IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING RAISING AND LOWERING SHIPS ALONG INCLINED SLIPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas White, of Portsmouth, in the County of
Southampton, Shipbuilder, and George Jenkins, of the same Place,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING
Sealed the 9th August 1859, and dated the 12th February 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas White and George
Jenkins at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 12th February 1859.
We, THOMAS WHITE, of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton, Ship-
builder, and GEORGE JENKINS, of the same Place, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SHIPS ALONG INCLINED SLIPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
hydrostatic apparatus whereby a continuous heaving and lowering action is
obtained in raising or lowering ships from or into the water along an inclined
slip. According to this Invention it is proposed to employ two or more
hydrostatic cylinders placed in the same longitudinal axial line, and furnished
cach with a tubular ram or trunk, through the centre of which passes the
traction rods or chains. Each ram or trunk is furnished at one end with a
stopper connected with a weighted lever, and so arranged that it is free to be

page_text: entered in the joints of the traction rods or chains when the ram is to act
thereon, and to be raised therefrom when the ram is no longer required to act,
or is making its return or back stroke. The several cylinders and rams are
so worked that one shall come into action just before the other has completed
its stroke, so that the hauling or lowering motion of the traction rods or chains
will be continuous. As each ram arrives at the end of its forward stroke, it
presses upon a catch which opens an escape valve for the escape of the water
behind it, whilst it is run back by the action of a separate small cylinder worked
by the force pumps. In lowering a ship the water is allowed to escape slowly
from the cylinders through a small adjustable aperture, made for that purpose
in each cylinder. In place of having tubular or hollow rams or trunks with
the traction rods or chains passing through them, ordinary rams might be
used with a traction rod or chain on each side of the cylinder, connected by
cross bars; or two sets or lines of ordinary cylinders and rams might be
employed, with one traction rod or chain working between them. In order to
regulate the power and speed for working the pumps, it is proposed to use
discs with adjustable crank pins therein; or an eccentric may be keyed on to
the working shaft, and a plate fitted loosely into the side of the eccentric, into
which plate the crank pin is fixed, so that on turning the plate round in the
eccentric, and then securing it by bolts, the throw of the crank may be varied
to any required extent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas White and George Jenkins in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th August 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
WHITE, of Portsmouth, in the County of Southampton, Shipbuilder, and
GEORGE JENKINS, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of a
'Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Thomas White and George Jenkins, Her special license that we, the
said Thomas White and George Jenkins, our executors, administrators, and
'assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas White and George Jenkins,
our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: 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 FOR
RAISING AND LOWERING SHIPS ALONG INCLINED SLIPS," upon the condition.
(amongst others) that we, the said Thomas White and George Jenkins, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
sanie 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 we, the said Thomas White and George Jenkius,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
Our said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
hydrostatic apparatus, whereby a continuous heaving and lowering action is
obtained in raising or lowering ships from or into the water along an inclined.
slip. According to one mode of carrying out this Invention, it is proposed to
employ two or more bydrostatic cylinders placed in the same longitudinal axial
line, and furnished each with a tubular ram or trunk, through the centre of
which passes the traction rods or chains. Each ram or trunk is furnished at
one end with a stopper connected with a weighted lever, and so arranged that
it is free to be entered into the joints of the traction rods or chains when the
ram is to act thercon, and to be raised or released therefrom when the ram is.
no longer required to act, or is making its return or back stroke. The several
cylinders and rams are so worked that one shall come into action just before
the other has completed its stroke, so that the hauling or lowering motion of
the traction rods or chains will be continuous. As each ram arrives at the
end of its forward stroke, it presses upon a catch which opens an escape valve
for the escape of the water behind it, whilst it is run back by the action of a
separate small cylinder worked by the force pumps, or by a counterweight:
In lowering a ship the water is allowed to escape slowly from the cylinders
through a small adjustable aperture made for that purpose in each cylinder.
In place of having tubular or hollow rams or trunks with the traction rods or
cbains passing through them, ordinary rams may be used with a traction rod
or chain on each side of the cylinder, connected by cross bars, or two sets of

page_text: Hines of ordinary cylinders and rams might be employed with one traction rod
or chain working between them. In order to regulate the power and speed
for working the pumps, it is proposed to use discs with adjustable crank pins.
therein; or an eccentric may be keyed on to the working shaft, and a plate
fitted loosely into the side of the eccentric, into which plate the crank pin is
fixed, so that on turning the plate round in the eccentric the throw of the
crank may be varied to any required extent, and retained in position by palls
and ratchet teeth.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood, we shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose we
shall refer to the several Figures on the Sheets. of Drawings hereunto annexed;
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of our Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical
section of two of our hydrostatic cylinders and rams with a length of traction
rod in complete working order, and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the
same. A, A, is a strong timber foundation or way, upon which are securely
bolted two or more horizontal hydrostatic cylinders B, B. These cylinders are
made with an annular water space, so as to receive the hollow or tubular
rams C, C, through the interior of which pass the traction rods D, D. These
rods are supported upon the central guide rail E, and pass down the inclined
slip to the cradle which supports the vessel. On the head of cach of the rams
is fitted an upright bracket or standard F, which carries a weighted segment
lever G working on the stud centres or spindles H, to which latter are keyed
the lever handles I. To the upper portion of the segment g is suspended by
a cord or chain J the stopper K, which is so formed and placed as to be
capable of dropping into the space contained between the short links d, d,
which occur at regular intervals in the traction rods D. These stoppers
should be sufficiently strong to stand the strain of the ship on her cradle, and
of a length sufficient to extend diametrically across the mouths of the rams, as
shewn in the right-hand cylinder of the Drawing, where the stopper K is
represented as down in its place across the ram and between the links of the
traction rod, the head of the long link and the joint pin p sustaining the
entire strain upon the rod when in the position shewn by the Drawings. The
stoppers and weighted levers are só constructed that the lever will elevate the
stopper when no strain is upon it, as shewn in the left-hand cylinder when the
stopper is elevated and is about to be lowered by turning the lever handle I,
the joint in the traction rod being in a suitable position to receive it. L, L, aro

page_text: heavy counterweights connected by a chain or rope M, passing over the guide
pulley N to the head of each ram, their object being to run back the rams on
the completion of their stroke. In order to prevent undue straining of the
rams, and to support them as they are gradually forced out of the cylinders, we
fit on to the head of each ram or pair of antifriction and supporting rollers or
pulleys O, O, which run along guide rails P, P, laid for that purpose on the
timber way, as will be seen more clearly in the plan view, Figure 2; or metal
blocks or slides may be used planed to slide in iron guides. Q is the inlet and
outlet pipe of each of the cylinders; the water escapes through the same pipe
for a short distance, and the supply cock is a three-way cock or slide, which
will either open the water supply and close the discharge, or vice versa,
according to the position of the plug or slide of the cock or valve. By
having these pipes placed at the top side of the cylinders, the cylinders will
always remain charged and ready for action. In raising a ship up an inclined
slip by means of our apparatus, the traction rod D having been properly.
secured to the cradle, is coupled by means of the stopper K to one or more
of the rams of the series. Water is now pumped into the cylinder or
cylinders of the ram or rams, which immediately commence to exert a
powerful tractive strain upon the cradle, and raise the ship along the slip..
Just before the first ram or set of rams has completed the outward stroke or.
traverse, the second ram or set of rams is coupled as before with the traction
rod, and begins to operate, continuing to exert a tractive force upon the rod
during the time that the first ram or set of rams is being run back by the
action of the counterweights L, L, the outlet orifice having been opened by a
self-acting catch (not shewn in our Drawings) on the arrival of the ram head
at the end of its stroke. Or, in lieu of counterweights, each cylinder may be
combined with a smaller or reversing cylinder, the ram of which is connected
with the main or lifting ram, so that on forcing water in the reversing cylinder
the main ram will be carried back again inside its cylinder, the water escaping
freely therefrom through an outlet for that purpose. Immediately a ram
commences to make its back or return stroke, the consequent release of its
stopper K will allow of its being elevated out of the way by the weighted
lever G. When the ram is run home, and the traction rod bas arrived at a
suitable position, the attendant by turning the lever handle I brings the
stopper K down into its place again, and the ram is ready for its next stroke.
or lift. It is thus obvious that the heaving action will be exerted in a
constant and unvarying manner upon the ship, there being no stoppages, as
heretofore, in the action of the apparatus, which is one of the most important

page_text: advantages obtained by the use of our arrangement, since it is well known that
in the case of large ships the sudden jerks and strains attendant upon an
intermittant method of traction, operate most seriously upon the ship by
subjecting her to violent straining and shaking each time the vis inertice of the
nass has to be overcome.
Another important advantage coupled with the last is, the great saving of
time effected in the operation, as the haulage is constant, and no time is lost
in re-adjusting the parts. The operation of lowering a ship is the same as that
for raising it, but simply reversed. In this case also the outlet orifices in the
cylinders are adjusted by suitable cocks or valves, so as to regulate the
escape of the water from the cylinders according to the speed at which it is
considered safe to allow the ship to descend, which will of course depend
upon its size. Whilst one ram is descending and slowly letting down the ship,
another is being forced out in readiness to be coupled with the traction rod by
the time the other has got home, the second ram then begins to lower, and
the first rises to be in readiness for another hold upon the rod. Thus the
lowering action is equally continuous and steady with the raising action.
Figure 1 on Shect 2 of our Drawings represents a plan of a modified
arrangement of cylinders. In place of using annular cylinders and tubular
rams, a series of ordinary cylinders and rams may be employed, arranged in
pairs, as shewn in the Drawings, and having the traction rod working between
the cylinders. In this case the rod is connected to the cross head C¹, which
extends across from one ram head to the other in cach pair. Figure 2 on the
same Sheet of Drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section of another
form of cylinder and ram applicable to flat gradients or levels, and capable of
working in both directions, or double acting. The ram in this modification
consists of a trunk C open throughout, and having a piston c turned thereon,
which fits accurately into the bored cylinder B, and fitted with leather packing.
A tight fitting cover bis bolted on to each end of the cylinder, and each end
of the rain is provided with a stopper K and weighted segment lever G. The
arrows indicate the inlet and outlet orifices of the cylinder, but in some cases.
the lower or discharge holes are dispensed with, and three-way cocks or valves
employed, as herein-before described. In this last described arrangement the
traction rod passes through the centre of the ram, as before, but is capable of
engagement therewith at either end, thus affording facility for working in both
directions, as may in some cases be found requisite.
According to another arrangement a set of ordinary cylinders and solid rams
may be used in conjunction with two sets or lines of traction rods, the one on.

page_text: one side of the cylinder, and the other on the opposite side, suitable cross bars
connecting the two sets of rods, and enabling them to be coupled with
the rams.
We may here observe that we are aware that hydrostatic power. has
already been used in various ways for effecting the elevation of ships along
inclined slips, and therefore we desire to lay no claim to the simple application
of such power to this purpose, our Invention having reference more particularly
to a peculiar arrangement of a series of hydrostatic cylinders, and mode of
operating the same, whereby a constant or continuous and unvarying action is
obtained.
Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 2, represent respectively a front view with the cover
removed, and a side elevation of our adjustable crank pin arrangement for
working the pumps. A is an eccentric keyed on the crank shaft B, and
containing within an internal recess a circular plate C, carrying the crank
pin D for working the pump.
A series of ratchet teeth are formed in the
periphery of the plate C, into which take the palls E carried by the eccentric A.
By suitably turning the plate C within the eccentric, the throw of the crank
pin D will be increased or diminished. The Drawing represents the pin at
full throw or stroke, but by turning the plate half round, the crank pin would
be brought so as to coincide exactly with the centre of the crank shaft B, and
consequently no motion would be obtained. The intermediate points between
these two positions afford all the variation or adjustment required. If
preferred, the common plate disc may be used, as shewn at Figs. 5 and 6, the
crank pin D being adjustable in any of the holes & made in the disc A, which
are arranged to give different lengths of stroke. Figs. 7 and 8 represent an
end view and plan of the mode of driving the crank shafts B from the main
or engine shaft. F is the main driving shaft, upon which is keyed a pinion G
gearing into the two spur wheels C, C, fast on the crank shafts B. By this
simple arrangement the expensive three-throw crank shaft is dispensed with,
whilst any power may be applied without the aid of multiplying gear, whereby
a considerable economy of space is obtained.
llaving now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general construction, arrangement, and mode of operating
apparatus for raising and lowering ships along inclined slips, as herein-before
described.

page_text: Second, the application and use of a series of hydrostatic cylinders arranged
in the same axial line or lines, and combined with self-acting stoppers and
traction rods, whereby a constant and uninterrupted heaving or lowering action
is obtained, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas White and George Jenkins,
.
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
THOMAS WHITE.
(L.S.)
GEORGE JENKINS. (L.S.)
THOMAS WHITE.
(L.S.)
GEORGE JENKINS. (L.S.)