Water-tight flow controller for a ship
US5622290A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B27/22
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A flow controller for the hopper of a self-unloading ship controls the flow of particulate material from the hopper. The controller is a throat having an opening and a movable gate to open and close the opening. The gate has a sloped central surface that blocks the opening. When the gate is open, particulate material in the hopper flows out of the hopper through the opening and onto the central surface. From the central surface the particulate materials flow onto the conveyor system of the self-unloading ship. The throat has a seal surrounding the opening with a corresponding bead surrounding the central surface on the gate. When the gate and throat are in a closed position, the gate is water-tight. When the gate is open, the seal is located away from the flow of material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.