US2240350A - Coaling gate - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1941. c. P. ROSS COALING GATE Filed April 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Clydeffiw mmzmwm J J April 29, 1941. 4 c. P. ROSS 2,240,350

COALING GATE Filed April 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1941 COALIN G GATE Clyde P. Ross, Kenilworth, 111., assignor to Ross and White Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 20, 1939, Serial No. 268,87

4 Claims. ((31.221-144) This invention relates to delivery or discharge chutes and controlling means therefor, and has to do with what is known as coaling gatesand analogous devices.

It is the common practice to coal locomotive tenders by delivering the coal thereto from stor age bins, through delivery or discharge chutes. The chutes are provided with control gates, and a chute, together with its control gate means, is commonly termed a coaling gate. In the coaling gates commonly used for coaling locomotive tenders, so far as I know, it is the universal practice to provide an operating member which is operated by the hostler or fireman, such operating member, when subjected to downward pull, being eifective for opening the chute for discharge of coal, and, when moved upwardly, serving to close the chute against the discharge of coal. The chute has associated therewith a movtors who have fallen into tenders have been buried by the coal and have been either smothered to death or have died as a result of the injuries received. When an operator slips, he instinctively grasps the nearest obstacle for support, which is the operating member for controlling the chute gate. Since in the coaling gates now in use the gates are opened by pulling downon the control member, by grasping this member when falling the operator opens the chute gates, if they are closed, or, if they are open, maintains them in that position, with the result that the coal continues to flow from the chute and the apron into the tender, with the possibility of resulting serious injury to the operator.

The primary object of the present invention is to avoid the risk of injury to operators, in the event they slip or fall into the tender during the coaling operation, by providing a coalinggate of such character that downward movement or pull on the operating member, which controls the discharge of coal through the chute, is effective for closing the chute and shutting ofi the flow of coal. More specifically, I provide an operating rod which depends in position readily accessible I of the rod is effective for opening the gate and downward movement ofthe rod causes closing of the gate. The gate control and operating means of my invention is particularly suitable for use with what I term a side-cut coaling gate, in which the gates move into and out of the chute through the sides thereof, and I shall illustrate my invention, by way of example, as applied to a coaling gate of the character referred to.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away and in section, of a coaling gate embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the coaling gate of Figure 1,'on a reduced scale, with certain parts broken away and other parts shown fragmentarily and insection, this view also showing a distributing apron associated with the coaling gate; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of coaling gate embodying my invention,

certain parts being partly broken away and shown in section.

I have illustrated my present invention as applied to a chute provided with side cut gates, of the same general construction as that disclosed in the Reissue Patent No. 16,633, issued May 24,

1927, to Edwin A. Titus, for Coal chute gate, and

a brief description of the construction of the chute and the gates will suflice. I provide a chute 5, generally cubiform, including an angle iron frame 6, which comprises two angle members I bolted or otherwise suitably secured to wall 8 of a storage pocket or bin B. Wall 8 is provided with a downwardly inclined discharge opening 9, and chute 5 is provided with a bottom plate l9 forming a continuation of the lower wall of opening 9. Adjacent wall 8, chute 5 is provided with side plates II and a downwardly and outwardly inclined top or cover plate ill, the forward portion of which, designated I2a, tapers in width toward the outer or front end of the chute, being of substantially V shape in plan. Baille plates I3 are secured to the inner faces of plates H and extend inward and forward therefrom, for a purpose which will be explained presently. The

plates constitute, with the upper portion of bytwo-gates l4, each comprising an arcuate plate-l5 secured, at its inner end portion, to the movement about a horizontal axis, apron 3! being pivoted to bracket 32, at the midlength thereof, for movement about an axis perpendicular to bracket 32, by means of a pivot bolt 34 and associated elements. The apron is thus mounted for both vertical and horizontal movements for distributing the coal as it is delivered from the apron into the tender, it being understood that the upper end portion of the apron is of sufficiently greater width than the lower end of the chute to permit of appropriate horior plate I6 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to sleeve is. The gate plates arcuate in plan and concentric with the hinge rods 18, being thus mounted for movement toward and away from each other" transversely of the chute, the forward ends of bafiles l3 extending to within a short distance ofthe rearward faces of plates I5, so as to prevent escape of coal between the gates and the side walls or plates II at the rearward portion of the chute. In Figure 1, the gates are shown in their closed positions, preventing discharge of coal through the chute. The forward portion of the top or cover plate, designated l2a. in Figure 2, is of substantially V-sh'ape in plan, as above stated, and extends above the upper edges of the plates l5 to prevent escape of coal thereover. With the gates in closed position, the sides of the chute below the gates are open, and when the gates are moved into open position, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, the side plates l6 serve as plates for closing the sides "of the chute, and, together with the bottom plate l0, directing the coal through the chute at the lower or forward.

end thereof.

An arm 29, of channel cross-section for the major portion of its length and bifurcated at its inner portion, is suitablysecured, as by Welding,

to each of the sleeves l9 at the upper portion An inclined brace 2| is welded at its thereof. outer end to each of the arms 20, the inner end of this brace being welded to the corresponding side plate 16 of gate l4. A'link 22 is pivoted at its outer end, at 23, to the inner end of each An angle bracket 24 seats upon the arm 26. inner end portion of each link 22, with its lower flange pivoted at'25 to the link for movement about a substantially vertical axis. The upwardly extending flanges of the angle brackets 24 are disposed at opposite sides of an operating lever 26, to which they are pivoted at 24a for movement about an axis perpendicular to the axes of the pivots 26. Lever 26 is secured, at its lower rearward end, on an operating shaft 2'I extending transversely of the chute above the gates, this shaft being rockably mounted in hearing members 28 suitably secured to the chute frame 6. Lever-26 extends upwardly and forwardly from shaft 21, when the gates are closed, and then projects beyond the lower or forward end of chute 5, as shown in Figure 2. An operating rod 29 is pivotally attached to the upper end of lever 26 and depends therefrom in position readily accessible to the operator. Counterweights 39 are suitably secured on shaft 21,,at

the ends thereof, and tend to turn the shaft in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. 7 An apron 3|, which may be of generally known construction, is mounted at the forward end of the chute for receiving coal discharged therefrom and directing the'coal into the locomotive tender or other receptacle. This apron is supmeans of an elongated U-f-shaped bracket- 32 pivoted at each end, at 33, 'tothe, chuteiframefi for T zontal movement of the apron in either direction. Suitable stays 35 may be attached to the lower or forward end of the apron for supporting it, these stays being appropriately connected to counterweights or other suitable means (not shown) to assist in supporting the apron and in moving it from lowered to raised position, and

vice Versa. At its forward end apron 3| is provided with a transverse handle or bail 36, for convenience in moving the apron horizontally as desired, and the operating rod 29 normally rests upon this bail. When the chute gates are closed and the apron is in its raised position, indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 2, the operating rod 29 occupies the position indicated by the dot and dash lines,

When it is desired to coal a locomotive tender,

'the apron 3| is lowered into its full line position shown in Figure 2, lever 26 and operating rod 29 then occupying the full line positions shown, with the chute gates closed. In order to open the chute gates, the operating rod 29 is pushed upwardly and rearwardly of the chute so as to move the operating lever 26 into its dotted line position, operating rod 29 then occupying the dotted line position shown. In its latter position, the lower end portion of the operating rod 29 is so disposed as to be grasped readily by the hostler or operator for closing the gates. In the event that the operator should slip or fall, he'instinctively grasps the operating rod 29 and exerts a downward pull upon the latter, effective for moving the operating lever 26 shown in Figure 2, serves to turn the operating shaft 2'! in counterclockwise direction, with the assistance of the counterweights 30, and to turn thesleeves l9 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, thus moving the gates M from their closed position, shown in full lines, into their open position, indicated in dotted lines. On theother hand, movement of the lever 26 from its dotted line position into its full line position of Figure 2 turns shaft 2'! clockwise and moves the gates l4 to their closed position, for shutting off flow of coal through the chute. It will thus be seen that upward movement of the operating rod 29 serves to open the gates, and downward movement of this rod serves to close the gates, so that an operator in falling, if he grasps the rod 29, as he instinctively will do, closes the chute gates, thus eliminating danger of serious injury to the operator by continued discharge of coal through the chute.

In the modified form of coaling gate shown in Figure 3, a lever 26a is secured on shaft 21 adjacent one end thereof, there being an arm 26b secured on shaft 21 at about the midlength thereof, to which latter arm the links 22 are connected in the same manner as in Figures 1 and 2; Lever: 26aof Figure 3 corresponds to lever 26 of Figure 2, and operating rod 23 is connected to the upper end of lever 25a in the same manner as it is connected to the upper end of lever 26. The chute of Figure 3 is provided with a cover plate I212 having a forwardly tapering extension l2c of substantially V shape in plan, suitably formed or notched to accommodate the arm 2% and associated parts. In all other respects, the construction and operation of the form of coaling gate shown in Figure 3 are substantially the same as in the form of coaling gate shown in Figures 1 and 2, and need not be described in further detail In both forms of my invention illustrated, the counterweights 3D tend to turn the operating shaft 21 in gate opening direction, to assist in overcoming the resistance to opening of the gates offered by the coal pressing upon the plates I5, this pressure of the coal serving, in conjunction with the lever 26 or 26a and the operating rod 29, tending to turn the shaft 21 in gate closing direction, to maintain the gates in closed position.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as applied to a coaling gate, for which it is particularly suitable in certain aspects, it may be used to advantage for other purposes. Changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope thereof, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred forms only of my invention have been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform discharge chute, a pair of gates pivoted for movement toward and away from each other transversely of the bottom wall of said chute about axes substantially perpendicular to said wall, an operating shaft rockably mounted on said chute extending over said gates transversely of and substantially parallel to said bottom wall, said shaft being disposed adjacent and in rear of the pivot axes of said gates and extending laterally of said chute therebeyond, operating means providing an arm and an operat: ing lever fixed on said shaft and extending upward and forward therefrom when said gates are closed, operating arms disposed above and secured to said gates at the pivot axes of the latter extending therefrom inward of said chute transversely thereof, links pivoted to the inner ends of said arms and to said arm fixed to said shaft, for opening and closing said gates responsive to upward and downward movement of said lever,

an operating rod depending from the upper end rockably mounted on said chute transversely thereof over said gates adjacent and in rear of said sleeves and projecting outward beyond the sides of said chute, an operating lever secured on said shaft extending upward and forward therefrom when said gates are closed, arms secured to said sleeves above said gates extending inwardly of. said chute, links pivoted to the inner ends of said arms and to said lever above said shaft, an operating member depending from the forward end of said lever, and counterweight means secured on the projecting portion of said shaft disposed to clear said gates and urging said shaft in gate opening direction.

3. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform discharge chute, a pair of gates ivoted for movement toward and away from each other transversely of the bottom wall of said chute about axes substantially perpendicular to said wall, an operating shaft rockably mounted on said chute transversely thereof over said gates adjacent and in rear of said pivot axes and projecting outward beyond the sides of said chute, operating means providing an arm and an operating lever secured to said shaft extending upward and forward therefrom when said gates are closed, operating arms disposed above and secured to said gates at the pivot axes of the latter extend-ing therefrom inwardly of said chute, links pivoted at their forward ends to the inner ends of said arms, means connecting the rearward ends of said links to said arm secured on said shaft above the latter for pivotal movement about substantially vertical and horizontal axes, an operating rod depending from the upper end of said lever, and counterweight means on the projecting portion of said shaft disposed to clear said gates and urging said shaft in gate opening direction.

4. In combination, a downwardly inclined generally cubiform discharge chute, a pair of sleeves pivoted adjacent the lower corners of said chute for movement about axes substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said chute, a pair of gates each comprising a side plate secured at its forward end to one of said sleeves and a gate plate secured at its inner end to the rearward end of said side plate and disposed substantially transversely of said bottom wall, an operating shaft rockably mounted on said chute transversely thereof over said gates adjacent and in rear of said sleeves and projecting outward beyond the sides of said chute, operating means providing an arm and an operating lever secured to said shaft extending upward and forward therefrom when said gates are closed, operating arms secured to said sleeves above said side plates extending inward of said chute, braces connecting said operating arms to said side plates remote from said sleeves, links pivoted to the inner ends of said arms and to said arm of said operating means, an operating rod depending from the upper end of said lever, and counterweight means on the projecting portion of said shaft disposed to clear said gates and urging said shaft in gate opening direction.

CLYDE P. ROSS.

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