IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN UNLOADING BULK CARGO FROM SHIPS' HOLDS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Poulsom, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Stevedore, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN UNLOADING BULK CARGO FROM
SHIPS' HOLDS."
Sealed the 21st May 1875, and dated the 26th November 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Poulsom at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 26th November 1874.
I, WILLIAM POULSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Stevedore, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN UNLOADING BULK CARGO
FROM SHIPS' HOLDS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide light, portable, and casily
manipulated apparatus or appliances for unloading bulk cargo, such as
grain, salt, small coal, and the like, from ships' holds on to a quay,
shed, or into a warehouse. For this purpose I make use of an end-
less travelling band or chain and buckets, such band or chain and
buckets, hercafter called the travelling carrier, is secured and held in

page_text: position by two frameworks; one framework provided with a pulley
supports the outer portion of the travelling carrier, and is adjustable so
as to ensure that the lower part dips the required distance down the
ship's hatchway into the cargo; the other framework which is stationary
when the apparatus is at work supports the travelling carrier over the
hatchway and carries the driving gear. To keep the travelling carrier
properly stretched the part which dips down into the hold carries a
pulley to which is secured a freighted frame. The ship's winch is by
preference used to drive the apparatus.
The framework over the hatchway is provided with two pullies, one 1
to carry the ascending and the other the descending portion of the
travelling carrier. The pulley which carries the descending portion of
the travelling carrier is made similar to a lantern or trundle wheel, or
provided with indentations to allow the buckets to pass.
I prefer that the framework supporting the outer portion of the 1
travelling carrier should be constructed so as to telescope or be capable
of being elongated or shortened as required, so that the travelling carrier
may be supported, if desired, the whole distance from the hatchway
framework to the delivery pulley.
It will be obvious that with apparatus or appliances constructed as 2
above described the carrying portion of the endless band or chain and
buckets may be made to dip further and further down the hatchway as
the cargo is discharged.
When a chain is used the inside must be lined with woven fabric or
suitable material to prevent the grain falling from the buckets on to the 2
deck or elsewhere when such buckets are travelling horizontally or
nearly so.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Poulsom, Her special
licence that I, the said William Poulsom, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Poulsom, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN UNLOADING BULK CARGO FROM SHIPS'
HOLDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Poulsom, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Poulsom, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to provide light, portable, and easily
manipulated apparatus or appliances for unloading bulk cargo, such as
grain, salt, small coal, and the like, from ships' holds on to a quay,
shed, or into a warehouse. For this purpose I make use of an endless
travelling band or chain and buckets, such band or chain and buckets
hereafter called the travelling carriers, is secured and held in position by
two frameworks; one framework provided with a pulley supports the
outer portion of the travelling carrier, and is adjustable so as to ensure
that the lower part dips the required distance down the ship's hatchway
into the cargo; the other framework which is stationary when the
apparatus is at work supports the travelling carrier over the hatchway
and carries the driving gear. To keep the travelling carrier properly

page_text: recede from the framework g the lower end ƒ of the band a will be
caused to dip more or less into the ship's hold.
It will also be obvious that the details of my Invention may be varied
to suit circumstances.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and par-
ticularized the same, I claim,-
I. Discharging cargo in bulk from the ship's hold on to the quay or
other desired place by the use of a single endless band and buckets
arranged so as to be adjustable and portable.
II. The apparatus or appliances substantially as herein described for
the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Poulsom, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
JAMES JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
WILLIAM POULSOM. (L.S.)