IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING AND DISCHARGING. CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
LAIRD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, and EDWARD
ALFRED COWPER, of Handsworth, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of
November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the fourteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Laird and Edward Alfred Cowper, our exors, admors, and
assigns, Her special license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we,
the said William Laird and Edward Alfred Cowper, our exors, adññiors, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Laird and Edward Alfred
Cowper, our exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING AND DISCHARGING. CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF

page_text: CARGO IN SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH VES-
SELS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that we, the said
William Laird and Edward Alfred Cowper, or one of us, shall cause a parti-
cular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed; by. an instrument under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Laird and Edward Alfred Cowper, do hereby declare that the nature
of our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed,
are fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates to various improvements in machinery or apparatus
for loading and discharging into ships or other vessels coal and other descrip-
tions of loose cargo which are shipped in bulk, and also for loading and
discharging hogsheads, bales of cotton, bundles, boxes, and other descriptions
of cargo which are packed in cases or formed into packages, or are other-
wise of such a nature as to be capable of being readily slung by a rope
or chain.
Our Invention also relates to improvements in the construction of vessels
for conveying coal and other cargoes. In loading coal into ships it is required
to avoid as much as possible breaking the coal. One method which is much
employed consists in lowering a waggon full of coal on the deck of the ship,
and opening a trap in the bottom of the wagon to allow the coal to drop
down the hatchway into the hold. By this method a considerable quantity
of coal is broken ap and reduced to powder. One of the objects of our
Invention is to avoid this loss. The coal which has thus been dropped.is
then shovelled along the hold by hand, which operation is generally called
trimming," and requires a considerable time, besides breaking the coal and
being a laborious operation. Our Invention is also intended to save labour in
this part of the operation.
Sheet I., Figure 1, is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section,
of one of our improved arrangements of machinery for lowering the coal into
the hold so as to diminish the breakage which is caused by dropping the coal.
A is an inclined shoot or hopper, down which the coal is allowed to slide,

page_text: its quantity being regulated by the slides a, a, a. B is an endless chain
of buckets made of strong sheet. iron, and passing over two hexagonal
drums C and D at the top and bottom. The chain passes down the hatch-
way into the hold of the ship, and is enclosed in a case or trunk F, provided
with a spout G, at the lower-part. Figure 3 is a side view of the chain of
buckets, with the side of the trunk removed. As the coal slides down the
shoot A it falls into the buckets which descend, and, in passing round the
lower drum D, allow the coal to fall out of the spout G. One or both of the
drums C and D) is provided with a break wheel on its axis similar to the
break wheel of a crane, by means of which the velocity may be regulated.
By making one or both of the bearings of the drum of rather large diameter
the velocity may be regulated by merely tightening the bearing, and the break
wheel may then be dispensed with. The coal, as it leaves the spout G, may
either fall upon the floor and be trimmed in the usual manner, or it may be
received into barrows and wheeled to its place in the hold, or it may be
received by another portion of our improved machinery, herein-after described,
by which it is conveyed along the hold. An endless chain with curved buckets
is shewn in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet II., in which the same letters refer to
similar parts. E, E, are intermediate guide rollers.
Sheet I., Figure 6, represents a vertical section, and Figure 7 a plan partly
in section, of another arrangement. A is a hopper containing the coal, and
provided with two slides a, a'. B is an endless chain passing round the
drums C and D, and carrying a series of blades or paddles in place of buckets,
and guided by one or more intermediate drums E, E; or, in place of the
drums E, a flat plate or partition may be fixed behind the chain to serve as a
guide. F is a case or trunk, furnished at bottom with two spouts G and G¹.
In this arrangement the chain is capable of working in either direction, and
of delivering the load at either spout G or G. The direction is determined
by starting it in the first instance, either by hand or by opening the cor-
responding slide a or a¹. The velocity is regulated as in the first machine
above described. The coal, in place of being lowered in buckets, is contained
between the trunk F and the endless chain and blades B. In these Figures
we have shewn an additional apparatus for carrying the coal along the hold.
His an endless web passing round the two drums I and J, and over the
intermediate rollers K, K, supported by trestles L. The supports M, N,
which carry the drums I and J, rest upon the floor, and are secured by means
ropes and blocks at each end so as to keep the endless web I sufficiently
stretched. This web is made of several short lengths of strong sacking or
of

page_text: canvass similar to that of which coal sacks are made; or it may be made of
iron wire linked together like a coat of mail, or of iron plates connected by
hinges, or in any other suitable manuer. The separate lengths are so con-
nected that each length is capable of being readily removed when required.
Figure 8 shews one method of effecting this object. is the sacking. cisa
piece of sheet iron bent round and rivetted or strongly sewa to the sacking b.
Several apertures d, d, are cut in the piece of iron before it is bent up, and
another similar piece of iron e is prepared, in which the apertures f. f,
alternate with those in c. These two pieces cand e being placed' together,
and a ping passed through them, form a hinge which can readily be separated
by withdrawing the ping. The two pieces c and'e are attached respectively
to the two ends of each length of sacking, so that a length may be easily
added to or subtracted from the web as required. The web is set in motion
by means of a winch on the axis of the drum I, or by means of a pulley on
that axis driven by a band or cord passing up the hatchway. This band or
cord may be driven by a steam engine on the quay, or by the men working at
the capstan of the ship, or in any other convenient manner. Where the
height through which the coal has to descend is sufficient to produce the
requisite amount of power the endless web H may be driven by connecting the
drum I with the drum D by means of a band or gearing, so that the weight
of the descending coal may save us the motive power for producing, or
assisting in producing, the horizontal motion. The coal will thus be rapidly
conveyed from the hopper A down the vertical trunk, and along the horizontal
web, until it falls over the drum Y, where it may either fall at once on the
floor of the ship, or may be received into barrows if preferred. As the hold
becomes filled up, it will be necessary to shorten the endless web H. This is
effected by first stopping the supply of coal, either by stopping the vertical
chain B, or by closing the slides a, a¹, or by ceasing to replenish the hopper A.
The web H is kept in motion until it is free from coal, and the ropes which
secure the support N are then slackened, and one or more lengths of the
web H are removed, and the two ends again united. At the same time one
or more of the rollers K, K, is lifted out of its place, and its trestle L removed.
The support N is brought nearer to the trunk F to accomodate the reduced
length of the web, and it is secured as before by the ropes and blocks. The
machinery is now again set in motion. The shortening of the web is repeated
as often as necessary until the first end of the hold is fitted, and the horizonta!
apparatus is then placed on the opposite side of the vertical chain B, which is
then started in the opposite direction, so as to convey the coal to the opposite

page_text: end of the hold. When the cargo has been thus introduced the whole
apparatus is removed, a crane or other contrivancé being provided on the
quay for that purpose. The hopper A is of considerable size, so that a waggon
full of coal may be dropped into it at once, the waggon being brought over it
by any of the apparatus heretofore employed for bringing waggons over the
hatchways of vessels; or the coal may be supplied by an inclined shoot, as
represented in Figure 1, reaching from a hopper or coal bin on the quay, or
in any other convenient manner.
Sheet III., Figure 9, is an elevation, and Figure 10 an end view, of
another of our improved arrangements of machinery. A is the hopper; F, the
trunk; and E, the horizontal endless web. Two apertures or sponts are
formed on opposite sides at G and G1, and are closed by slides a,a'. The
bottom of the trunk inclines both ways, as shewn by the dotted lines i, i,
in Figures 9 to facilitate the exit of the coal. The endless web H is formed
of narrow plates of iron hinged together, and passing round the two drums
I and J, and over the intermediate rollers K, K. It is made in lengths which
may be easily detached. The rollers K, K, are mounted in frames L, L,
whose length corresponds with that of the separate lengths of web. The
frames are connected together at their ends and are suspended by chains P,P,
to hooks fixed in the deck beams of the ship. To prevent the necessity of
screwing hooks or boring holes in the deck beams the clamps Q, Q. may
be employed, and the chains P suspended to them. The lower side of the
endless web is supported by small rollers not shewn in the Drawing but placed
beneath the endless web and suspended from the frames L, L. R is a pulley
fixed on the axis of the drum I, and driven by a band or rope $ passing
round it and over the two pulleys T, T, to a pulley driven by a steam engine
on the quay, or to any other convenient source of power.
In this arrange-
ment it will be seen that the vertical endless chain is dispensed with. The
hopper A is filled with coal which falls into and fills the trunk F, resting on
the bottom i,i. The slide a is now raised and a portion of the coal runs out
through the opening G, forming a sloping heap on the endless web. This
heap prevents any more coal from descending. The endless web H is now set
in motion and carries this heap of coal forward. More coal immediately
descends to supply its place, and thus the endless web carries forward a.
regular layer of coal, whose thickness depends on the height to which the
slide a is raised. The flow of coal is arrested at any time either by closing the
slide a or by arresting the motion of the endless web, which is shortened when
necessary by removing one or more of the frames L, and one or more of the
lengths of web, and again uniting the ends in a similar manner to that

page_text: already herein-before described. The height at which it is placed in, the
vessel is easily adjusted by the chins P, and the height of the trunk F may
also be adjusted by supporting it from above, or by allowing it to rest upon
legs whose length is capable of being varied by means of a rack and pinion, or
a screw. By this.means in place of filling up the extreme end of the hold first,
the machinery may be employed in the following,manner :-It is first fixed at
a small distance above the floor, and the coal is caused to fall over the sides of
the endless web at different places by placing a board diagonally across the
web. This board may be fixed to the frames L, or it may be held by the
workmen, and by shifting it into different positions, the coal may be caused
to form a nearly uniform layer on the floor. When the layer has risen to the
level of the endless web, the frames L are all raised by shortening the
chains P, and the trunk Fis also raised at the same time. Another layer of
coal is then introduced, and so on until the first part of the hold is filled.
The second part is then filled in a similar manner, the slide a being closed,
and a¹ opened, and the position and motion of the endless web being reversed.
Thus if the coal.is not materially injured by falling half the depth of the hold,
it will be sufficient to fix the machinery twice at different levels for each half
of the hold, and it will not be necessary to shorten the endless web during the
operation. The raising and lowering of the trunk F may be facilitated by
making it telescopic, as herein-after described with references to Figures 11
and 12.
Figure 11, Sheet III., is an elevation, and Figure 12 a transverse vertical
section, of another and different arrangement of machinery. A is the hopper
and F the trunk, but the lower part F' of the trunk is of larger diameter than
the upper part, and capable of being raised and lowered independently of the
upper part. G is the spout, the mouth of which a turns upon a hinge at k
and is provided with a balance weight. By raising the mouth a the flow of
coal is stopped, or in place of the moveable mouth aa slide may be employed
U is a box which is suspended by chains m, n, and the hook p to the pulley
or wheel V, which runs upon a rail W, supported by brackets X, bolted,
clamped, or otherwise fixed to the deck beams. The hopper A, and trunk F, F
are kept full of coal, which falls out at the mouth a into the box U, and as
soon as this box is full the workman pushes another into its place, and pushes
or pulls the full box along until it arrives at its destination, where he emptiesi
by tipping it up or by withdrawing a catch s, which lets go one of the chains
and discharges the coal. The box being suspended from the wheel V, is
easily pushed along in the manner described. The railway W is carried along
on each side of the hatchway, and the two lines are united at the ends by a

page_text: semicircular or curved rail, so that the boxes may return by one rail while
others advance along the first rail. The trunk F' may be provided with two
spouts at opposite sides, so that the boxes may be filled twice in passing com-
pletely round the railway. This suspended railway may be made moveable
and removed when the cargo has been introduced; or it may be permanently
fixed in the ship, and will be found very useful both for loading and dis-
charging cargo. In employing this machinery for discharging coal and
similar loose cargoes, the hopper A and trunk F, F 1, are removed, and the
boxes U are filled and conveyed by means of the railway to the hatchway
where they are raised by means of a crane or similar contrivance, or" whipped"
out by men, in the manner commonly practised in discharging colliers in the
Port of London. The coal may be loaded into the ship in a similar manner
by filling the boxes on the quay, and lowering them by a crane into the hold,
attaching them to the wheels V by the looks p, and conveying them along
the hold as before. This method is particularly applicable with our improved
vessels herein-after described.
We have hitherto described our improvements as applicable to the loading
of coal, but it is evident that they are also applicable to grain when carried
loose, also to iron stone, dry clay, chalk, and many other similar descriptions
of cargo. The suspended railway is not only applicable for loading, but also
for discharging cargo, and may be used with advantage for a great variety of
cargoes. Thus, in Figure 13, Sheet I., we have shown a method of employing
it for conveying casks, bales of cotton, boxes, bundles, packing cases, or any
similar articles which can be slung to the wheel V.. In this Figure, V is the.
wheel, and t is a lever suspended by the chain u to the hook or carriage p.
To one end of the lever are attached the chains m, m, by which the cask Z is
suspended, and the workman depresses the other end of the lever so as to
raise the cask, and he then pushes or pulls the whole along the railway. The
weight may, if preferred, be suspended between the workman and the chain u,
and he will then raise the weight by elevating his end of the lever instead of
by depressing it. The arrangementis applicable both in loading and discharg
ing cargo. The railway being suspended to the deck beams presents great
advantages, as it is out of the way; it does not interfere with the arrangement
of the cargo on the floor or deck, and admits of being used after the whole
of the floor is covered with cargo:,
Our improvements in vessels are particularly applicable to boats or barges
used for conveying coal, but may also be used for vessels for conveying various
other descriptions of cargo. They consist in forming the boat of a series of

page_text: separate boxes or chambers inclosed in a frame, which is supported by a
buoyant chamber or caisson at each end. The outer sides of the boxes form
themselves into the shape of a boat, and each box has sufficient buoyancy to
support a certain proportion of the cargo.
Figure 14, Sheet IV., is an elevation, Figure 15 a plan, and Figure 16
a horizontal section of one of our improved yessels. Figure 1.7 represents an
end view of half the vessel, and a section of the other half. Figure 18 is a
section, shewing an end view of one of the boxes, and a section of another.
A is a watertight chamber or cabin at the head of the vessel, and B is a
corresponding one at the stern; these chambers are connected by three,
girders C, D, and E, which are united by cross frames F at intervals. These
parts are made of iron plates and angle-irons rivetted together; and the two
outer girders C and E are further strengthened by a strong piece of timber
firmly secured to them. The spaces between the girders are fitted with two
rows of boxes or chambers G, G, which are also made of iron plates and
angle-irons rivetted together. These boxes are provided with angle-iron
flanges H, H, at the top, which rest upon the girders. They are also partially
supported at bottom by the girder 1), which is made wider at the bottom for
that purpose, and forms a keel for protecting the boxes when the vessel
takes the ground. I, I, are buttons which rest upon the flanges H, and thus
prevent the boxes from floating up when empty or lightly loaded. These
button's are shewn on a larger scale in Figure 19. The angle-irons in the
corners of the boxes are formed into eyes, as shewn at K in this Figure, for
the purpose of receiving the hooks or slings L, which are used for lifting the
boxes. The boxes G being all in their places, and secured by the buttons,
the compound vessel thus formed is filled with coal in the ordinary manner
and conveyed to its destination. Instead of shovelling the coal on to stages
or into barrows when it is required to remove it from the boat, each box G
is lifted by a crane or similar apparatus, and lowered on the quay or into a
waggon, or into the hold of a ship or other place, in which the coal is
required, and the box is then reversed, to empty it. Great facility is thus
given for rapidly loading ships with very little breakage of coal, and these
advantages are still further increased by employing the suspended railway
hereiu-before described for carrying the boxes along in the hold of the
ship.
In Figures 11 & 12, Sheet 11I., one of these boxes is shewn at U¹,
suspended to the wheel on the rail. The lever t, shewn in Figure 13,
Sheet I.,.may also be advantageously used for this purpose.
In some cases,

page_text: instead of filling the compound vessel in the ordinary manner, the boxes may
be lifted out and lowered into the coal pit or on the quay, and after being
filled they may be replaced in the frame. It is evident that by giving
sufficient buoyancy to the girders C, D, and E, the chambers A and B may
be dispensed with, and in that case the boxes at each end should be rounded
or sloped off, so as not to oppose too great a resistance to the water. We,
however, prefer the construction shewn in the Drawings. When a narrow
boat is required, a single row of boxes will suffice, and when larger vessels are
required, three or more rows may be employed.
We have described the vessel as being made of iron plates and angle iron,
but we do not confine ourselves to that particular construction or material, as
the same may be varied, and the vessel or parts of it may be made of wood.
These improved vessels are applicable not only to canal, but to river and sea
use. For the latter purpose, and to prevent the water washing into the
boxes, a narrow deck is laid on each box at the outer edge, and a hatchway
combing is formed round the open part of the box. This hatchway is covered
over in the usual manner with a proper batch, and the contents thus protected
from damage by water. Our improved vessels may be used for conveying
corn and other descriptions of cargo, and generally for all articles whose.
dimensions do not exceed those of the boxs. By forming the boxes with
close tops they may be used for carrying oils, turpentine, coaltar, ammoniacal
liquor, sewage, and other liquids.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention the application.of an endless chain of buckets or blades for the
purpose of lowering coal and similar descriptions of cargo into ships and other
vessels as herein-before described. We also claim the application of an
endless web or chain, placed horizontally or nearly so, for the purpose of
conveying and distributing coal and similar descriptions of cargo within the
holds of ships and other vessels as herein-before described. We also claim
the lowering of coal and similar descriptions of cargo into ships and other
vessels by means of a trunk, is kept constantly filled as herein-before described,
so that the coal may descend gradually as it is withdrawn from below instead
of dropping unchecked to the bottom. We also claim the application of a
railway suspended to the deck beams for the purpose of loading and discharging
cargoes in ships and other vessels as herein-before described. We also claim
theconstructing vessels of a series of separate chambers or boxes which them-
selves form the sides of the vessel, and which are kept in their proper relative
positions by an open frame into which they are dropped, and which frame is

page_text: supported by being rendered buoyant in itself, or by being attached to buoyant
chambers as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Laird and Edward Alfred
Cowper, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-one.