Improvements in or connected with Means Employed in the Construction of Barges or other Vessels or Reinforced Concrete and in Vessels Constructed of such Material

2138. Fougner, N. K. Jan. 26. Casting ships. - Comprises improvements in the means employed in the construction of barges &c. of reinforced concrete. A cradle, mounted on rollers running on a slip-way, is constructed of steel beams forming the skeleton for the centering into which the vessel is built. The centering is attached to adjustable transverse frames on the cradle. When built, the vessel is launched by rolling the cradle into the water and allowing the vessel to float out of it. The empty cradle may then be used for another vessel. Longitudinal beams A are connected by transverse channel - bars C, which carry the adjustable half-frames B. The beams A also carry the journals P for the rollers J. The half-frames B are of I-section and carry the planks constituting the outside centering of the vessel. The lower flanges of the frames B slide on the channel-bars C, and between the ends of the frames B are situated anglebars H having filling-strips Q to carry the lower planks O. The cradle is braced by bars D as shown in Fig. 2. Where vessels are provided with a tumble-home, templets are bolted to the frames B and these templets then carry the planks O. When launching the vessel, it is only necessary to remove these tumble-home templets. The bolts used for securing the planks are preferably hook bolts as shown.