Improvements in Shoots used in Loading and Unloading Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shoots used in Loading and Unloading Ships.
I, CHARLES SMITH, of 40 Lawrence Road, Bow, London, E., Dock
Superintendent for Messrs. Alexander Howden & Co. of 138. Leadenhall Street,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object Improvements in Shoots used in Loading and
Unloading Ships.
These shoots as heretofore constructed have consisted of stout planks laid usually
three abreast and nailed on to transverse bearers which in turn have been morticed
into two side pieces consisting of planks set on edge and projecting above the level
of the first mentioned planks. These side pieces besides giving strength to the
structure, form guards to prevent the merchandise when it is slidden down the
shoot from running off at the sides. These shoots are subject to very rough usage
and being weak in consequence of the morticing the wear is great and the cost of
repairs is serious. Besides this injury is done to the merchandise by the nails
which in wear rise up out of the planks and tear and cut the packages passing
over them.
According to my invention I avoid the morticing of the side pieces and I' also,
avoid the use of nails. This I effect by making the transverse bearers of angle
iron bent round and welded at their ends.
I secure the metal bearers to the side pieces by bolts and nuts. Also by bolts
and nuts I fix the planks to the bearers. At each bearer where the plank lies upon
it I use two bolts to secure the plank.
In some cases where the ends of two planks butt together upon a bearer as
occurs when the planks are cut for the purpose of repair, I use bearers of Tiron
and bolt the abutting ends of the planks to the two flanges on either side of the
web of the T iron bearer.
Cargo shoots made in accordance with my invention are not only much
stronger than those of ordinary construction but they are also lighter and more
easily repaired.
Dated this 16th day of June 1893.
L
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shoots used in Loading and Unloading Ships.
I, CHARLES SMITH of 40 Lawrence Road, Bow, London, E. Dock
Superintendent for Messrs. Alexander Howden & Co., of 138 Leadenhall Street
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
18 to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has for its object Improvements in Shoots used in Loading and
Unloading Ships.
Shoots as heretofore constructed have consisted of stout planks laid usually
three abreast and nailed on to transverse bearers which in turn have been morticed
into two side pieces consisting of planks set on edge and projecting above the level
of the first mentioned planks. These side pieces besides giving strength to the
D77

page_text: structure, form guards to prevent the merchandise when it is slidden down the
shoot from running off at the sides.
These shoots are subject to very rough usage and being weak in consequence of
the morticing the wear is great and the cost of repairs is serious.
Besides this injury is done to the merchandise by the nails which in wear rise
up out of the planks and tear and cut the packages passing over them.
According to my invention I avoid the morticing of the side pieces and I also
avoid the use of nails.
This I effect by making the transverse bearers of angle iron bent round and
welded at their ends.
I will now proceed. to describe my invention as applied to a shoot of the ordinary
type.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is an underside plan view of a shoot constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view and Fig. 3 a cross section of the same on an enlarged
scale.
In these figures A A are the side pieces, and B B the bearers supporting the
longitudinal planks C C.
The bearers B B (placed at suitable distances apart and extending from side to
side of the shoot) are formed of angle iron bent over at the ends as will be here-
after more particularly explained. The bent over ends being secured to the inside
of the side pieces by bolts and nuts b b.
The planks C C are in like manner secured to the bearers by bolts and nuts c c.
These bolts are preferably made with flat counter sunk heads so that as the planks
wear the bolts cc can by screwing up the nuts be drawn through the planks until
their heads are level with the surface of the plank, thus offering no obstruction to
the passage of the goods sliding down the shoot and preventing damage to bales
and like packages as has hitherto been the case when nails or screws have been used
for securing the planks.
In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a convenient manner of constructing the
bearers B.B.
Fig. 4 is a side view of an angle iron bearer before being bent. Angular pieces
are cut out of the vertical web as at x x.
The bearer is then heated and the ends turned down as at Fig. 5, when the edges of
the spaces left by cutting out the angular pieces will slightly overlap as indicated
by the dotted lines in this figure.
It is now only necessary to weld the vertical web of the bearer at the point of
overlapping and to punch the necessary number of holes for the bolts when the
bearer will be ready for use.
In some cases where the ends of two planks butt together upon a bearer, as
occurs when the planks are cut for the purpose of repair, I use bearers of T iron
and bolt the abutting ends of the planks to the two flanges on either side of the
web of the iron bearer.
Fig. 6 shows in partial plan view a mode of adapting the angle iron bearers
above described in the case of repairs.
To this end the broken plank is sawn across in the centre line of the bolt holes
and a fresh piece inserted to butt against the old plank, iron plates D D are then
let in flush with the surface of the planks and bolts are inserted through holes in
the plates and through the joint of the planks: they are then secured to the bearers
by nuts as before described.
I have described my invention as applied to shoots but it is also applicable to
gangways, and as the construction of the latter is practically identical with the
construction of shoots: no further description will be necessary.
It will thus be seen that cargo shoots and gangways made in accordance with my
invention are not only much stronger than those of ordinary construction but they
are also lighter and more easily repaired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The application to shoots used in loading and unloading ships, of metal
bearers constructed and fitted in the manner above shown and described.
2. The improved shoot for loading and unloading ships constructed and fitted in
the manner above shown and described.
CHARLES SMITH.