Conveyors: fluid current – Fluid current conveyor outlet means – Movable outlet
Patent
1982-09-23
1984-10-16
Nase, Jeffrey V.
Conveyors: fluid current
Fluid current conveyor outlet means
Movable outlet
406167, 137615, 138120, 414139, B65G 5354
Patent
active
044772106
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to conveyor systems for loading ships, more particularly to such systems in which bulk materials are conveyed pneumatically from shore to ship.
BACKGROUND ART
It is now established practice to convey bulk materials, such as coal, by means of pneumatic conveying equipment, the material being fed into a despatch vessel which is then supplied with compressed air, said air being utilized to transport the material from the vessel along an associated pipeline to a desired destination.
When loading ships either with hard-to-handle materials, whether they be cargo or fuel for the ship itself, such as coal to be stored in bunkers, it is currently usual to utilise mechanical means such as bucket and belt conveyors, mechanical grabs or the like.
It would be desired to be able to load ships with bulk materials by means of pneumatic conveying equipment. However, established systems of this type are incapable of accommodating the constant movement of a ship that takes place due to the influences of tide, loading ballasting and mooring drift.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a pneumatic conveyor system for transporting bulk materials from shore to ship, said system including a shore-based hopper for said material and a sealed length of pipeline extending continuously from said hopper to a receiving port in the ship, the system being characterised in that the pipeline comprises a first length of flexible tubing having an inlet end fixed relative to, for supply with material from, the hopper, and an outlet end movable universally relative to said inlet end, the outlet end of said tubing feeding into a telescopic length of rigid tubing forming an extension of said first length of flexible tubing, and a further length of flexible tubing forming a continuation of said rigid tubing, the outlet end of said further length of tubing being movable universally relative to its inlet end and being adapted for location in the receiving port of the ship.
Such a system, by virtue of the universal movability of the first and further lengths of flexible tubing at the input and output ends of the system and the ability of the intermediate telescopic section to be extended or retracted, embodies multi-planar flexibility even when rigidly connected to the ship's side, sufficient to accommodate the normal envelope of movement of the ship.
Preferably the first length of flexible tubing is incorporated in an inlet section of the pipeline, said section comprising a fixed member, the inlet end of said tubing being secured relative to said fixed member, and a movable member mounted for universal movement relative to said fixed member, the outlet end of said tubing being secured to said movable member.
Conveniently, the further length of flexible tubing is incorporated in an outlet section of the pipeline mounted on the end of the telescopic tubing remote from the inlet section of the pipeline, the inlet end of said further length of tubing being secured relative to the telescopic tubing and the outlet end of said further length of tubing being secured to, for feeding through the peak of, a truncated conical docking member universally movable relative to said end of the telescopic tubing, the port in the ship being of corresponding shape to receive said docking member therein.
The system preferably incorporates control means, conveniently hydraulic rams, for:
(a) moving the movable member of the inlet section of the pipeline, and attached telescopic tubing and outlet section, relative to the fixed member of said inlet section;
(b) extending and retracting the slidable components of the telescopic tubing relative to one another;
(c) moving the docking member relative to said end of the telescopic tubing remote from the inlet section, and
(d) maintaining the first length of flexible tubing substantially rigid during pneumatic transportation of material through the pipeline.
In a preferred system, the control means are so arranged that, on pneumatic tr
REFERENCES:
patent: 594449 (1897-11-01), Weber
patent: 3273942 (1966-09-01), McFarland
Edelbrock Daniel R.
Nase Jeffrey V.
Sendair International Limited
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