IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGE OF GRAIN AND BULK CARGO FROM SHIPS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fosbery Lyster, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGE OF GRAIN AND BULK CARGO FROM
SHIPS."
Sealed the 18th May 1880, and dated the 27th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fosbery Lyster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1879.
GEORGE FOSBERY LYSTER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGE
OF GRAIN AND BULK CARGO FROM SHIPS."
The object of my Invention is to provide appliances for use on shore, and in
combination therewith apparatus for use on board ship, whereby the transference
of grain, salt, bark, coal, and bulk cargo generally from ship to quay, shed, or
warehouse, or to another floating vessel, shall be expedited and cheapened.
For these purposes I have devised appliances hereafter called, for convenience,
(1), the travelling carrier; (2), the elevator; and (3), the operating agents, securing
the following advantages :-First, the travelling carrier can be speedily moved along
the quay, so as to bring the elevator to the ship; second, the elevator can from its
construction, and by tackle ordinarily found on board ship, be quickly placed in
position in the hold of a ship to discharge cargo; and, third, motion is by the
operating agents easily applied (A) to move the travelling carrier to the ship,
and (B) to operate the elevator.
The travelling carrier consists of a strong frame-work fitted with wheels resting
on an overhead rail or other way, by preference on the roof of the shed usually
found necessary. The position where the ship is moored alongside the quay, jetty,
or pier is immaterial, inasmuch as the intention is to bring the clevator to the ship.
Motion is imparted to
The elevator rests on the said framework when not in use.
the said travelling carrier as hereafter described.

page_text: The elevator consists of a trunk fitted with an endless band or chain of buckets,
or of air, pressure, or vacuum, or other suitable elevator constructed with a loop
link fixed near to the centre, whereto the ship's tackle can be connected or coupled
for raising the said elevator from the carrier, and of a roller or rollers at or near its
lower end to render movement over the deck of the ship more easy. The elevating
apparatus preferred by me has a split main trunk with buckets and two
supplementary trunks, which latter fall as the cargo is reduced, and being jointed
within the main trunk are convenient for passing one on each side of the shaft
tunnel in screw ships, or on each side of shifting boards. Motion may be imparted
to the endless chains from a winch or other engine on board ship or by a cord or 1
other means from shore.
The operating agents are ordinarily endless cords, bands, or chains actuated by
the water pressure usually employed about docks, or by steam, gas, or other engines,
the hydraulic engines applied by me at the Liverpool Docks being specially
suitable. The endless cords, bands, or chains pass over pullies or their equivalents
on the travelling carrier, and also in some cases on the elevator, so as to impart
motion to these parts when desired. Counterweights and disengaging gear are
provided.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Fosbery Lyster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1880.
GEORGE FOSBERY LYSTER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR FACILITATING THE DISCHARGE OF
GRAIN AND BULK CARGO FROM SHIPS."
The object of my Invention is to provide appliances for use on shore, and in
combination therewith apparatus for use on board ship, whereby the transference
of grain, salt, bark, coal, and bulk cargo generally, from ship to quay, shed, or
warehouse, or to another floating vessel, shall be expedited and cheapened.
For these purposes I have devised appliances, hereafter called for convenience,
(1), the travelling carrier; (2), the elevator; and (3), the operating agents, securing
the following advantages:-First, the travelling carrier can be speedily moved
along the quay, so as to bring the elevator to the ship; second, the elevator can
from its construction, and by tackle ordinarily found on board ship, be quickly
placed in position in the hold of a ship to discharge cargo; and, third, motion is
by the operating agents easily applied (A) to move the travelling carrier to the
ship, and (B) to operate the elevator.
The travelling carrier consists of a strong framework fitted with wheels resting
on an overhead rail or other way, by preference on the roof of the shed usually found
necessary. The position where the ship is moored alongside the quay, jetty, or
pier is immaterial, inasmuch as the intention is to bring the elevator to the ship.
The elevator rests on the said framework when not in use. Motion is imparted to
the said travelling carrier as hereafter described.
The elevator consists of a trunk fitted with an endless band or chain of buckets,
or of air, pressure, or vacuum, or other suitable elevator constructed with a loop
link fixed near to the centre, whereto the ship's tackle can be connected or coupled
for raising the said elevator from the carrier, and of a roller or rollers at or near its
lower end to render movement over the deck of the ship more easy. The elevating
apparatus preferred by me has a split main trunk with buckets and two
supplementary trunks, which latter fall as the cargo is reduced, and being jointed
within the main trunk are convenient for passing one on each side of the shaft
tunnel in screw ships or on each side of shifting boards. Motion may be imparted
to the endless chains from a winch or other engine on board ship, or by a cord or
other means from shore.
The operating agents are ordinarily endless cords, bands, or chains actuated by
the water pressure usually employed about docks, or by steam, gas, or other engines,
the hydraulic engines applied by me at the Liverpool Docks being specially suitable.
The endless cords, bands, or chains pass over pullies or their equivalents on the
travelling carrier, and also, in some cases, on the elevator, so as to impart motion to
these parts where desired. Counterweights and disengaging gear are provided.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan view; and Fig. 3, a detail view of
apparatus under my Invention arranged for discharging from one ship into another.
a is the travelling carrier fitted with wheels b resting on an overhead railway con
the roof of the shed d. The said carrier is caused to travel along the rails c by
motion communicated to the wheels b by hand through the crabs e. f. elevator
fitted with an endless band or chain of buckets constructed and arranged in any
usual or desired manner; g, chain or rope passing over a pulley in the ship's
derrick, and receiving motion when desired from the ship's winch or in any suitable

page_text: near the centre thereof, and serves as means for raising and lowering the said
elevator so as to bring it into position as shown by the dotted lines f1, Fig. 1, for
use, or as shown stowed away at f on the travelling carrier; i, yokes coupling the
elevator fand carrier a; j, rope or chain attached to the head of the elevator f, and
receiving motion from the winding gear k for the purpose of drawing the elevator
when raised to the requisite height by the ship's tackle into position on the
travelling carrier; 1, hydraulic or other reciprocating engine attached to the
frame m on carrier a, actuating by means of the gearing n the band or chain of
buckets in the elevator f. To cause the engine l, frame m, and yokes i, to be
screwed upwards along the carrier a, and thereby to move the elevator nearer to
or further from the shed d, the wheel o is geared with engine / through the nut p.
The said hydraulic or other engine may also be constructed to give motion to the
rope or chain j. The lower end of the elevator is sometimes fitted with rollers to
facilitate movement over or across the deck.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation; Fig. 5. a front elevation; and Fig. 6, a plan view of a
modification of apparatus under my Invention, in which the travelling carrier has
legs coming down to the quay; it is also provided with a falling derrick. a,
travelling carrier resting on the overshed railway c and also on rail r fixed to the
quay. The yokes are here in the form of the falling leg or derrick i. The elevator f
is raised or lowered by means of the winch and rope or chain & receiving motion from
the hydraulic hoist t. Falling and rising motion of the leg or derrick on the centre
is controlled by means of the rope or chain ; and winding gear k, and the rope or
chain leading to the hoist t. The endless bands and buckets in the elevator f
receive motion from pulley v actuated by means of an endless band or the like
connected to the ship's winch or other suitable motive power engine. The elevator
is here shown with two supplementary trunks w, which are connected to the main
trunk f, and have the endless bands and buckets therein driven in any convenient
manner. In the views now being referred to the same letters denote like parts as
in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Vacuuin, jet, or other elevators may be used instead of the endless band and
bucket elevators described, and the positions and constructions of the appliances and
engines for giving the necessary motions may be varied without departing from my
Invention.
It will be evident that the appliances constructed under my improvements are
convenient for being brought to a ship at any part of a quay, and for being placed
in the ship, that the quay or water space is not obstructed, and that other advantages
result without the disadvantages attendant upon large and expensive floating
elevators or heavy cumbrous apparatus on shore difficult to bring to the ship and
place in position for action.
Having now described and illustrated the said Invention, in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,―
Expediting and reducing the cost of discharging grain and bulk cargo from ships
by appliances, as regards the principal parts, and with reference to the whole,
'combined and operating substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fosbery Lyster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.