Conveyors A conveyor is a means of transporting cargo from one area to another, either horizontally or vertically, with the aid of wheels, rollers, chain, belt,  or  other  means  supported  or  connected  by means  of  a  metal  framework.  Horizontal  move- ment   on   deck   may   be   aided   by   the   use   of gravity-type  wheel  or  roller  conveyors  that  may be  assembled  from  a  number  of  uniform  length straight sections and curves to meet a number of different  type  situations.  Standard  sections  of either wheel or roller conveyors are available in 5-  or  10-foot  lengths  and  curves  with  45-  to 90-degree  turns  with  provisions  for  connections at  the  ends.  Both  types  of  conveyor  are  also available  with  the  top  of  the  rollers  or  wheels above  the  supporting  frame  (rollers  high  or  wheels high)  and  with  the  top  of  the  rollers  or  wheels below the top of the supporting frame (rollers low or  wheels  low).  Standard  widths  are  normally available ranging from 12 inches wide to a max- imum of 48 inches. When only narrow widths are available, it is practical to lay two parallel lines with  sufficient  spacing  between  to  properly  ac- commodate  the  width  of  a  pallet  load  without danger of tipping. When used in this fashion, the “rollers  high”  type  of  conveyor  is  necessary.  It is  more  practical  to  make  up  temporary  ar- rangements of narrow width units because of the ease  in  handling  lighter  weight  sections.  Standard sections  are  available  in  either  aluminum  or  steel. A  variety  of  arrangements  of  gravity  wheel  or roller conveyors may be used at the receiving sta- tion to quickly move cargo from this area to avoid congestion. or packaged cargo. Where conveyors with pallet- size capabilities are available such loads may be handled  by  forklift  trucks.  Where  smaller  con- veyors are available, by necessity, the pallets must be broken down at the upper deck level and the individual  cartons  fed  over  the  conveyor  to  the storage level. Ladder chutes or feathering tread ladders  may  be  provided  as  a  means  of  movement from  one  deck  level  to  another.  Ships  that  do not have such equipment must devise makeshift arrangements  such  as  sliding  boards  for  move- ment  of  material  between  decks.  Such  arrange- ments   generally   require   additional   manpower often  with  slow,  unsatisfactory  results. STORAGE  ASHORE Because of the requirement for the fullest use of storage space at the minimum cost, all major ashore  supply  installations  must  give  due  con- sideration  to  uniformity  within  the  Department of  Defense  in  the  layout  of  storage  areas.  Aisle widths are limited to the size required to accom- modate   the   operation   of   materials-handling equipment  needed.  Whenever  possible,  supplies requiring  large  capacity  materials-handling  equip- ment  are  grouped  in  separate  locations  from  those requiring  smaller  capacity  equipment. The  structures  discussed  and  illustrated  in  the following  paragraphs  indicate  the  general  ap- pearance and functional use of the most common types  of  storage  facilities  used  by  supply  ac- tivities. COVERED  STORAGE  SPACE Traylift  Conveyors Vertical  movement  between  decks  may  be done  by  means  of  a  vertical  traylift  conveyor.  This type  of  conveyor  uses  an  endless  chain  travers- ing  in  a  vertical  direction  over  sprockets  or  wheels at  the  top  and  bottom  with  horizontal  bars  or trays  attached  to  convey  the  cargo.  Where  such conveyors are used, cargo is generally deposited on  a  conveyor  ahead  of  the  infeed  station  that loads  the  conveyor  automatically  at  predetermined intervals and correspondingly unloads the cargo automatically  at  the  various  receiving  deck  levels. At  the  unload  station  there  may  also  be  means where  the  cargo  is  fed  out  on  a  section  of  con- veyor from where it is taken for storage. Such con- veyors  may  be  used  for  movement  of  palletized Covered storage space is storage space within any  roofed  structure.  Many  different  types  of covered  storage  space  exist.  These  include  general- purpose  warehouses,  refrigerated  warehouses,  and flammable  storage  warehouses. General-Purpose Warehouse A general-purpose warehouse is used for the storage of many kinds of items and is constructed with   roof,   sidewalls,   and   end   walls.   Such warehouses normally contain the greater portion of  the  total  available  covered  storage  space  at most  activities.  General-purpose  warehouses  may be  either  single-story  or  multistory  buildings. 7-15