US43873A - Improvement in floating-derricks - Google Patents

Description

eEonGE w.A TALcoT'r, 0F BUEEALQNEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT 'IN FLOATlNG-DE-RRICKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent o. 43,873, dated August 16, 1864. I

.To al! whom it may concern: p

Be it known that 1, GEORGE W. TALcoTT,

Aand State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sectional Floating-Derrick for Wrecking Purposes; and I do. hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descrip- 'tion thereof, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, making Dart ot' this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view representing'the hulls or barges A A and the top of the sectional arches B ci nnected. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the hulls A Aon a plane between two ot' the arches B, showing one ot' them in elevation, in working position over a stinken wreck, C, to which the'grapples are attached. Fig.. 3 is 'a vertical section throughv the deck of one of'the barges, showing'one of the turn-tables D and the hoisting-machine. connected with-it, both in elevation, andl also aportion of one of thechord-timbers of the aches. Fig. 4 'is a front'elevation, detached, ot' the hoisting-machine, shown in 'side view in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross-section throughl one ot' the arches B, showing its form transversely. Fig. 6 is a detached view ofv one of the movable bearin gsE of the pnrchaseblocks. Fig. 7 is a view ofthe tackle-block clutch-ring F in its position when the wreck is suspended on chains.. Fie. Sre iresents' the clutch rino' o b 'F asi-t appears when ltripped' for overhauling Fig. 9 represents;

the tackle-blocksv down. the clutch-ring F in the act of being connected block by being drawn into .bite by the guywith the chain G after overha-uling the tacklef are built 'ou vessels or lighters stationed over i line a, while held in position by means of the are drawn under it and power applied to them i by means ot capstans, windlasses, or other trip-line 11. Fig. 10 is a detached view of the i toggle-bar and bracegrapple S.

Like letters 0f reference designate correspending 'parts in ull ofthe figures of the drawings. i

. The natureof my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a series of arches upon the decks ot' two steam-barges,

Y -each' arch being bisected vertically; and the sections arranged each npon'a turn-table on the decks ofthe vessels, which is operated by steam-power in the hold, so that ythe sections may be swung around lengthwise of the'deck forsailing, or connected 'with their corresponding sections on the othcil barge. for the purpose ot operating on submerged wrecks. The arches may be ot' any required number that the' dimensions 0i' the barges will'accommodate, 'or thatthe burdenrequired to beraised may' demand, as each is provided with ahoistv ing-machine situateddirectly underneath :the turn-table, and a tackle-block for each section, so that two sections,.being firmly connected together, they constitute an independent arch capable of being .employed with its adjuncts for 'raising and supporting aI body separately or in conjunction with the others ofthe series,

and the -sections are alsolcapable of separate action by'beingre'volved on-their axes to bring them into or out of service, and,.by being moved bodily across the deck of the vessel, to l give more or less'space between the two barges, according4 Vto the size of the erated on. i

' It also consistsy in a peculiar construction of the hoist-ing machinery, ada ptin g it to the rais-r ing of heavy burdens in asten-dy and uniform manner, and in 'au improved form of* clutch' ring for holding the chain cable by the tackleblock, land allowing the same to be overhauled in deep water, if necessary; and, further, in

the construction of the grappling devices for connecting to sunken wrecks with greater facility than hasfheretofore been done.

My -invention will best be understood by af l general description of the operation of raising a wreck, followed by a more particular description of the specific parts which I clain.

-sjwrecking is usually conducted, temporary arches or bentsf of sut'tlcient strength the place ot'the sunken wreck, when cables mechanism, usually by manual labor, until the wreck is raised to the surface, pumped free from. water, and iioated ott' to a place of v safety. 'This process would be suicient ordinarily were the foundation of these appliances lirm and stable, but on the treacherous v pieces and be lost. The liability to this dliywreck to be opmay be raised in a `much shorter time, thereby incurring less riskby the period there being one to each half-section o t' the arches.' Vt'hatever number of them I may emhas follows: Each ot bolted iirmly to vand there may also be one on the bottom. On one section they culty is greatly increased by the slow process of working. which involves a delay of many daysin securing a wreck. t

It is the object of my invention to so facilitate this operationv by adapting my structure and machinery tothepnrpose that a wreck of exposure, and by having the power contained within my apparatus not only capable of raising and snstaining the load ,but of propelling it to a place of greatersafety or more convenient operation in shoal water, even before'it is raised to the surface. To accomplish this result I provid-e each ot' my barges with a propeller-wheel in the stern and a boiler of sutlicient capacity to supplynot only the engine ofthe'propeller but also engines for each hoisting-machine,

ploy, and in order that, in case ot' 'a sudden and violent storm,no part of the apparatus need -be lost, as well as to facilitate going to and from the. place ot'4 operation, the semiarches are turned on tlnir central bearings, 1),-as shown in red linesv in Fig. l, so as to stand closely side by side andnearlylongitudinal with the barges, and trim or balance -the vessels in sailing order, so that they can ride safely in all weather.

The arches are,constructed'with double chord-timbers'or stringers d d, andthe vertical supporters e e unite and are bolted or 'framed together before reachingv the crowntimbers c c, which are divided at the span, but unite before reaching the crown, as is best represented in Figs. l and 5. By this'me'ans each arch is made to brace itself laterally, so as to stand firmly, as well as to secure greater strength at the base in' the coupling of -the strin gers, where the greatest strain falls when in operation.

The coul l ng of the archsections iseft'e'cted the chord-timbers d d has two or more heavy straps or bars ot' iron, ff, it, one being on each side,

la: e applied so as to be movable longitudinally, and a swing-bar, g, from the opposite section being hooked onto a bolt or pin, c', provided for the purpose, the movable one is made to draw the arches' together tightly and in true line at the base by a screw and .hand-wheel, h, preferably. When the connection 'hasbeen made suticientlyY .tight in this manner, several bolts are passed through the movable bars and timbers before attaching to the wreck, to relievetlie screw from the drum, its office being -the hawser, andthus straint which might otherwise strip oftl the thread. The arch-sections rest on vthel turntables when they are swung on board the ves-v sels, but; when Yraising a wreck they rest on chords H I-I, built up fiom the hull ofthe vessels on a line with the rails. Theturntables rest on friction-rollers J J, which move on a track, k, which is raised by the handscrews I I or other appliances, to elevate the aI-ch-secchain cable G, which tions above the checks or sels when they 'are' being swung around, so

that the weight is thrown on the friction-rollers.

it clear; 4from the chocks, when itis secured by means of thejhook or clamp I, or its equiva-` The arms ofv this clamp are bolted withtwo bolts, which lent. through `the st-rin gers d hold its-rigidly. By removing one, the other acts as a pivot onwhich the clamp .may :be turned back and disengaged from the platform of the turn-table, as shown by the red lines in- Fig. 2. A series of bolt-holes m m, is vided, so `that the clamp'may be altered to adjust it to the position which the' occupy relative to the turntable.

` The arch sections are made for rigging in and outboard,7 to adapt them to the width of the wreckfthat is', they are capable ofan end! wise movement across the deck or beam of the barges to givel a greater span. effected by' raising are attached to the side of the chock. 4 These rollers are raisedand lowered in` the sat'nel manneras the turn tables by hand-screws ll, 't When raised in this manner, the sections can bemoved in and out board by the winch.-

gearing on the bracket .J acting'on a rackfbar provided for the purpose on the lower side'of the Stringer; The cla'ntp's I I, that vhold the arches fast to the turn-tables, must have been previously loosened, so that they,A will work 'free from each other during the change.

Double truss-bracesK in each section of the arch, stayed underneath with' angular braces lor arches n n, between eachdivision of the up- `rights' c e, form a stable supportrfor'the bearing-block E, as well as a double track on which it is moved, to adapt the tackle-block to thc Width of space to which the-archrmay' be adjusted. The hawser O, which may be of wire,

Manilla,or chain,.passe`s from thetackleblock L between'the braces K and over a frictionroller in the block E; thence over a'similarlyconstructed and movable bearing-block, Ef," placed directly ovcrthe tubular center of the turn-table l),and,passingdown through itis wound up on the three drums L- L L. These are grooved spirally, so, that `the hawser will follow in al true coil and not ride one coil uponanothe'r. The third orlast, L, is a slack prevent any possibility of its slipping. These drums are drivenby Vgearingfrom that to so as to multiply the power the larger wheels,

and steady motion. The

and give a slow' power, is still farther increased by the tackle-v 'block L, which should have four or morev sheaves, ,and that beingl connected with the is around or grappled to the wreck,it is apparent that' the lifting power hearingson the vesprol section may 4 This is` them on rollers n n, which to take ,up the slackof which is applied tothe wreck from the several arch-sections may be very great, and increased to any extent that the strength ofthe construction will withstand. A beveled pinion on 'the shaft of 1piniou,p, Fig. 3, drives the red and pinion g g', which, when thro-wn into gear with the teeth on the periphery ot' the turn table D, causes it to revolve to swing the arches around fory the purposes heretofore mentioned.

A small engine is applied to each of the hoisting-machines, so that one may be worked independently of theother, or all together. Another engine drives the propeller-wheel of each barge, so that the attendance of a tug is not required, thus saving a considerable eX- pense, and thek steam from the same boiler supplies all the engines. The barges having been brought into positionover the place of the' wreck, the tackleblocks are overhauled so as to bring the clutch-ring F down to the rail of theI wreck, if it does not lie too deepsay, in fourA or tive fathoms. If the wreck lies f.

on a rock, so that a chain, G, may be passed under it,thatisdone, and both ends orabiteof Vt he same 'being fastened securely in the clutchrings, the machinery7 in the hulls is started andthe hosting begins, and continues until the wreck is raised sufficiently to allow of the other chains being swept under it, whcn'the v hoisting power of each arch is putin motion and all lift equally. 1f 'the wreck lies embedded, it may be raised sufficiently by grappling to get a chain under it. I 'employ two kinds ot'l grapplers, one (shown at Q, Fig.'2) formed with teeth ou the outer side of two curved diverging bars which are suspended from a j chain cable, the head or shank bei-ng provided with a stock, s, like that ot' 'an anchor. yThe sharp teeth r make it self-connecting when it is drawn -up under the stern or other projecting portion ot' a slinken vessel. The other form of grapple is shown in Fig. 10. It consists of a shank, w,'having Vpivoted at one end l a toggle-bar, x, which, when in a position parallel with lthc shank, will pass through a hole in the side of thc vessel, and is then turned in a position which does not admit of its being drawn out, as shown in Fig. 2. Nearthe oppositc endvof the shank,` where it is attached to the chain G, a brace, y, is pivoted in such e a manner that, when the toggle-bar is inserted sofas to hold, thc brace is set against the outn side ofthe hull, supporting the shank at the peint Where the lifting power is applied. This requires the services ot' adiver to go down@ and bore a hole in which to insert the toggle end of the grapple, but further diving is not requisite in using my apparatus..

1t', in raising a wreck, it -is iu water of such depth that it is necessary to fjeet the tackle, or overhaul it down again while the wreck is partially raised, the ends of the' chain G are drawn up and secured toa brace of the arch which sustains the wreck for the time and leaves the tackle and hawser free for overhauling. When the tackle has been overhauled, connection is again made between the chain'and tackle-blocks by means of the improved clutclrring F and the trip and guy l lines b a, as shown in Fig. 7, 8, and 9. This l clutch-ring consists of a ring pivoted to the 1 tackle-block. and having on the side opposite ,l thereto a yoke or extension, c, formed by elonl gating the side of the'ring so that the links ot' i the chain G, will ent( redgewise between tl e I parallel sides, but cannot be drawn through l it becausethe links above and below, being transverse, are too large to pass. The opcraf tion of this clutch-ring is simple, and will'he i best understood by the drawing in Fig. 7,

i vhere the chain G, which snstains'thel wreck,

der waterwithout difficulty and without the loaded chain after overhauling, it being drawn onto the chain. by theguy-line a, while held in position by the trip-line b.

The' pivot orccnter ot the turn-tables consists of a large iron tube extending down through ythe deck, (shown most clearly at-D' in the section, Fig. 2.)

The advantages of this construction are important, as it allows the hawser' to pass through th'etube exactly in' the center transversely of the arch, and withoutilterfering with anything, while it serves as a guard to protect the hawser from friction or injury while workl ing. I t also acts as a stay to prevent the arches 'from tarring, and steadies the barges it' they careeu, while its form combines the greatest strength obtainable from the amount ot' metal employed, The arches are to 'Je cross-bolted with strong iron tension rods between each post in every section.

The construction of the bisected arches B I5, 3 with. their adjuncts, consisting of the turntable l) and chocks or side bearings H El, gives the apparatus great adaptability for the lpurpose of wrecking and for many other purposes, such as .submarine construction, as it is obvious that either ot' the hulls A may he anchored, and the haltsections of thc arches, turning freely on the turntables by means ot' mechanism, may be employed to `unload stone 2 or-hold, and, by means ofthe tackle, lower it to great depths with precision; and by dropping the arch-secticns onto the checks H each may be used as an independent derrick to raise' heavy bodies, such as pieces ofsunken ordnance.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl. The vertically-bisected arch orarches B, i in combination with the barges or-hulls A A, when the same are constructed that the i the barges, so that the tackle-block may be liected down. This operation takes place unaid of a diver. Fig. 9 shows the manner in' which theclutch-ring is connected with the` or other heavy materia-l from the vessels deck 4 4 sauva sections may` be disconnected and swung:` on

board the vessels for sailing, or connected with corresponding sections on another vessel to forni a complete arch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the bisected arch 0r arches B, the tubular turntable D, arranged and operating substantially as 'and for the purposes described.

3. In combination with the bisected arches B, the tackle L, and movable bearings E E',

arranged'and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with the adjustable turntable D, the ebooks or bearings H H,` for receiving the vweight of the arches B B and' theirburthen directly on the sides ot' the vessels after the turn-tableshave been lowered away, substantially as described 5. Working the arch-sections B 'in' oront board on the harges A A by means ofthe rack on chord d and pinion on the bracket J, or their equivalent,l substantially as' and 'for the purposes set forth.

6. The hoisting apparatus consistingot' the drums L L" L', pinions. o p M, in combina-.

tion with the d ividedswinging'arch-sections B and tackle L, substantially as' setforth.

7. The/combination and arrangement ofthe movable tackle-bearin g blocks or carriagesE 'E' with' the trussbrace .K,`which forms,v

trnckfor th'eA same, v`sulst'anftiall-'yjas shown'v and described.`

s. .Forming the arches 15s-,divided it 'nie base,

or chord and united at the crown, for the pu rpose ofgivinggreater steadiness and stability, substantially as described.

9. The self connecting grapple Q, constrnct-` ed substantially as described, for fastening toprojecting parts of awreck without lthe aid of a diver.

10. The divers grapple S, consisting of the stock 1,0, toggle-bar rv, and brace y, for fastening to the side of' a vessel, 4as -set forth.

1l. The clutch-ring-F, constructed with the yoke o, in' combinationwith the' chain'G,

tackleblock L, trip-line' b, and guy a, arrange and operating substantialfy as set forth..

12. The combination of a series of swinging bisected arches, B yB, `tackle L, grap'plesvQ and S, with hoisting machine and engine for each arch-seotion,`and the two-hulls or barges vA A, allarranged and operating together for the purpose ol' raising sunken vessels,&e.,

substantially as set fort-l1,y

Inwitness whereof I have hereunto signed l my name'initlie presence of two subscribing witnesses'. f i

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