Improvements in and in Apparatus for Shipping and Unshipping Coal and other Materials or Goods.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug.. 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL DE DUIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Apparatus for Shipping and Unshipping
Coal and other Materials or Goods.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD KOCHS, Mechanical Engineer of The Exchange, Mount Stuart
Square Cardiff, Glamorganshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and working of
so called coal staithes or fixed or movable apparatus for Lading coal into vessels and
the first part of it relates to the inclined shoot or shoots, upon which the coal is
discharged from the truck. It is constructed of two equal sized or twin shoots, one
on each side, a convenient space being left between the two. They however are
connected at their upper ends by curved plates and thus form one shoot above. The
coal falling from the wagon which is tilted over the middle of the upper end of the
shoot is parted by this curved partition to each side and divided into, more or less,
equal quantities over each shoot; if thus, for instance, the truck be loaded with ten
tons, about five tons would pass to each shoot. The lower end or bottom opening of
these shoots is closed by hinged and balanced plate doors, the movements of which are
governed by the action of water cataracts which are fixed below in the framework,
one acting on each shoot plate, that is to say they can he held firmly closed by valves
which govern the cataracts, and be slowly opened by relieving such valve or valves.
The gradual opening of the shoot plates moderates the fall o' the coal into a loading
box placed beneath. It will be seen that the coal of one shoot only is to be discharged
at one time into the box. To prevent this mineral further from breaking by falling
direct into the bottom of the box, an automatically acting, balanced plate or plates
or bar-frame may be arranged to receive it, which would lower and deposit it in
the bottom of the box.
At
After the discharge the plate ascends gradually and closes the shoot again, the
balance weight forcing the water out of the bottom of the cataract cylinder. The
next part of the invention relates to the lifting of the box over an inclined rail line
into the vessel, the box being provided with wheels which suit the gauge of the line.
The rails are fixed to a lightly constructed framework which supports also the stay for
the upper pulleys and is hinged to a spindle in the lower framework. The whole
framework can be lifted, more or less, out of the way of the passing vessel by the
action of a hydraulic cylinder and ram and may be held by strong distance bars
hooked firmly to a cross bar or bars in the framework. The distance of the upper
pulley from the land may be adjusted to suit the centre of the hold of the vessel.
the upper end of the inclined rails and on each side of the beam there is a movable
portion of the rail, which is connected with the top of upright, hinged levers, resting
on the lower member of the frame or beam. By moving these levers apart, the rails
are moved with them aside and the box with its wheels, which was previously lifted a
little higher than the rails can be made to descend into the hold of the vessel. After
passing down, these levers close in again in the manner of the landing levers at coal
pits. The box, on reascending, moves the levers, which are connected by plates, aside
and after passing between them, they and their rail portions fall back into their
original positions and re-form a continuous rail, upon which the box with its travelling
appliances descends again to the position under the shoots. The next part of this
invention relates to the construction of the loading box itself. It consists of an upper
box which is connected to the lower or bottom part by upright bars, leaving a space
between it and the bars for a second movable or intermediate box, which may be
made to lift or lower outside the upper one and by means of a hydraulic cylinder and

page_text: ram in the framework. This lifting may be done at any position of the box in the hold
of the vessel. By lifting the said outer box ring sufficiently high, the coal is
discharged all round, the conical bottom plate assisting in the free discharge. The
last part of this invention relates to the hydraulic tipping of the wagon at any position
of the carriage which bears it and at any position of the movable tip or apparatus.
The hydraulic cylinder and ram for tipping are connected with or hinged to a wheel
carriage which travels on rails outside the frame of the gantry and be adjusted and
fixed to the exact position where required to suit the carriage on which the wagon
rests which is to be tipped. The centre of the top end of the ram is made to agree
exactly with the centre of the bearings under the beam of the lifting frame. The
carriage on which the wagon rests may proceed from the high level line or be lifted
by hydraulic cylinder and ram from the low level and be moved sideways either
automatically down a gentle incline and be brought back, when empty, by sufficient
balance weight to its original position or be drawn by hydraulic power. Its move-
ments being governed by a brake. It will be seen that coal or other goods can be
loaded out of the vessel into trucks by similar apparatus or machinery.
Dated this the 26th day of October 1889.
WILLIAM EDWARD KOCHS,
The Exchange, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Engineer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in Apparatus for Shipping and Unshipping
Coal and other Materials or Goods.
I WILLIAM EDWARD KOCHS Mechanical Engineer of The Exchange Mount Stuart
Square Cardiff Glamorganshire 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 relates to certain improvements in so called coal "staithes" or fixed
or movable apparatus for loading or discharging-into or from ships or other vessels-
coal or other materials or goods.
The first part of my invention relates to the shoot or shoots upon which the coal (or
other material or goods) is discharged and for facility of description I will refer to
coal only it being understood that any other goods or materials (such as minerals,
ballast, ores, grains, etcetera) for which my apparatus is adapted can be equally
well loaded or discharged thereby and therewith according to my said invention.
The shoot is advantageously constructed of two equal sized or twin shoots, one on
each side, a convenient space being left between the two. They however are connected
at their upper ends and thus form only one shoot above.
The coal falling from the wagon which is tilted over the middle of the upper end of
the shoot is parted by a partition-which forms the lower part into two divisions-to each
side of said partition and divided into two or more or less equal quantities in each side
sboot; if thus for instance the truck be loaded with ten tons about five tons would
pass to each of the said side shoots.
The lower end or bottom of each of these two side shoots is closed by hinged and
balanced plates or doors the movements of which are controlled by the action of water
cateracts which are fixed in any convenient position in the framework of the apparatus
one acting on each shoot plate or door so that they (the shoot doors) can be held
firmly closed by valves which govern the cateracts and either door independently of
the other can be slowly opened by the attendant. Instead of the cateracts hydraulic
rams and cylinders of any usual or suitable construction may be used if desired for
actuating the doors. This gradual opening of the door of either shoot moderates the
fall of the coal into a loading box placed beneath.
It will be seen that it is intended that the coal of one shoot only is to be discharged

page_text: at one time into the box and to further prevent the coal from breaking by falling too
rapidly into the bottom of the box an automatically acting balanced plate or plates may
be arranged to allow the gradual emptying of the shoot into the bottom of the loading
box (hereinafter described).
After the shoot is emptied the balance plate or door closes the shoot the water
being released out of the cateract cylinder and this side shoot is ready for another
charge.
The next part of the invention relates to the drawing of the loading box-which latter
is fitted with wheels-over an inclined railway, the rails at the upper end of this railway
are movable, opening outwards, and are controlled by the attendant as hereinafter
explained. The loading box being suspended by a crane is then lowered through the
said opening at the upper end of the inclined railway into the hold of the vessel.
After the box has been lowered the moveable rails acting automatically admit of the
ascent of the empty loading box and close after its passage thus completing the railway
for the descent of the empty box under the aforesaid shoot to be refilled, when the
operation is again repeated.
The framework of this railway is hinged at the bottom and is capable of adjustment
to the height of the vessel to be loaded or discharged and it is lifted and lowered by a
hydraulic cylinder and ram or by other suitable means.
The upper jib or crane used for lifting and lowering the said loading box is also
capable of adjustment by hydraulic or other power so as to cause the lowering chain
to hang over the centre of the vessel to be loaded or discharged as desired.
The next part of my invention relates to the construction of the loading box itself.
It consists of an upper box which is connected to the lower or bottom part by upright
bars having a space between it and the bars for a second movable box or casing which
is made to lift or lower outside the upper box by tackle actuated by a hydraulic
cylinder and ram or by other suitable means.
This outer box is under the control of the attendant who will retain it in position
until the loading box arrives at or near the bottom of the hold of the vessel or the
surface of the coal already loaded so as to give a minimum of drop to the coal and thus
prevents breakage of the coal by falling a distance as is the case in the ordinary
process of loading vessels.
The last part of this invention relates to the tipping of the wagon at any point of
the gantry at which the traverser upon which the wagon is carried so that the
apparatus may be adjusted to the centre of the hatchway of the hold of the vessel to
be loaded.
The hydraulic cylinder and ram for tipping are connected with a hinged to a wheel
carriage which travels on rails at the outside and top of the frame of the gantry and
is adjusted in the exact position where required to suit the traversing carriage upon
which the wagon which is to be tipped rests.
The centre of the ram is made to correspond and fit the centre of the bearings under
the tipping frame.
The loaded wagon can be received from a high level on the traverser or lifted by
hydraulic or other power from a lower level and the empty wagon can be returned on
either the higher or lower level as may be desired.
The apparatus is carried in a suitable framework travelling on rails lying near the
wall of a wharf, quay, or dock, so as to be easily adjusted to the varying distance
between the different hatchways of a vessel. The said invention is applicable to fixed
or movable apparatus which are conveniently worked in conjunction-placing fixed
and movable apparatus alternately along the side of a quay wharf or dock-thus
giving full control of the whole quay space and rendering it available for loading
vessels at any point.
It will thus be seen that coal or other materials or goods can be loaded into or
discharged out of a ship or vessel by such apparatus or machinery.
And in order that my present invention may be fully understood and easily carried
into practice 1 will proceed to further describe same with reference to the drawings
hereunto annexed.

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation (partly in section and partly in elevation) of
my improved apparatus with shoot rail incline, gantry or elevated railway, tipping
carriage, and coal truck.
Fig. 2 shews a general plan of the whole apparatus with coal truck in a tilted
position for tipping.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus with vertical section through the
cateract cylinders and cisterns.
Fig. 4 is a view (taken in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1.) of the loading
box as it rests with its wheels on the movable rails on the outer end of the incline
rails L L'.
Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation of the loading box I and pulleys with the outer
sliding part I of the box I in the lifted position.
Fig. 6 shews the pulley for opening or lifting the sliding part l' of the box I in the
lower position.
Fig. 7 is a front view in elevation of the box I and pulleys with the outer sliding
part of the said box 1 in the lifted position or "opened" as in Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is an interior view in sectional elevation (on about the line y-y-Fig. 2
and looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 2) of the shoots and connections
and also the cateract cylinders and cisterns shewing the coal being loaded into the
box I.
Fig. 9 is a plan of my improved movable apparatus and a gantry taking the loaded
wagon from a lower level as shown in elevation of gantry in Fig. 10.
Fig. 10 is a plan of fixed and movable apparatus (according to my present
invention) which receives the coal from a wagon or truck upon a gantry such as
shewn in elevation in Fig. 11-which latter is fed by a high level railway;
Fig. 12 is a part elevation of my improved apparatus as adapted for unloading coal
out of a ship into trucks-in such case of course the use of the dividing shoot is
dispensed with the loading box or bucket being of course loaded in the ships hold
and after travelling down the inclined rails discharging directly into a railway truck
(or elsewhere as desired), as shewn in this said Fig. 12.
A (Fig. 1) is the coal truck to be tipped. B the traversing carriage travelling on
the gantry and either to and from the high level bridge or gantry N (Figs. 10%
and 11) or to and from a suitable hydraulic lift which lifts the coal truck from the low
level railway up to the gantry level see Figs 9 and 10.
The moving of the traversing carriage and loaded truck towards the point of tipping
may be automatically down a gentle incline and drawn back after tipping by means
of an hy Iraulic cylinder and ram or by balance weight or it may be done entirely by
hydraulic power or by any other suitable means all of which is well understood. The
tipping arrangement however is then stationary when the hoist or loading apparatus
itself is stationary.
The carriage T carrying the hydraulic ram V and cylinder U (see Figs. 1 and 2)
for tilting the frame B₁ on which the loaded coal truck A is placed travels outside the
gantry beam on and against rails on timber or iron framework one pair of wheels
resting and travelling on a rail on top and another pair outside against another rail
fixed lower and at right angles to the former.
DD' are the twin shoots with dividing or separating bow plates D³.
D2 are the screen bars.
The two shoots are united above and form one wide shoot, the coal dividing thus in
about equal quantities on each shoot.
EE (Figs. 2 and 8) are the bottom closing doors of the shoots D D' with back
levers and balance weights W W acted upon by cateract cylinders W² Fig. 8.
F F (Fig. 8) are the retaining or "lip" plates called also the anti-breakage shoots.
They are attached to the before named closing plates by hinges and are held up by
balance weights G, G₁ and chains.

page_text: By relieving one of the cateract cylinders W the coal on the bottom door E presses
the latter downward and thereby overpowers the balance weight G presses also this
"lip" plate down and thus in depositing the coal in the bottom of the box I lessens
the effects of the fall.
HH' (Figs. 3 and 8.) are the cateract cisterns with cylinders pistons valves &c.
By them the movements of the closing plates E are governed.
By relieving both the top and bottom valves the closing doors are gradually opened
as previously explained. They are firmly held during the discharge of the coal but.
when the weight is off the balance weight forces the water out of the bottom of the
cylinder and closes the doors gently.
I is the loading box or receptacle with the upper box and frame rivette.l firmly to
the bottom or conical part.
I(Figs. 5, 7 and 8) is the outer sliding part (of the box I) to be lifted up and so
discharging the contents of the box I.
Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 8.
12 is the upper and fixed part of the box I..
13 13 are the travelling wheels on the box
I (Figs. 5, 6, and 7) is the lifting or lowering pulley acted upon by the hydraulic
cylinder and ram M (Fig. 2) and suitable connections as will be easily understood.
I (Figs 5, 6, and 7) is the discharging pulley for lifting or lowering the outer
sliding part 1 of the box I and is acted upon by the hydraulic cylinder and ram K
(Fig. 2) and suitable connections as will be easily understood.
LL are the inclined rails on which the loading box I travels up and down when
coal is loaded into or discharged from a vessel. These rails are fixed upon brackets
fixed to the stay bars in the framework. The portions of the rails L2 and L³ towards
the outer end are movable in and out i.e. towards and away from each other.
They are fixed on the tops of several levers which are united to a plate L thus
forming one piece (1) which latter is hinged and rests on the bottom member of
the framework.
By the box ascending from the hold of the vessel on touching the plates L' it
moves same outwards with their rail portions L2 and -and after passing the
latter automatically fall back forming then again a continuous rail on which the
box I on being lowered thereonto immediately descends to its position under
the shoots for refilling.
The levers connected to the plate L (Fig. 4) are moved apart to permit of
the lowering of the box I by means of outside links L, (Fig. 4) and levers hinged
to their upper ends and worked by hydraulic cylinders fixed in the framework or
in any suitable manner.
The stay beam Q (Fig. 1) with framework &c. are held in position by means of
hydraulic cylinder and ram O (Fig. 2) and the chains on the pulleys R and S,
(Fig. 1).
The bar (or bars) P connects at one end to the upper end of the stay beam Q
and at the other to a cross bar in the frame to take the weight from the chains
and pulleys of the hydraulic cylinder thus holding the stay-beam and framework in
a firm and fixed position when coal is being loaded into a vessel or unloaded
therefrom.
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 method of dividing a given quantity of coal or other minerals or goods into
as near as possible two equal quantities and placing each such quantity on separate
shoots substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In apparatus for loading coals or other minerals or goods I claim a shoot having
a division piece arranged centrally down the lower part thereof so as to divide the
said lower part thereof into two approximately equal spaces and the bottom of or
outlet of each such division controlled by a door or closing plate substantially as and

page_text: for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
3. The division piece or bow D³ arranged and mounted in a shoot for dividing a
given quantity of coals or other minerals or goods into two approximately equal parts
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
ram
4. The combination of the governing cateract cylinders W2 (or equivalent hydraulic
or cylinder of suitable construction) valves to control same and balance
weights W. W. with the gradually opening and shutting doors or hinged plates E of
each of two shoots either of the shoots being in a position independantly to empty its
contents into a loading box or receptacle such as I placed underneath substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings
annexed.
'
5. The inclined rails and framework for lifting lowering thereon the loading box I
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. The upper rail portions L L mounted on each side respectively of the frame-
work by means of being fixed to plates L-the several parts being combined and
arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed."
7. The loading box I consisting of a framework and fixed top part I in combination
with a movable lower part or casing I' which can be raised and lowered by suitable
mechanism substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
8. The carriage T for carrying the hydraulic ram and cylinder for tipping the coal
or other trucks in combination with--and travelling along and outside of the gantry
on and against rails and independent of the truck traverser and which also (by means
of bolts or other suitable means) can be firmly fixed to the gantry in any desired
position during the operation of loading substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
9. The improved arrangement construction and combination of apparatus for the
careful and expeditious unloading or loading of coal, ores or other materials or goods
out of or into vessels substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Datal this 5th dose of tum 1800
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.