Improvements in Ice-breakers applicable to Tugs and other Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice-breakers applicable to Tugs and other Vessels.
A communication from LOUIS COLARD BOVY, of Welkenraedt, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Manufacturer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I. Mech. E., and Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
The long stoppages which occur in navigation during a severe winter such for
example as we had in the years 1890 and '91, have suggested this invention and
bear out its importance.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the ice-breaker and Fig. 2 a sectional plan, the
section being taken on the level of the hammer or ram.
The arrangement consists of two longitudinal beams A connected by two cross
beams B, thus forming the main frame of the whole apparatus, which is composed
of a series of circular saws C and stamp-hammers or rams D. The saws are
mounted upon stationary sleeves E rigidly secured to the shaft F. The saws may
be removed while the sleeves remain in place so that should any one of the saws
break it may be readily replaced and centred, the sleeve having in no way altered
its position. An opening G with a hinge H and an automatic closing device J is
provided in front of each saw whereby the danger of accidents is greatly reduced
while at the same time the saws may be readily examined and repaired if
necessary.
Each hammer D is interposed between two saws. The several hammers operate.
alternately in relation to each other. For this purpose the circle described by the
cranks K by which these hammers are set in motion is divided into as many equal
parts as there are hammers each crank corresponding to one of these divisions. In
this manner there is always but one hammer or ram at a time in contact with the
ice which reduces the strain and power required to a minimum. A frame L
connecting the beam A serves as a support for the bearings of the spindle M
carrying the cranks and also as a point of connection for the guides N of the
hammers, at the top. The lower portions of these guides are secured to the cross-
pieces through which the hammers pass. These cross-pieces at the same time
connect the cross-beams B. The hammers are arranged in such a manner that if
one of the parts operating them should break their upper flanges P would be
arrested by the edges of the openings provided for their passage in the pieces O,
which would prevent their loss by falling into the water. The spiral springs Q
arranged between the stems or rods of the hammers serve to deaden shocks. A
hand-rail R and a flight of steps S form an easy gangway all along the apparatus
the whole of which is arranged in front of the boat or tug. The dotted lines in the
drawings represent the bow of the latter. A series of pivotted levers enable the
height or level of the apparatus to be adjusted for height. T is a rocking shaft
held up by two supports attached to the sides of the hull of the vessel. Upon this
shaft are firmly secured two levers V pivotted to the nut X travelling upon a screw
or worm Y. This shaft T is connected with the apparatus by four series of fixed
levers a hinged at d and e. The screw being turned by means of a hand-wheel
causes the said levers V and also the shaft T to turn, the shaft imparting movement
in a circular path at the points d. These junction points d which rise or fall
according to the direction in which the screw-spindle is turned, carry the points e
and also consequently all the parts connected to these points along with them.
b

page_text: 1
Two slides g secured to the side of the ship and adjustable by means of screws
serve for altering the respective positions of the saws and hammers in accordance
with the water-line if necessary.
For raising the apparatus means other than those described above may be
employed such as a drum or barrel having chains wound round it which being
guided vertically by suitable pulleys or rollers, need only be secured to the front
portion of the apparatus which it is desired to raise. It will be sufficient to set the
drum in motion by means of the screw operated by the hand-wheel to obtain the
desired elevating action. It will be seen from the drawing that the whole
mechanism is connected to the boat merely by the shaft T and the slides g.
The shaft M carrying the cranks may be operated by a chain or any special
motor provided for the purpose and itself conveys motion to the spindle F of the
saws.
This ice-breaker may operate in four different ways,―
(1) It may act by pressure i.e. by allowing the convex or projecting part h of
the beams A and cross-pieces O to bear on the ice, such pressure being gradually
increased by turning the screw Y, which in so moving tends to carry the apparatus
downwards. It will be understood that in this case the saws have to be removed.
(2) The hammers or rams D may be alone brought into operation, they being
caused to strike the ice at frequent intervals with sufficient force to break it up
into lamps if the resistance is not too great. The beams A and cross-pieces O are
so arranged that when they rest upon the ice there remains a free space between it
and the hammers when the latter terminate their upward stroke.
(3) It may operate by the combined action of its weight and of the strokes of
the hammers or rams.
(4) Where the ice offers too powerful a resistance owing to its great_bulk_or
depth the circular saws C may be resorted to in addition to the hammers D. The
ice having received preparatory cuts from the saws, or being grooved by them and
loosened on the sides is easily broken by the hammers next set in operation.
For the purpose of breaking the ice special boats have hitherto been constructed
which offer a variety of drawbacks the most serious of which is their expen-
siveness while they generally fail to act where ice of great depth is to be broken up.
It should also be remembered that such boats remain absolutely idle and useless.
during the greater part of the year.
The apparatus herein above described presents the following advantages over its
predecessors,-
(1) Its construction is inexpensive,
(2) It is independent of any boat or vessel in connection with which it may,
operate so that it does not render a boat unfit for use in other than the winter
season,
(3) It may be applied to a boat blocked in the ice and enable it to disengage
itself more readily than if it were integral with it,
(4) It enables very deep layers of ice to be broken up, as the diameter of the
saws may be varied according to the depth,
(5) It allows of disengaging a boat throughout its width so as to afford it a
perfectly free course and
(6) It enables the ice to be broken up into blocks sufficiently small to be
prevented from settling against bridge-piers, weirs, or the like and thereby
obstructing the free flow of rivers or canals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. In ice breakers the employment of circular saws and stamp-hammers or rams-
either in combination or singly;
2. An ice-breaker adjustable as to height or level to suit the water line of the
boat or vessel in connection with which it is employed;

page_text: 3. An ice-breaker applicable to and either connected with or disconnected from
any vessel or boat;
All substantially as described but capable of varying in the details.
Dated this 19th day of January 1893
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Liverpool, Nottingham, and Manchester.