A NEW OR. IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF VESSEL AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AFLOAT BARGES, VESSELS OR OBJECTS OF LARGE DIMENSIONS A communi
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel of No 28. Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "A NEW OR.
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF VESSEL AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING
AFLOAT BARGES, VESSELS OR OBJECTS OF LARGE DIMENSIONS A communi-
cation to him from abroad by Charles George Viehoff of No. 47 Rue des
Mathurins Paris, France..
1
"
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1882.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No 28, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex. "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF VESSEL AND
APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AFLOAT BARGES VESSELS OR OBJECTS OF LARGE
DIMENSIONS." [A communication to him from abroad by Charles George Viehoff of
No 47 Rue des Mathurins, Paris, France.]
This invention relates to a peculiar construction of vessels for transporting by
sea floating structures of all descriptions, such as barges lighters, pontoons, boats,
as also other large objects that are capable of floating, such as tanks or cisterns,
such structures being shipped entire and if necessary with their full cargo.
The invention consists mainly in combining with a structure which is generally.
similar in form to that of an ordinary ship, of arrangements which are similar to.
those, of a floating dock, namely the provision of means for lowering and raising.
the vessel in the water by the introduction or expulsion of water ballast and of.
means whereby the barges or other floating structures to be transported can be
floated into their place in the vessel without requiring to be raised and lowered for,
this purpose as in ordinary ships.
Such vessels when of large dimensions are constructed as follows. The greater
part of the.body of the vessel is made to serve as a floating dock of two stories,

page_text: that is to say it is capable of receiving two floating structures in its hold and two
others on a deck above; it is provided with a double bottom forming tanks for
containing the water ballast, and it has by preference an intercostal longitudinal
bulkhead extending the entire length of the dock part of the vessel which it
consequently divides into four separate compartments, and it is also by preference
extended through the fore-end of the vessel to the stern. At each end of this dock
part of the vessel are water-tight structures forming the bows and stern of the
vessel and acting as the air vessels of a floating dock for maintaining the flotation
of the vessel even when the middle part or dock is entirely immersed for the
reception of its load.
For this purpose these fore and aft parts of the vessel are made to rise to a
height considerably above that of the middle part so as to afford considerable
floating power, the contral bulkhead of the latter being however by preference
carried up to the same height and made to support a longitudinal gangway
connecting the two ends. The deck line of the dock part is extended through the
fore and aft structures, and the bows of the vessel are formed with large openings
below this deck leading into cavities or passages through which access is gained to
the floor of the lower docks, the barges.or other floating structures being introduced
through these cavities or passages which are then filled in by means of removeable.
watertight caissoons forming air vessels, the outer ends of which are shaped to
conform with the configuration of the bows of the vessel, and which are kept firmly in
position firstly by forming the deck with an incline and constructing the top of
the caissoon with a corresponding inclination so that it will wedge itself tight
against the deck wlien inserted and secondly the caissoons are secured by suitable
hinged hasps, claws, bolts or other suitable fastenings.
The inner ends of tlie said cavities or passages terminate at a watertight bulkhead
forming the fore end of the dock part of the vessel, and in this bulk head are
openings through which the barges or floating structures are introduced into the
dock and which are closed in a watertight manner by any suitable contrivance
such as sliding doors or sluice bulkheads or hinged doors or gates folding back
like lock gates.
The before mentioned water ballast tanks under the bottom of the lower docks
aro by preference extended under both the fore and aft parts of the vessel and the
space in the fore end above the before inentioned passages for the entrance of the
floating structures is utilised firstly for the working gear of the sluice bulkheads
and secondly for cabins and berths for the vessels petty officers and crew and also
the crews of the barges that are being transported, and thirdly for store rooms
and galley. On the fore castle deck are provided a steam windlass and fittings for
working the anchor chains and hawsers.
The space of the aft part of the vessel may be utilised as follows: The after peak
is made to contain a water tank against the stern post, more forward the coal-
bunker, the engine and boiler room; above the watertank is fitted a store, room, or
light cargo hold. In the poop deckhouse or around it is erected the necessary
accomodation for Captain, officers, engineers and for passengers, when required.
These various compartments are by preference only lighted and ventilated from
above through round deck glasses, skylights, ventilators etc., placed in the upper
deck of the poop deckhouse. Around and on top of this deck house, are fitted a
stean winch or warping windlass, boats and davits, accomodation ladders, and other
outfit accessories; besides the necessary skylights, companions and ladderways,
and if so decided upon, a chartroom with wheelhouse attached provided with
steam steering apparatus, which might however be erected more suitably at the
fore-part, or in the middle of the vessel on the navigating bridge.
In both the fore and aft parts masts may be set and rigged with any
description of sails, and if desired other masts may be set in hollow steps formed in
the central longitudinal bulk head of the dock part of the vessel, the standing
rigging being made movable and stretched on blocks.
The selection of the kind of motive power placed aft, to be adopted is optional.

page_text: The propulsion may be effected by means of a single or twin screws, stern wheels,
or hydraulic apparatus. The vessel being necessarily of great width, if of great
tonnage, twin screws will facilitate her working and steering.
The operation of the shipping on board of the vessel, of floating structures of
small immersion is performed in the following manner: The bulkwarks or stanchions
of the central or dock portion of the vessel, are folded down or put aside.
The ballast tanks of the double bottom are filled, as well as the central docks in
order to immerse the upper deck of the vessel between the fore and aft portions
which constitute the floor of the upper docks, sufficiently to admit the hauling to
their place of the barges intended to be carried in the upper docks on each side of
the central fore and aft bulkhead. As soon as these barges or structures are suitably
and firmly seated, lashed and secured in their position, the bulk warks are put up
again. The water is then pumped out of the ballast tanks, beginning with the
fore part; the hold dock is only partially emptied, in accordance with the draught
of water of the floating craft, to be taken in.
As soon as the vessel has been sufficiently raised and longitudinally balanced to
obtain a suitable trim for the admission of the barges in the lower docks, one of the
movable fore-caissons is drawn out, the sluice bulkhead or folding doors of the
corresponding side are lifted or opened and the barge or structure is pushed or
hauled into the dock without her crew on board. The water-tight closing arrange-
ment is then shut again, and the same process is repeated for the admission of the
barge on the other side. The barges being shipped, the movable fore-caissons are
secured again in their cavities. The water of the lower docks is now pumped out and
the barges ground, as it were on their seat cradle or keel blocks, carefully prepared
beforehand. This operation, performed with the same precautions as the grounding
of a ship in the floating dock, is directed from the upper deck, by means of scuttles
or manholes, with air-tight covers and fastenings. The barges or structures are
further secured in their position, by the usual contrivances of lashing, shoring,
wedges, chocks, & etc.
The vessel with its load is now ready to proceed to sea.
The operation of unshipping and re-floating the barges or structures at the port
of arrival of the vessel is performed in the same manner as their taking on board,
but in the reversed order.
Similar vessels to that above described may be constructed of smaller dimensions
with provision of only a single upper and a single lower dock, the longitudinal
bulkhead being in that case dispensed with and a strong keelson substituted there-
for. On the other hand, larger vessels may be arranged to contain more than two
tiers of docks.
It will be evident that although the above described construction of vessel is
mainly designed for transporting barges and other vessels and objects that will float;
yet the large free space afforded by its docks may also on occasion be utilised with.
advantage for transporting bulky merchandise and war material, such as large guns
with their platforms, troop landing rafts, explosives in bulk, large girders for
bridges, and other large engineering structures.