Improvements in Apparatus for Unloading Heavy Timber from Waggons.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
Improvements in Apparatus for Unloading Heavy Timber
from Waggons.
We, JOSEPH FONTY and ALFRED FONTY, both of Champagnole (Jura), in. the
Republic of France, Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:--
Our invention has for its objects improvements in apparatus used in unloading
heavy timbers, either rough or squared, from the waggons or carriages on which
they are conveyed.
The means ordinarily hitherto used for the purpose of retaining such timber on
the carriages, and unloading it when required, consists of a transverse wooden
beam upon which the timber rests, the beani having a vertical iron bar near each
end, and the bars having a ring or hook at their upper end, to which a transverse
chain can be attached for the purpose of holding them. together, whilst their
lower ends pass through the beam and are held by pins or keys passing through
holes made to receive them, and fitting against a washer or plate on the lower side.
of the beam.
The loading of the timber is effected between these upright bars.
Two such carriages are ordinarily used, placed at a distance apart dependent
upon the length of the timber to be carried.
The unloading is effected as follows:-
A man removes one of the pins or keys (according to the side on which the
timber is to be unloaded) and then drives out the upright bar corresponding to it.
The same operation is repeated on the second carriage.
This system is very dangerous, and has occasioned fatal accidents, so that rail-
way companies, in order to escape responsibility, are no longer willing to under-
take the unloading but leave it to be done by the consignee.
Our invention has for its object to prevent such accidents and to effect the
unloading with all possible security.
For this purpose we use a transverse wooden beam of suitable length and sec-
tion, fixed across the carriage, and having at each end a vertical notch extending
through its full depth and to a sufficient distance from the ends of the beam.
In these notches or recesses, two strong iron uprights, of sufficient height, are
fitted by sliding them into the recesses to the ends of the latter, their insertion
being facilitated by means of two rollers upon each side of the bar, turning on
pivots in the sides of the latter at such a height that the rollers run upon the
upper inner edges of the recess, which are fitted with pieces of angle iron, to
prevent the wearing of the wood. The vertical bars are retained in their upright
position, by means of strong iron keys fitting in corresponding holes through the
beam in such a position that when in their place they fit against the outer side of
the vertical bars where the latter pass through the beams. The upper sides of
the keys are toothed so as to form racks, in which gear toothed wheels upon a
transverse shaft turning in bearings fixed to the side of the beam, and formed at

page_text: each end to receive when necessary a handle by which the toothed wheels can be
turned round. The shaft can move endways, so that either of the toothed wheels
can be brought into gear with the rack upon the corresponding key. The move-
ment of the key is facilitated by means of vertical rollers against which its outer
face or back presses, the rollers passing through vertical openings in the beam
and their axles turning in plates fixed to the upper and lower surface of the latter.
Moveable pins fitted in holes through the lower ends of the vertical bars, below
the beam, prevent the bars from rising, and vertical bolts passing through the
beam and through the transverse keys, prevent the latter from coming out.
The removal of the vertical bars, when the keys have been withdrawn, may be
facilitated by a bent spring, inserted between the bars and the inner ends of the
recesses in the ends of the wooden beam.
The unloading of heavy timber is effected in the following manner :-
The transverse chain connecting the tops of the vertical bars is detached, and
the vertical bolt through the key removed. The key is then withdrawn by turn-
ing the handle at the side of the carriage, and by the pressure of the load, aided
by the spring, the corresponding vertical bar is pushed out of the recess in the
end of the cross beam.
This operation being effected upon both carriages simultaneously, which is
easily possible by the means above described, the unloading will take place with-
out possibility of accident, since the men engaged are on the other side of the
carriages.
Datal Al def Cantamban 1960
EDWARDS AND CO.,
Chartered Patent Agents,.
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Unloading Heavy Timber
from Waggons.
We, JOSEPH FONTY and ALFRED FONTY, both of Champagnole (Jura), in the
Republic of France, Builders, 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 drawing, that
is to say:--
Our invention has for its objects improvements in apparatus used in unloading
heavy timbers, either rough or squared, from the waggons or carriages on which
they are conveyed.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of our invention;
Figure 1 is an elevation,
Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 an end view.
The improved apparatus is intended to prevent all accidents and to allow the
unloading to be effected with all desirable security.
It consists of a beam of wood m, about 2 m. 75 in length, and of suitable sec-
tion, which has at its ends two notches a and a through its entire thickness.
In these notches, two iron supports s, s about 1 m. 20 high, clear, can slide
through their full length. The sliding can be facilitated by means of four
rollers, h, two of which rest upon the edge 6 and the other two upon the edge b¹.
These edges should be fitted with angle irons to prevent the too quick wearing

page_text: way of the wood. The supports s, s¹ are maintained vertically against the enus
f the grooves by means of iron keys e, e', placed across the wood beam m, and
ach provided on its upper part with a toothed rack which gears with a toothed
wheel g, g', fixed upon a shaft i of the same length as the beam m, and capable
f moving in its bearings so as to allow one of the toothed wheels to gear with its
respective rack, and the moveable handle to be used which is fitted upon the
opposite end of the shaft to the side where the unloading is to take place.
The introduction and removal of the key are also facilitated by making it slide
iour rollers 0, which are arranged against the face opposite to the support s.
and 1,
Iron pins k and fitted with transverse safety pins, prevent the supports s
from rising vertically, and the keys can be held in position by bolts
traversing the wood beam m.
upon
Moreover, the removal of the supports s, already facilitated by the rollers, may
be still further assisted by a V-shaped spring a fixed on the bottom of the groove.
Finally, a shoulder upon the key indicates when the latter is at the end of its
stroke, that is to say, the position when the pin used to keep it in position can be
inserted.
The unloading by means of the improved apparatus is effected in the following
way, it being supposed that the unloading is to be to the left.
The chains connecting the rings s and s is released, the pin k and the bolt /
removed, and then the key e, on the right, is withdrawn.
On account of the lateral pressure exercised by the load and of the spring x,
the upright support which is no longer held can move from the notch a.
This operation being effected simultaneously upon the two wagons on which
the timber is loaded, which is rendered possible by the system of gear already
described, the unloading takes place with certainty, and without accident since
the workmen are upon the other side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
O we claim is:―
A safety apparatus for unloading heavy timbers from waggons, consisting of a
transverse beam carrying two supports connected at their upper ends by a move-
able chain, and having their lower ends inserted in notches made in each end of
the beam; these supports being held by means of keys provided with toothed
35 racks moved by toothed pinions, by bolts, and by keys; the introduction and with-
drawal of the supports in their respective notches being facilitated by suitable
friction rollers, substantially as described and shown.
Tuna 1900
EDWARDS AND Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.