Improved Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1890
.Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
I. WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn and Son, of 151 Strand, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by
Franklin L. Chamberlin, of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Inventor,)
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In this my invention, I combine with an elevated track, a suitable carrier having
traction-wheels engaging the upper faces of the rails, and wheels engaging the
lower faces. A suitable motor is mounted on the carrier below the rails, and is
connected to the aforesaid traction wheels by suitable gearing. The carrier carries a
brake-shoe which is adapted to engage a track-rail when required. The carrier is.
provided beneath the track with an operator's stand or platform from which the
apparatus is worked. Upon the carrier is arranged a suitable hoisting-drum having
spiral grooves upon the face thereof. Suitable cables are adapted to engage the
respective spiral grooves; such cables being connected in common with the
hoisting-bucket or other device for hoisting the load. A brake is provided for
controlling the movements of the drum, which is actuated by the aforesaid motor.
A sway-line is connected to the hoisting device near the load, and leads from thence
around a sheave on the carrier, and from thence preferably around the hoisting-drum
in such a manner as to cause tension on said line. A dumping-latch is pivoted to a
bail and is adapted to engage the bucket. A suitable dump-line is connected with the
dumping-latch of the bucket and is lead from thence to a suitable tension and take-up
groove on the drum, which automatically takes up the slack dumping-line as the
dumping-bucket is elevated.
Dated this 11th day of March 1890
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Hoisting and Conveying Apparatus.
1, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand, London,
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a com-
munication to me from abroad, by Franklin L. Chamberlin, of Cleveland, Ohio,
United States of America, Inventor), and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This my invention relates to improvements in hoisting and conveying apparatus in
which the motor, preferably electric, for propelling the carrier and for hoisting the
load is located on the carrier, such motor operating traction-wheels of the carrier for
propelling the carrier at least in one direction along the track. The bucket is
hoisted by means of two cables operating on a single drum, the latter
having spiral grooves, respectively right and left banded, for receiving the cables,
whereby the load always maintains a central position between the tracks and the
bucket is kept from rotating.
My invention also relates to the details of construction bereinafter described, and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in section, on
line, Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Figure 2 is a side elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan, partly in section, on line y y Figure 2.

page_text: A A are the track-rails of the truss, these track-rails having preferably such
inclination that the carrier will travel in the one direction by gravity.
B represents the carrier-frame, constructed preferably of metal, and of such form
as will accommodate the mechanism mounted thereon and provided with a platform
for the operator. The carrier is supported by wheels B', travelling on tracks A
aforesaid, the one set of wheels that support the most of the load being connected
by an axle bearing a sprocket-wheel 5, the latter being connected by endless chain b¹
with sprocket-wheel G.
C is a motor, preferably of the electric variety, the driving-shaft of the motor
having mounted thereon pinion c, engaging gear D of shaft D₁. The latter shaft
has a pinion d, engaging gear f of the shaft F. Gear also engages gear g
the latter being mounted on shaft G', this shaft also supporting sprocket-wheel G
aforesaid, the latter being mounted loose on the shaft and operated by means of
friction-clutch y'.
Beams B, connected with the carrier-frame and extending lengthwise of the track-
rails, are provided with suitable boxes, in which are journalled the axles of wheels b
These wheels engage or come close to the under side of the track-rails A and prevent
the carrier from the possibility of tilting.
His a friction-shoe, engaging the under side of the opposing rail A. The shoe is
pivoted at hand has connected therewith a land-lever, the free end of the lever
being within the reach of the operator. Shoe H serves as a brake frequently for
stopping the carrier at a desired point, but it is used more especially in controlling.
the movement of the carrier-on-the-downgrade of the track-rails.
.
E is the drum on which the hoisting-cables 1 I are wound, this drum being mounted-
loosely on shaft F, with suitable collars or other device for holding the drum. end wise
on the shaft. At the one end of the drum is a friction wheel E', embraced by a
sectional friction-band J, the different sections thereof being connected by bolts j.
These bolts have right and left-handed screw-threads engaging corresponding screw-
threaded holes in the friction-band sections. Each bolt is provided with_a
short arm, and these arms are connected by links with the extremes of spider K.
The spider-hub has an annular groovek for engaging the prongs of a forked lever O
for shifting the spider endwise of the shaft, by which movement of the spider bolts j
are turned a trifle, but enough to expand or contract the friction-band in loosening
or grasping wheel E. This friction-clutch is well adapted to the purpose, but is an
old device, and I make no claim on this clutch, and hence it is not considered
necessary to give a more detailed description of the same. The opposite end of the
drum is provided with a friction-wheel E, embraced by a friction-band L of ordinary
construction. The one end of the band is fastened, for instance, at L', and the
other end of the friction-band connects with rod 1, the latter connecting with
bell-crank lever, which in turn is connected by means of rod 12 with treadle P.
By depressing this treadle the brake-band is tightened on the friction-wheel, the
brake-band having sufficient elasticity to free itself from the wheel when the pressure
on the treadle is removed. Drum E has spiral grooves e, respectively right and
left handed, for receiving the respective hoisting-cables I aforesaid. These cables
are fastened, for instance, at the extremes of the drum, in which case the cables
approach each other as they are wound on the drum, by which arrangement the load
is always kept in a central position relative to the track-rails, a matter of great
importance from the fact that these track-rails are likely to be separated but a short
distance; also, by reason of two cables the bucket is prevented from whirling-that is
to say, from revolving as would likely be the case where but one cable is employed.
The cables lead over sheaves I' and connect with cross-bar I, the latter at the centre
thereof having attached hooks I for attaching the bucket. Preferably at the centre
of the drum are two circumferential grooves e¹ el for receiving, respectively,
cords M and N. Cord M passes loosely through loop i of cross-bar I³, the end of the
cord having attached hook m for engaging loop p of catch p' for raising the latter in
dumping the bucket. The other end of cord M is provided with a weight m', the
gravity of this weight being sufficient to hold the cord in position in the groove on

page_text: the drum. The bucket P has the bail thereof P₁ pivoted at P2, and the catch
aforesaid is hinged to the bail, the arrangement being such that the centre of gravity
in the loaded bucket is above the axis of the bucket and on the side opposite the
catch. By drawing on the weighted end of cord M catch p¹ is raised, whereupon the
loaded bucket is dumped by gravity. The bottom of the bucket is of such con-
struction that the empty bucket "rights itself" by gravity. Cord N, known as
sway-line" connects with cross-bar I and leads from thence around sheaven, and
from thence passes over the drum in the same direction, as cord M, cord N having
attached a comparatively heavy weight n¹. In hoisting the bucket, for instance, from
the hold of the vessel, the cables do not always draw perpendicularly, and hence the
bucket is likely to swing in the direction lengthwise of the track-rails, and the draft
on cord N caused by weight n, aided by the friction of the cord on the drum, soon
checks the swaying of the bucket.
Sheaves II, over which the hoisting-cables pass are swivelled so that
they can accommodate themselves to the lead of the cable in winding on or unwinding
from the drum.
In operating the device, the motor being in motion to revolve the drum in the
direction to wind up the hoisting-cable, lever is shifted to apply the clutch,
whereby the drum is set in motion for hoisting the load, and here I will remark that
with the construction shown it is only necessary to hoist the load so as to clear any.
objects between the hoisting and dumping grounds, and as soon as the load is
elevated sufficiently for such purpose the drum-clutch is loosened, and simultaneously
therewith the drum-brake is applied and held by bearing upon treadle 13. Next by
means of friction-clutch g', the sprocket-wheels are set in motion to propel the carrier
along the track-rails to the dumping-ground. If the load has been elevated higher
than necessary for dumping purposes, the load may be lowered before dumping by
easing off on the treadle that controls the drum-brake, thereby lowering the load us
far as practicable for dumping, and thus avoiding unnecessary breaking of material.
This, for instance, in handling coal and various other commodities is a matter of
importance. The operator, by drawing on the weighted end of cord M, lifts catch p³,
whereupon the bucket dumps. If necessary, the empty bucket is elevated for the
return travel, and in case of the inclined tracks the carrier returns to the hoisting-
point by gravity, the downgrade movement of the carrier being controlled by
applying friction-shoe H. In case of a level track provision is made for reversing the
motor, so as to propel the carrier in either direction. An electric motor is preferable
for the purpose, for the reason that it is of much less weight than, for instance,
the steam-motor, which latter would necessitate a steam-generator located on the
carrier, together with somewhat troublesome appliances for supplying such steam-
generator with water. The electric wire and trolley for supplying the electric current
to the motor may be substantially the same as employed on electric street railways,
and hence are not shown.
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. In a boisting and conveying apparatus, the combination, with an elevated
track and a carrier suspended from the track, of a motor mounted on a carrier and
a hoisting drum supported on the carrier and located beneath the track, the motor
being adapted to propel the carrier along the track and to actuate the hoisting-drum,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination, with an elevated
track, and a carrier suspended from the track, of a motor and hoisting-drum
supported on the carrier below the track, and suitable gearing, whereby the motor is
adapted to propel the carrier along the track and to actuate the hoisting-drum,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination with a hoisting-drum
and a dumping-bucket, of a dumping-catch and a suitable tension take-up for

page_text: .
automatically taking up the slack dumping-line as the dumping-bucket is
elevated, substantially as set forth.
4. In a hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination, with an elevated
track and a carrier suspended from the track and provided at a suitable point below
the track with an operator's stand or platform, of a motor and hoisting-drum
supported on the carrier below the track, and suitable gearing, whereby the motor is
adapted to propel the carrier along the track and to actuate the hoisting-drum,
substantially as set forth.
5. In hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination with a carrier and
a motor mounted on the carrier, of a hoisting-drum having spiral grooves
on the face thereof, cables adapted to engage the respective spiral grooves,
such cables being connected in common with the hoisting-bucket or other device for
hoisting the load, and a brake for controlling the movements of the drum,
substantially as set forth.
6. In hoisting and conveying apparatus, the combination, with an elevated track,
a carrier suspended therefrom a motor on the carrier, a hoisting-drum actuated by
the motor, and a cable, of a sway-line connected to the hoisting device
near the load, and leading from thence around a sheave on the carrier, and from
thence preferably around the hoisting-drum in such a manner as to cause tension on
said line, substantially as set forth.
7. In hoisting and _ conveying apparatus, the combination, with the carrier, a
hoisting-drum a cable, and a dumping-latch pivoted to the bail and adapted to engage
the bucket, of a dump-line, the same being connected with the dumping-latch of the
bucket being hoisted, such dump-line leading thence to a suitable. tension and
take-up groove on the drum, substantially as set forth.
8. In a hoisting apparatus, the combination, with elevated track-rails and a carrier
having traction-wheels engaging the upper faces of said rails and wheels engaging
the lower faces, of a motor mounted on the carrier below the rails, gearing
connecting said motor with the traction-wheels, and a brake-shoe carried by the
carrier and adapted to engage a track-rail.
Dated this 16th day of July 1890.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.