Improvements in Elevating Apparatus for Grain and other Cereals, more particularly applicable for Loading and Unloading Ships.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Elevating Apparatus for Grain and other Cereals,
more particularly applicable for Loading and Unloading Ships.
A communication by APOSTOLOS MARANGOS, of Marseilles, in the Republic
of France, Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex Civil
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 :-
The use of endless screws in elevators or elevating apparatus dates back many
years, but the inventors of them have not apparently been able to attain their
object and fulfil their promises industrially, seeing that none of these apparatuses
have been successfully worked.
"
Such an endless screw elevator called "The Archimedes was patented in
England on the 25th day of August 1890, No. 13349, but its principal defects
were
1st. An insufficient delivery;
2nd. An irregular feed, caused by the obstruction of the feed screw by foreign
bodies, such as straw, cords, thread and the like, which abound in granaries;
3rd. Frequent heating, caused by the passage of these same foreign bodies
between the tubes and the screw;
4th. The weight of its framework, which necessitated special apparatus for its
installation on board;
5th. The mode of suspension of the elevator, obtained under the old arrangement
by means of an enarthrodial pinion, which worked badly, and was very liable to
become heated.
The improved elevator which forms the object of this invention yields a return
almost double that of the "Archimedes" previously mentioned, with the same pitch
and diameter of screw. Its feed being protected from any foreign bodies, it has a
constant and regular delivery and the screw being protected from these same
foreign bodies does not become heated. The apparatus weighs less and is thus
more portable, and does not necessitate special apparatus for installing it on board
ship. Finally, the suspension of the elevator is obtained by means of a trunnion
placed at the bottom on the bed plate, which enables it to follow the varying
inclination of the ship.
The following are the improvements introduced in the apparatus which forms the
object of the present invention.
The apparatus is composed
1st. Of the elevator properly so called, which takes the grain or the like in the
hold and raises it;
2nd. Of the conveyor which conveys such grain, or the like, to the outside of
the ship onto the quay or into the sheds; and
3rd. Of a framework supporting the whole.
The elevator comprises, first, the parts which raise the grain or the like,
secondly, the feed device which takes up the grain in the hold, and thirdly the

page_text: discharging device which discharges it into the conveyor, and by the inter-
mediation of which the raising and extending of the elevator itself is effected.
The elevator is shown in the accompanying drawings in Figures 8 and 9. It is
composed of ten or twelve tubes, connected together, in the interior of which works
an Archimedean screw. These tubes a a are one metre in length and perfectly
circular and are formed of rolled steel, and have male and female flanges or
sockets b b. On the lower socket a cross bar c is fixed having a flanged central
aperture or socket d in which is held a bronze sleeve ff squared internally in
which the square ends of the shafts of the screw engage and thus effect a mutual
movement of the screw. Lubrication is insured by means of a passage formed
in one of the arms of the crosspiece. The upper flange or socket has at each
side a pivoted link or ring 61 61 (Figure 6), for use in moving the tubes. The
screws are formed of a steel spiral fixed at its centre to a round shaft terminated
by squared euds. At its upper end the shaft casing is removed to a certain extent,
and the screw is cut out at h¹¹ (Figure 8) so as to diminish as much as possible
the gap in the spiral necessitated by the presence of the cross piece in the tubes.
The lower extremity of the screw is curved as shown at K, in the form of a
crescent, Figures 8 and 9, which has for its object to remove foreign matters from
the periphery of the screw.
$5
The peculiar characteristic however of this improved screw over that of the
"
Archimedes elevator previously mentioned is that in the older apparatus
the screws; were adjusted and revolved in the tubes with a slight friction and
without any play, whilst in this improved elevator they may be mounted in the
"rough" and revolve in the tubes with a play which varies according to the size
of the grains which are to be elevated.
This is of great importance. Owing to the discovery that the grains may be
elevated vertically in the tubes even when there is play between the said tubes:
and the screw, this apparatus has been simplified and the dressing or boring out of
the tubes and screws, which was a difficult and costly operation, is no longer
necessary; moreover thick and heavy parts which were difficult to handle are no
longer required. On the other hand with screws fitted with slight friction there.
was rapid wear and tear of the screw and of the tube. Wheat was jammed between
them and crushed, causing a loss of power; foreign bodies such as straw, cords,,
etcetera, clogged the machinery and produced heating, and the screws required such
an amount of repairs to keep them in good working order that the machine was
condemned.
With this improved screw having a certain amount of play the grain and the
foreign matters rise freely between the tubes and the screw, and consequently
there no longer arises friction, wear, jamming or heating.
THE FEED DEVICE.
This differs from the other parts of the elevator in that the screw is partly in
the tube, and partly projects out of the same and directly into the grain, or the
like, to the extent of about one and a half turns of the spiral.
In the invention described in Patent No. 13349, these two parts of the screw
formed a continuous screw without interruption, moving with slight friction in the
tube. Foreign bodies became wedged between the screw and the tube, and had a
tendency to jam the apparatus, or stop at the juncture of the tube and the screw
and revolve with this latter, thus forming a tangled mass and finally finishing by
obstructing the passage.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawing show the improvements effected
in the machine which forms the object of this Application.
Firstly, the machine works with a certain amount of play, the screw moving in
the tubes with a play of 10 millimetres and consequently choking (jamming) by
means of cords, straw, or the like becomes impossible. Should these foreign bodies
however enter the tube they would rise quite easily if they were not retained,

page_text: A wide break is therefore formed in the screw, and the two parts, namely, those
inside and outside the tube, are entirely independent of one another. Hence the
feeding screw is divided into two distinct parts.
The first part B, entirely inside the tube, terminates at the bottom in a crescent
curve B", Figure 7, and is protected against foreign matters be ause it is entirely
lodged in the tube, whilst still serving as a feed apparatus. The second part D,
Figure 5, of the same pitch and diameter as the preceding part B fixed on the
same shaft, is outside the tube, and in direct contact with the grain or other
material to be elevated. It starts at the bottom of the shaft, and terminates,
immediately at the point where it enters above the lower end B" of the previously
mentioned part of the spiral after crossing it, so as to discharge upon it its contents
and release any foreign body which it might have carried up. This feed screw is
therefore neither a double screw nor a screw with a double thread.
It is an
ordinary screw with a simple broken thread, the lower part of which has been
carried up, and has undergone a slight rotation on its axis in such a way as to
cross the upper part to the extent of one to two centimetres. Owing to this simple
arrangement a double result is obtained.
1st. A constant and regular delivery of the apparatus;
2nd. An increase of the feed which is almost doubled.
Straw, cord, thread, or the like can no longer encumber the apparatus, as
immediately such are caught, they are released again by the screw, owing to the
wide break therein, and they drop of themselves into the tube, where they are no
longer obstructive and are lifted by the stream of rising material. Consequently
the feed screw is no longer obstructed or encumbered by foreign matters and
therefore delivers a constant and regular supply to the apparatus.
On the other hand the feed is almost doubled. In order to ascertain this, it
suffices to suppose the arrangement shown in Figure 5 to be entirely immersed in
the wheat, in order to see that the latter would be taken up both by the lower end
of the internal screw B as well as by the whole of the external screw D, the grain
resting on the latter would be discharged on to the previously mentioned screw B
forming an additional feed. This arrangement of the feed screw is one of the
main characteristics of this invention.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show other details of the construction of the feed device;
viz.: the step or socket f of the screw shaft and the means for lubricating it; the
means for fixing the feed screw by means of a collar d' fixed on the tube a and
having two arms el terminating below at the socket f, etcetera.
A device for removing foreign bodies is shown by H, Figures 5 and 7. This
device has the form of a projection fixed on the lower extremity of the tube a
Figs. 5 & 7 into the interior of which it projects. Should any foreign body
which may chance to be carried up by the screw pass in front of this spur, it will
invariably be thrown down. H', Figures 5 and 7, are openings or windows which
can be closed at will, and which assist in the additional feeding action.
THE DISCHARGING APPARATUS.
The discharging apparatus discharges the grain or the like into the hopper of
the conveying device and is shown in Figures 1 and 2. It consists of a small tube
and a screw.
The tube C has at its bottom a female coupling flange, and a
crossbar like those of the other tubes to which it is successively bolted. At its
front part (Figure 1) it is wide open so as to allow the grain to easily run away,
and to form a discharging arrangement which is extended by fitting thereto a
movable sheet metal spout D, Figure 2. On each side it has two guide arms cc,
Figure, which slide on the two uprights 1, 1. The screw of this tube is
terminated at the bottom in the form of a crescent. It differs from the others in
that its shaft 6, Figure 1, projects considerably above it at the top, and extends up
to the top of the frame where it is keyed to the horizontal wheel 5, which operates
it as well as the whole screw column.

page_text: hompson & improvement. in Elevating Apparatus for Grain and other Cereals.
The elevator to sum up is composed of a column of tubes of one metre in length,
each bolted to the next and interchangeable, terminated at the bottom by a feed
tube and at the top by a discharge tube. In the interior of this column there
moves with a certain extent of play, an interrupted screw formed by as many
seginents as there are tubes, starting at the top on the driving shaft J, Figure 1,
and terminating at the bottom in the socket or step of the feed tube on which all
the weight of the screw rests. The guidance or maintenance of this column is
ensured by the presence of crossbars fixed on the coupling or joint flanges and its
movement is transmitted by a bronze socket squared internally in which the
squared ends of the respective shafts, Figures 8 and 9, engage, and by the
intermediary of which the movement is effected.
THE CONVEYING DEVICE.
This is considerably analogous to the elevator. It is composed of a series of
parts gg, Figures 2 and 3, of one metre in length, interchangeable and bolted
together and formed of a tube and a screw. The movement of the screw is
effected by the ends of the squared shafts, which half engage in the squared
sleeves of the sockets. The difference between these parts and those of the
elevator consists in the fact that they are less carefully made, somewhat less io
diameter and have a greater pitch.
The initial tube of the conveyor F deserves special mention. It is much
shorter than the others and has at its upper end a large opening on which the
binged sheet metal hopper E is fixed.
It is fixed on the front crossbar of the foundation plate by two arms f¹ forming
trunnions which oscillate round the axis in such a way that the conveyor may
assume any inclination in a vertical direction, and may be rendered suitable for
great distances by attaching thereto an endless band or conveyor.
FRAMEWORK OF THE ELEVATOR.
This forms the apparatus properly so called. It in no way resembles either as
regards form or mechanism that of the apparatus described in Patent No. 1334990
and has over said Patent the enormous advantage of only weighing about a third
as much. The details of this part of the invention are shown very completely in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing and any further explanation is
thereby rendered needless. The apparatus is practically composed of two parts,
the one movable, oscillating on the axis K' which serves as a point for fixing the
elevator and the driving mechanism, and the other part which is a fixed one
formed by the bed plate N, serving as a point of support for the preceding one.
The movable frame is formed of an upper frame H, two uprights which act as
guides and a lower frame K. The upper frame has the form of an arc, and
serves for holding two horizontal wheels 5, and as a guide for two vertical shafts 4
and 6. The two uprights fixed at the top to the upper frame, and at the bottom
to the lower frame, serve as guides for the discharging of the elevator C which
slides therein when rising and descending. The guide uprights in addition to
acting as such, and also as supports, serve for holding the mechanism of the crab
or winch. The lower frame K, which constitutes the main part of the movable
framework, is formed of a frame having on its sides a trunnion K¹ on which the
part may oscillate, together with the elevator itself so as to adjust itself to the
different inclinations of the ship. The point of oscillation of the apparatus is
therefore at the bottom situated on the bed plate, and this arrangement is one of
the main characteristics of the present apparatus.
On the two horizontal crossbars of the frame, a large ring L is arranged,
Figure 3, affording a passage for the tubes in the elevator. On each of these
rings is fixed a guide collar M serving to guide the tubes, and hold them solidly in
the movable frame. On the right of Figure 1 this frame supports a casing,

page_text: This serves for raising or lowering the parts of the elevator, and regulates the
descent of the same into the hold of the ship. Two cables or chains being
necessary for the regularity of this work, these two cables must be absolutely equal
and draw or pull equally.
The following is the arrangement―
An ordinary cable a, the eye or loop of which is passed over a pulley e,.
Figures 1 and 4 is fixed on a cheek. The two ends of the cable rise together, and
then separate and are fixed by means of two hooks, the one to the right and the
other to the left of the elevator, rollers b serving as guides for them. On the-
same pulley block e a second cable g is fixed (traction cable), which is wound on.
the drum h. It is thus evident that by drawing on the cable g, traction is applied
to the cheek e and the equalizing roller which is fixed thereon, and by its means
on the loop formed by the cable a, which can only pull on the elevator when the-
two cords forming the loop have been previously equalized.
The motive parts of the winch are shown in detail on the drawing. It may be
pointed out that the drum is situated on the axis itself of oscillation of the
clevator, which is a sine qua non for its good working.
The winch in addition to the operations herein before mentioned serves for
moving the apparatus along the beams O. A cable t, Figure 3, attached to the front
part of the foundation plate, is fixed on the drum of the winch after having passed
over two guide rollers arranged on the cross bar P. The foundation plate being
the movable point, and the cross bar P the fixed point, if the cable be drawn on
by means of the winch, the plate and the whole apparatus will be carried forward
or backward according as the pullies are attached to one or the other cross
piece. This facility of displacement of the elevator on the beams O by its own
mechanism, is of great service for long holds in the form of a tunnel, where it is.
indispensable to be able to place the apparatus as desired to starboard or port.

page_text: men,
THE RAISING OF THE ELEVATOR.
The apparatus travelling on its own wheels Q is drawn, by a horse or two or more
into proximity to the ship. If the deck of the ship is at the same level as
the quay, it may be rolled right on to it by means of two planks. In ordinary
cases, the crane or loading jib of the ship places it on the hatches all ready fitted
up, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is then only necessary to add the number of
parts to the conveyor, which are necessary for reaching to the ground, and to fix
them on a staging, or to the loading jib to render the machine ready to commence
operations.
'
THE LOWERING AND EXTENSION OF THE ELEVATOR.
By releasing the winch the elevator descends into the hold. In its descent it is
guided by the guide collars M, and by the two arms of the discharging tube,
which slide between the two guide uprights I. The descent is effected even while
the apparatus is at work, and this is owing to the circumstance that the shaft of
the elevator 6, Figure 1, has a groove along its entire length, and slides against the
fixed key of the straight wheel 5. The apparatus descends therefore into the hold
by its own weight, automatically in proportion as the grain or other material is
removed. When it has reached the end of its course, (the upper collar M) the
elevator must be extended, and this extension is effected by the insertion of
another section of the elevator. The following is the mode of doing this.
The discharging tube is unbolted, and by means of the winch it is drawn up to
the top of its course along the uprights, where it is stopped by means of a catch
pin d Figure 1. The winch being thus at liberty it is utilized for inserting a new
part in the space which remains open between the collar and the discharging tube
at the top of its course. This new section is then bolted at the top to the
discharging tube, and at the bottom to the next tube, the stop pin is withdrawn
and operations are resumed. This operation is repeated as many times as the hold
of the ship has metres of depth, and it occupies scarcely five minutes.
This invention is based on the principle of the Archimedean screw, known in
the third century B.C. It does not pretend to be a fresh application of the
apparatus. Its pretensions are much more modest and consist; in the invention of
a new industrial apparatus made, it is true, with known means, but combined and
arranged in such a way as to obtain an absolutely novel industrial result. This
consists of this improved endless screw elevator, such as herein before described, as
a whole and in its details and intended for handling grain and other like cereal
products, and more particularly for the discharging and loading of ships, and
this may be considered as the object of this 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 improved elevating apparatus of the kind described, having a screw with
a part cut out at its upper end and terminating in a crescent curve at its lower end
and rotating in tubes with an amount of play between it and the tubes according to
the size of the grain to be raised instead of bearing upon the interior surface of
the tubes substantially as described.
the
2. In an elevating apparatus of the kind described an improved feeding device
having means for removing foreign substances, feed holes or windows, and more
particularly a special feed screw formed of an interrupted or broken screw,
lower part of which is turned up, and twisted on its axis in such a way as to give
an additional feed to the upper part, and to release all foreign matter which it may
have caught, substantially as described.
3. The improvement in elevating apparatus of the kind described, characterised
by a movable frame (Figure 1) which whilst having a solid point of support and

page_text: maintenance on the elevator, is movable on an axis (K', Figures 1 and 3) situated
at the bottom on the foundation plate, whereby it is adapted to follow the varying
inclination of the ship which it is discharging and the volume and weight of the
apparatus are reduced to their smallest possible extent, substantially as described.
4. In an elevating apparatus of the kind described, the arrangement of the winch
with its endless cable (a) and the equalizing pulleys (e, Figures 1 and 4) whereby
it is possible to regulate and equalize the pull of its two cables and to ensure the
good working of an accessory part which is so useful for the working of the
apparatus, substantially as described.
5. The construction and combination of parts taken as a whole, such as is shown
on the accompanying drawings, forming a light and portable elevating apparatus
capable of being installed on board a ship by the ship's gear alone, also of being
easily handled and of great convenience in working substantially as herein before
described.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.