Improvements in Loading and Shipping Coal and other Minerals and the like Substances, and in Apparatus and Appliances Employed therein.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Loading and Shipping Coal and other Minerals
and the like Substances, and in Apparatus and Appliances
Employed therein.
I, CHARLES RICHARDSON SOAR,, of the Granville Colliery, Swadlincote, in the
County of Derby, Enginewright, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOADING AND SHIPPING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS AND
THE LIKE SUBSTANCES AND IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN
to bo as follows:-
"
The object of my Invention is to provide the means by which such minerals and
substances may be loaded into railway trucks or other vehicles or into boats, barges,.
or other vessels, with less breakage than is the case by the means ordinarily
employed.
Although my invention is applicable to the loading and shipping of minerals
generally and a variety of other substances, it is more particularly applicable to. the
loading and shipping of coal, a description therefore of the apparatus and appliances
employed for this purpose will suffice to illustrate the nature of my Invention.
I effect this object by lowering the coal into such vehicles or vessels by means of
an apparatus consisting of endless bands or chains, provided at convenient distances
apart with horizontal shelves or buckets similar in construction to what is commonly
known as an elevator and frequently used at collieries for lifting coal onto the screens
or washing appliances, but I employ such apparatus for lowering instead of elevating
the coal. It may be employed in conjunction with an ordinary screen or in con-
junction with a travelling or picking band forming part of the mechanism of a coal
screening or sorting apparatus, or otherwise, or a travelling or picking band may be
specially adapted for use with my Improved lowering or loading apparatus in
conjunction with any ordinary or special form of coal screening, cleaning washing
or sorting apparatus. Along this travelling or picking band the coal to be loaded is
carried, and as the coal so carried reaches the position where it would be turned down
into the vehicle or vessel into which it has to be loaded; instead of dropping into
such vehicle or vessel, it is received on the shelf or bucket of the lowering or loading
apparatus, by means of which it is lowered without shock and thereby the breakage
of the coal may be greatly prevented.
My Improved lowering or loading apparatus I arrange vertically or obliquely and
in some cases it may be arranged so as to be adjusted radially from a vertical to an
oblique position by means of radius rods or levers or otherwise as circumstances may
require. It is also provided with suitable appliances, by means of which it may be
raised or lowered to suit the various depths to which the coal has to be lowered and.
by means of which it may be adjusted as the vehicle or vessel becomes gradually.
filled.
I also provide suitable appliances by means of which my improved apparatus may
be driven at suitable speeds, according to the speed of the travelling or picking band,
which may vary according to. the size or class of coal to be loaded. Such driving
apparatus being arranged either to work from an independent shaft or to be driven
from the drum shaft of the travelling or picking band and in either case, the driving
chain or belt would be provided with the means of adjustment to suit the various
positions of the lowering or loading apparatus.
The travelling or picking band herein described may be constructed, arranged and
actuated in a manner similar to that ordinarily employed and with regard to this
portion of the mechanism used in conjunction with my improved lowering or loading

page_text: apparatus I lay no claim as to novelty. At the discharging end of the travelling or
picking band herein referred to, I place my Improved lowering or loading apparatus
in a position as has already been described either vertically or obliquely so that when
put in motion the shelves or buckets, which are pitched at suitable distances apart,
pass almost in contact with the travelling or picking band so that the coal is deposited
off such hand, on or into the shelves or buckets without shock and without waste,
the shelves or buckets being made a little wider than the travelling or picking
band.
These shelves or buckets may in some cases be attached to the bands or chains by
which they are actuated with hinged joints, so that when turning at the bottom in
the event of any lumps of coal or other obstruction coming between the shelf or
bucket and the bottom of the vehicle or vessel or of the coal already therein, the
shelf or bucket would by means of such hinges give way and accommodate itself to
the obstruction.
In some cases my Improved lowering or loading apparatus may be employed at an
ordinary Depot, Wharf or loading place independently of a travelling or picking band
as previously described. In such cases the coal being placed on the shelves or in the
buckets by hand or otherwise.
Dated this 16th day of April 1889.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Loading and Shipping Coal and other Minerals
and the like Substances, and in Apparatus and Appliances
Employed therein.
I, CHARLES RICHARDSON SOAR, of the Granville Colliery, Swadlincote, in the
County of Derby, Enginewright, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOADING AND SHIPPING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS AND THE LIKE
SUBSTANCES AND IN APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES EMPLOYED THEREIN," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is to provide the means by which such minerals and
substances may be loaded into railway trucks or other vehicles or into boats,
barges, or other vessels, with less breakage than is the case by the means ordinarily
employed.
Although my invention is applicable to the loading and shipping of minerals
generally and a variety of other substances, it is more particularly applicable to the
loading and shipping of coal, a description therefore of the apparatus and appliances
employed for this purpose will suffice to illustrate the nature of my Invention.
I effect this object by lowering the coal into such vehicles or vessels by means of
an apparatus consisting of endless bands or chains, provided at convenient distances
apart with horizontal shelves or buckets similar in construction to what is commonly
known as an elevator and frequently used at collieries for lifting coal onto the screens,
but I employ such apparatus for lowering instead of elevating the coal. It may be
employed in conjunction with an ordinary screen or in conjunction with a travelling
or picking band forming part of the mechanism of a coal screening or sorting
apparatus, or otherwise, or a travelling or picking hand may be specially adapted for
use with my Improved lowering or loading apparatus in conjunction with any ordinary
or special form of coal screening, cleaning, or sorting apparatus. Along this
travelling or picking band the coal to be loaded is carried, and as the coal so carried
reaches the position where it would be turned down into the vehicle or vessel into
which it has to be loaded, instead of dropping into such vehicle or vessel, it is received
on the shelf or bucket of the lowering or loading apparatus by means of which

page_text: It is lowered without shock and thereby the breakage of the coal may be greatly
prevented.
My Improved lowering or loading apparatus I arrange vertically or obliquely and
in some cases it may be arranged so as to be adjusted radially from a vertical to an
oblique position by means of radius rods or levers or otherwise as circumstances may
require. It is also provided with suitable appliances, by means of which it may be
raised or lowered to suit the various depths to which the coal has to be lowered and
by means of which it may be adjusted as the vehicle or vessel becomes gradually
filled.
I also provide suitable appliances by means of which my improved apparatus may
be driven at suitable speeds, according to the speed of the travelling or picking band,
which may vary according to the size or class of coal to be loaded. Such driving
apparatus being arranged either to work from an independent shaft or to be driven
from the drum shaft of the travelling or picking band and in either case, the driving
chain or belt would be provided with the means of adjustment to suit the various
positions of the lowering or loading apparatus.
The travelling or picking band herein described may be constructed, arranged and
actuated in a manner similar to that ordinarily employed, and with regard to this
portion of the mechanism used in conjunction with my improved lowering or loading
apparatus, I lay no claim as to novelty. At the discharging end of the travelling or
picking band herein referred to, I place my Improved lowering or loading apparatus
in a position as has already been described either vertically or obliquely, so that when
put in motion the shelves or buckets, which are pitched at suitable distances apart,
pass almost in contact with the travelling or picking band, so that the coal is deposited
off such band, on or into the shelves or buckets without shock and without waste,
the shelves or buckets being made a little wider than the travelling or picking
band.
These shelves or buckets may in some cases be attached to the bands or chains by
which they are actuated with hinged joints, so that when turning at the bottom in
the event of any lumps of coal or other obstruction coming between the shelf or
bucket and the bottom of the vehicle or vessel, or of the coal already therein, the
shelf or bucket would by means of such hinges give way and accommodate itself to
the obstruction.
In some cases my Improved lowering or loading apparatus may be employed at
an ordinary depot, wharf or loading place independently of a travelling or picking
band as previously described. In such cases the coal being placed on the shelves or
in the buckets by hand or otherwise.
The nature of my Invention will be better understood on reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which,
Fig. 1. is a front elevation and
Fig. 2. a side elevation of my improved apparatus and appliances.
The same letters refer to similar parts on both views.
a, is the vehicle or vessel (a coal truck).
b, b, are the endless bands or chains of the lowering or loading apparatus.
c, c, are the horizontal shelves or buckets on the same.
c³, are additional back plates to prevent the coal falling between the endless bands
or chains.
d, is the top pulley or driving shaft which carries the endless bands or chains.
e,
is the bottom pulley or driving shaft for the same.
ff, are slide blocks or movable bearings in which the shaft d revolves.
9, 9, are slide bars or guides between which the slide blocks f, f, are moved upwards
and downwards so that the apparatus may be raised or lowered or adjusted to suit the
varying positions and depths as required.
h, h, are vertical frame or tension bars which are attached at their upper ends to the
slide blocks, and at their lower ends form the bearings or journals for the bottom

page_text: pulley shaft e; between the upper and lower ends of these tension or frame bars is a
joint h', so constructed that the distance between the centres of the top and bottom
pulley shafts, d and e may be increased or decreased to suit the necessary tension for
the proper working of the endless bands or chains.
i, i, are slide bars which are hung on the top pulley shaft d, at their upper ends
and passed through a guide or stay at their lower ends, these slide bars being placed
behind the buckets on their receiving side prevent oscillation when the coal or other
substance is turned off the picking hand or otherwise onto the shelves or buckets.
, is a shaft by means of which the endless bands or chains together with their
buckets and appliances are raised or lowered as required.
k, being a winch or other suitable appliance by means of which the raising and
lowering is effected and
1, a rope drum or pulley which is actuated by a rope m, from the winch k.
n, n, are two chain wheels on the same shaft over which the suspending chains o, o,
which are attached to the frame or tension bars of the apparatus h, h.
P, P, are balance weights attached to the other end of the pitch chains o, o, in some
cases these chains may be attached to the slide blocks f,f, or one chain and set of
balance weights may be employed, such chain being attached to a suitable cross bar
provided for the purpose.
9, is the drum shaft and
2", is the pulley or wheel which actuates the driving chain or belt
motion to the endless bands or chains and buckets.
t, t, are guide or tension pulleys used in conjunction with the same.
u, is the travelling or picking band.
v, is the drum shaft of the same.
8,
which gives
w, is a wheel on the picking band drum shaft working into a wheel x, on the
endless chain or belt driving shaft; by varying the sizes of these wheels the endless
bands or chains which carry the horizontal shelves or buckets of the lowering
apparatus may be driven at suitable and varying speeds to suit the speed of
the picking band or by throwing these wheels out of gear the driving shaft q may be
independently driven."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;
(1.) In an apparatus for loading and shipping coal and other minerals and the like
substances, the combination of parts and appliances by means of which such minerals
and the like substances may be lowered without shock into the vehicle or vessel into
which it has to be loaded, in such a manner that the breakage of such minerals and
substances as for example tender coal may be greatly prevented, substantially as berein
described and illustrated.
(2.) In an apparatus for loading and shipping coal and other minerals and the like
substances, the combination of parts and appliances by means of which such minerals
and the like substances may be lowered into a vehicle or vessel; comprising the
endless bands or chains provided with shelves or buckets which receive and
carry the coal to be lowered; such shelves or buckets being attached to the bands
or chains with hinged joints in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
(3.) In an apparatus for loading and shipping coal and other minerals and the like
substances, the combination of parts and appliances by means of which the endless
bands or chains which carry the horizontal shelves or buckets of the lowering
apparatus may be driven at suitable speeds either in conjunction with or indepen-
dent of the movements of the travelling or picking band substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and illustrated.
(4.) In an apparatus for loading and shipping coal and other minerals and the
like substances, the combination of parts and appliances by means of which the

page_text: loading apparatus may be raised, lowered or adjusted to suit the varying positions
and depths as required substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
illustrated.
(5.) Improvements in loading and shipping coal coal and other minerals and the
like substances, and in apparatus and appliances employed therein substantially as
herein described and illustrated.
1000
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.