US2424164A

US2424164A - Coupling apparatus for floating dry docks

Info

Publication number: US2424164A
Application number: US556237A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederic R Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-12-20
Filing date: 1944-09-28
Publication date: 1947-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1964-07-15

Description

Jgly 15, 1947. F, HARRls 2,424,164

' COUPLING APPARATUS FOR FLOATING DRY DUCKS briginal Filed D ec. 20. 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a? j \\\J: a

l l w, I \\i 11% 1 E E X i i l I IN VEN TOR. Frederic 1?.- Harris July 1947= .F. R. HARRIS 2,424,164

COUPLING APPARATUS FOR FLOATING DRY DOCKS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' w r *3 INVENTOR.

' I Freden'rfi. Edi-r13 v r BY 15, 1947- F. R HARRIS 2,424,164

COUPLING APPARATUS FOR FLOATING DRY DOGKS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Freda rm 1?. Harris July 15, 1947. F. R. umms 2,424,1 4

COUPL ING APPARATUS FOR FLOATING DRY DUCKS Original Fild Dec. 2d, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I h i I Q "Q N L? I Q Q? v nymvrox. Frederic]?- Harris flTTOR/WE'Y Patented July 15, 1947 COUPLING APPARATUS FOR FLOATING DRY DOCKS Frederic RQHarris, New York, N. Y.

Original application December 20, 1943, Serial No. 514,952, now Patent No. 2,370,957, dated March 6, 1945.

Divided and this application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,237

13 Claims. (Cl. 114-46) This invention relates to improvements in float ing dry docks adapted to be built in separate and I distinct units, which can be connected to make the. dock complete and ready for use.

.1 ...An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eificient and durable coupling by which the different units of the dock can be operatively attached to one another, and conveniently disconnected whenever necessary to repair, scrape or paint any part of the dry dock, or move it to an 1 other site.

Another object is to provide a coupling which will secure the units together, but allow a predetermined degree of up and down movement of the several units under special conditions.

Withthese and other objects and advantages,

, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the features of construction defined .and pointed out; but the embodiment illustratedand set forth is presented as an example only; and others may be adopted in practice to the full extent consistent with the broad and general meaningsof the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

, On said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation on a small scale of an assembled dock having its constituent units connected by couplings according to this invention.. Figure 2 shows in end elevation part of the hull and one side wall of one unit of the dock with one coupling member on the end of the wing wall, for connecting one unit to another.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a side and a top elevation of such a coupling member in p- 'erative position,

' Figures 5 and 6 are front elevations of comple- 'mentary engaging parts or members of the coupling device for the units of the dock; one part to be mounted on one unit and the other on an adjacent unit.

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a front view of the structure appearing in Figure 7, showing one side only.

. Figures 9 and 10 are horizontal sections on lines '9-9 and Ill-Ill of Figures 5 and 6 respectively.

- partly in section and a top view of the coupling head. I v

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

This application is a division of my prior application for patent on a Prefabricated timber dock, Serial No. 514,952, filed December 20, 1943, now Patent No. 2,370,957, dated March 6, 1945.

Each dry dock unit comprises a pontoon having a hull I with portions of side walls 2 at each of its shorter sides or ends. By joining several such units'with the two walls thereon arranged end to end, in alignment along each side, a complete dock is produced. The couplings indicated at 3 (Figure 1) on the ends'of the portions of the side walls of adjoining units connect the various units to one another. The framework of the hull and the parts of the side Walls of the dock thereon for each unit, are indicated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and described fully in my said prior application. The framework of each unit is covered entirely with planking to make it water-tight, and the couplings are supported in position on the outside of the planking.

The couplings 3 for the dock units embrace complementary parts, one of which 3a is mounted on one end of a length of wall upon one hull, andthe other 322 upon the opposing end of a length of side wall of an adjacent hull. The member 3a forms the head member of the coupling; the other 32), the socket member by which the head is held. In operation the head members are permitted to slide up and down in the socket members s the couplings hold the dock units together. Thus, the dock units, in sinking, raising and trimming can be managed and controlled independently of one another. If one unit is pumped out or filled more rapidly than the next, no stress on the couplings ensues because the units are allowed to rise or sink to some extent independently, When this happens the pumps are slowed or accelerated, to bring all units into proper position, that is, to the same level.

In structure the head member comprises vertical I-beams 5|, extending from the floor of the dock upward along the end of a length of wall 2. They are aifixed by welding their flanges to intervening space plates or shims 52 which are welded to plates 2lc projecting out at the extremities of upper and lower chords of trusses 8' in the walls 2; the ends of beams 5| being between the plates 210. At their lower ends these beams are joined by a horizontal beam 53 welded in place; through similar intervening plates or shims; which are shown in Figures 5 and 6 but are omitted from Figures 9, 10 and 11 for the sake of clearness; and higher up but at .and lowered .sufliciently in the water. section is brought near enough to locate .the heads 51 between the beams 5| of the sockets,

a distance below the upper ends of the beams 5| is a cross-beam 54. This cross-beam is fitted to the beams 5| and attached thereto at its ends by bolts and angle irons indicated at 55, engaging the webs of the two beams; and can easily be put into place and removed. The web of the beam 54 can be extended beyond the flanges by cutting away the latter, for this purpose. The

two

horizontal beams

53 and 54 are connected by vertical beams 56 in the space between the beams 5|, also removably attached at upper and lower ends by bolts and angle members 55. To the beams 56 the head 51 is afiixed. It projects outward beyond the faces of the beams 56; and is retained by the socket member 31), when the couplings connect the dock .unitstogether.

The socket member also comprises vertical beams 5| mounted in the same position on plates H at the end of the wall of the next unit, at the same side, and secured as before to trusses 8 and connected as before, and at the same points, by horizontal beams 53' and 54', the latter again being removably attached by bolts and .angles 55'; and the former permanently secured lengths of I-beams 65 welded to the outer webs.

59 at one end and at the other to T-plates 66 welded in turn to the beams The inside webs 58b are spanned by a plate 64 welded on behind them at the level of the members 65. The beams 58 are further joined by two cross-beams 6|, lust below the plate 64 and above the beam 53, with plates 52 welded on their ends to be bolted at 63 to the inner webs 59 (Figures '7 and 8), so that these beams 6| can be readily dismounted. Between the horizontal beams 6| theflanges 58a and 581) are wider, extending over the inside webs 59, so as to overlap and engage the projecting ends of the head 51. The webs 59 taper to shorter width at top and bottom and the flanges 58a have sloping portions 60. The beams 58 and inner webs 59 form vertical guideways for the head 51.

The head 51 may be hollow and made up of metal plates forming front and rear faces 66,

top and bottom faces 67, and ends 68. Inside are vertical reinforcing webs 69 parallel to the ends and inside horizontal reinforcing bars or websilfl connecting the webs and ends. Upon the front and rear faces adjacent the ends are convex reinforcing bars 7 I. Bars or webs l2 welded to the head and beams 56 holdthe head in position. These webs .12 are not so far apart as theends of the head, which are thus in effect transversely extended.

To connect the units of the dock, as appears in Figure 1, the beams 54of the socket members 3b .are unbolted and dismounted; so are the upper beams 6|. One unit is then partly flooded The next in line with thespaces above the beams 53'. The one :unit can'now be pumped out and raised .or

the other lowered until the heads :5] .dropbetween the beams '58, with the ends '68 between atherfrout beams 58a at their widest parts.

Beams

54 and 6| are then bolted into place again. The units are then coupled but the heads 3a can slide up and down in the members 3b, and the upper beams or elements 6| prevent disengagement.

The units can also be connected simply by moving them close together with the

beams

54 and 6| of the members 3b, and the heads 51.

'beams 56 and associated cross-beams 54 removed.

The heads 51 can be engaged with the socket ,guideways, and the said beams then securely attached in proper positions.

When thedock is assembled and the couplings engaged to hold the various units together, each unit comprising a hull with portions of side walls 2, all of which are in alignment when the dock is assembled, .the various units can then, if desired, be rigidly connected together by crossbeams or other devices extending from one unit to the other.

Having described my invention, 'whatJI believe to be new is:

1. A floating dry dock hullhaving walls thereon, a pair of external upright beams at the end of one of said walls, horizontal beams uniting the 'upright beams, a pairof vertical beams between the latter uniting said horizontal beams and a head with a transversely extended outer end secured to the last named upright beams.

2. A floating dry dock hullhaving-walls thereon, a pair of external upright beams at the end of one of said walls, horizontal beams uniting said upright beams, and means forming vertical guideways between 'said last named beams an secured to said horizontal beams.

3. A floating dry-dock comprising two or more units and coupling means for connecting said units, said means comprising a member having .a head with transversely extended ends on one unit and a member having opposed flanges on an adjacent unit disposed to overlap said ends and retain said head between them but allow up and down motion of the head.

4. The floating dry dock according to claim 3 wherein the second named member also has an element for preventin disengagement of "said head.

5. A floating dry dock comprising two or more units, each having portions of side walls thereon, and couplin means on the ends of 'said'walls to connect said units, each of said means comprisin a member having a head with transversely extended ends on one unit, and a member'having a vertical guideway on an adjacent unit disposed to overlap said ends and retain .saidhead.

6. The floating dry dock according to claim 5 wherein the second named member also has an element spanning the top of theguideway to prevent disengagement of said head.

7. A floating dry dock hull having walls thereon, said walls containing girders comprising upper and lower horizontal "beams, a pair of external upright beams aflixed to said horizontal beams at the end of one of said walls, crossbeams uniting the upright beams, a pairof vertic-a1 beamsbetween the latter uniting saidcrossbeams and "a head with transversely extended ends secured to the last named upright beams.

8. A floating dry dock hull having wallsthereon, said walls containing girders comprising upper and lower horizontal beams, a pairnf external pright beams aflixed to saidhorizontal beams at the end of one of said walls, crossbeams uniting said upright beams, and means forming vertical guideways between said last named beams and secured to said cross-beams.

9. The floating dry dock according to claim 8 wherein said guideway has a retaining element spannin the top thereof.

10. A floating dry dock comprising multiple units, and coupling means therefor, each of said means comprising a member on one unit having vertical beams attached to said unit, cross-beams uniting the vertical beams, additional vertical beams afiixed to said cross-beams and a head having extended ends supported by said additional beams, and a complementary member on an adjacent unit comprising vertical beams, cross-beams uniting same, means forming a vertical guideway mounted on said cross-beams to receive the head and an element spanning the guideway at the top to prevent disengagement of said head.

11. A floating dry dock embracing multiple units having side walls thereon, said walls containing trusses with upper and lower horizontal beams therein, and coupling means for said units, said means comprising vertical beams on the end of a side wall of one unit and secured to the horizontal truss beams of said wall, cross-beams connecting the vertical beams, additional vertical beams supported by the cross-beams, and a projecting head with extended ends mounted on the additional vertical beams, and a complementary member on the opposing end of the wall of an adjacent unit comprising vertical beams affixed to the horizontal truss beams of said last named wall, cross-beams uniting said vertical beams, a vertical guideway attached to said crossbeams to receive and hold said head and an element spanning the top of said guideway to prevent disengagement of said head.

1 2. A floating dry dock hull having walls thereon, said walls containing girders comprisin upper and lower horizontal beams, a pair of external upright beams afiixed to said horizontal beams at the end of one of said walls, crossbeams uniting the upper and lower ends of said upright beams, means for detachably securing the cross-beam at the upper end of said upright beams in place, and means forming vertical guideways between the upright beams and secured to said cross-beams.

13. The floating dry dock according to claim 12, wherein said guideway has retaining elements at the upper and lower ends thereof, the upper retaining element being removably secured in place.

FREDERIC R. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 710,765 Cunningham Oct. 7, 1902 1,019,611 Donnelly Mar. 5, 1912 1,797,600 Baer et al. Mar. 24, 1 31