BARGES, STORAGE CRATES OR THE LIKE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The object of the present invention is a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material for ship holds, barges, storage crates or the like. The invention in particular relates to a split type unload device equipped with a horizontal excavating foot assembly, operatively connected for the transfer of non-coherent material with a vertical bucket chain elevator assembly and rotatably mobile with respect thereto.

Background of the invention

Devices for continuous unloading of non-coherent material are known, intended to collect non-coherent and/or loose material, such as for example coal, coke and loose minerals or material of non-coherent nature, contained in the holds of specific load ships, barges or storage crates. The known continuous unload devices substantially are divided into two types: a first type of continuous unload devices which for the excavation, the loading and the upwards movement of the non-coherent material, take advantage of a single movement unit which absolves all these functions, and the continuous unload devices of the split type in which there is a horizontal foot which generally scrapes the loose material with the aim of conveying it towards an excavating vertical bucket chain elevator assembly, to which the foot is operatively connected and with which it may be in both a fixed and rotatable engaged relationship.

With respect to the devices of the first type, for example European Patent EP 0 799 782 is known, in which there is described a single device collecting assembly, in which the excavating foot has a variable geometry according to the height variation of the substantially vertical extension portion of the collecting assembly. In addition to having an intrinsic limitation of the movements in a hold, this type of device does not autonomously allow a complete collection of the loose material from all the areas of the hold and is to be equipped with significantly complex automation devices. With respect to the devices of the second type, it is known in the name of the same Applicant, European Patent EP 2 084 090, in which the continuous unload device consists of a substantially horizontal extension and position scraping assembly, rotatably connected to a vertical extension excavating and elevating assembly, in which the main task of the scraping assembly is the one of nearing the loose material to the action and influencing area of the excavating and elevating assembly. The nearing operation occurs with the loose material that freely moves without any type of guide or containment between the action area of the scraping assembly and the influencing area of the elevating assembly. The known devices are therefore capable of controlling and containing the non-coherent material in the scraping and nearing step to the influencing area of the bucket chain elevator assembly with apparent losses of load and complete lack of containment of the powders generated by the movement of highly powdery material.

Moreover, the known devices have burying problems of the excavating devices due to the possibility of landslides of the walls of the material with substantially non-coherent structure, particularly if significant excavating heights are used. Additionally, the known devices require complex maintenance and fine-tuning operations according to the complexity of the moving elements, the electronic systems controlling the operation and the synchronisation thereof especially if the devices are to operate at increased unload volumes.

It is also not possible to quickly replace the foot elements with the devices of the type disclosed because it would be necessary to implement complex manoeuvres on the counter-weights balancing the whole structure, also outside the hold or storage crate.

Object of the invention

In the constant evolution of unload assemblies or systems and devices of non-coherent and/or loose material from the ship holds or storage and collection crates, the Applicant has proposed to resolve the problems of the known systems by making a continuous unload device of the split type, equipped with a horizontal excavating foot assembly, operatively connected with a vertical elevator and rotatably movable with respect thereto, that is more compact and lightweight with respect to the known devices and that simultaneously allows increased overall efficiency of the unloading operations, thus decreasing the losses of transport already from the hold excavating step. It is another object to allow the easy and quick replacement of the excavating elements in the case of maintenance or to provide for the excavation and collection of material with different characteristics. It is another object again to obtain an improved containment of the powders generated by the loose, particularly powdery material during the excavation by confining and managing the powders mainly in the excavating area. Such peculiarity of the present invention is particularly useful in sensitive environments. It is a further object to eliminate the problems of burying the excavating foot due to the typical landsliding of loose material with a non-coherent structure by means of the compactness of the foot and subsequent overall lower excavating height. Accordingly, this also results in an increased efficiency in the overall times of the unloading operations of the holds, with obvious positive effects on the energy savings in managing the systems and final economic advantages in the treatment speed of the loads and the delivery thereof for end use. Summary of the invention

Therefore, the Applicant has found that such objects may be achieved by means of a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material, of the split type, provided with a horizontal excavating foot assembly rotatably connected with the lower terminal portion of a bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis, in which according to a first aspect of the invention, the horizontal excavating foot assembly is equipped with a mobile excavating device, the excavating device being capable of excavating and collecting non-coherent material from an excavating area to convey the same to a collecting area, and being oriented in a way such that its excavating portion moves in a direction substantially horizontal with respect to the excavating area and at a height lower than the collecting area.

In a second aspect of the invention, according to the first aspect, the horizontal excavating foot assembly is formed by a support structure connected by a plurality of constraints to a ring coaxially rotatable about the lower terminal portion of the bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis, on board the support structure there being provided the mobile excavating device, moving conveyor elements and fixed conveyor elements of the non-coherent material, said elements being capable of moving and conveying the non-coherent material from an excavating area to a closed collecting hopper, through an upper oblique releasing and unloading portion of the mobile excavating device.

In a third aspect of the invention, according to the preceding aspect, the closed collecting hopper is rotatably and solidly connected with the excavating foot assembly and with the mobile excavating device.

A fourth aspect of the invention, according to the first aspect, provides for the excavating device and the terminal portion of the bucket chain elevator assembly to be provided with a plurality of containment elements for containing the powders generated by the non-coherent material close to the excavating and collecting area.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, according to the preceding aspect, the plurality of containment elements is formed by a containment bulkhead at the upper oblique releasing and unloading portion of the excavating device, by the hopper itself and by a tubular containment structure of the bucket chain elevator assembly.

According to the fourth aspect, a sixth aspect of the invention provides for the terminal portion of the bucket chain elevator assembly to be inside the hopper.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, according to the first and second aspect, the mobile excavating device on board the support structure of said horizontal excavating foot assembly is formed by a double endless chain carrying a plurality of excavating buckets, the chain and the buckets being moved along a three branch path, a first branch substantially being horizontal relative to the excavating level, a second branch ascending from the excavating level and a third upper oblique branch which closes then reconnects to the first branch and defines the release and unload area of the excavating device.

An eighth aspect of the invention, according to the previous one, provides for the three path branches of the chain and buckets to be defined between a first couple of front base freely moving wheels housed at an end of a first front arm of the support structure, by a second couple of freely moving wheels mounted in the support structure in rear position relative to the first couple of wheels and by a third couple of powered wheels placed preferably in upper position relative to the first and second couple of wheels, with the first and second couple of wheels which are both located substantially at the same level close to the excavating area.

Again, according to the invention, in a ninth aspect according to the second aspect, the fixed conveyor elements provided on the support structure are formed by a shaped fixed slide which conveys the non-coherent material towards the moving conveyor elements consisting of a couple of cochleas, each placed on a side of the slide and connected with the closed collecting hopper by respective inlet openings.

In a tenth aspect of the invention, according to the preceding one, the fixed slide and couple of cochleas are connected to the support structure, each on a side of the slide between said unloading and release area of the non-coherent material by the excavating group and said closed collecting hopper.

In an eleventh aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, the support structure is made with a first U- shaped constraining boxed portion with two arms facing towards and connected with the rotating ring, and with a second boxed portion, in the form of a knee beam, it also U-shaped, and integral with the first portion, the second boxed portion defines two arms connected on one side with the first boxed portion and on the other, with a first front support arm for elements of the excavating device. In a twelfth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, the horizontal excavating foot assembly is fixed to the rotating ring, at a lower portion thereof, by means of the arms of the first U-shaped boxed portion and also by a pair of tie rods that connect the arms of the second boxed portion to the upper portion of the rotating ring.

In a thirteenth aspect of the invention, according to the preceding eighth, eleventh and twelfth aspects, the second boxed portion, in the form of a knee beam of the support structure, is provided with a first front arm at the end of which a first couple of front base wheels is housed, and with a second rear arm at the end of which a second couple of rear base wheels is housed, the couple of front wheels and the couple of rear wheels being at the same level with respect to the excavating level.

In a fourteenth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, the rotating ring is equipped at the top with a toothed fifth-wheel that engages in a drive adapted to allow the rotation thereof about its vertical axis.

In a fifteenth aspect of the invention, according to the thirteenth aspect, the first front arm of the support structure and the second rear arm of the support structure are facing in divergent directions and the ends thereof are at the same level with respect to the excavating level.

Again, according to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, according to the second and eighth aspect, the support structure of the horizontal excavating foot assembly is equipped with a reinforced protection arm fixed on the first front arm thereof, and which extends past the overall volume of the whole excavating foot assembly.

In a seventeenth aspect of the invention, according to the sixth aspect, inside the closed hopper, the lower terminal portion of the bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis provides a couple of freely moving deviation wheels about which load buckets transit, coming from the descending branch of the bucket chain elevator assembly.

In an eighteenth aspect of the invention, according to the preceding aspect, after the passage about the couple of deviation wheels, the buckets transit in the collecting area of the closed hopper to collect the non-coherent material coming from the cochleas, which is unloaded in the collecting area through the couple of inlet openings.

In a nineteenth aspect according to the invention, according to the preceding aspect, the non-coherent material collected and loaded in the buckets is conveyed upwards and outside a hold or storage area by means of the ascending branch of the bucket chain elevator assembly.

A twentieth aspect according to the invention, according to the sixth and seventeenth aspect, provides for the descending and ascending branches of the bucket chain elevator assembly to form a closed path for the buckets, which in turn are moved by an upper controlled wheel activated by a control unit.

In a twenty-first aspect according to the sixth and seventeenth aspect of the invention, the buckets of the ascending and descending branches transit protected in a vertical tubular containment structure.

A twenty-second aspect according to the invention, according to the twentieth aspect, provides for the buckets to unload, by gravity, the non-coherent material loaded previously in the collecting area onto an unloading slide structure close to the controlled wheel and where the path changes from ascending to descending.

In a twenty-third aspect of the invention, according to the first, fourth and fifth aspect, the first bulkhead, the second bulkhead, the closed hopper together with the fixed slide and the cochleas directly connected with the hopper, form the containment and confinement elements of the powders in the excavating area. A twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, provides for the closed hopper to be equipped with a tapping opening on its bottom wall.

A twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, provides for the excavating foot assembly to be rotatably and coaxially connected with a lower terminal portion of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly by means of the ring connected to the end tubular portion of the containment structure of the elevator assembly, thus allowing 360° rotations of the foot assembly in such a way as to reach all useful excavating areas of the hold for the excavation in association with the vertical and horizontal movements of the elevator assembly to which it is solidly connected for such movements.

In a twenty-sixth aspect of the invention, according to the preceding aspect, the vertical movement of the continuous unload device, as also the horizontal movement, occur by means of the control of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly coordinated with the 360° rotating motion of the excavating foot assembly.

In a twenty-seventh aspect of the invention, according to the thirteenth aspect, the oblique branch of the path of the buckets of the excavating device transits through the space defined by the arms of the second boxed portion of the support structure.

In a twenty-eighth aspect of the invention, according to the ninth aspect, the fixed conveyor elements provided on the support structure are replaced by a double-acting cochlea which provides dividing the non-coherent material collected in the excavating area and unloading it at the couple of cochleas, each placed close to the outlet openings of the double-acting cochlea.

In a twenty-ninth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, the moving conveyor elements may consist of at least one conveyor belt placed on one side of the fixed conveyor elements.

In a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, according to the second and twenty-ninth aspect, the moving conveyor means preferably consist of a couple of rubber conveyor belts, each placed on one side of the fixed conveyor elements. A thirty-first aspect of the present invention, according to the second and twenty-ninth aspect, provides for the moving conveyor means alternatively to consist of a couple of plate conveyors, each placed on one side of the fixed conveyor elements.

A thirty-second aspect of the invention, according to the first aspect, provides for the horizontal excavating foot assembly to substantially have triangular geometry that can be adjusted.

A thirty-third aspect of the present invention, according to the seventh aspect, provides that with respect to the support structure, the three path branches of the chain and of the buckets are defined between a first couple of front base freely moving wheels housed in a front portion of an arm having variable inclination with respect to the support structure, a second couple of rear base freely moving wheels housed in a rear portion of the same arm and moving therewith with respect to the support structure by means of a lever in association with the inclination of the arm, and a third couple of powered wheels placed preferably in upper position with respect to the first and second couple of wheels; the first and second couple of wheels both being substantially located at the same level close to the excavating area and being equipped with devices for adjusting the relative position between the first, the second and the third couple of wheels. In a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention, according to the preceding aspect, the variation of the inclination of the arm that houses the first and second couple of wheels occurs by means of the activation of a hydraulic or pneumatic member connected between a median portion of the arm and the support structure of the excavating foot assembly. In a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, according to the first and thirty-second, thirty-third and thirty-fourth aspect, the adjustment of the overall triangular geometry of the excavating foot assembly is obtained by means of the variations of the relative position of the three couples of wheels present and/or of the angle of incidence between the excavating branch and the excavating level determined by the position of the arm for housing the pairs of freely moving wheels.

In a thirty-fifth aspect, according to the thirty-second and thirty-third aspect, the devices for adjusting the relative position between the first, the second and third couple of wheels are formed by a chain tensioner device for the first couple of wheels and by a lever acting in conjunction with a pneumatic member connected between the arm and the support structure.

A thirty-sixth aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect, provides for the support structure connected to the rotating ring by means of a plurality of constraints to be fixed to a side boxed element integral with the rotating ring and protruding with respect thereto.

A thirty-seventh aspect of the invention, according to the first and second aspect, provides for a substantially and preferably horizontal, single or split, mono- or bi-directional transport system equipped with at least one inlet opening to the collecting area, to be used for conveying the non-coherent material collected from the excavating area towards the collecting area.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a process for continuous unloading of non-coherent material, particularly for ship holds or storage crates, performed with a split type unload device provided with a substantially horizontal excavating foot assembly, and that may be according to one or more of the preceding aspects, in which there is provided, in a continuous sequence, the start of a first continuous excavating step during which the excavating foot assembly starts continuously collecting the non-coherent material, followed by a second step in which the non- coherent material is released to a substantially horizontal transport system, a third step of conveying the non-coherent material from the horizontal transport system to a closed collecting area, a fourth step of collecting, from the closed collecting area, and delivering the non-coherent material to a vertically moving elevator assembly which provides the transport of the non-coherent material from the hold or storage crate to the outside; the first step of excavating being carried out at a height lower than the fourth collecting step.

The present invention may contain one or more of the preferred characteristics described below, taken both individually or combined, in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects, thus achieving the object of the invention and making apparent the advantages of the invention itself with respect to the known technique.

Brief description of the drawings

The characteristics and advantages will be more apparent from the following description relating to preferred but non- limiting embodiments of a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material for ship holds, barges, storage crates or the like, according to the present invention. The description below refers by way of non-limiting example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 is a partial cross-section view of a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material according to the present invention,

fig. 2 is a further view of a detail of fig. 1 ,

fig. 3 is a perspective, partial cross-section top view of some of the elements of fig. 2,

fig. 4 is a further side perspective view, partially cross-sectioned, of some of the elements of fig. 2,

fig. 5 is another perspective view of some of the elements of fig. 2,

fig. 6 is another perspective view of some of the elements of fig. 2, evidencing a powder containment element, fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectioned view of a second embodiment of a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material according to the present invention,

fig. 8 is a further view of a detail of fig. 7,

fig. 9 is a top plan view of the elements of fig. 8,

fig. 10 is a perspective rear view, partially cross-sectioned, of some of the elements of fig. 8, and

fig. 11 is a further perspective view, partially cross-sectioned, of some of the elements of fig. 8, and of a powder containment element.

Detailed description

With reference to figures from 1 to 6, in a first and preferred embodiment of the invention, 10 indicates a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material (not shown), of the split type, equipped with a horizontal excavating foot assembly 11 with substantially triangular geometry that can be adjusted. The excavating foot assembly 11 is rotatably connected with a lower terminal portion 12 of a bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis, indicated as whole with 13, by means of a rotating ring 14 operatively connected to an end tubular portion 15 of the containment structure of the bucket chain elevator assembly 12.

The horizontal excavating foot assembly 11 consists of a support structure, indicated as a whole with 16, made with a first U-shaped constraining boxed portion 66 with two arms 67 and 68 facing towards and connected with the ring 14, and a second boxed portion 69, substantially in the form of a knee beam, it also U-shaped, and integral with the first portion 66. The second boxed portion defines two arms 70 and 71 connected on one side with the portion 66 and on the other with a first front support arm 72 for elements of an excavating device 19.

The whole horizontal excavating foot assembly is therefore fixed to the rotating ring 14 by means of the arms 67 and 68 connected to the lower portion of the ring 14 by means of a plurality of constraining elements 17 and also by a couple of tie rods 18 which connect the arms 70 and 71 to the upper portion of the ring 14.

The rotating ring 14 is equipped at the top with a toothed fifth-wheel 60 that engages in a drive, indicated as a whole with 61.

A mobile excavating device 19 consisting of a double chain 20 which drags a plurality of buckets 20A is provided on board the support structure 16. The double chain 20 provides a three-branch path, a first excavating branch 21 as such, which is fundamentally horizontal with respect to an excavating level 22, a second branch 23 ascending from the excavating level 22 and a third oblique branch 24 which closes on the branch 21 to form a closed path. The oblique branch 24 also transits through the space defined by the arms 70 and 71 of the second boxed portion 69 of the support structure 16.

The second boxed portion 69 of the support structure 16 houses, at the end of the support arm 72 thereof, a first couple of freely moving front base wheels 30-30' joined by means of an axis 30A, while a second couple of freely moving rear base wheels 31-31', joined by an axis 31 A, is housed on a second rear arm 32 of the second boxed portion 69 of the support structure 16. This arm 32 is facing backwards with respect to arm 72.

The couples of wheels 30-30' and 31-31' are housed on the respective arms 72 and 32 by means of the interposition of chain tensioner devices indicated with 64 for the couple of front wheels and with 65 for the couple of rear wheels. The movement of the chain tensioners and the subsequent variation of the relative position of the three couples of wheels also defines the adjustment of the overall triangular geometry of the whole excavating foot assembly 11.

A third couple of powered wheels 33-33' joined by an axis 33A preferably is placed at the top of the first and second couple of wheels. The drive of the wheels 33-33' is indicated as a whole with 63.

The portion of excavating path 21 generally and preferably is horizontal with the axes 30A and 31 A respectively of the couple of front wheels 30-30' and of the couple of rear wheels 31-31' on the same level, due to the reciprocal positions and inclinations of the arms 32 and 72. Indeed, the end positions of the arms 32 and 72 are at the same level with respect to the excavating level 22. Alternatively, in particular excavating conditions or for collecting material with particular characteristics, it is clear to a skilled expert that by acting on the chain tensioners 64 and 65, the angle of incidence of the excavating branch 21 may be varied - albeit to a limited extend - with respect to the excavating level 22.

In the motion of the excavating chain 20, the buckets 20A collect non-coherent material (not shown) from the excavating level 22 by means of the excavating branch 21 to convey it by means of the second ascending branch 23 to the upper oblique branch 24 where the reversal of the position of the excavating buckets 20A causes the non-coherent material to fall by gravity onto a shaped fixed slide 35.

A closed hopper 25 is also integral with the support structure 16, inside this closed hopper the lower terminal portion 12 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 13 extends. The closed hopper 25 is equipped with a tapping opening 26 placed on its bottom wall 27. The bottom wall 27 in turn defines a collecting area 28 for the terminal portion 12 of the bucket chain elevator assembly and a level 29 with respect to which the excavating level 22 is at a lower height, as shown in figure 2.

On board the support structure 16 and supported thereby it is also provided a device for conveying of non-coherent excavating material consisting of a shaped fixed slide 35 placed under the bucket chain 20, between a couple of cochleas 37 and close to the closed hopper 25. The two cochleas 37 on the sides of the fixed slide may have a large diameter and are fed by means of respective mouths 35A with the material that from the buckets 20A reaches the slide 35 by gravity. The cochleas 37 are independent of each other and are capable of conveying the non-coherent material to the collecting area 28 of the closed hopper 25 through the couple of inlet openings 36. Alternatively, to the cochleas 37, which in any case are also configured like a horizontal transportation device, the skilled expert may directly recognise the use of alternative horizontal transportation device solutions, such as for example one or more conveyor belts, of the rubber or chain type (not shown), as long as they are capable of collecting the material from the excavating buckets 120A and of conveying it to the hopper 25 by means of the inlet openings 36.

The support structure 16 provides a first, substantially U-shaped, downwards facing containment bulkhead of the powders 38 at the top of the oblique branch 24 of the excavating device 19. A second bulkhead 39 adapted to contain the powders of the ascending branch 23 of the excavating device is provided at the back of the fixed slide 35.

A reinforced protection arm 40 of the horizontal excavating foot assembly is mounted in a central position of the arm 72 of the support structure 16 and extends past the overall volume of the excavating foot assembly 11 and is defined by the pair of front wheels 30-30' about which the buckets 20A transit in the oblique branch thereof. The arm 40 allows the excavating foot assembly 11 and all the elements on board to be protected from collision and damage in all their related moving displacements, whether rotational and/or horizontal or vertical translation, which are performed inside a hold or storage crates during the normal operating steps of continuous unloading.

Inside the closed hopper 25, the lower terminal portion 12 of the bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis provides a couple of freely moving deviation wheels 41-41' about which load buckets 42 transit, coming from the descending branch 45 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 13.

After the passage about the couple of deviation wheels 41 , the buckets 42 transit in the collecting area 28 of the closed hopper 25 to collect the non-coherent material coming from the cochleas 37, which is unloaded in the collecting area 28 through the couple of inlet openings 36.

The non-coherent material (not shown) collected and loaded in the buckets 42 is conveyed upwards and outside a hold or storage area (diagrammatically indicated with 48) by means of the ascending branch 46 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 13.

The descending branches 45 and the ascending branches 46 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 13 form a closed path for the buckets 42, which in turn are moved by an upper controlled wheel 43 activated by a control unit 44.

Moreover, the buckets 42 of the branches 45 and 46 transit protected inside the tubular containment structure 50.

The buckets 42 unload, by gravity, the non-coherent material loaded previously in the collecting area 28 onto an unloading slide structure 73 close to the controlled wheel 43 and at the path reversal (from ascending to descending).

The first bulkhead 38, the second bulkhead 39, the closed hopper 25 together with the fixed slide 35 and the cochleas

37 directly connected with the hopper, are all elements which concur to form, solely within the excavating area 22, an effective containment and confinement device of the powders generated in the excavation of particularly powdery material, inside for example a hold or a storage crate.

The powders are further contained due to the fact that the bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis 13 is further included within a tubular containment structure 50 adapted to further minimize the spreading phenomenon of the excavating powders.

Moreover, as mentioned above, the closed hopper 25 is equipped on its bottom wall, with a tapping opening 26 from which access may be provided to the hopper 25 itself to perform maintenance and also to eliminate water or moisture transported by the non-coherent material and which may accumulate on the bottom of the hopper 25 itself.

In the normal operations of the unload device 10 according to the present invention, the excavating foot assembly 11 that is rotatably connected with a lower terminal portion 12 of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 13 may rotate by means of the ring 14 connected to the end tubular portion 15 of the containment structure of the bucket chain elevator assembly 12. The rotating movement allows the excavating foot assembly 11 to perform 360° rotations inside a hold so that it reaches all the useful excavating points of the hold, being moved in known manner also horizontally and vertically and in an integral manner with the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 13.

During the excavation, the drive 63 moves the double bucket chain 20 on board the foot assembly to collect noncoherent material from the defined area from the excavating level 22 and to convey it to the slide 35.

The slide 35 divides the non-coherent material between the couple of cochleas 37 which in turn push the material through two inlet openings 36 inside the hopper 25.

The non-coherent material that is positioned in the collecting area 28 of the hopper 25 is then collected by the load buckets 42 of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 13 which transit in the area 28. The buckets 42 collect the non-coherent material and lift it from the hopper 25, conveying it according to the ascending branch 46 towards the outside of a hold and to the unloading structure 73.

The invention is also illustrated in a second embodiment thereof in figures 7 to 11 , in which 100 depicts a device for continuous unloading of non-coherent material (not shown), of the split type, equipped with a horizontal excavating foot assembly 111 with substantially triangular geometry that can be adjusted. The excavating foot assembly 111 is rotatably connected with a lower terminal portion 1 12 of a bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis, indicated as whole with 113, by means of a rotating ring 1 14 operatively connected to an end tubular portion 1 15 of the containment structure of the bucket chain elevator assembly 112.

The horizontal excavating foot assembly 111 consists of a complex, U-shaped support structure facing downwards, indicated as a whole with 116, made with a constraining boxed portion 166 and with two complex arms 167 and 168 facing downwards and tapered and adapted to house various components, as seen in the following. The boxed portion 166 of the complex support structure 116 is fixed, by means of constraints 117, to a side boxed element 114A integral with the rotating ring 114 and protruding with respect thereto.

The whole horizontal excavating foot assembly is therefore fixed to the rotating ring 114 and is rotatably and solidly connected with it by means of the boxed portion 166 and the constraints 117.

The rotating ring 114 is equipped at the top with a toothed fifth-wheel 160 which engages in a drive, indicated as a whole with 161.

A mobile excavating device 119 consisting of a double chain 120 which drags a plurality of buckets 120A is provided on board the support structure 116. The double chain 120 provides a three-branch path, a first excavating branch 121 as such, which generally is in horizontal position with respect to an excavating level 122, a second branch 123 ascending from the excavating level 122 and a third oblique branch 124 which closes on the branch 121 to form a closed path.

The ascending branch 123 and the oblique branch 124 transit through the space defined by the arms 167 and 168 of the support structure 116.

There are also housed, between the arms 167 and 168, from the top downwards, a couple of powered wheels 133- 133' and the relative drive of which only the control axle is diagrammatically indicated with 170; a fixed slide opening 135 (fig. 9) for the inlet by gravity of the non-coherent material to a cochlea 137 equipped with its own drive (not shown) is located below the beginning of the branch 124. It is to be understood that the cochlea 137 may be replaced with any similar horizontal conveyor that the skilled expert might want to use in an alternative solution.

There is provided, below the cochlea 137, a lever 165, hinged between the arms 167 and 168, which supports a couple of freely moving rear wheels 131-131', their axle 131 A and an arm 172.

There is fixed, between a median portion of the arm 172 and the support structure 116, a hydraulic or pneumatic member 173 which may vary the inclination thereof with respect to the excavating level 122. A rigid structure 140 for protection against collisions of the excavating foot assembly 111 during the excavating and rotating operations is fixed at the front of member 173, again on arm 172, the rigid structure being entirely similar in terms of function and structure, to the one used and described for the first embodiment of the invention. A couple of freely moving front wheels 130- 130' and the respective axle 130A is mounted in the front portion of the arm 172 by means of the interposition of a specific chain tensioner 164.

The interposition and the movement of the chain tensioner 164 and the movement of the lever 165 by means of the activation of the member 173 on the one hand allows adjusting the overall triangular geometry of the excavating foot assembly 111, with subsequent variation of the relative position of the three couples of wheels present, and on the other hand, varying the angle of incidence between the excavating branch 121 and the excavating level 122. It is clear that the skilled expert may act on the variations of this angle required for particular excavating conditions or for collecting non-coherent material with particular characteristics.

Otherwise, in analogy with the first embodiment of the present invention, the excavating level 122 and the excavating branch 121 are substantially horizontal and parallel to each other because the couples of front wheels 130-131 and rear wheels 131-131' are on the same level.

In the motion of the excavating chain 120, the buckets 120A collect non-coherent material (not shown) from the excavating level 122 by means of the excavating branch 121 to convey it by means of the second ascending branch 123 to the upper oblique branch 124 where the reversal of the position of the excavating buckets 120A causes the non-coherent material to fall by gravity onto the fixed slide opening 135 which puts the material inside the cochlea 137. The cochlea 137, mounted on the complex support structure 116, therefore is rotatably and solidly connected together with the latter with the closed hopper 125 inside of which it dumps the non-coherent material by means of an inlet opening 136 provided at an end of the cochlea and communicating with the hopper 125, all in analogy with that described relative to the first and preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The lower terminal portion 112 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 113 also extends in the closed hopper 125; the closed hopper 125 is equipped with a tapping opening 126 placed on its bottom wall 127. The bottom wall 127 in turn defines a collecting area 128 for the terminal portion 112 of the bucket chain elevator assembly and a level 129 with respect to which the excavating level 122 in any case is at a lower height, as shown in figure 8.

Preferably, the support structure 116 provides a first, substantially U-shaped, downwards facing containment bulkhead of the powders 138 at the top of the oblique branch 124 of the excavating device 119. According to the preferences of the end user, there may or may not be a bulkhead 138. A second bulkhead 139 is provided at the side and substantially at the outlet opening 136 of the cochlea 137, towards the hopper 125, the second bulkhead also being adapted to contain the powders in the area at the cochlea or at any other horizontal transportation device. Inside the closed hopper 125, the lower terminal portion 112 of the bucket chain elevator assembly having a vertical axis provides a couple of freely moving deviation wheels 141-141' about which load buckets 142 transit, coming from the descending branch 145 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 113.

After the passage about the couple of deviation wheels 141 , the buckets 142 transit in the collecting area 128 of the closed hopper 125 to collect the non-coherent material coming from the cochlea 137, or from any horizontal transportation device, and which is unloaded in the collecting area 128 through the inlet opening 136.

The non-coherent material (not shown) collected and loaded in the buckets 142 is conveyed upwards and outside a hold or storage area (diagrammatically indicated with 148) by means of the ascending branch 146 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 113.

The descending branches145 and ascending branches 146 of the bucket chain elevator assembly 113 are closed in a tubular structural element 150 adapted to contain the noise of the system and also to contain the powders, and form a closed path for the buckets 142, which in turn are moved by activations entirely in analogy with the ones of the first embodiment of the present invention and therefore they are not shown.

Thus, the first bulkhead 138, the second bulkhead 139, the closed hopper 125 together with the fixed slide opening 135, the cochlea 137 and the tubular structural element - all directly connected to the hopper 125 itself - are the elements that concur to form an effective containment and confinement device of the powders and the noises generated in the excavation of any type of material.

Moreover, as mentioned above, the closed hopper 125 is equipped on its bottom wall, with a tapping opening 126 from which access may be provided to the hopper 125 itself to perform maintenance and also to eliminate water or moisture transported by the non-coherent material and which may accumulate on the bottom of the hopper 125 itself.

In the normal operations of the unload device 100, also according to this further embodiment of the invention, the excavating foot assembly 111 that is rotatably connected with a lower terminal portion 112 of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 113 may rotate by means of the ring 114 connected to the end tubular portion 115 of the containment structure of the bucket chain elevator assembly 112. The rotating movement allows the excavating foot assembly 111 to perform 360° rotations inside a hold such that, when moved in known manner also horizontally and vertically and in an integral manner with the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 113, the foot assembly 111 reaches all the useful excavating points of the hold.

During the excavation, the drive 170 moves the double chain 120 and its buckets 120A on board the excavating foot assembly 111 to collect non-coherent material from the defined area from the excavating level 122 and to convey it to the slide opening 135.

The slide opening 135 conveys the non-coherent excavating material by gravity to the cochlea 137, or to any horizontal transportation device, which in turn pushes the material through the inlet opening 136 into the hopper 125.

The non-coherent material that is positioned in the collecting area 128 of the hopper 125 is then collected by the load buckets 142 of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly 113 which transit in the area 128. The buckets 142 collect the non-coherent material and lift it from the hopper 125, conveying it according to the ascending branch 46 towards the outside of a hold 148. The vertical movement of the continuous unload device 10, 100, as also the horizontal movement, occur for both the embodiments of the present invention by means of the control of the vertical bucket chain elevator assembly coordinated with the 360° rotating motion of the excavating foot assembly 11, 111.

All the movements of the unload device 10, 100 according to the invention are controlled and monitored by a specific control unit that coordinates the movements, the excavating and the taking away of the material collected from a hold or from a storage area.

According to the embodiments and construction solutions of the present invention, a new and particular process is also created, for continuous unloading of non-coherent material in which, in a continuous sequence, there is provided the start of a first continuous excavating step during which the excavating foot assembly starts continuously collecting the non-coherent material, a second step in which the non-coherent material is released to a substantially horizontal transport system, a third step of conveying the non-coherent material from the horizontal transport system to a closed collecting area, a fourth step of collecting, from the closed collecting area, and delivering the non-coherent material to a vertically moving elevator assembly which provides the transport of the non-coherent material from the hold or storage crate to the outside; the first step of excavating being carried out at a height lower than the fourth collecting step.

The unload device 10, 100 according to the present invention overall is more compact and lightweight than the known devices, in particular due to the implementation of the excavating foot assembly 11 , 111 having a geometry that can be adjusted. The whole structure is simpler to construct and maintain, thus avoiding all the movements relative to the known devices having a variable geometry.

Another apparent advantage of an excavating foot assembly 11 , 111 according to the present invention consists in the possibility of replacing the mobile excavating device 19, 119, without having to resort to complicated operations for compensating for the weights of the structures to be replaced, thus simultaneously allowing the quick replacement of the excavating or bucket elements with others of different type.

Moreover, the simplicity of the structure of the continuous unload device 10 advantageously allows an easier synchronisation of the excavating and rotating movements of the excavating foot assembly 11 , 111 with the ones of the bucket chain elevator assembly 13, 113, thus significantly simplifying the control logic of the relative control units (not shown).

A further advantage of the present invention is given by the presence of a simple and effective containment system of the excavating powders, which simultaneously also reduces the noise emissions. Indeed, the bulkheads 38, 39, 138, 139, together with the closed hopper 125, the fixed slide 35 and the fixed slide opening 135 and the cochleas 37 or 137 directly connected with the hopper, confine both the powders and the noise emissions to a closed environment, in the hold or storage area and close to the area defined by the excavating level 22 or 122.

Furthermore, such advantages are even more amplified by the fact that also the bucket chain elevator assembly 13, 113 moves inside the tubular containment structure 50 or 150 (both of the powders and of the noise emissions). The use of an excavating foot assembly 11 , 111 equipped with a mobile excavating group 19, 119 which performs the excavation by means of a double bucket chain 20 or 120, together with the bulkhead system 38-39 or 138-139 and the cochleas 37 or 137, forms an assembly of elements which advantageously reduce, up to eliminating, the losses of load of non-coherent material when the non-coherent material is transferred from the excavating area to the hopper 25, 125.

The closed hopper 25, 125 in turn and due to its nature, prevents losses of load of the non-coherent material received and advantageously allows the buckets 42, 142 of the elevator device to collect all the material and convey it to the outside.

Thus, the further non-negligible advantage is obtained of ensuring the nominal unload capacity generally indicated (t/h) for continuous unload devices and systems made according to the present invention.

A further subsequent advantage of the operations of the device 10, 100 according to the invention is given by lower overall energy consumption resulting from the efficiency of excavation, transport and taking away the non-coherent material.