GB190006817A - Improvements in or relating to Navigable Vessels. - Google Patents

Abstract

6817. Campbell, J. April 11. Unloading ships. Relates to the construction of vessels for carrying heavy cargoes, such as iron ore, so that the whole cargo is accessible to mechanical unloading appliances. Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a steamship with the engines and boilers placed in the stern. A is the cargo hopper which is entirely open but may have fixed or removable hatch beams G, Fig. 3. When the engines are amidships, two or more hoppers are provided. If desired the vessel may have a longitudinal bulkhead with a hopper on each side. As shown in the cross section, Fig. 3, the sides E of the hopper are vertical but they may be inclined or curved. A traveller L supporting a digging appliance runs on rails on the hatchway or on the weather deck. A housing may be provided for the traveller when not in use. To compensate for the absence of hold and deck beams, the hopper sides are made of great strength, and they are connected to the vessel's sides by heavy scantlings and thick deck plating. The vessel's sides are also strengthened. The spaces between the hopper and the vessel's sides may be used as water-ballast tanks. The invention is equally applicable to dumb barges and other vessels having no propelling machines.