Patent GB-190418107-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Conveying Apparatus designed more particularly for Coaling Ships at Sea.
Inventor: MILLER THOMAS SPENCER
Filed: 1904-08-20
Granted: 1905-06-29
Abstract: 18,107. Miller, T. S. Aug. 20. Rope railways ; chain - cable grips.-Relates to conveying- apparatus of the endless-rope type particularly applicable to coaling ships at sea. Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of the conveyer. The towing- boat 1 is connected by a rope 3 to the towed boat 2. The endless rope 5<a>, 5<b> runs from the windlass 4 over a pulley 11 on the mast 6 of the towing-ship, across the space between the ships, over a pulley 12 on the foremast of the ship 2, round a tension pulley 13, and back over pulleys 14, 16 to the winch 4. The load is carried by pulleys running on the rope 5<b>, which are adapted to move with the rope and also relatively to the rope in one direction. The tension carriage 17 is supported from a rope 18 between the masts of the ship 2, and is connected by a rope 19, with a safety hook 21, to a sea-anchor 20. A trip line 22 serves to render the sea-anchor inoperative. Fig. 6 shows the load-supporting carriage. The wheel 33 has a V-shaped groove 34 adapted to pinch the rope 5<b>. A ratchet-wheel is secured to the side of the wheel 33, and a pawl is hinged in the framework 38. The wheel is thus free to revolve in one direction only. The hook is composed of two side-pieces 39 pivoted on the pin 42, and a central piece 43 pivoted on the pin 44 and having a shoulder 45 bearing on the piece 46, which is provided with a handle 47. In operation, the load is hauled up from the deck of the towed ship along an inclined rope 58<a> by a line attached to the truck 56, Fig. 9. The ring 48 is placed by hand over the load-carriage hook 39, and, when the lever 69 is pulled, the load is transferred to the carriage 9. It is then pushed off the fixed track 61, and runs down by gravity on to and along the lower track rope 5<b>. When it has travelled as far as it can by gravity, its return is prevented by the pawl and ratchet, and the motion of the rope conveys the load to the towing-ship. Fig. 13 shows a load approaching a haul-down block 65 on the ship 1. This block runs on two wheels 15, 15<a> and is held down by a rope 66, which serves also to adjust the tension of the rope 5<b>. A forked piece 67 is adapted to strike the handles 47 and thus release the load. The truck 9 is then returned along the rope 5<a> in an inverted position. In the event of the parting of the tow-rope 3, various devices are described for preventing the ships from fouling. The pulleys 12, 14 on the towed ship 2, Fig. 9, are mounted in a frame which is adapted to slide along guides 70, 71, but is normally prevented from doing so by light pins 72, 73. The tension carriage 17 is also connected by a light pin 54 to the trolley 52. Should the tow-line part, the towed ship settles back, and the tension block 17 collides with the pulleys 12, 14. The pins 54, 72, 73 give way and the tension pulley 13 is carried clear of the towed ship before the hook 21 releases the rope 19. This hook is shown in Fig. 15. A flanged ring 75 normally prevents the hinged finger 21 from opening, but when this ring strikes the mast 8 the hook is released. In a modification, shown in Fig. 2, the winch is located on the towed ship, in which case other means are necessary for clearing the lines. Alight line 80 is attached to the mast 6 and taken over a pulley to the tension block 17. A pulley 79 connected to the pulley 78 is adapted to run along the line 80. In the event of breakage of the tow-rope, the pulley 78 is detached from the mast and its weight is carried by the pulley 79 until clear of the ship 1, when the line 80 breaks. In another modification, the tension rope 19 is carried past the block 17 and terminates on the ship 1, forming an auxiliary support for the load, Fig. 19. A cam 85 is adapted to turn on a pin 86 in the frame 38, and is so constructed that the load cannot move to the left relatively to the rope 5<b>. The invention may be made use of for transporting any bodies between any supports. The rope need not be endless, but the suspended cable may be drawn longitudinally a short distance and then allowed to return. The Provisional Specification refers to Specifications Nos. 16,832 and 24,399, A.D. 1898. No. 18,213, A.D. 1899, and No. 11,294, A.D. 1901.