US2961671A - Bundle raft with quick detachable fittings - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 29, 1960 w. A. MEIGHAN' 2,951,671

BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, 1960 BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1960 w. A. MEIGHAN 2,961,671

BUNDLE RAF T WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS Original Filed Jan. 31, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I I 40 Im l n 39 I I I 1 I I I I l I m X: l: 5 i 32 33 k E f I Ill IIIII I 29 3/ l 7 2,951,671 Patented Nov. 29., 19.60

BUNDLE RAFT WITH QUICK DETACHABLE FITTINGS William A. Meighan, Portland, Oreg. ($15 SW. 3rd Ave., Beaver-ton, Oreg.)

Original application Jan. 31, 1955, Ser. No. 485,249, new Patent ,No. 2,917,799, dated Dec. 22, 1959. Divided and this application Sept. 17, 1957, Ser. No. 684,450

6 C im 97-1 This invention relates to a novel log raft which is made up without boom sticks from bundles of logs and to novel quick detachable fittings ofexemplary use to join the individual bundles of logs in such a raft.

This application is a divisional application filed fol lowing order for restriction in application for applicants copending application Serial No. 485,249, filed January 31, 1955, now United States Patent No. 2,917,799.

One object of my invention is to provide a bundle raft which is capable of open water movement although made up with no boom sticks and which is secured together with quick detachable fittings arranged above or adjacent the water line for easy access during assembly and disassembly of the raft.

A further object of my invention is to provide a structurally superior metal fitting selectively manipulative to grip or to release plural sections of wire rope, the gripping action of the fitting being effected with a latch or lock type action which prevents inadvertent release of the wire rope. In addition, with this fitting, the latching manipulation is made with keepers which are independent of the gripping jaws so the stress or strain generated in heavy, massive sections of wire rope will not release the JHWS.

The states of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California in the United States and the province of British Columbia in Canada form a region in' which logging and timber operations, and the production of lumber are major industries. The specific facet of this regional economic life blood with which the instant invention is concerned includes the transportation in the ocean or other open waterway of large numbers of logs. Conventionally, this water transportation is from either a logging or an assembly area to a mill and towing is accomplished by ocean going tugs. The water site where log rafts are made up is referred to in the trade as a booming ground, and common open water log raft types include the Davis and the Gibson rafts. At the booming ground, the individual logs or bundles are handled with high lines, cranes or other complex equipment, the raft itself being assembled on the tide fiat, in a cradle, or in water. Massive and expensive gear such as straps, wire ropes, fittings and chains conventionally tie the logs or bundles together to form a huge rigid raft capable of weathering open water transportation.

Experts in the open water log towing art heretofore have considered that rigidity was synonymous with strength and the only a massive rigid raft would hold together and ride out the rough weather which must be anticipated in any ocean voyage. This type of a structure, however, exemplified by the Davis and Gibson rafts, requires complex and expensive log handling equipment at the booming ground and is unduly expensive and time-consuming both in assembly and in disassembly. For these reasons, the assembly of small or medium sized rafts is economically unsound and over the years the practical art has shown that only the very large logging one object of my invention to operators and the well-financed mills can afford to assemble and use ocean going log rafts. This has come to mean that the small operator or the so-called gypo who is logging in an area where ocean transportation is preferable has been unable effectively to market his logs. He either must form a combination with several other small operators or must sell directly to the big operators at the booming ground. My invention has been developed .to .help these small operators compete with their larger rivals.

In view of the above requirements, practicalities and problems in the open water transportation of logs, it is provide an ocean going log raft which can be assembled, without the use of complex or expensive equipment, in any desired size, in a minimum time, and in direct service of the requirements of the small logging operator. At the same time, it is a correlative inventive object to provide a log raft possessed of sufficient strength without rigidity to gain the approval of log towing experts and thus to make the raft insurable as required by sound business practice.

In brief summary, my novel ocean going log raft is formed from a plurality of log bundles, each bundle being made up of plural individual logs secured together in abutting, parallel and side by side arrangement. By employing quick detachable fittings such as the choker hooks disclosed in either of my prior United States Patents 2,605,130 or 2,675,262, an individual bundle can be assembled with a minimum of effort either in the woods or at the booming ground. For example, where the logs are transported by truck, they are bundled on the truck as a load and thus are ready to assemble into a raft when they arrive at the booming ground.

In assembling a raft, the bundles are arranged side by side in rows with as many as ten bundles forming a row. The rows then are lined up side by side with the bundles of one row end to end with the bundles of adjacent rows and with as many as ten or twelve rows making up a raft. These assembly operations are practiced either on the tide flat or in the water. A wire rope known as a swifter secures the bundles laterally in each row and a longitudinal tow line interconnects the rows of bundles from the tail end to the head end of the raft so that a completed raft is formed in which each bundle is tied by wire rope to its neighbor. To secure the bundles in a given row, either separate lengths or a single continuous length of swifter is in turn wrapped about each bundle and secured with a quick detachable fitting. The longitudinal tow line which runs fore and aft is secured to a bundle of each row adjacent the water line with other quick detachable fittings. Several tow lines may be used. In actuality, however, fewer tow lines are required than the number of bundles in a row since the swifters tie the bundles laterally. The provision of this log raft structure is one object of my invention.

One of the most important economic factors in the construction and use of any log raft is the cost. Labor costs are reflected in the manning of the log handling equipment and the time required to assemble and disassemble a raft, and material costs are born of such items as the boom logs, fittings, wire rope, chains and the like used to tie the structure together. My log raft cuts these twin cost factors to a minimum heretofore unattained in the log towing industry. Thus, by employing quick detachable fittings which are located adjacent or above the water line of the raft for easy access, both assembly and disassembly can be effected in a minimum amount of time. Furthermore, by using no boom sticks or chains and by employing fittings which can be used over and over again, the cost per raft for materials sub stantially is reduced. In sum total, this allows the small timber operator to compete with his larger rivals in the ocean hauling of logs.

It thus is a further object of my invention to provide a novel wire rope fitting which is inexpensive, strong and easy to use and is manipulative between grip and release positions selectively to grip and to hold or to release plural sections of wire rope used, exemplarily, in a log raft.

In service of the last-named objective, my novel fitting includes an elongate clamp mounted in stacked relationship with coinciding ends upon an elongate body. These two members jointly carry rope gripping jaws selectively to grip or to release plural sections of wire rope as dictated by movable keeper members. A first one of these keepers functions selectively to latch the two members against movement from the grip position or to release these in definition of a pivot axis. In similar manner, it is the function of a second keeper selectively to latch the members against movement from the grip position or to release the same for pivotal manipulation to the release position. These keepers are independent and both are elongate tapered members movable through mated apertures to effect the latch function with a wedge action. In this manner, a workman securing two sections of wire rope together with one of my novel fittings need only catch the sections of wire rope between the gripping jaws, pivot the clamp upon the body, and drive the keepers home with hammer blows. Thereinafter, the fitting will retain the wire rope securely locked or latched in place until, at the point of final use of the logs, an oppositely directed hammer blow is effected to release the keepers and jaws thereby disassembling the raft.

The advantages of a fitting which is quick detachable by virtue of keepers manipulative between grip and release positions with a hammer-like blow immediately is apparent. The workman assembling or disassembling a log raft utilizing these fittings is a high pay, hourly employee. He may be standing upon a floating bundle of logs, or in a small boat in deep water, or may be working on the tide flats between tides. Time is of the essence and the footing of the logger or workman may be precarious, yet the bundle must be secure. Additionally, the weather often may be cold and the water rough, further amplifying the problems encountered in manipulating the heavy metal fittings and sections of wire rope. With my novel fittings, the raft can be assembled and the wire ropes secured against displacement or slippage in a minmum of time under even the most trying of conditions. The provision of a fitting having these novel advantages is one object of my invention.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floating log raft with the bundles at rest, the figure being shortened since the construction of the entire raft is merely repetitious of the portion illustrated;

Figs. 2-6 inclusive, are related views of a quick detachable fitting adapted to secure two parallel scetions of wire rope intermediate the jaws thereof, the direction arrows in Fig. 2 indicating a pivotal release or opening movement of the fitting; and

Figs. 7-9 inclusive are related views of a similar quick detachable fitting for securing two sections of crossed wire rope together, the pivotal opening movement being similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2.

In assembling the log raft a portion of which is shown in Fig, l, a plurality of parallel and cross type fittings are employed. The parallel fittings P are shown in detail in Figs. 2-6 and the cross fittings X are shown in detail in Figs. 7-9. Accordingly, I first will describe the construction and arrangement of the individual fittings P and X and then will discuss the construction of the log raft jointly with a discussion of an exemplary use for the fittings in such a raft.

Parallel fitting In the parallel fitting of Figs. 2-6, an elongate body member 10 carries a pair of spaced parallel cars 11 and 12 extending out from one end thereof and a similar pair of spaced parallel ears 13 and 14 extending out from the opposite end thereof. Each of these ears is provided with a lateral aperture 15 and the pair of apertures opening through the ears 11 and 12 and the pair opening through the ears 13 and 14 are in lateral alignment. In size, the apertures 15 vary (see Fig. 4) so as to mate with a tapered keeper as hereinafter will become apparent.

In cooperation with the body member 10, an elongate clamping member 16 is arranged in stacked relationship so the ends thereof substantially coincide with the ends of the body member. A loop means is carried at each end of the clamping member, this term being generic to an eye 17 and a hook 18, either of which species may be utilized as desired. Since the clamping member 16 and body member 10 are substantailly the same length, the open portion of the hook 18 is in lateral alignment with the apertures 15 in the ears 11 and 12, whereas the eye 17 is in lateral alignment with the apertures 15 in the ears 13 and 14. In this manner, provision is made to receive the elongate keepers previously mentioned and now to be described.

A first keeper member 19 is carried by the apertures 15 within and spans the distance between the ears 13 and 14. In so doing, this keeper passes through the eye 17. A second keeper 20 is carried by the apertures 15 within and spans the ears 11 and 12. This keeper passes over the open portion of the hook 18. Both keepers are tapered in thickness (see Fig. 4) and each carries a pin type guard 21 adjacent the small terminal end thereof. In addition, the keeper 19 is stepped, as at 22, so as to define a small cylindrical cross section the length of the small end of the keeper. Enlarged head ends are formed on the keepers to receive a hammer blow without damage and to provide a pry point should such be necessary.

In detail, it will be noted that the pin guard 21 on the keeper 20 projects radially a distance correlated to the clearance of the aperture 15 in the ear 11 (see Fig. 3). Thus, this keeper can be moved laterally from the position of Fig. 3 to a position in which the pin 21 rests intermediate the car 12 and the hook 18. As the keeper 20 reaches this latter position, the pin 21 comes into contact with the ear 12 as the aperture therein is of insufficient size to pass the pin. The clamping member 16 then is free to open since the book 18 is unguarded insofar as the latch function of the keeper 20 is concerned. In a somewhat different manner, the pin 21 on the keeper 19 is proportioned and arranged so as to limit the lateral retraction movement of the keeper 19 to the position shown in Fig. 5. As therein illustrated, the stepped portion 22 spans the apertures 15 in the cars 13 and 14 and the eye 17 in the clamp to define a pivot axis for manipulation of the clamping member 16 to the open or release position. Conversely, Fig. 4 illustrates the closed or latched position wherein both keepers are wedged tight into the mated sloping apertures 15 and the sections of wire rope 24 are held in place. Movement of the keepers and the clamping member intermediate the grip and the release positions will be further explained with reference to the function of both the parallel fitting P and the cross fitting X. Suffice to say at this point, the body member 10 and the clamping member 16 are provided intermediate their ends with mated rope gripping jaws '23 between which the wire ropes 24 are clamped.

Cross fitting In Figs. 7-9 inclusive, the details of the cross fitting X are revealed. This fitting is similar to the parallel fitting except for the jaw and includes an elongate body member 26 and an elongate clamping member 27 of substantially the same length. These two members are mounted in stacked relationship with coinciding ends as best shown in Figs. 7 and 9. A pair of spaced parallel ears extend out from each end of the body member 26, these ears bearing the reference numerals 28-31 inclusive. The ears 28 and 29 are parallel one another in lateral alignment and the ears 30 and 31 are parallel one another at the opposite end in like alignment. The clamping member 27 carries a single ear 32 at one end and a single car 33 at the opposite end. The ear 32 lies intermediate the ears 28 and 29 whereas the ear 33 lies intermediate the ears 30 and 31. In addition, both the body member 26 and the clamping member 27 carry the mated halves of a crossed gripping jaw structure 34. In contrast with the parallel gripping jaws 23 of Figs. 2-6, the cross gripping jaws 34 are arranged to carry two sections of heavy wire rope 24 and 25 which are arranged either normal or at an oblique angle one to the other.

Each of the ears 28-33 inclusive is pierced by a sloping or tapered aperture or eye mated to a tapered keeper as now will be described. To this end, the ear 28 carries an aperture 35', the ear 29 an aperture 36, the ear 3% an aperture 37, the ear 31 an aperture 38, the ear 32 an eye 39, and the ear 33 an aperture 40. As is most apparent in Fig. 9, the apertures 35 and as are in alignment with and are mated to the size of the eye 39. In contrast therewith, the aperture 37 is in alignment with the aperture 38 and the eye 40 but the latter two elements are of a larger size and a different configuration in order to pass a pin guard. In explanation, a first tapered keeper member 4i spans and is carried by the apertures 35 and 36 and the eye 39. This keeper is stepped, as at 42, so as to define a tapered construction leading to a long cylindrical cross section adjacent the end of the keeper. It is the function of the cylindrical cross section to define a pivot axis about which the clamping member 27 can swing with respect to the body member 26. For the ears 30, 3'1, and 33, a second tapered keeper member 43 is provided. This keeper is tapered throughout the length thereof in contrast with the stepped construction of the keeper 4!. In addition, both keepers carry lateral. pin guards 44 for a purpose now to be described.

Both keepers 41 and 43 are movable laterally of the body and clamping members in definition of:a.'pivotal quick release mechanism whereby the fitting is made pivotally manipulative between grip and release positions. Thus, the keeper 41 is movable laterally until the pin guard 44 comes into abutment with the ear 28. In this position, the smaller cylindrical cross section on the end of the pin bridges and spans the apertures 35 and 36 and the eye 39 providing a pivot axis about which the clamp may swing. In the full line position of Fig. 9, on the other hand, the tapered section of the keeper 41 spans and mates with these eyes to wedge the body and clamping members against movement relative to one another.

Turning now to the keeper 43, the pin guard 44 will pass the aperture 38 and the eye 40 allowing this keeper to be withdrawn or retracted until the pin itself lies intermediate the ears 30 and 33. This greater withdrawal movement is accommodated by the size and/or configuration of the aperture 38 and the eye 4!? whereby the pin will pass through these openings yet will be stopped by abutment against the ear 30. In the fully retracted position, of course, the clamping member 27 is free of restraint by the keeper 4-3 and it then can be pivoted to the release position if, at the same time, the keeper 41 also defines a release position.

Both the cross fitting X of Figs. 7-9 and the parallel fitting P of Figs. 2-6 are constructed for heavy duty under conditions of great stress and strain selectively to grip or to release two sections of heavy wire rope. To this end, the clamping members and the body members are preferably of a cast metal construction providing sufficient structural strength to resist the strong forces generated when the jaws grip wire ropes used in the assembly of a log raft. In the drawings, two species of socalled loop mechanism have been disclosed. Thus, the parallel fitting P has been illustrated with a hook 18 which defines the loop or catch on the end of the clamping member 16 whereas the cross fitting X has been illustrated with a closed eye 40 which defines the corresponding element for the clamping member 27. As will be apparent to those skilled in this art, these two elements are interchangeable, are identical in function and use, and therefore both are intended to be covered by the generic term loop means. Whether a hook or an eye is utilized in a particular construction will depend upon the preference of the manufacturer of the fitting and the logger employing the fittings in the field. An explanation of the use to which the fittings conventionally are put will make this point clear.

Bundle raft A bundle raft which employs no boom sticks is illustrated in Fig. l. conventionally, this raft is assembled in or adjacent a bay, inlet, or other salt water booming grounds. Initially, a plurality of individual logs L are gathered together to form a bundle B. In certain instances, the bundles may be assembled at the logging site or aboard a logging truck and in certain other instances the bundles may be assembled right at the booming ground. The individual logs L are arranged in an abutting, parallel and side by side arrangement and are secured either with encircling wire ropes 45 or with the swifters per se. In either event, the encircling wire ropes are cinched tight and held by a quick detachable fitting 46. This particular fitting 46 may be of the parallei type P or may be of any standard choker hook construction, exemplary chokers being disclosed in both of my previous United States Patents 2,605,130 and 2,675,262. It is the function of the fitting or choker hook 46 detachably but positive to hold the logs L together while the bundle B is in transit.

Having assembled a number of bundles B at the booming ground, the lateral rows of the raft first are made up. To this end, the wire rope 24 is a multiple or a single piece lateral swifter which interconnects the bundles in each row and is secured in place by means of the parallel fitting P of Figs. 2-6. Where a single long swifter is utilized, it first is Wrapped centrally about a single bundle B and secured with a single parallel fitting P. Thereinafter, the long free end of the swifter is wrapped centrally about the next adjacent bundle B and once more secured with a fitting P. In a large raft, a single row may contain as many as eight or ten bundles B and each is secured in this manner. Where plural short sections of swifter are used, the individual sections also are secured together with parallel fittings P.

It will be appreciated that while the logger or workman is assembling a row of logs, he either must work on a sloping cradle, on the tide fiat or from a boat or while standing upon the floating bundles B. Optionally, the bundles may be assembled between the low and high tide marks with log handling equipment manipulating the individual bundles to allow the wire ropes 24 to be wrapped centrally about the bundles. a typical securing operation with a fitting P proceeds with both of the keepers 19 and 20 retracted so as to permit the clamping member 16 to swing open as shown by the direction arrows of Fig. 2. In the open position, the clamp is fitted under the parallel sections of wire rope and the individual sections of the rope arranged to lie within the parallel jaws 23. The clamping member 16 then is pivoted to the grip or closed position and the keepers 19 and 20 are moved laterally through the corresponding apertures loosely to secure the fitting against displacement. As the ropes are drawn tight, a final grip is eifected by applying a hammer blow to the large end of each keeper. This drives the pins firmly into place with a wedge like action. In this connection, it

will be noticed that the tapered construction of each:

In either event,

keeper conforms to the sloping outline of each group of mated apertures and loops so as to effect a latch movement which is tight and secure. With both keepers driven in place, the two sections of wire rope cannot move relative to one another. Thus, displacement or loss of the fitting will not take place even during adverse weather under severe conditions of stress and strain.

Having assembled a plurality of individual rows of the bundles B, longitudinal tow lines which also are wire ropes 25 then are fitted in staggered fashion the length of the individual rows. The exact number of tow lines which will be utilized in each raft, of course, will depend upon the preference of the operator. However, I have determined that with eight bundles to a row, three tow lines are sufficient, each tow line actually being a double where the insurance carrier so requires. In Fig. l, a portion of such a raft with eight bundles to the row is shown. As therein illustrated, the tow line 25 has been staggered laterally where it is secured to the encircling swifters 24 closely adjacent the water line in order to develop a straight pull and in order to allow a workman to assemble the fittings about the crossed wire ropes with ease and speed. In many rafts, the bundles B of Fig. 1 actually are arranged so close to one another that they are in abutment. However, the exact spacing is a variant which depends upon several factors and I have shown my preferred embodiment.

During assembly of the cross fittings, the keepers 41 and 42 are retracted or withdrawn and the clamping member 27 is pivoted open in much the same manner as described and illustrated for the parallel fitting. Thereinafter, the gripping jaws 34 are fitted about the crossed wire ropes 24 and 25 and the clamping member 27 pivoted to a closed position catching the ropes between the jaws. The two keepers then are moved laterally through the eyes and apertures to effect a loose hold of the fitting in the closed or grip position. Finally, the ropes are given a final adjustment and a hammer blow is struck upon the large end of each keeper 41 and 43 firmly to latch or lock the fitting in the grip position. In effecting this terminal latch or look movement, it will be noted that the tapered construction of each keeper conforms to the sloping or decreasing diameter of each aperture and eye carried by the ears 28-33 inclusive. This arrangement again provides a tight, efiicient and wedge action lock of the body and clamping members 26 and 27 sufficient to resist the strong forces which will be imposed when the raft encounters adverse weather in open water. In addition, it will be noted that the keepers are separate from the jaws so that any prying or pulling action developed by the ropes will not tend to release the keepers. One other reason for the positive latch, of course, is that the keepers are arranged at right angles to the direction of movement of the clamping member in swinging open.

In final arrangement, the log bundles B are spaced slightly or are in semiloose abutment both end to end in tandem in a longitudinal direction and side by side in rows in a lateral direction. Thereinafter, the tow lines 25 are secured centrally to a tow point which conventionally is a tug and the entire raft is moved from the booming ground to a mill. As an added safety precaution. it sometimes is preferable to secure these bundles which make up the tail end of the raft by wrapping the free end of the tow line around adjoining bundles and securing the same with a fitting. In any event, the mill oftentimes is hundreds of miles distant from the booming ground and the raft thus may traverse considerable open water where wave and wind action will impose a great deal of strain. A typical raft may be eight or ten bundles wide, ten or twelve bundles deep in tandem, and made up with individal logs L which are twenty to forty feet in length. By employing the described parallel and crossed fittings, by arranging the swifters and tow lines as described, by utilizing wire rope of sufficient strength, and by arranging the logs and bundles as described, a raft is enabled to withstand weather conditions encountered in the open ocean without loss of a bundle or an individual log. In addition, the various fittings and wire ropes can be used over and over again since the massive heavy construction thereof resists corrosion, damage, and breakage.

At the mill site, the raft quickly and easily is disassembled. To this end, a typical disassembly includes first a release of the cross fittings X and then a release of the parallel fittings P. A hammer blow is struck on the small end of each keeper 41 and 43 to release the body and clamping members. Since the worker disassembling the raft may be balanced in a somewhat precarious position upon the floating bundles B or in a small boat, it is preferable that the release of each fitting be accomplished with speed. By employing the described construction, a fast release is possible since a hammer blow upon the keepers will move them laterally the full distance permitted by the guards or pins 44. After withdrawal of each keeper, of course, the clamping member 27 manually is pivoted open or, if there is a pry or lifting stress in the wire ropes, it will swing open automatically, releasing the wire ropes 24 and 25. After removal of the various cross clamps X, the parallel fittings P are released. To this end, a similar hammer blow upon the small end of each of the keepers 19 and 20 will release the clamping member 16 for pivotal movement open as shown in Fig. 2. Release of the individual logs L from each bundle B then will depend upon the type of fitting employed at 46. The details of this latter fitting, however, form no part of the instant invention and will not be described. In any event, the entire disassembly operation is much more simple and consumes much less time than with ocean going rafts heretofore known.

In summary, I have provided a novel ocean-going log raft which is made up of bundles secured with wire rope and novel quick detachable fittings. The simplicity and strength of this raft is as important as the minimal cost and practicality thereof in allowing the small timber operator to compete with his large rivals.

I claim:

1. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of multiple log bundles arranged end to end in tandem between a head and a tail end and side by side in lateral rows to define a bundle raft in which the individual bundies float, said lateral rows having separate swifter means joining the individual log bundles in each row, and longitudinal tow line means connected to a selected bundle from each row and joining the rows fore and aft.

2. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of logs secured in individual bundles with encircling wire rope means, said log bundles being arranged to float end to end in tandem longitudinally between a head and a tail end and side by side in lateral rows to define a rectangular bundle raft, each of said lateral rows having lateral swifter means joining the individual log bundles in that row, each said swifter means including wire rope means wrapped about each bundle and secured with a parallel quick detachable fitting, and at least one longitudinal tow line means joined to the swifter means of each row at a location closely adjacent the water line of said raft and by means of a cross quick detachable fitting, the number of tow line means being fewer in number than the number of bundles in a row, said tow line means being arranged intermediate the sides of said raft and extending from adjacent said tail end to a central tow point adjacent said head end, each of said parallel quick detachable fittings being arranged above the water line of said raft for easy access during assembly and disassembly of the raft.

3. In an ocean going log raft a plurality of individually secured log bundles arranged end to end between a head and a tail end and side by side in lateral rows to define a raft of substantially rectangular outline which is one bundle deep throughout, each of said lateral rows having the same number of individual log bundles and each bundle being of substantially the same width, each of said lateral rows having lateral swifter means joining the individual log bundles in that row, and at least one longitudinal tow line means joined at spaced points to said swifters with a quick detachable fitting, the number of tow line means being fewer in number than the number of bundles in a row.

4. An ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of log bundles each secured fore and aft with separate encircling wire rope means fastened by quick detachable fitting means, said log bundles being arranged end to end longitudinally in tandem between a head and a tail end and side by side in lateral rows between a starboard and a port side to define a bundle raft, each of said later-a1 rows having the same number of individual log bundles and each having a single lateral swifter means encircling the individual log bundles and joining the bundles in that row, and at least one longitudinal tow line means joined to each of said encircling swifters with a quick detachable fitting, the number of tow line means being fewer than half the number of bundles in a row, said tow line means being staggered laterally as it passes along the length of said raft.

5. In a long haul, ocean going log raft, a plurality of log bundles each formed by securing plural individual logs together in an abutting parallel side by side arrange ment, said log bundles being arranged end to end in 30 1,883,824

tandem in a longitudinal direction and side by side in rows in a lateral direction, lateral swifter line means encircling and interconnecting the individual bundles in each of said rows, and longitudinal tow line means joining said 'swifter lines where they encircle a bundle, said tow line being staggered laterally where secured to said swifters progressing from the tail end toward the head end of the raft.

6. A long haul, ocean going log raft comprising a plurality of log bundles each formed by securing plural individual logs together in an abutting parallel side by side arrangement with encircling wire rope means fastened by quick detachable choker hooks, said log bundles being arranged end to end in tandem in a longitudinal direction and side by side in rows in a lateral direction, a single lateral swifte-r line means mapped centrally about the individual bundles in each of said rows and secured in place by means of a quick detachable fitting, longitudinal tow line means joining each of said swifter lines by means of quick detachable fitting means to a central tow point adjacent said head end, said tow line means being staggered laterally where secured to said swifters and being arranged closely adjacent first a more starboard and then a more port one of said bundles progressing from the tail end toward the head end of the raft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roberson Oct. 18, 1932

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