The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

INTRODUCTORY 9 will form in some installations a considerable addition to the working expenses, all parts of the machines which are liable to accident, from at times unavoidable rough handling, and from wear and tear, should be capable of being promptly and easily replaced. The installation should be as free from liability to accidents as it is possible to attain, as human lives and valuable property may be lost by accidents and breakdowns, and last, but not least, even a temporary stoppage of the works may cause serious loss. The Continuous Handling- of Material.—The subject of handling material continuously may be classified under three heads : — 1. Appliances for Lifting in a Vertical Direction, or from one Level to ANOTHER, COMMONLY CALLED ELEVATORS. 2. Appliances for Moving Material in a Horizontal Direction, commonly called Conveyors. 3. Appliances which combine the two former objects by Elevating and Conveying the Material horizontally at the same time. In’the succeeding pages the-older conveying appliances employed for these purposes are briefly described, more space being devoted to those which have recently been introduced. Conveyors are subdivided— Firstly, into appliances consisting of a stationary trough in which the material is conveyed by means of a continuous pushing device; Secondly, appliances with a stationary trough in which the material is conveyed by means of a reciprocating pushing device ; Thirdly, into appliances in which the trough containing the material moves bodily with the material; and Fourthly, into appliances in which the material is conveyed by a semi-stationary reciprocating trough. Intermittent Handling- of Material.—This subject cannot well be classified under distinctive heads; éach device is, therefore, dealt with separately in several chapters of this book.