Weather proof bulk hold hatch
OwnerCarlos Jose Duarte Matiasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vessel hatch cover has a first plurality of sliding panels that allow a bulk hose receptacle to move across the width of a vessel hold without exposing the underlying bulk material. The first plurality of panels forms a loading portion which itself forms one of a second plurality of second sliding panels which allow the loading portion to move fore and aft so as to position the bulk hose receptacle in virtually any location over the hold without ever exposing the underlying hold to the elements. Thus, loading can occur in inclement weather without fear of contamination, reducing demurrage and in port vessel time.
Claims17
A hatch for closing a hold of a vessel while permitting loading and unloading thereof without exposing contents of the hold to the weather, the hatch comprising:
- at least one loader portion having multiple sliding panels movable over each other, at least one of the panels incorporating a receptacle to accommodate a bulk loading hose for filling the hold, the panels being slidable for displacing the receptacle for distributing material loaded into the hold, the sliding panels movable in a side to side direction for moving the loading receptacle over the hold;
- at least one forward hatch cover having multiple sliding panels movable over each other in a forwards and aft direction;
- at least one rear hatch cover having multiple sliding panels movable over each other in a forwards and aft direction;
- wherein the loader portion, forward hatch cover and rearward hatch cover are assembled together for covering the hold, the loader portion being movable in a forwards and aft direction in correspondence with loading of the hold, the forward hatch cover and rearward hatch cover following the loader portion so that the contents of the hold are no exposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.