Vessel unloader

Claim 2

An unloading apparatus for unloading bulk material from a water borne vessel moored alongside a wharf, said apparatus comprising a gantry structure means for moving said gantry structure longitudinally along a wharf, a trolley having support wheels positioned to permit movement of the trolley longitudinally with respect to the wharf, trolley hoist means for suspending said trolley from said gantry structure alongside said wharf, said gantry structure including means engaging said trolley for moving said trolley in said longitudinal direction, a bucket wheel mounted on said trolley for rotation about an axis parallel to said longitudinal direction, the axis of rotation of said bucket wheel being fixed with respect to said trolley, conveyor means mounted to transfer bulk materials from said bucket wheel to said gantry structure and a harrow mounted adjacent said bucket wheel and reciprocable to move materials to be unloaded towards the conveyor.

Claim 3

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch for controlled raising and lowering of said frame, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel.

Claim 4

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch for controlled raising and lowering of said frame, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel.

Claim 5

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and wherein said cables are secured at four spaced locations on the frame and are trained over pulley means on said boom whereby adjacent pairs of cables and a line between the points of securement of the cables to the frame to define triangles.

Claim 6

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and wherein said cables are secured at four spaced locations on the frame and are trained over pulley means on said boom whereby adjacent pairs of cables and a line between the points of securement of the cables to the frame to define triangles.

Claim 7

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said Wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and wherein harrow means are supported in said frame for movement generally transversely of the goods carrying compartment of the vessel to cause material to be unloaded to be moved towards the pick-up section of said bucket wheel.

Claim 8

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said Wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and wherein harrow means are supported in said frame for movement generally transversely of the goods carrying compartment of the vessel to cause material to be unloaded to be moved towards the pick-up section of said bucket wheel.

Claim 9

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and comprising a harrow, means mounting the harrow for reciprocation transversely through the goods carrying compartment to move materials to be unloaded towards the conveyor.

Claim 10

A transportation and unloading system comprising, in combination, a vessel having a longitudinally extending goods carrying compartment of part-circular transverse cross section, longitudinally extending guide rails on said vessel, unloading apparatus comprising a gantry structure mounted for movement along a wharf, a boom projecting from the gantry beyond an edge of the wharf and movable with the gantry, a frame disposed generally normal to said wharf edge and suspended by cables secured at spaced locations on the frame and trained over guide means on the boom to a winch, a bucket wheel mounted on said frame for rotation about an axis parallel to said wharf edge, guide means on said frame engageable with the guide rails of said vessel for guiding the frame and bucket wheel for movement longitudinally of the vessel, said bucket wheel having an envelope of similar curvature to the transverse cross section of the goods carrying compartment of said vessel and comprising a harrow, means mounting the harrow for reciprocation transversely through the goods carrying compartment to move materials to be unloaded towards the conveyor.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the harrow is inclined inwardly and downwardly towards a pick-up section of the conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two harrows one on each side of the conveyor.