Improvements in and connected with Hopper Dredgers and Barges.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Hopper Dredgers and Barges.
I ANTHONY GEORGE "LYSTER of the Dock Yard Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object is to so construct or fit dredgers or barges having hoppers or
receptacles for containing dredged matter or spoil, that the said matter or spoil
may be readily discharged.
Under the first part I construct or fit each hopper or receptacle with one or
more cylindrical or conical valves, balanced or otherwise, passing from the opening
or openings in the bottom of the hopper or receptacle through the dredged matter
or spoil, and I actuate such valves by hydraulic or other power.
Second. I reduce friction between cylindrical or other valves and the dredged
matter or spoil and between the skin of the hoppers or receptacles and the said
dredged matter or spoil by means of films or jets of water.
Third. I facilitate the discharge of the dredged matter or spoil by means of
jets of water emitted through openings or sluices so directed as to act on the
material to be discharged in the required direction.
Dated the 22nd day of April 1892.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Hopper Dredgers and Barges.
I ANTHONY George Lyster of the Dock Yard, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
The object is to so construct or fit dredgers or barges having hoppers or receptacles
for containing dredged matter or spoil that the said matter or spoil may be
readily discharged.
Under the first part I construct or fit each hopper or receptacle with one or
more cylindrical or conical valves balanced or otherwise passing from the opening
or openings in the bottom of the hopper or receptacle through the dredged matter
or spoil, and I actuate such valves by hydraulic or other power.
Second. I reduce friction between cylindrical or other valves and the dredged
matter or spoil, and between the skin of the hoppers or receptacles and the said
dredged matter or spoil by means of films or jets of water.
Third. I facilitate the discharge of the dredged matter or spoil by means of jets
of water emitted through openings or sluices so directed as to act on the material to
be discharged in the required directions.

page_text: through the dredged matter or spoil. The said valve is provided with guides g,
which fit freely around a spindle h secured at its upper end to a frame i carried by
cross beams; on the barge and at its lower end to a bearing k secured to the sides
of the discharge opening f. 1 is a rack secured to the top of the cylindrical valve
and engaging with worm and wheel gear m carried by the frame i and beams j.
The said valve d is made with double walls the outer one of which has perforations n
therethrough. o is a flexible pipe connected to the space between the double walls
of the valve and to the water supply pipe p. 9 is a water supply pipe having
nozzles which direct water on to the inside of the walls of the hopper or
receptacle, or the hopper or receptacle may be made like the valve with double
walls, the inner one of which is perforated, whilst the space between is connected
to a water supply. is a water supply pipe provided with nozzles t which admit
jets of water into the hopper or receptacle so as to propel the dredged matter or
spoil towards the opening f. u water mains. As many hoppers or receptacles
are formed in the barge as are found desirable and taps or valves are arranged in
the mains so that water may be directed into the required channels.
When it is desired to discharge a hopper, water is allowed to flow through the
perforations n over the surface of the valve and the valve is then readily raised by
actuating the worm gear, at the same time water is caused to flow through the
nozzles and over the surface of the hopper or receptacle so as to free the dredged
matter or spoil. To force the dredged matter or spoil through the opening f water
is ejected from the nozzles t.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a modified construction in which the cylindrical
valve d is carried by external guides g. The said valve is in the form of a closed
chamber having perforations n and water is caused to flow into the valve and out
of the perforations through the sliding pipe o. The valve is here shown provided
with a balance weight so that it may be readily raised and lowered by hand or
otherwise. The upper pipe p of Figs. 1. 2 and 3 may be dispensed with as shown
and the dredged matter or spoil moved by water passing through the lower
pipes only.
Either of the above forms of valve may be constructed in the form of an inverted
truncated cone.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modification of apparatus in which a conical
perforated valve d is used instead of a cylindrical valve. The said valve is
provided with a hollow stem w which may move freely in guides g,
the upper
end
of the said stem is connected to a flexible pipe o through which water flows into
the valve and out through the perforations n. The said stem w is also connected
by rods a to the piston of a hydraulic cylinder y by which the said valve may be
raised and lowered. The said cylinder and operating mechanism is of any usual
type. z is a wedge for preventing the valve from rising owing to the pressure of
water beneath.
In all the views the same letters denote like or equivalent parts.
It will be obvious that many modifications may be made without departing from
the main features of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
*tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. Dredgers and barges having hoppers or receptacles combined with
cylindrical or conical valves constructed and operated substantially as set forth.
Second. Cylindrical or other valves for dredger and barge hoppers or receptacles
made so that films or jets of water may be interposed between the said valves and
the dredged matter or spoil.
Third. Dredgers and barges having hoppers or receptacles for dredged matter or
spoil so fitted that films or jets of water may be interposed between the walls of the
said hoppers or receptacles and the dredged matter or spoil.
Fourth. Dredger and barge hoppers or receptacles with openings or sluices

page_text: through which water is so directed as to facilitate the discharge of the dredged
matter or spoil.
Fifth. The improvements in and connected with hopper barges or dredgers
substantially as herein set forth.
Dated the 22nd day of February 1893.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson, Agent.