STATIONARY ENGINES.

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the dust from it when required. This Separation is effected by aninclined flap fixed in the inner receiving hopper R, into which thetwo bands Q convey the grain from the outer hopper P. From thehopper R the grain is allowed to drop through the valve into thei-ton weighing hopper S; after which it is delivered, by a simplearrangement of doors in the bottom of the weighing hopper, toeither side of the distributing hopper T, from whence it passes onto one or other of the 18-inch bands II which traverse the entirelength of the warehouses. The man stationed at the weighingmachine S regulates the flow of grain from the several hoppers,and records the quantity passed.

Two main lines of 18-inch bands, made to run in either direction,are necessary for the convenient working of these warehouses. Avessel, for instance, lying at the west block of the warehouses mayrequire her cargo deposited at either end of that block, or at anyspot in either of the other two blocks; and at the same timeanother vessel lying at the east block opposite may have its cargohoused in the west block. Thus it often happens that two streamsof grain are flowing in opposite directions, and that one or both ofthese is carried right round the warehouses. The bands in theeast and west blocks are divided into two lengths, and the bandsconnecting these two blocks and passing through the north blockare in one length. Each band is fitted with a separate tightening-up apparatus, seen in Fig. 213 at M; and is driven by a separatehydraulic engine N, of about 3 horse-power, having two cylinders,and fitted with reversing and regulating gear, which can be con-trolled from any point along the entire length of the band. Ateach point where the flow of grain has to be diverted from a mainband to a cross band, a fixed throwing-off carriage is stationed.Two movable throwing-off carriages are provided on each mainband, for casting the grain off the band into the wooden descendingspouts, 8*4 inches square, which convey it from the top of thewarehouse to any floor in the building. There are fifty-six of thesespouts U U, Fig. 215, passing from the upper machinery floor downto the lower 12-inch bands in the arched subway V V below the quaylevel; they are provided with sliding doors at the different floorlevels, to admit of the grain being shovelled into Waggons on theraihvay which traverses the centre of the block, or on to the lower12-inch bands for conveying to the elevators. A number of othershoots at suitable intervals are built in the. walls of the warehouses