US3884528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unloading apparatus
Assignee: Myers-Sherman Co
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Filing: 1973-03-08
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic conveying device, especially well-suited for unloading granular materials from barges, including a fixed length flexible suction hose supported by an extensible boom for adjustable positioning over a broad area of a loaded barge. The boom supports a downstream portion of the hose in a generally horizontal position above the barge with an upstream portion of the hose extending downward from an end of the boom into a conveying posture relative to the load. The boom end further provides a suitable support around the hose bend at the transitional area between the horizontal and downward extending hose portions. In extending and retracting the boom, to reach all material to be unloaded, a greater or lesser portion of the flexible hose is supported by the boom and the bend location of the hose will migrate back and forth over a considerable portion of the hose in routine unloading operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Roland E Shaddock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G67/60; B65G67/606; B65G53/00; B65G53/34; B65G53/52; B65G53/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6918; Y10T137/6932; Y10T137/6943; Y10T137/6947; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/8807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A pneumatic unloading apparatus for granular material comprising: a material receiving compartment having a common air and material inlet and having separate air and material outlets; a flexible hose means having a first end connected to said common air and material inlet and having a second end in operable communication with a lading of granular material; means for inducing a suitable air flow into said flexible hose means second end through said hose and into said compartment, whereby granular material is drawn into the hose and conveyed to the material receiving compartment by the air flow; separating means within said compartment to separate the granular material from the air flow; a telescoping extensible support means for said flexible hose means arranged to support varying lengths thereof adjacent said first end in a generally horizontal position and with varying lengths of said hose means adjacent to said second end depending vertically downward from a free end of said extensible support means, about a supported bend, and terminating in said second end; said hose means supported atop said support means; and means to extend and retract said extensible support means to position said hose second end in a desired conveying position varying lengths of the flexible hOse being supported and said bend changing its location along said flexible hose means as a function of the extension and retraction of the support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A pneumatic unloading apparatus for granular material comprising: a material receiving compartment having a common air and material inlet and having separate air and material outlets; a flexible hose means having a first end connected to said common air and material inlet and having a second end in operable communication with a lading of granular material; means for inducing a suitable air flow into said flexible hose means second end through said hose and into said compartment, whereby granular material is drawn into the hose and conveyed to the material receiving compartment by the air flow; separating means within said compartment to separate the granular material from the air flow; a telescoping extensible support means for said flexible hose means arranged to support varying lengths thereof adjacent said first end in a generally horizontal position and with varying lengths of said hose means adjacent to said second end depending vertically downward from a free end of said extensible support means, about a supported bend, and terminating in said second end; said hose means supported atop said support means; and means to extend and retract said extensible support means to position said hose second end in a desired conveying position varying lengths of the flexible hOse being supported and said bend changing its location along said flexible hose means as a function of the extension and retraction of the support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises an air filtration system and a granular material deflector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for inducing a suitable air flow, exhausts said air flow from said material receiving compartment through said air filtration system and out said air outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein granular material is removed from said material receiving compartment through an air lock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said extensible support means comprises an extensible boom having a hose means supporting bend end extensible and retractable, elevatable and swingable to position said flexible hose means second end in said desired conveying position, movement of the extensible support means controlled by a control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said supporting bend end is provided with a guide support means to guide and support said flexible hose means along a suitable radius around said bend.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said flexible hose is supported along said extensible boom and around said guide support means by a plurality of contoured rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a retaining means is provided to prevent external forces from dislodging said flexible hose means from its support on said extensible boom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said guide support means is yieldingly mounted to said extensible boom whereby lateral external forces will not be readily dislodge the flexible hose means from said guide support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said flexible hose means comprises a reinforced rubber-like suction hose and said second end thereof comprises a suction nozzle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
206 words
A pneumatic conveyor apparatus for particulate material comprising: a flexible hose means having an intake and a discharge end operable with the intake end variously positioned with respect to the discharge end; means for inducing an air flow through said flexible hose to convey said particulate material therethrough; and an extensible support means generally arranged to horizontally support said flexible hose along varying lengths thereof with an unsupported portion of said hose depending downward from an end of said support means, about a bend, whereby varying the length of the flexible hose means being supported to locate one of said hose ends in a desired conveying position, will concurrently vary the location of the bend in the hose means, said extensible support means comprising an extensible boom wherein the end thereof is extended or retracted and is swung and elevated to locate one of said hose ends in a desired conveying position by a suitable control means and end of extensible boom provided with a guide support means to guide and support said flexible base means at a suitable radius around said bend and said flexible hose means being supported along said extensible boom and around said guide support means by a plurality of contoured rollers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
206 words
A pneumatic conveyor apparatus for particulate material comprising: a flexible hose means having an intake and a discharge end operable with the intake end variously positioned with respect to the discharge end; means for inducing an air flow through said flexible hose to convey said particulate material therethrough; and an extensible support means generally arranged to horizontally support said flexible hose along varying lengths thereof with an unsupported portion of said hose depending downward from an end of said support means, about a bend, whereby varying the length of the flexible hose means being supported to locate one of said hose ends in a desired conveying position, will concurrently vary the location of the bend in the hose means, said extensible support means comprising an extensible boom wherein the end thereof is extended or retracted and is swung and elevated to locate one of said hose ends in a desired conveying position by a suitable control means and end of extensible boom provided with a guide support means to guide and support said flexible base means at a suitable radius around said bend and said flexible hose means being supported along said extensible boom and around said guide support means by a plurality of contoured rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A pneumatic granular material unloading apparatus comprising a fixed length flexible hose having opposed inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end stationarily mounted, a crane device having a telescoping arm, the hose supported on the arm of said crane device, said telescoping arm being extensible towards and away from the outlet end of the hose, said arm being elevatable vertically, said arm being rotatable horizontally, said arm terminating in a free end remote from the outlet arm of the hose in a hose supporting curved bend forming supported assembly, said hose being draped over said bend forming support assembly, the inlet end of said hose freely depending from said bend forming support assembly, said bend forming assembly supporting the hose at differing areas of the hose intermediate the inlet and outlet ends iN dependent relationship to the positioning of the free end of the arm with respect to the inlet end, the curved bend forming support assembly including a plurality of spaced apart contoured rollers over which the hose is draped, the rollers having their axes spaced from one another along an arc, the axes being parallel to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
A pneumatic granular material unloading apparatus comprising a fixed length flexible hose having opposed inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end stationarily mounted, a crane device having a telescoping arm, the hose supported on the arm of said crane device, said telescoping arm being extensible towards and away from the outlet end of the hose, said arm being elevatable vertically, said arm being rotatable horizontally, said arm terminating in a free end remote from the outlet arm of the hose in a hose supporting curved bend forming supported assembly, said hose being draped over said bend forming support assembly, the inlet end of said hose freely depending from said bend forming support assembly, said bend forming assembly supporting the hose at differing areas of the hose intermediate the inlet and outlet ends iN dependent relationship to the positioning of the free end of the arm with respect to the inlet end, the curved bend forming support assembly including a plurality of spaced apart contoured rollers over which the hose is draped, the rollers having their axes spaced from one another along an arc, the axes being parallel to one another.
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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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |