US1447428A

US1447428A - Automatic rotary dump

Info

Publication number: US1447428A
Application number: US511656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ramsay Erskine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-10-31
Filing date: 1921-10-31
Publication date: 1923-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1940-03-06

Description

Mar. 6, 1923. v

E. RAMSAY. AUTOMATIC ROTARY DUMP.-

. FILED 0CT.3I, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

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1,447,428 E. RAMSAY.

AUTOMATIC ROTARY DUMP. FILED 0CT.31.1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- Erskine Ramsay.

Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

LMYAZd ERSKINE RAMSAY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

'AU'IOIMATIC ROTARY DUMP.

Application filed ()ctober 31, 1921. Serial No. 511,656.

T 0 all w [tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERSKINE Ramsay, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson. and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Rotary Dumps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rotary dump adapted for automatic operation responsive to the joint control of buffer springs and gravity, which latter is brought into play either by the unbalanced position of the center of gravity of the car in the dump or by the incorporation of additional counterweight means to unbalance the dump, or by both in co-operation.

It is a feature of my invention that such supplemental unbalancing counterweights, when used, shall be so disposed as to be ef' fective for the starting of the dumps movement both in the direction that it moves to dump and in the opposite direction as it starts back on its return, my invention contemplating that the dump shall have only a partial rotation.

h/Iy invention further contemplates the mounting of the dump to rotate about a fixed center responsive to the joint control of gravity and springs, which latter serve as buffers to stop the partial rotations of the dump in either or both directions, and to store energy with which to start the dump quickly when released for operation.

My invention further contemplates the provision of means, automatic in its action, to latch the dump in initial upright position and, if desired, in inverted position with the appropriate spring buffers held under compression and thus adapted to co-operate with gravity-in quickly overcoming the inertia of the dump.

My invention also comprises the novel details of construction in the design and arrangement of the dump counterweights, of the automatic latch means, and of the means for operating a series of said latches simul-, taneously where the dump is elongated to receive a number. of cars. 7

According to the drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment only of my invention:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the dump shown in initial or upright position with the spring buffer or buffers on one side held under compression by the engagement of the latch with the buffer latch lug or lugs on the dump.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 showing the dump broken away.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic end view of the dump in upright position with its tracks on center but sufficiently tilted to unbalance the dump without however displacing the car coupling substantially out of line with the axis of the dump.

Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic View showing the dump unbalanced by shifting its level track so as to bring the vertical center line of the car to one side of the center line of the dump, a counterweight being also used.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the dump adapted to operate without the assistance of a counterweight.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I show a rotary dump which may be fabricated in any well known manner, but which, as shown, is formed by spaced riding rings 1 connected together lengthwise of the dump by top angles 2 and by side plates 3, the dump having opposite each ring a cross angle 4: attached to plates 5 which are bolted or riveted through the side plates 3 of the dump to the rings 1 and which carry the overhanging angle bars 6 which extend lengthwise of the dump on each side and serve as hold-downs for the axles 7 or other desired part of the mine car or cars 8, the wheels 9 of which are shown riding the rails 10 which extend lengthwise through the dump and are supported by the cross angles 4;. Each riding ring is adapted to rest on two supporting trunnion wheels 11 mounted in bearings 12 on any suitable support 13. As shown, this support is arranged below the tipple floor level 1 1 on which is mounted at each side of the dump the

seats

15 and 16 for the butter springs 17 which normally project substantially above the top level of the seats. I pivot to each seat 16 by a pin 18, a latch 19, the upper end of which is adapted to be forced outwardly by an approaching buffer lug 20 on the dump and to snap back into position above this lug to hold the dump in initial position with the adjacent spring 17 under the lug held under any desired compression. The latch itself has an overhung outerlip or trip arm spaced from the latch so as to form a pocket 21 for a crank 22 on a crank shaft 28, the pocket being designed to permit the latch to be pushed both against the crank sufficiently to let the buffer lug 20 pass the latch. The crank shaft 23, which in the preferred arrangement carries the several cranks 22, has at suitable intervals bearings 24 and an operating lever 25 ismade fast to the shaft with its free inner end engaged by a coil spring 26 which normally pulls the lever and shaft cranks to the full line position, Fig. 1. and causes the cranks to press the latches towards the dump. By grasping the handle and moving it to dotted position, Fig. 1, the cranks will all engage the lips 21 and will move all of the latches together to release the lugs 20 simultaneously so that the adj acentsprings 17 are free to expand and give the dump a quick start.

If desired the dump may have one or more counterweights of any suitable character, such for instance as the cylinders 27 arranged on its discharge side and disposed below the horizontal center line of the dump These cylinders may be attached" to the riding rings in any desired manner, as by bent metalstr'aps 28 or by being passed through a suitable opening in the plate 5. Obviously, there may be one or more than one of such counterweights employed, ac cor'ding't-o the operating conditions confronting the user. The latches and buffer springs canbearranged at suitable intervals along the'length of the dump, which length will vary accordingtothenumber of cars to be handledat a'time in the dump.

InFigj3 I show a'modified manner of unbalancing the dump. Here the cross angle 4" stands at an acute anglefto a horizontal plane inclined downwardly towards the dumps discharge side and this will cause the ca'rto tilt to one side. though leaving its coupling 29 still concentric with the axis of the dump as is the case of Fig. 1. The loaded car will thus unbalance the dump both overhead and towards its discharge side. The dump'isfu'rther unbalanced by a counten balance weight exemplified by the cylinder 27 mounted by its fastening straps 28 on the riding rings in the lower quadrant of the upright dump'on its discharge side.

In Fig. 4 the car is set lower in the dump andits track is horizontalbut is shifted to one side so as to unbalance the dump overhead andon" its discharge side. Here the dump is also'provided wit-h a counter-balance weight, such as 27, ha ving fastening straps 28, butin Fig. 5, which otherwise corresponds to Fig. 4, this counterweight is absent and the dump must rely on the force of gravity resulting from its unbalanced condition and from the spring 17 to start it quickly from initial position and to carry it through its dumping and return travel. In these three latter figures the dump riding rings are each provided with a buffer lug 20 which is intended to co-operate with its respective springs 17 and latch 19, not shown, in exactly the same manner as described in connection with the dump shown in Figs. land 2.

In operation, the loaded car or cars to be dumped are run into the dump which is held in initial position, as shown in Fig. 1, by the latches 19 engaging the lugs 20 which held under compression their respective springs 17. If there are a large number of cars in the dump there will be more than two of these springs and latches, all of which are operated in unison by the common crank shaft 23. A desired amount of counterweighting material, regardless of its character, can be conveniently introduced into the counterweight cylinders 27 until the requisite weight to produce the desired operation is obtained. In Fig. 1 this counterweight and the energy stored in the compressionof the buffer springs 17 on the other side'ot' the dump are the sole means relied upon in'starting the dump from initial position. As the dump starts to rotate the loaded car, the center of gravity of which is above the center of the dump, becomes unbalanced towards the dumps discharge side and thus co-o'pera-tes with the counterweights to give it momentum which will swingit through the desired are necessary to dischargeits contents, which is generally somewhat less than a half revolution. After. the car dumps its contents its center of gravity changes and is again above the center ofthe' dump and'thus it will cooperate with the counterweights in acting to slow up the dump as it approaches the end of its dumping rotation which end it reaches approximately at the time that its lug or lugs 20 strike and compress-their respective buffer springson the opposite side of the dump from the latch. These'bufi'er springs co-operate with the then reversely unbalanced dump, due to the position of the counterweights andthe center of gravity of the inverted car, to start the dump back quickly on its return rotation, it beingob3 served that the running gear of the inverted car and the counter-weights 27 are in a position when the dump starts'ba'ck to exert their maximum gravitating influence to give the dump considerable momentum as it tends to swing back to initial position andthis mo mentum willca'rry the dump back'and cause the buffer lugs to engage and compress the right hand bufler springs 17 after passing the latches 19. These latches, by virtue of the pressure exerted on them through spring 26. will snap back over the buffer lugs and hold the dump with the right hand buffer springs under compression and in this position the empty cars can be removed and loaded cars replaced in the dump, whereupon the operation is repeated.

The operation as described is the same for the design shown in Figs. 3 to 5, except that in Fig. 3 the car being dumped can remain coupled to the other cars in a train or to its haulage means as its coupling is substantially. in the center of the dump, while in Figs. 4 and 5 the coupling is displaced below and to one side of the dump center and will thus, when too far of]? center for the coupling used, require the disconnection of the cars in the dump from cars in the same train outside of the dump, but if a whole train of cars is being dumped at a time this may be accomplished without disconnecting the train from the haulage means. The counterweight cylinders permit the ready insertion and removal of coimterweighting material therein to the end that the dump can be readily balanced to the extent desired.

My invention may be variously modified without departing from its substance as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump adapted to support a car therein so that when loaded its center of gravity will be above the center line of the dump and when empty below the center line of the dump, and counterweight means mounted in the dump in position to unbalance the dump when upright on its discharge side, said weight being disposed to counter-balance the inverted dump on the opposite side.

2. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump, and a counterweight means mounted in the lower quadrant of the dump on the side towards which its initial dumping movement is directed.

3. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for-the dump, a track in the dump disposed to bring the center of gravity of a loaded car above the center of the dump and of an empty car below the center of the dump, and a counterweight means mounted in the lower quadrant of the dump on the side towards which its initial dumping movement is directed.

4. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump disposed to bring the center of gravity of a loaded car above the center of the dump and of an empty car below the center of the dump, a. counterweight means mounted in the lower quadrant of the dump on the side towards which the initial dumping movement is directed, and means to arrest the dump at the completion of a predetermined partial rotation.

5. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump disposed to bring the center of gravity of a loaded car above the center of the dump: and of an empty car below the center of the dump, counterweight means mounted in the lower quadrant of the dump on the side towards which its initial dumping movement is directed, and means to arrest the dump at the completion of a predetermined partial rotation of approximately 160 degrees.

6. A rotary dump adapted to rotate partially about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, car tracks in the dump, a buffer lug mounted on the dump, a. spring buffer adapted to be engaged and depressed by the buffer lug as the dump returns to initial position after dumping, and latch means to catch and hold the dump in initial position with the bufi'er spring under tension.

7 A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump adapted to receive a car to be dumped, means to unbalance the dump with a loaded car upright therein so that it will tend automatically to rotate, a buffer lug on the dump, a spring bufi'er adapted to be engaged by the buffer lug when the dump has completed a predetermined partial rotation, said spring acting as a cushion stop and to start the dump back on its return travel, and means to stop and latch the dump in initial position.

8. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track in the dump adapted to receive a car to be dumped, means to unbalance the dump with a loaded car upright therein so that it will tend automatically to rotate, a buffer lug on the dump, a spring buffer adapted to be engaged by the buffer lug when the dump has completed a predetermined partial rotation, said spring acting to cushion and start the dump back on its return travel, and means to stop and latch the dump in initial position, said lat ter means comprising a buffer spring adapted to be engaged by said buffer lug, and latch means automatically operative to engage and hold the dump in initial position.

9. An automatic rotary dump adapted to rotate about its long axis, roller supports for the dump, a track support in the dump for a car to be dumped, means to unbalance the dump with a loaded car upright therein to cause it to rotate, bufler springs on opposite sides of the dump, a buffer lug adapted to co-act with the springs on both sides of the dump to stop the dump. atboth ends of; its; travel and an automatic latch means to stop and hold the dump in initialposition.

10.- A rotary automatic dump adaptedto .rotate about its long axis, roller supports for? the dump, tra'ck supports inthe dump for the car to be dumpechimeans to unbal-- ance-the dump With a loadedcar-therein to cause it to rotate, a bufi'enlug. on the dump, a buffer spring adaptedto be engaged and compressed by the lug'as the dump. swings:

back to initial position, and a spring pressedlatch adapted to be'tripped'b'y said lug and to hold it in initial position with said buffer spring under substantial compression.

11. A rotary automatic dump adapted to rotate about its long axis, rollersupports-fon the dump, a track in the dump for thecars to bedumped, means "to unbalance the dump with loaded cars-therein, aseries of loufier.

lugs mounted at intervals along the dump,- a buffer spring. adapteditobe engagedhy each bufl'er lugasthe dump swlngs back to initial position, a series of: latches adapted to engagesthe buffer lugs anollatch'the dump gage all of the latches andreleasethe dump= for rotation.

In testimony whereof I' atfix my signature.

ERSKINE RAMSAY.

Witness NOMIE VVELSH;