Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Discharging Coals into a Ship's Hold.
Year: 1896

page_text: · Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1896
Complete. Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1996
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Discharging Coals into a
Ship's Hold.
I, THOMAS WRIGHTSON, of the Teesdale Iron Works, Thornaby-on-Tees; in
the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention' to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus for discharging coals from a
truck on the staithes or quay side into a ships' hold.
The conditions under which coals usually have to be charged from the trucks
into a ships' hold result in material damage to the coal from breakage owing to
the considerable and violent descent of the coal from one level to another. Existing
arrangements also require a considerable amount of labour in trimming the coal to
the parts of the hold away from the hatchway, involving a further breakage of
the coal in shovelling and handling. Furthermore the difference between the level
of delivery from the truck or shoot on the quay side or staithes and the level of
discharge within the ships hold varies according to the state of the tide and other
well known causes to such an extent that the discharging machine or apparatus
must be adapted to accomodate itself to such differences of level or be
comparatively useless for controlling the descent of the coal into the ships' hold.
The object of my invention is to construct a machine or apparatus which while
it can be readily adjusted to such differences between the levels of delivery and
discharge, carries the coal down to the level of discharge within the ships' hold in
such a way that a rapid discharge of the coal is effected without the usual damage
due to breakage and without the cost and further breakage of the coal due to
trimming by hand shovelling.
In carrying out my invention I use a system of endless belts arranged and
operating together in the manner hereinafter described. This system of belts
consists of a receiving belt which extends for a considerable length under or near
a line of rails so that the coal can be discharged on to the belt from the trucks
by gravity. An intermediate belt which together with its framing forms a jib, is
placed contiguous to and is connected with, or made continuous to the first or
receiving belt by means of a shoot, or other equivalent end to end arrangement.
This intermediate belt is supported by a chain or rope at its outer end, the chain
or rope being passed over a derrick or masthead formed in connection with the
frame work of the structure and of suitable height to permit of the raising or
lowering of the jib, which works on a pin or hinged joint at the inner end. The
jib may thus be adjusted to any required incline like the jib of a derrick craue.
Provision is also preferably made to enable it to swing to a certain extent round
the mast or centre post to the right or left. Another belt with its enclosed casing
or trunk is slung from a pivot or hinged connection at the outer end of the inter-
mediate belt so that it can be drawn from the vertical position either backward or
forward by suitable tackle. The system of endless belts being thus arranged
relatively to each other the coal is discharged from the trucks on to the first or
receiving belt and is carried along on this belt and is teemed over and upon the
inclined belt which may be furnished with a succession of cleats or ledges to enable
the coal to lodge thereon and be carried down with the belt to be discharged on

page_text: to shelves or trays provided on the lower or third endless belt from which it is
deposited in the hold of the ship.
The shelves or trays provided on the bottom or third endless belt may be of any
form or construction which will adapt them to receive the coal as it falls from
the second or intermediate belt. But inasmuch as the second or intermediate belt
is set to different inclines which vary considerably according to the states of the
tide and from other causes and in addition to this the bottom belt with its trunk is
drawn out of the vertical in either direction required to trim the coal over a
sufficient area of the ships' hold, I have devised an arrangement of trays or shelves
specially adapted for the purposes of my invention. By this arrangement as each
shelf or tray turns over the upper bend of the belt into the position to receive
the coal from the belt above the next shelf or tray in succession turns up on the
other side of the bend of the belt so that the two shelves or trays with the inter-
vening portion of belt all taken together form a temporary hopper on the descending
side of which the coal is lodged and carried down. The upper side.of the hopper
then turns over the bend of the belt and becomes the receiver. of another discharge
of coal from the belt above the next. shelf or tray behind making up the form of
a hopper as before and so on in continuous succession. The ledges or cleats on
the inclined belt are preferably pitched in some cases to correspond with the
succession of hoppers so formed by the shelves or trays on the bottom trunk belt
from which it will be seen that the transmission of coal along the system of belts
is both uniform and continuous. The bottom belt is driven from the intermediate
belt by suitably gearing the upper roller of the one to the lower roller of the other,
and the speed of the bottom belt is thus at all times controlled by that of the
intermediate belt. The first or receiving belt and the second or intermediate
bélt are both driven by any suitable means, such as by an engine fixed in position
and connected to the driving roller of each belt, which engine would also be
available for working the derrick chain or guy of the intermediate belt, and for
turning the belt about its inner end to the right or left. But it will be found
convenient in practice to mount the engine on one platform with the frame work
and driving gear of the first belt the spindle of the inner or driving roller of the
second or intermediate belt being journalled into the mast or centre post erected
at the outer end of the said platform to carry the guy or derrick chain or rope.
By mounting the platform on wheels also driven from the same engine or motor
which works the belts my improved apparatus or machine becomes a locomotive
which can be run into or out of position and operated as required from its own
motive power, and an apparatus so constructed will of course be applicable
generally for lowering materials from one level to another in the manner herein before
described with reference to coal.
The nature of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing
description, but the construction and combination of parts can be modified and
varied without departing from the essential features thereof. For instance, it may
be desirable in some cases, and especially where the difference between the levels
of delivery and discharge is only moderate, to construct what have been described
as the receiving and intermediate or jib belts in one long belt which may be rigid
to the outer end and capable of being tilted to different inclines, or may be
constructed with part of its length free to lift up and down like a separate
jib belt; suitable provision being made to convey the belt round an angle or joint.
Dated this 16th day of January 1896.
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Discharging Coals into a
Ship's Hold.
I, THOMAS WRIGHTSON, of the Teesdale Iron Works, Thornaby-on-Tees, in
the County of York, Engineer, 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 relates to machinery or apparatus for discharging coals from a
truck, hopper or belt or other receptacle for storage of coal on the staithes or
quay side into a ships' hold.
The conditions under which coals usually have to be charged from the trucks
into a ships' hold result in material damage to the coal from breakage owing to the
considerable and violent descent of the coal from one level to another. Existing.
arrangements also require a considerable amount of labour in trimming the coal
to the parts of the hold away from the hatchway, involving a further breakage of
the coal in shovelling and handling. Furthermore the difference between the level.
of delivery from the truck or shoot on the quayside or staithes and the level of
discharge within the ships' hold varies according to the state of the tide and other.
well known causes to such an extent that the discharging machine or apparatus must
be adapted to accomodate itself to such differences of level or be comparatively.
useless for controlling the descent of the coal into the ships' hold.
The object of my invention is to construct a machine or apparatus which while
it can be readily adjusted to such differences between the levels of delivery and.
discharge, carries the coal down to the level of discharge within the ships' hold in
such a way that a rapid discharge of the coal is effected without the usual breakage.
due to the free fall of the coal by gravity, and the saving of much further cost.
and breakage of the coal due to trimming by hand shovelling.
And in order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-.
panying drawings, in which the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine or apparatus for discharging coals into a
ships hold constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation drawn to an enlarged scale shewing the:
connection between the shore belt and the intermediate belt.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation drawn to an enlarged scale shewing the connection'
between the intermediate belt and the hanging belt. It will be observed that this
intermediate belt is shown in the level position in Fig. 1, and in Figs. 2 and 3 it is
inclined at such angles as are intended.
In carrying out my invention I use a system of endless belts, arranged and
operating together in the manner hereinafter described. This system of belts
consists of a receiving or shore belt a which extends for a considerable length so:
that the coal can be discharged onto the belt a from the truck, hopper or belt or.
other receptacle for the coal. This shore belt may be level as shown or it may be
inclined from the source of supply and the coal may be delivered onto it from a
shoot at any angle with an open end so that as the coal accumulates on the belt it is
drawn away gradually by the forward motion of the belt. An intermediate belt b
which together with its framing forms a jib, is placed contiguous to and is connected
with or made continuous to the first or receiving belt a by means of a shoot cor
other equivalent end to end arrangement. This intermediate belt b is with its.
frame supported by a chain or rope d at its outer end, the chain or rope being
passed over a derrick or masthead e formed in connection with the framework of

page_text: the structure, and of suitable height to permit of the raising or lowering of the
jib 6 which works on a pin or hinged joint at the inner end. The jib may thus
be adjusted to any required incline like the jib of a derrick crane. Provision is also
preferably made to enable it to swing to a certain extent round to the right or left
and with it the masthead or centre post e. Another belt with its enclosed casing
or trunk is slung from a pivot or hinged connection 6 at the outer end of the
intermediate belt b so that it can be drawn from the vertical position either
backward or forward by suitable tackle. The system of endless belts being thus
arranged relatively to each other the coal is discharged onto the shore belt a and
is carried along on this belt and is teemed over and upon the jib belt b which may
be furnished with a succession of cleats or ledges 63 as shown in Fig. 3 or their
equivalents to enable the coal to lodge thereon and be carried along with the belt
to be discharged onto shelves or trays f¹ provided on the hanging belt from which
it is deposited in the hold of the ship. The shelves or trays provided on the
hanging endless belt/ may be of any form or construction which will adapt them
to receive the coal as it falls from the second or intermediate belt b. But inasmuch
as the second or intermediate belt is set to different inclines which vary considerably
according to the states of the tide and from other causes and in addition to this
the bottom belt with its trunk is drawn out of the vertical in either direction
required to trim the coal over a sufficient area of the ships' hold I have devised an
arrangement of trays or shelves specially adapted for the purposes of my invention.
By this arrangement as each shelf or tray turns over the upper bend of the belt f
into the position to receive the coal from the belt b above, the next shelf or tray
in succession comes up behind it, so that the two shelves or trays with the intervening
portion of belt and the fixed sides of the framing all taken together form a
temporary moving hopper of changing form, on the descending side of which the
coal is lodged and carried down. The back tray of the hopper in turning over the
bend of the belt becomes the receiver of another discharge of coal from the belt
above, the next shelf or tray behind making up the form of a hopper as before and
so on in continuous succession. The ledges or cleats 63 on the jib belt are preferably
pitched in some cases to correspond with the succession of hoppers so formed by
the shelves or trays on the bottom trunk belt. The hanging belt f is driven from
the intermediate belt b by suitable gearing, and the speed of the hanging belt is
thus at all times adapted to that of the intermediate belt; provision being made
that the belts are geared together so that the lineal velocity may have a distributing
effect as the coal is passed from belt to belt. The first or receiving belt a and the
second or intermediate belt 6 may both be driven by any suitable means such as by
an engine fixed in position at the main shaft g of which drives the mitre and
bevel wheels connected to the driving roller of each belt, which engine would also
be available for working the derrick chain or guy d of the intermediate belt by
means of the worm h thrown in and out of gear as required; and the same engine
may if desired be used for tarning the jib belt about its inner end to the right or
left. But it will be found convenient in practice to mount the engine on one
platform with the frame work and driving gear of the first belt, the spindle b of
the inner or driving roller of the second or intermediate belt being journalled into
the mast or centre post e erected at the outer end of the said platform to carry the
guy or derrick chain or rope. By mounting the platform on wheels also driven
from the same engine or motor which works the belts my improved apparatus or
machine becomes a locomotive which can be run into or out of position and operated
as required from its own motive power, and an apparatus so constructed will of
course be applicable generally for lowering materials from one level to another in
the manner hereinbefore described with reference to coal.
Referring to Fig. 2 in which I have illustrated in detail an arrangement of shoots
for breaking the fall of coal between the shore belt and the jib belt, c' is a narrow
shoot hinged on the fixed framing of the shore belt. the under shoot is supported
on the two arms c3 and c, the former pivotted upon the cheek plates at each side of
jib, and the latter upon the jib itself, in such a way that as the jib is made to rise

page_text: the under shoot 2 moves upwards round centre 3. The dotted lines shew the
position of shoot when the jib is in its highest working position.
Referring to Fig. 3 in which I have illustrated to au enlarged scale an arrange-
meut which may be adopted for diminishing and controlling the fall of coal into
the trays of the vertical belt, j is a hinged baffler guided in a slot j and controlled
by a system of levers k, k, k², k³ attached to a weight hanging upon a spring m
and moving in a dash pot n at either side of the framework. Another object of
the baffler is to prevent the coal getting in between the corner of the shoot at o
and the under lip of the descending tray.
The shore and jib belts are furnished with rollers p for guiding same, and slide
blocks q are furnished on all the belts connected to adjustable spindles for adjusting
the tension on the said belts.
In order to enable the trays or shelves of the hanging belt to retain their rigidity
when charged with coal, I furnish them with small rollers s which enter into a
groove t in the framework on the descending side as the hanging belt revolves.
The nature of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing descrip-
tion, but the construction and combination of parts can be modified and varied
without departing from the essential features thereof. For instance it may be
desirable in some cases, and especially where the difference between the levels of
delivery and discharge is only moderate, to construct what have been described as
the receiving and intermediate or jib belts in one long belt which may be rigid to
the outer end and capable of being tilted to different inclines, or may be constructed
with part of its length free to lift up and down like a separate jib belt; suitable
provision being made to convey the belt round an angle or joint.
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 I
claim is:-
1. Machinery or apparatus for discharging coals into a ships' hold, consisting of
a series of endless belts arranged and operating together so as to carry the coal
down to the ships' hold in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In connection with apparatus for discharging coals into a ships' hold the use
of a hanging belt in which hoppers are formed by an endless series of shelves con-
structed and operating together substantially as and for the purpose as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The general combination of parts constituting the apparatus as a whole,
arranged, constructed and effecting its purpose substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
Dated LUIS
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent,
Stockton-on-Tees, Agent for the Applicant.