GB2072132A

GB2072132A - Bulk material handling conveyor system

Info

Publication number: GB2072132A
Application number: GB8108664A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Howard Ltd C A E C
Current assignee: Howard Ltd C A E C
Priority date: 1980-03-20
Filing date: 1981-03-19
Publication date: 1981-09-30

Abstract

A dockside bulk material handling installation has a fixed support structure 1 which carries one end of a primary boom 2 on a turntable 3 about which the boom may pivot around a vertical axis. The boom 2 has a conveyor 4 which is fed at end 6 from a dump or collection point by conveyor system 5. The other end of boom 2 is connected with a slewing carriage 7 which runs on an arcuate rail track 8 having the centre of curvature at turntable 3. The carriage includes a secondary boom 9 mounted on a turntable and pivotable about a vertical axis. The boom 9 has a part movable about a horizontal pivot 12 by rams 13 and a further end jib 14 movable about horizontal pivot 15 by rams 16. The boom 9 includes a conveyor run 11 onto which material is fed from conveyor 4. The range of movement of boom 9 augmented by movement of carriage 7 provides a good loading range for a ship 17. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to bulk material handling equipment This invention relates to bulk material handling equipment and is primarily but not essentially concerned with equipment for loading marine craft at a dockside. The invention seeks primarily to provide equipment for conveying bulk materials to the hold of a ship and having a wide operating range and which may accommodate tidal changes in water levels.

According to this invention mechanical handling equipment comprises a primary boom member incorporating a conveyor belt means and arcuately movable around a fixed transfer device through which material may be transported onto one end of the conveyor, the primary boom member being coupled with a slewing carriage arranged to travel along an arcuate path, said carriage carrying a secondary boom member including a further conveyor co-operable with the first conveyor to receive material from same, the secondary boom being further mounted about a vertical pivot axis to afford rotational movement and incorporating a part or parts along its length which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

The discharge end of the secondary boom may be fitted with a rotatable 'turn head spout' or 'chute' to deflect the discharged material into a required direction; this may be in addition to or in place of an end hinged portion of said boom.

This arrangement enables the secondary boom to be pivoted about the slewing carriage over a wide range and further the secondary boom may be raised or lowered in order to obtain access over a wide range of vertical movement required at the dockside. The slewing carriage preferably runs on a track which gives added range to the extent of movement of the secondary boom.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one preferred construction of handling equipment according to the invention, wherein: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the equipment installed at a dockside, and Figure 2 shows a plan view of the equipment of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the equipment comprises a fixed structure 1 carrying a primary boom 2 which is pivoted for slewing movement about the load bearing turntable pivot assembly 3.

The boom 2 carries conveyor belt 4 and this is associated with one or more conveyor belts 5 for the purpose of transporting bulk material to the end 6 of the conveyor 4. The boom 2 is connected to and supported by a slewing carriage 7 which moves around an arcuate track 8 which may comprise rails, and the carriage 7 may further include drive means for moving same around the track. The carriage 7 has a secondary boom 9 pivotally mounted on a turntable 1 2a for slewing movement with appropriate counterbalance means 10, and the boom 9 includes a further conveyor 11 onto which material from the conveyor 4 may be discharged. The secondary boom 9 includes a pivot 12 on a horizontal axis about which luffing action may be effected through rams 13.

The end of the secondary boom 9 may include a further short jib portion 14 which pivots about a horizontal axis 1 5 under the control of rams 1 6.

The conveyor continues to the end of jib 14 where the bulk material is discharged into the hold of a ship 17.

It will be evident that the construction enables a wide range of loading movement to be effected, and in addition most of the volume beneath the secondary boom in its fully extended position and swept out by its combined motions is available for stock piling which, if necessary, may be effected through the secondary boom 9. In addition the slewing carriage 7 is coupled to the central structure 1 through the primary boom 4, thus providing additional stability of the slewing carriage. Various configurations of loading conveyors 5 may be provided to feed material to the primary boom conveyor 4.

1. Mechanical bulk material handling equipment comprising a primary boom member incorporating a conveyor belt means and arcuately movable around a fixed transfer device through which material may be transported onto one end of the conveyor, the primary boom member being coupled with a slewing carriage arranged to travel along an arcuate path, said carriage carrying a secondary boom member including a further conveyor co-operable with the first conveyor to receive material from same, the secondary boom being further mounted about a vertical pivot axis to afford rotational movement and incorporating a part or parts along its length which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

2. Equipment as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a material discharge end of the secondary boom includes a rotatable turn head spout or chute to deflect discharged material into a required direction.

3. Equipment as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the end part of the secondary boom is pivotably mounted on a horizontal axis.

4. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the slewing carriage runs on a rail track.

5. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the fixed transfer device comprises a support structure carrying a load bearing pivot assembly on which the one end of the primary boom is mounted for movement about a vertical pivot axis.

6. Equipment as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the support structure carries an end of a transfer conveyor to transport material from a remote collection point onto one end of the primary boom conveyor.

7. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the slewing carriage includes drive means to move same along the track.

8. Equipment as claimed in any preceding

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to bulk material handling equipment This invention relates to bulk material handling equipment and is primarily but not essentially concerned with equipment for loading marine craft at a dockside. The invention seeks primarily to provide equipment for conveying bulk materials to the hold of a ship and having a wide operating range and which may accommodate tidal changes in water levels. According to this invention mechanical handling equipment comprises a primary boom member incorporating a conveyor belt means and arcuately movable around a fixed transfer device through which material may be transported onto one end of the conveyor, the primary boom member being coupled with a slewing carriage arranged to travel along an arcuate path, said carriage carrying a secondary boom member including a further conveyor co-operable with the first conveyor to receive material from same, the secondary boom being further mounted about a vertical pivot axis to afford rotational movement and incorporating a part or parts along its length which may be pivoted about a horizontal axis. The discharge end of the secondary boom may be fitted with a rotatable 'turn head spout' or 'chute' to deflect the discharged material into a required direction; this may be in addition to or in place of an end hinged portion of said boom. This arrangement enables the secondary boom to be pivoted about the slewing carriage over a wide range and further the secondary boom may be raised or lowered in order to obtain access over a wide range of vertical movement required at the dockside. The slewing carriage preferably runs on a track which gives added range to the extent of movement of the secondary boom. The accompanying drawings illustrate one preferred construction of handling equipment according to the invention, wherein: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the equipment installed at a dockside, and Figure 2 shows a plan view of the equipment of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, the equipment comprises a fixed structure 1 carrying a primary boom 2 which is pivoted for slewing movement about the load bearing turntable pivot assembly 3. The boom 2 carries conveyor belt 4 and this is associated with one or more conveyor belts 5 for the purpose of transporting bulk material to the end 6 of the conveyor 4. The boom 2 is connected to and supported by a slewing carriage 7 which moves around an arcuate track 8 which may comprise rails, and the carriage 7 may further include drive means for moving same around the track. The carriage 7 has a secondary boom 9 pivotally mounted on a turntable 1 2a for slewing movement with appropriate counterbalance means 10, and the boom 9 includes a further conveyor 11 onto which material from the conveyor 4 may be discharged. The secondary boom 9 includes a pivot 12 on a horizontal axis about which luffing action may be effected through rams 13. The end of the secondary boom 9 may include a further short jib portion 14 which pivots about a horizontal axis 1 5 under the control of rams 1 6. The conveyor continues to the end of jib 14 where the bulk material is discharged into the hold of a ship 17. It will be evident that the construction enables a wide range of loading movement to be effected, and in addition most of the volume beneath the secondary boom in its fully extended position and swept out by its combined motions is available for stock piling which, if necessary, may be effected through the secondary boom 9. In addition the slewing carriage 7 is coupled to the central structure 1 through the primary boom 4, thus providing additional stability of the slewing carriage. Various configurations of loading conveyors 5 may be provided to feed material to the primary boom conveyor 4. CLAIMS

8. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the secondary boom is mounted for rotational movement about a vertical axis on a turntable carried by the slewing carriage, the carriage supporting the other end of the primary boom above the secondary boom, the material being discharged from the primary boom over the turntable onto the secondary boom conveyor.

9. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the secondary boom has a part pivotable about a horizontal axis located adjacent the vertical pivot axis, said part being movable in a vertical plane through hydraulic ram units, said part carrying an end jib pivotable about a horizontal axis and movable through further hydraulic ram units.

10. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the secondary boom includes a single-run conveyor extending through said boom and the associated part or parts.

11. Equipment as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the booms comprise an open latticework structure with the conveyor located and supported within the lattice.

12. A mechanical bulk material handling installation constructed and arranged to function substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.