US311334A - Elevator-chain - Google Patents

Description

(No Mode/1.) 6 She-ets-Sheet l.

G. W. LEVALLEY.

ELBVATOR CHAIN.. No. 311,334. Patented Jan. Z7,Y 1885.

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BLEVATOR CHAIN.

NQ. 311,334. Y Patented Jen. 27., 1885-x l R17' i E34. Y

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C. W'. LEVALLEY. ELBVATOR CHAIN.

No. 311,334-j Patented Jan, 27, 1.885.

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l v BLEVATOR CHAIN. No. 311,334. Patented 13.11. 27,' 1885.

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ELEVATOR CHAIN.

No. 311,334. Patented Jan.. Z7, 1885.I

(No Model.) 6 sheets-sheet 6.

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` l ELEVATORGHAIN. No. 311,334. Patented Jan. 27,1885..

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CHRISTOPHER W. LEVALLEY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

ELEVATOR-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,334, dated January 27, 1885.

i Application filed July 2G, 18534. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER W. LE- VALLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator-chains, ot' which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drivingwheel having my improved chain applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the buckets. Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of one of the buckets. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the links. Fig. Gis an edge View of one of the links. Fig. 7 is a view of two of the links and buckets turned toward each other in proper position for detaching the links from each other. Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the method of applying the buckets to the links. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a wheel and chain containing a modification. Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are details. Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse section of one of the links on line rv, Fig. 12. Fig. 16 is a side view of one of the links and one of the buckets in position for applying the bucket to the link. Fig. 17 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing another modification. Figs. 17 a, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 are details. Fig. 23 is aview of two of the links and a bucket turned into proper position for applying it to the link. Fig. 24.- is a side elevation, partly in section, of a wheel and chain containing another modiljcation. Figs. 25, 26, 27 are details. Fig. 28 is a view illustrating the method of connecting the links and buckets together.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the igures.

A is the hub,B the spokes, land C the iianges, of a grooved wheel of substantially the construction ordinarily used for driving chains by frictional contact, except that the flanges are farther apart than usual, there being a bottom or dat peripheral surface, D, between the bases of the flanges. Each link is composed of two side bars, E E, provided with downward projections or flanges F F, the outer faces of which are inclined toward the center of the link, so as to fit closely the longitudinal peripheral groove between the iianges G C of the drive-wheel, an end bar, G, which is ilattened or slabbed off at one side, as at g, or on both sides, and a hook, H, at the opposite end, constructed with a narrow throat, Zz, of such width as to permit the insertion of the end bar, G, of an adjacent link whenever two of them are turned into an unusual relative position, as indica-ted in Fig. 7, the relative sizes of the end bar and its seat in the hook being such that when thelinks are straightencd out in ordinary working position they are not liable to accidental separation.

K is a bucket having substantially parallel sides, an inclined outer side or end, Z, and a curved end Z.

Z2 is a wing projecting upwardly and rear wardly from the upper edge of the curved end Z ofthe bucket.

Z3 is a spur or stop projecting laterally from the upper edge of the side K of the bucket. There may be one of these stops upon each of the sides of the bucket, if desired.

M m is a coupler or hook projecting downwardly from the bottom of the bucket, the throat m being of such width as to admit the end bar, G, when turned into proper position. This hook or coupler is about one-third the width of the bucket, and is placed at a point about equidistant from its sides, being ot'such width or thickness as to iit closely between the two prongs or forks of the hook H, as is plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, where that end of the link is shown as being made without any end bar connecting the two parts of the hook. By placing one of the buckets and one of the links in an unusual position, as shown in Fig. S-that is, a position other than 'that occupied by the links and buckets when in working relation-the bucket may be mounted upon the link by passing the end bar, G, through the throat m. The bucket may then be turned into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, after which another link may be added anda bucket applied to it, and so on until a chain is made up of the desired length.

Vhen the chain is in operation, as indicated in Fig. 1, and moving in the direction indicated by arrow 1 of that gure, the

Weight of the curved part Z will keep thebucket in a practically horizontal position, so that it will carry its contents without spilling 5 IOO but when passing around the driving-wheel the contact of the part D of the wheel with irst the win g Z2 and afterward the curved part Z will tilt the bucket into the position indicated in Fig. 1, which will discharge its contents, particularly if it 'be a liquid, in such manner that it will be caught by the chute J, and may be conducted thence to any desired point. When the buckets are passing down the other leg of the chain--that is to say, the right-hand side of Fig. l, and thence through the water or whatever material may be at the lower end of the doubled chain-they will be righted up into a horizontal position, so that they will fill themselves, as will be readily understood without further explanation. It will'be seen that the pivotal line of t-he bucket is nearer the front end Z than the curved rear end Z thus causing the buckets, whether empty` or lled, to tilt backward until retarded by the stop Z3, by reason ofthe greater portion of the weight of the bucket being upon the inside ofthe loop formed by the chain passing over the driving-wheel. The stop Z3 is so located that the bucket is in a substantially horizontal position when it comes in contact withV the side bars of the link, in which position the bucket remains until it is tilted by the driving-wheel, whether grooved as above described or formed with sprocket-teeth, as will be hereinafter set forth. The form of the buckets and their arrangement upon the links are such that they are tilted by the driving-wheel and their contents discharged into the chute J before the bucket is raised to the horizontal line of the axis of the wheel.

As shown in the drawings, the coupler M m is of about the same external diameter as is the forked hook upon the chain-link; but, when preferred, the coupler may be made of an increased diameter, and the bucket may be made of such length that each coupler shall engage with the upper edge ofthe curved end of the bucket immediately below it, and thus prevent such bucket from turning over so far as to be accidentally disengaged from its supporting end bar, in which case it would beimpossible to remove any bucket from the chain except by' tilting the one above it so far that the upper edge of the curved end could swing through the notch or portion of the coupler which is cut away adjacent to the throat m,- but4 in practice I prefer the construction shown, because when the wing Z2 is employed to act as a stop by engaging the coupler or the linlchook above it, it can be so bent into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, as to permit the removal of the bucket to which it is attached, these buckets being made preferably of-malleable iron. Thestops Z and the wing ZIl act as stops to limit the rocking movement of the bucket and retain it in working position-that is, to prevent it from tilting so far as to permit the bucket to become detached from its supporting-link.

Referring particularly to Figs. 9 .to 16, the

farther down the side of the bucket, and except,further,that the seat or recess inthe coup ler M is somewhat larger in crosssection; but the chain-links in this modification are essentially different.

I I are the side bars, and N Nthe end bars. The end harNis of such diameter that it can be readily passed through the throat m. The end bar VN is of much greater diameter, but instead of being round has a groove or recess upon one side adapted to receive and forni part of a seat for the end bar N, the depth of the recess being such that when the parts are in position as indicated in Figs. 9, 10, and 16 the end bar N is held firmly in place between the wall of the groove and the inner wall of the coupler'. The side bars, I I, are also provided with downwardly-projecting anges F, to engage with the flanges C C of the `drivewheel.

In putting theselinks and buckets together to form a chain, I iirst insert one of the end bars, N, within the seat in the coupler, and then turn two links and abucket into the relative position shown in Fig. 16, after which the end bar' N can be thrust endwise into the seat by the side of the end bar N, the side bars, I I, passing through the throat m, which is ofa width a little greater than the thickness of these side bars.

When in operation, the buckets are lled and emptied in substantially the same manner as the buckets of the previously described chain are filled and emptied, as will be under- 'stoodfrom an examination of Fig. 9 without further explanation.

In the modication shown in Figs. 17 to 23 the driving-wheel is of the same construction as that above described. Each chainlink is a duplicate ofthe others.

O'O are the side bars, each expanded upon its upper surface to form an ear or lug, o, eachvof which is provided with a seat toreceive a journal of a bucket to be hereinafter described. One of these seats has anarrow throat, o', cut down through the metaly from the upper side. Y f f P is the hook provided with a notch in its lip p.

p is alip or spur projecting upwardly from lOO IIO

the base of the hook or from the end bar with y end, l, a curved rear end, Z', an upwardly and rearwardly projecting wing, Z2, and a stop, Z3, substantially like the buckets heretoforedescribed.

It R are trunnions or journals cast integrally with the bucket, and projecting laterally from its lower side or bottom, as indicated in Figs. 17, 19, and 20. By bending the wing Z2 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 23, and then placing the bucket in about the position in which the bucket is shown in that iigure, the trunnion R can be inserted in its seat in ear o, after which the trunnion It can be inserted in its seat by thrusting it through the throat o. The bucket can then be turned crosswise ofthe link, as in Fig. 17, when the engagement of the wing Z2 and the stop Z3 respectively with the hook of the adjacent link and the side bars of its own link may prevent the bucket from being accidentally unseated. In the modification shown in Figs. 24 to 28 the chain is mounted upon and driven by a sprocket-wheel having the hub A, spokes B, and teeth A', which may be of any usual or approved constructiomexcept that its periphery is formed with a series of semicircular or other shaped recesses c. Each of the chainlinks consists of two side bars, I I, and two end bars, S T, the end bars being circular in cross-section, but of different sizes. The bucket in this case is constructedwith four walls, substantially as in the other iigures, and the bottom is expanded, as at M, and is provided with two seats, thus forming a coupler to receive and unite the end bars of adjacent links. This coupler extends the full width of the bucket, being, therefore, about as wide as the end bars of the links are long. The smaller of the seats, m', is of such size as to fit closely the smaller end bar, S7 and communicates with the larger seat, m2, which is of such size as to fit closely the end bar T, the width of the throat m being about the same as the diameter of the smaller end bar, and the side bars are as thick as will pass through the throat, but may be made of any desired width to insure the requisite strength.

In putting these links and buckets together the end bars S may be thrust through the throats of the couplers and into their seats m', after which the end bars T may be thrust endwise into the seats, the links and buckets being held in about the position shown in Fig. 28, the side bars passing through the throats in the couplers.

W'hen the chain and buckets are in any position which they will assume in ordinary working, it will be impossible to disengage or detach them from each other, and when the buckets are moving in an upward direction, as indicated by arrow 1, Fig. 24, the buckets will be maintained with their upper edges in substantially horizontal planes by the reason of the relative positions of the seats in which the end bars are supported. As the buckets traverse the sprocket-wheel their inner ends will engage with the shoulders c', and thus be tilted, as indicated in Fig. 24, after they have passed the chute J; but it will be seen that the inner upper corners of the buckets can enter the recesses a, and thus preserve their horizontal position until after they have passed the chute, as will be readily understood by an examination of Fig. 24 without further explanation.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact sizes or proportions of any ofthe parts shown in the drawings; but prefer to make the bottoms of the buckets and the front inclined sides of such thickness that the wat-er will run buckets traverse the wheel in an upward direction, and if itybe found in practice that they will not do this satisfactorily when moving at the desired rate of speed the extent to which the buckets are tilted may be increased by making the -flanges of the wheel to project a less distancefrom the bottom D of the groove; but under ordinary circumstances I believe that the construction shown will operate satis,- factorily.

Vhat I claim isy 1. An elevator-bucket provided with aseat adapted to receive the end bars of chain-links, substantially as set forth. y

l 2. The combination ofthe grooved drivingwheel, the rectangular links, and the buckets pivoted upon the end bars of the links, substantially as set forth. i

3. In an elevator, the combination of rectangular links, and buckets provided with couplers adapted to receive end bars of adjacent links, and to vibrate thereon, substantially as set forth.

4. In an elevator, the combination, with a wheel having a longitudinal peripheral groove, ofachain, and buckets pivoted upon the chain, and adapted ,to engage with the groove of the wheel, and to be tilted thereby, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the grooved wheel, the centrally-open chain -links, the buckets pivoted to` the chain-links, and stops upon the buckets to limit their vibrations upon the chain-links, substantially as set forth.

6. The combinationof the grooved wheel, the open chain-links, and the buckets pivoted to the chain-links, and adapted to engage with the bottom of the groove in the wheel, and provided with stops adapted to engage with the side bars of the chain to limit the vibration of the buckets, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the rectangular links having the iiattened end bars, and the forked hooks, with the buckets mounted upon the end bars between the forked hooks substantially as set forth.

S. A chain-bucket having an open hook with a narrow throat adapted to receive and be supported upon a flattened end bar of a drive-chain, substantially as set forth.

9. rIhe combination, with the grooved drivl8o out and be discharged upon the chute as the.

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ing-wheeLof the chain, andthe buckets mounted upon and vibrating about the end bars of the chain, and having the stops and the Wings to limit their vibrations, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with the grooved driving-wheel, and the chute J, of the chain and the buckets pivoted to the chain so that the inner ends of the buckets engage with the driving-wheel, and are tilted to discharge their contents after passing the chute, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the centrallyopen rectangular links having the flattened end bars and divided hooks, of the buckets provided with the narrow-throated hooks adapted to receive the flattened end bars, and

with the stops which limit the vibrations of the bucket, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the driving-chain, the-buckets adapted to be coupled to the chain when placed in an unusual position, and stops which retain the buckets in Working position, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a chainlink, an elevator-bucket pivoted upon the chain-link, its pivotal line being nearer one end thanthe other7 Where-by the greater part of the Weight of the bucket is to one side of the connection with the link, and a stop which limits the tilting of the bucket, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of a driving-wheel, a chain which passes around said Wheel, elevator-buckets pivoted upon the link of a chain, its pivotal line being nearer one end than the other, whereby the greater part of the weight of the bucket is upon the inside of the loop formed by the chain passing around the wheel, and a stop which limits the tilting of the bucket, the said Wheel being adapted to -tilt the bucket and discharge its contents, substantially in the manner described.

15. The combination of a driving-wheel, a chain composed of open rectangular links, and buckets pivoted upon the links and lying across the line of the chain, said Wheel being adapted, substantially as set forth, to engage with one end of the bucket and tilt the same to discharge its contents before the bucket passes the horizontal line of the axis of the Wheel, substantially as setforth.

16. The combination of the drivingwheel, a chain composed of open rectangular links,

and buckets pivoted tothe links and lying

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