IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COAL STAITHS OR TIPS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WATKIN PRICE, of 5, Pembroke Terrace, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan,
Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COAL STAITHS OR TIPS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-.
The improvements in the construction of coal staiths or tips which constitute
this invention consist, firstly, in reducing and simplifying the machinery for raising
and lowering the cradle, in so arranging the said machinery its attendant gear and
attachments to the cradle and the balance weights, that an even ascent and descent
of the cradle is obtained, and, further, in the disposition of the weights whereby
their weight acts constantly against the cradle and any load thereon and also tends
to counterbalance with increased precision the varying strain due to the change of
level at which a load may be tipped into the shute Also, the weights, being placed
at the side opposite to that at which the load is discharged, the tendency of the
structure constituting the staith to be inclined to the latter side is thereby
counteracted.
The improvements effected under this invention consist, secondly, in reducing
and simplifying the machinery used in tipping or tilting loaded wagons to discharge
the contents thereof into the shute, in so arranging the said machinery, its
attendant gear, and attachments to the balance weight, as to dispense with the
necessity of and labor consequent on attaching and detaching the hauling chains
when admitting wagons to or withdrawing them from the cradle, and, further, in
the disposition of the balance weight for the more profitable utilization thereof.
Thirdly, the improvements comprised in this invention consist in reducing and
simplifying the machinery used in raising and lowering the point and butt of the
shute by which the coal is conducted from the point of discharge into the hold of
the vessel and in the method of actuating the same.
Referring to the annexed sheet of illustrative drawings, Figs 1, 2 and 3 thereon
represent respectively a plan, side elevation, and a front elevation of a coal staith
constructed and arranged partly in accordance with one method comprised in my
said invention.
Carried in bearings towards the rear end of the machinery stage P is the shaft O
upon which are secured the pullies A, A¹-one at each side each of which
pullies A, A', is furnished with a central rib or flange dividing it into two equal
divisions.

page_text: Four flat ropes a, a¹ and a² a³-see Figs 2 and 3-of wire or other suitable
material are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the machinery stage P.
These ropes are attached to the cradle F and to the balance or counter-
weights G, G. One rope a of the pair a a¹ is connected at its proper side to the
front end of the cradle F at f, f, ƒ, (Fig 2) and, passing over the guide pulley E at
that side and thence over the inner division of the pulley A at that side, is secured
to the balance or counter weight G. The other rope a¹ of the pair is connected to
the tail of the cradle F at d, d and, passing back over the outer division of the said
pulley A, is likewise secured to the balance or counter weight G. The pair of
ropes a² a³ at the other side of the stage P are similarly arranged and attached to
the cradle F and the balance or counterweight G¹.
The descent of the cradle F with a loaded wagon and its ascent with the empty
wagon are controlled by the one brake b embracing the one brake wheel B instead
of, as heretofore, by two brakes and brake wheels-The brake is applied from the
hand lever b' through the connecting levers and rods b².
It will be seen that the cradle F is worked from one set of machinery and its
attendant gear, and the liability, hitherto obtaining in coal staiths and similar
structures, of the cradle to ascend or descend unevenly and the possibility of its
becoming jammed between the guides of the main uprights R R¹ is obviated or
lessened. Hence the cradle may be of reduced depth and weight. The weights G
and G¹ act constantly against the cradle, and, consequently, their combined weight
always tends to counterbalance it and the load received by it Also, being placed
at the rear of the staith, the weights assist to counteract any tendency of the
structure to become inclined or tilted towards the front. The guy ropes or other
ties ordinarily used for the purpose of tying back the staith may, consequently, be
dispensed with.
At Fig: 4 is indicated in part plan, and at Fig: 5 in part side elevation, a modified
method of arranging the machinery, balance weights and attendant gear for
working the cradle-Under this method the ropes employed are six in number
and they are arranged in sets of three at opposite sides of the machinery stage P.
The outer rope of one set is secured at one end to the balance weight G, and at the
other end to an arm or spoke of the pulley D Similarly, the corresponding rope
of the set opposite is connected to the balance weight G¹ and to an arm or spoke of
the pulley D'. The ropes on the pulleys A, A¹ are each secured at one end to an
arm or spoke of their respective pulleys, and at the other end to the tail and front
end of the cradle in a manner corresponding to that herein before described with
reference to Figs 1, 2 and 3. Under this modification, any tendency of the ropes to
slip on the peripheries of the pulleys, which is more especially liable to occur in
cases where the vertical travel of the cradle is great, is prevented.
Fig 6 illustrates, in part plan, a modification under which round ropes are
The
employed. The peripheries of the pulleys A, A' are grooved spirally.
attachments to the weights G, G¹ and to the cradle are similarly arranged as above
described with reference to Figs: 1, 2 and 3. The ropes in being placed in position
are, however, coiled once on the pullies A, A'¹ in the proper grooves thereof and,
consequently, in the ascent or descent of the cradle, the coils follow one another
in regular succession in the grooves and do not overlap one another. The above
mentioned tendency of the ropes to slip is also thus provided against.
The improvements, embodied in my said invention, which relate to the machinery
and gear by which the wagons are inclined or tipped to discharge their loads into
the shute are illustrated in the part front elevation shown at Fig 7 on the annexed
sheet of drawings and also partly seen in Figs 1, 2 and 3. The chain c, through
the medium of which the tipper T is operated, is passed under the pulleys P, P
secured in a vibrating girder at opposite sides of the tail of the tipper T and
conducted over the pullies 21, 2¹ secured to the machinery stage Pat one side of
which the said chain c is attached to the balance weight w, which assists with the
weights G G to balance the cradle and loaded wagon. Upon the chain c is carried
the adjustable stop block o-see Fig: 7. Carried on the rail stage R. are the 'stop

page_text: bars 7, the chain o being passed between them. At the end opposite to the weight w
the chain o is attached to a hydraulic ram or winch which is brought into requi-
sition only when it is desired to tip the wagons at or near the rail level.
The stop block o being adjusted on the chain c at the desired point, and the
loaded wagon being received on the cradle, the latter descends and the balance
weight wis drawn up. The block o coming into contact with the stop bars the
further descent of the tail end of the tipper T is arrested accordingly and tipped with
its load on the pivot shaft t for discharge of the load at a degree of inclination
governed by the brake b acting on the cradle as desired. After discharge, the
wagon and tipper are caused to resume a horizontal position as the cradle ascends,
the ascent being regulated by the brake b acting on the weights G G¹. The chain c
is drawn back to its normal position by the weight was the cradle ascends.
No detachment of the chain from the tipper to admit a wagon to the cradle, or
attachment thereto after the admission of a wagon, is required. The combined
weight of the weights G G³ and w acts, as aforesaid, against the cradle to counter-
balance it and its load.
The improvements relating to the machinery employed for raising and lowering
the butt and point of the shute are illustrated at Figs 1, 2 and 3 on the annexed
sheet of drawings.
Supported in bearings secured upon the machinery stage P are the shafts ; and k
extending transversely across the stage towards the front thereof On the shaft j
are carried the fixed pulleys J. J. and J'. One end of the rope j' is secured to an
arm or spoke of the pulley J¹, the other end being connected to the balance
weight w. The ropes 1, 2 are secured each at one end to an arm or spoke of its
respective pulley J and at the other end to the rear or butt of the shute M. On
the shaft are carried the fixed pullies K, K. and K¹. One end of the rope / is
secured to the balance weight w, the other end being connected to an arm or
spoke of the pulley K'. The ropes ², are secured each at one end to an arm
or spoke of its respective pulley K and at the other to the shute M towards the
point or outer end thereof."
The shaft carries a bevel wheel and collar s formed in one piece with the
pinion . The combined bevel wheel and collar and pinion are loose upon the
shaft. Beyond the pinion is the spur wheel also carried loose upon the shaft k
and independent of the bevel wheels and pinion 7. The shaft carries a pinion i
formed in one piece with the spur wheel i, the combined spur wheel and pinion
being loose on the shaft. Upon the shaft j is a clutch v, and upon the shaft ka
clutch The shaft m¹ which carries the bevel wheel s¹ gearing with the bevel
wheels is rotated when desired by means of the handle m and bevel gearing n.
In order to rotate the shaft j to raise or lower the butt of the shute independently
of the point thereof the clutch is thrown into gear to cause rotation of the shaft j
with rotation of the bevel wheels and pinion and spur wheel i¹. Similarly, the
point of the shute may be raised or lowered independently of the butt, the clutch v
aforesaid being thrown out of gear, and the clutch on the shaft k being thrown
into gear to cause revolution of the said shaft k. When it is required to raise the
point and lower the butt of the shute or vice versa, both of the clutches are thrown
into gear and the handle m is rotated accordingly.
The winches or crabs, with attendant tackle and mechanism, hitherto employed
for the purpose of working the shute, are under this invention, dispensed with.
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
1st The arrangements and simplification of the machinery, and the disposition
of the cradle counter-weights, for effecting and controlling the vertical travel of
the cradle, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated at Figs 1 to 6
on the annexed sheet of drawings, the power being applied through one set of
machinery and governed by one brake wheel; whereby the cradle is caused to
ascend and descend in an uniform horizontal plane, and the counterweights are

page_text: more efficiently utilized in acting upon the cradle and the load tliereof and in
assisting to maintain the stability of the structure against any tendency to leän
or become tilted towards the front.
2nd_The method of and the simplified arrangement of machinery and disposal
of the tipping chain for inclining or tilting the tipper and wagon, whereby the
tipping is automatically effected at points below the high or rail level, and the
necessity of coupling the tipping chain to and disconecting it from the tipper
when receiving a wagon on or when removing a wagon from the cradle obviated,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the
drawings.
3rd The arrangement, disposition and simplification of the machinery for raising
and lowering and inclining the shute, whereby the latter niày be raised and
lowered bodily or the butt raised or lowered independently of the point or the
point raised or lowered independently of the butt through the inedium of one
double set of pinions and spur wheels operated from one handle to rotate
the shafts from the pulleys on which the shute is suspended, substantially as
herein before described and shown at Figs 1, 2 and 8 of the annexed sheet of
drawings.