UNLOADING GRAIN BY AIR POWER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 3

UNLOADING GRAIN BY AIR POWER.

The two powerful floating pneumatic grain elevators recently put into service at the Port of London are admirable examples of modern British laboursaving equipment. Each elevator floats on a 60-feet pontoon carrying a 220 horse-power oil engine which drives a high-speed turbo-exhauster by means of which a partial vacuum is caused in a suction xnpo line. Tho air rushing in at the free end of the line sucks up the grain from the vessel’s hold and deposits it in a receiving chamber, from which it is discharged through a valve and thereafter handled mechanically. Two suction pipes are provided 'with each float, and they are raised and lowered by means of an electric winch driven by an explosion-proof electric motor. A similar type of motor (rendered necessary by the inflammable dust raised in handling grain) drives an elevator which delivers the grain into a weigh-house, where the grain is automatically weighed. Thence it passes through shoots into sacks or into hopper barges alongside the pontoon. A 35-horse power engine supplies the current for power and lighting purposes. All the plant and equipment we.ro British throughout. Pneumatic elevators of this type not only save labour by thoroughly cleaning out a ship’s hold without re-trimming, hut they are much healthier for the workmen than any other equipment, as special machinery is used for extracting the dust. Both pontoons have been in regular service for some time, and have f) roved thoroughly satisfactory. Each iaa a capacity of 100 tons per hour when working with wheat.