Patent GB-683422-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to endless conveyors
IPC: B66B9/10
Filed: 1950-04-25
Abstract: 683,422. Endless-chain conveyers; charging trucks into mine cages; tipping apparatus. MITCHELL, F. G. Feb. 12, 1951. [April 25, 1950] No. 10213/50. Classes 78 (i) and 78 (iv). A conveyer particularly for raising materials such as coal, stone and dirt from the bottom of a mine shaft comprises platforms supported at intervals on an endless chain or like carrier, each platform being adapted to receive, support and secure a loaded wagon or mine-tub and being pivotally mount ed on the endless carrier so that it may be swung bodily about its pivot together with the supported wagon to discharge the contents of the wagon, means being provided at selected locations in the path of the conveyer to effect the said rotation of the platforms. In the embodiment shown, wagons loaded on to platforms 17 at the foot of the mine shaft are adapted to be raised to the surface and conveyed over bunkers 13, 14, 15 where they are automatically tipped so as to discharge the contents of the wagons. The platforms are pivotally mounted on a pair of chains 10 by pins 45 secured to frame members 40 and are provided with toothed or friction wheels 26 secured to the members 40 which over the bunkers engage between pairs of endless chains or belts 27, 28. These chains or belts normally travel at the same speed as the chains 10 so that no turning effort is applied to the wheels 26. When a wagon comes above a desired bunker, means are provided for causing the associated chains 27, 28 to travel at different speeds so as to turn the wheels and effect discharge of the wagon, the chains thereafter being operated to swing the platform back to its normal position. Alternatively, the platform swings back by gravity to its normal position when it passes beyond the chains 27, 28. The wagons are loaded on to and discharged from the conveyer by lifts 18, 19, Fig. 2, adjacent the rising and falling runs of the conveyer respectively, which move at the same speed as the chains 10. When the platform 20 of the lift 18 is at the bottom of its travel, a full wagon is transferred from a marshalling track 21 to the platform 20. The lift is so driven in synchronism with the chains 10 that the platform 20 commences its upward movement when in register with a conveyer platform 17 on the rising run and as the platforms move upward in alignment, the wagon is transferred to the conveyer platform. When this transfer has been completed, the platform 20 returns to its lower limit ready to receive a further loaded wagon and ascend in alignment with the next platform 17. The lift 19 operates in similar fashion in the reverse direction. Guides 25 prevent the platform 17 swinging while transfer of wagons to and from the conveyer is taking place. A wagon is restrained against movement when on a platform 17 by angle iron bars 42 overhanging the wagon wheels 29 and by bellcrank levers 47, 48 which form abutments for the wheel axles 31. Alternatively or in addition to the bars 42, bars 43 may be provided across the platform frame. The levers 47, 48 are normally held in their operative positions by springs 52 in compression between frame members 51 and washers 53 secured to rods 50 connected to the arms 49 of the levers. When a platform 17 descends into proximity with the lift 19, a roller 57 on a lever 56 keyed to the pivot 55 of the lever 47 engages the stepped face of a cam 58 whereby the lever 56 is swung into the dotted line position, Fig. 3, so as to depress the lever 47 clear of the wagon axle 31, allowing the wagon to pass into the lift. Similarly as a platform rises into proximity to the lift 18, a roller 64 on a bell-crank lever 62 engages a cam surface 65 attached to the structure of the lift 18 so as to lower the lever 48 and permit a wagon to pass on to the platform from the lift. Electrical or other means ensure the automatic unloading of the contents of any particular wagon into a bunker corresponding to the contained material. Specification 655,733 is referred to.