24,339. Harrison, G., [Selleck, W. J.]. Nov.6. Loading and unloading; cranes.-Relates to floating-apparatus for loading and unloading ships or other vessels, particularly applicable for transferring coal from a barge or lighter to a ship, and consists of pontoons spaced a distance apart slightly greater than the length of the largest barge used, and carrying the ends of a truss for supporting travelling cranes from which buckets &c. are operated to transfer the coal &c. from a barge placed between the pontoons, to the ship. The two pontoons or floats A', A<2>, Fig. 1, are connected at the bottom by a structure A, preferably formed hollow to receive ballast for varying the submergence of the pontoons. Standards B', B<2> mounted upon the pontoons carry a bridge B comprising a top portion b, Fig. 3, and depending side portions b<1>, b<2>. A travelling crane D is supported on tracks d', d<2> carried on the inner surfaces of the side portions of the bridge, and is propelled by means of a fixed cable E extending the length of the bridge and passing over a drum e mounted on the crane and rotated by a motor e<1>. The bucket J' is supported by a rope F passing round a drum f rotated by a motor f<1>, the opening and closing of the bucket being controlled by another rope F<2>. The motors e', f<1> are governed by controllers E', F<1>. Each side portion of the bridge is provided with a pair of tracks h<1>, h<2> on which run wheels H<1>, H<2> carrying straps h, to the lower ends of which a hopper H is attached. A shoot h<3> is secured to the lower end of the hopper, preferably so as to be rotated with respect to the hopper. The coal &c. is delivered from the shoot to an endless conveyer, which conveys it to the desired part of the ship. The conveyer may be supported by straps from the hopper, the end opposite the straps being provided with a supporting-truck; the conveyer may be propelled by a motor on a shaft suspended in the conveyer frame, an endless belt passing over the shaft receiving the coal &c. from the shoot. Boilers M<1>, M<2> within the pontoons supply steam to the engines m<1>, m<2>, which operate dynamos G', G<2> in connection with the controllers and motors. Two or more cranes with separate buckets, and two or more hoppers may be used. The apparatus is placed adjacent to the ship to be coaled, and the coal barge or lighter C is placed between the pontoons so as to float over the submerged portion A. The hopper and conveyer being in position, the bucket filled with coal is raised and the crane run along the bridge till the bucket is over the hopper, when it is opened, and the coal passes through the shoot to the conveyer, which delivers it at the desired part of the ship. The conveyer is dispensed with when the coal &c. is delivered at points alongside of the ship adjacent to the barge. The apparatus may be used for transferring coal and other materials from barges to a wharf &c.