IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CON- NECTED WITH PONTOONS TO ENABLE VESSELS TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER FOR REPAIRS OR OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO IN SIDE WALLS OF DOCKS OR STRUCTURES TO BE USED PART THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Turnbull, of South Shields, in the County of
Durham, Naval Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CON-
NECTED WITH PONTOONS TO ENABLE VESSELS TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER
FOR REPAIRS OR OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO IN SIDE WALLS OF DOCKS OR
STRUCTURES TO BE USED PART THEREWITH."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Turnbull at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1877.
ROBERT TURNBULL, of South Shields, in the County of Durham, Naval Architect.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH PONTOONS TO ENABLE VESSELS TO BE
LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER FOR REPAIRS OR OTHER PURPOSES, ALSO IN SIDE WALLS
OF DOCKS OR STRUCTURES TO BE USED PART THEREWITH.”
The first part of my Invention consists in fitting to the sides of ordinary pontoons,
or to the pontoons hereafter described, angled projection frames with or without
rollers to ride within correspondingly angled grooves, within or upon the side walls of a
dock or structure to enable a vessel and the pontoon to rise and fall with the tide,
or the water's change of level at an angle.
I construct a pontoon rectangular in shape, suitable for the largest class of vessels
which is intended to be lifted. On each side of the pontoon, and at suitable distances
apart I arrange at an angle a series of frames, preferably with wheels or rollers,
which engage into correspondingly angled grooves in the side walls of the dock,
which may be of stone or wood corresponding with the width of the pontoon, but
clear thereof.
I prefer to use timber frames to form the groove, these being fixed or bolted on
the sides of the walls.
Iron rails are laid both on the upper and lower sides of the grooves for the
wheele if wheels om read on the nontoon ta mun un end down therain

page_text: By employing wheels to my frame, I steady the pontoon in its action, and they
enable me to use a narrower pontoon than hitherto.
The pontoon supports the entire weight of the vessel, which rises and falls with
the tide or water level.
The pontoon has the usual keel and bilge blocks fitted on the upper side, and
previous to lifting a vessel water is admitted by opening the valve or valves, air
pipes being also opened to allow the pontoon to descend by its own gravity to the
depth required, a vessel is then hauled over and into the pontoon upon the
blocks in the usual way. The water is then pumped or forced out, which allows
the pontoon to rise until the keel of the vessel rests on the keel blocks; the bilge
blocks are then hauled under the vessel to steady her; pumping is continued until
the water is all out, the vessel being then high and dry, ready for inspection or
repairs, the top of the pontoon being above the water level.
The pontoon has air chambers formed in the longitudinal central part near each
end, the buoyant power of the chambers boing equal to tho weight of the pontoon or
nearly so, therefore to sink it or bring it up to the surface only a few tons of water
will have to be pumped out when the pontoon is light or without a vessel.
An endless chain or chains are fitted at the fore end to control the rising and
falling of the pontoon within the range of the angled grooves.
My pontoons with angled frames are suitable to be worked in a diy dock or a
wet dock, or in a river if a structure be erected, but preference would be given
where there is no rise or fall.
I some cases I fix a girder on hinges under the centre of the pontoon longi
tudinally to support the vessel when the water has to be run out, such as in a dry
dock.
When a vessel has to be shifted upon a pontoon, I use a lift composed of two
sides, having their forward ends only connected to each other, the centre part of the
fore end serves as water-tight compartments to carry the pumps and other
machinery. The bottom part of the sides at the middle and outer end are con-
nected by cross beams, additional floating power may be added to support the after
end. On the outside of these girders are fixed wheels, same as described for the
pontoon.
The pontoon for the lift is in two pieces, placed a few feet apart, and connected,
if required, at the outer end, but not at the fore end.
A saddle-back is placed on the lift or on the pontoon, and also on three longi-
tudinal girders connected to each other, planking being laid on the upper side to
carry the usual keel and bilge blocks.
The three girders are arranged one along the centre, and the others outside of the
pontoon; the girders are deeper than the pontoons to give a clearance at the
bottom between the lift and the pontoon.
The pontoons, with the saddle-back on them, are when hauled into the lift
secured by screw bolts or other appliances.
As the pontoon descends by its weight after the admission of water, a vessel can
be placed in and then lifted, as before described; the air pipes and screw bolts can be
then disconnected.
A vessel or steamer can be connected broadside on to the end of the pontoon, and
the pontoon towed or hauled away to a berth provided for it. Water can then be
admitted to sink the pontoon until the girder of the saddle-back rests upon a
suitable foundation. The pontoons are then clear, and can be hauled away for
another saddle-back and vessel, or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Turnbull in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1878.
ROBERT TURNBULL, of South Shields, in the County of Durham, Naval Architect.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH PONTOONS TO ENABLE VESSELS TO BE
LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER FOR REPAIRS OR OTHER PURPOSES, ALso in Side Walls
OF DOCKS OR STRUCTURES TO BE USED PART THEREWITH."
The first part of my Invention consists in fitting to the sides of ordinary pontoons,
or to the pontoons hereafter described, angled projection frames with or without
rollers to ride within correspondingly angled grooves within or upon the side walls of
a dock or other structure to enable a vessel and the pontoon to rise and fall with
the tide or the water's change of level at an angle.
I construct a pontoon rectangular in shape, suitable for the largest class of vessel,
which is intended to be lifted. On each side of the pontoon, and at suitable distances
apart, I arrange at an angle wheels or a series of frames, preferably with rollers, which
engage into correspondingly angled grooves in the side walls of the dock, which
may be of stone or of wood corresponding with the width of the pontoon, but clear
thereof.
I prefer to use timber frames to form the grooves, these being fixed or bolted on
the sides of the walls.
Iron rails are laid both on the upper and lower sides of the grooves for the wheels,
if wheels are used on the pontoon, to run up and down therein.
By employing wheels to my fiame I steady the pontoon in its action, and they
enable me to use a narrower pontoon than hitherto.
The pontoon supports the entire weight of the vessel, and can be caused to rise
and fall with the tide or water level if desired
The pontoon may however be kept in a raised position by saddle-back transverso
beams, which, when out of use, can be slid into apertures formed in the dock walls.
The pontoon has the usual keel and bilge blocks fitted on the upper side, and
previous to lifting a vessel water is admitted by opening the valve or valves, air
pipes being also opened to allow the pontoon to descend by its own gravity to the
depth required. A vessel is then hauled over and into the pontoon upon the blocks
in the usual way. The water is then pumped or forced out, which allows the
pontoon to rise until the keel of the vessel rests on the keel blocks; the bilge blocks
are then hauled under the vessel to steady her; pumping is continued until the
water is all out, the vessel being then high and dry, ready for inspection or repairs,
the top of the pontoon being above the water level.
The pontoon has air chambers formed in the longitudinal central part near each
end, the buoyant power of the chambers being equal to the weight of the pontoon
or nearly so; therefore, to sink it or bring it up to the surface, only a few tons of
water will have to be pumped out when the pontoon is light or without a
vessel.
An endless chain or chains is or are fitted at the fore end to control the rising
and falling of the pontoon within the range of the angled grooves.
My pontoons with angled frames are suitable to be worked in a dry dock or a
wet dock, or in a river if a structure be erected, but preference would bo given
when there is no rise or fall.
If worked in a wet dock a cradle on the pontoon may be adapted so that the
cradle with a vessel on it can be hauled sideways on to the dock proper, and the
pontoon may be used for another vessel. The transverse sliding beams before
mentioned may be used to support both pontoon and vessel in a raised position.
These transverse sliding beams are applicable for all pontoon docks.
In some cases I fix a girder on hinges under the centre of the pontoon longi-
tudinally to support the vessel when the water has to be run out, such as in a dry
dock.

page_text: When a vessel has to be shifted upon a pontoon I use a lift composed of two sides
having their forward ends only connected to each other. The centre part of the
fore end serves for water compartments to carry the pumps and other machinery.
The bottom part of the sides at the middle and outer end are connected by cross
beams. Additional floating power may be added to support the after ends. On the
outside of these girders are fixed wheels, same as described for the pontoons.
The pontoon for the lift is in two pieces, placed a few feet apart, and connected,
if required, at the outer end, but not at the fore end.
A saddle-back is placed on the lift or on the pontoon, and also on three longitu-
dinal girders connected to each other, planking being laid on the upper side to carry
the usual keel and bilge blocks.
The three girders are arranged, one along the centre, and the others outside of
the pontoon; the girders are deeper than the pontoons to give a clearance at the
bottom between the lift and the pontoon.
The pontoons with the saddle back on them are, when hauled into the lift, secured
by screw bolts or other appliances.
As the pontoon descends by its weight after the admission of water a vessel can
be placed in, and then lifted, as before described; the air pipes and screw bolts
can be then disconnected.
A vessel or steamer can be connected broadside on to the end of the pontoon, and
the pontoon towed or hauled away to a berth provided for it; water can then be
admitted to sink the pontoon until the girders of the saddle-back rest upon a suitable
foundation; the pontoons are then clear, and can be hauled away for another saddle-
back and vessel, or otherwise.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a dock with one of my improved pontoons having a vessel
upon it fitted therein.
Figure 2 is a plan of the pontoon; and Figure 3 an end view; Figure 4 being a
transverse view on a larger scale than the former Figures to show the manner in
which I prefer to fit the wheels or rollers on the sides of a pontoon, so that they
ride up the inclined or diagonal channels in the side walls of the dock.
In Figures 1 and 3 a vessel is shown on the pontoon in a raised position, such as
in a wet dock, while the dotted lines show the same as resting upon the dock
bottom as in a dry dock, the water having been run out, and a caisson fitted, or the
dock gates shut.
I may here remark that should the pontoon bo hauled in at neap tide level, and
the caisson be fixed, water can be pumped into the dock to raise the pontoon level
with the dock side, in which case the saddle back beam can be shifted from the
recesses to under the pontoon to support it.
The pontoon A in this construction has a solid or closed bottom B, and raised
side C, D, at the head or fore part, and also at the stern or back part, which serves
as air compartments, and are partitioned off for containing the pumping engines
and other accessories required for the operation of lifting or sinking the pontoon, as
the case may be, the ends also serving as galleries for the movements of the men
engaged upon the repairs of a vessel, particularly when the pontoon is in a dry dock,
the galleries being then about level with the quay.
The pontoon A is, as before stated, of rectangular shape, and has rollers or
wheels E, E, set at an angle thereon. The rollers or wheels are proferably fitted
within metal strap F, F, on a skeleton fiamework, and have flanges on one of
their edges, as is particularly shown in the view, Figure 4, to ride upon or against
metal rails G, G, fitted at a corresponding angle in or upon the dock walls or upon
the sides of a structure erected to serve as a dock. Any number of these sets of
rollers and angled channels may be used, and they may be carried up to any height
so as to retain the pontoon permanently in the dock, or of only such a height as to
allow of the pontoon being hauled in and out of the dock, if desired.
If the dock and pontoon be fitted on the banks of a tidal river or in a cleek,
where a change of water level takes place, and no dock gates or caissons be fitted, I

page_text: form the front end of the dock at an angle corresponding to the side channels or
rails G, G, and by means of an endless chain passing over pullies, the pontoon,
which is fastened at the head to the chain, would be held as to rise and fall with
the tide, and always be kept in position for the wheels to ride in the channels.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dock with a pontoon, having my
angled rollers fitted thereto to ride in the channels G, G, of the dock wall, as before
stated. This pontoon is so made that when in a raised position it can rest upon
transverse timbers J, J, as a saddle-back, and the upper surface be kept flush with
the quay, the closeness of fit being such that by means of hinged side flaps or by
planks the space round the dock wall can be closed.
The transverse timbers, when not required for supporting the pontoon, are free
to be slid into recesses in the quay or dock, as to be out of the way.
The transverse timbers J, J, as a saddle-back are not weighted, but are free to
float while the water is in the dock, so as to make them easily shiftable across tho
dock or into the recesses, the timbers when in use having their ends resting upon
the dock walls or on supports fitted for the purpose. These timbers serve as saddle-
backs on which the pontoons can be supported, as in viow, Figure 6, the same
pontoon having been used for lifting a vessel that has been shifted broadside on
upon a cradle, as seen at K on the right of the Figure (6).
The vessel L on the left of the Figure (6) has been shifted from the pontoon on
to the quay by the cradle, and the cradle afterwards removed for the shift of the
second vessel raised by the pontoon, thus making the whole of a ship repairing
yard available for the reception of any desired number of vessels from the use of
one pontoon and one wet dock only, which wet dock when the vessel rests upon
the transverse timbers act as a dry dock, by allowing the water to run out, and
the placing of a caisson at the entrance or by the closing of the dock gates.
Figure 7 is a view of a dock, in which I support a vessel upon another form of
saddle-back J, for this purpose I arrange my pontoons in two parts connected
together at the rear end only, so that the two fore ends which are separated for
their length (except at the rear) may be hauled in under the saddle-back, and then
by the pump be caused to lift the saddle-back above the water level; the pontoon
with the saddle-back upon it can then be hauled out of the dock, to be again
lowered by the admission of water through the valve or valves M to the desired
depth for hauling them under a vessel that has to be repaired, so that when the
vessel rests upon the keel and the bilge blocks, the pumps again force the water
out, the valve or valves are closed, and the whole of the structure 11ses until the
pontoon supports the vessel above the water level. The whole is then hauled into
the dock, and as the water leaves from the receding of the tide the saddle-back
with the vessel upon it rests upon the uprights N, N, N, as in Figure 8, which are
arranged along the centre and along the sides of the dock for that purpose.
In Figure 9 I have shown the pontoon as lowered by the admission of water
again, to enable the pontoon to be hauled out of the dock for the reception of
another removable saddle-back, and another vessel to be placed upon similar
uprights within another dock. These divided pontoons are applicable for docks
of all kinds, and may have wheels or rollers fitted on their sides to ride in diagonal
chanuels in the dock walls, in Figure 10.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a dock in which one of my divided pontoons A or
lifts is fitted, the outer end of it having a vessel lashed to it to steady the pontoon
while afloat within the dock; and Figure 11 is a transverse view on an enlarged
scale of one of my removable saddle-backs J upon side and central uprights, and
upon the top edges of a lift Z, to which the wheels which rido in the inclined or
diagonal side channels of the dock are arranged. This lift Z. has the sides con-
nected by cross beams, and serve to support the uprights N, N, and the saddle-back
rigidly to the sides, so that they all form one structure, the guido wheels E being
upon the frame and not upon the pontoon, as in the previously described Figures.
If the lift is in an open or a closed wet dock the pontoon must be used to support
it, but if in a dry dock, as the tide recedes the pontoon after the lift has lodged

page_text: itself upon the ground, can be allowed to sink a little lower, to be hauled out to
be arranged under another saddle-back for the lift of another vessel in a similar
manner.
If it be not desired to take the vessel into a dock, the lift and the removable
saddle-back can be used in conjunction with the pontoon for the transport of a
vessel from one part of a river to another part where necessary; the lift can be
caused to rest upon the bank and sufficiently in shore as to prevent the tide having
any influence upon it after the pontoon has been removed.
I have described the angled projecting frames as being upon the pontoons, they
may however be upon the dock walls and the channels upon the pontoons.
Figure 12 is a view of a pontoon A, provided with a longitudinal girder N along
its bottom (centrally), hinged that when not used as a support, can be turned up as
in dotted lines.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Arranging slideways at an angle on or to the sides of a pontoon or other
structure upon or by which a vessel can be raised; said slideways (plain or fitted
with rollers) riding in inclined or angled recesses in the sides of the dock wall or
like structure, or in the reversed position, as and for the purposes described, and
substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the employment of saddle-backs and uprights in conjunction
with pontoons, as and for the purpose described, and substantially as shown in the
annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. I claim the saddle-back described with reference to Figure 9, also its
equivalent described with reference to Figures 5 and 6, as and for the purpose
described
Fourthly. I claim the hinged central girder to a pontoon, as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Turnbull, havo hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy..