AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES, RAISING, AND LOWERING, AND TRANSPORTING HEAVY WEIGHTS, AND ALSO FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING VESSELS OR SHIPS, RAILWAY TRUCKS OR WAGGONS, OR OTHER VEHICLES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Forsey Brion, of 22, Philip Road, Peckham Rye,
in the County of Surrey, Geographer, and Modeller and Constructor of
Relievo Maps, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR RAISING
SUNKEN VESSELS OR SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES, RAISING, AND
LOWERING, AND TRANSPORTING HEAVY WEIGHTS, AND ALSO FOR LOADING OR
UNLOADING VESSELS OR SHIPS, RAILWAY TRUCKS OR WAGGONS, OR OTHER
VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Forsey Brion at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th June 1880.
.
"AN
HENRY FORSEY BRION, of 22, Philip Road, Peckham Rye, in the County of
Surrey, Geographer, and Modeller and Constructor of Relievo Maps.
IMPROVED METHOD FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR SHIPS AND OTHER
SUBMERGED BODIES, RAISING, AND LOWERING, AND TRANSPORTING HEAVY WEIGHTS,
AND ALSO FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING VESSELS OR SHIPS, RAILWAY TRUCKS OR
WAGGONS, OR OTHER VEHICLES."
My Invention relates to an improved method of raising sunken vessels or ships
and other submerged bodies, raising, and lowering, and transporting heavy weights,
and also for loading or unloading vessels or ships, railway trucks or waggons, or
other vehicles, and consists essentially in the employment of levers.
For the purpose of raising sunken vessels or ships or other submerged bodies a
floating vessel or ship is employed. A lever or levers is or are fixed on a fulcrum
or fulcruins, either on one or both sides of the floating vessel or ship, the centre of
the vessel, across the same, or in any suitable position thereon. Where two or more
levers are used they may be connected together by cross beams. The fulcrums of
the levers are situated near one end of each lever, the weight to be raised being
attached to the end of the shorter arm and the power applied to the end of the
longer arm. Over each lever pass ropes or cables, one end of each being attached
to windlasses or capstans; the other ends passing over the extreme end of the short
arm of the lever and attached in any suitable-manner to the submerged body. In
-order-to raise the submerged body the longer arms are first raised to their highest
position by any suitable means; thus lowering the shorter arms, and the ropes or

page_text: cables are wound taut round the windlasses or capstans. The longer arins are then
depressed by winding up the ends of the ropes or cables which pass over the longer
arins, thus raising the shorter arms and thereby lifting up the submerged body a
certain distance.
A fixed support or a pivotted arm has also ropes or cables passing over its outer
end and attached to the submerged body, the other ends being wound on a windlass
or capstan.
When the submerged body has been raised as above described a certain height,
the ropes or cables passing over the outer ends of the fixed support or pivotted arm
are wound up taut so as to support the submerged body in its raised position,
whilst the levers are again lowered for the purpose of effecting another hoist or lift.
This process is continued until the submerged body is raised to the required height
when it may be towed away by tugs or otherwise removed to any desired place.
In place of the fixed support or pivotted arm a lever or levers, similar to those
above described for raising the submerged body, may be employed to secure the
same in its raised position whilst lowering the lifting levers; or the second named
lever or levers may also be used as lifting levers, in which case they will act
alternately with the before described lifting levers, that is to say, while one set is
being raised, the other supports the submerged body.
In order to give greater length and strength to the levers they are built up
either of sections or lengths of wood, or metal plates, bolted or otherwise secured
together in such a manner that the joints of no two contiguous sections are in the
same line, that is to say, the different sections are arranged to break joint. It is
advisable to make the levers thicker at the parts where the fulcrums are situated.
Should the longer arins of the lifting levers be too long to be conveniently
depressed from the same vessel on which the levers are supported, they may be
operated from a second vessel placed at a suitable distance from the former.
In some cases the bed of the sea, river, or canal may be used to support the
fulcrums of the lovers.
Should the submerged body be embedded in the bottom of the sca, river, or canal,
a beam or beams is or are secured across the submerged body, and by alternately
mising the two ends a rocking motion is imparted to the submerged body, which
is thus freed from the sand or other matter in which it is embedded, or the beam
or beams may be secured, to the ends of the submerged body.
At the points where the fulcrums of the levers are situated the levers themselves
may be mounted on pivots, so that they may be swung or slewed round in any
desired direction.
In some cases the fulcrums of the lifting and supporting lever or levers may be
mounted on carriages, so that the whole may be bodily removed from one place to
another for the purpose of transporting weights, or the levers themselves may be
arranged to alide along the fulcrums.
It will be readily understood that the various arrangements herein before
described may be applied for the purpose of loading or unloading vessels or ships,
railway trucks or waggons, or other vehicles, or for the purpose of raising or
lowering and transporting heavy weights.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Forsey Brion in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1880.
AN
HENRY FORSEY BRION, of 22, Philip Road, Peckham Rye, in the County of
Surrey, Geographer, and Modeller and Constructor of Relievo Maps.
IMPROVED METHOD FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS OR SHIPS AND OTHER
SUBMERGED BODIES, RAISING, AND LOWERING, AND TRANSPORTING HEAVY WEIGHTS,
AND ALSO FOR LOADING OR UNLOADING VESSELS OR SHIPS, RAILWAY TRUCKS OR
WAGGONS, OR OTHER VEHICLES."
My Invention relates to an improved method of raising sunken vessels or ships
and other submerged bodies, raising, and lowering, and transporting heavy weights,
and also for loading or unloading vessels or ships, railway trucks or waggons, or
other vehicles, and consists essentially in the employment of levers.
For the purpose of raising sunken vessels or ships, or other submerged bodies, a
floating vessel or ship is employed. A lever or levers is or are fixed on a fulcrum or
fulcrums, either on one or both sides of the floating vessel or ship, the centro of the
vessel, across the same, or in any suitable position thereon. Where two or more
levers are used they may be connected together by cross beams. The fulcrums of
the levers are situated near one end of cach lever, the weight to be raised being ⚫
attached to the end of the shorter arm, and the power applied at the end of the
longer arm. Over each lever pass ropes, chains, or cables, one end of each being
attached to winches, windlasses, or capstans, the other ends passing over the
extreme end of the short arm of the lever, and attached in any suitable manner to
the submerged body. In order to raise the submerged body, the longer arms are
first raised to the highest position by any suitable means, thus lowering the shorter
arins, and the ropes, chains, or cables are wound taut round the winches, windlasses,
or capstans. The longer arms are then depressed by winding up the ends of the
ropes, chains, or cables, which pass over the longer arms, thus raising the shorter
arms, and thereby lifting up the submerged body a certain distance.
A fixed support or a pivotted arm has also ropes, chains, or cables passing over
its outer end, and attached, to the submerged body, the other ends being wound on
a winch, windlass, or capstan.
When the submerged body has been raised as above described a certain height
the ropes, chains, or cables passing over the outer end of the fixed support or
pivotted arm are wound up taut so as to support the submerged body in its
raised position, whilst the levers are again lowered for the purpose of effecting
another hoist or lift. This process is continued until the submerged body is raised
to the required beight, when it may be towed away by tugs, or otherwise removed
to any desired place.
In place of the fixed support or pivotted arm, a lever or levers, similar to those
above described for raising the submerged body, may be employed to secure the
samo in its raised position whilst lowering the lifting levers; or the second named
lever or levers may also be used as lifting levers, in which case they will act
alternately with the before described lifting levers, that is to say, while one set is
5 being raised, the other supports the submerged body.
In order to give greater length and strength to the levers, they are built up
either of sections or lengths of wood, or metal plates, bolted or otherwise secured
together in such a manner that the joints of no two contiguous sections are in the
saine line, that is to say, the different sections are arranged to break joint. It is
advisable to make the levers thicker at the parts where the fulcrums are situated.
Should the longer arms of the lifting levers be too long to be conveniently
depressed from the same vessel on which the levers are supported, they may be
operated from a second vessel placed at a suitable distance from the former.

page_text: In some cases the bed of the sea, river, or canal may be used to support the
fulcrums of the levers.
Should the submerged body be embedded in the bottom of the sea, river, or
canal, a beam or beams is or are secured across the submerged body, and by
alternately raising the two ends, a rocking motion is imparted to the submerged
body, which is thus freed from the sand or other matter in which it is embedded;
or the beam or beains may be secured to the ends of the submerged body.
At the points where the fulcrums of the levers are situated, the levers
themselves may be mounted on pivots, so that they may be swung or slewed round
in any desired direction.
In some cases, the fulcrunis of the lifting and supporting lever or levers may bo
mounted on carriages, so that the whole may be bodily removed from one placo t:>
another, for the purpose of transporting weights; or the levers themselves inay bo
arranged to slide along the fulcrums.
It will be readily understood that the various arrangements hereinbeforo
described may be applied for the purpose of loading or unloading vessels or ships,
railway trucks or waggons, or other vehicles, or for the purpose of raising or
lowering and transporting heavy weights.
But in order that my Invention may be more readily understood I will proceed
to explain the samo by the aid of the accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of an apparatus for raising sunken vessels or ships
and other submerged bodies, and Fig. 2 shows a plan of the same. A is the vessel
upon which the apparatus is fixed; B is a lever or preferably a pair of levers
working together as one for the purpose of raising the sunken vessel or ship or
other submerged body; C is a lever or levers for the purpose of securing or
supporting the submerged body in its raised position after having been raised a
certain distance by the lever or levers B; these levers or sets of levers B and C
both turn upon the fulcrum D; E and F are ropes, chains, or cables, which pass
respectively along the levers B and C and run over the pullies at the extremities of
the short arms of these levers, the ends being attached to the submerged body in
any suitable manner. The other extremities of these ropes, chains, or cables, pass
over pullies at the ends of the long arms of the levers and are wound upon winches,
windlasses, or capstans G and H. In order to raise the sunken body the ropes,
chains, or cables are securely attached to it in any suitable manner, and the lever or
levers B is or are lowered to its or their lowest position. The ropes, chains, or
cables are then wound upon the winches, windlasses, or capstans, the rope, chain, or
cable E serving to raise the sunken vessel or other submerged body. By winding
the rope, chain, or cable E upon the winch, windlass, or capstan G the lever or levers
B will be depressed, thus raising the submerged body a certain distance. The rope,
chain, or cable F will now serve to hold the submerged body in its raised position,
whilst the rope, chain, or cable E is unwound from the winch, windlass, or capstan G,
when the lever or levers B will descend to its or their lowest position and be ready
for another hoist or lift. This operation will be continued until the submerged
body is raised to the required height, when it will be towed away or otherwise
removed to any required place.
Instead of the lever or levers C a fixed support or a pivotted arm may be used,
over which the rope, chain, or cable F will pass and serve to support the submerged
body in its raised position, as hereinbefore described; or the lever or levers C inay
be also used as a lifting lever or levers, that is to say, whilst the lever or levers B
is or are being raised the lever or levers C supports or support the submerged body,
or vice versa.
Fig. 3 shows an arrangement wherein the levers B and C have their fulcrum D
upon one vessel or floating body I, and the winches, windlasses, or capstans G
and El upon another vessel or floating body J. These vessels or floating bodies are
preferably placed at right angles to one another, as shown, but they may be placed a
in a line with one another if desired; K is the vessel or other submerged body to
be raised; a, a, are beams fixed at the ends of the vessel or other submerged body;

page_text: and bis a beam fixed across the same.
To these beams, ropes, chains, or cables are
attached, and they sorve to give a rocking motion to the vessel or other submerged
body for the purpose of lifting it from the bed of the sea, river, or canal when the
same has become embedded therein.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show an arrangement in which the levers B and C are fitted
upon a truck or waggon for the purpose of raising or lowering and transporting
heavy weights. A is the truck or waggon upon which the support L is pivotted.
When in use this support is kept in its upright position by means of the angle or
side pieces M, but when not in use it may be lowered together with the levers, as
shown in Fig. 6, by removing one of the angle or side pieces and turning it upon
The levers B and C turn upon
its pivot d by means of a rope c on the winch N.
the fulcrum D at the top of the support L. The ropes, chains, or cables E and F
pass over pullies at the ends of the short arms of the levers and are attached to
the weight to be raised, lowered, or transported. These ropes, chains, or cables
pass along the levers B and C, and over the pullies at the extremities of their
longer armis, when they are wound on to the winch G. In the case whero it is
necessary to have long levers beams O are attached to the truck or waggon, at the
ends of which are pullies over which the ropes, chains, or cables pass previous to
being wound on the drum, for the purpose of more easily winding them by
preventing their being at a very acute angle. When it is intended to raiso a
weight the two levers aro lowered to their lowest position, and the ropes, chhins, or
cables are attached to the weight to be raised. One rope, chain, or cable is then
wound up on the winch so as to bring its lever into the position shown by the
lever C in Fig. 4. The weight will then have been raised a certain distance, and
the rope, chain, or cable F will be taut and serve to sustain the weight, whilst the
other rope, chain, or cable will be slack. This rope, chain, or cable will then be
wound up till the lever B is raised to its highest position, thus raising the weight
still higher. The rope, chain, or cable F will now be slack and ready to be wound
up again. By suitably weighting the ends of the shorter arms of the levers they
will gradually fall into their lowest position as their ropes, chains, or cables becomo
slack. The whole of the platform of the truck or waggon may be made to turn ou
a pivot P, so that it may be brought into any suitable position, as shown by tho
dotted lines Q in Fig. 5.
In Fig. 7 an arrangement or modification is shown wherein the support for the
levers is in one truck or waggon whilst the winch or winches is or are in another.
This arrangement will be found useful when it is necessary to have the levers inado
exceptionally long.
Figs: 8, 9, and 10 show a modification in which the weight may be transferred a
short distance when raised by shifting the levers along their fulcrums. The under
surfaces of the levers are provided with racks which gear into pinions R on the
shaft S, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. These pinions, when the apparatus is at work,
are fixed by means of the pins e and f, and the levers turn upon these pinions ns
fulcrums. When it is required to shift the weight the pins are drawn out and tho
lovers may be moved along into any suitable position, the teeth of the racks on the
levers gearing into the teeth of the pinions which are revolved by any suitable
means. By means of the clutch arrangement shown at Fig. 9 either of the levers
may be shifted along its fulcrum separately and independent of the other. The
same arrangement of clutch is shown for the winch for ruising at Fig. 10. Whilst
one rope, chain, or cable is being wound up the drum upon which the other rope,
chain, or cable is being wound remains out of gear until the first rope, chain, or
cable is thoroughly wound up, when the clutch is shifted and throws one drum out
of gear and the other into gear, and the second rope, chain, or cable may then be
wound up. The winch G may be run upon a circular track for the purpose of
slewing the apparatus round into any desired position, the frame T carrying the
shaft S supporting the levers turning in the sleeve U. By passing a bolt or pin V
through either one of the levers it may be made to act as a fixed support, whilst
the other lever serves for raising.

page_text: Figs. 11 and 12 show another arrangement for shifting the levers along their
fulcrums, Two shoe pieces W are pivotted on the shaft D, and support the levers,
which may be secured in any suitable position for raising by passing bolts or pins g
through the sides of the shoe pieces and through any of the holes h, h, formed in
the levers. In order to shift the lever the bolt or pin is withdrawn, and a rope,
chain, or cable i is attached to either end of the lever, as desired, and wound upon
the winch X. These levers are preferably shifted separately by first attaching the
rope, chain, or cable i to one and then to the other lever, or if necessary they may
be shifted together by using two ropes, chains, or cables, or by bracing the two
levers together. The frame supporting the levers is capable of revolving on a
central pivot, and the base is extended so as to receive the winch or winches for
raising.
Fig. 13 shows a modification of the last arrangement, in which the levers rest
upon a roller or rollers j, turning loosely upon the shaft 1), the levers being secured
in position for lifting by attaching them by pins or bolts g to plates k, also turning
loosely upon the shaft.
Fig. 14 shows the two lovers mounted upon a tripod or other suitable frame.
Figs. 15 and 16 show the manner preferred of building up the levers, in which
the plates of iron or other material are made to break joint, and such joints being
at an angle.
Figs. 17 and 18 show a similar arrangement, the joints being vertical.
It will be well understood that the levers may be built up of rolled joists, or of
iron of any suitable section, or of wood, or of iron and wood combined.
In all cases the ends of the short arms of the levers should be suitably counter-
balanced.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
exact details herein described, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of the Invention, but what I claim is,-
-
1st. The arrangement for raising sunken vessels or other submerged bodies,
consisting essentially in the employment of one or more levers for the purpose of
raising by means of ropes, chains, or cables attached to the submerged body, and
passing over the ends of the lever or levers and wound upon a winch, windlass, or
capstan, and one or more levers for the purpose of sustaining the partly raised
vessel or body by means of ropes, chains, or cables attached to the submerged body 3
and passing over the ends of the lever or levers and wound upon a winch, windlass,
or capstan, whilst the first named lever or levers is or, are lowered for another
hoist or lift, substantially as herein described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the
Druwings.
2nd. The arrangement wherein a fixed support or pivolted arm is used for 4
sustaining the submerged body whilst the raising lever or levers is or are lowered
into position for lifting, substantially as berein described.
3rd. The arrangement wherein both levers or sets of levers are employed for
lifting, each lever or sets of levers alternately acting as a supporting lever or levers,
substantially as herein described.
4th. The arrangement in which two vessels or floating bodies are employed,
placed either at right angles to one another or in the same line, one for the purpose
of supporting the levers and the other for winding up the ropes, chains, or cables,
substantially as herein described and shown at Fig. 3 in the Drawings.
5th. The arrangement for raising or lowering and transporting heavy weights, in 5
which the levers are carried in a truck or waggon, substantially as herein described
and shown at Figs. 4, 5, and 6 in the Drawings.
6th. The arrangement for raising or lowering and transporting heavy weights, in
which the levers are carried in one truck or waggon and the winches are carried in
another truck or waggon, substantially as herein described and shown at Fig. 7 in 5
the Drawings.
7th. The arrangement for shifting the levers on their fulcrums by means of

page_text: racks and pinions, substantially as herein described and shown at Figs. 8, 9, and 10
in the Drawings.
Sth. The arrangement for shifting the levers on their fulcrums by means of
attaching ropes, chains, or cables to the ends of the levers and winding them upon a
winch, the said levers being fixed in position when at work by means of pins.or
bolts passing through shoes into holes pierced in the levers, substantially as herein
described and shown at Figs. 11 and 12 in the Drawings; and also the modification
thereof, substantially as herein described and shown at Fig. 13 in the Drawings.
9th. The arrangement of supporting the levers upon a tripod or other suitable frame,
substantially as berein described and shown at Fig. 14 in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Forsey Brion, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord 1880
5 Witness,
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
41, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, W.C.
HENRY F. BRION. (L.S.)