IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS AND APPARATUS FOR SHOVELLING, RAISING, AND CONVEYING GRAIN, COALS, BRICKS, SAND, MORTAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Thomas Parlour, of 8, Trinity Terrace,
Grosvenor Road, Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Shipwright,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS AND APPARATUS FOR
SHOVELLING, RAISING, AND CONVEYING GRAIN, COALS, BRICKS, SAND, MORTAR,
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 11th December 1868, and dated the 13th June 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Thomas Parlour
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th June 1868.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of 8, Trinity Terrace, Grosvenor Road,
Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Shipwright, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELEVATORS AND APPA-
RATUS FOR SHOVELLING, RAISING, AND CONVEYING GRAIN, COALS, BRICKS, SAND,
MORTAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to apparatus employed for moving, raising, and
conveying substances by means of buckets or other bodies attached to
a flexible chain or band and to spouts or shoots used in connection
therewith. It is often convenient to fit 'an elevator for such a purpose
as the raising cargo from a vessel and delivering it on the wharf against.
[Price 8d.1

page_text: which it lies. And in order that such elevator may be readily adjusted
in height and position I construct it in the following manner:-1
provide a radius or jib which is mounted on a horizontal axis, and can
be made to sweep in a vertical plane, being supported at any convenient
angle by ropes, chains, or stays attached at or near its outer end and
made fast to fixed points either in the building or in the framing of the
apparatus. At the outer end of this jib or radius I mount the upper
wheel or drum of an elevator, the lower wheel or drum. being placed
below it in the vessel or place whence the matter has to be lifted, and
the chains or bands which hold the buckets or elevating vessels being
stretched in the usual way over the upper and lower wheels or drums.
I give motion to the upper wheel or drum by means of an endless
band or chain which passes round a wheel or drum fixed on its
axis and also round a wheel or drum on the axis on which the jib
is mounted. On causing the latter wheel or drum to revolve by
any suitable power the movement is conveyed by the endless chain
or band to the upper wheel or drum of the elevator; both for conveying
this motion and also for the elevator itself I prefer to employ flat-link
chains, the links of which are connected by pins, so that I can either
remove links or add links as it may be desirable to shorten or lengthen
the chain. In order to receive the substances raised by the buckets
and deliver them I fit to the upper end of the jib or radius a spout or
shoot, and that the point of delivery may be varied I prefer to make
such spout or shoot jointed by dividing its bottom into two or more
parts and hinging those parts together, the sides belonging to one such
part being made to overlap those belonging to the others so as to slide
freely thereon and yet retain the substances within the shoot or spout.
When it is desirable to have the jointed shoot or spout closed also on
its upper side I shape the upper sides of the folding parts as arcs
of circles struck from the centre of the hinge, the one overlapping the
other and sliding freely over it when the shoot or spout is folded on its
hinges. In order that the elevator may be moved readily from place
to place I mount the framing supporting the axis of the jib and the
engine or other moving power upon a wheeled carriage, to some con-
venient part of which I also attach the chains, cords, or stays that support
the jib and the spouts or shoots and elevator which are attached to it.
Sometimes it is convenient to arrange the elevator so that its band's
or chains do not extend in straight lines from the upper to the lower
drum or wheel, but that they bend round curves or undergo changes

page_text: in their direction.
In order that this may be effected I provide a
framing of rails or guides which are curved as desired, and may be
lengthened or shortened by making them in parts sliding over or past
each other and fixed were required by setting screws or other convenient
means. On the chain or band or on the buckets I mount rollers which
travel upon these rails or guides and thereby guide the band or chain
in the desired direction. In such cases the buckets or other bodies
attached to the band or chain may be mounted on joints so as to hang
vertical throughout their course, being canted by coming against a
fixed piece or bar when they arrive at a suitable point for discharging
their contents. The guide rollers may be mounted on the axes on which
the buckets hang. The buckets themselves or the other bodies which
are attached to the bands or chains of the elevators may be made
in parts jointed together, so that when they arrive at that part of their
course where it is desired to discharge their contents the one part
may by coming against a fixed piece or bar be separated from the
other and the contents may drop through the opening so made. The
buckets or bodies attached to the travelling bands or chains may be
made of various forms to suit the different substances which they
have to elevate, move, or convey. For hay, straw, or such like matters.
I prefer to make them of openwork like forks. For coals I also prefer
to make some of them like forks to take the large lumps, others of them'
being made close to take the small pieces or dust.
When the apparatus is applied to clear a hold of a vessel or a floor
I attach to the bands or chains scrapers formed like shovels and brooms
for sweeping.
When the apparatus is applied to raising or moving sacks, bales,
cases, or such like objects instead of buckets I affix to the band or chain
frames or platforms on which the objects are placed.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, Her special licence that
I. the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Josephi Thomas Parlour, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELEVATORS AND APPARATUS FOR SHOVELLING, RAISING, AND CONVEYING GRAIN,
COALS, BRICKS, SAND, MORTAR, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to apparatus employed for moving, raising, and
conveying substances by means of buckets or other bodies attached to
flexible chains or bands mounted on a peculiarly constructed frame,
and arranged in connection with spouts or shoots. It is often con-
venient to fit an elevator for such a purpose as the raising of cargo
from a vessel and delivering it on the wharf against which it lies.
'And in order that such elevator may be readily adjusted in height and
position I construct it in the following manner;-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus shewing the
same adjusted for elevating grain, coal, or other substances from the

page_text: hold of a vessel to the upper part of a warehouse; Figure 2 is a plan
of the top, and Figure 3 is a front view of the same; Figure 4
illustrates a modified arrangement of parts of the said apparatus;
Figures 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, and 8 illustrate detached portions and modifi-
cations of the said apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale.
indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing,
Like letters
My improved elevator is constructed with a frame a, which is
supported on a jib or spar b. The said jib or spar is supported at its
lower end or foot on a horizontal axis b', whereon the jib will turn
freely, so that it can be made to sweep in a vertical plane.
The said
jib is supported at any convenient angle by ropes, chains, or stays
attached to the jib at or near its outer or upper end, and made fast to
fixed points either. in the building or in the framing B of the apparatus.
The jib is made in two or more parts, so that it may be extended if
required. At the outer end of this jib or spar I mount the wheel c,
another wheel or drum c¹ being carried in the lower end of the frame a,
which is extended below the jib into the vessel. A or other place
whence the grain or other material has to be lifted. The chains or
bands which hold the buckets or elevating vessels e are passed over
these wheels c, c', and over the upper wheel c³. I give motion to this
upper wheel or drum c by means of an endless band or chain g, which
passes around a wheel or drum h fixed on the shaft or axle h', to which
the power is applied, or the said chain may pass around a wheel or
drum on the axis 6' on which the jib b is mounted. The wheel or
drum h is caused to revolve by any suitable power, and the movement
is communicated by the endless chain or band g to the upper wheel or
drum c of the elevator. Instead of the chain g the inclined shaft g',
shewn in Figure 7, 7", may be employed to give motion to the elevator,
the said shaft being connected to the shaft h' by bevel wheels g³, g³. The
pinion g', which gears in the pinion g³ on the shaft c', is fitted to slide on
the shaft g so as to follow the end of the elevator when the same is
raised or lowered.
When the elevator is to be used for unloading vessels or other
similar purposes I prefer to drive it by a portable steam engine or an
engine fixed on a truck or carriage C. The said engine or the truck
or carriage supports the axis b¹ of the jib b and the framing and other

page_text: De apparatus WHICH IS Herefore conveniently moved to any
desired position.
The frame a of the elevator is constructed in parts or sections a¹,a³,a³,a',
so that it may be extended or contracted above or below the jib b. The
upper extension piece a² allows the said frame to be conveniently
adjusted to the doors or other apertures of a warehouse or other building.
It is frequently necessary that the elevator should work with its bands
or chains not extending in straight lines from the upper to the lower,
drum or wheel, and that they should bend around curves or undergo
changes in their direction, as shewn in Figure 1. In order that this may
be effected I construct the framing of rails or bars a³, which form
guides for the chains, supporting and conducting them around the
curved portions of the elevator. The lower part a of the frame is
connected to the curved or quadrant joint a, which allows the frame to
be adjusted to any desired angle, and in connection with the sliding
parts of the frame allows the elevator to be adapted to deliver its load at
any desired position. The extending parts of the frame which slide over
or past each other are fixed where required by set screws or other con-
venient means. On the rods or shafts j which extend across the elevator
I mount rollers j', which travel in the spaces a* between the rails or
guides at, and allow the chains to move freely in the desired direction in
the guides. If desired these rollers may be carried on pins or studs on
the chains or buckets, but I prefer to employ the shafts j. I prefer that
the chain and also the chains f of the clevator should be constructed
with flat links f', the said links being connected by screw pins f2, so that
I can conveniently either remove or add links if it is necessary to
increase or diminish the length of the chains. I prefer that the buckets e
should be constructed and connected to the chains f, as shewn in
Figures 6, 6".
The two parts e¹, e, are kept together, as shown in
Figure 6, when the buckets are being filled and raised by a spring bolt or
catch e³, but when the bucket arrives over the position where it is desired
to deposit the grain or other material the said bolt is released by a stop
fixed on the side of the frame, and the two parts of the bucket open, as
shown in Figure 6*, and deposit the contents in the desired position.
The said buckets are pivoted to the triangular piece k, which is formed
with the lateral projections ¹. The intermediate portion is secured to
one of the links of the chain which lies under the lateral projections, as

page_text: seen in Figure 6b, and thereby support the buckets firmly, but allow
them to open freely when the two parts are disconnected by the tripping
of the bolt e³. A stop is fixed at the end of the elevator, which stop
closes the bucket and locks the two parts together with the catch e
as the empty buckets pass downward. The wheat, coal, or other
substance raised by the buckets e is delivered at the upper end of the
elevator into a hopper or shoot, whereby the point of delivery may be
varied. The said hopper may be made as shewn in Figure 1, and
provided with a weighing apparatus, but for general purposes I prefer to
use the shoot shewn in Figure 5, which is jointed by dividing its bottom
into two or more parts, these parts being hinged together, and the sides
belonging to one part being made to overlap those belonging to the
other part, so as to slide freely thereon and yet retain the substances
within the said shoot or spout. When it is desirable to have the jointed
shoot or spout closed on its upper side I shape the upper sides of the
folding parts as arcs of circles struck from the centre of the hinge &, the
one overlapping the other and sliding freely over it, as shewn at ', when
the shoot or spout is folded on its hinges. The buckets or bodies
attached to the travelling bands or chains of may be made of various
forms to suit the different substances which they have to elevate, move,
or convey. For hay, straw, or such like matters I prefer to make them
of openwork like forks. For coals I also prefer to make some of them
like forks to take the large lumps, others of them being made closer to
take the small pieces or dust.
When the apparatus is applied to clear a hold of a vessel or a floor
of a building I connect with the elevator a conveyor whose chains m
pass over pulleys m' fitted to slide on a shaft which is carried in
bearings m attached to the elevator frame. The other end of the
said chains is passed over pulleys m³ carried on a telescopic or extension
shaft n which by means of a screw may be lengthened or shortened
to suit vessels or buildings of any width. The said shaft is also
provided with vertical adjusting screws n' whereby it may be lowered
as the cargo diminishes. I attach to the bands or chains m of the
conveyor shovels m* or forks which carry the coal, grain, or other
substance to the elevator. Scrapers and brooms for sweeping may
also be attached to the said chains.
When the apparatus is applied to raising or moving sacks, bales, cases,

page_text: or such like objects, instead of buckets I affix to the bands or chains
frames or platforms on which the objects are placed. When used for
conveying grain or other light substances I construct the conveyor with
one chain, which is attached to the centre of the shovel or bucket by
means of the fastening shown in Figure 8. The same fastening may
also be used where two chains are employed, as shewn at m³, Figure 1.
For coals, stones, boxes or barrels, or other heavy or bulky bodies or
substances, I prefer to provide the conveyor with a frame o, Figure 4,
'constructed with guides for the chains m similar to the frame a of the
elevator, such frame being also provided with extension pieces, quadrant
joints, and adjusting screws.
The said frames are made in sections, a
number of which may be connected together to adapt the conveyor to
vessels or buildings of any length.
In Figure 4 I have shown part of a conveyor arranged according
to a modification of my Invention. In this arrangement 1 place a
hopper p at the bottom of the elevator, the said hopper being formed
with a spout p' which is extended into the proper position to empty
the contents of the hopper into the buckets e of the elevator as they
pass around the lower wheels
The buckets of this conveyor
drum c¹.
or
are attached to the chains m by the triangular piece q, or in any other
convenient manner, and in passing around the wheels r, as shewn, the
said buckets empty their contents into the mouth of the hopper, which
contents pass through the spout p into the buckets e. The said
wheels are provided with toothed wheels s which gear into the wheels t
on the shaft u; or the said wheels may be driven by chains or belts
or in any other convenient manner. For emptying barges and other
small vessels the conveyor may generally be employed without the
extending and adjusting frame; or the elevator may be employed
without any conveyor, the grain, coal, or other substances being thrown
directly into the hopper p.
The conveyor shown inside the building in Figure 1, and which
is provided with the opening buckets, Figure 6, may be advantageously
used in vessels, yards, or buildings for delivering coal, wheat, or other
substances at any desired positions.
The conveyor
when employed in a building, as shown in Figure 1,
is preferably driven from the elevator by means of the flat linked

page_text: chain v¹.
Stops may be fixed on the frame of the said elevator to
act on the catches e and cause the buckets to deposit their contents
as desired.
The wheels c, c', c³, and the other chain wheels are formed with
teeth to suit the links of the chains. The chain g is kept taut by
means of the pulleys g, which by the adjusting screws g' are set apart
as required. The adjusting parts of the frame a are formed with slots a",
through which are passed the set screws for securing the said parts.
When the angular position of the frame a is altered it is necessary
to slacken or tighten the chains f, and this is effected by means of the
adjusting screws as which raise or lower the wheels c¹. The bars a
are united and stiffened by the cross pieces a³. The extension frame
of the conveyor is constructed and adjusted in substantially the same
manner as the frame a. My improved elevator may be used for
dredging, excavating, and other like purposes.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice,
I claim,-
First. A frame for an elevator or conveyor constructed so that it
may he extended and adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Second. Constructing such frames with guides for the chains of the
elevator or conveyor, substantially as set forth.
Third. Providing the said chains with friction rollers which are
fitted to work in the said guides for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. Constructing a bucket for conveyors or elevators in two parts
connected by a spring catch or other equivalent device for holding
and releasing the said parts, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fifth. A conveyor provided with shovels, scrapers, forks, or brooms
constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The jointed spout or shoot, Figure 5, constructed and
employed in combination with the elevator, substantially as and for
the
purpose set forth.

page_text: Seventh. The elevator and conveyors constructed and arranged to
act together for elevating and conveying the cargo from a vessel to a
warehouse and for other like purposes, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR. (L.S.)