Improvements relating to the Handling or Distribution of Coal or other Material in Wharves and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1896-4ccepted, 12th Dec., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by JEREMIAH CAMPBELL, of Chelsea, in the
County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Merchant.]
Improvements relating to the Handling or Distribution of Coal
or other Material in Wharves and the like.
i
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention comprises an apparatus for handling coal which involves the
bringing together of two systems of distributing at a common point, whereby it
becomes possible to receive various kinds of coal at a given station and distribute
it with the same apparatus or portions of the same apparatus to different parts of
the coal yard or wharf. This apparatus or system is especially desirable for use
upon wharves where dockage is limited.
In the drawings I have not represented the relation which the apparatus bears
to the wharf or vessel. from which the coal is hoisted, neither have I shown the
apparatus for hoisting and delivering it to the tram-cars, and I have not shown
the cars; but the hoisting apparatus and cars are preferably of the type now
usually employed, the hoisting devices preferably comprising a steam-shovel of the
clam-shell type and its actuating mechanism.
In the drawings
Figure is a view in plan of so much of the apparatus as is necessary for
describing the operation of the system; and
Figures 2 and 3 are also plan views enlarged, of sections of the same.
It will be understood that the vessel lies along the wharf at A, Figure 1, and
that the hoisting apparatus is within the space marked B, and that it is desired to
deliver coal in the receiving sections D and E of the yard from the point A.
There is arranged close to the edge of the wharf or receiving-station A, and
preferably parallel with it and extending for some distance along it a single-
track F, having the rails, . This track F at the point f separates into the
tracks F1 and F, the track F running to the receiving-section E and returning
entering the track F at ', forming therewith a continuous loop and the track FI,
extending to the receiving-section D of the yard and then returning connecting
with the track F at the point f', forming therewith a second loop-line, the track F
thus being common to two loops. A separate cable for each loop is used for
propelling the tram-cars upon such loop, namely, the cable G for the loop having
the track. F, and the cable G' for the loop having the track F, and these cables
are both within the rails f, f' while upon the track-section F.
The delivery or tram-cars are adapted to be attached by any ordinary gripping
device to either of the cables, and only one of the cables is used or in motion at the
same time, the other cable at such time being separated from the cable in action by
means of devices which are so placed as to hold it from the guiding rolls over
which the active cable is running. The said holding devices being common to the
two cables and the said rolls also being common to the two cables where the

page_text: two cables are together in the track-section F and the two cables being common to
the same track-section F.
To provide for a separation of the tracks into the two loops and to prevent injury
to the cables, I have devised switches of a peculiar character, and which are
illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. One is at the point for where the tracks diverge
and the other is at the point for where they come together. They each involve,
however, the same features or elements, and a description of one will answer for
a description of both. H is the switch-plate. It is pivoted at h, and has the flange-
groove and the tread sections h h and the arm or plate ', in which is a hole to
receive a locking-pin by which the switch is locked in one of its two positions.
The tread-section A' of the switch plate forms the continuation of the rail between
the section A and the section A. The tread-section of the switch-plate forms the
connection between the section and the track-section ', and the groove h' forms
the connection between the groove A" and the groove h. The frog or rail 40 is of
the usual type, with the exception that it has a deep groove A" for the cable (+,
and the rail-section is widened and extended to receive and hold the tread of
the wheels as they cross the groove and cable. The same construction of groove
and rail is shown at 18 in the rail-section he, the construction being such as to
prevent the flanges of the wheels from dropping sufficiently to injure the cable.
while passing over the groove.
It will be understood that whichever cable is in action it bears against the rolls [
at the curve and upon the rolls I¹ in the track-section F, and that the cable not in
action is moved from contact with the rolls I, I and held from contact with them
by the holding pins or devices 12, as otherwise it might not only interfere with the
grip of the tram-car, but it would also be worn by the rotation of the said rolls
against it, the rolls, of course, being revolved by the action of the moving
cable.
In use the track-section F is connected with either the section F or F' by
movement of the switch, and the cable of that section is set in operation and
the cable of the other section is moved out of position along the track F and
upon the curve and held out of position by pins or suitable holding devices.
The cars are then loaded at the station A and transferred by the cable to the
dumping-point and returned by it to be again loaded. When it is desired to convey
coal to another section of the yard by means of the other track the switch fis
changed, the cable which was operative is stopped and moved from its operative
relation to the rolls I, I and the other cable released from its holding pins and set
in operation.
While I have described this invention as applicable for handling coal I would
not be understood as limiting it to that use.
While I prefer that the two cables of the system be not operated at the same time
and be separated from each other in the track-section F when one is in operation,
I do not wish to limit my invention to such use of the cables, as it obvious that
they may both be run or operated at the same time, thereby providing for the
delivery of cars to either of the two sections D or E; but when so used it will be
necessary to turn, either automatically or by hand, the switch H, in order that the
cars may be run with their respective cables, and this, of course, is not necessary
when only one of the cables is used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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. The combination of a track-system F', its cable G, the track system F, its
cable G, the track F with which both systems connect and through which the
cables G, G' extend, and means within said track F for separating the cables whereby
the operative cable is maintained in contact with its holding and guiding rolls while
the inoperative cable is held from contact therewith, as and for the purposes
described.

page_text: 2. The combination of the track F, the two cables G, G¹ traversing said track,
the rolls I, I, and the pins I, as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination of a track section F, the track section F1, the track section F',
the cable G extending from the track section F into the track section F1, the
cable Gl extending from the track section F into the track section F, and the switch
comprising the pivoted frog H having the rail section *, * separated by the
groove h, and the rail having the diagonal recess across it through which the
cable G¹ runs and the laterally extending tread support A, and the rail having
the recess through which the cable G runs, the said rail having the tread
support * extending beyond the line of the rail, as and for the purposes described..
4. The combination of a track section common to two or more systems, the track
systems connected therewith to be used in conjunction therewith as specified, and
the cables combined with the track section and systems as described, all as and for-
the purposes set forth.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..