IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND DISTRIBUTING CORN AND OTHER GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL, OR OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the Firm of Edwards and Co.,
Patent Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND DISTRIBUTING CORN AND
OTHER GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL, OR OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Van Rietschoten and Howwens, of Rotterdam, in the
Kingdom of Holland,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd April 1880.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND
DISTRIBUTING CORN AND OTHER GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL, OR OTHER MATERIALS."
[A cominunication from abroad by Messieurs Van Rietschoten and Howwens, of
Rotterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland.]
This Invention relates especially to machinery and apparatus used for elevating
grain from the holds of ships and distributing it into sacks, railway or other
carriages, or into other vessels, but it is also applicable to raising and distributing
in a similar way sand, gravel, or other materials. It has for its objects improved
methods of constructing such machinery or apparatus, so that it is simple, cheap,
and easily applied and worked for the purposes described.
Supposing that the apparatus is to be applied to the purpose of raising or
elevating grain from the hold of a ship and delivering it into a barge or other
suitable vessel prepared to receive it, I take a floating barge or other vessel
fixed or moored in a convenient position between the vessel from which the
grain is to be elevated and that into which it is to be delivered, and upon this
barge I arrange a strong central vertical post or support of wood or metal, or
partly of wood and partly of metal, and upon the upper end of this post I arrange
bearings attached to a suitable support upon the post, round or upon which it is
capable of revolving horizontally.
In these bearings I fit a revolving shaft, upon which between the bearings is
pivotted or suspended a frame-work of sufficient strength which can be adjusted

page_text: into any desired position, so as to be either horizontal, or nearly so, or in a position
inore or less inclined.
When the apparatus is to be used I adjust this framework transversely across
the barge so that its outer or upper end is sufficiently raised, and is above an
opening into the hold of the vessel from which the grain is to be elevated. At
this outer end of the framework 1 arrange bearings carrying a transverso revolving
shaft provided with one or more drums or pulleys round which pass corresponding
flexible endless chains or bands, and from the same centre I suspend a hanging
frame of wood or metal, the lower end of which can be made to descend to the
bottom of the hold of the vessel, where it is provided with corresponding drums or
pulleys round which tho endless chains or bands also pass, and I attach to the
chains or bands a sufficient number of buckets or chambers so arranged that when
the drums or pulleys are made to revolve, the buckets dip into the grain and
elevate it to the upper end of the framework, where they discharge it into a longi-
tudinal inclined shoot or trough carried in or under the framework down which
the grain passes, and is discharged at the lower end either directly into the vessel
which is to receive it, or preferably into an automatic weighing apparatus in the
barge which carries the apparatus, whence after having beon weighed it is discharged
along a shoot into the vessel alongside.
In order to actuate the pulleys and endless chains or bands I arrange a driving
pulley or chain wheel upon the horizontal shaft round which the framework is
suspended, which actuates by means of an endless chain or belt a corresponding
drum or chain wheel upon the shaft which carries the upper drums or pullics
round which the endless chain of buckets passes, and upon the same shaft which
carries the driving pulley or chain wheel I fix a drum or pulley which is driven by
means of an endless belt or band from a steam engine or other convenient source
of power in the barge below.
I make the vertical frame which is suspended from the upper end of the frame-
work and descends into the hold of. the vessel, as above described, in two or more
parts, capable of being separated or sliding vertically one within the other, and 1;
connect the lower part of this frame to a chain or rope passing over suitable pullics,
and thence to a crane or winch fixed upon the deck or other suitable part of the
bargo which carries the apparatus, and actuated when desired by steain or other
convenient power, so that the chain of buckets can be readily lowered into the
hold of the vessel when the apparatus is to be used, or can be raised out of the
vessel when it is desired to withdraw the barge with its machinery or apparatus,
and I provide a balance weight at the lower or inner end of the framework by
which the weight of the outer end of the latter with its suspended frame and
chains of buckets is balanced, and I provide stays or supports, preferably adjustable,
by which when at work the apparatus is fixed in the desired position.
In cases where the machinery or apparatus is to be carried upon a wall or wharf
alongside which the vessel from which the grain is to be elevated is moored, 1 uso
a modified form of the machinery or apparatus above described.
I make a line of rails or channels along the edge of the wall or wharf, upon which
rails run the wheels of a carriage or truck, which can thus be moved to any desired
position on the wharf, where it may be temporarily fixed and supported by blocks
and wedges.
This carriage carries a fixed vertical frame equivalent to that carried by the
barge as first described, which is provided with a support capable of revolving upon
friction rollers horizontally round the vertical frame, and carrying bearings in which
revolves a horizontal shaft upon which the transverse framework is pivotted and
suspended, as in the arrangement first described.
This framework is of such length that its outer end extends horizontally over the
vessel from which the grain is to be discharged, and has suspended to it the frame
carrying chain wheels or pulleys, and endless chains or belts provided with buckets
dipping into the grain.
Upon the horizontal swinging frame, between its centre and this outer end, I

page_text: arrange a transverse intermediate shaft revolving in bearings and having upon it a
chain wheel or pulley actuated by a chain or band passing round a corresponding
chain wheel or pulley upon the transverse shaft upon which the framework is
pivotted, which shaft is itself actuated when desired by a bevilled toothed wheel
upon it, actunted by a corresponding bevilled toothed wheel upon the upper end
of a short vertical shaft, revolving in bearings upon the support which carries the
transverse shaft, the lower end of this short vertical central shaft having also a
bevilled toothed wheel actuated by a corresponding bevilled toothed wheel upon
a second transverse shaft revolving in bearings upon the upper end of the fixed
vertical frame upon the carriage, and this second transverse shaft is driven by a
chain wheel or pulley actuated when desired from a corresponding chain wheel or
pulley set in motion by a steam engine or other convenient power upon the
travelling carriage below. By this method of arrangement the pivotted and
suspended frame can be turned round horizontally without affecting the appliances
by which the intermediate horizontal shaft upon it is driven.
This intermediate shaft carries a second chain wheel or pulley which drives a
corresponding chain wheel or pulley upon the shaft of the upper chain wheel or
pulley which supports and drives the endless chains or belts of buckets, and it also
carries a third chain wheel or pulley which drives a corresponding chain wheel ór
pulley upon a transverse shaft revolving in bearings upon but below the outer end
of the framework, and provided with a bevilled toothed wheel which drives when
desired a corresponding bevilled toothed wheel upon the upper end of a vertical
screwed shaft connected to the upper part of the hanging frame which carries the
buckets, but working through a nut in the lower part of such frame, so that the
said lower part can be raised or lowered as desired in order to adjust it in or
remove it from the hold of the vessel containing the grain.
The buckets deliver the grain into a horizontal trough or passage extending from
end to end of the horizontal swinging frame, which trough is provided at each end
with a transverso shaft having chain wheels or pulleys round which pass one or
more endless chains or belts provided with scrapers or rakes, and the outer one of
these shafts is set in revolution by a chain wheel or pulley upon it driven from a
corresponding chain wheel or pulley upon the transverse intermediate shaft already
described. In this way the grain elevated and delivered by the buckets is made to
travel along to the inner end of the trough, whence it falls, preferably through an
automatic weighing machine, into a shoot or funnel which conducts it into a railway
truck or other receptacle provided to receive it. I also prefer to provide toothed
gear or chain wheels and chains connected to the axles of the wheels of the
carringe which supports the apparatus, and capable of being set in motion when
desired by the steam engine or other power, so that the carriage with the entire
apparatus may be made to travel in either direction into any desired position upon
the wharf or wall.
I also provide a balance weight upon the inner end of the pivotted frame, and a
chain or rope passing round a barrel which can be actuated by the engine or other
power, for the purpose of adjusting the angle of inclination of the pivotted frame.
The travelling carriage is provided with levers by which the different parts of
the apparatus can be set in motion, or stopped as required.
I sometimes prefer to use a somewhat different forin of the apparatus to that just
described.
I support the central post or frame upon a platform which also carries the steam
engine, boiler, hoisting apparatus, and other appliances, which platform itself rests
upon friction rollers carried by a platform or frame supported upon the wheels
which run on the rails along the wall, as already described. By this arrangement
the position of the hanging frame of buckets can be readily altered and adjusted
by turning the whole apparatus round upon the friction rollers.
I suspend the automatic weighing machine to the inner end of the pivotted
framework, so that it acts as a balance weight, and in some cases I make its
position upon the framework adjustable.

page_text: In suspending the hanging framework carrying the chains of buckets from the
outer end of the pivotted frame, I make it hang from the samo centre as that of the
upper transverse shaft which drives the chains of buckets, and I form below the
frame a guide curved from the same centre, against which a friction roller or
projection upon the hanging frame works, so as to keep the latter in its proper
position at any angle; and I sometimes, in the different arrangements of apparatus
described, extend the outer end of the horizontal swinging framework beyond the
hanging chains of buckets sufficiently far to carry bearings for a second transverse
shaft and a second suspended frame and endless chains of buckets, similar to those
already described.
I make this second chain of buckets revolve when desired in the opposite
direction to the first one, preferably by means of toothed wheels upon the two
upper transverse shafts, and I arrange a shoot or channel down which the grain or
other substance passes into a barge or other receptacle upon the outer sido of the
vessel from which it is being clevated.
Another form of machinery or apparatus which I sometimes use for a purpose
similar to that already described consists of an ordinary balanced jib crane carried
upon a travelling carriage running upon rails along the wharf or wall, as in the
arrangement last described, and capable of turning horizontally, together with the
steam engine and boiler which drive it, upon friction rollers in the usual well
understood way.
The jib can be raised or lowered as dosired by means of the steam engine or other
power, and its outer end is provided with one or more chain wheels or pulleys
driving corresponding chains or belts provided with buckets, and passing below
round chain wheels or pulleys at the lower end of a hanging frame, descending into
the hold of the vessel containing the grain, as in the arrangements already described.
The buckets deliver the grain into an inclined shoot carried at its upper end by
the jib, and resting at its lower end upon a friction roller upon the travelling
carriage, and the grain is delivered from this shoot, preferably through an automatic
weighing machine, into sacks, railway trucks, or other receptacles.
In the several arrangements of the machinery or apparatus described, screens and
fans may be added for the purpose of cleaning the grain. Other materials may bo
elevated and delivered in the manner above described as well as grain.
3

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
October 1880.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND DISTRIBUTING CORN AND
OTHER GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL, OR OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Van Rietschoten and Howwens, of Rotterdam, in the Kingdom
of Holland.
This Invention relates especially to machinery and apparatus used for elevating
grain from the holds of ships, and distributing it into sacks, railway or other
carriages, or into other vessels; but it is also applicable to raising and distributing
in a similar way sand, gravel, or other materials. It has for its objects improved
methods of constructing such machinery or apparatus, so that it is simple, cheap,
and easily applied and worked for the several purposes described.
First. Supposing that the apparatus is to be applied to the purpose of raising or
elevating grain from the hold of a ship, and delivering it into a barge or other
suitable vessel prepared to receive it. I take a floating barge or other suitable
vessel fixed or moored in a convenient position between the vessel from which the
grain is to be raised and discharged and that into which it is to be delivered, and
upon this barge I arrange a strong central vertical post or support, of wood or
metal, or partly of wood and partly of metal. Upon the upper end of this post
I arrange bearings attached to a suitable support upon the post, round or upon which
they are capable of revolving horizontally. In the bearings a revolving shaft is
fitted upon which is pivotted and suspended a framework of sufficient strength,
which can be adjusted into any desired position so as to be either horizontal, or
nearly so, or in a position more or less inclined. When the apparatus is to be used
this framework is arranged across the barge with its outer, end adjusted above an
opening into the hold of tho vessel whence the grain is to be raised, and this outer
end has bearings carrying a revolving shaft, provided with one or more pulleys or
drums, round which pass corresponding flexible endless chains or bands. From the
same centre is suspended a hanging frame of wood or metal, the lower end of
which can be made to descend to the bottom of the hold of the vessel, and is
provided with corresponding drums or pulleys, round which the endless chains or
bands also pass, and attached to these chains or bands are a sufficient number of
buckets or chambers, arranged so that as the drums revolve they dip into the grain
and raiso it to the upper end of the framework, where they discharge it into a
longitudinal inclined shoot or trough carried in or under the framework, down
which the grain passes and is discharged at the lower end either directly into the
vessel which is to receive it, or preferably into an automatic weighing machine in
the barge which carries the apparatus, and thence when weighed along a shoot
into the vessel alongside.
To actuate the endless chains or bands I arrange a driving pulley or chain. wheel
upon the horizontal shaft round which the framework is suspended, which
actuates by means of an endless chain or belt a corresponding pulley or chain
wheel upon the shaft, which carries the upper drum round which the endless
chain of buckets passes, and upon the same shaft which carries the driving pulley
or chain wheel is fixed a pulley, driven by means of an endless chain or belt from
a steam engine or other convenient source of power in the barge below.
The vertical frame, which is suspended from the framework and descends into
the hold of the vessel, is made in two or more parts, capable of being separated or
of sliding telescopically one within the other, and I connect the lower of such parts
to a chain or rope, passing over suitable pullies, and thence to a crane or winch

page_text: fixed in the barge which carries the apparatus, and actuated when desired by
steam or other convenient power, so that the chain of buckets can be readily
lowered into or raised from the hold of the vessel from which the grain is
to be raised, and a balance 'weight is provided at the lower or inner end of
the framework by which the weight of the outer end of the latter with its
suspended frame and chain of buckets are balanced, and stays, preferably
adjustable, are also arranged to fix the apparatus in position when at work.
In the accompanying Drawings, which are in illustration of the Invention,
Figure 1 represents the apparatus just described; a is a floating barge or vessel
moored between the vessel b from which the grain is to be raised, and that cinto
which it is to be delivered. In the vessel a is arranged the vertical post & having
at its upper end bearings c attached to the support f, which can revolve hori-
zontally upon or with the post d. In the bearings e the frame g is pivotted to
which is attached the framework h, the position of which can be adjusted by the
pullies and chain . The outer end of the framework hangs over the vessel b,
and is fitted with bearings carrying a transverse shaft provided with one or
more wheels or drums & round which pass the endless bands or chains m, and from
the same centre is suspended the hanging frame n, the lower end of which
descends into the vessel b and is provided with drums or wheels o, round which
the endless bands or chains m also pass. Buckets or chambers p, p, p, are attached
to the chains m, and elevate the grain to the upper end of the framework n, where
they discharge it into a longitudinal inclined shoot or trough at 7, down which the
grain passes and is discharged either directly into the vessel c, or, preferably,
into the automatic weighing machine 8, whence it passes along the adjustable
shoot into the vessel c. The pivots upon the frame g, which revolve in the
bearings e are hollow, and a transverse shaft v passes through and revolves in them,
and is provided with a pulley or chain wheel w, by which it can be driven by an
endless chain or band passing round the pulley or wheel in the barge a, which
is driven by a steam engine, as shewn, or other power. The shaft carries also a
pulley or wheel y driving by a belt or chain the pulley or wheel A upon the
shaft which carries the wheels . The frame n is shown telescopic, its lower part
being connected to the chain or rope B, which after passing over suitable pullies is
brought to the crane or winch C actuated by the steam engine D or other power,
so that the chains m and buckets 2 can be readily raised or lowered as desired.
A balance weight is shown at E, and stays for steadying the apparatus, are shewn
at F. The bearings which carry the wheels or pulleys o at the lower end of the
frame n are shewn adjustable, so that the endless chains or belts can be kept
properly stretched, and a curved guide H is shown fixed to the outer end of the
framer, a roller or stud I upon the frame n pressing upon it, so that the latter
frame is kept in its proper position at any angle. In cases where the machinery
or apparatus is to be carried upon a wall or wharf alongside which the vessel is
moored from which the grain is to be discharged, I sometimes use the modified
arrangement shown in side view in Figure 2, and in end view in Figure 3. a is a
line of rails or channels along the wall b, upon which run the wheels c, c, c, of
carriage or truck , which can thus be moved to any desired position on the wharf,
where it may be temporarily supported and fixed as shown.
This carriage carries a fixed vertical framework d, having at its upper end a
horizontal frame and friction rollers e, c, e, upon which turns an upper frame
carrying bearings g, g, in which the pivots are fitted, to which the transverse
framework i is fixed as in the arrangement first described. This framework i is of
such length that its outer end extends over the vessel from which the grain is to
be raised, and has suspended to it the frame / carrying chainwheels or pullies m,
and endless chains or belts n provided with buckets o, o, o, dipping into the grain.
Through the pivots h, k, a transverse shaft p is fitted and works, and is provided
with a chain wheel which by means of an endless chain drives the intermediate
transverse shaft & which revolves in bearings fixed upon the frame i. The shaft s
is also provided with a wheel which drives by means of another endless chain t,
8

page_text: the pullies or chain wheels m, and the endless chains or belis n, and buckets o, o, o.
The shaft p is fitted with a bevilled toothed wheel driven by a second bevilled
toothed wheel upon a vertical central shaft v, the lower end of, which is fitted with
a third bevilled toothed wheel driven by a corresponding pinion upon the driving
shaft w, which revolves in bearings x, x, upon the framowork d, and is driven by
a pulley or chain wheel 3, and endless belt or chain from a corresponding pulley
or chain wheel A driven by the steam engine B and boiler C, which are supported
upon the carriage d.
By this method of arrangement the pivotted and suspended frame i can be turned
round horizontally without affecting the appliances by which the intermediate
horizontal shaft s is driven. The shaft s also carries a third chain wheel or pulley,
which drives, by means of the chain or belt D, a corresponding wheel or pulley E
upon a shaft F, which revolves in bearings below the outer end of the framework i,
and is provided with a bevilled toothed pinion H, which drives when desired a
corresponding bevilled toothed wheel I upon the upper end of a vertical screwed
bar K, which is connected to the upper part of the hanging frame / which carries
the buckets, but works through a nut in the lower part of the frame at L, so that
such lower part can be raised or lowered, as desired, in order to adjust it in or
remove it from the hold of the vessel containing the grain. The buckets o, o, 0,
deliver the grain into a horizontal trough or passage at M, extending forward to
the end of the horizontal swinging frame; this trough being provided at each end
with a transverse shaft having chain wheels or pullies (one of which is shewn
at N), round which pass one or moro endless chains or belts provided with scrapers
or rakes, and the outer one of these shafts at N is set in revolution by a chain or
pulley upon it, driven from a corresponding chain wheel or pulley upon tho
intermediate shaft 8, as shown in dotted lines at P. In this way the grain raised
and delivered by the buckets o, o, o, is made to travel along to the inner end of the
trough M, whence it falls (preferably through an automatic weighing machine R)
into a shoot S, which conveys it to a railway truck or other receptacle provided to
receive it at T. Toothed wheels, or chain wheels and chains, are preferably
provided and connected to the axles of the wheels c, c, of the carriage d, as shewn
at V, and are capable of being set in motion when desired by the steam engine or
other power, so that the carriage & with the entire apparatus may be made to travel
in either direction into any desired position upon the wharf or wall b. A balanco
weight W is shewn arranged upon the inner end of the pivotted frame i, and a
chain or rope X passes round a barrel, which can be actunted by the engine or
other power, for the purpose of adjusting the angle of inclination of the pivotted
frame. The carriage is provided with levers by which the different parts of the
apparatus can be set in motion or stopped as desired.
A somewhat different form of the improved apparatus is shewn at Figure 4, in
which the central port or support a is carried upon a platform 6, which also carries
the steam engine c, boiler d, and hoisting and other appliances e. The platform b
itself rests upon friction rollers fff, carried upon a lower platform or frame g
supported upon the wheels h, h, k, which run upon the rails i along the wall k, as in
the arrangement last described. The frame is pivotted upon the bearings mat
the upper part of the post a, and it carries at its outer end the hanging frame and
chains of buckets, as already described. The chains and buckets are set in motion
by the chain wheels and endless chains n, n, driven by the pulleys and belts 0, 0,
from the steam engine c, as already described. The grain elevated by the buckets
is made to pass down a trough arranged in the framel by means of an endless band or
chain p, provided with rakes or scrapers r, r, and set in motion by the pullies or
chain wheels and chains or belts 8, 8. The grain is delivered at t into the suspended
automatic weighing machine (which may serve as a balance weight, and may be
mado adjustable in any position), and thence into a railway truck or other receptacle
at W. The adjustment of the frame is shewn effected by chains and pullies at x.
In Figure 6 is shewn another modification of the improved apparatus, in which
an ordinary balanced jib crane a is arranged upon a travelling carriage b, having

page_text: wheels c, c, running upon rails d, d, along the wharf or wall e. The cranc, together
with the steam engine f and boiler which drive it, are capable of turning
horizontally upon the friction rollers i, i, i. The jib a can be raised or lowered as
desired by means of the steam engine or other power actuating the chain 7, and its
outer end is provided with one or more chain wheels or pullies driving corresponding
chains or belts m and buckets o upon the susponded frame 2, which is similar to those
already described and shewn. The wheels are driven by chain wheels or pullies
and chains or belts (not shown in the Drawing), actuated by the engine f, in tho
same way as in the arrangements already described.
The buckets deliver the grain into an inclined shoot or trough r, carried at its
upper end by the jib a, and resting at its lower end upon the friction roller s fixed
upon the travelling carriage b. The grain is delivered from the shoot r, preferably
through an automatic weighing machine t into sacks, railway trucks, or other
receptacles.
In the different forms of apparatus described and shown in the Drawings, the
arrangement shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2 may sometimes be used, in
which the frame i is extended beyond the hanging frame of buckets & sufficiently
far to carry bearings for a second suspended framework ', and endless chains n¹,
and buckets o¹. This second chain of buckets n' is made to revolve when desired
in the opposite direction to the first one n, preferably by means of toothed wheels m¹,
and a second shoot or channel M' is arranged down or along which the grain falls
or is passed into a barge or other receptacle upon the outer side of the vessel k. In
the several arrangements of the machinery or apparatus described and shewn screens
and fans may be added for the purpose of cleaning the grain. Other materials may
be elevated and delivered in the manner described, as well as grain. The apparatus
may be supported directly upon suitable foundations, instead of upon a travelling
carriage or vessel.
Having now described the Invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim, the frame pivotted upon and revolving round a central post
or support carried by a barge, railway carriage, or other foundation, and having at
its outer end an adjustable suspended frame provided with chainwheels or pullies,
endless chains, or belts, and buckets.
The chainwheels or pullies, and chains or belts, arranged and actuated by a
steam engine or other power in the barge, carriage, or other support to the apparatus,
for the purpose of actuating the endless chains or belts and buckets. The trough
or shoot carried by and forming part of the apparatus for the purpose of receiving
the grain or other material from the buckets and delivering it to the place required.
The endless chains or belts provided with scrapers or rakes, and actuated by the
steam engine or other power, for the purpose of conveying the grain or other
material along the shoot or trough when necessary. The combination with the
apparatus, arranged and actuated as described, of automatic weighing machinery.
'
The endless screw actuated by bevilled toothed wheels and ondless chains or
belts for the purpose of raising, lowering, and adjusting the hanging frame which
carries the buckets. The methods of adjusting the position of the pivotted frame
or jib from which the hanging frame of buckets is suspended. The method of
arranging, suspending, and actuating two hanging frames of buckets from the
extremity of the pivotted frame or jib.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto set my
11.
11000