IMPROVEMENTS IN STAITHS AND APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH FOR THE MORE RAPID SHIPMENT OF COAL, MINERALS, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS, FROM RAILWAY WAGONS
Year: 1884

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I, SAMUEL BUTLER of 127, Bute Road, Cardiff in the County of Glamorgan,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN STAITHS AND APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH FOR THE MORE RAPID
SHIPMENT OF COAL, MINERALS, AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS, FROM RAILWAY WAGONS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"3
This Invention relates to further Improvements upon two prior Letters Letters
granted to me and bearing date respectively, July 21st 1884, No 10,414, and
August 7th 1884, No 11,932.
My present object is, Firstly, to provide means for moving staiths along the quay
so that they may be placed opposite any hatchway of the ship or vessel being filled,
and this I effect by utilizing the power or source of power provided for lifting
the wagons to the tipping level, such power being applied through a suitable
arrangement of chains and pullies.
The second part of my Invention relates to Improvements in the box or vessel
used for lowering the material into ships and discharging the same in such manner
as to prevent breakage and facilitate the trimming of the cargo. Instead of making
the sides of the box moveable, I now make the bottom moveable in one of two
ways, viz, either in one part completely detachable from the body of the box or in
two parts hinged together "butterfly" fashion on the underside of the box.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood I herein give
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
In Figure 1, A represents a staith moveable upon rails B and provided with a
platform C which is raised and lowered by hydraulic or other power as described
in the Specifications of my former Letters Patent. A chain D is made fast at the
points E and F and passes under pullies a and b at the foot of tho staith and over
pullies c and d at the top of the staith. If the chain D is made fast to the
platform C at either side thereof, any vertical movement of the platform will
cause a lateral movement of the staith. Thus if the chain be made fast at c and
the platform ascends, the staith will move to the left, as shewn by dotted lines G.
If the platform reaches the summit of its ascent, and it is necessary to continue
the lateral movement of the staith, the chain may be released at e, the platform

page_text: lowered, and the chain again made fast, and the platform raised; this will cause
the motion of the staith to continue in the same direction and by changing the
points of attachment of the chain from one side to the other, the staith may be
moved in either direction.
In Figure 2, A represents the box suspended under the mouth of the shoot B.
The chains suspending the box are placed into guides C on the shoot to ensure its
coming into the right position for filling.
The box when being filled is suspended by the chains attached to the bottom by
which also it is lowered into the ship, and for discharging it is suspended by the
chains attached to the sides, the other chains being released, the bottom is allowed
to fall and the contents are discharged as shewn at D.
The object of discharging the box in two or more directions is to save labour in
trimming the cargo. Where this is not required, the box may be made to dischargo
in one direction only.
The box A may be made in any shape, but by preference I make it rectangular. "
It may however be made cylindrical, in which case the bottom will take the form
of a hollow cone suspended from its apex.
Figure 3 represents my box made with the bottom hinged at A in the form of
two doors B and E which are shewn open.
The action of the chains in this case is
the same as for the other boxes.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and
therefore claim as my Invention, is :-
1. The use of a chain actuated by bydraulic or steam hauling gear for moving a
staith along a quay, as herein described.
2. The method of moving the staith laterally by the tension exerted upon a
chain fastened at each end, substantially as berein described and illustrated in
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
3. The construction and use of a box having a detachable bottom, substantially
as herein described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.
4. The construction and use of a box having two doors hinged at their adjacent
sides as herein described and shewn in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The use of a guide on the mouth of the shoot to ensure the box coming into
right position for filling, as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1884.