Improvements in Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
I, JEREMIAH CAMPBELL, of 16, County Road, Chelsea, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in hoisting and conveying apparatus
applicable more particularly to the transport or transhipment of loose material
say coal and has special reference to apparatus of this kind such as described in
the Specification of former British Letters Patent No. 23,280 dated the 20th of
October 1896, that is to say to apparatus wherein a steam shovel or grab has its
position controlled from a trolley which works on a horizontal boom or arm
projecting from a vertical tower or elevated framing.
Now the object of my present invention is to increase the efficiency and range
of action of this class of apparatus, and to provide means whereby the grab after
being filled on one side of the apparatus can be raised and transported to the
opposite side thereof, whereas according to the said former patent the movements
were confined entirely to one side of the apparatus.
•
According to this invention I provide the apparatus with a tower or elevated
framing so constructed that a clear space or passage is left through the said tower.
The boom or arm on which travels the trolley, is arranged in this space and
extends outward beyond on each side of the tower to as great a distance as is
practicable consistent with proper strength. Either one or both of the projecting
portions or extremities of the boom may be hinged or jointed so as to enable
them to be swung in a vertical or horizontal direction.
The ropes or chains which serve to operate and control the grab are substan-
tially similar in their arrangement and operation to those in the said former
patent, and I may either operate these ropes or chains by means of winding
drums as in the patent referred to, or I may employ hydraulic rams or other
suitable apparatus for this purpose.
Owing to the fact that the trolley passes from one side of the apparatus to the
other, the operating ropes may be passed over pulleys in the top of the tower
above the middle of the arm or boom, the said pulleys being at right angles to
the latter and being combined with suitable guide pulleys situated below them
and parallel with the boom or arm. The arrangement is such that the guide
pulleys keep the portion of the ropes between them and the main pulley always
vertical, so that it will run truly over the latter pulley, whilst however permitting
the ropes to incline either to one side or the other according to the position the
trolley may happen to be in.
My improved apparatus can thus if mounted on wheels or rollers be moved
directly in between the material and the place to which it is to be transported,

page_text: and the material can be lifted through the apparatus without any swinging
movement such as occurs in an ordinary jib crane.
In some cases I may arrange a suitable shoot or hopper in connection with the
apparatus and provide for feeding the same from either or both sides of the
apparatus for which purpose I may if desired employ a pair of grabs one working
at each end of the arm or boom.
Improvements in Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
I, JEREMIAHI CAMPBELL, of 16, County Road, Chelsea, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Engineer, 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 a hoisting and conveying apparatus having a long
continuous trolley boom mounted upon and cross wise of a car truck or other
support to extend any desired distance from each side thereof, combined with a
single trolley and single steam shovel adapted to be used at will upon the boom
upon either side of its centre or upon any other part of the whole length thereof,
and to be transferred from one side to the other or one operative position to another
without disconnecting the trolley or shovel from their operating ropes or engines,
the boom, trolley and shovel being combined with a trolley engine and a shovel
engine both mounted upon the car truck or support in such a manner as to permit
the movement of the trolley shovel, engines and operating connections simul-
taneously from one operative position to another.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating the said invention
Fig. 1 is an end view.
Figure 2 is a view principally in side elevation of my improved apparatus.
Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section upon the dotted line 3-3 of Figure 1
and in plan of parts below said line.
Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the top of the tower to show the arrange-
ment of sheaves thereon on an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section upon the dotted line 4-4 of
Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a view in plan, enlarged, of an engine for operating the trolley
equipped with a winding drum, and
Figure 6 is a view enlarged of a trolley engine equipped with a winding spool
instead of a winding drum.
The boom
A Figures 1 and 2 represents a car or truck having wheels a supported by
rails a¹ upon a trestle A¹ or other suitable support. The car has mounted upon it
a long boom B at any required distance above the floor 6 of the car.
extends any desired distance from each side of the car and is attached to the car
by any desired arrangement of stays B₁ and suspension chains B³. It has two
parallel lengths or parts 62, 62 Figure 3 which are separated from each other.
throughout the length of the boom leaving a clear unobstructed space 63 between
them for the travel of the shovel operating trolley and guy ropes. The boom
must be of a sufficient height above the bottom of the car to permit the shovel

page_text: to pass between it and the bottom of the car from one side to the other, either
for the purpose of transferring the shovel from one operative position to another
or for continuous use crosswise the car. The boom carries tracks c, c¹ upon which
the trolley C is supported, and upon which it is adapted to be moved from one
end of the boon to the other. It is so moved by means of an engine having two
winding drums one of which winds a draw rope connected with the trolley to
draw the trolley from the centre towards one end of the boom, the second drawing
roll meanwhile paying out rope while the second drawing roll and rope operate
to draw the trolley from the centre of the boom in a reverse direction to the
opposite ends of the boom, the first named winding drum meanwhile paying out
its rope. The winding rolls may be combined as represented in Figure 5 if
desired.
In lieu of two winding drums an endless draw rope wound about a spool * see
Figure 6 and the ends of which are connected with the trolley may be employed,
the spool being operated by the engine to turn in either direction to draw the
trolley from the centre outward to either end of the boom.
It will be understood that the weight of the shovel will always move the trolley.
from either end of the boom inward to or near the centre of the boom.
The trolley operating rope is lettered and one section extends from the
trolley to the end 63 of the boom about the sheave 4 thereon backward to
the sheave b near the centre of the boom and thence to the trolley engine I). The
section of the rope extends from the trolley about the sheave at the end bi of
the boom and then backward to the sheave 6s near the centre of the boom and
thence to the winding drum or spool of the trolley engine.
The trolley carries the two pairs of sheaves, and the set c is used for
guiding the shovel operating ropes e, e', of the shovel E when the shovel is operated
upon the side of the boom to the left of the car as represented in Figure 1, and
the set is used for guiding the said shovel operating ropes when the shovel is
operating upon the side of the car at the right-hand of Figure 1.
The shovel E preferably is of the clam shell variety, and it automatically fills.
itself and is automatically discharged. Its operating rope e is a hoisting and
lowering rope, by means of which the shovel is hoisted is lowered and the rope e¹
is actuated to close the shovel and open it. These ropes extend from the shovel
over one set or the other of the trolley sheaves c, e according as the trolley is at
one side of the centre of the boom or the other, and the hoisting rope e passes
between the sheaves e, e at the top of the tower E¹, (see Figure 4) thence over
the sheave to a winding drum of the shovel operating engine F.
The opening
and closing rope el passes between the sheaves e, e and the sheave e to a winding
drum of the shovel operating engine. The shovel engine is operated to wind or
unwind the hoisting and lowering and the opening and closing rope during the
hoisting of the shovel and the transfer of the above according as the trolley is
moved upon the boom, and where the trolley with the shovel pass the centre of
the boom from one side to the other passing said centre it becomes necessary to
pay out the hoisting and lowering and opening and closing ropes until the trolley
has reached the position upon the boom at which it is desired the shovel shall
be discharged of its contents. It is also necessary that the means for suspending
the ropes in the tower shall be such that they may be moved by the trolley from
one side of the centre to the other side of the centre of the boom and stil maintain
engagement with suitable sheaves and also be held separated and operated and
it is for this reason that the system of sheaves represented in Figure 4 is used.
Three sheaves for each rope are there represented. Two of them are in oppose'l
relation to each other and only one of each of these bars is used at one time,
the ropes transferring automatically from the seat on one side to the seat apon
the other side as the trolley passes the centre of the boom.
The ropes at all times pass over the sheaves et, e², each of which is arrange:
so that its edge is over the centre of a pair of sheaves immediately below the outer

page_text: edge of the sheave e, being over the centre between the sheaves e, e, which are
placed closely together so that the groove in one sheath may be in line with and
receive the rope when it leaves the groove in the other, and the sheave e occupy-
ing a like relation to the sheaves e³, e6.
•
The guy rope G passes from the shovel over a sheave g at one end of the boom
and over a sheave g¹ in the top of the tower downward through a sheave on the
operating weight g² and thence upward to the top of the tower where it is fastened.
When the shovel is operating upon the opposite end of the boom from that
containing the sheave the guy rope then runs through the opening between the
bottom of the car and the boom and over a roll g³ on the car, see Figure 1.
Preferably the trolley operating engine is at one side of the cross opening
between the boom and the bottom of the truck or car and the shovel operating
engine is upon the other side thereof. Any suitable type of engine may be used.
Each may be enclosed in a small house, and there may be a station upon the top
of each one, a station D¹ for the operator of the trolley and trolley engine, the
other, station F', for the operator of the shovel and shovel operating engine.
The car may also have a part of its floor shaped to form a hopper H into which
coal may be dumped and through which it may be fed to a tram car H¹ movable
upon the tracks h, h¹ on the trestle below the car A, or the hopper may deliver
into any other desired receptacle.
While I prefer that the shovel operating ropes and guy ropes extend to the
top of the tower and from thence to their operating engine and weight respec-
tively, yet they may run horizontally to turning sheaves by which their course
may be directed to the engine and to a weight below the boom. I prefer, however,
to use the tower.
The shovel is operated to take up and deliver coal or other material in the
manner of the ordinary clam shell shovel and the shovel is also operated to transfer
the shovel horizontally. The apparatus differs from the ordinary hoisting device
in that it is so constructed and arranged that the shovel and trolley may be used
upon either side or end of a long boom and worked upon that side only, and they
may be transferred from working position upon one side of the boom to working
position upon the other without removing or disconnecting any part of either
the shovel or trolley and by simply moving the trolley and shovel from one end
of the boom across the centre to the other end thereof, and they may be used for
transferring coal or material from one end of the boom across the centre to the
other end of the boom or from or near one end of the boom to its centre or in
fact upon any part of the boom desired, and the boom, trolley, shovel operating
engines and devices are supported to be simultaneously moved by their supporting
truck or car from one operative position to another at will. This enables coal or
other material to be taken from any position or pile within the range of the
apparatus and transferred to any other position or pile or to be loaded into tram
cars or other carriers.
The trolley operating is constructed so that it may draw the trolley by the
trolley rope in either direction at will from the centre of the boom and the
trolley rope may as I have above stated be operated by a drum or by a spool,
and in Figure 5 I have shown a winding drum for this purpose and in Figure 6
a winding spool. The winding drum of Figure 5 is in two parts ar¹ one of which
is adapted to wind in one direction and the other in a reverse direction. The
engine is constructed to drive the drum or spool in both directions, and conse-
quently has two cylinders, pistons and driving connections with the drum or
spool. It also has appropriate mechanism a* for throwing the drum or spool
into and out of connection with its operating shaft at will and for reversing the
engine at will, and for holding the drum or spool locked or stationary at will.
Ordinarily where two engines are employed for operating the apparatus two
operators are necessary, one of which controls the vertical movements of the
shovel and the opening and closing thereof, and the other of which controls the

page_text: horizontal position of the shovel. These operators are stationed preferably over
the engines as specified and operate their respective engines by means of suitable
controlling levers.
It will be noticed that the boom is so supported and its support so constructed
that there is an unobstructed space below the boom and across the car or support
and also above the boom and across the car or support from one end of the boom
to the other, and that therefore the trolley shovels and their operating ropes are
free to be moved from one end of the boom across the car or other support to the
other end of the boom without requiring the removal of any part of the boom,
car or support or anything above or below the boom.
In Figures 1 and 3 there are shown upon. each side of the main trestle work
additional trestles for supporting the tracks upon which tram or other cars
for conveying or transferring coal or other material to either side of the hoisting
and conveying apparatus. While I have described the shovel as operated by
two ropes, namely; a hoisting rope and an opening and closing rope I would
say that I do not confine myself to the manner of its operation and it may be
both hoisted and lowered and opened and closed by a single rope or by more than
two ropes if desired.
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. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus the combination of a support for a
boom, a boom mounted on said support to have a free unobstructed space beneath
it and extending from both sides thereof, a trolley mounted upon said boom,
means for moving the trolley upon any portion of said boom, a steam shovel
adapted to be moved horizontally by said trolley and means for operating the
same, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus the combination of a car or movable
support, a boom mounted upon said support to extend across the same and from
both sides thereof, having an unobstructed space below it, a trolley mounted
upon said boom and movable upon any part thereof, means for moving the trolley
thereon, a steam shovel, the horizontal position of which is governed by said
trolley, and means for operating said shovel, the said boom, trolley and shovel
being movable with said car or movable support, as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination of a support, a
trolley boom over said support and extending from both sides thereof, an
unobstructed space beneath and above said boom throughout its operative length,
a trolley mounted upon said boom and operative upon either side of its centre,
a steam shovel the horizontal position of which is governed by said trolley,
means for operating the shovel, the said trolley and shovel being transferable
from one side of the centre of the boom to the other side of the centre of the
boom and being operated in each of these positions.
4. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus the combination of a support, a
boom extending from said support in both directions, having an unobstructed
space above it and below it for its operative length and also an unobstructed
opening arranged centrally lengthwise it and between its sides, a trolley horizon-
tally movable upon said boom adapted to govern the horizontal position of a
steam shovel, a steam shovel and means for operating the same, the shovel
actuating ropes being movable in said longitudinal opening in said boom, as
and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination of a boom, a support
for the same from both sides of which the boom extends, a shovel positioning
trolley mounted upon said boom, a steam shovel and means for operating it,
the said shovel and trolley operating means being constructed and organized to

page_text: operate the shovel and trolley upon each side of the centre of the boom and across
the centre of the boom and to transfer the trolley and shovel from operative
position upon one side of the boom to operative position upon the other side of
the boom without varying their operative relation with each other or condition.
6. The combination of the boom B extending across and from both sides of a
support having an unobstructed space above and below the same, a trolley mounte!
upon said boom to be operated upon any part thereof and having the two sets
of sheaves for alternate use with the said shovel, and its said operating ropes
7. The combination in an apparatus of the character specified of the boom.
centrally supported and having unobstructed sides above and below the same.
the shovel trolley movable thereon, the steam shovel, the actuating ropes of
which pass over the sheaves carried by the trolley, means for winding and
unwinding said shovel operating ropes.
8. The combination in a hoisting and conveying apparatus of a boom centrally
supported and having an unobstructed space above it and below it, the shovel
trolley mounted thereon, the shovel, its operating ropes and an automatic guy
rope extending from one end of the boom only to the shovel and operative upon
both sides of the centre of the boom, as and for the purposes set forth.
9. The combination in a hoisting and conveying apparatus of a boom centrally
supported and having an unobstructed space above it and below it, the shovel
trolley mounted thereon, the shovel, its operating ropes and an automatic guy
rope extending from one end of the boom only to the shovel and operative upon
both sides of the centre of the boom, and the guy rope sheave or guide g³, as and
for the purposes set forth.
10. The combination in a hoisting and conveying apparatus of a boom centrally
supported upon a car or other movable support, said car or movable support, a
trolley movable upon said boom throughout its operative length having two sets
of shovel rope receiving and transferring sheaves, the steam shovel, its operating
ropes, receiving and transferring sheaves therefor, the automatic guy rope oper-
ative upon each side of the centre of the boom and shovel operating engines
mounted upon said car or movable support.
11. The combination in a hoisting and conveying apparatus of a car or support,
a tower extending therefrom, a boom extending crosswise the car or support and
from each side thereof having an unobstructed space below and above the same
throughout its length, the boem stays 3 and suspending chains 132 and the
trolley and steam shovel movable thereon as specified.
12. The combination in a hoisting and conveying apparatus of the boom
centrally supported and having an unobstructed space above and below the same
throughout its length, a trolley movable thereon, the steam shovel, its operating
ropes passing over the trolley and means for actuating them, and a trolley rope,
winding drum or spool and means for positively turning said druin or spool in
both directions.
13. The combination of the boom centrally supported having an unobstructed
space above and below the same, the trolley mounted thereon having two sets
of shovel rope transferring sheaves, the trolley actuating rope, its sheaves 4, 16,
one at each end of the boom, the sheaves 65, 68 at or near the centre of the boom.
and the trolley rope winding drum or spool and means for positively turning it
in both directions, as and for the purposes set forth.
14. The combination in hoisting and conveying apparatus of a movable car
or support, a boom mounted upon said car or support extending horizontally from
each side thereof, having an unobstructed space above and below the same, a
trolley actuating engine at one end of said car or support and a shovel actuating
engine at the other end of said car or support, separated from each other by an
open space extending across the car, a trolley mounted upon said boom to be
movable thereon throughout its operative length and governing the horizontal

page_text: position of a steam shovel, said steam shovel and the said trolley and steam shovel
engines connected with said trolley and with the shovel as specified.
15. The combination of the car, a boom supported by the same and extending
from both sides thereof, the trolley and steam shovel operative upon the boom
as specified, and a hopper in the bottom of the car.
Dated this 19th day of April. 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.