Abstract: A transfer frame mounted on a dock and formed with a pair of side by side elevator towers extending upwardly to about the level of the uppermost container on a ship to be unloaded and over on their sides facing such ship. Elevators are mounted in the towers for up and down movement to transfer cargo from the higher elevation to a lower elevation to be fed onto a feed conveyor. An overhead crane includes a boom projecting over the towers and over the containers on the ship. A trolley is mounted on the boom for shifting between the tower and ship and includes a hoist for hoisting cargo containers from the ship for transfer along under the beam and through such opening side of the tower to a position over one of the elevator platforms for being lowered a short distance thereto. Simultaneously, an outgoing container may be moved onto the other elevator and elevated for pick up by the hoist after the discharge container is released.

Abstract: A transfer frame mounted on a dock and formed with a pair of side by side elevator towers extending upwardly to about the level of the uppermost container on a ship to be unloaded and over on their sides facing such ship. Elevators are mounted in the towers for up and down movement to transfer cargo from the higher elevation to a lower elevation to be fed onto a feed conveyor. An overhead crane includes a boom projecting over the towers and over the containers on the ship. A trolley is mounted on the boom for shifting between the tower and ship and includes a hoist for hoisting cargo containers from the ship for transfer along under the beam and through such opening side of the tower to a position over one of the elevator platforms for being lowered a short distance thereto. Simultaneously, an outgoing container may be moved onto the other elevator and elevated for pick up by the hoist after the discharge container is released.

Abstract: A garage door locking mechanism incorporating a reversible motor mounted centrally on an overhead garage door and coupled with oppositely disposed rotary latches which are selectively rotated to lock the door in its closed position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic cargo transport apparatus for moving cargo between different vertical levels in which endless chains are synchronized to move along vertical ascending and descending paths in an elevator gantry. Laterally extending cargo loading and cargo discharge conveyors are located at different vertical levels to transfer boxes of cargo to and from pairs of cradles moving respectively in ascending and descending vertical directions within the gantry. Discharge sensors detect unwithdrawn units of cargo at the cargo unloading space and inhibit further operation of the cargo transport until this condition is corrected. Loading sensors detect the ascending movement of cradles at the cargo loading station and synchronize the interpositioning of cargo loads at the cargo loading space.

Abstract: A loading trimmer for dispersing granular material from a loading chute in an adjustable trajector into the hold of a ship or the like. A trimmer carriage with spaced drums carrying an endless belt is positioned below the chute outlet and pivotal about the center of a pair of idler wheels which centrally engage the belt on either side thereof to form an arcuate material receiving and dispersing path. One of the drums is driven by a motor mounted on a remote pivotal platform connected to the trimmer carriage by connecting rods. The carriage is also connected to a remote crank through connecting rods and the crank is driven by a motor which controls the angle of the carriage with respect to the chute and the trajectory of the dispersion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ladder carriage including a truck carried on wheels and formed with a cantilever projection for overhanging the side of a dock and pivotally mounting at its extremity a ladder slide which is rotatable between a vertical operative position and a horizontally disposed storing position. A rigid ladder is slidably carried in such slide and extension and retraction thereof is controlled by an extension control winch connected between such ladder and the truck for extending the ladder downwardly into a barge moored alongside such dock. Further, a retraction worm gear is connected with the slider to pivot it between its horizontally disposed storage position and vertically disposed operative position.

Abstract: An improved cargo transport system for transferring discrete cargo loads from a cargo terminal to a vessel laterally displaced from and below the cargo terminal. The improvement includes a horizontally laterally extending powered conveyor system having an elevator mechanism. The elevator mechanism includes telescoping elements extending downwardly from one end thereof to raise and lower a depending elevator platform. The platform is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the lowermost telescoping element, which in turn is movable with respect to the uppermost telescoping element. The powered conveyor system is mounted on a support which is hinged at an end adjacent to the cargo terminal.

Abstract: A cargo transport system is provided for a vessel in which a transfer mechanism separately transfers discrete cargo loads from a loading station on the deck of the vessel to a vertically extending conveyor system. A powered cargo delivery system sequentially forces cargo loads from the loading station onto the transfer mechanism. A sensing device detects the approach of a receptacle of the vertically extending conveyor system and actuates the transfer mechanism to transport one load from the loading station to the approaching receptacle. The sensing device also actuates the cargo delivery system to force the following cargo load onto the transfer mechanism after the elapse of a pre-set interval during which time the transfer mechanism transfers a load to a receptacle and returns to a load acceptance position. The cargo delivery means is preferably formed of sprockets turning an endless chain to which are fastened push bars.

Abstract: There is disclosed a load unitizer including upper and lower frames formed with spaced apart co-extensive corner retainers for engaging the diagonally opposed corners of polygonal-shaped cargo articles collected together in a row and coupling means is provided for coupling the opposite sides of the upper and lower frames together. Such coupling means includes a pair of connecting arms pivotally connected on their upper extremities in spaced apart relationship to one side of the upper frame and formed on their lower extremities with respective first hooks. Second hooks are mounted from one side of the lower frame in spaced apart relationship and holding means is provided for holding the first and second hooks connected together while the unitizer is transported about to transfer such cargo.

Abstract: A cargo transport system is provided for a vessel in which a transfer mechanism on the deck of the vessel separately transfers discrete cargo loads from a lateral conveyor on the deck of the vessel to a vertically extending conveyor system. The vertically extending conveyor system is equipped with a multiplicity of receptacles which sequentially approach the transfer mechanism. A sensing device detects the approach of a receptacle and actuates the transfer mechanism to transport one load between the lateral conveyor and the approaching receptacle. A load checking main prevents additional loads from approaching the transfer mechanism when the transfer mechanism is actuated. Releasable fastening devices at least partially entrap portions of the tower to accommodate movement of the vessel relative to the tower. Expandable and retractable conveyor systems on the deck of the vessel are interconnected to the lateral conveyor to likewise accommodate movement of the vessel relative to the tower.

Abstract: A load-retaining apparatus including a pallet floor having an upstanding cage mounted thereon for receipt within of a load carried on such pallet floor. A horizontally projecting retainer is provided for resting on such load to hold it captive and is carried from such cage by means of pivotable lifting arms coupled with a hoisting device in such a manner that hoisting of the cage causes such arms to rotate and automatically lower the retainer onto such load. When the pallet subsequently comes to rest on the ground and tension is taken off this hoisting device, the arms are biased to their retracted positions to raise the retainer off such load.

Abstract: Bulk storage and unloading apparatus including a storage compartment having a substantially flat bottom and at least one side wall rising upwardly therefrom, a discharge opening being formed in such bottom wall at a location remote from such side wall. A bladder liner extends substantially the whole length of the compartment and lines the bottom wall and projects upwardly along such side wall to at least the angle of repose between such outlet and the side wall for a predetermined bulk material. The bladder is operative upon inflation thereof to first balloon outwardly away from such side wall at the upper extremity thereof to roll the uppermost bulk material away from such side wall and is further operative upon continued inflation thereof to progressively balloon outwardly greater distances from the side wall to progressively roll the uppermost granular material away from such side wall to fall out such outlet.