IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS For DISCHARGING COAL WAGGONS OR SIMILAR VEHICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS For
DISCHARGING COAL WAGGONS OR SIMILAR VEHICLES." A communication from
abroad by Julius Weidtman, of Dortmund, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1880.
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING COAL WAGGONS OR SIMILAR VEHICLES."
A communication from abroad by Julius Weidtman, of Dortmund, in the German
Empire.
The Invention consists in attaching to the bottom of a platform, upon which the
waggon is placed for emptying, segments capable of rolling upon a plane (like a
cradle) and thereby changing the platform with the waggon upon it from a hori-
zontal into an inclined position, or vice versa, the back of the platform being
provided with a counterweight for causing or facilitating the return motion of the
emptied waggon. Also in fixing in the foundation (or pit in which the platform
is lodged) buffers for limiting the motion of the platform and assisting in the
commencement of the return motion. Also in applying catch levers (placed near
the buffers) and moved by a hand lever and suitable connecting rods, so that they
can be made to engage in corresponding detents attached to the platform, and thus
retain the latter in its extreme positions. Also in attaching to the back of the
platform a rack pivoted to the same and gearing into a pinion mounted on an axle
which carries also a brake pulley to which any ordinary brake can be applied by
the motion of a hand lever. On the same axle is also a large tooth wheel gearing
into a pinion connected with a hand wheel by which the motion of the rack and
the platform can be effected when necessary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
July 1880.
"s
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING COAL WAGGONS OR SIMILAR VEHICLES."
A communication from abroad by Julius Weidtman, of Dortmund, in the German
Empire.
The principal part of the Invention consists in giving to the platform which
supports the vehicle a rolling motion (like a cradle), so that the waggon obtains an
inclined position and is made to travel forward. In describing the details of the
arrangement reference will be had to the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1
represents an example of the apparatus for situations where the level of the rails
gives sufficient height for discharging, and Fig. 2, the same for situations where the
platform with the waggon must be lifted. Fig. 1. To the bottom of the platform
upon which the waggon is to be placed, two segments a are attached. These two
segments made of cast steel roll on true horizontal planes of iron or steel, so that
the platform with the waggon will make a movement like a cradle. At the sido
of each of the segments a a toothed segment b is attached which gears into an
open rack c (with round teeth). The hind end of the platform moves by means
of rack and pinion the shaft d which carries a brake wheel and a spur wheel.
A pinion on the shaft e can be put out of gear and in gear with this wheel The
shafte can be worked by the hand wheel ƒ by means of a pair of bevel wheels;
the brake is worked by the lever g. The waggon is fastened to the platform in
any known way by means of hooks and wedges or otherwise; h are safety blocks.
If only waggons of a certain construction and without outside brake blocks are to
discharged, the rails of the platform are bent up in the usual way, as shown by the
dotted lines at i. During the inclination of the platform the inclining waggon k
travels forward at the same time and gets into the position k. The inclined
platform rests on the two buffers 2, and is retained in this position by the catches m.
The waggon being discharged the returned platform rests on the buffers n, and
is retained in this position by the catches o. Both pair of catches are disengaged
by the lever p, which has a balance weight (not shown in the Drawing) to make
the catches drop automatically. In both directions the compressed buffers assist,
after the catches are disengaged, the beginning of the motion, which in both
directions is regulated by the brake. At the hind end of the platform a balance
weight q is attached, which leaves a surplus weight for the fore end of the platform
with the charged waggon, and causes the self acting return after the waggon bas
been discharged. The hand wheel f is only used when necessary for unusual
constructions of waggons. Fig. 2. If the waggon requires to be lifted before being
discharged, the planes which support the segments of the platform are united to a
solid crosshead which is directly and firmly attached to the rams of two hydraulic
cylinders. In this case the balance weight q is made heavier so as to keep a
surplus weight for the hind end of the platform even with the charged waggon.
The length of the chains r is varied according to the height at which the waggon
is to be discharged. The proper height being attained the valve of the large
cylinder is automatically shut. The strong safety chains 8 prevent the inclination
of the platform becoming too great. After the waggon has been discharged the
valve of the large cylinder is put by hand into the position corresponding to the
mark "waste" for the descent. The valve of the small cylinder generally remains
open on "pressure" in order to regain a quantity of the pressure water during the
descent. In this case the brake is not required. The guides t for the platform are
fixed to the scaffolding. For raising or lowering either end of the gutter the

page_text: chains u are attached to the head piece under the platform; the position of the
gutter wished for is attained by means of the hydraulic cylinders and fixed in any
convenient way. I do not claim the discharging of waggons by inclining the
platform, nor the lifting of the hydraulic power, but I claim, first, the segments
under the platform for producing a rolling motion (like a cradle) of the platform
and an advancing motion of the waggon, substantially as described; second, the
buffers and catches at the ends of the platform in Fig. 1 to retain the platform and
to assist the beginning of the movement; third, the combination of the segmental
arrangement with hydraulic cylinders; fourth, the regaining of pressure water
during the descent by the second hydraulic cylinder, all substantially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, A.D. 1880.