US929139A - Barge. - Google Patents

Description

H. W. KIRCHNER.

BARGE.

, APPLICATION FILED APR.15,1907. 929,139. A Patented July 27, 1909.

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BARGE.

' APPLICATION FILED APB.. 15, 1907. v 929,1 39. I Patented July 27, 1909.

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H. W. KIRCHNER.

BARGE.

RPPLIOATION FILED APR. 15, 1907.

Patented July 27, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITEDSTATESPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WILLIAM KIRCHNER, OF Sl. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO RIVER & RAIL TRANS- PORTATION COMPANY, OF GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA, -A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA.

BARGE. l

i specification of Letten Patent.

Patented July 27, 190e.

Application inea Apni 15, 1907. seri-a1 No. 368,261.

To all whom 'it may comm:

. Be it known that I, HENRY WILLIAM- KmoH'NER, a citizen of the United States,

and a resident ofthe cityof St.' Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement.. in l3arges,-ofl which the following is la specification.

` My invention relates to barges, and has for its principal object to provide freightholding compartments or unit-boxes Which maybe removably mounted in the barge and may be interchangeable with each other and with similar unit boxes .-of other barges and freight cars.

Other principal objects are to provide against the shifting of such removable boxes, to facilitate the loading of the boxes into the barge and their removal therefrom, to protect such boxes from the weather, and te secure other advantages hereinafter more fully appearing.

In the accompanyingv drawing, forming part of`this specification, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure l is a plan view of a portion 'of a barge embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on an enlag'ed scale of a portion of the barge emb ying"v my invention, thesection being indicated by' the dottedline. 3-3 in Fig. l;l Fig. 4. is a.lon(gitudinal sectional view vof -a portionof sai barge on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail planview of one of .the-removable boxes or compartments showing the fastening devices by which it' is connected tothe framework of the barge and tol Y an adjacent compartment, respectively; and,

. gether.

of 'a series of uprights or columns 2 anda- Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the means for fastening removable compartments to- The Suitable structure and material.A ,The shell is provided with a series gff'gtransverse frames which serve to stiifen afiltrengtlen the barge. TheseY frames consist preferably series of horizontal channel irons 3 fixedv to said columns. The width of each division ofthe barge, that is, the distance between the transverse frames is preferably uniform throughout 4the length of the barge; or, when such distances areA unequal, they should be multiples of the common unit, which is the space required for a single revflange main shell 1 lofthe barge is-of anyy movable box ofthe kind hereinafter scribed.. Each transverse frame has horizontal channel-irons 3' on each side thereof, and the corresponding channel-irons of the several frames are mounted at equal heights whereby the channel -irons of adjacent -frames constitute supports orltracks for horizontal I-beams 4. These I-beams 4 are provided on their under side at each end with cleats 5 which project underneath the-A` upper flange of the horizontalchannel-irons 3. Said cleats thereby prevent any upward movement of the I-beam relative to the channel, while they permit horizontal `movement 'gof said I-beams lengthwise of ded the channel. Each transverse frame is highl est at the middle portion thereqf and thence The deck consists preferably of a series ofheavy flanged plates 8 vof metal which are hinged to the transverse frames 'and ar# ranged to overlap each other in such a Way as toconstitutea water-tight covering. For

this purpose, the plates are preferably rovided along the hinge' edge with a re ent whichoverlaps the upstanding iange f Ae transverse fastened to other three of t etop channeliron 6 A o frame, sald edg the top of sa;` sides of the pl'y are also flan being either a sim le upstan lngflange, as

' illustrated at 9 in ig. 3, or a rebent flange, as

illustrated at- 10 .in Fig. 3. The side flang eil, the dans@ of thefseveral-'sheets which arehinged to the 'same channel are so arranged 4that the side iange of each of said sheets will overlap the side liange of thesheet adjacent toit towardA the -side -of the barge, and the innermost sheet-has a rebent ilange which overlaps the flange of the longitudinalv channel-iron. The flanges of the outer or free .end of the several v-sheets are so arranged that a' rebent flange 11 on the sheet to one transverse fr will overlap a flange 12 on the outer end of a sheethinged tothe next adjacent frame, as illustrated in Fi 4. Preferably, the

standingseam-thus ormed is supported by means of an I-beam or other suitable reinforcing piece 13 Aremovably secured to the framework by any suitable means.

"By the .arrangement hereinbefore de- 5 scribed,"the. shell ofthe barge is divided by date two rows of units, thennits being connected Vto each other and to the transverse frames, respectively, For this purpose, each unit is provided with lookin members which are preferably arranged 1n two sets on each of two opposite sides ofthe box (that is, four sets in all) one member of each set beinga latch o`r a hook 15 and the' other member being -a keeper 16. For the sakeof interchangeability, the distance between the latch and the keeper of each set .is uniform and the latches of the several sets'- bear a uniform relation and position to the keepers of their respective sets. The len h of the latches is likewise uniform, so t at said latches constitute spacing or distancepieces as 4well as fastening devices. The transverse frames are. also provided with loops or latch keepers 17 arranged to coperate with the latches on the boxes or units. In practice, the division of the barges should be of suchv .widththat, when two boxesor units are fastened together, the 4latches on said boxes will engage with the keepers on the transverse frames. for variation of this width, the keeper may be adjustably mounted with respect to the transverse frame. The several boxes or units are arranged in rows extending crosswise of the barge, with their ends abutting.

At the end ofeach row, the frame 0f the' barge is providedwith an adjustable-abutment designed Ato prevent lateral movement of the boxes or units. lA suitabletype of adjustable "abutment fis illustrated in Fig. 3 and consists of agwide block 18 pivotally mounted on-one end of a member 19 whose other end is screw-threadedand connected by a turn-buckle 20 to a second member`21 5 which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the barge, the turn-buckle being provided with suitable means whereby it may be manipulated toextend or contract the device. One of these abutments is provided at each or boxes,a nd by tightening said abutments a ainst the end boxes the entire rowl-is ma e toact as a single rigid member. i The operation'of the deviceis as follows: 5 Assumingthat the barge is loaded landitbarge are preferably designed vto accommo- In order to allow masas l is desired-mamma it, the deck plates of hatchesV of a' divisi-on are raised, whereby the boxes or units in the uppermost tier of that division are accessible. The adjustable abntments are loosened. and the derrick hangers are connected to the holes provided therefor in the latches "of a box or unit, whereupon the boxmay be lifted bodily out ofthe barge! and set wherever desire When the uppertier of boxes or units is removed, the skids or I-beams 4 which constitute the supports for the upper tiel: are slid; Llengthwise ofthe transverse frames to give free access to the next lower tier Whose boxes or: units are removed in like.A manner and the same is true ofeach lower tier. In loading the barge, the operation is reversed. i

The more important advantages llof my invention are that' the cargo is handled'in comparatively small lots and is not liable to shift during transportation; that the boxes or units are interchangeable with each other and with the boxes or units of other.

.barges of likeeonstruction and may be used interchangeably upon freight cars designed to accommodate them, 'so that .the disadare avoided; that'the boxes or units may be provided with wheels and thus constitute trucks to facilitate the handling of them atv receiving and delivering points; and that the boxes or units maybe Ifurnished to a shipper tobe packed and scaled by him and delivered with the shippers seal affixed to the consignee.

Obviously, my invention is not restricted to the construction hereinbefore described,

which admits of considerable variationl without'de arting from said invention. For

s vantages of unpacking and reloading a'cargo los instance,a though the Abarge is illustratedY in the drawing with divisions adapted to receive two divisions may be made to accommodate a single row vor' a greater number of rows than 'two. -When the divisions are made to acthe skids maybe eliminated and the framesv spaced close the fastening de- *1-15 coinmodate a single row,

enough together to, make vices overlap the trackwa s andv act as han ers by, enga ing therewith.- So, too, it is o vious that the frames may be" disposed longitudinally instead of transversely.

. 1. A barge .compris'`"ia"shell,v parallel frames therein', movable' load-supporting fmem bers spanning from-frame to frame an boxes removably the -distance between adj aeent. frames being noultiples ofthespa'ce required .by a Singlef 2. barge comprising ai shell,"'framesar ranged. transversely .therein and constituting braces'forsaid shell, .movable load-su portrows of units, it is obviustha-t the supported :on said members,

each other.

and boxes removably supported on said frames, the distance between adjacent frames being multiples of the space required by a single box.

3. Abarge comprising a shell and parallel frames arran ed transversely therein and constituting races. for said shell, said frames having transversely` arranged horizontal load sustaining members 'constituting tracks, and movable members on said tracks.

4. Abarge comprising a shell and parallel frames therein, said frames having horizontal members and the horizontal members/of adjacentframes constituting supporting tracks, and skids slidably mounted upon said supporting tracks.

5. A barge comprising a shell and transverse frames therein, said frames having a plurality of horizontal' members on each side thereof and skids slidably mounted on 4correspondi11g members of adjacent frames.

A'barge comprising a shell and frames therein separating the same linto divisions, and movably mounted deck plates for each division. f

7. A barge comprising a shell and frames therein separating the same into divisions,l and movably mounted deck plates for each division, said deck plates being hinged to the framework and arranged to overlap.

8. A` barge comprising a shell and frames therein separating the same into-divisions, and movably mounted deck plates for each division, said deck plates being provided with flanges arranged to overlap each other.

y 9. The combination with a barge of aplui rality of interchangeable boxes each having fastening'devices at its ends, said barge having divisions Whose Widths are multiples of Athe space required by a single box, and the Eartitions between the divisions of a barge eing provided with means for coperating-- with the locking devices on the boxe: and with horizontal tracks, and skids on said tracks for supporting said boxes.

10. A barge comprising a shell, box-supporting frames arranged transversely therein and constituting braces therefor, horizontal members mounted on said frames transversely of said shell and constituting tracks, boxes slidably supported lon said tracks', and adjustable abutments for the endmost boxes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two 'subscribing Witnesses this 12th day of April, 1907, at St.Louis,l\/Iissouri.

HENRY WILLIAM KIRCHNER.

lWitnesses: t

JAMES vA. CANN, JULIA B. MEGOWN.

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