GB161998A - Improvements in gravity ways for the conveyance of parcels and other goods - Google Patents

Abstract

161,998. Doherty, J. H. Sept. 4, 1919. Mechanical dispatch apparatus.- Relates to gravity ways suitable for conveying small parcels, and, in particular, mail packets in large post offices, in which a carriage can be loaded at a low lever, hoisted up to the track, sent along the latter to its destination, automatically discharged, and returned to the starting-point. As shown in Fig. 1, the runway consists of an upper track 9 sloping downwards towards the discharge end, with a counterweighted pivoted portion 13, and an extension 15, which guides the carriage on to a lower track 10, inclined downwards to the loading end. The hoist, shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1, consists of a short length of track 5, fixed to a bracket pivoted on a frame w, and is raised by hand or power hoisting-gear 2. The weight of the carriage causes the short track 5 to tilt, as shown, thus retaining the carriage. When the short track 5 adjoins the upper track 9, it becomes tilted oppositely, setting the carriage in motion alc.ng the track. The carriage, as shown in Fig. 8, is carried on grooved wheels v, and is pro. vided with a hinged counterweighted bottom b and an end c hinged at e and fitted with an arm f pivoted at g. At the discharge end, the arm f is moved sideways by a bar inclined to the track, releasing it from catch i, and it then comes in contact with a stop, releasing the catch n, and allowing the bottom to open and discharge the contents. The bottom is raised bv the counterweight q, and the catches n, i are replaced by counterweights. The carriage then returns along the lower track 10 to its starting-point, where it runs on to the short track 5, which has already returned from its higher position. The hoist alone is heavier than the weight 26, and is perniitted to fall until opposite the lower track, whereupon the weight 25 functions. The hoist and carriage can finally descend against the action of the combined weights until the loading position is reached.