IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING BREAKWATERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, EDWARD HELE CLARK, of Ilex House, Starcross, in the County of Devon,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING BREAKWATERS," and in what inanner 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 of
reference marked thereon, that is to say :-
- :
The object of this my invention is to store and supply oil in floating break-
waters, so that such oil so supplied and stored; may be utilized, when required, for
the purpose of stilling the waves.
Hitherto, when oil has been used for this purpose, it has been conveyed to the
mouth of a harbour by means of pipes; but there has not been, to my knowledge,
any means whereby the oil may be readily conveyed from place to place, stored in
calm weather, and supplied to the waves when rough, by the action of the waves
themselves. The dis-advantages of the present system of pouring, or injecting oil
upon the waves are manifold. If a storm arise suddenly and the turncock, or
attendant be absent; there is no oil in the pipes. Again, if the water at the mouth
of the harbour be deep, there is difficulty in laying the pipes; and if it be desired
to protect large harbour works, great expense is incurred in laying the pipes &c.
Under the present system it is impossible to protect cargo in a ship-wrecked vessel
from the action of the waves.
Now, by this my invention, I provide a means or method whereby a floating
breakwater is made to contain oil, and which method is automatic in its action,
throwing oil upon the waves by the action of the waves themselves, as aforesaid;
and which floating breakwater can be easily removed from place to place, and
fixed anywhere required. Thus, the removal of the cargo of a shipwrecked vessel
may be greatly facilitated, by anchoring my improved floating break water near
the said vessel, the action of iny breakwater will still the waves and prevent their
breaking over the wreck.
According to this my invention, I construct my improved floating breakwaters
of a number of hollow vessels, such as casks, buoys, or Cylinders, of wood, iron, or
steel; connected one to another by ropes, chains, or other suitable means.
I place
ballast in each of these vessels according as it may be required to raise or lower
them in water, and I fill each of these vessels with cotton Waste, Rags, or any
other material which will absorb oil, and then pour oil upon such contents. Small
ינג

page_text: gimlet holes are bored in each of the hollow vessels aforesaid, above the water line,
and the action of the waves in rough weather will force the oil out of the
containing-vessels and the oil will then spread itself upon the surface of the waters,
and still the waves.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood reference is had to
the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) represents, in elevation, my floating breakwater constructed
of iron drums, or cylinders A; connected by wire rope B; which rope passes
through ears C, formed upon crossbars D, attached to ends of each drum, or
cylinder A, as shown in Fig 2 (Sheet 1) The perforations for the egress of the oil
are here shewn in the end of drum, or cylinder A, above the water line.
Figure 3 shews a sectional elevation of a drum, or cylinder A. The dotted
lines E represent the oil, and F illustrates the packing, which may be of waste,
rags, or other oil absorbing material, as aforesaid.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, represents in elevation, my floating breakwater, constructed of
ordinary barrels, or casks A; connected by ropes B; which ropes B are attached to
other ropes C, tightly lashed round aforesaid barrels or casks A. The perforations
for the passage of the oil are here shewn upon the upper side of the barrels, or
casks A. An aperture with hinged cover D is also shewn, through which aperture
the barrel, or cask is filled with the packing and oil aforesaid. Figure 5 is a
sectional elevation of barrel or cask A. E being the oil (in dotted lines), G the
packing, and F stones or weights serving as ballast.
Figure 6 (Sheet 2) is a plan of my floating breakwater constructed of barrels or
casks; and Figure 7, represents in perspective my floating breakwater at anchor,
with vessels to leeward upon calm water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this ny said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The construction or floating breakwaters consisting of hollow vessels of wood, or
metal, perforated above water line; connected one with another; and containing
oil; and oil absorbing packing; substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth, and described.