US987017A - Mechanism for discharging boats. - Google Patents

Description

W. W-ROBINSQN. MECHANISM FOR DISOHABGING BOATS. APPLICATION FILED 111m: 19, 1906.

987,017; v Patented'Mar. 14; 1911.

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W. w.; ROBINSON. MECHANISM FOR DISGHARGING BOATS.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 19, 1908.

7- Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

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, W. W. ROBINSON.

MECHANISM FOR DISOHARGING BOATS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19. 190B.

Patented Mar.14,191 1.

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I5 PETERS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. ROBINSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR DISCHARGING BOATS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. ROBIN- SON, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Discharging Boats, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawm s.

Illly invention relates to mechanism where by the contents of a canal boat or similar vessel may be discharged from an aperture near the bot-tom of one end of the boat, and includes not only the provision of the boat with a suitable aperture for this method of discharge, but also mechanism, whereby the boat which is to be thus discharged may be raised out of the water, and suspended with its keel at a sufficient inclination to allow the contents of the boat to be discharged through this aperture at the lower end of the boat.

It has heretofore been proposed to elevate barges and discharge them over one side or other by means of a sidewise inclination. This is objectionable because of the strains put upon the side timbers of the vessel. The ordinary shape and construction of a marine vessel does not admit of the weight of the cargo resting directly upon its side. This objection does not hold true in case the boat is inclined endwise, and discharged through one end, but a central discharge opening cannot well be provided in either the bow end of a boat or the rudder end of a boat.

According to my invention, I employ canal boats coupled in pairs, and the coupling ends having neither bow nor rudder, are provided centrally and below the water level, with a discharge aperture fitted with a suitable water-tight closure. By elevating a boat of this character, and imparting to it an endwise inclination with the coupling end downward, it is possible, without objectionable strains upon the vessel, to readily discharge the cargo of the boat from the aperture in the lower end.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. II, is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of a boat derrick constructed according to my invention. Fig. III, is a vertical sectional view of the end of a boat provided with a discharge aperture according to my invention. Fig. IV, is an end view of the boat.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1908.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911. Serial No. 439,288.

According to my invention, I provide a discharge aperture at the coupling ends of both the parts of a paired canal boat. The aperture is a true aperture, situated centrally, and as near the bottom of the boat as practicable, as illustrated inFigs. III, and IV. Such an arrangement is to be distinguished from the device shown in United States Letters Patent No. 39,683, granted August 25th, 1863, to Thomas Sharp, where in the entire end of the boat is made movable. Sharps arrangement renders the making of the watertight joint very ditlicult. In my invention, the aperture being below the water line, must not be unduly large, (for the larger it is, the longer the watertight joint which must be protected), and is provided with a watertight cover. A preferred construction for such a cover is illustrated in detail in Fig. III, where 1, is a shouldered frame for the aperture, while 2, is a large plate provided with hinges 3, along its upper edge, and forming a cover by which the aperture may be closed. This cover is furnished with a peripheral flange 4, along its inner edge, which engages a corresponding flange 5, formed upon the frame. The flange 4, may be provided with a suitable packing ring 6. lVhen in place the plate or cover is secured by means of a series of swiveled bolts 8.

For convenience of discharge, I provide a chute l0, swinging on a horizontal pivot 11, a short distance within the aperture and furnished with side walls 12, so that as soon as the aperture is open, the chute falls and assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. III.

Referring now to Fig. I, it will be understood that each of the canal boats there shown, is provided with a discharge aperture, such as has been described, at the lower edge of the coupling end of the boat, all of the forward boats being designated by 15, and the after boats by 16, and being suitably docked alongside of each other with the coupling end innermost. Alongside of their inner or'discharge ends a running derrick 20, is provided consisting of a suitable framework mounted on wheels 21, running 011 tracks 22, 22, and mounted tion of the dock having a suiiicient depth of water to float a loaded canal boat beneath the derrick. The derrick carries a cradle 25, in the form of an open frame, provided with a bottom of suitable size, to receive and astride a porsupport the keel of acanal boat and with sides for additionally supportingfit, but

open at the ends except for an overhanging shoulder 26, formed on thecorners at the end from which the boat which it contains is to be discharged, which shoulder vserves to prevent the boat from sliding down. and

out of the cradle when the latter is inclined.

For the purpose of; hoisting and lowering the cradle, the derrick isprovid'ed at each end with a double Windlass consisting of the cradle to be tilted longitudinally as it is lifted, by the more rapid operation of one 7 pair of drums than the other, as illustrated in the drawings. The derrick 20, is further provided with a chute 88, at that end through which the boat is to be discharged, which chute as shown, overhangs a further extension of the dock where, if desired, may be moored a vessel into which the contents of the canal boats are to be dumped.

It will of course be understood that my mechanism is equally applicable to the dis charge of the contents of the boats into a railroad car, or any other suitable receptacle.

v with it.

In operation the canal boats which are to bedischarged are docked with their coupling end, that is to say, the end which is providedwith a. discharge aperture, turned in the direction toward which the discharge of the cargo is to occur. The running derrick may then be moved to its position at the end of the boat and the cradle lowered to a suitable depth in-the water beneath, for which purpose the cradle is preferably made of steel or otherwise suitably weighted. The

boat which is to be discharged is floated to its position within the cradle, as indicated in dotted lines at the lower part of FigII, The cradle is then raised carrying the boat 7 The drums are so operated as to give tothe cradle with its contained'boat an inclination sufficient to allow the discharge by gravity of the entire cargoof the boat through the aperture at its lower end.

It will be understood that, for this purpose all of the boats to housed in connection w th my mechanism are provided with holds wlthout partitions or projections which would interfere with the direct discharge of the entire load'of the boat through the aperture at thelower end. As soon as the boat has been thus elevated and tilted in the cradle,the aperture at its lower end is opened, whereupon its contents are discharged by gravity through the aperture and over the chutes 10, and 38, and thus lead to whatever receptacle is provided. It will also be understood that it is not necessary to employ a running derrick, but that any other means of elevating a cradle in which the boat may be carried may be employed. Such .means may be stationary, in which case each boat which is to be dumped is in turn brought into proper position to be received Within the cradle and lifted to the position of discharge.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A boat provided with a discharge aperture located in the end thereof and extending below the water line, means for closing said aperture, and a swinging chute mounted within the boat and adapted to extend out through said aperture when the same is opened, said aperture leading to the interior of the boat, whereby the contents thereof may be discharged through said aperture.

2. A pair of canal boats, each provided with a flat end adapted to be coupled together, and each having an opening in its top through which the boats may be loaded, each of said boats having a discharge aperture located in the flat end thereof and extending below the waterline, means for closing said aperture, and a swinging chute mounted within the boat and adapted to extend out through said aperture when the same is opened, said aperture leading to the interior of the boat, whereby the contents thereof may be discharged through said a aerture. v y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this seventeenth day of June, 1908.

WILLIAM w. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .Patents, i Washington, D. 0.

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