US820974A

US820974A - Steel barge.

Info

Publication number: US820974A
Application number: US23988505A
Authority: US
Inventors: Meier G Hilpert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1905-01-06
Filing date: 1905-01-06
Publication date: 1906-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1923-05-22

Description

No. 820,974. PATENTEDMAY 221906.

M. G. HILPERT.

STEEL BARGB..

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1905. I

EEEEEEEEEEEEEE 1.

PATBNTED MAY 22, 1900.

M. G. HILPERT.

STEEL BARGE.

kAPPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1905.

e SHEETS-SHEET z.

?, www

M .GE

E UE

PATENTED MAY 22, 1 906.

M. G. HILPERT.

STEEL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 190s.

6 SHEETS-SEEE MTNESES.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

M. G. HILPBRT.

STEEL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6,. 1905.

o Ombo ooooo ca :o

WITNESS-ES,

No. 820,974. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. M. G. HILPBRT.

STEEL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1905.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WE1-Nasa@ EMMEN-mm.

MFM.; d m /flfz www@ @www PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

M. G. HILPERT.

STEEL BARGE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. s,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

R D T N E V m WHTNESSES.

L CK, V 0.44m.,

. UNTED STATES PATENT oFFIoF.

No. 320,974a

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application tiled January 6, 1905. Serial'No. 289,885.

To all whom t Tim/U concern:

Be it known that I, MEIER G. HILPERT, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and 'useful Improvement in Steel Barges and I do hereby declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to boats or barges, and more especially to barges for transporting coal, coke, sand, grain, or other commodities which' are usually handled in bulk.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction'oi` barge or boat by means of which the coal or other material may be iioated, loadedrapidly, and by apparatus of least cost, by means of which the coal or other material may be unloaded by dumping, so as to dispense with the elaborate unloading appliances at present required and enabling the barges to be unloaded at very much less cost and in less time than with existing barges; which adapts itself to a cheap steel or other metal construction; which adapts itself to transportation by land as well as by Water,- which is so constructed that the empty barge may be collapsed, thus occupying only a fractional part of its original cubical contents and greatly facilitating and cheapening the return of the empty barge either by land or water; which adapts itself to a perfect interchangeability of parts, and hence makes it possible to utilize all useful parts; Which in the case of wrecks makes it possible to salvage a much greater portion of the cargo than is possible with present barge constructions and practically all of the barge itself, and by which in case of total or partial destruction the scrap value of the barge will be large.

The transportation of coal and similar material bywater, and especially on rivers and lakes, is at present done by means of large open barges in which the coal is loaded and transported to the point of destination. These barges until recentlyhave been built of wood but by reason of the increasing scarcity of lumber the cost of such barges has become very great, and as a consequence many are of a very light and liimsy construction, so that they are not Worth returning tothe point of loading. ylhe increasing cost of lumber has led in recent years to the construction of steel barges; but the latter have in allcases been built as close as possible on the lines of the old wooden barge, being of very large dimensions both as to breadth and length and in all essentials being like their Wooden predecessors.

The present type of barge possesses many disadvantages, among which are the slowness and cost of unloading the same, it requiring either` special unloading-cranes With dredging-buckets or other appliances or else slow and eXpensivehand-unloading. Also the return of these empty bargesto the -point of loading is slow and expensive, due to the fact that the cubical contents and wetted surface of the barge is practically the same When empty as when loaded, also to the great loss both of cargo and barge itself in case of total or partial wrecks, it being possible to salvage only a small percentage of the cargo andlgenerally no portion of the barge itself, this being due to the fact that such barges, and especially the Wooden ones, break apart and spill the cargo into the mud at the bottom of the river, thus making it impossible to recover a large portion of the cargo, vand the very large size of the barges themselves. allows the current to easily erode the cargo and makes it practically impossible to raise the barges even though they are not broken apart.

-The object of my invention is to provide a barge construction in which all of the foregoing difficulties are avoided and the several advantages heretofore pointed out are secured. v

To this end the invention consists, generally stated, in constructing the barge of a number of separate sections or compartments,

.each of which preferably is a self-contained unit both as to stability and flotation, and which sections are constructed to be attached one to another, so as to build up thecomplete barge `or fleet, which are constructed of sizes so that When empty a plurality thereof can be nested together, thus reducing the cubical contents and wetted surface and both expediting and rendering more cheap the return of the empty barges, which are of such a size that they can be lifted by suitable hoisting apparatus and unloaded by merely dumping the same, thus greatly expediting and cheapening the unloading thereof, which are of such a,size that they can be transported by land as Well as by Water either on ordinary flat-cars, by telpherage system, or as desired, and 'which possess many other special features of construction and advantages, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a barge embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in a collapsed condition. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the collapsed sections, showing Ithe adaptability thereof for transportation by land. Fig. 4 illustrates three different methods of lifting thc barge-sections. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of a bargesection, showing the details of construction. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section thereof. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating one means for connecting the sections to each other at their tops. Fig. 9 is a side view of the same. Fig. 10 is a cross-section thereof. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are views showing another form of connecting means at the tops of the sections. Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating another manner of lifting the sections and also the connecting means at the bottom of the sections. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one corner of a section, showing the bottom connecting means. Fig. 16 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 17 is a perspective sectional detail illustratin connecting means for the sections interme iate their tops and bottoms.

Fig. 18 is an elevation of aportion of a section,

showing connecting means on the sides of the sections. Fig. 19 is a similar view of the cooperating connecting means. Fig. 2() is a horizontal sectional view illustrating this connecting means. Fig. 21 and 22 are perspective views illustrating the manner of attaching the splash-boards. Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing one of the cavels. Figs. 24 and 25 are perspective views of the checkposts, and Figs 26 and 27 are perspective views illustrating the application of a roof or covering to the barge.

The essential feature of my invention consists in building up the barge of a number of separate sections 1, each of which is, or is not, as desired, a unit both as to stability and .flotation either when loaded or unloaded.

These sections are, in effect, bins or compartments and comprise the sides 2, ends 3, and lbottom 4, together with suitableiconneeting means. Preferably they will be open at the top. I prefer to make these sections rectangular in plan, as thereby they can be more compactly assembled, but wish it understood that the invention is not limited to this shape, as they may be of any desired shape. These sections will preferably be of a depth less than their dimension in either length or width, so that they will be perfectly stable either' when loaded or unloaded. The size preferably will be such as to adapt them most conveniently for land as well as for Water transportation, and preferably so that they can be loaded on ordinary flat-cars, as shown in Fig. 3, or be conveyed by a telpheragel system, or other adaptable method. These several sections will be constructed preferably in groups, the individuals of which will be of different sizes. The number of individuals in each group may vary, being either two or more. In the drawings I have illustrated an arrangement wherein there are three individuals in each group, these individuals being marked a, I), and c, respectively. These sections will preferably all be of the same depth; but in length and width the section a will be vthe largest, the section c the smallest, and the section b intermediate the two, so that the several sections ,when empty can be nested' or placed one within the other,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to expedite and chea en the return of the barge. Obviously t e group may consist of only two sections 0. and b or of any number of sections within reasonable limits greater than three.

Preferably the sections which are to form the ends of the bar e, both front and rear, will be provided wit a rake, as indicated at 7, Figs. 1 and 2. This rake may be of any preferred form, either beveled or curved from the bottom entirely to the top or only partially to the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These several sections will preferably be constructed of suflicient strength to withstand the lifting or handling thereof when loaded. When they ioat in the water the pressure of the'material inside is largely counterbalanced by the pressure of the water on the outside, and hence for mere otation a very simple and light construction might be used. When, however, they are adapted for land transportation and for lifting out of the water in order to dump the contents the construction must be considerably stronger, so as to withstand the stresses of the load contained therein. The details of construction for this purpose may vary within wide limits. In Figs. 5', 6, and 7 l have illustrated the details of one form of construction, but wish it understood that this is largely illustrative and not to be exhaustive of the different manners in which the sections may be built up. y

As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, each section is provided at its upper edges with a suitable iianged rail or gunwale 10, which preferably is a Z-bar, as shown, although it may be of any other shape, whether standard or special, and either rolled, cast, or pressed. l prefer, however, to build up the sections of standard commercial shapes, as these can be easily and cheaply obtained on the market. 'lhese top rails,in ell'ect, form the gunwales of the section and give strength where the stresses are probably the greatest. AA Z-bar is especially adapted for this purpose, as it will effectively resist horizontal as well as vertical stresses. 'lhe side and bottom plates are connected by angulo-sections l1, the end and bottom plates by similar angle sections 12, and the side andv end plates by the cornerconnecting angles 13. Riveted to cach of the side plates are a pair of diagonal mem- IOC ITO

IIS

crane-hooks or other device engaging either to the side plates centrally thereof are the erably run from the ends of the cross-beam bers, preferably angles 14, which extend I either from the lower corners thereof up to the middle, from the upper corners thereof down to the middle, depending upon whether the section is to be lifted at its middle, as shown, or at the corners, or other good and economical girder construction. Also riveted vertical lianged members 15, preferably Z- bars, running from the top to the bottom and connected at their lower ends to the cross-beam 16, which preferably will be an I-beam, as shown. The end plates 3 are stiffened by a number of diagonal braces 17, to be economically arranged, and the iioor is strengthened 'by longitudinal supports 18, which may be either angles, but preferably channels, and which extend from the ends to the cross-girder 16. The diagonal braces 14 on the side plates and the bottom-connecting angle 11 and vertical Z-bar 15 form, in edect, a truss, and this is strengthened or stiifened by the side plates 2, which are riveted thereto. So, too, the end plates 3, with their stiffening members 17 are, ineffect, plate-girders. As a consequence the load on the bottonL is transferred, by means of the floor-supports 18, out to the plate-girder ends, and as the latter at the corners are connected to the trussedsides all stresses are well taken care of. These sections may be lifted in any suitable way. Fig. 4 illustrates three different methods of lifting same. At A the section is lifted by ears 20 on-the top edges of the sides between their ends. rihese ears are directly above the cross-beam 16, and consequently the load will be transferred directly to these ears from said cross-beam and also from other portions of the iioor through the plategirder ends and trussed sides. At B and C, I have illustrated the lifting vof these sections at their corners. When this occurs, the stiffeninO-angles 14 on the side plates will pref- 1 upwardly to the upper corners of the section. The lifting may be done by having at the corners or with ears at the middle and connected directly to the lifting-chain 22, as shown at B. Preferably, however, these hooks will be connected to a balance-beam 23, as at A, which in turn is connected to the lifting-chain or will be attached to the corners of a spreading frame 24, as shown at C, so that the lifting stresses on the section will be vertical instead of converging inwardly, as at B, the latter having a tendency to collapse the section.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated another method of lifting the sections, this showing a balancebeam 23', provided With-arms 25, having. inwardly-projecting trunnions 25a for engaging suitable sockets 26, ears, or the like secured to the ends or sides of the sections. This arrangement has an advantage in dumping the contents of the section, as it is practically trunnioned at approximately its center of gravity. The sockets 26 may be formed in any suitable wa either by riveting pieces to the outside o the section, but preferably by perforating-` the side plates and securing to the inner faces thereof castings or other members 26", having openings for receiving the ends'of the trunnions 25a. These sockets may be placed either at the ends or sides of the sections, as desired. Preferably, also,

the sections will be provided with some means ,whereby they can be engaged by a rod or hook so as to tip the same in dumping. In the drawings I have shown for this purpose ears 26, riveted to the bottoms of the sections. Obviously this detail may be varied within wide limits. If desired, a socket somewhat as shown at 26 may be employed for this purpose, said socket, as well as the ears illustrated, serving as a means for catching the end of a hook or the like, whereby the section can be tipped in order to dump the contents. The several sections comprising the barge will be connected to one another by any suitable means. In the drawings I have shown several forms of means for connecting the same but obviously this is a detail which can be modilied within very wide limits. The means shown are intended merely as illustrative and not to indicate all practical means for accomplishing this result. The connecting means shown in the drawings at the tops of the sections comprise the formation of slots 27 in the gunw'ales of the sections. These slots will be laid out on the principle of a Vernier, so that sections of different sizes may be readily connected one to another. Passing through these slots will be suitable connecting bolts or keys which will receive shear and tension, but only slight bending strains, and which not only connect the sections at their tops, but also prevent individual vertical movement of the sections. v

Figs. 8 to 10 show as a connecting means a bolt 29, haviner a nut 30 and being provided at one end witli a long head or extension 31. This is for the purpose of permitting the quick removal of said coupling member whenever necessary, as in case of emergency. When one or more of the sections meet with an accident and begin to sink, they should be quickly detached from the remainder of the barge, so as to prevent drawing other sections down with them. The projecting head 31 of the bolt offers a means for quick disconnection, it merely being necessary to take a Sledge, and by a sharp blow on said head the bolt can be broken, thus effecting the disconnection of said sections.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show a modification in which the coupling member 32 is provided on one end with a large head 33 and on the opposite end with a head 34, which is sufli- IOO IOS

IIO

ciently small to readily pass through the slots 27 in the gunwales. A tapering forked key or wedge 35 is driven between the gunwale and the head 34, thus serving as the locking means. To prevent accidental displacement of this key, a light cotter-pin or locking-key 36 is passed through openings in the legs of the forked key. This key is provided with a toe or extension 37, so that a sharp blow with a hammer or Sledge will drive said key out of place and permit the disconnection of the barge-sections. While connecting means at the top alone will be sufficient in many cases, it is desirable to also connect the sections at their bottoms. This may also be accomplished in various ways. In the drawings only one has been illustrated, this being shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16. Each section is provided at or near its bottom with a suitable stop, socket, ear, or the like 60, which is adapted to be engaged by a hook 61 or the like, pivoted on the adjacent section. This hook can be operated in any suitable waysuch, for instance, as connecting the same to the lower endof the shaft 62, rotatably mounted in the barge-section and extending up through the gunwale, where it is provided with a handle 63 or other operating means. The operating-shaft 62 will preferably be inclosed in a well, so as to prevent the water which will leak in around the lower end of said shaft from entering the barge. This well may be either a simple tube, such as shown at 64, having water-tight connection at the bottom of the barge and extending up to the gunwale, as by screwing the same into the bottom plates and gunwale, or may be a pressed plate U-shaped or otherwisein crosssection and riveted to the side plates of the barge.

Fig. 17 shows an arrangement whereby connecting means similar to that shown in Figs. 8 to 13 is located intermediate the bottom and top ed es of the sections, so that in practice it will e below the water-line and nearer the center of gravity of the sections. With this arrangement the sections need not be connected at their bottoms. In this case the gunwales proper, 10, are located at the point of connecting the sections, while the extension sides 65 are, in effect, splash-boards; but they are formed of metal and riveted water-tight to the gunwales and to each other at the corners so as to make a water-tight connection and permit the submersion of the sections below the gunwales.

In Figs. 18, 19, and 20 is illustrated means suitable for connecting the sections along their sides. This consists in providing one of the sections with a Well 66, formed in any suitable way and having rotatably mounted therein` a shaft 67, provided at its upper end with a handle 68 or other suitable operating means and carrying one or more couplin members or hooks 69, which is or are adapte to project out through openings 70, formed in the end or side plates. In order to stiffen the shaft 67, it is passed through openings in one or more diaphragme 71, extending across the well. The adjacent sectionis provided with suitable couplin means for cooperating with the hooks 67 t 's being shown as the projecting edge 73 at the side of ripenings cut in the end or side plates of said sction. well-casing 75 is provided to preveit the entrance of water into the body of t 1e barge. In this well is rotatably mounted a shaft 76, having one or more lockin -dogs 77 adapted to be swung behind the hoo or hooks 67 and hold the same in locked position, as shown in Fig. 20. The shaft 76 is provided at its upper end with a handle 78 or other suitable operating means.

Obviously many other forms of connecting means for the sections will suggest themselves to those engaged in their manufacture and use. Preferably the connecting means should be such as to prevent independent vertical movements in the sections, take the tension as necessary and allow of rapid disconnecting, and also should not project inside of the several sections beyond the gunwales, so as' not to interfere with the nesting of the several sections. It will b,e observed that the gunwales, braces, and ether strengthening members for the side, end, and bottom plates are all located inside of the sections, thus leaving the outside thereof perfectly smooth, so as to offer the least resistance or friction in the water. y

The outer sections making up the barge or fleet will be provided with suitable means for attaching snubbing ropes or lines for the purpose of tying the barges one to another or to a dock or other places. These attaching means may be of any suitable construction either in the form of a kevel or cleat, as shown at 40, Fig. 23, or a check-post, such as shown at 41, Fig. 24. The kevels or check-'posts will be attached to the gunwales by means of bolts passing through suitable holes or openings 42 in the gunwale and similar openings in the kevel or check-post. The gunwales of all sections will be provided with holes 42 at intervals, and each fleet or tow boat will carry with it a number of check-posts or kevels, which can be attached by means of bolts to the gunwales on the outer edges of the fleet or barges, as required. When these check-posts or kevels are placed at the corners of the barge, .they will be formed as shown at 43, Fig. 25, havin attaching bases or feet 44 at an angle to eac other and pref-l erably being provided with an angular opening ,45 for receiving an upwardly-extending portion 46 of the corner-connecting angle 13. These corner-connecting an les 13 will preferably be allowed to exten above the gunwales in all cases, as they ma serve not only for attachment of the chec -posts 43, but

IOO

rrd

isv

also as a convenient means for attaching splash-boards 48, as shown in Fig. 22. These splash-boards may, however, be attached by other convenientdetachable means, such as the straps 49, en aging loops 5() on the side or end plates, as indicated in F ig. 2l.

The sections comprising the barge will be made water-tight, thus not only increasing the buoyancy thereof, but also enabling the transportation of materials which must be lrept dry. ln such cases provision will also be made for covering the barges. This covering may be provided in a great variety of ways either by the use of canvas, wood, or metal coverings. In F i s. 26 and 27 l have illustrated two methods of covering the barges. ln F ig. 26 the barge-sections are provided with standards 53, having connected thereto a ridge-pole 54. The rooiing 55 may be either wood, metal, or canvas and will extend from the ridge-pole down to the gunwales. ln Fig. 2O simple sloped roofs 56 are shown, these being shown as of corrugated metal; but obviously they may be of other -material lhen roofs are applied, the sections composing the barge may be slightly spaced apart at the points where the roei-eaves meet the gunwales, so as to permitl the drippings .to pass down between the sections and not into the saine, or the drippings may be taken care oi by other desirable means. This spacing apart of the sections may be conveniently accomplished by placing spacing-blocks between the several sections.

ln order to prevent the material transported from lodging in the space between the side plates and the depending llanges ci the Z- sha-ped gunwal-es when dumping the load, said gunwales will be closed on their lower sides by means oi a suitable strip 57, of wood or other material, secured in place by bolts 58 or other suitable fastening means.

Many modiilcations in details of construc-y tion may be made in the barge shown and der scribed. The essential feature of the invention is a barge construction composed of a plurality ci sections preferably arranged in groups, the individuals oi which are of dilei1- ent sizes, so as to permit the nesting ci the same when emptied. Preferably these sections are each a complete unit as to flotation and stability. This sectional construction .adapts itself to very cheap and quick unloading thereof, it merely being necessary to lift the same. by means oi a suitable crane or other hoisting device and dump the same. Furthermore, it adapts the barge to land transportation either by hat cars, by telpherage, or other means. As a consequence the several sections may be lled at the mines,

thus doing away with the tipples, and being weighed there can be transported either by llat cars tel pherage, or other means to the water and deposited therein. They will then be l connected together and talren to the point oi destination. Here they canv be unloaded by merely lifting and dumping the same, orii the coal is to o inland the sections can be detached anni transported to the several destinations by rail. The-empty sect-ions can be nested one within the other and returned when time is an essential by rail by merely loading on ilat cars. Even when returned by water the nested sections occupy 'so much less wetted surface that they can be returned with less power and at a greater speed than with non-collapsible barges.

While in Fig. l l have shown the barge made up of three di'lierent sizes oi sections arranged uniformly, so as to give straight side and end edges to the barge, it will be understood that this is not absolutely necessary, as it may frequently hap en that there will not be equal numbers of all the different sizes of sections. 'lhey may, nevertheless, be readily connected together by means of the vernier connection described and may be readily transported, even though the side and front and rear edges should not be straight lines. lt will also be understood. that the size of the barge may be varied within wide limits, as obviously any number oi such sections niay be connected. rlhe lleet can be made up by connectingtogether the requisite number of sections.

What l claim isl. A barge or boat comprising a series oi' sections open at the top and of several difierent sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, and means for connecting said sections together.

2. A barge or boat comprising a series oi sections open at the top and of several di'lerent sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, each section being a unit as to staility and flotation, and means for connecting said sections together.

3. barge or boat comprising a series of sections eachghaving sides, ends and bottom, and being of several dilierent sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, and means for connecting said sections together.

4. A barge or boat comprising a series of sections open at the top and being of the same shape butof several different sizes, whereby they may be nested in groups, and means for connecting said sections together.

5. A barge or boat comprisin a series oi sections having sides, ends and ottom and being oi the same shape but of several difterent sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, and means for connecting said sections together. 1

6. A barge or boat comprising a series ot rectangular sections open at the top and of several diiierent sizes, whereby they may be nested in groups, and means for connecting said sections together.

7. A barge or boat comprising a series of rco ige

may be nested in groups, and means for conrectangular sections having metallic sides, ends and bottom, and being open at the top and of several different sizesv whereby they necting said sections together.

8. A barge or boat comprising a series of sections having metallic sides', ends and bottom and being open at the top and of several different sizes whereby they may be nested in roups, each section being a unit as to stability and flotation, and means for connecting said sections together.

9. A barge or boat comprising a' series of sections o en at the top and of different sizes whereby tlhey may be nested in interchangeable groups, and means for connecting said sections together.

10. A barge or boat com rising a 'series of sections open at the top an of several different sizes whereby theymay be nested in interchangeable groups, each section being a unit as to stability and flotation, and means for connecting said sections together.

11. A barge, boat ory body of floating compartments comprisingv a vlurality of interchangeable sections roviv ed with means for the attachment of ifting mechanism, and means for connecting said sections together.

12. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of interchangeable metallic sections each being a unit as to stability and flotation and each provided with means'fi the attachment of lifting mechanism, and means for connecting said sections together.

18. A barge or boat comprising a lurality of rectangular sectionshaving metal ic sides, ends and bottoms, and each being provided with means for the attachment of' lifting mechanism, and means for connecting said sections together.

14. Abarge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each rovided with means for the attachment of li 'ting mechanism, and means for connecting said sections together.

15. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each being a unit as to stability and flotation, said sections being arranged for the attachment of lifting means, and means for connecting said sections to. each other.

16. A barge or boat comprising a lurality of sectionseach of which is provi( ed with sockets for the attachment of lifting means, and means for connecting said sections together.

17. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each of which is a unit as to stability and flotation, ears on each of said sections for.. the attachment of lifting means, and

suitable means for connecting said sections to each other.

18. A barge-section comprising metallic side, end and bottom plates, a lifting attach- 19. A barge-section comprising metallic;

side, end and bottom plates, lifting attach- .ments on the upper edges of said section,

trusses for 'strengthening the side' and end plates, and a bottom supported from said trusses. t

20. A barge-section comprising metallic side, bottom and end plates, trusses for strengthening the side plates and end plates, floor-supports connected-to the side and end plates, and lifting means at the upper edges of said section.

21. A barge-section comprising side, end v and bottom plates, trusses for strengthening the side plates and end plates, lifting attachments on the side plates intermediate their ends, a cross beam or beams attached to the floor and in line with said lifting means, and floor-supports extending from said cross beam or beams to the end plates.

22. A boat or barge comprising a plurality of'sections, means on said sections for attaching lifting mechanism and swiveling the same thereon, and means for connecting said sections together. y

23. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each being provided with means for the attachment of lifting mechanism and with means for connecting thereto a dumping hook or rod, and means for connecting said sections together.

24. A boat or barge comprising a plurality of sections each provided with sockets for having swiveled thereto a lifting mechanism.

and with an attachment for connectin thereto a dumping rod or hook, and means orl connecting said sections together. Y

25. A barge or ,boat com rising a series of sections open at the top and)of several differenti sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, and means arranged for easy disconnection and serving together.

26. A barge orboat comprising a series of sections each being a unit as to stability and flot-ation and being o en at the top, said sections being of severa different sizeswhereby they may be nested in groups, and means arranged to permit ofeasy disconnection and Y serving to connect said sections together.

27. A barge or boat comprising a series of interchangeable sections open at the top and of several different sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, said sections being provided With openings in their top' edges, and detachable connecting means passing through said openings.

28. A barge or boat com rising aseries of sections open at the top an( of several different sizes whereby they may be nested in IOO to connect said sections IIS groups, and ravided at their top edges with a series of s ots laid out on' the Vernier or other scale, and detachable connecting means sections open at the top and of several different sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, metallic gunwales connected to .the top edges of said sections, and connecting means attached to said gunwales.

30. A barge or boat comprising a series of metallic sections open at the top and of several dilferent sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, metallic iianged gunwales on said sections, and connecting means attached to said gunwales.

31. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of interchaii eable sections of several different sizes andg being open at their tops Whereby they may be nested in groups, means for connecting said sections to each other at their tops, and means for connecting the same together at their bottoms.

32. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections open at the top and of several different sizes, coupling-hooks swiveled to some of said sections and arranged to engage adj aoent sections, and operating means connected to each of said hooks.

33. A barge or boat comprising a lurality of sections, a coupling-hook mounte thereon and arranged to engage a stop on the adjacent section, and an operating-shaft connected to said coupling-hook and extending to the top of the section.

34. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each provided with n yiell, an operating-shaft in said well, and a couplinghook on said shaft and arranged to engage a rcooperating coupling member on the adjacent section,

85, A barge-section comprising metallic side, end an bottom plates, gunwales at.- tached to the upper edges thereof, cor-nerconnecting angles and strengthening mem- 5 metallic sections, metallic gunwales-attached bers attached to said plates, said gunwales connecting-angles and strengthening members being on the inside of said section, and means attached to the side platesand serving .for the attachment of lifting mechanism,

36. A barge or boat comprising a series of groups of sections each group being composed of a plurality of sections of different sizes whereby they may be nested when empty, and means for connecting said sections together.

'37. A barge or boat comprising a series of groups of sections, each group being composed of a plurality of sections open at the top and of different sizes, whereby they may be nested when empty1 and means for. connecting said sections together.

38. A'barg'e or boat comprising a series of groups of sections, each group being composed of a'plurality of sections of metallic construction open on their tops and of digerent sizes, wherebythey may be nested when empty, and means for connecting said seotions directly to each other.

Y 39, A bargev or boat comprising a plurality o f sections open at the top and of different sizes, each of said sections being provided with suitable means for the attachment of lifting means, and means for connecting said sections together.-

40. A barge or boat comprising a plurality Cof sections each being open at' its top, means for connecting said sections together, and rigid side extensions or spray-boards detachably secured to the outer edges of the edge sections.

41. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of sections each being a unit as'to stability and iiotation and being open on its top, means for connecting said sections together, and rigid side extensions or spray-boards detachably secured to the outer edges of the edge sections.

42. A barge or boat comprising a series of metallic sections comprising side, end and bottom plates, corner-connecting angleg 01. Erectinguniting said plates, Asaid corner-con angles projecting above the tops thereof, and spray-boards attached to said projecting mr g es.

43. A barge or boat comprising a plurality of metallic sections provided with gunwales, means secured to said gunwales for connecting said sections tQgether,- and metallic sprayboards connected 'water-tight to said gunwales and to each other, thereby to bring the connecting means nearer thecenter of gravity of the sections.

44. A boat or' barge comprising a series of sections each comprising a unit as to stability and notation, means for connecting said sections together, and lineattaching means detachably 'connected to the outer sections of i said barge.

45.l A barge orV boat comprising a series of to said sections, means for connecting said sections together, and line-attaching means detaohably secured tothe gunwales of outer sections of said barge.

46. A barge or boat comprising a series of metallic sections, flanged bars forming the gunwales thereof and provided with holes, means for connecting said sections together, line-attaching means, and bolts for attachina the same to the gunwales of said sections` 47. A barge or boat comprising a series 0f metallic SQlODS having Side, end bottom plates, corner connecting angles.- foi- Said plates, said corner-connectingangles projecting above the top edges, oi said sections, means for connectingsaid sections together, and a check-post having an opening and adapted to pass over the projecting angle at the corners of the barge, and be attached to the gunwale thereof` 48. A barge com rising a series of sections open at the top an of several different sizes whereby they may be nested in groups, some of said sections being provided with a rake,

IOO

and ineens for connecting,r said sections tol ing means for said sections operable through ro getlier. sald Wells.

49. A barge or boat comprising a plurality In testimony whereof I, the said MEIER G. of sections, wells in said sections, and conl HLLPERT, have hereunto set my hand.

nectinpr ineens for said sections operable l MFIFR G HILPERT througl'i said wells. l J J 5U. A barge or boat. comprising a plurality I Witnesses: of metallic sections, wells 0n saidsections adl F. W. WINTER, jacent to the side or end walls, and connectl ROBERT C. TOTTEN.