IMPROVEMENTS IN, FLOATING DOCKS AND IN APPARATUS USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Banks Rennie of Holland Street Blackfriars in
the County of Surrey Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN,
FLOATING DOCKS AND IN APPARATUS USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Banks Rennie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February 1883.
GEORGE BANKS RENNIE of Holland Street Blackfriars in the County of
Surrey Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS AND IN APPARATUS
USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH
"
This invention relates to improved arrangements of machinery and form of hull
so that floating docks may be made capable of being propelled by steam and water
and of a sectional form so that by means of water ballast the dock may be inclined
up to centre line of bottom of dock first put one side and then the other so that
repairs or cleaning of the bottom may be easily effected whilst the dock is afloat.
The general arrangement and combination of well known principles of construc-
tion as carried out in accordance with my invention fulfils a well known want in
the use of floating docks which improved structure may be called a navigable self
careening floating dock.
The capacity and form of the dock must be made of sufficient size to take in the
size or tonnage of the largest ship it is required to receive
The dock is formed of outside and inside skins of iron or steel plating. It is
divided into various compartments longitudinally and transversely such as is usual
in the construction of floating docks.
The parts between the bulkheads forming the compartments are properly
strengthened by diagonal or plate framing to give rigidity to the whole structure.
The lower compartments are filled with water for sinking the dock to take in a
ship and pumped out for emptying them when lifting the dock with or without a
ship in it.
An engine driving a centrifugal pump is placed in each of the side lower
compartments as being the most convenient arrangement but this may be varied to
suit particular circumstances.

page_text: These engines and pumps are first to serve for pumping out the compartments
for lifting the dock with or without a ship on it, second for pumping from the sea
through several nozzles at the docks side for propelling the dock either way or
third for pumping from bottom compartments or sea into the upper side ballast
chambers for careening the dock.
The ballast chambers on both sides would be filled together as the most
convenient arrangement in order to keep the dock level. The engines and pumps
being stopped and secured and the water allowed to run out of that side of the
dock which is to be careened out of water until the dock to middle line is reached
(should it be necessary to careen to that extent) when the necessary repairs or
cleaning is effected on the bottom. The water is then allowed to run out of the
other ballast chambers when the dock rights itself and becomes level.
Such is the arrangement and combination in order to make the dock of such
form as can be propelled at a moderate speed for transporting from one place or
port to another and careened as described.
The propulsion of the dock is effected by numerous outlets or jets on either
side of dock by means of water ejected by centrifugal or other pumps worked by
steam.
The same engines and pumps are used either for lifting the dock or pumping up
the ballast chambers for careening it as may be required.
The number of engines and pumps and discharge orifices must be of sufficient
power and capacity to propel the dock at the required speed and the discharge
orifices are so arranged that their position can be reversed in order to reverse the
direction in which the dock is to be propelled.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Banks Rennie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd August 1883.
GEORGE BANKS RENNIE of Holland Street Blackfriars in the County of
Surrey Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS AND IN APPARATUS USED
IN COMBINATION THEREWITH
">
This Invention relates to improved arrangements] of machinery and form of hull
so that floating docks may be made capable of being propelled by steam and water
and of a sectional form so that by means of water ballast the dock may be inclined
up to centre line of bottom of dock first one side and then the other so that repairs
or cleaning of the bottom may be easily effected whilst the dock is afloat.
The general arrangement and combination of well known principles of construc-
tion as carried out in accordance with my invention fulfils a well known want in
the use of floating docks which improved structure may be called a navigable self
careening floating dock.
The capacity and form of the dock must be made of sufficient size to take in the
size or tonnage of the largest ship it is required to receive.
The dock is formed of outside and inside skins of iron or steel plating. It is
divided into various compartments longitudinally and transversely such as is usual
in the construction of floating docks.
The parts between the bulkheads forming the compartments are properly
strengthened by diagonal or plate framing to give rigidity to the whole structure."
The lower compartments are filled with water for sinking the dock to take in a
ship and pumped out for emptying them when lifting the dock with or without a
ship in it.
An engine (or engines) driving a centrifugal pump (or pumps) is placed in each
of the side lower compartments as being the most convenient arrangement but this
may be varied to suit particular circumstances.
These engines and pumps are first to serve for pumping out the compartments
for lifting the dock with or without a ship on it, second for pumping from the sea,
through several nozzles at the docks' side for propelling the dock either way, or
third for pumping from bottom compartments or sea into the upper side ballast
chambers for careening the dock as represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
The ballast chambers on both sides would be filled together as the most
convenient arrangement in order to keep the dock level. The engines and pumps
being stopped and secured and the water allowed to run out of that side of the
dock which is to be careened out of water until the middle line of dock is reached
(should it be necessary to careen to that extent) when the necessary repairs or
cleaning is effected on the bottom. The water is then allowed to run out of the
other ballast chambers when the dock rights itself and becomes level.
Such is the arrangement and combination in order to make the dock of such form
as can be propelled at a moderate speed for transporting from one place or port to
another and careened as described.
The propulsion of the dock is effected by numerous outlets or jets on either side
of dock by means of water ejected by centrifugal or other pumps worked by steam
or other motive power such as represented in detail in the accompanying Drawings
at A. B. C.
The same engines and pumps are used either for lifting the dock or pumping up
the ballast chambers for careening it as may be desired.
Although I find it most advantageous to employ the arrangement of engines

page_text: previously described it will be evident that engines and pumps may be adapted for
one or two of the above operations separately or with an engine working one or
more pumps.
The number of engines and pumps and discharge orifices must be of sufficient
power and capacity to propel the dock at the required speed and the discharge
orifices are so arranged that their position can be reversed in order to reverse the
direction in which the dock is to be propelled.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practice I would remark that I make no claim to any of the
mechanical or other parts separately But what I claim is :-
First. The improved arrangement combination and application of machinery
and apparatus to floating docks so that they may be rendered capable of being
propelled and careened by steam and hydraulic power substantially in the manner
herein before described.
Second. I claim the improved sectional form of the hull of a floating dock
constructed with ballast chambers on each side and arranged in combination with
machinery and apparatus in such manner that the hull may be careened in either
direction substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented
in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said George Banks Rennie have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty first day of July. in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
JG TONGUE
Patent Agent
34 Southampton Buildings
Chancery Lane W C.
GEORGE B. RENNIE (L.S.)