Conveying Coal or other Mineral from the Mine, and Depositing same on Locomotives, Wagons, Barges, or Wharves, and Coaling Ships therewith.
Year: 1885

page_text: Conveying Coal or other Mineral from the Mine, and Depositing
same on Locomotives, Wagons, Barges, or Wharves, and
Coaling Ships therewith.
ADAM LEIGH, Merchant 12 Claremont Rd, Surbiton, Surrey & Sydney New
South Wales do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "CONVEYING
COAL OR OTHER MINERAL, FROM THE MINE & DEPOSITING SAME ON LOCOMOTIVES,
WAGONS, BARGES OR WHARVES & COALING STEAMERS THEREWITH," to be as
follows:-
I. A square or oblong iron or zinc bin to contain say a ton of Coal (or other
mineral). This bin to have iron-rod supports & loops or hooks to receive hoist
chains at the top. To have four flanged wheels, working inside, & only projecting
about 1 inches below. The bottom must be hinged so that by knocking off a
Catch it will fall & release contents. It is intended that these bins be filled with
the mineral in the mine & sent without further discharge to the respective destina-
tions, the object of the flanged wheels being as runners for the rails in the mine
& to rest on the guage rails on the railway wagon as well as in the barges &
steamers. The bins will have no external projection from the sides so that they
will fit close to & support each other.
II. A railway wagon with corner & side supports but with two lines of rails
running lengthwise, of the same guage as the wheels of the bins.
III. A flat-bottomed barge with an open oblong hold in the centre & platforms
or decks on the sloping ends. The bold to be fitted with lines of rails running
lengthwise of the same guage as the bin-wheels & to have two or more movable
tiers of these rails upon which the bins may rest. On the platform at each end a
hoisting crane to be fitted. One or two supports for hopper & shoot to be fitted
on each barge, resting on the side, & movable lengthwise so as to accomodate the
various distances apart of the Coal Shoots in the sides of the Steamers. The
Shoots on the top of these supports to be movable by an oscillating action which
sball keep the shoots in motion sidewise & spread the Coal in the steamer bunkers
fan-shape.
IV. An alteration in the internal arrangements in the holds of Coaling Steamers
(or Colliers) so that rails & movable platforms of rails in tiers may be laid down to
receive & support as many of these bins as can be stowed.

page_text: Conveying Coal or other Mineral from the Mine, and Depositing
same on Locomotives, Wagons, Barges, or Wharves, and
Coaling Steamers therewith.
"
ADAM LEIGH, Merchant 12 Claremont Rd, Surbiton & Sydney, New South
Wales do hereby declare the nature of my invention for CONVEYING COAL OR
OTHER MINERAL FROM THE MINE & DEPOSITING SAME ON LOCOMOTIVES, WAGONS,
BARGES OR WHARVES & COALING SHIPS THEREWITH" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
I. A square or oblong iron or zinc bin or wagon to contain say a ton of coal
(or other) Mineral, figures 1 & 2. This bin or wagon to have iron-rod supports
& loops or hooks to receive hoist chains at the top. To have four flanged wheels,
working inside, & only projecting about 1 inches below. The bottom must be
hinged so that by knocking off a catch fig. 2 letters C. & D. it will fall & release
contents. It is intended that these bins or wagons be filled with the mineral in
the mine & sent without further discharge to the respective destinations, the object
of the flanged wheels being as runners for the rails in the mine & to rest on
the guage rails on the railway truck as well as in the barges & steaners The bins
will have no side projections so that they will fit close to & support each other,
being so designed so us to save cubic space.
II. A railway truck, with corner & side supports and two lines of rails running
lengthwise, the rails being the same guage as the wheels of the bins or wagons.
See figures 3 & 4.
III. A flat-bottomed barge or lighter with an open hold & platforms or decks
at each end. The hold to be fitted with lines of rails, running lengthwise, of the
same guage as the wheels of the bin or wagon, & to have two or more movable
tiers of these rails upon which the bins may rest. See fig. 5. On the platform at
each end a crane for hoisting to be fitted. One or more supports for hoppers &
shoots to be fitted on each barge, resting on wheels on the sides of the barge & thus
movable longitudinally, so as to accomodate themselves to the various distances
apart of the Coal Shoots in the sides of the various steamers. The Shoots put
into the steamer's bunkers, through the sides, to be movable by an excentric or
oscillating action, worked by a crank from the engine of the crane, which shall
keep the shoots in motion sidewise so as to spread the coals in the bunkers fan-
shape. See figure 6.
This
IV. For the caling of Ships I can apply my system in two ways. The first is
by shooting the Coal loosely into the bunkers as shewn by the hopper & shoot,
figure 6. The second is by stowing the full bins or wagons themselves in the
holds of the Steamers, placing them on rails & in tiers as shewn in figure 5.
latter plan has great advantages for the hopper-feeding of the furnaces. By this
means the wagons can be run down to the ends of each line nearest the furnaces,
& there discharged into shoots to convey the coal to the hoppers as shewn in
figure 7. A great saving of labor is thus attained as the services of coal-trimmers

page_text: & furnace-feeders are dispensed with. The empty wagon sinks on to a lower tier
of rails to work back & leave room for advancing full wagons to the shoots.
V. Another advantage in application may also be pointed out; viz, for the
protection of Coal at Coaling Stations. On the approach of an enemy instead of
the Coal being destroyed the wagons could be lowered in the Sea & surrounded
by electric mines, but would be available for friendly vessels, as it would only be
necessary to send a diver down to re-hook them.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I append accompanying
Sheet of drawings, upon which
Fig. 1. Represents a side view of my improved bin or wagon.
Fig. 2. Being a transverse section thro' same.
Fig. 3. An elevation of a railway truck adapted for the conveyance of my wagon
by rail.
Fig. 4. Is a cross-section shewing the position of the wagon rails.
Fig. 5. Illustrates a longitudinal section through a barge fitted with my
"improved apparatus" for the conveyance & discharging of Coal.
Fig. 6. Shews the method of adjusting hopper & shoot.
Fig. 7. Illustrates method of feeding furnaces direct from wagons.
A. Being the body of the wagon.
B Is a hinged bottom attached to same.
C Catch for securing bottom when closed.
D Hook into which catch engages.
E The wheels.
F Railway truck.
G The rails upon which wagons A are adapted to run.
H Cranes for hoisting & lowering wagons.
I Hopper.
K Shoot.
L Belt for driving shaking gear.
M The cam.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. That this method of putting the Coal in a bin or wagon as described &
explained in my drawings, is new.
2. That this method of handling the Coal (or other mineral) from the time it is
taken out of the mine till it is brought to use, is also new.
3. That by this means there is
a) a great saving of waste in the Coals by the avoidance of handling & breakage.
b) that steamers can be coaled much more quickly.
c) that a great saving of labor is attained by feeding the hoppers of furnaces
as described.
d) that a better means is provided for protecting Coal at Coaling Stations.
ADAM LEIGH.