IMPROVEMENTS. IN APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LANDING AND EMBARKING OF PASSEN- GERS PROM STEAM BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wright, of Rochester, in the County
of Kent, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN
APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LANDING AND EMBARKING OF PASSEN-
GERS PROM STEAM BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 1st April 1854, and dated the 5th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wright
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th October 1858.
I, JOHN WRIGHT, of Rochester, in the County of Kent, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO FACILITATE THE LANDING AND EMBARKING
OF PASSENGERS FROM STEAM BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS" to be as
follows:-
The Invention consists of constructing an inclined way or railway
on the bank of a river on which a carriage, by preference on wheels, is
enabled to move freely up and down, the wheels running in a chace or
between guides in such manner as to prevent it floating in a vertical
direction. The carriage carries the landing stage, and is made buoyant

page_text: so as to float on the water as it rises and falls, by which means the
landing stage will follow the tide, and will at all times offer a like
clevation above the water, and a like depth of water alongside.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN WRIGHT, of Rochester, in the County of Kent, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Wright, Her special licence that
I, the said John Wright, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Wright, 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 TO
FACILITATE THE LANDING AND EMBARKING OF PASSENGERS PROM STEAM BOATS
AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Wright, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 Wright, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):

page_text: The Invention consists of constructing an inclined way or railway
on the bank of a river on which a carriage, by preference on wheels, is
enabled to move freely up and down, the wheels running in a chace or
between guides in such manner as to prevent it floating in a vertical
direction. The carriage carries the landing stage, and is made
buoyant so as to float on the water as it rises and falls, by which.
means the landing stage will follow the tide, and will at all times offer
a like elevation above the water and a like depth of water alongside.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I will
proceed to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1, an end view of the floating stage or platform, is shewn, in
the bottom of which, and near the ends thereof, are placed flanged
wheels similar to those of a railway carriage, and which move between
the whalings, fixed on the inside of the piles shewn in the same
Figure, extending from high to low water at an inclination sufficiently
steep to permit the floating stage to descend freely by its own weight as
the tide fulls. The wheels moving along the incline between the
upper and lower whalings conduct the platform outwards in its descent,
and on the rise of the tide the reverse takes place; the platform is
prevented by the upper whaling from rising in a vertical direction, and
is forced inwards along the incline in the same manner. When the
platform is very long, it may be necessary to have more than two
rows of piles and whaling, which, as well as the inclination given to
them, must be according to circumstances. Between the piling de-
scribed above an inclined roadway is shewn, over which the floating
On the inside
stage passes in its ascending and descending course.
upper edge of the platform is attached a hanging stage, the other end
of which rests on two wheels which traverse on lines of rails laid on
the surface at the roadway, and thus affords access to the platform at
any state of the tide. The position and number of roadways and means
of access may be at pleasure, and may be varied in form, as steps or
otherwise, to meet circumstances of inclination or other cause.
Figure 2, is a front elevation of one end of the caisson or floating

page_text: platform on a larger scale, shewing the manner of attaching the wheels,
and their position between the whalings. And Figure 3, is a plan of
the platform on the same scale as Figure 1, the rows of piles, and
whalings, and the roadway with the hanging platform thereon.
The guides may be formed not only in wood, as shewn, but in
masonry, brickwork, or other manner. The caisson itself may be of
any suitable material and of any convenient form.
What I claim, is the combination and arrangement of parts herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wright, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
JOHN WRIGHT. (L.S.)