US3191568A - Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1965 3,191,568

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING BULK CARGO C. E. SCHROEDER ETAL.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1963 INVENTORS C424 5 Smeaenae f DAV/'0 f-Z C0445 Jlihe 29, 1965 c. E. SCHROEDER ETAL 3,191,568

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING' AND STORING BULK CARGO Filed Feb.- 13, 1963 r s Sheets-Sheet '2- INVENTORS CARL B 56/420605? DA v70 CuuJ-A/ June 29, 1965 c. E. SCHROEDER ETAL APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING BULK CARGO 3 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Feb. 15, 1963 all a?! INVENTORS Iv. Z w. Y u a W W /m 5.0 .7 am A a% v B United States Patent 3,191,568 APPARATU FGR TRANSPORTING AND STGRING BULK CARGO Carl E. Schroeder and David P. Cullen, Ponca City, Okla., assignors to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Dlda, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 13, $63, Ser. No. 258,227

9 Claims. (Cl. 114-74) The present invention relates to apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, relates to an improved apparatus for storing and transporting low temperature liquids by ship.

Low temperature liquids, such as liquefied natural gas, have two properties which cause serious problems when transporting the liquid by sea. First, when the liquetied gas is at approximately atmospheric pressure, its temperature is on the order of 26() Fahrenheit, and this low temperature tends to crystallize and substantially weaken the more common steels used for ship building if the liquid comes in contact with the steel or is not thermally insulated from the steel. Second, the low density of the liquefied natural gas, which is on the order of 3.55 pounds per gallon, as compared with 8.34 pounds per gallon for water, results in a high center of gravity and serious stability problems when transporting the liquid by ship. These two factors combined make it difficult to design a vessel having a maximum bulk cargo space for a given tonnage.

Ocean going vessels presently in use for transporting liquefied natural gas are about twice as high as a conventional tanker from keel to main deck in order to accommodate the same tonnage of cargo. These vessels have a high freeboard double hull with the inner hull divided into large holds. Each of the holds is insulated with about twelve inches of balsa wood, and individual tanks of suitably alloy construction, such as aluminum, are installed in each of the insulated holds. These tanks are rigid, free standing structures and do not depend upon the hull of the ship for strength. Of course the tanks are suitably fixed to the hull to prevent sliding or tilting during movements of the vessel. The high center of gravity of the vessel requires that water be carried in the double hull as ballast at all times in order to maintain the ships stability. The insulation on the inner face of the inner hull protects the carbon steel structure of the vessel from the extreme cold of the liquefied natural gas cargo. Elaborate purging systems are installed to circulate nitrogen or other inactive gas through the double hull of the vessel and through the insulation in order to prevent fires and the formation of frost spots. Further, elaborate temperature sensing systerms are provided to detect any frost spots which may occur at any point on the hull of the vessel.

The present invention contemplates an improved apparatus for transporting and storing hydrocarbons at substantially atmospheric pressure and at low temperature, comprising a buoyant container for the liquefied hydrocarbon and a self-propelled vessel having a hull, a floodab'le hold and closure means in the hull for opening the hold and permitting the container to be floated into the hold. The water within the fioodable hold serves to support and insulate the container, and as ballast for lowering the center of gravity and maintaining stability of the vessel.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified vessel and container system for transporting liquefied natural gas in which the ballast Water is utilized to both support andthermally insulate the liquid containers from the hull of the vessel.

3,1915% Patented June 29, 1965 ice Another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described which has a greater bulk capacity for a given total tonnage and is therefore more efiicient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described which requires no thermal insulating barriers to be built into the vessel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described which does not require elaborate inert gas purge systems and temperature sensing means for monitoring the temperature of the structural steel of the vessel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described which tends to automatically seal leaks which may occur in the container for the liquefied natural gas.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described which greatly simplifies loading and handling of the liquefied natural gas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described wherein the liquefied natural gas may be stored and transferred from inland waterways to a self-propelled, ocean going vessel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide transportation apparatus of the type described by which liquefied natural gas may be transported either in relatively shallow harbor waters or on the high seas.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel fluid container which is buoyant and has structural integrity so that it can be towed through inland waterways and harbors to the ocean going vessel, or can be used as a storage container and dock when tied up in a protected berth.

Many additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings, wherein? FIG. 1 is a side elevation of atransportation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View of the hold of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

H6. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the liquid container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional View of a combination fluid bafile and bumper means used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

PEG. 6 is a cross sectional view of another combination fluid baflle and bumper means for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing details of construction of the horizontally disposed combination fluid bafile and bumper means for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of another combination fluid bafile and bumper means for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, a transportation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus 10 includes a self-propelled vessel 12 comprised generally of a hull 13 and bridge 14 and having bow and stern ends 16 and 18, respectively. The vessel 12 will customarily be of sufficient size and have the necessary fittings for operation on the high seas. The vessel 12 has a fioodable cargo hold 20 which is accessible from the stern through a suitable closure means such as gate 22 which is pivotally connected to the hull 13 of the vessel. The gate 22, as best seen in FIG. 2, may be lowered by suitable means to the position represented by the dotted outline 22a in FIG. 1, so that the entire cross sectional area of the hold 20 will be open for receiving a liquefied natural gas container means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 32 and hereafter described in greater detail. Suitable pumps 24 may be provided for circulating and controlling the level of water in the floodable hold 20. As can best be seen in FIG. 3, the hull 13 of the vessel 12 is comprised of an outer hull 26 and an inner hull 28 which are interconnected by suitable bracing means 34). It will be noted that the inner hull 28 forms the walls of the hold 20.

A liquefied natural gas container, indicated generally by the reference numeral 32, is sized to pass through the 7 opening provided by the closure means 22 and be received in the hold 20, as will presently be described. The container 32 may conveniently have an outer shell 34 cast from reinforced concrete or other suitable material for providing a rigid, self-supporting structure having suflicient structural integrity to be floated independently of the vessel 12 and towed about in the manner hereafter described in greater detail. The interior surface of the concrete outer shell 34 is preferably thermally insulated by a suitable layer of insulating material 36, such as balsa wood. An elastic or other suitable fluid impervious membrane 38 is then positioned on the interior surface of the thermal layer 36 to provide a fluidtight internal seal. Of course, it will be appreciated that the concrete also will provide a fluidtight container for sealing out the water in which the container floats. A vent 40 is provided to maintain the interior of the container at substantially atmospheric pressure and may be open to the atmosphere or may be connected by suitable manifolding to the engines of the vessel 12 in a conventional manner such that the gas boiling oil from the liquefied natural gas will supply the necessary fuel to drive the vessel.

Referring once again to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8, a plurality of elongated, combination fluid baffles and cushioning means are connected to the interior hull 23 along the four walls and bottom of the hold 20. These fluid baffles and cushioning means are provided to control migration of the water in the hold 20 which floats the container 32 and thereby prevents abrupt changes in the center of gravity of the vessel as it pitches and rolls in rough water and also to maintain the container 32 substantially centered as well as absorb any impact the container may make with the walls of the hold during loading or in transit. One combination fluid baffle and cushioning means 42 is horizontally disposed and extends around the periphery of the hold 20 adjacent the upper edge, as can best be seen in FIG. 2. Similarly constructed fluid baflle and cushioning means 44, 46, 43 and are disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the hold 20 and therefore of the vessel 12 and extend downwardly along one wall, across the bottom and up the other wall of the hold 2%). Several similarly constructed fluid baflle and cushioning means 52 and 54 may be vertically disposed at transversely spaced points on the bulkhead at the bow of the hold 20 and on the closure means 22 at the stern end of the hold 20, respectively. A plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced fluid baflle and cushioning means 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64, having construction as hereafter described in greater detail, may be connected to the inner hull 28. It will be noted that all of the fluid baflle and cushioning means constitute projections from the walls of the hold 20 and all project into the hold approximately the same distance. Further, it will be noted that all of the projecting fluid baflles and cushioning means extend into contact with the container 32, as can best be seen in FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, which is a cross sectional view through the fluid baifle and cushioning means 42, and is representative of the fluid baflle and cushioning means 44, 46, 43, 5t 52 and 54, it will be noted that the means 42 is comprised of an inner hard rubber bumper member 66 which is connected to the inner hull 28 by any suitable means. A resilient, pneumatically inflated sheath 68 is also connected to the inner hull 28. The pneumatically inflated sheath 68 will then conform to and tend to seal against the outer surface of the container 32.

An alternative fluid baffle and cushioning means construction is illustrated by the cross sectional view of FIG- URE 6 wherein a plurality of springs 70 are disposed between a pair of elongated plate members 72 and '74. The inner plate '72 may be suitably connected to the inner hull 28. A pneumatically inflated flexible sheath '76 is sealed to the opposite edges of the plate 74 and if desired may extend to the opposite edges of the plate 72 in order to form a protective bellows 76a around the springs 79. The pneumatically inflated sheath 76 will also conform to and form a seal against the container 32 while the springs 7t) will provide a stronger bumper to arrest the more violent movements of the container 32 relative to the vessel. I

An enlarged view of the fluid baflle and cushioning means 6i), which is representative of the fluid baflle means 56, 58, 62 and 64, is shown in the cross sectional view of FIGURE 7. The fluid baffle and cushioning means 60 is comprised of an elongated plate 530 which is pivotally connected along one edge to the inner hull 28 by a suitable hinge structure 82. Suitable spring loaded shock absorbing means 84 (only one illustrated) are disposed at longitudinally spaced points and are pivotally connected to the inner hull 28 by suitable hinge means 86 and are also pivotally connected to a midpoint of the plate by hinge means 88. The other longitudinal extending edge of the plate 80 is adapted to engage and roll on the container 32 by suitable rollers 90 which may be journaled on the plate 80 in any suitable manner. Thus it will be noted that the spring biased shock absorbing means 84 urges the outer edge of the plate 80 inwardly from the wall of the hold and continuously holds the rollers 90 in contact with the container 32. The shock absorbing means 84 will then absorb the force of impact of the container 32 which would otherwise be applied to the inner hull 28. Upward movement of water between the hull 28 and the container 32 will be effectively retarded by the plate 86 without applying any force to the shock absorber means 84 because the force will be transmitted to the rigid container 32 through the rollers 90. The fluid baflle and cushioning means 69 may be retracted by a fluid motor 91 which may be connected to the inner hull 28. The motor 9l,preferably, has a long rod 91a which extends vertically downwardly and is connected by a sliding pin to a lever arm 91b for each plate 80. Thus when rod 91a is moved downwardly by the motor 91, each of the plates 80 will be pivoted downwardly and inwardly toward the hull 28 against the bias of the shock absorbers 84.

Another type of fluid baflle and cushioning means is indicated gene-rally by the reference numeral 92 and may be substituted for any of the fluid baflle and cushioning means previously described, The means 92 is comprised of a pair of elongated plates 94 and 96 each of which is pivotally connected along one longitudinal edge to the inner hull 28 by suitable dual hinge means 98. The plates 94 and 96 diverge from the hinge means 98 and the other longitudinal edges are adapted to engage and move along the container 32 by rollers 10% and M92, respectively, which may be journaled on the respective plates by any suitable means. A plurality of tension springs 104 interconnect cor-responding midpoints of the plates 94 and 96 and tend to continually urge the free edges of the plates together. A mechanism for spreading the plates 94 and 26 apart so that the container 32 may be moved into the hold 20, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 106 and is comprised of a conventional fluid motor 108,

preferably pneumatic, which is connected to the inside of the inner hull 28 with the piston rod 110 extending through the inner hull 28 and between the plates 94- and 96. The free end of the piston rod 119 is pivotally connected to midpoints of the plates 94 and as by compression linkage members 112 and 114. Thus it will be noted that when the motor N8 is actuated to move the piston rod 119 to the left, when referring to FTGURE 8, the compression link-age members 1112 and 114 will spread the plates g4 and 96 against the tension of the spring 18 and draw the inwardly extending edges carrying the rollers 1th and 162 toward the inner hull 28.

A plurality of transversely extending hold-down bumper means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 129, are provided to restrict vertical movement of the container 32, as will hereafter be described in greater detail. Each of the hold-down means 120 is comprised of a hori- Zontally disposed beam 122 which extends transversely across the hold 20 and is connected by suitable upright beams 124 and 126 to the opposite sides of the hull of the vessel 12. Extensions 124a and 125a of the upright beams 124 and 126, respectively, may be provided with suitable conventional means (not illustrated) for raising the beams 122 so as to facilitate loading of the container 32, as hereafter described in greater detail. A plurality of springs 128 are connected to the underside of the beam 122 and to a transversely extending plate 1-30 in any suitable manner. The plate 136 then engages the top of the container 32 to limit its upward movement. Thus it will be noted from FIGURE 3 that the container 32 is contacted on all six sides by cushioning means.

In operation, the container 32 may be filled in the conventional manner with liquefied natural gas while floating in the water of a relatively shallow berth in a harbor or upstream in a navigable river. The container 32 will, of course, float even when completely filled with the low density liquefied natural gas, even though fabricated from reinforced concrete as previously described. The filled container 32 may then be towed or pushed by a tug out to the vessel 12, which may be anchored in deeper water. The gate 22 may be loweredto the position 22a and the hold 2d flooded to a depth suflicient for the container 32 to be floated through the opening into the hold.

It will be appreciated that due to the spacing of the projecting fluid baflie and flange means along the walls of the hold, it may be necessary to exert considerable force on the container 32 unless at least part of the projecting fluid baffle and cushioning means are retracted. The fluid baflie and cushioning means constructed as shown either in FTGURE 5 or FIGURE 6 may relatively easily be retracted merely by deflating the normally inflated sheaths 68 or 76, as the case may be. Similarly, the fluid baffie means 60 can be retracted by actuation of the pneumatic motor 91, and if the fluid baffle and cushioning means are of the type disclosed in FIGURE 8, they may be withdrawn by actuation of the pneumatic motor res. It will also be appreciated that the plate 13% will, in most cases, have to be raised in order to easily load the container 32, although the retraction of the lower portion of the transverse fluid baffle and cushioning means 44, 46, 48 and 5% may be sufficient. The plate 13% may be raised in any suitable manner, such as by raising the entire beam 129 either by moving the beam along the vertical extensions 124a and 126a, by pivoting the beam 12% from one end, or by raising the springs 123 individually. It will also be appreciated that if necessary, suitable cable winches may be mounted on the vessel .12 to assist in loading the container 32 into the hold 2t although in most cases this will not be necessary. Next the closure means 22 is raised to the position shown in FTGURE 2 and the water in the hold 20 brought to the proper level by the pumps 24 in order to float the container 32 at the desired height,

After the container 32 is loaded in this manner, the vessel 12 is ready for movement upon the high seas, if desired. As the vessel 12 pitches and rolls in rough water,

see

the projecting fluid baffie and cushioning means will continually prevent damaging collisions between the free floating container 32 and the hull of the vessel, since as previously noted, the fluid battle and cushioning means are disposed on all four sides and the bottom of the hold 2% and the spring biased plates contact the top of the container 32. Further, the fluid battle and cushioning means prevent rapid migration of the water within the hold as the ship pitches and rolls so as to eliminate the danger of the entire ballast water rushing to one end or one side of the hold and adversely shifting the center of gravity of the vessel. However, it will be appreciated that the fluid bafile and cushioning means need not and are not intended to provide absolute fluidtight seals, but to the contrary, preferably permit some passage of water so that the water within the hold 2% can be circulated by suitable pump equipment in order to prevent freezing.

With regard to operation of the specific fluid baflle and cushioning means disclosed in FIGURES 5-8, it will be noted that when the pressure of the water within the hold exceeds the pressure of the air within the respective sheaths 63 and 76, leakage past the respective bafiles and cushioning meanswill occur. With respect to the fluid baflle and cushioning means constructions, illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, it will be evident that a much greater pressure can be withstood because the pressure acting on the plate 35 for example, is transmitted to the container 32 through the roller 9% Since there are an equal number of the horizontally disposed fluid baflie and cushioning means on each side of the container 32 at any point, and since the pressure of the water on each side of the container 32 will be equal, it will be evident that substantially equal and opposite forces will be applied to the container 32 as a result of the water pressure hitting the plates 89. If desired, the plate 8% may be provided with orifices (not illustrated) in order to facilitate circulation and warming of the water in the hold 29.

It will also be evident that a fluid baffle and cushioning means of the type shown in FIGURE 7 is primarily effective to prevent passage of water only in the upward direction, and according is suitable primarily only when disposed horizontally as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The fluid baffle construction shown in FIGURE 8 operates in substantially the same manner as the means 60 of FIGURE 7, except that it is eiiective to retard the passage of water in either direction normal to the plates 94 and 96. Accordingly, the means 92 may be disposed either horizontally or vertically and may be used to replace any of the fluid bafile and cushioning means as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

After the vessel 12 has arrived at its destination, the container 32 may be unloaded and towed to its final berth and serve as a storage tank from which the liquefied natural gas may be used as needed. In this regard it will be appreciated that the container may be unloaded while the vessel 12 is anchored oifshore so that no special port facilities are required to unload the container. Further, the container 32 may easily be towed up inland waterways impassable by the ocean going vessel 12, and may also serve as a storage facility and dock during the period of time when the natural gas is being used, as needed, from the container. An empty container 32 may then be loaded in the hold of the vessel 12 in the manner previously described for transport back to the compression station for refill.

It will be appreciated that a plurality of small containers 32 may be carried in the hold merely by providing suitable cushioning means between the adjacent containers. The smaller containers may then be dropped off at several different ports, as the demand may arise. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the number and arrangement of the combination fluid baflie and cushioning means may vary widely from one application to the next. However, suflicient means should be provided to prevent appreciable movement of the container arouse-s 32 in any direction and to absorb the impact of any movement which does occur. Further, suflicient fluid bathing should be provided to prevent the ballast water in the hold from quickly migrating from one end of the hold to the other during pitching movement of the vessel. Otherwise the vessel could conceivably be swamped by an oscillatory type buildup or wave motion of the ballast water. Longitudinal shifting of the ballast water is prevented both by the vertically disposed battle means which prevent movement of the water longitudinally of the hold and by the horizontally disposed bathe means which prevent the upward movement of the water because as the water moves toward and becomes deeper at one end of the hold, the deepening water must move upwardly between the container 32 and the walls of the hold 2%. As the water deepens at either end of the hold 20, the corresponding. end of the container 32 will be buoyed upwardly with a greater force. However, the holddown means 120 will absorb the force and will not permit the container to rise excessively.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that an improved and highly simplified apparatus for transport ing and storing liquefied natural gas has been disclosed.

The ballast water usually necessary for stability purposes is used for loading and supporting the liquid container and for thermally insulating the container from the structural steel of the vessel so that the bulk space available for transporting the liquefied natural gas is substantially increased. The containers may be used for storage purposes at the destination and may be constructed from more inexpensive materials, such as reinforced concrete. The vessel need not have any secondary layers of permanent insulation because the liquefied gas containers are not in direct contact with the structural steel of the vessel. No inert gas purge system or frost spot sensing systems would be required because any gas leaking from the container is free to escape to the atmosphere. Further, the escaping liquid or gas will tend to freeze the water at the point of leakage and seal the leak. The use of a plurality of smaller containers provides considerable flexibility in marketing the liquefied gas, particularly in view of the fact that the containers may be towed up inland waterways and utilized as storage tanks and thereby eliminate the necessity of building land storage tanks. Similarly, the liquefication plant sites and the distribution terminal sites may be located on inland waterways where deep draft vessels cannot be easily accommodated.

Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that various changes and substitutions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo,

comprising in combination:

a buoyant container means for containing the cargo;

a self-propelled vessel having a hull and a floodable hold therein;

closure means in the hull for opening the hold whereby the buoyant container means can be floated into the hold; and

fluidbafiie means disposed between the hull and the container means when the container means is floating in the fioodable hold for retarding migration of water in the hold longitudinally of the vessel as the vessel pitches and rolls, wherein the fluid baffle means comprises;

a plurality of resilient, elongated projections extending from the hull into the hold and into contact with the container means, the elongated projections being longitudinally spaced and disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

2. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo,

comprising the combination defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient elongated projections each comprise an infiatedsheath for also cushioning impact of the container against the hull.

3. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo, comprising in combination:

a buoyant container means for containing the cargo;

a self-propelled vessel having a hull and a fioodable hold therein;

closure means in the hull for opening the hold whereby the buoyant container means can be floated into the hold; and

fluid bafiie means disposed between the hull and the container means when the container means is floating in the fioodable hold for retarding vertical migration of water in the hold as the vessel pitches and rolls.

4. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo,

comprising in combination: a buoyant container means for containing the cargo;

a self-propelled vessel having a hull and a floodable hold therein;

closure means in the hull for opening the hold whereby the buoyant container means can be floated into the hold; and

horizontally disposed elongated fluid bafile means extending from the hull into the hold and into contact with the container means for retarding vertical migration of water in the hold as the vessel pitches and rolls.

5. Apparatus for transporting and storing liquefied hydrocarbon cargo, comprising in combination:

a buoyant container means for containing the cargo;

a self-propelled vessel having a hull and a floodable hold therein;

closure means in the hull for opening the hold whereby the buoyant container can be floated into the hold;

resilient means disposed between the hull and the buoyant container to serve both to cushion the container means within the hold and to retard migration of water in the hold; and wherein said buoyant container means comprises;

an outer concrete shell, 7

a liner of thermal insulating material within the concrete shell, and

an inner liner disposed within the liner of thermal insulating material for containing the hydrocarbon cargo.

6. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo, comprising the combination defined in claim 1 wherein the elongated projections each comprise:

a pair of diverging plates each pivotally connected to the hull along one longitudinally extending edge, said one edge being disposed generally parallel; and,

resilient tension means interconnecting midpoint of the plates and tending to urge the plates together whereby the other edges of the plates will be moved generally away from the wall of the hull into engagement with the container means.

7. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo, comprising the combination defined in claim 6 further characterized by:

means for spreading the plates apart against the bias of the resilient tension means whereby the other edges of the plate-s will be withdrawn from the hold and moved toward the hull to facilitate loading the container means into the hold.

8. Apparatus for transporting and storing bulk cargo, comprising the combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the elongated fluid bafile means comprises:

an elongated plate pivotally connected to the hull along one longitudinally extending edge and extending downwardly at an angle to the horizontal; and,

resilient shock absorber means interconnecting a midpoint of the plate and the hull below the plate for biasing the other longitudinally extending edge away from the hull into engagement with the container means and for restricting and cushioning movement of the container Within the hold.

9. Apparatus [for transporting and storing bulk cargo, comprising the combination as defined in. claim 4 wherein the elongated fluid bafil'e means comprises:

a pair of elongated, diverging plates each pivotally connected to the hull along one longitudinally extending edge, said one edge being disposed generally parallel; and,

resilient tension means interconnecting midpoint of the plates tending to urge the plates together whereby the other edges of the plates will be moved away from the wall of the hull into engagement with the container means for cushioning movement of the container means within the hold.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,084 8/46 Levin 114-73 X 2,911,125 11/59 Dosker 220-ll 2,95 4,892 10/ 60 Dosker 220-41 3,034,309 5/ 62 Muck.

FOREIGN PATENTS 894,878 4/62 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Janes Fighting Ships, 1961-1962, page 378, VA 40 F5.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 3. APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING BULK CARGO, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A BUOYANT CONTAINER MEANS FOR CONTAINING THE CARGO; A SELF-PROPELLED VESSEL HAVING A HULL AND A FLOODABLE HOLD THEREIN; CLOSURE MEANS IN THE HULL FOR OPENING THE HOLD WHEREBY THE BUOYANT CONTAINER MEANS CAN BE FLOATED INTO THE HOLD; AND

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