The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

COAL TIPS OP HOISTS 573 and are fitted with a balance weight; the levers at the sides are pressed down by the front wheels of the truck, and cause the two hooks to rise. I he method adopted in this tip is identical with that of the original Armstrong tip. The cradle is balanced by counterweights which move up and down within the framework of the tip, and the tipping portion itself is balanced in a similar manner. Provision is also made for catching the cradle automatically should one of the ropes break accidentally. The Discharge Shoot.—This shoot extends from the tip to about the middle of an average sized ship. The upper or feeding end is 12 ft. wide, but the shoot tapers at the tail end to 6 ft. 6 in. To this narrow end a lengthening piece is attached for extending the shoot, so that it can reach to the middle of the largest steamers. This piece is attached to a central girder beneath the shoot, and as it is mounted on rollers it can be pushed backwards and forwards as required by means of a worm and worm wheel. 1 he extension is principally used for loading offside bunkers. Figs. 820 to 822 give illustrations in plan and elevation as well as a cross section of Figs. 818 and 819. Device for Fixing Railway Truck to Cradle. (The dimensions are in millimetres.) the shoot. The whole of the shoot is movable sideways round a steel pin z, which is secured in position by cross girder x, held by cables and pals as has already been described, and both the steel pin z and cross girder x can be seen in the diagrams. Manipulation of the Tip.—As already mentioned, the winches, with the exception of one, are placed in the engine-house, but are all operated fiom the cabin at the top of the tip, from which point the attendant can have all movements under his observation. The electrical starting and stopping gears are arranged on two floors of the cabin, which are illustrated in Figs. 823 to 825, and shows a section through the cabin, with plans of the upper and lower floors. On the upper floor will be found the smarting gears foi the lifting and tipping winches, and also for operating the discharge shoot, whilst on the lowei floor is the starting gear for the anti-breakage crane, as well as the turning movement for the same. The stopping and starting gear for lifting and tipping are marked a and b. These are situated behind the manipulator, who faces the levers a1 and b fiom which the gear is operated, c is the starting gear for raising and lowering the discharge shoot; d is the trap door leading to the lower floor j e, on the lower floor, is the turning gear for the anti-breakage crane; whilst f is for raising and lowering the same; G being the