Improvements in or relating to Dumping Cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in 17th Dec.,
Canada),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd June, 1889
Complete Specification Loft, 1st Mar, 1800 Accepted, 5th Apr
1888
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Dumping Cars.
1, JOSEPH DUFF of Lansing, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Grain Merchant, but
now temporarily residing in England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to dumping cars such as are used in constructing and
ballasting railroads, excavating and filling in, canal and dock building, for carrying
ores, mining coal, and like purposes.
Dumping cars constructed according to my invention are applicable for use either
singly or in a train, and the main feature is the tilting of the car (thus discharging
the contents) by means of compressed air arrangements connected with each car and
with a suitable compressor located upon the engine, tender, or upon any special car
or van included in the train.
A convenient arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my invention will now be
described.
To avoid complication, I will not describe the truck or wheels of the car, these
being of any suitable construction and connected with the platform or car frame in
the usual or any approved manner.
I provide a main platform, bed, or frame of any suitable configuration, the
apparatus which immediately accomplishes the discharge of the load being situated
on the upper side of this platform, while the air cylinders which are connected
with the entire system, and their immediate adjuncts, are preferably carried below
the platform.
The tilting box or bucket is, in this case, made preferably in the form of a double
scoop, to increase its capacity, and also in order to allow the load to be discharged at
either side of the track.
The apparatus is, in every case, made double (with the exception of certain springs
which are transferable from one position to another), this being for the purpose of
allowing dumping to take place from either side of the car, but as the apparatus is
fixed at starting so that it will only work in one direction, I will first simply describe
the different parts in one position, but will hereinafter explain their double or
alternative operation.
The box is journalled in suitable standards carried on the upper side of the platform,
and to the projecting end of the axis of such box I mount a segmental gear, and
arrange the same to mesh into a sliding rack moving in proper guides upon the
platform, and said sliding rack has two transverse slots (only the former of which is
now in operation for the reason above explained), this slot being adapted to receive
a pin projecting from a sliding bar parallel with the said rack, which travels close
alongside another longitudinally slotted or grooved bar, between which and a similar
bar lying parallel therewith at or near the edge of the platform, the operating
cylinder is located. This cylinder is adapted for use with compressed air and has at
its ends two chambers, (one of which is only now in operation) said chambers being
supplied through two short branches, which in turn communicate with a longitudinal
pipe, from which flexible pipes lead down to the air cylinders underneath the platform.
There is a piston working in the cylinder and adapted to be operated from either of

page_text: the said chambers; this piston, by preference, does not enter these chambers but the
piston rod passes out through the heads of both and carries upon its ends cross-heads,
which work in the grooved longitudinal bars aforesaid....
Two main air pipes lead from the compressor,.-and are connected between the
cars of the train as usual, say in air brakes, or in any approved, manner. The first
pipe connects with an air cylinder carried underneath the platform having a sliding
valve or piston, a continuation pipe leading off to the next car from a port in the
same manner as that described in another application for Patent No. 9190 bearing
even date herewith.
1
One of the flexible pipes above mentioned also connects with this first air cylinder
at a port, and from another port connection is made by a short pipe with a reservoir
(or reserve cylinder) which, in turn, is supplied by the second air pipe extending
throughout the train as in my said application, No. 9190 aforesaid this reservoir
being also in communication by a pipe with an extra cylinder, which is for the
purpose of operating the single car, the same being thrown into operation by means
of a pivoted hand lever, in all respects similar in construction and operation to that
described in my application, No. 9190 aforesaid and therefore needing no description
here, further than to say that one of the flexible pipes leads from this cylinder to
the long pipe aforesaid, and to the chamber of the operating cylinder. Cocks
are provided in the long pipe and short branches, the use of which will be herein-
after explained.
When the box or bucket is at rest in its horizontal position and the piston is close
up to the chamber at one end of the cylinder, springs are connected to one cross-
head and to the tops of the grooved bars, thus retaining the parts in position, that
is, just ready for this particular car to be dumped, it being understood that, when
the hand lever is thrown inwards, it opens the connections between the extra
cylinder and the flexible pipe, and the cocks being opened previously, air is admitted
to the chamber of the cylinder, and thus forces back the piston, the piston rod
drawing upon the sliding bar and causing it to travel longitudinally until the pin
carried thereby is at the opposite end of the slot in the sliding rack, when, by pressure
against said opposite end of the slot, it forces said rack along the guides, and by
leverage between said rack and the segmental gear, causes the box to tilt to one side,
and thus discharge the load in that direction. When the hand lever is locked in
its outward position, the bucket is in its normal position and the air shut off.
Small rollers impinge upon the upper edge of the sliding bar, and are held down
upon same by being journalled in the upper end of vertical bars, the same passing
down through apertures in the platform and pivoted to cross-heads or cranks, which
are, in turn, pivoted centrally to hangers depending from the lower side of the
platform, to the opposite ends of said cross-heads or cranks are pivoted two vertical
locking bars, which, in turn, pass up through the platform close behind the sliding
rack, and the segmental gear which has a projection on its side against which the
locking bars will bear alternately according to the direction in which the box is to
be tilted, thus holding it firmly in its normal position. Springs also extend from the
platform into connection with the cross-heads near their junction with the locking
bars, and thus give the requisite tension to the latter.
In dumping the car as before mentioned, the movement of the sliding bar underneath
the rollers will serve to bring the same into position, when one roller descends the
incline (assisted by the drawing action of the spring), and, at the same time, another
roller ascends the incline at the opposite end of the bar and rides upon its upper
edge. These rollers and their connections serve to stiffen the action and support the
operation of the cylinder.
When it is desired to tilt the box in the reverse direction, the springs are released
from the cross-heads and connected to the other cross-head, the cocks being closed
and the extra cylinder also shut off from the air pressure from the cylinder, by locking
the hand lever in its outward position, the first main air pipe and the first air cylinder,
then supplying the pressure to the other chamber of the cylinder, and thus acting
upon the piston from that end. The cocks are now open, and the connection for the

page_text: air being made by the other flexible pipe, the continuation pipe leading to the
next car being closed off by a proper cock if it is not desired to dump more
than one car load at a time, or left open if the adjoining car is to be operated
upon.
It is understood that a general system of cocks will be provided for the several
air pipes, and the system of valves in the air cylinders will be the same as those
described in my other application, or any other well known or suitable arrangement
may be adopted at the discretion of the builder, these being points not involving any
special invention for the present case, and therefore it is not necesssary that I should
further illustrate or explain them.
In place of the toothed segment and sliding rack, I may adopt a system of levers
for tilting the box. In this case, I affix rigidly to the shaft of the box, a cross-head,
and to the ends thereof I pivot levers which extends downwards (preferably through
the platform) and are again pivoted to another cross-head, which is firmly fixed upon
a short shaft properly journalled in hangers from the platform; to this shaft is firmly
connected an upright lever adapted to oscillate therewith, and in the upper end of
same I form two L-shaped grooves or slots, in either one of which the pin carried
by the sliding bar will be inserted according to the direction in which the dumping
or tilting of the box is to be made.
The operation of the sliding bar, the rollers, and their connections, and the
cylinder and its connections being precisely the same, and the segment and rack,
being, mechanically speaking, levers, this modification will require no further
description.
I may further vary the details of construction and modify the arrangements of
parts without departing from the principles of my invention.
Dated this 27th day of May 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Dumping Cars.
I, JOSEPH DUFF of Lansing, Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Grain Merchant, but
now temporarily residing in England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to dumping-cars such as are used in constructing and ballasting
railroads, excavating and filling in, canal and dock building, for carrying ores, mining
coal, and like purposes.
Dumping-cars constructed according to my invention are applicable for use
either singly or in a train, and the main feature is the tilting of the car (thus dis-
charging the contents) by means of a compressed-air arrangement connected with each
car and with a suitable compressor located upon the engine, tender, or upon any special
car or van included in the train.
A convenient arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my invention is shown in
the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and, for full compre-
hension of the principles and details of construction, reference must be had thereto,
similar letters of reference indicating like parts.
In said drawings :
Figure 1 is a plan (top) view of a dumping-car constructed according to my present
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan looking at the underside of the main platform.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line X X, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on line Y Y, Figure 1, the bucket being at
rest.
Figure 5 is an end view of the car, the bucket being represented as tilted or
in position for discharging the load.

page_text: Figure 6 is a sectional end view showing a modification of the tilting arrange:
ment.
Figure 7 is a detail of the air-cylinder and sliding-valve.
To avoid complication, I have not shown the truck or wheels of the car, but simply
indicate their general position by dotted lines, these being of any suitable construction
and connected with the platform or car-frame in the usual or any approved
manner.
A, represents the main platform, bed or frame of any suitable configuration, the
apparatus which immediately accomplishes the discharge of the load being situated on
the upper side of this platform, while the air-cylinders, which are connected with the
entire system, and their immediate adjuncts, are preferably carried below the
platform.
B is the tilting box or bucket, in this case made, preferably, in the form of a double
scoop to increase its capacity, and also in order to allow the load to be discharged at
at either side of the track.
The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is, in every case, made double, (with the
exception of certain springs, which are transferable from one position to another) this
being for the purpose of allowing dumping to take place from either side of the car;
but as the apparatus is fixed in starting, so that it will only work in one direction,
I have simply shown the different parts in the one position, but will hereinafter
explain their double or alternative operation.
The box B is journalled in suitable standards bb, carried on the upper side of the
platform, and to the projecting end of the axis of such box I mount a segmental
gear C, and arrange the same to mesh into a sliding rack D, moving in proper
guides a a upon the platform, and said sliding rack has two transverse slots dd', (only
the former of which is now in operation for the reason above explained) this slot being
adapted to receive a pin e projecting from a sliding bar E parallel with the rack D,
which travels close alongside a longitudinally slotted or grooved bar F, between which
and a similar bar F¹, lying parallel therewith at or near the edge of the platform A,
the operating-cylinder G is located. This cylinder is adapted for use with compressed
air, and has at its ends chambers g g', (the former of which is only now in operation)
said chambers being supplied through short branches marked 92 93, respectively, which
in turn communicate with a longitudinal pipe 9, from which flexible pipes 9 and 9ª
lead down to the air-cylinders underneath the platform.
G¹ is a piston working in the cylinder G and adapted to be operated from either of
the chambers g g¹. This piston, by preference, does not enter these chambers; but
the piston-rod G2 passes out through the heads of both, and carries upon its ends
cross-heads G³ G, which work in the grooved longitudinal bars F F¹, as shown
particularly in Figure 1.
K and L are the main air-pipes leading from the compressor (not shown) and
connected between the cars of the train, as usual-say in air-brakes-or in any
approved manner. The former pipe connects with an air-cylinder K₁, carried under-
neath the platform, having a sliding valve or piston K2, (shown in detail in Figure 7)
the continuation-pipe (also marked K) leading off to the next car from the port k in
the same manner as that described in another application for patent No. 9190 bearing
even date herewith. The pipe g also connects with this cylinder K' at a port k¹,
and, from a port k³, connection is made by a short pipe with a reservoir (or reserve
cylinder) L, which in turn is supplied by the pipe L, extending throughout the train,:
as in my said former application, this reservoir being also in communication by a
pipe with an extra cylinder M, (shown in Figure 5 and dotted in Figure 2)
which is for the purpose of operating the single car, the same being thrown into
operation by means of a pivoted hand-lever N, in all respects similar in construction
and operation to that described in my former application, and therefore needing
no description here, further than to say that the pipe 9 leads from this cylinder
to the pipe g and to the chamber g of the operating-cylinder G.
22 and 33 are cocks in the pipe 9' and branches 939³, respectively, the use of which
will be hereinafter explained,

page_text: When the box or bucket B is at rest in its horizontal position and the piston G¹ is
close up to the chamber g, springs 5 5 are connected to the cross-head G and to the
tops of the bars F F¹ by means of eyes on the springs being slipped over hooks or
studs on the said cross heads & bars and thus retain the parts in the position shown
in Figure 1-that is, just ready for this particular car to be dumped-it being under-
stood that, when the hand-lever N is thrown inward, it opens the connections between
the extra cylinder M and the pipe 98, as in Figure 2, and the cocks 22 being opened
previously, air is admitted to the chamber g of the cylinder G, and thus forces back
the piston G', the piston-rod drawing upon the sliding har E, to which it is securely
connected by means of cross heads G³ G³ and causing it to travel longitudinally until
the pine is at the opposite end of the slot d in the sliding rack D, when, by pressure
against said opposite end of the slot, it forces said rack along the guides a a, and, by
leverage between said rack and the segmental gear C, causes the box B to tilt in the
direction shown in Figure 5, and thus discharge the load in that direction. When
the hand-lever N is locked in its outward position, the bucket is in its normal position
and the air shut off.
P P are small rollers impinging upon the upper edge of the sliding bar E and
held down upon same by being journalled in the upper ends of vertical bars P2 P3,
the same passing down through apertures in the platform A and pivoted to cross-
heads or cranks QQ, which are in turn pivoted centrally to hangers Q' Q³,
depending from the lower side of the platform. To the opposite ends of said
cross-heads or cranks are pivoted vertical locking-bars R R', which in turn pass
up through the platform close behind the sliding rack D and segmental gear C,
which has a projection on its side, against which the locking-bars R R¹ will
bear alternately according to the direction in which the box is to be tilted, thus
holding it firmly in its normal position. Springs also extend from the platform
into connection with the cross-heads QQ near their junction with the locking-bars,
and thus give the requisite tension to the latter.
2°
In dumping the car, as before mentioned, the movement of the sliding bar E
underneath the rollers P P¹ will serve to bring the same into the position shown in
Figure 5, when the roller P descends the incline e¹, (assisted by the drawing action of
the spring ) and at the same time, the roller Pi ascends the incline e² at the opposite
end of the bar E and rides upon its upper edge or into the position shown in said
Figure 5. These rollers and their connections serve to stiffen the action and support
the operation of the cylinder G.
When it is desired to tilt the box B in the reverse direction, the springs 55 are
released from the cross-head G₁ and connected to the cross-head G³, the cocks 22
being closed and the extra cylinder M also shut off from the air-pressure from the
cylinder L' by locking the hand-lever N in its outward position, the main air-pipe K
and the cylinder K¹ then supplying the pressure to the chamber g' of the cylinder G
through pipes 9, 9, and g³, and thus acting upon the piston from that end. The
cocks 33 are now opened and the connection for the air made by the pipe 98, the
continuation-pipe K leading to the next car being closed off by a proper cock if it is
not desired to dump more than the one car-load at a time, or left open if the adjoining
car is to be operated upon.
It is to be understood that a general system of cocks will be provided for the several
air-pipes, and the system of valves in the air-cylinders will be the same as those
described in my other application; or any other well known or suitable arrangement
may be adopted at the discretion of the builder, these being points not involving any
special invention for the present case, and therefore it is not necessary that I should
further illustrate or explain them.
In place of the toothed segment C and sliding rack D, I may adopt a system of
levers such as I have shown in the modification, Figure 6, for tilting the box B. In
this case, I affix rigidly to the shaft of the box, a cross-head S, and to the ends
thereof, I pivot levers T T¹, which extend downward (preferably through the plat-
form A) and are again pivoted to another cross-head U, which is firmly fixed upon a
short shaft V, properly journalled in hangers V¹ from the platform. To this shaft is

page_text: firmly connected an upright lever W, adapted. to oscillate therewith, and, in the
upper end of same, I form two L-shaped grooves or slots w w¹, in either one of which
the pin e, carried by the sliding bar E, will be inserted according to the direction in
which the dumping or tilting of the box B is to be made.
The operation of the sliding bar E, the rollers P P¹ and their connections, and
the cylinder G and its connections being precisely the same, and the segment and
rack being, mechanically speaking, levers, this modification will require no further
description.
I may further vary the details of construction and modify the arrangement of parts
without departing from the principles of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. In combination, the main frame, the bucket pivoted to tilt in either direction, a
cylinder, a piston therein, pipe-connections from the ends of the cylinder to a suitable
fluid-power supply, and operating-connections between the piston and the bucket,
whereby it may be tilted in either direction by the piston, substantially as
described.
2. In combination, the main frame, the bucket pivoted to tilt in either direction, a
cylinder, a piston therein having its piston rod extending through the cylinder head,
pipe-connections from a source of power leading to the two ends of the cylinder, a
sliding bar in connection with the piston rod, and operating-connections between said
bar and the pivoted bucket, substantially as described.
3. In a dumping-car, the combination, with a main platform and a box or bucket
carried thereby and capable of being tilted in either direction, of a compressed-air
cylinder carried by such platform and having cross-heads in connection with its piston
rod operating said sliding frame, and adapted to move the latter in either direction
longitudinally, an air-cylinder having a sliding valve and supplied from an ordinary
compressor, and connected to both ends of said operating-cylinder substantially as and
for the purpose.described.
4. In a dumping-car, the combination, with the platform and a bucket adapted to
be tilted in either direction, of the segmental gear C, connected with said box or
bucket, sliding rack D, having slots dd, sliding bar E, having pin e fitting into one
of said slots, and compressed-air cylinder G, the piston-rod of which has cross-heads
in connection with said sliding bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In combination, the main platform, the bucket pivoted to tilt in either direction,
locking-bars R R¹, for holding the bucket in position, a cylinder having pipe-connec-
tions from each end to a source of power, whereby the piston therein may be moved
in either direction; and operating-connections from the piston to the bucket, said
connections acting upon the bars R R to withdraw one or the other to allow the
bucket to turn, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the segmental gear C, baving projections C³, and with
the sliding bar E, of the rollers P P¹, vertical bars P² P³, carrying said rollers, cross-
heads or cranks QQ, hung from the platform and connected with the lower ends of
said. bars, the locking bars R R', adapted to lock the segmental gear, and suitable
tension-springs, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. The combination, with the sliding bar E and cylinder G, having chambers g
and g', a single piston, and a piston-rod with cross-heads G³ and G₁ on its ends, of
the air-pipe 9, connected to the chambers of said operating-cylinder and to the
air-cylinders K¹ and M, and air-pipes K and L, all arranged substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of February 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.