IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Richards, of the City of Manchester, Ship
Owner, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING VESSELS AND
APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Richards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1882.
RICHARD RICHARDS of the City of Manchester, Ship Owner.
IN FLOATING VESSELS AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER
SUBMERGED BODIES."
"
IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
a floating vessel and apparatus combined therewith for raising sunken ships, vessels
or other submerged bodies by means of hydraulic power such vessel and apparatus
being of the character described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me and dated the 6th September, 1878, No. 3530.
In carrying out my present improvements I employ a steam or other vessel of
special construction fitted with tubes on both sides of the vessel passing from the
upper deck through the bilges of the said vessel to the water.
In practice it is only necessary to employ one of my improved lifting vessels
whereas hitherto it has been necessary to employ two lifting vessels for each
operation.
When in operation I employ two specially constructed steel stoppers on the top
of the cross-head which pass under the shoulders of the lifting chain which can be
instantly removed and replaced without the trouble and danger of unscrewing the
sides of the crosshead at each lift as at present.
I also employ steel self acting stoppers which stoppers every link on the main
deck as it passes through.
The advantages of my present improvements are as follows, viz.
By the construction of the tubes through the bilges of the lifting vessel only
one such vessel is requisite for each operation instead of two, as in the case where

page_text: the chains are passed down through the centre line or keel of the lifting vessel as
heretofore.
In carrying out my present improvements the great weight suspended by &
single chain in the centre of the lifting vessel as at present is by my present
improvements divided and equalized over the whole of the vessel thus preventing
the straining and consequent danger to the whole operation and to the lifting vessel
itself as well as to the lives of the operators.
The weight being thus subdivided chains of a much less size and strength are
required.
In fitting the improved lifting vessel a centre bulk head is not necessary the
vessel can also be constructed in the usual manner with a keel and thus her value
as a trading vessel is maintained whereas by the centre line lift it is almost
destroyed.
By my present improvements the lifting vessel can be used with safety in
weather which would render it extremely dangerous if not impossible for two
vessels to approach each other so closely as at present required by the centre line
system of lifting.

page_text: My improved lifting vessel can be used with safety in weather which would
render it dangerous by the centre line system of lifting.
Figure 4 shows an elevation partly in section of the hydraulic lifting apparatus
which I find it advantageous to employ the rams of the two hydraulic
cylinders a, a, being connected by the crosshead b and one part of my improve-
ments consists in employing two specially constructed steel or gun metal stoppers c
shown separately by Figure 6 on the top of the cross head which pass under the
shoulders or ends of the links of the lifting chains (1) (2) (Figure 5) which
stoppers c can be readily withdrawn and replaced without the trouble and risk of
unscrewing the sides of the cross head as described in the specification of the
patent before referred to.
I also employ steel or gun metal self acting stoppers d which act as stoppers to
every link of the chains.
These stoppers & are arranged one on each side of the chain one end of each
being connected to the deck by a pin joint so that as the chain passes up between
them they are raised at an angle by the shoulders of the outer links and fall down
into position when the lower ends of those links have passed and in that position
the lower ends of the outer links act to prevent the chain from descending,
The position and arrangement of the series of hydraulic lifting apparatus is
represented in the plan of the vessel at Figure 2.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice I would remark that I make no claim to any of
the mechanical parts separately which are well known and in common use-But
what I claim is :-
First. The improved arrangement of floating vessels and apparatus for raising
sunken ships and other submerged bodies in which the lifting vessels are fitted.
with tubes or trunks A B on both sides of the vessel passing from the upper deck
down through the bilges for the lifting chains or ropes to pass through and under
the vessel or submerged body to be raised substantially as and for the purpose
herein before fully described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Second. I claim the improved arrangement and application of the steel or gun
metal stoppers c c resting on the top of the cross head b acting as a stopper to the
lifting chains (1) (2) substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Third. I claim the improved arrangement and application of the self acting
steel or gun metal stoppers d d to stop every successive link on the main deck of
the lifting vessels substantially as and for the purpose herein before fully described
and represented on the drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. I claim the improved arrangement combination and construction of
floating vessels and apparatus for raising sunken ships and other submerged bodies
all arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before
fully described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said Richard Richards have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
R. RICHARDS. (L.S.)