NEW COAL LOADING APPARATUS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 8

NEW COAL LOADING APPARATUS

4 RISK OF FIRE REDUCED. In order still further to improve the coal handling arrangements on tho Clyde, the Clyde Navigation Trustees are experimenting with a now type of apparatus for loading coal on to ships. This plant consists of a shoot, a turntable, and a crane. The coal passes down tbc chute from a hopper, and is distributed over the hold of tho vessel bv moving the outlet of tho chute through tho agency of the turntable. As a result of tlfo experiment it is claimed tint eight-tenths of the coal can be loaded properly without iho assistance of trimmers, and that the remaining two-ienths can bo trimmed by fewer men than those at, present inquired. The net result is that the loading time can bo halved. Moreover, tho coal is loaded as r" , ''e'”ed. whereas with tho ordinary method of loading, there is a tendency for small ooal to get towards the centre "ml the large coal (o remain outside. This arrangement of tho coal greatly increases tho ’risk of lire, which generally starts anvng the small coal. Again, as the cml with, the now apparatus is handled only once, breaking is reduced. F'Uallv. the coal goes straight into tho hold of tho ship, and thus the necessity of cleaning Hie decks after coaling is obviated.