Improvements in Self-acting Apparatus and Arrangements for the Transit of Bales, Packages, or Parcels from Place to Place.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Apparatus and Arrangements for the
Transit of Bales, Packages, or Parcels from Place to Place.
I, DAVID CUNNINGHAM, of Harbour Chambers, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Civil 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 provide improved apparatus for the
convenient transit of goods, of various kinds, such apparatus comprising devices of a
selfacting character for effecting some of the operations required.
In carrying out the Invention it is intended to arrange a system of railways of
small size, and trucks or trains of trucks to be moved thereon by rope haulage, or
electric propulsion, the railways being constructed either through tunnels underground,
or at any convenient level on or above the ground, but in all cases enclosed and
protected by casings where there might be any possibility of improper interference
with the trucks whilst in transit. At suitable points stations are to be constructed
for the loading or discharging of the trucks.
When a train which is to be filled approaches the point of loading, it actuates by
knobs or inclined bars suitably projecting from the body of a truck or preferably from
that of a bogie designed to be the first carriage in such train, corresponding knobs or
inclined bars projecting from the sides of the way. These are part of, or are attached
securely to bars extending above the way. Such bars are raised up by the corre
sponding knobs coming into contact. The bars are instruments whereby the catches
which secure the packages in position ready for loading, are released, and the packages
fall into the trucks.
The packages are previously placed in a suitably inclined trough or shoot whose
bottom is to be smooth or furnished with rollers for the free descent of the packages
into the trucks as they pass. The packages are intended to lie on the tops of level
platforms on the trucks, and the shoot is to be inclined at a sufficient angle or
provided with sufficient free running rollers so that the packages shall descend upon;
the platforms of the trucks as they pass, the fall of the shoot being in the direction of
the running train.
When the bars acting on the catches which retain the packages awaiting loading
have been raised, lever handles situated above such catches provided with projecting
tongues or catches that fall by the weight of the lever handles into corresponding
notches in the sides of the vertical bars, or the undersides of projections therefrom
near their upper termination, are intended to retain the vertical bars in their raised
positions, until another load of packages has been deposited on the shoot and is ready
for loading into the trains. The projecting knobs beneath at the sides of the ways
are also maintained in a raised position and are not acted upon by the corresponding
knobs of passing trains. To retain the packages in the shoot as they are deposited
therein slotted hand bars are provided on each side, or on one side, and when the
complement of packages have been placed in the shoot, the lever handles are raised
by hand, whereby first the projecting tongues or catches come out of the notches in
the vertical bars, and second, immediately following, by the continued movement of
the lever handles upward, the slotted bars being attached to them, are withdrawn.
The shoot is then barred by the catches attached to the vertical bars, and the
projecting knobs below being in position to be actuated by the corresponding knobs
of passing trains, the goods are delivered automatically into the first passing train
whose bogie is provided with the corresponding knobs or inclined bars.
The discharging part of the apparatus consists of a knob or bar projecting from the
wall of the way which is to be encountered by a corresponding knob fixed upon the

page_text: underside of the platform of each truck opposite to that on which it is intended to
discharge the packages. This will tend to cant transversely the platform of the truck
which platform is fixed to the body or frame by a central longitudinal axis. A catch
provided with a trigger is employed to steady the platform of each truck and to
retain it in its normal position. The trigger catch is to be pivoted to a bracket
supported on and projecting from the body of the truck. This bracket supports the
platform in its normal position on the side upon which the canting knob is fixed, but
when the trigger comes to the place where the corresponding stationary knob for
canting and discharging the truck is fixed, the lower part of it which hangs down below
the pivot comes in contact with the said knob and releases the catch, and immediately
thereafter the same stationary knob operates upon the knob affixed to the bottom of
the platform of the truck and cants the platform so as to discharge its load. A
spring or springs may be arranged to draw back the platform of the truck to its
normal postion, or that may be done wholly or partly by guides upon the side of
the way opposite to that whereon the knob is situated. The same operation may also
be partly effected by making that side of the platform carrying the knob heavier than
the other.
So soon as the platform of the truck, after discharging its load, has been restored
to its normal position, the trigger catch will fall automatically into position to hold
the platform steady so that it may securely receive its load, and remain in its
normal position until it again comes to a knob in the side of the way designed to
release it.
I also design to employ standards resting on or fixed to that side of the body of
the truck whereon the knob is affixed to the platform which are to project a little
through holes made in the same side of the platform of the truck. These standards
may end above in points or rough surfaces or be furnished with small wheels being
arranged so that the load resting on the surface of the platforin may be prevented
from slipping from its position. The standards may be furnished at their lower
parts with springs so that the points or wheels may not project rigidly above the
upper surface of the platform of the truck, but with a certain pressure so as to hold
the load in position. So soon as the platform is canted the surface rises clear above
the upper parts of the standards and the load thereon is then free to move or slide
on such surface so as to be discharged from the truck.
It is intended to arrange the various knobs or inclined bars both in the sides of
the way and on the trucks and their platforms so that different knobs will come into
play at different stations, both for loading and unloading so that the trucks may pass
some stations without being loaded or discharged, and only be loaded or discharged
when they pass the particular stations whose knob corresponds to those of the
trucks.
In some cases in applying my Invention it will probably be convenient to load by
hand and unload automatically whilst in other cases it will be more convenient to load
automatically and to unload by hand.
Dated this Eighth day of June 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-acting Apparatus and Arrangements for the
Transit of Bales, Packages, or Parcels from Place to Place.
1, DAVID CUNNINGHAM, of Harbour Chambers, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
ر
My said Invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for the
convenient transit of goods of various kinds, such apparatus comprising devices of a
selfacting character for effecting some of the operations.

page_text: In carrying out the Invention I arrange a system of railways of small size, and
trucks or trains of trucks, to be moved thereon by rope haulage or electric propulsion,
the railways being constructed either through tunnels underground, or at any
convenient level on or above the ground, but in all cases enclosed and protected by
casings where there may be any possibility of improper interference with the trucks
whilst in transit. At suitable points stations are constructed for the loading or
discharging of the trucks; and the stations and the trucks, or bogie trucks at the
ends of the trains are provided with reciprocal parts by means of which the loading
and unloading may be effected automatically and without stopping the trains, the
arrangements being such that certain trucks or trains of trucks will be loaded at a
certain station and be discharged at another certain station, whilst other trucks or
trains of trucks will be loaded at the same or other stations and be discharged at one
or more different stations.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append 5 sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing automatic transit apparatus as constructed
and arranged according to my Invention..
Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, of the drawings is a diagram plan showing on a small scale
one end of a railway system; and figures, 2, and 3, are a plan and a side elevation
on a larger scale of a train or series of trucks to be used on the railway. Figures, 4, 5,
and 6, on sheet, 2, are a plan, side elevation, and end elevation of a bogie to be
attached to carrying trucks; and figures, 7, 8, and 9, on sheet 3, are a plan, side
elevation and end elevation of one of the carrying trucks. Figures, 10, 11, and 12,
on sheet, 4, are a plan, cross-sectional elevation, and side elevation showing a
modification of the loading apparatus; and figures, 13, 14, 15, and 16, on sheet 5,
are a part plan, a part end elevation, a side elevation, and a part cross-sectional
elevation showing another modification of parts of the loading apparatus. In these
drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used. to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
The arrangements and apparatus illustrated by the accompanying drawings are
adapted for haulage of the trucks by means of an endless rope (indicated by a
peculiarly dotted line, R, in figure, 1) always moving in one direction; and there are
two railway lines, R1, R2, joining each other by loops at the end, the loop at one
end being shown in figure, 1, and also some of the parts, R 3, for applying the haulage
power to the rope. The haulage power may be applied by means of any suitable
motor, and the appliances connected there with may be like any suitable appliances
which are known and in use for similar purposes.
Each bogie, B, or leading truck of a train of carrying trucks, T, of which latter
there may be any convenient number in a train, is constructed, as shown in
figures, 4, 5, and 6, with an elongated frame, B 1, carried on two pairs of flanged
wheels, B2, and having fixed to it two bottom plates, B 3, and two vertical plates, B 4.
A pair of gripping levers, G, for taking hold of the haulage rope, is centered on a
block fixed to the frame, B 1, and the upper ends of the levers, G, have jointed to
them screw nuts, G1, working upon right-hand and left-hand screw threads on a
transverse horizontal shaft, G 2, carried in bearings, G 3, on brackets formed on or
fixed to the vertical plates, B4. On the ends of the shaft, G 2, there are sprocket
wheels, G5, which are provided to encounter stationary racks formed by pins such
as are indicated by dotted circles, G 6, in figure, 5, which are placed in suitable
positions near the haulage-power apparatus, R3, figure, 1, for the purpose of
disengaging and reengaging the gripping levers, G, when a train passes that part of
the line. It may be here stated that in general there will be a bogie, B, at the after
end of a train of trucks, T, as well as at the forward end; and in the case of long
trains there may be intermediate bogies also. As the train approaches the haulage
power apparatus, R 3, its gripping levers, G, will be opened by the action of its
sprocket wheels, G 5, on a stationary rack, G 6, but the motion of the train will be
kept up because a succeeding bogie of the train has still hold of the rope. And before
the second bogie reaches the stationary rack the first bogie will have passed the point

page_text: at which the rope, R, is deviated to the haulage-power apparatus, R 3, and will have
encountered and passed a second stationary rack placed so as to act on the other sides
of the sprocket wheels, G 5, in a manner to cause the gripping levers, G, to again
take hold of the rope. In addition to the parts described each bogie, B, has fixed to
its vertical plates, B4, brackets, B5, B6, which with the bottom plates, B 3, are for
holding certain inclined bars, L, L1, L2, the functions of which are hereinafter
explained. The vertical bogie plates, B4, are also formed with inclined guides, B 7,
for facilitating the proper deposition of bales upon the carrying trucks as hereinafter
explained.
Each carriage truck, T, as shown in figures, 7, 8, and 9, is constructed with an
elongated frame, T 1, carried upon two pairs of flanged wheels, T2; and the frame
is formed with transverse plates, T 3, to which are jointed with strong bolts, plates, T4,
formed or fixed on the underside of a platform, T5, which can thus tilt or turn upon
the joint bolts. The tilting action is for discharging bales, bales being received when
the platform, T5, is in a horizontal position, to which position it tends always to
return by the action of a spring, T 6, and in which position it is locked by a catch, 17.
This catch, T 7, is jointed to a bracket, T8, fixed to the frame, T 1, and it engages
with a pin fixed across a pair of lugs, T'9, formed or fixed upon the under side of the
platform, T 5. The catch, T8, is made with a depending arm the lower end of which
encounters an inclined bar, M, fixed on a stool, N, of which there is one at each
discharging station. The inclined bars, M, are to be placed in different positions,
that is, nearer to or further from the middle of the line at different stations; and the
catches, T7, are to be placed on the several carrying trucks, in positions respectively
corresponding to the inclined bars, M, at the stations at which each truck is to be
discharged. The stationary inclined bars, M, also serve for tilting the platforms, T5,
for which purpose each truck platform, T5, has fixed to it in a position suited for the
station at which it is to discharge, a tilting piece, L3, which encountering the
stationary inclined bar, M, causes the platform to tilt as indicated by dotted lines in
figure, 9, and thereby discharge its bale. Where several trucks have to discharge in
quick succession at one station, they are received upon a platform inclined downwards
and which may be fitted with rollers so that each bale nay quickly get out of
the way of its successor; or any other convenient arrangements may be made for that
purpose.
For the purpose of loading a train of carrying trucks the bales or packages are
previously placed in a suitably inclined trough or shoot, S, such as is shown in
figures, 10, and 12, the middle part being supposed broken away, and the ends
brought together, to get the figure within convenient compass. The bottom of the
shoot, S, is either made very smooth, or is furnished with rollers, S1, to facilitate
the descent of the packages, and it is placed over the railway line, and is inclined
downwards in the direction in which the trucks run, that is towards the left hand as
shown in figure, 12, the packages dropping from the lower end of the shoot upon the
trucks as they pass along underneath. The framing of the shoot, S, may be of wood
or iron or of a combination of such materials. When packages are put into the
shoot, S, from the upper end the lowest one is stopped at the bottom of the shoot by a
stop roller, S2, held by two cranked levers, S3, centered at their upper ends in
bars, S4, fitted to slide vertically in guides formed in the side walls of the shoot.
When the bars, S4, are in their lowest positions as shown in figure, 12, the lower
ends of the levers, S3, rest in cavities at the lower ends of inclined guides, S 5, and
the stop roller, S2, is thereby prevented from swinging towards the left hand. But
when a train of trucks passes under the shoot and is to be loaded therefrom, suitably
placed inclined bars, L, on the front bogie, B, of the train, act on inclined pieces, P,
suitably fixed on the bottoms of the vertical bars, S4, and raise those bars, and with
them the swinging levers, S5, and stop roller, S2. The stop roller, S2, is thereby
lifted out of the retaining cavities in the guides, S 5, and is free to swing towards the
left hand and allows the package to descend past it on to first carrying truck, T.
When the vertical bars, S4, are raised as described, they are retained in their raised
position by a pair of catch levers, S 6, the catching points of which enter notches
1

page_text: provided in the sides of the vertical bars, S4; and by these means the stop roller, S2,
is prevented from stopping the descent of the packages until all those for one loading
operation have descended on to the trucks of a train. Stop bars, S7, fitted in guides
so as to be movable inwards from the sides of the shoot, S, and worked by means of´
hand levers, S8, are provided for stopping packages a little in front of the stop
roller, S2, and can be used when that roller is free to swing. These stop bars, S7,
have to be withdrawn when the parts are set so that a passing train may take
packages from the shoot; and to insure this being done the bars, S7, have attached
to them cords, S9, which pass round guide pulleys to the catch leves, S 6, and when
these levers are moved to withdraw the catches and allow the vertical bars, S 4, to drop
so that their bottom inclined pieces, P, may be acted on by a passing bogie, the
cords, S9, withdraw the stop bars, S7. In the arrangement just described the parts
have to be readjusted by hand after a train has been loaded.
In a modification of some of the loading apparatus shown in figures, 13, to 16, the
actions are all automatic; and springs are introduced to mitigate concussive action.
The framing for the bottom of the shoot, S, consists of two side frames, V, connected
by a four-armed top plate, V 1. Instead of fixed guides, (S5) with cavities for
retaining the stop roller, S 2, that roller is retained by its journals being in cavities in
slides, V 2, fitted to slide on inclined guides, V 3, formed on the side frames, V,
upwards on which guides the slides, V 2, can move against springs, V4. With this
arrangement a package or bale on descending the shoot does not meet with a rigid
resistance from the stop roller, S2, that roller being capable of yielding and sub-
sequently recovering its position by the action of the springs, U4; these springs will
not however yield so much as to allow a package to get past. The release of the
packages is effected by means of vertical bars, S4, as in the previously described
modification; and these bars are retained in their raised position by catch levers, S 6.
These catch levers, $ 6, however, have jointed to them vertical bars, V 5, having at
their lower ends suitable pieces, Q. with inclined bottoms to be acted on by inclined
bars, L1, or L2, fixed upon bogies, B, at the after ends of the trains of trucks.
Consequently when a train of trucks has passed a loading station with its shoot, S, its
rear bogie will act on the catch levers, S6, in a manner to cause the stop roller, S2,
to return to the position in which it is shown in figure, 15, so as to stop and retain
the next series of packages put down the shoot, until the proper bogie and train for
them reaches the station.
When a package descends from a shoot, S, upon the forward end of a train it
encounters inclined guides, B7, on the front bogie, B, these guides causing it to
become properly placed on the truck, T, next to the bogie. If a succeeding package
falls with its front end too far forward as shown at W, in figure, 3, its front end will
rest on a projecting cross bar, W 1, fixed for the purpose on the rear part of the
platform of the preceding truck, and being thereby raised up it will encounter a
dressing or trimming block, W 2, provided in a suitable position across the railway
just above the proper height of the packages on the trucks.
This trimming
block, W 2, is not a rigid fixture but is hinged to a cross beam, W 3, and has a
spring applied to it, and its action is to hold back and push down any package, W,
requiring adjustment. For dressing or trimming the packages laterally, if required,
guide rails, W4, are provided at the sides of the railway near stations or where
required, as indicated by dotted lines in figures, 2, and 3, these guide rails being
flared outwards at their ends to facilitate the entrance of the packages between
them.
For some applications of my automatic conveying apparatus, as for example when
it is to be used for transferring goods from ships lying at wharves to stores or ware-
houses it will be convenient and advantageous to move the loading shoots and their
appurtenances from place to place. For this purpose the framing of a shoot and
carrying the releasing mechanism is constructed so as to be self-contained and
portable; and it is mounted on wheels, X, as indicated by dotted lines in figure, 12,
and as in part shown in figures, 13 to 16, rails being laid down along the parts where
the loading shoots may be required. In the case of wharves of lengths rendering the

page_text: movable shoots desirable, the rails for the carrying trucks, T, with their bogies, B,
may be laid in ways sunk or recessed below the upper surface of the wharves, the
rails for the shoots being laid on the upper surface along the edges of the recessed
ways. At the ends of the spaces through which the recessed ways are constructed,
such ways may be inclined down from and up to the upper surface.
When a shoot is movable as described it will be convenient to attach to the lower
part of its framing, the top block, W 2, and the lateral guide rails, W 4, as shown in
figure, 12, for dressing or trimming the packages on the trucks.
In figure, 1, loading places are indicated at Y, and discharging or tipping places
at, Z. To prevent packages from moving out of position on the truck platforms, T 5,
I provide standards, U, upon the truck frames, T 1, such standards being tubular and
fitted with rods, U 1, which are pressed upwards by springs within the standards..
The standard rods, U 1, may end above in points or rough surfaces or be furnished as
shown with small wheels. They project up through slots in the truck platform, T5,
when it is level, and by catching in the bottom of the package prevent its displace-
ment by vibration or other disturbing action. When the platform is tilted to
discharge its load the part of it through which the standard bars, U 1, projected is
raised completely above them so that they do not interfere with the discharge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1-An improved system of apparatus and arrangements for the transit of bales,
packages, or parcels from place to place, the various parts being combined and
operating substantially as herein before described.
2-An improved construction of truck for receiving and conveying bales, packages,
or parcels, and having a tilting platform for discharging its load, and appliances for
holding the platform and for causing it to be tilted automatically the parts being
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described.
3-Constructing the carrying trucks or bogies moving with the trucks with parts.
on which to fix inclined bars in different positions, and applying such hars to act on.
mechanism when passing loading and unloading stations, inclined bars in different
positions acting at different stations substantially in the manner and for the purposes.
hereinbefore described.
4- Providing at the loading stations inclined shoots for the descent of bales,
packages, or parcels, on to the trucks, such shoots being provided with stopping and
releasing mechanism arranged to be acted on partly or wholly by inclined bars on the
trucks or bogies, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Fifth day of March 1890.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.