IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS OR VESSELS FOR TRANSPORTING OTHER BOATS OR VESSELS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS OR VESSELS FOR
TRANSPORTING OTHER BOATS OR VESSELS." A communication from abroad by
Henri Satre, of Lyons, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills
"
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1879.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOATS OR VESSELS FOR TRANSPORTING OTHER BOATS OR VESSELS." A
communication from abroad by Henri Satre, of Lyons, in the Republic of France,
Engineer.
Boats employed for voyaging on canals or canalized rivers are by their construc-
tion unfit to navigate directly upon streams or rivers with rapid current, or upon tho
sca, lakes, and other waters of difficult navigation. Recourse must therefore bo had
to troublesome transhipment of merchandize which is often difficult or impossible.
The improved boat, which is especially arranged for the course it is to traverso,
is intended to receive in its interior and to transport fully Inden boats upon tho
course which is difficult for the latter, and to replace them afloat at the point whero
they can resume the modes of traction or propulsion appropriated to them.
For this purpose the improved boat, in order to contain other boats, which for
the purposes of this description will be hereafter called "canal-boats," is formed
with compartments which can be described as chambers of locks or as floating docks.
Such is in principle the basis of the Invention independent of the processes, opera-
tions, or apparatus employed for placing the "canal-boats" in tho compartments.
The process proposed to be used without discarding the use of other means for
obtaining the same end consists in the employment of the water of the stream itself
in the following manner :-
Each of the compartments or lock chambers detined to receive one or several
"canal-boats" is closed at one of its ends by gates or by movable planking. Valves
permit the water to be introduced into the lock chamber, and when the water
introduced is at the same level as the exterior water, the gates can be opened and
the lock chambers can be placed in froe communication with the canal or river.
Din A71

page_text: The lock chamber is bordered on its sides with two watertight compartments into
which water can be introduced at will so as to sink the improved boat if necessary
until the "canal-boats can enter into its lock chamber.
"
These "canal-boats" having entered, the gates or the movable planking are closed
and the interior of the lock chamber is emptied of its water, and on the bottom of
this chamber the "canal-boats" introduced therein rest. The side compartments
are then emptied, thereby raising the improved boat with its load until it has no
greater draught of water than is suitable to the stream, river, or other water which
it is required to navigate.
The Drawing annexed in order to facilitate the comprehension of the present
Invention gives an example of the improved boat constructed as a paddle steam
boat. Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively a longitudinal section and plan of the
improved boat complete, which is formed with a central section C which carries the
motive power and propellor, and before and aft with compartments S, S, forming
lock chambers bordered at each side with a watertight compartment E to be cm-
ployed for sinking and raising the improved boat.
The exterior ends must be provided with doors or movable planking P for the
introduction of the "canal-boats" D, D, but as such forms would not be suitable for
navigation these ends receive, when the loading is effected, movable hulls formed in
the shape of stem and stern, and of which A forms the bow and B the stern which
carries the rudder.
Figure 3 represents a cross section of a lock chamber or compartment S as it
would appear when the "canal-boat" D floats therein for entering or leaving, the
compartiments E being partly filled; Figure 4 represents a similar section as it
would appear during transit, the "canal-boat" D resting upon the bottom of the
lock chamber and the compartments E being empty.
The improved boat can be made in several parts or compartments which can be
separated for loading and which are connected together for transit.
Thus the central hull or section which carries the motive power and propellor can
be independent. At its two extremes would be adapted the hulls or sections formed
with lock chambers of which one will be the fore part and another the after part
of the complete boat. The union of the three hulls or sections will be facilitated by
the fact that tho lock chamber hulls or sections will, by the introduction therein or
the emptying therefrom of a certain quantity of water, be gradually lowered or
raised exactly to the height necessary to give an adjustment of the greatest precision
and thus facilitate their rapid connection.
The hulls carrying the lock chambers may also be adapted in various ways to
"canal-boats" propelled by wheels, screws, or other means, or by apparatus hauling
on a chain or by any convenient means of propulsion or traction.
Finally, the Invention consists in a system of movable locks or chambers forming
a boat which carries laden "canal-boats," which from their form and their draught
of water are not suitable for navigating directly in certain courses, and which
replaces them afloat at the point where they can retake their course.
Whatever cause may impede the navigation of a boat upon a particular course,
the improved boat can be arranged for the double purpose of receiving the boat and
of being able to traverse the course itself with its load.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.