The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

ROPE WA YS 267 and pass supporting pulleys by means of a curved hanger, pivoting in the A-shaped saddle which rests on the rope, and attached at its lower end to the skip. The ■saddle is an iron frame, fitted with friction blocks of wood, rubber, or composition, to cause sufficient adherence to the rope, and to enable the carrier to pass with the rope up inclines and over the pulleys. The frame carrying these friction blocks is usually made of malleable cast iron, and is provided with wings at each end which, as the carrier arrives at the supporting pulley, embrace or pass between the flanges of the pulley rim, when passing over the same. The frame which carries these friction pieces is fitted with two small wheels, carried on spindles attached to it, which are known as shunt wheels; Their function is to remove the carrier from the rope at terminals or curves, where shunt rails are placed. These rails are held in such a position that when the carrier approaches the terminal the small wheels engage with them and lift the saddle from the rope, enabling it to pass to where the loading or unloading is required to be done, or round the curve wheels. The impetus derived from the speed of the rope (which averages 4 miles an hour) is ■sufficient to enable the carrier to automatically clear itself from the rope. This form of ropeway consists, therefore, of one endless wire rope driven by suitable gearing, and supporting carriers which travel with it either by means of friction or mechanical clips. A modification of this form of ropeway is one in which the carriers hang from and move with a single rope, being rigidly fixed on it. This system is recommended for routes on which steep inclines and sudden changes of level occur. As guide or depressing pulleys may be placed wherever necessary without obstructing the passage of the carriers, the vertical angle of the line may be changed at each support. Although this form of ropeway is similar in all such respects as driving and tightening gear and pulleys to the first-mentioned system, there is this important difference, that the carrier does not rest on the rope, but is clipped to it by a steel band which •embraces it, being tightened by a suitable arrangement. As the carriers are fixed, they obviously must move with the rope, and, owing to the arrangement of the terminals, they will necessarily pass round the terminal wheels. The driving wheel is usually in the form of a special clip drum, and the terminal wheel, where the tightening takes place, is so arranged that the passing of the carriers can be easily effected. When it is desired to unload, the carrier is allowed to strike •a catch which causes the bucket to capsize or to open at the bottom. Loading, which is a more delicate operation, can be effected by a variety of devices, all more or less ingenious and efficient. Thus a carrier can be loaded ■either while passing the driving drum, or at a point adjacent thereto, for instance by means of hoppers or cages moving at the same speed as the carrier and operated by it; or again, the ropeway may be run at the slow speed of 2 to 2| miles per hour, in which case the carriers can be loaded or discharged on passing the terminals by hand labour. An interesting example of this kind of ropeway is mentioned by Mr Carrington as having been erected in Ceylon on a tea plantation. This has ■a length of about 3 miles, and passes over several steep ridges. The leaf (in bags) is placed in the carriers (which are in the form of cages) as they pass the driving terminal. This driving terminal is operated by wire rope transmission communicating the power required from a turbine | mile away. The ground is so broken as to necessitate the use of several guard wheels, the function of which is to depress the rope; as the load passes, its weight relieves the pressure on the guard wheels, •and enables it to pass under the guard wheel, which again performs the office of