Improvements in Cranes for Loading Coal, Ores, or other Materials into Ships, Trucks, or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1895
F
Co plete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cranes for Loading Coal, Ores, or other Materials
into Ships, Trucks, or the like.
RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER, 32 Victoria Street, Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machines designed for loading coals or the like in cases
where the materials arrive at a high level and have to be lowered at a greater
radius. The object which I have in view is to make use of the energy of the
descending load for working the apparatus to a very considerable extent, so as to
economise power as far as possible, a small steam engine or other apparatus being
applied to make good any deficiency of power, and for the purpose of first starting
the apparatus at the beginning of the hours of working.
For this purpose I employ a tall jib, like the jib of a crane, planted on a founda-
tion plate, or carriage, which may or may not be movable. This jib is tall enough
to give the load when suspended a suitable length of pendulum. The jib head
overhangs the edge of the quay sufficiently to plumb any desired spot. The
amount of overhang may be variable by means of the usual derrick gear fitted to
the back-stays of the jib.
On the foundation plate or carriage I mount a long hydraulic cylinder with a
ram, or plunger, fitted with a double set of the usual multiplying pullies. To the
reverse end of this long cylinder I fix a pair of hydraulic cylinders having a short
stroke, and of sufficiently combined area to lift the load. The ram of each of
these short cylinders carries a single set of multiplying pullies.
The materials to be dealt with are loaded in tubs, or boxes on underframes, and
provided with sprocket trunnions as described in Specification No. 2839 of 1893,
the ends of the load ropes being connected in pairs with two loops of suitable
sprocket chain to carry the trunnions.
I use four load ropes, arranged in pairs over the pullies of one of the short
cylinders, and one set of long cylinder pullies, and the other pair over those of the
other short cylinder and the other set of pullies.
The area of the long ram is such that the descending load is able to force the
water contained in the cylinder into an accumulator weighted to give any con-
venient working pressure. This same pressure when admitted to the two small
cylinders is sufficient to raise the maximum load a short distance, or if into the
long cylinder, to raise the empty tub. All three cylinders are provided with
suitable valves for allowing the water to flow either to or from the accumulator, or
to the exhaust tank. These valves may to some extent be worked automatically
so as to ensure quickness and safety. Thus to lift the load off its underframe, the
two short cylinders are used. To lower the load any required distance, the long
cylinder is opened to the accumulators.
To turn over the tipping tubs, one short cylinder is opened to the exhaust,
allowing one pair of ropes to pay out. To right the tub again, the second short
cylinder is opened to the exhaust, with a like result.
To raise the empty tub, the long cylinder is opened to the accumulator.
To lower away on to the underframe, the long cylinder is opened to the exhaust.
The four load ropes pass through a cradle, fitted with suitable pullies, which is
suspended from the jib head by a light pendulum frame, which is also fitted with
pullies where necessary for the due guidance of the ropes. This cradle is actuated
Price &

page_text: by one or more steel wire ropes, or chains, attached to it, and passed over the
pullies of a small hydraulic cylinder fixed on the jib of the crane, or in any
convenient position. The area of this hydraulic ram is such that as the load
swings out, the plunger forces the water into the accumulator. On the return
stroke, when the tub is empty, the pressure from the accumulator is sufficient to
draw in the cradle and tub, so as to hang over the underframe, or wagon intended
to receive the tub.
The accumulator and pumps may be fixed either on the machine itself, or on any
part of the wharf, or jetty, as may be most convénient.
The crane being pivotted and mounted on wheels is capable of being moved
radially, so as to cause the load to be deposited at any desired spot; this motion
being controlled either by hydraulic or hand power.
I prefer to arrange the road on which the loaded tubs arrive, parallel to the face
of the wharf, so that empties may be removed, and the full tubs brought up with
as little delay as possible. When the available space is limited, I prefer to use
turntables, or traversers, to dispose of the trucks at the end of this road.
When the lateral movement of the crane is desired to be considerable; I also
prefer to curve the road, making the crane pivot the centre of the curve.
As regards the pendulous cradle, I sometimes prefer, instead of hauling direct
on to the hydraulic ram, to interpose a fusee barrel, so arranged that the cradle
ropes impart to the ram ropes a constant, or nearly constant pull.
Dated this 1st day of June 1895.
RICHD. CHRISTOPHER KAFIEK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cranes for Loading Coal, Ores, or other Materials
into Ships, Trucks, or the like.
1, RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER 32 Victoria Street Westminster London,
S.W. 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 ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to machines designed for loading coal or the like in cases
where the materials arrive at a high level and have to be lowered at a greater
radius. The object which I have in view is to make use of the energy of the
descending load to store up water under pressure for working the apparatus
to a very considerable extent so as to economise power as far as possible.
A small steam engine or other apparatus being applied to make good any deficiency
of power and for the purpose of first starting the apparatus at the beginning of the
hours of working.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of the apparatus with the pumps, accumulator, &c.
omitted.
Figure 2. is a plan view of the same apparatus, but with the jib and pendulum
only indicated by centre lines, and the pendulum cylinder removed.
Figure 3. shows an alternative method of controlling the position of the pendulous
member.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in each figure.
For the purpose in view I employ a tall jib, a. like the jib of a crane, planted on
a foundation frame, b. which is mounted on the front roller c. and turns about the
fixed pivot, d.
The jib, a. is tall enough to give the load when suspended a suitable length for
vibration by means of the pendulum, e. The jib head overhangs the edge of the

page_text: quay sufficiently to plumb any desired spot. The amount of overhang being
controlled by means of derrick gear, f. of usual construction.
On the foundation frame b. I mount a long hydraulic cylinder g. with a ram or
plunger fitted with a double set of the usual multiplying pullies h. h. On the
reverse end of the cylinder I fix a pair of cylinders with rams i. i' of short stroke,
and of sufficient combined area to lift the load. Each ram carries a single set of
multiplying pullies k. k¹.
The materials to be dealt with are loaded in tubs, or boxes l. carried on under-
frames with wheels, and provided with sprocket trunnions at each end as described
in Specification No. 2839 of 1893. The end of the load ropes m. m' are connected
in pairs with two loops n. of suitable sprocket chain to carry the trunnions of the
box l.
I prefer to use load ropes or chains, arranged in pairs over the pullies k. of one
of the short cylinders, and one set of the long cylinder pullies h. and the other pair
over the pullies k¹ and h¹ on the other side.
The area of the ram of the cylinder g. is such that the descending load is able to
force the water contained in the cylinder into an accumulator.(not shown on the
drawing) weighted to give any convenient working pressure.
This same pressure when admitted to the two short cylinders i. is sufficient to
raise the maximum load a short distance; or if into the cylinder g. to raise the
empty tub l
All three cylinders are provided with suitable valves of usual construction with
free waterways, for allowing the water to flow either to or from the accumulator,
or to the exhaust tank (not indicated on the drawing).
These valves may with advantage to some extent be worked automatically, so as
to ensure quickness and safety.
Thus to lift the loaded box l. off its underframe, the two cylinders i. are used.
To lower the load any required distance, the cylinder g. is opened to the
accumulator.
To turn over the tipping box l. one short cylinder i. is opened to the exhaust,
allowing one pair of the load ropes m. to pay out.
To right the box l. again, the second short cylinder ¹ is opened to the exhaust
with a like result, re-instating the tub in its upright position.
To raise the empty box, the cylinder g. is opened to the accumulator.
To lower away onto the underframe, the cylinder g. and or the cylinders i. are
opened to the exhaust.
The four load ropes m. m³ pass over pullies o. o¹ o¹¹ mounted at the lower end of
the pendulum frame e. which is also fitted with suitable rollers or pullies spaced so
as to prevent the sag of the ropes when the pendulum is drawn in.
To the lower end of the pendulum e. is attached one or more steel wire ropes or
chains, which are passed over suitable guide pullies and round the pullies of the
hydraulic cylinder p. mounted conveniently on the frame b. or elsewhere. The
area of the ram of this cylinder is such that as the load swings out to dotted
position, Fig. 1, water is forced back into the accumulator during the greater
portion of the stroke. On the return stroke, when the box l. is empty, the accumu-
lator pressure is sufficient to draw the pendulum back so as to hang the box l. over
and deposit it upon the underframe waiting to receive it.
The accumulator and pumps may be of any suitable design, and fixed either on
the machine itself, or on any convenient part of the wharf or jetty.
The levers and valves for working are brought together in the house t. fixed in a
convenient position for the man controlling the movements of the apparatus. The
water is brought from the accumulator through the pipe u. at or near the pivot,
and the return water is led through the pipe v. similarly placed.
The frame b. is mounted on the wheels c. travelling on a radial track, and is
pivotted at the back on the pivot d. so that the jib a. and the pendulum e. can be
brought over any desired sput. This lateral motion is controlled either by hydraulic
or hand gear of ordinary construction.

page_text: I prefer to arrange the road on which the loaded. tubs or boxes arrive, parallel,
or nearly so, to the face of the quay, so that empties may be removed, and full tubs
brought up with as little delay as possible. When the space is limited I prefer to
use automatic return turntables g. 9' or traversers, to handle the truck quickly at
the ends of the road l.
When the radial or lateral movement of the crane is desired to be considerable,
I prefer to curve the road making the crane pivot the centre of the curve.
The turntables q. q¹ I prefer to construct so as to be self-righting when the load
is removed, and self-turning when the load is on; the roads r. s. being used
respectively for the arrival of the full tubs and the departure of the empties; the
gradients being arranged so as to help the forward motion of the tubs.
As regards the controlling of the movements of the pendulum, e. I sometimes
prefer, instead of hauling direct, to interpose a fusee barrel, so arranged that the
pendulum ropes impart to the ram ropes a constant, or nearly constant, pull.
Figure 3. shows a convenient method of obtaining this result. The hauling ram
ropes, w. are wound on the cylindrical portion of the barrel, c. which is mounted
conveniently at the foot of the jib. The ropes, y. controlling the pendulous
member, e. are wound on a spiral groove, or fusee, formed at each end of the
barrel, a. Thus as the hauling ropes, w. are paid out, the ratio between their speed
and that of the ropes, y. is constantly changing in proportion to the tension in them.
Thus a constant, or nearly constant, pressure on the hauling ram is obtained. The
pendulum ropes, y. are shown leading off the small part of the fusee corresponding
to the pulled in position of the pendulum. When the pendulum is vertical the
ropes are on the large part of the fusee, as shown in the dotted lines, y.
It is obvious that I can somewhat further modify my apparatus without
departing from the nature of the said invention. For instance, the foundation
frame, b. may be a fixture, or mounted on wheels so as to be capable of either or
both travelling parallel to, or at right angles to the face of the quay, or it may be
constructed so as to turn partly, or completely round on its axis. The necessary
margin of power required from time to time may be derived fro ma hydraulic main,
instead of separate engines and pumps. The load may be lifted at a greater radius,
and deposited at a lesser one.
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. An apparatus for the purpose of lifting loads through a small distance,
swinging them out, lowering, tipping, and returning the empty tub, box, or cradle,
to its original position by means of hydraulic gear in such a manner as that the
energy of the descending load is utilised for the various motions to be performed,
with or without a supplemental supply of power, substantially as herein before
.described.
2. An apparatus consisting of the combination of a radiating framework, with
jib, and pendulous member, with, or without derrick gear, a hydraulic cylinder,
with multiplying pullies in conjunction with two other cylinders and pullies; a
hauling-in cylinder and gear, with, or without a fusee barrel, two pairs of ropes, or
chains, with two loops of sprocket chain; tipping tub boxes or cradles with
sprocket wheel attachments; controlling levers and valves, arranged so as to be
partly automatic, an accumulator, with or without auxiliary pumps, engine and
boiler, an approach and departure road, with, or without automatic turntables, or
-traversers substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Third day of March 1896.
RICHARD CHRISTOPHER RAPIER.