IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, MOUNTING, AND APPLICATION OF ENDLESS BANDS FOR TRANSPORTING LOADS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hodgson, of Bilbao, Spain, Civil Engineer, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, MOUNTING, AND
APPLICATION OF ENDLESS BANDS FOR TRANSPORTING LOADS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hodgson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1880.
CHARLES HODGSON, of Bilbao, Spain, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE, MOUNTING, AND APPLICATION OF ENDLESS BANDS FOR TRANSPORTING
LOADS."
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture, mounting, and
application of endless bands for transporting loads, and its chief object is to adapt
the principle of band transport to purposes for which it has not hitherto been
suitable.
I employ steel or other metallic bands, either as thin shects rivetted or jointed
together, or as wire web in place of leather, india rubber, textile fabrics, or other
substances now in use for some classes of transport, but not suitable for carrying
minerals or any heavy and rough substance.
For the purpose of retaining the material to be carried on these bands, and
towards their centre instead of forming continuous sides as is usual in flour mills,
for example, I fit at convenient intervals in the line of travel fixed guides, which
are at an angle to the line of travel, and extend inwards from the side or edgo
towards the centre of the band, so as to trim the material carried by the band
towards the centre as it moves past these guides, should it have become displaced
in any way.
As an alternative for effecting the same object of dispensing with sides to the
bands I employ ropes of any light material, such as esparto, or short blocks of wood
or other material secured by ties or fastenings on the upper side of the band near
each edge. In cases where the same endless band is required to transport material
in opposite directions (i.c. by using what may be termed the upper and under
parts of the band) I either arm both surfaces with these rope sides which travel
with the band, or I provide for both surfaces the above described fixed guides
which I place by preference nearly over the supporting rollers.

page_text: In cases where the band is so much inclined as to give the material to be carried a
tendency to slip I place and secure upon it cross strips of any suitable material.
In order to allow for the free passage of the band composed, as above described,
of metallic plates or web and side ropes or blocks of suitable material over the
rollers, I form the rollers with grooves to receive the side ropes, or I make the
rollers so short as to support only the centre of the band, the side ropes therefore
passing at points beyond the ends of the rollers.
In order to maintain the band in its true and direct position whilst in motion I
place metallic guides exactly at the ends of each roller, so as to prevent any
tendency of the band to work off the rollers, or, as an alternative, I forin the rollers
themselves with flanges.
In the case of bands carried over undulating ground requiring to change their
direction vertically_from_an_incline downwards to an upward incline or a level, and
it being desirable that they should continue to rest on rollers near the said angle,
I employ rollers above the band at each side working on a clear space of the
band left for this purpose outside the diagonal guides or the guide ropes above
described.
In the case in which some special carriage renders it desirable that the substances
to be carried should not be in contact with a metallic surface, also for the purpose
of protecting such metallic bands, I cover them with any suitable textile fabric or
other material, thus forming a compound band.
In order to strengthen the edges of metallic sheet bands I either fold over a
selvage or hem of the sheet, if sufficiently good, or I rivet a strip on the clear space
left at each edge, as above described.
For the purpose of enabling the endless bands to follow the collection of crops
or other material over an extended surface I mount the supporting rollers and
terminals of short lengths of these bands on wheeled trucks or frames. One form
of truck which I employ consists of a pair of side frames stayed by cross beams
and having bearings at the top for one of the supporting rollers, and other bearings
below for the other supporting roller; the band passes between the side frames.
Another form of truck is composed of a long beam or frame with hangers at the
ends in which are bearings for the wheels; the band travels cross ways of the beam,
and the supporting rollers are mounted in brackets attached to the beam at its
middle.
In piecing together metallic sheet bands, whether by rivets or otherwise, I cut
the joints diagonally to the axis of the band, in order that any thickening of these
points may pass gradually over the rollers.
In crossing rivers or loading vessels at a distance from the land I employ pontoons
or other floating bodies to support the necessary rollers which carry such bands, as
are herein before described.
Where the load to be carried is not in bulk, so that it can be run onto the band,
ns hereinafter described, but consists, for instance, of packages of merchandise, I
employ long and light cars which rest on the band, with short feet provided near
ench end, and are also furnished with 4 wheels at their sides to run on narrow
gauge rails placed at the termini or at stations above the band; these rails I arrange
with movable points coming vertically over the band when required, so as to shunt
on or off the cars with their loads.
In order more conveniently to transport material in both directions, either band
is at each terminus, by means of rollers suitably placed, twisted over and laid for
the rest of its course beside the other part, instead of over or under it, so that there
will be equal convenience for loading or discharging both, what may be called, the
going part and the returning part of the band.
In order conveniently to lond minerals or other like substances in bulk onto one
of these bands I cause the band to pass under the heap or deposit in a channel
formed for it, and I cover such channel with any covering removable in short
lengths.
I interpose between the said covering and the band or grating, to prevent too

page_text: large pieces falling, and under this grating I place a shoot or shoots leading in the
direction of the band's motion, so as to give the material on reaching the band a
momentum already acquired in the direction of the motion of the band.
For the purpose of weighing approximately the material carried on these bands I
place one of the supporting rollers on a balance lever or spring, which carries a
pencil or marker so held as to leave a mark on a surface of paper or other material,
which is caused to travel slowly under or before such marker at a regulated speed.
By taking the distance the band has run in any given period in combination
with the average depression of the roller, as indicated by the above means, an
approximation to the weight carried will be obtained.
In order to change the horizontal direction of systems of these carrying bands
when mounted with the going part over the returning part, it is necessary to arrange
each straight section as a length of itself, and form an angle in the required direction
with the next section. In this case I place the drum of the band which is drawing
the load towards the angle vertically over that of the continuation or next section,
and provide an adjustable shoot or spout to convey or guide the charge as it falls
over the drum of the first section onto the band of the second, and so on.
It being
necessary to communicate from section to section of such a system the power which
moves the whole, I gear the drums of the contiguous sections together by placing on
the end of the axis of each a bevil wheel, and uniting these with a vertical shaft also
carrying a pair of bevil wheels. I place the bearings of the axis of the upper drum
in chaces forining segments of circles, having for their centre the above named
vertical shaft, so that the upper drum may be set with its axis at any required
angle with the lower one, and thus allow of these angle frames, geared as described,
being made of one pattern for any angular change of direction whatever in the
systems to which they are adapted.
In preparing such sheet metal bands it is necessary that they should be perfectly
straight throughout; I therefore place in front of the rolls in which they are made
a turned flanged roller, driven in any convenient manner, and capable of approaching
or receding from the rolls in a guide or slot. I hold back this flanged roller by a
counterpoise, so as to keep a strain on the plate whilst being coiled up on the
above named flanged roller as it issues for the last time from the manufacturing
rolls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Hodgson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th October
1880.
CHARLES HODGSON, of Bilbao, Spain, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE, MOUNTING, AND APPLICATION OF ENDLESS BANDS FOR TRANSPORTING
LOADS."
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture, mounting, and
application of endless bands for transporting loads, and its chief object is to adapt
the principle of band transport to purposes for which it has not hitherto been
suitable.
I employ steel or other metallic bands, either as thin sheets rivetted or jointed

page_text: together, or as wire web in place of leather, india rubber, textile fabrics, or other
substances now in use for some classes of transport, but not suitable for carrying
minerals or any heavy and rough substance.
For the purpose of retaining the material to be carried on these bands and
towards their centre, instead of forming continuous sides as is usual in flour mills,
for example, I fit at convenient intervals in the line of travel fixed guides a, a, as
shewn in plan in Figure 1, and in section in Figure 2 of the annexed Drawings,
which are at an angle to the line of travel, and extend inwards from the side or
edge towards the centre of the band b so as to trim the material carried by the
band towards the centre as it moves past these guides, should it have become
displaced in any way.
As an alternative for effecting the same object of dispensing with sides to the
--bands-b_I_employ_ropes,_as_represented at c, c, in Figures 3 and 4, of any light
material, such as esparto, or short blocks of wood or other material-secured-by-ties-
or fastenings on the upper side of the band near each edge. In cases where the
same endless band is required to transport material in opposite directions (i.e. by
using what may be termed the upper and under parts of the band) I either arm
both surfaces with these rope sides which travel with the band, or I provide for
both surfaces the above described fixed guides, which I place by preference nearly
over the supporting rollers.
In cases where the band is so much inclined as to give the material to be carried
a tendency to slip I place and secure upon it cross strips d of any suitable material,
as seen in Figure 5.
In order to allow for the free passage of the band composed, as above described, of
-metallic plates or web and side ropes or blocks of suitable material over the rollers,
I form the rollers with grooves e to receive the side ropes, as shown in Figure-4; or
I make the rollers so short as to support only the centre of the band, the side
ropes therefore passing at points beyond the ends of the rollers, as represented in
Figure 6.
In order to maintain the band in its true and direct position whilst in motion I
place metallic guides exactly at the ends of each roller, so as to prevent any
tendency of the band to work off the rollers, or, as an alternative, I form the rollers
themselves with flanges.
In the case of bands carried over undulating ground requiring to change their
direction vertically from an incline downwards to an upward incline or a level, and
it being desirable that they should continue to rest on rollers near the said angle, I
employ rollers above the band at each side, as represented at f, Figures 7 and 8,
working on a clear space of the band left for this purpose outside the diagonal
guides or the guide ropes above described.
In the case in which some special carriage renders it desirable that the substances
to be carried should not be in contact with a metallic surface, also for the purpose
of protecting such metallic bands, I cover them with any suitable textile fabric or
other material, thus forming a compound band.
In order to strengthen the edges of metallic sheet bands I either fold over a
selvage or hem of the sheet, if sufficiently good, or I rivet a strip on the clear space
left at each edge, as above described.
For the purpose of enabling the endless bands to follow the collection of crops or
other material over an extended surface I mount the supporting rollers and
terminals of short lengths of these bands on wheeled trucks or frames. One form
of truck which I employ is shewn in Figures 9 and 10, and consists of a pair of
side frames g, g, stayed by cross beams h, and having bearings i at the top for one
of the supporting rollers, and other bearings & below for the other supporting roller;
the band passes between the side frames. Another form of truck, which is
represented in Figures 11, 12, and 13, is composed of a long beam or frame l, with
hangers m at the ends, in which are bearings for the wheels; the band travels
cross ways of the beam, and the supporting rollers are mounted in brackets attached
to the beam at its middle.

page_text: In piecing together metallic sheet bands, whether by rivets or otherwise, I cut
the joints diagonally to the axis of the band, as seen in Figure 3, in order that any
thickening of these points may pass gradually over the rollers.
In crossing rivers or loading vessels at a distance from the land I employ
pontoons or other floating bodies to support the necessary rollers which carry such
bands, as are hereinbefore described.
Where the load to be carried is not in bulk, so that it can be run onto the band,
as hereinafter described, but consists, for instance, of packages of merchandize, I
employ long and light cars which rests on the band with short feet provided near
each end, and are also furnished with 4 wheels at their sides to run on narrow
gauge rails placed at the termini, or at stations above the band. These rails I
arrango with movable points coming vertically over the band when required, so as
to shunt on or off the cars with their loads.
In order moro conveniently to transport material in both directions, either band
is at each terininus, by means of rollers suitably placed, twisted over and laid for
the rest of its course beside the other part instead of over or under it, so that thero
will be equal convenience for loadnig or discharging both, what may be called, the
going part and the returning part of the band.
In order conveniently to load minerals or other like substances in bulk onto one
of these bands I cause the band to pass under the heap or deposit in a channel
formed for it, and I cover such channel with any covering removable in short
lengths.
I interpose between the said covering and the band a grating to prevent too
large pieces falling, and under this grating I place a shoot or shoots leading in the
direction of the band's motion, so as to give the material on reaching the band a
momentum already acquired in the direction of the motion of the band.
For the purpose of weighing approximately the material carried on these bands
I place one of the supporting rollers on a balance lever or spring, which carries a
pencil or marker so held as to leave a mark on a surface of paper or other material,
which is caused to travel slowly under or before such marker at a regulated
speed.
By taking the distance the band has run in any given period in combination
with the average depression of the roller, as indicated by the above means, an
approximation to the weight carried will be obtained.
In order to change the horizontal direction of systems of these carrying bands
when mounted, as shewn in Figure 4, that is to say, with the going part over the
returning part, it is necessary to arrange each straight section as a length of itself,
and form an angle in the required direction with the next section. In this case I
place the drum of the band which is drawing the load towards the angle, vertically
over that of the continuation or next section, and provide an adjustable shoot or
spout to convey or guide the charge as it falls over the drum of the first section
onto the band of the second, and so on. It being necessary to communicate from
section to section of such a system the power which moves the whole, I gear the
drums of the contiguous sections together by placing on the end of the axis of each
a bevil wheel and uniting these with a vertical shaft also carrying a pair of bevil
wheels. I place the bearings of the axis of the upper drum in chaces forming
segments of circles having for their centre the above named vertical shaft, so that
the upper drum may be set with its axis at any required angle with the lower one,
and thus allow of these angle frames, geared as described, being made of one
pattern for any angular change of direction whatever in the systems to which they
are adapted.
In preparing such sheet metal bands it is necessary that they should be perfectly
straight throughout; I therefore place in front of the rolls in which they are made
a turned flanged roller, driven in any convenient manner, and capable of approaching
or receding from the rolls in a guide or slot. I hold back this flanged roller by a
counterpoise, so as to keep a strain on the plate whilst being coiled up on the

page_text: above named flanged roller as it issues for the last time from the manufacturing
rolls.
This arrangement is represented in Figure 14.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my "Improvements in the
Manufacture, Mounting, and Application of Endless Bands for Transporting
Loads,"
1. The employment of fixed guides, substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented in Figures 1 and 2, for the purpose of trimming the material carried by
the endless carrying band as it moves past them in the manner explained.
2. The attaching to endless metallic bands of ropes or blocks of wood or other
suitable material near each edge, substantially as herein before described with
-reference-to-Figures 3 and 4, for the purpose explained.
3. The attaching to the endless bands of cross ropes-or-cross-strips,-as.berein-
before described with reference to Figure 5, for the purpose explained.
4. In combination with endless carrying bands having side ropes or blocks near
each edge, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, I claim the employment of grooved rollers,
as hereinbefore described and represented in Figure 4, for the purpose explained.
5. The employment of rollers above the endless carrying bands at angles in the
line of travel, the said rollers working on the band near the edge, substantially as
herein before described and represented in Figures 7 and 8, for the purpose
explained.
6. Mounting the supporting rollers and terminals of endless carrying bands on
wheeled trucks or wheeled frames, substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented-respectively in Figures 9 and 10, and in Figures 11, 12, and 13, for
the purpose explained.
7. The employment in connection with endless carrying bands of cars for loading
and unloading articles, such as packages of merchandize, without stopping the band,
the said cars being constructed and run on to and off the bands, substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described.
8. Arranging the supporting rollers at termini so that what I have called
respectively the going part and the returning part of the carrying band may lay
side by side instead of one part being over the other, as and for the purpose
herein before described.
9. The mode and means of loading endless carrying bands from a heap,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
10. Connecting together contiguous sections of endless carrying bands by gearing
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Charles Hodgson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of October, Ono thousand eight hundred and
eighty.
CHARLES HODGSON. (L.S.)