Abstract: The total weight of material loaded into a floating barge is determined with high accuracy automatically. Human and other error factors are eliminated. Before and after loading, the angle of list of the barge in the port-starboard plane and the angle of trim in the fore-aft plane, together with the distance from the water surface to a fixed overhead structure and the distance from this structure to a fixed point on the barge deck are measured. Using the known barge geometry and the above measurements before and after loading, a computer calculates the change in the volume of water displaced due to loading the barge and by using Archimedes' principle and then calculates the payload introduced into the barge.

Abstract: A slope or list sensor placed on a floating vessel detects listing thereof in either direction and produces an electrical signal which is proportional to the degree of list. An overhead movable flowable material delivery means responds automatically to the signal from the sensor and moves laterally of the vessel to load the vessel in such a way that the list is corrected automatically during the complete loading of the vessel. Various types of material delivery devices capable of responding to a signal can be employed.

Abstract: A water borne barge or other floating vessel is loaded automatically with flowable material from end-to-end with a proper predetermined level of material without dependency on inaccurate human observations. The automatic load-out is terminated with the vessel in a level plane. A material level sensor initiates fore and aft relative movement between the vessel and dockside material delivery equipment and the relative movement progresses until the vessel is loaded end-to-end. During the automatic load-out under control of the material level sensor, a vessel list or slope sensor monitors the degree of list in the fore and aft plane and generates an electrical signal proportional to the degree of list at any given moment. As the vessel load-out progresses, this signal will advance toward the level or null point and when such point is reached, the operation of the dockside material delivery equipment will be terminated automatically with the vessel completely loaded and in a level attitude.

Abstract: Vehicles to be loaded are advanced to a loading station beneath a material supply source. A first sensing means senses the presence of a vehicle and activates a signal device to alert the driver to stop at the loading position or terminates the operation of automatic means for advancing the vehicle. An overhead second sensing means and an associated flowable solids load level sensor are lowered until the second sensing means detects the top of the vehicle load-receiving body.