Improvements in Navigable Vessels for Raising, Carrying, and Transhipping Sand Ballast.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
Improvements in Navigable Vessels for Raising, Carrying, and
Transhipping Sand Ballast.
I, ADAM GUTHRIE BURRELL, M.B.C.M., 54 George Square, in the City of
Glasgow, 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 :--
This invention has for its object to adapt a steam ship, lighter cr other navigable
vessel for raising from the sea bottom and carrying sand ballast especially for
transhipment.
To that end the vessel is constructed with a large tank formed by longitudinal
and transverse bulkheads extending upwards above the deck forming a coaming
and furnished with scuppers at deck level. The vessel is provided with a sand
pump or pumps by means of which sand and water are pumped into the tank until
by deposit of the sand and overflow of the water through the scuppers the tank is
completely filled with sand.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a steam ship
adapted for towing purposes and constructed with a sand ballast tank according to
my invention, Figure 2 is a mid-ship section of the same and Figure 3 a half plan.
The sides of the ballast tank A are formed by vertical bulkheads or girders B
extending fore and aft and so situated as to leave a large flotation or bunker
space C on each side between the bulkheads and the skin of the ship; whilst the
ends of the tank are formed by transverse vertical bulkheads B'. These bulk-
heads B, B', extend upwards through the ship's deck to about the level of the
bulwarks and at the deck level scuppers or openings bare formed for the discharge
of water. The bulkheads B are secured along their lower edge by angle irons b¹ to
the inner bottom D of the ship these angle irons forming, with the bulkheads,
keelsons to strengthen the vessel. The tank A when not used for ballasting may
serve as a water tank.
b
A sand pump E is fitted at any convenient part of the deck and is provided with
a suction pipe F carried over the ship's side and a discharge pipe G for delivering
sand and water into the ballast tank A. By the operation of the pump the tank is
filled with the mixed sand and water up to the level of the scuppers 6 through
which the water escapes, whilst the sand deposits and gradually accumulates until
the tank is filled. For the subsequent transhipment or discharge of the sand
ballast from the tank, the vessel is provided with a winch or derrick H, and
buckets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
A navigable vessel for raising from the sea bottom and carrying sand ballast

page_text: being constructed as described with a tank adapted to receive water carrying sand
in suspension and to separate out and retain the sand ready for transhipment.
Dated this 15th day of March 1897.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
2 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.