Clean up mechanism

Claim 2

In a barge unloading system having the combination of a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, the improvement in said cleanup device comprising: a boom; a cleanup means coupled to said boom; means for mounting said boom on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto; actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative to said prime unloader means; and control means applying a predetermined upward force to said boom in opposition to the downward force caused by the total weight of said cleanup device, the predetermined upward force being less than the downward force so that the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means.

Claim 3

The improvement described in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an actuating mechanism, a flexible member interconnecting the boom and said actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism adapted to apply a constant predetermined force on said flexible member and thereby exert the predetermined upward force on said boom whereby the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied to said boom.

Claim 4

The improvement described in claim 2 which is further characterized by a pulley coupled to saId actuating means, said pulley being adapted to be moved vertically by said actuating means, said flexible member extending upwardly from the connection with said boom, over said pulley and down to the connection with said actuating mechanism.

Claim 5

A barge-unloading system comprising a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, said cleanup device comprising: a boom; a cleanup means mounted on said boom for moving material towards said prime unloader means, said boom being mounted on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto, said cleanup means comprising lever means pivotally connected at one end to said boom, means interconnecting said boom and said lever means for pivoting said lever lean means relative to said boom, a blade member pivotally connected to the other end of said lever means, and means interconnecting said blade and said lever means for pivoting said blade relative to said lever means; actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative said prime unloader means; control means connected to said cleanup device for limiting the maximum downward force which can be exerted by said cleanup means.

Claim 6

A barge-unloading system comprising a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, said cleanup device comprising: a boom; a cleanup means mounted on said boom for moving material towards said prime unloader means, said boom being mounted on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto, said cleanup means comprising lever means pivotally connected at one end to said boom, means interconnecting said boom and said lever means for pivoting said lever lean means relative to said boom, a blade member pivotally connected to the other end of said lever means, and means interconnecting said blade and said lever means for pivoting said blade relative to said lever means; actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative said prime unloader means; control means connected to said cleanup device for limiting the maximum downward force which can be exerted by said cleanup means.

Claim 7

A barge-unloading system as described in claim 4 wherein said control means applies a predetermined upward force to said cleanup device, the predetermined upward force being less than the total weight of said cleanup device so that the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of said cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means.

Claim 8

A barge-unloading system as described in claim 4 for unloading barges wherein said system further includes a barge-maneuvering system for moving a barge that is being unloaded while said prime unloading means is elevating material out of the barge, said blade adapted to be positioned relative said prime unloader means such that material in the barge may be plowed into the path of said unloader means as the barge is moved by said barge-maneuvering system.