GB2082135A - Bulk goods unloader means - Google Patents

Abstract

A bulk goods unloader means comprises a vertical jib (2), from the lower end of which is suspended a detaching part (3) which detaches the bulk goods and transports it to a belt elevator (7) to be carried off, the detaching part (3) being suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib (2) with the aid of a pivotally affixed supporting yoke (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bulk goods unloader means The present invention concerns a bulk goods unloader means wherein the supporting structures carry a vertical jib, from the lower end of which has been suspended a detaching part, which detaches the bulk goods and conveys it onto a belt elevator.

The common drawback of continuously operating ship unloaders of this kind is the rigidity of their construction, which permits little vertical forces for instance such as are caused by wave action or by an operator's error resulting in an upwardly acting blow being dealt to the detaching part of the unloader.

The force from such a blow may damage the unloader's supporting structures or, for instance, the mounting and turning structures of the vertical jib, nor is it enjoyed by the unloader operator, who often (in large-size installations in particular) has his seat even very close to the unloader's detaching part.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned and to provide a durable unloader assembly and which is also kind to its user.

The unloader means of the invention is characterized in that the detaching part has been suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib with the aid of a pivotally attached supporting yoke. The advantage of the invention is a simple attachment which permits, and takes up, vertical forces caused, e.g. by the rolling of the ship.

The unloader means according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the detaching part rests with its own proper weight, affixed to the longer lever arm of the supporting yoke, and that the shorter lever arm beyond the pivot point rests against the vertical jib, controlling the position of the detaching part. The advantage is simplicity of construction.

In the following the means of the invention is more closely described with the aid of an example and with reference to the attached drawing, wherein Figure 1 presents the unloader means in elevational view; the supporting structures on the quay are not visible in the Figure.

Figure 2 shows the detaching part of the unloader means in top view and with the vertical tube sectioned.

The supporting structures of the unloader means, not visible in the drawings, comprise e.g. a gantry part moving along rails on the quay and to which various members carrying and moving the vertical jib 2 have been attached. The latter shall be jointly referred to as supporting structures in this disclosure, and they are indicated with the reference numeral 1. The vertical jib 2 rotates about its vertical axis of rotation 9. The vertical jib is hollow and within it runs an endless belt elevator 7, carrying the bulk goods to be unloaded up from the detaching part 3 and further to be transported to destinations on the quay. From the lower end of the vertical jib 2 has been suspended the detaching part 3, composed mainly of a scoop wheel 10 and the lower end 11 of the belt elevator 7, this lower end having been angulated to run in almost horizontal position.The belt elevator 7 runs at its lower end over a belt drum 12. The suspension of the detaching part 3 has been carried out with a stationary yoke 4 suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib 2 by the pivot 8. The longer lever arm 5 of the stationary yoke 4 is bipartite and extends across both sides of the detaching part 3 so that on one end of the lower arm 5 has been mounted the belt drum 12 and on the other end has been mounted the scoop wheel 10.

The stationary yoke 4 moreover comprises the shorter lever arm 6, which urges against the vertical jib 2 as the detaching part 3 weighs down on the longer lever arm 5. The relative lengths of the lever arms and their position are the means by which the location of the detaching part 3 with reference to the vertical beam can be controlled. When the detaching part 3 receives a blow in its lower part, for instance from the ship's rolling motion, the stationary yoke 4 responds elastically by turning about the pivot 8 because the detaching part is forced downward by no agent other than gravity alone. At the same time the shorter lever arm 6 loses contact with its support, to return when the effect of the impact has passed and the detaching part 3 descends back to its earlier position.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not confined exclusively to the sample just presented and that they may vary within the scope of the claims following below. For instance, the detaching part may contain, instead of the scoop wheel, a short chain elevator or equivalent. Likewise, the effect of an impact from below may be controlled e.g. by having a spring, a hydraulic cylinder or another equivalent mechanism endeavour to prevent the separation of the shorter lever arm from its support.

Hereby minor jolts will not cause separation of the shorter lever arm, which is the result only in connection with more powerful blows which are more dangerous to the structure.

1. A bulk goods unloader means wherein supporting structures (1) carry a vertical jib (2), from the lower end of which has been suspended a detaching part (3) which detaches the bulk goods and transports it to a belt elevator (7) to be carried off, characterized in that the detaching part (3) has been suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib (2) with the aid of a pivotally affixed supporting yoke (4).

2. Unloader means according to claim 1, characterized in that the detaching part (3) rests with its proper weight, mounted on the longer lever arm of the supporting yoke, and that the shorter lever arm (6) beyond the pivotal point (8) urges against the vertical jib (2), controlling the position of the detaching part (3).

3. A bulk goods unloader means substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bulk goods unloader means The present invention concerns a bulk goods unloader means wherein the supporting structures carry a vertical jib, from the lower end of which has been suspended a detaching part, which detaches the bulk goods and conveys it onto a belt elevator. The common drawback of continuously operating ship unloaders of this kind is the rigidity of their construction, which permits little vertical forces for instance such as are caused by wave action or by an operator's error resulting in an upwardly acting blow being dealt to the detaching part of the unloader. The force from such a blow may damage the unloader's supporting structures or, for instance, the mounting and turning structures of the vertical jib, nor is it enjoyed by the unloader operator, who often (in large-size installations in particular) has his seat even very close to the unloader's detaching part. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned and to provide a durable unloader assembly and which is also kind to its user. The unloader means of the invention is characterized in that the detaching part has been suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib with the aid of a pivotally attached supporting yoke. The advantage of the invention is a simple attachment which permits, and takes up, vertical forces caused, e.g. by the rolling of the ship. The unloader means according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the detaching part rests with its own proper weight, affixed to the longer lever arm of the supporting yoke, and that the shorter lever arm beyond the pivot point rests against the vertical jib, controlling the position of the detaching part. The advantage is simplicity of construction. In the following the means of the invention is more closely described with the aid of an example and with reference to the attached drawing, wherein Figure 1 presents the unloader means in elevational view; the supporting structures on the quay are not visible in the Figure. Figure 2 shows the detaching part of the unloader means in top view and with the vertical tube sectioned. The supporting structures of the unloader means, not visible in the drawings, comprise e.g. a gantry part moving along rails on the quay and to which various members carrying and moving the vertical jib 2 have been attached. The latter shall be jointly referred to as supporting structures in this disclosure, and they are indicated with the reference numeral 1. The vertical jib 2 rotates about its vertical axis of rotation 9. The vertical jib is hollow and within it runs an endless belt elevator 7, carrying the bulk goods to be unloaded up from the detaching part 3 and further to be transported to destinations on the quay. From the lower end of the vertical jib 2 has been suspended the detaching part 3, composed mainly of a scoop wheel 10 and the lower end 11 of the belt elevator 7, this lower end having been angulated to run in almost horizontal position.The belt elevator 7 runs at its lower end over a belt drum 12. The suspension of the detaching part 3 has been carried out with a stationary yoke 4 suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib 2 by the pivot 8. The longer lever arm 5 of the stationary yoke 4 is bipartite and extends across both sides of the detaching part 3 so that on one end of the lower arm 5 has been mounted the belt drum 12 and on the other end has been mounted the scoop wheel 10. The stationary yoke 4 moreover comprises the shorter lever arm 6, which urges against the vertical jib 2 as the detaching part 3 weighs down on the longer lever arm 5. The relative lengths of the lever arms and their position are the means by which the location of the detaching part 3 with reference to the vertical beam can be controlled. When the detaching part 3 receives a blow in its lower part, for instance from the ship's rolling motion, the stationary yoke 4 responds elastically by turning about the pivot 8 because the detaching part is forced downward by no agent other than gravity alone. At the same time the shorter lever arm 6 loses contact with its support, to return when the effect of the impact has passed and the detaching part 3 descends back to its earlier position. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not confined exclusively to the sample just presented and that they may vary within the scope of the claims following below. For instance, the detaching part may contain, instead of the scoop wheel, a short chain elevator or equivalent. Likewise, the effect of an impact from below may be controlled e.g. by having a spring, a hydraulic cylinder or another equivalent mechanism endeavour to prevent the separation of the shorter lever arm from its support. Hereby minor jolts will not cause separation of the shorter lever arm, which is the result only in connection with more powerful blows which are more dangerous to the structure. CLAIMS

1. A bulk goods unloader means wherein supporting structures (1) carry a vertical jib (2), from the lower end of which has been suspended a detaching part (3) which detaches the bulk goods and transports it to a belt elevator (7) to be carried off, characterized in that the detaching part (3) has been suspended from the lower end of the vertical jib (2) with the aid of a pivotally affixed supporting yoke (4).

2. Unloader means according to claim 1, characterized in that the detaching part (3) rests with its proper weight, mounted on the longer lever arm of the supporting yoke, and that the shorter lever arm (6) beyond the pivotal point (8) urges against the vertical jib (2), controlling the position of the detaching part (3).

3. A bulk goods unloader means substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.