Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Ashes and the like from the Stoke-holds of Ships.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left. 27th May. 1899-Accepted. 26th Aug. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Ashes and the like from
the Stoke-holds of Ships.
I, JOSEPH HALLETT, of 108, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a construction of apparatus whereby ashes,
clinker and the like (hereinafter referred to as ashes) can be removed from the
stokehold of a ship and be discharged through or over the side thereof in a con-
venient and practically noiseless manner.
For this purpose in conjunction with a suitable discharge pipe arranged to
extend in a convenient direction from the stoke-hold to a point in or above one
side of the ship, there is provided a pusher, and means for reciprocating the same,
the arrangement being such that upon withdrawing the pusher, a charge of
ashes can be placed in line with or be delivered into the lower end of the pipe
and upon the next forward motion of the plunger the said charge will be forced
into the pipe, so that by repeating these operations the pipe will become gradually
filled with ashes after which each insertion of a fresh charge into the lower end
of the pipe will cause a previous charge of ashes to be discharged from the upper
end thereof.
As will be evident apparatus to operate in the manner above set forth can be
constructed in various forms.
In one arrangement, there is journalled in a suitable frame or support at the
lower end of the discharge pipe, a movable carrier that is adapted to support an
ash receptacle in line with and between the lower end of the pipe and a plunger,
and is provided with a curved segment or closing piece adapted to close the
lower similarly curved end of the pipe when the carrier is turned to one side,
means, such as a hand wheel, being provided whereby the carrier can be partly
turned in either direction. Each ash receptacle has a similar cross section to
that of the discharge pipe and is provided with a loose movable bottom which,
when the receptacle placed upon the carrier and is forced forward by the
plunger to the open end of the receptacle, is retained in that position by suit-
able means such as one or more spring catches. The arrangement is such that
the carrier can be turned to one side about an axis transverse to the pipe to allow
of an ash receptacle of the kind mentioned being placed upon it, the curved
segment then closing the lower end of the discharge pipe, and can then be
turned back so as to bring the receptacle in line with the discharge pipe and
plunger, the curved segment then uncovering the lower end of the discharge
pipe, and upon then forcing the plunger forward, it will push the movable
bottom of the ash receptacle forward and force the contents of the receptacle
into the discharge pipe. After withdrawing the plunger, the carrier can be
again turned to one side to allow of the removal of the empty receptacle and the
insertion of a full one, the segmental closing piece then retaining the ashes
within the pipe.

page_text: In another arrangement, the carrier instead of being mounted to turn about
an axis transverse to the axis of the lower end of the pipe as in the above
described arrangement, is mounted to turn about an axis parallel to that of the
pipe, or is mounted to reciprocate in a direction at right angles to or across the
lower end of the pipe and is of a size to hold two or more receptacles so that one
receptacle can be discharged whilst the other or others is or are being filled in
readiness to take its place. In this case the ash receptacles may be placed near
together so that as one leaves the discharging position the other or next recep-
tacle will immediately take its place thus enabling a closing device such as
herein before referred to, to be dispensed with.
The discharge pipe may advantageously be made of oval or like section so
that it can be arranged close up against a bulkhead in the stoke-hold and not
project unduly therefrom and be made of slightly tapering form towards its
outlet end so that it will permit ashes to pass easily therethrough. At its lower
end it is or may be provided with a bracket or projection adapted to act as a
scraper to remove any ashes that may extend above the level of the top of the
receptacle.
Any convenient means may be used for reciprocating the plunger. In one
arrangement the plunger is carried by or forms part of the rod or plunger of a
hydraulic, steam or other fluid pressure reciprocating motor, the operation of
which may be controlled by suitable tappets. When used with a pivoted carrier
of the kind herein before referred to, the plunger with part of its carrying rod
may be jointed to the outer end of the piston rod of the motor so that it can be
turned to one side to enable the carrier to be also turned to one side and a motor
of minimum stroke to be used.
In another arrangement the rod carrying the plunger is provided with a rack
with which gears a toothed wheel which may extend through the bulkhead into
the engine room and is arranged to be driven from the main or other engine
through reversing mechanism which may be of ordinary kind comprising bevel
wheels and clutch mechanism so that the rod and plunger can be readily recipro-
cated and stopped to suit requirement.
In another arrangement the rod carrying the plunger is provided with a cross
head and whereby it can be reciprocated by a pair of connecting rods from a
pair of crank discs fixed upon a shaft carried by the discharge pipe and one or
each of which is arranged to be rotated by any convenient means.
Suitable means are or may be provided whereby the driving mechanism will
be automatically thrown out of action when the plunger has completed a stroke
in either direction. Also for preventing the driving mechanism being set in
operation except when the carrier is in a position to support an ash receptacle
in line with the discharge pipe.
In another arrangement the lower end of the discharge pipe is connected to or
terminates in a bracket or bed plate formed or provided with a guideway for a
rack which is connected to a plunger arranged to reciprocate in the lower hori-
zontal portion of the pipe below an opening therein above which is a hopper
or receptacle having an inclined bottom and into which the ashes to be removed
are placed. In gear with the rack is a toothed quadrant or segment that is
oscillated by suitable means such as a suitably driven crank disc. The arrange-
ment is such that assuming the hopper or receptacle to be charged with ashes
and the plunger to be reciprocated by the toothed segment, ashes will fall into
the pipe on each backward stroke of the plunger and be pushed forward into the
pipe at each forward stroke of the plunger. For retaining the ashes in the pipe
during each backward stroke of the plunger there is provided at the forward
bottom portion of the hopper a movable block that is curved on its underside
to the same curvature as the interior of the pipe and is shaped at its upper side
to form part of the inclined bottom of the hopper. The block is fixed upon a
shaft to one end of which is fixed a weighted lever arm that is jointed to a verti-
cally movable rod provided with a tappet adapted to be raised by a pin on the

page_text: crank disc used for oscillating the toothed segment, and with a spring catch
adapted, when the rod is raised sufficiently, to automatically enter a recess in the
side of the hopper and hold up the rod, lever arm and block and to be disengaged
from the recess at the proper time by another pin on the crank disc. The
arrangement is such that when the plunger commences to move backward, the
rod and lever are released and the pivoted block caused to descend and compress
and hold the ashes in the lower part of the pipe, and on the plunger commencing
to move forward, the rod, lever and block are raised and held in the raised posi-
tion by the catch.
The toothed segment may be provided with one or more pawls, and the guide-
way in which the reciprocating rack slides may be made vertically adjustable,
the arrangement being such that by lowering the guideway, the rack can be
moved out of gear with the segment and by then bringing the pawl, or one of
them, down into gear with the rack and joining additional lengths of rack
together and to the first rack, the plunger can be moved forward by the toothed
segment throughout the whole length of the discharge pipe so as to clear the
same of any obstruction therein, and then by disengaging the pawl from the
rack and moving it into the reverse position, or by bringing the second pawl
into backward engagement with the rack, the plunger can be moved back to
its original position, after which the pawl or pawls can be moved into the inopera-
tive position and the rack raised into gear with the segment so as to be recipro-
cated therefrom as before.
The discharge pipe may be provided with one or more suitable valves that will
permit ashes to move forward but will prevent them returning. The valve or
each of them may for this purpose be connected to a spring or weighted lever
that tends to move it into a position to contract the passage through the pipe.
Dated thie 27th day of July 1898.
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Asnes and the
the Stoke-holds of Ships.
I, JOSEPH HALLETT, of 108, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, Consulting
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:-
This invention has reference to a construction of apparatus whereby ashes,
clinker and the like (hereinafter referred to as ashes) can be removed from the
stokehold of a ship and be discharged through or over the side thereof in a con-
venient and practically noiseless manner.
For this purpose in conjunction with a suitable discharge pipe arranged to
extend in a convenient direction from the stoke hold to a point in or above one
side of the ship, there is provided a pusher, and means for reciprocating the same,
the arrangement being such that upon withdrawing the pusher, a charge of
ashes can be placed in line with or be delivered into the lower end of the pipe
and upon the next forward motion of the plunger the said charge will be forced
into the pipe, so that by repeating these operations the pipe will become gradually

page_text: A
filled with ashes after which each insertion of a fresh charge into the lower end
of the pipe will cause a previous charge to be discharged from the upper end
thereof.
As will be evident apparatus to operate in the manner above set forth can be
constructed in various forms.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 is a half transverse section of a ship showing in elevation one arrange-
ment of apparatus according to this invention applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3
are views at right angles to one another and each partly in elevation and partly
in vertical section, showing to a larger scale than Fig. 1 the lower portion of
the apparatus illustrated in that figure. Fig. 4 shows a cross section of the ash
pipe.
In this arrangement, above the floor A of the stokehold there is journȧlled at 1
in a suitable frame or support 2 at the lower end of the ash discharge pipe 3, a
movable carrier 4 that is adapted to support an ash receptacle 5 in line with and
between the lower end of the pipe 3 and a plunger and is provided with a curved
segment or closing piece 7 adapted to close the lower similarly curved end of
the pipe 3 when the carrier is turned to one side, means, such as a hand wheel 8
fixed on a shaft 9 carrying a pinion 10 in gear with a circular rack 11 on the
underside of the closing piece 7, being provided whereby the said carrier can be
partly turned in either direction. The ash receptacle 5 has a similar cross
section to that of the discharge pipe 3 and is provided with a loose movable
bottom 12 which, when forced upward by the plunger 6 to the top open end of
the receptacle, is retained in that position by suitable means such as one or more
spring catches 13. The ash receptacle 5 may be made separate from and be
placed upon or within the carrier 4, or it may, as in the example shown, be made
in one piece with the carrier. The arrangement in either case is such that the
carrier 4 can be turned to one side about an axis at 1 transverse to the pipe 3
to allow of an ash receptacle of the kind mentioned being placed upon it, or
to bring the ash receptacle 5 into a position to admit of its being charged with
ashes, the curved segment 7 then closing the lower end of the discharge pipe 3,
and can then be turned back so as to bring the said receptacle in line with the
discharge pipe 3 and plunger 6, the curved segment 7 then uncovering the lower
end of the discharge pipe, so that upon then forcing the plunger forward, it will
push the movable bottom 12 of the ash receptacle forward and force the contents
of the receptacle into the discharge pipe. After withdrawing the plunger 6,
the carrier can be again turned to one side to allow of the removal of the empty
receptacle and the insertion of a full one, or the refilling of the receptacle 5,
the segmental closing piece 7 then retaining the previous charge of ashes within
the pipe 3.
The ash discharge pipe 3 may advantageously be made of oval or like section
(Fig. 4) so that it can be arranged close up against a bulkhead B in the stoke-
hold and not project unduly therefrom, and be made of a slightly tapering
form, i.e. of gradually increasing cross sectional area, towards its outlet end so
that it will permit ashes to pass easily therethrough. The pipe may however be
of circular or other desired section. The upper outlet end of the said ash pipe
is fixed opposite an opening in the side C of the ship above the water level, and
is or may be provided with a valve 3 resembling, it may be, a sluice valve,
adapted to be worked by a screw rod 3b and hand wheel 3° so that the said
outlet end of the pipe can be closed when desired.
Any convenient means may be used for reciprocating the plunger 6. In the
arrangement now being described the plunger is carried by or forms part of
the rod or plunger 14 of a hydraulic, steam or other fluid pressure reciprocating
motor 15, the operation of which may be controlled by a slide valve arranged
within a valve chest 16 and worked by a hand lever 17 through suitable connec-
tions 18. When used with a pivoted carrier 4 of the kind herein before referred
to, the plunger 6 may be curved at its upper surface to fit the similarly curved

page_text: lower surface of the movable bottom 12 to enable the carrier 4 to be turned to
one side and a motor 15 of minimum stroke to be used.
Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3 respectively showing a modi-
fied construction wherein the motor 15 instead of being fixed is provided with
hollow trunnions 15°, 15° whereby it is mounted to turn about a horizontal axis
in the frame or support 2 and is rigidly connected to the carrier 4 and ash
receptacle 5 so that all of these parts turn as one piece, fluid under pressure
being admitted through one trunnion and exhausted through the other. In
this case the movable bottom 12 of the ash receptacle 5 is rigidly connected to
the rod or plunger 14 of the motor and is moved both up and down by the latter,
there being no spring catch or catches for holding it in the raised position.
In other respects the construction and operation, of the apparatus shown in
Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3 showing another arrange-
ment in which the rod 14 carrying the plunger or movable bottom 12 of the
ash receptacle 5 is provided with a toothed rack 14" with which gears a toothed
wheel 19 fast on a shaft 20. This shaft may, as shown, extend through the
adjacent bulkhead B into the engine room and is provided with a driving
wheel 21 arranged to be driven from the main or other engine and to drive
the shaft 20 through reversing mechanism which may be of ordinary kind com-
prising bevel wheels 22 and clutch mechanism 23 so that the rod and
plunger can be readily reciprocated and stopped to suit requirement. In the
example shown, the clutch lever 24 is jointed to a screw rod 25 that extends to
the front of the apparatus in the stoke hold and is provided with a combined
hand wheel and nut 26 by which the clutch 23 can be readily operated. In this
arrangement the combined carrier 4 and ash receptacle 5 with rod 14 and rack 14ª
can turn about the shaft 20 as a centre, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.
27 is a guide roller journalled in the carrier 4 and between which and the toothed
pinion 19 the rod 14 with rack 14" works endways.
Figs. 9 and 10 show an arrangement similar to that represented in Figs. 8
and 9 but wherein the toothed wheel 19 is indirectly rotated by a rack 28 con-
nected to the pistón rod 14 of a fluid pressure motor 15 carried by the lower end
of the ash pipe 3, and gearing with a toothed wheel 19 on the same shaft as
wheel 19, the said rack being kept in gear with the toothed wheel 19" by a
guide roller 27 journalled in the frame or support 2.
Suitable means are or may be provided whereby the driving mechanism will
be automatically thrown out of action when the rod or plunger 14 and movable
bottom 12 have completed a stroke in either direction. Also for preventing
the driving mechanism being set in operation to discharge ashes from the recep-
tacle except when the carrier 4 is in a position to support the ash receptacle 5
in line with the discharge pipe 3.
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views, and Fig. 11 a part side view at
right angles to Fig. 11, showing one arrangement of means for the purpose just
mentioned and suitable for use with the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.
It comprises an interlocking bar 29 connected at one end to the clutch lever 24
and provided with oppositely arranged projections 29, 29b, and a locking
plate 30 fixed to the carrier 4 and formed with a curved slot 30", struck from the
axis of rotation of the carrier and through which the bar 29 extends, and with
notches 30 and 30° that extend in opposite directions from the ends of the
slot (Fig. 11). The other end of the interlocking bar 29 is jointed to a hand
lever 31 pivoted at 31 and provided with a lateral projection that extends into
a notch 32 in the upper end of a lever 32 that is also pivoted at 31. The lower
end of the lever 32 is connected by a rod 33 to one arm 34 of a bell crank lever
pivoted to a fixed support 35 and the other arm 34 of which carries a horizontal
pin 36 arranged in the path of two tappets 37, 37" on a bar 38 fixed to the rod 14
carrying the movable bottom 12 of the ash receptacle 5. As will be seen the
arrangement is such that when the movable bottom 12 has been returned to

page_text: the lower end of its stroke and the re-charged ash receptacle 5 has been moved
in line with the discharge pipe 3 above, the locking plate 30 will have been moved
into a position to bring the notch 30° therein into line with the projection 29°
on the bar 29 and the tappet 37 will have moved the lever 32 through the con-
nections 33, 34 and 34" into the position shown in Fig. 11 so as to admit of the
hand lever 31, interlocking bar 29 and clutch lever 24 being moved to the right
and into the positions shown in Fig. 12 so as to cause the shaft 20 to rotate in
a direction to raise the movable bottom 12 and eject the ashes from the recep-
tacle 5 as indicated; whilst this is taking place the carrier and ash receptacle
are locked in position by reason of the projection 29 on the bar 29 being then
within the notch 30° of the locking plate 30. When the bottom 12 reaches the
end of its upstroke, the tappet 37 will operate the bell crank lever 34, 34ª and
through the rod 33 and lever 32 will move the hand and clutch levers 31 and 24
respectively into their mid positions (see Fig. 13) and so stop the further action
of the apparatus. The ash receptacle can then be fully moved over to one
side for re-charging, whereupon the notch 30 will be brought opposite the
projection 29b and admit of the clutch lever 24 being pushed over to the left so
as to cause the shaft 20 to rotate in the opposite direction and cause the movable
bottom 12 to make its downstroke at the completion of which the tappet 37 will
move the parts back into the positions shown in Fig. 11 and leave the ash recep-
tacle free to be moved back into position below the discharge pipe 3. In all
positions of the ash receptacle 5 other than its two extreme positions, it will be
seen that the clutch lever 24 will be locked in the mid position by reason of
the two projections 29ª, 29b on the interlocking bar being at opposite sides of
the locking plate 30 and out of line with the notches 30b 30°, therein, and that
when the ash receptacle is in either of its extreme positions the clutch lever
can only be operated to move the bottom 12 of the ash receptacle in the proper
direction.
Fig. 14 is a side view partly in vertical section, Fig. 15 a plan partly in hori-
zontal section, and Fig. 16 a cross section on the line of Fig. 14, showing
another arrangement of apparatus according to this invention.
In this arrangement the lower end of the discharge pipe 3 is connected to or
it may terminate in a bracket or bed plate 39 provided with a guide-way 40 for
a rack 41 which is connected to a plunger 42 arranged to reciprocate in the lower
horizontal portion 3 of the pipe below an opening 43 therein above which is a
hopper or receptacle 44 having an inclined bottom and into which the ashes to
be removed are placed. In gear with the rack 41 is a toothed segment 45 that
is pivoted at 45 and oscillated by suitable means such as a suitably driven crank
disc 46 and a connecting rod 47. The arrangement is such that assuming the
hopper.44 to be charged with ashes and the plunger 42 to be reciprocated by
the toothed segment 45, ashes will fall into the horizontal portion 3 of the
pipe on each backward stroke of the plunger and be pushed forward into the
upwardly extending portion of the pipe at each forward stroke of the plunger.
For retaining the ashes in the pipe during each backward stroke of the plunger,
there is provided at the forward bottom portion of the hopper 44 a movable
block 48 that is curved on its underside (Fig. 16) to the same curvature as the
interior of the pipe 3 and is shaped at its upper side to form part of the
inclined bottom of the hopper. The block is fixed upon a shaft 49 to one end
of which is fixed a weighted lever arm 50 that is jointed to a vertically movable
rod 5l provided with a tappet 52 adapted to be raised by a pin or projection 53
on the crank disc 46 and with a pivoted spring catch 54 that is adapted, when
the rod 51 is raised sufficiently, to automatically enter a recess 55 in the side of
the hopper 44 and hold up the rod 51, lever arm 50 and block 48 and to be dis-
engaged from the recess at the proper time by another pin 56 on the crank
disc 46. The arrangement is such that when the plunger 42 commences to move
backward, the rod 51 and lever arm 50 are released by the pin 56, and the pivoted
block 48 allowed to descend and compress and hold the ashes in the lower part 3*

page_text: of the pipe, and on the plunger commencing to move forward, the rod, lever arm
and block are raised by the pin or projection 53 and held in the raised position
by the catch 54 entering the recess 55. The block 48 is provided with seg-
mental side cheeks 48" to close the openings in the side of the hopper 44 through
which the block is inserted in place.
The block in which the guideway 40 is formed may be made vertically adjust-
able in order that the rack 41, which is connected to the plunger 42 by a tee-
shaped head 41, may, when desired, be moved out of gear with the segment 45.
For this purpose, in the arrangement shown, the guide block rests upon two
cam-like projections 56 fixed upon two spindles 57 that are connected together
by lever arms 58 and a connecting rod 59 and one of which is provided with a
hand lever 60, the arrangement being such that by suitably operating the hand
lever and thereby partly rotating the projections 56, the block can be raised or
lowered in the bed plate 39, as may be desired.
The discharge pipe 3 may be provided with one or more suitable valves that
will permit ashes to move forward but will prevent them returning. The valve
or each of them may for this purpose be connected to a spring or weighted lever
that tends to move it into a position to contract the passage through the pipe.
Fig. 17 is a cross section partly on the line y y, and partly on the line z z of
Fig. 18, and Fig. 18 is a side view partly in longitudinal section, showing one
arrangement for the purpose just mentioned. In this arrangement the valves
consist of two sets of flat segmental shaped plates 61 that extend through slots 3b
in the discharge pipe 3 and are fixed upon spindles 62 each of which is mounted
in a bearing 63 on the discharge pipe 3 and is provided with a weighted lever
arm 64. The arrangement is such that the plates 61 can turn outward more or
less against the action of the weighted lever arms 64 and permit ashes to be
forced forward between them, but will move inward to an extent limited by
stops 65 and prevent the ashes returning past them by contracting the cross
sectional area of the discharge pipe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Apparatus for removing ashes and the like from stoke-holds of ships,
wherein there is provided in conjunction with a discharge pipe arranged to extend
from the stokehold to a point in or above a side of the ship, a pusher and means
for reciprocating the same, the arrangement being such that upon withdrawing
the pusher, a charge of ashes can be placed in line with or be delivered into the
lower end of the pipe and upon the next forward stroke of the plunger the
said charge of ashes will be forced forward into the pipe and be finally dis-
charged overboard, substantially as herein described.
2. Apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim comprising an
upwardly extending ash discharge pipe, a carrier mounted to oscillate below
the lower end of the pipe so as to bring an ash receptacle thereon alternately
into line with the pipe and to one side thereof and provided with a segment or
closing piece adapted to close the lower end of the pipe when the ash receptacle
is turned out of line therewith, a plunger adapted to raise the movable bottom
of the ash receptacle on the carrier, and means for reciprocating the said plunger,
substantially as hereinabove described.
3. For removing ashes and the like from stoke-holds of ship, apparatus con-
structed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3; in Figs. 4 and 5; in Figs. 6 and 7;
in Figs. 8 and 9; and in Figs. 9 and 10 and in Figs. 14 15 and 16 of the drawings
annexed, with or without safety means such as shown in Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive.
4. The combination with apparatus of the kind referred to in Claim 2 of means
whereby the driving mechanism will be automatically thrown out of action when

page_text: the plunger has completed a stroke in either direction and the driving mechanism
will be prevented from being operated until the carrier and ash receptacle is
in proper position, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination with the ash
discharge pipe, of one or more valves that will permit ashes to move forward
but will prevent them returning, substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figs. 17 and 18 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 27th day of May 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.