Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Cargo Vessels.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Cargo Vessels.
I, ARDAGH EDWARD LONG, 124, Albert Road, Jarrow-on-Tyne, in the County
of Durham, Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to the construction and internal arrangements of cargo
vessels, having two or more decks or tiers of beams, whereby while being
specially adapted for the carrying of grain or other cargoes in bulk, can be
readily modified for the carrying of ordinary cargoes not liable to shift, this
being attained without any addition to the structural weight of the vessel.
Other advantages incidental to my improvements will be noticed in describ-
ing the nature of my invention which consists as follows:-
-
Over the entire length of exposed upper deck clear of erections, I propose
to construct a continuous hatch, the coamings of which will be about the height
of ordinary hatches, and preferably in line with and connected to the engine
and boiler casing in the case of steam vessels.
Small portions of this hatch will be permanently closed in to take the winch-
beds masts &c., the rest will be covered with portable hatch covers, either of
wood, iron, or steel.
In some cases hatches of ordinary discontinuous construction may be used if
desired, but I prefer the continuous hatch coaming.
The main deck hatches are to be continuous throughout the length of the
lower hold or as nearly so as the closed-off spaces below deck will admit of.
The hatch coamings will be about the height of ordinary hatches in the
same position.
In the case of both the upper and main decks, the absence of deckplating or
planking in way of the continuous hatch, will be compensated for either by
increasing portions of the remaining deckplating, or suitably stiffening the
continuous hatch coaming.
Through the fore and aft middle line of main deck hatch, there is to be a
strong portable girder or beam for supporting the hatch covers.
The breadth of the main deck hatch is to be so determined, that the distance
from the middle line to the coaming is such that, the portable hatch covers
can be taken up, and by being placed on end in a vertical or slightly inclined
position at the sides of the hatch form a continuous trunk or feeder.
A channel is to be formed along the side of the coaming on each side of hatch
to take the lower ends of the hatch covers so placed, the upper ends being
placed against the lower part of the upper deck hatch coamings, and secured
to them or the beams by suitable moveable fastenings.
The hatch covers, if made of wood in the ordinary manner, are preferably
made in pieces of the breadth of a beam space, and the ends strengthened and
held together by suitable angle bars, plates or bolts.

page_text: The hatch covers may also be formed of steel or iron plates, flanged at edges,
or otherwise stiffened.
When this trunk or feeder is in place, and filled with grain, or other bulk
cargo, no shifting of the cargo in the holds below is possible, as any settling
down will be automatically supplied from the aforementioned feeder.
The grain, or other cargo in the tween decks, is prevented from shifting by
the sides of this trunk or feeder, and portions of the trunk or feeder may be
cut off, and arranged to serve as feeders for the tween decks alone.
When the vessel is employed for ordinary cargoes not liable to shift, the
main deck hatch covers can be replaced. over the hatch, and the vessel is then
similar to an ordinary one except, that the low hatch is continuous.
The loss of space in the tween decks so caused is much more than compen-
sated for, by the deep continuous hatch overhead.
The beams through the hatches of each deck are to be in most instances made
portable, of deep plates and angles, or other form, and spaced as far apart as
transverse strength will permit, but where absolutely. required can be made
permanent.
Owing to the great length of hatch available by this form of construction,
cargo of such a nature as to be difficult to stow in ordinary vessels, such as long
girders, timber, and other goods of a similar class, can be easily shipped or
unshipped.
Ser
Coal, coke, or other bulk cargoes can be more perfectly stowed, owing to the
main deck hatch being open from end to end.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1898
Improvements in or relating to the Construction of Cargo Vessels.
I, ARDAGH EDWARD LONG, 124, Albert Road, Jarrow, in the County of Durham,
Naval Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the construction and internal arrangement of cargo
vessels having two or more deck: or tiers of beams, whereby while being
specially adapted for the carrying of grain, or other bulk cargoes, they can be
readily modified for the carrying of ordinary cargoes not liable to shift, this
being obtained with little or no addition to the structural weight of the vessel.
Other advantages incidental to my improvements will be noticed in describ-
ing the nature of my invention which consists as follows:-
Over the entire length of the exposed upper deck, clear of erections, I propose
to construct a continuous hatch, the coamings of which will be about the height
of, or slightly higher than, ordinary hatch coamings, and preferably in line
with, and connected to, the engine and boiler casings in the case of steamers.
Small portions of this hatch will be permanently closed in to take the winch
beds, masts, and the like, the remainder will be covered with portable hatch
covers, either of wood, iron, steel, or other suitable material.
In some cases hatches of ordinary non-continuous construction may be used
if desired, but I prefer the continuous hatch coaming as hereinbefore described.
The hatches on the main deck, and those below if any, are to be continuous
throughout the length of the lower hold, or as nearly so as the closed off spaces

page_text: between decks will admit of. The hatch coamings on this deck, or decks, will
be about the height of ordinary hatches in the same position.
Through the fore and aft middle line of the hatches there is to be a strong
longitudinal girder-generally made portable-for supporting the hatch.covers.
The breadth of the hatches is to be so determined, that the distance from the
middle line girder to the coaming is such, that the portable hatch covers can
be taken up, and by being placed on end in a vertical, or slightly inclined
position, at the sides of the hatch, form a continuous trunk or feeder.
The hatch covers if made of wood in the usual manner, are preferably made
in pieces of the breadth of a beam space, and the ends strengthened and held
together by suitable angle bars, plates, or bolts.
When this trunk, or trunks, are in place, and filled with grain, or other
bulk cargo, no shifting of the cargo in the holds below is possible, as any
settling down will be automatically supplied from the trunk above.
The grain, or other bulk cargo in the tween decks, is prevented from shifting
by the sides of the trunk.
When the vessel is employed for ordinary cargoes not liable to shift, the hatch
covers will be employed in the ordinary manner.
The material used in constructing the trunk being part of the regular fittings
of the vessel, she has not to carry about when grain laden a large weight of wood
for feeders and bins, over and above that in ordinary use, there is thus a saving
in weight, giving an increase of cargo carrying power.
The time and expense required for fitting the vessel up for grain is greatly
reduced, as the parts are properly fitted in the first instance, and can be put
in place very rapidly.
The beams through the hatches of each deck are to be in most instances made
portable, of deep plates and angles, or other form, and spaced as far apart as
transverse strength will admit of, but where absolutely required can be made
permanent.
Owing to the great length of hatch available by this form of construction,
cargo of such a nature as to be difficult to stow in ordinary vessels such as long
girders, timber, or other goods of a similar class, can be easily shipped, or un-
shipped, also all kinds of cargo can be better stowed, owing to the hatches
extending to the ends of the holds, or nearly so.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, and in what manner
it may be carried out, I will describe the drawings annexed hereto, which illus-
trate in a general way the leading features of my invention.
In all the drawings similar letters denote similar parts.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a longitudinal section and deck plans of a cargo vessel
fitted with my invention, where A indicates the continuous hatches, with por-
tions B cut off to act as feeders to the tween decks, C being auxiliary hatches
built alongside the main hatch.
Both these methods of feeding the tween decks are here shown, but it will
be obvious that the whole of the required capacity of the feeder can be obtained
by one method only. Small portions D are covered in to carry the winches,
and masts. The engine and boiler casings are indicated by E.
In Figs. 3 and 4, the portable trunk or tween deck hatch covers F are indicated.
Fig. 4, shows a thwartship section, F being the tween deck hatch covers in
position to form the trunk or feeder, F indicates these covers when employed
in the ordinary manner, and F2 F2 indicate the mode of transferring them.
GG are the longitudinal middle line girders hereinbefore described. H H are
ordinary fore and afters. J J are channels at the sides of the hatches, con-
structed of channel bars, or in other suitable manner to take the lower ends of
the hatch covers when used as a trunk. K K are the hatch beams, either port-
able or fixed, as may be desired. Continuous through beams may also be em-
ployed if required for transverse strength. L indicates the portable clips, or

page_text: fastenings for securing the heads of the hatch covers to the coamings, or beams,
when in position to form a trunk.
Figs. 5 and 6, show an elevation and plan of one end of the trunk.
Figs 7, 8, and 9, are large scale sections of the hatch covers F, showing some
alternate modes of construction. M M are cover pieces, to close in any small
spaces at the junction of each cover caused by the longitudinal curviture of
the deck. These cover pieces M are shown in position in Fig. 5, and 6. N is
a permanent strong beam at each bulkhead.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
The arrangement and construction of the hatches of cargo carrying vessels,
in such a manner that the hatch covers of the tween deck hatches can be readily
used to form a trunk, or feeder for the holds, or spaces below, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 30th day of September 1898.
ARDAGH EDWARD LONG.