Improvements in Apparatus for Loading and Unloading Grain, Sand, Gravel, Coal, and Loose Material, as well as General Cargo: also Applicable for Excavatine and Dundeine
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Loading and Unloading Grain,
Sand, Gravel, Coal, and Loose Material, as well as General
Cargo: also Applicable for Excavatine and Dundeine
114
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
.Wo, WILLIAM COOPER, Neptune Foundry, Engineer and JOHN HOLDSWORTH
27 Julin Street, Traveller both of Hull in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOADING &
UNLOADING GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL, COAL, AND LOOSE MATERIAL, AS WELL AS
GENERAL CARGO, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR EXCAVATING AND DREDGING TO ANY
PRACTICAL DEPTH, WITH ONE CONTINUOUS ROPE OR CHAIN" to be as follows:-
In the method of raising, and lowering the jib of a crane, sheers, boom or derrick
in use on the masts of vessels; to either of these, we fit a head containing two
sheaves provided with a suitable trail for the chain links, or for a rope, each sheave
to have a broad rim, fitted with a break band, connected with a lever at, or near
the foot of the jib, or boom in combination with a dredger, bucket, or grab, which
consists chiefly in a pair of scoopes or series of curved prongs, each pivoted at the
tup, on the same or two different axles to the lower ends of the two vertical sides
of a three sided frame; a barrel revolving in fixed bearings; a cross piece sliding
in a slot in each side of the frame, and carrying four jointed arms, the lower ends
of which are jointed on to the outsides of the scoops to effect the opening, and closing
when the cross piece is being acted upon, a chain, or rope made fast to, and passing
round the centre portion of the dredger bucket, or grab barrel (which is of greater
diameter than the two end portions) with a pulley, or block attached to the free
end; two other chains or ropes fast to the cross piece at one end, passing round
the end portions of the barrel in an opposite direction to the chain, or rope on the
centre portion, and made fast at the other end to the barrel; two rods fast to the
cross-piece, and passing through the top of the frame, above which they are fitted
with a pair of rings, which rings receive a pair of flange wheels firmly fixed on to
each end of an axle; these wheels do not revolve on an axle, but simply rotate
loosely in the rings, or they may work with the ends of the axle in a slot; the
axle carries near its centre, a trail wheel affixed to which is a ratchet wheel, and
the latter is acted upon by a pawl in such a manner that it, with the trail wheel,
can turn one way only (i.e. when the dredger, bucket or grab is being hoisted);
[Price 6d1

page_text: below, and a little in advance of this trail wheel, we provide a guide wheel to give
the chain, or rope a better grip.
The operating chain, or rope, is reeved as follows:-One end is made fast to the
crane post, or mast, at any suitable point passes over one of the trail sheaves in
the crane, or boon hend, down, and under the trail shenve on the top of the
dredger, bucket, or grab, over the guide wheel, through the block which is attached
to the chain passing round the middle portion of the dredger, bucket, or grab
barrel, up and over the other trail sheave in the crane, or boom head, then
through a block on crane post or mast, and down to the winch, or crane barrel,
which, on being turned to raise the dredger, bucket, or grab, pulls round the barrel
on the latter, which, through the chains on its end portions, pulls down the cross.
piece bearing the jointed arms and closes the apparatus on its load.
•
At any moment, when the winch, or crane barrel is hoisting, if the lover, at foot
of boom, or jib, and which is connected with the break bands at the head, bo
raised, the jib, or boom will be raised also, or lowered if the barrel bo lowering,
and will remain stationary in any position within the limit of the head spanner, if
the lever be let fall again into its normal position, and the dredger, bucket, or
grab, or other load may be raised, or lowered with, or without raising, or lowering
the jib, or boom; thus we may cover a greater area in dredging; or general cargo
without the dredger, bucket, or grab, may be lifted off a quay, or barge, clear of
the ship's side and lowered into a hatchway within a shorter radius, or
" vice
versa "The bucket, grab, or dredger is so constructed that it may be worked on
any common crane, derrick, sheers, boom, or any similar lifting apparatus if
desired, as the mere action of hoisting, and lowering opens and closes it; hoisting
closes it as previously described, and lowering opens it as follows:-the trail wheel
on the top of the dredger, bucket, or grab, as it were, rolls down the standing part
of the operating chain, or rope, but through the action of the pawl upon the
rachet it cannot revolve without bringing the two flanged wheels round with it in
their rings, which are made of suitable size so that the weight of the machine
causes sufficient friction to open the scoops, or prongs; in which condition the
machine can be lowered until it land upon the material to be lifted, when, the
weight being taken off the flange wheels the friction ceases to exist, and the cross
piece will descend without any resistance, and the machine will be closed before it
commences to rise To compensate for the varying weights of boom, or crane jib,
as it is lowered, and raised, we may carry the head spanner chain through a block
on the mast, or crane post, making that part which is below the block (and which
may be composed of heavy links, or weights linked together) fast at the end.to a
suitable place for the links, or weights to land upon, or to hang in a bight, or
festoon as the jib, or boom is raised, and requires less weight to balance it, and for
their being picked up by it as it is lowered and requires more weight, this chain
also, on becoming taut will limit the descent of the jib, or boom; or we may
employ a friction block for this purpose. To sway a boom, which has no tailing-
gear inboard, a guy rope may be made fast to the boom head, and to any suitable
part of the ship, at the opposite side to which the cargo, or dredger, bucket, or
grab, is to be worked, when the raising of the boom will draw it inboard, whilst,
the fast end of the operating chain, or rope, and the block through which the
running part passes to the winch having been fixed on the opposite side of the
mast to that on which the guy rope is made fast, will sway the boom outboard on
its being lowered, or we may use a light pole in place of the guy rope to push out
and pull in through the lowering, and raising of the boom.
D

page_text: We, WILLIAM COOPER, Neptune Foundry, Engineer, and JOHN HOLDSWORTH
27 John Street, Traveller, both of Hull, in the County of York do hereby declaro
the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOADING,
& UNLOADING, GRAIN, SAND, GRAVEL COAL, & LOOSE MATERIAL, AS WELL AS
GENERAL CARGO; ALSO APPLICABLE FOR EXCAVATING & DREDGING TO ANY
PRACTICAL DEPTH WITH ONE CONTINUOUS ROPE, OR CHAIN-and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
In the method of raising and lowering the jib of a crane, sheers, hoom, or derrick;
in use on the masts of vessels; to any of these we fit a head containing one, two, or
more sheaves provided with a suitable trail for the chain links, or for a rope; each
sheave having a broad rim fitted with a brake band K. K. and connected with a
lever L, at, or near the foot of the jib, or boom (or notched wheels, and pawls may
be used) in combination with a dredger, bucket, or grab, which consists chiefly in a
pair of scoops V. V. or a series of curved prongs, each pivoted at the top, on the
same, or two different axles to the lower ends of the two vertical sides W. W. of a
three sided frame; a barrel U₁ U. U¹ revolving in fixed bearings; a cross-
piece S. S. sliding in a slot in each side of the frame and carrying four jointed
arins T. T. T. T the lower ends of which are jointed on to the outsides of the
scoops V. V. to effect the opening and closing when the cross-piece S. S. is being
acted upon; a chain, or rope made fast to, and passing round the centre portion of
the dredger, bucket, or grab barrel U (which is preferably of greater diameter than
the two end portions) with a pulley, or block attached to the free end F; two other
chains, or ropes fast to the cross-piece S. S. at one end, and passing round the end
portions of the barrel U¹ U' in an opposite direction to the chain, or rope, on the
centre portion U. and made fast at the other ends to the barrel, or, we may use
instead of the barrel; a block with one, or inore sheaves, attached to the cross-
piece S. S. and one carrying pawl or friction sheaves, attached to the shaft U. Fig. 4.
these blocks being drawn together by the operating rope, or chain, to close the
machine; two rods S' S¹ fast to the cross-piece S. S. and passing through the top
of the frame, above which they are fitted with a pair of rings N. N. which rings
receive a pair of flanged wheels M. M firmly fixed on to each end of an axle Q;
these wheels simply rotate loosely in the rings; the axle Q carries near its centre,
a trail wheel D. affixed to which, is a ratchet wheel P. and the latter is acted upon
by a pawl Q¹ in such a manner that it, with the trail wheel D can turn one way
only (i.e. when the dredger, bucket or grab is being hoisted) or the ends of the
axle Qmay work in slots resting on a bearing when the machine is landed, or is
being hoisted up; in that case the trail wheel D. would be fast on the shaft, or
axle, and the pawl & wheel Q' & P dispensed with-The pawl or brake wheel may
be applied to the pulley F to keep the standing part of the operating rope, or chain
as slack as possible during filling, thus allowing the trail sheave D. to roll down
freely when the machine is digging into its work; the pawl, or brake to be taken
off by coming into contact with the top of the frame W. W. when the bucket is
closed and ready to be raised-Above, and below the trail wheel D. we provide a
guide wheel E. E. to give the rope, or chain a better grip.
The operating rope, or chain A is reeved as follows (see Figs. 1 & 2) One end is
made fast at B. or other suitable part of the crane post, or mast, or may pass
backwards and forwards (through blocks) from the mast, or crane post to the boom,

page_text: or crane jib if desired to procure a tackle purchase as in the case of heavy crane
jibs; and one part of the rope, or chain may be provided with a suitable stop, to
limit tho lowering of the boom, or crane jib The operating rope, or chain is then
passed over one of the trail sheaves in the crane or boom head, down, and under
the upper guide wheel E. partially round the trail wheel D. over the lower guide
wheel E, on the top of the dredger, bucket, or grab, down, & through the block F
which is attached to the chain passing round the middle portion U, of the dredger,
bucket, or grab barrel, up, and over the other trail sheave in the crane, or boom
head, then through a block on the crane post, or mast at G, or other suitable point,
and down to the winch, or crane barrel, which, on being turned to raise the
dredger, bucket, or grab, pulls round the barrel Us U. U₁ Fig N° 3. which through
the chains on its end portions pulls down the cross-piece S. S. bearing the jointed
arms T. T. T. T. and closes the apparatus on its load.
At any moment, when the winch, or crane barrel is hoisting; if the lever L.
Figs 1 & 2. (which by means of weights, or springs, keeps the brako "on" the
sheave in connection with the standing part of the operating rope, or chain) be
raised, or depressed respectively, it will, by taking the brake band K "off" the
above mentioned sheave, and putting the other one K "on" the sheave in con-
nection with the running part of the operating rope, or chain by means of the
connecting rods, or chains L¹ L' cause the crane jib, or boom to be raised, or
lowered, if the barrel be lowering, or if the lever be allowed to resume its normal
position, the jib, or boom will remain stationary in any position within the limit of
the head span I. in which position the dredger, bucket, or grab, or other load may
be raised, or lowered without raising, or lowering the crane jib, or boom; thus we
may cover a greater area in dredging; or general cargo (without the dredger,
bucket, or grab) may be lifted off a quay, or barge clear of the ship's side, and
lowered into a hatchway within a shorter radius, or " vice versa."
If desired to lift general cargo, or merchandise only (i.e. without the bucket,
dredger, or grab). One part only of the operating rope, or chain may be used, the
second trail wheel in boom, or crane head being employed to control the head, or
span chain, or one trail sheave may be transferred to the mast, or crane post (sec
Figs 5 & 6.)
The bucket, dredger, or grab is so constructed that it may be worked on any
common crane, derrick, sheers, boom, or any similar lifting apparatus if desired, as
the mere action of hoisting closes it as previously described, and lowering opens it,
as follows viz: the trail wheel D. on the top of the dredger, bucket, or grab, is so
arranged that it will, as it were roll down the standing part of the operating rope,
or chain A, but through the action of the pawl Q' upon the ratchet P it cannot
revolve without bringing the two flanged wheels M. M. round with it in their
rings N. N. which are made of suitable size so that a partial weight of the machine
causes sufficient friction to prevent the trail wheel D. and the flanged wheels M. M.
revolving until the scoops, or prongs V. V. are fully open; when the whole weight of
the machine, bucket, dredger, or grab coming on them, pulls them round, and down
the standing part of the operating rope, or chain and it is then lowered bodily,
being still open, until it is landed upon the material to be lifted, when, the weight
being thus taken off the flanged or brake wheels, the friction ceases to exist, and
the cross-piece S. S. will descend, and allow the machine to be closed before being
raised. As previously described, the same results are obtained by dispensing with
the ratchet or pawl wheel P. and pawl Q' and making the trail wheel D. fast upon
the shaft, or axle Q. and allowing the latter to rest with its two ends on bearings,
when the machine is landed, or is being raised. To compensate for the varying
weights of boom or crane jib as it is lowered, and raised, we may, if desired, carry
the head chain span I. through a block, on the mast, or crane post, making that
part which is below the block (and which may be composed of heavy links, or
weights linked together) fast at the end to a suitable place for the links, or weights
to land upon, or to hang in a bight, or festoon as the crane jib, or boom is raised
and requires less weight to balance it, and for their being picked up by it as it is

page_text: lowered, and requires more weight; this chain also, on becoming taut, will limit
the descent of the crane jib, or boom; or we may employ a friction block similar
to Figs 7. or 8. for this purpose. To sway a boom, which has no tailing gear,
inboard, a guy rope, or chain R may be made fast to the boom head, and to any
suitable part of the ship, at the opposite side to which the cargo, or dredger,
bucket, or grab, is to be worked, when, the raising of the boom will draw it
inboard; whilst the fast end of the operating rope, or chain A. (or the block at B).
and the block at G. having been fixed on the opposite side of the mast to that on
which the guy rope, or chain R. is made fast, will sway the boom out-board on its
being lowered; or we may use a guy rope, or chain R' made fast to the mast head,
passing through a block on the boom head, and made fast at its lower end, to nny
suitable place in the direction the boom should swing when lowering or further;
we may use a light pole to push out, and pull in the boom through its lowering,
and raising.
Other modifications in the shape of the dredger, bucket, or grab, and details of
tackle, may be adopted without departing from the nature of our invention, and
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details shown by the drawings.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1) The method of constructing an Automatic dredger, bucket, or grab, suitable
to any ordinary crane, derrick, sheers, single sheaved portable block, or any other
means of lifting; the necessary friction for opening being caused by its own weight,
full or empty, acting upon wheels and brakes, and closing by.a barrel and chains,
or by blocks and chains substantially as and for the purpose described.
2) The method of making, rigging, or working a boom, derrick, sheers, crane jib,
or similar lifting apparatus which can be raised and lowered quickly, at each lift
if desired; to cover a greater area in dredging, or excavating, or to swing over a
ship's side, wharf &c if working grain, or other loose material; to be worked by
means of trail sheaves in the head, or in the head and on the mast, or crane post;
provided with brake rims and brakes, or notched wheels or discs and pawls; with
or without, brake levers; with guy ropes or chains, or a pole so arranged that the
raising and lowering of the boom, or crane jib cause it to be swayed right or left
by their means; with a weighted span chain to compensate for the varying
weights of boom, or crane jib at different angles substantially as and for the
purpose described.
3) The mode of using one part only of the operating rope, or chain with one
trail sheave (when the bucket, dredger, or grab is not needed) and keeping the
crane jib or boom in position, with the other sheave precisely by the same ineans
viz: brakes or pawls; as when a double part is used substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4) The method of closing a dredger, bucket, or grab by means of blocks and
chains, instead of a barrel and chains.