US42561A - Improvement in floating-derricks - Google Patents

Description

'peculiar llwrrnn @rares JAMES V. COLLINS, 0F GERGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT in FLoA'i-iae-Deaaicks.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. fl, dated May. 3, i864 To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, JAMES V. GoLLrNs, of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Floating-Derrick; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification,

in which'` Figure lis a horizont-al section ot' my improvedderrick, illustrating the oats or hulls to be hereinafter described. Fig. `2 `is aplan ofthe upper bracine. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section in the line E F, Fig. Il. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section inthe line Gr H, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts' in the several figures.

This invention relates to a floating contrivl ance of greatstrength, and adapted by its .construction to raise sunken vessels :and other submerged bodies of immense weight, without the possibility ot' failure. The apparatus may also be employed for transferring ordnance or other weighty bodies, as will be hereinafter explained.

ln order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains maybe ena-V bled to fully understand and use the saine, I will proceed to describe its construction andl operation.

yIn the accompanying drawings, I J represent two hulls or `lioats which occupy parallel. positions and which maybe of any suitable size and capacity.4 From each ot' these iioats rise a series of derricks or standards, A A A, securely supported and braced at their lower ends, as shown in the drawings. The hulls I J are connected together so as to move simultaneously and in conformity with each other by arches,.C (l, which may be either formed of wood and sirengthenedwith iron l, or .they may be `formed entirely of iron. 'Ihese arches C (l are secured to and near the bases ot' the derrcks A, in the manner shown, and their curvatures are to be snilicient to allow a vessel ot' any dimensions to be raised up between the iioats I J', the height ot the said arches being from forty to iii'ty i'eet, (more or less,) according vas circumstances may dictate. The arches are cach formed in two paralh-Ldisiointed sections, C C, respectively,

nected by cross-pieces ll,

between which the tackle l maypassand by winch the same may have steadiness imparted to 1t while the sunken vessel or other submerged body is in course ot' elevation.

The tops of the derricks A are tied or con which may also be either formed of wood and strengthened with iron n, or entirely composed of the' latter. The derricks are securely braced by strong truss-frames I), which are counterbraced by the pieces dd. The whole are further secured together and Astrengthened by the rods t" m.

In the accompanying illustration ot' my iuvention, two grappling' or elevating hooks, :c x, and two sets of tackle, Z, are represented as being employed` in connection with each oi' the arches C C. achtackle works overa pulley, k, secured in and near the upper ends ot' the respective derricks A through an aperture in the truss-trames D D andfover pulleys j j', suspended from said truss-trames l), as clearly shown in F1g.4 of the drawings.

L may represent crabs or compound windlasses for operating the tackle, to which ycrabs either hand, steam, ,or other power may be applied. If steam be employed` it may be readily vsupplied from an engine orI engines located on one or both-ot' the hulls I J.

The abovedescribed contrivance 4may be built quickly 4and .at little cost and affords a lifting mechanism whereby vessels of the greatest dimensions or weight can be elevated without diiticulty, and by means otl tlie'hulls or iloats a vessel when elevated may be sus tained for any length ot' time or conveyed to a dock or other place of safety. The apparatus may also be employed to advantage t'ormany other useful purposessuola tbrinstance, as lightening vessels over shallow places, remov ing obstructions, drawing piles, or conveying 'from place to place ordnance or other heavy bodies, which may be suspended between the h'ulls or iioats I J by the hooks rr, the crabs L being locked by any suitable device.

The parts are so connected that the entire frame-work may be taken to pieces and placed otr one er both the huilsor boats l J to facilitate transportation.

Having thus described my invention, the ibllowing is what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent y l. In combination with the hulls or Iioats J, the abutments A A and eonneotingerehes tackle l and grappling-books l errauged C C, constructed and arranged substantially' and operating substantially in themanner deas herein shown and described. scribed.

2. The derrieks A, iu combination with the T e J truss-frames D .D and brace-rods or ties 'L z m, TAMES @M INS the whole being' constructed and arranged in WIUGSSGS: the manner :md 'for the purpose set forth. UHAS. L. DUBOIS7 3. In combina-tion with the above parte, the; 1R. H. MAYHEW.

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