IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING VESSELS WITH BLOCKS OF PATENT FUEL OR OTHER SUITABLY SHAPED MATERIALS
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I THOMAS EDWARD HEATH of the Patent fuel. works Bute Docks Cardiff in
the County of Glamorgan, South Wales, Patent fuel manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LOADING
OR UNLOADING VESSELS WITH BLOCKS OF PATENT FUEL OR OTHER SUITABLY
SHAPED MATERIALS to be as follows:-
"
My Invention relates to improved Apparatus for loading or unloading vessels
with blocks of Patent fuel or other materials of a regular shape such as bricks or
boxes.
When used for loading Patent fuel from lighters, as principally intended I prefer
to place the apparatus, with the engines and boiler, or other motor employed for
working the same in or upon a barge or craft but it may be applied otherwise in
various ways according to circumstances, such as lowered into the hold of a vessel
for unloading, or for loading from a wharf and fixed upon the quay wall or upon
a truck running on rails or in any other convenient manner.
My invention consists principally when the apparatus is placed on a barge for
fuel loading of two elevators each having the usual endless chain actuated by
revolving drums, and carried with the latter upon suitable elevator frames which
are sufficiently long to reach above the bulwark of a vessel and are made in sections"
if desired so that an extra length may be added in the case of an unusually high
vessel-The lower drum shaft of each chain projects on each side of the elevator
frame and with the latter is mounted thereat in bearings formed on or carried by
suitable brackets or supports fixed to the barge (or otherwise as the case may be).
The brackets or supports for one elevator are about twenty feet (more or less
according to the length of a fuel lighter) from those of the other elevator the two
elevator frames being pivoted upon these supports so that they may be raised or
lowered by suitable ropes and pullies (or otherwise) along the elevator barge in
line (or nearly so) with the keel.
Instead of the ordinary mode of loading the open hold or box of the fuel
lighter (which is usually about forty feet long by eight feet wide and three feet
deep) with about eleven tons of fuel at each end and leaving a space in the middle
for the fuel loaders to stand in I load it so as to have a sufficient space for two or
three men to stand at the bow end of the hold and two or three men in the middle
80 that the two gangs can work without interfering with each other the fuel
lighter being slowly moved forwards as they load the fuel away.
In combination with the elevators I have two small jibs or frames which are
pivoted in suitable bearings on the elevator barge and may be lowered by ropes
and pullies (or otherwise) across the fuel lighter one for each gang of men These
jibs or frames carry an endless chain or strap actuated by revolving drums, the

page_text: .
blocks of fuel from the lighter being placed on this endless chain which carries or
transfers them onto a short feeding shoot (preferably a roller shoot).
Or in some cases the endless chain may be dispensed with and the blocks put
direct on to the feeding shoot from which the blocks are picked up by a series of
small elevating shoots which are attached at suitable intervals to the endless
elevator chain at such an angle that the blocks of fuel will readily slide off towards
the vessel but are prevented from doing so too soon by suitable side plates attached
to the elevator frame (a back plate being also used for preventing the blocks from
falling off in case the elevator is perpendicular) until they reach the delivery shoot
(preferably a roller shoot) at a sufficient height to deliver the fuel to the hatchway-
This delivery shoot may be made in sections bolted together and extends from the
hatch way of the vessel to the elevator frame to which it is hinged at various
heights as required from time to time by suitable pins or otherwise.
About two feet (more or less) of the rollers nearest the elevator are carried by.a
separate frame which is hinged so that the end nearest to the elevator may be
slightly raised by a catch attached to each elevating shoot for giving the block
tine to slide off the elevating shoot on to the delivery shoot.
.
In some cases I may use in combination with the apparatus for feeding the
blocks to the elevator, a plate on to which the feeding shoot delivers the blocks.-
This plate is supported by a lever which is pressed out by the ascending elevating
shoots the blocks of fuel being held by side and end plates so that they are in the
proper position to be successively picked up by the elevating shoots.
To the elevator frame or delivery shoot (or otherwise) is attached a plate at such
an angle and position that on the arrival of the blocks thereat the plate pushes
the blocks off the elevating shoots at the proper moments.-The elevating shoots
may be made about half the width of the blocks of fuel so as to prevent the blocks
from fouling the delivery plate or the end rollers of the feeding shoot-If desired
the elevating shoots may be provided with rollers and may be pivoted (in lieu of
being fixed at an angle) to the endless elevating chain in which case they may be
tilted by catches which are fixed to the shoots and strike against a plate attached
to the delivery shoot.
The elevator drums may be worked continuously by spur or other suitable
gearing, or intermittently by ratchets or otherwise so as to give a pause to the
elevating shoots at the proper monent and allow time for the blocks of fuel to
slide onto the delivery shoot without the end of the latter being raised.
It is to be particularly noted that the shaft of the elevator drum is arranged at
right angles (or nearly so) with the side of the vessel to be loaded so that the
elevating shoots can receive the blocks on the side nearest the fuel lighter and
deliver them on the side nearest the vessel at any height without the delivery
shoot obstructing the descending chain whereby I am enabled to pivot two elevators
to the elevator barge at such a distance apart that they may be supplied with
blocks of fuel by two gangs of men working at a distance apart of about half the
length of the hold of the fuel lighter so that the two gangs do not interfere with
each other At the same time the elevators may converge at the top and deliver
into one hatchway or diverge and deliver into two hatchways at a considerable
distance apart.
To the elevator frame may be attached a lever which is moved by the blocks of
fuel as they are carried up by the endless chain and works a suitable counting
apparatus.

page_text: I THOMAS EDWARD HEATH, of the Patent fuel Works, Bute Docks, Cardiff in the
County of Glamorgan South Wales, Patent fuel manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING
VESSELS WITH BLOCKS OF PATENT FUEL OR OTHER SUITABLY SHAPED MATERIALS
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 improved apparatus for loading or unloading vessels
with blocks of patent fuel or other materials of a regular shape such as bricks or
boxes.
When used for loading fuel
place the apparatus with the
working the same in or upon a
according to circumstances such
or fixed upon the quay wall or
convenient manner.
from lighters as principally intended I prefer to
engine and boiler or other motor employed for
barge or craft but it may be employed otherwise
as lowered into the hold of a vessel for unloading
upon a truck running upon rails or in any other
My invention is illustrated by figures 1 to 12 on the accompanying sheets of
drawings like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in the respective
figures.
My invention, when the apparatus is used for loading blocks of patent fuel or
other materials and placed in or upon a barge A as seen in figures 1 and 2 consists
principally of two elevators B B' each having the usual endless travelling chain or
band C which is actuated by revolving drums D (shewn more particularly in
figure 5) and carried, with the latter by suitable elevator frames E which are
sufficiently long to reach above the bulwark of the vessel to be loaded and are
made in sections if desired so that extra lengths may be bolted on the tops of the
elevator frames E by means of the angle irons F in the case of an unusually high
vessel to be loaded. The lower drum shaft G for working each endless chain
or band C projects on each side of the elevator frame E and with the latter is
mounted thereat in bearings or trunnions H formed on or carried by suitable
brackets or supports I fixed to the barge A. (quay truck or otherwise as the case
may be).
The brackets or supports I for one elevator B are about twenty feet (more or less
according to the length of the fuel lighter J) from those of the other elevator B¹
and the two elevator frames E being pivoted upon the supports I may be raised or
lowered by ropes or chains and pullies or in any other suitable manner.-For
example they may be so nearly balanced by a counterweight K carried by the
lower extended end of the elevator B that they can be raised with but little
exertion either into a perpendicular position or inclined (radially to the bearings or
trunnions H) at any angle to the barge A and in vertical planes with the keel.-
Moreover the elevators B B' may be secured in any desired positions relatively with
each other either parallel, or converging, or diverging by guys L which hook into

page_text: '
chains M fixed to each end of the barge A and on the elevators B B¹ being lowered
to their full extent they lie so near to the deck of the barge that the latter will
readily pass under an ordinary canal bridge having only about seven feet between
the crown of the arch and the water.
In combination with the feeding shoots (hereafter described) to the elevators B B¹
I may use endless.chains or bands N N' which are actuated by revolving drums O
use
and mounted on jibs or frames P P¹ which are pivoted in suitable bearings Qon
the elevator barge A the whole being raised or lowered to the level of the fuel
lighter J by ropes R passing over pullies S and attached at the ends to counter-
weights S¹ whereby it is easy for a man in the fuel lighter J to raise or lower the
jibs P P Or they may be raised or lowered in any other convenient manner-The
blocks of fuel T from the lighter J being placed on the endless chains or bands N N¹
are transferred by the latter on to the short feeding shoots U (preferably roller
shoots) Or if desired the endless chains or bands N N¹ may be dispensed with and
the blocks T placed direct on to an auxiliary feeding shoot U¹ (see fig 10) which is
.hinged to the short feeding shoot U and made of sufficient length to reach slightly
beyond the side of the lighter.
From the short feeding shoot U the blocks T are picked up by a series of small
elevating shoots or buckets V. which are fixed to, the endless chain or band C
at such an angle that the blocks of fuel T will readily slide off towards the vessel
to be loaded but are prevented from doing so until they arrive at the delivery
shoot W by suitable side plates X which are made in sections ✗' (figure 10)
of convenient length and attached to the elevator frames E by pins or otherwise-
I may also use back plates Y to prevent the blocks T falling off when the
elevators B B¹ are perpendicular but they are not essential as the same object can
be obtained by forming the elevator shoots V with sides thereby practically con-
verting them into buckets-The delivery shoots W may be either roller or plain
and may be made in sections W W bolted together by pins or otherwise so as to
"enable them to be bent vertically or horizontally at each section and deliver the
blocks of fuel T on to a shoot a which leads to the hatchway the blocks T being
transferred from the hatchway in the usual manner or by a suitably curved shoot b
to the shoot which descends the hold of the vessel to be loaded.
The delivery shoot W may be attached to the elevator frames E at any required
height by means of suitable staples ċ or other contrivances which also serve to hold
on the sections of the side plates X and are fixed to the elevator frames E at
various distances apart. In some cases (see figure 6) I hinge a short length of the
. roller shoot nearest the elevator, frame E to a centre d so that it may be slightly
raised by a catche attached to each elevating shoot V for giving the block T time to
slide off the elevating shoot V on to the delivery shoot W-To the elevator frame E
or delivery shoot W (or otherwise) is attached a switch plate fat such an angle and
position that on the arrival of the blocks T thereat the switch plate f pushes them
off the elevating shoots V on to the delivery shoot W at the proper time-The
elevating shoots V may be made about half the width of the blocks of fuel T so as
to prevent the latter from fouling the switch plate for the end rollers or plate g of
the feeding shoot U (figures 5 and 10) but the end rollers or plate ġ of the feeding
shoot U may be carried upon a lever made preferably of spring steel so that
the whole may be pressed out by the ascending elevator shoots V should these
happen to strike it as they would do in some cases such as when formed with
sides or bucket shaped or when they are as wide as the material to be lifted The
blocks T are held on the plate g by side i and end plates j. (figure 5) or in lieu of
the latter by a suitably curved steel spring or cushion ¹ (figure 10) to receive the
blow of the blocks T which have run down the short feeding shoot U-By this
arrangement each block is successively delivered by the feeding shoot U into a
pocket or receptacle in the framework E of the apparatus by which pocket or
receptacle it is held in the proper position to be picked up either on its side or
endwise (figure 10) by the elevating shoots of buckets V-If desired the elevating

page_text: shoots may be provided with rollers (hgure 3) and may be pivoted (in neu or
being fixed at an angle) to the endless elevating chain C as in figures 5, 6, and 7
which represent respectively the different forms for elevating differently shaped
merchandise that in figure 7 being readily transformed into a bucket by the
addition of sides as shewn in figure 8. These pivoted elevating shoots or buckets V
are tilted by catches e which are fixed to the elevating shoots V and strike against
a plate attached to the delivery shoot W as in figure 5 or otherwise as in figure 7
where the blocks of fuel T striking the switch plate f tilt the elevating shoots V.-
When tilting shoots or buckets are used the side plates X are unnecessary and are
not shewn in figures 6 and 7-Nor is the switch plate f always needed (figure 5).
The elevator drums D may be worked continuously by belts and pullies (figure 10)
or other suitable gearing such as friction clutch gear or they may be actuated by
ratchets m (figure 5) which are worked by two ropes pulled alternately by two
cranks or otherwise so as to give a pause to the elevating shoots V at the proper
moment and allow time for the blocks of fuel T to slide on to the delivery
shoot W.-Figure 9 is a section across the elevator frames E and shews the endless
chain C carried in suitable guides n In figure 10 which represents the most
advantageous arrangement for elevating blocks of patent fuel according to my
invention the block T travels along the auxiliary feeding shoot U₁ on to the short
feeding shoot U down which it runs quickly on to the supporting plate g as shewn
by T¹ where it rests in the pocket or three sided receptacle formed by the elevator
frame E, back plate Y and side plate or spring or in its proper position for being
picked up by the elevating shoots or buckets V by which it is raised and delivered on
to the delivery shoot W-Should the block be taken up on its flat as T' and T³ it
will require a strong push from the switch f (which is of spring steel suitably curved)
but if endwise as T a slight push only to deliver it on to the delivery shoot W and
if endwise as T it will fall over on to the delivery shoot W of its own accord―
Figures 11 and 12 are detail views to an enlarged scale of the elevating shoots or
buckets V shaped as in figure 10 and attached to the endless chain C.
It is to be particularly noted that the shaft G of the elevator drum D is arranged
at right angles or nearly so with the side of the barge A. so that the elevating
shoots or buckets V can receive the blocks of fuel T at the side nearest the fuel
lighter J and deliver them on the side nearest the vessel to be loaded at any
required height without either the feeding shoot U or delivery shoot W obstructing
the descending chain C whereby I am enabled to. pivot two elevators to an
elevator barge at such a distance apart that they may be automatically supplied
with blocks of fuel T placed upon suitable feeding shoots (or on endless bands when
used) by two gangs of men working at a distance apart of about half the length of
the hold of a fuel lighter so that the two gangs do not interfere with each other-
At the same time the elevators B B¹ (figure 1) may converge at the top and deliver
into one hatchway or diverge and deliver into two hatchways at a considerable
distance apart automatically and in such a manner that it is possible if so desired
for one man in the fuel lighter J and one man in the hold to load a vessel with
fuel.
To the elevator frame (figures 5 and 6) is attached a lever o which is moved by
the blocks of fuel T as they are carried up by the endless chain C and works a
suitable counting apparatus p.
The above described apparatus with its modifications for loading into a vessel
may be mounted on a quay wall or on trucks running on rails in lieu of being
placed in a barge A as shewn-Or it may be used for unloading from a vessel in
which case it is placed in the hold and the endless chain C worked off its upper
drum shaft from an engine attached to the elevator frame or on the deck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed it is to be understood
that I lay no claim to the use of endless chains in combination with buckets or
spurs for the purpose of raising fuel and other materials for the loading of vessels
.

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as I am aware that such an arrangement has before been used for that purpose nor
do I claim the use of feeding and delivery shoots but what I do claim is
.
1. In apparatus for loading or unloading vessels with blocks of patent fuel or
other materials the application and use to the ordinary endless elevating chain or
band of inclined and fixed or tilting elevator shoots or buckets in combination with
feeding and delivery shoots whereby the blocks of fuel or other materials being fed
or received into the elevator from one side are automatically raised and delivered
therefrom on the other sideways or across the face of the endless chain or band
at
any required height substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the elevator and with the feeding shoot of a pocket or
receptacle for holding the blocks of fuel or other materials in the proper position
for being successively picked up by the elevating shoots or buckets substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and use with the ascending elevator shoots or buckets of a
switch plate substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and use if desired with the feeding shoot of an endless
feeding band mounted on a jib or frame so as to be radially adjustable to the level
of the fuel lighter substantially as and for the purpose herein beforé described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2
"5. The combination and use if desired with the feeding shoot and with the.
ascending elevator shoots or buckets of a spring lever or support substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
6. Imparting if desired to the endless elevating chain or band an intermittent
motion by means of ratchet gear (or other equivalent device) substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
7. The general combination and arrangement of apparatus whereby two elevators
may be placed in or upon a comparatively small barge so as to be readily worked
by two gangs of men and raised or lowered to any required angle or relative
positions without interfering with each other substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
11
ليمي
*11007