1996-08-19
1998-12-22
Swinehart, Ed L.
Ships
Towing or pushing
440 90, 114138, B63B 2156
Patent
active
058508015
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an assembly comprising a towboat and a barge or pram pushed and steered by the towboat, for transporting cargo on a waterway.
The push-towing operation of barges is a special form of inland waterways navigation, which generally includes the combination of several unmanned barges, also called lighters or prams, which are more or less rigidly tied together to form a tow and are pushed and steered by a towboat. Commonly known towboats have in general the compact shape of a pontoon with a squared bow and a forwardly mounted push shoulder serving as a support for the tow. The barges are normally simple steel structures of sectional construction in pontoon shape and have in general a vertical surface at one end. Their number and arrangement in front or on the side of the towboat depends on the particular channel conditions. The cargo carrying capacity of a commonly known, individual barge is from a few hundred to three thousand tons. Other types of tows consist of a motorboat and a barge rigidly tied thereto, which is simply described as a coupled or integrated tow. The economic advantages of the tow include a small crew, low cost of construction of the barges with a high load capacity, a far-reaching standardization of great flexibility in making up the tows, in particular, the independence of the motorboats during loading and unloading of the cargo carriers.
Numerous rivers can be navigated by cargo ships only to a limited extent, since for lack of dams, their water level is extremely low, at least over certain distances, and especially in summer, namely during the best construction season. Among the problematic rivers is the Elbe River, which could be an ideal waterway for transporting building materials, in particular sand and gravel, were its navigability adequately guaranteed. Thus, it would be possible to use, for example, the Elbe River and the waterways of the Brandenburg March, i.e., a waterway to Berlin, for transporting materials that otherwise are transported only by trucks. However, this would require the use of a special type of cargo ships, namely such, which have an optimal load capacity in extremely low waters.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cargo transporting water craft assembly of the above-described type, which is suitable for use in low water with an optimal load capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the provision of a cargo transport assembly for transporting cargo on a shallow waterway, and which comprises a towboat including a paddle wheel drive, and at least one barge operatively connected to the towboat. The barge includes a barge drive, with the barge drive being vertically adjustable and rotatable by 360.degree., and a drive control is located on the towboat for controlling the barge drive.
In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized, that an integrated tow is especially suitable for moving loose bulk cargoes, such as, for example, gravel, sand, stone chippings, coal, etc. in low water. Next, it has been recognized that integrated tows must have only a small depth of immersion even with an optimal load capacity. An adequate or powerful drive of a high efficiency is possible in a further manner in accordance with the invention, even with a small depth of immersion, when the drive associated to the stern of the towboat is a paddle wheel. On the one hand, such a paddle wheel drive provides for the necessary thrust and, on the other hand, it permits the small depth of immersion that is required for navigation in low water.
As regards the paddle wheel drive of the present invention, a simplest construction may be configured such that the paddle wheel drive comprises a paddle wheel or, preferably, two paddle wheels mounted on a common driving shaft. However, to ensure an adequate maneuverability in the smallest space, it will be of advantage, when the paddle wheel drive comprises two paddle wheels mou
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Hans Grimmig GmbH
Schiffswerft Oberelbe GmbH
Swinehart Ed L.
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