Volume Eleven - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - some more aspects - Patent Applications by George Taylor, of Penarth, 1883 . . .

Owing to the height of the vessels out of the water and the great length and inclination of the shoot above them, the waggons usually require to be raised to a great height above the quay at the loading berth, or to be brought to the staith at a high level, in order to enable the coal to be tipped or discharged into the elevated end of the shoot and run down it to the vessel. This involves considerable expense for the first cost of staiths of adequate height and hoisting power, or of the works necessary for bringing the waggons forward at a high level, besides the consumption of power and loss of time in bringing the waggons into position for tipping.

The coal staiths at which vessels are loaded have hitherto been stationary, and the railway waggons which bring the coal are run onto or transferred to the staiths by means of railway lines and turntables which also are fixed. The staiths being fixed, and the distances apart of the vessels' hatchways being variable, it is extremely rare that a vessel can be loaded with coals at more than one hatchway or place at the same time and there consequently ensues much delay to the vessel as well as a long occupation of the loading berth which restricts the working power of the dock within narrow limits.

My Invention has for its objects to improve the means of transferring coal from the railway or siding at or near the loading berth to which it is brought in railway waggons and to enable the loading of a vessel to be carried on simultaneously at different hatchways.

The Invention relates first to portable staiths which may be placed opposite each hatchway of a vessel and to accessory appliances and apparatus designed for use in combination with each other whereby the objects of this Invention may be attained.

The staiths are designed to be movable along ways either by being mounted directly on wheels or supported upon bogie or swivelling carriages, the wheels being in either case so arranged that the staiths may be moved in different directions upon fixed and temporary ways provided for the purpose.

The transferring apparatus for bringing the railway waggons to the staith consists of fixed and portable turntables and sections of portable railway to connect the turntables with one another and with the staiths. The turntables are placed upon the quay or upon a permanent way laid thereon sufficiently below the level of the line of railway on which the waggons arrive, to allow for the thickness of the turntables and enable the waggons to run direct onto the fixed turntable.