Barge with tiltable container
OwnerSiew Fai Lokeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a barge with an open top container for receiving a cargo mounted on the deck characterized in that the container is pivotally mounted on the deck such that cargo (e.g. marine sand) can be discharged from the barge by tilting of the container about the pivotal axis. The barge is particularly useful for use in land reclamation projects and the invention further relates to a method of reclaiming land utilizing such barges.
Claims9
A barge for transporting bulk cargo, the barge being adapted to be moved from a loading location to a unloading location, the barge comprising:
- an enclosed shallow draft flat bottom hull defining an upper deck surface with an outer periphery, the hull not having associated therewith a system for propelling the barge;
- a plurality of open top containers for receiving bulk cargo, each container having a closed base, an open top, and four walls rigidly attached to the base and extending between the base and the open top, each of the plurality of open top containers being mounted on the hull deck surface adjacent the outer periphery and pivotable between an upright storage position in which the bulk cargo is supported within the open top container and a tipped inclined discharge position in which the bulk cargo is allowed to be discharged out of the container only through the open top;
- and
- a plurality of hydraulically driven piston assemblies for moving the plurality of open top containers between the upright storage position and the inclined discharge position.
A method of reclaiming land from a body of water comprising:
- (i) providing a barge for transporting bulk cargo, the barge being adapted to be moved from a loading location to a unloading location, the barge comprising an enclosed shallow draft flat bottom hull defining an upper deck surface with an outer periphery, the hull not having associated therewith a system for propelling the barge;
- a plurality of open top containers for receiving bulk cargo, each container having a closed base, an open top, and four walls rigidly attached to the base and extending between the base and the open top, each of the plurality of open top containers being mounted on the hull deck surface adjacent the outer periphery and pivotable between an upright storage position in which the bulk cargo is supported within the open top container and a tipped inclined discharge position in which the bulk cargo is allowed to be discharged out of the container only through the open top;
- and a plurality of hydraulically driven piston assemblies for moving the plurality of open top containers between the upright storage position and the inclined discharge position;
- (ii) moving the barge loaded with aggregate using the motorized vessel to a site at which land is to be reclaimed;
- and
- (iii) causing the container to be tilted about the pivotal axis such that the aggregate is discharged from the barge into the body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.