Handling—The Transportation of Solids

Distinguished from general transportation, which embraces the questions of rail, water and motor-truck transportation over long distances, material handling in the present chapter will be confined to the economic transportation of materials in and about the industrial plant or mine and over comparatively short distances—the conveying and elevating of material by the assistance of mechanical aids. 

Classification of Equipment.—Equipment for the mechanical handling of materials may be classified as the carriers which carry the material in a limited but continuous stream (endless conveyors and elevators), and the hoists, trucks and railways which carry more concentrated, and frequently more compact, loads more or less intermittently. This classification will be adhered to so far as practical to simplify a logical selection of handling equipment for the industrial establishment and consideration of equipment will parallel the passage of the material, commencing with its delivery. 

Economic Comparisons.—Power being required to operate practically all types of conveying and elevating machinery, the power consumption in horsepower or kilowatts per hour as well as the initial and gross operating costs of the equipment will serve as the basis of economic measurement, the relative net cost of operation being then a simple matter of comparison between suitable systems of transportation. 

Lifting radius, feet Size—crated capacity in tons  

Type Size, cubic yards Weight, pounds Type Size, cubic yard Weight, pounds 

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