IMPROVEMENTS IN DUMPING BOATS OR Scows
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DUMPING BOATS OR Scows." A commu-
nication from abroad by Nathan Barney, of Bergen Point, in the State of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1881.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DUMPING BOATS OR
Scows." [A communication from abroad by Nathan Barney, of Bergen Point, in
the State of New Jersey, United States of America.]
The principal object of this Invention is to construct a dumping boat or scow so
that its load may be very easily dumped and that it may be thoroughly cleared of
its load, and also so that after dumping, the parts of the boat or scow may be
readily returned to their normal position for receiving a new load.
The boat or scow is mainly composed of two water tight compartments or floats,
which are arranged side by side and are hinged near their upper and outer
longitudinal edges to platforms, cross-beams, or trusses. The two compartments or
floats are brought together when the boat or scow is to receive its load, and their
adjacent or meeting faces are square or straight for a little distance from each end,
but between the ends and for the principal portion of the length of the boat or
scow the upper surfaces of said compartments or floats are inclined downwardly and
inwardly from their outer edges to their meeting edges. By thus inclining the
upper or load supporting surfaces of said compartments or floats the load is brought
low down and the seaworthiness of the boat or scow increased; and when the
compartments or floats swing outwards and away from each other to dump the
load between them they need only have about half the movement which would be
necessary if their upper or load supporting surfaces were horizontal. The two ends
of the compartments or scows are sector shaped, or have attached thereto sectors
which are geared together either by means of intermeshing gear teeth, or an
equivalent, so that the two compartments or floats are compelled to move outwards

page_text: and return simultaneously, and any movement of one compartment or float
without a corresponding movement of the other compartment or float is
prevented.
The upper portions of the sector shaped ends are provided with projecting lugs,
which may receive rubber blocks, and which, after the compartments or floats have
moved apart the required distance, strike upon the platforms, cross-beams, or trusses
to which said compartments or floats are hinged and form stops for preventing
undue movement of said compartments or floats.
The two compartments or floats are held together by locking hooks or catches;
and when it is desired to dump the load the said hooks or catches are disengaged
by a lever or other device for permitting the compartments or floats to swing
outwards.
I connect to the upper portion of the sector shaped end of one compartment or
float a chain or rope, which passes over a pulley upon the adjacent end of the other
compartment or float, and thence around a drum actuated by a weight or spring.
When the compartments or floats swing outwards to dump the load, the slack of the
said chain or rope is taken up by the drum, which is turned by the weight or
spring, and the compartments or floats are prevented from coming together by a
pawl, which engages with a ratchet wheel on the said drum. The two compartments
or floats may thus be held apart while the boat is towed ahead to wash out any
material which might not have fallen out by its own weight, the water thus being
allowed a clear passage between the compartments or floats. When the pawl is
lifted out of engagement with the ratchet wheel of the said drum the compartments
or floats will return towards each other by reason of their buoyancy. In order to
draw and secure them close together I employ chains connected to the inner edges
of said compartments or floats and passed around or over a drum or chain wheels,
which may be worked by a windlass or suitable gearing. When drawn together
the floats or compartments are held by their locking hooks or catches ready to
receive a new load.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th July 1881.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DUMPING BOATS OR
Scows." A communication from abroad by Nathan Barney, of Bergen Point, in
the State of New Jersey, United States of America.
The principal object of the Invention is to construct a dumping boat or scow so
that its load may be very easily dumped and that it may be thoroughly cleared of its
load, and also so that after dumping, the parts of the boat or scow may be readily
returned to their normal condition for receiving a new load.
The boat or scow is mainly composed of two watertight compartments or floats,
which are arranged side by side and are hinged near their upper and outer longi-
tudinal edges to platforms, cross beams, or trusses. The two compartments or floats
are brought together when the boat or scow is to receive its load, and their adjacent
or meeting faces are square or straight for a little distance from each end, but
between the ends and for the principal portion of the length of the boat or scow
the upper surfaces of said compartments or floats are inclined downwardly and
inwardly from their outer edges to their meeting edges. By thus inclining the
upper or load supporting surfaces of said compartments or floats, the load is brought
low down, and the seaworthiness of the boat or scow increased, and when the com-
partments or floats swing outwards and away from each other to dump the load
between them, they need only have about half the movement which would be
necessary if their upper or load supporting surfaces were horizontal. The two ends
of the compartments or floats are sector shaped or have attached sectors, which are
geared together either by means of intermeshing gear teeth or otherwise in an
equivalent manner, so that the two compartments or floats are compelled to move
outward and return simultaneously, and any movement of one compartment
or float without a corresponding movement of the other compartment or float is
prevented.
The upper portions of the sector shaped ends are provided with projecting lugs,
which may receive rubber blocks, and which after the compartments or floats move
apart the required distance, strike upon the platforms, cross beams, or trusses to
which said compartments or floats are hinged, and form stops for preventing undue
movement of said compartments or floats. The two compartments or floats are held
together by locking hooks or catches, and when it is desired to dump the load, said
hooks or catches are disengaged by a lever or other device for permitting the com-
partments or floats to swing outwards.
To the upper portion of the sector-shaped end of one compartment or float is
attached a chain or connection, which passes over a pulley upon the adjacent end
of the other compartment or float, and thence around a drum actuated by a weight
or spring. When the compartments or floats swing outwards to dump the load the
slack of the chain or connection is taken up by the drum, which is turned by the
weight or spring, and the compartments or floats are prevented from_coming
together by a pawl which engages with a ratchet wheel on the drum. The two
compartments or floats may thus be held apart while the boat is towed ahead to wash
out any material which might not have fallen out by its own weight, the water thus
being allowed a clear passage between the compartments or floats.
When the pawl
is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet wheel of the drum the compartments
or floats will return towards each other by reason of their buoyancy. In order to
draw and secure them close together chains connected to the inner edges of the

page_text: compartments or floats, and passed around or over a drum or chain wheels which
inay be worked by a windlass or suitable gearing are employed. When drawn
together the floats or compartments are held by their locking hooks or catches ready
to receive a new load.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a plan of a boat or scow
embodying this Invention; Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through the
centre thereof in a vertical plane; Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical section
upon the dotted line x, x, of Fig. 2, shewing the two floats or compartments in
position to receive a load; Fig. 4 represents a transverse section upon the dotted
line y, y, of Fig. 1, also shewing the floats or compartments as adjusted to receive a
load; and Fig. 5 represents a similar section with the two floats or compartments
spread apart or swung outwards as in the act of dumping a load. Similar letters of
reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A, A', designate the two floats or compartments which constitute the principal
parts of the boat or scow, and which are separately constructed so as to be water-
tight and of proper strength to withstand any load which may be placed upon
them.
At each end of the boat or scow is a platform or frame composed of cross beams
or trusses B (shewn as four in number), and tie beams B¹ connecting the several trusses
or cross beans of each platform together. Beneath each tie beam B' is arranged a
pintle or round bar a suspended by straps a¹ from the beam, and each float or com-
partment is hinged at each end and at or near its upper and outer longitudinal
edge to said pintles, the floats or compartments being provided with straps or eyes a²
which fit upon the pintles a. Thus provision is made for strongly hinging the
floats or compartments so that they may be swung outwards away from each other,
as seen in Fig. 5, or so that they may be swung inwards towards each other so as
close the bottom of the scow or float, as clearly seen in Figures 3 and 4. The two
end portions of the floats or compartments A, A', are made square upon their
adjacent sides, as best seen at A2 in Fig. 2, but between the ends of the floats or
compartments, and for the principal portion of their length their upper surfaces A³
are inclined or slanting downwards and inwards towards each other, as seen in
Figures 4 and 5, thus forming a V shaped load supporting surface.
At the ends of the inclined or slanting surfaces As are constructed upwardly pro-
jecting abutments or end pieces C, which are sector shaped upon their adjacent
edges, so that they will move in contact as the floats or compartments A, A', are
swung outwards upon their hinges away from each other, or swung inward towards
each other; and in this example of the Invention to the adjacent edges of the
abutments C are secured segmental or arc-shaped racks b, which correspond in
curvature to the sector shaped edges of the abutinents C, and gear into each other
so that the two floats or compartments in swinging away from or towards each other
are made to move simultaneously and together, and any movement of one float or
compartment without the other is impossible.
At the upper ends of the sector shaped abutments C are shoulders or lugs b¹,
which are adapted to strike upon the top of the trusses B when the floats or
compartments are swung outwards into the position shewn in Fig. 5, and thus
form stops to prevent undue movement of said floats or compartments. These
stops may be faced with rubber cushions to deaden the shock. If desirable the
gears or racks 6 might be dispensed with, and the two abutments C geared together
in some other way so as to effect the same result. For instance, two metal bands,
rods, or chains, might be placed between the adjacent edges of the abutments C,
and each connected with one abutment at one end, and with the other abutment
at the other end.
In order to hold the two floats or compartments in close contact while being
loaded and towed to the place of dumping, the hooks or catches c, c', (best shewn
in Figures 4 and 5) are employed. The hook or catch c is rigidly secured upon
the end or abutment of the float or compartment A, and is secured to a bolt or
rod c² which extends directly through the said float or compartment for the sake

page_text: of greater security. The other hook or catch c¹ is pivotted at c³ to the float:or.
compartment A¹, so that it may be readily raised out of engagement with the hook
or catch c into the position shewn in Fig. 5, to release the floats or compartments
and permit them to swing apart. The hook or catch c', like the hook or catch c,.
is connected with a rod or bolt c², which extends directly through the float or
compartment A¹
The hook or catch c¹ may be lifted or raised out of engagement with the hook
or catch c by means of a lever d pivotted at d¹, and connected with the hook or
catch c¹ by a rod or connection d², and by lowering the lever d into the position
shewn in dotted outline in Fig. 4, the hook or catch c' will be raised clear of the
one c, and the floats or compartments left free to move apart under the influence
of the load. After being thus raised and released, the hook or catch c² is held in
a raised position by means of a rod ³ connected with it, and supported by a pin d'
entering a slot in its upper end.
When the two floats or compartments are released, as just described, they are
thrown suddenly apart by the gravity of the load acting upon the inclined
surfaces As, and after the load is dumped, the tendency of the floats or compart-
ments is to return or swing inwards towards each other. It is desirable, however,
to prevent such immediate return, so that the boat may be towed ahead while
wide open, as shewn in Fig. 5, to clear it of all light matter that will not at once
sink. Means are therefore provided for holding the two floats or compartments
apart while being towed ahead, and until it is desired to allow them to return
together.
At opposite ends of the boat or scow, and arranged one upon one float or com-
partment, and the other upon the other, are two drums e, which have a constant
tendency to rotate imparted to them by weights e' suspended from chains or cables e²
wound upon them or by springs if desired. Upon each drum e is wound a second
chain or cable e³ or similar connection, which is carried over a pulley e upon the
abutment C of the float or compartment upon which the drum is placed, and is
thence connected at es to the abutment C of the opposite float or compartment.
When the floats or compartments are released and swung apart, the chains or
cables es are slackened, and the drums e are rotated by the weights e', and all slack
taken up.
When the floats or compartments reach their extreme position, the
drums e are locked fast by pawls es engaging with ratchet wheels, and are prevented
from returning and paying out the chains or cables e3, thus through the chains or
cables holding the floats or compartments apart as long as may be desired to enable
the boat or scow to be towed ahead, and freed from all light matter and garbage.
When it is desired to bring the floats together again, the drums e are released by
lifting the pawls ed out of their ratchet wheels, and the drums being free to turn
backward, the floats or compartments move towards each other by their buoyancy,
and draw upon the chains or cables es, raising the weights e'.
The buoyancy of the floats or compartments is sufficient to bring them partly
together but not entirely, and means are provided for completing their return
movement and bringing them closely together in position to be locked by the
engaging of the hooks or catches c, c¹, before described.
Upon opposite ends of the scow or boat, and upon opposite floats or compart-
ments, are placed two drums or chain wheels f to which a positive rotary motion
may be imparted by windlasses f¹ provided with hand cranks, whereby they may
be turned and geared to the drum, so as to get great power. Adjacent to the
meeting edges of the floats or compartments are other drums or sheaves f2, which
may be locked against turning in one direction by pawls f³, while the drums f
may be held by means of an ordinary brake strap f*.
To the two floats or compartments, at each end and near the meeting edges, are
secured chains g, which are passed over the chain drums or sheaves f³, thence over
the drums and downwards, as clearly shewn in Fig. 3. By rotating the drums f
positively, the chains g are drawn up, and the two floats or compartments are

page_text: drawn close together in position for the hooks or catches c, c', to engage with each
other.
The construction of the two floats or compartments with their upper surfaces
inclined downwards and inwards towards each other is very desirable, as it enables
the load to be placed low down, thus lowering the centre of gravity and rendering
the boat or scow more seaworthy. The principal advantage of such combination
consists, however, in the fact that the two floats or compartments have only to
swing upon their pivots or hinges about an eighth of a revolution to give a full
opening, and bring the inclined surfaces parallel with each other, while they would
have to swing or turn double the distance if their load supporting surfaces were
horizontal. It will also be seen that if their load supporting surfaces were
horizontal, and they were swung outwards a quarter of a turn to give a full
opening between them, the buoyancy of the floats or compartments would cause
them to turn bottom side up, and great force would have to be exerted to bring
them back.
Having now described the Invention of "Improvements in Dumping Boats or
Scows," as communicated to me from abroad, and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim,-
First. The combination in a dumping boat of two floats or compartments hinged
at their upper and outer longitudinal edges, and having the surfaces on which
the load is placed inclined downwardly and inwardly towards each other when the
floats or compartments are brought close together, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described.
Second. The combination in a dumping boat of two end platforms or frames and
two compartments or floats hinged at their upper and outer longitudinal edges to
said platforms or frames, and having their load supporting surfaces inclined
downwardly and inwardly towards each other, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
Third. The combination in a dumping boat of two floats or compartments
hinged at their upper and outer longitudinal edges, and having sector shaped ends
or abutments which are geared together, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Fourth. The combination in a dumping boat of the hinged floats or compart-
.ments, hooks, or catches for holding the floats or compartments together, and
.mechanism, substantially as described, for disengaging said hooks or catches.
Fifth. The combination in a dumping boat of the hinged floats or compartments,
and mechanism, substantially as described, both for holding them apart and drawing
them together.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)