Improvements in Conveying Apparatus for Handling Grain, Coal, and the like uses.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Conveying Apparatus for Handling Grain, Coal,
and the like uses.
I PETER BUTLER BRADLEY of Hingham, County of Plymouth, and State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 has for its object the production of a novel and simple conveyer
particularly adapted for use in connection with endless conveyers for handling
grain, coal, and the like.
The buckets are of the class termed "gravity buckets," each pivotally mounted
to swing about in axis substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of the
bucket, and said buckets are maintained by gravity in load retaining or upright
position until positively tipped, by suitable means, for discharge.
In loading the moving buckets from a fixed point means must be provided to
prevent the escape of material through the clearance openings between adjacent
buckets, and various devices have heretofore been constructed for such purpose.
on the bucket
My invention comprehends overlapping devices mounted
connections and overhanging the openings between two adjacent buckets, said
devices being located out of alignment with the axes of the buckets, or in different
planes, whereby the adjacent buckets when they swing in rounding corners in the
run or in unloading can freely pass by said overlapping devices.
Fig. 1 in side elevation and partially broken out shows a sufficient portion of a
conveyer embodying my invention to be understood, the tracks or rails being
partly omitted.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional detail taken on the line a-x, Fig. 1, looking
to the left.
Fig. 3 is also an enlarged top or plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 is an enlarged and partially broken away side elevation of a bracket
and its supporting frame.
In the present embodiment of my invention suitable tracks A, A1, form the upper
and lower runs, a carrying or driving wheel b, preferably made as a sprocket
wheel, being mounted on a suitable shaft b' at the upper portion of each end, only
one being herein shown.
There are two such wheels at each end of the run, one for each of the two lines
of sprocket chains, the buckets being suspended between the chains and passing
between the wheels.
I have herein shown the links d arranged in parallel pairs, connected at their
ends by rods or shafts d* which extend across from one to the other line of sprocket
chains, the links and their connecting transverse pivot members constituting bucket
frames.
Each frame is preferably provided with four carrying wheels d', two at each
side, flanged as herein shown, and mounted on the pivot members d and held in
place between the pairs of links d by suitable collars or washers d', said wheels
travelling upon the tracks or runs A, A', and supporting the frames in transit.
The said wheels, as herein shown, enter the gaps of the sprocket wheels b when
passing around the latter.

page_text: As best shown in Fig. 3, the pivot member or shafts d* are enlarged at , inside
of the lines of links, to support hollow sleeves d', surrounding the shafts between
the lines of the links and forming overlapping members which overhang the spaces
or openings between adjacent buckets, when in loading position, as will more fully
appear hereinafter.
By the construction described, the shafts d may be made comparatively small
in diameter, while the effective size of the overlap is readily attained by the sleeve
of considerably greater diameter.
I have herein shown ears or hangers on the inner links of each pair, and rigidly
secured to them both by suitable bolts 1, said ears or hangers extending beyond the
plane of the frame and located midway between the pivotal connecting members d*.
Each hanger has projecting inwardly therefrom a hub or boss provided with a
short stud, on which are loosely hung the buckets H, provided externally
at each side above the centre of gravity with brackets having outwardly
extended-shaped bearings ' to receive the studs f*, retained therein by suitable
means, as cotter pins *, the faces of the bearings being held from undue lateral
movement by the hub portions of the hangers f.
The brackets are thus pivotally mounted in the frames to swing about axes
substantially at right angles to the direction of travel, said axes being out of
alignment with the pivotal connecting members d*.
*
The bottom and ends of each bucket are curved, preferably in a circular arc,
having the study at its centre, and of such a radius that the bucket can freely pass
by the overlapping device d' when the bucket swings on its axes on the turns in
the run.
The relative movement of the bucket and overlapping device without
interference is made possible by locating the bucket axis out of alignment with
the pivot members d at each end of the frame, so that while the buckets are on
the lower run, the overlapping devices will overhang the openings between
adjacent buckets, the bucket ends being quite close together, but the connected
series of buckets will pass around the turns at the ends without obstruction.
Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a curved guide rail D at the lower turn, two
such guide rails being located beneath a sprocket wheel b, and inside the path of
the connected series of buckets, the carrying wheels d' as they leave the downward
run engaging and travelling around the guide rails until said wheels pass onto the
lower runs A¹, it being supposed that the direction of travel is indicated by
arrows 25.
It will be seen that while the links d gradually change from horizontal to
vertical position, or vice versa, the buckets retain their upright position, and in such
change of position of the links the bucket ends will pass freely by the overlapping
devices described.
To tip the buckets at the proper time and thereby discharge their contents I
have provided herein a stand or trip M, Fig. 1, below the upper track or run A,
in the path of movement of a suitable projection or roller , on one side of each
bucket, below and in advance of its pivot, said roll during the travel of the bucket
engaging the vertical edge m of the trip.
This retards the onward movement of that part of the bucket, tipping it so that
by the time the roll 7 rises from the edge m to the horizontal or dwell portion m¹
the bucket will be tipped sufficiently to discharge its contents.
From the dwell the trip gradually slopes or inclines downwards, as at m³,
permitting the bucket to resume its normal position by degrees, and without undue
shock.
A suitable hopper F receives the contents of the buckets as they are dumped one
after another.
It sometimes happens that the bucket, from unequal loading, will tip enough to
raise the roll above the trip M, and to prevent this I make use of a levelling
device, shown also in Fig. 1.
Each bucket on its opposite side, back of and below its centre, and preferably

page_text: somewhat above the roll h³, is provided with a second roll h°, which in the progress
of the bucket travels up the inclined surface n of the levelling device N, and onto
its horizontal surface n³.
This latter surface is at such a height that it insures the depression of the
tripping roll coming into engagement with the trip along its edge m, and the
surface n is of sufficient length to retain the bucket level until such engagement
is effected.
By varying the length of the dwell of the trip, the length of time during
which the buckets are in discharging position may be regulated as desired.
The buckets are fed or loaded continuously as they pass beneath the mouth of a
suitable hopper G, Fig. 1, and at such time the overlapping devices not only
cover the openings between adjacent buckets, but the convex surfaces of said
devices direct the material to the buckets in front and rear thereof.
It will be noticed in Fig. 1 that while the links are reversed in position on the
upper and lower runs, the buckets will at all times haug freely suspended in.
retaining position except when positively tipped to discharge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
:-
1. In an endless conveyer, a series of connected swinging buckets, with
intervening overlapping devices to cover the opening between adjacent buckets.
when in loading position, adjacent buckets being adapted to swing freely past said
devices for dumping, substantially as described.
2. In an endless conveyer, a series of pivotally connected swinging buckets.
mounted on axes transverse to the line of travel of the buckets, with intervening
overlapping devices to cover the opening between adjacent buckets when in loading
position, the surfaces of the said devices being substantially tangent to the paths of
movement of adjacent bucket bottonis when swung about their axes, substantially
as described.
3. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of connected buckets arranged
to swing on axes transverse to the line of travel of the buckets, combined with
overlapping devices overhanging the openings between adjacent buckets when in
loading position and supported above the axes of the buckets by the connections
therebetween, substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plurality of
frames pivotally connected at their ends, of buckets mounted to normally swing on
axes below said frames and at right angles to the line of travel, the frame-
connecting pivots extending transversely above and closing the openings between
adjacent buckets, substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of buckets each pivoted
transversely to the direction of its line of travel, the bottom and ends of said
buckets being concentric to said axes, and convex overlapping devices overhanging.
the openings between adjacent buckets, said devices permitting movement of the
buckets past them when tilted upon their axes, substantially as described.
6. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of connected buckets, each
having a movement for discharging about pivots whose axes are substantially
transverse to the direction of travel of the buckets, said pivots being out of
alignment with the connections between the buckets, substantially as described.
7. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of connected buckets having
a discharging movement about pivots whose axes are substantially transverse to
the direction of travel of the buckets, said buckets normally actuated by gravity
and held thereby in retaining position, means to act upon the moving buckets and
successively tip them upon their axes for discharge, and overlapping devices
mounted on the bucket connections to overhang the openings between adjacent
buckets when in loading position, the bucket axes and overlapping devices.
occupying different planes, substantially as described.

page_text: 8. In a conveyer, the combination with a plurality of bucket frames consisting
of side links, and transversely extended pivot connections, of buckets mounted to
swing on axes below the plane of said pivots and parallel therewith, when in
loading position, the pivots at such time overlapping the openings between adjacent
buckets and being movable relatively thereto, to enable the buckets to pass by said
pivots and remain upright when rounding curves in the run, substantially as
described.
9. In a conveyer, the combination with a plurality of bucket frames connected
at their ends by transversely extended pivot members, of buckets mounted to swing
on axes parallel to and out of alignment with said pivot members, and sleeves
mounted on the pivot members and overlapping the openings between adjacent
buckets when the latter are in loading position, substantially as described.
10. In a conveyer, a series of connected buckets arranged on axes transverse to
the line of travel of the buckets, and overlapping devices overhanging the openings
between adjacent buckets when the latter are in loading position, said devices
being at such times supported in a plane above the axes of the buckets by the
bucket connections, combined with means to trip the buckets for discharge, and
independent means to properly present the buckets to the tripping means, substan-
tially as described.
11. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of bucket frames, buckets
arranged in said frames to swing about axes substantially at right angles to the
line of travel of the buckets, said axes being located beyond the planes of the
respective frames, and transverse pivot members connecting the frames and
adapted to overhang the openings between adjacent buckets when the latter are
in loading position, relative angular movement of a frame and its bucket permitting
the latter to freely pass the transverse pivot members, substantially as described.
12. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of pivotally connected
buckets arranged to swing on axes transverse to the line of travel of the buckets,
the axes of the buckets when in loading position being below the path of the
bucket connections, whereby the intervening pivots overlap the openings between
adjacent buckets, substantially as described."
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant..