of the same, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The adjustable frame A is preferably constructed of tubular metal material and comprises telescopic side members A, telescopic end member A at one end, and a telescopic member A at the opposite end. The end members A and A each havetubular connections A which are arranged at right angles to the members A and A and adjacent to their ends, said tubular connections serving to receive the end sections of the side members A. 7

By arranging the end and side members of the frame to telescope, as described, the frame can be readily adjustedto encircle the grave,

' it being only necessary to pull upon orpress in upon the said members, when they will readily slide within one another until the required size is obtained, after which the members are securely fastened by the thumbscrews 0., as shown in Figs. 1 and 15 of the drawings.

A spool C is arranged centrally within the tubular member A said spool having a tubular shaft 0 rigidly connected thereto, and surrounding the said spool is a strip of leather C and embracing the said leather strip is a metallic brake-band C one end of which is rigidly connected to a shaft 0 the end of which projects through the tubular member A A sleeve C is arranged upon this shaft 0 and is adapted to turn thereon, the inner end of the said sleeve being threaded and adapted to engage the threaded portion of the said shaft, so that when the sleeve is turned in one direction the brake-band will be tightened upon the leather strip and will be loosened when moved in a reverse direction. Shafts D are fitted into the tubular shaft 0'. Said shafts D extend in opposite directions and pass through suitable filling-plugs E, said shafts having ratchet-wheels E at their outer ends, which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls E said pawls and ratchet being protected by the cap-piece E arranged upon the end of the member A. These caps E are removable, so that the shafts may be engaged and operated by a ratchet-lever E, Fig. 16, which is adapted to be slipped upon the ratchets E and operated for adjusting or rewinding the cables by hand and raising the casket out whenever it should be found necessary.

Each shaft D has a drum F mounted thereon, said drum being arranged opposite the tubular extension A, and passing around the said drums are the cables G and H, the cable G passing over guide-pulleys G and the cable H over a guide-pulley H, said guide-pulleys being mounted upon a threaded shaft H so that as the cable is wound or unwound the said pulleys will move, along the threaded shaft, so as to properly place the cables upon the drum F. The cable G passes around the guide-rollers G carried in the tubular extension A adjacent to the member A and out through openings G produced in the sides of said extensions A. The cable H passes out. through the extension A, through the side members A, and out through an opening H produced in the tubular extension A connected to an end memberA These cables G and H pass over a horizontal roller I, carried by a curved plate I, having hooks 1, adapted to engage openings produced in the side of the said extensions A and each curved plate I has an adjustable tension which is regulated by means of a screw 1 and wingnut 1 said tension-plate being adapted to bear upon the cable as it passes over the roller I, and by tightening or loosening the winged nut I the tension can be increased or decreased, as desired, preventing recoils. The outer end of each cable has an anchor-block K connected thereto, said blocks having springs K connected to their upper ends. Each anchor-block K is also provided with two laterally-extending portions K which are adapted to engage the cam-shaped heads K of the catches K which are adapted to engage the end pieces K of the supporting straps or webs K, and it should be stated here that these straps or webs are preferably constructed of leather and have their ends firmly riveted between the end pieces K". The heads K of the catches K are pivoted within a housingK, through which the cables pass, and it will be noted that when any weight is placed upon the supporting-straps and the catches engage the end pieces K the springs K are compressed and the heads K engage the lateral extensions K The moment, however, the weight or tension is removed the springs K throw the anchors or blocks K downwardly, releasing the heads K and throwing the catches'K out of engagement with the end pieces K and when thus released the straps may be readily withdrawn from under the casket, it of course being understood that only one end of the straps are released; but for appearances both ends are made to simulate each other. The sleeve C has a squared spindle-shaped outer end, to which a ratchet-wheel L having a bore to fit said spindle, is attached. The wheel L has a hub L to which side plates of levers are pivotally or revolubly connected. Between said lever-arm plates are the two pawls L, pivotally hung and adapted to engage the wheel L thus connecting said lever-arm L to wheel L The pawls are pivoted adjacent each other and intermediate their ends, their end portions diverging, their innerends engaging teeth on the wheel L The free end of said lever-arm carries a rack-segment L, which is adapted to be engaged at different points on the segment by a spring-actuated pawl L arranged upon the under side of the treadle L pivoted to a bracket Lflextending downwardly from the outer end of the shaft C. A springactuated bolt or pawl L has an upwardly-extending heel-piece L against which the heel can be placed for the purpose of withdrawing the bolt or pawl out of engagement with the rack-segment L, and by means of this bolt or pawl when engaged and the treadle I am enabled to move the lever-arm L up or down, therebyincreasing or decreasing the pressure upon the brake-band, and consequently regulating the speed of descent.

The lever L comprises two plates bolted together, one of said plates being broken away in Fig. 17 to show the mechanism located between them. On the outer end of the sleeve C is formed a squared spindle L The pawls L are adapted to be forced into engagement with the ratchet-wheel by an arm L carryinga wedge-shaped head L. This head rests between diverging outer ends of the pawls, and when the head is forced inward the ends of the pawls engaged by the head are forced downward to a point below the bracket L The leverL is formed with a curved tapering by a pin passing through the slot.

end which is pivotally connected to the central part of the rod L the upper end of the rod being curved forward and being pivotally connected to a link L, which is pivoted between the plates of the lever. A longitudinal slot is produced in the lower end of the link, the arm L being connected to'the link The spindle L has a square bore, in which fits a shaft 0 having a squared end L over whichfits the upturned end of the bracket L. C is perforated and threaded, and a threaded screw having an end cap fits in same and holds the bracket L in position. A slot L is produced in the foot-treadle, through which the rod L projects. Pins L project from the bolt L v and actuate the rod, swinging it back and forth as the bolt ismoved. WVhen lever L is drawn back, the pawls disengage the ratchet, a guard L", secured to the head L being adapted to draw the rear ends of the pawls together. back, the lever L can be raised or lowered without the pawls engaging the wheel, and

' erated by a hand-lever M after actuating the lever-arm the foot can be pressed forward, returning the rod L to its normal position, and thewedge-head L will rise sufficiently, and the cables unwind from,

their spools, lowering the coffin into the grave, and the moment the bottom is reached, the pressure being removed from the blocks K, they will become disengagedfrom the'sup porting-strap.

To facilitate the placing of the coffin upon the supporting-straps K", I employ sectional supporting-bars M, which are pivotally connected to the side members, and at their inner ends said sectional supporting-bars are provided with interlocking heads M,-held in engagement by a bolt M adapted to be op- Each bar carries a roller M upon the upper face thereof, upon which the coffin or casket is rolled, it being understood that the said bars are moved together and interlocked, as most clearly shown in Fig. 13, just before the coffin is rolled thereon, and after the coffin has been rolled thereon the hand-lever is operated, disengaging the bolts and permitting the sectional supportingbars to drop down, as clearly indicated in Fig;

der to conceal the mechanical appliances and also render-the appearance of the grave less objectionable, I surround the same'with ornamental screens resting against the supportingbrackets and held thereto 'in any suitable manner; but in the present instance the lower ends of the brackets are shown as bent back' When the guard is drawn It is thus seen that I provide a means of which a coffin can be slowly and evenly lowered into a grave.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that I provideyan exceedingly-simple and highly-efficient apparatus for the purpose specified, and by providing the end and side members to telescope into each other the frame may be quickly and easily adjusted to fit various-sized graves, as from the extreme large size of seven feet three inches by three feet to four feet'three inches by one foot ten inches and all intervening sizes.

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

1. Ina burial apparatus, the combination with the central spool surrounded by a strap of leather, a brake-band adapted to engage the leather strap, the threaded rod and adjustable sleeve for operating the brake-band, theratchet-wheel rigidly connected to the sleeve, a lever inclosing said wheel the rack segment connected to the lever, a pivoted treadle and the spring-actuated locking-bolt connected to said treadle, as and for the purpose described.

2; In a burial apparatus the combination with the supporting-straps having end pieces, of the pivoted catches provided with heads and adapted to engage the said end pieces, the housing into which the catches are pivoted, the cables passing through the tops of said housing, the block arranged upon the end of said cable, and provided with laterallyprojecting extensions, and springs connected to the block and adapted to bear upon the upper portion of the housing, as specified.

8. In a burial apparatus the combination with the tubular member having openings,

of the guide-rollers arranged in said member, a cable extending through saidmember and passing through the opening, a detachable plate carrying a roller, and the adjustable tension-plate adapted to bear upon the cable, as specified.

4:. In a burial apparatus, the sectional sup- IIO porting-bars carrying rollers and provided with the-interlocking ends, one of said bars having a bolt adapted to secure the interlocking ends in engagement and the lever for disengaging said bolt, as specified.

5. A burial apparatus comprising a tubular end member,-a spool mounted therein, a brake-band around the spool, a shaft connected thereto, a sleeve thereon, a lever formed of two parallel plates rigidly secured to said sleeve, a ratchet-wheel secured between the lever-plates, pawls carried by the lever and adapted to engage said ratchet, a segment carried by the lover, a foot-treadle,

and a bolt carried by the foot-treadle adapt-

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