Improvements in or applicable to Means for Discharging Coal and similar Cargo from Lighters or Ships to Ships or Wharves.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Means for Discharging Coal and
similar Cargo from Lighters or Ships to Ships or Wharves.
I, MICHEL JOHN PAUL, of 12, Montague Place, Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means of the kind described in the Specification to my
Letters Patent No. 2140, A.D. 1890, for discharging coal and similar cargo from
lighters to ships or wharves. In that Specification is described a lighter furnished
with an endless travelling bed extending along the floor of the lighter and passing
over a pivotted derrick-arm and provided on either side with coal-bunkers whence
the travelling bed is fed. There is also described a special mode of constructing
the travelling bed, the chain being composed of plates of peculiar shape adapted
to prevent the coal or other cargo slipping off the chain while ascending the
inclined derrick-arm. The plates composing the chain are placed close together;
and, although capable of performing its functions satisfactorily, the weight of the
chain is somewhat excessive and there are between the plates interstices through
which fine coal and dust may escape.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a flexible travelling bed
which is not only light but reduces the escape of the fine or dust-coal to a minimum.
In carrying the same into effect, I employ a series of trough-shaped pieces of
metal the full width of the travelling bed; the transverse edges of each piece of
metal being formed as sections of hollow cylinders. The sides of each piece are
furnished with plates projecting to a suitable height and forming a boundary along
each side of the travelling bed. These pieces of metal are linked together on
either side of the travelling bed. The links are preferably arranged singly and
in pairs alternately, and are connected by joint-pins, the axes of which are
coincident with the axes of the sections of the hollow cylinders forming the
transverse edges of the trough-shaped pieces of metal. Certain of the joint-pins
extend from side to side of the bed, and carry rollers at the ends. The leading
edge of each trough is a section of a cylinder of smaller diameter than the
trailing edge; the difference in the diameters of the two cylinders being equal to
twice the thickness of the metal of which the pieces are made; in other words,
the smaller cylinder would fit exactly in the larger. Some of the troughs are
furnished with backs as high as the side-plates. The smaller section at the edge
of one cylinder lies under the larger section at the edge of the next, the two
sections being concentric and overlapping sufficiently far to allow the chain to bend
to the maximum extent without leaving an interval between the edges of the two
sections. A chain so made is practically dust-tight.
At the foot of the derrick-arm where the travelling bed leaves the horizontal
and assumes an inclined attitude, I provide the guide-rails, beneath which the wheels
carrying the travelling bed work, with a slipper-piece which bridges the gap
between the extremities of the rails appertaining to the fixed and movable guide-
ways respectively. The slipper-piece may be hinged at one end to one of the rail
extremities above referred to; the opposite end sliding on the other rail as the
derrick-arm moves about its pivot.
For the purpose both of loosening the coal when inclined to jam in the bunker
and of checking its escape when too free a flow takes place, I arrange in a position

page_text: adapted to control the exit from the bunker an agitator which may consist of a
pivotted bar provided with a handle at its upper extremity and flattened at its
lower end. The form of the bar may, however, be varied according to the nature
of the coal or other cargo to be dealt with, and a rotative or reciprocative as well
as a vibrative motion may be imparted to it.
Dated the 11th day of January 1894.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
CODE PIE DIEUITIVATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Means for Discharging Coal and
similar Cargo from Lighters or Ships to Ships or Wharves.
I, MICHEL JOHN PAUL, of 4 Bedford Place, Russell Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 means of the kind described in the Specification to my
Letters Patent No. 2140, A.D. 1890, for discharging coal and similar cargo from
lighters to ships or wharves. In that Specification is described a lighter furnished
with an endless travelling bed extending along the floor of the lighter and passing
over a pivoted derrick-arm and provided on either side with coal-bunkers whence
the travelling bed is fed. There is also described a special mode of constructing
the travelling bed, the chain being composed of plates of peculiar shape adapted
to prevent the coal or other cargo slipping off the chain while ascending the
inclined derrick-arm. The plates composing the chain are placed close together;
and, although capable of performing its functions satisfactorily, the weight of the
chain is somewhat excessive and there are between the plates interstices through
which fine coal and dust may escape.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a flexible travelling bed
which is not only light but reduces the escape of the fine or dust-coal to a
minimum.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a plan,
illustrating the improved construction of travelling bed.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section showing the driving drum in engagement with the
axles of the travelling bed.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views drawn to a larger scale; Fig. 4 being a
longitudinal section showing the bed at the commencement of its ascent of the
derrick-arm, Fig. 5 a view looking at the left-hand side of Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 a
section taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the delivery end (or bow) of a lighter fitted
with my improvements.
Fig. 8 shows, in side elevation, the means I employ both for encouraging and for
checking the flow of the coal from the bunkers.
In constructing a travelling bed according to my improved method, I employ a
series of trough-shaped pieces of metal a the full width of the travelling bed; the
transverse edges a' a' of each piece of metal being formed as sections of hollow
cylinders. The sides of each piece are furnished with plates b projecting to a
suitable height and forming a boundary along each side of the travelling bed.
These pieces of metal a are linked together on either side of the travelling bed.
The links are preferably arranged singly and in pairs alternately, and are con-
nected by joint-pins cc, the axes of which are coincident with the axes of the
sections of the hollow cylinders forming the transverse edges a' a' of the trough-
shaped pieces of metal a. Certain of the joint-pins (c³) extend from side to side

page_text: of the travelling bed, and carry rollers d which run on the rails e e eª (Fig. 7).
The leading edge a' of each trough-shaped piece a is a section of a cylinder of
smaller diameter than the trailing edge a; the difference in the diameters of the
two cylinders being equal to twice the thickness of the metal of which the pieces
are made; in other words, the smaller cylinder a¹ would fit exactly in the larger
one a². Some of the troughs are furnished with backs a which may correspond in
height with the side-plates b. In each trough-shaped piece the edge curved to the
smaller radius lies concentrically within the edge curved to the larger radius of the
adjoining trough-shaped piece; the one part overlapping the other sufficiently far
to allow the chain to bend to the maximum extent without leaving an interval
between the edges. A chain constructed in this manner is practically dust-
tight.
At the foot of the derrick-arm A where the travelling bed leaves the horizontal
and assumes an inclined attitude, I provide the guide-rails e, beneath which the
rollers d carrying the travelling bed work, with a slipper-piece which bridges the
gap between the extremities of the rails appertaining to the fixed and movable
guide-ways respectively. The slipper-piece may be hinged at f¹ to the rail
extremities e above referred to; the opposite end f sliding on the other rail e* as
the derrick-arm moves about its pivot B, a pin g working in a slot g¹ connecting
the two parts together.
For the purpose both of loosening the coal when inclined to jam in the bunker
and of checking its escape therefrom when too free a flow takes place, I arrange in
a position adapted to control the exit from the bunker an agitator which may
consist of a pivoted bar h provided with a handle h' at its upper extremity and a
flattened spade-like portion at its lower end. A spike or projection i is provided
as a further means for assisting in loosening the coal. I do not, however, restrict
myself to this form; as in some instances a mere bar furnished with a lateral spike
or spikes and adapted for being vibrated, rotated and reciprocated will be found
capable of performing the double function described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. For discharging coal and similar cargo from lighters or ships to ships or
wharves, a travelling bed or endless chain constructed substantially as herein
described, and comprising trough-shaped pieces connected together by means of
links and joint-pins, the transverse edges of the said pieces being formed as sections
of hollow cylinders and having sides projecting to a suitable height; some of
the troughs being also furnished with backs adapted to carry the cargo upwards
whilst ascending the incline.
2. In a barge or other vessel provided with means of the kind herein described
for discharging coal or similar cargo, the employment of a slipper-piece, arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to Fig. 7 of the accom-
panying drawings, and adapted for bridging the gap between the fixed rails below
the bunkers and the guide-rails moving with the derrick-arm.
3. For use in a barge or other vessel provided with means of the kind herein
described for discharging coal or similar cargo, a combined agitating and arresting
device, applied to the outlet from the coal bunker and operating substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
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