US960534A - Carrier. - Google Patents

Description

s. c. GARDNER, 0. CHASE & 0., v. KENT. CARRIER. APPLIGATIQR FILED MAY 12, 1908. RENEWED MAR. 19, 1910.

960,534. Patented June 7,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW a GRAHAM co v PuoTc-umnmmpusns WASHINGTON. 0. a

S G. GARDNER, G.- CHASB & C. V. KENT- CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1908. ammwsn MAR. 19, 1910.

960,534, Patented June 7, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW B. GRAHAM $0.. vnomumocnnrms WAsulNuTcN. up.

S. G. GARDNER, U. CHASE & O. V; KENT.

I CARRIER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1908. RENEWED MAR. 19, 1910.

960,534, Patented June 7, 1910,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ANDREW B. GRAHAM so" PHow-umcsmmm WASHINGTON. up

S. GLGARDNER, C. CHASE & C. V. KENT.

CARRIER. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 12, 1908. RENEWED MAR..19, 1910.

Patented June 7, 1910.

4 SHEETS-BHBET 4.

ANDREW H. GRAHAM OQFPNdTO-LITNOGRAPNERS. WASNINGYON. D. c.

nnrrnn STATES PATENT GFFKCE.

SYLVESTER C. GARDNER, OF SWANSEA, AND CLARK CHASE, 0F FALL RIVER, MASSA- CHUSETTS, AND CHARLES V. KENT, OF BANGOR, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Application filed May 12, 1908, Serial No. 432,554. Renewed March 19, 1910. Serial No. 550,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SYLvEs'rEn C. GARD- NER, CLARK CHASE, and OI-IARLEs V. KENT, all citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Swansea, in the county of Bristol and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at Fall River, in said county and Commonwealth, and at Bangor, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have jointly invented a certain new and use- ,ful Improvement in Carriers, of which the carrier becomes unlocked from its support,

the operator loses control of the carrier, which, in spite of the operator, and through the action of the weight of the load, moves along its support with a speed sufficient to permit the load to descend or drop into its seat, sometimes with objectionable force.

Now one of the principal objects of our invention is to provide such a carrier, with means whereby the carrier remains locked to its support until the load has found its seat in the carrier. And we attain this object by providing a movable seat for the load, so connected with gripping mechanism of the carrier, that the latter remains in locking engagement with the support, until the load by engaging its seat, moves the seat and connected parts, and causes the gripping mechanism to disengage the support. In other words, the operator always has control of the load, and there can be no drop.

A further object of our invention is to provide means whereby the movements of the load are utilized to control the movements of the seat, into and out of the path of the load, to enable the load to become fastened to, and unfastened from, the carrier. And we attain this object by so connecting the seat to the gripping mechanism, and by so designing the seat and the releasing apparatus, that while the gripping mechanism is holding the carriage locked to its sup port, the seat may be controlled by the moving load, and be moved into and out of the path of the load, for the purpose of confining the load to, and permitting it to escape from, the carrier.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of our invention, and the best mode now known to us of applying that principle, F igure 1 shows a carrier, and a grab-bucket. Figs. 2 and 3 are end elevations, showing the carrier, and only the head of the bail of the bucket; Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the carrier with its front plate and gripping jaw removed, to disclose, in various successive positions, the cooperating parts controlled by the upward and the downward movements of the head of the bucket; Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the changes due to the upward movement; the releasing tongue, connecting parts, and spring being omitted for the sake of clearness; while Figs. 6 and 7 make plain what takes place because of the downward movement of the load, to release the bucket from the carrier. Fig. 8 shows a modified form adapted for use in connection with a load which, unlike a grab-bucket, is not to be dumped, and does not require the use of a second, or opening fall.

A support or trolley rope or cable A, Figs. 1, 2, 8, has, movably mounted thereon, a carrier B which sustains a load C, here shown in the form of a grab-bucket.

For the sake of simplicity and economy the carrier is, as far as possible throughout, made up of counterpart construction; that is, each part is made up of united duplicates. The carrier B has a skeleton frame, the front D and the back E of which consist of parallel members, and have, mounted between them, trolley wheels F, and other cooperating parts, to be fully described later. As the front D and the back E are symmetrical, only one, as D, will be described in detail. A trolley wheel plate a, having bearings therein for trolley wheels F, has depending therefrom, and at right angles thereto, four other plates 6, 0, (Z, a, two of which 0, (Z, are centrally located between the trolley wheels, and have secured thereto a slotted plate f, to serve as a guide to the incoming and outgoing load C. Parallel with the trolley wheel plate a, and at about one half of the length of the depending plates 1), 0, (l, e, is a cross plate g, fixed to the depending plates; while to the lower portions of each pair of adjacent inner and outer depending plates, 7), (1, and (Z, 6, are

opposite to the beveled edge 2', extends outwardly beyond the outer depending plate 7). It is to be understood that all these mem-. bers are rigidly secured together. by suitable means, as bolts, rivets, and the like;

A pair of gripping jaws G is hinged to a block fixed between the trolley wheelplates a, of the frame, and straddles the trolley rope, each jaw being provided with an out-' wardly extending lever arm H. 'To move these lever arms, and hence the jaws, simultaneously into and out of gripping engage ment with the trolley rope, there is a grip bar 1, made up of a pair of duplicate pieces 2, in parallel arrangement, and rigidly secured together by a pivot 3 passing through them and the depending plates 6, and secured by nuts; by a rod 4, through their opposite end portion, and nuts; and by a similar rod 5 which forms a bearing for two gripping sheaves, one 6, a hoisting fall sheave, and the other 7, anopening fall sheave. This latter rod 5 extends through, and out from, the sides'of the grip bar 1, see Figs, 2 and 3,'and has journaled surfaces for two collars 8, provided with ears 9. To adjustably connect each one of these.

collars with its adjacent lever arm H of the gripping jaws G, two screw members 10, havingopposite screw threads and a nut 11, are used; one end portion of one member being bifurcated to be secured to its respective lever by a pin 12, and the corre sponding end of the other member being se- A cured between the ears .of its respective collar, by a similar pin 13. The gripping jaws G are thus operatively connected to the grip bar 1; the upward movement ofwhich opens the jaws and unlocks the carrier from the trolley rope; and the downward movement of which, closes the aws and locks the carrier to the trolley rope. Over the hoisting sheave 6 runs a hoisting fall J while leading over the opening sheave 7 is an opening fall K. [Vhen the load is borne by either the hoisting'fall, or the opening fall, or by both, the load acting downward, closes the jaws, and. the carrier becomes locked to the trolley rope.

, So much of the apparatus as has above been shown and described, embodies the principle of employing the weight of a load to operate gripping mechanism on the carrier, to lock the latter to its support; this principle being disclosed in United, States Letters Patent No. 859,542, and issued to We will now describe the 'mechanism which controls the grip bar 1, and hence the jaws G, and enables the carrier to remain locked to the trolley rope until the load has founditsseat in the carrier; and to become unlocked by the load leaving its seat A movable seat or bolt 20, is pivotedto a link 21, which is likewise pivoted to a bearing bolt 22 fixed in'the longitudinal cross plate 9; this movable seat 20 is also pivoted to a connecting link 28, pivotallyconnected to the free end portion of. the grip bar 1. One end portion of the seat normally lies across the load guide slot f; its under part being beveledupward to receive the thrust of the incoming load, and its upper part being hollowed," as at 25, to receive and. support the load. Aspring 26, Fig. 1, connected to the frame and the seat, tends to hold the seat in its normal'position; a pin 27 limiting the forward movement of the seat.

That the load may escape from itsseat and the carrier, releasing means operated by the moving load are used. releasing tongue 30, Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8, is pivoted to the members d, by bolt'31; the free arm of said tongue extends across the load slot f, while American Cable way Company assignee,

July 9, 1907.

its other arm is connected by a link'3-it'to an arm 35 of a throwing lever 36, which is pivoted to the diagonal braces 7', and has its other and depending arm in sliding engages ment with the pin .27 in the bolt seat. The

positions of the pivots of these levers, and their lengths, and proportions are such that the extreme downward movement of the reioo leasing tongue will cause the seat to move back and away frornthe load slot, and permit the load to passdown by the seat, and

thus escape from the carrier, all, of which will be made plain hereinafter.

e To. carry out our inventiornany load may be'used, provided it has'suitable means to engage and operate the seat. The form of load used by usis that of a grab-bucket described and claimedin United States Let-V ters Patent, for improvements inv grabbuckets, No. 882,666,issued March 24,1908,

lic

to Clark Chase, one of the present joint inventors; hence we have illustrated that form.

r A cross bar 50 connects the sides of the bail of the bucket, and is designed to engage the beyeled edge24 of the seat orbolt 2Q, enter the load slot, rest in theseat,an d operf ate the releasing tongue 30, I, The hoisting fall: J passes through a hole in this bar50, and is ecured to the closing sheave L in the grab-bucket. 7 .7 N w 7 h r p n The opening fall K, after passing over the opening. sheaves 7, passes over the guide pulley N, and then becomes connected to the grab-bucket by a spreader or rod 0, the ends 'ofwhich, byropes, are connected to opposite sides of the head M of the bucket; so as to prevent the grab-bucket from twisting, and

to keep the cross bar 50 of the bucket, in theplane of the load guide slot f, and allow it freely to enter the slot. Should the opening fall K be held taut, and the hoisting fall J slackened, the grab-bucket would open; and, vice versa, should the opening fall K be loosened, and the hoisting fall J tightened, the grab-bucket would close. But whether the bucket may be prevented from twisting, or may be opened and closed, are immaterial facts in so far as our invention is concerned; all of which will be even more evident when Fig. 8 of the drawings is considered herein.- after.

The operation of the carrier B and the load C, here shown as a grab-bucket, may be described as follows: They may be assumed to be in the position shown in Fig. 1. The load C is suspended below the carrier, by the hoisting fall J, which, through its sheave 6, is acting on the gripping arms H and aws G. The latter grip the trolley rope A, and the carrier is locked fast to the trolley rope. As long as the load is sustained by the hoisting fall, just so long will the carrier be locked to the trolley rope, regardless of whether the hoisting fall is moving or is stationary, or of what the relative positions'of the carrier and the load, are. WVe will next assume that the load is to become removably fastened to the carrier, as it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The hoisting fall J, and hence the load or grab-bucket C, is raised by suitable meansas a drum engine, not -shownand as it rises, the cross bar 50 of the bail of the bucket, is guided by the beveled edges 2' of the guide plates h, Fig. 4, into the slot, where it engages the beveled edge 24 of the movable seat 20, which normally lies across the guide slot. As the cross bar continues its upward movement, the hook is forced back out of the path of the ascending cross bar, and assumes the position, inclicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and permitted by the pivoted link 21, and the connecting link 23. After the cross bar has passed up by the end of the seat 20, the upward movement of the fall is stopped, and the seat and links tend, of their own weight, to return to normal position across the guide slot; but to insure its return, the spring 26, only one end of which is indicated in Fig. 4, contributes its energy to bring about the movement of the seat. The load still being borne by the hoisting fall, the carrier remains locked to the trolley rope. The next step is to lower the cross bar 50, of the grab-bucket into the seat. The hoisting fall J is lowered, and as it descends, the cross bar contacts its seat, as is shown in full lines in Fig. 5. The seat being pivotally connected to the link 21, which is also pivoted to the frame of the carrier, the weight of the load, acting through the cross bar, moves the forward portion of the seat downward about the pivotal connection with the link 21, and the rear portion upward, this downward movement being arrested by a stop 37. The connecting link 23, and grip bar 1, are thus moved upward until the seat engages the stop 37; but this upward movement of the bar operates the gripping jaws and causes them to release the trolley, and free the carrier so that it may be moved along the trolley; but the release of the jaws does not take place until after the cross bar 50 of the bucket is in its seat, as is shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and the operator has allowed the hoisting fall, and hence the cross bar, to descend enough to move the seat into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, at which time the load ceases to be borne by the hoisting fall J, shown in dotted lines, and is supported by the seat. In fine, there is no time during the operation of securing the load to the carrier, that the load is not under the control of the operatinghoisting fall J; and consequently the objectionable drop, found in carriers which may be unlocked from the trolley rope when the cross bar of the bucket is above, but not in, its hook, is obviated. The carrier now being free from locking engagement with the trolley rope, may be moved along the trolley by the hoisting fall J in one direction, or by the opening fall Kshown in Fig. 1, but not in Fig. 5, to avoid confusionin the opposite direction.

To allow the load to escape from the carrier, the opening fall K, Fig. 1, or the rope P,'Fig. 8, is held stationary, in relation to the hoisting fall J. The load, and hence the cross bar 50 of the grab-bucket, is lifted out of the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, but the moment it ascends, the weight of the load acts on the hoisting gripping sheave 6, and just as fast as the hoisting fall J moves up, the weight of the load, acting through the sheave grip bar 1, connecting link 23, and seat 20, causes the seat to follow up under the cross bar; and when the seat has moved up enough, it permits the descending grip bar 1, turning about its pivot 3, and moved downward by reason of the weight of the load, to draw the gripping jaws G into gripping engagement with the trolley rope A, and the carrier becomes firmly locked thereto. But the hoisting fall J continues the upward movement of the cross bar 50, in the guide slot. This bar engages the under side of the releasing-tongue 30, lying in the path of the cross bar, and moves the tongue out of the path, and passes above it, the cross bar being shown in full lines in Fig. 6, in the act of just passing by the free end of the tongue. The moment it passes by, and the link 21, connecting link 23, seat 20, releasing. tongue 30, connecting link 34, and throwing lever 36 engaging the pin 27 in the seat, are all inthe positions shown in'full lines, the action of spring 26 causes said parts to snap back into normal position, which is indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 6. The cross bar of the load, now being above the releasing tongue 30, is allowed to descend, and as it does so, it, as shown in dotted lines, engages the top surface of the releasing tongue, and, pushing the tongue down, finally passes by the end of the releasing tongue, and it and all of the connected parts assume the various positions shown in full lines in Fig. 7 ;Y but it will be noticed that the seat has been moved back or out of the path of the descending cross bar, and the load is freed from the carrier, and, after the cross bar has passed by the hook, the spring again causes all of the parts to assume their normal position indicated in dotted lines. The load, represented by the cross bar 50,.being free from the carrier, may be raised, lowered, and when in the form of a grab-bucket, may be opened and closed in an obvious and well known mamier; the means employed, constituting no 'part of our invention. The grab-bucket and carrier are now in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the cycleof operations involved in getting the loadinto its seat in the carrier before the carrier was released from its trolley rope; in releasing the carrier from its trolley rope after the load had found its seat in the carrier; in getting the load outof the carrier, by locking the carrier to the trolley rope before the load got out of its seat inthe carrier; and by utilizing the movement of the load to control the removal of -the seat from the path 'of the escaping load or grab-bucket; is completed. Our invention is shown in Fig. 8 embodied in a carrier not designed to be used with a grab-bucket requiring a dumping rope. A sim le hauling rope P .is substituted for the dumping rope K, and is made fast to the carrier, as by a hook Q, engagin a pin R in the frame 0. The bar 60 secured to the hoisting fall J, serves theipurpose of the cross bar 50 of the grab-bucket shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

It will now be plain that our carrier may be used with any kind of a load provided the hoisting fall has suitable means to"control the movable seat and the load releasing mechanism. i

Desiring to protect our inventionin the broadest manner legally possible, what, we claim is I i In 'a carrier'mov'ably mounted upon a support, and provided with gripping mech anism to engage the support, and with a hoisting fall operatively connected to the gripping mechanism, to" sustaina load a seat forthe load, operatively connected with the gripping mechanism, the" movement of said seat into position 'to engage and support said load, being controlled by the'mov ing load. 7 v 7 2. In a carrier movably mounted upon a" support, and provided with a gripping mechanism to engage the support, and with a hoisting fall to sustain a load; a movable support, and provided with gripping mechanism to engage the support, with a hoisting fall to sustain a load, and with a fall to haul and hold the carrier; a movable seat for said load, operatively connected with said gripping mechanism, and adapted to be so controlled by the moving load as to move into position to engage and support said load, but also to be moved by the load 'to cause the gripping mechanism to disengage the support.

t. In a carrier movably mounted upon a support, and provided with gripping mechanism to grip thesupport, a hoisting fall to sustain a load, and a hauling fall; a movable seat for said load, operatively connected with said gripping mechanism,and so designed as to permit not only the moving load to move by and above said seat, but also the latter to move into position to support the load; and means controlled by the moving load whereby theseat may be caused not to support the load, andpermit the load to escape from the carrier.

5. In acarrier movablymounted upon a support, andprovided with gripping mechanism to engage the support; a pivoted bar" operatively connected to said mechanism; a sheave mounted in said bar; a hoisting fall. to sustain a load, engaging said sheave; a movable seat for the load operatively con: nected with the pivoted bar adapted ,to be so controlled by the moving load as to move into position to engage and support said load.

6. In a carrier movably mounted upona support, and provided with a gripping mechanism to engage the support; a pivoted bar operatively connected to said mechanism; a sheave .mounted in said bar; a

hoisting fall to sustain, a load, engaging, said sheave; a movable seat for the load, opera tively connected with said pivoted bar, and

adapted to be moved by the load to cause the bar to move the gripping mechanism out of engagement with the support.

7. In a'carrier movably mounted upon a support, and provided .with gripping 1nech-.

anism to engage the support; a pivoted bar operatively connected to said mechanism; a 1 sheave mounted in saidbar; a ho sting fall to sustain a load, engaging said sheave; a

hauling fall; a movable seat for said load, mounted on two depending links, one of which is connected to the free end of the pivoted bar operatively connected with said gripping mechanism, and the other to the frame of the carrier, said seat lying normally in the path of the moving load, and having a beveled edge to be engaged by the incoming load so that the latter may force the seat back and pass by and above the seat; all being so designed that the load may be lowered into the seat, the movement of which causes the gripping mechanism to disengage the support.

8. In a carrier movably mounted upon a support, and provided with gripping mechanism to grip the support; a pivoted. bar operatively connected to said mechanism; a sheave mounted in said bar; a hoisting fall to sustain a load, engaging said sheave; a hauling fall; a movable seat suspended from two links, one depending from the free end of the pivot bar, and the other from the frame, said seat lying normally in the pathof the moving load, and having an upwardly inclined beveled edge to be engaged by the incoming load to permit it to pass by; and being so pivoted to the sand links that when the load descends into the seat, the connecting link, bar and gripping mechanism are so moved that the latter disengages the support; means lying in the path of the moving load, and operatively connected to the seat, whereby the moving load causes said means to move said seat out of the path of the descending load, and permit it to escape from the carrier.

In testimony whereof each of us affixes our signature in the presence of two Wit-

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