An Improved Apparatus for Loading and Trimming Coal, Grain, and similar Bulk Cargo in Ships' Holds.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 14th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
An Improved Apparatus for Loading and Trimming Coal, Grain,
and similar Bulk Cargo in Ships' Holds.
I, JAMES GIBSON, of Brookstown, Wallsend, in the Colony of New South Wales,
Colliery Deputy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to apparatus for loading coal, coke, ore, grain and similar
bulk cargo into ships' holds, and for trimming the cargo so. loaded. It has for
its object to expedite the loading and to reduce the cost of trimming, and also in
case of coal and coke to diminish breakage and reduce the proportion of dust
usually produced in loading the same or loaded in therewith.
My apparatus consists of a vertical trunk made in sections, and provided with
trap, side discharging doors, distributing shoots extending therefrom. and (when
necessary) dust collector.
Referring to the annexed sheet of explanatory drawings, Fig. 1 represents a
side view of my apparatus showing all the doors open and also showing shoot
heads in position at the bottom doors; Fig. 2 a perspective side view showing only
the middle doors open; Fig. 3 perspective view of the trap; Fig. 4 transverse
section through same, the dotted lines showing the carrying position and the full
lines the tipping position; Fig. 5 a fragment section through the apparatus
showing the various parts in the discharging position; Fig. 6 fragment section
illustrating one form of latching device for the trap; and Fig. 7 is illustrative of
the device used for operating the two trap latches by means of one lever.
The main part of the apparatus consists of a rectangular vertical trunk 1 formed
in three sections A, B and C which are bolted together by means of hinge bolts
or other convenient fastenings taking on to flanges 2 formed by angle iron of
adequate dimensions which is fitted to the upper and lower ends of the sections A
and B, to the lower part of the hopper 3 and to the upper and lower ends of the
sections A and B, to the lower part of the hopper 3 and to the upper end of
section C. The trunk may however be formed in two or in four or five sections
according to the depth of hold for which it is required. Doors 4 are fitted in the
two opposite sides of each section. These doors should be the full width of the
trunk and from 4 to 6 feet high. They are hinged at 5 in a substantial manner
to the trunk and are also provided with latches 6 of adequate dimensions. They
are made double, that is to say, they swing outwards from the centre to open and
swing inwards towards centre to close.

page_text: Each door is made in two portions, the lower one D being made capable of
hinging independently on the main portion 4. Buttons 7 are provided at the
feet of each door 4 to hold these lower portions 1) closed. At the foot of each door-
way a flange 8 is fitted. This flange serves to reinforce the trunk. It has holes 9
bored through it to receive loose bolts which secure the shoot heads 10 in position.
These shoot heads are provided with side boards 11 and may have also dividing
wings 12, and their outer ends are bored to receive bolts which fasten the shoot
heads on to them. The shoots may be straight or curved, they are adapted to
receive coal or other material which passes down the shoot heads 10 and direct it
to any part of the hold to which their lower ends are carried.
The shoot heads 10 are slid into position as shown in Fig. 2 and fastened thero
by loose bolts dropped through the holes 13 which coincide in position with the
holes 9 in the flange 8.
The shoot heads cannot be fitted in or taken out whilst the lower parts 1) of the
doors are closed. If the buttons 7 are released, the upper portions 4 of the doors
may however be closed in order to prevent material passing on to the shoots, this
arrangement being convenient when it is required to load from only one side of
the trunk. The inner ends E of the shoot heads are slipped in below transom
bolts 14 which are passed through the holes 15 in the ends of the trunk at each
stage. The weight of the outer end of the shoot heads and the weight of the
shoots superimposed thereon causes the inner ends of the shoot heads, to bear up
against the transom bolts 14. The trap 16 consists of two leaves F and G hingei
to one another at 17, the pintle 18 being longer than the leaves and extended at
the ends to run in the slots 19 in the two ends of the trunk. The angle irons
which joint the sections of the trunk at their ends are cut or joggled out whoro
they pass over these slots to clear the ends of the pintles 18; but if the trunk be
mate of substantial dimensions as it should be, the thickness of the ends of the
slots will provide sufficient bearing for the ends of the pintles 18, and it will not
be necessary to interfere with the angle iron binding.
20 are chock pieces fitted as shown to the two leaves of the trap for the purpose
of preventing the leaves opening backward past the horizontal. The trap is
carried by two wire ropes or chains 21, fastened in the eye bolts 22 near the outer
sides of the leaves. 23 is a whip (to a winch) to which the ends of the chains or
ropes 21 are secured through a ring or shakle. Latching chocks are provided to
hold the trap at the head of the trunk. These chocks consist of a pair of latches 24
mounted on the exterior of the trunk and having their carrying ends passing into
the trunk through slots in the sides thereof. When the trap is heaved up it
passes these latch chocks and is held in an approximately horizontal position by
them and by the pintle ends 18 which come into contact with the top ends of the
slots 19. There is a little play allowed, just sufficient to permit the trap to be
drawn past the latches so that they may close beneath it.
In Fig. 6 a contrivance is shown for operating the two latches 24 from a single
lever. 25 is a spring which presses in the latch so that it shall engage with the
trap. 26 is a tappet arm acting in the cup or equivalent part 27 of the latch 24.
The tappet arm 26 is mounted on a shaft 28 carried in hearings 29. This
shaft 28 is carried along past the end of the trunk and there fitted with a cranked
lever 30, to which the hand line 31 is secured. On the other side of the trunk a
corresponding shaft 28 is provided with a crank arm, the end of which is con-
nected by a rod to an intermediate point 33 of the lever 30. When the line 31
is drawn in the direction indicated by the arrow, both shafts 28 are operated to
draw back the latches 24 and so release the support below the trap leaving it to
be lowered away by the whip 23 which passes over a block overhead. The trap
is capable of sliding freely in the trunk. 34 is a standing stage adapted to be
fixed near the bottom end of each section of the trunk and suitably supported
there. It provides a foot hold for a workman, who may be engaged in looking
after the doors or other part of the apparatus near thereto. The latch chocks
shown in perspective in Figs. 1 and 2 do not agree in construction with the latch

page_text: chocks shown in Fig. 6. The latter is the preferred construction. It is clear
however that the detail of this part is or secondary moment as several forms of
latches or chocks might be devised equally suitable for the purpose. The dimen-
sions of the trunk may vary; they should be made by preference such that each
charge sent down will not occupy a depth of more than 6 or 7 feet.
The mode of operation is as tollows:-
-
The trap being drawn up to the top of the trunk and temporarily held by the
latches 24, a charge is dropped into the hopper 3, the latches 24 being now
released by pulling on the line 31, the whip 23 is lowered away and the trap and
its burden descends by gravity. Upon coming in contact with the transom
bolts 14 the trap becomes supported near its middle by these bolts and the two
leaves fall into the position shown in Fig. 5. Meantime the coal or other material
carried by the trap has fallen off same through the opened doors and thence passes
along the shoot heads and shoots to the destination in the hold to which the shoots
are laid.
The opening down of the two leaves in the way indicated serves to dis-.
charge the last of the charge. After a charge is passed down the shoots, the
whip 23 is again drawn on and the trap is moved up to the top of the trunk and
is engaged by the latches 24 in readiness to receive another charge.
When coal is being loaded, a large portion of the dust of the fine coal falls down
between edges of the trap and sides of the trunk and is collected in the dust box 35.
The catching of this dust is an important feature as it minimises the risk of acci-
dent to cargoes. The dust box, need not be provided, unless the apparatus is to
be used for the loading of coal.
In loading the hold the shoots are arranged so that the last part of the hold to
be loaded will be the part directly below the hatch. The shootheads are first
fitted in the openings in the lower section C, and the shoots leading therefrom
are carried away, (being curved, when necessary) to deliver the cargo in a heap
as far as possible from the trunk and as high as is practicable without burying
the dust box. The shoot heads are then removed to the second openings in
section B,that is, as shown in Figure 2, the doors in sections A and C being closed.
Loading is again proceeded with here, as large a quantity of cargo being put into
the hold as the shoots will carry away from the shoot heads, care being taken, as
before, not to bury the dust box 35.
Finally the shoot heads are fitted to the top section A, the doors of B and C
being closed, and loading proceeded with as before. Then section A is unbolted
and taken away and the flange or the lower end of the hopper 3 fastened to the
flange at tlie upper end of section B. The trunk is then drawn up the length of
one section (A) which has been removed, and the shoot heads and shoots fitted to
the doors of section C. Loading is now proceeded with until the coal comes up
to the dust box 35. The shoot heads and also the shoots are now fitted to section B
and the doors on section C closed, and the loading proceeded with as before. At
the last stage of the loading, section 13 is taken off and section C bolted up to the
hopper, and the loading completed through the doors of section C. The trunk
is carried by chain slings in the upper works of the vessel or to her spars and it
may of course be moved about from side to side of the hatches as may be dictatel
by convenience.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Loading and Trimming Coal, Grain,
and similar Bulk Cargo in Ships' Holds.
I, JAMES GIBSON, of Brookstown, Wallsend, in the Colony of New South Wales,
Colliery Deputy, 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 : —
This invention relates to apparatus for loading coal, coke, ore, grain, and similar
bulk cargo into ships' holds, and for trimming the cargo so loaded. It has for
its object to expedite the loading and to reduce the cost of trimming, and also in
the case of coal and coke to diminish breakage and reduce the proportion of dust
usually produced in loading the same or loaded in therewith.
My apparatus consists of a vertical trunk made in sections, and provided with
trap, side discharging doors, distributing shoots extending therefrom, and (when
necessary) dust collector.
Referring to the sheet of explanatory drawings filed with my Provisional
Specification Fig. 1 represents a side view of my apparatus shewing all the doors
open and also shewing shoot heads in position at the bottom doors; Fig. 2 a per-
spective side view showing only the middle doors open; Fig. 3 perspective view
of the trap: Fig. 4 transverse section through same, the dotted lines shewing the
carrying position and the full lines the tipping position; Fig. 5 a fragment sec-
tion through the apparatus shewing the various parts in the discharging position
Fig. 6 fragment section illustrating one form of latching device for the trap;
and Fig. 7 is illustrative of the device used for operating the two trap latches by
means of one lever.
The main part of the apparatus consists of a rectangular vertical trunk 1 formed
in three sections A, B and C which are bolted together by means of hinge bolts
or other convenient fastenings taking on to flanges 2 formed by angle iron of
adequate dimensions which is fitted to the upper and lower ends of the sections A
and B, to the lower part of the hopper 3 and to the upper end of
section C. The trunk may however, be formed in two or in four or five sections
according to the depth of hold for which it is required. Doors 4 are fitted in the
two opposite sides of each section. These doors should be the full width of the
trunk and from 4 to 6 feet high. They are hinged at 5 in a substantial manner
to the trunk and are also provided with latches 6 of adequate dimensions. They
are made double, that is to say, they swing outwards from the centre to open and
.swing inwards towards centre to close.
Each door is made in two portions, the lower one D being made capable of
hinging independently on the main portion 4. Buttons 7 are provided at the
feet of each door 4 to hold these lower portions D closed. At the foot of each door-
way a flange 8 is fitted. This flange serves to reinforce the trunk. It has holes 9
bored through it to receive loose bolts which secure the shoot heads 10 in position.
These shoot heads are provided with side boards 11 and may have also dividing
wings 12, and their outer ends are bored to receive bolts which fasten the shoot
heads on to them. The shoots may be straight or curved, they are adapted to
receive coal or other material which passes down the shoot heads 10 and direct it
to any part of the hold to which their lower ends are carried.
The shoot heads 10 are slid into position as shewn in Fig. 2 and fastened there
by loose bolts dropped through the holes 13 which coincide in position with the
holes in the flange 8.
The shoot heads cannot be fitted in or taken out whilst the lower parts D) of the
doors are closed. If the buttons 7 are released, the upper portions 4 of the doors

page_text: may however be closed in order to prevent material passing on to the shoots, this
arrangement being convenient when it is required to load from only one side of
the trunk. The inner ends E of the shoot heads are slipped in below transom
bolts 14 which are passed through the holes 15 in the ends of the trunk at each
stage. The weight of the outer end of the shoot heads and the weight of the
shoots superimposed thereon causes the inner ends of the shoot heads to bear up
against the transom bolts 14. The trap 16 consists of two leaves F and G hinged
to one another at 17, the pintle 18 being longer than the leaves and extended at
the ends to run in the slots 19 in the two ends of the trunk. The angle irons
which joint the sections of the trunk at their ends are cut or joggled out where
they pass over these slots to clear the ends of the pintles 18; but if the trunk be
made of substantial dimensious, as it should be, the thickness of the ends of the
slots will provide sufficient bearing for the ends of the pintles 18, and it will not
be necessary to interfere with the angle iron binding.
20 are chock pieces fitted as shewn to the two leaves of the trap for the purpose
of preventing the leaves opening backward past the horizontal. The trap is
carried by two wire ropes or chains 21. fastened in the eye bolts 22 near the outer
sides of the leaves. 23 is a whip (to a winch) to which the ends of the chains or
ropes 21 are secured through a ring or shakle. Latching chocks are provided to
hold the trap at the head of the trunk. These chocks consist of a pair of latches 24
mounted on the exterior of the trunk and having their carrying ends passing into
the trunk through slots in the sides thereof. When the trap is heaved up it
passes these latch chocks and is held in an approximately horizontal position by
them and by the pintle ends 18 which come into contact with the top ends of the
slots 19. There is a little play allowed, just sufficient to permit the trap to be
drawn past the latches so that they may close beneath it.
In Fig. 6 a contrivance is shewn for operating the two latches 24 from a single
lever. 25 is a spring which presses in the latch so that it shall engage with the
trap. 26 is a tappet arm acting in the cup or equivalent part 27 of the latch 24.
The tappet arm 20 is mounted on a shaft 28 carried in bearings 29. This
shaft 28 is carried along past the end of the trunk and there fitted with a cranked
lever 30, to which the hand line 31 is secured. On the other side of the trunk a
corresponding shaft 28 is provided with a crank arm, the end of which is con-
When the line 31
nected by a rod to an intermediate point 33 of the lever 30.
is drawn in the direction indicated by the arrow, both shafts 28 are operated to
draw back the latches 24 and so release the support below the trap leaving it to
be lowered away by the whip 23 which passes over a block overhead. The trap
is capable of sliding freely in the trunk. 34 is a standing stage adapted to be
fixed near the bottom end of each section of the trunk and suitably supported
there. It provides a foot hold for a workman, who may be engaged in looking
after the doors or other part of the apparatus near thereto. The latch chocks
shewn in perspective in Figs. 1 and 2 do not agrec in construction with the latch
chocks shewn in Fig. 6. The latter is the preferred construction. It is clear
however that the detail of this part is of secondary moment as several forms of
latches or chocks might be devised equally suitable for the purpose. The dimen
sions of the trunk may vary; they should be made by preference such that each
charge sent down will not occupy a depth of more than 6 or 7 feet.
The mode of operation is as follows;-
The trap being drawn up to the top of the trunk and temporarily held by the
latches 24, a charge is dropped into the hopper 3, the latches 24 being now
released by pulling on the line 31, the whip 23 is lowered away and the trap and
its burden descends by gravity. Upon coming in contact with the transom
bolts 14 the trap becomes supported near its middle by these bolts and the two
leaves fall into the position shown in Fig. 5. Meantime the coal or other material
carried by the trap has fallen off same through the opened doors and thence passes
along the shoot heads and shoots to the destination in the hold to which the shoots
are laid. The opening down of the two leaves in the way indicated serves to dis-

page_text: charge the last of the charge. After a charge is passed down the shoots, the
whip 23 is again drawn on and the trap is moved up to the top of the trunk and
is engaged by the latchos 24 in readiness to receive another charge.
When coal is being loaded, a large portion of the dust of the fine coal falls down
between edges of the trap and sides of the trunk and is collected in the dust box 35.
The catching of this dust is an important feature as it minimises the risk of acci-
dent to cargoes. The dust box need not be provided unless the apparatus is to
be used for the loading of coal.
In loading the hold the shoots are arranged so that the last part of the hold to
be loaded will be the part directly below the hatch. The shootheads are first
fitted to the openings in the lower section C and the shoots leading therefrom
are carried away, (being curved, when necessary) to deliver the cargo in a heap
as far as possible from the trunk and as high as is practicable without burying
the dust box. The shoot heads are then removed to the second openings in
section B, that is, as shewn in Fig. 2, the doors in sections A and U being closed.
Loading is again proceeded with here, as large a quantity of cargo being put into
the hold as the shoots will carry away from the shoot heads, care being taken as
before, not to bury the dust box 35.
Finally the shoot heads are fitted to the top section A, the doors of Band C
being closed, and loading proceeded with as before. Then section A is unbolted.
and taken away and the Hange on the lower end of the hopper 3 fastened to the
Hange at the upper end of section B. The trunk is then drawn up the length of
one section (A) which has been removed, and the shoot heads and shoots fitted to
the doors of section C. Loading now proceeded with until the coal comes up
to the dust box 35. The shoot heads and also the shoots are now fitted to section B
and the doors on section C closed, and the loading proceeded with as before. At
the last stage of the loading, section 13 is taken off and section C bolted up to the
hopper, and the loading completed through the doors of section C. The trunk
is carried by chain slings in the upper works of the vessel or to her spars and it
may of course be moved about from side to side of the hatches as may be dictated
by convenience.
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. Apparatus for the purposes set forth consisting essentially of a vertical
trunk adapted to discharge bulk cargo into shoots at various levels and having a
trap movable vertically in it for lowering charges to the shoot doors, substantially
as described.
2. Apparatus for the purposes set forth consisting of a vertical trunk in two or
more separable sections, a trap movable vertically therein, doors at various levels
in the sides of the trunk, and shoots leading from said doors, substantially as
described.
3. In apparatus for the purposes set forth, the combination with the vertical
trunk of a dust box such as 35 in the lower end thereof, for the purpose of collect-
ing coal dust, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for the purposes set forth, a trap 16 consisting of two hinged
leaves and G incapable of folding back past the horizontal and guided by its
pintle ends 18 which more in the slots 19 in the trunk, in combination with
lines 21 and 23, transom bolts 14 and shoot heads 10, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for the purposes set forth, the combination of hopper 3, trunk 1
in separable sections, doors 4, trap 16, transom bolts 14, and -shoot heads 10, sub-
stantially as described.
.
6. In apparatus substantially as herein described, doors divided horizontally to
allow closure of openings without necessitating removal of the shoot heads, sub-
stantially as described."
B
7. The combination with the vertical trunk 1 and trap 16 movable therein, of

page_text: automatic latches such as 24 to support said trap during the filling of the hopper,
substantially as described.
8. In apparatus substantially as herein described, the combination with shoot
heads such as 10, of flanges 8 and transom bolts 14 for readily supporting and
securing said shoot heads in position, substantially as described...
DORT Aure to
ARD IS SITTE ODE
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.