US3198156A

US3198156A - Bahge construction

Info

Publication number: US3198156A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03

Description

3, 1965 A. KUNZ BARGE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1963 Aug. 3, 1965 A. KUNZ 3,198,156

BARGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. #40250 wd z BY A QZ Aug. 3, 1965 A. KUNZ 3,198,156

BARGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 16, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. 44/250 /KdA/z BY 77(WM4 55M A.KUN Z BARGE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 0st. l6, 1963 United States Patent 3,198,156 BARGE CONSTRUCTION Alfred Kuuz, Munich, Germany, assignor to Firrna Deggendorter Werft and Eisenbau, Ges. m.b.H., Deggeudorf (Danube), Germany Filed Get. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,615

Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 27, 1962,

2 Claims. (Cl. 114-29) This invention relates in general to barge construction, and in particular to a new and useful hopper barge made up of a plurality of float units which are pivotally connected and which may be shifted outwardly for discharging a hopper load and to an improved barge construction with a propulsion unit mounted thereon in a manner permitting pivotal movement of the floating units.

Most hopper barges, particularly those used for transporting dredged material, are towed or pushed by special craft. In ome instances, barges of this nature include their own propulsion units. In addition, barges may be provided with pivotally mounted hoppers to form one or more loading compartments with the hoppers being ,mounted for articulation in respect to the remaining portion provides a novel means for sealing the structural elements of the complete barge and also provides an arrangement for the wheel house and propulsion system which permits the outward movement of the floating hollow bodies without materially disturbing the propulsion system. The sealing is advantageously provided by a vertical joint in the front and rear terminal walls of the loading compartment when the latter is closed.

In view of the fact that the deck on the afterbody must contain the propulsion system and must assume an inclined position when the floating bodies are moved outwardly, the invention provides a construction which permits such an arrangement. In order to use a barge of this nature as a self-propelled craft, the driving unit is arranged in a special manner. The driving unit includes a control cabin supported on a stationary pivot affixed to one floating unit on one side of the center line of the barge assembly, and the other side is secured to a pivot element which may be moved backwardly and forwardly in a slot member carried by the other floating unit to permit pivoting of the floating body element and the shifting of the driving motor vertically. In such an arrangement the center line position of the driving unit changes only slightly to permit the pivotal movement of the floating body elements.

A further aspect of the invention consists of a construction of a barge with a plurality of floating body elements which are arranged on each side of the center line of the barge in a series in a longitudinal direction. The construction is such that the two floating bodies at each end are provided with a deck to form foreand after-bodies, respectively, while the floating bodies in between form the loading compartments. With a construction of this nature the floating body elements, including elements which make up hopper portions, can be manufactured and transported separately and the assembly of the entire barge can be made at a place remote from the manufacturing location. This is of particular importance for use on lakes which can only be reached by land.

3,198,156 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 The construction of the present invention is such that the floats forming the foreand after-bodies of the vessel can be used interchangeably with floating body elements which form hoppers of different sizes and loading capacities. The construction permits the manufacture of a corresponding number of identical floats for the foreand after-body barge assembly which may be joined together with any of a variety of sizes of intermediate floating bodies which form the hopper paits.

In accordance with another embodiment, the barge construction includes, in addition to the foreand afterfloating body elements, a central deck portion for connecting floating body elements on each side thereof to form at least two hopper loading compartments at each end of the vessel.

In accordance with the invention the floating body elements which form the barges are hingedly connected along the longitudinal line, and means such as a fluid pressure-operated piston and cylinder combination, are provided to shift the floating bodies outwardly in respect to a longitudinal pivot connecting their upper inner corners. In this manner the hoppers are opened and closed below the pivot in accordance with whether the barge elements are swung outwardly or inwardly. The construction advantageously includes longitudinal stiffening elements in the form of longitudinally extending pipe members with opposite ends provided with means to receive coupling elements.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved barge construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barge construction having a plurality of floating body elements which are pivotally connected together along a longitudinal center line which may be swung outwardly for the purpose of opening and closing hopper sections formed by such elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barge construction made up of at least two floating body elements which are pivoted together along a longitudinal pivot and which may be shifted outwardly and inwardly about the pivot and which includes improved means for mounting a propulsion unit on deck formed by the floating body elements permitting the elements to be pivoted about the longitudinal pivot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barge construction including longitudinal shifting members with improved coupling means for interconnecting a plurality of floating body elements which make up the barge assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barge construction which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and de scriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a barge construction 'constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the barge indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3 indicating the mounting of the pilot house and driving unit;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial rear elevation taken in the direction of the arrow 6 indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken FIG. 3 offset by 99 relative thereto;

FIG; 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3; c FIG. 9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of a barge constructed in accordance with the invention;

.FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the barge -FIG. 9,; and e FIG. 11 is a section taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9. Referring to'the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein, as indicated in FIGS. 1 to 8, comprises a barge generally designated It) which is made up 'ofrtwo on the line 7-7: of

floating body assemblies generally'designated 12 and 14 indicated in 7 moval of the combination pilot house and propulsion unit are carried in niches or recesses 45 and 47 formed in stern portions 12a and 14a. and in how portions 120 and 14c, respectively. The piston and cylinder combinations inl elude a cylinderelement 48pwhich is pivoted to a bracket 55) secured to the assembly 12' and a piston rod 52 which is pivoted to a bracket 54' secured to the floating body assembly 14. A controlling fluid under pressure is sup- In the embodiment illustrated, each of the floating body I V assemblies 12and14 is made up of the

stern sections

12a and 14a which form a rear deck, central sections 12b and 14b which form a hopper. or loading section, and bow sections 12c and Ida which form a deck at the bow. In

barge 10. The hopper sections 12b and 14b .include.

oblique deck portions

22 and 24 which'f-orm inclined surfaces for receiving a load, such as bulk material, to be transported.

A further feature of the construction is that the hopper sections 12b and 14b may be made independently from plied from the pilot house through tubes 56 and 58 to selected sides of a piston (not shown) which is secured to connecting rod '32 and operates within the cylinder 48.

As indicated in FIG. 3, when fluid is supplied through conduit Sfiunder pressure,"the piston is moved outwardly to cause movement of the piston rod 52 outwardly and the pivoting of the floating body assemblies 12 and 14 about pivot 16. This effectively opens the hopper portions .121) and 14b and permits dumping of the'load, for example.

fsembly 42 is mounted on a supporting stand or bracket '60 which is pivota'lly connected to fixedbracket member 62 on the stern portion 14a, while the other end carries a A feature ofthe construction is that the pilot house asroller element 64 which rides in a slot 66 formed by a cleat 6 8 secured on the stern section 12a. 'As indicated in FIG.

,4, when the

stern sections

12a and 14a are pivoted outwardly by. actuating the piston and cylinder combination the stern and bow sections 120! and 14a and 12c .and 140,

;and they may be interconnected and secured'together rigidly by connecting jelements arranged at corner loca- 1 tions A, vB C, and D, as indicated -in FIGS. The coupling connections of these tank elements are indicated in detail in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8. As indicated .inFIG. .5, the coupling connection at A (see FIG. 3) is formed by hollow conical endportions 26 and 28 made in the reinforcing pipe elements 18 and 2t) ofthe respective elements to be joined together. 7 extend into the respective conical portions26 and 28 when I the respective 'parts of such elements, for example the It can be seen that theshifting of the center line of the drive shaft 420 by the' amount indicated-in FIG. 4 does A solid coupling pin 30 is positioned to 1 stern portion 14a and the hopper portion 14b, are arranged together. Each portion 14a and 1417 includes a vertical tube 32 which extends downwardly to the respective

conical portions

26 and 28 from an accessible deck such as a top deck 33 to permit the insertion of a holding pin or dowel 34 through a'bore defined in the pin 30 inorderto I anchor the pin '39 in a holding position. The pin 34 includes an extension 36 to permitits manipulation from the exterior of the associated floating bodyelements. 'The 46, the combination pilot house and driving and propuls'ion assembly 42 moves upwardly tothe dotted line posi-' tion indicated in FIG. 4. The center line 49 of the driving unit shifts laterallybya smallamount, as indicated.

As best indicated in .FIG. 6, the combination pilot house and propulsion unit includes an upper pilot house portion 42aand a propulsion motor 42b with avertically elongated propulsion shaft 42c'arranged to rotate a propeller 42d.

not aifect' its opcrating position materially and the upright or vertical position is maintained permitting the unit to function in V a normal manner to both steerand propel the barge.

V It should be appreciated that coupling of the various floating body elements, for example, the elements 12a,

- 12b'and 126, is made at each end of the center portion 12b includes central floats 70 and 72 on each'side of which are arranged hopper. forming:

floats

12b, 12b and hopper forming floats 14b, 14b which, in turn, are connected to stem forming float members 12 1' and 14a and bow forming floating body members -12c'.and 140. In this embodiment the combination piston and cylinder members are below the deck, it suflices, as indicated in FIG. 7, to pro-'-- videa short coupling pin 34 which is inserted vertically from the deck into .the'bore of the 'holdingpin 30. The

' pin 34"is held by a welded collar 38'. The interior of the respective floating bodies is sealed around the bore used to insert the pin 34' 'by a hood 4%) welded from the bottom on the pipe 20.

At the fourth coupling point D,'which is at the same level as the coupling point A, located inside at the bottom joint of the loading hopper portions 12b*and 14b, only shortcoupling pins 34' are provided. A welded collar 38' anchors the pin 34" in position. A detachable cover "40 is provided to seal the associatedcompartment.

In accordance with a' further feature of the invention,

a combination pilot house assembly and propulsion unit ygenerally. designated 42 is connected to associated float assembles 12' and 14 in a manner permitting the pivotal movement of the floatassemblies without requiring rearranged in recesses or niches 74, 75 and 76, as indicated in FIG. 6-to provide for the .pivotal shifting of the'hopper 1 forming portions 12b and 14b.

The various floating body elements on one side 12a,

. 12b, 70, 12b and-12c, as well as the opposite side elements 14a, 14b, 72, 14b and 14c, may be coupled together in the manner indicated in the other embodiment. Thus, it can be seen that the. basic construction indicated aparticularly in'FIGS..1 and 2 may be modified in the manner of' the structure indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10 by the additional central floating body elements Hand 72 arrangedcentrally between pairs of hopper-forming elements 121) and 14b. With the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, it, of course, would be possible to open only one of the hopper-forming element pairs or both of the hopper-forming element pairs on each side of the central floating body elements and 72.

shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A barge comprising first and second floating body elements, said floating body elements including separate stern, bow and central portions, coupling means holding said stern, bow and central portions together, means pivotally connecting said first and second floating body elements together adjacent their upper interior corners and permitting their lower interior corners to abut, and means for moving said first and second floating body elements outwardly to pivot said floating body elements about said pivot means for opening said barge, propulsion means mounted on said first and second floating body ele ments, and means mounting said propulsion means on said floating body element permitting said elements to be pivoted outwardly while holding said propulsion means in a substantially upright position.

2. A barge comprising first and second floating body elements, said floating body elements including separate stern, bow and central portions, coupling means holding said stern, bow and central portions together, means pivotally connecting said first and second floating body elements together adjacent their upper interior corners and permitting their lower interior corners to abut, and means for moving said first and second floating body elements outwardly to pivot said floating body elements about said pivot means for opening said barge, propulsion means mounted on said first and second floating body elements, and means mounting said propulsion means on said floating body elements permitting said elements to be pivoted outwardly while holding said propulsion means in a substantially upright position including a bracket member pivotally connected to said first floating body element, said bracket having a portion confined by said second body element, said second body element including means defining a slot permitting sliding movement of said portion of said bracket member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,427 5/00 Barney 11429 1,495,428 5/24 Neveling 114-29 1,832,349 11/31 Beaton 11429 2,011,886 8/35 Back 11429 2,518,091 8/50 Stopkevyc 114-5 2,876,726 3/59 Robishaw 114-5 3,117,543 1/64 George et al. 11428 FOREIGN PATENTS 216,562 8/61 Austria.

313,840 6/29 Great Britain.

896,752 5 62 Great Britain.

1,149,632 5/63 Germany.

97 12/ 13 Holland.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A BARGE COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS, SAID FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS INCLUDING SEPARATE STERN, BOW AND CENTRAL PORTIONS, COUPLING MEANS HOLDING SAID STERN, BOW AND CENTRAL PORTIONS TOGETHER, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS TOGETHER ADJACENT THEIR UPPER INTERIOR CORNERS AND PERMITTING THEIR LOWER INTERIOR CORNERS TO ABUT, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS OUTWARDLY TO PIVOT SAID FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS ABOUT SAID PIVOT MEANS FOR OPENING SAID BARGE, PROPULSION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID PROPULSION MEANS ON SAID FLOATING BODY ELEMENTS PERMITTING SAID ELEMENTS TTO BE PIVOTED OUTWARDLY WHILE HOLDING SAID PROPULSION MEANS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSITION.