US1013928A - Apparatus for loading vessels. - Google Patents

Description

J. T. CLARK.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

APPLICATION I'ILED AUG. 9, 1910.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTUH John T ztlili,

WITNESSES W/ywfi J. T. CLARK.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 9, 1910.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOH. I Jbhn TCLmnn,

WITNESSES WAQ A JOHN T. oLanK, on NEW roan,

AZPPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

l,tll3,928.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed August 9,

Patented Jan. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern.

-Be it known that l, JOHN citizen of the United States, r city of New York, borough county'and State of vented a certain new for Loading Vessels, is aspecification. i

' This invention is an aflltaratus' forhandling freight, and merchandise generally, and it is adapted, more particularly, for loading vessels. i i

The object of the invention to save labor in handling freight when loading the same into a vessel, wl'icreby a vesselniay be loaded rapidly and economically,

The invention embodies a nimi-bcr of dis tinctly novel features, some of which are as follows: first, a car or cage provided with a movable member, or a plurality of movable members,- whereby upon lowering the car or cage to a predetermined position the movable member or members will be tilted for the purpose of automatically discharging the load; second, means for controlling the descent of a loaded car or cage whereby the load may be prevented from dropping below the level of the deck until the operator releases the controlling mechanism and said load may be arrested at any point in its descent for the purpose of discharging the load at a desired level; and, third, means whereby the car or cage when unloaded will be lifted automatically to a point where an- Qther load is to be deposited thereon.

In th accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. I

Figure l'is a view, partly in vertical section through a vessel, and partly in side elevation, illustrating my loading apparatus in operative position over a hatch opening, the cage being shown in a raised position. Fig. 2 is a view similar-t0 Fig. 1 with the cage in the lower posit-ion illustrating the operation of discharging a load from said cage. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the loading apparatus,.the cage being in a raised position, said View illustrating said loading apparatus on an enlarged scale as compared l T. CLARK, a esiding in the of lilanhat-tan,

New York, have inand useful Apparatus of which the following a car or cage, 0, to pass with Figs. 1 and Fig. 4. is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, the counterweight being omitted. Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the apparatus shown in 3 and i In the practical embodiment of the intontion. shown in form, A

A, upon which is erectedv a supportframc, P, the latter consisting pneferably of inclined members, Z), and cross bars, 6. The platform may be of any suitable construction, but it is provided with. an opening, a, the opposite side walls of which. are beveled as indicated at 0. in Fig said opening, a, being of suilicient size to enable into said opening. The car IS shown as consisting of a skeleton be r frame, 0, upright side frames, 0, and cross rails, 0 uniting the side frames. The bottom of the car or cage is movable relative to the bottom frame, and in the cmltlodimcnt of the invention shown said movable bottom consists of two movable members, C, C The inner edges of the movable members are adapted to rest upon a supporting mil, attached to the bottom frame, but the opposite outer edges of members, C", 0 are hinged or pivoted in any suitable way, as at 0, to the bottom frame. l l hen the ap aratus is to be used for loading barrels or caslrs, it is preferred to sin-- ploy members, C, G which are curved on their upper sides whereby the bar 'els or caslrs will become seated upon the members in a way to be retained againstmovcment relative to the car when the latter is lowered in a "vessel. Obviously the particular form of the members, C, C is not an essential feature. Asthe car reaches the limit of its lower movement the men1bers,;C',C are lifted so as to assume the oppositely inclined positions shown more clearly in r Fig. 2, whereby the load will be'discharged automatically from the car a .d at the respective sides thereof. The elevaiilon of the movable bottom members is effected by means of legs, C which'are attached to said bottom members at the inner edges thereof, said legs depending below the skeleton. frame of the car so that the legs bottom of the vessels ject in the path of car reaches the hull or against an obthe car, whereby as the limit of its downward movethe drawings, I employ a platwill strike against the i ment the legs will operate to elevate the i1:- ner edges of the hinged members and thus discharge the load from the car.

The cage or. car is suspended flexibly from a suitable hoisting meclmnism by means of cables, D. The cables are fastened to the cross rails, 0 of the cage so that said cables will diverge when the cage lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of suspending the cage in a manner to preclude any displacement of the load upon said cage during the lowering operation. The suspending cables are separately coiled on winding drums, E, which are fast with a horizontal shaft, F. Said shaft is journaled in suitable bearings, f, attached to frame, B, for the shaft to occupy a position above platform, A. The winding drums are suitably spaced on shaft, F, for suspending cables, D, to be coiled upon said drums, whereby the drums are adapted for rotation with the shaft so as to coil the cables on the drums and elevate the car, or to nncoil said cables from the said drums and lower the car.

For the purpose of controlling rotation of shaft, F, and drums, E, under the weight of the load imposed upon the car, and to retain said car in a stationary raised position during the operation of depositing a load. upon said car. ere is employed a suitable form of brake .nechanism which cooperates with the shaft. Said brake mechanism is shown as consisting of brake drums, G, G, brake bands, H, H, and a brake shaft, I. Said brake shaft is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings, 2', attached to cross rail 1) of frame B. The shaft is provided at its ends with cranks, z", to which are fastened one end of brake bands, H, H, the other ends of said brake bands being secured at h to cross rail, I), see Fig. The brake shaft is provided with the rcarwardly extending arm, j, carrying a weight, J, which operates to turn shaft, I, in a direction to forcibly apply the brake bands to brake drums, G, G, whereby shaft, F, is held from rotation. An attendant stationed at the hoisting mecha nism is able to operate the brake mechanism for the purpose of allowing the cage or car to have vertical movement, said operating means being shown as a lever, K, fastened to the rock shaft. It will be understood that the lever may be depressed for the purpose of turning the rock shaft against the action of weight, J, and when so operated the rock shaft will release the brake bands from the brake drums, thus allowing shaft, F, and drums, E, to rotate freely.

L, designates a counterweight adapted .to elevate the cage or car automatically when a load is discharged therefrom, the weight of said cou;-.erweight exceeding the weight of the car when the latter is free from a load. As shown, the counterweight is provided with a sheave, Z, which is positioned to ride within a bight or loop of a cable L. One end of said cable, L, is anchored in a suitable way to a part of a stationary frame, B, as for example by wrapping it around a cleat, Z, see Fig. The other part of the cable is coiled upon a counterweight drum, M, fixed to shaft, F, forrotation therewith, but said counterweight cable, L, is coiled on its drum in an opposite direction to that in which the suspended cables, D, are coiled upon, drums, E, whereby the counterweight, L, is adapted to descend by uncoiling the cable, L, frdm drum, M, simultaneously with the operation of elevating the cage or car by coiling the suspending. cables upon the drums, E.

N, designates a runway or skid adapted to be positioned inoperative relation to plat form, A, of the loading apparatus. This runway or skid is adapted to lie in a substantially fiush relation with the bottom frame, 0, and one of the bottom members,

C of the cage when the latter occupies a raised position within the platform, A, whereby the load may be rolled from skid,

N, upon the bottom member or members of the car.

For the purpose of'precluding the casks, barrels,; or other load from rolling into a loading position below the hoisting mechanism when the cage is lowered within the vessel, I employ suitable means, for intercepting the movement of the barrels, etc. As shown, said means is embodied in a bar, 0, adapted to extend across the frame of the hoisting mechanism and to lie in the path of the barrels. Said stop-bar, O, is pivoted by a bolt, 0, to one of the said frames, 7), but the other end of said stop bar is retained in position by a keeper, 0 fastened to the other side frame, see Figs. 3 and 4.

The operation may be described as follows: \Vith the car in a raised position, as shown in Fig. 3, it occupies a compact relation with respect to the hoisting mechanism and platform, A, the bottom members, C,-,'

C being in substantially the horizontal plane of the runway or skid, N. The (301111? tel-weight is lowered and the brake is applied during the operation of loading the car. Before rolling the casks or barrels upon the car, the operator lifts stop bar, 0, and then proceeds to roll one cask or barrel across bottom member, C", so that it will rest upon bottom member, C, and afterward rolls another cask into position upon bottom member, C", whereby the car is loaded with two tasks, although. it is evi-- dent that the car ma ybe constructed to carry more than two casks. The stop bar 18 again lowered and lever, K, is operated to release the brakes from the brake-drums, whereupon the weight of the load on the car overcomes the gravity of counterweight, L, and the loaded car descends into the hold of a vessel The operator is able to control the descent of the loaded car by regulating the brake mechanism,but as the car reaches the limit its lower movement the legs, C come in contact with the bottom of the hull, or with an obstruction in the path of the car, whereby the bottom members, C, C will be raised to the inclined positions shown in Fig. 2 and automaticallydischarge the load from the'car. The counterweight, L, operates to automatically return the car to a raised position, the brake mechanism being unapplied. With the car in a raised position the operations heretoforedescribed are repeated.

In Fig l of the drawings 1 have shown the loading apparatus inoperative position upon a vessel, the hold of which is to be filled with barrels, casl's or other merchandise. The apparatus operates automatically to discharge the load into the hold at any point for the reason that as the hold becomes filled with freight, the legs, C, of the car will. contact with the upper layer of barrels or other freight so as to automatically discharge the load from the car at different levels. It evident, however, that the loading apparatus may be used in connection with vessels having decks as indicated in F 2, and in such event suitable provision is made for operating the bottom members of the cage so as to automatically discharge the load upon the bottom of the hull or at either of the decks of the vessel. In another application, Serial Number 576,352, filed by me on even date herewith, I have disclosed elevator wherein a cage is confined for vertical movement within suitable guides, said vertical movement of the cage in upward direction being eliected by a counterweight and the descent of the loaded cage being controlled by a brake mechanism. Accordingly, no claim ismade in this ap ication to the aforesaid subject matter, c aracteristic feature of the present invention a portable apparatus adapted to be post oned over the hatchway of a vessel, said apparatus employing cables adapted to suspend a load carrier for swayingmovement within the hold of a vessel.

Having thus fully described the invention, what l. claim as new, and desire to re cure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned at the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanism carried by the frame, a suspended by said hoisting mechanism, said cage; being provided with a movable load a cage, a plurality of movableme rs car- 'ried thereby, means cooperating with the respective movable members for t 'ng said movable members in oppositely inclined di rections, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

, In an apparatus for loading inercham disc into vessels, a portable frame adapted. to be positioned upon the deck of I a vessel and over a hatchway therein, hoisting mechanism carried by the frame, a cage suspended by said. hoisting mechanism for movement within the hold of a vessel, said cage being provided with a plurality of load platforms,

-means for operating said load platforms r as to move them lnto oppositely inclined pe sitions upon the descent of the cage to a predetermined posit-ion into the hold of a vessel, a counterweight for automatically elevating the cage when unloaded, means for controlling the movement of said cage.

at. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, a plurality of movable members carried thereby, said movable members being independent of each other, means for operating said members whereby the loads there on will be discharged simultaneously in up posite directions from the cage, and means,

for controlling the vertical movement of said cage.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, a plurality of movable members carried thereby, means for operating said members whereby the members will be inclined in oppositedirections to each other for auto matically discharging the load from the respective sides of the cage, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

6. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned upon the deck of a vessel and over the hatchway therein, hoisting cables, means carried by the frame for winding and unwinding said hoisting cables, a cage suspended by the hoisting cables for movement within a hold of a vessel, said cage being movable into substantially flush relation to a base of said frame when in a raised loath ing position, and said cage being retained in a stationary loading position by contact with said frame, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

7. In an apparatus of th class d a cage, means for lowerin rality otdisconnected mot carried by the cage, and

said movable platforms and in opposite directions to each other when the cage is lowered a predetermined distance, whereby the loads are automatically discharged at the respective sides of the cage. V

8. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanism including a plurality of cables supported by said frame, a cage suspended by the cables for swaying movementwithin the hold of a vessel, said cage being retained in a stationary loading position by engagement with the frame, and means for controlling the vertical movement of said cage.

9. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoist ing mechanism carried by said frame, a cage suspended by the hoisting m chanism for movement within the hold of a vessel, the upward movement of said cage being arrested by the frame and said cage being retained by engagement with the frame in a stationary loading position, substantially flush with the base of said frame, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

10. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, said frame having a cage-receiving opening in the base thereof, hoisting mechanism carried by said frame, a cage suspended by the hoisting mechanism for movement within the hold of a vessel, said cage entering the opening in the base of the frame and adapt ed to be retained by engagement with the base of the frame in a stationary loading position relative to said frame and the hatchway of the vessel, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

11. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanism carried by the frame, said hoisting mechanism including a plurality of cables, a cage suspended by the cables for movement within the hold of a vessel, said cage being free to swing within the vessels hold, means for retaining the cage in fixed relation to the frame when said cage is elevated to a loading position, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

12. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway ofa vessel, a shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of winding drums carried by the shaft, a cage, cables attached to the cage and wound separately on said drums, brake drums fast with said shaft, expansible brake bands cooperating with the brake drums, a brake shaft to which the brake bands are attached, means whereby the brake bands are normally applied to the brake drums, and means for op crating the brake shaft.

13. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, a shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of winding drums carried by the shaft, a cage adapted to be lowered into the hold of a vessel, cables attached to the cage and wound separately on said drums, means operable at will for controlling the rotation of the shaft, a counterweight drum, a counterweight cable coiled on said drum, and a counterweight suspended by the cable and adapted to elevate the cage, when a load is discharged therefrom into the hold of a vessel.

14. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, a shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of winding drums rotatable with the shaft, a plurality of cables each adapted to be wound upon or unwound from one of said drums, a cage suspended in an operative position by the plurality of cables, said cage being free to sway within the hold of a vessel and to be moved up and down therein by the action of the drums and cables, a separate drum rotatable with the shaft, a cable provided with a counterbalance and coiled upon the separate drum for automatically lifting the cage when a load is discharged therefrom, and a separate brake mechanism for controlling the rotation of the shaft and the up and down movements of the cage within the vessels hold. r

15. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanism carried by said frame, said hoisting mechanism including a plu-. rality of cables, a cage suspended in operative position by said plurality of cables, said cage being free to sway and to move vertically within the hold of a vessel, a countel-balance for automatically lifting the cage when the load is discharged therefrom, and brake mechanism for controlling the up and down movements of the cage within the vessels hold.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, the bottom of which is formed of members each pivoted to the cage at one edge of said member, and means on said pivoted members for tilting the same into positions inclined reversely to each other, whereby the loads may be discharged from the cagein opposite directions.

17. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a cage the bottom of which is formed by members pivoted at their outer edges to the cage for movement in oppositely In testimony whereof I have signed my inclined positlons, a rail fixed to the cage name to this specification in the presence of and upon which the pivoted members are two subscribing Witnesses.

supported, and a depending member on each JOHN T. CLARK. 5 of the pivoted members for tilting the latter 'Witnesses:

and discharging the component parts of a WESTMINSTER ABBEY,

load from thecage in opposite directions. EDGAR C. LE BLANC.

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