IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING Docks
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Scott, of 31, Nelson Square, Blackfriars
Road, Southwark, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FLOATING Docks."
Sealed the 8th April 1864, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 13th October 1862
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th October 1863.
I, THOMAS SCOTT, of 31, Nelson Square, Blackfriars Road, Southwark;
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE=
MENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the means of giving access above the water
line to the base or lower part of the structure for the purpose of disconnecting
any portion of such base or lower part from the side walls of the structure, and
connecting it again when required.
And the Invention consists in forming a space or chamber between the side
walls and the base or lower part of the structure of sufficient capacity to admit
of the operation of withdrawing bolts and nuts or other means of fastening
from the plates by which the side walls are connected with the base or lower
part of the structure, and of re-inserting them when required in order to restore
such connection. This space also allows of access being had to the glands or
stuffing boxes forming the pump connections between the upper and base
portion of the dock, for the purpose of detaching and afterwards re-attaching
the same. By this means when the base or lower part of the structure is

page_text: constructed in sections, as is preferred, one or more of such sections may be
removed for the purpose of repair or otherwise, and be replaced as required
without interfering with the efficiency of the dock.
The engines, pumps, and working apparatus generally are contained within
the side walls, and placed by preference in a separate compartment situate in
the centre of the length of each thereof. Each of the pump connections of
the several sections of the base of the dock is separately connected to the
corresponding pump connections of each of the side walls of the structure.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Thomas Scott in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SCOTT, of 31, Nelson Square, Blackfriars Road,. Southwark, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the 27th year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Scott, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Scott, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Scott, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FLOATING DOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Scott, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Scott, 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 Sheets of Drawing, that is to say :-

page_text: Floating docks constructed of iron have heretofore generally had the side.
walls and the base of the dock either continuous or complete as a structure;
and so formed either from end to end of the dock, or in short lengths or 1
sections, which are attached or combined together by means of bolts and nuts
along the vertical joints in the side walls and the horizontal joints of the base
portion (as in Lungley's Patent 1918/62).
.
This Invention has for its object, first, the means of giving access above the
water line to the base or lower part or parts of the structure for the purpose
of disconnecting any portion of such base or lower part from the side walls of
the structure, which are each continuous from end to end, and connecting it
or them again when required, and consists in forming a space or chamber
between the side walls or girders and the base or lower part or parts of the
structure, of sufficient width and depth to admit of the operation of withdrawing
bolts and nuts or other means of fastening from the plates by which the side
walls are connected with the base or lower part or parts of the structure, and
of re-inserting them when required in order to restore such connection. This
space also allows of access being had to the glands or stuffing boxes forming
the pump connections between the upper portion or side walls and the base
portion or portions of the dock for the purpose of detaching and afterwards
re-attaching the same. By this means the base or lower part or parts of the
structure being constructed in sections, one or more of such sections may be
removed for the purpose of repair or otherwise, and be replaced as required
without interfering with the efficiency of the dock.
Second, in constructing the side walls separate from the base portion or
portions, as distinct structures, capable of being floated, towed, and manoeuvred
independently, and rigid and self-sustaining, and capable of imparting rigidity
of structure and perfect combination when such side walls have been brought
over, and been connected to the ends of the sectional portions of the dock
represented by the pontoons or base portions of the dock.
The engines, pumps, and working apparatus generally are contained within
the side walls, and placed by preference in a separate compartment situate in
the centre of the length of each thereof. Each of the pump connections of the
several sections of the base of the dock is separately connected to the corre-
sponding pump connections of each of the side walls of the structure.
For the purpose of effecting these objects, I construct each side wall as a
girder or self-sustaining structure, capable of being launched and floated off
independently, and of combining together and supporting rigidly the several
pontoons forming the base of the dock, and so, when the two side walls and
the pontoons are brought together, completing it ready for receiving a ship.

page_text: Docks constructed according to my Invention consist of two main portions.
first, the side walls, which are, in fact, girders extending from end to end of
the dock, each girder in one piece from end to end, and of a depth proportioned
to the length and the duty or duties it has to perform, and in width or thickness
sufficient to admit of the requisite floatative as well as structural stability being
imparted to it, whether such side walls be box girders constructed of plate,
angle, and T-irons, with some portions thereof made air and water tight to
give the requisite floatative power, and other portions open or having a fair
way for the water to pass in and out, or be constructed on the trellis or lattice,
or other openwork arrangement or combination of angle, T, and other bar
irons, in which latter case suitable air-tight chambers or compartments are
introduced between the angular or other divisions of the openwork longitudinal
girders or side walls for giving the requisite buoyancy, and also for containing
the machinery, pumps, and gearing; and, second, the pontoons, of which there
are several, constituting the length of the dock, each portion or section of the
base being a complete vessel or structure capable of being joined to another or
others, and of being detached therefrom and withdrawn, leaving the longi-
tudinal walls to combine together the remaining pontoons forming the base of
the dock or the surface upon which the ship or other vessel is hauled and
supported for the purpose of being examined or repaired.
Hitherto sectional floating docks have been constructed with the base and
side walls in sections, or both portions transversely divided, so that the side
walls as well as the base of a floating dock upon that construction consists of a
series of complete sections, which when bolted or joined together forms a dock
of greater or lesser extent; and where the engine or engines and pumps and
apparatus for managing the docks were centrally placed within the side walls
the junction pipes or means of pumping out each sections by means of pumping
main pipe necessitates a series of connections which have to be made between
one portion or section of each side wall and the next adjoining, and a greatly
increased quantity of pipes and number of joints is consequent thereon.
Now by my present Invention, instead of a series of portions of side walls and
base or pontoon parts having to be combined together horizontally and
vertically, and so being weak and liable to straining and derangement,
I, in constructing floating docks according to this Invention, have, but to
assemble the requisite number of parts to compose the base of the dock, and
then to bring together the side walls, which being floated into or brought upon
the base portion, are attached thereto with facility, and by reason of the ready
access given to the parts forming the junction places, as herein-before described.
The continuity between the external plating, shell, or framework is maintained

page_text: or effected by means of plates connecting the said walls at their external surface
with the external vertical surfaces (or ends) of the sections of each base portion
of the floating dock, there being an opening or uncovered portion left at
intervals to enable access to be given to the various parts, and to admit of
their being inserted or withdrawn, and also to afford facilities for the ready
connection of each sectional portion of the base with the continuous longitudinal
walls, which, girder-like, frame together and support the whole.
Whatever the structural arrangement of material may be of which the side
walls or girders are composed, the breadth at the top of each should be sufficient
to admit of the introduction or employment of the necessary machinery within
the thickness thereof, and in most cases space has to be provided not only for
the purpose of affording access from one end to the other, but also for the
disposition and working of capstans and other tackle, and for the reception and
storing of materials, whilst the lower portion of each side wall has on one side
(right or left as the case may be) a strutting angular projecting footing connected
to the girder, which strutting angular projecting footing need only be to a
limited extent rendered buoyant, if at all necessary, and this projection forms
the means of strutting or shoring the lower portions of the ship's body, and
also of affording access to the floor of the dock and the under side of the ship
received thereon, for the purpose of examination or repair; the angular
projecting portions, however, may run continuously from end to end (or nearly
so) of each side wall; or each section of the base portion of the dock may
have a corresponding portion of such angular structure built upon it, forming
part thereof, or connected thereto, but in each case the passage way there under
should be free and unimpeded in preference to being enclosed and rendered
air-tight.
In like manner the divisions formed between the upper and lower portions
of the dock, or between the side walls of the sectious of the base, are alternately
air and water tight (or floatative) or open, and serving to assist in submerging
the dock, and consist of plate iron suitably interposed.
In my present Invention the side walls are not intended to support by their
buoyancy the weight of the ship, nor is it intended to employ hoisting tackle,
gearing, or apparatus for raising up the base or base portions or sections of
the floating pontoon or dock to their required position in relation to the other
portions of the structure, either by chains or hauling gear, or by other similar
means, but inasmuch as the side walls can be brought on to each end of the
pontoons or sectional portions of the dock, whilst the latter are submerged to
a limited extent, the facility offered for completion of the junction between the
two main portions of such dock is perfectly simple, the longitudinal joints

page_text: being made on a level with the upper face of the floating pontoons forming
the base of the dock, are readily accessible even whilst the dock is
afloat.
Whatever diagonal or other structural form or arrangement of material
may be preferred in constructing the side walls, the horizontal pipe connections
between the pump or pumps and the various pontoons or sections of the base
of the dock are carried along the lower portion of each side wall, and lateral
branches from such pump pipes are carried downward, for the purpose of
making junction by means of a gland or other equivalent means with a corre-
sponding pipe or sluice cock or valve projection from each section, division, or
compartment of the base of the dock or the pontoons composing the base.
For the purpose of enabling the water to be pumped out from one end or
other of each pontoon, and in case of either of the pumping engines or pumps
breaking down or becoming deranged, I carry transverse connecting pipes or
connections within one or more pontoons by which the horizontal longitudinal
pipe contained in each side wall is connected with the opposite oue, and
by the introduction of shut-off valves at or near the various points or
junctions a perfect command of the various operations is thus afforded at
all times.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn several views of a dock
constructed according to my Invention, with details thereof, and to which the
following letters of reference denote like or corresponding parts in the Figures
therein shewn..
Figure 1 being a longitudinal sectional elevation of a floating dock
constructed according to my Invention, the base portion thereof being
formed or made up of ten pontoons, a vessel being shewn in position, and
resting upon the keel blocks fitted to the several pontoons forming the base of
the dock; Figure 2 is a general plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longi-
tudinal elevational external view of the dock shewn at Figures 1 and 2.
In Figure 3 the arrangement of pipes, the pump connections between the
pontoons forming the base of the dock and the side walls thereof, the engine
and boiler, and the other internal apparatus or appliances in connection with
the working of the dock are shewn in dotted lines; and I have shewn the
engines, pumps, and working apparatus generally contained within a separate
compartment situate in the centre of the length of each of the side walls as
being that disposition or arrangement which I consider the most convenient.
Figure 4 (Sheet 2) is a transverse section taken through the centre of the
dock shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, (Sheet 1,) and is drawn to the same scale;
Figure 5 (Sheet 2) is a half end elevation of the dock drawn to an enlarged

page_text: scale; Figure 6 is a corresponding half transverse sectional view thereof,
shewing the structural arrangement of the dock and the apparatus for opening
or closing the inlet and outlet valves; Figure 7 is a plan view to same scale
as Figure 6, taken about the centre of the length of the dock, shewing the
top, a portion of one of the side walls, and the steps formed on the angular
strutts thereof, and the mouths of the air pipes communicating with the
pontoons at the base of the dock, shewn in full lines, the several pipes, con-
nections, and working apparatus, as well as the relative position of four of the
pontoons at the base of dock being shewn in dotted lines.
In the several Figures in the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings A, A,
are the separate pontoons making up or composing the base portion of a
floating dock constructed in accordance with my present Invention. (The
dotted line A¹ in Figure 7 indicates the centre of the length of the dock ;)
B, B, are the side walls of the structure; C is the space or chamber formed
between the side walls or girders and the several pontoons forming the base
of the dock; D, D, are the continuations of the plates of the side walls of the
structure, and forming the connection between such side walls and the several
pontoons forming the base portion of the dock; E, E, are the openings or
uncovered portions left in the plates D, D, of the side walls; F, F, are
additional plates serving as attachments between the upper and lower portions
of the dock, the bolts and nuts, or rivets, or other fastenings securing the same,
as well as the fastenings between the plates D, D, and the pontoons being
readily detached when required, for the purpose of removing any one or more
of the pontoons forming the base of the dock (and also again re-attached when
required) by means of the ready access to the connections afforded by the
space or chamber C and the openings E, E, formed in the plates D, D.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
claim the construction and employment of a series of pontoons to be combined
together side by side, for the purpose of supporting a ship or other vessel,
neither do I claim the construction of floating docks in sections, whereof each
section of the base has a corresponding portion of the side wall erected thereon
or forming a part thereof; but what I claim is,
First, the mode or method of constructing and combining together the
parts of floating docks, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second, the use or employment of two longitudinal girders as side walls of
a floating dock, the base of which dock being composed of a number of
pontoons or water and air tight vessels, are capable of being combined together

page_text: side by side, and at their ends with the girders forming the side walls, in the
manner and for the purposes herein described and as illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third, the employment of a longitudinal space between the bottom side
of the longitudinal girder or side wall and the top side of the sectional
pontoons or base portions of a floating dock, for the purpose of affording access
to the pipe joints or connections between the pumps and the pontoons, and also
to enable the various sections of the base portion of the dock to be readily
connected to and disconnected from the side walls formed by the longitudinal
girder on each side of the dock, in the manner and for the purpose herein
described and set forth.
Fourth, the arrangement herein described and as illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings, by which means is effected the combination of the
horizontal longitudinal pipes, having lateral branches projecting vertically
downwards therefrom, for the purpose of making junction with the pipes or
connections of the sectional pontoons forming the base portion of the dock
with the pontoons or pipe connections thereto, for the purpose of pumping out
the water from the sectional pontoons forming the base of the dock, as also
the employment of transverse sections pipes for connecting the two sets of
pumping apparatus and longitudinal pipes together when such arrangement of
pipes is employed in floating docks forming by combining longitudinal side
walls with pontoons of any form or description, and however such pontoons
may be connected with the side walls.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Scott, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
JAMES STEPHENSON,
19, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W.C.
THOMAS SCOTT. (L.S.)