Improvements in and relating to Dumping Buckets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dumping Buckets.
We, WILLIAM EDGAR LUDLOW and EDGAR STOCKWELL LUDLOW, citizens of the
United States, both residing in the City of Toledo, in the County of Lucas, and State
of Ohio, one of the United States of America, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained and, in and to the following statement :-
Our invention relates to dumping-buckets, especially of that character of bucket
employed in loading and unloading coal and analogous material; and it has for its
object to construct a counterbalance-bucket which, when tripped to discharge the
contents, shall automatically adjust for the reception of another load. A further
object is to construct a bucket having a central post rigidly connected with the
bottom and arranged to move vertically within an annular guide within the bucket.
A further object is to provide a cone-shaped bottom having a concave surface to
deflect the moving load in its discharge with a maximum radius from the same,
whereby to properly "trim" the load.
A further object is to provide a yielding bearing for the central post to relieve the
same from rigid impact when the weight of the load is sustained thereon.
A further object is to provide an automatically-adjustable catch for the trip
mechanism, there being further details of construction and arrangements of parts to
insure rigidity and cheapness, which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in
the claims.
In the drawings,
Figure 1, is a side elevation of our improved bucket.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the bucket with the bottom shown in
full lines and closed.
Figure 3, is an elevation of the bucket with the bottom dropped to discharge the
load, a portion of the bucket and also the central tube being broken away to disclose
the operation of the spring.
Figure 4, is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of the central tube
with the hanger secured thereto, and means for suspending the bottom of the buckets
therein.
Figure 5, is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a portion of the hanger,
showing the central post, with which the bottom is connected, secured therein by
means of the catches pivoted within the hanger.
Figure 6, is a like view showing the lock raised and the catches open to allow the
bottom to drop.
A, designates the body of the bucket, to which is secured a bail, B, having a céntral
opening, C, through which a hanger, D, has a free movement in opening or closing
the bottom of the bucket. Hanger, D, comprises a cylindrical portion, E, having
grooved pulleys, F, journaled therein at diametrically-opposite sides, over which are
passed suspension-chains, G, each of which is secured at one end to the hail and at
the opposite end to a vertical rod, G¹, to which the bottom H, of the bucket is
secured, the relative weights of the body of the bucket and the bottom thereof being

page_text: such that normally the body overbalances the bottom and closes the bucket when
relieved of its load. Rod, G is formed with a hemispherical head, I, terminating in
a shoulder, J, with which catches, K, engage when the bucket is closed, the catches
being pivotally connected with the hanger ät, K', and counter-weighted to remain
normally open when they are tripped to allow the bottom to descend. Each catch is
formed with a shoulder, L, to engage with the head of rod; G', and with an inwardly
curved portion, L', above which there are outwardly-inclined portions, L", adapted
to receive the correspondingly-shaped end, N, of a locking-dog, N¹, connected with a
lever, O, by means of a strap, 01, whereby when the outer end of the lever, O, is
depressed the locking dog will be raised, thereby allowing the catches, K, to open
and release the rod, G¹, permitting the bottom to descend and discharge the load,
when the upper or weighted ends of the catches close sufficiently to sustain the locking-
dog, as shown in Figure 6.
P, designates the straps secured' one upon each side of the rod, G, preferably by
inserting the lower right-angled ends, P¹, into recesses formed in the rod G₁, and
held in place by a band, PII, as shown in Figures 4, and 5, the chains, G, being
secured to the upper end thereof.
Q, designates a tubular extension of the hangers, through which rod, G¹, passes, to
not only guide the same vertically, but to contain a spiral spring, R, to receive the
impact of the descending rod when the catches are tripped, and to assist in returning
the bottom to close the bucket. Spring, R, rests against a collar, S, upon the rod, G¹,
there being a collar, S¹, upon the rod, G', above the spring to contact with the same
in the descent of the rod. By this construction the bottom of the bucket can swing
to one side, if necessary, to allow large chunks of coal or other material to pass between
the same and the body of the bucket.
T, designates hoods or fenders partially covering the pulleys, F, to protect the same
from the material being thrown into the bucket, there being a hook or eye, T¹, above
the same, to which the hoisting rope or chain is secured.
One of the main advantages of our invention is the fact that the material when
dumped is deflected radially from the bucket, thereby not only obviating the
necessity of trimming, but preventing the breakage of coal, &c., incident to a second
handling.
To insure a movement of greater radius than ordinarily, we form the cone-shaped
side of the bottom in concave form, as shown, whereby the load is deposited over a
greater area than when formed with a true incline, and to protect the metal of the
bottom we form the base, H', of wood, which may be readily replaced when worn.
In operation, the bottom being closed upon the bottom of the body and the
catches, K, in engagement with the head of rod, G', and held in engagement by
means of locking-dog, N', the bucket is filled and swung to the place where it is
desired to deposit the load, when the operator pulls upon lever, O, thereby raising the
locking-dog, N', when the catches, K, open, permitting the rod, G', and bottom, H,
connected therewith to drop and discharge the load. The collar, S', on rod, G¹, con-
tacting with spring, R, compresses the same, with the effect of graduating the descent
of the bottom and relieving the bucket of sudden impact. As soon as the load is
discharged, the spring expands and assists the body of the bucket, together with the
weight of the locking-dog, in returning the rod, G¹, to engagement with the catches,
and thereby automatically locking the bucket closed. As the end of rod, G¹, ascends,
it strikes the inwardly curved portions, L¹, of the catches, thereby opening the upper
ends of the catches and closing the shoulders, L, upon the shoulders, J, of the rod
and permitting the locking-dog, N', to drop into place, thereby locking the catches
into engagement with the head of the rod, when the operation is repeated.
It will be seen that by reason of the body and bottom of the bucket being counter-
balanced to automatically close and lock much time is saved which has heretofore
been necessarily employed in closing and locking the same, and that by means of the
novel catch and lock employed the load is easily tripped.
The tubular extension, Q, coacting with the rigid rod, G₁, always insures a perfect
closure of the botton with the body of the bucket. By reason of the body of the

page_text: bucket and the bottom being connected to move in opposite directions there need
only be one-half of the ordinary vertical movement to open the bucket the desired
distance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a dumping-bucket in which the bottom is separate from the body portion, the
combination of a hanger, pulleys upon said hanger, and chains or ropes passed over
the pulleys and attached to the bottom and to the body portion, whereby the body
portion and the bottom may move in opposite directions away from and toward
each other, and whereby, also, the former may serve as a counter-weight to close the
bucket.
2. In a dumping-bucket, a hanger having a tubular extension within the body of
the bucket, and catches pivoted within the hanger, in combination with a bottom
having a vertical rod movable within the tubular extension, and formed with a head to
engage the catches, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a dumping-bucket, a body portion, a hail secured transversely thereof and
having a central opening, and a hanger arranged within the opening, in com-
bination with a bottom portion flexibly connected with the body portion, as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. In a dumping-bucket, a hanger formed with a tubular portion extending within
the bucket, a bottom portion formed with a central rod extending within the tubular
portion, a coiled spring within the tubular extension, and a collar upon the rod to
contact with the spring when the bottom is dropped, as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. In a dumping-bucket, a hanger, catches pivoted within the hanger, each catch
having an inwardly-projecting portion and an upper inclined portion, a locking-dog
adapted to rest within the inclined portions of the catches, and mechanism for
operating the dog, in combination with a vertical rod so shaped at its upper end as to
close the catches on coming into contact with them, and having projections with which
the catches engage, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a dumping-bucket, a vertically movable bottom formed with a concave
conoidal upper surface, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a dumping-bucket, a bottom formed of a metal plate having a concave
conoidal upper surface and an insertible wooden base portion, as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 24th day of
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.