Improvements in and relating to Grain Elevators or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan, 1891-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Grain Elevators or the like.
A communication from abroad by BRUNO ROSTAND, of No. 16, Rue de Bausset
Marseilles, in the Republic of France.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is an apparatus for discharging grain and every
kind of seeds, granular and pulverised substances, flour, etcetera, carried in ships in
bulk.
The apparatus is composed of two columns connected by two fixed cross pieces at
their upper and lower parts so as to form a rectangular metal frame supporting the
various parts of the elevator.
In the interior of this fixed frame a second movable frame, composed of two cross
picces sliding on the two columns aforesaid, is situated. These cross pieces are
connected by two stays. This movable frame is traversed by a grooved spindle or
by a square rod actuating a movable pinion which transmits the motion to an axle,
a bevel wheel on which transmits it in turn to the bevel pinion. A sprocket wheel,
mounted on the same shaft as the latter, engages with a chain fitted with scoops
surrounded by the supports of screwed rods which serve to hold taut the aforesaid
chain, the cups of which are guided by guide rollers. A second sprocket wheel,
situated at the lower part of the arrangement, engages with the chain of scoops in
a similar manner to that in which the spur wheel above mentioned does.
A funnel is fixed on the movable cross pieces before mentioned, and communicates
with a shute over whose open side a cloth, sliding by means of rings on two rods, is
fixed. This shute ends in another one furnished with a screw conveyor which is
connected to the shaft by a universal joint which allows of any direction and
inclination being given to it. This channel is held in the position required by means
of a cord. The elevator is set in action by means of the shaft fitted with driving
pulleys. This shaft can be driven by the machinery on board the ship or by any
suitable kind of motor situated on the deck or on the quay. A bevel wheel engages
with bevel gearing on the spindle which transmits the movement to the parts as
described above.
A little winch serves to raise the movable cross pieces by means of a cord which
is allowed to hang loose after that is done.
The shaft is prolonged for the purpose of easily fitting one or more pulleys thereon
in case that is necessary.
Movable supports, placed at the foot of the apparatus, rest on the substance to
be lifted. They are of various dimensions according to the density of the substance.
The various parts of the apparatus having now been described, the following is its
mode of operation:―
The apparatus having been placed in position and set in action, the chain of scoops
follows the motion given to it by the various mechanical parts. Each scoop passes
below the bottom sprocket wheel, takes up some of the material to be raised and is
emptied into the funnel, whence the grain descends by its own weight into the shute
which carries it into the channel.
In proportion as the material is removed, the cross pieces slide down the columns
by their own weight; the chain of scoops descends and the scoops are successively
illed until the whole of the substance is removed. In this descending movement,
he funnel causes the cloth to slide on the two rods. On reaching the channel, the

page_text: material is seized by the screw conveyor which carries it onto the quay or any other
place as may be required.
It must be noted that when once placed in position on board the ship this
apparatus does not require to be touched, seeing that the movable frame descends
automatically and by its own weight in proportion to the removal of the cargo.
This apparatus can be applied not only for discharging ships, but also for loading
them, in the transport of grain, seeds, etcetera, and in docks, depôts, mills, oil mills,
etcetera, etcetera.
The details of the apparatus may be varied within reasonable limits without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
11
A1 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Grain Elevators or the like.
A communication from abroad by BRUNO ROSTAND, of No. 16, Rue de Bausset,
Marseilles, in the Republic of France.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is an apparatus for transporting and discharging
grain and every kind of seeds, granular and pulverised substances, flour, etcetera,
carried in ships in bulk.
The apparatus is composed of two columns C C having knee joints at the bottom
connected by a cross piece D at their upper end and fixed on channel irons D' at
their lower part so as to form a rectangular metal framework supporting the various
parts of the elevator. They are further secured by means of stays or ropes QQ.
In the interior of this fixed framework, a second or movable frame, composed of
two cross pieces E E sliding on the two columns aforesaid, situated. The said
cross pieces are connected by two thin stays or struts n n. The movable frame is
traversed by a grooved or tongued spindle F or by a feather adapted to actuate a
movable bevel pinion a, which transmits the motion to an axle by means of the
bevel wheel b. Two chain or sprocket wheels, mounted on the same shaft c,
receive a chain fitted with buckets or scoops e which is surrounded by a light
tube H (in the form of a U reversed) of wood, sheet metal or cloth to protect it
from the wind. The chain e is further guided by vertical angle pieces N N fixed
inside the tube H, and it is held taut by rods ff sliding against the tube. Another
chain wheel k, situated near the bottom of the apparatus, receives the chain e of
buckets in a similar manner to that in which the wheels above mentioned, do.
A shute or funnel I abuts against the tube H, and the latter slides along the
edges of the two faces of the said shute in such a way that the grain cannot escape
therefrom, but is, on the contrary, brought by it on to an endless band P. The
tube or boxing H for the chain has, at its upper end, an opening with an inclined
-projection.R,-by-means-of-which-the-grain-is-fed-into-the-shute I. The elevator is
set in motion by means of the shaft J which is fitted with a driving pulley K. This
shaft may be driven by a vertical engine d placed beside the apparatus, as shown
on the drawing, or by any other suitable kind of motor situated, that is, on a vessel's
deck or on a quay. A bevel wheel M engages with bevel gearing j on the shaft F,
which transmits the movement to the chain of buckets e as described above. The
said vertical shaft can also be driven direct by a horizontal motor by means of a

page_text: crank or an eccentric which allows the shaft J and the bevel pinion M to be
dispensed with.
A winch L serves to raise or lower the movable cross pieces E E by means of a
chain G.
Movable supports h h, placed at the foot of the apparatus, rest on the substance
to be lifted. They are of various dimensions according to the density of the
substance. The elevator may be placed on the hatches B on the deck A of the
ship, and is supported and held firm by means of the stays QQ.
The various parts of the apparatus having now been described, the following is
its mode of operation:―
The apparatus having been placed in position and set in motion, the chain of
buckets follows the motion given to it by the various mechanical parts. Each
bucket passes below the bottom chain wheels k, takes up some of the material to be
raised from the hold of the ship and empties it into the shute I, whence the grain
descends by its own weight on to the endless web P, which carries it on to the quay
or to any other required place.
In proportion as the material is removed, the cross pieces E E slide down the
columns C C by their own weight; the chain of buckets descends and the buckets
are successively filled until the whole of the substance is removed.
It must not be forgotten that the endless cloth P is placed on an axle O which is
actuated from the vertical shaft F by means of a bevel pinion g.
It must be noted that, when once placed in position on board the ship, this
apparatus does not require to be touched, seeing that the movable frame descends
automatically and by its own weight as the cargo is removed. This descent is
moderated and regulated by means of the movable supports or base h h, the
dimensions of which vary with the density of the material.
This apparatus can be applied, not only for discharging ships, but also for loading
them, in the transport of grain, seeds, etcetera, and in docks, depôts, mills, oil mills,
etcetera, etcetera.
The details of the apparatus may be varied within reasonable limits without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An elevator for granular or pulverulent substances, actuated by a vertical
shaft and in which a movable frame slides by its own weight between two or more
columns, thus insuring the automatic descent of chains of scoops or buckets until
the material to be removed is completely exhausted by the aid of a lateral discharging
shute, substantially as described.
2. An elevator of the kind described, having the combination of chains of scoops
or buckets descending by their own weight along with a movable frame, and an
endless travelling cloth or band adapted to carry off the produce as it is discharged,
substantially as described.
3. The herein described arrangement of parts forming the improved elevator for
grain or other granular or pulverulent material, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of December 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.