US773194A - Apparatus for transferring coal or other material. - Google Patents

Description

No. 773.194. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

A I J. CAMPBELL.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFBRRING GOAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WITHESEE S:

No. 773,194. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

J. CAMPBELL.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFBRRING GOAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 1 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 773,194. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

J. CAMPBELL. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING GOAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESS E 5 UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

JEREMIAH CAMPBELL, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING COAL OR OTHER MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,194, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed March 4:, 1903.

To (LZZ w/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH OAurBELL, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Transferring Coal or other Material, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

This invention relates to an apparatus for transferring coal and other material to or from vessels or docks, and it is especially applicable to cases where the coal or other material is to be taken from barges and delivered through ships side ports or to other comparatively low points. In the drawings it is illustrated as applied to barges employed in transporting coal and as used in transferring coal from said barges in the operation of bunkering.

It is desirable to effect the coaling of a vessel while it is at its dock and from either side of the vessel and without requiring a radical change in the position of the vessel with respect to the dock. It is also desirable that the coal should be transferred to the vessel in barges and that a means for handling the coal in transferring it from the barges to the vessel shall be employed which shall be made common to a number of barges. To accomplish this result I employ a barge which may or may not be used for transporting coal and which for the purposes of convenience I have termed the power-barge, which is adapted to carry a transferable tower and grab or other means mounted upon a truck for handling the coal, an elevator for varying the elevation of said tower, a truck having means for permitting the horizontal movement of the truck and tower, and the engine or motors for actuating the elevator, moving horizontally the truck, tower, and grab, and for lifting, lowering, opening, and closing the grab. There are used in connection with this power-barge coal-transporting barges, which are adapted to transfer coal and which are also adapted to be brought into operative relation to the power-barge and to then receive therefrom the truck, tower, and grab and to to the transporting-barge.

Serial No. 146,186- (No model.)

support the same in any desired position in its length and to permit of the operation of the grab in such position in the discharge of coal therefrom, the elevator of the powerbarge being equipped with a bridge extending from it beyond one end of the barge to a position over the end of a transporting-barge and carrying rails, and the transportingbarge bearing upon its deck rails in continuation of the rails of the bridge and whereby means are provided for movement of the truck, tower, and grab from the power-barge This transfer of the truck, tower, and grab from the powerbarge to the transporting-barge and its return are made at different levels, for the transporting-barge rises with respect to the powerbarge as it is unladen, and the truckand tower can only be moved upon a substantially hori- Zontal plane. For this reason the powerbarge is provided with the elevator, which acts to adjust its tower-support and the bridge to the level of the tracks of the transportingbarge, whatever that may be, so that whatever the difference in level between the two barges may be the tracks whereby the truck and tower are moved from one barge to the other may also be adjusted to and held in the same horizontal plane. The transporting barge is also combined with the power-barge by means of the truck-hauling chain or rope, and the tower, truck, and grab are always combined with the engine or motor upon the power-barge, whether they are upon the powerbarge or whether they are upon the transporting-barge. The power-barge also carries the levers or other means for actuating the engines or motors, which are located in the engineers observation-house elevated at any de sired distance above the deck, so that the position of the truck and tower may be changed upon the transporting-barge and the grab then operated all from the power-barge.

I do not confine myself to the form or kind of coal-handling mechanism and may use any power-actuated mechanism which is adapted to be mounted upon a truck and transferred from the power-holding barge to operative position upon a transporting-barge.

In the drawings Ihave representeda tower and grab which is adapted to be used in a narrow space where there is little or no opportunity for the use of a lateral boom upon which the grab may move transversely the tower and as employed in conjunction with a stationary hopper having an outlet at one side of the tower vertically adjustable upon it and provided with an opening and closing bottom or side which opens to permit of the movement of the grab through the hopper and which closes to form a bottom or wall of the hopper during thedischarge of the grab.

Throughout this application I use the term tower in a broad sense and may embrace thereby, as well as the tower proper, such other features as crane, endless conveyor, or

other means for hoisting the coal.

I will now describe the invention in detail in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a view, principally in side elevation, of a power-barge and transportingbarge arranged in operative relation thereto, the truck, tower, and grab of the coal-handling device being represented upon the elevator of the power-barge. Fig. 2 is a view of the power-barge, partly in cross vertical section and partly in end elevation. Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section upon the dotted line 3 of Fig. 1 and in plan of parts below said line. Fig. at is an enlarged detail view in plan, representing the connection between the bridge and the transporting-barge. Fig. 5 is a view in cross vertical section upon the dotted line 5 of Fig. a.

Referring to the drawings, A is the powerbarge, and B the transporting-barge.

U is the elevator of the power-barge. It is arranged at or near one end, preferably the stern of the barge, and is mounted in the l barge to be lifted and lowered at will and to be held in any desired position. it has rails (r running lengthwise the barge and the bridge l), which is hinged at (Z to its rear end to be lifted to a vertical position, and whichbridge has rails 1/ in continuation of the rails c of the elevator. position rests upon supports 7/ on the deck of the transporting-barge, which are near the end of the barge. The barge has such supports at each end in order that it may make no difference which end of the transporting barge is presented to the power-barge for the reception. of the truck and tower. The bridge is centered upon the transporting barge to bring its rails in line with the rails 1/ of the transporting-l arge and also held in such position by means of the conical registering studs Z), fastened to the transporting-barge to point upward and to receive the conical l sockets (Z carried by the bridge and having their mouths opening downward. (See Fig.

The elevator has suitable vertical guides c at each corner, which are mounted in vertical The bridge when in operative guideways c in the power-barge; and 1 have represented as a means for lifting, lowering, and holding the elevator the rods c' one near each corner, each of which has an exteriorand driven by the engine E, whereby the nuts are caused to be simultaneously turned in one direction or the other and whereby also they are held from turning. Any other construction of elevator and. means for operating it may be used.

F is the tower-truck. It is represented in Figs. .1 and 2 as upon the rails of the elevator. It supports the tower G, which consists of two frames 7 7, connected at their lower ends by the truck and at their upper ends by the cross connection The frames are separated suf- [iciently to provide a hopper and grab-operating space g", extending from the top of the tower to the truck and open upon both sides. The tower supports the grab g and the hop per The grab is lowered and lifted and closed and opened by'the usual ropes which extend over sheaves and g to the grab operating engine g". The hopper is suspended in the tower-space by the chains which extend over sheaves g at the top of the tower and sheaves g at the base of the tower to the engine g. By these means the hopper g can be lowered to a point below the lower end. of the frames between which it is held and can then be turned while out of the frames and raised again in a position one hundred and eighty degrees from that in which it was hung originally, so that its openingor chute will point in the opposite direction from that shown in the drawings. Thus the tower may be used to unload on either side of the barge. The grab-ropes and hopper-chains are so rove with respect to the engine 7" and are of such length that the grab may be operated upon the transporting-barge as well as upon the power-barge, and the hopper adj ust ed upon the transporting-barge as. well as upon the power-barge. The truck, tower, and grab are moved from the elevator over the bridge and upon the tracks of the transporting-barge by means of the rope or chain which passes from the engine E in one direction forward over suitable sheaves to the block at the forward end of the transportingbarge, and thence backward to the truck, and it also extends from the engine over a suitable sheave 5 upon the power-barge to the rear of the truck.

H is the engineers or operators post and house, which is mounted at any desired elevation on the power-barge and from which the engines are actuated which operate to move the truck and tower to operate the grab and to adjust the hopper. The powerbarge may also be provided with the towerbraces I, which are fastened to the barge adjacent to each side of the elevator and which by their inner surfaces bear against or come into contact with the sides of the truck or base of the tower and upon which the truck or base of the tower slides and which act as a stay or reinforce for the tower and to prevent it from canting and also as a relief for the elevator in that it assists in an even distribution of the truck, tower, and grab upon the elevator and prevents it from being brought too much upon any one portion of it.

The rails b of the transporting-barge extend lengthwise the barge each side of its continuous hatch B, (see Fig. 3,) the hatch running very nearly the full length of the barge and affording means for the operation of the grab at any point in its length, so that the entire cargo of the transporting-barge is thus made immediately accessible to the grab. The rails are supported in any desired way and at their ends are suitable guard-rails to cooperate with the ends of the rails of the bridge, which lap the joint and prevent derailment while the truck and tower are being moved over it.

As I have intimated the transporting-barge is preferably of the type known as a doubleender that is, the endsare alike and are so constructed that each. end is adapted to receive and hold the bridge connecting it with the power-barge and to receive the truck, tower, and grab from such end.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The power-barge is laid alongside the vessel to be loaded, either upon its outside or upon the dock side and generally at the bow end or the end of the vessel that is farthest within the dock and with its elevator end farthest removed from the bow or end of the vessel. The power-barge will then carry upon the elevator the truck, tower, and grab and the bridge D will beheld in an elevated position. The transporting-barge is then moved end on to the stern end of the powerbarge and in such relation thereto that the bridge D, when brought to the level of its rails, may be lowered thereto and upon the registering stud b to connect the two barges and the rails of the elevator with the rails of the transporting-barge. It will be understood that if the bridge is not in a position to make a horizontal engagement with the transporting-barge the elevator, with the bridge, truck, tower, and grab, is lifted or depressed as may be required to bring the tracks of the elevator substantially upon the level of the tracks of the transporting-barge. This movement of the elevator is caused by operating the engine E, and the elevator at the end of said movement is held stationary. The draft-rope Q15 is then led from the engine over the block at the farther end of the transporting-barge and back to the truck upon the power-barge and the said engine operated to cause the truck, tower, and grab to be drawn from the'tracks of the elevator over the tracks of the bridge to the tracks upon the transporting-barge. Of course it will be understood that the rope g is then used to draw the truck, while the rope making connection between the engine and the rear end of the truck pays out slowly, the truck being steadied by the joint action of both ropes and being held stationary in operative position by them and suitable rail-grips. The ropes and chains connecting the engine g with the grab and with the hopper are also paid out at will, while the truck, tower, and grab are being moved from the powerbarge to the transporting-barge, always, however, maintaining an operative relation thereto and so that the hopper and grab, as well as the truck and tower, may be moved or operated from the power barge, although the apparatus is then being borne by the transportingbarge. The bridge D may remain in place or may be turned back upon the elevator as the transporting barge B is discharged. The level between its rails and those of the elevator will gradually change, so that when the barge is entirely unladen its rails will then be considerably above the level of the rails of the elevator when the truck and tower were moved upon the transportingbarge. As it is then necessary to move back the truck, tower, and grab to the power-barge in order that another transporting-barge may take the place of the unladen one, it is necessary to then move the elevator upward to bring its tracks in level with the new level of the tracks of the transporting-barge. This is done by the engine E, and the bridge D is moved to again make connection between the elevator and the transporting-barge, and the truck, tower, and grab are then moved backward by the engine E from the rails of the transporting-barge over the bridge and upon the elevator, the bridge lifted, and the barge disengaged. The truck, tower, and grab are then held by the power-barge until another transporting-barge is brought in operative connection with the power-barge, when the method of operation above described is repeated.

By constructing the tower, locating and constructing the hopper, and operating the grab as specified it becomes possible to interpose between the vessel and the dock means for discharging barges which may be moved lengthwise the vessel by the means specified between it and the dock and also to bunker that side of the vessel without moving it away from the dock or interfering with its gang-planks or other connections and the loading or unloading of its cargo, and the same apparatus is as efficient for use upon the outside of the vessel where the conditions are often such as to call for the advantages obtained by this narrow construction.

\Vhile I have described the invention as embodied in a power-barge and transportingbarge for transferring coal to a vessel and loading it thereon, I would say that I do not confine myself to such use, but may employ it for lJIHDSPOltfLbiOD of any material and for loading it upon or unloading it from the transporting-barge in any position where the apparatus may be vertically employed and whether in conjunction with a vessel, other barge, or dock. It will be observed that the powerbarge is used in conjunction with a fleet of transporting-barges, all of which are con structed to have the relation to the powerbarge above indicated.

The position of the hopper in the tower is adapted to be reversed, so that its outlet shall be from the side of the tower opposite that represented in the drawings. This is for the purpose of permitting the apparatus to be used at will upon either side of a vessel, and the tower is provided with means whereby this reversal of the hopper and its suspending and adjusting chains may be accomplished, additional pulleys being provided for the sus' pending and adjusting chains in the other position rendered necessary by the reversal of the hopper. The manner of making this reversal has not been shown in detail in the drawings, as it is believed from what has been said in the specification that it will be readily understood. This reversal of the hopper does not change the operating relation between its gates and the grab, the hopper being so construeted and hung as to permit of this reversal without, however, varying its operative relation with the grab.

I have shown the hopper-chains brought together and connected with a tackle interposed between the end of the chain and the winding-winch of the engine, whereby the hopper may be actuated by hand and may be secured in position to the tower or truck by making the hoisting-rope fast to any part thereof and without disconnecting it from the winding-winch of the engine, if desired.

Nhen the elevator and tower are at one end of the power-barge, it will be desirable to provide the power-barge with means whereby its end may be adjusted down or up to preserve the horizontal level of the elevator and to compensate for the removal therefrom of the weight of the truck, tower, and their appurtenances. This may be done by changing the position of the ballast carried by the power-barge toward and from the part of the barge upon which the elevator is mounted or by means of water-ballast, and the latter is the means I prefer to use, and I have shown in Fig. l the power-barge as having at the end carrying the elevator a tank M, which is adapted to be filled with and emptied of water in any desired way. The tank is gradually filled as the truck and tower are moved from the power-barge and gradually emptied as the truck and tower are moved upon it.

The means for gradually filling the tank and gradually emptying it, as referred to, are not shown, because it would be apparent to any one skilled in the art how this could be done. For example, by attaching a hose to a suitable water-supply controlled by a suitable faucet and allowing the water to run to the extent necessary to maintain the barge at the proper level and to empty the tank a suitable faucet leading overboard therefrom and opened to a suflicient extent will in due time empty the tank. These means are so well known that drawings of them would seem to be unnecessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States- 1. In an apparatus for transferring coal or other material, devices such as a truck and a carrier tower or support mounted upon the truck, means for varying the level of the truck and tower or support, upon which they are horizontally movable, and a bridge or extension carried by said means and affording a device by which the truck and carrier tower or support may be moved horizontally from said means, in combination with means located beyond the farther side of the bridge from said level-varying truck-support whereby said .tower may be supported while in action.

2. In an apparatus for transferring coal or other material, devices such as a truck, and a carrier tower or support mounted upon the truck, means such as an elevator adapted to verticall y move the truck and tower, and abridge extending from said means and vertically movable with it, in combination with a truck and tower supporting means located on the farther side of said bridgefrom said elevator and independent of said bridge, whereby said tower may be supported while in action and its level may be changed by the tide or otherwise without unduly straining said bridge, as described.

3. In an apparatus for transferring coal or other material, devices such as a truck and a carrier tower or support mounted upon the truck, means for varying the level of the truck and tower or support, and a bridge carried by said means and adapted to be moved thereon from an inoperative to an operative position in combination with means adapted to cooperate with said. bridge when said bridge is in operative position to receive and support said truck and tower independently of said barge.

4. In an apparatus for transferring coal or other material, devices such as a truck, a car-J rier tower or support mounted upon said truck, means such as an elevator for varying the level of said truck, means for supporting said truck while in action, and a bridge or IIS extension independent of said truck-supporting means and connected to said truck-levelvarying means, whereby said truck may be moved horizontally from its support to said level-varying means, as described.

5. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon and devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator.

6. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, the said truck and tower or support being also horizontally movable thereon.

7. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or sup port mounted upon the elevator, and means for moving said truck and tower or support horizontally from the elevator and end of the barge or lighter.

8. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, and a vertically-movable bridge to form a horizontal extension from the elevator beyond the end of the barge and upon which the truck and tower or support are adapted to be horizon- I transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a transporting-barge adapted to be brought into line with the barge or lighter, truck-rails mounted thereon to extend lengthwise thereof, and a bridge connecting the elevator of the firstnamed barge or lighter with the rails of the transporting-barge.

11. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devicesfor transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or sup port mounted upon the elevator and movable from an inoperative position to an operative position extending from the end of the barge or lighter, a transporting-barge adapted to be brought into line with the first-named barge double-ended barge having at each end means for holding and engaging said bridge and truck-tracks running lengthwise the barge between said means.

13. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a transporting-barge adapted to be held in line with the first-named barge or lighter and having truckrails extending lengthwise it, a bridge connecting the elevator with the transportingbarge, vertically movable to the level of the transporting-barge, a block at the end of said last-named barge, which is removed from the bridge end, a block upon the elevator-barge, an engine upon said elevator-barge, and a truck-hauling rope having one end extending from the engine forward to said block and backward therefrom, and the other end extending from sa1d engine over sa1d elevatorbarge block to said truck.

let. A barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a transporting-barge adapted to be brought in line with said first-named barge and having truck-rails extending lengthwise it, a connecting-bridge, one end of which is supported by the elevator and the other end of which, when in operative position, by the transporting-barge, an engine upon the first-named barge, and mechanism connecting it with the elevator and also with the transporting-barge and truck, whereby the truck, tower or support and bridge may be adjusted to the level of the transporting-barge and the truck and tower or support may be moved from the powermeans for operating the elevator and for moving the truck and tower or support from the elevator to the transporting-barge and back again, a grab or bucket carried by the tower, its operating-engine upon the power-barge, and means connecting the engine with the grab or bucket, which are extensible to permit the movement of the grab or bucket with the truck and tower or support from the mwer-barge to the transporting-barge and the operation of said grab or bucket upon the transporting-barge from said power-barge.

16. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a transporting-barge adapted to be brought into line with the first-namedbarge and having rails running lengthwise it, a bridge connecting the elevator with the transporting-barge, a grab or bucket carried by the tower, a hopper also carried by the tower, an operatingengine upon the power-barge, and means connecting the engine with the grab or bucket and with the hopper which are extensible to permit the movement of the grab or bucket with the truck and tower or support from the power-barge to the transportingbarge and the operation of said grab or bucket and the adj ustment of said hopper upon the transporting-barge from the said power-barge.

17. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a trans 'iorting-barge adapted to be brought into line with the first-named barge and having rails running lengthwise it, a bridge connecting the elevator with the transporting-barge, means for operating the elevator and for moving the truck and tower or support from the elevator to the transport ing-bargc and back again, a hopper mounted upon the tower and means for adjusting the vertical position of the hopper.

18. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted upon one part thereof, a conning tower and an engineers post mounted upon another part thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, and stationary truck-stays or. guides carried by the barge.

20. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and asuperposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a bridge also mountedupon the elevator and truck-guards mounted on the barge adjacent to the elevator and bridge.

21. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, a bridge connectingthe elevator with an exterior truckholder like a transportingbarge, and means for maintaining the horizontal level of the elevator as the truck and tower or support are moved therefrom or thereon.

22. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator, and a bridge connecting the elevator with a transporting-barge and provided with a swinging movement with respect to the elevator upon a vertical plane, whereby it is automatically conformable to variations in the level between the power-barge and the transporting-barge during the transfer of the truck and tower or support from one to the other.

23. A power barge or lighter, an elevator mounted thereon, near one end thereof, devices for transferring coal or other material such as a truck and a superposed carrier tower or support mounted upon the elevator,a bridge connecting the elevator with a transportingbarge and provided with a swinging movement with respect to the elevator upon a vertical plane, whereby it is automatically conformable to variations in the level between the power-barge and the transporting-barge during the transfer of the truck and tower or support from one to the other, and means for maintaining the power-barge at a uniform level during the movement of the truck and carrier tower or support from or upon the elevator.

24:. In an apparatus for handling coal or other material, a tower having a central graboperating space opening upon both sides from the top to the bottom of said tower, a grab vertically movable through said space and a hopper in the line of vertical movement of the said grab and having an outlet upon one side thereof.

25. In an apparatus for handling coal or other material, a tower having a central grabo 'ierating space opening upon both sides from substantially the top to the bottom of said tower, a grab vertically movable in said space, a hopper supported by said tower in said space in the line of travel of said grab and having an outlet upon one side thereof, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the hopper.

26. In an apparatus for handling coal or other. material. a truck carrying a tower comprising two frames separably supported thereon and connected at their upper ends whereby an opening extending through said tower from side to side may be provided, a grab vertically movable in said space, a hopper supported by said tower in said space in the line of travel of said grab and having an outlet upon one side thereof, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the tower.

27. In an apparatus for handling coal or other material, a tower having a central graboperating space opening upon both sides, a grab having a vertical movement in said space, a hopper supported by said tower in said space in the line of travel of said grab and having an outlet upon one side thereof, and means adapted to lower said hopper below the lower level of said tower and raise it again, whereby said hopper may be turned through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees to change its outlet from one side of said tower to the other, as set forth.

28. ln an apparatus for transferring coal or other material, a tower-barge provided with an elevator, atruck adapted to run upon said elevator, said truck carrying a tower, a transporting-barge having tracks running thereon and a bridge connected to said elevator and adapted to afford a connection between said elevator and the tracks upon said transporting-barge, as set forth.

JEREMIAH CAMPBELL. [L. s.]

In presence of W. P. GARDNER, H. WATSON.

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