US1400787A - Boat - Google Patents

Description

C. J. BAER.

, BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24, 1921- 1 AQUJ a Patented Dec. 2Q, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. J. BAER.

BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24.1921.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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@Wo'aueg CARL JQBAER, OF ST. LQUIS, MISS'UURI.

BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented DQMB. 2% 19211 Application filed January at, 1921. Serial No. 439,421.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL J. BAER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The invention broadly relates to the facilitation of the passage of boats or barges through the water. More particularly, the invention pertains to the provision of means adapted for attachment to a boat-like body, whereby the water between said body and the adjacent body, connected thereto, may be inclosed and carried along with the connected boats, thereby preventing free circulation of water between said boats and eliminatin the retarding influence of draw-bac s and end thrusts.

The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with a pluralit of boats or barges joined in a string. rdinarily such boat-like bodies (hereafter called barges), are of similar formation, provided with abutting ends which are usually convexed to permit of rolling contact in rounding curves. It is to be understood however that the invention is applicable to barges of any suitable bow and stem formation, for it is obvious that, when two connected barges are passing through the water, no matter what the formation of the ends, the space between the opposing ends of said barges is filled with water. In the absence of any means for the prevention thereof the water freely circulates between the ends of the barges, requiring constant displacement thereof as the barge moves. Under these circumstances, the power which moves the barges must be suflicient to overcome the draw-back effect at the stern of each, and also the end-thrust of the bow of every bar e in the string,

My invention contemplates the substantial inclosure of all the water between the barges, whereby such water may be carried along therebetween and, in effect, becomes a component of the string. Experiments have proven that it is not necessary to provide an absolutely water-tight joint between the barges; it is sufficient if a free circulation of the water therebetween is prevented. The experiments hereinbefore referred to have disclosed the fact that a 20 per cent. increase of speed may be imparted to the barges by mclosing the water in the space between them, and carrying said water along as a unit of the string. An embodiment of my invention is shown 1n the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application. In said drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of two connected barges equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view taken on a line between the two barges, the water inclosing elements being shown in section.

Fig. is a view, partly in section, showing the spring roller and the bearing cup in the floor of the barge.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing a method of connecting the flexible aprons forming a part of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a supplemental housing for the spring roller.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on a line looking downwardly upon the rollers.

As shown in the drawings, A and B are I two barges connected by a coupling 1 which permits turning movement of the arges. Each barge is here shown as provided with convexed prows 2, whereby a rolling contact is facilitated, but my invention is'not limited to barges of this end formation, since it is equally adapted for use in connection with any two connected barges having a water space therebetween.

The end of each barge is provided with a vertical slot or recess, either by forming said recess directly in the body of the barge as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or by a supplemental housing as indicated in Fig. 5. In either case, a roller 3 is mounted in said recess, and said roller may be supported in vertical position by a shaft 4: connected thereto and extending upwardly through the deck of the barge. A hand-wheel or lever 5 may be provided whereby manipulation of the roller is facilitated. The lower end of the roller 3 is preferably provided with a tapered stem 6,

seated in a. cup-shaped bearing 7 in the floor I of the barge orof the supplemental housing. The roller is internally provided with a coiled spring 8 so connected thereto as to constantly tend to rotate said roller in one direction.

In the particular form here shown, the

' waterproof material.

shaft 4: extends through the roller 8 pro yided with a hub 3. The hub a is slotted to receive a key 3 a similar and complementary slot being formed in the shaft 4. The key 3 looks the shaft and roller 3 so that they will rotate together.

The up er end of t tened to t e shaft 4 by a bolt 8 while the lower end of the spring is secured to .the roller. The shaft 4 is provided with a pinion 4 with which engages a sprin pressed pawl l pivoted adjacent the sha t 4:. By this construction the roller 3 is held in any set osition.

C dnnected to each roller is a flexible apron C, of rubberized canvas or of an flexible As shown in Fig. 1 one of said rollers is mounted, as described, in the recess at the side of and in the stern of the barge A. Similarly the bow of the barge B is provided with a roller, and the aprons extend between said rollers. Manifestly one long apron might be connected at each end to the opposite rollers, but in ac tual operation, it is more convenient to form the apron in two sections and connect the 'free ends in a manner to be hereinafter explained. With the barges proceedingFi n the direction indicated by the arrow, 1g. 1, and an apron connected as shown on each side of the boats, it is obvious that the aprons will prevent free lateral circulation of the water between the ends of the barges.

I have before stated that the tendency of the spring 8 is always exerted to wind the roller in one direction. The roller on barge A exerts this tendency in opposition to the tendency of the roller on the barge B to wind the roller in the opposite direction.

Consequently the apron is at all times kept taut, as will be understood. It is equally clear that any turning movement of the boats, in going around curves, will cause the apron to be taken up by one roller and paid out by the other, thereby keeping the apron taut under all operating conditions.

As before stated the apron C may 'be in one piece, but it is here shown in two sections, each section being provided adjacent if Manifestly', one of the rollers may be dispensed with if desired, and only one roller relied upon to carry the apron and keep it taut. In such case the free end. of the apron e spring 8 is fas-.

moose? may be secured by hoops or-otherwise to the end or side of the connected barge.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, a box-like housing 12 is provided. Such housing 12 carries an upper flange 13 and a lower flange 14:, said flanges being suitably secured to the top and bottom of the barge. The roller 3 is positioned in said housing as shown, and it is obvious that such construction adapts my dgvice for application to barges already in service, without the necessity of cutting recesses therein.

From the foregoing the operation. of my device should be clear. The to of the apron 0 extends substantially a eye the water line and the lower edge of the apron extends substantially in the plane of the bottom of the barge. This construction prevents free lateral circulation of the water between the ends of the barges and tends to so inclose the trapped water in Said space so that it may be carried along as a unit in the movements of the barges. 1

The possible modifications of my invention are numerous, but I claim all such embodiments as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 1 i

I claim:

1. The combination between two connected boats having a water space therebetween, of flexible members extending between said boats and inclosing said space at the sides, and means retaining said members in their extended position.

2. The combination between two connected boats having a water space therebetween, of flexible members extending between said boats and inclosing said'space at the sides, and meansv resiliently retaining said members in their extended position.

3. The combination between two connected boats having a water space therebetween, of flexible members extending be-.

tween said boats and inclosing said space at the sides, and means retaining said members. in their extended position under all movements of said boats.

4. The combination between two ,con-

nected boats having a water space therebetween, of flexible members extending between said boats and inclosing said space at the sides, animals resiliently retaining said members in their extended position under all movements of said boats. 5. The combination between two connected boatshaving a water space therebetween, of; flexible members extending between said boats and inclosing said space at the sides, rollers carried by said boats and adapted to receive said members, and means resiliently exerting its influence upon said rollers and tending to cause them to retain said members in extended position.

6; The combination between two connected boats having a water space therebemower adapted to inclose the sides of said space, said means comprising rollers carried on each side of each boat and flexible sections 10 carried by said rollers and connected each to each.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CARL J. BAER.

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