IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILTING COAL WAGONS AND SCREENING COAL, AND DELIVERING OR DISCHARGING THE SAME. INTO WAGONS, BARGES, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILTING COAL
WAGONS AND SCREENING COAL, AND DELIVERING OR DISCHARGING THE SAME.
INTO WAGONS, BARGES, AND THE LIKE."—A communication from abroad
by James Watson Upsom, of Tallmadge, Ohio, United States of
America. Coal Operator.
Sealed the 16th February, 1875, and dated the 18th September 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition;
on the 18th September 1874. -
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILTING
COAL WAGONS AND SCREENING COAL, AND DELIVERING OR DISCHARGING THE SAME
INTO WAGONS, BARGES, AND THE LIKE," a communication, to be as
follows:
.
وو
This Invention relates to devices for tilting coal wagons in order to
discharge the coal therein into a shute. It also relates to the con-
.

page_text: struction and operation of the said shute, whereby the coal is conveyed
from a higher to a lower plane, as in the loading of railway cars
or wagons, barges, vessels, and the like from the minery cars
wagons.
or
The particular purpose of the said Invention is to prevent the lumps
of coal, which is of a bituminous or soft nature, from crushing or
breaking while descending the shute, and while being discharged from
the car or wagon into the shute.
The various devices whereby the aforesaid results are obtained are
constructed and operated substantially as follows:-The supporting
frame of the shute consists of a base; uprights, and cross pieces.
The sides of the shute on their upper edges are provided with a
rail. I provide a travelling "gate or carrier, to which a hinged gate and
its auxiliaries are attached. Each side is alike provided with two flanged
wheels hung in brackets or stays, and adapted to run upon rails upon
the edges of the shute. The sides of the gate carrier are so supported
that the fall just below the line of the upper edge of the sides of the
shute and extend above, forming an additional height to the sides
thereof. Uprights extend above the gate, and a heavy rod is secured
to their ends, which on one side extends beyond the gate and over the
side of the shute. To the other cross piece and about the middle of the
same one end of a long bar is hinged. The other end of the bar.extends
over the said heaving rod, and when the gate is closed a notch in the said
bar catches upon the said rod and holds the gate to its closed position.
A rod is secured to the fore end of the frame, forming a swing; the
said rod or swing is of such length that when the gate and carrier.
descend to the lower end of the shute the end of the long bar will allow
the gate to open by the downward pressure of the coal in the carrier. The
other and open end of the carrier frame is secured by means of ropes,
which pass over pulleys to a windlass. This windlass consists of a double.
wheel on each end of its shaft. Upon one wheel one rope is wound, and
upon the other wheel, and in a reverse direction, I wind another rope,
which is attached to a weight to counterbalance the weight of the gate
and carrier. When the carrier descends the weight will be elevated,
and when the carrier is allowed to ascend it will be carried up by the
descent of the weight. To ease this weight in its descent, and to prevent
the vibration which would be consequent upon its sudden stopping, the

page_text: ropes, whereby the weight is attached to the windlass, are entirely
unwound therefrom by the time that the weight has about reached the
ground. At this time the tendency of the windlass will be to continue
to revolve in the same direction, and in so doing it will commence to
wind up the ropes in the opposite direction, and thereby check or ease.
the fall of the weight.
A lever handle is provided for controlling the brakes, which operate
upon the windlass by means of strap rubbers.
An incline is attached to the side of the chute to present à surface,
against which the projecting end of the aforesaid bar will strike in the
ascent of the carrier and cause it to close the gate.
The screens consist of an arrangement of bars with broad upper
surfaces slightly rounded, forming a head to the lower part or
web, which is much narrower in order that the siftings may pass
readily through without clogging. These bars are secured to each other
by a bolt or rod passing through them. They are held apart by strips
of sheet metal, the upper ends of which are bent around the exposed
parts of the bolt between the bars, while the lower end of the strips
are nailed or otherwise fastened to the sill. Coarser or finer screens
can be had by using strips of different widths between the bars, thereby
bringing the bars closer together or further apart as the case may be.
The aforesaid tilting mechanism is constructed and operated in com-
bination with the chute.
.
The rails or track, on which the coal car or wagon runs, has a
moveable section, one end of the rails being supported by a cross bar or
axle, on the upturned ends whereof are wheels. The opposite ends of
the rails are supported by another cross bar or axle, on the ends whereof
I also place wheels. Each of the said wheels rests upon a bar of the
screen, which serves as a rail whereon it runs in its movement down the
chute. To the second axle is hinged an apron, spread out each way
beyond the width of the coal, car or wagon and the wheels carried on
the said axle. The first mentioned wheels run upon rails inclined.
upward towards the chute. Below the movable tramway is arranged a
drum on a shaft. To the outer end of this shaft is secured a pulley,
around which passes a cord or belt, extending upward to and around a
pulley, whereby the said drum is operated through a hand wheel. On

page_text: this drum is wound a cord, which proceeds therefrom to and around a
pulley to the first mentioned bar or axle, carrying the aforesaid wheels,
to which bar it is made fast. The other end of the cord proceeds from
the drum in the opposite direction and passes over a pulley, and thence
to the bar or axle to which it is secured.
The car is kept from running down the chute or from the movable
track by offsets or knees made in the rails on which the car stands, and
against which knees the wheels of the car rest. It is thereby held back
on tipping the track as aforesaid.
:
The car having discharged its contents is drawn back together with 1
the track whereon it stands by a weight attached to the drum by a cord,
the said weight being only sufficient for that purpose.
If desirable a break can be arranged in combination with the drum,
whereby the movement of the movable track may be placed under the
entire control of the operator. The said brake can be readily applied by 1
the foot.
D
La the mil the Hiltion of th
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her
special licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
1+

page_text: Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TILTING COAL WAGONS AND SCREENING
COAL, AND DELIVERING OR DISCHARGING THE SAME INTO WAGONS, BARGES, AND THE
LIKE," a communication to me from abroad by James Watson Upsom; of
Tallmadge, Ohio, United States of America, Coal Operator, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :—
This Invention relates to devices for tilting coal cars or wagons in
order to discharge the coal therein into a chute. It also relates to the
construction and operation of the said chute, whereby the coal is
conveyed from a higher to a lower plane, as in the loading of railway
cars or wagons, barges, vessels, and the like from the minery wagons.
The particular purpose of the said Invention is to prevent the crushing
or breaking of the lumps of coal, which is of the bituminous or soft
nature, while descending the chute, and while being discharged from
the wagon or car into the chute.
The various devices whereby the aforesaid results are obtained are
constructed and operated substantially as herein-after described.

page_text: i
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the ends of the screen bars used in
combination with the chute.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the supporting frame of the chute consisting of a base,
uprights, cross pieces, and other parts; B, B, are the sides of the chute;
6 is the bottom, and 6¹ the screen in the bottom thereof. The sides of
the chute on their upper edges are provided each with a rail y. C, O,
and C¹, C¹, represent the frame of a travelling gate or carrier, to which
the gate a, Figure 3, and its auxiliaries are attached. Each side is
provided with two flanged wheels d, d, hung in brackets or stays, and
adapted to run upon the rails y, y, upon the edges of the chute. The
sides C, C, of the gate carrier are so supported that they fall just below
the line of the upper edge of the sides of the chute and extend above,
forming an additional height to the sides thereof. To the lower cross.
piece C¹ the gate a is hinged. It extends entirely across the said frame,
enclosing the opening between the sides. It is secured to two or more
uprights ff, which are pivoted to said cross piece by a common bolt
rod. The uprights f, f, extend above the gate, and a heavy rod g is
secured to their ends, and on one side extends beyond the gate and over
the side of the chute. To the other cross piece C¹ and about midway of
it one end of a long bar his hinged. The other end of the bar extends
over the bar g, and when the gate is closed a notch h¹ in this bar catches
upon the said rod and holds the gate to its closed position.
A rod K is secured to the fore end of the frame, forming a swing.
The said rod or swing is of such length that when the gate and carrier
descend to the lower end of the chute the end of the bar h will be caught
thereby and withdrawn from the rod g, and allow the gate to open by
the downward pressure of the coal in the carrier. The other and open
end of the carrier frame is secured by means of ropes c, c, which pass
over pulleys C¹, C¹, to a windlass m. This windlass consists of a double
wheel on each end of its shaft, upon one of which wheels the rope c is
wound, and upon the other, and in a reverse direction, a rope a¹¹ is
wound, which is attached to the weight w. This weight is more than
sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the gate and carrier, and its
rope being wound around its windlass in a direction reverse to that of
rope c, when the carrier descends the weight will be elevated, and when
the carrier is allowed to ascend it will be carried up by the descent of

page_text: the weight. To ease the weight in its descent and to prevent the jarring
which would be consequent upon its sudden stopping, the ropes,
whereby the weight is attached to the windlasses, are entirely unwound
therefrom by the time the weight has about reached the ground. At
this time the tendency of the windlass will be to continue to revolve in
the same direction, and in so doing it will commence to wind up the
ropes in the opposite direction, and thereby check or ease the fall of the
weight.
The lever handle » controls the brakes p, p, O, which operate upon
the windlass by means of the strap rubbers n, n. By its use the turning
of the windlass can be controlled, and the descent and ascent of the gate
and carrier be regulated.
An incline is attached to the side of the chute, the object of the
samo being to present a surface, against which the projecting end of
the rod g will strike in the ascent of the carrier, and cause it to close
the gate.
The position the gate assumes after being thrown open is indicated by
the dotted lines in Figure 1.
The practical operation of the above described mechanism is sub-
stantially as follows:-The carrier with its gate and attachments being
in the position shown in Figure 1, and the operator standing so as to
man the brake lever, coal is dumped into the chute at its upper end.
The angle of inclination of the chute is such as to cause the coal to slide
down until it is stopped by the gate in the carrier, and in so doing it is
screened by the screen b¹. The fine coal passes through to such
additional screens below as may be necessary.
When sufficient coal has been dumped into the chute or carrier to
move the counterbalance weight w the carrier will descend on lifting
the brakes, whereby its ascent is controlled by the operator. Its action
however to a great extent is modified by the ropes, windlasses, and
weight, but entirely controlled by the brake. When the carrier arrives
'near the end of the chute the swing will catch the end of the lever h
and lift it from its hold on the rod g. The coal of its own gravity will
force the gate open and pass out beneath it from the carrier or chute
5 above the carrier to the car, wagon, or vessel waiting to receive it.
The position of the gate when thus open to allow the passage of the
coal through the chute.is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

page_text: To counteract the effect of the impetus which may have been imparted
to the carrier in its descent, and prevents its going too far after having
its contents discharged, the swing K (still retaining its hold of the bar
or lever, whereby the gate was opened) will lift the lower end of the
carrier from the rails, thereby checking its speed, so that it can be
drawn back to its first position by the weight to receive another load.
As the carrier passes up, the projecting end of the rod g strikes the
incline i, and closes the gate of the carrier, which is held closed by the
notch in the bar h, thereby latching the gate.
:
The aforesaid screens consist of an arrangement of bars of the shape
shown in Figure 5, the same being an enlarged view of the ends of the
bars, which may be more or less in number, according to the width of
the chute. These bars it will be seen have broad upper surfaces slightly
rounded, forming a head A¹ for the lower part or web B', which is much
narrower, in order that the siftings may pass readily through without
clogging. These bars are secured to each other by a bolt or rod C³
passing through them. The bars are held apart by strips of sheet
metal D', the upper ends of which are bent around the exposed parts of
the bolt between the bars, while the lower ends of the strips are nailed
or otherwise fastened to the sill E. Coarser or finer screens can be had
by using strips of different widths between the bars, thereby bringing
the bars closer or wider apart, as the case may be.
'
The aforesaid tilting mechanism is constructed and operated in com-
bination with the chute, substantially as follows:-A" in the Drawing
may or may not, according to circumstances, be a part of the frame A
of the chute, and may be considered the end of a tramway leading from
the mine to the chute. B", B", represent the rails or track, on which
the wheels D" of the coal car or wagon C" run.
E', Figure 4, is a moveable section of the tramway, one end of the
rails E being supported by the cross bar or axle F, on the upturned
ends whereof are the wheels G, G, The rails at their opposite ends are
supported by the cross bar or axle H, on the ends whereof are the
wheels I. Each of said wheels rests upon a bar of the screen, which
serves as a rail whereon it runs in its movement down the chute for a
purpose below set forth. To the axle H is hinged an apron J spreading a
out each way beyond the width of the coal wagon and wheels I. The
aforesaid wheels G, G, run upon the rails K', 'K'.

page_text: It will be observed that said rails are not horizontal, but inclined
upwards towards the chute, as shewn in Figure 1.
Below the moveable tramway is arranged a drum L, Figure 4, on the
shaft M. To the outer end of the shaft is secured a pulley N, Figure 1,
around which passes a cord or belt O extending upward to and around
the pulley P, Figure 3, through which the said drum is operated by the
hand wheel Q. On the drum is wound a cord S, which extends there-
from to and around a pulley T, thence to the bar or axle F, to which it
is made fast. The other end of the cord extends from the drum in the
opposite direction, and passes over the pulley U, Figure 1, and thence
to the bar or axle H, to which it is secured.
The practical operation of the above described tilting device is as
follows:-As aforesaid it is intended to be used in connection with the
chute herein-before described or without, as circumstances may render it
necessary or desirable. The car or wagon, as shown in Figure 1, may be
supposed to have just been run in on the tramway B" to the moveable
track E, and in this position it is ready for having its load discharged into
the chute. To this end the car is moved forward by moving the track on
which it stands. For this purpose the operator turns the hand wheel,
thereby turning the drum and winding up the cord S thereon, the result
being to draw forward the moveable track and the car thereon. As the
track moves forward its rear end is at the same time raised by the
wheels G, G, 'ascending the grade of the rails K³, which elevates the rear
end of the moveable track, which as a sequence lifts the rear end of the
wagon or car as aforesaid. During this forward movement of the track
and wagon the front end of the movable track descends the inclined
plane of the chute, into which it moves, the wheels of the track running
on two bars of the screen.
It will be obvious that by this elevation of the rear end of the moveable
track, and at the same time the depression of the front end thereof, the
or car wagon will be tilted up, and thereby discharge its contents into
the chute upon the screen forming the bottom of it, and down which the
coal will slide until arrested by the carrier and gate herein-before
described arranged on the chute, and whereby the lumps or sifted coal
will be carefully conducted down to the end.
The position of the movable track, together with the car or wagon
of coal thereon, is indicated by the dotted lines a¹ in Figure 1, in which

page_text: '
it will be seen that the front end of the said wagon is so tipped as to be
very near the bottom of the chute; hence the coal in passing from the
wagon into the bottom.of the chute will have scarcely any distance to
fall, and therefore will receive but little injury by falling, and will not
be broken up or crushed.
The wagon is withheld from running down the chute or from off
the moveable tracks by the offsets or knees c¹, Figure 1, made in
the rails on which the car stands, against which knees the wheels of the
car rest, and are thereby held back on tipping the track as aforesaid.
The said car or wagon having discharged its contents in the manner 1
above described is drawn back with the track whereon it stands by
the weight V attached to the drum by the cord W, said weight being.
only sufficient for that purpose.
The movement of the wagon in either direction is or may be perfectly
controlled by the operator by means of the hand wheel Q.
If desirable a brake may be arranged in combination with the drum,
whereby the movement of the moveable track may be placed under the
entire control of the operator; said brake can be readily arranged to be
operated by the foot.
1
By giving more or less grade to the rails K¹ the tilting of the wagon 2
can be made more or less steep, so that the contents of the same may
be discharged suddenly and with force, or slowly and easily.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The moveable track E' consisting of the rails E", E", supported
in front by the axle H and wheels I, I, and in the rear by the axle F
and wheels G, G, in combination with the inclined rails K', K', in the
manner described and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The adjustable apron J in combination with the moveable 3
track and chute, as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The moveable track E' when so arranged with the tramway M¹
that the car or wagon may pass from the tramway M¹ to the said
moveable track and be carried forward, and the load discharged from the
wagon into the chute automatically, in the manner and for the purpose a
described.
2

page_text: Fourth. The moveable track E', drum L, rope S, weight V, pulley P,
rope O, and hand wheel Q, all arranged and combined to operate in the
manner described and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The gate a and gate carrier herein described in combination
with a coal chute for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The swing K secured to the frame of the chute to open the
gate of the carrier of the lower mouth of the chute and check the
impetus of the carrier gained in the descent, in the manner described.
Seventh. The combination of the gate a and rod g, bar h and swing K,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the gate a and rod g with the incline i,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. The screen bars consisting of the heads A¹ and webs B¹, as
above described and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. The herein described brake consisting of the windlass or
wheels m in strap rubbers n, n, arm o, shaft p, and lever v in com-
bination with the carrier and weight w, as and for the purpose.
specified.
Eleventh. The combination of the screen bars consisting of the
head A', web B¹, strips D¹, and bolt C¹, in the manner described and for
the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
JAS. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)