Abstract:
A sectional, self-propelled barge for use in lake, island and waterfront communities for the transportation of equipment and supplies to construction sites, for example, to a site where a septic system is to be installed and methods of use thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a sectional barge, and more particularly to a sectional barge for use in transportation of equipment and supplies to waterfront sites. 
   2. Related Art 
   In the past it has been difficult to provide construction equipment and related supplies, including septic related equipment and supplies, etc., to sites at or near waterfronts, including island and lakefront sites, because of the difficulties associated with accessing such sites. Such sites include those islands and waterfront communities which are not easily accessible by large industrial size vehicles that conventionally transport construction equipment and supplies. 
   One way of reaching waterfront sites is to use small vehicles that can the traverse narrow, sometimes unpaved, curved roads and right of ways leading to these sites. However, even small vehicles cannot gain access to island sites. In the past, these island sites have been accessed typically during the winter months when ice has frozen to create a bridge over which heavy construction equipment such as a bulldozer may be transported. Typically the equipment is positioned on the bank of the water, put into drive gear by an operator, who leaves the vehicle and allows it to traverse the ice unmanned. The operator can traverse the ice alongside the vehicle or in front of the vehicle. However, due to the weight of the vehicle there is the danger of the ice cracking and the vehicle sinking. This method is also dangerous because it relies on the operator re-entering the vehicle once the vehicle reaches the island. 
   Boats have also been used in the past to bring equipment and supplies to island or waterfront construction sites. Boats such as pontoons with a generally flat surface have been used to transport equipment and supplies to water accessible sites, but the size of such boats makes it difficult to launch them or navigate them into the smaller launch areas typical of island or waterfront construction sites. 
   Barges are a known way to transport construction supplies on waters. Sectional sea barges have long been used for such purposes. Such barges are moved by external vehicles such as a tug boats and the like. In the past, an unsuccessful attempt by the present inventor was made to use a modified sectional sea barge to deliver construction equipment and supplies to a waterfront site. The barge was modified by attaching a motor to the barge so it could be self-propelled. However, due to the square hull configuration of the barge, it did not operate well, and at times, the barge had to be pushed in order to begin a course of movement. 
   One particular problem for island and waterfront communities is the disposal of waste. Septic field construction is limited in view of the difficulty of accessing the site with the proper equipment and materials. In some island communities, septic tanks comprise 55 gallon containers that must be pumped regularly. Clearly, with such septic systems, failures are common and run off occurs regularly. Unfortunately, on such sites these are particularly vexing issues because of their proximity to the water. 
   Accordingly, what it needed, but has not heretofore been provided, is a sectional barge that is self-propelled and sized to be delivered to waterfront locations by vehicles of a standard size (not wide-load), which barge can be assembled, loaded and self-propelled to a location where construction equipment and supplies are to be transported. Additionally, what is needed, but has not heretofore been provided, is a method and apparatus for enabling the installation of standard and accepted septic fields on island and waterfront properties. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a sectional, self-propelled barge for use in lake, island and waterfront communities for the transportation of equipment and supplies to construction sites, for example, to a site where a septic system is to be installed. The barge comprises a plurality of sections, each section sized to be loaded and transported by conventional (not wide-load) vehicles. The barge sections may be loaded and unloaded to and from a vehicle by a crane, backhoe or other suitable means. The barge sections are placed into water, where they float, and are assembled together. The barge sections are assembled in any suitable way such as by pins which are inserted through aligning apertures on brackets extending from adjacent barge sections. The forward and rear edges of the barge are raked such that the upper forward edge and the back rear edge of the assembled barge taper down to recessed bottom edges. A system for mounting one or more motors is provided at a back end of the barge. Each barge section includes a spudwell for receiving a spud that extends through the barge section to engage the bed of the water to fix the location of and stabilize the barge at locations where the barge is being loaded or unloaded. Receptacles may be provided for receiving poles for supporting an overhang for protecting people and/or equipment and supplies during inclement weather. Tie-offs may be provided on the barge sections, as well as loops for allowing lift chains to be interconnected with the barge sections. Ramps may be connected between land and the barge to facilitate loading and unloading of the barge. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a loaded sectional barge of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the sectional barge shown in  FIG. 1  showing a pin and matching aperture brackets for attachment of corresponding sections of the sectional barge. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the structure for attachment of a motor to a rear section of the sectional barge. 
       FIG. 4  shows a section of the sectional barge lifted onto a trailer attached to a conventional (not wide-load) vehicle. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sectional barge shown in  FIG. 1  with spuds inserted through spudwells and planks extending between land and the barge for transfer of equipment and supplies to and from the barge. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The sectional barge of the present invention is shown in FIG.  1 . The sectional barge is generally indicated at  20  and includes a forward end  22  having a forward raked portion  24 , and a back end  26  having a back raked portion  28 . The barge  20  has a top working surface  30  which may have an additional surface thereon formed by plywood sheets or the like  32 . The barge  20  is formed of a plurality of barge sections  40 . Any number of sections may be used to create the barge. In a preferred embodiment, the barge  20  is comprised of four sections. Each section  40  of the barge  20  includes a top  42 , generally flat side walls  44 , a flat end  46  and a partially raked end  48 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , each section is connected to adjacent sections by means of pins  54  that extend through apertures  52  in brackets  50  positioned on side walls  44  and flat ends  46 . As shown, upper and lower brackets  50  are mounted on each side wall  44  and flat end  46 . The apertures  52  and brackets  50  are aligned with the apertures  52  and brackets  50  of an adjoining section  40 , and the pins  54  are inserted therethrough. Planks  56 , such as two-by-four pieces of lumber may be positioned over and cover the bracket and pin engagement structure to provide a uniform top surface  30  of barge  20 . Of course, other engagement mechanisms known in the art or hereinafter developed for attachment of sectional barges may be employed in fabrication of the sectional barge  20  of the present invention, and such alternate mechanisms are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
   When assembled, and when four sections are used, the barge is preferably configured to be two sections wide and two sections long. It is also preferable that raked edges are provided on front and rear edges of barge  20  in order that the barge can be brought close to a shore line for loading and unloading. It is desirable that the barge  20  include bitts  36  at various edge locations for use in tying down equipment or for securing tarps over materials, or for other purposes that may arise such as mooring the barge to a stationary object. 
   The size of the barge  20  can be varied by altering the size of the sections  40 , and also by altering the number of sections used. The barge  20  can be increased in size by inserting two additional barge sections between forward and rearward pairs of sections to create a barge that is two sections wide and three sections long. In such an instance, the central sections would preferably be square on all sides. Alternatively, additional sections with rake sections could be utilized alongside the four barge sections shown, the additional sections having raked forward or rear edges, to form a barge of three sections in width and two sections in length. 
   The barge sections  40  can be formed in any way known in the art. Preferably, the barge sections are formed of hollow, air-tight metal shells. The materials and techniques for manufacturing such barge sections are known in the art. Importantly, the barge sections used in connection with the present invention are designed to be sufficiently sturdy to support construction equipment and supplies thereon. The barge sections are preferably designed to withstand travel through and to break through ice or an ice covered body of water. A further consideration in the construction of the barge sections is to provide a low draft so that the barge may be navigated through a variety of water depths. However, it is desirable that each barge section is sized so that it can be transported using conventional (not wide-load) vehicles and can be transported, maneuvered, assembled and dissembled using readily available equipment. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , each barge section  40  preferably includes a spudwell  60  at an outside corner thereof. The spudwell  60  comprises a passageway, typically cylindrical, through the housing of the section  40 . A spud  62  can be inserted through the spudwell  60  and used to retain the barge  20  in a desired position along the shoreline of the body of water. The spud  62  extends down through the section and contacts the bottom of the body of water, thereby engaging the bottom and minimizing movement of the barge  20  with respect to the shoreline. Preferably, the spud  62  is fabricated of PVC which flexes without deforming so that the spud  62  does not become bent and locked into spudwell  60 . 
   Additionally, it is desirable for the back edges of the rear sections of the barge  20  to include collars  66  mounted thereon for receiving support pipes  68  for supporting an overhang  69 . The overhang  69  may be connected to the pipes  68  in any desirable fashion and is used to provide shelter to people or equipment during use of the barge  20 . The pipes  68  can be locked into collars  66  by pins extending through apertures in the collar and aligning apertures in the pipe. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , brackets  70  are provided on vertical back edge portion  49  of barge section  40 . Brackets  70  may be welded to the back surface, or otherwise interconnected as is known in the art. A shelf or catwalk  74  may be interconnected therewith, and supported by rails  73 . A conventional gas or electric outboard motor  76  is mounted on the shelf  74  through the use of a conventional mounting bracket  75 . The motor is easily accessed and maneuvered by a person standing on the shelf Alternatively, the barge  20  can be used without a catwalk and the mounting bracket  75  will be interconnected directly with brackets  70 . The motors can be used to propel the barge  20  in a forward or rearward direction as desired. The raked rear end portion of the barge section provides clearance or draft such that the motor can function well in either a forward or rearward direction. The use of a catwalk provides additional clearance for the motor. The motor mount is adjustable so the motor may be positioned at varying heights to account for the level of the barge depending on the load being carried. In some communities, where use of gas engines on a lake is prohibited, electric motors can be used in connection with the present invention. In other areas, it may be preferable to use gas engines for the power associated therewith. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the section  40  is loaded on and off vehicles or trailers using a backhoe  10  or other lifting means such as cranes and the like which may be found at waterfront locations or brought in by other vehicles or the barge itself. Lift rings  78  are attached near corners of the section  40  for interconnection of lift lines  79  which are lifted by a lifting means. The lift rings are mounted by welding, or otherwise attaching, bases to which the lift rings are attached to the tops or sides of the section  40 . The lift rings preferably can rotate between an upstanding position for use and an unused position where they lay down. Once a section is loaded onto the vehicle, it can be transported as desired. Because each section  40  is sized to fit on a conventional vehicle trailer, the sections may be brought into locations where traditional construction vehicles such as wide-load vehicles cannot navigate. Typically, a section is transported on a trailer  14  pulled by a pick-up truck  12  or the like. 
   The barge  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  can be used to transport equipment or vehicles to a waterfront location.  FIG. 5  shows a barge  20  positioned close to a shoreline  16 . The barge  20  can be unloaded by interconnecting ramps  80  between the barge  20  and the land  16 . The ramps  80  may include fingers for engagement with a lip on the barge  20  to secure attachment of the ramps  80  to the barge  20 . The ramps may be further secured to the barge by chains or like means. Construction equipment can traverse the ramps  80  and can be driven off of the barge  20 . Similarly, construction equipment can be driven to and from the barge to load and unload construction equipment. 
   The sectional barge  20  of the present invention is preferably used to transport construction equipment and materials to waterfront sites that are not easily accessible by conventional construction vehicles. For example, the barge is used to provide construction materials to islands or to remote lakefront areas. The barge is brought in sections to an assembly and launching area by conventional, non-wide load vehicles. The barge sections are unloaded from the transport vehicles using a backhoe or other lifting mechanism. The barge sections are placed into the water, assembled by aligning adjacent barge sections and inserting pins through apertures in corresponding brackets. If desired, planking can be installed in the gaps formed between the barge sections to provide a flat upper surface to the barge. The upper surface may be made even more uniform by applying a covering such as plywood sheets to the upper surface of the barge. Construction equipment is loaded onto the barge by driving the equipment from land over ramps onto the barge. The barge can be loaded with materials in any known way. The barge is then transported under its own power by motors across water to a location where the construction equipment and/or supplies are needed. The barge is brought up to the shore and spuds dropped through spudwells to retain or anchor the barge at a desired location. The ramps can be reconnected between the barge and the land to allow for loading and unloading the barge. When loading and unloading is finished, the spuds can be retracted from the spudwells, and the motors can be used in reverse to back the barge away from the shoreline. The barge can then be turned and headed back to a location for reloading or disassembly and removal from the water. 
   The barge of the present invention has many uses in connection with many different kinds of construction projects. One example of a construction project that is enabled by the barge of the present invention is the installation of septic tanks and fields on islands. In the past, such septic tanks have been small (on the order of 55 gallons) and require almost constant pumping. The present invention allows for a standard septic tank and field, or one approaching standard with a capacity that far exceeds the capacity of the 55 gallon container, to be installed at such locations. This provides a benefit to the homeowner, but even more importantly, provides a benefit to the environment. Because of the septic systems that can be installed by use of the barge of the present invention, the waste and the fluid is properly treated, and run off and associated septic problems are reduced, thereby benefiting the environment. However, other applications of the sectional barge disclosed herein are within the scope of the present invention. 
   Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.