The Mechanical Handling and Storing of Material

FLOATING LOADING DEVICES 489 a taut cable (see Figs. 684 and 685). The cables manipulating the grab bucket lead from the drum of the winch over an overhead block, which is supported at a high point above the hatch, the bucket normally plumbing the hatch. The pendant portion of the bucket cable passes through a swinging block, the purpose of which is to deflect the bucket cable, thus swinging the latter in the manner of a pendulum, from the position where it takes its load to the delivery point. The swinging block is operated by two swinging cables, which are attached thereto and extend in opposite directions round the leading blocks at the encl of the outstretched boom, and thence to the drums of the swinging winch. It will thus be seen that there are two separate winches for operating the marine transfer. One winch (“ bucket winch ”) controls the opening and closing of the grab bucket and the vertical motions thereof, while the second winch (“slinging winch”) controls the horizontal motions. The winches have double 9£-in. by 10-in. cylinders with piston valves. The gears are completely enclosed to exclude foreign substances. Each winch has a piston type reverse valve. The bucket winch is provided with a metallic brake which is not affected by weather conditions. The control of each winch consists of one pump handle lever, which in mid-position stops the winch ; lifted, hoists the load ; lowered below mid-position, lowers the load. The reverse valves are of special construction, absolutely controlling