US1248473A

US1248473A - Apparatus for delivering coal and other materials.

Info

Publication number: US1248473A
Application number: US86600814A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Freeland
Original assignee: Williams White and Co
Current assignee: Williams White and Co
Priority date: 1914-10-10
Filing date: 1914-10-10
Publication date: 1917-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1934-12-04

Description

G. W. FRI-LELAND. APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLlCATiO-N mm OCT. 10. 1914. I A v Patented Dec. 4, 1917,

4 SHEETS-SHEET L 11 755K I NVENTOR M;

v I s1 615! 174W. Mmuqs G. W. FREELAND.

-.APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10. I914, 1,248,473.

Patented Dem 1,1917;

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- l|||||l||| L Jr M 7 65 411mm G. W. FREELAND.

APPARATUS FOR DEL|VERlNG.COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLlCATiON men 0CT 10.1914.

1,248,473. Patented Dec. 4.1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

es t. I Ini entof:

G. W. FREELAND.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICA'HON FILED OCT. 10. lQH.

Patnfbd Dec. 4, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

' [AWE v1.01?

UNITED srarns PATENT oEFioE.

GEORGE W. FREELAND, or MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO wrntI'AMs, WHITE AND COMPANY, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR nsfmvsaine coat AND arena MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters i atent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed October '10, 1914. Serial No. 866,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W, FREELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Delivering Coal and other Materials, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to mechanism for measuring and discharging material, and has reference more particularly to the discharge of coal into locomotive tenders, from storage bins, chutes and the like. Such storage bins are usually arranged at the side of the railway, track and are supported with their bot tom somewhat elevated above the track, so that the coal will flow into the tender, suitable means being provided by which the engineer or attendant may control the discharge.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided whereby successive charges of material of predetermined and known weight are delivered, the delivery of these charges, after the operation has once been initiated, being automatically efiected, and continuing until the requisite amount has been delivered, whereupon the operation may be arrested.

More specifically my invention comprehends the employment of a charge delivering device situated in the mouth of the storage bin and operable to receive a predetermined amount of coal and to discharge the same, said operations being automatically con trolled by the weight of the charge, in such manner that the coal flowing into the charge delivering device will be automatically delivered therefrom continuously in successive charges of predetermined weight. The charge delivering device is preferably in the form or a box or receptacle, provided at opposite ends with suitable closures, so operatively connected that when one closure s open, the other will be closed, and the said receptacle is so mounted that it may be moved up and down at its discharge end, the downward movement operating through suitable means to open its discharge end and close its receiving end, and its upward movement operating to close the discharge end and open the receiving end. The receptacle is so held in its upper receivuing in succession and belng controlled by the weight of the charge.

I prefer to employ two receptacles 00- operatively connected together in such manner that when one moves down to discharge its load, the other will be positively moved up to receive its load by the weight of the downwardly moving loaded receptacle, the result being that one receptacle will be receiving its charge while the other is discharging its charge. But my invention is applicable as well to the employment of a single receptacle, in which case the function of the loaded receptacle in raising the empty one, will be effected by a weight or equivalent means, so disposed and arranged as to be overcome by the downwardly moving loaded receptacle, but acting to raise the same to its receiving position after its contents have been discharged.

Locking means are provided for preventing the operation of the mechanism, said locking means being adapted to be operated by the engineer or attendant to release the mechanism to permit its automatic operations as described.

Means are also provided for making a record of the number of charges delivered by the receptacles, and for making a recordof the particular locomotive to which the coal is supplied. 7

Further, means are provided for preventing the operation of the mechanism except by persons authorized to operate the same, all of which mechanisms will be fully described in the accompanying specification, and the novel features of which will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a coal storage bin having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken on the line 2 a of Fi 2.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of the mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the recording mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail.

Referring to the drawings:

1 represents a storage bin or receptacle, which in the present instance is shown supported at the side of a track by posts, at such elevation that the coal discharged therefrom may flow into a locomotive tender standing on the track. The bottom of the bin slopes downwardly as at 2 toward the front, at which point the bin is provided with two openings or passages for the discharge of the coal therefrom, which openings are separated from each other by a partition 6 as shown in Fig. 2 Situated side by side in said opening are two

charge delivering receptacles

3 and 4 adapted to receive charges of coal from the bin and to discharge the same therefrom. Each of these receptacles comprises upper, lower and side walls, connected together at their edges, thereby forming a hollow receptacle, rectangular in cross section and open at its opposite ends. The receptacles extend at a downward inclination with their rear receiving ends in communication with the bin opening, and they are pivoted at their rear lower edges on a horizontal transversely extending bar 5 fixed to the bin framing at the lower edge of the opening therein, the arrangement being such that the receptacles may be swung up and down on their pivotal axes, the forward discharge ends moving up and down in such actions, and their rear upper ends swinging back and forth between vertical plates 6 fixed to the bin framing at opposite sides of each receptacle. These plates serve to guide the rear ends of the receptacles, and they prevent the weight of the coal from spreading or bulging the side walls of the same.

The rear receiving end of each receptacle is provided with a swinging gate or valve 7 which may be swung up across its receiving end to shut off communication of the receptacle with the interior of the bin, or swung down to open the rear end of the receptacle. This gate is in the form of a curved plate, fixed at its lower corners between two levers 8, which extend forwardly at opposite sides of the receptacle and are pivoted between their ends to hangers A on the bin framing, on horizontal axes as at 9. The front discharge end of the receptacle is provided with a door 10, pivoted at its lower end as at 11 to the front edge of the bottom wall of the receptacle and adapted when swung upwardly to close the discharge end of the receptacle, and when swung downwardly to open the same. The door is provided with side walls 12 which, when the door is swung upwardly to closed position,

will extend at the outer sides of the side walls of the receptacle, and which, when the door is swung downwardly to open position, will form continuations of the side walls, whereby the outflowing coal will be prevented from scattering. This door is connected with the levers 8 by means of two links 13 jointed at their lower ends to the door between the ends of the latter as at 14, and pivoted at their upper ends to the forward ends of the lovers 8 as at 15, the arrangement being such that the door 10 and gate 7 will be operated in unison, the door moving to closed position as the gate moves to open position and vice versa. As a result of this arrangement, when the gate is open and the door closed as shown in Fig. 2, the coal from the bin will. flow into the receptacle, and when the gate is closed to cut off the further flow of coal, the door will simultaneously be opened and the contents of the receptacle will be discharged therefrom.

In accordance with my invention, I propose to control the operations of the doors and gates of the receptacle by the weight of the charge entering the same, so that each receptacle will measure of and discharge a predetermined amount of coal at each operation, and I propose to so arrange the mechanism that these operations will be performed automatically and continuously after once being started. These objects are effected by controlling the movements of the door and gate, by the up and down swinging movements of the receptacle on its pivotal axis, and in so connecting the two receptacles cooperatively that they will be swung up and down in alternation, the result being that after a load has been discharged from one receptacle when the latter is swung down and its discharge door opened, it will be swung upwardly to a receiving position by the other receptacle, which in the meantime has received its lead, and when this latter receptacle has discharged its load, it will be raised again to a receiving position by the descent of the first named receptacle, which in the interval has received another load.

The detailed construction for eifecting these operations is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, where it will be seen that the levers 8 of each receptacle are connected to the bottom of the receptacle by means of links 16, the upper ends of which are jointed to the levers 8 as at 17 at points forward of the axis 9, while the lower ends of the links are jointed to the bottom of the receptacle as at. 18. As a result, when the discharge end of the receptacle swings downwardly from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2 to the position indicated by dotted lines in said figure, the levers 8 will be rocked by the links on their axes O and their forward ends will swing clownwardly, and owing to their connection with the discharge door, the latter will be swung downwardly to open position, while at the same time the gate 7 will be swung upwardly to closed position, the operation of the door and gate being thus automatically efiected by the downwardly swinging movement of the receptacle.

The two receptacles are suspended at their front by means of two vertical suspending

straps

19 and 20, the lower ends of which are pivoted as at 21 and 22 to the upper walls of the receptacles. respectively, which straps near their upper extremities are pivoted, as at 23 and 24 respectively, to the upper ends of a horizontal balance bar 25 pivoted between its ends as at 26 to the front of the bin framing on a horizontal fore and aft axis. As a result of this arrangement, the two receptacles are so operatively connected together that when one is swung downwardly, the other will be simultaneously and positively swung upwardly, the downward movement of one receptacle causing its discharge end to open and its gate to be closed, and the upward movement of the other receptacle causing its discharge door to be closed and its gate opened.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the receiving position of the receptacle is when its discharge end is at the upper limitof its swinging movement, in which position, the rear gate will be open and the discharge door closed, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. In this position, the coal from the bin may flow freely into the receptacle, where it will be retained by the closed discharge door.

In order that when apredetermined amount of coal has entered the receptacle, the weight of the same may cause the re ceptacle to swing downwardly to eifect the discharge of its contents, 1 provide means for temporarily holding the receptacle in its elevated receiving position, which hold ing means is adapted to be controlled by the weight of the coal in the receptacle in such manner that when the weight of the charge reaches a predetermined amount, the holding means will be actuated, and the receptacle released, whereupon it will descend by gravity and discharge its contents. ()ne form of means for effecting this result is shown more particularly in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that each of the suspension straps is provided with a holding dog or latch 30 pivoted. to it near its upper extremity on a horizontal axis as at 31, which latch is provided with a nose 32 projecting outwardly therefrom, and having a horizontal lower face 33 and an oblique face 34 joining the former, the said latch being so mounted on the strap that it ma; reel: horizontally relatively to the same to a 'pose presently to be described.

limited extent on the axis 31, for the pur The two latches are adapted to cooperate respectively with two levers 85, pivoted between their ends to the bin framing on horizontal axes 36 respectively. Each of these levers comprises a long horizontal arm 37 and a shorter downwardly inclined arm 38, the pivotal axis of the said lever being at the junction of these arms. A weight 39 is mounted on the arm 87 in such manner that it may be adjusted longitudinally thereof to and from the axis 36, and the arm 38 is provided with a roller 40, the form, arrange ment and construction of these parts being such that the weight will hold the level? with the roller 40 in the path of the latch. hen the receptacle swings upwardly to its receiving position, the inclined face of the latch will ride against the roller, and the latch will be rocked inwardly and le permitted to pass above the roller, whereupon it will rock back to its former position, and the horizontal face of the latch will rest upon and be supported by the roller, whereby the receptacle will be sustained in its upper receiving position. The size of the ht such, and its relation to the a, of the lever so proportioned, that the roller will be held beneath the latch until the weight of the coal in the receptacle reaches a certain predetermined. amount, whereupon the lower face of the latch acting on the roller will rock the lever on its axis, which action will move the roller outwardly out of the path of the latch, thus releasing the receptacle so that the latter will swing downwardly by gravity, and in such movement will automatically close the rear gate and open the dischar the contents of the receptacle will be discharged. The descent of the loaded receptacle will, owing to its cooperative connec tion with. the other receptacle, automatically elevate the latter, the latch of the ascending receptacle swinging on axis in passing the associated roller, and when the re ceptacle reaches the upper limit of its movement. the nose of the latch will be projected above the roller in a manner similar to the action of the latch. previously described. and the receptacle will be held by the roller in its upper receiving position, with the gate open and the front door closed. The coal from the bin will now flew into this receptacle, and when the weight of the same reaches a point where it will overcome the weighted lever, the latter will be rocked on its axis free of the latch, whereupon the loaded receptacle will descend and will discharge its contents in .he same manner described in connection with the first receptacle, which latter will at the same time be automatically raised to receive an ither charge. These operations being once started,

itw

door, d

will continue, with the result that charges of coal of known weight will be auton'1ati cally delivered successively and continuously from the two receptacles alternately.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the amount of coal entering the receptacles is dependent upon the size and location of the weights on the levers 35. ()rdinarily the receptacles are of the size to hold each a ton of coal, and by a proper adjustment of the weights on the le vers, the receptacles will be held in their re ceiving positions until the weight of the coal reaches a ton, whereupon the weight on the lever will be overcome and they will descend to discharge their contents. However, if it is desired that the receptacles discharge less than a ton at each action, say half a ton, the weight is adjusted along the lever and set at such position relatively to the axis of the lever that the weight thereon will be overcome when a half ton has entered the receptacle, and the latter will be released. So also charges of other sizes may be provided for by proper adjustments of the controlling weights.

In order that the engineer or attendant may control the operation of the receptacles, that is, may initiate the operation when coal is to be taken from the bin, and may arrest the operation when the proper quantity has been delivered, I provide means adapted to be operated by the engineer and normally locking the receptacles against action, which means are adapted to be actuated to release the receptacles and permit their continuous operations as described. This locking mech anism in the form of the apparatus shown, acts on the weighted levers 35, and comprises two movable stop rods 41 and 4t2 normally engaging the upper sides of the levers at their outer ends and acting to hold them against movement, but adapted to be moved free of the levers to permit the same to be moved under the influence oithe weight of the coal in the receptacles. These stop rods are pivoted at their upper ends on horizontal axes 43, respectively, to the bin framing, the arrangement being such that the rods may be swung to an operative position with their lower ends in engagement with the upper sides of. the levers at their outer ends, in which position of the parts the levers will be prevented from moving; or the rods may be swung clear of the levers to release the same. The stop rods are adapted to be operated in unison, and for this purpose they are connected to a common operating member in the form of an upright rocking lever 44: pivoted between its ends on a horizontal axis to the bin framing as at $5. The stop rod ll is connected to lever M by means of a horizontal link 46 jointed at its outer end to the stop rod between the ends of the latter, and jointed at its opposite end to the lever below its pivotal axis e5. The other stop rod 42 is connected to lever 44 by means of a horizontal. link 47 pivoted at its outer end to rod l2 between its ends, and pivoted at its inner end to lever l i at the upper side of its pivotal axis 4-5. As a result of this construction, when lever l4 is swung on its axis in one direction, with its upper end moving to the right, the stop rods will be swung outwardly from their normal positions and will release the weighted levers 35 and will thereby permit the operation of the receptacles; and when lever a l is swung in the opposite direction, the stop rods will be swung inwardly over the weighted levers and will lock them against action. The operation of lever is in this manner is effected by means of ropes or cables 48 and l9 connected respectively with the ends of the levers and extending downwardly within reach of the engineer or attendant at the ground level. The cable a9 is attached to the upper end of lever 44 and passes over a guide pulley 50 mounted on the bin framing and then downwardly to the base of the structure, the operation of this cable serving to swing lever lt in a di rcction to lock the receptacles against action. The other cable lS is attached to the lower end of lever at and passes over a guide pulley 51 mounted on the bin framing and then downwardly alongside cable 49, and when operated it will swing the lever in a direction to release the receptacles and permit their operation.

By means of the mechanism described, it will be understood that'when a locomotive tender is to besupplied, the engineer pulls on cable 48 to release the mechanism, and the receptacle which had been held in an upper receiving position and into which the coal from the bin had flowed, will be released, and it will swing down and discharge its contents, the other receptacle at the same time being swung upwardly to receive its load, and these operations will continue as heretofore described,the two receptacles discharging alternately, charges of coal of predetermined weight. When the proper quantity has been delivered, the engineer pulls on cable 1-9, which will swing the stop rods inwardly over the weighted levers, and the further operation of the mechanism will be arrested.

Instead of employing two alternately acting receptacles as described, but one receptacle may be employed to operate continuously as shown in the modified form of the apparatus represented in Fig. 8, wherein parts similar to those of the form of apparatus previously described are indicated by like reference numerals with the exponent a added. In the case of the two cooperating receptacles, the weight of the loaded re ceptacle in swinging downwardly, acts to T1 raise the empty one, In the modified construction employing but one receptacle, a weight 52 is employed to lift the empty re ceptacle. This weight is mounted on the outer end of a balance lever 25 pivoted between its ends to the bin framing on a horizontal axis as at 26 and pivotally connected at its inner end as at 55 to the suspending strap 19 of the single receptacle 3, below the latch 30 thereon. The weight, and the parts associated therewith are so proportioned with respect to the charge which the receptacle is designed to handle, and with respect to the weight of the empty receptacle, that while the weight 52 will act to lift the empty receptacle to its upper recciv- 1 ing position, it will not prevent the descent 'of the receptacle when loaded, the result being that the loaded receptacle on being released from its weighted lever 35, will swing downwardly and lift weight 52, and after the contents of the receptacle are discharged, the weight 52 will descend and raise the empty receptacle to its receiving position. In other respects this mechanism is the same in operation, and is controlled by the engineer in the same manner as that first described.

It is desirable in the use of the apparatus in supplying coal to locomotive tenders, to prevent the operation except by authorized persons; to preserve a record of the particular engineer drawing the coal, well as a record of the quantity of coal delivered. These objects may be effected by the employment of a suitable recording mechanism 56, which is mounted on the bin structure within reach of the engineer, as shown in Fig. 1. This recording mechanism is contained within a suitable case 56-, and is adapted to be operated to record the actions of the two receptacles, through the medium of an operating rod 57 operatively connected at its lower end with the recordin mechanism and jointed at its upper end to the rear end of an arm 58, extending rearwardly from and connected with a horizontal rock shaft 59, mounted in hearings on the front of the bin framing above the receptacles. This rock shaft is provided with two forwardly extending opera-

ting arms

60 and 61 extending alongside and adjacent the respective suspending

straps

19 and 20, in such position that when the receptacles swing downwardly to discharge their contents, the arms will be engaged respectively by

fingers

62 and 63 projecting from said straps, by which means the rod 57 will be moved upwardly each receptacle descends, and by such operation the recording mechanism will act to make a record of the number of charges delivered.

The mechanism for controlling the

stop rods

41 and 42 is adapted to be normally locked aga'unst action by means of a vertical locking rod 64, the lower end of which extends into the casing 56 and the upper end of which extends within a vertical opening in a casting 65 fixed to the bin framing adjacent thelocki-ng rod 41. The casting is provided with a horizontal opening intersecting the vertical opening, and into this horizontal opening, the outer end of a rod 66 extends, the inner end of which is pivoted to the lever 44 below its axis 45. Normally the locking rod 64 is held in an elevated position, and is engaged by the outer end of the rod 66, the length of this rod being such that when in. engagement with locking rod 64, lever 44 will be held with its lower end to the right, in which position of the parts the stop rods 41 will engage the upper sides of the levers 35, and the mechanism will be locked against action, the engagement of the end of rod 66 with the upper end of the locking rod 64 preventing the stop rods 41 from being operated by cable 48 to release levers 35. The locking rod 64 is adapted to be released from its elevated locking position by means of a key 68, which is adapted to be inserted through a keyhole 69 in the casing 56 of the recording mechanism, the said key acting when inserted and turned, to release the locking rod, which will descend by its weight and its upper end will be moved free of the'path of the rod 66. In this position of the parts, the lever 44 controlling the stop rods 41 is free to be moved by the cable 48 so as to disengage the stop rods from the levers 35. The bit of the key 68 is provided with a suitable designating sign or numeral to indicate the particular locomotive to which the coal is to be supplied, and when the key I is turned in the casing and releases the

lookrods

41 and 42, and that the stop rods are locked against action to release the receptacles, by the locking rod 64, and that the latter cannot be released to unlock the parts except by means of a key in the possession of an authorized person, such as a locomotive engineer. With the parts locked in this manner, one of the receptacles will be held in its upper receiving position with its rear gate open and its front door closed and it will be filled with coal from the bin. The other receptacle will be held in its lower position empty. When a locomotive tender is to be supplied with coal, the engineer inserts his key in the casing of the recording mechanism and turns the same, with the result that the locking rod 64 will be released and will descend, and its upper end will be withdrawn from in front of rod 66. This will release lever 44:, and the engineer, by pulling on cable 48, will swing the lower end of lever 44 to the left, which action will swing stop

rods

41 and 42 outwardly and release the weighted levers 35. The weight of the coal in the loaded receptacle will, through the medium of the latch on the suspending strap of the receptacle, swing roller 40 out of the path of the latch and the loaded receptacle will descend, which action will close its rear gate and will open its front discharge door, and the contents of the receptacle will be discharged. Simultaneously on the descent of the loaded receptacle, the empty receptacle will be raised to its receiving position, its latch 30 in this action swinging past roller 40 on the associated lever 35, and finally will come to rest above, and will be supported by said roller, and the empty receptacle will be held in its receiving position, with its rear gate open and its front door closed. Goal will now enter this receptacle, and when the weight reaches a certain point, the latch 30 on its suspension strap will force the associated roller 40 outwardly, and the loaded receptacle being released, will descend to discharge its contents in a manner similar to the operation of the other receptacle, and these operations will be continued, with the result that charges of predetermined weight will be successively delivered by the two receptacles alternately and in a continuous and automatic manner. In the actions of the receptacles, the rod 57 will be alternately raised and lowered and by this action a record of the number of charges delivered will be made, and associated with the record,.there will be made a record of the designating numeral on the releasing key. IV hen a sufiicient amount of coal has thus been delivered, the engineer first pulls on cable 49 which will rock lever 44: and swing stop rods ll and 4-2 over the outer ends of levers 35, thereby arresting the delivering action of the receptacles. He then removes key 62 from the casing of the registering mechanism, and this will elevate locking rod 64 and project its upper end in front of the end of rod 66, thereby locking lever 44 in position with the stop rods in engagement with the levers 35.

In order that the speed of the descent of the loaded receptacles may be regulated and the action cushioned, I provide a fluid cylinder 70, containing a piston 71, carried by a piston rod 72. The cylinder is mounted in an upright position and pivoted at its lower end as at 73 to the bin framing on a hori zontal axis. The upper end of the piston rod is jointed as at 74 to an extension 75 on the balance lever 25, and in the opposite ends of the cylinder, relief valves 7 6 are applied. The confined air above the piston, when the latter is raised by the descent of receptacle 3, will control the speed of the same and cushion its action, and the confined air-below the piston on the descent of receptacle l will likewise control its speed and cushion its action.

The coal discharged from the receptacles is received in an apron or chute 77, shown more particularly in Fig. 2, and by the chute is directed into the locomotive tender. The chute is hinged as at 78 to the bin framing on a horizontal axis so that when the mechanism is not in use, the chute may swing upwardly out of the way, to a vertical position in front of the receptacles.

The effect of the cooperative connection of the two receptacles is to coordinate them in their action, to cause them to move in unison and in opposition with respect to their direction of movement, the doors and gates of the receptacles being likewise coordinated in their actions and being coordinately related to the actions of the receptacles, whereby the receptacles are adapted to ooerate automatically and continuously in e "ecting the successive delivery of predetermined charges of material.

In the foregoing description and accompanying drawings I have disclosed my invention in the form which I prefer to adopt and which in practice has been found to answer to a satisfactory degree the ends to be attained. It is manifest, however, that the details of the mechanism may be variously changed and modified within the skill of the mechanic, and it is further to be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular form or construction of the parts except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a frame, a movable charge delivering receptacle having a re ceiving opening and a discharge opening, a movable closure for the receiving opening, a movable closure for the discharge opening, and connections between said closures to cause their cooperative movement in closing one opening and opening the other, and vice versa, said connections comprising a lever movably sustained by the frame and operatively connected with both closures, and a connection between the lever and the charge delivering receptacle for operating the lever by the movement of the receptacle.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a movable charge delivering receptacle having a receiving open ing and a discharge opening, a movable closure for the receiving opening, a movable closure for the discharge opening, connections between said closures independent of the receptacle for causing the closures to move cooperatively in closing one opening and opening the other, and vice versa, and a connection between the receptacle and said means to operate the latter by the movement of the receptacle.

3. In combination with a supply bin or chute, a charge delivering receptacle having a receiving end and a discharge end, said receptacle being pivotally mounted with its receiving end in position to receive material from the bin or chute and having its dis charge end movable up and down, a closure for the receiving end of the receptacle, a closure for the discharge end of the same, and means whereby the downward move ment of the receptacle will operate said closure and close its receiving end, and open the discharge end of the same, said means operating, when the discharge end of the receptacle moves upwardly, to close the dis charge end and open the receiving end.

a. In combination with a bin or chute, a charge delivering receptacle having its receiving end in constant connection there with, a closure for said receiving end normally open to permit the material to flow from the chute into the receptacle, a closure for the discharge end of the receptacle, and means controlled by the material in the receptacle and acting to close the receiving end of the same and open its discharge end.

5. In combination with a bin or chute, a charge delivering receptacle having its receiving end constantly maintained in connection therewith to receive material from the bin or chute and having its discharge end movable up and down, a closure for the receiving end of the receptacle, a closure for the discharge end of the same, and means whereby the downward movement of the discharge end of the receptacle will open the closure for that end and will close the closure for the receiving end.

6. In combination with a bin or chute, a

charge delivering receptacle having a receiving end and a discharge end, said receptacle mounted with its receiving end in position to receive material from the bin or chute and with its discharge end movable up and down, a movable closure for the receiving end of the receptacle, a movable closure for the discharge end of the same, a member movably mounted on the framing of the chute and operatively connected with both of said closures for causing them to move in unison in closing the receiving end of the receptacle and opening its discharge end, and vice versa, and a connection be tween said member and said receptacle, whereby the member will be moved to operate the closures in the up and down movements of the receptacle.

7. In combination with a bin or chute, a charge delivering receptacle having,a receiving end and a discharge end, and mounted on said chute with its receiving end in position to receive material from the chute, said receptacle being movable up and down at its discharge end, a movable closure for the discharge end of the receptacle, a movable closure l or the receiving end of the same, a lever pivoted between its ends on the framing of the chute and connected with said closures, and a link jointed to said lever and to said receptacle.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a charge deliveringreceptacle provided with a receiving end and a discharge end, together with suitable closures for said ends, said re eptacle being movable up and down at its discharge end, means for holding said end elevated, said holding means comprising a movable weighted lever and a member carried by the receptacle to engage the lever and movable relatively thereto to disengage the same, said means being adapted to be operated to release the receptacle to permit its discharge end to move down w ion a load of material has entered in the receptacle, and means controlled by the downward movement of the receptacle for operating said closures to open the discharge end of the receptacle and to close its receiving end.

9. In an apparatus of the type described,

' the combination of a bin, a charge delivering receptacle having its receiving end in constant connection with the bin and movable up and down at its discharge end, movable closures at opposite ends or the receptacle coordinated to work in opposition to each other in simultaneously closing one end and opening the other end of the receptacle, and means whereby the downward movement of the end of the receptacle will operate said closures.

10. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a charge delivering receptacle having its discharge end movable up and down, a suspending member connected with the receptacle, holding means acting on said suspending member to hold the receptacle in a receiving position and adapted to be actuated to release the receptacle when a load of material has entered therein, means whereby the descent of the released receptacle will eflect the discharge of its contents, and means acting on said suspending member and operating to automatically raise the empty receptacle to receiving position.

11. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a charge delivering receptacle, mechanism whereby the material in the receptacle will effect the delivery of successive charges of material, said mechanism including movable controlling lever, and releasable locking means acting to hold said controlling lever against movement.

12. In an apparatus of the type described,

the combination of a charge delivering receptacle movable to deliver successive charges oi material, mechanism whereby the material in the receptacle will control the movements of the same, said mechanism including a movable controlling lever, and a stop device movable in the path of said lever to hold the same against action and movable free of the lever to release the same.

13. In an apparatus or the type described, the combination of a charge delivering receptacle movable up and down respectively to receive material and to discharge the same, a movable member adapted to hold the receptacle in receiving position, and adapted to be moved by the material in the receptacle to release the same, and releasable locking means adapted to hold said movable member against movement.

14. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a charge delivering receptacle operable to effect the delivery of successive charges of material, means whereby the material in the receptacle will control said operation, said means including a movable member, a releasable locking device adapted to hold said member against action, and a second releasable locking device adapted to hold the first mentioned locking device against action.

15. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of two charge delivering receptacles movable relatively to each other up and down respectively to receiving and discharging positions, means whereby the downward movement of one receptacle will raise the other, and means whereby the downward movement 01" each receptacle will open its discharge end and close its receiving end, said latter means acting when the receptacle is moved upwardly, to close its discharge end and open its receiving end.

16. In an apparatus of the type described, the combii'iaticn of two charge delivering receptacles movable relatively to each other and coordinated to act in unison in moving, one to receiving position and the other to discharging position, said receptacles being provided each with closures for its receiving and discharging ends, said closures being coordinated to act in unison in opening the discharge end and closing the receiving end when the receptacle moves to discharging position, and means for holding the receptacles in receiving position alternately, said means being adapted to be actuated to release the receptacles when a load of material has entered therein.

17. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of two charge delivering receptacles movable relatively to each other alternately to receiving position and discharging position, means for holding the receptacles alternately in receiving position, said means being adapted to be actuated automatically to release the receptacles when a load of material has entered therein, means controlled by the movement of the loaded receptacle to discharging position, to auto matically move the other receptacle to receiving position, and means acting when a receptacle moves to discharging position to open its discharge end and close its receiving end, said means operating when the receptacle moves to receiving position to close its discharge end and open its receiving end.

18. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of two charge delivering receptacles movable up and down relatively to each other alternately to receiving and discharging positions respectively, and adapted when moved down to discharge their contents, means for holding the receptacles alternately in receiving position, said means including each a movable member adapted to hold the receptacle in receiving position and adapted to be actuated to release the receptacle by the material therein, stop devices movable into and out of the path of said movable members, an actuating member for said stop devices, and operative connections between the stop devices and said actuating member.

19. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of two charge delivering receptacles, mechanism whereby the material in the receptacles will efi'ect the discharge of their contents, said mechanism including movable controlling levers, stop devices tor said movable controlling levers, a common actuating member for the stop devices, and connections between said actuating member and the stop devices.

20. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a charge delivering receptacle movable at its discharge end up and down, a closure for the discharge end of the receptacle adapted when the receptacle is moved down to open and permit the con tents thereof to be discharged, a suspending member connected with the receptacle, a movable holding device engaged by the suspending member and acting when engaged to hold the receptacle in raised position, the said holding device adapted to be operated by the material in the receptacle to release the suspending device and permit the re ceptacle to move down to discharge its contents, and a rocking member adapted to be engaged by the suspending member on the downward movement of the receptacle and to be rocked thereby, said rocking member operating to actuate a recording mechanism.

21. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of two charge delivering receptacles movable up and down relatively to each other alternately to receiving and discharging positions respectively and adapted when moved down to discharge their contents, means for holding the receptacles alternately in receiving position, said means including each a movable holding member and a suspending member on the receptacle adapted to be engaged by the holding member, the holding member being actuated to release the receptacle by the material therein, and rocking members adapted to be engaged by the suspending members and to be rocked successively thereby as the receptacles move downwardly in discharging their contents, said rocking members adapted to operate a recording mechanism.

22. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a bin or chute having a discharge mouth, two charge delivering receptacles, each having a receiving opening and a discharge opening, and movably mounted at their receiving ends side by side With their receiving openings in communication with said discharge mouth of the bin, whereby the discharge ends of the receptacles are movable up and down, means operatively connecting said receptacles together to cause them to move up and down alternately, closures for the receiving openings movable to open and close said openings,

closures for the discharge openings movable to open and close said openings, the closures on each receptacle being coordinated with each other in their actions to close the receiving opening of the receptacle when the discharge opening is opened and vice versa, and said closures being coordinated with the alternate movements of the receptacles to cause the closures for the discharge openings of the receptacles to be opened when said receptacles move downwardly and to be closed when said receptacles move upwardly, means controlled by the up and down movements of the receptacles for operating said closures, and means for holding the receptacles alternately in upper receiving positions, said latter means being operable to release the receptacles by the material therein.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. FREELAND.

Witnesses:

H. AINsWoRTH, JOHN W. LIVINGSTON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.