PROVIDIUNAL OF BUIFICATION,
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVIDIUNAL OF BUIFICATION,
Improvements in Floating Derrick Cranes.
I, FRANCIS GOULD MORONY STONEY, of Waterside Works, Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object an improved construction of floating derrick
crane, comprising self-acting counterbalance apparatus such that there is practically
no canting or listing action on the barge carrying the crane, in whatever position
the load may be, or of whatever weight, within the limits for which the apparatus
is in each case constructed.
In carrying out the invention the pair of shear legs, or jib, or equivalent part,
from which the load to be raised is suspended, and which may overhang more or
less at one side of the barge, is arranged to move in concert with similar or
equivalent parts overhanging the other side of the barge, and having suspended
therefrom a counterbalance weight which is greater than the maximum load for
lifting which the crane is designed. The counterbalance weight is constructed as
a floating body or pontoon, that is, so that it will float when entirely unsuspended
from the crane apparatus; and when a load is being lifted by the crane the counter-
balance float rises out of the water just sufficiently for the part of its weight then
unsupported by the water to counterbalance the weight of the load.
In one modification embodying the invention an A-shaped frame is fixed on the
barge, and opposite equal shear legs are arranged to overhang the two sides of the
harge. At the top of the A-frame are pulleys for ropes or chains which acting on
the upper ends of the shear legs serve for holding them with more or less outward
inclinations, the said ropes or chains being wound by machinery arranged to act
equally on the shear legs on both sides. The A-frame is provided with other
pulleys, and there are pulleys at the outer ends of the shear legs for a second set of
ropes or chains, or for a single rope or chain, the load being by means of a pulley
and hook or equivalent, suspended in a loop of the rope or chain at one side, whilst
on the other side the floating counterbalance is suspended in a similar loop of the
rope or chain. The winding machinery may be arranged to wind a rope or chain
which goes round the suspending pulleys on both sides; and with such arrange-
ment when commencing to wind for the purpose of lifting a load the winding
action will first take effect on the counterbalance float and raise it so far out of
water that its unfloated weight will at least counterbalance the load. Then the
continuation of the winding operation will raise the load, because it cannot lift the
counterbalance float further without increasing its unfloated weight, which increased
weight being greater than the latter must make the latter rise.
The action hereinbefore described may be obtained with various modifications of
details; for example, the parts may be arranged to work with different leverages
at the two sides; or the sheer legs, or jibs, may be connected by linkages arranged
to cause the changes of inclination to be equal or proportional on the two sides.
Dated this Eleventh day of October 1893..
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Floating Derrick Cranes.
I, FRANCIS GOULD MORONY STONEY, of Waterside Works, Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object an improved construction of floating derrick
crane, comprising self-acting counterbalance apparatus such that there is practically
no canting or listing action on the barge carrying the crane, in whatever position
the load may be, or of whatever weight, within the limits for which the apparatus
is in each case constructed.
In carrying out the invention the pair of shear legs, or jib, or equivalent part,
from which the load to be raised is suspended, and which may overhang more or
less at one side of the barge, is arranged to move in concert with similar or
equivalent parts overhanging the other side of the barge, and having suspended
therefrom a counterbalance weight which is greater than the maximum .load for
lifting which the crane is designed. The counterbalance weight is constructed as
a floating body or pontoon, that is, so that it will float when entirely unsuspended
from the crane apparatus; and when a load is being lifted by the crane the counter-
balance float rises out of the water just sufficiently for the part of its weight then
unsupported by the water to counterbalance the weight of the load.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and comprising a diagram showing in elevation apparatus
as made with my improvements.
In the example shown in the drawings, an A-shaped frame, A, is fixed on the
barge, B, and opposite equal shear legs, C, and, D, are arranged to overhang the
two sides of the barge. At the top of the A-frame, A, are pulleys, E, for ropes
or chains, F, which acting on pulleys, G, and, H, on the upper ends of the shear
legs, C, and, D, serve for holding them with more or less outward inclinations,
the said ropes or chains being wound by machinery (not shown) arranged to act
equally on the shear legs on both sides. The A-frame, A, is provided with
other pulleys, J, and there are pulleys, K, and, L, near the outer ends of the
shear legs, C, and, D, for a second set of ropes or chains, M, (or for a single
rope or chain) the load, N, being by means of a pulley, P, and hook, Q, or
equivalent suspended in a loop of the rope or chain at one. side, whilst on the
other side the floating counterbalance, R, is suspended in a similar loop of the
rope or chain. The winding machinery is arranged to wind the rope or chain, M,
which goes round the suspending pulleys, P, on both sides and with such
arrangement when commencing to wind for the purpose of lifting the load, N,
the winding action will first take effect on the counterbalance float, R, and raise
it so far out of the water that its unfloated weight will at least counterbalance
the load. Then the continuation of the winding operation will raise the load, N,
because it cannot lift the counterbalance float, R, further without increasing its
unfloated weight which increased weight being greater than the load must make
the latter rise.
The action hereinbefore described may be obtained with various modifications
of details; for example, the parts may be arranged to work with different
leverages at the two sides; or the shear legs, or jibs, (C, and D) may be
connected by linkages arranged to cause the changes of inclination to be equal or
proportional on the two sides. Or again the winding machinery may be arranged
to act separately and independently on the load, N, and floating weight, R.

page_text: 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 providing of floating derrick cranes, with two pairs of shear legs (or
equivalents) overhanging opposite sides of the barge and connected, one to the load
to be raised and the other to a floating counterweight, the parts being combined,.
arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore:
described.
Dated this Fourth day of July 1804
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.