Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Coal.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
TIVUYIDIUNAU DE BUITIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Coal.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WALL, of 46, Haliburton Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia,
in the Dominion of Canada, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means whereby waggons may be transferred from
one line of rails to another and the operation of discharging the contents of the
waggons as in shipping coal into vessels, to which the invention more particularly
relates, facilitated.
The invention is not however limited in this respect and is adapted for use
in transferring waggons in railway stations and at mines both above and below
ground and elsewhere when it is desired to provide for moving waggons short
distances, say the length of a waggon or two, at a time.
The invention will however be described as applied to the handling of coal at a
loading pier or quay in connection with pairs of rails, which for the sake of
convenience I will term a supply track and a dumping track respectively, the
construction of the apparatus being such as to provide for the transfer of the
loaded waggons to the dumping track as they are brought to the terminus of the
supply track, the moving of the waggons along the latter to the desired point
and discharge their contents. For the purpose of transferring the waggons
from one track to the other, I employ a transversely movable carriage fitted with
short rail sections adapted to register with either of the tracks and provided
with an opening through which the coal may be shot on to any one of a series of
chutes whose outer extremities emerge at the side of the quay at different levels.
The carriage is moved from side to side by a horizontal cylinder whose piston
rod is connected to the carriage so that it may be moved thereby in both direc-
tions, and whose motive agent, which may be steam, compressed air or other
Huid, and when the carriage bearing the loaded waggon which has been trans-
ferred to it from the supply track is brought into position opposite the dumping
track, the waggon is moved off the carriage on to the latter track by means of a
second piston rod and cylinder. The waggon is locked in position on the carriage
by a pivoted catch which is provided with an arm adapted to chock the wheel
of the waggon and held in its operative position by a weighted arm, this catch
locking the waggon until it reaches its position opposite the dumping track when
it is automatically released by the engagement of a projection on its arm with a
cam abutment.
The waggons are moved on the tracks by grip dogs which are of similar con-
struction, one dog only being necessary on the supply track while two are
employed on the dumping track as it is desirable to arrange the dogs on the latter
in pairs one on each side of the track and to similarly arrange the cylinders for
operating the piston rods which act on the dogs for the reason that the opening
in the platform for the discharge of the coal to the chutes are between the rails
of the track. The hand levers which control the valves of the various cylinders
are preferably arranged side by side at the end of the supply track.

page_text: The dogs are pivoted to a cross-head which slides on guides and are respectively
connected with the piston rods and are constructed with a broad lower edge, a
vertical edge and an inclined edge, the broad base of the dog resting upon the
cross head and making the dog rigid against pressure against its upright edge
while permitting the dog to tilt under pressure against its inclined edge so that
the dog acts somewhat like a pawl yielding when the waggon is moved in one
direction, but binding against the axle of the waggon to move the latter when
the dog is moved in the opposite direction.
A safety stop is provided for preventing the waggons being moved on the
supply track except when the carriage is in position to receive them consisting
of pivoted bars adapted to be projected laterally into the path of the wheels of
the waggons and operated by toggle arms which are connected by a link with an
operative lever.
The bottoms of the waggons are furnished with hinged gates which are held in
position by suitable latches and when released the contents of the waggon are
discharged on to the chutes which are provided with nozzles or spouts which are
hinged to the outer extremities of the chutes and raised and adjusted by cord
connections so as to enable a vessel to be served under varying conditions.
To close the gates of the waggon I provide an automatic lifter consisting of a
frame hinged at one end and furnished with a roller or rollers adapted to engage
the gate, the free end of the frame being put under tension by a weight which is
connected by a rod to the free end of a lever which forms part of the gate lifter.
As the waggon moves along on the track after having discharged its contents
with the gate lowered, the latter rides up on the lifter and is thereby closed,
the yielding front end of the lifter relieving the shock of the gate against the
lifter.
Dated 11111 T
P T 1
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in Apparatus for Handling Coal.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WALL, of 46, Haliburton Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia,
in the Dominion of Canada, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
lary described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to means whereby trucks may be transferred from one
line of rails to another and the operation of discharging the contents of the
trucks, as in shipping coal into vessels, to which the invention more particularly
relates, facilitated.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view partly broken away,
of an apparatus embodying my invention, in the form of a loading pier or quay
for shipping coal into vessels. Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on
about line 2-2 of Figure 1 through the feed or supply track. Figure 3 is a
vertical longitudinal section on about line 3-3 of Figure 1 through the dumping
track. Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus partly broken away. Figure
is a cross sectional view on about line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a detail
view of the safety stop. Figure 7 is a detail view illustrating one of the valves
for controlling the passage of steam or other power to the operating cylinders.
Figure 8 is a top plan view. Figure 9 a side view and Figure 10 an edge view
of one of the grip dogs used for moving the trucks along the tracks. Figure 11

page_text: is a side view, and Figure 12 a sectional view illustrating the catch for locking
the truck on the laterally movable carriage, and Figure 13 is a detail view of
the gate lifter.
In the construction shown I have represented the apparatus in the form of a
loading pier for shipping coal into vessels, but it is manifest the invention is
applicable in every direction where it is desired to transfer trucks, such as in
railway stations, in mines both above and below ground, and elsewhere where it
may be desired to move trucks short distances such as the length of one or two
trucks at a time. Therefore I do not desire to be limited in the broad features
of my invention to the special application of the same illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
I have shown tracks A and B which for convenience of reference I term
respectively the supply track and the dumping track, it being the purpose of
the special construction shown to move loaded trucks on the track A from the
right toward the left, transfer them at the left in Figure 1 from the track A
to the track B by the means presently described, then move the trucks along the
track B to the desired point and dump their contents as will be more fully
described hereinafter. To transfer the trucks from track A to track B I provide
the carriage C which has a short track section and is movable transversely to
the tracks A and B so that said track section may be brought into register with
either of said tracks A and B as will be understood from Figures 1 and 5. The
carriage C has an opening C through which coal may be dumped to the upper
discharge chute 1, chutes 2, 3 and 4 ranging below the chute 1 as shown in
Figures 2, 3 and 4.
The carriage C is moved from side to side by power acting in the cylinder C³
(Figures 1 and 5) upon the piston rod C³ which is connected with the carriage so
that it can move it in both directions. The passage of pressure, it may be steam,
compressed air or other fluid, to the cylinder 2 is controlled by the lever C+
operating upon a suitable valve, which may be of the construction shown in
Figure 7 or of other suitable construction as may be desired.
When the carriage C with the truck thereon has been moved to the position
shown in Figures 1 and 5, the truck may be forced off the carriage C on to the
track B by a piston operating in a cylinder 1), pressure to which cylinder D) is
controlled by a lever D¹ operating a suitable valve which may be of the con-
struction shown in Figure 7. When the truck is moved on the carriage C from
the track A it is locked by means of a catch E (see Figures 5, 11 and 12) which
is pivoted at E has an arm movable to the position shown in Figure 11 to chock
the wheel and is held normally in such position by its weighted arm E2. This
catch will lock the truck on the carriage until the latter reaches the position
shown in Figure 5, where it registers with the track B, when the catch will be
automatically released by the engagement of a portion e² of its arm E2 with a
cam abutment 13 on the framing as will be understood from Figures 5, 11 and 12.
This catch it will be seen locks the trucks securely on the carriage except when
the track section on the carriage coincides with the track B. At such time the
truck is released and may be forced by the power in the cylinder D off the
carriage and on to the track B.
In the operation of the catch E it will when in the position shown in Figures .11
chock the wheel of the truck and hold such truck on the carriage C until such
carriage is adjusted to the position shown in Figures 1 and 5, when the cam E3
operating upon the portion e² of the arm E2 of said catch E will adjust the catch
to the dotted line position shown in Figure 11 thus freeing the truck so that it
may move off the carriage C on to the track B.
For moving the trucks along the track A and the track B I provide grip dogs
which are alike in construction but I use a single dog F in connection with the
track A and a pair of dogs G in connection with the track B, it being desirable
to arrange the dogs G in pairs and one at each side of the track and to similarly
place the cylinders G¹ for the power which operates the piston rods G2 which

page_text: move the dogs & because the openings in the platform for the discharge of the
coal to the chutes are arranged between the rails of the track B in the special
construction illustrated in the drawings. The passage of pressure to the cylin-
ders G¹ is controlled by the lever G while the passage of pressure to the
cylinder F is controlled by the lever F, the piston rod F from the cylinder 1¹
being suitably connected with its dog as will be understood from Figure 1.
The specific construction of the dogs 1 and G is the same and will be understood
from Figures 8, 9 and 10 in which I illustrate one of the dogs G, it being pivoted
at g to a cross head g¹ which slides on the guides 93 and is connected with the
piston rod which operates it. This dog has a broad base edge g³ which rests
upon the cross head and makes the dog rigid against pressure against its upright
edge g', but permits the dog to tilt under pressure against its inclined edge g
so that the dog can act somewhat like a pawl, slipping beneath the axle of the
truck when the dog is moved in a direction of the arrow shown in Figure 9, but
binding against the axle to move the truck when the dog is moved in a direction
the reverse to that indicated by said arrow in Figure 9. Thus it will be seen
the grip dogs C may be caused to move the trucks from the left toward the right
on the track B while the dog I may be caused to move the trucks along the
track A from the right toward the left.
To prevent the trucks from being moved along the track A except when the
carriage C is in position to receive them, I provide the safety stop shown in
Figures 1 and 6 and comprising the bars H pivoted at one end H¹ and movable
at their other ends H2 into the path of the truck wheels as shown in Figure 6.
The ends He may have rubber cushions and move laterally into and out of the
path of the wheels, being operated by the toggle arms H³ connected by link H+
with one end of the lever H³ which is operated and controlled by the hand
lever H as will be understood from Figures 1 and 6.
The chutes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are arranged to discharge at different levels and the
spout 5 may be raised by the cord and adjusted by the cord 7 to properly
register with any of said chutes and to discharge the coal thence into a vessel,
the different chutes being useful in loading vessels of different heights and
under different tide conditions.
The trucks are moved back on the dumping track to a position over the
opening leading to the particular chute desired and then the gates I in the
bottom of said trucks are opened as shown in Figure 3 and the coal is discharged
on to the chute. The gates I are hinged at 1' and a suitable latch 12 is arranged
to secure the free edge of the gate. This latch may be released in any suitable
manner and the gate may be closed after the truck has been emptied. To so
close the gate I provide an automatic gate lifter J, which is shown in Figures 3
and 13, and consists of a suitable frame hinged at one end at J¹ and provided
with a roller or rollers J2 in position to engage the gate I and the free end of
the frame is given tension by means of a weight J connected by a rod J' to
the free end of the lever J5 which forms a part of the gate lifter. By this con-
struction as the truck with its gate lowered moves to the right (see Figure 3)
its gate will ride up on the lifter J and will be closed thereby. In such operation
the yielding front end of the lifter J operates to relieve the blow of the gate
against the lifter as will be understood from Figure 3.
I have shown in Figures 4 and 5 the stationary boiler K for supplying steam
to the several cylinders but manifestly this may be supplied otherwise, .or com-
pressed air, or water or other fluid pressure may be employed to operate the
several pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of the supply
track the dumning track the carriage for transferring the trucks from the

page_text: supply to the dumping track, the cylinder and piston for moving the said
carriage, the dogs for moving the trucks along the supply and discharge tracks,
the cylinders and pistons for operating said dogs and means for controlling
the supply of pressure to the several said cylinders substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of a tilting dog,
a cross head to which said dog is pivoted, guides for said cross head, and the
cylinder and piston for operating the cross head, substantially as set forth.
3. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination with the track
and the trucks thereon of the tilting dog having a broad lower stop edge, an
upright edge for operative engagement with the truck, and an inclined edge
arranged for engagement by the truck whereby to tilt the dog, substantially as
set forth.
4. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of the two
tracks, the carriage for transferring the trucks from one track to the other, a
catch for securing the trucks on said carriage and means for automatically
releasing the said catch, substantially as set forth.
5. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination with the track
of the safety stop consisting of the arms movable to a position to engage a truck
moving on the track, the toggle connecting said arms and means for operating
the toggle whereby the said arms may be adjusted to and held out of position for
engagement by the truck, substantially as set forth.
6. In an apparatus substantially as described, the gate lifter whereby to close
the drop gates of the trucks, such lifter consisting of a frame provided between
its ends with a roller, a weight and a connection between said weight and frame
whereby it may operate said frame substantially as set forth.
7. An apparatus substantially as described comprising the frame or platform
having the supply and dumping tracks and having openings at intervals along
the dumping track, and provided with a series of chutes lying below said dump-
ing track, the carriage for transferring the trucks from the supply track to the
dumping track, the tilting gripping dogs for moving the trucks along the said
tracks, the cylinders and pistons for operating said dogs, and the valves and
operating means for controlling the passage of pressure to such cylinders sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 99nd day of March 1900.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.