Improvements in Discharging Coal and similar Cargo from Lighters to Ships or Wharves.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., .1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Discharging Coal and similar Cargo from Lighters
to Ships or Wharves.
I, MICHEL JOHN PAUL, of 18, Montague Place, Russell Square, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means for coaling ships or for conveying coal or other
cargo in bulk to wharves or other places where the same is to be discharged; the
principal object of the invention being to facilitate the expeditious discharge of the
cargo, whether for the purpose of coaling a ship or otherwise.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a barge or "lighter" provided with a
travelling bed arranged by preference centrally along the floor of the barge, and then
inclining upwards and passing over the extremity of a structure resembling the arin
of a derrick. The outer end of the derrick-arm may, within certain limits, be raised
or lowered, according to the level at which the cargo is to be discharged, or may be
raised to a vertical position, or folded back when out of use or whilst the lighter is
moved from place to place.
In order to prevent the coal or other material whereof the cargo consists falling
back along the travelling bed whilst ascending the incline, I form the plates com-
posing the endless chain in such a manner that, whilst the bed is travelling up the
incline, the upper edge of each plate is approximately horizontal.
•
The coal or other, cargo is disposed in the lighter along each side of the horizontal
portion of the travelling bed, and may be rapidly transferred thereto by manual
labour. Or the floors of the coal-bunkers may incline downwards towards the centre
of the lighter and may be provided with sliding doors, which, upon being lifted,
release the coal or other cargo from the bunkers and permit it to fall upon the
travelling bed.
Dated this 10th dev of February 1800
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Discharging Coal and similar Cargo from Lighters
to Ships or Wharves.
I, MICHEL JOHN PAUL, of 18, Montague Place, Russell Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 means for coaling ships or for conveying coal or other
cargo in bulk to wharves or places where the same is to be discharged; the principal
object of the invention being to facilitate the discharge of the cargo, whether for the
purpose of coaling a ship or otherwise.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, a
barge or "lighter" provided with means for coaling ships arranged in accordance
with the present invention.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a corresponding transverse section and a plan.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views shewing respectively the travelling bed in
side elevation, transverse section and in plan.
"
In carrying out my invention, I employ a barge or
" lighter A provided with a
travelling bed B arranged by preference along the floor of the barge and then
[Price 6d.

page_text: inclining upwards and passing over the extremity of an elevated structure C
resembling the arm of a derrick. The bed B consists of an endless flat chain which
travels on three drums c, c¹ and e². The drum c is the driving drum, and is keyed on
a shaft mounted to rotate in bearings . A worm-wheel c is fixed on one end of
the shaft ³, and is driven by a worm co on a worm-shaft c². The latter may be caused
to rotate by a suitable engine carried by the barge. The chain is built up of series of
plates or links which are jointed together by means of transverse rods b¹. Every
third rod is provided at each end with a roller 62. These rollers run on rails 63. The
outer end of the structure may, within certain limits, be raised or lowered,
according to the level at which the cargo is to be discharged, or may be raised to
a vertical position, or folded back when out of use or whilst the lighter is moved from
place to place.
In order to prevent the coal or other material whereof the cargo consists falling
back along the travelling bed whilst ascending the incline, I form the plates or some
of the plates comprising the endless chain of triangular shape, as represented in
Fig. 4, so that the upper edge of each plate in that portion of the bed travelling up
the structure C may be approximately horizontal.
'
The coal or other cargo is disposed in coal-bunkers D on each side of that portion
of the travelling bed arranged along the floor of the barge, and may be rapidly
transferred thereto by manual labour. Or, the floors of the coal-bunkers may incline
downwards towards the centre of the barge, as shewn in Fig. 2, and may be provided
with sliding doors D¹, which, upon being lifted by the rotation of the screws D³,
release the coal or other cargo from the bunkers and permit it to. fall upon the
travelling bed. If preferred, the coal-bunkers or the floors thereof may be hinged at
their edges adjoining the travelling bed. Each floor may then in the normal position
be horizontal or may incline downwards towards the side of the barge. The object of
this construction is to enable the floors of the coal-bunkers to be gradually raised by
mechanical means so that the whole of the coal or other material may be fed to the
travelling bed without requiring manual assistance. This construction has the further
advantage that the stowage capacity of the barge is better utilized owing to the
avoidance of rise of floor in the bunkers. The coal is carried on the travelling bed
over the drum c², whereupon it falls into an inclined trough or chute and is thereby
conducted to the place where it is required to be deposited. In some cases, however,
the use of the trough or chute may be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. An apparatus adapted for coaling vessels, and for conveying coal or similar
cargo from vessels to wharves or other places, consisting of a barge or "lighter". A
provided with a travelling bed B which extends along the floor of the barge and over
a pivoted arm such as C, the cargo being gradually fed to the travelling bed whereby
it is carried and whence it is discharged on arrival at the outer extremity of the said
arm.
...
2. The combination, with a barge or "lighter" A provided with bunkers D for
containing coal or similar cargo, of a travelling bed B arranged partly along the floor
of the barge and partly over an elevated arm such as C carried by .and pivoted to the
said barge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. For elevating coal and similar cargo and discharging the same from a lighter, a
travelling bed or endless chain B formed of plates or links b jointed together by means
of rods ¹, the trailing ends of the plates being of greater depth than the leading ends
so as to compensate for the inclination of the elevator and to overcome the tendency
of the cargo to fall back whilst ascending the incline.
Dated this 8th day of November 1890.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.