US1544988A

US1544988A - Mechanism for handling and dumping trains of cars

Info

Publication number: US1544988A
Application number: US525320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hutton Meritt
Original assignee: REMBRANDT PEALE
Current assignee: REMBRANDT PEALE
Priority date: 1921-12-28
Filing date: 1921-12-28
Publication date: 1925-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1942-07-07

Description

July 7, 19.25.

' M. HUTTON uscmmzsu FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING TRAINS OF CARS Filed Dec. 28 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y M. HUTTON IECHANISI FOR HANbLING AND DUMPING TRAINS 0F CARS July 7, 1925.

Filed D90. 28 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1925.

M.HUTTCN MECHANISM FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING TRAINS 0F CARS Filed Dec; 28. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lg VEN TOR A TTORNE Y July 7, 1925.

M. HUTTON MECHANISM FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING TRAINS OF CARS Filed D60. 1921 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR ATT RNEY Na 1% Q m Km \Q 2% .nw.\\\h |1||||||1|||||||1||||llililligllil -8 M Tu xNI .1 a Q: h ll u my $5 ms 93 Patented July 7, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mnmr'r HUTT-ON, or BENEDICT. ?ENNSYLVANI L, assrenoa TO nnnnnmngn ,PEALE, 01 NEW YORK N- Y,-

ivrncnamsra ron- HANDLING AND DUMPING TRAINS or CAR-S.

Application filed December 28, 1921. Serial No. 525,329.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ltlnnrrr IIUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Benedict, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Handling and Dumping irains of ,Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a mechanism or system for handling material-carrying cars, and more pz irticularly to a system, entirely automatic, or under a single man control, for taking the cars from a loaded train, weighing and dumping the cars, and making up the empty train.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious jherefrom, or may be learned bv practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrnmentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and'constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to es? plain the iirincigles of the invention.

i ()f the drawings z- Fig. l is a top plan of a track layout and cooperating mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side'elevation of the loaded track, taken substantially on the line. 22 of Fig. l;' I

Fig. 3 is an elevation, with parts omitted, of the track for the empty cars looking at Fig; 1 from the bottom side ofthe figure;

Fig. i is a profile of one cooperating series of gradient-s for the tracks;

Fig. is a greatly enlarged, central vertical section, taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the cars in the position of Fig. 2; Y I

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale. takenon the line 6- 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig.7 isadetached detail view, partly insection, and greatly enlarged, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8; V

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail, greatly enlarged, of the switch mechanism shown at the upper end of the car stop at the left hand end of Fig. ,5;

Fig. 9 is a top plan, greatly enlarged. looking substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 2, that is, itis a ,top plan correspondto Fig. 5, with the cars omitted;

Fig. 10 is a :tragmentary detail, greatly enlarged, of the automatic starting device for the car dumper shown in the upper central part of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of the joint .of the stop lever shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detached enlaged fragmentary detail looking along the line 12lf2 of F g. 9 in ,the ,direction of the arrows;

13 is a diagrammaticview of the starting and stopping mechanism for the hauling mechanism for the loaded cars; and

Fig. 14 is a detached detail View of the workman operated .control for the car dumper.

Theiinvention finds oneof its main applications in connection with a coal mine, or other mi re, although it will he found useful in other places One of the main objects of the invention is, mechanically and automatically, to take a trip or train of loaded cars and feed them one by one over the scales and through the dump and to make up the trip? or train of empty cars, thereby reducing theinumher .of workmen required on the dump or tipple of a mine or other working. In practice it is usually advisable to uncouple and to couple the cars by hand rather than by automatic mechanism, and one. workman can do this work and no other labor will be required to operate the dump or tipple, although so far as concerns other features of the invention the operation may be entirely automatic, including the uncoupling and coupling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention wi llbe set forth in connection with the detailed description of the illustrated preferred embodimentof the invention, and it will .be understood that the entiredesoription is illustrative and not restrictive of the invention. 7

Referring now in detail to the presentpreferred embodiment of the invention, the loaded track, or track for the loaded cars, is indicated by 1 and the empty track is indicated by 2, the empty cars after dumping passing from the loaded track to the empty track by any suitable means, and preferably by the automatic gravity switch, commonly designated a kickback whereby the successive cars of a loaded trip or traiuare supplied or fed forward one at a time, automatically just as they are required, and delivered into the car dinnper, and in accordance with one feature of the invention this operation is performed automatically by the mechanism itself.

In the embodied form thereof, an endless chain car-haul 9 runs over guiding and sup porting wheels-1O (the rear one not being shown), the forward wheel 10 serving to drive the carhaul in the usualmanner. The car'haul 9is provided with. dogs 11 adapted to engage automatically with the successive loaded cars in the train. 7

In the embodied form of driving means for the car-haul, a suitable motor 12 is conq nected through afriction clutch 13 to a speed-reducing gearing mechanism 14 (which may be substantially like that in copel'iding application of Kenneth Davis,

. 16 of the-car-haul driving wheel 10.

Ser. No. 553,251, filed April15, 1922) and through a friction clutch 15, withthe shaft It will be understood, so far as concerns most features of the invention, however, that any form of driving mechanism maybe provided. With the embodied mechanisnnthe starting and stopping of the car-haul is effected by means of abrake band. 17 operating on the gear speed reduction mechanism, the brake band in the automatic operation of the device being controlled and operated by asolenoid 18.

. In accordance with one feature of the invention, a weighing scale is provided in the track between the car-haul and the car dumper mechanisnnand' asembodied, this trackscale 24 is dished from the ends toward the center, so that a loaded car on a gentle gradient will. run onto the scale and will stop properly centered thereon, to be weighed. Any suitable indicating mechanism 25 for the scale may be provided, and this may be either supervised by a weighing clerk, or may be of the automatically recording type, both types. being in; common use in work of this class In the preferred form oftheinvention, there is a general relation between the grades of differentsections of the track and the various 1nechanisms,-which gradients will be later described, 7

B re dthe scales is a car ri e ma anism 27 which, so far as concerns most features of the invention, may be of any desired form or type, but as shown it is of the rotary reciprocating type, the details of the mechanism thereof being omitted, as

ars to the car dumper and for removing the empty cars therefrom, said mechanism operating either automatically or being workman controlled, as desired.

Referring now to the detailed embodied form of mechanism for controlling the supply of loaded cars to the ear dumper (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9), this mechanism is shown operated automatically by the car dumper completing the operation of dumping the next preceding car.v Asembodied, car stops 30 and 31, respectively, are located adjacent to the track, and swing into and out of the path of the front wheels 32 of the loaded car 33. The car stops 30 and 31 are pivoted, respectively, on horizontally-(lisposed shafts 3 4 and 35, supported in brackets 36 and 37, mounted upon or adjacent to the tracksl. The bottom end of the car stop 30 is pivoted to a rod 38, whichrod is pivoted to one arm 39' of a T lever 43, which lever is pivotally mounted at 40.

The bottom of the car stop 31 is pivotally connected to a rod 41, the other end of which lever is pivotally connected to the arm 42 of T lever 43. An arm 44 of T lever 43 is pivotally connected by a rod 45 with thecore of a solenoid 46. A spring 47 serves to hold the car stops 30 and 31 resiliently; in the car-stopping position, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9, and the soienoid 46 isenergized to rock the car stops 30 and 31; out of the way to permit the loaded car to pass into the 2 connecting to

flexible terminals

58 and 59.

Carried on the front of the rotary 7 car dumper,- is a contact plate 60, having one side 61 of conducting metal and the other side 62 of non-conducting material; This is designed'to operate with a:rotary'dumper of the reciprocating type.

' i That is, when the'dumper is making a bait-involution with the loaded car, and is r ve ies is t tion of the arr w in In connection therewith, F means are provided for supplying the loaded Means are provided by the invention Ill) , tion before the rear wheels of the other arm 72 of the lever 70 works aloe gaseous 12 the

terminals

58 and 59 will ride along the insulatingface of the member 60 and the circuit will remain open. On the return halt-revolution of the car dumper, and just before it comes to rest, the member (30, now traveling in the opposite direction to the arrow in Fig. 12, again passes the

terminals

58 and 59. The terminals 58 and will now wipe along the conducting face 81 of the member 60, thus closing the circuit and energizing the solenoid 4'6, and thereby rocking the

stops

30 and 31 clear from the track 1 and permitting the car 33 to run into the car dumper.

Means are provided for preventing the car stops from moving" back to the stop posic-ar 323 have passed,- and in the embodied form of such means, a trip lever is pivoted at 66 upon a support 67, the upper part of the lever (55 being shaped so'that it'will be swung or tripped-by the front wheel of the car At its bottom end, lever 65is pivoted to a rod 68, which rod at its other end is pivoted to one arm of a bell-crank lever 70, which lever is pivoted upon a support 71. The

'de a guide or backing plate 73, extending (low? wardly from the track 1 On the rod 88 is formed alugp; T4; adapt-- ed to interl'ocl: with the arm of the hellcrank lever, which lever is resiliently pressed against the rod 38' by a spring when the. solenoid ie-swings the 30 and '31 to the open position lever snap down behind the lug Ti, and is graced against sidewi-se fleiiure by theplate and will hold the car stops in the open position against spring 47. -When the front vvl-ieei of car 33 trips the lever 65, the rear wheels of "the car will be clear of the stops 30 and 31-, and by the tripping of lever 6 the :arm 72 will be swung clear of the stop 7 1 a spring et? will swing the stops '30 and at back into stop position behind the rear wheels ofcar and in position to stop the next following car; I

in the present preferred ei-nbodim ht, the gradient of the trackat this point is sutlicient for the loaded car to bump the empty car out of the dumper and as embodied, the advance of the car a uto-mati V Cally swings the car stops from "in front of the car 80: In the cinbodiedform of such m'echanisiii, stops 81 and 82, hich may be substantially the same as -or'-si1.iiil.a=r to the stops 8O and'31 are provided. Stop 8?. is mounted on a horizontal pivot 83, and stop 82011 a like pivot 8t. Stop 81 at itslovrcr end is pivotallyconnectod to a rod 85, and rod "85 "at its other end .is pivotal-1y connected to an arm 87 of a T lever 86, which lever is pivoted at88.

The lower end o'fth'estOpSO is? ota-liy connected to arod89, which rod at qts other end is pivoted to an arm 90 of the T lever 86. The other arm 91 of T lever 86 is pivotally connected by rod 92, to the core of a solenoid 93. Stops 9i and 95 serve to limit the swing of lever 86, and a spring 96 resiliently holds the car stops 81 and 8:2 in the stop position.

In the embodied form of automa'lcoir trol of the

stops

81 and 82 by the ad 7116.218: car solenoid 93 is connected to

circuit wires

97 and 98, which connect to an on and oft switch 99, having an actuating connection 100 to the. lever 65. Thus, when the advancing car 33 trips th lever 65, the circuit through

wires

97 and 98 is closed. and solenoid93 is energized, and the stops- 81 and 82 are moved out of the path of car 5 0,

which is bumped out oif-the dumpcr by the loaded car 33. As the rear wheel of car 33 trips switch 65, it will break the circuit through wiresl)? and 98 and permit the car stops 81 and 82 to return to stop position in front of the front wheels 10 i" car so far as the mechanism already described is {oncernedQ i 1 Q Means are provided v101 insuring the

stops

81 and 82 remaining open until the rear wheels of car 80 have passed and for closing them before the front wheels of car have reached the stops, and in the embodied form the mechanism is similar .to the holding mechanism for the

stops

30 and 31 already described. it lever is pivotally mounted at 111 in position to be tripped by the wheels of the car :80. At its lower lent the lever is pivotally connected to a rod 9 which rod is also pivotally connected to me arm of a =bell-cra-nk lever 1'13, pivoted at 1.1 on the dumper structure.-

The other-arm 115 of the lever 3" adapted to snap back of a 116 on the rod 85, similarly to the lever 72 and lug "H in Fig. 6. Lever .arni 115 has a lizltiilligg' plate 117, and is pressed against the rod 85 resiliently 'by spring" 1118. heir the

stops

81 and 82 are opened, the lever mm 115 will snap do wn behind the lug 116, and hold the

stops

81 and 82 open until. the trout-wheel. of the car 80 trips the lever 11)., when the stops 81 "and 82 will-rock back to w; position behind the rear wheels :oi' c 80 and in front of the iiiont wheels iolt car 138.

Means are provided by :the invention automatically actua-ti-n the car d1; ior optionally actuati I it under the controlot' a worlcnan or a tendant. 'lnithc cuibodied form of means for mint-rolling the operation o=l thedi-imper and rcte ring primarily to the automatically operating; {featme,this is designed to operate when the loaded car comes to rest against the steps 81 and 82 (Figs. 5 to :11 13 and 14).

The illustrated tonne oi dmnper construction and drive comprises two end frame rings 124 and 125 running in suitable guideways mounted on the general structure, such as a series of

flanged rollers

126 and 127, although the details of the dumper structure is immaterial, so far as concerns the general features of this invention. .The

particular rollers

126 and 127 shown in Fig. 9 serve to rotate the dumper. These rollers are fixed on a shaft 128, mounted in suitable beau ings 129. V V V Fixed on shaft 128 is a gear wheel 130, with which meshes a pinion 131, which is driven through any suitable or standard form of clutch 132, from a motor 133. The

F clutch 132 is shown operated by a lever 134,

pivoted at 135, a spring 136 impelling the clutch 132 into driving position. .The other end of lever 135 is pivotally connected at 137 to a rod 138, which rod is pivotally connected at 139to one arm of a lever 140, which lever is pivoted at 141 upon a suitablesupport 142. V

The lever 140 is provided at its outer end with a cam roller 143, and is providedwith a. one-way spring-joint 144, whereby the lever will be actuated in one direction by a passing cam but will snap idly over the cam when the cam is traveling in the opposite direction. This particular form of device is adapted for use with the reciprocating rotary dumper. On the flange 125 of the dumper is a cam 145, which cooperates with the lever 140 in the manner described and as shown in Fig. 10.

i 1 In the embodied form, the spring 136 presses'the lever- 134 into driving engagement or position for the clutch, and the cam 145 in passing, through lever 140, swings lever 134 to throw the clutch 132 out of driving engagement to stop the dumper. In the embodiedform of mechanism for hold- 7 ing the clutch 132 out of driving engagement (that is, in the stop position, while the loaded car is being run into the dumper and the empty car is being run out) a rigid arm 150 is fixed to one arm of the lever 140, and a stop'lever 151 is pivoted at 152; The other end of lever 151 is pivotally connected to the coreof a solenoid 153, the lever 151 being resiliently pressed into the detenting position by a spring 154. 1

Wire's 155 and 156 connect the circuitfor solenoid 153 (Figs 7 and 8) one to a spring pressed plunger switch 160-mounted in the car stop 81 and the other to a terminal 161,

mounted on the car stop. The plunger 160 is longitudinally slidable, and is held resiliently in the position of Fig. 8 by a spring V 162. Depending from the rod 160 is a springcontact piece 163, and in the path thereof is a contact 164 connected to the terminal 161. The' contact 164 is formed on one of its sides of conducting metal 165, and

. on its opposite side of insulating material ready described.

.Thus, as a car wheel strikes the rod160 in coming up to the stop 81 (Figsu7 and8), the contact- 163, traveling in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7, will wipe over and past the conducting strip 165 and energize the solenoid 153, and thereby will swing detent The dumper will then rotate and dump the loaded car 33, and by its own mechanism (not shown) will reverse its direction and bring the dumped car back. During the reciprocation of the dumper with the loaded car, the coaction of the cam 145 and lever 140 is as shown in the dotted line position of Fig. 10, that is, the cam will not cause the.

lever to throw out the lever 142 and the clutch. On the return movement of the dumper with the empty car, cam 145 will rock lever 144 and throw out clutch 132 against the pull of spring 136, and detent lever 141 will be snapped behind arm 150,

and the dumper will be brought to rest in 7 position to receive the next loaded car and to discharge the empty car which has just" been dumped.

In the form of dumper control mechanism which is operated by the attendant, a lever is provided whereby'the attendant starts the dumper. In said form, the lever 151 is pivotally connected to a rod 17 5 (Fig. 14),- the other end of which rod is pivoted to one end of a bell-crank lever 17 6, which lever is pivcorresponding to the spring 154.

The other end of lever 176 is pivotally connected to a rod 179, and. the other end of the rod is pivotally connected to one end of a hand-lever 180, which hand-lever is pivoted oted at 177, and is acted on by a spring 178,

at 181. In this case, the attendant, who

.could be the weighing clerk, or a man employed to uncouple and couple the" cars, by actuating the lever 180, would startthe dump with a loaded car into motion, in-

stead of its beingdone automaticallyby the loaded car 33 striking the

stops

81 and 82. Otherwise the operation would be as al- Means are provided by the invention for automatically starting and stopping the carhauler for the loaded cars, so that the train of loaded cars will deliver one loaded car, or advance the loaded cars one car length for each car which is dumped. In the embodied form thereof. the loaded car-hauler is started into action by the car 33 advancing from the position of Fig. 5 into thev dumper, and as so embodied, two contacts, 188 and 189, are in the path of the arm 39 of the T lever 43. V

The

terminals

188 and 189 are in

circuit having wires

190 and 191, which connect to a magnet 192. The magnet 192 has for its I armature a circuit-controlling lever 193, pivoted at 1:9 1, and acted on by a spring 195, which holds it in open-circuit position. The lever 193 connects to a wire 1-96 of the circuit of the solenoid 18,,and a terminal 197 cdnnects by a wire 198 to the solenoid 18, a

wire 199 completing the circuit to the supply Wire.

Means are provided by the invention. for holding the circuit of the solenoid 18 closed, to drive the chain hauler for the loaded cars and also means cooperating therewith for stopping the loaded car-hauler after it has traveled a single car :len-gth. As em bodied, a pin 200 is fixed to lever 193, and a detent lever 201 is pivoted at 202, having at one end a hool: 203 adapted to engage the pin 200, and at its other end being pivotally connected by a rod 204 to the core of a solenoid 205.

ires 206 and-207 constitute the circuit for the solenoid 205. A spring 208 yieldingly impels the hook .203 into position to hold the pin 200. The wire '20? has a ten minal 2G9 and the wire 206 terminates in a lever 210, pivoted at 211, and resiliently held in the open-circuit position by spring 212. The lever 210 is of some form to be closed directly or indirectly by the car hauler and as illustrated, is in the path of movement of the dogs 11, so as to be forced to the contacting position thereby The manner of operation of the mechanism just described is substai'rtially follows 7 As the loaded car 33 runs. into the dumpe'r, the circuit of magnet 192 is closed at the

terminals

188 and 189, and lever 193 is thereby drawn to magnet 192, thus closing the circuit of the solenoid 18 at 197. This sets the brake 1? and causes the motor 12 to drive the car hauler. 7

H001: 208 snaps over pin 200 and holds the circuit for the solenoid 18 closed and the motor 12 consequently continues to drive the car hauler. After the car hauler has traveled the required distance, switch 210 is momentarily closed on contact 209, and solenoid 205 is thereby energized, and hook 203 is swung off from pin 200, and the circuit of solenoid 18 is tie-energized and brake 17 i is released, thereby stopping the drive of the car hauler by the motor 12. The drive mechanism is provided with a lirakeband 214- which goes on automatically in alternation with the brake 1 to hold the loaded trip.

In Fig. 4 a series of track gradients are indicated, which in practice have been found advantageous and successfui, but it will be understood that said gradients are illustrative and advisable, and are not restrictive of the invention. The diagram of Fig. 4 is projected from Fig. :2, and they can be considered together. I

The track along the automatic car hauler is shown level in Fig. 4 and for a slight dis tance, as for example, say six feet, depending somewhat on the length of the cars used, beyond the point where the hauler automatically disengages from the car, which space is indicated by reference numeral 220. Then for a short distance, say six feet, the track is arranged on an up grade, as indicated at 221, suchup grade. insuring slack couplings, so that the leading car, which is now being pushed by the next following car, can be readily uncoupled therefrom.

From the end of this slight up grade, the track slopes preferably more sharply down= wardly for a short distance, as shown at .222, and the car is pushedthcrealong from the part 221 of the track by the car behind it, which is being advanced by the car haul .9, and pushes the preceding car 227 off the scale and causes that car .to run down to the car stops .30 and Y31. From the scale 24 there is a fairly sharp down grade to the entrance of the dumper, along the section 228 of the track. The car stops 30 and 31 are located in this reach .or section of the track which section afiiords temporary storage for a loaded car while it is waiting for the dumper to complete the dumping of the preceding car.

-The tracks within the dumper are also slightly forwardly downwardly. inclined, be ing the section or part 229 in Fig. 4, to hold the car securely to the stops 81 and From the dumper there is for a short distance a section 23.0 on a grade which may be the same as that for the damper, and from there on the grade will be sufficiently sharp" to cause the empty car to run through the kick-back and come back on the empty track.

Referring now to the movement of the ears in Fig. 2, the car 225 is being propelled forward along the level track by the car hauler 9, which will shortly automatically pass out of engagement therewith. At this time the car 224: has come into engagement with the car hauler, and any remaining cars in the train (extending to .the right from Fig. 2) will be pulled along by the car 224. The car 226 is being pushed by thecar 225 and has passed from the level track to the short and slight upgrade section 221., This gives .a'slaclc coupling, so' that car 226 may be readily uncoupled from car 225. The uncoupling may be effected, if desired, by any suitable or standard automatic coupling, but in practice it is usually found satisfactory to effect the uncoupling by hand. 7

The horns 31, the scale 24, and the point at which the grade changes between section of track 221 and section of track 222 are related so that the car 227 leaving the scale will, before the chain haul feeder stops, be on the section of track 228 in a position Where it will run by gravity to the car stop 'or horns 31, and car 226 which has been pushing car 227 will be in such a position that it will run ahead to the low point'in center of scale and be free from both the car ahead 227 and the car following 225. The chain haul feeder 9 will be automatically stopped as soon as possible after the advancingcar 227 reaches the sect-ion of track 228 for the gravity run to horns3l. This could be accomplished by having car 227 make the contact to stop the car feeder 9 as soon" as the rear wheels are on section 228 of the track or by making the grade on track 228 steep enough so that car 22'? will run quickly to the horns. Section of track 222 just before reaching the scales would be very short, or'perhaps eliminated entirely Just prior to car 227 being pushed forwardly off the scale by car 226, the car dumper has returned to position, stops 30 and 31 have been opened, and car 232 runs down grade onto the dumper, pushing car 233 out ahead of it. Car 233 will rundown and through the kick-back on to the empty track.

The empty track is shown of usual construction, having an endless chain car hauler 234k, which may be continuously running,-'and as shown is driven from a motor 235, through reduction gearing 236, and

-may beprovided with a slip clutch 237.

The empty cars are coupled on this stretch of track to make up the return empty train.

By the invention, a trip of loaded cars is brought to rest on the track with the first car in position relatively to'the automatic hauler, and the cars are then fed mechanically over the scale and into the dump and back onto'the empty track, the cars being kept under mechanical control substantially at all times. It is advisable to have at least one man to supervise the automatic operation, and in practice it is preferable with the ordinary types of mine car couplers to have this man'uncouple and couple the cars. The sections of down grade in the track are on the one hand sufliciently sharp to insure all the cars, irrespective of their being easy running or hard running, running along at sufiicient speed to effect the desired functions or results, and on the other hand, these down grade sections are sufliciently short and are so located that none of the cars, however easy running, will gain sufficient momentum to cause any damage. The care are kept under mechanical control except for these very short gravity runs, and where these runs are employed the grade is suflicientlysteep and on the other hand sufficiently short to effect the advantages just described.

The-invention in its broader aspects is not 7 limited to the specific 'mechanisms shown anddescribed but departures may be made therefrom withinthe scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the rifieing its chief advantages.

What I claim is principles of the invention and without sacloaded cars, ofa car-feeder for releasing from a train oneloaded car at a time, a car 1. The combination with a track for dumper," means for intermittently.supply ing a car into the dumper and means op ing a car into the dumper and means op-' crating automatically concurrently to release a' loaded carfrom the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper.

3. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at atiine, a car dumper, means for intermittently supplying a car into the dumperand means operated automatically by the supply of a car to the dumper for releasing a loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper.

4. The V combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder-for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time, a car dumper, a car stop operable to release a car to supply it to the dum aer, and means operating concurrently to release a loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper.- I

5. The combination with a track for loadedcars, of car feeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at atime, a car dumper, a car stop operable to release a car to supply it to the dumper, and means op erated automatically by the supply of a car to the dumper for releasing a loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper.

6. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time, acar duinper, a car stop operable to release a car to supply it to thedumper, and means automatically operating concurrently to release a loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper.

7. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having'means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means operated manually or automatically for moving the car hauler forward a car length for each operation of the dumper.

8. The combination with a track for loaded-cars, of a car haulerhaving means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means operating automatically for moving the car hauler forward a car length for each operation of the dumper.

9. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means controlled by the movement of the dumper for moving the car hauler forward a car length by each operation of the dumper.

10. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a carfeeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time, a car dumper .in advance of said hauler, and means controlled by the movement of the dumper operated to release a car'from the feeder for each operation of the dumper.

ll. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a carfeeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means operated by the damper to release a car from the feeder by each operation of the dumper.

12. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a carfeeder for releasingfrom a train one loaded car at a time, a car damper in advance of said hauler, and means operated by the damper for automatically releasing a car from the feeder for each operation of the dumpen 13. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a train one lo'aded'car at time, a car dumper, means for intermittently supplying a car-into the dumper, means operating concurrently to release a loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper, and means operating automatically for releasing the empty car from the dumper.

14 The combination with a track for loaded cars, of acar feeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time,-a car damper, means for intermittently supplying a car into the dumper, means operating automatically concurrently to rele'asea loaded car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the dumper, and means operating automatically for'releasing the empty car from the dumper.

15. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a train one loaded car at a time, a car dumper, means for intermittently supplying a car into the'dumper, means operated auto- 'matically by the supply of a car to the dumper for releasing al'oaded-.-car from the car feeder to be forwarded toward the damper, and means operating automatically for releasing the empty car from the dumper.

16. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a train one loaded carat a time, a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, means operated to release a car from the feeder for each operation er the ,dumper, and means operating automatically for releasing the empty car from the dumper.

17. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car feeder for releasing from a trainone loaded car at a time, a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, means operated to release a car from the feeder by each operation of the diunper, and means operating automatically .for releasing the empty car from the dumper.

18. The combination with a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means controlled by the dumpcr for moving the car hauler forward a scar length for each operation of the damper, said means including a device for automatically stopping the hauler latter said'travel of a car length.

19. The combination with :a track for loaded ears, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car 'in a train, a car damper in advance of said hauler, and means controlled by the damper and operating automatically for moving the car hauler forwarda car length for each operation of the damper, said means including a device for automatically stopping the hauler after said travel of a car length.

20. The combination with 'a track for loaded cars, of a car hauler having means for engaging each car in a train, a car dumper in advance of said hauler, and means controlled by the dumper for moving the car hauler forward a car length for each operation of the damper, said means including a device operated automatically by a car for stoppingthehauler after said travel of car length.

21. The combination'ofa track fore-are, means for supplying cars one by one along said track, a track stop for a supplied car, and means for withdrawing the track stop from the path of saidcar and for causing the supplying meansto supply another car.

22. Thecombination of a track for cars, means for supplying cars one by one I along said track, a trac-kstop for asupplied car, a car damper, and means for withdrawing the track stop from the path of said car and for causing the supplying means to supply anothercar operated by said track d-umper dumping a car.

23. The combination of a car dumper., a track leading to the-damper and approach- Ion grade portion leading ing it by a down grade and havin an upgrade portion leading to said down :rade

a a n 24 .v The combination of a car damper, a

track leading to the dnmper and approaching it by a down grade and having an upto said down grade portion, a car stop for controlling the supply. of the cars to the dumper, a feeder for a train of cars located on said upgrade portion of thest'rack and means for advancing the cars a car length and operated automatically when the car stop passes a car to the damper; i

25. Thecombination of an automatic car train hauler, means for dumping a car, and means operated by the dumper as it completes the dumping operation for causing said hauler to supply a full car 'frornsaid train V Y 26. The combination of a dished scale track, a' down grade track leading to the scale, and means for causing a loaded car to run down said track to dislodge a car from said scale.

27. The combination of a cartrack for loaded cars, car stopping mechanism associated therewith, car dumping mechanism, electro-magnetic means controlled by the dumping mechanism for moving the stopping mechanism to the inoperative position for releasing a car to the damper, and means on the said car traclcfor moving the stopping mechanism back tothe operative position for stopping a following car.

28. The combination ofv a car tracl: for

ciated With the dumper, and means controlled bya car as it passes along the track for moving said car stopping mechanism to the inoperative position for releasing a carfrom the car dumper.

30. The combinationof a car dumper, a car track for feeding loaded cars to the dumper,'car stopping mechanism associated with the dumper, means controlled by a car as it passes along the track for moving the carstopping mechanism to the inoperative position for releasing a car, and means Lsaa'ees operated by the carthus released for movingthe car stopping mechanism back to the operative posit on for stopping the nextcar.

81. The combination of a car dumper, oar stopping mechanism associated With the dumper,a car track for feeding cars to the dumper, car stopping mechanism associated with the car track, means controlled by the dumper for moving the stopping mechanism on the track to release a car, and means controlled by the car thus released for moving the stopping mechanism on the damper for releasing a car from the dumper.

3:2. The combination ofa car dumper, car stopping mechanism associated With the dumper, a car track for feeding cars to the dumper, car stopping mechanism associated with the track, means controlled by the dumper for moving the stopping mechanism on the track for releasing a car, means controlled by'the car thus released for moving the stopping the mechanism on the dumper for releasinga car and means controlled by the movement of the car thus released from'the dumper for moving the stopping mechanism, on the dumper back to the operative position for stopping the next car. 7 1

33. The combination of a ear dumper, car stopping 'mechanisin associated with the dumper, a car track for feeding cars to the dumper, car stopping mechanism associated with the track, means controlled by the damper formoving the stopping mechanism on the track for releasing a car, means controlled by the car thus released for moving the stopping mechanism on the dumper for releasing a car and means controlled by the car thus released for moving the stopping mechanism on'the track} back to the operative position for stopping the next car.

34:. The combination of a car dumper, car stopping mechanism associated with the dumper, a car track for feeding cars to the dumper, car stopping mechanismfassociated With the track, means controlled by the dumper for moving the stopping mechanism on the track for releasing a car, means controlled by the car thusreleased for moving the stopping'mechanism on the dumper for releasing ,a car, means controlled by the movement of the car thus released from the dumper for moving the carstopping mechanism on the damper back to tlie position for stoppingthe next car, and means controlled by the movement of the car released on the track for moving the car stopping mechanism on the track back to the position for stopping thenext car.

35. The combination of a car dumper, a car track for feeding cars to thedumper, car stopping mechanism associated With the dumper, means for moving the stopping mechanism to the inoperative position for releasing a car from the dumper, and means on the dumper controlled by the movement of the car out of the dumper for moving the stopping mechanism. back to the opera-- tive position for stopping the next car.

36. The combination of car dumping mechanism, a storage track adjacent thereto, car stopping mechanism associated with the storage track, car stopping mechanism associated with the dumping mechanism, and means operated upon the release of a car from the storage track for moving the stopping mechanism on the dumper to inoperative position for releasing a car therefrom.

37. The combination of a track for loaded cars, means for progressing the loaded cars along the track, a car dumping mechanism, a temporary storage track for loaded cars arranged between the first mentioned track and the dumping mechanism, car stopping mechanism associated with the temporary storage track, and means for operating said car etc ping mechanism.

38. 4 he combination of a track for loaded cars, means for progressing the loaded cars along the track, a car dumping mechanism, a temporary storage track for loaded cars arranged between the first mentioned track vand the dumping mechanism, can stopping mechanism associated with the temporary storage track, and means operated by the dumping mechanism for operating the car stopping mechanism to release a car from the temporary storage track to the dumping mechanism.

The combination of a track for load-ed oars, means for feeding the cars therealong intermittently, a car dumping mechanism, a'

temporary storage track arranged between the first mentioned track and the dumping mechanism, car stopping mechanism associated with the temporary storage track, and means for operating said stopping mechanism for releasing a car from the storage track to the car dumping mechanism and for simultaneously operating said car feeding means to deliver another car to the temporary storage track.

40. The combination of a track for loaded cars, a car dumper, a temporary storage track for loaded cars, downwardly inclined toward the dumper and arranged between the dumper and the first mentioned track, car stopping mechanism associated with the storage track, and means for operating said stopping mechanism for releasing a car for delivery by gravity to the dumper.

41. The combination of a track for loaded cars, a car dumper, a temporary storage track for loaded cars, downwardly inclined toward the dumper and arranged between the dumper and the. first mentioned track, car stopping mechanism associated with the storage track, means, operated by the car dumper for operating said stopping mechanism for releasing a car from the storage track for delivery by gravity to the car dumper.

42. The combination of a track for loaded cars, a car dumper, means for moving the cars along the track, a temporar storage track for loaded cars, downwawlly inclined toward the dumper and arranged to receive cars from the first mentioned track, means, controlled by the dumper for releasing a loaded car from the storage track for de livery by gravity to the dumper, and means controlled by the car as it leaves the storage track, for operating said car moving means for delivering another loaded car to the storage track.

43. The combination of car dumping mechanism, power driven means for operating the car dumping mechanism, and means, actuated by a car upon its arrival in the dumping mechanism, for causing the power driven means to operate the dumping mechanism to dump the car.

44. The combination of car dumping mechanism, power driven means for operating the car dumping mechanism, means, actuated by a car upon its arrival in the dumping mechanism, for causing the power driven means to operate the dumping mechanism to dump the car, and means for automatically stopping the dumping mechanism upon its return to normal position, after completion of the dumping operation.

45. The combination of car dumping mechanism, power driven means for operating the car dumping mechanism, means, actuated by a car upon its arrival in the dumping mechanism, for causing the power driven means to operate the dumping mechanism to dump the car, a storage track for loaded cars, car stopping mechanism associated therewith, and means actuated by the return of the dumping mechanism to normal position, operating the car stopping mechanism for releasing a loaded car from the storage track to the dumping mechanism 46. The combination of car dumping mechanism, power driven means for operating the car dumping mechanism, means, actuated by a car upon its arrival in the dumping mechanism, for causing the power driven means to operate the dumping mechanism to dump the car, means for automatically stopping the dumping mechanism upon the return to normal position, after completion of the dumping operation, a storage track for loaded cars, car stopping mechanism associated therewith, and means actuated by the return of the dumping mechaism to normal posit-ion, operating the car stopping mechanism for releasing a loaded car from the storage track to the dumping mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MERITT HUTTON.