Patent GB-132285-A (GB)
IPC: B65G63/06
Abstract: 132,285. Godin, A. May 30, 1918. Staiths and elevated structures.-Ships are unloaded by two balanced buckets which move only in a vertical line and discharge their contents through a hopper on to an endless conveyer. The grab or tip buckets 1, Fig. 1, are suspended by ropes 2 wound in opposite directions on winding drums 4, Fig. 2, actuated by a hoisting engine 6. The drums &c. are supported by the girder of a travelling crane, or by a frame over the hatchway, and can be disengaged separately by adjusting the lengths of the ropes. The material is directed into the hopper 9 by counterweighted pivoted shoots 11 which are raised and lowered either by hand, by a lever 14<a>, Fig. 2, placed in the path of the bucket, or by a rope driven by the forward drum of the conveyer 18. A pawl 19 holds the shoot in position during the discharge of the bucket, and a disengaging device releases the shoot as soon as the bucket is empty. If tip buckets are used, the shoot may be replaced by an horizontal flap pivotally connected to the edge of the hopper. When the cargo is being discharged into barges the hopper and conveyer may be mounted in the hold on a false deck 21, Fig. 5, on a level with a cargo port through which the end of the conveyer girder extends. For facilitating the charging of the buckets 1 during discharge, a well is formed in the hold during loading. The sides of the well consist of uprights 25 and removable boards 26 held apart by struts 22, and movable spouts 23 are provided for filling the buckets. The shoot 11, Fig. 9, may be raised by the engagement of the bucket 1 and lever 30, and when in operative position its nose rests on a flap 11<a> pivoted to the hopper which is prevented from falling back by the engagement of a counterweighted rod and spring lever. The lever 30 ends in a long fork 31 which surrounds the rope 2, and is made slightly flexible or provided at its base with a spring joint. In a modification, the shoot is raised by chains secured to a plate that rests loosely on the bucket. The shoot is supported by two stayed legs 50, Fig. 15, which can be secured in any position on parallel beams 52 by clamping collars 51. The beams 52 are clamped to the edges 55 of the hatchway by clamps 56 and are provided with rollers 57 for facilitating movement. The hopper 9 and the end of the conveyer girder 20 rest on cross beams 58 which are movable along the beams 52. The hopper is supported by a foot 59 of fixed or variable length, and the end of the girder is supported by a beam 60. The other end of the girder rests upon a stationary or travelling frame, and intermediate parts may be supported by cables suspended from windlasses fixed on the jib or on a stayed post. In a modification, the shoot may be replaced by a hopper which travels along the beams 52, and is actuated either by the movement of the bucket or by a motor. A tipping shoot may also be raised by a motor, or may be replaced by a shoot travelling on wheels on horizontal rails. 'When the apparatus is mounted on tidal quays the girder 20, Fig. 18, is extended by stayed arms 64, and its overhang and height may be adjusted by windlasses.