Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating and Conveying Coal and other Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 12th July,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating and Conveying Coal and
other Substances.
I, CHARLES JAMES SEYMOUR, of Brookline. in the County of Norfolk, and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to elevators and conveyors generally, and has particular
reference to means for unloading coal &c., from vessels, has for its object the provision
of means whereby the coal may be taken from the vessel, and at one operation_con-
veyed to the elevator head, carried up the same and dumped into a receptacle or
chute, so as to avoid breaking or crushing the same to as slight extent as possible.
Also the provision of means whereby the deck of the vessel may be kept substantially
clear of the unloading apparatus. Also the provision of means whereby all of the
coal in the vessel may be caused to run down to and through the holes or hoppers into
the buckets and pans.
The invention consists in providing a vessel at one end with a vertical elevator head,
and arranging an endless chain of buckets and pans so that they may be caused to
travel from a trough or way constructed beneath the floor of the vessel up and over
said head, dumping their contents into the chute or other receptacle, and then passing
down and back through said trough or way, returning and receiving coal or other
material, and so on.
<<
By this means the deck of the vessel may be kept free, or substantially free of the
elevating and conveying apparatus, and but a single handling of the material is
necessary. so that, as in the case of coal, as much crushing and breaking of the same
is avoided as possible.
The invention also consists in providing novel cut-offs or valves for the hoppers or
holes through which the material runs from the hold of the vessel to the buckets and
pans and also so constructing the floor of the hold as that normally it may be sub-
stantially horizontal to give a maximum amount of storage room, and, in the work of
unloading the vessel, be raised at its sides to an inclined position, so as to cause the
coal or other material to slide down to and through the hoppers or holes into the
buckets and pans.
The lines of buckets and pans in the trough or way beneath the floor of the hold
may be made to travel side by side, or the retreating line may be made to travel
beneath the returning line.
The movable portions of the floor is made in sections, and suitable partitions are
provided between the sections so as to prevent the coal from running down back of or
behind such movable sections, and so prevent their operation.
The elevator is provided with an overhanging head, so as to facilitate the dumping
of the coal or other material from the buckets and pans.
Suitable sprocket wheels, tracks, and anti friction wheels are provided, whereby the
chain of buckets and pans may be operated and guided in its course of travel.
Dated this 20th day of Tune 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Elevating and Conveying Coal and
other Substances.
I, CHARLES JAMES SEYMOUR, of Harris Street, Brookline, in the County of
Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 which relates to elevators and conveyors generally, and has particular
reference to means for unloading coal, &c., from vessels, has for its object the provision
of means whereby the coal may be taken from the vessel and at one operation con-
veyed to the elevator head, carried up the same and dumped into a receptacle or
chute so as to avoid breaking or crushing the same to as slight an extent as possible.
The invention also has for its object the provision of means whereby the deck of
the vessel may be kept substantially clear of the unloading apparatus.
The invention also has for its object the provision of means whereby all of the coal
in the vessel may be caused to run down to and through the holes or hoppers into the
buckets and pans.
The invention consists in providing a vessel at one end with a vertical elevator
head, and arranging an endless chain of buckets and pans so that they may be caused
to travel from a trough or way constructed beneath the floor of the vessel up and over
said head, dumping their contents into a chute or other receptacle, and then passing
down and back through said trough or way, returning and receiving coal or other
material, and so on.
By this means the deck of the vessel may be kept free, or substantially free of the
elevating and conveying apparatus, and but a single "handling" of the material is
necessary, so that, as in the case of coal, as much crushing and breaking of the same
is avoided as possible.
The invention also consists in providing novel cut-offs or valves for the hoppers or
holes through which the material runs from the hold of the vessel to the buckets and
pans and also so constructing the floor of the hold as that normally it may be sub-
stantially horizontal to give a maximum amount of storage room and, in the work of
unloading the vessel, be raised at its sides to an inclined position, so as to cause the
coal or other material to slide down to and through the hoppers or holes into the
buckets and pans.
The lines of buckets and pans in the trough or way beneath the floor of the hold
may be made to travel side by side, or the retreating line may be made to travel
beneath the returning line.
The movable portions of the floor is made in sections, and suitable partitions are
provided between the sections so as to prevent the coal from running down back of or
behind such movable sections, and so prevent their operation.
The elevator is provided with an overhanging head so as to facilitate the dumping
of the coal or other material from the buckets and pans.
Suitable sprocket wheels, tracks, and antifriction wheels are provided, whereby the
chain of buckets and pans may be operated and guided in its course of travel.
My invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying
drawings forming a part of this specification and then pointed out in the claims."
Of said drawings. Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a vessel, showing
the construction and arrangement of my improved conveyor and elevator in connec
tion therewith, and the manner of using the same. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the
line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the construction and operation of
my improved means for opening and closing the bucket or pan supplying holes in the
floor of the vessel's hold.
The same letters of reference designate the same parts and features wherever they
occur.
In the drawings
a designates the frame of the vessel, constructed witli a trough or way running

page_text: longitudinally over the keel beneath the floor of the hold. 6 designates an endless
chain of buckets or pans arranged to run over the draft wheels 2 and 3, and around
the idle wheels or pulleys 4 and 5 and over the head c on the elevator frame d.
Tracing the chain of buckets and pans a from the pulley or wheel 5. they pass up on
one side of the elevator frame d, around draft pulley or wheel 2 over head c, down on
the opposite side of the frame d, around draft wheel 3 through the lower part of the
chamber over the keel and beneath the floor, around wheel 4, and back just beneath
the floor to and around idle wheel 5 to the point of starting. The several wheels 2, 3,
4 and 5 are constructed as sprocket wheels to engage the shafts or other parts or
devices of the chain of buckets and pans, and carry the same around; the wheels 2
and being positively driven, and hence herein called "draft wheels," and the
wheels 4, 5 being idle or guide wheels and operated merely by the movement of the
chain of buckets and pans.
The head of the elevator frame overhangs or projects out from the line of travel
of the chain of buckets and pans, so that the coal or other material taken by or
delivered to said buckets and pans may, as the latter pass around the overhanging
portion of the head, he dumped into the chute e, while the buckets and pans pass
around under the overhanging portion of the head, and down again close to the line
of ascent, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction enables me to economize room to
the greatest possible extent in the operation of the chain of pans and buckets.
It will be understood, of course, that suitable tracks are provided to guide and
support the chain in its movements, the tracks around the overhanging portion of the
head down the front side of the elevator frame and under the inward travelling portion
of the chain being double, that is one over and one under the wheels on each side.
f designates holes or delivering ports formed in the bottom of the vessel on a line
over the line of horizontal travel of the buckets and pans, through which ports the
coal or other material is delivered to said buckets and pans. Preferably but one
of these ports (that nearest the elevator frame and capable of delivering coal) will
be open at a time.
With a substantially flat floor in the hold or apartment where the coal or other
article is stored (which construction is necessary to a maximum amount of storage
room) after all of the coal has been delivered to the buckets that gravity will carry
down thereinto, there will still remain a very considerable amount at the sides of the
holes or ports f, and in order to cause this undelivered portion to run or slide into the
buckets through the ports, I form the floor in movable sections . hinging the edges
of said sections along the line next to the ports f to the frame of the boat or vessel.
and leaving the outer portion of each section so that it can be raised or swung
upward and thus cause the coal or other material thereon to run down into the
adjacent port f. In order that no coal on the hinged section g may fall down back of
or behind the same as it is raised. and consequently swung inward from the side of
the boat or vessel, I hinge a leaf or shelf h to the side of the boat above the free edge
of the movable section g, with the free edge of the said leaf h resting on the upper
surface of said section g, so that as the latter is raised the free edge of the leaf or
shelf may be moved outward in contact therewith. and so prevent the coal from
falling behind or under the floor, all of which will be clearly understood by an
inspection of Fig. 2. where the full lines represent the position of the parts before the
floor is raised, and the dotted lines show such position afterward.
To keep the coal from running down under the floor at the ends of the sections
when the latter are raised, I construct the partitions between each two adjacent
sections, which partitions may extend up to a line a little higher than the plane to
which the sections are raised, as will also be understood by reference to Fig. 2. the
ends of the sections in the raising and lowering of said sections moving in close
proximity to said partitions.
The sections and leaves or shelves may be operated by means of chains or
cables attached thereto and passing over pulleys, or he otherwise suitably
arranged.
To provide suitable covers or cut-offs to the ports or holes 7, whereby the latter

page_text: may be opened and closed as may be desired, I pivot or hinge doors at one of their
ends, as at 2 to the frame of the vessel, so that said doors may be swung around
under the floor and under ports f and so close or cut off said ports, as shown by
dotted lines in Fig. 3, or be swung outward and so open said ports, as represented by
full lines in the last mentioned figure. The doors & will, at their free ends, be guided
and supported in their movements by suitable tracks or ways m, and may be operated
by means of chains or cables n n¹ secured thereto and passing around pulleys. The
swinging movement of the doors may be limited by suitably positioned stops g.
as shown.
I am aware that sliding doors or cut-offs or covers have been employed in similar
connections and for similar purposes. on docks, &c., and hence I do not claim the
same broadly.
Either wheel or pulley 2 or 3 may be the driven wheel, operated from any prime
motor, and the other be driven from it by means of a chain or belt, as will be under-
stood by an inspection of Fig. 1.
It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts
comprising my improvements without departing from the nature or spirit of the
invention.
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 combination with a vessel, of an elevator leg at one end thereof, and an
endless chain of buckets and pans constructed and arranged to travel up over and
down said elevator leg, and to and fro in a way or ways formed in the vessel, whereby
the contents of the vessel may be taken therefrom, carried to and up the elevator leg
and discharged with a single "handling," as set forth.
2. The combination with a vessel provided with a trough or way beneath the floor
and above the keel, of a vertically arranged elevator frame at the end of such trough
or way, an endless chain of buckets and pans arranged in said trough or way and on
said elevator frame, and wheels to move and guide said chain, whereby the coal or
contents of the vessel may be taken therefrom and directly carried up the elevator
frame, as set forth.
3. The vertically arranged elevator frame provided with an overhanging head,
combined with the chain of buckets and pans arranged to ascend and descend on the
frame on lines in close proximity to each other, and to travel to and fro in the vessel.
as set forth.
4. The combination with a vessel provided with delivering holes or ports in its
floor, of movable sections g of the floor. hinged at points at or near said delivering
holes or ports, and leaves or shelves hinged to the side of the vessel with their free
edges in contact with said hinged sections of flooring, as set forth.
5. The combination with a vessel provided with delivering holes or ports in its
floor, of movable sections of the floor, hinged at points at or near said delivering
holes or ports, leaves or shelves hinged at the side of the vessel with their free
edges in contact with said hinged sections of flooring, and partitions between each
two sections, as set forth.
6. The combination with a vessel provided with delivering holes or ports in its
floor, of covers or cut-offs for said holes or ports, said covers or cut-offs being pivoted
beneath the floor and provided with cables whereby they may be swung around to
close the ports or holes, or be moved in the opposite direction to open the same,
tracks m beneath the free ends of the covers or cut-offs to support the same, and stops
to limit the movement of the covers or cut-offs, as set forth.
1000
DRILAT
CHARLES JAMES SEYMOUR..
Haseltine, Lake & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.