US1592602A - Automatic self-loading hoist - Google Patents

Description

July 13 1926.

` w. E. Howl-.ETT

AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HoIS'r Filed March s, 1925 4 Shins-@Shed 1 w Uu n m www July 13 1926.

1,592,602 w. E; HGWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HOIST Filed March 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13 1926.

W. E. HOWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HOIST 4 shets-sheet 5 Filed March 5, 1925 July 13,1926'. 1,592,602 W. E. HOWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HOIST 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Marchv 5, 1925 l ,....a.\. ..0....v..\ a r.. 4 i .l r .l n v.. l. r V w. l, .l Q. v f l v f o t o0 'Juve/1120? am@ @JM 2?/ op@ M Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. HOWLETT, OF IVIOLINE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SELF-.LOADING HOIST.

Application :tiled March 5, 1925.

The invention relates to an automatic selfloading hoist.

It relates particularly to an automatic hoist for elevatingicoal at coaling stations on railroads but it may be used for any other suitable purpose.

An automatic hoist for this purpose usually includes an elevating tower having a coal bin near its base feeding by gravity into the tower near the bottom of the tower veil. An electric lor power driven hoist which automatically 'reverses itself serves to raise and lower a hoisting bucket in the tower. The bucket is allowed to pause long enough at the bottom of the tower to be `loaded and long enough at the top to be dumped. The opening from the coal bin into the tower is closed as the bucket is raised lo prevent the coal from passing into the tower well and it is opened when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be filled.

One of the diflicult problems in a hoir';

of this type which has not been successfully and economically solved heretofore is the proper loading of the bucket and the closing of the opening from the bin without spilling coal or other material'into the tower well, either at the time of loading, closing of the door, or in the raising of the bucket, The present invention is directed to a solution of this problem.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic self-loading hoist.

A more particuli-1r object is to provide a simplified automatic hoist constructed so that the hoisting bucket will be loaded and the opening from the source of material supply closed without spilling or dribbling any of the material Vinto the tower well.

Another object is to unload a portion ofthe material to be hoisted during the' initial raising movement of the hoisting bucket.

A further object is to provide an improved bucket construction in an automatic hoist of this type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illus- (rated in the accm'npanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of portion of the hoisting tower showing the hoisting bucket in lowered position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to vFigure 1 in the Serial No. 13,118.

showing the hoisting bucket after it has been raised a short distance.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l after the hoisting bucket has been raised still higher. c

Figure t is a side elevation of the portion of the bucket mechanism showing it in three different positions. i

Figure 5 is a back elevation showing the general arrangement of the hoisting bucket, an electric hoist and a door for closing the receptacle containing the material to be hoisted. Y

Figure G is a rear elevation showing the bucket in lowered position.

Figure T is a front elevation of the hoisting bucket.

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of one of the cam roller armsshowing how it is connected to its shaft.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the arm shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. l is a detail view of the device for causing' the bucket to tilt after it has been hoisted. c

The general. features ofthe hoist are a tower l provided with a bin or receptacle 2 for receiving material to be hoisted, a door or closure 3 for closing the opening from the bin into the tower, and a hoisting bucket -i which is raised and lowered within the tower by means of an electric hoist controlled by automatic switches on the switchboard 6.

The tower l is usually rectangular and it euries in height according to the requirements of the particular installation. It is preferably built of concrete and steel. It forms a passage way or well in which the 'hoisting bucket is raised up and down. A

concret-e or wood ba or block 7 at the bottom of the tower well forms a seat for the hoisting bucket when it is lowered.

rlhe bin or receptacle 2 is located near the bottom of the tower and it preferably has a sloping bottom 8 so that the material to be hoisted will feed by gravity through the opening in the tower into the hoisting bucket. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the bin is built integral ywith .the tower but it may be independent if desired. The opening 9 leading from the bin into 'the tower is made relatively large and an adjustable choker plate l() is located forward of the opening, said plate being adjustably bolted tov angle bars 1l. The height of the Cil tit)

plate can be varied to properly regulate the flow of materials having ditierent angles of repose. rhe location oic the plate ahead oaf the opening leave-s a vacant space at the t'orward part of the bin into which excess material from the hoisting bucket may be thrown. l

The door or closure 3 a heavy steel plate the sides of which travel in guideways in the tower which hold it against being t'oiced outwardly by the pressure of the material in the bin. The door is heavily counterweighted by the weights l2 shown in f Figure which are connected to the door by cables i3, passing over pulleys 14. The upward ymovement ot the door is limited by stops l5 which prevent it from being moved by the counterweights past the opening. uppermost position is illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 in which it is shown as forming a barrier for preventing the material in the bin from iiowinc into the tower.

The bucket et is of rectangular shape with the top larger than the bottom. The width ot the bottom may be varied to vary the capacity ot' the bucket. The two sides 20 and the rear 21 are higher than the front side 9.2. The material to be hoisted is loaded into the bucket over the front side and the height'oE the rear and ot the two sides prevents it from falling into the tower well. The bucket is lifted by means oit a heavy bail 23 pivoted at the points 24; and 25 and connected by a cable 26 passing over pulleys 27 to the electric hoist The electric hoist is controlled by an automatic switchboard which reverses the motor when the bucket gets to the end of its travel at the top and at the bottom of the tower. Anyone of a number of well known conrol mechanisms can be used which will automatically raise and lower the bucket and allow it to pause long enough at the bottom to be loaded and at the top long enough to be dumped.

The bucket isprovided with trunnions 28 which engage sockets 29 near the top of the tower so that further upward movement ot the bucket near the top of the tower dumps the bucket and discharges its load. The location of these trunnions may be varied to cause the bucket to be dumped to the` front or the rear. Any other suitable construction for dumping the bucket may be employed as the details of the dumping mechanism are not important in this application.

The bucket et rcarries arms 30 which engage the projecting ledge 3l on the door 3, said ledge being formed by an angle iron bolted to the door. As the bucket descends, the arms 30 strike the ledge and lower the door -The counterweight is such that the weight of' the empty bucket will lower the door. It is made as heavy as possible, however, inl order that it may assist in raising Its the bucket during` the first part of the raising movement, and at a time when the hoisting .motor is required to assert its greatest torque. The counterweight is almost heavy enoughy to "raise the empty hoisting bucket and, consequently, the hoisting motor has to raise only the weight of the material to be hoisted `,pins the amount by which the bucket overbalances the counter-weight. In other words, the counterweight relieves the hoisting motor of having to start the entire load upward.

The ledge 3l on the door is located so that when the bucket is lowered to its position on the block 7, the top ot the door` is just below the sloping` bottom ot the bin 2. The position of the parts is illustrated in Figure l.

then the bucket is raised jfrom the position of Figure l, the door 3 follows it and Jforms a barrier preventing the material in the bin trom sliding into the tower. As the bucket rises, the material at the top ot the bucket tends to tall across the iront edge of the bucket and, it' no provision were made to take care of it, it would fall into the tower well and continue to dribble oiii as the bucket continued to rise.

As previously mentioned, there is a va `ant space in the bin at its front and just back of the choker plate 10. The material that first falls into this space is illustrated in Figure 2 which shows the material passing trom the top ot the bucket over its 'front edge and int-o the space where it is prevented from dropping into a pit by the top edge of the door which follows the bucket upward. In this way, the excess load in the bucket falls back into the bin and is rready to be discharged into the empty bucket when it again descends tor a load. The fact that the upward movement ot the door 3 is limited by its contactwith the bucket insures that there will always be an opening into the bin above the door through which the excess material may be dropped or discharged.

The major portion ot' the loose material at the top ot' the bucket will 'tall over the front edge of the bucket by gravity during the first part of the raising moven'ient but vvery ot'ten small portions ot it will be held against falling for various reasons such as the size and arrangement ot the lumps, the dampness of the material, etc. Although these small portions may not tall off initially, the jar incident to raising the bucket to the top of the tower will tend to iause them to dribble ott in small amounts and fall to the bottom oi' the tower well. This is highly undesirable and means have been pro vided to prevent it. The means illustrated is a guard or side extension consisting oi a plate 32 pivoted at the Jfront edge oic the bucket at the points and 34. This plate has arms 35 carrying cam rollers adapted to engage in the cam races 37 on the sides of the tower. The weight ot the guard and associated parts tends to normally hold it in its lower position shown in Figure l. Springs 38 are also provided tor further insuring that the parts will norn'ially remain in this position. fils the bucket 'is raised, the cam rollers 35 enter the cam races 37 and the guard plate swung counterclockwise from thel position shown at the bottom oi Figure l through the center position to the position shown at the top of Figure 4;. lluring this movement the springs 38 pass over center so that, when the guard has reached the position illustrated at the top of Figure 4e, the springs hold itV in this position. During this movement ot' the guard three things have taken place. First, as the plate is swung upwardly it throws some of t-he material out and back into the bin. The position of the cam races is such that the plate is swung up before the top of the bucket passes the opening above the door 3 and, consequently, any material thrown out by the plate goes back into the bin. Second, as the guard plate is swung to a vertical position `an empty space is created behind the plate into which may tall any portions of the material that might tend to drop oil'. Third, the swinging ot the plate to vertical position increases the height of the front side of the bucket thereby providing a higher barrier :tor preventing material from ldribbling or falling off the bucket.

lith this construction and association of parts, the bucket may be loaded cleanly ant the material prevented from falling or dribbling ot after it is loaded. All excess material is thrown back into the bin before the bucket has raised to any great. height and any further material that might tend to dribble otl'I is prevented from falling by a guard plate. Q

lhe operation oit the hoist 1s, briefly, as 'follows As the bucket is lowered it strikes the door 3, forces it downward, raises the counterweights, and material flows trom the bin into the bucket over its t'ront side. 'lhe material flows intoV the bucket until it has reached its normal angle ot repose shown, tor example, in Figure l.' rlhe electric switching mechanism is timed so as to allow the bucket to remain at the bottom of the tower suliiciently long to be iilled. The switching device then rever' the motor which starts to raise the bucket. The heavily counterweighted door aids in raising some ot the weight ot the bucket as it starts on its upward movement. As the bucket moves upward, the door 3 follows it closely and forms a. barrier to prevent the material in the bin from iowing into the tower. The ext-ra material at the top of the bucket moves further upward, the cam rollers enter the cam races 37 and swing the guard 32 counte' clockwise thereby throwing a small quantity of material back into the bin. This creates a space at the front edge ot the bucket to prev-ent any further material 'troni falling oli'. The hoisting continues until the bucket reaches to top or' the tower where it is automatically dumped. The control switches tor the hoisting motor allow the bucket to hesitate long enough to beemptied aiter which f terialfmay be hoisted from bins near the ground to bins at the top of a tower l'roin where it may be discharged to the coal tenders of locomotives, to storage bins, or elsewhere.

In the event that some accident should happen to the apparatus so thaty the hoisting bucket would drop betere it reached the top ot the tower, the cam rollers would enter the cam slots 37 to reverse the position of the guard plat-e 32. It this happened there might be considerable material behind the plate so that it could not be swung` to its lowered position with the result that some thing would have to break. To provide ae'ainst such a contingency, shear pins -lil shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9 are used for fastening the arms to the shaft carrying the guard plate 32. lhen an excessive strain is put on the arms as it would be in the case above-described, the pins will break. The arms may then move relative to the shaft without injury to the mechanism. These pins can be easily replaced.

It is to be understood that the construction shown is for the purpose oi? illustration only and that variations may be made in it without departing from the spirit and scope o' the invention as letlned in the appended claims.

What l claim is:

l. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a. closure for said opening., a hoisting bucket, means Jr'or automatically lowering and raising said bucket to and 'from said opening, means tor opening said closure when the bucket lowered to permit the bucket to be `illed, and automatic means 'for preventing material from drib'iilino from said bucket after it has been raised a predetermined height.

2. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure tor said opening', a hoisting' bucket, means for auton'iatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and from said opening, means for opening the closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be tilted, and means carried by said bucket and operated auton'iatically during' the raising' movement thereotl to prevent material trom dribbling' from said bucket.

3. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having a .receptacle -provided with anY opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure tor said opening, a hoisting' bucket," means `tor automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and from said opening', means for opening said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be iilled, and means Jfor automatically unloading' a portion of the material in the bucket during' the initial raising movement thereof.

i. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle pr vided with an opening' through which material to behoisted may pass, a closure for said opening'` a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and 'trom said opening', means for opening said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit 'the bucketrto be filled, and means for automatically returning' a portion of the material in said bucket to saidreceptacle during' the initial raising' movement ot' the bucket'.

5. ,An automatic, self-loading' hoist ln ving' a receptacle provided with an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening', a hoisting' bucket, means Jtor automatically7 lowering' and raising said bucket to and from said opening', means for opening' said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be filled, and means for automatically increasing the height of one side ot the bucket during` the raising' movement thereof.

(i. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle provided with an opening' through which n aterial to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening', a hoisting' bucket. means tor auton'iatically lowering` and ra sing' said bucket to and 'from said opening', means 'roi' opening' said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be tilled, and means Ator automatically returliing' a portion ot the material in said bucket to said receptacle and tor increasing' the heig'ht ot' the loading` side ot said bucket during' the initial raising' movement thereof.

7. An automatic, self-loading` hoist having' a receptacle provided with an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening', a hoistingl bucket having its sides and rear relatively high and its 'front relatively low, means tor automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and irom said opening', said bucket being' positioned so that, when lowered, it is lled from said opening' over its iront side, means for opening' the closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be filled, and means carried by said bucket and operated automatically by the raising' thereot for increasing' the height ot the front of the bucket during` the raising' movement thereof.

8. An anton'iatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle provided with an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure normally biased to close said opening', a hoisting' bucket having' its sides and rear relatively high and its front relatively low. means for automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and trom said opening', said bucket being' positioned so that, when lowered, it is iilled vtrom said opening over its tront side, means for causing' the lowering' ot the bucket to open said closure, said opening' and bucket being' associated so that, as the bucket is raised, loose material not held in by the front of the bucket will be returned to said receptacle, and means carried by said bucket and operated autoniatically as the bucket is raised tor preventing' material from talling' over the t'ront side oif said bucket.

9. :in automatic, seit-loading hoist having' a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a sliding' closure` normally biased upward to close said opening, a hoisting' bucket having' its sides and rear relatively high and its iront. relatively low, means for automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and from said opening', said bucket being positioned so that, when lowered. it is tilled from said opening' over its front side, means carried by the bucket for carrying' the door downward as the bucket is lowered to thereby open said closure to permit the. bucket to be filled, said opening' and bucket being' associated so that, as the bucket is raised, the loose material not held in by the iront side ot the bucket. will be returned to the receptacle, and means carried by said bucket and operated automatically as the bucket is raised to increase the height ot the iront side ot the bucket to permit iurther loose material from falling' out. n

i0. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle provided with an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening', a hoisting' bucket, means for automatically lowering` said bucket, to and raising' it trom said opening', and means tor moving' the closure to closed position as the bucket is raised, said opening having' an upward branch extending' in the direction of travel of the bucket above the position ofthe closure when in closed position and adjacent the path `of the loading side ot the bucket for catching loose mate iai from the loading side ot' said bucket. as it is raised. A

ll. An auton'iatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure lor said opening, a hoisting bucket, a tower in which said bucket may be raised. and lowered, means for automaticallj,7 lowering said bucket to and raising it fr m said opening, and means for moving the closure to closed position as the bucket is raised, the wall in said tower above said opening being spaced from the path of said bucket to provide a passage tor permitting loose material troni the loading` side of said bucket to Vtall into the receptacle opening as the bucket rises.

l2. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening, a choker plate in said opening spaced from said closure to regulate the flow et material and to provide a space between the plate and the closure, a hoisting bucket, means for aut-omatically lowering said bucket to and raising it :from saidopening, and means ot moving the closure to closed position as the bucket is raised, said opening between the choker plate and the closure extending upwardly in the direction ot travel of the bucket. so that when the closure is in closed position loose material from the loading side ot the bucket will fall into said receptacle opening as the bucket rises.

1.3. .An automatic, self-loading hoist having a tower, a bin near the bottom of the tower provided with a. sloping bottom and an opening" into said tower through which material to be hoisted will 'flow by gravity, a door normally biased upwardly to form a barrier preventing material from flowing through said opening, a choker plate in said opening for regulating the flow of material and for forming a space between the plate and the closure, a hoisting bucket having its two sides and rear higher than its front side, means for automatically raising said bucket and for lowering it to a position such that .it may be lilled over its front side from said openinff, devices carried b v said bucket for lowering said door as the bucket is lowered, said bucket being located relative to the receptacle and closure so that, as the bucket is raised, the loose material not held in bv the front side ot the bucket will fall into the space between the choker plate and the closure, and means carried by the bucket and operating automatically to throw a portion of the material in said bucket into said space and to increase the height of the front side of the bucket.

14. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted maj: a closure t'or said opening,a hoisting bucket, means for automaticallyv lowering and raising said bucket to and from said opening, n'xeans tor opening said closure as the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be filled with material flowing through opening, a guard plate pivoted to the rontot the let, and cam means for buck. ringing sai d plate upwardlyv to increase the c ght ot the trout side oit the bucket as it faised and Yfor swinging said plate down- 'arulv s 'the bucket is lowered.

icket tor automatic, seit-loading fr relativclj.y high sides and rear and Aa rela i. rely," low 'trent over which the bucket can be filled, an extension for the lront side of said bucket. and means connected to said extension adapted to be auto-V i'i'zatically operated by the raising of the bucket 'for moving said extension to increase the height of the front side oit the bucket.

A bucket for automatic, self-loading hoists having reiativelv high sides and rear and a rebatir/*ehT low 'front over which the bucket may be loaded, a pivoted extension for the front side n rmall7 occupyinga lowered position` and means connected to said extension adapted to ber automatically operated bv the raising oi3 the bucket to swing the extension upwardly to increase the height ot the trent side of the bucket.

l?. in automatic, seit-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure tor said opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering and raising said bucket to and Jfrom said opening, a movable plate carried by said bucket adjacent the loading thereof. and means tor automaticalliT moving said plate to a position to form an extension on the loading side of said bucket as thc bucket is raised.

18. An automatic, seit-loading hoist. having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted ma)rr pass, a closure 'tor said opening` a hoisting bucket. means vtor automaticall)v lowering and raising said bucket to and troni said opening. a movable plate carried bv said bucket adjacent the loading side thereof, and means for automatically moving said plate to a position to form an extension of the loading side ot the bucket as the bucket 'is raised, said plate being positioned so that said movement causes the plate to discharge a portion of the material in the bucket into the receptacle.

19. The combination yin an automatic self-loading hoist ol a receptacle having an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass.,v a closure for said opening, means for moving the closure toy closed position, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering and raising said bucket to and from said opening, means for automatically opening said closure when the bucket is lowered to thereby permit the material to flow into said bucket, and means carried by the bucket and operated' automatically after the edge ot' the loading side ot the bucket has passed the level ot the material in the opening for returning to said receptacle a portion ot the material near the loading side ot' the bucket.

20. The combination in an automatic, seit-loading hoist of a receptacle having an opening-through which material to be hoised may pass, a closure t'or said opening, a hoisting bucket, ineans for automatically lowering and raising said bucket to and from said opening, and a plate pivoted to the loading side et said bucket and-normally extending insi le thereof, said plate being provided with means w iich is set into operation by the raising ot the bucket rior turning said plate to a vertical position to increase the height oit the loading side oi said bucket and discharge material in iront of the plate from the bucket.

Qlflhe combination in an automatic, seliloading hoist `ot a receptacle having au opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure for said opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering and raising said bucket to and Jfrom said opening, a plate pivoted adjacent the loading side ot' said bucket and normally extending inside thereof, said plate having operating members connected therewith, and actuating devices in the path ot said members i'or engaging them as the bucket is raised to turn said plate to vertical. position, said devices also engaging said members as the bucket is lowered to return the plate to its position inside the bucket.

22. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure :tor said opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering and raising said'bucket to and from said opening, a plate pivoted adjacent Vthe loading side ot said bucket and normally extending inside the bucket, and actuating devices tor automatically turning said plate to a vertical position as the bucket is raised and for returning said plate to its position inside the bucket as the bucket is lowered, said actuating devices including portions which yield in the event said bucket is lowered when said plate cannot be turned to the inside otV said bucket. n

n testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

VILLIAM E. HOVLET'V-

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