| 摘要 |
1,122,191. Flexible barges and towed containers. H. ZEIMER and A. SIMKIN. 22 July, 1965 [24 July, 1964], No. 31346/65. Heading B7A. A bulk goods transporter for use in water comprises a hollow flexible torus 28 having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the interior of said torus being adapted to contain flowable material, which material in operation tends to press the inner walls of said torus towards each other so as to define between them an elongated axial passage 22. When the transporter is towed, the pressure differential between its ends causes the torus to advance by extroversion of the inner tubular portion and introversion of the outer tubular portion, each point on the outside surface of the torus having zero speed relative to the water. The torus is fitted with a towing harness 29 and may house a rigid goods container (34, Fig. 4) having an axial passage (35), the space between the container and the torus (36) being filled with air or water. The torus may house radially arranged pulleys (37) which are supported by the ends of the rigid container to facilitate introversion and extroversion of the torus (36). The pulleys may be driven thus rendering the torus self-propelling. The flexible torus may be made of nylon or steel wire coated with neoprene or latex. |
