Apparatus for the loading and unloading of ships

Claim 1

LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS INSTALLED ON A SHIP, COMPRISING RAILS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE ON EITHER SIDE OF A SHIP''S DECK, A RIGID RECTANGULAR WHEELED CARRIAGE SPANNING HATCH OPENINGS ON THE SHIP''S DECK, DISPLACEABLE LENGTHWISE OF THE SHIP ON, AND GUIDED BY SAID RAILS, AND A TRANSVERSE BRIDGE WITH A RUNWAY AND A CRANE CRAB FOR LIFTING CARGOES, MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID CARRIAGE TO RAISE AND SUPPORT THE BRIDGE FOR USE AND FOR LOWERING IT FOR STORAGE WHEN OUT OF USE AND COMPRISING ALSO ON EACH SIDE OF THE SHIP''S DECK A PAIR OF COLUMNS CROSS-CONNECTED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS BY AN ARCHED MEMBER, SO FORMING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SHIP''S DECK A GANTRY, SAID TWO GANTRIES BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR BOTTOM ENDS IN ORDER TO ALLOW THEM TO BE FOLDED DOWN ATHWARTSHIP, I.E., TOWARDS EACH OTHER FOR RESTING UPON SAID CARRIAGE AND MEANS PROVIDED FOR RAISING SAID BRIDGE WHEN SAID GANTRIES ARE IN THEIR ERECTED POSITIONS.