US3770145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plow apparatus for vessel unloader
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-12-27
Abstract
Abstract Plow apparatus is used with a high capacity unloading machine for removing bulk material from a barge or ship to move material into the path of the unloading machine for more complete removal of the material. The plow apparatus comprises one or more rotatable plow blades which are hoistable and movable laterally of the vessel so as to move the material on the sides of the vessel toward the center of the vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 M Uhrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:08
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B27/00; B63B27/22; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G2814/00; B65G2814/03; B65G2814/0397
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In a system for unloading loose bulk material from a marine vessel located adjacent a shore installation, said system having an unloading machine for reclaiming and elevating the material from inside the vessel as the vessel moves longiTudinally past the unloading machine, the improvement which comprises at least one plow supported from the shore and located in the vessel to engage the material in advance of and working cooperatively with the unloading machine, said plow having a planar material engaging surface, means mounting said plow for both lateral and vertical motion with respect to the vessel, means supporting said plow for angular motion about a vertical axis to various selected angular positions of said planar surface with respect to the longitudinal sides of the vessel so said planar surface can deflect material from the corners, the ends and the sides of the vessel into the path of the unloading machine as the vessel is moved past the plow, and means for driving said plow to produce said angular, lateral and vertical motions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a system requiring a minimum amount of cleanup for unloading loose bulk material from a marine vessel adjacent a shore installation, the apparatus which comprises in combination: a. an unloading machine mounted on the shore for reclaiming and elevating the material from the vessel in one or more passes as the vessel is moved longitudinally past the unloading machine, said unloading machine being adjustable vertically to vary its digging depth in the material in the vessel and being of a width narrower than the inside width of the vessel, and b. at least one plow located to engage the material in the vessel in advance of the unloading machine, said plow having a vertical planar surface adjustably positioned at an angle with respect to the longitudinal sides of the vessel so as to push material from adjacent the sides of the vessel into the path of the unloading machine for recovery of said material as the vessel is moved past, said plow shiftable parallel to the longitudinal sides of the vessel so as to act as a retaining skirt, during the reclaiming operation of the unloading machine, for the material pushed into the path of the unloading machine by said plow during a preceding pass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plow further comprises an approximately rectangular vertical plow blade and a vertical shaft attached to said plow blade at the mid-point of the horizontal dimension of said plow blade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plow further comprises a flexible elastomeric type strip attached to the bottom edge of said plow blade and a flexible elastomeric type strip attached to one vertical edge of said plow blade to more closely conform to the bottom and sides of the vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a carriage is provided to rotatably support said plow, said carriage being horizontally movable transversely of the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a drive is provided to rotate said plow shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein linear actuating means is provided to move said plow carriage transversely of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein an elevator is provided to carry said transversely movable carriage, said elevator being movable in a vertical direction to adjust the elevation of said plow with respect to said vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a fixed supporting structure is provided, said structure spanning the width of the vessel and positioned at an elevation so that the vessel may move longitudinally thereunder, said structure further supporting and guiding said elevator in its vertical movement of said elevator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a power operated wire rope hoist system is provided on said elevator, one end of the hoist rope system being attached to said supporting structure, said hoist system capable of raising and lowering said elevator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said auxiliary skirt assembly further comprises a trolley movable in a longitudinal direction, said skirt assembly being suspended from said trolley, said trolley having a hoist for adjusting the vertical position of said skirt assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The appAratus of claim 11 wherein said auxiliary skirt assembly further comprises a flexible connection between said skirt assembly and said unloading machine so that as the unloading machine moves longitudinally along its inclined path said flexible connection pulls said skirt assembly, suspended from said trolley, a corresponding amount longitudinally to maintain the skirt assembly in its same relative position just ahead of said digging portion of the unloading machine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
Plow apparatus to reduce the amount of cleanup used with an unloading machine for reclaiming and elevating loose bulk material from a marine vessel adjacent a pier as the vessel is moved past the unloading machine in one or more longitudinal passes, the combination which comprises: a. at least one plow positioned ahead of the unloading machine, said plow having a relatively wide vertical face and being rotatable about a vertical axis to deflect material from the sides of the vessel into the path of the unloading machine, b. a carriage supporting said plow and providing horizontal movement of said plow transversely of the vessel, c. a vertically movable elevator carrying said carriage and providing adjustment for the vertical elevation of said plow in the vessel, d. a transverse bridge supporting and guiding said elevator, said bridge movable in a longitudinal direction of the vessel, and e. a fixed supporting structure spanning the vessel at a suitable elevation so the vessel may be moved thereunder during unloading, said structure supporting said elevator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
234 words
Plow apparatus to reduce the amount of manual cleanup for use with an unloading machine for reclaiming and elevating loose, bulk material from a marine vessel in a slip between a pier and a cell, said vessel being moved past the unloading machine in one or more longitudinal digging passes, the combination which comprises: a. a fixed supporting structure spanning the slip between the pier and the cell, said structure being at a suitable elevation so the vessel may be moved thereunder, said structure further being located adjacent to but ahead of the unloading machine, b. a transverse bridge mounted on said supporting structure for movement longitudinally of the vessel, c. an elevator movably guided by and supported within said transverse bridge, said elevator being movable in a vertical direction, d. a pair of transversely movable carriages mounted in said elevator, each carriage being independently adjustable in the transverse direction of the vessel, and e. a pair of plows, one mounted in each transversely movable carriage, each plow also being rotatable about a vertical axis, each plow having a vertical plow blade which, when positioned transversely of the vessel and rotated to an angle not parallel with the sides of the vessel, will push the material lying along the sides of the vessel toward the center of the vessel into the path of the unloading machine as the vessel is moved by said plows.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a system for unloading, with a minimum amount of cleanup required, loose bulk material from a marine vessel adjacent a shore installation wherein the unloading system includes an unloading machine mounted on a fixed frame spanning the vessel, wherein a digging portion of the unloading machine is adjustable along an inclined path and wherein the vessel is moved past the unloading machine during unloading, apparatus which comprises in combination: a. a pair of plows preceding the unloading machine in engaging the material, said plows being rotatable about a vertical axis, being movable transversely of the vessel and being liftable to change the elevation of the plows, and b. an auxiliary skirt assembly located between said plows and the unloading machine said skirt assembly having two vertical plate members spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the reclaiming width of the unloading machine, whereby material moved into the path of the unloading machine by said plows is restrained from movIng sideways by the skirt assembly, acting as false vessel sides, as the unloading machine digs into the material during reclaiming.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
249 words
Plow apparatus to reduce the amount of cleanup required in an unloading system for reclaiming and elevating loose, bulk material from a marine vessel adjacent a pier wherein the vessel is slightly wider than the unloading machine, the vessel is moved past the unloading machine in one or more longitudinal passes, the vessel is further positioned so one longitudinal side is adjacent one transverse end of the unloading machine, the combination which comprises: a. a plow having a vertical blade member and a vertical shaft, said shaft being pivotally connected to said plow blade and projecting upwardly from said plow blade, said pivotal connection permitting said plow blade to conform to a listing of the vessel during unloading; b. a vertically movable elevator having a platform portion at its lower end, the upper end of said plow shaft being rotatably supported on said platform portion; c. a drive for rotating said plow shaft mounted on said platform portion having a driving connection to said plow shaft; d. an upper and a lower guide bushing mounted on said platform portion for vertically guiding said plow shaft, said plow shaft having some vertical movement as a result of the tilting of the plow blade and listing of the vessel; e. a carriage movable transversely of the vessel, said carriage guiding and supporting said elevator; and f. a fixed supporting structure transversely spanning said vessel at a suitable elevation so the vessel may pass thereunder, said structure supporting said transversely movable carriage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
The plow apparatus of claim 16, wherein said plow is provided with at least one spring and said platform portion of said elevator is provided with a planar spring contact surface on the underside of said platform portion; said spring is mounted on the top horizontal edge of said plow blade and the upper-end of said spring bears against said contact surface, said spring providing vertical pressure on the pivotal plow blade to help said plow blade maintain contact with the bottom of the vessel as the plow blade tilts to conform to a listing of the vessel.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
372 words
A method of unloading a marine vessel of loose, bulk material with a minimum of manual cleanup wherein an unloading machine and plow apparatus having at least one plow blade are used in combination and the inside of the vessel is slightly wider than the reclaiming width of the unloading machine, the unloading method comprising the steps of: a. positioning the vessel with the stern end immediately under the unloading machine, and with one longitudinal side of the vessel adjacent one transverse end of the unloading machine; b. lowering the unloading machine partially into the material in the vessel; c. operating the unloading machine to remove material; d. propelling the vessel longitudinally past the unloading machine in a first digging pass; e. lowering the plow blade into the material in the end of the vessel with the plow blade perpendicular to the longitudinal side of the vessel; f. rotating the plow blade to clean out the end corner of the vessel and to push the material toward the path of the unloading machine; g. positioning the plow blade transversely of the vessel at the longitudinal side of the vessel opposite to the side at which the unloading machine is adjacent; h. adjusting the plow blade to an angle with the longitudinal sides of the vessel to deflect material at the sides of the vessel into the path of the unloader; i. returning the vessel to its original starting position with the stern end of the vessel under the unloading machine; j. using the angularly positioned plow to deflect material at the side of the vessel into the path of the unloading machine as the vessel is propelled; k. lowering the unloading machine deeper into the material and close to the botTom of the vessel; l. rotating the plow blade parallel to the longitudinal side of the vessel and positioning the plow blade adjacent to the other transverse end of the unloading machine to act as a retaining skirt; m. operating the unloading machine to remove material; n. propelling the vessel longitudinally past the unloading machine in a final digging pass; and o. raising the unloading machine and the plow blade above and clear of the empty vessel so it may be removed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The unloading method of claim 18 wherein steps (a) to (d) inclusive may be repeated as necessary to provide more than one digging pass depending upon the size of the vessel and the capacity of the unloading machine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The unloading method of claim 18 wherein steps (e) to (h) inclusive occur during a second digging pass, steps (e) to (h) thereafter following step (i).
Claim 21
Independent Claim
350 words
A method of unloading a marine vessel of loose, bulk material with a minimum amount of manual cleanup wherein an unloading machine and plow apparatus having a pair of independently operable plow blades are used in combination, wherein the inside of the vessel is considerably wider than the reclaiming width of the unloading machine and wherein no provision is required for laterally positioning the unloading machine and the vessel, the unloading method comprising the steps of: a. positioning the vessel with the stern end immediately under the unloading machine and with the transverse centerline of the vessel under the transverse centerline of the unloading machine; b. lowering the unloading machine partially into the material in the vessel; c. operating the unloading machine to remove material; d. propelling the vessel longitudinally past the unloading machine in a first digging pass; e. lowering the plow blades into the material in the bow end of the vessel with the plow blades perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the vessel; f. positioning and rotating the plow blades into each bow end corner to clean out the material therein and pushing the material toward the path of the unloading machine; g. adjusting the plow blades at angle to the longitudinal sides of the vessel to deflect material at the sides into the path of the unloading machine; h. returning the vessel to its original starting position with the stern end of the vessel under the unloading machine and using the angularly positioned plows to deflect material into the path of the unloading machine; i. lowering the unloading machine deeper into the material and close to the bottom of the vessel; j. rotating each plow blade parallel to the longitudinal sides of the vessel and positioning each plow adjacent to a transverse end of the unloading machine to act as retaining skirts; k. operating the unloading machine to remove material; l. propelling the vessel longitudinally past the unloading machine in a final digging pass; and m. raising the unloading machine and the plow blades above and clear of the empty vessel so it may be removed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |