Patent GB-190311050-A (GB)
Title: A New or Improved Method and Apparatus for Discharging and Stacking or Storing Hay, Straw and the like.
Inventor: BECHTOLSHEIM BARON CLEMENS VON
Filed: 1903-05-14
Granted: 1903-07-02
Abstract: 11,050. Bechtolsheim, C. von. May 14. Cranes; slings; unloading.-Relates to a method and apparatus for unloading and stacking or storing hay, straw, &c. The sling on which the hay is placed is automatically lifted and conveyed to the loft or the like, discharged and returned, the driving-gear being then automatically disengaged. Fig. 1 is an elevation of one form of the apparatus, and Fig. 6 a cross-section on the line C-D of Fig. 1. A cloth 67 is spread in the wagon before loading and, when the loaded wagon is placed under the lifting-apparatus, rings on the strings at the four corners are attached to hooks on the frame 61. The driving-mechanism is then started, the band 16 being on the fast pulley 12. As the friction disc 14 is in ccntact with the disc 53, the shaft 51 is rotated, and worms upon it rotate the pulleys 48 and raise the sling. At its highest point, the arm 75 of the sling strikes the rod 29, and lifts the finger 30 out of engagement with the arm 59 on the trolley. The rocking levers are then pulled to the right by the weight 32, disengage the discs 14, 53, and bring the discs 15, 44 into engagement, thus rotating the shaft 40. At the same time, the levers 74 lift the catch 56. A worm on the shaft 40 rotates the wheel 38, Fig. 6, and the pulley 33 and drives the cord 35 in the direction of the arrow e. This cord moves the rocking lever 55 up to the stop 57, the catch 56 engages with the cross-bar of the levers 74, and the trolley moves. The friction wheel 41, Fig. 6, held against the worm-wheel 38 by a spring, rotates with it and winds up the chain 78 on the wheel 42 till the block 79 raises the arm 24 and releases the fork bar 20, which is at once moved by the weight 80, so that the belt 16 is moved on tu the loose pulley 10 and the belt 17 on to the fast pulley 12. The direction of travel of the cord 35 is thus reversed, and the levers 74 are pushed to the left, raising the slides 69 in the holders 62 and releasing the sling. The trolley returning to its original position, the arm 59 strikes the finger 30, rocks back the levers 26 so that the shaft 51 is rotated, and the sling descends to its lowest position, when the arm 81 strikes the stop 82 on the rod 83, brings both belts on to loose pulleys, and stops the mechanism. To restart the apparatus, the rod 83 is pulled till the belts return to the position shown. The sling may be opened on either side by disconnecting the rods 72 on the opposite side from the levers 74. The chain-wheel 42 being driven by friction only, the chain 78 may be easily adjusted. To prevent accidental lifting of the lever 24, it is guarded by a slide 89 attached by the rod 87 to one arm 86 of a bell-crank lever, the other arm 85 of which bears against the trolley. When the trolley leaves the loading-position, the arm 85 is released and the slide is moved to the right by the spring 88. The sling may take the form shown in Fig. 8, where a tube 90 is provided at each end with pawl-and-ratchet devices. When the load is to be discharged on the right-hand side, the ratchets are moved into the position shown, and the load conveyed to its destination. The trolley being reversed, the catch 55 engages an abutment 98 on the spring-controlled rod 97, Fig. 9, which slides in the tube 90 and pushes apart the pawls in contact with the tapering ends into the position shown in Fig. 10, and so releases the right-hand ratchet-wheels, which rotate and pull the rods 70 and release the load. Springs may be used instead of weights, and toothed or friction wheels instead of pulleys. Electric motive power may be used. The hay may be picked up by means of grippers.