COMMERCE IN MAIZE GRAIN 



60 = 



Fig. 208 shows a type of floating pneumatic elevator de- 

 signed by Messrs. Henry Simon, Ltd., of Manchester, which 

 has been largely adopted for the unloading and transport of 

 grain from large ships at various ports, both at home and 

 abroad. The plant is installed wholly on the pontoon ; its 

 operation is described as follows : — 



" The intake pipes, two or more according to capacity, are 

 lowered into the hold of the vessel, and the engines, which are 



CHAP. 



XII. 



Fig. 209. — Diagram showing general arrangement of barge elevator and auto- 

 matic weigher. (Courtesy of Messrs. Henry Simon, Ltd., Manchester.) 



directly connected through a vacuum pump, are started up. 

 The pumps create a vacuum in the pipes, causing the grain 

 to be sucked through the nozzles at the end and to be carried 

 to the receiver. This appliance extracts the dust, which is 

 again mixed with the grain and delivered into the seal at the 

 bottom. Loss of weight is thus eliminated. From the seal 

 the grain passes along the worm to the small elevator which, 



