Improvements in Apparatus for Tipping Skips or Corves.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Tipping Skips or Corves.
1, WILLIAM ELIJAH BENTON, of 63, Pitt Street, Sydney, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 apparatas for tipping skips or corves to discharge there-
from coal, shale, ores, stone, sand or like materials, and has been devised with the
objects of dispensing with counterbalance weights and chambers, of perfecting the
balance, and of making the action of such apparatus wholly automatic.
In carrying out the present invention, tippers are used having in some cases three
and in other cases four chambers or compartments surrounding a shaft or hub about
which the whole frame wherein the chambers are formed revolves.
In the two annexed sheets of drawings are shewn in end elevation apparatus and
attachments constructed according to my invention;
Figure 1 illustrating a triple-chambered tipper, and
Figure 2 a quadruple-chambered tipper.
1 is the central shaft or hub, 2, 3 and 4 are divisions or compartments in which
the skips 5, 6 and 7 are carried, 8 rails, 9 carrier flanges, 10 is the guard plate,
11 are the screens, 12 is a brake whereof the shoe works against a ring on the
frame, 13 a top platform, 14 are aprons.
The same figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in both drawings.
The construction of the tipper is immaterial to the required effect so long as in
the one case it contains three, and in the other four divisions or compartments
arranged equiangularly or approximately so around the centre and each capable of
carrying one or more skips.
Of the triple tipper, the method of operation and action is as follows:-The
train of skips is brought to the tipper on the top platform 13 and one or more of
the skips (5) are run into the division 2 according to its longitudinal capacity;
the brake 12 is then freed or eased, whereupon the frame commences to turn in the
direction indicated by the arrow, the motion resulting from the excess of weight
of the skip or skips 6 over that of the skip or skips 7. When the skip 5 has been
inverted sufficiently, its contents pour out gradually upon the apron-plate 14 whence,
as the motion continues, they are discharged gently to the screens, through and
over which they pass in the well-known manner. Any loose pieces which fall
out during the inversion of the frame are caught by the guard-plate 10, whence
they roll or slide to the screens. It will be seen, on reference to the drawing, that
the arrangement is such that before the contents of the skip 6 commence to
pass from the apron-plate 14, the division 2 has attained top position and receives
another full skip 5 whose motion on the descent corresponds exactly with the
motions which the skip 6 has performed. The skip last put in the frame has
performed about one-third of its descent when the contents of the preceding.skip
are spilled on to the screens. Having been discharged, the empty skips commence
the return journey, in performing which they act successively as counterbalance
weights. As a division, containing an empty skip, nears the top position, the
brake 12 is applied so as to bring the frame to rest, whereupon the empty skip
is removed and a full one substituted. The apparatus is always self-starting, and
the balance being sufficiently perfect, no regulating contrivances are required.
The speed of rotation can always be kept under control by using the brake, and
the frame can be locked in the recharging position by a bolt or catch which may
be made automatic in action, and chocks or bolts may be provided for preventing
the skips escaping from the frame whilst it is in motion.

page_text: The operation is repeated three times in every revolution of the frame, and can
be carried on indefinitely.
Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that its principle of action is identical with
that of the design previously described, that is to say :-A plurality of skips are
enclosed in a revolving frame in such a way that the excess of weight appertaining
to the full skips serves as the motive power; whilst at the same time the weight of
the ascending empty skips is advantageously used as a counterbalance.
15 is the full skip which has been last admitted to the frame and is about to
commence its descent; 16 is a skip which has completed half its descent and has
discharged a portion of its contents upon the apron-plate; 17 is the skip which
has been last discharged and is now on its upward journey; and 18 is a skip
which has nearly completed its return journey. When the frame has turned through
an angle of 90 degrees, the order of the skips will be-18, 15, 16, 17, and so on.
Upon an empty skip attaining the position in which the skip 15 is shewn, it is
withdrawn from the frame and a full one takes its place. As previously described,
the tipper is self-starting, and is brought to rest and locked by brake and
chock gear.
The top platform 13 extends by preference on both sides of the tipper, so that
the skips may arrive at and enter the tipper on one side and depart from the other
side. If the frame be made sufficiently large, each division or compartment may
hold two or more skips, buffer to buffer.
So far as I am aware, no skip-tipper has hitherto been devised in which a nearly
perfect counterbalance is obtained by the mutual action of the descending and
ascending skips. Apparatus is, however, known in which a frame counterbalanced
with deadweight is employed; as also others in which a double-ended frame is
used carrying a skip in each end and having connected with it a liquid chamber
formed after the manner of an hour glass; the balance being automatically adjusted
by permitting the liquid to flow from one end of the chamber to the other.
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. Apparatus for discharging skips or corves consisting of a rotatable frame
having three divisions or compartments arranged equiangularly or approximately
so about the axis of the frame, and each adapted for the reception of one or more
akips substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for discharging skips or corves consisting of a rotatable frame
having four divisions or compartments arranged equiangularly or approximately
about the axis of the frame and each adapted for the reception of one or more
skips substantially as described.
3. A rotating skip-tipper having three or four divisions or compartments each
adapted for the reception of one or more skips, the said compartments being
arranged equiangularly or approximately so about the axis of the frame and ip
such a manner that the excess of weight of the descending full skip or skips serves
to furnish the motive power, whilst the weight of the empty skips acts as a
counterbalance to check the motion of the tipper, substantially as described.
4. In skip-tipping appliances, the combination, with a rotatable frame having
three or four divisions or compartments arranged equiangularly or approximately
so about the axis of the frame and each adapted for the reception of one or more
skips, of apron-plates arranged substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings and whereby the contents of the skips are delivered
gradually to and spread upon the screens.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.