Improvements applicable to Hopper Dredgers and Barges.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Hopper Dredgers and Barges.
I, FRED LOBNITZ, Director of Lobnitz and Company, Limited, of Renfrow, in
the County of Renfrew, North Britaiu, Engineers and Shipbuilders, 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:-
My Baid invention has for its object to facilitate the adjustment and secure
holding of the discharge doors of hopper dredgers and barges, and to prevent the
sagging or yielding of the doors under the load in the hopper, which occurs with
the long chains heretofore in use.
In carrying out my invention I connect each door of a series by short chains or
rods to a vertical bar which may be provided with a screw adjustment, and fitted
to receive a wedge near its upper end, the upper end being connected by a short
chain passing partly round a pulley to horizontal bars which are moved as required
by means of a screw spindle or it might be by means of a rack and pinion or of a
winch.
On the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings Figure, 1, is a plan showing
the horizontal bars and some other parts; and Figure, 2, is a vertical section of
a hopper showing the doors and other parts, two pairs of the doors, A, being shown.
partly open and two closed.
Each pair of doors, A, is connected by short chains or rods, B, to a vertical.
jointed bar, C, fitted with an adjustable screw coupling, D, and a head, E, which
has formed in it a slot, F, to receive a wedge. The bar head, E, is connected by a
short chain, G, which passes partly round a pulley, H, and is connected to a pair
of horizontal bars, J, movable longitudinally on guides on the hopper girder or on
deck. The two bars, J, are fixed together by interposed blocks, K, L, the
block, K, at one end being in the same piece with a spindle, M, which passes
through a bearing, N, the part of the spindle beyond the bearing being screwed,
and working in the internally screwed boss of a worm wheel, P, arranged to be
turned by suitable gearing. The blocks, K, L, are severally connected to the
doors, A, by short chains, G, and parts hereinbefore referred to.
After a discharge the doors, A, are hauled up by means of the screw spindle, M,
bars, J, and other parts; and when the doors are closed wedges are driven into
the slots, F, and the wedges resting on blocks or other suitable supports hold the
doors securely in their closed positions. The doors are opened to different extents
according to the nature of the materials in the hopper, a small opening being
sufficient for fine sand or the like. When opening the doors the horizontal bars, J,
may be moved to an extent corresponding to the amount of opening desired, and
then the wedges holding the several doors may be driven out in succession
the wedges may be driven out first and the doors lowered gradually.
Or
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 :-
The improved combination of parts for holding and manipulating the doors of

page_text: hopper dredgers and barges substantially as and for the purposes hereinbofore
described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of November 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.