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By A. G. Reese

Various types of rotating car tipples are used for dumping mine-cars, the source of power being compressed air, steam, or electricity. Rotary car-tipples have many advantages over the end-dump type, as cars without dump-bottom or end-gates can be used. This feature eliminates largely any scattering of material along the haulageways which is characteristic of any other type of car, and also eliminates the trouble due to accidental opening of doors when cars are traveling at high speed.

Solid type cars are lighter, cost less for repairs, are more rigid, have longer life, and lower initial cost. The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Co. has placed on the market an entirely different type of rotating tipple in that it does not require any power for operation except that furnished by the car itself; this results in many advantages principally as follows: simplicity of construction, the result of which is lower first cost; simplicity of operation which allows the employment of unskilled labor; lower maintenance charges; and increased production.

There are now several of these tipples in operation, the first one being at a coal-mine adit known as Dolmite No. 1 of the Woodward Iron Co., at Birmingham, Alabama. The coal-cars, after being brought to the foot of the slope by an endless rope, are attached in sets of four to the tail-rope and hoisted at a speed of 1500 ft. per minute up a double-track slope 1900 ft. long having a maximum grade of 26°. At the top of the slope the cars enter either of the two 'Rollsright' car tipples which are placed over a 300-ton pyramidal bin. The average capacity of this mine is 1500 tons in 8 hours. At No. 3 Dolmite mine are situated two five-car 'Rollsright' tipples. The cars at this mine are brought to the face of the slope by electric locomotive and there made up in trains of five, which are hauled up a 30° slope 1400 ft. long at a speed of 2000 ft. per minute by a 700-hp. double-drum electric hoist. The 'Rollsright' tipples are set at an angle of 15° over a 400-ton double bottom V-shaped bin. The cars at both the Dolmite mines are dumped without de- taching from the hoist-rope. Both of the above described tip- ples are used for coal, the weight of each loaded car being 4600 pounds.

For the installations described above swivel car-couplings are not used, as the entire train is dumped at one operation. The 'Rollsright' tipple can be applied also to conditions where it is desired to dump a number of cars without detaching them from the remaining train.

The general descriptin of the 'Rollsright' is as follows: The tipple will dump one or any number of cars at one time and will make a complete dumping cycle in five to seven seconds.

It is controlled entirely by one latch-lever which holds the tip- ple In upright position. The centre of gravity of the loaded car or cars is 'off centre' of the tipple sufficiently that when released by latch-lever the tipple rotates through an arc of about 135°, setting in motion a set of flywheels situated on the roller shafts. At the end of the 13 5° arc the tipple ring engages with a specially designed spring and wedge, which stops the forward motion of the tipple. The centre of gravity of the car or cars is now on the opposite side of the centre line of tipple. This feature in connection with the recoil action of the springs starts the tipple in the opposite direction and brings the flywheels up to speed, their momentum carrying the tipple around to its original position where it automatically latches. All the rollers which support the tipple are carried on shafts mounted in Hyatt