US2212064A - Barge loading device - Google Patents

Description

g- 1940' H. c. ELLIOTT BARGE LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 r 0$ 33 ul-ll 1 Q m W 5% 4 1 4 a 6 :1. m h m: m 1+6 1 J 7 v a a i? w ,M? m

- 2- 0, 1940. H. c. ELLIOTT BARG E LOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1940 7 (Q Maw 216W ATfORNEYS Filed May 16, 1940 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 6 2 ATTORNEY BY WM 6 7 9 1 2 m m w 9 7 do w g- 20, 1940. H. c. ELLIOTT 2,212,064

BARGE LOADING DEVICE Filed May 16,-1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

W MATTORNEY'J Patented Aug. 20, 1940 PATENTQOFFICE;

BARGE LOADING DEVICE Harry 6. .Elliotar'. Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor Qto The Mississippi Valley Barge -Line C0mpanya. St. Louis, Mo -a corporation of Delaware;

Application May16,'1940, Serial No. 335,595

12 Claims.

This invention relates to elevators of the type adapted particularlyfor handling'freight. More specifically, the invention relates to a portable elevator suitable foruse in the loading andunloading of barges;

In recent years, unit barges have been used extensively in inland waterway transportation; these usually are comprised of a hullproviding a hold,a deck which is removable in sections,

and a deckhouse, enclosing the hold and the -removable portions of the deck; The roof "also ismade up of hatches Which'can be lifted from'the deck house or rolled to uncover sections of it. In

the use of these barges, freight is loaded into the hold through the "deck apertures and additional freight is then loaded within the deckhouse. Equipment of the general type is disclosed, for

example in the Elliott Patent No. 2,150,763 issued" March 14, l939-and, while the elevators of the present invention are useful for the handling of freight through the hatchways of seagoingvesselsas well as of barges, the invention is disclosed particularly in relation to the latter type of equipment.

Heretofore it has been necessary to pass freight by hand into or out of the hold of the barge; The operation obviously is a very slow and tedious one, and the costs of barge loading and unloading constitute a substantial proportion of thetotal cost of transportation; particularly when-the shipping is between local points on a river:

The'primary object of the presentdnvention has been to provide a portable elevator for lowering and lifting freight from and to the barge hold; Itisintended that the elevator be arranged tooperate over a wellwhich' is provided through the removal of a portion or section of the deck of the barge, or through the roof of the barge, as the case may be.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a portable elevator of this type which embodies a number of safety features which make its use both safe and convenient; these features tion with the elevator for bridging the-gap between the platform and the aperture in the roof or deck through which the freight is being handled; and apparatus for stiffening and rigidifying the frame of the elevatorv without. obstructing the, freight handling passageway,

A further object of the inventionis to provide means for holding the elevator, in stationary position after it has been wheeled tolocationr Briefly, the apparatus of the invention comprises a wheeled carriage and a platformor lift, which is arranged to be loweredand hoisted through the carriage and supported from it;'

The carriage supports a hoisting or drive mechanism for operating the platform, and also, in the preferred embodiment is provided with a superstructure through which the platform .is interconnected 'with* the hoisting mechanism. However, the carriage or chassis for the elevator lift, also carries collapsible guide members which are arranged to depend from.it,so as to guide the platform. as it. is. lowered to a plane below the carriage wheels, or, in other words, as it is lowered down into the hold of the barge, when the wheels of the carriage are resting upon the deck.

The collapsible members normally are nested toreside within the superstructure of theele-v vator so that they are out of the way when it is being positioned for usage- Thereafter, however, these guide units are moved into positions appropriate for them to guide the platform; as it is raised or lowered. In the preferredembodiment the platform includes members cooperating with the'guide members of the carriage to prevent it from-swinging as it is being operated.

For the control of the elevator upper and lower limit switches, adapted to control the operating of the hoisting mechanism, are operated by acontrol dog which is driven by a traversing screw rotating in synchronism with the hoisting mechanism. The limit switches are positioned to control the drive apparatus when the platform reaches its upper or lower stopping positions.

The apparatus, on the 'whole, is sulficiently compact either to be wheeled into a barge over gangplanks appropriately mounted, or to be lowered to the barge by the use of a crane with which most river terminals are provided. Then, the collapsible guide members are moved into their extended, or guiding positions andthe elevator is ready to be used upon the provision of electric current, whichcan be supplied from the terminal or from 'a towboat.

Various features and advantages of the invention which have not already been described, are disclosed in the following specification and in the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodimerit: of the invention. From the foregoing principle' description of features upon which the inventionis predicated, and from the following detailed description of the structure, those skilled in the art readily will comprehend the various modifications to which the invention is susceptible.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the elevator in position over an aperture in a barge deck.

Figure 2' is a side elevation of the elevator with the platform in the process of being lowered or raised.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. In this figure the platform is shown in lowered position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and illustrates a support for the elevator and toggle for operatingit.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the details of construction of the brow plate.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of construction 'ofthe elevator controller.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 1 -1 of Figure 6.-

Figure "8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the arrangement of. guide sheaves for supporting the elevator cable.

I Figure 91s a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 9+9 of Figure 3 illustrating the construction of a platform bumper.

Figure 10 is asectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 2 showing details of the elevator drive gear.

"'"lift facilities provided at a river terminal.

Support members indicated generally at l are Figure 11 is asectional view taken on the line ll|l' of Figure 10 showing'further details of the elevator drive. v

Frame assembly apart from one another a distance somewhat greater than the width of the platform which the elevator is intended to operate; One of the side members 2 is wider than the other, and supports a the drive mechanism; as explained at a later part of the" specification.

Corner posts 3'extend upwardly from each end of each side channel, and a top frame, comprised of the side elements 4, 4, one for each side, and the crosswise elements 5, 5, one for each end is carried upon the corner posts3 at their upper terminals. It is preferable to construct the superstructure which is carried upon the side channels 2 of tubular steel or of pipe sections appropriately welded together.

Each of the corner posts 3 carries an eye 6 for the reception-of. sling hooks from a crane. these eyes, the elevator may be raised and lowered into po-sitio'nto a'nd from a barge, using the mounted upon the wider "of the side members 2, inwardly'from the corner posts 3 at each end of it. The posts I comprise pipe sections connected at their upper ends to the top side memwhich is indicated generally at 9.

her 4 and terminating at their lower ends in U- shaped forks 8. Theforks are employed for the purpose of straddling and making accessible the endwise portions of the elevator drive mechanism Drive mechanism The drivefor, the apparatusv mounted upon .gthewiderof theside members 2.and,comprises on the studs 1.

a motor unit Ill which, at one end, is equipped with a power brake II for stopping the rotation of the motor after it is deenergized. The latter unit extends through the aperture in the fork 8 at one end of the frame. Motor I0, through a coupling l2, drives a shaft l3 which rotates within a housing 54 where it carries a 45 helical gear l5 (Figure 11). An anti-friction bearing I6 is provided at one end of the housing for supporting the shaft [3, while a thrust bearing I1 is mounted at the other end. The shaft I3 is threaded to receive lock nuts 18 and IQ for holding the bearing elements and helical gear in assembly, and washer 20 is threadedly carried by the shaft intermediate the helical gear and the anti-friction bearing. All of the nuts and washers are provided with lock screws 2| for locking them in position.

Caps 22 and 23 are bolted to the end of the housing I4, the former extending telescopically within the housing to support the anti-friction bearing and the latter being provided with a packing gland 24 through which the shaft l3 extends. The housing is filled with lubricant and is provided with a plugged'drain outlet 25.

Helical gear l5 meshes with another 45 helical gear 26 which is carried upon a stub shaft 21 within a housing 28. The stub shaft is at right angles to the shaft I3 and carries a worm 30 which drives a worm wheel 3|. The housings l4 and 28 are connected to one another as by welding, and apertures are provided in each through which the helical gears I5 and 26 extend in rotative engagement with one another.

Stub shaft 21, like the main shaft 13, is journalled at one end inan anti-friction bearing 32 and at the other in a thrust bearing 33. This shaft likewise contains lock nuts 34 and 35 and a Washer 36 similar to lock nuts [8 and I9'and washer 20, as previously described. The housing 28 carries end caps 31 and 38, the former extending telescopically within the housing to support the journal 21, and the latter being provided with a similar annular flange to abut the thrust bearing assembly and hold it against a seat turned within the housing. Helical gears l5 and 26 and the worm wheel 30 are keyed to the shafts in the usual manner.

The worm wheel 3! rotates in a plane parallel to the axis of shaft 2'l, and is housed within a casing comprised of upper and lower members 40 and 4| bolted together as at 42. The casing is Welded to the casing 28, as at 43, and the upper portion of. it includes a lubricant inlet 44. The casings 40, 28 and I4 all are in communication with one another and lubricant introduced at 44 may be removed at the pluggedopening 25. The worm wheel casing comprises journals 45 for supporting a shaft 46 to which the worm wheel 31 is keyed. v

Shaft 46 operates cable drums 4l4'!; these are installed intermediate the posts 3 and l at each end of the frame. However, the ends of the shaft 46 also are journalled in blocks 48 mounted to the corner posts 3, and in journals 49 carried From the foregoing description of the drive mechanism it will be seen that the shaft [3 of the drive motor H) is parallel with the shaft of the cable sheaves. This arrangement is particularly desirable for compacting the structure in order that it be suificiently narrow to be lowered through barge hatchways.

Drive control mechanism Shaft 46 carries an elongated sleeve 50 which extends intermediate-the journal 45 at the 'hous-- ing ll-42; anduthejournal 49atthe one end of the. frame. The internal diameter of the sleeve is greater 5 than the diameter of the H shaft i and i 5 bushings .5l-5l-are.disposed. intermediate the shaft andthe sleeve at. points vadiacentthe journals.- The sleeve 50-is locked.to rotatewith the shaft by. means ofthaset screw 52,? and" the exterior surface thereof contains a spiralgroove 53- i which. constitutes. a :drive for the .=contro1ler dog indicated generally at 54....

Adjacent theshaft 46,. and extending .paralle'l with it, is a.pair .of stationary shafts 55* These are, supported .uponopposite sides oftheposts 1-1 at their ends respectively, for instance,- in brackets extendingtfrom the -journal.49.iand the housing member 41:, and "are positioned slightly above -the sleeve 50. for. slidably supporting therea between the control dog 54.1. The .latter .unit'is *comprisedof slide bearings 56-.-.56..boredfor.slidable engagement :with the. shafts 55-1-55 respem tively... A plateg5'l. is connected across thebearing .members to carryaestud 58. which, in turn, is. boredtoreceivea pin .59 having atits lower end. a, finger filltadapted :to' engage the spiral groove53 in. the sleeve.50.: The stud 58. contains a counter. bore 6 I. for receiving. a spring. 62 surroundingthe pin 58,:and the pin, in turn,.con-. tains, a keeper flange. 63...with. which thelower 'edgeof the spring is in abutment. Thelspringlis.

of; the compression .typetand tends tokeepthe finger fiflzwithin the spiral groove ofthe. drive sleeve.

, However, a .lift .pin 64 extends transversely 'through the pin 59 and normally resides within a slot'cut in the stud 58 2 but the stud 58 also is provided with a raised support portion adapted toreceive the pin 64.when the finger 59 is lifted and rotated through a quarter turn... This arrangement permits the. finger to .be liftedand kept out of engagement. with the groove in the sleeve in order that the control assembly 54 .be decommissioned orslid back .and forth, atwill, upon the guide rods 55. i

Dog members 65.65 extend. from thestud 53. imopposite directions parallel .with sleeve 5!].

One of the shafts 55 contains upper .andlower limit switches 66 and 61 respectively: Theseare I in electrical interconnection with appropriate .-re-

c=laysforpcontrollingthe source of energy ;to :the

drive motor lflgand the powerbrake IL, The

limit switches, are adjustably mounted upon the shaft and are free ,to be. slid longitudinally of.

it by looseningthelock screws 68. 551

shafts 59, .which'support armsHL-IO, each of whichat its lower extremity contains an. abutment wheel ll- The abutmentwheels. are positioned inthe path of movement of, the dog memerated byone or the other of dogs 65 when the platform of the elevator is at an upper or lower 7517. S pping position.

The limitiswitches are provided with operating 7 side flanges.

Cable rigging The cable drums 4! are provided with end flanges "l2 and the surface of each .drum is grooved to accommodate two cables. Adjacent the .cabledrums and above them ,jack shafts 13-13 are provided, eachfor supporting two cablesheaves l5 and 16. On the other side of the superstructurejack shafts 'l4l4 are provided with sheaves 1lTl. All. of the sheaves, are positioned so that the innermost points upon their peripheries extend inwardly of the flanges; of the channel members 2 upon which the superstructure is carried. Each of the jack shafts l3 and 14 issupported stationarilybetween a 15,} pair of buttress plates 18-48, One of the plates of each pair extends inwardly from corner post 3 of the superstructure and the other from the adjacent vertical support 1, as shown in Figure 8. The buttress plates preferably are provided with bosses l9 welded thereon, and the ,jack shafts are carried by the bosses. All sheaves are free to rotate about the shafts and also move. longitudinally on them.

At the side of the, superstructure opposite the. 5,; drive mechanism and beneath the sheaves TI idler sheaves 80-.80are provided, as shown in Figure 3.- These are rotatably and slidably mounted upon jack shafts 8l8l, at each end of the frame, the jack shafts being mounted'ine 3m, termediate the buttress plates as, previously described.

Each cable drum operates twosets of cables, 0 one set 82--82 for the near side, of the platform, and the other set 83783. for the. far side of the 35;; platform. The cables 82 pass. fromthe drums, up and over the sheaves 16,.then down pastthe drive mechanism; The cables83. of the other set pass upwardly over the sheaves l5 respectively, across the topof the superstructureand 40 over the sheaves TI. The cables pass around. these sheaves and. are projected forwardly .over the idler sheaves 811.150 as to extend downwardly through the frame at the opposite side of the apparatus.

The cables 82 and 83 .supporttheplatform which is indicated generally at 84.. This comprises an appropriate rigid plate 85 with side fianges.'8585 provided thereon at the opposite edges. The width of the platform is such that it may passfreely intermediate the sidechannels 2 of the frame, while the length of it is determined in accordance with the apertures or hatches through which it is intended tooperate.

The cables 82 and 83 are connected to the 55 platformat its corners through snubberswhich are indicated generally at 8i the construction of these is illustrated in Figure 9. Each snubber comprises a tubular member 88, slotted at its lower end as at 89 to provide a clevis connection with the side flange 86 of the platform with the pivot pins. 890; connecting the clevises to the 1 Housing 88 of the snubber is closed at its upper end to, contain a bore-of reduced diameter through which a :plunger 90 passes, for instance, the housing, as illustrated in Figure 9, may be made from a piece of pipe with the upper end swaged inwardly to provide it witha shoulder 9! against which a sleeve 92 is disposed. Compression spring 93 extends about the plunger intermediate the sleeve, and a flange 94 is provided at the lower end of the plunger. The lower ends of the cable are provided with connectors 95 and these are-pinned 7 sa as at 96 to the parts of the plungers extending above the housings.

'The snubbers are adapted particularly to prevent abrupt shocks in the cable or drive mech- .1 anism. When the platform, being lowered,

comes into contact with the floor of the barge, the compression springs 93 take up the shock and at the same time keep the cable in taut condition. This feature is of considerable practical importance in view of the fact that the stopping position of the platform varies from time to time as the barge tends to list when it i being loaded or. unloaded.

I Brow plates for platform At the ends of the channel members 2, blocks 91 are provided for pivotally supporting brackets 98. These brackets extend beyond the ends of the-platform and downwardly to carry brow "iplates 99"which extend across the elevator frame.

The rearward edges'of the brow plates are provided with plates I00, hinged thereto as at "H. The hinged plates extend inwardly toward the elevator platform for engagement with sills I02 2-.which are fastened to the lower face thereof at each of its crosswise edges.

During the lifting of the platform, the sills I02 engage the hinge plates I 90 and the gap between the edges of the platform and the edges of the aperture of the deck, through which it is operating, is thus bridged. This feature is of considerable practical importance for several reasons; in the firstplace the deck or roof areaway for the platform varies considerably from barge to barge, and there must necessarily be considerable clearance for the platform. On the other hand, very careful locating of the elevator over the opening is tedious and time consuming. The arrangement disclosed makes it possible to use but reasonable care in locating the elevator above frame and preventing the channel members from moving away' from one another during extended usage of the apparatus. Utilizing structural members at the top of the structure sufficiently heavy to prevent separation of the channel member is avoided.

The latches I03 extend from the corner post 3 of the superstructure for holding the brow plates in raised position when the elevator is being moved into or out of position.

Ordinarily, the elevator apparatus is supported upon'oasters I04 which are: carried pivotally, as at I05, beneath the channel members 2. With thebrow plates in raised position, these casters.

enable the elevator to be rolled about at will ,.until it is brought into proper position.

However, during the usage of the elevator, the frame is supported against movement upon jacks Which are illustrated in Figure 4. These jacks are located adjacent the casters I94 and are -raised and lowered through a toggle apparatus as follows: ,Each jack comprises a foot portion I0'I carried upon ashaft I08. The shaft extends through a sleeve I09 which is welded to the channel 2, a supplementary channel III] being used to rigidify the connection of the sleeve with the channel member. The upper portion of the member I08 is'connected pivotally, as at III, to a toggle link H2, and this link, in turn, is connected to another toggle link H3 which is pivotally supported from the fork portion 8 of support l. The link I I 3 is bored for the reception of a lifting bar H4 in order that the toggle .be thrown to press .the foot against the floor, and thereby raise the elevator from its caster wheels. When the toggle links are in alignment with one another, the frame is in the elevated position and is supported upon the feet I01. In this position the elevator is mounted stationarily. Figure 4 illustrates the feet in the process of being operated.

At the inner edges of the side channels 2, the guide members H5 are provided, one pairfor each side. These members are mounted pivotally upon the flanges of the channels, as at H6, and preferably are made as flanged bars which extend inwardly toward one another from the edges of the channels and then downwardly substantially beyond the casters, for instance, a distance approximately half-way to the lowermost position of the platform. The lower portions of the guide members are bent outwardly to receive therebetween the flanges 86 of the platform. These bars therefore guide the platform during its movement and prevent it from swaying as it is lowered and raised. When the elevator is being decommissioned the guide brackets are swung inwardly to rest upon the platform so that they are out of the way while the apparatus is being handled.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A portable elevator comprising a wheeled carriage delineating a platform passageway, a platform positioned within the passageway, means for hoisting the platform supported from the carriage, and guide means extensible from the carriage for guiding the platform when it is in positions below the passageway.

2. A portable elevator comprising a wheeled carriage delineating a platform passageway; a

platform positioned within the passageway, electric drive means for hoisting the platform supported from the carriage, guide means extensible from the carriage for guiding the platform when it is in positions belo-w the'passageway, and electric controller means for controlling the hoisting mechanism when the platform is in predetermined positions relative to the carriage.

3. A portable elevator which is to be used in loading or unloading barges, comprising a chassis delineating a passageway, wheels carried by the chassis beyond the. passageway, 'a platform adapted to be moved through the passageway in the chassis, means for moving the platform, and guide means extensible from the chassis for guiding the platform when it is in positions below the'wheels of the chassis.

4. A portable elevator comprising a wheeled carriage delineating a platform passageway, a platform positioned within the passageway, electric drive means for hoisting the platform supported from the carriage, guide means extensible from the carriage for guiding the platform when it is in positions below the passageway, and elec-- tric controller means for controlling the hoisting mechanism when the platform is in predetermined positions relative to the carriage, including a threaded shaft rotatable in synchronism with said electric drive means, dog means movable sitioned in the path of movement of said dog means and actuab-le thereby for controlling said electric drive.

5. A portable elevator comprising a frame having supporting wheels therefor and adapted to be positioned over an aperture in a barge deck, a platform movable within the frame and below it, a hoisting mechanism carried by the frame for moving the platform, and guide means normally collapsed within the frame when the elevator is not in usage, but arranged to be extended below the frame for guiding the platform when the elevator m in usage.

6. A portable elevator which comprises platform members which extend in spaced parallel relationship, interconnected members supported from said platform members and extending upwardly therefrom to form a rigid frame which. is of inverted U shape in cross section, wheel members for movably supporting said frame, sheave members supported at the upper part of the frame and at opposite ends thereof, a platform, cable support members therefor located within the frame with the cables passing over the sheaves, drive means for operating said cables, located at one side of the frame and comprising a motor and cable drums in spaced relationship with one another, but extending longitudinally of the frame, and an assembly for ro-tatably interconnecting said motor and said drums, including helical gears mounted on a shaft extending in a direction transversely of said frame.

'7. A portable elevator for purposes of the type described, which comprises interconnected members forming supports of inverted U-shape which are spaced apart from one another, means interconnecting said inverted U-shaped members, and therewith forming a frame, wheel means for movably supporting said frame, a brow plate extending transversely across an end of said frame at a lower part thereof, and means hingedly connecting said brow with said frame, the brow plate serving as an entranceway to said platform, and the brow plate serving to interconnect the lower terminals of the members forming the said frame.

8. An elevator for purposes of the type described, comprising a frame including corner posts, means respectively interconnecting the corner posts at their upper terminals, a platform movably located within said corner posts, and means for interconnecting the lower terminals of the corner posts at opposite ends of the platform, comprising brow plate members and supporting means therefor hingedly mounted upon the lower terminals of the corner posts.

9. An elevator device of the type described, comprising a portable frame, a platform movable within said frame, wheels for transporting the frame, and means including toggle members and longitudinal support members, with the toggles interconnecting the frame and the longitudinally movable support members, the support members being adapted to be actuated by said toggles for stationarily supporting the frame of the elevator.

10. A portable elevator comprising corner post members interconnected at their upper extremities to form a frame, means respectively connecting lower portions of the corner posts at the opposite sides of the frame with one of said means providing a platform support, a drive motor mounted substantially longitudinally of said frame upon said platform, support hoisting drum means having an axis of rotation extending in the direction of the axis of the drive motor and ratatably supported upon said frame adjacent the drive motor, means for interconnecting said drive motor and said hoisting drum, including helical gear members and jack shaft (extending in a direction transverse the frame) for supporting one of said gear members, an elevator platform operable through said frame, and means for operating said platform from said hoisting drum means.

11. A portable elevator of the type described, which comprises corner post elements, means interconnecting the corner posts to one another at their upper extremities to form a frame, a platform supported from one pair of corner posts longitudinally of the frame, a motor supported on the platform and having a drive shaft extending longitudinally of the frame, a jack shaft extending transversely of the frame, helical gear members in meshing relationship mounted respectively upon said jack shaft and drive shaft, a shaft having cable drums and worm wheel means interconnecting said shaft having cable drums and said jack shaft with the shaft supporting the cable drum means extending longitudinally of the elevator frame, an elevator platform which is movable within said frame sheaves supported by said frame at an upper portion of it and cable means operated by said cable drums and extending over said sheaves into connection with said platform.

12. A portable elevator for purposes of the type described, comprising an elevator platform, a frame through which said platform is operable, a motor supported upon said frame at one side of said platform, cable drum means, cables actuated by said drum means for operating said elevator platform, gear means for operating said cable drum means from said motor, a shaft rotatable with said cable drum means and providing a spiral groove upon its surface, a control dog movable longitudinally of said shaft and having a member engaging said groove, and electrical switches for controlling said motor, said switches being positioned in spaced relationship in the path of movement of said control dog and adapted to be operated by said control dog for controlling said'motor when said platform reaches predetermined portions.

HARRY C. ELLIOTT.

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