US434375A - Device for unloading cars - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' J. L. BRYANT. I DEVICE FOR UNLOADING CARS.

No. 434,375. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. BRYANT. DBVIGB FOR UNLOADING CARS.

Patented Aug 12, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATE T QFFICE.

JOHN L. BRYANT, or IIILLsDALE, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To WILLIAM G. BRYANT, on FLINT, AND DANIEL E. BRYANT, or LANSING, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR UNLOADING CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,375, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed April 28, 1890. Serial No. 349,730. (llomodeh) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsdale, in the county of Hills and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Unloading Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a device for unloading'cars of the kind in which there is a tilting plat-- form in connection with a stationary track, from which the loaded car may be run upon the platform and tilted with the platform for the purpose of dumping the load.

The object of my inventin is to so construct the device that cars of the ordinary construction. such as are generally used for transporting coal, maybe unloaded by tilting the plat- 1forzln sufficiently to one side to dump the whole To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and operation of the tilting platform and of the device for firmly securing the car thereon so that it will be held firmly against any displacement or strain and quickly and expeditiously emp tied of its load, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a side elevation of the tilting platform with the car in position thereon and secured ready to be dumped. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig: 3 is a cross-section through the dump: ing-platform with the car secured thereon as .in the act of dumping. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the securing devices detached. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the anti-friction supports under the tilting platform; and Fig.6 is a diagram section through the tilting platform and car, showing more especially the movable props under the tilting platform.

A is the tilting platform, supported on trunnions B B at opposite ends between the stationary portions 0 O of a railway-track, by means of which the cars are run onto and from the platform. This tilting platform is of suitable length to admit one or more cars, and is normally supported from below against any ter of the platform. One or both rows of'props are movably secured to permit the tilting of the platform. Tothis end I preferably hinge the props at the lower end to suitable bedtimbers E, and secure in suitable bearings near the lower end of the props of each row a rock-shaft F, which is provided with rockarms Fone for each prop-and which slidingly engages with its free end through a guide-bearing F on the prop. One end of this shaft is provided with a hand-lever F and a counter-weightF is applied to this lever, all so arranged thatby the tilting of the handlever F to one side the whole row of props under one side of the tilting platform is simultaneously drawn out from under and automatically brought back in position again, when the hand-lever is released by the action of the counter-weight.

Underneath the platform are secured two compartmentsG, which are filled with some suitable ballastsuch as iron ore, sand, &c. of sufficient weight to impart to the platform the tendency to maintain its normal position. These compartments are preferably built of circular shape, and serve at the same time as frames for the circular racks H,secured near the edge of these compartments. These circular racks engage with gear-wheels I, secured upon the longitudinal shaft J, journaled below the center of the platform upon a suitable bed-frame. This shaft J is provided with an operating device at one end for revolving itsuch as the gear-wheel K, which meshes with the pinion K through which motion may be imparted by the crank-handle K These compartments G are preferably arranged below the places where the trucks of the car rest on the platform, and form additional means to support the load by being provided with circumferential flanges L, which rest upon anti-friction rollers M, supported upon the bed underneath, there being preferably a pair of such rollers on opposite sides of the longitudinal center, and the gear-wheels I are also provided with anti-friction flanges to engage on these flanges L. Thus in turnin g the tilt-ing platform the weight of the platform and the car supported thereon is at all times supported upon the anti-friction devices described.

To firmly hold and secure the car upon the platform againstany accidental displacement in dumping, I provide peculiar securing devices. Two cross-bars N are laid over the top of the car and are secured at their outer ends by shackles to vertical posts firmly secured to the platform upon the sides of the car. These posts are provided with means for drawing down the cross-bar N, so as to firmly bind upon the car-platform, and to this end each post is constructed in two parts 0 and P, the part P being made hollow to form a guide-bearing for the part 0, which carries the shackle. By means of a lever Q, pivotally secured to the part 0, and the lockingdog R the ends of the cross-bar N may be firmly drawn down and secured. Lateral motion is prevented by holding the sides of the car between binding-blocks S, which are actuated by screw-power through the handscrews T.

In practice it will be seen that after the car is run upon the platform and the cross-bars N firmly secured on top of the car and the screws '1 applied to bind against the sides of the car, the car is so firmly held against displacement that it may be tilted to any desired angle necessary to empty the load, the construction being such that the car maybe then tilted to an angle beyond ninety degrees, this tilting being accomplished by revolving the shaft J through the cranlclever K, or in case of heavier loads by a suitable motive power connected to said shaft J. It will be seen that at all times the ballast prevents the load from being precipitately tipped over, and at the same time it helps to quickly restore the parts to their normal position after the dumping is accomplished.

To be enabled at all times to accomplish the object with cars of varying loads, I provide means for securing additional ballast to the sides of the platform. This ballast I preferably carry in the form of a box U, secured by means of chains V to the side of the compartments, all so arranged that this outside weight may be left off or increased at will, as circumstances may require.

It is obvious that the whole device has to be at a necessary distance above the ground to provide room for dumping.

The platform may be constructed to dump to either side or to one side only, as desired, and obvious modifications may be made in my construction to provide for the dumping of different kinds of cars.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A tilting platform mounted on trunnions and provided with compartments constituting supports for the same for containing ballast, substantially as described.

2. In a device for the purpose described, a tilting platform provided with means for securing cars thereto, platform supporting compartments secured to the under side of said platform and filled with ballast, and outside ballast detachably secured to the sides of the platform, substantially as described.

3. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with the tilting platform supported on trunnions, of the circular compartments G, secured to the under side of the platform and containing ballast, a circular rack secured directly to and supported by the compartments, and means for tilting the platform, substantially as described.

4. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with the tilting platform, of securing devices for the car, consisting of the upright posts secured upon the platform in proximity to the sides of a car upon said platform and the cross-bar, and means on the post for adjusting the cross-bar vertically and securing it in place, substantiallyas described.

5. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with a tilting platform, of securing devices for a car, consisting of the cross-bars and means for adjustably securing them over the top of the car, and adj 11stable binding -blocks adapted to be forced against the sides of the car, substantially as described.

6. In a device for the purpose described, the combination, with a tilting platform, of securing devices for a car on said platform, the same consisting of the cross-bar N and the posts secured upon the platform constructed in two parts 0 and P, slidingly engaging with each other, the tighteninglever Q, the dog R, and the binding-blocks S, actuated by tightening-screws T, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A tilting platform having one or more circular ballast-compartments connected therewith and extending beneath the same, racks on the periphery of the compartments, and means engaging the racks for moving the platform, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses this 8th day of April, 1890.

JOHN L. BRYANT.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODooHER'rY, P. M. IIULBERT.

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