Improvements in Means for Coaling Ships at Sea.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec.. 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1893—Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Coaling Ships at Sea.
I, PHILIP BURRILL Low, of Number 28, South Street, New York City, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has hitherto been found impracticable to transfer large quantities of coal or
other articles having considerable weight, from one vessel to another at sea, except.
under peculiarly favorable circumstances, and for this reason it has been found
necessary for Naval Powers to establish a series of coaling stations on the land
where the vessel requiring coal touches and takes in a sufficient supply to last until
the next station is reached.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a suitable means for transferring
coal, and such other bulky or weighty articles as may be desired, from one vessel
to another at sea, at all times under ordinary conditions as to weather, sea, &c. ;
and in this manner to render it possible to carry along with a fleet one or more
colliers or floating coaling stations, from which the coal-bunkers of those
steamers in need of fuel may be replenished. Or in a similar way to transfer
ammunition or stores from a magazine ship or store ship to the various vessels of a
fleet.
The hereinafter described method, while especially suitable for fleets of war
vessels cruising on a hostile coast, may also be adopted by merchant vessels
making long voyages, the necessity for carrying a large quantity of coal being
obviated, and the space or tonnage ordinarily devoted to the excess of coal being
left free for carrying merchandise.
A heavy weight of coal in the bunkers is to be avoided not only as taking up
a considerable proportion of a steamer's carrying capacity, but as obstructing her
movements in the water.
Moreover, with either war vessels or merchant vessels the delay now incident
to coaling ship is a serious inconvenience, while this present invention is intended
to provide a means for coaling ship while under way.
My improved means for transporting articles from one ship to another at sea
consists of an inclined wire rope or chain, or other flexible track, down which
the coal or other article to be transferred is allowed to descend, this track being
connected to both the vessel supplying such articles and the vessel being supplied.
The coal or other article is advantageously suspended from the flexible track
by means of travellers or other wheeled carriages, and is allowed to descend from
the collier or store ship to the vessel to be supplied. In order that the flexible
track may be kept at a practically uniform grade so that great irregularities in the
velocity of the moving articles may not occur, and so that the flexible track may
not sag
down so far that the articles may refuse to travel further, as also to prevent
excessive strains upon the flexible track, a heavy counterpoise is attached to one
end of the flexible track, by which the said track is kept under a practically
uniform tension.
Since this counterpoise can only have a limited travel, the further precaution
against imposing excessive strain on the flexible track of connecting the vessels
together by a hawser or tow line, is generally advisable.
The collier or store ship is provided with an elevated roller over which passes
the flexible track, advantageously in the form of a wire rope, beneath the said
roller is a hollow tube or mast, or a framework guide for the counterpoise which
is attached to the inboard end of the flexible rope, while the outboard end passes

page_text: over the roller and is led to a davit or mast on the vessel to be supplied; or it
may be set up on deck in any convenient way.
The coal, or stores, is placed in bags or slings, which are hoisted to the said
flexible track by an elevator prepared for the purpose, or by a suitable whip, or
other equivalent device.
These bags or slings are then hooked on to suitable travellers, or other wheeled
carriages on the flexible track, which carriages are allowed to descend by their own
weight to the vessel to be supplied.
In order that the delivery of the articles transported may be expedited, on
board the receiving vessel, I advantageously provide a switch near the lower end
of the rope, by which the said wheeled carriages are derailed, as it were, and fall.
on deck, or on mats or swabs placed for the purpose.
Where a single track or wire rope is used, a device will be necessary to keep
the switch in a position approximately horizontal.
When a number of the wheeled carriages have been sent over, a hauling line
may be attached to one of the weighted packages, and said carriages, as also the
empty bags or other packages, may be hauled back aboard the delivering vessel
to be used in transmitting other loads.
The operation of the device is as follows:
The receiving vessel steams ahead of the delivering vessel and drops her one or
more tow lines and a hauling line; with the tow line or lines the two vessels are
secured at a suitable distance apart and with the hauling line the forward vessel
hauls on board the end of the wire rope or flexible track which is secured to the
said vessel in any convenient way.
The tow line is then eased off until the counterpoise has been raised to the
desired position of suspension beneath the elevated roller on the delivering vessel
and the process of whipping up the articles to be transported is begun. In the
meantime the two ships may both be steaming ahead, the forward one keeping a
fairly steady strain on the tow line or tow lines, or the forward vessel may tow the
rearward vessel.
It will be obvious that the positions of the two vessels may be reversed, in which
case the delivering vessel towing the receiving vessel should have an elevated
roller, counterpoise, guides, &c. near the stern. Or the delivering vessel may be
arranged to deliver the articles from either end, or to two vessels at once, thus to
a fast steamer ahead and to a slow steamer astern, all three going ahead meanwhile
as rapidly as possible.
In order to provide against accidents to the heavy counterpoise from the
breaking of the flexible track or from the too sudden changes in the relative
position of the two vessels, the counterpoise is advantageously made in the form of
a hollow box or tank filled with sand, gravel, or other heavy material, and
arranged to dump its contents automatically when it nears the lower limits of its
travel.
Moreover, some means of braking its downward velocity may be provided.
It will be evident that if the sea be rough or the vessels be rolling or pitching
much that a course may be taken quartering the waves.
t
While this invention is primarily intended for use at sea, it will be evident
that two vessels may be anchored in an open roadstead, or in a heavy tideway,
and then warped together and coaled or provisioned in the method herein
described.
Dated this 16th dow of December 1800

page_text: COMI DUELE
DIEUIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Coaling Ships at Sea.
I, PHILIP BURRILL LOW of No. 28 South Street, New York City in the County
and State of New York, 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:-
.
It has hitherto been found impracticable to transfer large quantities of coal or
other articles having considerable weight, from one vessel to another at sea, except
under peculiarly favorable circumstances, and for this reason it has been found
necessary for Naval Powers to establish a series of coaling stations on the land
where the vessel requiring coal touches and takes in a sufficient supply to last until
the next station is reached.
It is the purpose of this invention to provide a suitable means for transferring
coal, and such other bulky or weighty articles as may be desired, from one vessel
to another at sea, at all times under ordinary conditions as to weather, sea, &c.,
and in this manner to render it possible to carry along with a fleet one or more
colliers or floating coaling stations, from which the coal-bunkers of those steamers
in need of fuel may be replenished. Or in a similar way to transfer ammunition
or stores from one magazine ship or store ship to the various vessels of a fleet.
The hereinafter described method, while especially suitable for fleets of war
vessels cruising on a hostile coast, may also be adopted by merchant vessels making
long voyages, the necessity for carrying a large quantity of coal being obviated,
and the space or tonnage ordinarily devoted to the excess of coal being left free
for carrying merchandise.
A heavy weight of coal in the bunkers is to be avoided not only as taking up a
considerable proportion of a steamer's carrying capacity, but as obstructing her
movements in the water.
Moreover, with either war vessels or merchant vessels the delay now incident to
coaling ship is a serious inconvenience, while this present invention is intended to
provide a means for coaling ship while under way.
My improved means for transporting articles from one ship to another at sea
consists of an inclined wire rope or chain or other flexible track, down which
the coal or other article to be transferred is allowed to descend, this track being
connected to both the vessel supplying such articles and the vessel being supplied.
The coal or other article is preferably suspended from the flexible track by
means of travellers or other wheeled carriages, and is allowed to descend from the
collier or store ship to the vessel to be supplied.
In order that the flexible track may be kept at a practically uniform grade so
that great irregularities in the velocity of the moving articles may not occur, and
so that the flexible track may not sag down so far that the articles may refuse to
travel further, as also to prevent excessive strains upon the flexible track, a beavy
counterpoise is attached to one end of the flexible track, by which the said track
is kept under a practically uniform tension.
Since the counterpoise can only have a limited travel, the further precaution.
against imposing excessive strain on the flexible track of connecting the vessels
together by a hawser or tow line, is generally advisable.
The collier or store ship is provided with an elevated roller over which passes
the flexible track, preferably in the form of a wire rope; beneath the said roller is
a hollow tube or mast, or a framework guide for the counterpoise which is attached
to the inboard end of the flexible rope, while the outboard end passes over the
roller and is led to a davit or mast on the vessel to be supplied; or it may be
set up on deck in any convenient way.
The coal or stores, is placed in bags or slings, which are hoisted to the said

page_text: flexible track by an elevator prepared for the purpose, by a suitable whip, or other
equivalent device.
These bags or slings are then hooked on to suitable travellers, or other wheeled
carriages on the flexible track, which carriages are allowed to descend by their
own weight to the vessel to be supplied.
In order that the delivery of the articles transported may be expedited, on board
the receiving vessel, I preferably provide a switch near the lower end of the rope,
by which the said wheeled carriages are derailed, as it were, and fall on deck, or
on mats or swabs placed for the purpose.
Where a single track or wire rope is used, a device will be necessary to keep the
switch in a position approximately horizontal.
When a number of the wheeled carriages have been sent over, a hauling line
may be attached to one of the weighted packages, and said carriages, as also the
empty bags or other packages, may be hauled back aboard the delivering vessel to
be used in transmitting other loads. The operation of the device is as follows:-
The receiving vessel steams ahead of the delivering vessel and drops her one or
more tow lines and a hauling line; with the tow line or lines the two vessels are
secured at a suitable distance apart, and with the hauling line the forward vessel
hauls on board the end of the wire rope or flexible track which is secured to
the said vessel in any convenient.
The tow line is then eased off until the counterpoise has been raised to the
desired position of suspension beneath the elevated roller on the delivering vessel,
and the process of whipping up the articles to be transported is begun. In the
meantime the two ships may both be steaming ahead, the forward one keeping a
fairly steady strain on the tow line or lines, or the forward vessel may tow the
rearward vessel.
It will be obvious that the positions of the two vessels may be reversed, in which
case the delivering vessel towing the receiving vessel should have an elevated
roller, counterpoise, guides, &c., near the stern. Or the delivering vessel may be
arranged to deliver the articles from either end, or to two vessels at once, thus
to a fast steamer ahead and to a slow steamer astern, all three going ahead
meanwhile.
In order to provide against accidents to the heavy counterpoise from the breaking
of the flexible track or from the too sudden changes in the relative position of the
two vessels, the counterpoise is preferably made in the form of a hollow box or
t:nk filled with sand, gravel, or other heavy material, and arranged to dump its
contents automatically when it nears the lower limits of its travel.
Moreover, some means of breaking its downward velocity may be provided.
While this invention is primarily intended for use at sea, it will be evident that
two vessels may be anchored in an open roadstead, or in a heavy tideway, and then
warped together and coaled or provisioned in the method herein described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a steamer towing a collier, and receiving coal
therefrom, parts being broken away.
Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the portion of the collier just
forward of the foremast, when the said collier is specially fitted for transporting
coal according to my invention.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the collier from forward of the counter-
poise well, looking aft.
Fig. 4 represents a section. of the counterpoise framework along the line »
of

page_text: This counterpoise consists of a rectangular box of sufficient size, preferably
made out of sheets of boiler iron, and filled with coal, sand, or any other
suitable material. In order to prevent this box from swaying violently from side
to side as the collier pitches and rolls, four guide pieces 21, two on a side, are
attached to the box, these guide pieces have angular jaws which slide freely up and
down between the guide posts a. If these guide posts are made of wood, an angular
plate 18 should. be attached to the edge of the said posts to take up the wear of the
guide pieces 21, as shown in Fig. 4. In order to prevent the counterpoise from
descending too violently down the counterpoise well, posts 17, and pieces 19 are
provided in the counterpoise well in wake of the eccentrics 22, and levers 23
attached to the counterpoise. These levers 23 are on the same shaft with the
eccentrics 22, and striking the pieces 19 as the counterpoise descends, they are
knocked upwards, throwing the eccentric outward, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.
The eccentric catches in the wood post 17, and acts as a brake on the downward
motion of the counterpoise.
The surface of these eccentrics may be roughened or serrated if desired. As a
further preventive of too rapid descent into the well, the bottom of the counterpoise
is closed by two doors 24, hinged near the sides of the counterpoise, and inclined to
each other at an angle, as shown in Fig. 5. These doors are each provided with a
catch 26 in which the devil's claw or hook 25, engages, and so the door is kept
closed. This devil's claw is pivoted to the side of the box and has its upper end
terminating in a bent lever 27, which is adapted to strike on the stud 19 in the
counterpoise well, and allow the contents of the counterpoise to drop out.
automatic opening of the doors is also convenient when it is desired to discontinue
coaling, and the strain on the hawser is relieved by the slowing down of the forward
ship, the empty box then descending into the counterpoise well, and its late contents
being readily removed; 28 is a stiffening plate to which the eye 29 for locking on
the transmission wire is secured.
This
The coal elevator C consists of a car C¹ raised or lowered along the wire ropes c¹,
by halliards. These cars are fitted with supporting wheels 30, and guide
wheels 31 between the flanges of which the wire ropes c' are held.
The axles 32 and 33 are riveted to the body of the car, which is preferably of
sheet iron. 34 is a hook for the halliards.
The roller d for the transmission wire is mounted on a framework D which
consists of two iron beams d' encircling the mast and bolted together, and two
supports d² inclined upwards and secured to the mast at the desired height.
E represents a platform for the coal passers to secure the bags to the travellers F.
These travellers consist of a central sheave f, and open hook f₁ to engage the
slings of the bags, and an eye ƒ for the transporting tackle on the steamer; but
the said transporting tackle may be hooked directly in the slings of the bags Las
shown to the right in Fig. 1.
The apparatus on the steamer consists of a device K for checking the speed of
the bags, although the upward slope of the catenary formed by the transmission
wire, will ordinarily be sufficient for this purpose; and a device for lowering the
bags from the transmission wire to the deck. In Fig. 1 a derrick H is placed near
the stern of the ship. This derrick may be mounted on a shoe h³, and the mast H¹
may be stayed by stays in the usual way. The wire rope 2 runs through a heavy
snatch block on the derrick mast H, and is then secured on deck as shown. The
arm H of the derrick is provided with a hook and whip / adapted to engage the
slings of the bags L, and a platform may be arranged beneath, or a man may be
slung in preventer breeches h' beneath the derrick to hook on the whip h, and to
pass the travellers F to the right out of the way as shown. The checking device K
leads from the top of the derrick head, has a net k to catch the bags, and may be
provided with a spring ³ to act as a buffer should the velocity of the bags be high,
as would happen sometimes, for instance when the stern of the steamer is in the
trough of the sea, and the bow of the collier on the crest of a wave.
The bags are preferably transported in packages of two or more.

page_text: In the devices shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16, stout poles P and P1, studding sail
booms will be suitable, are secured on either side of the foreyard M on the quarter,
and the box B' filled with chain or other material, and provided with guides 21" is
arranged to move up and down between these uprights. The said uprights are
mounted on a shoe N and having steps n while the transmission wire passes over a
roller secured by a strap D' to the upper end of the upright P, which is supported
by the back stay 3 set up on deck.
The apparatus on the steamer consists of the burton H', and the checking
device K. A platform for unhooking the bags may also be employed, or a man
may be sent up in the rigging for the purpose. The transmission wire 2 passes
through a snatch block on the mast head and is set up on deck as before.
In the device shown in Figs. 17 to 22, the pulley D' is journalled on the
upright P, and the transmission wire 2 leads to a switch S at one side of the low
platform R. The traveller F running down the rope 2 is thrown off by the arm s
of the switch S and falls with the bags of coal on deck. The switch S is attached to
the rope 2 in any convenient way, as by the screw 83, levers, and clamp piece 6.
represents a counterpoise to balance the weight of the opposite side of the switch
and its attachments, and represents a steadying bar to be held by an attendant
on the platform R so as to hold the switch in an approximately horizontal position.
When it is desired to send back the travellers, with or without the empty bags,
a bauling line is passed through a suitable leading block and is attached to one of
the weighted packages, the package is then allowed to go across; the hauling line
is then used to haul all the empty travellers and the empty bags also, if desired,
back on board the collier.
Wheeled carriages of suitable construction may be used as well as the single
travellers.
The height of the rear end of the transmission wire above the front or delivery
end of the same should be regulated by the distance between the vessels, the weight
of the counterpoise, and the load to be put on the transmission wire; but about one
foot in five will ordinarily be sufficient.
In Figs. 23 and 24 the collier is represented as fitted with a hollow metallic
mast T, in which the roller D is journalled and the counterpoise B' travels up
and down.
The
The details of the mast and counterpoise are shown in Figs. 24 to 33.
counterpoise B is suspended from the rope 2 by the vertical plate 29, and has its
bottom closed by the trap doors 24" normally supported by the safety trip pieces W
which are pivoted at w¹ to the studs w³ on the plates W₁ attached to the counter-
poise shell. These trip pieces W have arms w² normally supporting the outer
edges of the trap doors 24, and trip arms w adapted to strike against the trip
bolts secured by plates w' to the mast T at or near the spar deck.
The rollers 40), attached by means of the plates 41, to the counterpoise shell,
allow the counterpoise to ascend and descend freely in the hollow mast T; while
the guide rollers 42, secured by plates 43 to the counterpoise shell, pass between
vertical pairs of angle irons on the interior of the mast, and so prevent any
twisting around of the counterpoise in the mast.
:
U represents a partly angular wood lining arranged in the lower part of the
hollow mast; this lining is slightly bell-mouthed at the top, so that the counter-
poise shell may be wedged in and stopped should it descend too violently after the
trip bolts and trap doors 24" have discharged the contents of the counterpoise.
The counterpoise is filled with gravel, sand, or other suitable material through
the man hole.t, in the mast T; and is emptied automatically by the trip pieces and
trip bolts herein described.
If desired, a permanent weight may be substituted for the automatic emptying
counterpoise, and a suitable buffer may be provided to take up the inertia of the
rapidly descending counterpoise.
Many other modifications would readily suggest themselves, which could be used
without departing from the spirit of my invention.

page_text: 1. A method of transporting packages from one moving vessel to another, which
consists in causing the packages to descend from the higher end of a flexible track
attached to one vessel, to the lower end of the said track attached to the other
vessel, the track being kept under a practically constant tension.
2. A method of transporting packages from one moving vessel to another, which
consists in causing the packages to descend from the higher end of a flexible track,
attached to one of the vessels, to the lower end of the said track attached to the
other vessel, and in switching the package off of said track near said lower end, the
track being kept under a practically constant tension.
3. An apparatus for transporting packages from one moving vessel to another,
comprising a tow line or lines between the two vessels, a flexible track secured to
one vessel and running over an elevated roller on the other vessel, and a counter-
poise connected to the free end of said track and suspended thereby, and wheeled
carriages mounted on the said track, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4. An apparatus for transporting packages from one vessel to another, com-
prising a tow line or lines between the two vessels, a flexible track secured to one
vessel and running over an elevated roller on the other vessel, and a counterpoise
connected to the free end of said track and suspended thereby, a switch near the
fixed end of said track, and wheeled carriages mounted on the said track and
adapted to be deflected by said switch substantially as and for the purposes
described.
5. An apparatus for transporting packages from one moving vessel to another,
comprising a tow line or lines between the two vessels, a transmission wire secured
to one vessel and running over an elevated roller on the other vessel, a counter-
poise connected to the free end of said wire, and suspended thereby, guides for
the said counterpoise, wheeled vehicles mounted on the said wire, and means for
loading and unloading said vehicles, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6. The use of a flexible track connecting two moving vessels, the one end of said
track being sufficiently higher than the other to allow wheeled vehicles to descend,
and means for keeping said track under a practically uniform tension.
7. In an apparatus of the character described, a counterpoise consisting of a
hollow box or cylinder filled with suitable material, with trap doors at the bottom
of said counterpoise, an automatic tripping device for opening said doors and
emptying said box or cylinder, and brakes for checking the downward motion of
said counterpoise.
8. In an apparatus of the character described, the herein described switch,
adapted for use with the single flexible track, reference being had to the
Figures 18, 19 and 20 of the drawings.
9. In an apparatus of the character described, the hollow mast T having the
roller d for the flexible track 2, and the counterpoise B' suspended in said mast
beneath said roller.
Dated this 10th der of Lo1902
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.