Foldable unloading machine having full circle swivelling action

Abstract

The disclosed unloading machine is especially well adapted for unloading bulk materials from ships. The machine swivels around a full circle, to afford maximum coverage to take the bulk material. The illustrated machine comprises an endless bucket train, a vertical supporting leg including first and second parallel guide tubes means whereby the bucket train digs the bulk material and carries it upwardly within the second guide tube, means for receiving the bucket train from the upper end of the second guide tube and for dumping the bulk material, whereupon the bucket train is directed downwardly into the upper end of the first guide tube, swivel supporting means for supporting the leg for swivelling rotation about a first vertical axis through a full circle, the bulk material dumped by the bucket train being received by a first chute which delivers the material to a second chute having a first swivel joint between the second chute and the leg, and a second swivel joint between the lower portion of the second chute and a conveyor which carries away the bulk material. The second swivel joint has a second vertical swivel axis which is spaced laterally from the first swivel axis, whereby the conveyor can be slewed as the leg is swivelled through a full circle, to avoid interference between the conveyor and the leg. First and second power means are provided to produce swivelling movement at the first and second swivel joints. The second chute preferably has a C-shaped arcuate mouth for receiving the bulk material over a wide range of swivelling movement.