Allis-chalmers Canada, Limited

Matthieu Suykens

Warren R Vaughan

A material handling system for continuous reclaiming or unloading of bulk cargo from the 'dead flow' regions of a ship hold. An unloading conveyor is positioned in underlying relation to the hold substantially centrally of the transverse dimension of the hold and moves lengthwise of the hold. The bottom of the hold is provided with gated discharge hoppers in overlying and discharging relation to the unloading conveyor. A suspended reclaim scraper is provided on each of the opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis of the ship hold to transfer bulk material laterally from the respective 'dead flow' regions to the centrally located discharge hoppers and thus to the underlying unloading conveyor. Each reclaim scraper is suspended by a cable hoist system from a suspension head carried by a trolley which is traversible lengthwise of the hold along a track positioned in the upper portion of the hold, whereby to traverse the reclaim scraper longitudinally of the hold. The track extends in overlying relation to a plurality of holds through an aperture or apertures extending through the bulkhead or bulkheads separating the plurality of holds. The cable hoist system provides the upward or downward movement of the reclaim scraper. Mechanism is also provided for 'slewing' the suspension head and the reclaim scraper supported thereby through an angle of 90.degree. in a horizontal plane to permit movement of the suspended reclaim scraper through the aperture in the upper portion of a bulkhead from one hold to an adjacent hold.

Self-unloading ship with suspended reclaim scraper

A bulk material handling apparatus includes a traveling slot feeder which runs on tracks at opposite sides of the endless belt conveyor beneath a row of bins permitting selective emptying of the bins. The feeder includes inclined, shiftable side skirts which can be adjusted to vary the width and elevation of the unloading slot and an adjustable striker at the downstream end of the feeder which establishes the contour and height of the bulk material deposited on the endless belt conveyor. The material handling apparatus may employ power means so as to permit remote control of the bin emptying operation and adjustment of the skirts and striker. The invention is illustrated in a ship where remote control is a particularly desirable feature to reduce space for workmen in the bottom of the ship and to reduce exposure of workmen to dusty working conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Plainfield, Canada

Matthieu Suykens