IMPROVEMENTS IN Apparatus TO BE EMPLOYED IN LOADING COAL INTO SHIPS AND FOR LIKE USES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES LAFAYETTE HUNTER of 11 Wordsworth Street Cardiff Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of any invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Apparatus
TO BE EMPLOYED IN LOADING COAL INTO SHIPS AND FOR LIKE USES to be as
follows:-
"
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be employed in
loading coal into ships and for like uses.
In loading coal in vessels in order to prevent breakage of the coal I arrange over
the hatch way of the vessel a hopper from which a telescopic trunk descends into
the hold of the vessel and the lower end of this trunk is provided with a cone valve
suspended from above. To prepare the apparatus to receive the coal from a waggon
the cone valve and the lower length of the trunk are hauled up together so that the
coal when tipped into the hopper has but a short distance to fall namely as far as
the cone valve which then is immediately below the upper length of the telescopic
trunk. The coal when thus filled into the hopper is retained in it until the cone
valve is lowered and then the lower length of the trunk descends with the valve
and the coal remains in the trunk until in a suitable position the lower length of
the trunk is prevented from going further down by chains connecting it with the
hopper above. Then when the cone valve is further lowered it opens the bottom
of the trunk and the coal falls out all around the cone valve which thus aids in
trimming the coal.
The chains connecting the two parts of the trunk are adjusted from time to
time so that when the delivery of the coal from the trunk takes place it may not
have far to fall. When the contents of the hopper has been discharged the cone
valve together with the lower length of the trunk is again raised to prepare the
apparatus to receive the next waggon load of coal.

page_text: I CHARLES LAFAYETTE HUNTER of 11 Wordsworth Street Cardiff Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE EMPLOYED IN LOADING COAL INTO SHIPS AND FOR LIKE USES" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be employed in
loading coal into ships and for like uses.
In loading coal in vessels in order to prevent breakage of the coal I arrange over
the hatchway of the vessel a hopper from which a telescopic trunk descends into
the hold of the vessel and the lower end of this trunk is provided with a cone valve
suspended from above. To prepare the apparatus to receive the coal from a waggon
the cone valve and the lower length of the trunk are hauled up together so that the
coal when tipped into the hopper has but a short distance to fall namely as far as
the cone valve which then is immediately below the upper length of the telescopic
trunk. The coal when thus filled into the hopper is retained in it until the cone
valve is lowered and then the lower length of the trunk descends with the valve
and the coal remains in the trunk until in a suitable position the lower length of
the trunk is prevented from going further down by chains connecting it with the
hopper above. Then when the cone valve is further lowered it opens the bottom
of the trunk and the coal falls out all around the cone valve which thus aids in
trimming the coal. The chains connecting the two parts of the trunk are adjusted
from time to time so that when the delivery of the coal from the trunk takes place
it may not have far to fall. When the contents of the hopper has been discharged
the cone valve together with the lower length of the trunk is again raised to
prepare the apparatus to receive the next waggon load of coal.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus for loading coal into ships and for
other like uses.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figures 4. 5 and 6 show to a smaller scale diagrams of the apparatus illustrating
the manner of its use.
A is the hopper it is formed in one piece with the upper section of the telescopic
trunk B. C is the lower section of the telescopic trunk. This part is larger in
diameter than the part B and passes outside of it. The part C is suspended by
chains D D which pass up within passages E E through the hopper or upper
part A
At the upper end of these guide passages the chains are secured by means
of fork locking pieces F F which can be shifted from time to time as required.
the chains D may be secured in any other convenient manner.
Or
G is a cone valve closing the telescopic trunk at its lower end. The valve is
suenended by the chain H: this chain nasses up through a guide in the bridge

page_text: piece I, which spans the hopper from side to side. The bridge piece is fixed at its
ends to brackets K K. When the apparatus is in use the hopper is supported by
these brackets they rest upon a light girder frame or it may be wooden frame which
is placed over the hold of the ship and supported upon packing pieces resting upon
the deck.
In the apparatus shewn by the Drawing the telescopic trunk has one moveable
section only but it may be made with two or even more such sections where the
depth of the hold or place into which the coal or other material is to be loaded or
deposited may be such as to render this necessary.
In
In Figure 4 the apparatus is represented in position in the hatchway of the ship
which is shown in section. The coal is supplied into the hopper by a shoot from
a wagon which is raised and tilted by an hydraulic hoist, as at present usual.
other cases however the railway waggon may be lifted by a crane and tipped
directly into the hopper or in any other way the material to be deposited in the
ship may be conveyed to the hopper.
The chain H is carried, as will be seen by the jib of a crane, and when the
apparatus is receiving the coal the conical valve G is held up in contact with the
lower end of the part B of the telescopic trunk; the part C then resting upon the
cone valve.
When the hopper A and trunk B have received the coal from the waggon (and
they may if desired be of a capacity to contain a wagon load) the chain is paid out,
which allows the valve G together with the part C of the telescopic trunk to descend
to the position indicated by the diagram, Figure 5; the coal bowever being still
retained within the trunk. Then a further paying out of the chain lowers the
valve G to the position shown in Figure 6 whilst the lower part C of the telescopic
trunk remains stationary being now retained by its chains D D. Thus the lower
end of the trunk is opened and the coal is discharged down the incliped sides of
the conical valve which causes it to be distributed with but little fall on all sides
around the foot of the trunk. In this way not only is breakage revented but
much labour in trimming the coal in the bold of the ship is saved.
In place of giving motion to the valve and to the lower part ci the trunk by a
chain from which the former is suspended in the manner described these parts may
receive their movement by means of racks and pinions or other apparatus, but the
arrangement shown is that which I prefer.
Having now particularly described and 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. Apparatus for loading coal into ships and for like uses consisting in a telescopic
trunk or receiver closed at its lower end by a valve, which receives the coal or
material and then descends and elongates whilst it still retains the coal or material
within it, and afterwards opens at its lower end to deliver the coal or material
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the hopper A, telescopic trunk B C, cone valve G and
suspending chain H substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for loading coal into ships and for like uses substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the annexed drawings,