Improvements in Baskets or Containers for Coal and other Matters.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Baskets or Containers for Coal and other Matters.
I, ARATOON MESROPE THADDEUS, of Sejooah Colliery, Manbhum District,
Bengal, India, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of metallic baskets
or containers for use in transporting coal or other matters by human labour,
particularly in loading and unloading ships' barges, coal bunkers, and the like
operations, the object of the invention being to provide a cheap, light, and
durable basket.
The basket may be of approximately hemispherical, bowl-like form or it may
be of square, retangular, oblong, or other form with parallel sides. It is con-
structed wholly of metal and is composed of a bottom portion of stamped sheet
metal, dished, convexed, corrugated, or otherwise shaped to ensure the necessary
stiffness, having slots punched in it near the edges for the attachment of the main
ribs of a basket structure. These ribs are of hoop iron and they are attached
by threading through the slots and doubling back the lower ends of the strips
upon themselves, the ribs being equally spaced around the sheet metal bottom.
With these radiating or upstanding ribs, which are preferably odd in number,
is interlaced or interwoven a filling formed of a single strip of hoop iron, or of
a number of independent strips or hoops, as the case may be. In the case of a
basket of bowl-like form the single strip would be cut out of a varying curva-
ture, the curvature gradually diminishing from the one end to the other so as
to adapt the strip to the position it is to occupy in the basket so that all portions
of the strip will lie flat (like the strakes of a boat) against the curved ribs with
which they are interlaced. The upper ends of the ribs are secured to a hoop of
round iron bar by merely folding the upper ends of the ribs over such hoop
and doubling them back on themselves, the loose ends both at top and bottom
of the ribs being secured by interlacing with, or tucking them into, the inter-
woven filling strip.
The basket may be strengthened at intervals by one or more intermediate
rings of round bar iron similar to the top ring before described but introduced
or interlaced with the main rib above described at an intermediate point or
points in the height of the basket, the filling strip interwoven with the ribs
being discontinuous above and below the strengthened ring or rings. Instead
of a single continuous interlacing or filling strip, I may use a number of separate
superposed hoops each cut to a curvature corresponding to its intended position
in the basket so as to admit of its being splayed in the same way that the hoops
of a barrel are splayed or coned to correspond to the form of the barrel, the
ends of the hoops being however merely overlapped without rivetting and secured
by interlacing with or doubling around the main ribs.
In this case, also, intermediate strengthening rings of round bar iron may
he introduced as before described.

page_text: In the case of a basket, whether of circular or other form, with parallel sides,
the sheet metal bottom would be curved upwards at the edges so as to bring
the ribs to an upstanding position and in this case the filling strip or strips
interwoven with said ribs might be straight strips.
D100. If T 1900
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in Baskets or Containers for Coal and other Matters.
I, ARATOON MESROPE THADDEUS, of Sejooah Colliery, Manbhum District,
Bengal, India, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of metallic baskets
or containers for use in transporting coal, earth, ballast, or other matters, as in
colliery work, railway construction, loading and unloading ships, barges, coal
bunkers, and the like operations the object of the invention being to provide
a basket which whilst cheap and light shall be much more durable than the
baskets of cane, wicker, or similar woven work ordinarily used for such purposes.
Baskets constructed according to my invention may be of various forms to
suit different requirements, and the accompanying drawings forming part of.
this specification illustrate three such forms, Figure 1 being a central vertical
section of a basket of circular bowl-like form such as is commonly used in India
and elsewhere in connection with colliery work and railway construction.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottom plate of such a basket. Figure 3
is a central vertical section of another form of circular basket, with substantially
vertical sides and Figure 4 is a half plan of same, parts being broken away to
shew the structure. Figures 5 and 6 are respectively similar views of a basket
of square shape in plan. Figures 7 and 8 shew a detail drawn to an enlarged
scale.
It is to be clearly understood however that I do not limit myself to the
particular forms of basket illustrated, as I may construct baskets according to
this invention of any other shape whether in plan or sectional view.
In every case the basket is constructed wholly of metal and comprises a bottom
plate of sheet metal dished, convexed, corrugated, or otherwise shaped to ensure
the necessary stiffness, and a superstructure forming the sides, composed of up-
standing ribs interwoven with a filling of hoop iron. Those forms of basket
which are illustrated in the drawings being designed with a view more particu-
larly to being carried on the head, the bottom plate may in these cases be
upwardly dished at the centre as in Figures 3 and 5 to accommodate the head
of the bearer, the downwardly convexed portion 6 which surrounds such central
concavity forming a ridge upon which the basket, when set down on the ground
or elsewhere, can rest steadily.
In every case the bottom plate has a double row of slots e c¹ parallel to and
near its edge for the attachment of the ribs d of the basketwork superstructure,
which are of hoop iron or steel and are attached to the bottom plate a by thread-
ing each rib through a pair of slots e c¹ and doubling back the lower ends of the
ribs upon themselves. With these radiating or upstanding ribs d is interwoven
a filling formed of a single continuous strip e of hoop iron or of a number of
successive strips forming virtually one strip, coiled around the structure in a
continuous helix or spiral and interlaced (in the usual manner of basketwork)
with the ribs d.
In the case of a basket wherein the woven superstructure is of varying

page_text: a
diameter as in Figure 1, the strip or strips e may be cut out of a varying curva-
ture whose radius gradually increases from the one end to the other in order to
so adapt the strip to the position it is to occupy in the basket
that all portions of the strip shall lie flat (like the strakes of
boat) against the curved or radiating ribs with which they are interlaced,
and that the successive convolutions of the strip shall lie in close juxtaposition
to one another. The same result may be obtained by passing the strip between
rollers so as to compress and reduce the thickness of the outer edge of the strip,
the pressure applied being varied throughout the length of the strip according to
the required variation of curvature. Or the strip might be subjected to the
action of fluted rollers intermeshing with one another whereby the inner edge
of the strip would be transversely crimped or corrugated as indicated in face
view in Figure 7 and in edge view in Figure 8, the width and depth of the
corrugations being varied according to the required variation of curvature of the
strip.
The upper ends of the ribs & are attached to a marginal hoop f (formed of
round iron rod or tubing bent to the shape of the basket top) by merely folding
the upper ends of the ribs over such hoop and doubling them back on themselves,
the loose ends g both at top and bottom of the ribs being secured by interlacing
with, or tucking them into, the interwoven filling strip as indicated.
The basket (of whatever form) may be strengthened at intervals by one or
more intermediate rings of round or half-round bar iron or tubing similar to
the top ring f before described but introduced or interlaced with the ribs d
at an intermediate point or points in the height of the basket, the filling strip c
interwoven with the ribs being discontinuous above and below such strengthening
ring or rings.
Instead of a continuous interlacing or filling strip I may use a number of
separate superposed hoops interlaced with the ribs and each formed to a curvature
corresponding to its intended position in the basket so as to admit of its being
splayed or coned to correspond to the form of the barrel. The ends of the
hoops, which would be so arranged that successive hoops would break joint with
one another, would however be merely overlapped without rivetting and would
be secured by interlacing with or doubling around the ribs. In this case also,
intermediate strengthening rings of round bar iron or tubing may be introduced
as before described.
In the case of a basket with parallel vertical sides, the sheet metal bottom
plate a would be curved upwards at the edge so as to bring the ribs at once
to a substantially vertical position as shewn in Figures 3 and 5, and in this
case the interwoven filling, whether composed of a continuous strip or strips e
or of a series of separate hoops, might be of straight hoop iron.
In the case of a basket of square, rectangular, or polygonal form in plan tlie
corner ribs (Figures 5 and 6) are made of stronger section than the inter-
mediate ribs so as to impart to the entire structure the increased rigidity
required. To this end the corner ribs are made preferably of round or half
round bar iron or of tubing with flattened ends which are attached to the bottom
plate and top ring f, just as in the case of the intermediate hoop iron ribs 7,
and secured as before by interlacing with the interwoven filling strip e.
In this
case it is evident that the filling strip must always pass outside of the corner
ribs h, the adjacent hoop iron ribs on either side of the corner ribs. being if
desired placed somewhat nearer to the corner ribs than usual, so as the better to
retain the successive tiers of the filling strip in position.
It will also be obvious that in baskets of other than angular form in plan,
some (or even in cases where special strength or rigidity is required, all) of the
ribs may be formed of increased section as in the case of the corner ribs / just
described.
In the case of a basket of circular, oval, or other curvilinear form in plan,
it is preferred that the number of ribs should be odd, so as to ensure that succes-

page_text: sive tiers of the filling strip shall pass in every case alternately inside and out-
side of the ribs; but the same result may be attained with an even number of
ribs, by using two strips superposed side by side in alternate convolutions,
the strips winding around the basket, after the manner of a double threaded
screw. In the case however of a basket of square, rectangular, or polygonal
form in plan, the number of ribs intermediate of any two adjacent corner ribs h
may be either even or odd,
The basket may if desired have handles formed of round bar iron or tubing
attached to the upper margin of the basket by rivetting or otherwise.
It is to be understood that wherever in this specification hoop iron, bar iron,
or the like is mentioned, such terms are used merely in their generic sense
and are to be taken as covering hoops or bars of other metals than iron, such for
example as hoop steel, bar steel, or the like, my invention not being limited to
the use of any particular metals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A basket-like container for use in transporting coal or other matters, con-
structed wholly of metal and composed of a bottom plate of sheet metal dished,
convexed, corrugated, or otherwise shaped to ensure the necessary stiffness;
upstanding ribs of hoop iron for the basketwork superstructure attached to the
bottom plate and to an upper marginal hoop as described; and a filling formed
of a continuous strip or strips of hoop iron interlaced with the ribs, substantially
as specified.
2. A basket-like container for use in transporting coal or other matters, con-
structed wholly of metal and composed of a bottom plate of sheet metal dished,
convexed, corrugated, or otherwise shaped to ensure the necessary stiffness;
upstanding ribs of hoop iron for the basketwork superstructure attached to the
bottom plate and to an upper marginal hoop as described; and a filling formed
of a number of separate superposed metal hoops interlaced with the ribs sub-
stantially as specified.
3. A basket-like container of square, rectangular, polygonal, or other angular
form when viewed in plan, adapted for use in transporting coal or other matters
and constructed wholly of metal, with a bottom plate of sheet metal dished,
convexed, corrugated, or otherwise shaped to ensure the necessary stiffness;
upstanding ribs at the angles of the baskets attached to the bottom plate and to
an upper marginal hoop as described and composed of round or half-round bar
iron or of tubing, with flattened ends; ribs intermediate of the above described
ribs, composed of hoop iron and attached to the bottom plate and upper marginal
hoop as described; and a filling formed of a strip or strips of hoop iron or of
a number of separate superposed hoops interlaced with the ribs, substantially as
specified.
4. In a basket-like container for use in transporting coal or other matters,
composed wholly of metal and constructed as described; the combination with
the upstanding ribs, of an interwoven filling formed of a strip or strips, or of a
succession of separate rings, of hoop iron transversely corrugated or otherwise
distorted for a sufficient width from one edge to adapt said strip or strips or
successive hoops to lie flat against the ribs with which such filling is interwoven,
and to cause the successive convolutions of such filling to lie in close juxtaposition
to one another, substantially as specified.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.