ES356517A1 - Container train for transportation by water - Google Patents

Abstract

A barge train comprises a twin-hulled tug and a plurality of barges such as 1 2 longitudinally coupled in a line, the two hulls 5 1 and 5 2 of the tug operating astride the line of barges. Transverse beams 71 and 7 2 connecting the hulls of the tug are also connected to at least one of the barges by pins 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 14 the two hulls 5 1 , 5 2 of the tug are mounted so that sharp turning may be achieved. Figs. 9 10 and 11 show the arrangements in a barge for a cargo M, e.g. of flour or grain. Air passes along the gap 37 in the double bottom of the barge through perforations 33, cloth 34 and wire net 35 into duct 38 to take the cargo through outlet 39. In violent storms the barges may be temporarily submerged below the surface to wait for weather improvement. As shown in Fig. 12 buoyancy chambers 30 1 , 30 2 may be flooded through openings 43 in their bottom walls surrounded by inner-threaded block 44. Lid 46 is broken by detonator 48 and the amount of water admitted is controlled by air under pressure from the tug. As shown in Fig. 5 the barges are coupled by a rubber block in recesses 26 1 , 26 2 and into which transverse pins 28 pass.