Improved Means or Apparatus for Carrying Ships or Vessels over Bars and the like, and for Transporting them Overland, applicable also for Raising Sunken Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Carrying Ships or Vessels over
Bars and the like, and for Transporting them Overland,
applicable also for Raising Sunken Vessels.
I, CHARLES JOHN SCHRAMM, of Fayetteville, in the County of Fayette, and
State of Texas, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 relates to a what I will term locomotive-barge having for its
object the raising and carrying of vessels of all kinds over shallow places and bars
in streams, rivers and harbors, or over dry land between two ports. To this end
the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful
construction of barge having simple and powerful means for raising ships and
vessels to a sufficient height so that the same may readily be carried through the
water over shallow places or bars, and the barge is also equipped with means for
being propelled through the water to carry a ship or vessel, and also for being
propelled over a track so as to act as a combined locomotive and ship car when
carrying a ship or vessel over dry land.
The invention also contemplates a construction of barge of the character
described, that can be readily adapted for use in raising sunken ships or bodies.
With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature.
of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated
and claimed.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a locomotive-barge constructed in accordance
with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.
Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the barge.
Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the barge modified when used in both the water
and on dry land.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barge modified as illustrated in
Fig. 5 of the drawing.
Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view at the bottom of the barge adapted for use
as a ship car.
Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of an adjusting nut for one of the screw
lifting rods.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the gearing for operating one of the adjusting nuts for
a lifting rod.
Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the vertically-adjustable
propelling mechanism for the barge when used exclusively in water.
Fig. 13 is a deck plan view directly above the adjustable propelling mechanism.
Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of a track arrangement for the locomotive-
barge in traveling overland.

page_text: Referring to the accompanying drawings, I designates a barge having a buoyant.
body essentially comprising opposite parallel tubular side floats 2, and a hollow
pointed prow portion 3, connecting and merging into the front ends of the tubular
side floats 2, and forming the front or prow of the barge, so as to easily cut the
water and allow the barge to be propelled therethrough at a reasonable rate of
speed when carrying ships or vessels over shallow places or bars in a stream or
harbor. The buoyant body of the barge is constructed of any suitable material and
in a sufficient size and length so as to be capable of carrying bodily any ship or
vessel that can pass into the space between the tubular side floats 2 of the barge
body.
The said tubular side floats of the barge body are preferably rectangular in cross
section and together with the hollow prow portion 3, are provide with flat
bottoms 4 so as to give the barge a large floating surface and a light draft in the
water. The barge is therefore so constructed as to have the greatest degree of
buoyancy and so as to draw the minimum amount of water and thereby be capable
of floating over extremely shallow places in rivers, streams and harbors. The
side floats of the body are arranged substantially parallel nearly their entire length
but toward the prow end 3 of the barge the inner portions of the opposite side
floats 2 are forwardly converged as at 5, so as to form a space between the side
floats and within the barge body substantially conforming to the general exterior
contour of a ship or vessel, it being noted that the forwardly-convergent inner
sides 5 of the side floats form a contracted tapering space designed to receive the
prow or stem of a ship or vessel that lies within the buoyant barge body as will be
readily understood.
The opposite tubular side floats 2 of the buoyant barge body extend rearwardly
from the front prow portion 3 in a straight line the remaining length of the barge,
and the space between the rear unconnected, ends of the said side floats allows
a ship or vessel to readily pass into the barge body and out of the same, and at the
said rear unconnected ends of the side floats 2, is arranged a cross bridge 6
preferably comprising the separate bridge sections. 7 hinged at their outer ends as
at 8, respectively. to the opposite side floats 2 at their rear extremities and at the
top sides thereof. The said hinged bridge sections 7 when in their lowered
positions so as to align and form a passage way from one side float to the other at
the rear end of the barge, are supported in position by the brace cables 9,
connected with the said bridge sections 7, and with the arched frames 10 mounted
on top of the floats 2 at the outer hinged ends of the bridge sections said bridge
sections being raised and lowered in any suitable manner.
In connection with the cross bridge 6 the entire deck of the barge body including
the side floats and front prow portion 3, is provided at all of its edges with the
guard railing 11, so as to protect the passage ways over the entire deck and allow
the crew of the boat to safely work thereou. This construction practically..
completes the barge body, but at this point it is to be observed that the opposite
tubular side floats 2 of the barge body are partitioned at their front ends as at 12,
from the interior space. of the front hollow prow portion 3 of the barge and said
side floats are designed to be filled with compressed air so as to form the main
buoys of the barge, and said side floats are provided therein with interior crossed
brace irons 13 that serve to strengthen and brace the floats so that the same will
be sufficiently strong to float very heavy bodies without being submerged at a
great depth in the -water. At their extreme rear ends the said side floats 2 of the.
barge body are provided with the ballast compartments 14 adapted to hold therein
suitable bailast for balancing the front prow end of the barge carrying the
machinery for lifting and propelling purposes, as will be more particularly
referred to.
'
Arranged to work below and within the barge body between the opposite tubular
side floats 2 thereof is a raising platform 16, that is of a length nearly equalling 5
the length of the side floats 2 and is preferably made of heavy timber which is
preferably painted so as to resist the action of the water and thereby be preserved.

page_text: The raising platform 16 is narrower in width than the space between the opposite
side floats 2 of the barge body and is belted or otherwise suitably fastened on the
upper side of a series of transverse cross beams 17. The transverse beams are
preferably tubular so as to have the greatest degree of lightness but are provided
with interior crossed bracing strips 19, securely bolted to the top, bottom and sides
of the beams so as to rigidly brace and strengthen the same so that the strength of
the entire series of cross beams will be sufficient for raising the platform 16 to the
desired elevation with the ship or vessel resting thereon, as illustrated in Figs. 7
and 8 of the drawings.
The cross beams 17 passing under and supporting the centrally and longitudinally
arranged raising platform 16 are securely pinned or otherwise rigidly connected at
their opposite ends as at 20, to the lower ends of vertically adjustable screw lifting
rods 21, arranged to slide in the guide tubes 22, fitted vertically within the opposite
side floats 2 and extending from the top to bottom thereof to form guides for the
rods 21 and allow such rods to work above and below the side floats in raising and
lowering the raising platform 16. There is any desired number of cross beams 17
and lifting rods 21 according to the size and length of the barge body as will be
readily understood, and by reason of the arrangement described each of the side
floats 2 will have a series of the lifting rods 21 working therein. From their upper
ends the lifting rods 21 are threaded for a greater portion of their length as at 23,
and said threaded portions of the lifting rods work in the interiorly, threaded
adjusting nuts 24, journaled in bearing brackets 25, mounted on the upper sides or
decks of the side floats 2, and the said adjusting nuts 24 for the screw-lifting rods 21
are provided with the integral horizontally disposed worm pinions 25ª, meshing
with the operating worms 26, on the longitudinal worm shafts 27 turning in suitable
shaft bearings 28 on each of the bearing brackets 25, and arranged longitudinally
on the deck of the floats 2 and extending nearly the entire length of said
floats.
Each of the side floats 2 has one of the shafts 27 arranged thereon so as to
simultaneously adjust the entire series of lifting rods supported in such float, and
the opposite longitudinally arranged worm shafts 27 are provided at their front
extremities with the gears 29 meshing with adjacent gears 30 at the opposite ends
of a drive shaft 31 mounted transversely on the front prow portion 2 of the barge
body and geared with a suitable engine 32 within the said prow portion of the
barge, said engine having suitable controlling means of any character whereby the
worm shafts 27 may be put in motion and stopped at will to provide for the proper
adjustment of the lifting rods 21, and the desired elevation of the raising
platform 16.
At suitable points each of the opposite side floats 2 has arranged on its deck
upright fastening towers 33, each of which towers is preferably provided with
interior bracing 34 to strengthen the same and with a floor partition 35 to form
rooms within the tower, which can be used as living rooms for the crew or for any
other purpose that may be required. Each of said towers 33 for each side float 2,
is arranged on the deck of the float directly at the inner side thereof and supports
on the top a railing 36 and an upright capstan 37 on which winds and unwinds a
fastening cable 38 adapted to be secured as at 39 to the opposite sides of a ship or
vessel when raised within the barge body on the raising platform 16, as illustrated
in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawing, and at a point intermediate of the upper and lower
end of each of the fastening towers 33 is arranged a horizontally adjustable screw
brace rod 40, carrying at its outer end a roller 41 adapted to be adjusted in contact
with the adjacent side of the ship or vessel within the barge. The screw brace
rod 40 works horizontally in the fastening tower and within an adjusting nut 42
journaled in a bearing bracket 43 secured within the tower and having a worm
pinion 44 meshing with a worm 45 on an upright adjusting shaft 46 journaled
vertically within the tower and provided at its upper end above the top of the
tower with a hand wheel 47 so as to be conveniently under control of the operator
controlling the capstan 37 on top of the tower. All of the fastening towers 33 are.

page_text: equipped in the manner described to provide for securing and bracing the ship or
vessel properly in its raised position while the barge is carrying the same over a
bar or shallow place or on land.
In addition to the side fastening towers 33 the barge has erected on the front
portion thereof, at the extreme front end of the space to receive the ship or vessel.
a front tower 33, designed to have therein any controlling parts of the machinery
for operating the barge, and supporting on the top thereof a capstan 48 on which
winds and unwinds the fastening cable 49 which is secured to the prow of the ship
or vessel within the barge as at 50, so as to securely anchor said ship or vessel in
place and preventing the same from floating out of the barge until released, as will
be readily understood.
When the barge is used exclusively in the water to provide for raising and
carrying ships and vessels over bars and shallow places screw-propelling mechanism
is employed in connection with the open propeller housing 51 built within the front
prow portion 3 of the barge at the center and under side thereof. When the
screw-propelling mechanism is employed for propelling the barge through the
water, the propeller housing 51 accommodates for vertical adjustment therein a
semi-cylindrical wheel casing 52 in which casing is journaled the opposite
extremities of a wheel shaft 53 on which is mounted a pair or more of screw-
propeller wheels 54 of the usual construction, but preferably arranged one in
advance of the other and rotating at right angles to the length of the barge to
provide for propelling the barge through the water. The wheel casing 52, for the
propeller wheels has attached thereto the lower ends of a series of guide rods 55
mounted to slide through suitable guide openings 56 at the top of the housing 51
and in the deck of the barge. and a pair of the guide rods 55 are provided with
longitudinal racks 57 meshing with the adjusting pinions 58, mounted on a trans-
verse adjusting shaft 59, suitably geared with an engine 60 mounted within the
front prow portion of the barge and operated to turn the shaft 59 in either direction
for adjusting the wheel casing 52, up or down, and thereby adjusting the projection
of the propeller wheels 54, in the water according to the depth of the water at any
particular point over which the barge is being propelled. The wheel shaft 53 has
fitted thereon at an intermediate point a beveled gear piniou 61, meshing with a
pinion 62, at the lower end of a vertical counter shaft 63 having feathered thereon
at the top of the housing 51, a beveled gear pinion 64 meshing with a similar
adjacent pinion 65, at one end of a drive shaft 66, geared with a suitable engine 67,
for propelling the barge, it being noted that the shaft 63, slides in and turns with
the pinion 64, so as to permit of the ready vertical adjustment of the propeller
wheels without interfering with the turning of such wheels to propel the barge.
In adapting the barge for propulsion both through water and over dry land, a
slight modification thereof is to be observed as illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 9, of
the drawings. In this modification of the barge, the raising platform 16, is
slightly modified to form a car and is provided with a central longitudinal
depression 68, forming a seat for the keel of the ship or vessel resting on the
platform, and said platform is further provided with raised sides and ends 69, the
raised sides being braced by suitable braces 70 with the cross beams 17, to provide
for holding the platform as rigid as possible and preventing undue vibration thereof
in transit over dry land. The raising platform 164, of this form of the invention,
is further provided on its under side with separate sets of aligned traveler
wheels 71, corresponding to the traveler wheels 72, mounted at the under side of
the opposite side floats 2 all of said traveler wheels 71 and 72 being adapted to
ride on the flat track rails 73, of a wide surface track 75, adapted to be built on
the land and having in addition to the rails 73, the opposite side guard rails 76, at
the inner sides of which rails 76, travel the outermost series of traveler wheels 72,
so as to hold the barge properly in position on the wide track while being propelled
thereover to carry a ship or vessel over dry land. When the barge equipped with
the traveler wheels as described, is directed, while in the water, toward the
track 75, which leads to the water's edge the said barge is designed to pass in

page_text: between opposite parallel series of guide wheels 77, mounted at the surface of the
water on the upper euds of posts 78, sunk in the bed of the water, and said guide
rollers 77 are arranged in line with the side guard 76 of the track 75, so as to guide
the barge perfectly true onto the track, as will be readily apparent.
In the form of the barge as adapted for propulsion through water and also over
dry land on the track 75, instead of the screw propeller. wheels, is employed a set
of track wheels 79. The set of track wheels 79, are arranged in any desired
number and are mounted on the wheel axles 80, journaled in suitable bearings
within the propeller housing 51, and suitably geared in any manner with the
driving engines 81, mounted within the front or prow portion of the barge. The
said track wheels 79, project sufficiently below the bottom of the barge so as to
travel on the rails of the track and certain of said wheels are provided at one side
with propelling paddles 82, forming paddle wheels which provide for the propulsion
of the barge when in the water, so it will be seen that the wheels 79 are constructed
so as to act in the double capacity of. track and propelling wheels for the barge.
The barge is provided at the rear ends of its side floats 2 with rudders 83,
controlled in any suitable manner for guiding the boat in the water, and in
supplement to the propelling mechanism the barge may be provided at suitable
points with sail masts 84 designed to carry sails for assisting to propel the barge
in the water in case of emergency or otherwise.
In using the barge the raising platform is lowered sufficiently to allow a ship
or vessel to enter the space between the side floats, and after having placed the
ship or vessel thus in position the raising platform is elevated to a sufficient height
so as to elevate the ship or vessel in a position for carrying the same over shallow
places or bars or over dry land on the track, and when properly elevated the ship
or vessel is securely fastened or braced within the barge by the means herein
particularly described.
While the locomotive barge has been specifically described for raising ships and
vessels for transporting the same in the water or over dry land, it will be obvious
that the barge may be used for raising sunken vessels or other objects by suitably
connecting the sunken object with the lifting rods 21, which lifting rods are
elevated by the worm speed gearing described.
In propelling the locomotive-barge on the track 75, over dry land, it will be
obvious, that by reason of the length of the barge and the character of the track,
it is only possible to propel the barge in a straight direction either forward or
backward. For this reason it is necessary to provide an arrangement whereby the
barge can be propelled from one port to another so that it can pass around
mountains or make any angle necessary to reach the desired destination. To secure
this result, I have provided a track arrangement which is diagrammatically
illustrated in Figure 15 of the drawings. In this figure of the drawings the wide
surface track 75 is illustrated as being built on land and having its opposite
terminals leading to the water's edge in connection with the guide wheels 77, at
oppositely located points or ports. The opposite terminals of the track are not in
direct aligument with each other, and are illustrated as being disposed at direct
right angles to a short intermediate track section 75", which is designed to be
connected with the main portions of the track by the track turn-tables 86, arranged
to operate at opposite ends of the track section 75, and adapted to be aligned
with the said short track section 75%, and also with the main portions of the track
in a straight line with the track terminals.
The track turn-tables 86, are of any approved construction and pivotally
supported in the usual manner, but in the present invention, said turn-tables are
designed to be partly floated in artificial turn-table lakes 87, formed at the desired
or required points along the line of the track on which the locomotive-barge is
propelled. The turn-table lakes 87 are of a sufficient size and depth for the
purposes of accommodating the movement of the turn-table and for partly floating
the same, and said turn-tables may be conveniently swung into position with either
of the main portions of the track 75 or the track section 75, by one or more tug

page_text: boats 88, designed to be stationed in the lakes and to have suitable hawser
connection's 89 with the turn-tables. A telegraphic line 90, in connection with
suitably arranged telegraphic stations 91 may be 'employed in connection with the
track and the oppositely located ports, between which the locomotive-barge plies
Fits way.
While a pair of turn-tables have been described in connection with a short
track section 75, it will be obvious that by carrying out the same principle the
track may be carried over the land at various angles in connection with various
turn-tables according to the physical formation of the country, as will be readily
"understood.
1. Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this 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 :-
:-
1. In a harge of the class 'described, a buoyant barge body having opposite
floats and a hollów prow portion connecting the front ends of said floats, said:
hollow prow portion of the barge body being formed at the central under side
thereof with a propeller housing open at its lower side, suitable raising and
supporting devices for a ship or vessel, and propelling mechanism mounted for
rotation within the propeller housing of the prow portion of the barge body,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a locomotive barge, a buoyant barge body comprising opposite parallel
'tubular side floats and a hollow pointed prow portion connecting the front ends of
the tubular side floats, a cross bridge connecting the rear ends of said side floats
and comprising separate hinged sections, a suitable raising and supporting device
for the ship or vessel, and propelling mechanism arranged at the prow end of the
barge, substantially as set forth.
3. In a locomotive-barge, a buoyant barge body having opposite floats and a
hollow prow portion connecting the front ends of said floats, suitable raising and
supporting devices for the ship or vessel, and vertically adjustable propelling
mechanism mounted within the front prow portion of the barge body, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a barge of the class described, the barge body having opposite side floats
unconnected at their rear ends, a raising platform arranged to work below and
between said floats, a series of transverse cross beams secured to the platform,
vertically adjustable screw lifting rods guided for movement in the opposite floats
and connected at their lower ends with said cross beams, adjusting nuts mounted
on the floats and receiving the screw lifting rods, said nuts having worm pinions,
continuous worm shafts arranged longitudinally on the opposite floats and having
at intervals worms engaging said worm pinions, a common driving connection with
the front ends of said worm shafts to provide for the simultaneous rotation thereof,
and propelling mechanism, substantially as set forth.
5. In a barge of the class described, the barge body having opposite side floats
unconnected at their ends, a suitable raising and supporting device for the ship or
"vessel, upright fastening towers arranged at intervals on each side floats, a capstan
mounted on top of each tower and carrying a fastening cable, a horizontally
adjustable screw brace rod working in each tower and carrying at its outer end-
outside of the tower a contact roller, and adjusting nut mounted on said screw
"brace rod, worm gearing for turning said nut to adjust the rod, said gearing having
an upright adjusting shaft projected through the top of the tower and carrying
at its upper end a hand wheel, and propelling mechanism, substantially as set
forth.
.
6. In a barge of the class described, the barge body 'having opposite side floats
unconnected at their rear ends, a suitable raising and supporting device for the ship

page_text: or vessel, upright fastening towers arranged on the opposite side floats, vessel-.
fastening and bracing devices supported by said towers, and propelling mechanism.
arranged at the prow end of the barge body, substantially as set forth.
7. In a barge of the class described, a buoyant barge body having opposite side
floats unconnected at their rear ends, a suitable vessel raising and supporting
device, a wheel casing adjustably mounted at the prow end of the barge body,.
screw propeller wheels mounted within said wheel casing, means for vertically
adjusting the wheel casing and the screw propeller wheels therein, and driving-
connections with said wheels for rotating the same, substantially as set forth.
8. In a barge of the class described, a buoyant barge body an open propeller
housing at its under side and in the front prow portion thereof, a suitable vessel
raising and supporting device carried by the barge body, a wheel casing mounted.
within said housing, a wheel shaft journaled in said casing and carrying screw
propeller wheels, a series of guide rods working in guide openings at the top of the
propeller housing and connected at their ends with said wheel casing, certain of
said guide rods having longitudinal racks, a suitably operated adjusting shaft
carrying the pinions meshing with said racks, and a suitable driving slidable
rotating shaft geared with said shell shaft to provide for the rotation of the
propeller wheels irrespective of their vertical adjustment, substantially as set
forth.
9. In a barge of the class described, a buoyant barge body having opposite side.
floats unconnected at their rear ends and provided at its bottom with a series of
traveler wheels, a raising platform arranged to work below and between the floats
and carrying at its lower side a series of track wheels, raising and lowering-
mechanism connected with said platform, and propelling mechanism arranged at.
the prow end of the barge body, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant..