Improved Apparatus for Transferring Waggons On and Off Movable Coal Tips.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Transferring Waggons On and Off Movable
Coal Tips.
I, SAMUEL WESLEY ALLEN, of Exchange Buildings, Mount Stuart Square, Bute
Docks, Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for transferring loaded waggons
from the sidings on to the cradles of movable tips, and the same waggons, when empty,
from the tip-cradles back to the sidings; and consists in improved double movable
turn-tables, hydraulic apparatus for turning thein, movable and adjustable connections
between the fixed portions of the sidings and the said turntables, and connections for
establishing a working communication between the sidings and several tips at work on
the same dock-side.
According to the first part of my invention, I lay the full and empty sidings parallel
to the dock-wall, and as close to the tip-way as may be found convenient. The full
siding is next to the tip, and the empty one is laid alongside at a suitable distance.
By this term "full siding," I mean the siding the full waggons run on, and by
empty siding "I mean, conversly, the siding along which the empty waggons run
from the tip to the fixed portion of the siding.
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A suitable permanent way is laid parallel with the tip-way for the improved double
turntables, and as near to the said tip-way as will bring the said tables as close up to -
the backs of the respective tips, as practicable.
Each double turntable, or pair of tables, is adapted to be moved to and fro upon its
way, so as to accompany its tip when the latter has to be shifted into a fresh working
position, or to be worked with another. For this purpose I prefer to mount the frame
of the table on wheels. Screw gear is provided by means of which the frame can be
let down upon its way, after it has been moved thereupon into its new position, so that
it may stand firmly and steadily, and be also lifted up off the said way when it has to
be moved again.
The two tables of a pair are aligned as far as regards the through or siding lines
with the full and empty sidings respectively, and are in respect of their tip lines at
right angles with the dock wall; so that when a full waggon is brought onto the table
from the full siding, and turned through a right angle, it will be in a position for being
run on to the tip-cradle. When it is returned to the bottom of the tip, empty, it is
run off the cradle over the full table, and onto the empty table. The latter is then
turned through a quarter circle, and the empty waggon run off it to the empty siding.
Hitherto turntables have been turned either by hand or by a hydraulic capstan.
This latter has been found to be very extravagant in respect of the water power it
absorbs. Now, according to this part of my invention, I replace the hydraulic
capstan by a pair of rams fitted to each table, so that I can exert a direct pull upon
the table without any waste of water power, inasmuch as there cannot be with my
improved hydraulic apparatus, any expenditure of water power without a corresponding
motion of the turntable about its axis. The rams with their cylinders and connections
are fixed to or within the respective table-frames, and suitable flexible pipe connections
are provided for the supply of the water power.
It has already been pointed out that each double turntable is movable upon the
turntable-way. As much, therefore, of the sidings as occupies the maximum distance
along which the tables can be moved, must also be movable and adjustable, so as to
make up between the said way and table, it being a feature of my invention that the
rails on the table are on the same level as the fixed portion of the siding.

page_text: connected by ties s. t, t are a pair of timbers, and u, u are the rails thereupon.
It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the main timbers g and d being on a level, the
nails u, u will make up fairly to the rails of the turntables.
Referring to Fig. 7, V is the triangular arrangement of rails. 0, 0, P P, are
respectively the full and the empty sidings at an angle with the dock wall A,
instead of parallel with it. C, clare the turntables; and B, B, the tips. The full
waggons are run off the turntables along one of the connecting pairs of rails of
the triangle V on to the cradle of the respective tip B.
The tables at Z are made to align with the rails; and are not at right angles
with the sidings. In this case, the waggons run directly to the turntables from
the tip without being further traversed. In the case of tables made at right angles
with the siding as shown at Y, it will be necessary that they should be made to
turn through more than a quarter of a circle so as to enable them to align, in turn,
with the sidings and the rails of the triangle.
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 with a pair of sidings of a double turntable movable thereon
and adapted to receive a full waggon from one siding, convey it to the tip, receive the
empty one back, and transfer it to the empty siding, as set forth.
2. The combination with a turntable, of a pair of hydraulic cylinders adapted to act
alternately, and a groove and rope device by which the power of each ram may be in
turn brought to bear upon the said table as set forth.
3. In apparatus for dealing with coal in waggons and transferring the waggons
from sidings to the tip and back again, the combination of double turntables and
sidings in sections, both sections and turntables being of the same depth, and on bases
on the same level, so that the rails upon both shall be common to both and to the fixed
portions of the sidings as set forth.
BROOK IS 1 day of December
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.