IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING COAL AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Finch, of Chepstow, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING COAL AND OTHER
VESSELS."
Sealed the 8th February 1856, and dated the 10th August 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Finch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
August 1855.
I, EDWARD FINCH, of Chepstow, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING COAL
AND OTHER VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in employing for this purpose two vertical levers or
beams, which turn on a horizontal axis; these beams carry between them at
one end a pulley, over which the chain passes to the load, and this chain is also
connected with any suitable mechanism by which sufficient power is obtained
to lift the load; and the levers or beams carry between them at their other
ends and on the other side of the axis a counterpoise, sufficiently heavy to lift
the longer arms of the levers or beams, and also to assist in raising the load.
On the axis on which the beams turn is fixed a toothed segment, into which an
endless screw works. Thus, by working this endless screw the load is lifted
from the ground, and as the screw continues to work it swings between the

page_text: two levers or beams, it having been previously raised by the tackle sufficiently
to clear the counterpoise; afterwards the screw is still worked until the load is
over the position into which it is to be lowered, then the lowering is effected
by the tackle. I prefer to arrange this apparatus on a carriage to run on a
tramway, so that it can be run along a wharf to the ship which is to be loaded
or unloaded; and I also prefer to mount a small steam engine on the same
carriage to work the endless screw and other apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Finch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
FINCH, of Chepstow, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Finch, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Finch, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Finch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all tinies thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING COAL AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Finch, my executors or administra-
tors, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Finch, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in employing for this purpose two vertical levers or
beams, which turn on a horizontal axis; these beams carry between them at

page_text: one end a pulley, over which the chain passes to the load, and this chain is also
connected with any suitable mechanism by which sufficient power is obtained
to lift the load; and the levers or beams carry between them at their other
ends and on the other side of the axis a counterpoise, sufficiently heavy to lift
the longer arms of the levers or beams, and also to assist in raising the load.
On the axis on which the beams turn is fixed a toothed segment, into which
an endless screw works. Thus, by working this endless screw the load is lifted
from the ground, and as the screw continues to work it swings between the
two levers or beams, it having been previously raised by the tackle sufficiently
to clear the counterpoise; afterwards the screw is still worked until the load is
over the position into which it is to be lowered, and then the lowering is
effected by the tackle.
I prefer to arrange this apparatus on a carriage to run on a tramway, so
that it can be run along a wharf to the ship which is to be loaded or unloaded;
and I also prefer to mount a small steam engine on the same carriage to work
the endless screw and other apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews a transverse section, and Figure 2 shews a longitudinal
section, of the machinery employed.
This machine is intended to be locomotive, and to be made to rest upon
wheels, which wheels are arranged to travel upon lines of railway placed at
the requisite distance apart. The machine is more particularly arranged for
the purpose of shipping coal from railway trucks into ships, and for dis-
charging ballast from ships; and the Drawings shew the machine placed
of a wharf or dock, with the vessel on the one side and the
coal waggon on the other, with a view of taking the coals from the waggon
and depositing it into the vessel, or of taking the ballast from the vessel and
lifting it to the truck. The particular object aimed at in this machine is
to ship coals without their being injured and broken in the act of being
transferred from the railway waggons or trucks into the vessel."
upon
the quay
It is intended that the coals shall at the pit be placed in iron boxes,
constructed with bottoms to open downwards, or in boxes that shall swivel on
centres, and that these boxes shall be placed on platform trucks and brought
down to the machine; they are then lifted and lowered into the vessel, the
bottoms are then opened, and the coal is deposited in the vessel; or if the boxes
are made to swivel, then they are turned over and emptied in the vessel, and

page_text: when the boxes are empty they are brought back to. the trucks by the machine.
The injury that usually takes place by the coals falling from a height into the
vessel is by this arrangement avoided.
The machine may, if desired, be stationary instead of travelling on wheels,
and other power than steam power may be used to work it with. The load to
be shipped may be brought before the machine close to the edge of the dock,
and lifted from this place into the vessel. In this case the load will not pass
through the levers, and the levers would then only require to oscillate to a less
extent. a, a, shows part of the ship or vessel; b, b, are the rails on which the
machine for leading or unloading moves; c, c, are the rails on which the coal
or other trucks move; d, d, are the two levers which move on the axis e. The
lower ends of the levers below the axis e are counterbalanced. The axis of the
lever receives motion by the screw f and screw wheel g from the steam engine
h, and the load is lifted and lowered by the gearing shown, or other suitable
arrangement, as is well understood.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to any
of the parts separately; but what I claim is, the mode herein described of
combining and employing levers and mechanism for loading and unloading
coal and other vessels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Finch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. G. JONES.
EDWD FINCH. (L.S.)