Improvements in Elevators for Grain and like Substances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Elevators for Grain and like Substances.
We, MARANGOS & Co., of 3A, Rue Lafayette, Marseilles, in the Republic of
France, 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 an improved elevator with helicoidal conveyer blades
which we term "the floating elevator" serving for loading and unloading seeds,
cereals or other granular or pulverulent materials on or from board ship.
The invention consists in the whole constructional arrangement of the elevator
erected in a fixed position on a floating pontoon, and more especially in
the arrangement of the elevator proper formed by the raising device with helicoidal
conveyer blades arranged in steps upon a central axis; in the method of suspend-
ing this elevator by a universal joint (or joint movable in all directions) from the
extremity of a pole; in the general working mechanism of the elevator, as herein-
after explained.
The main advantages of this floating elevator are as follows:
1. It is mounted on a floating pontoon and is consequently always ready to work
without a crane being required for lifting it on board and without the trouble
involved in mounting and dismounting which operations are always lengthy
and costly;
2. It is provided with a screw propeller, which allows of its being easily and
automatically moved from the proximity of one hold to that of another and moved
about in the various docks of a harbour;
3. It is absolutely independent of the ship, on which it operates, inasmuch as
it is not supported thereon, which thus obviates obstruction on board, vibrations
and soiling of the deck; as well as of the hold, with all kinds of materials;
4. It is suspended by the aid of a joint movable in all directions and can there-
fore be worked from various points of the hold, and especially can be passed to
larboard and to starboard of the tunnel of the rear holds;
The driving and propelling mechanism of the said elevator is contained within
itself, that is to say it is complete and does not require anything either from the
ship it is being used in connection with, or from land;
6. Its capacity for loading or unloading is more than one hundred tons per
hour

page_text: 7. It serves for loading as well as for unloading and acts upon the whole
granular or pulverulent material without causing any waste or damage of the
goods.
In order that the construction, arrangement and operation of the elevator in
question may be clearly understood we will describe the invention with reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 represents the complete constructional arrangement of the elevator
forming our invention and applied by way of example for loading a vessel;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the elevator arranged for
unloading a vessel;
Figure 3 represents, in elevation, the front part of the floating pontoon with
the crane which supports and operates the elevator proper;
Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure 3 partly in section;
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the elevator proper;
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the said elevator partly in section;
Figure is a plan, showing the movable suspension joint thereof; and
Figures 8 and 9 are constructional details.
In Figures 1 and 2: 1 represents the floating pontoon, upon which the
elevator proper is firmly fixed; 2 is the mast of the said floating pontoon con-
stituting the fixed part of the crane; 3 is the pole of this crane; 4 is the elevator
proper suspended from the pole 3 by a movable joint; 5, 5 are connecting chains of the
pole 3; 6 is the windlass for operating the pole 3; 7 is the steam motor actuating
at the same time the elevator proper 4 and the screw propeller 8 of the pontoon.
Figure 1 moreover shows the lighter or barge X, in which the merchandise to
be loaded is stored, and the vessel Y to be loaded; the discharge conduit
likewise shown which passes the material raised from the barge X into the
vessel Y.
is
Figure 2 shows in addition, the vessel Y¹ to be unloaded, the discharge conduit r¹
delivering the raised material into a transporter or conveyer y consisting of an
endless band, actuated by an independent motor y supplied with steam from a
flexible tube starting from the pontoon 1 and not represented in the drawings.
The mast 2 hereinbefore referred to, is fixed to the bottom of the pontoon in the
ordinary way, supported toward the middle of its height by means of a chair formed
by a collar 9 and stays 10 rigidly fixed to the deck (see Figures 3 and 4); whilst
shrouds 11 with coupling screws stay or support its top; the collar 9 comprises a
spindle 12, on which the pole 3 can oscillate in a vertical plane.
The connecting chains 5, 5 are fastened at 13 to the pole 3, pass over guide
rollers 14, 14 in connection with the iron hoop fitted to the top of the mast 2, and
over the equalizing pulley 15 of the pulley frame, from which starts a chain 16
which is wound upon the drum of the windlass 6.
The elevator proper is composed of a series of tubes a connected with each other
by bots (Figure 5) and in the interior of which moves an elevator screw c with
helicoidal blades c¹. These tubes a are cylindrical and are provided with flanges a¹
to ensure their connection. The upper tube is closed by a cap a² and possesses a
discharge nozzle a whilst the lowermost tube, shorter than the others and slightly
wider at its lower end, is open and is connected to an extension a*, provided with a
tie-band a the use of which will be hereinafter indicated.
The elevator screw is formed by as many elements (Figure 5) as there are tubes a,
and each of these elements comprises a central axis c and a series of helicoidal
wings or blades c¹.
The axis c is a steel tube, to the extremities of which, square ends are fixed
which engage with sockets d' capable of turning in bearings b formed in the cross
bars connected with the flanges of the tubes a. The square ends d and the
sockets form the junction between the various elements of the elevator screw.
The axis of the upper element traverses the cap a² and receives a gear wheel e
by the aid of which a rotary movement can be imparted to the elevator screw,

page_text: whilst the lower element extends into the casing formed by the tie-band a³ and
rests with its axis in the socket be in the said tie band.
The wings or blades e¹ instead of being straight as shown in Fig. 5 may be made
of spoon shape as shown in Fig. 9 with helicoidal surfaces and are severally fixed
to the central axis c by means of small bolts f and T irons f¹ firmly rivetted to the
said axis.
These blades are so arranged around the axis c that the upper part of the one
is situated a few centimetres below the lower extremity of that blade which lies
immediately above and in line therewith. The whole arrangement of these blades
thus forms a kind of interrupted spiral, the separate portions or blades of which
form steps.
This arrangement presents over the ordinary screw the advantage of a more
efficient action and consequently of a larger output.
Supposing, as a matter of fact, that the lower portion of the elevator (namely
that where the elevator screw extends into the tie-band casing a³) be dipped into the
material to be raised, this material will be taken by the blade which is entirely
immersed in it and that which is partly immersed in it; the material taken by
the first blade is thus cast on to the second which is thus overloaded. On the
other hand any foreign matter or body that may find its way between the inner
wall of one tube and a continuous screw would, before its being set free, have to
traverse the whole generatrix of this screw (about 5 metres per one metre), whereby
the apparatus would be wedged up and worn by friction, whilst with the use of
the superposed helicoidal blades these disadvantages need not be apprehended.
The elevator thus formed, is, as has been illustrated, suspended from the
extremity of the pole 3 of the mast 2 which is done by means of a joint so arranged
that the said elevator always occupies a vertical position irrespective of the rolling
and pitching movements to which the pontoon I is subject, and in such a manner
that the concussions and displacements of this elevator do not affect the pontoon.
The suspension device in question is formed (Figures 5, 6 and 7) by a piece
provided with four branches g', g², g, g and jointed to the top of the pole 3
through the interposition of a shaft h connecting the two supports of the pole 3.
The shaft h is fixed and the piece y can oscillate thereon. The branches of this
piece are situated in one and the same plane. The two exterior branches gl and g
support a shaft h', the central point of which is inserted into a hollow shaft h²
supported by the two interior branches g2 and g³.
Upon the shaft h¹ are mounted; a double-grooved pulley i, over which passes
the transmission rope z, the action of which is hereinafter described, and a bevel
wheel gearing with a bevel wheel e on the central axis of the elevator screw.
The pulley and the wheel are, respectively, mounted between the branches g', g²,
and whereby any overhanging is prevented.
Upon the hollow shaft h2, between the branches g² and g³ a socket is freely
slid, which is connected with the cap a² of the upper tube of the elevator.
It will be seen that the shaft h and the shaft h¹ are perpendicular relatively to
each other and, that together with the piece g, they constitute a universal joint;
under these conditions the elevator is enabled to oscillate in all directions of the
four cardinal points. Now as the pivotal movement taken from the shaft h' lies
below the pivotal movement derived from the shaft h, the result is that the
Oscillatory movements of the elevator in all directions are almost unlimited.
During the oscillation around the shaft (pitching) the whole system of trans-
mission participates in the same movement. In order to ensure that during this
movement the transmission-rope may not have the tendency of leaving the
grooves in the pulley i, this rope is passed over loose guide pulleys j and j' arranged
in the shaft, around which the movement takes place.
During the oscillation around the shaft h¹ (rolling) all that lies above this shaft
remains immovable, whilst that which lies below, oscillates around this shaft and
thus actuates the gearing e, which remains always in gear with i¹.
In both cases and irrespective of the extent of these movements, the transmission

page_text: ropez, as well as the gear wheels e and ¹, act always normally and the trans-
mission of the movement to the axis c of the elevator is ensured.
The endless driving rope passes, as has been above shown, over the pulley i
and over the guides ; and ; its threads or rope portions respectively pass over
the pulleysk and arranged (Figures 3 and 4) at the point where the pole 3 is
jointed to the mast 2, then over the pulleys and arranged at the foot of the
mast 2; it finally closes upon the drum m directly mounted upon the shaft of
the motor 7 (Figures 1 and 2). The endless rope z may be doubled owing to the
double groove of the pulley i, of the transmission pulleys jj, kk, 1 and of
the drum m.
In all cases the rope or ropes are subjected to a straining action
such as may be applied by means of a pulley n movable upon a guide n¹ connected
to a counterweight n³. The operation of the elevator thus formed, is most simple:
The pontoon is approached as closely as possible either by the barge (Figure 1)
or by the vessel (Figure 2) from which the material is to be unloaded and the said
pontoon is firmly secured thereupon the elevator tube is immersed into the material,
by inclining the pole 3 more or less by means of the windlass 6, subsequently the
motor 7 is started; which, through the medium of the rope or ropes z rotates the
axis of the elevator screw. Under the rotary action of this latter the conveyer
blades raise the material, under the conditions above indicated until the latter has
reached the top part of the elevator, whence it is discharged into the discharge
nozzle a, which transmits it to the delivery conduit x (Figure 1) or to x¹, the
function of which is to convey it to a horizontal transporter. It is to be observed
that the elevator cannot in any way be subjected to the pitching and rolling action
of the pontoon carrying the same, owing to the universal joint above described and
owing to the fact that the transmission is always effected under normal conditions
by reason of the special arrangement of the said joint.
The shape, dimensions and materials of all the constituent parts of the elevator
may of course be varied to suit the requirements in each case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances the
arrangement of an elevator screw or lifting apparatus formed by helicoidal blades
arranged in steps around a central axis that is to say offering at certain distances
apart, for example at each complete spiral or a fraction thereof, a solution of con-
tinuity and the end of one blade being separated from the commencement of the
following blade by a greater or smaller distance in the vertical direction; the said
stepped blades being fixed to the central rotary axis and revolving in the interior
of a fixed tube, substantially as described.
2. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, the
arrangement of an elevator screw formed by a more or less large number of
similar elements and each element comprising an exterior tube with junction.
flanges and with fractions of helicoidal blades arranged in steps upon an axis
held centrally in position on said tube, the said arms being pro
vided with square pieces at its extremities, which engage with sleeves d
retained by cross pieces 61 situated at the points where the elements are con
nected, so that all the blades participate in the rotary movement imparted t
one of the extremities of the elevator, substantially as described.
3. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, th
combination of an elevator screw formed by helicoidal blades arranged in step
upon a central rotary axis, with a fixed tube the closed upper part of which i
provided with a discharge spout a³ and the lower part of which possesses a tie
band a into which extends the elevator screw, the axis of this latter resting in
socket 62 of the said tie-band, substantially as described.
4. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, th
means of suspending the elevator proper from the extremity of a crane-pole b

page_text: means of a double joint permitting of the movement of the elevator in all directions,
the said joint being formed by two shafts or axes h and h¹ arranged perpendicularly
and not situated in the same plane, the lower shaft or axis comprising the
transmission gear for the actuation of the elevator screw, substantially as
described.
5. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, the
combination of an elevator proper formed by a tube and helicoidal blades arranged
in steps upon a central rotary axis, to the top of which a bevelled gear wheel e
is mounted; of a tie-band connecting the tube of the elevator with a shaft h' carry-
ing a bevelled gear wheel gearing with that of the elevator, and with a grooved
pulley i receiving its action from a driving rope; of a piece y connecting the
shaft h which is perpendicular thereto and which appertains to the pole of the
crane supporting the elevator, the said shaft h carrying transmission pulleys j
and for the rope and serving to prevent the latter from slipping off the pulley
the whole substantially as described.
6. In elevators for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, the
combination of an elevator proper formed by a tube and by helicoidal blades
arranged in steps upon a central rotary axis; of a double joint formed by two
shafts arranged perpendicularly and not lying in the same plane and by a piece g
connecting the upper extremity of the elevator with the pole of a craue; of
transmitting mechanisms situated on the lower shaft of the joint and serving to
turn the central axis of the elevator; of an endless rope driving the transmission
gear, the said rope passing over transmission pulleys and starting from any
appropriate motor, substantially as described.
7. An elevator for raising granular or pulverulent material or substances, its
characteristic feature being the combination of an elevator proper formed by a
helicoidal rotary elevator screw enclosed in a tube open at its bottom; of a pole
pivotally connected at half the height of a mast and to the extremity of which
pole the said elevator proper is so jointed as to be capable of oscillating in all
directions; of a windlass, by the aid of which the said pole can be at will inclined
and the elevator be more or less immersed into the material to be acted upon; and
of any suitable motor serving to actuate the elevator by means of an endless rope
and of transmission gear; the whole arranged on a pontoon with the object of
forming a floating elevator capable of being displaced at will so as to enable it
to be brought into communication with a barge or vessel containing the goods or
substances to be acted upon, substantially as described and specified.
Boted Phyo 4k dow of A
1807
Inna Shn H
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.