Patent GB-191213592-A (GB)
Title: Pneumatic Ammunition Hoists.
Inventor: COWLEY JAMES THOMAS
IPC: B65G51/02
Filed: 1912-06-10
Granted: 1913-06-10
Abstract: 13,592. Cowley, J. T. March 12, [Convention date]. Loading - appliances. - Relates to pneumatic hoists and conveyers for shells, and consists principally in an arrangement, applicable to single or double (alternate - working) hoists, whereby, after the shell-conveying operation, the air-control mechanism is operated to effect the return of the pusher to the sending station, either by gravity or by connecting the hoist tube to the blower suction. The invention also includes various safety devices, described below, and means for returning the shell from the receiving to the sending station. A double hoist in which the pusher is returned by suction is shown. Figs. 3 and 7 are respectively side and front elevations of the sending-station; Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of the valve-gear of one hoist; Fig. 20 is a vertical section of the receiving-station, and Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the pusher. The hoist tube B of a single hoist, or each tube in the case of a double hoist, terminates at the sending-station A in a loading-section or barrel M, which is pivoted upon trunnions 10 so that it may be swung from the sending position shown in Fig. 3 into alinement with a charging-tray 11. Hand-actuated catches (I, b engage with a stop c on the barrel M and hold it in either position. One of the trunnions 10 is hollow, and is connected by pipes 22, 25, respectively, to either the pressure or suction side of an air-blower, through cylindrical slide valves contained in a casing N. The trunnion inlet communicates with the interior of the barrel M by way of spring lift valves in the bottom of the barrel, and ports in the side wall of the barrel. A spring buffer is also located in the bottom of the barrel M, so that, when the pusher returns, either with or without a shell, it will be cushioned in the barrel by the spring buffer and by the air entrapped when the pusher passes the ports in the side wall. In addition to the catch a and stop c, the barrel is locked in alinement with the tube B by a bolt, which is operated by a tappet which projects into the tube and is actuated by the pusher, and by two disks 54, 55 on the dispatch shaft 41, portions of which disks, while the pusher is in transit, enter a recess in a plate 18 on the barrel B curved concentric to the trunnion 10. When the dispatch shaft 41 is rotated a complete revolution by a handle 43, it raises both the pressure and suction valves by means of a partial pinion 44 and rack 30. The suctionpipe 25 is thus closed, and the pipe 22 is opened to the blower pressure-pipe K through a pipe 21 and the valves are retained in this position by a catch g engaging a stop e on the rack-carrying head 29 of the suction-valverod 28. The pressure-valve rod 27 is supported by a latch l pivoted to the head 29 and engaging with a cross-head k on the rod 27. The lifting of the head 29 actuates or releases devices, two of which n and p, lock the shaft 41 against further rotation, and which simultaneously lock the dispatch shaft of the twin hoist and the barrel - retaining disk 55, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 41 and connected by a spring 7 to the disk 54 fixed on the shaft. When the pusher and shell reach the receiving- station C, the pusher uncovers the orifice of an outlet valve 9, and allows the pressure air to flow by pipes 77, 78 to a cylinder 39, Fig. 10, and raise the piston 35 therein. The raised piston-rod 34 rocks the shaft 32 carrying the latch g, and thereby releases the head 29, and simultaneously, through a nose h, releases the catch l from the cross-head. k, and by a link 53 connected to an arm on the shaft 49, carrying the locking-device p for the dispatch-shaft 41, takes over the control of the locking- device p. The head 29 falls until it is stopped by a second latch f loosely pivoted to the shaft 32, in which position the suctionvalve opens the trunnion pipe 25 to the blower suction, while the pressure-valve falls into its lowest position and cuts out the pipe 22 and opens the blower pressure-pipe K to the atmosphere through pipes 21 and 23. The pusher is thus returned to the sending-station. When the transported shell reaches the receiving- station C, it is directed by a cap 70 on to a pivoted spring-supported table 71, the yielding of which table to the weight of the shell depresses a spring plunger 82, and through the links 81 raises a valve x and thereby places the pipe 78 into communication with a pipe (not shown) leading direct to the pressure-pipe K. The air pressure under the piston 35 is thus maintained after the hoist tube B is placed to suction. As the pusher reaches its lowest position, the continuance of the suction produces a partial vacuum in the pipe 25, and, through a pipe 83, also produces a vacuum in the cylinder 39 above a second piston 37 contained therein, sufficient to cause the piston 37 to rise and actuate a lever i, to withdraw the latch f from the stop e. The head 29 then falls to the normal position. The device p locking the dispatch shaft 41 of the hoist just operated remains operative until the delivered shell is removed from the table 71, whereupon the valve x is again closed, and the pressure below the piston 35 is removed. The piston then falls, and, through the link 53, rocks the shaft 49 to release the locking-device. When a shell is to be lowered, the pressure valve is partly opened by rocking the shaft 42, a slotted arm 40 on which engages with pins 2 on the crosshead k of the valve-spindle 27. The pusher is thus driven up to the station C and receives the shell from the table 71, which is tilted for the purpose by a screwed shaft 75. The pressure-valve is then closed, and the air beneath the pusher is permitted to escape at a regulated speed through a throttle-valve in an outlet pipe 91 at the bottom of the tube B. During this operation, the barrel M is further locked in line with the tube B, by a piston j in a cylinder z connected by a pipe 57 with the valve-casing N, which piston locks the catch a. The valve-gear is simplified when the pusher is returned by gravity alone. The pusher R, Fig. 23, has arms y pivoted to a ring 84, and pressed outwards by springs to engage a shoulder w in the upper end of the hoist-tube and arrest the pusher at the end of the transit.