Barge pusher

Abstract

A sectional barge assembly and a hydraulic thruster apparatus for maneuvering the sectional barge assembly. The hydraulic thruster apparatus includes a hydraulic power unit and a thruster unit. The hydraulic power unit includes an engine and a hydraulic pump connected to the engine. The thruster unit includes a hydraulic motor and a propeller drivingly connected to the hydraulic motor to provide a thrust force that acts to move the sectional barge assembly. The sectional barge assembly includes a plurality of barges interconnected by connector devices that are also used to interconnect the thruster unit to the sectional barge assembly. Further, a hydraulic connection panel is mounted on the thruster unit and includes a plurality of hydraulic connectors which allow a plurality of hydraulic lines to be removably connectable thereto, respectively. By this arrangement, the hydraulic pump provides pressurized hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic lines thereto the hydraulic motor and other components of the thruster unit. Additionally, the thruster unit includes at least one hydraulic cylinder for controlling vertical rectilinear sliding of a thruster unit mast between a top position and a bottom position. The thruster unit also includes a rotating mechanism for rotating the mast and a propeller assembly of the thruster unit about a longitudinal axis of the mast.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In combination:
 a sectional barge assembly, comprising:
 at least a first barge and a second barge; 
 a plurality of first connection elements on said first barge; 
 a plurality of second connection elements on said second barge aligned with said plurality of first connection elements; and 
 connector devices of a given configuration interconnecting said plurality of first connection elements and said plurality of second connection elements, respectively, to thereby connect said first barge and said second barge together; 
   a thruster unit for maneuvering said sectional barge assembly, said thruster unit comprising:
 a frame; 
 a motor and a propeller drivingly connected to said motor, whereby said propeller provides a thrust force that acts to move said sectional barge assembly; and 
 a thruster unit connection element on said frame compatible with said connector devices, a connector device of said given configuration interconnecting a barge connection element and said thruster unit connection element to thereby connect said thruster unit to said sectional barge assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said thruster unit is connected to an end wall or a side wall of said sectional barge assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said thruster unit further comprises a vertically adjustable mast, said motor and propeller connected to a lower end of said mast. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said connector device is an elongate element that slidably engages a barge connection element and a thruster unit connection element. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said thruster unit frame includes at least one vertical member having a longitudinal cavity, at least one said thruster unit connection element disposed within said longitudinal cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said thruster unit frame includes at least two horizontally spaced vertical members each having a longitudinal cavity, each longitudinal cavity including at least one thruster unit connection element. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements each include a recess and a protrusion, a protrusion of a given connection element receivable within a recess of another connection element. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein said connector device has a male cross section which slidably engages female receiving cavities of a pair of respective adjacent barge and thruster unit connection elements. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein one of said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements includes a single protrusion and the other of said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements each includes a single recess, said protrusion alignable within said recess. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said first connector device is an elongate element which slidably engages a pair of respective adjacent connection elements to capture said protrusion within said recess. 
     
     
         11 . In combination:
 a barge that is adapted to be connected to other barges by means of a plurality of barge connection elements positioned along at least one of an end wall and a side wall of said barge;   a thruster unit for maneuvering said barge, said thruster unit comprising:
 a frame; 
 a motor and a propeller drivingly connected to said motor, whereby said propeller provides a thrust force that acts to move said barge; and 
 at least one thruster unit connection element on said frame; 
   said thruster unit connected to an end wall or a side wall of said barge by means of at least one first connector device that respectively engages a barge connection element on said barge and a thruster unit connection element on said frame.   
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said thruster unit further comprises a vertically adjustable mast, said motor and propeller connected to a lower end of said mast. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said first connector device is an elongate element that slidably engages a barge connection element and a thruster unit connection element. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said thruster unit frame includes at least one vertical member having a longitudinal cavity, at least one said thruster unit connection element disposed within said longitudinal cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said thruster unit frame includes at least two horizontally spaced vertical members each having a longitudinal cavity, each longitudinal cavity including at least one thruster unit connection element. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements each include a recess and a protrusion, a protrusion of a given connection element receivable within a recess of another connection element. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said first connector device has a male cross section which slidably engages female receiving cavities of a pair of respective adjacent barge and thruster unit connection elements. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein one of said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements includes a single protrusion and the other of said barge connection elements and said thruster unit connection elements each includes a single recess, said protrusion alignable within said recess. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein said first connector device is an elongate element which slidably engages a pair of respective adjacent connection elements to capture said protrusion within said recess.