US2271344A

US2271344A - Reclinable spud construction

Info

Publication number: US2271344A
Application number: US371430A
Authority: US
Inventors: John D Rauch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-12-23
Filing date: 1940-12-23
Publication date: 1942-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1959-01-27

Description

J. D. RAUCH 2,271,344

RECLINABLE SPUD CONSTRUCTION Jan. 27, 1942.

Filed Dec. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-$heet l IN VENTOR JOHN D. BAUC/l f A rromvs Vs f (aw-M Jan. 27, 194-2. J RAUCH 2,271,344

RECLINABLE SPUD CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g gmnuw 11v VENTOR J0 HN 0. 12A uCH Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNI T E D STAT ELS PAT T OF I C 2,271,344 RECLINABLE. S'PUD CDNSTRUGTION John D. Ranch, Lima, Ohio Application-December 23, 19 40,? swarm. 371,430

. waterwaybottom for anchoringthe dredge-during the dredgingoperations. Withspuds oi'thistype raised from the anchoring position for enabling movement of-thedredge to :a new location; aconsiderable problem is encounteredwhen' the dredge isv required to. pass under low over-hanging ob stacles, such as bridges or the like, because ofthe heightlabove the water. line to whichfthefspud extends whencso raised.

The problem is particularly" acute when.- the dredging operationsv require digging at a consid erabledepth and where relatively shallow draft as wellas-low overhead clearance limitations are encountered in moving the dredge from" one location to'another'. Under-such conditions, a relatively long spud may be required? to be used at the dredging locations andiitimay beiniecessary to raise the lower end of the spu'dito a pointzat' least as? high ELSE the bottom of: the hull oflthe dredge to'c'lear'shallow'stretches of the waterway when the dredge is :being moved. If during'such' move ment' low overhanging obstacles are encountered where the clearance is'less than the length ofth'e spud extending above the water line when so raised, the spud may-often have to 'be dismantl'ed to-permitfthe dredge tofpass such obstacles, in-

- volving considerable delay and expense;

It has been heretofore proposed to employ spuds ofa telescopingconstruction, or spudscomprising hinged section's, but" while such" proposals may have utility where the digging depth is not great, they'are subject to disadvantages. under theacute condition, above mentioned, where the clearance" above the water line is only a small fraction of the depth at which diggingopera'tions are required to baundertaken. Under such condition, because it is often necessary to utilize the spuds for the raising of the hull in the Water, vthe telescoping or hinged section types of spud, heretofore proposed, are subject to disadvantages eitherin respect to their incapability of performing, such hull raising function, or in respect. to

their incapability of being confined within a surficiently small vertical compass when raised,

lit is thereforeaprimary object of the present inventionto provide a'spud construction meeting the requirements of conditions oi minimum clearance above the water l-ine-, minim'umdraft limitations in moving 'adredge from one location to another, and maximum depth: at which digging operations are to beundertaken For the purposes of my inventionandto -meet the requirements of: certain operating conditions with which the inventionisdesigned to deal, I conceive anintegraltypeoi spud as distinguished from aztelescoping -or hinged section type, tobe mostsatisfactory. I

It is a further principal object at thisinvention to provide a spud construction in which a vertically operating spud is-enabled to be laid back-in a reclining position above and adjacent' to the deck of the water craft when fullyraised without dismantling the spud or disengaging the spud from its operating mechanism. 1

Another principa1 object of the invention is to provide a spudconstruction of the type just referred to wherein the spud may bB II-IOVCd toward reclining position above and adjacent to the hull deck before the spud is fully raised.

Still: another principal object of; theinvention is the provision of a spud construction of the type justreferred to having meansforv automatically vertically alining the spud as the same is moved from the reclining to the anchoringposition. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a well construction, for employment inside of the hull line, which'will-enable the spud to be automatically vertically alined-foritsanchoring func- 1 tion when lowered while permitting the spud tobe reclining position above andadjacent to the hull deck before it isfully raised;

In carrying the invention into practice, I em- I ploy an integral spud of any suitable length apto, but above, the deck of the water craft, and means for automatically positively alining the spud vertically when the same is moved longitudinally downwardly after the spud has been swung to an approximate vertical position.

I prefer to locate the last means in a position, respecting the hull of the water craft, such that the spud may be swung about its point of support to reclining position before the lower end of the spud is raised above the level of the deck. In order to accomplish this latter object when the spud is positioned inside of the hull line, I provide a novel construction of well through which the spud is to be moved from its reclining to anchoring position, which well includes a wall, a portion of which has a forwardly extended arcuate contour, and the lower portion of the well being restricted for confining the spud in a, vertical position when a portion of the spud extends into such restricted portion of the well.

The outwardly extending arcuate contour of the upper portion of one of the walls of the well enables the spud to be swung about its point of support when the lower end of the spud is raised above the restricted portion of the well, and also serves to direct the spud to vertically alined position by engagement of the lower end of the spud with the outwardly extending upper portion of the well when the spud is being lowered to operating position.

The same construction of well, involving the provision of a wall, a portion of which has an outwardly extending arcuate contour, is appliside of the hull line, as shown by one embodiment of the invention.

For a detailed description of the invention reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one form of apparatus embodying the invention, wherein the spud is mounted for operation inside of the hull line, said view looking toward one side of a portion of the hull of the water craft to which the apparatus is applied, the spud well being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, the spud being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of apparatus" embodying another form of the invention, wherein the spud is mounted for operation outside of the hull line, said view looking toward one side of a portion of the hull of the water craft, portions of the spud well being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 3, the spud being shown in section.

Referring first to the construction illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, the numeral l indicates the hull of a dredge or similar type of water craft which is provided, as seen best in Figure 2, with a spud well 2 positioned inside of the hull line and which extends through the hull vertically from the deck to the bottom thereof for the ac- The lower portion of the well 2 is narrowed or restricted in cross sectional area, as at 4, to confine the spud within a narrow compass at such point for maintaining the same vertically alined during the lowering of the spud to anchoring position. At this point 4 of restricted cross sectional area of the well 2, there may be provided a roller 5, extending across the well 2 and journaled in the side plates thereof, for engaging one side of the spud 3 for reducing the friction incident to the operation of the spud within the restricted portion of the well 2.

The well 2, above its restricted portion, is widened in one direction, by providing one wall 6, preferably the forward wall, with an outward- 1y extending arcuate contour, as indicated in Figure 1, whereby to permit the swinging of the spud 3 about its pivotal support as soon as the lower end 3a of the spud is raised above the roller 5.

Any suitable operating means for moving the spud longitudinally and for causing it to swing about a point of support may be provided, and, as shown, such means may take the form of rack and pinion instrumentalities and pivotally supported means for maintaining the rack engaged with the pinion during all positions of longitudinal and swinging movement of the spud 3.

The operating instrumentalities illustrated include the provision of rack teeth 1 formed on the back side of the spud 3, which mesh with a pinion B, fixed to a shaft 9, rotatably supported in suitable bearings in the spaced vertical plates in and H secured to the deck Ia of the hull I.

The shaft 9 is extended through the plate H and its inner end is suitably journaled in a bearing 12 secured to the deck la. Fixed to the shaft 9 is a drum 13 connected with a suitable source of power by a cable [4 fastened to the drum and looped thereabout by means of which the pinion 8 may be caused to rotate for moving the spud longitudinally. The drum l3 has a circumferential flange l5 provided with pockets or ratchets Hi to receive the nose of a lock bar I! operable by a lever l8 pivotally connected to the plate H, and connected with the lock bar IT by means of a link 19 pivoted to one end of the lock bar and to one end of the lever.

Engagement of the lock bar I! with one of the pockets IS of the flange 15 holds the drum l3 and pinion 8 against rotation, locking the spud in the desired position through the engagement of its ratchet teeth I with said pinion 8.

For maintaining the rack teeth 1 in engage ment with the pinion 8, there is provided a stirrup pivotally supported on the pinion shaft 9, said stirrup comprising the

keeper plates

20 and 2| pivoted to the shaft 9 on either side of the spud 3, and the

keeper rollers

22 and 23 rotatably secured to th keeper plates and engaging the fore side of the spud 3. For controlling the pivotal movement of the spud 3 about the supporting pinion shaft 8 to reclining position, indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, there are provided suitable cable hoisting means comprising an A-frame 24 pivotally secured, as at 25, to the deck Ia,

pulleys

26 and 21 secured respectively to the A-frame 24 and the upper end of the spud 3, and a rope or cable 28 trained over said pulleys.

It will be understood, of course, that the cable 23 need not be trained over the

pulleys

26 and 21, unless desired, except when the raising and lowering operation of the spud is to be performed. And it will also be apparent that any other suitable means for performing the raising and lowering operation of the spud may be substituted for the cable and pulley means or the Aeframe shown.

In ope-ration, assuming. that the spud is in the reclining dotted line position indicated in Figure 1, and it is desired to position the spud for performing its anchoring function, the spud will be raised to approximately vertical position bypull ing downwardly on the free end of the cable 28, whereupon, the lock bar I! being withdrawn from looking engagement with the flange IS, the

spud3 will be caused to be moved downwardly either by gravity or by rotation of the drum l3. As the spud 3 moves downwardly, the lower end 3a thereof will enter the lower restrictedportion 40f the well 2 so as to automatically cause the spud to be engaged in said restricted portion of the well between the roller and the opposite wall of the well 2, whereby to maintain the spud against swinging movement and in vertical posi tion when so engaged. As soon as the lower portion 3a of the spud 3 passes over the roller 5 in its downward movement, it will be properly vertically alined for the performance of its anchoring function, wherein the said lower end of the spud is embedded in the bottom of the body of water in which the craft is operating.

When the spuds 3 have been driven downwardly as far as desired, and, in practice, the latter part of such movement may often be accomplished by applying power to the pinion shaft 9 for causing the spuds 3 to be driven forcefully into the channel bottom for raising the hull l thereupon to support increased weight incident to the dredging operations, the lock bar I! will be caused to enter one of the pockets I6 of the drum flange I5 for locking the spud 3 against movement relative to the hull I.

When it is desired to raise the spuds'3 for moving the craft to a new location, the latch I! will be withdrawn from looking engagement with the flange l5, and power applied to the cable [4 for rotation of the drum I3, shaft 9 and pinion 8, to rack upwardly the spud'3 If, in moving from one location to another, it is necessary to pass obstacles under conditions 'of minimum clearance, the spud 3 will be racked upwardly until its lower end 311 is raised above the upper extremity, of the restricted portion of the well, or, in other words, abov the roller 5 whereupon the spud may be swung in an are about its pivotal support on the shaft 9 to the reclining-dotted line position shown in Figure 1 underthe control of the cable 28.

As will be apparent, by reason of the provision of the arcuate'contoured wall 6 of the well 2, it is not necessary to raise the lower end'of the spud 3 above the level of the deck starting its swinging movement to reclining position.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention, shown by Figures 3 and 4, the operating instrumentalities for pivotally supporting the spud-Bto enable its movement from vertical to reclining position, and for causing longitudinal movement thereof, are essentially the same as those described in reference to the construction of Figures 1 and 2, and, likewise, the well construction, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, has the same essential characteristics, except that the well in Figures 3 and 4 is located outside of the hull line instead of through the hull as in Figures 1 and 2.

The same characters of reference are used to designate identical parts in all of the figures of i la before the drawings, andinFigurcs 3 andAareference characters; followed by, a prime. designation ;.in.die catewpartsfunctionally similar to but :of slightly different construction or arrangementsfrom parts bearing corresponding numerals in Figures 1 and 2.;

In Figures 3 and 4, the well 2 is formed of angle bracket plates 30 and 3i, secured to the side. plates. lbof'fthe hull- I, andanouter-plate 32' secured" to .theangle plates.v Thehullside plates lb form-the-inner wall .of thewwelll. The portion 3-0dof the bracket'plateiflfis angularly disposed relative to; the hull plate lb to form the rear wall of; the well 2, againstwhichthe rack teethlcf the spud 3. impingewhenthe'spud is posi ioned in the well.v The p r ion. 3 d of; the bracket late 313 is; likewise an larly'disposed toform theforward wall of'the well? having the arcuately flaredcontour-fi 'I'he roller-i is rotatalcly supported by the hull plate lb andv the outer plate 32, which latter is formed withthe upstanding portion 32a to-form a bearing for the outer. end of; the pinion shaft 9- whichegtendsthrough-a vertical plate H secured to the deck la as in the: construction of Figures land 2,.

Itv will be. noted-that positive. vertical alinement of the spud may be secured automatically by the centering actionof thelower pointed end of 'the spudengaging between the roller and the opposite wall ofv the'well as the spud moves into the restricted portion of the well, if the spud is nearly vertically alined initially.

It will be understood that after the spud-3 is swung to the reclining dotted line position of Figures 1 and 3, the upper end of-the spudmay be suppQrted by a suitable carriage .(QI' lowered to the deck) and he, -frame fl-mey'then be swung about its pivot 25 (preferably-forwardly) likewise to a reclining position so as to afford'the desired clearance during the passage of the dredge beneath lower overhangingobstacles.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the spud construction, herein-described, makes provision for the complete withdrawal from its well or vertically alining means, of. an integral spud without disassembling the same or causing itto bedisengaged from its. op ratingins rumentalt ties, under. conditions providing maximum clearance regardlessof the length of the spud, The necessity for employ-ingan integral spud of the type herein referred to, as distinguished from spuds of the telescoping or hinged section type, under certain'conditions, will be clear when it is borneimmind thatthe acti n of forc u beddingthespudin the hannel bo om iscf en It will also: be seen that the construction heme in described provides automatic positive-vertical alinement of the spud for itsanc-horingfunction when brought from reclining to approximate Vere tical'position by the provision merely of means for restricting thesi-de. play of the spud whenits lower end reaches a certain point, while. 1311811011;-

restriction of such side play, above said point, enables swinging movement of the spud about its supporting axis prior to a time when the lower end of the spud is fully raised above the deck of the water craft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, an integral spud, a pivotal axis therefor, means for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of longitudinal movement of the spud relative to said means for maintaining the spud against swingingmovement when so engaged.

2. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, a dredge or the like having a deck, an integral spud, a pivotal axis therefor fixed to the dredge, means for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of longitudinal movement thereof for positively maintaining the spud in vertical position relative to said deck when so engaged.

3. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, a spud, a pivotal axis therefor, means including a member encircling said spud for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means automatically engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of longitudinal movement thereof in the direction of its length relative to said axis for positively maintaining said spud vertically when so engaged.

4. In a spud construction of the class described, the combination with a dredge or the like having a deck, of a pivotal axis located above and adjacent to said deck, a spud, means including a member encircling said spud for pivotally supporting the same on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means automatically engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of longitudinal movement thereof relative to. said axis for positively maintaining the spud vertical relative to said deck when so engaged.

5. In a spud construction of the class described, the combination with a dredge or the like having a deck, of a pivotal axis located above and adjacent to said deck, a spud, means including a member encircling said spud for pivotally supporting the same on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means engageable with said spud during longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length respecting said axis and vertically respecting said deck for maintaining the spud against swinging movement when the spud is so engaged, said last mean permitting longitudinal movement of said spud in the direction of its length into and out of engagement with said last means, said spud being swingable about said axis to a reclining position adjacent to and substantially parallel with said deck upon disengagement of said spud and said means.

6. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, a dredge or the like having a deck, a spud, a pivotal axis therefor fixed to the dredge, means for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of said spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means engageable with said spud during longitudinal movement thereof downwardly for maintaining the spud vertically relativ to said deck when so engaged, said last means being so constructed and arranged as to permit disengagement of said last means from said spud during upward longitudinal movement of the latter at a point below the level of the deck whereby v to enable swinging movement of said spud about said axis toward reclining position without raising the spud above the level of the deck.

'7. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, a dredge or the like having a deck, a pivotal axis located above and adjacent to said deck, an integral spud, means including a member encircling said spud for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis from a vertical position to a reclining position with the spud adjacent to and substantially parallel with said deck, and means automatically engageable with said spud during longitudinal movement thereof downwardly for positively maintaining the spud vertically rela tive to said deck when so engaged, said last means being so constructed and arranged relative to said deck as-to permit disengagement of said last means from said spud during upward longitudinal movement of the latter at a point below the level of the deck whereby to enable swinging movement of said spud about said axis toward reclining position without raising the spud above the level of the deck.

8. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, a spud well, a pivotal axis above said well, and a spud pivotally supported on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis whereby said spud may be inserted into and withdrawn from said well, said well having a lower restricted portion for positively maintaining said spud in vertical alignment when the same is positioned in said restricted portion, and said well being so constructed as to enable swinging movement of said spud about said axis when the lower end of said spud is raised above said restricted portion and while said spud is positioned within the well.

9. A spud well of the class described, comprising an enclosure having top and bottom openings for receiving a spud adapted to be operated therethrough, said enclosure having a lower portion of restricted cross-sectional area for preventing lateral movement of the spud while permitting longitudinal movement thereof through the well when a part of the spud is positioned in said restricted portion, said enclosure having one wall flared outwardly upwardly from the restricted portion to permit lateral movement of the spud when its free end is raised above said restricted portion.

11. A spud well of the class described, comprising an enclosure having top and bottom openings for receiving a spud adapted to be operated therethrough, said enclosure having a lower portion of restricted cross-sectional area for preventing lateral movement of the spud while permitting longitudinal movement thereof through the well when a part of the spud is positioned in said restricted portiomsaid enclosure having one wall flared outwardly upwardly in an arcuate curve from the restricted portion to permit swinging movement of the spud without longitudinal movement thereof when the fre end of the spud is raised above said restricted portion.

12. A spud well of the class described, comprising an enclosure for receiving a spudadapted to be operated therethrough, a portion of said enclosure being of restricted cross-sectional area for closely encompassing the spud when the latter is positioned therein for preventing lateral movement of the spud while permitting longitudinal movement thereof through the well when the spud is so positioned, s'aid enclosure being so constructed as to permit swinging movement of the spud when the lower end of the latter is raised above said restricted portion of the well.

13. A spud well of the class described, comprising an enclosure for receiving a spud adapted to be operated therethrough, a portion of said enclosure being of restricted cross-sectional area for closely encompassing the spud when the latter is positioned therein for preventing lateral movement of the spud while permitting longitudinal movement thereof through the well when the spud is so positioned, said enclosure being provided with anti-friction means adjacent the restricted portion thereof, 'and engaging the spud when the latter is positioned in said portion, said enclosure being so constructed, and the anti-friction means being so arranged, as to permit swinging movement of the spud when the lower end of the latter is raised above the location of the anti-friction means.

14. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a dredge or the like comprising a hull having a deck, a spud, a pivotal axis therefor fixed to said hull, a pinion on said axis, said spud having rack teeth thereon for engagement with said pinion to move the spud in the direction of its length upon rotation of said pinion,

means pivoted to said axis for maintaining the rack teeth in engagement with said pinion to pivotally support the spud onsaid axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means automatically engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of downward longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length for positively maintaining the spud in a vertical position when so engaged, said last means being so constructed and arranged as to permit disengagement of said last means from said spud during upward longitudinal movement of the latter at a point below the level of the deck whereby to enable swinging movement of said spud about said axis toward a horizontal position before the spud has been raised above the level of the deck.

15. In a spud construction of the class described, in combination, an integral spud. a pivotal axi therefor, means for pivotally supporting said spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length relative to said axis, and means engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of longitudinal movement of the spud relative to said means for maintaining the spud against swinging movement when so engaged, and means operable to lock the spud against longitudinal movement thereof.

16. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a dredge or the like comprising a hull having a deck, a spud, a pivotal axis therefor fixed tosaid hull, a pinion on said axis, said spud having rack teeth thereon for engagement with said pinion to move the spud in the direction of its length upon rotation of said pinion, means pivoted to said axis for maintaining the rack teeth in engagement with said pinion to pivotally support the spud on said axis for swinging movement thereabout and for longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its lengthv relative to said axis, and means automatically engageable with and disengageable from said spud as a result of downward longitudinal movement of the spud in the direction of its length for positively maintaining the spud in a vertical position when so engaged, and means engageable with and disengageable from the pinion for looking the pinion against rotation when so engaged to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of the spud.

JOHN D. RAUCH.