IMPROVED MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING MERCHANDIZE.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING MERCHANDIZE.' A
communication from abroad by Emile Weyl, of Paris, in the Republic of
France
"
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 16th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th July 1877.
"
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. IMPROVED MEANS FOR TRANS-
PORTING MERCHANDIZE." [A communication from abroad by Emile Weyl, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.]
The object of this Invention is to provide a means for transporting goods by river,
sea, and land, without breaking bulk. For this purpose a series of buoyant vessels is
provided of such form and dimensions as will permit of the vessels composing the
series being, (1) temporarily connected together in a manner that will allow of their
attachment to a tug boat for progress along a river or canal; (2) detached to allow
of their being hoisted on board a sea-going vessel specially fitted to receive them;
(3) deposited singly on railway trucks forming part of a train.
The vessels are formed of iron and of a length and breadth corresponding to the
dimensions of a railway truck. These vessels have vertical sides and ends, and
their angles are, by preference, rounded off. The lower half of their depth is made
of strong plate iron, and the upper part of thin sheet iron. They are closed at
top by fixed horizontal pieces at their opposite ends, and between these by hinged
or movable covers, which, when the vessels are laden, may be secured by a padlock
or by a leaden seal, or its equivalent, that will ensure the passing of the goods
without inspection through countries lying between the place of export and their
place of destination.
The vessel which takes the foremost place of the series is formed with a cut-water
to facilitate the passage of the vessels during their river transit, and they are

page_text: severally fitted at their rear with appliances for receiving a rudder, which, however,
is required only for the last vessel of the series.
The sides of the vessels are fitted with eyes to receive coupling chains, and these
eyes will serve also for the attachment of the crane hooks by which the vessels are
hoisted on to and lowered from ships or railway trucks, as the case may be.
The ship for transporting by sea the vessels laden with goods will be constructed
with a central sunken deck, the space above it being divided by beams so disposed
as to form separate compartments for the vessels which are divided by iron plates.
The hold of this construction of vessel will be available for ordinary merchandize.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th January 1878.
+
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVED MEANS FOR TRANS-
PORTING MERCHANDIZE." A communication from abroad by Emile Weyl, of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
sea,
The object of this Invention is to provide a means for transporting goods by river,"
and land without breaking bulk. For this purpose a series of buoyant vessels
is provided of such form and dimensions as will permit of the vessels composing the
series being, (1) temporarily connected together in a manner that will allow of their
attachment to a tug for progress along a river or canal; (2) detached to allow of
their being hoisted on board a sea-going vessel specially fitted to receive them; (3)
deposited singly on railway trucks forming part of a train.
The vessels, which may not inappropriately be termed tanks, are formed of iron
and of a length and breadth corresponding, as near as may be, to the dimensions of s
a railway truck. These tanks or vessels have vertical sides and ends, and their
angles are, by preference, rounded off. The lower half of their depth is made of
strong plate iron, and the upper part of thin sheet iron. They are closed at top by
fixed horizontal pieces at their opposite ends, and between these by hinged or
moveable covers, which, when the vessels are laden, inay be secured by a padlock or
by a leaden seal, or its equivalent, that will ensure the passing of the goods without
inspection through countries lying between the place of export and their place of
destination.
The floating tank or vessel which takes the foremost place of the series is formed
with a cut-water to facilitate the passage of the train of vessels or tanks during :
their river transit, and they are severally fitted at their rear with appliances for
receiving a rudder, which, however, is required only for the last vessel of the
series.
The sides of the tanks are fitted with eyes to receive coupling chains, and these
eyes will serve also for the attachment of the crane hooks by which the vessels are
hoisted on to and lowered from ships or railway trucks, as the case may be.
The ship for transporting by sea the laden tanks will be constructed with &
central sunken deck, the space above it being divided by beams so disposed as to
form separate compartments for the tanks, which compartments are divided up by

page_text: iron plates. The hold of this construction of vessel will be available for ordinary
merchandize.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings shews in several views the construction
and arrangement of floating tanks or vessels provided for transporting goods
according to this Invention, and also the arrangements provided for transporting
the same by sea and land.
Fig. 1 shews in plan view one of a series of buoyant tanks which constitute a
train of lighters. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the
tank or lighter.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a train of twelve lighters connected together and
made fast to a tug boat, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a sea-going vessel fitted to receive the laden tanks, or
lighters which are lowered into their respective compartments by means of a crane
at the quay side, and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 is a transverse
section of the same.
Figures 9 and 10 show in plan views and longitudinal section a sea-going vessel
similarly fitted to Fig. 6, but carrying on its deck a hoisting and lowering crane.
Fig. 11 shews in side elevation and Fig. 12 in end elevation a railway truck laden
with a buoyant tank or lighter similar to that shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, the
truck being provided with ledges for securing the tank firmly in place.
In all these Figures A is the buoyant tank or lighter formed, as above described,
of sheet iron, with means for attachment to form one of a train of lighters, and
capable of being raised and lowered out of and into the water, into and out of a
vessel, and on to and off a railway truck, by means of a crane or similar appliance.
By providing the foremost of the series of tanks A with a cutwater, and the
hindermost with a rudder, as shewn at Figures 1 and 2, the traverse of these tanks
or lighters through the water and round sharp bends of a river will be greatly
facilitated.
B, Figures 6 and 9, indicates the deck of the sea-going vessel; C, Figures 7, 8, and
10, indicates the hold of the vessel; D is the hatchway; E, Fig. 10, is the crane.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improved Means for Trans-
porting Merchandize," as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, 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 employment, in the transport of merchandize, of buoyant tanks or
vessels constructed of such proportions as will permit of their being navigated
through shallow waters, transferred to railway trucks, or deposited in sea-going
ships, as and for the purpose above described.
Secondly. The fitting of ships, as above described, for the reception of the buoyant
tanks or vessels laden with merchandize for transport without breaking bulk.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.