US1307144A

US1307144A - Method and system for building boats

Info

Publication number: US1307144A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1936-06-17

Description

R. B, PATRICK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUILDING BOATS.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB-20,1919. lfifl yflo Patented June 17, 1919.

I INVENTOR a3 Pdzwaz m: NnRRls PETERS (30., PHDVO-LITHQ. \VASHIHCZTW n R. B. PATRICK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUlLDING BOATS.

APPLICATIONIILED FEB-20,1919.

l 30?; 1 4 iatented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2.

BY (s /M ran 45,0

ATTo EY' rinrrn ROBERT B. PATRICK, OF JAMATCA, NEW YORK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUILDING BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed February 20, 1919. Serial No. 278,279.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. PATRICK, a citizen of the United States, residin at Jamaica, in the county of Queens and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Systems for Building Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to boat building, and more particularly to that type of boat in which there is a series of ribs which are rigidly united to form the frame or skeleton of the boat hull.

The invention particularly relates to a method and a system for improving the construction of boats of this type and has for its object to facilitate the construction and increase the rate of speed at which boat frames or skeletons can be completed and which enables the entire removal relatively of the skeleton or frame from the forming means to be particularly described hereinafter.

According to the usual past and present method of construction of boats of the said type, the process of assembling the ribs and uniting them in their final relative position to form the frame of the hull, is difficult, lengthy and costly. An important object of the invention is to provide a method and system which enables the use of an apparatus whereby a boat frame or skeleton can be readily and quickly assembled without the employment of highly skilled labor, and then relatively removed from the assembling means with the result that a multiplicity of boat frames or skeletons can be assembled in one given mechanism successively and the removed frames or skeletons can then be completed into finished hulls when removed from the forming means or system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which enables the ready removal of the completed frame or skeleton from the forming apparatus.

With these and other objects in view as will be rendered manifest to those versed in the art, the invention consists in the niethod and the system hereinafter particularly describedin the following specifioa tion, with relation to the embodiment of the lnvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is transverse section through a way showing the substantially completed and formed skeleton or frame of a boat, one of the system forming sections being removed while the other is still in place adacent' one side of the skeleton or frame.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a fragmentary portion of the bow of the boat and the respective portion of the forming section, and

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view of a simple form of clamping means to secure the ribs to the forming surfaces,.in their permanent relative position.

In my method and system, a keel 2 may be laid upon a suitable support 3 extending longitudinally of the way generally indicated by W, and the stem post and the stern post or transom, not shown, assembled with respect to the keel 2, after which my forming means for defining the shape of the ribs indicated at R, are moved into position against the support 3 or along the side of the keel 2 to be ready to receive the ribs.

I prefer to form or construct or design my forming means in a plurality of laterally separable sections or organizations for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the completed skeleton of the boat and the small sections with respect to one another with a lateral motion as this enables the respective separation in easy manner when the boat hull or skeleton is of the type known as having a tumble home stern structure, which obviously makes it impossible to re move the frame by vertically lifting it from the supporting and forming means. There fore, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, I have shown a mold system comprising a plurality of sections, in this case one section on each side being sufli-, cient for the construction of one type ,of, boat, and each of these sections is provided with a series of longitudinal stringers 4, 5 and 6, the lowermost of which forms the bilge shaping" members, and the upper stringer 6' on each section defines the osition and contour of the sheer-strake atthe upper portion of the skeleton.- Any number of intermediate stringers may be employed as the size of the frames and other contingencies makes necessary or desirable. To secure coordinate movement of the elements of each section, stringers a, 5 and 6 respectively are mounted upon any suitable rigid organization here shown as comprising vertical. standards 8 suitably spaced and of suitable proportions and design and material and are connected by longitudinal means 9. Then these sections on each side of the keel and support 3 are disposed in juxtaposition therewith, the sections are securely and rigidly fastened together by any suitable means, here shown as in the form of bolts 10, in respective brackets 11 secured to the bottom portion of the mold sections. Preferably the sections are mounted upon rollers 11 designed to travel upon tracks 12 for ease of operation in being moved toward and from their positions at the keel of the boat. To facilitate the re moval of the completed skeleton, away from the construction position at the mold system, I have shown the keel support 3 as mounted upon a truck 15 having wheels 16 running upon rails 17 in the trenchor pit 18. The upper surface of the truck 15 is provided with tracks 12 to aline with the tracks 12 so that the Wheeled sections of the mold can be run onto the track for use in the construction of a skeleton.

After the mold organizations have been assembled rigidly against the keel support orthe keel, the ribs R are then placed upon the upper surface of the keel 2. Their curvature is defined by bending them downwardlv and outwardly against the longitudinal forming stringers 4L, 5 and 6 of each of the sections and their permanent spacing and location is determined by the position of the clamps 21, or other fastening or securing means. Any suitable, simple and practicable means may be utilized to secure the bent ribs in position against their supporting surfaces in the mold section until the skeleton is properly reinforced and braced, and in Fi f I have illustrateda simple fastening or clamping device comprising a lever 20 having an eccentric or wedged face 21 designed to be forced against the adjacent face of the rib R, this lever having a pin or bolt passing through a hanger 22, the bolt being indicated at 21, and being removable if desired. To provide for the clearance of the rib R when the mold section is to be removed laterally away from the completed skeleton, the hanger 22 may be swung about a pivot as indicated at 23 when the wedge or clamp member 21 is released. After the ribs have been properly assembled and shaped and while they are still secured to the forming section, stringers 25 may be laid along the ribs and temporarily or permanently secured. The cap or sheer-strake 7 also may be applied and its position will be defined by the location of the upper mold stringer 6 on each of the mold sections. After the strake 7 has been applied the inside clamp 26 may be applied to the ribs and secured to the same and to the strake 7. The skeleton thus formed may be reinforced or braced by permanent stringers 25, earlines or deck beams 27 or other desired rib-uniting or deck or cabin-forming members, after which the frame is ready to be removed from the mold system. The mold sections are thereafter disconnected and moved laterally on the tracks 12 and 12; the skeleton is then rolled away on its tracks 15 to be completed into the finished hull at some other station in the plant, and the mold sections are then ready to be moved back again into position for another operation.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a simple, practicable and inexpensive method and system for the construction of a hull frame or skeleton, and have partially eliminated the requirement for expert or skilled help in the construction of the frame of boats of this type, and have provided a system which includes means by which similar frames may be successively erected and then removed to some other station for the completion of the hull, and therefore have provided for the construction of a number of skeletons of boats at a low cost and in a maximum quantity in a given length of time.

The term boat as used in the specification and claims is intended to include other analogous constructions as for instance the bodies of hydroaeroplanes.

It is understood that various modifications, alterations, changes in design of constructionand arrangements of parts may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type having bent ribs, comprising a plurality of mold sections com plementary to the exterior of the frame and having means for clamping the bendable ribs sitar against the forming surfaces, said sections being severally bodily laterally removable from the frame when the clamping means has been released from the ribs.

2. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type having bent ribs, comprising a complementary set of mold sections designed to be bodily shifted into uxtaposition to each other on opposite sides of the boat keel position, each section having forming supports upon which the ribs may be laid and therebv shaped from stem to stern; means for clamping the ribs in sgtu to the supports whereby the ribs assume their permanent relative position in the completed hull, means for defining'the position of 'the' sheer'strake and allowing its permanent unlon wlth the frame;and means llIlll'jing the ribs permanently in their ultimate positions; the sections being laterally removable when the clamping means are released to permit the removal of the completed frame.

Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type having bent ribs, comprising a way in Which a keel and the stem and stern elements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides of the way and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem and stern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of the ribs as applied; and clamp means for securing the ribs in site to the forming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has been completed to the desired extent so as to permit the relative longitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that the latter may be immediately employed for use in construction of another skeleton while the one just removed may be under further process of construction or otherwise disposed of.

4. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type having bent ribs, comprising a way in which a keel and the stem and stern elements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides of the way and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem and stern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of the ribs as applied; clamp means for securing the ribs in situ to the forming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has been completed to the desired extent, so as to permit the relative longitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that the latter may be immediately employed for use in construction of another skeleton while the one just removed may be under further process of construction or otherwise disposed of, and a carriage in the way upon which the keel may be laid.

5. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type having bent ribs, comprising a way in which a keel and the stem and stern elements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides of the way and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem and stern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of the ribs as applied; clamp means for securing the ribs in situ to the forming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has been completed to the desired extent so as to permit the relative longitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that the latter may be immediately employed for use in construction of another skeleton while the one just removed may be under further process of construcranged todefine the desired hull shape and onto which the ribs may be seated and thereby formed; means for temporarily securing the ribs in permanent form and place during theconstruction of the frame; and means for bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations from each side of the frame to permit withdrawal of the same.

7. A boat buildingsystem comprising a way with a keel bed on which the keel may be laid; a movable truck on which the keel bed is mounted adapted to be shifted after completion of the boat frame; sets of longitudinal stringers arranged to define the desired hull shape and onto which the ribs may be seated and thereby formed; means for temporarily securing the ribs in situ for a desired period; and means for bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations from each side of the frame to permit withdrawal of the same.

8. A boat building system comprising a way with a keel bed on which the keel may be laid; a movable truck on which the keel bed is mounted adapted to be shifted after completion of the boat frame; sets of longitudinal stringers arranged to define the de sired hull shape and onto which the ribs may be seated and thereby formed; means for temporarily securing the ribs in sz'tu for a desired period; and means for bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations from each side of the frame to permit withdrawal of the same while still intact on the truck, by shifting of the latter.

9. The method of constructing boats which consists in bending the ribs to shape and position upon an exterior defining mold which is made in sections laterally movable from the sides of. the frame; securing the ribs to a keel and clamping them to the mold structure; longitudinally and transversely permanently staying the ribs; releasing the clamping means; and then laterally removing the sections and separating the frame from the mold so that the former may be further operated upon without occupying the mold.

10. The method of constructing boats which consists in bending the ribs to shape and position upon an exterior defining mold which is made in sections laterally movable from the sides of the frame; securing the ribs to a keel and clamping them to the mold structure; longitudinally and trans versely staying the ribs; releasing the clamping means; and then laterally removing the sections and separating the frame from the ribs, comprising a complementary set of mold sections designed to be bodily shifted into juxtaposition on opposite sides of the boat keel position; means for securing the sections in such place and holding them while the frameisbeing erected; and means for-clamping the ribs in their bent form in the moldsections until they areiotherwvise secured in the framing, whereupon the clamping means are disengaged from the ribs and the sectionsrernoved.

In testnnony whereof I afiix my slgnature.

ROBERT 3B. 1 PATRICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh,by addressing the ,Cox nmissi oner of Batents, Washington, D. G.