IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO ELEVATORS FOR TRANSHIPPING OR ELEVATING GRAIN OR OTHER GRANULAR OR PULVERULENT MATTERS"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Southern Brice of Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO
ELEVATORS FOR TRANSHIPPING OR ELEVATING GRAIN OR OTHER GRANULAR
OR PULVERULENT MATTERS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Southern Brice
"6
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1882.
WILLIAM SOUTHERN BRICE of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO ELEVATORS FOR TRANSHIPPING OR ELEVATING
GRAIN OR OTHER GRANULAR OR PULVERULENT MATTERS-"
"
This invention has for its object the raising of bulk grain out of or into the
holds of ships direct to or from the warehouse or other structure It consists in a
barge or floating vessel carrying a firm column Upon this column a horizontal
framework is pivoted so that it can if desirable be placed obliquely or be swung
round on the column head. Travelling freely on this framework when not in use
but linked to it when working by the driving shaft which passes through a slot in
the elevator proper is the said elevator proper. This can either lie flat on the
aforesaid framework or be placed at any angle swinging on the driving shaft so
that it can be lowered into the hold of a ship and descend as the grain is elevated
the driving shaft remaining stationary but the elevator slowly lowering, the slot
allowing free scope for this movement. The slot need not continue the whole
length of the elevator proper, as the lower part need never be raised above the
horizontal framework. The driving shaft of the elevator being on the horizontal
framework and pivoted to the column can be driven from an engine on the float
with chain or belt passing round a pulley on column or by any other connection
passing up the column. In this way the "horizontal" framework can be altered to
stand at any angle without affecting the driving.

page_text: The elevator is formed of a chain of buckets on a framework in any usual
manner.
The mode of action is as follows.
The elevator barge is placed abreast the hatch on the off side of the ship to be
discharged and the elevator proper is projected along the framework the end of
which is over the hatchway and the elevator leg guided into said hatchway it is
then set in motion and gradually sinks as the bulk cargo is discharged delivering
the grain all the time through a spout or travelling belt into wagons, bins or
whatever it is desired to trans-ship the grain into.
A carriage or railway truck may be used instead of a barge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Southern Brice in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th April 1883.
WILLIAM SOUTHERN BRICE of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO ELEVATORS FOR TRANS-SHIPPING OR ELEVATING
GRAIN OR OTHER GRANULAR OR PULVERULENT MATTERS
Elevators for elevating grain out of ships holds differ from those used on landlin
this respect, that the distance between the points from and to which the grain has
to be elevated, is constantly varying. To overcome this difficulty numerous
expedients, such as lazy tong frames, loop lines on the belt of pulleys for taking in
that part of the length of belting, not wanted, double elevators in which one elevator
elevates into another, suspension elevators which are suspended from above and are
lowered down into the hold, but have a spout from the top up to which all the grain
has to be elevated, and other plans of a like nature, having either very complicated
arrangements for taking in the slack, or of one part feeding into another part, have
been adopted. Now my elevator differs from these in that while the elevator
consists of a simple chain of buckets without separate legs or subsidiary elevator;
it, yet elevates the grain to any required point, instead of to a lower height as the
elevator descends.
It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of elevator fixed to its barge, and of the ship's
hull in which the elevator is seen at work.
Fig. 2 view of elevator stowed away on cradle fore and aft of Barge, for removal.
from one dock or ship to another.
Fig. 3-section of the elevator band casing with actuating pulleys.
Fig. 4 front elevation of same.
Fig. 5 section of casing showing pulleys with the belt of buckets removed.
Fig. 6-side elevation of head stock of elevator.
Fig. 7-section of same showing friction rollers, through x. x.
Fig. 8 plan of head stock and adjacent parts.
E the
In these, A is the ship from which the grain has to be elevated B. barge with
elevator permanently fixed thereon. C standard or column supporting elevator; in:
the drawings this is shown as a cast iron pillar, but may be made of wrought iron
lattice work in any convenient or suitable manner, to make it lighter or more stable,
and may have fixed thereon a hopper and weighing machine to deliver, to barges
alongside, grain either in sacks or bulk. D engine for driving the elevator.
Boiler for supplying steam to engine. F, F, are winches for raising, lowering, and
also retaining the elevator proper in its required position when at work. G the.
elevator proper constructed as follows. Within framework g are mounted on
suitable shafts the pulleys g¹, 92, 93, and 94; over these is passed a belt or chain g³,
in which is mounted any required number of buckets go. The bearings of the shaft
carrying the pulleys 9', are made adjustable. A carriage g7, carries the tension
pulleys g, and is provided with the runners g; this carriage g' is mounted on the
shaft h (on which the driving pulleys h¹, and pulleys g³ are keyed), and works freely
within the elevator casing. H H are slots in the framing g in which the shaft h
slides freely. I is the hopper or spout into which the grain falls at spout ³ for
delivering the grain from elevator onto a travelling band J, for conveyance to
warehouse or other place. The hopper or spout I may consist of a series of tubes
or pipes passed one within the other, as shown at Fig 1, but a more convenient
form is shown at Figs 3 and 4, in which one side of the tube consists of a number of

page_text: doors or flaps, hinged or pivoted at the centre, and placed one above the other as
shown. By this arrangement an opening can be provided at any point in the
spout I, by simply pushing or tilting the door on flap i, back against the side of the
elevator; as shown at in Fig. 3. The movable side-piece is then placed in
position, as shown in dotted lines, to prevent the grain from spreading and passing
off the sides of the door i. This movable side-piece is so formed that it clips
the side of the spout or hopper I, and is supported by the pin it.
Instead of placing the spout I, and conveyer or travolling band J, as shown in
Fig. 1, so as to carry the grain over the vessel A, which is being unloaded, the
spout may be placed so as to discharge onto a travelling belt or conveyer placed
below the framework cradle K, and held in position by a pulley attached thereto
at one end, and attached to the head of the column C at the other. By such an
arrangement as this, the grain from the vessel could be discharged by a slide
onto another flat or barge lying alongside that on which the elevator is fixed.
This however can be arranged as circunstances may require, and is not shown in
tho drawings.
The sides of the elevator Garo provided at the bottom with the slits 10 for the
admission of grain to the buckets . K is the horizontal framework-cradle or
jib, for supporting the elevator proper G, and is so connected at to, the head-
stock c, that it permits of the framing K being raised or lowered to any suitable
angle to suit the requirements of the elevator proper G, and also allows the elevator
to bo stowed away upon the said framework-cradle when actually not working.
Between the sides of the framing K are inounted a series of rollers, for supporting
the elevator when stowed away. The framework K is carried on the brackets k,
the upper portion of which is prolonged to serve as a tension post, to which the
tension rods are attached, by means of the adjustable links . The lower end
of the bracket is mounted on or coupled to the trunnions c of the headstock c,
which permits of the framing being placed at any required angle. On the framing K
are mounted the pulleys and 7, (for adjusting and retaining the elevator in
position), and also the bearings for carrying the shaft h.
To compensate for the varying width of ships and the distance of the hatchway
from their sides, I may arrange a telescopic slide at the outer end of the frame-
work K, so that the end of K may at all times be brought as nearly as possible
over the centre of the hatchway. This I do not show in the drawings, as I make
no specific claim for such a modification of the framework-cradle.
In order to allow the elevator G and framing K to be swung or moved radially
round to any position, I arrange the top of the pillar or column as follows. On
the top of the column C is mounted a headstock c provided with the trunnions d
also the bearings for carrying the small rope pulleys co. Through the centre of
the, headstock c is passed (and screwed into the column C) the pin o, on which the
headstock c rotates; below the headstock c and resting on the top of the column
is the ring o containing the friction rollers c³. This ring c* is also retained in
position by means of the pin c³ and allows the headstock o to revolve freely. The
headstock cand ring e' are secured onto the top of the column by means of the nut
and washer of.
The mode of action is as follows.
The elevator and framing are swung round so as to be transversely to the
harge B, which has been previously placed abreast the hatch on the off side of
the ship A, to be discharged, and the elevator proper G is projected along the
framework-cradle K (the end of which is over the hatchway), until the elevator
proper G is drawn (by means of a rope L and block attached to the ship's rigging,
said rope L serving as a stay for steadying the elevator when at work), into the
position shown in Fig. 1. The elevator is pivoted on the driving shaft h, and is
retained in any desired position by means of the ropes M and N, which pass over
the pulleys c, c, 7, 7, froin the winches F, and are attached to the elevator
respectively at m and n and after it has been guided into the lintchway, it is then
set in motion and gradually sinks as the bulk cargo is elevated and discharged

page_text: from the buckets into the hopper I. Motion is conveyed to the elevator buckets g
from Engine D, through pulleys O, chain wheels P and P', by means of belts or
chains Q and R to pulleys and g³, thence to the buckets on belt or chains g³.
The shaft h passing through the slot H and carried in bearings 1º, on the frame-
work K, permits the elevator G to be raised or lowered at pleasure, without
affecting the driving, and whatever position the Elevator may assume, the chain of
buckets are kept perfectly tight by being passed over the tension pulleys g³ on the
carriage g7, (which is also attached to the shaft h) and pulleys g³, as shown in
Fig. 3. The blocks and ropes shown at S are for adjusting and retaining the
horizontal framework-cradle K.
When the discharging of the grain is completed, the elevator is raised out of the
hatchway, and by means of the rope M, is drawn onto the framing K, which is
then moved round by head-stock c, until the elevator and framing are in a
longitudinal position with regard to the barge, when the ropes S are slackened and
the elevator and framing lowered into position shown at Fig. 2 The barge may
then be moved alongside the next vessel to be discharged.
Having now described my invention, and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new, and
claim under the Letters Patent is :.
The manufacture and use of elevating apparatus, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described, and I further state that I consider the following parts
and combinations of said apparatus more specially novel and valuable.
1 A cradle or jib pivoted on a column or support, fixed to a floating or
travelling base, to which cradle an elevator is pivoted or hung, so as to be capable
of being stowed away, so as to lie in said cradle without disconnecting the driving.
gear.
2nd The elevator proper, capable of partial rotation in its axis, and of being
raised or lowered while its pivot remains stationary, and its elevating action
continues.
3rd Also its arrangements for driving and delivering, without impediment to its
free descent in relation to the driving shaft.
In witness whereof I the said William Southern Brice have hereunto set my
band and seal this Sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
WA S. BRICE (L.S.)