The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

UNLOADING VESSELS. BY BARGE OR SHLP ELEVATORS 465 Portable Barge Elevator for Grain.—A device which is portable in more than one sense is worth special mention on account of its unique construction. It is built by Mohr & Federhaff, and consists of the usual barge elevator, to the delivery end of which is hinged a worm in a tubular casing. The latter is arranged telescopically so that a portion of the casing may be withdrawn and thus form a shoot for the delivery of the grain as it leaves the worm (the whole being in an inclined position). Fig. 648 shows this device suspended from the hook of an ordinary crane in the lowest position, so that the worm which receives the grain from the elevator just reaches a portable sacking apparatus for filling the grain into sacks. For high tide and bigger ships the whole tackle is raised by the crane, when the telescopic worm casing extends automatically. The worm does not then reach the entire length of the tube, but in that position the incline is sufficient for the grain to fall by gravity down to the end and deliver as before. When the crane is to be used for ordinary goods, the whole apparatus is closed up and deposited in a stand erected for it somewhere on the quay out of the way, but yet within reach of the crane. An electro- motor is fitted to the elevator head, geared by spur wheels to the elevator spindle, and from this by chain on to the worm. 1 he obvious advantage of such an installation for small ports is the small initial expense, (The dimensions are in metres.) as the same crane can be used for ordinary cargo as well as for unloading grain in bulk. It has also the further advantage that the unloading device, being suspended