Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Engineering
Library
uN ivTY
Material Handling
Cyclopedia
A REFERENCE BOOK
Covering
Definitions, Descriptions, Illustrations and Methods of
Use of Material Handling Machines
Employed In Industry
Managing Editor, Railway Age, and Editor of the Railway Mechanical Engineer, Car
Builders' Dictionary and Cyclopedia, and Locomotive
Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Contributing Editors
PUBLISHED BY
SIMMONS-BOARDMAN PUBLISHING CO.
WOOL WORTH BUILDING, NEW YORK, N. Y.
are defined the devices, accessories and terms used in material han-
dling. The Illustrated Text Section is subdivided into eight major
divisions: Hoisting Machinery; Package Handling Conveyors and Ele-
vators; Loose Material Conveyors and Elevators; Conveying Machin-
ery Details; Elevators; Trackless" Transportation; Industrial Rail
Transportation and Handling Systems. The Catalog Section contains
detailed information on specific devices and is designed to supplement
the information shown elsewhere and, as well, to help the reader select
from a class, the device best suited to his needs.
44C133
COPYRIGHT
SlMMONS-BOARDMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
1921
To the Users of this Book
Definition Section
Page Pa,.
Hoisting Machinery
Hand Power Cranes 159, 773, 777, 778, 780 Drag Line Excavators 239, 801, 817, 833
Power Operated Overhead Cranes: Floor-Con- Trenching Machines: Bucket; Wheel 239
Mill; Ladle; Charging; Stripping; Wall Dredges: Dipper; Placer; Hydraulic 241, 801
161, 773, 781, 791, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 800
line; Electric; Wrecking; Pile-Driver Cables; Carriers; Grips; Stations 263, 821, 823
179, 804, 805, 806
Wharf Cranes: Portal; Semi-Portal; Racking-
Cantilever; Raised; Barge; Roof; Rotary Loaders and Unloaders
191, 797, 802
Log Loaders and Skidders 273
Shipbuilding Cranes: Hammerhead; Turntable; Box Car Loaders: Conveyor; Projecting; Tilting 273
Folding- Jib; Revolving-Tower 197
Box Car Unloaders: Scraper; Suction; Tilting. 277 .
Bucket Elevators: Centrifugal Discharge; Per- Conveyors: Belt; Apron and Pan; Screw or
fect Discharge; Continuous Bucket 409, 826 Spiral; Flight and Drag; Reciprocating
Aprons ;
Arms 443 Gravity Roller Conveyors 454
Idlers 456
Bearing Boxes; Belts; Boots; Brushes; Buckets. 445
Pulleys; Push Bars 457
Cable Conveyors; Carriers; Chains; Chain At-
Releases 457
tachments 448
Screw Conveyors; Spiral Chutes; Sprockets;
Drives 452 458
Stops
Flights 453 Take-Ups; Tighteners; Trays; Troughs 462
Elevators
Handling Systems
Handling and Storing Coal Coal Yard Equipment 669
Large Central Coal Storage Plants 643 Equipment for Coaling Steamships and Loading
Coal and Ash Handling Equipment for Boiler Coal to Vessels 675
Houses 653
Equipment forLarge Central Power Stations 655 Sand and Gravel Washing Plants
Small and Moderate Sized Boiler House
Sand and Gravel Washing Plants 679
Equipment 657
Reserve Coal Storage 661
Bins and Bunkers
Stone and Lime Handling
667
Weighing Coal 668 Stone and Lime Handling 683
Catalog Section
Catalog Section 701
DEFINITION SECTION
A Dictionary Covering the Devices, Accessories, and
Terms Used in Material Handling
By
E. F. CHURCH, JR.
Head of Mechanical Engineering Department Polytechnic Institute,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Associate Member, American Society Naval Engineers; Associate, Society of
Automotive Engineers; Member, American Society Mechanical Engineers
By
P. A. CUSHMAN
Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, N. Y-
Definition Section
Accumulator, Hydraulic. A .-.torage tank lor water stops which are moved in accordance with the needs of.
under heavy pressure, used in hydraulic power opera- the work.
tions. consists of a heavily weighted plunger in a
It A
hoisting rope operated by a winch drum in one of
cylinder, or a heavily weighted cylinder moving up and the towers is led around a tower sheave to the carriage
down on the plunger, the varying space in the cylinder which moves along the track cable under the control
constituting the storage reservoir, of a traction rope. In the carriage, an arrangement of
Aerial Cableway. An aerial conveying installation con- the hoisting rope around sheaves provides an increase
sisting of a single or double track cable stretched be- of lifting power for handling the load hanging from
tween two towers, a carriage traveling on the track the load hook of the fall block beneath.
cable, ropes for hoisting the load and controlling the Page 815, 817, 821, 823.
position of the carriage on the cable and operating ma- Aerial Cableway, Horizontal. The term applied to a
chinery, generally located in one of the towers. If used cableway which has its ends at the same height, or which
for conveying only, it is called a transporting or con- has so little difference in elevation between them that
veying cableway, and is equivalent to a cable tramway the carriage will not move by gravity. A power driven
of a single span. used for hoisting and conveying,
If endless traction rope is generally used in such cases,
it is often called a hoisting transporting cableway, and though a tail rope may be led around guide sheaves to
is commonly used for construction work on dams and a counterweight in such a way as to assist the force of
bridges, or for the handling of bulk material in storage gravity on low grades.
plants. Page 249, 815, 817, 821, 823.
The towers may be fixed, rocking or traveling; one Aerial Cableway, Inclined. A
general term applied to
may move on a circular track about the other, called a an aerial cableway in which the two ends of the track
radial cableway they may be at the same or different
; cable have a sufficient difference in elevation to produce
elevations. Under certain conditions the cableway may a slope of 20 per cent or more, down which loaded or
be made self-operative, but power is always required if unloaded carriages will move by gravity. Also called a
hoisting is to be done.
gravity transporting cableway.
Also called a suspension cableway. Cableways are Page 815, 817, 821, 823.
distinguished from cable tramways by the fact that no Aerial Cableway, Radial. An aerial cableway having
hoisting is done by the latter, and that they consist
one traveling tower which may move on the arc of a
of many spans over long distances, and are usually per- circle at the center of which the other tower is located.
manent installations.
A large storage area may thus be covered. The mov-
Page 247, 815, 817, 821, 823. ing tower has a broad base and is loaded to prevent up-
Aerial Cableway, Dredging. An aerial cableway The
-
setting. fixed tower may be pivoted, or may have
equipped for handling a grab bucket suitable for ex- must be guyed in several di-
merely a pivoted cap. It
cavating submerged material. The towers usually
rections to resist the corresponding pulls of the movable
travel parallel to the water, and a three-drum wjnch
track cable, unless it is made self-supporting. Power is
is required.
generally supplied to the cableway at the pivot tower,
Page 817. and the traveling tower may be moved along its track
Aerial Cableway, Grab Bucket Handling. An aerial
by power supplied from a winch drum at the pivot'
cableway arranged for the operation of a self-filling
tower.
grab bucket. The bucket is lowered, open, into the
Page 815.
material to be excavated or moved; winding of the
Aerial Cableway, Rocking. A
cableway which is sup-
hoisting rope causes it to close, filling its bowl as it does
so. Continued hoisting raises it to or near the track ported on two towers that can be rocked transversely in
cable the carriage is then moved with the bucket -until unison, thus moving the conveying cable from side to
;
. , ing _ cableway is .merely a cable tramway of a single Aerial Wire Rope Tramway Stations. The terminal
,
structures and any intermediate supports, other than the
'Page 247,' 8l5,' 817, 821, 823. ordinary towers supporting the line, of an aerial wire
Aerial Cableway, Traveling. An aerial cableway hav- rope tramway. These include two terminal stations
ing its two supporting towers mounted on wheeled bases known as loadingand discharge stations, also rail
which can move along parallel tracks. This enables the stations, tension stations and angle stations.
cableway to serve the whole of a rectangular area, rather Page 269.
than to limit it to a narrow area immediately beneath Air, Compressed. Compressed air may be considered
the track cable. as system of power transmission, analogous to the
a
Aerial Wire Rope Tramway. A system of aerial con- generator, distributing system and motors of an electri-
veying by which material is carried in buckets on a cable cal power transmission system, the air compressor cor-
supported on a series of elevated towers, and passing responding to the generator, the piping to the wiring,
for distances amounting sometimes to many miles over and the air motors, hoists, etc., to the electric motor.
land, rivers, valleys and mountains. The loading and Its efficiency falls so much below the electric system
discharge stations 'are usually at opposite ends of the that it is seldom used- solely for the transmission of me-
line, though discharge may be easily arranged at inter- chanical power to a distant point, butis of great value
travel with it, and the double cable, in which one sta- sawdust and other manufacturing refuse; cleaning cast-
tionary rope supports the buckets and the other propels ings; pneumatic riveting; chipping and drilling; spray-
them. Either type may have any number of buckets; ing, etc. It is also much used for handling liquids which
two special cases of the double cable system are called cannot be moved by piston or centrifugal pumps be-
double bucket and single bucket installations both are ; cause of their corrosive or clogging action, by exerting
termed reversible. an air pressure on the liquid in a closed tank by pump-
Page 263, 815, 817, 821, 823. ing in compressed air, or by using an air lift pump.
Aerial Wire Rope Tramway Carrier. A truck com- Where installed primarily for these special purposes, it
posed of two steel sheave wheels mounted between steel may be utilized effectively for power development in ad-
side plates,and having a pendant frame attached to it, dition, especially for hoists and even for elevators. Com-
between the lower extremities of which is pivoted a pressed air machinery is simple, cheapand usually easily
turnover bucket. For extremely heavy loads two two- operated ; occasionally, as in mines, the exhaust is of use
wheel trucks support an equalizing bar from which the for ventilation, though the amount is really too small
bucket is suspended, thus dividing the load among four to be of importance. The total absence of any heat or
wheels. possibility of sparks renders itpreferable to steam and
Beside the dumping bucket for carrying bulk material electricity in locations where combustible gases or ex-
other forms of carriers are also in use, for conveying plosives are present.
bales, barrels, logs, cordwood, etc., each built especially The power required to compress air is reduced if the
for the material handled. air is kept from rising in temperature during compres-
At from the cable on to
the stations the carriers run sion. Water jacketing accomplishes this to a certain ex-
fixed overhead track sometimes called shunt rails, and tent, but a more effective method is to use multi-stage
stay on these until sent out on the line again. Switches compression, with thorough intercooling between the
may be arranged, on which reserve buckets are held, stages.
and overhead rails also may be used for running buckets When is used to drive engines, tools,
compressed air
short distances away from the cable terminal, for col- etc., lowered considerably during the
the temperature is
lecting material, discharging to distributed locations, etc. expansion in the working cylinder, and may go below
Page 267, 821, 823. 32 deg. any water present will then freeze and gradually
;
Aerial Wire Rope Tramway, Double Bucket. A reversi- clog the passages. Water must therefore be thoroughly
tramway consisting of two parallel
ble aerial double rope eliminated, or the air must be heated sufficiently before
track cables on which a pair of carriers and buckets are using it to insure its remaining above the freezing point.
operated, by means of a reversible endless traction rope. Such heating will also increase the efficiency of the
The two buckets are attached at opposite sides of the system.
traction rope loop so that they occupy the loading and Low air pressures are usually expressed in inches of
the discharge stations at the ends of the line simulta- water, as would be measured by an U-tube with one leg
neously, and always move in opposite directions. If the connected to the discharge side of the compressor. High-
loaded buckets travel down a sufficient grade, the system er pressures, up to one pound, are expressed in ounces
is self-operative and requires no power; it is then often and still higher pressures in Ib. per sq. in.
per sq. in.,
called a jig-back tramway. Air Compressor. Any machine or device which will
Also called a twin line tramway. continuously take in air at a low pressure and deliver
Page 269, 821, 823. it at a higher pressure. Compressors are classed as pis-
Aerial Wire Rope Tramway, Single Bucket. A reversi- ton, rotary and hydraulic, according to the
centrifugal,
ble aerial double rope tramway consisting of one track kind of power used; those in the first three classes may
rope on which a carrier and bucket are pulled back and be designated as steam engine, internal combustion engine,
forth by a reversible endless traction rope, or, lowered (gas, gasoline or oil), electric motor or belt driven. Low
down a grade by gravity and pulled back up to the load- pressure centrifugal compressors are commonly called
ing station by power. It may be operated by one man fans or blowers; low pressure piston compressors (in
at the loading station, the discharge being automatic. large sizes, as used for blast furnaces) are termed blowing
Page 271, 821, 823. engines or blowers.
10
AIR DEFINITION SECTION AIR
is an essential
Cooling part of the mechanical com- ing stream and the ascending stream which has been
pressing of air, as a large part of the power supplied ap- freed of air.
pears as heat. For low pressures and small sizes, Air Compressor Intercooler. In multi-stage air com-
radiation is relied on to carry away enough heat to pressor plants, the water-cooled receiver through which
maintain a satisfactory working temperature. For high the hot compressed air from one stage of the compressor
is passed before going into the next stage for further
pressures in all medium and large sized compressors,
water jacketing of metal parts exposed to the heat is ar- compression. There are two reasons for using an inter-
ranged, and the compression broken up into two or
is cooler ; keep the temperature low enough so that
first, to
more stages with intcrcoolers between them, this be- the cylinders can be properly lubricated, and second, to
much of the moisture which causes serious passes through the tubes. The air to be cooled fills the
cipitates
space between the tube sheets among the tubes, and is
trouble in machines operated by compressed air, and also
made to pass back and forth across the tubes several
carries down much of the oil vapor with this water pre-
times by suitably arranged baffle plates.
cipitation.
The usual construction is to bolt the two tube sheets
For the construction of Aftercoolers, see Intercooler.
to flangeson the ends of the shell the greater expansion
;
Air Compressor, Centrifugal. A machine for compress- of the tubes than the shell, due to their higher tempera-
a rotating
ing air by giving it a whirling motion through ture and higher coefficient of expansion, may make them
fan or impeller, and utilizing the centrifugal force thus
leak. The back tube
sheet may have a water chamber
created to make the air flow against a pressure. The
bolted to and be loose within the shell, thus allowing
it,
is mounted on a shaft and rotates within a
impeller free expansion of the tube bank independently of the
flows
casing; the air is admitted at or near the shaft, shell. This is called a floating head.
among blades or vanes on the impeller, and outward Tubes are made of brass of various grades or of
from their tips into the casing; fixed discharge vanes are aluminum; the latter possess greater heat conductivity.
often mounted in the casing around the impeller to aid Air Compressor, Piston Type. A machine consisting of
in changing the kinetic energy of the air into pressure a cylinder with a piston moving back and forth in it,
without its dissipation into heat through eddying. drawing air into one end of the cylinder during motion
Centrifugal compressors for pressures below one pound in one direction, and compressing it during the return
are usually known as blowers or fans. For pressures movement. Compressors are usually single-acting in
above pounds, two or more impellers in series may
five small sizes, and double-acting in the large sizes. They
be used, the discharge of the first stage leading to the are driven by steam engines, by gas, gasoline or oil
intake of the second, etc. these are known as multi-stage
;
engines, by electric motors, or by belts from line shaft-
centrifugal compressors. ing. Many different varieties have been developed be-
Centrifugal compressors require little space, may be cause of the varied requirements as to discharge pres-
coupled direct to high-speed driving units like steam sure, capacity, economy of power, cost, speed of driving
turbines or motors, cause little or no vibration, have no
unit, weight and floor space.
reciprocating parts, valves or springs, and require a Pressures up to SO Ib. per sq.in. are generally obtained
minimum of oiling They will not,
and other care. in a single-stage;pressures above 100 Ib. are obtained
however, deliver a constant quantity of air when run- much more economically by two-stage compression with
ning at constant speed under a varying resistance, and an intercooler between the two stages. For pressures
they also cause unpleasant throbbing or pulsations. above 200 Ib., three stages with two intercoolers should
Centrifugal air compressors are most used where be used.
medium pressures are required, as for blast and other Various arrangements of cylinders are in use; one with
furnace blowing, pneumatic tube transportation, convey-
cylinders in line, or tandem, and another with cylinders
ing of grain, coal, etc. They also find efficient application side by side, or duplex, these being the two most com-
as first stage compressors where the second stage of
mon, and serving as a basis for the more complicated
compression is performed by a piston type compressor, arrangements involving double or compound steam cylin-
enabling a large reduction to be made in the size of the
ders, double or two-stage air cylinders, and combinations
latter.
of tandem and duplex arrangements.
They are cooled by radiation from the casing, by water
Suitable regulation of air compressors is a very im-
circulating through diaphragms between the stages of a
portant matter. There is always some storage capacity
multi-stage machine, or by intercoolers between groups in the shape of receivers on the discharge line, but if the
of stages.
demand for air falls off, the pressure will rise and air
Air Compressor, Hydraulic. A compressor which util- will be wasted by safety valves, unless the compressors
izes a head of flowing water for compressing air. Two cease to furnish air. Two methods of control are used;
vertical shafts are connected by a tunnel at their bottoms. the first being to continually vary the speed of the com-
Water flowing down one of these is allowed to suck air pressor, keeping the discharge pressure as nearly constant
and carry it down to the horizontal tunnel there it sep- ; as possible, and the second, to stop air compression en-
arates from the water, which passes on and up the other tirely when the maximum pressure is reached, and wait
shaft. The air is led from the separation chamber to the until it has fallen a definite amount before delivering
surface by pipes. Sufficient head of water must be avail- again. It is generally undesirable to stop the compressor
able to produce the desired quantity of flow, and to make completely, except in special cases where the demand
up for the difference in density of the air laden descend- is very intermittent, so it is slowed to the lowest prac-
11
AIR MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ASH
ticablerunning speed at the same time that the device Or they may be laid on the surface and weighted with
which controls the delivery of air, called the unloader, stones.
stops any compression of air. Outdoor cranes, exposed to the wind, such as overhead
An important detail of an air compressor is the air electric traveling crane on elevated runways, must be
valve. In modern practice these are made of thin'flexible locked in a fixed position whenever the operator is not
steel plates, rings or strips, covering narrow ports. They in the cage. Anchorages are arranged by which the crane
are very strong and light, require little excess of pres- is locked to the rail, or to a stop at the end of the rail.
sure to lift them, and seat without slamming. For rope and chain on crane winding drums. The
Air Compressor, Rotary. A machine in which air is chain is fastened by a shackle, or a stud in the drum
compressed by one or more rotating impellers working circumference. The wire rope has a solid eye spliced
in a casing, as distinguished from piston compiessors. in the end, and attached to the drum by a bolt; it is
(See Air Compressor; Blower, Rotary.) sometimes passed diagonally through the drum barrel or
Air Compressor Unloader. The mechanism by which flange, and fastened in a rope socket which seats in a
the delivery of air by a compressor is controlled. Several tapered hole.
devices are in use, such as, first, closing of the intake pipe, Apron. The name sometimes given to the clear space
so that no air is admitted to the cylinder; second, hold- often left on a pier between the pier shed and the pier
ing open admission valves so that air flows back and edge. It is generally used to allow the passage of trucks
forth between the cylinder and intake; third, opening a or cars close to the ship.
by-pass between the discharge pipe and intake pipe, and Asbestos. A non-combustible fibrous mineral material,
"circulating" the air ; and fourth, temporarily increasing principally silicate of magnesia, which can be woven into
the clearance volume. It is often combined with the gov- webbing and reinforced with metal wires, and used for
ernor controlling the speed of the driving engine. lining brake bands, clutches, etc. It is also used in the
In two-stage compressors, it is not enough to unload soft fluffy condition or when pressed into sheets, as a
the low pre'ssure cylinder, as the high pressure cylinder protection against heat, being a constituent of most of
will speedily exhaust the air from the intercooler, and the heat insulation preparations. As it is also a fair
will then draw in air through stuffing box leaks and com- electric insulating substance, it is used in cases where
interfere with lubrication. This ai_- may be discharged to the electric current itself, as in totally enclosed electrical
waters as easily as clean water. current conveyors of the steam or air jet or the vacuum
Air Receiver or Reservoir. A strong reservoir, gener- monorail or bridge
type skip or grab bucket hoists
; ;
12
ASH DEFINITION SECTION BAL
rope, and may or may not have a "follow-up" gear, by cavating machine. In some cases the back filling is done
which the ash bucket is fully controlled by the rotation by the rear end of the same machine which does the
of a small hand wheel, rising when the wheel is rotated excavating the laying of the drainage- tile, or what-
;
in one direction, falling in the other, and stopping when ever it may be, being carried on between the two and
the wheel is stopped. The steam ram consists of a long beneath the machine.
stroke direct-acting vertical steam cylinder, having its Back-filling. The replacing of the excavated material
tackle in an in a trench or similar excavation after the accomplish-
piston rod connected to the bucket hoisting
inverted manner, so that the motion of the bucket is ment of the operation for which the trench was dug.
much greater than that of the steam piston. Back Gearing. A geared speed reduction mechanism,
The ash bucket is hoisted through a fire room venti- consisting of a driving pinion A, keyed to a shaft on
lator, and is dumped into a hopper leading to an ash chute which also turns loosely a gear D connected to the ma-
which discharges a little above the water line. chine to be driven. Another gear B and pinion C are
Ash Pit. The enclosure immediately beneath the grate arranged to rotate together on a parallel shaft, B mesh-
or stoker of a boiler, in which ashes collect, and from ing with A and C with D. The speed of the driving
which they must be removed by the fireman, or by auto- pinion is reduced in the ratio (A-^B) x (C^~D~). The
matic means. The old and most common ash pit has a term "back gear" refers to the gear train coming back
level floor at or slightly below the fireroom level, and the to the original shaft. It is used on machine tools, and
fireman pulls out the ashes with a hoe; they may be also on some motors for winch drives.
wheeled away, or disposed of by a conveyor. Hopper Back-lash. In a mechanism, the amount of movement
bottom ash pits are commonly used with stokers, and the or play one part may have without moving another, due
falling ashes are allowed to collect in the bottom of the to fits not being absolutely perfect, allowances for ex-
chine together, or placing the various parts in their proper prevent bucket elevators from running backward in case
relation to one another so that they will perform the of accident to the drive. A
friction device holds the pawl
required operations. out of the ratchet wheel during regular elevating motion,
Assembly. The complete collection of parts of a ma- but a reversal of the motion throws it into the teeth and
chine or portion of a machine, as a brake assembly. stops rotation.
Assembly Drawing. A drawing showing all the parts Baffle Plate. A plate suspended in front of the dis-
of a machine or apparatus or definite portion of the same, charge pipe of a steam jet or air suction ash conveyor, or
in their proper relation to one another. fixed on the wall of the bin opposite it for receiving the
Automatic. Having the power of self-motion; self-
impact of the highly abrasive material. It may be made
acting. of the hardest steel obtainable, and even then be worn
Automatic Swing. The term applied to a grab bucket rapidly. One type, called the pocket type, has a number
excavator when the boom is swung automatically by us- of pockets about 6 in. square and 9 in. de3p, with a backing
ing the alternating pull in the bucket hoisting and low- plate. The ashes pack into the pockets, and present to
ering ropes rather than by a bull wheel. (See Excavator, the discharge pipe practically a baffle plate of ashes, and
Grab Bucket.) wear is very slow.
Auxiliary. That which aids or gives assistance; that Bagger. Any machine which mechanically aids the
which is secondary or subsidiary, as auxiliary hoist,
placing of bulk material in bags for purposes of trans-
auxiliary girder. portation. It is often combined with a weighing scale
Axial. Along or in a direction parallel to an axis, gen- to automatically deliver a definite amount to each bag.
erally an axis of rotation, as an axial load.
(See also Chute, Bagging.)
Axis. The imaginary line about which a body rotates
Bail. Acurved strap or bar, pivoted at its two ends to
or turns. It ispreferable to say that a body rotates about
the rim "of a bucket scoop, tub, etc., and with an eye,
its own axis of symmetry, and revolves about an axis
loop or other arrangement for attaching a rope or chain,
outside itself, as the earth rotates on its axis and
When made
:
gear. In some industrial cars, one wheel is loose and Ball,Downhaul. See Downhaul Ball.
one is tight on the axle ; this will allow easy movement Ball and Socket Joint. A flexible connection between
on curves. two pieces of a mechanism, consisting of a partial sphere
Back-filler. Any device used for replacing the ex- attached to one part, and a spherical seat partially (more
cavated material into the trench from which it was dug. than half) enclosing it attached to the other, the com-
Buck, scoop or drag line scrapers are useful in the work ; bination permitting freedom of relative motion of the
endless chain bucket conveyors are also arranged spe- two parts about the center of the sphere. These joints
cially for the purpose, following closely after the ex- are u?ed in some cases for connecting links to rockers
13
BAN MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BEA
and levers ; for some types of flexible tie rods or radius Beam. A single piece (generally straight) or a distinct
rods ;
and also to give flexibility to pipe lines, notably portion of a structure which is so supported and loaded
the discharge lines from hydraulic dredges. that it is subjected to transverse forces tending to bend
Band A among it. The term is also sometimes applied to a heavy un-
Friction. type of friction clutch applied
fabricated timber or steel structural shape, without refer-
other places, to the drums of winches, consisting of a
band carried by one part which can be contracted ex- ence as to how it is to be placed in a structure, as I-beam.
Also, the extreme breadth of a vessel.
ternally or expanded internally in a rim on the other
part, making them rotate as one. (See Clutch, Friction; Beam Clamp. See Clamp, Beam.
Drum, Friction.) Beam, Ladle Crane. A strong beam suspended at the
Barge. A
floating craft of full body and heavy con- ends by two sets of load ropes from the trolley of an
struction, designed for the carriage of cargo, but with- overhead traveling crane, and having hanging from it
out means of self-propulsion. Cranes or other cargo two long steel hooks supporting the ladle by trunnions
handling gear are often mounted on barges. The distinc- at the sides. (See Crane, Ladle.)
tion between a barge and a lighter is more in the manner Beam, Lifting. Any long bar or girder used as an auxil-
of use than in form and equipment, the term barge being iary in connection with hoisting machinery, when lifting
more often used when the load is carried to its destina- long objects like bars, plates or pipe, by hooks, slings or
tion,or a long distance, while the term lighter refers to magnets.
a shorthaul, generally in connection with loading or Beam of Uniform Strength. A
beam designed to sup-
unloading operations of vessels. port a given load or system of loads, and formed with
Barge, Coaling. A barge containing equipment for such dimensions that the maximum stress existing at a
rapidly tilling the bunkers of a vessel with coal. There section of the beam is the same wherever in the length
are many types, but practically all include a tower-like of the beam the section may be taken. In designing the
structure on the barge, with elevating mechanism and girders of overhead traveling cranes, this method re-
means of discharging the coal into coaling ports in the sults in the fish-bellied or parabolic form of the bottom
sides or decks of the ship by spouts or chutes. Some chord in bridge structures where the load is carried
;
types carry the load of coal in their own holds others ; on the lower chord, the upper chord is thus curved.
simply contain the elevating and conveying machinery, Bearing. That part of a machine frame or other mem-
are placed between the loaded coal barge and the ship to ber which encloses a rotating part like a shaft and holds
be coaled, and transfer the coal from the loaded barge it in place. The part of the shaft which rotates within
to the ship'sbunker by machinery. This last arrangement the bearing is usually called the journal when it is loaded
may save one handling of the coal, but requires a wide transversely, and the bearing a journal bearing. When
slip if coaling is to be done while the ship is in a dock. the load on the shaft is axial, the bearing is called a thrust
Barrel Cradle. A pair of concave stands, braced to- bearing. (See Bearing, Thrust.) Many bearings are
gether, and designed for supporting a barrel laid on its designed to carry both loads simultaneously.
side. They may be set on an ordinary elevator or con- Bearings in which both parts have smooth surfaces in
veyor for temporary use, or be built into the chain of a contact with each other are sometimes known as plain
chain elevator or conveyor for permanent barrel han- bearings as distinguished from those in which the sur-
dling installations. faces are kept apart by balls or rollers. (See Bearing,
A
steel barrel, with or without a lid or Ball; Bearing, Roller.) Ball and roller bearings turn
Barrel, Shop.
cover, for holding castings, chips, dirt, etc., in industrial
much more freely, consume less power and have certain
tities by weight or measure of various ingredients and which no adjustment provided; adjustable, in which
is
mixes them by stirring, rotation or other means to make the location of the shaft center may be changed hori-
concrete, glass, etc. zontally, vertically or both trunnion, in which the bear-
;
See Electrical Definitions. ing may swing about a transverse axis in one plane
Battery.
14
BEA DEFINITION SECTION BEA
supporting frame or by screws placed above and below lubrication whenever the temperature rises, due to ex-
the box, which clamp it between them. Horizontal ad- cessive friction ;and grease cup lubricated bearings, in
justment obtained by moving the supporting frame
is which grease is occasionally forced into the bearing by
sideways, by wedges, or by screws. a hand fed grease cup.
Trunnion bearings usually have lugs cast on opposite Bearing boxes are usually lined with babbitt or an
sides of the box, held in corresponding holes in the sup- equivalent anti-friction metal. For very light work where
porting frame. They may also be suspended between low cost is important, unlined cast iron boxes may be
pointed set screws passing through threaded holes in the used for very heavy pressures and important work
;
are called pillow blocks ; these may be divided horizon- radial(sometimes called annular) bearings, suited for
tally or angularly, the latter being desirable to receive carrying a transverse load on the shaft, and correspond-
an inclined pull. Still larger and more elaborate forms, ing to an ordinary journal bearing; thrust bearings, for
with perhaps renewable bearing shells, and even boxes in carrying an axial load on the shaft (see Bearing, Ball
portions and adjustable by means of wedges are known Thrust) and a combination of the two in a single bear-
;
as pedestal blocks or pedestal bearings. When the shaft ing which is able to carry both axial and radial loads,
is located a considerable distance above the floor on sometimes called an angular bearing.
which the bearing stands, and the frame is made open, it As regards the manner in which each ball carries its
is called a floor stand. load, ball bearings are termed two point, three point and
Where the bearing is hung from the ceiling, the frame four point; the first is the most commonly used, and the
is called a
drop hanger; it is similar in construction to last is seldom found. The fundamental principle under-
the floor stand, and one can often be converted into the lying the design of the races is that the ball should have
other by turning over the box, thus changing the location as nearly as possible a pure rolling action with a mini-
of the oil reservoir. When the bearing is supported by a mum of spinning. Two point bearings have the points
vertical surface of a post or wall, the frame is called a of contact between race and ball so located that tangents
post hanger or wall bracket, the latter type locating the there intersect each other on the axis of rotation, this
shaft further away from the wall than the post hanger. point of intersection being at an infinite distance in the
When a bearing is desired at the point where a shaft case of pure radial bearings. Three point bearings have
goes through a wall, a rectangular frame called a wall two points of contact on one race and one on the other;
frame is built into the wall and the box mounted in it. the tangent at the last must intersect the chord drawn
Bearing boxes are often distinguished according to through the other two at a point on the axis of rotation.
their method of lubrication. Self-oiling bearings are Both balls and races should be made of very hard steel,
those in which a reservoir is provided, generally below and should be polished to a high degree. Ball bearings
the shaft, into which a supply of oil is placed and fed fail by a flaking or pitting of the surfaces of balls and
automatically to the rubbing surfaces from which it races, at loads far below the crushing strength of the
drains back to the reservoir and is thus used over and ball. While adjustments are often provided, a bearing
over. The means of feeding the oil are: by. slender which has worn to the point at which adjustment is nec-
rings or chains dipping into the oil and hanging over the essary has failed and it needs replacement. It is there-
shaft in notches cut in the top box; by collars fast to the fore desirable that the setting be made permanent at the
shaft within the boxes, or by capillary attraction through factory and that no possibility of adjustment be fur-
pieces ofwood with fine openings, dipping in the oil and nished.
pressing up against the bottom of the journal. Other Theoretically, lubrication is unnecessary if pure rolling
bearings which are not self-oiling are plain bearings with contact is obtained, but because there is a very slight
oil holes for oil from a
squirt can; wick oiling bearings spinning or twisting of the surfaces in contact even in
in which small reservoirs are formed in the cap, and
oil the best bearings, a certain amount of it is advisable. In
wicks dipping into the oil and then extending from it up addition, it prevents corrosion and tends to exclude for-
15
BEA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BEA
eign matter, both being very destructive to the bearings. assemble the bearing. Special hardened surfaces are
Page 740. often provided for the rollers to run on, to prevent
Bearing, Ball, Angular. A ball bearing which will carry wear, one being attached to the moving and the other
a combination of axial and radial loads on a shaft. Two to the stationary part.
such bearings are required to carry a shaft in a definite Roller bearings have the same three classes as ball
position against loads from any direction. bearings, radial, axial or thrust, and combination or an-
The races usually take the form of a cone which is gular. The bearing is in line contact along the full
forced on to the shaft, and a cup which is fast in the length of the roller, hence these bearings will carry
bearing, with the balls between them. With two point much heavier loads than ball bearings, which have point
contact, the two conical surfaces on the cone and in the contact. It is equally important that surfaces of rollers
(See Bearing, Ball.) A plain radial bearing and a thrust (See also Bearing, Roller, Radial; Bearing, Roller,
bearing may be combined to serve the same purpose Thrust.)
as an angular bearing. Page 731, 783.
Page 740. Bearing, Roller, Radial. A roller bearing for support-
Bearing, Ball, Radial. A ball bearing for supporting a ing a shaft which is loaded transversely. As the load
shaft which is subject to transverse loads. A hardened is distributed along a line, hardened wearing surfaces for
sleeve or race is usually forced on the shaft, and an- it to roll on are not so necessary as with ball bearings,
other in the hub of the bearing box a shallow groove ; but are advisable; usually hardened sleeves are pressed
is turned in the inside of the outer race, or on. the out- onto the shaft and into the bore of the bearing, with the
side of the inner race in addition, and a complete circle rollers in their cage between, all lying parallel to the
taken that the load is equalized between them. wound into helical form and ground cylindrical on the
Also called an annular ball bearing. outside, the construction giving a flexible roller
latter
rests in the bearing. In the three point type, one plate is they are much In order to avoid excessive wear,
used.
flat and the other has an annular groove whose sides the cylinders are made short in length resembling discs,
are so sloped that the three points of contact bear the and a number are assembled along the same axis each ;
proper relation to each other as for pure rolling. (See may then take own speed independently of the others.
its
Bearing, Bali.) These disc rollers may be mounted in a cage for con-
For proper distribution of the load among the balls, a venience in handling.
spherical seat for one of the hardened plates is necessary. Roller thrust bearings are usually made with hard-
Where the axial load is small, discs like the above ened steel plates, and the rollers themselves are hard-
may be inserted in a step bearing at the end of the shaft. ened.
Where larger thrusts must be carried, annular plates or When conical rollers are used, the thrust rings must
rings are used and held relatively to the shaft by collars both be conical, or one may be flat and the other more
formed, clamped or screwed on it. Thrust in either steeply coned, and the angles should be such that the
direction may be carried by a duplication of the arrange- apexes of the rollers, should they be extended so far,
ment. would lie at the center of rotation of the shaft ;
this
end of the bearing; another is to place felt rings around radial position.
the shaft in recesses turned in the box at each end just Roller thrust bearings are used for carrying very
within the bearing. One end of a bearing may some- heavy loads, as in turntables for some forms of cranes,
times be completely closed, and is naturally completely (See Bearing, Roller, for Locomotive Cranes.)
dust proof at that end. Bearing, Thrust. A bearing designed to prevent an
Bearing, Oil Impregnated. A bearing made of hard axial 'motion of a shaft, and which is used either for
wood impregnated with oil, and used in places where adjusting purposes or to carry an actual axial load.
lubrication can not be easily accomplished, or where oil Two types are commonly distinguished, one in which the
would be detrimental, as in bearings of screw conveyors end of the shaft or a part attached to it for that special
handling food products, etc. purpose is used as a rubbing surface, called a step thrust
Bearing, Roller. A bearing in which the surfaces of bearing,and the other in which rings or collars are
the two parts are kept from coming into contact with formed on or attached to the shaft, revolving between
each other by means of a number of small rollers, which similar collars or rings carried by the supporting frame,
are usually mounted loosely in a part called a cage, to called a collar thrust bearing.
keep them properly spaced, and to make it easier to The step bearing is often used for vertical shafts, and
BED DEFINITION SECTION BIN
is made adjustable for vertical wear. Alternating discs Bin, Cylindrical. A bin for the storage of bulk ma-
of dissimilar wearing metals are usually placed between terial, circular in plan, and often of considerable height.
the end of the shaft and the bottom of the step, and It is built of wood, steel, terra cotta or concrete, the last
oil is preferably fed at the center of the bottom of becoming more and more common for the storage of
the step, passing gradually outward through radial material like grain, coal, etc. Material is dumped in at
grooves in the discs. Step bearings are also used for the top, usually by elevator conveyors, and is drawn off
carrying the thrust of worms. through the bottom or from the side near the bottom as
Collar thrusts are used for the largest loads, as all needed, through a gate controlled spout, into cars,
necessary bearing surface can be obtained by multiplying wagons, etc., or through a feeder onto a discharge con-
the number of collars. veyor. The bottoms are flat, hemispherical or funnel
journal bearings are arranged to take end thrust
Many shaped; the structure is supported directly on a foun-
from a collar on the shaft, by having a babbitted and dation or on a circular girder supported by columns
finished surfaceon the end of the bearing. which rest on a foundation. These columns may be of
Thrust bearings are also made in the ball and roller considerable height in cases where it is desired to de-
styles. (See Bearing, Ball Thrust; Bearing, Roller liver the material to distant points by chutes.
Thrust.) These bins may be built in separate rows, or in groups
Bedding and Reclaiming Equipment. A combination of four, nine or sixteen, the group arrangement being
of a bridge storage crane for uniformly distributing ma- preferable on account of the additional storage space
terial in a long heap or bed, and a reclaiming machine afforded by the spaces exterior to the circular sections,
which works from one end of the bed, slicing down a and between the points of tangency, these amounting to
cross section and thoroughly mixing it as it reclaims, more than one-fourth the internal capacity when the
and delivering a very uniform material as required for walls are of a thickness appropriate for concrete.
certain smelting and chemical industries using raw ma- Cylindrical concrete bins are built with fixed forms,
terial which varies from time to time. or with movable ones which are gradually slid up as
Bell Crank. A bent lever pivoted at the bend, for the work progresses. The wall thicknesses are about
changing the line of application of a force. one-fiftieth of the diameter, with a minimum of 7 in.
Bending Moment. The total bending tendenc v to which Bin, Hopperor Hopper-Bottom. A
bin which is square
a beam is subject, expressed generally in inch-pounds. or rectangular in plan, and has a bottom shaped like
The bending moment at any transverse section of a beam an inverted frustrum of a pyramid, with the slope of
is equal to the algebraic sum of the products of each of the sides such that the material will slide completely
forces acting to produce bending, multiplied by the
the out. The opening at the apex leads to a gate controlled
perpendicular distance of the line of action of the force spout, or a feeder for a conveyor. true hopper bin A
from the section. has no vertical sides a hopper bottom bin has vertical
;
or of package or similar material which may be tempo- hopper-bottom units, rather than a single large unit ;
rarily treated as if were in bulk. Three types may be
it material can then be drawn off at a number of points.
distinguished hopper bottom square or rectangular bins,
:
Bin, Overhead. A bin supported in an elevated posi-
cylindrical bins and suspension bins. Bins are usually on tion so that a car, conveyor, truck, wagon, etc., may
or above the ground, being termed overhead bins in pass beneath or beside it and receive material from it
the latter case where an opening is made in the ground
; by gravity, or so that the contents may pass by gravity
for holding bulk material, even if it is lined with steel or through a spout or chute directly to a desired location,
concrete, it is usually termed a pit. as to a stoker hopper.
The term bin is also often employed to designate a (See Bin, Suspended.)
compartment formed by vertical partitions and shelving Bin, Silo Storage. A term often applied to a circular
in a store-room where bulk material, machine parts, etc., bin used for storage of bulk material. (See Bin, Cylin-
are kept. drical.)
Bin, Ash. An enclosure to which ashes are delivered Bin, Suspended or Suspension. An overhead bin made
from time to time from the ash pits of coal fired fur- of steel plates, or of steel straps with plate linings, sus-
naces, to be discharged into a car or barge when a suffi- pended from two longitudinal parallel steel girders which
cient amount has accumulated. If the bin is elevated are themselves supported by steel columns and braced
so that
it may discharge easily, the ashes are delivered apart by suitable struts, or are suspended from over-
to by an elevating conveyor, a skip hoist or a steam
it head trusses. The transverse section of the bin is usually
or air jet conveyor. If the bin is located below the approximately parabolic, and spouts attached to openings
ground level, the ashes are transferred from it to a car in the bottom are used to draw off the contents.
17
BIN MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BLO
the lining must be carried on longitudinal or transverse Block, Running. A single sheave block supported in
beams strong enough to resist the bending tendency. a bight and provided at the bottom with a load hook.
Bin Bottom. A
part bolted to the bottom of a hopper Block, Snatch. A single block, generally used as a
or bin for the attachment of a spout. It is usually a guide block, and having one side of the frame arranged
casting, is often provided with a gate or valve, and with a hinge and lock so that it may be opened to allow
with a turnhead or swiveling connection to the spout. the bight of a rope to be placed on the sheave, without
The latter is also often flexibly connected to the bin the necessity of reeving the rope end through the block.
bottom, so that it may swung outward in any
be direc- Block, Strap. A
block having as a shell or casing, two
tion desired. (See Turnhead; Spout, Flexible.) iron straps connected by distance pieces and bolts, and
When shaped to fit the bottom of a hopper, it is often with holes for the sheave pin.
called a hopper bottom, the term bin bottom being re- Block, Upper. The upper block of the two in a block-
served for the form fitted to the fiat bottom of a bin. and-tackle hoist. In cranes, this carried by the trolley
is'
Two-way or four-way bin bottoms are those having girt, and often has its frame specially shaped for ease
two or four separate gates which may be operated in- of attachment to it.
dependently to deliver material to as many compart- Block-and-Block, Chock-a-Block. The name given to
ments beneath. the condition of a tackle when the two blocks have been
Block. A metal or wooden frame, or shell, containing drawn together, and no more hoisting can be done with
one or more pulleys or sheaves, generally set side by them.
side and turning freely on the same axis, and used in Block and Tackle. A mechanism much used for hoist-
connection with a rope as a means of hoisting heavy ing, two pulley blocks, or blocks, as they
consisting of
If two or more sheaves are used, they are are usually called, with a rope rove around the sheaves
weights.
generally separated by division plates similar in form
and back and forth between the two blocks. One end
to the outer shell or cheeks. of the rope is secured or "dead-ended" to one of the
Portable blocks, portions of "block and tackle" gear, blocks at a becket or eye, and the other end is wound
hooks depending on the way they are to be used and a crane, trolley, derrick, etc. the lower block has a hook
;
to the load or hoist, is of cast or steel. The as used in cranes, have steel blocks of elaborate construc-
forged
frames are also held bolts and distance
tion fitted with wire rope. Chain is sometimes used,
together by
but only with single blocks.
pieces.
number In addition to hoisting, this mechanism may be used
Single, double, triple, etc., block, refers to the
of sheaves. for exerting a pull in any direction, including especially
horizontal haulage.
Block, Bottom. The lower block of the two in a block-
Block and tackle is occasionally used in a reversed
and-tackle hoist. (Also called load block, fall block,
sense,with the movable pulley attached to the piston
lower block.)
of a hydraulic, steam or air cylinder capable of applying
The hook is usually a permanent part of the lower
great force, and the free end of the rope led to a hoisting
bottom block, and, in most hoisting machinery, is of
the swiveling type, mounted on ball or roller bearings,
hook, around one or more guide sheaves if necessary, and
moved through a considerable distance, though at the
with hardened steel wearing surfaces.
expense of lifting power. (See Hoist, Air Cylinder.)
Block, Gin. A single block having a sheave of large Block Carriage. A type of trolley used for light loads,
diameter to give ease in overhauling; used where a hoist-
having two sheaves in line in the direction of motion
ing operation has to be repeated many times, as in load- of the trolley. The load rope or chain is attached to
ing or unloading cargo. the end of the jib (or bridge), passes down over the
Block, Hook, Shackle, Swivel, Plain, etc. Terms signi- nearer trolley sheave, around a sheave at the load block,
fying the method of connection of a block to its sup- up over the other sheave, and along the jib to a drum at
port or load. (See Block.) down to a
the end, or around another fixed pulley and
Block, Rotating. An upper block used in handling winch drum below. The trolley may be racked in or
pieces which must be rotated about their longitudinal out without vertical movement of the load.
horizontal axis, like shaft forgings, etc. It usually con- This device was formerly much used, before the ad-
sists of a very heavy pitch chain passing around the forg- vent of electrical operation, and afforded a simple and
ing at the bottom, and around a sprocket wheel at the satisfactory means of operating a hoist on a movable
top,which is mounted in a frame suspended from the top trolley, without having the source of power (steam
hook. This sprocket can be rotated hy gearing from engine, man power) also mounted on the trolley. It is
an electric motor also mounted on the frame. As the still often used in small cranes, and in some traveling
hook is usually arranged to swivel in the frame, in wall cranes of good size. Sometimes called trolley with
addition, collector rings are provided to bring power into pendent sheave.
the block. Springs are also often built into the frame Block Fittings. Special straps, swivels, eyes, shackles,
to decrease shocks. (See Springs, Shock.) bands, etc., which may be mounted on blocks to adapt
18
BLO DEFINITION SECTION BOO
The form used depends on boiler is in two ways; stop and safety valves;
determined
them to
special purposes.
the direction the block is to face, whether it is to have blow cock; steam gauge; smoke stack and steam jet
off
pressure is maintained. It is suitable for pressures from screw. If there is no head on either end, but one end is
6 oz. to 10 Ib. and is much used for producing blast for screwed into a tapped hole, and a nut is placed on the
cupolas and furnaces, where the delivery of a constant other end after the part to be attached has been passed
over the body of the bolt, is called a stud. If both
quantity of air under varying discharge pressure is de-
sirable. It is also suitable for operating pneumatic tube ends are threaded and nuts are used at both ends, it is
19
BOO MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BOX
enable the boom to reach over high obstacles like the Boom Point. The upper or outer end of a boom, fur-
sides of freight cars without being made excessively long. thest away from the pivoted end.
Boom, Latticed. A boom made of rolled structural Boom Seat. The metal fitting or socket at the base of a
shapes laced together with diagonal steel strips, as dis- derrick mast which receives the heel of the boom and
tinguished from one which consists of a single rolled permits the inclination of the boom to be changed (See
member, or several riveted directly together.
v
By separat- Derrick Bottom.)
ing the longitudinal members and lacing them together,
Boom Suspension. See Topping Lift.
the strength and stiffness of the boom are increased with- The term is also applied to the ties by which crane
out a corresponding increase in the weight. or dredge booms of iixed inclination are attached to the
Boom, Loading. A
lowering or retarding conveyor top of the mast or A-frame.
section long frame having a horizontal
mounted on a Boom Swinger, Boom Slewer. See Winch, Derrick
hinge at its upper end, and used to lower coal to the Slewing.
bottom of hopper bottom or gondola cars in loading Boom Table. An outrigger or shelf built around a der-
rick mast or post to support the heels of a number of
operations at a coal tipple or elsewhere, the object being
to avoid breakage. The height of lower end is con- booms. This is necessary when several booms are used,
trolled by a power hoist, and it is gradually raised with in order to provide proper clearance. Used principally
the level in the car; the car is then moved along the on shipboard in connection with cargo handling gear.
track (generally down grade, controlled by its brakes or Booster. A short section of inclined, power driven,
by a car retarder), the boom lowered to the bottom apron, belt, power roller or roller push bar conveyor,
and a new pile started. Also called a lowering boom. used for raising packages to the high end of a gravity
The loading boom usually contained in a building
is conveyor, down which they move by gravity. Several
over the loading tracks, and receives its coal
directly boosters may be inserted at intervals in a long line of
from a shaking screen or picking table. moderately A gravity conveyors, whenever the grade brings the run-
steep slope necessary if the boom is to distribute
is way too close to the floor level. Such a line would then
and
throughout the length of a deep hopper bottom car, consist of a series of gravity conveyors, with power
this necessitate cleats on a conveyor belt, or beads
may driven boosters at regular intervals furnishing the power
or ridges on the plates of an apron type of conveyor, to lift the packages to the top of each gravity section.
or even shallow buckets. With arrangement there is no limit to the horizontal
this
coal
Also, a portion of a machine used for loading distance which can be covered by a gravity conveyor,
into vessels. A car dumper discharges coal into the and in addition passageways can be arranged beneath
hopper of a loading tower. From the hopper
the coal the runway, or it can be carried over obstacles.
onto a conveyor carried on a hinged boom; at Each booster usually has its own power unit. Where
passes
chute
the end of the boom it is dumped down a telescopic portable gravity sections are used, the boosters are also
a turn swiveling elbow at its end, through and are often merely portable elevator-convey-
with quarter portable,
which the coal can be discharged in any direction in the ors temporarily placed in the conveyor run.
hold of the vessel, making hand trimming unnecessary. In order to properly support the belt of a belt booster
Boom, Lowering. See Boom, Loading. at the lower gooseneck where packages first come into
Boom, Luffing. A boom which can have its inclination contact with it from the roller conveyor, the rollers are
raised or lowered.
changed, the outer end or point being spaced closely together, or smooth steel plates are used
Sometimes called a ligting boom. (See Crane, Luffing.) beneath.
Boom, Parabolic. A locomotive crane boom which has Also called live conveyor, humper and booster elevator.
members curved in an approximately parabolic A
its side Booster, Push Bar. booster consisting of a short
curve, for the purpose of gaining uniform strength of push bar conveyor, which will re-
inclined section
resist stresses
throughout the length of the boom, to ceive packages delivered to its lower end by a gravity
caused by slewing. (See Beam of Uniform Strength.) roller (or other) or by a loading platform,
conveyor,
Boom, Retracting. See Jib, Retracting. elevate them by them up the runway bed between
sliding
Boom, Shovel. See Shovel Boom. power driven push-bars, and deliver them to another
Boom, Tie-rod. See Boom, Trussed. conveyor.
Boom, Trussed. A boom which has its straight main Booster Steam Unit. The name given to a fitting con-
member stiffened by tie rods running from end to end, steam
taining give additional propelling action
jets to
and passing over short perpendicular struts or king posts
in steam jet ash conveyors, where the discharge line is
near the middle. The tie rods are tightened as desired so long or has so many curves that the resistance is
to
by turnbuckles. The construction is generally applied greater than can be overcome by the principal steam
wooden booms, but steel booms consisting of a single unit. In straight runs of pipe two jets on opposite sides
I-beam may be similarly stiffened against side yielding. of the pipe are used to prevent the flow from being de-
A single truss is often placed below a wooden boom to flected against one side of the pipe. At elbows only
prevent sagging due to its weight.
one jet is necessary, as it can deliver directly into the
Trussed wooden booms may be made in two parts, as
center of the discharge run.
the tie-rods can be adjusted to prevent bending and keep
Boston Tower. See Tower, Horizontal Boom.
it Also called Tie-rod Boom.
straight.
Box. A cubical or rectangular container, usually closed
Boom Band. An iron band encircling a wooden derrick
by a lid which may or may not be hinged and which may
boom, and furnished with an eye or other means by
be fastened by various means. Special forms of boxes
which a rope, block or other part may be attached to
are called chests, trucks, tanks, etc.
the boom.
Boom See Topping Lift.
Fall.
Bex End, Crane. An overhead travelling crane end
truck built up of plates and rolled structural sections in
Boom Fittings. See Fittings, Derrick.
Boom Heel. The lower end of a boom where it is box section form. (See Crane End Truck.) It carries
one end of the bridge girders.
pivoted to the mast or pillar.
20
BRA DEFINITION SECTION BRA
their connection. Also a strut, or compression member. When two blocks are applied on opposite sides of the
wheel and pulled together to exert the braking effect,
Bracket. A triangular plate or frame placed at the angle
they are called double block, clam-shell, clasp or post
of crossing or joining of two pieces, to stiffen their con-
brakes. In the clam-shell type the two blocks are hinged
nection; a brace. A
triangular plate or frame fastened
together at their adjacent ends at a fixed point and the
against a wall to support either a weight at its project-
other ends aredrawn together by lever operated toggles ;
minished or stopped entirely. In the majority of cases the other end of the drum, and the drum is keyed at
the brake acts on a rotating part, controlling its speed this same end on which is located the pinion
to the shaft
of rotation. Its function is primarily to absorb the me- driving the winding or hoisting drum. The outer casing
chanical energy, change it into heat and get rid of it is free to revolve in one direction, that for hoisting,
by radiation, therefore for heavy work the ability
of
but a ratchet prevents reverse rotation.
the mechanism to radiate the heat is exceedingly im- In hoisting, the motor turns the disc in such a direc-
portant. Various materials are used for the rubbing tion that it expands the coil against the inside of the
surfaces, depending on the relative importance of low casing, rotating it and also the brake drum by reason
cost, durability, reliability, compactness, relative speeds of its connection at the far end ; thus allparts move as
of rubbing surfaces, frequency of use and size and im- one, and the hoisting drum is rotated by the pinion.
portance of the machine. For slow speeds, and where When power shut off of the motor, the ratchet keeps
is
ing or externally contracting band of fiat or V-shaped braking purposes. The angle may be suchthat only a
cross section. Flat bands are often lined with fibrous small amount of axial pressure will be required to pro-
material, or with V-bands may have
wooden blocks ; duce a large amount of friction, but should not stick,
linings of wooden or bronze blocks formed in the V- or require a pull to disengage the parts. Multiple coni-
shape. Brakes made of plain flat bands are often called cal surfaces may be used on the same discs, but at dif-
strap brakes. ferent radial distances, or, a preferable arrangement is
The pressure against the drum is usually produced by an assemblage of single conical pieces on the same shaft,
tension in the band, and this is caused by a lever act- alternate ones being keyed to the shaft and to the sur-
ing on the ends of the band. One end of the band may rounding casing. A slight axial pressure will then pro-
be fixed and the other attached to the lever, or both duce a large amount of friction on account of the many
ends may be attached to the lever on opposites of the surfaces. This is called a multiple cone brake.
fulcrum, but at different distances from it this is called ;
Brake, Disc. A brake in which a flat disc is mounted
a differentia! brake, and with proper dimensions will concentrically with a corresponding fiat surface of the
act as a one-way brake. part to be controlled, and which can be moved axially
Brake, Block. A brake in which a rigid block is fitted and pressed against it for braking purposes. The ar-
to the face of a rotating wheel and forced against it rangement is often modified so that the fixed disc is
in order to exert a braking
effect. In simple forms, the squeezed between two surfaces on the rotating part, giv-
block pressed against the wheel by a lever; where
is ing double the braking effect for the same axial pressure.
braking can be done on two adjacent wheels as in rail- A further extension of the same principle leads to an
way cars, the two blocks may be placed between the assemblage of discs on one axis, alternate ones being
wheels and pressed apart by a toggle arrangement. A fixed to the shaft and to the containing casing; slight
21
BRA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BRI
longitudinal pressure will produce a large amount of act as a one-way brake. A spring exerts a slight pull
friction on account of the numerous surfaces. These in the direction of application ;
forward rotation relieves
are called multi-disc, multiple disc or multiple washer practically all the friction due to this spring.
brakes; the principle is the same as used in the Weston Friction ratchets (see Ratchet and Wheel) also pre-
clutch. vent reverse rotation, but act practically instantaneously
Brake, Electric. See Brake, Solenoid; Brake, Magnetic; and allow no slipping whatever; one way brakes are less
Electric Braking, Electrical Definitions. violent in their action and be set to act as strongly
may
Brake, Load. See Brake, Lowering. as desired.
Brake, Lowering. A type of brake much used in cranes Also called irreversible or single way brakes.
and other hoisting machinery, designed to keep the load Brake, Pinion. A brake applied to the pinion shaft of
from descending if the hoisting effect be removed, and a hoist.
to require an actual reversal of the direction of rotation Brake, Post. A form of double block brake in which
of the hoisting motor to accomplish lowering. The brak- the blocks or shoes are placed on opposite sides of the
ing elements are of the cone, disc or multiple disc types ; wheel, in a vertical position, and are supported at points
the driving effort is usually delivered from the motor near their centers or at their lower ends by ties or
through one part of the brake which is threaded onto struts to the foundation. The blocks or posts are con-
a screw attached to a second part which drives the hoist- nected at the top and bottom by ties in which there is
ing drum. Between the friction surfaces of these two an adjustable toggle connection by which the posts can
is a third part which has a ratchet and can rotate freely be drawn together against the drum. The toggle lever
in one direction only. In hoisting, part one moves along may be worked by hand or foot, by a piston in an air or
the screw on part two, pressing the friction surfaces steam cylinder, by gravity or by a solenoid, a common
together harder and harder until they start to move as and safe arrangement being to have the brake applied
one, the ratchet on part three permitting this. There is by gravity and released by some power means, so that
no slipping during the hoisting operation. If the motor any failure of the power will result in the hoist coming
power is cut off and the motor comes to rest, the ratchet to a standstill rather than running free.
prevents part three, and therefore the drum and motor, The rubbing surfaces of the posts are usually lined
from being rotated backward, and the load is held. If with wood blocks if metal
; to metal contact exists, the
the motor is rotated by power in a lowering direction, post may be water cooled.
it first starts to move part one along the screw away Post brakes are inherently two-way brakes, that is,
from part two this removes the pressure from the fric-
; they exert their braking effort equally in either direc-
tion surfaces, and the drum starts to turn in a direc- tion of rotation.
tion to lower the load. This action, however, imme- Brake, Prony. A form of absorption dynamometer
diately screws the two parts together again, restoring consisting of pulley, drum or brake wheel driven by the
the pressure on the friction surfaces until the braking machine which is to have its output measured, with a
effect is equal to the torque of the load, and it comes band or block brake applied to it. The brake is sup-
to rest. During lowering, this action is continuous, and ported in such a manner that its tendency to rotate with
the load is kept from lowering
than the speed
faster the wheel can be measured, and from this force, the ra-
corresponding to that of the motor, without the latter dius at which it is applied and the speed of rotation,
being in any way driven or "overhauled" by the load. the power developed can be measureed.
The ratchet holds part three in a fixed position during Brake, Screw. See Brake, Lowering.
lowering. Brake, Solenoid. A brake, usually of the band type,
The mechanism is arranged in numerous ways, but which is operated by the force exerted by an electric
always involves the three parts, a screw or equivalent solenoid on its plunger or core. It is customary to have
cam-shaped or helical surfaces, a ratchet and ring and one of these brakes on the driving motor shaft of hoist-
friction surfaces. Also called screw brake, mechanical ing machinery, so arranged that the braking effort is
brake, load brake. applied by springs, but is relieved by passing the main
Brake, Magnetic. A brake in which the eddy-currents hoisting current through the solenoid. Thus any inter-
produced in copper or aluminum discs by the movement ruption of the motor current, intentional or otherwise,
of one or more magnets having motion relative to each will cause the brake to be immediately applied, and may
other, is used to produce a retarding effect on the rotat- prevent accident.
ing part. Either magnets or discs can be rotating, and Page 713.
the amount of braking may be controlled by the strength Breaking Pin, Break Pin. A pin used as a fastening
of the field produced by the electro-magnets. This de- at some point in a machine where it can be easily re-
vice is expensive and complicated, and will not act satis- placed, and intentionally made weak so that it will break
factorily to hold the load in a fixed position. under excessive stress, and save the machine from being
Also called an eddy-current brake. wrecked by an accidental overload.
Page 713. Bridge. To arch across or pack so as to stop flow;
Brake, Mechanical. See Brake, Lowering. said of bulk material in a hopper or bin from which it
Brake, One-way. A brake which is automatically ap- is drawn off at the bottom.
22
BRI DEFINITION SECTION BUG
of placing the material into storage in the first place. in dumping move outward and downward under the con-
(See Crane, Bridge Storage.) a linkage.
trol of (See Bucket, Controllable-Discharge;
Center Dump.) Another type, called a gable
Bridge, Rehandling, Stocking, Stocking and Reclaiming,
Bucket,
bottom bucket, has two bottom doors meeting in
Ore, Etc. See Crane, Bridge Storage.
an elevated along the
ridge center, and opening
Bridge Crane. See Crane, Bridge.
downward and each other under the con-
toward
Bridge Drive. The motor, gearing, brake, shafting, and
trol of a linkage, dumping at the two sides of the bottom.
wheels by which the bridge of a traveling crane of the
Still another type is composed of two halves hinged at
overhead or the gantry type is driven. One of the most
of this drive that it shall the top, something like a clam-shell bucket, but without
important requirements is,
needed, but on account of possible settling and uneven- Page 311, 812-814.
nesses of the runways, and also on account of possible Bucket Bottom Plate. The steel plate forming the bot-
lack of "squareness" on the runways, with the consequent tom of a shell of a clam-shell grab-bucket. It is often
binding of the wheels on the track, considerable excess reinforced with longitudinal strips to take the wear.
power must be provided. Bucket, Center-Dump. A bottom dumping bucket
The motor is usually mounted on the bridge drive which has two doors meeting along the middle of the
girder, at or near the middle of the span, in order to bottom, which when released move outward and down-
equalize the effect of the twist of the shafting on the ward under the control of a linkage, discharging the
two ends of the bridge. There is usually a single gear load through a middle longitudinal opening. The bucket
reduction at the motor, and sometimes a double reduc- is often operated by two ropes, one being attached to a
tion. A further reduction takes place at the end truck bail fixed to the body, and the ether to a sliding bail
wheels, where pinions on the bridge drive shaft mesh attached to the bottom door linkage. Hoisting on the
with gears attached to the wheels. latter closes the doors, and lifts the bucket by force
Bridge End, Bridge Truck. See Crane, End Truck. applied directly to the bottom. Relafive motion of the
Bridge Tramway. See Crane, Bridge Storage. two ropes can be made to open the buvket to any extent
Bridge Unloader. See Unloader, Bridge Type. desired. (See Bucket, Controllable-U'scharge.) The
Buck, to Break. To divide up or parcel out a material doors may also be operated by hand levers.
which has been in a bulk state, either for purposes of When intended for concrete handling, it is often called
transportation or distribution. A grab bucket unloading a controllable-form bucket. It has legs to hold it up-
a coal barge breaks bulk once if it delivers the coal right when resting on the ground, and to supprrt it when
23
BUG MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BUG
plane of opening and closing. The position at right an- fitted with teeth for certain kinds of digging. Also called
gles may be secured by a different arrangement of excavating bucket.
sheaves in the boom point, trolley or traveler, or, m one Bucket, Fcur-rcpe. A grab-bucket which is carried by
or two types of buckets, by guide sheaves at the bucket two holding-lines and two hoisting-and-closing lines. In
head. one arrangement the holding-lines are dead-ended on an
Page 305, 809-816, 829. equalizer bar at the head of the bucket, and the closing
Bucket Closing Cam. See Bucket, Power-Wheel. lines are similarly fastened on the closing arms. The
Bucket Closing Chain, Yoke End. A special arrange- mechanism operates exactly as in the ordinary two-rope
ment of flat closing chain for a power-wheel grab-bucket, bucket, the advantage being that smaller and more flex-
which is divided for a portion of its length, the two ible cables, and therefore smaller sheaves, can be used,
smaller portions being connected to the larger by a yoke, often allowing a higher speed of operation.
used to give greater closing power when the bucket is In another arrangement sometimes termed a conveying
nearly closed. (See Bucket, Power-Wheel.) grab-bucket, there is only one holding and one closing-
Bucket, Concrete Elevator. A special tipping bucket rope, both being dead-ended at the far end of the run-
used to elevate concrete in a temporary tower in the way from the winch, but the bucket hangs in bights of
course of construction work, from which it is dumped the two ropes, from a four-sheave trolley. This trolley
into a receiving hopper and distributed by carts, chutes, hauled along the
is jib or cable by a motor or drum inde-
etc. Some types are so shaped that they tend to tip for- pendent of the hoisting drum, but controlled by the
ward all the time, but are prevented from doing so by same operator. The holding rope passes around one
a board alongwhich slides a shoe or roller on the bucket ;
sheave in the bucket head. The closing-and-hoisting rope
when this board is cut away, the bucket dumps for- passes around three sheaves in the lower head or on the
ward. Another type is formed to keep its upright posi- hinge shaft, and two in the upper head, thus furnishing
tion unless tipped by a roller projecting from each sufficient power for the closing.
end of the bucket near the bottom; these rollers run In still another arrangement, used on inclined boom
into curved cam grooves on reaching the dumping point. hoisting towers, the ropes are dead-ended in the trolley
The ordinary type of bucket requires that the re- instead of the structure at the end of the runway. Thus,
ceiving hopper project within the tower to receive the when the bucket has been hoisted against a stop of the
discharge. In one arrangement intended to obviate this, trolley, continued winding hauls the trolley up the incline
the bucket tips forward on two arms which are them- to the discharge point, where the bucket is dumped.
selves and swing forward, thus moving the
pivoted Bucket, Geared Power-Wheel. A grab-bucket having
bucket forward so far that it reaches through the side opening and closing mechanism which includes gearing.
of the tower and dumps into an outside hopper. One type of bevel geared power-wheel clam-shell bucket
Bucket, Controllable-Discharge. A bucket which can has bevel pinions on the power-wheel shaft, meshing
be discharged gradually under the full control of the with bevel gear sectors on shafts to which are keyed the
operator. Two-rope grab buckets have a controllable arms which operate the bucket shells through links at-
discharge, also two-line bottom dumping buckets either tached near the back of the shells. Side bars or guiding
center dump or side dump. Center dump buckets may arms attached near the guide the cutting edges
front,
also be opened or closed by hand levers and give a together properly. two-rope bucket, one rope
It is a
controllable discharge. being wound on a large diameter of the power-wheel for
Bucket Corner Bar. In clam-shell grab-buckets, one of closing, and the other on a small diameter wheel for
the links which are pivoted at the lower end to points opening, which must be done by power. The power-
near the rear corners of the shells, and at the top to the wheel is enclosed in one of three compartments of a tight
top bucket head. These links guide the rear portions of casing, the other two being occupied by the bevel gears,
the bucket shells during closing and opening, and force running in Another type which gives a sim-
lubricant.
them to travel in the desired digging or scraping path. ilar movement to the shells, has, wrapped around the
Bucket Cutting Edges. The edges of the shells or power drum and made fast to it, closing chains which
spades of a grab-bucket which do the cutting into or also lead partly around sheaves to the circumference of
scraping of the material. They are of hard steel, usually which the back part of the shell is pivoted. Partly
renewable, bolted or riveted either inside or outside of around these same sheaves in the opposite direction are
the shell, and if the work is especially severe made of wound the holding-lines, for opening. The front edge
manganese Teeth of hard or manganese steel are
steel. of the bucket is guided as in the previous example.
also used for certain classes of work, these teeth being Bucket, Grab. A
container used for intermittent lifting,
so located on the bucket halves as to pass between each horizontal moving and depositing of bulk material, which
other. Also called lips, cutting lips and reinforcing autom ideally loads itself by opening at the bottom into
plates. bowl shaped parts arranged to dig into the material and
Bucket, Digging. A grab-bucket which is so propor- finally shut together enclosing a certain amount of it.
tioned as to have great digging power. This is generally The grab-bucket is then lifted, swung to the desired posi-
accomplished by having cutting edges of the proper form tion and there opened, depositing the load. The bucket
presented to the ground at the proper angle, by the may be supported by from one to four wire rope lines,
proper distribution of weight, and by having a large for closing, hoisting, opening and lowering again, and is
closing power or purchase. The last gives digging ability usually pendent from a crane trolley, boom point or
not alone through power to cut into the material, but cableway traveler.
because the pull on the closing-rope is then relatively A grab-bucket consists of a bowl formed of two, three
and exerts little lifting tendency on the bucket as
small, or four parts hinged to each other or to a bottom bucket
a whole, which would detract from its digging power. head. Another part of each portion is guided by links or
Digging buckets are also narrower, presenting a shorter slides, which are also connected to the top head of the
cutting edge. The cutting edges are generally renewable, bucket. A power-operated mechanism called the closing
are of manganese steel for hardest work, and may be gear pulls the lower head toward the upper, swinging
24
BUG DEFINITION SECTION BUG
the bowl parts together. Wire rope guide sheaves, rope is nearly hemispherical in shape, and is formed of three
fastenings, rope guards, braces, and equalizers and coun- or four segments which come together in a point at the
terweights are important details. bottom. These segments are termed blades, spades or
Grab-buckets may be classified as follows : accord- bowls, and have arms rigidly attached to them at points
ing to the number of segments which the bowl is
into near the rim standing inward at right angles to the blade
divided, into clam-shell buckets having two parts, or and pivoted to the bottom pivot head. At the base of
orange-peel buckets having three or four parts accord- ; these, toward the upper rim of the bucket, are pivots for
ing to the number of ropes on which they are hung as long links or purchase arms which are attached at their
single-rope, two, three or four-rope buckets according ; upper ends to the top head. The closing gear is usually
to the type of closing mechanism
for obtaining the neces- of the power- wheel type (see Bucket, Power-Wheel) and
sary power for digging into the material as power-wheel, acts by pulling the bottom pivot head toward the top
power-arm, reeved-sheave, sliding cross-head, geared head, raising the ends of all the blade arms simultane-
power-wheel, tongs, and motor-operated buckets accord- ; ously and tilting the blades until they close together.
ing to the use to which the bucket is to be put as dig- Rope reeved closing gear is also used, and consists
ging, scraping or handling and according to the material
;
of two sets of sheaves mounted on the bottom pivot head
to be handled. Buckets for light material have large and top head, respectively. Rope is reeved around them,
bowls for heavy material like ore and limestone the
;
one end being dead-ended in the bucket; or, if desired,
bowls are small and are shaped so as to easily slide both ends are led out of the bucket, and one dead-ended
under the material. on the overhead structure. (See Bucket, Four-rope.)
Page 301, 809-816. 829. Page 307, 809, 812.
Bucket, Hand-Dumping. A
bucket which is turned Bucket, Orange-peel, Dwarf. A small sized orange-peel
over entirely by hand, or which has its dumping latch bucket, used for operations where a small shaft or well
released by hand as distinguished from one which has is to be excavated, or where a pipe is to be sunk by
its latch automatically operated by striking a movable excavating the material from within. It is similar in
stop or its equivalent. operation to the full size buckets, but, on account of its
Bucket, Lowering and Dumping. A turnover bucket light weight preventing it from sinking into the ma-
which is dumped by lowering it until it rests on a sur- terial readily, itoften equipped with a hammer attach-
is
face or on the stock pile, thereby operating the latch, then ment when digging is to be done.
raising it, when it automatically dumps, rights itself and Page 307, 8C9, 812.
re-latches. By dumping automatically so close to the Bucket, Orange-peel, Three-sided. See Bucket, Orange-
pile, breakage of the contents is diminished. peel. These buckets are especially intended for grappling
Bucket, Mining. A round bucket used in shaft mining a.nd raising objects of irregular shape. The upper
work, usually slightly tapering toward the top and bot- corners of the blades are sometimes partly cut off, to save
tom so as to avoid catching on projections in the shaft. weight, or to allow it to be distributed in the part of the
It may have and be dumped by hand, or may
a top bail blade under greatest stress.
have a bail attached by trunnions well down on the sides, Bucket, Ore. A grab-bucket which is so proportioned
and be dumped by releasing a latch at the rim of the as to be able to bowl
of iron ore or like heavy
lift its full
bight of the' chain. The motor revolves the uppet bowl, the other shell being forced to move simultane-
sprockets slowly, winding up the chain and raising the ously by means of the connecting linkage. In the two-
lower head, thereby closing the bucket. Opening is rope bucket, which is the usual arrangement, the holding-
accomplished by reversing the direction of rotation of line is fast in the The closing-line passes
bucket head.
the motor by means of the controller. A friction clutch in succession around a guide sheave in the head, and
is provided which will slip with excessive load, so that sheaves on the end of the power-arm and at the bucket
there will be no damage done if the current is left on head, and is dead-ended at the arm. More sheaves will
after the bucket is fully closed, or if it closes on an give greater closing power, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more parts of
-obstruction. closing-line being used. The power arm is also some-
These buckets may be opened or closed, partially or times called the lever arm or closing arm.
fully, at any position of the hoist. Power-arm buckets tend to open excessively, and may
Page 305. 808. also have an unsymmetrical action in digging or scrap-
Bucket, Orange-Peel. A grab-bucket in which the bowl ing, due to the inclined pull of the closing ropes during
2?
BUG MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA BUG
part of their closing motion. Both of these tendencies which winds are subject to an undesirable loss
in layers
may be corrected by a small auxiliary arm called an of power end of closing, due to the increasing
at the
equalizer arm, secured at right angles to the power arm diameter this is sometimes obviated by having each of
;
near the hinge shaft, and with its outer end connected the closing chains in two parts at the end toward the
by a link to a pivot on the bucket head. Or a bell-crank drum, attached at their outer ends to a yoke on the end
may be pivoted loosely on or near the hinge shaft, one of a single chain which leads to the top head. When
end having the closing-line dead-ended on it, and the nearly closed, the single part of the chain commences
other being connected by a long link to a pivot at the winding on the drum between the double parts, and at
bucket head. a smaller diameter, thus increasing the power.
Bucket, Power-Drum. The small drum on which the In operating power-wheel buckets, two ropes are used
closing-line of a power- wheel grab-bucket is wound. (See (see Bucket, Two-rope), one fast in the bucket head,
Bucket, Power-Wheel.) and one passing through a suitable guide and leading to
Bucket, Power-Wheel. A grab-bucket in which the the power wheel. Suitable guards protect the rope from
closing power is exerted by chains or ropes whose upper contact with the material lifted while it is being wound
ends are attached to the bucket head, and whose lower on the wheel, and also keep it from jumping the rim in
ends are wound on power drums of a small diameter. case the rope is accidentally slackened.
These drums (sometimes called cams) are attached to Bucket, Reeved-Sheave. A grab-bucket in which the
and turn with a larger drum, which has the closing- closing power is obtained by passing the closing-rope or
and-hoisting rope wound around and made fast or dead- chain around sheaves in the top and bottom heads, and
ended on it all three turn on a shaft which either serves
;
either dead-ending one end on a bucket head, or leading
also as a hinge for the two halves of the bucket (if of both out through guides in the top head, and dead-ending
the clam-shell type) or is mounted on top of a lower one on the overhead structure. (See Bucket, Four-rope.)
part called the lower or pivot head, to which the bucket If chain is used for closing, it is dead-ended in the bucket
parts are pivoted. (This last construction keeps the and the pulling end passes out through a fair-leader in
power wheel up out of contact with the material to be the top head to prevent the chain from twisting.
handled.) When the closing rope is pulled, it unwinds In single-rope buckets of this type, guide bars are often
from the power wheel, revolving it and winding up the used to make sure that the hook and latch of the closing
closing lines, thereby pulling up the lower bucket head gear engage properly. Also in reeved type clam-shell
and closing the parts of the bucket together. buckets where the shells are pivoted separately to the
The closing-lines are made of crane chain, fiat chain lower head, instead of on the same hinge shaft, guides are
or wire rope, attached at the upper ends to the top head, occasionally used to steady the lower head and make the
or connected together and passed over an equalizer shells move
symmetrically.
sheave or smooth equalizer saddle. They are also often Bucket, Scraping. A clam-shell grab-bucket which has
fixed to the ends of a loosely pivoted bar, so that an a very wide spread between the shells when open, and a
equalizer effectis obtained, to put an equal pull in the scraping action, rather than a digging action, as they
two Occasionally idler sheaves are fitted in the
sides. approach each other in the act of closing. The cutting
ends of the equalizer and the lines are passed through edges of the bucket are also extended further apart than
them and down to the hinge shaft ends, where they are any other part, so as to reach into the square corners of
made fast, thus practically doubling the closing power cars, holds of ships, bins, etc. Various closing arrange-
over that obtained with the more simple arrangement. ments are used (see Buckets, Grab), but the proportions
If several sheaves are used on the top and bottom heads and general appearance of the bucket are quite different
with the closing-rope reeved through them, the closing from digging buckets. The shells are often called trays,
power may be still further multiplied. This type of on account of their open-ended form.
reeving also allows larger power drums, which causes Page 307.
less wear on the wire rope generally used with this Bucket, Shovel. A name given to a form of drag line
arrangement. scraper bucket used for handling loose material like coal
Another power wheel arrangement which can be made or ore in storage, which fills while being dragged up the
to give great closing power, is to have a closing sling side of the pile, and dumps its load by overturning on
of wire rope pass over a sheave supported by a swivel the pivots of a bail when a latch is released, like an
in the bottom of the top bucket head, and with its ends ordinary top-filling turnover bucket. It is usually han-
wound in opposite directions around and' made fast to dled by a bridge storage crane.
power drums of different diameter. These two drums Bucket, Side-Dump. A bucket which dumps at the sides
are rigidly attached to the power wheel on which is of the bottom, by the opening downward of two doors
wound the closing-and-hoisting rope. When this last is which meet in an elevated ridge at the middle line of the
pulled, the drums are turned in such a direction that bucket. The doors are connected by linkage and the
more rope is wound on the large drum than is unwound bucket handled by two ropes; one is attached to a
is
from the smaller, thus shortening the sling and raising sliding bail, which is connected to the doors, and the other
the lower head, thereby closing the bucket. is attached to a bail fixed to the body of the bucket.
Buckets of the types so far mentioned have practically Relative motion of the two ropes opens or closes the
the same closing power when wide open as when nearly bucket? simultaneous motion of the two raises or lowers
closed,whereas maximum closing power is desired when it. Some types are opened and closed by hand operation
nearly closed. If the proportions be such that the power of a lever.
wheel does not make more than one complete rotation, the Bucket, Single-Rope. A grab-bucket which is closed,
power drums may be cam shaped, allowing faster closing raised and lowered by the same rope, some outside
at the beginning, with a slowing down and inchease of means being employed to open it for discharging the con-
power when nearly closed. The power wheel may be tents. While these buckets are less efficient in many
eccentrically located on its shaft with the same end in respects than two-rope buckets, they are of great value
view. Buckets having closing lines made of flat chain in cases where only one winding drum is available, and
26
BUG DEFINITION SECTION BUS
especially where the bucket must be frequently removed enough tension to keep it from jumping any sheaves. To
from the crane to allow it to do ordinary lifting work, as open, pulling is stopped on the closing line and started
in foundries. on the holding line, or, the holding line is held and the
Bucket, Sliding-Crosshead. A grab-bucket (see Bucket, closing line is slacked, allowing the bucket to open and
Clam-shell) in which the closing power is obtained by discharge its contents. It may then be lowered opened,
pinning the ends of the bucket arms to a vertically or, if desired, closed and lowered. It may also be raised
sliding crosshead, which moves in guides on the inside of open, thus allowing the repeated opening and closing
an extension. of the top bucket head. Other parts toward sometimes necessary for hard digging. It may also be
the back of the bucket slide in guides formed on this only partially opened, allowing the material to pass out
same extension. In the four-rope type, a sheave in the through a narrow opening in the bottom,, which is of
bucket head rests in a bight of the holding-rope, while value in such operations as loading wagons.
the closing-rope passes from above directly down around The two ropes are best operated from a two-drum
a sheave in the up around another in the
crosshead, winch, but where only a single winding drum is available
head, down and up again, repeated if necessary, and out and the purchase of a two-drum machine is not advisable,
through the bucket head. Pulling on the closing rope a separate holding drum may be used. (See Drum,
raises the crosshead and closes the bucket. Holding.)
Bucket, Split. A bottom-dumping bucket which con- Bull Gear. A
gear used for slewing a derrick by power.
sists of two separate parts connected only by hinges at It is concentric with the mast
fixed to the foundation,
the rim on two opposite sides. In lifting it is supported step, and a vertical shaft pinion meshing with it and
by chains located near the hinges to dump, chains ; having its bearings on a platform at the base of the mast
attached near the bottom on each of the other two sides is turned by power to slew the derrick. Used in cases
are pulled, opening or splitting the halves apart along where the hoist is mounted on a platform fixed to the
the bottom, and discharging the contents. derrick mast at its base, and turning with it.
Bucket, Three-rope. A grab-bucket which has two hold- Bull Wheel. Adevice used for swinging a derrick by
ing ropes spaced apart by means of an equalizer at the power. It consists of a wheel of considerable diameter,
head of the bucket, a third rope serving to close the 6 ft. to 15 secured to the base of a derrick in a hori-
ft.,
bucket. In operation it is equivalent to the two-rope zontal position, and turning withit. Ropes or chains
bucket. passing around its rim and attached to it are passed
Bucket, Tong. A clam-shell grab-bucket in which the through guide pulleys and thence around the drum of
two shells are mounted on the short ends of crossed a slewing winch. The wheel is held in a horizontal
arms like tongs; the closing-and-hoisting rope operates position by diagonal braces running from the rim to the
on the long arms of the tongs, and the holding rope is mast, and slewing rods tie a point well out on the
divided and attached directly to the back plates of the boom to the sides of the wheel by hinged connections,
two buckets. allowing the boom to change its inclination.
Bucket, Top-Filling. A bucket which is loaded by put- Bumped. See Dished.
from a grab-
ting material in at the top, as distinguished A
Bumper Bar or Bumper. bar arranged to prevent a
bucket which loads by scooping it up through the bot- crane trolley from running off the end of the bridge.
tom, and a drag-scraper bucket which scoops it up side- Rail chocks on each rail are tied together at the top by
ways. a heavy bar across the tracks.
Bucket, Turnover. A bucket which is emptied by releas- Bumper Block. A block, generally wood, fastened on
ing a latch and allowing it automatically to overturn and the end of a car, truck, crane, or other wheeled vehicle,
discharge its contents. Owing to the relative location of
to prevent damage from striking fixed structures or other
the trunnions, and the center of gravity, the bucket cars on the same track.
automaticaly rights when empty, though it is top-
itself
In overhead traveling cranes, bumper blocks are often
heavy when full. Two
forms of latch are in use one ;
fastened to the end of the crane trucks, to prevent dam-
called a bail latch or catch, which locks the bail at the
age from two cranes on the same track striking each
rim of the bucket on each side, and is released by pressing other.
levers there or at the top of the bail, and one called a
Bunker, Ashes. See Bin, Ashes.
back latch, back lever or tail latch, which prevents the
Bunker, Coal. A
space on a steam vessel where coal
bucket from tipping forward by a lever which is pivoted
is stored for boiler room Longitudinal bunkers are
use.^
near the top of the bail and has its lower forked end
located along the sides of the vessel between the boiler
resting on the rim of the bucket. The latches may be
rooms and outer shell cross bunkers extend from one
;
material, digging in and closing is caused by pulling on bushing with numerous holes drilled part or entirely
the closing line continued pulling lifts the bucket, the
; through, the holes being filled with soft anti-friction
holding line meanwhile being slack, or having merely metals or graphite preparations.
27
BUS MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CAR
Busheler. A
machine which feeds bulk grain or Cantilever, Adjustable, or Telescoping. A section of
similar materialfrom a bulk container or heap to a spout monorail runway carried by an underhung traveling crane
from which it may be bagged. It may work in connec- on wheels or rollers in .such a way that it can be slid
tion with an automatic weighing or bulk measuring ma- out longitudinally when desired, and the trolley running
chine to measure definite amounts for filling each bag. on it thereby allowed to reach points beyond the runway
Bushing. A metal sleeve or hollow cylinder with rela- which would otherwise be inaccessible. The adjustable
tively thin walls, which is forced into the bore of a section may be withdrawn to allow the crane to clear
solid bearing or of a part which rotates on a shaft or obstacles asit travels along the runway.
tem, and the single and double shuttle cableway system. dump in which the momentum of the loaded car is
If operated on an incline, it is called a gravity inclined utilized compress powerful springs, which move the
to
plane or an engine inclined plane system, according to empty car back off the dump after its contents have been
whether the material is lowered by gravity or raised by discharged.
power.
Car Dump, Cross-over. An automatic end-tipping car
dump which the loaded car runs onto a pivoted section
in
Cable Tramway, Monorail. An overhead monorail
of track so supported and counterweighted that it over-
track conveying system in which one or more trolleys
comes the counterweight and tips downward and forward,
are pulled along the track by means of a traction wire
discharging its contents through a top hinged front end
cable. The circuit may be endless and the trolleys
gate. The counterweight is sufficient to raise the track
equally spaced or the traction cable may be endless and
section with the empty car back to the proper level. It
reversible, with one or two trolleys on the single mono-
stands there until the operator allows the next loaded
rail track. Also called a suspended cable road.
car to run forward toward the dump this car depresses ;
Page 271.
another short section of track, which evolves horns from
Cableway. See Aerial Cableway. in front of the wheels of the empty car, thereby releasing
Cam. A mechanism composed of a rotating or sliding
it and permitting it to run forward and across the dump
part which, by virtue of. the shape of its curved edge, when struck by the slowly moving loaded car. As the
or a groove in its surface, gives oscillating motion to latter moves off the depressed section of track, springs
another part called a follower which moves in a straight return the track to its normal elevation and the horns to
or circular arc.
their position ready to stop the car at the dumping point.
line flat
i
bucket, the discharge of a load, the stopping or reversal fo shock. The car is returned by a cable .or other con-
of a motor, etc. .
,'.'..'.ii
venient means.
28.
CAR DEFINITION SECTION CAR
Car Dump, Horn Dump Type. An automatic end- onto the tilting frame, and then tilts the latter upward,
tipping car dump in which the loaded car moves onto a until finally the guides on which the wheels rest are in
curved track so inclined that the contents of the car will line with the upper (return) runway. The car then runs
slide out forward through a top hinged front end gate. off the tilting frame and follows the crossbar down the
To control the speed, and give the necessary time for the slope, while the tilting frame returns to its original posi-
discharge of .the contents, two horns on a horizontal shaft tion, ready for the next car.
engage the, front wheels of the car as it starts down the Car Dump, Tandem. A car dump which will handle
incline. A' lever controlled band brake on this shaft two or more cars on the same track, dumping them sim-
enables the operator to bring the car to rest in the dump- ultaneously.
ing position, where it is held by another lever which Page 280.
engages an extension of the horns. Car Dumper. A device for unloading an open top car
When empty, the car is released, and runs on down the by partially or completely inverting it, or by tipping it
incline, to be replaced by another loaded car.
endwise or sidewise to such an angle that the contents
Car Dump, Movable. See Car Dump, for Standard will slide outthrough a swinging end or side door.
Gage Cars. Standard gage railway cars are of various lengths,
Car Dump, Rotary Gravity. A sidewise inverting car heights and capacities, and are not always provided with
dump consisting of a three-compartment cylindrical steel bottom dumping arrangements a car dumper must there-
;
frame which is caused to rotate by the excess in weight fore be able to handle all varieties of cars, and in this
of the loaded cars on one side over the empty ones on the country a common solution of the problem has been a
other, the contents being discharged during the rotation. dumper which elevates and inverts the car sideways.
The frame is either mounted on a central shaft or sur- (See Car Dumper for Standard
Gage Cars.) In some
rounded by circular tracks which are supported on rollers. abroad, where cars are provided with
localities, especially
Each compartment contains a car and is provided with swinging end doors, the car is tipped endways and the
end stops and longitudinal guides to hold it in position. material allowed to slide out; swinging side doors will
As a loaded car rolls in, it pushes out the empty one. similarly require the car to be tipped sideways.
The dump locked in the proper position for the tracks
is Two types of these tipping dumpers, tips or tipples may
to register during motion of the cars ; its speed of rotation be distinguished; the automatic, in which the center of
is controlled by a hand-operated brake. A pan or hopper gravity of the car as a whole is lowered just previous
beneath receives the material as it is dumped, and owing to discharging, and the work done is stored up in lifting
to the shape of the dump can be placed so close that a counterweight or forcing a liquid into an accumulator,
breakage is minimized. storing up sufficient energy to raise the empty car back
Page 635. to the track lever; and the non-automatic in which the
Car Dump, Rotary Power. A sidewise inverting car car is before dumping, requiring outside power
raised
dump consisting of a long tubular framework, into which for the purpose. The first, while using no power, and
one or more loaded cars can be run on a track, and which controlled by brakes alone, requires considerably increased
is then revolved about a longitudinal axis, the contents of elevation of structure over the latter, or else a receiving
the cars falling out through suitable openings in the pit from which the material may afterward have to be
structure. Longitudinal guides are built into the dump elevated by other means.
to hold the cars on the rails, and stops are placed to Mine and industrial cars are usually much smaller than
prevent the cars from moving endwise during dumping. standard gage cars, and the dumping system, end or
The dump has circular ring tracks built about it, and is side, is adapted to the type of car. There are several
supported on rollers or roller bearings. One or more forms of automatic end dump, known as the cross-over
of these rings have gear teeth formed in them and serve dump, the horn dump and swing-lift transfer dump, also
as a means to rotate the dump by gearing driven from a some non-automatic end dumps in which the car is tipped
motor or engine. up by power. Rotary dumps invert the car sidewise ; the
Page 635, 825. rotary gravity dump operates by gravity, the driving
Car Dump, Steam, with Cross-over. A non-automatic force being the weight of the coal discharged, while the
end tipping car dump in which the loaded car runs onto rotary power dump requires power from an outside
a tipping platform, at the front end of which are stops source.
for the wheels. The rear axle is then raised by Y-shaped Page 635, 825, 828.
supports which are forced upward by a steam cylinder, Car Dumper for Standard Gage Cars. A machine for un-
dumping the contents of the
through a swinging
car loading open top railway cars of coal or similar bulk
door in the front end into a chute between the rails. material by inverting them sidewise. There are two
When the car is lowered, the stops move out of the way types the turnover dumper which does not lift the car
;
and the car runs forward onto a continuation of the track. except to rotate it about an axis, and the lifting dumper
Car Dump, Swing-lift Transfer. An automatic end- which elevates the car for discharging direct into vessels
used in connection with a chain haul up
dump or high storage bins.
tipping car
an incline and a superposed track for returning the cars The loaded car (sometimes two are left coupled
down the incline. together and handled as a unit) is pulled up an inclined
The loaded car is pulled up the lower runway by cross- approach by a mule or barney car and runs onto an
bars on chains which pass around sprockets at the top L-shaped dumping cradle. It is clamped fast to the cradle
and bottom of the slope. As the car approaches the upper by beams pulled down against the top of the car sides,
sprocket its wheels run off onto a guide sharply inclined or by wire ropes. Cradle and car are then raised to
upwardly, and carried by a tilting frame. The top hinged the desired dumping level (which is sometimes adjust-
door at the rear is simultaneously released, and the con- able), and rotated through a sufficient angle to completely
tents commence As the crossbar (which is
sliding out. discharge the contents, the top of the cradle forming a
not attached merely pushes the car) passes onto
to, "but chute which directs the material. They are then
and around the sprocket, it pushes the car completely returned to their original position, the car is released
CAR MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CAR
and the next loaded car pushes it off in the other side The machine may be of the winch head or capstan type,
of the dump where it runs down a short incline and is round which the pulling rope is given a few turns, the
returned alongside the dumper and back to the yard free end being gently pulled by hand as it comes off, or
The lifting and rotating is performed largely by wire fast to and wound up on the cylindrical drum. The
ropes handled by winding drums. Steam and electric rope is usually manila, though wire rope
is sometimes
drives are both in use, the former being the better in used. A winch head or drum has the advantage
vertical
isolated localities, and the latter being more economical over the horizontal one that the rope may be led off
where there is a reliable source of direct current. in any direction.
The dumper is often movable, traveling on rails A
car puller may be driven by a belt from a line
parallel to a bin over the wall of which it can distribute shaft,or by a separate electric motor, or steam, gasoline
the material as desired. It is usually self-propelled, and or air engine. The necessary speed reduction from the
the inclined approach and discharge tracks travel with it. motive power to the drum shaft may be made by gearing
Page 279, 825, 828. of the spur, bevel, worm or chain varieties planetary ;
or electric power, often a combination of electrically or an electric motor "plugged in" to conductors along
driven pumps with a hydraulic operating cylinder. the track.
Page 279. In mines portable car pullers located in the rooms are
used for pulling the empty cars into the rooms and the
Car, Gathering. In glass manufacture, the name given
loaded ones out, the main hauling locomotive (electric
to a car which collects from various bins the proper
or air) not entering the rooms. This is also sometimes
ingredients in proper proportions for a batch, and either
done by power driven winches mounted on the locomo-
mixes them in a conveyor mounted on its own body, or
delivers them to a fixed mixer.Also called a batch car. tive itself, the cable being suitably led by guide sheaves.
A name sometimes applied to a special Page 296, 787, 790, 829.
Car, Monitor.
car used for lowering coal (or other bulk material) Car Pusher. Any device which can move cars along a
down an incline, generally by means of a gravity plane track for the purpose of loading or unloading, by pushing
drum. The cars are usually in pairs, one serving to them from behind. One device consists of a special
. counterbalance the other. Coal is dumped into the mon- narrow car running on a special narrow gage track
itor car from a mine car at the top, and it in turn dis- between widely spaced railway tracks the pusher is ;
charges to a weigh-hopper at the tipple, through a operated by a fixed cable between the rails passing around
motor operated drums on the pusher, or by power applied
dumping bottom.
to the wheels by gearing from a motor. An arm which
Car Haul, Cable. A method of hauling cars up an in-
can be thrust out on either side of the pusher over the
cline by means of an endless wire rope having spurs
adjoining tracks enables it to move cars along ahead
clamped to it at regular intervals for propelling the cars,
of it.
and intermediate transmission clamps for assisting in
driving the rope. The latter passes around
a large driv- Car Stop, Automatic. A mechanism for feeding loaded
the top of the cars one at a time from a string, as in caging at the
ing sheave in the form of a gap wheel at
this wheel having a grooved circumference with bottom of a mine shaft, or at a car dump. On pressing
slope,
breaks in it to receive the spurs and transmission clamps. a treadle, horns projecting above the track in front of
Car Haul, Chain. A method of hauling cars, generally the leading care are depressed, allowing it to run forward
tom of the incline at approximately the speed of the chain Carbureter. A part of a gasoline engine in which the fuel is
to avoid shock on chain or car; to prevent any possibility vaporized and mixed with the proper quantity of air for
of the car starting to back down before a dog has reached perfect combustion. Air is drawn through it by the
and engaged it, the dogs are often spaced close together ; suction from the engine cylinders, and the suction also
.they are also made with a gravity or
spring controlled causes the fuel to flow in a jet into the air as it passes.
tilting part which will allow a car to run past them in
a The proper proportion of gasoline to air, by weight, is
forward direction, but not to return. one to fifteen, and the aim in the carbureter design is to
Page 636. obtain this proportion at all loads and speeds of the
Car, Industrial. A general term used to designate the engine.
many different types of cars used for industrial purposes. Cargo. The goods, merchandise, material or whatever
Page 587, 721-72S. is conveyed by a ship.
Car Puller. A machine placed near railroad tracks, and Cargo Door. A door fitted in the side or upper bulk-
used to locate or "spot" cars for loading or unloading head of a vessel for -the purpose of providing a passage
.purposes by the pull exerted on a rope attached to them. through which cargo may be trucked.
30
CAR DEFINITION SECTION CAS
guide rails.
hoists, and tackle used on shipboard for moving cargo
to and from the hold. The vertical pole mast of the Page 336, 761.
Carrier, Pick-up. A
term applied to a conveyor for Also called a carry-all. ,
The ends are somewhat larger in diameter than the body, and an object is made fast to it by chains or ropes; it
to allow the carrier to pass easily around curves in the is then lifted by pulling down on the tongue. If one
adding leather, fibre, rubber or other similar materials. Castor Bed, Plate. An assemblage of strong swiveling
Page 763. castors mounted, wheels upward, on stiff posts spaced
Carrier, Suspended Tray. A
continuous carrying de- about 20 in. centers each way, with the top of the wheel
vice used for elevating, lowering, horizontal conveying, 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. 6 in. above the ground. Steel plates
or various combinations of these, and consisting of two laid on these beds may be moved about with great ease
endless strands of chain with pivot attachment links by one or two men. Placed at the proper height, they
from which are suspended by short diagonal hangers allow easy feeding of punches, shears, etc. ; placed in long
at the ends a tray or pan on which articles may be rows they aid in transportation from one machine to
placed. Loading and discharge are best accomplished another, and even serve as a storage space for partially
automatically on ascending or descending vertical runs finished work.
31
CEL MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CHA
Cellar, Oil. A chambered cavity beneath wheel shaft in the middle in which rollers may be placed and held by
bearings, to receive and hold oil. pins passing through the block crosswise; these rollers
Center of Gravity. That point of a body at which, if serve to support the weight of the chain in conveyor
the whole mass were concentrated, the action of gravity service.
on the body would be unchanged. Page 774-780.
Chafe. To destroy, damage or wear away by a rubbing Chain, Cable. A chain consisting of flat elongated oval
action, as to chafe a rope. links made by welding round iron or steel. When accu-
Chain. A flexible connector used for transmitting rately pitched used for conveyors and log hauls.
it is
power or for hauling or lifting, consisting of separate Chain, Close Link. See Chain, Coil.
oval links connected through each other in succession, or Chain, Closed Link, Closed End Link. A hinge type
of variously shaped parts attached to each other by pins chain composed of links each of which has its two sides
or rivets in such a way as to permit the desired degree and one end formed of a single piece, usually of malleable
of flexibility. iron. They are made for short, medium or long pitch
The oldest and simplest form is the oval link, made of chains, and are connected each other by rivets or de-
to
iron or steel of a round or square section, and in links tachable pins. The latter may be of ordinary, case hard-
of widely varying proportions. (See Chain, Coil.) It is ened or manganese steel they ; may turn in a smooth hole
much used for hauling and hoisting, for fastening, and, across the closed end of the or in a hardened or
link,
to a small extent, for transmitting power. It has the manganese steelbushing forced into the hole in the end
property of being perfectly flexible in any direction, can of the link. The pins are kept from rotating relative to
be wound on drums, passed around guide sheaves, or the open ends of the link and therefore wearing the holes
piled in a bin, and where these properties are required in it oval, by a notch or on one side of the head en-
flat
is the only type to be used. Except when wound on a gaging with a projection on the side of the link, or by a
drum, must pass around sprockets or pocket wheels
it T-head pin fitting into a milled groove. The links are
for a pull to be exerted. It is practically the only form usually of malleable iron, but may be of cast or man-
suitable for a hand chain. ganese steel.
Where flexibility in only one plane is required, chains The side bars at the open end of the link
may be smooth
are made
of links connected by pins in such a way that inside, simply lapping over the closed
end of the next link,
there is a point of articulation or hinge at each pin. or they may have shallow counterbores on the inside
They are made in an enormous variety of forms, sizes around the pin holes, which fit on to corresponding pro-
and materials for various uses. Practically all are com- jections on the sides of the next link, thus relieving the
posed of links having parallel holes at the opposite ends pin of part of the shearing stress and, more important,
to receive the connecting pins. In some cases the links keeping dirt out of the joints. If made with detachable
are all identical and of the form termed the closed end pins, the links can be separated, but the open end of the
link; in others two forms alternate. They are produced link must be spread forcibly to allow it to slip over the
by being cast, forged, rolled, bent or stamped. projections. This is known as interlocking chain. In an-
Attachments may be made to chains in various ways, other type the two parts of the open end are kept from
attachment links being ordinarily inserted when the chain spreading by projections cast on the next link and hooked
is made up, shaped to suit the work. Rollers are pro- over these ends.
vided on many chains, either to lessen the friction and In one variety of this chain intended for service in
wear at points of contact with sprockets, or, where a gritty material, the tubular shaped end or thimble which
chain run is horizontal, to support the weight of the connects the two side bars at the closed end is largely
chain and attached parts and carry it on a guide or rail. cut away so that the bushing is exposed and can receive
The design of a hinged chain is largely dictated by the the wear of the sprocket teeth. Bushings and pins being
use to which it is to be put. If intended simply for hold- renewable, the chain will be very long lived. If used as
ing or slow pulling, where the wear of the joints will be a drag chain, the lower faces of the links of a chain are
inconsiderable, simple joints will suffice, but if moving at made flat to give large wearing surfaces.
considerable speed, as in conveying work, and especially Chain, Closed Link Roller. A chain resembling the
if transmitting power, careful attention must be paid to closed link chain, but with a roller placed on the cylindri-
proper lubrication, minimum
friction, and easy replace- cal portion of the closed end so that no portion of the link
ment of wearing Any
increase of pitch in a chain
parts. comes into contact with the sprocket. To put the roller
passing around sprockets spoils the fit on the latter and in place, the two sides of the link must be made separate,
causes poor running; therefore, wear which tends to in- and they are assembled with the roller in place; the two
crease the pitch and lengthen the chain must be prevented portions of the closed end telescope into one another, or
as much as possible, by liberal bearing area, hardened may be simply butted; they are kept from separating by
surfaces and lubrication. the pins.
Chain, Block. A steel chain used for power transmis- This chain may also be made with interlocking joints.
sion, made up of center blocks and side bars, connected by (See Chain, Closed Link.)
shouldered pins riveted fast in the outer links and turning Chain, Coil. Chain composed of oval shaped links made
in the holes in the block. It cannot be provided with from round stock. The most common form has the plain
rollers. As
ordinarily made the links are of steel punch- oval links, with adjacent links standing at right angles. A
ings, stampings, machined in the better grades. In
or 90 deg. twist may be put in each link so that they all
modified types, the side bars may be drop forgings or occupy the same position, making a twisted link coil chain.
malleable castings, with hubs which project into counter- If the chains are to be used in such a way that kinking
bores in the block and thus carry the load independently would be a serious disadvantage, short studs are inserted
of the pin. The latter may then be a bolt, allowing de- in each link across the middle of the space, making stud
tachment of the chain at any point without the necessity chain.
of slack. The links vary in length according to the use. Stud
The blocks may also be specially formed with cavities chain has a maximum length inside the link of about
32
CHA DEFINITION SECTION CHA
four diameters of the bar from which it is made; stand- Chain, Flat and Round Link. A chain made up of alter-
ard close link and coil chain have a length of about three nating welded links of two styles; one is a rectangular
diameters crane chain has a length of about two and
;
link made of round stock, and the other is an oval link
five-eighths diameters, the shorter the better. made of flat stock bent flatwise and hooked over the
Chain, Coil with Wearing Block. An accurately pitched adjacent ends of two of the round bar links. In use for
long oval link chain in which detachable bearing blocks conveying, this chain presents the broad surface of the
are placed between the adjacent links in such a way that flat link to resist wear from dragging. Sometimes called
the wearing surface is largely increased, the links are steel conveyor chain.
kept at right angles with each other, and the strength of Chain, Hand. A chain, generally pendent, used for
the chain is These blocks have semi-circular
increased. operating crane or other machinery by hand. It is usually
grooves on opposite sides in planes at right angles, and of the close oval link variety, or crane chain, and should
may be inserted into a link without deforming it. With be of a convenient size for grasping.
this type of chain, attachments may be formed on the Chain Hoist, See Hoist, Chain.
blocks. Also called Dodge chain. Chain, Interlocking. A chain made of closed links which
Chain, Combination. A chain composed of a series of have the two sides at the open end so formed with coun-
center links and pairs of side connecting links or bars terbores on the inside that they hook over corresponding
alternately placed. The center link is a closed rectangle, projections on the next link, locking the links together
with transverse holes for the connecting pins in each end; independently of the shearing resistance of the pins. (See
the connecting pins are kept from turning in the outer Chain, Closed Link.)
side bars by having key lugs, fitting into notches in the Chain, Load. The chain by which a load is lifted or
side bar, or by having square shanks fitting square holes. supported. In chain hoists the load chain passes over
Chain, Combination U-Bar. A combination chain in chain sheaves or pocket wheels made to fit it and is
which two connecting pins and one side bar are formed in lifted by them. In drum type hoisting mechanisms, the
one U-shaped piece of round section steel, with the re- load chain is attached at one end to the drum, and is
maining side bar slipped over the ends and cottered fast. wound on it as the load is lifted. It is made with short
Chain, Detachable Link. A chain composed of links links, known as close link or crane chain, to minimize
which are rectangular in outline and formed with a hook bending stresses in passing around sheaves and drums.
across one end which will slide edgewise on to the Pitch chain, made to fit toothed sprockets, has also
grooved end of the next link, and articulate on it. This occasionally been used for lifting loads.
sliding can take place when one link is turned up at right Chain, Monobar. A long pitch chain consisting of a
angles to the other; when they are in working position, series of bolts with clevis connections screwed on to the
or in line, they cannot be thus detached. The two ends ends and connected to one another by pins. Attachments
of a strand of chain can be connected by a special coupler
may be formed on the end connections, and in case of
link having a pin. Also called plain link belting, detach- wear the end connections only need replacement.
able sprocket chain, and rivetless chain.
Chain, Pitch of. The distance from a point on one link,
The links are usually made of malleable iron, though as its center, to the next similar point. In chains which
manganese steel is sometimes used. The chain has the
have links of one form only and similarly placed, one
disadvantages that under heavy stress the hook opens out, link only is included in the pitch in chains consisting
;
and gritty material can work between the rubbing sur-
of alternating links of different form, or of alternating
faces and cause wear the pitch increases from both
links of the same form but standing at right angles, two
;
on top of it. The links are usually of the closed end type, Chain, Pitch or Pitched. .A chain which is made with
form. The sides are often reinforced at the points where Chain, Punched and Riveted Steel. A narrow unbushed
the pins pass through, to give greater wearing surface, chain which is made up of alternate pairs of flat steel
and these doubling bars may be bent into a variety of links placed inside and out, the inside links being sep-
forms to serve as wings or flights. arated by a thin washer or spacer. Rivets pass through
Also called refuse chain and sawdust chain, the last the four bars, no rollers or bushings being used. Oc-
because it is largely used to remove sawdust and similar casionally the two inside links are replaced by one link
refuse from saw-mills. (See Conveyor, Drag Chain.) of the combined thickness, making practically a narro'w
drop forged bar links with enlarged ends, the links being Also called hog scraper chain, and ice chain.
arranged in alternate pairs inside and out, and connected This chain is suitable for heavy loads at heavy load
by riveted pins, shouldered to prevent cramping of speeds, or for intermittent use, but the lack of wearing
the inner links. Used for heavy loads at low speeds and bushings makes it unsatisfactory for
high speed.
in places where a long pitch chain is desired if the pitch ; Chain, Refuse. See Chain, Drag.
is short the cost of the forged links is out of proportion Chain, Roller. Any articulated or hinged chain which
to the metal saved. has rollers included in its construction to minimize wear
33
CHA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CHU
or decrease friction. (See Chain, Steel Bushed Roller; Chain, Stud. See Chain, Coil.
Chain, Closed Link Roller.) Chain, Tightener. A mechanism for taking up the slack
Chain, Roller Carrier. A roller chain having side links of a chain by means of an idler sprocket which can
curved so that the rollers are below the top of the links, be slid or swung against the return run of the chain,
and will not interfere with objects resting on a horizontal forcing it out of the direct, and therefore the shortest
run of the chain or with slats attached to them. The line.Take-ups are also used for the same purpose, act-
roller is sufficiently large to project below the links at ing directly on the end sprockets of an endless chain
the bottom and runs on the guide or rail. drive.
Chain, Silent. A term applied to a steel chain made up Chain, Transfer. A conveyor chain made to be dragged
for use as a belt for transmitting power between two in a horizontal channel with a load resting on it, and con-
wide faced sprockets on parallel shafts. It usually con- sisting of links connected by detachable or riveted pins
sists of a series of small flat links or leaves connected and having complete flat or beveled roofs or tops on
by joints having hardened segmental bushings and case which the load rests. Two parallel strands are generally
hardened pins, or by joints in which one part rocks or used for conveying work.
rolls on the other as the links articulate in passing around Chain, Transmission. A chain used for the transmission
sprockets. of power, generally between sprockets on parallel shafts.
Another feature of these chains is the pointed ends of Single or multiple width chains may be used, the latter
the links which are turned toward the sprocket and en- resembling a belt, and they may be of the roller construc-
gage with the straight teeth of the latter. Owing to the tion, or the so-called silent chain type.
sloping sides of the sprocket teeth, the chain can ride Chain, Weldless. A term applied to some varieties of
higher on them as it wears and increases in pitch, thus light chain which are made up of bent steel punchings or
automatically adjusting itself to the lengthened pitch. of bent and twisted wire, without welding, riveting or
Chain, Steel Bar Bushed Roller. A chain having articu- bolting.
lations like those of a steel bushed roller chain, but with Chains, Wheelbarrow. A chain sling for lifting a
very much longer links. wheelbarrow by a crane or hoist, consisting of three
Chain, Steel Bushed. A chain similar to the steel chains attached to a ring to be slipped on the crane hook,
bushed roller chain, but without the roller. The wear with two eyes and a hook at the lower ends for attach-
from passing around sprockets thus comes directly on the ing to the wheelbarrow handles and hooking into the
outside of the bushing. wheel respectively.
Chain, Steel Bushed Roller. A
chain composed of pairs Change Gears. An arrangement of gears by which a
of flat steel side-bar links placed alternately inside and change of angular velocity ratio is possible by exchang-
outside. The inner links have riveted between them at ing gears of different numbers of teeth in the set.
each end, bushings or thimbles which are kept from turn- Much used in engine lathes for screw cutting.
ing by the form of their ends. A loose cylindrical roller Change gears have been used in the past in crane hoists,
isplaced around the outside of each of these bushings for changing the speed of hoist with varying loads. They
between the inner side bars, and a pin passing through are occasionally used in modern winches, made up some-
the bushings extends at its ends beyond the inner side what like the transmission gearing in an automobile,
bars and into the outer bars, and is attached to the where the axial shifting of one or more sets of gears
latter in such a way that it cannot turn. The device produces the desired changes.
used is a lug key, or a notched, flat sided or T-headed Charging Machine. A machine used for charging open
bolt fitted into a correspondingly formed side bar. Thus hearth furnaces, to travel along trucks on the
built
the pin always forced to turn in the bushing, and the
is ground in front of the furnaces, and having an arm
large wearing surface insures long life. Pin and bush- which may attach itself to the end of a charging box,
ing are replaceable. raise it and enter it into the furnace door, and turn the
Instead of the side bars being alternately inside and box over, dumping the contents into the furnace. The
outside, they may be offset, and assembled inside at one motions are then reversed. (See also Crane, Charging.)
end and outside at the other. Chassis, Motor Truck. The name applied to the com-
The
rollers may be cast or malleable iron, bronze or plete running gear and power plant of an automobile.
according to the material handled. It may or may not include the seat or cab and wind
steel, They serve
two purposes to lessen the friction and wear in pass-
;
shield.
ing around driving and idler sprockets, and to support Page 702.
the weight of the chain and any attachments to it. The Cheek Block. One of the pair of heavy weights shaped
latter is importance when these chains are
of especial so as to fit on the cheeks of the fall block of hoisting
The rollers are often flanged to run on a rail, and in overhaul without load. (See also Downhaul Ball.)
this form are used for pivoted bucket conveyors, etc. Chock, Rope. A name given to a rope guiding arrange-
If the load is very heavy, as in long elevators or con- ment consisting of a frame containing a grooved sheave,
veyors, the rollers for the sprocket teeth and the rollers or containing two grooved sheaves so mounted that the
for carrying the weight are separate, the latter being rope is virtually enclosed by the two rims. The chock
placed on the outside of the double line of conveyor is usually bolted to the top face of a timber, with the
chain. In this way the chambered rollers on which the axes of the sheaves vertical, but it may be placed in
moving load is supported are relieved of the dead weight any position desired.
of the entire conveyor in passing around the driving Chocks. Blocks of wood or pieces of steel, properly
sprockets at the head. shaped and placed to prevent wheels from rolling along
In an unbushed roller chain the wear comes on the a rail. Placed at the end of a track, they serve to keep
sides of the holes in the side bars, and as the bearing the car from running off.
area is small, the holes rapidly elongate and the pitch Chute. A trough-shaped structure set on a slope steep
of the chain increases. enough so that bulk or package material delivered to
34
CHU DEFINITION SECTION CHU
it at one end will slide down its length to the other unless a vertical tube, round or square in section, having a
deflected or discharged by a suitable device at some series of equally spaced internal shelves or baffles alter-
intermediate point. The transverse section of the chute nately placed on opposite sides.
may be rectangular, curved or composite its plan may ; Chute, Serpentine. A chute by which bags, bales and
be straight, curved or spiraled, and uniform, tapered, or similar packages may be lowered in a practically vertical
flaring. Various materials are used and chutes may direction, consisting of a passage formed into a series
be fixed, swinging, telescoping, folding, etc.
portable, of reversed curves all lying in a vertical plane, so that
According to the use to which they are put, they are a sack inserted at the top is thrown from side to side
called filling, loading, feeding, deflecting, distributing, and does not attain sufficient speed to be damaged. To
bagging, lowering, etc., and according to the material admit at intermediate floors, the lower side of a door
handled as ash, coal, concrete, package, etc. Some special on a convex side is swung inward against the opposite
side of the chute, exposing the full opening of the chute.
arrangements of chutes are described under Chute, Under-
track; Lowering;
Chute, Chute, Screening; Chute, To discharge at intermediate floors, the top of another
Bagging; Chute, Hooded. door on a convex curve is swung inward against the
If made in sections, they overlap in the direction of opposite side, thereby acting as a deflecting plate on which
flow, or are carefully butted and secured in such a way a sack will slide out on to a delivery table.
that there is no obstruction to the flow. Chute, Screening. A chute having a screen set in the
The term spout is also often used to designate a chute, bottom so that material passing over it will have sep-
though it is preferably applied to channels which are arated from it the dust of "fines." This type of chute
is often used for loading coal from overhead bins into
completely enclosed rather than to those which are open
at the top. wagons, the dust being retained in a separate hopper
Chute, Bagging. A chute used for delivery of material beneath the chute and emptied from time to time.
from overhead bins or loading machines into wagons, so Chute, Spreader. A chute which is flared at its dis-
shaped at its exit as to be easily introduced into a bag, charge end into a long slot-like opening, which will
and provided with an easily controlled gale. spread the material passing through it in a wide thin
Chute, Concrete. The chute forming a portion of a stream. Chutes of this form are used to spread the
system of concrete distribution. Several types of chutes coal delivered from overhead bunkers to the magazines
are used, depending on the system and the location in the of stokers. They are subject to the disadvantage that the
system. fine coal may pile in the middle and the lumps roll to
In the boom supported plants, the first section, receiving the sides, making an uneven fire.
from the hopper on the tower, has a round swivel head Chute, Spiral. A gravity conveyor in which the ma-
or hopper about 24 in. in diameter at its receiving end, terial slides downward in a chute which is wound in a
and a downward projecting swivel or deflecting plate at helical form around a central vertical axis. The single
its lower end, and the succeeding sections are similar. spiral chute is the most usual, though there are often
In the continuous line plant, the lower end of the first two and even three separate chutes around the same axis,
section has a sleeve and insert with cross keys and chain known as double or triple flight (or blade) spiral chutes,
for connecting it to the next section, and the succeeding or as multiple runways. Or a single runway may be
sections, except the last, have these sleeves and inserts at divided into two or more by vertical partitions running
both ends. The final section has a deflecting plate at its throughout the length, one being close to the axis and
lower end to produce a downward discharge. steep in pitch, and the other toward the outer circum-
Concrete chutes are installed on a slope varying from ference, and therefore less steep.
1 to 3 to 1 to 2J4. The diameter is usually 12 in., though If wound very closely about a central supporting post
10 in. chutes are sometimes used. The transverse section or core and rigidly attached to it, the spiral is known
is round-bottomed or egg-shaped. Liners of 12 to 14 as a closed center; if wound on a larger circumference,
gage thfckness are sometimes riveted inside of the chutes with a clear vertical circular shaft through the center,
to take the wear. as an open center. A combination type is also in use,
Chute, Extensible. A sloping chute which may be having the central opening, but with a post to which
moved in the direction of its length, without changing the inner side of the chute is connected and braced. The
its slope, to vary its point of delivery. The point at open type is braced and supported by the floors through
which the material is delivered to the chute is fixed, and which it passes; the closed type usually depends entirely
mounted on rollers, is raised and lowered by
the chute, on the core or post, which carries the whole weight of
endwise movement along an inclined track, under the chute and contents, and transmits it to the foundations
control of a small winch. This arrangement is some- beneath. Any of these three types are termed housed or
times used for loading coal into hopper bottom or gon- enclosed when they are completely shut in by a tight
dola cars from a tipple above the loading track. (See casing, usually built of steel plates.
also Boom, Loading.) The chute proper or runway bed is made of sheet steel
Chute, Hooded. A chute which has a hood or vertical fan shaped sections termed wings, or flights, lapped in
plate across its discharge end with an opening in the the direction of travel or flanged and butted, or of cast
chute bottom close to the plate, arranged to discharge iron sections flanged and bolted. It may be flat or slight-
material vertically downward independent of the angle
ly concaved on the bottom, the theory of the concave
of the chute. section being that it will exercise some control over the
Chute, Lowering. A chute which is intended for lower- speed of descending objects. Those which slide easily
ing a fragile or breakable material like coal or coke from and attain high velocity will move outward due to centrif-
a height with a minimum of breakage, instead of dropping ugal force to locations where the slope is smaller, and
it. Two forms are common ;the spiral lowering chute, in will therefore slow down. Those which tend to travel
which the chute is curved in a spiral around a vertical slowly will stay near the axis, on account of the curved
central post and the shelf lowering chute consisting of
; runway bottom, thereby gaining the benefit of steeper
35
CHU MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CLU
slope. Guard rails are erected at the outer edge, these A. Center to center of runway rails.
usually consisting of a solid rail of steel plate of a height B. Center of rail to nearest point of wall.
depending on the size of packages carried. In housed C. Floor level to top of rail if hook must go below
;
chutes the guard rail may be omitted and the inside of floor level, give distance.
the housing used instead. D. Top of rail to lowest point of roof truss or other
Spiral chutes most naturally receive their load at the overhead obstruction.
top and discharge at the lower end of the spiral. Loading E. F, G, H. Dimensions of roof knee braces, if any.
can be easily done at any intermediate point, by passing Cleat. A wood or metal fitting having two projecting
objects over the guard rail, or by raising a 90 deg. sec- ends or horns, to which a rope is fastened by several turns
tion of the sliding them over the edge of
runway and around it.
the portion below. Discharge can also be obtained at Clevis. A fastening consisting of a forked end of a
any point by removing or swinging inward a portion of bar, with eyes in each of the two ends; a pin or belt,
the guard rail and allowing objects to pass off tangen- passing through the two eyes, is used to attach the clevis
tially, or by lowering a flap or diverter onto the runway to an eye or link. (See also Shackle.)
bed so that they slide onto this flap and out of the spiral. Clevis Connection. A
method of connecting two parts
This is called a switchout plate. Delivery is made onto by which a flat projection having a hole or eye in one
a horizontal or sloping table, the floor, a roller conveyor part is inserted between two similar projections from the
section, etc., according to convenience. Automatic ver- other part, and a bolt passed through all the holes and
tical sliding or hinged fire-proof doors are fitted at all locked to prevent it working out. Used for attaching
floors where fire protection is necessary. hoists to trolleys and similar purposes, where the greater
Also called friction spiral. portability resulting from a hooked connection is unneces-
Page 390, 759-767. sary, and it is necessary to have a close connection to
Chute, Telescoping. A
chute which consists of two or save headroom.
more parts lapping over one another in the direction of Clip. A short length of structural bar, generally an
flow, and arranged so that they may be telescoped within angle, used to strengthen points of attachment of various
one another either for better portability, or to secure a members of a steel structure.
variation in the point of delivery. (See also Chute, Clips, Rail. Steel pieces used to hold crane rails, etc.,
Extensible.) to structural steel plates and beams.
Chute, Tilting. A short trough shaped chute, open at Clips, Rail End. Steel stops placed at the ends of rails
both ends, placed transversely beneath the discharge to prevent creeping.
opening of a scraper conveyor and pivoted at the middle Clutch. A device for transmitting power from one ro-
of its length, so that it can tip in either direction and tating shaft to another in alinement with it, which can
discharge the received material at either end. be connected or disconnected at will. It may be of the
Clamps, Track. Any device by which a truck or car friction type, or of the positive type.
may be rigidly clamped to the rail on which it runs, and Friction clutches are those in which motion is trans-
all motion prevented. On shipboard crane trolleys
rolling mitted by virtue of the friction of surfaces pressed into
of all kinds are provided with track clamps, to prevent contact. (See Clutch, Friction.)
rolling due to the motion of the ship. Positive clutches are those in which toothed or ser-
Also, in traveling cranes moving on tracks of ordinary rated surfaces locking onto one another are used to
or narrow gage, especially locomotive and wrecking transmit the motion. (See Gutch, Positive.)
cranes, means by which the car frame is clamped down to Occasionally clutches are used which combine the
the tracks, in order to give greater stability when lifting ability to gradually pick up a load afforded by the fric-
loads at a large radius. (See Outriggers.) tion clutch, with the positive driving of the jaw clutch,
Clamp, Transmission. A
part clamped to the cable in by having the latter brought into action after the two
a cable haul-up or car haul-up to assist the driving parts have been brought to the same speed by the fric-
spurs are clamped at the regular intervals required for Clutch, Drag. A friction clutch which is intended to
the conveying or elevating work, but these are often too slip when
the torque is in excess of a certain amount
far apart for driving purposes, as it is necessary that established as desirable. Used for operating drums
at least one clamp be in contact with the driving wheel winding tag lines, magnet leads, etc., in hoisting equip-
continuously. Intermediate driving or transmission ment, where the purpose is merely to take up the slack
clamps are therefore added. They may be plain cylin- or to maintain a slight tension in addition.
drical clamps, the same with a single axle and two Clutch, Friction. A clutch in which rotary motion is
rollers, or with two axles and four rollers; these rollers transmitted from the driving to the driven shaft by
serve to prevent the cable from dragging on the support- means of friction surfaces pressed into intimate con-
ing structure as it passes over the convex curve at the tact. Four types are in general use :
contracting band,
top of the incline. internal expanding, cone, and disc or plate.
Clearance. The distance or space between moving and In the contracting band type, a band is carried by one
fixed objects, or between two moving objects, when they end of the shaft in such a way that it can be tightened
are nearest together. on the surface of a cylindrical drum on the end of the
Also, the allowance necessary to prevent interference other shaft with sufficient force to drive it.
of parts which have relative motion. In the internal expanding type, the band is inside the
Also, the linear distance between the piston face and cylinder or drum, and expands to exert the necessary
the inside of the cylinder head of a reciprocating engine. pressure.
Clearance, Crane. The distances or dimensions which Cone clutches may be single or multiple. In the former
determine the maximum size of a crane for a given loca- a single cone with external friction surface is pressed
tion. They are generally given as follows (for an over- into a correspondingly arranged internal conical fric-
head traveling crane) : tion surface. The surfaces may be metal to metal, or
36
CLU DEFINITION SECTION CON
one may be faced with wood, leather or some other Sanding equipments are also often included. Also called
suitable material. Double opposed cones may be used fueling station.
giving a wedge-shaped section to the friction element. Cock. A" device used for controlling the flow of fluid
Multiple cones may be used, distributed radially on the in a pipe, consisting of a body with an opening straight
same disc, or axially, in series along the shaft alternately through, arranged for pipe connections at the two ends,
connected to one shaft and to the interior of a drum and a transverse opening, usually tapered, into which is
keyed on the other shaft. tightly fitted a revolvable plug having itself a transverse
Disc or plate clutches have flat disc friction surfaces, opening. This opening can be made to register with the
sometimes single, but generally multiple. In this last body openings, leaving a clear passage for flow, or can
type alternate discs are keyed to a hub fast on one shaft, be turned at right angles, thereby stopping all flow.
and to the inside of a shell or casing fast to the other Cock, Four-way. A cock having two connecting open-
shaft. The sets of discs are of different metals, or one ings through the body at right angles to each other,
set faced with friction fabric; they may be run
may be and also a plug with four openings which are connect-
in oil or dry. They are pressed together axially when ed in two non-communicating pairs. Any pair of ad-
engagement is desired, and a small amount of pressure jacent outlets of the body can be connected at will.
will produce a large amount of friction, on account of Cock, Three-way. A
cock having a through opening
the many surfaces in contact. This is called the Weston and a side outlet 90 deg. in both plug and body. The
at
clutch, and is much used in hoisting machinery, es- plug can be turned so as to connect any two of the
pecially when combined with a screw mechanism and openings, all three, or none.
used as a brake. (See Brake, Screw.) Coil. A ring, or continuous series of rings, into which
For friction clutch as applied to the friction drum of a flexible body, as a rope or chain, may be formed, either
a winch, see Drum, Friction. loosely on the floor, or around a drum, reel, or other
Friction clutches, sometimes called slip couplings, are object.
often used as safety devices, the controlling springs or Also a continuous line of pipe arranged in a series of
other forces being so adjusted that the friction is just circuits or turns close to one another.
sufficient to overcome the normal resistance, but will
Coke Fork. A modification of the ordinary grab
slip when abnormal resistance is offered, thus prevent- bucket to adapt it for handling coke. This material is
ing breakage.
pulverized by the ordinary form of shells. Curved tines
Clutch, Magnetic. A
revolving magnetic field set up are substituted for plate shells, and these slide under and
'by the rotation of a magnet in one part of the clutch between the lumps with less breakage. Any of the vari-
drags the other part by means of eddy currents in- ous forms of light clam shell buckets may be so adapted,
duced in it. When
brought into contact, driving is the operating gear remaining the same.
practically positive. This clutch is not in extensive use
Column. A vertical structural member designed for
in material handling machinery, on account of compli-
the resisting of vertical or axial compressive load; a
cations.
vertical strut.
Clutch, Positive. A clutch having two parts with teeth
or jaws which lock into each other while transmitting Column Section, Rolled Steel H. A rolled steel bar
having a cross section like the letter H. As it can be
power. One part of the clutch is keyed fast to its shaft;
made of approximately equal strength against yielding in
the other part is keyed to its shaft but slides freely
any direction, it is used for columns in steel construction.
along it, and is moved by a fork fitting into a groove in
the hub of the sliding part. Collar, Grease. A
ring of grease which forms at the
The jaws may be sided or slightly tapered,
ends of a journal bearing lubricated from a grease cup.
straight
the latter eliminating backlash, but requiring that the This grease collar is often allowed to remain when the
moving part be held in by force. The jaws may also be bearing is in a dusty place, as it prevents grit from
working into the bearing.
straight on one side, and very much tapered or spiraled
on the other, in which case the clutch will disengage Concentrator. See Conveyor, Belt, Idlers for.
itself if reverse rotation occurs, and driving can be done Compensating Pulley. See Equalizing Sheave.
in one direction only. Compensating Truck. See Equalizing Truck.
When the jaws are very numerous, the clutch is Concrete Distribution, Boom Plant. A method of chut-
generally said to be toothed; the teeth may be parallel, ing concrete in which the first section of chute is sup-
tapered or spiraled, as with jaws. ported by a boom swung from the tower, followed by a
Positive clutches must be engaged only when the section mounted on a counterweighted truss suspended
relative motion of the two shafts is nothing or very from the end of the boom, and this, if additional length
small. is necessary, by chute sections carried on floor supports
Clutch, Pulley. A pulley having one-half of a clutch such as horses, tripods, gin poles, etc. A
plant of this
incorporated in its hub, so that it can be connected to the sort can be made portable by mounting the tower and
shaft on which it is mounted, or run loose, as desired. mixing plant on a barge, wheeled platform or railway
Also called a pulley coupling. car, the tower being temporarily guyed in position if
Clutch, Slip. A friction clutch which is intentionally necessary, or braced with stiff-legs.
set so as to slip under excessive torque, thus becoming Concrete Distribution by Chuting. A method of dis-
a safety device and protecting the machinery beyond it. tributing concrete in which the latter is elevated to the
Coaling Station, Locomotive. A structure located at desired level in a bucket which is hoisted in a temporary
a convenient point on a railway line at which locomo- tower, dumped into a receiving hopper on the side of
tives may receive their coal for fuel. It usually com- the tower, and discharged through a gate-controlled
prises one or more elevated bins or pockets, with spout into a line of chutes. According to the method of
conveyors or elevators for keeping them supplied with supporting the chutes, there are three types the con- :
coal, with weighing and perhaps screening arrangements, tinuous line plant, the boom plant (stationary or portable)
and with chutes for delivering to the locomotive tenders. and the tripod plant.
37
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
Concrete Distribution, Continuous Line Plant. A loads like flasks and ladles of iron must be handled very
method of chuting concrete in which the succession of slowly and carefully at some times, and rapidly at others.
downward sloping chutes are suspended from trolleys Controller, Hoist. A mechanism which is designed to
on a wire cable by manila rope tackle, two attachments control automatically a mine or similar hoist, and pre-
being madeto each section. Discharge may take place vent accidents due to neglect of the operator or to other
at the end of the line, or at any intermediate point by causes. Assuming a two-cage hoist, one cage counter-
line gates with vertical drop sections, from which flexible balancing the other, the controller should perform the
chutes or "elephant's trunks" lead the material down to following functions; (a) prevent overspeeding (b) no- ;
the desired level. Special or "combination" chute sec- tify the engineer when the cages are approaching the
tions are used at the hopper end and at the discharge proper stopping points; (c) retard the cages in case the
end; the intermediate sections are of the continuous line engineer does not do so; (d) stop them if the engineer
type. allows them to run past the stopping point (e) prevent ;
If the distance the concrete is to be carried is more the hoist being operated at the' high speed used for
than can be obtained with the slope from the initial hoisting mixed material if the signal has been given for
tower, a second or relay tower may be used to re-elevate hoisting men, for which purpose a low speed is required ;
it and start it through another line of chuting; this may (f) prevent starting in the wrong direction; (g) permit
be repeated if desired. adjustment of the band brake at any time.
Concrete Distribution, Tripod Plant. method of A Controls, Pendent. Ropes or rods hanging from over-
chuting concrete in which the succession of downward head traveling cranes or monorail trolleys, by which the
sloping chutes is supported by tripods of various heights various motors are operated.
standing on the floor. The tripods may be moved about Counterbalance. See Counterweight.
when a change in the discharge point is desired, but the Counterbore. To enlarge a round hole for a portion
system is so cumbersome as compared with the boom or of its length by a tool called a counterbore.
portation, chemical or other treatment, etc. The princi- force may be gravity or some form of mechanical power,
pal types used for purposes of conveying or transporta- as electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or steam. The ma-
tion may be classed as follows: (a) rigid completely terial to be transported may be in bulk in a more or less
enclosed containers for solids, box, barrel, tub, case, continuous stream, in bulk but divided temporarily for
closed crate, carton, tube; (b) rigid partially enclosed the purpose cf conveying into small portions, each car-
containers for solids, tray, tote box, open crate, shop ried in a separate container, or in permanent individual
barrel, skid or live platform, bucket, skip (c) non- ; units or packages of uniform size and weight.
rigid containers for solid or bulk materials, bale, bundle, Conveyors may be classed according to their general
sack, bag, roll, net, carton, tube ; (d) containers for form as: gravity (dead), power (live), or retarding;
liquids, barrel, drum, cask, hogshead, can, carboy, pan, fixed or portable inclined or horizontal
; drag or carry- ;
it from a fixed point to which all controller leads are consisting of cotton duck folded lengthwise with plies
brought, which might be termed remote electric control "frictioned" with rubber and stitched lengthwise, with
or pulpit control. rubber facing vulcanized on one or both sides rubber ;
In lever control the operator does not handle directly belting consisting of plies of cotton duck vulcanized to-
the controlling part of the machine, but moves a lever gether with rubber and faced with the same material ;
system of a hoist when it has a very wide speed varia- ton duck plies impregnated with a balata compound ;
tion and simple means of obtaining it, thus fitting the plain white cotton belting; and occasionally leather belt-
hoist for the special requirements of foundry use where ing. The top or carrying surface usually receives the
38
CON DEFINITION SECTION CON
by special inclined idlers, and the load distributed over the first being placed on an inclined axis, and the two
some distance. By far the most usual method is to have last on vertical axes.
a tripper. (See Conveyor, Belt, Tripper for.) For sorting belts, continuous roller idlers with a slight
For package material, the loaded run of the belt is flare or increase in diameter at the ends are often used,
carried on flat faced idler pulleys or rolls, with hori- to allow the material to spread in a thin layer. Package
zontal skirt boards placed just beneath the edge of the carrying belts sometimes have similar idlers, but more
belt these skirt boards are also often tipped up slightly
; often have straight idlers with perhaps a slight troughing
at the outside edges to prevent packages working off. at the edges caused by sloping skirt boards.
Eor bulk material the belt is raised considerably at the Idlers arc carried in plain, roller or ball bearings which
edges by troughing idlers or concentrators the return ; are supported on wood or steel framing designed for
run is supported on flat idlers. Concentrator idlers must them, or are mounted on stands of various forms, which
always be placed at the points of loading. horizontal A are bolted directly to a flat supporting floor. The long
partition often placed between the two runs to prevent
is
straight idler rolls used for return belts are sometimes
material falling from the upper run from reaching the made of wood, and sometimes of pipe shrunk on to cast
hack of the lower run, where it might cause damage to iron ends in which short shafts are formed. The pulley
the belt in passing around the pulleys. type idlers are usually of cast iron or pressed steel.
To provide a constant belt tension, a suitable take-up Page 456, 834.
is furnished, its location being at the head or tail pulley, Conveyor Belt, Malleable Iron. A chain belt used for
whichever one is not driving, or else on the return side conveying or elevating, composed of malleable iron
of the best. (See Conveyor, Belt, Take-up.) blocks on steel rods, with steel side-bars connecting the
Also called band conveyor (British). rod ends. It can be made up in any width desired, and
Page 369, 418, 759-773, 834-840. used with ordinary sprockets. Buckets may be attached
39
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
if desired. It will operate in high temperatures that side, two-way with possibility of diverting from one side
would destroy fabric belts, and in gritty materials. to the other, or three-way including a central downward
Conveyor, Belt, Pulleys for. The head and tail pulleys discharge onto the belt for by-passing the tripper. An
for belt conveyors are flat, as are also the tripper pulleys. equalizing dischargeis sometimes used,
shifting regularly
They are generally of cast iron, occasionally of wood from one side to the other. For very wide belts where
slats, or of cast iron lagged with wood, and where de- it would be
necessary to lift the loaded belt to a consid-
livering to crushers or other machinery which would erable height to get room beneath it for the discharge
be injured by "tramp" iron, the head pulley is often mag- spout, a reversible belt cross-conveyor is sometimes added
netic. The driving pulley, usually the head pulley, is to receive the head pulley discharge and carry it to either
sometimes covered with rubber for adhesion the arc of ; side; if extended considerably to the sides, this allows a
contact increased by the use of a snubbing pulley for
is wide distribution of the material. A distributing spout
heavy work, and for very heavy traction the belt some- is sometimes used, consisting of a small vertical shaft
times passes around two driving pulleys in series, called paddle-wheel just beneath the outlet of the spout. The
a tandem drive, arranged so as to obtain a large arc of emerging material is widely scattered by the whirling
contact on each, sometimes requiring the use of an idler, blades.
and sometimes utilizing the head pulley for one of the The
traveling gearing is usually driven from the head
two driving pulleys. An auxiliary belt is also sometimes pulley,and involves a double 'bevel gear reversing clutch
used, pressed against the outside of the main belt around for controlling the direction of motion. On account of
the driving pulley, by auxiliary snubbing pulleys. the slow motion desired, a worm drive is usually inserted
Page 421, 457. at some point. To allow slipping in case of accident, and
for. The mechanism by which to absorb the shock of reversal, friction wheels are some-
Conveyor, Belt, Take-up
constant tension is maintained in a conveyor belt. The times also included in the gear train.
usual location is at the tail pulley and the adjustment is Page 421.
horizontal or on a slight incline. If the drive is at some Conveyor Belt, Wire Cloth. A
belt conveyor belt made
other place than the head pulley, the latter may be used of steel or brass woven wire, for carrying a moist ma-
for the take-up. If both head and tail pulleys must be terial through drying ovens where the temperature would
kept in fixed positions, the take-up may be placed in the injure fabric belts.
return run, preferably near the head pulley. Conveyor, Branch. A short conveyor line, generally
Gravity take-ups have guides on which a tightener transverse to a trunk line conveyor, and serving to feed
pulley mounted in a weighted carriage may move verti- it, or to distribute from it. In certain types of conveyors,
cally, idler pulleysbeing placed at the top of the guides the branch lines connect with the main line by switches,
with belt led around them to the tightener pulley below. in other types they deliver on to it at right angles, or
Screw or rack-and-pinion take-ups, adjusted by hand, receive from it at right angles by means of some ad-
may be placed in any desired position. The moving justable diverting or tripping device. Also called a
pulley is then mounted in bearings moving in guides or cro.5s-line conveyor.
along rails. Conveyor Bridge. A structural steel bridge spanning
Page 462. a space between two buildings, or between the ground
Conveyor, Belt, Tripper for. A device for causing the and an elevated point in a building, and supporting a
load on a belt conveyor carrying bulk material to be conveyor.
discharged at some other point than over the head pul- Conveyor, Cable. A drag conveyor similar to the flight
ley. It consists of a rigid frame spanning the belt, and conveyor, but having only one cable drawn along a U
carrying two large pulleys on horizontal shafts, so placed or V-shaped trough, with disc-shaped cast iron flights
that the belt makes an S-shaped turn in passing them. clamped to it at accurately spaced intervals. The troughs
The belt is gradually raised from its supporting idlers as are of wood,. often steel lined. For bulk materials like
it approaches the tripper, discharges its load as it passes coal, the flights are closely spaced. For logs they are
over the top pulley, and is delivered on to the supporting farther apart and intermediate smaller blocks called
idlersaround the lower side of the lower pulley, to con- transmission blocks are clamped to the rope, to give
tinue on its circuit. The material drops into a hopper additional points for driving in passing around the driv-
from which it is discharged to either side of the belt by ing sheave, which takes the form known as a gap wheel.
a spout, or back on to the belt if it is desired to by-pass At least two blocks must be in contact with the gap
the tripper. wheel at once. (See also Conveyor, Retarding.)
The tripper may be fixed in position; several fixed Page 448.
trippers may be placed along the same belt, and any one Conveyor, Carrying. A conveyor which carries bulk
of them may be by-passed to vary the point of discharge or package material on pans, plates, buckets or belts sup-
As each tripper consumes power, a single tripper trav- ported by rolling members, as opposed to one which
eling on a track is more often installed it may be used ; drags or pushes it.
in a fixed position which is altered when desired by hand Conveyor, Chain. A carrying conveyor consisting of
traveling gear or by ropes led to a winch, or it may be two parallel endless strands of chain, traveling at the
self-propelling, with reversing gear for changing the di- same speed and sliding in smooth shallow grooves above
rection of motion. This reversing gear may be operated the edges of which they project slightly. Objects laid
by adjustable stops on the track and the self-propelling across the two chains will be conveyed by them, and may
self-reversing tripper thus arranged to travel slowly be discharged automatically at the end sprockets, or by
back and forth over a predetermined length of track, hand at intermediate points. Three or more chains may
distributing its load. The power is usually furnished by be used for long objects which tend to sag between sup-
the belt itself; for very heavy service a propelling motor ports. For conveying lumber transversely two widely
may be supplied. spaced chains are often used.
The discharge spout may be one-way fixed on either Page 401, 762.
40
CON DEFINITION SECTION CON
Conveyor, Cross-line. A conveyor line which is at Also called a sawdust chain conveyor, and a refuse
right angles to the prevailing or main system; a branch chain conveyor from the fact that it was
originally de-
conveyor. veloped for handling sawmill refuse.
Conveyor, Current. A system of conveying in which Page 427.
the bulk material to be moved is suspended in a fluid
Conveyor Flight. One of the series of transverse plates,
which is forced at a high velocity through the conveying
blades or discs attached to one or more chains or
pipe. A means of producing the suspension, or forming and dragged
cables,
in a trough to form aflight conveyor. They
the mixture, must be provided at the intake end, and a
are made rectangular, round, beveled or irregular in
means of separating the fluid from the material at the
their projection, may be of wood, fibre, cast iron or
discharge end. The fluids in common use are air, water
sheet steel, the last being made flat, curved in
and steam; water is used for handling the denser ma- scoop form,
or crimped or corrugated for
strength and stiffness. Ac-
terials. (See Conveyor, Pneumatic; Conveyor, Hydraulic;
cording to the method and location of attachment, they
Conveyor, Steam Jet.) are termed suspended, or centrally hung.
Page 430.
They are fastened to chains by inserting suitable at-
Conveyor, Degradation. In a coal tipple, a small con-
tachment links at properintervals, and to ropes by two
veyor used to collect and convey to the "run-of-mine or four bull clamps, generally cast in one
car" the fine coal and dust caused by the action of the piece with
the flight.
screens on the friable coal. The fine coal or "slack" is
Page 453.
usually screened out first, but the subsequent wear while
the larger sizes are being separated causes further Conveyor, Flight. A
drag conveyor generally used for
bulk material, consisting of a series of
degradation which it may be desirable to remove by final scrapers or flights
connected at regular intervals to one (singie strand
screening. type)
A continuous conveyor, usual- or two (double strand type) endless chains
Conveyor, Distributing. passing,
of the belt or apron type, running lengthwise of a around sprockets at the ends of the run, and
ly dragging
material between the flights in a trough. The
building or aisle, on which miscellaneous package ma- discharge
is at the end of the trough or through gate-controlled
terial is placed at one end, to be removed at the proper
destination by operatives. In certain cases this dis- openings in its bottom. It may be loaded at
any point
tribution may be made automatic by some selective sys-
in its conveying run, and
is not easily choked. The con-
tem applied to the containers used. veyor may
operate horizontally or as an elevator on in-
clines up to 30 deg. or even 45 deg. at reduced
Also a belt conveyor discharging its load by means capacity;
the change from a horizontal to an inclined run
of a self-propelling self-reversing tripper, and distributing may also
it over any desired length of bin or storage pile.
be made by properly located idler sprockets. The drive
being conveyed that it may engage a pin placed at some In the single strand conveyor the chain is attached to
definite location and height on the tray, these locations the top edges of the flights at the centers. The flights
and heights varying for the different stations. The dis- may reston the bottom of the trough, known as drag
patcher sets the pin in the proper position according to flights, or on wearing shoes running on wooden guides
the destination desired, and the tray is swept off the con- or steel tracks at the sides, known as suspended
flights.
veyor when it reaches the diverter having the cor- Return wearing shoes are cast or riveted to their backs.
responding setting. The lower run is nearly always used for conveying, es-
Conveyor, Drag. A system of conveying in which the pecially if the material is abrasive, since the chain stands
material to be moved is dragged along a trough (as dis- above it, while in the upper run the chain must travel in
tinguished from being carried) by one or more special a groove in the bottom of the trough.
chains, with or without flights or crossbars, by a rope The flights of the double strand type are always at-
or cable with flights, or by a revolving screw or equiva- tached at their ends to the chains which are dragged
lent helical surface. The last is used for bulk material along guiding surfaces, or have incorporated in them
only; the others are used for both bulk and package ma- rollers traveling on flat rails both arrangements keeping
;
terial. (See Conveyor, Flight; Conveyor, Drag Chain; the flight from dragging on the trough bottom. If the
Conveyor, Push-Bar; Conveyor, Cable.) chains are attached to the top of the flight, it is termed
Page 399, 427. a suspended flight; if at the center of the ends, it is
Conveyor, Drag Chain. A
drag conveyor made from a called a centrally hung or double flight; where roller
chain of very wide links, often with a wing at the point chain is used, it is sometimes known as a roller flight.
of articulation, forming a conveying flight, and draggged Suspended flight conveyors always convey in the lower
in a trough into which material to be conveyed is fed. run; centrally hung flights may convey in either the
The chain passes over sprockets at the ends of the run, lower or the upper run, or both, as may be desired. If
the return run being elevated sufficiently to be out of the the upper run is not used for conveying, guides must be
way. The conveyor may be fed at any point, and may provided for the return, with wearing shoes on the back
be discharged at the end of the trough, or at any point of the flights in case the chain is not of the roller variety.
through a hole in the bottom, controlled by suitable gates. The return run is sometimes supported on idler sprockets
The conveyor may be operated horizontally or on a slope placed at intervals.
up to 45 deg. The bars of the chain are usually made When
the trough is U
or V-shaped, and disc-shaped
with broad flat surfaces to take the wear due to dragging are dragged along it by a chain or (more com-
flights
in the trough; they are made of very hard material for monly) a wire cable, it is termed a cable conveyor; it is
the same reason. Various forms of blades known as more often used for logs, pulp wood and similar objects
wing, flight, spur, etc., may be used in the chain, to suit than for loose bulk material.
the material being handled. Page 427.
41
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
Conveyor, Grasshopper. See Conveyor, Reciprocating and returned to the supply tank for re-use, and the coal
Trough. is lifted from the tank
by a grab bucket.
Page 429. Also called sluice conveyor, especially if an open chan-
Conveyor, Gravity. A type of conveyor in which nel is used.
gravity is the operating force. The material moves on A drag conveyor in which the
Conveyor, Jacketed.
the conveyor, but the latter itself does not generally trough has hollow metal walls in which can be circulated
progress. The material may slide directly on the sur- steam for heating or drying, or water for cooling the
face of the conveyor (see Chute; Chute, Spiral, Con- material which is being conveyed. Jackets are applied
veyor, Retarding), may move
along on rollers fixed in a to both flight and screw conveyors.
supporting frame (see Conveyor, Roller), or may be car- Page 458.
ried in trays or buckets (see Lowerer).
A Conveyor Line. A term used to designate a completely
certain headof course required to operate these
is
assembled conveyor made up of separate sections bolted
conveyors, so that their greatest field of usefulness is
together in line. A complete conveyor system may con-
for lowering, or for horizontal transportation where the
sist of several separate lines, as, cross or branch
distance is not very great. If long horizontal travel is lines,
in addition to a main or trunk line.
required for a roller conveyor and the head is limited,
as between floors, repeated lifts can be made by properly Conveyor, Live. A power driven conveyor; one which
is not operated by gravity.
spaced power operated sections and long gravity sections
will provide the means of covering the horizontal dis- Conveyor, Monorail. A continuous conveying system
tance. (See Booster.) consisting of an endless circuit of overhead monorail
Page 759-767. track beneath which is a corresponding endless mov-
Conveyor, Gravity Discharge V-Bucket A combination ing chain which is connected to trolleys at regular in-
elevator and conveyor, or elevator-conveyor, of the bucket tervals. The trolleys are also supplied with hooks, pans,
around sprockets at various turns, generally four in by rollers incorporated in its own construction, and
.
number, at the corners of a vertical rectangle. Bulk moves the trolleys by pushers bolted to the chain at in-
material carried in the buckets on the vertical tervals. In any case, the trolleys carry the load and
is upward
and is dragged along the horizontal runs in troughs the chain pulls them along. The circuit may include
run,
which fit the buckets closely; material cannot be lowered any curves desired, and may travel up and down grades.
this conveyor. Also called an overhead track conveyor.
by
Material fed into the lower trough at any point is
In another system the chain is replaced by a wire cable,
which has some advantages for heavy work. This is
dragged along it to the turn, where it is picked up by
the buckets and carried to the upper horizontal trough also termed a suspended cable road, and a monorail
cable tramway.
along which it is again dragged until it reaches one of
the several discharge openings provided in the bottom Page 400, 763, 772, 792.
of the trough. These openings are closed by sliding gates, Conveyor, Pan. A carrying conveyor for bulk ma-
controlled from below if desired. terial consistingof a series of pan shaped containers or
Also called chain and bucket conveyor with rigid buckets attached to endless chains passing around end
buckets, and gravity discharge elevator-conveyor. (See sprockets, and carried on suitable horizontal guides. The
also Elevator, Gravity Discharge V-Buc'ket.) pans are sometimes complete and independent, mounted
Page 413, 826-836. on four carrier rollers traveling on rails, and connected
Conveyor, Hydraulic. A form of current conveyor in by a rope or chain used to drag them (see Conveyor,
which water flowing at high velocity in a channel or Pan and Cable) or they may be complete, have over-
;
dredge, which may extend for a long distance to the strand beneath them. They are also made in the open
point at which the material is finally ejected. Hydraulic end, endless or trough form, overlapping and forming a
ash handling equipments have been used in a few sta- continuous trough into which material may be fed at any
tionary power plants and in many marine installations, point, and discharged only over the head end. In the
where they are especially adaptable owing to the abundant simplest form these are used as upper run conveyors
supply of water available with no expense except that of only.
pumping it a small distance. The hydraulic conveyor When used as lower run conveyors, they may be dis-
usually consists of a nozzle from which issues a stream charged at any point by having the pans pivoted to swing
of water at high velocity, immediately beneath the open- about the axis of the rollers at the front end of the pan.
ing of a hopper into which the ashes are shoveled. The In one type an arm projecting downward from the front
velocity is sufficient to carry the mixture to an elevated end of the pan strikes against a movable dumping cam,
tank from which the water can run away to a spot of tipping the pan up behind and discharging the material
land which is to be filled in, or (in the case of a ship) forward. In another type a section of the rail is omitted;
overboard. In some cases on shipboard the discharge is the front end of the pan passes across on account of be-
directly through the side of the ship, without going above ing pivoted to the chain, but the rear end drops down,
the water line. Also called an ash ejector. dumping to the rear. A curved guide brings it quietly
The hydraulic system has also been used to convey up to a horizontal position again. Several discharge
small size coal. Coal and water are mixed in a tank points may be provided by having as many sections of
from which they are drawn by a centrifugal pump and the rail which may be swung out.
delivered to another tank ;
here the water is drained off Page 423.
42
CON DEFINITION SECTION CON
Conveyor, Pan and Cable. A conveyor suited for long Both horizontal runs are supported on cast iron
chairs,
distance carrying, consisting of a series of small iron and the vertical runs are kept from swaying by
running
bound rectangular wooden pans or small cars, secured the rollers between vertical guides.
at intervals to a steel cable, supported on four rollers Page 417, 826-836.
and traveling on rails. Beside the clamps attaching the Conveyor, Pneumatic. A form of conveyor in which
pans to the cable, there must be intermediate ones for air in motion is the medium used to
move material.
driving purposes so that at least two clamps will be on Two distinct types are in use; one in which bulk or
the driving sprocket at once. package material is handled in special closed containers
This conveyor is usually loaded by hand, and may be which closely fit the interior of a pipe through which
unloaded by hand at any point, or automatically over the they are driven by a difference in pressure on the two
head sprocket. sides of the container (see Conveyor, Pneumatic
Tube),
Conveyor, Pivoted Bucket. A. continuous and the other in which bulk material is handled
conveyor loosely
consisting of overlapping buckets suspended on pivots be- by reason of the velocity of the current of air in which
tween two endless strands of long pitch roller chain, it
suspended, also called current conveying.
is
capable of horizontal, vertical or inclined movement with Most loose materials that are not very dense, even
up
the buckets carried level whether full or empty, and dis- to and including coal, can be handled
by the air current
charging the contents by tipping the buckets up or turn- system, and practice has shown that so long as certain
ing them over. It can be loaded or unloaded on either minimum current velocities are provided, the material
the upper or lower run, and can lower material as well travels mostly along the center of the and produces
pipe
as elevate it. The usual layout includes two horizontal little wear on its walls, except at the turns. Here spe-
and two vertical runs forming a vertical rectangle, though cial hard wearing plates are fitted inside on the outside
any runs may be inclined if desired. Of the four turns of the bend; target plates are also fitted in the
separator
or corners, one is the driving corner, consisting of a chamber to receive the impact of the discharged material
pair of sprockets driven by a motor through speed reduc- and prevent it from cutting through the walls of the
tion gearing, another is the take-up corner, where a pair tank. (See Conveyor, Suction Ash.)
of sprockets are mounted on a shaft having bearings Three systems of applying pneumatic current
convey-
which may be moved in straight guides to adjust the ten- ing are in use: the vacuum or suction system, the pres-
and two are stationary corners. Curves
sion in the chains, sure or blast system, and a combination of the
two, each
may be used in the place of stationary upper corners, and of which has advantages under certain conditions. While
are cheaper, but cause excessive wear on the moving the initial cost and the power required to operate any
parts. one of the systems are both large, the amount of labor
Lap of the bucket lips is essential to prevent spilling saved is also great, the system is cleaner, almost
literally
during loading. In proceeding around the circuit, these every grain (of wheat or corn) can be recovered, the
laps must be kept in the proper relative position or the material can be elevated and conveyed at one
operation,
buckets will up edgeways and the contents
be turned and the dust can be separated if desired, which is some-
spilled at the upward turn ending a horizontal run. If,
times an advantage.
in dumping on the top run the buckets make a complete Page 405, 431, 763.
rotation (called a turnover discharge) the laps will auto- Conveyor, Pneumatic, Pressure System. A system of
matically be correct. If the buckets are merely tipped conveying bulk material by drawing it into the convey-
up and then righted, the laps will have to be artificially ing pipe by the injector action of a high pressure jet of
air discharged into the end of the
reversed by a tilting device as they turn from the vertical pipe, and then carry-
into the lower horizontal run. In one arrangement, the ing it along with the current until it reaches the outlet.
bucket laps are made to swing entirely clear of each It is especially applicable where it is desired to distribute
other at every turn by pivoting the buckets on exten- material from a central location near which the
machinery
sions of the chain links 'beyond the pins connecting suc- can be placed, to several" separated discharge points. It
cessive links, which also carry the rollers ; the direction will convey a longer distance than the vacuum system,
of bucket lap after discharge or at any other time is but is dusty in operation.
then unimportant. The mixture of
air and material sent through the pipe
The discharger or tripper may be fixed in location and passes to a separator tank, where the solid matter is
capable of being lowered out of action when desired. allowed to settle to the bottom, from which it can be
It may be movable, being pulled in one direction along drawn through a gate. The air is discharged from
a track by a wire rope wound on a hand operated winch another opening, unless it is important to save or remove
with pawl and ratchet; when the ratchet is lifted, the all the dust from it, in which case it passes through a
rope unwinds as a bucket pushes the discharger along filter on its way out.
the tracks in the opposite direction. Automatic discharg- The separating chamber is naturally omitted in such
ers can also be arranged, moving back and forth over cases as the supplying of pulverized fuel to furnaces, and
a predetermined range. in certain methods of applying cement grout or concrete
The buckets are usually of malleable iron and made by air under pressure.
in one piece, and theirsize is specified by the pitch of Also known as the blast system.
the chain (practically the length of the bucket in the Page 431.
direction of the run) and the width. Hardened dis- Conveyor, Pneumatic Tube. A method of conveying
charging cams are riveted to their sides, and they are small objects which can be easily inserted in a special
connected to the chain by through rods projecting beyond container, by placing it in a tube which fits it closely,
the bucket sides. All wearing parts are made hard and and driving it through the tube from end to end by
supplied with renewable bushings where possible. producing a difference of pressure on the two sides of
Loading is generally done on the lower run, and guards the container. A
variety of arrangements is used, but
or inclined skirt boards are used to protect the chain. they can be broadly classed under the terms vacuum
43
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
system and pressure system, with some installations using It is used for grain, small coal, ashes, powdered chem-
a combination of the two. While originally devised, icals, fibrous materials, dust, etc.
and still most generally used, for conveying written The mixture of
air and material entering the suction
communications or small articles within buildings or nozzle and passing through the flexible suction and
rigid
large establishments, installations have been made where connecting and discharge pipes, enters a large separating
the containers are large enough to carry considerable chamber in which the velocity is so small that the solid
material, such as mail matter, and including small pack- material settles to the bottom, from which it is removed.
ages. The air is drawn off at such a location and in such a
The vacuum system requires two tubes for each pair manner as to carry as little dust with it as possible; it
of stations connected, or for a central and a distant then often goes through air filters for further cleaning
point. The one used for receiving at the central station on its way to the suction pump which
discharges it into
is there connected to a suction drum in which a vacuum the atmosphere. The object of the cleaning is to save
pump maintains a low pressure; the two lubes are con- wear on the pumps, to prevent the loss of material, or
nected together at their distant ends, the second tube both.
being the receiving tube for the distant station. The two For removing the deposited material without destroy-
tubes are thus in series, but independent; carriers can ing the vacuum, several forms of air locks are used.
be sent in both directions simultaneously. One consists of a cylindrical rotor with pockets formed
The pressure system uses a single tube which nor- by solid end plates and six or eight radiating blades; it
mally stands open, having a combined receiving and is so placed beneath the separator that as the grain falls
sending terminal at each end, with means of admitting into the pockets it rotates uniformly, discharging each
compressed air behind a carrier as it is inserted. The pocketful into a chute (or weigh hopper or other recep-
rush of air ahead of it prevents the insertion of a carrier tacle) after it brings it out from under the separator
at the other end. opening which is exposed to a vacuum. Another device
The combination system has vacuum incoming tubes to consists of a piece containing two pockets, which oscil-
the central station each serving several sub-stations, and latesat regular intervals, one pocket receiving material
pressure out-going lines independent to each sub-station. while the other is discharging it.
The vacuum system has the advantage of simplicity. Page 431.
The pressure system has the advantage of much greater Conveyor, Portable Belt. A section of belt conveyor
power, and if a carrier sticks the pressure will build up with its head, tail and idler pulleys and driving mechan-
until moved, or the pressure can be reversed to force
it is ism mounted on a frame which is carried on a wheeled
it back to the sending station which the greatest bodyin such a way that its inclination or the height of
possible
vacuum may be unable to accomplish. Small leaks are discharge end may be varied, and the whole machine
its
not objectionable except as causing a loss of power, and may be easily moved about, even being self-propelled in
water is not drawn into the tubes if they pass under- some cases. (See also Loader, Wagon.)
ground. Also called a portable belt elevator.
To conserve air, automatic power control devices are Page 369, 440, 770, 772, 799, 837, 840.
supplied at each terminal, which allow the air connection Conveyor, Portable Wood Apron. A conveyor of the
to remain open a sufficient time after the insertion of a designated type which is mounted on wheels or casters so
carrier for the latter to reach its destination, but then that it may be easily moved about, and provided with
shut it off. As there may be times when few or no means for adjusting the height of one end. When the
tubes are operating, it is sometimes considered advisable end is elevated, an elevator-conveyor or
it may act as
to shut down the vacuum pump or pressure blower, as piler, or, reversed, as a lowerer when lowered to the ;
the case may be. The pressure in the vacuum drum or horizontal as a plain conveyor, often arranged as one
air receiver may be used to operate a rheostat on the driv- in a series temporarily placed end to end for long run
ing motor, slowing it down when air is not required. conveying purposes. It is usually composed of a base
Another system is known as the "start and timing stop frame mounted on wheels or rollers, to which is hinged
system" ;
an electric circuit is closed by the insertion of one end of the apron frame or boom. The latter is ar-
a carrier and this is used to throw in the main circuit ranged to be raised by power, from the same unit which
and motor, supplying pressure or vacuum, and
start the drives the apron and, in the largest sizes, propels the
not stopping until sufficient time has been allowed for whole conveyor from one point to another. The apron
the carrier to reach its destination. A later improve- is usually driven through the foot end, and the take-up
ment adjusts the speed to suit the number of tubes in is placed at the outer end.
service, saving still more power. Also called a portable apron elevator.
The tubes are round or elliptical in section. The car- Page 352, 761-770.
riers correspond in cross section, but are somewhat Conveyor, Power. A conveying apparatus in which
smaller, made of metal, or hard fibre, and with enlarged some form of power is used for operation, as distinguished
hard fibre, leather or
terminals are
felt ends. The from one in which gravity is the operating force. The
equipped with double or single doors as required by the latter is sometimes called a dead conveyor, as opposed
system. to the term live conveyor sometimes used for a power
Page 405, 763. operated one.
Conveyor, Pneumatic, Vacuum System.
system of A Conveyor, Progressive. A slow moving conveyor espe-
conveying or elevating bulk material by drawing it into cially designed for the continuous assembling of a part
the end of a pipe with a current of air which is produced which is to be produced in large quantities, with special
by the suction of a vacuum pump at the far end of the stands, platforms or other appliances for supporting the
system. It is especially applicable where it is desired part to which others are gradually added, and for allow-
to bring material from several scattered points to one ing it to be turned or changed in position as desired.
central point, at which the machinery may be located. The conveyor is usually of the single or double strand
44
CON DEFINITION SECTION CON
chain type, with the chains traveling in smooth chan- used on steep inclines, they are usually called push-bar
nels,passing around sprockets at the ends, and returning elevators. At the "goose-necks" or vertical curves where
beneath the working runway. Especially large stands the change is made from the horizontal to the incline
may be made to fold automatically so as to return in a special precaution must be taken to prevent packages
small space, or may be detached entirely and returned by from digging in, especially if rollers are used to assist
gravity. in loading.
The use of this conveyor is coupled with an extreme Page 345, 759-773.
division of labor of assembling, each operative performing Conveyor, Push-bar, High Type. A push-bar conveyor
but one function, occupying a regular station and ac- driven by two endless chains connected at regular in-
companying the conveyor for a short distance while he is tervalsby crossbars at a distance above the runway bed,
doing it. The
parts to be assembled are brought to the depending on the size of the article to be conveyed. The
stations by portable bins, feeder conveyors, chutes, over- end sprockets are usually beneath the run, and the cross-
head trolleys, elevators, or otherwise as necessary, and bars operate at each end through cross slots in the bed;
are continuously supplied. Where necessary, platforms automatic loading and unloading at the ends are then
or hoists move along at the same speed as the conveyor, possible if chutes or gravity roller runways are used to
carrying the men performing special operations requiring supply and remove the articles as fast as they are con-
this. veyed. Revolving crossbars are sometimes used to assist
Also called progressive assembling conveyor, and man- in proper loading by rolling out from under any piece
ufacturing conveyor. improperly placed. Contact springs at the sides of the
Page 402, 772. loading platform also straighten the parcel around, and
Conveyor, Push-bar. A continuous drag conveyor for center it on the runway.
material in large pieces or in containers, and much re- These conveyors are reversible, and operate well on
sembling a flight conveyor, consisting of a trough or run- inclines. (See Elevator, Push-bar).
way bed along which the articles are dragged by cross- Conveyor, Reciprocating Flight. A flight conveyor in
bars, or spurs, fastened at regular intervals to
cleats which the flights are hinged to a straight rigid frame ex-
one or two endless strands of chain running parallel to tending nearly the full length of the trough, and which
the bed. Troughs with a U
or V-shaped cross-section reciprocates from 24 in. to 28 in. endwise in it. The
usually have one chain (or several acting together as flights lift and slide over the material when moving in
one) in a groove in the bottom of the trough, or sup- one direction, but swing down and push it along in the
ported centrally by the disc shaped push-plates on which other. Material fed at one end is conveyed to the other
they are clamped, commonly called nights. (See Con- by the action of successive flights.
veyor, Cable). Flat bottom troughs have chains in sev- Page 429.
eral locations; at the sides some distance above the bot- Conveyor, Refuse Chain. See Conveyor, Drag Chain.
tom supporting cross or push-bars (see Conveyor, Push- Conveyor, Retarding. An inclined conveyor which is.
bar, High Type) ;
in grooves in the bottom near the used to lower material down a slope, usually a con-
sides with crossbars; cleats or spurs projecting upward; veyor of the drag type. The flat flight with one or two
or in a single groove in the middle of the bottom with strands of chain, moving in a flat 'bottom trough, and
blocks or spurs projecting upward from their attach- the disc flight on a heavy wire rope moving in a U
ment to the single chain. The troughs or runway beds or V-shaped trough are both in use; the last is also.
are usually faced with smooth planks, hardwood strips, known as a cable conveyor. When the slopes are suf-
steel strips, or corrugated or smooth steel plates. Flat ficientthey are self-operative except at starting, requir-
bottom troughs for heavy service may have rollers set ing braking only. This may be obtained by governor con-
in the bed to decrease the power required. Troughs of trolled automatic brakes, or by a non-reversing worm
this form also require side guards to prevent contact with geared drive from a motor, the conveyor moving only
the chain, and to prevent articles from working off side- at a speed corresponding to that of the motor.
45
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
themselves are carried in bearings supported by longitu- as compared with the horizontal runs, the machines are
dinal members called support bars, which, with
roller properly called elevators. Where material is carried on
cross members, are united into a rigid rectangular frame a conveyor upper run only, it is termed an upper run
constituting a section. One of these sections, or a series conveyor, and vice versa.
of them coupled end to end, and set on a series of roller Conveyor Screw. The screw suspended within the
conveyor supports of graduated heights with sufficient trough of a screw conveyor. usually consists of a
It
grade to cause the packages to move by themselves, is a single helical formed blade around a central shaft or
gravity roller conveyor when the rollers are turned by
; pipe, though double blade screws are often used and give
-
power, compelling the motion of the packages, it is smoother delivery. The screw may be cast in one piece
caled a power roller conveyor, and when push-bars are or in separate flights of one rotation each, the latter be-
drawn by power along above the surface cf the rollers, ing assembled and set-screwed or pinned on a central
moving objects caught between them, it is known as a driving shaft, and often notched or grooved into each
push-bar roller conveyor (also an elevator or a booster ether. They are sometimes made in halves and riveted
if up a slope). to a square shaft. Screws are also made of steel flights
(See also Conveyor, Roller, Portable). formed from an annular disc by a rolling process which
Page 378, 759-773. stretches them into a helical form these are riveted to
;
Conveyor Roller Bearings. See Conveyor Roller. each other and to lugs on the driving shaft or tube to
Conveyor, Roller Gravity. A gravity conveyor in make up the complete length of screw. They are als~
which the containers conveyed are carried on rollers formed from straight strips of steel which are rolled into
turning freely on axes fixed in supporting frames. The a spiral by a different process which causes the outer
axes of the rollers are horizontal, but the frames are set edge to become thinner than the inner. These are some-
at a small angle so that packages placed on them will times called helicoidal screws, and are fastened to the
travel down the slope by gravity. The angle varies with conveyor shaft by lugs.
the smoothness and weight of the package carried; the Screws are not allowed to drag in the conveyor trough,
proper length and spacing of the rollers depends
on the hence long screws must be supported at regular intervals.
dimensions of the package, and their diameters on its
They are usually made up in lengths corresponding to
weight and character. these intervals, connected endwise by pins slipped within
Page 378, 759-767. the pipes on which the flights are fastened and pinned
Conveyor, Roller, Portable. A section of roller con- crosswise to them, or by squared pins fitting in squared
veyor permanently assembled with separate supports and pipe ends. A bearing is formed on the middle of this
mounted on casters so that it can be easily moved. The coupling pin or gudgeon, or a seat is provided for a split
of bushing which runs in a hanger supported from the top
height may or may not be adjustable. Also, section
runway with its outfit of separate adjustable supports, edges, sides or bottom of the trough. Solid bushings are
which is assembled where needed, but is usually disas- also used with split bearings. The bearing and hanger
sembled when moved to a new location. form an obstruction trough at the very point where
in the
Page 378, 759-767. the screw discontinuous, so that excessive wear comes
is
Conveyor, Roller, Power. A roller conveyor in which on the end of the next flight as it enters the material ;
the units to be conveyed are carried along horizontally these end flights are usually made of heavier material, or
or up grades by the application of power to all or a por- a manganese steel piece is riveted to the ends of a con-
'
tion of the rollers on which they rest. These rollers are tinuous flight.
driven either by a light longitudinal shaft carried along Sticky materials tend to collect near the axis of the
the side of the supporting frame and connected to the screw around the shaft; this is eliminated by using the
live rollers by bevel gears, or by a light chain which ribbon conveyor screw, in which a narrow helix is held
runs along over the teeth of sprockets on one end of all in position by arms radiating from a central shaft. Some-
the engaging with and driving them.
rollers,
Both times two ribbons are used of the same or different
methods will allow slight curvature in the runway, the pitches, and to the same or different hands, these special
shaft in the first method having universal joints inserted forms 'being introduced to increase mixing effects. Dou-
at regular intervals. ble ribbons or ribbon blades are also used in the same
Beside being used as boosters and feeders, these power way as solid blades.
rollers inserted at intervals in a nearly horizontal run- Other special forms of screw are the paddle flight,
way will serve to keep the loads in motion. where each flight is made with two opposite blades twist-
Page 504, 759-767. ed like a screw propeller, the cut flight where deep cuts
are made in the periphery of a continuous flight, and the
Conveyor, Roller, Push-Bar. A push-bar conveyor in
which the runway bed is composed of freely turning cut and folded flight where portions of the cut flight
screw are bent 'backward in addition. Intermediate pad-
rollers supported in side frames. It is usually used in an
dles are also often fastened to the shaft to give added
inclined positionand operated as a booster. The head
and tail shafts are below the level of the rollers; the mixing power.
on the The end thrust of the screw is small in light conveyors
push-bars, attached to the endless chains carried
on these shafts, come up into action between and may be taken by set screwed collars; for heavy duty
sprockets
end of the and likewise pass solid collars or ball thrust bearings are used, or a step
rollers at the lower incline,_
bearing may be included in the delivery end plate bearing.
down at the top.
46
CON DEFINITION SECTION CON
the inclined surface pushing through it. The material Service may be given in one or both directions, or the
iscarried up on the side of the trough as well as being conveyor may make a complete circuit, always travelling
pushed along it, and then tends to slide down the in- in one direction.
clined surface of the screw as gravity is therefore partly ; A
simple form for delivering from a central station to
responsible for the motion, high speeds are undesirable, different destinations consists of a travelling horizontal
and every conveyor has a speed or rotation which will belt with parallel vertical partitions between which ob-
give maximum delivery. jects may be placed; the partitions extend to the various
The screws may be
right or left hand according to the discharge points, where they successively end in diagonal
delivery desired and convenience of drive; right and left turns that sweep off the material in the spaces on to a
hand screws may also be used to deliver in opposite di- receiving shelf. This conveyor is best suited to narrow
rections from a central feed point, or to bring together objects that can be placed on edge between the partitions.
two materials fed at opposite ends. Very long screws are Another type consists of a belt or apron conveyor
supported intermediate points in bearings which are
at carrying to boxes or trays which occupy the full width of
hung from the top or sides of the trough, or supported the conveyor. Each tray has a movable finger with num-
from its bottom. bered positions, usually at the front end of the tray,
Material usually fed into the trough at the top of
is which engages with a switch at the destination corre-
one end ; be delivered through the opposite end,
it may sponding to the number at which the finger is set, and
or through bottom openings at the end or at any desired switches the tray lo an inclined shelf to a branch con-
intermediate points. Suitable gates of the slide or swing- veyor having its own stations, or to an automatic eleva-
ing types control the discharge at these intermediate tor.
points. One screw conveyor may discharge into the top A cable operated tray or car running on wheels may
of another in a lower plane and at any angle desired, and also be operated selectively by having a gripping device
the drive be carried from one to the other by simple that will disengage when switched by the selective de-
geared arrangements ;
if they are required to be in the vice; it may also be arranged to engage automatically
same horizontal plane miter gear ends are used, and the when it is picked up from a sliding or branch line and
material delivered at the discharge end of one conveyor is to disengage again at the proper station.
Page 424. patcher then sets the finger for the desired destination by
Conveyor, Screw, Trough for. The trough containing adjusting a movable cam at the sending point. This is
bulk material which is conveyed by the rotation of the also called a bag carrier. One method of driving tht
screw. It should fit the screw closer than the size of the cable consists of a short endless auxiliary cable, parallel
smallest particle carried, or else there should be sufficient to the main cable, and having grips which close on the
space to clear the largest particles. Troughs are usually latteras they swing into position traveling parallel to
made U-shaped in section, though square sections are not it,and which release as they leave it preparatory to pass-
uncommon. They are made of wood, wood lined with ing around their own gapped driving sprockets.
metal, steel with lapped or butted joints, or cast iron or Conveyor, Shuttle. A name sometimes applied to a
steel with
flanged connections. Special materials are horizontal reversible belt conveyor, the frame of which
used for corrosive substances, and perforated linings are is supported on wheels on a track, so that it can be ad-
sometimes suspended inside to allow dirt and other for- justed endways. It usually receives its material from a
eign matter to separate from certain materials being con- feeder at the middle of the length over which the mate-
veyed. rial is to be distributed; by adjusting both the position
The trough ends may be fitted inside or outside the and direction of rotation of the conveyor, material may
trough, and may or may not have the bearings included be deposited at any desired point. As this conveyor will
in them, separate bearing stands being used in the latter be only half the length of an ordinary conveyor running
case. The trough body is supported on conveyor box the full length of the bin, it is considerable cheaper.
saddles at proper intervals. Loose, tight or dust-proof Small sizes be hand adjusted; larger sizes may op-
may
fitting Hds may be used, but if the lid is fastened down erate continuously and reverse automatically. They are
accumulation end due to a choke in the
in the delivery usually electrically driven, but rope drive may also be
discharge may cause a breakdown. The trough may be applied to the moving shuttle.
steam jacketed, or jacketed with cold water for cooling Conveyor, Slat. A wood apron conveyor in which the
purposes. wood cross pieces are relatively narrow and are separat-
Page 458. ed, leaving open spaces between. This construction is as
Conveyor, Selective. A conveyor which will auto- suitable for large packages, bags or boxes as a complete
matically deliver packages or other material to any sta- apron, and is lighter. The discharge may be over the
tion selected by the sender at the time of despatching. end for all packages carried, or at intermediate points
47
CON MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CON
by a side plow or diverter, but only for flat, smooth bot- which holds the discharge within a small space, from
tom boxes or trays. which it may drop into a railroad car, or it may blow
Page 352, 759-771. directly into the open air and fall on a heap on the
Conveyor, Sling. A
carrying conveyor and elevator ground, where it is used for filling in purposes, or is re-
used in ship loading and unloading, consisting of a
light
moved later by other means. If the discharge line is
horizontal truss along the top and bottom chords of very long, booster units containing additional steam jets
which pass the upper and lower runs of a pair of end- are inserted at suitable intervals.
less conveying chains. These chains also have loops at All parts of such conveying system, where
especially
each end of the truss hanging downward over sprockets an abrasive material like ashes is handled, are made of
at the ends of the horizontal runs weighted foot sprockets
;
the hardest material obtainable, and at all points where the
may be hung in these loops. Between the two chains wear is renewable parts should be provided.
greatest,
at regular intervals are placed cross bars along which Where the discharge
is into a closed storage bin, or into
an endless canvas belt is hung in long loops and se- a baffle box, hard and easily renewable impact plates or
cured to each bar. The truss is supported transversely targets must be provided to receive the force of the jet,
above the deck of the ship, on temporary supports or or else the plating of the structure will be speedily cut
hung from the ship's derricks, with the pendant loop at through at that point.
one end hanging into the hold, and that at the other reach- Various fittings are used, including steam units of 90,
ing down to the wharf. The chains are driven by a motor, 60, 45 and 30 deg. Ts, elbows, intake tees, elbows of
;
Conveyor, Steam Jet. A form of current conveyor in plate with one edge flanged downward. Overlapping plates
which steam at a high velocity is the agent used to move curved to the radius of the end sprocket may have a
the material, most often applied to conveying ashes or scraper pressed against them as they pass around the
similar waste material. It consists of a suction pipe head to remove sticky material. Single beaded plates
having hoppers into which the material may be fed (the have a bead formed with the convex side upward on the
openings being closed when not in use) connected to a leading edge, overlapping the plate ahead; double beaded
conveying pipe leading to the discharge point. One end plates have beads of slightly different radius on both
of the suction pipe has an opening through which air can edges, the leading edge lapping over the smaller bead on
pass at the other end, and so directed as to produce an
; the plate ahead and making a joint through which mate-
injector action in the suction pipe away from the open not likely to work. Both single and double beaded
rial is
end, is a steam jet. The rush of air in the open end of plates be flat as described, or bent up lengthwise to
may
the pipe carries the material along with it and past the nearly a right angle, each plate making a V-shaped
jet; from that point on the material is forced by the trough they may also be depressed between beads into
;
bottom; the air passes out through a vent pipe. Or in adjacent plates helps to keep them from warping in the
the case of ashes the discharge may be into a baffle box intense heat for very heavy work, chain links may be
;
48
CON DEFINITION SECTION COU
cast integral with cast plates, and the rollers set in in- Conveyor, Wood Apron. A carrying conveyor consist-
tcgral iugs beneath. ing of two parallel endless strands of chain passing
For any except the lightest loads the chains are of the around sprockets and attached to the ends or bottoms of
roller type, travelling on suitable tracks. When placed a series of wooden cross pieces forming a smooth plat-
beneath the pans, the latter are better supported to re- form. When the chains are at the ends they support as
ceive a heavy load, and can therefore be used as feeders well as move the apron, and are of the plain type sliding
under hopper; the apron cannot be supported on the re- in smooth guides, or of the roller type running on rails;
turn run and this construction is therefore limited to a the former is often termed a wood apron drag conveyor.
short run between the end shafts. The pitch of the chain In the carrier type, each cross piece is supported by two
is the same as the plates they are connected by riveted
;
or four rollers on axles fastened beneath it, and running
attachment and the rollers
links, lie at the center of cur- on suitable guides or rails; the chains are then attached to
vature of the bead. Attachment links are also used when the bottom of the slats or to the carrier frames, and
the chains are placed outside the plates, with the rollers serve merely to propel the apron and keep the parts prop-
between the chain links and the roller pin extending the erly spaced. Occasionally one chain only is used, and is
full width of the conveyor, thus preventing the rollers placed at the center.
from tipping. For light and heavy work, plain rollers on The wood crosspieces may be flat on top and form a
flat rails and flanged rollers on T-rails are used re-
smooth, even platform when located at floor level it is
;
spectively. The plate ends are bent upward in one piece often termed a platform conveyor; when set on an in-
in some cases, but are also often made of separate formed cline it may be called a platform or apron elevator; and
Conveyor Switch. See Switch, Conveyor. fingered loading platform, or a comb with prongs at both
ends of the run, and make loading and unloading at the
Conveyor, Trimming. A continuous conveyor, often of
for coal in the ends easier and even semi-automatic.
the V-bucket type, arranged trimming
bunkers and holds of a ship. arranged to be sus-
It is Loading may be at the end or any intermediate point;
pended by ropes from above, or by props beneath, and discharge is simplest over the end, but can be produced
consists of an inclined receiving end with an open bottom with smooth aprons at any intermediate point by the use
self-feeding boot, secured at an adjustable angle to an up- of diagonal diverters.
per horizontal delivery run which has several discharge The drive is usually at the delivery end for a one way
The horizontal run is placed close up under- conveyor, but if reversible it may be at whichever end
points.
neath the deck, extended away from the port or hatch, is most convenient.
and reaches points to which the coal will not flow, even Page 322, 761-771.
higher than the entry port if desired. Conveyor, Wood Apron Drag. A name sometimes ap-
plied to a wood apron conveyor in which the two chains
Conveyor Trough, Flight. The trough of a flight con- attached to the ends of the slats are not provided with
veyor may be made of wood, wood with sheet steel
lin-
rollers for supporting the load, but are dragged along
ing, lap or butt jointed bent steel plates,
steel drop forg-
smooth guiding surfaces. The chains are sometimes flat
ings or cast iron. They are rectangular, flat bottom with
sided, provided largewearing surfaces, or are provided
U-shaped or V-shaped in section, the last
slanting sides,
with wearing shoes which may be renewable.
two being used for single strand conveyors only. When
Core. The central supporting post of a closed center
used for conveying a gritty or abrasive material like the spiral
white cast iron; re- type spiral chute, to which the wings forming
ashes, the trough is made of hard are attached, and which carries the vertical load.
newable linings are also sometimes provided. (See also
Cordage. A
comprehensive term used to include all
Conveyor, Jacketed.) sizes and varieties of twine, rope, cable, etc., made from
Page 464.
fibrous materials like manila, hemp or sisal.
Conveyor, Vibrating or Reciprocating Trough. A Counter, Sack. A mechanism arranged in
a chute to
horizontal trough mounted on inclined elastic wooden count packages or sacks as they pass. Several types are
an eccentric with in use, including one having an arm which is swung by
supports, and oscillated endways by
spring connections to the trough.
The slant of the sup- each object passing, returning to its position immediately.
is such that the trough moves upward
while go- Another utilizes the weight of the sack passing over a
ports
at a proper speed
ing forward, and drops as it returns; tilting plate in the chute bottom to work the counter.
the material actually leaves the .bottom of the trough Counterweight. A heavy weight so placed and con-
motion. It nected in a machine as to counterbalance a load or mov-
temporarily and keeps in almost continuous
materials.
is especially suitable for sticky ing part. Locomotive cranes and rotating cranes in gen-
Also called grasshopper trough conveyor. eral have fixed counterweights placed on the opposite
429. side of the turntable from the load. Part of the counter-
Page
49
cou MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CRA
"
weight is made up of the operating machinery, the re- tongues slip in the grooves if the shafts are not in exact
mainder being scrap iron, sand, or concrete, these being alignment.
cheap and not requiring shipment with the remainder of Coupling Pin. A pin used in car couplings.
the crane. Where saving space is important, cast iron A
Coupling, Shaft. device for connecting the adjacent
weights are used. Horizontal cantilever cranes, floating
ends of two shafts so that rotary motion may be trans-
cranes, and pillar cranes often have counterweights
mitted from one to the other. Various types are the :
surrounds them, and the two inner cones are drawn to- in the half-couplings.
ing flange bolts are two other devices used. thin tube A The simplest top braced or tie rod construction exists
corrugated circumferentially, or its equivalent, may be where the mast and jib are two straight structural shapes
bolted between the two flanges. connected at right angles, and a diagonal tie attached at or
Coupling, Oldham's. A shaft coupling intended to con- near the outer end of the jib connects it to the top of the
nect shafts which remain parallel, but may get out of mast. Several such diagonal ties may support as many
alignment. A flange is fastened on the end of each shaft, points of the jib.
each flange having a groove running diametrically across The under braced jib has a single straight
simplest
a point at
its face. Between these two flanges is placed a disc diagonal strut from the bottom of the mast to
or near the end of the to increase clearance this strut
having diametrical tongues on its two faces, these tongues jib;
be curved inward. To give a better support to the
being at right angles to each other, and each fitting into a may
"
in the shaft flange. When the shafts rotate, the jib and also to give goo' dearancp underneath the brace,
1
groove
50
CRA DEFINITION SECTION CRA
itis often run to a point about half way out on the jib, door, and rotating it about a horizontal axis, dumping the
and shorter diagonal struts run from its middle point to load of scrap. The motions are then reversed. (See
two other points on the jib. This is called a triple under- also Charging Machine.)
braced jib. Page 165.
Another combination form of bracing, called top and Crane, Code of Safety Standards. Page 158.
back bracing, is obtained by extending the jib back past Crane, Column Jib. See Crane, Pillar Jib.
the mast a short distance, connecting the end of this
Crane, Counterweight Cargo. A type of cantilever
extension to the top and the bottom of the mast by a
gantry crane used for cargo handling, in which, by a
strut and tie, respectively, and supporting the main or
special reeving of the hoisting rope, the weight of the
front portion of the jib by ties from the top of the mast.
hook, fall rope, down-haul ball, block, skip or slings, to-
This gives maximum clearance under the jib, with maxi-
gether with half the average load, are balanced by a
mum economy of material, but requires good head-room. counterweight. The load hook must then be lowered by
Crane, Bracket or Bracket Jib. See Crane, Wall power against the pull of the counterweight, but the size
Bracket Jib. of the motor or engine and machinery to operate the
Crane, Bridge. A crane having a bridge along which a hoist may be greatly reduced, as less power is required
trolley carrying a hoist and a load may travel. The Crane End Truck. One of the two end frames or car-
bridge may or not be capable of travel.
may In this
riages of an overhead travelling crane structure having
sense the term used merely to distinguish a gantry or
is wheels rolling on the rails of the runway, and supporting
overhead traveling crane from a swing, jib or wall crane, the ends of the bridge girders. In small cranes the trucks
or derrick. Sometimes called a girder crane. (See also may be of cast or forged steel in larger sizes they are
;
Gantry, Cantilever Bridge.) of structural steel, cast steel or combinations of the two.
Page 155, 777-800. They are rigidly secured at right angles to the crane
Crane, Bridge Storage. A term sometimes applied to a girders, and are braced with horizontal gusset plates to
gantry crane (with or without cantilever ends) especially prevent the structure getting out of square. Fitted bolts
arranged for the unloading of material in bulk, such as and reamed holes are generally used for these fastenings,
ore, coal, sand, gravel, etc., from cars or vessels, and as they must be made in the field, and the utmost rigidity
(See also Gantry, Cantilever Bridge.) The material is the form of a lug projects downward close to the rail;
usually handled by a grab bucket. The hoisting winch in some cases the bridge girders themselves extend across
is fixed in one of the towers, and the trolley is moved and the railand only slightly above it. These provisions also
the bucket hoisted by wire ropes. Or it may be of the allow the end frame to be easily raised by wedges in
man-trolley type, where the operator rides in a cab travel- order to remove the track wheels.
ling with the hoist, all electrically driven. For light loads there are two wheels in each truck;
Page 791-799. for heavier loads there are four, arranged in pairs with
Crane, Bucket. A term often applied to any type of equalizing or compensating trucks; for the very heaviest
crane which is capable of handling a grab bucket and is loads there may be eight or sixteen wheels on two parallel
rails. The form of the end frame is also strongly influ-
equipped with one. Any crane, provided it is sufficiently
enced by the type of wheel bearing; if of the M. C. B.
powerful, can handle a single line grab bucket, though
the addition of a tag line or other means of preventing type, in which the axle is forced into the wheel and turns
rotation of the bucket may be necessary. A two-line with it, cast bearing boxes with an oil cellar are bolted
or riveted to the truck. If of the pin and keeper type,
bucket requires two hoisting drums which are partially or
in which the wheel turns on the axle, the pin generally
completely independent.
For continuous and rapid action, durable machinery of passes through the two side plates of the truck which are
reinforced to receive it. The wheel is between the side
proper strength and high speed must be supplied, but any
plates and has a bronze bushing which
turns on the pin,
type of crane may be adapted to the work. Overhead
the latter being held in place by keepers. The wheel
and gantry travelling cranes, derricks and locomotive
cranes are, perhaps, used most frequently. (See Trolley, should be placed symmetrically between the two sides
of the end truck, and every effort should be made to dis-
Bucket.)
tribute the load from the bridge equally between the two
Page 786-800.
sides.
Crane, Cantilever. See Gantry, Cantilever; Crane,
Also called end carriage, end cradle, end frame, truck
Horizontal Rotating Cantilever. beam. (See also Equalizer Saddle; Crane Girder.)
Crane, Cargo. A crane especially adapted to the trans- Page 155.
ferring of cargo between a vessel's hold and a wharf or Crane, Fitting-out. Any crane arranged and located
lighter. If located on a pier or wharf, it is generally
especially shipyard use in placing engines, boilers,
for
termed a wharf crane if located on the vessel, it is often
guns, masts, stacks, armor, etc., in a ship after it is in
;
a derrick, and is one of the principal parts of the cargo the water. It is generally located on a dock close to the
handling gear. (See Cargo Handling Gear; Derrick, water, or is a floating crane. The various types are all
Ship.) characterized by extremely large lifting capacity, a large
Page 191, 797, 798. clearance under the part extending over the ship, and a
Crane, Charging. An overhead travelling crane espe- reach to cover the width of the ship, and some-
sufficient
cially developed for, steel, works use in charging open times more, in order to pick up material from a barge
hearth furnaces. A rigid structure hanging below the brought to the far side of the ship from the crane. (See
bridge has a horizontal arm which is capable of being Crane. Folding Jib Gantry; Crane, Floating Gantry;
lowered until the end is connected with the charging box, Crane, Horizontal Rotating Cantilever.)
of raising it, passing it endways through the charging Page 197.
51
CRA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CRA
Crane, Fixed. A crane whose principal structure is or by hand-operated cranks with appropriate rope or
mounted on permanent or semi-permanent foundations, chain connections.
The area served is strictly limited by the dimensions of Page 159, 777-800.
the moving parts of the crane, and neither the whole
Crane, Horizontal Rotating Cantilever. A rotating
crane structure nor any considerable portion of it has crane consisting of a horizontal double cantilever struc-
any motion of translation during the operation of the ture of unequal arms, supported on an elevated roller
machine as a crane.
bearing turntable, carrying the load at the end of the
Page 169.
long arm, or at a variable radius by means of a trolley
Crane, Floating. A crane mounted on a barge or pon- which can travel along the lower chord of the long arm,
toon which can be towed or self-propelled from place and bearing the operating machinery and counterweight
to place, and used for lifting and moving heavy weights on the short arm.
at docks, ship fitting berths, etc., and for heavy marine In very large sizes, for ship fitting out, it may be
work generally,
including salvage operations. These mounted at a dock or on a barge. In smaller sizes it
cranes are generally of large size and capacity, and are often has a gantry base and is called a tower or shipyard
built in various styles. Some are jib cranes, with a crane. When the tower is very short, it is sometimes
rotating jib of fixed radius, or with a variable radius called a turntable crane.
obtained by means of a trolley. Others have rotating also be fixed on a travelling gantry, or be
It may may
booms Gantries and shear legs
of variable inclination. mounted on a trolley on a fixed gantry, or on a travelling
are also used afloat, and for small work stiff-leg derricks;
gantry, or on an elevated runway. It may also be under-
mounted on barges are common, and are termed derrick
hung to the trolley of an overhead travelling crane. Also
boats or floating derricks. called hammerhead crane, or hammerhead jib crane from
In rotary floating cranes of large capacity, every pos- the resemblance in appearance of the rotating element to
sible effort is made to get the maximum lifting power at the head of a tack hammer.
the maximum possible distance from the side of the Crane, Hydraulic. A crane which is operated by
pontoon, with a minimumof tipping, and with this pur-
hydraulic power. While smooth in action and almost un-
pose in mind, the crane structure is generally located limited in capacity, the system is so inferior to electricity
away from the center of the pontoon, and the operating in most other respects that hydraulic cranes are prac-
machinery is a counterweight by being placed
utilized as
tically obsolete.
on the rotating part
opposite to the load. Adjustable
Crane, Inclined Cantilever Jib. A straight line type of
or movable counterweights may also be used, or some of
travelling crane, developed particularly for transferring
the pontoon compartments may be flooded with water for
freight between the hold of a vessel and the inside of a
the same purpose.
wharf shed. The travelling structure, which is of the
Page 195, 801, 802.
full or semi-portal type of gantry, or of the bridge type,
Crane, Foundry. A name sometimes given to a rotary travelling on the roof of the shed, carries on the end
underbraced jib crane, with a trolley running on the top toward the water a double cantilever jib, with ends
of the jib, and operated by hand or power. It has been unequal in length. In its working position the jib is
extensively used in foundry practice, in capacities of inclined with the short lower end projecting underneath
one to ten tons. (See also Crane, Rotary Jib.) the edge of the shed roof, and the long end extending
Crane, Gantry. See Gantry. upward and out over the hatchway of the vessel. A load
Crane, Gantry, with Inclined Cantilever. A crane used is hoisted from the hold with the trolley at the outer
in handling excavated material, and consisting of a gan- end of the jib; when clear of the hatchway the trolley
is allowed to move inward and downward along the jib.
try base central tower on which a long truss is supported
at its center in a slanting position. A rope trolley han- To allow the crane to be moved along the runway to
different hatches, or to allow the vessel to be moved
dling a grab or bottom dumping bucket operates on the
bridge, the motive power being located in the central along the wharf, the jib may be raised to a vertical posi-
tion against the end of the gantry or bridge, when it will
tower, and the whole structure moves on a track under
the tower. The lower end of the cantilever extends over clear all parts of the vessel and wharf.
an excavation like a canal, and the upper end over the Crane, Inclined Jib. A jib crane in which the jib is
spoil bank; the excavated material is carried from the inclined to the horizontal at a fixed angle. More power
excavation to the spoil bank by the bucket. is naturally required to move the trolley up the slope,
are substantially all one piece, being built up in a plate Crane, Independent. A
rotary jib crane supported clear
girder of box section composed of plates and angles as of a wall so that it may make a complete swing, as dis-
distinguished from Lattice Frame and Braced Jib tinguished from a wall crane which may swing through a
Cranes. (Also called Fairbairn Jib Crane.) half-circle only.
power. The
usual method of applying it for hoisting is an electric motor, carried on the jib.
by means of a rotating crank. For travelling or swing- (See also Crane, Underhung; Crane, Horizontal Ro-
ing, the load may be directly pushed or pulled by hand. tating Cantilever.)
52
CRA DEFINITION SECTION CRA
Crane, Jib. A crane consisting of a bracket frame, or the deck and meshes with the large base gear, providing
of a vertical post from which extends a horizontal arm power for rotating or slewing. The hoisting engine, boiler,
(see Jib) carrying a traveller or trolley (see Trolley) coal and water, or the electrical machinery, if the crane
on wheels, from which the load is suspended. The load be electrically operated is located back of the pillar op-
is raised or lowered by a suitable hoisting mechanism posite the boom all this equipment serves to counter-
;
(see Hoist) suspended from, built into or acting through balance the weight of the boom and load.
the trolley, and free movement along the jib is then Various arrangements of jaw and friction clutches are
allowed by the trolley wheels. The vertical post is used to connect the drums and gearing to the engine, or
usually pivoted at the top and bottom to allow swinging motor, depending on whether the engine is reversible or
(see Crane, Rotary Jib), but when a bracket frame is not, whether two or more motions must be carried on
used, it is often non-swinging and mounted on wheels to simultaneously, and how often a motion must be repeated
allow of motion along a track or runway. (See Crane, in service. Friction clutches are essential to rapid action
Travelling Jib). and frequent repetition.
Page 171, 780, 789. The motions possible with a locomotive crane are :
Crane, Ladle. Any crane arranged especially for han- hoisting rotary, by swinging or slewing the boom ; radial,
;
dling and pouring ladles of molten metal. The term is by changing the inclination of, or luffing, the boom; and
usually applied to overhead electric travelling cranes of travelling,by moving the crane along the" rails. The
large capacity, provided with a double set of hoisting operator's stationis usually just back of the pillar, from
ropes supporting a strong beam, from the ends of which which point he has a clear view of the load during lifting.
long steel hooks support the ladle by trunnions at the When it is permissible temporarily to fix the crane in
sides. The double set of ropes prevents any turning position, its lifting capacity may be increased somewhat by
tendency, and the use of the beam keeps the load blocks anchoring the car body to the tracks. For a larger in-
and hoisting rope away from the intense heat of the crease, outriggers or beams underneath the car body
molten metal. Special precautions are taken to protect are used; these can be slid out and blocked up from the
the whole equipment, mechanical and electrical, from the ground.
.heat, dust and chemical fumes. If the crane is mounted on springs for satisfactory train
As an extra precaution in case of the failure of a travel at high speed, wedges must be placed to prevent
hoisting motor, two motors are often used, each capable the springs functioning during lifting operations.
of handling the load in case of failure of the other. If The unit as a whole may be mounted on an elevated
these motors drive separate drums, each lifting one end track or on a travelling gantry, or the car body may be
of the beam, interlocking gearing prevents unequal lower- elongated vertically into a tower with or without a gantry
ing of the beam. base, sometimes termed a raised pier locomotive crane.
Another arrangement is to have two hoisting drums Omitting the car body and wheels, it may be mounted in
and two ropes, each end of a rope being wound on a a fixed position on semi or full portal gantries, or on
drum and each drum therefore lifting half the load at towers of various heights.
each end of the lifting beam. In case of accident to and Page 179, 804-806.
stoppage of one of the hoisting motors, the other motor Crane, Luffing. A crane in which the load may be
and drum will continue to handle the load at half speed. moved radially, or to or from the center of the crane
For large ladles which must be tipped by power, a by changing the inclination of the boom from
structure,
second smaller crane trolley is often provided, running on which the load is suspended, as in a locomotive
the end of
the same rails as the main trolley, or on separate and crane or derrick. This motion may incidentally be
non-interfering rails, and connected with the tipping accompanied by a raising or lowering of the load, but the
arrangements by its hoisting rope. term luffing has reference to the horizontal motion only.
Page 165. In a derrick the load may be luffed inward by raising
Crane, Locomotive. A rotary travelling crane consist- the boom, and if at the same time the load line be slacked
ing of a pillar crane with inclinable boom mounted on a off enough to keep the load from being lifted along with
turntable carried on a wheeled car travelling on tracks the boom point, true horizontal luffing action will result;
of standard or special gage. It is extremely mobile, has this is generally accomplished by the skill of the operator.
been built to handle loads up to 500 tons though the When this operation must be repeated continuously, as
cranes in most common use handle about 15 tons has in loading cargoes, an arrangement of load and boom
a long reach, and may be adapted to a variety of uses. hoisting ropes and guide sheaves may be made which will
The travelling car in the small cranes is a four-wheel automatically maintain the load at a constant level during
rigid truck, one axle being driven by power. The medium the luffing of the boom. If, in addition, the boom be
sizes have an eight-wheel swiveling truck car body, one counter-balanced, the power required for luffing is a
axle in each truck usually being driven by power. On minimum, and is only that necessary to overcome friction.
the car body is mounted a large gear which is also a Shear legs constitute a crane of the luffing type.
track for the roller bearings supporting the deck or Crane, Monorail Jib. A wall travelling jib crane with
racer, this deck being held down to the car body by a a fixed radius swinging arm. (See also Crane, Walking
large pivot pin. Jib.)
On the deck or racer is mounted the pillar, often Crane, Overhead Electric Traveling. An overhead
included as a part of the frame of the hoisting machine. traveling crane, generally of the bridge type, operated by
The heel of the boom is pivoted at the base of the pillar, electricity. This method of driving is becoming so uni-
and is supported at the outer end by wire rope tackle led versal that the time is rapidly approaching when all such
to a drum. The load line is led from the boom point to an- cranes will be either electrical or hand-operated.
other drum. A third drum
supplied if a two-line bucket
is Direct current is the most commonly used and is
is to be handled, and winch heads are also provided on simplest. be used, but on account
Alternating current may
'
the ends of one or more of the hoisting drum shafts. A of the difficulty of varying the speed of an A. C. motor
reversible pinion driven by gearing projects down through over a wide range, it is unsatisfactory in crane service
53
CRA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA CRA
ley traversing the bridge, a hoist built into or hung on the yards.)
trolley,and motors, gears, shafts, etc., for operating the When mounted, with its power operating mechanism,
machine, and apparatus for controlling it. on a substantial turntable and provided with a boom
The steel bridge or girder structure is carried by wheels of variable inclination, this apparatus forms a crane unit
at the ends traveling on straight level rails or runways of very wide use, and is applied in many ways. The
laid on elevated structures. It is maintained at right pillar is generally unrecognizable as such, being included
angles to the two runways and travels along them by
as part of the frame of the hoisting machinery. This
unit mounted on a self-propelled car becomes a locomo-
hand, or by power applied to the wheels at the bridge
ends. Structurally it may vary from a simple I-beam to a tive crane, and it also forms an essential part of many
complicated structure of four or more box or braced gantry and tower cranes.
girders of great strength. (See Crane Girder.) The Page 175, 780-789.
end trucks or carriages may be built in a number of Crane, Pillar Jib. A pillar crane with the usual self-
different ways, and the wheels in each truck may number sustaining post or pillar, but with the boom of fixed
from two to sixteen, depending on the crane capacity. by a (generally) horizontal jib with a
inclination replaced
(See Crane End Truck.) trolleyrunning on it. The operating mechanism may be
The trolley may be hand-operated, or may have as placed on a platform turning with the post, and opposite
to the jib for counterbalance purposes. This crane is
many as six motors (see Crane, Single Motor, etc.).
Wire rope, crane chain or pitch chain (see Rope, Chain) used in locations where guys or stiff legs for staying
the top would be objectionable, but where the whole of a
may be used for lifting the load, in combination with
worm or spur gearing (see Gearing). The load is ordi- circular area must be served. (Also called Column Jib
narily on a hook (see Hook) by slings of rope or
hung Crane.)
chain (see The hoisting mechanism may be
Slings). Page 175, 780-789.
built separately and hung onto a hook or other fastening Crane, Pintle. A horizontal rotating cantilever crane
on the trolley (see Hoist, Independent), or may be built on a tower, in which additional stability is given to the
into the mechanism of the trolley (see Hoist, Trolley), rotating element by rigidly connecting to it a braced
the most usual arrangement for medium and large sized pintle extending down within the tower a considerable
cranes being to have a motor-driven, geared-drum hoist distance, and mounted in a roller step bearing at its
built into the trolley. lower end. The roller bearing at the top of the tower
There is usually one trolley, with one load hoist or with is of the radial type and merely guides the rotating
a main and an auxiliary hoist, the latter being much element. (Also called Hammerhead Crane.)
Page 197.
smaller in capacity and operating at a correspondingly
higher speed. Occasionally there are two
hoists of equal Crane, Portable. A crane which may be easily moved
of
capacity on the same trolley, or two separate trolleys from one location to another on skids, rollers or wheels
on the same bridge, one or both of these and used, after such changes of location, for crane pur-
equal capacity
trolleys having an auxiliary
hoist. Or a main and an poses. This occasional motion of the whole structure is
be on the same bridge, however, for the purpose of moving the
auxiliary trolley may operated not, load.
on the same or on different and non-interfering runways. The term often applied specifically to a small pillar
is
(See Crane Girder.) crane with built-in hoist, mounted on three wheels, and
for
Holding and lowering brakes must be supplied capable of being hauled around a floor by hand with its
controlling the vertical movement of the load, including at load. The base is usually made so that it straddles the
least two provisions against accidental dropping. Brakes load to be picked up, and the pillar is curved so that the
are also provided to control the travel of the trolley on load can be delivered on top of a machine, provided there
the bridge and of the bridge on the runway. (See Brakes, is room for the base beneath the machine.
end to the other The central pier rotates on a circular of monorail runway by a single two-way switch for
track set on a suitable foundation ;
the area served is each crane, the runway being located along one side of
circular. the floor area, at right angles to the lines of bridge run-
Page 197. way.
Crane, Rotary. A crane in which the load is carried Crane, Soaking Pit. An overhead traveling crane used
by a part or an assemblage of parts which are arranged in steel works, having a trolley to which is attached,
to rotate about a vertical axis. Derricks, pillar cranes either above or below, with vertically moving parts, a
and jib cranes are examples of fixed rotary cranes; loco- rigid structure carrying tongs suitable for gripping a
motive cranes, truck cranes and wrecking cranes are hot ingot and removing it from furnace pits in
steel
examples of travelling rotary cranes. the floor to a car, or the reverse. It usually spans a
Also, a swing crane. standard or narrow gage railway as well as the soaking
Pa R e 197. pits. Sometimes called a vertical charging machine.
Crane, Rotary Jib. A jib crane which has a central post Page 165.
provided with pivots at the top and bottom so that the Crane, Stripping. An overhead traveling crane special-
whole structure can swing about a vertical axis. If the ly arranged for lifting the ingot molds off the ingots in
load is carried at a fixed point at the end of the jib, it is steel works. A rigid structure hangs from the trolley,
called a swing crane; if the load is carried on a trolley, with two eyes which are caught under hooks on the top
it is usually known simply as a jib crane, or, sometimes, of the ingot mold, and which pull it upward. At the
from its former wide use in foundries, as a foundry same time a vertically moving plunger pushes down on
crane. Also called a mast jib crane. the top of the solidified metal, keeping it from rising
Page 171. with the mold.
Crane, Roundhouse. An overhead traveling crane, in- Page 165.
pillar cranes or horizontal rotating cantilever jibs, run- may be run onto it from the runway, and transferred to
ways being arranged between all the slips, or between another runway by moving the bridge. The girder is
Crane, Skew. A bridge type crane in which the travel- Crane, Traveling Jib. A jib crane mounted on wheels
ling bridge, instead of being at right angles to the run- or trucks and arranged for self-propulsion. If the rails
way, Js set permanently at a less angle. The squaring are on the side wall of a building, it is generally termed
shaft runs at right angles to the runway, connecting a wall traveling jib crane, and the jib is usually fixed, or
diagonally opposite wheels on the end trucks. The without swing. If it runs on rails in the floor and is
bridge is. of the monorail I-beam type, with open ends. guided at the top by an overhead track it is called a
A series of cranes of this type, arranged to travel on walking jib crane, a velocipede crane or simply a travel-
parallel runways transversely placed over a long floor ing jib crane.
area, can have trolleys run onto them from a single line Page 177.
55
CRA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA DAV
Crane, Truck. A small revolving pillar crane of fixed this gives somewhat greater ease of handling, especially
radius mounted on a truck or small car for operation when hand-operated, and also enables the crane to pass
on industrial tracks or with flat tread wheels for use high obstacles on the shop floor, or a load hanging from
on smooth or the ground. The term is generally
floors an overhead crane trolley. (Also called Monorail Jib
applied to the small hand-operated types lacking the Crane.)
self-propelling feature; the large power-operated truck Page 167, 797.
cranes are really locomotive cranes, as they are pro- Crane, Wall or Wall Jib. A rotary jib crane supported
vided with travelling gear. against a wall and swinging through a half circle only, as
Page 177. distinguished from an independent jib cra*e which is
Crane, Underhung. An overhead travelling crane in so supported as to swing through a full circle. (See Crane,
which the bridge is hung to the end trucks below the Wall Travelling; Crane, Wall Bracket Jib.)
level of the runway instead of above it, as is more Page 170, 780, 789.
usual. The runways usually consist of I-beams bolted Crane, Wharf. Any crane, located on a wharf or pier,
to the beams of the floor above or to the roof trusses, and particularly adapted to the transfer of cargo between
and are often set in considerably from the end of the the wharf or pier and the hold of the vessel alongside.
bridge, leaving a cantilever overhang at each end. Under- Owing to the varying spacing of vessel hatchways, the
hung cranes, suitable for light work only, are often used crane must be capable of movement along the wharf,
as transfer cranes, because the ends of the bridge girder hence is mounted on a runway. Other requirements are:
are open, allowing a trolley to run off and onto a mono- Sufficient horizontal reach to cover the hatchway, suffi-
Crane, Walking Jib. A travelling jib crane which runs double portal gantries or travelling bridges on the wharf
on a single line of rails on the floor, and is guided at shed roof, carrying rotating pillar cranes cantilever ;
the top by a parallel overhead track. The base, having gantries with folding extensions over the hatchways ;
two swiveling wheels, or four wheels arranged on swivel- and gantries with inclined cantilever jibs.
ing trucks, carries the motive machinery, and is strongly Page 191, 786-800.
'bracketed to the mast in the plane of the tracks. The Crane, Wrecking. A crane used in railroad practice
swinging jib is either top or under braced, and may or for clearing up wrecks. The type in almost universal
may not have a trolley. The top of the mast carries use is a powerful travelling rotary pillar crane with a
guide rollers which run along the sides of the guide rail. curved or angular boom of variable inclination, mounted
This guide rail must be heavily braced to prevent the on two trucks of four to sixteen wheels each; it is
crane from overturning when the loaded jib is swung practically a very powerful locomotive crane, with special
to the side. For stability when the load is in line with facilities for being hauled at high speed in a wrecking
the track, dependence is placed on the long wheel-base train. (See Crane, Locomotive.) It is generally steam-
and the heavy bracing to the mast. (Also called Veloci- operated, even on electrified roads, as wrecks often
pede Crane, or Travelling Jib Crane.) destroy the neighboring electrical conductors. An espe-
Page 177. cially heavy lifting tackle is arranged at a point about
Crane, Wall Bracket Jib. The simplest form of rotary halfway out on the boom, and elaborate outriggers with
jib crane, consisting of a horizontal beam or jib, often jacks are provided to give the crane additional stability
of I-beam section, hinged to a fixed point on a wall at for side lifts at large radius.
one end, and supported at the other by a diagonal tie Page 185.
attached to the wall by another hinge directly above that Crosshead. The term applied to an engine or machine
holding the jib. Usually no trolley is included so that part which slides in or on straight guides and serves
the load is carried at the end of the jib only, and the to compel another part to move in a path parallel to
crane isoften called a swing crane. The hinge plate of the guides. An engine crosshead also usually has a
the tie rod is kept as high as possible so as to cut down point of connection for one end of the connecting rod,
the stress in the tie. If a trolley is used, it is hung to and thus guides one end of the latter, as well as one end
the lower flange of the I-beam. of the piston rod, in a straight line along the axis of the
arranged to resist pull outward from the wall, one at Davit. The name by which are known several types of
the bottom to resist horizontal inward thrust, and one at cranes used for handling small boats on board a ship,
or near the bottom to carry the weight of the crane and load. two being used for a boat. The most common, a rotary
A trolley runs on the horizontal part of the jib, with a davit, is a pillar crane consisting of a single vertical post
built-in or independent hoist. The same variety of power curved out at the top sufficiently to suspend the boat clear
equipment supplied as with overhead electric traveling
is of the ship's side, and provided with block and tackle
cranes hand, electric or air hoist, and hand or electric hoists for lifting. The boat is hoisted clear of the deck,
trolley traverse and jib travel. and by passing one davit at a time, may be swung from
Occasionally the jib is hinged to the part of the struc- its stowing position inside the davits, to its launching po-
ture on the rails and the trolley may or may not be omitted ; sition outside them.
56
DEA DEFINITION SECTION DER
acting on a worm sector, or other equivalent means. The load carried by a rope called the load line leading
is
Dead Center. A position in a mechanism in which the around a sheave at the boom point, thence along the
part acting as driver cannot operate the other parts with- boom to guide sheaves at the mast, and to the hoisting
out outside help, owing to a locking action. In particu- winch. The load, boom and mast are slewed about the
lar, the position of a reciprocating engine when the crank vertical axisby a wheel at the base of the mast (see
pin is on the line of centers, so that the pressure on the Bull Wheel) having slewing lines leading from it to the
piston cannot move it. slewing winch or by hand slewing lines attached to the
Dead-end. To make fast the end of a rope used in boom point or to the load; complete rotation requires
hoisting or hauling operations, as the closing rope on a that the guys or stiff-legs be spread so far that they will
grab bucket, or a rope on a winding drum. clear the point of the boom at least a portion of its range
Dead-man. A prop or post used to elevate a derrick of elevation.
guy near its anchorage in order to allow more head room Another type of derrick has a stationary mast with the
beneath it. It is usually a wooden post, set firmly in the boom attached to it by a goose-neck which allows full
ground guy passing over a notch in
at an angle, with the freedom of motion. Several such booms may be placed
the top. A
grooved plate may be used to prevent the guy at the base of a single mast, if desired, and this arrange-
from cutting into the end grain of the wood. Steel ment is much used on shipboard for handling cargo.
dead-men are also used. (See Derrick, Ship.)
Also, an anchorage for a guy, cableway, etc., consisting Thedistinction between a derrick and a jib crane lies
of a timber or piece of structural steel buried in the in the fact that a derrick 'boom can be changed in in-
ground with the end of the guy line fastened around its clination, or luffed, and this is required to give one of
middle. the components of motion to the load, while in a jib crane
Deceleration. Retardation; the opposite of accelera- the jib is rigidly fixed to the mast, and the load moves
tion.
radially only by means of a trolley moving along the jib.
Deck. One of the floors or platforms on a ship corre- Several somewhat primitive forms of cranes are also
sponding to the floors in a building. called derricks, though they have no booms, and are
Also, an elevated platform around a crane, loading ma- capable of little or no horizontal movement of the load.
chine, etc., or a platform around the base of a revolving
They are really portable structures intended to give an
crane, moving with it, and furnishing a foundation for elevated point of attachment for hoisting purposes. (See
part or all of the operating machinery. Derrick, Fole; Derrick, Breast; Derrick, Tripod; Der-
Also, one screen of a set of shaking screens arranged rick, Sulky; Derrick, Gin Pole.)
one above the other. Also called a leaf. (See Screen, Page 219, 801-803.
Shaking.)
Derrick, A-frame. An independent derrick in which the
Deck, Revolving. The revolving platform
or turntable
mast is replaced by two struts spread apart at the bottom
of a locomotive crane.Also called the racer.
and united at the top. A cross-bar furnishes the point of
Deflection, of rope lead onto a sheave or drum. (See
attachment of the boom, and another spar or stiff-leg (or
Deviation.)
sometimes two), extending to the rear, holds the top of
Degradation. The term applied to the breaking up of A-frame
the rigidly in position. The boom may be
lump material like coal into smaller lumps or into dust, slewed somewhat less than 180 deg. by lines leading
due to handling or other causes. The resistance of the
through guide sheaves on the side struts, or by a bull
material to degradation often determines the best method
wheel.
of handling to be used.
Another type has a mast in addition carried in pivots
Demountable Body System. A system of motorized
just in front of the A-frame, so that it can swing the
freight terminal transportation consisting of a fleet of
load through a full 180 deg.
trucks wth standard demountable bodies, with electric
Page 229, 801-803.
cranes and overhead rails at loading and unloading points,
by which full and empty truck bodies may be exchanged Derrick Bottom. The complete assemblage of metal
with only a short delay to the truck. The contents of parts at the base of a derrick mast, comprising the fol-
the bodies are unloaded and loaded in proper due course, lowing parts or their equivalent; a foot block, secured to
and the system is so handled by a dispatcher that the the bottom of the mast, having a pivot, either cylindrical
or ball and socket, resting in the mast step in the base
exchanges are promptly made. Also sometimes called
the Cincinnati System, because it was first installed there plate; a boom seat, either an integral part of the base
on a considerable scale. plate, or secured separately to the mast above the base
57
DER MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA DER
Derrick Car. A truck or car on which is mounted a Derrick, Guyed. A derrick in which the mast is held in
stiff-leg or A-frame derrick. The sills or lielegs may a vertical position by guy lines, generally of wire rope,
be bolted to a standard flat car and the stiff-legs attached attached to a fitting at its top, and to anchorages in the
to them in the usual way, or the frame of the car itself ground distant from the base of the mast. Three such
may be utilized for anchoring the stiff-legs. The mast anchorages are absolutely needed, though more are al-
and boom are sometimes arranged to lower to allow of ways provided. The relative proportions of height of
hauling along a railroad right of way. mast, length of boom and length of guy.i have an im-
Derrick Car, Traveling. A derrick car provided with portant bearing on the possibility of swinging the boom
means of self-propulsion. It may be of the chain and past the guys at certain of its elevations.
sprocket type, or the bevel gear type, driven from the Guyed derricks are always fixed, never movable of
same engine that operates the hoisting winch. travelling.
Page 223. Page 219, 801-803.
Derrick, Counterweight. A
small portable derrick con- Derrick Hoisting Winch. A term sometimes applied to
sisting of a mast firmly fixed in a base and braced by a two-drum winch to which has been added a boom slew-
short braces, having pivoted to it a boom which has a ing gear, fitting it especially for handling a derrick with a
short extension on the side opposite the load. This ex- bull wheel. When driven by a steam engine, sometimes
tension may be counterweighted by the hoisting winch incorrectly called a derrick engine.
and by additional weight if desired. The inclination of Derrick, Independent. A derrick which has its mast so
the boom may be changed, but neither it nor the mast supported that it is independent of outside stays or guys,
rotate. a derrick having a self-sustaining mast.
Page 227. Derrick, Jinniwink. A
special type of light A-frame
Derrick, Floating. (See also Crane, Floating.) A der- derrick designed with a view to easy portability, for con-
rick, usually of the stiff-leg or A-frame type, mounted on tractor's and similar work.
slewing gear must also be powerful enough to swing the top a gudgeon or pivot which is held in place by guys or
boom under any condition of side tipping. stiff-legs, thereby holding the mast in a vertical position.
The derrick may be of the mast type with two or iour It is built of wood in small and medium sizes, and of
rangement allowing a full 180 deg. swing. The hoisting Derrick, Pole. A boomless crane or hoisting device
machinery is located on the deck of the barge where con- with a very limited horizontal motion of the load, and
venient, and considerable clear space is left in front of the intended mainly for hoisting purposes. It consists of a
derrick, so that the barge may be loaded and be used for pole resting on a cross-piece at its base, with its top held
water transportation, as well as for purely lifting pur- in place by guys, a sheave for the hoisting line at the top
enough to clear the boom point. Stiff-legs of the slewed or swung about a vertical axis by power, through
"broken-back" type also allow complete rotation. the medium of slewing lines and bull wheel, as opposed
complete turn, it is customary to mount the hoist on a with its point over the lighter or wharf at the ship's side.
is stepped in a socket at the bottom to allow a small its head for lifting heavy weights.
pole
amount of inclination from the vertical in any direction Page 231.
or A-frame mounted with a hoisting winch on a
by slacking the guys securing the pole top. type,
58
DER DEFINITION SECTION DOL
platform resting on skids. Its capacity is very limited, Derrick, Traveling Stiff-leg. A stiff-leg derrick which
except directly in front, unless temporary guys are ar- is mounted on a car or wheels. One type is carried on
ranged. two widely spaced rails one sill is parallel to and over
;
in a vertical position by two slanting struts or spars, far end carried by a wheel or truck on the other rail. A
called stiff-legs, or back-legs, attached to the mast cap at horizontal diagonal keeps the sills at right angles and
tie
one end, and to anchorages in the ground at the other, insures rigidity, and the remote ends of the sill are often
the structure resembling a tripod with one vertical leg weighted with boxes of earth or stone. The load is also
(the mast) and two other equal slanting legs (the back- sometimes counterbalanced by counterweighting the bull-
wheel on the side opposite the boom.
legs),having their bases 90 deg. apart. The boom swings
about the vertical axis of the mast through an angle of (See also Derrick Car.)
somewhat less than 270 deg. Page 223, 802.
For a portable derrick, the fixed anchorages are re- Derrick, Tripod. A hoisting device consisting of a pole
supported in an inclined position by two props, having a
placed by two horizontal sills or lie-legs, attached to each
crab on the pole near the base, and a sheave at its top.
other at the base of the mast and there carrying the mast
and extending along the ground to the basis of the Generally portable, and used for small work.
step,
Page 227.
stiff-legs, and secured to them. The sills are then an-
chored by heavy weights placed on them. Deviation. Of rope led onto a sheave or drum. The
angle between the center of the rope and the central plane
A third stiff-leg, or compression member, is often
of the sheave or groove. A deviation which brings the
placed vertically just behind the mast to relieve it of the
rope barely into contact with the slanting side of the
compression load it would otherwise carry.
Four stiff-legs are often used, especially in groove is not objectionable; more will wear the rope, or
floating
derricks.
may cause it to jump the groove.
(See Derricks, Floating.)
Also called deflection, and side draft.
Page 219, 801-803.
A portable hoisting device consisting De-water. To remove
the water from by draining, as
Derrick, Sulky.
in handling material which has been washed or subjected
of four poles mounted on two wheels, and when erected
to other wet treatment.
for use, forming a rectangular pyramid secured by bolts
and hinges at the apex, where means are also provided Diaphragm. A
thin division wall, generally of metal,
for securing block and tackle. Two of the poles are serving as a partition, as a structural stiffener, or for
some other special purpose.
rigidly braced to each other by crossbars, the lower of
which bear the hoisting drum and gearing which is op- Diaphragm, or Diaphragm Plate. A transverse plate
erated by turning two large wheels at the ends of the fitted inside of a box section steel girder, to stiffen the
shaft by hand. The other two legs are separately hinged sides and prevent buckling. It is used in overhead travel-
at the top. ling crane girders, both in the bridge girders and in the
For transportation, the framed poles are tipped over end frame. In the former it also serves to stiffen the
until the wheels rest on the ground, and the two inde- top plate and enable it to carry the load on the rail.
pendent poles are folded down on the others. Ditcher, Railroad. An excavating machine designed
Also called trench derrick, from its wide use over a especially for efficient operation in cleaning out the ditches
trench for lowering pipe, etc. along the right-of-way. The requirements are to dig
Page 229. somewhat below the track level and close to the ends of
large clearance under the boom. The structure is some- propulsion (unless a locomotive can be spared to accom-
times triangular in plan, with vertical corner posts under pany the ditcher).
the mast and each of the two stiff-leg ends. Sometimes Page 239.
it is stiff-leg derricks mounted on di-
square, with two Dock. A space in which a ship rests while loading or
agonally opposite corners, or rectangular with two stiff- unloading, undergoing repairs, etc. It may be simply the
leg derricks at adjacent corners, the stiff-legs being ar- space between two piers projecting into the harbor, or it
ranged with different slopes to allow of their crossing. may be a partially or entirely closed basin with wharves
Occasionally three separate towers are built, one each along the sides.
under the mast and the two stiff-leg ends. Also used as an abbreviation of dry-dock.
A stiff-leg derrick has also been mounted on an ad- (See also wharf.)
justable turntable on top of a tower in such a way that Dock Leg. See Elevator, Marine Leg.
the mast could be brought over any one of the four cor- Dog. A piece of metal used in conjunction with a
ners of the tower as desired, and clamped. there, the mast larger body to act as a clamp. part of a clamp.A
being swung by a bull wheel as usual. The rear ends Also, a steel rod with two ends pointed and bent up at
of the sills are clamped down to the tops of the two ad- right angles to hold together logs or timbers by driving
jacent corner posts. one leg into each of them.
Also, in building construction in locations where long Also a single pointed steel piece with a ring or chain
guys cannot be used, a well braced wooden tower, with attached, for handling floating timbers.
short iron guys to heavily loaded extended sills at the Dolley. A small single-wheel truck used in transport-
bottom, is used to support one or more derricks at the ing moderately heavy bodies for short distances. It con-
four corners. The tower is lengthened and derricks sists of a heavy rectangular frame, generally of wood, on
moved upward as the building progresses. the underside of which are secured bearings carrying the
Page 221, 801, 802. shaft of a wide faced wheel or roller. The object to be
59:
DOW MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA DRA
moved is placed with its center over the roller, or two Drag Line Scraper Bucket. A bucket used for handling
dolleys are used, one at each end of the object. bulk material; digging it by a dragging and scraping
Downhaul Ball. In hoists, a heavy weight interposed action, moving it and dumping it where desired. It is
between the hook and lifting block, or built into the lift- generally used in combination with a crane, derrick (see
ing block to furnish sufficient pull to make the hoist or Drag Line Excavator) or cableway excavator (see Ex-
tackle overhaul when it is desired to lower without load. cavator, Slack-rope Cableway).
dled by two ropes ; one of these, the hoisting rope, leads fixed or hinged bail or by a chain pulling bridle attached
to pulling lugs. Another rigid or hinged
over a sheave at the boom point and thence to a winch bail, or chain
drum. The pulling or drag rope from the -bucket leads hoisting bridle, at the top, is connected to a hoisting
drum on the winch. The bucket is rope.
directly to another
Front dumping is generally accomplished by manipu-
dragged along the ground toward the winch by the pull-
lation of the pulling and
ing rope, and fills, owing to its shape and method of at- hoisting ropes, which are led
to different drums on the winch. For rear a
tachment to the pulling bridle. (See Drag Line Scraper dumping,
rear gate, hinged at the
Bucket). When full it is raised from the ground by the top, swings out when a latch
is released by a trip rope or
'hoisting rope,swung to the point desired, dumped, re- by running the traveller
carrying the bucket (in cableways) against a stop which
turned, lowered to the ground, and is ready for another
releases the latch. In another rear dumping
trip. construction,
the hoisting bail is attached to the rear gate, which re-
The pull is generally toward the winch, and digging
mains over the end of the bowl as long as tension is kept
can be done to the maximum radius of the boom. This
on both ropes. When the pulling rope is slackened, the
can be increased slightly by giving the bucket a swing be-
bowl tilts down away from the rear gate, dumping its
fore dropping it to the ground. Side cutting can also be
contents.
done, the pulling rope leading from the bucket to the
boom at right angles to the latter, and pulling the bucket
A back dumping bucket should have a slight flare
toward the rear, and a front dumping bucket the re-
by slewing the boom or winching in the
drag rope.
verse, to allow clean dumping.
Machines resembling locomotive cranes with very long
Page 817, 833.
booms and two drum winding engines have been devel-
oped especially for operating dragline buckets. They are
Drag Line Scraper Bucket, Front Dumping, Back
mounted on wheels requiring track, on skids and rollers, Dumping. See Drag Line Scraper Bucket.
or on track-laying tractors. Drag Line Scraper Bucket, Side Cutting. A drag line
scraper bucket which is arranged to be dragged at right
Drag line excavators may dig from the side of the cut,
angles to a derrick boom during the filling operation.
progressing sidewise along it, or from the end, retreating
backward as the excavation is dug. The latter method al- By proper shortening of one of the pulling bridles, the
bucket may be made to travel in a diagonal
lows deeper digging, but it is less easy to give a regular slightly
direction, thus increasing the radius of digging. (See
form to the excavation.
See also Excavator, Slack-rope Cableway
also Drag Line Excavator.) Sometimes called a shovel
( ; Drag Line bucket.
Scraper.)
Drag-rope. In drag bucket installations, the rope which
Page 239, 801, 817.
pulls the bucket or scraper along over or through the
Drag-line Excavator Winch. A two-drum winch used
material. (See Excavator; Drag Line Excavator, Slack-
in connection with a derrick, crane, cableway or special
rope Cableway.) As this rope gets very rough treat-
handling rig, for handling the pulling and hoisting ropes
it must be of the
of a drag scraper bucket. A third drum is added if a
ment, very best material and have ample
boom having a variable inclination is used. The drum margin of strength.
carrying the drag-rope is usually geared to run more Drag Scraper. A horse-drawn, scoop-shaped pan made
of one piece of stamped steel and used for
slowly and furnish a greater pull than the hoisting drum, light ex-
which should be able
to return the bucket quickly. These cavating. It has handles at the rear and a pulling bridle
winches are usually of the friction drum band brake at the front for attaching a team of horses. The
scraper
is made to dig by
type, driven by gearing from a double cylinder steam lifting on the handles by hand; when
the scraper is full they are dropped and the scraper
engine. Owing power and steady service
to the large
rides on the smooth bottom to the dumping point. Here
required,hydraulically operated band friction clutches
a large lift of the handles causes the cutting
and water cooled brakes are sometimes used. Sometimes edge to dig
called an excavator engine. in sharply and turn the scraper over.
for excavating, also in connection with storing and re- vehicle itself.
claiming coal in bulk in storage piles. Also called drag Drawing, Cold. The process of drawing metal bars of
scraper scoop ; drag scraper. various shapes through dies while cold, in order to
Page 817, 833. improve the finish, the quality of the surface metal, or
50
ORE DEFINITION SECTION DRE
to size the bar very accurately. (Sometimes erroneously Dredge Engine. The engine steam or internal com-
called Cold Rolling.) bustion which drives the machinery of a dredge. Steam
Dredge. A machine for excavating material at the bot- engines are in more general use, and are usually of the
tom of a body of water, raising it to the top and dis- double reversing type, connected by gearing to one or
charging it on the bank, or into a scow for removal more shafts on which the operating drums are placed.
to a distant point. Dredges may be classified as floating The term is also often applied to the engine and all
dredges which are mounted on a scow or other floating operating machinery driven
by it, including drums,
craft, or land dredges which travel on land but are
and operating gear.
shafts, clutches, brakes
used for excavating beneath the level on which they stand, Dredge, Grapple. A dredge in which the digging ele-
and generally beneath water. Floating dredges may be ment is a grab bucket of the clam shell or orange peel
classed as grapple dredges, in which the digging element type. (See Bucket, Grab.) The operating machinery is
is a grab bucket operated by ropes dipper dredges in ;
described under Excavator, Grab Bucket. The grapple is
which the digging element is a bottom dumping bucket used extensively on both land and floating dredges.
mounted on the end of a long handle or boom; ladder Dredge, Gravity Swing. A grapple dredge in which the
dredges in which the digging element is an endless relativelocation of the swing circle and topping lift is
chain bucket elevator extending down into the water on such that the boom tends to swing to one side. It is
laying or walking, according to the method of moving Dredge, Hydraulic. A machine for excavating mate-
them, and as grapple, dipper, or drag line scraper bucket rial from river channels, harbors, etc., widening and
according to the method of digging the underwater ma- deepening them, by drawing it into a centrifugal pump
terial. through a suction pipe having its end thrust into the
Land dredges are also often called excavators, even material. Soft material will be removed without agita-
where they remove material from beneath water. tion, or with only that produced by water jets, but tougher
Page 241, 801. substances must be acted upon by an agitator which usu-
Dredge, Dipper. A floating dredge in which the dig- ally takes the form of a rotating head with cutting blades
ging element consists of a dipper mounted on a handle, surrounding the orifice in the suction pipe end. The
and operated from a boom which may be swung about a suction pipe is pivoted on a horizontal axis at the bow
vertical axis, the whole being mounted on the front end of the scow.
handle, and a higher A-frame, same line of piping which may extend as far as a couple of
it is substantially the
as a steam shovel, and its method of operation is there miles, or is led into bottom dumping scows, to be carried
the body of water being dredged, or into bottom dumping side to side and advanced slowly at each sweep, by the
hopper scows for dumping elsewhere. manipulation of spuds and guiding ropes. In narrow
canals the suction pipe itself is swung from side to side
The scow is moved slowly forward during dredging
while the dredge is moved slowly forward.
by the aid of lines fastened to anchors on the shore or on
the bottom. held
A hydraulic dredge is also often used for supplying
It is in place against the thrust exerted
sand and gravel from submerged banks for building pur-
by the dipper while filling, by four spuds. (See Spuds.)
poses, and is usually called a sand sucker. The pump de-
By having two or more slanting spuds in addition, the
livers the material to screening machinery, and the sand,
dredge may be moved slowly forward without the use
of any lines whatever. gravel and boulders are separated, the last being deposited
to the rear if not desired.
Page 241, 801.
Page 245.
Dredge, Elevator. A dredge which removes material
from the bottom of a body of water and delivers it to a Dredge, Land. An excavating machine which is moved
along on dry land, but does its excavating under the
discharge hopper or other desired point by a series of
water which it spans, or along the side of which it runs.
scraper buckets attached to a chain, and passing around
a vertical frame or ladder with tumblers at each end, (See Dredge.) When it does dry excavating it is usu-
ally calledan excavator.
and driven by the upper tumbler. The material is
scooped up while the buckets are passing around the Dredge, Rehandling. A floating dredge which takes the
bottom tumbler and is dumped as they pass over the top discharge from sea-going hopper dredges and pumps it
one. It is capable of digging to considerable depths and ashore. This system is used where it is impossible or
in fairly hard material, and is used to some extent for uneconomical for the hopper dredge to go to sea to
deepening channels, and rather generally for gold dredg- dump, and where it is not possible to pump the material
It is also widely used for procuring sand and gravel ashore at once from the dredge on account of rough
ing.
from submerged banks, to be used for building purposes. w-ater or for other reasons.
The buckets dump into a screening mechanism, and the Dredge, Scraper. See Drag Line Scraper Bucket.
sand, gravel and boulders are separated, the last being Dredge, Sea-going Hopper. A self-propelled hydraulic
dumped overboard to the rear if not desired. dredge which delivers the excavated material to bottom
Also called placer dredge, ladder dredge, and chain and dumping hoppers within its own hull, -and carries it to
bucket dredge. the dumping ground in deep water or elsewhere by its
61"
ORE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA DRU
the suction pipe alongside the ship, pivoted at a point ap- if a friction clutch, it is called a clutch drum, a friction
proximately amidships, and trailing to the rear. clutch drum, or generally simply a friction drum.
Dredge, Suction. See Dredge, Hydraulic. The surface of the drum is always smooth for hemp
or manila rope, and may be smooth for wire rope or
Dredge Swing Circle. See Swing Circle.
chain though generally scored. (See Score, Drum.) The
Dredge, Track Type Land. A land dredge which is
supported by flanged wheels running on rails. The sec-
drum diameter is from 20 to 30 times the diameter of
tions of rails may be moved forward after the dredge has the wire rope used.
62
DRU DEFINITION SECTION DRU
to crank pins passing through the gear rim. The move- while a load being lowered on one of them, the other
is
ment of the piston is controlled by a small slide valve is being wound up in readiness for the next descent.
bolted to machinery frame and connected to the
the Used for lowering of sacks and similar packages, and
operator's hand lever. This device is much used for sometimes called a sack lowering winch.
winches performing heavy service, as in dredges, shovels, The drum on a winding machine
Drum, Mine Hoist.
and drag buckets. used for hoisting purposes in a mine shaft. These drums
Where operation is continuous and lowering is rapid, are driven by steam engines or electric motors and are
is made for air cooling, and sometimes
special provision characterized by their large diameter and large capacity
water cooling is adopted. This is true in the operation for rope (on account of the great shaft depths). Two
of twin drum winches for coal unloading towers using cars or cages are nearly always arranged to counter-
is lowered on the
grab buckets, where the empty bucket balance each other so that the material raised is the only
there no brake except a relatively small one
clutch, being weight to be Sometimes one drum is keyed di-
lifted.
to keep the engine crank shaft (or motor shafting)
from
rectly to and the other is provided with a worm
its shaft,
any convenient place, such as the derrick mast or the Drum, Outboard. A
winding drum mounted separately
side of the locomotive crane. While the winch is hoist- from the drums in a winch and driven either
rest of the
ing the bucket by the closing rope, the counterweight separately or by gearing from the engine driving the
main winch. It
generally located to one side, though
is
lowers, furnishing just enough pull to keep the holding
sometimes in with one of the other drums, and is
rope tight. When hoisting is stopped and the brake is
line
so placed for convenience in leading the lines, or because
applied to the holding drum, lowering of the closing rope
it is temporarily added to the main winch to obtain an
will allow the bucket to open and dump, leaving it sus-
The bucket then lowered, extra drum.
pended on the holding rope. is
DRU MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ELE
Drum, Peaking. A term sometimes applied to the drum Ejector, Sand. A device by which sand may be placed
of a crane or derrick winch which handles the boom hoist in suspension in water, for transportation by a stream
or topping lift. passing through a pipe. It consists of a hopper, in the
Drum, Storage or Cable Storage.
'
cessive floors are reached. In particular, a derrick slewed ejector action of the main jet.
by a bull wheel must have some such provision for length- Elastic. Having (as a solid) the power of returning
ening the slewing line if used in building operations. to its original shape, after being distorted in any way, or
Drum, Tag Line. A small winding drum which keeps (as a fluid) of returning to its original volume after being
up the slack and maintains a slight tension in a tag line compressed or expanded. A
perfectly elastic
body is
attached to the load lifted by a crane, dispensing with when regains exactly its original shape after a deforma-
it
the services of a tag-man. It is often driven by a drag tion, upon the removal of the deforming force and the
clutch on the main shaft of the hoisting winch. restoration to the original state of all other conditions.
Drum Shaft. The shaft on which the drum of a hoist- Elevator. In general, a machine which raises or lowers
ing or hauling machine is mounted. In some types, the material temporarily held in one or more containers trav-
shaft is keyed in the drum and turns in journal bearings; eling along a definite path which is vertical or is only
in others the shaft is fixed in the frame and the drum incidentally inclined. They are divided into two general
turns on bronze bushings being inserted to take the
it, classes platform elevators, also termed reciprocating or
;
wear; while in other cases the shaft, running in journal intermittent,and continuous elevators.
bearings, bears one part of a friction clutch which can Elevators of the first class are distinctive and, when
be engaged at will with the drum. As the load on a the term is used without qualification, a platform elevator
drum shaft is considerable, its diameter must be kept as is usually meant. The A. S. M. E. Code defines it as
small as possible consistent with strength, to cut down follows "A hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped
:
body is attached to a hoist and lifted instead ; the first varies considerably according as the elevator is for pas-
method, however, does not require the unhitching of the senger or freight service, and certain features are also
horses. dependent on the type of drive, whether electric, steam,
Duplex Block, Duplex Hoist. See Hoist, Screw Chain. hydraulic or pneumatic. (See Elevator, Electric, etc.)
Eccentric. A form of crank which the crank pin is
in Continuous elevators either have endless belts or
enlarged in size so as to include the shaft, thus becom- chains to which flights, buckets or arms are attached to
ing the crank web and crank pin in one. It is nearly support the material, or utilize a current of air, water
or steam as a means of carrying it along. (See Elevator,
always used in connection with a surrounding or enclos-
ing eccentric strap, which is attached to an eccentric Belt; Elevator, Bucket; Elevator, Pneumatic, etc.)
rod, and produces a reciprocating motion of the remote Page 484, 750.
end of the eccentric rod. Elevator, Apron, or Inclined Apron. A moving apron
Eccentric, Adjustable. An eccentric which can have (see Conveyor Apron) placed at a considerable inclina-
alterations made in its angular position, its throw, or tion, and used principally for elevating or lowering pur-
both. The angular position may be crudely changed by poses. \Vhcn the inclination is less steep, and especially
loosening a set screw, and better by bolts and circular
when the apron has horizontal as well as inclined runs,
slots attaching it to a fixed disc or hub. The throw may it isusually termed apron conveyor.
be changed by moving the eccentric directly across its The conveyor apron may be made with wood or steel
shaft, a slot and clamping screws being provided, or by cross pieces ; the former is common when the conveyor
used for boxes, barrels, bags and similar packages, or
revolving an outer eccentric portion about an inner por-
is
tion also eccentric,and clamping it in the position of for definite containers, and the latter, especially when
desired throw. formed with deep step or bucket like depressions, for
steam is condensed, but its kinetic energy is transferred Elevator, Automatic Electric. An elevator which can
to the liquid, giving it sufficient velocity to overcome be started by a system of push buttons and brought to
resistance to flow, due to discharge or suction head, or the floor where it is desired without any operator being
to pipe friction. It is a useful means of handling muddy present in the car. The A. S. M. E. Code defines an
water or chemically active solutions, where the intermix- automatic button-control elevator as an elevator the op-
eration of which is controlled by buttons in such a man-
ing of exhaust steam is not objectionable, and especially
where the heat given to the liquid is advantageous. ner that all landing stops are automatic. They are widely
64
ELE DEFINITION SECTION ELE
operated on both alternating and direct currents and at nected by a casing or trunking in the fully enclosed
110 to 250 volts. elevator.
Page 482. The buckets may be attached to a single strand of
Elevator, Automatic Floor Leveling Machine. A de- chain at their backs, or to two strands at their backs or
vice for automatically insuring accurate landings irre- sides they may also be fastened to a belt. The buckets
;
spective of load ;md speed, and of automatically main- may be widely spaced, or separated, or closely spaced,
taining this accurate loading and
landing during un- also known as continuous. The elevator may revolve at
loading irrespective of the stretch of the cables. a sufficient speed to throw the contents clear of the
Page 752. buckets at the time of discharge by centrifugal force,
Elevator, Barrel. A continuous vertical or inclined ele- or they may move more slowly, and a perfect discharge
vator having two parallel strands of chain running over be obtained by a deflecting idler on the descending side
sprockets at the top and bottom, with special curved of the elevator, or by the action of the bucket fronts in
anus attached to them to lift barrels from a loading the continuous type.
platform and deliver them over the head wheels to an The drive is usually through the head wheels, as power
inclined runway. If delivery is desired at intermediate applied there gives a direct lift of the material being
points, tilting or spring discharge arms may be used, elevated. As the speed is slow, spur or worm geared
which arc curved to fit the barrel and pivoted at the speed reductions from motor or shaft speed are usual,
outer ends of the arms fixed to the chain. As the load and if the gearing is not such as to prevent backward
ascends, the ends of the tilting arms
projecting outer running in case of failure of power, breakage of a
strike against adjustable stops and are revolved down, driving belt, etc., a ratched device called a back stop is
tipping up the other ends on which the barrel rests, and often installed.
rolling it off into a sloping delivery runway. The arms Page 447, 826-839.
are then returned by springs. A barrel may also be Elevator, Bucket, Inclined. A chain and bucket or belt
forced off at a desired point by adjusting a cam shaped and bucket continuous elevator operated in an inclined
pusher which acts as a contact discharger. position. In addition to the types described under these
Another type of barrel elevator has two complete heads, pan or apron conveyors are also made up with
loops of chain each running over its own top and bottom containers of an unsymmetrical shape suitable for work
sprockets, geared together to run at the same speed and on steep inclines, and are used as inclined elevators,
all lying in the same plane. The adjacent strands of sometimes for very heavy work. (See Elevator, Apron.)
the loops pass upward, carrying a barrel between them, They move on rollers incorporated in the side chains,
supported near each end on two small concave platforms but to prevent the enormous load of the chain at the
attached to the chains ; the barrel is discharged by rolling time of passing over the head sprocket from coming on
off when comes against a side contact discharge cam,
it these roller bearings, they are often placed outside the
and the platforms pass up over the sprockets and return chain, and the sprocket teeth bear on hardened bushings
downward on the outside. between the two sides of the chain.
Page 336, 464, 759-771. Page 826-839.
Elevator, Belt. An elevating apparatus consisting of Elevator, Bucket, Portable. A bucket elevator, gener-
an endless flat or troughed belt passing around head and erally inclined, mounted on a wheeled truck with its
tail pulleys and over intermediate supporting idlers, the
loading hopper, delivery spout, driving mechanism, etc.,
whole being set at an incline and driven in such a direc- complete, so that it can be moved from point to point.
tion that material deposited on the upper run will be
Commonly used for loading purposes. (See Loader,
carried upward and be discharged over the head pulley.
Wagon.)
The belt may be flat or troughed, the latter having
Page 433, 771, 837, 838.
greater capacity ; it may have cleats or cross strips to
Elevator, Centrifugal Discharge. A
bucket elevator, of
prevent lumps from packages from
rolling down or
either the belt or chain type, which revolves at sufficient
sliding, or when the inclination is steep it may have deep
speed to throw the bucket contents clear of the elevator
pockets or buckets. (See Elevator, Belt and Bucket.)
and into the discharge spout at the time of delivery, due
The details are similar to those described under Con- to centrifugal force.
veyor, Belt, except that no tripper is used since the dis-
Page 409, 836-839.
charge is always over the head. Elevator, Chain and Bucket, or Chain Bucket. An ele-
Page 369, 418, 760-773, 826-840. vator in which the buckets are fastened to one or two
Elevator, Belt and Bucket, or Belt Bucket. A bucket strands of chain.
elevator in which the buckets are fastened by their backs
Elevator, Chain Pump. A pump consisting of an end-
to an endless belt of fabric, which travels around head
less chain on two sprockets, having disc attachments at
and foot pulleys having considerable crown.
intervals closely fitting the inside of a pipe into which
Elevator, Bucket. A continuous elevator, consisting of
the chain passes at the bottom under water, and up which
a travelling endless belt, of fabric or chain, to which
it is drawn, lifting the water caught between the discs.
buckets are attached and which moves in such a direction
as to raise material fed into them at the bottom, and Elevator, Continuous Bucket. A bucket elevator in
which the buckets are placed in a continuous line along
deliver it by inverting them at the top. Pulleys or
one or two strands of chain or a belt, allowing feeding
sprockets are mounted on the head and foot shafts at
to be accomplished from a chute, and using the front of
the top and bottom respectively, and may be directly in
one bucket as a chute for the discharge of the next
line vertically, or offset so that the lines of buckets
between them are inclined, the ascending side being following one on passing over the head wheels.
the upper one when thus inclined. The head and foot Page 411, 826-839.
shafts are mounted in a frame and left open, or enclosed Elevator, Dewatering. A bucket elevator having its
in a head casing and boot respectively which are con- buckets made of perforated metal or woven wire, so that
65
ELE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ELE
water can drain away from the material raised. A drain- types, the drum and the traction. The former are for
ing elevator. low and medium speed service, and the latter for medium
Elevator, Dock Leg. A two strand vertical bucket ele- and high speed service. Small electric elevators are sus-
vator which is suspended from the top by a structure pended by wire hoisting cables from spirally grooved
erected on a wharf, and which can be lowered into the drums driven through a worm gear by an electric motor.
hold of a vessel for the purpose of unloading bulk cargo. This type is unsuitable where high speed is required since
The lower shaft is hung in the bights of the chains, no the drum would have to be of excessive diameter. The
casing being used, and carries a boot which is open at most satisfactory elevator for such service is the gearless
the bottom and therefore self-feeding. In some arrange- traction type in which motion is produced by the tractive
ments the chain and buckets, of the gravity discharge V- effort of the cables on the driving traction sheave. Trac-
tion elevators with geared motor drive using either her-
type, are continued on a horizontal run at the top as
a conveyor and carry the material over a storage bin ringbone or worm gears are also constructed.
where it is dumped; in other cases, the material is dis- (See Elevator, Traction; and Elevator, Drum Type.)
charged as the buckets pass around the head sprockets, Page 477, 749-754.
on to a horizontal conveyor for further movement. Elevator, Electric Control of. The operating of electric
Adjustment is provided to allow for the varying levels elevators by a dispatcher. For example, an installation
caused by tide and condition of loading, in several ways. in the Brooklyn Army Supply Base uses electric control
In one case the elevator is suspended at the end of a by dispatchers for operation of 90 elevators without the
hinged boom which can be raised or lowered, and can manual service or attendance of a single operator on any
be moved horizontally on the boom to accommodate one of them. Truck operators press a button to signal
vessels of varying widths and to reach both sides of the the dispatcher when an elevator is desired or when goods
hold. The lower end of the elevator may also be swung have been deposited or removed. Ten dispatchers re-
to reach from side to side, being handled by rope tackle. placing 90 elevator operators control the entire operation
Another method of providing vertical adjustment is to of these 90 elevators. (See also Elevator, Automatic
cause the elevator strands to pass up and down around Electric.)
two adjustable idler sprockets arranged to form a take-up Page 484, 712, 757.
Page 482. out of the way of the next following car. The fingers
Elevator, Drum Type. A type of electric elevator in may be curved to fit round objects, flat to hold boxes and
which the car motion is obtained by means of the winding trays, or combination, with a curved middle portion
and unwinding of a hoisting cable on a spirally grooved and straight ends.
drum driven by an electric motor through some form of Rigid arm elevators may utilize this mechanism on
intermediate gears, usually worm gears. The cast iron either the upward or the downward runs, but not on
spider of the bronze worm wheel is cast integral with a both in the same elevator, as the package will be thrown
flange by means of which it may be bolted to the wind- off in passing over the head. Fingered tray elevators,
ing drum, or, for slow speed freight service the drum which carry the load on a level tray even while passing
may be provided with an annular or spur gear to mesh around the turns, may have fingered stations on both
with a pinion on the worm-wheel shaft, giving an addi- runs.
tional speed reduction. (See also Elevator Drum.) The Page 331.
car hoisting cables, usually two or three in number, have
Elevator, Flight. A continuous elevator working on
one end clamped to the drum and after winding several
the principle of flight conveyor, with transverse
the
times around the pass over the overhead sheave and
drum
blades or flights dragged along a trough by chains. For
down to the car frame to which they are securely fastened. bulk materials it is used for short distances only; for
Car counterweight cables with one end fastened to the
packages it is widely used and more generally known
car pass up over an overhead sheave and down to the
as a push-bar elevator, the solid flight being often
counterweight. Drum counterweight cables with one end
replaced by a bar raised a suitable distance above the
clamped to the drum wind around the drum in the op-
runway.
posite direction to the car hoisting cables and run up to
When a single chain or cable is used, with disc shaped
overhead sheaves and down to the counterweight. The
flightsdragged in a V- or U-shaped trough, it is known
drum type of drive is employed on all low speed and
as a cable conveyor or a cable elevator.
widely on medium speed electric elevators. The A. S.
M. E. Code calls such an elevator a winding drum ma- Elevator, Freight. An elevator for carrying freight
an elevator machine which and on which no persons other than the operator and
chine, and defines it as in
cables are fastened to, and wind on, a drum. those required for loading and unloading are transported.
478, 749-754.
.
66
ELE DEFINITION SECTION ELE
of ice, etc. The box or cake in the loading runway is chain may be reversed if desired. Also called a dock
automatically released and slides onto the elevator plat- elevator, and chain haul elevator.
form when the latter has reached the bottom it is then ; Page 399.
hoisted, and on reaching the desired height, slides out Elevator, Marine Leg. A vertical bucket elevator used
onto the delivery platform owing to the permanent slope for unloading bulk material (generally grain) from
of the elevator platform. Adjustable automatic stops vessels at a wharf, which is supported from the elevator
limit the travel of the elevator, which can be made structure in such a way that it can be adjusted vertically
entirely automatic. It can be used for lowering by and horizontally at right angles to the wharf line in order
reversing the direction of the slopes. to reach as much
of the hold of the vessel as possible.
Page 761. It is similar to a dock leg elevator (see Elevator, Dock
Elevator, Gravity Discharge V-Bucket. An elevator Leg) except that the chain sprockets are usually car-
consisting of two strands of chain fastened to the ends ried in a rigid frame and the leg is completely cased,
of V-buckets by rigid or swiveling attachments, but not instead of the lower sprockets and boot being simply hung
pivoted. It passes upward over a turn or knuckle wheels by the exposed bucket chains. The discharge is over
into a short horizontal run along which the contents are the head sprocket, through a spout to a storage bin,
spilled from the buckets into a trough which discharges and to a horizontal conveyor or to another bucket
to another conveyor or to a bin. Immediately after dis- elevator for delivery to its destination in the building.
charging, the conveyor passes downward around other Three types of marine legs are in use, designated
turn wheels and to the foot wheels or boot, where the according to the method by which they are supported
load picked up. Also called a knuckle wheel elevator.
is and adjusted, and known as the boom, the crosshead and
When the horizontal run is lengthened, so that the the combination types. In the crosshead type the elevator
material conveyed along it by scraping, it
is is usually leg is pivoted to, and hung from, a crosshead which
called a gravity discharge V-bucket conveyor. can be slid in vertical (or slightly inclined) structural
Page 413, 826-836. steelguides in the building; the lower end is swung out-
Elevator, Hydraulic. An elevator in which the motion ward by a pusher arm operated from the side of the
of the car is obtained by liquid water pressure. (A. S. building and power is delivered to the head pulley by a
M. E. Code.) The mechanism may consist of horizontal rope drive arranged with idlers in such a way that the
or vertical cylinders working with or without rope gear- varying vertical positions of the crosshead and angular
ing in addition, operating by pushing or pulling and with positions of the leg will be accommodated without inter-
high or low pressure. For the plunger type of hydraulic ference with the drive. In the boom type, the leg is
elevator, see Elevator, Plunger. suspended from the outer end of a boom which is
Page 489. pivoted to a fixed point on the building at its inner end,
a cylinder with a plunger or piston, and a combination its outer end leading diagonally upwards. The leg is
of air and hydraulic power (water or oil). Since air is moved horizontally at its lower end by pulling with
tackle, thehead pulley is driven by a rope drive leading
compressible, the load cannot be removed from a straight
around sheaves at the pivots at the two ends of the boom.
compressed air elevator at any other point than the top
or the bottom of the travel (where the car is against In the third or combination type, the leg is suspended
from a boom which has its inner end pivoted on a vertical-
stops). More than two levels can be served, however, if
oil only is used in the elevator cylinder, but is forced ly moving crosshead; one drum of a hoisting winch con-
into the cylinder by air pressure on top of it in the trols the boom and the other the crosshead. The leg is
When the air released the elevator will driven by rope transmission so arranged that both the
storage tank. is
descend, but motion can be arrested at any point in varying height of the crosshead and the varying angular
either direction, and the car locked by closing a valve in positions of the boom are allowed for. This type is es-
the oil line between the cylinder and tank. The action pecially suitable for working under large variations of
is like a hydraulic elevator without pumps, the source of water level.
67
ELE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ELE
Articles laid on the shelves or arms may be raised or mediate points by openings through the bed closed by-
lowered or both loading and discharging may be entirely
; hinged doors which, when lowered, form the discharge
by hand, entirely automatic, or by a combination of the chute on which the articles slide away from the bed.
two means. Unloading in the outward direction may also be per-
Page 329, 761, 770. formed by tipping a section of the bed outward, forming
Elevator, Perfect Discharge. A two strand chain bucket a contact plate which tips the parcel away from the bed
elevator having unusually large head wheels, and with onto a sloping receiving platform on which it immedi-
the return chains "snubbed" in under the head wheels by ately slides away.
a pair of small snubbing, choke or deflecting sprockets, Page 345, 759-773.
in order to invert the buckets completely over the dis- Arm. A
continuous vertical elevator
Elevator, Rigid
charge chute. This allows perfect discharge to take two
consisting of around
parallel strands of chain passing
place without the aid of centrifugal force. Also called head and foot sprockets fastened in pairs on two shafts,
positive or complete discharge type. and having attached to them at regular intervals rigid
Another arrangement giving a clean discharge is tc horizontal arms with diagonal braces from below. These
have the bucket fastened between the chains, but with arms may or may not be cross braced to each other, and
its discharge opening inclined toward the back of the
are either straight, or curved to fit special objects to be
chains. As the buckets pass around the head wheels, lifted. Cushion spring braces are often used, to cushion
the contents are dumped into pockets formed by partition! the impact of picking up a load, to decrease the maximum
radiating from the head shaft and attached to discs at load on the chain and other parts, and to permit higher
their ends these pockets in turn deliver the material to
speed of operation.
;
a chute directly beneath them, without interference from The arms will automatically pick up a load from a
the chain or buckets.
fingered loading platform, and discharge over the head.
Page 411.
If the articles elevated are uniform in size, and the up-
Elevator, Plunger. A hydraulic elevator having a ram ward run enclosed in a shaft up which they will slide
is
or plunger directly attached to the under side of the car easily, may be made self-unloading at any
the elevator
platform. (A. S. M. E. Code.) floor by slanting the arms downward slightly away from
Elevator, Pneumatic. An elevator which is operated the chain, loading them from the side, and opening a
by air pressure on a piston moving in a cylinder, the door on the face of the shaft-casing at the point where
cylinder and attachments being practically the same as dischargeis to take place. The article will slide out on
in air cylinder hoists, which see. The car moves in a runway prepared to receive it. Cakes of ice will slide
guides, rests on stops at the bottom, and against similar on smooth guides trays and boxes will require roller
;
stops at the top, which limit its travel. supports. For lowering, the direction of rotation may
Two arrangements of the hoist are in use ; the direct be reversed.
type and the rope type. The direct type has the air Page 331.
cylinder located directly above or below the center of An elevator especially adapted to han-
Elevator, Sack.
the shaft, with the piston rod attached to the top of the
dling sacks of grain, flour or similar articles. Sacks may
car or beneath the car, extending into the ground the ;
to load or unload an
- difficult air elevator at points will operate successfully on certain materials whose
between the top and the bottom, as the air is elastic, and particles cling, like ground cork, cotton seed, etc.
the elevator will descend or rise during the operation. Page 424.
Elevator, Portable. See Tiering Machine. the elevator machinery. (A. S. M. E. Code.) The steam
Elevator, Portable Belt. See Loader, Wagon; Con- elevator is now obsolete except in so far as its operation
veyor, Portable Belt. is in a few old installations.
continued The rope lifting
Elevator, Push-Bar. A
continuous drag-elevator, op- the car was usually wound around a drum turned by a
erating with practically the same mechanism as the push- steam engine. However, the traction elevator principle
bar conveyor, namely, two endless chains connected by also was applied to some extent on steam elevators.
crossbars moving parallel to an inclined (or even ver- Elevator, Traction. A type of electric elevator in which
tical) trough-like runway bed, and elevating articles the car motion is obtained by means of adhesion between
resting on the crossbars by sliding them along up the bed. the driving sheave and the hoisting cable. There are two
For steep inclines there must be a reasonable uniformity classes of traction elevators known as the direct or gear-
in the size of the containers, appropriate to the height of less traction and the geared traction machine. Either
the push-bar above the bed when the bed is nearly
; herringbone or worm-gear traction machines may be con-
"-or top guides are used, forming with it
quite vertical, structed. All direct traction and herringbone geared
and the side guides, a complete shaft. Loading may be elevators are for high speed cars, and are the only eleva-
done at any point discharge is over the head, or at inter-
;
:
68
ELE DEFINITION SECTION ELE
geared elevators are for medium speed car operation. lingered receiving platforms. The elevator is driven at
The direct elevator operates with direct rather
traction the head by a geared motor.
than a geared comiQction between the motor and driving Elevator, Water. A
bucket elevator on single or double
sheave, the gearing being eliminated by the use of a strands of chain, used to raise water, the foot wheel be-
specially designed very slow speed motor. ing suspended in the chain loops. The flight type is also
Page 480, 749-754. used, consisting of transverse wooden blades or paddles
Elevator, Tray. A continuous vertical elevator oper- attached to chains at intervals and pulled upward through
ated by one or more endless chains passing around a wooden casing which they closely fit, returning to the
sprockets at the top and bottom, and carrying wooden or foot wheel outside the casing.
metal trays rigidly attached to them, or suspended by Elevator Arms. Rigid, adjustable or pivoted arms
pivots. (See Elevator, Tray, Suspended; Elevator, Tray, which are attached to the chains of a continuous chain-
Three Chain.) driven elevator and used for raising material in large
An elevator in which the trays are rigidly attached to pieces or in containers. (See Elevator, Rigid Arm.)
the chains will discharge its load in passing over the head Elevator Automatic Return. A device which returns
wheels, unless it is removed by some special means like the car switch to the off position when the operator re-
a contact discharge cam while ascending. If loaded on leases his grip on the controller handle.
the descending run, it will discharge at the bottom by Elevator Automatic Stop Switch. A device which
tipping the trays downward as the chains start to pass gradually brings the car to a stop as the top or bottom
around the foot wheels. If a fingered tray is used, it landings are approached.
will discharge at any point in the descending run. (See Elevator Boot. The lowest part of the casing of a
Elevator, Fingered.) bucket elevator, from which the material to be elevated
Also called a package elevator. is dug by the buckets passing around the foot wheels,
Page 336, 759, 761. or which receives spillage in case the material is fed
Elevator, Tray, Suspended. A package elevator con- directly to the buckets on the upward run. It contains
around the head wheels. Trays are usually symmetrical- the bottom then closely fits the path of the bucket tips
ly hung occasionally they are suspended from points on
; and the take-up is placed in the casing head. The boot
opposite sides near diagonally opposite corners. Close is made of cast iron, of cast iron sides with curved steel
hung trays will not interfere with a through-shaft at the bottom plate, or of steel plates with or without a bottom
head trays hung a considerable distance below the pivot,
; plate. Occasionally the boot formed in a monolithic
is
matically or by hand, generally the latter. Fingered level where there is liability of the entrance of water.
trays are usually arranged for automatic loading and dis- Elevator Brake. A clamp or band
is ordinarily ar-
tachment to the chain is a point at either the top or the In certain traction installations the brake wheel is pressed
middle of the vertical link. In the former case a roller directly on the armature shaft on the motor and there-
on the lower end of the link runs in a guide parallel fore rotates at motor speed. It is usually the same diam-
to the chain in such a way as to positively keep the arm eter as the driving sheave.
vertical the latter, points at both top
: in and bottom of Elevator Bucket, Continuous. One of the series of
the vertical link are thus guided. abutting or overlapping buckets of a continuous bucket
Loads are picked up on the upward run (unless placed elevator. They are generally triangular in section, but
by hand on the downward run) and pass around the when hung between two strands of chain, they may
head, unloading automatically on the descending run on extend back, having a four sided section giving greater
69
ELE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ELE
The fronts of the buckets often have forward attached; the car-posts or stiles; and the under cross-
capacity.
projecting flanges at the sides, these helping
to form a member, which supports the car sills, platform and guide
complete chute for the discharge of the following bucket shoes.
when passing over the head wheels. Elevator Casing. The housing or enclosure within
Page 411, 826-839. which a bucket elevator operates. Casings are made of
Elevator Buffer. Adevice placed near the bottom of wood or steel, combined with cast iron or steel boots
an elevator shaft in such a manner that a cage passing and head casings. When the two lines of buckets are
below lower terminal at normal speed may be grad-
its cased separately, it is known as a double leg casing, and
ually brought to stop without shock to the passenger. is sometimes round otherwise it is single leg, and is
;
Counterweight buffers are commonly used in the same always rectangular in cross section. The casing is often
manner under the counterweight. These devices gen- omitted and the head and wheels held in position by
erally operate on the oil dash pot principle, with the framing.
addition of a spring to restore the piston to normal posi- Also called trunking and legging.'
tion. Oil buffers capable of stopping the car or counter- Elevator Clearance. At the top of the hoistway is the
weight from SO per cent excess speed without discomfort vertical distance between the lowest point of the super-
to passengers are now provided by some builders. structure and the highest point of the car enclosure or
Elevator Cables. Wire cables or ropes used for the crosshead when the car is at the limit of the over-travel
support, balancing and hoisting of elevators. These in- at the top. Clearance at the bottom of the hoistway is
clude car hoisting, car counterweight, drum counterweight the vertical distance between the floor of the pit and the
and compensating cables. All are required on drum type lowest point on the understructure of the car sling, ex-
elevators, but hoisting and compensating cables only are clusive of the safeties, guide brackets or shoes, when the
employed on traction machines. Car hoisting cables on a car resting on the bumpers or buffers fully compressed.
is
drum type machine have one end fastened to the car (A. S. M. E. Code.)
frame, pass up and over overhead sheaves and then to Elevator Code. A Code of Safety Standards for Eleva-
the driving drum, around which they are wound in spiral tors published by the American Society of Mechanical
grooves with their ends clamped to the drum. This cable Engineers and giving standards for the construction,
transmits the hoisting power from drum to car and car- operation and maintenance of elevators, dumbwaiters and
ries part of the weight of the car on one side and the escalators.
bottom of the car with the bottom of the counterweight dumbwaiter travels. The hoistway may or may not be
passing under a compensating sheave near the bottom of enclosed. (A. S. M. E. Code.) If all four sides of the
the hoistway so that acceleration cannot produce a slack- hoistway have to be left open for removal of load the
ness of hoisting cable due to sluggish action of the coun- counterweight must run in a separate shaft.
terweight on ascent, or of the car on descent. They also Elevator-Lowerer. A name sometimes applied to a
compensate for the variation in the net load on the driv- package elevator of the tray type, equipped for carrying
ing sheave of traction machines, due to the shifting of loads either up or down, and for discharging in either
the weight of the hoisting cables from one side of the run.
overhead sheave to the other, that occurs during elevator Elevator Machine. Denned by A. S. M. E. Code as the
motion. machinery and its equipment used in raising and lower-
Page 818-822. ing the elevator car.
Elevator Car. The
load carrying unit of an elevator, Elevator Safety Governor. A flyball governor usually
including platform, its supporting and guide frame, and located at the top of the hoistway and acting by centrifu-
enclosure. (A. S. M. E. Code.) gal force to control the elevator speed when it exceeds a
Elevator Car-gate Electric Contact. An electrical de- certain amount. Two freely revolving flyballs are raised
vice the purpose of which is to prevent the normal op- by excessive speed and actuate a cam by means of a link.
eration of the car, except by the use of a car-leveling The latter short circuits a portion of the motor field
device, unless the car gate is in the closed position. resistance thereby increasing the field strength and de-
(A. S. M. E. Code.) creasing the motor speed. A
further upward motion of
Page 484, 752. the governor balls brings a second cam into action and
Elevator Car-leveling Device. A mechanism the pur- the latter trips an eccentric operated by two coil springs.
pose of which is to move the car automatically toward the The eccentric grips an endless loose cable, which passes
landing level from either direction and to maintain the the length of the shaftway, and connects with dogs under-
car platform at the landing level during loading or un- neath the car, the dogs being set and power shut off by
loading. A
leveling device, however, may also be used the gripping and moving of the loose cable relative to
for the emergency operation of the car. (A. S. M. E. the car. The dogs can be set in most elevators also by
Code.) the use of a hand wheel in the car.
70
ELE DEFINITION SECTION EXC
passage of an elevator hoisting cable from the motor necting rod. Used in some types of small air motors for
loom to the head frame, and actuated by a sagging of the hoist operation.
cable in case of any slackness. Also a similar switch Engine, Reciprocating. An engine in which a piston
placed at the point of attachment of the hoisting cable moves back and forth in a cylinder, transforming the
to the car. energy of a fluid under pressure into mechanical work.
Page 486. Engine, Rotary. An engne generally using steam or
Elevator Take-up. In continuous elevators, the adjust- air, in which the fluid under pressure is delivered to
ing mechanism by which constant tension may be main- internal spaces which gradually enlarge to a maximum
tained in the endless belts or chains. It usually consists and then reduce to a small volume, due generally to the
of a pair of bearings for the foot wheel which slide in eccentric rotation of two of its parts. The fluid is ad-
straight vertical guides and are adjusted by screws work- mitted, expanded to the maximum volume and exhausted
ing in a nut, or in some cases, automatically by a weight during the cycle, which may be a half or a whole revolu-
acting directly or by means of a lever. These guides tion. All the principal parts of the engine rotate, and
may be fixed in the boot sides, or fixed pillow blocks with there is no reciprocation.
vertical adjustment, standing on the foundation, may Engine, Rotating. An engine in which the various
be used. To make them dust proof, some sort of sliding parts have the same motion relative to each other as in
shield is essential. (See also Elevator Boot.) an ordinary reciprocating engine, but in which the crank
462. is made fast and the frame carrying the cylinder rotates
Page
Engine. A machine for transforming the potential and delivers the power to the driven shaft, this being
energy of a fluid under pressure, or containing available an inversion of the usual arrangement where the cylinder
heat, into mechanical work either by rotating a shaft, or and frame are fixed and the crank shaft revolves. At
least three cylinders are used, in order to obtain good
by exerting a push or pull, or both, alternately, against
a resistance. Originally meaning almost any cleverly balance, and they are usually mounted in a circular
contrived machine (as engines of war) the term is frame.
becoming more and more restricted in its technical These engines are steam, air or internal combustion
usage, with a tendency toward its reservation for prime driven and have certain advantages in the way of smooth
movers of a definite type. A reciprocating engine is running, high speed and light weight.
usually meant, if no qualifying term is used. (See Escalator. A moving apron type of elevator-conveyor
Engine, Rotating ; Engine, Rotating Engine, Oscillat-
;
set at an inclination corresponding to that of ordinary
ing; Engine, Reciprocating.) stairways, and used for conveying persons or freight up
A few of the methods of classifying engines are: ac- or down. Two
types are in use, the cleat, and the step.
cording to the medium used for conveying energy to The former simply an inclined apron elevator with its
is
inder, in which the water vaporizes, with jump spark up. The corresponding machine for digging under water
or make and break ignition. is usually called a dredge; some machines can be and
71
EXC MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA EXC
hand pick and shovel, an operating mechanism for excavated, a tower for elevating one end of the track
handling the digging element and dumping its load where rope, a block-and-tackle rig arranged to tighten or
desired, and a skid, car or truck on which it is mounted slacken the track rope according as the rope in the
and by means of which it is moved from place to place. tackle (called the slack rope) is wound in or out on
Some types of so-called excavating machinery are fixed the drum of a winch, and a pulling or drag rope leading
in place, but these are really machines for rehandling from the bucket to another drum of the winch. With
material brought to them. the bucket at the outer end of the track rope, the track
Excavators may be classed according to the nature of rope is slackened, allowing it to sag and let the bucket
the digging element, as power shovels, drag buckets, drag in the material, where it
as it is pulled along.
fills
grab buckets and chain bucket or ladder excavators and ; When full, the track rope
tightened, raising the
is
according to the power used, as steam, gasoline, electric, bucket clear continued winding of the pulling rope will
;
or skids, with an A-frame derrick at one end, the wind- Excavator, Tower. See Excavator, Slack-rope Cable-
ing machinery in the middle and the boiler at the other way. The term is sometimes applied to a slack-rope
end. The boom is often worked at a fixed inclination, or cableway excavator when the necessary height for op-
there may be a variable topping lift. In the arrange- erating the track rope is obtained by a tower, rather than
ment known as automatic swinging the hoisting rope from by the natural conformation of the land. The tower is
the two-rope bucket is led from the boom point sheave often movable.
to a guide on one leg of the A-frame and thence to the Excavator, Trench. An excavating machine designed
hoisting drum. The bucket lowering line is led through especially digging vertical wall trenches for laying
for
a guide sheave on the other leg. During hoisting the lines of piping, sewers, etc. The usual arrangement in-
pull isone direction, tending to swing the boom so
in volves a chain bucket or ladder digging arrangement
that the bucket arrives over the dumping point at the mounted at the rear of a truck on wheels or a track-
time it is at the proper height for dumping; when the laying truck, a belt conveyor for conveying the dirt from
hoisting line is released and the load dumped the tension the bucket dumping point at the top of the ladder to the
in the lowering line causes the boom to swing back to spoil bank at the side, and a boiler and engine for
the digging position. Reversal of the lines causes the driving the machinery and moving the whole excavator
swinging to be reversed. If spoil must be dumped on slowly along the trench. usually The
slopes ladder
either side a bull wheel swing is used, and a separate downward the rear, the buckets scrape the dirt off
to
slewing engine or slewing attachment is required. the end of the cut on the way up, and dump as they
Grab bucket excavate rs are the only type which can pass over the top sprocket, which also does the driving.
dig to great depths or within small enclosures like Side cutters are attached directly to the chains. The
caissons, coffer dams, etc. width of the trench may be altered by changing the
Excavator, Skid. An excavating machine mounted on buckets for others of a different length and the machine
a platform which is supported on skids rollers under- ; cuts the full width and depth (which can be varied) at
neath these skids rest on a temporary timber trackway one cut. The ladder may be swung up horizontally when
laid on the ground. To move the machine a bridle is the excavator is to be moved to a new location it begins
;
attached to the rear of the platform, to this a block and the trench by digging as it is swung down. The belt
tackle, and this is in turn connected to a long piece of conveyor can be arranged to deliver the spoil to either
wire rope which is made fast at the far end to a dead- side and to any height within the capacity of the
man or other suitable anchorage. The tackle is operated machine.
by a winch on the excavator. Another type has a digging element which is as wide
Various types of digging and operating mechanisms are as the narrowest trench to be dug, and digs wider
mounted on skids, such as grab buckets, dippers, chain trenches by oscillating the digger transversely by means
buckets, etc. of an adjustable worm gear drive.
Excavator, Slack-rope Cableway. An arrangement for Still another type has a large wheel with digging
excavating and handling bulk material, comprising a buckets on its periphery. The wheel is rotated while its
drag-line scraper bucket attached to a trolley or carrier, supporting car is moved forward.
which runs on a track rope spanning the area to be Trench excavators are driven by steam or internal
72
EXC DEFINITION SECTION FEE
even welded together continuously for long sections. application to the end to which power is applied. The
Buildings, bridges, concrete pavements, long
structures, end secured to the block is called the standing part, the
crane runways, etc., are provided with means of taking opposite end, the hauling part.
care of expansion, in good practice. Fan, Centrifugal. A centrifugal compressor designed
metal piece
Eye. A hole through a pin, bolt, etc., or a for delivery of large quantities of air at a slight pressure
or rope looped so as to form an opening through which above the atmosphere, this pressure usually being ex-
something can pass, as a hook or rope. pressed in inches of water. The impeller or wheel is
Eye Bar. A long bar having an eye in each end, like mounted on a shaft, and driven directly or by belt from
the tension members of some bridge structures. an engine or motor, or by a belt from a line shaft. Air
Factor of Safety. A quantity which, if multiplied by the is drawn in at or near the shaft, is whirled by blades
working stress in a part under load, will give a quantity on the wheel, and moves radially outward on account of
material of the
equivalent to the ultimate strength of the the centrifugal force developed by the whirling motion.
part. This is the nominal or so-called apparent factor It flows into the casing, which is often spiral or scroll
of safety, and to say that a factor of safety is four does shaped and leads the air to the fan outlet by a passage
not mean that the part can be subjected to four times of gradually increasing sectional area.
the working load before rupture. The real factor of Centrifugal fans are used largely for producing draft
safety involves allowances for the following:
The kind for combustion, for ventilation, and for conveying light
of loading as steady or dead, variable or reversing; the fine material which can be easily picked up by a current
elastic limit of the material; the method of applying the of air, such as grain, shavings, ashes and cement. They
load gradually, suddenly, or with shock; and for are also much used as exhausters, or where air is to be
ignorance as to the internal condition of the
material- a pressure slightly below the
removed from a space at
Tn material having an elastic limit,
its defects, etc. any atmosphere, and delivered to the atmosphere.
the actual factor of safety will be less than the nominal Feeder. A machine designed to deliver a more or less
limit to the
in proportion to the ratio of the elastic uniform supply of bulk material to a conveyor, crusher
ultimate strength. or other machine, receiving its supply from a hopper
Suddenly applied loads produce double the stress that or similar bulk container. It replaces the attendant who
a gradually applied load produces, and loads applied with would otherwise be required to manipulate a gate, and
shock, as by dropping, may produce enormous stresses, will produce a more even flow than is possible with hand
dependent on the load and the distance dropped and
the
regulation. Some types will measure with considerable
amount of elasticity of the part loaded. The greater
accuracy the amount of material passing.
this elasticity the less the resulting maximum stress
Feeders may be continuous or intermittent according to
from a suddenly applied load, and the amount of energy whether a steady uniform supply or an intermittent supply
which a structure or part can thus absorb from a sud-
of equal quantities at regular intervals is delivered the ;
73
FEE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA FEE
under the hopper and carrying the hooper load on a Feeder, Cutting. A device which feeds a bulk material
moving part will
prevent bridging. Some feeders tend like moist sand from a hopper
discharge opening onto a
to compress the material and should not be used with conveyor, consisting of a series of parallel flat bars
materials which pack. A
few feeders, especially those pivoted vertically on fixed pins at one end, and at the
supplying a crusher, will perform a rough screening other pivoted on a bar which can be oscillated horizontal-
operation. (See Screen.) ly. The oscillations of the bars continually cut or slice
Most feeders are fixed in position, but where a moving off the sand which crowds down through the rather large
conveyor must be fed from a number of different points, hopper opening.
a traveling feeder that can be moved (or can propel A
Feeder, Plunger. reciprocating feeder located below
itself) from one position to another is often used. the discharge of a hopper, and having a horizontal
square
Feeders are most satisfactorily driven by gears, but section plunger operated by a crank shaft or
eccentric,
where very slow speed with considerable variation is re- arranged to push the material flowing down from the
quired, a pawl and ratchet driven by a crank and eccentric hopper outward along a horizontal plate until it falls off
are convenient. A feeder should be driven from the ma- the edge. When the plunger is withdrawn, more mate-
chine it feeds, so that in case the latter stops, the feeder rial descends in front of it. The length of stroke and
will also stopand not choke it up. clutch is also pro- A number of strokes per minute can be varied to suit the
vided so that the feeder can be stopped to allow the discharge required.
succeeding machinery to be emptied when desired, for A single plunger gives a regular intermittent feed. If
repairs or cleaning. more uniform feeding is required, two plungers actuated
Feeder, Apron. A feeder in which a short section of by opposed eccentric or cranks may be used (called a
apron conveyor is placed with its receiving end beneath double plunger feeder), or three may be used placed at
a hopper opening from which it receives material, and 120 deg.
which discharges it at the other end into a crusher or Also called a push plate feeder.
elevator, or onto a conveyor. It may slope upward if the Feeder, Reciprocating Bar or Reciprocating Grizzly. A
head-room Shallow steel pans are
limitations require
it. reciprocating plate feeder in which the end of the plate
used for and heavy overlapping steel plates for ore.
coal, is made up of uniformly spaced bars, through which
Feeder, Automatic Gate. A hopper or spout discharge the fine portion of the material will drop the large pieces ;
gate of the quadrant gate or sliding gate type which is carry over the ends. When used to feed a crusher the
used as a feeder, and is periodically opened and shut fine material may by-pass the crusher thus
lightening the
by a revolving eccentric of adjustable eccentricity, or by load on it. When
feeding a belt conveyor, it allows the
equivalent means. The width of the opening is also ad- lumps on top of the previously laid fine
to be deposited
justable. material, thus saving wear on the belt and allowing a
,
The feeder can be operated by the buckets of a con- somewhat steeper slope ; on a picking table this arrange-
veyor in such a way that it opens and closes at the proper ment aids the picking operation. Also called fingered
times to fill each bucket passing beneath it. reciprocating feeder.
Feeder, Automatic Screw. A feeder consisting of a Feeder, Reciprocating Plate. A feeder consisting of a
section of screw conveyor in a trough immediately be- specially formed hopper bottom beneath which a hori-
low a hopper discharge, and rotated uniformly (subject zontal plate supported on wheels or rollers or by hinged
to adjustment) by power. A gate in the hopper bottom supporting rods can be moved back and forth. The front
can also be used to control the flow to the screw trough. end projects over the conveyor or crusher that is being
The discharge is fairly continuous with a single flight, fed; the rear end is sufficiently long to remain always
but much more so with a double flight screw. The feeder under the hopper. As the plate moves forward, the mate-
discharge may be in the end or the bottom of the trough. rial on it also moves, partially restrained by an adjustable
Feeder, Belt. A conveyor in which a short section of gate, and fresh material falls in behind it from the hop-
belt conveyor has its receiving end placed beneath a per. When the plate returns the material on it cannot
hopper discharge opening, and its discharge end over the move back, therefore the plate slides from underneath
conveyor or crusher which it is to feed. The supply the part toward the front, and it falls off. In addition
from the hopper is controlled by an adjustable gate. to the gate adjustment, the length of stroke and number
The head pulley is often of the magnetic type to re- of strokes can be varied ; also, if it is desired to by-pass a
move stray or "tramp" iron if the feeder supplies a crusher, the eccentric rods may be connected to the plate
crusher. at a point farther back, so that the front end of the plate
Feeder, Cam. A feeder in which a cylinder with pock- extends beyond the crusher receiving hopper, to a by-pass
ets having curved walls resembling cam surfaces is placed opening arranged for it.
in a chute of rectangular section, completely obstructing A reciprocating plate feeder is sometimes made narrow
itexcept for the material carried past in the pockets, enough to allow it to be set between the ties of a railway
when the cylinder rotates on its shaft. If the material track, receiving the dischargefrom dump cars and feeding
flows readily, the pockets will fill so uniformly that the it an inclined elevator beside the right-of-way. The
to
feeder can be used to measure it. (See also Feeder, Ro- plate is oscillated by an eccentric driven from the ele-
tating Paddle.) vator.
Feeder, Chain. A feeder in which the lower run of a Feeder, Roll. An automatic feeder consisting of a large
short horizontal drag refuse chain conveyor is used to roll on a horizontal shaft, placed under and slightly to
drag the material discharged from a hopper opening along one side of a hopper discharge opening in such a posi-
a horizontal trough, and feed it into a crusher or con- tion that material will not flow when the roll is at rest,
veyor. It is driven at an adjustable speed from the dis- but when it is rotated slowly in one direction, material
charge end sprockets, and the feed end may be fixed or will be carried over the highest point and discharged to
loose ; the latter arrangement allows it to be lifted onto the conveyor or crusher beyond. The rotation is inter-
a- pile and to dig down into it. mittent, by a pawl and ratchet through a variable throw
74
FEE DEFINITION SECTION FLO
eccentric, or is continuous with variable speed. An ad- Feeder, Zigzag. A feeder intended for materials like
justable gate in the hopper controls the discharge by clay, consisting of a set of heavy steel bars placed at the
varying the thickness of the layer passing over the bottom of a hopper and supporting the weight of the
wheel. Cleats are sometimes added to the face of the contents. They are given a zigzag motion by connection
roll to give a better grip on the material. to an external rocking member, which exerts a shear-
Feeder, Rotary Disc or Rotary Grizzly. See Screen, ing action on the clay and allows it to fall through.
Rotating Disc. Stones and frozen lumps are not thus sheared, but re-
Feeder, Rotary Paddle. A feeder consisting of a paddle main on top of the bars where they cause no harm to the
wheel with four rectangular equally spaced radial blades succeeding machinery, and are removed by hand when
of a length equal to the width of the chute in which it is the feeder is emptied at convenient intervals.
placed, and with its shaft carried in bearings in the Felloe. The circular rim of a wooden wheel, into which
chute sides. The bottom of the chute is slightly depressed the outer ends of the spokes are inserted.
under the rotor, which fits it closely. The direction of Ferrule. A short cylindrical tube fitted on the end of
rotation such that the quadrant shaped pockets fill and
is another tube or cylinder of steel, wood, etc., to reinforce
carry over the shaft, discharging into the lower extension it or to prevent undue wear. Ferrules are often combined
of the chute. The feeder may be rotated continuously at with caps or discs covering the ends of the part in ques-
a variable slow speed, or intermittently one quarter of a tion, and occasionally have an axially or radially project-
turn at a time to prevent bridging and to ensure com-
; ing flange. A
good example of the latter is in the type
plete filling of the pockets, an agitator is sometimes placed of roller used in roller conveyors for handling brick.
above it. Where the material is very fine, all parts may Fines. The name given to the finer material in screen-
be made practically dust tight. Instead of four pockets, ing operations, especially to the smallest of the material
a cylinder with a single pocket is sometimes used. Either which passes through a given mesh or perforation mixed
arrangement will feed so uniformly when handling mate- with other sizes up to the maximum allowed by the open-
rial which flows easily that it can be used to measure the ings of the screen.
quantity fed. (See also Feeder, Cam.) Fish-bellied. The term applied to a beam when the
Feeder, Rotating Plate. A feeder consisting of a depth is decreased toward the ends in order to approxi-
slightly inclined disc placed with one side of its top mate a beam of uniform strength. The top of the beam
face under a hopper opening, and rotating so as to carry is usually straight and horizontal, the lower outline
the material continuously out under an adjustable gate to curves upward toward the ends, the shape being approxi-
a point where it can be scraped off the disc by diagonal mately that of a parabola with the axis vertical.
fixed skirt boards. In addition to the variation in the Fittings, Pipe. The term applied to the various con-
thickness of the layer made possible by the gate, the speed nections, outlets and other attachments for pipe, exclud-
of rotation can be varied. ing valves.
Feeder, Shaking. A feeder in which a slightly inclined Flange. The turned edge of a rolled structural shape.
plate or pan is suspended beneath a hopper opening in Also a circular plate with thickened hub around a
such a position that, when at- rest, material cannot flow hole in the center, used for coupling pipes or shafts.
from the hopper over the end of the pan, but when Also the flat rim around an opening in a casting, for
shaken horizontally by rotation of eccentrics, the mate- attaching another part or a cover, as a cylinder flange.
rial will move uniformly down the pan and over its edge. Fleet. A term applied to the passing of a rope through
The rate of feed depends on the number of oscillations, a machine or around a sheave, as opposed to fastening
their stroke, and the inclination of the pan ; the two last or dead-ending it. A
rope fleets through a grab bucket
are the ones varied in most installations. Owing to its when the latter is suspended in the bight of the rope;
inclination, this feeder is self-cleaning, and is therefore it is dead-ended in it when it is made fast to some part
advantageous in freezing weather. of the bucket.
Feeder, Swing-hammer Regulating Gate for. A gate for Flexible Coupling. See Coupling, Joint, Shafting, etc.
holding back the flow of unsized material from a hopper Flight. The part of a flight conveyor which comes in
to a feeder, consisting of a row of heavy pendulums or contact with the material or package conveyed, moving
hammers, which are easily deflected by large lumps con- it by reason of its connection with the conveyor chains
tained in the material and allow them to pass without or cable. Also, the helical portion of a screw as used in
damage to the gate. This form is sometimes substituted a screw conveyor, comprising one complete turn. Also,
for the more common solid sliding gate controlled by a a succession of steps on which persons may ascend or
lever or rack and pinion. descend, as a flight of stairs.
Feeder, Swinging Plate. A feeder similar to the plunger Float. A floating platform or shallow scow-shaped
feeder, but having instead of the sliding plungers, one or boat with a deck, used as a landing platform. Also, such
more plates hinged at the top to the feeder frame, and a craft used around shipping for miscellaneous work pur-
swung back and forth by eccentrics connected to their poses, such as painting. (See also Float, Car.)
lower edges. The material descends from the hopper Float, Car. A
large full-bodied or scow-shaped boat
in front of them as they alternately swing forward they
; with a level deck on which rails are laid for carrying
push it forward, and on their return the space made railway cars, and which is used as a means of ferrying
vacant is filled by the descent of fresh material. them from one railway water terminal to another. Gen-
Feeder, Traveling. A feeder which is mounted on erally without means of self-propulsion if this is pro- ;
wheels running on rails, and can be drawn or self-pro- vided, it is called a ferry.
pelled to any desired point for operation. (See Hopper, Flow Diagram. A diagrammatic representation of the
Traveling; Hopper, Belt Feeding.) paths taken by a material and its various subdivisions as
Feeder, Traveling Grizzly Bar or Traveling Bar. See it passes through a plant in which continuous operations
Screen, Traveling Bar. are performed on it. Flow diagrams are often made out
75
FOO MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA GAN
for crushing, screening and washing plants, cement plants, Friction, Coefficient of. The ratio of the frictional re-
brick plants, etc. sistance between two bodies or the force which must be
Also called flow sheet. applied in order to make one of them slide on the other,
The metal to the force with which they are pressed against each
Foot Block. fitting secured to the foot of a
derrick mast. (See Derrick Bottom.) other. This varies from as much as 0.5 when leather and
traveling crane. 3 ft. in. being common. Broad gages are used for
Derricks and other guyed cranes must have foundations
special machines, traveling cranes, transfer tables, etc.
simply to carry the greatest vertical load likely to come Gantry. (Common abbreviation of Gantry Crane.) A
on them. Pillar and other non-guyed cranes must have crane whose principal structure consists of a horizontal
foundations not only sufficient to carry the total load, bridge or girder carried at a considerable height above
but also widely enough distributed to prevent overturn- theground on runways supported by A-frames at the
ing, and on firm enough soil so that there will not be ends,and spanning railroad tracks, storage yards, etc.
settling under one edge when lifting a large load at a The A-frames may rest directly on the ground, giving a
considerable radius. fixed gantry, or may be supported by wheels on rails
within building structures, or out-
Traveling cranes and be capable of self-propulsion, giving a traveling
side and adjacent to them, often have no foundations
gantry. Means are provided for propelling the two ends
independent of those of the building itself, which are at the same speed. (See Bridge Drive.)
made larger to accommodate the increased load. The gantry may have a trolley running on the bridge,
Friction. The rubbing of the surface of one body carrying a hoist ; this is the most common form and is
fering conditions. Under the one extreme condition of rise to many different forms.
absolute dryness, it is usually stated that frictional re- Both legs are commonly the same length, designated
sistance is proportional to the normal load or total pres- as full portal gantry. Occasionally one leg is eliminated
sure, is independent of the extent of the surfaces but by running that end of the bridge on a runway along the
dependent on their nature, and decreases as the relative side or on the roof of a building, giving a semi-portal
velocity increases. An example is a brake shoe, where gantry. The legs are also sometimes unequal in length,
the decelerating force is independent of the area in con- to suit the slope of the ground or other demands, or a
tact, and is least when the speed is highest. gantry with short legs may travel on moderately elevated
Under the other extreme condition, called perfect runways.
lubrication, when the actual metallic surfaces are sup- (Also called Gantry Crane, Bridge Crane, Bridge
posed to be separated by a film of oil at all times, it Gantry, Frame Crane.) Page 167. 793, 797, 798.
appears that the frictional resistance is independent of Gantry, Bridge. See Gantry, Cantilever Bridge.
the load, varies with the area of the surfaces in contact, Gantry, Cantilever. A gantry in which the bridge is
is independent of their nature, and increases with the continued into an overhanging portion beyond the A-
relative velocity. It is also markedly dependent on the frame support on one end (single cantilever) or on both
character of the lubricant. ends (double cantilever). The cantilever ends may be
Tl'.erefore, when no lubricant is used, the nature of short as compared with the span of the bridge, or may
the rubbing surfaces is important ;
when perfect lubrica- be very long, which case it is sometimes called a ship-
in
tion is obtained (produced by "flooding"), the nature of yard gantry, from its usefulness in ship construction.
the lubricant is most important, and for intermediate con- The cantilever ends are often unequal in length. The
ditions,covering the great majority of practical cases, end frames must be open if the loads picked up on the
bcth are important. cantilever end are to be run inside ; to secure the neces-
76'
GAN DEFINITION SECTION GAT
relativelyclose together and are braced to each other, This construction is generally advantageous when a
giving a tower with a gantry base. building wall or other existing structure can be utilized
In some shipyards where side launching is practised, the at one end to support the elevated runway.
gantry cranes run on three lines of supports ordinarily, Various forms of handling gear are used on semi-
one line being between the ship and the water. This is most usual being the ordinary rotary
portal gantries, the
removed during the launching period, and the span is pillar crane with geared drum winch, either fixed in
thus temporarily converted into a cantilever. position on the bridge, or on a wheeled trolley, the
Page 169, 797-798. latter being the more common.
Cantilever Bridge. (See Gantry, also Canti- Page 190, 191.
Gantry,
lever.) A term sometimes applied to a cantilever gantry Gantry, Shipyard. See Crane, Shipyard. Cantilever
crane, especially one in which the bridge span and canti- gantries shipyards generally travel on .elevated run-
in
levers are very long", and are of trussed construction like ways ; tower gantries on widely spaced rails on the
ordinary bridges. They where very large areas
are used ground.
must be served, but where the customary load is com- Page 197.
paratively light, as in coal and ore handling and storage. Gantry, Tower. A crane which is mounted on a tower-
(Also called Ore Bridge. See also Crane, Bridge Stor- like structure with a gantry base, the tower being used
age.) Page 169, 797-798. in order to obtain a high lift, and the gantry base in
Gantry, Fixed. A gantry which is fixed in location. order to allow a track to pass beneath it to bring material
\\hcn supplied with a trolley on the bridge and a hoist, to it.
it is often called a transfer crane, and is much used for (See Crane, Tower; Crane, Shipyard.)
transferring loads between cars and trucks in freight Page 201.
yards. (Also called Transfer Gantry, Railroad Crane.) Gantry, Traveling. A gantry which is capable of self-
Page 169.
pulsion along rails. To allow for inequalities of the
Gantry, Floating. A double cantilever gantry crane of track, a three-point support of the bridge is sometimes
large and high lift, installed on a barge or
capacity used, and a pivot connection between the bridge and one
pontoon. The gantry bridge is supported on four or of the supporting towers prevents distortion in case one
more braced legs along the sides of the pontoon, and end of the bridge gets ahead of the other. (See also
the cantilever extensions at thetwo opposite ends allow Gantry.)
a load to be raised from a dock or ship, moved inward, Page 167.
and deposited on the deck of the barge. The operation A which one
Gantry, Rotary Bridge. gantry crane in
is reversed to lower a heavy weight into a ship.
leg fixed in position or pivoted so as to rotate about
is
The free deck of this type of floating crane is a great a vertical axis, while the other leg travels on a rail at
advantage for storage purposes, but owing to the limita- the circumference of a circle of which the length of the
tion of the trolley to straight line motion only, the crane A
bridge is the radius. trolley on the bridge enables any
must be warped along the side of the vessel or dock to Used work.
part of the circle to be reached. for storage
properly locate the load, and this is often a disadvantage.
Page 169.
(See also Crane, Floating.) A
Gantry Base. base formed like a gantry, or with a
Gantry, Folding Jib. A travelling cantilever gantry cross structure supported by legs or frames at the ends.
with one (or both) of its cantilevers hinged close to the This term is used in connection with elevated or tower
inner end so that it may be raised into a vertical position
traveling cranes, etc., in which the structure usually
and leave the space alongside the crane absolutely clear.
spans tracks on which cars are used to transport the
This enables the crane to be run past an existing struc- material to the crane.
ture, which would otherwise block it, or, if used along-
Gantry Crane. See Gantry.
side a dock as a cargo or fitting-out crane, allows the
ship to be warped into position without the interference Gasket. A ring or sheet of packing material by which
that would exist between the fixed cantilever arm and a flanged or faced joint is made water, steam, air or oil
the stacks or rigging of the vessel. tight. The materials used are rubber, canvas, asbestos,
Gantry, Full or Full Portal. An ordinary travelling paper, sheet lead, copper, etc.
gantry with two legs of equal length, so called to dis- Gate. A device used for controlling or stopping the
tinguish it from a semi-portal gantry. (See Gantry.) flow of material in a pipe, spout, chute, trough or other
Page 169.
channel, consisting of a body or frame set in or attached
Gantry, Half. See Gantry, Semi-portal. to the channel walls, a gate which enters or cuts into the
Gantry, Rotary Jib. A gantry crane carrying a jib material edgewise or slides edgewise across an opening
which may be rotated about a vertical axis. The jib, through which the material passes, and suitable mechan-
which is fixed in inclination, and is generally horizontal, ism for operating the gate. The latter may be flat and
may or not carry a trolley. In some cases the turntable slide in straight guides generally at right angles to the
on which the jib is mounted is itself on a carriage travel- direction of flow (see Gate, Sliding) or it may be curved
ing on rails along the gantry bridge. or cylindrical in form and swing about a fixed axis
Gantry, Rotary Tower. A tower gantry in which the (See Gate, Quadrant.)
load-carrying element may be rotated about the vertical. Both forms are used for handling fluids in pipes,
(See Gantry, Tower.) though the sliding gate, or so-called gate valve, is much
Page 197. more common than the quadrant form in these places.
77
GAT MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA GAT
(See also Valve.) Both forms are also much used for In vertical spouts or chutes the convex sides of the
handling in bulk finely divided solids, which will flow cylindrical leaves may be turned upward or downward,
readily. but the terms overcut and undercut are not applicable.
They are placed in the side wall of a bin near the One leaf may be used, termed a simole, single or sim-
bottom, or in the bottom of the bin, known respectively plex gate; two leaves may be placed symmetrically and
as side discharge and bottom discharge. connected by gearing so that they will close simultan-
The terms gate and valve are used somewhat indis- eously from opposite directions and meet at the center
criminately, but the former is best restricted to cases of the spout, termed a duplex gate. This form pos-
where the part which cuts off the flow moves edgewise sesses the property of giving a central discharge, what-
into the stream, or where it swings on hinges like a door. ever the amount of opening.
(See also Valve, Cock.) The quadrantor cylindrical form of gate is also used
Gate, Ash Bin or Ash. A gate discharging downward as a discharge ash hopper gate, the leaf swinging
side
from the bottom of a hopper. It is usually of the
upward to open, leaving a clear opening for the flow,
duplex quick opening quadrant type, with a clear open- assisted if necessary by a hoe in the hands of the at-
ing of at least 24 in. by 24 in. to prevent arching and to tendant.
discharge the largest clinkers. Quadrant gates may be operated by hand through
With side discharge ash hoppers, sliding or simplex levers, hand chain wheels or worm gearing; steam or
quadrant gates are used; all material which will not air may also be used in a pressure cylinder connected
flow out drawn with a hoe.
is to a lever on the leaf.
Gate, Automatic Feed. See Feeder, Automatic Gate. Also called arc gate, swinging valve (side or bot-
Gate, Clam-shell. A duplex quadrant gate. (See Gate, tom according to location on bin), cut-off gate, pivoted
Quadrant.) gate and radial gate.
Gate, Concrete. A gate used for controlling the flow of Gate, Rack and Pinion. A sliding gate which is oper-
concrete from hoppers, spouts, etc. Both the sliding and ated by turning a handwheel on a shaft with one or
quadrant forms are used, with the especial requirement two pinions which engage with a corresponding number
that they should be grout-tight. of racks attached to the gate or to an extension of the
Gate, Conveyor Trough. A gate for controlling the dis- gate.
charge from the bottom of a trough in which a screw Gate, Simplex. See Gate, Quadrant.
or a drag conveyor operates. The most common form is a Gate, Sliding. A
form of gate in which a flat plate
plain sliding gate, moving transversely or longitudi
flat (sometimes braced or ribbed for stiffness) slides edge-
nally with respect to the trough, in guides formed in a cast- wise in guides to control the flow of fluids in a channel,
ing bolted to the bottom of the trough, and operated by a by reducing or cutting off the area for flow. Such gates
hand lever or some form of gearing. If it is important may be easily made water tight, and are much used for
to have the cylindrical form of the bottom of a screw handling water flowing in channels for hydraulic power
conveyor trough maintained throughout, the gate may be purposes. They are also used for controlling loose bulk
curved to fit it, and slide longitudinally. Another method material flowing from bins, hoppers or storage pockets,
of obtaining the same result is to have a pair of swinging or from the troughs of screw, flight and drag conveyors.
gates or curved leaves pivoted on opposite sides of the The guides may be fastened separately to the wall or
trough (to the curve of which they are fitted) and meet- bottom, or may be formed on part of a solid self-con-
ing on the center line underneath. When these are swung tained frame. The edge of the door may be plain and
down, they uncover a large opening in the bottom of fitinto a plain groove in the guide returns may be made ;
the trough and allow the material moving along it to on both door and frame, and hooked into each other;
drop through. This form of gate has the additional or by returning the guide through an additional 90 deg.
advantage of an opening extending so far up on the it may be adapted to fitting on the inside of a rectangular
trough sides that no material can be carried over the spout or chute. A short chute, called a lip chute, is often
opening on account of the tendency of the conveyor to formed on the outside of the guide frame.
crowd the material up against one side. The gate may be operated by direct hand pull, by a
Gate, Flap. A swinging gate located between two bot- lever operating through a long rod from a distance if
tom openings in a two-way hopper, to allow the dis- desired, by a hand chain or wire rope wheel, or by
charge to be directed through either at pleasure. Flap single or double rack and pinion gearing. If located in
gates are similarly used at Y-branches in spouts, and at the side wall of a bin, a pawl is often attached to the
discharge openings in the bottom of chutes. gate and notches are cut in one of the guides engaging ;
Gate, Quadrant; Gate, Cylindrical. A gate used for one in the other will hold the gate open at any desired
controlling the flow of loose material in a chute or point.
spout, or the discharge from a hopper or bin, and con- Vertical gates generally open upward. Horizontal
sisting of a hollow partial cylindrical portion which cuts gates, as in trough bottoms, longitudinally or
may open
into the material edgewise along the diameter and forms transversely; the latter has the advantage that if there
the gate proper (also called This is
leaf or spade). are a series of such discharge openings, graduated partial
supported by circular sectors cast with it at each end opening of several gates will allow simultaneous dis-
and mounted on pivot or on a through shaft which is charge in all, which cannot be done with the longitudinal
generally located at the center of cylinder curvature. opening.
For flow in inclined chutes, the quadrant gate may be An exception to the usual flat gate is found in the
so placed that, when closed, it will hold back the ma- curved form used in the bottom of conveyor troughs
terial in contact with the inside or with the outside of (see Gate, Conveyor Trough). Occasionally the gate is
the cylindrical portion. It may also be arranged to cut formed like and instead of sliding in straight
a disc,
downward into the stream of material, called an over- guides, is pivoted about a point outside the channel
cut gate, or may come up from beneath the stream, called (usually a pipe or spout) in such a way that it moves
an undercut gate. edgewise to cut off the flow.
78
GAT DEFINITION SECTION GAT
Gate, Swinging. A form of gate in which one leaf, or Onthe crypt floor and each of the sorting floors there
'wo leaves placed symmetrically, swinging on hinges like is an automatic conveying system consisting of an end-
a door or the gates of a canal lock, are used to close a less line of uniformly moving cars called truckers, that
channel or opening through which fluids or loose solid in the crypt being capable of handling fully loaded
material may flow. As it is often difficult or impossible bodies, and those on the small package and main sorting
to open or close them while flow is taking place, they are floors being capable of handling SO Ib. and 1,500 Ib. loads
not much used as control gates for material handling. respectively.The truckers are four-wheel platform cars,
(See Gate, Conveyor Trough; Gate, Flap.) driven at a uniform speed, with their plat-
electrically
Gate Valve. A form of valve fitted in a pipe for con- forms on the same level as the floor. These truckers
veying fluids, in which the opening is closed by the edge- form on the sorting floors a continuous rectangular main
wise sliding of a part called the gate, moving in guides runway around the outside of the whole floor, traveling at
cast in the valve body. The
gate proper is opened or six miles hour, with six transverse rectangular
per
closed by a stem passing out of the valve through a divisional runways within it, traveling at three miles per
gested freight stations in London, comprising a com- crypt floor is completely overhung by a series of travel-
bination of a large central terminal clearing house for ing cranes.
incoming and outgoing freight, with a demountable body The area of a sorting floor, minus the space occupied
system for holding the freight, these bodies being trans- by wells, conveying systems and elevators, is divided into
ferred from motor truck to clearing house, clearing transverse sections by the divisional conveyor runways;
house to railway car, or car to car, as required. each division is again divided transversely into bays by
The body proposed is of a size suitable for occupying alleys, along which are placed slowly moving uni- direc-
the full capacity of one of the small British freight cars, tional hand-controlled live roller conveyors, which can
and capable of being lifted bodily by eyes set perma- receive from a divisional belt at one end and deliver to
nently in the top. Doods in the sides, ends or top are one at the other. By an elaborate magnetic roller trans-
provided. A
fleet of trucks, each capable of carrying fer system, controlled by a selective destination mechan-
one of these bodies, operates in conjunction with the ism, parcels placed on a standard tray on any alley and
clearing house, bringing to it bodies loaded for a single rolled to its junction with the divisional runway, can be
destination, or containing miscellaneous freight without automatically loaded on to the latter and carried to
any attempt at sorting. They also deliver freight from any other bay on the same divisional runway and there
the clearing house to its ultimate destination. Pieces too discharged, or, if the destination is more remote, can be
large in any dimension to go into a body are handled carried to a transfer point, where it is shifted to the
separately or in bundles, but are to be suitably arranged main runway, by carried to the proper divisional run-
it
with an eighth for offices, shops, etc. The rail level is trucks, all operators occupying definite stations. Large
one floor below the road level ;
here twenty-two parallel pieces of freight are handled on the main sorting floors,
tracks receive all the railway freight traffic by electric by the crane if desired. Small pieces are moved by hand.
haulage. Parallel to these tracks, and at intervals among Automatic freight elevators carry material among the
them, are four trenches or gaps, running the full length different sorting floors, according to the dispatcher's
of the building, and furnishing four openings through setting of the selective mechanism.
which bodies may be lowered to or raised from the lowest Loaded bodies with miscellaneous freight collected
floor or crypt, as the inventor calls it, by numerous over- from the city and outgoing, are hoisted directly from
head traveling cranes. Transversely across the space motor trucks to an empty bay or one that is not busy
above the rail level is a series of twelve equally spaced on one of the sorting floors, and there opened, and the
roadways on to which motor trucks may be driven from contents distributed as described. As this is going on
the street, to have bodies mounted or removed by the all over the building, freight is being collected at every
cranes overhanging them, each crane spanning half the point as well as being distributed from every point, so
roadway and extending an equal distance beyond its that there is soon enough to fill the empty body; it is
edge over the tracks beneath. Above this roadway level sealed, marked and lowered to place in a truck, freight
in succession are a lower small package sorting floor, a car, or to the crypt, to be held for a few hours until a
lower main package sorting floor and a floor for work- train is available.
shops and offices. The complete areas of the two main Loaded bodies may be transferred directly from the
sorting floors are overhung by traveling cranes, which cars of one line to those of another, making use of the
can, through suitably placed wells, lift loaded or empty crypt only in case of delay. Incoming bodies with mixed
bodies from a railway car on the track level or from a goods for London are sorted in the same manner as out-
motor truck on one of the roadways, or lower them ; going freight, the bays being designated according to
or, by a transfer, move them to or from the crypt. districts or delivery routes. Empty bodies may be held
79
GAU MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA GEA
in the crypt to provide for need at a later period in the the standards of different manufacturers, and it is not
day. Merchants shipping in would have
full body lots wise to mix their gears.
facilities for handling them, and motor trucks would The teeth may be cast to form with the rest of the
merely exchange bodies, removing a full one and deliver- gear, or they may be cut from the solid material of the
ing an empty, or vice versa. blank. A
less used process is that of rolling teeth into
Other freight stations in the country would be a hot blank. Teeth may be cut from the solid by
equipped similarly to London, on a scale commensurate The process may
milling, planing, shaping or bobbing.
with their needs. Small local freight stations might be be one which depends on the form of a curved outline
provided with merely a siding, and the body, remaining cutter for itsaccuracy, termed the formed cutter method,
on the car, would be unloaded and loaded like an or it may be one where the tooth outline is generated
ordinary box car. Or, a simple transfer crane would by a machine using as a cutting tool an edge of simple
be provided for lifting the body on to a fixed platform, form, such as a straight line, and manipulating it so as
allowing the car to be removed. (See Demountable to produce the theoretically correct tooth form, within
pressed against each other, and belting. Toothed gearing suitable each mortise gear generally mates
machinery ;
includes spur, bevel, spiral or helical and worm gearing, with a metal pinion, and very high peripheral speeds are
as well as gearing in which toothed wheels are connected
possible, coupled with quiet running.
by chains, known as chain gearing. Gears are generally circular, but occasionally elliptical
If the two gears of a
pair differ greatly in size, they gears are used to give a non-uniform velocity ratio; lobed
are sometimes termed reduction gears, and one is called wheels, or wheels with wavy pitch lines, are sometimes
the and the other the gear or sometimes the wheel.
pinion substituted for circular pitch lines where an irregularity
Gears which the teeth are cut inside a rim are termed
in is desired.(See Equalizing Drive.)
internal gears, or annulars. Shrouding is the term It is becoming almost universal to enclose gears which
applied to the connecting plate or ring between the ends are transmitting considerable power at high speed, in a
of the teeth of the gear at one or both ends of the gear dust-proof and oil-retaining housing, so that they will
teeth, and is termed full or half shrouding, depending
on
operate with less friction and wear, require less attention,
whether this ring extends to the top of the teeth or only and have longer life.
"
half way. Gearing, Bevel. A form of gearing used for connecting
The curves of gear teeth must be formed so that they shafts whose center lines intersect, consisting of truncated
willmove smoothly upon each other and give a constant cones contact along a common element and with their
in
the time at the point or intersection of the shaft
velocity ratio between the two wheels during apexes located
they are in contact; technically speaking, they must be center lines. The most common case is where the shafts
conjugate curves. Several systems of curves ire pos- arc at right angles; if the two gears are equal, they are
sible,but only two are widely used, and one of these, the called mi'er gears. Tf the shafts are not at right angles
cycloidal system, is gradually becoming obsolete except they are often called angle gears, and if unequal, angle-
for large cast gears. The common system is the involute, reduction gears.
in which the tooth curves are involutes formed from a Bevel gears do not run so quietly or efficiently as spur
the pitch circle of the gears, and their
circle somewhat within gears on account of the great difficulty of shaping
termed the base circle. The involute form of tooth has teeth and installing them so that the teeth will bear the
the advantages that it easy is to cut, has no reversal of full length of the face. Provision must also be made to
curvature, and the center distance of the shafts can be care for the thrust on each of the gears of the pair.
altered slightly without destroying the proper action of Two shafts whose center lines intersect at right angles
the thus requiring less accuracy in
teeth, setting than may also be connected by means of a spur pinion mesh-
other forms of gears. ing with a crown gear, which is a flat-faced gear, or disc,
with teeth formed on one side.
By selecting a proper method of determination of the
base circle, sets of involute gears can be made which Gearing, Chain. A system of gearing for connecting
shafts by means of wheels fixed to them and"
will be interchangeable among themselves, so long as parallel
them. The
they are of the same circular pitch. Such interchange- having an endless chain belt passed around
able are widely used. Cycloidal interchangeable wheels are sometimes smooth-rimmed, and are termed'
gears
traction wheels; they allow slipping, which is sometimes
sets may also be made. There arc slight differences in
80
GEA DEFINITION SECTION GEA
Of tcner thewheels have the rims formed with projec- much like that of ordinary spur gears, except that it is
tions, which engage the chain links and prevent them smoother. The ratios of the shaft speeds may be equal
from slipping, thus maintaining a constant speed ratio or unequal; the special case of the shafts at right angles
or a positive drive between the two shafts. If ordinary and with a very large speed ratio, is generally termed
close oval link pitch chain is used, the wheel rim has worm gearing. (See Gearing, Worm.)
cavities in which the links seat themselves, and is called Herringbone gearing is often used with parallel shafts
a pocket wheel with longer link oval chain, the wheel
;
in place of plain helical gearing, to eliminate the end
may have teeth projecting outward through the centers thrust. It consists of two sets of helical teeth sloping
of the links which lie flat, and is termed a sprocket or in opposite directions, and either meeting or closely
toothed sprocket ; practically all chains made up with approaching each other along the median line of the
hinged joints require sprockets. gear. Sometimes they are separated by a groove, for
This form of gearing is largely used in conveying convenience in cutting, and if staggered in addition, make
machinery in the form of endless belts passing around what is often called a Wuest gear. The two portions
wheels on head and foot shafts, one of which acts as may be cut separately and assembled in contact, or sep-
the driver, and moving material resting directly on the arated, as desired. If the teeth meet in a point, casting
chains or on platforms or in buckets attached to the is the only practical method of production, otherwise
chain. they may be easily cut. Herringbone gears run smoothly
Gearing, Duplex. A name sometimes applied to ar- and are strong. They also tend to wear in such a way
rangements in which two speeds of the driven shaft are that the action eventually becomes nearly pure rolling,
possible by shifting a lever and throwing different gear with a minimum of loss by friction of the rubbing tooth
trains into action. Also called two-speed gearing, gear surfaces.
shift, etc. Where the shafts are other than parallel, the velocity
Gearing, Equalizing. Gearing which has some irregu- ratios are inversely as the numbers of teeth on the two
'
larity of motion intentionally introduced in order to gears, but are not inversely as the diameters of the gears.
counteract an irregularity arising from some other Helical gears (except the herringbone form) develop
source. (See Equalizing Drive.) thrust along the shaft, and provision must be made for
Gearing, Friction. Gearing in which motion is trans- it. They are not of high efficiency as a rule, and should
mitted from one rotating part to another by means of be avoided where the same mechanical effect can be
the friction generated by pressing one against the other. obtained by simpler forms of gears, unless their compact-
For this service it is natural to choose materials which ness is important.
have a high coefficient of rubbing friction. These Gearing, Spiral. A term rather commonly applied to
include paper, fibre,rubber, leather, wood, etc. One of helical gearing.
the two parts, preferably the driven one, is made of Gearing, Spur. The common form of gearing, used for
cast iron, as it will not be so easily grooved if stalled connecting parallel shafts, and having teeth formed on
by excessive load while the driving part continues to the circumference of short cylinders rolling in contact
rotate against it. with each other. It is the simplest form, can be made
Friction gears are made in the form of cylinders, some- high in efficiency, and is widely used in hoisting ma-
times called spur because they function the
frictions, chinery.
same as spur-toothed gears. They are also made as The minimum limit on the size of pinions is about IS
bevel gears, either miter or reduction. The fibre, paper teeth for the cycloidal system and 25 teeth for the involute
or other material is made in the form of a tiller which or common system. There is no maximum limit, the
can be bolted between end flanges of metal, and is renew- gear of infiniteradius being a rack, in which teeth are
able when worn. cut on a straight bar. Teeth may also be cut on the
Considerable pressure between the wheels is necessary, inside of a rim or ring; this is called an internal or
and in transmitting large powers this causes excessive annular gear.
bearing losses. On account of this pressure, friction Spur gears usually have a hub and are mounted on
gears should not be overhung on their bearings. a shaft ; occasionally the teeth are cut on a large ring
Cylindrical friction wheels may have circumferential which is secured to the outside of a cylinder like a car
ridges and grooves wedging into each other, and giving dump or revolving screen, to rotate it by power, and
the effect of large friction without the excessive bear- the gear is called a ring gear. It is often split for ease
ing pressure required with smooth surfaces. These of attachment.
grooved friction wheels, always made of metal, rub con- Cylindrical friction gears are occasionally incorrectly
siderably and show wear at the points of contact. termed spur frictions.
Friction gearing lends itself to easy disengagement if Gearing, Train of. A combination of gears on several
the shaft of one of the members is mounted in an eccen- shafts, all meshing and having a definite relation between
tric bearing box, which can be rotated within the bear- the speed of the driving and that of the driven gear, is
ing by a lever, thus moving one friction wheel awaj usually termed a train.
from the other. By an extension of this principle, a Reduction gearing is a train arranged to reduce the
further rotation of the lever can be made to press the speed of the driving shaft to a lower value at the driven
rotating part against a brake shoe on the opposite side, shaft. A single reduction means a pinion or small gear
for controlling its rotation. on the driving shaft meshing with a larger one on the
Gearing, Helical. A type of toothed gearing used for driven shaft. A double reduction means that in addition
connecting two shafts which do not intersect, ami which to the above, there is another pinion fast to the same
have teeth that are helical in form, or twisted, relative shaft as the gear, and driving a gear on the final driven
to the elements of the pitch surface. They may be of shaft; the auxiliary shaft having the gear of the first
the bevel form, but are ordinarily The
cylindrical. pair and the pinion of the second pair is termed the
shafts may be parallel, at right angles, or at any inter- intermediate shaft. Second and third intermediate shafts
81
GEA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA GIR
may be added, giving triple and quadruple reduction gear- of the trucks is permitted by crowning the teeth of the
ing. Such trains are much used in hoisting machinery. centrally located axle gear, to a circular arc whose center
Reduction gear trains, mounted in a housing or on is the pivot pin of the truck. In either case power is
a base so as to be self-contained, are often termed speed- brought to the gear under the car by means of a vertical
changers or speed-reducers, and are on the market in shaft passing down through the center of the turntable.
standard forms, ready for coupling between a motor and A locomotive crane having eight wheels may have the
the machine it is to drive, with any desired speed reduc- traveling gear disengaged to enable it to be coupled into
tion (or increase). a train, and driven at train speed. Four-wheel cranes
When the speed ratio to be
change speed
is varied, are not usually thus arranged.
gearing is used, generally enclosed in a housing and In very large locomotive cranes which must travel on
shifted by means of one or two levers. This device is curves of short radius, the axles are not continuous from
similar to the transmission of an automobile, from which side to side, but are connected through a set of differential
it has been adapted to stationary power uses. Also called gearing, and the power for traveling' is applied through
variable speed gearing, change gear box, transmission a longitudinal drive shaft as in an automobile.
gearing, etc. Gearing, Worm. A
variety of helical gearing in which
Reversing gearing a train arranged so that with a
is the non-intersecting shafts are at right angles and the
driving shaft always rotating in one direction, the driven angular velocity ratio is very large, resulting in one
shaft may be rotated in either direction at will. This of the wheels having very few teeth, usually from one
can be accomplished with a swinging or sliding frame to four, and resembling a screw with as many threads,
or equivalent device by which either one or two idlers and the other wheel having a considerable number of
may be inserted in the train at will, but if this involves teeth cut at a slight angle. The velocity ratio, or speed
unmeshing and remeshing of gears while they are moving, reduction, is equal to the ratio of the number of teeth
it dangerous.
is In place of this, the driver may con- on the wheel to the threads on the worm. The lead of
tinuously turn two adjacent shafts in opposite direc- the worm is the linear distance through which it turns
tions, and a friction or jaw clutch may be used to con- the circumference of the wheel when the worm makes one
nect the driven shaft with either as desired; this complete rotation; its pitch is the distance from one
mechanism conveniently worked out with bevel gears.
is worm tooth to the next, and is equal to the lead only
An epicyclic or planetary train of gears is one in when the worm is single-threaded. As the wear is
which the centers of some of the gears have a motion of heaviest on the worm, made of steel and
it is usually
revolution about a fixed center, while they are rotating the wheel of cast iron or bronze. Both are mounted
on their own axes in addition. The motion of the driven in a case or housing containing a supply of lubricant, and
shaft is thus' the resultant of motions from two drivers, provided with bearings for the shafts so that the worm
and large velocity ratios are possible with the use of and wheel will be held in the proper relative location,
only a few gears. These planetary trains are, therefore, and with a thrust bearing to receive the end thrust of
much used in hoisting mechanisms, especially in chain the worm.
hoists, toaccomplish the transformation of a small pull Worm gearing is properly used whenever a large
on the hand chain over a great many feet to the lifting speed reduction is necessary, is compact and smooth run-
of a large load through a small height. (Sec Hoist, ning, and can be made non-reversing, meaning that the
Planetary ; Hoist, Differential.) worm cannot be rotated by applying a driving force to
Differential gearing is the term applied to a device the wheel. This irreversibility is secured at the expense
inserted in the axle of a vehicle, to enable it to pass of efficiency, however, which will in such cases always
around curves without slipping on one or the other of be less than 50 per cent. Even with the highest efficiency
the wheels, as would be the case if they were fast on obtainable by the use of large angles for the worm thread,
an axle extending solid from one wheel to the other. the efficiency is less than with spur gear arrangements.
It is a form of epicyclic gearing consisting of a bevel Worm gearing is always cut, and the most satisfactory
gear attached to the inner end of each half axle, teeth product isobtained by the nobbing process. It is claimed
facing inward, and a series of three or four small bevel that the Hindley worm, made in the hourglass form, and
pinions, equally spaced and carried on a frame, placed fitting the circumference of the worm wheel, gives a
between and meshing with the bevels. If the vehicle is better distribution of load, and therefore less wear, but
power, this frame carrying the bevel pinions also carries it is difficult to adjust, and if out of adjustment will give
the bevels, worm or sprocket wheel which receives power excessive friction.
from the motor, and thus applies it to both axles at Gears, Interlocked. In hoisting machinery, when two
once. One of the axles may rotate faster than the other, drums driven by separate motors are used to lift the
however, as in making turns, by reason of the bevel same load by load lines attached to it at different points,
pinions rolling between the gears. (See Gearing, Travel- the gearing must be interconnected in such a way as to
ing.) prevent unequal raising or lowering, and consequent tip-
Gearing, Traveling. In traveling cranes, the train of ping; this is called interlocking gearing. (See Crane,
gearing by which power is applied to produce the travel- Ladle.)
ing motion. For overhead and gantry crane traveling Girder, Box. A structural steel beam made up of plates
gearing, see Bridge Drive. and shapes, arranged so that a transverse section of the
In locomotive cranes having a four-wheel truck a bevel beam a hoilow rectangle. This disposition of the ma-
is
gear train is carried from the winch engine to both axles, terial gives greater lateral strength for a given vertical
or to a central transverse shaft which is then connected strength and a given weight of material than is afforded
to the axles by chain drive. In swiveling truck locomo- by a plate girder, but is more expensive to construct and
tive cranes, power is supplied to the inner axle of each is liable to corrosion on the inside where it cannot be
truck either by bevel gear trains with double universal properly painted.
joints in a longitudinal shaft or by spur gearing through Girder, Braced. A structural steel beam made up of
transverse shafts. In the latter case swiveling motion plates and shapes, with continuous members running for
82
GIR DEFINITION SECTION ORE
the whole span along the top and bottom, these being con- governors aim to maintain approximately constant speed
nected at the ends, and at frequent intervals between, by of the machine, but some aim to maintain a constant
diagonal or vertical struts or bars, or by both diagonals fluid pressure, as pump governors; a constant voltage or
and verticals. The continuous members are made up of constant current, as some types of electrical equipment;
channels, angles or strips of plate, single, in duplicate, or or a constant level of water in a tank, etc.
in combination with each other the upper member is: In governors used on prime movers, such as engines
called the top chord or (in beams supported at the
ends) and turbines, constant speed is the principal requirement,
compression flange, the lower is called the lower chord and since change of centrifugal force due to change of
or tension flange. The upper chord is horizontal, the speed is utilized as the operating force of the governor,
lower horizontal or fishbellied, the latter being more costly constant speed is practically never obtained.
but lighter. A number of systems of bracing are used, In machines which cannot normally run away because
the most usual for cranes being the Warren, Linville and the resistance increases with the speed at a more rapid
Lattice. rate than the power developed, like centrifugal pumps,
Braced construction is lighter than the plate or box blowers and screw propellers, some safety device is nec-
girder type, but the labor cost to manufacture is higher. essary to prevent running away due to a sudden acci-
Weight saved in a crane bridge may, however, allow a dental decrease of the resistance, like, the breaking of a
saving in the runway girders. discharge line or of a shaft, and these are often called
Braced girders are used in all bridge structures of governors. They generally stop the machine completely.
large span and for supporting heavy loads, and for small The governors on steam driven air compressors are
spans and lighter loads where weight is important and sometimes designed to maintain a constant pressure. An-
the headroom is not restricted. other type slows the compressor down to the lowest speed
Girder, Duplex. A
double-braced girder consisting of practicable during the time the unloader is preventing
two simple braced girders placed side by side but sep- the compression of air, but brings it at once to full run-
arated a small distance, and latticed together. This con- ning speed when compression again commences, and holds
struction gives greater transverse strength and stiffness this speed constant. In this case there are two running
than would be given by a plain braced girder of equal speeds, and the air pressure in the system is allowed to
vertical strength. vary between definite limits.
It is much used in girders of bridge cranes. Elevators and lowering devices in which lowering is
Girder, Plate. A structural steel beam made up of automatic, that is, accomplished without the application
plates and angles, arranged so that a transverse section of power in the lowering direction often have brakes or
of the beam is like the letter I. This gives a beam of equivalent devices operated by the speed of the moving
great vertical strength and one which is easily con- part, which limit it, or even stop the motion entirely if
structed and painted, but which is liable to be deficient it exceeds a certain predetermined safe value.
in lateral strength unless reinforced by a horizontal aux- Governor, Pump. A mechanism added to a pump, and
iliary girder, or braced to another duplicate girder. (See designed to maintain a constant discharge pressure, or a
Girder, Box.) constant level in a suction or a discharge tank, or to
Used for runways and bridges of overhead travelling prevent the pump running away and wrecking itself (
il.
cranes and in steel construction work generally. the discharge resistance is accidentally removed, as by the
Girt. The distance piece or separator which holds the bursting of a discharge line.
two side frames of a crane trolley in their proper posi- Grab. See Bucket, Grab (British).
tion. It supports the operating machinery and also car- Grab Hoist. A hoisting winch arranged for handling
ries the upper block of the hoisting tackle and the equal- a grab bucket. (See Bucket, Grab.)
izing sheave. The heavy load may cause deflection of a Grader. A type of excavating machine which is used to
single girt with the resulting binding of bearings, so an remove and redistribute the material on the surface of
extra girt is often supplied, called the load girt, which a road for the purpose of leveling it, or preparing a
is attached at the ends to the side frames at points di- subgrade for road improvement.
rectly over the rails in such a way that its deflection Grader, Elevating. A grader which levels the surface
cannot cause springing of the side frames.
. This girt of the ground by scraping it, and throws the loosened
carries the upper block ;
the usual girt, called the ma- material onto the lower end of a conveyor by which it is
chinery girt, supports the machinery motors, brakes, etc. delivered above and to the side of the machine, where it
The load girt carries from one-half (in four-part reev- isdeposited, or discharged into wagons for removal.
ing) to seven-eighths (in sixteen-part reeving, in large Grapple. A device operatinglike a clamshell grab
cranes) of the total load, the remainder being divided bucket, but having three or more prongs on each side
between the equalizing sheave and the drum. Occa- instead of shells made of plate, and used for handling
sionally two machinery girts and one load girt are used. long objects either singly or in bulk, like logs, ties, pulp-
Sometimes called lifting beam. wood, etc., and for handling irregular objects like stumps,
Goliath. A popular name given to a type of large snags and large stones. For long objects the sides are
travelling gantry crane used for shipyard fitting out. usually open, to allow the ends of the pieces to project,
Gooseneck. An
iron fitting sometimes used for attach- but for stone,etc., they may be closed by short prongs.
ing the inner end of a derrick boom to the mast. A bar Page 313.
or pin is hinged to a piece rigidly attached to the end of Grapple, Wood. A grapple especially adapted for the
the boom and this pin fits into a vertical socket in a handling of pulp-wood, ties, props, cord-wood, legs, etc.
part attached rigidly to the mast, thus permitting both (See Grapple.)
change of inclination and slewing of the boom. Gravity Roller Spiral. See Spiral, Gravity Roller.
Also, a piece of pipe shaped like the letter S, or one Gravity Runway. See Conveyor, Roller; Chute.
with a return bend on the end. Grease-cup. A receptacle designed to hold solid or
Governor. A mechanism for controlling the action of very viscous lubricants, which are squeezed through an
a machine as regards some quality of its output. Most opening leading to the part to be lubricated.
83
GRI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA HOI
Grizzly. See Screen, Grizzly. ing, so that water running along the deck cannot leak
the cross section of the screen bar has an enlarged head Hatch, Coaling. A opening provided in a deck for the
with a point upward, somewhat like an arrow head. purpose of loading coal.
Grizzly, Rotary. See Screen, Rotating Disc. Haulage, Cable or Rope. See Cable Car Haulage.
Guard, Rope or Guard, Chain. A curved stationary Haulage, Superposed Track Self-Dumping Car. A
piece of metal fitted partially around the circumference hauling and dumping system for elevating material on
of a rope or chain sheave, to prevent the rope or chain slopes and used for coal and similar bulk material, in
from jumping the sheave flanges, or working out if it which the car is hauled up the slope on a track
is slackened. dumped at the top and transferred to another track
Also, a fair-leader, or smooth opening through which superposed on the first, on which it descends. A chain
the rope or chain is led, and which guides it properly conveyor with crossbars pushes the loaded cars up and
into the groove of the sheave. See also Fairleader. retards the empties down, the car- weights thus being
Gudgeon. (British) An overhung or cantilever pin or balanced against each other.
shaft, like the crank pin of a side crank engine. For a method of dumping the car at the top, see
In particular, the term often applied to the pivot pin at Swing Lift Transfer.
the top of a derrick mast. The device is also made in a portable form and can
Gusset Plate. A bracket of steel plate for stiffening the be used for handling dirt, gravel, crushed stone, etc.
connection between two structural steel members meeting Hawser. A
large rope, either manila or wire, used on
each other at an angle. In overhead travelling cranes, shipboard for towing, mooring, etc.
strong gusset plates are used to stiffen the connection Head. The top or end of a thing, especially when dis-
between the bridge girders and the end truck. tinguished in some way from the rest of it, as the head
something. A rope or chain used to steady a boom, mast, Header. A pipe into which a number of other pipes
etc., and keep it from falling over or from swinging terminate at right angles, as a boiler header, or a pipe
sideways. (See Guy, Derrick.) header.
Guy, Derrick. A guy used to hold in position (gener- Also, a part of a framed structure around an opening,
ally vertical) the top of the mast of a derrick. At least which is fitted transversely to the direction of most of
three guys must be used to enable it to resist forces the members, and against which they butt and to which
acting in any direction, and five or more are generally they are attached.
used. For temporary or light use they may be of manila Headroom. The distance underneath a structure or
rope, but on account of the change of length of such obstruction, or between it and the ground. Clearance
material with atmospheric conditions, as well as stretch, measured in a vertical direction.
steel wire rope is much preferred. Heel. The inclination to one side of a floating vessel.
When rigid struts are used, they are called Stiff-legs. Also, the lower or inner end of a spar, boom or strut.
(See also Anchorage; Dead Men.) (See Boom Heel.)
Guy Cap. A circular metal part to which the guys sup- Helix. A
curve traced by a point which moves around
porting a derrick mast are attached. It fits on the a fixed line at a constant distance from it, and at the
gudgeon or mast top pivot as a bearing, and has openings same time progresses along the line, like the thread on a
around its periphery through which the ends of the guys bolt.
may be passed, bent around on themselves and secured Hinge Plates. The two principal parts of a hinged con-
by clips. (See Mast Top.) Also called Guy Spider. nection as used for attaching a swinging wall bracket
Gypsy Head. See Winch Head. crane to the wall. They are connected with a hinge pin,
Gypsy Windlass. A term sometimes applied to a com- which may be continuous for the upper and lower hinges
bination of a wildcat and a gypsy head on the same shaft, of a pair.
generally when hand-operated. Hitch. Any one of a variety of methods of attaching
Hack. A name applied to a kind of pallet used for a rope to an object, to another rope or to another portion
holding a pile of brick during the process of manufac- of itself, in such a manner that it can be easily detached.
ture, consisting of a solid or slat top with two cross Hitching, Car. A term applied to a coupling used for
cleats beneath. mine and similar cars. It may consist of a link with
Handbarrow. A rectangular flat bottom box, with the clevis at each end, or a chain of several links.
distant point, generally as ameans of hauling a larger guided platform carries it the term elevator is used (see
rope, chain, etc., across an open space. Also, a small elevator), but this rule has exceptions (see Hoist, Mine).
line used for lowering or hoisting articles by hand. The mechanism is usually arranged to give a reduction
Hanger. A part or piece by which another part is sus- of speed and increase of force between the source of
pended or held in place from above, like a shaft hanger, power and the point of lifting, but this may be reversed,
monorail track hanger, etc. as in air cylinder hoists. Most true hoists are self-con-
Hatch. An opening, generally rectangular, in a ship's tained or complete in themselves, as chain hoists, pneu-
deck for passage of cargo, equipment or persons. Also matic hoists, block-and-tackle, and some electric hoists ;
the cover to fit such an opening, more often called a other so-called hoists are simply winding machines re-
hatch cover. Also a rectangular opening in a floor or quiring combination with other machines and fittings be-
roof of a building. fore hoisting can be accomplished. The term is frequent-
Where exposed to the weather, hatches are generally ly incorrectly used to designate a winch or any geared
provided with coamings or low walls around the open- machine which can exert a pull by winding rope on a
84
HOI DEFINITION SECTION HOI
drum. This is correct only in case it is mounted in an lift a very heavy load through a short distance, acting
elevated position relative to the load, or with the load in this case like an ordinary block-and-tackle.
pendent from it. When it is located on the ground and Horizontal cylinders will not always return after mak-
used for hoisting purposes by leading the rope to an ing a hoist, and arc therefore often arranged with variable
elevated sheave, it is better called a hoisting winch. pressures on both sides of the piston. Or, with a constant
The different kinds of hoists are distinguished by terms high pressure on the stuffing box side and a variable pres-
designating (a) the power used, as for example, hand, sure on the other side of the piston, an enlarged piston
electric, (b) the kind of gearing used, as chain,
air; rod will give enough excess force, when full pressure
screw, planetary; (c) the combination with
differential, is on both sides, to move the piston toward the stuffing
other apparatus as trolley, twin, built-in, independent. box end.
The hoists of most overhead travelling cranes and of For convenience and safety in operation, several
many gantry and jib cranes are built into the trolley. auxiliaries are often included, as follows: An air admis-
Page 203, 773-804, 829. sion valve which will allow control of the speed of hoist-
Hoist, Air. A hoist operated by an air engine. The ing or lowering air cushions to prevent jar at the ends
;
engine is usually of the two-cylinder type, with cranks of travel; adjustable stops for use when hoisting and
at 90 deg., though rotating or oscillating cylinder and lowering between fixed limits top safety check for pre-
;
other types are in use. The engine crank shaft is geared venting the piston from flying violently to the top posi-
to a drum on which the hoisting rope is wound, and all tion should the load become accidentally detached; and
are mounted a frame which may be hung on or built
in an automatic arrangement to prevent slow creeping
into a monorail or other trolley. Air is led to the hoist downward due to leakage of air.
through hose, and is exhausted from the engine into the Page 207.
room where the hoist is used through a muffler if noise is
Hoist, Built-in. A hoisting mechanism which is built
objectionable. into a crane trolley or other portion of a crane structure
The name is also applied to air winches, which may be in such a way that it cannot be easily removed, taken
located on the ground or some other convenient place, elsewhere and used as a hoist, as distinguished from an
and have the hoisting line led to the point at which hoist- independent hoist. (See Hoist, Trolley, for example.)
to be done.
Hoist, Chain. A hoisting mechanism consisting of
ing is
Also, a direct-acting hoist utilizing a piston moving in chain sheaves, gearing, casing, supporting and load hooks,
a cylinder under the action of compressed air, the load and hand and load chains, so arranged that a load may
hook being attached directly to the end of the piston be lifted on the load chain by pulling on the hand chain.
rod, or to a wire rope block-and-tackle operated by the The hoist is supported at the top of the casing, with the
piston rod. (See Hoist, Air Cylinder). chains pendent. It may be provided with a supporting
Page 207. it is portable or inde-
which case
hook or shackle, in
Hoist, Air Cylinder. A hoist in which a direct pull is pendent ;
be structurally a part of a trolley or
or it may
obtained by a long stroke cylinder and piston operated
traversing mechanism, in which case it is termed "built
by compressed air. In the simplest form, the cylinder is in."
supported in a vertical position with the piston rod pro- Chain hoists are used for small or moderate loads, for
jecting through a stuffing box in the lower end, and the short lifts and for intermittent service.
admission of air to the space beneath the piston forces
(For special types, see Hoist, Differential Chain; Hoist,
it upward and raises the load release of the air allows
;
Screw Chain; Hoist, F.picyclic Geared.)
the load to descend. This is called a single-acting Also called chain block or chain block hoist.
cylinder hoist, while simple it does not admit of delicate
Page 203, 774-780.
control. Another type maintains full pressure on the
Hoist, Differential Chain. A hoisting mechanism con-
lower or stuffing box side of the piston, and a variable
sisting of a hook and frame supporting on a shaft two
pressure on the upper side, air being discharged from the
rigidly connected chain sheaves of slightly different
upper side to hoist, and admitted to it from the pressure
diameters, an endless chain passing in succession around
line to lower. The length of lift is limited by the length
one of these upper sheaves, a single lower sheave, the
of the cylinder.
other upper sheave and a free hanging loop. The lower
The cylinderusually of steel, ground and polished
is
sheave is mounted in a block and has below it a hook
on the inside, with heads screwed on, or bolted to flanges
on which is hung the load to be lifted. This lower or
which are screwed on the ends of the cylinder. The
load block is thus hung in one loop of the chain sup-
piston is usually by leather packing rings, and
made tight
ported by the two upper sheaves; this is called the load
the arrangement of the head is such that it can be
chain. The other loop is free and is used as the hand
easily removed for inspection and repairs. The cylinder
chain. Owing to the difference in diameters of the two
may l~c mounted rigidly, or supported in trunnions on a
upper sheaves, the load will move up or down in accord-
crane trolley.
ance with the movements of the load chain passing onto
For lifts greater in height than the length of a well
the larger sheave, as it winds more chain in one direction
proportioned cylinder, or where the headroom available
than the smaller sheave unwinds in the opposite direc-
will not allow a vertical cylinder above the crane, the
tion.
cylinder may be fixed in a horizontal or any other con-
venient position, and operate the hoisting hook by wire Hoists of this type will sustain the load in any posi-
One or two sheaves tion without a brake, but are low in efficiency. Since
rope passing over guide sheaves.
carried in a head attached to the end of the piston rod the same chain serves as a load chain and a hand chain
and moving in guides, acting in conjunction with one or it becomes inconveniently large for hand pulling in the
two fixed sheaves and rope properly arranged, will allow larger capacity hoists.
two, three or four times the stroke. The arrangement Hoist, Drill Column. A term sometimes applied to a
mav also be reversed to allow a long stroke cylinder to small portable hand or air winch arranged to bolt to
85
HOI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA HOI
drill-columns in mines, and used there for miscellaneous Hoist, Hydraulic. A hoist consisting of a cylinder in
hoisting or haulage work in connection with moving min which a piston or plunger is moved by means of a liquid
ing machines or removing mined coal. such as oil or water pumped in under pressure. The pis-
Hoist, Drum. See Drum Hoist. ton rod may lift the load directly, by means of a rope
Hoist, Dual. See Hoist, Twin. led around guide sheaves or by means of levers re- ;
Hoist, Dumping, Motor Truck. An apparatus which versed block and tackle is often used to gain an in-
lifts the front end of a dump body. (See Body, Motor crease in the speed and length of lift at the expense of
Truck.) Hand operated hoists, used for light loads, the magnitude of the load lifted. In some cases the
have a hand crank connected by a train of gears to an piston or plunger is fixed and the cylinder moves under
arm attached to the dumping body. Mechanical hoists the influence of hydraulic pressure in a liquid introduced
are driven from the engine, generally by a separate shaft through a passage in the former. In some cases jib
projecting from the transmission case, with a clutch cranes are mounted on the cylinders, hoisting being ac-
which engaged by a hand lever located near the driver's
is complished by raising cylinder and crane bodily.
seat, raising the body by wire rope or chain wound on Hoist, Independent. A hoisting unit which may be
a drum, or by pitch chain passing around sprockets. A moved from place to place and be hung on a support
hydraulic hoist consists of a cylinder and piston or ram, wherever desired for lifting operations, as distinguished
connected between the body and chassis by steel cables from one which is built into a crane trolley, crane pillar,
or levers. Oil delivered from an oil pump driven by the etc., and which must be used in connection with it. Block-
engine the cylinder and forces the piston out, there-
fills and-tackle and chain hoists are typical examples. The
by lifting the front end of the body. The amount of hoisting unit may be hung on an eye by a hook, or bolted
flow is controlled by the engine speed. in place by a clevis and pin connection. Also called
Page 702. portable hoist.
(See Mine Hoist, Electric; Crane, Electric Overhead loading boom in a coal tipple. It is driven by a line
operated by pulling on a hand chain, or as crank op- Hoist, Planetary Geared. A hoist in which a train of
erated hoists. planetary or epicyclic spur gearing is used to obtain a
Page 295, 774-780. large velocity ratio between the points of application of
86
HOI DEFINITION SECTION HOI
power or hand pull, and of the load. Such hoists are Also called duplex hoist, from the duplication of load
made for both hand and power drive, the latter usually chains and sheaves.
being by an electric motor. The gearing is arranged in Page 204, 774-780.
various manners two examples will be given.
;
In one, Hoist, Skip. See Skip Hoist.
a hand chain passing over a chain sheave rotates a Hoist, Slope. A term applied to a winch or power-
pinion. Equally spaced around the circumference of this driven winding machine which pulls cars up a slope by .
pinion, meshing with it and carried in a frame which can rope haulage. Descending cars are usually balanced against
rotate independently of the shaft mentioned, are two or those ascending, and the engine has to overcome only
three intermediate gears each having fast to its side and friction and the useful weight hauled.
concentric with it a smaller gear which meshes with an Hoist, Steam. See Winch; Winch Engine; Hoist, Mine.
annular gear to the casing.
fast The frame carrying Hoist, Telescoping. A hoist used in locations where
these intermediate gears is rigidly connected to a sleeve material must be raised from a basement to or above
surrounding the shaft of the hand chain sheave, and fast the sidewalk level, and which must be drawn below the
on this sleeve is the load sheave, over which the load sidewalk when not in use. In one type the upper por-
chain is passed. Rotation of the hand chain shaft pinion tion of a mast telescopes within or beside the fixed
forces the intermediate gears to turn, and on account of lower portion, being raised to operating position by hand
these meshing with the annular gear they are forced to crank through screw, chain or other gearing. The load
roll around inside of it, carrying with them the frame is hoisted by a chain hoist or a power winch.
and the load sheave. A large angular velocity ratio of Another type consists of a vertical cylinder below
the hand to load shafts can be obtained with very few grade with a plunger fitted into it and extending upward.
shafts and gears; consequently the efficiency is high, and One end of the load hoisting rope is deadened at the
a load brake must be included to prevent involuntary top of the fixed cylinder, the other has a hook for at-
lowering. (See Brake, Load.) This is sometimes called taching the load, and the rope is passed over guide
a triplex hoist. sheaves fixed in a crosshead at the top of the moving
In another hoist, also hand operated, the turning of the plunger so that the load moves upward twice as fast
hand chain wheel rotates a pair of small eccentrics as the piston, and can be hoisted from the. level of the
through a spur gear and two pinions. These rotate in bottom of the cylinder nearly to the .level of the top
circular openings in a frame on which is mounted an of the plunger when in itshighest position. It is oper-
annular gear, giving it a gyratory motion, or a motion ated by air, steam or water pressure as most con-
of circular translation. The annular gear is always in venient, automatic valves being arranged to retard and
mesh with a spur gear to the shaft of which the load stop the plunger at the limits of the stroke.
sheave is fastened, and each gyration of the annular gear This type of hoist is largely used for hoisting ashes
causes the gear to rotate by an amount equal to the dif- from basement boiler rooms, and is often called an
ference in the numbers of teeth in the annular and gear. ash hoist.
For an example of planetary gearing applied to a Page 410.
a crane or other structure. (See Hoist, Independent.) of two side frames and one or more cross girts or
Hoist, Power. A
hoist operated by power, as distin- separators, all of cast iron, cast steel, or structural steel
guished from one which is manually operated. Ail shapes and plates, rigidly fastened together. The four
steam, electricity, hydraulic power, internal combustion
wheels are on the ends of two axles, and have bearings
engine and horse power are used. at each end in the two side frames. The driving motors,
Also, a hoist which is provided with a pulley for brake mechanisms, and various other shafts supporting
driving from a line shaft or independent engine or motor. the winding drum, gears and brake drums have their
Hoist, Reciprocating. An air or other power hoist, ar- bearings in the side frames or resting on the cross girts.
ranged reciprocate vertically for a short distance
to The hoisting gearing, in motor operated hoists, usually
consists of a double reduction train, a pinion on the
regularly, and used for washing articles in baths, pickle,
etc. The liquid is thus agitated, and the material form- motor shaft driving a gear on an intermediate shaft,
ing the load thoroughly washed.
which in turn has a pinion driving a gear on the drum
In reciprocating air hoists the motion of the piston shaft. Occasionally a third reduction is obtained by a
rod itself is to operate the valves at the top and
made second intermediate shaft. Two separate brakes are
bottom of the stroke to give the desired motion. The provided, one being usually on the motor or the inter-
mechanism is similar to that used in a steam hammer. mediate shaft. One is an electrical solenoid brake, ar-
wheel, which is in turn rotated by a worm wheel on an- is mechanical, and operates only during the lowering of
other shaft at right angles to the first, and carrying a the load (see Brake, Screw). (For a different system
chain sheave around which a hand chain is passed. The of electrical braking, see Brake, Dynamic.)
two ends of the load chain are dead-ended at the hook The load is suspended by a wire rope block-and-tackle,
and passed up over the load sheaves; the loop hangs the top block being suspended from the cross girt (see
down behind. Girt, Load) and the lower or load block being located
The thread angle of the worm gearing is generally at the load hook. One end of the load rope is fast to
made such that it is self-sustaining, though efficiency is the cross girt the other is wound on the drum.
;
When
thereby sacrificed. the drum is double scored for central lifting (see Drum)
87
HOI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA HOO
there is a double system of ropes, and the
rope is reeved Hoisting Motor. A motor operating a hoist or hoisting
so that a locp resting over an
equalizing sheave sup- winch. Some
small high-speed engines driven
ported from the cross girt replaces the two free ends. by com-
pressed air are often termed motors, as are
(See Ropes, Arrangement of Hoisting.) multiple
cylinder gasoline engines, and both are used to drive
Alimit stop is provided to. prevent
overhoisting. (See hoists. Electric motors are. however, far more
Stop, Limit.)
common,
and the term hoisting motor usually
signifies one of
Hoists are also built directly into monorail trolleys, these. They may be classified as high-speed and low-
but it is more usual to have an independent hoist hooked
speed; alternating current (or A. C.) or direct current
onto or bolted to a complete trolley. (See Trolley, (D. C.) ; series, shunt, compound, interpole, etc., ac-
Monorail.) to the
cording connections of the field and armature
Page 774-804. circuits and as induction, repulsion, synchronous, in the
;
Hoist, Twin. An arrangement of two hoists on one case of alternating current motors.
trolley which can be simultaneously operated to lift long Hold-hook. A name sometimes applied to a hook at-
objects. The arrangement can be applied to bridge crane tached to the bottom of a crane trolley, to which a load
trolleys, or to monorail trolleys having two trucks con- can be transferred from the lifting hook when desired.
nected by swivels to a single frame. (Also called Dual It is a regular part of the equipment for some
types of
Hoist.) single-rope grab buckets, for holding the bucket while
Hoist, Wire Rope. A drum hoist using wire rope for itis being opened
by slackening the closing line. (See
the hoisting line, as distinguished from one using chain Bucket, Single-rope.)
or manila rope. (See Drum.) Hook. A curved piece of metal so shaped as to retain
Three systems of electric hoisting, out of a rope, chain or similar fastening placed on it. Hooks
Hoisting. a
are generally forged, though the larger sizes are some-
great many that have been proposed, are in widespread
use. The simplest and frequently the times of cast steel, and a few are laminated, or made
cheapest and most up
efficient is the induction motor hoist. The drums are from thin steel sheets riveted together. The parts of a
ordinarily driven through a system of gears by the induc-
hook are the shank, or standing part, rigidly connected
:
tion wound rotor motor, speed or swiveled to the lower block of the
being controlled by tackle, or having
insertion of a variable resistance in the
an eye; the body or curved portion, ending in the
rotor circuit. point,
Another system uses a direct current geared or direct which is turned sharply outward so as to retain lashings
ccnnected series motor whose speed is controlled by passed around it and back of the shank, to prevent slings
variation of impressed voltage in both polarity and mag- from slipping off. The clear distance between the point
nitude by varying the field of the supply circuit generator. and the inside of the shank is called the opening.
A third system, usually the most expensive, is similar to Hooks should be made of material which will yield by
the latter but has a flywheel connected to the motor gen- bending and not breaking, so that overloading can be
erator set which supplies power to the hoist motor. The detected before the load is dropped. Double hooks, hav-
flywheel accumulates energy during light periods and ing prongs on each side of the shank, have less awkward
generates electrical energy with this stored energy during stresses imposed on them, and give more room for
slings.
heavy loads, thereby lessening the peak loads on the cen- Page 312.
tral station supply system This system is especially effi- Hook, Double. A
hook in which two prongs or points,
cient in reducing the peaks which many power plants extending opposite directions, are formed on the same
in
would be unable to carry. shank. Three or four prongs are occasionally used, to
Direct current affords more delicate speed control than give plenty of room for slings. These hooks are only
alternating current, but the latter has given complete sat- used fcr lifting heavy loads, and usually on large cranes.
isfaction when used with slip ring motors in a large Hook, Grab. A hoisting accessory consisting of a circle
number of installations. The induction motor operation or endless piece of chain having two hooks attached to
requires somewhat more skill than the direct current ma- it on rings. The two hooks are caught under projec-
chine due to use of resistance in the rotor circuit, but any tions on the object to be lifted, and the chain is looped
speed requirements can be met. over a crane hook, when it assumes a triangular form,
Main feed wire connections must be protected by fuses thus lifting the object by two points.
or a circuit breaker and controlled by a switch in ac- Also, a ring having two long links on it with hooks
cordance with the requirements of the National Board flexibly attached to their outer ends. The ring is hung
of Fire Underwriters, and should be conveniently located over the crane hook and the hooks caught on the ob-
near the hoist and in plain sight. connection diagram A ject.
is commonly attached to the inside of hoist controller
Also, a hook fastened on the end of a piece of chain
covers. Fuses and circuit breakers should open the line and formed with a narrow opening to slip flatwise over
at about double full load current as given on the hoist one link of the chain, between the ends of two standing
motor rating, except under special conditions. links.
For any type of crane where the hoisting speed is as Page 313.
high as 300 ft. per min., direct current is most satisfac- Hook, Safety. A hook having a piece hinged to swing
tory both as to operation and life of apparatus. With down and lock over the point and prevent the slings
load speeds of 150 ft. to 002 ft. per min. an alternating from slipping This piece also be locked in the
off. may
current three-phase motor using a solenoid load brake can
open position.
be used.
Hook, Safety Detaching. A hook used for attaching a
Hoisting Engine. The engine, steam, air, gas, gaso- car or cage to a cable in such locations as mine hoists,
line, kerosene, oil used to run a hoist or hoisting winch. where overhoisting may pull the cage through the head
Hoisting Line. In derricks, the line which does the structure, destroying both,and perhaps injuring men. In
hoisting of the load, as distinguished from the boom one device the cable passes through a small opening in a
hoist, or topping lift, or slewing lines. strong beam across the shaft at the stopping point; if
88
HOO DEFINITION SECTION HOP
the hook is hoisted against it, triggers are pushed in, re- Hopper, Floor. A portable hopper, elevated on sup-
leasing the top part of the hook with the cable, and at ports which enable it to stand on a level floor, and with
the same time thrusting auxiliary hooks over the beam a gate controlled spout at one side near the bottom.
in such a way as to prevent the car from falling to the Such a hopper is widely used in connection with concrete
bottom of the shaft. chute distributing systems, to receive continuously from
Hook, Safety Hand Grip. A crane hook which has a the end of a discharge chute and deliver intermittently to
handle formed on the back so that it can be safely held wheel-barrows or to act as a charging hopper at a re-
and shifted by hand, without danger of injury from slip- elevating tower in a continuous line plant.
ping slings, >>tc. Hopper, Mast. A
form of circular or funnel-shaped
Hook, Slip. A hook
attached to the end of a piece of hopper having a single eccentrically p!aced discharge
chain, and formed to pass through a ring or over the opening, and also a cylindrical partition passing vertical-
chain. ly through its center to one side of the discharge open-
through their eyes. The split points set over the stiffeners hopper leads to a chute used for distributing and plac-
on opposite sides of the girder. ing the concrete.
Hook, Swiveling. A hook
arranged with a shank which Hopper, Receiving. In systems of distributing concrete
can turn in a bearing, the load being carried on a plain by chutes, a hopper fastened against an outside face of
collar formed on the shank, or by ball or roller bear- the tower (see Tower, Concrete) and receiving the con-
ings interposed between the collar and the yoke. crete from the concrete elevator bucket when the latter
tip forward. must extend partly inside to receive its contents, other-
Hooks, Ladle. The pair of special elongated hooks wise the hopper is entirely outside.
which hang from a ladle lifting beam, and support the Hopper, Reclaiming. A hopper generally set level with
the ground into which bulk material as coal or sand is
pouring ladle by its trunnions.
scraped or dumped on reclaiming from a storage pile.
Hooks, Sister. Two hooks, with points turned toward
In coal storage plants it is often identical or in the same
each other, on the same shackle or ring. They virtually
pit with the receiving track hopper.
form an eye, though the sling does not have to be reeved
Hopper, Side Discharge. A hopper in which the dis-
through them.
charge opening is in the side, the bottom sloping so as
Hopper. A temporary container for bulk material
to cause the contents to slide in that direction.
shaped like a funnel, but witli four
tapering sides flat
When used as an ash pit beneath a "boiler, the ash car
arranged like an inverted truncated pyramid, with the
runs on a track beside the hopper, and all ashes not
large end and
generally open, and the small end
up
flowing directly into the car when the sliding gate is
down and generally closed by a gate or valve.
raised, are easily dragged into it by a hoe.
Hoppers serve for solids in bulk the same purpose A
Hopper, Track. large hopper permanently installed
that funnels do for liquids, that of receiving intermit-
beneath a line of railway track, and used to receive
tently a large flow or a flow of large cross sectional
the contents of a hopper bottom dump car. It usually
area, and delivering it through an outlet in a much
consists of a masonry pit, having two deep girders
smaller stream, continuously if desired, and in any case
spanning it and carrying the rails, and with a steel
controlled by a gate or valve.
hopper fitted around these girders, and extending be-
Hoppers are built of steel plates, wood and concrete,
yond them at the sides. An. automatic feeder is usually
the latter being more common where the structure is
placed beneath the hopper, receiving the material from
beneath or close to the ground level. (See Hopper, it and delivering it to a system of conveyors.
Track.) The sides are usually sloped sufficiently to
The slope of the hopper sides is such as to make it
allow complete discharge of the contained material.
completely self-emptying. If sufficient length is required
Hopper, Belt Loading. A hopper interposed between to dump a whole car at once, a double
hopper is used,
storage bins or chutes and a belt conveyor, for the pur-
being merely a duplication of the arrangement already
pose of delivering the material to the belt evenly and in described.
the direction of travel. This reduces wear and tear, Also called a dump hopper.
especially when handled, and loads the
gritty material is
Track hoppers may also be arranged to feed skip
belt more uniformly. It usually travels on rails parallel-
hoists the automatic skip feeder then takes the form of
;
ing the belt, and has extra troughing or concentrating a measuring chute or spout which fills when turned up
rolls to assist in placing the load along the middle of
to be out of the way, and dumps its load into the skip
the belt. The hopper may be moved by hand and bucket when turned down.
by track clamps under the desired outlet, or Hopper, Two-way, Two-way Switch. A hopper having
fastened
may be electrically ielf-propelled when large and massive, two discharge openings, with a flap or swinging gate for
as in ore handling plants.
turning the flow out of either discharge at pleasure. It
Also called a traveling hopper. is used for controlling the distribution of bulk material
Hopper, Double Flow. A hopper having two discharge Ijeing conveyed by chutes, like concrete.
openings, each controlled by a suitable gate, so that the Hopper, Traveling. A hopper mounted on wheels run-
contents may be drawn from either one separately or ning on a track along which it may be moved. This is
both simultaneously. done generally with the object of loading a horizontal
89
HOP MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA JAC
conveyor at different fixed locations determined by time of sudden starting and stopping than occur when
spouts or bin discharges, or at variable locations de- they are operating uniformly. As examples, the bridge
termined by the temporary position of a digging or of an overhead traveling crane is subject to
heavy side
handling machine like a locomotive crane equipped with a stresses due to inertia when traveling on the runway
grab bucket. (See also Hopper, Belt Loading.) if suddenly started or stopped, and the boom of a
Hopper-bottom. Having the lower part shaped like a locomotive crane receives similar excessive stresses when
hopper, said of cars, bins, storage pockets, bunkers, etc. slewing is started or stopped suddenly.
Where several discharge points are allowable in a Inertia, Moment of. The moment of inertia of an area
storage bin or pocket, two, four or some multiple num- with respect to a given axis is the limit of the summa-
ber of hoppers may be formed in the bottom, increas- tion of the products of the
elementary areas into which
ing the bin capacity by eliminating the long sloping the area may be considered as divided
by the square
sides that would be necessary with a single hopper of the distance of the
elementary areas from the axis.
opening. There are several moments of area' of a section, ac-
Hopper Grizzly. A bar grating or screen across a hop- cording to the location of the axis, and these appear
per opening which is set level with a floor for receiv- in calculations of the strength of beam*, trusses, can-
ing the sand dumped from foundry flasks, etc. tilevers, shafts, etc., including practically all machine
Horsepower. A commonly used unit of mechanical and structure parts.
power, representing the rate of expenditure of energy Injector. A
device by which the kinetic energy of a jet
required to do 33,000 foot-pounds of mechanical work of steam flowing into a conical tube can be transferred
transmitting power, and merely serves to guide or sup- value, as in feeding a boiler, it is an efficient device.
port rope or chain. Movable idlers are also used as Jack. A compact self-contained portable mechanism
tighteners for rope and belt drives, and are especially for lifting or otherwise moving very heaVy loads through
valuable in giving a large arc of contact where it small distances by the application of hand power. In
would otherwise be small, due to the short distance addition to producing bodily motion, jacks are used for
between centers. forcing tightly fitted parts apart or together. The larger
Impact. The act of striking against something; a sud- the load lifted, the smaller the speed of lifting, and in
den blow, involving usually transfer of momentum from general, the heavier the jack.
one body to the other, or transformation of mechanical According to the type of mechanism they are termed
energy into heat. screw jacks, lever jacks, air jacks and hydraulic jacks.
Incline Dummy. A car with a permanent heavy load, Jack, Air. A lifting jack in which air under pressure is
used as a counterbalance on an incline cable car haul when used lo force up the piston or plunger and lift the load.
only one working car is used. Jack, Ball Bearing. A
jack, generally of the screw
Indicator. An instrument used for determining the type, in which one or two
sets of ball thrust bearings
power developed by a reciprocating engine. Also, any are placed so carry the load and eliminate any
as to
mechanism which shows or indicates the position, con- metal to metal rubbing contact except along the thread
dition, quantity or quality of something, as a depth, of the screw.
speed, pressure or polarity indicator. Jack, Claw Type. A jack which has a foot or claw
(See also Hoist, Independent.) attached to the moving ram, but extending down near
Indicator, Depth. A device attached to a mine hoist the jack base, so that it may be hooked under a part
by which the operator can observe the vertical location where there is insufficient space for the full height of
of the car in the shaft. the jack to be inserted. Otherwise a special low -jack
Indicator, Trip. A device attached to a mine or other must be used.
hoist by which a graphical record is made of the daily Claw jacks are made in the hydraulic and the rack
operation. It shows the number of trips, their time, the and lever types.
time and duration of delays, stops, etc. Jack, Hydraulic. A form of jack in which the load to
Indicator Wheel and Stand. A device for operating and be lifted rests on a plunger fitting in a cylinder, and a
indicating the position of turnheads or distributing hand pump delivers a liquid from a reservoir in the
spouts at the head of grain elevators. One type consists head into the space beneath the plunger, thus forcing
of a lever mounted on a vertical shaft which also it and the load, upward. They are made in various types,
serves as the turnhead step bearing; this lever has a latch and capacities up to several hundred tons.
engaging notches on a fixed wheel mounted on a stand. The common form has a base on which is formed a
Another type consists of a wire rope wheel having leads hollow vertical cylinder. Into this cylinder fits a hol-
which operate the turnhead a fixed latch engages notches
;
low plunger which is enlarged at its upper end to form
in the moving wheel to hold it in the desired position. the head for carrying the load, and also for the reservoir
Inertia. That property of matter by which it tends to to hold the supply of liquid. Suitable packing on the
remain at rest at rest, or to continue to
if originally lower end of the plunger prevents leakage between
move at uniform velocity
a straight line if originally
in plunger and cylinder. A hand lever reciprocates a short
in motion. It requires more power to start material shaft in the head, and a lever inside the latter operates
to moving than to continue its motion after it is started, by means of a vertical rod, a piston pump in the lower
and greater stresses are developed in machines at the end of the plunger, drawing liquid from the head and
90
JAC DEFINITION SECTION JOI
forcing it through the bottom of the plunger into the Jack, Screw, Plain. A
screw jack in which the screw
space beneath, thus forcing the plunger to rise. The is rotated by a bar, thrust through one of the holes
operating lever has a lug on one side which limits its across the head. A cap or bearing plate rests loosely
motion in one direction when turned over in the socket
;
on this head to support the load which does not re-
this limitation is removed and the pump piston may be volve during lifting.
forced downward touching a valve stem and A
farther, Jack, Screw, Telescopic. screw jack having two
opening it so as to allow the liquid to flow back into the screws, one within the other, thus affording a greater
head, thus lowering the jack. lifting range than the ordinary single screw jack.
The load lifted depends on the ratio of the plunger
Jack Shaft. An intermediate shaft, connected by trans-
area to that of the pump piston. The liquid used is
mission chain or rope or by belting to a source of power
water, oil, alcohol or some
special mixture; it should be
as an engine or motor pulley, or a line shaft, and de-
non-corrosive and non-freezing.
livering power to one or more machines by similar
Jack, Hydraulic, Double Pump. A hydraulic jack hav-
means. The object of a jack shaft is usually to secure
ing two pumps of different sizes. The larger pump is
a large speed ratio between the driving and driven
used for running the plunger out rapidly, and for light
shafts without a disproportionate ratio between pulleys,
loads the smaller pump is used for heavy lifting.
;
but other objects such as the necessity of getting past
Jack, Hydraulic, Independent Pump. A jack having an obstacle, or, in tiic CKSC of an auto truck, the avoid-
cylinder and ram made as short as possible, and operated make
ing of a huge differential on the rear axle, often
by an independent pump connected by flexible metallic the jack shaft a desirable feature.
tubing. It can be inserted in narrow spaces, as, for
Jack, Traversing. A jack which is mounted on a flat
forcing pulleys or propellers from their shafts, etc.
base along which it can be slid by rotating a horizontal
Jack, Hydraulic, Type. Low A hydraulic jack in which
screw placed in the base and operating through a nut
the pump and reservoir are at one side, thus making the
in the bottom of the jack. It can lift a load, move it
total height much less and enabling it to be used in
sideways and deposit it again in a new position, thus ex-
cramped spaces.
tending its field of usefulness.
Jack, Rack and Lever. A
jack consisting of an iron
base with a post, on which is pivoted a horizontal lever Jack, Universal. A
jack which has a ball and socket
having pawls on each side of the fulcrum. The ram bearing plate at the top, and perhaps at the base, to al-
within the post and has a rack cut on
slides vertically low flat contact.
the side toward the pawls which engage with the teeth Jack-knifing. In a derrick, the term applied to the in-
when the lever is oscillated. A shifting part having voluntary and undesirable raising of the boom sometimes
cam surfaces will operate the pawls to lift the ram or to occurring when a heavy load is being lifted. It is due
lower as the lever is oscillated, according to its posi-
it principally to having the load line led from the boom
tion. In some cases the shifting part cannot be set to point to a sheave well up on the mast instead of near
lower, but will drop its load this is used for railroad ;
its foot. The load line pull is thus tending to raise the
track work and other places where dropping does no boom, and if the block and tackle purchase is such that
harm, and speed of action is important. the load would descend with this raising of the boom, it
In another type of lever jack, the lever is separate, and may occur involuntarily at certain angles of the latter.
is fitted into a socket; it may occupy two positions in the Jet, Water. A spray nozzle inserted in a line of pipe
socket, according to whether lowering or raising is de- conveying a dusty material like ashes, to wet them and
sired. In one case this depends on the distance the thus prevent a dusty discharge.
lever is pushed into the socket, and in another, on which A horizontal arm forming one
Jib. of the principal
side of the lever turned up. is
of one class of cranes. The
parts is suspended load
Jack, Screw. A
jack in which a screw receives a torque by ropes or chains from a trolley or traveller, which
from an outside source of power, generally hand, and can move on wheels in or out along the jib. The jib
transforms a portion of that torque into thrust or trans-
may swing horizontally, or, with the structure on which
lation which is applied to the object to be moved. The it is may be moved along a track or runway, but
fixed,
screw revolves through a nut fixed in the jack base, or, the does not change its inclination with the hor-
jib
in some cases, the screw rises without turning while the In some special cases
izontal while handling the load.
nut is rotated by hand power. The range is limited by the jib is operated in an inclined position, as in inclined-
the length of the screw.
cantilever-jib wharf cranes, but this is a fixed working
The base is generally enlarged toward the bottom, and the moves along the jib while carry-
position, trolley
giving rise to the name of bell-base jack, or bottle
if the jib were horizontal.
ing the load, the same as
jack.
A screw jack having two Jib, Retracting. A jib which telescopes lengthwise. It
Jack, Screw, Differential.
is sometimes used on cantilever gantry cranes for cargo
screws of different pitches to the same hand, and
handling work, with a trolley which can carry loads
usually placed one inside of the other. By a proper
from the cargo hatch to the pier. The possibility of
selection of the two pitches, great lifting power may be
secured by ordinary hand operation, but at the expense retracting allows the crane to be moved along the pier
without interference from the rigging of the vessel.
of -speed of lifting.
Also called extensible
Jack, Screw, with Lever and Ratchet. screw jack in A jib.
which the screw is rotated by means of the up and down Jinniwink. See Derrick, Jinniwink.
motion of a hand lever actuating the screw through a Joint, Flexible. A
pipe joint so constructed that it can
ratchet operating on a ratchet wheel fast to the- screw. turn or swing without leaking generally constructed on ;
Occasionally a pair of bevel gears or a worm and wheel the ball and socket principle.
are used in connection with the ratchet mechanism and Also, any joint between two parts which allows a
the vertically oscillating lever. certain amount of relative freedom of motion.
91
JOI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA LEV
Joint, Universal. See Universal Joint. the same load, as in blast furnace work, as many dif-
Journal. A
portion of a transversely loaded rotating ferent scalebeams may be provided, permanently set for
shatt which is enclosed by a bearing, and is sometimes each of the materials. Each lever is connected up with
slightly enlarged or reduced at the point where the the scales by means of a hand lever controlled by the
bearing is In a general way the diameter of
located. operator.
the determined by the load the shaft is sup-
journal is
room
In boiler larries, the scale beam or dial is usually
porting transversely or transmitting in torsion, and its suspended close to the fioor, so that the boiler room
length by the
requirement that the bearing area per attendant can weight all coal discharged into the stoker
square inch of projected area shall not be above a cer-
magazines without climbing a ladder.
tain limit. This bearing area per square inch varies for
Page 832-835.
different classes of work, and it is dependent on the ten-
Latch. A device for temporarily holding two parts in a
dency to heat under various conditions.
definite but which can be .easily released.
Key, Cross. A key which passes through an elongated relation, It
thrust pin located in an axial hole in the center of the engage a notch, groove or corresponding depression in
the other part. Sometimes the hook end is missing and
shaft, this pin pushing against the key and moving it
the straight latch simply rotates into ahook provided
along the slot in the shaft when desired. Used in this
on the second part. Sometimes called a dog.
way it is also called a push key or thrust key, and is
used as part of the operating gear or friction drums on Lattice. Criss-cross bracing of flat bars or structural
winches. shapes, riveted to two parallel structural steel members
Key, Lug. A
small projection formed on the body of a to rigidly connect them and make them act as one to
bolt directly beneath the head, which enters a correspond- resist external loading. (See Girder, Lattice.)
ing hole in the part through which the bolt is passed Lay. The term
applied to the placing of the strands
and prevents the bolt from rotating. Instead
of being of a rope in their proper relative position (See also
formed in one piece, the lug is sometimes simply a small Wire Rope, Lay of.)
pin set into a drilled hole in the bolt body or head. The course
Lead, of a Rope. it follows from end to
King Pin. The pivot or central stud or bolt connect- end. A clear lead signifies that the rope extends in a
ing the moving with the fixed part in a turntable or
straight line, without any interference necessitating guide
swivelling truck. It is usually formed so that the sheaves.
rotating part cannot be lifted off by an overturning or Leaf. One screen of a set of shaking screens arranged
upward force.
one above the other, and operated by the same mechan-
King Post. The nautical term for the post or mast of
ism, Also called a deck. (See Screen, Shaking.)
a derrick as installed on shipboard for cargo handling,
(See Derrick, Ship.)
Lehr. An oven in which objects can be slowly cooled
by the process of gradually removing them from a loca-
Also, the principal strut in a simple form of truss
tion of high temperature to a low one. In the glass lehr,
known as king post truss. Derrick booms are occasion-
this range of temperature may be from 1400 deg. at one
ally trussed with four king posts placed at right angles
end to room temperature at the other. Formerly articles
around the boom at its middle point. (See Boom,
were placed on iron trays or pans which rested on one
Trussed.)
A on
of two sets of rods by proper raising and horizontal
Lagging. covering laid the outside of engine
;
face of a pulley or winding drum to increase its diam- plane each of which tends to rotate it about a fixed
point called a fulcrum. If the lever is a straight bar,
eter or to furnish a wood in place of a metal surface.
See Wire Rope, Lay of. three kinds of levers are often designated according to
Lang's-Lay.
Larry. A small car running on a track, hand or power the relative positions of the fulcrum, and points of appli-
or, if the car body is of the hopper form, by opening one Levers are widely used separately, as in crow-bars
; ;
or more gates in the hopper bottom and discharging or in machines, as brake levers, scale beams, controlling
through a spout. levers for steam winches, etc.
Page 832.
Levers, Banked. The term applied to an assembly of
Larry, Weighing. A larry which has its load carrying the various hand operating and brake levers of a loco-
body or hopper mounted on scale irons, so that it weighs motive crane, winch, mine hoist, etc., when arranged
the load it carries. The weighing may be automatically in a row and each connected by links and rockers to the
performed and recorded, it may require the insertion of proper part of the machine. Each lever is usually
a card and pulling of a lever to print the weight, or it retained in a desired position by a latch engaging a
may require the balancing of a beam or the reading of notched quadrant. Foot levers for brakes, etc., may
a dial. Where several materials have to be gathered into also be located in a bank.
92
LEV DEFINITION SECTION LOA
Lever, Friction Hand. A hand lever used for operating Load, Dead. Static or non-moving load; load which
a friction clutch, this type of clutch often being called does not vary. The dead load of a structure is usually
simply a "friction," especially in winches. the weight of the structure itself, though other dead
Lie-leg. See Sill. load may be added, as for example goods stored on the
Lift. The extent of rise or distance through which various floors of a warehouse or on a wharf. (See
anything is raised, as, a crane having a large lift. Load, Live.)
The weight of a load lifted by a crane, as, a ten ton lift. Load, Live. A dynamic or moving load, a load which
The cycle of operations of a crane, as, the crane makes is varying rapidly, or which applied suddenly or with
is
twenty lifts per hour. velocity. The stresses from such live loads may amount
An elevator or dumbwaiter (British). to times those arising from dead loads of equal
many
Lighter. A
floating craft of full body, with or without amount, and much larger factors of safety are necessary.
means of self-propulsion, designed and used for the Loads moving on wheels or rollers like crane trolleys
transfer of cargo between a vessel and the shore or or bucket conveyors are considered live loads, as are
wharf, or between vessels. A crane or other cargo quick running machines in buildings above the ground
handling gear is often included.
(See also Barge.) floor.
Lighter, Fueling. See Lighter, Self-Unloading Coal. Load, Pay. Useful or net load; gross weight minus
Lighter, Self-Unloading Coal. A lighter equipped with weight of car, container, etc.
hopper bottom holds or bins from which coal can be fed Load Rope or Load Chain. In a hoist or crane, the
to a longitudinal conveyor leading to one end of the rope or chain on which the load is lifted. Also, in
lighter. Here the conveyor runs up an incline, or else hoisting tackle, the part of rope or chain which leads
(irlivers to another conveyor which elevates the coal directly to the load.
sufficiently for it to be discharged to the ship's bunkers Loader, Box Car. A machine which places bulk ma-
through gravity chutes from a telescoping spout that terial in box cars, either at the ends or uniformly dis-
can be swung either Also called fueling lighter.
side. tributed over the Such material is shipped in
length.
Limit Stop. See Stop, Limit. box cars either because it must be protected from dirt
Limit Switch, Track Type. A mechanism operated by or the weather, or because open-top bottom-dump cars
a car, skip or elevator running on rails or guides, which are not available.
disconnects the operating motor from the line (thereby The car loaders common
use involve pneumatic,
in
usually applying the brakes) when the
automatically belt, bucket, flight or screw
conveyors, or are of the
proper stopping point has been reached. It is usually
centrifugal or throwing type, or of the car tipping type.
in the form of a stop or contact placed near the rails
Page 273, 769, 837-840.
and operated by a projecting part of the car. Box
Loader, Car, Belt, Bucket or Flight Conveyor
Limit Switch, Traveling Cam. A device for controlling Type. A box car loader which consists of a short
the operation of an electrically driven power hoist, caus- section of conveyor so arranged that it can be placed
ing the stopping, dumping or some other operation to inside of a box car, and deliver material from the side
occur at a predetermined point, and consisting of a screw door entrance to the ends of the car. One type has the
rotated by the hoisting drum shaft, which moves a conveyor section mounted on a frame carried by an
cam longitudinally, in proportion to the car travel. This arm pivoted at a fixed point beside the track. The car
cam, which is adjustable, operates the switch. For an is brought alongside, the conveyor section is swung
application, see Skip Hoist, Automatic. in,with its discharge end (which can be raised as the
Line. In hoisting, hauling, fastening, etc., a commonly car is loaded) at one end of the car, and its receiving
used general term for a rope, chain or cord, especially end opposite the center door and near the floor. An-
when used for some particular purpose, as a tag-line, other short conveyor section or chute suspended from
hand line, The terms rope and line are used inter-
etc. an pocket or from the discharge end of an
elevated
changeably, but since the word line has so many diverse elevating conveyor delivers the material to the inside
meanings, rope is preferable when appropriate, as hoist- conveyor which carries it to the end of the car. When
one end is filled, the conveyor is swung to the other
ing rope, trip rope, etc.
end of the car.
Liner. A piece of metal, usually a narrow strip, used
for filling a space between two steel plates or between a Another type, referred to as portable, has the con-
plate and a structural shape. veyor mounted on wheels, allowing it to be pushed into
the car by the operator, The
feeding chute or conveyor
Lining, Brake. An asbestos fabric woven in various
is also placed by hand, usually being swiveled or other-
widths and thicknesses, with or without interwoven
wise suspended from an overhead hopper or pocket.
metal wires, and used as a lining for one of the rubbing
surfaces in some forms of clutches and brakes, where The above conveyors extend well to the end of the
the service car and deposit the material with little velocity, start-
is intermittent and pressures moderate.
Link. A ing delivery near the floor and gradually raising the
part of a machine which receives motion from
one part and transmits it to another a single element discharge as the pile grows, thus minimizing breakage.
Other shorter types, which are more easily manipulated
in the mechanism.
in and out of the car doors, are fitted with short belt
Also, one of the separate pieces of which a chain is
conveyor sections, and rely on a high velocity of the belt
composed.
to throw the material beyond the end of the conveyor,
Live Load. A load which is not static or dead; a load the car to
filling its end.
which varies in amount or moves in location. (See The part of the car can be filled from the
central
Factor of Safety.)
feeding spout after the internal conveyor has been
Load. A force applied from without or externally,
withdrawn, provided the strength of the car will allow
measured in pounds, or tons. Also, in cranes and hoists, this additional weight.
the useful weight lifted.
Page 277, 769, 837-840.
93
LOA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA LOA
Loader, Box Car; Centrifugal or Throwing Type. A elevator rests in the coal and feeds downward; when it
box car loader which is set on the car floor opposite reaches the bottom be fed by hand shoveling, or
it may
the middle door of the car, and consists of a rotating it may be raised, the barge warped along under it, and
cage with radial blades, driven by a motor. The ma- it may then be fed downward in a new place.
terial to be handled, as coal, is fed into the center of Another type consists of an ordinary bucket elevator
the rotating cage by a belt, screw or other conveyor enclosed in a casing, and driven by a motor mounted
from an outside supply, and is thrown from it by the beneath the head sprocket.The boot is open at the bot-
force due to rapid rotation.
centrifugal A cast iron tom and is self-feeding by being lowered into the ma-
cylinder with a side opening surrounds the rotor this ; terial. The discharge is into a flexible spout which is
opening can be turned to either side and thus govern also telescopic, to allowfor raising or lowering of the
the direction of throwing, allowing both ends of the unloader on account of changing levels. The unloader
car to be filled at one setting. Two rotaries may also is operated while suspended by tackle from an eye in
be combined in one machine in such a way as to load the top of the casting.
both ends of the car simultaneously. Page 828, 831.
The hopper which the coal is loaded may be on
into Loader, Portable. A machine for raising bulk or pack-
the same side motor car or opposite to it;
as the driving age material from the floor or ground to the level of a
these arrangements are known as rear feed and front vehicle which is to transport it, and which is made
feed, respectively. portable by being mounted on wheels. Such a machine is
Page 277. usually driven by power electric motor or gasoline en-
Loader, Box Car, Tipping or Tilting Type. A box car gine. If the material to be loaded is in bulk, as coal,
loader in which the car to be loaded is fastened between gravel, sand, etc., the loader may be self-feeding or may
stops on a tilting platform which allows it to be tipped require feeding by hand. The most common type in-
up to an angle of about 60 deg. Also called a rocking volves a bucket or flight conveyor, and the height of
box car loader. delivery can be changed by changing the slope of the
Loader, Box Car, Trough and Pusher Type. A device conveyor, within proper limits. Such a portable load
for loading box cars with bulk material, slightly curved may also be used as a feeder to a line of conveyor. (See
in a vertical plane and so supported on an arm that it Loader, Wagon.)
can be swung easily into a box car and placed parallel Page 768, 771, 773, 837-840.
to its center line. Itreciprocates horizontally past the Loader, Shovel Type. A loading machine in which a
supply, and when at its full stroke toward one end of
scoop or shovel is mechanically operated, sliding under
the car, a pusher is moved the length of the trough by
the material on the floor, raising it to the dumping level
a chain, forcing the material out ahead of it and dropping and there dumping it by inverting it backward, or by
it onto the pile on the floor. The trough is then moved downward in The
tipping front. first type acts like a
to the other end, receiving its load as it passes the
man and throwing a shovelful over
lifting his shoulder ;
chute, and the operation is repeated. man
the second like a turning with the loaded shovel,
Loader, Drag Line Scraper. A scoop-shaped implement but emptying it by tipping it downward, instead of
for loading bulk material into wagons or open top cars "throwing'' the contents as is usually done by hand.
over or through the material by wire
by dragging Loader, Truck, Portable. A portable inclined elevator
it
ropes operated from a power driven two-drum winch. generally of the apron type, of suitable dimensions and
The vehicle must be located below the level from which adjustability to load motor trucks from the ground. The
loading takes place, or else an incline must be arranged. apron often has a curve projecting for a short distance
The extensively used in mines for loading coal
device is
beyond the top end of the incline so as to reach further
from the working face into cars in the main haulways. over into the truck. For successive tiers, the end of
The scoop, which is sometimes in the form of a pan the loader may be raised, usually by hand.
loaded partly by hand, and sometimes a double V-shaped
Page 761, 768, 770.
steel structure without top or bottom, is back-hauled by
Loader for Ships, Cantilever. A structure used for
a rope attached to its rear end and wound on one of
loading ships with bulk material at points where there is
the drums. It is then dragged parallel to the working
no harbor in which the vessel may tie up at a wharf.
face by passing the drag rope leading to the other drum
An elevated structure has a cantilever extending a long
around properly placed guide sheaves, gathering its load
distance over deep water, and the vessel is held by
as it goes, and finally is pulled the length of the room
anchors underneath the end; belt or other types of con-
and dumped into the car in the haulway, the scraper
veyors bring the material from storage ashore and dump
and load riding over the smooth floor of the room.
it into the ship rapidly. Speed is essential on account
Loader, Elevator Type, for Coaling Vessels. A bucket
of the possible danger to the ship if the stay is long.
elevator used for raising coal from a barge and dump-
Page 828, 831.
ing it into the bunkers of the ship alongside which the
consists of the bucket elevator, chain Loader, Wagon. A
machine used for raising material,
barge is placed. It
the top and bottom generally bulk material such as coal, coke, sand, gravel,
operated, passing around sprockets at
crushed stone, etc., from a heap on the ground or floor
of a frame which is lashed in a vertical position to the
side of the ship. Another frame can be slid vertically to the level of a wagon and dumping it there. The
on the elevator frame, and carries a hopper, spout and most usual form is an inclined bucket or belt conveyor
three sprockets around which the chain and buckets mounted on a frame supported on wheels, and delivering
to an elevated chute which is usually swiveling. The
pass on their upward journey in such a way as to dump
the coal hopper, discharging it through the
into the conveyor drive is a steam or gasoline engine, or an
spout into the
coaling port in the vessel's side. The electric motor. The machine may be travelling or
sliding part enables adjustments to be made for ports of capable of self-propulsion from place to place, and is
varying elevation above the water and for varying often made self-feeding, moving slowly into the pile as
depths of coal in the barge. The lower end of the it removes it. Or the conveyor may be mounted on a
94
LOG DEFINITION SECTION MAG
sliding frame which is fed forward a certain distance Locomotive, Gasoline. A locomotive in which the
with each setting of the wheels. power is supplied from an internal combustion engine.
Other methods of feeding involve what might be Page 627, 724.
termed "gatherers" which bring material from the sides Locomotive, Geared. A type of steam locomotive in
toward the lower end of the conveyor. One type has a which the power is transmitted from the cylinders to the
horizontal transverse shaft at the bottom of the conveyor driving wheels through gearing.
with inclined blades, rotating in such a direction that Page 626.
the material is pulled toward the conveyor buckets. Locomotive, Rack. A type of locomotive used on
Another type has a thin horizontal disc close to the heavy grades. The locomotive is driven by a gear which
ground on each side of the conveyor, mounted on a engages with a rack usually located in the center of the
vertical shaft, and rotating in the proper direction to track. They may be either electric or steam types.
carry the material toward the buckets. A third type Page 627.
has arms which reach out and scoop the material in the Locomotive, Steam. A locomotive consisting of a
desired direction. In lieu of some method of self-feeding, boiler and engine mounted on a frame supported on
a hopper is arranged at the bottom and material is shov- wheels which are turned by the engine.
eled into it by hand; this is the usual method when a Page 623, 720, 721.
belt conveyor is used. Locomotive, Storage Battery. See Locomotive, Electric.
The conveyor is usually hinged so that it may be low- Page 627.
ered to a convenient height for passing under a shed roof, Log Stacker. An inclined conveyor or elevator, gener-
or for travelling on a highway. Four-wheel and three- ally a flight or cable conveyor, used for piling short
whecl types are both in use in either case arrangements
;
logs or pulp wood into a large stack. In one form the
mav be made by which two of the four wheels, or the incline is arranged as a cantilever from a machine
odd wheel in the three-wheel arrangement can be turned travelling on tracks parallel to the stack, this machine
at right angles, allowing the loader to swing slowly from receiving the material from a conveyor parallel to its
side to side each time that it is advanced into the pile. tracks. The discharge always over the end of the
is
Or the upper part of the frame may thus swing on trough. In another type the runway, after being ele-
the truck or chassis. Some wagon loaders are mounted vated sufficiently by an incline, is carried along a hori-
on trucks of the track laying variety. Some are hauled zontal elevated structure, with discharges by doors in
the bottom of the trough wherever desired. These dis-
from place to place by horses or trailer, and arc hand
steered into the pile by a tongue. charges can be operated by cables or shafts from the
Combined with the loading mechanism there is often ground. For reclaiming purposes, a conveyor may be
installed in a tunnel beneath the pile and parallel to it.
a screening arrangement, especially for coal, which sep-
Page 273.
arates the dust from the coal and delivers it by a
Lowerer. Any device or machine by which material is
separate spout. Arrangements at the end of the delivery
lowered under full control, that is, not vertically dropped
spout are often made for bagging the coal (see Chute,
or slid down an incline. The term is more particularly
Bagging), and in conjunction with this a weighing de-
applied to apron or push-bar elevators running in a re-
vice which measures the amount put into each bag is
verse direction, and to the various types of fingered and
often included.
suspended tray elevators when used especially for
Fixed or non-portable wagon loaders are often arranged
lowering.
in connection with a track hopper, elevating the material
Retarding conveyors of the type used for lowering
from hopper to a delivery spout under which wagons
this
coal down steep slopes from mine openings are also
may be driven for loading. If the conveyor delivers sonietirr.es called lowerers. (See Conveyor, Retarding;
into a fixed hopper or elevated container from which the
Drum, Lowering.)
material is drawn by a gate as desired, the arrangement
Lowerer, Push-Bar. The mechanism used on a push-
is usually called a pocket.
bar elevator operating in a reverse direction, and used
Page 768. 770, 771. 773, 837-840. to lower objects placed on the bed and against the push-
Lock-Nut. A threaded nut so formed that it can be
bar.
locked in position on a bolt.
Luff. To move a load toward or away from the axis of
Also, a second nut, generally thin, which is screwed a rotating crane especially where it is suspended from
;
from the core by their deflection, or else two or more cir- Manila. A vegetable fibre obtained from the leaves of
cular lifting magnets suspended from the same frame may a variety of wild banana plant growing in the Philippine
be used to overcome this difficulty. Both circular and rec- Islands. It is light and strong and does not readily
tangular magnets may be constructed with concentric poles decay. Used for making ropes for hoisting and power
with the winding arranged concentrically between the transmission.
poles. Rail lifting magnets are constructed with mobile Man-trolley, Stocking. A trolley operating on a stor-
finger pole faces in order to increase the area of contact age bridge handling ore or coal, often called a stocking
and thus increase the rail carrying capacity. bridge. These trolleys, particularly when intended for
The rating and lifting capacity of the magnet depends ore, are supplied with powerful grab buckets, handling as
on the contact area of the core and on the material which much as fifteen tons at a time.
it has to handle, particularly the quality, temperature, Marine Leg. See Elevator, Marine Leg.
shape and bulk of the load and the manner in which the Mast and Gaff Unloader. A modified derrick used for
material is to be lifted and stacked.
Capacities range up unloading coal and other bulk materials from the hold
to 65 in. diameter circular magnets capable of transporting of a vessel by a grab bucket, and delivering it to an
50,000 Ib. if operated under favorable conditions. well A elevated point such as the receiving hopper of a con-
designed magnet will lift a solid piece of steel with ma- veyor, coal crusher, storage pocket, etc. The mast is
chined surface, of not less diameter than the magnet itself, braced by guys at its top and by stiff-legs at the heel of
weighing about 15 times the weight of 350 Ib. to 800 Ib. the gaff. The gaff is a boom having its heel pivoted
magnets, eight to twelve times the weight of 800 Ib. to about halfway up the mast instead of near its base as
2,000 Ib. magnets of two and three feet in diameter, and in the ordinary derrick its outer end or point is sup-
;
five to six times the weight of 2,000 Ib. to 7,500 Ib. magnets ported by a variable or fixed topping lift to the top of
of three to five feet in diameter. Sand-cast pig iron, the mast.
heavy scrap, stampings, fine wire scrap, drop forging and A two-rope grab bucket is suspended from the gaff
similar materials with irregular surfaces cannot be lifted by its two operating ropes, which pass over sheaves at
in nearly as large quantities. In such cases magnets may the gaff point, thence separately to guide sheaves at the
not lift a quarter of their own
weight. The capacity for ends of a cross-tree rigidly attached to the mast at the
handling heavy steel scrap is about 10 per cent greater gaff heel, and of the hoisting winch.
finally to the drums
than with pig iron. Magnets with large contact surfaces In operation the bucket hoisted by the closing rope,
is
will lift more than one layer of material, and up to six and the side pull due to its guide sheave being at the
layers of iron plates may be lifted depending on the end of the cross-tree is sufficient to swing the gaff and
weight and thickness of plate. loaded bucket over the receiving hopper, if the holding
Lifting magnets are operated on circuits from 110 to rope is slackened slightly. The bucket is dumped by
550 volts, but 220 is the usual voltage. holding the holding rope while the closing rope is
Controlling devices automatically shunt a discharge re- slackened ; the side pull is thereby reversed in direction
sistance across the magnet terminals when the circuit is on account of the guide sheave for the holding rope being
about to be opened to prevent the flow of large inductive at the other end of the cross-tree, and the gaff and
currents that would otherwise occur. Residual magnetism empty bucket immediately swing back over the vessel.
remaining in the cores of lifting magnets will prevent small The bucket is lowered open by letting both ropes run
loads from being released on opening the circuit. Small out, under the control of the brake.
reverse currents be applied to neutralize this magnetic
may Page 828-831.
force and release the load instantaneously. Mast, Tie-rod. See Mast, Trussed.
Alternating current lifting magnets either single, two or Mast Step. The seat in the base plate in which the
three-phase, be used in case direct current supply is
may mast of a derrick is placed. It is sometimes a cylindrical
unavailable. less powerful for the same weight
They are step bearing, requiring accurate plumbing of the mast;
than the best designed direct current magnets. again, a ball and socket joint, allowing considerable
it is
Shields used to catch material dropping from magnets inclination. For ease in hand slewing, ball bearings are
during transportation and thus prevent its falling on work- sometimes (See Derrick Bottom.)
installed.
men, are procurable, but they decrease the carrying ca- Mast Top. The complete assemblage
of metal parts at
pacity of the magnet by reducing both the magnetic avail- the top of a derrick mast, comprising the following parts
ability and the speed of operation. or their equivalent the mast top proper, including the
;
Three control units are ordinarily required, namely: a gudgeon or pivot, which allows the mast to rotate; (for
master switch with lift, drop and off positions ; a double- guyed derricks) the guy cap, which is fitted to the pivot,
pole magnetic contactor for handling the main magnetic does not rotate, and is provided with eyes for the guy
current supply and breaking the highly inductive arc oc- ends, or (for stiff-leg derricks) goose neck irons fast-
curring on opening and closing the circuit and a resistor
; ened to the upper ends of the stiff-legs and having holes
for limiting the reverse current upon release of load. The fitted the pivot; straps and bolts for securing these
to
location of control apparatus may be suited to convenience irons inplace one or more sheaves with their pins
;
;
96
MIT DEFINITION SECTION PIL
Mitre Gears. Bevel gears which are equal in size and revolving a collar, which engages pins on the inner ends
have their shafts at right angles. The included angle of of the levers and replaces them in their original position.
their pitch surface is 90 degrees. (See also Breaking Pin.)
Monitor. A
raised portion of the roof structure of a Pallet. A flat platform, plate or sheet of iron, wood or
building, generally astride the ridge, extending part or all wood covered with iron, used to pile material on, for
of its length, and having the shape of a miniature building. purposes of handling or transportation, or for such
Its side walls are usually glazed for light or provided with operations as drying, curing, etc. Those of wood stand-
openings for ventilation, or both it has no floor. ; ing on high cleats can be easily picked up, trucked and
In many installations of coal- handling apparatus, con- deposited with their loads by trucks or barrows with
veyors are run lengthwise of the building through the proper lifting fingers or hooks passing under the pallet.
monitor, and can dump anywhere in its length into storage Also called a hack.
bins beneath. The conveyor line is supported by the main Also, a flat carrier, usually of wood and with the
roof timbers which extend across its base, and a footway smooth down, for use in conveying materials such
side
alongside of it gives access for care and repairs. as sacks of cement which will not move if placed on
Also, a kind of car used in lowering coal down inclines. roller conveyors. In a simple system several sacks or
(See Car, Monitor.) similar articles may be piled on each pallet, and after
Monorail, Adjustable Loop. A system by which a a sufficient number of these loads have run to their
telpher or cage-controlled monorail hoist can serve the destination, the pallets are piled on the roller conveyor
whole of a rectangular area by means of a movable bridge and pushed back by hand. Boxes are similarly used
on to which the telpher can run. for materials which will not stack on pallets.
passing through the center of gravity of the area of the the discharge at the other; circular tables are sometimes
bending, on the other side it is extended. For small material an endless belt may be used.
Niggerhead. See Winch Head. Coal is easier to pick if the fine material is removed,
amount the line is set over in going from one to the other.
down the middle and carries two sizes separated by a
One of the measurements taken to locate a point or ob- partition, and a third space may be formed between
these two to carry away the refuse. Refuse may also
ject by means of its distances from two base lines at right
be dropped down chutes to a drag chain, or flight con-
angles ;
a co-ordinate.
veyor, or car, by which it is removed to a dumping
Overburden. The material resting ontop of a bed of
point.
coal, ore, stone, or similar material, the excavation of
The endless apron form is also called a picking band.
which is contemplated. Removal of the overburden is
Pier. A
platform or structure resting on the bottom,
called stripping.
projecting above the water, and extending out into a
Overcut. The term applied to a gate or valve for con- stream, harbor or other body of water, and generally,
trolling the flow of loose material in a chute when it
though not necessarily, used for mooring, loading and
stops the flow by cutting down into the material from
unloading vessels. (See also Wharf.) Cranes installed
above. This is the usual construction, with vertical
on piers and arranged for cargo handling service are
and with many quadrant or
sliding gates, cylindrical usually called wharf or cargo handling cranes and not
gates. pier cranes.
Overload Detector. A device hung on a crane hook and Also, one of the s pports of the spans of a bridge or
having another hook to which the load is hung. A other similar structure.
scale arrangement inside is arranged to give a continuous Also, a short tower for elevating a crane structure
audible sound whenever an overload is lifted with the above the ground level. (See Pier Base.)
hook. Pier Base. A short structural steel tower used to give
With electric operation, ammeters will indicate the moderate elevation to a crane. A locomotive crane may
degree of loading with fair accuracy. With steam loco- have a pier base, adapting it for storage yard 'or cargo
motive cranes, the operator can usually tell from the handling work.
steam pressure and throttle opening, as well as by the Pier Shed. A roofed structure or building placed on a
feel and sound, when he is approaching the danger point.
pier, generally to prevent damage to stored material by
Overload Release, Mechanical. A safety device that the elements. It may cover part of the pier, leaving
will disengage a drive from its load when the latter open passages along the sides for the movements of
exceeds a certain predetermined amount. In one type a cranes or special cargo handling machinery, or it may
central hub and spider on one end of a shaft carry levers cover all the pier, in which case the cargo handling
which project outward into notches inside a rim carried machinery must be located on the roof or carried by the
on the end of another abutting shaft springs hold these ;
vessel.
levers in the notches, but they are released when exces- Pillar. A post of wood, steel or masonry used to sup-
sive load deflects the springs and causes the levers to port the floor of a building or other portion of a struc-
slip out of place. The mechanism is reset by manually ture. In pillar cranes, the central column or post by which
97
PIN MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA FOR
the boom or jib is supported. (See Crane, Pillar; Crane, to back of the train. After it is attached to a plow
Pillar Jib.) The pillar is constructed in various ways, which has been brought up to the rear of the train on
two types being a tapering cast iron column of circular a special car, the winch is started and the plow is pulled
section flared at the bottom where it rests on a turn- the whole length of the train.
table, or a structural steel column bracketed to a heavy The cars have no ends, and the floor spaces between,
base plate. The particular type of pillar crane called a over the couplings, are bridged by steel plates, so that
locomotive crane generally has its pillar, which is very the train forms one long continuous trough.
short, included as part of the two side frames of the Plows are made to discharge to the left or to the right,
hoisting winch and mounted with them on the revolving or on both sides, a special pilot being provided in the
on a part below. Used in steam jet ash conveyor sys- by itself. Pump plungers force liquid out of a cylinder
tems, when renewing the wearing plates immediately as they are forced into it. The plunger in a plunger type
above an elbow steam unit. feeder pushes the material, as coal, ahead of it on the for-
Pit, Tower. A pit sometimes dug at the base of the ward stroke; on the return fresh material drops in the
tower in a concrete chuting plant, to allow the bucket space vacated.
to go below the ground level for filling. This avoids the Ply. One of the layers of sheet material which goes to
necessity of elevating the mixing plant. make up an article of laminated structure, as fabric
which a person may stand and move about. Platforms Pneumatic. Connected with or pertaining to the use of
around crane structures are generally called footways. air at a high or low pressure, as pneumatic tools,
rock, etc., on one or both sides of the track. In one tion on the surroundings, setting or foundation in a
particular locality, preferably limited to cases where
the
system of operation, a special unloading car carrying the
winding machinery and coupled to a dumping locomo- machine may be moved to a new locality with little or
tive is attached to the train. When just about to enter no dismantling, but where it is not self-propelled.
the track where dumping is to take place, the end of the Portable Cranes. One type of portable cranes is that
cable is made fast to a chain temporarily stretched above used with storage battery locomotives. (See Locomotive,
the cars ;
as the train moves forward the cable unwinds Storage Battery.) Another type of portable crane uses a
and eventually lies along the top of the load from front motor having a cable leading to a service station or re-
98
POW DEFINITION SECTION RAI
ceptacle connected to a power distribution system com- velocity to a large amount of the same or another fluid,
Power, Hydraulic. A system of power transmission in jet pumping water, known as a water-jet pump; a steam
which water (or oil) under pressure is used as the jet pumping water, known as an injector or ejector,
transmission medium. of one or more pumps
It consists depending on whether the delivery pressure is high or
capable of generating the required pressure, accumulators low; and a steam jet pumping air, known as a steam
for storing the water under pressure, distributing pipes, blower.
valves, and the presses, cranes, or other machinery to be Water-jet pumps are used for drainage and excavation
operated. work, where dirty, gritty water would injure piston
Hydraulic machinery is rapid in action, smooth and pumps. Ejectors are used for the same purpose, the
silent in working, and not excessive in cost or upkeep. steam being delivered from a stationary boiler, and while
It is, however, bulky and complicated, and in cold inefficient as compared with a piston pump, are simple,
climates, liable to freeze in cold weather. cheap and easily installed. Injectors are used for pump-
Hydraulic presses and other apparatus for exerting ing feed water into boilers, and as the heat of the steam
very heavy forces are still in favor, but for hoists and is here saved by going into the feed water, the efficiency
cranes, the system is practically obsolete. is high. Steam blowers are used to produce draft for
Power-wheel. See Bucket Power-wheel. boiler fires, and are usually applied at the base of the
Pulley. A wheel turning with or on a shaft supported stack, where they act to accelerate the exhaust gases and
and having its circumference shaped so as to
in a bearing, produce a suction.
carry some sort of band for transmitting its motion to Pump, Relay. In long pipe lines, a pump placed at an
another similar wheel. A pulley usually has a flat or intermediate point to assist in moving the liquid by
nearly flat(crowning) surface for a flat belt; when the again raising its pressure after that originally supplied
rim is grooved for a rope or chain, it is usually and has been reduced by the friction of flow. In the dis-
preferably called a sheave. charge from hydraulic dredges, relay pumps increase
Flat and crowned pulleys, with belts, are widely used greatly the possible length of discharge and remove
as a means of transmitting power short and moderate part of the load from the pump, permitting greater out-
distances. Cranes were formerly driven by them. (See put. The pumps are operated by steam or electricity.
Crane, Power.) Purchase. Mechanical advantage; increase of force at
Also, a block for rope (see Block) ; also called pulley the expense of space moved through, as the purchase of
block. a lever or block and tackle. Geared drum winches are
Pulley, Guide. An auxiliary pulley which is located in also known as single or double purchase according to
such a way as to deliver a belt in the plane of another w'hether there are one or two gear reductions between
pulley, either the driving or the driven pulley of the the point of power application and the drum shaft.
mechanism. For ropes and chains, sec Sheave, Guide. Push-bar. One of the transverse bars fixed at the ends
Pulley, Slat. A pulley used with belt conveyors han- to the two moving chains of a push-bar conveyor or
dling clay, dirt or other material which might pack elevator, which moves articles placed on the bed between
between the belt and an ordinary full-face pulley. It is them by direct pressure. These are ordinarily wood,
composed of two end discs or spiders connected by par- or round or square iron bars they may also be strips
;
a squirrel cage.
allel slats, like bearing flat against the articles. Wings or flights at-
Pulley, Snub. A
pair of chain sprockets placed close tached to a single chain and used to drag objects along
under the head sprockets on the return side of a double a runway bed are also sometimes termed push-bars.
strand bucket elevator, to cause a perfect discharge of Radial. In the direction of a radius of a circle, either
the material by completely inverting the buckets. They outward or inward, as distinguished from axial, tan-
are placed outside the line of buckets and deflect the gential, or circumferential.
chains inward so that they remain in contact with the Rail, Ground. A line of rails which is located on the
sprockets considerably more than 180 deg.
for Also ground, as distinguished from one supported on an ele-
called choke wheels or deflecting wheels. (See Elevator, vated structure, building, etc.
Perfect Discharge.) Railway, Automatic. A railway with a single car used
Pulleys, Tight and Loose. Pulleys which revolve about for moving bulk material on a down grade from the
the same axis, one being rigidly attached or keyed to, receiving to the discharging point, employing a movable
and the other loosely revolving on, the shaft. counterweight which is raised by the loaded car while
Pump, Dredge. A centrifugal pump used in a hydraulic the latter
is being brought to rest at the dumping point,
dredge for drawing the mixture of water and solid and which gives out its stored energy in starting the
material in through the suction pipe and discharging it empty car back up the grade with sufficient velocity to
on land or into a scow. (See Dredge, Hydraulic.) return to the starting (loading) position. The operator
These pumps are designed specifically for the hard starts the car on its downward trip as ; it approaches
service they must undergo, and will handle boulders as thedumping point (which may be varied) it runs against
large as can pass the agitator blades at the suction head. an adjustable dumping block fast to a cable connected
Dredge pumps are usually driven by vertical engines, to the counterweight it raises the counterweight and
;
often compound, and designed for economical operation. just before comes to rest at the dumping point strikes
it
Pump, Jet. A pumping device in which the high velocity a dumping board which releases a toggle connection
of a small stream of fluid is made to give a slow and allows the top hinged side doors to swing outward
99
RAM MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA ROO
at the bottom and dump the load. The dumping is Reeve. To pass or thread a rope through pulleys,
assisted by the gable bottom of the car. The front and blocks, guides, etc.
back of the car are sloped in such a way that the reac- Retarder, Car. A device for controlling the movement
tion due to the discharge of the load helps to start the of a railway or industrial car down a grade, generally
car back up the grade. The counterweight continues during the operation of loading with bulk material. One
the acceleration and the car receives sufficient velocity device used with
railway cars being loaded at coal
to go up to the starting point. One man only is needed tipples have a two-compartment brake controlled
is to
to operate the railway and no power is required. drum, located at the head of the grade under the tipple,
Page 585, 831. with ropes wound in opposite directions in the two
Ramp. An artificial inclined path, road or track along compartments. One rope is attached to the car by a
which persons, animals and wheeled vehicles may pass hook, and the other is attached to a counterweight. The
primarily for the purpose of ascending or descending or car is allowed to move down the grade by slightly re-
changing their elevation. Foot ramps take the place of leasing the brake, which is always kept set by a spring
stairways; railway tracks set on a steep grade for the or weight. When the car has moved its length down the
purpose of hauling loaded cars of bulk material to be grade under the loading beam and is filled, the retarding
dumped, are sometimes called ramps moving ramps, ; rope is unhooked, and the counterweight winds it up
formed of platform conveyors, are made to carry loads, on the drum, making it ready for attaching to another
men with loaded hand trucks, and even wheeled vehicles car.
like motor trucks chain haulage ramps have haulage
;
A device of this sort gives much better control of the
chains laid in them, to assist heavily loaded trucks either motion of the car than can be obtained with the regular
up or down. brakes of the railway car itself, and generally saves
erate inclination and used for conveying persons, motor Retriever. A special light drum used to take up slack
trucks, "wheelers" or wheeled trucks, etc., up or down magnet lead wires crane operation.
in in (See Drum,
the grade. When the slope is so steep that special Cable.)
arrangements must be provided to prevent vehicles from Roll or Roller. A cylinder rotating about its axis, with
running down the apron, it is usually termed an apron or without bearings at its ends. The distinction between
elevator. these two terms is very indefinite, but the term roll is
Ratchet. A
detent or pivoted piece arranged to fit into more commonly applied to cases where the end bearings
the teelh of a ratchet-wheel in such a way as to allow are in fixed frames and some pressure is exerted, as in
its rotation in one direction, but not in the other. Also a rolling mill, feed rolls, etc. Roller is used (a) where
called Pawl, Dog, Click. (See Ratchet and Wheel.) the bearings are movable, as in lawn rollers, (b) where
Ratchet, Friction. A ratchet which locks a ratchet there are no bearings, as the rollers placed under a heavy
wheel against rotation in one direction by friction rather weight to assist in moving it, and (c) where the cylinders
than by placing a projection in its path. It is generally are placed in fixed bearings and objects moved over
a small rounded piece eccentrically pivoted, or a ball or them; the function is merely to change sliding into roll-
roller in contact with an eccentric or spiral surface, so ing friction in the two last cases.
arranged that the wheel pushes it aside when rotating in Narrow rollers are called wheels; the distinction is
one direction, but brings it into a powerful wedging action indefinite, but might be said to relate to the proportion
when it starts to rotate in the other direction. when the face is equal to the radius, wider faces requiring
Ratchet Wheel. The toothed wheel forming one ele- the term rolltr. (See also Conveyor Roller.)
ment of a ratchet and wheel mechanism. (See Ratchet Roller Axle. See Conveyor Roller.
and Wheel.) Roller, Live. The moving rollers in a roller bearing,
Ratchet and Wheel. A mechanism combining a ratchet which have a motion of translation of the axis as well
and ratchet wheel, much used in hoisting machinery for as a rotation on that axis. Distinguished from rollers
which are supported on fixed bearings to allow parts to
preventing the involuntary lowering of the load when
the lifting effort is interrupted. In hand hoists, the move over them.
ratchets are generally gravity operated, and are turned Also a roller which is rotated by power, as for example
out of acting position when lowering. In power hoists one of the rollers of a power roller conveyor.
the noisy click is generally objectionable, and a friction Roller Spiral, Gravity. See Spiral, Gravity Roller.
ring or clamp is usually connected to the ratchet in such Rolling, Cold. The process of passing metal bars or
a way as to keep it entirely out of action during lifting, sheets between rolls exerting a heavy pressure on them,
but instantly returning it into contact with the wheel while cold, in order to size them accurately, to harden
when reverse turning starts. Friction ratchets are not the material, or to improve the surface finish.
generally considered sufficiently reliable to use directly Rooster. A sheave carried in a swiveling bracket on
for hoisting purposes. An exception to this is in the case the gudgeon or pivot pin at the top of a derrick mast,
of a worm ratchet. The ratchet wheel is simply a worm and used for giving the boom hoist line a straight lead to
wheel, having in mesh with it a worm which will not the drum on the hoisting winch. The boom hoist line is
turn in one direction owing to the wedging of a conical led up the center of the mast, out at its top, and over
surface on the worm shaft in its seat, but which will the rooster sheave, thus leaving the two sheaves in the
turn with ease in the other direction. The reversal of mast step free for the hoisting and the closing lines re-
thrust of the worm is used to bring one or the other of quired in two-line bucket operation. Or if only one hoist-
these two resistances into play, the small resistance corre- ing line is required, the use of a rooster allows the single
sponding to lifting, and the wedging action to lowering. line at the bottom to be placed centrally, and the mast
Reciprocate. To move back and forth, to alternate in can then be rotated a complete circle or more without
direction of motion, like the piston of an engine. fouling any line.
100
ROO DEFINITION SECTION
Rooster Bracket. See Rooster. Rope, Shell. The term applied to the holding rope in
Rooster Sheave. See Rooster. some types of two-rope grab buckets where the top
Rope. A flexible connector used for pulling, made of bucket head is extended downward forming a housing or
fibrous vegetable materials or of metal wires. If the shell for supporting guides on which the two spades or
former, the fibres are twisted into yarns, the yarn into bowls slide.
strands,and the strands are then laid into a rope. If the Sisal. A rope made from the fibres of a plant
Rope,
latter, wires are laid into strands and the strands into a
grown Yucatan, Mexico and Florida. It is in general
in
rope. (See Rope, Cordage; Wire Rope; Wire Rope, inferior to manila in strength, appearance and wearing
Lay of.) qualities. It is used for tying or binding purposes, and
Page 320, 818-822. seldom for running around sheaves.
Rope, Armored Wire. Wire rope which has had its
Rope, Wire. See Wire Rope.
strands wrapped or served with a winding of metal wire
Rope, Trip. A small rope which, when pulled (gener-
or ribbon before being laid into the final rope. This
ally by hand) operates a latch or dog to release a moving
armor takes all the wear for a long period of time, and
part of an apparatus, such as a grab or turnover bucket
materially lengthens the life of the rope.
Page 320, 818-822.
Rotary Blower. See Blower, Rotary.
Rotate. To
revolve or move round a center or axis, to
Ropes, Arrangement of Hoisting. In cranes up to
have a continuous circular motion.
three tons capacity the load may be lifted on a single fall
(See also Axis.)
of rope. For loads from seven tons, two parts are
five to
Above this Runway. The path or
track over which anything regu-
employed, one part winding on the drum.
larly runs; a
passageway or aisle which can be used
size the load is lifted on four parts of rope, two parts
for wheeled vehicles whether on rails or not.
being wound in left and right hand grooves on the drum, Also, the
and the other two passing around an equalizing sheave. term applied to an assemblage of conveyor sections, and
In very large cranes the load may be supported on 16 (or particularly to the parts on which the material trans-
ported actually as distinct from the supporting
more) parts, two winding on the drum, two passing around rests,
the equalizer sheave, and 12 pendent from the upper block. structure, driving mechanism, etc.
In some cases the ropes ordinarily passing around the Runway, Crane. A runway or track built to support a
equalizer are led to another drum and wound on it. travelling crane, including its supporting girders. In
The above represents common practice in overhead overhead travelling cranes and gantries with partially
elevated runways, it includes the line of horizontal girders
cranes, but there are many variations even in them, and
when derricks, steam shovels, grab buckets, etc., are con- and rails, with supporting columns and bracing. In gan-
sidered the arrangements in use are exceedingly nu- try cranes, the runwayis generally near the ground level,
Where sheaves and drums must be kept small, as in foundation. In semi-portal gantry cranes, one runway is
overhead crane trolleys, a maximum diameter of rope of
often on the edge of a roof.
Rope, Holding. In grab buckets operated by two ropes, properly to distribute itself over the length of the drum.
the one which is attached to the bucket head and by The score varies from a shallow groove whose profile is
which it is lowered. (See Bucket, Two-rope). Also the arc of a circle of the rope diameter, with ropes just
called bucket lowering rope. touching each other, to a groove with semi-circular bot-
Rope, Manila. A rope made from fibres obtained from tom and slightly divergent sides, deep enough to entirely
a species of wild plantain belonging to the banana family, contain the rope, and spaced wide enough apart to allow
and native to the Philippine Islands. The fibres are from for the thickness of the walls between. The length of
6 ft to 10 ft. long and very strong in tension, though weak the score should be enough to leave two turns of rope
still wound when the load hook is at its lowest point.
transversely.
101
SCO" MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA SCR
For chain, the drum is scored with a plain groove so screen first, followed by the finer ones in succession.
that alternate links may be flat and standing, with the Screen installations may be classified according to their
standing links clear of the bottom of the groove, or the method of causing the material to pass over the screen-
score may be a circular arc, to take the chain as it comes. ing surface as gravity, shaking, revolving, traveling bar
Or, the score may be cast, with pockets to nt each link. and rotating disc; according to the service performed as
The is a single helix from end to end
simplest scoring sizing, rejecting, rescreening, washing, draining, drying
of the drum ;
seldom used in cases where ihe rope
this is and feeding according to the conditions during screening
;
leads directly to the bottom block or load, except in the as wet or dry, and according to the nature of the screen-
smaller cranes, as it causes an unsymmetrical loading of ing surface as woven cloth, perforated plate, bar or
the crane structure. Two symmetrically disposed scores grizzly, or rotating disc.
are usually provided, the two ropes winding toward the Screen, Bar. A
screen consisting of a series of bars
center as the load is hoisted. placed parallel to the direction of flo.w of the material,
Scow. A flat-bottomed boat, generally with flat sloping and set into and held in place by notched bearers. The
ends and without deck, used for transporting heavy bulk bars are of round, square, rectangular or special sections,
material such as dirt, gravel, sand, stone, garbage, etc. ; a desirable form being one which will not allow pieces
garbage scows have hopper bottoms, by which the load to pass part way through and wedge.
Special arrange-
may be dumped into the water. ments of bars sometimes serve to separate materials
will
Scraper, Buck. A horse-drawn scraper consisting of a of different character without regard to size; an example
vertical board 12 in. to 18 in. high and 4 ft. to 6 ft. long, being flat bars set inclined transversely for separating
with handles attached at the back. It is used mostly flat pieces of slate from coal if the latter breaks into
in filling trenches, being dragged toward the trench by pieces that are not flat. Also called a grizzly or a
horses on the other side, and pulled back and placed for grizzly screen.
a new load by one or more men operating the handles. Screen, Chute. A screen inserted in the bottom of a
(Also called trench filler.) chute, for the purpose of separating the dust or fines
(See also Scraper, Fresno.) from the material passing over it. Used in wagon load-
Scraper Bucket, Drag Line. See Drag Line Scraper ing chutes at coal pockets.
Bucket. Also called shoot screen.
Scraper, Drag. See Drag Scraper. Screen, Draining; Screen, Drying. A screen generally
Scraper, Drag Line. See Drag Line Scraper. of the revolving type, which is arranged to drain or
Scraper, Fresno. A horse-drawn drag-scoop scraper dry the material passing through it rather than to screen
having a wide and rather short bowl. It is filled by it. To accelerate the action, a blast of air, heated if
dragging through loose dirt, with the cutting edge slightly desired, isoften passed through and around the screen.
depressed, and is dumped by turning over on adjustable Screen, Gravity; Screen, Gravity Inclined. screen A
runners which allow a complete dump or gradual spread- which permanently at an angle that will cause the
is set
ing as may be desired. It is returned on the runners. material undergoing screening to slide freely over it due
On account of its short bowl it fills easily, and will to the force of gravity. This angle varies with the type
follow up a steep bank without dumping. (Also called of screen and the nature of material from 25 deg. to 45
buck scraper.) deg. Bar screens, slotted wire screens, flanged lip screens
Scraper, Tongue. A drag scraper in which the horses and oblong perforated plate screens (flat or corrugated)
pull the scoop by a forked tongue pivoted to it at its are used. Knockers are sometimes provided to help keep
two sides, instead of by chains attached to a bail as in the perforations clear a light ; up-and-down vibration
the ordinary drag scraper. of the screen also assists in this.
Scraper, Wheel. A horse-drawn scraper bucket consist- A form of gravity screen intended for fine screening
ing of a steel pan or scoop mounted on wheels and has a woven wire surface which is kept in vibration by
equipped with levers by which the cutting edge can be hammers. (See Screen, Vibrating Wire.)
lowered to the ground for filling the bucket, and then Screen, Grizzly. A term applied to a bar screen, either
raised clear while the load is being wheeled to the dump- of the fixed inclined or the shaking type (see Screen,
ing point. To dump, the back end of the pan is raised Gravity; Screen, Shaking), of the rotary disc type (see
until the cutting edge digs into the ground, when the Screen, Rotating Disc), or of the traveling bar type
continued pull of the team will dump the load. It is (see Screen, Traveling Bar).
returned in the dumped position. An automatic front Screen, Lip. See Screen, Perforated Plate.
gate is sometimes added to prevent the spilling of mate- Screen, Perforated Plate. These are made with round,
rial during long or rough hauls. square, needle slot and oblong or oval perforations in
Screen. To separate a bulk material according to the brass, iron, steel or manganese steel plates. Round and
size of the particles contained in it by passing it over square holes are generally staggered oblong holes may ;
one or more screens composed of perforated plate, woven be end staggered or side staggered (also termed hit-and-
wire, parallel bars or parallel rotating discs ; also, to miss-endways or hit-and-miss-sideways) oblong and ;
separate from the bulk all material above or below a needle slot perforations may be longitudinal (or straight),
certain size, or between certain sizes. transverse (or cross), or diagonal. The plates may be
The term screen is also applied to the actual screening curved to fit conical or cylindrical screen frames, and
surface, to this surface with the frame on which it is arranged in panels, or they may be used perfectly flat
mounted, and to the whole machine with its operating with either transverse or diagonal corrugations called
and auxiliary mechanism. riffles. These corrugations serve to stir up the material
The
simplest arrangement mechanically involves pass- passing over the screen and prevent it from moving
ing the whole mass over the finest screen first and thence fii masse. The same thing is accomplished by lip screens
over coarser and coarser screens, but this subjects the which are perforated plate screens formed into transverse
fineand delicate screens to heaviest wear, and it is there- steps about 12 inches long with a drop of 1 in. to 2
fore better practice to pass the mass over the coarsest in. ; each step has a series of parallel longitudinal slot
102
SCR DEFINITION SECTION SCR
perforations widening toward the lower end, and curved power applied to the shaft by a pulley, gear or sprocket
down over the step. In addition to agitating the mate- drive.
rial, these screens are self-clearing in that the effect of Hexagonal screens are usually made up in the spider
the lower end of the slot is eliminated, and lumps which form and the perforated metal or woven wire screen is
pass only partly through the slots slide out onto the side to side of the material passing through them as dis-
next step. si'de to side of the material passing through it, as dis-
The
thickness of plate screens increases with the size tinguished from the rolling in the cylindrical or conical
of the perforations, and shape and spacing of the per- screens. The throwing action can be obtained in the
forations vary with the sizes to be produced, the type latter,however, by fitting a number of longitudinal in-
of fracture and other properties of the material. wardly projecting baffles.
Screen, Primary. The first or initial screen, in plants Conical screens are sometimes supported on an over-
where the same material is subject to successive screen- hung shaft attached to a heavy spider secured in the
ings for the purpose of more thorough elimination of small end of the cone. The material is fed into the large
foreign matter, or more thorough mixing of added in- end of the cone by a chute extending the full length
gredients. to the small end, and the revolving screen returns the
Screen, Rejection. A screen which separates out for over-size to the large end where it is discharged. Cylin-
rejection from the succeeding processes all material above drical screens are also sometimes overhung; in this case
a certain size as determined by the size of the openings. the material which not pass through must be re-
will
This material is either discarded, or is subject to a moved by hand or some
special mechanical means. A
special crushing preliminary to use. cylindrical or conical screen may have one size of mesh
Screen, Revolving. A screening device in which the or perforations throughout its length; all oversize mate-
woven wire fabric, perforated sheet metal or other screen rial is discharged at the end, and all material smaller
material is arranged around the exterior of a cylindrical, than the size of the openings passes through them. A
conical, hexagonal prismatic or hexagonal pyramidal concentric cylindrical dust jacket is sometimes added
frame, supported so that it can rotate with its axis hori- externally for part of the length from the receiving end ;
zontal or slightly inclined. The material to be screened it is of fine mesh, and allows the dust to
pass through,
is delivered to the interior at one end and, as it works but retains the desired material and delivers it at the
toward the other, is separated into two or more portions end of the jacket. This principle
be extended by
may
graded according to size. the use of multiple jackets placed concentric with the
These screens are made up in several ways. For the inner one, successively shorter at the discharge ends and
heaviest service perforated plates, sometimes of manganese of finer mesh or perforations, counting from the inner
steel, bent to the proper cylindrical or conical form, are screen outward. The innermost jacket separates all over-
bolted to a frame which has at its ends heavy tread size and delivers it at its discharge end the next jacket
;
rings or tires running on small chilled wheels supported retains all above the size of its mesh and delivers it to its
in bearings and called trunnion wheels additional inter- ; discharge, distinctfrom the discharge of the jacket, and
mediate tires are used if the length warrants it. This is each succeeding jacket acts in the game manner. Hexag-
termed the trunnion, tire, treadway or friction ring type. onal screens are similarly jacketed.
The screen is rotated by power applied to the wheels or Another method of securing separation into several
rolls on which supported, turning the latter by fric-
it is have a single covering of several sections or
sizes is to
tion or by a pinion meshing with a large ring gear cut compartments on the same cylindrical or conical frame,
on one of the tires. It may also be rotated by a bevel with the mesh or perforations increasing in size from
gear or a large ring sprocket on one of the tires, or on section to section as the material progresses through the
the end ring at the receiving or discharge end. If the screen.
discharge end frame is solid, the screen surface must Revolving screens may be entirely open, or completely
stop short of the end frame, leaving a gap through which enclosed in housings to retain the dust; this settles to
the oversize material may discharge. The other types the bottom and is removed at intervals by hand, or
have a clear discharge opening, and all have clear receiv- continuously by a small conveyor.
ing ends. If the screen is conical, the shaft is horizontal ;
A dead plate or unperforated section is sometimes left
if cylindrical, the shaft is inclined and a thrust bearing close to the receiving end, to insure the breaking up of
must be provided. This may be arranged in the bevel the material received upon it, or to allow a better wash-
gear drive type by a steel button thrust in the end of ing by water supplied at this point.
the shaft in the main bearing at the discharge end in ;
A renewable "wearing skirt" is also sometimes applied
the open end type rollers must be provided bearing against just within the receiving end, to receive the impact of
a surface on the end face of the end ring, and these the material from the feeding chute.
rollers are conveniently two in number and placed on a Revolving screens are sometimes made up with screen-
transverse shaft across the center of the end, the dis- ing surfaces composed of longitudinal bars held parallel
charge passing beneath it. by the spiders or trunnion rings, like an elongated squirrel
For lighter service the spider or shaft construction is cage. These will stand very severe wear. An inner
used, consisting of perforated plates or woven wire mate- screen of this sort is sometimes inserted within a per-
rial attached to a frame made up of longitudinals fastened forated metal revolving screen to take out the oversize
to a series of frames or spiders mounted on a through and save the perforated surface from the excessive wear
shaft carried in bearings at each end. Main reliance is due to the presence of large and heavy pieces.
placed on the shaft to stiffen the screen, and it is some- Screen, Rotating Disc. A
screening device consisting
times trussed for added stiffness. One or more inter- of a series of notched cast iron discs loosely mounted
mediate spiders sometimes have a flange projecting out- on a number of parallel square shafts, all driven at the
ward between the two adjacent screen sections attached same speed and in the same direction by outside gearing.
to it, resting on rollers, to assist in carrying the weight; The top edges of the discs are all in the same plane,
this makes a combination type. The screen is rotated by which is inclined downward in the direction of travel about
103
SCR MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA SCR
7 deg. The coal or other material is fed in at the upper metal ;
a special form of the latter known as a screen
lip
end, resting on the edges of the discs, and is passed along iswidely used.
by their rotation, the fine material dropping between Screen, Sizing. A screen which separates a material
them. Also called a rotary grizzly. Another type con- into a number of different grades according to
the size
sists ofa single shaft with a series of equal sized discs of the particles, usually designated
by stating the open-
spaced apart by separators. Material like coal is fed ings through which each size will and will not go.
onto the advancing side near the top, the fines dropping Screen, Suspended. A horizontal rotary cylindrical
through and the lumps carrying over into the discharge. screen which is suspended at two or more points by
This is a convenient method of reducing the load on a belts passing around it and also around
pulleys on a
crusher by separating the fines from the lumps before shaft above, which is also the
driving shaft. Longitudi-
delivering the latter into the crusher. Also called a nal baffles are attached to the
outside; mixed sand and
rotary grizzly feeder. "tailings" are discharged onto the outside on top the ;
Screen, Shaking or Shaker. A screening surface held in coarse tailings are carried over the si'de and away ; water
a frame in a slightly inclined position and reciprocated and fine tailings, which it is desired to
save, pass through
or shaken horizontally by some means, to agitate the the screen surface and are caught by an internal
sloping
material passing over it and to assist in its movement. pan.
The screen is supported at its four corners and at Screen, Traveling Bar. A
screen consisting of a series
Jntermediate points, if its length requires, by rod and of parallel steel bars attached at each end to chains and
pin suspension from above or by rollers from a track made up into an endless belt passing over a pair of
below. Another type is the flexible or spring board sup- sprockets at each end, with the runs horizontal. Material
of a number of is received on the
port, consisting thin hickory or ash upper run; the fines drop between the
boards fastened securely to the screen and to the bars and are deflected to one side, while the lumps are
supporting building structure from either above or retained and pass over the head sprockets. The device
below. serves as a feeder to a crusher, also relieving it from
The oscillation is usually caused by a rotating shaft unnecessary work by removing the fine material. A
having eccentrics connected to the screen frame by second belt of more closely spaced bars may travel within
wooden eccentric rods. Somewhat better action can be the first, on smaller sprockets on the same shafts, allow-
secured by cam operation, giving a slow advancing mo- ing separation into three grades according to size.
tion and a quick return, and with this arrangement the Also called traveling grizzly bar feeder.
screen need not be inclined. The same effect is secured Screen Veil. A
steel plate which can be laid over a
by a quick vertical drop at the end of the forward mo- screening surface when it is desired to pass material
tion. In another arrangement the ends of the screen to a point beyond the screen without
performing any
are supported by eccentric straps carried by eccentrics separation by it.
zontal space they are often arranged above one another passes down over surface, the vibration preventing
the
in several decks, each discharging its own oversize at clogging and assisting in the movement. Its special field
the lower end. The separate decks are sometimes called is for fine screening, and it is sometimes
called a sep-
leaves. arator.
Shaking screens produce considerable vibration in the Screen, Washing. A screen in which water
is supplied
building, and this may be minimized by arranging the to wash the material
(such as sand or gravel) while it
is being screened, to remove
screens in pairs driven by the same shaft, with eccentrics loam, slime or other undesir-
180 deg. apart so that the two screens of the pair are able constituents. Where division into a number of sizes
104
SCR DEFINITION SECTION SHE
source of power such as a steam or internal combustion and transmits power between them by torsional stress in
engine, all mounted on a substantial body resting on the shaft. When the torsion is only incidental, and bend-
wheels. ing is the principal stress, the member is called an axle,
Screw, Cap. A bar or bolt having a solid head at one which see.
end and a thread in the other, the head being smaller In mining, a vertical or inclined excavation made in
than a standard bolt head, and slightly rounded on top. opening the ground for mining purposes. All of the
Sealing Machine. A device for sealing corrugated or material excavated is hoisted through the shaft, and all
solid fibre shipping containers. The machine is com- tools and equipment required for the work are lowered
monly used in a line of gravity conveyor extending from through it. It also contains the pipes connected with the
the packing to the shipping department. The action of pumping system, and the lines of power transmission.
the machine in applying the adhesive and flaps is prac- Shaft, Cross. In bridge cranes, the bridge driving or
tically automatic. The sealing is done by flexible rolls squaring shaft.
which apply uniform pressure regardless of surface ir- Shaft, Foot. The term applied to the shaft carrying the
regularities. A wide range of package sizes may be lower of the two principal wheels, or sheaves, round
handled by one machine. which passes the endless chains or ropes of various types
Page 764. of inclined belt or apron conveyors, continuous bucket
Separator, Magnetic. An electro-magnetic device for elevators, etc. Also called the tail shaft.
separating iron or steel pieces from a stream of bulk Head. In
Shaft, elevators, elevator conveyors, mine
material so as to prevent damage to crushers or rolls
hoists, etc., the shaft carrying the sheaves, sprockets or
to which it may be passing. In one type the magnetic
drums around or onto which pass the ropes or chains
material is deflected from a falling stream so that it
carrying the load. Where the rope or chain is endless,
passes inside of a partition, the remainder falling straight as in bucket elevators, the lower shaft is called the
down and staying on the outer side. Another type con- foot shaft in distinction.
sists of a magnetic head pulley for a belt conveyor, in
which the iron and steel is held against the belt while it Shaft, Squaring. The shafting connecting the wheels
on the two tracks of a travelling crane, used to drive the
passes around the pulley and after it has delivered the
crane, and to force the two ends to travel at the same
other material. The separation of the belt from the
speed and keep the bridge "square" with the runway. At
surface of the pulley as it starts on its return removes
one time cranes were pulled along by a rope, and this
the iron so far from the influence of the magnet that
shaft had no function except that of squaring. At present
it falls free. In a third type the magnetic material is
the magnet. against the stops at one end of the runway, and exerting
sufficient pressure to slip the wheels on one side a slight
Separator, Steam. A
device for removing the moisture
amount.
from steam, usually before it goes into an engine. It
consists of a chamber in which the steam is given one or Shafting, Flexible. A shaft which is constructed in-
more sharp turns, throwing the moisture out by centrif- such a manner that it can be bent to a considerable ex-
ugal force; the water runs to the bottom and is blown
tentand still transmit power smoothly.
out from time to time or is removed by a trap. All types consist of a flexible central core which rotates
Shaft. A long cylindrical machine member rotating in swung out by slacking on guys attached to
It is ordinarily
t>earings,and subject mainly to torsion. It may have the top and extending to anchorages a considerable dis-
cranks, gears, cams, pulleys or sheaves fastened to it, tance to the rear. Occasionally a third or back leg is
105
SHE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA SHO
provided, pivoted to the main legs part way up or at the grooves are usually called idler pulleys; when keyed to
top, and extending downward to the rear the lower end ; their shafts and used for actual power transmission they
is mounted on wheels and is rolled along the ground under are called rope drive pulleys.
the control of tackle or a screw, thus swinging the top Sheave, Water. A sheave which is designed for use in
outward, or luffing it. a fall or bottom block which passes under water, as in the
Page 801, 802. hoisting of dredge dippers, grab buckets, etc. Grease
Sheave. A wheel or disc of wood or metal, having one lubrication usually arranged to prevent grit entering
is
or more circumferential grooves shaped to receive a rope the bearing, and the sheave is thoroughly housed to pre-
or chain, and free to rotate on a shaft. Wood sheaves, vent fouling from roots or other objects.
as used in small blocks, are generally made of lignum Shell. The name given to the frame or central portion
vitas with bronze bushings. Metal sheaves are plain discs ; of one type of clamshell grab bucket, which includes the
hub, web and rim construction or hub, spokes and rim
; ; top head, attachments for corners of the spades, and
in accordance with the size. guides for an internal vertically sliding crosshead which,
A sheave is usually free on its shaft, and without gear- with the sheaves in the head, forms the operating mech-
ing, serving merely to change the direction of the rope anism of the bucket. The shell is usually made of steel
passing around it. The term is, however, sometimes incor- plate; the rope attached to it is called the shell rope,
rectly applied to narrow drums used for winding purposes instead of the holding or lowering rope as is more
and to the driving or driven pulleys of a rope drive. general.
(See also Sheave, Chain; Sheave, Gravity Plane.) Ship, Self-unloading. See Unloader, Self-unloading
Sheave, Bicycle Spoke. A grooved sheave for wire or Ship.
manila rope which is made up of a hub, grooved rim, and Shovel, Crowding Motion. The thrusting motion of the
radiating wire spokes connecting them, like the wheel of dipper handle of a power shovel, by which it :s forced
a bicycle. downward or forward into the digging. Two types are
Sheave, Chain. See Wheel, Chain. in use : the shipper shaft crowd, in which the dipper
Sheave, Elevator. A special concave surfaced drum of handle is moved lengthwise (see Shovel, Steam, Crowd-
large diameter fastened on the end of the drum shaft of ing Engine) and the horizontal crowd, in which the upper
;
a winch, and used for operating material handling ele- end of the shovel handle is moved horizontally forward.
vators, as in building construction. rope has its two A The dipper hoisting motion is operated simultaneously
ends connected to two elevators, or to one elevator and with either of these.
a counterweight, and is passed around the drum for one Also called thrust or thrusting motion.
or two turns. The drum may be disconnected from the Shovel, Gasoline. A power shovel which is driven by a
winch shaft by a jaw or friction clutch, and a foot-oper- gasoline engine. Instead of having a number of sepa-
ated band brake enables it to be retarded or held at any rate engines, as is usual with steam shovels, there is usu-
multi-grooved sheaves mounted on parallel axes and pro- attainment, and repairs are apt to be higher.
vided with brake bands are anchored to a foundation, Shovel, Horizontal Crowding. A power shovel in which
the upper end of the dipper handle may be moved for-
and the rope is passed around them in succession in
The rope ends are fastened to the ward horizontally at the same time the dipper is pulled
figure eight turns.
cars.
forward by the hoisting rope. It is useful for producing
A motor drive issometimes added to the sheave, to smooth, level cuts, and for tearing up surfaces of roads
assist in and to raise a loaded car in case it without disturbing the foundation structure.
starting,
should be necessary. Some machines give a very long horizontal "crowd" by
having a special arrangement with a scoop traveling
Sheave, Grooved. See Sheave, Rope.
along the lower side of the boom, which is. lowered to a
Sheave, Guide. A sheave located in such a way that it
horizontal position during filling, and raised and swung
guides a rope in a desired direction, generally onto a
for dumping.
drum, or into the plane of another sheave.
Shovel, Power. A power driven excavator, in which the
Sheave, Load. In a chain hoist, the sheave from which
digging element is usually a scoop or dipper mounted on
the chain or rope carrying the load is pendent. a handle and operated by a combination of a geared at-
Sheave, Pendent. In rope tackle, the lower or fall
tachment to a boom, with wire ropes or chains attached
block. to the dipper and also operated from the. boom. This
Sheave, Rope. A sheave having a circumferential apparatus, with its operating machinery, boiler, etc., is
groove shaped to fit rope. If for wire rope for power mounted on a car with flat or flanged wheels, or on a
transmission, the groove is shaped so that the rope does track-laying truck, and is usually self-propelled. Steam
not touch the sides if for hoisting, the groove should fit
; power most general use, but internal combustion
is in
the rope closely to enable it to hold its shape under heavy engines are also used, and occasionally electricity. (See
load. Idler sheaves for manila rope usually have grooves Shovel, Steam Shovel, Gasoline.);
which approximately fit the rope, but do not wedge it. Several forms of digging element other than the dipper
Wide faced freely turning sheaves with numerous and handle are in use. In some of these a shovel-shaped
106
SHO DEFINITION SECTION SHO
scoop is thrust forward into the material and is raised, stands on rails laid on a flat car and is capable of self-
swung and dumped in much the same manner as a hand propulsion along the car. A
variable topping lift is often
shovel. This motion
obtained by operating the scoop
is used, necessitating an additional winding drum. (See
by a series of linkages and bell cranks mounted on a Shovel, Power; Shovel, Steam.)
revolving turntable, or by having the scoop move along Page 237.
the lower side of a nearly horizontal boom, filling as it Shovel, Ship. A term applied to a type of power shovel
moves outward, after which the boom is raised and used in unloading grain from the holds of vessels, where
the (See Loading Machine, it is used to move the grain toward the point where the
swung to dumping point.
Coal.) buckets on the marine leg can reach it. It thus serves as
Page 235. a power-operated hand-controlled feeder device for the
A marine The sometimes led down
Shovel, Power. power-operated machine used for leg. operating rope is
the leg into the hold and thus always operates toward the
"cleaning up" the ore, coal and similar bulk material left .
unloading machines have taken all that they can reach. Shovel, Shipper Shaft Boom or Shipper Shaft Crowd.
It consistsof a gasoline engine driven truck on the front A power shovel which the crowding motion is given
in
of which is mounted a shovel scoop arranged so that it to the dipper by a shipper shaft mechanism. (See
can be elevated and dumped in front of the machine. Shovel, Crowding Engine.) The engine is usually
In operation it is forced under the ore until it is filled, mounted on the upper surface of the boom near the center
of its length.
and is then raised; the machine is backed and run to a
regular unloading mechanism. swing in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis or shaft
called the shipper shaft near the center of a supporting
Shovel, Power. A device for assisting in the hand un-
boom. The handle can also be run in or out lengthwise
loading of bulk material from box cars, consisting of a
by engine-driven gearing mounted on the boom, and
large scoop, with handles at the back for guiding, con-
nected by a rope led over suitably arranged pulleys to meshing with a rack on the dipper handle this action ;
cutting directly at the side. often mounted on flat traction wheels. One type is
These shovels are the most powerful made, and when mounted on a railway flat car, but on longitudinal rails of
the dippers are provided with proper teeth will cut which it can travel from one end of the car to the other.
through almost any material except solid rock. In operation the dipper is forced downward and out-
Page 235. ward against the material by the crowding engine, and is
Shovel, Revolving. A power shovel which is mounted pulled outward and through the material by the hoisting
on a turn-table and is capable of being swung in a rope attached to the bail. The dipper and boom are
complete circle. All the operating machinery, whether then swung to the dumping position and the latch pulled,
steam or internal combustion engine, is mounted on the dumping the contents. Two operators are generally re-
revolving deck, and placed so as to counterbalance the quired, one called the cranesman, to manipulate the dip-
weight of the boom and the shovel thrust. The turn- per, and the other called the engineer, to run the engine
table is mounted on a base which may be supported on and operate the winding drum.
track wheels, traction wheels, or track-laying trucks. One The specifications of capacity usually include the fol-
type, used in railroad work, is mounted on flanged wheels, lowing: maximum dumping radius, clear dumping height,
gf
SHO MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA SKI
level floor radius, maximum height of cut, and depth of bottom, and is connected by links to a pair of rollers
cut below floor (track) level. running in a guiding groove or cam attached to the skip
Page 235. guides. Curvature of this groove at any desired point
Shovel, Traction. A
steam shovel which is mounted on causes the door to open reversal of the direction of the
;
flat tread wheels or track-laying trucks and can propel movement of the skip closes it, and it is so locked in
itself over the ground. It is made in both the straight this position that it cannot open except under the action
line and the revolving types. of the curved groove.
Shovel Boom. The boom of a power shovel, on which Skip, Cableway. A skip arranged to be carried on a
the dipper is mounted. It is commonly used at a fixed cableway. It is attached to the traveller by three chains,
inclination, is mounted on a swing circle at its heel two on the sides with a spreader between them, and one
(see Swing Circle), and has its point or head supported on the back; it is dumped by hitching another chain at
by a boom suspension pivoted to the head of the mast or the back and lifting.
A-frame. If the inclination is to be varied, a horizontal Skip, Dumping. A large dumping bucket, with a wide
pivot must be supplied at the heel, and a variable top- flaring front, a combination of an ordinary
making it
ping lift; this is sometimes obtained by swinging the bucket and a skip in form. Supported by a bail and
A-frame out of the vertical. emptied by dumping.
The boom is usually made double for part of its length, Skip Bucket. A bucket arranged to run in the vertical
and the dipper handle swings between the two portions. tower or shaft of a skip hoist. It is usually of rectangu-
The crowding engine and shipper shaft mechanism are lar section, open at the top, and is pivoted at or near the
mounted on the boom at about mid-length. bottom in a vertical rectangular frame which slides in
Booms are made of wood, of wood with steel reinforce- vertical guides in the tower; this frame has the hoisting
ments and wearing plates, of wood completely enclosed rope attached to its head. second rope A is led to a
and armored with steel, and of steel alone, the last usually counterweight, or two cars are used, each serving to
being of braced construction. Wood offers greater flexi- counterbalance the other. An additional set of bucket
bility and resilience than steel alone. guides enclose projecting rollers on each side near the
Shovel Dipper. The digging element of a steam shovel top and keep the bucket upright, except when it is to be
or dipper dredge. It consists of a bottom dumping dumped.
bucket having a hinged dipper door, mounted rigidly In operation the bucket is filled in a loading pit at the
(sometimes adjustably) on the end of a long arm called bottom of the tower (or shaft) and is hoisted. At the
the dipper handle, which can be moved lengthwise by dumping point the bucket guides curve outward into a
engines and gears mounted on a boom. This engine, horizontal position, thus carrying the top of the bucket
called the crowding engine, furnishes the power for hold- outward; as the bottom is pivoted in the frame it there-
ing the dipper against the material to be excavated. The fore continues upward, dumping the contents of the
dipper is pulled through the material and afterward lifted bucket.
by a one, two or three-part dipper hoist rope, led from Page 826-833.
the dipper bail around a sheave at the boom end, and Page 817.
thence to the hoisting drum of the winding machinery. Skip Car. A four-wheel car arranged to run on the
The door is hinged to the back of the dipper and is track of an inclined skip hoist. It is open at the front
held shut by a latch which can be released by a trip rope end often the top is also partly or entirely open. The
;
operated by the engineer. wheels are mounted on two through axles beneath the
The dipper is of steel, and the front part, which re- car, or, in some cases, on spiders riveted to the sides of
ceives the hardest treatment, is often of manganese or the car. The rear wheels have an extra wide tread,
high carbon steel. sometimes of two diameters, the outer treads being used
Shuttle Car. See Skip Car. only at the top of the hoist for dumping purposes. A
Sill. In a stiff-leg derrick, the heavy timber lying on bailis attached to the sides or bottom of the car, partly
the ground, and connected to the mast step at one end or entirely surrounding it, and to it is attached the hoist-
and the bottom end of a stiff-leg at the other. Also ing rope which leads to the winch drum. second rope A
called lie-leg. is led to a counterweight; sometimes two cars are used,
Silo Bin. See Bin, Cylindrical. each serving to counterbalance the other. Occasionally a
Skip. A
shallow, flat-bottomed, straight-sided wooden skip car runs on a vertical track, the hoisting line being
box reinforced with iron fittings, with top and one end led off at such an angle as will keep the wheels against
open, supported by three chains leading to a common ring the rails.
for hanging on a derrick hook. The chain supporting the In operation the skip car rests in the loading pit while
open end is provided with a trip hook for dumping. it is being filled from a hopper through spouts with con-
Used for dirt, rock, etc., and filled by hand shoveling, trol gates, etc. It is then hoisted up the incline, until,
when a grab bucket is not available. Also made of steel near the top, the rails curve sharply inward, assuming a
throughout. Sometimes called derrick skip or stone skip. horizontal direction. The outer treads of the rear wheels
The term is also sometimes applied to a similarly used however continue upward on special dumping rails which
flat rectangular wooden platform with rope slings from are provided at this point, thus elevating the rear and
each corner connected to a ring at the point of attach- dumping the contents of the car. The winch is then
ment of the hoisting rope. (See also, Skip Car; Skip stopped and reversed, lowering the bucket to the loading
Bucket Skip Hoist Scale Box.)
; ;
pit.
Pape 313. Page 621, 826-833.
Skip, Bottom Dump. A
type of skip bucket used in Skip Hoist. An arrangement for the intermittent hoist-
hoisting material from mines, which discharges its load ing of material in bulk, consisting of a tower with guides,
-by -opening -a. door on the side near the bottom. This or an inclined runway with tracks, on which the load car-
door or gate, which also forms a discharge trough rying skip bucket or skip car, often called a skip.runs.
Wire
when open, is pivoted at the lowest point of the sloping hoisting rope leads from the skip overhead sheaves and
108
SKI DEFINITION SECTION SPA
leading sheaves to a single drum hoisting winch (usually Slack-rope. The rope which is used to tighten the
electrical) which is operated through a control panel; track rope in a slack-rope cableway excavator. One end
a push button for starting and stopping is located where is led to a winch drum, and the other after being reeved
convenient. A hopper with loading spout and gate at the through a block on the end of the track rope and another
bottom is arranged for loading the skip when it is in the on the tower, is dead-ended on one of them. (See
pit, and it is emptied at the top by dumping. Excavator, Slack-rope Cableway.)
Thevarious operations may be manually controlled, Slewing. (Also spelled Sluing). The act of rotating a
partly automatic, or fully automatic. (See Skip Hoist, crane about its vertical axis, often called swinging. Per-
Automatic.) For methods of dumping, see Skip Car, formed by hand in small cranes, but it is a power opera-
Skip Bucket. tion in larger ones. There are two common methods by :
Skips are also used in mine shafts for hoisting material means of a grooved wheel fast to the bottom of the
to the surface, the arrangements being similar lo those mast, which is pulled around by ropes wrapped around
described, except that the capacity is usually very large. itscircumference (see Bull Wheel) and by a large ring
;
Page 585, 826-833. gear fast to the foundation or base, with teeth on its cir-
Skip Hoist,Automatic. An electrically driven skip cumference meshing with a small pinion projecting down
hoist which operates continuously, starting up when the from the revolving platform above, and driven by power
load in the skip has become equal to a predetermined in either direction desired.
amount shutting off on the way up the valve by means of Slewing Engine. An engine, generally steam, used to
which it is filled, dumping at the top, waiting a sufficient operate a slewing winch for swinging a derrick or other
interval for all the contents to pass out, and returning to crane.(See Winch, Derrick Slewing.)
the loading pit at the bottom, where it automatically opens Page 803, 828.
the loading valve and is ready to repeat the cycle. Slewing Rack and Pinion. Term applied to the ring
Tile automatic loading and starting are often omitted, gear and pinion used for slewing cranes. (See Bui! Gear;
and the operator opens and closes the filling valve, and Crane, Locomotive.)
starts the machinery by pressing a button. The bucket Sling, Closing. A
piece of wire rope forming part of
then is hoisted, dumped and returned ready for another the closing mechanism of one type of grab bucket. (See
load. When the hoist is of the double balanced skip
Bucket, Power-wheel.)
variety, this method of control is customary, the dumped Short pieces of rope or chains with eyes or
Slings.
bucket remaining at the top until the operator fills the
rings in the ends, which are passed around or under heavy
one in the pit and starts the mechanism by pressing a
weights, to be lifted by a crane or hoist. They are often
button.
especially rigged for certain work as box slings, barrel
hoisting winch is slowed down and stopped at each
The
slings, Ordinary manila rope, wire rope or chain
etc.
end of its travel by a traveling cam limit switch or its are much used, and also special flat rope slings of manila
equivalent. The pause during dumping to give the con- . or wire are made, with the necessary rings or thimbles
tents time to slide out is obtained by a timing relay.
in the ends. Chain slings are liable to damage finished
Page 585, 826-833. surfaces unless special protectors are used, and they be-
Skip Hoist Guides. The guides in a skip hoist tower on come so hardened by repeated service that they are liable
which the bucket frame travels in a vertical direction. to snap without warning unless frequently annealed. Slip-
They may be mounted on a framing entirely surrounding ping of the links also causes heavy stresses in the crane.
the space occupied by the bucket, the guides themselves
The very best material should be used for all lifting
being on the middle of opposite sides, called box guides, and the allowable loads should be marked on them,
slings,
or they may be mounted
against the face of the framing, or should be posted where they may easily be seen by
guiding the bucket at two corners, called open guides. those in charge of hoisting operations.
If a counterweight is used, guides are provided for it in
a separate runway.
Slip Ring, Electrical. A
band or ring of metal placed
on a rotating part and preserving electrical connection
Skip Hoist The well or depression in which a skip
Pit.
with a fixed point by means of a brush or rolling contact.
car rests at lowest point of travel, while being filled.
its
The ring of the turntable of a locomotive crane, when
Skip Hoist Valve. A gate for controlling the flow of
it rests without fastening on a machined seat on the base
material into a skip car or bucket when it is in the loading
casting so that it may slip if sudden forces due to extra
(See also Valve.)
pit.
rapid acceleration or retardation of the crane occur. A
Skip Hoist Winch. A single drum geared winding ma-
pinion projecting down from the revolving platform above
chine, steam or (usually) electrically driven, and ar-
meshes with teeth cut on the circumference (inside or
ranged for doing hoisting work in a skip hoist. (See
outside) of this ring, and the rollers of the roller bearing
Skip Hoist, Automatic.)
turntable rest on its upper surface.
Skirt Boards. Flat guiding pieces, usually of wood,
placed along the sides of various types of continuous Socket, Wire Rope. A piece of metal with a tapering
hole, to which the end of a wire rope is fastened by
conveyors and elevators, to assist in retaining the mate-
rial carried or to center it on the moving member during passing the latter into the hole, opening out the strands
loading operations. These may be vertical (set on edge),
and perhaps doubling them back on themselves in the
conical hole, and then filling it completely with a metal
inclined or horizontal they may be placed at certain
;
109
SPE MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA SPO
Speed, Hoisting. The distance travelled in feet per and the raised rail ends at the rear prevent the next car
minute by a load while it is being hoisted. It is often from following; as the car passes off the front, the plat-
expressed as slow, medium, and fast or rapid, but the form tilts down to the rear allowing the next car to
divisions are indefinite. Roughly they are slow speed : run on.
for quarry, derrick and excavation work SO ft. to 100 ft. Spout. A pipe or trough used to discharge liquids or
per min. medium speed for wharf, building materials,
; crushed or pulverized solids which will flow from a tank,
etc., ISO to 300 ft. per min. rapid for cargo and mine
ft. ; bin or similar enclosure, generally under the control of
hoisting,400 ft. to 800 ft. per min. a valve or gate. Spouts are placed at various angles
Spiral. A curve (generally a plane curve) which winds from nearly horizontal to vertical, and are fixed, port-
around a point and at the same time continually recedes able, rigid, swinging, telescoping, folding, etc.,
flexible,
from it, like a watch spring. according to condition of use. They are usually made
The term is often used where helical would be prefer- of steel, cast iron or wood, and occasionally of rein-
able, as spiral staircase, spiral conveyor. (See Helix.) forced concrete.
of runway thus provided gives large storage capacity. Spout, Chain. A flexible spout in which the various
Single or multiple runways may be used, as in spiral sections are held by a continuous chain attached to each.
chutes. Spout, Dock. A
long spout receiving the discharge of
The runway usually supported on horizontal braces
is grain or similar bulk material from an elevated hopper
carried between pairs of posts inside and outside of the or conveyor in a building on a wharf and delivering it into
runway, or by a central post and posts outside the run- the hold of a vessel alongside. The upper end is pro-
way. vided with a turnhead which permits it to swivel about
The rollers are single straight cylinders, multiple short a vertical axis it can also swing about a horizontal axis.
;
cylinders on the same axis, or on curves, conical rollers The lower portion of the spout telescopes outside of the
with the large end turned out. Concave rollers are used upper, permitting it to be withdrawn from the vessel's
for special objects like kegs. The outer ends may or hold by block and tackle. The weight of the entire spout
may not be raised or "banked," depending on whether is carried by a tackle hanging from a swinging boom.
it isconsidered objectionable to have the packages crowd Spout, Distributing. A spout so arranged that it may
against the outer guard rail. The bearings may be of the discharge into any one of a number of receptacles pro
plain, ball or roller types. vided for it. This may be accomplished by a flap or
On account of the large diameter and small slope, fire- swinging gate within the spout itself, deflecting the con-
proofing of the openings through the floors is difficult tents into branch spouts, or by moving the lower or dis-
unless the spiral is completely housed in. One method charge end of a single spout to the point desired. The
of avoiding this is to have short steep spiral chutes where latter requires provision at the spout head for swiveling
the conveyor passes through the floors, which can be or swinging or both (see Turnhead) and also possibly
easily made fireproof, but these chutes may be inconveni- telescoping of the spout itself. (See Spout, Telescope
ent when carrying certain
delicate or fragile materials. Trolley.)
Gravity roller spirals are most naturally loaded at the A
distributing spout sometimes used in grain handling
top, and discharged at the bottom, in connection with consists oftwo inclined sections with a swivel joint be-
lines of gravity roller conveyor at both places, but tween. The top section is connected to the hopper bottom
intermediate loading and discharge may also be accom- by a turnhead, and is supported near the swivel joint by
plished with the aid of hinged switches or diverters. a hanger which travels on a circular overhead track. The
Page 387, 760-767. discharge end of the lower section is mounted on casters
Spiral Chute. See Chute, Spiral. and has an extension projecting into the hole in the floor
Spoil. The term applied to the material removed in to prevent spillage.
making an excavation either on land by excavating ma- Spout, Flexible. A spout which is constructed of a
chinery, or under water by dredging. number of cylindrical or slightly tapering pipe sections,
Spoil Bank. A
long pile or heap of excavated material, fittedinto each other, loosely attached by chains, and
usually placed parallel to the longest dimension of the hanging from the top sections, so that the lower end
ditch or other excavation being made. may be moved about and the emerging material deposited
Spool. A name sometimes applied to a drum, especially where desired, This construction is used with the chut-
when the surface is concave and it is used as a winch ing of concrete and in grain, gravel and sand handling
head. On winches used for miscellaneous hoisting work, and loading operations. Also called flexible chute, and
a split spool is sometimes furnished to be attached to elephant's trunk chute or spout. Occasionally the sec-
the main winding drum when desired, to operate a coun- tions telescope within one another for vertical adjust-
terweighted material hoisting elevator by an endless rope ability, and for convenience in handling.
which makes several turns around the spool. Spout, Flexible, Holder for. An adjustable rod used for
Spotter, Tilting. A means of feeding cars forward one holding in a definite position the discharge end of a
at a time down an incline, consisting of a short section flexible spout. Used in loading grain cars to save work-
of track set on an incline, curved upward at the ends men from getting into the car.
and pivoted at the middle so that it can rock slightly. Spout, Magnetic. A spout which contains an electro-
As a car runs onto it past the middle, it tilts forward, magnet so placed that it will attract and hold all pieces
110
SPO DEFINITION SECTION STI
of iron which may accidentally get into a stream of the two parts might stick together except for the action
material passing over it, and prevent them from passing of a spring pressing them apart. The spring check pre-
into a crusher or other machine which would be injured vents this action from pushing them so far apart that
by their entry. The magnet is usually located in the they cause friction on collars, ends of bearings, etc.
bottom of the spout, and provision is sometimes made Sprocket Wheel. See Wheel, Sprocket.
for the automatic opening of a door just beyond the Spud. A device used for anchoring a dredge or other
magnet to discharge any accumulated iron onto the floor, floating craft to the bottom or bank of a body of water.
and not into the crusher, in case the electric current faili The usual form consists of a vertical timber sliding in
or is accidentally turned off. guides attached outside the scow side, or in a well formed
Spout, Measuring. A vertical or nearly vertical spout within the hull. Two are always placed near the front,
which is provided with gates at both top and bottom and and two at the sides at the stern or one in the middle of
is used as a means of measuring coal or other material the stern. The spuds are
raised by tackle, the ropes of
delivered through it from a bin or hopper above. An which are led to winch heads on the hoisting engine, or
interlocking device prevents the opening of the two valves to rack and pinion gearing operated by hand or by power.
at the same time, and a counter attached to the lower When lowered and forced into the mud bottom, they hold
gate records the number of spoutfuls which have been the scow sufficiently firmly to resist the thrust of a
discharged ; by the calibrated contents of
this multiplied dipper.
the spout will give the volume delivered. Used for meas- Another type known as a bank spudis used on dredges
uring the coal delivered to boiler stoker hoppers. in excavating narrow channels, such as drainage canals,
Spout, Portable. A spout which may be easily moved etc. It extends out diagonally downward from a gallows
about. In grain elevators, such spouts are often mounted frame, with a pad on its lower end resting on the bank.
on a caster supported frame arranged for adjustable in- Another short arm from a point near the deck also con--
clination, with a discharge end formed to fit into a hole nects to the spud near its lower end, thus bracing it se-
in the floor and prevent spillage. curely. With this type of spud the scow can be built nar-
Spout, Telescope Trolley. A type of spout used to row for narrow ditches, and still be free from danger of
deliver material like grain from an overhead hopper into capsizing during operation.
any one of several openings in a floor below. The spout is Spud, Telescopic. A bank spud used on dredges in
Spout, Telescoping. See Spout, Flexible; Spout, Tele- displace it from its position of equilibrium, or, if it is
dumping.
The various methods of gaining stability are anchor- :
Also, a beam used to support the ends of slings placed ing to a heavy masonry foundation possible for fixed
around under large bundles of such material as sugar cranes only using fixed or moving counterweights, placed
;
cane, pipes, etc., and sometimes termed a lifting beam. opposite the load to be lifted, which is the most common
method; using outriggers (which see); or temporary
Spring, Coil or Helical. A spring made by winding the
guys, which virtually increase the size of the base and
spring rod or wire around a cylinder in a helix. If the
convert the traveling crane temporarily into a fixed crane.
spring is to be used in tension, the coils are generally
if in compression, they should be open to just
Staggered. Arranged in diagonal rows. Said of rivets,
"close;"
such an extent that when closed by the load, the maxi- perforations, etc., when those in one row are one-half the
pitch ahead of or behind those in the next adjacent row,
mum working stress will be equaled.
instead of being abreast.
Spring, Shock. A spring device to cushion the jars
Steady-carriage. A device for maintaining the align-
that would otherwise be transmitted to a crane structure,
ment of a grab bucket when twisting would foul the
where it is used for holding stock being worked under
ropes or cause the bucket to strike the sides of a pit, car
a hammer or at some similar machine. It is composed of
or other object. This is especially likely to happen when
one or more springs carried in a frame, and subject to
hoisting from deep pits, or when a bucket is being moved
compression, inserted between the hook and the load
on a monorail track. A three-rope bucket serves the
block, or, in the case of an independent hoist, between
same purpose two holding ropes spaced apart by an
the crane and the upper hook of the hoist. (Also called
equalizer, and a single closing-and-hoisting rope.
shock absorber.)
Stiff-leg. One of the struts or props used to hold erect
Spring, Spiral. A spring made by winding the spring the mast of a stiff-leg derrick. It is attached to the top
wire or strip in a spiral, or continuously about itself in of the mast at one end, and to a ground anchorage, or the
one plane, like a clock spring. end of a the other, by gooseneck iron and
lie-leg, at stiff-
Spring Check. The device used in some types of fric- leg iron respectively.
tion drums by which a limitation is placed on the amount Stiff-leg, Broken Back. A stiff-leg with an upward
of separation of the two parts of the friction clutch. pointing crook or angle in it, arranged to completely
When the external force engaging the clutch is removed, clear a derrick boom and allow a full circle swing. An
.111
STI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA STO
additional short strut from the break or angle to the Storage for Coal, Circular System. A system of out-
ground is generally used to stiffen the crooked stiff-leg, door ground storage for coal, in which two widely
and occasionally two of these additional short struts are spaced parallel straight railroad tracks discharge their
used for each stiff-leg, firmly holding it in position against coal into a track hopper located between the tracks, and
side deflection. at the center of the pile. A
locomotive crane travels
Stiff-leg Iron. A
metal fastening or strap for securing around this hopper on a circular track digging the coal
the lower end of a derrick stiff-leg to a sill or to an from it by means of a grab bucket, and depositing it
isolated anchorage. anywhere within the circumference of a circle having a
Stop, Automatic Emergency. A mechanism arranged radius equal to twice the length of the crane boom. In
to stop automatically a part when it has travelled
moving reclaiming, the coal is dug from any point by the bucket,
past the proper or safe point, or when it is travelling too and loaded directly into cars.
fast. In particular, means of preventing excessive hoist- The capacity of the pile is a maximum when the crane
ing or lowering in cranes and hoists. (See Stop, Limit.) tracks are also covered, but as this prevents the crane
Page 711, 757. from promptly getting at any desired portion of the pile
Stop, Limit. A device to prevent overhoisting in a in case of fire, it is not always utilized.
crane or hoist. In electric cranes it is generally arranged In the system as described, the crane can place itself
to make the hoisting circuit inoperative at a certain point; so that it can reach to any remote part of the pile, and
one system relies on the closing of an auxiliary circuit, by merely swinging, dump the grab bucket into the cars
and another on its opening, for this purpose. The elec- or reclaiming hopper. Indefinite extensions can be made
trical arrangements can be so made that the lowering cir-
by extending the circular track by inserting straight or
cuit will operate as usual when the controller is shifted larger radius curved sections, but the crane will then
have to handle some of the coal twice, or else travel
to the lowering position; and over-hoisting is very simply
remedied. On the other hand, working on the theory that along the track some distance with each bucket load
habitual use of the limit stop and reliance on its action before dumping it.
time the operator is inattentive, some designers arrange Storage for Coal; Dodge, or Conical Pile System. A
matters so that it is some considerable trouble for him to system of ground storage of which the unit includes two
start the load down conical piles each spanned by a two-legged truss peaked
after he has thrown the limit stop,
at the center for storing, and a horizontal swinging scrap-
thus forcing him habitually to stop the hook before
reaching the limit. ing conveyor between them for reclaiming from either
In skip hoists over-travel must be prevented at either pile and delivering to a conveyor.
is performed automatically in modern electrically operated ing scraper conveyor which elevates the coal along the
installations. (See Skip Hoist, Automatic; Limit Switch, leg until it drops to the pile over the end of a steel ribbon
which forms the bottom of the trough and which is grad-
Travelling Cam.)
In mine hoists the work performed by the limit stop ually pulled up the truss as the pile grows, unwinding
from a drum at the bottom. The angle of the leg is
is usually combined with other functions in a mechanism
called a safety stop or hoist controller. the angle of repose of coal, about 27 degrees.
(See Controller,
Hoist.)
The reclaiming conveyor is a horizontal bridge, pivoted
at its delivering end, and swinging radially in either direc-
Page 711, 757.
tion on a number of rails under the control of cables
Stoker Magazine. The hopper immediately above an
led from the pivot, out to the end of the bridge and
automatic stoker, to which coal is supplied, and from
thence at right angles to anchorages at either extreme
which the stoker mechanism regularly draws it for de-
of its swing. The chains of a reversible roller flight
livery into the furnace.
conveyor pass completely around the bridge in a hori-
Storage, Ground. The term sometimes applied to stor- zontal plane, the flights being on end relative to the
age systems where an entire supply of bulk material is
ground, and scrape the coal toward and past the pivot up
carried at ground level. It is -also used to designate a com-
an incline from the end of which it is dumped into
bination system in which a portion only of the material
railway cars.
is held in elevated bins for immediate use or distribu-
Page 745.
tion, the larger part resting directly on the ground.
Storage for Coal; Stuart or Conveyor System. A
Page 643, 661.
ground storage system for coal in which it is delivered
Storage Bridge. See Crane, Bridge Storage. to the end of a belt conveyor running longitudinally in
Storage for Coal, Cable Drag Scraper System. A a trench through the storage area. A high traveling
ground storage plant for coal in which the coal is stocked tripper discharges the coal from the belt onto a short
out and reclaimed by a drag scraper operating reversibly reversible inclined belt conveyor at right angles, which
between a central distributing and receiving point and can be placed on either side, to elevate and discharge
any one of a series of steel posts, called back posts, set at the coal to storage. This discharging outfit is called a
intervals surrounding the storage area. Coal is received by stacker.
a track hopper, elevated and discharged by a spout to an To recover, a reclaimer traveling on the same track is
initial pile from which the scraper can distribute it. For used. It consists of a short section of belt or apron
reclaiming, the scraper is reversed, dragging the coal conveyor terminating in a sort of plow, pivoted on a
back to the reclaiming hopper (in the same pit as the truck so that it can swing, and mounted so that it can
receiving "hopper) from which it is elevated and dis- be thrust forward under the coal in the pile, the coal
charged into a railway or other car, or onto a conveyor being thus fed to the reclaimer conveyor. This carries
for carrying into a boiler house bunker. The it back to the main
drag cable conveyor belt which conveys it to
is operated by a two drum winch. its destination.
Page 660, 817, 832. Page 653.
112
STO DEFINITION SECTION SWI
Storage System for Coal. A method of accumulating Also called (under certain conditions) prop, column,
and handling large quantities of coal, and involving (a) brace.
receiving or unloading apparatus for receiving the coal Stud or Stud Bolt. See Bolt.
from dump cars or boat unloaders, (6) conveying appa- A
form of construction used at places
Stuffing Box.
ratus (including cranes) by which it is taken to (c) where round moving rods or shafts emerge from an en-
crusher or screens or both, or direct to (d) storage piles closed space, to prevent a difference of pressure on the
on the ground or elevated bins. There is also a means of two sides from causing a flow of fluid, or leakage,
(c) reclaiming the coal from the storage pile and deliver- through the opening. It usually consists of a cylindrical
ing it to (/") the conveying system which delivers it to chamber surrounding the shaft, into which a fibrous
storage bins above furnaces where it is to be burned
material or soft metal construction may be placed, pressed
or to cars into which it is reloaded. Most plants also down by another tubular portion called a gland, and
have a means of passing direct from (c) to (f) , omitting held firmly in place by a screwed or bolted part called
the storage. a follower; the gland and the follower are often made
The same systems may be used for anthracite or bitu- in one piece.
minous coal, but owing to the freedom from spontane-
Stuffing boxes for reciprocating rods are different in
ous combustion of the former, it may be piled to much
proportion and construction from those for rotating shafts,
greater heights, allowing radically different plants to be
and the nature of the fluid under pressure, as water,
used for anthracite.
steam, air, oil, etc., also influences the design.
Systems are sometimes distinguished according to the
Swing. To move to and fro, as a body suspended from
shape of the storage piles as, (a) circular conical piles
an axis to oscillate in a plane about a fixed point or line.
with the point of supply at the apex of the cone, or ;
moving up one leg of a two-legged truss spanning the Swing Circle. The term applied to the combination of
pile; (b) piles rectangular in plan and. included under
the pivot bearing and the slewing or bull wheel for the!
the area covered by the bridge of a large traveling gantry inner end or heel of the boom in a dipper dredge or power,
or overhead traveling crane called a storage bridge; (c) shovel of the dipper type. A
common arrangement con-
annular piles outside of a circular track on which a sists of a pivot casting bolted to the deck, with a socket
locomotive crane may move, usually combined with a casting rigidly attached to the heel of the boom at the
circular or two circular segmental piles within the circu- proper angle. Above the socket, and forming part of the
lar track; (d) long heaps, between tracks spaced so that same structure, are arms radiating to a rim in a hori-
locomotive cranes can reach the comp'ete area from one zontal plane ; around this rim are placed ropes which
side to the other; (c) combinations of circular a:id longi- lead to winch heads, swinging engines, or other apparatus
tudinal heaps. for winding by power, and thus swinging the boom as
As tomethods of delivery to and reclaiming from desired. The corresponding mechanism in a derrick is
storage, there may be one or a combination of the follow- called a bull wheel.
ing devices: (a) scraper conveyor, usually of the flight Swing Crane. See Crane, Swing.
type, (6) belt conveyor, with traveling tripper and short Swing-lift Transfer. See Car Dump, Swing-Lift Trans-
cross belt conveyor combined as a stacker, (c) drag fer.
bucket, (d) overhead bridge and grab bucket, (e) dump A
switch inserted at the intersec-
Switch, Crossover.
car on automatic railway, or cable railway, (f) locomo-
tion of two lines ofoverhead monorail track, by which
tive crane and grab bucket, (g) portable conveyors.
either line of track can be made continuous at will, for
Page 643, 661. In one, known as a rotary cross-
trolleys to cross over.
Strain. Deformation of a body due to the application
over, a short section of runway at the junction is sup-
of a load and the resulting stress. A
stress produces a
ported from a small turntable immediately above it and
strain. Expressed in inches per inch of length. may be rotated by pendant chains, bringing it into align-
Strength, Tensile. The force, usually measured in ment with either track as may be desired.
which must be
pounds per square inch of cross section, Switch, Limit. A term applied to a switch used for
applied to cause the failure of a piece of material sub- overhead monorail track, in which a horizontally sliding
jected to a pull. Also known as ultimate tensile strength. frame carries two (or three) short sections of the run-
Stress. A force acing within he substance of a body, or way track fastened to its lower surface, and determines
internal resistance, tending to prevent deformation due to by its lateral position which of two (or three) paths shall
the application of a load. Measured in pounds or tons be followed by a trolley. It is termed single or double
per square inch of section. (See also Strain.) according to whether a trolley approaching on the single
Stripping. A
method of mining materials near the sur- track can follow one of two or one of three possible
face of the ground by first removing the overlying soil paths. The switch is operated by pendant chains, and is
or strata by mechanical means, and then removing the locked when in alignment. This type of switch,
in place
valuable mineral in the open cut. The term is applied like the turntable and turntable switch, is used when
to the removal of the overburden, and also to the whole there is not space enough for the ordinary tongue switch.
operation, as "mining by stripping." Switch, Roller Conveyor. An arrangement in a gravity
Very large amounts of material must be handled at a roller conveyor by which material may be brought from
very low cost to make this method profitable. One suc- several points and delivered to one conveyor line, or
cessful system involves the use of large steam shovels ; delivered by one conveyor line to several destinations.
by proper laying out of the work it is possible to obtain It generally consists of a section of runway that can be
the mineral with but one handling of all but a small so as to occupy either of two
swung or slid positions,
portion of the overburden. connecting either of two runways to a third. If a choice
Strut. A brace or support for the reception of direct is offered of three or more positions with a correspond-
thrust or pressure; a piece designed to resist pressure in ing number of lines, it is called a three-way, or four-way
the direction of its length. switch, or simply a multiple switch.
113
SWI MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA TIP
Switch, Two-way Hopper. See Hopper, Two-way for the accompanying operator. Though it is not made
Switch. in such large capacities as overhead traveling cranes
Swivel. A fastening between two pieces which is so of the bridge type, since its function is more particularly
made as to allow one of them to rotate relative to the conveying than hoisting, its field of action on one level
other about the longitudinal axis common to both of them. can be made practically unlimited, by providing suitable
Swivels are inserted in chains, and hooks and blocks are overhead monorail runway. Elevators can also be ar-
arranged to swivel in their fastenings. ranged to move the telpher with its load from floor to
To swivel, to rotate. Said of hooks and metal fittings floor if this is thought to be desirable.
of hoisting in general, but not of large objects,
machinery Telphers are also called trolleys, monorail hoists, tram-
like cranes, turntables, etc. way or tramrail hoists, and transporters.
Tackle. A
combination of ropes and blocks used for Page 213, 773-804.
multiplying power. (See Block and Tackle.) Thermostat. An instrument which is operated by
Table, Gathering. A conveyor used in book binderies
change of temperature, and which is often used to con-
for holding a complete set of sheets consecutively ar- trol the source of heat (or cold) so as to maintain as
ranged for assembly into a book. The operators remain as a constant temperature. As an example,
nearly possible
at rest and gather the sheets in order as they pass. It
a thermostat on the water cooling system of a motor
usually consists of a series of platforms traveling on truck serves to maintain a more nearly constant tem-
guides in a horizontal plane in a circular, rectangular or
perature than would otherwise occur.
other continuous path and connected by an endless chain A metal eye, round at one end and pointed
Thimble.
at their centers insuch a manner that they may pass from made of a piece of steel of concave cross-
at the other,
a straight to a circular path, and even turn a corner of A
manila or wire
section bent to the form described.
moderate radius.
rope is wrapped around the thimble, lying in the groove,
Tag Line. A line leading from a near corner of a grab and the free end is spliced, clipped or clamped to the
bucket to the cab of a locomotive crane operating it, standing part, making an eye for permanent fastening
and held under tension by a counterbalance weight, to purposes.
keep the bucket from rotating and fouling its supporting Throw. The distance from the center of a shaft to the
and operating lines. center of a crank pin or of an eccentric; half the total
Also, a line attached to any load being lifted by a travel of a piece moved back and forth by a crank or
crane, to keep it from rotating, or to slew the crane by eccentric. Also called eccentricity and crank radius.
hand, in case no power slewing gear is provided.
Thrust Screw. A screw by which a thrust bearing is
Take-up. A mechanismfor taking up the slack or for
adjusted. Also, a screw by the rotation of which a
keeping a constant tension in a rope, chain, belt or similar thrust is exerted when desired, as in operating the
member. Take-ups for stays, guy lines, etc., usually con- clutches of friction drums on winches.
sistof a threaded rod arranged so that by turning a nut
Tie or Tie Rod. A structural member designed to re-
with a wrench, the points of rope attachment at the ends
sist tension in the direction of its length. Top braced
of the mechanism may be brought closer together.
jib cranes are braced by tie rods. The boom of a pillar
For endless belt and bucket or chain and bucket con-
crane is also connected to the top of the pillar by a tie
veyors or elevators, the take-up usually consists of a
rod.
pulley or sprocket shaft mounted in bearings sliding in
straight guides and controlled in position by a threaded Tiering Machine. A machine by which heavy packages
rod, or by the pull of a heavy weight. Occasionally the are raised vertically to an elevation on a moving platform
moving shaft is swung about a pivot instead of sliding and then rolled or slid off on to the top of a pile or on
in straight guides. to an elevated rack. Also called Portable Elevator.
In cable car haulage systems and overhead cableways Page 726, 745, 770.
similar take-ups are necessarywhenever the endless rope Tightener. For derrick guys and similar locations. A
system is used. The weighted tension take-up is most turnbuckle or other device for shortening a rope or
usual, consisting of an idler sheave supported on a small chain by taking up slack, without altering the end fas-
four wheel car which is always forced in one direction tenings.
on a track by the pull of a heavy weight. Sometimes a Also, a moveable idler pulley or sheave arranged to
weighted sheave hangs free in a vertical loop of the rope. adjust the tension in a wrapping connector like rope,
Also called a tension take-up or tension carriage. chain or belt passing around sheaves or pulleys.
Tank, Settling. A device used for separating sand into
Tipple. A structure designed to transfer material from
various degrees of fineness by utilizing the variations in
one system of transportation to another, largely by force
time required for the different grades to settle out of a of gravity available on account of differences in elevation
stream of water. A single tank or box may be used to of various parts of the structure.
reject all particles below a certain or a series of
size,
Also, a car dumping device. (See Car Dumper.)
tanks may effect the separation into a series of graded In a narrower sense, the term means a building erected
sizes. The boxes or tanks are automatically self empty-
close to the mouth of a mine, into which mined material
ing, or are emptied by hand shoveling, by small grab delivered by cars,
(as coal) is conveyors, chutes, etc.,
buckets, or similar implements. where it is screened, separated from refuse or otherwise
Telltale. A
device which gives audible or visible indi- prepared for use, and from which it is delivered, gen-
cation progress or completion of an
of the beginning,
erally by gravity, to railway cars
or other conveyances
operation on some piece of machinery; an automatically for transportation to more or less distant points. It may
vary from a simple trestle with a car dump and
operated signal. tracks
Telpher. A crane consisting of an electrically operated below on which receiving cars may stand, to an elaborate
hoistsuspended from one or more trolleys running on structure with many levels and conveying and c-levating
an overhead monorail track, and having a seat or cage devices, screens, picking tables, etc., and a complicated
114
TON DEFINITION SECTION TRA
system of tracks or a yard in which the receiving cars ascending bucket to dump can be set to cause dumping
are handled. at any point desired.
Page 635. Tower, Horizontal Boom. An elevated structure hav-
Tongs. A mechanism for gripping objects for the pur- ing a horizontal jib (commonly called a boom) projecting
pose of holding, hauling or hoisting, consisting of two outward over water, and equipped with machinery for
S-shaped curved parts having points or pads at one end unloading coal and other bulk material from floating ves-
for pressing into or against an object, and eyes or other sels. A tower of steel or wood rises a considerable dis-
attachments at the other for applying the pull by a rope tance above the water and is provided with a receiving
or chain. The two parts are pivoted together at a point hopper projecting from the side toward the water. Above
between the ends, the location of the point varying with this is the horizontal jib equipped with a two-sheave trol-
the leverage desired, which in turn depends on the use ley. The ropes from a two-rope grab bucket are led over
to which the tongs are to be put. Sharp points are these sheaves and then diagonally to the top of the tower,
used when damage done by them does not matter; flat where they pass around guide sheaves and down to the
pads are required when no indentation is allowable. drums of a winch. Another single drum hauling winch,
The points are also specially formed for lifting certain sometimes called a "trolley engine," moves the trolley
objects, such as structural steel, rails, etc. outward on the jib by a rope passing around a sheave at
A line or tackle used for raising and end of the jib and back to the trolley; the latter is held
Topping Lift.
in position by a brake on this winch drum, and when the
lowering a derrick boom. It is attached to the boom
brake is released will move inward under the influence
point, passes around a sheave at the mast top, and thence
of the inclined pull on the bucket ropes leading to the
down the mastand around guide sheaves, to the proper
drum of the hoisting winch, or directly from the mast peak of the tower.
The tower can be arranged to propel itself on a track
top to the drum if a rooster is used.
Also called Boom Fall. along the wharf to accommodate the hatch location of the
vessel. Several such towers often operate simultaneously
Toppng Lift, Variable. The term applied to a derrick
on the same vessel. A separate engine or a geared con-
in which the inclination of the boom can be altered,
nection from the hoisting engines serves to move the
particularly in the case of A-frame derricks used in tower.
excavating and dredging work, where booms of fixed Also called two-man or Boston tower.
inclination are the rule. (See Excavator, Grab Bucket.)
Page 828-831.
Turning moment, or tendency to turn, of
Torque. Tower, Inclined Boom. An elevated structure with
motors, engines, shafting, etc.expressed in pound
It is
machinery equipment located on a wharf and used for
feet, and is the force which would be exerted at a point
unloading coal and other bulk material from vessels. A
one foot from the axis of rotation if an arm were to be
jib (commonry called a boom) projecting from the upper
fastened to the shaft.
part of the tower and sloping downward over the water
Tote Box. A temporary container used in manufactur- is equipped with a two-sheave trolley. The two grab-
ing establishments for holding finished or unfinished parts bucket operating ropes are attached to the trolley, pass
while in storage or transit from place to place. Usually down into the bucket which they support in bights (see
made of metal, often flaring so that they will stow within Bucket, Four-Rope), pass upward around the trolley
one another when empty, and provided with handles for sheaves and then to the winding drums on the winch
lifting by one or two men, or by a crane. (sometimes called the coal hoist). After the bucket is
Page 540. filled in the hold of the vessel, it is hoisted until it
Tower, Ccal. A term often applied to any one of the comes into contact with a stop on the trolley further ;
numerous types of coal unloading installations involving winding pulls the trolley and bucket up the inclined jib
a tower-like structure into which coal is hoisted by a together until the latter is over the hopper in the tower
when usual manner. In
grab bucket or a bucket elevator, and from which it side, the bucket is dumped in the
moves to its destination by chutes, spouts, conveyors or lowering, release of the friction drums on the winch
cars or combinations of these. Often the tower is on allows the trolley to run down the jib to the desired point,
wheels and can be moved along the wharf where it is this last being controlled by a rope attached to the trolley
located to suit the hatchways of the vessel being unloaded. and wound on a special drum, or by a movable stop on
(See Unloader, Coal.) the trolley runway. When the trolley stops, the bucket
Page 828-831. continues to descend vertically to the filling point.
Tower, Concrete. A
high tower used as part of a
Two separate hoisting drums arc commonly used for
by means of chutes dur- handling the bucket, and they are often arranged in line,
system of concrete distribution
is built of steel or wood,
or as a twin-drum winch. They arc steam or electrically
ing construction operations. It
not ordinarily over 250 ft. high, and is guyed by wire
driven. An additional engine or motor or geared con-
The concrete bucket hoist or elevator passes up nection from the main hoist is used to move the tower
ropes.
along- a track parallel to the wharf. (See Tower Propel-
through it, the receiving hopper is attached to one face,
and also the boom for supporting the section first of ling Engine.) The jib is occasionally curved or convex
chuting, or the line cable, depending on the system used.
upward instead of straight, so that the bucket moves
The receiving hopper must be raised at intervals as nearly horizontally during the last part of its travel.
Page 831.
the height of the structure grows, and to do this quickly,
a construction known as a quick shift is sometimes Track, Industrial. A general term covering rails and
accessories for either or
used. receiving hopper and boom are mounted on
The portable permanent railways.
a frame sliding on the face of the tower, and can be Page 629, 721-725.
undamped and raised to a new level by proper hoisting Track Cable. In cableways. the cable on which the
devices. In another system several
hoppers receiving trolley or traveler runs. (See Wire Tramway Strand;
are installed, and the cams or stops which cause the Wire Track Cable.)
115
TRA MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA TRO
Tractive Effort, Tractive Force. The force with which running in a different direction, generally at right
the wheels of a self-propelled vehicle tend to move it angles. The level of the top of the table is such that
forward due to the turning effort or torque exerted on the cars can be run onto it from a fixed track, and the
wheels by the engine or motor. The maximum tractive motion of the table will then transfer the cars to such
effort which may be exerted corresponds to the maximum a position that they can be run off onto tracks parallel
torque which may be exerted by the engine or motor, un- to the first. They replace a large amount of trackage,
less this is sufficient to overcome the adhesion of the switches, etc., that would otherwise be necessary. Trans-
wheels and allow slipping, in which case the maximum fer tables are usually self-propelled by power, electric
tractive effort corresponds to the torque which would or steam, or are drawn by cables. Small sizes are
just start slipping. operated by hand.
Tractor. A
term applied to a self-propelled trackless Where the cars transferred are small, two or three
wheeled vehicle which is powered and designed with a transverse tracks are often laid on the table, allowing
view to drawing one or more other vehicles bearing use- as many cars to be carried at once.
ful loads. When the tractor also carries a load itself, it The name transfer car is also often applied to the
is termed a tractor-truck. Tractors are supported on same mechanism, but more generally where the distances
three or four wheels, or on a track-laying truck with or the cars are conveyed are greater, and where the trans-
without a pair of wheels in addition. Tractive effort may
ferring track has two rails only.
be exerted by two wheels, by four wheels, or by the
Also called a traverser.
track-laying element. The power plant may be driven A term sometimes applied to a monorail
Transporter.
by a gasoline, oil or steam engine, or by a storage bat- hoist, to a telpher, to a traveling cantilever gantry crane
tery and electric motor.
equipped with a trolley to which a cage is attached, and
Page 530, 531, 544, 702-705, 728-745. to a type of rope operated crane trolley handled from
Tractor, Gasoline Engine. A power driven self-pro-
winding drums located at a fixed point and used, like the
pelled industrial truck propelled by a gasoline engine
preceding, for hoisting and conveying purposes.
(see Truck, Industrial, Gasoline Engine) but without
Travel. To move a given distance along a definite path.
facilities for carrying a load on its own wheels, being
The bridge of a crane is said to travel, and the trolley
used merely for pulling one or more load carrying
is said to traverse the bridge.
trailers coupled to it.
To move in a longitudinal direction.
Page 531, 704.
Tractor, Storage Battery. A power driven industrial
Traveller. A wheeled car or carriage capable of move-
ment to and fro along a rope, elevated beam or bridge ;
truck operated by a storage battery and electric motor,
but without facilities for carrying a load on its own
a trolley.
wheels, being used merely for pulling one or more load Traverse. To move across, to move in a definite path
in a transverse direction. The
bridge of a crane is said
carrying trucks coupled to it.
Trailer. See Truck, Trailer. to travel on its runway and the trolley to traverse the
Train. To bring into proper alinement. Ball and bridge. Also to rack.
ages loaded onto a conveyor are sometimes trained or being discharged into a space, as a car, or the hold or
bunker of a ship. Also, to move bulk material by
brought into a position parallel with the conveyor run by
hand or power appliances to a location where it can be
light contact spring.
A reached by grab buckets or other unloading devices, as
Transfer, Cane. fixed gantry crane especially rigged
for transferring large bundles of sugar cane from one to trim the coal between the hatches in unloading a
vehicle to another, generally from a wagon, ox cart or vessel. Also, to distribute a load in a vessel so that the
small car to a large car, or from a car to a feeder for latter has no side tip, and little or no longitudinal
inclination.
crushing rolls.
Transfer Car. A Triplex Block, Triplex Hoist. See Hoist, Epicyclic
self-propelled car used for regularly
bulk material from one point to another Geared Chain.
transferring
in an industrial plant, as for example from an unloadir^j Trolley. In hoisting machinery, a wheeled carriage or
machine to bins, pockets or ground storage. Transfer truck which can move along an overhead runway pro-
cars are made with hopper bottoms, gable bottoms dump- vided for it, and which is used as part of a crane in
ing on both sides, or sloping bottoms dumping on O'-*e connection with a hoist, either built into it (see Hoist,
side. They are usually electrically operated and 1'uP Trolley; Hoist, Built-in) or hung onto it (see Hoist,
singly, though trains of transfer cars are sometimes UueCt. Independent). It may be moved along the runway by
A power operated transfer car may also draw a trailer. direct pushing,by gravity, by hand or power operated
(See also Transfer Table.) gearing working through the wheels, or by power or
Page 620, 721, 722, 831. hand pull on ropes or chains directly attached to it.
Transfer Car, Bucket. A car used for carrying self- Some of the various forms of trolleys are as follows:
emptying buckets and tubs to and from cranes and hoist- monorail, or two rail single or double I-beam
; plain ;
ing machines. Pockets are arranged into which the or geared top running or bottom running deck bridge
; ;
tubs fit so as to obviate danger of moving during transit. or through bridge ; single or tandem.
They may be placed on the car already loaded, or may The principal parts of a trolley for a two-girder bridge
be filled while they are on the car. The car may be self- are : side frames, machinery and load girts, wheels, axles,
propelled, may be a trailer, or may be operated by a wire bearings, motors, shafts, gears, brakes, drum, hoisting
rope from a stationary winding drum. rope, equalizer sheave, top block, bottom block, and load
Page 310. hook.
Transfer Table. A
large platform or table mounted on Also called carriage carrier (especially for monorail
wheels running on a number of parallel rails, often in a types), crab (British).
pit or depression, and having tracks on its upper surfaces Page 287, 773-785.
116
TRO DEFINITION SECTION TRO
Trolley, Adjustable. A
monorail crane trolley arranged ports a main bar. The individual trucks may be hinged
for running on the lower flanges of an I-beam and which to the bars, and the large bar hinged to the smaller ones,
can be adjusted to suit several different widths of flanges. giving the utmost flexibility.
This is usually accomplished by making the frame in The is usually independent, and is either
hoisting unit
halves, and varying the thickness of the distance piece hung onto an eye, or attached by bolts to the trolley.
between them. The parts of a plain monorail trolley are side frames,
Also, the term applied to a monorail crane trolley wheels, axles, distance piece, separator or yoke, hook or
in which the two halves of the frame are hinged to- eye, and often a chain sheave and hand chain. A geared
gether in such a way that they may be easily swung trolley has, in addition, one or more gear shafts and
out to clear the runway flanges, so th.vt the trolley may gears.
be removed from the I-beam without running it off the In some cases there are small vertical rollers mounted
open end.
in pockets in the side frames, and bearing against the
A monorail crane trolley edges of the lower flange of the I-beam, to center the
Trolley, Bottom-running.
trolley and keep it from Swinging.
which is on wheels running on the bottom
supported
Also called carrier.
flanges of I-beam track or runway. (See also Trolley,
While the majority of monorail trolleys are hand
Monorail.)
traversed, especially for light loads, a power driven trol-
Also, in a two-girder bridge crane, a trolley running
ley is used when the distances travelled are great, and
on the inside lower flanges of the girders. Also called
for heavy loads. This is usually accomplished by a
a through-bridge, submerged, or internal trolley.
small motor geared to the trolley wheels, and entirely
Trolley, Deck-bridge. A crane trolley for a two-girder
independent of the hoisting motor. Such a trolley may
bridge, which runs on rails laid on the top of the girders ;
be floor controlled, but is also often fitted with a trailer
a top-running trolley, as distinguished from a through-
cab carrying the operator.
bridge or bottom-running trolley. It is the most used Also called a telpher, and a man-trolley, and, when
type of bridge trolley, the other form only being sub-
equipped with a grab bucket, a grab bucket man trolley.
stituted to meet special requirements.
Page 213, 774-800.
Trolley, Flat-rail. A
top-running monorail crane trol-
Trolley, Plain. A crane trolley which is moved along
ley which runs on a fiat top rail of rectangular section. its runway by means of a pendant hand chain rotating a
(Also called a bar trolley.) chain sheave which is directly connected to the axle of
Trolley, Geared. A crane trolley which is racked, or one of the wheels, without the interposition of any gear-
has its track wheels rotated by a train of gearing driven ing. Used for small capacities only, and usually with an
either by hand or by power. (See Trolley, Plain.) The independent hoist.
simplest type of hand gearing consists of a pendant chain Also, a trolley which is without pendant chain for
on a chain sheave, which, by means of on its
a pinion and moved
travelling it, is solely by push or pull of the
shaft, drives a gear keyed to a wheel axle; a second hand a push trolley.
;
Trolley, Grab-bucket. See Trolley, Bucket. cranes carrying two-rope grab buckets used to unload
Trolley, Hammerhead. A rotating horizontal cantilever bulk material like ore and coal from the hold of a vessel.
crane structure mounted on a truck or trolley for travel- Also called turntable trolley.
ing an elevated runway. (See Crane, Horizontal Ro- Trolley, Tandem. Two
four-wheel monorail crane
tating Cantilever.) trolleys placed near each other and connected by swivels
to an equalizing bar which carries the load. This is
Trolley, Hose. A small trolley made to run on a wire
similar in action to an eight-wheel swiveling truck car
rope or an I-beam to hold up a loop of hose. Travelling
air apparatus, like an air hoist mounted on a crane trol-
on a two-rail truck, and has the twofold advantage of
distributing the load over a considerable length of track,
ley, is supplied with air through a hose, and in order
and yet allow the hoist and passing around curves easily.
to keep this hose off the floor,
to move back and forth as desired, the hose is suspended Trolley, Through-bridge. A trolley which runs between
in a series of loopseach attached to a hose trolley. The the girders of a bridge crane, carried on rails mounted on
the inside lower flanges of the girders. This allows diag-
trolleys run on a tight wire, or on a flange of the crane
onal bracing between the tops of the two girders, but
girder and are made swiveling or non-swiveling.
loads them eccentrically. (Compare Deck-bridge Trolley.)
Trolley, Monorail. A trolley or truck running on a
and used for supporting a hoisting unit. The (Also called internal trolley.)
single rail,
track wheels may run on top of a rectangular or I-beam Trolley, Top-running. A
monorail crane trolley which
section rail, on the lower flanges of an I-beam, or on is supported by wheels running on the top of a bar or
special shaped rail of various cross sections. At least I-beam rail. (See also Trolley, Monorail.)
two wheels are used for a top-running,and four for a Also, in a two-girder bridge crane, a trolley which
bottom-running trolley. If sharp curves must be trav- runs on rails laid on the top of the girders. (Also called
ersed, two four-wheel trolleys or monorail trucks are a deck-bridge trolley; on-top trolley.)
connected by a swivel to a bar on which the hoisting unit Trolley, Wire Cable. A trolley having wheels grooved
is hung. Where very heavy loads must be carried, as to run on a track cable. If more than two wheels are
many as sixteen wheels, arranged as four four-wheel trol- used in the same trolley, some form of equalizing device
leys, may be used. These are arranged in pairs, each must be used to allow the wheels to conform to the
pair supporting its own equalizing bar, which in turn sup- curvature of sag of the wire rope.
117
TRO MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA TRU
Trolley Bucket. A
trolley for an overhead travelling If moved by hand, it is generally pushed if by power, ;
crane especially arranged for handling a two-rope grab it towed from the front end, as a trailer.
is
forms, or as lift platform trucks, able to pick up and platforms prepared for it, and lift them from the ground,
deposit their own loads or able to elevate packages to be with or without load. Truck and load may then be
stacked or tiered on high racks or piles. According to moved to the desired destination, and there lowered, the
the number of wheels they may be termed two wheel, truck withdrawing from under the skid platform and
three wheel, four wheel and six wheel according to the ;
going on to other work. They may be hand or power
method of steering as tongue, wheel (like an automo- operated. Hand lift trucks are usually operated entirely
bile), or horizontal or vertical lever. by the action of the handle; power lift trucks usually
Page 519, 726-748. have separate motors for the lifting and the propelling
movements. Instead of a complete platform, two bars
Truck, Baggage. A hand operated truck developed to
meet the needs of baggage and express companies in only are often provided to lift the load.
Also called Lift Truck.
handling material to and from railway cars. It consists
of a platform supported on four wheels, with an addi- Page 521, 526, 728-748.
tional swiveling one often added in front to allow easy Truck, Fifth Wheel. A hand trailer truck having its
front axle swivelling on a vertical king pin at its center,
turning. The sides may be closed by stakes or racks,
and the ends are enclosed vertically or may slope outward. mating circular tracks fixed to the top of the axle and
the bottom of the body serving to carry the load and
Page 520.
still allow turning of the axle for the purpose of steering.
Truck, Balanced. A hand or
truck which is
trailer
If pulled and steered by a tongue fixed in the axle, it is
supported on two fairly large wheels rotating on fixed called a tongue truck.
axes underneath each side near the center, and by one
Page 535, 729-748.
or two caster wheels at each end, making four or six
Truck, Four-Wheel Drive. A truck which has power
wheels in all. The center wheels are larger or are set
supplied to all four of its wheels, making them all pro-
lower than the end wheels and carry most of the load
ductive of tractive effort. Wheels which drive and steer
balanced on them. The truck may be pushed by hand
at the same time must have special universal joints or
or towed as a trailer.
equivalent arrangements in the shafts to permit the two
Also called a six-wheel truck, or a tilting truck.
motions to take place.
Page 537.
Page 531.
Truck, Box. A low truck for moving large and heavy Truck, Four-Wheel Steer. A trailer truck which has
boxes, machines, bales, etc., as a single unit. It consists its steering knuckles interconnected by steering rods in
of a rectangular frame of wood or metal supported on such a way that the pairs at opposite ends move sym-
four or six wheels, and having ends so shaped as to
metrically in response to a side movement of the coupling
allow the heavy pieces to be loaded easily on the truck. at the frontend produced by the tractor passing around
If six wheels are used, the center ones are often some- a curve. The
trailer will track perfectly, and can be
what larger or placed lower, so that the whole truck will hauled from either end, though it cannot be manoeuvcred
swing easily; all the wheels are often arranged to swivel easily by hand.
like casters.
Truck, Gasoline Motor. A motor truck in which a
Page 519, 537. The usual
gasoline engine provides the motive power.
Truck, Caster. A hand or trailer truck which is sup- type of gasoline motor truck has a power plant con-
ported by three or four swivelling wheels of the caster sisting of a four cylinder vertical four stroke cycle
type. Two or more of the casters may be connected by engine with electric ignition provided by a magneto or a
an iron bar so as to force them to swing simultaneously. battery, or both. A few engines are air cooled, but the
118
TRU DEFINITION SECTION TUR
great majority are water cooled, the water being cir- made to suit the shape of the packages to be handled or
culated through jackets around the cylinders of the special conditions of operation.
engine, and cooled by being passed through a radiator Page 521, 748.
mounted extreme front of the truck the circula-
at the ; Truck, Swiveling. A wheel truck which is pivoted under
tion may be produced by a centrifugal pump or may be a car in such a way that it may rotate about a vertical
natural due to the expansion of the liquid on being moves along a curved track.
axis, or swivel, as the car
heated. Gasoline is stored in a tank and is fed by vari- Locomotive cranes are usually mounted on two such
ous means to a carburetor placed on the engine, which trucks.
vaporises and mixes it .with a proper amount of air. Truck, Tiering. A power lift truck which has the high
The engine exhaust is led beneath the car or to the rear uprights and long lift for the platform possessed by a
through an exhaust pipe in which is a muffler.- tiering machine. It is usually motor driven by a storage
Page 519, 748. Truck, Trailer. A wheeled truck, without power, which
is furnished with couplings and steering arrangements
Truck, Industrial. A. general term applied to trackless
that enable it to be coupled to and hauled behind a trac-
wheeled vehicles of various descriptions used for convey-
tor or another trailer. Trailers which can be drawn from
ing material within the buildings of an industrial estab-
either end are termed reversible. be classed
Trailers may
lishment, from one building to another, or, for limited
For short according to the method of steering them as four wheel
distances, around the grounds of such a plant.
steer, caster, balanced, and fifth wheel steer. (See Truck,
distances and small capacities they are usually hand op-
Four Wheel Steer, etc.)
erated for longer distances and larger capacities they are
;
119
TUR MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA UNL
Locomotive turntables are constructed with a complete surface of a sphere, 90 deg. apart, or to the ends of a
circular table with several tracks, or be simply a
may cross.
long girder with one line of track, supported by wheels Universal joints are used to drive the swiveling trucks
at the end. of locomotive cranes from a central longitudinal hori-
The turntable of a locomotive crane consists of a base zontal shaft, and allow them to take the angular posi-
ring (which generally has teeth cut externally or inter- tion required by curves over which they operate.
nally and is used for slewing by power) on which rest Unloader. Any device or machine which will mechani-
the wheels or rollers. These may turn on pins directly
cally remove a cargo or load from a floating vessel, car,
carried by the rotating frame, or they may be carried by The
truck, wagon or other vehicle
of transportation.
a separate cage, interposed between the circular track on vehicle own
may carry unloader, as a truck crane,
its
the base and a similar circular track on the rotating or a self-unloading ship, or it may be brought to a fixed
frame. At least four rollers are used, two at the front,
(or adjustable) unloader. The unloader may be designed
and two at the rear opposite the boom sometimes four;
for handling bulk material or packages. In the former
are placed in front under the boom, and there is often a case it may consist of a top-filled or self-filling grab
complete circle of rollers, this always being the case bucket, of an elevator conveyor, of a pneumatic conveyor,
when a separate cage is used. or (for liquids) of a pump. If for packages, it may be a
Turntable, Air Jack. An air jack mounted centrally cargo crane, or a special conveyor elevator.
under a turntable in such a way that when the turntable Unloader, Automatic Ore. A machine designed for the
is elevated by the air pressure in the jack, it is free to
rapid unloading of iron ore from the holds of vessels of
turn, the plunger floating on air. Especially applicable to the type developed on the Great Lakes, with numerous
the right angle junction of two tracks, where it may not narrow hatchways extending nearly the full width of the
be desirable to cut the rails to install an ordinary turn-
shipt, but narrow in a fore and aft direction. The un-
table. The rectangle within the rails is mounted on the loader consists of a large grab bucket mounted eccen-
jack, and lifts the truck wheels by rising beneath the
trically on the lower end of a vertical leg, and which
flanges. can be rotated about a vertical axis. This leg is hinged
Turntable, Ball-bearing. A turntable which rotates on at its top, and at a point about a third of the way down,
hardened steel balls running in machined races or grooves, to two beams which are connected at their
oscillating
one race in the foundation plate and one in the bottom of inner or shore ends to horizontal axes between vertical
the table. These tables rotate easily, and support the load columns carried on one end of a The two
trolley. leg,
at widely distributed points. Ball bearings are not often beams and columns form a parallel motion and the hoist-
used on turntables carrying heavy loads.
ing bucket can thus be directed to any part of the hold.
Turntable Transfer Car. A turntable mounted on a The is mounted on wheels on a bridge extending
trolley
transfer table or car, in order that an industrial car may at right angles to the wharf; another trolley carrying a
not only be transferred from track to track without going bottom dumping weighing-hopper runs on rails beneath
through switching operations, but may be turned around the bridge, parallel to the top trolley. The loaded grab
as well. The turntable is seldom applied to other than bucket is brought inshort by moving the trolley backward ;
small cars. the ore is dumped into the weighing-hopper from which
Page 609, 721-724. it is discharged into a railway car on any one of a num-
U-bolt. A
piece of round iron bent into the form of the ber of tracks beneath by moving the lower trolley, or is
letter U, with the two ends threaded and provided with carried to the inshore end of the bridge and dumped into
nuts, and generally used to clamp a cross-piece or similar a temporary storage bin in which it can be reached by the
part to a round rod, pipe, or its equivalent.
grab bucket of a storage bridge whose cantilever over-
Undercut. A term applied
to a gate or valve for con- hangs it. The entire unloading machine travels on rails
trolling the flow of loose bulk material from a hopper or parallel to the wharf and may be moved from hatch to
bin, when operates to cut off the flow by coming up
it hatch of the vessel as desired.
through the material from below. With this arrange- Tlie top oscillating beam is extended backward and
ment there is somewhat less tendency for lumps to pre- has a weight which counterbalances the overhanging por-
vent complete closing of the valve. It is more often ap- tions this weight consists in part of the bucket operating
;
plied to quadrant than to sliding gates. machinery. The operator's station is inside the vertical
Universal Joint or Universal Coupling. A form of leg just above the bucket, in which position he has an
coupling used to connect, for the purpose of power unobstructed view of the latter, and can maneuver it so
transmission, two shafts which intersect, but are not in as to take up all the ore in the vessel's hold.
line with one another. The most common form is known Also called stiff-leg unloader.
as Hooke's joint; it will theoretically allow a lack of Page 283.
alignment of as much as 90 deg., but on account of Unloader, Bridge Type. A traveling gantry crane hav-
cramping and interference, the maximum practical angle ing a cantilever extension over the hatchway of a vessel
is about 45 deg. The angular velocity ratio will be varia- at a wharf, and used for unloading its contents, gen-
ble; that is, if one shaft rotates at a constant speed, the erally by a grab bucket suitable for handling bulk mate-
other one will have a periodically varying speed. If two terial. The bridge stands at right angles to the edge of
of these joints be used with a short piece of shaft be- the wharf, travels along it on rails, and has a horizontally
tween them, and the coupling parts are properly arranged telescoping Unloader, Ram Type) or vertically
(see
on the two ends with respect to each other, a constant swinging arm extending over the water, which can be
angular velocity ratio may be obtained. The two shafts moved out of the way while a vessel is docking or leav-
need not have their center lines intersecting in this case. ing. The trolley carries a grab bucket which picks up the
As constructed, universal joints generally take the form material and moves it back, to be dumped directly into
of forked ends, pinned or keyed on each of the shafts, a railroad car under the front end of the bridge, or into
pointing toward each other, and pinned to points on the a hopper over the tracks from which it is later dumped
120
UNL DEFINITION SECTION VAL
into cars. Or it is carried further to the rear and Unloader, One-Man. An apparatus intended for un-
dumped into a storage area, to be later reclaimed by the unloading cars or vessels, and arranged so that only one
grab bucket for loading into cars. The total length of operator is required. The term is particularly applied to
the rear extension may be so great that it is supported in a method of handling ore or coal in bulk in the hold of a
two or more spans, the various supports running on vessel by a grab bucket pendant from a trolley with a
parallel rails and all traveling at the same speed. cab. The operator in the cab controls all motion of the
To increase the speed of operation the uuloader is often bucket and trolley and of the tower or bridge on which
made short, merely spanning the railway tracks and a they are mounted.
temporary storage bin, the latter receiving the excess Page 283.
material in case sufficient cars are not at hand to hold it Unloader, Ore. See Unloader, Bridge Type; Unloader,
all. Abridge storage crane later takes it from this bin Automatic; Unloader, Cableway Type.
and places it in the storage area at any desired location, Unloader, Ram Type. A bridge type unloader in which
independent of the location of the unloader. The ends of the bridge contains a long truss or girder telescoping
the two bridges overlap, but being on different levels do within the bridge and having a trolley traveling on it.
not interfere. When moved back the ram clears the wharf edge allowing
Page 282. free movement of shipping ;
it also gives a long extension
Unloader, Car. or mechanical means for
Any machine to the rear for dumping into storage. (See Unloader,
unloading railway cars. It may be designed for unload- Bridge Type.)
ing open top or box cars, and for handling package or Also called telescopic unloader.
bulk material. Devices which are applicable to the un- Unloader, Self-unloading Ship. This type of vessel
loading of bulk material from box cars are the power carries its own
bulk unloading equipment, generally of the
shovel, suction conveyor, and portable belt, flight, or conveyor type. One installation includes holds built with
bucket conveyor. Those for unloading open top cars,
hopper bottoms discharging through suitable gates onto
other than hopper bottom dumping cars, are car dump- two belt or pan conveyors running the length of the ves-
ers; bucket elevators, flight conveyors and grab buckets sel under the holds, and discharging to an elevating con-
handled by locomotive, bridge or monorail cranes. veyor at one end, generally the bow. This conveyor raises
The term usually applied in a more limited way to
is
the material above the deck where it is in turn received
arrangements of bucket elevators or flight conveyors for by another conveyor mounted on a swinging boom of
unloading bulk material from gondola cars. One device variable elevation, which can deliver the material in any
consists of a bucket elevator hung from an adjustable direction beyond the side of the vessel, and at any height
boom by which it may be lowered into the material in
within its range.
the car. The buckets elevate the material and dump it
carrying package freight also have their
Many ships
into a hopper which discharges through a spout into an own handling machinery, generally called cargo handling
elevated bin, directly to wagons, onto a horizontal con-
gear, and consisting of derricks and winches mounted on
veyor for transportation to a more distant point, or to a the docks.
heap on the ground. The car must be moved along a
Unloader, Ship, Sling Type. See Conveyor, Sling.
track of its own. The buckets are filled by hand
Unloader, Ship, Suspended Tray Type. A suspended
shoveling.
tray carrier arranged for loading and unloading ships,
Another device consists of a comparatively narrow
consisting of a light horizontal steel truss supported above
inclined conveyor hinged at its upper end on a
flight
the deck, having a pair of endless conveying chains along
carriage which can be moved along on an elevated track
the top and bottom chords, and hanging in pendant loops
over the railway track on which the cars to be unloaded
ateach end, one pair of loops within the hatchway, and the
are placed. The lower end is lowered onto the material,
other pair outside the vessel and extending down to the
and is to a certain extent self-filling through the action
wharf. At regular intervals there are suspended from the
of small sections of screw conveyor on each end of the
chains, platforms shaped to fit the cargo being handled, as
lower sprocket shaft drawing the material toward the
barrels, etc. Loads placed on the platforms in the hold
flights. The feeders and lower sprocket are all placed
are elevated to the truss, carried along it by the top runs
within a sort of scoop and the carriage on the overhead
of chain, and lowered outside the vessel to the wharf.
track is slowly pushed forward during the operation of
The direction of rotation is reversed for loading, the
unloading, pushing the scoop into the material. The
power drive being by means of a motor mounted on the
conveyor discharges to a chute at its head end. To use truss. (See also Conveyor, Sling.)
this device the car must be free of tie rods or other
Unloader, Stiff-leg. See Unloader, Automatic Ore.
obstructions.
Instead of the narrow flight conveyor with screw con- Unloader, Two-Man. Two men are often required for
the safe operation of a grab bucket unloader for coal or
veyor feed, an inclined bucket conveyor having buckets
width of the car has also been used, ore. One man attends to the raising, lowering, opening
extending the full
mounted and handled in the same way. and closing of the bucket, and the other to moving the
Hopper bottom dump cars are most economically un- supporting trolley in or out on the bridge or jib, and to
loaded on trestles or over track hoppers, but such cars traversing the bridge or tower, if this be movable.
must occasionally be unloaded without these facilities. Page 283.
One car unloader for this service has a belt or apron Valve. Adevice for stopping or controlling the flow
feeder projecting under the car receiving the flow from of fluid in a pipe, consisting of a body inserted in the
partially opened hopper bottoms, and delivering it to the pipe, having a hole through it for the fluid to flow un-
lower end of another conveyor which in turn delivers it less closed by a movable part called a valve, valve disc
to trucks or to a temporary bin or pocket. or plug. (See also Valve, Gate; Cock.)
Page 377. There are various types of valves in use, but by far
Unloader, Marine Leg or Dock Leg. See Elevator, the most important is the poppet type in which the valve
Marine Leg. or valve disc is mounted on the end of a valve stem,
121
VAL MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA WHE
and closes the circular valve opening by approaching it rim, it is usually and preferably called a sheave. (See
at light angles. The valve may be beveled around its Sheave.) Afore specifically, a wheel is a circular member
periphery and fit into a similarly beveled seat around the rolling in contact with a guiding surface and supporting
edge of the opening, or it may be flat and fit against a a load by means of an axle passing through its center.
raised flat surface on the seat; in this last case a ring of (See Roller.)
soft metal is often inserted in the face of the valve to A simple wheel composed of a hub fitting a shaft, on
is
assist in making it tight. or with itand of spokes radiating from the hub
rotates,
Valves are made for connecting two (or sometimes and attached to the inner side of a circular rim which
more) pipes at various angles to each other they are ;
rests on a track. These may be cast in one, or all or any
made in many styles and materials, and for many differ- part made separately and bolted together. The spokes
ent pressures. may be straight or curved, or
may be replaced by a solid
Valve, Butterfly. A valve in which a straight cylindrical web or plate. The rim may
be plain, flanged or grooved,
pipe or opening through the valve body is opened or or may be provided with a separate tire or shoe of metal
closed by rotation of an internal disc mounted on a cen- or of rubber or other elastic material.
tral transverse shaft or spindle. When the disc is turned Wheel, Chain. A wheel having its circumference shaped
across the pipe, flow is stopped; when it is parallel to the to tit a chain, and used for the transmission of power, or
pipe, free flow is permitted. Such valves are cheap and to guide the chain. When the circumference has out-
effective, but they are hard to keep tight against the wardly projecting teeth shaped to fit a pitch chain, it is
pressure of gases and liquids, and are not much used for usually called a sprocket or sprocket wheel. When the
'handling ioose bulk material on account of the partial wheel has a groove or pockets, or both, in its circum-
obstruction of the pipe by the transverse shaft and the ference, shaped to fit the oval links of a coil chain, it is
edge presented by the valve disc. also called a pocket sheave or wheel, or a chain sheave.
Valve, Rotary. A valve which has a seat with a num- G\iide sheaves for oval link chain often have smooth con-
ber of holes through it and a valve disc with correspond- cave rims.
ing holes, pivoted centrally on it and rotated as desired Wheel, Flanged. A wheel having one or more annular
by a stem or some other connection leading outside. The projections from the rim, generally outward. A single
valve is wide open or shut, depending on whether the flange is usually at one side of the rim or tread, though
holes in the valve and seat do or do not register. center flanges are used in some types of chain wheels.
Valves of this type are used for controlling the flow of Double flanges are usually at the two sides of the rim.
grain through the bottom of bins and hoppers. Wheel, Gap or Gapped. A rope or chain sheave or a
Valve, Throttle. A valve used for the hand control of sprocket wheel which has openings or gaps in the rim to
the flow of steam or air (or occasionally other fluids) receive attachments placed on the rope or chain at regular
to the cylinder of an engine to adjust its speed as de-
intervals. These attachments are for the purpose of driv-
sired. Globe or angle valves of the poppet type, rotary
ing, of conveying, or both.
valves and cocks are in common use for this service, In cable conveyors transmission blocks may be placed
though many other special forms are in existence. at intervals between the conveying flights in case the latter
"Double beat," piston or balanced valves, having two are too far apart to ensure at least two being in contact
discs or plugs connected by a stem, and fitting against with the rim simultaneously. Flexible teeth are often
or sliding past openings at two places, are more easily provided on one or both sides of the gap, to decrease the
operated than the single types. friction and wear as the blocks are forced off and on the
Valve, Reversing. A
hand-operated valve which can wheel. To allow for stretch of the rope without the ne-
reverse the direction of flow of steam into and out of the cessity of re-spacing all the blocks, the rim segments are
cylinder of a steam engine, thus causing the engine to sometimes made adjustable, and can be moved outward to
revolve in either direction. The engine valve is made increase the effective pitch of the wheel.
without lap and the eccentric without angular advance, Toothed sprockets having gaps are not dependent on the
enabling the engine to run equally well (though somewhat attachments for driving, therefore are often made with
inefficiently) in either direction. A reversing valve three gaps only. The rim segments may also be adjust-
merely interchanges the exhaust and steam supply connec- able, and flexible teeth may be used at one or both sides of
tions. It is used on small engines where the convenience the gap.
and simplicity outweigh the poor economy.
Wheel, Hand. A wheel operated by hand power. The
Washer. An annular piece of metal, fibre, rubber or wheel diameter depends upon the turning moment which
other material placed on a bolt underneath the nut, to must be exerted, and the size of the rim varies in pro-
form A seat for the latter.
portion to the size of the wheel, though it must never be
Wharf. A platform of timber, steel or masonry, built larger than can be conveniently gripped by the hand.
along the shore of a navigable body of water and used Occasionally the rim is roughened, corrugated, or even
primarily for loading and unloading vessels. The term formed with radiating spokes as handles.
quay (British) is also used in this sense, while the term Wheel, Hand Chain. A chain sheave around which is
pier is more often applied if the structure projects reeved an endless chain, to be pulled by hand for operat-
into the harbor at right angles to the shore.
ing hoisting or other machinery.
(See also Dock.) A wheel placed at the point at the
Wheel, Knuckle.
Wharf Crane. See Crane, Wharf.
top of an incline where a rope or chain used for hauling
Wharf Shed. A roofed structure or building on a
purposes changes to the horizontal direction. Also, the
wharf.
sprocket wheels at the top of the upward run of a knuckle
(See Pier Shed.) wheel elevator, where a vertical changes into a horizontal
Wheel. In general, a circular frame or disc revolving or inclined run. On cable haulage systems, rollers or
on its axis. If loose on its shaft and used merely to grooved sheaves are used, called knuckle rollers or
guide a rope or chain which passes around a groove in its knuckle sheaves respectively.
122
WHE DEFINITION SECTION WIN
Wheel, Pulley. Sec Sheave. to be lifted is secured to the axle, and an endless hand
Wheel, Pocket. See Wheel, Chain. rope is fitted groove of the sheave. Pulling on
in the
Wheel, Ratchet. See Ratchet Wheel. the hand rope causes the load rope to wind on the axle
Wheel, Stepped Tread. A wheel having treads of two and lift the load. The ratio of load lifted to hand pull
(or more) diameters. Such wheels are used on the rear depends on the diameter ratio of sheave to axle.
axles of skip cars, and assist in dumping them. Wheel-base. The distance between centers of two car
(See Skip Car.) wheels travelling on the same rail, or in the same fore
Wheel, Self-Lubricating. A wheel which contains an oil and aft line if no rail is used. If more than two wheels
chamber or reservoir within itself, and means of feeding
are on each side, the distance between the centers of
the outside wheels is generally meant. If the wheel
it
slowly to the bearing surface. This feed may be
through small holes leading to the bearing, through a por- bearings are fixed, this is the rigid wheel-base. If two
ous felt washer inserted in an annular opening in the bore, swiveling trucks are used, each truck has its own rigid
by an fin which lifts the oil from the bottom of the
oil wheel-base and the total wheel-base is called a total or
the link. For most of the single width chains having (See Gearing.)
pin connected or hinged joints, the sprockets are similar Wheel Tread. The exterior cylindrical portion of the
with teeth shaped to fit the blocks, link ends or rollers as rim of a wheel which bears on a rail. It may be flat,
the case may be. Broad multiple width chains used for' conical, double conical or spherical. Its width should
power transmission, or in some cases for conveying, have be appreciably greater than that of the rail on which it
sprockets with teeth extending across the full width, and rests, to allow for inaccuracies in the alignment of the
theymay or may not have flanges at the sides. Whelp. One of the longitudinal ridges or projections
Some sprockets have adjustable and renewable teeth; sometimes formed on the barrel or drum of a capstan
this construction justifies the use of larger sprockets or on a gypsy head, to prevent slipping of rope on the
which would otherwise be too expensive to replace when drum.
worn. Also to adjust the sprocket pitch to suit the in- Whim. A primitive hoisting device used for raising ore
creased pitch of a worn chain, the rim is sometimes made or coal from mines of moderate depths. It consists of
en separate segments which can be moved radially out- a large drum. set on a vertical shaft on which the hoist-
ward. Where the chain has attachments which must pass ing rope is wound, and which is rotated by a horse
around the sprockets, gaps are often left in the rim to walking in a circle, and attached to the end of a crossbar
receive them. (Sec Wheel, Gap.) attached rigidly to the shaft. The horse is driven in
Sprockets are set screwed or keyed to the shaft ;
where the opposite direction for the lowering operation.
necessary for purposes of assembling they are split in half Whip. A
block and rope rigged and used for lifting
and bolted together at rim and hub. light generally designated as single whip or
weights,
Wheel, Traction. In general, a wheel which drives by double whip, the former giving no increase of lifting
virtue of the friction between surfaces in contact, as power, but simply a change of direction.
distinguished from one which drives by teeth, notches or Whipping. The wrapped around a rope
turns of twine
other positive means. The
driving wheels of locomotives close to its from untwisting or unlaying.
end, to keep it
and trucks, pulleys in belt drives and so-called friction Whipping, of Shafting. Vibration or whirling of shaft-
gearing are examples of traction wheels. In material ing when rotating at high speed, due to the axes of grav-
handling equipment the term is often applied to smooth ity and rotation not being coincident.
(sometimes grooved) pulleys used occasionally in place Winch. A stationary, horizontal shaft, geared drum
of sprockets on head shafts of single strand chain and machine, hand or power-driven, which can exert a pull
bucket elevators, and on certain types of single strand on a rope or chain while winding it on a drum, and
conveyors. Beside wearing better, they have the advan- can be used for hoisting or hauling purposes, according
tage that a "choke" will only cause slipping and not a to the arrangement of rope leading from the drum.
break clown. As
usually constructed, a winch has a foundation or
Wheel, Traction Idler. A term applied to a plain wheel baseplate on which stand two side frames, stiffened
without teeth on the rim, around which the chain of a transversely by distance pieces. Between these side
chain elevator or conveyor passes, but which is not the frames, and with their bearings contained in them,
driving- wheel, as distinguished from a traction driving are the shafts of the various drums, transmission gears,
wheel. Traction idlers are sometimes used in place of brakes, etc. The baseplate is mounted on a fixed founda-
sprockets for supporting the return runs of chains, as well tion, on skids or on a car, as desired ; it is often extended
as for foot -shafts of elevators and conveyors. They may to provide a seat for a boiler or electric motor.
be plain, single flanged or double flanged. Some winches are worm or friction geared, but the
Wheel and Axle. A
used hoisting mechanism
little majority use spur gears, and are designated as single or
consisting of a grooved sheave fast on an axle turning double geared according to the number of geared speed
in bearings. One end of a rope attached to the load reductions. (See also Winch, Direct Acting.) They
123
WIN MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA WIN
are known as hand, steam, electric, gasoline, belted, etc., double-jaw clutch must be provided. If the boom is raised
according to the power used as single drum, double ; and lowered often, double friction clutches should be sup-
drum, etc., according to the number of hoisting drums. plied.
The simplest type has a reversible source of power Page 803, 829.
connected directly to the drum by gearing; for lowering, Winch, Derrick, Slewing or Swinging. A winding ma-
the first turned by hand or power in a lowering
shaft is chine used power. One type
for slewing a derrick by
direction, and a screw brake allows the load to lower consists of an independent reversible engine driving a
only at the corresponding speed. Or, the load may be winding drum around which are coiled in opposite direc-
allowed to overhaul the gearing and motor, control being tions the ends of the rope which passes around the bull
maintained by a band or other brake operated by a foot wheel; the ends of the rope are, of course, fastened to
pedal. Two or more such units may be included in a the winding drum. The slewing winch may be attached
two, three or four drum winch, and independent opera- to or built into the main hoisting winch, in which case it
tion be secured for each. The more usual arrangement is it usually operated from the main hoisting engine by a
to have the source of power connected by gearing to a reversible friction drive. When thus built in, two drums
friction clutch keyed to the drum shaft the drum is ; are often used instead of one to give the leads to the
loose on the shaft, but by engaging the friction clutch bull wheel a location which will prevent interference with
is made to turn with it and hoist the load. To lower, the main and boom hoist lines. Or one drum may be
the clutch is released and the load overhauls the drum used at the located like a winch head, and guide
side,
alone, a band brake acting on a seat on the drum circum- sheaves used to prevent interference of the ropes.
ference being used to control the speed. Several such \\ hen driven by a reversible engine, no brake is re-
drum units are connected to a single source of power quired, as the placing of the reversible throttle or re-
to form a two or three-drum winch. This type is, how- versible valve gear in neutral position locks the engine
ever, subject to the limitation that pull can be exerted and prevents the swinging of the derrick by the wind or
by winding the drum in one direction only, and there other causes. Motor and friction driven winches require
must always be sufficient pull in the reverse direction a brake.
to overhaul. The drums cannot be reversed by power, A
slewing winch of considerable power is required for
unless reversing clutches are added to the mechanism,
derrick barges on account of side tipping of the barge
or a reversing engine is used.
due to lifting a load at the side.
Often incorrectly called a hoist or crab.
Also called slewer, boom slewer or swinger, slewing
Page 295, 787, 791, 803, 829.
engine, slewing attachment, pony swinging drum, etc.
Winch, Air. A winch which is driven by an air engine. 803, 829.
Page
It may be of exactly the same pattern as a steam winch,
Winch, Direct Acting. A steam driven winch in which
though special conditions would have to exist to make the drum is mounted on the engine crank shaft,
directly
such an arrangement advisable, such as an already estab-
instead of on a parallel shaft which is geared to it.
lished compressed air system, necessity of freedom from
fire and hot steam pipes, etc. The more commonly used Winch, Electric. A winch which is driven by one or
more electric motors. (See Winch.) One motor may be
air winches are small and portable, are used for mis-
used to drive two or more drums by means of gearing,
cellaneous intermittent hauling and hoisting purposes
or separate motors may be installed to drive each of the
and are often of multiple cylinder construction.
drums. One type of installation has four separate drums
(See Hoist, Air.)
A winch
with a pulley on the operated by controllers without clutches, there being
Winch, Belted. fitted
solenoid brakes on the motors, and foot-operated band
first motion shaft and intended to be driven by a belt from
brakes on the drums.
a line shaft or independent engine. This arrangement
allows the source of power to be used for other pur-
An electric winch is sometimes called an electric hoist.
service used. Four or contact with the friction pinion on the driving shaft and
is (See Drum, Counterweight.)
more friction drums are not often used on derrick the drum is rotated in a winding direction ;
when moved
winches, except for special work, such as bridge erection. to the opposite side the friction gear is brought into con-
Winch heads are placed on the extended ends of one or tact with a fixed brake shoe which retards or stops its
more drum and these are occasionally loose on the
shafts,
rotation. A weight is often arranged to hold it in this
shaft with jaw clutches by which they may be connected position with sufficient force to prevent the drum from
to it, and with ratchets and wheels for holding the load rotating, unless relieved by the operator.
when the clutch is out. Double reduction geared winches sometimes have fric-
The boom occasionally raised and lowered by a worm
is tion gearsbetween the drive and first motion shaft, but
gear drive, which will not overhaul and allow the boom the drum gear and pinion are then usually spur geared
to drop; if the engine is non-reversing, a reversing on account of the large turning moment.
124 .
WIN DEFINITION SECTION WIN
Winch, Gasoline or Kerosene. A winch driven by an Winch, Power. A winch driven by some form of en-
internal combustion engine using the fuel specified. These gine or motor, or from a line shaft, as distinguished
engines will not start under a load, so a disengaging from a hand-operated winch.
clutch is always supplied. Gear changing arrangements Also a term sometimes applied to a winch fitted with
may also be provided to allow light loads to be lifted at by a belt from a line shaft or in-
a pulley, and driven
high speeds, and vice versa. A
governor is usually pro- dependent engine.
vided to prevent the engine from running away in case Winch, Reversing. A winch driven by an engine or
of unexpected release of the load. motor which may be reversed in direction of rotation.
Page 299. The direction of rotation of the engine itself may be re-
Winch, Hand. A small, hand-operated, horizontal-shaft, versed by suitable valve gear or by a reversing valve,
geared-drum machine which can exert a pull on a rope thus reversing all the shafts of the winch; one or more
or chain while winding it on the drum, and can be used shafts may be reversed independently by using reversing
for hoisting or hauling purposes. There are two types, gearing, either of the friction type, or of the bevel gear
depending on the form of the frame. One has its drum type combined with jaw or friction clutches.
and gears mounted on a plain rectangular frame in such (See Gearing, Reversing.)
a way cannot be attached directly to a wall or
that it Winch, Single Pole or Double Pole. A hand winch
floor without interference a special frame or setting which has a frame arranged to attach to a single pole or
must be arranged for it. The other type has deep frames to two poles of a derrick, jib crane, gin pole or similar
which practically enclose the gearing, is self-contained, crane structure.
and capable of standing on and being bolted directly to a Winch, Steam. A winch which is driven by a steam
flat, vertical or horizontal surface. engine. (See Winch; Winch Engine.)
A single-purchase hand-winch is one in which a pinion Page 299, 803, 829.
on the hand-operated crank shaft drives a large gear on Winch, Twin-Drum. A winch having two winding
the drum shaft; a double-purchase signifies that there is drums on the same shaft, or in line axially. A common
an intermediate shaft with its pinion and gear. The inter- arrangement is to have an engine or motor with a pinion
mediate shaft is generally extended so that the cranks on its shaft, driving a large gear which is keyed to the
may be placed on it for -high speed lifting of a light load. drum shaft near its center and between the drums. The
The crank shaft is also sometimes provided with two drums are loose on the shaft, but either or both may be
pinions of different sizes engaging with gears of differ- connected to the gear by friction clutches, of which one-
ent sizes on the intermediate shaft (sometimes known as half is mounted on the gear and the other on the end
duplex gearing), thus still further extending the range of of the drum. (See also Drum, Friction.) These winches
gear reduction. are much used in handling two-rope grab buckets in
Two or more drums with their gears may be mounted dredging or excavating operations, and in coal and other
in same frame, for operation from the same crank
the bulk unloading equipment.
shaft, giving a two-drum hand-winch. In this coal unloading service fast work is essential to
Ratchets and wheels are provided on the crank or in- economy, the hoisting speeds being as great as 1200 ft.
termediate shaft to prevent overhauling in case the men per min., and the lowering speed of the empty bucket is
stop turning the cranks. Brakes are also provided to correspondingly rapid. This causes the generation of
control lowering, as lowering by allowing the crank to much heat at the engaging clutch surfaces, which also
turn in the opposite direction under manual control is act as braking surfaces. Special arrangements of inter-
dangerous and unnecessary. These brakes were formerly nal vanes in the drums cause a rapid circulation of air
simply band brakes on a portion of the drum circum- inward through the ends of the drums and outward
ference, but Weston and other types of improved brakes through openings in the base of the clutch cone fins cast ;
are now available, and the screw brake provides a safe on the clutch also assist in radiating heat, and occasionally
automatic lowering device. water circulation is used. A small brake is generally pro-
Page 295. vided on the crank disc of one of the two steam engines
Winch, Hoisting. A winch arranged to be used for to hold the crank shaft (and with it the large gear and
hoisting purposes, generally in combination with a suit- the attached clutch parts) at rest during lowering. In
able structure and proper fittings, which with it con- the case of an electric motor, a similar brake is placed
stitutea crane. The most common form is the derrick, close to the motor, unless dynamic braking is used.
with the hoisting winch located on the ground and the Some twin-drum winches are direct-acting; that is,
ropes led to the proper points on the derrick by means have the engine or motor connected directly to the drum
of guide sheaves. (See Winch, Derrick.) The hoist- without intervening gearing, thus giving extremely high
ing winch may be on a platform at the base of the mast winding speeds.
and turn with may be mounted on the mast itself,
it, or Page 803, 829.
this arrangement being common in the case of jib cranes. Winch Engine. The engine, generally steam, used to
Hoisting winches are operated by hand, by steam or air operate a hoisting or hauling winch.
engines, or by electric motors. (See Winch, Hand, There are usually two horizontal cylinder engines, with
Steam, Air, Electric.) their cranks at 90 deg., mounted on the same frame as
Page 787, 791, 803, 829. the various drums; a seat for an ordinary vertical boiler
Winch, Portable. A small winch which is built in its is nearly always included in the baseplate, though it is
supporting frames in such a way that it can be easily not always provided with the winch and engine. Non-
unfastened and moved to a new location for operation, reversing engines are often used, in which case some sort
being sometimes mounted on skids or wheels for ease in of friction or toothed reversing gear may be required
transportation. A winch which does not depend on spe- for one or more of the drums or shafts operated by the
cial foundations and framing to support it. engine. If the engines are reversing, link motions of the
Page 787, 791. Stephenson or Gooch type are used, or for small engines
125
WIN MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA WIR
like those driving slewing winches a reversing valve is Wire Rope, Flat. A wire rope made for hoisting pur-
used, by which the steam supply and exhaust connection and consisting of a number of alternating right
poses,
are interchanged. and left hand lay four-strand ropes placed side
by side
some small winches intended for use with com-
In and sewed with soft iron wire so as to form a broad flat
pressed air, the two cylinders are placed at right angles, band.
and their connecting rods are operated from the same Wire Rope, Flattened Strand. A wire rope composed
crank pin. Oscillating cylinders are also sometimes used of strands flattened on the outside so as to present a
for small engines. smoother surface and more wearing area.
Winch Head. A drum Wire Rope, Galvanized Rope. Rope in which the in-
having the winding surface
dividual wires have been galvanized before made
shaped in a concave curve, and used for hoisting by mak- being
into a rope.
ing a few turns of rope around it and pulling slightly on
the free end. By varying this pull the slipping on the Page 818-822.
drum may be made Wire Rope, Haulage. Rope used for 'haulage purposes.
large or small, or the load may even
It is composed of large wires in order to resist abrasion
be lowered, independently of the speed of the drum.
Where and therefore is only moderately flexible. (See Wire
it is important to have no slipping, whelps or
ridges are formed on the winding surface. Rope; Wire Rope Strand.)
Page 818-822.
These drums are usually fitted overhung on one or Wire Rope, Hoisting. A flexible rope used for hoisting
both ends of the shaft of a winch drum. They may be purposes, as in cranes, mine hoists, elevators, etc., where
keyed the shaft, in which case they are known
fast to
it must carry
as solid or fixed winch heads, or they may be loose on
heavy loads and pass frequently on and oft"
a winding drum and around guide sheaves
it and be connected at will by a jaw clutch, in which
Page 818-822.
case they are known as clutch or independent winch Wire Rope, Lay of. The direction in which the strands
heads a ratchet and wheel is then added to hold the
;
are laid in the rope, either right hand or left hand. In
drum when it is disconnected by the clutch.
regular lay the strands are left hand lay and the rope
Winch heads have many names, some of the more right hand lay; regular left hand rope has the lay of
common ones being Gypsy Head, Nigger Head and Fric- both strands and rope reversed from the above.
tion Drum. In Langs' lay the wires in the strands and the strands
Windlass. A stationary horizontal shaft geared ma- in the rope are made up with the
lay in the same direc-
chine, generally power driven, with one or more chain tion.
sheaves or wildcats for exerting a pull on a chain, for Wire Rope, Marline Clad. Wire rope having its strands
either hoisting or hauling purposes. A steam engine or served or wrapped helically with hemp or fibre marline
electricmotor is the usual driving power, acting through so that the metal is completely covered and protected
one or more reductions of worm gearing to drive the from wear and the action of water, corrosive gases and
main sheaves. These last may be disconnected from the liquids, etc. it is also easier to handle and can be coiled
;
hoisting gear when desired and allowed to overhaul, down cordage rope. For some purposes both the
like
being controlled by band brakes on their circumference. strands and the rope are served with marline.
One or more winch heads or gypsy heads are also often Page 818-822.
formed on the overhung extensions of the main shaft, Wire Rope, Non-Spinning. A wire rope in which the
for use in exerting a pull on ropes. Windlasses are much strands are laid so that it will not rotate when a load is
used on shipboard for hoisting anchors. hung from the free end of a single line.
126
WIR DEFINITION SECTION WIR
Wire Rope Core. The center of a wire rope strand or and with a smooth outer covering of special interlocking
of a complete rope, composed of a yarn or strand of section wires, the various layers being alternately right
Wire Rope Strand. One of the component parts of a Wire Tramway Strand. A wire rope composed of a
rope, consisting of a group of wires of uniform or vary- single strand made up of 7, 19, 37, 61 or 91 wires ar-
ing The strand may he round or flattened.
si/.c. ranged in one,two, three, four or five layers around a
Wire Track Cable. A round cable used for aerial rope central wire of the same size. Successive layers may
tramways and cableways, consisting of a strand of seven be laid to the same or to alternating hands. Used as a
or nineteen round wires surrounded by from one to five track or trolley cable for aerial tramways. Also called
layers of abutting square or trapezoidal section wires, round track cable and smooth coil cable.
Electrical Definitions
manual capacity is required for driving cranes, hoists, gives a sensation of shock to persons or animals through
elevators, conveyors, capstans, and other machinery in- whom it passes, as well as burning the skin; makes sparks
tended for handling materials in bulk, unless no central and arcs when its passage through a continuous circuit
station supply is available and the construction of a plant is interrupted by opening of the circuit; deflects a mag-
presents unusual difficulties. The characteristics of the netic needle placed near a conductor energized by it ;
The economies to be derived from electrification of wire, and the electromagnet can be made by passing
existing material handling machinery have been widely electricity through a solenoid, so that magnetism and
overlooked, and this a primary reason why no more than electricity arc mutually interconvertible.
approximately five per cent of the potential demand for Direct and Alternating Current. An electric current
material handling machinery has been met. The most practically constant in magnitude and direction of flow is
evident consequences of electrification are increased pro- called a direct current. The term continuous current is
duction, space economy, reduced fire risk, flexibility in used in the same sense inEngland but in America con-
arrangement of machines, reliability and uniformity of tinuous is intended to mean steady and non-pulsating.
product, and reduced depreciation. For hoisting ma- Direct current motors have better speed control than al-
chinery electric drive is preferable to the compressed air, ternating current motors and permit more ready employ-
hydraulic and steam drives in most of the above respects, ment of dynamic braking for the lowering operations of
with ease of control in addition. crane work.
Theconversion of the older types of drive, for example An alternating current is an electric current which
steam to electric hoists, may in some instances be ac- varies continuously with time from a constant maximum
complished by removing engine connecting rods, and value in one direction along the circuit to the same value
coupling or gearing motors to crank discs. This sub- in the opposite direction, then returning to zero and back
stitution of electric drive is likely to cause different again to the first direction, alternately repeating this
127
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
cycle in equal intervals of time. Such a current alter- Resistance: Ohm. Resistance is the term used to ex-
nates in polarity and direction of flow and therefore will press the opposition to the flow of direct current elec-
not charge a battery. The alternating current system is tricity. Any substance which will carry electricity is
generally used where power is to be transmitted over called a conductor, though this carrying ability may vary
considerable distances or in large amounts because of with the material. The resistance of a uniform conductor
the simplicity and ease with which it can be transmitted is proportional to the length and inversely proportional
economically. to the cross-section. A
rise of temperature causes an in-
Alternating and direct current are readily interconvert- crease of resistance with nearly all metals. The re-
ible by the use of suitable apparatus. sistance of an electrical decreased by adding
circuit is
Magnetism. It has been known for centuries that other resistance in parallel, or increased by adding re-
ferrous metals could possess the characteristic of attract- sistance in series. A
decrease of resistance in a circuit
ing iron or steel. A
magnet is said to have unit strength causes an increased flow of current, if other conditions
when it exerts a repulsion of one dyne upon an exactly remain unchanged. Resistance is invariably dissipative
like and equal magnet at a distance of one centimeter. and causes a loss of energy which goes into heat and thus
Those parts of a magnet which possess the power of at- the flow of electricity tends to raise the temperature of
tracting iron are usually the ends of the mass, whether any conductor through which it passes. (See Rheostat.)
bent or straight, and are called the poles of the magnet. The unit of electrical resistance is the ohm. It is
Any space in which a magnetic pole will be acted upon practicallyrepresented by the resistance offered to an
by a force tending to set it in motion, such as the space unvarying electric current by a column of mercury, hav-
surrounding a magnet or conductor of electricity, is called ing a mass of 14.4521 grams, at the temperature of melt-
a magnetic field. A magnet may be made by passing di- ing ice, of a constant cross-sectional area, and of the
rect current electricity through a coil of wire wrapped length of 106.3 centimeters. The symbol is R or r.
around an iron core, the electric current producing a Resistance is commonly measured by dividing the volt-
magnetic flux in the iron, and forming what is known as age across the circuit by the amperes of current flow.
an electromagnet. This coil is called a solenoil. When This necessitates the recording of simultaneous volt-
sides and ends of the solenoid are enclosed in iron, thus meter and ammeter readings on the unit to be measured.
furnishing for the magnetic flux an iron return path of Electromotive Force: Volt. Electromotive force is the
less opposition than the air path, the unit is known as an electrical pressure tending to produce current flow. It
iron dad solenoid. may be produced in two ways, namely, (1) by bringing
Current: Ampere. The flow of electricity from place two dissimilar bodies in contact as in the case of bat-
to place, for example along a conductor, is called current. teries, (2) by varying the magnetic flux linking a circuit,
The unit of electric current or flow is the ampere. It is as for instance moving the coil of a generator armature
practically represented by the direct current which de- past the magnetic poles.
posits silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second The electromotive force of a generator depends on the
from a silver nitrate solution of standard specifications, amount of magnetic induction from the generator poles
and is technically defined as the direct current which, .which links the rotor coils, the number of turns of arma-
flowing in a wire of one centimeter length
and at right ture coil and the speed of rotation. (See also Battery
with a uniform magnetic field of unit intensity, will Electromotive Force.)
angles
cause the wire to be deflected with a force of one tenth The unit of electromotive force is the volt. It is the
of a dyne. The symbol is I or i. electromotive force which steadily applied to a conductor
The amount of current flowing in a conductor is im- of one ohm resistance will produce a current of one am-
portant determining the size of conductor to use,
in pere. The symbol is E or e and V or v.
particularly as the heating is proportional to the square The electrical measuring instrument which indicates
of the current. One ampere of alternating current is that the number of volts of electromotive force across the
flow of electricity which produces the same heating ef- terminals of a machine or conductor is called a voltmeter.
fect in a resistance circuit as a direct current of one The instrument connected in parallel with the unit
is
ampere. The electrical measuring instrument which in- across which the voltage is to be measured.
dicates the number of amperes of electric current flowing When a generator is running at rated speed and no
through a conductor is called an ammeter. The instru- load, that is without any current passing through the
ment is placed in series in the circuit to be metered or is armature windings, the voltmeter reading across the
shunted across a resistance placed in the circuit. The generator terminals is the generator electromotive force.
latter is called a shunt ammeter, the former a line am- If a load is connected to the generator there will be a
ing for one hour, or as the product of the current in For direct current circuits this
equal to the productis
amperes by the time in hours.This term is used particu- of volts and amperes, which gives rise to the definition
larly in charging batteries. (See also Battery Capacity, of a watt as a volt-ampere. For alternating current
Ampere-hour. The coulomb which is one thirty-six circuits thepower in watts is equal to the volt-amperes
hundredths of the ampere-hour is also used as a unit of multiplied by the cosine of the angle by which the cur-
quantity. rent leads or lags the voltage. The latter quantity is
128
DEFINITION SECTION
known as the power factor of the alternating current cir- the current wave leads the voltage, this being known as
cuit. A watt is 44.26 foot pounds per minute, one horse- the capacity effects. capacity have
Inductance and
power dividend by 746. A kilowatt, one thousand watts, diametrically opposite effects on a circuit and tend to neu-
is used as the unit of power where large amounts are in- tralize each other. The total opposition to alternating
volved. The wattmeter, and kilowattmeter, are the measur- current flow in a circuit, including the resistance, induct-
ing instruments used to determine the rate at which work ance and capacity combined in proper vector relationship
is being done at any given instant. to each other, is known as the impedance. Inductance and
Kilowatt-hour. The kilowatt-hour is the electrical capacity combined without resistance is known as react-
unit of work, being the amount of energy delivered ance.
by a source of electricity which gives out power at the Power Factor. The ratio of the power input to the
rate of 1,000 watts continuously for one hour. Electrical product of effective voltage and current of an alternating
measuring instruments called the kilowatt-hour meter and current circuit is denned as the power factor of the cir-
watt-how meter are used to determine the amount of cuit. This ratio cannot be in excess of unity and usually
electrical energy received from the supply circuit during is less. Power factors may be lagging or leading depend-
a certain interval of time. This is the meter commonly ing on whether the inductance or capacity respectively is
customer, for billing purposes. Cycle. When an alternating current has gone com-
Phase. Phase means the distance in angular measure, pletely through one series of positive and negative values,
from the instant when an alternating current wave passes and has returned to its original condition, it has passed
a certain datum point (say zero current) to the instant through a cycle.
when the alternating electromotive-force wave passes the Frequency. Frequency is the number of cycles per
same datum point (zero voltage). second in the alternating current circuit. Twenty-five and
Inductance in the circuit causes the current to lag be- 60-cycle frequencies are the most common. frequency A
hind the voltage. If there capacity in the circuit the
is of 25 cycles is often used for power generation, and 60
current will lead in phase. If the voltage and current power generation and lighting service.
cycles for
waves are rising and falling exactly in step, their zero Power The power which a device can safely
Capacity.
values occurring at the same instant, they are said to be carry is called its power capacity.
in phase. Efficiency is the ratio of the power delivered by a ma-
The term phase is also applied to measure the angular chine or unit to the power received by it. Efficiency varies
distance between two voltage waves of the same fre- with the temperature, speed, load, voltage, current, power-
quency on different machines. The voltage waves of two factor, wave shape, and frequency of the machine, as well
Three-phase means the combination of three circuits armature and windings, brush friction, brush con-
field
energized by alternating electromotive-forces which differ tact, friction bearings, windage, di-electric losses, short-
in phase by 120 deg. Three wires are required for circuit losses during commutation, rheostat losses, and in
transmission by three-phase. Polyphase is a general transformers the extra copper loss -of the windings due
term applied to systems of more than a single phase. to stray fluxes caused by load currents.
Any of the above systems may be used in alternating Rating. The power output and other conditions for
current machinery, but for material handling equipment operation of an electrical machine are specified by the
where alternating currents are selected, the single phase manufacturer on the rating plates.
or three-phase circuits are preferred. Continuous, short time and nominal ratings are the
Series. Series or series connection is used to designate most common ones used. The continuous rating of a
a method of connecting two or more electric machines machine gives the power, current and voltage at which
or conductors to a supply or distribution circuit so that the unit is intended to operate without stopping. The
the same electric current flows through each one in turn, machine operating at this continuous output should meet
that is, first through one and then through the next. the approved limitations of temperature, mechanical
Parallel. Parallel or parallel connection is used to strength, commutation, di-electric strength, frequency,
designate a method of joining two or more electric ma- speed, voltage, efficiency, power factor, regulation, wave
chines or conductors by which all units are connected shape and insulation resistance. The short-time service
across the same two terminals so as to divide the electric rating of a machine specifies the power, current and volt-
current between them as it flows through the circuit. age at which the unit may be safely operated for the lim-
Multiple is a synonymous term. The current divides ited period of time given in the rating. The term nominal
inversely as the resistance encountered. rating is used mostly in alternating current railway ma-
Inductance: Impedance: Capacity: Reactance: A sole- chines where excessive loads for brief periods of time
more opposition to the flow
noid or other coil of wire offers make the use of continuous ratings inconvenient. For
of alternating current electricity than to direct current example, a substation machine may be given a nominal
electricity. Furthermore the voltage wave measured across rating of kilovolt-ampere output at a stated power factor
such a coil is out of phase with and leads the current wave. input, which after producing a constant temperature in the
This is known as the inductance effect. In certain al- machine, can be increased 50 per cent for two hours
ternating current circuits, such as those using a condenser, without producing excessive temperatures. Also ma-
129
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
chines marked with a nominal rating should be able to tray, into which the cells are assembled to form a battery,
carry a load of twice their rated output for a one-minute is built of hardwood thoroughly coated with acid-proof
period without injury. The principal limitations of elec- paint for lead-acid batteries and of steel for nickel-iron
trical machines relate to the thermal characteristics and batteries.
mechanical stresses. Temperature is the most common Storage batteries are used to drive locomotives, trucks,
controlling element in fixing the rating. industrial tractors, or smaller carrying devices, and port-
Rotating machines with a continuous rating should be able cranes in electric starting and lighting systems of
;
able to carry a 50 per cent overload current momentarily various types on gasoline and kerosene vehicles in signal ;
at rated load excitation, and should be able to develop, systems and as a reserve in case of the breakdown of a
;
without stalling, a running torque of 175 per cent of the prime mover or in case of excessive loads in the power
running torque corresponding to rated load. plant.
Electric locomotives are rated in terms of the weight The voltage of a battery may be. varied by cutting in
on the drivers, nominal one-hour tractive effort, contin- or out of the series circuit one or more of the end cells
uous tractive effort and corresponding speeds. of the battery.
Automobile propulsion motors and generators should be Page 719, 736, 742.
given a continuous rating, equal to the output available Lead-acid Battery. There are three types of lead-acid
at the shaft at the rated speed. Higher temperature rises cell: (1) a storage cell with lead plates, an electrolyte
than those standard for stationary machines are permis- of dilute sulphuric acid, and a jar of glass or hard rubber.
sible on these propulsion dynamos, thereby reducing By the electrochemical action of charging, a layer of
weight and bulk. lead peroxide coats itself on one plate, forming the con-
(See also Rating, Storage Battery; and Motor.) ductor of the higher potential. (2) A storage cell
Polarity. The terminal of the generator, battery or with lead-antimony alloy plate into which pasty active
other electrical unit which is at the higher potential is material of lead peroxide is pressed, the electrolyte being
said to be the terminal with positive polarity, and the dilute sulphuric acid, and the jar of glass or hard rubber,
other is called the terminal with negative polarity. (3) A storage cell with positive plates consisting of a
Current Capacity. The term current
capacity is used series of hard-rubber slotted tubes containing active
in connection with various kinds of electrical apparatus material, an electrolyte of dilute sulphuric acid, and jar
to define the amount of current which the conductors of glass or hard rubber.
can safely carry. Excessive current may be prevented The positive plate of all these types is essentially lead
in a circuit by placing suitable resistance in series with peroxide and the negative plate is either of lead or else
the circuit, but thismay increase the heating loss beyond contains an active material of spongy metallic lead.
economical Resistance placed in parallel with the
limits. A lead-acid cell when charged will have an electromo-
load of a storage battery or generator increases the total tive force of about two volts. The voltage of a charged
current flow from the machine, so that the allowable battery with cells in series is therefore equal to the num-
addition of rheostats in parallel with any load is limited ber of cells in series multiplied by two. When the lead-
by the current carrying capacity of the machine. acid cell discharges the chemical reaction, produces the
Electrical Apparatus. Any machine or device pertain- current. As discharge continues, the electrolyte becomes
weaker, the lead sulphate increases in quantity and bulk,
ing to the generation, storage, transmission, control, utili-
filling the pores of the plates, thereby retarding the free
zation or measurement of electricity, including any con-
circulation of the acid. Since the acid cannot maintain its
trivance used to regulate the operation of such a device,
normal action the cell becomes less active and the voltage
is commonly classed as electrical apparatus or equipment.
drops. Discharge should be stopped and recharging com-
Batteries, generators, magnetos, motors, lifting magnets
menced before the cell voltage has dropped lower than 1.70
and electric brakes are in a group having to do with
volts. The electrolyte used in the lead type of battery is
the generation, storage or utilization of electricity. Trans-
mission apparatus includes transformers, insulators, and always sulphuric acid of special purity diluted with pure
distilled water. The various battery manufacturers specify
conductors. There is a group containing a considerable
the exact conditions and constituents of electrolyte for best
number of electrical controlling machines and devices,
service of their particular cells and their instructions
such as rheostats, switches, push-buttons, circuit breakers,
should always be carefully followed.
fuses, controllers, compensators, overload releases, and un-
The lead-acid battery is less expensive in first cost
derload releases. Certain miscellaneous devices may also
than the nickel-iron type and is lighter in weight.
be classed together such as ignition coils, spark plugs,
Page 736.
solenoids, signal outfits, lamps and measuring instruments.
Nickel-iron Battery. The nickel-iron, or alkaline, type
Batteries and Battery Details of storage battery cell consists of a steel jar containing
Battery. A group of cells electrically connected and steel plates, active material of nickel and iron oxides, and
assembled in one case in order to obtain greater voltage an electrolyte solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
and power than can be supplied by one cell is called a in water. It has been widely known as the Edison cell.
130
DEFINITION SECTION
droxide and pure metallic nickel in thin flakes, and the engine ignition systems and similar low capacity work.
negative plate consists of a cold rolled steel grid, nickel They include all cells which can be recuperated only by
plated, holding a number of rectangular pockets filled with the installation of a new negative plate to replace that
powdered iron oxide. The nickel is added to give the consumed, and by the substitution of fresh electrolyte.
necessary conductivity to the active material. Narrow Dry cells and many wet cells are of this class. Second-
separating strips of hard rubber are inserted between the ary cells, commonly called storage cells and accumulators,
positive and negative plates to insulate them from each are recuperated by charging with direct current electricity
other after assembly, and side insulators and hard rubber from an outside source, sent through the cell in the di-
bottom lining are used to prevent contact of the plates rection opposite which it delivers current.
to that in
with the steel container. The
of nickel plated cold
jar is
Secondary cells whenever batteries are to
are used
rolled steel, the walls being corrugated to give the great- supply electricity to motors. There are two principal
est amount of strength with minimum weight. nickel A types, the lead-acid and the nickel-iron.
plated sheet cover is provided, containing two pockets for Cell Requirements. A good cell should possess all 01
the terminal posts and an opening for filling the cell with most of the following characteristics :
electrolyte or occasional addition of distilled water. 1. High and constant electromotive force.
Stuffing boxes with hard and soft rubber washers and 2. Small internal resistance, thereby facilitating high dis-
bushings are used about the terminal posts. The filling charge currents and low internal heating.
is provided with special vents to prevent absorp-
opening 3. Constant current output, therefore freedom from po-
tion by the caustic alkali of carbonic acid from the air, larization or local action, and small liability to rapid
at the same time allowing the egress of gases evolved exhaustion.
during charging. 4. Perfect inactivity when the circuit is open.
Nickel-iron batteries are made
largely of steel and are 5. Durability, freedom from need of constant attention,
therefore particularly strong and durable. They have in
and a serviceable jar.
many cases been exposed to fire without serious damage, 6. No emission of corrosive fumes, and no overflow of
and have withstood short-circuit during accidents. The
electrolyte.
frequent hydrometer readings and attention necessary in A cell also has to meet the special requirements of the
other batteries required, so that maintenance
are not
use to which it is For example, a cell for vehicle
put.
charges are under two per cent of the original cost. The service should have and
strength, durability, lightness
requirements of operation are charging, keeping outside suitable capacitywhich means low internal resistance be-
of cells clean and adding distilled water. Their ability
cause of high current demand on acceleration of speed
to do service at several times normal discharge, the fact
and ascending of grades. It should also have the flattest
that many of these batteries have served six and seven
possible voltage characteristic, that is the least obtainable
years, and the absence of noxious and corrosive fumes are
kinds of service. voltage variation under average conditions of discharge.
especially desirable features for many
719. 742.
A cell for locomotive work requires power, ruggedness,
Page
high efficiency and longevity. For some kinds of service a
Cell. The fundamental unit of any type of battery is cell needs ability to furnish current and withstand de-
the cell, which
a device for producing electric voltage
is
preciation at low temperatures, and to recuperate after
by the chemical action resulting when two electrical con- partial discharge. Low operating cost is ordinarily quite
ductors of different material are placed in an acidic liquid as important as low inftial cost.
or paste. The two conductors of such an apparatus are
Secondary Cells. In secondary cells the positive and
found to be at different potentials and the cell will there-
negative conductors are generally known as positive and
fore act as a generator of electricity and furnish current
negative plates. Both plates consist of a series of grids,
to a circuitconnected across its terminals.
one or both containing active material which gives added
The conductor of the higher potential is called tht
capacity to the cell. In addition to plates, active material
positive and that of the lower potential the negative
and electrolyte, such a cell consists of separators, terminals
terminal. The positive is therefore the conductor from
and container. There are two straps (positive and nega-
which current flows into the external circuit when the
tive) each supporting its series of vertical plates, thereby
battery discharging, while the negative receives cur-
is
forming two groups known as positive and negative. The
rent from the external circuit during discharge. The so
groups are arranged with spaces between the plates
acidic substance, whether liquid or paste, is called the
that the two series may be interleaved in assembling,
electrolyte. out of contact by
plates of opposite polarity being kept
When either separately or in conjunction with
a cell, hard rub-
separators of non-conducting material, usually
other has both terminals joined to a conductor,
cells,
ber or wood. Straps are provided with terminal lugs for
the current flows both in the cell and outside circuit and
attaching the plates and with posts to which
the cell
the terminal voltage of the cell will drop, due to the
connections are made. One positive and one negative
opposition of the internal battery to
resistance of the
group of a cell with separators assembled is called an
this current flow. On most types of battery the negative
element. After assembling groups and separators the
plate is observed to waste away, its consumption fur-
whole is placed in a sheet steel, rubber or hardwood cell
nishing the energy required to drive the current through
container or jar with the electrolyte.
the cell and the external circuit. The voltage of a cell is
Container. The container or jar which holds the elec-
dependent on the material of which the plates are made
may consist of the following acid resisting mate-
and the kind and condition of the electrolyte. Size of trolyte
but not the rials
parts affects the capacity and life of the cell
:
131
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
teries, except for the larger types which are assembled in no current is being delivered. In a battery it depends
lead lined wooden tanks. Cells for vehicle service have entirely upon the chemical composition of the cells (par-
rubber containers. A wood container coated with acid ticularly the material of the plates), condition of elec-
resisting paint is used in many of the smaller sized cells. trolyte, state of charge and temperature, and is in no
(2) Nickel plated cold rolled sheet steel containers way dependent on size or number of plates per cell.
with corrugated sides for nickel-iron cells. The electromotive force of a cell drops considerably
Cover Details. The cover of the battery jar is usually during discharge and recuperates during charge. (See
of the same material as the jar and is sealed to it with also Charge; Lead-acid Battery; Nickel-iron Battery.)
a gas-tight joint. It is provided with a filling vent or The potential difference between the terminal posts of a
aperture for each cell through which the electrolyte or cell during discharge will always be less than the elec-
water is introduced, and which is closed by a hinged tromotive force by the amount of the resistance drop of
threaded, or bayonet type filling plug containing a gas vent. voltage in the cell due to current flow.
Group. Agroup is a set of cell plates, either positive Internal Resistance. The ohmic resistance within a
or negative, assembled to a hard lead or lead-antimony battery cell is defined as the internal resistance of the
casting called a strap. The assembling is usually accom- cell. It should be small if the battery efficiency and
plished by burning, the terminal post and strap being usu- capacity are to be high. Heating of the battery with its
ally cast in one piece. Cell capacity is increased by using consequent energy loss is directly proportional to this
more than one per terminal because of the in-
plate resistance and the effective voltage at the battery termi-
creased area of active material exposed to the electrolyte. nals is reduced by it. For all classes of service demand-
Straps consisting of a central round terminal are called ing high current flow to any extent, the internal
pillar-post those in the form of an inverted L
straps, resistance should be especially low.
are called plate straps. The term cross-bars is used syn-
Discharge. Discharge is the conversion of the chemical
onymously with strap. The portions of the straps of a energy of a battery or cell into electrical energy by the
cell extending through the cell cover and used as termi-
flow of electric current from the battery through an
nals are called posts or poles. external circuit. The proportion of discharge of lead-
Battery Terminals. Fittings known as battery termi- best determined
acid batteries is by use of a hydrometer
nals are attached to the positive plate of one end cell
syringe which indicates the specific gravity of the elec-
and to the negative plate of the other end cell of a For nickel-iron cells the voltage and previous
trolyte.
battery to provide electrical connection to the remaining condition of charge are the principal indications of the
units of the electric circuit. These fittings are numerous state of discharge. (See also Charge.)
in type and manufacture and vary with the size and kind
Charge. Charging is the passing of direct current
of battery. There are, for example, the cable and bolt
through a battery, direction opposite to that of
in the
terminals; the tray terminals which are commonly of
discharge, in order to restore to the battery the active
the wing nut or box types; and the taper terminals, made
materials or energy used during discharge. It is essen-
in rights and lefts with different tapers for positive and
tialto watch two things in charging a battery or cell,
negative to prevent intercharging.
Glass rods,rubber or treated wood
or
namely the rate in amperes and the time that charging
Separators.
continues.
strips called separators are inserted between the positive
and negative plates of a battery to keep them from When charging a lead-acid battery the acid absorbed
by the plates during discharge is driven from the plates
coming in contact. Separators in lead-acid type portable
batteries may be smooth or corrugated wood, suitably by the charging current and restored to the electrolyte.
treated or thin sheets or perforated hard
of slotted This is the whole object of charging in this type of cell.
;
internal cell resistance and the weight and space required energy. The electromotive force should not fall below
for the battery. Untreated wood contains injurious acid 1.70 volts per cell, but the presence of a higher electro-
which attacks the plates and also has a high resistance motive force is not a safe measure of condition of
which prohibits its use as separators. Proper treatment charge. (See also Charging .Rate.)
132
DEFINITION SECTION
Charging Equipment, Battery. The devices used in batteries frequently show increased capacities with suc-
charging storage batteries used on trucks, tractors and cessive charges for a limited time. Nickel-iron cells may
locomotives. show as much as 30 per cent above normal rating, im-
Page 717. provement increasing for as much as twenty charges
Water Still. A device for generating steam and then and discharges. When a battery is nearly worn out its
condensing it into pure water. Stills are commonly used capacity may be far below rating. In nickel-iron batteries,
to obtain the water used in storage batteries. however, the electrolyte may and should be renewed
Page 738. before the capacity falls to its rated value. If overloads
Charging Rate. The proper value of the direct current are too frequently imposed on a lead-acid battery, the
in amperes to use in recuperating a battery is known as resulting overheating will cause "buckling," which is
the charging rate. It varies for different sized cells, and distortion of the battery cell plates such as warping
for a given cell the amperes used when charging begins, and bending. No harm is done to an Edison battery by
commonly known as the normal charging rate, will ex- discharging it at several times normal current or even
ceed the value when charging is partially completed. by complete short circuit.
The lower current value specified is the finishing rate. Efficiency of Battery. The ratio of useful output to
Too high a current rate in charging will overheat a bat- total input is efficiency. This may be expressed as
tery, thereby shortening its life. The limiting tempera- ampere-hour, the watt-hour, or the voltage efficiency, but
ture usually given as 110 deg.
is F., and even this is is usually considered to be watt-hour output divided by
too much for steady maintenance. Continued high tem- watt-hour input.
perature distorts plates, chars and
and buckles the Rating, Storage Battery. The power output and other
weakens the wood separators and softens and distorts conditions for operation of a battery as specified by the
the case and cover. Once a week a battery of the lead- manufacturer on the rating plate is the battery rating.
acid type should receive a prolonged charge at less than It is limited by the internal resistance, temperature,
the finishing rate until all cells are fully charged. This is mechanical stresses and current output.
known as the equalizing cliarge. It is continued until It is standard practice with nickel-iron cells to fix the
all cells are gassing evenly and freely or according to rating in terms of the amperes they will give continu-
the manufacturer's specifications. ously for fivehours. Capacity in ampere-hours is there-
Trickle Charge. A charge used on lead batteries when fore five times the current rate. The normal current
in wet storage to prevent deterioration from disuse is rates of charge and of discharge are the same, but the
called the trickle charge. It is usually about 1 per cent time of normal charge is seven hours.
of the finishing rate. See also Battery Capacity, Ampere-hour.
Freshening Charge. A normal or partial charge given Gassing. The bubbling of the electrolyte caused by
to a battery which has been standing idle, to insure that the rising of gas set free toward the end of charge is
it is fully charged, is known as a freshening charge. known as gassing. Nickel-iron cells give off more gas
Also the periodic charge of batteries in storage to pre- than lead cells, and more when reversed than when dis-
vent deterioration from disuse is designated in this charging. Excessive gassing or impurities in the solution
abnormal formation of hardened lead sulphate has been Sediment. Sediment is active material of a battery cell
permitted to accumulate, due to starvation or excessive which has gradually fallen from the grids and accumu-
discharge. lated in the space below the plates. Clearance space is
Wet Storage. The storage of batteries containing their specially provided for this accumulation. When the
electrolyte is common practice with vehicle batteries in separators are charged and the battery overhauled the
is
where winter climate pre- sediment is usually washed out. Sediment scoops may
many locations, particularly
vents their use. A trickle be used on certain types of batteries for the removal
charge is applied occasionally
from disuse and of this material.
1o prevent deterioration also to prevent
freezing, by keeping up the specific gravity of the elec- Burning. The process of welding lead alloys, called
trolyte, and thereby lowering its freezing point. burning, accomplished by melting the parts to be
is
Battery Capacity, Ampere-hour. The number of am- joined with an electric arc, or with an illuminating or
pere-hours which can be delivered by a battery at any hydrogen gas blow-pipe, and then filling gaps by melting
rate of current flow under normal temperature conditions
and running in lead antimony alloy from a strip known
as a burning strip. In electric arc burning a pointed
is the ampere-hour capacity. It diminishes with increased
rates of current discharge except on nickel-iron batteries,
carbon rod, called an arc burner, is used to conduct the
current and melt together the parts to be joined. This
and it is always less than the ampere-hour input in
is also called lead burning.
charging for the same current flow. Higher capacities
are recorded when the charge is given at high tempera- Local Action. Parasitic currents within the cell itself
tures, but 110 deg. C. should never be exceeded. The due to differences of potential between different parts
capacity is also affected by the size of plates, purity are called local action. A battery should be constructed
of electrolyte, age and condition of the battery. New to have a minimum local action. The surface of the
133
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
negative plate will however ordinarily contain small par- the coil periodically cuts the magnetic field between the
ticles of impurities which act on the acidic electrolyte poles. This produces an alternating current electromo-
in the same manner as the positive plate. Since these tive force in the armature coil. If this coil is connected
impurities are electrically connected with the electrolyte by slip rings and brushes to the ends of a conductive
and the negative plate there are minute local batteries circuit, alternating current will flow in the circuit. If
formed about this pole even if the cell is on open cir- the coil connected to the brushes on the ends of a
is
cuit, and the active material continually wastes away. circuit by a suitable converting device, called a com-
Amalgamation of the surface of zinc plates will prevent mutator, direct current will flow in the circuit. The
contact of the surface impurities with the electrolyte commutator reverses the connection between the coil
and will reduce local action. and external circuit at the proper moments to keep the
Short Circuit. As applied to batteries there are two polarity the same at the generator terminals.
kinds of short circuit :
First, the electrical connection of The electromotive force at any instant depends upon
positive and negative plates within a battery cell. This the speed of rotation, the strength of the magnetic field
may be 'due to the breaking down of a separator permit- and the number of the loops of each armature coil. To
ting the plates to touch, to the accumulation of sedi- obtain a steady current a large number of coils is placed
ment or the connection of the plates by foreign material around the rotor core.
admitted through the vent. Second, the direct electrical Direct current generators are sometimes so designed
connection* of the positive and negative terminals outside that the magnetic poles are attached to the rotor, giving
of a battery cell, resulting in the electromotive-force of a rotating field, and the armature winding is then placed
the battery expending itself on warming up the battery on the stator. There is also one type of alternating
because of the negligible resistance of the external current generator, called an induction generator, which
circuit. has a revolving electrical field in place of fixed magnetic
Vehicle Battery. A storage battery which furnishes poles.
the motive power of vehicles such as electric automo- Direct current generators are classified according to
the method of field excitation. Series generators have
biles, cars, trucks and tractors is called a vehicle battery.
In the larger sizes such batteries are known as truck, their field windings in series with the armature coil and
tractor or locomotive batteries, depending on their use. will consequently have heavy field currents and give
The installation of the battery on any vehicle is a
increased voltage with increase of loads. Shunt gener-
matter of prime importance. is desirable ators have their field windings in parallel with the arma-
Accessibility
ture coil, and are subjected to full line voltage. They
and, for lead-acid batteries, a great necessity in order
that battery inspection will not be neglected. A firm, have a high field resistance consisting of many turns of
wire in order to magnetize the poles and the field cur-
strong mounting on the frame of automobiles underneath
rent must be low to prevent abnormal heating losses in
the front seat has become almost standard, although the
sometimes used, especially on trucks. the magnetizing coils. The voltage can be varied through
running board is
The latter is accessible but to more narrow by adjustment of the field current with
limits
position subject
severe vibration and which necessitates en- an external rheostat in series with the field.
exposure
closure in a strong metal box. On storage battery loco-
A combination of the series and shunt generator,
motives the battery is large and therefore requires spe- known as the compound generator, is obtained by the
frame design for For use of both series and shunt fields on one machine. If
cial protection and support.
its
both series and shunt field currents flow so as to produce
tractors, a specially installed flexible mounting is pre-
the same kind ofpolarity in each magnetic pole the
ferred, and rubber cushions or springs are desirable.
coils are be cumulatively wound, and if these
said to
Battery leads should be sufficiently long so that there
is no pull on any cell parts. If extra length is not
currents neutralize each other the generator is said to
134
DEFINITION SECTION
operated ordinarily at a distance from and independent other than occasional thermometer readings when over-
of the material handling installation except for inter- load seems imminent, or water supply regulation where
connection by the transmission system. For this rea- cooling coils are used.
son the generator is only occasionally a part of the The design of each transformer is a specific problem
equipment to be chosen in making an installation. Its in itself depending on capacity, voltage ratio, space facili-
presence in a power house, however, will often deter- ties, permissible heating, type of machine desired, fre-
mine the voltage and class of motors, whether alternat- quency and line operating phase. Therefore the trans-
ing or direct current, for a whole neighborhood. former must usually be specially designed to meet the
Page 706, 756. service desired.
Transformer. A transformer is a stationary alternating Page 706, 756.
current machine for changing electric energy of one Magneto. A magneto is a special form of alternating
voltage to electric energy of another voltage, through current generator which is used in such low power
the medium of magnetic energy, without mechanical work as internal combustion engine ignition and ringing
motion. The transformer consists of two separate and bells for vehicle warnings, for signals and for telephones.
distinct coils of wire wound on an iron core. If alter- There are both low tension and high tension magnetos,
nating current is supplied to one coil, an alternating the former developing from 15 to 100 volts, the latter
current will result by electro-magnetic induction in the 15,000 to 20,000 volts. Ordinarily the low tension mag-
other coil. The voltages of the two coils vary in the neto consists of a permanent magnet with a revolving
same ratio as the number of turns of the coils, thus armature coil which generates an alternating current.
making it possible to design a machine which will either When used for ignition purposes the armature coil is
raise lower an alternating current voltage by any
or in series with the primary electric circuit of a trans-
with suitable taps in either the high or low voltage The magneto or some other unit must contain a cir-
windings for the purpose of obtaining a variety of volt- cuit interrupting device or timer to break the primary
age ratios of transformation from one machine, but this circuit at desired intervals. When this interruption of
sometimes adds considerably to the cost of the machine. the primary circuit takes place the secondary coil of the
The coil of the transformer which has the lesser num- transformer will have a high electromotive-force induced
ber of turns is called the low-voltage winding because in by the rapid drop of magnetic flux in the primary.
it
it has a lesser potential across its terminals than the The high voltage of the secondary is conducted to the
other coil. Similarly the coil with the larger number spark plug and thereby ignites the mixture. On the
of turns and the higher voltage is known as the high- high tension magneto there is a permanent magnet field
voltage winding. The high voltage may not exceed the and the armature carries two coils, one of the primary
low voltage by any appreciable amount but is more com- or low tension, and the other the secondary or high
monly several or many times the low voltage. tension. The armature is therefore a rapidly rotating
A transformer sometimes has part of its turns com- transformer and the secondary receives impulses of high
mon to both high voltage and low voltage windings, and electromotive force by transformer action from the pri-
is then called an auto-transformer. There is only one mary and also by its own generator action.
winding for both high voltage and low voltage. A ter- a circuit interrupter, a
High tension magnetos have
minal is tapped off from the coil at such a point that safety spark-gap and a distributor if more than one
the potential between this terminal and one of the high spark plug is in use. Low tension magnetos are some-
voltage terminals will give the low voltage desired. This times used in conjunction with magnetic coil spark
type of transformer is often used where the ratio of plugs which are actuated by the low tension current of
transformation is small because it gives a considerable the magneto to produce a spark. Another special type
saving in copper. Certain applications of the auto- of low tension magneto is that used on Ford cars, con-
transformer are common in speed controlling apparatus sisting of 16 rotating magnets revolving past 16 fixed
of alternating current machines. series connected coils. This magneto produces low ten-
That winding of a transformer which receives the sion alternating current that must be changed into high
energy flow from the supply circuit may be called the tension for use at the spark plugs by a form of trans-
primary. The other winding which receives its energy former coil.
flow from the primary by induction may be called the The magneto for bell ringing circuits is a low tension
secondary. The terms primary and secondary are fre- alternating current dynamo ordinarily propelled manual-
quently ambiguously interchanged in usage and might ly, the voltage generated producing a current in the sig-
better be replaced in many instances by the terms high nal line and ringing a bell connected at the other end
voltage and low voltage. The primary and secondary and at intermediate stations as desired. It is particularly
windings of a transformer exert a considerable mechani- adapted work with many material handling
to signal
cal stress on each other so that a reinforcing and equipments where batteries would be exposed to dam-
clamping structure must be carefully designed and con- age or would be a source of inconvenience due to neces-
structed. Insulation against voltage breakdown between sityof frequent inspections and renewals.
coils and suitable oil circulation around the windings to Booster. A separately excited low-voltage generator
receive heat radiation are alsoCooling may be vital. inserted in series in a circuit to regulate its voltage. If
provided by the use of radiators, corrugations on the the generator driven by an electric motor the set is
is
containing tanks and cold water cooling coils. called a motor-booster. This unit is frequently used to
Both indoor and outdoor transformers are made, and produce normal voltage where heavy loads or long trans-
portable machines may be mounted on specially con- mission lines cause excessive drops of potential.
structed trucks.
Motors
Transformer efficiencies range from 97 to 99 per cent
when operated under the full load conditions specified Motor. A machine which converts electrical energy into
on the rating plate. Almost no attention is required mechanical energy is called a motor. The two essential
135
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
parts are the stator or stationary part of the machine, No ordinary insulation can withstand strong acid or
and the rotor or revolving armature. A
direct current alkaline fumes. Motors may be designed for horizontal
motor, like a direct current generator, is usually con- or for vertical shaft operation or for wall or ceiling
structed with field poles on the stator and a series of suspension.
coilson the armature. The motion of rotation is due The motors for electric elevator service must be spe-
to the well-known law of nature that a magnetic pole
cially built to withstand impact stresses and to give
will repel or attract an electric conductor such as a suitable under the conditions imposed.
operation For
rotor coil, in which a current is flowing. A commutator and similar service the motor is started
hoist
crane,
and brushes are required on direct current motors as on from rest under load, and must give powerful starting
direct current generators, but the object in this case is
Mill motors also have special features and are
torque.
to carry current to the rotor instead of away from it.
more sturidly constructed than ordinary types.
All alternating current motors except induction motors
Motors are rated according to the kind of service for
must be equipped with slip rings to convey the line cur-
which they are to be used, there being three common
rent to the armature.
classes as follows : continuous service, periodic ser-
Motors should always be started by some form of con-
vice and varying load service. The heavy loads of the
troller or starting box which will prevent the impression
latter two classes of service are covered by the short
of full line voltage and consequent excessive armature
time rating. (See Rating.) Heavy loads affect princi-
currents.
pally the heating and must be maintained for such short
Motors may be classified according to current used, intervals that the machine has time to cool off between
type, speed, or mechanical features. the peaks. The important factors considered in rating
The following types may be distinguished :
changes. Shunt motors may be designed to give ad- (For methods of regulating the speed of motors see
justable speeds. Speed Control.)
Rotating machines, both motors and generators, have The horse power of the motor required to raise the
a variety of mechanical features which are designated by work of hoisting and also of accelerating. The horse
the following terms, and will be described in detail later. power for hoisting at full speed is :
136
DEFINITION SECTION
ranging from 0.25 for slow speeds of 10 feet per that heavy loads may be handled at low speed and light
minute to 0.70 for high speed cranes using efficient loads at high speed.
gears. Interpoles are widely used with series motors to im-
To must be added the horse power for accelerating
this prove commutation and to give a wider range of speed
which is best obtained by using the armature weight, W, control without undue sparking. (See Interpole:)
and radius of gyration, r, of the armature as furnished When two series motors are used to propel a machine
such as an industrial truck they may be advantageously
by the manufacturers, to give the following:
connected in series for starting. The total resistances of
Wr .V
the rheostat and of both motors in series act to prevent
HP =
the excess flow of current until the motors are partly
1,613,000 t
which the service motor provides at low speeds and maximum at starting and decreases as the speed in-
starting, and from its high efficiency throughout a wide creases. A large current is required to produce a given
range of speeds. Simplicity and ease of connecting for starting torque. Both the compound and series motors
dynamic braking are also in its favor. It is possible to are more adaptable to material handling service than
insert a rheostat in series with the circuit and thus in- the shunt motor, primarily because of the latter's fixed
crease the motor speed, and where the work is to be per- speed characteristic at all loads, and its small .speed
formed only intermittently, as in hoisting, the heating adjustability with a given load.
loss in this resistance will ordinarily be permissible from Page 712, 756.
an economic standpoint. However, during starting, Motor, Compound. The compound motor has both a series
some form of rheostat must be used to limit the flow and a shunt winding on each pole. It is a combination of
of current until the machine is brought up to speed. a series and shunt motor and may be designed to give
The torque of a series motor increases with the square the good starting ability of the series motor and at the
of the current at low loads, then grades down to a near- same time avoid the excessive no load speeds of the
lyproportional change of torque with current at high latter. A cumulative compound motor has its shunt and
overloads when the field cores become saturated with series field windings so connected as to aid each other
magnetism. Speed varies inversely with the load, so in producing magnetism and therefore has the advant-
137
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
ages of both series and shunt motors. A differential special lubrication treatment is seldom required. For
motor has its shunt and series field windings opposed induction motors of the slip ring type metal-graphite
to each other in polarity, and therefore has poor starting brushes still are favored by many because in this type
qualities, which make its Long
application very limited. of machine high contact resistance is unnecessary and
shunt and short shunt connections may be used on mo- in fact may have
the detrimental effect of causing high
tors the same as on generators. Either will give satis- slip. (See Motor, Induction.) However, a better prac-
factory operation when cumulatively wound. The tice is to use the electro-graphitic or graphite-carbon
speed may be controlled as in shunt or series motors. brushes on collector ring service in sufficient number
Where compound motors are employed for hoisting and of reduce the current density in
sufficient size to
it is considered the best practice to have the shunt field the brushes below that used for other types of motor.
continuously excited, even though the heating loss due Seventy-five to 80 amperes per square inch for collector
to this continuous excitation is appreciable. ring service induction motors, and 100 'to 110 amperes
Page 712, 756. per square inch on other motors is good practice.
Commutator. A commutator must be used on all direct Copper and wire gauze brushes can not be considered
current generators for converting the alternating cur- as satisfactory as electro-graphitic and graphite-carbon
rent in the armature coils into direct current which brushes except in a very limited number of special
The reverse process of con-
flows in the outside circuit. machines.
verting the direct current supply into alternating cur- Interpole. Small series wound poles may be placed
rent in the armature applies for the direct current mo- between the main poles of a motor or generator to aid
tor. A commutator consists of a number of copper commutation and secure better speed regulation. The
segments mounted radially and fastened to the arma- use of interpoles on direct current machines is becoming
ture, of which the commutator is a part. Connections almost universal, and is common on alternating current
are made from the ends of each armature coil to two synchronous motors. There may be as many interpoles
of these segments spaced at such a distance apart that as there are main poles on the motor, or there may be
two conducting brushes may be so placed on the machine one interpose for each pair of main poles. In the latter
frame as to convey the electric flow between this coil case the small series wound poles appear between the
and the outside circuit. There must be two segments alternate main poles. Interpoles are also known as
for each armature coil and as soon as one pair of seg- commutating and compensating poles, and motors so
ments is about to leave the brushes the next pair slides equipped are sometimes referred to as interpole motors.
into contact so that a uni-directional electromotive Where motors are to operate over a large range of
force continually being supplied to the brushes when
is speeds with field control, or are to be subjected to
running as a generator and a direct current force is heavy overloads, the commutating pole will be neces-
successively impressed on each passing coil if running sary.
as a motor. The action of an interpole is to set up in each coil,
Brush. The brushes
are the part of an electric genera- at the instant it becomes short circuited by a brush,
tor or motor which connect the stationary line leads an electromotive force in opposition to its current so
with the rotating commutator or slip rings, in order to that the coil will not cause a spark at the point of short
conduct the line current from or to the rotor as the circuit. A similar but less satisfactory action was for-
case may be. They are made principally of carbon or merly obtained by shifting the brushes forward from
graphite or a combination of these two materials in the the neutral position in the direction of armature rota-
present day types. tion. This is not satisfactory except for a given load,
The electro-graphitic brush, madr by baking amor- because a change of load requires a new brush adjust-
phous carbon temperature until the material is
at high ment to produce the necessary change of commutating
converted into graphite, has reached a high stage of de- flux. As the interpole field is excited by a series wind-
velopment. It may be made in varying degrees of non- ing it has a field strength proportional to the motor load
abrasiveness, hardness and conductivity, and at the same and automatically provides the proper change of com-
time secure a drop of voltage between
high contact mutating flux with change of load.
brush and commutator and a low coefficient of friction. When the interpole motor brushes are shifted from
Abrasive brushes wear grooves in the commutator and the neutral position the speed characteristics of the mo-
are usually unsatisfactory. When comparatively non- tor are altered. A
forward shifting of the brushes in-
abrasive brushes are used, it is ordinarily desirable to creases the flux cut by the armature conductors at the
undercut the commutator by filing the mica insulation instant of short circuit of a given coil by a brush, and
between the bars from 1/32 in. to in. below the % thus reduces the speed. Therefore a forward shifting
brush contact surface, thereby gaining the good polish- of brushes tends to give the motor a drooping
the
ing action of the hard brush against the commutator. speed characteristic with increase of load. Conversely
Commutators not undercut will permit friction and rub- a backward shifting of the brushes tends to give a
bing of the brushes against the mica and a poorer pol- motor a rising speed characteristic with increase of load.
ishing action results. Selection of a proper degree of The effect of the interpole on the motor at very heavy
hardness improves the polish and quietness of operation loads may be such that armature reaction reduces the
and prevents wear and filling of the undercut crevices main field strength so as to produce overspeeding until
with conductive material. Brushes not properly de- the motor runs itself to destruction. By the removal
signed with high contact resistance between brush and of interpole shims to increase the airgap this may be
commutator will
spark excessively. corrected.
Graphite-carbon brushes with a large percentage of Interpoles have made for higher efficiency and smaller
graphite and the electro-graphitic type seem to meet di- quantity of materials for the same output as well as
rect current and synchronous motor practice require- for improved commutation and speed regulation.
ments with increasing popularity. Such brushes usu- On a series motor without interpoles, commutation
ally contain sufficient graphite for lubrication so that will be poor for speeds exceeding 200 per cent of full load
138
DEFINITION SECTION
speed, whereas with interpoles practically any desired them, and are termed the squirrel cage rotor and the
speed may be attained without serious sparking. u'ound rotor. The squirrel cage rotor has the winding
Suitably designed shunt motors with interpoles may replaced by heavy copper or aluminum bars short cir-
give sparkless commutation at speeds varying 600 per cuited on each other, without external 'armature con-
cent from slowest to fastest. nections. The wound rotor has a regular distributed
Motors, Direct Current, Care of. Direct current motors winding which varies somewhat in construction depend-
must be especially cared for due to the tendency of ing on whether the motor is to be operated single-phase,
materials to collect on the commutator segments. The two-phase or three-phase. In any case the wound rotor
interior may cleaned by blowing out or wiping the
be is connected by slip rings to an external variable resist-
commutator with a slightly oiled rag. Too much oil ance which is used in starting and sometimes for
will damage the insulation between segments. A rough speed control. This type is often called the phase
commutator may be smoothed by holding sandpaper wound or slip ring induction motor. Two-phase and
against the revolving commutator with a wooden block. three-phase machines are often called polyphase.
Emery is conductive and must never be used. A com- The induction motor is essentially a constant speed
mutator of polished dark brown is ideal and a slow machine especially when phase wound. Its no-load
rotation of brushes will produce a sharp squeak under speed is limited and does not become excessive and its
this condition. Brushes which makes proper contact torque-speed characteristic curve is flat. When poly-
with the commutator will be glazed over the entire sur- phase supply is used the starting and running torque are
face. (See also Commutator; Brush.) high for both squirrel cage and wound rotor types, the
Motor, Induction. The induction motor is an alternat- latterhowever giving much the higher starting torque
ing current motor having an alternating current field, for a given current input. Ability to carry heavy over-
with rotating magnetism, wound on the stator and a load, high efficiency and extreme simplicity of construc-
group of short circuited metal bars or a closed winding tion also help to make the induction motor popular.
on the rotor. It is essentially a transformer in which Operation above normal frequency produces increased
the core and secondary winding are free to move, and power and efficiency and a reduction of torque, while
the force which the windings exert on each other is operation above normal voltage produces reduced pow-
allowed to produce mechanical rotation. The stationary er and efficiency and an increase of torque at normal
winding which receives energy by direct connection loads.
from the supply circuit is called the primary. The With alternating currents as a source of power, the
rotor winding receives its energy by induction from the polyphase induction motor having a wound rotor with
primary and is called the secondary. The alternating collector rings is most suitable for hoist, crane or ele-
current field on the stator is wound like the armature vator service. The characteristic curves furnish the
of a direct current machine and therefore has a rotating best means of determining the performance possibilities
magnetism instead of fixed magnetic poles. This ro- of the motor.
tating magnetism induces currents in the short circuited The speed torque characteristics of wound rotor poly-
rotor windings, and the stator magnetism exerts forces phase induction motors show the curves corresponding
on these induced currents and causes the rotor to re- to different positions for the controller. The synchro-
volve. nous speed line is horizontal and indicates the theoretical
An induction motor has a certain synchronous speed speed of the motor when running without any load. At
which is the theoretical speed corresponding to the speed no-load the speed is nearly synchronous speed regard-
of the rotating field, and that at which the machine less of the notch position of the controller, but the
would have to run as a generator to produce the line speed decreases much faster with increase of load on the
frequency. It is equal to 120 f revolutions per minute, first notches, and on the last notch speed decreases are
P
small with increase of load. The motor can not
where is the supply current frequency in cycles per
start under full load with the controller set at the first
/
second and /> is the number of poles on the machine.
notch. The maximum starting torque will usually oc-
In order that the motor may develop a torque it is nec- cur with the controller about three-quarters displaced
for the conductors on
field to cut the from the first toward the last notch.
essary rotating
the rotor. When an induction motor rotor is run at The addition of resistance in the rotor circuit of an
this synchronous speed, no magnetic flux from the sta- induction motor will increase the slip and therefore de-
tor cuts the rotor conductors, and therefore no torque crease the speed of rotation because: (a) less current
is exerted. This happens approximately at no load. can flow in the rotor windings and therefore at the
When a load is applied to the motor, the speed falls same slip fewer lines of armature flux are cut by the
below synchronism and current is induced in the rotor rotating field magnetism, resulting in less driving force
conductors, producing sufficient torque to carry the on the armature (b) to restore this driving force and
;
load. The amount by which a rotor has fallen below thereby furnish sufficient torque to carry the load,
synchronous speed at any time is known as the slip of more lines of armature flux must be cut by the ro-
the machine at the given instant. It is the difference tating field magnetism, or the relative speeds of the
between the speed of the rotating field of the motor and flux and the field must increase; and (c) since the
the rotative speed of the armature. Slip is proportional speed of the latter is fixed by the line frequency, the
to the rotor resistance, and at a given load varies in- armature flux must slow down, or a decrease of speed
versely as the square of the applied voltage. Slip is will result. Therefore the greater the rotor resistance,
ordinarily expressed as a percentage or ratio, equal to the greater the decrease of its speed below synchronism.
the synchronous speed minus the actual speed divided The current per phase at full load voltage will appear
by synchronous speed. on characteristic curves for given values of torque, it
Two different methods commonly used in constructing being independent of the controller notch position. The
the rotor have such a marked effect on the performance current drawn from the supply at maximum starting
that induction motors are classed in accordance with torque is about three times that at full load torque.
139
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
The maximum torque is about two and one-half times cient and more expensive than direct current motors of
fullload torque, this being a desirable characteristic of the same output, and they present greater commutation
all induction motors which protects them from injury difficulties.Owing to the zero starting torque of the
due to excessive loads. On the other hand, the series single-phase induction motor there is a large use of in-
motor which is generally used with direct current sup- duction motors which start as repulsion motors, on
ply systems for cranes and hoists has a torque curve single-phase supply mains. They are called repulsion-
which rises indefinitely with increase of current, so that induction motors.
the series motor by excessive loads un-
will be injured Page 712, 755, 756.
less protected by fuses and circuit breakers. A com- Motor, Synchronous. A synchronous motor is an alter-
parison of induction with series direct current motors nating current motor in which the stator consists of
for hoisting work will show the alternating current fixed magnetic poles like those of a direct current
system to be less adaptable to dynamic braking and machine and the armature windings ar'e connected to slip
rapid acceleration. rings instead of commutator segments. The synchronous
The desirability of varying speeds for induction mo- motor operates at a fixed speed, is difficult to start and
tors much study and investigation
caused and many lacks flexibility in operation so that its use in material
methods have resulted, among which the following are handling equipment is rare. It is occasionally employed
most satisfactory: Rheostat control. 2. Multi-speed
1. to drive the generator of a motor-generator set where
windings. 3. Concatenated control. 4 Kraemer system. the Ward Leonard system of speed control is used.
5. Scherbius system. 6. Heyland system. (See Speed (See Speed Control of Motors.)
Control.) Page 712, 755, 756.
Power factor regulation has caused much trouble in Motor-Generator Set. A motor-generator set consists
this type of machine because central station operation is of a direct current generator and a motor which drives
hampered by the low power factor inherent with induc- it. The motor may be alternating or direct current
tion motors. However this is no detriment from the depending on the nature of the supply circuit from
alternating current customer's standpoint and is being which it receives its energy. When the supply is alter-
less stressed than in the early days when power stations nating current the set furnishes a means of converting
were small. As a central station problem, low power alternating into direct current. When the supply is direct
factor machines can now be counteracted without great current the set may be used to change the voltage by
difficulty. varying the field strength of the generator.
Poly-phase and single-phase induction motors are both Page 706, 756.
extensively used and each is made in both the squirrel Rotary Converter. The rotary converter is a synchro-
cage and the slip ring types. The poly-phase motors are nous alternating current motor and a direct current gen-
simple in construction and reliable in operation, can be erator combined in a machine with one stator and one
ruggedly built for use in most trying conditions and in rotor. The rotor contains one armature winding con-
exposed locations, have the ability to start under load, nected to both alternating current slip rings and a direct
and will carry heavy overloads. Single-phase induction current commutator, and the stator has a single set of
motors are much less satisfactory in that they have a magnetic poles which acts as the field for both the
zero no-load torque and must be brought partly up to motor and generator. This machine
generally used
is
speed by some special device. They are frequently to convert alternating into direct current, but may also
started by poly-phase supply connection and then act as a direct current motor and alternating current
switched on to single-phase mains. This difficulty has generator, or, if driven by a prime mover, it may act
led to the introduction of several modifications of the as a direct and alternating current generator. Rotary
single-phase motor. (See also Motor, Repulsion.) converters are also called synchronous converters.
Single-phase induction motors differ from the poly- Page 706, 756.
phase in that they have but one stator winding. Their Speed Control of Motors. The term speed control is
speed-torque characteristic curve starts with zero torque used to designate the variation which may be obtained
at no load and reaches a moderately high maximum in the speed of an electric motor as indicated by the
torque value. If a poly-phase induction motor is once maximum and minimum desirable operating speeds or
in operation, it run and carry a moder-
will continue to by the speed versus torque curve of the machine, and
ate load when all but one of the stator windings are also to specify the means by which this speed change
disconnected from the supply circuit. In such a case may be obtained.
the machine is operating as a single-phase induction The speed of series motors may be varied over a
motor. When
single-phase supply must be used some wide range. Shunt motors permit of small speed change
modified form of induction motor such as a repulsion only. Compound motors may be designed to give con-
induction motor will ordinarily be most suitable. siderable variation of speed. Alternating current motors
Page 712, 755, 756. are all essentially constant speed machines, but induc-
Motor, Repulsion. The repulsion motor is a single- tion motors can be designed to give some speed varia-
phase alternating current motor in which the stator has tion.
an alternating current field, with rotating magnetism, Four methods of regulating the speed of direct cur-
and the rotor is like the armature of a direct current rent motors are employed, namely: (1) Vary the resist-
machine with the commutator included. Such a ma- ance in series with the armature. (2) Vary the line
chine has the advantages of a moderately large starting voltage which supplies the motor. (3) Vary the strength
torque and of easy convertibility into an induction mo- of the magnetic field. (4) Vary the number of turns in
tor by the use of a short-circuiting ring automatically to series on the armature.
connect the ends armature conductors thereby
of all The first of these, known as series rheostatic control,
forming a squirrel cage rotor as soon as the machine is usual for motors of small and medium size in which
has been started sufficiently to develop torque as an in- case the running speed depends on the load as well as
duction motor. Repulsion motors are heavier, less effi- on the resistance in series with the armature. A direct
140
DEFINITION SECTION
current motor geared directly to a hoist may be effect- saving in energy due to the absence of series resistance.
ively controlled by an armature series rheostat. This Field control is usually employed when it is desirable
resistance can be cut in or out of the circuit either by a to obtain speeds higher than normal, but sometimes the
system is the usual method of changing speed by voltage motor receives full supply voltage. (See Motor, Series.)
regulation. This is ordinarily the most suitable con- This method is used to a limited extent for cranes
trol where the service is such that the starting and and hoists and extensively in electric railway service.
stopping periods represent a large portion of the run- Twice the torque of a single motor is obtained during
ning time and where the motors to be controlled are starting for a given current, and there is much greater
of considerable size. It is unrivalled where sensitive economy than if each motor had a separate and larger
control over a wide range of speeds is desired. For starting resistance which would be required if the two
Ward Leonard control a motor generator set is required armatures did not act as starting rheostats for each other.
in addition to the driving motor. The motor of the There are many methods of changing the speed of an
set takes energy from the supply mains and rotates the induction motor. The speed of rotation of the stator
direct connected generator at an approximately constant magnetism of an induction motor is determined by the
speed. The generator supplies the driving motor with frequency of the alternating current supply and by the
and variation of the field excitation of the
electricity, arrangement of the stator windings. The latter fixes
generator regulates the voltage on the hoist motor there- the number of rotating magnetic field poles on the stator,
by controlling the hoisting speed. The latter will vary 120 X frequency
in about the same ratio as the generator voltage. so that R. P. M. = .
Synchronous
When the central station conditions are such that number of poles
operating circuit disturbances will be created by the no-load speed can only be altered by a change in one
application of the peak loads of the hoist, this system of these quantities, but the rotor speed under load can
can be conveniently altered by the use of a flywheel be modified by causing the motor to have additional slip.
directly connected to the shaft of the motor-generator Any method of changing speed accomplishes a variation
set, thereby equalizing the demand on the power circuit. of some one of the three factors, frequency, field poles
This system is applicable where the supply is either or slip.
direct or alternating current. With the former a shunt The following seven ways of controlling the speed of an
or compound motor with constant speed characteristic induction motor are especially noteworthy :
may be employed to drive the generator. If alternating 1. Varying the resistance of the rotor circuits.
current is used, this motor may be of the synchronous 2. Varying the voltage of the electrical supply.
or induction motor types. 3. Changing the number of poles.
It frequently desirable to use a wound rotor, slip
is 4. Concatenation or cascade connection of two motors.
ring induction motor to drive the flywheel and generator, 5. Altering the frequency of the electrical supply.
to secure the additional advantage of automatic speed 6. Kraemer method.
variation through the use of a secondary rheostatic con- 7. Scherbius method.
trol in the rotor of the induction motor and prevent The method is the one generally adopted. The
first
the frequent application of peak loads of short duration second rather unsatisfactory. The third and fourth are
is
on the power line. When the flywheel is used the system limited to about four or possibly six speeds, and the fifth
is known as Ward Leonard
the Ilgner modification of requires a separate generator for each motor, for which
control. It mine hoists and
has been widely applied in reason it is rarely used. The last two methods are
rolling mills where the driving motor must frequently efficient and satisfactory.
start and accelerate under heavy loads. When the driv- Starting of Motors. The armature winding of a direct
1
ing motor starts it draws a heavy current from the current generator is built of copper wire of sufficiently
generator, causing a drop of speed of the motor- large cross-section to give the armature a low resistance.
generator set and a withdrawal of stored energy from If full supply voltage were impressed across the terminals
the Energy to supply peak demands, there-
flywheel. of a direct current motor with the armature stationary, a
fore, comes from the flywheel sufficiently to prevent destructive current would immediately flow in the arma-
sudden load surges on the central station, and when ture winding. This is ordinarily avoided by the tempo-
the peak load period has passed the line motor acceler- rary connection of a starting resistance, or rheostat, in
ates to normal speed and stores more energy in the fly- series with the armature so that only a portion of the
wheel. A Ward Leonard installation, with or without line voltage really is impressed across the rotor terminals.
the Ilgner application of the flywheel, is an expensive As the motor begins to speed up, the armature, rotating
method of control because of the added cost of the in the magnetic field produced by the stator poles, sets
motor-generator set. This may be partly offset by the up by generator action all electromotive force which
141
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
opposes in polarity the voltage impressed by the supply. jected to an excessive induced electromotive force if full
This generated voltage is often called the counter electro- line voltage were impressed across the stator terminals
motit-e force of the motor. Deducting this from the at starting unless additional resistance were placed in the
potential difference across the rotor terminals, the re- rotor circuit. This may be readily accomplished with
maining voltage is that which forces current through the slip ring motors, and temporary resistance devices are
resistance of the armature, and for this reason is called occasionally inserted on squirrel cage machines in such
the resistance drop, meaning the drop of potential due to a way that they automatically disconnect by centrifugal
flow of current through the rotor resistance. The action at high speeds. The usual method of starting
counter E.M.F. increases quickly as the motor speeds up squirrel cage motors is by the connection of an auto-
and soon becomes only a few volts below the potential transformer in the primary circuit, so that the motor
difference across the motor brushes, so that the rheostat may be started and brought up to full speed at reduced
resistance may be partially thrown out in order to permit voltage. (See also Speed Control of Motors, by varying
a greater voltage across the brushes, and a further build- the voltage of electrical supply.) The primary voltage
ing up of speed and counter E.M.F. This process is is sometimes reduced by the low efficiency method of
repeated until the rheostat is entirely removed from the using resistance in place of the auto-transformer.
circuit, at which time the motor accelerates to normal Any of the above methods of starting motors may be
speed. adapted to manual or to automatic acceleration to normal
It is evident that there are two sources of electro- speed. Manual acceleration leaves the rate of acceleration
motive force in a motor that
running, namely, the
is entirely to the judgment of the operator. It is inexpen-
impressed voltage at the brushes and the voltage set up sive, simple of construction, adaptable to changing con-
by the windings as they move past the magnetic poles. ditions of load and needs little adjustment. Large manual
These two electromotive forces are opposite in direction starters are hard to operate and are too dependent on
and the current that flows is proportional to their differ- the judgment of the operator.
ence. speed should suddenly drop considerably
If the Several automatic systems may be used, namely, the
this difference would become large and the current would counter electromotive force, the series relay, the series
increase to destructive proportions and the same condi- lockout contactor, the current limit with shunt relay, and
tions would obtain as if the motor were to start from the time limit by means of a dash-pot or pilot motor.
rest under full line voltage. The counter electromotive force method is a direct-
This is exactly what would happen if the line voltage current motor system using several solenoids connected
temporarily fell off, due to transmission or power house across the brushes so as to actuate contactors which will
trouble, but suddenly was restored to normal. Tn order short circuit the armature resistance gradually as the
to prevent such disturbances from damaging the motor a motor speeds up and generates counter electromotive
no-voltage release is attached to the starting rheostat in force. This is a simple method and gives smooth accel-
such a manner that the circuit will be automatically eration under varying loads, but may vary slightly with
broken voltage failure. The no-voltage release
in case of changes in temperature and supply voltage.
is an electromagnetic device having its winding preferably Several series relays may be used to accelerate either
in series with the field of the motor, so that a drop in direct or alternating current motors. Each relay is an
field current reduces the strength of the electromagnet electromagnet with a series winding connected in the
and releases the rheostat handle, which is held to the supply line and receiving armature current. If the supply
zero resistance position only by the magnetism of this current becomes too large the relay operates a metallic
solenoid. Some such mechanism is an essential part of contact to the open position which leaves resistance in
all direct current starting systems. the circuit. When the supply current falls sufficiently
When starting shunt motors the no-voltage release is the relay releases its metallic armature. This closes the
a small coil of low current carrying capacity placed in circuit of a magnetic contactor, which short circuits a
the shunt field circuit. motors the coil must
With series section of the starting resistance. The rate of short
be designed to carry the large armature and series field circuiting of the resistance is proportional to the motor
current. No series motor should ever be started until current and independent of temperature. However, for
ithas been rigidly attached to its load, because the small wide changes in load, adjustments are required.
current drawn from the supply at no-load makes the The shunt relay method of accelerating a motor is
resistance drop very small, and the speed accelerates in applicable on direct current machines, and depends on
an attempt to build up the counter electromotive force current magnitude for its operation. Each relay is con-
equal to the supply voltage until the motor races to nected across the terminals of the starting resistance, and
destruction. its windings, therefore, receive a current in proportion
The connections for compound motor starting resist- to the currentthrough the rheostat. The relays operate
ance and no-voltage release are similar in principle to magnetic contactors which control the starting resistance
those of the shunt motor. as in the series relay, but the connections are somewhat
The torque motor varies as the armature
of a shunt simpler than for the latter.
square of the current. Therefore, the series motor will on direct current motors, and depends also on current
have a much higher starting torque than the shunt motor magnitude for its operation. It consists of a magnetic
for a given current. Another special feature of series contactor with a series coil, and does not require a
motor starting for a pair of machines is described above relay. The time of closing of the magnetic contactor
under "Motor, Series." (See also Speed Control of depends on the saturation of the iron in a portion of the
Motors.) The power lost in starting direct-current magnetic circuit, and it can be adjusted by the operator.
motors is proportional to the voltage drop through the Time-limitacceleration may be obtained by several
rheostat. devices which accelerate the motor in a given time
The secondary of an induction motor would be sub- regardless of load. Dash-pot, pilot motor or time clock
142
DEFINITION SECTION
control can be used to actuate the rheostat. It has the control characteristics, greater ease of starting and stop-
advantages of simplicity and low cost. ping, and larger adaptability of remote and automatic con-
Classification of Rotating Machinery. The American trol. (See also Motors.)
Certain advantages to be derived from electric drive
Institute of ElectricalEngineers, and other technical
societies,have adopted standardization rules defining the depend on the characteristics of the motor selected and
on the class and conditions of service under which the
types of machinery according to the degree of enclosure
and protection from surrounding obstacles to satisfactory machine operates. For some classes of material handling
operation. This classification applies for both generators work, special types of motor are so frequently required
and motors, but for material-handling machinery it is of that they have become the accepted type for such drive
and are given distinctive names. Of these, the elevator
importance, more particularly with regard to motors
because of their wider use and more general subjection motor and mill type motor may be particularly men-
to varied conditions of operation. tioned, as they have features widely differentiating them
An motor or generator is not restricted as to from other standard motors.
"open''
ventilation except as necessitated by good mechanical Motor, Elevator. The term elevator motor is applied,
construction. to the alternating or direct current motor used to propel
A "semi-enclosed" motor or generator has its ventilat- an elevator. These motors must be specially built to
ing openings in the frame protected with wire screen, withstand the stresses due to frequent starting and
expanded metal, or other perforated covers having stopping, and also to give excellent commutation and
apertures not exceeding }4 sq. in. in area. heavy starting torque with a minimum starting current.
An ''enclosed" motor or generator is so completely The motor must also provide smooth elevator operation,
enclosed by integral or auxiliary covers as to prevent without jerks, and give good economy. Standard indus-
any appreciable circulation of air between the windings trial motors cannot be used for such service, but must
and the outside of the machine. receive modification, depending on the kind of elevator
A "self-ventilated enclosed" motor or generator circu- to be operated. Elevator motors are classed according
lates its own ventilation by means of a fan, blower, or to service as follows :
centrifugal device integral with the machine. 1. Motors for low-speed service, that is, for elevators
An "externally or separately ventilated enclosed" motor running at speeds up to 200 per min. ft.
or generator is furnished air for ventilation by some 2. Motors for medium-speed elevators which run at
external machine. 200 ft. to 400 ft. per min. with worm gear, or motors
A "-livter-cooled" motor or generator is mainly depend- for high speed elevators which run at 400 ft. to 700 ft. per
ent on water circulation as a prevention of overheating. min. with helical gear connection to the elevator cable
A "mechanically protected" motor or generator has its
drum.
electrical parts covered to provide electrical and mechan- 3. Motors for high speed gearless elevators which run
ical safety to operators without materially hampering at 400 ft. to 700 ft. per min. Also called direct traction.
ventilation. Direct current motors are generally more suitable than
A "moisture-proof" motor or generator has been
alternating current for all classes of elevator work and
specially treated with moisture resisting material so
that are always used for high speed machines.
the machine can operate in damp places. However, alternating current motors are widely em-
A "splash-proof, ivdler-proof or drip-proof" motor or ployed for low speed elevators running at 200 ft. per
generator is so protected as to exclude falling water, min. or less, and induction motors of
two-speed the
stray splashes, or falling dirt. Such a machine may be type are in use for machines running at speeds up to 400
"open" or "semi-enclosed," providing it effectually ex- ft. per min. This two-speed type has two sets of
cludes falling materials. windings on both rotor and stator. One set ot poles
An ''acid-proof" motor or generator has been treated and its corresponding rotor winding gives one-third speed
with acid resisting materials which will make operation instead of full speed. Of the two rotor windings, one
possible in acidic atmospheres. No ordinary insulation responds only for low speed stator connection and the
can withstand strong acid or alkaline fumes. other only for high speed stator connection. In starting,
A "submersible' motor or generator can be operated a one stator winding is connected to the circuit. After
certainlength of time (four hours by A.I.E.E. rules) the elevator gets partly up to speed the connections are
while completely submerged in fresh or salt water, as automatically changed to the other stator winding with
may be specified. resistance in the rotor circuit. The automatic cutting
An "explosion-proof" motor or generator has a frame out of the rotor resistance brings the elevator up to
and enclosing cover which will withstand any gas ex- maximum speed. During deceleration this motor pro-
plosion within and prevent the flame spreading to any vides braking action by operating as a gen-
electrical
outside inflammable gas. erator until the speed drops to synchronism, after which
143
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
slip-ring motor of equal horsepower and the same number series resistance and a large number of accelerating
of poles. The slip of the wound rotor machine may be switches for cutting out this resistance, and its current
as low as three per cent at full load with the controller demand on the circuit would be high. However, if the
short circuiting the secondary resistance. The squirrel machine is accelerated uniformly up to half normal speed
cage motor gives a higher torque for a given current by elimination of armature resistance and from half to
input due to design characteristics, while the wound rotor full speed by field control, a decided gain in efficiency
machine balances by furnishing a given horse
this feature result. A motor with speed variation through field
power output with torque because of the lower
less control in the ratio of two-to-one seems in practice to
gear ratio. Consequently, with proper design, neither give the best operating economy on high-speed elevator
the slip ring nor squirrel cage motor has any advantage motors. This type of motor is subjected to very rapid
over the other in the matter of current required to start changes in current during acceleration and deceleration,
at a given load, although this fact has not been fully so that specially effective laminated interpoles are re-
recognized. Speed regulation is commonly the controlling quired to prevent sparking. A
motor in this class of
factor which determines the class of induction motor to elevator service will have a small commutator diameter
be used for low-speed service. and a rotor speed of 400 to 800 r.p.m.
When direct current supply is available the compound For low-speed elevator service, economy during accel-
motor is usually selected except for direct traction ele- eration and deceleration is of lesser importance and first
vators, in which case shunt motors are common. The cost of installation usually is such that a motor without
compound motor gives good speed regulation, and it field control is selected. A compound winding will be
used during starting, the acceleration being procured by
may be run as a shunt motor by short circuiting the
series field after the motor reaches full speed, thereby cutting out the series armature resistance step by step.
gaining the good operating characteristics of shunt Dynamic braking is employed as with the type previously
machines while running at constant speed. Low speed described.
can be obtained by strengthening the field of the motor Gearless traction motors are of the shunt type with
and by connecting a shunt resistance around the arma- large commutator diameter. Rotor speeds of 60 to 68
ture. The elevator may be slowed down by the use of the r.p.m. prevail for elevators operating on the so-called
generator action of the motor, called dynamic braking, 1-to-l ratio of cable to car speed, and field control ratios
and this is an important advantage of direct over alter- of 1.15 or 1.20-to-lare usual. The higher ratios used
nating current as a source of elevator motive power. with other elevator motors cannot be used because the
Compound motors for medium-speed worm gear ma- field strength would become so low that quick accelera-
chines and for high-speed helical gear machines are tion would be impossible. The large armature does not
started in series with a rheostat the resistance of which produce high inertia effects on the traction elevator be-
1
is cut out in steps. This is followed by a removal of cause the rotor speed is low. Such an armature would
the series field so that when normal speed is approached be a distinct disadvantage on the high-speed rotors of the
there will be only the shunt field in use and the excessive other types of elevators. The large diameter of the trac-
tion motor is an advantage in that small overall length
changes of speed ordinarily resulting from variations of
load in the compound motor will not occur as the of machine can be secured by building motors with short
elevator comes near normal speed. After removal of armatures and more field poles. The latter are commonly
the series field the shunt field is weakened in several eight in number and often no interpoles are required be-
steps until the maximum
desired speed is attained. The cause of the low rotor speed. When gearless traction
reverse process of stopping the elevator is commenced elevators are used on the 2-to-l ratio of cable to car
by strengthening the shunt field, which produces a speed, the rotors will run at 95 to 125 r.p.m. and field
control ratios will be about 1.3-to-l. Commutating poles
momentary generator action and decrease of speed. This
isfollowed by the insertion of resistance in series with are usually necessary in this case, but otherwise the mo-
the armature, thereby decreasing armature voltage, which tor construction is the same as with the 1-to-l gearless
from the line and short circuiting over a resistance, dy- Page 712, 751, 755, 757.
namic braking is procured, and this should bring the ma- Motor, Mill Type. Mill type is the name commonly
chine to a very slow speed. Application of mechanical
applied to a class of sturdily constructed motors built to
brakes will then stop the elevator, but the mechanical withstand particularly arduous service in steel mill opera-
brake is depended on principally for holding, and wiU tion. They are manufactured with both open and en-
wear out rapidly if the dynamic braking is not arranged closed frames and in a variety of sizes ranging from 3
to bring the elevator nearly to a stop. to 275 horsepower. They are also used in many other
Efficient acceleration and deceleration are of great im- classes of drive having similar service requirements, in-
portance in an elevator motor on account of the con- cluding such work as electric
dipper dredges, shovels,
siderable number of stops. In starting, the motor should draw bridges, heavy duty hoists of the smaller sizes, fac-
be able to overcome friction, to its unbalanced load,
lift tory cranes, unloaders, ore bridges and coal bridges.
to accelerate a weight totaling about eight times the These motors will carry instantaneously applied over-
unbalanced load, and to accelerate the revolving masses. loads of cent without noticeable sparking and
100 per
In total, this may amount to an accelerating torque of carry even greater overloads without serious sparking.
about twice full-load torque on high-speed motors. Their special heat resisting insulation will not seriously
Therefore, with high-speed motors, efficiency during deteriorate when the machine is operated for considerable
acceleration is even more important than rated load periods at 150 deg. C. The armature, shaft and frame
efficiency, and
primarily influenced by the method of
is are unusually heavy.
changing speed by field control. For instance, a motor Interpoles may be and usually are used to gain im-
without field control could produce the proper accelera- proved commutation.
tion, but would require a large amount of armature Page 712, 755, 756.
144
DEFINITION SECTION
Motor, Grain Elevator. Motors in grain elevator serv- adjusted to suitable speeds is called a controller. It har-
ice are ordinarily three-phase squirrel-cage, of SO to 100 monizes the characteristics of the motor with those of
horse power for the elevator legs and of 15 to 50 horse the machine to be driven. The earliest type was the so-
power for conveyor belts and car haulage. The seasonal called starting box for direct current motors which, by
character of the load may lead to the choice of motors a stepped decrease of the external resistance inserted in
of such ratings that operation at 20 per cent above nor- the line or armature circuit, permitted gradual increase
mal load will be permissiblein cold weather, as the warm of voltage during starting. In this manner it is easy to
weather load is light. prevent the excessive mechanical stresses and the burn-
Page 712, 7S5, 756. ing out of fuses and rotor windings which would result
Motors, Installation Requirements of. The regulations from the currents drawn from the line by a motor ac-
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters for electric celerating to full speed under full line voltage. This con-
wiring and apparatus should be followed in motor in- troller is still the most common type and is variously
stallations. These are known as the "National Electrical known as starter, starting box, starting rlwostat and
Code." compensator. Thereactive controller for alternating cur-
Motor, Industrial Truck. The motor used in electric rent motors usually is known also as a compensator and
industrial trucks an enclosed, series wound, high start-
is it constitutes a second class of controller. It is really
ing torque machine. 'It must have low current consump- an auto-transformer which impresses a reduced voltage
tion and very large overload capacity and be otherwise on the motor during starting. When full speed is ap-
designed to give the best possible results with the lowest proached the compensator is disconnected and the motor
possible drag on the batteries. isplaced directly across the line.
Page 714. All direct current starters should have as an essential
Large direct current motors are also used for mine Speed adjustment is less universal on alternating current
motors, and consists principally of adjustable resistances
hoists. They can be designed to give good efficiency at
low speeds and may therefore be directly connected to placed in the rotor circuit, that is in the secondary of
induction motors by connection to slip rings. This re-
the hoist drums, thereby eliminating gears. The use of
sistance is also used during starting.
commutating poles and Ward Leonard control overcomes
all- difficulty encountered in handling heavy peak loads so Controllers for reversing direct current and single phase
that larger units can be installed than in induction motor alternating current motors are so connected as to reverse
equipments. This system is recommended by some en- the direction of current flow in one winding of the motor,
gineers for all high-speed shaft hoists, and for those in either in the armature or the field. Reversal of polyphase
which operating efficiency is needed, particularly coal alternating current machines is accomplished by the re-
hoists. versal of one phase of the motor.
A third system of mine hoisting used where it is de- For hoisting or crane service of relatively light duty
a face-plate or dial controller with a single contact arm
sirable to avoid heavy peak loads and wide voltage fluc-
tuation consists of a Ward Leonard power set, a flywheel controlling the four functions of starting, stopping, speed
and a regulating device to permit the wheel to supply all regulation and reversing is in common use. For the
energy required by the hoist above the average value largest sizes of motor, drum type controllers are usual
over the complete cycle. and the four functions are combined in the one machine.
With the Ward Leonard Controllers are frequently designed to perform a fifth
systems electric breaking is
available and the mechanical brakes are relieved of most function, namely, to make suitable connections for dyna-
all use except that of holding, and the power developed mic breaking.
by the descending load is partially returned to the power Automatic and semi-automatic controllers are in wide
system. use and have many advantages over the manual types,
(See also Electric Power for Material Handling in especially where very large motors are used.
Mines.) The designation controller appears in connection with
Page 712, 755, 756. the various devices used in operating motors and >n many
Controller. An electrical switching device by means cases the term is added to the name of the machine being
of which a motor may be started, stopped, reversed and operated. For example, when it is used to start, stop and
145
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
regulate the speed of elevators it is called an elevator controllers and motor starting boxes. (See Controller.)
controller. When so employed the terminals are marked "line,"
A handle or lever is commonly provided on a control- "armature" and "field" to indicate the proper connection
ler, and a latch carried by it drops into notches corre- to the line and motor.
sponding to the successive steps in voltage variation. For installation of rheostats the "National Electrical
In some cases special equipment is provided instead of Code" Regulations of the National Board of Fire Under-
the handle. For example, in elevators the controller is writers for Electric Wiring and Apparatus should be
often operated by a hand-rope which passes up through followed.
the car and around a sheave, or else by electro-magnets Page 711, 756.
which in turn are actuated by a master switch in the car. Reactor. A reactor is a coil, winding or other conduc-
Manually operated controllers should be inspected tor possessing such high inductance that it will set up a
weekly to see that contact plates and lingers are free from reactance in an alternating current circuit and limit the
bugs or abrasion, that roughness is removed with a file current flow for a brief interval of time during short
or sandpaper, and that contact plates are very slightly circuit, lightning disturbance or a similar condition. One
lubricated with vaseline. Special instruction given by the reactor is placed in series in each phase or in two phases
manufacturer must in any case be followed. of a three-phase circuit.
All controllers on cranes whether for hoists, bridge or Switches, Circuit-breakers and Fuses. A switch is a de-
trolley should be interchangeable when of like capacity vice for making, breaking or changing the flow of cur-
or type. No controller for hoisting should be permissible rent in an electric circuit. A
circuit-breaker is an electro-
unless provision is made on the controller for lowering magnetic mechanism placed in a circuit for automatically
the load when the limit switch open, by simply revers-
is
interrupting the flow of current under infrequent abnor-
ing the controller. Push-button or other switches for mal overload conditions.
closing the main line contact should not be tolerated, as A fuse is a metallic wire designed to melt and dissipate
they may lead to trouble and serious accidents if operated at a stated current, and in this way protect the remainder
when the controller is left in the hoisting position when of the circuit against abnormal currents.
the limit switch is open. The use of the plugging switch A relay is an electro-magnetic device by means of
is not desirable but the demand for its use has been which contacts in one circuit are operated by changes in
brought about because of the use of motor brakes of in- operating conditions in the same or other circuits.
sufficient torque to stop the upward travel of the hoist The rating of a switch or of a circuit-breaker includes
when the limit switch opens. The use of half torque the normal current which it is designed to carry, the
brakes is partly to blame for this. normal voltage on which it is intended to operate, the
In mine hoist installations a variable resistance called a normal frequency of the current when alternating, and
mine hoist controller is placed in series with the rotor the interrupting capacity of the device.
circuit of an induction motor to control the speed and A
master-switch is a device which serves to govern the
to provide resistance to injurious heating currents that operation of contactors and auxiliary devices of an elec-
would otherwise flow during starting. This resistance tric controller. (See Controller.)
must be large to allow for creeping speeds and is there- A control switch
is for controlling electrically operated
Page 711. 756. opens the circuit of a circuit breaker as may be desired
Compensator. A
compensator an auto-transformer is to prevent a motor running above a certain desired speed.
with a switching lever by means of which it may be Page 711, 756.
operated as a starting device for an alternating current Current relays are used in a regenerative braking circuit
induction motor. to limit the current of retardation to a reasonable and
Page 711, 756. safe value well within the commutation limits of the
Rheostat. Any device containing a resistance which motor. closing of the electric braking circuit when
The
If
may be varied to control current or voltage of an electric regenerative braking is employed is called closure.
circuit is called a rheostat. The term resistance has been this is done when the armature speed is several times
commonly used but resistor or rheostat are the present more than normal an excessive braking current would
standard terms. The resistance of any conductor or re- flow through the dynamo unless limited by these current
sistor depends on the cross-section, length and kind of delays. For those installations where the holding brake
made and varies also with the tem- automatically operated a control may be used which
material of which it is is
A
rheostat not effectively cooled will have its insures the maintenance of the brake in the released po-
perature.
sition until the load has come substantially to rest.
capacity to absorb electric energy decreased because of
its
inability to get rid of heat energy. When a rheostat is A scheme of automatic control is sometimes used in
146
DEFINITION SECTION
mined speed is reached, when it automatically and with- giving two or more degrees of braking strength depend-
out interruption of circuit becomes a generator. ing on the number of solenoids, is used to gradually stop
Page 711, 756. the cranes with bridge motion before the controller is
Electric Elevator Brake. A magnetic or other electric turned to the "off" position. In starting a multiple
device added to the friction brake of electric elevators magnet braked crane, the control permits first energizing
to assure safe, positive and quiet action of the brake, is of one solenoid and then the next, gradually reducing
commonly called an electric elevator brake. The type of the braking effect as the motor becomes energized.
design depends on whether direct or alternating current Page 706, 756.
is used as the motive power of the elevator, but 'in any Mines, Electric Power for Material Handling in. The
case the operation should be such that the brakes are chief uses of electricity for material handling in mines are
set by a holding spring when no current is flowing for driving hoists and the propulsion of trucks. Electric
through the elevator motor. One type of control used hoists were early and widely developed in mining before
on elevators operating with alternating current is by the their extensive use in other industries, and a number of
attachment of an electric elevator brake magnet to the systems of motor drive and control are satisfactory. No
friction brake. When the motor is started a portion of specific rule can be laid down as to the choice of electric
the current passes through the shunt magnet coils, ener- system, the matter depending on the power available, the
gizes them and down
the brake armature, thereby
pulls peculiar characteristics of the hoist installation and the
compressing the springs and releasing the brake. An- other requirements of electricity in the plant or neigh-
other alternating current brake with motor control, elim- borhood. (For types of motor drive and control see
inating the alternating current solenoids, uses a high Motor.) The extent and variety of applications may be
torque squirrel-cage induction motor to rotate a toothed judged from the following installations of one electric
sector linked to the arms of the brake shoes and thereby company in 1916 which was a year of extensive develop-
releases them when power is applied. The control motor ment. Of 79 equipments of mine hoists rated at 100
then stalls and maintains the brake in the released posi- horsepower or more aggregating 30,000 horsepower,
tion until power is cut off. There is also a direct cur- 80 per cent of the rated capacity consisted of induction
rent solenoid system similar to the alternating current motor installations, the remainder utilizing Ilgner direct
magnetic brake mentioned above. current equipments of flywheel motor generator sets
Page 712, 750, 757. and the Ward Leonard system of control. Of 240
Cranes, Electrical Equipment of. An electric crane installations by this company rated at or in excess of
ordinarily consists of three
general parts, namely the 250 horsepower and horsepower,
aggregating 121,000
bridge, trolley and hoist. Each of these is driven by a all but 35 are driven by geared induction motors. The
separate motor. The bridge motor drives the crane largest induction motor installation of this group is
along the track, the trolley motor drives the trolley on rated at 1,800 horsepower and develops about 2,700 horse-
the bridge, and the hoist motor does the lifting. The power during starting. Two South African direct cur-
latter the largest motor on the crane.
is Auxiliary rent installations are rated at 4,000 horsepower.
hoists provided are generally mounted on the main
if
Alternating current wound rotor induction machines
trolley and arranged for high speed lifting of lighter are generally used in coal mines and the smaller metal
loads. Electric wiring on cranes should receive special mines of America for hoisting. In this work the
attention as to protection. Exposed surface switches standard drum controller is ordinarily used for sizes
are unsatisfactory. Overload and no-voltage protection from 25 to 150 horsepower and the magnetic switch
ought to be secured by magnetic contactors mounted controller for intermediate sizes of 150 to 500 horse-
under the operator's seat or otherwise. The operating power. Motors larger than 500 horsepower have liquid
resistance is often set in a ventilated frame in front of rheostat control in the secondary and magnetic switches
the cab, and should be convenient for repair in case of in the primary for reversing. The power system in many
accident. A
protected type of snap switch is essential locations cannot stand the peak loads imposed by the
for disconnection during inspection. induction type of motor. In such cases the Ilgner system
Page 706, 756. is widely used. The hoist motor is a separately-excited
Shipyard Cranes, Electric Equipment of. Both direct direct-current motor with constant field excitation and
and alternating current are successfully used in shipyard permanently connected to a separately-excited variable-
cranes. Dynamic braking usually employed on direct
is
speed direct-current generator, the latter being driven
current but reversible control is employed for
hoists, by a wound rotor induction motor. By the insertion of
other crane motions and for all alternating current crane resistance in the secondary of the wound-rotor motor
motors. All revolving types of cranes have magnetic the motor-generator set is made to slow down without
control with automatic current-limit acceleration for drawing an excessive load from the power system. The
revolving or slewing as this motion is predominantly Ward Leonard system of controlling the hoist motor
acceleration. The travel motion of revolving cranes is speed by varying the field strength of the direct current
equipped with a control giving one or more creeping generator of a motor-generator set is also extensively
points, so that the crane may be brought to low speed employed in mining. It has fine speed adjustment, higher
and stopped without excessive shock when removal of efficiency, safety and greater speed of operation in its
power sets the brakes. Creeping speed points give favor ; and is therefore particularly adaptable to coal
dynamic braking when the motor or motors are over- hoists. (For further discussion of Ilgner and Ward
hauled by the crane, thereby providing a means for Leonard systems see Speed Control.)
holding the speed to a safe value when traveling with In Europe the induction motor is but seldom used
a high wind. A solenoid load brake is necessary unless for high-power hoists, owing to its relatively poor action
the operator travels with the
hoisting machinery, and as a regenerative brake. However the alternating-cur-
an automatic mechanical load brake is used. multiple A rent commutator motor in units up to many hundred
magnet brake, which is an electro-magnet braking device horsepower is in great favor. One make, the Deri
147
MATERIAL HANDLING CYCLOPEDIA
motor, works as a repulsion motor having its stator numbers to 40, inclusive to denote the different diam-
connected directly across the mains, while the wound eters which vary in a geometric progression. Standard
rotor is electrically isolated and provided with two wires number 00, 000 and 0000 are an addition to this
mutually interconnected sets of brushes, one of which series and all larger sizes are specified by their area in
is movable with respect to the other. All adjustments circular mills, square inches or square centimeters.
of speed are made by moving the second set of brushes, Page 706.
and a reliable regenerative braking is thus obtained. For Feed and Trolley Wire. Any wire used to convey elec-
three-phase supply larger units are built as double motors tricity to the moving of an electric vehicle is
trolley
having two independent armatures and two Scott con- called a trolley wire. Hard drawn grooved wire 0000
nected stators for balancing the load. Ordinary three- gage is most commonly employed except in the smaller
phase commutator motors with an armature-transformer installations because of greater mechanical strength, and
are also rapidly coming into use for heavy hoisting. decreased compared, with the
depreciation as smaller
European practice, like American, indicates that the sizes of 00 and 000 which would frequently have sufficient
choice of system depends on the local conditions of the current carrying capacity. Round and figure 8 cross-
particular installation and that general rules cannot be section wire are infrequently used because grooved wire
laid down for the determination of the capacity and type combines ease of handling, due to its symmetry of
of machinery to use. section, with a lessening of wire distortion by clamping
(See also Motor, Mine Hoist.) Page 706, 756. ears. Trolley wires may be supported from roof, wall,
timber or pipe, and are strung about six inches outside
Winches, Electric. Electrically operated winches may
be of the fixed or ship types. Winches of of the gage line on the opposite side from all passages
portable
encountered where sudden entrance to the runway from
about 2,500 capacity with a rope speed of 225 ft.
Ib.
side or above might be unsafe. In mining work trolleys
per min. would have a 15 to 25 horsepower alternating
current or direct current motor with solenoid brake or have been placed at 6
above the locomotive frame
in.
friction clutchand foot brake. The control may consist but 3 ft. to 7 ft. is the usual range.
Mono-rail track
of drum type controllers mounted on the machine or of the where used must be permanently and effectually grounded.
magnetic control where the panel is mounted on the
Main feed wires must be protected by fuses or a circuit-
machine and the portable master controller is carried by breaker and controlled by a switch in accordance with
the requirements of the National Board of Fire Under-
the operator. Page 787, 791, 803, 829.
Electric hoisting writers. This switch should be conveniently located near
Hoisting Signal Systems, Electric.
the machine to be operated. Page 717.
signal systems are constructed in three types to replace
the bell wire and gong or pneumatic signals formerly Collector, Electric Current. A device for receiving
used in mine hoist and similar work. The low-voltage on a car, crane, motor or other electrical
electric current
direct current type consists preferably of iron clad and machine having a motion of either translation or rota-
waterproof annunciators or bells, transmission line, tion relative to the supply source of electricity. It
batteries, and push-button or other signal switches. consists of a brush or wheel which presses against and
A second type of signal system using bell-ringing mag- makes sliding or rolling contact with a bare energized
netos is very satisfactory but more costly. Magnetos are wire or rail, thus serving to conduct electricity to the
placed across the terminals of the signal line so that moving machine from the stationary source of electricity.
by twirling the armature of one magneto an electro- Page 706.
motive force is generated thereby ringing bells placed Two-wire Transmission. This is a system of direct
across the line, at all signaling and hoisting stations. current transmission of electricity, now in common use,
A third type of signal system, which is in wide use, by which current flows out of the generators over one
involvesstopping down the low voltage alternating or wire to the motors or other load and returns over the
directcurrent lighting circuit to about 30 or 40 volts other wire to the generator. The outgoing and return
by a transformer or resistance, and connecting switches wires ordinarily run side by side throughout the trans-
and gongs across the line. Annunciators consisting of mission and distribution system, thereby suggesting the
magnetic devices with numbered metal disks which rise name two-wire transmission.
or fall by switch closure on the line, and electric lamps Three-wire Transmission. This is a system of direct
current transmission of electricity in which three wires
may also be used in place of gongs on signal systems.
Page 706, 752, 756, 827.
run approximately side by side as transmission wires,
Cable. An electric transmission conductor consisting one wire being at a potential intermediate between the
of stranded wires, or a combination of stranded wires other two. A load connected to the latter wire, called
or conductors insulated from each other is called a middle wire, and to either one of the other wires will
cable. One of the wires or any group of wires of a have impressed on it about half of the voltage which
cable which is used as a conductor is called a strand. would be obtained between the two outside wires. As
The term stranded conductor may also be used when the commonly used in this country the potential change
conductor consists of more than one wire. from the middle wire to each of the others is 110 volts,
Page 706, 818. the outside wires, therefore having 220 volts potential
Wire. A slender rod or filament of drawn metal, called difference. This system permits the use of two voltages
a wire, may be bare or covered with insulation. In when both are desirable for varying load requirements
the latter case it is commonly called insulated wire. and further makes possible a saving of weight in trans-
Sizes of bare wire are frequently specified according to mission wire if the loads are equally balanced between
the Brown and Sharpe (B. & S.) gage which assigns the two 110-volt circuits.
148
HOISTING MACHINERY
Cranes, Hoists, Derricks, Telphers, Cableways,
Tramways, Excavating Machines, Loading
and Unloading Machines, Winches,
Trackage, Accessories
Manufacturing Plants
By
CHARLES N. WINTER
Managing Editor, Carbuilder's Cyclopedia, Locomotive Cyclopedia; Associate Editor,
in warehouses, it can be said that modern industry is steel plates and angle irons or channels or of I-beams, ;
dependent on cranes for economical operation. channels, or angles with the lattice type of structure for
It is not only essential in the design of cranes to con- medium or wide span and for heavy loads.
sider the strength of the structure and the
efficiency of It is desirable that all girder members extend the full
itsoperation, but also the safety of the operator and those width of the span but in cranes of extremely wide span
working in the vicinity. Therefore, in crane construction, where this is not possible, the splices must be so placed
only those materials should and so reinforced that the
be used which fulfill the , , ,, maximum strength is ob-
specifications of the Amer- tained. It is essential that
ican Society for Testing crane bridge girders be of
Overhead Traveling (Hand Power, Power
Materials, or of the As- such construction as will
Operated); Gantry (Traveling, Stationary).
sociation of American Steel resist not only the load
Manufacturers, and the de-
Jib; Pillar; Pillar-Jib; Walking Jib.
but also the trans-
stress,
sign of parts should con- Locomotive (Steam, Gasoline, Electric) ; verse strain, due to sudden
form to accepted engineer- Wrecking; Pile-Driver. starting and stopping, and,
ing methods. The Code Wharf: Portal; Semi-Portal; Roof. in outdoor installations, the
of Safety Standards for wind pressure as well. The
Cranes, prepared by a
as Shipbuilding: riammerhead; Portal; Tower. crane bridge should be pro-
sub-committee of the Amer- vided with a foot- walk and
ican Society of Mechanical
1 ' ' ' '
hand-rail to insure safe and
Engineers and
appearing convenient access to the
in another part of this book, should be fully complied with. bridge for inspection and maintenance purposes.
Desirable features of crane construction are Maximum :
Many cranes of the lighter capacities are controlled from
strength with minimum weight durability and accessibility
;
the floor but those of heavy capacities are provided with
of the wearing parts; protection of wearing parts from an operator's cab, usually suspended from the bridge, in
dirt efficient lubrication
; adequate power with mobile
;
which the various operating devices and controllers are
starting and simplicity of operation.
and acceleration ;
installed. The cab sometimes is attached to and travels
As the selection of other equipment, the service re-
in with the crane trolley, thus keeping the operator near to
quired detennir.es the type of crane to be installed. It is the work. The cabs usually are enclosed on cranes en-
obvious that a traveling crane should not be installed gaged in outdoor service.
where the work to be done consists of handling material
inan area that lies within the radius of a jib or a boom of End Truck or Carriage
a reasonable length. Such work can be done most eco-. The crane bridge on end trucks or carriages mounted
rests
nomically by a jib crane or by a derrick. on flanged wheels which travel on a runway or track se-
cured to the building in which the crane is installed or
on an independent structure in outdoor installations.
Overhead Traveling Crane The truck frames usually are built up of structural steel
The overhead traveling crane has become by far the. with cast steel bearing brackets and cast steel or chilled
most generally used in industrial plants because of its cast iron truck wheels. They are attached to the crane
adaptability to manufacturing processes. It is used indoors bridge by gussets and angle irons. Cast steel frames
or outdoors in foundries, steel mills, machine shops, power are used on many cranes and, when so designed as to
and coaling stations, in warehouses or storage yards, or in provide adequate strength, are desirable because of the
any industrial work where the lifting and movinc; of elimination of many of the bolted or riveted parts neces-
heavy materials is required. Being installed on an ele- sary in structural work.
vated runway, it permits the use of the entire area of The type of construction of these end trucks varies
floor space within its range for storage or for manufactur- with the size and capacity of the crane. On single I-beam
ing purposes, and, having both transverse and longitudinal cranes and other overhead traveling cranes of light ca-
motion, it will reach any part of a rectangular room or pacity, the end trucks each consist of two small wheels
yard in which it is possible to provide the track. mounted in suitable bearings of the pin and keeper type
Cranes of this type are constructed and equipped in a and spaced by a simple plate or channel or by cast steel
great many ways for a wide variety of uses, ranging from or sometimes, in cranes not subjected to severe service,
the single girder of short span equipped with a simple cast iron side frames. These trucks are operated by means
155
156 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 157
or by
of gears operated by a hand chain, or by an electric motor geared and operated by means of a rope or chain,
mounted on the crane girder. an electric motor controlled by the operator from the
On cranes of the heavier capacities, the truck side frames floor. Pneumatic and steam-hydraulic methods also are
are of more substantial construction and range from the being used successfully in foundries or other indoor opera-
two-wheel rigid side frame type to the compensating or tions to operate such crane trolleys.
(Master Car Builders) type. These trucks are propelled to those used carry the crane bridge. These trolley
to
on the end trucks and on a shaft, known as the squaring requirements many equipped with trolleys
cranes are
shaft, which extends across the bridge. It usually is having more than one hoisting drum or with two trolleys
operated by a chain on hand-power cranes and by an elec- having independent control, thus providing hoists at widely
tric motor mounted on the bridge on power-operated separated points on the bridge so that both hoists may
cranes. be used to handle long objects or may be used as indi-
The squaring supported in bearings at the trucks
shaft is vidual hoists for other purposes.
and at intermediate points on the bridge. It carries a The various types of trolleys used on overhead traveling
pinion at each end which meshes with a gear connected cranes are described in this book in the chapter on crane
to one of the truck wheels. This applies power to both trolleys.
trucks simultaneously and thus propels the bridge along Hoisting Mechanism
the runway without any tendency to slew and bind between On hand-power overhead traveling cranes, the hoisting
the rails.
apparatus usually is a chain hoist rigidly connected to
Another type of bridge drive used on some cranes of the trolley or suspended from it on a hook. Sometimes
light capacity is operated by means of friction cones. pneumatic or electric hoists are used on cranes on which
The gears are located on one end of the bridge and the the bridge is operated by hand-power. These hoists are
drive shaft is rotated in either direction by means of two described in the chapter on hoists.
friction cones which are brought into contact with a The mechanism used on cranes of heavy capacity
hoisting
friction disk on the drive shaft. Bringing the cone on is on the trolley carriage and has one or more
installed
either side of the disk in contact permits a movement in
hoisting drums and trains of gears and is operated by
either direction without reversing the motor. This effects a one or more motors mounted on the trolley. The chapter
considerable saving in electric power as it is not necessary on crane trolleys describes such hoisting mechanism in
to stop and reverse the motor in order to reverse the travel detail.
of the bridge. Brakes
Stops of a height not less than one-half the diameter Power operated overheadtraveling cranes are equipped
of the truck wheel are provided at suitable points on with a mechanically operated bridge brake, or foot brake,
the runway to prevent the crane running too far and to control the travel and with both a mechanical and an
running off the rails or damaging the building at the end electrical load brake on the hoisting mechanism.
of the runway. The bridge brake may be of the band type acting on a
The speed with which the bridge is to travel must be drum on the squaring shaft of a clamp or clam-shell type
;
should vary from about 25 ft. to 40 ft. per minute when or of the friction disk type acting directly on the bridge
used to handle molds in foundries or for other work motor pinion.
requiring careful handling without jolting. For other The mechanical load brake may be of the multiple disk
service where the material is not fragile and speed is
band type, both
type ;
of a combined disk and flexible
essentialto economical operation the bridge travel may
operating in an oil bath; or of a coil type acting on a
range upward to a speed of approximately 400 ft. or more, continuous shaft. When the crane trolley is operated by
per minute. a direct current motor, a dynamic brake may be used.
On practically all modern cranes of the heavier capaci- An electrical brake of the solenoid type is usually also
ties the bridge motor is located at the center of the span
provided. This brake is not intended to control the load,
and thus distributes the torsion equally on the squaring
though it should have sufficient power to do so in an
shaft. This is preferable to having the motor at one
emergency, but it insures positive stoppage and control
end as is done in some cases. The gearing should be of the hoisting motor when the current is cut off, either
enclosed in a dirt and oil-proof case. This is an important
intentionally or through accident and thus will hold the
factor in crane maintenance, particularly in foundries or
load suspended.
similar industries where there is considerable dust or in The various types of bridge and load brakes are de-
paper mills or any other industry where oil drippings might scribed in the chapter on crane details and trolleys.
damage the material being handled.
Electrical Equipment
The Trolley Electric overhead
traveling cranes may be operated
The crane trolley must be of a type and capacity suitable either by direct current or by alternating current motors
The electric current required to operate the crane motors 12. No openings shall be permitted between the bridge foot-
walks and the crane girder. When wire mesh is used to cover
is taken, by sliding contact, from a line installed on the such openings the mesh opening must not be greater than one-
half (#) inch.
crane runway. Wires installed on the bridge conduct 13. Each footwalk
shall have a standard metal railing and toe-
the current direct to the bridge motor and to the trolley guard exposed edges wherever practicable.
at all
14. Not
than twelve (12) inches actual clearance should
less
motors by a sliding contact with the line on the bridge. be allowed between highest point of a crane and the overhead
The electric wiring, both on the runway and on the bridge, trusses, and not less than two (2) inches Between any part of
the crane and building, column, or other' stationary structure.
must be effectually insulated and should be installed in Where there are more than two crane runways in parallel there
should be a clearance of not less than twenty-four (24) inches
accordance with the Underwriters' National Electrical between the extremities of the cranes.
Code. 15. Means of escape shall be provided for operators of hot-
metal cranes.
The switches preferably are automatically controlled by 16. The operator's cage shall be located at a place from which
means of a magnetic controller but may be manually signals can be clearly distinguished and be securely fastened in
place and be well braced, to minimize vibration. It shall be large
operated. The controllers and the switchboard should be enough to allow ample room for the control equipment and the
located in the cab or the building within easy reach of operator. The operator shall not be required to step over an
open space of more than eighteen (18) inches when entering or
the crane operator. leaving the crane. A pail rilled with sand or an approved fire
extinguisher shall be carried in the crane cage for use in case
of fire.
Accessories A
17. foot or hand-operated gong, or other effective warning
signal, shall be placed in a location convenient to the operator
The various hooks, magnets, sheaves
buckets, blocks, and be securely fastened.
and hoisting rope and other accessories used with over- 18. Ladle and other cranes subjected to heat from below should
have a steel-plate shield not less than one-eighth ( s ) inch thick
head cranes are described elsewhere in this book. and placed not less than six (6) inches below the bottom of the
]
The cage shall be enclosed and of fire-resisting construction; also lock the crane in a secure position to prevent it from being
(6)
there shall be windows on three sides of the cage, and blown off or along the track by a severe wind.
windows in the front and the side opposite the door 123.No person shall be permitted to operate a crane who
shall be the full width of the cage. cannot speak and read the English language, or who is under
(c) The floor of the cage on outdoor cranes should be extended eighteen (18) years of age.
to an entrance landing which shall be equipped with a Xo person shall be permitted to operate a crane whose
124.
handrail and toeguard of standard construction.
there are no members over the crane suitable for hearing or eyesight is defective, or who is suffering from
(d) Where heart disease or other ailments that in-
might suddenly
attaching blocks for repair work, a structural-steel out- A physical examination is required at least once
capacitate him.
rigger should be arranged on the crane of sufficient each year.
strength to lift the heaviest part of the trolley.
39. All gantry cranes should be equipped with automatic warn-
ing signals. Rules for Floormen
40. The truck wheels of gantry cranes shall be provided with Floormen shall give all signals to the operator.
201. Signals
or fenders.
guards preferably manual should conform to the illustrated coda given
in Fig. 1.
Operation of Cranes 202. Floormen shall be responsible for the condition and selec-
tion of all hoisting accessories and for all hitches and slings.
Rules for Operators 203.Before the operator moves a crane upon which an empty
be operated only by regular crane operators, chain sling is hanging, the lloorman should hook both ends of
101. Cranes shall
authorized substituteswho have had at least two weeks' experience the sling to the block.
and training under the supervision of a competent operator, crane 204. Floormen where necessary should walk ahead of a mov-
repairmen, or inspector; no one else should enter a crane cage. ing load and warn people to keep clear of it. They shall see
more wheels on each side of the beam and travels along power overhead traveling cranes as determined by good
the lower flange of it. Usually the
equipped trolley is engineering practice are given in the following table
:
Two-Girder Cranes
On hand-power cranes of two-girder bridge construc-
tion, the trolley is a carriage or truck of the four-wheel
type traveling directly on top of the beams or on T-rails
laid on the beams. Such trolleys are equipped with a
hoisting drum connected with
a series of gears and are
operated from the by means of an endless chain.
floor,
Other trolleys of this type are provided only with means
of traversing the bridge and are equipped with an ordinary
chain block suspended from it by means of a hook or ;
center of the girder and the trolley and hoisting motors ously. The two trolleys may have individual control and
on the lower flanges of the beam. The cab may be sus- may be traversed over the bridge to any position suited to
pended from the bridge girder and supported by a channel the length of the material being handled. Other cranes de-
which may extend across the crane span and also serve signed for similar work sometimes are equipped with
to brace the truck frame. trolleys provided with two hoisting drums and two hooks
A crane constructed in this manner is especially adapted which may be arranged to operate parallel to or at right
for use in a room having a low ceiling. When equipped angles to the bridge girders.
with a foundry controller it is specially suited to work It sometimes is desirable to handle extremely long ma-
requiring careful handling to avoid the breakage that terial with a crane having only one hoisting drum and
would be caused by jerky starting or stopping. A crane only one hook. For such service, a spreader bar is used.
of this type may be used for light work in a warehouse This bar, having slings at the ends and being suspended
or in a manufacturing plant making small or fragile wares. at the center from the hoist hook, not only permits the
A heavier capacity crane of this type equipped with raising of long pieces, but, by using a block with a swivel
foundry control is used in many foundries for handling hook, also permits the turning of the load when necessary.
large molds. This type of crane operates at very slow Cranes thus equipped are useful in structural steel yards
speeds and with the foundry control feature permits the or can be adapted for use in lumber yards for handling
handling of fragile molds without excessive breakage. long timbers or poles.
Overhead traveling cranes of the three-motor type are Another method of handling long metal pieces in the
used for many other purposes in both indoor and outdoor yard of a steel mill is to equip each crane with two magnets
work. A 2-ton capacity crane of this type installed in installed on a spreader bar. These cranes will handle
the warehouse of a paper mill will handle the bales of rails in large volume, the magnets on each crane having
rags or old paper used in paper manufacturing and also a capacity of about 20 tons. A yard equipped with cranes
the rolls of finished paper in storage. 'For this service all of this kind can handle thousands of tons in a day.
of the gears should be enclosed in dust and oil-proof gear The overhead traveling crane is often used to handle
cases, thus protecting the machine itself and preventing fuel at a power house. Such a crane may have a span
oil drippage from damaging the material being handled. of 100 ft. or more and will handle coal direct from the
Acrane of this type equipped with an automatic grab- car to a traveling scale hopper, where it can be weighed
bucket may be used for handling loose materials such as and then dumped from the hopper, through a hatchway in
fertilizer, or for handling hot cement from the kiln into the roof of the power house directly into the coal bunkers ;
storage for cooling. In one cement mill installation an or the coal may transferred from the cars to storage
be.
80-ft. span, 10-ton capacity crane operating on a 250-volt and later from storage to the weighing hopper and the
direct current and equipped with a 3-yd. capacity bucket, bunkers.
handles seven tons of cement in two minutes. An overhead crane designed especially for light work is
A adaptation of the overhead electric traveling
special an efficient equipment in a structural steel yard. A crane
crane to indoor service is used for roundhouse work in for this service may be equipped with the usual bridge
railroad service. In this design the crane travels on a drive operated by a motor installed on one of the girders
runway, the outer track of which has a greater radius but, instead of a crane trolley as generally used on cranes
than the inner track. The truck wheels are set radially of this type, may be equipped with two cab-operated 'mono-
and as the pinion at the outer truck has more teeth and rail hoists. These hoists traverse the bridge on rails
the gear less teeth than those at the inner truck, the cir- installedon each side of the bridge girders. They may be
cumferences of the truck wheels have a speed proportion- operated independently of each other, and, if desired, the
ate to the track radii. Where overhead conditions will monorail track can be latched to an outside spur track
permit and the size of the roundhouse or the volume of on either side of the crane trestle and one or both of the
work to be done will warrant, such a crane will be found hoists may be run off the bridge and used on a shop line,
useful in railroad work. It not only will reduce the as well as yard. This arrangement provides a
in the
manual labor required, but will facilitate repair work, thus mobile equipment and eliminates much of the idle time of
increasing the service secured from a locomotive. a crane serving only a limited area.
A combination of an overhead traveling crane and a
Outdoor Service
revolving jib crane is used in British practice. This crane
For outdoor service, the is mounted on
overhead crane has a traveling bridge propelled in the usual manner by
a special elevated structure.
Usually the operator's cab a squaring shaft, but, instead of the trolley generally used
is enclosed to protect the operator from the weather and
on an overhead crane, a revolving jib of the lattice type of
the crane trolley is housed to prevent deterioration of the construction is suspended from the bridge. This jib is
trolley machinery. Such cranes are equipped with a hook
pivoted on the bridge and is revolved by means of a pinion
or sling, or an automatic grab bucket, or a magnet, and on a shaft secured to the jib structure and meshing with
are used in structural steel yards, in lumber and other The
a large circular rack on the underside of the bridge.
storage yards, and for handling coal, coke, crushed stone advantage of this type of construction is that the jib
or similar material. When equipped with a magnet it will
may be revolved so that the load can be picked up or
handle steel rails, plates or bars, or scrap metals in foundry
deposited beyond the limits of the bridge runway; the jib
or railroad yards. Equipped with a hook and sling, it may
may be projected into an adjacent building, or under a
be used for transferring large containers or heavy, bulky low roof or ceiling where the runway cannot be extended.
freight or in other similar service. This type of crane This type of crane is electrically operated and is controlled
permits the rapid handling of heavy and bulky packages from an operator's cab suspended from the revolving jib.
and, where the volume of work to be done is in sufficient
quantities, is an economical installation. Foundry and Steel Mill Service
In mill lumber yards, or any other service
work, in The handling of molten and solid metals in steel plants
where large numbers of long pieces are handled, a crane and iron foundries and in other metal industries, enters
having two trolleys on the bridge can be used advantage- into the problem of material handling to an extent that
164 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 165
warrants attention to this phase of the subject. The man- and travel underneath the bridge. The stripping operation
ufacture of metal products reaches millions of tons each is performed in a similar manner with either type of
year and the methods employed to handle this vast amount stripper.
of material require the use of the overhead traveling Slab Charging Cranes
crane more than of any other type of hoisting or conveying
machine.
A revolving apparatus installed on an overhead crane has
been adapted to steel mill work for charging slabs, billets,
Ladle Crane blooms, or ingots into the furnace when reheating them
The electric overhead traveling crane is adapted to lor the forging or rolling operation. This machine has
handling ladles of molten metals in iron and steel pro- the charging mechanism suspended from a trolley, which
duction. A typical crane of this type for service in a traverses the crane bridge in such a manner that it may
large foundry or mill consists of a 4-girder, 8-motor ladle be revolved as the work requires. The charging arm of
crane of 175 tons capacity. It has a span of 58 ft. 9 in. this machine is hinged to and projects from the base of
and equipped with two trolleys. The auxiliary trolley
is this revolving which also carries the motors
structure
has a capacity of 40 tons, and it has an auxiliary hoist of necessary to operate the charging mechanism and the
15 tons capacity, thus providing two hoisting hooks in operator's cab as well. The hinge pin permits a practically
addition to the double-ladle hook on the main trolley. vertical movement of the end of the charging arm, which
This ladle crane has a lift of 30 ft. and is equipped with also has side grips, having a sidewise motion, at the
a low hanging cab enclosed so that the operator has outer end. This enables the machine to pick up a slab or
full view of the work but is protected from possible other similar pieces of metal within the radius of the
injury during operation. A crane of this type will safely charging arm and the span of the bridge. In general
handle ladles containing 25 tons or more of molten metal practice, the metal to be handled brought within range
is
and will expedite the pouring of large quantities of metal on trucks or cars and is picked up by the charging arm.
into molds. The apparatus then is revolved so that the arm is pointing
toward the furnace and the trolley is traversed over the
Ingot Charging Cranes
bridge, thrusting the arm into the furnace and depositing
After casting an ingot in steel production, a charging
the metal in the fire. The side grips then are released,
and extracting crane is used to place the ingot in a soaking
the trolley travel reversed, and the charging arm with-
pit or furnace. Ingot charging cranes are of the over-
drawn from the furnace. This machine can also be util-
head type and are equipped with tongs operating vertically.
ized to withdraw the metal from the fire by reversing the
The tongs are operated by an electric motor and they
operation.
grip and hold the ingot while it is being lowered into the
A
charging crane of this type installed in one mill has
soaking pit chamber, or being extracted from it. The
a span of 54 ft 8 in and a capacity of 5 tons. Six motors
charging apparatus, with the operator's cab, may be of
are employed to operate the crane; one to propel the
the tower type built of structural steel and mounted on
the crane trolley with only the tongs extending below
bridge; one to traverse the trolley; and the others to
operate the charging mechanism.
the bridge or the tongs' operating mechanism and the
;
A
floor type of charging and drawing machine operating
operator's cab may be suspended from the trolley and
travel underneath the bridge, the hoisting mechanism being
in a similar manner is used in the same service. On this
machine the revolving charging mechanism is mounted
installed on the trolley as in other types of overhead
on top of the crane bridge which travels on a track laid
cranes. Cranes of this type may also be equipped with an
on the floor. The same type of hinged charging arm with
auxiliary trolley having a hoist which may be used to
handle the furnace doors or they may be used for other
side grips is employed to handle the metal. A slab, bar,
the metal is placed in a rectangular container having the for handling cargo. They also are used extensively in
end designed to engage the end of a revolving charging shipyards for erecting purposes and for ship fitting work.
arm which extends toward the furnace. By means of the
traversing mechanism, the charging arm is thrust into
Traveling Gantry Cranes
the furnace and the metal deposited by revolving the
is
the machines already described and are of a highly special- should conform to the standards overhead traveling
for
ized nature, they do not enter into the discussion of ma- cranes. The trestles are carried on trucks resting on tracks
laid on the ground or on platforms. They should be ot
terialhandling in the commonly accepted meaning of the
term and will nut be treated in this book. a substantial type of construction, adequately braced
and fixed to the bridge in such a manner as to insure a
Traveling Bracket or Wall Jib Cranes structure of ample strength to withstand the twisting strains
and the stresses of operation under the maximum load.
Traveling bracket or wall jib cranes may be used as
auxiliaries to overhead traveling bridge cranes, or may
The trucks, which generally are similar in construction
to those used on the overhead type of crane, should be
be installed as separate shop equipment. These cranes are
used largely in foundries or machine shops or in erection mounted on axles of ample sizes and in suitable bearings
to sustain thecombined weight of the gantry structure and
shops and, within the limits of the jib and the range of
the load to be carried.For cranes of the lighter capacities
travel, serve for many of the same purposes as a crane
of the bridge type. They may be installed under an over- up to about 30 tons the truck axles and bearings may
head crane to handle the lighter work or may be installed be of the pin and keeper type, but for cranes of heavier
;
series along the wall of a shop and used capacity the M. C. B. type is preferable.
in a group or
to handle work too heavy for manual labor.
The Drive
The general form of construction consists of a single'
or double girder jib supported by a wall frame or vertical The
small portable types of gantries are generally pushed
or pulled by hand but some form of power must be em-
truck which is provided with a top and a bottom set of
wheels usually four wheels traveling .in a runway secured ployed to propel the larger gantry structures.
to a side wall or to a row of columns supporting the shop The most common type of drive is similar to that used
The on overhead cranes. A squaring shaft, driven by a motor
building. jib may be top braced or bottom braced
as in construction of an ordinary jib crane but it is
the installed on the bridge, is provided with bevel gears at
fixed rigidly to the wall frame and has no circular motion. each end which mesh with similar gears on two vertical
A crane trolley mounted on the jib. drive shafts one on each side of the gantry trestle. Bevel
is
The crane travel mechanism may be hand operated and gears on the lower ends of the vertical drive shafts mesh
a chain hoist, an air hoist or an electric hoist used for with gears attached to the truck wheels.
controlled from a cab secured to the crane structure. On cranes of very heavy capacity this method of driving
These cranes are made with in
is preferable to the squaring shaft method, as the torsion
jibs ranging length up-
ward to 30 ft. and having capacities up to about 10 tons. on a short shaft is negligible.
Other types of jib cranes are described elsewhere in this Another type of drive often employed on heavy gantry
book. cranes consists of cables, secured at the ends of the gantry
track and wound on motor driven drums carried on the
Gantry Cranes gantry trucks. The crane structure is pulled along the
tracks by winding the cables.
The gantry crane is an adaptation of the overhead type To insure uniform travel of the gantry structure each
of crane to outdoor service where there is no permanent end is provided with independent clutches and controllers.
elevated structure on which to install a crane. The crane This permits the operator to control the movement of both
bridge is fixed on trestles having legs which generally ends of the structure and, if necessary, one end may be
are mounted on trucks similar to those used on overhead locked and held stationary while the other end is moved
traveling cranes. The crane is then known as a traveling
slightly to bring it into alinement. This is possible because
gantry. Sometimes the trestles are fixed on a solid foun- of clearance between the rails and the wheel flanges.
dation and the crane is then called a fixed or stationary Electricity is commonly used on power operated gantry
gantry, being also frequently referred to as a bridge crane cranes operate the bridge drive, the trolley and the
to
or a transfer crane. To meet special operating conditions, hoisting drums. The current is conducted to the crane
they are sometimes constructed with one gantry leg the motors from wires installed on poles or on other structures
other end of the bridge being supported by other means ; near the gantry tracks. Current collectors, secured to an
with a single or double cantilever bridge or with a mov- ; arm projecting from the bridge, insure a contact with the
able cantilever at one end. circuit as the structure travels along the track. A sliding
These cranes are made with a span upward to 200 ft. or shoe or other type of collector is used.
more and are used in storage yards and at docks for
handling ore, coal, coke, cement, or manufactured mate-
Hand-Operated Type
rials in railroad storage and transfer yards, for general
;
A hand-operated portable gantry crane is useful when
purposes and for transferring heavy freight and at wharves ; only occasional light service is required. A crane of this
168 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 169
type usually is constructed of light structural steel and vessel at a wharf, or any other obstruction, while the crane
consists of a single I-beam girder carried on two lightly travels along the track.
constructed "A" shaped trestles, resting on two-wheel The cantilever sometimes is constructed so that it may
trucks of the pin-and-keeper type. The gantry isusually be traversed across the bridge. This permits it to be ex-
mounted on rails and is propelled by pushing it along the tended through a doorway into a warehouse or outward
track by hand. A
hand operated or power operated chain over a car or vessel.
hoist is generally used for hoisting purposes. Cranes of The advantage of the cantilever type of crane is that
this type may be used in any light service. They are used material may be handled from a storage yard to a railroad
in trench work for laying sewer pipe or water pipe. For car or to a vessel without any obstruction of the passages
such service a light, portable track is sufficiently substan- or roadways underneath leaving them free for such traffic
tial. They may be mounted on wheels having a flat tread as may be required. A
crane of this type adds greatly to
to run on a floor and used for erecting machinery in fitting the storage capacity of a yard and, due to its wide range
out shops or power plants. They range in capacity upward of action, reduces the time required and the expense of
to about 10 tons and have a span of about 25 ft. or 30 ft. moving materials. Cantilever cranes are made with a total
span upward to 250 ft. and in capacities ranging upward
Power-Operated Type to about 50 tons.
Power-operated traveling gantry cranes are used in out-
Bridge Storage Cranes
door service in many industries. They may be equipped
with a hook or a sling and be used for general lifting The bridge storage crane is a type of gantry crane
purposes with a magnet for handling metals at steel mills
; usually of the traveling type constructed in a manner
or other manufacturing plants, or in railroad service or ; similar to that of an ordinary gantry. The crane bridge
may be equipped with a bucket and used to handle coal, generally is constructed in the lattice truss type usually em-
ore, or loose materials. The operation of these
other ployed in building fixed bridges over a river or a railroad.
cranes controlled from a cab secured to the bridge or to
is They generally are equipped with an automatic bucket
one of the trestles. They are made with a span ranging sometimes with a tram-car and are used to unload ore,
upward to about 200 ft. and to 75 tons in capacity. coal, sand, gravel and other loose bulk materials from
cars or vessels and deposit them in storage bins or piles ;
The crane bridge is mounted on two trestles of equal such materials as ore from storage to the furnace. They
length and is carried on trucks.
This type of structure are especially adapted for use at ore docks in connection
is generally storage yards of industrial
installed in the with various types of unloading machines.
plants for handling raw materials or manufactured prod- The bridge storage crane is built primarily to provide
ucts; at power plants and ashes; in rail-
for handling fuel a structure that will span a wide area ranging upward to
road terminals for handling fuel or freight on wharves ; 300 ft. or more and permit the use of a bucket or other
for handling cargo; or in various other operations where material handling device. Therefore, a strength of struc-
an overhead traveling crane is not adaptable. ture is required only sufficient to sustain a light load
usually 5 to 10 tons. The bridge generally projects beyond
Single-Leg Type the supports in a cantilever form. It is carried at one
A single-leg gantry frequently is used when it is desir- end on sheer-legs similar to a gantry trestle while the other
able to install a gantry crane adjacent to a building where end is supported by a tower. The tower may be in two
the inside leg would interfere with the free movement of parts, consisting of an upper "A" form of structure, sup-
materials in the space below or where it would not be ported on a four-leg portal carriage designed to span one
practicable to lay rails. This type of crane has the usual or more railroad tracks or may be an inverted tower
;
trestle support at one end of the bridge and at the other carried on two trucks similar to those used under the
end is supported on a rail or runway installed on a building sheer-leg end.
as in the case traveling crane. The
of the overhead The bridge drive may be of the shaft driven type or of
advantage of this type of construction is that in cases where the axle driven type. The operation of the bucket, the
the crane travels along the side of a building as on a crane trolley and the bridge drive is controlled either from
wharf or warehouse having one or more doors giving
at a an enclosed platform at one end of the structure or may
access to the space immediately underneath the crane there be provided with a traveling cab so that the operator will
will be no interference due to the trestle obstructing the have a close view of the work being done.
doors through which it may be desired to move material. Other forms of bridge cranes are combined with special
Another advantage of this type of construction is that it unloading machines and are described elsewhere.
can be made to span several railroad tracks or a storage
yard adjacent to a building without encroaching unneces- Stationary Gantry Cranes
sarily on the available space.
The gantry crane sometimes is constructed without means
Cantilever Type of propulsion and then is known as a stationary or fixed
The cantilever type of construction
is used to increase gantry frequently called a bridge crane or a transfer
the range over which a gantry crane may be operated with- crane. This type is particularly adapted to railroad serv-
out increasing the girder span or laying track where it may ice. When installed in a railroad freight yard and span-
not be desirable. Such cranes are constructed with a single ning one or more tracks, it is used for loading or unload-
cantilever or with a cantilever at each end of the bridge. ing heavy or bulky freight and for transferring it from a
These cantilevers usually are integral with the main bridge car to a truck or from one car to another for reshipment.
span but sometimes are built as a separate structure and This type of crane also is adaptable to other service
hinged to the main bridge at the trestle. This construction where only a transverse travel is required and may be
allows the cantilever to be raised so that it will clear a equipped with a hook or a sling for general lifting and
170 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 171
transferring; with a magnet and used to handle manu- 10,000 Ib. Bracket cranes are useful in foundries, machine
factured or scrap metals or with an automatic bucket to
; shops, and in similar places where it is necessary to handle
handle ore, coal, coke, crushed stone, sand and gravel, or heavy flasks, or heavy castings which could not easily be
other similar materials. handled by manual labor. A series of bracket jib cranes
Stationary gantry cranes may be made in practically any arranged along a wall in a foundry or a machine shop so
capacity and any span desired. The smaller sizes, ranging that the effective radii of the jibs will overlap slightly,
in capacity up to about 25 tons, generally are equipped makes possible to transfer material from one end of the
it
with a chain trolley and hoist operated by hand power or ; shop to the other entirely by the use of jib cranes. This
with an electric hoist, controlled from the ground or arrangement permits the cranes to be used individually or
from a platform on one of the gantry trestles. in conjunction with one another and provides a means for
A hand-power stationary gantry crane is especially transferring material where the amount of such work is
adapted to service in small railroad yards or in industrial not sufficient to warrant the installation of an overhead
works where the volume of heavy objects to be handled traveling crane, or when the arrangement of the shop
is not great and would not warrant the expense of electric equipment will not permit the use of a portable crane.
equipment. The simplicity of operation and the low cost A modification of the bracket jib crane provided with
of maintenance make a crane of this type an economical wheels and mounted in a side-wall runway is described in
machine for such service. the chapter on traveling cranes. The following table gives
An electrically operated stationary gantry crane should some approximate proportions of bracket jib cranes:
be installed when constant service is required or where
'be handled
BRACKET JIB CRANE
the weight of the objects to is beyond the Effective Radius
Capacity, Length of Jib
capacity hand operated machine. A crane of this
of a Tons Ft. In. Ft. In.
1. .. 11 6 10
type installed over one or more railroad tracks and equipped
.
1. . . . 20 18 6
with a hoisting hook or with a sling is especially useful 11 7 10
20 18 6
in loading or unloading heavy freight. It may also be 11 9 10
20 18 6
equipped for bucket operation and used to handle coal or 11 11 10
similar materials when only a transverse movement is re- 20 5 18 6
12 10
quired. Generally, cranes of this type are equipped with 20 6 18 6
a trolley having hoisting drums as used on traveling gan-
tries. The operation of the crane is controlled from an Column Jib Cranes
enclosed platform on the crane structure.
The column jib crane consists of a horizontal jib carry-
Wharf Gantries ing a trolley and a hoist, and supported by a rotating mast
or column pivoted in top and bottom pivot blocks or bear-
Many modifications of the gantry structure are used on
ings. This type of crane is made in two types of struc-
wharves for handling cargo and in shipyards for construc-
ture: the bottom braced jib, and the top braced jib. The
tion work. These cranes embody many features of both
the jib crane and the locomotive crane. They are described top braced type frequently is also braced from the back
of the column and is then called the top and back braced
in this book in the chapter on wharf and shipyard cranes.
type. The column and the jib are preferably constructed
of I-beams or of channels and plates the box type of
structure being preferable for cranes of very heavy capacity
Jib Cranes
and should be adequately braced to sustain the combined
Jib cranes sometimes called foundry cranes are made weight of the structure, the hoisting mechanism, and the
in various designs depending on the service for which they load to be lifted. A crane of this type may be equipped
are used. The form of construction generally followed with a simple traveler or trolley carrying a chain hoist or
consists of a jib or boom supported in a horizontal position an air hoist and be rotated by hand by pushing or pulling
by a short mast or column which is pivoted to permit on the load or it may be provided with a hand operated
;
rotary motion. The jib is sometimes provided with means or power operated winch secured to the column near the
for a vertical movement as well as the rotary motion. base and used to handle the load while the crane is rotated
It is some form of trolley or traveler
also equipped with by hand, or in some cases by slewing gear operated by
from which the hoisting mechanism is suspended. A chain steam or electric power.
block or hoist; an air hoist; an electric hoist; or, some-
times, a steam-hydraulic hoist is used. This type of crane Bottom-Braced Type
is knownas a wall or post bracket crane or as a column ;
type of column jib crane has the jib
The bottom-braced
crane, depending on the means employed to support the jib. secured at or very near to the top of the column and is
supported by braces on the underside of the jib.
Bracket Jib Crane
A
very commonly used type of brace consists of single
The bracket crane the simplest form of jib crane and
is compression members extending from the base of the col-
consists of a plain jib usually a straight bar or a small umn to the underside of the jib near to the outer end.
I-beam fixed to the base of a short mast pivoted in top This method of bracing makes a very rigid and safe struc-
and bottom brackets secured to a wall or to a post. A ture but the location of the braces restricts the range of
tie-rod or truss-rod extending from the top of the mast action of the crane hoist and it is desirable only when the
to the outer end of the jib supports the weight of the available headroom will not permit the use of other methods
crane and the load. In some cases the hoisting apparatus of bracing. It is used only when the work to be done may
is fixed at the end of the jib but usually a chain hoist, an be handled within a comparatively small area underneath
air hoist, or an electric hoist is suspended from a small the outer portion of the jib.
trolley which travels on the top of the jib. Another method of bottom bracing is known as the
A crane of this type rarely has a jib more than 12 ft. triple brace. It consists of a compression member extend-
or 15 ft. in length or a capacity greater than 2500 Ib. to ing from the base of the column to the underside of the
172 HOISTING MACHINERY
-
, J
'
' " ' c '
L r "..i-u ^
l\ .
Steam-Hydraulic Jib Crane with Power Swinging and Steam-Hydraulic Crane with Pivoted Jib to Provide High
Trolley Racking Mechanism Lift with Only Short Piston Movement
Top and Back-Braced 2-Motor Electric Jib Crane for Hand Operated Top-Braced Jib Crane
Indoor Service
Steam-Hydraulic Crane with Jib Adjusting-Nut to Permit Incline of Jib in Direction of Load Travel
CRANES 173
Top-Braced Type
The top-braced type of column jib crane has the jib
secured to the column at a point some distance below the
top and supported by one or more tie-rods secured to the
top of the column and to the jib. This method of bracing
leaves the space underneath the jib clear for its entire
length and permits a load to be handled with equal facility
at the end of the jib or close to the column.
A jib crane of the top-braced type may be installed in-
doors when there is sufficient headroom and may be used
in the same service as a bracket crane or a bottom-braced
jib crane. It may also be used when provided with proper
means of support in outdoor service at industrial plants
for handling or loading heavy materials, or in small out-
lying railroad yards for occasional service in transferring
heavy objects such as might be handled by an overhead
crane or a gantry crane at the larger yards.
This type of crane is made with jibs upward to about
25 ft. or 30 ft. in length and having a capacity upward to
about 10 tons. Proportions of some cranes of this type are
given in the following table :
IWi
CRANES 175
ground near the crane, or upon the crane itself. From It is pivoted on a bearing resting on a cast iron base set
the bottom of this cylinder a pipe passes through the bed in concrete or bolted to a pier. The pillar is held in an
plate of the crane and connects with a U-shaped stuffing- upright position by a tension rod secured to the base and
box in the bottom of the mast. A control valve
placed is extending up through the pillar to a mast top casting.
in this pipe, near the ground cylinder within easy reach The boom may be straight, or may be curved at the upper
of the operator. The piston-rod of the lifting-cylinder is end, which gives a somewhat wider clearance for a load
hollow and its lower end is fastened to a projection of which may be desired to raise to a high position. These
it
the bottom gudgeon of the mast pivot, the passage-way booms may be made of a single I-beam member of I-beams ;
being continued through the gudgeon projection and con- or channels with the lattice type of construction or they
necting with the stuffing-box in the mast. From the may be built in the box type of structure employed in
stuffing-box the passage-way leads out through the pipe in the construction of crane bridges.
the bed plate and connects with the ground cylinder. The The most commonly used pillar cranes have the boom
with a circular motion over the air by means of a baffle boom so that the radius of action may be varied. This is
the water and condensing. The water takes the same pres-
Most pillar cranes are hand operated, being equipped with
a hoisting winch, a one-drum winch being used with a
sure as the steam, and, passing to the lifting cylinder, its
fixed boom and a two-drum winch with a variable radius
force is exerted in the space between the lower side of the
fixed piston and the lower head of the moving cylinder,
boom one drum for hoisting the load and one for operating
Pillar Cranes
The pillar crane is a rotating type of crane largely used
on railroad freight platforms and in railroad and industrial
yards for loading and unloading materials and for general
lifting purposes within a limited area. It may also be
installed indoors and used for many of the same purposes
as the jib crane but rarely is used in such service. It con-
sists of a self-supported rotating pillar or mast which
supports an inclined jib or boom secured at the base of
the pillar.
In the usual type of construction the pillar is circular
in form. It is either a steel casting or is of steel plate of
Electric Pillar Jib Crane Bottom-Braced Electric Jib Crane with Self-Slewing Gear
recourse to guys or other methods of supporting the top generally a geared type of winch near the foot of the
of the crane. mast. One pair of wheels is pivoted and provided with
a handle by which the crane may be drawn about and
Pillar-jib cranes are made in the same capacities as
the
two other types and may be operated by hand, air, steam turned as desired to handle the load.
or electric power. These cranes are especially adapted for use in machine
shops as the low skeleton-platforms will easily pass under
the standards of a lathe and many other types of machines
Portable Jib and Pillar Cranes
used in finishing materials. This makes it possible to bring a
The smaller sizes of the various types of jib and pillar
heavy casting close up to a machine and hold it suspended on
cranes are sometimes installed on a platform mounted on the jib hoist until it has been adjusted to the machine ready
wheels so that they may be moved from place to place. for operation.
They may be equipped either with flanged wheels and travel
Skeleton-platform jib hoists are made in capacities upward
on rails or with wheels having a flat tread and travel on
to 3 tons or more and range in height upward to about
any solid flat surface. 10 ft. or 12 ft.
This permits their use in various parts of a yard or a sizes and capacities of some cranes of this
Approximate
shop where the volume of work required in any particular type are given in the following table :
Counterweight
On the most common types of portable cranes, the boom
or jib is fixed at a constant radius and its weight and the
weight of the load is counterbalanced by a weight installed
on an extended platform at the base of the mast or on the
rear extension of the jib when the horizontal jib is used.
This counterweight is sometimes mounted on small wheels
traveling on a runway so that it may be moved toward
or
from the mast to counterbalance either a light load
away
or a heavy load at the end of the boom. At any given
radius of the boom or jib the capacity of a crane of this
type is determined by the relative location of the
counter-
Skeleton-Platform
A special type crane adapted to handling
of portable
small but heavy provided with a rigid curved
pieces is
oI
CRANES 179
of the same purposes as a small locomotive drum on the mast. is operated by an electric motor
It
for many
crane but of being self-propelled is not so,
course not installed This crane is carried on a two-
on the mast.
mobile in manufacturing plants requiring a portable crane. wheel truck traveling on a monorail and is supplied with
Another simpler form of walking jib crane for lighter power by an overhead contact with a power circuit. It is
work has an inclined boom instead of the horizontal jib used in the same class of service as the larger horizontal
The boom is provided with hoisting tackle reeved through type of walking jib crane but generally is made in smaller
sheaves at the outer end of the boom and wound on a sizes for lighter work.
Locomotive Cranes
Locomotive cranes so called because self-propelled may be partly or entirely mounted on creeper trucks
have been developed to a high state of efficiency and are a wide, flat, sectional wheel face and travel over rough
the use or yielding ground.
extensively used in outdoor operations requiring
of a hoisting machine. Originally they were designed only Car Frame
to travel on railroad track and were used only in railroad
The superstructure of a locomotive crane is carried on
work. They generally were provided with a single hoisting
a rectangular frame or car body. The essential features
line equipped with a fall-block and were used chiefly for
of frame construction are adequate strength to sustain
:
other purposes.
the higher capacities, are mounted on a structure very
They rantie in capacity upward to 160 tons and may be
similar in construction to the underframe of a railroad car.
equipped with a plain fall-block for general lifting with a It consists of a structural steel frame to which is secured
hook, with slings, tongs or similar accessories with the
the turntable base, the large gear of the turntable rotating
;
a mast or other type of structure similar to that of a pillar or may have a wooden frame resting on cast or rolled
crane, to provide a firm base for the boom and a connection metal sills. Cranes of the trackless type are provided
for the tupping and a power plant installed on a turn-
lift; with some form of steering gear, usually similar to that
table operated by a rotating mechanism also installed on used on motor trucks.
the turntable. These parts are carried on a flat rectangular
frame or car body mounted on wheels and propelled by a Travel Mechanism
travel mechanism operated by the power plant installed on The crane travel mechanism is carried on the underside
the turntable. The frame and the turntable usually are of the car frame and connected with the power plant
is
ballasted by means of counterweights of concrete or iron installed on the turntable, by a series of gears, or by a
thereby adding to the stability of the crane structure when combination of gears and chain drive. It may be either of
it is rotated under load. The details of construction must the rigid shaft type or may have a driving shaft of the
be varied to suit the particular class of service for which the flexible type.
crane designed. The general details of the crane structure,
is On four-wheel cranes traveling on rails the travel mech-
however, are practically similar for each of the various anism commonly used consists of a bevel pinion at the lower
classes. end of a vertical shaft, extending down through the car
The Trucks frame, and meshing with a gear on a horizontal drive shaft
The trucks or wheels on which locomotive cranes are suspended from the frame. Bevel pinions on each end of
mounted vary with the type of machine and the service the shaft mesh with gears on the truck axles. Both axles
required of it. The most common type of crane is mounted are driven and may be rotated simultaneously in either di-
on trucks similar to those used under railroad cars and rection.
travels on railroad track. A four-wheel truck generally On eight-wheel cranes designed for ordinary service, only
is used for cranes of light capacities, up to about IS tons, the inside axle on each truck is driven, but on cranes of
and double trucks two four-wheel trucks for cranes of very heavy capacity or when maximum tractive effort is
heavier capacity. Other types of cranes may be mounted mechanism may be designed so that all
desired, the travel
on wheels having a plain tread to travel on a smooth sur- four axles may be driven. The travel mechanism may be
face; may have tractor wheels crosswise projections on of the long horizontal shaft type or may consist of a
the wheel face and travel on rough or soft ground or ;
train of gears mounted on short horizontal shafts and mesh-
180 HOISTING MACHINERY
Top of Eight-Wheel Car Frame Showing Slip-Ring (Poised) Four-Wheel Car Frame Showing Straight Shaft Travel
and Rail Clamps Mechanism and Stability Wheels
Rotating Rack. Slip-Ring Type, In- Rotating Rack. Slip-Ring Type. Ex- Rotating Rack. Fixed Type, Exter-
ternal Gear Teeth ternal Gear Teeth nal Gear Teeth
Underside of Eight-Wheel Car Frame Showing Flexible Shaft Center Portion of Eight-Wheel Car Frame Showing
Type of Travel Mechanism Gear Train Type of Travel Mechanism
CRANES 181
may be reversed.
In the long shaft driven type the construction is similar Rotating Mechanism
to that used on four-wheel cranes except that the horizontal The rotating mechanism of a locomotive crane is mounted
shaft usually is in several parts connected with universal on side frames resting on the turntable. It consists of a
This of shaft construction permits the
couplings. type series of gears operating a vertical shaft to which is
travel mechanism toproperly regardless of the
function attached the rotating pinion meshing with a large rotating
of the trucks when the crane travels on curved
swiveling gear either a fixed circular rack or a toothed slip-ring,
or uneven tracks. sometimes as much as 9 ft. in diameter secured to the car
In the gear train type of travel mechanism used on many frame or simply resting on a machined bed.
eight-wheel cranes a bevel pinion on the vertical
shaft
drives a gear train mounted on short horizontal shafts sup- Rack Rotating Gear
the car frame.
ported in a cast steel frame secured to The circular rack type of rotating gear is used extensively
This type of travel mechanism requires that the trucks shall on locomotive cranes. The common form of construction
be spaced so that each end of the gear train will mesh with is a cast-steel gear of large diameter, secured to the bed of
the gears on the truck axles. The teeth on the axle gears the car frame.
are shaped so that they will permit the movement necessary One form of gear has a machined path for the turntable
when the trucks swivel on curved or uneven tracks. Pro- rollers on its surface. The teeth may be on either the out-
vision is made to throw the axle gears out of mesh when side or inside of its circumference.
the crane being hauled by other power, thus eliminating
is
Another type of rack rotating gear has a recess in its
the danger of stripping the gear teeth.
upper surface in which the rollers are secured instead of
The travel mechanism generally used on locomotive being attached to the turntable. A roller path is provided
cranes not intended for traveling on rails and having plain on the under surface of the turntable and the parts are
wheels or tractor wheels consists of chain belts engaging held in alinement by means of an interlocking jib-ring.
driving sprockets secured to the crane truck wheels These gears mesh with the rotating pinion secured to a
usually the front wheels, which carry the greater portion vertical shaft extending upward through the turntable base
of the load when the crane is in use. and having a bevel gear on its upper end meshing with
On cranes having the creeper type of trucks the drive similar gears on a horizontal drive shaft. The rotating
consists of some form of endless rack or belt to the outside movements are controlled by means of various types of
of which the sections of the sectional tread are secured. clutches and slipping devices designed to absorb the shocks
This belt is driven by sprockets installed within the sec- due to sudden starting or stopping of the crane.
tional tread and acting directly on the belt; or by a chain
acting on the truck axle. Slip-Ring Rotating Gear
A slip-ring type of rotating gear is used on many loco-
The Turntable
motive cranes to absorb the shocks incident to sudden
The turntable or rotating base of the crane superstructure starting or stopping of the rotating structure. This ring
carries the entire rotating portion of the crane, which in- may be made of rolled steel or may be a steel casting,
cludes the rotating mechanism, the hoisting mechanism and resting on a machined seat on the bed casting secured to
the power plant either steam, gasoline or electricity. It is the car frame. It has gear teeth either on the outside or
carried on four or more conical-shaped steel rollers which the inside of the ring which mesh with a pinion on the
either are -secured to the turntable and travel on a circular crane rotating mechanism. It is held concentric with the
path on the upper surface of the large rotating gear; or center pin on the bed casting of the rotating mechanism but
the upper face of the rotating gear is recessed and the is free to turn in either direction. The upper surface of
rollers set in it, the under surface of the turntable resting the ring serves as a path for the turntable rollers on which
on the rollers. It should be so constructed as to insure the crane superstructure rotates, the entire weight of the
adequate strength to sustain the combined weight of the rotating crane being imposed on the ring. The friction
machine and the load and to have a large factor of safety thus set up between the under surface of the slip-ring and
to guard against excessive stresses due to overloading. It the bed casting is sufficient to insure efficient action of the
may be built of structural steel and cast steel or cast iron rotating gear, but when the force due to sudden rotation
parts; may be of structural steel with concrete filling; or or stopping of the crane becomes excessive the ring slips
may be a single steel casting. on its seat and this slight movement prevents injury to the
requires the use of a large number of bolts and rivets imposed on the structure when slewing the boom.
which may become loosened, causing a disalinement of
The Boom
parts and possibly injury to the rotating mechanism or to
the hoisting mechanism. The booms of locomotive cranesare made in various
A single casting greatly reduces the number of
large lengths ranging upward to 70 ft. or 80 ft. for general serv-
parts to be provided for and permits the elimination of a ice and to 160 ft. or more for special service. Various
great number of bolts and rivets which would cause trouble types of construction are used depending on the capacity
should they become loosened. In case of failure of any required and the radius of action desired. They may con-
182 HOISTING MACHINERY
Turntable of Locomotive Crane Showing Rotating Mech- Turntable of Locomotive Crane Showing Hoisting Drums,
anism and Hoisting Drums
Rotating Mechanism and Clutch
CRANES 183
sist of a single piece, or may be made in a telescopic or single shaft and is controlled by clutches which permit
cantilever form so that they may be lengthened or short- both drums to be operated simultaneously, or independent
ened as desired. of each other.
Booms designed for light service within a small area Boom Hoist
may be constructed of wood reinforced with iron fittings The common type of boom hoist consists of two small
and sometimes with boom truss-rods may be single I-beams;
a curved section at the bottom so that a crane may operate tive cranes, for the control of the boom hoist, the rotating
close to a car, or a pile of material, or a low structure, mechanism, and the travel mechanism. These are generally
but at the same time lower the boom to secure a wide of the band type though the expansion type is sometimes
radius of action. The boom end is equipped with one or used and are controlled by means of foot or hand levers
more sheaves suitable for the lines required to operate the by the crane operator.
easily accessible
In addition to the brakes provided to control the travel
hoisting accessories such as hooks, grapples, slings, buckets,
or magnets. mechanism various other types of brakes are provided to
control the travel of locomotive cranes, particularly those
Hoisting Mechanism mounted on trucks traveling on rails. Those cranes used
The hoisting mechanism of the locomotive crane consists in railroad service which sometimes are coupled to rail-
of the load hoist a form of hoisting winch having one or road cars and hauled in a train are provided with standard
more drums and the boom hoist. The drums on these couplers and air brakes and the trucks are fitted with brake
hoists generally arc made of cast iron and are mounted rigging conforming to M. C. B. standards. Other cranes
on shafts resting in side frames which usually are integral traveling on rails but never used in a train may be equipped
with the side frames of the rotating mechanism. In some with a brake controlled by the crane operator which may
cases these drums are supplemented by winch-heads or apply brake shoes to the face of the truck wheels or may
small drums secured to extensions on the various shafts apply some other form of friction brake to the truck axles
of the rotating or hoisting mechanisms. or to the truck drive shaft. Cranes of the trackless type
are provided with brakes similar to those used on motor
Load Hoist trucks.
Outriggers and Rail Clamps
The load hoist mechanism, on cranes intended only for
general hoisting purposes, consists of a train of gears op- Outriggers of various forms are used on many locomo-
erating a single drum on which the hoisting line is wound tive cranes, to supplement the ballast or counterweights
as the load is raised or lowered. A crane thus equipped and the wedges used between the truck bolsters and the
can be used with a fall-block having a hook or shackle, car frame. These devices are particularly necessary on
for handling material with slings or tongs ; with some cranes of heavy capacity, in order to impart greater sta-
forms of buckets requiring only one line or they may be ; bility to the crane structure when the boom is operating
used for handling scrap or other metals with an electric on either s de or when handling very heavy loads with a
;
lifting magnet. long radius of boom. The use of such devices increases
A double drum and frequently also an auxiliary drum the lifting capacity of cranes from 10 per cent to 50 per
on an independent shaft is installed on cranes used for cent, depending on the length of the boom and the distance
automatic bucket operations or for other service requiring from the crane center to the bearing point of the outriggers.
two or more lines. The double drum is mounted on a The outriggers may consist of some form of bracket
184 HOISTING MACHINERY
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CRANES 185
secured to the side of the car frame by hinges or held in turntable and are supplied with current through a contact
sockets; or they may be formed of I-beams telescoping with a third rail or an overhead trolley wire ;
or through
under the car. When in use they are swung outward and a plug-in on an adjacent power
connection line. Elec-
supported on blocking or by screw jacks resting on the trically operated locomotive cranes are made in capacities
blocking. ranging upward to 100 tons and, within the limitations im-
In another form of outrigger, known as the stability- posed by the source of power, may be used in the same
wheel type, the crane truck axles are extended and wheels service as either the steam crane or the gasoline crane.
are secured to the ends. These wheels run on an additional They are particularly adapted to magnet operation.
rail laid on either side or both sides of the track support- some cases electric cranes of light capacity obtain
In
ing the crane trucks. power from storage batteries carried on the crane. They
Rail clamps generally four in number are used instead then have a wider range of action and may be used in
of outriggers on cranes of light capacity and sometimes any location to which they may travel.
are also used on those of heavy capacity having outriggers. Approximate capacities of locomotive cranes with booms
They are secured to some part of the underframe and of various lengths and used at various radii are given in
clamp over the rail head, thus holding the crane down on the following table. These capacities may be increased
the rails. from 10 per cent to 40 per cent by using rail-clamps or
Power outriggers :
LOCOMOTIVE CRANES
The power plant is installed on the crane turntable on Maximum
Weight Capacity at Various Radii
the end opposite to the boom and thus serves also as a of Crane, Wheel Length Without Outriggers
jilt, vv aiui ,
Steam Cranes
Steam power most commonly used and usually consists
is
Gasoline Cranes
Gasoline engines have, in recent years, come into use on
locomotive cranes. They generally are of the four-cylinder
type and of a horsepower adequate to the capacity of the
crane. The engine and the gasoline storage tank are car-
ried on the turntable. This type of crane may be mounted
on rails or be of the trackless type. It is used largely
may
at industrial 'plants or at power houses or similar opera-
tion. It may be equipped with a hook for using a sling
Four-wheel Steam Locomotive Crane Handling Logs with Steam Locomotive Crane Handling Heavy Freight from
Grab Hook and Chain Slings Car to Lighter for Export. Equipped with Shackle, Chains
and Rope Slings
Steam Locomotive Crane Handling Bottom-dump Bucket Steam Locomotive Crane Handling Paving Blocks in
in Concrete Construction Work Dump Wagon with Fall Block, Hoisting Hook, and Chain
Crab Hooks
188 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 189
an effective radius ranging from about 15 ft. to 40 ft. The zontal position on the turntable center casting, which is
hoist line may, however, be payed out beyond the end of held in position by a short pintle. On some machines this
the boom and used to drag an object within lifting range. frame rests on rollers so that it
may be extended or with-
The various parts of the structure are so arranged as drawn and is rotated by means of rotating gear similar to
to give maximum stability to the machine, but, in addition, that used on locomotive cranes turning on rollers resting
these cranes are provided with outriggers which may be in or upon a runway on the upper surface of the turntable
used on either side and on some cranes with others at the ring. It may be rotated so that piles may be driven on
ends and with rail clamps as well. either side of the car, at the turntable end, or at any inter-
Many of the various lifting devices used with other types mediate location. The turntable may be of a conical-roller
of hoisting machines may be used on wrecking cranes but type or of a ball-bearing type.
generally these cranes are provided with special types of The pile-driver leaders are also built up of structural
hooks, slings, and other accessories adapted for wrecking steel parts and consist of two side members which form
service. a pile and hammer guide. They are secured to a frame
They generally are steam operated, the power being ob- which ishinged, at or near the bottom, to the swiveling
tained from a steam boiler and engine carried on the frame. When not in use the leader frame is lowered so that
rotating structure. In some cases, particularly when a it rests in a horizontal position en the top of the swiveling
crane is to be used in tunnels or subways, they are equipped frame.
for electric operation, taking their power from a third rail ;
In one design the leader frame is raised by means of a
through a flexible conductor cable and a plug-in connection ;
leader raising frame. This device is hinged to the leader
through an overhead trolley or sometimes, from storage
;
frame just above the top of the swiveling frame. It is
batteries carried on the crane. carried on rollers secured to its lower end and traveling
Some wrecking cranes which are used only in connection on a roller path on the upper members of the swiveling
with a wrecking train or a work train are not self-propelled. frame. It is controlled by means of a worm gear and is
Very often this type of crane is not provided with a steam so arranged that the leaders may be used in a vertical
boiler, the crane engine being operated by steam obtained position or piles may be driven with the leaders in an inclined
from the train locomotive or from some other outside position as may be desired.
source. In
another design the leader frame is pivoted at an
The following table gives the approximate capacities of a intermediate point on the lower portion of it to the
heavy capacity wrecking crane with the boom tackle at swiveling frame. It is raised or lowered by means of
various radii, with and without the outriggers in use. lines its lower end and running over sheaves
secured to
These proportions are typical of general capacities of wreck- at thebottom of the swiveling frame and thence to a drum
ing cranes. on the crane mechanism.
The hammer hoisting line runs on sheaves installed at
LIFTING CAPACITIES, 150-TON TRAVELING WRECKING the upper end of the leader frame and is operated by
CRANE means of a drum on the hoisting winch in the machinery
Without Outriggers house.
Main Hoist Auxiliary Hoist
These machines are designed to drive piles with either
(Single part of rope) a steam operated hammer or a drop-hammer. The steam
24 tons at 17-ft. radius 17 tons at 23-fl. radius
II tons at 27-ft. radius K'/i tons at 35-ft. radius hammer is a compact unit resting in the leader frame and
it is operated by steam from the power
Either End or Center Outriggers Set plant on the car.
The drop-hammer consists of a round or rectangular weight
Main Hoist Auxiliary Hoist
(2 parts of rope) attached to the hoisting line by means of which it is raised
85 tons at 17-ft. radius 41 tons at 27-ft. radius
28 tons at 35-ft. radius in the leader guides and dropped on the pile either by re-
40 tons at 27-ft. radius
tive crane with a pile-driver attachment. Cranes of this the pile-driver attachment installed in its place. A crane
thus equipped may be used for general purposes and also
type are used chiefly in railroad work and are mounted
on double-truck cars equipped with automatic couplers and for pile-driving. When the amount of such work to be
with air-brakes so that they may be hauled in a railroad done would not warrant the expense of maintaining a
train. They are designed chiefly for driving piles along special machine, the pile-driver attachment is a very de-
a railroad line but may also be used in other locations by sirable feature.
>
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CRANES 191
way as that used on an ordinary pile-driver. With this locomotive crane generally is made to travel on broad gage
type of attachment, the crane boom must be removed and tracks laid on the bridge and it usually is provided with
the truss structure secured directly to the rotating crane an "A" frame topping-lift connection instead of the short
base. This machine also permits full-circle operation. mast or pillar used on ordinary locomotive cranes. This
crane rotates on a turntable and may be used in the same
Wharf Cranes manner as any other locomotive crane. It may be equipped
for general hoisting purposes or for bucket operation and
Wharf or cargo cranes are used on wharves for load-
may be used for general cargo handling or for shipbuilding
ing or unloading cargo vessels, sometimes being designed purposes.
so that they will also handle the cargo on the wharf or A similar crane of more limited scope consists of the
inside of the pier shed without the aid of auxiliary ma-
rotating portion of a locomotive crane revolving on a turn-
chines. Many wharf
cranes are also adaptable to ship- table fixed on a traveling gantry bridge or portal tower.
building purposes. Frequently an ordinary locomotive This crane operates in the same manner as the traversing
crane or a cantilever gantry crane is used for this serv- crane and, within its radius of action, may be used for
ice but generally a special crane which combines some fea- the same purposes.
tures of each of those types, and of overhead traveling A revolving boom-jib crane is sometimes installed on a
cranes, is built. The type of construction varies with the fixed or stationary portal tower in a location where the
location in which the crane is to be installed and the boom will serve for cargo handling or for other purposes.
service required. The turntable rotating mechanism may be operated from
These cranes may travel on tracks laid on the wharf, the ground by means of a slewing shaft while the hoist-
or on an elevated runway secured to the side or on the ing apparatus is operated by a power plant installed on
roof of the pier shed, or inside of the shed. In some the crane turntable or the entire apparatus may be
;
cases they are of the stationary type. They may be of operated by the power plant on the turntable.
the portal or the semi-portal type of construction with
Boom-jib cranes have booms ranging in length up-
some form of boom or jib crane generally having a ward to 100 ft. or more and have a lifting capacity up-
topping-lift and variable radius, but sometimes having a ward to about 150 tons.
fixed radius boom mounted on it may be of the can- ;
tilever gantry bridge type of construction and equipped Semi-Portal Crane Boom- Jib Type
with a crane trolley or may consist of some form of ro-
;
span of 200 ft. or more and they usually have a lifting the gantry structure so that itmay travel a limited dis-
capacity of about 10 tons to 15 tons at the ends of the tance inboard or outboard and may be raised, by a topping-
cantilevers and a greater capacity with the hoist at in- lift, to a vertical position to permit the crane to travel
termediate points. along the wharf without interference with a vessel or other
obstruction. The crane may traverse the wharf so that the
Portal Crane Boom-Jib Type boom may be lowered into a position over the hatch of a
The boom-jib portal crane is another form of wharf vessel and the cargo handled directly from the hold to a
crane and consists of a traveling portal-gantry structure car on the wharf or, by extending the inboard end of the
sometimes also having a single or a double cantilever inclined boom inside of the pier shed, the cargo may be
with some form of boom-jib or locomotive crane trav- carried into the shed for storage or may be loaded on trucks
ersing the bridge. The gantry spans standard gage rail- for distribution.
road tracks and sometimes also a roadway and travels on A modification of this type of wharf crane is adapted for
rails laid on the wharf. To give it greater stability, the use on a pier having a very narrow space outside of the
192 HOISTING MACHINERY
Traveling Wharf Roof Crane with Fixed Boom Equipped with Hoisting Trolley, Installed on Pier
Having Narrow Apron
j.
vfcZS&alfSt^ .
tt'o'Span -i~//<7--*j
? 3l,OOOLb.
*
Semi-Portal Wharf Crane with Inclined Boom Equipped with Hoisting Trolley for Delivery Inside of Pier Shed
CRANES 193
* 2
194 HOISTING MACHINERY
CRANES 195
that used for a portal-tower but the pier structure usually is then lowered into a horizontal or an inclined position
is lower and has no portal to permit a passage underneath it will operate at any angle up to 45 deg. and the trol-
the crane. This type of crane may be used for many of ley hoist is lowered directly into the hold. The load is
the same purposes and in the same manner as an ordinary hoisted from the hold and carried along the boom to the
locomotive crane. inside of the pier shed where it may be deposited directly
For some purposes, such as at a small coaling wharf, on a delivery truck, or on some other vehicle for sorting
the pier is made stationary. The pier structure is then and distribution to storage on the pier. Two of these
built of structural steel and fixed to a solid foundation; cranes may be used simultaneously over different hatches
or the crane turntable may be mounted directly on a pier of the same vessel for loading or unloading or one crane ;
of concrete. may be used for unloading while the other is loading car-
go. They have a reach of about 25 ft. outboard and about
Barge or Pontoon Cranes 10 ft. inside of the shed, with a capacity of 1 ton to 2 tons
Barge cranes are sometimes used for handling cargo at at the maximum reach.
wharves or for coaling vessels. Such cranes consist of
some form of rotary crane usually similar to the rotating Trolley Type Fixed Jib
portion of a locomotive crane or a modification of the The
fixed-jib type of wharf crane is adapted to light
pintle tower type mounted on a barge or pontoon. Gen- cargo handling. It consists of a fixed horizontal top and
erally the boom
of the goose-neck type so that the crane
is back braced jib mounted on a frame or carriage which
may operate close alongside a vessel with the boom raised travels on a runway on the shed roof. A racking trolley
to an approximately vertical position but at the same time hoist,operated by power carried on the traveling structure,
have a radius of action sufficient to move the material traverses the jib. This type of crane may be propelled
over a considerable area. Sometimes these cranes are also along the shed so that the jib is over the hatch of a ves-
196 HOISTING MACHINERY
of Parts.
a*-*^"
Stationary Hammerhead Portal Crane Installed in Philadelphia Navy Yard. Capacity 350 Tons at 115 ft. Radius; 50 Tons
at 90 ft. Radius. Overall Height, 230 ft.
CRANES 197
sel and the hoisting apparatus may then be operated in the pintle is secured to the portal base structure instead of the
usual way. The jib lias a maximum effective reach of cantilever truss, and projects upward inside of a rotating
about 40 ft. with a capacity of about I /? tons at that dis-
1
tower or skirt fixed to the cantilever truss. The entire
tance. As the jib rarely has a clearance of more than structure revolves on a turntable resting on the portal
about 35 ft. above the wharf, this type of crane can be base.
used only for unloading barges or other vessels having The forward end of the revolving cantilever crane is
low masts or superstructures. fitted with one or more racking trolleys operated by ma-
chinery which is carried on the extended rear end of the
Rotary Type cantilever and
enclosed with the rotating mechanism in
is
The rotary type of wharf roof crane is used largely in a machinery house. The crane counterweight is installed
British practice for cargo handling. It is installed on pier at the rear of the machinery house. The operator's cab is
sheds having a ridge roof. In this design a boom or jib suspended underneath the cantilever truss near the tower
is supported by a short pivoted mast mounted on a frame so that the operator has a clear view of the work at all
carried on trucks which travel on a runway on the shed times.
roof. One railof the r'inway is laid at the edge of the Cranes of this type commonly have a radius of action
roof, tin- other at the ridge The mast is pivoted in a frame upward to about 100 with a capacity of 5 tons to 75 tons
ft.
| '
work and for fitting out. Many of them are also used at t
X i oa d 140
Trolley racking speed. load ...................... 100
dry docks or basins for repair work. As
.
the service in ^-ton
|
which thev are used requires high clearance with a wide oad
,.,...,..,. slewing speed. Maximum ;:
X 1
.
! !
1 load 200
range of action, most cranes designed for shipbuilding pur-
poses embody some form of tower construction
and have 350-TON CAPACITY HAMMERHEAD CRANE '"
In some ship-
AuxiUa ^ J; s t ;. 41 50
traveling or the stationary gantry, are used. Tvo 4-,, a rt lines.
use of the over-
yards the operating conditions permit the ^.^ _
Ft^Per
head traveling crane or the locomotive crane. The latter Main single or jointly with maximum load
"^^^^fc^^*^. ^
hoists,
Slewing speed
h o
=
^\
d
;~ ;:: ; :;::: ;; ::
one revolution in .12 minutes.
j^ ; ; ;; :: }J;
The hammerhead crane so called because it resembles a
L 540*- 4
List of Parts.
Electrically Operated Hammerhead Crane for Fitting Out Service in Shipyards. Pintle Type, 75-Ton Capacity
200 HOISTING MACHINERY
--_ JOO- 1
etSO'Tnmrse of Trolley-
-1
CRANES 201
table with a counterweight on the rear end of the cantilever; mechanism similar to that used for propelling other travel-
or the machinery may be located at the rear end and serve ing gantry cranes.
as a counterweight. Such cranes are made with a combined length of bridge
Cranes of this type are used in shipbuilding service and and folding-jib upward to about 150 ft. and with a total
also in some industrial operations such as handling lumber capacity of about 75 tons to 100 tons.
and logs. They are made with an effective radius up to
about 75 ft. to 100 ft. and with towers upward to 100 ft. or Boom-Jib Revolving Tower Cranes
more in height. The lifting capacity at the maximum ef-
Revolving tower cranes of the boom-jib type are used
fective radius ranges from S tons to about IS tons with an in-
largely in shipyards for fitting out and also are used for
creasingly greater capacity at shorter radii. general hoisting purposes. This type of crane consists of a
rotating boom-jib crane, similar to the rotating portion of a
Folding-Jib Gantry Cranes locomotive crane, mounted on a tower which is carried on
Folding-jib gantry cranes are used in shipyards chiefly for a traveling portal base.The portal base spans one or more
fitting out ships but they are also adaptable to other pur- railroad tracks and mounted on trucks which travel on
is
poses such as unloading cargo vessels. This type of crane rails laid Such cranes are generally operated
on the wharf.
consists of a traveling gantry structure spanning one or by steam power generated by a power plant installed on the
more railroad tracks and having a superstructure which The approximate
rotating portion of the crane. proportions
supports a folding-jib. The
hinged to the gantry
jib is
and capacities of some cranes of this type are given in the
structure at the outboard end of the bridge so that it may be
following table :
11 9
-18
4- -A
19
ARE USED for lifting purposes in practically Usually the hoisting speed is variable only by means of
every modern industry and they have come to be the movement of the hoists where
power sheave, but on
HOISTS considered as an essential part of shop equipment. the load chain passes through a lower sheave, two speed
Being easily portable they may be moved to various parts arrangements may be obtained. One speed is obtained by
of a shop and thus be kept in service for a greater portion permitting the chain to run free through the lower sheave,
of the time. They are made in various types : Chain while a faster speed for light loads may be obtained by
hoists,steam-hydraulic hoists, pneumatic hoists, and elec- making the chain fast to the lower sheave so that single
tric The chain hoist which is hand-operated is
hoists. action is obtained and the hoist operates in the same man-
adaptable to almost any service and is particularly desira- ner as the single speed type.
ble for where air, steam, or electric power is not
use Chain hoists usually have the complete hoisting mechan-
available. Pneumatic hoists are used largely in foundry ism in one compact unit suspended from a single hook but
work for handling molds or cores, or in other industries sometimes are provided with an extension shaft to transmit
for handling fragile materials. Pneumatic hoists of the the to the load chain
power or two hoists twin hoists
;
air-motor type are, however, now coming into use in more be secured to a single shaft and be operated in unison
may
general service. The steam-hydraulic hoist, which in some by one hand chain. Hoists arranged in this way are es-
respects is also a pneumatic hoist, is used in practically pecially adapted for use on a crane or a monorail for han-
the same service as the strictly pneumatic types, being dling containers or long objects or for suspending a spreader
especially adapted to foundry bar carrying two or more
""""'
service. Electric hoists have *
' ' '
operated type of hoist used in shops and garages or othei PERCENTAGE OF POWER APPLIED TO HAND CHAIN
places for lifting heavy parts. They are easily portable and CONVERTED INTO USEFUL ENERGY
usually are provided with a hook by which the hoist may Efficiency,
Type of Hoist Per Cent
be suspended from a fixed object or they may be used with
Spur-geared 80 to 90
a trolley or traveler on a crane or a monorail. When it is
Screw-geared 40
to be used only with a traveler, the hoist generally is
Differential 30
permanently attached to it.
These hoists are made in several types the spur-geared :
Spur-Geared Type
type variously termed triple-geared, single-geared, mul- The spur-geared type of chain hoist is adapted for gen-
tiple-geared the screw or worm-geared type and the eral service but where a heavy lifting
; ;
is particularly useful
differential type. These hoists consist primarily of a load
capacity and high speed of operation are desired. It is
chain, to which the hoisting hook is attached a hand chain, used largely with some form of crane, or monorail, in
;
through a sheave block to which the hook is attached. extensively. It consists of a load chain carrying the hoist-
203
204 HOISTING MACHINERY
ing hook; a hand chain operating a power wheel or sheave; shaft which passes through the hollow shaft of the lift
and a train of planetary gears secured within a gear case wheel a toothed wheel fixed to the load sheave. This
or block. Both ends of the load chain are secured to the lift wheel has less teeth than the
duplex internal gear, and
hoisting hook and the chain passes over a load sheave keyed the lower teeth in one side of the two-part yoke mesh with
to a short shaft suspended from the top crosshead of the the lower teeth of the lift wheel, while the upper teeth in
hoist. The hand or power chain consists of a pendant the other side of the yoke mesh with the upper teeth of
endless chain passing over a power sheave or hand-wheel the wheel. A
downward pull on either side of the hand
turning on the screw hub of a ratchet friction disk secured chain rotates the gear train, causing the eccentrics on the
to the central shaft of the planetary gear and controlling shaft of the two outer gears to impart a gyratory motion
the operation of the central pinion. The central pinion to the two-part yoke. The movement of the yoke rolls the
meshes with two intermediate gears held diametrically lift wheel within the duplex internal gear and revolves the
opposite to each other in a pinion case which is secured to load sheave, thus raising or lowering the hoisting hook.
the load sheave. Pinions on the shafts of the two inter- A high capacity hoist of the gyratory type is made with
mediate gears mesh with an integral gear secured to the the gear case of block divided into three compartments,
gear case and serve as a fulcrum to rotate the planetary the two outside compartments each containing a load sheave
gear. When power applied to either side of the hand
is mounted on a hollow shaft, and the central compartment a
chain loop, the central pinion rotates the intermediate gears pinion and three spur gears. The pinion is secured to the
in opposite directions, causing their pinions to travel around power sheave shaft which passes through the hollow shafts
the internal gear and rotate the pinion case. The pinion of the two load sheaves and drives the three spur gears
case being secured to the load sheave, transmits the power which are mounted on shafts having eccentric ends. These
to it, causing it to rotate and raise or lower the hoisting three eccentrics carry, in each of the outer divisions, a spur
hook. A
pawl which engages the ratchet disk prevents the gear which meshes with an internal gear secured to the load
load from lowering when the pull on the hoisting side of sheave. The internal gears have a greater number of
the hand chain loop is discontinued. teeth than the spur gears so that at each revolution of the
To lower the load the opposite side of the chain loop is eccentrics, a gyratory movement is imparted to the spur
pulled downward, thus reversing the movement of the gears and the load sheaves are rolled over within the in-
power sheave and unscrewing it from the hub of the ternal gears, thus raising or lowering the hoisting hook. A
ratchet disk. This releases the central shaft of the plane- multiple disk ratchet brake locks the hoist and holds the load
tary gear and permits the weight of the load to rotate the at any point but permits the lowering of the load by a down-
gear in the opposite direction. The lowering movement ward pull on the other side of the pendant hand chain
continues until the pull on the lowering side of the hand loop which reverses the movement of the power sheave.
chain loop ceases, when the revolving of the ratchet disk The hoist has two independent load chains moving over the
causes it to again screw into the power sheave. This stops load sheaves simultaneously. Idler sheaves permit the
the movement of the gears and holds the load. doubling up of these load chains, so that the load is carried
Hoists of this type are made with a single gear train by eight strands of chain.
for capacities upward gear trains, con-
to 10 tons. Two Hoists of the gyratory gear type operate with a minimum
tained in separate gear cases connected by a yoke and of vibration and are especially adapted for handling molds
operated by separate hand chains but having a single in a foundry or for handling other fragile materials. They
hoisting hook, are used for capacities from 10 tons upward range upward to 40 tons in capacity as shown in the table :
to 20 tons. The following table gives data on spur-geared TRIPLE SPUR-GEARED CHAIN HOISTS GYRATORY TYPE
hoists of the planetary gear type:
^ 62 21 8. 1.000 1
1 80 31 4. 2,000 1
Note Figures given for 12, 16, and 20-ton hoists are based ^on
hoists having two hand chains operated in unison, thus permitting
double speed.
Gyratory Gear
In another form of triple-geared hoist a fixed gear train
with a floating duplex internal gear which is cut in a
two-part yoke, is used instead of the planetary gear and the
fixed internal gear. The gear train consists of three spur-
gears on short shafts rotating in bearings in the frame of
the hoist block. The shafts of the two outer gears have
double eccentrics which rotate in bearings in the two-part
yoke. The center spur gear is keyed to the power sheave
HOISTS 205
Capacity,"
U.S.
500
206 HOISTING MACHINERY
Horizontal Air Cylinder Hand Operated Traveling Crane U'ith Air Hose Reel
Hand Operated Overhead Traveling Crane With Oil Governed Hoist and Air Hose Trolleys
Pneumatic Hoists
HOISTS 207
1 26 8 30 29 'A
I'A 32 &y, 33 35/2 CYLINDER TYPE PNEUMATIC HOISTS
39 9 36 38
3 .' 44 9y, 38 37 Inside
1 >i:tm.
of Cylinder,
In.
Pneumatic Hoists j
'
c
:cn
5 2
- - ~
iS
ja "
r;
au
w
~
<*
ji >
oH <u -~
*4 (U
r
-
c
'SO
if
a
feu
'
g
HOISTS 209
chamber thus raising the load. To lower the hoist the upper cranes under the title of "Steam-Hydraulic Balanced Jib-
chamber is connected to the lower chamber through an air Crane."
valve, thus equalizing the pressure above and below the Air-Motor Hoists
piston and allowing the piston to descend by force of its
own weight.
Air-motor hoists have been developed to a considerable
degree of efficiency and are used to quite an extent in in-
Double-Acting Type dustrial plants, particularly in foundries where a hoist hav-
The double-acting type of air hoist operates with equal ing a delicate control is especially desirable. Hoists of
force in either direction and is used when a hoisting or this some form of geared hoisting mecha-
type consist of
pulling movement and
also a pushing acti.m i^ desired. In nism operated by an air driven motor of the piston type.
this type both the upper and lower chambers of the cylin- These hoists are provided with a throttle or control valve
der are so arranged that air under pressure may be ad- and are designed to operate so that an accurate control may
mitted to and exhausted from it as in the lower chamber be obtained. This feature makes such a hoist especially de-
of the single-acting hoist. This permits a movement in sirable not only for handling fragile materials but for other
either direction at the full capacity of the cylinder. This work requiring an easily controlled and quick-acting hoist
type of hoist is not used extensively as the single-acting of moderate capacity. Usually the control valve is placed
and air-balanced types are less complicated in construction on the hoist itself but if necessary it may be placed at a
and meet all the requirements for the usual hoisting pur- remote point on the pressure line so that the hoist may be
poses in most shops. controlled from an elevated platform or other location from
which the operator may have a clear view of the work. It
Oil-Governed Type isalso quite general practice to provide a limit stop which
The oil-governed type of air hoist operates in a manner automatically cuts off the air pressure when the hoist
similar to the air-balanced type and is used chiefly in reaches a predetermined point.
foundries in the same class of service. This type has a Air-motor hoists of the smaller sizes up to about 1-ton
hollow piston red and a cyl nder with a double top-head
:
capacity may be geared with but one speed reduction,
which forms a reservoir and contains a small quantity of which generally is of the worm type. Hoists of greater
oil under pressure by means of which the upward move- capacities,however, generally have two speed reductions,
ment of the piston is The lower chamber of the a worm on the motor shaft rotating a worm wheel on the
governed.
is under constant which serves to raise
air pressure, shaft of which is a pinion which meshes with a spur gear
cylinder
the piston in the hoisting movement and acts as a cushion keyed to the shaft of the cable drum or the load chain
as the piston descends in the lowering movement and thus sheave.
handling molds or ladles of molten metal. The hoist con- of three cylinders formed in a single casting and arranged
sists of a pressure tank or cylinder, fixed on a foundation radially around a crank shaft. The cylinders rotate about
near the base of the crane, and an upper or lifting cylinder the crank and the air is thus successively admitted to the
suspended from the crane structure. Unlike other hoists of cylinders or exhausted from them through ports in the
the cylinder type the piston stationary while the lifting
is crank itself; this eliminates
need of a special valve
the
cylinder moves upon it. This type of hoist may be op- mechanism. This hoist may be operated in either direction,
erated by a combined use of water, air, and steam by ;
the air supply being controlled by a self-centering valve of
water, oil and air; by water and air; or by oil and air. the reversing type. The valve is operated by pulling on
A detailed description of the operation of the steam- pendant control cords or chains attached to the starting
hydraulic hoist is given in this book in the chapter on levers, a downward pull on either lever starting the motor
210 HOISTING MACHINERY
o
a
.M
O
o
ffi
HOISTS 211
and raising or lowering the hoist as may be desired. When types. On some hoists a link-chain belt is used to transmit
the control cords are released the valve automatically cen- the power from the motor to the hoisting gear. On the
ters and cuts off the air pressure. The following table most modern designs the gears are enclosed in tight cases
gives the capacities of air-motor hoists of this type : and rotate in a bath of lubricant. This insures proper lubri-
cation of the gears and at the same time protects them
ROTATING CYLINDER AIR MOTOR HOIST
from dirt or injury.
Maximum Feet Lift Cu. Ft.
Capacity, Lift, Per Min. 80 Lb. Free Air Generally a hoisting cable made of a good grade of
Lb. Ft. Pressure Per Min. steelwire rope is used but crane chain is sometimes used
1 000 20 32 45
2,000 20 16 45 on hoists of The cable winds on a single or a
this type.
4,000 J 8 45
7,000 ... 20 8 80 double drum on main shaft of the hoisting gear, a
the
10,000 20 80 single strand of cable being used on hoists of light capacity
up to about 1 ton; two strands on hoists having a capacity
Reciprocating Square-Piston Type upward to about 5 tons! and four strands on hoists having
Another type of air motor used on many pneumatic a capacity of 7 to 15 tons.
the inner piston which alternately communicate with two be placed in a fixed location in some part of the building
circular ports in the steam chamber cover. These circu- and connected to the hoist by electric wiring (remote con-
lar ports are connected with the throttle ; thus as the motor trol) ; or, when used with a man-riding trolley on a mono-
rail or a bridge crane, may be installed in the operator's
operates, two of the ports in the piston are always taking it
air one for the inner piston and one for the outer while cab (cab control).
the other two ports exhaust it to the atmosphere. The two The single-speed controller serves only to start, stop,
pistons are set at right angles to each other, the outer
and reverse the motor, the full speed of the motor being
piston having a lateral reciprocating movement while the obtained when the controller is in the "on" position. This
inner piston has a vertical movement. These movements type of control is suitable only for hoists having a com-
are timed so that the pistons work in unison and transmit paratively slow speed and which are used entirely in gen-
a uniform rotary movement to the crank shaft. This motor eral service where delicate handling of the material is
adaptable to practically any class of service and may be hoists in order to give the operator positive control of
used in machine shops for handling heavy parts to and the load. This form of brake is made in various designs :
Electric Hoist Installed on Overhead Traveling Crane Electric Hoist Installed on Cantilever Monorail, Handling
Handling Block Stone with Stone Tongs Loose Material with Turnover Bucket
Monorail Hoist Handling Pipe with Rectangular Lifting Monorail Hoist Handling Boxed Material with Tongs.
Magnets on a Spreader Bar Chain Hoist in Background
HOISTS 213
-
and the hoisting movement, and no pawl or retaining bands which are connected to a solenoid. When the current
are used. The arrangement of the gears and a cam causes is off, the weight of the solenoid plunger holds the levers
the motor gear to drive the intermediate gearing direct, tirmly against the pulley and the resulting friction prevents
with the brake released while hoisting, and the intermediate the armature from revolving. When the current is on the
pinion acting on the cam automatically sets the brake magnet lifts the plunger, thus releasing the pivoted levers
when the hoisting movement ceases. When lowering a load and allowing the pulley-wheel and the armature to revolve
the rotation of the motor gear relieves the pressure on the freely.
disks sufficiently to allow the load to descend but absorbs On electric hoists of the hook-suspension type or the
only enough power to prevent excessive acceleration, thus stationary-mounting type the electric current is conducted
to the hoist motor by a flexible conductor cable attached
insuring a uniform speed. With this type of load brake,
no brake is required on the motor itself. to some part of the machine on which the hoist is installed.
Another type of load brake consists of a series of On hoists suspended from a trolley the current is taken from
asbestos-lined wire-woven friction rings running on steel conductors, on one or both sides of the monorail, by current
disks. This brake automatically adjusts itself and controls collectors of the trolley-wheel type, the roller type, the
the load in the lowering operations. spoon type, the hook type, or the sliding contact-shoe type.
Electric hoists range in capacity upward to about 20 tons
Motor Brakes with approximate proportions as given in the following
Several different types of motor brakes are used. These table :
Capacity.
sists of two brake jaws or levers fitted with friction lining I b.
3
HOISTS 215
Capac-
ity,
Tons
Vi
216 HOISTING MACHINERY
o
o
SJ,
e
a
o 1
c
H
HOISTS 217
loose or package materials. They vary considerably in load to be carried. This form of trackage does not re-
capacity, depending upon the class of material being han- quire that the supports be so closely spaced as the rigid
dled and the distance which it must be hoisted and trans- monorail.
oorted. This method of telpherage is particularly desirable where
In one typical installation the telpher system was de- it isnecessary to cross a ravine or a body of water or
signed to take material contained in bags from an upper where the placing of trestle supports for a monorail would
floor of a building and convey it across a river to the upper interfere with the use of the space underneath. The telpher
floor of a building on the opposite shore. The monorail itself is constructed in substantially the same manner as the
is installed on supports consisting chiefly of wooden trestles monorail telpher except that the trolley truck wheels are
built partly en level ground and in some places along the designed to travel on the cable.
side of a cliff. The track includes several 90 deg. curves The cable telpher is suitable for use in light service
of 20 radius and passes over the roof of an intervening
ft. where the load exceed 1500 Ib. to 2000 Ib. and the
will not
building and thence over the river at an elevation of about line of travel comparatively straight, or the curves are
is
50 ft. on a specially constructed steel bridge. A telpher of very long radius. It is employed chiefly in large indus-
train consisting of the power driven telpher and two trailers particularly where it is necessary to transport
trial plants,
having a total capacity of about 4 tons is used. The com- material between remote points about the plant. The cable
plete train has a total length of 30 ft. and attains an aver- telpher may be equipped with various forms of material
age speed of 700 ft. per min. This installation with one handling accessories or may have a small car or container
man performs same work that formerly required the use
the into which the material may be loaded.
of several teams and men. The cost for electric power is In a typical installation of the cab-operated cable telpher
ing a capacity of about 3 tons each are used. The freight is at the door of the building on a truck from which it is
placed on a car and then hoisted and transported to or from hoisted and carried by the telpher into the second story
a vessel. As one car is being handled by the telpher an- of an adjacent building. A telpher of this type is particu-
other car may be loaded, thus keeping up a continuous larly useful for handling material which must be trans-
ported to various parts of a plant in the process of manu-
1
port while material is being loaded through another port. By materials into and out of storage.
the use of switches and by-passes inside of the warehouse
several telphers may be utilized on a single track monorail Automatic Telphers
system. Automatic telphers of both the monorail and the cable
Many adaptations of the telpher have been made to handle types have been adapted to many industries. They are par-
loose materials with an automatic grab bucket. In a typical
ticularly suitable for use where such materials as coal, coke,
installation for such service, the telpher is used to deliver
sand or gravel, or various forms of package materials, are
coal into a power house and to remove the ashes from the handled constant volume.
in In this type of telpher the
house, thus making it possible to make many round trips stationed at a remote point and generally con-
operator is
carrying a load each way. The bucket lines are manipulated trols only the starting of the telpher, the stopping and un-
by the drums en the hoisting apparatus in the same way loading operations being controlled by automatic switches
as on other hoisting machines. A telpher of this type has and stops installed on the monorail or the cable at the
a capacity of upward to 150 tons or more per day depend- desired discharge point. In some cases, however, the entire
ing upon the capacity of the bucket and the distance traveled. operation of the telpher is controlled from the ground or
from a fixed platform so located as to give the operator a
Cable Telphers
constant view of the work.
The telpher is used in certain classes of service
cable The performance of an automatic telpher of the monorail
where the construction of the rigid monorail is not possible type installed in a coke and gas works is illustrative of
or desirable. This type of telpher is designed to travel on the service for which this type of machine is adapted. In
a suspended cable which in many cases also serves as a this installation, the telpher is equipped with a strongly
power line to transmit the current to the telpher motors. constructed steel basket having a capacity of about six tons.
A common method of construction consists of a traction The coke is pushed from the ovens directly into the basket
cable suspended from trestles or bents, or from brackets se- and is carried by the telpher and lowered into the quench-
cured to the side wall of a building or other structure. ing tank. After quenching it is hoisted from the tank and
The cable is suspended between the side members of the conveyed to the coke pile and dumped. This telpher has
bents and is supported at midway points by a suspension a hoisting speed of 60 ft. per min. and travels at the rate
cable secured to the top of the bent. The bents may be of 800 ft. per min. The entire operation of the machine is
placed 50 ft. or more apart, depending on the weight of the controlled from the ground.
218 HOISTING MACHINERY
Derricks
ship yards, coal, lumber, or other storage yards, foun- operation of the tackle.
dries, quarries, and in many other similar operations. Many derricks are fitted with a ball-bearing foot block
When installed on a pier or on a barge, a derrick becomes so that they may easily be swung by hand; this serves
an efficient means of loading or unloading vessels, or it admirably for certain classes of work. However, the effi-
may be used to advantage in dredging operations. As an ciency of a derrick used constantly, or for heavy work,
integral part of ships' gear derricks are an important factor will be greatly increased if it is equipped with a self-
in cargo handling. slewing gear or with a bull-wheel. These devices are
Manyderricks of both light and heavy capacity are con- practically essential in heavy work in order to avoid
structed of wood reinforced by iron and steel fittings. In undue strains to the derrick structure and to facilitate
Mich construction the timbers should be carefully selected operation.
in order to secure straight-grained, well-seasoned, tough The method of applying the power required to operate
wood and the fittings should be of such design and so ap- a derrick depends on the character and volume of the
plied as to insure a free work to be done. The
increment of the derrick : " " '
'; lighter machines,
capacity
ma-t and the boom and to especially when used only at
permit the easy operation infrequent intervals, are
Stationary Derricks: Guy; Stiff-Leg; Sheer-
of the tackle and the. ac- equipped with a hand-power
Legs; Tower.
cessories, such as buckets, winch. Winches used on
or grapples. Portable and Traveling Derricks: Barge; Car; derricks of heavy capacity or
slings,
In steel construction, Stiff-Leg; Skid; Jinniwink; Pile Driver; in constant or frequent serv-
which, because of its greater Counterweight. ice generally are operated by
durability and the greater Light Capacity Derricks: Pole, Gin Pole; steam, gasoline, or electric
accuracy with which its Breast; Tripod; Sulky; A-Frame. power ; sometimes by a
strength may be determined
Derrick Details: Fittings; Slewing Apparatus.
horse or a mule.
is preferable where a per-
manent derrick is desired, Cargo Handling Gear.
Guy Derricks
or when constant heavy
service is required, the There are various forms
members should preferably guy derricks, the simplest of
be of the lattice-truss type, so proportioned as to give the type being a plain mast and boom with a hand-power winch
required strength against collapse under load and to resist attached to the mast for raising and lowering the fall block,
the twisting strain due to slewing the derrick. theboom being controlled by a topping-lift hauled by hand and
The general principles of construction followed in all secured to a cleat on the mast. Other forms of guy der-
derricks are similar, but there are three distinct types : ricks are designed fir half hand and half power operation,
the guy derrick having the mast supported by guys the ; or for full power operation by steam or electricity. The
stiff-leg derrick, having the mast supported by stiff-legs or heavier capacities are equipped with self-slewing gear or
props the tower derrick, having a tower structure, to
; with a bull-wheel.
which the mast is secured, held in an upright position by Guy derricks are used with a fall block and a hook or
weights placed at the base and by short braces or guys at a sling for purposes or they may be
general hoisting
the lower part of the tower frame, but without the guys equipped to handle an automatic bucket and in some cases
or stiff-legs usually secured to the top of the mast. There are used to handle an electric magnet. They are used in
are many special designs of derricks but the essential quarries, lumber yards, shipyards, etc., in construction work
characteristics are modifications or combinations of these for general hoisting purposes, or, when operated by a suit-
three types. able hoisting apparatus, are used for bucket work in
The most important considerations in derrick design are :
handling loose materials such as coal, sand, gravel or
maximum strength and capacity, minimum \veight. and similar materials.
convenience in transporting, assembling, and operating. For heavy work the guy derrick is a most common type.
The
capacity of a derrick depends on the relative length The guys are secured to a building or to any fixed object
of the mast and of the boom; these are determined by the in the vicinity of the derrick. The outer ends of the guys
character of the service desired. The shorter the length should be secured at the highest available point below the
of the boom with a given height of mast, the greater the top of the mast, but, if possible with the guy lines above
capacity. When heavy loads are to be handled within a the top of the boom when at its highest working point so
short radius of action it is desirable to use a short boom that the derrick may be free to swing in a full circle with-
and a mast having a height sufficient to cause the topping out unnecessary lowering of the boom. When this condi-
lift always to act in a horizontal or in an tion obtainable the derrick termed a
upward direc- is is full-circle guy
tion. This condition rarely is obtainable in derricks of derrick.
the stiff-leg type, the boom usually being longer than the In locations where it is not possible to secure a guy line
mast. However, due consideration should be given to at a height or a distance from the derrick that will permit
219
220 HOISTING MACHINERY
c/:
5 S.
= o
3
a
o
H
O
DERRICKS 221
full circle operation, and to avoid obstructing the passage varied to suit the service required, but the commonly used
about the derrick, a deadman or strut is sometimes used proportions are that the length of the boom shall be one
under the guys. This permits the use of shorter guys, re- and one-half to two times the height of the mast, which
quires less yardroom and eliminates the necessity of con- ranges upward to 50 or 60 ft.
It is not practicable to have extremely high masts on
tinually lowering the boom to clear the guys when it
is
from five Y% in. lines for light capacities to ten 1}4 in., or, have been established by operating experience and are rec-
larger, lines for heavy work. For average service, on ommended for the average service.
level ground, the length of the guys should not be less STIFF-LEG DERRICKS WO" 1>
quently.
The construction and strength of guy ropes is treated in
the chapter on wire rope.
Capacity.
Tons
m
222 HOISTING MACHINERY
(J
=
c/;
-
3
c.
a
3
cr
DERRICKS 223
similar size in either of the other types. On some towers sion generally steam or electric power. The derrick
the derrick mast is omitted and a beam placed diagonally structure is similar to the stiff-leg type except that the
across the tower to serve as a support for the boom seat. mast usually is given additional support by an A-frame or
The topping lift and the hoist line are secured to an upper sheer legs. Sometimes the mast is dispensed with and the
post bracket. This construction is thoroughly efficient for upper sheaves are installed at the peak of the A-frame.
light service and the location of the derricks on the
tower Tie rods may be substituted for the stiff-legs and provision
structure can be changed quickly. made to lower the frame and the boom so that the car
will pass through tunnels or over any part of a railroad
Portable and Traveling Derricks line. These derricks are used in the construction of rail-
It frequently is desirable to have a derrick so arranged road bridges, or work, but may serve for many
in similar
that it may be transported easily without the necessity of of the same uses as the locomotive crane. Being of much
dismantling it. To meet such conditions derricks are lighter and more simple construction they are not so costly
erected on skids or on barges, on trucks having wheels as locomotive cranes and where the service required is not
which may run on standard gage railroad tracks or which extremely heavy nor frequent a car derrick is an economical
may require a specially laid track, or the trucks may have piece of equipment. They seldom are made in capacities
wheels with a plain tread which run on the ground or on greater than 25 tons, being especially adapted to compara-
the floors of warehouses and shops. tively light construction work. They also are used for
bucket work in handling coal or other loose material as
Floating or Barge Derrick well as for hoisting purposes.
The floating or barge derrick is a development due to
the need of a derrick of sufficient capacity for heavy work, Traveling Stiff-Leg Derrick
yet easily transportable, for use alongside wharves and for A machine called a traveling stiff-leg derrick
similar
shipping on the water front or for dredging purposes. A
usually is mounted on trucks having double flanged wheels
derrick of this type is used for general hoisting purposes
and running on a special track. One truck is directly under
in handling freight when loading or unloading vessels for ;
the mast and the stiff-legs are supported by outriggers
bucket work in handling loose materials such as coal, sand
resting on two-wheel trucks. These outrigger trucks carry
and gravel and for digging or for grapple work in dredg-
;
a bin which may be filled with earth, stone, or any other
ing operations.
heavy material to give stability to the derrick. Such der-
When constructed for dredging work in streams or other
ricks are used with a fall-block in construction work, or
open waters the barge usually is built of a size sufficient
for general hoisting purposes in railroad or industrial
to provide storage space for a considerable amount of the
works, or may be equipped for bucket operation to handle
material excavated. If, however, the derrick is required
coal, ashes, sand, gravel or any similar material. They are
chiefly for use in excavating a channel or a canal through
commonly made in capacities ranging from 3 tons to 10
marshy land the barge is designed only to carry the der- tons.
rick and the hoisting machinery, the material excavated
Generally both the car derrick and the traveling stiff-leg
being discharged from the bucket at either side of the barge. derrick are equipped with either the self-slewing gear or
The barge derrick generally is either of the stiff-leg or the
with a bull-wheel.
A-frame type of construction and ranges in capacities up
to 100 tons for the average service. Floating or pontoon Pile Driver Derrick
derricks have, however, been constructed of much greater
capacities for special service in marine work.
A machine known as a pile driver derrick is used for
The relative capacity of such derricks when used in hoist- driving piles along the water's edge, or in embankment
358
used mostly in
BARGE DERRICKS a float or barge. The pile leader is formed of two parallel
Nominal capacity (to-.O 18
perpendicular timbers which also form a guide or runway
Size o{ bucket (cu. yds.) yt l
l
/i 2 4
for the pile-driver hammer. The leaders are supported by
Length of mast 22ft. 26ft. 30ft. 33 ft. 36 ft.
a vertical truss or tower structure.
Length of boom 34ft. 40ft. 45ft. 50ft. 55ft.
The pile to be driven is placed in the leader and, by
Those of the lighter generally are equipped
capacities means of a hoisting apparatus operating over sheaves in
with a bull-wheel, but in the heavier capacities the derrick the top of the structure, a heavy rectangular metal ham-
usually is rotated by means of side tackle attached to the mer is raised to the top of the tower and then released
boom and operated by a two-drum winch acting inde- and, being guided by the leader frame, drops on the top of
pendently of the main hoisting apparatus. The tendency of the pile, driving it into the ground or the river bed.
a barge to list when a load is suspended from the boom A derrick of this kind with the hoisting winch and engine
end at either side of the barge greatly increases the strain sometimes is erected on a platform and mounted on rollers
on the derrick structure and for this reason the capacity placed on a rollway of wood or metal, or it may be
of a barge derrick is less than for a similar size of the mounted on a car placed on a track.
stiff-leg type mounted on a rigid base. Pile drivers of this type rarely are self-propelled and
A type of barge generally known as a lighter and used for certain classes of work, particularly railroad work,
in transferring the cargo from the ship to the wharf, or locomotive pile drivers are used. Such machines are de-
224 HOISTING MACHINERY
DERRICKS 225
K. Znt
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226 HOISTING MACHINERY
Breast Jinniivink
scribed in this book in the chapter treating locomotive double-drum winch and a small grab bucket usually an
cranes. orange-peel bucketand be used for digging wells, sinking
Jinniwink Derrick pipe, cleaning outcatch-basins or similar work. They
usually are operated by hand, but the heavier capacities
The jinniwink a light portable derrick exten-
derrick is
often are equipped with electric power.
sively used and other work where an
in steel erection
Derricks of this type may be mounted on trucks and be
easily moved and erected derrick is desired. These der-
used in shops or yards where a light capacity portable
ricks seldom are made in capacities greater than 3 to
derrick is desired.
6 tons. The boom usually is about 30 ft. long and is
secured to the base of an A-frame which has a height ap- Light Capacity Derricks
proximately one-half the boom length. In the lighter For a very light service and where it is desired to erect
capacity derricks the main fall line, running over a sheave or to remove a derrick quickly, there are various small
in the boom end, is operated by a hand-power winch types which are used by builders and contractors for lifting
attached to the boom. The boom is raised or lowered by
stone, lowering pipe into trenches or for any light work
hand, the topping lift being reeved through blocks secured in which only a direct vertical movement is required. These
to the top of the A-frame and the boom end and the line
include the pole or gin pole derrick; breast derrick; tripod
made fast to a cleat on the A-frame. derrick simple A-frame derrick
;
and sulky derrick. In;
The heavier capacity machines usually are equipped with all of these derricks, either the guyed mast or the hinged
power operated hoisting winches. boom used in derricks of heavier capacities is dispensed
with.
Skid Derrick
Pole Derrick
The a light capacity portable derrick of
skid derrick is
The pole derrick is the simplest form of derrick for
the stiff-leg or the A-frame type, mounted with the hoist-
light work. The single pole or mast is secured to a cross-
ing winch and engine on a platform resting on wooden or bar base and is held in a slightly inclined position by guys
metal runners or skids. It can be drawn on the skids to
which may be attached to any convenient fixed objects.
any desired location and if, in addition to the stability The hoisting rope passes over a sheave in the top of the
imparted by the weight of the machine itself, it is clamped mast and thence to a hand-power winch at the base of the
or bolted to a firm foundation its capacity is practically
pole. Usually the base is provided with rollers so that the
the same as that of a similar size of fixed derrick. The
derrick may be moved easily. This derrick can only be
capacity of such a derrick is limited by the gross weight used for handling comparatively small and light weight
of the machine so that it may be easily portable, and it
objects and usually where only a straight vertical lift is
therefore is seldom made in capacities greater than 8 to
required. A limited horizontal movement may be obtained
10 tons. The full working capacity of these derricks is
by securing the base of the pole against slipping and slack-
obtained when the boom
is working directly forward but,
ing off the guys.
by securing side guys to the structure after it is placed Gin Pole Derrick
in the desired position, approximately the full capacity of
the derrick may be obtained when working to either side. The gin pole is a type of pole derrick having a somewhat
The average capacities of skid derricks of this type are
wider scope and it may be used to advantage in erection
Breast Derrick
It is desirable that such derricks be fitted with a bull-
wheel but in the lighter capacities this may be dispensed The breast derrick is a type similar to the pole derrick
with. When itis not necessary to change the inclination but having two poles spaced apart and inclined toward each
of the boom, except occasionally, it may be done by hand other at the top. The poles are secured to cross-bars and,
power and in such cases a single-drum winch will serve like the pole derrick, are held in the desired position by
for hoisting the load. guys. Sometimes the poles are brought to a point at the
Counterweight Derrick rick. The hoisting line passes through a block on the top
The counterweight derrick is a small derrick used around cross-bar, or at the apex when the top bar is omitted, and
foundries or in industrial yards for handling heavy cast- thence to a hand-power winch secured between the poles
near the base of the derrick. The breast type is used in
ings, iron or pipe, timber or stone. They also are used in
the same way as the pole derrick but, having greater sta-
building operations where, due to the compactness of the
entire machine and the fact that no guys are required, they bility, can be used for heavier work.
can be placed in any location desired as the building pro-
Tripod Derrick
gresses. Generally the boom is pivoted at an intermediate
point sometimes at the top on the derrick mast, which Thetripod derrick is used in the same class of work as
is fixed to the base and does not rotate. The hoisting the pole or the breast types but requires no guys and
apparatus, and if necessary additional weight, is placed at therefore may be more quickly erected. Its construction
one end of theboom to act as a counterweight to the load. is simple, consisting of a pole supported in an inclined
For excavation work the derrick may be equipped with a position by two legs or props. It is used for laying sewer
228 HOISTING MACHINERY
Cast Steel Stiff-Leg Derrick Mast Top Cast Steel Guy Derrick Mast Top Structural Steel Guy Derrick Mast
with Wrought Iron Timber Straps and with Wrought Iron Strap Timber and Top with Single-Sheave Rooster for
Chain Topping-Lift Connection Topping Lift Connections Three-Line Work
Structural Steel A-Frame Top with Chain Topping-Lift Structural SteelA-Frame Top with Single-Sheave Rooster
Connection and Chain Topping-Lift Connection
Cast Steel Mast Base and Step with Cast Two-Piece Cast Steel Base with Cast Steel Mast Bottom and
Steel Boom Heel and Sheave Steel Plate Mast Connection Double Step
DERRICKS 229
pipe, setting monuments, digging trenches and work of a adequate sections to insure the required strength and to
similar character. eliminate probability of failure under load. Cast iron is
This derrick has a small winch on the pole and is oper- sometimes used for base plates, step castings and other
ated by hand. The height of such derricks ranges from parts not subject to severe shock or tensile stress. The
12 ft. to 14 ft. and in capacities upward to 2 tons. lubrication of all bearing surfaces should be provided for.
In the type of construction generally followed the derrick
Sulky Derrick mast supported in a foot block secured to the bottom
is
A light capacity derrick known as the sulky derrick is of the mast and resting on a base plate. This foot block
used in much the same manner as a tripod derrick. Four is provided with a pivot which rests in the mast step.
poles are mounted on two wheels and may be moved from There are various types of mast steps, some having a
place to place by resting the wheels on the ground and cylindricalform while others have a ball and socket joint.
folding the poles on the axle. When erected for use, the The mast step and the base plate usually are a single cast-
poles form a rectangular pyramid secured at the apex by ing and the brackets for the bottom mast sheaves are either
a bolt. A
means of suspending tackle is provided and the cast on or bolted to the base plate. In some cases, par-
hoisting line passes from the block to a winch secured to ticularly when the derrick is not equipped with power
two of the poles near the base. The winch gear meshes slewing apparatus and must be swung by hand, the foot
with a pinion on the sulky axle and is operated by turning block and mast step are provided with ball bearings.
the sulky wheel. Derricks of this type do not require The boom seat usually is an integral part of the foot
guvs and may be set up over a well or at any point where block, though a separate boom seat is used on some der-
the work to be done may be brought directly under the ricks and is then secured to the mast above the foot block.
center of the derrick. When the boom seat is designed for use on a derrick hav-
ing a pivoted mast as most of them have it provides
A-Frame Derrick
only for a hinge to permit the changing of the angle of
A small portable A-frame derrick, substantially a type inclination of the boom. In other cases, as when the der-
of stiff-leg, is used in building operations for setting gir-
rick has no mast or as in cargo handling gear having a
ders, timbers and columns, or for other purposes. boom seat.
fixed mast, the pivot is integral with the
A pole or mast is supported in a fixed inclined position The complete combination of base plate, foot block, mast
by an A-frame and the fall lines are suspended from the step, boom seat, and the timber straps, together with any
top of the mast, which extends beyond the top of the required number of sheaves at the bottom of the mast and
A-frame. The derrick is operated by means of a hand- the boom, is known as a derrick bottom.
winch, placed on the inclined pole or mast, and has a The top of the mast is fitted with irons collectively
capacity up to about 2500 Ib. known as the mast top. These fittings are preferably made
Such derricks usually are mounted on rollers so that
of rolled plate or bar steel, but cast steel fittings have now
they can be moved readily. They are also mounted on
come into general use and, when
properly designed, give
four-wheel trucks and then have a wider range.
satisfactory service. An essential feature is that the top
Mast and Gaff shall be so designed that the gudgeon and the pivot at the
The mast-and-gaff rig is a modification of both the guy bottom shall be in the same axis and preferably centrally
and the includes a mast, a gaff or light
stiff-leg derrick. It located on the mast. The mast top is of similar design
boom, usually some type of grab bucket and a hopper or bin for either the guy or the stiff-leg type of derrick.
into which the material is dumped. It is used chiefly at In the guy line type the mast top includes a guy cap
wharves or in coal yards for handling loose materials. It which centers on the gudgeon and is provided with holes
usually is classed as an unloading machine and is fully de- or eyes to which the guy lines are secured in such a man-
scribed elsewhere in this book. ner as not to interfere with the swiveling movement of
the machine. Various designs of guy caps are of cast
Sheer-Legs steel, others are made of steel plates, but all provide a
Sheer-legs are a type of derrick used largely in foreign wide bearing surface for the gudgeon to prevent the cutting
countries. This machine consists of two legs forming an A of the pin as the derric 1- rotates. The guys are secured
and pivoted to a fixed base. The hoisting tackle is suspended directly to the cap or in some designs to thimbles or rope
from the apex. A single back-leg is pivoted to the top of the sockets or to shackles secured to the guy cap itself.
A and its base is fitted with either a screw connection or a In the stiff-leg type of derrick the guy cap is omitted
tackle connection so that it may be moved back and forth in and gooseneck irons having holes to fit over the gudgeon
a guide resting on the foundation. A forward or backward are secured to the upper ends of the stiff-legs and serve
movement of the back-leg tilts the sheer-legs and thus gives to support the mast in an upright position while permitting
a limited horizontal movement to the load. A machine of it to swivel freely. The stiff-legs are secured to sills or
this type is installed on the edge of a wharf so that the other anchorages by meaas of stiff-leg irons.
be dropped into a vessel alongside. It may The design of the mast top varies somewhat, depending
fall-line may
also be used in other service when the conditions will permit. on the use to which the derrick is to be put. Some tops
are fitted only with the topping lift connection while others
Derrick Fittings have one or more sheaves so that the various lines may
Careful attention to the design of derrick fittings is pass through the mast top.
essential in order to secure the greatest strength of the When a derrick is intended for grab bucket operation
derrick structure without unnecessary weight and to avoid or for any other service requiring three-line work the der-
undue strains, particularly at the base of the mast where rick top generally is equipped with a rooster which fits
excessive friction will reduce the speed of operation. The over the gudgeon and provides a sheave at the mast top.
life of the derrick and the efficiency of its operation depend
The rooster bracket is fixed in any desired position by
largely on the character of the fittings. All derrick fittings
means of a comb on the mast Usually the gudgeon
top.
Cast Steel Boom End or Point with Wrought Iron Plate Boom End Wrought Iron Boom End with Flex-
Topping-Lift and Fall-Block Sheaves with Two
Sheaves for Fall Lines and Topping-Lift with
ible Fall-Block
and Strap Connections and Double Sheave Topping-Lift Fixed Sheave in Boom
Cast Steel Base with Intermediate Cast Iron Ball Socket Foot Block or Cast Steel Mast Step and Base with
Mast Step Casting Base Center Bore and Bottom Sheave
Structural Steel Bull-Wheel Slewing Apparatus with Slew- Electrically Operated Hoisting Winch with Self-Slewing
ing Lines Rigged Gear for Use on Stationary Derrick
DERRICKS 231
tional sheave is desired, as frequently is the case on barge brackets secured to the wheel rim. The hinge pins of these
brackets and of the derrick boom should be in a common
derricks, the top may be equipped with two roosters.
The boom end, or boom point, fittings vary with the line to insure the easy raising or lowering of the boom.
character of the work to be performed. The boom end The slewing rods are provided with turnbuckles so that
may be built up of structural steel parts or may consist adjustments can be made. The slewing lines pass around
of a combination of steel castings and plates or straps. the rim of the bull-wheel and over sheaves to a slewing
The number of sheaves to be provided at the boom end drum on the hoisting apparatus. The bull-wheel gives the
depends on the service desired from the derrick. The operator control of the load and permits the boom to be
sheaves sometimes are set in the end of the boom while swung while the load is being raised, thus increasing the
other boom ends have sheaves attached by means of bails speed of operation.
or links. On derricks of light capacity and on cargo The relation of the diameter of the bull-wheel to the
handling gear, boom bands or rings are used, to a large length of the boom, as given in the following table, has
extent, to provide connections for the tackle required.
been determined by common usage :
Tower derricks
require special design of upper and
a
BULL-WHEEL SLEWING APPARATUS
lower post brackets, which serve the same purposes as the Wheel Diameter, Boom Length,
mast top and mast bottom in the other types of derricks. Feet Feet
R 40
These brackets are designed to bolt or clamp on the corner 10 50
of the tower. They usually are steel castings with iron 12 60
14 70
strap bolts or clamps. 16 80
20 100
It often is desirable to use comparatively light timbers
for derrick booms and, when this is done, the timbers are Self-slewing gear serves the same purpose as the bull-
reinforced by from one to four truss rods. These trussed wheel. It is operated by means of a pinion geared to the
booms vary in length from 30 ft. to 70 ft., the rods being hoisting apparatus and meshing with a large ring-gear
from Y* in. to \Y& m. in diameter. The use of truss rods surrounding the base of the mast. It is used only when
permits the use of exceptionally long booms without un- the hoisting apparatus, generally including the boiler or
necessary increase in the size of the timbers and con- other source of power, is mounted on a platform at the
seqently the weight of the machine. base of the mast and revolves with the derrick. All of
the machinery being on the opposite side of the mast, it
Slewing Apparatus serves as a counterweight to the boom and its load.
The speed of operation and therefore the volume of The operator is stationed on the platform and has com-
work done by a derrick is greatly increased if some method plete control of the derrick and also has an unobstructed
of slewing by power is provided. An efficient means of view of the work. In permanent installations, the boiler
doing this is the bull-wheel or the self-slewing gear. can be dispensed with and steam may be piped from a
The bull-wheel, which is largely used, preferably is con- stationary boiler plant through a line leading up through
structed entirely of steel so braced and reinforced with the mast pivot and thence to the hoisting engine. Electric
channel and angle iron girders and braces that the force
power may also be used for derricks equipped with self-
applied to the rim of the wheel will be transmitted to the slewing gear.
mast and to the boom without excessive strains on the der-
rick structure or danger of buckle in the wheel rim. The Tackle
wheel is fastened casting and to the mast
to the base The on derricks includes a large variety of
tackle used
itself by braces extending outward to the rim of the wheel blocks, wire rope and special fittings. These are treated
and to the boom by slewing rods which are hinged on in this book in the chapters describing such material.
mined by the number of booms required. The smaller sixes rangement which has been found very efficient for certain
of boomtables arc usually bracketed to the mast but when classes of cargo, and which has been extensively adopted
the space between hatches will permit a wide boom table where two booms are fitted on each side of a mast, is to
to be built around the mast it is supported by stanchions,
locate the winches in an athwartship direction with sufficient
and sometimes is enclosed and used as a deck locker. space between them inr an operator at each winch but close
An upper table or outrigger, to which the topping-lifts enough to permit one man to operate both winches by ex-
are connected, must be provided when a derrick table is tending the levers and brakes. Where possible, it is de-
fittedaround the mast at the deck. The connections for sirable that one man should control both winches.
the blocks should be located directly above the
topping-lift Usually only one winch is required for each boom, but
boom Sometimes the upper where a heavy lift boom is used and the ships is not fitted
pivots on the derrick table.
for the lead block. When the boom is stepped on a table of the vessel by the whip on the boom over the hatch and
a pad-eye, with a link to which to shackle the lead block, after it is clear of the hatch coaming, it is swung out-
ship to control the slewing movements of a boom the top- from the vessel's hold and then hauled outboard by a line
ping-lift, and hoisting blocks. made fast to the load as the whip is slacked away. For
the heavier loads from 3 tons to 5 tons it usually is
Winches necessary to substitute a three-part tackle in place of
One most common types of winches for handling
of the the single whip.
the average cargo is the single gear winch with a single When heavy cargo is to be handled, booms of 25 tons
hoisting drum and with one winch-head on the outboard to capacity are used.
35 tons Usually .they are stepped
side. When there is sufficient deck space winches fitted on deck and are fitted with an eight-part fall for hoist-
with two winch-heads are used, as there are some classes ing and also an eight-part topping-lift. When hoisting a
of cargo where a number of whips a term usually applied load from the hold the heavy boom is guyed securely over
to light cargo hoisting tackle can be operated from one the center of the hatch, by means of vangs on each side of
hatch, and both the hoisting drum and each of the winch- the boom, the load then hoisted until high enough to clear
heads can be used to good advantage. Winches that are the hatch coaming and the bulwark, and then swung out-
used aboard ship for handling very heavy loads and for board by slacking away on one vang purchase and hauling
warping are subjected to severe strains and generally are in on the other with the aid of the winch head. This
compound geared. method gives complete control of the gear and permits the
The location of the winches has an important bearing handling of heavy, cumbersome packages without danger
on the facility with which cargo may be handled. An ar- to the operator from unexpected slewing of the load.
234 HOISTING MACHINERY
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Excavating Machines
SPECIAL lyres of excavating machines have been is necessary to change the location of the machine. In the
developed for the digging and disposal of earth, case of a dipper dredge the machine generally is mounted
MANY sand, gravel, coal, ore and other materials. The on a barge or float, but in some cases it is mounted on a
use of these machines has resulted in the more economical platform which rests on land while the dipper is operated
operation of many industries such as the open mining of in the water.
coal and ore, and other minerals the handling of sand and; Power shovels for dry work are made in several differ-
gravel for commercial use and the more efficient main-
; ent forms : These are commonly known as the standard
tenance of railroads. They have also been extensively railroad type for heavy service ;
the revolving type for
adapted to such work as filling along the water front, for general service and the ditching machine, generally
;
known
levee construction and similar service. In addition to as the railroad ditcher.
cableways of the excavating type and the various special
Railroad Type
appliances by means of which locomotive cranes, derricks
and other similar machines are adapted to excavation work, The standard railroad type of power shovel commonly
there are certain types of machines which are especially called a steam shovel because of the type of power gen-
suited to a particular class of excavation service on dry erally used is adapted to the most severe service. It is
land and on water. used not only in railroad construction and maintenance
Those adapted to land service are : Power shovels service, but also in open mining; quarry work; at
equipped with a dipper or cement, and brick plants
tile ;
chines for specialized serv- Back-Filling Machine. suspended from the outer
ice. They are operated by end of a boom by means of
Dredges: Dipper Type; Hydraulic Type;
steam, gasoline, or electric chains or wire rope passing
Placer Type.
power. over sheaves installed on the
Those types of excavating boom. The other end of the
machines adapted for use on handle passes through guides
water are the dipper dredge, similar
: in design to the located at an intermediate point on the boom. Sometimes
land type of power shovel; the elevator or placer dredge, this form of construction is reversed and the boom passes
crane. The A-frame rests on a structural frame or car body and the entire apparatus is carried on two 4-wheel
body which may be mounted on standard railroad trucks trucks of the standard railroad type. The car is propelled
and travel on standard gage track may be mounted on ; by chain gearing connecting the truck axles with the power
rollers or small wheels and travel on a special runway laid plant on the car. Adjustable side outriggers are provided
on the ground or on top of flat cars or may be mounted ;
to give stability to the machine. The car on which a rail-
on trucks of the trackless type having wheels with plain road type of power shovel is installed generally is equipped
tread, tractor tread, or of the creeper traction type. These with standard automatic couplers and air brakes so that it
shovels generally are self-propelled, but they are sometimes may be hauled in railroad train.
mounted on a platform which is moved on rollers when it In the operation of this machine, the shovel or dipper is
235
236 HOISTING MACHINERY
Large Revolving Steam Power Shovel Stripping Overburden in Open Mining Operations
Skimmer or Coal Loader Working in Conjunction with Large Revolving Steam Power Shovel
EXCAVATING MACHINES 237
lowered to liic l.asc le\el and is tiiru.it into the material by for traveling on soft yieldingground; or they may be
means of a rack gear on the under side of the dipper handle. mounted on a 4-wheel sometimes more self-propelled car
It isoperated by gears propelled by the thrusting engine on traveling on rails. The radius of action ranges upward to
the boom and movesthe dipper handle through the guides. about 25 ft.,they have a dumping height of about 15 to 20
As the dipper is thrust forward into the material the hoist- ft. and a dipper capacity of from J4 cu. yd. to 6 cu. yds.
ing engine operates the hoisting chains or rope and raise> Approximate capacities of the small sizes of levolving
the dipper in a vertical semi-circle scooping a load as it power shovels are given in the following table:
rises. The boom is then rotated to either side by the swing-
ing engine and the material h aded into a wagon or car hv
SMALL REVOLX ING POWER SI10V1.I.S
Capacity Length of Digging Radius
opening- the hinged back or bottom of the dipper and drop- of at 8 Ft.
ping the load. T>o< in . Handle Elevation
It. In. Ft. In. Ft. In.
This type of machine may be equipped with H dipper IS ii 11 23 6
20 14 27 9
having a capacity ranging upward to about 6 cu. yds. a ;
25 16 3 32 6
radius of action upward to about 35 ft. swinging through
an arc ranging upward to about 10 deg. beyond a right A larger, heavier type of revolving power shovel has been
angle on either side of the car or a total swing of ah.i-.it developed for special service such as stripping overburden
190 to 200 deg., and a dumping height of about 20 ft. above in open mining operations and for mining the deposits
.
the surface on which the machine rests. after the overburden has been removed. This type of
The proportions of some power shovels of the railroad machine has also been adapted to other service such as
type are given in the following table: digging canals, digging gravel and clay, and in other ex-
other similar materials. In the operation of this machine or on double tracks. In some cases the trucks are dis-
the boom which
controlled by a topping-lift is low-
is pensed with and the turntable base is mounted on skids and
ered so that the dipper rests on the ground and the thrust- rollers and is moved as required. The bucket is of the
ing mechanism then forces it into the material. When the dragline type described elsewhere in this book.
dipper is filled which may be at any point on the outward In the operation of this type of machine the bucket is
thrust or line of travel the boom is hoisted and the travel first raised from the ground by the hoisting line attached to
shovel in that its movement is circular full circle instead plain tread, traction tread, or the creeper type. This per-
of radial and, except for the manner of mounting, being mits a more varied application of the dragline machine to
of substantially the same construction as the revolving type general excavation service.
of power shovel. Dragline excavators mounted on the various forms of
Two different methods are employed trucks or skids range in capacities approximately as given
operation of in the
in the following table
the railroad ditcher a flat car train, or a dump car train.
:
:
When using a flat car train the ditcher travels from car DRAGLINE EXCAVATORS
to car over portable sectional tracks which it transfers ahead
after passing over them. As it progresses it loads the
material on the cars behind it. The train is then hauled to
the dumping ground and the material u ilo
larly desirable.
The following table gives the approxim
road ditchers :
DITCHINO MACHINE
Ft.
Radius of cut at grade : 15
Radius of cut at 8 ft. elevation 23
Radius of dump from pivotal center 22
Radius of boom from pivotal center 18
Depth of cut below top of rail 3
Dragline Excavator
The dragline excavator is used for digging and loading
such materials as sand, gravel, clay, earth, coal or ore and
may be used in mining operations, canal and drainage work,
or for handling any class of loose materials. The
superstructure combines many of the features of power
shovel and locomotive crane construction. It consists of
Wheel Type Trenching Machine with Topping-Lift and Disposal Conveyor Gaff-Rig
ward as the material is excavated. They are self-propelled, the from the ground by a line attached to the
material
either gasoline or steam power being used. rear of and passing through a sheave at the boom end,
it
type which then serves for back-filling purposes. the stiff-leg extends from the outer end of the lie-leg to the
One design of back-filler has a light trussed-boom about top of the A-frame supporting the boom. It thus prevents
30 feet long which is supported by an A-frame structure listing of the hull to either side.
carried on a small truck on which are also mounted a winch Vertical spuds are used when the width of the ditch or
and a gasoline engine. The truck mav have complete ranal will not permit the use of lie-legs or when the
Endless-Chain Bucket Type Trenching Machine with Topping-Lift. Bucket Equipped with Side Cutters
o
=.
a.
-
244 HOISTING MACHINERY
Hydraulic Dredge with Vertical Spuds. Disposal Pipe Line Laid for Filling Behind Bulkhead
Two Placer Dredges at Work. Elevator or Dredging End Shown at Right, Disposal End at Le
DIPPER DREDGES
Capacity
246 HOISTING MACHINERY
Suspension Cableway Dredging Sand from the Bed of a River and Delivering to a Bin for Drying
Head Tower and Sand Bin Head Tower with Projecting Boom
Suspension Cableway with Projecting Boom on Head Tower for Unloading Loose Materials from Boats
Cableways
ARE USED in many fields of industry. They be equipped with a fall-block and hook to handle a skip, a
are especially adapted for operations extending over sling, or various types of tongs or grapples.
CABLEWAYSa considerable area or over rough or difficult ground,
such as a ravine, a river, or a marsh which could not readily Endless-Rope Semi-Gravity Cableway
be served by a derrick, a crane, or other machine of more In the inclined or semi-gravity type of endless-rope cable-
limited scope. The method of construction and operation way, a head tower or mast is installed at a convenient point
permits the use of a cableway where other mcdes of trans- on high ground so that there will be sufficient incline to the
port are not feasible because of the topography of the cableway to insure the travel of the carriage in one direc-
locality. In mountainous or marshy land, or over rivers, tion without the use of power.
they are particularly desirable because of the ease with The main cable, or standing rope, is stretched from the
which they may be erected and because of the compara- top of the head tower to the opposite side of the span and
tively small cost of operation. They may be equipped for is anchored at a point low enough to produce the inclina-
Suspension cableways are made in two different types the : which, holds them spaced at regular intervals as the car-
inclined or semi-gravity cableway, in which the operation in riage runs down the incline and hangs in festoons as the
one direction is by force of gravity and the horizontal ; trolleys are drawn together when the load is hauled up the
cableway, in which the operation in both directions is en- track cable by the hoisting line. This chain may be fastened
tirely by power. They may be of the endless-rope type in to the cable carriage and be drawn down the incline with
which the carriage or trolley travels on a fixed track cable it or it may simply connect the rope trolleys.
and the traction is supplied by an endless-rope secured to The endless-rope wheel is secured near the base of the
247
248 HOISTING MACHINERY
List of Parts
A Mast E Hoisting Rope h Endless-Rope Sheaves L Trolley Chain
a Cable Saddle e Hoisting Rope Sheave I Return Sheave M Fall Block
B Main Cable F Hoisting Winch J Endless-Rope Sheave Wheel N Chain Grab-Hook
C jl/a/;i Cable Tension G Carriage K Trolley O Carriage Gate
D Cable Anchorage H Endless-Rope
A - ROCKING ANCHOR
B- BUCKET HOIST
C - MOTORS
D- BUCKET HOIST ROPES
E -
ROCKING HOIST
-
F ROCKING HOIST MOTOR GEARED TO DRUM
G- ROCKING ROPES
H MAIN GUV
-
Rocking Cableway Installed at Power House for Handling Fuel and Ashes
CABLEWAYS 249
the hoisting rope thus preventing excessive sagging of these quired to a paper mill on the opposite shore and to carry
lines. other material back to the mine. All of the coal used
by
When the carriage reaches the point where it is desired to the mill and many of the materials used at the mine were
lower the fall-block, the endless-rope brake is applied and formerly carried several miles over a roundabout route.
holds the carriage stationary. The fall-block by its own The head-tower or operating end of this cableway is lo-
weight lowers as the hoisting rope uncoils from the drum and cated on the side of the river close to the mine; the tail-
when it reaches the ground the brake is applied to the hoist- tower on the opposite side near the paper mill. The main
ing drum to prevent further uncoiling of the rope. When a or track cable, is long, the hoisting rope 2,500 ft.
2,500 ft.
load has been attached to the hook of the fall-block, it is long, and the endless or traction cable is 4,500 ft. long.
hoisted until the fall-block is drawn up against the carriage The clear span between the towers is 2,180 ft., the head-
and the endless-rope brake is then released. By continuing tower being 80 ft. high and the tail-tower 100 ft. high with
the pull on the hoisting rope the carriage with its load and favorable land elevations on both sides of the river. The
the rope trolleys are pulled up the incline until the carriage anchorage for the main cable consists of logs 24 ft. long
reaches the place of landing. The gate is then dropped over and about 26 in. in diameter, buried in the ground to a depth
it and holds it until the load has been lowered and dis- of about 5 ft. and weighted down with stone sufficiently to
charged. resist the pull of the cable and the load. The cable also
Cableways of this type are made with
a span ranging spans railroad tracks and to prevent the skip striking pass-
upward to 1,200 ft. or more, and an individual load capacity ing trains while in transit or in case of the breaking of the
up to about IS tons. main cable, a safety bridge built of structural steel was pro-
vided at that point.Wire rope nettings are frequently used
Horizontal Endless-Rope Cableway and are preferable because of their lighter
for this purpose,
The horizontal endless-rope cableway is an improvement weight. The chain-connected rope-trolley system is used
on the inclined or semi-gravity type and makes possible the on this cableway and the trolleys are spaced about 40 ft.
application of such cableways in a more general way, not apart. Because of the extreme length of the span and the
being restricted by topographical conditions as is the case consequent deflection in the cables it was necessary to put
with inclined cableways. The term "horizontal" does not one set of rope trolleys in front and another set in the rear
mean that the cable is held in a level position or is sus- of the carriage.
pended from supports having the same elevation but is The load is carried in a skip and varies from 2 /2 l
tons
used to denote the method of operation. to 3 tons of coal, while the skip itself and the other parts
The operation of the horizontal cableway is similar to that weigh about 4 tons more, but this weight is distributed
of the inclined or semi-gravity type except that the endless- over a considerable portion of the cable. This cableway is
rope wheel used in the inclined type is omitted and the end- operated by steam power and has an average daily carrying
less-rope is secured to the drum of a winch. The inclined capacity of about 100 tons of coal.
system is operated with a single-drum winch and conse- Another cableway of this type erected at a cement mill
quently its movement in one direction is limited to gravity has a 1,200 ft. clear span between the towers, which are
while the horizontal cableway requires a double-drum winch, stationary and were built 160 ft. high for the purpose of
is reversible, and has no restrictions except the length of creating a large storage area for the cement clinkers.
the span. It may be operated with the track cable at any in- Towers of this height with the 1,200 ft. span give a stor-
clination and either from the low or the high point. If pos- age area approximately 200 ft. wide, 1,200 ft. long and 100
sible, however, the operating machinery should be placed on ft. high, or a storage capacity of about 1,000,000 barrels of
the higher elevation as this will insure the most satisfactory clinkers.
results. The endless or traction rope being attached to one The clinkers are handled with steel skips of 25 barrels
of the drums of the winch the operator has complete con- capacity which are filled from chutes under the coolers and
trol of the movements of the carriage on the cable. conveyed by the cableway to the clinker storage. Openings
The ropes on this type of cableway may be supported by are provided in the bottom of the storage bins through
chain connected rope trolleys, similar to those used on the which the clinkers are dropped on a belt conveyor which
endless-rope inclined cableway, or they may be carried on carries them to the mills.
fallrope carriers which perform the same service as the The on the side of a hill having an even
mills are located
chain connected type. When not in use these carriers are slope from the crusher and nearly in line with the grinding
supported on a self-adjustable carrier horn pivoted to the buildings, thus affording a very favorable storage place.
cable carriage or trolley and riding on a wheel running on This also obviates the necessity for rehandling the clinkers
the main or track cable. A series of tapered buttons or with the cableway.
sleeves secured to a small carrier cable placed above the
is
main cable; these buttons each successively engage a hinged The Rocking Cableway
eye on the carrier, stopping their travel and picking them off The rocking cableway is an adaptation of the suspension
the carrier horn. This is repeated at each of the buttons 'type cableway, so designed as to permit 'both a longitudinal
until all of the carriers are distributed along the cable at and a transverse movement. It may be equipped with an
regular intervals, thus supporting the ropes. On the return automatic bucket and be used to handle loose materials
travel of the cable carriage the carrier horn picks up each such as coal, coke, ore, crushed stone, or cement; or it
of the carriers as the ropes are hauled in by the winch. may be equipped with some form of hoisting tackle and
The horizontal type of endless-rope cableway is made with be used with grab hooks, slings or other devices to handle
ft. and has an individual load lumber and or other materials. It is adaptable to
spans ranging upward to 2,500 logs,
capacity up to about 20 tons. practically any class of hoisting and conveying work but it
Single Rope Cableway with Hinged Boom on Head Tower for Unloading Materials from Boats
Single Rope Cableway Equipped with Single Line Automatic Grab Bucket for Handling Loose Material
CABLEWAYS 251
are supported longitudinally by guys or tension cables, and bucket bail. The bucket is thus suspended in the bight
transversely by side-tackle and rocking-ropes. Each tower of the line and then lowered by further paying out of the
is
rests on a quadrant base and is pivoted at the bottom so line until it rests upon the material to be handled and is
that it may or rocked to an angle of about 60 deg.
be tilted ready to dig.
each side of the vertical center line. The rocking motion Pulling in on the hoisting line closes the bucket and
is imparted by the rocking-ropes which are secured to the top it with its load of material to the
lifts
carriage which is
of the tower and to the upper sheave blocks of the side- automatically released from the stop so that it is free to
tackle. The lower sheaves of the tackle are secured to an move upward along the track cable until it comes in con-
anchor-block resting in the ground at each side of the tower tact with the upper stop. The line is then allowed to pay
and the lines pass thence to a drum on a winch which may out, the carriage engaging itself on the upper stop and re-
be located near the base of the tower or in a machinery leasing the bucket, which is lowered and the load dis-
house which will also serve to shelter the operator. As charged by pulling a trip-lever. Upon again being hoisted
the drum of the winch
rotated in either direction, the
is to the upper stop, the bucket bail engages the carriage caus-
tackle pays out on one side and is hauled in on the other ing it to release the stop. Paying out the line then allows
side thus pulling the top of the tower to either side as the carriage to travel downward by gravity and convey the
desired hence the name "rocking cableway." bucket along the cable.
The track cable is kept taut by the tension cables and 3 The tucket may grab a load beneath either stop but it
cable carriage or trolley is hauled in either direction on the cannot be detached from the carriage between stops, there-
track cable by a load or haulage cable secured to the car- fore, in order to change the location of the loading and
riage and operated by a drum on a winch which may be dumping points it is necessary to shift the stops on the track
located at one side of the main tower or in the machinery cable. This done by pulling on hand lines sus-
is easily
house. The carriage is provided with suitable sheaves for pended from the stops. A pull on the line releases the
one or more hoisting lines as may be required for the opera- clamps which prevent the stops from slipping on the track
tion of an automatic bucket or for fall-blocks. The hoist- cable and the stop may then be moved as desired. Be-
ing lines are operated by drums on the same winch as is cause of the necessity of moving the stops the single-rope
used for the load cable. Steam, gasoline, or electric power system is not suitable for use where the work is of such
may be used and the entire equipment is under the con- a character as to require the bucket to be spotted at a dif-
trol ofone operator. ferent point each time it takes a load.
The use of a rocking tower at both ends of the cableway Anyhoisting winch capable of lifting one-half of the
permits the handling of material over a rectangular area weight of the loaded bucket may be used, but it is es-
and thus will serve a maximum amount of storage space. sential that the speed be completely under control of the
In cases where great capacity is not required, a modified operator, as the carriage must be traveling slowly when
form of the rocking cableway may be used in which the it engages the
stops.
tail-toweris held rigid, only the main or hoist tower being The single-rope cableway has the advantage of being low
designed to rock from side to side. This form of cableway in first cost;is simple to operate; requires few lines and
serves a fan-shaped area. sheaves to keep in order; and is easy to erect and to move.
The sidewise scope width of the area served of a It should not, however, be applied where a span greater
cableway of the rocking type varies with the height of the than 300 ft. is required unless a pull-back line and a coun-
tower, the greater the height of a tower tilting at a given terweight tower is used in order to avoid having an ex-
angle, the greater the width of the area served. cessively high head tower. With a pull-back line the span
This type of equipment is made in various capacities should not exceed 500 ft.
materials which must be handled into and out of storage. form of scraper or dragline bucket.
The "track cable is supported at the higher end of the span
Single-Rope Cableway on a sheave or a saddle at the top of the mast or tower,
The single-rope cableway requires only one hoisting cable and the lower end is secured to a suitable ground anchor-
for its operation and when equipped with a single-line age at a distance from the mast depending upon the length
bucket, is used for unloading loose materials such as coal, of cableway span desired. A carrier is mounted on the
coke, or sand and gravel from cars to storage piles or for track cable, and a scraper or dragline bucket is attached to
loading it from storage piles to cars. The track cable is this carrier by flexible connections chains generally being
stretched on an incline between towers, the loading point used. The load cable is attached to the front of the bucket
usually being at or near the higher tower. The carriage, and the carrier and is used for the operation of loading the
to which a single-line clam-shell bucket is suspended by a . bucket and for hauling it on the track cable to the dump-
travels on
bail, this track cable. The hoisting line passes ing point. A tension cable having tension or fall-blocks
from the winch head tower,
to a sheave at the top of the secured to the track cable at the top of the tower, and to
thence beneath the track cable to the carriage and then over a ground anchorage at the lower end, serves to tighten or
a sheave in the carriage. It is then reeved through the slacken the track cable as may be required. Both the load 1
bucket heads and thence back to the carriage where it is and tension cables lead from guide blocks at the top of the
made fast. When this line is allowed to pay out, the car- tower down to a double-drum friction winch, usually located'
riage, carrying the bucket suspended below it, moves down at ground level.
the track cable until a latch on the end of the carriage en- To
provide an easy means for shifting the lower end of the
gages the stop on the cable automatically releasing the track cable it is usually secured to a bridle cable. This
252 HOISTING MACHINERY
Endless-Rope Suspension Cableway Handling Coal at a Power House with an Automatic Grab Bucket
\
~
List of Parts
Semi-Gravity Dragline Cableway Digging Sand and Gravel from Under Water and Delivering
it to Storage Pile
List of Parts
1 River 5 Head Gate 9 Track Cable 12a Bucket, Dumping
2 Stone Crib Dam 6 Rock Pile 10 Load Cable 13 Mast
3 Rock and Earth Fill 7 Spoil Pile 11 Tension Cable 14 Tail Tower
4 Tail Race 8 Winch 12 Bucket, Loading
Semi-Gravity Dragline Cableway Installed for Service in Dam Construction Work. Rigged for Low-End Dump
254 HOISTING MACHINERY
a
-
3
1 a
-
1
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S
a
s
a
o
Q
V
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I
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CABLEWAYS 255
bridle cable is installed by placing two anchor logs some of the inclined track cable. In this arrangement, the rear
distance apart, the usual distance being about 150 ft. One of the bucket is connected to the rear of the carrier by a
end of the bridle cable is brought around one of the anchor hanging chain. Bridle chains are connected to the front end
logs and then fastened. The other end of the bridle cable is of the side plates of the bucket and an operating chain is
passed through the bridle frame and then brought around connected to the top of the bail at the front of the bucket.
the other anchor log. This cable may be provided with tackle This operating chain passes over and engages a chain
so using a movable tower a considerable lateral
that in sprocket wheel mounted at the front end of the carrier. The
movement of the cableway may be obtained without chang- sprocket wheel has ratchet wheels on each side which engage
ing the location of the anchorages. two pawls that are pivoted to the side of the carrier and
The operation of this cableway usually begins with the are connected to lever arms which extend from the pivot
track cable taut and the empty bucket near the top of the point on the carrier to the rear and outside of the carrier.
cableway. The operator then releases the friction of the A roller is provided between the outer end of these lever
front drum
of the winch, which releases the load cable. arms and engages a dump trolley which is equipped with an
This allows the carrier and bucket to travel by gravity iiclined dump lever and is secured to the track cable at the
down the inclined track cable, the speed being controlled by desired dumping point. To meet special conditions, this
the brake on the friction drum. When the point of excava- arrangement sometimes is modified and a traveler block pro-
tion has been reached the downward travel of the bucket vided to operate the rearward extending arms.
and carrier is stopped by the brake on the front drum, In the operation of this type of bucket, the bucket is
and the bucket is lowered to the material by slacking off the lowered at the point of excavation by slackening the track
track cable. The load cable is then hauled in, drawing the fable until the bucket comes in contact with the material.
bucket into the material. After it is filled the track cable A pull on the load cable draws the bucket into the
isagain hauled taut and the bucket is either drawn upward material and after it is filled tightened and
the track cable is
by the load cable to a dumping point at the upper end of the bucket is raised clear of the excavation. When the
the cableway or it allowed to travel by gravity further
is bucket is pawls on the side of the sprocket en-
raised, the
down the inclined track cable to a lower dumping point. gage with the ratchets and this prevents the sprocket from
In the operation of this type of cableway the load is always revolving backward. The front of the bucket is thus pre-
gathered as the bucket is hauled toward the main tower vented from lowering and dropping its load. The loaded
but the material may bedumped either at the upper end bucket then travels by gravity down the inclined track cable,
of the cableway on the upward travel, or it may be allowed the speed of travel being controlled by a band brake at-
to travel down the inclined track cable and be dumped at tached to the drum which operates the load cable. When
the lower end. This
accomplished by special dumping
is the dumping point is reached, the roller on the rearward
devices attached to the bucket and to the track cable. extending arms comes in contact with the inclined dump
lever of the dump trolley, forces the lever downward and
Controlled Front-Dump Type disengages the pawls. The chain sprocket wheel may then
One type of bucket used on dragline cableways is de- revolve and the material is dumped by simply slacking off
signed to dump during the upward travel of the load. A the load cable.
bucket hanging chain is secured to a rigid bail at the front
of the bucket, passing upward over a sheave on the cable
Other Methods of Operation
carrier and thence to a clevis on the rear of the bucket; a To meet working conditions a carrier having both
special
front-chain is secured to the bail clevis and a bridle-chain the forward end and the low end dumping arrangement may
is secured to the front clevis, both these chains being be used. This device operates at either end in the same
brought together and connected to a pull-chain which in manner as either of the other types, but requires both a
turn is connected to a dump-Mock attached to the load front and rear dumping-trolley on the track cable.
cable ;
a dump-chain is secured to the rear clevis and, lead- Inanother type of slack-cable dragline cableway the
ing upward over a sheave in the carrier frame, passes under bucket is secured directly to the carriers which travel on
a sheave in the dump-block from whence it passes upward either a single or a double cableway- two cables stretched
and is secured to a clevis on a traveler-block running on the parallel to each other. The cables are supported on towers
track cable. and are so arranged on the hoisting winch that they may be
The
cycle of operation is as follows Starting with the : slacked off to lower the bucket to the material. The
bucket empty in the dumping position at the point of dis- bucket is so designed that it readily digs into the material as
charge, the load cable drum is released allowing the bucket it is hauled forward. When the bucket is filled the cables
to travel by gravity down the inclined track cable, auto- ;ire drawn taut and the load cable is hauled in drawing the
matically righting itself as it goes. When
the digging point bucket to the dumping point where the load is automatically
is reached, the track cable is slacked off lowering the bucket dumped by a tripping device.
to the material and the load cable is then hauled in, the
bucket being drawn into the material filling as it goes. Power-Scraper
When the bucket is filled, the track cable is hauled taut The power-scraper is a type of cable apparatus adapted
raising the bucket with it. The travel continues until the to handling loose material, such as coal, ore, sand or gravel
travel-block comes in contact with a stop clamped to the in storage, or for handling coarser, harder material which
track cable at the desired dumping point. This provides a has first been broken up by a plow or by other means. It
fulcrum for the dump-chain, which passes through the may and filling work in easily
also be used for excavation
sheaves as the dump-block attached to the load cable con- dug materials, or for stripping overburden from gravel
tinues its forward movement, drawing the rear end of banks, stone quarries, or open coal or ore mines. This ap-
the bucket upward to the carrier and dumping the load. paratus is a form of cableway or dragline equipment in the
operation of which the bucket or scraper is not hoisted but is
Low-End Dump dragged through the material when being filled and is hauled
another method of operating a dragline bucket on
In on top of it when being drawn back for another load. It
the dragline cableway the dumping point is at the low end consists of a load cablp secured to the bridle chains of the
256 HOISTING MACHINERY
Dragline Scraper Cableway Digging Sand and Gravel from Under Water and Dumping Into Disposal Bin
CABLEWAYS 257
ElLELVxATIO/M
Semi-Gravity Dragline Cableway with Self-Supporting Movable Head Tower and Bridle Shifting Cable for Levee
Construction Work. Rigged for F'orward-End Dump
List of Parts.
1 A-I ramc
:
8 Winch 14 Hand Winch
2 Guys 9 Track Cable 15 Dump Trolley
3 Hopper 10 Load Cable 16 Dump Trolley Cable
4 Industrial Car 11 Bucket, Digging 17 Levee
5 Track to Plant lla Bucket, Dumping 18 Levee Enlargement
6 Movable Toiver 12 Movable Tail Tower 19 Exhausted Pit
7 Tower Shifting Cable 13 Bridle Shifting Cable 20 Borrow Pit
=r\ \ rr-. I
Semi-Gravity Dragline Cableway with Movable Head Tower and A-Frame Tail Tower Handling Clay at a Brick Plant.
Rigged for Low-End Dump Into Receiving Hopper for Discharge Into Industrial Cars
258 HOISTING MACHINERY
-4U
Cable Drag-Scraper Installed at Coal Storage Plant Dragline Scraper Cableway Excavating from River Bed
ENCLOSED DRIVE
Cross Section Showing Construction of Cable Scraper with Hopper, Elevator and Conveyor for Distributing Coal
Cable Dragline Scraper Cableway Operating Bottomless Scraper in Sand and Gravel
CABLEWAYS 259
frame or directly from the front drum of the winch to the track cable and the cable dragline scraper. The scraper
front or bridle chains on the scraper. The pull-back cable is suspended on a carrier traveling on the track
cable, which
leads from the rear drum of the winch through a guide can be raised or lowered by a tension cable mechanism. A
block located so that the cable will wind properly on the two-drum hoist is used to operate this machine, the front
drum. The cable then passes through two other guide drum operating the load cable and the rear drum the tension
blocks located in the rear of the scraper at the far side of mechanism. When the track cable is raised and pulled taut
the excavation and is brought to the rear chains of the ever the top of the mast or tower, the carrier and the
scraper and attached. The rear guide blocks are usually set scraper travel by gravity down the inclined cable. When
from SO ft. to 150 ft. apart and one of them is attached to the digging point is reached the track cable is slackened and
a block tackle. By either slacking off or hauling in on this thus the scraper is lowered to the material. The load cable
tackle the line of operation of the scraper may be shifted to is then put in operation pulling the scraper forward so
it digs its load, and it is then
any intermediate position between the two rear guide blocks. that pulled over the ground to
The scraper is a bottomless type of dragline bucket open the dumping point. The track cable is then again tightened
at the front and having a runner frame which is equipped and the scraper is drawn away from the load and is raised
with digging teeth and a cutter edge. The cutter edge is off the ground sufficiently to return by gravity to the dig-
pivoted and adjustable which makes it possible to adjust the ging point.
angle of it so that the greatest efficiency may be obtained in This apparatus isdesigned to handle the same classes of
excavating and handling various 'kinds of materials. It is materials as the power-scraper but has a considerably
so designed that the cutter edge becomes inoperative after greater capacity. Because of the cost of the towers, tracks,
the scraper is filled with material thus saving considerable etc., this type is not an economical one where only a small
power as the loaded scraper is pulled to the dumping point. amount of material is to be handled; therefore, the power-
When the scraper reaches the dumping point, the pull-back scraper cableway should be installed only where a large
cable put into operation and this draws the scraper away
is amount of material must be moved.
from the material and back to the digging point. The run-
ner frame has a pivoted connection to the scraper body and Cable Drag-Scraper
this allows it to ride over stones or other obstructions which The cable drag-scraper
is a type of dragline cable ap-
may be in the path of the scraper when it is drawn back- paratus used chiefly at power plants for handling coal from
ward instead of expending power to force the scraper railroad cars into storage and for reclaiming it when de-
through or to push the obstructions to one side. sired for use. To install this apparatus a series of posts is
In the operation of this machine, starting with the scraper set around the sides and rear of the storage space which
at the digging point, the operator disengages the friction of may be of any desired shape. A
chain-bucket elevator is
the rear drum and throws in the friction of the front drum. placed in a tower at the front or railroad side of the stor-
This puts the load cable in operation which pulls the scraper age space. This tower has a discharge chute projecting
forward and causes the cutter edge to dig. The material over the storage area and a combined receiving hopper, re-
thus loosened fills in between the two side plates of the claiming hopper, and elevator pit is located under the
scraper and the loaded scraper is then hauled over the elevator tower and the adjacent railroad tracks. A single
ground to the dumping point. The operator then disengages haulage or drag cable is reeved through sheaves or tail-
the front drum and throws in the friction of the rear drum blocks attached to any two of the posts on the sides or rear
putting the pull-back cable in operation and drawing the of the storage space and passes through sheaves on two front
scraper to the rear. The scraper, being of the bottomless posts located near the elevator tower and thence to the
type, is readily drawn away from the load and back to the drums of a haulage winch located in a nearby machinery
digging point, practically no time being lost in the dump- house which also serves as a shelter for the operator. The
ing operation. scraper, which is an open-end and practically bottomless
By installing the front sheaves on an elevated frame or form of dragline bucket, is attached to one side of the
tower the power-scraper type of cableway may be utilized drag cable and is thus dragged back and forth over the
to draw material up an inclined runway and deposit it in a storage area as the cable runs through the sheaves on the
hopper. From the hopper it may be dumped into a rail- posts.
road car or on a conveyor and disposed of as desired. It The coal is received in railroad cars and is dis-
may also be used to bring material within reach of a drag- charged into the receiving hopper below the tracks. The
line cableway excavator. In this case, a duplex power- bucket elevator then picks up the coal and delivers it down
scraper should be used and the rear sheave blocks mounted the chute to one side of the storage space, forming an
on a bridle-cable which will permit a change in the line of initial within reach of the cable drag-scraper.
pile The
operation by simply shifting the guide-block attachments on scraper then dragged back and forth over the coal and
is
the cable. With this rigging, as one scraper is drawn for- distributes it over the storage space. To reclaim the coal
ward with its load the other scraper travels back to the from storage for use, the scraper is reversed on the cable
digging point. and the coal is scraped back to the reclaiming hopper and
In the operation of the power scraper the loaded scraper delivered to the bucket elevator, which may be arranged to
may approximate speed of 200 ft. per min. and
travel at an discharge the coal either to railroad cars or to a conveyor
the empty scraper may travel back to the digging point at running to a bin or bunker in the boiler house.
260 HOISTING MACHINERY
2-Wheel Carrier. Forward and Low-End Dump 4-Wheel Bar-Frame Carrier with Rocker Wheel Frames
Cable Carriage with Rope Trolley Carrier Horn Horizontal Cable Carriage
262 HOISTING MACHINERY
A drag-scraper will handle either run of mine coal or a tance from the end of the bail. When digging the material,
crusher may be placed in the pit and the coal crushed for the bail to which the hoisting line is fastened lies loosely
stoker use. In the winter when the coal becomes frozen, on the scraper and hence there is no tension on the dumping
large lumps can be dragged by the scraper directly to the line. After the scraper is filled and is hoisted this line is
track hopper and thence to the crusher and broken up so shortened as the hoisting bail is raised and then, by winding
that it may be handled by the elevator and conveyor. up the scraping line, the rear of the scraper is tilted and its
Cable apparatus of this type has a handling capacity of contents discharged. With the use of the endless-rope all
from SO 100 tons of coal per hour depending upon the
to the movements of the carriage are under control and the
size of scraper used and the length of haul required. material can be taken up or deposited at any point.
Another type of power-scraper cable apparatus embodies For excavation work where the use of towers may
the general principle of the taut suspension cable and the not be practicable, a derrick may be substituted for the
endless-rope traction to which is added a bucket or scraper head tower by using a separate line to drag the bucket
device for scraping and automatically dumping the material. or scraper the opposite end of the span where a
to
The supports be of the traveling-
for the track cable may sheave-block, through which to reeve the outhaul line
tower type similar to the head tower used on other cable- may be arranged to move in either direction so as to
ways, but a light, portable A-frame which may readily be cover the entire width of the excavation.
moved may be used for the tail tower. With this equipment, the material can be conveyed to
The winch for operating the apparatus is mounted at the either side of an excavation and automatically dumped.
base of the head tower. It generally is of the three-drum It is adapted for excavating sewers, canals, or cellars, and
tandem type fitted for operating both the scraping and the when required the material can be loaded direct on cars
dumping lines. The automatic dumping operation is ef- or wagons for removal. It may be rigged to excavate
fected by a dumping line which is fastened to the rear of in the direction parallel to the track cable or, by placing
the scraper and, passing through a pulley at the top of the suitable sheaves or blocks at either side of the area
hoisting bail, is secured to the scraping line a suitable dis- being excavated, it may be operated at right angles.
Cable Tramways
The cable or aerial tramway, as it is termed
tramway attached to chains or ropes which pass over sheaves from
is used to transport materials, such as coal, ore, sand, gravel which tension-weight boxes are suspended. These boxes
or cement, that may readily be carried in buckets, or it may are loaded with weights, the total weight being determined
be used for handling logs, lumber, or other materials with by the size and strength of the track cables used and
the aid of suitable handling devices. It is also possible the load to be carried. These weights rise and fall with
to carry atsame time on one line several kinds of
the the varying sag of the track cable, due to the number
material, such as ore, logs, and timbers. This type of and weight of the carriers and to the expansion or con-
equipment is of substantially the same design as the sus- traction of the cables caused by changes in temperature.
pension cableway, the chief difference being that instead Where conditions are such that weights cannot readily
of using the single-span, typical of the suspension cable- be installed a take-up block or tackle may be used.
way, the tramway cables generally are of much greater When the distance between the two terminal stations is
length and are supported at each end by terminal towers very great exceeding 1 to 1J4 miles or the grades are
or stations and at intermediate points by trestles. very severe, an intermediate tension station is installed. At
this point the track cables are parted, one end being
Track Cables attached to a fixed anchorage and the other end to a
Cable tramways ordinarily have two parallel stationary tension gear similar to that used at the terminal stations.
track cables stretched taut between the two terminal sta- This prevents the excessive stresses developed in a cable
tions. One side of the tramway is generally used entirely of great length. A
section of overhead, rail is used with
for carrying the load and the track cable on this side this arrangement to connect the track-cable ends.
usually is of larger diameter than that on the side which Where the tramway line passes over the crest of a hill
carries the empty receptacles. Both cables are attached or mountain range, and the contour is such as to require
to swivels in the terminal stations so that they may be towers spaced too closely together, a breakover or a rail
turned at regular periods, the wear on the cable thus being station is generally used, instead of the ordinary tower,
distributed around its entire circumference. to prevent excessive wear of the track cables at that point.
Generally the cables rest on saddles placed on the top through the station underneath the rail.
Attaching Detaching
Cable Tramway Carrier Attaching and Detaching Device
U X
3
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3 3
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B to
266 HOISTING MACHINERY
Bucket Carrier with Liquid Carrier with Com- Bale Carrier with Over- Bucket Carrier with Fric-
Friction Grip pression Grip head Grip tion Grip
the other over an overhead rail connection. When rail secured to the hanger of the carrier, is provided with
stations are necessary the endless traction cable need not movable jaws for gripping the traction cable, the jaws
be cut but may
continue through the station supported by being opened and closed by a lever arm. The grip mech-
rollers or sheaves secured to the structure. anism consists of a short shaft on which are cut both
An aerial tramway does not always require power for coarse and fine pitch threads or opposite leads. This shaft
the operation of the traction cable as, when there is suffi- passes through the two movable jaws which have cor-
cient between the loading and discharge stations, the
fall responding threads and this forms the clamp by which
loaded going down on one side will pull the
carriers the traction cable is gripped. The shaft also passes through
empty carriers up on the opposite side. When it is nec- a bearing on the carrier and on one end of the shaft is
essary to have a driving gear, it should be placed at the keyed a double lever which at its upper end carries a
terminal at the higher elevation. This gear usually consists disk-shaped weight, free to revolve on a pin.
of one or more grooved sheave wheels around which the In the operation of this device a downward movement of
endless traction cable passes attached to a vertical or a the lever causes the shaft to revolve and the coarse thread
lorizontal shaft and driven through a level gear and engages the inner jaw. This closes the clamp until both
pinion by a steam engine or any other available power. jaws are in contact with the rope when the effect of the
The shaft of the sheave wheel at the opposite terminal coarse thread on the inner jaw ceases. The further
Jtation structure, and is then connected to the crosshead, turning of the shaft by downward pressure on the lever
horizontal guides. A
suspended weight is attached to a causes the outer jaw with the fine thread to continue its
chain or a rope which passes over a sheave fixed to the motion and thus clamp the cable tightly.
station structure, and is then connected to the crosshead, An important feature of this type of grip is that it auto-
the weight thus maintaining a constant tension in the matically adjusts itself to any variation in the diameter of
traction cable. When the loaded carriers travel down the traction cable due to wear or to splices. As the rope
grade, and the resulting
pull of the descending carriers wears, the lever arm turns farther around on the fine thread,
exceeds that of the ascending ones, no power is necessary thereby bringing the gripping jaws close together. Thus
and the line works by fore? of gravity. The surplus from a position of the lever arm at 25 deg. above the
power thus developed is absorbed and the travel of the horizontal, to a position at 25 deg. below, a wear of
load controlled by suitable brakes operated by levers
is ; approximately 1/16 in. in the diameter of the traction
by hydraulic controllers or by air compressors.
;
cable can be taken up. When the wear on the cable has
To secure the best results from the cable tramway progressed so that the attaching lever arm reaches a posi-
system in handling loose materials in buckets, the material tion of more than 25 deg. below the horizontal, it can
to be transported should be brought to the loading station again be thrown up into the initial adjustment by the use
and dumped into a small bin or hopper, from which it may of an adjusting nut. In this way, a wear of 3/fa in. or
be transferred to the tramway buckets. In cases where it more may be taken up without difficulty and without
is impracticable to load the material through a bin the changing any of the parts in the grip.
buckets may be made detachable "from the carriers and be Toplace a carrier in service it is brought to the attach-
taken to the material either on small cars, or on wheels ing point in the terminal station where a slight dip or
attached directly to the buckets. Another method some- incline in the station rail serves to accelerate the movement
times used is to detach the buckets from the traction cable of the carrier to approximately the same rate of speed -as
and to run them to the desired point on shunt rails leading the traction cable and also to bring the cable into position
from the terminal. between the friction-grip jaws when the carrier reaches
the lowest point in the rail. Simultaneously the revolving
Carriers
weight on the lever arm of the friction-grip rolls up an
The carriers from which the material handling devices inclined guide until the operating lever assumes a vertical
are suspended travel over the track cables, being moved position and the grip jaws are closed on the cable. The
by a friction-grip and the endless traction cable which is action of the coarse thread on the shaft or spindle of the
placed below the track cables and passes around sheaves grip then ceases and the actual gripping power is exerted
at the terminals. These carriers are distributed on the by the fine threads as the lower end of the grip lever strikes
track cable at regular intervals, according to the quantity a stop and completes the lever movement.
of material to be transported. Usually they move in a In the operation of the friction-grip system it is necessary
circuit between the loading and discharge terminal sta- to detach the carriers from the traction cable at both the
tions, the loaded one always traveling on one side of the loading and discharge terminal stations and this is done by
line, while the empties return on the parallel cable on the a detaching device, located near the front of the terminal.
opposite side. The carriers are equipped with material As a carrier enters the loading station, it passes from the
268 HOISTING MACHINERY
53
I>>
a
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_
CABLEWAYS 269
stationary track cable to the track rail, where the detaching tramway. In this manner the products of other mines or
device engages the roller on the lever arm, pushing up the manufacturers may be handled to advantage.
lever and automatically detaching the grip from the trac-
tion cable. Usually the carrier, by its own momentum, Limited Service Tramways
will continue to the loading point but if the distance is
The larger types of tramways usually are equipped with
too great it may be pushed by hand.
a number of carriers which are designed to carry any of
The compression type of grip is also extensively used on
the various types of slings, hooks, or grapples, or auto-
aerial tramways. This device is designed so that when
matic grab-buckets, bottom-dump buckets or turnover
the carrier pushed down the rail incline at the attaching
is
buckets. However, for a somewhat limited service smaller
point a roller on the grip lever-arm is brought into con-
This guide pushes the lever
tramways are often equipped with the two parallel track
tact with an attaching guide.
cables but with only two buckets or with a single track
downward as the carrier moves forward and causes a ;
thus releases the jaws from the traction rope. The car- sists two buckets suspended on carriers operating back
of
and forth upon separate parallel stationary track cables.
rier may then be removed for loading if desired.
On some tramways, in order to secure necessary clear- They are operated and controlled by the endless traction
desirable to place the traction rope above the
is
rope and are spaced so that when the bucket on one side of
ances, it
the line is at the loading station, the second bucket on
track cable and in such cases an overhead type of com-
the opposite side will be at the discharge station.
pression grip is used. This device is an integral part of
the carrier, the weight of which automatically acts as the
When the fall or incline of the tramway cable is suffi-
material may be discharged directly into the hopper. The Aspecial application of the two-bucket system is in use
loading and unloading of miscellaneous goods and material at the plant of another brick company. The buckets on
is performed by hand. this tramway are made detachable from the hangers and
When it is desired to dump ore, sand, stone, refuse, tail- are equipped with wheels. At the loading station they
ings or similar materials at a point between the terminal are detached and run out into clay pits, where they are
stations a tripping-frame is attached to the track cable at loaded by a steam shovel. At the discharge end the
the desired dumping point. This device may be moved buckets are not detached, the clay being automatically
to any point along the line and automatically unlatches the dumped on the floor in front of the dry pans. This type
buckets while they continue in motion. In such cases, the of tramway requires a number of extra buckets in orde/'
terminal station at the far end may be built to allow the to have a supply in the pit while others are in transit.
carriers pass around the large horizontal sheave and
to In
another installation, a two-bucket gravity tramway
return to the loading station without being detached from 900 ft. in length is used to bring coal down from the mine
the traction cable. to the tipple at the railroad tracks.
This tramway has a
When desired, loading or discharge sta-
intermediate fall between the loading and discharge stations
of 430 ft.
tions, may be installed at one or more places along the and one intermediate supporting tower is used. It has a
line, without in any way affecting the operation of the capacity of 45 to 50 tons per hour. The coal is brought
270 HOISTING MACHINERY
CABLEWAYS 271
in cars from the mine to the loading station of the tramway, point the car again passes around a drum and comes to
where it is weighed and transferred into a hopper and the loading position.
then into the tramway buckets to be carried down the
mountainside and discharge into shaker screens located at
Stacking Tramway
the tipple. A
stacking type of tramway has been developed for use
in disposing of waste products where the available piling
Single Bucket System are used chiefly mining and
space is limited. They in
The single bucket system is a modification of the two- metallurgical operations where the percentage of waste is
bucket system. But one bucket is used, which operates very high and a very wide area would otherwise be
back and forth on a single stationary track cable and is required for a dumping ground.
controlled by the endless traction cable. Power is neces- This type of tramway consists of an inclined bridge
sary for the operation of this type of tramway and may be which constructed of two parallel trusses connected with
is
supplied by a steam or gasoline engine or may be obtained cross members at the upper and lower ends. This leaves
from an electric power line. the space between the trusses free for the installation of
The
capacity of .this type of tramway is considerably less
a cabletramway of the endless-rope type. The bridge
than the two-bucket system. itself made in a number of short sections and as the
is
In another type of single-rope tramway, one rope serves waste heap grows, new sections built on the cantilever
as both the load carrying and the traction cable, the principle may be added and the tramway extended. The
carriers being attached to the rope at intervals as it moves charging or loading station may be at the bottom or at an
intermediate point on the bridge. The discharge terminal
continuously in one direction. The cable passes around the
is at the upper end of the structure and as the bridge is
large sheaves in the terminal stations and thus the loaded
carriers pass in at one side and the empty carriers out at extended by adding new sections, the terminal pulley is
the other. These tramways are adapted only to light
shifted to the end section. To facilitate the extension of
service. the tramway, the upper pulley and rail section are built
into a frame which is suspended from rollers running in
Many single-rope tramways sometimes double-rope also
are of the reversible type, the direction of travel being guides rigidly connected to the girders. As each new
reversed each time a trip is made from terminal to section is added frame is advanced
to the bridge, this pulley
terminal. to the end, the cable tramway extended, and the operation
of the apparatus continued as before.
Double-Cable Tramway Stacking tramways may be arranged to transport mate-
Another type of cable tramway is provided with two rial to a considerable distance and stack it in piles ranging
parallel track cables which rest on pivoted saddles secured in upward
height to about 300 feet. The
cubic capacity
to the supporting towers and form an upper and a lower depends upon the size of bucket used and the speed of
two-cable track. In this type of tramway the load is car- operation and may reach 200 cu. yd. or more per day.
ried in a small 4-wheel car mounted on the track cables
and drawn by a traction cable secured to the car and to Suspended-Rail Tramway
the drum of a winch. The material to be handled is first Suspended-rail tramways are used for transporting mate-
dumped into a bin from which it passes to a traveling rials in factories, warehouses or other places where a
hopper mounted on the tramway. It is then discharged perfectly straight track may be placed. The track system
into the car, the hopper traveling with the car until the consists of suspended rails which serve the same purpose
loading operation is completed. The loaded car is hauled as the track cable used in the cable type of tramway. The
on the upper track and the material is dumped at the carriers are moved along the track by means of an endless
end of the tramway as the car passes around a large drum. traction rope to which they are secured by an automatic
The return trip to the loading point is made on the lower grip. The
operation of this type of tramway is substantially
track with the car in an inverted position. At the loading the same as in other tramways.
272 HOISTING MACHINERY
types of machines each designed for a specific service. Tne the loader may be used to push the train out on the main
most essential requirement of such apparatus is that it line.
shall handle the material in a minimum of time so that This type of loader may be operated with a crew of only
the cars and vessels may be released for further service. 3 men and with such a crew sometimes will handle from
Machines of this class have been adapted to handle coal, 120,000 ft. to 130,000 ft. of logs in a day. However, a crew
ore, sand and other loose materials and for handling logs ; of 4 or S men will insure greater efficiency. The capacity
in lumbering operations. They mav be divided into two of a log loader depends upon the size and supply of logs
general classes one for loading and the other for un-
:
but under favorable conditions a single loader may some-
loading service. times load 300,000 ft. in a day.
skidding and may be used in both skidding and loading service provision should be made to guy the boom to
service. stumps beside the track and extra drums, blocks and cables
One which is used quite extensively
type of log loader
should be provided. It usually is not necessary to
guy the
is designed to span the track on which it travels and permits boom loading service nor for skidding logs short
for
the passage of cars underneath it. In this type of apparatus distances up to about 150 ft. but, when working at longer
the operating machinery is carried on a raised platform sup- ranges, the guys should always be used. One or two skid-
ported on side legs or standards which span the track. ding lines may be used depending on the capacity desired,
These legs are curved in at the base and terminate in a and they are usually outhauled by horses or mules, the
heavy steel foot casting which rests on the ties outside of skidding tongs being taken direct to the log. In rough or
the rails. In order to secure a substantial foundation these swampy country which would hinder the movement of
>boes are sufficiently long to permit them to rest on several animals, or where logs have been collected at some dis-
ties at the same time. The shoes are flexibly attached to tance from the track a single line may be used for skidding
the foot castings and automatically adjust themselves to and the other winch drum used to operate a mechanical
any unevenness of the ties. This machine is equipped with
outhaul. The logs may be loaded direct to waiting cars
trucks having swinging wheel-frames and. by means of with the skidding line or with a separate loading line if
sprockets and chains, is driven by the engine carried on only one skidding line is in use or they may be left beside ;
the loader platform. The wheel-frames with their propel- the track for future.
and made fast to the rear end car. Then as required each 1- Conveyor loaders which convey the material to the
car is drawn forward through the machine into a position ends of the car.
273
274 HOISTING MACHINERY
LOADERS AND UNLOADERS 275
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276 HOISTING MACHINERY
Bell Type Loader Fed by Extension Chute Belt Loader Fed by Double Acting Chute
2. Projecting loaders which project or throw the mate- car at the same time. In the single-chamber machines, the
rial into the ends of the car by means of rapidly moving- fan reversed to load the opposite ends of a car. The
is fan
conveyors or other apparatus. machines are particularly adaptable for handling grain and
3. Tilting loaders which tilt the car endwise so thai similar materials. The speed of the fans varies from 200
the material may be delivered to the ends of the car by to 600 revolutions per minute, single machines having a
gravity. capacity of from 600 to 2000 bushels per hour; the double
machines from 3000 to 7000 bushels per hour.
Conveyor Type
The box car loader consists of a small
simplest type of
Tilting Type
portable belt conveyor which is placed in the car close to
The type of box car loader is designed so that
tilting
the door in a position to receive the material from the
the car 'is placed on a cradle, being held in place by stops
chute of a bin or from another conveyor. This is a semi-
at each end, the cradle rotated so as to tilt the car endwise,
projecting type of machine as the conveyor belts are
and the material then delivered by gravity through a chute
operated at high speed per min.
usually 500 ft. to 1.200 ft.
direct to the ends of the car.This type of loader requires
and, being inclined somewhat, discharge the material up-
a more expensive structure and operating mechanism than
ward at a considerable angle throwing it back into the car
the projecting and conveyor types of loaders and therefore
ends. To handle light material, such as grain, cleats are
should be installed only where large quantities of materials
secured to and guards are provided to
the conveyor belt
are handled.
prevent the material from spilling off the sides. For lumpy
or abrasive materials, such as lime, and coke, the belt is Box Car Unloaders
armored with steel plates placed at close intervals on the The unloading of box cars is an expensive operation
belt and having the edges bent up to prevent loss of mate- when done by hand and several different types of machines
rial. For sticky materials, such as fertilizer, plain flat belts have been devised for performing this work more econo-
are used, the material being confined to a narrow stream in mically. They may be divided into three classes, as
the center of the belt which prevents it from getting on follows :
the conveyor frame and hardening and thus interfering 1. Scraper type using a power-operated scraper or hoe
with operation of the apparatus.
tlie A loader of this for scraping the material to the car door.
type having a reach of about 12 ft. from the center of the 2. Air suction type the material being sucked into an
car towards the end and a 16 in. belt should handle about an air hose in the same manner as with a pneumatic
3 tons of ccal per min.; one with a 24 in. belt about 5 tons
sweeper.
per min. 3. Car tilting type, in which the cars are tilted on a
Box car apron conveyor type are also
loaders of the cradle so that the material will run out.
used. They are mounted on jointed arms arranged in such
a way that the machine may be easily moved through the Scraper Type
door of the box car and extended back into the ends. These The form of the scraper type of unloader
simplest
machines are not designed to throw the material but usually called an automatic power shovel consists of a
actually carry it into the car and therefore the belt speeds scraper which is moved back into the car and pushed down
are somewhat slower than in the projecting types of into the material by manual labor and then pulled forward
machines and ranging from 400 ft. to 800 ft. per min, by a rope winding on a small drum or winch. The material
A loader having a 24 in. apron conveyor has a maximum is thus scraped along the car floor and is drawn through
capacity of about 12 tons of coal per min. and will handle the door into a hopper underneath the car for future re-
a similar volume of other materials, the tonnage depending handling or to a conveyor or elevator for immediate dis-
upon the weight and the character of the material. posal. The winding drum has a clutch arrangement which
Conveyor loaders of the telescopic or extension type allows the rope to be unwound easily as the operator moves
have been designed to extend back towards the ends of the shovel back into the pile, but, as soon as the pull on
a car. Usually they are either of the belt or the drag- the rope ceases the clutch is automatically thrown in thus
chain conveyor type, the reach of the machine, when fully winding up the rope and pulling the shovel forward. These
extended, being about 18 ft. By using a conveyor long machines are used extensively for unloading grain, small
enough to carry the material practically the entire distance, sized coal, sand, and similar materials.
instead of partly conveying and partly projecting it, lower In a more recent design of the scraper type of box car
conveyor speeds may lie used, the usual speeds for exten- unloader the use of manual labor for drawing the scraper
sion machines ranging from 250 ft. to 500 ft. per min. The through the material and back into the car has been elim-
capacity of a loader of this type having a 20 in. belt is inated. The scraper cable or rope is passed around sheaves
about 6 tons of coal per min. and for a 20 in. drag-chain mounted on the end of an adjustable arm which can be
conveyor loader about 10 tons of coal per min. extended back into the ends of the car. Then, by pulling
on the ropes by means of a power winch the scraper can be
Projecting Type moved back and forth in the car. This arrangement makes
Box car loaders of the projecting types distribute the it possible to haul the scraper into the ends of the car,
material to the ends of the cars by means of rotating and to scrape the material out, without the necessity of
paddle wheels of fans enclosed within receiving chambers. the operator going back into the car.
The paddle-wheel type of machine successfully loads
Suction Type
sand, gravel, crushed stone, fertilizers and other small bulk
materials. The material to be loaded is first spouted to a The box car unloaders are equipped
suction types of
circular receiving chamber and is then discharged to either with rotary fans which, by drawing the air out of an air
end of a car by revolving the paddle wheel in the chamber. tight bin or hopper, cause a vacuum which in turn creates
The fan types are made with either one or two receiving a suction in a pipe attached to the bin and in a hose attached
chambers. In the two-chamber machine the fans throw the to the pipe. The hose which is provided with a special
material in opposite directions thus filling both ends of the nozzle is then placed in the car and pushed into the mate-
278 HOISTING MACHINERY
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LOADERS AND UNLOADERS 279
rial, which is sucked up into the hose and thence through of a car of any length and, when not in use, they drop
the pipe to the hopper, where, because of the larger area down below the level of the rails out of the way. When
of the hopper velocity of the air, is very much reduced and the end clamps have exerted a predetermined pressure,
allows the material to fall into the bin. It may then be the power is automatically cut off and the motors con-
disposed of as desired by means of conveyors or other trolling the side supports are set in operation. These
material handling apparatus. side supports move up against the side and sill of the
car on the receiving sink side, and they also, when they
Tilting Type have exerted a predetermined pressure, automatically
The of quickly unloading loose bulk materials
difficulty throw off the power and start the motor for the next
from box cars has in the past been a limiting factor in operation.
the amount of grain and similar materials that could be The operator is stationed in a glass house built on the
handled from railroad cars to ships or elevator bins. unloader just above the side of the car and has a good
Several different types of box car unloaders have been view of the work at every stage of the operation. An-
developed and arc now used quite extensively in such other man is required to uncouple the cars and to operate
is controlled by means of electric motors mounted on the storage yard, or in some cases to a transfer car which
plow arm and the gantry. The overhanging weight of disposes of it at some other point. This class of machine
the plow is counterbalanced so that the operator, by means is made in several different types and is used largely on
of a foot lever, is able to adjust it to suit the varying coal docks for coaling vessels ; at blast furnaces for un-
heights of car floors. loading ore and at coke ovens for discharging coal from
;
The entire load is emptied in two tiltings one in each cars into bins. The general principle of this type of
direction and the time required for a complete cycle of apparatus has also been adapted to dumpers designed
operation makes it possible to unload from 6 to 8 cars especially for unloading grain cars, of the closed-top, side-
per hour. hopper type and for dumping sugar cane from cars of
Four box car unloaders of a type designed to tip the the open-top rack type commonly used in the sugar industry.
car sidewise as well as endwise, are in use in a large grain They are made in both the lifting or tilting type which
elevator built by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at is generally a stationary machine and the rotating or
;
Baltimore, Maryland. The grain elevator has a capacity turnover type which may be stationary, or of the movable
of 5,000,000 bushels and the four unloaders, have a com- type usually self-propelled.
bined capacity of 320 cars in 8 hours, or 40 cars per hour. The general form of construction consists of a struc-
Each movement of the unloader is controlled by an in- tural steel frame supporting a cradle in which the loaded
dividual motor arranged so that when it performs the railroad car is held while the contents are discharged.
service for which it was designed it automatically stops An automatic clamping device holds the car in the cradle
and connects the motor for the next operation. The un- which is rotated by dumping mechanism installed on the
loader discharge to conveyor belts which in turn carry the frame and either tilts the car sidewise or completely over-
grain to the headhouse. turns-it and discharges the contents into a chute. These
When operating these unloaders to their full capacity machines may be operated by either steam or electric
cars are received simultaneously over 4 tracks, each lead- power, the latter being in more general use.
ing to an unloader and there is sufficient space to allow 16
loaded cars to be placed on each of the tracks. The cars
Tandem Car Dumper
are passed through the unloader without the use of a A tandem car dumper of the tilting type is in use at
switch engine each track being equipped with a "barney" the coal handling pier of the Virginian Railway at Sewall's
or pusher controlled by heavy endless cables which Point, Virginia. The pier equipment also includes six
pushes the cars back and forth as may be desired. The 120-ton hopper-bottom motor transfer cars and a transfer
cars are pushed to the middle of the unloader by the car elevator. This machine will handle two cars of any
"barney" and anchored on the cradle by clamps which en- capacity up to 60 tons each hence the name "tandem" or
gage the couplers at the ends of the car. These clamps one car having a capacity of more than 60 tons and upward
are so arranged that they will firmly engage the couplers to 120 tons each.
280 HOISTING MACHINERY
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LOADERS AND UNLOADERS 283
which travel in guides at the rear of the machine. These point and the gates of the larry hopper are opened dis-
clamps are automatically adjustable to any height or width charging the ore into a railroad car or, if a car is not
of standard railway car and are placed so that they will available, the larryis moved to the rear cantilever of the
engage cars of various lengths. They are arranged symmet- bridge and contents discharged into a temporary storage
its
rically each side of the center line and may be operated pile. Usually the material is reclaimed from this pile for
independently of each other. Eacli clamp consists of a shipment or other storage by means of an ore bridge,
steel beam hinged to a sliding casting on the dumping side located at the rear of the unloader. The larry hopper is
ment continues the beam swings downward until its free Two operators are required for one of these machines.
end engages the opposite top flange thus holding the car One operator is stationed in the bucket
leg directly over
firmly in place on the cradle. Cradle counterweights, the bucket shell and controls the raising and lowering of
operating in a similar manner, are attached directly to the the bucket ; the travel of the trolley and the movements of
;
cradle and, together with the clamp counterweights, assist the machine from another.oneThe other
hatch to
the motors in rotating the cradle. operator stationed in a cab on the larry and controls the
is
In the operation of this machine the loaded cars are movement of the larry; the operation of the larry gates;
pushed on the dumper cradle by an electric pusher-car called and the weighing of the ore.
a "mule." The contents are then dumped down a chute Unloading machines of this type are equipped with
to the transfer car which is then run on the elevator, buckets ranging upward to 15 tons in capacity and they
raised to the upper track level on the pier, and, then under will handle from 500 to 1000 tons of ore per hour.
itsown power, run out on the pier, where the contents are
dropped through the car hopper into the loading pockets. Boston Tower
The coal may then be discharged through chutes into
vessels lying alongside the pier. After the transfer car has
The Boston or two-man tower unloader is used at wharfs
for unloading coal or similar materials. It consists of a
been emptied it is run to the end of the pier and switched
tower of steel or wood, carrying a boom on which travels
to a return track located in the center of the pier on which
a trolley from which is suspended an automatic grab-
l
/
it runs down a grade of about 2 2 per cent to the yard
bucket. The bucket
level. then switched back to the loading track which
It is closing line passes over a sheave on
the trolley then over a sheave at the head of the tower
passes in front of the car dumper and is ready for another
and is then
attached to one of the drums of a winch
trip.
installedon the tower. The bucket holding line passes
Hulett Unloader over a sheave on the trolley, thence over a sheave at the
An
automatic type of unloader generally known as the head of the tower and is then attached to a drum on the
Hulett has been widely adapted to unloading ore from winch.
vessels and to railroad cars for further In the operation of this machine, after the bucket is
conveying it
transportation or for placing it in storage. It may also be closed and raised by the closing and holding lines, the
used for unloading other loose materials such as coal, trolley rope is slacked off allowing the bucket to run in
crushed stone, and gravel.This machine consists of a main over the hopper. After the load is dumped the bucket
framework, similar to a crane bridge, mounted on trucks is hauled out by the trolley rope andis again lowered into
which travel on a runway laid on the wharf; a trolley the vessel. Two
operators are required, one operator con-
which traverses the bridge; a balanced walking-beam car- trolling the opening and closing and the raising and lower-
ried on the trolley and a bucket of the grab type secured
;
ing movements of the bucket, the other controlling the
to the lower end of a rigid leg pendant from the outer end movement of the trolley on the boom.
of the walking-beam. The bucket is moved vertically by the Unloaders of type have a capacity of from 75 to
this
action of the walking-beam and horizontally by traversing 300 tons per hour, depending on size of bucket which ranges
the trolley on the bridge. It is arranged so that it may be in capacity upward to about 2 cu. yd.
Handling and Cleaning Tower with Conveyor Coal Handling Tower at Power Plant
LOADERS AND UNLOADERS 285
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X
286 HOISTING MACHINERY
it may pass to a railroad car or to a trough or bin back of spaced wide on a crosstree secured to the mast at a point
the unloader, from which it may be moved to a storage pile near the swivel block, and thence to the hoisting winch
by the use of a storage bridge crane. drums. The gaff is slewed by manipulating the bucket
Tower unloaders of this type are also sometimes equipped lines through the guide sheaves on the crosstree, slacking
with buckets operated by a rope trolley. The bucket off on one line as the other line is hauled in.
lines are reeved through sheaves on the boom and on a This apparatus provides an inexpensive equipment and
trolleywhich may be moved in either direction on the boom can be used advantageously with two-line grab-buckets
by an endless rope attached to the two ends of the trolley having a capacity up to about \ /z
l
cu. yds. or with buckets
and making several turns around the winch drum. A ma- of the bottom dump or the turnover tynes. The capacity
chine of the one-man type has a capacity ranging from 100 of the mast and gaff rig ranges upward to about 30 tons
to 1000 tons per hour, depending on the size of the bucket. per hour depending on the size of bucket used and the
class of material handled.
Mast and Gaff
The mast and gaff type of unloader is particularly
Self-Unloading Vessels
adapted for use in small coal yards at small coal wharves
; ; Self-unloading vessels are sometimes used in ore service
or at power plants. This rig is a modification of the guy or where other similar materials are handled in large quan-
and the stiff-leg derricks. Being used chiefly for light tities. These vessels are made with a hopper bottom
bucket work, it generally is of comparatively light wooden having a series of gates through which the material is
construction although steel members of light lattice con- discharged to pan or belt conveyors. These conveyors
struction, sometimes are used. carry the material to an elevator which lifts it above the
The mast is fixed and is supported by stiff-legs, secured deck line and then discharges it to a belt conveyor carried
to the mast about midway from the top, and by guys at- by a swinging boom. The boom carrying the conveyor
tached to the top of the mast. The gaff or boom is pivoted may be elevated to an angle of about 18 deg. and is made
on a swivel block clamped to the mast and is provided from 100 ft. to 150 ft. long which gives it a wide scope.
with a topping-lift similar to other derricks. Usually, how- The material is discharged from the conveyor to a storage
ever, the toppinglift is used only to adjust the inclination pile or to railroad cars for further transportation. Appara-
of the gaff to a convenient radius suitable to the work tus of this type will handle from 500 to 1000 tons of ore
required. The bucket operating lines are reeved through per hour depending on the size and number of conveyors
load sheaves at the gaff end and through guide sheaves used.
Trolleys and Carriers
AND CARRIERS of various designs are used on prevent any distortion of the frame and consequent dis-
cranes having a horizontal jib or bridge, on many types alinement of shafts.
TROLLEYS
of unloading machines, on monorail and tramway track-
Wheels
age systems, and on suspension cableways. These de-.
vices may consist of plain travelers propelled by pulling
The truck wheels on
crane trolleys generally are
double flanged. For trolleys of the lighter capacities, they
or pushing (.11 the suspended load; may be of the geared
type and be propelled by racking gear operated by a drum
may be made of a good grade of chilled cast iron but for
on a remote engine, or by pendant hand chains passing over heavy severe service they should be made of cast steel or
rolled steel. They should be ground to a true diameter to
sheaves geared to the traveler wheels and operated from
the floor or
insure smooth travel. The wheels on many crane trolleys
;
may consist of a carriage or truck operated
are mounted on axles of the pin-and-keeper type and are
by an independent motor generally an electric motor
carried on the trolley itself. provided with bearings of bronze or other metals, or in
287
288 HOISTING MACHINERY
frame sometimes being secured on the girt, sometimes on keyed to the shaft, turns loosely upon it and
the other
the side frames or on brackets secured to the side frames. carries a pinion which meshes with the intermediate gear
The motors vary ill design with the needs of the service of the hoisting drum. A pinion on the motor shaft meshes
in which the crane is to be used and the method of de- with a gear on the brake shaft so that when the load is
sign followed by motor manufacturers.
various There- being raised a shoulder on the cam causes the pinion on
fore, no attempt will be made to describe the motor con- the brake shaft to drive the hoisting gear. When the motor
struction. is cut off, the cam, actuated by the force of the descending
Crane used on the ordinary three-motor crane
trolleys load assisted by a spiral spring encircling the cam, forces
generally are equipped with two motors one to operate the inside friction disk against the brake wheel, gripping
the hoi.it and one to traverse the trolley. Auxiliary drums the wheel between the two disks. This causes the pinion
are installed on the truck for service requiring more than on the cam to retard the movement of the hoisting gear
one hoix'Jng line. They generally are operated by an in- and hold the load suspended until the motor speeds up the
dependent motor hut on some crane trolleys the auxiliary gear sufficiently to overtake the movement of the cam.
drum is connected to the main drum gear and both druni-
may be operated by a single motor.
Dynamic Braking
In some however, a non-reversing motor is used
cases,
Crane trolleys operated by direct current motors may
to operate the hoist and to traverse the trolley. By means
be equipped with the dynamic braking system and the load
of friction cones which are brought alternately into con-
brake may be dispensed with. In this system of braking
tact with cither side of a friction disk, always rotated in
the energy developed by the lowering of the load is con-
one direction by the motor, the direction of travel of either
verted into electric current, part of which is returned to
the hoist or the trolley may be reversed without stopping
r reversing the motor. Trolleys used in some classes of
the power line. A
dynamo when energized by the power
line acts as a motor and furnishes the power required to
service, particularly steel manufacture, have upward to
raise the hoist but when, in the lowering operation, the
four or five motors to operate the various hoists or spe-
force of the descending load is sufficient to overcome the
cialattachments and accessories.
action of the motor, mechanical energy is supplied to the
dynamo and it automatically acts as a generator and con-
Brakes
verts this energy into electric current.
Crane having motors of the alternating current
trolleys The dynamic braking system serves only to retard the
type arc usually provided with both load brakes and mo- lowering speed and will not hold the load suspended.
tor brakes which may be either mechanically or electri-
Therefore it is necessary to equip the hoisting motor with
cally operated. On trolleys operated by direct current some form of brake having sufficient power to hold the
motors the load brakes may be dispensed with and the load. On a crane thus equipped the dynamic brake is
dynamic braking system utilized. first utilized to retard the load and the motor brakes then
applied to hold it suspended. This reduces the wear on
Load Brakes the motor brake to a minimum.
\ at ions types of mechanical load brakes are used, gen-
erally employing friction disks to obtain the braking power. Motor Brakes
One type of friction disk brake employs a ratchet friction
Crane motors are equipped with various types of elec-
disk,two friction washers, a friction collar, a combined nut
and gear having a friction surface on one side, and a trically operated brakes. They generally consist of some
form of friction band, friction shoes, or friction disks,
screw shaft carrying a pinion which meshes with the gear
which are brought into contact with some portion of the
train of the hoisting apparatus. This brake operates auto-
rotating mechanism usually a \vheel or disk on the arma-
matically in unison wth the movement of the hoisting
ture shaft. These brakes are magnetically controlled,
gear. When the motor is cut off or the speed varied in
usually by a solenoid type of magnet. 'This type of brake
the variable speed types downward movement of the
is actuated by springs either attached
load tends to screw the shaft into the combined nut and directly to the fric-
tion member or acting upon a plunger controlled by the
gear, gripping one
of the friction washers between the
magnetic action of the solenoid and operating levers which
friction and the ratchet disk and the other washer
collar
apply or release the brake. When the current is cut off
between the ratchet disk and the friction surface of the
the springs force the brake against the wheel stopping the
gear. A pawl engages the ratchet tectli and prevents the
motor. When the current is again turned on, the solenoid
backward movement of the ratchet, thus holding the load
overcomes the tension on the springs and releases the
suspended. To continue the lowering movement or to
brake.
raisethe load, the motor must be started and rotate the
The friction disk type of, motor brake generally is
gear train at a speed sufficient to overcome the action of
controlled by a magnet of the horseshoe type.
the screw shaft. This type of brake is enclosed in an
oil tight caseand runs in a hath of lubricant.
Another type of mechanical load brake combines the Geared Trolleys
use of friction disks and a brake band. In this type the Geared trolleys designed for light service on cranes or
brake wheel turns loosely on the shaft and is encircled by other machines upward to about 6 to 10 tons capacity
an automatic band which grips the wheel to prevent low- are generally operated by hand power and are constructed
ering but is released automatically in the hoisting move- in a manner similar to that of the plain two-wheel or four-
ment. Two fricticn disks the outside one keyed to the wheel trolleys. A power sheave is used to operate the
brake shaft, the inside one turning loosely upon it are gear and it may be attached directly to and act on only
brought into contact with the brake wheel by a clutch one wheel of the trolley; may be mounted on a separate
operated by a two-part cam and acting upon the extended shaft carrying a pinion which meshes with gears secured
hub of the inner friction disk. One part of the cam is to one or more wheels on the trolley ; or may transmit
290 HOISTING MACHINERY
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OVERHEAD TRACKAGE 291
the power to the trolley through a gear train having one fixed intwo side frames of steel plate which project be-
or more speed reductions. The pendant hand chain is low the track and support a hook, an eye, or a clevis, to
pulled downward on either side to propel the trolley in which the hoist apparatus may be attached or a hoist :
either direction. Any of the various types of hoists may may be permanently secured to the frames. Generally the
be suspended from this type of trolley. wheels are provided with some form of roller or ball-
Power-operated geared trolleys are made in larger and bearings and
loosely on the axles.
turn This type of
more designs having from 4 to 12 wheels and
substantial trolley is only for light service ranging upward
suitable
they are used chiefly with electric hoists. They are usually to about two tons, and is not used where frequent heavy
Overhead Trackage
Overhead Trackage generally called monorail used the wheels travel on wearing strips of hard steel or on
with the various forms of hoists and other overhead carry- T-rails laid on the beam.
ing devices consists of some form of rigidly supported A form of double trackage used quite extensively for
beam on which the trolleys or carriers may travel. It may heavy service monorail systems consists of a single I-beam
be made of a plain steel bar, with the trolley traveling on having a standard T-rail secured to each side. The heads
the top of the bar; a single I-beam or double I-beam, with of the T-rails rest on the top edge of the lower flanges
the trolley traveling either on top of the beam or on the and are secured in place by bolts extending through the
lower flanges or it may consist of a specially formed
;
webs of the rails and through filler or spacing blocks placed
double-flanged rail. These tracks may be supported on at intervals between the rails directly under the I-beam.
specially constructed trestles or may be secured to brackets The T-rails are thus held firmly in place without requir-
or other structures attached to some part of a building. ing the drilling of holes in the I-beam and provide a
A cable type of trackage used chiefly for cable telpher double-rail track with the use of only a single beam.
systems and for cableways and tramways consists of a Another type of monorail known as the Coburn track
single or double track cable carried on cable hangers, which
is quite extensively used for light service. This track
consists of a double-flanged rail, the flanges being turned
may be suspended from special towers, bents, or trestles, or
from brackets secured to a building. This type of trackage inward and upward so that a double groove is formed on
is described in the chapter on cableways. the inside of the rail with an open space between the
flanges. The trolley wheels travel on these inside flanges
Track and the trolley hangers extend downward through the
The I-beam form of overhead trackage is extensively opening between the. flanges.
employed in the construction of monorail systems and The plain bar or flat rail type of track consists of a
may consist of either a single or double beam. The simple straight bar usually having the edges rounded.
single-beam type is the most commonly used, and it gen- The load bearing trolley wheels travel on top of the rail,
erally suspended so that the lower flanges of the I-beam
is but in some cases an additional set of wheels running
are unobstructed. This permits the free travel of the under the provided. This tends to give greater
rail is also
trolley or carrier from which the hoist or other material stability the trolley as it is propelled along the track.
to
handling device may be suspended. In some cases, how- This type of track is simple in construction and application
ever, the beam is installed so that the travel may be on and is especially suitable for a light capacity monorail
top of the beam. The double-beam overhead track is used system.
where a very heavy capacity is required. This type of
Switches
construction consists of two I-beams placed side by side,
usually with the adjacent inside lower flanges free, so that In complete monorail system designed to operate
a
the trolley wheels may travel on them. Sometimes the throughout various departments of a manufacturing plant
double track also is arranged so that the trolley may where continuous track can not always be installed, it is
travel on top of the beams. In many cases the trolley necessary that some means be provided to permit a trolley
wheels rest directly on the flanges of the I-beam, but in to pass from one line of trackage to another. In some
the best modern practice particularly in heavy service cases, this is accomplished by a simple latching device
292 HOISTING MACHINERY
Rarking Trolley Mounted on Hand-Operated Single Circular Track for Rotating Overhead Traveling Crane
I-Beam Crane
which insures that a monorail on a traveling crane or ductor line is then dead for some distance each side of
transfer bridge will line up with a stub track or a cross- the switch. When the switch tongue is not in proper
over, and thus permit the trolley to safely pass from one alinement a semaphore indicates the fact to the hoist
track to another. However, it sometimes is necessary to operator. The break in the current circuit also causes
diverge from the main track at angles varying upward to the application of the electric brake on the hoist trolley
90 degrees, and this requires that special switching devices and brings the apparatus to a stop.
be employed. In such cases a tongue switch of the two-
divergence is not great. It may be made cither two-way at right the track sections being located on the
angles,
connecting two tracks; or three-way, connecting three frame so by rotating the switch, the straight section
that,
tracks. This type nf switch is made in two parts, one part may connect either straight line of track or the curved
being lixcd and the other the tongue being hinged so sections may connect both right-angle lines, thus per-
that it may be moved sidewise. The fixed part of the mitting travel on both tracks independent of each other.
switch consists of two or three sections of rail secured The rotating frame rests on roller or ball bearings and
to the ends of theconverging tracks, and the tongue is is manipulated by pendant cords, which may be reached
a single section hinged to the end of the track with which from the floor or from a cab.
the others are to be connected. In the operation of this
Turntable
type of switch, the movement of the tongue is controlled
from the floor by pendant chains or cords. It usually is The monorail turntable is used where there is not
provided with an automatic alinement device and with rail sufficient space to permit a curved of track, but
section
guards or baffles which prevent the trolleys from running where it is sometimes necessary to transfer a trolley from
off the open track ends. one track to another at right angles to it. It differs from
These baffles may be either mechanically or electrically the rotating switcli in that it does not connect two lines
operated. Ore type of mechanical baffle is designed to of diverging track and thus permit continuous travel.
automatically raise or lower as the switch tongue is The trolley must be run from one track to the turntable
moved. As the tongue is moved away from a spur track rail-section and the turntable then rotated so that the
the baffle at that point automatically lowers into place, and trolley maypass from it to the other fixed track. The
as the tongue engages with another of the connecting turntable base consists of a steel casting resting on and
spurs the baffle at that jmint automatically raises. Thus bolted to the four ends of the abutting tracks and the
the track ends are protected at all times. rotating portion of the turntable turns on ball or roller
The electric operated baffle is by means of circuit bearings resting in a groove in the base. It is provided
breakers on the current conductor line. It is arranged so with track guards, located so that as the table is rotated
that when the switch tongue is latched to the spur track the trolley can not run off the ends of the fixed tracks.
the conductor 0:1 the switch and on the spurs leading The turntable is operated by pendant cords or chains, gen-
to it are energized. If. however, the tongue is not securely erally arranged so that they may be reached either from
latched to the spur the current is broken and the con- the floor or from the cab of a monorail hoist.
294 HOISTING MACHINERY
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design from the small single-drum hand-operated winches In this type of winch a worm wheel is secured to one end
used on small derricks to the large multiple-drum power- of the drum and meshes with a worm on a short shaft
operated types used on the larger material handling ma- to which is attached a hand crank by which it is operated.
chines. They may be mounted on a separate fixed founda- Xo brake is required as the load will remain suspended
tion ;on a portable platform or on skids or secured to ;
when the hand crank is released. It is made in capacities
some part of the machine which they operate. ranging upward to about 1,500 Ib.
In general design a winch consists of a wooden or metal The double-purchase winch is operated by either or both
frame in which one or more drums are mounted on hori- of two power shafts. One shaft is geared through a pinion
zontal shafts turning in directly to the drum gear
hearings secured to the side in the same manner as on
members of the frame. a single-purchase winch
Hand Power: Single, Double, and Triple Pur-
The drums m.iy be rotated and an intermediate gear on
One-Drum,
chase; Double-Drum, Two-
by means of a large gear this shaft meshes with a
Drum.
mounted directly on the pinion on the second shaft.
drum and
Power Operated: Steam Direct and Steam
itself meshinsi This provides two speeds
Line Connection; Gasoline; Electric.
with a single small .near or of operation as the power
Belt and Gear Driven; Friction and Clutch
pinion on the power shaft; may be applied to either of
Drive.
by a gear train acting di- the shafts, the shaft with
Portableand Fixed Types with Single,
rectly on the drum itself; direct action on the drum
Double and Multiple Drums and Winch
or in the power operated gear giving a greater speed
Heads.
types by various designs but a lighter capacity than
of frictions drive or clutches. that which acts through the
The hoisting or
haulage intermediate gear. Winches
line is secured to one side of the drum and is wound or of the double-purchase types may be operated by either
unwound as may be desired by rotating the drum in one, two, or four men. They range in capacity upward
either direction. Sometimes the drum shafts are extended to about 2*A tons.
beyond the side frames and a winch-head often called a Hand power winches may be either of the single-pole
gypsy-head or nigger-head is secured to one or both ends. or the double-pole types. The single-pole winch as its
In the operation of this device the rope is not made fast name implies designed to be attached to a derrick mast
is ;
apply the power by means of a pinion mounted on the aligned with a corresponding recess or groove on the ad-
295
HOISTING MACHINERY
WINCHES 297
Worm Gear
1
WINCHES 299
jacent 'flange of the drum. The friction surfaces of the be provided with remote control a portable controller con-
blocks may be of wood; asbestos; cork; various fabrics; nected to the winch motor by a flexible cable which permits
or special of metals having high frictional
compositions the operator to stand in view the work while the winch
qualities. The operated by means of a quick-pitch
clutch is itself may be placed in any convenient location.
screw which forces the drum along the shaft and into con-
tact with the friction blocks. Gasoline Winches
Clutches of the sliding types are also used on many
Gasoline winches are especially adapted for use where
power winches. One design of this type consists of a lack of suitable fuel and water makes it difficult and expen-
planetary gear train and a three-part toothed clutch. Teeth sive to obtain steam power, or where power is not
electric
cut in both edges of the internal gear, which is free to
available. They are particularly suitable for use where a
slide back and forth on the drum shaft, forms a double
portable machine is desired. The construction of the winch
clutch member which may be brought into mesh with itself is substantially the same as the steam or electrically
teeth on either of two fixed clutch members one secured to
operated winches but, as the gasoline supply is carried on
the web of the large drum gear, the other to the gear case.
the same mounting it is a self-contained unit and is easily
This provides for two speeds the maximum speed being
moved as the work requires. They are made with one;
obtained when the sliding clutch is in contact with that on
two or three drums, sometimes being also equipped with
;
not in mesh with either of the fixed members. called adapted for use where only occasional light serv-
is
position
ice is required or in remote districts where other power is
Steam Winches not available. This type of winch usually consists of a
Steam winches generally have the boiler mounted on the single drum rotated by bevel gears attached to one of the
drum and meshing with bevel gears on a vertical
flanges
platform with the winch thus making a self-contained port-
able Where a power plant
unit. available, however,
is shaft. This shaft is rotated by means of a beam sometimes
out the necessity of maintaining an independent steam boiler. In a modification of this type of winch, the vertical shaft
is placed apart from the winding drum and is connected to
Electric Winches itby means of chains passing around large pulleys on the
Electric winches obtain power from an adjacent power bevel gear shaft and thedrum shaft. These machines may
line, by means of a plug-in connection. They may have be equipped with single gears for one speed only or with
the control device installed on the machine itself or may double gears for two-speed operation.
300 HOISTING MACHINERY
Accessories
iiiFi-'KKKNT MATKKiAi. handling devices have beer. digging capacity, becomes greater as the number of
developed as accessories to cranes, derricks, parts of the line passing over sheaves is increased, but
MANS-cabieways, and other material handling machin- the speed of operation becomes less. Therefore, a
ery, and they have greatly increased the usefulness of bucket for handling fine loose material requires only a
such machines. They include buckets, tubs, skips and single line, or a two-part line, while a bucket intended
baskets; electric magnets; grapples of both the manual for handling heavy, coarse material, or for digging pur-
and automatic types; grab-hooks, slings and other poses should have a greater number of parts of the
devices. line reeved. In two-line operation, which is most com-
These accessories are indispensable to the proper monly used, a holding line. and a closing line each con-
utilization of material handling machinery in manufac- trolled by a separate drum on the hoisting winch are
turing plants, or in railroad or marine operations, for used. Buckets operated in this way are raised or low-
handling loose or heavy materials; or in construction ered by the holding line, while the opening and closing
work to handle the building materials and to facilitate of the bucket is accomplished by a closing line reeved
erection work. Buckets, particularly grab-buckets of through two or more sheaves. They may be used on
the automatic types, should be used where large quanti- any crane, derrick, or other machine equipped with
ties of loose material are handled; tubs and skips for two drums in addition to the mechanism required to
loose material or small parts not suitable for, or liable operate the various parts of the machine itself.
'""j
tion the bucket is designed
hooks and slings for large so that a single line acts
pieces, such as blocks of Buckets: Grab; Drag-Line; Self-Dumping as both a holding and a
stone, poles, lumber, gird- (Turnover, Bottom Dump) ; Plain Bail. closing line. It is so pro-
ers and bulky packages, portioned that it is auto-
and for Baskets; Nets; Skips; Cinch Boards; Grapples;
electric magnets matically opened by grav-
handling either scrap or Hooks; Tongs; Slings; Counterweights. ity, as it hangs free and is
manufactured metals. Circular and locked in the open posi-
Magnets: Rectangular; Safety
tion by means of a dog
Devices; Magnet Control; Cable Take-Up.
Buckets which engages in the
Sheave Blocks. Wire Rope. bucket mechanism. In op-
Automatic buckets origi- erationthe bucket is low-
nally were considered only ered onto the material to
as digging and loading de- be handled which causes
vices, but their wider field of usefulness has now he- the release of the dog and permits the bucket to close
cotiie generally recognized. Buckets of various designs and fill as it is hoisted. A
provided so that the trip is
have been developed, and these may be divided into bucket may be opened and the load dumped, while
four classes or types: Grab-buckets of the clam-shell, suspended in the air. Buckets of this type are used
orange-peel or scraper designs; drag-line buckets; turn- with overhead cranes, unloading bridges, monorail
over buckets and bottom-dump buckets.
;
These may cranes, cabieways and other material handling machin-
be used successfully on any machine having one or ery having only one drum available for bucket oper-
more hoisting lines. They are especially adapted to ation.
such service as handling fuel and ashes in power plants; Either the two-line or the single-line method may be
in foundries, or other operations where loose materials used in duplicate and they are arranged in that way
such as coal, coke, and ore are used; to dig earth, sand, on some buckets to impart stability as well as to
or gravel and load it into a car, barge or other vehicle; increase the closing power.
to unload any loose material and handle it into storage For general service, the ends of the lines are attached
or to re-handle it from storage and convey it to the directly to the bucket but when used on some types of
point at which it is to be used; to handle mortar or machines such as coal storage bridges and other unloading
concrete in construction work and for dredging.
; machines, the bucket generally is suspended and operated
in the bight of the line. In such cases, one end of each
Grab-Buckets line secured either to the trolley or to the trackway.
is
Grab-buckets of the various types are all operated in The then pass through sheaves in the upper and
lines
a similar manner, being opened and closed automatically lower heads of the bucket and the other ends of the lines
by means of lines connected with the hoisting mecha- are attached to the hoisting drums.
nism. They arc designed with power wheels, power A good quality of flexible wire rope is preferable for
arms, or with a series of sheaves or levers, and they bucket operation and general use, but some parts
is in
perform either a scooping, scraping or a digging opera- of bucket operation may be properly performed by
tion as they close. chains, and they are used on a great many buckets,
The closing power of a grab-bucket must be adequate particularly those of the power-wheel type. All ropes
to meet the conditions under which it is to be operated, and chains should be reeved so that they are protected
and this may be assured by using a single part line, a from chafing.
two-part or a several-part line the line being reeved The scoops of grab-buckets should be constructed of
through two, three, four, five, or six sheaves as the steel plate and fitted with forged steel or properly
case may be. The closing power, and consequently the annealed steel parts. The shape of the scoop must be
301
302 HOISTING MACHINERY
Chain Operated Power-Wheel Clam-Shell Bucket for Rope Operated Power-Wheel Clam-Shell Bucket with
Handling Loose Materials. Two-Line Operation Supplementary Sheaves. Two-Line Operation
Rope Operated Power-Arm Clam-Shell Bucket for Han- Two-Rope Grab Bucket for Handling Loose Materials and
dling Loose Materials. Two-Line Operation Light Excavation Work. Two-Line Operation
Rope-Reeved Sheave Type Clam-Shell Bucket with Dig- Rope-Reeved Grab Bucket Operated in Bights of Line on
ging Teeth. Two-Line Operation Bridge Cranes, etc.
ACCESSORIES 303
suitable for the service in which it is to be used. A mate proportions of buckets of this type are given in the
bucket for handling loose material should have a scoop following table:
formed so that it will offer the least possible resistance
to the material; the scoop of the scraper type should EQUALIZED CHAIN OPERATED POWER-WHEEL
have a shape to facilitate its operation in a horizontal CLAM-SHELL BUCKETS
line for clean-up work and leveling off; and those , Closed , ,
Clam-Shell Type
Electric Motor Clam-Shell Bucket with Electric Cable Differential Type, Rope Operated Clam Shell Grab
Take-Up Reel Attached. Single-Line Operation Bucket
Rope and Chain Operated, Side Sheave Power Wheel Grab Rope-Reeved Grab Bucket Operated in Bights of Line on
Bucket Hoisting Towers, Cableways, elc.
Vertical Guide, Rope-Reeved Clam-Shell Grab Bucket Vertical Guide, Rope-Reeved Scraper Clam-Shell Grab
Bucket
ACCESSORIES 305
pendent reversible trolley traveling machine. The propor- buckets. These proportions vary somewhat, depending
tions of some buckets of this type are given in the following on the service for which the bucket is designed.
table :
type :
56 84
S'A 6 8 .'
3
1H
5/i
Wy4
7 5 8 3900
\'/2
6091 3
44 9099
S 2'/2 8 Wft 4986
6600
Four-Blade Chain Operated Power-Wheel Orange-Peel Four-Blade Rope-Reeved Sheave Type Orange-Peel Bucket
Bucket for General Excavation Work for Excavation Work
Dwarf Orange-Peel Bucket without Dwarf Orange-Peel Bucket with Dwarf Orange-Peel Bucket with
Hammer Attachment Hammer in Raised Position Hammer Dropped and Bucket Closed
Three-Blade Chain Operated Orange-Peel Bucket for Han- Three-Blade Orange-Peel Bucket with Blades Cut Off for
dling Heavy Coarse Material Handling Large Lump Material
ACCESSORIES 307
Chain-Bridle Drag-Line Bucket Digging Loo^e Mat rial Chain-Bridle Drag-Line Bucket Dumping Loose Material
Bottomless Power-Scraper Drag-Line Bucket for Digging Rigid-Bail Drag-Line Bucket for Digging Gravel Under
Hard-Packed Material Water
~
x/ \0,jk^
Hinged-Bail Back-Gate Drag-Line Bucket Digging Loose Hinged-Bail Back-Gate Drag-Line Bucket Dumping Soft
Rock
Clay
ACCESSORIES 309
bined digging and scraping action. Buckets of this type The bucket usually is a steel shell, or bowl, of a rectan-
have a very strong closing power and are especially useful gular or slightly tapering form, with a wide cutting edge
in handling closely packed sand, large lump coal or heavy to clear a path for the bowl and permit its being easily
ore, orany similar material not easily handled by the ordi- drawn through the material being excavated. The shell
nary clam-shell bucket. Because of their wide spread in must be adequately braced with cast or forged sfeel ribs
the open position, they also are useful in cleaning up loose and corner plates and equipped with steel hauling lugs and,
material in storage bins, or boats, or cars. When designed' for severe digging service, with steel teeth riveted to
solely for clean-up service, they are made with an extra the working edge. A pulling bail sometimes hinged,
wide spread and large capacity. By adding steel teeth sometimes rigid or an adjustable chain bridle, is attached
to the edges of the scoops to penetrate hard material, they to the shell. The action of the bail or bridle, together
may be used for excavation hardpan. work in clay or with the shape of the cutting edge or the teeth, imparts
These buckets differ from the ordinary clam-shell bucket a diagonally downward thrust as the bucket is dragged
in the shape of the scoops and the arrangement of the through the material and causes it to fill. The drag line
sheaves and rods, or levers, of the closing mechanism. is then, hauled further in, the bucket automatically taking
This, with the extra wide spread in the open position and a tilted position. The bucket is then carried by the ex-
the line of action as the bucket is operated, gives the hori- cavating machine or the cableway to the point where the
zontal or scraping movement which is a distinguishing material is desired, and the load dumped in some types
feature of this type of bucket. by dropping the front of the bucket downward and in
They range in weight from 3,300 Ib. to 24,000 lb., hav- other types through a back-gate.
ing capacities from 34 cu. yd. to 10 cu. yd. and a spread Drag-line buckets are made in capacities from 1/3 cu.
ranging from 8 ft. 2 in. to 23 ft. 9 in. in the open position. yd. to 3J/2 cu. yd. The following table gives the propor-
The following tables give the most common sizes and pro- tions of some buckets of this type :
DRAG-LINE BUCKETS
ROPE REEVED SHEAVE TYPE Cap. Wt. Cutting Edge
Cu. Yd. Lb. Ft. In.
Closed Open 1 .-.. . 2,850
154 -.
4,550
Cap. Wt. Width Height Length Height Length 2 5,650
Cu. Yd Ib. Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In.
254 6,850 10
10,000 10 8 11 13 3 8,200 4
11.000 10 g 11 13
354 9,600 10
12.000 10 8 11 13
14.000 12 9 13 14
!8.000
22,000
12
13
9
10
13
14
14
15
Self-Dumping Buckets
10 76,000 14 11 16 17 A self-dumping bucket or tub generally is used with
CHAIN AND ROPE REEVED SHEAVE TYPE a derrick or other type of hoisting machine not equipped
Closed Open for grab-bucket operation, or when for some other reason
Cap. Wt. Width Height Length Height Length it is not practicable to use a grab-bucket. Buckets of this
Cu. Yd. In. Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In.
1
1-h.
4.300 29
Ft.
33 /
In. Ft.
6 Sl2 6 5 8
93 7 A
!
11 6 type are made in the turn-over and the bottom-dump
iy,
2
2'/i . .
5.200
5,900
8.000
38747
4 4"^
6
8
\\y,
9
7
7
10^
3
754
9
11
7
1
12
13
14
4
2
1154
types and are suitable for handling concrete, mortar, sand,
gravel, ore and coal or any other material that may readily
3 9,200 4 7'/, 9 i'/, 8 I'/, 11 9 15 1054 be shovelled into them or dropped in from a hopper or
4 '1.700 5 \'/, 10 3 8 1154 12 1154 17 654
5 14.100 S 6 11 54 9 TV, 13 1154 18 1054 a chute. They are substantially constructed of steel plate
TA 19,700 6 354 12 754 11 15 1154 21 7
and are carried by a bail pivoted on trunnions on the sides
10 24,000 b 11 13 1054 12 154 17 7 -23 9
of the bucket, a bail-latch keeping the bucket in an upright
equipped with a double-drum winch. These buckets are signs to then right itself.
also used for handling coal in storage or for other loose One
type of turn-over bucket has a combined spherical
materials. and rectangular shape which best withstands the rough
The manner in which the load is gathered permits the usage of general service or this type may be made with
;
drag-line bucket to be swung a considerable distance be- all flatsurfaces having either flaring or straight sides and
yond the end of the boom, when used on that type of is used for handling loose materials in construction work
machine, giving it a much wider range than a steam shovel or other lighter service.
or a grab-bucket. That feature, and its adaptability to The carrying bail is provided with a clevis or shackle
cableway operation, make it most desirable for certain to engage the hook on the hoisting machine tackle. The
classes of work
in locations not easily reached by other bail-latch may be of a design engaging the bail at the
apparatus. This type of bucket has great digging power side of the bucket near the rim or it may be of the back- ;
and it successfully digs such material as hardpan and lever type engaging the bail at the center just below the
shale; handles large pieces of rock, or other heavy lumpy hoisting hook. The bail-latch usually is provided with an
material sand or gravel and soft sticky materials such
; ;
automatic tripping device but may be manipulated by
as clay, or mud. It will operate on a downward slope as hand.
well as on an upward slope and may be manipulated to Many buckets of this type are mounted on small wheels
leave a finished grade, thus eliminating grading expense. or rollers so that they may be moved easily without the
310 HOISTING MACHINERY
Self-Dumping Straight Side Turnover Self-Dumping Semi-Spherical Turn- Self-Dumping Cylindrical Turnover
Bucket with Rim Bail-Latch over Bucket with Side Bail-Latch Bucket with Rim Bail-Latch
CONTRACTOR'S BUCKETS
Length,
In.
3 26
31
36
42
47
50
58
59
312 HOISTING MACHINERY
BULK-DISCHARGE TYPE
Cap.
Cu. Ft.
6
314 HOISTING MACHINERY
^ L
Automatic Mechanical Cable Take-Up Counterweight Holding-Drum
one blunt hook which clamps against the side of the block. of the buckets rotates the drum and, reversing the opera-
Another type largely used for handling I-beams or simi- tion, lowers the bucket and raises the counterweight.
lar pieces and for narrow plates or bars is provided with
short blunt hooks so designed that they will clamp over Lifting Magnets
the edges of the beam flange or the plate. As with the Electric lifting magnets are used for handling scrap and
pointed tongs that grip the load, this device clamps tightly
manufactured metals and sometimes for handling magnetic
as the load is suspended and releases when the load is at ores. Their use facilitates the handling of such material
rest and the load line slacked off. and,where electricity is available, they are an economical
means of doing such work.
Slings The use of lifting magnets makes it possible to handle
Slings constructed of chains, wire rope, or manila rope, large quantities of metals not easily nor safely handled
are used to handle such materials as logs, lumber, bales, by any other means. It eliminates the use of slings, hooks,
boxes or any large objects that cannot easily be handled and other devices and not only expedites the handling of
by other means. The ordinary types of slings may be a metal products but prevents many of the accidents which
single rope or chain of any desired length and provided occur when using other methods in such service. They
with hooks, or thimbles at the ends or they \vill successfully handle metals under practically any con-
shackles, ;
may consist of two or more lengths of chain, cable, or ditions. Cold or heated metals metals submerged in water
;
lightbars or rods provided with hooks at one end, and or covered with snow or metals contained in boxes or
;
with links or thimbles at the other end by which they kegs, may be handled satisfactorily.
may be attached to a top ring or link and suspended from When used with a locomotive crane, they give efficient
the hoist hook. service in foundry yards for handling scrap metals and
One type of sling largely used in handling sugar cane pig iron, and for loading castings or moving heavy pieces;
in railroad yards for handling scrap metals and loading or
is provided with a self-tightening device which tightens
the grip of the slings as the load is raised. An automatic unloading metal railroad supplies, or for transferring such
trip permits the release of the self-tightening device when
material in transit; on wharfs for handling metal cargo;
the load is carried to the desired position. Slings of this or in other similar service where a locomotive crane can
light line called the counterweight line is wound on only alternating current is available. They rarely are de-
the compartment of the drum and leads over
smaller signed for a stronger current than 220 volts as higher
sheaves on the hoisting machine to a counterweight sus- voltages are not desirable for magnetic operation because of
pended from a convenient point on the machine or its sup- the excessive inductive shock when the current is switched
ports. The bucket line is placed on the larger compart- on or off. When
necessary to use a current of higher
it is
ment of the drum in such a way that it will unwind as voltage, magnets designed for 220 volts may be used in
the counterweight line winds on the smaller drum or will series. They are, however, often wound for 110- volt
wind on the drum as the operation is reversed and the service.
counterweight line unwinds. Aside from the strength of the magnetizing current the
As the bucket is raised by the hoisting or holding line, liftingcapacity of a magnet is governed by the area of
the counterweight descends, causing the counterweight line magnetic contact obtainable and the class of material be-
to unwind, rotating the drum and winding on the bucket ing handled. A magnet capable of lifting 50,000 Ib. of
line. When the desired position, the foot
the bucket is in compact material having a large contact area would have
brake is applied, stopping the drum, releasing the hoisting a capacity of only 800 Ib. to 1,000 Ib. when used for handling
line and allowing the bucket to open and dump the load. loose miscellaneous scrap metals.
When the counterweight drum brake is released, the weight Lifting magnets are made in a circular form for gen-
316 HOISTING MACHINERY
24 16,. 17
10, 9 1,1
22
23 23- 1,9
23
List of Parts
1 Magnet Case 8 Coil Terminal Stud 17 Lead Shield
2 Outer Ring or Pole 9 Leads from Coil to Stud 18 Do^t'el to Prevent Spool Rotation
3 Center Pole 10 Terminal Cavity 19 Steel Spacer
4 Magnetizing Coil 11 Terminal Hood 20 Suspension Lug
5 Coil Shield 12 Terminal Protecting Flange 21 Suspension Chain
6 Coil Top Plate 13 Coil Protecting Ribs 22 Sealing Compound
6A Metal Bobbin 14 Through Bolts 23 Insulation
7 Coil Spool Core 15 Eye Bolt to Handle Coil Spool 24 Packing
16 External Leads
-21
pa
Ll3i
P
r
IN
eral service and in a number of different rectangular forms magnets are adapted but they may also be used in any
for special service. other service in any industry where metals of any descrip-
tion are handled in large quantities. There are, however,
Circular Magnets
.many materials, such as long flat plates, which may be more
The circular type of lifting magnet may be used with readily handled by rectangular magnets.
equal facility in handling large or small pieces of manu-
factured metals or for handling pig iron or scrap metals. Rectangular Magnets
It is used in various lines of work: In foundry service Rectangular lifting magnets are designed in several differ-
for handling scrap metals and new castings and for rais- ent forms and are preferable to the circular type for cer-
ing the heavy metal balls known as skull-crackers or tain classes of work. They are particularly adapted to
other heavy weights used in drop work for breaking up handling long flat pieces, such as steel sheets and plates,
large pieces of scrap metals in steel plants for handling;
bars or billets, and other long materials, such as rails and
scrap metals or for manufactured products; in fabrication pipes. They are largely used in steel mills, where they
work for lifting steel parts in railroad work for loading
;
can be used exclusively for this class of work.
or unloading scrap or finished metals or in marine work ;
As the entire face of the rectangular magnet may gen-
for metal cargo. erally be brought into contact with the material being
Magnets of this type range in sizes and capacities from handled, it gives a maximum lifting capacity for a given
a 5 diameter having a capacity up to about 400 lb., to
in. weight of magnet; speeds up the handling of material; and
a 65 in. diameter having a capacity of 25 tons or 30 tons. results in economy of current consumption and consequent-
The smaller sizes those under 20 in. in diameter ari ly in operating cost.
adapted only to special work and for handling individual The body of a rectangular magnet designed for handling
pieces or light castings and finished parts. Magnets 20 in. flat pieces usually is a box-shaped steel casting containing
and over in diameter are suitable for general service, but a magnetic coil wound on a metal bobbin properly in-
for such severe service as handling pig iron or for other sulated. Flexible leads are carried from the coil to a
heavy rough work it is advisable to use a magnet of 36 in. terminal box on the body. The external leads are pro-
or greater diameter. tected by a cover plate and by heavy ribs on the magnet
The magnet has a magnetic coil enclosed in a
circular body. Detachable connectors are provided for connecting
circular cast steelmagnet case having positive and nega- the external leads to the feed cable.
tive poles on the underside so that by simply dropping it, This type of lifting magnet may be used singly for
it may be brought into contact with the materials to be handling comparatively short or rigid pieces or in multiple,
handled. The coil is secured within the magnet case mounted on a spreader bar, for handling very long or
and the case is then filled with a sealing compound so that flexible pieces. It is desirable to use a spreader bar and
all possibility of moisture within the case is eliminated. two or more magnets when extremely long sections are
The protected on the underside by a steel plate
coil is to be lifted, as this arrangement increases the stability
or shield which takes the shocks incident to the use of of the load and speeds up the operation because less time
the magnet. One, or two, terminal boxes are provided is required to spot the magnet at the center of the load.
and usually are cast on the top of the magnet case. The One form of rectangular magnet is designed especially
internal leads extend from the magnetizing coil to the for handling rails and pipes. It has the two poles formed
terminal box and the external leads from the terminal box of triangular shaped steel castings secured to a horizontal
to a connection with the current circuit. An eye-bolt type core, on which the magnetizing coil is wound. It is .sus-
of suspension used on small magnets up to about 12 in.
is pended by means of lugs cast on the upper portion of
in diameter and a three-point chain suspension attached the pole castings. These pole castings may be of any
to lugs cast on the top of the magnet case is used on the desired spread and are commonly made of sufficient size
larger sizes. The following table gives data on the use to span 10 or 12 or more pipes of 5 in. diameter or 20
of circular magnets in various classes of service : or more heavy T-rails nested together. They generally
are used in pairs on a spreader bar for handling long
CIRCULAR TYPE LIFTING MAGNETS DIAMETER UNDER
20 INCHES
material but may be used singly for short material.
D. C. Current Rectangular magnets will not withstand the rough usage
Diameter Weight (Amperes) to which magnets are subjected in general service and
Inches Pounds at 220 Volts Use
5 20 0.25 For individual pieces and special should never be used for handling scrap metals or pig
classes of work. Will lift up to
400 lb. on flat surface. iron or in any such severe service.
30 0.38 Same as 5-in. size. Will lift up to
800 lb. on flat surface. They range in sizes upward to 6 ft. or more in length
12 110 0.66 Same as 5-in. and 7-in. sizes. Will the proportions being approximately as given in the follow-
lift up to 4,000 lb. on flat surface.
ing table :
having a switch of the wiping contact type and a resistor unison with the hoist, paying out the cable as the hoist is.
group in one self-contained unit. This type of control sys- lowered or winding the cable on the drum as the hoist is
tem performs practically the same functions as the mag- raised. The conductor attached to collector rings
cable is
netic switch type. It must be installed within easy reach which receive the electric current from the wires on the
of the magnet operator. crane girder and transmits it to the bucket motor or the
Controllers having the features of these two types should magnet. These devices are also adapted to handle the
be used with all magnets of the larger capacities but for the cable used in the operation of electric-motor grab-buckets.
smaller sizes of magnets a controller of the drum type
may be used. Blocks
Sheave blocks or tackle blocks generally referred to
Magnet Cable Take-Up simply as blocks are an important part of hoisting ma-
A device called a cable take-up is used in magnet op- chinery equipment. They are used on derricks, cranes,
eration to eliminate the dangers attending a sagging cur- hoists, cableways and other types of hoisting machines.
rent conductor cable. This device automatically pays out These blocks are variously termed single double 2-sheave ; ;
the cable as the magnet is lowered or reels it in as the or triple 3-sheave etc. depending on the number of
;
magnet is raised. There are several different types of such sheaves or pulley wheels upward to 7 or 8 contained in
devices. They are designed
operated by electric to be the block They are made without hooks or are equipped ;
power, by means of springs, or by means of a counter- with a plain hook; a two-part or sister-hook; or a
weight suspended from some part of the machine. shackle, and these devices are arranged to swing on a pin ;
ACCESSORIES 319
to swivel or. a pivot; with a combined pin and pivot; or the load is raised 1 foot for each foot of line overhauled.
they may hang loosely from an eyebolt secured in the With a two-part line one-half the stress is carried on each
block. part of line, consequently the hoisting capacity is double
Blocks designed for use with manilla rope generally that of the single line, but to raise the load 1 foot it is
arc made of wood and in many different forms. They necessary to overhaul 2 feet of line. Thus, as the number
arc used chiefly for rigging or for light tackle.
ships of parts of line reeved increases, the load capacity and the
When required for use with wire rope, however, it is length of line overhauled also increase, but the speed of
necessary that they be of more substantial construction the hoisting movement decreases.
and the blocks are then formed of metal generally of The closed type of block
is the most commonly used,
steel plate fir forsinfrs or of malleable cast iron. The but for some purposes snatch blocks are desirable. These
1-Part Line 2-Part Line 3-Part Line 4-Part Line 5-Part Line
hooks and shackles are forged of soft tough steel while blocks are provided with a hinged strap or line on one
the sheaves or pulley wheels generally are of cast steel. side which may be thrown back and a rope inserted with-
The load stress or load capacity and the length of line out the necessity of unreeving the entire line from other
overhauled to raise a load a given distance is directly pro- blocks. By this means a block having a lower or load
hook may be placed in the bight of a line and serve as
a fall-block; or, a block with a hook at the top may be
suspended from a shackle, eyebolt, or other support and
serve as a head-block.
Approximate working loads for wire rope sheave
blocks are given in the following tables :
4-Sheave Topping-Lift
Wire Rope
Wire rope is used for both hoisting and haulage purposes in other very heavy service on dredges, power shovels, or
on practically all classes of material handling machinery other heavy duty machines.
and is also used for guys. The general form of construc- Iron rope has a tensile strength of about 85,000 Ib. per
tion consists of a number of wires placed in a symmetrical
geometric arrangement and then twisted together, thus 6 Strands 27 Wires per Strand 1 Hemp Core
forming a strand. A group of strands is then placed
around a center or core of hemp sometimes wire which
forms a cushion or base on which the strands are twisted
to form the rope.
The number of wires in each strand, the number of
strands composing the rope, and their shape and arrange-
Type H, Flattened Hoisting Rope Langs' Lay
ment are varied to suit the purpose for which the rope is
designed.
Material
Rope Strand
Wire rope made either round or flat, the
strands are
round strand being the most generally used. It is adapted
1
THE RIGHT WAY THE WRONG WAY
Method of Measuring Wire Rope
Cast steel produced by the open hearth furnace method Type C, Flattened Haulage Rope Langs' Lay
and having a tensile strength ranging from 200,000 Ib. to
280,000 Ib. per sq. in. is used in rope required for unusu- to all classes of service and is used for guys and for haul-
ally severe service. This grade of steel is commonly known age or hoisting purposes.
as plow steel and is used for such service as dragline work Flattened strand wire rope takes its name from the shape
where the rope is dragged over stones or rough ground or of the strands. In construction the strand is similar to
ACCESSORIES 321
the round strand except that it is flattened so that a greater in the rope are all twisted in the same direction. This
number of the outer wires of the rope conform to a circle. type of rope is more easily untwisted than that made with
From 2 to 6 wires in each strand depending upon the style Regular-lay and it is more difficult to splice, but because
of construction are thus exposed to contact instead of of the increased contact surface it is especially adapted to
only one wire as in the round strand. This gives a wear- resist external wear and the grip action to which it is
Haulage Rope
Haulage rope also
called transmission rope is com-
Type A, Flattened Hoisting Rope Langs' Lay
posed of 6 strands, 7 wires to the strand. This type of
rope is used chiefly for haulage in mines, on inclined
strand rope also has less tendency to kink than the round
planes, on tramways, and in yards of manufacturing plants.
strand rope.
It is also used for drilling lines and sand lines in well
For ordinary work the strandis made with 1 wire in
drilling operations. The wires used in haulage rope are
the center and this
surrounded with a laysr of 6 wires,
nearly twice as large as those used in hoisting rope of
producing a strand suitable for haulage rope; a second
layer of 12 wires makes a 19-wire strand for standard
this strand covered by a third layer of
6 Strands 7 Wires per Strand 1 Hemp Core
hoisting rope ;
dredges, power shovels, derricks, cableways and other ap- Marlin Clad Rope
paratus. Marlin clad wire rope is a type of hoisting rope espe-
An extra flexible type of hoisting rope is composed of cially adapted for use on cargo handling gear or other
8 strands, 19 wires to the strand. This construction con- similar hoisting apparatus. It consists of a round-strand
tains 2 more strands than the standard hoisting rope
rope each strand of which is wound with tarred marlin.
which adds greatly to the flexibility of the rope and per- The strands are composed of from 7 to 19 wires and from
mits its use on sheaves and drums of comparatively small 4 to 6 strands are used to form the rope. The chief func-
diameter.
A special flexible hoisting rope composed of 6 strands, 5 Strands 19 Wires per Strand 1 Hemp Core
37 wires to the strand, is used extensively on cranes and
similar machinery where the rope is operated at high
speed and where the sheaves and drums are of small diam-
eter. The wires used in this construction are smaller than
those in the standard hoisting rope and therefore will not
stand as much abrasive wear, but, as more than SO per
cent of the wires and consequently of the strength are Marlin Clad Hoisting Rope
in the inner layers of the strand they are protected from
abrasion. tion of the marlin is to protect the metal rope from the
A still more flexible of construction is used in weather. However, as the marlin is in contact with the
type
ropes of large diameter 2 in. or more. This construction hoisting drum and the sheaves it also provides a wearing
consists of 6 strands having 61 wires to the strand and
surface which saves the wire underneath.
paratus; or for mine hoisting or other service where the reduces the tendency of the individual wires to crystallize
bucket or cage swings free without guides. It consists and break. There being no interstices between the wires, a
of an inner rope composed of 6 strands of 7 wires each, greater amount of metal is used in a given diameter and
thus a maximum
strength is obtained. Due to its compact
18 Strands 7 Wires per Strand 1
Hemp Core construction, locked design offers great resistance to
the
the crushing tendency of the loads passing over it.
This type of rope cannot be spliced like ordinary wire
rope and any joints required must be made with couplings
sists of successive layers of wires instead of the strands quired for hoisting heavy loads out of deep shafts, as it
does not spin or twist. It is also used for operating spouts
1 Wire 7 Wires 19 Wires 37 Wires on coal or ore docks and other similar purposes. It is
made up of a number of round wire ropes of alternate
right and left lay, placed side by side and then sewed to-
gether with soft iron or steel wire thus forming a com-
plete flat rope. The sewing wires are much softer than
the steel wires composing the strands of the round ropes,
and act as a cushion for the strands. This causes them
Round-Wire Track Cable to wear out much faster than the harder wires composing
37 wires.
Locked Cable
Locked-coil and locked-wire rope or cable are similar in Flat Hoisting Rope
construction except that the locked-wire cable is composed
the rope and therefore the rope must sometimes be
flat
The outside layers are formed of interlocking sections The approximate capacities of wire rope, made of iron
which give a very smooth bearing surface. This type and steel of various grades, are given in the tables shown
of construction also minimizes vibration under stress and on the following pages.
324 HOISTING MACHINERY
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ACCESSORIES 325
326 HOISTING MACHINERY
ACCESSORIES 327
By
W. T. SPIVEY
Consulting Engineer; Associate Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers;
removing from them the unusual variations found in these In these application paragraphs have been given, where
more specialized machines. practical,more detailed specifications for the machines
In the presentation of the various types of these con- as applied to each industry.
tinuous carriers, each type has been considered from the The mechanical details section has been separated from
following points of view general application, specifications,
: the rest of the text with the purpose of simplifying reference
notes on operation, individual industrial applications, me- by treating the details of elevators and conveyors for both
chanical details. packed and loose material in the most compact and readily
Under general application is discussed the general scope available form.
Arm Elevators
The arm elevator is the simplest type of continuous of self-dumping or tilting arms, however, permits the load
motion equipment for the elevating of packages vertically, to be discharged atany desired floor. As gravity lowerers,
or at high angles of incline. Properly designed it is controlled by small motors or mechanical brakes, these
adapted to lowering as well, although it is not so auto- elevators have found a fairly wide field of application.
matic in this direction as in elevating. This type of ele- With either finger or solid tray arms, loaded manually on
vator is best adapted to the handling of objects of uniform the down-side, fragile packages are safely handled.
size barrels, bales, bags, boxes.
finger-arm With the This flexibility of use has made the arm elevator very
carriers in most common use packages are picked up auto- efficient in multi-story storage buildings, marine and termi-
matically from the loading fingers or stations at any floor nal houses, and in many industrial plants.
freight The
on the up-side and discharged over the top only. The use small floor space required is an important feature in build-
331
332 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
ings in which operating space is limited. Improvements is usually over the top. For the most effective discharge
in loading and discharge devices have materially increased the top sprocket should be of sufficient size from 12 in.
the usefulness of such elevators by making possible the to 24 in. is usual to prevent too much "jerk" of the arms
automatic loading from other conveyors as well as the dis- as they pass around the top. Unless a conveyor is pro-
charge to lines of conveyors on the upper floors. vided to receive the packages a sloping discharge chute is
rather essential. This chute should be carefully fitted to
General Specifications the path of the arms, so that packages such as loose bags
Frame. Wood frames are much used, with channel will not be caught between the arms and the chute. Unless
or other chain guides attached to the timbers. The all-steel the elevator is run at the lowest speed that will give the
frame, however, in which the chain or arms run in guides required capacity, barrels and other heavy packages are apt
formed by the structural members, is more generally satis- to discharge roughly. Certain specially designed types of
factory for permanent installations. The frame is usually arm elevators, particularly those for elevating lumber, are
continuous from bottom to top, although the entire weight is built to carry their load over the top and deposit it at any
often carried on the top floor. In any case, the vertical desired point on the down-side.
members particularly should be thoroughly tied together and With self-dumping arms, however, the load may be dis-
braced. charged at any floor on the up-side, either by so curving
Chain and Arm In the inclined types of arm
Guides. the chain guides as to dump the package forward, or by
elevators, unless the packages are too heavy no top guides using arms which dump themselves upon striking adjustable
are necessary, the tightness of the chain and the weight of trips which are set at the desired floor. In any case, whether
the package against the frame being depended upon to pre- in elevating or lowering, the package must leave the ele-
vent the arm from turning back under the load. In vertical, vator promptly so that the following arm will not strike
or nearly vertical, elevators, however, the points of attach- it. This point must be more carefully considered in inter-
ment of the cantilever arms to the chain should run in mediate floor discharge than in the more positive top
guides, except for the lightest packages. With steel frame discharge.
elevators, these guides are usually formed by the frame Drive and Take-up. In this type elevator either
members, but must insure stiff support
in either case they worm or spur gears are ordinarily used. The worm gears
for the cantilever arms, as well as smooth travel of the load serve also as a safety brake in case of accidental cut-off
in a straight line. In some of the self-dumping arm ele- of the power. The take-up is almost invariably placed at
vators, the arm guides are built with such curves as to cause the bottom of the elevator. When used as lowerers these
the tripping of the arm. elevators are sometimes operated without motors, the con-
Arms. The simplest arm is composed of two fingers trol being secured by the use of mechanical brakes.
very careful designing of the timing or other loading de- or feeder and not wait for the elevator arms. In the multi-
vices is essential. This applies also to automatic feeders. story elevators, in particular, signal bells or speaking tubes
Certain packages such as cylinders in lowering are loaded between points of dispatch and delivery are useful to pro-
automatically by trips operated by the descending arms. mote efficiency in operation.
However, for lowering the great majority of packages, Where the rigid arm elevator is made portable it should
hand-loading is usual. For down-loading the speed should be mounted on rails, unless the floor
unusually smooth,
is
be low, preferably not over 40 ft. per min. Particularly in in which case casters or wheels are better. In any case,
handling heavy packages low speeds relieve the machine the spread of the base must be sufficient to insure the sta-
of much of the shock of pick-up incident to elevators of bilityof the machine, particularly in handling heavy loads
this type. or in moving from place to place. The smaller elevators
Discharge. Discharge, of the simpler arm elevators may well be hand-propelled, but the machine that is pro-
ARM ELEVATORS 333
pelled by its own power, especially if it is large and heavy, it will handle, asis the inclined apron elevator, it occupies
is far more satisfactory. less space and may be of somewhat lighter construction.
Equipped with large wheels, as shown, this machine will
Storage
Bags Boxes Bales Barrels
In warehouses handling a fairly limited range of pack-
ages the arm elevator finds its most economical application.
Because of the simple construction and the small floor space
required it is often profitable to install several elevators
in one building in order entirely to eliminate long hauls
on both the receiving and upper floors. Such a system
provides the shortest route from the car doors to the stor-
age piles on the floors above. Elevators of this type are
frequently installed on receiving platforms, discharging
through convenient windows above.
The inclined, double-strand arm elevators are the sim-
plest of the type. Where the incline is sufficient to make
the weight of the packages rest partly against the frame
in their ascent, chain or arm guides are unnecessary. Tim-
ber frames are much used, although steel angles or chan-
nels make a stiffer and better construction. In either case
charge and have not the same large capacity, they do, how-
Bags Miscellaneous Commodities ever, occupy less floor space and, for the same maximum
The use of the inclined portable arm elevator, discharging discharge height, may be made somewhat lighter.
through second or third-story warehouse windows, pro- With this, as with practically all other portable pilers,
vides a very direct transfer of commodities from trucks the problem has been to build a machine light enough to be
or cars to the storage piles on these upper floors. Much easily portable, yet sufficiently strong and well braced to
time would be lost in trucking these bags to freight ele- withstand the rather hard service to which it is subjected.
vators within >:he building, and then making a similar trip Light frames, thoroughly braced, are best for this pur-
steel
on the storage floors above. While the elevator shown pose. For greater stability these machines may well be
has a fixed height of discharge, these machines are built forming the tower sloping inward
built with the four angles
with adjustable carrier booms, so that the same machine will toward the top. Where the piling can
'be so organized that
serve several floor levels. Although this type of elevator the storage area can be served from one or two lines of
is not so versatile with regard to the range of package light track, the question of mounting is a fairly simple one.
334 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
With this method of vertical piling long portable chutes their load when tilted forward by the outward curving of
from the top of the elevator are used to discharge the pack- the guides. This simpler method is generally not so posi-
tive or satisfactory as the self-tripping arms. For this
service steel shapes of such section as to form channel
guides for the attachments of the arms to the chain make
excellent frames. Both single strands of steel chain, and
double-strand detachable malleable chain, are commonly
used. Speeds of from 40 ft. to 60 ft. per min. are usual
for terminal freight handling service.
Department Stores
Parcels Boxes Cartons Bundles
The principle of the arm
elevator applied to lowering has
produced an economical machine for the lowering of parcels
to the shipping floor, or for other similar transfers, in
insuring steady movement than to furnish driving power. essary. Either electric motor or gas engine drive is usual,
At the discharge point usually the bottom of the lowerer although wherever the current is available the former is
the tray should dump its load easily into a chute or moving to be preferred.
conveyor.
Construction
Lumber
Bags
Boards Timbers The inclinedarm elevator is being used to an increasing
The general application of the arm elevator to lumber extent on construction work for elevating bags of cement,
handling is of comparatively recent development. Portable plaster, and other building materials from cars or trucks
machines of the type shown are used to pile to heights as to storage. On building operations where the receiving
great as 40 ft., yet they occupy comparatively small space
in the driveway. It becomes profitable by their use to pile
has a concrete or similarly firm surface, rails are not nec- the storage pile or the cars. Working as a separate unit
336 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
the arm elevator forms a very direct route from receiving low speeds at which these heavy-duty machines are run,
the barrels are picked up and deposited carefully on the
platforms to upper storage floors of flour, grain and hay
warehouses. From the standpoint of installation this is the unloading skids above, all with a minimum of rough han-
dling. Equipped with the double arms shown, the ele-
The gentle lifting of the loads from the fingers of the and unloading of miscellaneous freight packages, a few
loading stations, the smooth travel of the trays, and the machines have been built to carry four-wheel hand trucks,
equally careful delivery to the discharge station make it with limited loads. The two-way capacity of this elevator
especially satisfactory for fragile packages or for con- is equally valuable in freight and storage buildings where
tainers whose contents are easily disarranged. While many there is a continuous movement of individual packages in
push-bar and inclined apron elevators handle their loads the two directions at the same time. Where the stock or
with practically the same care, they occupy considerably storage rooms are on upper floors, this machine forms the
more floor space and are not so well adapted to multi-story most direct path not only from incoming cars to storage
buildings as the suspended tray type. The arm elevator piles, but from storage to shipping platforms in loading out.
occupies about the same floor space but, even with its self- Like the arm elevator, the suspended tray elevator is not
dumping arm and automatic loading features, it will not adaptable to the handling of a very wide range of packages
properly carry and discharge many packages, such as cases on the one machine, because of the difficulty of providing
of bottles, high cans, barrels on end, and similar automatic loading and discharge stations which will fit
objects, for which the suspended tray is well fitted. Nor equally well the different sizes and weights of objects. How-
is it so automatic in its transfer from and to other con- ever, the use of gathering boxes or other containers will
tinuous carriers in conveying and elevating systems. frequently overcome this objection, particularly in the
As a lowerer this machine not only handles its loads with handling of the smaller commodities. This efficient han-
greater care and accuracy than any other vertical, or nearly dling method is fast increasing with greater knowledge of
vertical, lowerer, butit possesses the advantage that lower- its possibilities and the better organization of production
ing can be done on the descending side at the same time that and storage operations.
packages are being elevated on the opposite side. In operat- A few small portable elevators have been built mainly
ing as a lowerer only, the weight of the load is depended for piling and stacking. The chief objection to these
upon to propel the machine, an automatic brake or gov- machines for such purpose has been that, in their present
ernor being used to control the speed. Even for this work, development, they are rather heavy and clumsy and the
however, usually better to equip the machine with at
it is heights of loading are higher above the floor than with
least a small motor, which, in effect, makes it an elevator the inclined pilers, requiring more manual lifting of the
as well as lowerer. Occasionally the simplest types of package.
lowerers are equipped with foot brakes, in which case the The suspended tray elevator consists of a series of pivoted
speed controlled by the operator. However these inter-
is suspended trays attached to two strands of endless chain or
mittent lowerers, mainly because of the time required to cable running over top and bottom sprockets or sheaves.
operate, are seldom applicable to modern industrial or Because the trays or cars are freely pivoted at their points
freight handling needs. of attachment to the chain, the weight of the load, which
As a unit of complete conveying and elevating systems is always well below these suspension points, holds the tray
the suspended tray elevator, because of its automatic load- in it passes over the head sprockets.
a level position as
ing and discharge features, increases the efficiency and As the tray travels upward, its projecting fingers pick up
broadens the field of continuous handling. Packages of a the load, which has been momentarily resting on the load-
fragile nature, as well as trays and tote-boxes whose con- ing arms, carry it over the top, and deliver it at the de-
tents would be injured by rough handling, are carried sired floor on the down-side to discharge fingers or stations
safely and automatically to points not only many floors which intercept the package as the tray passes through.
above or below, but to distant departments in the same or From these fingers the package slides or rolls, or is other-
different buildings. The most common position of this wise removed before the next tray with its load reaches the
elevator in such systems is receiving from, and discharging station. In the more highly developed types of machines
to, lines of gravity conveyor. In this combination it serves lowering is accomplished in a similar manner, all loads
and lowerer between lines
either as a floor-to-floor elevator passing over the top. In the simple types of gravity lower-
of gravity on the upper and lower floors, or as a booster ers, however, both loading and discharge are done by hand
to provide additional trade for a long line of conveyors on on the down-side.
one floor. Suspended tray elevator-lowerers may for convenience
Where conveying as well as elevating is to be done, and be considered as belonging to two general classes the ;
it is not convenient to have the elevator transfer from or simple swing-tray machine with solid or specially construct-
to other conveyor machines of the suspended tray type ed trays, which are both loaded and unloaded wholly or
are sometimes built as a combination elevator and con- partly by hand; and the highly developed automatic load
veyor, a horizontal run being added to the usual vertical and discharge machine. The basic principle of both types
section. This horizontal portion is suspended close under is the same, and they merge very closely into one another
it particularly valuable in plants where it is necessary to Frame. For the more simple elevators of this type
handle filled and empty boxes or baskets in opposite di- wood frames are often used. However, for reasons of
rections. This two-way capacity has caused this elevator better bracing and general permanence, the continuous
to be extensively applied to the handling of packages in frame of steel angles or channels, forming guides for the
department stores, textile plants, wholesale supply and chain and trays, gives more satisfactory service. The weight
distribution houses, and many other plants in which gath- of the loaded elevator is carried by this frame either to the
ering boxes, baskets, or tote-boxes are much used. By floor or to any one, or all, of the various floors by properly
filling these boxes at storage piles or machines, and placing attaching at these points.In any case, care should be taken
the entire box with its 'contents on the elevator, the time to guard against mis-alignment due to settling of the build-
of loading and unloading of the individual packages is ing. No elevator is more dependent than this type on the
saved. For the similar purpose of eliminating this loading stiffness and permanent alignment of the frame, particularly
338 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
when its operation is designed to be completely automatic. by hand. With the simpler gravity lowerers, which are
Tray Guides. Many elevators, particularly those of loaded on the descending side, hand loading is also usual.
lower height and with balanced trays, have been built and With however, loading fingers, from which
finger-trays,
successfully operated without guides for the trays. In most the load picked up by the tray are usual, and for heavy
is
cases, however, the natural tendency of the trays to swing packages practically essential. In this case the loading is
makes the use of guides essential to the travel of the tray done on the ascending side, whether in elevating or in lower-
in a set path. These guides, whether on wood or steel ing packages. Unless the trays are extremely closely spaced
frames, should be of steel securely and accurately set to the loading grid has the advantage of saving the time of
insure smooth travel of the chain and tray. This is spe- waiting for the tray to come within loading reach. All
cially important where the tray enters or leaves the guides of these loading grids should be so hinged, or otherwise
in passing over the top and bottom terminals. Where the easily adjustable, that all but the one being used may be
frame is of steel, the structural members, with simple addi- thrown out of the path of the loaded trays.
tions,form very convenient chain and tray guides, making Where loading is to be done from gravity, or other con-
a simple and satisfactory construction. veyor an automatic feeding device should be provided. This
Trays. The simplest and most generally satisfactory should be so timed with the movement of the trays that it
finger tray is the steel or malleable-iron, centrally-hung will feed the packages from the conveyor to the loading
type, consisting of a center bar with fingers or arms so fingers one at a time and just before the tray reaches the
arranged as to pass through the fingers of the loading and station. Such a device must not only be positive in its
discharge stations. Such a tray may be left free to swing, action, but so simple in design that it is not easily put out
or it may be so arranged that both the point of suspension of adjustment. Ball bearing rollers on the loading fingers
and the tray platform itself run in the guides. Various aid such firm packages as boxes in taking their place
modifications balanced type are in use, each de-
of this promptly on the loading station.
signed to carry a different type or shape of package. Where Discharge. Although the solid tray is sometimes un-
it is desirable to discharge to the side of, or at right angles loaded by hand, it is more convenient to have it dump its
with, the direction of loading instead of straight ahead load at the required floor, usually on the down-side. This
and for other special conditions, both the corner-hung tray operation is not so positive, except with certain special
and the cantilever arm are used. These are not so gen- packages, as the action of the finger tray, which, in passins
erally satisfactory in operation as the centrally-hung type, through the sloping fingers of the discharge station, leaves
although the corner-hung tray has less tendency to swing its load at the desired floor. From these fingers, which
because of its suspension from offset chains. slope outward and are often equipped with ball bearing
The unbalanced cantilever tray does not, in general, travel rollers, the package slides or rolls off before the next tray
so smoothly or steadily as either of the other types and reaches the station.
requires special guides. Solid wood trays, as well as steel Mechanical devices for pushing the load from the station
trays of special design, are often used to carry special are occasionally used to insure more positive discharge of
packages or miscellaneous parcels. These solid or special certain sluggish packages. In either case the discharge
trays are usually loaded by hand, except where the packages must be smooth, yet positive and prompt, in the handling
are of uniform size and overhang the bottom of the tray. of every package. Frequently power conveyor sections are
The points of attachment of the tray to the chains should provided to carry away the discharged load and prevent
be secure with any type tray, but should leave the tray so packages piling up at the discharge point. A common
freely pivoted that it will maintain its level position with- method of discharge in handling such packages as boxes
out jerking, particularly in passing over the top terminal. is to gravity conveyor, the discharge fingers
being equipped
To insure continuous and uninterrupted traffic in both with rollers to insure prompt movement. As in the loading
directions, trays should often be made of double width, one station, the discharge grids should be --";ily adjustable,
side of the tray being used for elevating and the other preferably hinged, and controlled frorn convenient points,
for lowering. Thus, when an ascending tray, one side of either locally or from other floors, by means of cables and
space on the tray for load'ng another package which is to Drive. Single top and bottom sprockets for each strand
be passed over 'the top and lowered." of chain are usual, although two top and bottom sprockets
Chain. Both malleable and steel chain of the standard for each strand are often used, making a short horizontal
run at each terminal. With the latter design much smaller
types are common, the size depending entirely upon the
weight of the packages to be handled and the height of the sprockets are required, but these are not adaptable to the
elevator. Chains of long pitch are more applicable to ele- heavier chains with long pitch. The head sprockets are
vators with large sprocket wheels than to those in which usually placed on stud shafts to afford clear passage of the
small sprockets are used. Two strands of chain are in- suspended tray between them, although this is not always
variably used, except in one or two special types of ele- essentialif the sprocket is designed large enough and the
vators which have been designed for single strands, in which height of the tray is not tco great to insure proper clear-
case heavier and stiffer chain should be used. Occasionally ance. Where cable is used in place of chain, sheaves are
a cable takes the place of the chain, a construction, how- customary, usually with recesses for lugs on the cable.
ever, which is more common in machines devoted to lower- Such a construction is more common in lowerers than in
ing rather than to elevating. With either cable or chain elevators, and in general is not so satisfactory as chain and
the attachment of the trays should be thoroughly secure, sprockets.
yet so pivoted that the tray is free to keep its level posi- Either spur or worm gears, direct connected or belted to
tion. Secure attachment is more difficult with cable than the motor are satisfactory for driving. The worm gear
with chain and the operation of the cable in passing over forms its own safety brake in case of accidental cut-off of
the end sheaves not so positive as with chain.
is the power, and is well adapted to the slow speeds at which
Loading Stations. For hand-loading alone, particularly these machines arc usually run. The drive is almost in-
of solid and special trays, the loading stations are often
variably from the top, with the bottom sprockets set in
omitted and the packages are placed on the ascending tray adjustable take-ups. Because of the free-running move-
SUSPENDED TRAY ELEVATORS 339
ment of the chain and better balance, in contradistinction ceives from other conveyors. These selective loading de-
to the dragging or rolling effect of the inclined apron or \ ices, while not requiring constant attention, should at least
push-bar elevator chains, the power required by the sus- have regular care in oiling and adjustment. A similar
pended tray elevator is smaller in proportion to its height caution applies to the systematic care of detectors at dis-
than with either of these two. charge points, or other safety devices which may be de-
Brakes. Both foot and automatic brakes or governors, sirable.
preferably the latter, are provided to control the speed on The closest co-operation should obtain between the va-
many types of gravity lowerers. With either device the lious floors, particularly where such elevators are used
control should be so positive as to keep the speed con- simultaneously in both directions. Speaking tubes or sig-
stant, regardless of the total weight on the trays. Whether nal bells between points of dispatch and discharge simplify
sucli machines are to serve as elevators or not, small motors the operation, especially in changing the positions of load-
arc desirable to produce more
positive action, particularly ing and unloading stations. An interesting fact in the
in handling very light packages. Obviously the addition history of the operation of these machines is that they
of the motor increases the usefulness of the lowerer, have been more universally successful in industrial plants
wherever there is any likelihood of its being used, even than in storage or warehousing. This is largely accounted
occasionally, for elevating. for not because they are any less applicable to the latter
Speed and Capacity. Chain speeds of from 30 ft. per purpose, but by the fact that in the manufacturing plant
min. for handling heavy or particularly fragile packages to the elevator receives more regular mechanical attention
70 ft. per min. for the lighter loads are good practice. The in upkeep and adjustment.
capacity depends mainly on the spacing of the trays, which
is usually from 5 ft. to 15 ft. apart. With trays spaced at
the usual minimum distance of 5 ft. apart, and a chain Storage Warehousing
speed of 50 per min., the capacity of the elevator is 10
ft. Boxes
packages per minute. The spacing of the trays should not The high development of automatic transfer mechanism
be closer than the practicable speed at which packages can
by which packages, at the loading point, pass automatically
be fed to the elevator, which, with light packages, is about
from gravity conveyor to the suspended tray elevator, and
one every five seconds. With such light packages the elevator
then from the elevator to lines of gravity conveyor at the
can usually be loaded faster by hand than by automatic
discharge point above, has greatly increased the efficiency
feeder alone.
of continuous conveying and elevating of commodities. By
Safety Devices. An essential feature of each unloading means of the various selective devices in use, the packages
station is some simple type of automatic detector, such as a
are fed one at a time from the conveyor to the loading
swinging arm, which will stop the machine any package if
Operation
While the more highly developed types of suspended
tray elevators are wholly automatic in their operation, no
one machine will serve as a "carry-all," nor will it properly
handle packages of a size or character outside of the range
Selective Devices Aid in Loading
for which it is designed. Disregard of this limitation has
probably caused more operating trouble than any other
single feature. This is particularly true in storage and fingers of the elevator. From these fingers the individual
freight handling operations, where there is a natural ten- package picked up by the fingers of the ascending tray as
is
gathering boxes will often overcome this limitation, the meeting the necessity of elevating and lowering commodi-
empty containers being returned on the opposite side of the ties at the same time. With speaking tubes, bells, or other
machine. Another important point insuccessful operation handling operations in multi-
floor to floor signals, freight
is proper care of feeding devices where the elevator re- story buildings are not only speeded up, but better organ-
340 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL.
from the elimination of the delays and un-
ization results loading and unloading the individual packages is eliminated.
necessary moving about between floors incident to platform The empty containers are later returned on the opposite
lifts. side of the same elevator. The use of these baskets makes
While the cantilever ttays permit the side discharge of it practical to handle the smallest or most irregular pack-
loads at the delivery point, they are not otherwise as sat- ages. Where it is economical to use larger containers than
isfactory as the more stable centrally-hung trays. The de- the one shown, it is usually advisable to move the containers
sign and adjustment of the selective feeding device in auto- about the stockroom floor on low platform trucks.
matic elevators is an important feature of the machine, For this service centrally-hung trays arc usual, although
for no such elevator is any better than its feeder. This where side discharge is desired, or for other special reasons,
device should be so connected with the elevator that its both the cantilever tray and the corner-hung type are used.
operation is timed
deliver boxes singly to the loading
to Whether used as a feeder or discharge conveyor the short
station just before the tray reaches that point. For such power section shown should be given the proper speed to
packages as will travel on gravity conveyor, rollers on the work best with the speed and spacing of the trays. Such
loading fingers insure the prompt movement of the pack- conveyors may be driven either independently or from the
age to loading position.
its elevator. Speeds of from SO ft. to 70 ft. per min. are usual
The photograph shows a simple construction of the frame, with a tray spacing of 6 ft. to 12 ft.
with the frame angles forming two sides of the guide chan-
nel. For very large packages the use of several small
terminal sprockets avoids the necessity for the very large Confectionery Baking Chocolate
single sprocket which would otherwise be required to suf- Boxes
Barrels Bags
ficiently separate the ascending and descending trays.
In lowering packages the suspended tray type handles its
Handling Miscellaneous Packages gravity type, cables running over top and bottom sheaves
are frequently used instead of chains and sprockets.
porary storage capacity that a longer gravity or power Pockets, or recesses, are provided in the sheaves at intervals,
conveyor would provide. into which the clips supporting the trays fit as they pass over
The use of the gathering box or basket is of decided ad- the top. While satisfactory for certain purposes, this cable
vantage in wholesale grocery and other supply house ser- construction is not so generally efficient as the standard
vicewhere a wide range of packages is necessarily handled. chain and sprocket construction commonly used. Careful
In receiving incoming goods or in shipping out from storage attention should be given, in design, to preventing the slip
or stock rooms, if the various small articles are collected in of the cable on the sheave, or of the tray attachments to the
these baskets at the storage piles, and then the basket or cable, particularly with heavy loads. These features are
box with its contents is placed on the elevator, the time of obviously not so positive as with the standard chains.
The
SUSPENDED TRAY ELEVATORS 341
motion of the gravity lowerer may be controlled from any Since the cantilever arm depends so much for its stability
floor by a cable running the full height of the machine and on connection to the chain, this attachment should be
its
connected to the speed governor or brake. made unusually secure. For similar reasons of stability and
strength the chain used on such a single strand elevator
strand, with greater care and less disarrangement of the provide combination trays capable of carrying barrels,
contents than on any other continuous machine. boxes, cartons and the various other types of packages
342 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
handled in milling. The photograph shows the simplest packages, it will be found if they are reasonably light and
type of discharge stationor grid. As the tray passes readily handled, that manual loading and discharge is some-
through the fingers the bag intercepted and slides away
is
from the elevator before the next tray reaches the station.
Automatic Transfer
what faster than automatic operation. For this service
to Belt Conveyor
chain speeds of from 40 ft. to SO ft. per min. are
usually
These fingers should be arranged to hinge up, to make sufficient, with a tray spacing of from 10 ft. to 15 ft. The
clear passage for such loads as are to be carried to floors photograph shows the use of four small head sprockets, in-
below. The discharge to the conveyor made stead of the more common pair of large sprockets.
may be either
straight ahead or at right angles to the elevator. The latter
discharge is more difficult, however, except with
handled packages, such as boxes. The illustration shows
easily
Bleaching and Washing Plants
a common and satisfactory arrangement of the top or driv- Bales Packing Cases Tote-Boxes
ing terminal, with worm gear drive.
The necessity of handling heavy bales and packing cases,
in textile plants and the small space ordinarily available,
Chemicals Powder Drugs
Cans Barrels Drums Carboys
The fact that the trays of this elevator keep their level
position in passing over the top sprockets makes the ma-
chine adaptable to high packages which cannot be properly
handled by any other continuous elevator or lowerer. High
cans, barrels on end, and many similar packages, loaded and
unloaded sometimes by hand or, more commonly by gravity
conveyor, are carried without disarrangement of the con-
tents, or injury to the container itself. One of the most
interesting applications is the conveying and elevating of
carboys or large bottles, usually in crates. In these indus-
tries this machine is also much used for lowering because
of the care with which so many of the containers used must
be handled.
With packages of high center of gravity it is particularly
important that a well balanced tray should be used, that it
should be prevented from swinging in its travel and that its
level position should not be disturbed in passing over the
either elevated or lowered on the same machine. While, in usefulness in departments of the mill where there is neces-
such heavy work, these elevators usually operate as indi- sity of this
two-way handling. In other departments similar
vidual units, they are frequently combined in systems of elevators of heavier construction carry the heaviest bales of
gravity and power conveyors, particularly in the receiving cotton, wool, jute and other incoming raw materials, as
or storage of case goods. A maximum of economy results well as packing cases of finished goods.
eliminates all manual transfer from and to the other con- Because there is the tendency, with packages following
veyor units. Such a system is equally valuable in the closely behind one another, particularly on gravity con-
handling of small pieces in tote-boxes or other containers. veyor, for more than one package to enter the loading sta-
In this case the empty containers are often returned on the tion, it is essential that some selective device be provided
same machine. to separate the loads and deliver them singly to the loading
The basic of all
loading devices is a stop so
principle fingers. The
action of this feeder should be positive, yet as
operated as to synchronize with the movement of the simple as possible in its construction. If too sensitive in its
ascending tray and to hold all but the one package to he adjustment it will require too constant attention. In the
delivered to the loading lingers. In the photograph are elevator shown in the foreground, the top terminal con-
shown levers by which the various hinged discharge stations struction is fairly typical of the suspended tray type. In
on the lloors above or below may be thrown in or out to this casemost of the load of the entire elevator is carried
dispatch packages to the desired floor. For handling the on the top floor. However, this is not essential. In the
heavier bales and packing cases, slow chain speeds of from background is shown a bottom terminal suspending it from ;
STATIONARY
LOADING
FINGER
UNLOADING
CONVEYOR
packing, canning, confectionery, textiles, and ice has be- on the runway is not excessive. The conveying of ice,
come almost indispensable. Because of the excessive fric- empty boxes, baled hay, logs, and pulpwood, is typical of
tion of heavy packages, this equipment is most satisfactory the service to which this conveyor is best fitted. The
for light service. Where it is necessary to handle heavy simple drag conveyor is used more for such conveying
objects a runway bed of steel or wood rollers facilitates than the high type push-bar. It is common in such work
their travel and reduces the drag on the machine. The to combine conveying and elevating within the one ma-
push-bar is not well adapted to handling bags, loose chine.
Curves or Goose-Necks. For push-bar elevators, Drive and Take-Up. Single or double spur gear re-
curves or goose-necks at bottom and top facilitate loading ductions are usual, belted or direct-connected to the mo^
and discharge. These curves should be of sufficient tor. Wormand internal reduction gears and friction drives
radius, usually from 4 ft. to 6 ft., to insure smooth travel are occasionally used. Chain take-ups are almost in-
of the longest packages to be handled. variably placed at the loading end of the machine. If the
Runway Bed. For wood frame
machines, plain machine is fed by gravity conveyor, as is usual, the end
boards, wood strips, corrugated steel, form
or plain or of the section of gravity adjoining the loading point should
satisfactory runways. The drag chain should run in a move with the take-up to avoid disturbance of the loading
smooth track below the sliding surface of the runway, with device. Take-tips should be easy of adjustment, but must
only the spur or push-bar extending above the sur-
cleat, hold their position when set.
face. For high type push-bar elevators with steel frames, Control. It is often advisable to provide simple elec-
runways of plain or corrugated sheet steel or steel strips tric or other control devices at convenient places to facili-
are usual, smoothly curved and fitted to the up or down tate starting and stopping of the machine.
curves, and free from rivet heads or other obstructions Stops. Safety stops are occasionally used as brakes
to the smooth sliding of packages. For handling heavier on elevators, particularly those of higher angles of in-
packages, steel or wood rollers in the straight part of cline, to prevent the elevator running backward when the
runway beds decrease somewhat the driving power re- driving power is accidentally cut off.
quired by reducing the friction between package and run- Capacity. Capacity depends on the spacing of the
way. For conveying logs, pulp-wood and similar objects, push-bars and the speed at which the machine is run. With
V-shaped runways with single strands of chain are cus- the light packages usually handled, practicable capacities
tomary. These runways are often lined with sheet steel. vary from 500 to 1,200 packages per hour, with 60 ft. to 90
Chain or Cable. Plain chains of standard or special ft. per min. chain speeds.
is a big factor in the labor saving they accomplish. Such angles,large enough only to provide proper chain run-
portable boosters apply mainly in warehousing, storage, ways, form satisfactory frames when thoroughly trussed
car-loading, and similar operations. As truck and car- and cross braced. Light roller chain with push-bars
loaders they save the time of the men who usually do
the "passing up" of packages from the end of the con-
veyor to the man in the car. These machines carry
their own motors and are often made adjustable as to
height of lift.
any angle up to the vertical. The chief advantage thus Boxes Cartons Tubs Cans
gained is in the saving of space.
The generally uniform nature of the containers used
Compact single or double reduction drives, with silent
makes the push-bar elevator very applicable to paint,
chain or belt from the motor, are much used, although the
chemical and similar industries. Incoming raw materials
direct connected internal gear reductions are in many re-
vator forms a valuable part of systems of distribution of per min. to provide for the greater strain.
packed goods from packers to storage or cars. The
saving in time and labor accomplished by direct loading Wood Products
from the packing tables to the cars by gravity conveyor is
often made possible through the use of push-bar "boost-
Box Shooks Boxes
ers" to provide the necessary drop to the line of gravity. The extensive use of the push-bar elevator for handling
A common use of the machine is the elevating of mer- box shocks, boxes and similar light packages has been
chandise from basement storage to shipping platforms largely due to the simplicity of installation of the light
after the goods have been collected at a convenient point equipment necessary for this work. The ease of spanning
by conveyors or trucks. roadways, streets, or yards with a minimum of frame-
For transferring from power conveyors to push-bar work makes it feasible to use this elevator in places where
elevators a short section of gravity conveyor between the
two units facilitates the automatic loading of the elevator,
by preventing forcing of the packages from the one ma-
chine to the other. Similarly, light spring-steel strips
placed at the foot of the elevator serve not only to start
the package properly up the runway, but also hold back
any package that has not been securely picked up by the
push-bar. Where such equipment is subjected to the action
of chemical acids, or to conditions of extreme moisture, it
is often advisable to use chain with special wearing parts.
Textiles .
at each floor. By using the upper floors to which the ele- ages, particularly where any are of approximately cubical
vator runs as storage for the lighter packages best adapted shape with a natural tendency to roll back at the higher
to push-bar elevating, this machine will handle practically inclines, the push-bars must be unusually high, often 8 in.
all commodities going to these floors. In hardware and
similar houses handling bulky or heavy packages, it is
successfully applied to short runs and transfer of packages
within its scope, although it has not the wide range of use-
fulness of the apron slat elevator.
Both automatic loading from gravity conveyor and hand-
loading are common in this class of service. In either case
a section of gravity conveyor, or long sloping discharge
table, is advisable at the discharge point to prevent any
blocking of the elevator by the piling up of packages not
Storage to Shipping
Boxes Crates Cartons
The push-bar elevator working in systems with gravity
High Angle Saves Storage Space
conveyor is particularly useful for elevating packages to
clearly removed. Because of the miscellaneous shapes,
sizes, and weights of packages, an angle of 45 deg. is
about the maximum incline advisable. The push-bar
should ordinarily run about 4 in. to 8 in. above the run-
way bed, but if there are small packages to be (elevated,
care must be taken not to have the bar placed higher than
the smallest package to be handled.
General Freight
Barrels Tubs Cases Crates Boxes
While the push-bar elevator not so well adapted as the
is
These drag conveyors are built with very long centers. strips attached to the timber frame. With push-bars
They are not usually reversible, although two-way spaced about 4 ft. apart the capacity is very high, even
travel is sometimes provided for. The chief advantage at the fairly low speeds of from SO- ft. to 75 ft. per min.
of such equipment is its extreme simplicity of design at which such conveyors are usually operated. Inter-
and construction. It can be easily taken down and
set up to meet changing layouts. Such a conveyor is
used more for temporary service than for permanent
installations. Cable carriers are often used for this
purpose instead of chain.
For handling logs V-shaped troughs of 2 in. boards
are usual, while flat runways are used for ice, hay, and
similar packages. The two sides of the V-trough form
guards as well as sliding surfaces, keeping the package
moving properly. With the usual flat runways side
Soaps Greases
Boxes Cartons Cases
For handling packages with
fairly light surfaces
strips attached to the frame. The frame is generally and delivered to tables or to other conveyor lines above.
of wood construction. In some installations packages Such irregular packages require, in general, lower angles
of incline than cases or boxes.
are discharged at intermediate points by removing or
hinging sections of the runway, arrangement being made
For handling packages of strictly uniform size it is
to insure the package clearing the returning chain of feasible to run the push-bar elevator vertically, with hori-
the conveyor as it discharges through the opening. zontal loading and discharge portions. top guard The
forms, with the chain guide angles and runway bed, a
vertical shaft in which the package travels. The chief ad-
Bottling vantage thus gained is in the saving of space. For service
in bottling plants plain or corrugated sheet steel runways
Cases Trays Cartons Barrels
are usual. The corrugated runways are somewhat stiffer,
In bottling plants the push-bar elevator is used ex- and produce rather less sliding friction than do flat steel
tensively and with great success largely because of the uni- sheets of the same gage.
pacity, and the fact that packages of all sizes may be is made practically automatic for inclines up to 30 deg. to
handled on the same apron, make it the most generally 50 deg. ; the higher angles being used only for bags or
useful of all continuous motion carriers. Requiring no similar packages which have little tendency to roll back.
operator, and always instantly available, it is particularly Such automatic elevators receive from and discharge to
adaptable to miscellaneous freight handling in industrial either gravity or power conveyors. Automatic feed mechan-
plants, as well as in terminal and marine warehouses and isms, somewhat on the selective principle of the push-bar
on piers. Because of being largely shop-assembled it is
elevator feeders, are being developd which promise to make
installed with little disturbance to plant operation. Its rug-
the apron slat elevator with cleats much more self-loading
ged construction enables the machine to withstand for than at present.
many years such rough usage as would quickly wreck other As a conveyor, running along the ceiling, or in out-of-the-
types of equipment. It is easily stopped or started from way places, with down or up curves at convenient points,
any desired point, and is reversible in direction of motion. it takes up very little working space. The facility with
The apron type machine is adaptable not only to the han- which packages will transfer from one conveyor to an-
dling of individual packages, but, when properly equipped, other, placed at any desired angle to the first, makes it
will elevate, lower, or convey men and trucks, thus saving feasible to fit these machines into almost any condition of
the time of unloading and loading the trucks. Such application plant layout. In fact, one of the biggest fields of service
of the apron elevator or conveyor approaches very closely of the apron conveyor lies in the direct connecting of
the function of the various types of truck hauls described successive operations in different departments or buildings,
in a later section of this book. Similarly the use of large made necessary by plant layout changes and additions.
gathering boxes, carried about the storage rooms on low Running level or on inclines, under floors, through walls,
platform trucks and delivered semi-automatically to the or from building to building, the conveyor provides a tie
conveyor saves the time of handling individual packages. that is far more important to production than the mere
Such a combination method has proved successful in many labor or time of trucking that is saved. Wherever used in
and has materially increased the usefulness of apron
plants, this way it is a production organizer. Working with the
carriers. various types of continuous motion elevators and lowerers,
elevators and lowerers these machines are used eco-
As it serves as a most efficient unit in plant transportation sys-
nomically not only as floor-to-floor elevators, but also in tems. One of the most economical of such combinations
multi-story heights as one continuous elevator discharging consists of conveyor and elevator installed as one con-
and loading at each floor. Because of the high operating tinuous machine. The apron type conveyor is especially
inclines possible, such equipment requires a surprisingly adapted to outdoor service. It requires very little protec-
small floor space. With fairly light packages the incline tion and simple supports, and often carries on its own
may be increased almost to the vertical by attaching to the frame such light housing as is necessary. As such a car-
slats cleats orarms of such a height or type as to prevent rier between buildings the conveyor is particularly valuable
the package from rolling backward. In fact, with packages in bad weather.
of uniform size this machine is often operated in a com- Probably the most interesting of the recent develop-
bination of horizontal and vertical positions. At the higher ments in inclined apron elevators and conveyors has been
inclines it becomes practically a rigid arm elevator. In the portable machines for piling or conveying merchandise
places where it is desirable to lower as well as elevate in warehouses, and for loading and unloading trucks, cars,
packages the use of this machine is even more economical, barges, and ships. Carrying its motor or engine within its
within the limits of incline at which objects may be safely frame, it is easily moved to meet the changing operating
lowered. conditions of such work. The greatest efforts have been
With a short horizontal portion at the bottom, joined to made to design machines for this service of sufficient
APRON ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 353
the all-steel frame, with the chain running in the hori- chains are satisfactory, since there isusually less wear on
zontal legs of the side truss angles. The steel frame prop- them, and less pulling strength is required by the larger
erly braced is stronger and more durable, and more gen-
end rollers on the carrier. Attachment links should be of
354 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
such size and strength as to provide a connection between package Such diverters may be controlled
off to the side.
chain and slat or carrier, not merely strong enough for the from the point of dispatch by cables.
locally or
static loads, but to withstand the shock and twisting strains Drive and Take-up. Practically any of the standard
of loading. worm, spur, or internal reduction gear drives are satisfac-
Side Guards. With
elevators, operating at ordinary tory, with belt, silent chain, or direct connection to the
angles, side guards are seldom necessary, except for special motor. Single or double reduction spur gears are most com-
packages which may have a tendency to roll sidewise. At mon and are generally satisfactory, although for the lowest
the higher angles of incline, however, guards of steel an- speeds worm gears or internal reduction gears are more
gles, sheet metal, or wood are often used, mainly as a pre- often used. While it is customary to drive apron elevators
caution in case of careless loading, or to insure the safety or conveyors from the delivery end, many of these ma-
of men working under or around the elevator. On con- chines are reversible in direction, and are driven from
veyors, side guards are necessary only for the sake of safety either end.
in overhead or for special side-loading pur-
installations, Control. The usual method of control is by means
poses. They are, of course, required where it is desired to of a switch. Where it is desired to
stop or start the ma-
handle cylindrical, or similar packages on flat aprons. chine from several points, electric push-button control is
Where heavy loading is to be done at any point it is ad- better. It is often advisable, in addition, to provide simple
visable to attach continuous angles to the side frame, automatic safety stops, either electrical or mechanical, par-
which, extending slightly above the slats or carrier, pro- ticularlyon elevators handling men and trucks.
tects the apron and chain. Such angles, used alone, or with
Special Features of Portable Elevators and
plates extending over a portion of the end of the slat,
serve as a rather necessary protection of the slat in handling Conveyors
loose packages like waste paper or rags. Elevator Base Frame. The supporting frame is best
Loading Points. To facilitate the loading of heavy constructed of steel channels, 4 in. and 5 in. channels be-
packages onto apron elevators the foot of the elevator should ing generally used. The base frame must be particularly
be as close as convenient to the floor. Where possible it is well braced to withstand the racking incident to moving
advantageous to set the lower end-shaft below the floor over rough and irregular floors.
level. In such cases a steel floor plate, with inset rollers, Carrier Frame or Boom. The side trusses of this
from which very heavy packages are fed onto the elevator, frame for both conveyors and elevators are most conveni-
makes for easy loading. Where heavy objects are loaded ently formed of two steel angles, usually from 1J4 in. by
carelessly, a solid plate or several angles placed close un- 1J4 in- by 3/16 in. to 2 /i
l
in. by 2 in. by 3/16 in. angles, the
der the slats at the loading point, reduce the shock of horizontal legs providing the runway for the chain or
loading on the apron. To insure heavy packages starting rollers. These two side frames should be together tied
up the incline bearing squarely against the cleats, it is ad- at frequent intervals by angle struts or a steel plate, or by
visable to use loading fingers placed just above the moving both. For easy portability, however, particular attention
slat. The package, momentarily resting on these fingers, should be paid to making this frame, as well as all other
ispicked up squarely by the elevator cleats, projecting above parts of the machine, as light as consistent with the nature
the fingers, as they pass through. For elevators fed by of the work to be done.
gravity or power conveyor, one of the various timing de- Elevator Raising Device. The apparatus for raising
vices or feedersmay be provided. the boom should be under the frame, to insure
entirely
In conveyors much manual lifting can be eliminated and clear travel for bulky packages and to facilitate moving the
the operation of the conveyor made more satisfactory by machine through doorways. Except in the smallest ma-
having all loading points as close to the floor as possible. chines the boom should preferably be raised by power
Where it is not convenient to have the entire conveyor run driven mechanism. This raising frame should be so de-
along the floor, or even set in the floor, down curves at the signed as to insure the stability of the machine with the
end or at desired intermediate points make easier loading. boom in high position.
As with elevators, stiff angles or a steel plate set close un- Drive and Take-up. In portable apron elevators, be-
der the apron at these loading points relieve the aprcn of cause of the adjustable discharge with the motor stationary
much of the strain of loading heavy packages. This applies in the base frame, the carrier is most conveniently driven
particularly in storage operations where heavy loads are fed from the foot end, and the chain may be kept at proper
from chutes onto the conveyor. tension by take-ups placed at the top. For both elevators
Discharge Points. important that the discharge
It is and conveyors the direction of travel of the carrier should
be so arranged as to insure packages leaving the end of be reversible, with proper switches and reducing mechan-
the conveyor or elevator promptly and clearly. A satis- ism to accomplish this. Special attention must be given to
factory arrangement is to provide a long sloping table or eliminating excess weight from the driving mechanism, for
section of gravity conveyor to allow for temporary piling if the maximum use is to be made of any manually moved
up of packages without blocking the machine. It is machine it must be as light as consistent with the strength
is
on pipe guides. When set in position to divert they should over rough, uneven floors, or used in out-of-door work,
be at such angle with the carrier as to smoothly sweep the wheels of from 12 in. to 30 in. are better, even though not
APRON ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 355
so flexible in direction of movement. Occasionally it is to be moved from place to place by hand. Because easy
advisable to mount such elevators on light steel, or other portability so essential to economical operation, many
is
wagons. of the best informed operating men are coming to feel that
they are willing to sacrifice some of the life of the machine
Operation
in order to insure its maximum daily use.
One
of the biggest advantages of the apron elevator or
With both conveyors and elevators of the apron type, par-
conveyor lies in its simplicity of operation. It requires
ticularly with portable machines, successful operation is far
neither operator nor special loading or discharge, and can
more a matter knowledge of the many possible applica-
of
be started, stopped, or reversed in direction by a push-
tions of the equipment than of its construction or operat-
button or switch. With properly designed equipment and
ing details. Wherever such machines are used there should
reasonably careful handling, occasional oiling and cleaning be one man who not only knows thoroughly the mechanical
of the chain and driving mechanism are about all the atu-n-
features of the equipment and is responsible for the oper-
tion required. It is not uncommon, however, for machines
ating condition at all times, but, far more important, also
to be made entirely too light, or otherwise be unsuitcd to
knows the possibilities of the equipment as applied to his
the work to be done. Such mis-applications come about
plant. For instance, the warehouse man who knows the
frequently through designing the equipment for average
almost unlimited uses of a combination piler, truck-loader,
service, and not providing for the unexpected loadings,
and car-loader will get far more service out of the machine
strains,or rough usage that are certain to occur. With
than the chance laborer with no knowledge or imagination
the apron elevator a common trouble comes about through
in applying the machine to his handling problems.
the attempt to handle packages at angles of incline higher
than those for which the machine was designed.
To
insure proper loading and less wear and tear on the Elevators for Trucks
equipment, it should be run at the lowest speed that will The big demand for continuous motion inclined hand
give the desired capacity. It is safe to say that most of truck elevators has resulted in the present high develop-
these machines, as usually installed, run faster than it is ment of such machines. In addition to the great capacity
practicable to load the machine or handle the discharging and continuous service of these elevators, probably the most
packages. With elevators, loading downward from the top important feature is the high degree of safety attained.
requires more attention in angles over about 25 deg. than Accidents are far rarer than in other types of lifts. Ca-
up-loading, because the packages do not so readily find pacities as high as 500 to 700 trucks per hour in each
their proper place against the cleats, with the result that direction are not unusual. The elimination of the usual
they may slide or roll down the
Where, as is incline.
bales, and similar packages of ordinary rigidity at various handling and to carrying trucks with sides or with loads
intermediate points. Unless the apron is very smooth this not easily disarranged by being tilted at the angle of the
is usually not satisfactory for bags and pliable objects. incline.
The successful operation of portable equipment depends For this service aprons of special or multiple strand chain
so much on the ease of movement from place to place that are usual, with dogs or lugs which grip the truck firmly
particular attention should be given to the surface over as they carry it up. These lugs are usually placed very
which it Easy-swivel casters are excellent for
operates. close together for the sake of safety in loading and travel.
fairly smooth floors, but steel wheels are advisable for Wood and steel slat aprons with cleats which engage hooks
rough floors or out-of-door work. Probably the biggest on the truck are also much used. To insure the successful
operating consideration with portable machines, however, travel of wide trucks the sides of the high guards should
is the question of weight, particularly where the machine is be smooth and free from obstructions, and the floor must
356 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
titclosely to the moving apron. As usually installed these new process layouts in old buildings. The high angle of
elevators carry their loads in only one direction, although incline with resulting small space required, makes it pos-
double runways, for up and down traffic, are often used. sible to install such machines with a minimum of disturb-
ance to machine layout or operation. Since the elevator is
Miscellanous Packages
In the handling of hand trucks and men, as well as vari-
ous heavy freight packages, there is an increasing use of
apron elevators in marine and terminal freight handling,
and in practically every industry. Improvements in design
and positive safety appliances have been responsible for
the more frequent adoption of this elevating and lowering
method. Such elevators serve not only as truck-hauls, but
also for handling gathering boxes or individual packages.
Instant and continuous service, with great capacity, make
this elevator most economical in operation, within the limits
of one to three-story elevating, to which it is best adapted.
Because the loads are carried at an angle this machine is
most satisfactory in handling trucks with sides, or with
loads not easily disarranged.
Broad wood slats, set close together and securely at-
tached to roller chain, form a very satisfactory apron. The
cleats on the apron must be made to fit the hooks on the
trucks, and be so designed that they have a positive grip on
ings the apron elevator forms a direct connection between loads great distances and with frequent turns and are ;
successive operations in different departments of cotton and readily reversible in the direction of motion.
woolen This use of continuous elevators and con-
mills. The prime requisite in elevators of this type is to so
veyors has bridged one of the biggest obstacles to making design the individual carrier that it will not only carry the
APRON ELEVATORS 357
package properly, but that it will receive and discharge its using gathering boxes. These are carried about the base-
load automatically. Whether propelled by a single or by ment or upper floors on low-wheel platforms, from which
a double strand of chain, each carrier must be so made that they are pushed, when filled, onto the elevator. In this
its rollers will track perfectly in passing over the end way the manual loading of the individual pieces is avoided.
Heavy wood slats with wood or steel cleats and heavy
roller chain form a serviceable apron for this purpose.
For convenience in loading it is often advisable to make a
short portion of the elevator horizontal at the loading end,
although this is not always necessary. Because of the
difficulty ofunloading heavy packages a convenient push-
button or switch control is essential, by which the machine
Miscellaneous Packages
The most and economical uses of inclined
successful
apron elevators marine freight handling have been in
in
Adjustable Elevators for Men and Trucks portunity for the most economical use of elevator-conveyor
General Freight
Miscellaneous Packages
providing direct connection between floors at the most
By
convenient points the inclined freight elevator eliminates
long truck hauls and the delay of waiting for platform
elevators. Used not only for elevating or lowering pack-
ages but for trucks and men as well, this is a general serv-
ice machine. has an enormous hourly capacity in either
It Receiving from Truck or Car
direction, running at low speeds. The power con-
even
sumption is low. Switches or push-buttons at convenient systems. With such continuous systems, packages which
point? control the motion of the elevator, and electric or would otherwise be carried on slow-moving hand trucks
APRON ELEVATORS 359
adjacent buildings. In crowded plants the simplicity of the slats attached to end rollers or roller chain. In this
installation of these elevators, with the small space required, case they return by rolling instead of sliding, thus avoiding
is of particular advantage. wear on the slats, and requiring less driving power. A
For out-of-door service timber frames are often used and hand crank device for raising and lowering the upper part
are satisfactory. Steel strips or angle runways should be of the frame, or boom, is satisfactory for the lighter and
provided for the chain. In handling heavy packages extra smaller machines, but power raising devices save much
heavy slats and cleats are essential, and should be designed labor and time.
to fit the shape of the particular packages to be handled.
With proper spacing of the cleats barrels are easily loaded River Freight
automatically from standard barrel skids, as shown. In-
Miscellaneous Packages
clines up to 45 deg. are usual, although with high, well-
braced cleats or arms, and with proper chain guides, prac-
The wide variation of the water level incident to many
river and even tidewater ports has created a demand for
tically any incline up to the vertical is feasible. Generally
barrels or drums are best handled crosswise, as shown,
elevators of extreme adjustment range. These machines
are built both stationary and portable. They carry prac-
although they are often carried lengthwise or at the lower
tically all classes offreight in a continuous stream either
angles of incline, on end.
in loading or unloading, with capacities as high as 75 tons
per hour. The tipper ends of these elevators receive from
Freight Handling or discharge to cars on adjacent sidings, or to trucks or
length.
Where are used they should be strong conveyors leading to storage. Because of their weight the
loading fingers
larger portable machines operate most satisfactorily when
enough and so supported as to relieve the apron of the
mounted on light rails running either parallel or at right
shock of careless loading. Steel angles or a stiff steel plate
angles to the dock. They should be self-propelling. While
requiring very little attention in operation, these larger
machines should be in charge of one responsible man who
is not only a thorough mechanic, but, more important by
far, knows the handling possibilities of the machine. Much
of the natural economy of these elevators is often lost
through lack of training and judgment in their use.
For miscellaneous freight the apron should be made up
of a combination of two or more types to suit the main
packages to be handled. This has usually been done by
providing a double width carrier, with straight and drop
axles on one side, and with slats on the other. The adjust-
able boom should be thoroughly braced and trussed. The
connection of the boom to the main frame is naturally a
point of high strain. One of the most important points of
design is to secure the proper balance with the outer end
of boom fully loaded.
driving power is required than with plain or standard roller turning angles and feeding from one conveyor section to
chain. In general, the actual piling height of the machine another, and from conveyor to piler. As the warehouse
should not be quite as high as the desired pile, for it is is filled, sections of the conveyor are removed to shorten
better to secure the greater portability of the smaller ma- the line. In loading out to cars, or for distribution, the
system equally useful working in reverse direction. The
is
chine, having the man on the pile place the last tier. as 40 ft. This has made such larger machines particularly
Machines for handling packages up to about 200 11). in valuable in saving space by the high piling of sugar, coffee,
weight may well be propelled from place to place by hand, copra, jute, cork, paper and many other similar commodities.
but the heavier machines for piling over about 20 ft. should
be self-propelled. For light machines speeds of from 60 ft.
to 100 ft. per min. are usual for carrying a continuous
stream of packages.
Sugar
Bags Bales
A portable piler working at the end of a line of portable
sectional convevors makes a most economical and flexible
It is not uncommon
for packages weighing as much as 600
Ib. to 800 handled in a continuous stream. The
Ib. to be
labor and time saved by eliminating the usual string of men
used in manual piling is surprisingly great.
The power for propelling as well as for operating these
machines, as usually designed, is furnished by an angine on
the piler or through a cable attached to convenient elec-
tric outlets. The use of the cable naturally limits the dis-
tance the machine can travel from one connection. Some
From Receiving Platform to Top of Pile progress is being made in the development of storage bat-
teriesmounted on the machine to furnish power. The
combination. The packages travel from car, shipside, or double-boom machine shown will <tart piling nearer the
receiving platforms, to the top of the piler, automatically floor and reach further over the pile than the single-boom
362 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
piler. Practically all of these double-boom pilers have pulpwood, paper and pulp laps, cotton, and innumerable
been built with the straight axle carrier. other such commodities in open storage. It is not uncom-
mon for one machine to eliminate from 6 to 12 men, in
addition to making much easier work for the others. By
Floor-to-Floor Elevators
piling high and close to the receiving or shipping siding
Bags Bundles Bales
Working through convenient openings in the upper floor,
these portable elevators save many long truck hauls and
the time of slow movement on platform lifts. The ease
with which the machine may be moved from one opening
to another and with which the height of the boom may
be adjusted, makes it possible for one elevator to serve
an entire warehouse floor. The operation of such a ma-
chine is particularly economical when the lower end is
close to theincoming or outgoing car door, and the pack-
ages are elevated or lowered through second floor hatches
conveniently located along the side nearest the car siding
or truck platform. In a similar way the elevator is often
used, even on fairly narrow platforms, with its foot at or
near the car door, and the discharge through second or
third story windows. These floor-to-floor machines are
very useful also for piling on the first floor, with the boom
lowered.
The straight axle carrier, with end rollers, is well adapted
to the handling of bags, bales, bundles, or any other fairly
soft packages which hold their place on the carrier by ,
Truck Loading
Miscellaneous Packages
The increasing size of motor trucks, with the corre-
Saving Long Hauls by Direct Connection spondingly large investment represented demanding greater
speed and economy of loading has caused the rapid recent
a lighter but very durable machine. The use of a sheet
developments in portable truck loaders. Either in loading,
metal plate under the axles stiffens the boom and prevents or operating in the reverse direction in unloading, such a
any possibility of sagging bags catching on the cross-braces machine is naturally most useful when the truck body is
below. The construction of side trusses with angles only above the level of the ground or loading platform. The
large enough for the wheels to "track" properly forms a fact that on a smooth surface the machine may easily
fairly
light but very strong carrier frame. be moved from one truck to another by one man is one of
its big advantages. Receiving its load direct from
Out-of-Door Piling hand trucks or conveyor, the loader saves practically all
the labor of lifting. Because it is adjustable as to height
Bales Bags Boxes of discharge it delivers packages to the different tiers as
The combination of stability and easy portability of the the truck or car is loaded. A
projecting curve is often
pilermounted on a standard wagon frame or special steel used at the delivery end, reaching further over into the
truck makes it a great labor saver in piling bales of hay, truck. This machine is particularly useful on docks,
APRON CONVEYORS 363
wharves, or in warehouses and industrial plants where These carriers serve the triple purpose of conveying from
loading is done from the ground. When not serving as a the barge to wharf shed, from this temporary storage to
loader it is equally useful for the piling of commodities in the cars, or direct from the barge to the cars. Since it is
storage. Because of its compact size it can be moved from thoroughly practical to make right angle, or other turns,
floor to floor without much trouble on the average platform commodities may be conveyed to either end of the shed.
elevator. The necessity for the derrick at the right may usually be
For handling drums or barrels a carrier of from Ya, in. avoided by providing a portable adjustable elevator con-
to 1J<J drop axles, with end rollers running on the
in. veyor which will do piling in the warehouse as well as the
horizontal legs of the side-truss angles, makes a rugged car loading shown.
Sections of from 10 ft. to 25 most com-
ft. in length are
mon for small warehouses with posts.Longer sections are
somewhat more efficient where feasible, but are harder to
handle in warehouses where the posts are closely spaced.
These conveyors are made with both the overhead power
frame shown, and with power units under the conveyor.
The latter is preferable, except for special conditions. This
chain-and-axle type carrier is well adapted for outdoor
service. However, when it is not to be used for long
periods provision should be made for either moving the
machine inside or keeping it covered to protect it from the
weather.
Car Loading
Boxes
Truck Loading Made Easy
The shows a very interesting application of
illustration
construction and forms a natural cradle for such cylindrical the stationary type apron conveyor to car loading. This
packages. This carrier will also elevate bags, bales, or machine serves both as lowerer and conveyor, in that the
cases, although not so well as a carrier composed of heavy boxes are brought from the floor above. They are di-
wood slats withFor heavy cases or drums speeds
cleats. verted automatically to portable loading sections of gravity
of from 30 ft.per min. are usual, with maximum
to 50 ft. conveyor at any desired car door. Where it is not advis-
capacities of about one ton per minute. When such a ma- able to obstruct doorways these platform conveyors are
chine is to be moved over rough surfaces out of doors 12 suspended from above at a height sufficient to provide
in. to 18 in. wheels at one end are preferable to the usual passage underneath. One of the most economical installa-
steel casters. A short section of gravity conveyor on long tions of such car-loading conveyors consists of a long con-
trucks aids materially in moving cases, boxes, etc., from veyor, as shown, to which the packages are fed through
the discharge end of the conveyor to the front end of the the windows by short portable sections of gravity conveyor
truck. Considerable manual handling can likewise be saved from storage piles inside. While the conveyor is occasion-
through loading over the side of the truck where it is con- ally placed in the floor of the platform at the outer edge,
venient. For the usual car or truck loading operations a such a position, although it keeps the platform clearer,
discharge height of 8 ft. is satisfactory and is the usual necessitates more lifting at the car door. Also when in-
maximum. stalled in the position shown it is an easy matter to increase
the operating limits of such a layout by extending the sec-
Flour Feed Seeds Grain tions of portable gravity conveyor through the cars stand-
Chemicals
Bags
In the warehousing of many commodities,
particularly in
connection with manufacturing plant?, a large part of the
tonnage handled can be placed in temporary storage close
alongside lines of conveyors. These conveyors later carry
it direct to cars or ships. This conserves, to a great ex-
Automatic Discharge to Any Car Door tent, the labor of trucking over large areas. Where heavy-
ing the inner end of the portable gravity section to it, keeps
the gravity section in position as the boxes are fed onto
it from the apron
conveyor. Similarly, the line of steel
rollers at the side facilitates the side
discharge.
Fertilizers
Bags
As production organizers, apron conveyors have been suc-
cessfully applied not only to continuous assembly of ma-
chines, but also to some of the simplest production opera-
tions. The sewing of bags on slowly moving aprons, which
storage system these same conveyors serve to carry the re- packages tend to slide or roll back, low cleats of wood or
serve storage stock to shipping platforms. Portable apron angle iron are advisable. For handling loose bags top chain
pilers,which elevate the bags from these main conveyors to guards are advisable. If very abrasive material is to be
the temporary storage piles alongside, and later return them
conveyed these top guards are often extended several inches
in loading out, add materially to the labor saving of such a over the end of the slat better to protect the chain. Since
system. it is not to be expected that packages will be loaded in the
Wood frames are often used for this service, with steel center of such a conveyor there should be no projection of
APRON CONVEYORS 365
frame or other parts which would interfere with the occa- visable. Such a system is equally useful for the reverse
sional bagwhich overhangs the apron. operation of unloading from cars to storage or to manu-
facturing buildings.
River Freight An excellent apron for handling miscellaneous packages
consists of wood slats securely attached to roller chain
Miscellaneous Commodities
running on the horizontal legs of the side truss angles.
Many barge and boat loading operations are conducted Slats of approximately 1 in. in thickness are usual, and
under such continually changing conditions of water level for portable conveyors are better than the very heavy slats
that it is essential that any equipment used be easily port- often used. So much of the economy of use of portable
able. The sectional power conveyor not only meets this re- power conveyors depends on lightness of design and sim-
quirement, but provides the most economical method of plicity of set-up that these points are vital to the success
performing such work as is shown in the photograph. As of such equipment. While there have been exceptions to
the water level raises the lower sections are removed. Thf
reversible feature of this equipment makes it equally serv-
iceable in either direction, packages traveling in a steady
stream between boats or barges and warehouses or cars a!
the upper end. More actual labor, however, is conserved in
unloading the boats. In such service the saving of the
time of the boat is often equally as important as the actual
saving of labor.
For this work light sections of from 15 ft. to 30 ft. in
with the secondary lines either placed in the floor or hung machine that can be easily handled. These machines
it
from overhead, there is ample space for each unit. Only approach the character of the adjustable ramp
closely
such emergency aisles as are necessary for the passage of elevator conveyor, but are more flexible in that they are
men and trucks are provided, but with such a system of
positive handling there should be no necessity for irregular
moving about. Arranged in less elaborate systems, such
layouts have been successful in many modern
dairy plants.
For diverting bottles from one apron conveyor to another
the apron should be of unusually smooth surface with close-
fitting slats. It is essential that the curve of the direrter
Storage
Bags
Rapid Loading from Wharf to Ship The development of the automatic transfer of packages
from one section to another has been largely responsible
of high rise and fall of water level incident to river and
certain tidewater ports.
A combination of flat and concave apron is good for
such miscellaneous service In this way a natural cradle is
formed for cylindrical packages. Where there is any possi-
machine operating at inclines higher than about
bility of the
15 deg., occasional cleats should be provided to control the
packages. Except in the longest and heaviest types of ma-
chines a frame of four angles forming two thoroughly
braced side trusses is satisfactory. A light steel tower
at the wharf provides the necessary support for the over-
head raising and lowering mechanism. It is generally con-
venient to have the outer end of the conveyor rest on the
deck of the vessel, thus following the latter in its up and
down movement.
Ship Loading
Automatic Right Angle Discharge
Miscellaneous Freight and Baggage
The heavy type portable apron conveyor is used in ship for the increasing use of portable conveyors.Where right
loading mainly where it is convenient to so support the or other angle turns are necessary adjustable stands for
368 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
bags, or bales, or gravity roller curves for boxes, eliminate slats. Removable floor plates at either side are desirable to
manual handling at such points. Direct transfer in a make easy access to the conveyor. To guard against the
straight line from one section to another, or from conveyor decided tendency to neglect equipment in such a position,
to portable elevator, as shown at the right, is even a simpler there should be a regular schedule of cleaning and oiling.
matter. Such operating improvements as these, with in-
creasing knowledge of how and when to use the equipment, Metal Products
have materially broadened the field of economic applica-
tion of these sectional carrier systems. Continuous Assembly
The overhead power frame shown at the far end as i
One of the most successful developments in recent years
been commonly accepted as standard, but this type frame in the use of apron conveyors has been in the continuous
is gradually giving way to the more compact under-slung
assembly and inspection of machines and other metal prod-
driving mechanism. Where the motor and reducing gear-
ing isbuilt under the frame the top of the conveyor is
running in a steel frame. The edge of the floor opening to thecarrying of miscellaneous freight. With the power
should be smooth and should fit close to the ends of the and speed reducing mechanism placed under the conveyor,
BELT CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS 369
as shown, no obstruction is offered to even the largest pack- simpler and lighter construction. Because easy portability
ages. The comparatively lightweight of these conveyors, is such an important feature, the best casters made are de-
tages of this carrier have thus been added the capacity for ed in recent years through the employment of stronger belts
handling, on the better grades of belt, packages of such and improvements in automatic loading and control. As
weight and character as have generally been considered out- a lowerer this machine has a limited but very useful appli-
side the scope of belt conveying. cation at inclines up to about 25 deg., particularly in its
The smooth and noiseless operation of this equipment, two-way capacity of returning empty boxes which have
its capacity for carrying packages in opposite directions previously been elevated on the opposite run of the same
simultaneously, and the ease with which packages may be belt.
diverted from the side at any point, make it adaptable to The light weight of the portable belt conveyor has been
many plant conditions in which no other conveyor would the chief reason for the tremendous development of these
be satisfactory. It operates more efficiently at high speeds machines within the past few years. The ease of movement
than any other continuous carrier, and has a correspond- from place to place more than offsets the fact that the belt
ingly large capacity. The continuous surface of the belt carrier has a shorter useful life than the apron and chain
adapts it to packages of even the smallest size and likewise type of carrier. Obviously it is not so well adapted to the
prevents dirt or other foreign matter from falling through. handling of heavy and miscellaneous freight as the latter
By running the carrying and return belts close together conveyor. However, the range of usefulness and the
the conveyor may be installed in a small space and be made wearing qualities of the well-constructed belt machine are
to pass through small wall openings. This results in a surprising. As with portable apron conveyors, the efficiency
neat appearance. of the sectional belt conveyor or piler depends to an un-
In department stores, as well as in mail order and whole- usual extent upon the intelligent application of the equip-
sale supply houses, the noiseless operation, cleanliness and ment to its purpose. The automatic transfer of packages
neat appearance of the belt conveyor are big factors ac- from one section to another, and from conveyor section to
counting for its extensive use in the dispatching of out- piler, reduces to a minimum the manual handling of com-
going goods. In manufacturing plants, where goods in modities between cars, ships, or trucks and storage. These
process are hand'.ed in trays or tote boxes, the two-way portable machines carry their own motors or engines
capacity of this conveyor is used to good advantage in within their frame, and for this reason are easily moved
returning the empty containers on the return side of the about to meet changing operating conditions.
same belt on which the filled containers are carried. The As portable pilers or elevators these machines pick up
with which packages are automatically transferred
facility their loads almost from the ground level, thus saving labor
from one conveyor to another makes this type conveyor in loading. By reason of the adjustable discharge height
particularly adapted to the most difficult production layouts. packages are delivered to any level within the maximum
In plants where fragile products are handled, such as range of the machine. These machines have been built
glass and china, the smooth travel of the belt makes it with piling heights as great at 30 ft., although this is rather
possible to handle packages which could not be carried on uncommon. Very good advantage has been taken of this
any other conveyor. In laundries, baking, confectionery adjustable discharge height in the loading of ships, barges,
and food plants and specialty manufacturing where there or boats, where the rise and fall of the vessel is followed by
is extensive sorting, wrapping and packing of small pieces the carrier boom. The direction of travel of the belt is
the belt conveyor serves as a most efficient work table. reversible so that the machine is equally useful working in
As an elevator the smooth travel of the belt, particularly either direction. As floor-to-floor machines discharging
when designed with supporting rollers set close together, through holes in the upper floors, or through convenient
makes it practicable to elevate many packages and at such windows, these elevators provide a most direct route be-
angles as would not be feasible with other inclined ele- tween cars and upper storage floors of the lower warehouse
vators. With the best grades of belt it is practicable to se- buildings. Much attention has been paid in designing these
370 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
machines to securing compactness, with the result that they single-roller idlers are almost
invariably used, although
will operate in surprisingly small spaces and narrow aisles. some conveyors are with idlers composed of several
built
short rollers on one shaft. Plain pillow block bearings are
General Specifications usual for the heaviest service, although the oil impregnated
Frame. For heavy duty, belt maple bearing in a cast iron box is satisfactory for even
conveyor-elevator
fairly heavy duty. This latter type is commonly known as
frames of wood or of steel angles are usual. Steel frames
an oilless bearing, because of the fact that the
are stronger, neater in appearance, and more generally sat- bearing,
when thoroughly impregnated with requires no oiling
oil,
isfactory than the wood they are easier of erection and
;
for long periods. Flanged bearings attached to the side-
more permanent alignment than
in wood frames. Many boards are much used. The self-aligning feature of the
light duty belt conveyors are built without frames, the
more highly developed bearings is advantageous. Ball
idlers being carried on floor stands bolted to the floor.
bearings and other types are sometimes used.
special
Curves or Goose Necks. Because of the tension on
Under dirty or dusty conditions special care should be given
the belt it tends to pull up and away from the rollers at
to making the bearings dust-proof. Where grease or oil
the up-curves. To prevent this, top guides are advisable.
cups are used they should be readily accessible for regular
For sharp up-curves, steel or other cross-cleats, riveted to
attention.
the belt and running under narrow side-guides at the
Side-Guards. High side-guards are seldom neces-
curve, hold the belt down satisfactorily. In addition these
cleats serve the double purpose of preventing the sliding of sary, except for handling cylindrical packages, or for the
sake of safety in certain overhead installations. They arc
the package on the incline. With very stiff belts and a
curve of large radius, the belt down merely decidedly objectionable when packages are to be constantly
may be held
handled on or off the belts at numerous points along the
by passing the edges of the belt itself under the side
guards. Another good method of an conveyor, as in the operations of wrapping, sorting, or
making upward
otherwise using the conveyor as a work table. When
curve, or break in direction, of the belt is to pass the belt
around three idler pulleys at the start of the incline. Down flanged idler bearings are used, side-guards are conveniently
servative compound, they are usually more satisfactory. relieves the belt of much of the shock and strain of careless
Rubber-covered fabric belts are better for ordinary service, hand loading. Such plates are especially desirable where
and have less stretch than the woven belts. Stitched can- packages are discharged to the conveyor from other con-
vas belts, impregnated with such gum or other compounds veyors or from chutes. Where chutes discharge to belts
as will not become stiff or crack, are best for all-round the speed of the package should be somewhere near that of
service,particularly for long conveyors, damp conditions, the belt, to avoid any unnecessary dragging effect on the
or severe service. Balata and other special belts are little latter. The proper loading heights of belt conveyors should
used for package conveying, mainly because their higher be studied much more carefully than would at first seem
cost is seldom warranted by the work to be done. For necessary. This is particularly important where the con-
elevators, especially those
running high at and inclines veyor is used as a work table or serves operators or ma-
with high cleats or arms, belts should be stiffer and chines alongside.
stronger than for corresponding conveyor service, because Discharge. End discharge is usual, and may be made
of the tendency of the arm rivets to pull out under the over the actual end drum, or over an intermediate "end"
cantilevered load on the arms. formed by turning the belt sharply down over an idler
Flexible steel belts have been used to a limited extent in sufficiently to allow the package to discharge to a table or
European countries. While requiring larger end drums chute, after which the belt may be returned to its original
than the fabric belts, they have the advantage of requiring level. Provision should be made to insure each package
fewer idlers and less driving power. Because of the very leaving the end of the belt properly. Long sloping tables
smooth surface of these belts, packages are easily diverted or sections of gravity conveyors are satisfactory for this
from them. purpose. End discharge at right angles to other conveyors
Idlers or Rollers. Both wood and steel idlers of is common. In this case the discharging belt should be
from 2 /
l
2 in. to S in. diameter are commonly used. If of slightly above the other at this point, with a short connect-
wood, only grain hardwood should be used.
straight ing slide plate. The basic principles of side diverting are
Rollers may be of either stud or through shaft construc- that the friction between belt and package be not excessive
tion. The spacing of the idlers varies from 6 in. for the and the angle of the diverter such that the minimum of
heavier freight service to 48 in., center-to-center, for such dragging results. Angles of from 20 deg. to 30 deg. with
light duty as department store parcels. Light belts require the belt, with straight or curved arms, are usual. Many
closer idler spacing than the heavier and stiffer belts. Re- methods of intermediate side diverting are in use, from the
turn idlers are usually spaced from 4 ft. to 8 ft. centers. simple sweep diverter set in place by hand, to the wholly
Instead of rollers for supporting the belt, smooth slide automatic systems controlled from the point of dispatch.
plates or even boards are occasionally used in the lightest In addition to the many types of sweeps operated by hand,
service. several types of automatic diverter arms are in use for
Idler Bearings. For package conveying, straight, filling "storage stations." Another automatic method is
BELT CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS 371
the selective system in which pins or other devices are set doors. This position, while not results in a
essential,
in the container by the dispatcher. Slots or other corre- neater and more stable machine. Keeping the top of the
sponding devices on the fixed arms at the various diverting carrier clear also makes it possible to more easily handle
points engage the proper pins on the box and divert it to bulky packages wider than the machine Small hand itself.
the side. drums for raising the boom by
hand, located on the side
Drive and Take-Up. Wood, iron or steel drums, plain or of the carrier, are best for piling heights up to about 12
lagged as necessary to insure proper friction, are usual for ft. For larger machines the saving in labor of adjusting
driving belt conveyors or elevators. Where the pull on the
the boom
to suit the varying piling levels warrants the con-
belt is excessive a greater tractive effect of the drum on nection of the raising drum with the motor.
the belt is obtained by increasing the contact arc either with Drive and Take-Up. Light weight is such a prime
idlers or double drum drives. Standard worm, spur, or factor in a machine whose economy depends so much on
internal gear speed reductions arc usual. Spur gears are easy portability, that unusual consideration should be given
most generally The to eliminating every pound of unnecessary
in use. belt
thoroughly conveyor is weight in the
effective driven from either end, for all ordinary lengths. drive. For this reason, direct-connected internal-gear re-
Plain screw take-ups are most common, running in hori- ductions are excellent, although light belt drives are
prob-
zontal guides. They should be easily adjusted to maintain ably more generally used at present. To allow for the ad-
the belt at the proper tension, but must keep their position justment of the boom the belt is most conveniently driven
when set. Where it is desirable to secure a stationary
from the foot end, the carrier frame being pivoted in trun-
position of the drum at the take-up end, weighted take-ups nions at this end. The carrier should be readily reversible
with vertical movement are preferable. These produce a in direction of motion.
more even tension on the belt, particularly where there is Casters and Wheels. For fairly smooth floors, 8 in.
much expansion or shrinkage of the belt. to 12 in. casters are best for machines supported at four
Cleats or Arms. Cleats of any kind should be points. For rough outdoor work, steel wheels of
floors or
se-
belt with broad flat head rivets or
from 18 in. to 36 are much
better, with proper fifth
in.
curely riveted to the
bolts. In elevators working at the higher angles, and with
wheel provision for turning the machine. While the two-
wheel machines frequently used do not pile at such high
correspondingly high arms, a thin reinforcing strip on the
underside of the belt is often advisable to guard against inclines as the more stable four-wheel type, they are more
the pulling out of the rivets or bolts. Such long cantilever easily moved and usually somewhat lighter. Since the util-
arms have a strong tendency to turn back under the load, ity of portable machines depends so greatly upon their
and cause a high strain at the upper point of connection to being readily moved from one position to another, the im-
the belt. portance of providing the highest grade casters with the best
ball-bearing swivel joints and wheels with roller bearings
Speeds. Belt speeds vary from as low as 2 ft. per
is obvious.
min. for special manufacturing purposes, to as high as 200
Loading. It is highly important that the loading
ft. per min., and even higher, for special conditions. The
point of portable pilers or' truck loaders be kept as close to
most common speed for general package handling is prob- the ground as the minimum size of the lower end pulley
ably 100 ft. per min. Where belt conveyors are designed
and proper clearance for the cleats or arms will allow.
to serve operators or machines, and thus act as produc-
This will be found to save a great amount of manual lift
tion organizers, the speed of the belt should be studied with
ing.
special care in each operation because of the effect on
the plant output. The
tension of fully loaded belts running
at very slow speeds should be more carefully studied than
Operation
that of the same belt running at the ordinary speed. The belt conveyor-elevator, properly applied and installed,
usually requires less attention than any other con-
type discharge to belt conveyors, not only the speed In such a car-loading system adjustable diverters,
but also the direction of discharge should be as near controlled usually by the man in the car, discharge the
as possible that of the belt. package to light portable chutes leading into the car.
As with portable equipment of the apron and chain In general the greatest economy results from installing
type, the operation of sectional belt conveyors and the conveyors about as shown. In this way the doors
elevators depends far more upon a thorough knowledge and platform below are kept clear, a
of space minimum
of the possibilities of each machine than upon its is taken up, the belt is better protected from the
mechanical features. Even where only one machine weather, and the elevation is such that the packages
is in operation there should be one man intelligently will slide to any point in the car. It is particularly
trained in its use. He need not be a mechanic, for the important that a belt operating out-of-doors in this
mechanical handling of this equipment issimple. Such way should be impervious to weather conditions and
a trained man will frequently find even more economical have a minimum of stretch.
uses for the machine than it was originally designed
to fill. In .short, by knowing what has been done with
these machines under conditions similar to his, his con-
Publishing
structive imagination is constantly brought to bear Bundles of Papers Books Magazines
upon the changing handling problems in the plant. The ease of transfer of packages from one conveyor
In applying such portable conveyors to old ware- to another makes it feasible to fit connecting conveyors
housing or manufacturing conditions, it is often found into almost any plant layout. This transfer, while
to be worth while to change aisle or storage layouts commonly made at right angles, is thoroughly satis-
as well as routes of travel. In those plants in which factory at any A angle. system of this sort frequently
such equipment has been most successful, practically met with consists of a number of branch lines which
all of these points of operation have been carefully discharge to or receive from one trunk conveyor. Many
considered in designing and using the equipment.
Car Loading
Bags Miscellaneous Packages
The use of belt conveyors for car loading has rapidly
advanced with the better organization of this operation.
The greatest savings occur when the finished product
can be loaded direct from the packer to the car, or
from temporary storage along the path of the belt.
of this system when the product must be stored in- made from a gravity conveyor. When it is advisable
definitely,but a surprisingly large proportion of the to place the take-up end of the delivering conveyor at
output of the average plant may be thus placed tem- the delivery point the take-up should be of a vertical,
porarily near the conveyor. The necessity of trucking instead of the usual horizontal movement of the end
BELT CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS 373
pulley. The horizontal movement would disturb the proper level. Since the direction of travel of the belt
proper transfer. A slide plate to fill the opening be- isreadily reversible trucks are also unloaded and piles
tween the end pulley of the branch conveyor and the "broken down" with the same machine. This is one
belt of the trunk is usually necessary. For better oper- of the most versatile of all elevator-conveyors. In
ation the level of the former conveyor should be several addition to serving as both outdoor and indoor piler
inches above that of the trunk conveyor. and truck loader, the same machine, properly equipped
Weighing on Conveyors
Miscellaneous Packages
In receiving and shipping raw materials or finished
products the practice of weighing each package as it
passes over a scale section accomplishes not only a
saving in the time of weighing each package, but pro-
vides a better record of the weight. Obviously this
automatic method is not so accurate as the usual in-
dividual weighing operation. However, with belt con-
veyors, as well as with the roller gravity conveyor in
which this method of weighing is so often used, the
elimination of the manual handling of each package
more than offsets any slight inaccuracy involved. Be-
cause of the light weight of the moving belt and the
general smoothness of operation, the belt conveyor is
Portable Belt Conveyor with Adjustable Angle
lowing it. Clearly it is essential, for the greatest ac- more applicable than to the manufacturing departments
curacy, that the packages be dispatched at sufficient of textile mills. From picker room to weave room, this
intervals to insure each load registering separately in conveyor distributes laps, boxes or baskets of bobbins,
passing over the scale section. or textile products in process. One of the most com-
mon and economical of its applications is the distribu-
tion of bobbins from roving frames to spinning frames
Nitrates Sugar Coffee Grain on the same or lower floors. The belt conveyors re-
ceive the containers filled with bobbins from spiral
Bags Boxes Miscellaneous Packages
chutes, and distribute them to the various storage sta-
Mainly because of its light weight and easy portabil- tions near the frames. Later the empty boxes travel
ity the use of the belt truck loader or outdoor piler back on the return side of the same conveyor and up
has increased rapidly within the past five years. When automatic elevators to the roving rooms above. This
equipped with high grade stitched canvas or rubber two-way capacity of the belt conveyor is equally val-
fabric belts this elevator gives excellent service for uable in the handling of goods in process in finishing
handling packages weighing up to 200 Ib. or 300 Ib. plants, and other textile operations. They not only
The adjustable feature of the belt boom with discharge eliminate trucking and confusion, but are of distinct
at any desired height saves practically all manual lift- value as organizers of the entire operation of the fin-
ing by placing the package on the truck or pile at the ishing, as well as spinning operations. The small space
374 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
required by the belt conveyor, especially when it is point on the tray or tote-box. The dispatcher sets this
suspended from the ceiling, and its simplicity of in- switching pin at the proper point and height on the box,
stallation, make the machine fully as economical in and the box, when it reaches the diverter set to correspond
its application to existing plants as in new mills. For
this reason the number of individual conveyors installed
in old mills has been even greater than in the new ones.
Storage stations located at convenient points increase Metal Products
the usefulness of the belt conveyor by reducing the
amount of attention required. Switches divert the filled Trays Tote-Boxes
boxes to these stations until the station is full. Suc- Gravity roller storage stations set into lines of belt con-
ceeding boxes then pass on to the next station, and veyor make the latter more flexible in use by temporarily
so on. In this the stations are kept filled. The
way all stopping packages at certain points. With such an arrange-
floor porters remove the boxes from the stations and
distribute them to the frames, and then return the
empties to the lower run of the belt.
Where the packages handled are wider than the carrying high friction between package and belt incline, as high
belt, temporary storage stations are sometimes made by as 25 deg. to 30 deg. are practicable.
Rubber Goods
Small Pieces Tote-Boxes Baskets
In recent years, the use of the belt conveyor has been
one of the factors resulting in the better production organ-
used also as pilers on the dock, Where the boat hatches tions of conveyor are driven from the piler by removable
are of the usual size, the operation of these machines, with drive chains connecting the adjacent end shafts. Because
the chutes running into the ship's hold, does not prevent easy portability is so essential in these machines, to insure
the loading by the ship's hoist of larger
simultaneous their maximum use the best ball or roller bearing casters
packages, through the same hatch. or wheels should be used. With fairly smooth floors it is
Since the very nature of the carrying surface of the belt not necessary to disconnect the sections in a line, in making
conveyor limits it to fairly light packages, the entire ma- small changes in position, since the line of several sections
chine should be designed to be of
correspondingly light can be more readily shifted as a whole.
weight. The frames of most of such portable conveyors
are made heavier than is advisable for their most efficient
Boosters
use. The
controlling consideration in the design of such
machines should be that it is better economy to have them Miscellaneous Packages
light enough to insure their constant use, even at the risk
The advantage of the belt conveyor as a booster in a long
of losing some of the long life which might result from a
line of gravity conveyor lies mainly in the simplicity of
heavier, clumsier machine. A strong bail with hook should
installation and operation, and in the fact that it receives,
be provided, securely attached to the conveyor frame, for
the attachment of the hoist cable, in lifting the section.
Storage Warehousing
Boxes Bags Cartons
The light weight of the belt piler and sectional conveyor
has made these machines economical in many storage houses
in which heavier, and less portable, machines would not be
used to advantage. Special attention has been given in
their design to providing for quick ''set-up" in any position.
While this equipment is obviously not adapted to heavy
somewhat stiffer carrier frame, with the same weight, than vent the stoppage of any box which may strike them. The
the channels. When conveyors and pilers are operated speed of the belt should be as nearly the speed of travel
together as shown, they should be securely tied together by of the boxes on the feeding gravity as it is practicable to
adjustable yokes over the end shaft trunnions. The sec- make it. At inclines of from 15 deg. to the vertical,
378 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
smoother travel of the package results if the rollers sup- convenient to the wrapping desk, likewise the system should
porting the belt are placed closer than would be necessary serve the greatest number of salespeople with the smallest
under a horizontal conveyor carrying the same load. number of branch receiving lines. The proper layout in the
Smooth sliding plates are often used instead of rollers dispatching or sorting rooms of the larger stores presents
for this purpose. the most exacting problem. Similarly, not only the posi-
tion,but the proper speed of the continuous sorting con-
veyor has a decided effect on the efficiency of this de-
Department Stores partment.
Parcels Bundles Boxes For department store service very light belts are com-
monly used, but the better classes of stitched canvas are
The noiseless operation of the belt conveyor, its cleanli-
izontal runs. The use of short power boosters has ex- capable of such varied use has resulted in its being turned
tended, even more, the scope of gravity handling. to such extreme uses as to make it impossible to operate
The standardization of the gravity conveyor in sections successfully.
of convenient length makes it simple to install, with little One of the most common causes of adverse prejudice,
interruption to business. For the same reason, when it particularly in portable work, has been the application of
is necessary at any time to make plant changes, lines of much heavier conveyors than was necessary, and with sup-
gravity can easily be moved to fit into new positions and ports of poor design. In warehousing, where there is so
to serve new purposes. This sectional make-up is of par- much moving of the conveyor, many operating men have
ticular advantage in work requiring portable conveyors, wisely installed very light conveyors for definite classes of
as in freight handling, lumber yards, and similar operations and cases of canned goods,
lighter packages, such as cartons
spread over large areas. Because of its simple, compact and much stronger and heavier conveyors for the heavier
construction it occupies very small space, whether installed packages, crates and packing boxes. In many cases it is
overhead or on the floor. The freedom from electrical or better to install the lighter portable conveyor in the full
GRAVITY ROLLER CONVEYORS 379
will not last so long, but knowing that it flexibility of use requires that these end connections be as
knowledge that it
,Jn4-r,,-.1*mV.1.<i<-in *-/-.n ci ctnf MntVi accurate SPnirP
savings pay for
e \L _
its
_..I~1,1..
quickly detachable as is consistent with orpiiriitp and a tin secure
will be used far oftener and through its
construction the width of the conveyor should be from 2 ly one support for each 8 ft. or
10 ft. section is sufficient,
in. to 4 in. more than the width of the packages being but where the packages to be handled are so heavy as to
handled. It is satisfactory, however, for steel, or other cause deflection, two supports to a section are necessary.
to
sheets,large boxes, or similar well balanced packages Curves. Whether of double roller, differential roller,
overhang the ends of the rollers if the run is not too long. tapered roller, or straight cylindrical roller construction,
For portable work there a decided advantage in using
is curves should be of such radius that the change in direction
the shortest roller consistent with the nature of the package will not be so abrupt as to cause the package to skid.
to be handled, because of the lighter weight of the sections. For the usual run of boxes and similar short packages
Roller Heads. The bearing cups must be so finished radii of from 2 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft. to the outer edge of the
as to insure the shaft runnins; in the true center of the roller. curve are satisfactory. The advantage of the double,
These should be so securely fixed in the roller by
cups differential, and tapered roller lies in the fact that the
tion from one section to another. In a portable conveyor The end of the season often finds the conveyor left wet
380 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
and dirty,whereas a little time spent in cleaning and oiling small units here and there rather than the complete system
'
at this time would leave it in far better condition for the that proves the most economical.
next season's work. In handling such materials as hollow For this service the rollers should be of steel. For the
tile, brick, etc., the sand and grit constantly thrown off will usual industrial service, 14 or 12 gage tubing with extra
cut the bearings if they are not cleaned out more often heavy bearings is satisfactory, but for heavier packages
than is necessary for the usual service. Probably the 10 gage to 5 gage tubing with roller bearings is better.
hardest service required of the gravity conveyor is where Roller widths depend entirely upon the length, width, and
it is subjected to chemical fumes or acids, or to constant
Metal Products
Rolls of Wire Tote-Boxes Parts
There has been a rather general belief that the gravity
roller conveyor is not applicable to many iron, steel, and
similar metal products. A study of the success of gravity
in handling some of the most irregular packages is the
best proof of its great range of adaptability. Rolls of
wire, stoves, piston rings in tote-boxes, cases of fire-ex- Differential Rollers Aid Assembly
tinguishers, even
washing-machines and automobiles are
handled economically between machines, departments or lifting or attaching crane hooks and chains, as well as
buildings. In handling hot steel parts gravity speeds up the loading, moving, and unloading of hand trucks.
an otherwise slow operation. Steel-bound trays and tote- Smoothfaced castings carried directly on the rollers
boxes carry small parts from one operation to the next as with small and irregular parts on trays, move in an orderly
fast as they are finished. Generally it is an installation of procession from the first operation to the complete as-
GRAVITY ROLLER CONVEYORS 381
sembly of the machine. It is not always the complete to collect the dust. Because of the rough and irregular
system, but more "frequently an installation of numerous surface of the packages to be handled a greater grade is
short lengths between machines, that makes the most eco- required than for ordinarily smooth packages.
nomical layout. Where used as process conveyors in this
way, the gravity line may be set entirely level, and the Structural Steel
package pushed from one machine to another. In connec-
tion with haul-chains, moving continuously or intermit- Plates Shapes
tently, gravity rollers make a convenient work bench. The The possibility of handling large flat objects much wider
almost universal success of machine shop installations a than the conveyor rollers considerably broadens the scope
success based on very careful application and upkeep bears of gravity conveying. Sheets of steel and similar ma-
out the assertion that wherever dissatisfaction with a grav- terials, such as bars, rails and other sections, travel
Foundries
Pig Iron Castings Flasks Cores
In the foundry yard, portable sections of gravity con-
veyor arc used in moving pigs of iron, lead, copper and
similar raw materials from the -cars to stock piles, and
Handling Flat Stock on Double Rollers
from storage manufacturing processes. Lines of gravity
to
tion and the pieces are pushed from one machine to an-
other. This type of conveyor is heavy, and, while thor-
Steel Rollers Are Used for Handling Rough Material oughly portable, it should be fixed in position as far as
possible. When portable sections are required, these should
irregular objects low side-guards are advisable. Grades of be mounted on caster supports which can be locked to the
from 4 per cent to 8 per cent are usual. With heavy floor.
packages of fairly regular shape the guards should be Lumber and Wood Products
omitted in order to facilitate the handling on and off the
Boards Lath Shingles Timbers
conveyor.
Since hard serviceis usually required of a foundry con- By eliminating trucking from the car to the pile, from
veyor, extra heavy bearings are recommended. When the the pile to manufacturing processes, and for many other
conveyor is used out of doors or .where much sand and purposes in furniture, box-making and similar industries,
dust is being thrown off by the packages, care must be the gravity roller conveyor makes a distinct saving in the
taken to keep the bearings well oiled but not to allow oil handling of lumber. Improved details in bearings, with
382 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
quick-set-up supports and end-connections, have made this ly set up and extended as the kiln is unloaded. Brick are
type of conveyor, particularly because of its portability, handled directly and economically from storage piles to
very efficient and satisfactory for outside service in lumber cars in brick yards, or from cars to storage in material
yards and on building operations. yards.
Because of its lower first cost and lighter weight the Steel rollers should be used to withstand the constant
wood roller conveyor is used extensively for lumber. Steel abrasion of the brick. Since the bricks are usually handled
rollers, however, have the advantage of greater strength in threes or fours, a roller length of 12 in. or 14 in. is
and wearing qualities where the conveyor is constantly usual. The short length of the brick, with its liability to
exposed to the weather. The rollers should be from 12 in. uneven surface, requires close roller centers, generally 3
to 18 in. in length, depending on the average width of the in. or 4 in. Because of the light weights to be handled,
boards to be carried. A roller spacing of approximately the bearings may be lighter than in a standard package
12 in. is best, although IS in. or 18 in. is not too great conveyor. Ordinarily, the bricks are too irregular to run
for the longer boards. For handling shingles, lath and far on gravity without low side-guards, either attached to
other shorter packages, this spacing should not be over 8 the side frames or in the form of flanges on the roller
in. For heavy timbers extra heavy rollers, frame, and ends. Fairly regular shaped brick require grades of from
4 per cent to 6 per cent for ball-bearing gravity, while tiles
generally require from 6 per cent to 10 per cent because of
their more uneven surface.
is practically always demanded of a
Because portability
brick conveyor, particular attention should be paid to quick
from 12 in. to 18 in. in length and, because of the smaller a seasonable business, it is necessary to see that the con-
objects to be handled, such as brick and tile, they should veyor sections are carefully cleaned and oiled when stored
be closely spaced, from 3 in. to 4 in. Low side-guards or at the end of each season.
flanges on the rollers are advisable to insure satisfactory
travel of the more irregular packages. Ready portability Confectioners and Bakers
is generally an essential for this service; therefore the end
connections and supports should be so designed as to be Bags Cartons Caddies Boxes Barrels
not required for boxes or cartons except on curves or elevators or refrigerator room, and for numerous other such
overhead installations. For baskets, grades of from 5 per purposes in dairies, ice-cream plants, and similar
cent to 10 per cent are generally required because of the industries, the gravity conveyor handles milk cans most
more or less rough bottoms of the packages. Because this economically. By passing the cans over a section of
service requires easy portability, attention should be given gravity conveyor attached to a platform scale the weight
to quick set-up supports and connections. Since canning is of each can may be rapidly recorded in transit. Cases of
384 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
bottles or cans, both solid and open bottom, are handled tions. With ball-bearings, grades of from 3 per cent to 5
through the processes of packing, washing, filling and ship- per cent are usual for smooth bottom cases. The packing-
ping. table section may well be set level, and the filled boxes
Close roller centers, from 3 in. to 4 in., are required on
account of the height and relatively small base of the can.
Roller lengths of 14 in. or 16 in. are recommended to ac-
commodate the largest cans. For this service sUel rollers
are much better than wood.
Because of the shape of the
can side-guards are practically essential. These may be
omitted at loading and unloading points to facilitate the
Cylindrical Objects
Weighing on Gravity Conveyor
Boilers Shells Linoleum Paper Shafting
handling. For cans, grades of from 5 per cent to 8 per
The development of concave rollers has opened many new
opportunities for the economical use of the
cent are usual, with a ball bearing conveyor. gravity con-
As far as possible, can
conveyors should be kept close to veyor. Set in continuous lines, convenient to the op-
the floor to save labor in lifting the cans. Because of the
extensive use of water for purposes of sanitation the bear-
ings require more attention for oiling and cleaning than for
the gravity conveyor used under ordinarily dry conditions.
Where a scale section is used it must be kept separate from
the fixed sections adjoining. Also, to prevent inaccuracy in
the operation of the scale, special care must be taken to
keep it free from accumulations of foreign matter which
would affect the weighing.
Bottling
Cases of Bottles Boxes Trays Cartons
Noapplication of gravity conveyor offers more oppor-
tunity for economy than the automatic delivery of empty
cases and materials to the packers, and the removal of
cases after they are filled. With a carefully planned in-
stallation lost motion is reduced to a minimum and this
convenient to load and unload the conveyor at any point. are not conveniently located, much time may be saved by
The rollers are usually made of cast iron or hard wood. running portable lines of gravity conveyor direct from the
A roller length of 6 in. to 8 in. is recommended for articles storage piles, through windows, to the cars on the siding.
up to about 18 in. in diameter. The roller spacing depends
upon the length of the packages, from 4-in. to 8-in. centers Truck Loading
are usual. Because the objects handled on concave rollers
are generally heavy, and the service required much harder Miscellaneous Packages
than ordinary, extra heavy bearings are advisable. Be- The
rapidly increasing use of large, expensive trucks
cause of their greater strength, roller bearings are much has increased the use of the gravity conveyor for cutting
used for the heaviest service. The concave shape of the down the waiting time at the loading platforms. In many
rollers requires that curves of small radius be avoided
where it is necessary to change the direction of travel.
While a slight grade is advantageous, it is not essential,
and when set level, the cylinders may be pushed along from
one operation to another. Because the concave roller is
heavier and naturally more sluggish than the straight
roller, the sections should be set on grades of from 1 per
cent tii 3 per cent greater than for straight roller gravity.
Car Loading
Crates Cases Boxes Cartons
Lines of gravity conveyor running down the loading plat-
forms are solving many problems of loading and unloading
cars on limited trackage and within the free time allowed
by the railroads. Portable sections, with switches and
curves, extending into the cars, convey the packages to the
men in any car, and save time, labor and confusion in load-
ing. In general, permanent installations where conveni-
ent, installed over-head with movable switch sections are
most satisfactory for this work.
Steel rollers give much better satisfaction than wood for
handling crates, since the crates are frequently rough in
character or wire-bound. Because of the open or slat con-
struction of the crate the rollers should lie of sufficiently
Savins Time of Trucks
greater length to avoid its overhanging the ends of the
rollers. Side guards are the best insurance of this. Crates
plants lines of gravity conveyor are filled with practically
with cleats, batons, or heavy wire binding must travel in
a complete truck load of packages before the truck arrives.
Then, with a quick set-up portable section in the truck, the
loading is done in the shortest possible time. Used as a
temporary storage place, in this way, the lines of gravity
conveyor will hold a greater volume of packages if several
packages are piled on top of each other. The fact that the
truck bed and platform are not at the same level really in-
creases the economy of this application over the meth-
od of carrying packages, often too heavy for one man,
from the warehouse truck to the street truck.
For the great variation in package sizes usual in this
work, steel rollers from 14 in. to 18 in. long and placed
on about 4-in. centers are best. Ordinarily no guard fail
is necessary. If the sections are to be moved, caster sup-
ports save much lifting, and are practically essential on the
section in the truck. This portable section may well be of
lighter construction throughout than the others, to make
handling easier, in which case it may easily be handled by
one man. Such lines of gravity conveyor are often set up
practically level on the warehouse floor, and the entire line
of packages pushed onto the truck.
For pallets with a fairly smooth travel surface, grades of ing and lowering the packages to the wrapping and packing
from 3 per cent to 5 per cent are usual. tables on straight chutes or short spirals the working floor
areas are kept clear. In wholesale dry goods houses in-
coming cases are conveyed, and even temporarily stored,
Glass on lines of gravity conveyors.
For this light service wood rollers are very satisfactory,
Racks Trays Cartons Boxes
although steel rollers are to be preferred. Roller lengths
Not only the warehousing of glass products, but in
in of from 16 in. to 18 in. are with centers spaced
usual,
conveying them between the various finishing operations in from 4 in. to 6 in. For either overhead or floor installa-
the processes of manufacture, the gravity conveyor is ex- tions light side guards should be used, because of the rather
per cent or even greater is necessary where the packages awkward. The supports should be light and easily ad-
are very light. justable.
storage for even the most fragile packages, since they will because of its more nearly level grade. While
spiral, largely
start or come" to rest easily and evenly on the roller runway. itoccupies more space than the friction types, this is often
Thus a full load of packages may be allowed to back up more than offset by the space saved by its greater tem-
on the spiral and as the lowest packages are removed, the porary storage capacity. Another advantage is the absence
load will automatically travel downward without danger of wear and tear on packages, such as tote-boxes and con-
of breakage from the impact of one package against an- tainers, which have to be handled a number of times.
388 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
Two general types of roller runway spirals are in use, are used as supports, they must be designed to carry be-
the spiral with center post and the spiral supported solely tween the outer and inner rings the full weight of the
by angle uprights. In the former type the greater part loaded spiral. These are best braced laterally by continuous
of the load carried by a center post or pipe which ex-
is angle rings around the spiral and outside the uprights, or
tends the full height of the spiral. Sometimes a staircase inside, if the outer side guard is riveted to the supports
is built around this center post, occupying the space inside as a brace.
the runway. In the spiral supported by angles only, the Side Guards. The standard side guards used on
uprights are placed close to the inner and outer edges of gravity curves are satisfactory, although when used as
the roller curves forming the runway, and the roller frame- annular braces for the uprights they well be heavier.
may
is supported on cross angles or saddles rigidly attached to
round of from 24 in. to 38 in. is usual with the customary Such a spiral is applicable only where the floor over which
4 ft. outside-radius spiral. A 3 in. center post, with four it is to be moved is fairly smooth and firm. Special atten-
by 2 /2 J4 in. upright angles or 2 2 in. pipes /
l l
2y? in. in. by
carrying the outside ends of angle saddles of about the same
size, forms a good supporting system. Standard curve sec-
tions of gravity roller conveyor, rigidly connected to each
other and to the supporting frame, make up the runway.
Double Runway with Solid Guard Rails upright angles instead of four, and rivet not only the guard-
rails, but also the supporting angles of the curved runway
Canning and Packing bottles from filling, labeling, and packing operations to
Boxes Cartons Cases storage or distribution in bottling plants. The use of these
spirals as lowerers from lines of loaded gravity roller con-
In canning plants and many similar industries the use
of roller spirals for distributing boxes of packed goods
from overhead conveyors to piles of various heights is in-
creasing with the improved construction of this equipment.
While such spirals are usually fixed in position there is
an increasing demand for portable equipment of this type.
Such portable spirals are moved from place to place to
receive packages from various overhead conveyors. At de-
pired points hinged sections of the runway are arranged
to swing up and discharge to distributing lines of light
portable gravity roller conveyor, supported either from
overhead or on the piles themselves. These horizontal
gravity lines also are made to feed the boxes back into the
spiral in breaking down piles or loading out to trucks or
cars.
For this service a drop per round of from 30 in. to 36
in. is usual for a 4 ft. outside radius spiral. If rather
flexible cartons are to be handled 42 in. is none too great.
The runway width should be from 18 in. to 24 in., with
an average center to center of rollers of 4 in. If the spiral Spiral Located to Conserve Space
is to be portable it should, if possible, be considerably lighter
than if built stationary. This may be accomplished by using veyor suspended close to the ceiling provides extensive
light rollers, possibly wood, and omitting the center post. storage space with the greatest conservation of space at the
390 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
floor. Similarly, where a basement is used for storage, cases houses use this spiral for the handling of loose bottles in
of empty bottles are handled from the cars to storage with boxes, particularly from filling tables to labeling machines
a minimum of labor, attention, and damage to the contents. and packers the boxes moving slowly and in practically a
For handling smooth-bottom cases on a spiral of 4 ft. continuous stream between the various operations.
outer radius a drop per round of 36 in. is satisfactory, al- For handling ordinary barrels on a spiral of 4 ft. outside
though most smooth cases weighing 50 Ib. or more will radius, a drop per round of 30 in. to 36 in. is usual, de-
travel successfully on a drop per round of 30 in. Runway pending partly on the height between runway rounds nec-
widths of from 18 in. to 24 in. are usual, with average essary to clear the barrel in an upright position. For the
center to center of rollers of 4 in. to 5 in. Eight sets of rougher barrels, however, a drop as great as 40 in. is
2y2 in. by 2 /i in. by % in. upright angle posts form a good Two lines of side guards are necessary
l
frequently used.
supporting system. These should be braced by the cross because of the height of the barrel, the upper line set
saddles under the curves and by outside horizontal rings, farther out than the lower to allow for the bilge of the
or by the side guards, riveted to the uprights. barrel. Because of the heavy loads handled, either inside
angle posts or a heavy center post of from 4 in. to 6 in.
diameter are recommended, with four outside angle posts
Chemicals and Drugs
of 3 in. by 3 in. by 5/16 in. Either the upper guard-rail
Barrels Kegs Drums Cases Carboys should be heavy enough to form lateral bracing, or extra
annular rings of steel angle about two between floors
Where it is desirable to lower barrels, drums, or similar
should be used. The center to center of rollers depends
containers on end, as well as to provide temporary storage
entirely upon the size of packages to be handled, although
for ordinary barrels centers of from 4 in. to 5 in., average,
are usual. For the heavier barrels, concentrated on a few
rollers, stronger bearings than for standard package con-
Car Loading
Miscellaneous Packages
Spiral Chutes
The simplest and most direct
means of safely lowering center with post chute. Any of these becomes the housed
packages from upper floors of buildings is the spiral chute, type when fully enclosed by a housing of sheet steel or
sometimes called the friction spiral. The principles of other material attached either to the chute or built in-
gravity and centrifugal force form the basis of spiral dependently.
design. The package, impelled by the force of gravity, In the closed center type the wings which make up
and forced outward by centrifugal action, is retarded in the runway trough are attached directly to the center post,
its downward travel either by friction against the outer which in turn carries most of the load to its base. This
guard-rail, or because of the lower grade of the runway construction, especially when reinforced with knee-braces
at the outer edge. Because of this travel control, even the from the post to the outer edge of the runway, forms a
most fragile packages are handled safely. strong chute. In this type of chute the center post usually
Three types of spiral chutes are in general use, the forms the inner guard-rail.
closed center chute, the open center chute and the open In the open center spiral chute, the runway is sup-
SPIRAL CHUTES 391
ported from each lloor by rods, angles, or other attach- types of articles, particularly those of an abrasive nature.
ments, and an inner guard-rail is used. The chief advan- The width of the runway should be sufficient to avoid
tage claimed for this type of chute is better control of the any possible binding of the largest packages to be handled.
package. Such chutes are occasionally designed for the The wings of the runway, or trough, must be thoroughly
intermediate floor loading to be done from within the riveted or bolted to each other and to the other parts of
center. the chute in such way as to be free from projecting rivets
In open center with post type chute the runway
the or other obstructions. Where the general run of pack-
load be carried entirely by the center post or partly
may ages is light, 16 gage construction is satisfactory, although
by the post and partly by the floors through which the 14 gage usual for average packages up to 250 Ib. or 300
is
chute passes. Ib. For heavier duty 12 gage should be used, with extra
With of any type one of the most surprising
spirals strong bracing, particularly if the spiral is to be used often
features the small space required.
is For single runway as temporary storage for heavy packages.
chutes the holes in the floor seldom are more than a half
Grade or Pitch. The proper grade for any spiral de-
circleand the runways wind downward in such way as to
pends upon the weight of the package in proportion to its
permit the use of space close under and around the spiral. The various
size, and the nature of its sliding surface.
Bags, barrels, loose bottles in cases, crates, bundles, bales,
average grades are given under the specifications for the
in fact practically allpackages which do not require excep- different types of packages in the following pages.
tional care, fall within the scope of spiral lowering. A
Guard-Rail. Guard-rails of either galvanized or
wide range of objects may be handled over the same
from light paper cartons to heavy cases and barrels.
blue-annealed steel are most satisfactory. In height they
spiral,
In department stores, wholesale groceries and drug houses, should be not less than approximately two-thirds the height
hardware and supply houses, and general warehouses, as of the highest package to be handled. Guard-rails should
well as in practically every industrial plant handling packed be about the same gage as the runway, although they may
materials, the spiral saves the time lost waiting for ele- safely be lighter.
vators, and eliminates the needless moving about of em- For cast-iron runways guard-rails should be not less
ployees from floor to floor and much of the confusion of
than 14 and preferably 12 gage sheet steel. The top edge
trucking. In manufacturing plants, particularly, it forms of the guard should be turned or rolled to form a smooth
a valuable link in material handling systems, automatically edge, and to stiffen the guard. Where, in extreme cases,
receiving from and discharging to conveyors and trucks.
it necessary to prevent any possible marring of the ob-
is
Through the use of multiple runway spirals with loading ject being lowered by contact with the guard, this may be
and discharge at convenient points, the proper routing and lined either at the top edge or throughout its entire height
sorting of a wide range of packages is accomplished. While with strips or a protective covering.
spiral chutes have been installed practically without ex- Supports. The runway may be supported either by
ception in fixed positions, there is a growing demand for a solid post, of rolled sheet steel or steel pipe, running
short portable spirals, to be moved from place to place in
through the center, or may be suspended from the various
lowering between floors, breaking down high piles, loading floors. In the center post type practically all the load is
ships, or for similar operations. carried by the post, in which case the support of the post
One of the biggest improvements in the economic use at the base must be sufficient to carry the weight of the
of spirals, particularly in miscellaneous storage houses loaded spiral. In this type the runway should be securely
where commodities are handled in small lots, has come attached to the center post by bands, set-screws, or bolts.
about through the growing use of "gathering boxes" or In the open center with post type chute the load is car-
baskets. These large boxes are carried about on low ried to the post by horizontal and diagonal braces with
platform trucks until the order or truck is filled. Then, steel or saddles for the runway. In the open center
wood
instead of unloading each package separately at the spiral,
type chute, without post, provision must be made at each
the entire box is slid off the truck onto the spiral runway, floor for the concentrated loads of the hangers or other
and is received at the bottom by a similar platform truck supports.
or a conveyor. By building these gathering boxes in suit-
able shape, a number of them may be nested and returned Loading Points. Where only light packages are to
be loaded no inlet slide or gate is necessary at the inter-
to the upper floors at once.
mediate floors, the packages being loaded over the guard-
With its almost unlimited capacity, lowering packages
chute has little competition
rails.For heavy or unwieldy packages, however, particu-
in a steady stream, the spiral
special slides from the loading floor to the
larly barrels,
within its range of application. It is only in lowering
runway are necessary. For ordinary packages where the
packages whose contents are easily disarranged, or where
guard-rail is cut to allow these loading chutes to enter
the spiral is to serve as temporary storage for certain
the runway it is best to leave a section of rail from 4 in.
fragile packages, that it has not the efficiency of the gravity
to 6 in. high to preserve the continuity of the guard-rail
roller spiral or the mechanical lowerer. Where the types
control. Packages pass over this drop from the entering
of packages vary too much for satisfactory operation on
chute to the runway without damage. For the heavier or
the same runway it is customary to build two or more
more fragile packages, however, the loading chutes should
runways with different widths about the same post. The
enter at the level of the runway, using a hinged or remov-
smaller runway, with guard-rail closer to the center, pro-
able section of guard-rail. Another method of intermediate
vides a steeper grade for the lighter packages.
loading is to hinge a 90 deg. section of the chute, raising
General Specifications itto allow packages to pass under. Where there is auto-
matic loading at intermediate floors it should be so con-
Runway. The runway may be either a flat or concave
trolled as not to collide with packages coming down the
bed of galvanized or blue annealed steel, or of cast iron.
runway from above.
Where the spiral is subject to dampness the galvanized
steel is best. Cast iron runways are preferable for certain Discharge Point. At the bottom of the chute the
392 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL.
discharge is direct, either to table or floor or to conveyors. possible, to insure better control. If descending packages
There should be a vertical dip in the exit slide to deliver are not to be removed as lowered, a long discharge table
the package smoothly. When heavy packages are dis- or several sections of gravity conveyor are desirable as
charged directly to the floor a steel floor plate should temporary storage. If the packages are fragile they should
be provided to avoid wear on the floor. If the spiral dis- not be allowed to "back up" on the runway on account of
charges to a table, this should be designed to control the the impact of the descending packages against those that
delivery as much as possible. Such tables are made either have come to rest on the runway. Where the spiral is
of gravity rollers or steel sheets or of wood, and may be to be used largely for temporary storage in this way. the
either stationary or adjustable so that discharge may be grade must be slightly more than where the movement of
made at convenient angles. For discharging at inter- packages will be continuous, for certain types of packages
mediate floors there should be either a hinged section of will not start from rest on the low grade sufficient for
should be protected by fire doors, this housing is not range of packages, extra runways leading to different points
make for better operation.
necessary, however, to secure a fireproof condition.
Wherever possible, spirals should be installed in such
Housing. For outdoor installations, or for certain
from
places as to be readily accessible all sides fur loading
conditions indoors, the spiral should be housed completely. and discharge. For the same reason the open spiral is
This housing may be of any suitable construction material, more simple of operation control than
generally the fully
although preferably black or galvanized sheet steel either
housed type.
plain or corrugated. In general 22 gage metal is satisfac-
may serve to form the outer guard-rail, thus securing a cotton, wool, waste, paper, and similar commodities, the
less expensive chute. With this construction the housing spiral chute provides the best known auxiliary to car or
should be heavier, preferably 16 or 14 gage. Such chutes
are applicable mainly to indoor installations.
Operation
The very simplicity of operation of the spiral chute pro-
motes a tendency to overlook even ordinary attention.
Most of the trouble with spirals comes in the operation of
loading points, diverters. and other special accessories.
Particularly in lowering the more unwieldy packages, such
as barrels and extremely heavy cases, the method of load-
ing has much to do with successful operation of the chute.
All packages should be loaded straight and near the guard-
rail. In using diverters to discharge at the various floors
such simple devices as signal bells, speaking tubes, or other
methods of communication, speed up the operation and Loading Heavy Bales Through Inlet Gate
eliminate confusion by securing cooperation between the
loading and discharge floors. Automatic loading from, or truck loading in textile and paper mills or warehouses.
discharge to, gravity roller or other conveyor is easily To give the utmost economy in handling such heavy bales,
accomplished at practically any desired point on the chute. the chute should discharge as close to the outgoing truck
Such points as this should be kept as close to the floor as or car as convenience on the upper floors will permit.
SPIRAL CHUTES 393
Often, in the larger warehouses, several chutes arc in- of packages. Unless unusually heavy packages are to be
stalled at convenient points to avoid long haul trucking lowered the loading may be done over the guard-rail. It
en the upper floors. is preferable that the chute discharge to a table. Inter-
For this which is generally intermittent, a gal-
service, mediate discharge may be accomplished in flat runway
vanized steel runway of 10 or 12 gage steel, preferably chutes by hinging inward or removing a section of the
the latter, is particularly desirable. The usual widths ot guard-rail, allowing the package to leave the chute by
runways are from 48 in. to 60 in. Extra strong supports centrifugal force.
and bracing are essential to resist the impacts of the heavy
bales. Grades of from 20 deg. to 23 deg. at the outer
guard-rail arc best, the loosely packed wool bags requir- Wholesale Houses
ing the higher grades. The guard-rail should be 18 in. to
21 in. in height. Loading should be done by inlet slides Miscellaneous Packages
and loading gates, and, if diverters are used at the inter- In dry goods, shoe, groceries, clothing, and
wholesale
mediate flcors, they should be of unusually heavy con- similar supply houses, the spiral chute, handling practically
struction.
every type of package, from the lightest paper carton, to
heavy barrels and boxes, expedites the filling of orders and
Seeds Feeds Flour insures their prompt and uniform movement from the
various floors to the delivery and shipping departments.
Bags Baskets Cartons Boxes
Regardless of the generally miscellaneous character of
In the busy seasons peculiar to seed and feed stores packages it is often feasible to use a gravity conveyor in
and warehouses, spiral chutes are particularly valuable loading to or discharging from the chute. This materially
not only in speeding up the delivery of orders to the reduces handling at both ends. Where this is not practical,
customers or shipping floor, but in avoiding loss of time gathering boxes mounted on low trucks are often used,
through congestion and confusion. In collecting orders beingmoved from pile to pile in collecting the orders.
for shipment the spiral can be used advantageously in The time usually required to load
of the the contents
o nncction with belt conveyors at top, bottom, or inter- truck at the top of the spiral and reload at the bottom
is entirely -eliminated by sliding the box with its contents
from the truck onto the spiral runway and having it re-
ceived onto a similar truck at discharge point. To
the
give the greatest economy in handling, the chute should
be located so that discharges as near the outgoing load-
it
generally best. While guard-rails of 12 in. are satisfac- guard-rail is preferable, although 12 in. is probably the
tory, IS in. to 18 in. heights provide for a greater range more usual practice. It is seldom desirable to fully house
394 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
such supply house chutes, except as unusual individual largely overcome by providing a housing which is detached
conditions may require. from the chute itself.
arrives, thus avoiding double handling by using the spiral transferred from floor to floor from the first washing of
as temporary storage. Diverters on the various floors cut the incoming bottles through the filling, sealing, labeling
out the loss of time through slow moving elevators in trans- and packing processes.
ferring goods between floors. Because of the great care necessary in handling such
Because of the wide range of packages to be handled, fragile objects the grade of the spiral should be deter-
often varying from the lightest paper cartons to the heav- mined with unusual accuracy from the results of previous
iest packing cases, warehouse spirals are probably the experience, and should be designed to fit a relatively nar-
hardest of all for which to determine the proper grade. row range of packages. Where it is required to handle
However, grades of from 18 deg. to 25 deg. at the outer several different types of packages a multiple runway spiral
guard-rail are usually satisfactory. The runway may be is recommended. Runways of 14 gage steel, from 30 in.
either flat or concave. It should be 12 or 14 gage, and to 42 in. wide, are customary. A grade of from 16 deg.
not less than 42 in. (preferably 48 in. to 60 in.) in width
Textiles
Baskets Rolls of Cloth Boxes Bales
accomplished by careful consideration of proper design and For handling baskets a grade of from 18 deg. to 22 deg.
is sufficient, but for bolts of cloth 20 deg. to 28 deg. will
the application of the right spiral to the work to be done.
The small space required and the lower cost of installa- be required. Hand-loading at the intermediate floors is
SPIRAL CHUTES 397
best done over the guard-rail, rather than with loading in the same chute with heavy cases or barrels some definite
gates or inlet slides.When the spiral is loaded from con- sysU-ni of signaling should be used to avoid congestion
Baking
Confectionery Chocolate Cocoa
Cartons Boxes Metal Caddies
Barrels Crates Boxes Cartons Bags In lowering packed cartons, boxes, or caddies from the
The extreme range of packages used in the confectionery
packers to temporary storage or shipping rooms, spiral
industry, from paper cartons of a few ounces in weight,
to the steel hooped barrel of 300 Ib. to 400 lb., has de-
manded unusual attention and study in the design and
application of spiral chutes to meet these exacting condi-
tions. For the more extreme variations the most success-
ful results have been secured by using a double runway
spiral with one runway of less diameter, and consequently
steeper grade than the larger one. Working with gravity
or power conveyors, in the handling of empty cases to the
packers, as well as in the removal of the filled cases to
storage or cars, the spiral is proving most economical.
Since the handling of barrels is probably the hardest
service required of any type of chute, concave runways of
from 14 to 12, or even 10 gage, are generally used. If the
weights are not over 500 lb., and the abrasive nature of
the package not excessive, 12 gage metal gives excellent
service, and for the ordinary weight of barrels 14 gage
sheets, well braced, are satisfactory. For the heavier,
more abrasive types of barrels cast-iron makes an excellent
runway material. For standard barrels, not over 24 in.
diameter by 36 in. long, runway widths of 36 in. to 42 in.
are customary, with a grade of from 16 deg. to 21 deg.
at the outer guard-rail. Guard-rails should be not less
than 18 in. high, and preferably 21 in. to 24 in. It is Spiral Delivering to Discharge Table
better to discharge such heavy packages direct to the floors,
rather than to tables. Loading should be done on inlet chutes are applied very economically to cracker, small
slides with adjustable loading gates so fitted to the chute cake, macaroni, and other similar baking plants. Used
that the barrel will be properly started on the way down with short runs of gravity conveyor, these chutes eliminate
the chute. the confusion and needless moving from floor to floor
In handling sugar, cocoa, salt, or materials of a sticky common to most bakeries. For lowering barrels, bags, or
nature, especially in leaky containers, it will be necessary empty boxes from the car or truck to basement storage,
at intervals to clean out the spiral with steel wool or short spirals leading to gravity or power conveyors ma-
brush. Where the smaller paper cartons are to be handled terially reduce the cost of such handling.
398 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
The design of a chute to handle packages with sucli deg. to 20 deg. is sufficient for the metal caddies, which
more Guard-rail heights of from 12 in. to
fragile contents requires particular attention to the type of slide readily.
18 are Automatic loading from gravity
package to be handled. If possible, a separate runway customary.
in.
should be provided for the metal caddies from that used with an inlet slide is best. Loading gates are not neces-
han-
for paper cartons and wood boxes. For bakery service sary with hand loading, because of the light weights
the galvanized steel chute is preferable, particularly where dled. While not an essential feature of operation, it is
the chute must operate under moist conditions. Runway recommended that the spiral discharge to a line of gravity
widths of from 30 in. to 36 in. are usual, with 14 or 16 roller conveyor. The packages should not be allowed to
"back up" on the spiral runway, so that descending packages
gage steel. The grade should be from 18 deg. to 25 deg.
at the outer guard-rail for paper cartons, while from 16 will strike those that have come to rest.
considered in this section have been operating successfully is lost, but this is often far more than offset by the increased
for a long time. They are here classed as special machines efficiency of the special machine.
rather because their range of application is more limited While most of this equipment has been brought to a
sufficiently high point of development to insure proper
me-
than the standard types previously described.
clntvcal operation, special attention should be given to the
Some ofthisequipment, such as wire line and pneumatic
has training of the actual users in the possibilities of each
carriers, generally known as store service equipment,
been as widely used as any of the package conveyors, but
machine. A
similar caution applies to maintenance. One
of the most important considerations in the operation of
are here treated with less length mainly because they are
used almost universally for the carrying of messages, spe- any machine designed to fit a definite special purpose is that
the machine is used only for the purpose for which it is
cial containers, and the lightest parcels, rather than for
designed. This applies not only to the commodities handled
general commodity handling. Less space is also given to
the other special types of machines, not because they are
but to the conditions under which it operates.
any the less useful where applicable but because their use
ismore limited. One of the chief advantages resulting Haulage Conveyors and Elevators
from a machine of any kind is the fact that such
special While as a conveyor alone, the haulage type has remained
equipment, while naturally more limited in scope, is even and other
quite limited in its use, the installation of ramps
more likely to attain the maximum economy, by reason of more direct routes of travel in old buildings, offers many
being fitted more directly to the work to be done. new uses for the elevator-conveyor designed on this
While the various types of these haulage, overhead track The chief advantages of this machine lie in its
principle.
and pneumatic tube machines have been so widely used as and the ease of pick-up and dis-
simplicity of installation
to become thoroughly standardized, there remain many spe-
charge of trucks. By combining a small amount of manual
cial elevators and conveyors whose installation is even more
handling of trucks with power haulage a very economical
a matter of application than the more generally used types
conveying system results.
already discussed. This does not mean that the machines
less highly developed, but that, because
Boat Unloading
themselves are any
they are very specialized in their purpose, more care should Xo freight handling operation offers more opportunity
be given to their selection to fit any individual need. The for economy than the from the varying
elevating of trucks
prospective purchaser should not consider special equip- deck levels of side-port steamers. Of the two general ma-
ment as consisting of experiments worked out at his own chines ordinarily used or this purpose the heavy slat eleva-
expense for, as before said, there are very fe.w handling tor and the truck-haul the latter is, as a rule, simpler of
operations for which some machine has not been developed installation, operation and maintenance. The pushers at-
and standardized to do the work more economically than tached to the chain at proper intervals grip the truck in
it can be done by hand. Good illustrations of special con- fullv as positive a manner as the special slats of the former
veyors which have for this reason been unusually success- type elevator. With the apron elevator, on which the man
ful in their application are automobile and other manufac- rides as well as the truck, trouble is sometimes apt to arise
turing and assembly conveyors, newspaper elevators and with careless truckers, through the fact that the man must
ship loader-unloaders of both the sling and truck-carrying step off at the top of the incline and start pushing the
type. Many of these special elevators and conveyors ap- truck. But with the truck-haul, where the trucker walks
proach very closely in character the standard types of ma- uy the with his truck, there is no break in his travel
incline,
chines described in the preceding pages. For example at the top of the elevator. The outer end of the truck-
they are in most cases made up of units very similar to those haul ramp, as was the apron elevator ramp, is supported
which enter into the construction of the latter machines. by cables attached to the pier construction above. By
However, they should not be confused with the main classes hinging this ramp at the inner end the level of the outer
of machines because of such apparent similarity in design, end is made to follow any rise or fall of deck level of the
for their application is decidedly different. boat.
400 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
To insure the smoothest discharge at the top and eliminate overhead conveyors have been successfully built and op-
the quick jerk incident to turning the chain sharply down- erated of sufficient strength to carry the entire load of
ward over an end sprocket the chain should be run down the truck instead of merely propelling it. These truck-
gradually into the floor until the pushers pass below hauls become practically mono-rail conveyors. Automatic
the level of the pier floor. In this way the truck is re- switchouts or storage stations are provided which avoid
leased smoothly. If these pushers are kept close together Such a combination
the necessity for continuous attention.
the pick-up of each truck is accomplished with little of a small amount of manual trucking with automatic con-
shock to the elevator. The speed of the chain should be veying makes available the advantages of continuous han-
set to be the same as that of aman walking on the level dling' in warehouses in which individual packages con-
in trucking ordinary loads. Where these conveyors are veyors would not be flexible enough to reach all points of
driven by motors and reducing gear below the floor, the the storage piles.
most effective arrangement for keeping the ramp clear, spe- \Yhere the load of the truck is carried by the floor or on
chain and the adjacent storage piles or machines. Such this storage is overhead, leaving the floor clear for opera-
SPECIAL ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 401
tors or machines, is a valuable consideration in The hangers should be carried on free-running roller bear-
many plant
layouts. In some cases the entire conveyor line is gradual- ings. Hooks, as well as other types of hangers are com-
ly tilled during the day and the pieces left overnight. By monly used, although the noose type shown is usual for
providing the driving mechanism with two speeds, such a handling frozen meat.
conveyor may be emptied within a very short time before
the painting work starts the next morning. Such overhead Automobiles
track conveyors are frequently used where it is desirable to The overhead track conveyor shown illustrates about the
have two continuous conveyors cross each other. For ex-
simplest type of this class, and one which has been very suc-
ample, conveyors of this type will frequently be found cessfully used. One of the chief advantages of such a con-
crossing over a line of gravity or apron conveyor. veyor is the space saved with the resulting freedom of floor
A free-running chain, supported from the track above by movement. In manufacturing processes where the conveyor
roller attachments, is most commonly used for this work.
These attachments also provide for the fastening of hooks
or other hangers below, so that each load is suspended di-
rectly from the track and the chain serves only the purpose
of tying together and propelling the hangers. Such hangers
take practically every form and shape, from the simple
hook to the rack into which a number of parts are placed.
Their design should be governed mainly by the ease of at-
taching and removing the load.
is usually not advisable to equip more than the trunk line quired, makes it very efficient in connection with the various
with power, the individual pieces being pushed by hand from assembly conveyors used in this and similar industries.
switchouts at convenient points along the trunk to their For the handling of such light loads as shown, very light
destination. In this the combining of a small amount track and overhead framing is sufficient. In this installation
way
of manual handling with long conveyor runs results in a a standard chain attachment equipped with rollers runs in
very economical and flexible layout. In the shipping of the inclosed steel track which is supported at intervals of
about 3 ft. to the timber above. This attachment prevents
the objectionable sway so common to many overhead in-
stallations not so securely braced. Plain, detachable link
chain is usually satisfactory. In order to prevent excessive
sag of the chain between the suspension points where the
hangers are more than about 4 ft. or 5 ft. apart, it is ad-
visable to provide extra chain hangers with rollers running
in the track above. The type of hanger varies according to
the type of package handled. The most important point in
the design of the hanger is to insure ready attachment or
removal of pieces in process.
the time the meat is out of the refrigerator alone warrants way. These conveyors are best adapted to boxes or other
the use of continuous power propulsion. firm packages which have no tendency to be caught in the
The picture shows a system with unusually heavy over- exposed chains. Ordinarily such a conveyor requires more
head supports, laid out to serve a line of freight cars. careful loading and is less flexible as to diverting than the
Switches and cross-overs provide for distribution to branch apron or belt types. Its chief advantage lies in the sim-
lines. For this purpose tracks of various cross sections, plicity of installation and the light weight of the moving
from the T section to the fully enclosed type, are in use. parts. The saving in power which naturally accrues from
402 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
the latter feature, is, in most cases, offset by the fact that actual saving of labor and time of materials. In
moving
the sliding friction of the plain chain, commonly used, is order to reduce to a minimum the time of attaching small
greater than that of the roller chains most used with the parts, these parts are sometimes placed in racks which are
standard types of push bar and apron conveyors. carried on the moving conveyor immediately behind the
For some long and narrow packages a single strand of moving chassis or other unit. Since these racks follow the
very wide special chain is sometimes used. However, from chassis the parts are always at hand. A high development
two to four strands is the usual arrangement. Since the of thismethod has been very successful in the quantity pro-
duction of farm tractors.
The special carriage for the support of the unit or car in
process may take any one of many different forms, but must
securely hold each piece on which work is being done. A
hinged attachment to the chain forms a good support, and
one which is readily fastened to or removed from the piece
being assembled. The proper height of these moving tables
depends on the operation being performed, but is usually
from 24 in. to 30 in. above the floor. Where it is difficult to
titthe height of the entire conveyor line to all operations, it
is advisable to have certain of the operators stand on low
platforms. To afford the most economical operation of such
an assembly conveyor the parts to be attached to the unit
or chassis as it moves forward should be fed to the line of
travel with the least possible confusion. Probably the most
satisfactorymethod of doing this is by means of other con-
veyors or chutes which bring in these parts from machine
shops or other storage buildings. Such conveyors should
deliver from the side to the line of travel at the point at
which they are to be attached.
The continuous assembly of automobiles has become
A Convenient Type for Handling Boxes standard in all plants operating on a quantity production
Assembly Conveyors
Double strand chain conveyors of special design have been
much used in the assembly of automobiles. These continu-
ously-moving "work benches," running at such speed as to
promote the maximum output of each workman, have prac-
tically revolutionized the quantity production of pleasure The Finish of the Assembly
basis. The advantage gained lies not only in the actual sav-
ing in the labor of moving the different parts although this
is usually appreciable but also in the organizing effect of
the continuous movement of the car and its parts through
the entire assembly. The illustration shows a car mounted
on a special carriage being moved sidewise in final assem-
bly. Where assembly layout conditions permit it, some
space is saved and the special carriage eliminated by having
the car carried lengthwise, its wheels being carried directly
o.n two lines of conveyor. The decrease in handling costs,
due to progressive assembly with conveyors, has been so
pronounced that, in the more modern quantity production
plants practically every part moves on some type of con-
veyor from the time it leaves the foundry or machine shop,
through the chassis and body assembly, paint shop, drying
ovens, to its final assembly, when the car leaves the conveyor
Double Strand Assembly Conveyor on its own wheels. In such a system the various parts to be
assembled are supplied by auxiliary conveyors at the proper
cars, trucksand tractors. The resulting better organization point along the main conveyor line as the assembly
of production is usually an even greater advantage than the progresses.
SPECIAL ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 403
For this service both single and double strands of chain which they are easily replaced at a reasonable cost. The
are used to propel the carriages. Carriages or platforms two chains should run at a distance apart slightly greater
of many different types are used, but all based on a some- than the longest package to be handled. They are usually
what similar principle. As convenience in working fre- pintle or other standard types, the size depending on the
quently makes it necessary to support the car at some height service. A
chain speed of about 60 ft. per min. is usual,
above the floor, carriages with high standards are often giving a capacity, with slings spaced 3 ft. 6 in. apart, of
used. To avoid the necessity of providing a pit under the about 1,000 packages per hour. The portable machines
conveyor for the return carriages to travel in, these stand- carry their own motors which are arranged to run the
ards are sometimes made collapsible so that they automati- chain and slings in either direction. The weight of the
cally fold up upon reaching the end of the conveyor and average machine is from two to two and one-half tons.
return within a very small space. In other systems these In operation both the end in the hold and that on the
carriages, while propelled by a chain, as shown, are not dock are supported only by the chains and two light cables
actually attached to the chain. At the end of the conveyor which are used to draw up the ends. There is no framing
the tracks carrying the now-empty carriage are tripped, al- other than the supporting horizontal trusses. Weights sus-
lowing the carriage to disengage from the chain and run
back by gravity to the starting point. The most important
point of design in all assembly conveyors of this type is to
insure smooth travel of the carriage either loaded or empty,
particularly where it travels over the end sprockets at the
end of the conveyor.
specially reinforced where looped over the cross-bars. The with the portable, self-contained type.
length of of these slings is surprisingly long. In ordi-
life This leader is raised or lowered in the hold of the vessel
nary service this runs from six months to two years, after by means of cables passing over sheaves on the supporting
404 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
tower. This method of handling the boom of the machine the wharf end of machine than with the port-
the stationary
makes for somewhat quicker manoeuvering into position. able one. This
an important consideration in view of the
is
However, the fixed position of the supporting structure is a fact that the capacity of this loader is so high as to warrant
disadvantage in that it cannot be quickly moved from one the fastest available means of feeding to or removing pack-
ages from the machine. The photograph shows such a con-
veyor leading from the end of the machine to the storage
piles in the warehouse. The slings discharge automatically
to this conveyor.
A very simple supporting structure for such a machine
is illustrated. If desirable a loader so supported may be
arranged to be raised vertically, providing clear passage of
the higher boats when moving into position. In order to
avoid moving the boat while being loaded or unloaded, pro-
vision is made for the cantilevered frame to swing from
side to side as the barge is trimmed. The picture shows
very clearly the balance weight hanging from the lower ter-
minal which keeps the terminal end sufficiently stable and
the chains taut. While the machine is in operating posi-
Stationary Type
Where conditions are such that loading and unloading
may be done from one point the stationary sling-type loader
Live Roll Conveyor
Cantilever first and most common one a light shaft is run the full
Type Sling Conveyor
length of a conveyor, along the side, equipped at intervals
produces an even greater economy than the portable type. with bevelled gears. These gears drive similar gears set
The saving in time of moving from place to place is offset on the extended shaft of the live roll. The other usual ar-
somewhat by the time of moving the boats or barges. How- rangement consists of a light chain which runs along over
ever,more satisfactory conveyor connections are possible at one end of all the rollers, engaging the teeth of small
SPECIAL ELEVATORS AND CONVEYORS 405
sprockets set on the extended shafts of the latter. The From 150 it. to 200 ft. is about the limit of horizontal
rollers are usually 2 /? in. to 3 in. in diameter, of steel or
1
travel, which is if sharp up-grades are
consideiably less
wood, preferably the former. Because of the tendency of to be negotiated. Obviously, special care should be taken
such packages as are usually handled on this type of con- to make the baskets or other containers no heavier than is
veyor, to slide back the live roll conveyor is seldom used at necessary to secure a durable container. An arrangement
incline greater than 10 deg. for pulling the basket down to convenient loading heights is
for this reason secure bracing of the standards is essential Pneumatic Package Conveyor
as is the use of the best quality of wire. Two lines of
wire are generally used, the lower as the track and the conveyor now includes the handling of mail, and many
upper as a strengthening wire. The baskets or other lighter objects which are contained within a reasonably
hangers may be pushed by hand, although they are more uniform range of sizes. Even fairly heavy packages have
commonly propelled by springs, operated by the dispatcher. been successfully handled. In manufacturing processes
406 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR PACKED MATERIAL
these tubes provide instant dispatch between successive op- air or vacuum is the propelling force in pneumatic tube
erations. A
very economic application of this carrier, and systems. The range of distance over which these systems
one which saves much loss of time and unnecessary mov- operate depends largely upon the weight of the package
ing about, is the conveying of small parts between tool and the provision made for supplying the proper pressure.
room or stock room and machines. The unusual flexibility Special blowers for each system are usual, although where
compressed air is used for other purposes it may be sup-
plied from the central source.
Carrousel Conveyors
A type of special conveyor much used in bottling plants,
canning plants and foundries is shown in the accompanying
illustrations. The fact that the apron of this machine
travels in a horizontal plane throughout its entire circuit
and is readily accessible from any point makes it an eco-
nomical work Objects placed on the conveyor will
table.
travel continuously until removed, the carrying surface thus
roundings where this equipment is installed. Compressed ft., depending upon the nature of the work to be done.
LOOSE MATERIAL CONVEYORS
Centrifugal Discharge, Perfect Discharge and Continuous
Bucket Elevators; Gravity Discharge V-Bucket and
Pivoted Bucket Carrier Elevator-Conveyors;
Belt, Apron and Pan, Flight, Screw,
Reciprocating and Current Convey-
ors; Portable Loaders
By
HENRY J. EDSALL
Engineering Department, Link-Belt Company
Conveyors and Elevators for Loose Material
CONVEYORS are usually the most economical years but the extensive use of belt conveyors for loose
means for mechanically loading and unloading loose materials resulted from the development of troughing idlers
CONTINUOUSbulk materials and for moving them short distances. for supporting the belt on the loaded run, and bending
By the term continuous conveyor is meant those types of up the edges of the belt toprevent the material from
machines which keep the material moving forward in a working out sideways. Excessive troughing results in in-
constant stream or in separate amounts following each jury to the belts and should be avoided.
other so closely that this result is approximated. With the increasing use of chains for conveying pur-
Continuous machines are more or less automatic in their poses, accompanied by a demand for greater durability to
operation, since it is usually necessary only to feed the meet conditions imposed by larger and heavier machines
material to them, after which the handling and delivery and in order to satisfactorily handle abrasive materials,
are automatic. The result of the continuous movement is detachable link chains have been largely superseded by im-
a rapid rate of handling even though the stream of material proved designs having closed protected joints. The best
may be comparatively small and the automatic handling and modern chains have case hardened steel bushings and hard
delivery reduces the labor item to a minimum. steel pins.
The extensive use of continuous conveyors is a compara-
As most of the modern loose Machine Types
tively recent development.
material conveyors except the screw and the belt conveyors, Continuous motion equipment for handling loose material
and the comparatively little may be divided into three
used reciprocating flight and groups elevating only, ele-
:
factors in extending the use Portable Loaders. the perfect discharge ele-
of such types of machinery. vator and the continuous
The development of mod- bucket elevator.
ern conveyor chains dates Machines for both ele-
largely from the invention of the detachable link by vating and conveying are also ordinarily of the bucket
Wm. D. Ewart in 1873. The Ewart malleable iron type either of the gravity discharge V-Bucket or of
chain is well adapted to conveyor work, especially of the pivoted bucket carrier form, and in a few instances
the lighter character, since wings can be easily cast on are of the screw type.
certain links for attaching buckets and brackets for Machines for conveying only include belt conveyors, apron
attaching flights or pushers, and various other types of and pan conveyors, flight conveyors, screw conveyors, re-
attachments for special kinds of work. ciprocating flight conveyors and reciprocating trough con-
The idea of carrying materials on belts dates back many veyors.
Bucket Elevators
Bucket elevators consist of a series of buckets mounted to insure that the material be thrown forward into the re-
on and carried by one or two strands of chain or a belt. ceiving chute it is essential that the diameter of the head
The buckets may be spaced some distance apart or close wheel and the speed be so proportioned that the centrifugal
together. Their function is to elevate or lower material force just neutralizes the force of gravity. If the speed
dependent on conditions.
Centrifugal Discharge Elevators Centrifugal discharge elevators of the chain and bucket
The centrifugal discharge type is the simplest and most type are usually installed in as nearly a vertical position
used bucket elevator. Three modifications are in general as practical to avoid any tendency of the chain and buckets
use single strand chain and bucket, double strand chain to sag down or sway. They may, however, be inclined
and bucket, and and bucket.
belt to a certain extent without supports providing space is
For all these machines the material to be handled is fed provided underneath for the sag. When, however, this
into a boot at the bottom from which it is picked up by inclination is carried beyond a certain point, it is customary
the buckets and after being elevated it is discharged by to use idlers at intervals, or slides to support the chain
centrifugal force as the buckets pass over the head wheel. on the ascending run, and, when the inclination is con-
Because of the method of discharge which must be made siderable, the descending run is also supported. In such
without friction on the bucket and in such a manner as cases, since, on the return run, the buckets are underneath,
409
410 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
**-
and it is not advisable to slide them, tracks are provided buckets are drawn back and inverted, thus insuring a
on which the chains slide or supporting idlers are installed cleaner discharge than can be obtained with a centrifugal
at intervals. In some cases bars are bolted to the backs machine. Usually the buckets discharge into a chute lo-
of the buckets, and allowed to extend beyond the buckets cated at the head end of the machine and well under the
at each end, so that the ends of the bars may slide up buckets.
and down on tracks. Sometimes sliding shoes which are This type of elevator is usually run at slower speeds
renewable are attached to the ends of the bars to take than the centrifugal discharge machines, the speed being
the wear. usually between 75 ft. and ISO ft. per min. It is suitable
Because of the weight and the increasing tendency to for heights ranging up to about 125 and by the use of
ft.
sway when heights are excessive centrifugal discharge chain large buckets high capacities may
obtained. These
be
and bucket elevators are seldom used for heights exceeding machines are usually set vertically but are sometimes slightly
100 ft. Belt elevators, because of their lighter weight, inclined and may be run vertically for a certain distance
may be employed for heights ranging up to ISO ft. or even and then at an incline, so that the discharge point may be
more. brought nearer to the centre of a bin to which the material
Each of the modifications in form of centrifugal dis- is being delivered.
charge elevator has its particular advantage. For mod- The easy pick-up resulting from the relatively slow
erate heights and buckets of medium length a single strand speeds at which this type of elevator may be operated and
of wide chain is simpler, less expensive to maintain and the fact that the material is dropped from the buckets at
thus preferable to two strands of narrow chain. Where the discharge point, rather than thrown out, make these
long buckets and great heights are required the swaying machines particularly adapted for handling commercially
tendency of the single strand chain makes it advisable sized coal and fragile material where it is desirable to
to adopt the two strand construction. However, with keep breakage at a minimum. Because of the fact that the
double strands there is a tendency produced, by unequal buckets in this type of elevator are completely turned over
wear or stretch, to set up undesirable strain in the chain at the discharge point these machines are also well suited
and the attachments which fasten the buckets to the chains. for handling moist clay and other materials which tend to
This can be largely compensated for by attaching the two cling to the buckets. They are suitable also for handling
strands of chain to swivel connections fastened to the ends bituminous coal and similar relatively soft, free-flowing
of the buckets. The belt form is always preferable for materials even though they contain large lumps. ,
extreme heights.
The chain and bucket centrifugal discharge elevators are Continuous Bucket Elevators 1
particularly adapted for handling coarse and fine dry ma- Continuous bucket elevators are made up of a continuous
terials, either hot or cold, which are not of too abrasive a line of buckets attached either to one or two chains or to
character. They are extensively used in power plants for a belt. The buckets are always triangular in shape and
handling coal and ashes, and in fertilizer plants, cement the discharge at the head is accomplished by using the back
plants, chemical works, coke ovens, etc. In addition, this of each bucket as a chute for the material from the bucket
type of machine is employed for elevating water in connec- just behind.
tion with irrigation or drainage projects and when fitted Since the discharge at the head does not depend upon
with perforated buckets for dewatering purposes in anthra- the speed, these elevators may be run at almost any speed
cite coal washers and canning plants. When equipped with desired, the usual speeds being from 80 ft. to 150 ft. per
special wear resisting chains the chain and bucket type is min. and, because of the continuous arrangement of the
frequently used for handling abrasive materials. buckets, the capacities are high.
The belt and bucket type is particularly adapted for han- The principal advantage of this type of machine is its
dling abrasive materials which would cause excessive wear capability to receive its load by means of a chute which
in ordinary chains and, as well, for free flowing materials discharges directly into the buckets. It may, however, pick
such as flour, hydrated lime, etc., as the buckets when up its load from a boot as do the other types of bucket
backed up by belts fill better and do not overflow. It is elevators.
also used for wet materials such as thin pulp. It should When loaded from a chute the elevator is usually set at
not, however, be used for hot materials which would in- an angle of 15 deg. or more with the vertical, the inclina-
jure the belt. This type is universally used in grain ele- tion facilitating the feeding and discharge and also minimiz-
vators and flour mills, and is extensively employed in col- ing the likelihood of spill. If spill does occur the waste
lieries, ore milling plants, chemical plants and various other collects in the boot and is reclaimed by the buckets.
industries. When installed in the inclined position this type of ele-
Centrifugal machines of either type are not suited for vator is particularly adapted for crushed stone and gravel,
handling sticky material or those containing large lumps. and other similar materials which cannot be picked up from
Both types are used for handling small sizes of anthracite a boot satisfactorily.
and bituminous coal in which the lumps have been broken In the inclined position it is also extensively used for
up by a crusher or other means. As a rule, however, these handling commercial sizes of anthracite coal, coke and other
machines are not used for handling coal when breakage is materials where breakage caused by digging from a boot or
objectionable and when so used are usually installed in an high speeds of discharge would be serious. Either chain
inclined position, making possible lower operating speeds or belt type is satisfactory for this service.
thus tending to reduce breakage. The chain type in either the inclined or vertical position
is used successfully for handling hot materials such as coke.
Perfect Discharge Elevators Bituminous coal and similar materials where the lumps
Theperfect discharge type of elevator, sometimes called are not too large may be satisfactorily picked up from a
"positive discharge," is always a double strand elevator boot. For this service the elevators may be set vertically
with the chains attached to the ends of the buckets. By or in an inclined position and may be of either the belt or
locating a pair of deflecting sprockets at the head end, the chain form.
412 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
Because of the method of discharge this machine is not of moderate heights and for handling materials not espe-
recommended for handling moist clay or sticky materials. cially abrasive detachable link chain is satisfactory and
economical. Malleable iron pintle and combination chains
Other Types of Elevators are extensively used but where the material handled is par-
Gravity discharge V-bucket machines while occasionally ticularly abrasive chains should be of the case-hardened
employed as elevators only are more usually installed bushed type and provided with hard steel pins. Standard
where material is to be both elevated and conveyed. These malleable iron roller chains having rollers at each joint are
machines are described under the head of elevator- also used for double strand machines. For the heavy duty
conveyors. machines steel strap roller chains are used, the chains
Screw or spiral machines are sometimes installed for having rollers either at the joints or sometimes at the center
of the links, the latter construction facilitating renewals.
elevating purposes only, as is also the pan type conveyor
when fitted with buckets of sufficient depth. These ma- Belts. The type of the belt to be used on any par-
ticular bucket elevator depends largely upon the character
of the material to be handled. Rubber belts should be
used for wet materials; stitched canvas and solid woven
cotton belts should generally be used for
dry materials and
rubber covered belts in most cases for abrasive materials,
whether wet or dry.
For most purposes the belt tension, due to the weight of
the belt, the buckets and the load carried, should be limited
to 20 Ib. per in. per ply, although a tension of 30 Ib.
per in.
per ply has been satisfactorily employed in large grain
elevators.
front type; for elevators of a moderate incline of the at the proper inclination so that the material which is
medium front type, and for elevators of a
still greater in- being handled will be discharged freely no matter what
cline of the low front To
prevent material dropping
type. condition it may be in, must clear the buckets and be so
in back of the buckets they be made overlapping. For
may placed that little if any of the material is carried by.
handling sticky material the corners of the buckets should Feeding chutes for continuous bucket elevators must be
be well rounded or fillers should be fastened in. so placed as to deliver the material into the buckets with
subject to rapid deterioration when exposed to the weather. Rivets are less liable to become loose but bolts facilitate
Casings. Casings, when required, may be built of the removal of the plates.
either wood or steel. Steel casings are usually made in Casings should have a door or removable plate at the
sections with flanges or angles at the joints and corners. foot and at the top to provide access for repairs.
Elevator Conveyors
Where loose material has to be both lifted and trans- frequently with and one very common ar-
several turns,
ported it be raised by a bucket elevator and then
may rangement have the chains and buckets follow a
is to
carried horizontally by some form of a conveyor, although rectangular path, the upper horizontal run being a dis-
in many instances it is preferable to do both the elevating tributing run for delivering coal or other material into
and the conveying by one machine. Two types of machines a bin or bins and the lower run being underneath the stor-
are commonly used for such work, the gravity discharge age space, gates and chutes being arranged to deliver the
V-bucket and the pivoted bucket carrier. Gravity discharge material back to the lower run when it is to be taken out
V-bucket machines are simply one form of bucket eleva- of the bins. When used in this way a tunnel is usually
tors when used for elevating purposes and when transport- provided for the lower run and this tunnel is made large
ing the buckets act as flights, dragging the material along enough so that there is ample passageway for a man to
in a trough. Pivoted bucket carriers act as bucket elevators walk along the side of the conveyor, so as to operate the
when elevating and as pan conveyors when transporting. gates and have access to the conveyor for oiling or other
care needed for it.
Gravity Discharge V-Bucket Type General Specifications
The gravity discharge V-buckettype of machine can be
used either for elevating only or for both elevating and
Buckets. The buckets are usually of a 'V" or modi-
fied "V"
shape, the lower side on the loaded run having a
conveying. It is necessarily a double strand machine with
the chains attached to the ends of the buckets either by steep enough angle so that the material will slide out at
can be used for handling practically all materials when Chains. Since gravity discharge V-bucket machines
they are to be elevated only, but it is not suitable for han- are always double strand the chains need not be very wide.
dling ashes, sand, stone or any hot or abrasive materials For elevators only and for the smaller machines where
when they have to be conveyed as well as elevated the horizontal run is short, the chains used are the Ewart
Where these machines are used for elevating only, there type, the pintle, the combination, the flat and round steel
is usually a boot at the foot to which the material is link, and sometimes the small steel strap.
fed and from which the buckets pick it up as the chains Where a machine is used for both elevating and convey-
pass around the foot wheels. The buckets are of a "V" ing and the length of the horizontal run is considerable,
or modified "V" shape, and the discharge at the head is some type of roller chain is used so that the rollers of
accomplished by having the chains turn, at the top of the the chain can run along on steel tracks and keep the buckets
lift, around knuckle wheels and travel horizontally or on raised slightly above the bottom of the trough in which the
an incline, for a short distance, the material sliding out of material is conveyed. In this case, the standard malleable
the buckets as they change their direction of travel. A roller chains are used a great deal except for the largest
section of trough is inserted underneath the buckets at the machines, where the steel strap roller chains are preferable.
turn wheels so that the material received in the trough.
is For long machines, where the pull in the chains is con-
The trough can be extended into a chute for discharging siderable, the joints of the steel strap chains are usually
into a separate conveyor or a bin. bushed with case hardened steel bushings, so as to in-
These elevators are usually run at a slow speed, about crease the bearing surface in the joints, thereby reducing
100 ft. per min., and the pick-up and discharge of the the bearing pressure and the wear in the joints.
material are both gentle, so that little or no breakage is
Wheels. Standard sprocket wheels are used in nearly
caused when handling such material as anthracite coal.
all cases, though traction wheels are sometimes used for
After the buckets are discharged the chains travel around
some of the corner turn or idler wheels.
a second pair of wheels and descend vertically, the ascend-
ing and descending runs being approximately parallel and Bearings and Driving Machinery. Simple rigid pil-
quite close together. low blocks or post boxes are ordinarily used these ;
fre-
Instead of discharging to another conveyor at the top of quently being of the angle bearing type.
the lift the chains and buckets may run horizontally for The drive is located at various points, according to the
some distance, the buckets acting as flights and dragging path of the machine and the length of the horizontal run
their half-spilled loads ahead of them through a suitable compared to the vertical run. For a machine with a short
trough. The material can be discharged from this hori- horizontal run the drive can be located at the turn shaft
zontal section by means rf gates at any desired point in at the top of the lift or at the turn shaft at the other
the trough bottom. If the material is to be conveyed first end of the horizontal run. Where the horizontal run is
~
"
by means of another pair of spur gears, to a second with malleable iron ends and steel plate bottoms, or are
countershaft or to a motor. In some cases the buckets are suspended
entirely of steel.
Supports. The supports can be either of wood or from through rods which are attached at their ends to the
the material used for these supports be-
steel, as is desired, chains ;
in other cases there separate pins on each
are
ing usually determined by the material used for bins or side of the buckets. The through rod has the advantage of
other structures in connection with the machinery. insuring alignment on both sides, since it is possible for
separate pins to be out of alignment, thereby preventing
Pivoted Bucket Carrier the buckets from swinging freely. The cams for engaging
Pivoted bucket carriers consist of a continuous series with the discharger are cast separately, either of malleable
iron or cast iron, and sometimes have chilled faces where
of pivotally suspended between two long-pitch
buckets
roller chains which are supported on tracks on the hori- they bear against the dischargers these cams are riveted
;
zontal and inclined runs to the sides of the buckets. The lips of the buckets should
and between guides on the verti-
cal runs.Because of the flexibility secured in this con- have ample overlap, the V-shape overlap having the ad-
struction these machines may be made to follow a rect- vantage of not allowing material to rest on it and spill
off at the turns.
angular or any other desired path and consequently they
may be used for elevating vertically or along an incline Chains. The chains are usually made of malleable
as well as for conveying in a horizontal direction. They iron, in order better to resist the corrosive action of ma-
are slow speed machines, usually operated at speeds be- terials such as wet ashes also to make it easier to form
;
tween 40 ft. and 60 ft. per min., and are capable of being bosses on the links at the chain joints and suspension points
loaded at one or more points and of discharging at a num- so that pins, bushings and suspension rods may be held
ber of points or all along a distributing run. As the load more securely than with ordinary steel flats of uniform
is always carried, rather than pushed along, the power thickness. If the pins or the bushings work loose, the
consumption is
relatively low. chain deteriorates rapidly and, since the holes in the links
In the earliest carriers the buckets were hung as closely become enlarged, the complete chains have to be renewed
together as practicable to prevent material falling be- instead of only the pins and bushings however, where the ;
tween them at the feeding point. While the buckets were material to be handled not corrosive, and especially with
is
in actual contact when the machines were first started, long carriers and large buckets where the pull on the chains
the wear and elongation of the chains induced an increas- is heavy, steel links are often used, these steel links
being
ing separation, thereby permitting fine material to sift frequently forged so as to be thicker at the points where the
through. Various types of feeders have been developed pins and bushings and suspension rods are attached. The
for overcoming this difficulty, but the simplest way is to chain joints are undoubtedly the most vital points in de-
overlap the bucket lips sufficiently to avoid a gap, not termining the life of a carrier. The usual chain joints
only when the machine is first started but even after the all have case hardened steel bushings keyed to the inside
chains have become elongated. In the latter case special links and the pins are held in the outside links. There
feeders are not the buckets
being fed directly
required isthus no wear on the links themselves, providing the pins
from a chute or spout. The use
of the overlapping lips, and bushings do not get loose in the links any wear is ;
however, introduces the mechanical difficulty of having to between the pins and bushings. With the bushed joint
have the laps come in the right direction, so that when the bearing surface depends upon the length of the bush-
the loaded buckets turn to ascend they will not interfere ing and the diameter of the pin, whereas if the joint is
with each other and cause tilting and spilling of the loads. not bushed the length of the bearing is limited to the thick-
Several methods of reversing the laps so as to have ness of the links the wear comes on the links themselves,
;
them come in the right direction have been devised, such instead of being confined to the pins and bushings small
as tilting the buckets just before they start along the parts that are comparatively inexpensive to renew. By
lower horizontal run, or bringing the buckets down side- making the bushings of case hardened steel and the pins of
ways on the descending run. Another method of over- high carbon steel, and by making them both of the proper
coming the difficulty is to suspend the buckets from ex- size so as tokeep the bearing pressure low, a remarkably
tensions of the chain links beyond the chain joints. With long wearing joint may be obtained, providing it is kept
this method of suspension, the buckets travel on a properly oiled.
larger
circlethan the chains as they pass around the turn-wheels, Therollers are often cast with oil chambers, which are
so that they are automatically separated, and filled through self-closing valves or oilers by means of a
lap correctly.
Pivoted bucket carriers are used for handling coal, ashes, syringe; the rollers have felt washers at the center of the
coke, stone, ore, cement, sand and various other materials. bore, through which the oil filters slowly to the bushings,
They are slow speed machines, usually operating at speeds and then passes on through a slot in the bushings to the
between 40 and 60 ft. per min. With good size flanged pin, thereby oiling the outside of the bushing on which the
rollers, traveling on standard T-rails on horizontal or in- rollers turn, and also the inside of the bushings and the
clined runs, and carefully guided between double guides pins. These oil chamber rollers can be made to carry
on vertical runs, there is little chance of trouble unless sufficient oil for three or four weeks' supply. To prevent
the carrier is seriously neglected, in which case any ma- the oil staying in the bottom of the roller when it
gets
chine is likely to get out of order. The power required low, there are fins on the inside of the rollers to pick it
to operate a carrier is small, since the up and down runs up and drop it on the felt washer.
balance each other, except for the weight of material in Other rollers are provided with an oil duct leading to
the loaded buckets with large, well-oiled rollers very
:
its center, but have no oil chambers to oil each roller at
little pull is required to move the carrier on the horizontal frequent intervals. In all cases the oil is delivered to the
and inclined runs. joints at the center, so that it works from the center
out and tends to wash any grit or dirt out of the joints
General Specifications rather than into them, and also tends to form oil seals
Buckets. As a rule the buckets are one-piece malleable around the outside of the joints thus preventing the entrance
iron castings, though some of the larger ones are made of dust or dirt.
418 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
Driving Arrangement. These carriers are usually Tracks and Guides. Standard T-rails are used almost
driven by sprocket wheels at the driving corner. The exclusively for the travel of the chain rollers on hori-
motor drives a countershaft through a pair of cut spur zontal and inclined runs, these rails being supported on cast
several shafts are usually supported on two cast iron side on the lower runs. The T-rails ordinarily weigh not less
frames, resting on beams and tied together across the top than 16 Ib. per yd. ;
the cast iron rail chairs should be
by steel or cast iron members which are used also for made amply strong and with wide bases so as to insure
motor supports. proper support and alignment of the rails. Where movable
Where the driving requirements are heavy the gear on dischargers are used on the distributing runs, the rail chairs
are arranged to carry also the T-rails on which the dis-
the driving shaft and the pinion meshing with it are dupli-
charger wheels travel.
cated; that is, two pairs of gears are installed, one at each
end of the driving shaft. In some cases the sprocket For guiding the vertical runs of carriers, double T-rails
or double steel angles are used, the former being prefer-
wheels consist of rims and teeth without arms or hubs,
the rims being bolted to the driving gears so that the able. The chain rollers are confined between these guides,
so that there is little chance for the carrier to get out of
power is transmitted from the driving gear direct to the
its intended path of travel. Where casings are used, the
sprocket, and the driving shaft is relieved of all torsional
strain. This makes possible the use of a lighter shaft, rail chairs are bolted to the casing. Where no casing is
and when the sprocket wheel teeth become worn they may used the rail chairs are bolted to walks or to steel members
be renewed much more easily and economically. forming part of the building construction or to a steel
member added for the purpose.
Dischargers. Dischargers for tilting the buckets are
usually of the removable type, equipped with wheels which Guards and Casings. To protect the chains from the
travel on T-rail tracks. The curved tracks on the dis- material being fed to the buckets, and to direct the ma-
charger which engage with the bucket cams are made of terial properly into the centers of the buckets, curved
such a shape that the rolling contact tips the buckets over steelguards, supported by extensions of the rail chairs are
and allows them to regain their normal position with practi- used on feeding runs. These are made of steel sheets,
cally no friction or noise. When it is desired to throw
usually No. 10 or thicker, and are bolted or riveted to
the discharger out of service, the curved track is lowered the tops of the rail chairs on which they rest. The inside
so that it does not engage the bucket cams. edges should come down quite close to the tops of the
Stationary dischargers are used for discharging material buckets and the outside edges should be curved over far
at a fixed point. Several stationary dischargers are some- enough to effectively protect the chains from material.
times used in place of removable dischargers any one of ; Vertical ascending runs with loaded buckets are usually
these may be set to dump the buckets depending on where enclosed in steel casings made of No. 12 steel plate or
is desired to place the material. In some cases auto-
it
heavier, this casing preventing any material which might
matic traveling dischargers are used, which travel back be jarred or blown from the buckets from falling out-
and forth automatically by means of power obtained from side on the floors or on attendants. On descending runs
the carrier, so that the discharge point is being constantly where the buckets come down right side up, it is not
changed, and the material is distributed along the length necessary to use a casing and the omission makes the car-
of the distributing run. rier visible and more accessible. There should, however,
Winches for Moving Dischargers. The movable dis- be a guard for a certain distance above the floor to pre-
chargers are moved either in one or both directions by vent accident to attendants. Casings can be used on descend-
small steel cables winding on winches at one end of the dis- ing runs if desired where the buckets come down side-
;
tributing run of the carrier. The cable may be single in ways casings should always be used to confine material
which case the discharger is moved against the direction which clings to the empty buckets and which may be
of the travel of the buckets by the cable and in the oppo- jarred loose. These casings are built in a similar manner
site direction by contact with the buckets themselves where ; to standard elevator casings, the corners and joints being
an endless cable is usedbe passed around an idler
it may made either by angles or by flanging the plates and rivet-
sheave at the opposite end of the distributing run. ing or bolting them together.
Conveyors
The term "conveyor"is often construed to include itwas advisable when handling loose material to use a type
all continuous motion material handling machines. As of idler which would bend up the edges of the belt, or
used here, however, it is intended to designate only trough it so as to keep the material from creeping over the
such machines as are designed primarily for moving edges. This troughing of the belts or bending up of the
materials in a horizontal direction. All of the ma- edges was overdone at first; injury resulted from the con-
chines described may, however, be installed at an angle stant bending back and forth of the belt, as it was troughed
with the horizontal and under exceptional conditions and then flattened out again as it passed over the idler
certain of them may be installed for transferring ma- pulleys. This excessive amount of troughing was un-
terials vertically. necessary, and the fault has been corrected in most modern
idlers which bend the belt only sufficiently to retain
Belt Conveyors the material when traveling horizontally or at an incline
Belt conveyors consist of a fabric belt, usually rubber suitable for this type of conveyor. On the return runs of
covered, which travels along over idlers at intervals, and belt conveyors the supported on flat roll idlers,
belt is
on which the material is conveyed. The earlier belt con- spaced at intervals of usually about twice .that of the idlers
on the carrying run.
veyors used flat roll idlers, but it was soon recognized that
BELT CONVEYORS 419
Belt conveyors are used for many purposes, and since truck wheels which travel on a track, so that the tripper
they can be run at quite high rates of speed, high capacities can be moved along the conveyor.
can be obtained from them. Where a properly lubricated These movable trippers are sometimes operated by hand,
and free running idler is used the power required for opera- but usually are moved by power obtained from the belt
tion is comparatively small Consequently these convey- itself, the tripper pulley shaft being connected by proper
ors may be run for long distances with only a moderate driving gearing to one or more of the truck axles. Suitable
amount of power. The fact must not be overlooked, how- clutches are provided to throw in the gearing for operating
ever, that the fabric belts are more or less delicate com- the tripper in either direction. In some cases the clutches
pared with some other types of conveyors, and they will are thrown by levers which engage with stops along the
not, therefore, stand an equal amount of rough usage line of travel so that the tripper is automatically reversed at
without serious injury. The material must also be delivered the points where the stops are set, thereby keeping the
properly to a belt conveyor at the feeding point, or rapid tripper moving back and forth constantly in this way the ;
wear is likely to occur. Positive lubrication and free run- material may be discharged uniformly along the path of
ning qualities of the idlers are very important, since with travel.
the speeds at which belt conveyors are operated idler pulleys In some cases plows or scrapers, set diagonally across
revolve rapidly if they do not turn, freely, the friction and
;
the belt, are used for scraping the material off the belt ; it is
consequent wear on the belt is considerable. With 6 in. necessary in such cases to use flat roll idlers, at least at
idlers and a belt running at 300 ft. per min., the idler pulleys the discharge point. This method of discharging material
revolve at a rate of almost 200 r. p. m. from the belt can be used only with certain kinds of ma-
Belt conveyors can be used for handling almost any since there is danger of wedging pieces of material
terial,
kind of material which is not too wet, sticky or hot, and between the scraper and the belt, resulting in injury to the
latter.
they are used extensively for handling coal, coke, sand,
gravel, ore and grain. They can be operated on inclines up Another method of discharging material from a belt con-
to about 18 deg. or 20 deg., providing the particles of veyor is to use what is known as a shuttle conveyor, the
material are not of such shape as to tend to roll back on whole conveyor being mounted on a frame fitted with
the belt ;
with some materials, such as damp sand, the truck wheels and operating on a track. The material is
angle can be increased to 25 deg., though an angle as steep delivered to the conveyor at a central point, and the con-
as this is rather unusual. Cleats are sometimes added to veyor is moved back and forth, the direction of the travel
belt conveyors, especially of the portable type, which make of the belt being also reversed when necessary in order to
it practical to handle many materials at a greater incline deliver the material along the full length of the distance
than would otherwise be possible. They can be operated at covered by the conveyor. The length of the conveyor
speeds up to 600 ft. per min., or even more under certain required is only half the amount of the distance to be
conditions, the ordinary speeds being about 250 ft. to 400 ft. covered, since it operates over equal distances in both
per min. directions.
of Belt, Velocity in Feet Per Minute inclined side of the idlers, run out of line and bear hard
Inches 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
against the guide rollers if these are used, thereby injur-
12 .. 21 32 42 53 63 74 85
82 110
ing the edges. If too flexible it will crease longitudinally
14 .. 27 41 55 68 96
112 150 in the angle between the idler pulleys with certain types of
16 .. 37 75 93 131
18 .. 52 105 131 162 183 210 236 idlers, thereby tending to start a separation of the plies at
20 ... 65 130 162 195 227 260 292 these points. It will also tend to flatten out, or lose its
22 77 116 155 193 232 271 310 348 387 ...
ranged that the belt travels up and around one pulley, then per in. per ply. The extreme outside limit is 36 Ib. per in.
back and around another, the travel around the first pulley per ply and this should be used only for temporary instal-
having the same effect as if the belt ended at this point, lations.
the material being thrown forward into a chute leading to The width of the belt must frequently be determined by
either one or both sides of the conveyor. The trippers are the size of the pieces of material handled, rather than by
either stationary, or may be mounted on a frame fitted with actual carrying capacity in pounds or cubic feet. The
420 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
widths of belt most suitable for maximum sizes of pieces to in two bearings, one at each end, and the flat roll idlers and
be handled are as follows : flared end idlers are arranged in the same manner. It is a
12 in. belt 2 n. piec comparatively easy matter to design efficiently lubricated
18 in. belt 4 n. piec bearings for a shaft to revolve in, the most recent practice
24 in. belt 8 n. piec being to use bearings with oil reservoirs of the ring oiling
30 in. belt 14 n. piec or chain oiling type. Ball and roller bearings are also used
36 in. belt IS n. piec
48 in. belt... ...24 n. pieces
to a considerable extent for both the multi-roll and uni-
roll types of idlers, the roller bearings probably being supe-
The life of a belt is affected by the characteristics of the rior and preferable to the ball bearings because of the better
material handled, the average number of hours of opera- distribution of pressure on the roller bearings, and, there-
tion for a given period, the length of the conveyor, and the
fore, the less likelihood of wear and loosening of the
grade of belt. Assuming one feed and }/% in. good grade bearings.
cover, a belton a conveyor 100 ft. long should handle mounted in cast-
Troughing or carrying idlers are usually
during its a tonnage equal to 500 times its width
life iron stands on a plank, resting on two longitudinal string-
squared ; a conveyor 200 ft. long should handle twice as or on a steel channel attached to two longitudinal
ers,
much, since the longer the conveyor, the less frequently a steel The bearings for the re-
channels or steel I-bcams.
certain portion of the belt comes under the feed chute, turn idlers are ordinarily attached to the underside of the
and the less frequently it is bent around the pulleys. longitudinal stringers. In some cases unit stands are used,
Idlers. The and simplest idlers were plain
earliest these stands supporting both the carrying and return idlers,
cylindrical rolls mounted on a through shaft turning in and being so arranged that they may be bolted to
bearings at each bend. These flat idlers insure the longest stringers or to the floor.
possible life to the belt, and are still used more or less for
Trippers. These consist of a pair of pulleys, either
handling loose materials, and universally for return idlers
stationary or mounted on a movable frame, and ar-
for belt conveyors.
The next step in the development of idlers was to use ranged in such a way that the belt goes up and around
one pulley, and back with a reverse turn around the
bell-shaped ends, which bent the belt up at the outer edges
other. The effect is the same as if the belt ended at
or gave it a troughed form to prevent the material from
thefirst pulley, and then went around the second pulley
spilling over. From this followed, as a natural step, the
combination of a central horizontal section and independent and started over again. The material is thrown for-
inclined ends or sections to bend tip the edges of the belt ward as the belt passes around the first pulley in the
;
for wider belts additional idler pulleys were added, forming same manner as it would be discharged at the end of
the multiple-pulley type of idler used extensively at the a belt conveyor.
present time.
With stationary trippers, the pulleys are mounted
The single-pulley idler with the ends has, how-
flared on a shaft resting in fixed bearings or turning in fixed
ever, continued in use to a certain extent because of its bearings. Where the tripper is movable, the pulleys?
simplicity and free turning qualities when the shaft is are mounted on a shaft turning in bearings resting on
mounted With a single-pulley idler of
in suitable bearings. a frame of cast iron, steel, or a combination of the two,
this type, there a difference in peripheral speeds between
is the frame being mounted on truck wheels, which travel
the smaller diameter at the center and the larger diameters on standard T-rails. With the hand-propelled trippers,
at the flared ends, which causes a slight rubbing on the there is a crank which turns the shaft that is connected
underside of the belt as the idler rotates. Experience has to one of the axles, thus moving the tripper along the
proved that this slight rubbing action has very little effect track.
on the life of the belt, since the life is determined by the With the self-propelled tripper, the shafts on which
wear on the top side where the material is carried. the tripper pulleys are mounted are connected to the
Since the free running qualities of a belt conveyor and axles, and arranged with proper clutches for throwing
therefore the life of the belt and the horsepower required in the drive from one
pulley or the other, so as to
to operate the conveyor depend largely on the free running propel the tripper in either direction. With the auto-
qualities of the idlers, it is important that these idlers be matic trippers which travel back and forth constantly
carefully designed. This means that the lubrication must when in operation, clutch levers are arranged to be
be effective under all conditions, especially throughout the thrown by means of trips at each end of the travel
variations in temperature under which the conveyor is of the tripper.
called upon to operate.
Until recently, the usual method of lubrication has been Pulleys and Driving Machinery. Because of the pull
necessary to move a long or heavily loaded belt con-
by grease cups, the multiple-pulley idlers having either two
veyor, care must be taken to see that the driving pulley
grease cups, one at each end of the series of pulleys, or a
is large enough in size, and that the belt
separate grease cup for each pulley, the grease being forced gets sufficient
through a hollow shaft and through openings in the shaft wrap around the pulley, and sufficient pressure against
to the inside of the bore of the pulleys. This method of the pulley to insure the proper friction for driving.
lubrication is effective, providing the grease cups are filled
When belt conveyors are subjected to heavy stresses,
For especially heavy duty belt conveyors, other except in special cases. Provision should be made for
methods are used for holding the belt against the driv- automatic or manual adjustment to insure continued
ing pulley and giving a maximum amount of contact, contact of the bristles with the belt regardless of wear.
one method being to use a small auxiliary belt, travel-
ing around idlers which hold it close against the out- Apron and Pan Conveyors
side of the main belt, the auxiliary belt being pulled up Apron conveyors consist usually of one or more chains
against the main belt by the tension imparted to it by to which wood or metal slats are form
attached, so as to
means of a movable idler equipped with a counter- a continuous apron. For handling packages or piece arti-
weight. cles the slats are not always continuous, but sometimes have
The driving shaft of a belt conveyor is usually con- spaces between them, but for handling loose materials they
nected to a motor by spur gearing, silent chain drive form a continuous apron, so that the material can ride on
or belt drive with an intermediate countershaft in the apron in the same way that it rides on the belt of a
order to get the necessary speed reduction. belt conveyor. Instead of having separate chains, the slats
Care must be taken that the diameters of all pulleys
and chain links are sometimes lashed together as a unit,
in which case the parts are made of malleable iron or some
around which the belt is bent, including foot pulleys
and tripper pulleys, are not too small, since the con- other cast metal.
stant bending of the belt around small pulleys when the The slats are made in many forms, from flat steel plates
belt is under stress causes the plies to separate, and re- simply butted up close together to the overlapping pans
sults in the destruction of the belt. with deep corrugations, very similar to the bucket conveyor
types of machines. As a matter of fact it is difficult to
Supports. The supporting structure may be either
draw the line as to where the apron conveyor stops and the
of steel or wood, steel, of course, being more permanent
bucket conveyor begins, since the bucket conveyors are
and less likely to get out of shape, but also, as a rule,
similar to the apron conveyors, except that the plates are
more expensive. There are usually two main longi-
formed into the shape of buckets which will handle loose
tudinal stringers, the cross planks or channels for sup-
materialhorizontally or at a considerable incline. Pan
porting the carrying idlers being attached to the top
conveyors are also similar to apron conveyors, except that
side, and the return idlers attached to the underside of
they have pans of considerable width instead of the nar-
the stringers. Where
unit stands are used for both the
rower slats which form the aprons of the apron
conveyor.
carrying and return idlers, they can rest either on a
Aprons made with plain fiat plates are seldom used for
pair of stringers or on a floor.
handling loose materials because of the slight gaps between
Housing. Belt conveyors are frequently run exposed the plates, which allow the material to leak through; the
to the weather, and if they are properly looked after gaps open up as the slats pass around the sprocket wheels
and well lubricated this does not cause any serious at the terminals, allowing the material to spill through still
deterioration. however, a conveyor is allowed to
If, more. By curving the slats so as to bring the butting edges
stand still for a long period, the idler pulleys and other on the center line of the chains, it is possible to bring the
pulleys are likely to become badly corroded, and the adjacent slats close together, and there is little or no ten-
belt deteriorates to a certain extent whether it is run- dency to open up as they pass around the terminal wheels;
ning or standing idle. In winter time there is also more this type of conveyor is used to a certain extent for loose
or less danger of trouble from the belt freezing fast to materials.
the idlers or ice forming on it and injuring it when it The usual method, however, is to make the slats over-
is started up; this, however, can be overcome by clean- lapping, the having one or both edges curved or
slats
ing off the ice and snow and loosening up the conveyor beaded; the former is known as the single beaded type, and
before starting up. When belt conveyors are located the latter as the double beaded type. The curve of the
inside a building they are not usually enclosed. beaded part is concentric with the chain joint center, so
Housing when used may be built either of wood or that when the chains are bent at the joints the beaded parts
with a wood or steel framework covered with corru- rotate around these centers. The slats can be either made
gated iron. The footwork for access to the conveyor is flat between the beads, or they may be bent down to a
moving ends of the slats, which they overlap to a certain to get out of shape.
attached at each side of the pans, or sometimes only on slow speeds, usually from SO ft. to 75 ft. per min. Where
every second or third pan, and a single chain or some- they are used for feeding materials from a hopper or bin,
times a steel cable attached to the center of the pans
is
the opening in the hopper or bin is made large enough
underneath, or two strands of chain are attached at the so that the material will always flow out as it is taken
sides of the pans. Roller chains, usually of the steel strap
away by the moving apron, and since this large opening
type, are also used to certain extent, these chains being means quite a deep bed of material on the apron, the
attached at the sides of the pans, so that the rollers can
speed is usually quite slow to avoid feeding the material
travel on tracks on both runs. In some cases the pans
too rapidly. Apron feeder speeds are usually somewhere
are arranged to dump the material at intermediate points, between 15 ft. and 30 ft. per min.
the discharge being accomplished by depressing the tracks
Housing or Casing. These conveyors are ordinarily
at these points, so that the rollers at one end of the pans
run open without any housing even when they are exposed
follow down the depressed track, thereby tilting the pans
to the weather, but they can of course be housed the same
at an angle, so that the material is discharged from them.
as other conveyors, with a housing built of wood, corru-
The pans are made of steel, cast iron or malleable iron,
gated iron, or other material.
according to the material to be handled.
Bucket conveyors, or open top carriers as they are some- Screw or Spiral Conveyors
times called, are similar to apron conveyors, except that the
The usual Screw conveyors consist of a shaft, usually hollow, on
plates are formed in the shape of a bucket.
which is wound a spiral blade, the rotation of this spiral
type is with a double strand- of steel strap chain with
blade causing the material to be pushed along in a trough
flanged rollers at the chain joints, or sometimes in the
center of chain links, the chain joints being equipped sim-
or on a bed of the material itself. As a rule there is a
trough made of wood and lined with steel, or constructed
ply with driving collars to engage with the sprocket wheel
teeth. The rollers are not always fitted to each pitch of entirely of steel. Screw conveyors are ordinarily made in
the chain, but sometimes to every second or third pitch. sections, 8 ft. to 12 ft. long, with a short coupling shaft
between each two sections, these shafts being supported
These bucket conveyors are used extensively for handling
various materials, such as coal, ore. sand, crushed stone
in bearings. The hollow shafts to which the spiral blades
and gravel and with buckets of the proper shape they can
operate on comparatively steep inclines.
General Specifications
Chains. Various types of chains are used for apron,
pan and bucket conveyors, such as the Ewart, pintle, com-
bination, malleable roller, and steel strap roller chains.
For heavy service and handling abrasive materials the
Single Screw
chain joints are frequently bushed to give greater bearing
service and hard wearing faces, which can be renewed are attached are usually made of steel pipe. The blades
without renewing the whole chain. are attached to the pipe by bolts, flattened at one end and
Slats, Pans and Buckets. The slats for apron con- riveted to the spiral blade, and threaded at the other end
veyors and pans for pan conveyors are usually made of steel and fitted with a nut, the threaded end extending through
plate and sometimes of cast iron or malleable iron, depend-
ing upon the materials to be handled. The buckets of
bucket conveyors are usually of steel plate, although they
can be made of malleable iron. For light service, steel
sheets of Yt, in. thickness, or even lighter, are sometimes
used, but as a rule the thickness is not less than Y$ in., and
often it is even thicker than this for the large, heavy duty
machines.
Tracks and Supports. For sliding slats or chains, Double Screw
steel or steel angles are ordinarily used. For roller
flats
chains with unflanged rollers, the tracks are also of steel the pipe. The pipes are reinforced at the ends of each
flats or steel angles. For the steel strap chains with section by sleeves slipped over them, and the coupling
flanged rollers, or for flanged rollers separate from the shafts are held by bolts extending through the sleeve and
chains, T-rails are used to a large extent, though steel pipe and also through the shaft.
flats or steel angles are also used more or less for this Another type of screw conveyor, known as the Helicoid,
type of roller. has a continuous spiral blade for each section, this blade
SCREW OR SPIRAL CONVEYORS 425
when formed into a spiral being thicker at the inner edges When a conveyor trough is built entirely of steel plates
and thinner at the outer edges and fitting close around the they are usually reinforced with steel angles along the upper
pipe, to which it is attached only at the ends. edges, and where covers are desired they are ordinarily
The bearings for supporting the screws are held in bolted to these angles. As a rule steel troughs are sup-
ported on cast iron saddles, these saddles sometimes being
only low saddles for the conveyor to rest on, and sometimes
running all the way to the top edge of the troughs and
forming the flanges for bolting the sections of the trough
together.
Material is discharged from screw conveyors by gates in
the bottom of the trough, the same as with flight con-
veyors. These gates are usually of the sliding type, being
operated either by a direct pull handle or having a rack
and pinion with hand wheel or chain wheel for operating
the pinion shaft.
Screw conveyors are used for handling grains, flour,
GRAIN
Size of screw
conveyors Ins.
Speed,
3456789
r.p.m. .200 200 190 180 175 175 170
10
165
12
165
14
160
16
160
Cti ft. per hr.. 34 72 175 243 352 734 910 1,205 2,180 2,935 5,110
Bushels per hr. 27 58 140 195 282 586 728 965 1,745 2,350 4,100
Cu. ft. per hr.. 2O 43 95 126 178 359 421 540 933 1,200 2,000
Rotary Cylinder Screw Conveyor
COAT.
like sand, ashes and certain ores, cast iron screw conveyors Screenings, or small sized coal, with no lumps larger than 1 in.
Size of screw conveyor
are sometimes used. The on sleeves, which
flights are cast Inches 7 8 9 10 12 14 16
are in halves and are bolted together over a solid shaft, Speed rp.m 110 105 100 95 90 85 80
Cu. ft. per hr 269 544 650 838 1.460 1,905 3,220
the shaft usually being square in section where the flights Tns 13.6 16.3 20.9 36.5 47.5 79.0
(2,000 Ib.) per hr. 6.7
are fitted to it. Cast iron screw conveyors ordinarily have
*Smal! sizes of screw conveyor not recommended for handling coal.
a cast iron trough, though the upper part of it is some-
times made of steel channels. CEMENT
Size of screw conveyor
Instead of a full extending all the way out from
fliprht Inches 10 12 14 16-
tance from the shaft. Ribbon conveyors are used for semi-
General Specifications
liquid or sticky materials, orwhere it is desired to mix
materials, and where the capacity required is not great. Flights. The flights for steel screw conveyors are
Other types of screw conveyors are also used for mixing, made of steel plates or sheets, the thickness varying accord-
paddles sometimes being inserted between the flights of the ing to the size of the conveyor and according to the charac-
of the material to be conveyed. For heavy or
spiral or the outer edges of the spiral flights sometimes
teristics
abrasive materials the flights should be made thicker to
being cut out so as to leave gaps; the cut part may be
bent over so as to stir the material still more as it is give longer wear. The pipes on which the flights are
conveyed.
mounted are also made heavier for the heavy duty con-
426 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
are sometimes built for capacities as high as 1,500 tons per drum type so that the material being conveyed will pass
hour, the flights and chains in such cases being entirely
on over the drum at the end of the trough.
buried underneath the mass of coal; the upper part of the Flights. Where wooden flights are used, they are
mass on the lower part which is pushed along by
rides usually made of a rectangular shape, and thick enough to
the conveyor. be amply strong for the work usually not less than 1% in.
Instead of allowing the flights to slide on the trough, or \y2 in. thick. A
close grained wood like maple is best
they are sometimes provided with shoes, usually made of for flights. In some cases the grain of the wood is made
cast iron; these shoes are attached either to run up and down that is, at right
directly to the ; angles to the trough,
flights at each side or to the ends of crossbars which are instead of parallel to it, thereby giving greater
length of
attached to the flights. Tracks, usually made of steel an- life to the flights. This, however, necessitates a crossbar
gles, are arranged at each side for the shoes to slide along of wood or metal to reinforce the flight lengthwise to keep
on, the track being set at the proper height on the carrying it from splitting. When
the conveyor carries on the upper
run, so as to keep the flights elevated slightly above the run, the flights are sometimes notched out so that the chain
trough. In place of the sliding shoes on each side of the can set in the notches and not extend beyond the bottom
flights, rollers are frequently substituted to obtain rolling of the flights. This allows the use of a plain bottom board
friction, thereby reducing the pull necessary to move the for the trough upon which the flights slide.
conveyor. These rollers are mounted either on separate Steel and malleable iron flights for conveying coal and
pins attached to each side of the flights, or to small axles similar materials are usually made with the corners beveled
or shafts extending across the tops of the flights. Such off to rest on a trough with sloping sides. The material
machines are usually of the single strand type, since the tends to slide down to the center of the trough, and if one
customary design for a double strand flight conveyor using flight becomes overloaded the surplus material can get past
rollers is to use two strands of roller chain attached to the it to the next flight. This design also eliminates any pos-
ends of the flights and provide tracks for the chain to roll sibility of jamming of material between the ends of the
on. These conveyors ordinarily use short pitch malleable flights and the sides of the trough. Malleable iron flights
iron roller chains for moderate capacity and moderate are used in preference to steel flights as the
ordinarily
length of conveyor, and steel strap roller chains for the tend to screech and chatter as they move along
steel flights
larger machines. They are extensively used for handling on the trough, and the thickened edges of the malleable
run-of-mine soft coal at tipples and preparation plants. iron flights also give greater wearing surface and longer
Instead of using a chain or chains for pulling the life.
flights,
a steel cable sometimes substituted. For cable conveyors
is For suspended and roller flight conveyors where the
the flights are usually made round and in two halves which flights do not touch the trough they are usually made of
are bolted together in such a way as to clamp tightly over l
steel, ordinarily /g in. or 3/16 in. in thickness. The flights
the cable. The troughs are ordinarily made are also made of steel for double strand roller flight con-
U-shape or
V-shape, with a steel plate at the bottom resting on wooden veyors, the large flights frequently having corrugations or
planks: the V-shape trough is usually fitted with a curved being reinforced with steel angles to prevent distortion.
steel plate at the bottom. The cable travels around sheave Troughs. For handling light materials, such as saw-
RECIPROCATING CONVEYORS 429
dust, feed, etc., the troughs are usually made of wood. For rugated iron. The footwalk for access to the conveyor is
handling most other materials, however, metal lining plates sometimes the housing and sometimes outside
built inside
or complete metal troughs are used. For handling coal and the housing, and doors provided for convenient access to
similar materials steel plates are used, though cast iron the conveyor.
plates are employed where the service is severe. Where
drag chain conveyors are used for handling ashes or other
gritty materials the troughs are usually made of hard white
Reciprocating Conveyors
cast iron plates or sometimes of manganese steel. For an Conveyors of this class include two types :
reciprocating
ordinary coal conveyor where the work is quite light, and trough conveyors, sometimes called "grasshopper" con-
the conveyor is not out in the open, steel plates /% in. veyors, and reciprocating (light conveyors.
l
thick, and for very heavy work they arc made even thicker This type of conveyor takes its name of "grasshopper"
than this. conveyor from the hopping or jumping movement im-
parted to the material being conveyed by the movement of
Bearings and Driving Machinery. Since the speed of
the conveying trough up and forward. The conveyor con-
rotation of conveyor shafts is slow and the pull on the
sists principally of a trough, usually of steel and of the
chain considerable, simple, rigid types of pillow blocks or
proper depth and width for the capacity required and the
post boxes are ordinarily employed, the type known as
material to be handled.
angle bearings being extensively used. These bearings are
In one type the trough is supported on flexible arms at
usually of the babbitted type, with some simple type of oil
close intervals, these arms being inclined to a certain ex-
well or grease cup. The driven shaft is usually geared
with spur or bevel gears to a countershaft, or is driven
by a chain drive from a countershaft. When connected to
an electric motor there is usually at least one additional
countershaft geared to the first countershaft, the connection
to the motor being by means of cut spur gears, belt drive
or silent chain drive. The bearings for the higher speed
countershafts should be equipped with efficient oiling
devices.
tracks of steel flats or steel angles are used. For cable an eccentric rod. The throw is small and the speed fairly
conveyors the round nights usually return in a V-shape high. The eccentric rod is fitted with springs where it is
or U-shape trough similar to the trough on the carrying connected to the trough to absorb the shock. The driving
run. shaft is equipped with fly wheels which makes the opera-
The supports may be built either of steel tionmore uniform. In another type the trough is supported
Supports.
or wood, the steel construction having
advantage of the by or suspended from laminated spring legs.
In either type the material may be screened in transit
being more rigid and less of shape;
likely to get out
wooden supports, however, are extensively used and stand and delivery may be made at the end of the run or at
well, quite severe service. any point through gates in the bottom of the trough. These
conveyors may be used for handling sand, cement or most
Gates. The gates for discharging the material from
any loose material. They are particularly adapted for
a flight conveyor are usually of the sliding plate type, op-
handling materials which are more or less sticky, especially
erated either by a lever or with a rack and pinion arrange-
raw sugar. In fact it is extensively used for this purpose
ment. The rack is bolted to the gate plate, and the pinion
since it handles the sugar without grinding or crushing the
is mounted on a shaft supported in bearings and has a
crystals, and is self-cleaning when in operation. The capac-
hand wheel or chain wheel for revolving the shaft and open-
ity obtainable is large and comparatively little power is
ing or closing the gate.
required for operation.
Housing or Casing. Flight conveyors are frequently
run in open exposed to the weather; if used quite
the
Reciprocating Flight Conveyors
constantly this does not cause any serious deterioration.
When allowed to stand still for long periods the corrosion .Reciprocating flight conveyors consist of a frame usually
of the trough plates and other parts may be quite severe. built of steel, which is made to move back and forth, and
There is also more or less trouble from ice and snow in underneath which are hung hinged flights or pushers, which,
winter time, .sometimes being necessary to loosen up the
it when they move forward, push the material in troughs,
flights from the trough and guides before starting up trc and when they move back, lift up and ride over the mate-
conveyor. rial. The frame is equipped with rollers or wheels, spaced
When the flight conveyors are located in a building they at comparatively long intervals, these wheels traveling
are not usually enclosed. When they are outside and it is on tracks on each side of the trough. These conveyors
desired to house them in, either a wooden structure is used have been used principally for handling sand, especially
or one with a wood or steel framework covered with cor- molding sand in foundries. Their suitability for this sort
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
430 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
of work due principally to the few wearing parts, the
is mostly on a bed of the material itself, instead of sliding
rollers and the hinges of the flights being about the only on the trough. The discharge of the material is accom-
parts besides the driving machinery which receive much plished by gates in the bottoms of the trough.
Reciprocating Flight Conveyor Forward Movement Reciprocating Flight Conveyor Return Movement
wear, since sufficient clearance can be left between the The reciprocating movement is imparted to these con-
flights and the trough so that the material slides along veyors by eccentric rods, or cranks and connecting rods.
Current Conveyors
Under current conveyors might properly be classed pneu- and systems for pumping liquids. Hydraulic conveyors
matic conveyors, steam jet conveyors,
conveyor hydraulic conveyors have been used to a limited extent, mainly for conveying
coal,and pumping systems are universally used in con- rent of air, which has sufficient velocity to float the mate-
veying water, oil, chemicals and so on. However, only rial to be conveyed, is produced through the pipe line.
the two first mentioned conveyors will be discussed here. The conveyor pipes are provided with self- feeding noz-
zles usually on the end of a hose. These are moved
Steam Jet Conveyors around in the material to be conveyed and suck it up into
The steam jet conveyor is essentially aconveyor for the conveyor pipes through which it passes to the suction
ashes. It consists primarily of a line of pipe into which tank where, under the reduced pressure in the larger area,
ashes are fed and through which they are carried to a it drops into the storage space. From here it may be blown
discharge point by the flow of air induced by a steam jet to other storage points by utilizing the air blast from the
of high velocity. The steam discharge tends to create a discharge side of the exhauster which is protected by a
vacuum behind it, which in turn creates a current of air dust collector.
through the air intake provided at the end of the suction Pneumatic conveyors are particularly adapted for han-
line. dling grain, malt, seeds, cotton, or other fine bulk materials
The ashes are fed into the pipe through opening pro- which are not sticky or fragile. Fertilizer materials, fillers
vided with covers, so that only the one in use needs to earth, soda ash, cement, food products, coal, ashes, starch
be uncovered. They are usually handled dry, and sprayed and wood chips may be mentioned as some of the mate-
with water at the discharge point. If sprayed before they rials handled successfully by this system.
are handled they tend to pack in the turns of the pipe Probably the most common use of pneumatic conveyors
line The ashes can either be discharged into a baffle box, is the handling of grain-unloading cars, ships and barges
storage bin, car or other receptacle. Since the ashes and rehandling in warehouses. One of the illustrations
tend to wear the pipe turns, special fittings are provided shows clearly the flexibility of the pneumatic system for
with renewable faces or plates made of special wear-re- car unloading. As may be seen the main duct extends
sisting metal. the full length of the building and a connection can be
The capacities of these conveyors are limited to the made opposite any car. The siding shown in the illustra-
amount of ashes which can be fed to a single opening, tion adjoins the building.
closely However, this is not
the diameter of the opening usually being about 6 in. or an with these systems as the hose lines may
essential
8 in. They cannot be successfully used with a steam pres- easily be extended to reach remote tracks. It should also
sure lower than 60 Ib. per sq. in. be noted that the car unloading may be accomplished with-
out the removal of the grain doors.
Pneumatic Conveyors Another of the illustrations shows the application of the
Pneumatic conveyors are air suction conveyors which pneumatic conveyor to warehouse service re-handling grain.
convey the materials through pipes. The suction is pro- This system permits one conveyor to serve both the first
duced by an exhauster or fan which partially exhausts and second floors without interference with teams or truck-
the air from an enclosed tank to which the conveyor pipes ing. A third illustration shows a typical installation for
are attached. As the air is sucked out of the tank a cur- handling ashes.
Portable Loaders
A number of years ago certain coal dealers thought that ranged with a chute and gate so that the screenings could be
some form of portable elevator for loading coal from ground drawn off into wheelbarrows. Where electricity was avail-
storage to wagons would be of value to them as a labor able these machines were usually driven by electric motors,
saving device. One or two dealers went so far as to build though a great number of them were operated by gasoline
machines of this type, the first machine being rather clumsy engines.
and expensive. One of the first of these machines used a From these beginnings the portable loader business has
vertical gravity discharge elevator, drivenby a steam engine grown The machines have proved to be
to large proportions.
receiving steam from a small vertical boiler, the engine and great labor savers, and have served to largely reduce the
boiler being mounted on the truck with the elevator, and the idle time of teams and trucks, since the time
required for
machine being self-propelled. This machine was used for loading a ton of coal by hand shoveling is usually in the
several years, but was too clumsy and too heavy to be easily neighborhood of 15 minutes, in addition to this when the coal
handled. has to be screened this is another operation
requiring more
From time to time other dealers figured on using similar labor. With
a portable loader the time required for loading
machines, but usually discarded the idea because of the ex- a ton of coal is ordinarily from one to three minutes, the
pense. Most of these designs were for self-propelled ma- screening being accomplished automatically at the same time
chines. Later on one or two coal dealers purchased the as the coal is loaded. With labor conditions as they are to-
necessary machinery and built home-made centrifugal dis- day, and with the operation of large and expensive trucks,
charge elevators, set at a considerable incline, and mounted which must be kept moving if they are to pay a good return
on wooden framework carried by ordinary wagon wheels. on the investment, portable loaders have proved a valu-
These machines were not designed to be self-propelling, and able addition to the modern methods of handling coal, sand,
since they were less expensive and were effective for the gravel, crushed stone, coke, fertilizer and certain other ma-
work, especially in handling run-of-mine soft coal, a demand terials.
ther, steel frames being substituted for the wooden frames been added to the portable bucket elevator. These portable
and steel agricultural type wheels for the wagon wheels. belt conveyors, of course, are not able to dig material from
These machines proved successful and quite a number of bucket machines do, but they have the advantage
piles as the
them were built. They were equipped with large buckets of conveying the material some little distance from the load-
and since they were were not easy to
fairly heavy, they ing point, as well as elevating it, and being able to discharge
move from one but were especially adapted
pile to another, the material at a higher level than is customary with the
to cases where quite a large amount of one kind of coal bucket machines. They are thus frequently better adapted
was handled, for instance, run-of-mine bituminous coal or to piling material or for delivering it to cars, trucks or bins
small anthracite steam coal. where the height of delivery and reach of the bucket ma-
Where the service required was for handling several dif- chines is inadequate.
ferent sizes or kinds of sized anthracite coal, it soon devel- They can also be used in combination with a bucket ma-
oped that lighter machines more easily portable would be chine, which acts as a digger and delivers the material to the
more efficient and save a greater amount of labor. To meet portable belt, which in turn conveys it to the desired point
this demand lighter machines were developed, the elevators or spreads it over a certain area. The two machines together
being placed more nearly vertical so as to reduce the length make a flexible combination, since the portable elevator can,
required to elevate the coal to the proper height ; since these if desired, remain at a fixed point, such for instance as when
machines were designed principally for handling sized an- unloading material from a drop bottom railroad car, and the
thracite coal they were fitted with chutes with interchange- portable belt conveyor can be moved around so as to spread
able screens for screening out the under-sized coal as it was the material over a large area, the feeding point of the ma-
delivered to the wagons. The screenings fell into dust hop- chine being kept always within range of the chute from the
pers underneath the screen, these dust hoppers being ar- portable elevator.
PORTABLE LOADERS 433
In some cases two or more portable
belt conveyors are efficient as the shaking screen, and since
used together, so as to reach to a they are necessarily
greater distance or cover of comparatively small size, their
a larger storage area; after a capacity is limited.
pile of material is partly
formed one of the machines is sometimes moved Hand-Propelled Type
up onto
the pile, so that the material which is fed to it
from another With hand-propelled portable
elevators, the usual method
machine can be piled to a still greater of operation is to move the machine
depth. The portable up to the pile so that the
belt conyeyors are sometimes fitted
with wheels on which buckets dip into the lower edge of it, and then
push the
they may be moved around, and at other times are material up to the buckets
simply by hand shoveling, the machine
supported on the ground or on other supports, or being moved from time to time as the pile recedes. The
hung from
an overhead trolley. buckets dig up the material from the
pile, but after they
The
portable bucket elevators might be classified lla e rem ved several bucket
loads from one point, the
approxi- y
mately as follows terial is out of their reach unless it is
:
pushed over to them.
Light single chain machines with comparatively small
1 At a matter of fact this feeding the material to the foot of
buckets for handling prepared sizes of anthracite coal and the machine sounds like a more laborious
operation than it
bituminous slack. really is, since the depth of the pile increases as the machine
2. Moderate weight, double chain machines, with is backed toward the center of
it, so that it is more a case
larger
buckets for handling prepared sizes of anthracite coal and of avalanching the material down to the
buckets or pushing
bituminous slack, or even run-of-mine bituminous where it down hill towards them than it is actual shoveling of the
there are not too many large lumps. material.
3 Heavy double strand machines, with A number
of schemes have been devised in the
large buckets, for attempt to
handling anthracite or bituminous coal and having a capacity eliminate the man required for feeding the material to the
of one ton or more per minute. foot of a portable loader. The
only really efficient method is
Where a machine is to be used for handling sand, gravel, to make the loader
self-propelling, so that it can be moved
coke or other abrasive materials, special types of chains, against the pile by its own power. More efficient
feeding is
usually the steel hushed malleable type, are used better to
obtained by making the elevator swiveling so that the foot
withstand the wearing action of the abrasive material. of it can be moved around in an arc of a
circle, thereby
The next the self-propelled machine, in which the
step is sweeping over considerable area at each new position of the
motor or engine geared to the truck wheels so as to propel
is
loader. A great deal of material can thus be loaded before
the machine by its own power. This is advantageous with it is necessary to move the machine to a new position, and
the heavy high capacity machines, but the smaller machines when it is necessary to move back a wide
path will have been
are seldom made self-propelling. cleaned up, thereby allowing easy movement of the machine.
Several different types of screens are used with the anthra- A feeding device at the foot of a portable elevator, even
cite loaders, and screens are occasionally used for some other though it may help to clean up a little larger area around
The simplest form .is the plain gravity screen, the foot of the machine before it is
materials. necessary to move, does
in which the screen plate not as a rule eliminate the man required for
is set at a sufficient angle so that helping to feed
the coal flows over it This type of screen, how- the material to a hand-propelled machine, and if the machine
by gravity.
ever, has two disadvantages. It must be set at such an is self-propelled no feeding device is necessary.
angle that any size coal which is handled over it will always
Someof the feeding devices and methods which have been
flow by gravity, in whatever condition it may be in, whether devised are as follows :
wet or dry. With a chute set at this comparatively steep 1 Small scraper
conveyor attached to the foot of
flight
the elevator, and arranged so that the other end of it can
angle, which angle is ordinarily fixed, the coal is apt to flow
over the screen rapidly, especially the larger sizes, so that the be raised and lowered, and in some cases arranged to
swivel around sideways.
screening is not efficient, more or less of the under-sized coal
2 Mounting the elevator on a sliding platform or guides,
passing over the screen instead of going through it. The
so that the elevator can be moved back against the pile by
velocity imparted to the coal in flowing over the steep angle
a hand operated gear without moving the whole machine.
screen tends to cause breakage when the coal strikes against
the other coal in the wagon, truck or pile to which it is being
3 Blades or paddles mounted on the foot shaft of the
elevator which is extended at each side, these
paddles being
delivered. The capacity of a gravity screen is also quite
setat such an angle that they tend, as they revolve, to
limited, since the coal must be spread out in a thin layer over
the screen, if the under-sized coal is to be efficiently re- sweep the material over sideways towards the buckets.
4 Arms attached to vertical shafts, one on each side of
moved. The smaller the screen, therefore, or the more
the foot of the elevator, these vertical shafts being driven
rapidly the coal is passed over it the less efficient the
screening. by gearing from the elevator foot shaft and cranks, the
The shaking screen can be set at a lower angle, since the moving arms push the material in from each side towards the
movement of the coal over the screen is not dependent upon buckets.
S Circular revolving plates, mounted on vertical shafts,
gravity, but is helped along by the upward and forward
movement of the screen, this movement being similar to one on each side of the foot of the elevator, these serving
that of the reciprocating trough conveyor. With a shaking to push the material in towards the buckets.
screen set at a comparatively low angle, the different sizes These feeding devices all tend to help feed the material
to the foot of the elevator, but they do not, as a rule, entirely
of coal move over it at approximately the same rate of
eliminate any of the men required for the operation of the
travel, and since the coal is constantly agitated on the screen,
it is spread evenly over it arid is rolled over and over so
machine. Feeding attachments are not required with self-
that the screening is efficient. The shaking motion is pro- propelled machines equipped with a swiveling device.
portable elevators, but they have not proved as simple and the headroom is limited, a machine of the collapsible or
434 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
Types of Portable Bucket Loaders: (1) Rotary Disk Feeder; (2) Collapsible Type with Creeper Traction; (3) Bag
Loader; (4) Rotary Motion Increases Digging Area; (5) Hand Propelled Fertilizer Loader; (6) Self Propelled Swiv-
eling Loader with Pivoted Chute; (7) Collapsible Type Loader
PORTABLE LOADERS 435
folding type should be used. The collapsible machines have of the material from the buckets
into the chute. In any
the elevator frame pivoted, so that the head of the elevator case it is keep the chain speeds low so as to
better to
can be lowered when passing under an obstruction, for in- minimize the jar and vibration of the machine caused by
stance, when moving underneath a trestle or a shed roof. the digging of the material. The chain speeds usually range
The collapsing movement usually accomplished by a cable,
is somewhere between 105 ft. and 135 ft. per min.
winding on a drum, the drum being operated by a hand Capacity. The coal loaders usually range in capacity
wheel working through a worm gear, the drum is held sta- from about one-third ton per minute to one ton per minute,
tionary in any position by the worm wheel. the buckets ranging from 12 in. by 6 in. to 18 in. by
For bagging coal, special low loaders have been designed 8 in., style A. The most used size of loader for handling
with bagging attachments fitted to the end of the screen sized anthracite coal will load at the rate of about one-half
chutes. These bagging loaders are frequently fitted with the ton per minute, this being about as rapid a rate as is prac-
scraper flight conveyor feeder, operated from the front of the tical with the proper screening of the coal. Capacities of
machine by the man who is doing the bagging. These feed- machines for other materials are similar in volume, that
ing conveyors are more useful on the bagging loaders than is from about 13 cu. ft. to 40 cu. ft. per min., the tonnage,
on any other loaders, since they can be used to control the of course, depending upon the weight of the material.
rate at which the coal is delivered to the bags, the operator Frames. The frames of the machine are usually built
lowering the feeder slightly as he fills each bag, and stopping of standard structural steel shapes and steel plates. With
the movement and therefore the feed of the coal when the a collapsible machine the elevator frame is separate from
bag is filled. the truck frame, so that it can rotate around the pivot point.
Another method of bagging coal, when using a loader, is In some of the other machines the elevator frame is also
to use a portable bagging hopper with the loader, this port- separate from the truck frame and is pivoted at the head,
able bagging hopper having a chute at the lower end fitted so that the clearance between the ground level and the
with a bagging attachment. The operator uses the loader to buckets, as they pass around the foot wheel, may be ad-
fill the hopper, and then bags the coal or a second operator justed. There is usually a spill apron underneath the return
feeds the loader and keeps the hopper filled while the first buckets to catch any material which is not discharged into
the chute at the head, and to keep the buckets from sagging
operator does the bagging.
When loading materials which are hard to dig, such as too far. The motor or engine and part of the driving
crushed stone, fertilizer, coke, etc., buckets with teeth or machinery isusually enclosed in a box made of steel plates.
electric motors, since they are easy to operate and less fore, from 3 ft. to 5 ft. in diameter. The front wheels of
likely toneed attention. The feed wires for the the hand-propelled machine are usually not over 2 ft. in
motors are usually run to a number of convenient points, and diameter, the axle being made swiveling and fitted with a
sockets for plugs located at these points. The connection be- tongue to aid in moving the machine. This tongue is
tween these points and the motor is usually made by a flexible usually removable so that it will not be in the way when
cable, with a plug the end which can be inserted into any the machine is in operation.
one of the sockets. The front and rear wheels of the self-propelled machines
are usually about the same diameter, since the smaller wheels
Specifications for Portable Bucket Elevators do not require so much speed reducing gearing as the larger
Buckets. The standard type A malleable iron buck- ones. For the heavier machines the treads of these wheels
ets are ordinarily used on portable elevators in some cases
;
are sometimes as wide as 10 in. in order better to support
type B malleable iron buckets are used, and on a few ma- the weight without cutting into soft ground. The driving
chines continuous steel buckets are employed. Various types wheels are usually fitted with cleats for better traction. The
of digging prongs and teeth are attached to the buckets for machines are sometimes mounted on track-laying type trucks
handling materials that are difficult to dig. Buckets with when used on soft ground, as when digging into a sand bank.
reinforced digging edges are used for materials which are Motors and Engines. The motors and engines usually
range from 2 hp. in the small machines up to about 7 /i hp.
l
apt to cause rapid wear on the cutting edges of the buckets.
Chains. With small buckets for light service, a sin- and even 10 hp. in the larger machines. Some of the larger
gle strand of chain is used, but most loaders use two strands machines with special feeder attachments use motors as
of chain. For handling coal and other materials which large as 20 hp. but this is unusual. The motor or engine is
arc not abrasive, the chains generally used are the standard ordinarily located in the lower part of the frame just above
detachable type, the combination chains and pintle chains. the truck wheels. A pair of spur gears with a rawhide
For abrasive materials the Ley type steel bushed malleable pinion is ordinarily used for connecting the motor with the
iron chain is ordinarily used. firstcountershaft. From this countershaft there is generally
The chains are usually provided with lugs for attaching a chain drive to a second countershaft; in the case of a
direct to the backs of the buckets, though in some cases collapsible machine there is a pivot shaft and from this
plates have been attached to the backs of the buckets and second countershaft there is another chain drive to the head-
the chains have been attached to the ends of these plates shaft of the machine. One of the driving wheels is fitted
so as to keep them entirely away from the buckets. Rollers with a friction clutch, so that the machine can be stopped
attached to the ends of the buckets have been used to sup- and started without stopping the engine or motor.
port the buckets on the up and down runs, these rollers With the self-propelled machines the countershaft next
traveling up and down on steel tracks. to the motor is connected to the driving wheels by spur
Chain Speeds. For handling coal or other material gearing and a chain drive, the spur gearing giving one di-
where breakage is objectionable, the chain speed should be rection of travel and the chain drive the opposite movement,
kept as low as possible and still give a good clean discharge the speed reductions being arranged to give the desired
436 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
Portable Bucket Loaders: (1) Reclaiming from Storage; (2) Screening and Sizing; (3) Handling Gravel; (4) Car Un-
loading; (5) Digging and Loading; (6) A Self-Feeder Loading a Truck; (7) Storage to Truck; (8) Radial Type in
Construction Work
PORTABLE ELEVATORS 437
speeds forward and back. Friction clutches operated by conveyor system, or to a portable belt conveyor, the com-
hand levers are used to throw in the gearing for the for- bination of portable bucket elevator and portable belt con-
Steering Device. The steering of the machine is used for loading coke, sand, gravel, crushed stone, ashes,
usually controlled by a lever or wheel, the front wheels of lime, loose earth, chemicals, fertilizer and various industrial
some of the best machines having steering knuckles similar products.
to standard automobile practice. In the three-wheel ma- In some cases they are used for digging sand or gravel
chines, the turning of the single wheel controlled by a is from banks, this, however, being severe service and requiring
worm and worm wheel operated by a hand wheel or capstan. a rugged, heavy machine. The ground surface over which
the machine has to travel when digging into a bank is apt
Speed. The usual traveling speeds for the self-pro-
pelled machines are in the neighborhood of 75 ft. per min., to be soft and uneven the standard truck wheels are not
;
though speeds as high as 140 per min. have been used. ft. well adapted to traveling over this sort of a surface, and
The backward speed is usually in the neighborhood of 25 ft. the machine is apt to be stalled. The track-laying type of
per min., though in some cases a much lower speed than traveler is more suitable for this service and by using the
this is used, some machines traveling as slow as 4 ft. per swiveling type of machine a fairly good path can be made
min. for working into the pile of material. by the machine itself as it moves. Because of the likelihood
Weight. The weight of the portable elevator usually of the avalanching of the material, a machine having the
runs between 2,000 Ib. and 8,000 Ib. though some of the elevator set at a rather low angle of incline is more suitable
smaller machines are even a little under 2,000 Ib. in weight. than one with a steep angle, since it has a longer reach,
Light weight, of course, tends to make a machine more thereby making possible to keep the main part of the
it
slightly heavier machine. The fertilizer manufacturers have become quite extensive
General Dimensions. Most portable elevators are users of portable loaders because of the large amount of
used for loading material into wagons or automobile trucks, material which has to be handled from ground storage.
the height under the chute varying from about 7 ft. to 8 ft. Since some of the fertilizer materials pack quite closely, and
or a little over. The overall height of these machines usually are, therefore, hard to dig, special types of machines have
runs from about 11 ft. though some
to 13^ ft. or 14 ft., been developed for this purpose. The materials are usually
machines are higher than this. It is advisable to keep the delivered to wheelbarrows or low cars and it is possible,
machine as low in height as possible, and still have the without making the height of the machine excessive, to
proper distance underneath the end of the chute,
since the equip it with loading hoppers with gates at the bottom, so
machine is less apt to be top-heavy and does not require that the wheelbarrows or cars can be quickly loaded
so much headroom in which to operate. The overall width from these hoppers. The machine can thus keep on work-
of the machine is usually from 5 ft. 6 in. to 7 ft., though ing and loading the material to the hopper, without regard
some of the machines exceed these dimensions. The over- to whether there is a car or wheelbarrow in position to be
all length from the rear of the bucket in the operating posi- loaded, thereby increasing the rate of handling.
tion to the front end of the chute is usually somewhere be- The comparison below of the costs of loading, and the
tween 11 ft. and 16 ft. or 17 ft. Where feeder attachments number of trips possible when using hand labor and when
are used this overall length is, of course, increased. using a portable loader, is taken from the catalog of a
with which the portable elevator has come into use in coal Loading cost by hand x,/
yards is the greatest argument in its favor as a labor-saving Loading cost by machine ................................. **7>
machine. It is used by coal dealers principally for loading Amount saved .......................................... $1.94J4
coal from ground storage to wagons and trucks, or some- PORTABLE LOADER.
times to small cars. It is also used for unloading coal as it Two laborers, 8 minutes ........................ ---- $ .09 . . . .
Types of Portable Belt Conveyors: (1) Troughing Type 60 ft. Span; (2) Self-Propelled Snow Loader; (3) Equipped
with Hooks for Attachment to Car or Elevated Track; (4) Hand Wheel Height Adjustment; (5) Equipped with Screening
Hopper; (6) Scoop Type
PORTABLE LOADERS 439
Applications of Portable Belt Conveyors: (1) Truck Loading; (2) Coal Storage; (3) Industrial Car Loading; (4) Gravel.
Pit; (5) Retail Coal Yard; (6) A Unit in a Conveyor Line; (7) Car Unloading; (8) Handling Lumber
440 CONVEYORS AND ELEVATORS FOR LOOSE MATERIAL
of the cleat are raised slightly above the belt to allow for
Portable Belt Conveyors
the bending or troughing of the belt.
The modern portable belt conveyors are a somewhat later Pulleys. Standard belt pulleys are used at head and
development than the portable elevators, and they also foot, the drive pulley being at the head and the foot pulley
have come into use quite rapidly for storing and reclaiming being as small as it is feasible to make it.
various materials, especially when unloading from hopper- Idlers and other Belt Supports. Where the loaded
bottom railroad cars to ground storage piles. They are run is supported on troughing idlers, these idlers can be
usually built with small foot pulleys, and, when unloading either of the uniroll or multiroll type. If no cleats are used
railroad cars, the foot of the machine can be pushed back the return run of the belt can be supported on return idlers.
far enough underneath the discharge point of the car so For flat belts with cleats the belt is usually allowed to ex-
that the material will flow out of the car directly on to tend slightly underneath the edges of the side guards, and
the foot of the belt. is supported on the loaded run principally on angle guides
'
Portable belt conveyors consist of a woven belt, usually underneath the edges of the belt, the belt sliding on these
rubber covered, traveling around terminal pulleys at each guides. Rollers are also used at intervals to take part of
end, and supported intermediately either by idler pulleys, the weight of the belt and material. As a rule the belt
steel plates, or both. Most of these conveyors use flat belts slidesback on angle guides which support the edges.
with cleats riveted to them at intervals, to make it possible Frame. The frames are built of structural steel
to carry material up a steeper incline than would otherwise shapes and plates, and are made as light as is consistent with
be possible, and with steel plate side guards to keep the ma- strength and rigidity in order to make the machine as port-
terial from spilling out sidewise. In some cases troughing able as possible. A housing for the motor is usually built
idlers are used on the loaded run, but the troughing or between the carrying and return runs of belt somewhere
bending of the belt makes the use of cleats on the belt a near the center of the machine. The foot of the machine
more difficult problem, and without the cleats the maximum is housed in at the sides with steel or cast iron plates, or a
angle of incline possible is limited usually to about 20 deg. combination of the two, to prevent material from getting on
depending upon the material being conveyed.
to 25 deg., the return run of the belt.
A portable belt conveyor, which is to be moved on a floor Truck Wheels. The truck wheels are usually of the
or on the ground, is equipped with two truck wheels at a standard agricultural type, and for the adjustable machines
point somewhere near the center, so that the machine is
a frame is attached to the axle and a hoisting arrangement
very nearly balanced. is fitted to this frame one type has small steel cables which
;
When it is to be moved the head end in tilted down so as travel over shaves and wind on small drums which are
to raise the foot off of the ground, and bring the weight operated by a hand wheel.
all on the two wheels at the center. It can then be moved These machines are operated
Driving Machinery.
around at will. Most machines are equipped with a hoisting either by electric motors or small gasoline engines, the motor
incline of the machine,
arrangement for changing the angle of or engine and part of the gearing being housed in, as pre-
so that the different heights can be obtained underneath the viously described. The motor or engine is usually connected
discharge point. to a countershaft by spur gearing, and chain drives are used
Where a machine is to be seldom moved, the wheels are to connect up to the head shaft of the machine. The motors
sometimes omitted and supported on stationary supports
it is or engines vary in horsepower from 1J/2 hp. for the smaller
or on the pile of material itself, or it is sometimes hung /
machines up to l l 2 hp., or sometimes even more, for the
from a trolley traveling on an overhead rail. While portable larger and longer machines.
belt conveyors are not digging machines, since the foot pul- Belt Widths, Speeds and Capacities. The belt widths
leys are small and the foot end of
the belt comes close to The smaller
ordinarily used are from 12 in. to 24 in.
the ground, it is easy to push the material over onto the machines have a capacity of approximately one-half ton of
foot of the belt. coal a minute, and the large machines as high as two tons
of coal per minute, this capacity, of course, depending upon
Specifications for Portable Belt Conveyors the belt speed used. The belt speeds ordinarily range some-
Belts. Belts used for portable belt conveyors are where between 150 ft. and 250 ft. per min.
ordinarily standard rubber covered conveyor belts with an Lengths and Weights. The machines most used have
of about 25 ft., center to center of head and foot
extra thickness of rubber on the carrying side. The widths a length
though they are made in lengths as short as 12 ft.
used are from 12 in. to 24 in. To make the belt capable pulleys,
and as long as 60 The weights of the same lengths of
of carrying material up a steeper angle, cleats are fre-
ft.
are some- machines vary considerably, some machines being made very
quently riveted to the carrying side. These cleats
and other machines
times of belt; sometimes pieces of belt are bent in
strips light with the idea of easy portability,
made heavier so as to give longer service without
the shape of a U, and riveted to the belt to give cleats of being
of the 25 ft.
considerable height. In other cases steel angles are used racking themselves to pieces. The weights
for one leg of the angle being riveted to the belt. machines with 16 in. or 18 in. width belts probably vary
cleats,
as a rule between 2,000 Ib. and 3,000 Ib. for the complete
ma-
Cleats are ordinarily used only with flat belts, though one
A 12 machine with a 12 in. belt could be built
or two manufacturers attach them also to troughed belts, chine. ft.
section is attached to the belt at the center ; the outer edges would weigh in the neighborhood of 5.800 Ib.
CONVEYING MACHINERY DETAILS
By
P. R. HOOPES
Consulting Engineer; Associate Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Assisted by
W. T. SPIVEY
Consulting Engineer; Associate Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers;
impetus to the use of conveying equipment and created a articles carried from sliding or rolling when the apron is
demand for the auxiliary parts used in connection with used on an inclined conveyor.
chain type conveyors. Similarly the perfection of a sat- Forlight but reasonably bulky merchandise, rectangular
isfactory rubber conveyor belt established this type of wood or structural steel channels, angles or pressed steel
equipment and called for the development of belt conveyor slats are attached to the strands of the chain at intervals
idlers, trippers, and the like, to satisfy the growing need (Fig. 1). Hard maple is the wood best suited for use as
for the special parts required to construct these conveyors. slats. The slats must be
enough together to insure
close
With the experience gained on these simpler devices, that the packages will not drop between them nor catch
and a continuous development of new types, the manu- at the point where the chains pass around the sprockets,
facturers have built up an extensive line of standardized Aprons with open spacing should not be used when it is
parts with which to meet the requirements of the most desired to discharge the material with sweep diverters at
diversified practice. Today points along the conveyor,
there arc available for the as there is danger of the
designer conveying ma-
of packages catching in open-
chinery dozens of types of
Aprons; Arms. ings between the slats.
chain, each suited to certain Bearing Boxes; Belts; Boots; Brushes; Buckets. A continuous wooden
Cable Conveyors; Carriers; Chains; Chain
specific purposes, thousands apron (Fig. 2) is made up
of attachment links, innu- Attachments. of slats set close together.
merable driving
Drives. This type of construction
take-ups, is
conditions of practice, those of wood being particularly slats, the rollers serving to guide and support the apron
adapted to handling packed material or bulky articles, while the chain merely transmits the driving pull to the
while the steel pan type aprons are especially applicable to load. This arrangement is used very largely on portable
heavy loose material, to severe conditions of heat as in conveyors and piling machines of the chain and apron type
lehrsor annealing furnaces, or to other rigorous service as it is of lighter construction and
requires less power for
where wood is structurally unsuited to the conditions. driving on account of the larger wheels. It is also much
443
444 CONVEYOR DETAILS
used on stationary installations. This is commonly known chain (Fig. 9). To furnish the maximum carrying capacity
as the roller carriage type. for loose material, retaining ends are used, but for mer-
Steel apfons (Fig. 5) are used for handling heavy bulk chandise these are not required.
or packed material and various types of steel slats are For very heavy abrasive material cast steel slats with
available to meet the usual conditions of service. Plain the chain links cast integral are used. This interesting
slats, either fiat (A) or convex (B) are satisfactory for construction is a comparatively recent development and is
coarse material which will not drop between them. For applied only for the most extreme service on conveyors
moderate duty in handling sized materials, plain overlapping and feeders handling ore, hot ingots or the like. Cast
slats are arranged shingle fashion (C), for lehrs the single iron and malleable iron slats are occasionally used for
curve slat (D) is useful, while for fine and coarse material handling ashes, coke, and like abrasive substances.
of all kinds a beaded overlapping slat will usually be
required. Of the beaded types (E) is probably the most Arms
common, while (F) is particularly useful on inclined Elevator arms are used for handling barrels, boxes, bags
conveyors handling friable material as it gives a smooth and rolls of all kinds, either vertically or on a steep incline.
and easy discharge at the end. Modifications of (E) are The arms are carried by one or more strands of chain,
shown at (G) and (H), the former approaching the
preferably two strands, unless side guides are used, from
bucket conveyor in shape and being useful for steep which they overhang in cantilever form, and are supported
from below by knee braces. They may be of solid or
/ finger construction so designed as to be loaded by hand
or to receive the loads from loading fingers or stations.
Figs. 10 and 11
Fig. 5 The braces are bars pivoted to the chain at one end
and to the arm at the other. They are usually made solid,
inclined conveyors handling fine material, while the latter
but the spring cushioned brace (Fig. 10) can be used to
can be applied to horizontal or slightly inclined runs. The
relieve the sudden shock which comes
beaded types of steel slats are necessarily stiffer than the upon the chain and
arms when a load is picked up.
plain ones, as the beads act as re-enforcements and prevent
Single rigid arms (Fig. 11) will receive the load only
Suckling.
on the upward moving side of the elevator and will dis-
For light duty, narrow plain or overlapping steel slats
charge only over the head shaft, except that in certain
special types of elevators, rigid arms may be arranged
to discharge on the "up" side. In rare cases these arms
have been used on s^mi-automatic lowering machines, in
which case they are generally loaded by hand.
Figs. 6 and 7
roller chain (Fig. 8). For correct action of this type of receive and discharge certain, easily loaded packages at
apron it is necessary that the center of the bead radius any point when going either up or down.
be on a line with the center of the chain roller and that Another type of combination tilting and rigid curved
the distance between adjacent beads be equal to the pitch arms (Fig. 15) is operated by adjustable cams which tip
of the chain. the arms through a system of links. This design is in-
loaded and discharged at any floor. This type is generally of dowel pins or by a tongue and groove joint between the
carried by a single strand of chain, its rollers running in box and cap. For light work the cap bolts are sometimes
guides to prevent twisting. depended upon to hold the cap accurately in place.
Curved arms with teeth (Fig. 16) are intended to pre- Angle boxes (Fig. 20) are split with the removable half
at an angle with the base. They are used when the direc-
tion of pressure on the shaft is parallel to the base, since
when this condition exists the joint of the plain split box
would come at the point where the pressure is greatest and
would prevent proper lubrication. Structural considera-
tions sometimes call for angle boxes in order to make
the cap bolts accessible.
Bearing Boxes
Bearing boxes for the driving shafts of conveyors are
usually designed to be attached directly to the conveyor
frame. They are made in a variety of sizes and types to Figs. 21, 22 and 23
meet the requirements of practice. Boxes for horizontal
shafting may be broadly classed as of two kinds, rigid box can be adjusted to suit the alinement of the shaft
itself
and self-alining. The rigid type, being simpler and and then securely locked in place by the cap bolts.
is
cheaper, is more commonly used as it is thoroughly satis- Step bearings (Fig. 23) are used to support the lower
factory if the shaft has little tendency to be thrown out ends of vertical shafts. Their application to conveying
of alinement by the twisting of the conveyor framework. machinery is limited, although conditions occasionally re-
If this tendency is pronounced, however, the self-alining quire their use. They are made in two general styles, one
box has decided advantages in that it readily adjusts a rigid box and the other having a small amount of lateral
itself to any reasonable inaccuracies. This occurs particu- adjustment which is secured by set screws, this design
larly in portable or adjustable conveyors. being the one shown in the illustration. Bearings for the
The principal considerations which affect the design of carrying rollers of belt conveyors are described under
the bearing boxes are rigidity, ample lubrication, sufficient "idlers."
bearing surface to safely carry the load, accuracy of aline-
ment, and the necessity of taking up wear. Boxes are Belts
invariably made of cast iron and are usually lined with
Conveyor belts in common use are of two principal
babbitt or sometimes, in the case of solid boxes, they are
types, fabric belts (plain, balata, vegetable or mineral oil
fittedwith bronze bushings.
impregnated), and rubber belts. Steel belts have been used
Solid boxes (Fig. 18) are usually provided with renew-
able bushings which can be replaced when wear makes
to a limited extent in Europe but are still in the experi-
package handling. All of these belts are built up from is a special type occasionally used on concentrators and
layers of sewed together and impregnated under
fabric conveyors, it is run flat, ti;e Hanged edges preventing the
pressure with the required grade of filler. The grade of material from falling off. The extreme stretcli of the
fabric used and the method of sewing are considerations outer edges of the flanges in going over the end pulleys, is
practical. A
wide stream of material distributes the wear
over the greater part of the belt surface, whereas a narrow
one localizes it and causes a speedier destruction of the
cover. Extended experiments have shown that a rubber
belt offers greater resistance to the abrasive action peculiar
to belt conveyors than any of the other materials com- and 25
Figs. 24
monly used, it is even superior in this respect to steel.
The number of plies of duck in a conveyor belt is deter- titled with bearings for supporting the foot shaft and
mined by the required tensile strength of the finished belt usually have a door for cleaning out the interior, a spout
and by the necessity for sufficient stiffness to prevent for receiving the material and pads by which they can be
sagging between the carrying idlers. An empirical rule is secured to the floor.
never to stress a rubber belt above 24-lb. per ply per inch The usual typeof boot (Fig. 24) is fitted with take-up
width of belt. Better results can be obtained if one-half bearings protected by sliding plates or housed behind a
of this figure is considered to be the maximum allowable stationary cover in such a way as to prevent the escape
stress. of dust from the boot. Two take-up boxes are required,
The ordinary rubber conveyor belt has an extra thick and while these are often designed for independent adjust-
cover on its top surface as practically all wear comes on ment, by cross-connecting the take-up screws with a chain
this surface. If the belt is required to handle material the adjustment of both boxes can be made simultaneously
on both upper and lower runs of the conveyor, the cover and accurate alinement of the shaft will be maintained at
should be of equal thickness on both sides. The thickness all times.
of the cover ordinarily ranges from one-sixteenth to three- A boot having rigid bearings for the foot shaft is used
sixteenths of an inch. When
guide rollers are used against on elevators equipped with head take-ups. An elevator
the edges of rubber belting an extra thickness of rubber thus designed can be driven from the lower end, although
should be used over these edges, for if the cover wears this should be avoided if possible.
through to the duck at the edge of the belt, the plies of Sheet steel boots fitted with cast iron take-ups or
duck will separate and the belt will go to pieces long before rigid boxes and braced with structural angles are used
the carrying surface has worn out. for heavy work of all kinds.
When material is fed to the belt in a narrow stream, A one-piece boot is sometimes used for heavy work in
a re-enforced cover which is thicker at the middle of the damp places and where perfect dust tightness is required.
belt than at the edges will add to the life of the installation. The body of this boot is made of a single casting, the
A patented belt is built up of plies of duck which are feeding hopper and clean-out doors being packed with
stepped in sucli a way
as to give a greater thickness of rubber gaskets at the joints and bolted in position.
cover at the middle than at the edges, the latter having Wood boots are suitable only for very light work and
more plies of cluck and hence being stiffer in the direction are less durable and dust proof than the cast iron types.
BRUSHES AND BUCKETS 447
They have been used chiefly on elevators handling grain wear chiefly along the front edge as this usually
I'.iukets
stationary types. They are not enclosed at all, but in Malleable iron buckets (Figs. 27, 28 and 29) are made
operation they are lowered into the hold of a vessel and with high, medium or low fronts, and known as Manu-
are buried in the material to be elevated. The material facturers' Standards, Style A, B and C respectively, the
then feeds automatically by gravity, and as each bucket
in choice in application depending upon the character of the
digs a path through the mass, more material flows in and substance handled and the angle of inclination of the
is caught by the next bucket. These boots are always elevator. High-front buckets, known as Style A (Fig. 27),
used on the marine legs employed for unloading grain, are used on vertical elevators and are suitable for handling
sand, coal and similar material, and on certain types of the majority of dry lump materials. The medium front
portable coaling machines. buckets, known as Style B (Fig. 28), are standard for
inclined elevators, while the low front, Style C, buckets
Brushes (Fig. 29) are used for stick materials. Only experience
A revolving brush (Fig. 26) bearing against, or very on the part of the designer can be a guide to the best
close to, the return surface of a belt conveyor forms a shape of bucket to specify for handling unusual materials.
useful means of removing fine particles of certain mate- A common form of sheet steel bucket is the Salem
rials which might otherwise cling to the belt and be (Fig. 30). In this the bottom and corners are rounded,
carried around under the return idlers; its use makes it
possible to handle many materials which could not other-
wise be carried on a belt. The brush should be run in a
direction opposite to that in which the belt travels, should
be located as near the head or discharge end of the con-
veyor as possible, and should be so arranged as to allow
for adjustment when the bristles wear. Brushes are driven
from the head shaft of the conveyor, and some types are
Figs. 30 and 31
the ends of the bucket being folded around the back and
riveted. This is one of the most useful types made.
The gravity discharge or V bucket (Fig. 31) used on
elevator-conveyors is made either of steel or malleable
iron. It is always centrally hung between the chains and
is rigidly attached to them or swiveled in the direction of
Buckets
Elevator buckets are made in a great variety of styles
in order to adapt them to handling such diversified mate- and 33
Figs. 32
and 29 elevators. Steel buckets are made with high, medium and
Figs. 27, 28
low fronts corresponding to the three styles of malleable
rials as coal, coke, clay, gravel, cement, chemicals, pulp, iron buckets. The}', however, do not resist wear and
etc., and to allow of their use on the different types of corrosion as well as the malleable iron buckets.
elevators. Malleable iron and sheet steel are the materials For viscous and sticky material a shelf or low-front
commonly employed in their construction. bucket is occasionally required, as the more common types
448 CONVEYOR DETAILS
sometimes have a tendency to retain the material and make industries, and in this class of service it has been success-
for poor discharge. ful. It is also used as a retarding conveyer in lowering
The buckets are fitted with digging teeth (Fig. 32) coal down hillsides from high level mines.
along the lip to facilitate loading on certain types of
elevators, particularly those of the portable variety. These
teeth should be made separate from the body of the
bucket to permit of replacement when worn.
To allow for drainage of very wet material while it is
Carriers
In addition to the standard types of aprons and pans
used .on horizontal conveyors, there are a number of special
carriers which are occasionally fitted to chain type con-
Figs. 37 and 38 veyors for supporting the load.
For handling rolls of material such as paper and cloth
Buckets for pivoted carriers (Figs. 37 and 38) are
four wheel trucks (Fig. 42) are attached at intervals to
swung between two strands of chain and are fitted with a strand of chain. These trucks serve the same purpose
a cam on the sides by means of which they are tipped and
as an apron but are cheaper than the latter and also have
discharged. This construction is necessary as the buckets
normally hang in a vertical position no matter in what
direction the conveyor runs. Pivoted buckets are made of
malleable iron or steel and are very largely used in boiler
house installations, cement plants and coaling stations.
They are undoubtedly the most highly developed and suc-
cessful buckets on the market in the classes of service for
which they are adapted.
Figs. 42 and 43
Cable Conveyors the feature which is sometimes desirable of handling a
A cable conveyor consists of an endless steel cable fitted limited number of rolls and delivering them at regular
with cast iron flights which are dragged along a or U fixed intervals of time.
V-shaped steel lined trough and thus form a simple and Barrels are sometimes handled crosswise on a conveyor
inexpensive type of drag conveyor for logs, refuse, coal, fitted with cradles (Fig. 43). Such conveyors will operate
etc. This device is largely used in the logging and paper either on an incline or horizontally.
CHAINS 449
Another type of carrier (Fig. 44) for cylindrical the pitch the less noticeable will be the jerk, while the
objects, bags, etc., is made up of concave cross bars fitted greater the number of sprocket the more
teeth in the
with rollers on the ends and carried either by one or nearly will the polygonal shape of the latter approach a
two strands of chain. circle and the smoother the action of the chain will be
when running. For comparatively short pitch chains this
non-uniform motion is rarely pronounced enough to be ob-
jectionable, but with the long pitch used for extra heavy
bucket conveyors and the like, it may become serious.
The bending or articulation of chain links in passing
Figs. 44 and 45
around the sprockets is the chief cause of wear on both
For metal ingots, pig, and similar material a single the chain and wheel. This bending can take place in either
angle bracket (Fig. 45) carried by two strands of chain of two ways, one causing internal wear on the joints of
will form a useful carrier for elevating vertically and the chain without any rubbing between the chain and
Conveying horizontally or on an incline. Combination sprocket, and the second causing wear both internally and
elevator-conveyors are sometimes equipped with this externally on the link by a combination of rubbing between
carrier. the sprocket and link and a simultaneous turning at the
joint between the links.
Chains Every correctly designed chain installation should be so
arranged that as far as possible all rubbing will be confined
Conveyor chain has reached a high degree of standardiza-
to the chain joints and as little friction occur between the
tion, duo very largely to the efforts of the pioneer con-
sprocket and chain as the layout of the installation will
cerns manufacturing it. Although in many cases the vari-
permit. Special attention should be given to having the
ous makers have developed differences in detail design,
jointsbetween the links as sturdy and durable as possible.
they have for the most part maintained the same essential
Plenty of bearing surface should be provided, and on
dimensions, so that a given type and size of chain made
the higher grade pin type chains hardened steel pins and
by- one manufacturer will in general be interchangeable
bushings should be used.
with that made by any other. This statement applies to
the pitch, width and strength of the chain, but does not
of course imply that repair links of one make can be used
in connection with another make of chain.
is not possible to give accurate figures applicable to
It
chain, so that both types are interchangeable on the same called support the weight of the load as well as to
upon to
sprockets. Pintle chain can be run with either side against transmit the pull of the driving mechanism. It is some-
the sprockets, and if' one side becomes worn, the chain times advisable to bush the rollers with steel or bronze
can be reversed and its useful life considerably increased
by running it with the other side against the sprockets.
Interlocking pintle chain (Fig. 49) has a comparatively
dirt prooi joint between the links, as each link telescopes
into the adjacent one and protects the pin against the
entrance of grit. The
riveted in place, or if it is
pin is
tendency for them to work loose and start wear on the hardened steel pin is used. This construction is an im-
link. Ley bushed chain is often used for power trans- provement over the unbushed link as it makes a more
mission at moderate speeds, but it also has a large appli- durable chain and one which can be readily repaired.
cation to conveying and elevating gritty material and for A variation of the combination chain has rollers outside
heavy duty under severe conditions. the links. This type is occasionally used for slow moving
A somewhat stronger type of Ley bushed chain has single and double strand pusher conveyors and is particu-
more metal in the link, the heads being re-enforced with larly applicable to the progressive assembling of automo-
a center web which stiffens the link and reduces the chances biles.
of hidden flaws in the casting. moving and inter-
Steel strap chains are used for slow
The malleable iron roller chains (Fig. 52) form an mittent heavy duty in on large apron and
handling ice
important class of
strong yet comparatively inexpensive flight conveyors, and
in general wherever excessive service
conveyor chains. Their use is not restricted to any ore requirements or very long pitches preclude the application
type of equipment, but they are employed on double- of malleable iron types. While having great tensile
strand flight and apron conveyors, bucket elevators and strength, these chains have not the wearing qualities of
CHAIN ATTACHMENTS 451
some other varieties, as the pins are apt to wear rapidly Another form of this chain is reenforced with extra
unless hardened and prevented from turning, and fitted steel clipsthe riveted joints and will stand up under
at
with hardened bushings. moderately severe work in handling coal and the like.
Plain steel strap chains (Fig. 56) are cheap and simple The strongest drag chain (Fig. 62) is constructed so as
in construction. They are used particularly in handling ice. to have almost twice the strength of the ordinary forms.
The pins are usually riveted over the outer bars and are It is used for handling such materials as stone and gravel.
Chain Attachments
Figs. 57 and 58 A great many kinds of attachment links are available for
use in combination with the standard types of conveyor
Roller steel strap chains (Figs. 57 and 58) are particu- chain. These links are designed to carry the various
larly useful in combination with long apron conveyors and slats, flights, buckets, arms, etc., which form a part of
pivoted carriers. The rollers themselves may be made of nearly all chain conveyors. A
few examples of the more
steel or, in the cases of flanged rollers, of cast or malle- common attachments will give an indication of what ex-
able iron. Hardened bushings are sometimes used u> hold perience has shown to be useful, but the following exam-
the side bars rigidly in line and to afford a durable bear- ples are only suggestive of the hundreds of varieties in
ing on which the rollers can revolve. Adjacent links are common use.
connected with steel pins either riveted in place or held
by cotter pins.
For attaching buckets and slats the chain links are pro-
vided with pads of various forms (Figs. 63, 64 and 65)
O) through which the fastening bolts or rivets are inserted.
and 60 Single strand flight conveyors require attachments
Figs. 59
adapted to fastening the flight at right angles to the back
Alternate and round steel links (Fig. 59) give a
flat of the chain (Figs 66 and 67). Double-strand flight and
form of welded chain which is superior in some respects push-bar conveyors are often equipped with swivel attach-
to plain coil chain which has only a limited use in conveyor
service as it has larger wearing surfaces and hence greater
durability. Attachments are available in greater variety
for this than for coil chain, the flat links affording a more
convenient means for supporting attachments and the shape
of the chain having a tendency to prevent their twisting Figs. 66, 67 and 68
out of alinement.
Steel bolts connected by malleable iron knuckle joints ments (Fig. 68) to prevent cramping of the chains when
(Fig. 60) form a very strong and durable long pitch
one wears more than the other.
chain. Its application is necessarily limited, but for certain For certain purposes where a small flight is needed it
types of flight conveyors and special carriers it is one
can be cast integral with the chain link (Fig. 69), thus
of the most satisfactory heavy duty chains in use. There forming a "scraper attachment." In a similar manner
shavings and other light material over comparatively short haulage conveyors and many styles of attachment links
distances. (See Fig. 61). are available for this purpose.
452 CONVEYOR DETAILS
Pivot links (Fig. 72) are used on rigid arm elevators to pitch (Fig. 78) and is meshed with an eccentric
line
carry the arms and braces. For some types of slat con- pinion. This gives a compensating drive that counteracts
veyors attachment links are fitted with rollers (Fig. 73) the variations which would occur in the speed of the chain
of large diameter, these special links being used at inter- if circular gears were used. The number of depressions
in the gear must equal the number of teeth in the chain
sprocket, and the location of these depressions in relation
to the teeth of the sprocket must be such that the speed
of the latter reduced at those joints where the chain
is
Drives
Elevator and conveyor driving mechanisms are made up
of various combinations of belts, chains, and worm, spur,
bevel and friction gears, the exact arrangement used de-
pending upon the type of conveyor, the speed at which it
Spur gear drives are applicable to practically every type taken islocated parallel to the conveyor.
of elevator or conveyor, and are used more often than Belt and chain drives for conveying machinery are usu-
any other form of drive. The efficiency of these gears is ally used combination with one of the gear type reduc-
in
high, they are easy to construct and install, and will give tions. The amount of
reduction obtainable with a single
satisfactory service under the most severe conditions. The belt or chain is not great, but on some portable machines
gears are usually made of cast iron with machine molded multiple belt and chain drives are used because of their
or cut teeth, the latter being invariably used on high class lightness and flexibility.
The worm gear drive (Figs. 80 and 81) is one of the
simplest and most satisfactory high reduction drives that
can be used for conveyor and elevator work. It is a very
efficient device when correctly designed and accurately con-
structed, but unless the worm and gear are properly
proportioned for the work to be done, are rigidly sup-
ported preferably in a dust proof housing and gener-
ously lubricated, trouble will result.
The speed reductions practicably obtainable with a sin-
76 and 77 gle worm drive vary from about 6 to 1 up to 100 to 1,
Figs. 75,
although it is not usual in conveyor work to go to either
construction. Motor pinions, due to their high speed, are of these extremes. For low reductions, say up to 15 to 1,
frequently made of fibre to reduce the noise of operation.
The single reduction spur gear drive (Fig. 75) is the
cheapest and simplest to build. It is used for low reduc-
tions especially when the conveyor is operated from a line
shaft.
The double reduction gear drive (Fig. 76) has a large
field of application to belt and chain type elevators and
conveyors. It can be designed to give a reasonably high
reduction and is usually required when the motor is di-
rect connected to the conveyor without a belt.
Triple gear reductions (Fig. 77) are used only for very
heavy slow moving conveyors and elevators. The charac-
teristics of this type of drive are great strength and high Figs. 80 and 81
reduction of speed.
To compensate for the pulsating motion of long pitch spur gears are in general use, while for excessively high
chains, the driving gear is sometimes made with a wave reductions, the planetary gear reducer or a combination
FLIGHTS 453
of worm and spur gears will usually give better results up-keep and renewals will in the long run make it poor-
than a single worm drive. economy to use this type of drive unless the feature of
The worm is generally made of steel and the wheel of slipping when overloaded is essential to prevent damage
c-ither cast iron or phosphor bronze. The teeth must be
kept thoroughly lubricated, preferably by running the
gears in an oil bath. This calls for an oil tight housing,
and also makes it advisable to place the worm below the
wheel when possible. Thrust bearings should always
be provided for both worm and wheel to take care of the
end thrust developed.
The planetary or internal gear reducer (Fig. 82) works
Figs. 84 and 85
Flights
Fig. 82 Conveyor wood are used only for the lighter
flights of
classes of work. They are usually carried by a single
on the well-known principle of a stationary internal gear strand of chain and are run in wooden troughs. Fig. 86
meshing, with idler pinions carried by a revolving spider shows a flight of this kind suspended below the chain,
or ring, the pinions in turn engaging a gear carried by
the driving shaft concentrically with the internal gear. By
compounding two or more of these mechanisms, very
large reductions in speed can be obtained. The gearing
should be enclosed in an oil-tight housing, the shaft of the
reducer being direct connected to the motor shaft by a
flexible coupling. Planetary gear reducers are accurately Figs. 86 and 87
constructed, built of high grade material, and are prob-
ably the most efficient, noiseless, and satisfactory drives while Fig. 87 shows the chain running along the bottom
that can be used on conveying machinery. They take up of the trough, the flight being carried above it. The sus-
a minimum of space and are adaptable to almost any con- pended flight has the advantage that its carrying chain is
ditions of speed and load. Their use in elevator and con- not surrounded by the material being conveyed and is
veyor drives is fast increasing. therefore subject to less rapid deterioration than if the
Reducers are sometimes used in combination with worm chain were covered by the material. The suspended type
is, however, applicable only to lower run conveyors, the
Figs. 92 and 93 for the removal of the shaft endwise to allow the roller
to be taken out of the frame. This requirement is, how-
veyor sections and fitted with castors. Castors may, how- ever, easily met in the majority of installations.
ever, be omitted on the lighter sections. Rollers are made of straight grained hard wood, steel
For suspending the conveyor from above hanger rods tubing (preferably seamless) or of cast iron. Standard
are used. These are threaded on the lower ends and straight rollers range from 2 in. to 3 in. in diameter, with
fitted with nuts to true up the line of the conveyor. 2Y-2 as the ordinarily accepted standard.
in.
The earliest types of bearings for roller gravity conveyor Wood rollers are suitable for many purposes where the
were simple steel shafts turning in holes punched in the service not heavy, where a light conveyor is required,
is
side frames (Fig. 94). The large amount of friction and or when cost is of prime importance.
first They are not
rapid wear attendant upon this construction has caused as durable as steel but when operating conditions call for
GRAVITY ROLLER CONVEYOR 455
ends be accurately made so that the rollers will revolve Fig. 102
about their true centers and be in perfect balance. The
usual thickness of the tubing ranges from No. 16 gage with any of the branch lines as required. This is a very
common and thoroughly satisfactory device.
For turning corners curved-sections are used. They are
made turn through any required angle, 22^2 degrees,
to
45 degrees and 90 degrees being the most common. The
radius to the outside of the curve may be made to suit
the requirements of the layout,
specific from 2 feet 6
inches to 4 feet 6 inches being usual.
Curves fitted with straight rollers are satisfactory for
Fig. 103
Fig. 104
ner than the straight rollers but do not have the perfect
action of properly designed tapered rollers.
Straight steel slides (Fig. 104) are often of value in
Fig. 101 connection with stationary installations of gravity con-
veyor. They are used to lower material from an overhead
A
gravity switch section (Fig. 101) allows packages to line of conveyor down to the floor or to a table, and
be delivered selectively from a single trunk line to two or sometimes from one floor to another, although for this
456 CONVEYOR DETAILS
latter purpose spiral chutes are usually better. The line veyor as a whole being secured by nuts on the lower
of gravity entering the straight chute should be given a ends of the rods.
slight downward curve, and a reverse curve should be For heavier service the framework supporting the bear-
made in the bottom of the steel slide in order to prevent ings is a structural steel member (Fig. 106), and, if nec-
the packages from "digging in" between the rollers as essary, special wood or steel guards are used to retain
they leave the slide. The slope of the chute depends upon the packages.
its length and the character of the material to be handled. A single concave idler (Fig. 107) is sometimes used to
By hinging and counterweighting certain sections of a
Idlers trough the belt and prevent spilling of the material carried.
If thisconstruction is employed, the amount of troughing
Supporting idlers are used under both top and bottom
should be very slight as otherwise the difference in velocity
runs of nearly all belt conveyors. Occasionally on very
of the high and low points on the idler will be sufficient
light package conveyors the belt is run in a shallow wood
to cause serious wear on the belt due to slip.
trough, but except for the lightest service this is not good
The two roll idler (Fig. 108) allows of deeper trough-
practice as the constant dragging of the belt against the
bottom of the trough causes excessive wear on the fabric.
The idlers supporting the carrying surface of the belt are
spaced close enough together to prevent undue sag when
the conveyor is loaded to its capacity. The type of con-
veyor, the material handled, and the size of the belt must
all be considered when determining this spacing. The
idlers under the return side are usually spaced at com-
Fig. 105
to their cost they have not as yet been used to any great
extent. Babbitted bearings are commonly used and are
satisfactory.
Straight idlers for package conveyors are also made of
steel tubing with cast iron or pressed steel heads and a
through shaft. Self-alining bearings are desirable as Figs. Ill and 112
they prevent cramping of the roller. For light duty in
department store work the bearings are carried directly Guide rolls are sometimes required to prevent the belt
on the sheet steel sides of the conveyor run (Fig. 105), from running out of line as it passes over the idlers.
these sides serving also as guards to prevent the packages These guide rolls are usually used on the carrying side
falling off the belt. This type of conveyor is usually hung of the belt (Fig. Ill), but are occasionally fitted to the
from the ceiling by rods, vertical adjustment of the con- return run (Fig. 112) as well.
PULLEYS, PUSH BARS AND RELEASES 457
The majority of troughing idlers used in the past have The diameter of the pulley to be used for a given con-
been made of cast iron. A comparatively recent develop- veyor depends for the driving pulleys mainly on two fac-
ment is the steel idler lilted with ball bearings and designed tors, the traction required and the thickness of the con-
on the unit principle. In this design each roll is carried veyor belt. The diameter must be sufficient to insure that
by a sheet steel bracket. These units can be combined the belt will not slip on the pulley. Naturally, the greater
into straight or troughing idlers of any required size, the the coefficient of friction of the pulley surface, the smaller
amount of troughing can be regulated, and a light weight the diameter possible. As to the bending of the belt over
but very strong conveyor is the result of their use. the end pulleys, a good rule is not to use a pulley of less
A few concave wood idlers have been used, mainly on diameter in inches than three to four times the ply of the
temporary installations. belt.
coefficient of friction than iron although it is slightly in- and similar light but bulky material. For ordinary boxes
ferior in this respect to canvas or rubber. of moderate weight a pipe bar (Fig. 116) is used instead
The so-called wood pulley is built up of laminated wood of a wood slat, while on the heaviest work a solid steel
strips glued together, the bore being bushed with an iron shaft is necessary. On one type of inclined elevator for
sleeve. It is similar in driving qualities to the wood lagged handling boxes a roller bar is employed so that if the box is
pulley but is less capable of withstanding moisture and loaded on top of the bar instead of in front of it, the
extremes of temperature. roller will more easily slide out under the box and let
The slat-bar pulley is sometimes used on conveyors han- the next bar pick it up.
dling material such as wet clay which would have a ten-
dency to pile up on a solid face pulley. Releases
Paper pulleys (Fig. 113) are built up of layers of a On sometypes of power driven conveyors it is necessary
to provide safety devices to guard against breakage of the
spider keyed to the shaft has triggers pivotally mou.ited on rectangular in shape, fits into or over the end of the
links with the ends engaging notches in the rim of a
Water 5eaK
drum and a roller in the hub of the spider. Springs regu-
lated to any desired pressure by adjusting nuts hold the
ends of the triggers on the rollers under normal condi-
tions, but when the drive is overstrained, the compression
of the springs will permit the ends of the triggers to drop,
releasing connections with the rim and allowing the ma-
chine to stop immediately.
Steam or Wafer Jacket
To
place the triggers in driving position again, a collar
Fig. 123
is provided, having fingers which engage pins in the lower
ends of the triggers. By turning this collar by means of a tiough and is held in place by bolts or screws. The most
spanner wrench, the triggers will be moved to the orig- common end plate (Fig. 125) has a solid bearing box
inal position and the outer ends will at the same time made integral with the casting and babbitted or bushed with
enter the notches in the drum, thus renewing the trans- bronze.
mission connection. A cover encloses the entire mechan-
ism, protecting it from dirt.
Screw Conveyors
Screw conveyor troughs are frequently built of wood
(Fig. 118), in which case they are of rectangular shape,
but where this type of construction is used the trough is
lined with a semi-circular sheet steel lining. and 126
Figs. 124, 125
Sheet steel troughs are probably the most common.
They are built in various sizes, and where too long to be A two
plate split through the bearing (Fig. 126), the
made of a single sheet, are made up in sections and riveted
halves being bolted together, is also in common use.
together preferably with a butt joint. This joint may con- A split and adjustable bearing fitted to the end plate
(Fig. 127) gives a convenient means of lining up the screw
shaft or removing it from the trough although this con-
struction is not very common.
The end of some types of screw
plate at the discharge
conveyors (Fig. 128) often provided with an opening
is
prevents the throwing out of certain loose material when its position to that of the shaft. The hinged hanger (Fig.
the speed of the spiral is high. 131) will successfully meet this situation as the bearing
The ends of screw conveyor troughs are made of cast box has enough flexibility to follow the variations of the
iron plates which form both an end to the trough and a shaft but at the same time prevents it springing out of
bearing for the conveyor shaft. When used with steel alinement.
SCREW CONVEYORS 459
Hangers for square shaft screw conveyors (Fig. 132) For handling exceptionally heavy loads a double flight
have a split cylindrical sleeve wilh a square hole through (Fig. 143) can often be used to advantage as this type
it which fits over the shaft and turns with it in the hanger of construction decreases the load carried by each blade
bearing. The sleeve is usually made of chilled iron or and tends to make the flow of material smoother.
bronze and the hanger bearing of cast iron either chilled
or babbitted.
Strap iron or steel hangers (Figs. 133, 134 and 135) are Fig. 142
used largely on conveyors handling gritty material. They
are rarely provided with means for adjusting or lubricat-
ing the bearing.
Fig. 143
Figs. 133, 134 and 135 Screw conveyors are frequently used on material which
must be mixed during its progress through the conveyor.
Two common discharge gates are used with
types of
For this purpose a great many special types of flights are
screw conveyors. Onemerely of a plain hand
consists
Fig. 144
Fig. 150
Spiral Chutes
The details of spiral chutes differ considerably, depend-
ing upon the type of chute and the practice of the indi-
vidual manufacturer. In general the runway and guard-
rail are made of sheet steel either galvanized or black.
Two
methods of assembling the runway sheets are com-
monly employed. In one (Fig. 151) the upper sheet is
lapped over the lower one and fastened with countersunk
head rivets. In the second type of runway construction
(Fig. 152) the sheets are turned down to form flanges,
adjacent sheets being bolted or riveted together along these
flanges. This construction forms somewhat stiffer supports
for the individual wings.
For the usual classes of service the runway is made flat
I
Figs. 153, 154 and 155
Open-center spiral chutes (Fig. 157) are supported by Loading spiral chutes at intermediate floors may be pro-
hangers from the ceiling or on structural steel frames. vided for by hinging a portion of the spiral (Fig. 162) so
They are also often carried on a central post having long that it may be lifted to give a free inlet from a gravity
radial steel arms upon which the runway proper is se- roller or other conveyor. Loading at intermediate floors may
cured. This form (Fig. 158) is generally called an opert- be accomplished also by means of an inlet slide (Fig. 163) if
center-with-posf spiral chute. Open center chutes require the packages are heavy, but light packages can be readily
a guardrail on each side of the runway. They occupy
considerably more floor space than the closed center type
of the same capacity, but will accommodate a somewhat
larger package for the same width of runway.
Fire doors are required at all openings where a spiral
chute passes through floors. These doors should he held open
by a fusible link which melts and allows the door to close
positively in the- event of a fire.
Sprockets
Sprockets are usually made of cast iron, the teeth being
Figs. 161 and 162
cast to shape rough or smoothed up with
and either left
sliding door, counterweighted so as to slide easily up and an emery wheel. Chill casting the teeth and rim gives a
down also applicable to these conditions.
is Some types harder wearing surface and a more durable sprocket. For
of open center chutes are fitted with hinged fire doors at the heaviest duty cast steel is used.
intermediate floors (Fig. 161). Such doors close down Sprocket wheels are made either solid or are split and
flatagainst the floor and have a projecting lip which drops the two halves bolted together. The solid sprocket (Fig.
into the runway of the chute completely closing the 167) is the more commonly used, although the split type
opening. can be removed and replaced on the shaft without remov-
462 CONVEYOR DETAILS
ing the latter from its bearings. This feature is not pos- type (Fig. 172) having a ratchet wheel keyed to the driv-
sessed by the solid type, which can only be removed by ing shaft, steel rollers carried in the teeth of the ratchet,
driving it off the end of the shaft. and an outside casing fastened to the conveyor framework.
As the wear on sprockets comes entirely on the teeth, Reversed motion of the shaft wedges the rollers between
the latter are frequently made removable. This is good the wheel and casing, and locks the shaft.
renewals due to sprocket wear are necessary, as furnish sufficient pressure to make the stop tend to re-
quent
new teeth can be put in place in a fraction of the time volve with the pinion but allow the latter to turn inside
required to remove a worn sprocket from its shaft and re- the former if itself is prevented from turning.
the stop
place it with a new one. Different methods for holding When running forward the stop turns with it
the pinion is
the removable teeth are in use. They may be tongued until a pin on the hub strikes the conveyor framework and
prevents its further motion. If the power goes off and the
pinion starts to run backward, friction carries the stop
with the entire mechanism which locks the gear and pre-
vents further backward motion. When power is again
applied, however, the stop returns to its original position,
releasing the gear and allowing the conveyor to continue
itsforward motion.
Another stop (Fig. 174) which operates on much the
same principle as that just described has two friction oper-
ated pawls which engage with the teeth of both pinion and
gear.
Worm gear driven conveyors rarely require the use of
stops as the worm mechanism ordinarily is designed to be
self-locking.
Figs. 169 and 170 It is hardly necessary to add that these safety stops can
therefore sometimes used to prevent such accidents, these to allow enough clearance manipulating it when in
for
stops being either ratchets or automatic brakes applied to the extreme outward position. A ratcheting handle instead
some portion of the driving machinery and so arranged of a hand wheel is often used for turning the screw where
as to prevent backward motion of the conveyor. space is limited or when the force required for adjusting
The simplest stop is the common ratchet wheel and the box is considerable, as in the case of some bucket
pawl (Fig. 171). Another variety is the roller ratchet elevators with the take-up at the top. When used in con-
TAKE-UPS AND TIGHTENERS 463
junction with a housed-in bucket elevator, the adjustable The double pipe take-up is fitted with a self-alining
bearing box (Fig. 177) carries a dust slide which effectively bearing carried on pipe frames. For heavier work, steel
prevents the escape of material from the elevator no shafting is used in place of pipe, but this take-up is not
matter in what position the box is set. Occasionally the
outer end of the box is itself closed as a protection to the
bearing.
Floor stand take-ups (Figs. 178 and 179) are used at
the head ends of some types of elevators. The supporting
frames are arranged to stand directly on the floor, the
Fig. 182
Fig. 180
Tighteners
Fig. 181
A
chain tightener is a small sprocket or flanged wheel
in direct tension or compression, thus attaining the maxi- carried by an adjustable bracket in such a way as to bear
mum strength and rigidity. Heavy take-ups are also made against the slack side of a running chain and serve the
in the stationary screw type. purpose of a take-up. Tighteners are used principally in
Onprotected screw take-ups (Fig. 182) the bearing box connection with transmission chain where the relative posi-
travels along the screw, the latter turning but not advanc- tion of the driving and driven sprockets is fixed and the
ing with the box. This allows the supporting frame to ordinary take-up therefor not applicable.
is
act as a cover protecting the screw from dirt and corro- Aswing tightener (Figs. 184 and 185) is the easiest
sion. The box is usually of the split type, and may be to adjust, as it is necessary merely to loosen the bolt in
made self alining. The seat upon which it rests may be the slot, swing the tightener up against the chain, and
either flat or triangular, the triangular type having certain tighten the bolt. Very often these tighteners are not
advantages such as greater strength for equal weight, and fastened rigidly but are held against the chain by a spring
less chance for dirt to accumulate on the guide. These or weight.
take-ups are used principally on out-door equipment. The plate tightener (Fig. 186) is fastened by two bolts
464 CONVEYOR DETAILS
passing through elongated holes in the plate. It is less If both cylindrical and
flat packages must be handled on
apt to work loose than the swing type. the same combination curved and straight
elevator, a
The fork tightener (Fig. 187) is similar to the plate finger tray (Fig. 191) can often lie used to advantage.
type except that the stud on which the idler wheel runs Automatic elevators which receive and discharge to
gravity conveyor are fitted with special types of trays
(Fig. 192), which are arranged with steel fingers to pass
between the rollers of the conveyor. They can be loaded
automatically only on the upward moving side. These
trays may be center-hung as shown, suspended from
diagonal corners, or of the cantilever type.
Fig. 197
are sometimes used for this purpose but are usually not
as convenientand satisfactory as the rack and pinion gate
(Fig. 197) which slides in guides under the trough and is
Figs. 190, 191 and 192
operated by a hand wheel.
(Fig. 190) for successful handling if automatic loading Troughs for screw conveyors will be found described
and discharge are necessary. under the head of "Screw Conveyors."
ELEVATORS
Hand, Belted, Electric, Hydraulic, Special
By
A. A. ADLER
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
'-
Elevators
ENTERING INTO A DISCUSSION of the technical fea- Many manufacturers entered the hydraulic elevator field
tures of the elevator it might be well to review its and various interesting types were brought out. Charles
BEFORE
history. A may be proposed
special type of elevator R. Otis developed the beam-engine construction of which
for a given duty expenditure of both energy and capital
; only few were built and the Whittier Machine Company
can often be avoided through a detailed knowledge of his- brought out the horizontal machine. The horizontal-cylinder
tory of the development of elevators which may disclose machines of the "push" and of the "pull" type soon became
that long ago such a type had been used and found wanting. the standard elevators. They had to be geared in order
A study of conditions contemporary with its development to permit their use in the high rise buildings which were
may also show why was discarded.
it then (1880) being constructed in fairly large numbers.
The first elevator on record was used for passengers and Early hydraulic elevators were operated by gravity pres-
freight in the convent of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai sure, having an open tank on the roof. Since the buildings
about the middle of the sixth century it was operated by a ; were not very high from 30 Ib. to 50 Ib. was the usual
capstan. About the middle of the seventeenth century Vela- pressure. When the demand for greater load and higher
yer of Paris invented a "flying chair." was probably op- It speed appeared the gravity system had to be abandoned in
erated by means similar to that of the present hand hoists. favor of the pressure tank systems. Here the higher pres-
Perhaps the first plunger machine was installed in the sure was obtained by pumping water into closed tanks into
Capuchin church at Vienna some time in the latter part of which a certain amount of air was introduced. The air
the eighteenth century. acted to relieve the elevator
Important forerunners to car of the pulsations of the
the modern elevators started steam pumps
reciprocating
with Sir William Arm- which formed the standard
Development of the Elevator.
strong's hydraulic elevator equipment. An important in-
used in England in 1846. He Factors of the Problem: Capacity;
Elevator stallation of this kind went
also employed the separate Schedules; Size and Number of Cars; Eco- into the Mutual Life Build-
nomics; Location; Power Consumption. New
pump and the pressure tank ing, York, in 1884.
system. About 1850 he in- Electric Elevators: Winding Engines; Traction The further development
vented the weighted ac- Engines; Belt Drives; Braking; Control; of the pressure tank, first
cumulator used at a much Controllers. used by Sir William Arm-
later date with high pres- Hydraulic; Pneumatic; Steam-Driven; Hand strong at a much earlier date
sure hydraulic installations. Power; Portable. but reintroduced as the
Edoux of Paris in 1867 Auxiliary Devices and Details.
Hinkle system, was in the
exhibited the first model of line of higher pressures up
Elevator Installations.
a plunger elevator using to about 175 Ib. This per-
counterbalance and details Safety Code for Construction, Operation and mitted the use of cylinders
Maintenance.
resembling those of standard of smaller diameter since it
machines of a .few years was necessary to "stack"
ago. the elevators in order to
In America the industry economize space. There was
started about 1850. Among pioneers in this field were a tendency to return to the gravity system in 1910, for the
Henry Waterman, of New York; George Fox & Company, buildings of that time reached heights sufficient to obtain
of Boston, Mass. ; William Adams & Company, of Boston, the pressures requiredoperate the standard elevator
to
and Mr. Otis Tufts, of Boston, who constructed the first equipment of that period. In very large installations the
passenger elevator in America. Tufts made steam-driven low-pressure hydraulic systems were at a disadvantage be-
drum machines and in 1859 invented his vertical screw cause of the space occupied by the cylinders and piping.
elevator. Only two of these machines were built, one of The development in this direction led to the installation
which was installed in New York and the other in Phila- of high pressure systems of about 750 Ib. working pressure.
delphia; they continued in service until about 1875. The A large number of plants of this kind were installed in ;
principle of the vertical screw elevator was the same as a these the pressure tank was replaced by the weighted ac-
bolt and nut; the car in this case contained the nut while cumulator.
the vertical screw passed through the center of the car. The plunger machine was one of the very earliest ele-
It was belt-driven by means of bevel gears. vators in the field but it was not until George I. Alden's
Steam-driven elevators were the standard in the early improvements of details in1900 that this type became a
seventies and some installations were made even as late commercial proposition. Up to very recent times the
as 1885. The chief objections were the noise and the pulsa- plunger elevator was a formidable competitor of the or-
tions of the pistons which were transmitted through the dinary hydraulic machine and for a time threatened to dis-
ropes to the car. place it. However, the extreme height of modern build-
The first important hydraulic installation was made by ings made the cost of this type excessive in comparison
Cyrus W. Baldwin in the Boreel Building, New York, in with electric elevators and its commercial limits have been
1878. These machines were of the vertical-cylinder type. reached.
The success of this installation marked the beginning of While the general forms of the elevator were undergoing
the end of the steam-driven elevator. The prevailing type development the details were also being improved from
soon after this seems to have been the short vertical-cylinder time to time. The first elevators used rope control hut as
of Baldwin with a hicrh gear ratio. speeds increased the difficulty of manipulating a rope at a
467
468 ELEVATORS
speed of 300 ft. per minute gave way to the standing rope The electric elevator industry started with the constant
control using a wheel, and later the much more satisfactory current machine of William Baxter, Jr., in 1884. The lirst
lever control. successful drum machine of Norton P. Otis, R. C. Smith
The large capacity and high speed required of the hy- and Rudolph Eickemeycr was constructed in 1889. Before
draulic elevator made it operate the main valve
difficult to this time belted elevators using electric motor drive were
and George H. Reynolds introduced the pilot valve and in use, but these required no electrical control of speed
the differential valve. This decreased the effort on the part and direction and are therefore not to be considered self-
of the operator and thus made possible the more accurate contained units. Frank J. Sprague and C. F. Pratt brought
stops so much needed when the speeds became high. out the screw elevator about 1894; it consisted of a hori-
Safety devices also passed through their period of de- zontal screw and an ingenious ball-bearing nut. The nut
velopment. First of these was the Elisha Graves Otis carried the traveling sheaves which enabled this elevator
ratchet safety which engaged in a rack made fast to the to have gear ratios much the same as the horizontal hy-
guides. This was followed by the wedge of Cyrus W. Bald- draulic elevators. After an unsuccessful attempt to es-
win which engaged in the sides of the wooden guides which tablish type of elevator as standard equipment it
this
were then used. The function of the safety is to bring the passed out of existence in a few years. The traction ma-
car to a gradual stop and these devices accomplished the chine appeared in 1903 and at the present time has replaced
result too suddenly. Hence the later development con- nearly all other types, whether electrical or mechanical.
sisted of grips on the steel guides through spring pressure A further improvement was introduced in 1915 by the use
or otherwise. of micro-leveling to enable more accurate landings.
Among the notable developments for safety was the air The history of the electric elevator includes much de-
cushion of Albert Betteley, later improved by Albert C. velopment along the line of elevator control, without which
Ellithorpe, where the car shaft is enclosed in the lower its great success would have been impossible. The direct
stories. The
from underneath the car escapes through
air current motor was the first to be used and its control has
the space between the car and the shaft at a rate dependent reached a high state of development. The alternating
upon the size of this opening. For very high rise elevators current motor was not so successful, particularly in its early
this air cushion is expensive to install but it is sometimes stages. However, the latest developments indicate that it
used with other types of safety devices as an additional is nowa commercial proposition and no doubt it will see
insurance for safety. additional improvements in the future.
The elevator is used for vertical transportation and con- One-story buildings require no elevators. Multi-story
sists essentially of a platform moving in a shaft or hoist- buildings in general require elevators both for passengers
way provided for that purpose. The power required for and freight in fact use of some multi-story buildings is only
;
operationmay be derived from any source. possible when such elevator service is provided.
While there are many points in common between ele- be carried are light and the buildings not
If the loads to
vators used for passenger and freight transportation the dis- very high there may not be sufficient advantage to warrant
cussion here given relates chiefly to freight elevators. the installation of an elevator. Indeed the conveyor and
Passenger elevators will be discussed only in so far as it the elevator are competitive, their fields of application over-
seems necessary to emphasize the general principles which lapping in many instances. Roughly the conveyor may be
underlie all forms of vertical transportation. considered in the continuous transportation class whereas
Vertical transportation is frequently compared with hori- the elevator belongs to the intermittent and variable bulk
zontal or railway transportation but analysis will show that class. The correct solution of the problem must be de-
they have but few elements in common. For example, in termined on the basis of engineering economics. The gen-
elevator practice each car has a separate hoistway the ; eral plan in such cases is to compute the costs of transporta-
schedule and round-trip time of an elevator is independent tion for competitive schemes, evaluating all the elements so
of additional elevators ; there are no curves or grades ; far as it is possible to do so. The problem is usually not
there is no interference with cross-traffic except in the case difficult, but is tedious. It may happen that the cost of
of automatic hatch-door elevators the speeds are fixed by ; investigating the relative merits involved tips the balance
the maximum accelerations and retardations permissible. either way.
There are additional differences of lesser importance but Where land it may be and usually is desira-
is expensive
the foregoing are the important characteristics of elevator ble to erect building in preference to a one-story
a tall
practice. Hence conclusions in railway transportation are structure of correspondingly greater area. The considera-
not in general applicable to passenger or freight elevators. tions leading to this decision will not be discussed here.
The problem thus requires separate and independent an- Given the problem of a multi-story structure, there are three
alysis. important factors to be considered which limit the maxi-
In passenger transportation for office buildings it is mum number of stories.
usually sufficient to
carry people to certain floors. The The firstusually the deciding factor as to the
and
If
movements about the floors are matters of individual at- height of the building is the commercial possibilities.
tention. In manufacturing plants the freight elevator is a it is simply a housing proposition economic balance is ob-
part of the general freight transportation scheme. It is not tained when the cost for the competitive schemes, every-
an isolated problem but must be considered in its proper thing considered, is equal. A forecast into the future may
relation to the scheme as a whole. After the elevator have some influence and if so will wisely be given due con-
service is determined so that it imposes no limitation on the sideration. In the case of office buildings in desirable loca-
general transportation scheme, the problem narrows down tions the heights have reached many stories and seem still
i
470 ELEVATORS
the force F corresponds to weight, the mass M corresponds commodate ourselves to the condition without a certain
to
W or his weight in pounds divided by the acceleration
amount of discomfort.
G Commercial accelerations in many cases are in the neigh-
borhood of 4 ft. per sec. Where trip time is important
of gravity, while the acceleration A is that due to gravity
and is therefore represented by G. Hence higher rates are used and may be found justifiable when
substituting this in
the equation F = M A there results
allthings are considered. An attempt will be made later
to investigate this problem.
F =W G
e= W
The car speed is that constant, or nearly constant, speed
which follows the acceleration period. For a given dis-
G tance of travel the time consumed is inversely proportional
to the speed. Thus, if a car travels at a speed of 150
This expressed in words means that the force exerted on ft.
the ground is equal to the weight of the person standing. per min. and must travel a distance of 75 ft. the time occu-
Consider now the case where the platform of an elevator pied (running time) will be 30 sec. If the car speed is
accelerated in an increased to 300 ft. per min. the time will be half or 15 sec.
is upward direction with an acceleration A.
The force required to move the person upward has the State laws and municipal ordinances usually fix car speeds
only. It would be more rational to fix in addition both the
same line of action as the pull due to gravity and hence
rate of acceleration and the acceleration, as well as the rate
these forces may be added to produce this total result. Or
of retardation and the retardation itself, since these are the
stating this mathematically
elements which affect the individual. The highest car speed
,
W A so far attained commercially in passenger service is about
700 ft. per min. Freight elevators are run at much lower
speeds, frequently in the neighborhood of 50 ft. per min.
where the last term is the term due to acceleration the
;
The retardation is much the same as the acceleration in
greater this value is the greater will be the pressure. The its effect upon the individual. To the physical and the
absolute limit in the case of a person standing would be a
physiological aspects must be added the psychological ef-
pressure so great as to crush the body. When dealing with fect. The uncertainties of getting into motion are greater
freight the apparent increase in weight, as it might be called, than those of coming to rest. Hence experiments indicate
may reach such great values as to cause damage, entirely the feasibility of higher rates of retardation by about 5 ft.
depending upon the choice of the magnitude of A. The case per sec. above those for acceleration.
is exactly similar to that obtained by dropping freight on
The time occupied to make good landings is more im-
the ground, only here instead of the acceleration there is
portant in freight service than in passenger service. The
a retardation. If a falling body be brought to rest grad-
injury to the car and the sills by the impact of truck wheels
ually (meaning low values of retardation) it can be done when there is a difference of level between car and landing
so without causing damage. A simple experiment may be isimportant enough to deserve consideration. A system
tried to illustrate the effect even though the magnitude
known as micro-leveling has been devised to accomplish this
may not be appreciated. Suppose a person holds a heavy automatically.
package while on an elevator platform. If the car is sud- Briefly, the system consists of the addition of a small
denly started the package apt to fall out of his hands.
is
electric motor, in addition to the main hoisting motor, which
For downward accelerations the maximum attainable in
completes automatically the motion of the drum shaft when
ordinary elevator practice is that of a free fall. This can the machine is in the "micro" zone 8 in. above or below the
be accomplished by cutting the ropes which support the car. This motor is geared to the brake frame, which
landing.
The value of the acceleration is the value of the acceleration itturns at a slow speed until a level landing is secured.
of gravity and increases the velocity downward 32.2 ft. per
Should the level change due to loading or unloading the
sec. This limiting velocity occurs only in a vacuum. The micro-drive immediately restores the level without atten-
actual velocity will be less than this because of air friction.
tion from the operator.
If higher accelerations are desired these can be obtained
If the car is not intended to stop at a particular landing
by pulling the car downwards by some external agency. a solenoid controlled by contact points in the shaft renders
A passenger in a car like this would need to be secured the micro-drive inoperative. The contact points being se-
to the car if he were to be subjected to this augmented
cured in the shaft any stretching of the ropes in service does
acceleration. affect the operation of the drive. No time
not in any way
Thephysiological limits of acceleration are well within allowance is required to secure level landings.
the physical limits and are the guide in all passenger trans-
The conveniences supplied to make for rapid
loading
portation. On the up-trip, accelerations of from 10 ft. to
usually apply to unloading. The mutual relationship is ap-
15 ft. per sec. have been used. A
peculiar fact in this con-
preciated by the designers of this class of apparatus. The
nection is that the acceleration alone is not the controlling
topic will be treated in detail later.
element but rather the rate at which this acceleration is ap-
plied. By starting with a lower and gradually reaching a
Schedules
higher then slowing down to zero acceleration, the rid-
rate,
ing qualities of an elevator are improved. The study of the influence of acceleration and car speed
On the down-trip accelerations of more than 10 ft. per on the time requiredto reach any landing is best approached
sec. seem to be limiting values. Even these rates cause by considering the distance-time curves. Assume that the
nausea with most people and if repeatedly subjected to them horizontal lines in the diagram represent the distance in feet
will result in seasickness. This is probably due to the fact above the first floor landing. If the distance between floors
that the human body is accustomed to downward pressures is 13 ft. the horizontal line marked 13 represents the second
occasioned by the action of gravity upon us at all times. floor Let also the spacing of the vertical lines
landing.
A sudden downward acceleration is equivalent to a de- represent the interval of time in seconds, as shown. Con-
crease of gravity and we are physically unprepared to ac- sider the construction of curve 1.
FACTORS OF THE ELEVATOR PROBLEM 471
From the laws of falling bodies we have two well known second (point Ft on the curve) after the car attains full
equations as follows : speed in order to effect an accurate stop under the assumed
V = AT conditions.
S = /2 AT l The time required to bring the car to the second
total
Curve 1 of the diagram is constructed on the following where the car is after two seconds from the start. Hence
assumed data: Car speed of 300 ft. per min. (5 it. per sec.), since T = :
,
acceleration of 2 ft. per sec. and a retardation of 2 ft. per S = ^X2X (2)
2
=4 ft.
sec.
Accordingly D
on the curve is located at the point which is
the intersection of the vertical line passing through 2 sec.
and the horizontal line passing through 4 ft.
For another example, take the case of car speed of
150 per min. (2.5 ft. per sec.), the acceleratio'n and
ft.
cordingly decreased.
Thus from the equation, V = AT transposing as before
T= -= = US sec.
A 5
Where same as tion decreases the trip time, the effect being cumula-
meaning of the symbols is the
the before,
tive.
the velocity, however, to be held constant.
Consequently for a car speed of 5 ft. per sec., by simple (d) Maximum not be attained between
car speed will
Elevator Speed
150 Ft. PerMin.
FACTORS OF THE ELEVATOR PROBLEM 473
tion to the room required by the operator and the ac- from the press floor to the shipping room. Failure of the
companying handling crew if there is such. elevator to do its share requires considerable storage space
In the case of heavy freight it must be determined at its entrance due to the resulting congestion. Demoral-
beforehand whether the material spread is to be piled or ized service under such conditions is usually much more
over a larger area. In general the nature of the freight serious than inadequate service in other processes.
will determine this and therefore no rules can be given. Decrease in the waiting time can be accomplished in two
If the material is such that it might be stacked the time re- ways, (a) number of cars, (b) decrease the
increase the
quired to do this must be balanced against the increased round trip time. Considering the latter case first, the orig-
cost of a larger platform where haphazard loading is per- inal estimate of the round trip time might have been too
missible. liberal. At the stage of the analysis when this estimate
If passengers be transported with the freight,
are to was made it might not have been apparent that the number
of elevators would become so important. A review of the
necessary provisions must be made. Great care should be
exercised when heavy loads are placed on a car which factors entering into the round trip time might therefore
also carries passengers. A large car is a temptation for warrant reconsideration. The important elements in the
overloading. For this reason, where heavy loading is round trip time are the loading and unloading time. This
possible an undersized car might be the safer choice. might be decreased by better handling facilities or by im-
The determination of area of car as previously
given proved traffic management. A review of these would be
It should be compared with the too general to be of value in specific cases. This study
might not be feasible.
size of the hatchway which the structural layout of the must be left with those responsible for the solution of the
building permits. In the case of steel buildings the dis- particular problem.
tance between column centres varies from 15 ft. to 20 ft. The permissible waiting time depends upon conditions
This is determined by principles of economical construc- previously noted. Given this time there results :
tion. If the building is planned according v -M-.C standard round trip time
basis of column centres, change to accommodate the
a Number of cars =
permissible waiting time
computed size of elevator hoistway may demand additional
Whether
expense this
justified is must be Or if the choice is to be made on the basis of standard
expenditure.
determined from standpoint of economics. building construction :
deep and narrow one. Much the same holds true for
total effective area of a
for the length
freight, but the depth should be convenient one car installation
of the trucks if these are used. The shape of the car is, Required effective area of cars =
of course, more important in freight service since pas- number of cars.
(e) Decreases losses due to physical or chemical changes The when the elevator is a part of the
special needs exist
in process work; i.e., heating or cooling; drying out or transportation system and must be included as a link in
absorbing moisture in cases of hygroscopic products chem- ; that system. Or the car may be of a certain required size
ical changes such as contamination through contact with to handle manufacturing machinery at the time of installa-
air changes due to chemical reactions taking place be-
;
tion or in the course of general maintenance of the
plant
tween processes. itself. This may be the deciding factor and may call for
Increases rental value of upper stories since these
(f) a car of greater size than that dictated by normal or
can be more promptly reached. emergency needs.
The inconvenience due to delay presents such phases as : The emergency use is the next factor which may fix the
(a) General feeling of unreliability of service. size and number of cars. In office building practice for
(b) Impatience in case of passenger traffic, since service passenger use the common rule is to provide for that num-
is rated as to the waiting time i.e., less than thirty seconds
; ber of cars which will handle the entire population in 15
is first-class service, more than this is considered poor. min. When hazardous processes are carried on this time
A example of the influence of waiting time in a
single allowance may be too long and must then be adjusted tc
newspaper printing plant may be cited. There is a certain the special needs.
value attached to getting out an edition of a newspaper In case of fire the management of the traffic is important.
in the shortest possible large cities
time, particularly in It must be decided whether this is dependable under emer-
where competition is keen. This means, therefore, that the gency conditions. The traffic on the floor where the fire
elevators must not restrict the continuous flow of papers exists should be cared for first followed by the traffic on
474 ELEVATORS
the upper floors, leaving that below the fire floor for the Consider now the elevator with respect to its cost of
last. operation. The elevator service determined from this
The most economical arrangement from the viewpoint of viewpoint must perhaps be modified for any special or
cost is a problem accounting, and may now be
of cost emergency requirements. The problem becomes simplified
considered. Briefly, the cost of operation depends upon the if each of the several equipments under consideration is
fixed chargesand the operating expenses. A broad though investigated as to its total cost of operation including all
somewhat arbitrary analysis views the fixed charges as those items involved.
which do not depend upon the traffic and the operating The general plan is to select the types of equipment which
expenses as those which in some measure are proportional seems to fit best the needs of the problem. The cost of
to the traffic. Of the fixed charges there appear the fol- operation of the different plans is then determined. This
is at best tedious work and the
lowing factors : advisability of making such
an analysis must be determined beforehand. Then consider
(a) Interest on the investment, on the actual cost and the the influence of the items which prolong the round trip
cost of obtaining capital, engineering expenses, etc.
time. In computing the cost of operation for these it is
(b) Rental value of space occupied by elevators. best to select a particular item and study it, holding the
(c) Depreciation. other variables constant so far as it is possible. Any at-
(d) Obsolescence. tempt to treat the problem as a whole will result in con-
(e) Insurance. fusion. Comparisons between various proposed plans can
Taxes.
(f) only be made when they may be reasonably well measured
(g) Management. by known standards.
(h) General overhead.
The operating expenses show as factors
Cost of power.
Location
(a)
(b) Cost of labor. Elevators are installed for freight, passenger, or com-
(c) Maintenance. bined freight and passenger service. In general, elevators
(d) Supplies. should not be restricted to freight service, since the temp-
tation to ride is often irresistible.
The between depreciation, obsolescence and
distinction
The normal service of an elevator is not always the
maintenance deserves mention here. Every machine will
determining factor. Plant equipment, maintenance and
wear as time goes on. If the repairs are such that the
reconstruction may impose car sizes other than those best
unimpaired there is no depreciation. Re-
initial efficiency is
suited for the normal service. A large elevator invites
pairs usually maintain a machine in operating condition, but
overload and it is best to keep its size as small as possible,
the time may arrive when the cost of repairs reaches a point
r.ll factors considered.
where pays to discard the initial machine and replace it
it
The elevator service may be designed for one or more
with a new one. The time between installation and re-
tenants. The simplest case occurs when one tenant occupies
placement is known as the life of a machine and account-
the entire building.
ants usually estimate a certain percentage which should be
A
survey of the plant transportation system may disclose
set aside torefund the original purchase price when the
the logical location of the elevator. This is to be considered
life of a machine is terminated.
with respect to the receiving of the raw material and the
Obsolescence in this case is a term used for such classes
shipping of the finished product. If one elevator is to serve
of machines as become of lesser comparative efficiency be-
all purposes the just compromise will attach due weight
cause of subsequent improvement in their kind. As an ex- to all the various factors. If the
transportation system is
ample, suppose a certain type of machine is installed, the sufficiently elaborate, may be required
separate elevators
operating expense of which is a given sum. After a few each of which serves its specific purpose. In any event it
years of service a new machine may be marketed which should be possible to outline its duties and from this de-
is so much more efficient that it does not pay to continue termine the amount of work that may reasonably be re-
the use of the old one.
quired of it.
Another aspect of the question is shown by the following elevators are used in any transportation system
If several
illustration. Suppose the case of a manufacturing estab- they should be grouped in banks as far as possible. The
lishment where all products are made by automatic ma- advantage of this arrangement is the decreased waiting
chinery. If a plant is installed and the product marketed, time. When elevators are grouped there should be adequate
after a given time a certain profit is made. Assume an- standing room for passengers, goods, trucks, etc. A par-
other manufacturer starting in the same business one year ticularly poor arrangement is the case where the bank of
later but using an improved type of machine which reduces elevators faces a wall with a narrow aisle as the only
the production costs to such an extent as to offset the loss access.
entailed by the deferred beginning. These conditions might Where traffic is heavy it might be found advisable to have
mean that the former of the competitors must give up the elevators arranged to load from one side and discharge from
business entirely. Here the obsolescence in one year is the opposite side. This relieves congestion due to the inter-
therefore one hundred per cent. ference of goods received and delivered. A coordination
Applied to elevator practice the plunger type elevator of design and management may be necessary in cases where
costs' about three times as much to operate as does the the elevator is taxed to its utmost. Continuous service
electric elevator for the same service and yet there is not should be the aim in layout. Intermittent service does not
sufficient justification to discard the originalequipment permit efficiency in the handling crews.
and replace it with more modern types. When, however, As a general rule, a normal transportation condition will
the useful life of the elevator terminates the owner may prevail. But for various reasons departures may occur.
choose a machine of the newer type and the problem is The elevator service' must accommodate these abnormal con-
automatically settled. ditions even if the service must suffer temporarily. A hope-
FACTORS OF THE ELEVATOR PROBLEM 475
Emergency Use
The elevator shaft isboth a fire hazard and an agency
for the saving of lives and property in case of fire. The
fire hazard is due to the necessary communication between
floors and the fact that the shaft, acting as a flue, directs
the fire toward the hoistway.
The use of the elevator as a means of escape in case
of emergency requires that its capacity should be adequate
to provide at least for the passenger travel under these
conditions. But it might better be large enough to accom-
modate also such merchandise of extremely high value as is
stored in the building.
In city buildings it is assumed that the total population
of the building can be moved in 15 minutes. For this
reason, if the elevator is to be used as an additional means
of escape it should not be located in the vicinity of hazard-
ous processes.
Motive Power
The choice of motive power for an elevator is often
subject to local conditions. In buildings where power is
Stairs
Elevator.
Street.
PLAN A.
1
476 ELEVATORS
is located convenient to the offices. The freight elevators speed elevators, is the inertia of the moving masses. These
must be located convenient to the street entrance and well masses must be accelerated at a given rate to bring them up
toward the front of the building to prevent the waste of to their proper speed. This energy in the high speed high
space in a long hallway leading to the elevators. They rise elevators is a considerable part of the total energy
are accordingly located near the side walls of the building required. On
stopping this energy is absorbed by the brakes
as shown. This arrangement encroaches upon the office and is dissipated in the form of heat since coasting is not
space, particularly where the building is narrower than the used in elevator practice.
one shown. Therefore the layout is suitable only when suffi- Having a proposed layout of the elevator equipment at
cient frontage is available. hand the pull on the lifting cables is due to the force re-
Where the building is such that entrance is possible from quired to accelerate, hoist the unbalanced load, overcome
two streets a separation of passenger and freight elevator friction in the guides of both car and counterweight, and
service is possible. In plan C is shown an arrangement for the air friction of the car and other moving parts of the
excellent passenger service in a class of loft buildings where system.
good office facilities are required. Here the freight eleva- The pull on the cables due to the acceleration is the
tors open directly to the street and are arranged to receive product of the mass and the acceleration of the car. The
from and deliver to trucks. If one tenant occupies the floor additional pull due to the load is dependent upon the un-
the partition and vestibule to the freight elevators may be balanced weight and is readily obtainable. The various
removed, thereby giving additional room. friction losses must be estimated from tests on previous
Plan D is a layout for a large warehouse where the installations of a similar character. It is fortunate in this
elevator service is a most important factor. Here are connection that windage losses are least at starting and
shown 30 elevators arranged in banks of five each. This become a maximum at full speed where the acceleration
plan lends itself to "central control" of elevators in which becomes zero. Having these three the total pull on the
operators are not required on each car. It is used in con- ropes is equal to their sum. This pull when multiplied by
nection with the trailer truck method of transportation. the radius of the driving sheave gives the torque which must
When the trucks are loaded and a train is made up, a be applied to the sheave shaft in order to exert this pull
central operator is signalled who dispatches a car to that on the cables. If this torque is divided by the efficiency of
point. When the elevator is loaded and all
the gates are
closed the destination is announced to the operator by tele- ?0 25 30 40 50 60 70 90 150 JOO 300 400 500 600
phone and the car promptly proceeds to the desired floor.
The handling crew on this floor take charge of the train on
its arrival. Such a layout is desirable where the handling
is nearly continuous.
Power Consumption
A complete analysis of the power requirements of an ele-
vator installation is a tedious operation. The hydraulic
equipments were treated in detail by Brown* to which the
reader is referred.
The electric elevators are not unlike the hydraulic ele-
vator in this respect. However, there is this one difference
after the installation is complete the electric elevator is
The motorefficiency depends somewhat upon whether they Chart for Determining Horsepower of a Motor
are to be used for direct or alternating current. The manu-
facturers of motors have available efficiency curves for the gear it will give the torque which must be provided
proposed elevator equipment. Such data should give effi-
by the motor.
ciency for all loads, since elevators are rarely subjected The required electrical input to the motor is obtained
to constant load. This will determine the motor efficiency by dividing the torque at the shaft by the motor efficiency
for any load. at the given load and speed.
The gear efficiency depends upon the type of gear reduc- Itmust be noted that all the foregoing quantities vary
tion used; i. e., worm drive or herringbone gear. Where with the speed and the complete analysis involves consider-
the motor is direct-connected to the driving sheave, as in able computation. The problem is made still more com-
traction elevators, this gear loss is entirely eliminated. by the inherent characteristics of the elevator
plicated
The very important item, particularly in high rise high control. The power input to the motor must be that
total
used in the motor and that lost in the starting resistances
Passeneer Elevators, Transaction of the American Society of
Civil Engineers, Vol. LIV., Fart B, 1905.
and other control apparatus.
ELECTRIC ELEVATORS 477
Fortunately, however, in comparing several elevators for required motor horse power. For example, suppose the net
the same service there are some elements in common and load is 2500 Ib. and the car speed is 200 ft. per min., the
the analysis may be narrowed down to one, or at least a intersection of these lines occurs at the horizontal line
few elements. marked 30. Hence the required size of motor is 30 horse-
When the elevator installation is made the energy of the power.
moving masses may be found by a method described by If the efficiency is known to be other than SO per cent.,
Lindquist*, which, however, will not be given here. say, 60 per cent, the required size will be five-sixths of this,
For an approximate determination of motor sizes on or 25 horsepower.
electric elevators the following treatment may be used. The In general the horsepower may be calculated from the
horsepower of the motor depends upon three factors net equation.
weight to be hoisted, speed and efficiency of the elevator.
The net weight in general is the weight of the car and the H.P. =
33000E
load less the counterbalance. The the sum of the
car counterbalance plus the overbalance. It is assumed that
latter is
=
H.P. rated horsepower of the motor.
Electric Elevators
A treatise covering electric elevators can probably best since produces a good starting torque. This compound
it
be attempted by presenting a discussion covering the units field short circuited by the controller after starting the
is
including motors, drives, controls, breaking, etc., which, motor and it then continues to operate as a constant speed
combined, have made the elevator in its present high state shunt machine. If elevators- are used for speeds over 200
of development possible. ft.per min. they should be provided with taps into the
shunt field so that the field may be weakened, thereby in-
Motors creasing the speed. This is done automatically by the con-
The type of motor is either direct current or alternating troller. The
speed variation by field regulation amounts to
current depending on local conditions. The voltages on from 40 per cent to 60 per cent of the full speed. Addi-
commercial direct current circuits are 110-120 volts, 220-240 tional speed variation is obtained with resistances in series
volts of 500-600 volts, the latter being common for trolley with the armature.
service. The more common voltage is 220-240 volts. On high speed equipments dynamic braking is provided in
Thealternating current voltages vary about the same as addition to the mechanical braking. This is accomplished
the direct circuit voltages, but the lower voltage (110-120) by either putting a resistor across the armature terminals
is not commonly used for elevator service. In addition to or by throwing a low resistance field across the armature
the voltage there are additional characteristics of alternating terminals. In the latter case the dynamic braking is pro-
current circuits to be considered, such as frequency and portional to the speed and therefore to the load, thus giving
number of phases. Common frequencies are 25 and 60 good stops under all conditions.
cycles per second. The phases are either single or polyphase, If dynamic braking is provided the motor should be able
the latter being two-phase or three-phase. The two-phase to commutate from 150 per cent to 200 per cent full load
current, moreover may be supplied by either three or four- current without undue sparking. The shunt field of the
wire circuits. motor must abo be able to withstand about one-half of the
A any motor for direct drive
desirable characteristic of line voltage continuously without excessive heating.
elevator use low inertia of the armature in the case of
is Interpole motors are suitable for elevator service when
direct current machines and of the rotor in alternating cur- dynamic braking is provided. Their function is to neutral-
rent machines. Energy is supplied to the motor by the ize the cross-magnetising effect due to the current in the
current taken from the line and is dissipated in the brake armature. It is the distortion of the field due to the arma-
in the form of heat and every start or stop is a source of ture current which shifts the plane of commutation. If a
loss. For heavy exacting service, therefore, this loss re- field in the interpoles directly proportional to the armature
quires attention. In general, the slow speed and the small current is provided no distortion of the main magnetic field
diameter rotating elements are desirable features. These results and the plane of commutation remains constant for
characteristics are known to motor manufacturers and all loads. Since dynamic braking requires the commutation
have been given due consideration. Where several equip- of heavy armature currents this type of motor should be
ments are offered for the same service this item must be de- provided is such cases.
cided by the person responsible for the layout. For the slow speed motors the solenoid brake is sufficient
Direct current motors should be compound wound with to bring the car to rest and the expense of the more com-
from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the ampere turns in the dynamic brake is not justified.
plicated
field at full load. The strong field thus secured is desirable For alternating current service the induction motor is
478 ELEVATORS
most frequently used. For single phase circuits on freight versa, the counterweight cables may use the same grooves
elevators it is sometimes desirable to have the motor run as the lifting cables. Thus when one set unwinds from the
in one direction, using two belts, one open and one crossed drum the other cables are being wound.
to accomplish the reversal of the car. The standard split- The mechanical connection between the motor and the
phase or repulsion-induction types of motors are unsuitable drum may be chain, worm and wheel, spur gear, internal
for elevator service. Service types of self-starting repul- spur gear, herringbone gear or suitable combinations. Each
sion-induction motors which absolutely insure reversal of form has advantages either mechanical, structural or
the motor when the connections are reversed quickly can financial. It is therefore not an easy matter to decide the
be satisfactorily employed. best form. However, the record of good practice has done
Special variable speed alternating current motors have much to define the field of certain types.
recently been developed where the number of poles is The chain drive is suitable for the lighter loads. It is
changed, thus giving two running speeds. These may be used cases where a positive drive is required and the
in
used for elevators running over 200 ft. per min. distance between shafts is too large for gearing. Chains
Alternating current motors have certain limitations which stretch in service and their pitch therefore increases; hence
are not true of direct current machines, chief of which is the fit becomes less perfect as time goes on.
the inability to get moderate changes in speed without Spur gears are used only on the very slow speed equip-
serious changes in the torque. For the ordinary induction ments. This is mainly due to the noise caused by the back
motor the speed at no load is nearly that of the -synchronous lash in the gears. A modification of the spur gear the
speed corresponding to the frequency of the supply cir- herringbone gear preserves the rolling action principle of
cuit. As the load increases the speed falls off slightly. This the simple spur gear but the additional smoothness of
drop speed divided by the synchronous speed expressed as
in action and the high efficiency when properly constructed
a percentage is known as the "slip." If a motor has make it a desirable drive.
a slip of more than 10 per cent it is unsuitable for elevator The worm gear has been a favored drive from the earliest
service. elevators. However, the action is sliding and the necessity
The two general classes of polyphase induction motors are of good lubrication for such gears is important. The rea-
the slip ring and the squirrel cage types. The slip ring son for using gear reductions of any kind on elevator
hence such motors have operating characteristics closely speed of the drum. If the motor speed is known or can
be measured and if the gear ratio is known the drum speed
resembling those of shunt wound direct current motors.
is easily determined. This drum speed in revolutions per
Polyphase squirrel cage motors may be used where suffi-
minute multiplied by the periphery of the drum in feet
cient power and line capacity are available. Such motors
gives the car speed in feet per minute. Thus, having speci-
take from two to three times normal current at starting.
fied the car speed desired the designer may vary the drum
Hence they must be limited to sizes below about 15 horse-
diameter, the gear ratio or the motor speed. As a result
power. The particular objection to using such large start-
the drum type of elevator is special for nearly every installa-
ing currents lies in the fact that they cause a serious drop
tion. The length of the drum is dependent upon the total
in the line voltage. If lamps and other motors are con-
rise. Each revolution of the drum winds up a length of
nected to the same circuit the lamps will flicker and the
cable equal to the periphery; the number of turns, there-
motors will momentarily drop in speed during the times
is equal to the total rise of the car divided
The starting torque of
fore, by the
of these heavy drafts of current.
length of cable wound per turn. Finally the length of the
elevator motors should be at a maximum during the ac-
drum is equal to the pitch of the scoring multiplied by
celeration period. Accordingly the introduction of resist- the number of turns required. An allowance of a full
ances in series with the squirrel cage motor to limit the
turn at each end is added since the cables usually have a
starting current are not advisable since this also decreases full turn before they lift the load.
the starting torque.
sides is used and the lifting and counterweight cables pass to the motor pinion adjacent to the drum. The control is
over the overhead sheaves to the winding engine and coun- obtained by means of a cable actuated by hand-rope, lever
terweight respectively. The arrangement of counterweights or wheel in the car.
is a matter of layout. As a general rule they are placed
where convenient, after the location of car gates has been Internal Gear Worm Drive
decided. The type of car illustrated is suitable for speeds The chain drive engine just described showed a method
not to exceed 50 ft. per min. The loads should not exceed of acquiring gear reduction in addition to that obtained
5,000 lb., but with suitable changes in the design the bv the simple worm drive. Another solution of the same
carrying capacity may be made much higher. problem is offered by the internal geared engine, where the
Worm Gear Winding Engine Basement Worm Gear Winding Engine Overhead Installation
For freight service an overhead installation has the par- motor drives the worm and worm wheel in the usual way,
ticular advantage in that itrequires less rope. The inertia but the worm wheel shaft carries a pinion which meshes
of the cables is decreased and therefore also the power con- with the internal gear on the winding drum. The elevator
sumption. The
increased cost of installing overhead may, is arranged for some form of mechanical control and also
however, be sufficient to make it advisable to locate the provided with a mechanical brake.
elevator in the basement, even with the disadvantage of
increased This true
Tandem Gear Winding Drum
power consumption. is particularly
of heavy machines. Where the loads or the speeds are too high for a single
worm and worm wheel gear may be
reduction tandem
Chain Drive Worm Gear used. The motor should be entirely enclosed when used
Where loads are unusually heavy and may be operated at in places where moisture or dust prevail. In such cases
low speeds the gear reduction obtained by a single worm a portion of the heat generated by the motor must be dissi-
and worm wheel may be insufficient. One solution of this pated' by radiation from the outside surface of the motor.
problem is the chain driven elevator in which a chain drive Thus enclosing the motor reduces the capacity seriously ;
is used in addition to the worm and wheel drive. In a accordingly installations of this kind demand larger motors
typical arrangement which is used when considerable gear for the same work. When such installations are under
reduction is desired and when the installation does not advisement the motor manufacturer should be informed so
warrant the more expensive internal gear drive or even the that a motor will be furnished of such size that the tempera-
herringbone drive the winding end is substantially the same ture of the interior shall not rise to a point such as to
as the ordinary worm drive and the chain sprocket is geared destroy the insulation of the windings.
480 ELEVATORS
With the worms cut right and left hand the end thrust herringbone (or spur gears in general) is that in worm
which isalways present in single cut worms is eliminated. drives there is sliding motion while in the herringbone
A thrust bearing is always provided on simple worm drives gear the action is principally rolling motion. Worm drives,
to take up the thrust. require great care in their lubrication since with the
ness of this safety feature decreases since the weight of the the driving sheave is the same as the speed of the car ex-
for the slight influence of the slip of the cables.
cables may be sufficient to produce the necessary traction cept
to bring about the dangerous overtravcl.
Two-to-One Traction Elevator
Traction elevators may be used for any rise with less
A diagrammatic illustration of a two-to-one traction
complication than the winding drum type machine. In the
equipment is depicted. Here the cables from the drive
sheave pass over a sheave secured to the car and the free
ends are fastened to the beams which support the engine
overhead. The counterweights are roped in the same way.
-Driving Under these conditions the car speed is practically one-half
Sheave
of the peripheral speed of the driving sheave.
and rises vary widely. For the traction machine, with any
given gear ratio the car speed is also nearly proportional
to the diameter of the driving sheave.
Traction elevatorsmay be either gearless or geared. The
gearlcss elevator may be one-to-one (1:1) or two-to-one
(2:1) rope geared. The simplest form of the drive is the
one-to-one. Where it is desired to save on the cost of the
motor the two-to-one permits the use of a motor of twice
the speed if the driving sheave and the car speed remain
the same. For the same horsepower output the cost de-
creases with increase in speed of the motor.
The geared machines used either worm or herringbone
gears. They use higher speed motors than the gearless and
are therefore less expensive. It is intended that the de-
crease in the initial cost will compensate for the increased Spur Gear Traction Engine
cost of operation due to the gears. Whether it does, must since more energy is stored in the armature the brakes
be determined by investigation. must be designed to dissipate more of the kinetic energy.
Since this dissipation of energy by means of the brakes is
One-to-One Gearless Traction Engine
accompanied by wear the life of the brakes is shortened in
Traction elevators when used for high speed service are the high speed motor equipment. The simple type of spur
usually of the one-to-one ratio. With the same mechanism geared automobile elevator illustrated is used on slow speed
the car speed may be reduced to one-half this speed by equipments where the noise of the gears is not objection-
means of a two-to-one ratio. able.
The particular characteristic of the one-to-one type is Worm Geared Traction Engine
that the car is suspended directly from the rope as it For smoother action than that obtainable with spur gears
leaves the driving sheave. Thus the peripheral speed of a worm drive may be suitable. This permits a low cost
482 ELEVATORS
motor to be used and gives operating speeds from 50 ft. The machine shown is equipped with a mechanical brake.
to 150 ft. per min. There isalso a traveling nut device to open the motor circuit
Internal Gear Worm Drive Traction Engine when the platform reaches either of the terminal landings.
As in drum winding engines the internal gear in addi- Additional safety features may be added. The one com-
tion to the worm used to give greater gear ratios
drive is monly used is the rope-lock described elsewhere. Several
than those obtainable with the simple worm drive. These of the devices considered under the
heading of electric
control may be used in connection with these elevators.
equipments are used on slow speed elevators for heavy
loads. However, since belted elevators are used for slow speed
Where the duty is heavier or the speed is greater than freight service (less than 100 ft. and usually from 30 ft.
to 50 ft. per min.) and in low cost
that which is safe practice for single worm gear drives equipments the control
the tandem
arrangement offers a solution. The idler refinements are ordinarily reduced to a minimum.
sheaves may be placed below or overhead, the latter ar- In the floor winding engine of the double belt
type de-
rangement being suitable for basement installations. These scribed the engine consists of a drum shaft on which are
elevators are used for car speeds as high as 450 ft. per min. located the winding drum and the worm wheel. The car
and counterweight cables arc wound on the scored winding
Herringbone Gear Traction Engine drum. The operating rope is secured to the shipper wheel
The
desirable qualities of herringbone gears have pre-
shown in front of the drum.
The projecting pins on the
viously been mentioned. The use of the high gear ratio
shipper wheel engage in forked fingers secured one to each
permits the use of high speed motors and yet brings the of the two horizontal rods near the base.
cost of the elevator installation within commercial limits Turning the
shipper wheel permits the operation of only one of the
in cases where gearless outfits might be out of the question. belt shifters.
The worm, brake and three pulleys are located on the
Belt Drives worm shaft. The two outer pulleys are loose on the shaft
Belted elevators are used where the loads are sufficiently and the centre pulley is keyed to it. On the motor or line
heavy to be inconvenient for operation by hand-power but shaft is secured a pulley of the same width as that of the
where the greater expense of direct-driven power elevators three pulleys on the worm shaft. Two belts are
used, one
cannot be justified. They are made for operation with a open and the other crossed, the width of each some- being
single or a double belt. what narrower than the pulleys on which they operate.
When a single belt is used it is necessary to install a In the position of rest the two belts run loosely on
reversible motor so as to enable the car to travel up or the idler If the operator wishes to start
(outer) pulleys.
down. If taken from a line shaft which cannot
power is the car he pulls the hand-rope, which in turn actuates
the
be reversed the up and down travel of the car may be shipper wheel on the drum shaft extension. This releases
accomplished by the use of a double belt elevator. Here the brake and causes only one of the belt shifters to
move
the belts are arranged so that an open and a crossed belt so as to slide the belt onto the centre or driving
pulley.
are used. To stop the car the hand-rope is moved in the opposite
In the illustration of a single belt electric elevator de- direction, the shipper wheel returns to the central
position,
shifts the belt back to the idler
picted the motor and the machine are shown on the ceiling. pulley and finally applies
The motor is started and reversed by means of a hand- the brake. The car will then come to a stop in a time
dependent upon the pressure which the brake applies.
The safety features usually included consist of the rope
lock, slack cable stop and limitation stop at extreme land-
ings.
Braking
The two braking methods commercially used in elevator
practice are accomplished by mechanical and
by electrical
means. On all slow speed elevators the mechanical brake
alone is used. For speeds over 100 ft. per min. dynamic
braking is used in addition to the mechanical braking.
Practice varies considerably in this respect because of the
varying conditions of operation. For example, if the
service is reasonably constant it does not pay to
open the
field circuit every time the elevator
Single Belt Electric Elevator is brought to a
stop. In the ordinary compound wound direct current
rope in the shaft, which operates the controller. The motor motor the torque on the shaft is proportional to the field
drives the pulley which is keyed to the worm shaft. A strength and to the armature current. In the building up
worm and wheel afford additional means of speed reduc- of the magnetic field the inductance of the field winding
tion to the speed reduction obtained limits the current passing through it, which in turn limits
by the difference in
the pulley diameters on the motor and on the worm shaft. the field strength. Thus at starting when the field is weak
The worm wheel is keyed to the shaft on which the drum the armature current must be increased for a given torque.
is keyed. The drum is scored to receive the hoisting and The armature losses vary with the square of the current in-
counterweight cables and the helical winding of the ropes put for constant resistance in the armature circuit. The point
on the drum is accomplished without danger of chafing. to consider, therefore, is whether the saving in the electric
ELECTRIC ELEVATORS 483
energy by interrupting the field during the periods of rest special precautions.The pull feature of direct current mag-
compensated for the decreased armature losses due to the nets makes them more suitable for brake service than alter-
smaller starting currents when the field is continuously in nating current magnets. With direct current magnets the
circuit. pull increases as the stroke decreases, thus insuring a
Mechanical Brakes greater pull as the brake spring tension increases. With
alternating current magnets the pull is practically constant
The mechanical brakes used in elevator practice are al-
most invariably of the shoe type. The brakes when normally throughout the stroke. This characteristic should be taken
into account when designing a brake mechanism for this
applied are held by springs or weights and are released
type.
mechanically or electrically just preceding the admission of
The best design of brake mechanism is one which utilizes
current to the armature of the elevator motor. The general
the full pulling power of the solenoid throughout the stroke.
practice is to use a solenoid to release the brakes and a
Moreover, it is just as important that the magnet selected
spring to apply them after the solenoid is de-energized, al-
should not be too large for the brake, as that it should not
though an electric motor is sometimes employed in place of
be too small. If the magnet has considerable excess
a solenoid. power
there will be a tendency for the plunger to pull in with an
In the direct current types of solenoids two styles of
excessive hammer
blow. This will not only make it noisy
winding are available, namely the shunt and the compound.
in but will unduly strain the magnet and the
operation,
In the shunt wound magnet a single coil is connected across
mechanical transmission system, in addition to requiring a
the line to release the brake. In the compound wound there
larger amount of power than is necessary.
are two coils in the same frame, a shunt and a series coil.
Particular care should also be exercised in mounting these
The shunt coil is connected across the line, while the series
magnets on the brake mechanism to avoid all side strains
on the plunger. Any undue side pull on the plunger will
prevent seating squarely against the plug and will cause
its
Dynamic Braking
Brake for Elevator Machine
For high speed cars the energy to be absorbed in the
coil is in series with the armature. After the brake is re- electro-mecha'nical brake may be so great as to cause ex-
leased by the combined action of the two coils, the series cessive heating or it may require a brake mechanism of un-
coil is cut out of circuit by the controller, while the shunt duly large proportions. A
part of this energy may be
coil is left connected across the line to keep the brake re- dissipated in direct current machines by causing the motor
leased. .
With the compound winding, greater pull is obtained to act as a generator and short-circuiting it through a suit-
with the same magnet frame than with the plain shunt able resistor. This requires that the field should be on all
winding. The compound winding can only be used where the time and this must therefore be taken into account in
the controller is provided with contacts for cutting the series the design of the motor itself.
coil out of circuit when in the full speed position. On compound wound motors the field strength is propor-
rent magnets to specify both the voltage and the frequency ing effect is proportional to the speed. This is a desirable
at which they are to be used. These magnets are shunt characteristic and permits the graduation of the dynamic
wound only. and therefore to the load.
effect in proportion to the speed
Alternating current magnets have certain characteristics Hence good stops are possible under all conditions of load.
not found in direct current magnets and their use requires The controller must be suitably designed to include this-
484 ELEVATORS
feature. The dynamic brake switch upon closing establishes of the car entirely in the hands of the operator. It is
an armature shunt circuit, thus electrically loading the motor. used both for passenger and for freight service, particu-
The switch is closed by a coiled spring and is opened mag- larly if the car speeds are high.
netically. It is therefore independent of the power or the The equipment consists of a switch or controller located
counter-electromotive force of the motor for its closing. in the car and a number of auxiliary devices which are
In case of interruption of the coil circuit either by normal described in another place, a controller located in the
operation or because of accident to the coil or the wiring to machine room, and the necessary electrical cables to
the coil, it will close and establish the dynamic braking cir- establish the circuits.
machines. Its use on belted machines introduces a compli- position when released by the operator.
cation which is not when the more reliable (c) Automatic stop switch on car for stops at terminal
justifiable
standard devices are considered. The various types of landings in case the operator tries to overrun the landing.
control are car switch, push-button, dual control and cen- (d) Final cut-out limit switches in hoistway operating
ployed to operate the elevator. This places the movement (f) Switch operated by centrifugal governor to stop
ELECTRIC ELEVATORS 485
the car automatically in case of overspeed; the first switch to open the proper contacts. As the car moves away from
shuts off power and dynamic brake effect on
applies the these extreme landings the traveling nut backs off and
the armature of the driving motor and the mechanical brake releases the yoke. A weight and chain centering device
on the brake pulley the second switch applies a light
;
returns the limit switch to the normal operating position.
retarding force on the car safety when equipped with an The cams for the final stops are keyed to the shaft since
electro-mechanical safety. these are fixed limits, while the slow-down contact cams
(g) The safety switch in the car and under the control are left adjustable.
of operator performs the same
the function as the two
Traveling Cam Limit Switch
switches operated by the governor.
(h) Regulation of the shunt field by a centrifugal gov-
If traveling-nut mechanism is not supplied with the
a
elevator engine the traveling-nut type limit switch may
ernor to maintain constant full speed with variable loads.
Oil buffers stopping the fully loaded car when de- be used. This device combines the functions of the ordinary
(i)
traveling-nut mechanism and a machine limit switch. In
scending at 50 per cent excess speed.
(j) Reverse phase relay on alternating current circuits application geared directly to the shaft of the wind-
it is
to stop the motor in case of power failure of one or more ing drum. It is equipped with two double-pole snap
switches for each limit of elevator travel. The threaded
phases. t ,_jj
Electric Elevator Auxiliary Devices operating shaft carries a traveling nut which moves from
one end of the shaft to the other for the full travel of
In addition to the controls already described there are the elevator from bottom to top landings. The nut en-
numerous auxiliary devices in common use. These in-
gages with cams which operate the switches at the limits
clude, the reversing switch, car switch, stack cable switch, of travel. The four double-pole switches are adjustable
door safety switch and other switches which are de- on their supporting rods and are to be positively locked
scribed below. after adjustment so as to maintain their proper position
Reversing Switch in use.
When the drum is thrown to the "off" position the main in thehatchway for similar reasons. It is operated by a
line contactor opens before the contacts on the drum re- cam on the car and may also be used for any type of
verse the switch. Thus no arcing occurs on the main con- electric elevator.
tacts. In the "off" position the controller disconnects the Car Switch
motor and the brake magnet from both sides of the line. The elevator car switch is used with all full magnetic
The switch may belocated in any place convenient to the type controllers where an operator is employed. Where
shipper rope, either on the wall, machine or on the con- necessary the switch provided for three speeds in each
is
troller itself. direction, slow-down, normal and high speed. The slow-
down speed is required in order to permit good stops.
Machine Limit Switch for Drum Winding Machines It also permits "inching" towards a landing in case of
Car switch controlled drum type elevators are usually poor stops.
equipped with a machine limit switch. This is geared to Where ais provided on the controller for over-
relay
the winding machine to provide means for automatically load a maintaining coil for this relay is en-
protection,
stopping at the top and bottom landings. These limit ergized when the car switch is in the running position by
switches open the control circuit of the magnet switches means of contacts provided for the purpose. After an
on the controllers. If the controller is equipped with a overload occurs, it is impossible to operate the elevator
slow-down feature at terminal landings the machine limit without first returning the car switch to the "off" position
switch will do this automatically. which resets the overload relay.
If a traveling-nut mechanism is provided on the elevator The construction used varies with the manufacturer.
machine the rotating cam type of limit switch may One type of car which is mounted on a pedestal conven-
be used. This type of switch has single pole contacts for ient to the operator. It is so constructed that each of
the slow-down feature at terminal landings and double- the speeds is positively selected "dead by the operator. A
pole contacts for stopping the elevator. The switch is man's handle" or spring return is included so that in case
so arranged that when the traveling nut of the winding the operator removes his hand the lever will return to
machine engages a yoke at the positions corresponding to the "off" position and immediately bring the car to rest.
the top and bottom landings, its shaft is rotated so as This feature is of value in cases of illness or accident
486 ELEVATORS
to the operator when a panic might ensue should the car switch on the controller. Door safety switches may then
continue on journey. However, should the car proceed
its be installed to interrupt the coil circuit to the main line
the other limit switches usual in elevator practice would act. switch. With this arrangement, however, if the voltage
Though these may not be apparent to the passenger, in the failswhile the control rope or lever is in the "on" position,
stress of emergency they would bring the car to
such the return of voltage will automatically start the elevator
rest at the top or bottom landing. When once at rest the and the unexpected start may cause an accident. If the
accidental starting of the elevator from any cause is im- elevator is opening a door and the shipper
stopped by
possible for it is necessary to release a spring latch before mechanism is left in the "on" position the closing of the
the handle can be moved. door will start the elevator and may also cause an acci-
dent.
Car Safety Switch To eliminate these possibilities, a relay and a shipper-
A
car safety switch is used in connection with the car bar interlock may be added to the equipment. This ar-
switch described. It is mounted near the operator for his rangement makes it necessary to return the operating cable
convenience. The switch is single pole and is connected to the "off" position in order to again start after voltage
with the control circuit on the side of opposite polarity failure, or after stopping by the opening of a door.
to the car switch so as to provide a safety stop regardless The relay is a small magnetic switch which can be
of any possible combination of grounds in the control mounted on the panel with the magnetic main switch.
cables. Any ground serious enough to interfere with the The shipper-bar interlock consists of a switch and a
operation of both the car switch and the safety switch will cam, operated by the same mechanism that throws
render the elevator control equipment itself inoperative. the reversing switch. The cam is arranged to en-
The switch has an "on" and "off" position so that in case gage the door switch only when the reversing switch is
the operator is momentarily away from the car, tampering in the "off" position so that the control circuit is only
with the car switch by passengers will not cause it to start. closed in this position. In case of the return of voltage
after failure, or in case a door is closed with the operat-
Slack Cable Switch ing mechanism in the running position, the elevator will
not start. When the operating mechanism is thrown to
There the possibility of the cables slackening due to
is
the "off" position, normal conditions are restored and the
the car or the counterweight becoming caught in the guides.
elevator will start when the operating mechanism is again
Under these circumstances the unwinding of the cables by
thrown into the running position.
the motor would continue thus permitting the sudden drop
of the counterweight or car should the hindrance give way. Phase Failure and Phase Reversal Relay Switch
This may induce a considerable stress in the cables which
On polyphase alternating current installations the failure
may overstain them and perhaps break them. Slack cables
of one phase may burn out the motor because of the over-
may also result from excessive swaying which may cause
load thrown on the remaining phase or phases, in the case
the cables to jump their sheaves. To guard against these
of two or three-phase circuits, respectively. The reversal
possibilities a slack cable switch is located in the machine
of a phase will reverse the motor and may cause the car
room so that a small amount of slack will trip the main
to overtravel into the head beams above or into the pit.
contactor thus automatically opening the control circuit
To eliminate these dangers a special device is required.
and bringing the car to rest.
The functions such a device should perform are :
usually attached to the reversing mechanism. With some automatic in its operation to avoid the possible error or
equipments the reversing switch controls a magnetic main abuse were its functions dependent upon the will or judg-
ELECTRIC ELEVATORS 487
Controllers are used for direct or and two for emergency overtravel protection. If slow-
ment of an operator.
and their particular char- down is desired two additional slow-down switches should
for alternating current motors
be used.
acteristics will be described.
A complete equipment for car switch control will in-
clude car, machine limit, hatchway limit, slack cable, car
Direct Current Semi-Magnetic Controller
safety, doer safety, and door emergency cut-out switches.
This type of controller is used in connection with rope,
the
The equipment may also require a solenoid brake in ad-
lever or wheel control and is therefore limited by One
dition to the dynamic brake previously mentioned.
min. for the rope
Safety Code to speeds of 100 ft. per five-wire and one two-wire car control cable should be
control
control and 150 ft. per min. for lever or wheel
supplied if slow-down is desired. Otherwise, a three-wire
using a shipper rope. cable may be used. These figures include no reserve of
of control re-
The minimum equipment for this class
control cables.
actuated by the shipper
quires a reversing switch, which is For push-button control the full equipment will require
to govern the move-
rope, and the automatic starting panel
push-button, hatchway limit, slack cable, door safety, door
ment of the elevator. The special features to be included
emergency, cut-out switches and a floor selector if there
in the controller proper should be low voltage release,
are more than two landings. A
solenoid brake should
time limit acceleration to regulate the rate of acceleration,
be used and, if desirable, a dynamic brake, particularly if
motor reversal to occur only with all resistance in circuit, the speed exceeds 100 ft. per min. A non-interference
cut-out for series field when the motor is under headway,
feature should also be included if the calling may be
and a field discharge resistor if dynamic braking is not from more than one station.
provided. A controller which is suitable for single speed elevator
Additional accessories that may be used with this equip-
motor for passenger and freight service and car speeds
ment are hatchway limit, slack cable, car safety, door not to exceed 175 ft. per min., or dumb waiter service not
button control. It is self-contained, but additional control objection to this type is due to the drop in voltage of the
features may be used in connection with it. Where the circuit and the dimming of lights that may be on the same
speed is greater than 100 ft. per min. dynamic braking is circuit. A simple reversing switch may be used for this
advisable and moreover if good stops are desirable the service.
discharge resistor is required where dynamic braking is relieve the reversing switch of the arcing when the motor
used. circuit is opened.
For push-button control a floor selector should be used The operation of the reversing switch may be by hand-
if there are more than two landings. There should also rope, lever or wheel in the car. The auxiliary devices
be provided two hatchway limit switches for terminal stops that may be used in connection with it are, phase failure
488 ELEVATORS
and phase reversal relay switch, overload relay, hatchway door safety, door emergency, cut-out switches. An electro-
limit, slack cable, car safety and door safety switches. mechanical brake should also be provided.
If
overload relay when used with low voltage protection may lector. The non-interference device is to be used to permit
be arranged so that by returning the reversing switch to the passenger time to enter or leave car before it may be
the "off" position the overload relay will be automatically called to some other station. A time relay of this sort
reset. is therefore desirable.
If the used with a winding drum machine
equipment is For a two-landing equipment no floor selector is required.
the traveling nut on the elevator machine should be ar- In this case two hatchway-type limit switches for terminal
ranged to throw the reversing switch to the "off" position stops and two for emergency overtravel protection are
at thenormal limits of travel. When traction type elevator required.
machines are used, buttons on the shipper rope can be For a three-landing equipment a floor selector is re-
used to center the reversing switch. quired on passenger and freight service. In this case two
If a magnet brake is installed, hatchway limit switches hatchway limit switches are necessary to provide for
can be used in place of the more expensive traveling nut emergency overtravel protection. For dumb waiter service,
device. no floor selectoris required provided a
relay is installed
for middle landing control, together with five hatch-
the
Semi-Magnetic Controller for Slip-Ring Alternating way-type limit switches, one for the middle landing stop,
Current Motor two for the terminal stops and two for emergency over-
In one type of slip-ring motor controller suitable for travel protection.
slow speed passenger and freight service which may be In any four or more landing equipment a floor selector
operated from the car may be by means of a hand rope, must be used for all classes of service. The speed for
lever or wheel the magnetic accelerating switches are en-
; push-button control should not exceed 125 ft. per min.
ergized by means of a pilot relay which is equipped with
an air dashpot. The resistor should be cut out of all Alternating Current Full Magnetic Car Switch Con-
phases simultaneously, so that the rotor is balanced during
troller for Slip-Ring Motors
the entire starting period. One type of controllerspeeds not to ex-
suitable for
The traveling nut provided on the elevator machine ceed 200 per min. consists of a double-pole magnetic
ft.
should be arranged to throw the reversing switch to the main line contactor, two double-pole reversing contactors
"off" position at the limits of travel. Hatchway limit and three or four double-pole accelerating contactors giv-
switches may be used in place of the more expensive travel- ing four or five steps of acceleration. The accelerating
ing nut device provided that a solenoid brake is used. contactors are operated by a time limit- accelerating relay
Overtravel hatchway limit switches should be used to so as to permit smooth starting irrespective of the load
guard against phase reversal. on the car. A dashpot is used on the timing relay and
Suitable accessories may consist of phase failure and is adjusted to cut out the resistor connected in the rotor
phase reversal relay, overload relay, hatchway limit, slack circuit in the required time to insure smooth starting.
cable, car safety,door safety and door emergency cut-out When once adjusted the resistance will always be cut out
switches. in the same length of time. A
try-out switch should also
be included to permit control from the panel for testing
Alternating Current Full Magnetic Car Switch Con-
purposes.
troller for Squirrel Cage Motors Overload protection should be provided on the control
For car switch control, overload protection can be pro- panel. This is obtained by adding a time limit overload
vided on the control panel by adding an overload relay relay and a magnetic interlocking relay. This arrange-
and a magnetic interlocking relay. This arrangement pro- ment provides an interlock between the overload relay
vides an interlock between the overload relay and the
necessary to return the car switch to the "off" position
car switch so merely necessary to return the
that it is to reset the overload relay after an overload.
car switch to the "off" position to reset the overload The low voltage protection which should also be included
relay .after an overload has occurred. A five-wire and two- prevents automatic starting of the elevator upon return of
wire control cable are necessary if no reserve is desired in current unless the car switch is returned to the "off" posi-
the control cable. tion and then moved to the operating position. The ac-
This type of controller used for a single speed, high
is
cessories to be used with this type of controller, in addi.-
torque, squirrel cage induction motor having an inrush of tion to those previously noted, consist of phase failure
not over three times normal full load current when thrown and phase reversal machine hatch-
relay, elevator car, limit,
directly across the line. It is suitable for a speed not to
way limit, car safety, door safety and door
slack cable,
exceed 125 ft. per min. It may also be used for dumb
emergency cut-out switches. The necessary equipment for
waiter service where the speed of operation is not to a solenoid brake must be added.
exceed ISO ft. per min. If higher speeds than 250 ft. per min. are desired a
two-j
Atry-out switch and
fuses should also be provided.
speed motor should be used and it should be provided with
The inclusion of this apparatus enables testing being done slow-down feature.
from the control panel.
The accessories which may be used in this type of Alternating Current Full Magnetic Push-Button Con-
control are phase failure and phase reversal relay, elevator troller for Slip-Ring Motors
car, machine limit, hatchway limit, slack cable, car safety, The push-button control is much the same as that pre-
ELEVATORS 489
viously described except that a push-button is substituted tained by the use of single speed motors should not be
for the car switch, a non-interference relay is to be used made exceed 125 ft. per min. Speeds higher than this
to
and a floor selector if there are more than two landings. should use a two-speed motor and a slow-down feature
When used for push-button service elevator speeds ob- should be provided.
Hydraulic Elevators
One of the earliest forms of elevator used was the direct- some cases to support not only the total weight of the car
acting plunger type. It was used for the highest speed and its load but also a part of the weight of the plunger.
passenger service but the great cost of installation and the
Vertical Piston Engines
high maintenance cost caused its gradual withdrawal from
the market for this service. Its use in short lift freight Where the conditions are such that headroom is more
service still exists and forpossesses a num-
this service it
readily available than floor space the verticalcylinder
ber of advantages. Plunger elevators are simple in prin- engine offers certain advantages. One form of elevator
ciple and permit easy inspection of working parts. They thus driven is illustrated and consists of a cylinder closed
require little skill for their successful operation. The water on the under side. The two piston rods pass through two
pressure may be obtained from the street mains, overhead stuffing-boxes in the upper head of the cylinder. The piston
tanks, or from pressure tanks supplied by pumps using any rods are secured by a suitable yoke and frame to the
form of motive power. traveling sheaves about the cylinder. The upper and lower
In the usual arrangement of a plunger machine, as shown ends of the cylinder are connected by a circulating pipe
in the illustration, a cylinder which is closed at its lower the function of which will be shown. A
suitable valve,
end is sunk into the ground. The upper end has a stuffing- which is operated by a shipper sheave, controls the flow
box through which passes a plunger which is secured to the of water to and from the cylinder. The valve is operated
car. Thus the travel of the platform is the same as that of
by a cable which is secured to the shipper sheave and
the plunger. obtains its motion from a hand-rope lever or wheel
The operation of the elevator is as follows Pressure :
mechanism in the car, subject to the will of the operator.
water introduced just below the stuffing-t>ox. When this
is
mented by the additional weight of the column of water car became a physical impossibility. Accurate and smooth
above it. This causes a serious unbalancing of the lifting stops were difficult to obtain particularly at the high speeds.
water in comparison with the working pressure is too small off again when the pressure rises to a predetermined
to cause any serious unbalancing. amount. The discharge from the pump is pumped into the
pressure tank, which is partly filled with air to act as a
Horizontal Piston Engines cushion. The air supply kept at about one-third of the
is
The horizontal machine consists of a cylinder and a piston volume of the tank and supplied to the tank through the
is
much the same as the vertical cylinder machine described. water pump by simply admitting air at its suction side.
HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS 491
The operation of the elevator has been outlined in connec- The steam inlet and the water outlet may be operated
tion with the vertical cylinder machine previously described simultaneously by a rope control. By means of a ball check
and need not be repeated here. valve the water level remains constant and permits the
The exhaust from the cylinder is returned into the dis- requisite amount of air to enter to provide the proper air
charge tank from which it is drawn into the pump, as the piston.
occasion requires. A relief valve is inserted in the supply
Pneumatic Elevators
pipe to prevent excessive pressure due to careless operation
of the elevator or in case of failure of the pressure regu- The use of air as a working medium in the cylinders of
lator to cut off steam supply when the pressure is up to pneumatic elevators is found desirable where compressed
normal and the elevator is not in service. air must be used for other purposes. Such elevators are
ordinarily used for short lifts in freight handling. The
Pumps usual types are the rope and the direct acting. In the
Ordinarily the
pumps used in the
hydraulicsmaller
elevator installations are double-acting duplex. For higher
economy the compound cylinders are used in place of the
single cylinders. On the very large installations high duty
pumping engines are used since in these the steam is used
expansively. Their much greater cost prevents their ex-
tended use in the smaller installations. Where electricity
or other motive power is used triplex single-acting pumps
are common.
If the hydraulic pressure in the street mains is sufficiently
ticular case.
Pressure Tanks
operating the elevator is at the bottom of the pressure tank construction. The engine usually of a vertical
consists
and the steam for operating is introduced above. The air, boiler with two simple engines having cranks set at right
being heavier than the steam, will remain next to the water. angles. As a rule the drum is not scored to receive the
The steam is introduced so as to prevent agitation of the cables such as is common practice in drum winding engines
air the air blanket is thus used as a piston in forcing the
; but the rope is permitted to wind on itself. The operator
water into the cylinder of the elevator mechanism. determines the position of the platform by a tell-tale fas-
492 ELEVATORS
tened to the rope. The lifting cables raise the entire load, gravity while the speed is held in check by a brake con-
as counterweights are not used. The car descends by trolled by the operator.
Hand-Power Elevators
The use
of hand-power elevators is limited to installa- Where it is impossible to put the hand-wheel or crank
tions where the demand for elevator service is infrequent on the guide post, it may be offset. This type should not
and where the expense of power-driven machines is not be used if the type previously described can be installed,
warranted. These elevators require little space, may be for should the chain fail the platform is free to fall un-
installed at low cost and require but little attention either checked.
for maintenance or operation. Hand-power elevators of the types described are suitable
where the work is light and service infrequent. Their initial
Sidewalk Elevators
cost is small and the cost of operation and maintenance is
The chief use of basement or sidewalk elevators is to low. If the service becomes frequent it may warrant the
carry merchandise up and down for hotels, apartment installation of one of the types which are described later.
houses, stores and light manufacturing establishments. A Counterweights are not used on sidewalk lifts. The load
much used type is illustrated which consists of a wheel is raised by virtue of the power expended ;
descent of the
with a crank handle attached ;
this is geared by a series elevator is entirely by gravity.
of wheels to a shaft below which carries the winding drums
on which the lifting cables wind. The cables, two in Freight Elevators
number, pass over sheaves one of which is placed near Hand-power freight elevators are used when the service
the top and thence down to the underside of the platform. is such that the power elevator is economically undesirable.
The speed reduction must be such as to permit one man It is cheap compared with the power elevator
yet superior
to lift the maximum load which may be placed on the to the ordinary hoist. In one type which is illustrated as-
platform. representative of this style of elevator the overhead shaft
The brake may be secured the post with the brake
to carries the winding drums and isgeared to the pull-wheel.
shoe resting on the upper side of the wheel. The function The counterweight cable also winds on the drum. The
in addition overcome the friction set up in the mechanism. is furnished through a hand rope and the lifting is done
The car is equipped with a safety device which grips by means of steel cables.
the guides in case the lifting cables break. A brake is also Another advantage of which
style of car, the particular
attached to the pull-wheel, which operated by a rope.
is lies in the lower floor is not mutilated by pit
fact that the
This is made necessary since the gearing will not sustain construction, is also illustrated. This is accomplished by
the load in any position and therefore the descending speed beveling the edges of the car platform so as to permit
of the car must be under control at all times. The power wheeling onto the platform.
Portable Elevators
Where goods must be stored on the floor economy of Portable elevators, as used in piling machines, consist of
space requires that be piled as high as possible. The lim-
it uprights which act also as guides for the elevating platform
iting heights to which such goods may be piled depends on which the goods are placed for hoisting. The platform is
upon the permissible load per square foot of floor space elevated by some suitable mechanism. The elevator has
and the ability of the goods at the bottom of the pile to wheels for moving it from place to place but is provided
sustain the pressure of the goods above it. The piling of with legs when in operation so as to avoid the possibility
the goods to the ceiling is accomplished in one of two ways of its moving when loading or unloading. Means must
stepping and vertical piling. In the stepping method the also be provided for securing the load in any position should
steps are made a convenient height for handling the goods the operator cease for any reason to furnish lifting force.
manually. The objection to this method of storage is the in- The
construction of the platform depends upon the use
efficient use of the space required by the steps. Vertical to whichit is to be put. For soft packages such as bags, or
piling is accomplished by the portable elevators to be de- for rolling containers such as barrels or drums, the flat
scribed. In this case the goods are piled to occupy all the platform is used. Roller platforms are used for compact
space except such as is needed for aisles, passage, etc. containers such as cases or bales. The rollers are usually
The portable elevators may be used for piling cases, bales, so arranged that they may roll from front to rear of the
barrels, etc.. unloading trucks, elevating machinery for platform or may be removed from their sockets and be
erecting or repair purposes, elevating liquids to permit si- placed so as to roll from side to side depending upon the
phoning or pouring, elevating to platforms or balconies or requirements.
between floors. The last case is a direct substitute for the As far as motive power is concerned the elevators may
freight, elevator and is used when a fixed elevator would be operated by hand or by a motor of some kind. Where
not be justified. high lifts are necessary a motor drive may be found de-
494 ELEVATORS
sirable. In general, the frequency of use and the cost of moving the machines from place to place and increasing
handling will determine whether it is best to use hand or materially the usefulness of the device.
motor drive. The apparatus as a whole is made either revolving or non-
For low rises where the elevator need not be transported revolving.The revolving type is used where it is required
under beams or low doorways, the guides may be in one to loadfrom one position and discharge in any direction.
piece. For high rises they are usually hinged so that they Where these requirements do not exist the non-revolving
may be folded, thus reducing the headroom required for type will answer.
Elevator Details
Much importance should be attached to the safe opera- act as passenger elevators, safeties should be designed for
tion of elevators. Strictly speaking any device which con- gradual stops so that the retardations produced are not so
trols or prevents elevator service from departing from high as to be dangerous to life and limb.
normal operation
is a safety device. However, usage A common type safety, which is illustrated, consists of a
limits the name
to such devices placed on the car or coun-
terweight as to prevent either of them from falling or from
attaining excessive speed.
Early devices designed to prevent the car from falling
were of the "broken rope" type, the arrangement being
such that if the hoisting rope remained in tension the safety
was inoperative. A breakage of the rope immediately
brought the car to a stop in a manner depending upon the
type of safety used. One of the early devices consisted
of a pawl with ratchet teeth secured to the guides. The Safety Clamps
breaking of the rope permitted the pawl to engage the
teeth and thus suddenly stop the car. scored drum having a hub provided with right and left
Another arrangement consisted of planer teeth which hand screw threads which engage with two screws. A ro-
gripped the guides and grooved or planed as the car de- tation of the drum in the proper direction pushes the
scended. Though this arrangement required a longer time screws outward, thus thrusting wedges between a pair of
to stop the car, the stop was still .too abrupt. Since most clamp levers and forcing the jaws against the guides. The
freight elevators, either in normal or in emergency service, great pressure thus produced brings the car to rest. One
ELEVATOR INSTALLATIONS 495
end of the rope is secured to the drum and the other to will show whether the greater wear of cables is occasioned
the governor which is placed overhead. by the distortion of the rope in the V-grooves or by the
Improvements in this method consist of graduating the increased bending of the ropes in the case of the U-
pressure by springs so that the retarding force is limited grooves with the addition of an idler sheave.
to that which will produce retardations well within that For hand ropes or dumb-waiter hoisting ropes, where
which the human body can endure with comfort. the rope must pass over small diameter sheaves, "tiller-
ropes" are used. They are composed of 252 wires and
Cables are made up of a hemp core around which are twisted 6
Hoisting ropes for elevator service consist usually of 19 ropes each of which consists of 6 strands of 7 wires each
wires twisted together into a strand, a set of these strands wound about its own hemp centre.
being twisted about a hemp centre. The materials used are
iron or steel. F'or drum winding engines the iron wire is Signals
suitable since it is more pliable and will absorb consider- The
refinements to be introduced in freight elevator serv-
able impact without producing undue stresses in the rope. ice depend upon the frequency of service and the need for
It cannot be subjected to much abrasion such as in trac- decreased waiting time. For the simplest cases the signals
tion service. consist of push-buttons on each floor with an annunciator
is stronger than iron rope for a given diame-
Steel rope in the car. Where greater refinement is required two push-
ter and used where the strength is more important than
is buttons are used for "up" or "down" calls. The annuncia-
ductility or where the abrasion would cause speedy de- tor in this case provided with a double row of "drops"
is
struction of the rope. The common practice is to use soft or lights for the information of the operator. Where ele-
steel for ropes although for heavy loads stronger
these vators are in groups one push-button signals all elevators.
steels aresometimes desirable. An arrangement for informing the passenger as to the
In traction drive elevators two forms of grooves are location of the car consists of a dial on which are marked
used, the U and the V. Where the U-groove is used an the floors of the building. A pointer rotated by suitable
idler required to give the necessary "traction" to the
is mechanism indicates the floor at which the car is located,
rope. In the V-groove the wedging action of the groove and if moving in which direction the car is going.
on the rope produces a greater friction for the same ten- A more elaborate system is outlined in the description of
sion in the rope. Experience to be gained in the future the army base installation.
Elevator Installations
The elevator installations described here are examples of ments were figured at 1,250 tons per hour and thus 42 ele-
the possibilities of the elevators as applied to material han- vators were required. No spare equipment was included
dling. The first layout described covers an application Thus the floor area served by the elevators
in this building.
where large quantities of materials are handled in small provided one elevator for each 59,900 sq. ft. in warehouse
units requiring a large number of elevators to supply the A and one for each 50,500 sq. ft. in warehouse B.
frequent service demanded. In the second instance the con- To provide for lifting four trailers at once each car has
ditions require large capacity in a single unit. a floor area of 9 ft. x 7 ft. with a capacity of 10,000 Ib.
Doors at either end of the elevators are automatically op-
Warehouse Installation erated by a chain extending from top to bottom of the
The army base located at Brooklyn, N. Y., has an ex-
cellent example of modern freight handling. Of the two
buildings known as A> and B, warehouse A is 200 ft. x 980
ft. in plan, and nine stories high with a gross floor area of
this means four million tons of coal are handled over this
pier each year.
When the transfer car receives its load from the car
dumper it is switched onto the elevator and is lifted 67
ft. the elevation of the top of the pier.
to The elevator
consists of a steel framework carrying sheaves for the
vents the car from being called from the floor unless the
elevator doors are closed at that floor. On each floor is a
dispatch button to send the car to the main operating floor.
Each elevator in addition is also equipped with a car
switch to permit operation with an attendant on the car.
All the elevators in a group are operated by a single oper-
ator thus dispensing with the cost of individual operators.
The operatoris in telephonic communication with each
the rails for the transfer car and also a section of overhead second from the drums to the counterweight, and the third
trolley wire which is energized only at the upper and lower from the counterweight to the platform. This is the com-
limits of travel. mon practice in drum machines. There are twelve \Yt, in.
The counterbalance consists of heavy cast iron weights, diameter ropes leading to each of the drums and twelve \y&
so adjusted as to require practically the same pull on the in.ropes between the platform and the counterweights.
lifting cables for up and down travel, thus equalizing the Connecting the frame of the elevator to the pier is a
load on both trips and requiring a smaller motor than that hinged run-off girder introduced to insure perfect align-
which would be required if the car descended by gravity. ment of the rails on the platform and the pier. This girder
The machinery for operating the platform consists of is hinged to the pier in such a manner as to permit of a
a This code of safety standards is intended as a guide those specified in the definition of freight elevator, are
for the construction, maintenance and operation of elevators, permitted to ride.
dumbwaiters, escalatorsf and their hoistways except as NOTE: This definition does not apply to elevators for carrying
stated in the following paragraph. passengers in public or private conveyances where the passengers
are not permitted to alight from the conveyance while on the
b This code does not apply to belt, bucket, scoop, roller elevator.
In these regulations the following terms shall be under- tinuous stairway or runway used for raising or lowering
Prepared by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. changed without reversal of the prime mover.
is
tEscalators are net treated here; therefore that part of the code
omitted.
Hydraulic Elevator. A hydraulic elevator is an ele-
498 ELEVATORS
vator in which the motion of the car is obtained by liquid or gate is one which is opened and closed automatically,
under pressure. directly or indirectly, by the motion of the car.
Plunger Elevator. A plunger elevator is a hydraulic Semi-Automatic Door or Gate. A semi-automatic
elevator having a ram or plunger directly attached to the door or gate one which
manually opened and is closed
is is
under side of the car platform. directly or indirectly by the motion of the car.
Automatic Button-Control Elevator. An automatic Independently Operated Door or Gate. An inde-
button-control elevator an elevator the operation of which
is
pendently operated door or gate is one which is opened and
is controlled by buttons in such manner that all landing closed manually or by power from a source in no way
stops are automatic. derived from the motion of the car.
Platform Elevator. A
platform elevator is an eleva- Elevator Car. An elevator car is the load-carrying
tor without a car sling, the platform of which is suspended unit, including platform, its supporting and guiding frame,
or supported at one or more points at or below the plat- and enclosure.
form level. Car Sling. A
car sling is the frame consisting of the
NOTE: Aplatform elevator within
the building line, having a cross-head to which the hoisting cables and guide shoes
travel exceeding 15 ft., shall conform to the requirements for either
or
are usually attached, the car posts or stiles and the under
passenger freight elevators, depending upon the use to which it
is put. cross-member which supports the car sills, platform and
Sidewalk Elevator. A sidewalk elevator
a freight is guide shoes.
elevator of the platform type, the hatch opening of which Suspension Frame. A suspension frame is the struc-
is located either partially or wholly outside the building line.
ture (including the car sling, if any) to which the hoisting
cables are usually attached and which support the car
NOTE: Sidevalk elevators having a travel exceeding 30 ft. shall
conform to the requirements of power freight elevators. floor and sill.
Elevator Machine. An elevator machine is the ma- Hoistway-Door Interlock. A hoistway-door inter-
chinery and its equipment used in raising and lowering the
lock is a device the purpose of which is:
elevator car.
1 To prevent the movement of the car:
Machine. A winding drum machine a Unless only that hoistway door, opposite
Winding Drum
is an elevator machine in which the cables are fastened to,
which the car is standing, is closed and locked
and wind on, a drum. (Door Unit System); or
Traction Machine. A traction machine is an elevator b Unless all hoistway doors are closed and
machine in which the motion of the car is obtained by locked (Hoistway Unit System).
means of traction between the driving drum, sheave or NOTE: The interlock shall not prevent the movement of the car
when the emergency release hereinafter described is in temporary
sheaves and the hoisting cables. use or when the car is being moved by a slow- speed car-leveling
device.
Hoistway. A hoistway is any shaftway, hatchway,
well hole or other vertical opening or space, in which the 2 To prevent the opening of a hoistway door
elevator or dumbwaiter travels. The hoistway may or from the landing side :
compress the bumpers or buffers may be included in the closure from any position within this range except that of
overtravel at the bottom. full closure.
Clearance. Clearance at the top of the hoistway is Hoistway-Door Electric Contact. A hoistway-door
the vertical distance between the lowest point of the super- electric contact is an electrical device the of
purpose
structure and the highest point of the car enclosure or cross which is :
head when the car is at the limit of the Overtravel at the 1 To prevent the movement of the car:
top. Clearance at the bottom of the hoistway is the vertical a Unless only that hoistway door opposite
distance between the floor of the pit and the lowest point which the car is standing is within 2 in. of
on the understructure of the car sling, exclusive of the the fully closed position (Door Unit Sys-
safeties,guide brackets, or shoes, when the car is resting tem) ;
or
on the bumpers or buffers fully compressed. b Unless all hoistway doors are within 2 in. of
Landing. A landing is that portion of a floor, bal- the fully closed position.
cony or platform immediately in front of the landing doors, NOTE: The contact shall not prevent the movement of the car
used to receive and discharge passengers or freight. when the emergency release hereinafter described is in temporary
use or when the car is being moved by a slow-speed car-leveling
Hoistway Door or Gate. A hoistway door or gate device.
is the door or gate in the enclosure of the elevator hoistway Car-Gate Electric Contact. A car-gate electric con-
at any landing. an the purpose of which is to
tact is electrical device
Elevator-Car Door or Gate. An elevator-car door or prevent the normal operation of the car, except by the use
gate is the door or gate in the elevator car. of a car-leveling device, unless the car gate is in the
Full-Automatic Door or Gate. A full-automatic door closed position.
A CODE OF SAFETY STANDARDS 499
Emergency Release. An emergency release is a de- cal metal bars not less than live-eighths inch in diameter
vice the purpose of which is to make inoperative electric and spaced not more than 10 in. apart.
contacts or hoistway-doof interlocks. NOTE: This is the usual method of indicating on the exterior of
Car-Leveling Device. A car-leveling device is a the building the location of an elevator hoistway, and serves to warn
firemen attempting to enler the building or placing ladders against
mechanism the purpose of which is to move the car auto- such windows.
matically toward the landing level from either direction c Unless there is a solid platform, having openings
and to maintain the car platform at the landing level
only for the cables, under the machine or sheaves, 1'in:-
during loading or unloading. A leveling device, how-
resisting hoistways which extend through the roof shall
ever, may also be used for the emergency operation of
have a skylight in the top or one or more windows in the
the car.
side-walls near the top of the hoistway.
The total glass area of these skylights or windows
Hoistway Construction for Passenger shall be in each case (1) not less than one-half the area
and Freight Elevators of the hoistway, (2) not less than 3 sq. ft., if the area
Section 10 Hoistway Construction of the hoistway is 3 sq. ft. or more; and (3) the full area
Rule 100 of the hoistway if the latter is less than 3 sq. ft.
Fire-Resisting Hoistways
The glass shall be plain glass which in a skylight shall
a Except for elevators in private residences, passen-
have a protective netting securely supported over it at
ger elevators shall he installed in fire-resisting hoistways
least 6 in. from the skylight. The netting shall have a
conforming to the requirements of the Building Code of
mesh not greater than one inch and shall he made of wire
the NationalBoard of Fire Underwriters, unless state laws
not less than No. 12 Stl. W. gage (0.10SS in. diam.)
or municipal ordinances require a hoistway the lire-re-
NOTE: The purpose of the skylights and windows in addition to
sisting qualities of which are greater than specified in the providing natural light is to provide a vent for smoke and hot
above-mentioned Code. gases in case of fire; consequently the glass must he plain glass, not
wired glass, so as to break readily, or the skylight and windows may
NOTE: Experience has demonstrated the value of the elevator as a be arranged to open automatically to the required area upon the
life-saving; device in case of fire. A simple form of fire-resisting fusing of fusible links inside the hoistway near the top, in which
construction (cement plaster on metal lath) will usually resist a fire case wired glass may be used.
for a greater length of time than the elevator can be used as an exit
from a burning building. Fire-resisting hoistways are therefore d Adequate permanent provision for artificial light
recommended for all elevators.
(electric light, if available) shall be made in all pent-
b All landing openings in a fire-resisting hoistway shall houses.
be provided with fire-resisting doors which comply with The lamp (or the penthouse lighting switch, if electric
the code, or with the laws or ordinances mentioned in Rule light is used) shall be within easy reach of the entrance
lOOa, in so far as there is no conflict with Rule 120a, of to the penthouse.
this Code. It is recommended that the elevator service switch and
Rule 101 the penthouse lighting switch be located at the right of
Non-Fire-Resisting Hoistways
the entrance to the penthouse and that both these switches
a For enclosure required for non-firc-resisting hoist-
be enclosed.
ways, see Rule 111.
e and convenient access to the penthouse shall
Safe
Rule 102 Clearance on the Sides of the Hoistways be provided and all penthouse doors shall be provided with
a Hoistways for power elevators, except as stated in suitable locks. If the penthouse is used as an emergency
Rule 102c, shall have a clearance of not less than three- exit, these locks shall permit the doors to be opened from
fourths inch between the sides of the cars and the hoist- the inside without a key.
way enclosures, and not less than one inch clearance be- f Penthouses shall be so constructed that there shall
tween cars and their counterweights. be a minimum headroom of 6 ft. above the floor upon
b The clearance between the car platform and the land- which the elevator hoisting machine is supported.
ing thresholds shall be not less than three-fourths inch nor
Rule 104 Pits, Overtravel and Clearances
more than one and one-half inches.
c The clearance between a hoistway enclosure and an a A be provided at the bottom of every power
pit shall
elevator hoistway, except for platform elevators serving
open side of the car platform shall be not more than 4 in.,
except as set forth in Rule lllc. only two adjacent floors.
NOTE: Paragraphs a, b and c do not
b The minimum clearance and overtravel at the top and
the clearance between
limit
the hoistway enclosure and the car,
counterweights or platform of the bottom of power-elevator hoistways shall be those
sidewalk- elevators having a travel of not mere than 30 ft, hand
elevators or dumb waiters. given in Table I, except that the pit for power sidewalk
elevators shall be not less than 2 ft. deep.
d If two or more cars are operated in the same hoist-
No overtravel shall be required at the bottom of the
way, the clearance between cars shall be not less than 2 in.
e If "filling in" be necessary to comply with the fore- hoistway of platform elevators serving only two adjacent
floors.
going requirements, the "filling" shall conform to the re-
c The floor of the pit shall be approximately level.
quirements of Rule Hid for hoistway enclosures.
Sufficient slope shall be allowed for drainage but no recess
Rule 103 Hoistway Windows, Skylights and Pent- shall be allowed under the car sling.
houses
NOTE:_ The requirements of this paragraph may be waived if old
a Windows the hoistway wall of a power freight
in foundation footings are encountered in a new installation and it is
inadvisable to remove the footing entirely. The hazard due to an
elevator shall be provided with vertical bars or grating uneven pit, however, should be recognized and all possible precau-
tions taken to minimize this hazard.
having clearance as specified in Rule 102c, if the car has
an entrance toward this wall. The upper surface of the d The movement necessary to compress the bumpers
recess formed by the vertical bars shall be beveled on the may be included in the overtravel at the bottom.
under side as specified for projections in Rule 11 If. e A minimum overtravel of 18 in. shall be provided
b Windows in the hoistway below the seventh floor at the top for hand elevators. No overtravel shall be re-
above the street shall be fitted on the outside with verti- quired at the bottom for hand elevators.
500 ELEVATORS
TABLE I. OVERTRAVEL AND CLEARANCE FOR ELEVATORS be thimbles between each two members strung on metal
Clear-
Speed ft. per min. Overtravel ance at Overtravel Clearance at rods running through the members. The rods shall be
*- at top, ft. the top,
i v
ft. at bottom, ft. bottom, ft riveted at their ends and spaced not more than 3 ft. apart.
Up to
Above and including Equivalent construction may be provided.
For Hydraulic Plunger Elevators
50 2y2 2 1 2 c Wood platforms in fire-resisting hoistways, unless
50 150 3 2 \y2 2
protected by a fire-resisting covering, shall be not less
150 300 5 2 2y, 2
300 500 7 2 3% 2 than 3 in. in thickness.
For Power Elevators of Other Types d The platform shall extend not less than 2 ft. be-
150 3 2 \y2 2
yond the general contour of the sheaves or machines, and
150 350 4 2 2y2 2
350 500 5 2 3y, 2 to the entrance of the hoistway at or above the level of
500 600 sy, 2 *y, 2
600 800 6 2 5K 2 the platform.
TABLE II. OVERTRAVEL FOR POWER DUMBWAITERS e If the platform does not entirely cover the hoistway,
Speed, ft. per min. the open or exposed sides shall be provided with a standard
* = Overtravel at top
, ,
Above Up to and including and bottom handrail and toe-board, or with a screened railing not
100 9 in. than 42
100 200 1 ft. 6 in.
less in. high. (See Rule HOa.)
200 500 2 ft. 6 in. f Deflecting sheaves extending below the machine level
shall be provided with cradles, which comply with the
f No Overtravel or clearance shall be required for hand
dumbwaiters. requirements for Class B guards referred to in Rule 110.
g The minimum Overtravel at the top and the bottom Rule 107 Stops for Counterweights
of power-dumbwaiter hoistways shall be as given in Table
a For winding drum machines there shall be a per-
II, except that no Overtravel shall be required at the top
manent, substantial beam or bar at the top of the counter-
for "undercounter" dumbwaiters.
weight guides and beneath the counterweight sheaves to
Rule 105 Machine Supports, Loads on Supports, and prevent the counterweights from being drawn into the
Factors of Safety sheaves. This does not apply to dumbwaiter-counter-
weight guides.
a All machinery and sheaves shall be so supported and
anchored as to effectually prevent any part becoming loose
Rule 108 Pipes and Wiring
or displaced. The supporting beams shall be either of steel, a The electrical conductors installed in or under an
sound timber or reinforced concrete. It shall not be neces- elevator or hoistway except the flexible
counterweight
sary, however, to install beams under machinery anchored
cables connecting the car with the fixed wiring, shall be
directly either to independent foundations, to the floor of encased in metal conduits or shall be armored cables.
the machine room or to the platform if such foundation, No pipes, except those used to furnish or to control
flooror platform is strong enough to meet the require- power, light, heat or signals for the elevator or hoistway
ments for beams. shall be installed in or under any elevator or counter-
ing sheaves with their guards and frames and devices for Pipes, conduits and armored cables shall be securely
limiting or retarding the car travel and their accessories, fastened to the
hoistway to prevent their becoming dis-
shall be hung underneath the supporting beams at the top placed by accidents on or to the elevator.
of the hoistway. exempted
Dumbwaiters, however, are b No part of any electric circuit having a nominal
from this rule. voltage rating in excess of 750 volts shall be used on any
d The factor of safety based on the ultimate strength car-control system. Circuits of higher nominal voltage
of the material and the loads assumed in Rule 105b shall rating may, however, be used in machine rooms or pent-
be not less than the following: houses for the operation of motors, provided that all
control and signal wiring is thoroughly insulated from
For steel 6
For timber 10 the power circuit and all machine frames and metal hand
For reinforced concrete 8
ropes are thoroughly grounded.
c All live parts of electrical apparatus in elevator
Rule 106 Platforms Under Machinery
hoistways shall be protected against accidental contact of
a A flooring of iron, steel, wood or reinforced con-
current-carrying parts by suitable metal enclosing cover-
crete, capable of sustaining a load of 50 Ib. per sq. it, ings. These coverings shall be thoroughly grounded. All
shall be provided at the top of the hoistway immediately
wiring shall comply with the requirements of the National
below the sheaves or at the machine beams. This rule Electrical Safety Code, and with the National Electric
does not apply to (1) the hoistways of elevators operat-
(Fire) Code.
ing through automatic hatch covers, (2) to sidewalk ele-
vators outside the building line, nor (3) to dumbwaiters. Rule 109 Thoroughfare Under Hoistways
If an iron grating is used the mesh shall be not larger a No
thoroughfare shall be permitted across the hatch
than one and one-half in. Any grating with mesh larger cover of a hoistway whether inside or outside of a build-
than one inch shall be covered by an additional screen ing, except over the hatch cover at the top landing of a
of not larger than three-eighths inch mesh. This screen platform or sidewalk elevator.
shall be securely fastened in place. b A hatch cover of the vertical lifting type for a plat-
b If the grating members are
they shall be laid flat, form elevator shall not be used as a thoroughfare nor for
supported by battens spaced not more than 3 ft. apart. storage or a similar purpose unless there is a space of 2
If the grating members are placed on edge, there shall ft.above the hatch cover when at the top of its travel.
A CODE OF SAFETY STANDARDS 501
c A
hatch cover of the swinging type for a sidewalk e When any of the following conditions exist, openings
elevator shall not be arranged to open against the building shall be covered with a netting of square mesh not greater
nor shall it be used as a thoroughfare unless when verti- than one-half inch and of wire not smaller than No. 20
callyopened there is a space of 18 in. between the covers Stl. W. Gage (0.0348 in. diam.) :
and any obstruction in the direction of opening. (1) The clearance between the enclosure and any
d There shall be no thoroughfare under the hoistway part of the car, counterweight or any sliding
of any elevator, dumbwaiter or counterweight unless all of landing door is less than one inch.
the following conditions exist : (2) The enclosure is grille or openwork having open-
1 The elevator car and counterweights shall be pro- ings which will pass a Ij4-in. diameter ball.
vided with bumpers or buffers capable of stop- (3) The openings in the enclosure are within reach
ping the car or counterweight when descending of a person standing on a landing, stairway,
at rated speed with rated load. floor or car platform.
2 The car and counterweights shall be provided with f Projections extending inward one inch or more from
safety devices conforming to the requirements the general surface of the hoistway, and which are opposite
for such devices. (See Rules 304 and 403.) a car entrance shall be beveled on the under side at an
3 There shall be a floor under the hoistway, sufficiently angle of not less than 60 deg. from the horizontal or shall
strong to withstand without injury the impact of be guarded with metal plates or by wood faced with metal
the car or counterweight descending at rated of not less than No. 16 U. S. Gage (0.0625 in.). These
load and speed (governor tripping speed where plates or guards shall be firmly and permanently fastened
governor is used). to the hoistway walls.
way shall be enclosed from a point 12 in. above the floor a Xo automatic fire door, the functioning of which is
of the pit to a point at least 7 ft. above the floor of the pit
dependent on the action of heat, shall lock any landing
except where compensating chains or cables which practi-
opening in the hoistway of any passenger elevator nor
cally compensate for the weight of the hoisting cables are any exit leading from any hoistway landing door to the
used. In this case counterweight enclosures shall be pro- outside of the building.
hibited on the side facing the elevator. b
Landing openings in passenger-elevator hoistways shall
c Access shall be provided for inspection, maintenance be protected by sliding doors, combination sliding and swing-
and repair of all counterweights and cables. Where swing-
ing doors, or by swinging doors. See Rule lOOb.
ing doors provide access, they shall be equipped with spring c The distance between the inside of the inner panel of
hinges to close the doors. any landing door and the edge of the landing threshold
opposite the car opening, shall be not more than 4 in. No
Rule 114 Cable Enclosures
hardware, except that required for interlocking devices,
a Where cables pass through floors outside the hoist- shall project into the hoistway beyond the line of the land-
way enclosures, such cables shall be guarded to a height ing threshold. The lower edge of the interlocking devices
of at least 6 ft. from each floor with a standard power- shall be beveled as required for projections in Rule lllf.
transmission guard. (See Rule 110.). The floor openings d Hoistway door interlocks which conform to Rule 116
shall be not greater than necessary for the free passage of shall be used on the hoistway doors of power passenger
be completely performed. Rule 121 Hoistway Doors and Gates for Freight
c Hoistway gates made of grille, lattice or other open- to be opened only after the upper part has been opened,
work shall reject a ball 2 in. in diameter. except where gates which close when the car leaves the
d Gates shall extend from the landing threshold to a landing are installed in addition to the landing doors.
height of at least 66 in. when closed, unless lack of head f Landing openings of power dumbwaiters serving three
room makes gates of this height impracticable. or more floors shall be provided with doors or gates, the
In this case the gates shall be not less than 42 in. high, fire-resisting qualities of which are equal to those specified
and except for elevators operating through automatic in Rule lOOa.
hatch covers shall be set back at least 12 in. from the
landing threshold or the car shall be provided on landing Rule 123 Landing Floors for Passenger and Freight
sides with warning chains suspended from the car plat- Elevators
form. a Smooth metal plates, except such metal as is necessary
\Yarning chains shall be not less than 3 ft. long and for supports, shall not be used for the landings of passenger
spaced not more than 6 in. apart. They shall be made of elevators and are not recommended for freight elevators.
wire not smaller than No. 7 Stl. W. Gage (0.177 in. diam.), b If there is a railroad track upon any elevator landing,
and shall be fastened to wood sills or cleats with one-inch the tops of the rails shall be flush with the floor for a dis-
staples. tance of 6 ft. from the threshold.
Where lack of head room prohibits a standard gate at
the lowest landing, the bottom rail of the gate may be Rule 124 Lighting at Landings
placed not more than 18 in. above the floor. a When the car is in service at the landing, the
landing
e Collapsible gates are not recommended but
used if edges of the threshold and car platform shall be plainly
shall be so made and guarded as to prevent accidents due visible. The minimum allowable illumination on car floor
to shear. and landing threshold shall be 0.75 foot-candle.
f The hoistway doors or gates for freight elevators
shall be provided with interlocks or electric contacts and Section 13 Machine Rooms
locks except when semi- or full automatic gates or doors Machine-Room Location
Rule 130
are used. Interlocks and electric contacts shall conform to
a Elevator machine rooms shall be provided with
the requirements of Rules 116 and 117, respectively.
ample illumination.
g Provision shall be made to render the car operative b Power elevator machines shall be surrounded by sub-
independent of the position of the landing doors, in case of
tantial grille work or other enclosure unless located in
fire, panic or other emergency, by means of an emergency
machine, engine or pump rooms in charge of an attendant
releaseconforming to the requirements of Rule 118. or secured against unauthorized access.
h
Terminal landing openings and intermediate landing
openings of elevators for carrying automobiles and trucks, Rule 131 Access to Machinery
in the hoistways of elevators operating at a speed not in a Safe and convenient access shall be provided to ele-
excess of 75 ft. per min. may be provided with full auto-
vator machinery. This access shall be exterior to and
matic doors or gates.
independent of the hoistway or car. If the parts are located
i Hoistway doors or gates closed by gravity and not by on or over a platform at the top of the hoistway, access shall
direct motion of the car shall be permitted only if the car
be above the level of the platform, if practicable.
speed does not exceed 75 ft. per min. b and
Exposed gears, moving parts of
belts other
Semi-automatic gates or doors shall be provided with
j
elevator machinery shall be guarded in accordance with the
a locking device which will prevent the normal opening
standards referred to in Rule 110.
of the gate or door unless the car floor is at or near the
landing.
Power Freight Elevators
Rule 122 Doors at Dumbwaiter Landings
Section 30 Car Construction and Safeties for
aLanding openings in dumbwaiter hoistways, except at Power Freight Elevators
the upper terminal landing of "under-counter" dumbwaiters
Rule 300 Car Construction
serving only two adjacent floors shall be equipped with
doors or gates, unless the bottom of the openings is not a Power freight-elevator car enclosures shall not deflect
less than 30 in. above floor level. more than one-fourth of an inch if subjected to a force
b The upper terminal landing opening of "under- of 75 Ib. applied at any point perpendicularly to the car
counter" dumbwaiters serving more than two adjacent enclosure. The car enclosure shall be secured to the car
stories shall be provided with means to guard persons from floor and frame in such a manner that it cannot work loose
falling down the hoistway. or become displaced in ordinary service.
c Landing doors of power dumbwaiters serving two b Power freight-elevator cars shall have steel frames
adjacent floors may be counterweighted to remain open if designed with a factor of safety of at least six based on
the bottom of the door is not less than 18 in. above the the rated load uniformly distributed. Elevators of the
floor. plunger type which are not provided with counterweights
dLanding openings for "button control" dumbwaiters need not comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
serving more than two landings shall be protected with Elevators for carrying automobiles shall have car plat-
gates or doors equipped with electric contacts which prevent forms of sufficient strength to support safely 70 per cent
the operation of the machine while any hoistway gate or of the live load concentrated equally at any two points
door is open. 56 in. apart on a line parallel with the entrance sill of the
e Landing doors of dumbwaiters, if the bottom of the car.
openings is less than 30 in. above the landing floor and the c Except for cable anchorages no cast iron in tension
door opening is large enough to be mistaken for a door to a shall be used for a suspension member of any car frame.
room, shall be in two parts, one above the other, the lower d Power sidewalk elevators shall be provided with either
part being not less than 30 in. high above the floor, arranged flat metal tops or arched bows of 'sufficient strength to
504 ELEVATORS
open the hatch cover, or be provided with some device that
will stop the car before a person riding on it could be in-
800
Q)
700
1
A CODE OF SAFETY STANDARDS 505
b Every installation of a "safety" designed to sustain d Adequate provision in the design of plunger elevators
the car shall be tested with the rated load on the car. shall be made if the bumpers are required to stop the
c The
application of the "safety" by a speed governor plunger as well as the car.
shall be obtained by causing the car to descend at the e Counterweight bumpers or buffers similar to those re-
governor tripping speed corresponding to the normal speed quired for cars in Rule 31 Ib shall be installed under the
of the car as indicated in Curve 1. counterweights of freight elevators.
1 The capacity of the elevator in pounds for all power freight-elevator installations.
2 The normal rated speed at which the elevator is Guide rails particularly where
in contact with the guide
safety of not less than five. The car "safeties" for this 6Yi and 7^-lb. rails Yi-'m. bolts
14-lb. rails ^-in. bolts
type of elevator need not be designed to hold the "safe-
30-lh. rails H-in. bolts
lift" load.
through holes in all the sections. The tie rods shall have
lock nuts at each end. The lock nuts shall be secured by
cotter pins.
mal speed, the brakes shall not be released until power tors which control the motive power, shall be equipped
f The action of the brake magnet shall not be retarded k Pressure tanks shall be made and tested in accord-
ance with the A.S.M.E. Boiler Code requirements for
by any motor field discharge or counter voltage or by any
single ground or short-circuit. hydraulic pressure vessels.
1 Each pressure tank shall be provided with a water-
Rule 321 Hydraulic Machines page glass having brass fittings and valves, attached di-
located within machine enclosures shall be guarded in ac- control elevator shall not depend solely on the operation
cordance with the standards mentioned in Rule 110. of a spring or springs nor upon the completion of an
electric circuit.
Rule 323 Machine Safeties and Terminal Stops
k A manually-operated disconnecting switch shall be in-
a Power freight elevators shall be provided at each end stalled in the main line of electrically controlled elevator
of the hoistway with at least two independent means ex- machines. This switch shall be located adjacent to and
clusive of the manually-operated car control (car switches, visible from the elevator machine. No provision shall be
push buttons, hand rope or lever devices, etc.) to auto- made to close this disconnecting switch from any other part
matically stop the car within the limits of overtravel. of the building.
Suitable bumpers or buffers will be considered one of The frames
1 of electric-elevator machines shall be
the independent means required by this rule for elevators
grounded. Shipper ropes shall be grounded if insulated
having traction machines. from the machines.
Stop balls securely fastened to the shipper ropes may be
considered one of the- independent means of stopping re-
m Electric "slack cable" switches shall be enclosed.
d Under normal diameter of the cable with which it is used except for side-
operation, no power freight elevator
shall be accelerated or retarded at a rate greater than 10
walk elevators.
ft. per per sec., unless the normal speed exceeds 800
sec. h No car or counterweight cable shall be lengthened or
ft. per min. In this case an acceleration or retardation of repaired by splicing.
14 ft. per sec. per sec. is allowable. i The drum ends of car or counterweight cables shall
be secured by clamps on the inside of the drums or by one
Rule 326 Limits of Travel for Freight (Sidewalk)
Elevators 13
marline-covered cables are permitted where liability to ex- Cable Speed, Ft. per Minute.
cessive corrosion or other hazard exists. Hoisting chains Curve 2 Factors of Safety for Hoisting Cables for Traction
may be used only for power platform and sidewalk ele- Machine Freight Elevators. (Drum Machine Freight Ele-
vators. vators May Use Factors of Safety of 80 Per Cent Given in
b Where drum machines are used, the capacity plate This Curve)
required in Rule 306a shall bear the following information :
Hoisting cables The eye shall be drawn tightly around the thimble, the
strands drawn tightly after each tuck and the tucks smooth-
Where
hydraulic machines are used, the capacity plat
ly laid. After the last tuck is made each strand shall be
required in Rule 306a shall bear the following information
cut off not .closer than one-fourth inch from the tuck and
CABLE SPECIFICATIONS beaten down flush. The splice may be left bare or served
Rated Ultimate
Diameter with marline.
Strength
Cable Number in Inches in Pounds
Hoisting
Method of Making Return Loops. When the two
Car counterweight ends of one continuous cable are both secured to the
winding drum, to the car or to the counterweight a return
In addition a metal tag shall be attached to the cable
loop, without cutting the cable, may be made at the counter-
fastenings. On this tag shall be stated the diameter,
weight or car. To form such loop the cable shall be passed
ultimate strength and material of the cables, and the date around a metal thimble closely fitting the cable. Immedi-
of. the cable installation.
ately above the thimble a "H.igganum clamp" shall be
c Where the ultimate strength and material of the cables placed on the doubled cable and securely bolted to prevent
are not known, the loads shall be limited to the loads for slipping of either leg of the cable through the clamp should
iron cables of the same diameter. the opposite leg be entirely released.
d The factor of safety for car and counterweight cables
Method of Socketing Cables. If a babbitted socket is
for power freight elevators shall be not less than the values used the length of the socket shall be not less than four
given in Curve 2, corresponding to the speed of the car. times the diameter of the cable. The hole at the small end
e The diameter of the cables shall be determined by shall be as given in Table VIII.
using the factor of safety found in Rule 330d, together with The small end of the socket shall be free from cutting
the ultimate strength of the cable. The computed load on edges.
the cable shall be the weight of the car plus its rated load. The hole at the large end of the socket shall be not less
See Rule 306. than three times the diameter of the cable. The socket
f All cables anchored to a winding drum shall have not shall be drop-forged steel, steel casting or formed in a
lessthan one complete turn of cable around the winding substantial block of cast iron. The socket shall be of such
drum when the car or counterweight has reached the ex- strength that the cable will break before the socket is
Before cutting the cable shall served with wire at the such a manner that it cannot work loose or become dis-
end of the length to be used. After cutting the cable shall placed in ordinary service.
be served with wire at a distance from end of the cable b Car frames shall be of metal or sound seasoned wood
equal to the length of the socket plus 2}^ times the diameter designed with a factor of safety of not less than six based
of the cable. on the rated load uniformly distributed. If of wood the
Note Large cables should be served for several inches to prevent frame members shall be bolted and braced to give the re-
unwrapping.
quired strength.
The socket shall be slipped over the cable, and the serving
The
c No glass shall be used in elevator cars except to
at the end of the cable removed. fiber core shall be re-
cover certificates, etc. No piece of glass shall exceed one
square foot in area.
TABLE VIII. RELATION OF CABLE TO SMALL b Elevators operating in hoistways outside the build-
DIAMETER OF SOCKET
ing which are guarded only at the ground landing shall be
Nominal Diameter of Cable in Diameter of Small End of Cable
Inches Socket protected on the exposed side or sides either by inde-
'/i to}t inclusive -ft in. larger than cable diameter pendently operated gates or bars interlocked with the car
j to l-fa inclusive A in. larger than cable diameter
control, or by semi-automatic gates or bars.
to \Yi inclusive 'A in. larger than cable diameter
Rule 401 Car Compartments
moved the remaining serving
to and the wires separated a No hand elevator car upon which persons are per-
and thoroughly cleaned. mitted to ride shall have more than one compartment.
The wires shall be "turned in" toward the center of the
Rule 402 Cars Counterbalancing One Another
cable for a distance not less than 2}^ times the diameter of
the cable. a Hand
elevator cars shall not be arranged to counter-
The wires shall be sprinkled with powdered rosin or balance one another if persons are permitted to ride on
dipped in a suitable fluxing solution and the socket shall them, or to step on them for the purpose of loading or un-
be put in place. loading unless hoistway gates or doors are provided which
The socket and cable shall be wanned and poured full are equipped with interlocks or electric contacts and door-
of melted babbitt or spelter metal. Care shall be taken not locks.
to heat the metal more than necessary to make it flow. Rule 403 "Car Safeties" and Speed Retarders
k Whichever method is used for fastening the cable, the a Hand elevators suspended by cables, chains or ropes
fastening shall be capable of sustaining a load of not less and having a travel of more than 15 ft. shall be provided
than 80 per cent of the ultimate strength of the undisturbed with a "safety" attached to the under side of the car frame
portion of the cable. capable of stopping and sustaining the car.
b The "car safety" shall be applied mechanically.
Rule 331 Cable Equalizers
c No "car safety" shall be permitted for stopping an
a Equalizers shall be provided at car and counterweight
ascending car.
ends of hoisting cables for traction elevators having only d A used to apply the brake
"speed retarder" may be
two cables. Equalizers shall be provided for elevators hav- if the car speed becomes excessive in either direction.
ing winding drums, if the cables wind in grooves on drums Hand elevators having a travel of more than 30 ft. shall
scored right and left hand. It is recommended that where be equipped with a "speed retarder" which operates auto-
practicable, equalizers shall be used if several hoisting matically if the car descends at excessive speed.
cables are attached to a car or a counterweight. Note For hand brake see Rule 420.
It is recommended that for traction elevators, the equal- e The "speed retarder" shall be located where it cannot
izers shall consist of compression springs located between be struck by the car in case of overtravel.
the crosshead and the cable anchorages.
Rule 404 Capacity and Loading
Rule 332 Signal Systems a The minimum carrying capacity of hand invalid lifts
a The hoistway of every power freight elevator, except and hospital elevators shall be 35 Ib. per sq. ft. of platform
automatic button-control elevators, shall be provided with a area inside of the car enclosure.
signal system by means of which signals can be given from b A metal plate shall be provided by the elevator manu-
any landing whenever the elevator is desired at that landing. facturer which shall be fastened in a conspicuous place in
b Automatic button-control elevators shall be provided the elevator car and shall bear the following information,
with an audible emergency signal that is operated from the in not less than one-fourth inch letters or figures. These
car. lettersor figures shall be stamped in, etched, or raised on
the surface of the plate.
Part IV Hand Elevators and Hand 1 The capacity of the elevator in pounds
enclosure shall be secured to the car platform or frame in b Counterweight sections of hospital elevators and in-
510 ELEVATORS
valid lifts whether or not carried in frames shall be secured and material of the suspension and the date of its installa-
by at least two tierods passing through holes in the sec- tion.
tions. The tie rods shall have lock nuts at each end. The c The factor of safety used in determining the size of
lock nuts shall be secured by cotter pins.
the suspension member shall be five based on the weight of
Rule 411 Car and Counterweight Bumpers the car and its rated load.
{
d
Suspension members shall be so adjusted that either
a Car bumpers of -the spring type or their equivalent the car shall rest upon its bumpers or the counterweight
shall be installed in the pit of hand invalid lifts and hospital
upon the floor of the pit before the counterweight or the
elevators.
car strikes any part of the over hoistway construction.
b Bumpers shall stop the car when descending with its
e Suspension members secured to a winding drum shall
rated load.
have not less than one complete turn of the suspension
c Bumpers shall be located symmetrically with refer- member around the winding drum when the car or counter-
ence to the center of the car.
weight has reached the extreme limit of its travel.
d
Counterweight bumpers similar to those required for
cars shall be installed under the counterweights if the
Part V Dumbwaiters
space below the counterweight runway is used for any
purpose. Limits of Application of This Code
Rule 412 Guide Rails The requirements for dumbwaiter hoistways are given
a Guide rails for both car and counterweights shall be
in Part I of this Code. Hand dumbwaiters are required
to conform only to Rules 500, 501, 502 and 503. Power
of wrought iron, or straight-grained, seasoned wood
steel,
dumbwaiters shall comply with all the requirements of
free from knots, shakes, dry rot or other imperfections.
Guide rails, particularly where in contact with the guide
Part V of this Code.
applied it shall remain locked in the "on" position until The motive power need not be sufficient to raise the struc-
released. tural capacity load.
b The
factors of safety based on the static loads to be Horizontal Dimensions in Inches Structural Capacity in Pounds
ased in the design of all parts of hoisting machines shall 24 X 24 100
be not less than five for wrought iron or wrought steel and 24 X 30 ISO
30 X 30 300
eight for cast iron or other materials. 36 X 36 500
c The sheaves or idlers of hand invalid and hos-
lifts
pital elevators shall not be suspended in stirrups from the Rule 501 Dumbwaiter Machines
under side of the supporting beams. Cast iron shall not a Dumbwaiter machines shall be securely fastened to
be used for stirrups of sheaves or idlers. their supports. The factors of safety based upon the ulti-
d No
hand elevator machine shall be equipped with any mate strength of the material and the static load, i.e., the
means or attachment for applying any other power unless loading specified in Rule 500c, plus the weight of the car,
such elevator is permanently and completely converted into cables, counterweights, etc., used in the design of dumb-
a power elevator complying with requirements of this code waiter machines shall be not less than
for power elevators. 6 for steel, and
e Power shall not be applied to hand elevators by means 9 for cast iron or other materials.
of rope grip attachments or clutch mechanisms.
b Sheaves or idlers shall not be suspended in cast-iron
Rule 421 Hoisting Cables, Ropes and Chains stirrups from the under side of the supporting beam.
a The capacity plate required in Rule 404b shall bear Rule 502 Guide Rails
the following information :
metal, metal and wood bolted together, metal tubes or c The speed of power dumbwaiters other than those
spring steel wires maintained in tension by turnbuckles. mentioned in Rules SlOa and SlOb shall not exceed:
d Dumbwaiters having a capacity of more than 20 Ib. 1 One hundred feet per minute if the travel is less
and a speed not in excess of 100 ft. per min. shall have than 30 ft.
guide rails of metal, wood, or metal and wood bolted 2 One hundred and fifty feet per minute if the travel
together. is 30 ft. or more and less than SO ft.
Power dumbwaiters having a speed more than
e 100 3 Two hundred and fifty feet per minute if the travel
ft.per min. shall have steel guide rails weighing not less is SO ft. or more and less than 100 ft.
than 6 Ib. per ft. 4 Four hundred feet per minute if the travel is 100
Rule 503 Counterweights ft. or more.
d No car or counterweight hoisting cable of power to makeperiodic inspections and maintain in proper work-
dumbwaiters shall be lengthened or repaired by splicing. ing order all parts of any elevator installations.
e The drum end of the car and counterweight cables Rule 701 Inspection
shall be secured by clamps inside the drums.
The following
a is the schedule of inspections recom-
f All cables secured to a winding drum shall have not
mended :
ability to perform their duties in a careful and competent limit switches at either end of its travel.
manner. p If the car should stop suddenly, and the machine drum
Rule 711
Training of Operators or sheaves are plainly visible, move the control in the
a One week's training under the direction of a com- "up" direction just enough to start the machine slowly.
petent operator shall be required before a new (inex- Watch the cable closely and see that it winds in its proper
perienced) operator is placed in charge of a passenger ele- grooves.
vator. If the machine grooves or sheaves are not visible, call
b Two days' training under the direction of a com- for the engineer in charge and operate the machine at his
perienced) operator is placed in charge of a freight ele- q If the car will not start return the control to the
vator. "stop" position and look for the following causes :
c Operators not having previous experience in handling 1 Open circuit in main fuses.
passenger elevators shall not be placed in charge of cars
2 Open circuit in control-circuit fuses.
operating at a speed in excess of 600 ft. per min. until prop-
erly trained for this service.
3 Controlling device not properly functioning.
Note Wherelicensed operators are required the elevator may, in 4 Automatic switch contacts, slack-cable switch,
case of emergency, be operated by a competent unlicensed person.
limit switches, door contacts, etc., being
open.
Rule 712 Instructions to Operators
5 Lack of lubrication in bearings or thrusts.
a Always open main switch of an electric elevator
the
or lock the control mechanism of a hydraulic, steam or If this inspection shows no defects, remove part of the
belted elevator before cleaning or oiling any part of your load,
machine or regulator and before leaving your work. r Lock the control mechanism of hydraulic, steam or
A CODE OF SAFETY STANDARDS 513
belted machine in the "stop" position and open the auxiliary going duty for any reason even for a few minutes be
off
control switch of an electric elevator before allowing any sure the power is disconnected or that the control
that
freight to be loaded or unloaded. mechanism is locked and the hoistway doors closed.
s Be sure to familiarize yourself with the emergency When service is suspended for any reason during the
devices, understand their function and know how to ordinary operating hours display a "NOT RUNNING"
operate them. sign at each landing.
t Never leave the car in the ordinary course of opera- u Be sure you are familiar with these rules and keep
tion nor leave the control mechanism unprotected. When a copy on your person or in the car at all times.
Rules and Requirements for the Protection of Industrial Workers from Hazards Commonly Pre-
sented by Mechanical Equipment Used for Transmitting and Distributing Power from
the Prime Movers to the Various Power-Utilizing Machines, Tools and Devices
Note The use of properly designed, constructed and installed individual motor-driven equipment with electrical power distribution
not only eliminates many of the hazards demanding this Code, but also gives an uninterrupted distribution of natural and artificial
light, and a greater flexibility and range of speeds than is possible with mechanical power-distributing systems.
The following specifications describe standard guards enough to withstand ordinary wear and tear, substan-
for all power-transmission equipment hereinafter men- fabricated and erected, and free from sharp points
tially
tioned, and apply to all main shafting, jack shafting, drive and edges.
shafting and countershafting, and their belts and other 3 Class B Guards. If the clearance between the
attachments up to but not including belts actually driving guard and the guarded part is 5 in. or more, a metal
machines.f guarding material that will not admit objects larger
2 Class A Guards. If the clearance between the than 2 in. in diameter, strong enough to withstand loads
to which it may be subjected, durable enough to with-
stand ordinary wear and tear, substantially fabricated
and erected, and free from sharp points and edges.
4 Handrails. If the clearance between the guard
and the guarded part is 15 in. or more (measured hori-
zontally from extreme parts within 6 ft. of floor), a
handrail 42 in. in height with at least one intermediate
rail, supported at least every 8 ft., of substantial and rigid
construction and erection, with no sharp points or edges.
5 If constructed of pipe, the rails and posts shall be
at least equal in strength to lJ4-in. standard-weight
pipe.
6 If constructed of structural metal, the rails and
posts shall be at least equal in strength to two by two
by one-fourth (2 x 2 x %) in. angles.
7 If constructed of wood, the top rail shall be 2 in.
parts to be guarded make a complete enclosure clearly higher than 6 ft. above the floor or working platform
impractical; in which case the face of the gears or and the lower part of the belt is lower than 6 ft. above
sprockets shall be covered with a band guard surround- the floor or working platform, it shall be provided with
ing all exposed teeth, with flanges on both sides ex- standard guards as. specified in Class A or B, 6 ft. high
tending inward beyond the roots of the teeth, and there on exposed sides, or with a standard handrail on ex-
shall be a continuous smooth web cast or fitted between posed sides. (See Figs. 51-58.)
the hubs and rims of the gears or sprockets. (See 15
High If the lower part of the belt is
Belts.
Figs. 1, 2, 3.) higher than 6 ft. above the floor or working platform
11 Vertical and Inclined Belts, Ropes, Chains. All and lower than 7 ft. above the floor, it shall be pro-
vertical and inclined belts, ropes and chains used for vided with standard guards as specified in Class A or
transmitting or distributing power (except belts trav- B, on exposed sides and bottom, or with standard hand-
rail on exposed sides. (See Figs. 59, 60.)
12 Horizontal Belts, Ropes, Chains. All horizontal Guards for Inclined Belts
Figs. 28 to 46
belts, ropes and chains used for transmitting or distrib-
uting power (except belts traveling less than 120 ft. all tight- and loose-pulley belts, and shall be so de-
per min., or transmitting so little power that accidental signed and constructed that ordinary vibrations or acci-
contact therewith could cause no accident) shall be dental contact will not alter the set position, and shall
guarded as follows: have a controlling handle conveniently located. (See
13 Low Belts. If the upper part of the belt is lower Figs. 61-63.)
than 6 ft. above the floor or working platform, it shall 19 Pulleys belted from above or from the
Pulleys.
be provided with standard guards specified in Class A side in such a way as to allow passage beneath the
or B, 6 ft. high on exposed sides, or on exposed sides pulley, and within 7 ft. of the floor or working platform
and top, or with a standard handrail on exposed sides and not completely enclosed by standard belt guards or
(See Figs. 47-50.) handrails, shall be guarded to the top of the pulley or
A CODE OF SAFETY STANDARDS 515
between pulleys and bearings or between pulleys and Flexible Couplings. Flexible and universal coup-
26
lings shall be completely enclosed in standard sta-
tionary guards as specified in Class A or B, or in
smooth concentric revolving guards of solid construc-
tion.
HORIZONTAL BELTS
be guarded as follows:
25 Rigid Couplings. Sleeve couplings, flange coup-
516 ELEVATORS
32. Horizontal Shafting. Horizontal shafting with 38 Oiler's Lock. The oiler shall be provided with a
or without collars, couplings, clutches, pulleys, or other lock and key or with a key to the locks at the emer-
attachments, including dead ends, within 7 ft. of the gency stop stations, and with a warning sign to display
floor or working platform, shall be enclosed on all ex- at the stations when at work on machinery controlled
posed sides with standard guards as specified in Class by that station. He shall be required to lock the sta-
A or B or with standard handrail, or with freely re- tion in a "stop" position and display the sign before
volving tubing. (See Figs. 80-82.) going to work, and unlock and remove the sign when
33 Shafting Over Driveways. Where horizontal the work is completed and all men have left dangerous
shafting is located over driveways or passageways, the places.
highest floor of a wagon or truck passing beneath the 39 Starting Signals. Ample notice should be given
shafting shall be considered a working platform. by means of an effective alarm or signal in all depart-
34 Emergency Stop Stations. A station or stations ments before power-transmission equipment is started.
shall be provided each room, section, or department
in An effective signal system should be required in all
to stop quickly all power-transmission equipment there- plants where machinery is in group drive, and fixed
in. Such station or stations shall be properly marked rules should be established for the use of these signals.
and easily accessible and provided with means for lock- 40 Inspection. All power-transmission equipment
ing in "stop" position. should be carefully inspected at frequent and regular
35 Bearings. Where possible, bearings shall be of intervals by foremen or authorized inspectors, and de-
a self-oiling type with reservoir capacities for at least fective equipment should be reported for repair and
24 hours' running or shall have other methods of oil- records kept of inspections.
ing which do not bring the oiler in the danger zone, 41 Repairs and Adjustments. Repairs and adjust-
and shall have necessary drip cups and pans securely ments to power-transmission equipment or guards
fastened in position. therefor shall be made only when the power is cut off
36 Lubrication. Oiling which brings the oiler in a from that equipment, and guards shall be replaced in
danger zone shall be done only by an authorized per- protective position before the power is cut on.
son, and while the machinery is not in motion. 42 Removing Guards. Guards installed in accord-
37 Oiler's Clothes. The oiler must not wear loose ance with this Code shall not be removed or rendered
or flowing clothing. ineffective except for repairs spoken of in Par. 41.
TRACKLESS TRANSPORTATION
Hand Trucks, Storage Battery and Gasoline Engine
Trucks, Storage Battery and Gasoline
Engine Tractors, Trailers,
Accessories
and
Handling of Materials
By
FLOYD T. SMITH
Power and Mining Department, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Member, Society of Terminal
Engineers; Associate Member, American Institute of Electrical Engineers
Assisted by
STEPHEN G. THOMPSON
Chief Transportation Engineer, The White Co., Cleveland, O.
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers;
Member, Society of Automotive Engineers
Industrial Trucks, Tractors and Trailers
TRANSPORTATION* DEVICES, as considered here, The many types and the ingenious attachments and de-
may be embrace three distinct classes of ap-
said to signs greatly aid and make easier the movement by hand
IMirsTKiAL Man power
paratus: (1) the simple forms of hand trucks, carts and of commodities over short distances. is en-
wheelbarrows (2) the various modifications of power
;
hanced when heavier loads are placed on trucks that can
driven trucks as distinguished from tractors, and (3) be pushed or pulled. In this way heavier loads may be
tractors and trailers. Both power driven trucks and moved longer distances, with more ease.
tractors are manufactured in two general types, i. c., stor- While the hand truck is efficient, and in many places in-
age battery and gasoline engine propelled. Before deciding dispensable, it is limited in capacity and scope by man
its
upon the proper types of trucks, tractors or trailers ap- power. A man with a hand truck maintains a speed of
plicable for
any particular interplant transportation system ;
less than 2 m. per hour with a load varying from 250 Ib.
whether the problem should be solved by hand trucks, by to 700 Ib. The practical field of operation covers a radius
machine has to carry mater- Gasoline Engine Tractors: Three Wheel; ible to warrant displacing
ial up and down on the ele- Four Wheel; Track-laying. the hand truck. Therefore,
vator, note the capacity of Trailers: Four Wheel Steer; Caster; Fifth it should be retained and
the elevator, the size of Wheel; Balanced; Baggage; Low Platform; be used in conjunction with
opening, the size and posi- Dump Body; Box. machines which will handle
tion of the doors at the material economically over
various floors, whether the longer distances, and
source of electrical energy when the material to be
is direct current or alternating, what wiring is necessary to transported is exceptionally heavy.
install the charging apparatus, and also if help is available
Box Type
for operating the charging apparatus. Special attention
should be given to insurance and to existing fire rules if This type convenient and useful for moving large and
is
the use of power machines with gasoline engines is con- heavy bales, cases, boxes and machinery. It is of low,
templated. strong and rugged construction with a hardwood or metal
Outside the plant it is important to know the character rectangular frame and with four or six small wheels. The
of the roadways whether they are dirt, hard filled or con-
;
Hand Trucks
For short movements of general parcel freight, or forms
of material that come under this class, hand trucks cannot
be dispensed with. The manually operated hand truck, in
many varied sizes and shapes, has an important place in
industrial life, and is one of the principal forms of equip- Box Truck
ment used in In any haulage prob-
material
handling.
lem, the several types of hand trucks are applicable and center wheels are so placed that the load may be balanced
are recommended for certain classes of material and for in turning. Steel points in the frame prevent the load from
short haul distances they ; may also be used in connection sliding. The bevel or rounded ends permit the heavy
with the power truck. pieces to be loaded onto the truck with but little effort.
519
520 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
Different forms of construction make this type applic- built with two small wheels, a single handle and steel points
able for many uses. The frame may be furnished with to hold the load in position. It may be furnished with a
four rollers for moving case goods of moderate weight metal package grip having a horizontal and vertical adjust-
over irregular surfaces, as aboard ship. A form with a ment to assist in pulling over the load and holding it while
triangular frame is manufactured and is used for handling it is being moved. This package grip is a hook which
barrels in an upright position, for carrying boxes or stoves slides down and engages the chime of the barrel or slips
through narrow aisles, and, when furnished with double over the outer edge of the bale or package. A truck with
swivel casters, for moving pianos. The frame may be of a metal frame is manufactured for heavy work it may have ;
metal construction and hinged at the center so that the a special crate resting on the wheel guards. A modification
ends drop down to the floor forming three points of con- of this type is, the very low frame, three-wheel, metal cask
tact, thus preventing the truck from moving during loading. truck for handling heavy casks, barrels and kegs when it
The dolley is a modification of the box truck; it has a is necessary to carry them in an upright position.
Barrow
Single Hand Truck and is often furnished with a third wheel in front, the
latter being of advantage in crossing street gutters and
man can economically handle ash cans, boxes, trunks and rough places.
all sizes of barrels, casks, kegs and bulky packages. It is The delivery cart is similar to the push cart except that
HAND TRUCKS 521
it is of lighter construction and is generally built with a being superseded gradually by mechanically operated power
metal body and with either metal or wooden wheels. Either trucks of many designs.
type is easily handled and is applicable for light delivery
Platform Type
service and for transporting merchandise which makes large
dimensional loads of medium weight. It is used by painters, This type is used in many places where short and infre-
carpenters, bill posters and masons, and when furnished quent hauls and the necessary standing and waiting time
with a removable cover is useful for carrying tools for
telephone, telegraph, electric, gas and water companies.
end stakes or side stakes and with four stakes or six stakes;
bar handle trucks ;
end rack trucks ; trucks with three sides-
closed ; trucks with four sides closed ; multiple deck
trucks.
can be placed on and remain on platforms and be shifted wooden tray, or with a box extension. The platform is
from place to place with a minimum of handling. equipped with two rear wheels, permanently attached, and
When the truck is rolled under a loaded skid and the a single front leg for a support.
handle is downward, the lifting bars raise the skid
thrust A second unit is the handle for hand operation or the
and the load from the floor. When elevated, the support- trailer hitch for operation as a trailer with a tractor. Either
of these attachments has a wheel and is also provided with
ing bars assume a fixed position and remain rigidly locked
together until released by the operator. In descending, a a tongue which engages the front leg. Only the front end
powerful hydraulic check eases the heaviest load smoothly of the truck requires elevating and this is done by a down-
ward movement of the handle or trailer hitch.
Another modification of this type is the form into which
is built an accurate beam scale. With this attachment the
lift type truck not only transfers and stores raw material or
vantage. They make transportation quicker and better, and all roads that are fairly smooth and level, into box cars,
in many places they have been pronounced indispensable and into the holds of coastwise ships. It is not dependent
because of the great economies effected. If freight or mer- upon rails unless so designed. It is rugged and reliable
chandise in sufficient quantities has to be moved as short and built to stand more or less abuse in the hands of in-
a distance as SO an industrial power truck or tractor
ft. efficient and careless help.
Tractors and trucks wend their way down narrow aisles, carries a load equivalent to that moved by 8 to 12 men,
turn sharp corners, climb ramps, and perform a wide va- carrying it from 5 to 7 times faster than a man moves it
riety of tasks with efficiency and ease in hundreds of plants by hand truck. The tractor pulls a trailing load up to 10
where the owners once thought their successful operation tons maximum at a speed up to S /z mi. an hour.
l
The
absolutely impossible. The industrial power truck and trac- power truck or tractor must be kept busy to show the best
tor limited in performance by the characteristics of the
is results. They lose money for the owners when they are
particular service and also, to a large extent, by the fact not moving. A power truck or tractor occupies little more
that these trucks and tractors, with the exception of the space than a man with a hand truck and may be operated
track laying type, are designed for indoor or interplant anywhere a man with a hand truck can work. They will
service and consequently for short hauls about plants, ware- go many places he cannot go, and without the assistance of
houses or terminals. helpers.
Aside from the savings in cost of moving material the Dependent upon the commodity carried, the distance
question of labor is an important one. The power truck or traveled and the loading and unloading methods used,
tractor is simple in operation. A woman, boy, or ordinary tractors and trailers will handle material at a less cost
524 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
per ton than the power truck but they lack the extreme itcannot be damaged no matter how quickly the current is
individual flexibility found in the latter. The lower cost turned on or shut off. The current is automatically shut
isdue to the fact that an operator and a helper can handle off if the operator's hand is removed from the starting lever.
a tractor with a train of from 4 to 12 trailers, each carry- The engine of the gasoline engine type is of the four-
ing from /2 to \ /2 tons or an average total of 8 tons or
l l
cycle, four-cylinder, improved type, either horizontal or
4 tons per man. The power truck while capable, in many vertical. The motor for
the storage battery type is en-
cases, of handling heavy loads, will probably not average closed, series wound with
a high starting torque, low cur-
a ton and a half per truck and an operator is required for rent consumption and a large overload capacity for emer-
each truck, and often a helper as well. gency. The motor is designed to give the best results with
Maintenance is less on tractors and trailers, as the number the lowest possible drag on the batteries.
of power machines to be maintained is less for a given ton- The gasoline engine has characteristics such that the
nage than if power trucks are used. Trailer maintenance torque remains practically constant with a wide variation
of course has to be included but it is a small item as com- in speed. A transmission is employed to deliver greater
pared with power trucks. torque at lower truck or tractor speeds. The torque in
.
The use of power trucks or tractors reduces the damage the electric motor increases with a decrease in speed, auto-
and breakage to material, produces more ambitious and matically giving greater pulling power at lower speeds.
willing workers, saves the equivalent wages of from 6 to
Batteries and Battery Charging
15 men, and they will pay for themselves in from 3 to 9
the most economical distance per haul for a tractor is from the source of supply, it is furnished at the right voltage,
1,200 ft. to 2,000 ft. The gasoline engine type of truck or either through a battery charging resistor or by a two-unit
tractor may be operated economically over slightly longer balancer set. If the source of supply is alternating current
distances. the mercury arc rectifier, motor generator set or rotary
The
storage battery type is cheaper in operation than the converter may be used to convert the alternating current to
gasoline engine type; it has fewer small parts requiring direct current. The charging station should be so located
adjustment and to be repaired, and its operator is more fully that a truck or tractor will never have to travel more than
protected from mishaps. The gasoline engine type, how- 1,000 or 1,500 ft. from the center of the area in which
ft.
ever, is cheaper in first cost than the storage battery type it operates to the place where it is to be charged. It is
run is of considerable length. The noise and smell and the First Trucks
: which carry loads on their own platforms.
poisonous fumes of the exhaust of the gasoline engine type Second: (a) Self-loading and unloading with the ele-
sometimes prove objectionable in indoor service and fire vating platform and tiering trucks the use of live plat- ;
rules preclude its use in some warehouses and buildings. forms or dead platforms or skids eliminates hand loading
Either type has sufficient speed variation to permit high and unloading. (b) Semi-loading or unloading with
speed when returning light and low speed for heavy duty the crane type and dump body type trucks.
hauling. Third The tractor-trailer system. The material handled
:
Tractors are usually manufactured with a worm drive by this system is loaded on trailers hauled by tractors.
while the chain or spur gear drive is generally used in
power truck construction. The chain
more effi- drive is Storage Battery Trucks
cient, especially at slow speeds, and is recommended where The storage battery truck is a self-propelled machine
heavy grades are to be encountered. The worm and spur that carries Generally this type has a rated
its load.
gear drives require less attention, are more quiet in opera- capacity of about two tons. It has a chassis, three or four
tion, and for general application are more dependable. wheels and a power equipment consisting of a motor and
In either type all parts are accessible for care, attention, a storage battery. It is manually operated by the driver
adjustment and lubrication. All electrical parts in the who usually stands facing the load. Different forms have
electric types are fully protected against grounds, short been developed whereby the steering is accomplished by all
circuits, and other electrical and mechanical defects. four wheels in order to increase the ease of operation in
Safety devices are essential in the electric types and congested aisles driving by all four wheels so as to attain
;
special care has been used in the design of these machines maximum adhesion, and the development of many other
to make them "fool proof" in operation and safe in the forms of construction that assist greatly in quick and effi-
hands of the novice. This is attained, mainly, by inter- cient moving of material.
locking the braking and controller systems so that the ma- Except for the time required for watering and the charg-
chine only capable of movement if the initial sequence
is ing of the storage battery, the truck is always ready for
of action is correctly taken by the driver. The instant service and no work within reason is too severe.
the driver leaves the machine the current is shut off from This truck is used for transporting all kinds of general
the motor and the brakes are applied automatically. The parcel freight, such as bags, boxes, bales and barrels. It
machine cannot be started while the operator is standing is also utilized for transporting loose materials, such as
on the ground. The electrical equipment is fused so that metal parts, castings and bulk materials, which are usually
STORAGE BATTERY TRUCKS 525
handled in special containers. These trucks are used to A modification of this type which may be used either as
move material .from one department to another in indus- a load carrying truck or with skid platform trucks is
trial plants, or between common carriers and warehouses available. This form is equipped with four elevating jacks,
on piers, or in railroad terminals where flexibility of equip- one in each corner of the truck platform, all of which are
ment is desired which is not possible with industrial rail- operated by one motor. The jacks raise or lower the
ways or cranes that are confined to given paths of travel. loaded or empty skid platforms and permit quick unloading
and consequently a proportionately greater amount of
Platform Type
operating or running time for which larger batteries are
The platform type, where freight and material is carried provided. The batteries are mounted under the platform,
on the platform of the truck, is built in various sizes with thus forming a much larger loading surface than is usual.
Elevating
Platform Law platform platform Baggage Crane Dump body Tiering
Carrying capacity 2,000 Ib. to 4,000 Ib. 4,000 Ib. to 4,000 Ib. l.OOOlb. to 12cu. ft. to 2,000 Ib. to
4,000 Ib. 5,000 Ib. 3,000 Ib 40 cu. ft. 4,000 Ib.
Overall length ) in. to 140 in. 82 in. to 137 in. 91 in. to 110 in. 170 in. to 206 in. 101 in. to 156 in 109 in. to 122 in.
Overall width 28 in. to 40 in. 36 in. to 41 in. 25 in. to 55 in. 37 in. to 60 in. 38 in. to 51 in 36 in. to 41 in '
Size of platform 10 sq. ft. to 12 sq. ft. to 8 sq. ft. to 28 sq. ft. to 10 sq. ft. to
40 sq. ft. 26 sq. ft. 10 sq. ft. 48
sq. ft. 12 sq. ft.
Wheel base 36 in. to 83 in. 51 in. to 78 in. 44 in. to 55 in. 72 in. to 116 in 36 in. to 83 in. 36 in. to 83 in. 56 in. to 62 in.
Wheel tread 20 in. to 48 in. Front 16 in. Front 8 in 32 in. to 48 in. 20 in. to 48 in. 20 in. to 48 in. Front 18 in.
to 32 in. to 18 in. to 20 in.
Rear 24 in. Rear 18 in. Rear 27 in.
to 34 in. to 32 in. to 32 in.
Weight with battery 1,700 Ib. to l.SOOlb. to 2,1501b. to 3,100Ib. to 2,600 Ib. to 2,000 Ib. to 3, 100 Ib. to
3.4001b. .,_.. Ib.
3,200 2,750 Ib. 3,600 Ib. 4,200 Ib. 3,400 Ib. 3,300 Ib.
Lift of platform 3 l/i in. to 31 in. to 96 in.
Height of platform 18 in. to 26 in. 9 in. to 17 in. 10 in. to 17 in. 24 in. to 33 in. 9 in. to 26 in. 9 in. to 26 in. 10 in. to 11 in.
lowered lowered
Turning radius
Inside edge 72 in. to 120 in. 30 in. to 42 in. 42 in. 72 in. to 120 in. 30 in. to 120 in 42 in. to 54 in
Outside edge 144 in. to 204 in. 84 in. to 96 in. 96 in. 144 in. to 204 in. 84 in. to 204 in 92 in
Motor 'leavy duty, totally enclosed, series wound. An Circuit breaker Integral part of controller, quick make and break,
additional motor is usually furnished with the single or dual contact operated by brake pedal,
crane type and sometimes for the elevating current off when brake is on, current on when
platform and tiering types. brake is released.
Drive One, two or four wheel. Speeds Two to four in either direction.
Speed (on level) .. .88 ft. to 700 ft. per min.; 1 mi. to 8 mi. per hr.
Frame I-beam, channel or angle, with or without coil Brake Internal expanding or external contracting on the
or leaf spring suspension. jack or motor shaft or on each rear or driving
Steer Two or four wheel with steering wheel or lever wheels.
operating vertically or horizontally; also semi- Axles Two or four, depending on model. Front or rear
irreversible. or both full floating.
Transmission Spur gear, chain drive, worm drive, motor in Wheels
the wheel. Spoke or solid cast iron or steel.
Control Series parallel; connection of battery cells and Bearings Roller or ball.
motor field coils or straight resistance. Batteries Alkaline or lead.
Controller Drum type enclosed; positive neutral stop op-
erates automatic circuit breaker connected to Warning signals.... Mechanical or electrical bell or horn.
brake pedal. Tires . . Solid pressed-on rubber or fabric.
a maximum capacity of 4,000 Ib. The platform is usually The drive consists of a motor for each wheel of the same
from 20 in. to 24 in. above the ground. This type size as the motor which operates the jacks. It is equipped
carries its load just as an automobile carries its load and with wheels of sufficient diameter to permit its use on city
streets orbetween building, as well as indoors.
Platform Truck
yard; and where the destination is near thickly set ma- etc. The greater the weight of the separate pieces to
chines on a congested warehouse floor, or on docks for
;
be loaded, the lower the platform should be. It has been
short hauls and "across the dock" service, and where the repeatedly demonstrated that after piling is carried to a
speed is of greater importance than the tonnage. certain height, it is false economy to require lifts that
526 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
waste men's energy. As a rule packages and pieces weigh- and into freight cars. It is used to advantage for tiering
ing 150 Ib. to 200 Ib. can seldom be lifted higher than the large rolls of paper and for putting heavy dies or stock in
knee, 75 Ib. to 100 Ib. waist high, and 25 Ib. to 35 Ib. machines. It is recommended for use with skid platforms
shoulder high. It is interesting to note that these heights for hauling material, or for placing or piling the loaded
are being decreased year by year because of labor conditions. or empty platforms for storage.
A modification of this type is used for handling heavy This type may be used with a skid platform, having a
rolls of paper and cloth. This form uses a special mecha- side or end dump body, for removing dirt,coal, ashes or
nism mounted on the frame of the low platform truck con-
sisting of a sheet metal quadrant, two clamps, and a
revolving frame. The quadrant is in front of the truck and
very near the floor. The manipulation of this mechanism,
as well as the operation of the truck, is in the control of
the operator who stands on the truck and rides with it.
When being used, the roll, which lies on the floor, is easily
rolled into the quadrant and two arms or clamps, one at
each end, securely hold it. The roll can then be upended
into a vertical plane, but at an angle from the perpendicular
so that the center of gravity of the roll is over the truck
frame, in which position it is carried.
Standing time and extra handling are eliminated if the This is permanently fastened to the arms that are elevated
and permits heavy loads to be easily pushed on or off when
it is in an elevated or lowered position.
Baggage Type
The baggagetype is built with a straight or drop frame,
similar to the load carrying truck or a combination of the
load carrying and low platform models. Some are equipped
with high rack bodies for holding in position bags, trunks
Elevating Platform Truck
or low platform models. The compensating boom is platform is at the rear of the driver's seat and the engine
equipped with a swivel base so that it will swing 90 deg. is of the horizontal type. In either the three-wheel or the
each way. The load is carried on the hook or is lifted four-wheel types the control is exceptionally flexible and
the comparatively short wheelbase makes possible a small
turning radius.
In either the three- or four-wheel form the gasoline
Carrying capacity..
Crane Truck
Three-Wheel Tractor
Four-Wheel Type
This type is designed to meet the demand for a heavy
duty tractor and is especially recommended for service in
manufacturing plants and industries and in other installa-
Three-Wheel Type
Four-Wheel Tractor
This tractor is adapted to comparatively light service
and for outdoor service. A typical example is hauling tachment and the same method of holding the load fol-
one or more trailers between buildings in industrial plants lowed as is used with the three-wheel type.
or about lumber yards. It is used for hauling the many The heavier machine in either style is often used to
forms of trailers with various kinds of material in the haul or push about a plant one or more trailers loaded
process of manufacture or between loading and unloading with material the weight of which would be within the
points. The three-wheel type is similar in construction to capacity of the load carrying truck but of such unwieldy
the gasoline engine cargo type truck except the chassis is nature that it must be carried on a trailer. Such material
reversed and the tractor is operated with a single steering would include heavy steel bars and large parts of ma-
wheel ahead. This model is built with a box in which a
chinery.
fixed 'ballast load is carried for traction.
Track-laying Type
A
modification of this type used in connection with a
trailer or dolley which is coupled to the tractor by a tow- This tractor is used for interplant haulage for short
ing hook and chain is useful for hauling lumber or similar runs. It is particularly recommended foroutdoor haulage
GASOLINE ENGINE TRACTORS 535
over rough roads and is seldom used inside of buildings. aisles and other places where a larger machine cannot
It is adapted for installations in lumber yards,
specially travel. It may be turned around in a 12 ft. circle and can
for road construction and in several branches of municipal negotiate practically a right angle turn.
work. It may be used as an auxiliary to the small in-
Trailers
Trailers are a development of the four-wheel platform A more detailed description of the various types of
hand trucks, but are built stronger and with greater trailers follows :
capacities than the hand trucks. There are many different Four- Wheel Steer Type
forms of construction wheels of various sizes and types
;
and the adaptability of each type to the various kinds of service where accurate trailing is not the primary con-
work. The importance of using the proper trailer for the sideration. It handles in trains better than the fifth-wheel
Fifth-Wheel Trailer
Box Trailer
Balanced Trailer
hand trucking to be a factor in planning the haulage the floor low enough when the trailer is placed near the
system; they should be hauled in short trains. hales to permit them being readily tipped over on it.
Capacity 10,000 Ib.
Balanced Type Dump Body Type
This type of trailer is similar in construction to the
This type particularly adapted to general factory work
is
fifth-wheel or caster type but is of strong and rugged con-
where considerable hand trucking is done. As the load is
struction for heavy service. It is equipped with about a
balanced on the two large central wheels, a minimum
one cubic yard capacity V-dump body, for hauling bulk or
amount of effort is required to swing it to its center, or loose material.
topush it. It is recommended for heavy loads if smooth
Box Type
runways are provided used to the best ad-
;
it may be
vantage when handled one at a time. This type should not This type is used to move heavy loads, such as boxed
be hauled in long trains because of the excessive side swing; pianos, crated machinery, large and heavy cases, or heavy
this, however, can be reduced by using cross chain con- castings, and in other places where it is an advantage to
nections. be required to lift the load only high enough to place the
packing processes, various types of boxes, barrels, platforms, forms to the local requirements as upon the selection of the
racks, bins, shelving and other containers are employed. trucks themselves.
Formerly these devices were invariably of wood and usually By number of properly designed
the use of a sufficient
home made with the increasing tendency to
affairs, but platforms, material kept off the floors, aisles are kept
is
specialization a number of important manufacturing com- clear, a smaller amount of floor space is required, the
panies now devote their whole facilities to the making of amount of handling and the possibility of damage are les-
such accessories. replaced wood
Steel has very generally sened, material in the process of manufacture is ready at all
In the basic forms the skids consist of a plain platform platforms are often covered with light gage sheet steel if
of wood or steel with four legs of a proper height to suit the material handled is of such nature as to wear
rapidly
the style of truck. Standard lengths of legs are 6j/ in., or injure the tops of the platforms.
7J4 in., 9}/2 in., and 10'/> in., which range covers practically Where platforms undergo hard usage or are used in hot
all of the trucks in common use. The legs may he of wood places or for moving material detrimental to wooden con-
but greater durability is obtained by the use of pressed steel, struction, there is often real economy in
using steel frame
structural steel or cast legs. The platform is usually of platforms. This construction eliminates repair costs and
wood although sheet steel is sometimes preferable, as when therefore proves more satisfactory and economical. Usually
hot materials are to be handled. In another form the plat- the frame is made of angle iron thoroughly braced and
form and formed of pressed steel in one piece. For
legs are riveted or bolted while the legs have broad feet to pre-
foundry use both legs and platform are often made of cast serve the floors. In another form the angle iron
may be of
iron. Platforms are ordinarily from 24 in. to 48 in. wide smaller section but using more pieces in the construction
and from 30 in. to 72 in. length and in some instances even and one piece is bent to a V
form for each of the feet.
longer. Kither of these frames are used without tops for many ap-
Plain platforms meet all of the requirements in many plications but metal or wooden tops or one of the many
places. In wood working, printing, paper box, metal manu- special forms can readily be bolted to them. Another type
facturing, leather and other industries they are used for which contains great strength and lightness is a plain or
handling Hat pieces of wood, paper, sheet metal, flat bars corrugated pressed steel platform of one piece with ends
and leather in warehouses and various manufacturing in-
; bent to form the sides or skids. The cast iron platform is
dustries for bags and sack goods ;
in wholesale houses and another form used in manv foundries as they are easily
other places for boxes, packages and cases and also for made and possess considerable strength.
the handling of large pieces such as machines, stoves A steel rack type platform which may be constructed in
engines, radiators, automobile bodies and pianos. many different heights and with shelves is used in some
The usefulness of platforms can be greatly extended by foundries for drying and handling cores. The cores are
the addition of fixed boxes which by the use of built up placed on the metal racks direct from the moulding bench
sides can be made of any desired depth, or by the use of and are not handled again until they come out of the oven.
removable sides or ends can be readily unloaded by the ad- ; This eliminates damage from rehandling and enables a maxi-
dition of stakes which permit objects to be piled to a con- mum number of cores to be baked at one time. Tht rack
siderable height without rolling off by the use of pins or
; type platform is also used in bakeries, japanning works and
posts for holding a large number of pieces which have a for handling hot forgings or long steel material in ovens as
hole in the center, such as gears, pulleys, hand wheels and well as for dipping and quenching.
phonograph discs by racks of various kinds for holding
; In another modification, a rack platform fitted with V
rolls on arbors, cores in foundries, boxes of parts in machine forms used for holding short round material, castings,
is
veyors so that they can be quickly moved to points where possible to run a bar or pipe through the center of the roll.
they are needed. Even fragile articles such as green tile, The saddle type platform is constructed with a steel or
crockery, glassware and cases of bottles may be handled wooden saddle fastened to the platform. This type is used
satisfactorily on the platforms if the truck bodies are for large round bar stock and for heavy pieces. The
equipped with spring frames. pole type is used for moving collars, pulleys, rings, tubes,
One of the most commonly used platforms is simply a gears and castings. The platform with stakes is used for
strongly constructed wooden flooring supported by two holding short lengths of lumber and strip material which
uprights or skids securely fastened to it. The uprights or must be supported at the sides. Supports can easily be
skids do not always touch the floor the full length but fre- fastened to the platform to handle such loads. The table
quently are cut back part of the way so that the platform tvpe is in common use for assembling machines parts when
rests on the floor at four places. The length and breadth from stock are placed on the lower shelves after which the
of the platform should be of such dimensions as recom- table is moved to the assembly room, to the testing floor,
mended for the particular hand or power trucks with which and on to painting and shipping room.
it is to be used. The distance between the supports and the In the sectional type platform the height of the box is
height of the supports should be sufficient to provide plenty adjustable and can be readily changed using whatever num-
of clearance to permit the truck to be easily placed in posi- ber of sections are necessary. This type is often used for
tion between them and under the top. A
small chamfer on various quantities of small machine parts. Often the sec-
the inside vertical edge of the uprights is sometimes used to tions are provided with hinges in the four corners so that
further assist the quick placing of the truck. The proper the boxes are collapsible. This feature is very convenient
heights of the platforms from the floor permits them to be where there is occasion to transport empty boxes for they
used interchangeably with either power or hand truck which can be folded and a large number piled on a platform. In
is often a very great advantage. some industries like soap manufacturing a circulation of
Staples are often driven in the bottom of the skids or air is desirable through the material. In such cases the box
legs which strengthens them and also prevents the plat- sections are usually made of slats or crating. The pipe
forms from wearing on the bottom. In some cases four frame sectional platform is often used with a bin or box
small malleable iron shoes are bolted to the lower part of shaped container held between the four uprights. The
the upright that rests on the floor. These shoes take the ends of the pipe uprights have a ball and socket type con-
wear and greatly increase the life of the platform. The struction so that one platform can be assembled on another,
540 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS. TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
the ball in the bottom of the uprights of one platform rest- filling pieces, stacking rails or other devices which makes
ing in the socket in the top of the uprights of the other. it possible to stack such loaded boxes six to ten high for
transportation on skid platforms or on industrial trucks.
Live Platforms Such boxes are usually from 16 in. to 24 in. long, 10 in. to
If wheels are put under any of the numerous forms of 12 in. wide and from S in. to 6 in. deep.
skid platforms they then become live platforms in the sense
Shop boxes should be reinforced around the top by the
that they can be moved, pushed or pulled, either empty or metal being folded back, or by a strip of angle or band iron.
loaded, without being lifted, by a hand or a power truck. Handles are frequently made of sheet metal folded to a
The added flexibility obtained by the addition of wheels is
shape convenient to the hand and electric welded to the ends
of the box. A 54 m or 1 in- hole is usually provided in
-
top and about 6 in. deep. shelving and bins also are employed extensively in store
Straight side boxes are frequently provided with corner rooms, tool rooms and shops.
commodity in transit through the factory or in a ware- The material to be moved is finished paper products. It
house. is of one class, packed in pasteboard containers of uniform
It is possible to install a system employing power trucks, size. A container in which this material has been packed
or tractors and trailers, whereby the material in course of weighs approximately 50 Ib. The floors of the packing
manufacture in an industrial plant, or in the course of room, stock room and the platform adjacent to the rail-
transit at marine or railroad terminals, is kept on wheels road are all on the same level. The platform outside the
or platforms and ready to be
is moved quickly and with a building is adjacent to three railroad cars. The movement
minimum amount of handling. of material is from the packing room to the stock room
Several systems for the movement of material, making for storage, or to the railroad car for shipment.
use of the elevating platform power truck with skid plat- It must first be decided which type of industrial truck
forms and the tractor with its trailing load, are described is best adapted for this particular service. The quantity
on the following pages : of material to be moved would not keep gangs of men
busy, loading or unloading. The system of keeping the
Movement of Material with Storage Battery stock on trailers would tie up expensive equipment. For
Trucks these reasons, the tractor-trailer system is not recom-
Following is a brief description of the operation of the mended.
industrial truck and the method of moving material by it. The use of the load carrying straight platform type
METHODS OF MOVING MATERIAL 541
truck would require the load to be lifted to the platform elevating platform truck and skid platforms, is outlined in
of the truck, then lifted again when unloaded in the stock the diagram.
department. If it is required to be moved from this posi-
The Trailing Load
tion to the railroad car again lifted to the platform
it is
of the truck and then unloaded in the freight car. This The tractor-trailer train works to the best advantage
extra handling entails expense and labor which may be where two or three "trailer fleets,"consisting of one or
saved if a different method is adopted. more trailers, are used. While the tractor is moving one
The weight of the loads is such as to permit them to be fleet, a second fleet being loaded and a third is being
is
moved readily by an elevating hand truck but the length unloaded. In this way the loaded or empty trailers are
of haul, approximately 75 ft., is beyond the economical always ready for transfer and very little time is lost other
limit for operating this type of truck. Therefore the than that required for unhooking or hooking the load and
elevating platform power truck and a number of skid plat- making up a train.
forms are recommended. Three places where the tractor-trailer system has proven
The material
that enters the factory in unfinished condi- especially well adapted are marine terminals, railroad
tion passes through the various processes of manufacture terminals and large industrial plants. The substitution of
and then, in a pasteboard container, passes over a gravity this type of mechanical for a manual means for handling
conveyor, from the finishing floors above to a table. Here material at such places has accomplished two highly de-
it is finally sealed and weighed and made ready for stock sirable results. First, it has eliminated congestion, and
or shipment. second, it has saved time for the truckman who often had
Several wooden skid platforms are provided on which to wait in line for hours at a time at an unloading point
the containers, after being weighed and sealed, may be of a railroad or transfer terminal. The workman in an
542 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
highly important that is, the method of making up trail- made up into trains of from three to six or more trailers.
ing trains and despatching them, and the proper "spotting" After a full train has been made up, the electric tractor
so that there are always some trailers in such a position draws out through one of the four gates in the parti-
it
that they can be loaded or unloaded with a minimum of tion dividing the waterside of thehead-house from the in-
labor. side end of the slip and up a ramp onto the platform on
Railroad Marine Terminal the car-float between the two lines of six cars each.
As the tractor runs down the car-float platform it drops
At a marine terminal the layout and operation would be off the trailers as passes the doors of the cars into which
it
about as follows the goods they carry are to be loaded.
:
Each trailer is
The floor is raised on the street side, and at the front pushed inside of the freight car by stowers who unload it
of the building, forming a platform the same height as and pack the freight into the car. The empty trailer is
the platform on the large trucks and wagons on the street. then pushed back on the platform and later is picked up
The trailers are backed up to the other side of the plat- by the tractor on a return trip and is carried back to its
5 1- r e e +
METHODS OF MOVING MATERIAL 543
weighed, after which they are handled in the same manner The average tractor train consists of eight trailers with
as the I. c. 1. shipments. an average load of four tons. The number of trailers per
train, however, is increased somewhat for a straight run
Railroad Terminal
or in a train consisting of light trailers only. Each train
The layout and operation of a tractor-trailer system at is operated by a motorman and a man who
couples or un-
a railroad terminal would be somewhat as follows :
couples. Two men load the trailer in the car and it is
The two large platforms are joined at the center and then pushed from the car to the platform, and each package
544 INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
material does not get side-tracked, or shipped to the wrong Quite often one tractor runs between two buildings,
department, and empty trailers are always on hand to be simply leaving a train of loaded or empty trailers con-
loaded. The despatcher thinks and plans ahead. The move- veniently inside the building. Another tractor inside the
ment of material is anticipated as much as possible and building does the spotting and places the trailers in the re-
all arrangements are made, such as empties on hand for quired locations.
loading properly, notifying the department to which the The operation of the tractor-trailer system in a large
shipment is consigned, and laying out the proper routing packing house or stockyard is almost continuous. A
for the material to be moved. despatcher is not required, there is practically no waiting
One tractor runs between two or more buildings, with time, and the operator and his motorman very soon be-
probably three or four trailers, pulling the loaded trailers come familiar with the correct routing and the trailing
onto an elevator and riding with the trailers up .to one of load is taken quickly to its destination. Some of the
the floors above, stopping at the proper floor and going trailers aredropped at one place and some at another, or a
with the trailing load to the proper department. If the complete train of trailers, unchanged, is taken to its destin-
material on the trailer is so routed one trailer may be left ation. The returning tractor with a trailing load of empty
in each of several departments. trailers goes directly to the loading platform where a train
The
tractor then starts on the return trip and picks up of loaded trailers is always ready for another trip.
the empty trailers waiting in some other department on the Generally the quantity of material to be moved is such
same floor, or on the floors above or below. The tractor that the operator and his motorman must make the trip
with its train returns on the elevator to the ground floor, on schedule time, and to the proper loading or unloading
crosses the yard to the building where the loading has been platform, at the proper time otherwise time will be lost
;
done, leaves the empty trailers at the proper locations, waiting for the loaded trailers to be moved and replaced
picks up a train of loaded trailers for another trip. by empty trailers impairing the efficiency of the system.
torily to haul the trailing load and travel at the required Storage Battery Tractor
speed. This is largely a matter of battery capacity and the How to the performance and determine the
calculate
selection of the proper size motor or engine. proper size of tractor can be shown best by assuming a
The term tractive effort is used to designate the force typical problem and following each step through to a con-
in pounds which is exerted at the tires of the tractor. The clusion.
term drawbar pull is employed to signify the effort The material, as may be seen in the accompanying dia-
in pounds at the coupling between the tractor and trailers. gram, received in carload lots at a car platform and must
is
A tractor performs in accordance with known physical be moved to the scale (a distance of 350 ft.) to be weighed,
laws, mechanical and electrical. When certain elements and then to the warehouse (a distance of 400 ft.) for stor-
Railroad
Car-
Pla tfor
Scale
#-
,,.400
If- Yel
Warehouse
Typical Route of Operation
of a material movement problem are known, the work age. A grade of 3 per cent SO ft. long is encountered
which may be expected of a tractor can be calculated to a between the car platform and the scale.
certainty. These elements are : The material is received in such shape that 3,600 Ib. can
of the train to be hauled. be placed on one trailer. The trailer to use for this move-
(a) Weight
(b) Character of the surfaces over which the train must move. ment would be the standard caster type warehouse trailer,
Grades which will be encountered.
(c)
having a platform 3 ft. wide by 6 ft. long. Four of these
(d) Speed at which the train must travel in order to move a given
amount of material in a given time. trailers may be handled conveniently in a single train so a
train of four loaded trailers is assumed. These trailers
The weight of the train to be hauled and the character will weigh about 400 Ib. each and will have a pay load of
of the surface determine the tractive effort necessary. The 3,600 Ib. each. The weight of the train would be :
grades which must be overcome determine the maximum Four trailers, dead load 400 Ib. each 1,600
Four pay load 3,600 Ib. each 14,400
demand on the tractor. The
speed necessary to move a
trailers,
given quantity of material in a given time determines the Total weight of train 16,008
DETERMINING CHOICE OF TRACTORS 545
The unloading platform, scale and storehouse are all con- the ratio of the distance the tractor is raised to the distance
nected by good, smooth, concrete, runways. traveled ; in other words, the ratio of the ordinate of a
All the elements of the problem have been stated and it right-angled to the hypothenuse.
triangle The tractive
is nowpossible to find the size and speed of the tractor and effort of 20 per ton of load is required for each percent
Ib.
the quantity of material that can be moved over the given of plus grade. The load must include not only the weight
route in a given time say an eight-hour day. of train, but the weight of the tractor as well thus a plus ;
900 -1-9
800
\
100
\
600
v S
Miles Per Hour
SOO '
400
2(7(7
100
moved over it on wheels is 40 Ib. to the ton. Therefore the ard electric tractor. The tractor best suited for the work
tractive effort necessary to move the tractorand train, intended found by consulting the characteristic perform-
is
assuming that the tractor will weigh 2,000 Ib., would be ance curves. From the same curves the speed and current
1 multiplied by 40 (tractor) plus 8 multiplied by 40 (trail- consumption may be determined. To use the curve, first
ers and load), or a total of 360 Ib. The tractor and empty determine the tractive effort required, and plot it on the
trailers would require 72 Ib. tractive effort. "tractive effort" line. A perpendicular from this point to
In order to maximum demand on the
determine the the base will indicate the current consumption. The speed
tractor the 3 per cent gradewhich must be overcome be- per hour may be read on the scale to the right opposite to
tween the car platform and the scale must be taken into the point of intersection of the perpendicular and "miles
quirements will, of course, vary from day to day on the trips, if operated continuously. From actual experience it
same tractor, operating on the same surface. is found that unforeseen delays will reduce this at least 25
Value E depends on the design of the power machine per The probable number of round trips per day
cent.
and the lubrication. On a single reduction worm gear may be taken as 46. Forty-six trips at 7.2 tons per trip is
drive designed for fairly high speed it may reach 0.9 when equivalent to a capacity of 330 tons per day.
the vehicle is in the best condition, but 0.7 to 0.8 is un-
Current Required
doubtedly nearer the average and still lower values will
Ampere-hotirs required per day for 46 round trips :
often apply. If grades are encountered the product of
T x F must be increased by 20 Ib. per ton for each per cent Amp. Min.
(a) Car to C, 1.1 min. at 114 amp 125
of grade to determine the horse power required when on the (b) On grade, 0.3 min. at 246 amp 74
(c) Scale to B, 1.46 min. at 114 amp 166
grade. (d) From B to car, 1.25 min. at 44 amp 55
(e) Acceleration 4.8
Time and Energy Required Per Trip
Total ampere minutes for round trip 425
From the tables and the diagram of characteristic per-
425 divided by 60 equals 7.1 amp. hr. per round trip. For
formance it is evident that with the tractive effort as already
46 trips 7.1 x 46 equals 325 amp. hr. per day
:
(approxi-
determined, the tractor will require the following energy
mately) .
Lb. of the effect of the descending grade on the return trip, but
Tractive M.P.H.
Oper
Operation Effort Amp. Speed the decrease in tractive effort and speed and the increase in
Car to C (on level) ............... 360 114 3.1
From C to scale (on grade) ........ 900 246 1.9
current due to hauling the load up the ascending grade
Scale to B (on level) .............. 360 114 3.1 have been considered.
From B to car ..................... 72 44 6.8
From the following diagram the speed in miles per hour Battery Equipment
can be reduced to feet per minute or feet per second, which The figures used for alkaline batteries and for one type
is often desired in calculating the time required for a trip. of lead battery are given for illustrative purposes only.
880
336
732
748
704
^. S28
$i 484
V, 440
r^
39$
K 353
1308
^ 264
22O
/76
132
88
DETERMINING CHOICE OF TRACTORS 547
tery has a capacity of 300 amp. hr. and that the nearest time. Multiply the grade per cent by 20 and add the factor
lead-cell battery is one with 21 plates having a capacity of for the type of road as shown in the table of tractive re-
315 amp. lir. sistance of various roadways. Multiply the sum thus ob-
Assuming continuous operation, the actual running time tained by the total weight of the tractor, the trailers and
of the tractor, or the time consuming energy, is 4.36 minutes the live load.Multiply this result by the feet per minute it
4.36 x 46 is desired to move the load and divide by 33,000, which will
per trip.
- - = approximately 3.35 hours per day. give the horse power delivered to the tires. The same
60 result may be obtained by multiplying by miles per hour
instead of feet per minute and dividing by 375.
This is well within the limits of these batteries.
The horse power required at the tires to move one ton
Energy Required and Cost for Charging Alkaline up various grades at various speeds over various types of
Batteries roads may be readily obtained from the preceding tabula-
30xl.68x60x7x.03
336 x S
R=-
1000 x. 80
D
Energy Required and Cost for Charging Lead in which R = S
rev. per min. of wheels, =
tractor speed
Batteries in miles per hour, D =
wheel diameter in inches. For
convenience a table giving the revolutions per minute for
The method of calculation to determine the energy re-
wheels of various diameters for different tractor speeds
quired and the cost of charging lead batteries is somewhat
different from that used for the alkaline type battery. The given in miles per hour and feet per minute, is shown. Any
of these values of revolutions per minute multiplied by the
lead battery will give an ampere per hour efficiency of 85
total gear ratio gives the required speed of the engine for
per cent, which includes the current required for the equal-
the tractor speed selected.
izing charges, and it will give a voltage efficiency of 85 per
cent.
The normal capacity of the battery is 315 amp. hr. This REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE OF TRACTOR WHEELS
divided by the amp. hr. efficiency, gives 384 amp. hr. on Miles Feet
.85,
per
charge. Hour
The average voltage on normal discharge is 1.96 volts per
cell. This, times the number of cells, assuming a battery
of 18 cells, divided by the voltage efficiency, gives the
voltage required of charge as
18 x 1.96
= 41.5
85
The voltage required for charging, times the ampere-
hours required for charge, divided by 1,000 will give kilo-
watt-hours input to the battery. Assuming an efficiency
of 80 per cent for the charging source and a cost of 3 cents
per kw. hr. for power, the cost of one complete charge
may be computed in the same manner as that used for the
alkaline battery.
It is assumed for both type of batteries that they have
of charging is used.
L period
required.
COST OF OPERATING TRAILER
For a specific installation for which it is desired to esti-
C Supplies
mate the operating cost, and where data are available from i \jii and grease
Oil aim gn
Operating Charges -5 Maintenance
actual records which would leave no doubt as to the amount (ieneral repairs
for each item, the total of the following items will give the L Daily repairs
cost of operation covering a period of one year of approxi- f Insurance approximately $40 per $1,000.
; Interest at 6 per cent on investment
mately 300 working days. This total, divided by the total Fixed Charges....-^
arges. ... <j Depreciation 20 per cent covering a four-year
period
tonnage hauled during that time will give the cost per ton. Garage rental
Motor Trucks, Tractors and Trailers
PURPOSE OF THIS SECTIONto describe and illus-
is in direct permanent connection with the driving axle.
which are designed to
trate material-handling devices Power from motor
THE carry and haul freight and loose bulk material and
the is regulated
usually consisting of a revolving cylinder operated by a
by a controller,
are fitted to run on streets and highways without a track. hand lever, which is conveniently placed beside the driver's
The information given embraces a general description of seat. Metal contact points mounted on this cylinder are
motor trucks, tractors and trailers, sets forth the principal so arranged that by revolving the cylinder the storage bat-
elements of design and construction of these automotive tery and motor field circuits may be connected according to
units, and defines the principles governing their application. the power requirements and speed of the machine.
To avoid repetition the common principles of design and The steam truck derives its power through the expansion
construction are presented under the general classification of live steam in the cylinders of a steam engine. This
described, and in many cases the illustrations are used to type has been practically superseded by gasoline and electric
show general characteristics rather than specific design. vehicles, particularly in the United States. Consequently
Consequently, no particular significance should be attached only gasoline and electric vehicles are considered here.
to any seeming preponderance of data or completeness of
549
550 MOTOR TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
the axle bed. Straight axles are alined without change standard Elliott type is generally used on motor truck
of contour, whereas dropped axles have a distinct bend or axles, and the inverted Elliott is found in industrial trucks
drop in the center, or are curved downward throughout and some tractors.
their entire length in the form of a sweeping arc. With
the dropped form the spring pads may be lowered to secure Rear Axles
a better alinement of the engine and driving shafts and .Rear axles (see also Final Drive) are of two principal
lower -the center of gravity. They also permit the use types, i. e. "dead axles" and "live axles," the latter being
of large diameter wheels without increasing the height of produced in various modifications as described, that is
the chassis frame above the ground. Plain Live, Semi-Floating, Three-Quarter-Floating and
Front axles are assembled as complete units with steer- Full-Floating axles.
ing knuckles, wheel spindles, bearings and steering rods
Dead Axles
attached. Steering knuckles are designed in two types
named from their designers, "Elliott" and "Lemoine." A Dead axles are those which have no moving parts and
modification of each type is found in the "Inverted serve merely as load carrying members, the wheels being
Elliott" and "Inverted Lemoine" forms, which are used turned by some connection outside the axle proper. The
to some extent in passenger car design. The distinctive axle used on horse-driven vehicles illustrates the "dead"
characteristics of design of each of these types are shown axle in its simplest form. All "dead axles" are the float-
in the illustration of types of steering knuckles. The ing type (Fig. 4), the wheels being free to turn inde-
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 551
pendently of each other. The dead axle (A) carries etc.,and the thrust of the gears comes on the shaits.
the load and the wheel (W) is turned by a chain on Furthermore the wheel hub being attached to the end
the sprocket (S) or may have a gear attached to it. of the shaft, while the wheel bearing is on the shaft and
INVERTED
Semi-Floating Axles
The semi-floating axles (Fig. 6) are the same as the
live axJe except that the inner ends of the shafts are
relieved from all thrust load and simply transmit the
turning force. This is accomplished by mounting the bear-
ings at the inner ends of the shafts on the ends of the
differential hubs (D), instead of on the driving shafts.
Live Axles
Live axles are those which not only carry the load but
also transmit the power. They consist of two distinct
main first, the housing which encloses the driving
parts,
axles and working parts and supports the springs, and Fig. 6 Semi-Floating Axle
relative to the diameter of the wheel that it cannot hold (Fig. 7), Internal Gear (Fig. 8), Worm Drive (Fig. 9),
the wheel in line against the side thrusts which result from Double Reduction Gear (Fig. 10 and Fig. 11), Double
operation. Therefore, the shaft is called upon to resist a Reduction Internal Gear generally for trucks of greater
than one ton capacity (Fig. 12). These types are briefly
ciescribed to show general characteristics of design rather
than details of construction. From the descriptions, it is
apparent that the various types may differ in details of de-
sign. For example, some may use ball bearings only, some
roller bearings, and some a combination of the two. Also
the axle shaft mountings may be "live," "semi-floating,"
"three-quarter-floating" or "full-floating" according to the
engineering detail and other factors. The design may be
further altered by the arrangement and types of brakes
which are used.
Bevel Gear Axles
Within its limitations of gear reduction and ground
clearance the bevel gear drive is supreme for motor trucks.
It is simple in construction and highly efficient. Its legiti-
mate field is being extended by the continued development
of the spiral bevel pinion and special tooth forms, making
possible greater gear reduction and higher torque within
Fig. 7 Three-Quarters-Floating Axle the same limitations of housing diameter or ground clear-
ance. The requirements as to gear reduction are also be-
part of these thrusts, and as it is rigidly connected to the ing modified by the use of pneumatic tires, with increased
wheel by a flange, it must be strong enough to resist those speed capacity. However, increased speed capacity does
side thrusts which tend to bend it. not imply a lower maximum torque, as tire changes usual-
ly increase the wheel diameter, requiring an increased
Full-Floating Axle torque. The greatest bevel gear axle reduction in com-
The full-floating axle (Fig. 8) is formed by adding a mercial use at the present time seems to be 6 to 1, and there
second bearing to both wheel hubs of the three-quarter are a number of examples of both worm and internal
gear
floating axle. The two bearings in each hub are spaced axles having reductions of less than that ratio, beginning
at about 5.25 to 1. This seems to rule out the bevel gear
for trucks exceeding one ton in rated capacity.
One type of bevel gear axle is of the semi-floating type
with ball bearings throughout. The differential housing is
ample to allow changes in gear reduction to be easily
made, giving a range from 3.13 to 1 to 5.33 to 1. Service
brakes are operated by a pedal, contracting on drums on
the rear wheels. Emergency brakes are operated by hand
lever, expanding on drums on the rear wheels. Another
bevel gear type of rear axle is a full-floating axle with
taper bearings throughout. The general design of
roller
this axle conforms to the principles of bevel gear axle
construction.
A modification which is used only on electric trucks is a
hubs in a manner to insure good support and alinement, or The driving mechanism is carried as a completely as-
enclosed in the brake drum, or in a separate housing. The sembled, self-contained unit in a carrier attached to the
brakes are internal and external, generally on drums out- housing, and is easily removable for examination or
side the internal gear. On one type the brakes resemble change of gears.
multiple disk clutches in general structure having outer The worm, worm wheel and differential are mounted on
and inner drums with suitable splines to engage alterna- ball bearings. The worm and shaft are constructed so that
tive disks respectively. the rear bearing takes the thrust.
In one type of internal gear axle the differential housing On all types of worm gear axles the construction pro-
is mounted in spherical seats and extends from one spring vides methods to keep the driving mechanism and moving
seat to another, and is attached to the rest of the axle at parts well lubricated, but one type is constructed in which
its two ends. This promotes accessibility and tends to keep particular attention is given to this detail.
the pinion in line with the internal gear, should the axle
be deflected under load.
Double Reduction Internal Gear Axles
For another type the housing is rigidly supported at one
end and flexibly attached at the other which provides a is a full-floating type of axle, with a train of gears
This
certain amount of flexibility. Another type uses a housing in the hub case of the wheel, the whole driving mechanism
for the drive shaft and differential that is rotatively being entirely encased and running in oil. By the arrange-
mounted with respect to the axle, the torque displacement ment of the driving mechanism the first reduction occurs
being controlled by coiled springs which cushion the drive. through the bevel gear and drive pinion in the center of
A
modification which is used only on electric trucks is the rear axle. Thence the power is carried by a live axle
a construction in which the motor and gear reduction are of the floating type through the center of the housing to a
enclosed the axle housing. The straight line gear reduc-
in gear at the wheel end of the live axle. This gear, in turn,
tion transmission is a feature of this type of axle, and meshes with a second gear (carried on the housing of the
uses but two gears of nearly the same diameter which pro- live axle, but inside the hub case of the rear wheel), and
vides a reduction of 16.1 between the high speed motor and this second gear, in turn, meshes with a ring gear attached
the driving wheels. The housing, which is the load carry- to the wheel inside of the hub case.
ing member of the axle, is a strong, sturdy casting pro- With this method of applying power to the wheel, a
vided with a large removable cover which enables the en- second reduction occurs between these three gears in the
tire motor and transmission to be taken out of the housing hub case, very similar to the reduction which takes place
without unloading the truck. Both brakes are of the ex- between the sprocket wheels of a chain drive.
panding type. In a modification of this form the motor The axle housing is a casting, extending from wheel to
and differential are mounted in the housing, but the gear wheel and serving as the load-carrying member. .
reduction, consisting of driving pinion, two idler gears and The service brake is of the contracting type, operated
a rim gear, is mounted inside the wheel. by foot pedal and acting on drums on the drive shaft.
Another modification which is used only on electric In another form of double reduction internal gear axle
trucks is a construction with a gear transmission having the driving power is transmitted at the center in the con-
an electric motor in each driving wheel. The motor arma- ventional manner by a bevel drive pinion and gear, which
ture has a pinion on either end, one pinion pulling up on are mounted as a self-contained unit with the differential
one side of the wheel, the other pulling down at the op- assembly. The torque is farther transmitted by the drive
posite side, and both working at the periphery. An evener shafts through the center of the load-carrying member to
device permits of a compensating movement and divides a spur pinion in the center of the wheel. This pinion floats
the force equally between the two pinions regardless of between the two "idler" or intermediate gears, which are
any unequal wear or adjustment. held in place on substantial roller bearings between two
Another modification which is used only on electric arms, projecting diametrically opposite from the yokes, with
trucks is a construction without a differential gear. Each their center line parallel to the ground. The idler gears
wheel driven by a motor, and is carried in a casing
is in turn drive the internal gears which are pressed in and
which forms part of the axle. The gears, spind'.e, wheel bolted solidly to the wheel hub.
and parts of the driving unit are set in a fixed rela-
all The axle housing is a casting extending to the inner
tion to each other. The two-motor drive permits a series wheel bearings and serving as a load-carrying member.
parallel control which results in considerable less waste of It contains the bevel drive gears and differential, at the
current when and also eliminates a large part
accelerating, center (concentric with the wheels), which are mounted
of the resistance necessary where a single motor drive is in a removable differential carrier.
used. The two-motor equipment also permits a system of A further modification of this type of axle provides a
control that provides efficient operation at low speed. planetary gear reduction at the wheel hub. The drive
shaft and housing are concentric with the wheel, and a
Worm Gear Axles differential with a bevel gear reduction is provided at the
The general construction of these axles, as built in sizes center of the axle. The drive shaft extends through to
from J4 to 5 tons capacity, is a semi-floating or full-float- the extreme end of the axle, as in a full-floating bevel gear
axle, but carries a driving pinion on its end.
ing axle with overhead, straight or other type of worm.
The wheel bearingsare on a sleeve surrounding the axle
The housing is generally of one piece extending from
wheel to wheel and of rectangular section at the ends it ;
tube, which provided with a mounting flange for the
is
supported on annular bearings, arranged to take the end The driving shaft may be either an extension of the
thrust involved in any skew gearing. The final reduction crank shaft or connected to it. On the shaft is mounted
is by a bevel gear, secured to the differential
case, and a the driving pinion which meshes with two or more plan-
pinion, the latter being mounted on the shaft which carries etary pinions, they in turn meshing with the internal gear.
the larger skew gear. The planetary pinions are of equal size and are evenly
The entire reduction train is enclosed in a casting which distributed over
the circumference of the pinion. The
iorms the center of the axle. When the two castings internal gear mounted on a bearing on the driving shaft.
is
which form the outer ends of the axle are bolted to the The planetary pinions are mounted upon shafts attached
center casting, these three castings form the load-carrying to the pinion carrier which has a bearing on the driving
member to which the springs are attached. shaft and which may be a disc, spider or drum. It will
From the differential, steel drive shafts transmit the be seen' in the illustration that the driving pinion will
driving effort to the rear wheels. drive the internal gear through the planetary pinions. If
Two sets of brakes are provided on the wheels. The the internal gear is held stationary by a brake, the planetary
service brakes are of the external contracting band type.
pinions will roll on it and carry the pinion carrier around
Emergency brakes are of the internal expanding shoe in a clockwise direction; that is, in the same direction
type.
In another type the axle is full-floating type and the
firstreduction is made by bevel gears and the second by
spur gears, the spur ring being mounted on the differ-
Plonatary
ential. Pinion
The load-carrying member is a housing of the double
banjo type with the wheel spindles and spring saddles "Driving
Pinion
integral. The yoke in the center of the axle housing
is an angle of 45 deg. instead of vertical or hori-
set at
Planetary l_ _ /
Planatary
zontal. This
increases the road clearance and by the Pinion Pinion
~
arrangement of the gear train produces a straight line "Pinion
drive. The gear reduction is assembled as a separate unit Carrier
in a Internal
housing bolted to the rear axle. Transmission and
Gear
rear wheel brakes are provided but contrary to ordinary
practice the transmission brake is the emergency brake and Fig. 16 Planetary Gearing
the rear wheel brakes are the service brakes.
means for adapting the power of the motor to the require- speed.
ments of the service. Gasoline motors differ from steam Reverse gear is obtained by holding the pinion carrier
from revolving, releasing the internal gear and connecting
engines or electric motors in that they do not start from
a standstill with full torque but develop full torque only it to the driven shaft. The driving pinion will then trans-
when running at a speed of maximum output, or a speed mit power through the planetary pinions causing the
or maximum economy. In motor vehicle operation it is internal gear to revolve in the opposite direction.
gears are mounted on parallel shafts and brought into the. amidship type with either three or four forward speeds
desired arrangement either by shifting the position of the as standard design.
gears on the shaft, by sliding them in or out of mesh, or The unit power plant type transmission with sliding jaw
by operating sliding jaw-clutches mounted on the shaft, clutch is designed to be incorporated as a part of the
which engage the gears as desired. engine assembly unit in a gear case which forms a part
of the bell housing directly behind the engine.
Planetary Transmission The amidship type transmission with sliding gears is
The planetary type of transmission is used principally in designed as a complete unit assembly and is usually placed
light-weight, low-priced trucks, and gives but two forward under the floor boards in front of the driver's seat. The
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 557
main driving gear or clutch gear shaft is connected to the the propeller shaft to the driving axles and rear wheels
engine either by an extension of the engine crank shaft of the truck. Shaft C is the transmission back gear shaft
or by a short shaft connected with it. or countershaft "lay shaft") through which
(called the
In both the sliding clutch and sliding gear transmis- the power is from the driving gear shaft A
transmitted
sions, the gear set consists of four shafts placed either to the splined shaft B whenever any pair of gear wheels,
F/ \B
Fig. 19 Transmission Assembly, Sliding Gear Type
(or pitman shaft) with steering or pitman arm at the Fig. 24 Worm and Full Nut; Fig. 25 Bevel Pinion
other end, rotates or oscillates only one-sixth to one-fourth and Sector
of a turn.
(2) Efficiency in the transmission of power is of rel- rotates the bevel gear pinion, thus rotating the gear sec-
atively small value. tor, which is integral with or keyed to the pitman shaft.
(3) The between the amount
ratio of turn of the hand- This type of steering gear is reversible; that is, road
wheel (and worm) and the shape of the teeth on the shocks are transmitted, at least to a degree, to the hand-
worm and worm wheel are such as to make the steering wheel.
nearly non-reversible that is, road shocks on the front () The double thread type steering gear is one in
wheels are not transmitted through the steering gear to which the reduction or ratio and the non-reversible fea-
the handwheel. ture are secured by a dual set of threads. An outer nut,
(B) The worm and split nut type of steering gear loosely splined to the pitman arm, has a set of spiral
consists fundamentally of a worm, or screw, having both grooves or threads on its outer face. These threads mesh
right and left hand threads cut upon its surface. Two with corresponding threads on the inside of the housing.
half nuts are provided, held against rotation by rectangular The inner face of this nut also has a set of threads of
guide pockets. One of these half nuts has a right hand a different pitch (number of threads per inch) meshing
with a set of similar threads on the worm shaft.
thread cut on its inner face; the other nut has a left hand
thread.
Rotating the worm shaft, which is held against end- Fig. 26 Double Thread Type
wise movement by the handwheel, causes one nut to move
away from the handwheel, the other towards it. The Turning the handwheel causes the nut to slide endwise
extended ends of the two nuts bear against a rocking and at the same time to rotate in the opposite direction
arm integral with or attached to the pitman shaft, thus from the handwheel, but at a much slower rate of speed.
actuating the pitman arm. This type of gear is adjustable The pitman arm being splined to the nut, rotates with it
for wear by forcing the thrust bearing axially closer to and -accomplishes the required steering effort.
the split nuts.
(C) The worm and fullnut type of gear uses a worm Clutches
with only a single set of threads either right hand or Clutches as commonly used in motor trucks are classi-
left hand. fied under four general types, according to their charac-
Rotating the worm (by the handwheel) causes the nut teristics of design. These four types are cone, plate,
to move up or down on the shaft. By means of a sliding multiple disc and friction band. The last named is so
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 559
little used, except in combination with a planetary type In the wedge operated type the wedges are suitably
transmission, that a description of it is omitted. arranged, usually radially, spring and toggle operated.
The surfaces of the wedges are operated against two or
Cone Clutch more wedge plates or rings, thus forcing the discs into
Cone clutches consist of a section of a cone formed on engagement.
the, rim of a disc or spider, the hub of which is
outer
Multiple Disc Clutches
slidably mounted on a square shaft, which is splined or
Multiple disc clutches are in many similar to
keyed in such a way that it may be moved in the direction respects
of the axis of the shaft. The outer surface of this cone the dry plate type. In this type a number of thin discs
is faced with leather, asbestos, woven fabric, or in some or annular rings, provided with tabs on the inner periph-
cases composition metal, the whole cone fitting into a ery, are mounted on the outer surface of a splined drum
conical recess in the engine fly-wheel. Both the cone which is keyed to the driving shaft of the transmission.
member and the recess in the fly-wheel have the same
Engines
Engines (internal combustion) used in motor trucks,
although fundamentally alike, differ considerably in con-
struction and design. They are sometimes classified as
slow speed, medium speed and high speed, according to
their relative speed of operation. It has been found diffi-
Fig. 27 Cone Clutch Fig. 28 Dry Plate Clutch cult secure agreement as to just what constitutes the
to
If a gasoline engine could maintain an absolutely uniform seen that at 800 r.p.m., the horsepower (a) is 23 and
the torque (b) 29 Ib. whereas at 1,600 r.p.m. the horse-
torque value at all speeds, then the horsepower delivered
;
separate and either bolted, riveted or welded to the cyl- of what are in effect horizontally disposed tubes. These
inder. tubes may be round, hexagonal, octagonal, or square in
Inasmuch as the valves are subjected to the greatest section, and they are usually arranged in horizontal layers,
temperatures, cylinder castings are usually arranged so the joints of one layer being staggered with reference to the
that the water-jacket extends around or partly around joints in the layers above and below.
the pockets where the valves are located. From the bottom of either of these types of radiators,
This cooling water is circulated either by the thermo- the water is returned to the jackets of the engine, either by
systems.
The forced circulation system employs a pump to force (a) Splash lubrication, accomplished by the crank shaft
the water through the water jacket and radiator. A ends of the connecting rods splashing in a reservoir of oil
fan is also used to draw air through the radiator tubes in the bottom of the crank case. This splashes the oil on
in order to increase the rapidity of radiation. the inside of the cylinders and on the bearings.
(b) Force feed, in which system the oil is pumped under
considerable pressure to the main bearings and is distributed
Pumps
from them by centrifugal force to the connecting rod bear-
rumps may be either of the "gear type," the "centrifugal ings, etc.
type" or the "rt;tnry type." Gear pumps have two small Combination systems, where part of the lubrication
(c)
gears which are in mesh and enclosed in a comparatively is accomplished by force feed and the balance by splashing.
snug casting. The
and outlet are placed on opposite
inlet
>idcs of the points approximately within the
casting at
Cylinders
plane where the gear teeth mesh. The water enters on
Cylinders of internal combustion engines are made in a
the side where the gear teeth separate and is carried around
number of different forms :
case.
(a) T-head, in which the exhaust valves are on one side
Radiators of the engine and the intake valves on the opposite side.
Radiators are required for both the thermo-syphon and (b) L-head, in which the exhaust and intake valves are
located on the same side of the engine.
force systems of cooling. These are constructed in a
number of forms and with various modifications. All of (c) Overhead valve engines, in which both the exhaust
and intake valves are located in the cylinder head. In
these forms are classed under two general types "tubular :
extending across the radiator, according to the ideas of the corresponding apertures or ports in the cylinder walls, thus
different designers. regulating the flow of fresh gas into, and burnt gas from
In the cellular type of radiator the hot water delivered the cylinder. The sleeve, or sleeves, actuated by suitable
at the top of the radiator passes down through a series of cams or other mechanism, have an up-and-down, or a
narrow spaces or interstices formed around the outside rotary movement in order to secure this periodical regis-
562 MOTOR TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
tcring of the valve apertures with ports in the cylinder and at the same time adding to it the proper quantity of
walls. air to secure combustion in the cylinders. Ordinarily,
Pistons carburetors are arranged to control the total amount of
this mixture of air and gasoline which allowed to flow
Pistons used gasoline motor truck engines are usually
in is
made of a special grade of cast iron although in some cases to the cylinders per second or per minute, the throttle
various aluminum alloys have been used; steel pistons have being usually under the control of the operator of the
also been used. truck or car.
and the bosses of the piston. In this latter type the wrist mixture, in a manner similar to the damper in a stove pipe
or flue.
pin proper is prevented from moving endwise and scoring
the cylinder walls by a pair of plugs which fit into the (2) Barrel type; i.e., a cylinder or barrel provided with
bosses of the piston and bear against the cylinder walls. suitable apertures, so that rotating the barrel changes the
sizes and shapes of the orifice through which the gases are
Crank Shafts to flow on their way to the cylinder.
Crank shafts for nearly all gasoline truck engines are of (3) Diaphragm types are arranged
to provide an approxi-
the four-throw type. A
tearing is provided at a proper mately circular orifice of variable area, somewhat like the
distance from the center line of the crank shaft for the big expanding shutter of a camera.
end bearing of the connecting rod for each of the four
cylinders. These crank shafts may have two or more main
Ignition
bearings in which the crank shaft rotates. The number
of main bearings is regulated by several factors, including Ignition : The charge of gasolinpvapor or mixture of
the bore and stroke of the engine, the length between main gasoline and air, after it has been drawn into the cylinder
and compressed to a suitable point, is exploded or ignited
bearings, the size of the crank shaft, and the design.
The crank shaft of an engine functions to translate the by an electric spark. The energy for the spark is pro-
duced either by a magneto, which is a permanent magnet
power of the reciprocating parts pistons to rotary power
at the fly-wheel. The crank shaft is required to do a large dynamo of small current but high voltage, or by a spark
coil. In the latter, the current furnished by the low volt-
amount of work, and the material of which it is composed
is subjected to heavy stresses. For this reason it must be age of the storage battery energizes one winding (the
of ample size, of proper material, and properly heat-treated. primary) of a coil. The interrupter or timer driven by the
The materialthe bearing surfaces (both main and
at engine in exact synchronism, interrupts the current in this
connecting rod) must be fine grained, that it may be primary coil, causing the other winding (secondary) of the
ground exactly true and be polished. At these bearing spark coil to produce a current of high voltage, but small
places the metal must also be hard to resist wear. For amperage, in many respects similar to the current produced
these reasons, itnecessary that the crank shaft be heat-
is by the magneto. The cylinders of a gasoline engine are
treated in such a manner as to insure these qualities that ;
provided with one or more spark plugs, usually one, the
function of which is to receive this high voltage, small cur-
is, it must have strength and rigidity throughout to mini-
mize vibration, and it must have hardness to resist wear. rent discharge from the magneto or from the spark coil,
and to cause this current to jump or bridge the gap main-
Carburetors tained at the points of the spark plug inside of the cylinder,
The carburetor is a device for minutely dividing or thus causing the ignition of the compressed charge of
atomizing the liquid fuel (gasoline, benzine, kerosene, etc.), gasoline vapor.
The motor truck buyer should be cautious in his selection 1. His financial standing and responsibility as a manu-
of motor truck equipment, that he may be assured of its facturer.
dependability and of the permanency of his investment. 2. The general reputation of the company as a sound
Conflicting theories of designand construction should have business organization.
little direct bearing on motor truck selection because the 3. The experience behind the product and the extent of
metals and assembling of different parts. construction of the component parts of his truck with
In offering his product for consideration, the truck manu- assurances in the matter of future service.
FACTORS OF MOTOR TRUCK PERFORMANCE 563
5. The purchaser should be secure in his investments manency of service facilities, both as regards organization
from the effects of instability in price, due to other reasons and parts and the purchaser should know that parts always
than normal variations in the general cost of production. will be available regardless of any modifications or changes
6. Manufacturing methods and factory equipment should in design which may occur at some future date.
be such as to insure the purchaser that the trucks are These considerations outweigh any other of a technical
economically and substantially built. nature,and it is only by being satisfied on these points that
7. The quality of the equipment should lie n-llivled in a the purchaser can be confident that the trucks offered will
reliable and comprehensive record of performance in assure him against loss in value of investment and against
service. high operating expense with its corresponding decrease in
8. Of paramount importance is the adequacy and per- transportation profits.
Motor truck performance is affected by a number of which values are usually expressed in pounds pull per ton
factors which vary according to the "characteristics of serv- of weight and represent the power required to move the
ice" under which the vehicles operate and with the locality vehicle along the road. These values vary widely with the
where they are applied. Consequently in the selection and different types of road or surface from 5 Ib. to 9 Ib. per ton
application of motor trucks it is desirable that the full on steel rails to from 200 Ib. to 400 Ib. on loose sand roads.
weight of these factors be given proper consideration in The values used for the different roads are as follows :
4 6 3 10
XI
IS
N 14 4 & 8 10 m
M.P.H. Average Speed. M.P.H. Average -Speed.
M. P. H. ROAD SPEED. IO
/S M. P. H. ROAD SPEED.
4 6 8 IO IZ 6 8 10 12 14 ie
M.P.H. Average. Speed. M. PH. Average Speed.
4 6 a 10 14 16 4 6 8 10 IZ 14 16
M.P.H. Average Speed. M. P. H. Average Speed.
Effect of Frequency and Length of Stops on Average Vehicle Speeds
FACTORS OF MOTOR TRUCK PERFORMANCE 565
4 e 8 10 IS 4 6 8 10 IZ
4 6 a 10 IZ 4 <b & 10 IZ
M. P. H. Average Speed. M. P. H. Average <Speed.
8 M.PH.ROAD5PEED. 7 M.P.H. ROAD SPEED.
4 <b 8 10 IZ 14 6 8 10 IZ 14
M.P.H. A verage -Speed. M. P. H. Average Speed.
Effect of Frequency and Length of Stops on Average Vehicle Speeds
566 MOTOR TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
Column
FACTORS OF MOTOR TRUCK PERFORMANCE 567
Column
568 MOTOR TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
characteristics of service enumerated. This average speed measure of gross performance. Consequently, close obser-
is by the limitation of speed as influenced by
affected vation and control of the time elements will materially
design, traffic congestion, frequency of stops, and the dura- increase the efficiency of truck operation and reduce per
tion of time consumed per stop. unit costs of transportation.
The effect of these elements is graphically presented in Similarly, a knowledge of the time elements involved
the charts compiled for running vehicle speeds of 20, 18, will enable the truck operator to predetermine the service
16, IS, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 and 7 miles per hour. These and arrange operating schedules. Therefore, if we reduce
road speeds are the average speeds which the vehicle main- the time and distance factors to averages, should be it
tains when it is actually rolling. The charts present a easy to determine the performance to be expected from
series of curves, each one representing the average length motor truck operation under the average time elements for
l
of stop in minutes, as shown (i. e., 1-minute stop, \ /i- loading, unloading and running, and with the available
minute stop, etc.). The horizontal scale shows the average time in a normal working day.
speed in miles per hour including stops, and on the vertical The effect of time elements is shown in the tables
divisions the average number of stops per mile for each on pages 566 and 567, which show the number of trips
mile of vehicle operation is shown. The charts are shown of varying distances possible in an eight-hour and ten-
on pages 564 and 565. hour day, under varying time elements for average
To illustrate the manner in which these charts may be speeds of 10 and 15 m.p.h. From the method used and
used, let us assume characteristics of service and the use the description that follows, however, other results
of a vehicle which will permit of an average road speed can be readily estimated for conditions, including different
of 20 m.p.h. Refer to the chart marked, "20 Miles Per lengths of day, loading and unloading times, and speeds.
Hour Road Speed." If the service under consideration The tables are arranged as a series of columns (identified
requires an average of six stops per mile and the duration by index letters) each of which applies to different average
of each stop averages one minute, we will find that the time elements in minutes for loading and unloading per
average speed of the vehicle in this service will be 6.4 round trip of truck operation. For example, column A
m.p.h. This is arrived at by observing the position of the applies to a time element of 2 minutes consumed in these
point where the horizontal extending from the figure
line operations, while column T applies to 60 minutes consumed
6 on the perpendicular scale marked "Stops Per Mile" for loading and unloading. The columnsare intersected by
intersects the curve marked "One Minute Stops," and by lateral lines (indexed by number),which apply to the
dropping from this point to the horizontal scale marked length of haul in miles for one way and the round trip
"M.P.H. Average Speed." In like manner, the average distance as given. The rectangles formed by the intersect-
speed miles per hour can be obtained for any average
in ing columns and lines are arranged in three divisions in
number of stops per mile and for the duration or length which appear certain figures designating factors according
of stops as indicated on the individual curves in each chart. to their relative position in the rectangles. The figures in
In the use of these charts it must be borne in mind that the upper left-hand divisions of the rectangles show the
the road speed in miles per hour as given represents the number of trips which can be made under the time ele-
actual speed of the vehicle when rolling, and is not to be ments for loading and unloading, and for the distance given
taken as the maximum available speed. For purposes of within the length of day and at the average speed in
general calculation, the average speed may be considered m.p.h. stated. The figure of the lower section of the rec-
as representing approximately 70 per cent of the maximum tangles is the number of minutes remaining in the day's
vehicle speed performing under normal operating conditions. time which are unused in the number of trips shown.
The maximum available speed is a factor of truck design The figures in the upper right-hand sections of the rectangles
and controlled by the engine speed, gear reduction and
is are the line index figures for the number of miles in a
total wheel diameter as described in the section covering single trip for the same loading and unloading time, which
design and construction. can be made in the remaining time set forth in the lowest
section of the rectangles.
as has been described. 8-hour day the truck can make 10 round trips. Twenty
Time employed in loading and unloading is a factor which minutes will remain, and in these twenty minutes, as indi-
largely controls the efficiency of operation, and time, as the cated by the line index, a 1-mile single trip can be accom-
hours available for operation in a full day's work, is the plished under the same time-loading factors.
For convenience, the many forms of trucks are desig- mine timbers, posts, poles and bridge material. They haul
nated under the body types. These types may be grouped short dimensions stock, such as shooks, tight and slack
under, Open or Express, Stake or Platform, Enclosed or cooperage, veneers, vehicle materials, lath, shingles and
Panel, Dump, Tank, Refrigerator, Construction and special the like.
types. All of the above are constructed to be used on the Maximum efficiency in a logging fleet is obtained when
chassis of the truck which uses either the electric motor or at least one of every two trucks is winch-equipped. The
gasoline engine as a power unit, with the exception of the versatility of the winch-equipped truck means dollars to the
tank body, which is generally used with the gasoline engine logging man, for the truck does much more than haul. For
truck. instance, three yoke of oxen and five men will load 14
Each of these body types may have many 'modifications average-sized logs upon a truck in 60 min to 70 min. The
in form of construction, size, shape and capacity, which winch-equipped truck, with two men, will load an equal
makes it applicable for hauling a particular kind of com- number of logs in 20 min., saving 40 min. to SO min. of
modity. Each of these forms is best suited to a certain time per load.
application, depending upon the class of commodity and Truck needs vary in the different cutting fields. Through
conditions surrounding the installation. For instance, the the West, where the average hauling road is fairly good,
platform type can be used to best advantage for hauling where logs are large in diameter and range in length from
heavy boxes and crates, the dump body for loose material 16 ft. to 50 ft., the most efficient equipment is a 5-ton truck
such as coal, the tank body for liquids such as oil and with a 2-wheel trailer or semi-trailer. In the South, where
water. trees are smaller, but are cut in long lengths, and where
roads are not as solid as in the West, 3 to 3j/z-ton trucks,
Rural and Inter-City Express with trailers where needed, do the best work. In the
Eastern and Central sections (including the logging states
More than 600 rural motor express lines are now in oper-
of Maine, Wisconsin and Minnesota), where logs are cut
ation, enabling farmers to remain on the farm instead of
in shorter lengths and roads are solid, 5-ton trucks operate
spending much of their time in marketing their produce.
It has been estimated that an efficient truck line saves the
with maximum efficiency.
Typical Motor Trucks. Fig. 1 Novel Method of Car Loading; Fig. 2 Dump Body, Lever Operated; Fig. 3 Oil Tank
Truck; Fig. 4 Motor Sprinkler; Fig. 5 Dump Body, Hoist Operated; Fig. 6 Handling Barrels; 7 Handling
Fig.
Fruit; Fig. 8 Handling Grain
MOTOR TRUCK APPLICATIONS 571
to market, to the carrying of farm laborers to and from developing thousands of customers formerly too remote to,
places where they are needed, and the [Hilling of drags and reach. The truck with the express type body is used fori
other road machinery. this service. In addition to making retail deliveries,
motorj
It has been estimated that more than 78,000 motor vehicles trucks supply transportation service between railroad freight!
are being used by American farmers. The figures indicate stations and company warehouses, and between warehouses;
that the farmer, as a class, is the largest user of the motor and stores.
hauling and to keep them on the farm, where they are profits. And it is for delivery efficiency that coal dealers'
are learning to depend on motor trucks.
most useful.
Tasks on the farm can be performed with fewer laborers Not only does the motor truck, by its speed, increase the.
dealer's zone of delivery, hence the volume of sales, but
when motor trucks are sharing the burden. It requires
only a few minutes each day to keep a good motor truck
during the rush season it is often run 12 to 18 hours a
in efficient working condition, whereas the care of horses day and may be run 24 hours if necessary.
consumes considerable time hours of work make no dif-
:
For this service the motor truck has been successful not
ference to a motor truck, but the overworking of horses only in the long haul, but also in the short haul field, where
one day means less work from them on the following day a single haul is less than three miles for the round trip.
;
and short hauls, materials in packages and bulk. motor trucks and delivered to the consumer. In the past'
Motor trucks, through their ability to do better hauling a customer who ordered five tons received five deliveries
at lower cost over a long period of years, are solving the of one ton each. Today seven or eight tons are hauled in
problems of delivering raw materials for shipment to the a single trip, each motor truck delivering as high as 125
mills, of hauling it when it arrives, of moving it through tons of coal a day, and with delivery hours much shorter i
various stages of manufacture, and delivering the finished than they were in the days of horse-drawn equipment.
product to warehouses and freight depots. The ease of dumping is one great advantage of the motor :
Trucks are being used to haul general supplies, bales of truck, since the driver can work as efficiently at the end ;
cotton and other raw materials, if not delivered by railroad of a day as at the beginning, and deliveries are not slowed j
finishing departments, and from there to other departments, each order put in its
is compartment and weighed so as
and finally to the warehouses, and perhaps later to the to get the correct weight in each case.
'
to haul materials for shipping boxes to shops, and from isdistricted into several zones, one coal yard being located '
there, as boxes, to finishing rooms and shipping depart- as nearly as possible in the center of each of these zones.
ments to move lumber to various places around mills
; Trucks work out of the yards in these respective zones,
where repairs are going on to haul coal, ashes and ma-
; thus eliminating the long hauls that would be necessary
chinery. trucks were loaded at one central yard.
if all
_.
garbage from residences to municipal dumps and reduction are building up great fleets of motor trucks. Single oper-
plants has been shown in many cities. The trucks fur- ators own fleets that range from a few trucks to several
nished to municipalities are sometimes equipped with remov- hundred units.
able bodies to permit of their being readily converted into Again, in the dairy business, with its possibilities for loss
flushers and sprinklers by the substitution of tank bodies through poor transportation of a perishable product, the
to replace the dumping bodies. The trucks participate in all motor truck is proving an important factor in producing
phases of street cleaning work, including the removal of profits. A truck with the refrigerator type body is used
for this service. It hauls milk from farms 60 mi. to 75 mi.
garbage, ashes and snow.
distant from the city, and delivers to other units which
Oil and Rubber distribute it. Delivery goods and
of baked groceries
presents an equally exacting problem. Truck fleets are
rubber and automobiles are products each of which
Oil,
common in both fields.
has stimulated the demand for the other. Increased produc-
tion of motor cars and trucks means increased demand for
oil and rubber. In turn, increased production of oil and
Public Utilities
rubber creates the demand for more and more motor trucks In the building and extending of telephone and telegraph,
to perform the multiplying hauling duties incident to the water, gas, railway, light and power lines, the hauling is
production and distribution of oil and rubber products. heavy and the roads often are bad. But despite these con-
In both the oil and rubber industries, motor trucks are ditions, the hauling unit that serves public utilities com-
to be found in installations ranging from a few trucks to panies must be able to go anywhere at any time. In this, as
great fleets consisting of several hundred units, contending in other exacting work, motor trucks are predominantly
with the severities of the oil fields and rubber plantations used. They have the ability to stand up under hard service,
at the production end of the industry, or delivering oil and and in almost every phase of work involved in installing
gasoline, rubber tires and manufactured goods at the dis- and maintaining public utilities they are proving indis-
tribution end. pensable.
In the fields where petroleum is produced, motor trucks In the installation and maintenance of a telephone system
begin to work the day the decision is made to drill a well. there is a truck adapted to suit almost every operation.
They first haul timber to the location. They haul the For light delivery service, station installation work and
boiler, rig, fishing toolsand casing. When it is time for the small jobs of all kinds, there is the 34-ton unit. The
well to be "shot," a motor truck brings the nitro-glycerine. 2-ton unit is the general utility truck. This truck is the
Later the trucks bring tubing, sucker rods and pumping backbone of the maintenance department, carrying all the
outfits, assist in laying and maintaining the pipe lines which necessary equipment and men for repair jobs. It is also
carry the petroleum away, and finally work in and about the used for construction work of the heavier type, hauling
refineries and tank farms. cross-arms, glass and wire and construction material. It
Gasoline and oil, as well as all other petroleum products isable to travel great distances with speed and certainty.
from the refineries, are shipped by water and rail to many Sometimes the truck is constructed with a tower for over-
stations in these districts, and from there are transported head work in the city.
daily by motors trucks to filling stations, manufacturing The 3 or 3^2-ton truck lends itself to almost all heavy
plants and to other consumers. Routes average 50 miles construction work. Equipped with a power-driven winch, it
for each truck. can be used for loading, unloading and setting poles as well
Motor trucks fill many hauling needs in the rubber as transporting them, besides pulling underground and
Demountable Bodies
Demountable bodies are manufactured in two principal
types open and completely enclosed. The open type usually
has staked sides and ends. The enclosed type has an
enclosed body with side or end doors. Either type forms
a complete body for a motor 'truck or trailer. These bodies
are provided with hooks or other attachment, or slings
can be readily slipped underneath and the body with its
load can then be lifted from the truck chassis with an over-
head crane or other appliance.
The motorization of the Cincinnati, O., terminal, where
motor trucks and demountable bodies have been substituted
for freights cars in the movement of less-than-carload
freight within the terminal, is an interesting example of the
application of demountable bodies and of the correlation of
the railroad and the motcr truck as the solution of a difficult
transportation problem.
Prior to the organization of the Cincinnati Motor Ter- Demountable Bodies Eliminate Waiting Time of Trucks
minals Company, the handling of less-than-carload freight
involved unloading from the car and piling on the main economy of $126,507, a gain of approximately 52.4 hours
station platform loading either into horse-drawn vehicles
;
in the speed of handling freight a saving of 50.4 per cent ;
for moving to the station to which it was consigned, or into in platform area (equivalent to increasing platform capacity
trap cars when sufficient accumulation justified trap car by 498.4 tons daily) reclamation of 248,504 square feet of
;
been lifted by electric cranes and hoistsfrom a truck amount of handling of goods necessitated.
cent to 90 per cent when operated in direct speed, and from formula, the terms of which have been explained:
70 per cent to 85 per cent when operated in slower than
direct speed.
T R = Gr + TRe = (W X G) + (W X Re)
Spud ratio or total gear ratio (Gd) is equal to the The following example will illustrate how to determine
transmission ratio times the final driving ratio. the total load which can be handled by a motor truck under
The diameter of the wheels must also be taken into con- a given condition. Suppose the truck in question is of 5
sideration, as
the tractive effort varies inversely as the tons capacity with a total tractive effort equal to 5,000 Ib.,
radius. The
actual diameter of pneumatic tires is greater and it is desired to determine how much load can be carried
than the nominal or listed diameter. However, the weight on this truck and trailer up a 5 per cent grade over a good
of the vehicle compresses the lower part of the tire so that gravel road.
the distance from the center of the wheel to the ground Total tractive resistance is obtained as shown above by
is approximately equal to one-half of the nominal diameter. adding the grade resistance and the road resistance. For
The actual diameter of solid tires also exceeds the nominal one ton of weight every per cent of grade adds 20 Ib. to the
diameter, but on account of wear, one-half of the nominal tractive resistance. The road resistance (see road resist-
diameter is used as equal to the radius (r). ance tables) and grade resistance are expressed in pounds
The tractive effort (T E) for any motor vehicle can per ton ; therefore, the total tractive effort in pounds divided
be determined
by use of the following formula, which by the sum of the road resistance and grade resistance,
takes into account the factors presented. expressed in pounds per ton, will give the total number
of tons which can be moved :
and varies widely for different types of roads. The approxi- economies would be effected by their use. Sometimes, when
it is possible to reduce the standing time by the use of
mate resistance expressed in pounds per ton offered by the
various types of roads is shown in the table on page 563. reduction in running time because of the use of
trailers,
found by multiplying the total weight of vehicle or vehicles expenses will more than offset the saving which can be
and load expressed in tons by the pounds resistance per effected in the reduction of loading or unloading time.
ton shown in the table for the type of road, i. e. :
Every trailer application problem is a study in itself and
must be carefully considered to determine what the prob-
T Re =W X Re able haulage costs will be over a long period of time.
The total tractive resistance (T R) which is equal Special work, such as handling of extra long or extra
to the sum of the grade resistance (Gr) and the total bulky material, frequently makes the use of trailers abso-
road resistance (T Re), can be found by using the following lutely necessary, and in cases of this nature consideration
576 MOTOR TRUCKS. TRACTORS AND TRAILERS
Typical Tractors and Trailers: Fig. 1 Semi-Trailer; Fig. 2 Pole or Pipe Trailer; Fig. 3 Four-Wheel Trailer with
Dump Body; Fig. 4Four-Wheel Trailer, Slow Speed; Fig. 5 The Trailer Doubles the Capacity; Fig. 6- Semi-Trailer
with High Sides; Fig. 1 Tractor Used in Logging; Fig. 8 Hauling Logs on Two-Wheel Trailers
TRAILERS 577
inthe selection of the equipment must be based entirely upon stantly toperform the work without excessive depreciation
whether or not the pulling vehicle is of sufficient size con- and maintenance cost.
Trailers
Any vehicle which can be attached behind a motor trailer may be kept at each end of a haul, while the truck
truck or tractor not necessarily a good trailer. Trailers
is is in transit with a third trailer.
should be designed and constructed with much care and The class of service and type of construction divides the
skilland the selection of the proper type naturally depends trailer into two general forms; high speed trailers and slow
upon conditions and the commodity to be hauled. speed trailers.
Trailers have six major functions: They (1) increase High speed trailers are used principally behind motor
the load-hauling capacity of the motor truck; (2) reduce trucks at speeds from 4 m.p.h. to 15 m.p.h. There are
the cost of transportation (3) save waiting time of motor
; many soft road conditions where it is required to haul bulk
truck while loading and unloading; (4) move objects that material or for logging or similar service under which it
cannot be carried on motor trucks alone; (5) take care of is impossible to operate efficiently and economically with
excess loads and peak haulage and (6) enable passenger
;
motor trucks and high speed trailers. Under such condi-
automobiles to be used for freight haulage purposes. and most dependable method of transpor-
tions the cheapest
Great savings are possible by the use of trailers for tation is by a tractor with a train of slow speed trailers of
They are used also on short-haul work, where the truck (1) Four-wheel trailers.
is used as a tractor and carries no load, and in some long
(2) Two-wheel trailers.
distance hauling.
(3) Semi-trailers.
Single large castings, steel girders, funnel sections and Pole or pipe trailers.
(4)
large boilers as heavy as 16,000 Ib. and of a size and weight
The four-wheel trailers are sub-divided into reversible
too great be hauled on a motor truck alone, can be
to
and non-reversible types; high-speed trailers, for use
light
hauled on a trailer coupled to a truck wherein the length
with passenger automobiles heavy duty trailers, hauled by
;
and weight are divided between the truck and the trailer.
motor trucks for general haulage purposes straight frame ;
The strongest arguments in favor of a trailer used as
and drop frame models; and slow-speed trailers with dump
an auxiliary to a truck are increased carrying capacity and
bodies, for use in trains with tractors.
reduced hauling cost.
Two-wheel trailers may be classified into light and heavy
In any line of business where there are large tonnages
to be hauled the cost per ton-mile is least when the tonnage types for use respectively with passenger cars and motor
trucks dumping and non-dumping types.
hauled per mile is largest. On long hauls the question of ;
Saving of loading time is of particular interest to the house to house to collect the loads. When filled they are
lumber manufacturers because the making up of a load of driven to a central point in their respective zones in the
boards, shingles, lath or trim, requires a great deal of time. city. Here they are met by a motor truck with three or
The custom usually in the lumber trade is to leave wagons four empty trailers. The loaded tailers are coupled into
at mill to be loaded, while drivers and horses are on the a trainand hauled by the truck or tractor to the city
road with other wagons. Adoption of trailers and semi- incinerator or to the city dump. While the train is on
trailers enables the trade to continue this operating method the way the teams have been hitched to the empties and
and to get the additional
advantage of the superior speed, continue the work of collection. Thus teams and trucks
load capacity and endurance of motor truck. are used in their fields of greatest efficiency, the trucks
hauling 12 tons to 15 tons per trip on the long hauls and
Dump Bodies being continuously operated at a speed of 8 m.p.h. to 10
The bottom dumping body and the spreading body is a m.p.h.
development of the result of a demand for a trailer body Two- Wheel Trailers
for road-building purposes; as a means of hauling bulk The two-wheel as distinguished from the semi-
trailer,
material, they have many advantages. Loose material can
trailer or pole trailer, used principally for transporting
is
be hauled and dumped in a small compact pile. Either the
comparatively light loads of 500 Ib. to 2,000 Ib. at automobile
bottom dump body or spreader type has a cubic capacity
speeds.
of about y/2 yd. A
provision is made to adjust the lower
Two-wheel trailers are different from semi-trailers in
door for spreading material to various thicknesses. Sec-
that the entire load by the trailer's axle and
is carried
tional bodies are sometimes used by operators and carry
v. heels. The entire load is balanced over its axle and the
different kinds of material to one or mere points on the
pulling vehicle serves only to balance the trailer and tow it.
same trip. The hoppers operate independently of each
A bracket or other coupling device is attached to the rear
other. Usually they are made of equal capacity.
e:id of the tractor or truck for attaching the tongue or
The automatic side dump body discharges the load outside
drawbar of the trailer.
of the wheels. This body operates by gravity, and no
The two-wheel trailer is used by truck farmers, retailers
power is required to dump or return the body after dump-
and contractors. Most of the trailers of this construction
ing. The particular drop-frame construction brings the
are of the light high-speed type, but heavier types are manu-
loading height to about 60 in., which is within easy
factured for capacities from 3,500 Ib. to 4,000 Ib.
reach of the thus saving time and energy.
shovel, The
short wheel base possible a short turning radius, and
makes
Semi-Trailers
often team tongues are provided because in some instances
the trailers are pulled by horses. Under difficult conditions Semi-trailers are a type of two-wheel trailer which have
there is only one other form of hauling equipment which their axles and wheels placed under the rear portion of
trailers,except that in place of an axle in front there is a combined with flexibility. The front end of the load on
fifth-wheel which rests upon and is attached to the truck this type of trailer
is supported by the towing vehicle.
or tractor with which they are used. The form of construction consists of two wheels
principal
Several types of fifth-wheel are in common use which mounted on a rectangular forged dead axle. The standard
allow universal action and permit sidewise as well as fore- equipment is for hauling logs, lumber, pipes, poles, heavy
and-aft rocking, and also permit the truck and trailer to beams and other articles too long to be loaded on motor
stand at an angle to each other. A
pair of compression trucks and trailers of ordinary wheelbase. For heavy duty
springs are often furnished to take the shock of starting work wide tire equipment is recommended.
the semi-trailer and its load. As the type of articles mentioned vary in length, it is
Special trailers of the semi-trailer type with drop frame necessary to make trailers with extension tongues or reaches
are produced to meet heavy hauling conditions, and where so they can be lengthened 6 ft. to 18 ft. or shortened to
a low loading height is essential. fit the load, preventing undue overhang at the rear and
The single form
used for hauling machinery, heavy
is preserving a proper distribution of weight between the
blocks of stone, plate glass, boxes and barrels. As the trailer and the motor truck or tractor.
center of the platform is only 18 in. to 20 in. from the The connection between the truck and the trailer is hook
ground, it makes the loading and unloading of such articles or hitch, with a relief spring to take up the strain of
much easier. stopping and starting.
Jacks, that operate with either screw or ratchet or some No bodies are used on pipe trailers. Bolsters are pro-
other means, for supporting the trailer when it is detached vided with removable stakes or adjustable blocks to retain
from a truck or tractor are necessary on this type of trailer the load, and are fitted to the trailer and also to the towing
so that the truck or tractor will not have to remain idle vehicle, where it is mounted on the fifth-wheel or is a
while the trailer is being loaded or unloaded. swinging or pivoting type, to allow turning.
Supporting devices, whether they are jacks,
pedestals Considerable hauling in the oil fields is done on trailers.
with wheels or some other type, are sometimes permanently The type of trailer most in use is the two-wheel pipe trailer
attached to the trailer and so arranged that they may be with adjustable reach. Hauling in this sense is difficult
fastened under the trailer in such a way as not to interfere because of the lack of roads, heavy mud during wet
with the operation of the truck or tractor and trailers when weather, and length and weight of oil-well material, which
in transit. amounts in some instances to from 10 to 15 tons, and
Long loads, such as telegraph poles, long lumber or includes machinery, boilers, well casings and stills.
INDUSTRIAL
RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Railways for Manufacturing Plants, Steel Mills,
Handling Materials
By
ROBERT C. AUGUR
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Industrial Rail Transportation
BY RAIL is the most econom- costs, etc. Industrial railways and their equipment do not
ical method of moving large quantities of either loose have the flexibility of trackless devices but they are low
TRANSPORTATION'
or material for a considerable distance. in cost of construction, operation and maintenance while
packed
Industrial railways are extensively used around steel mills, cars cost less than trailers and the tractive effort required is
smelters, foundries, machine shops, power plants, shipyards, only a third as much as that for the same load handled on
boiler shops, chemical plants, brick yards, glass works and trackless equipment running on cement floors.
other manufacturing plants. They are also the principal The fullest measure of success and usefulness of an
means of transportation in and around coal and ore mines, industrial railway system will depend in a large degree
quarries, stone crushing plants, sand and gravel plants, upon the care with which it is located. Another important
sugar and other large plantations. In the handling and factor affecting the economy and value of the system is
storing of coal and iron ore, in large logging and lumbering a proper selection of track, switches, turntables, types of
operations and in grading, road building and other con- cars and methods of haulage. These are points which can
struction work an industrial railway is frequently the indis- be determined but by one familiar with the solution of
pensable means of transportation. transportation problems.
A careful study of all factors entering into the problem Many types of cars have been designed to meet the
should be made before deciding upon the adoption of any different requirements of the various industries. A number
transportation system. Some of the points to be considered of these types have such a broad field of usefulness that
are : the quantity, weight their designs have become
and character of materials standardized. However,
to be moved; the points specially designed cars are
between which they are to Industrial Railways: Inter- plant; Mine; Log- often better fitted to meet
be transported the distance the particular local condi-
ging; Plantation; Construction; Portable;
:
;
583
584 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
outside gage and other narrow gages are sometimes used. to adopt the standard gage and thus obtain the benefit of
They are usually carefully laid and in a well designed sys- car interchange.
tem arranged to reach all necessary points and permanently Construction Roads. In the building of railroads, high-
Rails range from 12 Ib. to 25 Ib. per yard accord-
installed. ways, dams, tunnels, aqueducts, canals, sewers and in other
ing to the loads carried. For inside use in boiler rooms construction work a railway system is often employed. It
and elsewhere cast plate tracks are frequently substituted is frequently narrow gage, commonly 35 in. and sometimes
for steel rails.For reaching outlying points, as in foundry only 24 in. As the installations are temporary the line is
yards or for disposing of refuse, portions of portable track frequently made up of portable track with steel ties al-
may be advantageously employed. Cars are generally of though wooden ties are used where they can be obtained at
the four-wheel type although double truck cars are occa- a favorable price.
sionally used for handling unusually long or heavy mate- Portable Railways. Where operations require the track
rial. Storage battery or gasoline locomotives are advisable to be frequently changed from place to place, portable rail-
where there is considerable traffic or the distances are long. ways are usually the most economical type to use. The
Heavy These are required around steel
Mill Railroads. sections of rails and ties with joints are fastened together
mills and large manufacturing plants. They are usually by the manufacturer and thus delivered to the customer.
of 56^2 in. gage and as they conform to well known rail- Portable track is usually made up in 15 ft. sections so that
road practice will not be described in detail here. Cars are two men may easily carry a section anywhere. These sec-
usually of the double truck type and sometimes self-pro- tions are simply laid on the ground, coupled together and
pelled. Any one of the many types of locomotives may be the road is ready for traffic. The use of special slip joints
used dependent upon local conditions. at the end of the sections makes it possible to lift and
Mine Roads. All mines from the smallest to the largest relay a portion of track in a short time.
depend upon a railway system for the transportation of Cable Railways. These are used most extensively
outgoing and incoming material. Ore mines frequently use around industrial establishments for handling heavy bulk
roads with a track gage of 18 in. or less and small hand material in volume, at coal and ore storage points and in
cars. Coal mines use roads with track gages ranging from mine haulage. While this system of operating cars is a
18 in. to 56J/2 in. In the larger coal mines there is a marked very old one it is of limited application. The cars are
tendency toward the adoption of a 42 in. track gage, a moved by being attached to a running wire rope. The rope
practice which is strongly recommended.
For strip mining may run continuously at a constant speed and the cars be
S6J4 in. gage is common although a narrower gage is some- attached and detached by grip on the car or the cars may
times preferable. be permanently attached and the cable started and stopped by
Logging Roads. These are usually constructed with a an operator at
will. Cable railways may run on a level, or
minimum amount of grading, are frequently taken up and up grade and down grade as required by local conditions.
relaid especially branches and extensions and often have For industrial use they are often elevated 10 ft. to 15 ft.
heavy grades and sharp curves. above the ground level and the space below used for stor-
A 36 in. track gage is used in many places on account age. There are four systems of cable railways in common
of the low cost of construction, but the standard railroad use:
gage of 56J^ in. is more generally adopted so that cars of (1) Endless Cable. In this type the wire cable is con-
logs maybe delivered without reloading. stantly running in one direction at a fixed speed and a car
Logs are sometimes used instead of steel rails, although is attached or detached at any point by a cable grip oper-
this practice is not as common as it once was. ted by a man on the car. This method is suitable for heavy
Plantation Roads. These are frequently employed on service and any number of cars desired may be used.
sugar cane, coffee and other large plantations. The track (2) Double Shuttle. In this type two cars are perma-
gage used varies from 24 in. to 56^4 in. while in countries nently attached to the wire cable in such a way that as the
using the metric system 60 c. m. and 1 meter are common loaded car goes out the empty car comes in. The cars may
gages. Track construction varies greatly, dependent upon pass each other on a centrally located switch or they may
the size of the plantation, the distance traversed, the char- run on parallel tracks. The winding engine is usually lo-
acter of the country, etc. Sections or portable railway are cated at the loading point and is started, stopped and re-
frequently used for reaching out into the fields and gather- versed by the operator who also attends to the loading.
ing in cane and other products. Such portions of track The system best adapted to moving material between two
is
are easily changed from one location to another and need fixed points.Cable bottom cars are generally used and are
not necessarily be of the same gage as the main road. On arranged to dump automatically upon striking a trip.
such feeders the cars are frequently hauled by animal (3) Single Shuttle. In this type only one car is used,
power. the loaded car being drawn outward by power, dumped
Long Sidings. Manufacturing plants, logging camps, automatically and then drawn back to the loading point.
quarries, sand or gravel pits, mines and other enterprises The winding engine is usually so located that it may 'be
are sometimes located at a considerable distance from a operated 'by the man attending to the loading.
railroad and to connect with a shipping point a long siding (4) Mine Haulage Systems. These differ according to
or branch is required. The cost of construction and the conditions. In some places the empty cars attached to a
amount of material to fee transported may not warrant the cable run down a slope by gravity and the cable is then
expense of a standard gage railway. In such cases a narrow attached to a trip of loaded cars and they are hauled up
gage road generally of 36 in. gage may meet the require- to the head house. In other places a main or head rope
ments. The lighter and cheaper construction possible with isused to haul out the loaded cars while a tail rope is used
such a narrow gage road will often more than offset the to haul the empty cars back into the mine, the tail rope
cost of transferring material at the shipping point. By the passing around a pulley at the inner end of the mine.
use of modern handling machinery such a transfer can Considerable effort has been expended in perfecting the
usually be made at a low unit cost. However, where the details of the auxiliary devices used on cable railways.
amount and value of the traffic warrants, it is preferable Without going into descriptions it may be said that the
CLASSES OF RAILWAYS 585
success of a system will depend largely upon the design of simple, reliable and economical device
speedy, for
such details as cable grips, layout of curves with guide
accomplishing the desired result. They are used at prac-
pulleys and winding engines. tically all blast furnaces for hoisting charges of ore,
Cable railways are low in cost of construction, equip- fuel and limestone from the stock house to the
top of
ment, maintenance and operation. No more economical the furnace and are extensively employed at boiler houses
method has been found for handling quantities of coal and for elevating both coal and ashes to overhead bins. Other
some other bulk materials which have to .be unloaded and where they are
places frequently used are at quarries
stored in large piles. for elevating stone to a crusher or for
raising crushed
Automatic Railways. These are mainly used for stone to an elevated bin, at sand and gravel pits for
transporting coal, sand, ores, limestone, cement and other
elevating the material to the washing plant, at lime kilns
loose materials from vessels or cars to storage bins which for elevating stone and fuel, at gas plants for elevating
are not over 500 ft. or 600 ft. away from the receiving in concrete construction work for charging mixers
coal,
point. Their most extensive use has been for handling coal and at ore and coal mines. They may be used for
along the water front although they have been installed at
handling liquids as well as solid bulk materials.
many other places. As no power is required the operating
A skip hoist consists of a car running on inclined or
cost of automatic railways is extremely small.
overhead tracks and hoisted by means of a cable attached
In operation, a car after being loaded is started down
to a winding engine. The track may be at any angle up
an incline which has sufficient pitch to carry the loaded car
to the vertical.
at a high speed to a movable automatic dumping point.
The cars, which are described in detail further on in
Just before reaching this point the loaded car picks up a
this section, are of shapes, sizes and capacities.
many
wire cable which is indirectly attached to and raises a
The energy
stored up in the counterweight which
They are mounted on two pairs of wheels, the rear pair
wri.yht.
of which usually have treads of at least double the
lias been raised by the loaded car causes the empty car to
ordinary width. At the dumping point the rails are
return up the incline to the starting point.
curved to carry the car over the bin or hopper. Start-
The cars used on automatic railways are of the hopper
bottom type. They are especially designed for the serv- ing at a point just ahead of the place at which the
track rails are curved, an outer pair of rails are installed
ice, have sloping sides and ends and are provided with
to take the extended tread of the rear pair of wheels.
a cable pick-up.
These outer rails guide the rear wheels in such a manner
These cars are described in detail further on in this
that as the front pair of wheels runs in on the curved
section.
track, the rear pair continues to travel in a straight
Inclined Planes or Railways. These are extensively
used at mines where the
line. The rear of the car is consequently raised and
pit heads open on hillsides above
the load dumped. Instead of using double rear wheels
railroads or points to which the coal or other material
a third pair of wheels is sometimes used, these being
is to be delivered. Under these conditions "gravity
of a wider gage to suit the outer set of rails.
planes" are
employed the loaded cars attached to one
;
end of a cable descend the grade while the empty cars When the incline is very steep, suitable guide rails
are provided in addition to the track rails.
attached to the other end of the cable are pulled up
the grade to the top of the plane. The cable passes For vertical installations the guides and rails resemble
those used for elevators while the cars closely resemble
around sheaves located in the head house, the speed of
buckets.
the cable being controlled by brakes attached to the
sheaves. In the single unbalanced skip hoist only one car is
V-Body Dump Car in Construction Work Inclined Bottom, Side Dump, Concrete Cars
Air Dump Cars in Railroad Construction Tractor with Train of Dump Cars
Inclined Bottom Lime Car Third Rail Electric Locomotive and Gable Bottom Cars
Electric Locomotive, Pusher Type Electric Locomotive and Coke Cooling Cars
Industrial Cars
INDUSTRIAL CAR in some one of its various forms is mensions, capacity and details of design are necessary, that
used in almost every branch of industrial activity. the leading manufacturers have standardized only a lim-
THE is found in the busy manufacturing plant, underground
It
mills, forge shops, smelters, foundries, machine shops and 18 in., 20 in. and 42 in. together with 20y2 in. outside gage.
many other places it has been found to be either the only The
length of the platform can be varied to suit condi-
really practical device for moving material or has been but the sizes given in the table represent those most
tions,
adopted as the most economical one. Thus, while it does commonly used.
not attract so much attention as does the larger and more
SIZES OF STANDARD FOUR-WHEEL PLATFORM CARS
conspicuous railroad freight car, yet in its particular fields Width of Platfcrm
it has just as vital and essential a function to perform.
Track Bearings Bearings Length of
The industrial car is, however, only one link in the Gage Wheel Base Inside Outside Platform
24 in. 24 in. to 30 in. 20 in. to 30 in. 36 in. to 48 in. to 6
chain of a complete transportation system and in order
30 in. 30 in. to 36 in. 24 in. to 36 42 in. to 60
5 ft. ft.
in. in. 6 ft. to 8 ft.
satisfactorily and economically to perform its functions, 36 in. ... 40 in. to 48 in. 28 in. to 42 in. 48 in. to 72 in. 7 ft. to 12 ft.
56;Xin.. 60 in. to 84 in 66 in. to 90 in. 8 ft. to 15 ft.
and not prove to be the weak link in the chain, its gen-
eral type and its design must be carefully developed to The underframe is often of wood but on the more sub-
meet the working conditions. For steam railroad trans- stantial cars it is of steel, usually of channel iron con-
portation the handling and packing of material must be struction. Except in the larger and heavier cars center
done in such a way as to conform to terminal conditions or sills are not required.
to the character and size of the cars available; but in in- The most common practice is to use a platform of yellow
dustrial transportation the railroad itself, together with the pine or preferably tongued and grooved to prevent
oak,
types of cars, the methods used for loading and unloading, warping. This may be protected by a light steel plate
and the means taken for moving the cars, should all be in- or the cars may be ordered equipped with a heavy steel
telligently selected to meet the conditions prevailing at plate top or deck riveted to the underframe with counter
the time or anticipated in connection with probable future sunk rivets to ensure a flat surface.
developments. The carrying capacity for which platform cars are ordi-
There is such a wide diversity in the character of the narily designed is two to three tons for the smaller sizes
materials to be moved and in the conditions under which and five or six tons for the larger sizes. Cars of larger
the cars are used that a great many variations in design capacity are often required for certain purposes and may
and size are necessary. As an illustration, the character be made for practically any capacity for which the track
of a coal mining car and the track gage are dependent and roadbed are adequate. -i
upon the thickness of the vein of coal, width of entrance, Bearings be inside or outside of the wheels, de-
may
grades, curves, whether the cars are pushed singly by man pendent largely upon the width of platform desired. Cars
power, hauled by mules, by rope haulage or by locomo- with bearings inside of the wheels usually have platforms
tives; also by the method of loading, means for unloading, from 6 in. wider to 8 in. narrower than the track gage,
etc. while cars with bearings outside of the wheels usually have
Although many different kinds of cars varying in type, platforms from 1 ft. to 2 ft. wider than the track gage, as
are required to meet the shown in the preceding table.
design, capacity, track gage, etc.,
widely varying demands, yet considerable can and should Journal boxes usually are rigidly attached to the frame
be done in the direction of standardization and in the but if desired the platform may be spring-supported with
elimination of unnecessary variations. As an example of the journal boxes working in pedestals.
Chilled cast iron wheels, single plate or with spokes, are
the present existing lack of uniformity, consider such a
vital factor as the
gage. track catalogs Manufacturers' generally used, although cast steel wheels are sometimes
show over 25 different gages ranging from 16 in. to 56J4 in.,
the latter being the common steam railroad standard.
The different types of cars may be classified according
which they are used and accord-
to the industrial field in
For general utility purposes, whether in and around in- furnished, especially for heavy service. Wheels for the
dustrial plants or elsewhere and for handling a wide smaller cars are usually from 12 in. to 16 in. in diameter,
variety of materials, small platform cars are more con- for the larger cars from 16 in. to 20 in. The wheels are
venient andmore widely used than any other type. To meet usually pressed on the axle, but where there are many
such diverse service conditions so many variations in di- short curves in the track one wheel on an axle is some-
587
588 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
times left loose. Most manufacturers now regularly fur- Cars with tilting platforms are convenient for the rapid
nish their with roller bearing axles or with rollers
cars unloading of certain materials and are used in machine
in the wheel hub where the wheels are loose on the axle. shops, foundries and elsewhere. They are designed to
Plain bearings offer about double the resistance of roller dump the load on either side of the track and, if desired,
bearings and require so much more attention to lubricate
that it is rarely economical to use any other than roller
bearings on four-wheel cars.
The wheel-base, or the distance between centers of wheels
is usually kept short so that cars may be easily pushed
other point away from the track where cars are to be Details of the design may be modified to suit special
loaded or unloaded. In such cases the cars may be equipped conditions.
with eye-bolts or lifting rings at the corners or with eyes
fastened to the frame.
V-Body Dump Cars
Aside from platform cars probably no form of industrial
Where cars are used for transporting rails or bars, steel
car is more extensively used than the V-body dump type.
sliding plates are provided at the ends and rollers near the
It is the general utility car in many different kinds of in-
corners. This form is usually called a rail car.
obtained with a swivel or revolving tcp for
dustrial plants and
extensively used by contractors for
is
Cars may be
various construction operations because of its adaptability
greater convenience in loading and unloading tubes and
for handling a wide range of materials. Among other things
other long material.
Other modifications, such as charging box cars, annealing commonly carried by these cars are coal, ashes, sand, gravel,
furnace cars, billet and ingot cars, together with special cars shale, rock, ore, earth, cinders, cement, concrete, clay, phos-
for bars and long forgings are described under the head of phates, nitrates, etc. ;
because of the steep angle of discharge,
Mill Cars. wet as well as dry materials may be dumped successfully.
Cars of this type are used in mining and quarrying works
Double-Truck Platform Cars ;
Platform cars are also furnished with eight wheels, or powder works
fertilizer, phosphate and nitrate plants ; ;
double trucks, and are then often called flat cars. They
smelters; clay, pottery, brick and glass works; by con-
are convenient for handling long, bulky or heavy articles tractors for road paving, excavating and concrete work; in
which cannot readily be carried on the four-wheel cars. foundries for sand, slag and waste and in various other
The carrying of heavy loads on eight wheels so distributes
chemical and industrial plants.
the weight that the capacity of the car may be doubled The cars may be pushed by hand, hauled by power, or
without necessitating the adoption of heavier track. In
coupled in trains and pulled by a locomotive. In addition
many places, where practically all of the material handled to operationon level ground they may be hauled up an in-
can be carried on four-wheel cars, the addition of a few
clineand then dumped, as is done at some stone crushers
double-truck cars will often be found advantageous for
and sand and gravel washers, or they may be hoisted on
moving exceptionally bulky or heavy articles.
an elevator for dumping, as has been found convenient in
In general details, double-truck cars are similar to four-
handling concrete.
wheel cars except for the fact that they approach more
V-body dump cars, to meet the many requirements, are
closely standard gage railroad practice in such things as
made in various sizes and shapes and differ considerably in
details of design. They usually are built entirely of metal.
The bodies should be well reinforced around the top by
angle irons, preferably rounded, or by other substantial
means, as this is the part that receives the hardest usage.
to be lifted by a crane.
framing, couplers, brakes, etc. The bearings on this type These cars ordinarily dump on either side, but they can
of car usually are of brass, babbited, instead of the roller
be built for end dumping. The shape of the car body and
type. the steep angle of discharge is such that the load is usually
The short double-truck platform car illustrated is de-
discharged entirely clear of the track.
signed to supplement the ordinary four-wheel platform Considerable study has been given to so balance the body
car in carrying material in manufacturing plants. It has
that it is not only easy to dump but will automatically return
a platform 10 ft. long and 40 in. wide and is built for
to an upright position unless it is desired to have a car
capacities of three, five and ten tons. The wheels have which can be returned to the normal position only by hand.
flanges on the outside such as are ordinarily used on Cars are sometimes arranged for slow dumping under the
full control of the operator, but this is not characteristic of
the usual design.
The capacity, except in special cases, ranges from 12 cu.
ft. to 5 cu. yd. The smaller cars are usually of the "trun-
nion" or "cradle" type and hold from 12 cu. ft. to 40 cu.
l
ft., while the larger cars of \ /2 cu. yd., to 6 cu. yd. capacity
hold the body in an upright position while being transported sideways. The cradle support is curved and preferably
but also in a partly tipped position, thus making it easy to
load the cars by hand shovelling. In some cases the locks
also hold the body in the dumping which is at times
position
convenient when handling stickywet concrete, etc.,
clay,
which may be a little slow in dumping and where it may
occasionally be desired to scrape the car out. In some de-
signs the catch automatically locks the body when it returns
to the upright position.
While some of the smaller cars of this type are equipped
with a hook so that they may be pulled by horse power;
couplers are usually omitted as such cars are generally
pushed by hand. The larger cars, which are more apt to be
hauled by rope or by locomotives, are commonly equipped
with couplers, ordinarily a simple form of link and pin. If
trains of more than five or six cars are used they should be
and gives a low center of gravity. Such cars are very con-
venient for loading. In dumping, the edge of the car comes
down to the rail. This is desirable for unloading into a pit
or from a trestle, but is not so convenient when the tracks
are on a level floor. Small cars of the trunnion type are
also made with a short rigid wheel-base and body above the
wheels this gives a car of compact design which is preferred
;
in places where the load is dumped onto shop floors. Fig. 10 V-Body Dump Car, Cradle Type
Cars of the cradle type are ordinarily built for capacities
ranging from 18 cu. ft. to 40 cu. ft. with 24 in. track gage; adapted to withstand the strains resulting from being hauled
27 cu. ft. to 54 cu. ft. with 30 in. gage, and 27 cu. ft. to 81 in long trains, on heavy grades and at fair speeds. For high
INDUSTRIAL CARS 591
speeds, however, especially on poor track, it is best to use dries, rolling mills and in forge shops for charging coke
springs on top of the journal boxes. and coal into cupolas, furnaces and gas producers and are
V-body dump cars mounted on eight wheels, or double frequently used for removing ashes from boiler houses.
made for carrying heavy loads. This dis-
trucks, are also The body of these cars, being of scoop form and mounted
tributes the load so that light rails may be used. They often on a swivel so as to permit of dumping in any direction,
makes them particularly desirable for depositing the load in
the exact location desired ; in fact, these cars are frequently
called "all-around dump cars." The operator is always
on the side opposite to that on which the load is dumped
and where he may easily reach the latch to unfasten it when
it is desired to dump the car.
a
O
'
,
INDUSTRIAL CARS 593
Automatic Railway Handling Stone Automatic Railway Delivering Coal from a Barge
Combination Skip Hoist and Cable Railway Distribution of Coal by Bridge and Cable Railway
Scoop-body cars are built for 18 in., 24 in., 30 in. and 36 doors can not be used. In this case both the bearings and
in. track gage and of 12 cu. ft., 18 cu. ft. and 27 cu. ft. capac- the car body are inside of the wheels.
ity. The wheels are of 10 in. or 12 in. diameter; and the Wheels for charging cars are usually 12 in. to 16 in. in
wheelbase quite short, generally from 16 in. to 21 in Square
axles are ordinarily used with the wheels loose on the
axles. The wheels are frequently of the self-oiling type
but those with rollers in the hub are preferable.
For handling liquid or semi-liquid materials, such as
concrete, end gates such as shown
one of the illustrations
in
are frequently used to prevent waste in transit. The gates
are furnished only when specified and are generally fitted
with a rod and a handle so that the gate may be opened
from the rear.
In the use of a swivel-base, scoop-body cars resemble the
square body rotary dump cars and ore mining cars which
are described elsewhere.
Charging Cars
Fig. 16 Charging Car, Inclined Sides
Charging while primarily designed for the trans-
cars,
portation of coal from storage yards or bins to the boiler diameter and are pressed on the axle, which has roller
house, are also used for many other purposes where the bearings however, rigid axles with wheels loose on the
;
car is to be unloaded by shoveling; they may be properly axles and rollers in the hub are often used, especially where
there is much curved track.
The scoop or
side type is preferred by some,
inclined
as it is shovel into for loading and it also is
easier to
easy to shovel the material out. It is also made with one
side scoop shape and the other side with a drop door,
and frequently arranged to dump.
it. is
One
of the illustrations shows a car with drop side and
dumping gear for discharging on one side of the track. It
has a flexible wheel-base and flanges on the outside of the
rails. The dumping gear is completely under control dur-
ing the dumping process so that there is a freedom from the
shocks that occur when the body dumps solely by gravity.
If desired, these cars can be made so that the load can be
handled or the plant conditions, among which the following are also used at brick and tile works where they are com-
may be mentioned. monly called "clay cars" at quarries and rock crushers,
;
Doors may be hinged at the top instead of the bottom. and are also often used at small mines for conveying rock
This is rarely done except in cars with a dumping arrange-
ment.
Increased capacity may be obtained by using higher
sides with drop doors of the usual size. This type is con-
venient for handling coke and light material.
Cars can be arranged with two or more compartments, a
modification which has proved to be quite convenient in
smelting and refining works, brass foundries, etc., where
several metals or other materials are weighed out and after-
wards mixed. Compartments are also desirable in certain
drop forge and machine shops where several different
articles may be transported at the same time.
same purpose
around for dumping. A
bar or coupling rod is used when
for the where the ashes are de-
especially
livered to a skip hoist and platform cars are used where
the dumping end connected to other cars in a train.
is
readily with a small amount of power and return easily Fig. 22 Hand Operated, Running Position
to the horizontal position acute angle and smoothness in-
;
side to insure clean and rapid dumping; load thrown clear work, a 4 cu. yd. car is preferable to a 5 cu. yd. car because
of track, so that bed in dumped position clears unloaded of its lighter weight, lower height and the fact that it can
material without hand shoveling. be used on lighter rails and softer trackbed.
Hand Operated Two-Way Side Dump Cars. The Air Operated Two-Way Dump Cars. Air-operated
smaller sizes of box-body dump cars are loaded either by dump cars
usually are used for large operations where
hand or by steam shovel and are dumped by hand. In standard gage tracks and double truck cars are the rule.
small operations they may be pulled by a horse but are As the hand-operated side dump car has largely superseded
usually hauled by some type of industrial locomotive. A the gondola car with hinged side doors which was unloaded
/
car of \ l 2 cu. yd. capacity, level load, for 24 in. gage track by a plow and the A-frame car with which considerable
is shown in the first illustration. The dumping angle is hand shoveling was often required, so the hand-operated
approximately 45 deg. the automatic side doors give a
;
sidedump car being replaced by the air-operated side
is
wide discharge opening; the underfraine and running gear dump car for such railroad work as widening roadbeds
are simple and the steel lining adds to the durability as
; for laying additional tracks, trestle filling, reducing grades,
well as to the ease with which the load is discharged. A track elevation in cities, ditching, building yards, etc. ;
for
larger car of the same general type but of 4 cu. yd. the construction of canals and large dams and for the
capacity and built for 36 in. gage track is also illustrated. stripping of large beds for open mining of coal or of iron.
In these cars, the side door can be lifted and held locked The operation of dumping being under the control of the
in an open position for ease in loading by hand shovel. engineman and being practically instantaneous results in con-
Hand dumped cars are usually built of 1 cu. yd. and \% siderable economy in labor and in time. The ability to dump
cu. yd. capacity for 24 in. gage track; \y2 cu. yd., 2 cu. yd. while running is also an advantage in distributing the ma-
and 3 cu. yd. for 30 in. gage; 3 cu. yd., 4 cu. yd. and 5 cu. terial. Most air-operated cars can also be dumped by hand
yd. for 36 in. gage, and 6 cu. yd., 7 cu.
yd. and 8 cu. yd. for if it is not convenient to connect them to the air system.
standard gage, all being mounted on four wheels. Similar Two general types of air dumping mechanism are in com-
cars, but mounted on double trucks or eight wheels, are also mon use. The first employs a long horizontal cylinder
made of 8 cu. yd., 10 cu. yd. and 12 cu. yd. capacity for which operates through a cable passing around sheaves,
standard gage tracks. while the second uses a short stroke vertical cylinder di-
INDUSTRIAL CARS 597
rectly connected to the bottom of the bed. Cars of the long one-way dump cars. Self-dumping is obtained by the use
cylinder type require side chains, the same as used on hand of a movable roller on the side of the car which is con-
dump cars. Such cars of 12 cu. yd. and 16 cu. yd. capacity nected by levers to the body. At the desired dumping point
have been used extensively for a number of years by con- an inclined rail terminating in a horizontal portion is placed
alongside of the track in such a position as to engage with
the roller, and when the roller runs up the inclined rail the
body is dumped.
Cars may be arranged to dump over one end instead of
on the side. This modification can be applied to cars of
from 1 cu. yd. to 6 cu. yd. capacity.
Small cars of 1 cu. yd., l'/2 cu. yd. and 2 cu. yd. capacity
and of the end dumping style can be mounted on a swivel-
base so as to dump in any position. (See Rotary Dump
Cars.)
In the construction of the New York aqueduct a special-
Fig. 23 Air Dump Car, Long Cylinder ly designed car of 40 cu. ft.capacity and 30 in. track gage
was used. The body was carried on rockers of a design
tractors. The 12 cu. yd. car is light enough for use on similar to that used on many V-body dump cars. The doors
soft tracks, is substantial enough for steam shovel work were hung at a considerable distance above the bottom of
and large enough to be economical on short and medium the bed so as to secure a wide opening, and to provide
length hauls, while the 16 cu.
car is preferable for
yd.
longer hauls and on more substantial tracks. car of A
20 cu. yd. capacity is better adapted for railroad work and
in stripping for large mining operations. Cars with vertical
cylinders are known as "automatic" because means are pro-
vided for shutting off the air from the cylinder when the
dumping position is reached and because the bed is locked
or unlocked by the operation of the cylinder, thus making
the use of side chains unnecessary.
To provide for cases where the locomotive is not equipped
with an operating valve and hose connection, the cars can
be equipped with storage reservoirs which are charged
from the brake pipe, and which hold sufficient air for the
operation of the cylinders. In this case the unloading of
the cars is controlled by a dumpman who can be stationed
at any point on the train. All of the cars in a train can
be dumped together or each one can be dumped separately.
Automatic air dump cars are built in capacities of 16 Fig. 25 Small Box-Body Quarry Car
which they are designed to handle. A few of these will dumped from a trestle or elevated track into a bin, or there
be mentioned. may be a receptacle underneath the track and a conveyor
Cars can be arranged to dump on one side only instead provided to carry the material away.
of on both sides. This is sometimes desirable in small Hopper bottom cars for industrial purposes range from
hand-dumped cars. a very light car for 24 in. gage and a capacity of 15 cu. ft.
An automatic dumping attachment can be provided on to a standard gage car carrying a load of 100,000 Ib. or more.
598 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
As the requirements are so diverse, there are no standard equipped with a hand brake operated by a staff and hand-
designs for hopper bottom cars. The small cars most gen- wheel similar to that used on freight cars. Others forms
erally used are for track gages of 24 in., 30 in., and 36 in. of brakes are used, a common form being that controlled
and a capacity of 2 4 cu. yd. or 6 cu. yd.
cu. yd., 3 cu. yd., by a long hand lever on the side of the car. The coupler
The first of small capacity and has a
car illustrated is is of the hook type and is equipped with a spring.
bottom slide controlled by a hand lever. Various designs of Cars of the same general design and of about five tons
capacity are particularly well adapted for handling zinc,
lead and other high grade ores.
For handling iron ore, a larger car of from 15 tons to
20 tons capacity is often used. If the track is sufficiently
substantial such a car may still be mounted on four wheels
when spring supported. Cars of even smaller capacity are,
300 cu. ft. to 400 cu. ft. and for a load of as much as 10
tons, while similar cars for standard railroad gage tracks
may have a capacity of 50 tons.
The smaller cars are always carried on four wheels, but
double trucks are required for the larger cars.
The sides are higher than for flat bottom cars' of the same
capacity. For handling ashes, coke, charcoal and light sub-
stances the height is still further increased.
If the cars are be
pushed by hand, couplers are
to
omitted; but in most cases couplers are required, a simple
form of link and pin being the type most used.
Brakes of any desired type can be applied if required.
Cars may be hauled by a locomotive or may be arranged
for any other method of propulsion. If the cars are med
on cable railways they are equipped with a cable grip and
provided with a platform for the operator. The one illus-
trated is typical of such cars which are made in a variety of Fig. 31 Inclined Bottom Car, Lift Gate
designs, wheel gages and capacities.
Cars used on automatic railways ordinarily have wooden vantage when placing concrete, which is somewhat stiff, and
bodies, lined with steel plate, sloping ends,
and a long wheel- it does not interfere with the use of the car for
handling
base which permits of the body being carried low between sloppy concrete. The larger gate is also of advantage if the
the wheels. If material other than coal is to be carried the same car is used for handling dry aggregates, etc., in addi-
angle of the bottom should be designed to suit. The capac- tion to concrete.
ities usually employed are one and two tons. The doors For concrete construction work radial gates are preferred
600 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
An Economical Arrangement for Handling Ties Cane Car and End Dumper
HI
Double Truck Car for Heavy Castings Heavy Type Four-Wheel Platform Car
Furnace Charging Box Car Steel Ladle Car and Electric Locomotive
Hopper Bottom Ore Cars Electric Locomotive and Ladle Cars at Smelter
602 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
because they can be made grout tight, are easily operated railroad track gage, about SO ft. long and of 10 tons coke
and give the most satisfactory control of the discharge. capacity.
While these cars are used in many kinds of concrete con- For handling coal and some other kinds of loose bulk
struction they have been found to be particularly desirable material frequently desirable to have a larger discharge
it is
gates with chutes are preferable. Such cars are used for
handling coal, sand, gravel, cracked ice, etc., and can also
be used for concrete. For lighter materials, such as ashes,
a similar car with higher sides is often used. If preferred,
Fig. 33 Incline Bottom Car, Hinged Gate Instead of being constructed entirely of steel slats, the
sides and ends of such cars are_ sometimes built of steel
If desired, cars may be obtained with end instead of side plates, perforated for the circulation of the treating mixture,
discharge. A similar car, water-jacketed and with modified the slat construction being used only for the floor.
doors, use for handling incandescent coke at gas works.
is in If the cars are not to be turned over for dumping, end or
In the coke regions a large quenching car with inclined side doors may be substituted for the top doors.
bottcm and perforated lift doors on the sides is used for Cars used for treating railroad ties, fence posts and short
conveying coke from the ovens. Such cars are of standard timbers have two yokes, usually formed of angles or chan-
INDUSTRIAL CARS 603
nels and are mounted on four wheels. The usual length is a car and pushed into a closed retort where the heating
about 6 ft. takes place. This gives a distillation in which a large
For handling telephone poles, piles and long timbers two amount of tar, creosote, methyl alcohol, acetone and acetic
cars are required, one at each end. These cars usually have acid are obtained and at the same time the yield of charcoal
is also nearly doubled.
Charcoal cars are of steel-slat construction and are pro-
vided with side curtains which can be lifted off, or are
hinged at the top and can be turned up and fastened in an
open position.
Cars holding 2 or 2}/> cords of wood and for standard
gage tracks are extensively used. Such cars are about 5 ft.
4 in. wide, 7 ft. 2 in. high and from 11 ft. to 12 ft. 6 in. long
over all. Four-wheel trucks with 18 in. to 20 in. wheels are
common.
Special cars of other sizes and for narrow gage tracks
are also employed. For narrow gage tracks the wheels are
usually inside of the frame and boxed over. If circular re-
torts are used, the cars are of a and in ap-
shape to suit
can be held rigid by pins when used for ties. Where both
ties and long poles are treated such a double-purpose car
flanges, 2
l
/2 in. to 3 in. high. The cars may also be equipped
with wheels that can be used on either wood or steel rails.
These also have wide flat treads and flanges 1% in. to 2 in.
high. While unchilled cast iron wheels are sometimes used
on wood rails, the greater durability of chilled iron wheels
makes them preferable.
Steel rails are used in some instances and are laid for 36
in. track gage. Most logging roads are, however, laid on
56y2 in. gage, so that standard gage railroad cars may be
run over the roads and cars of loaded !ogs may be delivered
Fig. 39 Logging Car, All Steel
to and hauled by the railroads without reloading. The car
wheels used on roads equipped with steel rails are of chilled
the type which run over the tops of the cars are not used
cast iron except in a few cases where steel wheels are used.
the rails may be omitted.
Logging Cars. Originally four-wheel cars were used The use
of four bunks permits of the loading of two tiers
for logging work but they are now rarely employed
of short logs, but if only long logs are to be hauled the cars
except for short hauls and around mills. Four-wheel need only be equipped with two bunks.
trucks are still used, however, for even the heaviest The bunks shown are equipped with short stakes which
logs, but the logs rest on two trucks.
The two trucks
can be released from the opposite side of the car, a safety
are sometimes connected together by a coupling beam, device of considerable importance. There are a number of
but frequently the logs form the only connection between similar designs which have been proved to be so efficient
the trucks.
that there is no need of releasing the logs on the side of the
Where animal power is used for hauling, the trucks are car from which they are unloaded.
of very simple construction and of 2 tons to 5 tons capacity
The car is equipped with automatic couplers, air brakes
each.
and all appliances required for interchange traffic.
Ordinary flat cars are frequently used for transporting
logs, but as they weigh much more than logging cars, cost
more to build and maintain, and are not equipped with
bunks and special means for securing the logs, they are
neither as economical nor as convenient to use.
A logging car which is used more than any other type and
in practically all sections of the country is of skeleton con-
struction and has a wooden frame. The one illustrated is
ally follows from the fact that they are used under such
may be of wood, entirely of metal, or of a combination
tions,
of wood and metal.
diverse conditions and in so many different countries. Ex-
United States,
tensive sugar cane plantations are found in the
The ends may be solid, steel racks, stakes, a door hinged
at the top if the caris dumped by tipping
endwise, or they
in Cuba, Porto Rico, Mexico, Central America, parts of
South America, Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, Java, South may be omitted entirely for hand loading lengthwise.
Africa and other tropical countries. The sides may consist of stakes with solid or releasable
In size, cane cars range from a small four-wheel car for stake pockets stakes held in releasable stake pockets and
;
a 24 in. track gage, holding one ton, to a large eight-wheel hinged at the top either on a rod or by an individual hinge ;
The track gage, most or be held locked by a rod at the bottom; stakes fastened
commonly used for cane cars range
from 24 in. to 56J/2 in. and, in countries using the metric solidly to the side frame at the bottom, in which case they
system, from 60 c. in., to 1 meter (equivalent to about 24 may or may not be attached to a top side rail, or a door
in. to X>y$ in.). hinged at the bottom so as to drop down. In some cases
In addition to the general practice of the locality, some of where loading is done crosswise by hand the sides are
the factors which have to be considered when deciding upon omitted entirely.
the design of a car best adapted to a particular plantation In some instances where the cane is bundled, horizontal
are the following : hinged partitions or slats are provided so that the load is
Size of the plantation and amount of cane produced labor ;
divided into two or three parts.
conditions ; size or capacity of car most convenient to handle ; Couplings may be automatic, such as are standard on
method of haulage and the length of haul to the mill ;
the American railroads; automatic of three-quarter size; link
manner in which the cane is handled at the mill ; and the and pin ; link and hook, or of other design to suit local re-
means adopted for loading and for unloading. quirements.
On is often brought in by mule
small plantations the cane The larger cars are frequently equipped with air brakes
drawn wagons or and this means is still employed
bull carts and the smaller cars usually have hand brakes. On level
to a considerable extent, even on large estates, for hauling roads, for short hauls and for slow speeds, brakes may be
from the fields to the loading point for the cane cars. On omitted.
606 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Cane cars are of two general groups first, large double-
; The floors are generally of planks or sheet steel. By add-
truck or eight-wheel cars and, second, small four-wheel or
;
ing floor cleats, chain sling unloaders may be used.
single-truck cars. Only the principal typical designs of each Where the cars are unloaded by passing chains through
group will be described.
Double Truck Cane Cars. In the largest cane pro-
ducing sections, especially in Cuba, car dumpers of the
side tipping platform type are extensively used. This
makes necessary the employment of some kind of a
side discharging car.
The side stakes or slats are hinged at the top and fastened
together to form a separate door for each compartment and
are held by locking bars at the bottom which can be operated
from the end of the car. The cars are usually divided into
two or three compartments. Both sides may be hinged, but
in most cases this is done on one side only, the other side
monly made higher than the fixed side to facilitate the pass- one of which may be hoisted out separately.
age of the cane. For strictly hand unloading, the end walls can be re-
may be independent and be held
If preferred, the stakes placed by rigid stakes, or in very flat countries end stakes
at the bottom by releasing stake pockets, the discarge being
controlled by the number of stakes released.
A further modification is to hinge the stakes to a top
rod which permits of sliding them endwise to facilitate side
loading by hand. Cars of this type vary in length from
20 ft. to 38 ft. and in capacity from 7 tons to 30 tons.
ing. long and have a capacity of from 7 tons to 17 tons. The su-
INDUSTRIAL CARS 607
perstructure may be of steel rack design or sheathed with methods are used the floors should be smooth and the end
wood. The cars are usually equipped with a center parti- uprights sheathed. Solid stake pockets are also used but
tion which divides them into two compartments. the stakes cannot then be so easily removed.
Two doors, are used on each of the sides, which are com- This style of car is frequently called the "Hawaiian" type,
monly 3 ft. to 4 ft. high. Where cars of large capacity although this name is also used to designate cars with flar-
are desired the sides may be increased in height, and in ing sides and drop doors. Both styles are widely used in
some instances where this is done a double set of doors is the Hawaiian Islands and are also used in other places.
animal or locomotive. usually flared as shown in the illustration and the car is
On many plantations four-wheel cars answer all require-
ments and even on the largest estates they frequently are
employed in conjunction with portable railways for bringing
generally pressed onto axles about one and a half inches in 10 wide and the car most generally employed holds 24
in.
diameter. The axles usually have bearings outside of the pallets in 12 tiers of two each. Such a car is about 3 ft.
wheels, although this is not always the case. The bearings wide, 7 ft. long and 6 ft. high.
INDUSTRIAL CARS 609
With modifications in dimensions to meet the particular 1. The track gage of the industrial railway system.
requirements similar cars are used in foundries for drying 2. The length over-all of the various cars which are in
cores and shops for Japanning and enameling work. service or are liable to be used in the future. This deter-
After stiff mud bricks have been formed they may be mines the length of the track and the width of the transfer
taken to sheds to dry out by natural air currents or they car and also the gage of the track on which the transfer
may be taken to hot air dryers for the removal of moisture runs. For single truck cars the usual length of track is 6 ft.
before they go to the kilns to be burned. The handling of or 8 ft. except where cars of 56^2 in. gage are used, when
undried bricks from the machine to the dryer and from the the length of track is made 8 ft. or 10 ft. For double truck
dryer to the kilns by means of lift platform cars is probably cars the ordinary lengths of track are 15 ft., 20 ft., 25 ft.
the simpler and cheaper method in rnqst cases. The cars or 30 ft.
used for the purpose have platforms about 5J/2 ft. long and 3. The width over-all of the cars transferred and the
spacing of the tracks carried, where the car is equipped with
more than one set of trucks, determine the length of the car
transfer.
4. The gross weight of the loaded cars and their wheel
bases so that the car transfer may be of the necessary
strength and capacity.
5. Height from top of rail on which transfer runs to top
of rail on transfer.
If the transfer is moved by hand a push handle may
to be
be added if desired. With this is frequently combined a pair
Fig. 54 Lift Platform Car of brake shoes so arranged that by pushing down on the push
handle the shoes are brought into contact with the wheels
2J/2 ft. wide, a height of about 20 in. and a lift of from 3 in. and the transfer stopped when opposite the desired track.
to 4 in. If a large number of transfers are to be made in the course
As the bricks are formed they are placed on pallets holding of a day it will probably be economical to equip the car
about 200 bricks each. A car is then run under the pallets transfer with an electric motor drive. In this event it will
and the platform is elevated to lift off two pallets, or about be necessary to know whether the available current is direct
400 bricks. After being pushed on the transfer and run into or alternating; the voltage; and if alternating the number of
the desired point in the dryer, the platform is lowered and phases and cycles the location of the trolley wires and the
;
They are frequently employed in iron foundries, especially should preferably be of the roller type. Guards or stops
on the cupola charging floor and occasionally in raw stock should be provided on each side to prevent the car carried
yards, in front of the core ovens and at other points. They
from accidentally running off the transfer.
are used to meet special conditions around various types of Dogs or latches are often used to lock the car transfer in
industrial plants and are often installed in large sizes at position when the tracks on the car register with the tracks
steelmaking plants for handling regular steam railroad cars on the side of the transfer pit, but their use is by no means
loaded with ore, coke and other materials. universal.
type,and the cars used are of the box-body side-dump type, as the journals are practically dust proof. In this type a
the same
as used in construction work, or of the hopper-bot- saddle fits over a round axle and is provided with babbitted
tom type, the track gage being either 56^2 in. or 36 in. bearings and waste-packed oil cellars or with roller bear-
As ore mine cars are commonly used in restricted tunnels ings. One of the wheels is pressed on the axle and the
with narrow openings and short curves they are necessarily other is loose.
of small size and compact design. The name "ore mine car" The majority of ore mine cars are not equipped with
is usually understood to mean a car with a rectangular or couplers, as they are pushed by hand. If it is desired to
box-shaped body, hinged so as to tip and generally mounted couple a number of cars together and pull them by animal
on a swivel so that the load may be dumped in any direction. power or handle them by a cable, as is sometimes done when
The front end has a gate hinged at the top and held by a cars are lowered down an incline, a simple link and pin or
latch controlled from the rear of the car, thus making it un- a chain and hook are employed to fasten the cars together.
necessary for the operator to go in front for dumping. When Brakes are rarely required, and if necessary are generally
of a very simple design. When they are used a small plat-
form is usually provided at the rear end of the car on which
a man
can ride.
Cars which are used on mine cages are frequently made
somewhat shorter than other cars and are often provided
with attachments for clamping the car to the cage. As
accidental unlocking and dumping would be dangerous, auto-
matic dumping cars are preferable for cage service.
Automatic rail clamps for holding the car while it is being
dumped are an additional safety device which is often applied
and is especially valuable where cars are dumped on a
trestle.
In most ore mines a track gage of 18 in. is used, although bucket rests.
16 in., 20 in., 24 in. and occasionally 30 in. or 36 in. are also In large mines various kinds of general purpose cars, which
are described elsewhere, are used to a greater or less extent
employed. Car capacities range from 8 cu. ft. to 30 cu. ft.,
widths from 22 in. to 32 in., lengths from 36 in. to 48 in., and Among them may be mentioned scoop-body cars, of the usual
heights from 33 in. to 48 in. rotary type or single side -dumping ; V-body dump cars of
The sides of the body are generally of steel plate of about the trunnion, cradle or rocker type ; gable bottom cars and
No. 10 gage, the bottom is usually of a heavier gage than the hopper bottom cars.
sides. are ordinarily flat but in some cases they
The bottoms As the ore is mined it may be dumped into receiving
are rounded at the corners to facilitate unloading. There is bins from which it is afterwards transferred to hoppers
also a small demand for cars with wooden bodies. at the mill. For this purpose an end dumping car may
oiling or with rollers in the hub. In some instances, how- on the cable lifts the bar in front of the hinged gate, it
is permitted to open and discharge the load. Instead of
ever, the "Anaconda"type of wheels and axles are preferred
INDUSTRIAL CARS 611
the separate pair of dumping wheels, double tread wheels In opening up new mines or considering plans for the
may be used on the rear axle. Such cars are usually of improvement of existing mines, one of the first points to be
considered is what track gage shall be adopted. In this,
as in other points, there is a wide diversity of practice
which is typical of the whole mining car field. A recent
inquiry showed that coal mine cars were being ordered for
some 25 different track gages ranging from 18 in. to s6 /2 J
bottoms, the side plates may be made in several ways. They gates and are now using cars with solid ends. In such
may be made of single sheets bent to the proper shape, places rotary dumps are required to unload the cars.
but such cars are difficult to repair. They may be made In addition to tightness and freedom from leakage, cars
of two or three pieces, flanged and either bolted or without gates are cheaper to build, retain their shape bet-
riveted together in the event of the car being damaged by
; ter, cost less to maintain and spend more of their time in
a wreck or a fall of slate from the roof, the bolts can be service and less in the repair shop. Indications all point
taken out or the rivets removed, and the plates easily to the steady increase in popularity of this type of a car,
straightened. A third method is to make the sides in two especially in drift mines.
or three pieces, flanged to overlap but not bolted or riveted In some bituminous coal mines, where there are only
together. This arrangement permits of easy repairs and, slight grades and where the coal is in the form of large
should it be advisable, the pieces can be shipped from the lumps, open end cars are used and simple end bars or lat-
manufacturer in a knocked-down condition and easily as- tice gates hinged at one side keep the coal from jarring
sembled at the destination. out while in transit.
614 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Hopper bottom coal cars as has already been stated, are to the car body, in which case the wheels are loose on the
also used to a certain extent, especially in the coke regions. axles. The
objection to this arrangement is that the wear
Where they are employed, a string of cars may be pulled is concentrated on the bottom of the journals and
they wear
out of the mine, run over a long bin and all unloaded at out of round. Such axles were formerly extensively used
one setting. This gives an even distribution of coal through- but have been largely superseded by round axles. With
out the bin and makes unnecessary the installation of power the latter all wheels may be pressed onto the axles which
driven levelers. Such cars are, however, somewhat high run loose in boxes attached to the car body, but this ar-
in first expensive to maintain, will spill the load
cost, are rangement is usually not satisfactory because of the resist-
if the door fastenings break and they are not free from ance in passing around the sharp curves which are often
leakage troubles. necessary in mines. To overcome this one of the wheels
In open pit mining, gable-bottom cars are employed to on each axle may be left loose but it isgenerally considered
a considerable extent. They are run onto an elevated the best practice to leave all wheels loose. This has proved
truck or trestle and can be dumped by hand or automatical- to be economical and makes
it easy to take off any wheel.
ly, as desired. No dumping machinery is required, except Plain bearings, self-oiling have been extensively used but
for a trip, if the cars are dumped automatically. are being rapidly superseded by roller bearings which offer
The method of haulage, whether by animal power, rope much less frictional resistance. In the bituminous coal fields
or locomotive, has an important bearing on the selection the rollers are usually placed in the wheel hub, the boxes
of couplings, bumpers, bearings, lubrication, use of draft being inside of the wheels. In the anthracite region, how-
and bearing springs and other details. ever,-it is quite customary to have the journals outside of
Coal mine cars are generally equipped with continuous the wheels and the rollers inside of the bearing boxes on
drawbars, usually having the ends enlarged with holes which springs are mounted.
for coupling pins. In some cases one end is forged into At some mines where the grades are slight, brakes are
a hook and the other end has a coupling pin hole or is not applied, the cars being stopped by the insertion 'of sprags
turned over and a permanently attached link inserted. in the wheels. Most cars are, however, equipped with
Spring connections are also sometimes used on the ends some kind of brake. In the simplest form, this consists of
of the drawbars. If side bumpers are used the drawbars a wooden block between and above the two wheels on one
are straight but if center bumpers are used the ends are side of the carand operated by a lever on the rear end.
ibent up order to give room for the coupling link.
in Instead of a wooden block a band of steel may be used
The couplings used to connect cars equipped with draw- on one or more of the wheels. The best practice is to
.bars are commonly called hitchings. These consist of one apply brake shoes to all of the wheels. For small cars the
or more links with separate coupling pins, of links with shoes or blocks may be wood, but for large cars they should
clevises on one or both ends or other modifications. be of cast iron. If the brake shoes are above the center
Large cars, especially where locomotive haulage is used, of the wheels precautions should be taken to prevent their
are generally equipped with spring drawheads or with au- dragging against the wheels when not in use. If the brake
tomatic couplers. These reduce shocks and make the shoes are below the center of the wheels, they will hang
starting of a string of cars easier, but, of course, add to free but as there is danger of their dropping down and
the initial expense. causing a derailment and as the brake rigging is apt to be
Where rotary dumps are employed, cars may be equipped damaged in the event of a derailment, brake shoes are
with swivel couplers which permit of dumping without usually placed above the wheels. In applying the brakes,
uncoupling. they should never be set hard enough to cause the wheels
Cars may be provided with side bumpers consisting of to slide as the retarding effect is thereby decreased and
projections on each side of the drawbar or with center flat spots may be worn on the wheels. For this reason the
bumpers consisting of single projections. Bumpers are sub- use of sprags is not good practice, although they are used
jected to severe shocks and must be strongly built. Wooden to a considerable extent, especially in the anthracite region.
results are obtained from chilled wheels. Unfortunately, Owing to the wide variations in design no attempt will
these requirements have not always received the proper at- be made to more than briefly indicate the general character
tention in foundries making wheels for industrial cars, of the different types.
with the result that the life or mileage of the wheels in Platform Cars. These are used not only in steel
general is much less than it should be and the wheels mills but in practically every industry and are therefore
are, at times, scored by the action of the brake shoes. general purpose cars and have been already described. For
Wheels are commonly 18 in. although 16 in.,
in diameter, mill use they may be of the skeleton type or equipped with
14 in. and even 10 in. wheels are used in mines working steel tops. Tilting platforms are also desirable in some
thin seams. cases, for quick and easy unloading.
Axles may be square in the center and rigidly attached As platform and other mill cars are in many places fre-
INDUSTRIAL CARS 615
links or
quently lifted by cranes they are often fitted with
eyes at the corners for convenience in attaching chains
and hooks.
Ladle Cars. These are used in steel making plants
for handling molten metal and slag. They are described
elsewhere.
angles around the edge. The sand and brick provide an Small ladle cars, often called trucks, are usually built for
insulation to avoid loss of heat and to protect the under- capacities of 1,500 lb., Ib. and occasionally
2,000 Ib. and 3,000
side of the car. The
for as little as practice in most foundries
1,000 lb.
As these cars are only moved the short distance neces- is to use ladle cars to carry the iron to the different points
sary to pull them in and out of the furnace, the track where it is transferred to hand or sulky ladles for pouring
the molds. The cars may be without gearing and with a
shank as shown in the illustration
although it is generally
considered to be safer and better practice to use gearing,
except possibly for the smallest sizes.
used only as a car, a bail is not necessary. In many
If
gage and size of the car can be devised to suit the work.
Short cars may be carried on two pairs of wheels, while
extremely long forgings cars may have as many as eight
pairs of wheels, or several short cars may be fastened to-
gether.
Ladle Cars
Ladle cars are used extensively for handling molten metals
and slag in and around blast furnaces, steel mills, iron
can be accurately controlled. The gearing in foundry ladles As it will be impossible to illustrate here even the most
may be either partly or fully enclosed, the latter being pre- common designs of hot metal ladle cars only the outline
ferred by many because of greater protection from the of one 65-ton car is shown. This particular car is arranged
splashing of the molten metal. for side pouring, a feature which may or may not be de-
For the handling of cupola slag some foundries use a V- sired.
body dump car lined with clay but such cars used for this The slag blast furnaces, converters and open hearth
from
service do not retain their
shape very long. The better furnaces be received in slag pots mounted on standards
may
practice is to use a car similar in construction to a ladle and lifted off by cranes, in slag boxes carried on cars, or
car for handling molten metal but with a bowl of cast iron in slag pot cars.
and of somewhat different shape as shown in the illustra- Cars used for handling slag are of many different sizes
tion. These slag cars are ordinarily made in capacities and designs. Those illustrated are simply indicative of
from 1,000 Ib. to 4,000 Ib. and for the usual track gage's. what may be used for the purpose. In many instances slag
Ladle Cars for Furnaces and Steel Making Plants. is transported for miles before itis dumped.
Ladle cars are extensively employed for the transporting of Ladle Cars for Smelters. Ladle cars are not ordi-
hot metal and slag in and around steel plants in connection narily used at copper and lead smelters for handling hot
metal.
The method of handling the slag depends upon the size
of the smelter and the surrounding conditions. Hand pots
are used in small plants. Slag cars, varying in capacity
from 10 cu. ft. to 250 cu. ft., depending upon the size of the
smelter, are used in larger plants. These cars may be
transported by steam or electric locomotives, or in small
plants by horses and mules.
The car illustrated has a capacity of 25 cu. ft. and is
into ladles and poured into pigs, either sand or machine cast ;
Foundry Cars
but the iron is to be made into steel it is Industrial railways have for years played so important
if tapped out
into ladle cars and transported to the steel department which a part in the transportation of material around foundries
may be as much as 10 miles away. At the steel plant ladle that it would be difficult to find a progressive foundry of
cars may be used to transport the hot metal to and from any size without some kind of industrial railway system.
the mixers, converters or open hearth furnaces. The trans- As the cars are used to transport pig iron, scrap, coke,
fer ladle cars are sometimes electrically operated. sand, molten metal, slag, castings, and refuse, and also for
618 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
the drying of cores and molds they are necessarily of a cars should be provided to handle about half of the total
number of different types. melt. As the cars are emptied they are returned to the
The selection of the material handling equipment best yard for additional charges.
suited for any foundry can intelligently be made only after On the charging floor the cars may be run off the elevator
a careful study of the particular plant. The equipment onto a car transfer and then onto short transverse tracks, or
may include cranes, overhead track carrier systems, hoists, the car transfer may be dispensed with and a series of
elevators, conveyors, hand and power-driven industrial turntables used to distribute the cars onto the different stor-
trucks. Even though practically all of these devices may age tracks. The charging floor in some foundries is made
be installed, there yet will remain in most instances a of plates and the tracks are omitted. In such cases the cars
field that can be covered advantageously only by an indus- are equipped with combination wheels having flat top flanges
trial railways system and its equipment. so that they can be used on both tracks and flat floors.
The track gage best suited for most foundries where
the work not too heavy is 24 in., although, many in-
is
and some distance away. The space between the tracks designed for handling pig iron and large scrap. For coke
and the buildings should be used for a storage yard and and small scrap high sides are added.
should be served by industrial railway tracks. Pig iron Many of the larger foundries are now equipped with
should be piled and scrap and coke unloaded into bins. charging machines. Those of the dumping type con-
side
Each charge should be made up on a car and not handled sist of a platform having a hinge on the side toward the
again until unloaded into the cupola. The cars most gen- charging door. The cars are run onto the platform, locked
erally used have a capacity of two tons and when equipped in place and the platform is tilted by an air cylinder which
with roller bearings can easily be pushed around on level is usually placed underneath the platform.
tracks by one man. The mixtures may be weighed into Coke cars used with such charging machines usually
the car while it is standing on a scale platform or a car have steel bodies and a side gate hinged at the top.
transfer equipped with a scale may be used to carry the car Cars for pig iron or heavy scrap generally have ends
from point to point while the different materials are added.
only about 12 in. high.
After the charge has been made up the car is pushed to the While the majority of cupola charging machines are of
elevator and raised to the charging platform. The charging the side dumping type, end dumping machines are used
floor should be large enough and a sufficient number of where they are better suited for the arrangement of the
INDUSTRIAL CARS 619
Self-Propelled Cars
Many types of industrial cars are equipped with motors
and made self-propelling where conditions are such as to
make their use advisable. They are generally electrically
Fig. 79 Heavy Type Oven Car
operated by current received from a trolley, a third rail
or from a storage battery, although gasoline engines are
sometimes employed. Some of the places in which they
have been found to be economically advantageous are at
boiler houses for bringing in coal and hauling away ashes,
at fertilizer works, at glass factories for handling batches,
at blast furnaces and other places where considerable
quantities of materials are moved and a single operative
unit is preferable to train operation. Self-propelled cars
may also be used for a certain amount of switching and
for hauling other cars.
Transfer cars used at blast furnaces and at some coal
shipping terminals are frequently of very large capacity
and handle more material in a single load than any other
form of car.
Larries
The term larry is usually limited to certain transfer,
gathering or mixing cars used in boiler houses, at glass
works, furnaces and smelters. They are self-propelled with
but few exceptions, are commonly equipped with scales and
may run either on surface or overhead tracks.
In boiler houses they are used to transfer coal from over-
head bunkers to stoker magazines. They have a suspended Small Core Oven Car
Fig. 80
620 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
INDUSTRIAL CARS 621
hopper, run on broad gage elevated tracks and are usually the rear end of the car continues to travel up the incline.
provided with scales, often of the self-recording type. Such The rear wheels are usually of double the ordinary width,
larries are referred to and are illustrated in that section and at the dumping point the extended portion of these
of this book devoted to the handling of coal at boiler houses. wheels runs onto another set of tracks. Such an arrange-
At
blast furnaces and smelting plants, larries are used ment is shown in the skip car which is illustrated in Fig. 64.
to father the proper quantities of coke, ore, limestone and In other cases all four wheels are alike and an extra pair
other materials used in a mixture and to transfer them from
the various stock bins to the skip hoist Which elevates them
to the furnace top. They may be run on surface tracks
or overhead tracks resembling those used for crane run-
ways.
At tilass works they travel from bin to bin and gather
Skip Cars
Cars used on skip hoists at blast furnaces, boiler houses,
THE LENGTH of the haul, the weight of the articles grades), curves (radius, length and if on grade or level),
points are of fixed location, some form of cable haulage No attempt can be made in this connection to even refer
may prove most satisfactory means that can be
to be the to many points of detail design which might well be con-
adopted. Such haulage may be on the level, up or down sidered when looking over specifications of locomotive
inclines and on straight or curved tracks. Cable haulage boilersand running gear. However, a few points in con-
is extensively used in mines and quarries. Automatic rail- nection with details of design will be mentioned very
ways as well as cable railways are also frequently em- briefly.
ployed in unloading and storing coal, ore, crushed stone, Cylinders are usually placed outside of the frames on
fertilizer and other bulk material. account of simplicity and greater accessibility, and this
Individual self-propelled cars furnish a means for quickly
practice should be followed unless clearance limitations as
and economically moving certain materials and have been to width requires them to be placed between the frames.
found useful around many manufacturing and warehousing Stephenson valve motion is generally used on most types
establishments. They are extremely flexible in their opera- of industrial locomotives. This is a very simple valve
tion and when of sufficient weight and power may be used
motion, but on account of its location between the frames
as locomotives for switching purposes or for hauling trains has been superseded to a large extent by the Walschaerts
of industrial cars. outside gear for large locomotives having three or more
An examination of the surrounding conditions having pairs of driving wheels.
shown that the use of locomotives is advisable, a careful The number of wheels is increased in order
driving
investigation should then be made
determine the type,
to
better to distribute the weight along the track. However,
size and number of locomotives to best meet such condi-
the wheel base must necessarily be kept quite short if the
tions and to provide for possible future changes and ex- more
curves are sharp, and this may prevent the use of
tensions. There are steam, fireless, compressed air, com- than two pairs of drivers.
bustion engine, storage battery, trolley and third rail electric
On narrow gage tracks, especially where there are many
locomotives from which a choice may be made. Each of
curves, the center of gravity should be kept low in order
these types are available in many different sizes and designs.
to decrease thedanger of derailment and overturning.
While there are certain places in which anyone of several
The
front end and stack, as well as the fire-box, should
types might be used satisfactorily, each one has been devel- be adapted to the kind of fuel used. For coal fuel, a
oped to meet certain requirements and is best adapted to
tapered stack with high exhaust nozzles and an extended
such a field.
front end containing a baffle plate and steel wire netting
are commonly used. A diamond stack with wire netting
Steam Locomotives in the stack, low exhaust nozzles, a petticoat pipe and a
These have been used longer than any other type, have a short front end are now rarely used. For soft and
wider field of usefulness and are more independent and pitchy woods the large balloon-shaped stack with a
flexible in their operation. Supplies of fuel and water can spiral cone is the safest design. For hard wood the sun-
be provided for easily, at convenient points. flower stack with netting across the top and an inside cast
Any kind of coal, wood or oil may be used for fuel, de- iron cone are usually provided.
pendent upon the ease and certainty with which it can be Couplers may consist of a single, double or triple pocket
procured, the relative cost and the comparative convenience drawhead, a hook, a forged drawbar, a M. C. B. pivoted
in handling. coupler of full, three-quarter or half size or some special
type.
Design The water tank may be carried on a separate tender
In order to enable a builder to recommend the locomotive mounted on four, six or eight wheels, or it may be in
which will most satisfactorily meet the conditions, the fol- the form of a saddle tank over the boiler, two side tanks
lowing information should be supplied : alongside of the boiler or rear tanks.
1. Track: Gage (the perpendicular distance between heads Two injectors are ordinarily supplied for feeding water
of rails measured on straight track), weight of rail (pounds to the boiler, although a reciprocating pump may be sub-
per yard), ties (kind, size, distance between centers), ground stituted for one of the injectors if so desired. A steam
and ballasting. syphon may be added for filling the tanks from ponds or
2. Layout of Road: Length of road or haul, grades streams.
(maximum grade and its length against the load, also Superheaters are sometimes advisable, especially where
with the load together with data relative to average fuel is expensive.
623
624 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES 625
the boiler. Muddy and impure waters cause deposits of cylinders reduced pressure, the water gradually evap-
at
scale or mud which decrease the efficiency or result in orates and maintains the steam supply. When the storage
corrosion and leaks. Under certain conditions it may be pressure falls to the cylinders' working pressure, the tank
advisable to treat the water with suitable chemicals. should be recharged.
Boilers should be washed out every month or oftener if The higher the pressure to which the locomotive is
conditions require. charged the longer it will work. One charge to a pressure
Boilers should be heated and cooled slowly. If used of from 100 Ib. to 180 Ib. is usually sufficient for from
only part of the time, the fire should be banked when not two to five hours work. The cylinder pressure is usually
in use and ash pan and fire doors kept closed. Such about 60 Ib.
precautions will minimize the danger of leaky flues. Fireless locomotives are adopted for use around powder
Leaky stay bolts or flues
should be repaired promptly. works, lumber yards, creosoting plants, cotton and textile
Lost motion due to wear should not be allowed to accum- mills, sugar central refineries and other extra hazardous
INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES 627
locations where it is desirable to eliminate sparks and smoke They are frequently used around manufacturing plants,
and where the hauls are not of too great a length. steel ship yards, brick yards,
plants, cement factories,
Fireless locomotives eliminate fire risks, reduce insurance quarries and also in mines and tunnels.
rates,are easy to operate, can be left without attention, They are simply and easily controlled, can be operated
cannot be damaged by low water and cost but little for by one man, use power only when in actual operation, are
maintenance. ready for use at any time, require attention only when in
use and can be operated inside buildings and in places
Compressed Air Locomotives where the smoke, exhaust and fire risk of a steam loco-
These locomotives consist of a storage reservoir for
motive would be objectionable.
carrying a supply of compressed air under a high pressure,
They are more expensive than steam locomotives and
a regulating valve for maintaining a uniform reduced
cannot be used in places where there is no suitable central
pressure in an auxiliary reservoir from which the air is as independent and flexible
power plant but they are not
taken for operation, together with suitable control valves,
in operation as steam locomotives or as well adapted for
cylinders and running gear somewhat similar to those on a limited traffic. They, however, are capable of exerting a
steam locomotive.
large momentary overload, can be used on heavy grades,
A central station with air compressors, stationary stor-
exert a continuous tractive effort and have a large starting
age and charging connections is also a necessary part of power.
the system.
The cost of equipment for the central station and for
Trolley and Third-Rail Locomotives
the locomotives will ordinarily be more than double as These are available in many types and sizes. They are
much as steam locomotives or about as much as for
for arranged to operate on direct current of 250 volts or 600
an installation of electric locomotives with a central power volts tension. Alternating current is very rarely used for
station, generators, trolley wires, bonded rails, etc. operating industrial electric locomotives. Double trolleys
As an offset to the increased cost, compressed air loco- and a complete wire circuit are often employed.
motives have certain definite advantages which may make In coal mines both haulage and gathering locomotives
their use advisable. are employed. The latter type is equipped with a motor
They insure absolute protection against
fireor an explosicn due to sparks, flame or heat caused driven conductor-cable-reel which allows the locomotive to
run into rooms on temporary tracks. The conductor cable
by steam locomotives. The exhaust consists of pure air
is attached to the trolley wire in the main
and cannot contaminate the atmosphere, blacken walls or haulage way
soil fabrics or raw materials in textile or paper mills. and is automatically paid out as the locomotive runs into
Considerable eccncmy has been obtained by using two the room and is rewound as the locomotive returns.
wide range of conditions. ordinarily, no lost time during the charging period.
Storage battery locomotives are furnished in sizes rang-
They possess the being an economical
advantages of
ing from 4 tons to SO tons in weight and of many different
type to install and operate as they are self-contained power
units, requiring no central power station, overhead wiring,
designs to meet various conditions.
They are operated on battery currents of 85 volts, 170
bonding or rails, charging station or extensive pipe lines.
volts and 200 volts.
They are particularly adapted for use in localities where
Articulated locomotives are employed where curves are
water is scarce, the cost of coal or electricity is high and
in isolated without sharp and a heavy draw-bar pull is desired. Such loco-
places power supply. They are in
motives have a short, rigid wheel base and a long flexible
common use around many industrial plants,
plantations,
wheel base. They are available in either trolley or storage
mines, quarries, brick yards, cement works, fertilizer works,
battery types.
smelting plants, construction work, lumber mills and for
light switching around railroad yards. Rack Locomotives
In hilly mines and occasionally in other places there are
Electric Locomotives portions of the road which are too steep for the use of
There are two general classes of electric locomotives. ordinary traction locomotives and where it is not desirable
In the first the power is taken from a trolley or from a to chain car hauls or
install inclined plane cable hauls.
third rail. In the second class the power is supplied from To meet these conditions a rack is installed in the center
a storage battery. Some locomotives are so arranged that .of the trackand the locomotive is equipped with a power
they can either take power from a trolley or third rail, driven gear which meshes into the rack.
if that is accessible, or they may be shifted to battery For mine use the rack locomotives are of electric type
power and operate where outside current is not available. and are frequently of the combination form, that is, they
Electric locomotives are best adapted for use where may operate either as ordinary traction locomotives or as
electric current can be economically generated, where traffic rack locomotives dependent upon conditions. They are
is heavy ar.d where the length of hauls is not too great. used in places where the grades are as high as 15 per cent.
628 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
Electric Locomotive: Coal Mining Electric Locomotive; Swing Gate Type Cars
Storage Battery Electric Locomotive and Train Fleet of Electric Mine Locomotives
An Exceptionally Heavy Electric Mine Locomotive Rocky Mountain Type Ore Cars
Track
IMPORTANCE of the selection of the proper type of a known, a sketch should be furnished or the height, width
railway to meet the existing conditions, the necessity of base and width of head should be stated
THE of care in the layout of the system and the need of ing dimensions for the joint.
;
also the drill-
i\V
TRACK 631
The following table will be helpful in selecting the size from which the spikes are made. Those ordinarily used
of rails to use under different conditions : for industrial trucks range in size from 2}4 in. by 5/16 in.
MAXIMUM WIIKKL PRESSURE IN POUNDS (2,200 pieces per 200 Ib. keg) used for rails weighing up
Tie Spacing, Inches to 10 Ib. per yard to 6 in. by 9/16 in. (320 per 200 Ib. keg)
Rail Seruon, more per yard.
Pounds 8 12 -16 20 25 30 35 40 used for rails weighing 45 11). or
20 1,140 2,200 3,550 4,970 6,390 8,34010,54012,780 Screw spikes or tirefonds are sometimes used instead
24 950 .'1,830 2.950 4,140 5,320 6,950 8,200 10,650
30 760 1,460 2,360 3,310 4,260 5,560 6,700 8,520 of the ordinary drive spikes.
36 630 1,220 1,970 2,760 3,550 4,630 5,820 7,100 Rail Braces. For supporting rails at switches and on
Compromise or step joints are required for joining rails curves, rail braces are employed. They are made of mal-
of different sections. To obtain the proper designation one leable iron or of pressed steel and of different sizes and
should stand in the center of the track facing the joint shapes to suit different rail sections and conditions.
and take the size of the left hand rail, then the size of Tie Plates. Malleable iron tie plates placed between the
right hand rail. rail and wooden tics materially decrease the tendency
Track Bolts. Rail joints are furnished either with or of the rail to cut into the tie and correspondingly increase
without track bolts. If purchased separately the following the life of the tie. Tie plates are rarely used for rails
table will be of assistance in estimating requirements : weighing less than 20 Ib. per yard and are not employed
where wheel loads and traffic are light.
Rail Secticn, Weight, Number Per
Pounds Size Bolt I.h. Per Toint Keg, 200 Lb. Switches. Stub switches made with square rail ends
8-10 5-6IX1J4 0.38 2,116
12-14-16 /'Xl^ 0.865 1,012 are sometimes used but they have been largely superseded
20 </Ix2 0.91 964
25 *Ax2<4 0.97 915
3H-35 tix2'/i 1-74 505
40-45 Mx3 2.66 302
5O-55 -Mx 3 'A 2.90 291
60 x3!/2 3.12 2M
Ties. Woodengenerally used for permanent
ties are
tracks and may be used for temporary tracks provided
they can be readily obtained and at an economical price.
For ordinary conditions they are spaced about 2 ft. apart
but fur heavy service or where the ground conditions arc
poor, the ties may be spaced closer together with ad-
although the corrugated form has a somewhat greater sharper curves are frequently employed.
bearing area. Either of the rolled steel ties are satisfactory
Complete switches for portable track include the movable
when set in concrete. The pressed steel tie of a dished
points; the frog; all necessary straight, curved and inter-
shape is the most satisfactory type for general conditions. mediate rails ; guard rails and ties riveted
tie rods ;
The dished form with ends as well as sides flanged, pre- together ready to lay down. The curves on such tracks
vents the road bed material from shifting and consequently are frequently of 12 ft. or 15 ft. radius for the narrower
holds the track in better alinement. gages and frequently 30 ft. for other gages.
Some manufacturers prepared to furnish gal-
are Switches may be right hand, left hand, symmetrical two
vanized ties if desired. Experience thus far obtained would way or three way.
indicate that the additional expense was well worth while. Climbers or inclines may l>e used to divert cars from
Rivets or tee-head and clips may be used for
bolts a permanent track Two sets of climb-
to a portable line.
attaching steel ties to the rails although other forms of ers with a section of straight track afford a temporary
bolts and clamps are also used. In some cases the ties are crossing over another line of tracks. Two sets of climbers
attached the track by welding.
to This is said to give with curved track may be used as a combination cross-
good satisfaction in service but does not permit the track over and switch. These devices have to be removed to
to be taken apart for long distance shipment neither can ; permit cars to pass on the main line. This may be over-
it be repaired easily at outlying points. come by the use of two inclines attached to a portable
wooden ties, spikes
Spikes. For fastening the rails to switch.
are used. The
designated by the length under the
size is Frogs. Three types of frogs are in common use. In
head measured in inches and the size of the square stock the first form the sections of rail are riveted to a steel
632 INDUSTRIAL RAIL TRANSPORTATION
base plate. In the second form, used for heavier sizes Curves. For industrial railway work, curves are usually
only, the sections of rail are held together by bolts passing designed by their radius. For standard gage tracks and
horizontally through the rails and filler blocks. The third for heavy work the ordinary railroad practice may be
form is cast in one piece, usually of manganese and
steel, followed and curvature designated by the degrees of
on account of its durability is economical for mines and deflection from a tangent measured from stations 100 ft.
other places where the traffic is heavy. apart.
Frogs are designated by a number denoting the ratio Derails. In many places derails are placed on side
of the length to the spread. Referring to the diagram, tracks in order to derail and stop a car should it start
the frog member will be the result of dividing the length to roll onto the main line. They consist of a steel casting
L by the sum of spread H at the heel plus the spread T so shaped that the flange of the wheel will roll up onto
it and pass over the rail. When a clear track is desired
they may be swung back out of the way.
Portable Track. For construction work and other tem-
porary installations, portable track is particularly useful
as it can be quickly laid down and readily changed to new
locations. If such track is not for export or to be trans-
at the For example if the length L is 88 in. the
toe. :
Switch Stand
The cars used for making such transfers are described
and illustrated in that section of this book describing the
and made square so that a lantern may be used if desired. different types of cars.
Spring connecting rods may be used in connection with Track Tools. For laying and maintaining track a num-
ground thrown or switch stands. Their use is often de- ber of standard tools are practically essential. Those or-
dinarily required are picks (plain, tamping and mattocks),
sirable,as they permit a car to trail through a switch
without being derailed, even when the switch is not set shovels (round points, square point and tamping), axes
for such a movement of the car. double edge and adz), crow bars, pinch bars,
(regular,
Crossings. These are constructed similarly to frogs. tamping bars, spike pullers, sledge hammers, spike mauls,
For medium service, the sections of rail are riveted to a cold chisels, track winches, rail forks and carrying tongs;
steel base plate, while for heavy service the crossing is also track gages and track levels. Other tools which are
built up and bolted together with suitable guard rails and needed for roads of considerable size are track jacks, rail
fillers.
saws, rail drills and rail benders.
HANDLING SYSTEMS
at
and
By
HENRY J. EDSALL
Modern Methods of Handling and Storing Coal
INDUSTRIES OF THE PRESENT DAY are more tlc- The initial handling of coal is at the mine where it may
pendent upon coal than upon any other commodity. be stored or loaded direct to a railroad car. Before ship-
THE The amounts handled are enormous. The meth- ment it may pass through a breaker or a preparation plant,
ods of handling and
storing it are, therefore, of the after which it is forwarded to the ultimate consumer, pos-
greatest importance. Coal is the most important item of sibly passing through the hands of a dealer where it may
freight which has to be handled by rail and by water. Un- be stored for a certain length of time, or it may rest in a
doubtedly the greatest factor in expediting its handling and central storage plant until later on when the demand is
in eliminating delays to the carriers is mo<lern coal handling greater. Sometimes it is transferred several times from one
machinery. carrier to another before it reaches its destination. There
Systems of storing coal, by making it possible to handle are, therefore,a number of different handlings and trans-
the coal to and from storage at a very low cost, are of fers to be accomplished before the coal finally reaches the
great value in stabilizing the rate of output in the coal in- consumer, necessitating various types of handling equip-
dustry and also in enabling transportation companies to ment.
utilize their equipment to much better advantage, avoiding The mine car in any of its several forms is the primary
an overtax at one time and more or Jess idleness at another. handling device used in coal mining. Drag chain conveyors
The amounts of coal loaded at the shipping points are and several types of shoveling machines are used for load-
large, so that considerable investment in handling and stor- ing the coal into the car which ordinarily is taken to a
ing equipment is justified and the saving of a small amount mouth of the mine for unloading.
tipple at the
of handling each ton means a large total saving.
in the cost Elevators or mine cages are ordinarily used in shaft min-
Coal shipments, however, are distributed among a great ing for moving the car from the mine to the tipple. Cable-
number of consignees, a large percentage of whom receive railways, chain car-hauls, locomotives both electric and
only comparatively small amounts, so that the investment compressed air are also largely used in the movement of
handling facilities at receiving points is apt to
justified for the cars. Where it is not desirable to move the car direct
be much less than at shipping points where larger amounts to the tipple the coalis discharged into skip hoists or con-
are handled. In either case, however, the facilities should veyors for transfer to the mouth of the mine.
be such as to avoid excessive labor costs and delays to the Mine cars, locomotives, car-hauls, cages, etc., are treated
carriers. in detail in other sections of this book.
(1) A satisfactory method of handling and dumping the through a switch to another track. It can then be allowed
loaded mine cars, and of taking care of empties. to run on down by gravity or it may be lowered with a
;
so that the car is tilted and the coal dumped out. As the in such a way that the large rings of the dump are but a
635
636 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
PREPARATION PLANTS 637
fraction of an inch away from the rotating trunnion. After being loaded, so thatit can take its place without delay.
the operator trips the dump, a complete cycle is made with- The tracks have a sufficient grade to allow the
usually
out further attention. cars to drop down quickly by gravity; they are held back
Whereit is desired to take the mine cars from a lower by a cable lowering device which is operated by one of
level up on to the dumping point of the tipple, it is fre- the attendants who takes care of the proper filling of the
quently done by means of a car haul which pushes the cars. The tracks come together again on the other side
loaded cars up an incline as shown in Fig. 3. After they of the tipple so that the cars may be passed over a scale
are dumped they automatically pass over to the down haul, and be weighed, and then be made up into trains.
which lowers them to the foot of the incline. A simple and comparatively inexpensive tipple is shown
In many cases when :he coal is to be elevated into the in Fig. 5. There are no shaking screens and only one apron
preparation plants, it is dumped from the mine car, and conveyor which also serves as a picking table. The coal
is by an inclined apron conveyor or flight conveyor.
lifted is delivered from the dump hopper to a section of lip
Where the mouth of the mine is above the preparation screen by a short apron feeder. The fine coal falls from
plant, the coal is usually lowered by a retarding conveyor, the screen onto the apron conveyor at a point back of
either a double-strand chain flight conveyor, or a cable where the lump is deposited, thus bringing the larger coal
conveyor. Sometimes the coal is lowered down the hill- on top, so that it can be picked properly. The apron con-
side by means of monitors that are similar to double- veyor takes the coal up an incline to the proper level, and
balanced skip hoists, which are raised and lowered with then along a horizontal length where the picking is done.
a double cable haul, so arranged that the two monitors The coal is then delivered over a bar screen, the large coal
balance each other, and as one goes up the other goes down. going over the end of the screen into a chute with a
The most usual device for screening the coal is a shaking hinged end, and thence into railroad cars on one track,
screen, such as is shown in Fig. 4. This is hung on ad- while the slack goes through the screen and into railroad
justable hanger rods, and the shaking motion is imparted cars on another track. The refuse is dropped into a hopper
to it by an eccentric connected to the screen by means of underneath the picking table, and is taken away by mine
a wooden eccentric rod. The screen plates are of the lip cars. using veil plates to cover up the screen, run-of-
By
screen type, with slotted holes a little wider at the lower mine coal can be loaded. The apron conveyor is 5 ft. wide
end, a slight drop in the screen at the lower end of each by 66 ft. long, center to center, and is driven by a 15 H.F.
row of slots. This makes the screen self-cleaning; that is, electricmotor, which also drives the apron feeder. The
it keeps the holes from becoming clogged with coal and conveyor operates at a speed of 45 ft. per min. and the ;
refuse, and allows the free passage of undersized material. hourly capacity is 150 tons.
The most effective picking table is the corrugated apron Another comparatively simple tipple is illustrated in
conveyor, on which the coal is carried slowly along past Fig. 6. In this case, the dump hopper is at a higher level
the pickers so that the refuse can easily be removed. To than the screen house. The coal is fed from this hopper,
insure effective picking, it is necessary first to remove the by means of an apron feeder, to a short section of lip
slack and small coal, so that it will not cover up and hide screen, which delivers to the main apron conveyor and
the refuse. The material is usually, therefore, first screened deposits the slack underneath and the lump coal on top.
into several sizes, and the different sizes are carried by The apron conveyor is 5 ft. wide by 94 ft. centers, the
separate picking tables, or by the two sides of one picking upper part being inclined and the lower part horizontal.
table, so that the different sizes can be picked separately. It isalong this horizontal section that the picking is done.
In some cases the coal is screened in such a manner that The is delivered over the end of the apron conveyor
coal
the fine coal is deposited first on the picking table, and the to the shaking screen where it is screened to lump, egg,
larger coal is deposited on top of it so that it can be in- and stoker sizes, the lump being loaded by means of a
spected and picked. loading boom and the other sizes by means of chutes.
The refuse is usually dropped into chutes leading to a A somewhat more elaborate anthracite coal preparation
flight conveyor, or to a drag chain conveyor that is, a ; plant is shown in Fig. 7. The tipple has a capacity of 400
wide chain which slides in a steel or cast iron trough, tons of coal per hour, and is equipped with balanced shak-
and pushes the material along with it without the use of ing screens. Lump and egg are loaded by means of load-
any flights or other attachments. The refuse can then be ing booms, and there are horizontal sections of these loading
delivered to a bin for removal by cars, or it may be de- boom conveyors which are used as picking tables. Pro-
livered direct to a car. vision is also made to permit the slack and nut to be after-
After the coal is screened and picked, it is delivered either wards re-combined with the egg and lump, thereby making
in the separate sizes to railroad cars on various tracks, or a carefully picked run-of-mine.
certain sizes combined with others by means of
are first The coal is transferred from the dump hopper to the
chutes, transfer conveyors, or a combination of the two. shaking screens by an apron conveyor, set at a slight down-
The smaller sizes are delivered to the cars by means of ward incline, and the preliminary picking is done on this
chutes, but as this method is apt to cause excessive break- conveyor. A reciprocating feeder delivers the coal over
age of the larger loading booms are substituted for
sizes. the lip screen to the apron, so located that the slack will
chutes the larger sizes in the best modern
when loading be on the bottom and the lump on top. This screen sepa-
tipples. A
loading boom is simply a hinged end of an rates the coal into lump, egg, nut and slack, which can be
apron conveyor, which can be raised and lowered, usually loaded separately on four tracks underneath the screen
by means of an electric hoist, so that the coal may be house, two of these tracks being served by loading booms
deposited in the car with a minimum amount of drop, and and two by means of chutes or, by means of a mixing
;
therefore a minimum amount of breakage. conveyor, the smaller sizes can be added to the larger to
The railroad tracks should be so arranged that the train form almost any combination desired. The lower run of
of empties can easily be broken up and delivered to the the mixing conveyor acts as a refuse conveyor and takes
tracks under the tipple, and there should be room cm each the refuse up to a hopper on the hillside, from which it
track for at least one empty car directly back of the one is removed by mine cars.
638 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
c.
a
c
a
a 'Z
o.
a.
PREPARATION PLANTS 639
A preparation plant of a somewhat different arrange- of reciprocating feeds at the bottom, to two main inclined
ment is shown in Fig. 8. Two
seams of coal are mined, apron conveyors. Each conveyor takes the coal up and
the lower Freeport and the upper Kittanning, and the delivers it to a double-deck shaking screen in the trans-
tipple is built double so that the two kinds of coal can be fer building.
handled separately, or may be combined in any proportions The upper deck of each shaking screen has large perfo-
desired. Each of the two sets of equipment has a capacity rations and the lower deck smaller ones. At the discharge
of 250 tons per hour, which makes a total possible capacity end of each shaking screen is a main picking table; one
for the tipple of 500 tons per hour. receives the coal passing over the upper screen on one side,
The mine cars are brought in on two tracks, each of the smaller lump coal passing through the upper screen
which has its own dump hopper and its own kick-back and over the lower one on the other side. Or, at least this
for running the empties back on another track, where they is the case where these two sizes of coal are- to be shipped
are picked up by a short car-haul conveyor and taken back together. When
they are to be kept separate, the smaller
up to a somewhat higher level for making up into trains. of going over the end of the lower screen, goes
size, instead
This arrangement brings the dump house close to the through a trap door, which can be opened for this purpose,
ground level and reduces the amount of structure neces- and onto a secondary picking table.
sary. Each dump hopper delivers to an inclined apron The smallest coal or slack, which goes through the
conveyor, these conveyors taking the coal up an incline, perforations in the lower screen, is collected by a gather-
and delivering it to two sets of double balanced shaking ing hopper and either is delivered direct to standard gage
screens 6 ft. wide. The screens separate the coal into cars or is elevated by an inclined flight conveyor, located
slack, nut and lump, the smaller sizes being delivered to between the two picking tables, to a height sufficient for
cars on two tracks under the screen house by means of delivery by means of a two-way chute to either of the two
chutes and the larger sizes to two other tracks by means picking tables at the forward end. This arrangement de-
of loading booms. posits the slack underneath the lump coal and makes it
The picking is done on horizontal sections of the loading possible to pick two sizes of lump coal without interference
boom conveyors, Fig. 10. There is a double chain flight from the presence of slack.
conveyor with a partition in the middle for taking care There is a single refuse conveyor, running at right angles
of the bone and refuse, so that the bone can be handled on to the picking tables and underneath the center of the
one side and the refuse on the other this is done so that ; picking space to take care of the bone and slate which is
the bone may be crushed and used in the boilers, whereas picked from the coal. Chutes are provided along the
the refuse is taken away in mine cars and disposed of. tables to receive the refuse and deliver it to the refuse con-
This same partitioned flight conveyor connects with a cross veyor, which discharges to a narrow-gage car standing on
conveyor, which is also partitioned, and which takes care a track at one side of the transfer building.
of the mixing of the smaller sixes with the larger sizes, as Underneath the transfer building are four standard gage
well as the mixing of the two kinds of coal from the differ- tracks for cars which are to be loaded. The two main
ent seams. In addition to this, there is an emergency run- picking tables are equipped with loading booms the ends of
of-mine chute, leading from the head of each apron con- which are raised and lowered by electric hoists. The coal
veyor, so that the unprepared run-of-mine can be delivered from the secondary picking tables is delivered into the cars
to cars on one track in case the screens or loading booms by means of inclined chutes, which can be raised and
are shut down for repairs. lowered, as desired.
A bituminous coal preparation plant which serves sev- There are also emergency run-of-mine chutes which can
eral mines is shown in Fig. 9. In this case a narrow gage be used to deliver unprepared run-of-mine coal direct from
railroad serves the mines so that the coal has to be trans- the main apron conveyors to the standard gage cars, or
ferred from the narrow gage cars to the standard ones at to standard gage locomotives when it is necessary to coal
the junction with the standard gage railroad. In
point them.
order, therefore, to be able to prepare the coal, as well as All the tracks are set at a sufficient grade so that the
transfer it, a preparation plant was built and its conveying cars can be dropped down into position by gravity. These
equipment so arranged that the coal could be discharged standard gage tracks have the ladder arrangement of
from the narrow gage cars to track hoppers, serving con- switches so that a train of empty cars can be run in and
veyors which take the coal up into the preparation plant; split up so as to feed the cars down the tracks under the
the standard gage tracks are located underneath the plant transfer building. The switch points are kept far enough
so that the prepared ccal can be delivered to the standard back so that there is, in each case, room enough for an
gage cars. empty car just behind the one being loaded, ready to take
The diagram shows the general arrangement of the plant. its place without delay.
It is built in two units combined under one roof, either of The track hoppers under the narrow gage tracks are
which can be operated separately or in conjunction with the built mostly of reinforced concrete, but with steel plates
other. As the capacity of each unit is 300 tons per hour, forming a certain part of their construction. The track
one unit is sufficient for handling the present output of beams are supported on cross walls and crossbeams. The
the mines which ship over the road and the other unit is transfer building and conveyor bridges are of steel frame
used as a reserve. This insures the station against construction covered with corrugated iron and amply pro-
a shutdown for repairs and makes it possible to overhaul vided with windows for light and air. The main apron
one unit while the other is in operation, thereby making it conveyors and the picking tables are constructed with two
easier keep the plant in good operating condition. It
to strands of 9-inch pitch steel-strap chain with case-hardened
also avoids congestion, as both units can 'be operated to- steel bushings and flanged cast-iron rollers at the joints.
gether when an extra large amount of coal has to be The pans are of the overlapping corrugated type, made of
handled in a certain time. 3/16 in. steel plates. The tracks for the rollers are made
The narrow-trage cars arrive on the two narrow-gage of angle irons. The width of each main apron conveyor
tracks which come in over the track hoppers. These track is 42 in., that of each picking table 60 in.and each secondary
hoppers are in pairs, and each pair delivers coal, by means picking table 36 in. The main apron conveyors are de-
640 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
l!
Illl ittlll
Illliillitnilll
1C It 8 ; 5S
S8 J S S S S ;
ii
ll
PREPARATION PLANTS 641
signed to operate at a speed of 80 ft. per min. and the The coal which passes over the upper shaking screen
picking tables at a speed of 40 ft. per min. moves on to the lower one, which is 8 ft. wide by 29 ft.
Each main picking table and loading boom conveyor 3 in. In the upper part of this screen is a section
long.
has a capacity of the full 300 tons per hour, so that all the of lip screen throughwhich the nut size passes to the gath-
coal being handled through one unit can be loaded over the ering hopper underneath and then to the nut picking table.
single conveyor if desired. The secondary picking tables In the lower part of this screen is another section of lip
have a capacity of 150 tons per hour. screen for taking out the egg. The egg size that goes
The shaking screens are 6 ft. wide and 24 ft. long and through this screen is delivered to the egg picking table.
each scren is suspended by four forged steel adjustable In both the egg and nut gathering hoppers under the
hanger rods. The screens are operated by pairs of heavy lower shaking screen there are sections of rescreening
cast-iron babbitted eccentrics with wooden connecting rods. plates with small openings for cleaning the egg and nut
The eccentric shaft runs at a speed of 110 r. p. m. The coal still more carefully by taking out any slack and pea
screens are constructed of 3/16 in. steel plate sides and }4 coal which they may still contain, just before they go onto
in.steel plate bottoms, with sections of lip screens arranged the picking tables. This pea and slack goes first to one of
in both the upper and lower decks, so that the screens can the conveyors, No. 20, and then to the rescreen conveyor
be changed when it is desired to alter the size of the coaL No. 13 for delivery either to the cross slack conveyor No.
A very complete preparation plant is shown in Figs. 11, 9, or, at the end, to a small hopper for loading to cars on
and 12. referring to Figs. 11 and 12 it will be seen
By track No. 5.
that the tipple is really divided into two parts, a low build- There are three picking tables for lump, egg and nut in
ing over the loading tracks for the picking tables and part the picking-table building. Each table has a horizontal part
of the conveyor system, and a high one a little to one side upon which the picking is done that is 29 ft. long from the
that contains pea, slack and refuse bins, a rotary screen for center of the driving shaft to the hinge of the loading boom.
separating the pea and slack, and a gravity discharge V- Adjacent to this is a loading boom section 37 ft. in length
bucket machine for handling these sizes. which can be lowered into railroad cars so that the coal
The two main buildings are connected by an intermediate may be deposited with a minimum amount of drop, and
structure, which spans one of the loading tracks and a therefore, with a minimum of breakage.
space adjoining. The upper shaking screen extends across There is room for at at each table.
least six pickers
the intermediate building and delivers over the end to the These pickers remove the bone, slate and other refuse from
lower shaking screen located over the rear end of the the coal and drop it down conveniently located chutes lead-
picking tables. There are five loading tracks under the ing to the refuse conveyors, which deliver it to conveyor
picking table and intermediate building and two coke-larry No. 11, which conveys it to the refuse bin inthe pea-and-
tracks under the pea-and-slack building for the larries slack building. From this bin it can be discharged into
which take coal to the coke ovens. rock cars on tracks just beyond the larry tracks.
The coal is brought into the building by a retarding con- Going back to the pea and slack, it was previously stated
veyor, of the double-strand flight type, which has a ca- that these sizes could be delivered to the V-bucket machine
pacity of 450 tons per hour. This conveyor extends through from conveyor No. 10. The V-buckets elevate this coal
the pea-and-slack building and delivers over the end and and discharge it over a chute to a rotary screen, the screen-
through a chute to the upper shaking screen. Just above ing part of which is composed of wire cloth with f^-in.
the lower end of the conveyor the trough is replaced by a square openings. After the slack goes through the screen,
bar screen with openings between the bars. This
)i-in. it again discharged to the V-buckets which travel under-
is
screen takes out some of the slack and relieves the shaking neath the screen. The buckets then convey and discharge
screens of part of this work, thereby increasing the effect- it into a 350-ton slack bin.
iveness of the screening. The slack that passes through it can be delivered to the upper run of the
If desired,
this bar screen goes into a hopper underneath, from which mixing conveyor instead of to the bin, by means of a rack
it is fed to the gravity discharge machine. and pinion gate in the conveyor trough. It may then be
When the slack is not to be removed from the coal, but deposited on the lump, egg or nut loading booms at the
the entire output is to be shipped as picked run-of-mine, hinge points, when it is desired to mix it with these sizes.
or other mixtures that include the slack, the gate in the The pea goes over the end of the screen into a bin of
size
bottom of the hopper is left closed so that the hopper fills 150 tons capacity. The slack coal may be drawn off from
up and the slack passes over the screen. the slack bin into railroad cars on track No. 5 or into the
At the lower end of the retarding conveyor is a chute to larry cars on tracks Nos. 6 and 7, to go to the coke ovens.
the upper shaking screen. In the bottom of this chute is a The pea can be loaded into railroad cars on track No. 5
gate which, when open, allows the coal to go through into or it may be reclaimed by the V-buckets from the bin and
a six-ton hopper or bin for emergency run-of-mine, when delivered to the upper run of the pea-and-rescreen-conveyor
this coal is to be loaded without passing it over the shak- No. 13, which discharges it at the far end over a chute to
ing screens and picking tables. A
chute of special design railroad cars on track No. 1, or to a five-ton pea-coal bin
to minimize breakage leads from the hopper to the cars. for domestic purposes, this bin being equipped with a swivel
The upper shaking screen is 8 ft. wide by 28 ft. 9 in. chute for loading to wagons. The chute to the cars has a
long. The screen part is 16 ft. long and contains Yz in. x % rescreen plate :n the bottom to remove small coal and de-
in. perforations to take out pea and slack. Underneath liver it to the screen conveyor.
this shaking screen is the pea and slack gathering hopper, The loading of the various sizes on the different tracks
with a chute leading to the cross slack conveyor No. 9. is accomplished as follows :
This cross slack conveyor takes the pea and slack over to Lump From lump loading boom direct to cars on track
the mixing conveyor, when it is to be put back with some No. 2. From lump loading boom, in raised position,
of the coal that is being loaded, or, if the cross slack con- over chute to cars on track No. 3.
veyor is reversed, the pea and slack is taken over to con- Egg From egg loading boom direct to the cars on track
veyor No. 10, which conveys it to the gravity discharge No. 3.
V-bucket machine in the pea-and-slack building. Nut From nut loading boom direct to cars on track No.
642 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
4. From nut loading boom, in raised position, over chute hoist, the hoisting rope being attached to a bale at the end
to cars on track No. 3. of the loading boom ; these electric hoists make it possible
Pea From end of conveyor No. 13 to cars on track No. to raise and lower the booms and quickly. Ordina-
easily
1. From pea bin over chute to cars on track No. 5. rily each boom is lowered into a car when coal is being
Slack From slack bin over chute to cars on track No. handled over it, but, as previously described, the outside
5. From slack bin over chute to larries on tracks Nos. 6 booms are sometimes used in the raised position, when it
and 7. From mixing conveyor No. 11 to lump, egg or nut is desired to deliver the coal into chutes which lead from
loading booms and thense to cars on tracks Nos. 2, 3 or 4. the booms to cars on track No. 3, so that certain
mixing
Pea and Slack From gathering hopper under upper operations can be accomplished.
shaking screen. From mixing conveyor No. 11 to lump, Conveyors Nos. 9, 10 and 11 namely the reversible cross
egg or nut loading boom and thence to cars on tracks Nos. slack conveyor, the slack conveyor to the V-bucket elevator
2, 3 or 4. From gathering hopper, under shaking screen, and the refuse and mixing conveyors are all double strand
through gate in conveyor No. 9 and over chute to cars on flight conveyors of 12-in. pitch, steel-bushed, steel strap
track No. 5. chain, with 36 in. x 12 in. x Vs in. steel flights every 3 ft.
By using the above operations in different ways, the sep- The trough bottoms are of Y4 in. steel plate, and the sides
arate sizes and combinations can be loaded on the several of the trough are plates and shapes. The chains have 3^
tracks as follows : in. rollers at the joints, and these rollers travel on steel
No. 1 Track Pea angle track on both the carrying and return runs, so that
No. 2 Track Lump; lump, pea and slack; lump and the flights are supported slightly above the troughs along
slack which they push the coal. The power required is thus
No. 3 Track Egg egg and nut egg and lump egg,
; ; ;
reduced to a minimum. The speed of these conveyors is
lump and nut; egg, lump, pea and slack; egg, lump and 100 ft. per min. and at this speed they can handle 250 tons
slack; egg, nut, pea and slack; egg, pea and slack; egg of coal per hour.
and slack; picked run-of-mine Conveyor No. 13, the pea and rescreen conveyor, is of
No. 4 Track Nut nut, pea and slack nut and slack
; ; similar design except that the flights are smaller, the size in
No. S Track Slack from bin pea from bin pea and
; ;
this case being 20 in. x 8 in. x J4 in- These flights are
slack direct; emergency run-of-mine spaced at intervals of 3 ft.
Nos. 6 and 7 Tracks For coke larries. Conveyors No. 20, the refuse and rescreen conveyors,
The picking-table building and the intermediate building are of the same size and construction as conveyor No. 13,
are of steel frame construction, covered with corrugated except that in this case the flights are spaced at intervals of
ingot iron. A
generous supply of light is obtained by a 4 ft. instead of 3 ft.
large number of windows around the sides of the building, Conveyor No. 27, the gravity discharge elevator, or V-
and the picking tables receive additional light from a sky- bucket machine, is made up of a double strand of 18 in.
light. The pea-and-slack bui-lding is covered with corru- pitch, steel-bushed, steel strap chain, with 5-in. enclosed
gated ingot iron, and the machinery there housed is well oiling rollers at the joints. The buckets are 48-in. long by
lighted from the windows in the sides and ends. 24 in. wide by 16 in. deep, spaced 36 in. They are made of
The shaking screens are of the double, balanced type and ;4 in. steel plate and have reinforcements of 2 in. x y 2 in.
are suspended from four hanger rods, with turnbuckles for ovals around the top edge. On vertical runs the rollers of
adjusting the angle of inclination. They are operated by the chains travel between double guides, and the coal is
ball-and-socket eccentrics, which are self-aligning and are carried up in the elevator buckets.
driven at a speed of 100 r. p. m. The first shaking screen On the horizontal and inclined runs the chain rollers
takes out the pea and slack, which goes into the gathering travel on steel tracks, and the buckets serve in a similar
hopper underneath, and then into the cross slack conveyor. manner to the flights of a flight conveyor namely, to push
The lower shaking screen removes the nut and egg, which the coal along in the trough, which is of J4 in- steel plate.
are delivered, by means of hoppers and chutes underneath, This machine runs at a speed of 100 ft. per min. and has
to the nut and egg picking tables. The lump coal that a capacity of 250 tons of coal per hour.
passes over the screen openings goes over the end of the The revolving screen is 5 ft. in diameter and 24 ft. long,
screen to the lump picking table. and revolves at a speed of There is a
about 12 r. p. m.
As stated previously, the egg and nut picking tables are 3 ft. section of dead plate at the receiving end and a 6 ft.
both 5 ft. wide, and the lump table is 4 ft. wide. The section of dead plate at the discharge end. Between
picking tables are constructed of 3/16 in. corrugated steel these dead plates is the screening section, made up of No.
pans, attached to a double strand of 9-in. pitch, steel- 8 gage wire, with ?/-in. clear openings.
bushed strap chain, with through rods every 3 ft., to act as The longitudinals of the screen frame are made of
spacers and to tie the chains together efficiently. There double 5 in. x 3 in. x y% in. angles riveted back to back
are 3)4 in. rollers at the chain joints, which travel on steel There is also an intermediate ring at the center, 12 in. wide,
angle tracks on both the carrying and return runs. with three reinforcing rods. The screen is mounted
/4-in.
Steel channel guards are placed along the tables on each on two cast steel rings, one of which has a bevel surface
side where the pickers stand. The chains are further pro- to engage with a thrust roller, and the friction rings ride
tected by side guards to keep the coal from getting on on, and are revolved by two pairs of 22 in. x 5-in. chilled
them and to make it safer for the pickers. The channel face rollers.
sides also serve as a table on which the refuse can be The motors for operating the machinery are as follows :
separated from the coal with picks. One 125 h.p. motor, for the V-bucket machine and re-
Steel refuse chutes, by means of which the refuse is de- volving screen.
livered to the refuse conveyors, are placed at convenient in- One 60 h.p. motor for the shaking screens and cross slack
tervals along the picking tables. Each picking table and conveyor to V-bucket machine.
loading boom is a continuous machine, the loading-boom One 50 h.p. motor for the picking tables and the pea and
end being constructed so that it can be raised and lowered. rescreen conveyor and the two refuse and rescreen con-
This operation is accomplished by means of an electric veyors.
CENTRAL STORAGE PLANTS 643
One 30 h.p. motor for the refuse and mixing conveyor. provided for access to all parts of the equipment, and these
The driving machinery includes clutches, so that any all have a clear headroom, to avoid injury to the attend-
unit can be cut out at will. Walkways and stairways are ants.
overtime during the winter season, or other periods of high mine to the storage plant economically and with little like-
demand. Such condition in terms of the electrical en-
a lihood of interruption. If this handling is done
by equip-
gineer is called a "bad load factor." It tends to an exces-
ment belonging to the mining company it places the work
siveamount of equipment and personnel to meet the high entirely under the control of that company and relieves the
peak loads of excessive demand, which cannot be used transportation companies. The loading and unloading of
when the demand is low. Such irregularities tend to in- railroad cars will be eliminated, the mine owner will not
crease costs of production and also tend to promote dis- be dependent on the supply of railroad cars, and he can
satisfaction among the miners, resulting in demands for arrange his rate of mining to suit his own convenience,
high wages for the irregular hours of actual work, and also either shipping the coal or stocking it
according to the
causing disputes between miners and operators resulting in demand.
strikes which interfere with the coal supply which is so Since the length of haul will be the same whether the
vital to in coal is shipped direct from the mine or from a
industry general. storage
From the transportation point of view the results are plant adjacent to the mine, such a location for a storage
somewhat similar. An excessive amount of freight train plant will not help solve the transportation problem to any
equipment is required to meet the high peak loads in the extent. From the transportation point of view the best
location for a
storage plant is at some point centrally
transportation of coal, and this is more marked since the
amounts which can be handled by each coal car are more located in relation to the principal points of
consumption
or less fixed. A great many extra cars, locomotives, so that the coal can be delivered to the storage plant
during
etc.,
have to be supplied to transport the large amount of coal times of low demand and favorable weather and conditions,
which must be handled at times when the demand is great- can be distributed from the storage plant rapidly and eco-
est, usually in the winter when transportation difficulties nomically because of the short hauls and also the greater
are at their worst. In the summer time, and at other times trackage facilities which are usually available in large
when the demand is low, a great deal of this rolling stock industrial centres.
is idle, and the need for men to man the trains, etc., is
Determination of Type of Storage Plant
greatly reduced. Additional equipment means, of course,
additional investment and additional overhead expense, and In designing large coal storage plants the first question
to be considered is the kind of coal to be
a tendency to the same sort of trouble and additional ex- stored; first,
pense in regard to the personnel as is the case with the whether it is anthracite or bituminous ; second, the size
mining companies. In other words, uniform output and of the coal and other special characteristics. Anthracite
uniform transportation mean minimum expense in the cost
coal deteriorates scarcely at all when exposed
weather to the
of mining and transporting coal. and there is little, if any, danger of spontaneous combustion.
As
to the importance of insurance against coal Bituminous coal loses some of its heating value when
shortage,
this phase of the question has been brought home most stored exposed to the weather, but the amount of this loss
is less than usually supposed and the rate of loss decreases
forcibly in the last few years, especially to the large coal
consumers such as the gas and electric companies and large as the coal becomes seasoned providing it does not heat
up.
If heating occurs due to oxidation of the coal and there
manufacturing plants and ccal dealers. There is, therefore,
a tendency is not sufficient circulation of air to
among large consumers to store more and more carry off the heat, the
coal in their own
reserve storage plants, but this practice oxidizing effect increases until finally the coal catches fire
is not universal enough to take care of the problem in an by spontaneous combustion. This makes the problem more
adequate manner. It is doubtful whether consumers and complicated with bituminous coal than with anthracite,
dealers will ever provide sufficient storage facilities properly and in addition to this, anthracite coal is usually uniform
to equalize the demand upon the mines and and small in size so that it is easier to handle with conveyors
transportation
companies. than run-of-mine bituminous coal which contains
large
If, therefore, adequate facilities are to be provided it
lumps.
must be done by the coal mining companies, the railroads, Anthracite Coal Storage Plants
the large consumers and dealers,
by combinations of con- While various methods are resorted to in storing anthra-
sumers or dealers, and by states and municipalities, or cite moderate sized plants or in temporary plants,
coal in
other political subdivisions. the system which is used almost
exclusively for large an-
644 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
CENTRAL STORAGE PLANTS 645
thracite storage plants is what is known as the Dodge and a large amount of storage can be obtained for the
system. This system was designed by James M. Dodge, amount of area covered. There are two sets of circular
and it has been so successful in handling coal economically crane tracks, one with a radius of 110 ft. from the centre
and rapidly that it has been adopted as practically a standard of the digging pile so that the crane can reach this pile
system for this kind of coal. The coal is piled in large con- from any point on the circle and the other at a radius 100
ical piles containing usually from 30,000 to 60,000 tons each. ft. when the outside pile is to tie filled up
greater, so that
A general view of a complete plant is shown in Fig. 1. the crane moves out to the outside track and rehandles
Two piles, with two delivery conveyors and one reclaiming the coal into the outside part of the storage. This makes
conveyor, form a unit and all of the conveyors are of the two handlings of the coal for this part of the storage. As
chain and flight type. Each delivery conveyor is set at long as the daily requirements are not too great it is just
an incline of 27 deg., the angle of rest of the coal pile, as well to have the crane in more constant operation as to
and a pair of light trusses connected together just above have it idle and this rehandling of the coal avoids the
the peak of the pile is used to support eacli conveyor, the necessity of greater expense for additional equipment. The
conveyor using one truss, the other one completing the storage handled from the inside circle is the more active
triangle that makes the trusses self-supporting. storage, that handled from the outside circle being used
The coal is dumped through the hopper doors of the only when the former is filled or empty according to
freight cars into a track hopper and is fed to the delivery whether the handling is to or from storage.
conveyor which discharges to the pile. To avoid dropping The reclaimed by the crane and delivered to a
coal is
the coal any distance and causing breakage the pile is loading hopper on a tower near the centre of the digging
started at the lower end of the conveyor and close to the pile. From this hopper it is fed to an inclined flight con-
ground ;
as
it increases in height, the discharge point is veyor which takes it across a bridge over a number of
moved up the conveyor by pulling up a steel ribbon which railroad tracks to the coaling station, where it is delivered
forms the bottom of the conveyor trough and which is to a distributing flight conveyor which runs at right angles
unwound from a drum at the foot. to it and along the length of the pocket.
The reclaiming conveyors, Fig. 2, are reversible flight
conveyors with chains and wheels set in a horizontal in- Storing Bituminous Coal
stead of a vertical plane each conveyor is pivoted and is
;
Since not feasible to store bituminous coal in deep
it is
supported on circular tracks at the ground level. The pivot conical piles, the Dodge system is never used for storing
point is near the railroad track, and just back of this point this kind of coal. The method usually employed includes
the conveyor goes up an incline so that the coal can be some type of grab bucket equipment, this being either com-
delivered over screen chutes back into the railroad cars. plete in itself or used with a conveyor, cable railway, or
The swinging of the conveyor is accomplished by steel some other combination. Whatever type of equipment is
cableswhich extend from the pivot point to the outer end used must be arranged to spread the coal over a large area
and then to each side of the storage area and are there to avoid piling it too deep, and it must be able to reclaim
dead-ended so that the conveyor can be moved in either the coal from this area.
direction. The outside of the conveyor trough on both In some cases a bituminous coal storage plant is so
sides is left open, so that when the conveyor is started and arranged that the coal can be submerged in water to pre-
swung against either pile of coal the flights get behind the vent deterioration and spontaneous combustion. As far as
coal and push it along the trough and up the incline to the the deterioration is concerned this makes an expensive type
point where it discharges over the screen chutes to the of coal storage plant which is seldom justified, according
cars. to investigations by the United States Bureau of Mines and
\YhiIc inmost cases these large anthracite coal storage others, which seem to prove conclusively that there is
plants are in the open, in a few instances where the winters comparatively little loss in heating value in bituminous
are especially severe the piles have been housed over to coal when
stored in the open; the longer the coal remains
protect them from weather conditions. A plant of this in storage the smaller the rate of loss unless the coal be-
kind is shown in Fig. 3, this plant being located at Superior, comes heated. Submerged storage does, of course, prevent
Wis. The anthracite coal is shipped over the lakes by spontaneous combustion, but this can usually be prevented
boat and is unloaded at this point for distribution by rail. by other and less expensive means. Some of the factors
The circular buildings used for housing the storage piles which are conducive to spontaneous combustion are the
are built of steel, each being 246 ft. in diameter by 90 ft. following :
high. Each of the two buildings has a storage capacity of 1. Excessive depth of pile. The limiting depth of pile
50,000 tons of coal. varies with different kinds of coal, but it is usually some-
The circular storage system using a locomotive crane where between 15 ft. and 30 ft.
equipped with a grab bucket and traveling on circular 2. A large amount of fine coal stored with lumps that
tracks is adapted to the storing of bituminous
especially tends to form the air pockets which furnish the live oxygen
coal and is in some cases used for storing anthracite. An needed to start spontaneous combustion.
installation of this kind is shown in Fig. 4, this being a Piling the coal in such a way that there is a segrega-
3.
storage plant belonging to one of the railroads and located tion of the lump and fine coal, so that at some point in
at a locomotive coaling station. The locomotive crane in the pile there is a dividing line where the lump and fine
this case is a wide gage machine traveling on four rails, coal are brought together in such a way as to form the
with a fixed boom of 110-ft. radius, equipped with a S-yd. air pockets which are responsible for starting spontaneous
grab bucket. The coal is dropped from the cars into a combustion, and where the circulation of air is not suf-
track hopper and is handled by conveyors to a central dig- ficient to carry off the heat.
ging point. A
pile on the ground is formed at this point 4. The presence
in the coal of sulphur, oily waste, wood
so that the coal can be picked up by the bucket and be or other inflammable materials which are easier to set on
distributed by swinging the boom of the crane. fire than the coal itself, and which, therefore, tend to make
As there is practically no danger of fire with anthracite it easier for combustion to start.
coal, it can be piled deep the depth of the pile is 50 ft.
;
If bituminous coal can be stored as lump coal with the
646 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
CENTRAL STORAGE PLANTS 647
fine coal screened out it is undoubtedly the safest method, matter and of heating value occurs with a moderate rise of
as this gives a good opportunity for the circulation of air temperature, even though the ignition point is not reached.
and the dissipation of heat, and there is also the absence "Spontaneous combustion is brought about by slow ox-
of line coal or dust which is most easily set on lire. If it idation in an air supply sufficient to support it, but insuf-
is not feasible to store the coal as lump it is undoubtedly ficient to carry away all the heat formed. The area of
better to crush it and store it as crushed coal since in this surface exposed to oxidation by a given mass of any one
condition packs more closely and with smaller air pockets.
it coal determines largely the degree of oxidation which
Storing coal in hot weather should be avoided if possi- takes place in the mass it depends on the size of the par-
;
ble, for the tendency of the coal to oxidize increases with ticlesand increases rapidly as the fineness approaches that
the temperature. Various methods for the ventilation of of dust. Dust is, therefore, dangerous, particularly if it is
coal piles have been experimented with, but unless the ven- mixed with lump coal of such a size that the interstices
tilation is greatenough actually to carry off the heat instead permit the flow of a moderate amount of air to the interior.
of simply adding oxygen to help along the oxidation it Coal differs widely in friability; that is, in the proportion
is worse than no ventilation at all. The general consensus of dust which is produced under like conditions. In com-
of opinion in this country seems to be against ventilation, parative tests samples of Pocahontas, New River and Cam-
though there have been cases where it seems to have been bria County (Pennsylvania) coals produced nearly twice as
quite effective. The Canadian Pacific Railway employs much dust (coal through a ^-in. screen) as coal mined
ventilation extensively in its large storage piles, and ac- from the Pittsburgh bed in Allegheny County, Pennsyl-
cording to reports its methods have been successful. vania. This variation in friability is a factor in affecting
The United States Bureau of Mines reports as follows in the liability to spontaneous heating.
Technical Paper No. 16, in relation to the deterioration "Ideal conditions for such heating are offered by a mix-
and spontaneous combustion of coal : ture of lump and fine coal, such as run-of-mine with a
"The results show in the case of the New River coal a large percentage of dust, piled so that a small supply of
loss of less than one per cent of calorific value in one year air is admitted to the interior.
by weathering in the open. In two years the greatest loss "High volatile matter does not of itself increase the lia-
was at Key West, 1.85 per cent. There was practically no bilityof coal to spontaneous heating. letter of inquiry A
loss at all in the submerged samples in one year, fresh or sent by the bureau to more than 2,000 large coal consumers
salt water serving equally well to preserve the virtues of in the United States brought 1,200 replies. Of the replies
the coal. There was almost no slacking of lumps in the 260 reported instances of spontaneous combustion, and 220
run-of-mine samples. In all tests the crushed coal deterio- of the 260 gave the name of the coal. The 220 instances
rated more rapidly than run-of-mine. were distributed as follows : 95 were in semi-bituminous
"The Pocahontas run-of-mine coal in a 120-ton pile on low-volatile coals of the Appalachian region, 70 in higher-
the Isthmus of Panama lost during one year's outdoor volatile coals of the same region, and 55 in western and
weathering less than 0.4 per cent of its heating value, and middle-western coals.
showed little slacking of lumps. "Freshly-mined coal, and the fresh surfaces exposed by
"Gas coal during one year's outdoor exposure suffered crushing lumps exhibit a remarkable avidity for oxygen,
no loss of calorific value measurable by the calorimetric but after a time the surfaces become coated with oxidized
method used, not even in the coal forming the top 6-in. material, 'seasoned,' as it were, so that the action of the
layer in the bins. air becomes much less
vigorous. In practice, coal which
"Submerged storage is an absolute preventive of spon- has been stored for six weeks or
two months and has even
taneous combustion, and on that account alone it is justified --become somewhat heated, if rehandled and thoroughly
when the coal is particularly dangerous to store, and when cooled by the air, seldom heats spontaneously again."
large quantities are to be stored; but unless the storage The extinguishing of fires in bituminous coal piles by
period is to be longer than one year, there seems to be no water is very difficult, unless the part where the fire occurs
ground for storing coal under water merely for the sake is thoroughly soaked. This method seems to help the fire
of the saving in calorific value. along rather than put it out. One method of using water
"Losses of value from spontaneous combustion are a is to make an excavation in the coal pile directly over the
much more serious matter than the deterioration of coal fire, then keep a constant stream of water running into this
at ordinary temperatures. Oxidation proceeds more rapidly excavation as long as necessary to extinguish the fire. The
as the temperature rises. The oxidation, beginning at ordi- water is retained in the bowl-shaped depression and neces-
nary temperatures, attacking the surface particles and sarily soaks down through the pile to a considerable extent
developing heat, is probably in some degree an absorption and if it can be made to thoroughly drench the fire will
of oxygen by the unsaturated chemical compounds in the put it out.
coal. In a small pile of coal this slowly developed heat The
usual method nowadays is to arrange the mechan-
n be readily dissipated by convection and radiation, and icalequipment for storing the coal in such a way that any
ery little rise in temperature results. If the dissipation of part of the pile can be easily reached and the coal rapidly
:at is restricted, however, as in a large pile densely dug out by mechanical means the burning ccal can thus be
;
.eked, the temperature within the pile rises continuously. spread out and the fire extinguished. This is the safest
he rate of oxidation of the coal, plotted against the tem- and surest method and usually involves the least amount
rature, makes a curve which rises with great rapidity. of labor and expense.
When the storage conditions are such as to allow warming In some cases storage plants for bituminous coal and for
of the coal to a temperature of about 100 deg. C., the rate anthracite coal also are of a more or less temporary char-
of oxidation becomes so great that the heat developed in acter; where the plant is not considered a permanent one
a given time ordinarily exceeds the heat dissipated and the it of course, desirable that the equipment should not be
is,
temperature rises until, if the air supply is adequate, the too expensive, even though the labor cost per ton for han-
coal takes fire. Evidently, therefore, it is important to dling the coal to and from the storage may run higher
guard against even moderate heating, either spontaneous, than it would with more efficient, but also more expensive
or from an external source. Increased loss of volatile types of equipment.
648 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
5 I
CENTRAL STORAGE PLANTS 649
Sometimes the side-hill storage system is used where reclaiming, the coal is picked up from the storage area and
advantage is taken of a track location on the side of a delivered back to the cars, boats or to a conveyor system.
hill, the coal being dumped on the lower side of the track 4. The Stuart system using a belt conveyor with a belt
and allowed to form a storage pile along the slope of the conveyor stacker for piling the coal along one or both sides
hill. By installing another track on the lower side of the of the belt conveyor, and a Stuart reclaimer for reclaiming
pile the reclaiming of the coal can be made easier since the coal from the ground storage pile and delivering it
the coal can be delivereddown hill by means of chutes or back to the belt conveyor.
conveyors and into the cars on the lower track. Overhead cableway equipped with grab bucket.
5.
Sometimes
portable elevators, portable belt conveyors, These are the principal systems used, though they may
or a combination of the two, are used for unloading the be combined and modified in various ways to suit special
coal from the cars and piling alongside the track; then by conditions.
reversing the operation of these machines the coal may be Adiagram for the circular storage system is shown in
reclaimed and delivered back to the cars. Since, however, Fig. 5 and a table of capacities in Fig. 6. Two circular
the capacity of these machines is limited usually to from piles are shown, each with a pit at the centre from which
40 to 60 tons an hour, this is not a very rapid method for the coal is picked up by the grab bucket and spread over
large plants, a number of machines being necessary to the storage area. In reclaiming it is delivered back to rail-
obtain much capacity. road cars. Some of the advantages of this system are as
Coal can also be piled by starting a pile on the ground follows :
and then running trucks or bottom dump wagons up on 1. Low investment. The equipment and construction
the pile and extending it by dumping the coal along the work only the crane with the grab bucket, the
includes
edge, and continuing this operation until a large area is track system and the pit. The tracks may be laid on ties
covered. Such piles can be reclaimed by portable loaders directly on the ground, so that the only excavating and
or locomotive cranes equipped with grab buckets. concrete work required is for the pit.
Locomotive cranes can be used in various ways for piling 2. Low operating and maintenance cost. Only one or
coal, eitherunloading direct from the cars, picking up with two men are required to operate the locomotive crane and
the grab bucket from the pits into which the coal was dis- the power cost is low compared to the amount of coal
charged from the cars, or spreading out the coal deposited handled. The maintenance costs also are low considering
under a trestle. The same locomotive crane can be used the amount of work done.
to pick the coal up from the storage area and deliver it 3. Dependability. The best locomotive cranes designed
back to the cars or to a conveyor system. especially for this work are ruggedly constructed and thor-
In some cases an embankment of coal is formed along- oughly These plants are
reliable. little affected by weather
side a railroad track; then another track is laid on top of and therefore are not
conditions, likely to be out of ser-
the coal pile and the railroad cars are run up on this track. vice when most needed.
The coal is discharged from the cars on the upper track 4. Flexibility. The number of circular storage piles may
level and the pile or embankment of coal is extended side- be extended indefinitely and either one or more locomotive
ways. The track is then shifted over towards the edge of cranes used, depending upon the handling capacity re-
the pile and the operation repeated. Various combinations quired.
of these methods can be used, but where a large permanent 5. Low insurance charges. There is little fire risk with
plant be equipped there are various systems which
is to the locomotive crane, since it is entirely of iron and steel
have been developed through long experience and do the construction. There is practically no danger of damage
work more rapidly and economically, and if the cost of the from the wind because of the wide base and low centre of
equipment is spread over several years' use lower costs gravity of the crane.
per ton for handling the coal can be obtained. 6. Minimum danger
of loss of coal from spontaneous
combustion. With
whole storage area within reach of
the
Storage Systems for Bituminous Coal the locomotive crane at all times, if spontaneous combus-
The principal storage systems used for bituminous coal tion does occur a fire can be quickly dug out and extin-
are as follows :
guished.
1. Circular storage system, using a long radius loco- Aview of a circular storage plant is shown in Fig. 7.
motive crane of wide gage equipped with a large grab The locomotive cranes usually run on four rails, the rails
bucket, the crane operating on circular tracks and picking being so placed as to form two tracks, usually of standard
up the coal from and delivering back to a central point. gage, the distance, centre to centre of tracks, being about
Sometimes the coal is picked up from a pit into which it 20 ft. The body of the crane is supported on four trucks,
isdischarged from the railroad cars at the centre of the one under each corner, two of these trucks being idle and
circulartrack or in other cases it is deposited on the the wheels of the other two being connected by means of
ground at this point by means of an elevator or conveyor. the necessary gearing to the main engine, so that the crane
When the pit is used the coal is usually delivered back to can be moved along the tracks. Separate swing engines
railroad cars when reclaiming. When an elevator or con- are used on the latest cranes for rotating them.
veyor is used for forming the initial pile, the coal is usually A
5-yd. grab bucket digging coal out of a pit into which
delivered back to the conveyor system. it is discharged from railroad cars is illustrated in Fig. 8.
2. Long radius locomotive cranes used with a conveyor, The railroad tracks are usually placed at a standard dis-
cable railway, or railroad trestle, the coal being deposited tance, centre to centre, throughout the plant, except at the
on the ground and then spread over the storage area by pit where they, are spread out to give room for the grab
a grab bucket operated by the crane when the coal is ;
bucket to dig the coal between them.
reckimed it is picked up by the grab bucket and delivered Asemi-circular reserve coal storage plant of about
to the conveyor, the cable cars or the railroad cars. 55,000 tons capacity located directly adjacent to a boiler
3. Rotating or traveling bridge tramways which pick up room is shown in Fig. 9.
the coal with a grab bucket from boats, from a pit, or from The coal cars come in on two railroad tracks and
an initial pile and spread it over the storage area ;
when there are two sets of track hoppers quite widely sep-
650 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
CENTRAL STORAGE PLANTS 651
aratcd so as to give considerable room for shifting cars storage bins or to a 36-inch belt conveyor running at a
between them. This arrangement allows four cars to slight incline to the center of the coal storage space.
be handled at one time, thus making it easy to unload At the center of
this coal storage is a concrete silo.
the coal at the desired rate. Underneath each set of track The coaldischarged from the end of the belt con-
is
hoppers arc two double reciprocating feeders that is, ; veyor to a pile outside the silo from which a locomotive
one under each track, each double feeder delivering to crane digs it with a grab bucket and spreads it over the
an apron conveyor which runs over to one side and storage area. When the coal is reclaimed it is picked up
delivers the coal to a crusher. by the grab bucket and is deposited on the pile along-
Afterpassing through the crusher the coal goes to side the silo from there it flows through an opening in
;
(light conveyors of the double strand roller chain type, the silo into the foot of a double strand gravity discharge
delivering at the upper end to two flight conveyors run- elevator with 30-inch x 15-inch buckets attached to a
ning at right angles to the tracks and discharging into double strand of 12- inch pitch steel strap roller chain.
the overhead coal bins. The overhead bins are located This elevator delivers the coal back to the belt conveyor
between the two sections of the boiler house and under- which in turn delivers it to the elevator-conveyor serving
neath the bins arc larry tracks running to both sides so the overhead storage bin.
that the coal may be drawn out of the bins into the larries, At the other end of the plant is a cross flight conveyor
run into the boiler room and delivered to the stoker maga- which delivers the briquets either to the loading booms
zines. for loading into railroad cars, or to the carrying run of
belt conveyors to the overhead bin or to conical piles on After considering various arrangements for storing and
the ground from which the coal is picked up by a grab reclaiming the coal it was decided to adopt the circular
bucket operated by a locomotive crane and spread over storage system with two locomotive cranes of 110-ft.
the storage area. radius, and use two points of delivery from the conveyor
It will be noted that by delivering the coal to piles system so that the cranes could pick the coal up from
above ground, from which it can be distributed by the each point and spread it over two circular storage areas,
crane, the digging pit may be eliminated. When the coal and then arrange the conveyors so that the coal could be
is to be reclaimedhandled by the crane back to a
it is handled back by the cranes and again be delivered to the
feeding hopper over the foot of the inclined belt con- conveyors at these central points. These two circular
veyors and the inclined machines take it up and deliver storage plants fitted nicely in the space between the rail-
it to the distributing belt conveyors which distribute it in road sidings and the overhead coal bin at the boiler room,
the overhead bin. and by piling the coal 16 ft. deep the required 100,000 tons
A 50,000-ton bituminous circular coal storage at one storage was obtained without covering the crane tracks.
end of a large briquet making plant and a 60,000-ton Dodge Taking the conveyors from the railroad tracks to the
storage plant for the finished briquets at the other end of boilerroom storage bin as the center line of the plant, it
the plant are shown in Fig. 10. Since it is only the small should be noted that there is a set of track hoppers on
sixed coal thatis used for making briquets the large coal each side of the center line, one set under the center
is screened out and reloaded to railroad cars; screen-
first track and the inside track, and the other under the center
ing and loading is accomplished by a tipple equipment track and the outside track. These hoppers are large
with shaking screens and loading booms. At the receiv- enough for four railroad cars to be placed over each set
ing end of the plant the cars are brought in on two rail- at one time, making a total of eight cars which can be
oad tracks which pass over a double-track hopper and placed at the same time. The coal is fed from the track
are then spread out and run under the tipple building. hoppers to the crushers by apron feeders. Underneath each
The coal is discharged from the cars into the hoppers crusher is an inclined belt conveyor running up to a
which deliver to an apron conveyor running up between feeding point for feeding to either of the duplicate belt
he tracks to the head of the tipple building and deliver- conveyor lines running to the distributing point of the
ng to either one of two shaking screens. The lump coal, first circular storage unit.
after passing over the shaking screens, goes to one of the At this distributing point is a circular concrete tower,
loading booms and is loaded into railroad cars. The coal or silo, which serves as a support for the heads of the
which passes through the shaking screens goes to a belt first pair of belt conveyors and protects the lower ends of
conveyor which delivers either to a gravity discharge ele- the second set of belt conveyors and the chutes and
vator-conveyor equipment, for distributing in overhead feeders for delivering the coal out into the storage pile
652 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
for distribution by the locomotive crane, and for feeding more expensive, so that it is a much cheaper machine
it back from the storage to the second set of belt con- than the long radius cranes used in the plants previously
veyors. If the coal is going directly through to the described. The coal is spread over the storage area so as
boiler room bin, it is delivered
the from the first to to obtain the 50,000 tons with the pile 15 ft. deep. When
second of belt conveyors by chutes. There are other
set the coal to be
reloaded for the power plant it is re-
is
chutes for delivering outside the silo on either side to the claimed by the crane and delivered back to the flight con-
piles in the outside storage. From the first silo the second veyors, which deliver to the inclined belt to the power
pair of belt conveyors conveys the coal up an incline to plant.
the second silo at the center of the second circular storage It will be noticed that the boat unloading tower does
unit and here the coal is either delivered to the third not need to be very high as it lifts the coal only far
pair of belt conveyors, or to the second outside storage enough to deliver it to the crusher from which it feeds
pile. The third pair of belt conveyors are inclined so to the inclined belt conveyor just above the ground level.
that they lead up to the top of the overhead bin at the A low tower of this kind, can, of course, be built much
center, and here the coal is delivered by a system of lighter and at much less expense than a high tower and
chutes to two pairs of distributing belt conveyors run- the handling capacity and safety is greater on account of
ning to each end of the overhead bin and distributing the the lower lift of the bucket. The plant can be operated
coal along the full length of the bin. by a minimum number of men, and in many cases the
A coal storage plant of a large manufacturing com- tower and locomotive crane may be operated by the same
pany is shown in Fig. 12. A locomotive crane unloads man, since it would not be necessary to operate both at
the coal from the boats and discharges it into a receiving the same time.
hopper which feeds pivoted bucket carriers that deliver A
photographic view of a rotating bridge tramway, with
to an overhead transfer bin. From this bin the coal is a grab bucket traveling back and forth on the bridge,
either fed to the cable car system for distribution to this bucket being handled by cables winding on drums
storage or it is delivered by gravity direct to railroad cars. in the machinery house, is shown in Fig. 15. The coal is
There is also a coal crushing equipment so that the coal discharged from the railroad cars to a hopper at the center
may be stored either as run-of-mine or as crushed coal ; of rotation of the bridge, from which it is picked up by
it interesting to note that while there have been fires
is the grab bucket and is spread over the circular storage
in the run-of-mine coal there have been no fires in the area served by the bridge. The span of the bridge is
coalwhich was stored crushed. The coal is spread out 280 and 50,000 tons of coal may be stored, piled 30
ft.,
and reclaimed in the same manner as at the plant next ft. high with an opening left for the railroad tracks
described. through the center of the pile. When reclaiming, the
The storage plant of the New York Edison Company bucket picks the coal up from the storage area and de-
at Shadyside, N. J., is shown in Fig. 13. It has a storage livers it to the railroad cars.
capacity of 225,000 tons of bituminous coal. The coal is Bridge tramways which move longitudinally instead of
unloaded from boats by a hoisting tower equipped with rotating are used extensively for storing coal, as well as ore
a grab bucket and is delivered to the cars of a cable rail- and other materials. In the plant illustrated, Fig. 16, the
way. The cable railway has a long straight run on a bridges are each equipped with 5%-ton buckets, operated
trestlethrough the center of the storage area and the cars by wire rope and controlled by an operator at a fixed point.
dump the coal under this trestle. There are two 100-ft. The coal is unloaded from lake steamers and is stored for
radius locomotive cranes equipped with 5-yd. buckets and distribution by rail. Since the steamers are designed for
these cranes pick the coal up from underneath the trestle rapid unloading, with almost the whole deck removable, a
and distribute it over the storage area as shown in the remarkably high rate of handling can be obtained in un-
photograph. Each crane has a rated capacity of 200 tons loading the coal from the boats with the bridge equipment.
per hour and in a test made by U. S. Government officials In the Stuart system of coal storage described herewith
each of the cranes averaged 240 tons an hour for a ten- the coal is unloaded from the railroad cars and delivered
hour run. When the coal is reclaimed, it is picked up to a belt conveyor located in a trench running longitudinally
by the crane buckets and is delivered to a feeding hopper through the storage area.
center of This belt
the
which can be moved along the line of cable cars which conveyor equipped with a high tripper, which de-
is
take the coal back to the wharf for shipment to the power livers to a short belt conveyor running at right angles and
plants in New York City. arranged so that it can be used on either side of the main
A
50,000-ton storage plant for bituminous coal, located belt, this combination being known as a stacker, and serv-
between a water front and a power house, is shown in Fig. ing to stack the coal up on either side of the main belt
14. The coal is unloaded from the boats by a grab bucket conveyor. The stacker is shown in Fig. 18.
operated from a hoisting tower. In the latter is a crusher For reclaiming the coal from the storage area a special
and as the coal is crushed it goes to an inclined belt con- type of reclaimer shown in Fig. 17 is used. It consists of a
veyor which is supported a little above the ground level. belt or apron conveyor, traveling on the same tracks on
This belt conveyor is at the center of the storage pile and which the stacker travels, and arranged so that it can
carries the coal either to a second inclined belt going pivot around the truck which travels on the track. On
up to the top of the overhead bin in the boiler room or to the outer end of the machine is a plow which is pushed
one of the two distributing flight conveyors running length- into the coal pile by a tractor which supports this end of
wise of the storage pile. The coal can thus be sent either the reclaimer. This plow is forced in under the coal, which
direct to the power plant or to the storage pile by the slides up and over onto the conveyor, which takes it up
flight conveyors. an incline and delivers it to the main belt conveyor, from
For spreading thecoal further in the storage pile there which it can be transferred to any point desired, the trans-
is a 70-ft. radius locomotive crane equipped with a 2-yd. fer in the case illustrated being to a locomotive coaling
bucket. The crane runs on 9-ft. gage tracks but otherwise station located in the center of a railroad yard. The
is very similar to a standard gage crane and is not much storage space in this case is 80 ft. by 440 ft. on each
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 653
side of the main belt, the coal storage capacity possibly initial pile along each side of the main belt conveyor, and
being 30,000 tons. The capacity of the stacking machine then use a locomotive crane for spreading and reclaiming
is from 250 to 300 tons an hour, and the reclaimer is the coal. The locomotive crane fills in the area between its
capable of handling the coal back to the belt conveyor at tracks and the belt conveyor, and also covers a large space
about the same rate. outside the tracks. In this way a very large area can be
Some coal storage plants somewhat similar to the Stuart covered. When reclaiming the crane can handle the coal
system use a belt conveyor stacker only for making an back to the belt conveyor or direct to railroad cars.
erating power in a steam power plant and the cost of ing the necessity of purchasing it under adverse conditions
handling this fuel, and the resulting ashes are also impor- of supply or delivery. Since the overhead bin type of
tant items especially in a large plant. The hand firing storage is expensive to build, it is usually made large
of coal to the boiler furnaces being rapidly replaced by
is enough for only three or four days' supply and in some
the use of mechanical stokers, and hand methods of han- cases even for a shorter period. The reserve storage,
dling and storing coal and ashes are also rapidly disappear- usually an outside ground storage pile, is frequently made
ing. large enough to furnish a supply for several months or
In arranging for a coal supply for a boiler room, it is sometimes even for a year or so.
customary to store at least a part of the coal in an over- In order to obtain the best efficiency and most satisfac-
head bin, either directly in front of the boilers, so that it tory operation of mechanical stokers it is necessary to get
can be delivered by gravity to the stoker magazines or at rid of all large lumps of coal, and this ordinarily done
is
some convenient point, frequently the end of the firing aisle by means of a crusher. The crushers are usually placed
or aisles, so that it can be transferred to the stoker maga- at the point where the coal is unloaded, and to make them
zines by means of a traveling weighing hopper or larry, or operate satisfactorily the coal should be fed to them regu-
sometimes of a conveyor. In addition to this active over- larly, this being done usually by means of a reciprocating
head storage, it is usual to provide reserve storage, which feeder or an apron feeder.
will insure a supply of coal under all ordinary conditions Since the active storage is used almost constantly, it
and make it possible to take care of a quantity of coal, justifies considerable investment in order to keep the cost
654 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 655
of handling the coal down to a minimum. The amount of each day in order to keep the station supplied with coal.
expense justified for the reserve storage handling equip- A separate ash handling equipment is, therefore, practically
ment depends upon the amount of coal to be handled by always installed in a large station, and some form of car
it during the year. which can be run under the ash hoppers is the most
In some cases the reserve storage is designed almost common type of equipment for this work. In some cases
entirely as an insurance against coal shortage, and is active these cars are pushed by hand, but they are usually elec-
only in cases of necessity so that a comparatively small trically operated. Sometimes the railroad cars are run
amount of coal is handled each year and there is, therefore, into the basement of the boiler room, and the ashes are
not a great deal of saving possible in the yearly cost of delivered from the ash hoppers direct to them. For
handling. In other cases the reserve storage is designed elevating the ashes to an overhead bin, the skip hoist
as a regular supply for the winter season from three to is the usual method employed.
six months so that it will be filled and emptied once a A station provided with. both a low and a
central power
year, and may be called upon more or less all through the high tower receiving coal from boats is shown in Fig. 1.
year if coal is not received regularly. In such cases the The grab bucket picks up the coal from the boat, elevates
yearly amount handled is frequently large so that a saving it and delivers it to the receiving hopper. From the re-
of a few cents in the cost of handling each ton may mean
ceiving hopper, it is fed by means of a reciprocating feeder
a large yearly saving and justifies a comparatively expen- to a screening chute leading to the coal crusher. The fine
sive handling equipment in order to accomplish this saving. coal passes through the screen openings and directed by
is
grab bucket usually delivers the coal to a feeding hopper, as shown in Fig. 2. The coal is passed through a crusher
equipped with an automatic feeder of the reciprocating and is delivered to a 30-in. inclined belt conveyor 450
or apron type, which feeds the coal to a coal crusher. ft. long, which elevates it and distributes it to overhead
With high tower type, the coal is elevated by the
the bins. The crusher
capable is of handling coal at the
grab bucket to a sufficient height so that after passing rate of over 200 tons an hour. The coal is weighed while
through the crusher it can go directly into the horizontal in transitby means of a belt conveyor weigher.
distributing system,which distributes the coal in the over- A
power plant somewhat similar to the one just described
head bins. When the low tower type is used, the crusher is is shown in Fig. 3. A low type tower is employed for
handling a grab bucket which is of \ /2-ton capacity. This
l
set at a lower level, and the coal after passing through
the crusher goes to an elevator or inclined conveyor of tower is equipped with a coal crusher and an automatic
the belt or flight type, and it is then conveyed to the scales for weighing the coal before it is delivered to the
distributing system over the bin. belt conveyor. One belt conveyor takes the coal up the
The machines ordinarily used for distributing the coal incline and delivers it to a second horizontal belt conveyor
in the bins are belt conveyors, flight conveyors, and cable which distributes the coal overhead bins. in the
railways. Cable railways arc low in cost of installation Provision is also made
tower for receiving
at the coal
and maintenance and extremely flexible in application, being coal from railroad cars and elevating and delivering it to the
capable traveling around in loops over several bins,
of crusher. This equipment consists of a gravity discharge el-
regardless of where they are located. They are not so evator, with an apron feeder at the foot for feeding the coal
automatic in their operation as the conveyors and require to it from the track hopper. An overhead bin is provided in
more men to operate. The automatic railway is also used the boilerroom from which the coal is delivered to the
in some places. This is similar to a cable railway, but stoker magazine by means of a 10-ton electrically operated
is operated by gravity and the cars are self-dumping. weighing larry. The ashes at this plant are handled by
Where the low type unloading tower is used conveyors means of a 10-in. pneumatic conveyor system, the duct
are nearly always employed, since they can be used for of which extends along the line of the ash pits and then
taking the coal up to the bin, as well as distributing it in runs up to the top of a 75-ton circular storage tank outside
the bin and are practically automatic. of the building.
A handling equipment for a large central power
coal A power tower for unloading
station with a double high
station is necessarily of large capacity, and even then it coal fromand where there is an equipment also
boats,
is usually necessary to operate it only for a few hours for unloading from railroad cars is shown in Fig. 4. The
656 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 657
grab buckets are elevated by the towers to a height of Up to the present time there has been practically no main-
about 160 ft., where they deliver to a receiving hopper tenance cost ; if properly taken care of this
the machinery is
from which the coal is fed to the crushers, and then goes maintenance cost should be quite low, probably not over an
to a belt conveyor, which distributes it in the overhead average of $300 or $400 per year for an indefinite period,
bin. The bin in this case runs alongside the building and with replacements of certain parts at the proper time
at right angles to the firing aisles, and traveling weighing there should be no necessity of a general rebuilding of the
larries are used to transfer the coal from the bin to the whole equipment ;
i. this rebuilding is done piecemeal
e.,
saving in the cost of labor of $12,264. The total cost of the makes the eaves about 67 above the floor level, whereas ft.
installation of the overhead bin and the machinery equip- the eaves at the rear wall of the lean-to are only 31 ft. above
ment was about $15,000, even at the high prices prevailing the floor level. The total width of the building, center to
during the war, so that the saving obtained probably paid center of the columns, is 50 ft.
for this installation in a year and a half or two years. The The railroad track comes in at the level of the boiler
power cost has been small, as it always is in handling coal room floor. This track runs at an angle of about 20 deg.
mechanically. with the side of the building and comes quite close to one
658 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 659
corner. The track hopper is located in this corner, and, is a double strand drag chain ash conveyor for transferring
since the siding is a dead-end one with little room for shift- from the carrier to the bin or to a spout leading to railroad
ing cars, it was especially desirable that the track hopper cars standing on a trestle alongside the bin. The ashes,
should be made large enough to unload the largest cars therefore, can be delivered either directly to railroad cars
without moving them. Since, therefore, the over-all dimen- or to the small overhead bin and then to carts.
sion from the outside of the doors for the 140,000-lb. coal To provide additional ash storage and make it possible to
cars isabout 22 ft., it was decided to make the track hop- load a railroad car quickly without having it stand on the
per 22 ft. long by 12 ft. wide. railroad siding, the center section of the coal bin opposite
The coal and ash handling equipment consists of a double the stack was partitioned off for ashes, thereby making an
reciprocating feeder underneath the track hopper, nn apron ash bin having a capacity of 50 tons. The ashes are put
conveyor to the crusher which is located directly over the into this bin until it is desired to load them into the rail-
carrier, a two-roll crusher, and a 24 in. x 24 in. pivoted road car; then they are fed back to the lower run of the
bucket carrier following a rectangular path and having hori- carrierby means of chutes, and the carrier and drag chain
zontal centers of 131 ft. and vertical centers of 61 ft. This conveyor handle and deliver them to the railroad cars.
carrier encircles the overhead bin and has the lower run in The coal is unloaded from the railroad cars at the cen-
a tunnel, or basement, below the boiler room floor so that room
ter of the boiler into a 10-ft. 6-in. square track
hopper
the ashes can be handled entirely in the basement. This hung underneath the This track hopper
trestle stringers.
equipment has a capacity of 60 tons of coal per hour, or an is fitted with a reciprocating feeder which delivers the coal
equivalent volume of ashes with the carrier running at a to a two-roll crusher, crushing to a size about 4 in. and
speed of only 45 ft. per min. There are three electric under. After the coal passes through the crusher it is han-
motors for driving the machinery, a 5 h.p. motor for the dled by a short, double-strand flight conveyor across to the
double reciprocating feeder, a 15 h.p. motor for the apron lower run of the carrier buckets, these buckets then taking
conveyor and crusher, and a 10 h.p. motor for the carrier. it up and distributing it in the overhead coal bin.
The ccal is dropped through the hopper doors of the rail- The overhead coal bin is of the steel suspension bunker
road cars into the track hopper, from which it is fed to the type, with the weight carried by girders along the upper
apron conveyor by the double-reciprocating feeder. The edge, these girders being supported by steel columns. The
apron conveyor then delivers it to the crusher, after which outside ash bin is circular in shape with a sloping roof and
it goes directly into the carrier buckets, which elevate it hopper bottom. The body is 9 ft. in diameter, the cylindri-
and then distribute it by means of a tripper which tilts the cal part being 5 ft. high and the conical part extending 2
buckets at any desired point along the horizontal run, there- ft. 6 in. below the cylinder. It is supported on steel angle
by discharging the contents into the bin. From the bin the posts resting on concrete foundations.
coal feeds by gravity through spouts to the stoker maga- A
boiler room in which the coal and ashes are elevated by
/ines. The ashes are raked out of the ash pits underneath pivoted-bucket carriers, the coal being delivered to roller
the furnace--, and directly into the buckets of the carrier flight conveyors running over the bins at right angles to
on the lower run. They are elevated and discharged into the carriers, and distributing the coal in these bins, is
the ash binfrom which they can be delivered to railroad cars shown in Fig. 6.
by means of gates and spouts. The fine coal which sifts The track hopper is 18 ft. long by 14 ft. wide, and is
through the upper part of the stoker grate bars is deflected made of % in. steel, with angle stiffeners. Underneath this
into chutes leading to the lower run of the carrier. These track hopper is an apron feeder 30 in. wide and having 21
chutes are emptied at intervals, and the sittings are sent ft. centers, which delivers the coal to a two-way chute
back to the overhead bin. An interior view of the operat- crusher. The crusher rolls are 26 in. in diameter by 30 in.
ing floor with the overhead bin and the spouts to the stokers long, each crusher being driven by a 15 h.p. motor. The
is shown in Fig. 4. apron feeder is driven by a 3 h.p. motor, and operates at a
In some cases, usually where remodeling an old boiler speed of about 8 ft. per min. The carriers have 24 in. by
room, expensive to build a basement underneath the
it is 24 in. buckets, following a rectangular path having 74 ft.
operating floor, or to raise the boilers to give the same ef- vertical centers and 84 ft. horizontal centers they operate ;
times located in a trench directly in front of the stokers, of coal per hour, or an equivalent volume of ashes.
and just underneath the operating floor, the ashes then be- The roller flight distributing conveyors have flights 19 in.
ing raked up out of the pits and fed through gratings to the long by 8 in. deep, spaced every 24 in., each conveyor hav-
lower run of the carrier in the trench. An installment of ing 86 ft. centers, and operating at a speed of 100 ft. per
this shown in Fig. 5.
kind is min. A 7 /2 h.p. motor operates each conveyor. The coal
l
The boiler room has seven 750 h.p. boilers set in bat- bins are of the suspended type, built of steel and supported
teries oftwo each equipped with stokers. A 500-ton
.ind on steel columns. Underneath each bin are two }4-ton
overhead bin provided for the coal, with spouts from
is motor-operated traveling weighing hoppers for delivering
the bin to the stoker magazines through which the coal to two rows of boilers. Each half of the plant has space
feeds by gravity. for eight 600 h.p. boilers, or a total of 9,600 h.p.
A is the main conveyor for both
pivoted bucket carrier A carrier equipped boiler room, with an outside ground
the coal and ashes, this machine following a rectangular storage for coal is shown in Fig. 7. In this plant there is
path with the upper run above the coal bin, and the lower a 300-ton suspension bunker in the boiler room, the upper
one in a trench underneath the boiler room floor and close horizontal run of the carrier being located above the over-
in front of the ash pits, so that the ashes can be raked or head bin and extending out over the ground storage space,
shoveled out of the pits and be delivered directly through where it is supported on a bridge carried by steel bents pro-
gratings into the carrier buckets. For disposing of the tected by concrete. The lower horizontal run of the carrier
ashes there is a small overhead steel bin outside the boiler is located in a tunnel underneath the ground storage, and
house; this bin holds about 10 tons of ashes and is arranged underneath the ash pits of the boilers.
to deliver to carts. To get the ashes out to this bin there The coal is discharged from the railroad cars to a track
660 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 661
to the lower run of the pivoted bucket carrier, and be con- 900-r.p.m. motor.
veyed to the boiler room bin. The ashes are fed from the When the coal is taken from the reserve storage in the
ash pit to the carrier buckets and are conveyed to an over- basement by the grab bucket, it is delivered to the track
head bin, located close alongside the railroad tracks, and hopper to be crushed, after which it is taken to the overhead
from which they can be delivered by gravity to the railroad bin. The ashes are delivered direct to railroad cars which
cars. are run into the basement underneath the hoppers.
A
power plant with a rather novel coal handling equip- Sometimes instead of locating the overhead bin in the
ment is shown in Fig. 8. There is an overhead bin to which boiler room, it is desirable to locate it outside, usually at
the coal is conveyed by belt conveyors and continuous one end. This sometimes done when remodeling an old
is
bucket elevators and the reserve coal storage is in a boiler room where the roof is too low to get the bin under-
sub-basement; the coal is taken out of this storage by an neath it. A case of this kind is illustrated in Fig. 9.
overhead traveling crane, equipped with a grab bucket. A boiler room equipped with
skip hoists for elevating
Provision has been made for eventually quadrupling coal and ashes, overhead coal and ash bunkers, larries for
the size of the plant. The present boiler room contains distributing the coal to the boilers and cars for transport-
six 600 h. p. boilers which are equipped with stokers. The ing the ashes with an outside ground coal storage served
boilers are set in a single row, in batteries of two. Each by a cable drag scraper system is shown in Fig. 10.
battery occupies a space of about 30 ft., with spaces between
The coal is received in cars on a track which separates
the batteries 10 in. center to center of columns and similar the boiler house from the ground storage. From the cars
the coal is discharged through a track hopper to a loader
spaces at the end, so that the total length of the present
building, center to center of columns, is 130ft. Space for which feeds the coal skip bucket and is elevated to the
economizers is provided over the boilers. overhead bunker by the skip hoist.
The railroad tracks are run into the building on a level Coal destined for the boilers is discharged from the
28 ft. below the operating floor. Underneath the railroad bunker through gates provided in the bottom to the
track the reserve coal storage space, the bottom of which
is larries. A chute is provided from the coal bunker to
is 23 below the track level, or 51 ft. below the operating
ft. the ground storage over which it is distributed by the
floor level. The track hopper for feeding the coal to the drag scraper. The scraper system also is used for reclaim-
conveyor system is located underneath the center track and ing the coal.
outside tracks are run underneath the present and future Ash hoppers are provided below the level of the boiler
ash hoppers. The track hopper is unusually large, the room floor. These discharge to ash cars which in turn
length being 28 ft., to serve all the hoppers of the largest deliver the ashes to the skip hoist for elevating to the
railroad cars without moving them; the width is 20 ft. to overhead ash bunker for delivery to railroad cars.
provide for two feeders underneath. The boiler room at a food product plant, where it was
The present feeder delivers to a 30 in. x 30 in. two-roll advisable to avoid dust, is shown in Fig. 11. Screw con-
crusher, supported on a steel frame about 6 ft. 4 in. above veyors are used for conveying the coal. These conveyors
the floor. The foot of belt conveyor No. 1 is located under- as well as the bucket elevator and the external suspended
neath this steel frame, so that the coal that passes through bunkers are fully enclosed.
the crusher is delivered to the belt. This belt conveyor A boiler house shown in Fig. 12 is so situated that the
runs in the same direction as the railroad track and under- coal received in barges from which it is unloaded by
is
conveyor is a 20 in. machine, also operating at a speed of This reserve storage tends to make the plant more or less
about 200 ft. per min. The machinery is designed for a independent of variations in the coal supply, and makes it
capacity of 85 tons per hour. The motors used are as possible to purchase coal at the most advantageous prices,
follow? :
f
o store it during favorable weather conditions, and to
662 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 663
avoid having to handle it during the adverse weather con- conveyor, supported by a steel truss resting on a tower at
ditions in winter time, when the coal is apt to be frozen the center of the pile, with an intermediate bent lower down
and the cars, therefore, hard to unload. is shown in Fig. 2. The coal is discharged from the rail-
Since this reserve storage is not to be used as constantly road cars to a track hopper underneath the tracks and is
as the active storage is, and since only a certain percentage fed to the flight conveyor which discharges it at the upper
of the yearly coal is to be handled to and from this storage, end to the ground storage pile.
the cost per ton for handling the coal is not quite so im- A ground storage pile to which the coal is delivered by
portant as it is with the active storage since the amount ;
means of an inclined chain and bucket elevator is shown
of reserve storage is usually very much larger than the in Fig. 3 ; a portable wagon loader is shown loading the
active storage, a much less expensive type of storage is coal from the pile into a cart. An arrangement somewhat
ordinarily used. similar to the above is shown in Fig. 4, except that in this
vated floor. Bituminous coal is sometimes submerged up the coal is delivered by an extension chute to the foot
or covered with water so as to eliminate any danger of of the portable belt conveyor, which spreads it over a larger
area. In this way quite a large area can be covered the
spontaneous combustion and also to avoid losses by ;
ftorage bin close alongside the boiler room in front of the and chutes in the tunnel. The gravity discharge machine
ailers, this bin having a capacity several times as great delivers at one end to a flight conveyor, which takes the
the overhead bin. coal over to a bin in the boiler room for gravity delivery
The lower run of the carrier is located in a trench, just to the stokers.
below the floor level, and when the reserve coal storage is A reserve coal storage plant, with a flight conveyor run-
tieeded fed back by means of gates and chutes to the
it is ning over the storage and distributing the coal to it, and
lower run of the carrier, which takes it up to the overhead also a reclaiming flight conveyor in a tunnel underneath the
bins for gravity delivery to the stokers. There is a certain storage to take the coal out and up into the boiler room bin
amount of coal in the reserve storage bin which will not is shown in Fig. 7. The distributing conveyor over the
flow back by gravity to the lower run of the carrier, and pile also extends over the boiler room bin, and coal may
which must be handled by hand when it is needed, but it be handled direct to the boiler room if desired. The coal
is seldom
necessary to do this and the labor cost will not is handled from the track hopper to a crusher, by an apron
add greatly to the yearly cost of handling the coal. The feeder, and after passing through the crusher goes into the
ashes are fed to the lower run of the carrier anywhere lower run of the flight conveyor, which takes it up an in-
along the front of the boilers and are taken to the overhead cline and along the horizontal run, either into the boiler
bin over the railroad track at one end of the room or discharging it to the ground storage pile. The
building,
from which they can be delivered by gravity to the rail- capacity of the overhead bin in the boiler room is about
road cars. 120 tons, and about 2,000 tons can be stored in the outside
A conical pile of small anthracite steam coal where the reserve storage. The daily coal consumption of the plant is
coal is delivered to the pile by means of an inclined flight about 60 or 70 tons.
664 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
COAL AND ASH HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR BOILER HOUSES 665
666 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
Fig. 3 Steel Bin and Supporting Girders Fig. 4 Section of Boiler House and Suspended Bin
A comparatively inexpensive reserve storage extending handled by the telpher machine, and is delivered to the
alongside the railroad tracks is shown in Fig. 8. In this crusher located underneath the pivot point of the bridge;
equipment the coal is unloaded from the cars to the track after passing through the crusher, it goes to another in-
hopper and is transferred by an apron feeder to a crusher clined belt conveyor which runs up and over the boiler house
at one side of the track. After passing through the crusher bin and distributes the coal in the bin. The storage capacity
the coal goes to a vertical elevator, which delivers either at this plant is 15,000 tons of coal, the stocking out
capacity
to a conveyor running to the boiler room or to a flight of the machine being 180 tons per hour, and the capacity
conveyor running in the opposite direction. The upper of the crusher and conveyor to the bunker being 130 tons
run of the flight conveyor is located above the storage pile per hour. From the bunker the coal is delivered by a travel-
and delivers coal to it; the lower run is in a tunnel under- ing weighing larry to the stoker magazines of the double
neath the pile and reclaims the coal from it. The conveyor row of boilers.
which runs to the boiler room may either deliver the coal An electric hoist or telpher
machine equipped with a grab
to pileson the boiler room floor or to a storage pile outside bucket frequently used for delivering coal to the storage
is
from which it is wheeled into the boiler room when re- pile and also for reclaiming and delivering the coal into the
quired. When the coal is reclaimed by the lower run of boiler house. Where only a small amount of coal is to be
the other flight conveyor, it is delivered to the foot of the stored, a simple overhead monorail connecting the boiler
elevator, which re-elevates it and delivers it to the con- house, the railroad siding and the storage pile may meet
veyor to the boiler room. all requirements.
By adding switches and additional over-
An outside reserve coal storage served by a locomotive head tracks the storage area can be greatly increased.
crane traveling on a circular track is illustrated in Fig. 9. Another arrangement frequently used where a consider-
When the coal is unloaded from the railroad cars, it goes able amount of coal has to be stored, is to connect the mono-
either to a crusher and is conveyed to the overhead bin in rail tracks with an overhead traveling crane covering the
the boiler room, or it goes into a pit alongside the track storage Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 12.
pile.
hopper from which the grab bucket picks it up and delivers The monorail its grab bucket runs out on tracks
hoist with
it to the outside pile. When it is being reclaimed it is over barges and cars and back onto the traveling crane for
handled from the pile back to the track hopper and up depositing the coal on the storage pile. When reclaiming,
into the bin, the crane being able to reach the trackhopper the coal is again picked up by the grab bucket and when
from any point on the circular This makes an ex-
track. the monorail hoist has been carried by the crane to the
cellent type of locomotive crane storage in connection with proper point the hoist runs off from the crane onto a spur
a conveyor system for delivering to the boiler room. leading into the boiler house.
A stationary locomotive crane on an elevated pedestal is
used at another storage plant shown in Fig. 10. The locomo-
Bins and Bunkers
tive crane picks the coal up with a grab bucket from a pit
into which it is dumped from the
railroad cars, spreads the Various types of overhead bins are used for storing coal
coal over the storage area, and also reclaims it. The coal in boiler rooms these bins are ordinarily built of steel,
;
may be delivered to a pile against the boiler house wall and concrete, or a combination of both. The older bins were
taken in through openings as shown, it may be delivered usually built of steel, with a supporting structure of beams
it may be arranged to be delivered to
to cars or trucks, or and girders underneath, with steel form the bin
plates to
the feeding hopper of a conveyor system. itself, as shown in Fig. 3. This type of construction re-
Locomotive cranes are the most useful and flexible ma- quires a heavy weight of steel in the supporting beams,
chines of any for handling coal to and from the reserve and does not take advantage of the strength of the plates
storage piles, and they are used in various ways, and with themselves.
various track arrangements. Sometimes they unload direct In the later types of bins, the weight of the coal is
from the cars, sometimes the coal is discharged from the supported mostly by plates or rods hung from girders
cars to a pit or underneath a trestle and the grab bucket along the top edges of the bin. These are what are
picks it up from the pit or from alongside the trestle and known as suspension bunkers and were first designed by
spreads it over the storage area. A. Samuel Berquist. A typical bin of this type is shown
In other cases the coal is fed from the track hopper to in Fig. 2.
some form of elevator or conveyor which delivers it to the Sometimes the steel bins are lined with a layer of con-
storage pile, and the locomotive crane then spreads it over crete, as shown in Fig. 1. The concrete lining protects
a larger area and reclaims it from this area, delivering it the plates from
steel the corrosive action of wet coal
back to cars or to conveyors leading to the boiler house. which most marked where the coal contains sulphur.
is
They are useful machines for this sort of work and can However this corrosive action in most cases does not
also be used for many other purposes around an industrial appear to be serious, and steel bins which have been in
plant. service for 13 years or more are still in good condition.
A reserve coal storage plant in which the coal is handled It is good practice, however, to empty the bin occasionally
to and from the storage by a rotating bridge equipped with and paint it inside and out to protect the plates.
a belt conveyor for delivering the coal to the storage, and Another type of suspended bunker has steel girders
with a telpher machine and a grab bucket for taking the along the top edges and steel supports, but the body of
coal from storage is shown in Fig. 11. The coal is dis- the bin is made of concrete which is reinforced with light
charged from the railroad cars to a track hopper and is steel ferro-inclave plates. By placing the ferro-inclave
fed by means of an apron feeder to an inclined belt con- plates in position first, the concrete can be added to the
veyor, which runs up to the center of the storage and de- inside of the bin with littleform work, and a coating of
livers the coal directly over the pivot point of the bridge. concrete can be plastered over the outside of the ferro-
From this point a belt conveyor with a tripper on the inclave so that a reinforced concrete body is formed. In
bridge distributes it over the storage area. addition to this, steel straps are attached to the girders at
When it is reclaimed it is picked up by the grab bucket intervals of 3 ft. to S ft. and are made to take the parabolic
HANDLING AND STORING COAL
form of the bin, these straps serving as hangers or saddles of rail or railsis supported on the scale beam so that the
to support the weight. larriesor trolleys carrying the loads can be stopped and
Another type of suspension bunker has a supporting weighed; or if an automatic recording scale is installed the
framework similar to the ones previously described, but loads can be weighed as they pass over this section of
the weight is supported by means of rods or bolts attached track.
to the upper girders and extending down to ties across the Automatic coal scales, in addition to saving labor, elimi-
lower part of the bin. Below the ties is a V-shaped nate the of error resulting from the human
possibility
section which gives the proper slope to the bottom of the element, as the recording of the weights is done by the
bin. The bin is lined, just inside the rods, with concrete, mechanism of the scale. These machines consist essentially
steel, or sometimes with wood. of some kind of device for feeding the coal into the weighing
The usual location of a boiler room bin is directly above hopper, and are arranged so that the feed will be shut off at
the space in front of the boilers as the bin and conveyor ; the instant the hopper is filled to the proper amount; that is,
over it require considerable height this
part of the boiler if the scale is of 500-tb.
capacity, coal will feed into the
room requires a higher roof than is ordinarily required hopper it contains exactly 500 ft. when the feed
until
over the boilers. In recent practice it is customary to will beautomatically shut off and another gate at the
make this part of the boiler room with a separate roof bottom of the hopper will automatically open and the
or monitor over the bin, and then run the trusses or 500 Ib. in the weighing hopper will be discharged providing
beams for the lower part of the roof from the bin columns, there sufficient space underneath.
is Then the lower gate
or beams along these columns, back to the rear wall of closesautomatically and the feed again starts to fill the
the boiler room. In this way the roof is broken up into hopper with another 500 Ib. load.
short spans so that light trusses or, in some cases, I-beams
Each load is recorded by an automatic counter, so that
can be used. This construction is shown in Fig. 4.
thenumber of loads which have passed through the hopper
Circular bins are commonly used for ashes and some-
can be read at any time. If there is not enough space
times for coal. Bins of this character are shown in Figs. underneath the weigh hopper for the coal to discharge
5 and 6.
immediately, the mechanism remains inactive until the
Weighing Coal coal is removed sufficiently for the weighing hopper to dis-
charge completely; then the lower gate closes and the
Equipments for weighing coal at power plants may be
divided into thre.e classes (a) weighing the coal received, feeding mechanism again starts.
(b) weighing the total amount of coal consumed, and (c) These automatic scales may be placed underneath a
weighing the coal consumed by each boiler unit. The receiving hopper into which the coal is dumped from
primary object of the first is to check the amount of coal wagons or cars, or, as is usually the case, they may- be
received, so that the purchaser may know whether he is placed at some point in a conveyor system where the coal
getting what he pays for. The second class of equipment can be handled from one conveyor through the weighing
is for keeping a record of the quantity of coal used, so as hopper and be weighed before it passes on to another con-
to know what the requirements are for the future also ; veyor. In this way an accurate record may be obtained
to see whether the boilers are operating at about the of the amount of coal passing through the conveyor system.
proper efficiency ;
the record of the total amount con- Conveyor weighers are devices for weighing coal passing
sumed by several units will, of course, not give an accurate over a belt conveyor, a bucket carrier, or some other type
check on the efficiency of each unit. The third class of of conveyor. There are several of these machines on the
equipment used to get a record of the operation of each
is market, and some of them are guaranteed for an accuracy
unit. In some cases two or more boilers arc grouped of within one per cent. They are entirely automatic in
their operation.
together and each group is taken as one unit.
For checking the amount of coal received at a plant In one of the machines commonly used
for this purpose
there. are several types of equipment, such as track scales, a short section of the conveyor supported on a frame is
boiler room the same types of weighing or measuring de- mercury. For varying weights within the range of the
vices may be used, and also the movable weighing hopper scale the float takes up different positions and therefore
or traveling larry equipped with some kind of scale. its movement offers a direct measure of the actual weight
For keeping a record of the coal used in each separate of the floating platform.
hopper equipped with a hand-operated or automatic scale, coal meter. This apparatus is placed in a spout through
but in this case it is necessary to depend on an attendant which the coal passes downward; it consists essentially
to keep the amounts for each unit separated from those of a shaft, at the lower end of which is a spiral vane or
for the others, and it is next to impossible to get men propeller, which is revolved by the coal as it moves down-
who always keep their records properly separated.
will ward, the speed of rotation being proportionate to the
If these records are to be dependable the human element downward movement of the coal.
supported The shaft is
must be eliminated, and they must be made entirely auto- on a bracket attached to the inside of the spout, and is
matic, and without any possibility of error through care- geared to a shaft which passes out through the chute" at
lessness or intent. right angles and which operates a counter that records
Track scales are also used for overhead tracks, usually the amount of movement of the propeller. By weighing
of the monorail type. In such cases a separate section the coal which passes through a spout equipped with such
COAL YARD EQUIPMENT 669
a meter, and dividing by the number 6f revolutions of being equipped with motors geared to one of the axles.
tlie propeller, the proper factor can be obtained by which The operation is directed by a controller with two ropes
to multiply the number of revolutions of the propeller hanging within reaching distance from the floor. Pulling
to obtain the amount of coal which passes through the one rope causes the machine to travel in one direction,
spout in any desired period. These meters are claimed to and pulling the other causes it to travel in the reverse
operate satisfactorily with small anthracite coal and even direction.
with crushed bituminous, but the more lumpy the coal The individual automatic scale for each unit offers the
and the less free flowing, the less the accuracy. ideal way of obtaining the amount of coal consumed by
Jn plants overhead bins the weighing equipment
with each unit. A
100-lb automatic scale is not a costly device,
is usually located between the bin and the stoker magazines, and it will handle up to 4 tons an hour. These scales
so that the coal can be drawn from the overhead bin require no whereas the traveling weighing
attendance,
and be weighed before it is delivered to the stokers. The hopper has and discharged by the operator.
to be filled
type of equipment used is the traveling weighing hopper One of the illustrations shows an installation of three
or the individual automatic scale. individual automatic scales. The coal feeds down through
A typical motor operated traveling weighing hopper is the scales and the spouts to the stoker magazines, and, as
illustrated. When the service is light the weighing hopper a stoker uses up the coal in the magazines, more feeds
is sometimes moved along the tracks by a shaft geared to down the spout until the weighing hopper is entirely dis-
one of the axles and operated by a chain wheel and a charged when the operating mechanism is again thrown
hand chain which extends to within easy reach from the into operation by the closing of the lower gate and the
boiler-room floor. The hand-operated machines are, how- scale goes through another operation of filling up, weighing
ever, fast going out of use, and the weighing hoppers are and discharging.
in barges or boats it is usually unloaded by means of a of portable loaders capable of loading and screening the
grab bucket operated in connection with the mast and coal at the same time.
gaff, locomotive cranes or unloading towers which are While the low trestle in conjunction with portable load-
described in other parts of this book. ers often provides an economical layout the ideal plant is
670 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
o
CJ
g
-r
^^-^^v- -S-'-V'
COAL YARD EQUIPMENT 671
the so-called high type gravity trestle where all the coal elevator-conveyor which takes it up and across one end
is unloaded into overhead bins so that it can be loaded of the pocket and delivers it to either one of two longi-
out by gravity to wagons or trucks and automatically be tudinal distributing conveyors, which run over the tops
screened as it passes over the screen chute. Conditions of the various bins and deliver the coal to them. The
seldom warrant the construction of a trestle of the pure loading chutes underneath this pocket are made with two
gravity type and it is usual to provide ground storage delivery spouts at different levels, the upper one for load-
underneath the trestle so that the total storage will be ing to large automobile trucks, and the lower one for
sufficient to enable the dealer to purchase and receive coal loading to coal wagons or low trucks.
at the most advantageous time. When a retail coal pocket is built so that all of the
Since each dealer has to handle at least four or five coal is stored in overhead bins, it means that the entire
different sizes of coal, and frequently two or three grades weight of the coal has to be supported on the under
in some or all of the sizes, his storage facilities should structure of the pocket and this necessarily makes the
be arranged to keep these different sizes and grades sep- floor and under structure and the foundations expensive.
arate, the greatest amount of storage being, of course, It is, therefore, frequently more economical to store the
provided for the kind for which there is the greatest greater part of the coal in ground storage bins and to
demand. build overhead bins for only a limited amount of the
Where mechanical means are provided for handling coal, and then arrange the machinery so that the same
the coal, the cars are usually unloaded at one point into equipment will handle the coal to the overhead bins or
a track hopper underneath the railroad track, and the to the ground storage, and also transfer it from the ground
coal is then handled by a conveyor system, and is delivered storage to the overhead bins when it is necessary to draw
to the various bins. With the conveyor system a little the coal from the ground storage.
additional height of the bins means very little additional With this type of pocket the ground storage is in the
cost for the machinery, and it is an easy matter to ar- nature of a reserve storage and the overhead bins are the
range the machinery to deliver to a number of overhead active storage, with gravity delivery to wagons or trucks.
bins, and also to a number of ground bins if desired. The greater part of the coal can be handled directly
A
typical retail coal pocket installation, where the coal through the overhead bins to the trucks and wagons, so
is unloaded from railroad cars to a track hopper under- that this coal has to be handled only once. When, how-
neath the tracks, and is handled to the overhead bins by ever, a greater amount of coal is received than can be
conveyors is shown in Fig. 1. The coal is delivered from taken care of in the overhead bins, it is stored in the
the overhead bins by gravity over a screening chute to the ground storage bins, and then, when there is no coal
\vat;ons or trucks. A gravity discharge elevator and a coming in to be handled to the overhead bins, the supply
flight conveyor are used for elevating and distributing the in the ground storage bins is drawn upon. This means
coal in the various bins. These types of machines handle that the coal stored in the ground bins has to be handled
the coal with very little breakage, but in order to eliminate twice, but the additional cost for this work does not
breakage in discharging the coal into the bins, a so-called amount to a great deal, since no additional force is neces-
lowering chute should be used. The chute is essentially a sary for doing the work and the cost of power for op-
series of shelves, one above the other, each shelf contain- erating the machinery is a comparatively small item.
ing a small bed of coal, so that the coalwhich is being Adiagram of a combination overhead and ground
and forth from one
delivered to the bin rolls slowly back storage coal pocket is shown in Fig. 2. The overhead
pile to the other, without getting up much speed, and bins are along the front of the pocket and have a storage
dropping only short distances from shelf to shelf. The capacity of 300 tons. The ground storage bins are at
machinery is usually operated by a small electric motor, the rear and have a capacity of. 900 tons. The coal is fed
though a steam or gasoline engine is sometimes used. by a chute with a regulating gate from the track hopper
The screen chutes have bottoms made of screen wire to a short flight conveyor which runs across in a tunnel
of the proper mesh for each size of coal, the dust or underneath the pocket and delivers to a gravity discharge
screenings dropping into the small pockets underneath, elevator-conveyor which encircles the pocket and delivers
from which they are taken out at intervals to be re-sized either to the overhead bins or to the ground storage bins.
by means of a rotary screen or some other type of screen Lowering chutes are used for delivering the coal into the
so that they can be sold to the best advantage. Small bins with a minimum amount of breakage. The chutes
ground bins may be partitioned off underneath to receive from the overhead bins to the wagons and trucks are
the different sizes of coal and the coal removed from these housed over with a shed roof. When the ground storage
bins by hand. Sometimes the re-sizing screens are lo- coal is needed it is delivered through gates to the lower
cated over small overhead bins, so that the coal can be run of the elevator-conveyor in the tunnel underneath the
drawn out of the bins by gravity, instead of having to be pocket, re-elevated and delivered to the overhead bins. This
shoveled out. In such cases the screenings are either equipment is driven by an electric motor and the handling
elevated and delivered to the screen by the main coal eleva- capacity is from 35 to 40 tons of coal an hour.
tor, or a small separate elevator is installed. Adiagram of a somewhat similar pocket, except that
An 8,000-ton retail coal pocket of concrete with the coal in whole upper part of the pocket is made
this case the
all stored in overhead bins is used in one of the large into overhead bins with wagon loading chutes on both
cities. This pocket serves not only as a distributing sta- sides and with the railroad track running across the end
tion for delivering to customers located in the central part of the pocket instead of alongside, is shown in
of the city, but the coal is also handled by large auto- Fig. 3. The storage capacity is 800 tons in the
mobile trucks, to four smaller pockets in outlying sections overhead bins and 700 tons in the ground stor-
and is stored in the small pockets for delivery to local age bins. The walls of
the ground storage bins are
customers. built entirely of concrete and the upper part of the pocket
The coal is discharged from the railroad cars on a sid- is built of wood resting on these concrete walls. The coal
ing alongside the pocket, is elevated by a gravity discharge is discharged from the railroad cars into the track hopper
672 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
M
LOCOMOTIVE COALING STATIONS 673
and is fed through a regulating gate to the foot of the maintenance. When handling from railroad cars to the
gravity discharge elevator-conveyor, which elevates it and bins only the elevator and distributing flight conveyor
delivers it to the overhead bins. When these overhead. need be operated.
bins are filled and there is more coal to be stored, part of A 5,500-ton overhead and groundstorage pocket is
the coal in the overhead bins can be discharged through shown in Fig. 5. The overhead pockets have a capacity
gates in the floor down into the ground bins, and the of only 500 tons of coal. This pocket proved a most
overhead bins can then be refilled. The ground storage economical design considering the amount of storage ob-
coal is rehandled to the overhead bins in the same man- tained. It consists essentially of four walls and a roof
ner as in the plant above described. with partitions and inclined floors to form the overhead
This pocket equipped with a rotary screen for
is also bins. There is a monitor along the roof for the dis-
resizing the screenings taken from underneath the wagon tributing flight conveyor over the bins, and a tunnel un-
loading chutes. These screenings are collected and de- derneath for the flight conveyor which takes
reclaiming
livered to the main elevator which elevates them and de- the coal out of
ground storage bins.the It was not
livers them to the rotary screen, which re-sizes them and possible in this case to run a railroad siding into the
delivers them to small bins underneath. The machinery yard, so a tunnel was built underneath a street, and un-
is all operated by a single electric motor and the capacity derneath part of a railroad yard adjoining, and a flight
is about 45 tons per hour. conveyor installed in this tunnel; the coal can thus be un-
A pocket with small overhead bins at one end with loaded from standing in the railroad yard
railroad cars
three underneath, and with the rest of the
driveways and conveyed in the tunnel to the foot of the elevator.
pocket four large ground storage bins is
divided into The machinery has a capacity of from 45 to 50 tons an
shown in Fig. 4. This design is suitable for a large hour and is all driven by a single electric motor, located
amount of ground storage and a comparatively small on a platform about half-way between the ground level
amount of overhead storage. The machinery consists of and the distributing conveyor level at the elevator end of
a gravity discharge elevator and a distributing flight con- the pocket. One chain drive runs up to the head of the
veyor for delivering the coal to the bins, and a reclaiming elevator, which is connected by means of bevel gearing
flightconveyor in a tunnel underneath the ground storage to the foot shaft of the distributing conveyor. Another
bins to be used only when the coal is being taken out of chain drive runs down into the tunnel and is connected
the ground storage. This makes a simple and economical by means of spur gearing to the head shaft of the con-
machinery arrangement, considering the amount of storage veyor from the railroad cars and to the head shaft of
'
obtained, and one which costs comparatively little for the reclaiming conveyor underneath the pocket.
inclined flight or belt conveyor. For small or moderate coal will always be ready for the locomotive and
then
size pockets the delivery to the bins is by chutes; for longer can be loaded quickly by the fireman or possibly one man
pockets distributing conveyors are used or the gravity dis- at the station.
coaling stations, and, where the overhead bin extends over whenever a locomotive is to be coaled, the coal being han-
considerable length, car systems are sometimes used with dled directly from the car to the tender. The equipment
the skip hoists for distributing the coal to the bins. for this usually consists of track hopper, feeder, and
work
Trestle storage pockets are also used in many cases, the some form of chain and bucket elevator, usually of the
coal cars being run up on a trestle, with pockets underneath continuous bucket or gravity discharge type; sometimes a
for delivering the coal to the tenders on account of the ; skip hoist is used in place of the chain and bucket machine.
height required to deliver the coal to the tenders, the trestles The machinery supporting structure isusually built either
must be built high, and a long approach is required to get of wood or steel, or a combination of these. Where an
the cars up on the trestle the construction and maintenance
;
overhead bin is added it is usually built of wood; a single
costs are high and much ground space is required for the coaling chute is used to load the coal from the head of the
approach. This type of coaling station is practically out of machine or from the bin to the locomotive tenders.
the question for a terminal in or near a city. For somewhat larger stations, gravity discharge elevators
At points where few engines are handled hand methods and skip hoists are both used to quite a large extent for
of coaling are often used ;
the coal is shoveled from the elevating the coal and delivering it to the bins. The feed
cars to a coalwharf or platform, and is then shoveled into in either case is usually automatic, reciprocating or apron
the tenders. In some cases, advantage can be taken of feeders being used to feed the gravity discharge machines,
side hills by running an elevated track above the coal and automatic gates on the track hoppers to feed the coal
wharf and building small pockets with chutes which deliver to the skip hoists. The overhead bins for these larger
to large wheelbarrows the coal can thus be transferred
;
stations can be built of wood, steel, concrete, or a combina-
from the pockets to the tenders. These hand methods are, tion of these materials. The wood
construction is usually
however, expensive and, in order to load a locomotive with- the cheapest in not so permanent as the
first cost, but is
a
O
0) S
I!
o W
O
o
EQUIPMENT FOR COALING STEAMSHIPS AND LOADING COAL TO VESSELS 675
locomotive gases tend to corrode the steel, so that at a large discharge the cinders into the pit or into small cars or
station where locomotives stand alongside or underneath buckets in the pit. Where the cars or buckets are used they
the station much of the time, the maintenance cost is apt can be moved on rails in the pit and the cinders delivered
to be high. Concrete is undoubtedly the best material for to a skip hoist or some other form of elevator, or the car
coaling stations, since it is the most permanent and since bodies or buckets can be picked up by a hoist and elevated
the fire risk is practically eliminated, except for the rare so that the cinders can be discharged into an overhead bin
angular with sloping bottoms, whereas with the steel or con- are picked out of the pit by a small grab bucket operated
crete construction both rectangular and circular bins are by a locomotive crane, or some other form of hoist, or are
used, the circularform being economical to construct. The shoveled out of the pit by hand. Pivoted bucket carriers
bottoms are made sloping to make the bins practically self- have been successfully used for handling these cinders, the
cleaning, but this would not seem to be necessary in all chains and buckets being made of malleable iron which does
cases, where the bins are not large, since, in
especially not corrode easily. These carriers may be made to serve
such cases, there is little coal which will not flow out, even a number of tracks, each track having its own pit and feed-
if the bottom is made flat, and flat bottom bins are much ing point for delivering the cinders to the carrier, the han-
easier and cheaper to build. dling from these feeding points to the overhead bin being
Pivoted bucket carriers arc also used for elevating and automatic, thereby making it possible to handle the cinders
distributing coal in locomotive coaling stations, and since rapidly and economically.
these carriers are the most rugged type of conveyor they are A special type of bucket or car with removable body
low in operating and maintenance costs they are, however,
;
has been developed for handling locomotive cinders, these
not suited to handling large lump coal and can be used only buckets being mounted on trucks in the pit, and being lifted
for handling the smaller sizes, say not over 6 in. or 8 in. off these trucks by a hoist located at the overhead bin; the
velop a weak acid which is quite corrosive to steel and comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction. The
somewhat corrosive to malleable iron or cast iron ;
the eco- sand is dried in special sand drying stoves or steam dryers,
nomical handling of cinders is, therefore, a somewhat more and, after it has been dried, it is
usually raised by an air
complicated problem than the coal handling. conveying system to the dry sand bin.; which should be
The usual method is to build a pit underneath the dump- located at the proper points for convenient delivery to the
ing track with each rail supported on a wall, and either locomotives.
steamships are capable of holding as much as 10,000 tons same time. In some cases, instead of using chains with the
of coal, and this coal must be loaded in a short time, since buckets attached to them, buckets and steel plates are used
any delay to a vessel of this size is costly. alternately, and are attached together to form practically
Since, as a rule, the steamship is tied up to the wharf an endless steel belt traveling over drums at head and foot,
when the coaling is done, so that freight can also be loaded the drums being made of steel discs connected by heavy
at the same time, the coal must be brought in barges and steel rods so as to form wheels similar to wide sprocket
'
handled from the barges to' the bunkers. Various methods wheels.
676 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
These machines are mounted on steel frames equipped strong and rugged to stand the severe service of digging
with a ring or bail at the top, so that they can be moved this kind of coal.
by a derrick or crane. Where the buckets travel around In some cases portable are used to dis-
conveyors
terminal pulleys at head and foot, they dig up the coal from tribute the coal in the ships' bunkers, and sometimes ships
the barge as they pass around the foot wheel, carry it up are equipped with stationary conveyors which are fed at
to the top,and deliver it as they pass around the head wheel, rixed points and which distribute the coal in the bunkers.
long telescopic chutes serving to deliver the coal at the Another method that has been devised for distributing
desired points. Where one machine does not reach a suffi- coal in ships' bunkers is by revolving steel plates, located
cient height, two machines are sometimes used, one deliver- close together and close to the top of the bunker, and ar-
ing to the other in other cases where more horizontal reach
; ranged with plows to scrape the coal off of one plate and
is desired, a portable belt conveyor is sometimes used to on to the next. As the coal falls through the hatches which
carry the coal over horizontally or at an incline, possibly have discs adjacent to them, it piles up on the bunker
in order to reach over an intervening lighter from which floor, gradually rising to the level of the discs, and eventu-
freight is being loaded to the steamship. ally falling on the top faces of the discs. The discs are
Another form of elevator is really of the gravity dis- then started revolving, and the coal is passed from one
charge type, the buckets being attached between two strands disc to the next, so that it is gradually stocked out in the
chines, the turn-wheels being mounted on a frame which the bins the conveyor carries the coal horizontally and
;
can be moved up and down, so as to raise or lower the dis- then up an incline, or delivers it to a second machine
charge point. This design eliminates the necessity of the which does the elevating either vertically or at an incline,
long telescopic chute, the coal being elevated only to a the coal being elevated to a sufficient height for delivery
sufficient height for delivery to the bunkers, instead of be- to the ship's bunkers. The machinery on these lighters
ing elevated all the way to the top of the machine and is sometimes capable of handling as much as 500 tons
delivered down a long chute. The whole machine can be per hour, so that a steamship can be coaled rapidly. As
allowed to descend so as to follow the coal down as it be- a rule the carrying capacity is not over 1,000 tons of
comes lower in the lighter without changing the level of the coal, so that a single lighter cargo will not coal a large
delivery point. These machines are built to handle as much steamship. They are used to quite a large extent on the
as 125 tons per hour of run-of-mine soft coal, and because Great Lakes, where world's records are made for the
of the large lumps have to be equipped with good sized rapid loading and unloading of vessels.
buckets, usually about 24 in. long ;
all parts must be built The loading of cargo coal into vessels is usually done
678 HANDLING AND STORING COAL
by fixed equipment on the shore, the vessel being tied up hoppers is fed by reciprocating feeders to the moving
to the coal wharf, and the coal delivered over gravity apron and deposited on top of the coal already on it.
chutes into the vessel. Trestles are sometimes built out The movable tower rests on four eight-wheel trucks,
on the wharf so that the coal cars can be run out on the traveling on rails along the length of the pier, and it car-
trestle, and the coal delivered by gravity chutes direct ries a vertical continuous bucket elevator to which the
from the cars to the vessels. Various methods have been belt conveyor delivers by a tripper fitted into the lower
devised to avoid breakage when delivering over these end and, therefore, moving along with it.
gravity chutes into the hold of the vessel, one of these The coal is elevated and delivered at the head of the
methods being adjustable telescopic chutes. The hopper elevator to a two-way chute leading to two standard
at the upper end of the inclined chute to the vessel is coaling chutes for delivery to vessels one of these chutes ;
arranged to slide up and down, and there are sliding delivers to vessels on one side of the pier and the other
plates forming the front of the vertical part of the chute to vessels on the other side. The handling capacity of the
which also move up and down with the hopper. At the equipment is figured at 600 tons per hour, i. e., 200 tons
lower end of the vertical part of the chute is an inclined per hour for each track hopper, and all the coal can be
chute, the angle of which can be adjusted so as not to delivered to a vessel on one side of the pier or the stream
deliver the coal with too great a velocity. The inclined can be divided by the two-way gate at the head of the
part of this chute is arranged to fold back out of the elevator so that it will go to both loading chutes simul-
way when not in use. taneously and, in this way, coal two vessels at the same
Since run-of-mine bituminous coal does not flow freely time, one on each side of the pier. In practice coal will
through the bottom doors of standard railroad cars, the probably seldom be delivered to more than one vessel at
unloading of coal, even from the best types of cars, is not a time, as the hatches of two vessels will not be likely to
rapid enough and requires too much labor where large match up so that the chute can be easily set to reach both
amounts of coal are loaded to vessels. In such cases a vessels.
car dumper is used which turns the car over and dumps The machinery is all electrically operated, the current
the coal out either to a chute leading direct to the vessel being 220-volts, 3-phase, 60-cycle alternating current; the
or to other transfer cars, which are designed to discharge control system for the conveyor equipment is interlocked
rapidly and automatically through large bottom doors, these in such a way that the elevator is necessarily started first,
cars being taken up on a trestle, from which the coal is then the belt conveyor, then the apron conveyor and re-
delivered by gravity to the vessel. ciprocating feeders in shutting down the reverse order
;
In some cases traveling towers, to which the coal is de- must be followed. This eliminates any possibility of flood-
livered by conveyors, have been used in place of high ing the elevator or belt conveyor.
trestles, the traveling tower, of course, being much less The pier and the movable tower are made wide enough
expensive than the long high trestle, with the long ap- and are so designed that the capacity can be doubled or
proach or mechanical means for getting the cars up on tripled need be by adding one or two conveyor equip-
if
the trestle. The illustrations show, an equipment of this ments similar to the first one, this one being
exactly
kind, which was designed for a location where only a the central equipment and space being provided on each
moderate loading capacity was required, and where the side for additional machines.
expense for a car dumper or for a high trestle for the should be increased to 1,200 tons per hour
If the capacity
railroad cars was not considered justifiable. At the in-shore a car dumper would probably be added to dump the cars
end of the pier are four parallel railroad tracks, under at the shore end, instead of unloading them through the
three of which are track hoppers into which the coal can bottom doors ; this would surely be the logical step if the
be dumped from the railroad cars. conveyor equipment should be tripled to a capacity of
Just beyond the track hoppers is a car transfer table 1,800 tons per hour.
which connects with all four tracks, so that as soon as In loading lump coal or coal briquets, where it is espe-
a car is can be run on the transfer table and
unloaded it cially desirable to avoid breakage, chutes have been used
transferred to the fourth track and another car placed over in some cases with mechanical feeders at the bottom to
the track hopper from which the car was removed. This feed the coal slowly and deposit it gently on the pile in
arrangement avoids delay in shifting cars and with the three the hold of the vessel. A
chute of this kind handled by
separate unloading tracks the blocking of one of them by a traveling gantry tower spanning the railroad tracks on
a car that is difficult to unload, or from some other cause, a coal pier is shown in the illustrations. The coal is
does not interfere with the use of the other two track delivered from the regular adjustable coal pier chutes to
hoppers. this special feeding chute and thereby deposited gently
Running underneath the track hoppers at hight angles in the hold of the vessel. In other cases, where break-
to the apron conveyor which receives the
tracks is an age is no object, special high speed feeders are used at the
coal from the hoppers and delivers it to a belt conveyor bottom of similar chutes to spread the coal in the vessel
running along the length of the pier. The coal from the hold by projecting it forward in the same manner in which
rear track hopper, nearest the empty track, feeds direct it is delivered to the ends of box cars by the projecting
to the apron conveyor, while that from the other two box car loaders.
Sand and Gravel Washing Plants
EXTENSIVE USE of concrete for building purposes, ment, can, as stated above, be used also to transport the
foundations and roads, has lead to a large demand for material to the desired point. Where a suction pump is
Tin. properly sized and properly washed sand and gravel. used, the material can be pumped through pipes to the
The sand and gravel must be screened to the proper sizes drMrcd point.
so that specifications for standard mixtures of certain sizes Unless the material is handled by a drag-line cableway
can be met. and must be properly washed so as to remove excavator which delivers it at the top of the washery,
the loam which tends to adhere to the grains of sand and it usually necessary to
is use some type of elevator or
to the stones. Practically all sand and gravel contains conveyor for taking the material up to the receiving
more or loam, and the only way to get
less rid of it hopper at the top of the washery. The machines most
effectively by means of washing, and, to do
is thiswash- used for this purpose are inclined belt conveyors, inclined
ing thoroughly, ilic material must be tumbled around in apron or pan conveyors, continuous bucket elevators and
the water and the particles rubbed against each other. In skip hoists. Belt conveyors have a large capacity on
practice the screeningand washing usually are done simul- account of the comparatively high speed at which they are
taneously, though in some cases, preliminary scrubbers are operated. Apron conveyors and continuous bucket eleva-
used to tumble the sand and gravel around together and tors, if properly constructed, are very rugged and reliable,
loosen up the loam before the material is started over while the skip hoists are simple, and have comparatively
the screens. few wearing parts though their service is intermittent
The digging of sand and gravel from banks or from instead of being continuous as with the other conveyors.
bodies of water is accomplished as a rule by one of the Each type of machine has its own advantages under
five following methods : certain conditions, and the type selected should be the
(1) Automatic grab bucket, operated by a locomotive one best suited to the particular conditions in each case.
crane. A sand and gravel plant is usually built with overhead
(2) Steam shovel. bins with screens placed overhead, so that the material
(3) Drag-line excavator bucket operated either by a passing through the screens can be delivered direct to
locomotive crane or by a cableway. the bins. The bins are placed at the proper height so
(4) Suction dredge, with rotary section pump. that the sand and gravel can be loaded out by gravity
(5) Chain and bucket elevator type of dredge. into railroad cars or trucks. If the material contains
A grab bucket operated by a locomotive crane is a stone too largepurpose for which the finished
for the
rapid and effective method of digging sand or gravel, product is to be used, one or more crushers should be
where the digging is not too hard, and the material can provided, the material either being crushed before it is
be dug either from a dry bank or from under water. sent up to the screens or passed over a preliminary screen
The long reach of the crane boom makes it possible to dig which takes out the oversize stones. In the latter case
a considerable amount of material without moving the the oversize material can be delivered by a chute, or
tracks, and, since the bucket can dig some distance away^ otherwise, to a crusher, the crushed material being returned,
from the track, pits of considerable depth can be dug and mixed with the other material which is delivered to
without danger of cave-ins. the washery.
Steam shovels are for
digging dry banks,
satisfactory In sizing, the best method is to take out the largest sizes
but the reach of the steam shovel arm is much less than or grades first. The greatest quantity of material is
the locomotive crane, so that the cut for one track loca- handled by the screen making the first separation and
tion is narrower, and the steam shovel cannot dig much naturally the easiest and most effective screening result is
below its track level. attained by having the first screen provided with large
The drag-line excavator bucket is constantly being used holes, to pass readily all but the larger sizes. Then with
more for this sort of work, since by the use of an overhead the successive removal of the smaller sizes, the quantity of
cableway, the drag-line bucket can be used as a conveyor material to be handled is continuously reduced as the
and elevator as well as a digger, the material being taken work approaches the screening of greatest difficulty the
direct to the washery, and discharged at almost any height separation of the finer sizes.
desired. In addition to the superior screening efficiency by pro-
The use of a suction dredge is limited to places where gression from large to small in the separation of sizes
water is available, and where the sand and gravel
sufficient there is the mechanical advantage of greater durability
does not contain stones too large to be properly handled and longer life for the screens, because the greater mass
by the suction pump. This type of dredge also requires of material is handled by the heavier screens, whereas the
a scow for carrying the dredge pump, so that it can be reverse process throws the most destructive work on the
moved around on the body of water. The chain and fine screens, which naturally are least able to endure it.
bucket elevator type of machine is used to a certain An individual screen for each size or grade of product
extent where sand and gravel are to be dug from under- is also essential, that the whole volume of water used
neath water, and while this type of equipment is likely may be utilized in each screen as each size is taken out,
to be expensive in first cost, it will dig more effectively thereby giving best results in washing and highest effec-
and handle ccarser material than the suction pump. tiveness to the water supplied.
For transporting the material from the bank to' the Some materials carrying large amounts of clay, loam or
washery, cars, operated by steam or electric locomotives, molding sand, cannot be reduced properly in the first sizing
or cable hauls are used extensively. Belt conveyors are screen, so they must be subjected to a preliminary agitation
also used more or less, a movable conveyor usually being and washing, to break them up and scour them before
used at the loading point. they reach the screens.
Where a drag-line cableway excavator is used, this equip- After the material passes through the sizing screens,
679
680 SAND AND GRAVEL WASHING PLANTS
SAND AND GRAVEL WASHING PLANTS 681
the sand still remains with the soil water, from which it The average plant is equipped with three screens. The
is separated by a sand separating tank or settling tank. first screen has usually \ /2
l
in. or 1J4 in. perforations,
This device automatically draws the sand from the bottom and all material over 1J4 in. or 1J4 in. is discharged
and allows the soil water to flow continuously out of a through the small end of the screen into the first bin.
spillway at the top. The washing process now begins, as the revolving motion
The number of screens used is governed by the number of the screens breaks the soil and foreign matter away
of sizes of material desired. In some cases the screens are from the gravel. The next size of gravel is separated from
mounted on skeleton framework or tipples, and the mate- the mass by the second screen, in the same manner as
rial drops directly into cars under the tipple. In the opera- the first. The second screen usually has J4 in. perfora-
tion of such a plant a car must be provided for each size, tions,and the material in the second bin everything
is
and there must be a track for each size made. between \ /2 in. or 1J4
l
in. and J4 in. The third screen
In some cases the screens are mounted on dredges, is made with }i in. or J4 in. perforations, depending on
from which the different sizes of material are spouted what class of trade the owner of the plant has, and how
direct to scows ; or, for portable plants, mounted on flat coarse he wishes his sand.
cars, truck wheels or roller.-. Pipe nozzles are placed at the discharge ends of the
The bins can be made
from a few carloads to
to hold screens, for injecting water to prevent the material from
fifteen or twenty carloads and may be built of wood, discharging too rapidly and carrying over some of the
steel or concrete. finer parts. This fresh water is a rinsing water also and
is an important feature of the washing process.
Screens
The water, soils and impurities are discharged
sand,
The two most extensively used types of screens are from the screen into the sand separator.
last The sand
conical in shape. In one the material is delivered to the settles to the bottom of the tank, and the water, carrying
small end of the screen, by means of a chute or water pan, the impurities, passes over the opening at the top of the
extending back into the screen, and this end of the screen tank and is carried away by a launder. The sand is dis-
is closed by a plate so that the direction of flow of the
charged automatically at the bottom of the tank.
water and gravel is reversed as it travels back towards
the large end of the screen. The smaller material passes
the screen openings, and into a water pan or
Automatic Sand Separator
through
chute underneath, over which it flows to the next screen. The sand separator is one of the most important parts
Each screen is driven by a separate drive, the screen being of a washing plant. A
poor one will spoil material in the
mounted directly on the end of the drive shaft which it bins as fast as it is prepared.
overhangs. The body of the separator is conical in form, suspended
In the second type the material is delivered to the large from a lever system of scale-beam type, and fitted at the
end of the screen, the whole screen being inclined at an lower or small end of the cone with a discharge valve,
angle sufficient to insure the material traveling on down fixed to a stem which rises through the center of the
to the small end of the screen where the oversize material cone and is so attached to the lever system as to act
is discharged to a chute. The material which passes with it the valve opening as the cone descends, and
through the screen is caught in a water pan underneath, vice versa.
and delivered thereby to the next screen. With this system Soil water and scoured sand from the screens are deliv-
a series of two or more screens can be mounted on the ered the conical body of the separator.
into The sand
same shaft, so that one drive serves for several screens. settles to the bottom and gradually accumulates, while the
As the materials are fed into the large end of each water, soon filling the tank, overflows and runs continu-
screen and travel toward the small end, the principal work ously out of the spill-way, carrying away with it the
is imposed upon the large end of the screen. The large impurities in suspension.
end has more perforations, more wearing surface, and is The poise of the tank, with levers and counterweight, is
equivalent to a larger screen of other types. It there- such that the increased weight due to accumulation of
fore has greater efficiency, requires less power, and has sand in the tank acts to overcome the leverage of the
small upkeep expense. counterweight, causing the valve to open and allow the
The screens have longitudinal joints and can be dis- excess sand to escape to the bin below. The passage of
mantled from the shaft without disturbing the shaft. Walk sand continues until the tank is in equilibrium or has
ways should be provided on both sides of the screens, to discharged the excess weight of sand.
make them accessible. This does not
type of screen "The capacity of a sand separator is governed more by
require so much timber work for supports, neither does it the quantity of water it will be required to handle than
require so great a height to install. It is made in four by the amount of sand. The 72-in. sand separator will
sizes, depending on the capacity required and the nature handle up to 1,000 gal. of water per minute.
of the material. The number of screens depends on the The 60-in. sand separator will handle up to 650 gal. of
number of sizes of material to be made. water per minute.
682 STONE AND LIME HANDLING
-
>>
Stone and Lime Handling
A STONE QUARRIES the rock provided with self-propelling trippers for distributing stone
1
to the screen. The type of machine most used for this stone of one or more sizes, an outside ground storage. is
purpose is a continuous bucket elevator, the elevator usually the form of storage adopted as it is less expensive
necessarily being of a capacity sufficient to take care of in first cost. Belt conveyors and locomotive cranes are
the output of the crusher, unless more than one elevator is used to a considerable extent for distributing the stone in
used. Some of these elevators are, therefore, very heavy these ground storage plants, the advantage of the locomo-
double strand machines with large buckets, and since the tive crane equipped with the grab bucket being that it
service is severe, especially where an unusually abrasive cannot only deliver the stone to the storage, but can also
rock is handled, the best possible design and construction pick it up again at minimum cost.
must be used, or rapid wear and high maintenance cost The charging of lime
handling coal, drawing
kilns,
will result. The first cost of these machines is likely to kilns,picking core, storing lime and loading it into cars,
be high, but the most expensive in first cost is apt to be are, except at a few large, up-to-date plants, all hand
the cheapest in the end when operating and maintenance labor operations. The labor cost per ton of handling lime
costs are considered. in the average plant is
entirely out of proportion to the
The screens most used are of the cylindrical rotary type, tonnage shipped, when compared with many other kinds
the material passing over the fine openings first, and then of factories producing SO to 150 tons of material per day.
on down over the larger ones. Some of these screens are Stone quarries have the steam shovel, skip cars, crushers,
supported and revolve on shafts of the through type while elevators, screens and storage bins, and the finished product
others have a short shaft at one end, and have the other is loaded by gravity direct to cars.
end fitted with tires which revolve on rollers. The service Limekilns, however, are usually drawn by hand, the
of the screens also severe, so that they must be of heavy
is lime spread on the floor to cool, picked to remove the
construction and well designed, with provision for easy core, sorted by hand if there is more than one kind of
replacement of the screen plates when worn. lime, and loaded by wheelbarrows or -buggies into box
The bins can be built of wood, steel, concrete, or a com- cars. In many places the fine lime is obtained by a process
bination of these materials, and they can be made of almost of elimination, being that which is left on the floor after
any capacity desired, though they are ordinarily used the lumps are removed by hand or fork.
more as loading bins than storage bins, the material not The advancing cost of hand labor has caused several of
being allowed to remain in the bins for any great length the more progressive lime manufacturers to look for other
of time, but being taken out almost as fast as it is put in. ways to get this work done. There is no reason why a
In one of the large plants located on the great lakes lime plant cannot be made a factory, producing a regular
where bins are provided for loading to vessels, the stone is output with a minimum of hand labor, using men of a
received from the quarry in self-dumping cars, which better grade to operate machinery to do the work.
deliver two crushers where it is reduced to cubes
it to One of the plants illustrated has ten kilns, each of which
of about 8 in. and smaller. The crushers are located is equipped with a pan conveyor to draw the lime. A
in front of two 30 in. by 60 in. open top carriers, each heavy steel lime car, pulled by a rope haul, passes in
of which has a capacity of about 800 tons per hour, front of all of the kiln drawing conveyors, which are
which elevate the stone and deliver it to small auxiliary extended to discharge into the car. A complete draw
bins which are provided with feeders. The stone is fed from each kiln is deposited in which is then
the car,
from the auxiliary storage to any of the revolving screens, pulled by a wire rope to the switch point. Another rope
located at the top of the tipple. The screens are arranged operated by an electric hoist pulls it up an incline, and
for making various sizes of stone, and are provided with the self-dumping car drops the lime into the bin. One
hoppers so that the stone can be delivered either directly man in this way can draw the lime from all the kilns in
to the various bins of the tipple for shipment in railroad turn, and by transferring at the switch point, can pull
cars, or to either of the conveyors. two belt the car up the incline and fill the bin, unassisted. The
Both of the conveyors are provided with belt 40 in.
belt bin is of a long, low construction to eliminate height, and
wide, troughing idlers of the S-pulley type, and are 630 ft. thus cut down the breakage of the larger lumps. By
centers. Each conveyor has a capacity of 600 tons per dumping the lime in one end of the bin, and working it
hour, running at a speed of 300 ft. per minute, and is back, the drop is reduced to a minimum.
683
684 STONE AND LIME HANDLING
The bottoms of the hoppers of this bin are fitted with A great part of the lime in this plant is shipped in
gratings, underneath which are plates, and these gratings barrels. In order to take care of this, chutes are intro-
hold up the larger lumps, and at the same time allow a duced into the side of the bins, and the lime is fed out in
free passage of air to be drawn through the lime to cool it. piles on a table for inspection, and taking out of core,
This makes it possible to put the lime in the cars very and then pulled by hand into the barrels which are set
it is
much more quickly than if held in any other kind of along the edge of the table. This results in a minimum of
storage, or even if piled on the floor, as the lime some- hand labor and no lifting, and materially speeds up the
times comes out of the kilns a dull red, and unless the loading of barrels over the time required when shoveling
heat is radiated quickly, the shipment is held up until from the floor.
the lime is cool enough to put into wooden box cars. A One of the illustrations shows the plant of the Riverton
9-in.pitch standard pan conveyor draws the lime out of Lime Company, Riverton, Virginia. The plant consists of .
the bottoms of these hoppers under the bins, and a hinged three gas kilns, the lime from which is drawn on three
plate resting on the corrugated pans, maintains an agita- pan conveyors. It also has five flame kilns, from which
tion in the bottom of several feet of lime, which keeps it the lime drawn by conveyors. The elevators take the
is
loosened and feeds it uniformly to the pans. As the con- time up to overhead bins. The lime is all fed from the
veyor leaves the end of the bins the core is picked out various bins to two large pan conveyors located in the
by hand, and the lime is discharged to a shaking screen. floor of the shipping room, and the inclined end of this
The screen delivers the fines to a short conveyor deliver- conveyor delivers to shaking screens. The shaking screens
ing to the hydrating plant, and the lumps are delivered to deliver the fines to a crusher, the lumps to box car loaders,
another conveyor at right angles, which in turn feeds a or run-of-kiln to the box cars, or lumps to barrels.
box car loader. In this way it takes but one man to The installation of the handling equipment in this plant
manage the loader,, and one man draws the kilns and puts has resulted in a force of six men doing the entire work
the lime into the bins. This work formerly required eight on the shipping floor, including drawings of kilns, where
to ten men in night and day shifts. formerly a gang of from 22 to 24 men were required.
CATALOG SECTION
Whites are the oil man's choice for the transportation of materials from
cars or Five-Ton Whites with
material yards to the scene of drilling
operations. Similarly they handle poles
dump
and supplies in line work for power, light and bodies are ideal for han-
telephone companies. dling any bulk material.
Demountable bodies minimize truck idleness where White 3-3%-Ton or 5-Ton models with platform or stake
slow loading bodies are ideal handlers of baled goods of any kind.
is a factor.
White power dumping trucks The White winch which may be had on 2, 3-3% or 5-ton models saves time and
are widely adaptable material man-power in handling materials which have both bulk and weight. Above, an
handling units. oil field boiler is being loaded upon a 5-Ton White with platform body.
A White 5-Ton truck equipped with White winch and White trucks of all four capacities %-Ton, 2-Ton, 3-3 1/!-
cross-haul loading equipment reduces the loading time in Ton and 5-Ton can be had with stake bodies, ideal for
logging from 60 or 70 minutes to as low as 20 minutes. handling barrels, drums or casks.
White 2-Ton, 3-3M>-Ton and 5-Ton trucks meet every White 5-Ton trucks with stake or platform bodies easily
requirement for the transporting of lumber. handle newsprint or similar material.
Handling of wire and cable is a simple task with White The 2-Ton wish stake body serves tobacco factories,
winch equipment on the 2-Ton truck. textile mills, bag, box and novelty makers and allied
industries.
I sizes: 5-ton, 10-ton and 20-ton. continuously where no other motive power or horses
I m ^
..J The S-ton furnishes 3,100 Ibs. can work. The elements of certainty and economy
drawbar pull at 3 miles per which only "Caterpillar"' Tractors can produce are
hour, the 10-ton 5,000 Ibs. pull at 3 miles per hour, revolutionizingoil-field transportation. The Texas,
the 20-ton approximately 11,000 Ibs. pull at miles 2% Empire, Texas-Pacific, Gulf and many other
Sinclair,
per hour. large companies have adopted the "Caterpillar"
method for heavy haulage in this most strenuous field.
Investigation and study of all
In the the various logging methods In a continuous overland
In
Lumbering have convinced many of the hauling project, teams at best
lumber companies that
largest Overland are slow, expensive, and have
Industry
"Caterpillar" Tractors provide limited periods of operation.
Hauling
the cheapest and most reliable Motor trucks depend upon speed
hauling power ever applied to the logging industry. but require uniformly good
Hauling a heavy tonnage of logs to the mill depends roads. Wheel tractors, regardless of rated power and
speed, can be used only on solid surfaces.
In contrast,
the "Caterpillar" puts the equivalent power of dozens
of horses under the easy and constant control of one
operator; continuous operation is insured day or night
in any season of the year. Bridges that are unsafe for
other tractors can be traveled over without risk by the
"Caterpillar," and the smooth-running, spring-mounted
track does not damage improved highways.
Distributors for the General Electric Company Outside of the United States
The name General Electric and coal from ships and cars; bucket and belt con-
Company on an electrical device veyors, and elevators, cranes, industrial locomotives,
G-E
a guarantee of quality found-
is tractorsand trucks for distributing materials within the
Products ed upon more than a quarter plant; conveyors, elevators and stackers for handling
century's experience in the man- bags, barrels, boxes, cans, cartons and package mate-
ufacture and application of rials of all kinds. It is possible on the following pages
electrical machinery. The thousands of G-E products to illustrate only a few of the hundreds of interesting
in use in all parts of the world comprise practically installations of this character using G-E electrical
every kind of apparatus and machinery used in the equipment.
generation, distribution and use of electrical energy.
It is entirely practicable, therefore, to standardize The manufacturer of material
with G-E equipment. By this procedure all parts inter- handling machinery assumes a
relate. The advantage of having all electrical equip- Co-operative as relates to the
responsibility
ment built one company and made ready for Service machine he manufactures and
by
immediate installation is obvious. the results attributable to the
electrical equipment used. On
Whenever the cost of any the electrical manufacturer properly rests the responsi-
Handling single element of distribution, bility of initially recommending the most suitable motor
Material such as unloading of boats, pil- and control, thus assuring maximum service and over-
Electrically ing for storage, unloading all benefit to both machine manufacturer and user.
above a fair
trucks, etc., rises Two thousand five hundred leading machine manu-
becomes a tax on
normal, it
facturers in widely diversified lines many to the ex-
business which the ultimate consumer must pay. Pro- tent of exclusive standardization use G-E motors.
duction as well as distribution costs can be materially When you submit your material handling problems to
reduced by the application, wherever possible, of elec- a manufacturer of this equipment, specify G-E electric
trically operated machines for mechanical handling. motors and control. The inherent motor values plus
In many industries there is an opportunity for the the practical ability and technical knowledge available
introduction of further economies by the judicious use in connection with their application eliminate chance
of modern electrically operated material handling ma- or experiment.
has been demonstrated in numerous installa-
chines. It
The General Company maintains a corps of
Electric
tions at terminals, and in industrial plants handling on whose
engineers specializing problems of this kind,
a wide variety of materials, that electrically operated to with ma-
services are at your disposal co-operate
and controlled equipment is the most flexible, most to assist in the design of
chinery manufacturers and
rapid and most dependable of material handling
new installations, or in the electrification of your pres-
machinery.
The mechanical appliances for ent handling equipment. To avoid delay
material
electrically operated
address communications to the nearest G-E office.
material handling include equipment for unloading ores
706
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR BULK HANDLING
707
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR WINCHES AND CONVEYORS
G-E motors and control equipment can be supplied In connection with cement
for the operation of all types of material handling Motors mixers, crushers and screens on
machinery. The same engineering skill which devel- for Bucket road building work, electric
oped and built electrical apparatus and control for this Conveyors portable conveyors of the bucket
massive equipment is available for every other electrical I ,
mm , nmnl
I
type are widely used. Materials
handling equipment design. varying from non-gritty quality
To supply the demand for extra power occasioned to hard substances, and in size from dust to 4J^-inch
by the use of such machines as car dumpers, the Gen- cubes may be handled economically in this way. A
eral Electric Company is prepared to furnish complete 10-h.p. motor will enable an elevator type of conveyor
substation equipment which includes transformers, to move 60 tons of sand per hour on an 80-foot lift.
motor generator sets, rotary converters, switchboard In power plant work electrically driven conveyors
apparatus and all of the smaller devices necessary to of the bucket type are used extensively for handling
complete the substation. coal and ashes. In granaries, fertilizer plants, and coke
oven installations, this class of material handling ma-
Electric winches are chinery is also used extensively. In moving ore and
finding
Electric Drive useful
coal incidental to its storage these conveyors have an
application,
especially
for for handling cargoes, either in- equally wide field.
For service of this sort the driving motor must be
Winches stalled on the ship or made
for use on the dock. capable of exerting high starting torque. Where atmos-
portable
Vertical winches
are pheric conditions are severe special G-E motors can be
widely
furnished with protection against damage from dust and
used for car pulling in freight yards and on sidings.
For use on winches the General Electric Company
dirt. G-E reversible motors are particularly adaptable
to portable conveyors for wagon and car loading, since
normally supplies either DC series wound or polyphase
motors. Ordinarily the motor is geared to the winch by reversing the motors the machines may be converted
into unloaders.
head through a double reduction.
For winches used on level track pulling, a single
Electric motors are used for
speed controller is used, operated by a foot lever. Electric Drive
Where grades are involved a controller for variable driving belt conveyors of prac-
is
for Belt types.
tically Low power
all
speed supplied.
Conveyors consumption is one of the eco-
I nomical features of electric
'! Electric power is ideal for drive on these machines a
drive.
Conveying
| conveyor Cleanliness, factor which is supplemented by convenience and relia-
I compactness, and freedom from bility. No experience is required to enable a workman
Electrically heat and gases make the electric
| to operate anelectrically driven belt conveyor.
motor particularly adaptable
conjunction with electric overhead trolleys, electric
I
In
for this drive. Where portable
conveyors are used extensively for progressive assembly
conveyors are used arrangements are easily made for in large manufacturing plants. By means of the elec-
connection with the power line. G-E motors and con- tric trolleys, heavy parts are carried to the point of
trollers are widely used for conveyor work on both
assembly, and the progressively built product proceeds
outdoor and indoor installations. on the conveyor. Some electrically driven conveyors of
In the assembling processes on machine parts, furni- this type are more than 700 feet in length.
ture, automobiles and many other products, the electric Electric belt conveyors are used also for conveying
conveyor the very backbone of production efficiency.
is loose bulk materials horizontally or up inclines. The
Electrically operated conveyors are also extensively used reserve capacity of G-E motors fits them for the vary-
in conjunction with other equipment for heat-treating
ing conditions.
glass-ware and steel; cooling castings and chemicals; G-E motors and control have been successfully ap-
drying clay products and enameled ware; roasting ores plied to belt conveyors in many industries. Constant
and foods; inspecting and picking coal, ore and fruits; speed motors, direct or alternating current, are gener-
and for transporting all sorts of bulk and package ally applicable. These are described on page 713.
material.
708
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR SHOVELS AND CRANES
Drive for i
speed, and convenience to its
Elevators |
electrical equipment. The nicety
| , , | of elevator control is due di-
rectly to the adaptability of
electricpower to this class of service. In warehouse
and factory installations it is sometimes desirable to
control the movement of a car from the various floors.
10-Ton Yard Crane Equipped Motors.
Push button control furnished for such work obviates
new the necessity of an operator.
The electric shovel is a
Electrically development the possibilities of Ordinarily the safety brake operating on a large
which are
drum directly connected to the driving motor shaft is
Operated being recognized
more and more, especially by spring applied. This brake is released by the passage
Shovels of current through an electric magnet and is reset the
quarrying and mining compa-
The instant the current ceases to flow, which insures pro-
nies. present high prices of
tection against accident in case of failure of power.
and general need of economical
coal, shortage of labor
The General
Electric Company has developed both
and increased production are causing many companies
constant speed and variable speed motors for elevator
adopt large electrics in preference to steam
to shovels.
The success of the larger shovels in stripping has led
service,using either direct current or 3-phase or single-
phase alternating current. Various types of single speed
to theirdevelopment in other fields for excavating and
loading directly into dump cars. For this
work the
large shovels are especially applicable, due largely to
709
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS
elevator motors manufactured by this company are de- Electricity plays an equally important part in help-
scribed briefly on page 71.3. For information on 2- ing the crane type of industrial truck to deliver a maxi-
speed elevator motors it will be necessary to communi- mum handling A
small electrically operated
service.
cate with the company's general office. crane is mounted on and its use makes it
the truck
Two main types of control are used; semi-magnetic possible to extend the service of traveling or monorail
in which reversing is accomplished by a mechanically cranes to points not covered by their supporting rails.
operated drum type reversing switch, and full-magnet This type of truck will deliver castings from yard to
in which reversing is accomplished by directional con- machines, heavy cases to freight cars or assembly
tactors from a car switch installed in the elevator cage. points, etc. Capacities up to 3,000 Ibs. are within the
The semi-magnetic control cannot be used on elevators range of this type of truck.
at speeds above 100 feet per minute, according to
A.S.M.E. rules.
The tiering type of electric
industrial truck is a combina-
Electric
Electrically driven industrial tion of the load-carrying truck
G-E Motors Tiering Trucks
\ trucks of the platform and and the tiering machine. By
for Trucks j elevating types are particularly virtue of its electric motors
and Tractors I fitted for handling material in and the convenient control pro-
I and about buildings where fixed vided, this vehicle will
!
pick up its load, transport it to
routes are undesirable. The any desired point, and elevate it to points six feet or
electric industrial truck makes it
possible to move ma- more above the floor level. Two G-E motors are sup-
terialwherever there is a floor or paving surface. The plied for trucks of this sort, one for traction and one
elevating truck adds the functions of the platform
'to for elevating.
truck the ability to pick up and set down the load, even
at higher, elevations, and to place material with pre-
cision.
G-E propelling motors for industrial trucks can be
mounted on one axle, or amidships for 4-wheel drive.
The automotive motor used for this work is a series
wound, heavy duty, totally enclosed machine charac-
terized by its capacity for heavy overloads. For fur-
ther information on these motors, see page 714. G-E
control devices used on these machines include drum
type controller, circuit breaker and lift switch.
The General Electric Company is in a position to
710
ELECTRIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT
trollers and circuit breakers. The control circuit is modern ore unloader wifh the leg and bucket
to ride
usually arranged to provide against accidental starting. down into the while retaining individual
ship and,
The design of G-E motors and electrical equipment control of the entire machine, to control the bucket with
supplied for use on tractors, like many other G-E prod- such precision that nearly 100% of the cargo is un-
ucts, isbased on intensive study of the service which it loaded without the use of shovelers. It eliminates at-
is called
upon to perform. Specialists are available tendants as in moving material with a series of con-
for the analysis of every electrical problem. veyors, one dumping onto another, where a system of
electrical interlocking prevents piling up the material at
The importance of control some intermediate point in case one conveyor stops.
Importance equipment in the successful Automatic control means economic handling in the
of Proper electrification of most material sense that it makes possible the
speeds production. It
Control handling processes should not maximum safe rate of acceleration and deceleration
be under-estimated. As stated with consequent maximum average speeds. Long time
in connection with the brief delays for making repairs are reduced to a minimum
descriptions of the few G-E installations shown on the by equipment that stops the motor the instant one part
fails to function properly. Quick, sure stops are also
preceding pages, electric equipment has im-
control
measurably increased the scope of mechanical handling. an asset as in the case of a car dumper which, by
It has simplified the operation of the most massive virtue of its control, places the empty car accurately
machinery. The controlling apparatus not only makes on the track ready to be pushed away.
the motor function properly but can be made to protect
it as well as the operator and the machine.
Due regard for what can be
To automatic control may be credited the ability of G-E Control achieved with ample control
modern material handling machines to empty more for Every such as mentioned briefly above
cars per hour, or to load and unload boats more
Purpose bespeaks the importance of
quickly, by the elimination of every second of wasted , , proper consideration of this
time.
part of the electrical equipment
of any material handling machine. The General Elec-
The simplest starting appara- tric Company out of experience gained in extensive
Adaptations tus is sufficient for starting up design and manufacture of motor controlling equipment
of Manual small motors which run contin- and in years of application engineering, has evolved a
Control uously. For larger motors driv- complete line of standardized apparatus for material
ing constant speed machines, handling operations.
involving no special functions This company is, therefore, in a position to supply
such as reversing, change of speed, braking, etc., the
readily control apparatus for ordinary drives. Where
ordinary starting compensator, starting rheostat or drum special problems are involved, it can do the develop-
controller is ample. ment work necessary to coordinate the entire electrical
equipment. As evidence of thorough familiarity with
The field of magnetic control electrical control problems, G-E automatic control is
Possibilities of
equipment is practically un- identified with many electrical systems. It has been
Automatic limited. It is the basis of auto-
successfully applied also in generating and distributing
Control matic control and the principal
systems for railway, power and industrial service.
means of providing protection to In recognition of the value of reliability in service,
men and machinery. It is the major attention is given to quality, and those parts
magnetic equipment which "does the thinking'' on the necessarily subject to wear are made easily renewable.
job, thus providing that element of electrical control obviously impossible to describe on these pages,
It is
which may be characterized as human. even a significant portion of the G-E control
briefly,
Automatic control actuated from various points cuts
equipment applicable to material handling. Some of
down operating costs. It enables the operator of a these devices are enumerated in connection with the
motors shown on the pages following. Requests for
complete information are welcomed at the nearest G-E
sales office.
G-E Automatic Control on 15-Ton Grab-Bucket Crane. 150-Ton Crane Controlled by G-E Magneto Equipment
711
HEAVY DUTY ELECTRIC MOTORS
712
ELECTRIC MOTORS AND CONTROL
G-E Solenoid Brakes for use conditions make a motor with a small air gap
with either A.C. or B.C. G-E inadvisable.
Automatic
, .
r i
^ mi ll type an d hoist motors, are These motors are furnished from 25 to 2,000 h.p.
Electric Brakes
j designed for qukk stopping .
capacity at commercial speeds, for belt drive or direct
, ,
are usually mounted on
,
t
They connection, and are designed to start any load met
driving motor shaft, al-
the with in ordinary practice. Special winding makes them
though if desired, they can be furnished for mounting self-starting from an A.C. compensator which can also
on the floor or other foundation. For use with motors be furnished. Described in Bulletin 41309, and Bulle-
of other than G-E manufacture, proper end shields and tin 41310 gives a list of hundreds of G-E installations
brake pads must be provided. Capacities from 1 to in various industries.
300 h.p. standard voltages. Six sizes of brakes are
available, providing a range in braking torque from 5 The Type RC motor may be
to 3,500 Ibs. at 1 ft. radius.
D.C. Constant classed as the universal D.C.
These brakes are used extensively in connection with motor and, hence, is applicable
cranes, hoists, elevators, line shafting, etc., to save time
Speed Motors to material handling devices
in stopping, to prevent over-travel or to stop accurately operating at constant speed
at definite points; to hold loads without consumption where direct current is avail-
of power by the motor; and to make emergency stops. able. Furnished shunt wound for conditions requiring
Described in Bulletin 6801 OA. close regulation, compound wound for heavy
speed
starting torque or where violent power fluctuations
The Type KT Induction Mo- occur, and series wound where load either possesses
motor fixed value or may be subject to automatic or manual
tor is the general utility
Induction control. Series motors not recommended for belt drive.
for alternating current, espe-
Motors Made in sizes
cially for services requiring con-
stant speed, such as conveyors ranging from
and portable
of different types y 2 to 200 h.p.
elevators. This line of G-E motors is made in riveted Regularly fur-
or skeleton frames up to 750 h.p. standard voltages. nished for floor
installation but
The multi-speed
can be arranged
types are wound
for wall or ceil-
for 60 c y c 1 e,
designed
to be thrown directly across the line and are furnished
I The G-E line of synchronous for either 3-phase or 2-phase. Semi-magnetic or full
I motors covers a wide range of magnetic control is used, either of which can be fur-
Synchronous Their
| speeds and capacities. nished with or without overload protection.
Motors I
application to material handling Slip ring type induction motors for elevator service
\
processes is confined to the
ma- are intermittently rated, laid out on the basis of maxi-
chinery requiring constant
speed, such as conveyors, pumps for moving liquids,
etc., for which they are extensively
used. In addition,
this type of motor is especially desirable on circuits
which need power factor correction. This condition is
often indicated by the need for greater generator, trans-
former or feeder capacity. Synchronous motors are par-
ticularly desirable when a rate
for purchased power is
713
ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES
mum-minimum starting torque of 200% full load In all industries the electric
Application
running torque. These motors can also be furnished of Electric
industrial locomotiveis adapted
for either 3-phase or 2-phase and with either full to play an important part in the
Industrial
magnetic or semi-magnetic control. The acceleration Locomotives
solution of material handling
with either type of control is automatic and is controlled problems. Large factories usu-
by means of time element interlocks of the unbalanced ally have a spur connecting
flywheel type, which means that acceleration is unaf- with the nearest railroad, and the movement of freight
fected by moisture or dirt. cars over this spur involves considerable handling
On single-phase circuits the repulsion type induction charges if carried on by the railroad company. Many
motor is furnished, which can be reversed from full applications of industrial electric locomotives are shown
in Bulletin 44251.
speed one direction to full speed reverse without danger.
Motors of this type are limited in their application due Where the manufacturer operates a locomotive of
to the lack of single-phase power and undesirable high his own, the electric type has several advantages over
starting currents resulting from throwing the motor the steam switch engine. These outstanding advantages
across the line. of the electric locomotive may be summed up as follows :
For direct current the Type RC reversible compound 1. Consumes power only when in actual operation.
wound elevator motors are furnished. These are de- 2. Can be operated by one man of ordinary intelli-
signed to have the series field cut out immediately after gence.
starting. G-E control equipments which are furnished ready for use
3. Is at all times.
with these motors employ the use of dynamic braking 4. Has large momentary overload capacity.
for slow-down. 5. Has simple and easily operated control.
6. Has low maintenance cost due to small number of
wearing parts.
The service requirements of 7. Requires attention only when in use.
Automotive storage battery vehicles demand 8. Can be run inside a building where smoke and
the use of highly specialized
Motors fire risk of a steam locomotive would forbid its use.
motors, differing widely in
mechanical and electrical char-
acteristics from direct current For inter -
factory material
Ideal in large
motors for the propulsion of street cars. | moving manufacturing
from Inter-Factory plants covering considerable
All vehicles, whose source of energy is derived I
1
,
I vide a highly satisfactory and
economical service. At the Gen-
eral Electric Company's own factories the transporta-
tion of between the various buildings is
material
practically all done in this manner.
... Typical G-E Auto- , Factory service is, however, only one of the many
lf
'
* motive Controller. fields in which the electric locomotive can be used to
to be mounted on the chassis by means of supporting encountered electric haulage is particularly effective.
brackets or cradles which may be easily designed and Electric locomotives are also used with success on
rock
applied by the vehicle manufacturer. large public works where great quantities of earth,
Due to the extremely specialized nature of automo- and concrete must be moved. Where this work involves
tive motor drives, all inquiries should be taken up with tunnel driving, the low, mine type of locomotive pro-
the nearest G-E sales office. vides an ideal form of haulage.
714
ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES
715
ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL LOCOMOTIVES
expense.
frame Steel channel sills. Cab Sheet steel on and larger multiple battery charging. In addi-
sets for
steelangle frame. Motors Two motors. Battery panels can be provided for service where
tion, suitable
42 kw.-hrs. Voltage 250 V. on trolley. Speed 4 a small panel is not built as a part of the outfit
to 6 MPH. Control Series-parallel drum type. recommended.
Individual charging motor generator sets are de-
The General Electric Com- signed to regulate the current and taper the charge of
pany has been engaged in the a single battery. Two sets can be installed for opera-
Mine
manufacture of mine locomo- tion in multiple, the same as a two-circuit generator
Locomotives and panel in case of two trucks of the same size and
tives for gathering and haulage
for the past 30 years, and as number of cells. Described in Bulletin Y1372A. The
evidence of durable construc- sets for simultaneously charging two or more batteries
tion,can point to some locomotives in continuous service in multiple are used with multiple circuit switchboards,
for this entire period. This is proof that the company necessarily different from the control panels for the
individual charging sets in order that batteries of
appreciates the severe conditions of mine service, and
builds locomotives that will stand up under most trying different degrees of discharge may be properly handled.
conditions. Bulletin Y1364A.
G-E 13-Ton Mine Haulage Locomotive in Service. 6-Circuit Battery Charging Switchboard in Operation.
Charging sary accessory in connection best results may be obtained. The General Electric
717
BALDWIN WESTINGHOUSE STORAGE BATTERY LOCOMOTIVES
-
Baldwin -
Westinghouse elec- only attention needed is a periodical inspection for the
Combined tric locomotives for use in in- purpose of renewing brushes when they are worn and
Experience of dustrial plants can be supplied replenishing the bearing lubricant. Ball bearings are
Two Companies in a wide variety of sizes and furnished lubricated from grease cups.
types. The long experience of The field coils of each motor are arranged in two
Baldwin Locomotive Works
the groups to permit of series and parallel grouping and
and the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. to obtain high tractive effort at low speed with minimum
in the co-operative manufacture of electric locomotives current during accelerating periods.
insures a product of the utmost reliability. They are
built for D.C. trolley operation and with storage The control is of a special
batteries. design which, in addition to the
Control and
series paralleled, control of the
Batteries
Baldwin-W'estinghouse stor- motors themselves has the de-
Application of age battery locomotives can be
sirable characteristics of control
divided into two general classes, as previously mentioned. This
Storage Battery
those built for standard gauge method of control reduces to a minimum the number of
Locomotive
tracks and those built for nar- resistance steps and consequent losses, and economizes
row gauges. They have a wide the battery energy.
of in industrial service. They have The battery, assembled in trays, is mounted in a
range application
been used in the construction of subways, railroads, wood lined sheet steel compartment on top of the loco-
motive side frames. In special cases the batten- can
be mounted between the side frames and below the top
of the locomotive, in order to secure a low over-all
'-teE
West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co. Use B-W Storage
Battery Locomotive.
Indoors are used in B-W Storage Battery Locomotive in the Plant of Victor
tunnels and aqueducts. they
Talking Machine Co.
foundries, iron and steel mills, power plants and va-
rious industrial plants.
height. Standard locomotives are provided with a com-
partment which can be readily removed by a chain hoist.
\\'here smoke, exhaust fumes A slate panel is provided having mounted thereon
Reasons for
or noise objectionable and
is
main knife switch and a
a double-pole, double-throw
where readiness to start without
Sangamo ampere hour meter w hich indicates the con-
T
Selection
delay is desirable, the Baldwin- dition of the battery charge. A snap switch is included
Westinghouse storage battery to control the locomotive headlights.
locomotives are an important
adjunct to a plant. Where insurance laws demand the
minimum fire risk and trolley wires are impossible NARROW GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES
these locomotives furnish the natural solution. They
assure a minimum danger of causing explosions in
powder mills or other industries handling inflammable
materials. They offer the possibility of using power
when the generating plant is carrying a light load and
in this respect are especially economical.
parts. Instead
of compounds
of lead its ac-
t i v e materials
are compounds
of nickel and
This locomotive in metal mine haul-
iron. These
age was equipped with Edison Bat- changes are im-
teries in November, 1911. They are portant because
still in use.
by virtue of the
n a t u r e of the
new Edison
com b i n a tion, The Edison Alkaline Storage Battery.
greater strength, "Built Like a Watch, Rugged as a Battleship."
longer life and
increased dura- Because of its distinctive fea-
bility are Ouality and
tures in P rmci P le and its steel
achieved, to-
j
. .,, construction, the Edison Bat-
gether with a tery has great strength, long
simplicity in life, and is maintained with
and hauling locomotives
care and opera- minimum upkeep.
Gathering
in coal mines rely on Edison Bat- tion not hitherto In mines, industrial plants, etc., these features insure
teries for increased production. possible. highest service efficiency over a long period of time.
The Porter name-plate on a These locomotives are designed and built for all prac-
light Locomotive has been a ticable gauges of track and to conform to reasonable
The Porter
standard for over fifty years. limitations of height and width.
Name-Plate
However, during the last two Details may be modified to suit the working condi-
decades the H. K. Porter Com- tions of any particular plant or job. The fireless loco-
pany have been adding to this motive is built in several different sizes, but the
line, locomotives of heavier weight and greater power. company prepared to build larger or smaller sizes,
is
Today a large portion of their output consists of heavy locomotives with higher and lower initial pressures,
machines. These heavy locomotives are designed for as well as locomotives with six wheels if they are
more severe requirements than are usual in ordinary desired.
railroad service. They are admirably adapted to a wide The Porter fireless stored-steam locomotives are
range of service where uninterrupted performance close similar in construction to the other Porter steam loco-
up to maximum capacity is demanded.
JNIIIMIiri
H. K. PORTER COMPANY
PITTSBURGH. U. S. A.
720
INDUSTRIAL CARS AND EQUIPMENT
Fig. 255.
negotiated.
Power is transmitted from the engine to the track A winding drum to carry steel cable is furnished
wheels by means of a friction disc and roller chains, when desired, for the purpose of snubbing cars, or for
eliminating all spur and beveled gears, friction clutches, assisting in hauling up heavy inclines.
and other complicated parts. The low center of gravity of the machine makes it
This system of transmission enables the Lakewood smooth running,, even on rough track, and reduces to
Burton Locomotive to operate with load in either direc- a minimum the possibility of derailment.
tion at equal speeds and with equal efficiency. Oper- Furnished in two sizes, 3J/-> and 6 tons, and in
ating speeds range from 2J/2 to 10 miles per hour. gauges of 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 56^ in.
SPECIFICATIONS