US1717124A - Car-dumping apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 11, 1929. F. E. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet zww June 11, 1929. 5M|TH 1,717,TZ4

CAR DUMP ING APPARATUS Filed Octv 3 192 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mnesses: j7w2et09':

' E 6M/7-H 2 M Q" Paw/6 June 11, 1929. F. E. SMITH 1.717.124

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS raga June 11, 1929. F, E. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet wwwLN ZZWQM Patented June 11', 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK E. SMITH, OF SCOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-DUMPING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 3, 1927.

This invention relates to car dumping apparatus and, while not limited thereto,

relates to rotary car dumping apparatus adapted to dump complete trips or trains of cars at one time.

One object of this invention is to provide a car dump of this class with novel car holding mechanism adapted to clamp or hold the cars in position while the apparatus is rotated to dump the contents of the cars, and automatic means for operating said car-holding mechanism whereby. when said dumping apparatus is in upright or non-dumping position, the car-holding mechanism will be held out of car-holding position so that locomotives may travel through the dumping apparatus to pull the cars to be dumped therein.

Another object is to provide a novel trolley enclosure in said dumping apparatus adapted to automatically enclose the trolley when the apparatus is moved into dumping osition.

A further object is to provide av umping apparatus having the novel construction, combination, and design of parts hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a partial plan of a dumping apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof.

Figure 3 isa partial enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line III-III of .Figure 1, showing a car in position to be engaged by the car-holding mechanism.

Figure 4 is a partial enlarged sectional elevation on the line IV-IV of Fi ure 1, showinga car locked in position by t e carholding mechanism.

The apparatus of this invention is preferabl built in units or bays of approximate y 28 feet in length and any number of such units are joined to form a complete apparatus. The plan of Figure 1 shows one of such units, and it will be understood that ten, fifteen, or even more of such units will be joined to form the complete machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates the cage or barrel-like body of the dumping apparatus as a whole, which is built up of suitable standard structural shapes in the usual ap- Serial No. 223,671.

proved manner and is of sufficient length to receive a complete trip or train of cars.

Thecage or body A is provided with a plurality of transverse track supporting eams 2 on which the track rails 3 are secured in any approved manner such as by the bolted clips 4.

The cage or body A is provided at spaced intervals with traction-rings 6 adapted to be supported on traction-wheels 7, journaled in housings 8 of beams 9 arranged transversely above the material receiving pit 10. The wheels 7 are arranged in pairs so that the wheels of each pair will engage the rings 6 at spaced points. One wheel of each of said pairs of Wheels is adapted to be power operated by a motor or other source of power (not shown) through a reducing gearing 12 which is connected to the wheel by a sprocket and chain-drive 13.

Suitable guard-rails 14 are arranged parallel to the track rails 3 to prevent thederailing of the cars to be dumped.

Angle supporting arms 15 are pivotally secured adjacent each end of each of the track supporting beams 2 and serve to form a pivotal support for angle-shaped car-- holding beams 16, which beams are adapted to be swung in and out to engage and disengage the eXtended ends 17 of the axles of the cars to be dumped as shown in Figure 2.

Operating shafts 18 for each of the angleshaped car-holding beams 16 are journaled in bearings 19 along each side of the body A. The shafts 18 are provided with a plurality of levers 20 which are keyed to the shaft, and have their upper ends pivotally connected to a pair of parallel links 21, which links are pivotally connected to lugs 22 on the beams 16, forming toggle-like operating connections between the shafts 18 and beams 16.

The shafts 18 are adapted to be rotated in a direction away from the beams 16 to-move the.beams 16 out of cardioldino position. When the beams 16 are in car-ho ding position, the levers 20 are positioned slightly beyond the center so that a load on the beams 16 servesto tighten the hold of the levers QOand links 21.

The beams 16 are adapted to be moved out of car-holding position and out of the path of cars and locomotives or motors passing through the body A when the dumping apparatus is in upright or non-dumping position, and, in order to accomplish this operation, the shafts 18 are provided with pairs of sheaves 24 at spaced intervals. The pairs of sheaves 24 on the opposite shafts 18 are in line with each other and in line with a third pair of sheaves 25 jo'urnaled on' the center beam 26 below the track beams 2.

In order to compel the shafts 18 to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions, or away from the beams 16, so as to move the beams 16 out of car-holding position, a cable 27 is secured to the bottom of one of the sheaves 24 one of the shafts 18 and trained under one of the sheaves 25, and over and secured to the top of one of the sheaves 24- on the other shaft 18, and a second cable 28 is secured to the under side of the other sheave 24 on the last named shaft 18 and trained under the other sheave25 and over and secured to the top of. the other sheave secured to the first named shaft 18, thereby forming a flexible linkage between the shafts 18.

The body A of the dumping apparatus is adapted to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to dump the cars, and to be reversed or rotated back in a clockwise direction to return the cars and the apparatus to.

upright position. The side of the apparatus which is moved up during the dumping movement of the apparatus will therefore be designated as the power side of the apparatus since the rollers or wheels 7 along this side of the apparatus are the power wheels, and the shaft 18, journaled along this same side of the apparatus, is the shaft to which,

. In order to move the beams 16 into carholding position and to reposition the levers 34, levers 36 are keyed at spaced intervals on the shafts 18. The levers on the opposite shafts 18 are in line with each other and extend downwardly to a point below the tracks 3. A spring seat or cup 37 is pivotally secured to the lower end of each of the levers 36 and a spring guide-rod 38 is mounted centrall in the seat or cup 37 and projects there rom.

Pairs of supporting-rods 40 are anchored to the track rails 3 opposite each of the levers 36 and carry a .pairof bracket 41 adjacent each end, which are held agfinst movement toward the opposite ends of the rods by spacer-sleeves 42. The brackets at each end of the rods 40 are connected by a bolt 43 and spacer-sleeve 44 and have a pivotal bearing-block 45 mounted therebetween, which block is journaled in openings 46 in the brackets 41.

Coiled springs 47 are mounted on each of the rods 38 with their outer ends mounted in the seats 37 and 'slidable spring cups or the inner ends of the springs 47. The free ends of the spri guide-rods are projected through apertures in the bearing blocks 45 and the length of the springs 47 are such that they will be under tension at all times and force the inner ends of the inner seats 48 against the bearing blocks 45.

When the shafts 18 are rotated to move the car-holding beams 16 out of car-holding position, the levers 36 will be rocked inwardly so as to compress the springs 47 and, therefore, when'the body A of the apparatus is moved to dumping position and releases the lever 34, the springs 47' will force the levers 36 outwardly so as to rotate the shafts 18 and return the beams 16 to car-holding position.

A trolley box 50 is arranged longitudiseats 48 are moujted on the rods to receive nally of the cage or body A and consists of L a body composed of closed top and sides which areformed integral and a hinged bottom cover member 51. The body of the box 50 and the hinged cover are provided with an inner surface of insulation 52 such as rubber. The cover 51 is along the one side of the box on brackets 53 so as to swing clear of the box body by gravity when the apparatus is in upright position and to swing over and close the box when the apparatus is moved into dumping position.

A trolley 54 is mounted within the box 50 and, due to the hinged cover 51, is protected, during the dumping operation, from damage by the coal being dumped.

In operation, the apparatus will be positioned in upright position to receive the cars to be dumped and, as heretofore described, when in this position the levers 34 will be positioned against the stops 35, so as to hold the car-holding beams 16 out of car-holding position. A train or trip of cars will then be pulled onto the dumping apparatus by one of the standard locomotives. After the cars to be dumped are positioned on the apparatus, the locomotive will be detached from the train and run off the apparatus. Suitable controls will then be operated to energize the sources of power which operate the power wheels 7 and the body A of the apparatus will be rotated counter-clockwise to dump the cars. As the body A is moved counterclockwise to dump the cars, the levers 34 will be moved away from the stops 35 and the tension springs 47 against the levers 36 will rotate the shafts 18 so as to move the beams 16 inwardly so that they will be engaged over the extended portion 17 of the car axles to hold the cars in position during the dumping operation.

After the coal is dumped, the rotation of the motors, or other sources of power for operating the power wheels 7, will be reversed so as to return the body A of the dumping apparatus and empty cars back to upright position, and as the upright position is approached the levers 34 will again engage the stops which will force the levers 34 to move upwardly so as to create a pull on the cables 31 and sheaves 30, so as to rotate the shaft 18 on the power side of the apparatus and also rotate the other shaft 18 through the cables 27 and 28, Whereby the beams 16 will be moved or retracted out of car-holding position so as to permit the empty cars to be moved freely out of the dumping apparatus and a new train or trip pulled in.

WVhen the apparatus is. in upright position the cover or top 51 of the trolley box will be held in open position by gravity and as the apparatus is rotated to dumping position the cover 51 will move into closed position by gravity and prevent the coal, water, and other matter falling against the trolley 54.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various modifications in size and details of construction may be made to adapt the invention to specific uses without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In a rotary car dumping apparatus, a cage having a track on which a plurality of cars are adapted to be positioned for dumping, car-holding mechanisms at each side of said cage, each of said mechanisms comprising a plurality of'pivoted supporting arms, an angle car axle engaging member secured to said arms, separate operating shafts for each of said mechanisms, levers fixedly mounted on said shafts, links connecting said levers and said supporting arms, means for rotating said shafts to move said angle car axle engaging member out of car engaging position, and other means for automatically returning said car axle engaging means into car engaging position.

2. In a rotary car dumping apparatus, a cage having a track on which a plurality of cars are adapted to be positioned for dumping, means for rotating said cage to dump said cars, car-holding mechanisms at each side of said cage, each of said mechanisms comprising a plurality of pivoted supporting arms, a car axle engagingmember secured to said arms, separate operating shafts for each of said mechanisms, levers fixedly mounted on said shafts, links connecting said levers and said supporting arms, means for rotating said shafts to move said car axle engaging members into car-holding position when said cage is rotated to dump said cars, and other means for rotating said shafts in the reverse direction to move said car axle engaging members out of holding position when said cage is returned to normal or upright position.

3. In a rotary car dumping apparatus, a cage having a track on which a plurality of cars are adapted to be positioned for dumping, means for rotating said cage to dump said cars, car-holdingmechanisms at each side of said cage, each of said mechanisms comprising a plurality of pivoted supporting arms, a car axle engaging member secured to said arms, separate operating shafts for each of said'mechanisms, levers fixedly mounted on 'said shafts, links connecting said levers and said supporting arms, sheaves fixed on said shafts, cables connecting said sheaves so as to cause said shafts to rotate in opposite directions, another sheave fixed on one of said shafts, a cable having one end secured to said last named sheave and its other end secured to a lever pivotally secured to said cage, a fixed stop adapted to be engaged by said lever as said cage is moved into upright position, whereby said lever is rocked so as to pull said cable and rotate said shafts to move said car axle engaging members out of car-holding position, and spring means for rotating said shafts in the reverse direction to move said car axle engaging members into car-holdin position as said cage is rotated toward dumping position. r

4. In a rotary car dumping apparatus, a. cage having a track on which a plurality of cars are ada ted to be positionedior dumping, means or rotating said cage to dum said cars, car-holding mechanisms at eac side of said cage, each of said mechanisms comprising a plurality of pivoted supporting arms, a car axle engaging member secured to said arms, separate operatingshafts rocked so as to pull said cable androtater said shafts to move said car axle engaging members out of car-holdingdposition, a pinrality of -levers fixed on sea 5 hafts,

seats pivotally connected to said levers, spring guide rods secured to said spring seats, a stop member pivoted for vertical ltOVtll'lODt on said cage, other seeond spring seats slidably mounted on said rods and adapted to abut said pivoted stop members, and coil springs mounted on said guide-rods and having their ends engaged in said seats, "whereby when said shafts are rotated to move said ear axle engaging members out of car-holding position, said coiled springs are com n'essed and when said lever is released from said stop as said cage is moved into dumping position said springs will exert their stored-up energy on said levers and rotate said shafts in the reverse direction to move said ear axle engaging members into car-holding position.

.5. In a rotary car dumping apparatus, a cage having a track on which a plurality of cars are adapted to be positioned for dumping, means for rotating said cage to dump said cars, car-holding mechanisms at each side of said cage, each of said mechanisms comprising a plurality of pivoted supporting arms, a car axle engaging member secured to said arms, separate operating shafts for each of said mechanisms, levers fixedly mounted on said shafts, links connecting said levers and said supporting arms, means for rotating one of said shafts, other means connecting said shafts whereby, when said last named shat t is'rotated, the other shaft will be rotated sin'iultaneously in the opposite direction, whereby'said car axle engaging members are moved out. of car-holding position, and spring means for auton'latically rotating said shafts to return said car axle engaging members into car-holding position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANK E. SMITH.

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