The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

GRAVITY BUCKET CONVEYORS *37 Fig. 1S9. Bleichert Gravity Bucket Conveyor. swivel link connection which permits flexibility in all directions. The delivery at the top is similar to the methods adopted by the Hunt and other conveyors of this type. An installation of this kind, with a capacity of 100 tons of coal per hour, a chain of 284 yards in length, and with a lift of 35 yards, takes only about 15 H.P., an exceptionally low figure, undoubtedly due to the single rail and consequent reduction of friction. There are several other designs of conveyors of the tilting bucket type, which do not, however, present features sufficiently distinctive to entitle them to separate descriptions. The Link Belt Company build a similar apparatus. It has the form of an ordinary elevator with V-shaped buckets supported symmetrically by two chains (see Fig. 190). lor the transport in a horizontal direction the buckets act as scrapers in the troughs provided for the upper and lower strands. The illustration shows how the buckets elevate the coal and push it along the horizontal carrying run until discharged through gates in bottom of trough. The length of the horizontal run can be increased as desired up to the limit of the strength of the chains, and gates added as may be necessary. The elevator de- scribed and illustrated on page IS can also partly be classed under this chapter, as it will convey horizon- tally on the bottom strand, but the delivery is con- fined to one point. Continuous Tra- velling Trough Con- veyor with Partitions. — This conveyor has much in common with the continuous trough conveyor, but as it both elevates and conveys the material, it has been included in this chapter. It can be used not only for conveying on a level, but will also admit of con- veying up inclines, and will even work in a vertical position. A conveyor of this type is built by the Steel Cable Engineering Co., under the name of the rigid partition conveyor. It is driven, like most of their conveyors, by steel cable, and each section of the trough has its own guide wheels, which run on suitable rails, as shown in Fig. 191. 1 he discharge is similar to that of an ordinary elevator. Each section has a partition across its lower portion which forms a kind of bucket. 1 he illustration shows the feeding of the conveyor at the level portion, the material being fed on in the same way as it is on the pan and bucket conveyor. It is used for minerals, coal, etc., and is also employed to handle coke which has been quenched but is still hot. lHig. 192 shows a portion of the same kind of conveyor in a horizontal and vertical position. The feeding device and delivery shoot are clearly seen, as well as the automatic tightening gear for keeping the steel cable taut. Unlike Fig. 191, the discharge of this kind of elevator and conveyor combined takes place on the lower strand. A