US1963567A - Automatic, continuous freight conveyer - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1934. J. A. TAYLOR I AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS FREIGHT CONVEYER Filed Nov. 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l awoewcoz June 19, 1934. J. A. TAYLOR 1,963,567

AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS FREIGHT CONVEYER Filed Nov. 21, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maw June 1934. J. A. TAYLOR 1,963,567

AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUS FREIGHT CONVEYER Filed Nov. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5 5 35 3Q 1" T as f 35 Fig H /V//////// ss g Swovntoz Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES.

AUTOMATIC, CONTINUOUS FREIGHT CONVEYER James A. Taylor, Glen Ridge, NJ,

Application November 21, 1931, Serial No. 576,554

Claims.

The loading and unloading of modern ships is one of the most important and expensive elements in their operation. The transfer of cargo freight from pier to ship and vice versa entails 51a great number 'of separate and discontinuous In handling a sling and the cargo itself, not

only is the actual" time of operation important but the immediate removal of the sling from beneath the pier door is imperative so that another sling may take its place without waitingfor the slow unloading of the sling and the sorting and carting away of its contents. While the saving of time is one of the principal advantages, no less important is the great saving in hoist 'men, handlers and 'stevedores and in stacking machinery and labor obtained by continuous operation and automatic stacking.

The objects of my invention are to provide 'a cargo conveyer for the continuous transfer of cargo from the hold of a vessel to any place on the floor or above the more: a pier and vice versa. Inits preferred form my device comprises in its broad scope a permanent .jI-beam runway having an inclined section suspendedabove 35.1th'e hold of a, vessel and extending within the pier door and a horizontal section secured to the pier ceiling and extending to a plurality of points'over the pier floor. The construction is such that when the cargo is raised a desired distance above the hold, a roller carriage secured to the hoist rope just above the sling or cargo container .automatically engages the. lower flanges of the I-beam runway. The hoist line is lowered and the carriage automatically de- 7 scends to the horizontal section of therunway inside the pier where the hoist line is released from the carriage and returned to the upper end of the inclined runway. Such hoist line is prevented from falling by roller supports whichv engage the lower flanges of the I-beam. 'An open trap door at the end of the beam provides an opening in the flanges for the line support to leave the flanges and drop free of the same ready to be lowered into the hold for another sling.

After the hoist line is released the carriage is manually pushed along the runway to any desired part of the pier on the main line or along branch runways by means of manually operated switches. A drum and hoisting gear on the carriage provide means for'lowering the'sling to any desired point either tothe floor or to a higher tier ofvpiled cargo, thus eliminating expensive stacking machinery and the necessarily large amount of labor entailed in the stacking process. The return of the carriages to the hold is accomplished by locking several together by a tongue and catch device and drawing them up by the hoist line through the trap door. While the application of 'my device is here applied to the loading and unloading of a ship it is obvious that the device may be used for theloading and unloading of any freight from trains or other depositories with slight if any adapta tions for particular purposes and without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit its use to ships or to any particular freight or situation. i e

My said invention is fully shown, described and claimed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part; wherein, numerals of reference designate like or equivalent. parts wherever found throughout th severalviews and in which; Figure 1 is a view of my entire device showing the carriage engaged on the runway and the ref lation of the deviceto a ship and a" pier. Figure 2 'isfan enlarged side view of the upper end of the I-bearns and the shield with the car riage engaged on .the runway. Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the runway and the shield in cross section on the line aa of Figure'2. i I

l' igure l is'an enlarged sidejview of the car riage and hoisting' and lowering device.

Figure 5 is anenlarged end view of the carriage and hoisting and lowering device.

Figure 6- is an'enlarged' top view of a typical switch from the main line to side branches of the runway.

Figure7 is a side view of the same.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top view of the carriage showing the device for locking one carriage to another.

Figure 9 isan enlarged top view of such device.

Figure 10 isan enlarged side view of the device to return the hoist line to the head of the I-beam.'

Figure 11 is an end view of the same. Figure 12 is a side view of the chain gear wheel and pawl engaging the same.

Referring to the drawings:

My new and improved adjustable, continuous freight conveyer for loading and unloading cargoes comprises an adjustable I-beam runway 1 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) suspended at its lower end 5 beneath the top of a pier door or other support by a hook 2, and a similar I-beam runway 3 permanently secured within the pier or over a storage floor horizontal to and above the floor. Plate 4 hinged to the end of 1 overlaps the lower flanges of the I-beam 3 forming an adjustable connection between 1 and 3. The beam 1 is supported at its upper end by block and tackle 5. The upper end of 1 is adjusted so that it will be directly over the hatchway of a ship to be loaded -or unloaded or over other freight. To steady the upper end of 1, guy ropes may be attached to the pier and to the upper end of l, tho this is not usually necessary because the connecting elements of the runway hereafter described allow considerable play. The upper end of the I-beam 1 is provided with a curved shield 6 which is narrowest in the middle and fluted outward at top and bottom and the outer end (Figs. 1, .2 and 3). Cargo to be transferred is raised or lowered by the usual hoist line 7 which passes through the center of such shield and is manipulated from the usual cargo boom suspended above the hold. Near the end of the line 7 is secured a .roller carriage 8. In the middle of the shield 6 are proi vided trap doors 9 hinged to the sides of the shield so that they will normally be flat and closed by gravity .in a straight plane with the lower flanges 10 of the I-beam 1. The hinged edges of these doors 9 are slightly further apart than the extreme width of the carriage 3 and its rollers. When such doors drop down into place the inner edges are slightly further apart than the frame of the carriage. The carriage 8 is provided with four rollers 11 mounted on the arms 12 (Figs. 1, 2', 4 and 5). The hinged plate 13 is mounted on the end of the web of the I-beam l. The lower flanges 10 of the I-beam l are cut away for the space of several feet. The free ends of the plate 13 overlap the ends of the flanges. The plate 13 is nor- ;mally drawn up out of contact with the flanges by alight spring 14. The trap doors '9 extend beyond the hinged ends of the plate 13. When the carriage 8 has been drawn up through the trap doors 9 pushing them open such doors drop to the level of the flanges of the I-beam 1 and are strongly supported in this position. The hoist line 7 is then lowered until the rollers 11 rest on the trap doors which are on the plane of the flanges of the I-beam 1. As the hoist line is slackened the carriage will run downward until the rollers are past the beginning of the plate 13. Mounted on the arms 12 opposite the rollers 11 and inside of the same are the rollers 15. These rollers 15 engage the plate 13 before the rollers .11 have left the trap doors. As these rollers 15 press upon the plate 13, the latter will be depressed until the free end meets the flanges 10 and the rollers 15 will roll over the plates and upon such flanges. After the passage of the carriage the plate 13 will be elevated by the spring 14 so that when the hoist line with or without the carriage is drawn back, the same will drop 01f the flanges and may be lowered in a straight line to the hold. The hoist line is secured to the carriage 8 by means of the rod 16 pivoted at the center of the carriage. The other end of the rod 16 is provided with a draw bolt 1'7 held in place by a spring 18. The hoist line is provided with a tongue 19 having an eye to engage the bolt 17 (Fig. 10). When it is desired to disengage such line the bolt 17 is withdrawn by inserting a hook in the eye 20 of the bolt 17 and withdrawing the bolt. Since the rod 16 is pivoted the carriage 8 may roll upon the I-beam with either end forward. The hoist line and rod will be depressed beneath the flanges 10 by the friction rollers 21 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which save wear on such line.

The end of the hoist line is provided with a double set of rollers 22 and 23 (Figs. 10 and 11) similar to those of the carriage 8 which will engage the trap doors and the flanges in a like manner. The rollers 22 and 23 are carried on an arm 24 which is pivoted so as to provide limited movement of the rollers according to which end of the carriage flrstenters the I-beam. A friction roller 25 is provided to permit the hoist line to be drawn back easily when released from the carriage. Its function is simply to prevent binding of rollers 23 on top of the flanges and the connecting part of arm 24 beneath, as the latter is .pulled up against the flanges along the curved runway when being drawn back quickly. With this device the line may be returned to the end of the flanges and be released and will not fall against the side of the ship.

When the hoist line has been released from the carriage the latter may be manually pushed to any part of the pier for unloading the sling. For the purpose of raising and lowering such sling, the carriage is provided with a drum 26 (Figs.'2,

4 and 5 around which a hoist line 2'7 is wound.

with one end secured to such drum and to the other end of which is attached a book 28 forthe sling (Fig. 2). Secured to one end of such drum is the gear wheel 29 (Figs. 4 and 5) operated by the spiral coacting gear 30 secured to the frame of the carriage. The gear 30 is provided with a toothed wheel 31 on which is mounted an endless'chain 32 provided with slots coacting with the teeth of the wheel 31. Coasting with the teeth of the wheel 31 is the pawl 33 (Fig. 5) which is normally kept out of contact with such teeth by the spring 34. When the sling has been loaded preparatory to hoisting, such pawl 33 is manually engaged against a tooth of such wheel and as the load is lifted the pawl prevents the unwinding of the drum and the lowering of the sling.

A plurality of carriages are provided so that a great number of slings may be unloaded at one time. To return these carriages and slings to the hold it is desirable to secure them together so that they may be brought to the pier door and connected to the hoist line. This is accomplished by providing each end of the carriage with a projecting tongue 35 having a notched head and a recess 36 (Figs. '8 and 9) partially closed by a trap door 3'7 kept normally shut by a light spring 38. Coacting with each recess is a corresponding tongue on every carriage so that when any two carriages are brought against each other sharply they will be locked together. i

The main runway 3 within the pier is located parallel to and at a considerable distance from the sides of the same. In order to distribute the cargo, auxiliary branch runways are provided to all parts of the pier but particularly at frequent intervals along the sides. Switches 39 (Figs. 6 and 7) are provided in the runway to connect with such branches .10. Such switches are pivoted to the runway 3 and are locked in position by the bolt 41 provided with an eye for the reception of a draw hook as in the case of the hoist line connection. The spring 42 tends to keep the bolt 41 engaged.

l ll) ..the flanges of the I-beam 1.

Since vessels or piled freight maybe of different heights and distances from the hooked support of the runway 2, it is desirable to make the runway 1 in sections secured together by the tongue and slot devices 43 and 44 (Fig. 1). When it is desired to have a runway greater or less than the usual, thesection supporting the-head is removed and an appropriate one substituted; 'A curved section may be used to adjust the device to very large vessels where the space between the pier and the vessel is not great.

The hoist line 7 is operated by the usual type of power winch 45.

The operation of my device is as follows: A sling is loaded in the hold and the hook 28 inserted in the sling ropes. The drum 26 1s turned to tighten the hoist line 27 and the pawl 33 pressed into position. The hoist line 7 is tightened and the car trap doors have fallen into place. The carriage is then lowered until the rollers 11 rest on the doors and the carriage rolls downward until the rollers 15 press down the plate 13 and pass on to The hoist line connecting rod 16 will be depressed and the hoist line rollers 22 and 23 will engagethe trap doors and flanges of the I-beam 1 in like manner as the carriage rollers. The cargo rope will follow underneath the I-beam and will pass under the frictionrollers 21. When the carriage has descended to the end of the I-beam l and to the horizontal I-beam runway 3, the draw bolt is withdrawn by a hook on the end of a pole and the hoist line is drawn back up the I-beam 1. In the meantime the hinged plate 13 will be drawn upward so that when the hoist line rollers 23 reach the end of the flanges 10, the line will fall free and may be lowered to the hold.

The carriage is then pushed along to the desired destination. If this be to the side of the pier or across the pier the runway switch 39 is unlocked and locked into the branch runway and the carriage propelled along the same. The sling is now high in the air. The endless chain 32 is now pulled slightly and the pawl 33 released out of contact with the toothed wheel 31. If it is desired to unpack the sling on the floor, the drum is unwound until the sling reaches the floor but if it is desired to stack the cargo the sling is lowered only to the top of the pile and thelabor of lifting such cargo will be saved.

When the operation to be performed is that of loading a vesselor elevating freight for any purpose the container or sling is secured to the hook of the carriage hoist line 27' and the drum is wound up elevating the freight. Thepawl 33 is inserted, the hoist line 7 attached to the carriage and the line 7 is drawn up by the usual power port 2 is carried on a cargo mast or boom and' the horizontal part of the runway either carried to an appropriate hatch or omitted.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a freight hoist line, a carriage secured to such hoist line supporting a freight container, a runway for such carriage having a head provided with means for 'zontally.

the passage of such'car-riage through such head in an upward direction only and adapted to position such carriage on such runway and means forpositioning such head over freight to be elevated. U

2. In a device of the class described, a freight hoist line, a wheeled carriage and a freight'container secured to such line, and an inclinedrunway for such carriage having atits upper end means for positioning such carriage on such runway comprising movable rails in line with the 1 runway when such carriage has been raised'above such runway.

3. In a'device of the class described, a freight hoist line, a carriage supporting a freight container which carriage is secured to such line, an inclined runway for such carriage having at its upper end means for positioning such carriage on such runway comprising movable rails in line with the runway and means for disconnecting such line from such carriage, allowing inde'pendent movement of such carriage. r

4. In a device of the class described, a freight i hoist'line, a carriage supporting a freight container which carriage is secured to such.line, an inclined runway for such carriage having at its upper end means for positioning such carriage on such runway, means for releasing such line from such carriage and allowing independent movement of such carriage'and means for changing the elevation of such container relativeto such carriage after such hoist line has been released from such carriage.

5. In a device of the class described, a freight hoist line, a freight holder suported on a wheeled such hoist line while on such second section of such runway comprising a disconnecting link on such carriage.

6. In a device of the class described, a freight hoist line supporting a wheeled carriage and a freight container, such carriage being adapted to run on a runway which is adjustably suspended over freight to be hoisted and means for positioning such carriage at a plurality of points over a storage floor. I

'1. In a device of the class described, afreight 1'25;

hoist line, and a carriage secured .to such line supporting a freight container, such carriage being adapted to engage a runway, the upper section of which is inclined and has a headpositioned over the freight to be hoisted which head is adapted to position such carriage upon such runway by means of an adjustable extension of such runway and the lower section of which is extended hori- 8. In a device of the class described, a runway for conveying freight comprising an inclined section having its upper end positioned over freight to be hoisted by means of the pivotal support of its lower end, a section maintained in a ,horizontal position over a freight floor and an adjustable section joining the two other sections.

9. In a device of the class described, a runway for conveying freight comprising an inclined section having its upper end positioned over freight to be hoisted by means of the pivotal support of its lower end, a section maintained in a horizontal position over a freight floor, an adjustable section joining the other two sections and a plurality of supplemental runways connected to such horizontal section by switches.

10. In a device of the class described, a runway for conveying freight comprising an inclined section composed of interlocking segments and having its upper end positioned over freight to be hoisted by means of the pivotal support of its lower end, a section maintained in a horizontal position over a freight floor and an adjustable section joining the other two sections.

11. In a cargo conveyor, a curved runway supported on a pier having a head higher than, the support point on such pier and adapted to be positioned over a hold of a vessel, a cargo hoist line secured to a carriage which carriage supports a cargo container and is adapted to engage such runway, and means for moving such carriage along such runway. r

12. In a. cargo conveyer, a curved runway such runway being of such shape and design that the carriage will descend by gravity over the side of the vessel to the lowest point of such runway supported on a pier. having a head higher than the support point on such pier and adapted to be positioned over a hold of a vessel, a cargo hoist line secured to a carriage which carriage supports a freight container and is adapted to engage such runway and means for attaching such line to such carriage, and releasing such line from such carriage.

13. In a cargo conveyor, a runway supported on a pier having a head adapted to be positioned over a hold of a vessel, a cargo hoist line supporting a cargo container and a carriage attached to such container adapted to engage such runway, means for releasingsuch line from such carriage and means for removing such carriage from such runway independent of such hoist line.

14. In a device of the class described, a freight hoisting line having a freight container secured thereto and provided with a carriage supporting such container, a runway having a head adapted to position such carriage upon such runway, such,

head comprising a guiding hood, trap door runways within such hood for such carriage and means for providing a continuous passage for such carriage from such trap door runways over the first mentioned runway.

15. In a device of the class described, a freight hoisting line having a freight container secured thereto and provided with a carriage supporting such container, a runway having a head adapted to position such carriage upon such runway, such head comprising a guiding hood, trap door runways within such hood for such carriage, a movable plate connecting such trap door runways and the first mentioned runway, means for keeping such movable plate normally raised above the first mentioned runway and blocking the return of the carriage to the trap doors and leaving an carriage to leave the same.

JAMES A. TAYLOR.

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