Patent GB-190412088-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Cargo or like Loading or Unloading Apparatus.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1904-05-27
Granted: 1904-07-28
Abstract: 12,088. Boult, A. J., [Anderson, C. H.]. May 27. Loading and unloading conveyers; elevators. -Consists of a universally-adjustable elevator and conveyer apparatus, more. especially adapted for conveying cargo from all points of a ship's hold to any desired point on shore or elsewhere. Fig. 1 shows a general view. A frame A, containing a chain elevator, is vertically adjustable in the end of an adjustable boom B, hung from a mast C which is shown as fitted in a barge. Conveyers with one or more lateral feeder conveyers discharge into the foot of the elevator, which itself delivers on to a conveyer B<1> leading to the point of deposit. The elevator and the conveyers are all driven in unison by an endless rope 50, which is led from the driving-drum 55 around a tension pulley 54, pulleys 53 on the swivelling crossbead at the inner end of the boom, pulleys 52 on the elevator saddle 40, and pulleys 51 at the ends of the elevator frame. By this arrangement, relative adjustment of the elevator, boom, &c. may be made without affecting the driving. To allow for relative movement of the vessel and barge, the bearing-brackets of the pulleys 52, 53 are mounted on vertical pivots. The elevator chain is driven from the lower pulley 51, the conveyer B<1> from one of the pulleys 52, and the main hold-conveyers from the lower sprocket 4. The frame A is hung from the saddle 40 by a chain 44 wound on a drum 45 which can be rotated from the pulley 51 or by hand. The elevator comprises endless chains connected by transverse supporting-bars 3, Fig. 5, and front and back guides 5, 2 for the packages &c. resting on the supporting-bars. To suit different sizes of package, the guides 2 are adjustable by means of racks 9 engaged by pinions, and the guides 5 by means of arms 5<a>. Side guides 12 are adjustable simultaneously by an angular movement of their supporting-arms 13 obtained by means of an endless rope passing round pulleys 19 on the shafts carrying these arms. A wedge block, Fig. 12, by engagement with which the packages are tipped on to the conveyer B<1>, is adjustable on the guides 2 to the point of transfer from the elevator A to the conveyer B<1>, such adjustment being effected by a drum on which a cable 28 connected to the block is wound. The wedge block can be collapsed to suit different sizes of package by collapsing one or more of the supports 35. Where bulk cargo is unloaded, it is carried in buckets on the elevator A, which buckets are caused to tip into the conveyer B' by deflecting the bucket chain by guide-pulleys on the saddle 40. One of these pulleys may be driven from the main gearing if desired. Means are provided for adjusting the conveyer B' towards or from the elevator A and at the same time keeping the tension of the conveyer belt the same. Where the conveyer B' is very long, its frame is made in sections, and means are provided for adjustably connecting these together. Gearing is provided by which the feeder hold conveyers can be connected to, and driven from, the main hold-conveyers at any desired points.