Abstract: A hopper barge is disclosed. The hopper barge comprises a hopper compartment for carrying a plurality of containers, the hopper compartment comprising a hopper compartment deck. The hopper barge comprises an inner-bottom portion defined in part by the hopper compartment deck and a bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of longitudinal bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge. A plurality of transverse bulkheads are arranged in parallel within the inner-bottom portion of the hopper barge, the plurality of transverse bulkheads running perpendicular to the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads. A plurality of pedestal supports are affixed to the hopper compartment deck, wherein at least one of the plurality of longitudinal bulkheads intersects at least one of the plurality of transverse bulkheads at a position beneath at least one of the plurality of pedestal supports.

Abstract: A sluiceway device for a hopper barge has an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings. The elongate main body may be configured to be disposed atop a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The sluiceway device may also have a discharge pump. The discharge pump may be in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump may be further configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.

Abstract: A system for convening between parallel data and serial data is described. In the system (b 10), individual bits of the parallel data (12) are latched into individual registers (117). Each register (117) is coupled to a corresponding AND gate (110) which is also connected to receive phased clock signals. The output terminals of the AND gates (110) are connected to an OR gate (115). Using the system, with appropriately phased clocks, the parallel data is convened into serial data.

Abstract: A new and unique method and apparatus for the farming of redfish and the like. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention teaches an apparatus comprising a converted hopper barge retrofitted to allow circulation of water surrounding the vessel within the habitation tank(s). The present invention further teaches a fully self-contained farming apparatus providing the optimum environment for mariculture including circulation, oxygenation, replenishing of the water as well as an apparatus designed to systematically feed the crop and dispensing antibiotics and other solutions into the water environment as needed. The apparatus is designed for floating transport to a shallow water area with optimal salinity, PH, and purity and then be partially submerged via the opening of large coffer passages. The passages include a barrier for preventing the escape of the crop, while allowing new water circulation of the habitat.

Abstract: A hull construction of a cargo carrier vessel, with self-propelling capacity, capable of carrying earth, sand, quarried stones and so forth and of disposing of them from the bottom is disclosed. While the bottom (11) is released, the hold forms a double-hull construction with side walls (12). A pair of right and left doors, each with an L-shaped section, is provided. The upper part of each door is connected by hinges to outsides of the side walls of said hold. The doors curve and extend along the released bottom. Cargo is carried in the hold (1). Furthermore, a door structure to dispose of cargo from the released bottom into the sea by releasing it to the right and left and equipment to open and close the pair of doors, located at the front and back of the door structure, is provided.

Abstract: A hopper vessel for storing bulk material such as dredged material, has one or more holds. The holds in their bottom are provided with trap doors that open by moving downwardly below the bottom of the vessel. In shallow water, there is the risk that these trap doors, when moved downwardly, will contact the bottom or the material that is deposited from the hopper vessel on the bottom. Therefore, some of the trap doors in the hold are at a higher level in the closed position than the other trap doors. To discharge material, the higher trap doors are opened first; and after enough material has been discharged that the vessel rises sufficiently high in the water, only then are the lower trap doors moved to open position to complete the discharge of the material. The higher trap doors are provided at the ends of the hold. This allows adjusting the angle of the vessel if the bottom of the body of water is sloped.

Abstract: There is described a device for underwater sealing ports or similar, whereby sliding panels are shifted along discharge openings, in which rubber sections are mounted about said discharge openings, in frames secured to a vessel side, and means are provided to exert a hydraulic pressure on said rubber sections.

Abstract: Hopper barge comprising one or more cargo spaces and a series of discharge openings in the bottom of the hold. Each opening comprises a bottom flap which in the downwards displaced position realizes a connection between the hold through the respective discharge opening to the water outside the barge. The barge further comprises a suction channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the barge whereby the bottom flaps each have at least one wall assuring the continuity of the channel in case the flaps are completely closed and connecting the channel to the hold when a flap is in the intermediate position, in which the discharge opening is still closed. Each flap comprises a pivotally attached hollow body with a wall opposite the pivot shaft, which wall extends concentrically in relation to said shaft.

Abstract: A floating device such as a hopper dredge having bottom valves (4-11) for discharging the holds (2), which holds according to the invention can be closed airtight and are provided with apparatus (18) to generate an overpressure within the holds (2), the bottom valves preferably being at a level above the keelline (3) of the device. Movable crane devices (24,26) are provided within the hold to handle components. The holds (2) have a hatch opening with cover (21) to allow entrance or removal of parts (8') which hatch opening can be covered by an inflatable tent (27) attached to the deck.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel and includes a housing and a valve member movable with respect to the housing for opening and closing the hopper outlet. A transmitter tube containing longitudinally spaced-apart magnetic switches and associated resistors is carried by the housing, the switches being connected in circuit with resistors and coupled to power supply and indicating means in the vessel. A hollow sleeve is fixedly secured to the valve member and is disposed in surrounding telescopic relationship with the tube, the sleeve carrying a permanent magnet therein for sequentially actuating the magnetic switches as the valve member moves between its open and closed positions, the varying current through the assembly of switches and resistors indicating the position of the valve member.

Abstract: A barge or scow for transferring refuse from a collection site to a disposal site has an elongated open hold or cavity with a flat bottom sloping downward from a shallow end of the cavity to a deep end where a cargo-discharge gate is located. A number of spaced water-feed nozzles positioned at the shallow end of the cavity are used to direct water at the sides and bottom of the cavity in order to wash through the discharge gate any refuse which has stuck to the sides and bottom of the cavity during a cargo-discharge operation.

Abstract: Hopper barge comprising a hopper having at least one center keelson box and at least one bottom discharge opening closable by at least one swivelling hopper door, as well as a control mechanism for the hopper door, wherein along the longitudinal edge of the bottom discharge opening cooperating with the free swivel edge of a hopper door there is provided a passage which can be made to communicate throughout its length with the interior of the hopper, and the control mechanism can place the hopper door in a fully opened position, thus clearing the bottom discharge opening, in a central position, in which the bottom discharge opening is closed and the connection between the hopper and the passage is cleared, and in a fully closed position, in which both the bottom discharge opening and the connection between the hopper and the passage are closed.

Abstract: A hopper barge comprising a hopper having at least one center keelson box and at least one bottom discharge opening closable by at least one swivelling hopper door, as well as a control mechanism for swivelling the hopper door, wherein the control mechanism can also impose a translatory movement on the hopper door between a lower end position and a higher position, in which the hopper door is at least substantially positioned within the center keelson box.

Abstract: A hopper barge bottom seal construction comprises a barge having a first and second pivotal part which extend longitudinally and are oriented with their lower ends extending obliquely together but spaced apart at their lower ends. A seal is provided below the lower ends of the parts for sealing the space therebetween and it comprises a first support which is positioned below the first pivotal part as a first top generally horizontal member engaged below the first part and secured to the bottom end thereof. A second support has a second top substantially horizontal member alongside the first top horizontal member and it is secured to the second pivotal part and both supports are movable inwardly toward each other and outwardly in an opposite direction during assembly. The first support has a lower support plate which extends below the second support and an elastic seal body in the form of a hollow tubular member is disposed between the bottom of the second support and the top of the lower support plate.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel for opening and closing the hopper outlet, the module being attached to the vessel only adjacent to the hopper outlet so that the module may be removed as a unit. An annular ring is secured around the top of the hopper well with support arms extending upwardly therefrom to support a vertically extending cylindrical housing having a hydraulic drive cylinder mounted therein with a piston rod connected to a valve member which closes against a valve seat to provide a watertight seal.In a first embodiment of the invention a conicalvalve member is coupled by a universal joint to the piston rod and has a replaceable resilient covering for sealing against the valve seat at the bottom of the hopper well. A watertight enclosure is provided for the drive means.

Abstract: A marine dredging apparatus has a dredging aggregate that is connected to the surface by means of a plurality of articulatedly interconnected rigid pipe sections that can be wound up on a prismatic reel that in turn is disposed on, in or around a vessel. To facilitate winding in a helical configuration, the axis of the prismatic reel is disposed at an angle to the horizontal.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel for opening and closing the hopper outlet, the module being attached to the vessel only adjacent to the hopper outlet so that the module may be removed as a unit. An annular ring is secured around the top of the hopper well with support arms extending upwardly therefrom to support a vertically extending cylindrical housing having a hydraulic drive cylinder mounted therein with a piston rod connected to a valve member which closes against a valve seat to provide a watertight seal.In a first embodiment of the invention a conical valve member is coupled by a universal joint to the piston rod and has a replaceable resilient covering for sealing against the valve seat at the bottom of the hopper well. A watertight enclosure is provided for the drive means.