US888949A - Moving stairway. - Google Patents

Description

G. A. WHEELER.

MOVING STAIRWAY.

I' F EN WED T. APPLICATION ILED EB 211906 R E 00 18,1907 5SHEETS SHEET l.

PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

No. 888,949. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

G. A. WHEELER.

MOVING STAIRWAY.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 21. 190e. BBNBWED 00T. 1s, 1907,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 888,949. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. G. A. WHEELER.

MOVING STAIRWAY.

PPLIOATION FILED 1113.21 1 oe. BENEWBD 001.1 19 A 9 8' 07 ssHEBTs-SHEET a.

@H .Wheels/a.

'fm MM' No. 888,949. A PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. G. A. WHEELER. MOVING STAIRWAY.

PPLIUATION FILED P31121, 1906. RENEWED 00T. 1a, 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 888,949. vEATENTED MAY 28, 1908. G. A. WHEELER.

MOVING STAIRWAY.

APPLIOATIONTILED PEB. 21. 1906. RENEWED 00T.18. 1907.

y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E m n l im ANi i; IED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

Y GEORGE A. WHEELER, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed February 21, 1906, Serial No. 302,230. Renewed October 18, 1907. Serial No. 398,033.'

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Brooklyn New York city, New York, have invented certain Im rovements in Moving Stairways, of which tliie following is a speciiication.

The main object of my invention is to so construct a moving stairway consisting of an endless chain of step sections and guides therefor, that the same series of step sections can be used to carry passengers on the elevating run as well as on the return run, the' step sections always remaining right side up. further ob'ect of the invention is to provide rectangular treads and symmetrical risers, and to obviate irregular steps on the carrying portion of the stairway, and also to avoid folding step sections.

A Sail fuaher ObjectO-f the invention is to so construct the stairway that the loo ed portion will be concealed or protected so t iat it will not be usedV as part of the carrying portion of the stairway. I prefer to depress the looped portion so that it can`run under a fixed platform. y

My invention also relates to certain details which will be described hereafter;

In the accompanying drawings t-Figure 1, is a plan view of my improved moving stairway; Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic View on the line 2-2, Fig. '1; Fig. 3, is a diagrammatic view, showing the'depressed loop, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2 FigA, 1s an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the upper portion of the stairway; Fig.y 5, is a plan view of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, isa section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7, is a lan view on a reduced scale showing one o the turns and one step section underlying the other at the turn; Fig. 8, is a diagram view illustrating the position of the steps at the turn infull line and the position of the steps on the carrying run indotted line; Fig.l 9, is a detail view of one of the step sections partly in section, showing the connection; Fig. 10,`is a diagrammatic view showing a platform in the mid-position between the upper and lower fixed platforms; Fig. 11, is a view of a portion of the step sections a`t the turn; Fig.v 12, is a detail sectional view through the step connections; Fig. 13, is a detaill perspective view of one of the hubs; Fig. 14, is a detached sectional view of o' e of the rack links; 15, is a sectional viewthrough the stairway, showing a form slightly modified from that illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 16, is ardetached view, partly in' section, of one of the step sections and connections illustrated in Fig. 15; Figs. 17' and 18, are detail views of portions of Fig. 15; Fig. 19, is a view of a modification showing the ascending carrying run located at right angles to the descending carrying run; Fig. l y

20, is a diagram sectional view of Fig. 19; Figs. 21 and `22, are views showing the looped sections arranged to turn above the adjacent landings instead of below them as in the other figures; Fig. 23, is a view illustrating a modication of the connecting links;Fig. 24, is a lan View of the connecting links illustrate(l in Fig. 23; and Fig. 25, is a erspective view of one of the sockets ilustrated in Fig. 23.

Referrinnr in the first instance to Figs. 1 to 3, both inclusive, which illustrate one of the sim lest forins of niy ini ioved stairway, A is t 1e ascending run of t ie stairway and A is the descending run of the stairway.

B is the lower platform and B is the upper i platform.

The guides for the step sections are so formed that the step sections themselves forni part of the two platforms in the present instance, although this is not essential in carrying out my invention,

D is the endless carrier inade up of a series of connected stop sections, preferably of the forni cleailyfillustrater'l in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The tread surface of each step section is rectangular and the risers are symmetrical', and the step sections of the carrying portion of the stairway are held rigidly in proper position, the edge of one section abutting against p joints between the step sections and to make the carrying run perfectly rigid. Wlien it 1s desired to turn thestep sections it is necessary to move the step sections so that one will be either below or above the succeeding one in order that it will be free to turn under or over the succeeding step section, as illustrated clearly in Figs. 5 and 7, and in the diagram Fig. 8, and as it is not desirable or necessary to use this portion of the carrier I the other, so as to close the It will be understood at the outset that lI may make as many intermediate platforms, such as shown i Fig. 10, as desired, where several floors are to be connected by a single endless carrier or where it is desired to form a break in the stairway, and it will also be understood that while in Fig. 1, I have shown the ascending and descending carrying sections arranged side by side and the platforms of both on the same level, the platforms of one may be below the platforms of the other and the descending carrying portion may be at any angle desired in respect to the ascend'- ing carrying portion, for instance, in Figs. 19 and 20, I have shown the descending carrying portion at a right angle to the ascending carrymg portion and the two platforms at a` distance apart one from the other. Thus'I do not limit myself to the particular type of stairway shown inl the drawings, as the type of stairway will depend considerably upon the location.

Referring now to the details of the invention, on each side of the stairway are rails a, a, Fig. 6, below an overhanging flange a in the present instance, and mounted in bearings on each step section ci is an axle d having flanged wheels cl2 on each end which travel on the rails a. Guard rails are used at points where it is necessary to hold the wheels to the rails a.

There is a single, wheel at each end of each step section which is the sole support for the step sections. I do not rely upon the wheels to hold the tread surfaces of the step sections horizontal but rely upon the enchainment described hereafter.

Projecting from each step section is a post C and on each post is a series of hubs c, c', c2, c3; these hubs are free to swivel on the post, as shown in Fig. 12, and links i, i connect the hubs c, c2 of one step section with the hub c, c2 of an adjoining step section, while links i2, is connect the hubs c', c3 respectively, of one step section with the hubs c', c3 of a step section on the opposite side. The link i3 in the present instance Ahas teeth fi, Fig. 9, and the link is so shaped as to form a section of what may be termed an endless rack, forming part of the carrier D. Meshing with this rack are one or more toothed wheels H mounted on driving shafts H', in the present instance I have shown one driving shaft'H mounted just below the upper platform of the stairway, as illustrated in Fig. 4, but it will be understood that any number of driving wheels may be placed in different position according to the character of the stairway and the number of platforms which are formed by the carrier as it travels in the endless path. This link i3 has a fiange 'i5 forming a pocket to catch any lubricant which may drip from the post and hubs, as these hubs must be kept lubricated. By this means I-am enabled to prevent the drip, to a great extent, of the lubricant throughout the entire run of the stairway and limit the discharge of the lubricant from the link at A shown, so as to clear the step sections when they are on the inclined run's. I

Projecting from the underside of each step section and on each side of the post are lugs e, e', e2, e3, the lugs on each side being spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow for sufficient play of arms f, f', the arm f projects from the hub c between the lugs e, e2 and the arm f projects from the second hub c between the lugs e, e3 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 5' and 6.

It will be noticed in referring to Fig. 5, that when the step sections are on a straight line the arm f bears against the lug e and the arm f bears against the lug e', thus preventing the step sections swinging on the post as a pivot and kee ing all the step sections in alinement. hen the step sections, however, strikethe curve of a loop as on the right hand side of Fig. 5, the arm f which is carried by the preceding link, will strike the lug e3 so that as the enchained links travel around the curve they will hold the step sections in radial positions while turning and the arm f will strike Athe lug e2, and as the step sections are now traveling one below the other, as in Fig. 4, one step section will pass under the succeeding one, allowing the turn to be readily made; the step sections being always under the control ofthe enchained links and their arms. It will be seen that the arms are not required to guide the step sections intoradial position, but act merely to retain them in that position.

As soon as the step sections make the complete turn they are locked by the arms in the same manner as illustrated in the straight portion of Fig. 5.

I preferably make the incline at the loop or turn steeper than the incline of the carrying portion of the stairway, as illustrated in the diagram, Fig. 8, in which the full lines illustrate the incline and the position of the step sections in respect to each other when on the loop portion, and the dotted lines? illustrate the relation of the step sections in respect to each other when on the straight or carrying portions of the stairway. It will be seen by the full lines in Fig. 8 thatone step section is clear of the other so that it can pass under the same, and by the dotted lines that I preferably arrange the step sections in this manner so as to make a close fit between the step sections on the carrying run, while at the same time aid the arms in holding the step sections in position while on the carrying run.

Each step has two symmetrical risers, one on each side, preferably convex with a curvature substantially coinciding with the path through which the contiguous edge of the succeeding step swings in relation to it in changing from the position, on the carrying run, in which their tread surfaces are in parallel horizontal planes, to the one in which they are in the same plane, and vice versa. Thus only on straight;-` portions of the guideway do the step sectionshave clear.'- ance to change position with relation to each other as described and, in order to turn the steps, the part of the loop guideway adjacent to a horizontal portion of the carrying run, in the preferred form, is a straight downward incline, as fromZ t-o Z, Fig. 7, of sufficient length to enable the steps to assume relative ositions in which the preceding step is bei ow and free to swing under the succeeding, step. After the steps have assumed this relation the preceding step is ready to be turned by the segment of helically curved track that is joined to the straight track. Figs. 1 and 7 this is a segment of 90, and it will be noticed that each step may be, and preferably is, in a radial osition When it strikes the curve, and by t e arms f and f moving to engage the lugs e and e3 respectively, it is'retained in radial position while traveling on the curve, and conse uently is in such position when it arrives at t e end of the spiral segment, the radius of the latter, measured at the centerof the steps, being so proportioned with relation tol the width of the steps as to produce this result.

The step has now made a quarter turn and, to make the remaining portion of the turn, it is necessary for the steps to assume a position in which the preceding step is above the succeeding one to enable the former to swing over the latter. Hence the guideway of the loo next consists of straight downwardly an upwardly inclined parts, with an intermediate straight horizontal part, on which the step sections have clearance to assume the described relative positions. Next comes another spiral segment, similar to the first, on which the steps are turned the remaining 90 degrees, and then a straight part joins the loop to the horizontal part of the carrying run, lenabling'the ste s to assume a common level to form a lan ing. In theform illustrated by Figs. 21 and 22 these conditions are, of course, reversed.

It will be noticed in referring to Fig. 4, that the rail is curved at the point where the inclined carrying portion of the stairway connects with the horizontal platform portion, and that on the opposite side where thep'step- InA the base of the incline, angular, as shown atV Fig. 11. The length of the rail aZfwhich extends from the point to the point ,is

so `proportioned that when one wheel is at the angle at the point for instance as in Fig. 11, the point is midway of the wheels of two step sections. This arrangement'acts to prevent any jerky movement of thestep sections in traveling over the angular portions of the rails, as it compensates for the movement of the links, the point being vmidway of the point between the links as the point is, at the pivot, and vice versa.

In Figs. 4, 6 and 9 I have shown the wheels carried by the body portion of the step sections, whereas in Figs. 15 to 18, both mclusive, I have shown the wheels carried `by arms d3 projecting from the body portion of the step section d and the axle d4 is carried by a hub d5 on the post C, the wheels d being mounted on the axles and adapted to rails a in a similar manner to that shown in Fig. 6.

Ineither form I may use a side pressure roller @Z7 carried by a swivel b0`x d on the end of the axle d5, as illustrated in detail in Figs. 17 and 18. This roller rests againstthe inner curved portion of the body portion of the stairway and takes considerable pressure off the flanges of the wheels.

The roller is out of contact with the guideway except on the inner part of the loops, and is preferably so mounted and balanced as to normally take thesame angle of inclination with respect'to the horizontal that the guideway has at the beginning o f the loops,

and the roller is free to swivel on its journal within the limits necessary to enable it to foilow the inclinationsof the inner part of the loops., I may also shown, for the whee s running on the outer rails of the loops.

In Figs. 23, 24 and 25, I have illustrated a modification of the link connections of my invention. Instead of the links being connected by hubs having short bearings and' -ordifnaryperforated links arranged in pairs, I may use a ball and socket construction, as illustrated in said figures. The hubs may be -in the form of blocks c4, each having a half socket c5, the seyeralwblocks beingconnected together and. to the ste sectioms d by two rods 0" Mounted in t ese sockets are the balls i7 at each end of the links i, the lower link having the rack teeth 'i4 similar to the rack teeth shown in Fig. 14.

The blocks ci have slots c7 which are ofsuitable shape to provide the required c1earance for the links, and` the vertical sides e, e5, e, e7-of the slots act as stops and co erate with the edges of the links to hold t em rovide a guard rail as l in alinement and prevent lateral movement,

p ing portion of the stairway. This is done by' so arranging the guiding rails at such an angle that a ste section will be elevated at a sufficient heig t to swing over a succeeding ste section on the first quarter turn and ifa hal turn is to be made will swing under the succeeding step section on the last quarter turn, as illustrated in said figures. Thus it will be seen that by my invention I am enabled to make a moving stairway in which the step sections will always remain right side up and which can be turned in a very small space, the straight portion of the stairway being utilized to carry assengers either up or down and thexcurve or loop portion o the stairway being the only portion that need be protected or covered. v

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the ascending carrying run A is straight, then at the upper platform a quarter turn is made at the same time the step sections are depressed so that the preceding step section can swing under the succeeding step section, then two or more of the step sections are arranged on a level so as to place them in position to make another quarter turn and enable the preceding step section to pass over the succeeding step section. l/Vhen the full half turn is made the ste sections are exposed and preferably arranged so that a flat latform portion is provided, when,they ass own the return run A. At the base o the stairway the step sections make another half turn and connect with the ascending run.

The guideslfor the step sections are so arranged that there is fpreferably a horizontal platform composed o step sections at both the u per and lower ends of the ascending and descending runs of the stairway and, as 1previously remarked, if it is desired to ma e a break in the stairway, for instance at a o'or, if the stairway is built to extend beyond one floor, then the guides may be arranged so that a horizontal platform will be formed of step sections, as illustrated in Fig. 10. y y

If it lis desired `to arrange the descending carrying run of the stairway atan angle to the ascending run then, if the angle is a right; angle, a quarter turn may only be necessary, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Or a construction may be used as illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20,

previously described.

By the above invention it will be seen that I can make a very simple and practical moving stairway7 which will take up comparatively little room and will not affect the head room between iioors of a building or other-structure in which it is erected. The looped portion of the stairway is preferably concealed under the floor, the number Aconsequently any necessary repairs can be quickly and laccuratelyrnade and the parts `can be readily lubricated when necessary.

While I have shown plates spanning the openings where the steps pass under the ioors, 1t will be understood that I may, and

referably would, employ some other well own device for safeguarding passengers at these points. I

I do not claim broadly in this application the step sectlonshaving the depending posts, hubs and connecting links, with arms and coperating'lugs, as this is fully claimed by me in an application for patent filed October 14th, 1905, Serial Number 282,783, relatinfr to a spiral stairway.

tI claim 1. A moving stairway having ascending and descending runs, and curved connecting runs arranged on an incline and in part diverging from a single vertical plane, with quadrangular step sectionsarranged to travel on said runs, substantially as described.

2. 'The combination in a moving stairway, of endless guides, a series of step sections arranged in an endless chain, said guides having straight portions and curves, the curved portions in par't diverging from a single vertical plane and being inclined so that one step section will lap another in passing around the curve, substantially as described. I

3. .Thecombination in a moving stairway, of straight andcurved guides forming an endless path, a series of step sections forming an endless chain, each step section being rectangular, the carrying run of the step sections being straight and exposing the full tread offthe step sections, the curved sections being arranged on such an incline that one step section will lap another obliquely in passing around the curve, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a moving stairway, of straight ascending and descending runs connected` by'fcu'rved runs, step sections arranged to travel on said runs, and each provided with risers extending from its longitu dinal edges the curved portions of the runs being so shaped that one step section will lap another obliquely in passing around the curve, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a moving stairway,

Y of straight ascending and descending carrying runs, curved connecting runs, rectangular step sections arranged to travel on said runs, the curved connecting runs being depressed to allow one step section to overlap another obliquely in assing around the curve, substantially as escribed.

6. The combination in a moving stairway, of straight ascending and descending carrying runs, curved runs and straight horizontal runs connecting the curved runs with the ascendin and descending runs, the curved runs being epressed and diverging in part from a single vertical plane, with rectangular step sections arranged to travel on said runs to form steps on the ascendin and descending portions of the stairway an platforms at the orizontal portions of the stairway, and arranged to turn the curve by one/step section lapping over another, substantially as describe n 7. The combination in a moving stairway, of ascending and descending carrying runs, curved runs connecting the ascending with the descending portion, the platforms for the two runs being on the same plane, then curved portions being depressed, with an endless chain of step sections arranged to travel on the said runs and to overlap each other obliquely as they pass around the curved runs, substantially as described..

8. The combination in a moving stairway, of straight guides and curved lateral guides,

ste sections arranged to travel on said guides an' each rovided with a riser or risers eXtendmg om its longitudinal edges, the

guides being so arranged that each step section will move to a position below the succ'eeding one before it turns,.substantially as described. 1

9. The combination in a moving stairway, of ascending and descending guides, curved guides connecting the said ascendingand descending guides, said curved guides consisting of two oppositely inclined sections and a horizontal section, 'with ste sections arranged to travel on said gui es, and means Jfor driving the step sections, substantially as described.

10. Thecombination in a moving stairway, of inclined ascending and descending runs, with curved lateral connecting runs, a portion of the `curved connecting runs being also on an incline, the degree of inclination of the connecting run being greater than that of the ascending or descending run, with step sections arranged to travel on said runs and to turn one clear of another on the curved portions, substantially as described.

`1 1. The combination in a moving stairway,

of inclined ascending and descending runs, curved lateral connecting runs depressed, the degree of inclination of the depressed portion of the curved runs being greater than that of the ascending or descending runs so that whilethe step sections will not clear Veach other on the ascending or descending runs they will clear each other on the connecting runs, substantially as described.

`12. In a moving stairway or the like, the combination of a series of carriages or steps, straight or substantially straight inclined and horizontal tracks for the support and guidance of-the carriages or steps when in use, angl lateral loops consisting in part of spirally curved tracks connecting said straight tracks into an endless way, and means for driving the carriages or steps, x I

13. In a moving stairway or the like,l an endless track for the step sections consisting of straight inclined and horizontal sections connected by loops, each loop comprising two spiral segments, and on either side of said segments, a straight section of inclined track,

and a section of horizontal track between the' thestraight incline, on the straight horizontal and also on the curved portions of the way, and means for driving the steps, substantially as described.

15. rIn a moving stairway or the like, the combination of an endless track or guideway comprising inclined and horizontal straight and spirally curved sections, an endless series of step sections supported upon anti-friction devices arranged in an aXia line, a post attached to each step section at its center, hubs j ournaled on the posts, parallel links of constant length j ournaled at each end upon the hubs, arms projecting from the hubs, sets of abutments on the step sections to cooperate with said arms and lock the steps against swiveling on the posts, one of said7 sets of abutments being so arranged as to be in contact with said arms while the step sections are traveling in a single vertical plane, and another set of abutments being so arranged that they will be in contact with said arms when the step sections are traveling in spirally curved paths, and means for driving the ,step sections, substantially as described.

16. In a moving stairway or the like, a step section comprising supporting Wheels arranged in a single axial line, a central post on the step section disposed beneath and at right angles to the tread, hubs journaled upon the posts, links journaled upon the hubs, the link farthest from the tread having teeth to engage a driving means, said link being ournaled on its` hub -so as to take a position, when engaged by the driving means, in a line with the axle of the step, whereby the tendency'of the driving means to swing the step on its axle is neutralized, substantially as described. 17. In a moving stairway, substantially straight carrying runs, a lateral loop connecting the ends of the carrying runs, said loop comprising a way therefor and a jointed step-like structure arranged to travel on said way, the steps comprising said structure having means whereby their treads are maintained at all times horizontal, substantiallyas described.

18. In a moving stairway, the combination of a substantially straight carrying run and a concealed inclined lateral loop connecting the ends of the carrying run, the stairway being provided with means for everywhere maintaining its treads horizontal, substantially as described.

19. In a moving stairway or the like, a substantially straight carrying run and an inclined lateral loop connecting the ends of the carrying run, said stairway being provided withmeans for maintaining the treads thereof at all times horizontal, substantially as described.

20. A lateral loop for connecting the ends of the carrying runs of a moving stairway or the like, and comprising two oppositely inclined spiral segments and a straight section intermediate 0I said spiral segments, substantially as described.

21. In a moving stairway or the like, a lateral curved way forming a loop and connecting the ends of the carrying runs, said curved way comprising two op ositely inclined spiral segments, substantlally as described.

22. In a moving stairway or the like, substantially straight carrying runs a lateral loop comprising a spiral segment for connecting the ends of the carrymg runs, substantially as described. y

23.' In a moving stairway or the like, carrying runs, a lateral loop connecting the ends of the carrying runs, said loop comprisin strai ht inclined, straight horizontal an spira ly curved sections, substantially as described.

' 24. In a moving stairway, the' combination of an endless series of step sections, an endless guideway therefor comprising straight inclined and horizontal carrying runs', inclined curved lateral loops connecting the ends of the carrying runs, and means for guarding the steps from use when on the loops, substantially as described.

25. In a moving stairway or the like, comprising an endless series of step sections including substantially straight carrying runs and means for maintaining the treads everywhere horizontal, lateral loops connecting the ends ofthe carrying runs and step sections on the loops, with treads disposed in parallel planes and guarded from use by passengers, substantially as described.

26. In a moving stairway or the like, the combination of the pair of rails arranged in straight inclined and horizontal carrying runs, and straight inclined and horizontal and spirally curved loops, of the step sections having a single bearing support upon each rail, the arallel linkage system to hold the tread su aces of the step sections horizontal on all portions of the track, and means Jfor driving the step sections, substantially as described.

27. In a moving stairway or the like, the combination of an'endless series of step sections, each having a rectangular tread, an endless guideway comprising straight inclined and curved inclined portions, means for retaining the tread surfaces of the step sections in parallel horizontal planes when on said inclined ortions, the ste sections on the straight incline having their ongitudinal axes in parallel planes, and those on the curved incline being disposed with their longitudinal axes in planes oblique to each other, and means for driving the step sections, substantially as described.

28. In a moving stairway or the like, the combination of an endless series of step sections, each having a rectangular tread and a symmetrically curved convex riser, means for everywhere retaining the tread surfaces of the step sections horizontal, an endless guideway comprising -a carrying run consistmg of straight inclined and horizontal portions, and a lateral loop connecting the ends of the carrying run, said loo comprising straight inclined, and horizonta portions and also spirally inclined portions, and means for driving the step sections, substantially as described.

29. In a moving stairway or the like, the combination of an endless guideway comprising a carrying run consisting of inclined and horizontal ortions arranged in a straight or substantial y straight line, and a loop connecting the-ends of the carrying run, said loop comprising straight or substantially straight inclined and horizontal portions, and also a spirally curved portion, an endless series of step sections each having -a substantially rectangular tread and a convex riser whose curvature substantially coincides with the path through which the edge of the ad-l jacent step swings in relation to it while changing from the horizontal to the inclined portions of the straight, or substantially i straight part of the guideway, anal means for scribe 30. The combination in a moving stair-Y YWay, of step sections, posts depending from said step sections, and a series of hubs swiv- -eled on the posts, the upper hub having a lubricant receiverL substantially as described.

31. The 'combination lin a moving stair- Way, of ste sections having depending posts, a series of ubs mounted on the posts, each hub having bearings for a link, and a slot in the upper` portion of each hub forming a Way for lubricant, substantially as described.

32. The combination in a moving stair- Way, of a series of step sections, a post eX- drivin the ste `.sections,substantiall as de? P Y Y tending irom'each step section-,links connectin the several sections, one of said links being. 1n the `form of a rack and having a flange forming a lubricant catcher so that 'any lubricant dripping from ythe posts Willvbe GEORGE A. WHEELER.

Witnessesz A.. SELMER, W. V. BURKE.

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