US710492A - Conveying apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7|0,492. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

T. S. MILLER.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1901.)

(lo Nodal.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,492, dated October 7, 1902. Original application filed September 29. 1898. Serial No. 692.171. Divided and this application filed February 16,1901.

Serial No. 47.567.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPENCER MIL- LER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Conveying Apparatus,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for conveying goods of any kind between two points, and has particular reference to the conveying of coal and other supplies from one ship to another.

It will be evident from a consideration of the structure shown and described that the device may be advantageously used for conveying goods between fixed points; but it is particularly suited for use between two points which are liable to variations in position, so that the length of the connecting-load-conveying cable needs to be flexible.

My invention comprises the novel features which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 shows two vessels connected by my device for the purpose of transferring goods between them. Figs. 2 and 3 are details showing the operation of my device.

In Fig. 1 I have shown my device as if em ployed in transferring coal from a collier to a war-ship. As therein shown, the collier B lies with its bow toward the broadsides of the war-ship A and is preferably connected thereto by tow-lines T, which extend to two points separated lengthwise of the war-ship. In this condition it is designed that the collier should work her engines backward sufliciently to counteract the pull upon the cable D, over whichtheloads are transferred to the war-ship.

In the broadside position of the war-ship it will be moved through the water but slowly, and the maintenance of a constant position for the ships may be approximated, or the war-ship may be anchored. \Vhere the war vessel is on a blockade or wishes to remain in the lee of a small body of land, this is an advantage. This method of connecting the ships also enables the goods to be delivered at any point desired in its length. It is evident, however, that the two ships may be placed either broadside or tandem and the (No model.)

coaling proceed while they are under way, if desired.

Mounted upon any convenient elevated support, as the mast O of the collier or the ship from which goods are to be taken, is a sheave or block E, through which passes a rope I, which has a block I connected with one end and has its other end wound upon a drum .1 of a hoisting-engine or otherwise connected with apower mechanism, by which the load may be hoisted.

The trackway-cable D has its outer end secured to the war ship or vessel which is to receive the goods at a point of medium elevation which is greater than that of the deck of the collier or delivering vessel and less than that of the sheave or block E, through which the hoisting-rope 1 passes. The cable D passes through the block F and has its end secured to a drum J, which has a frictional driving connection with any form of motor. This may be a drum such as shown in my Patent No. (337,143, issued November 14.,1899, or any form of connection which will permit the cable to pay out or take it in as the strain thereon varies. I

One or more load-carriages are provided to run upon the cable D. These may vary widely in construction. The form herein illustrated consists of a frame embracing the cable D and having a wheel G journaled therein and adapted to run on the cable and also having a hook for the reception of the bags or other receptacles of the goods to be transferred.

Upon the block F is a lever or arm H, which has a hook on its outer end which is adapted to engage the frame of the load-carriage to prevent separation until the hooked end of the arm is released. This is done when the block F reaches the required limit of its hoist by engagement of the opposite end of the lever with the block E or any other convenient object.

To attach the load to the carriage, the hoisting-rope I is paid out until the block F and the cable supported thereby reach the deck or where the load may be conveniently attached to the carriage. When the load. is attached, the carriage, which is engaged by the hook on the lever II, is raised, carrying ICO the cable D with it until the hook is disengaged by contact of its opposite end with the block E or other tripping device. At this time the inclination of the cable is toward the other ship, and the carriage immediately travels over the cable under the influence of gravity to said ship. \Vhen the load-receptacles have been removed from the carriage, the block E is lowered, which changes the inclination of the cable D, so that the carriage returns to the first ship either empty or having receptacles attached thereto, which may be either empty or filled with other goods, as desired.

It is immaterial what form of tension device is applied to the cable D, so that it may yield and vary its length, as made necessary by the raising and lowering of the block E or by the relative movement of the vessels. This may be secured by a friction-drum, as I have herein indicated, by a counterweight, by a spring, or where both vessels are under way a sea anchor or drag may be used, as indicated in my application, Serial No. 692,171, filed September 29, 1898, of which this case is a division. Where my device is used between two points of constant distance, the only variation necessary to provide for is that due to the raising and lowering of the trackwaycable.

, Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, and two separated supports for the cable, of means for raising one of said supports above and for lowering it below the level of the other support, and a yielding and recovering, strain-supporting or tension device attached to one end of the cable.

2. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, and two separated supports therefor, of means for shifting the relative elevations of said supports to incline the cable in opposite directions, and a yielding and recovering strain-supporting or tension device attached to said cable.

3. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, a support to which one end of the cable is directly attached, and a support at the other end of the cable-span, of a hoisting and lowering rope passing over the last-mentioned support, and engaging the trackway-cable, means for haulingin and paying out said rope, to raise and lower the trackway-cable, and a yielding and recovering or tension device attached to and supporting the strain of the trackway-cable.

4. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, a carriage thereon, a tail-support of substantially constant elevation, and a head-support, of an elevated sheave on the head-support, a hoisting and lowering rope passing over said sheave, a block secured to the end of the hoisting-rope and receiving the trackway-cable, a catch on said block adapted to engage and hold the carriage and to be released therefrom by striking another object while hoisting, and means for hauling in and paying out said hoisting-rope.

5. In a conveying apparatus the combination with a trackway-cable, its supports and a carriage adapted 'to run on said cable, of means for shifting the relative elevation of said supports to incline the trackway in either direction, a catch adapted to hold the carriage at one end of the trackway until the cable is raised and a yielding and recovering or tension device connected with the cable and supporting the strain thereof.

6. In a conveying apparatus in combination, two vessels, lines connecting said vessels to maintain constant relative positions thereof, a trackway-cable connecting the vessels, a yielding and recovering or tension device supporting the strain of said cable, a carriage adapted to travel on the trackway,'and means for changing the relative elevations of the supports for said trackway to incline the trackway toward either vessel.

February 11, 1901.

THOMAS SPENCER MILLER. Witnesses:

H. L. REYNOLDS, GEORGE H. HOSE.

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