IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND SLIPS FOR MOVING SHIPS AND VESSELS OUT OF AND INTO THE WATER
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Scott Russell, of Millwall, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
AND SLIPS FOR MOVING SHIPS AND VESSELS OUT OF AND INTO THE WATER."
Sealed the 29th September 1857, and dated the 9th July 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Scott Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1857.
I, JOHN SCOTT RUSSELL, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
AND SLIPS FOR MOVING SHIPS AND VESSELS OUT OF AND INTO THE WATER," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus and slips for
moving ships and vessels out of and into the water. Heretofore in con-
structing slips it has been usual so to arrange the same and the apparatus
connected therewith that the ships or vessels moved thereon may be received
and moved up or down thereon with their keels parallel to the lines or ways
of the slips.
Now my improvements consist in constructing slips and the apparatus con-
nected therewith so that the keels of the ships to be raised or moved thereon
may be received on to the slips and apparatus in a line transversely of the
fixed ways or rails of the slip, and where the extent of frontage is considerable

page_text: it is desirable to construct the carriages used to receive the ships of several
parts, each capable (by its chain and capstan, or other tackle or mechanical
power used therewith) of being moved up and down the fixed ways or rails of
the slip, and also of being used conjointly with other of the carriages when
the length of ship to be received and moved thereon requires the combined
use of several. By such means of constructing slips and apparatus for moving
ships and vessels several advantages are derived over those constructions of
slips and apparatus where the keels of the ships are received and moved
parallel with the fixed ways or rails of the slips.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Scott Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SCOTT RUSSELL, of Millwall, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Scott Russell, Her special licence that I, the said John Scott Russell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Scott Russell, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS AND SLIPS FOR MOVING SHIPS AND VESSELS OUT OF AND INTO THE
WATER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Scott
Russell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Scott Russell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statenient thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus and slips for
moving ships and vessels out of and into the water. Heretofore in con-
structing slips it has been usual so to arrange the same and the apparatus
connected therewith that the ships or vessels moved thereon may be received
and moved up or down thereon with their keels parallel to the lines or ways
of the slips.
Now, my improvements consist in constructing slips and the apparatus
connected therewith so that the keels of the ships to be raised or moved
thercou may be received on to the slips and apparatus in a line transversely
of the fixed ways or rails of the slip, and where the extent of frontage is
considerable it is desirable to construct the carriages used to receive the ships
of several parts, cach capable (by its chain and capstan, or other tackle or
mechanical power used therewith) of being moved up and down the fixed
ways or rails of the slip, and also of being used conjointly with other of the
carriages when the length of ship to be received and moved thereon requires
the combined use of several. By such means of constructing slips and
apparatus for moving ships and vessels several advantages are derived over
those constructions of slips and apparatus where the keels of the ships are
received and moved parallel with the fixed ways or rails of the slips.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, 1 will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
In constructing the carriages (whether they be cach in one or in several
parts, so that they may be used, two or more, for the same ship, as the case
may require), cach carriage is made with an incline on its under side to
correspond with the incline of the slip, whilst the upper part of the carriage
is made horizontal and suitable to receive a ship in a transverse direction,
that is, in a direction at right angles to the ways on the slip, in other respects
the carriages are made and arranged to move on the ways of the slip, as
heretofore.
In regard to the machinery for raising a ship, I employ the power of men,
horses, or other power, as heretofore, and in the usual manner.
When using steam to actuate the drums employed on a slip, I gear several
drums to the same shaft, in order that where a long carriage in one structure
is used (or where a carriage is in several parts), and raised by several drums,
so that the several drums may be all moved together and similarly. The
power of the hydraulic press may also be used for taking up chains attached
to carriages for raising vessels on slips, such as are above described. The

page_text: resistance of water in cylinders acting on pistons or rams may also be used
for lowering ships on such slips. In such cases the speed at which the water
is allowed to be moved away from the pistons or rams is to be regulated by
stop-cocks or valves.
resistance of water in cylinders acting on pistons or rams may also be used
for lowering ships on such slips. In such cases the speed at which the water
is allowed to be moved away from the pistons or rams is to be regulated by
stop-cocks or valves.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Scott Russell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. PITT.
J. SCOTT RUSSELL. (L.S.)