US2394607A - Ship - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 12, 1946. B RAY 'EFVAL 2,394,607

SHIP

Filed Dec. 15, 1942 INVENTOR. REID s. GRAY y JOSEPH c. DE WEESE ATTO E'v Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE] Middle River, Md., assignors to The Glenn-L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., a corporation of Maryland ApplicationDecember 15, 1942, Serial.No. 469,-150

Claims. (01. 114-74) portation of dry cargo on a return or subsequent trip.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide boatsrthat will transport liquid cargo in a very simple and inexpensively constructed craft.

This invention may be used to convert the cargo carrying space of an ordinary freighter so that it may transport liquid cargo, such as oil or gasoline or'itcmay'be applied to specially constructed barges for use on inland water ways. These barges may be of wood or concrete or any other similar inexpensive material rather than the ordinary sheet metal construction that must be made fluid-tight.

Further and other objects will become apparent from the description of the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this disclosure and in which like numerals refer to like parts.

The drawing discloses a barge generally indicated as I, which may be of wood plank or concrete construction. The cargo carrying hold 2 is divided up into compartments by partitions 3 which may be either temporary or permanent construction. These partitions together with the side walls of the barge form a rectangular compartment into which is placed a flexible fluid containin cell 4. The cover members 5 are supported on the partition and afford a protective cover for the compartments.

Stra members 6 are shown secured to each cell whereby the cells are supported in the compartment to prevent the collapse of the cell when empty. An opening I in the top of each cell registers with an opening in the cover member to provide access for filling and emptying the cell. A fitting 8 secures the edges of the openings together. Covers 9 are placed over the openings when not in use.

The cell used in carrying out this invention may be of any material or construction which will render the cell sufiiciently flexible and rugged so that it may be collapsed and stored in a relatively small space, and withstand handling and transportation. The materials of the cell which come in contact with the liquid must, of course,

be inertto any chemical. reaction with the liquid.

-An example of at specific cellof the above specifications would be one comprising. a layer or layers of, falbric, impregnated with a liquidproo-i plastic material. Where more than one layer ofrfabric is used, the impregnating plastic material would also act to bond the layersof fabric in-to asingleflexible wall structure.- The plastic materialsmust besuch-as will render the wall structure flexible and resistant to the chemical action vof the; liquid.

Suitable materials may: be of the Perbunan or Thickol RD type composed of co-polymers-of acrylonitrile and. ,butadiene, or hydrolysis-prod.- uctsof cot-polymers .such. as ResistofleX-which is made 'upof. polyvinylialcohol and polyvinylacetate. Condensation polymers; such asthe Thiokols; which may be'either of the ethylene dichloride or dichloroethyl ether type condensed with sodium polysulfide; or nylon which is a condensation product of adipic acid and. hexamethylene diamine, may also be used.

In the event that the impregnating material used is not resistant to the action of the fluid carried in the cell, the above materials may be used as a lining for the cell.

The cell is shaped to conform with the shape of the cavity and while coated with a liquidproof material must retain its flexibility for two reasons. As long as the cell is substantially equal to the size of the retaining compartment no stress will be placed upon the cell wall structure but all of the fluid load will be borne by the walls of the retaining structure. If the cell is slightly larger than the cavity, the stress is borne by the retaining walls. If the cell is slightly smaller than the cavity, the flexible wall is bulged outwardly and transmits the fluid pressure loads to the retaining walls. For successful operation, the walls of the cell must at all times be free from stress or stretch.

The reason for the flexibility of the cells is that upon reaching its destination and being unloaded, a liquid pay load may not be available for the return trip. In this case the cells may be removed from the compartments and rolled up and stowed in a small portion of the cargo carrying compartment. The partitions may or may not be removable, depending upon the construction, but if they are removable may also be stowed making available a large cargo carrying space for the return trip for a dry cargo.

' The economy of this type of construction should be obvious with respect to carrying pay loads on each trip. Considerable economy is effected in this type of construction due to the fact that the boat construction itself does not have to be fluid tight as this feature is furnished by the cells. The invention is illustrated in a barge, several of which would be towed by a tug through inland water ways and afford a very economical means oftransporting liquid and dry 1 cargo in the same vessel.

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that this type, of construction could readily be applied to any water craft.

the fluid pressure load is borne by the compartment walls.

3. In a cargo carrying boat having temporary partitions arranged to divide the cargo space 'within the cells, whereby the dry cargo space of the boat can be adapted to carry liquid cargo It is to be understood that certain changes,

alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made without departingfrom the spirit scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

and

1. In combination, a boat having a cargo carv rying space, removable partitions dividing said space into a plurality of compartments, a He ible-walled, rubber-like liquid impervious cell placed in each of said compartments, substantially filling said compartments so that the walls of said compartments act as a retaining structure for said cells, securing means to support said cells on the walls of said compartments to prevent the collapse of certain flexible-walled cellswhen empty.

'2. Incombination, a boat having a cargo carrying space, removable-partitions dividing said space'into a plurality of compartments, a flexible-walled liquid impervious cell placed in each of said compartments, the walls of said compartments acting as retaining structure for said cells,

-mnsions of said retaining structure whereby securing means on said cells and compartment yet readily reconverted to carry dry cargo.

4. In a cargo carrying boat having removable partitions arranged to divide the cargo space into a plurality of compartments, flexible walled, liquidimpervious cells mounted in said compartments, the walls of said compartments retaining said cell walls and bearing the pressure load within the liquid cells, the dimensions of said cell being such that the volumetric capacity of said cell, if filled out, but substantially unstretched, is greater-"than the volumetric capacity of the retaining structure.

5. In combination, a boat having a cargo'carrying space, temporary partitions dividing said space into a plurality o'f'compartments, a flexible-walled, liquid impervious cell placed in each 7 of said compartments, securing means to support said cells from the walls of said compartments when empty, from collapse, an opening in each cell wall adjacent the top of said cell, cover members for each compartment, each cover member having an opening which registers with the opening in said cell wall, fitting members joining said openings furnishing access to the interior of saidcells. I

,REID VB. GRAY. V VVJOSEVPI-I c. DEVWEESE.

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