The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

434 THE MECHANICAL HANDLING OF MATER LAL London, and had observed the inadequacy of old-fashioned methods of discharging vessels in the port of London. His invention dates from'about the year 1892, when turret ships and whalebacks first made their appearance. The original Temperley transporter consisted essentially of a long I-shaped section beam with a traveller running on the lower flange. The beam was triced up to the movable framework or shear legs, whilst the traveller was worked by two ropes engaging on the two drums of a double-barrelled winch. The apparatus was so arranged as to command the hold of a vessel and a point from 20 to 30 ft. overboard. This was the earliest type as designed for turret ships, but the inventor was not altogether satisfied with his work, as the apparatus appeared to him rather too complicated for general use, especially on board ordinary cargo steamers which have their own winches, and which carry derricks from which the beam of the transporter can be suspended. He accordingly simplified the gear, so that his appliance could be used with an ordinary ship’s winch on which a single rope is paid out or hauled in. In the later transporter the running head or traveller is fitted with an ingenious automatic device, by means of which it may be arrested and held stationary while the load is being either lifted or lowered. This device also keeps the load in suspension while the traveller is moving. The British Admiralty and many foreign Governments have adopted and successfully applied the conveyor to the rather difficult task of coaling warships. Temperley transporters are used under a great variety of conditions, both in the portable and fixed type on staging, or on gantries, at inland points, as much as, and perhaps more than, for harbour work. The original length of track of 40 to 50 ft. or so has now been extended to ten times as much, or even more, whilst the speed of lifting and travelling, which, in the early days, was about 150 ft. per minute, is now raised to a speed of 1,400 ft. per minute. It was, of course, inevitable that this great increase of speed should necessitate the use of better winding gear, and the simple winch which was originally used is quite inadequate for these modern high-speed installations. This transporter consists of three principal parts, namely, of a steel beam of I-section, which may be hung from the ship’s mast or derrick, in which case it would vary in length from 30 to 65 ft., or as an alternative it may be supported on shore by an iron-work trestle frame, in which case the length of the track may be considerably extended ; secondly, of an automatic traveller; and thirdly, of a winch which operates the traveller by a wire cable. Assuming this transporter were being used on board a ship, it would be attached by wire slings to the end of an ordinary derrick, and would then be held up and secured by guy ropes in an inclined position across the vessel to command both the hatchways and the quay, or any lighters or barges which might be alongside. The pulley end of the I-shaped beam should be higher than the other end, towards which the movement of the traveller is effected by gravity. The angle at which the beam is inclined may be varied to suit the precise nature of the work. The beam may project over either side of the vessel. It remains in a fixed position, and should be quite rigid when at work, except that it should be free to swing laterally on its swivels. A steel wire rope is passed over the sheave of the traveller and runs over the fixed pulley at the end of the beam, and over two leading blocks, one being placed at the head and the other at the heel of the derrick. This wire rope is attached to the drum of an ordinary steam winch which is placed on the deck of the vessel. The load can be discharged at any number of fixed points on the length of the beam. Such points or stops are usually placed about 5 ft. apart, all these operations being under the control of the attendant. The traveller or running head is made in two distinct forms; one being double