Patent GB-653826-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to dumping mechanisms
Filed: 1948-02-28
Abstract: 653,826. Rotary tipplers for unloading vehicles. FLOWERS, H. F. Feb. 28, 1948, No. 6312. Convention date, July 9, 1946. [Class 78 (iv)] The motion of a rotary tippler in which the centre of gravity is disposed above the axis of rotation when the tippler carries a loaded car and is upright, and below the axis of rotation when the tippler carries an unloaded car and is inverted, is assisted by fluid-pressure pistons and cylinders mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis parallel to that of the tippler and connected to the tippler to initiate and control its movement. The tippler shown includes end rings 13 resting on rollers 4 and positioned by end rollers 16, and is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by pawls 37, 39 (Figs. 1 and 8), and by spring-pressed latches 32 engaging plates 31 on the periphery of the rings 13. The tippler is so balanced that with a loaded car 25 thereon it will tip under gravity when the latches 37, 39 are released and will restore automatically under gravity when the car has discharged, these actions being assisted by pneumatic rams 43 pivoted at 44 and having their piston-rods 47 secured at 48 to the rings 13. The supply of air to the rams 43 is controlled by a piston valve 51 which is operated by a handle 59 to initiate tippling, and thereafter automatically, so as to cause the rams first to assist tippling. then to permit free movement of the tippler until the tippler is almost inverted when they cushion the stopping of the tippler, then in sequence to assist restoration of the tippler, to permit free movement, and to cushion stopping in the upright position. An arm (not shown), on the lever 59 carries a roller 62 bearing initially against a cam surface 63, Fig. 8, pivoted at 64 to one of the rings 13 and biassed by a spring 65 so that it may be pushed aside on manual operation of the lever 59 to admit compressed air to the inner sides of the pistons 46, and to connect the outer sides to atmosphere. The latch 37, 39 is simultaneously released. As the tippler rotates in the tipping direction a series of cams 66, 68, 69 engage the roller 62 to move the lever 59 controlling the valve 51 to cause successively the closing of the ports to the inner sides of the pistons 64 (after which the continued expansion of the air in the rams assists tipping), connection of both sides to atmosphere, to permit free motion, and the closing of the ports to the inner sides of the pistons so that compression of the air in the rams cushions the stopping of the tippler. Finally the tippler is brought to rest in the inverted position shown in Fig. 4 by impingement of the plate 31 on a spring-biassed stop 40 which is resiliently mounted so as to initiate the restoring movement which is assisted by movement of the roller 62 by a cam 70 to admit compressed air to the inner sides of the pistons 64. As the return movement continues the valve 51 is controlled by engagement of the roller 62 with cams 71, 72, 73, 63, the tippler being halted when upright by engagement of the plate 31 with the spring-biassed stop 32, the latch 37, 39 dropping automatically into position. The car is secured in position in the tippler by angle-irons 23 engaging over the sides of the car which rests during tipping on bars 24. Sideplates at 21 retain any spilt material for discharge down the hopper below the tippler. As shown in Fig. 4, side-plates 10, 11, 12 are arranged above the hopper which is divided into two parts into either of which the load may pass according to the position of a gate 74 controlled by a ram 79. The axis of tipping is coincident with the axis 29 of the coupling 28 between the cars of a train so that it is not necessary to uncouple the train before tipping.