Improvements in Crane Apparatus for Elevating and Discharging Buckets.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1862
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Crane Apparatus for Elevating and Discharging
Buckets.
I, FRANCIS GOULD MORONY STONEY, of Waterside Works, Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to apply to a crane improved, simple,
and rapidly working mechanism for elevating buckets, and for discharging them
by a continuation of the action by which the elevation is effected.
In carrying out my invention according to one modification I have the bucket
suspended from a horizontal axle or shaft having fast on its middle a chain pulley,
that is a pulley having its groove shaped to engage with the links of a chain.
This chain pulley lies in the bight or loop of a chain the two parts of which pass
over separate guide pulleys at the outer end of the crane jib and thence to a
winding barrel driven by gearing of any suitable kind. When simply elevating
the bucket the two parts of the chain are wound equally on the barrel, which is
grooved to guide the several convolutions of the chain; but when the bucket is
raised sufficiently one part of the chain is wound more rapidly than the other
by the action of an enlargement formed or fixed on the barrel for the purpose
in a suitable position. The differential motion of the two parts of the chain
causes rotation of the chain pulley and axle from which the bucket is suspended:
and this rotation is communicated to the bucket in any convenient way so as to
turn it over and discharge its contents. In one convenient arrangement, the axle
or shaft which has the chain pulley at its middle has similar chain pulleys fixed on
its ends, and on these outer pulleys short endless chains are hung and carry in
their lower bights or loops chain pulleys which are fixed on the sides of the
bucket in positions such that their axis passes as nearly as conveniently possible
through the centre of gravity of the loaded bucket.
Sprocket wheels and pitch chains may be substituted for the chain wheels
and ordinary chains. The enlargement of the barrel is limited so that if the
winding is continued further than what is required for discharging the bucket
the barrel thereafter acts equally on the two parts of the chain. One part of
the barrel may be made adjustable or turnable relatively to the other part for
altering the effective length of the chain; or the two parts of the chain may be
wound on separate barrels, gearing being provided for driving them together or
separately. The two short endless chains may be applied to several buckets in
succession; or the chain wheels described as fixed to the bucket may be fixed
to a frame in which one bucket after another can be carried.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of February 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Crane Apparatus for Elevating and Discharging
Buckets.
1, FRANCIS GOULD MORONY STONEY, of Waterside Works, Ipswich in the
County of Suffolk, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
'
My said invention has for its object to apply to a crane improved, simple
7

page_text: and rapidly working mechanism for elevating buckets and for discharging them.
preferably by a modified continuation of the action by which the elevation is effected.
In carrying out my invention, according to one modification, I have the
bucket suspended from a horizontal axle or shaft having fast on its middle a
chain pulley, that is a pulley having its groove shaped to engage with the links
of a chain. This chain, pulley 'lies in the bight or loop of a chain the two
parts of which pass over separate guide pulleys at the outer end of the crane.
jib, and thence to the winding gearing. When simply elevating the bucket the
two parts of the chain are wound up equally, but when the bucket reaches the
required height the two parts of the chain are actuated differently and consequently
cause rotation of the chain pulley and axle froin which the bucket is suspended.;
and this rotation is communicated to the bucket in any convenient way so as
to turn it over and discharge its contents.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood 'I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications. of my
improved apparatus.
Figure, 1 Sheet, 1, is a side elevation of a steam crane
as fitted with my
improved mechanism. Figure, 2, Sheet, 2, is a sectional elevation of the bucket
s viewed at right angles to the elevation of it in Figure, 1. Figures 3, and 4,
are a plan and end view showing one form of winding barrel; and Figures, 5, and 6,
are similar views of another form. Figures 7, and 8, are a plan and a diagrammic
elevation of an arrangement having two separately driven winding barrels; and
Figures 9, 10, and 11, are views of parts for diminishing concussion. In these
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts. wherever they are repeated.
In the arrangement shown in Figure, 1, the crane is mounted on a wheeled
truck, A, being arranged thereon so as to be capable of swivelling or turning by
means of gearing of a well known kind. The crane body, B, carries an engine and
gearing over its middle part, and has the jib, C, jointed to one side of it whilst a
boiler, D. is, as usual, carried at the opposite side.
Ꭻ
The bucket, E, is suspended from a horizontal axle or shaft, G, (Figures 1, and 2)
which has fast on its middle a chain wheel, H, which hangs in the loop of a chain,
the two parts of which, J1, J2, pass over separate pulleys, K1, K2, at the outer
end of the jib, C, to two parts of a winding barrel, L, (or as hereinafter explained,
to two separate barrels). On the outer ends of the shaft, 'G, there are fixed two
chain wheels, G1, G2, which have hung on them endless chains, G3, G4; and in
the bottom loops of these chains are carried chain wheels, F 1, F 2, placed on
square trunnions, E1, E2, fixed to opposite sides of the bucket, E, in positions
such that thefr axis passes through or near the centre of gravity of the loaded
bucket.
One form of the barrel, L, on which the two parts, J 1, J2, of the elevating
chain are wound is shown in Figures, 3, and 4. The barrel is helically grooved to
guide the chains which in the elevating operation are wound on from the middle
towards the ends of the barrel; and at a part of one half where the chain is being
wound at the time when the bucket, E, has to be turned over an enlargement, L 1,
is formed on the barrel, which enlargement giving a greater movement to the chain
which is being wound on it imparts rotation to the chain wheel, H, and its shaft, G,
and through the chain wheels, G1, G2, endless chains, G3, G4, and chain
wheels, F 1, F 2, to the bucket, E.
Instead of the differential motions of the chains, J'1, 2, being obtained by
means of an enlargement (L 1) on the winding barrel, L, obviously a similar effect
can be obtained by means of a reduction, L2, of part of the barrel as shown in
Figures, 5, and 6; or again, one part of the barrel may have an enlarged part (L 1)
and the other part of the barrel a reduced part, (L 2).
With the forms of barrel, L, thus far described, the turning over of the bucket
is effected with one continuous driving action giving simple rotation to the barrel,

page_text: and without having to move any additional engaging levers beyond that or those-
used for controlling the one motion of the barrel, such motion being imparted to it.
by means of a single spurwheel, L 3, fixed on it as shown in full lines in Figures, 3,.
and 5. In some cases, however, it may be more convenient to have the power of
controlling the turning-over actions separately from the raising and lowering opera--
tions. For such applications the barrel, L, may be made in halves, separately
driven as for example by means of the spurwheels, L 3, and the additional spur-
wheels, L4, the latter indicated by dotted lines in Figures, 3, and 5.
When the chains, J 1, J 2, are acted on by separately driven barrels or parts of
barrels the differential motions for turning-over the bucket may be obtained
without enlarged or diminished parts (L 1, L 2) formed on the barrels, either by
moving the barrels at different speeds in the same direction or by reversing the
motion of one of the barrels an arrangement of gearing for the last mode of
operating being shown in Figures, 7, and 8. In this arrangement a pinion, M 1, on
the crank shaft, M, and fitted with an engaging and disengaging clutch gears with a
spurwheel, N, on a second-motion shaft, P, and the spurwheel, N, gears with a
spurwheel, Q, on a third shaft, R. The shaft, P, has on it a pinion, P 1, always
gearing with one, L 4, of the barrel spurwheels, and also a second pinion, P 2,.
which by a clutch can be engaged with or disengaged from the other barrel
spurwheel, L3; whilst the third shaft, R, has on it a pinion R 1, which by a clutch
can be engaged with the barrel spurwheel, L 3. When the pinion, P 2, is in gear
with the spurwheel, L 3, both barrels, L, will move together but when the pinion, P 2,.
is put out of gear and the pinion, R 1, put into gear the barrels will be driven in.
opposite directions. This reversing arrangement is of a well known kind; and any
other suitable known reversing arrangement may be adopted if desired.
When the turning-over of the bucket is effected by reversing the motion of one
of the winding barrels it is desirable to limit the extent of the reverse motion so as
not to turn the bucket further than is necessary. For this purpose the device
shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, may be introduced between the adjacent ends of the
barrels, L. The adjacent ends of the barrels, L, are formed with projections, S, T,.
the space between which allows of the requisite extent of opposite movements,
onc, T, of the projections being fitted with buffer springs to diminish concussive
action.
Sprocket wheels and pitch chains may be substituted for the chain wheels, H, G1,.
G2, F 1, F 2, and ordinary chains. When the enlargement, L 1, or equivalent
modification of the barrel is limited as shown the continuation of the winding
action inadvertently or otherwise beyond what is required for discharging the
bucket, will merely move it higher or lower without turning it further. The two.
short endless chains, G3, G4, may be applied to several buckets in succession ;.
and the lower chain wheels, F 1, F 2, may be adapted to square trunnions
as described or they may be fixed on the bucket or on a frame in which one
bucket after another can be carried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In crane apparatus for elevating and discharging buckets the suspending of
the bucket to the loop of a chain the two parts of which chain are connected to
winding gear arranged to wind or unwind them equally, for raising or lowering,
and differentially or reversely for turning over the bucket substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. For elevating and discharging purposes, a bucket provided with chain wheels.
or sprocket wheels, combined with short endless chains engaging with such wheels
and hanging on upper chain wheels or sprocket wheels on a shaft which is suspended
by a chain wheel or sprocket wheel at its middle in the loop of a chain the two-
parts of which can be moved equally, or unequally, or reversely substantially as.
herein before described.

page_text: 3. The constructing of winding barrels of crane apparatus for elevating and
discharging buckets with differential parts substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described more particularly with reference to Figures
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of May 1892.
to 6, of.the
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.