Improvements in Screening, Sorting, Weighing, Sacking, and Loading Coal.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left 11th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Mar., 1889
Improvements in Screening, Sorting, Weighing, Sacking, and
Loading Coal.
I THOMAS FREEMAN of Florence, Stoke on Trent, in the County of Stafford
Colliery Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The Coal when brought to the surface is deposited by Shoots or directly tipped from
the Pit Tubs on to a Steel, Metal, or any other Band, of a convenient width having
apertures perforations or sieves therein, and which Band has a twofold action viz. an
oscillatory movement whereby the finer parts known as slack are shaken through, and
that which remains on the surface of the Band is carried by the other action in a
vertical direction, the said Band working on rollers or any thing of a rotatory
character that will secure its progression. Whilst the Coal is thus carried forward
the larger lumps that are not suitable for bagging, or to be placed in Sacks can be
taken off the Band for loading into carts or Railway Wagons and any bass, bind, or
dirt can also be removed. At the point where the Band revolves round the final
roller the Coal drops into hoppers, moveable platform, or shoots, whence it falls into
Sacks or bags resting on weighing tables. The required weight being registered,
and the Sacks removed, the contents are secured by a pin or wire passed through
eyelets, and a seal is stamped attesting full weight which cannot be tampered with in
transit by Road or Rail without detection.
The Slack or Fine Coal which has passed through the apertures, perforations, or
sieves, falls on to sloping shoots into wagons, or other receptacles, which can
either be placed between the upper and lower parts of the travelling Band or
underneath both.
I claim by this invention a more effectual way of separating the coal from Slack
and Bats, less deterioration in quality by exposure of Coal in open wagons to the
action of the weather, great economy in labor through not having to handle Coal more
than once, reduced quantity of Slack made, and saving in Wharfage charges to the
Coal Merchant.
"
G. E. FREEMAN & Co.,
The Crescent, Longton, Staffordshire,
For the Petitioner.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Screening, Sorting, Weighing, Sacking, and
Loading Coal.
I THOMAS FREEMAN of Florence Stoke on Trent in the County of Stafford Colliery
Agent 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 and accompanying drawings:-
The principal objects of my Invention are to lessen the loss and reduction of quality
arising during the screening sorting and transit of coal and to supply the coal to the
consumer in packages which shall be more reliable in respect of weight and quality as
compared with packages which are used in the present system of supply. The coal
when brought to the surface is deposited directly or by means of a shoot or of shoots
upon one end of a travelling screen which has vibrating or shaking movements to
facilitate the screening. This screen delivers on to a travelling apron.. During the
passage forward of the coal upon the screen or upon the screen and apron the coal is
picked over for the removal of bass, stones and other undesirable substances and of
lumps which may be considered too large for packing purposes. From the travelling
apron the coal is delivered to sets of weighing and sack filling apparatus. The
filled sacks are preferably adapted to be closed in such a manner as that they
cannot readily he re-opened in transit to the consumer without detection by
the latter.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same more
fully with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 and 2 are diagrams
illustrative of the nature of the apparatus which I propose to employ Fig. 1 being
Side Elevation and Fig. 2 a Plan.
a
In the said Figs. A represents the said travelling screen and B the said travelling
apron. The said screen might consist of a number of metal links jointed together in
the manner indicated by Fig. 3 so as to form a broad endless chain or flexible grating,
or the screen might consist of gratings or slotted or perforated plates hinged together
or be otherwise suitably constructed and adapted to permit the passage through the
screen of slack and fine dirt. This screen is mounted upon two drums b, b' which in
the example are of a polygonal form to suit the linked formation of the screen. The
screen would also be suitably supported at intervals by means of carrying rollers.
Such rollers are indicated by c. c. The drum bis fixed upon a shaft which is con-
nected by gearing d with a steam engine or prime mover E whereby a revolving
motion is imparted to the said drum and the screen is caused to travel at a suitable
speed the upper surface moving in the direction indicated by the arrow. The coal
tipped or discharged on to the receiving end at b is thus carried forward and the
screened coal is discharged at b¹. In addition to this travelling movement a "jigging"
or shaking movement is imparted to the screen at intervals in its length so as to
facilitate the screening action. In Fig. 1 e. e are shafts which would be provided
with cams, tappets or shaking appliances. Fig. 4 illustrates a form of cam which
may be employed for the purpose. It will be seen that the said cam is hexagonal
in form. The shafts e. e are all connected together and to the main shaft at ¹ by

page_text: "
ג,
means of a pitch chain and of chain wheels or of two or more pitch chains or by'
means of a side shaft and bevel gearing or by suitable means or are otherwise
connected with the prime mover or with a source of driving power. As the screen
travels the cams shake the screen or the tappets or wipers which may be employed
for the purpose strike or lift and let fall the screen so as to impart the required
jigging dithering" or shaking movements. Fig. 5 illustrates another method
which may be employed for the purpose. In this example the links are shown as
being formed with inclines -on the undersides so that as the screen would be drawn
forward over rollers or fixed supports the links would be alternately slowly raised
and quickly dropped. As the coal is carried forward it is or may be picked over as
aforesaid. The remaining screened picked and sorted coal is discharged on to the
travelling apron B, which is mounted upon drums and is sustained by means of
rollers as in the case of the travelling screen. The apron receives motion from the.
main shaft which is driven by the prime mover. As this apron is not intended to act
as a screen it may have a close face and may consist of plates linked together or of
metal links or frames covered with sheet metal wood or suitable material and
hinged together or may be an endless travelling belt band or apron of any suitable
construction. This apron is intended to carry forward the coal and to deliver it to
a number of weighing and sack filling machines indicated by F. F in Fig. 2.
Each machine has a hopper into which the coal is directed by an inclined guide
plate g which is fixed by one end to a vertical shaft or is arranged to be raised and
lowered so that it can be quickly turned away from above the apron or be raised
or turned up so as to clear the coal. When this guide plate is down or in the
indicated position it acts to direct a portion of the stream of coal into the hopper.
It will be seen that these plates vary in length so that as the sides of the apron
become cleared the guide plates extend more toward the centre of the apron until
at the delivery end of the apron the coal in the centre is directed to machines
situated at such end. Each hopper delivers the coal into a sack or bag. The sack
rests upon the platform of a weighing machine or is suspended from a part of a
weighing machine. The coal delivered into the hopper is discharged into the sack
until the machine indicates that the required weight has passed into the sack when
the delivery is stopped by shutting a slide or by suitable means. The hopper might
be carried by the platform of the weighing machine in which case the delivery of coal
from the apron into the hopper would be arrested on the required weight being
indicated. In such a case the coal might pass directly through the hopper into the
sack the hopper acting only as a funnel to direct the coal into the mouth of the sack
or the coal might remain in the hopper until the correct weight would be ascertained
and then be discharged into the sack by opening a valve or door. I prefer that the
mouth of the sack shall be provided with metal eyelets. Through such eyelets I
This rod may
pass a wire or rod or a flexible skewer so as to secure the mouth.
have at one end a button or enlargement which will not pass through the eyelets.
The other end of the rod would be perforated so that it could be tied or secured
to prevent withdrawal the securing cord being sealed. The seal affixed may indicate
the source of supply or the weight of the contents or both or may furnish any
indication which will serve as a warrant or guarantee as to quality and correct
quantity. Instead of the rod or wire a cord may be used or other means for
securing the mouth of the sack may be adopted so long as the fastening is sealed
or made secure so as to prevent or render difficult tampering with the contents during
transit or at any time between the filling of the sack and the delivery to the
consumer without detection by the latter." It is intended that the sacks shall be
loaded into wagons or on to trucks at or near the colliery and be taken to the
consumer without being opened before delivery. The slack passing through the
screen A would be received upon suitable inclined shoots which do not appear in
the drawings. These shoots would intercept the slack from falling upon the lower
returning portion of the screen and would convey the slack into wagons or receptacles.
If preferred the distance between the upper and lower part of the screen may be
male sufficient to admit of the wagons being brought into position directly below

page_text: the upper screen. This may be accomplished either by making the drums bl
sufficiently large or by using two drums at each end in place of one the returning part
of the screen passing through a tunnel or space below the ties of the rails upon
which the wagons travel. Although the said screen is represented in the drawings
as being horizontal it may be inclined if preferred. Any other suitable means for
screening and facilitating the packing or sorting of the coal might in some cases
be used in lieu of travelling screen. I do not confine myself to the use of the special
prime mover E as the power might be derived from engines employed for other
purposes, or in some cases water power might be available. Among the advantages
arising from my Invention are the following, namely, better means for separating
the coal from slack and bass, less deterioration in quality by exposure of the coal in
open wagons to the action of the weather, great economy in labour through not having
to handle the coal more than once, a reduction in the quantity of slack made, and a
saving in wharfage charges to the local merchant.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination of parts constructed arranged and adapted to be used sub-
stantially as and in the manner and for the purposes set forth and indicated herein before
and by the accompanying drawings.
2. A travelling screen delivering on to a travelling apron in combination with
weighing and sack filling apparatus supplied with coal by the said apron substantially
as set forth and indicated.
3. The travelling screen A-delivering on to the travelling apron B in combination
with means for shaking the said screen and with means for guiding coal from the
said apron into the hoppers of weighing and sackfilling apparatus substantially as set
forth and indicated.
4. Supplying a number of sets of weighing and sack-filling apparatus by means of
a travelling apron or belt which receives the screened and picked over coal from an
endless travelling screen on to which the coal is delivered on being brought to the
surface at the colliery substantially as set forth.
5. The travelling apron receiving the coal and carrying it forward in combination
with sets of coal weighing apparatus to which the coal is supplied by the said apron
substantially as set forth and indicated.
6. The improved method of packing and supplying coal whereby the coal is
supplied to weighing and sackfilling apparatus by means of a travelling apron or
belt which receives the coal from a screen the sacks containing the weighed quantities
of coal being closed and sealed or secured by means calculated to prevent opening of
the sacks during storage transit and delivery to the consumer substantially as
set forth.
7. Providing the mouths of coal sacks with metal eyelets and closing the mouths of
the filled sacks by means of a rod, wire or cord passed through such eyelets in com-
bination with means for sealing such rod wire or cord in order to prevent tampering
with the contents of the sacks substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of January 1889.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James' Square, Manchester,
Agents.