US1772612A - Freight vessel - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1930.

A. M. mucus-ALL FREIGHT VESSEL Filed April 19, 1926 swanky; j

g freight on combination rail and water routes.

Patented Aug. 12, 1930 ALEXANDER MILLER McDOUGALL, or DULUTH, mimvnsorn' FREIGHT VESSEL Application filed April 19,

This invention relates to freight vessels, and has reference to one particularly adapted for use in the transportation of railroad cars, with the object of expediting the handling of Other minor objects in the novel construction of the improved vessel will appear in the further description of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one of my im roved vessels, as it would appear when'loatling or unloading at a dock; v v

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vessel also partly in section; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the vessel as it would appear loaded.

1 represents a dock for the loading and unloading of railroad cars; 2 represents the vessel of special design, though in general arrangement varying but little-from the ordinary type of lake freight vessel. 3 represents the upper deck of the vessel, 4 the tank top or lower deck, and 5 the between deck, which latter divides the hold of the vessel into two equal portions vertically. Upon the decks 4 and 5 are arranged six lines of parallel railroad track indicated at 6, substantially the entire length of the vessel, except that the outside ones on the tank top are necessarily shortened due to the drawing in of the lines of the vessel near the stern, as well as at the bow, and the two innermost tracks both on the tank top and between deck are shortened on account of the centermost space aft being occupied by the boiler, engine room, etc.

The two extreme outer tracks upon either side of the vessel and level with the between deck extend aft on the poop thereof, as at 7 for cooperative engagement with any desired arrangement of tracks on the dock; while the parallel short sections of track, indicated at 8, are rigidly fixed to the poop and register with the vertically movable sections of'track 9 which are hinged as at 10, so that the sections 8 provide means of access for the cars to either the tank toptracks or the 1926. Serial No. 102,947.

between deck tracks, depending upon whether or not the sections 9 are raised or lowered. In Figure 1 I have shown these sectionsof track in dotted lines as being raised,'in which event cars could be moved either into or out of the lower portion of the hold of the vessel upon the inclined tracks or ramps indicated at 11, there being one such section upon either side of the after engine or cabin compartment, indicated at 12. These inclined sections of track 11 are provided with switches so that cars may be shunted either to the innermost,outermost, or central track, but such switching to the outermost track on the between decks is not necessary, for, as before stated, the outermost tracks on the between deck are continuous.

I have shown the forward end of the compartment 12, as drawn in centrally as at 13 intermediate of the. innermost tracks, and

which portion of the compartment: may be used as coal bunkers or the like in the hold of the vessel, while above the deck 3 it is obviousthat the cabin or habitable portion of the vessel may be of any width or lengthidesired without interfering with the carrying capacity of the vessel.

When the lower portion of the hold of the vessel is filled with cars it is apparent that by lowering the sections 9 of the track, the upper portion of the hold may also be filled. At 14" I have shown doors or closures for the after terminations of. the hold above the between decks so that whenthe vessel is loaded these doors may be closed and securely fastened in any desired manner, thus making the rear end of the vessel safe for ordinary navigation.

Just aft of the engine compartmentI have shown an extension thereof indicated at 15 which forms convenient housing arrange ment opening onto the poop of the vessel on either side, as well as room for the tiller and other steering equipment.

In the embodiment here illustrated I con-v template the use of a vessel of approximately the following dimensions: foot beam,

feet deep, and 600 feet in length, and in which type of vessel there could be easily carried one hundred loaded or light common railroad cars, and with this novel and convenient method of stowing loaded and unloaded cars it is apparent that the use of such a vessel would materially reduce the cost of freight handling and transportation on combination rail and water routes.

Furthermore I have shown deck hatches, of which there may be any' desired arrangement, for convenient use of the vessel in 10 other lines of trading when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A freight vessel-of the typ'e described having a lower deck, an upper deck, a between deck, an after centrally disposed comrt-ment, fore and aft passageways for the oading and unloading of railroad cars upon either side of the compartment, said passagewe s being housed in by that portion of the hu 1 of the vessel above the between deck to a point materially inboard of the after termmation of said compartment for the purpose described.

l 2. A freight vessel of the type described having a lower deck, an upper deck, a between deck, an after centrally disposed comartment, fore and aft passageways for the oading and unloading of railroad cars upon 3 either side of the compartment, said passageways being housed in by that portion of the hull of thevessel above the between deck to a pointmaterially inboard of the after termmation of said compartment, ramps leading tothe lower deck from said passageways, and adjustable tracksections above said In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my si nature. EXANDER MILLER MGDOUGALL.

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