Shiploading systems, methods and apparatus
AssigneeSuperior Industries, Inc.
InventorsTravis Thooft, Lafe Grimm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for shiploading.
Claims20
A shiploader system having a transport configuration and an operational configuration, comprising:
- a radial stacking conveyor having a first pulley and a first pulley drive operably coupled to said first pulley;
- a truck unloader comprising an unloading zone having an unloading zone conveyor section, said conveyor section operably coupled to a second conveyor, said second conveyor having a second pulley and a second pulley drive operably coupled to said second pulley;
- a coupler, said coupler coupling the truck unloader to said radial stacking conveyor for pivoting about a vertical axis, wherein said unloading zone conveyor section of said truck unloader is raised off the ground in the transport configuration and wherein said unloading zone conveyor section is lowered into contact with the ground in the operational configuration, said coupler at least partially supporting the truck unloader at least partially behind the radial stacking conveyor in the transport configuration;
- and
- a link, said link being operably coupled to said radial stacking conveyor at a first end thereof, said link being operably coupled to said truck unloader, said link at least partially supporting said weight of said truck unloader in the transport configuration at a location behind said radial stacking conveyor such that said unloading zone is disposed fully behind said radial stacking conveyor in the transport configuration.
A shiploader control system for a shiploader system having a transport configuration and an operational configuration, the shiploader system having a radial stacking conveyor with a first head-end drive pulley, the shiploader system having a truck unloader with a second head-end drive pulley and an unloading zone conveyor section, the unloading zone conveyor section being disposed on the ground in the operational configuration, the shiploader system having an actuator disposed to raise the truck unloader from the ground, the control system comprising:
- a first pulley drive configured to drive the first head-end drive pulley;
- a second pulley drive configured to the second head-end drive pulley;
- at least a first truck unloader raise actuator valve, the truck unloader raise actuator valve being configured to alternately retract and extend the actuator of the shiploader system in order to alternately (a) raise the truck unloader unloading zone conveyor section from the ground to the transport configuration such that said truck unloader unloading zone conveyor section is supported by said radial stacking conveyor and disposed fully behind said radial stacking conveyor in the transport configuration and (b) lower the truck unloader conveyor section toward and into contact with the ground;
- at least a first forward wheel drive configured to drive a forward wheel of a forward wheel assembly of the radial stacking conveyor, wherein said forward wheel assembly is operably coupled to said radial stacking conveyor, wherein said forward wheel is configured to transport said radial stacking conveyor in the transport configuration such that said truck unloader is transported along with said radial stacking conveyor;
- and
- a controller in data communication with said first truck unloader raise actuator valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.