US274506A - Gripper for traction-cables - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. H. LIGHTHALL.

GRIPPBR FOR TRACTION GABLES. No. 274,506. Patented Mar.27,1883.

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" XMW/ W6 diameter of the cable M. The upper die, (3, is

- moving cable by means of a lever attached to upward through the slot D. Upon that face rollers, but upon the opposite face of the grip- UNITED STATES PATENT -rrrcn.

ALMERIN H. LIGHTHALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GRIPPER FOR TRACTION-CABLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,506, dated March 27, 1883,

Application filed November 18 1882. ,(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALMERIN H. LIGHT- HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Gripper for Endless- Oable Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in grips for use in connection with a moving endless cable, and is more particularly adapted for use upon such portions of the road or cable-tunnel as are curved in the direction of their length.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspeeificatiou, Figure l is a plan view of the grip and the guide-rails between which it travels. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the upper gripjaw or die. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the grip and guide-rails.

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The grip consists of a lower die, A, rigidly attached to the body of the dummy-car by means of a bar, B. The upper side of this die is made concave, so as to conform to the adapted to be raised and lowered upon the it in any suitable manner, and which extends of the upper grip-die which is next the inner side of the curve I make two slots, E E, within which I place the friction'rollers F F, and pivot them by means of the vertical set-bolts G G. Intermediate between these frictiondie, I place a friction-roller, H, secured in place within its slot by means of the set-bolt I. The lower face of the upper grip-die is curved or hollowed out, as seen in Fig. 3, and a steel plate, J, is bolted upon the face next the innor side of the curve, and extends downward and below the lower edge of the movable die and overlaps the upper edge of the lower or fixed die. As the grip is carried around the curve the friction-rollers F F bear against the inner guide-rail, K, and the friction-roller H bears against the outer guide-rail, L, and thus all vibration of the grip is prevented, and the grip and dummy or car is carried steadily forward along and around the curve. Should it become necessary to stop the dummy while on its route around the curve, thejaws or dies of the grip can be spread apart, and the cable will be permitted to slide or travel freely through the grip, but will be prevented from passing out of or from between the grip-jaws by means of the steel plate J.

With a grip constructed as above described I am enabled to stop and start on any portion of the curve, and to dispense with all carriages and other auxiliary devices for carrying the grip around a curve.

I am aware that gripping devices for cable railways have heretofore been provided with rollers adapted to bear against guide-rails,

and thereby carry the cable around a curve in.

either direction without interference with the supporting pulleys or guides. This, however, I do not broadly claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, lS

A grip for cable railways, consisting of the lower fixed jaw, A, having a bar, B, for attachment to the car, the upper movable jaw, 0,

ALMERIN H. LIGHTHALL. Q 3.]

W'itnesses:

.WILMER BRADFORD,

G. W. M. SMITH.

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