Combined conveyor and operating boom apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention is a combined operating boom and conveyor. The combined boom and conveyor include a superstructure adapted for mounting on the hull of a marine vessel, such as a dredge. The conveyor is mounted on the superstructure such that it may elevate and lower. The superstructure is mounted on the hull such that it may slew, that is rotate around a vertical axis. The conveyor is comprised of a frame for mounting drive pulleys and idler rollers to support a moving conveyor belt. The frame may be trough-shaped or have a underlying bottom configured and disposed to convey spilled slurry or other material from the conveyor and down the incline of the conveyor frame, either back onto the vessel or off of the vessel at a user selected position substantially together with the conveyor deposit site.

1 . A combined conveyor and operating boom for mounting on a dredge comprising: 
 a superstructure adapted for mounting on a hull;    a conveyor, said conveyor being mounted on said superstructure at a fulcrum, said mount allowing raising and lowering of said conveyor by pivoting around said fulcrum;    a winch drum, said winch drum being adapted for mounting on one of said superstructure or said hull; and    a pulley, said pulley being mounted on said conveyor outboard of said fulcrum.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cable, said cable being operatively engaged with said winch drum and with said pulley.