US972054A - Raft appliance. - Google Patents

Description

M. F. BROWN.

RAFT APPLIANGE.

APPLIOAT-ION FILED PEB. 2. 1910.

972,054. v Patented 0G13. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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M. P. BRoWN.

RAFT APPLIANGE.

l APPLICATION FILED TBB. 2, 1910.

972,054. l Patented 00t.4,191o.

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FIC.

MICHAEL F. BROWN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RAF'I APPLIANCE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Application led February 2, 1910. Serial N o. 541,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Raft Appliances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in raft appliances, and more particularly to means for connecting the various booms employed for retaining the logs in a raft, and improved means for preventing the logs from escaping or jumping over the booms.

The object in view generically is the arrangement of improved means for holding the logs of rafts properly segregated but retained in proximity.

Another object in view is the arrangement in a rafting device, of improved removable members, commonly known as swifters, for holding the logs of a plurality of rafts in an inclosure.

Another object of the invention is the arrangement in a logging device, of means for segregating the logs of a raft into sections, and means for holding the various sections in proper relation to each other.

A still further object of the invention is the arrangement in a logging device of improved connecting members for connecting the sections of the logging device together, and also various parts thereof.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a logging raft formed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a pair of booms, and a connecting chain embodying certain features of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of an eye-bolt, chain, and toggle embodying certain features of invention. Fig. A is a fragmentary view showing the ends of the swifters and connecting means. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing how the booms are formed and secured together.

In constructing a logging raft or device embodying the invention it is arranged to make an inclosure of booms or logs secured together with the small end of each succeeding log following the large end of the preceding log. In arranging the logs in this manner securing means are arranged so as to cause the log following its preceding log or boom to be offset or moved inward so that brush and the like in passing along the edge of the raft will not catch into the boom, and also the following booms will not strike against piles and the like. Within this inclosure or system of booms are positioned the respective logs of the raft. The logs of the raft are divided into sections surrounded by booms connected together so that the logs of the raft will be propelled at the same time that the principal system of y booms is propelled, and will be held in comparatively small sections so as to be easily manipulated and controlled. In order to readily connect some of the booms a chain with a toggle connected therewith is used, and also an eye-bolt. In other instances a hook is provided connected with a chain so that one end of the chain can be looped over a log and passed through a ring, and the hook end passed over an opposing log or llo'orm, and the hook passed over a suitable In order that this invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment of the same is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 1 1 indicate the forward booms, and 2 2 the rear booms. Two forward booms and two rear booms are Ishowin, but it will be evident that any number of booms can be used as desired for making the raft of any desired width.

3 and 4 indicate the side booms which may be of any desired number for making the raft of any desired length. In arranging the side booms 3 and et the small ends are arranged to follow the large ends of the preceding booms, so as to readily clear any obstacles in the channel, as piling, etc. In addition the small ends are caused to take a position nearer the center of the raft so as to permit the raft to pass obstacles in the channel without striking the ends of the boom.

The respective booms are secured together by chains or cables 5, which may pass through suitable openings or holes in the booms, and may be held therein by toggles, or may be secured to eye-bolts 6, as shown in Fig. 3. The toggles used are preferably the pivotally mounted toggles, as shown in Fig. 3. In arranging the respective booms, the respective chains may be placed on top of the booms, so as to be out of the water but preferably beneath the booms as appears in Fig. 5. Preferably the booms are connected together and arranged as shown in Fig. 5, which discloses how the ends of the booms are hewed for causing the preceding boom, or at least the end thereof, to sink deeper in the waterthan the succeeding boom, whereby in passing obstacles the obstacle will not strike the end of the succeeding boom.

Positioned within the system of booms formed of logs or individual booms 1 1, 2 2 and 3 and L are a plurality of minor boom systems 8, 9, 10 and 11. Any desired number of minor boom systems may be used according to the size of the outer or principal boom system, and also according to the size of the logs desired to be rafted. The minor boom systems are connected by suitable chains similar to chains 5. The forward minor boom system is connected with boom 1 1.

The connecting means for the respect-ive minor boom systems are ordinary chains preferably having on their ends a key or cross bar for holding the chains in position. For connecting the front ends of the minor boom systems to the forward booms 1 1, chains 12 (Fig. 2) are used, having rings 13 and hook member 14. The chain is threaded through ring 13 after the chain has been passed around one of the booms, and then the chainis passed around the other boom and hooked over one of the links.

Connected with the forward booms 1 1 is a draft boom 22 to which a draft cable 23 is secured. Any desired propelling means may be secured to draft cable 23 for propelling or moving the raft along. If desired the cable 23 may be omitted and the raft simply permitted to drift with the current, though ordinarily some power is provided for moving and guiding the raft. The boom 22 is preferably connected with booms 1 1 by means of a chain 6 having rings and a toggle, the toggle passing through boom 22 and the chain encircling boom 1 1. The cross log 2d at the rear is preferably not used for towing but only as a reinforcement to prevent the rafts from skewing sidewise. The cross log 24 is preferably fastened close up against the logs or booms 2 2 by means of eye-bolts passing-through logs 2 2 and a chain passing through a hole or aperture in log 24; connected with the eye-bolt, the chain having a toggle thereon for holding the log in position.

In order to prevent the logs being rafted and inclosed by the various boom systems from escaping or jumping over the booms, retaining members 25 and 26 are so positioned as to lie against the top and across the logs. The retaining members 25 and 26, commonly known as swifters, are connected by chains and .eye-bolts similar to those shown in Fig. 5, to the side booms 3 and 4. The swifters are arranged with the large ends positioned near the booms 3 and 4 and their small ends in proximity to each other, though preferably not touching. A chain 27 connected with rings 28 and 29 holds the inner ends of members 25 and 26 from separating. Any desired number of these members or swifters 25 and 26 may be used.

By the construction and arrangement of an outer or principal boom system and a plurality of minor or inner boom systems connected together by ieXible means, a complete device is provided for easily controlling large masses of logs and rafts. Also by the use of the retaining members or swifters the logs are continuously caused to resist any tendency to move over the retaining boom. It will also be observed that the iexible connections between the various booms provide an easy give or yielding means for permitting a free motion of each boom in the water, and yet a firm retaining housing or inclosure is provided for the logs being transported. It will also be observed that one of the important features of the invention is the arrangement of the offsetting of the logs which succeed the leading log.

It will be noted that by the arrangement of the apertures in the logs and the connecting chains, the leading ends of the succeeding logs or booms are offset or positioned well within the protection of the preceding logs, and also the succeeding logs are`arranged to have their ends positioned higher out of the water than the preceding logs. In this way the booms are protected against obstacles from beneath and obstacles from the sides.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A logging raft comprising a system of loosely connected booms arranged so that the preceding booms will form a clearance for the succeeding booms, a plurality of minor boom systems arranged in said first mentioned system and formed in sections, means for connecting said sections to said first mentioned boom system and a pair of log retaining members connected with said first mentioned system and spanning certain of said minor systems for holding the logs in the same.

2. A logging raft comprising a system of booms flexible means for connecting said said minor boom systems and means for 10 f*booms,ap1nra1ityof minoi'l boom systems arexibly connecting the abutting ends of said ranged in said first mentioned system, flexible spanning bars.

means for connecting said minor boom sys- In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature 5 tems together, flexible means for connecting in presence of tWo Witnesses.

the forward minor systems to said rst men- MICHAEL F. BROWN.

toned system and a pair of spanning bars Witnesses:

loosely connected to the sides of the first Gr. WARD KEMP,

mentioned system and spanning certain of C. C. PHILLIPS.

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