US630805A - Conveying apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 630,805. Patented Allg. 8, |899.

E. S. DECKER.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Feb. 23, 1898.) (N0 MOGQL) 2 Sheets-Sheet .v

Patented Aug. 8, |899.

E. s. DECKER. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application led Feb. 23, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

`Nu Model.)

71,947 uga/by s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDVIN S. DECKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEEL CABLE ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF MAINE.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,805, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed February 23, 1898. Serial No. 671,259. (No model.)

T all whom, t may concern,.- A

Beit known that I, EDWIN S. DECKER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Conveying Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing 1o like parts.

This invention relates to conveying apparatus, and has for its object the production of a conveyer in which certain deficiencies of existing types shall be rectified, attention being paid more particularly to the provision for increased facility of loading and perfect retention of the load throughout the run up to the desired point of discharge,with greater adaptability for installation in diverse situaeo tions by reason of flexibility in structural arrangement and economy of the material necessary in construction.

Of exist-ing conveyers the pan type offers the greatest advantages for loading, but is the 2 5 least retentive, even when provided with partitions, discharge of the load following closely,

for example, upon transition from an upright portion of the run to ahorizontal portion, and

but little relief has resulted from narrowing 3o the mouth of the bucket to retain the load,

necessitating the provision of wheels or track offsets, about which the pan is carried to effect discharge.V On the other hand, conveyers in which reliance is had upon gravitybuckets exclusively to carry the load are of great utility so far as relates to their ability to retain the load both on tangent and curve.

It has proved difficult, however, to provide for continuity of loading in conveyers of the 4o gravity-bucket type, and accordingly in my novel conveyer I have devised an apparatus in which will be found elements of the pan type and also swinging members combined and related in such a manner as to vest this invention with all the advantages to which I have made reference above, While my invention has accomplished also an arrangement of parts and an application thereto of the cable principle of operation such that both in 5o cost of construction and operat-ion my novel apparatus constitutes the most economical type of conveyer yet presented.

The various features of Vmy invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a View in side elevation cfa completed conveying apparatus in the construction of which'my invention has been embodied. Fig. 2 is a similar view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the conveyer at the bottom of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and et are views in front elevation and plan, respectively, of the conveyer-sections illustrated in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of 65 a single detached bucket and pan-section of the preferred type.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention selected for description and illustrated in the drawings a number of pan sections or elements A are shown assembled to form a continuous oonveyer,the articulation of which may be and preferably is accomplished in a manner usual in the construction of conveyers of the pan type, in this instance the pans being illustrated as of a simple form, having each a bottom a, from which rise sides a', integral with the bottom or joined thereto in any suitable manner and arranged, respectively, to receive at their forward ends the rear end of the pan member immediately preceding in each case. vWithin the articulated pan conveying device formed thus is arranged to operate a series of swinging members B movable with the pan conveying device and so related thereto as to cooperate with the pan to receive and carry theload at portions of the run. I have illustrated this series of swinging members as composed in this instance of a Well-known type of bucket with straight sides b, curved bottom b', divergent lips b2 b3, and wide-open mouth, and as a simple and convenient method of securing the cooperation of the pan conveying device and swinging members I have shown the latter as 95 mounted pivotally directly in the sides of the pan conveying device, though I do not limit myself to such positive connection between the pan conveying device and swinging members nor to the contour and details of con- IOO struction of either illustrated and to be described hereinafter.

When connected positively, as above indicated, it will be found convenient when the full capacity of the conveyer is to be utilized to provide each pan-section with a swinging member, and I consider a favorable situation for the axial line of the pivotal connections c to lie between the center of gravity of each 'bucket and its mouth, preferably closelyT adjacent the latter, slightly to the rear of the middle of the pan-section and so far removed from the bottom of the pan as to permit the bucket to assume freely the position shown in Figs. l and 2 and best seen in the latter, where the inner edge or lip b2 of the bucket lies snugly adjacent the bottom ct of the pansection. To promote stability in this position, I prefer to construct this lip of the bucket so that it will lie in substantial parallelism with the pan-bottom, avoiding thus any interspace for the lodgment of material, but leaving the bucket free to swing away from the pan-bottom, as will be described more fully later. This form of construction answers admirably to limit the range of movement of the bucket and hold its mouth in proper position to receive the load from the pan,but any construction suitable for this purpose may be adopted.

The form of the pivotal connection may be varied as desired and found suitable, c designating in this instance a headed pivot-pin passing through a reinforcing bearing-plate c (see Fig. 5) on the pan side and provided with a Cotter-pin c2.

The connection of the articulated conveyersections and the operation of the conveyer as a whole may be accomplished by any suitable means, but I consider the use of an endless connecting or operating member consisting of a cable as oering great advantages along the line of flexibility in operation and adaptability to the varying requirements of diverse installations, so I have illustrated its application to my preferred form of structure and lay stress on the novel arrangement presented as an important feature of my invention.

The number of cables D used to form the operating member may be varied as desired and found suitable, and I have shown a pair parallel with the bottoms of the pan-sections, to which latter the connection with the cable may be made, as one convenient form of joining up the conveyer as a whole. Any suitable attachment E may be used, whether integral with the pan-section or other conveyer member or separate, as illustrated, and secured by suitable fastening means, as the bolts e, (see Fig. 3,) the attachment in this instance being secured to the cable by a clamping-block e and fastening-bolts e2 in well-known fashion, the attachment having also extensions e3, integral, if desired and found convenient, to serve as journals for wheels or equivalent guiding means F, coperating with tracks or the like directing or supporting devices H II', the contour and situation of which Will be governed by the requirements of the installation.

The operating member D and guiding devices F may be arranged in any suitable relation, but preferably, as shown, in approxi- Motive power may be derived from anyV suitable source (not shown) and communicated to the conveyer in any suitable manner, as by the driving-sprocket K engaging operatively with the attachments E in well known fashion.

I will now proceed to describe the operation of my novel apparatus as illustrated in an installation where by the requirements of the situation loading is to be effected at a lower portion of the run and discharge at an upper portion, and for this reason the vpan'is turned inwardly to receive the load, although my invention, as will be readily understood, is by no means restricted to inward presentation of the pan and swinging members, since I am the first, so far as I am aware, to combine in a single conveyer pan and swinging elements cooperating to produce a unitary result. However, these elements may be presented to meet the exigencies of a particular installation. In operation, therefore', in the instance illustrated the load is delivered from a suitable device, as the hooded chute M, into the upturned pan A, in which the pivoted swinging members B rest,.as shown in Fig. 2, with their lips b2 down against the pan-bottoms ct and their own bottoms turned rearwardly, the conveyer traveling in the direction of the arrow, Fig. l. As the loaded portion of the pan begins to turn up the lower right-hand corner the load hitherto resting upon the pan-bottom begins to settle back and finds an easy entrance into the buckets B over theirlips b2 until, even before a true vertical shall have been reached, the load will have been transferred Wholly to the buckets. The reverse curve at the upper right-hand corner of Fig. l finds the load, accordingly, in the buckets or swinging members B, ready upon the change of direction of the conveyer to assume under the forceof gravity a normal depending position to retain the load, and this may continue up to the desired point of discharge, which, discharge may be effected by turning the buckets sufficiently out of normal position by the use of any suitable device, as the adjustable cam N, provided with a support 'n and controllinglever n.

The buckets may and preferably will have IOO IIO

projections or lugs b4, with friction-rollers U", preferably7 (sce Figs. L to 5,) to cooperate with the cam and facilitate tripping of the buckets for discharge, or any suitable bucket-tripping device may be provided, and, if desired, an additional guard-rail h at the upper righthand curve may be provided to insure out- Ward swing of the buckets as they round the curve, though the force of gravity will be sufficient normally to overcome any slight cramping between pan and bucket.

The buckets Will preferably be arranged to approach the loading-point M always in the abnormal position illustrated in Fig. l, and to effect this suitable positioning means may be provided, the rail H2 serving this purpose in the instance illustrated, cooperating with the projections b4 in a manner which will be understood readily from the drawings.

The advantages of operation presented by a conveyer of few parts and simple construction, affording absolute facility for continuous loading, and permitting perfect retention and control of the load up to the point of discharge will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and their existence in the apparatus disclosed herein will be perfectly apparent upon inspection of the drawings in connection with the specication.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a conveyer, the combination with a pan conveying device, of a cooperating series of gravity-buckets, substantially as described.

2. In a conveyer, the combination of pan and swinging members, cooperating to carry the load, substantially as described.

The combination in a conveyer, of a series of gravity-buckets, and a pan conveying device, movable together and to carry the whole load, each at a different part of the run, and means to enable transference of said load from one to the other, substantially as described.

4. In a conveyer, a pan conveying device, and a cooperating series of gravity-buckets, movable with, said pan conveying device, and means to enable transference of the load from said pan conveying device to said buckets, intermediate the points of loading and discharge of said conveyer, substantially as described.

5. A conveyer comprising a pan conveying device and a cooperating series of gravitybuckets, adapted and arranged respectively, the former to receive the load primarily and to transfer it to thel latter, and the latter to receive from said pan the load and carry it to the point of discharge, substantially as described.

(5. The combination in a conveyer, with a pan conveying device, of a series of gravitybuckets carried by said pan and cooperating therewith to carry the load, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a conveyer, with a pau conveying device, of a series of gravitybuckets mounted pivotally thereon, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a conveyer, with a pan conveying device, of a series of gravitybuckets supported pivotally within, and from the sides of, said pan conveying device, substantially as described.

9. Conveyingapparatuscomprisingan endless connecting or operating member provided with, and to operate, a pan conveying device combined with a series of gravity-buckets, substantially as described.

10. Conveying apparatus comprising an endless cable provided with, and to operate, a pan conveying device combined with a series of gravity-buckets, substantially as described.

Il. In a conveyer, a pan-section provided with a cooperating gravity-bucket, substantially as described.

12. In a conveyer, an articulated pan conveying device having a plurality of sections, combined with gravity-buckets, cooperating With said pan-sections.

I3. In a conveyer, an articulated pan conveying device having a plurality of sections, combined with gravity-buckets, one for, and cooperating with, each of said sections.

14. A conveyer member comprising a pansection, a gravity-bucket thereon rotatable about an axis near its mouth, said axis passing through the sides of said section at a region suitable to permit partial entry of said bucket therewithin, substantially as described. v

l5. In a conveyer, a pan conveying device, combined with a gravity-bucket, and means to cause presentation of said bucket in abnormal position for loading and discharge, substantially as described.

16. In a conveyer, a pan conveying device, combined with a gravity-bucket so related and arranged with respect to said pan as to present a lip adjacent the bottom of said pan to receive the load therefrom substantially as described.

17. A conveyer member comprising a pansection combined with a gravity-bucket and having an attachment provided with guiding means, substantially as described.

18. Conveying apparatus, comprising combined pan and gravity-bucket members, an endless connecting or operating member, directing devices, attachments intermediate said members and operating member, and guiding means for said members, cooperating with said directing devices, substantially as described.

19. Conveying apparatus comprising combined pan and gravity-bucket members; an endless operating-cable; directing-rails; and attachments, intermediate said members and cable, and provided with guide-wheels coperating with said rails, substantially as described.

IOO

IOS

IIO

ITN

said buckets being free to assume a normal depending position as said pan doubles upon itself in passing to the upper horizontal portion of its run; and means to turn said buckets out of normal position to discharge the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my l2o name to this specieation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN S. DECKER. lVitnesses:

ALEXANDER C. PROUDFIT, JOHN C. EDWARDS.

Images