302,155. Mortensen, N. L. Dec. 10, 1927, [Convention date]. Charging.-The invention comprises movable distributing devices adapted to deposit successive loads of material at given points wherein means are provided for automatically preselecting the number of successive loads which are to be deposited at the same point. In Fig. 3 a direct current motor M is geared to a rotatable hopper H on the blast furnace top, the hopper being closed by a bell B<1>. The material supplied to hopper H is deposited at given points on a larger bell B underneath the smaller bell B<1> and the controller illustrated is designed to deposit a selected number of loads of material at six equally spaced points on the large bell B. The motor M, Fig. 1, is provided with an armature A, series field F and shunt field F<1> and is provided with a pair of electromagnetically operated line switches 1, 2 and accelerating switches 3, 4 for controlling resistances R1, R2 in the armature circuit. Line switches 1, 2 are controlled by a timing relay 10 which is under the control of electromagnetically operated relays 11, 12. Relay 12 acts through switches 13 and 14 to control an electromagnetic load switch 15 which is adapted to operate in a step-by-step manner upon dumping of a selected number of loads in the distributing hopper. Relay 12 is controlled by relay 11 and by electromagnetically operated switches 16, 17. Position switch 16 is controlled by load switch 15 through relays 11 and 12 and a selector switch 18. The limit switch 17 is adapted to operate in a step-by-step manner and is under the control of a rotary switch 19 which is connected through gearing with the distributing hopper H and makes one complete revolution upon rotation of the hopper through 60‹. The controller also includes a double throw switch 22 which provides for single or double bucket operation of the controller. Control switches 13, 14 control load switch 15 and are controlled bv nut 25, Fig. 3, of skip hoist. Load switch 15 is provided with an electromagnet 15a which is successively energized to rotate contact member 15b through ratchet 15c and contact member 15b is provided with a pair of brushes, one for engaging a series of nine insulated contact buttons and the other for engaging a series of nine electrically connected buttons. Ratchet 15c moves load switch through a distance corresponding to the spacing of contact buttons and is maintained in its various operative positions by a pawl operated by a switch 15d. Limit switch 17 is similar to load switch 15, one contact carried bv the contact member 17b co-operates with a series of six insulated contacts while the other contact co-operates with six electrically connected contacts; the switch is rotated by a pawl 17c and is maintained in position by a pawl operated by an electromagnet 17d. An auxiliary switch 17i is adapted to close upon initial movement of contact member 17b out of normal position. The position switch 16 is provided with an operating electromagnet 16a which moves a contact member 16b through a ratchet 16c. The contact member 16b is provided with a pair of contact brushes, one of which co-operates with a series of 24 insulated contact buttons 16d and the other of which engages a circular contact ring 16e; the ratchet mechanism moves the contact member through a distance corresponding to the spacing of the contact buttons 16d. The selector switch 18 comprises a manually operated contact arm having electrically connected contact brushes, one of which is adapted to engage a series of nine insulated contact buttons 18a, and the other of which is adapted to slide over a contact segment 18b. Assume switch 22 in position shown in Fig. 1, which provides for double bucket operation of the controller. Dumping of skip hoist bucket No. 1 closes switch 13, Fig. 1, to energize coil 15a of the load switch, the circuit being through line L1, contacts 15e, winding 15a, contacts 11b, lower pole of switch 22, switch 13 to line L2. The electromagnet 15a moves load switch 15b in counterclockwise direction to position 1, and is held by its associated pawl. Upon response of load switch, associated auxiliary contacts 15g energizes closing coil of relay 11, the circuit being L1, and contacts 15g, middle pole of switch 22, closing coil 11a, auxiliary contacts 11e and switch 13 to line L2. Upon response of relay 11, the timing relay 10 is energized by a circuit L1, right hand contacts 11c, right hand down contacts 12b, operating winding 10a of timing relay to L2. Upon closure of relay 11, relay 12 is energized by circuit L1, right hand contacts 11c, operating winding 12a, auxiliary contacts 12e, upper pole of switch 22, and through zero position of contacts of position switch 16 to line L2. The energizing circuit of the timing relay 10 is thus interrupted by the switch 12 whereby the timing relav remains in its normal position. The relays 11 and 12 are now latched in their attracted position, and when skip. hoist bucket No. 2 is brought into its load discharging position the switch 14 is closed and the load switch 15 again operated one step, the winding being energized by a circuit L1, auxiliary contacts 15e operating winding 15a, left hand up contacts 11c, switch 14 and line L2. The load switch is now moved to its second position and is held by its pawl, and the auxiliary contacts 15g of the load switch complete the circuit for the trip coil 11d, extending from L1, contacts 15g, trip coil 11d, auxiliary contacts 11f and the switch 14 to line L2. Upon tripping of relay 11 a circuit is again made for timing relay 10, extending from L1, right hand down contacts 11b, right hand up contacts 12c operating winding 10a to line 12. Upon tripping of relay 11 a circuit is again made for relay 10 extending from line L1, right hand down contacts 11b, right hand up contacts 12c, operating winding 10a to line L2. However, at this time a circuit is also made for the trip winding 12d of relay 12 extending from line L1, right hand down contacts 11b. trip coil 12d, auxiliary contacts 12f, and through the zero position contacts of position switch 16 to line L2. Upon tripping of the relay 12, the energizing circuit for the operating coil 10a of the timing relay is interrupted whereby the timing relay remains in normal position. These operations are repeated until the number of loads determined by the setting of selector switch 18 have been dumped at the zero position. If the selector switch 18 is set at four, then after the fourth load the operation of the controller is similar to that described in connection with the closure or switch 14. Load switch 15, however, has moved to fourth position and as soon as the operating magnet 15a and the relays 11 and 12 return to normal position, the operating winding of position switch 16 is energized to move the switch to its 60‹ point, the circuit being L1, right hand contacts 11b, left hand contacts 12b, auxiliary contacts 15f, operating winding 16a, auxiliary contacts 16e, selector switch 18 in its fourth position, load switch 15 in its corresponding position and line L2. This energizing circuit is the same for six or eight loads. If five or seven loads are required the relays 11 and 12 are latched in their attracted position and the position switch is energized through the medium of the right hand contact 11c and left hand contacts 12c. Upon response of position switch 16 contacts 16g complete the circuit for trip coil 15d through L1, right hand contacts 11c and left hand contacts 12c or the right hand contacts 11b and the left hand contacts 12b, as the case may be, auxiliary contacts 15f trip coil 15d, auxiliary contacts 16g to line L2. Trip coil 15d in responding is maintained by auxiliary contacts 15h which shunt the auxiliary contacts 16g of the position switch. The load switch 15 is then permitted to return' to normal position and in doing so interrupts the circuit for operating the position switch winding 16a. If the next load is delivered by skip bucket No. 1, the load switch 15 being in normal position and the position switch being in its 60‹ position, switch 13 energizes the load switch 15 as described and moves it to its first position. Upon response of the load switch the contact 15f interrupts the circuit for the trip coil 15d and the pawl associated therewith drops to normal position to prevent return movement of the load switch to normal position. Upon response of the load switch 15 the auxiliary contacts 15g effects response of relay 11 which establishes the energizing circuit for the relay 10. However, with the position switch on to 60‹ point, relay 12 does not respond immediately since the energizing circuit for the relay 12 is opened by movement of contact member 16b of the position switch out of its zero position. Thus timing relay 10 responds to connect the windings 1a, 2a of the line switches 1, 2 across lines L1, L2. Closure of the line switches connects motor M across lines L1, L2, through resistances R1, R2, and thereafter the accelerating switches 3, 4 operate to exclude R1, R2 from the motor circuit. The motor now operates the hopper H through 60‹ and the rotary switch 19 makes one revolution, the limit switch is energized and then moves into its 60‹ position. The relay 12 is now energized by circuit extending from L1, right hand contacts 11c, operating windings 12a, auxiliary contacts 12e, upper pole of switch 22, through position switch 16 in its 60‹ position, limit switch 17 also in its 60‹ position line L2. Response of relay 12 interrupts the circuit for the relay 10 which in opening disconnects windings 1a, 2a of the line switches from line L1. These windings, however, are connected to line Ll through contacts 17g until the operating mechanism of the limit switch returns to' normal position and opens the line switches 1, 2 for stopping the motor. 'The rotary switch 19 interrupts the circuit for the winding 17a upon full movement of the hop