US1302570A - Floating ship-form. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. LYNCH. FLOATING SHIP FOR M. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20. I918.

Patented May 6, 1919.

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JOHN A. LYNCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLOATING SHIP-FORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mayo, 1%119.

Application filed September 20, 1918. Serial No. 254,968.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Joni: .si. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1307 North 15th street, Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Floating Ship -Forms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a floating form to be used in ship construction, and it has more particular reference to a floating form for the construction of concrete or reinforced concrete vessels and the like. Heretofore in the construction of concrete or reinforced concrete vessels it has been essential to launch the vessel when complete on its side, whereby considerable expense, time and labor has been involved.

The main object of my invention is to provide a form by the use of which in the construction of concrete or reinforced concrete vessels, said vessel may be launched on an even keel.

A further object of my invention is to provide a floatingfo-rm for use in the construction of concrete or reinforced concrete ships which can be readily placed in position for the construction or formation of a ships hull, readily detached therefrom when said hull is completed by partial or complete submersion, and thereby leaving the completed hull floating on an even keel.

With these and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter more apparent, my invention consists essentially in forming a pair of fioatable cradles hingedly connected along the keel line, and said cradles being adapted for partial or complete submersion as and when desired.

In the further disclosure of the invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is an end view of one form of my invention, and as adapted for the construction of a concrete or reinforced concrete ships hull, the form being shown in the operative position.

Fig. 2 is an end view, but showing the form detached from the ships hull, said hull being indicated in dot-and-dash lines and the form more or less submerged.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section through one of the pontoons or air filled cylinders which are provided with means for regulating the balance, or the maintenance of an evenkeel.

Fig; 4 is a detail perspective view of part of the submerging means, "and Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of one ofthe air-filled tubes or pontoons, hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings the improved form consists essentially of a series of opposed cradle members 10, 10 hingedly connected at 1.1 longitudinally of the keel line. These cradle members 10 are shaped to conform to the usual lines desired in the construction of the concrete ship, and they have connected thereto links 12, 12 which in turn are rigidly connected to strong beams 18, said strong beams in turn having threaded therethrough or connected therewith spaced air tubes or pontoons 14, 14 and 14". Cross bracings or tie links 15, 15 connect the aforesaid links 12, 12 lattice fashion to the strong beams 13 and to upper plates or beams 16, on which connecting members 17 can be bolted or otherwise secured to complete the form.

Connected to each of the aforesaid air tubes or pontoons 14 are flexible pipes 18, 18 for conveying compressed air from the compression pumps 19, conveniently located or carried on floats 20 at each or either side of'the form.

Each of the aforesaid tubes or pontoons 14 is provided at its lower part with one or more openings 21, to permit water to enter said tubes, and said openings 21 are surrounded by a tubular projection 22, which with the use of compressed air serves to prevent water from entering the pontoons when in a floating position. Vertically or otherwise located above the openings 21 the pontoons 14 are provided with tubular projections 23, to which the aforesaid flexible con nections 18, 18 are joined. At intervals along the length of the entire form there are provided in some of the pontoons 14 one or more disks or sluice partitions 24, which are adapted to be opened or closed by sluices 24, operated by turn screws 25, or other appropriate mechanism, and said sluices 24' serve to open or close apertures 26 between connecting chambers comprising pontoons 14, 1d, 14", so that the water may be permitted to pass to, or prevented from flowin from one chamber to another. Air holes 2? are obviously provided above the sluices 2% in the disk partitions 24.

In use and assuming the form to have been floated into the position shown in Fig. 1, for the construction of a concrete ship, and when said ship has been constructed and is ready for launching, the cover or con necting member or members 17, is first removed to free the top portion of the hull. The air-relief valves 28 are then opened, which permits Water to enter the lines of pontoons 14:, 14 and a portion of 1%", through the openings 22 thereunder, Whereupon said pontoons commence to sink and thereby draw the cradles 10, 10 aWay from the constructed ships hull, and on reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the pontoons 148 are not entirely exhausted of air Which keeps the form in an open suspended position, While the completed hull is being floated away from the cradles. After this operation compressed air is again forced back into the pontoons 14;, 14: and 14", Which serves to gradually raise the form into its closed or operative position preparatory and ready for the building of another hull.

From the foreging description, it Will be readily seen that by my invention I provide an extremely effective and useful form for the construction of concrete or reinforced concrete ships hull, and I Wish it clearly understood that I do not confine myself in any Way to the specific construction, arrangement or combination of parts described and shown, other combinations and arrangements being obvious Without in any Way departing from the spirit of my invention, and as more particularly defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floating form for the construction of concrete ships, comprising opposed cradles hingedly connected longitudinally of the keel line, means for connecting said cradles in opposed relation, and said cradles being braced to floatable pontoons, and means for submerging said pontoons When the constructed ship is ready for launching and raising them again to floating position.

2. A floating form for the construction of concrete ships, comprising opposed cradle members hingedly connected longitudinally of the keel line, strong beams connected to said cradle members and supported by spaced pontoons, means for connecting said cradle members at their upper parts in proper spaced relation, lattice connections between said cradle members and the strong beams, and means for connecting said spaced pontoons With a source or supply of compressed air.

3. A floating form for the construction of concrete ships, comprising opposed cradle members hingedly connected longitudinally of the keel line, strong beams connected to said cradle members and supported by spaced pontoons, said spaced pontoons at intervals being provided with sluice connections, a cover for connecting said cradle members at their upper parts in proper spaced relation, lattice connections between said cradle members and the strong beams,

and means for connecting said spaced pontoons With a source or supply of compressed alr.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JOHN A. LYNCH.

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

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