US4236857A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the continuous unloading of ships
Assignee: Voest Alpine Hebetechnik und Brueckenbau AG
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Filing: 1978-09-20
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for the continuous unloading of ships, having a traveling crane and a boom disposed for raising and lowering thereon and bearing a feeder for bulk material that is to be unloaded comprise a bucket elevator including a main frame and a lower section and an endless bucket train having at least one releasable coupling. The lower section has a pulley mechanism joined to the feeder assembly feeding it and is releasably fastened to the main frame so that the lower section of the bucket elevator together with the feeder assembly is removable.
Inventors
- 👤 Josef Willi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G67/60; B65G67/606
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
In an apparatus for the continuous unloading of ships, having a traveling crane and a boom disposed thereon for raising and lowering a feeding unit for bulk material that is to be unloaded and a bucket elevator fed by the feeding unit, the improvement wherein the bucket elevator comprises a main frame pivotally connected to the boom, a lower section including pulley means rotatable about a pulley axis and having the feeder unit connected thereto to form a feed assembly, means releasably connecting the lower section at a given point to the main frame, an endless bucket train coactive with the pulley means and having at least one releasable coupling to engage and disengage same therefrom, wherein the feed assembly is removable from the main frame upon the uncoupling of the bucket train and the releasing of the lower section from the main frame and replaceable by another such assembly including a lower section having the same distance between the pulley axis and the given point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
In an apparatus for the continuous unloading of ships, having a traveling crane and a boom disposed thereon for raising and lowering a feeding unit for bulk material that is to be unloaded and a bucket elevator fed by the feeding unit, the improvement wherein the bucket elevator comprises a main frame pivotally connected to the boom, a lower section including pulley means rotatable about a pulley axis and having the feeder unit connected thereto to form a feed assembly, means releasably connecting the lower section at a given point to the main frame, an endless bucket train coactive with the pulley means and having at least one releasable coupling to engage and disengage same therefrom, wherein the feed assembly is removable from the main frame upon the uncoupling of the bucket train and the releasing of the lower section from the main frame and replaceable by another such assembly including a lower section having the same distance between the pulley axis and the given point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means releasably connecting the lower section of the bucket elevator to the main frame comprises bolts rigidly fastening the two together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable connecting means includes means pivotably mounting the lower section of the bucket elevator to the main frame comprising at least one pin coinciding with the given point and means for swinging the lower section comprising a piston-and-cylinder device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of claim 3, wherein the swinging means includes means for fixing the lower section of the bucket elevator in any desired swing position with respect to the main frame within an angular range of approximately ±15°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed assembly includes a feeding unit comprising one of bucket wheels and conveyor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the train of the bucket elevator comprises two endless chains and trough-shaped buckets pivotably suspended from each chain link point of the two chains, and the distance between the link points of the chains being only slightly greater than the trough diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus of claim 6, wherein the releasable coupling on the two chains are disposed side by side on the inner chain links.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the releasable connecting means comprises two pins for the releasable joining the lower section of the bucket elevator to the main frame, pivotally connected to two piston rods of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and which are displaceable by the action thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feeding unit has two similar feeders disposed symmetrically with respect to the main frame and which feed the bucket train at the lower section from both sides thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feeders comprise two bucket wheels disposed one on each side of the pulley means of the lower section of the bucket elevator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lower section comprises a frame on which the pulley means and the two bucket wheels are coaxially mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame has a box cross section and that the two bucket wheels each have a motor and a drive, the drives being housed within the box cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein the feeding unit comprises two feeders articulated to one side of the lower section of the bucket elevator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the two feeders articulated at one side has circulating conveyor means comprising one of buckets and scrapers circulating on an endless chain system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two chain systems of the feeders each have an upper and a lower pulley means and that the pulley means are journaled on a common frame, the swing axis of the feeding unit being coincident with the axis of the upper pulley means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus of claim 15, wherein the frame comprises at least two telescoping members connected to the shaft of the two upper pulley means and the shaft of the lower two pulley means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a piston and cylinder section for displacing the lower telescoping part in relation to the upper telescoping part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus of claim 17, wherein the two upper pulley means are driven by at least one motor and each by a drive which are fastened to the upper telescoping part situated in the middle between the two feeders, each drive driving a bull wheel which is mounted on a drive shaft of the upper pulley means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for pivoting the main frame with an angular range of ±15° with respect to the vertical and wherein the means releasably connecting the lower section to the main frame includes means mounting same for pivotable movement about a pivot axis coinciding with the given point and means for pivoting the lower section within an angular range of ±15° with respect to the main frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |