IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGEMENT OF FRAMES OF DOUBLE SKEPS OR BUCKETS FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING AND DISCHARGING OF SAME
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Allix, of No. 9, Church Terrace, Isle of Dogs,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Shipwright, for an Invention of
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGEMENT OF FRAMES OF DOUBLE SKEPS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Allix at the Office of.
the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1880.
GEORGE ALLIX, of No. 9, Church Terrace, Isle of Dogs, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Shipwright. "IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGE-
MENT OF FRAMES OF DOUBLE SKEPS OR BUCKETS FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING AND
DISCHARGING OF SAME."
This Invention relates to affixing an angle bar to a rock frame or cross bar
forming part of frame work of a double skep or bucket for lifting or discharging
grain, mud, or other loose or soft bodies.
The angled bar, is in a piece with other angled bars forming a kind of triangle
from the rock bar with two jointed links attached, and with their opposite ends
jointed to the upper sides of the two half sides of the skep or bucket, that the
lower portions may open when a sliding catch engages in a notch provided at one
end of the angled bar; the sliding catch being suspended by the lift chain or rope
when it engages in the notch, the skep is supported from the notch. The same
happens when the catch is permitted to run down the angled bar into a notch
at its opposite end, the two half sides or double skep or bucket being then kept
closed.
The double skep is practically self filling and self discharging, whether for raising
grain and the like, as before mentioned, or for lowering either of those bodies, the
skep opening and closing automatically under the action of the catch according to
the notch it engages in. The chain or rope for this Invention is a single one,
two chains or ropes not being required as in the known forms of double skeps or
buckets.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Allix in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th January
1881.
GEORGE ALLIX, of No. 9, Church Terrace, Isle of Dogs, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer and Shipwright. "IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OR ARRANGE.
MENT OF FRAMES OF DOUBLE SKEPS OR BUCKETS FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING AND
DISCHARGING OF SAME."
This Invention relates to an improved method of constructing the frames or
framework of double skeps, buckets, or grabs, or like appliances for lifting or
discharging grain, mud, or other loose or soft bodies, or for like purposes, as well as
for excavating and digging solid or compact bodies.
In constructing.double skeps or like apparatus according to my Invention I use,
in some cases, an angled bar, which is in a piece with other angled bars forming a
kind of triangle from a central or rocking bar, with two jointed links attached, and
with their opposite ends jointed to the upper sides of the two half sides of the
skep, bucket, or grab that the lower portions may open when a sliding catch
engages in a notch provided at one end of the angled bar; the sliding catch being
suspended by the lift chain or rope when it engages in the notch, the skep is
supported from the notch. The same happens when the catch is permitted to run
down the angled bar into a notch at its opposite end, the two half sides or double
skep, bucket, or grab being then kept closed.
The double skep is practically self filling and self discharging, whether for raising
grain and the like, as before mentioned, or for lowering either of those bodies or like
substances, the skep opening and closing automatically under the action of the
catch according to the notch it engages in.
The above arrangement is one which I find may be used with greatest advantage,
but it is obvious that the details and parts above described may be in some cases
modified. It must be noted however that it is a very important feature in my
Invention that it enables a single chain or rope to be advantageously employed
instead of two chains or ropes as in the known forms of double skeps or buckets
hitherto used.
The beforegoing being the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed to describe
more fully how the same may be carried out into practical effect, and for that
purpose
I have hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters and
figures of reference corresponding with those in this Specification. The same
letters and figures of reference are used to denote the same or.corresponding parts
throughout the various views.-
In the Drawings,—
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a double skep or bucket constructed according
to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 1 showing the bucket or skep open.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 1 showing the skep or bucket closed.
Figure 5 is
front elevation of my Invention applied to a double grab.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of Figure 5..
• Figure 7 is a side elevation of an angled bar, such as may be used with my
Invention.
Figure 8 is an elevation of catch, such as may be used with my Invention.
Figure 9 is a modification of angled bar such as may be used in my Invention.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of double skep with a modified form of angled
bar according to my Invention..
Figure 11 is a side elevation of Figure 10, showing the skep or bucket open.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of Figure 10 showing the skep or bucket closed.

page_text: As before stated my Invention has for one of its chief objects the so constructing
the frames of double self acting skeps, grapple buckets, grabs, and forks, or like
appliances that they can be automatically worked, namely, lowered and filled, and
raised and discharged, by the use and action of one chain or rope connected with
any ordinary crane or hoisting mechanism, and without the use of double acting
ropes or chains and without releasing gear, triggers, or like appliances, as heretofore
employed.
Heretofore double self acting skeps, grapple buckets, grabs, or forks, or like
appliances have been worked with two chains or ropes, requiring independent
hoisting or taking in appliances, one chain being the lifting chain, and the other
chain being the discharging chain. It will however now be readily understood
that in apparatus constructed according to my Invention, both actions, namely, the
lifting and discharging, are accomplished by one chain or rope,
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen how, according to my Invention;
the desired object is accomplished by a device, such as that illustrated and defined
by the letter A, and which consists of an angled or equivalently arranged bar B
which forms part of the device A, which in the Drawings takes the form of a bell
crank lever, and is hereafter so designated. The bell crank lever A is keyed onto
or affixed to the rocking cross bar C, which is set in the suspension frame D of the
skep, bucket, grab, or fork E. The cross bar C.has keyed or otherwise attached to
it the levers F, F, to which are attached the links II, which links are also attached
to and work the halves of the double skep, bucket, grab, or fork, as shown in the
Drawings.
It will be evident upon inspection of the Drawings that by working the bell
crank lever or its equivalent A with a rocking motion across the frame D the
skep, bucket, grab, or fork will open, as shown at Figure 3, its normal condition
being closed, as shown at Figure 4. To effect this rocking action of the bell crank
lever A, the angled bar B is provided with a notch a at one end and a notch bat
the other end, and also may be provided with the additional potches d, so that a
sliding shackle catch J, to which the end of the actuating chain or rope is attached,
will engage with the notch a or the notch bas required, and thereby with one or
other end of the angled bar B. By engaging with the notch b the skep E assumes
the position shown at Figure 3, and can be so lowered upon the material it has to
lift. By sliding the catch J down the bar B, which is effected by its own weight,
the catch J will automatically engage with the notch a, and by then hauling on
the chain K the catch J causes the skep E to close automatically, fill itself, and
assume the position shown at Figure 4. The skep E and its load can then be
swung to any required position. To discharge the contents the skep E is lowered.
either to the ground or its descent arrested independently of the chain K. The
catch J will then slide down the bar B and engage with the notch b, as shown at
Figure 4. By then hauling on the chain or rope K the skep or bucket E
automatically opens and discharges its contents, as will be understood.
The notches a, d, in the bar B are used so that should anything get in the way
of the catch J which would prevent it running to the bottom, it would take hold
of the next catch above where it fell to and so close the skep, although possibly
with not so good a result as if it had the full extent of the bell crank lever to pull
against.
In the construction of my improved apparatus the bell crank lever A is capable
of various modifications, as will be understood; for example, one, two, or more bell
crank levers may be used, or the bell crank lever may be made double with the
catch J sliding between it, or a long oval bar may be used, such as that illustrated
at Figure 9, or the bell crank lever may take many other forms or shapes of a like
character and utility, or other known mechanical appliances may be substituted so
long as they effect the like object.
My Invention is capable of application to any ordinary type of hoisting and
lowering mechanism, and is not confined to the precise details, dimensions, and
particulars-illustrated in the Drawings, and I would have it clearly understood that

page_text: my Invention is not limited to the precise form and configuration of the devices
shown in the Drawings so long as its essential feature is retained, that is to say,
the working of double self acting skeps, buckets, grabs, or forks, such as are herein-
before described, by the agency of one chain or rope which serves for lowering,
closing, raising, and discharging in the manner indicated.
What I claim as my Invention, and secured to me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid,
First. Effecting the lowering, closing, raising, and discharging of self acting
skeps, buckets, grabs, or forks, or like apparatus by means of a single chain or
support operating through a device, such as the bell crank lever A, with its angled
bar B, substantially as described and shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The use for lowering, closing, raising, and discharging self acting skeps,
bucket, grabs, or forks, of apparatus constructed of parts, such as the bell crank
lever A, with its angled bar B, and a catch, such as J, for effecting the various
operations herein set forth.
Third. In constructing self acting skeps, .buckets, grabs, or forks worked by
single chains or supports, the use and application of an angled bar, such as B, or its
equivalent, arranged in manner such as herein set forth and illustrated, and
operating for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of frames of double skeps, buckets,
grabs, or forks, or like apparatus for the automatic filling or discharging of the
same, substantially as herein set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Allix, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in
the presence of
W. R. FRANCIS,
Solicitor,
1, Lancaster Place, Strand,
London, W.C.
GEORGE (L.S.) ALLIX.