APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING AND FITTING DOCK GATES AND THEIR MACHINERY
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bartholomew Hockin, of Gateshead Iron Works,
Gateshead-on-Tyne, for the Invention of "APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING AND
FITTING DOCK GATES AND THEIR MACHINERY."
Sealed the 4th March 1859, and dated the 8th September 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bartholomew Hockin at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th September 1858.
I, BARTHOLOMEW HOCKIN, of Gateshead Iron Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "APPARATUS FOR
REPAIRING AND FITTING DOCK GATES AND THEIR MACHINERY," to be as follows:→
This Invention relates to a novel contrivance designed for the purpose of
enabling the roller boxes and such like submerged portions of dock gates and
their machinery to be removed, repaired, and reinstated without taking down
or removing the gates, and without interfering with the opening or shutting
of the gates, thereby avoiding the interruption of business which would be
consequent thereupon.
It consists in constructing in plate T and L iron, or any other suitable
material, a caisson of a trough-like or three sided box-like shape, the open
side being made to fit against the face of the gate, and a water-tight joint.
being effected by means of vulcanized india-rubber strips, or strips of other
suitable material, close contact being secured by means of straps and bolts

page_text: and nuts, or by means of lugs and keyes, or any other suitable means for
securely holding the caisson in its place against the face of the gate.
The bottom to which the vertical trough-like caisson is rivetted or other-
wise securely attached has a strong steel plate with the bottom side rounded
off, this plate being thinner at the edges than in the middle; the plate is of a
width sufficient to allow of its being partially inserted under the gate, and by
means of strips of india-rubber or its equivalent a water-tight joint is made.
The rounded steel plate is intended to take the place of the roller in sup-
porting the gate whilst traversing upon the circular train or segmental rail;
but instead of and in some cases in addition to the rounded steel bearing plate
just described, a double cranked strap, with two trunnions or axles projecting
from the sides thereof, is fitted to the under side of the caisson bottom; and
upon each of the trunnions or short axles a wheel or roller, each turned to
the proper cone, is fitted, and which wheels or rollers they travel on the stone
flagging of lock bottom (if strong enough), or on temporary iron segments
placed thereon for the purpose.
In certain cases I may prefer to apply a
single roller box to the projecting face of the caisson either alone or in addi-
tion to the rounded steel bearing plate, in which case the wheel would travel
upon the original segmental rail or plate; but if used alone, without the
rounded steel bearing plate, the strain due to the hanging (or otherwise unsup⚫
ported) weight of the gate would be thrown upon the caisson, and laterally
at a distance from the center line of the gate, and would be more likely to
produce a torsional strain upon the heel post, and also by its projection
interfere with the opening of the gate.
Preparatory to fixing the caisson or box, the gate is lifted sufficiently high
to allow the projecting edge of the rounded steel bearing plate to be inserted
beneath the bottom rail of the gate, a strip of india-rubber being introduced
to insure a tight joint, the roller box being at the same time lifted sufficiently
high by means of a straining rod or rods to allow it to come within the line
of the bottom of the caisson or box. Strips of india-rubber or other suitable
material are attached to the face or edges of the box or caisson so as to insure
a water-tight joint all round, and the caisson or box is then secured to the
face of the gate; which being done and found to be water-tight, the gate is
lowered until its weight is received on the rounded steel bearing plate, which
takes its bearing on the segmental rail; or if either of the variations in the
arrangement of the fittings at the bottom of the caisson or box be adopted,
they are caused to take their portion of the weight of the gate.
The water being pumped out of the caisson, workmen may descend to
examine and.repair the face of the gates, the roller box, or any other part of

page_text: the gate, machinery, or fittings over which the caisson or box as described
has been applied, and the gate may be opened and closed at pleasure, and thus
the business of the dock may be continued uninterruptedly, and the caisson or
box, when the examination or the repairs has been effected, may be removed
and used again elsewhere..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bartholomew Hockin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th March 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BARTHOLOMEW
HOCKIN, of Gateshead Iron Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Bartholomew Hockin, Her special licence that I, the said Bartholomew
Hockin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Bartholomew Hockin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "APPA-
RATUS FOR REPAIRING AND FITTING DOCK GATES AND THEIR MACHINERY," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Bartholomew Hockin, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said. Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six. calender months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bartholomew Hockin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawing :—
This Invention relates to a novel contrivance designed for the purpose of
enabling the roller boxes and such like submerged portions of dock gates and
their machinery to be removed, repaired, and reinstated without taking down
or removing the gates, and without interfering with the opening or shutting of

page_text: the gates, thereby avoiding the interruption of business which would be
consequent thereupon..
It consists in constructing in plate T and L iron, or any other suitable
material, a caisson of a trough-like or three sided box-like shape, the open
side being made to fit against the face of the gate, and a water-tight joint
being effected by means of vulcanised india-rubber strips, or strips of other
suitable material, close contact being secured by means of straps and bolts
and nuts, or by means of lugs and keys, or any other suitable means for
securely holding the caisson in its place against the face of the gate.
The bottom to which the vertical trough-like caisson is rivetted or other-
wise securely attached has a strong steel plate with the bottom side rounded
off, this plate being thinner at the edges than in the middle; the plate is of a
width sufficient to allow of its being partially inserted under the gate, and by
means of strips of india-rubber or its equivalent a water-tight joint is made.
The rounded steel plate is intended to take the place of the roller in sup-
porting the gate whilst traversing upon the circular tram or segmental rail;
but instead of and in some cases in addition to the rounded steel bearing
plate just described, a double cranked strap, with two trunions or axles pro-
jecting from the sides thereof, is fitted to the under side of the caisson bottom,
and upon each of the trunions or short axles, a wheel or roller, each turned to
the proper cone, is fitted, and which wheels or. rollers travel on the stone
flagging of-lock bottom (if strong enough), or on temporary iron segments
placed thereon for the purpose. In certain cases I may prefer. to apply a
single roller box to the projecting face of the caisson, either alone or in
addition to the rounded steel bearing plate,. in which case the wheel would
travel upon the original segmental rail. or plate; but if used alone, without
the rounded steel bearing plate, the strain due to the hanging (or otherwise
unsupported) weight of the gate would be thrown upon the caisson, and
laterally at a distance from the centre line of the gate, and would be more
likely to produce a torsional strain upon the heel post, and also by its pro-
jection interfere with the opening of the gate.
Preparatory to fixing the caisson or box, the gate is lifted sufficiently high
to allow the projecting edge of the rounded steel bearing plate to be inserted
beneath the bottom rail of the gate, a strip of india-rubber being introduced
to insure a tight joint, the roller box being at the same time lifted sufficiently.
high by means of a straining rod or rods to allow it to come within the line
of the bottom of the caisson or box. Strips of india-rubber or other suitable
material are attached to the face or edges of the box or caisson, so as to insure
a water-tight joint all round, and the caisson or box is then secured to the

page_text: face of the gate; which being done and found to be water-tight, the gate is
lowered until its weight is received on the rounded steel bearing plate, which
takes its bearing on the segmental rail; or if either of the variations in the
arrangement of the fittings at the bottom of the caisson or box be adopted,
they are caused to take their portion of the weight of the gate.
The water being pumped out of the caisson, workmen may descend to
examine and repair the face of the gates, the roller box, or any other part of
the gate, machinery, or fittings over which the caisson or box as described has
been applied, and the gate may be opened and closed at pleasure, and thus
the business of the dock may be continued uninterruptedly, and the caisson
or box, when the examination or the repairs have been effected, may be
removed and used elsewhere.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figs. 1, 2, & 3 exhibit different views of
apparatus constructed according to this Invention, applied to a dock gate in
the manner shewn for the purpose of removing the roller box, &c. for repairs.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the caisson and its apparatus as intended to be
applied to the face of a dock gate, the gate being raised; Fig. 2 being a
transverse sectional elevation of the dock gate, the lock, sill, and floor, and
the caisson and its apparatus, applied to the face of the gate as shewn in Fig. 1;
and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the caisson and gate shewn in Fig. 2.
In these several views, A is the dock gate; B, the caisson; C, the radial
segment or rail, upon which the roller working in the carriage or roller box D
ordinarily runs; E, the rounded steel plate, which is secured to the bottom of
the caisson, and which receives the weight of the gate, and slides upon the
radial rail or segmental rail upon which the roller usually works.
'
The water levels are indicated in the Figs. 1, 2, & 4.
In Figures 1 and 2, the original portions of the roller box D is shewn, as
also the position into which it is drawn up, for the purpose of inserting the
bottom of the caisson and its steel plate under the gate, and between it and
the radial or segmental rail, the position of the roller box when raised being
indicated in dotted lines, as is also the position in which the roller box
usually works.
In Figs. 1, 3, and 4, an elbow pipe a is shewn as projecting from one side
of the caisson, and to which is connected the suction pipe of a pump b, by
which any water in the caisson may be discharged therefrom; another pump c
is shewn as set up inside the caisson, having at the bottom of its suction pipe
a rose d, by which gravel, chips, or other solid matters which would obstruct
the working of the pumps are prevented from being drawn into the pump
barrel.

page_text: The interior of the caisson is shewn as being strengthened by a series of
short stays or braces e, e, across the two angles, and the vertical angle iron
flanches f, having the packing pieces 9 of vulcanised india-rubber, or other
suitable material, interposed between their faces and the face of the gate, are
shewn as pressed home and firmly against the gate by means of the bolts
and nuts h.
The vertical rods are each attached at the lower end to the bottom of the
caisson, and the top end of each being screwed and fitted with a nut, passes
through a hole in one end of a saddle bar or cross piece k, resting on the top
of the gate, the other end of the saddle bar or cross piece k having a similar
eye or hole, through which passes the screwed end of a tie bolt or holding
down rod 1, the lower end of which is secured to the opposite side of the.gate
to that on which the caisson is fixed, and thus the caisson is supported, and
being held firmly in its place, a water-tight joint is secured between the
bottom of the gate and the bottom plate of the caisson by means of the
elastic packing g interposed between them. The middle saddle bar or cross
piece is shewn longer than the other two, so as to admit of its clearing
the roller box D, which has to be withdrawn or raised from its ordinary
position for the purpose of repairs or renewal.
The operation of using the caisson for the purpose of removing a roller box
may be conducted as herein-before described, and it will be found generally
applicable in such cases.
For the purpose of fixing the caisson in its place, I prefer to take four
timber piles of suitable length shod at the lower end, and fitted at the upper
end with a strong bolt having a fork or socket to clip the pile head, as shewn
in Figs. 4 & 5, where A is the gate; B, the caisson; C, the segment rail;
D, the roller box; and E, the rounded plate; F, being the piles; the metal
shoes m of the piles may be secured in any convenient manner, and the sockets
or clip end of the bolt n being secured to the head of the pile by bolts &
nuts or otherwise; each pair of piles is connected together by means of a
cross head or cross bar o, through each end of which one of the bolts
of the piles passes, and by means of set nuts or jamb nuts and washers
p, p', the piles are adjusted and securely held in their places. Two straps q,
having a cross pin or bolt r between them, are securely attached to the top of
the gate, and a link s is made to connect the cross head or cross bar o with
the cross pin or bolt r. Now, upon placing the four piles in their proper
positions, two on each side of the gate, and connecting the cross bars o by
means of the two links s, s, with the gate by means of the cross pins 7, r, the
weight of the gate is taken uniformly by the piles, and it is gradually raised

page_text: by screwing the lower nuts p' up the bolts n to any extent required, for the
purpose of inserting the bottom plate of the caisson under the gate, the roller
box being removed or withdrawn in the most convenient manner, according
to the manner in which it may have been fixed or secured to the gate, and the
caisson is made secure and water-tight. When the water is pumped out as
herein-before described, the workmen may without inconvenience descend
into the caisson.
Although reference has chiefly been made to the removal of roller boxes, it
must be understood that for every other purpose for which it is applicable, as,
for example, for examination, or for stopping leaks, or repairing other defects,
the caisson may be attached to the gates in a similar manner. As herein-
before stated, I propose, whenever it may be advantageous, to fix a single roller
and roller box to the external face of the caisson, and work it upon the
existing segment, and by means of a thrusting or straining rod adjust the
position of the roller. I also employ, in combination with the caisson and
the steel plate, where circumstances permit of their being used, rollers
working upon temporary rails or segmental bars, one on each side of the
original segment, these rollers being attached to the lower ends of strong bars,
and secured to each side of the caisson by brackets in which the roller boxes
and the bars slide up and down, the requisite strain being put upon them by
means of screw and nuts, or in any other convenient manner.
Having now described my Invention, and illustrated some of the modes of
practically applying the same, I claim the apparatus for repairing and fitting
dock gates and their machinery as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bartholomew Hockin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
0
BARTHOLOMEW HOCKIN. (L.S.)
THOMAS PRINGLE,
No. 3, Barrington Place,
Gateshead.