IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY FOR RAISING, LIFTING, AND OTHERWISE MOVING HEAVY BODIES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
FREDERICK GOUGY, of Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdon of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, in the tenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Pierre Frederick Gougy, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Pierre Frederick Gougy,
my exors, admiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Pierre Frederick
Gougy, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the
Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS AND MACHINERY FOR RAISING, LIFTING, AND OTHERWISE MOVING HEAVY
BODIES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Pierre Frederick Gougy, shall cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
Instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in

page_text: and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Frederick Gougy, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully set forth and
described in and by the present Specification thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Firstly, my Invention has for its object, the raising of ships, vessels, and
other heavy bodies sunken in water. The details of the arrangement of means
which I employ for this purpose are represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of
the annexed Drawings. A, A, is a sunken ship. B, B, are two strong vessels
(which I call "marine balloons,") which are intended to be placed one on each
side of the ship, and are made of wood, iron, or other substance capable of
retaining when sunk in the water any quantity of atmospheric air that may be
put in them. Cross sections of a pair of those vessels are given separately in
Figures 3 and 4. In each figure a' represents the interior of the vessel; «, an
aperture in the bottom for the admission or escape of water, as the case
may be; c, a curved pipe for the escape of the water in the event of the
aperture being closed by the apparatus resting on the ground; and b, an
opening in the top of the vessels which opens into the pipe g (with stop cock),
which is made sufficiently long to reach above the surface of the water; C, C,
is a framework placed between the sides of the ship to be raised, and the
vessels B, B, but made fast to the latter. By the interposition of this frame-
work between the ship and the vessels B, B, the pressure is prevented from
being thrown upon one part of either of them more than another. The mode
of operation is as follows:--Cables or cordage lashings d, d, are first passed
round the ship to be raised, by the assistance of a diving bell, or other sub-
marine working apparatus. The vessels B, B. are then floated into the
positions over the sides of the sunken ship, the pipes g, g, being kept closed;
water is then admitted into the interior of the vessels by opening the stop-cock
of the pipes g, g, which cause the vessels to descend to the places assigned to
them, on which they are made fast by means of chains or cordage similar to
d, d; atmospheric air or gas is now forced into the vessels B, B, through the
pipes 9, 9, which is readily accomplished by a force pump placed on board
some tender or other vessel moored near to the place. The air expels the
water from the vessels B, B, when they acquire a buoyancy which, supposing
the area of the vessels to be in due proportion to the weight of the ship to
be raised, causes them to ascend, carrying along with them the ship and
framework.

page_text: .
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the whole of these arrangements. A
method of attaching the chains d, d, and the balloon vessels B, B, to a sunken
ship, without the aid of a diver or diving bell, is represented in Figures 5 and 6.
When the ship is sunk in very deep water the exact position of the ship is
first ascertained by drags or other such means, but in other cases the posi-
tion of the vessel may be ascertained by inspection of the masts, and sometimes
even the hull of the sunken ship can be distinctly seen through the water.
The two vessels B, B, are then floated as before into their positions over the
sides of the ship to be raised, and connected together by a chain d, d, which is
carried out some distance astern, so that when the vessels B, B, arc lowered
and brought alongside of the ship the chain shall be passed round on the out-
side of the stern post c of the ship, while the other ends of the chain are rove
through a large block of metal M, shewn separately on an enlarged scale.
In Figures 7 (a plan), Figure 8 (a front clevation), and Figure 9 (an end
elevation), the block M, with the chains d, d, passed through it, is sunk
immediately at the bow of the vessel, and when the chains d, d, are drawn taut
it is brought forward, until the stemson takes into the notch f. A sliding
piece h travels up and down upon the face of the block, within a dovetail
groove, but is prevented by a stop from being entirely taken out of its place,
and at the lower edge there are two slots i, i, which are just of sufficient size
to take in edgewise one of the links of the chain d, d. By pulling the small
line the spring catch is drawn up, and allows the sliding piece h to fall
down upon the links of the chain which come immediately under it, and thereby
completely prevents their being drawn back again. In some situations tho
block, Fig. 8, will be found very serviceable.
In Figures 5 and 6 the balloon vessels are represented as having four
parallel sides, with ends to correspond thereto, but they are so represented for
the sake merely of exemplifying the diversity of form which may be given to
the vessels, for it is indifferent whether they are of a rounded or rectangular
or any other form consistent with capability of resisting strong pressure.
Figure 9 is a front, and Figure 9b an end clevation of a double sheave block,
which I use for pulling the chains d, d, sufficiently tight for lifting the vessel
from the bottom of very deep water. It is sunk some distance in advance of
the ship, and of such weight as to admit of the chains when passed through
the pulleys a, a, being pulled in an upward direction. To facilitate the raising
of this block, it may be made hollow (being correspondently increased in bulk),
and provided with cocks and other suitable appliances, by means of which it
may be kept filled with water when sunk, and the water may be displaced by
air when it is about to be raised. An arrangement differing in some parti-

page_text: culars from that represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 is shewn in Figure 10,
(a side elevation), Figure 11 (a plan), and Figure 12 (an end view). In
these Figures every thing is exhibited in the state in which it would be previous
to the balloon vessels B, B, being filled with air; d, d, are the chains around
the vessel; d², d, are another set of chains, of which there is one to each of the
vessels B, B. The chains d, d, and d³, d², are connected together by double
sheave blocks, one of which in shewn separately on an enlarged scale in
Figure 13. Each of the chains d³, d², runs over the whole series of the
pulleys x, x, in the manner shewn in Figure 10, where the direction taken by
the chain in shewn, (the vessel B being, for the sake of greater clearness,
omitted in this Figure). Instead of the fastenings or chains d², d, being
carried up outside of the vessels B, B, as in the arrangement first before de-
scribed, they are passed up through the pipes P, P, which are inserted in the
body of the vessels B, B, but have no communication interiorly with the inside
of the vessels. The mode of arranging the suspending chains de, de, causes an
equal strain to be thrown upon every one of the points of junction between
them and the chain d, by which the ship is lifted. When I employ this
arrangement, and at the same time do not mean to make use of the diving
bell or diver, the chain d, d, is passed around the vessel, and secured by means
of a block, such as represented in Figures 7, 8, and 9, and before described,
but previous to the chain d, d, being sunk around the ship the other chains
de, d', are attached to it by double-sheaved blocks n, n, and the other double
ends of the chain are passed over the pulleys a, x. One of these pulleys is
shewn on an enlarged scale in Figure 14. Each pulley & is provided with a
rope y, which is inserted in the pipes p,p, of the balloon vessels B, B, which
the chains are destined afterwards to occupy. The balloon vessels being now
sunk alongside of the ship, the ropes y of the different pullies are drawn up
when they occupy the place represented in Figure 14. B, B, is the upper
surface of the balloon vessel; C, C, a beam passing along the top of it, to which
are attached the two spring palls k, k, which take hold of the head of the
pulley frame D, and prevent its return down through the hole in the vessel B.
The whole series of pullies a, a, being now in their places, the operation of
filling the vessels with atmospheric air by means of the air-pump is proceeded
with as before. Figure 15 represents a pulley of another construction, which
may be substituted for the pulley (Figure 14); a is the pulley; b, the hole
for the chain; d, a frame of metal; e, a bearing for one end of the pulley axle
which slides within the frame d; and f is a fixed bearing for the other end of
the axle of the pulley. When the double end of the chain has been brought,
by means of the crescent-shaped piece h, Figures 16 and 17, far enough

page_text: through the hole in the balloon vessel B as to admit the pulley coming under
the chain, then the pulley is drawn into its place,,and the crescent piece
allowed to fall upon it, by which action the small projecting pins a, a, are
pressed upward, and one side of the crescent piece set from the other, which
allows the chain to fall on the pulley. Another form of crescent piece for
lifting the chains de, d³, upon the pulleys a is represented in Figures 18 and
19. A, A are the two sides, which are hinged at the top by a pin B; C is a
bolt which holds the two parts together, and which may be withdrawn by
pulling the small line D, when the chain will be set free. Figures 20 and 20*
represents the application to a balloon vessel of a chain of a new form and
construction, and shews the manner in which it is stopped or prevented from
giving back after once it has been pulled taut. Figure 21 is an end elevation
of a sunken vessel, to the sides of which are affixed a series of frames A, A,
by means of the chain B, B. These frames on each side are connected toge-
ther by a thin plate of metal or sheathing of wood c, c. D, D, are two of a
set of bags formed of some hempen or cotton fabric rendered waterproof by
caoutchouc or gutta percha; they are attached, both at top and bottom, to
the frames A, A, in a collapsed state, previous to their being lowered down.
E, E, are pipes to fill the bags with air. F, F, are other pipes for the escape
of the excess of air that may be produced, either by the force-pump or by the
varying pressure of the water during the rising of the vessel.
Secondly, my Invention consists of certain improved means of raising ships
above the surface of the water, for repairing such parts of them as are below
the float water-line.
One arrangement for this purpose is shewn in Figures 22 and 23. A, A,
is the ship to be operated upon; a, a, are two balloon vessels, such as before
described, which are connected together by means of a strong framework of
wood or cradle d, d, and in this state sunk in the water. The ship to be
repaired is then brought over the position it is intended to occupy in the cradle
d, d; atmospheric air is next forced into the balloon vessels a, a, until this and
the cradle and the ship are all raised together more or less out of the water.
As the ship rises the shores e, e, are regularly placed to support the ship in an
upright position upon the platformin d, d. The blocks drawn in red lines, in-
tended to guide the ship, and removed, if desired, after the ship is in its place.
When it is the keel of a ship which requires repairs I fix a series of frames,
such as represented in Figure 24, upon the upper surface of the platform
previous to sinking it, so that when the ship is brought up above the surface
she may be quite clear under the keel, and rest only with her planking upon
those frames.

page_text: Both of the structures before described are capable of being moved from
one place to another as may be required.
Another arrangement applicable to the repairs of vessels in dock, whatever
may be the part of the vessel required to be repaired, is shewn in Figure 25
A, A, is the ship; B, B, the balloon; D, D, a platform or cradle for support
ing the ship when raised up. The platform is placed between two rows of piles
E, E, and is free only to move up or down between them, but not in a
longitudinal direction. The vessels B, B, and platform are connected together
by means of chains L, L, passed over one series of pulleys placed upon the sides
of the vessels B, B, next to the dock, and then over another series of pulleys
attached to the ends of the beams constituting the framework of the platform
in the manner represented and already described in reference to Figure 10.
The connected vessels and platform are then lowered to the bottom of the
dock, and the ship floated in over the platform; atmospheric air is then forced
into the vessels B, B, until the ship is raised by the action of these vessels to
the required distance above the surface of the water. Should this not be
fully accomplished at the first operation, the vessels B, B, are again sunk
(the chains L, L, being at the same time shortened by a winch placed at the
side of the platform), and again charged with air, during which operation the
platform D is supported upon the upright piles E, E, by means of ratchets
and palls, one of which is shewn separately in Figure 26, and upon which the
platform D and the ship, &c. may finally be made to rest, leaving the
vessels B, B, at liberty to be removed for other purpose. F is a chain which
connects the vessels B, B, together so as to keep them in the most advan-
tageous position for the action of the pulleys over which the chains for
supporting the platform are passed. If the depth of water be such as to
admit of the balloon vessels being placed under the platform D, I prefer
employing them in that position.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a mode of constructing temporary bridges
suitable for moving heavy bodies across rivers, canals, creeks, ditches, and
in which they may be submerged when out of use, and raised at pleasure
when their services are required. Figure 27 is a longitudinal sectional
elevation of a bridge of this description. A, A, are the beams, &c. forming
the roadway; B, B, are balloon vessels similar to those before described,
having openings below for the admission of water, and pipes at their upper
sides for the admission of air to be pumped into them when it is desirable to
raise the bridge to the surface of the water for use; C, C, are strong parallel
guides placed at each end of the bridge, within which the ends of the beams
of the roadway are placed and work up and down. Instead of the beams and

page_text: framework of the roadway being made in one piece, they may be of several
pieces jointed together by hinges, as shewn at Figure 28. Figure 29 is a cross
section of the bridge; D, D, are two floats which cause the hand railing to
fold over upon the bridge when the bridge is sunk, but cause it to assume an
upright position when the bridge is brought to the surface of the water.
Fourthly, my Invention consists in certain improved means of sinking,
raising, and moving diving bells while immersed or sunk in the water.
Figure 30 is a sectional elevation of a diving bell of a rectangular form; A is
the chamber for the workman; B, B, two side chambers, which are partially
filled with weights C, C; D, D, holes opening into the chambers B, B, from
below for the admission of water. When the bell has to be sunk, the stop-
cocks a, a, are opened, which allows the air to escape from the chambers B, B,
and the water to enter by the openings D, D. When the workman desires
the bell to be raised, they shut the stop cocks a, a, and open the stop
cocks b, b, which allows of the compressed air forced down from above into
the chamber A for the supply of the workmen flowing into the two
chambers B, B, whereby the bell is rendered sufficiently buoyant to rise to the
surface. To enable the workmen when at the bottom of the water to direct
the bell to any desired spot, there is affixed upon the top of it a small pro-
peller E, which is mounted upon a spindle F, which passes through a stuffing
box in the top of the bell and terminates in a handle inside, by which the
workman can direct and place the propeller in the position most favorable
to causing the bell to follow the desired course. Motion is communicated
from the inside of the bell to the propeller by a crank handle G through
spindles H, II, the cords I, I, and the bevilled wheel gearing K³, K². The
bevil wheel K and the pulley L are fixed to the same hollow spindle which
is slipped on to the spindle F. By this arrangement the bell can be moved
about at the pleasure of the workman in any direction whatever.
Figure 31 is a sectional elevation of a circular diving bell, showing how a
propeller may be attached to it. A is the body of the bell; B, B, a ring
which rests upon the flange C, C, which ring is provided with friction rollers,
so that it may the more easily be turned to any required spot; D is the pro-
peller, the axle of which turns in the frame E. Motion is given to the
propeller by means of a crank handle or wheel, which is shipped upon the
inner end of the propeller spindle. When the bell comes upon the bottom
the propeller can be drawn up by the line F, for which purpose the frame E
is made to slide within a groove in a piece G, which projects from the
ring B, B.
Fifthly, my Invention consists of certain improved means of heaving off

page_text: stranded vessels froin shores or sand-banks when they become imbedded in
the sand, and there is not sufficient depth of water to float them by balloon
vessels alone, such as I have before described. I employ for this purpose either
a solid anchor of the peculiar description represented in Figure 32, (an ele-
vation, and Figure 33 (a perspective view,) or a combination of the marine
balloon and anchor, as shewn in Figure 34 (a perspective view).
In Figures 32 and 33, a, a, are the flukes; b, c, h, the frame to which they
are attached; d, d, are hooks, to which are affixed weights e, e, to prevent
the anchor from being turned over, and 9, 9, are the ropes to which the
purchase is applied.
In Figure 34, a, a, is the balloon; b, b, claws fixed on both ends of it, but
placed so that they may all withstand resistance in the saine direction. C is a
cross-piece to produce greater stability, and prevent the apparatus being over-
turned; d, d, is a capstan, from which in some cases I take my purchase
instead of from the stranded vessel; at other times the moving power may be
exerted through the intervention of an hydraulic press. As the whole of this
vessel and its appendages may be made of iron, when it is filled with water
its weight will be very considerable, and well calculated to serve as a point
from which to exert great power upon a stranded vessel.
Figure 35 shews how certain appendages may be added to give assistance
in pulling upon the ship to be moved, as well as increasing the weight of the
machine itself. A, A, is a portion of the marine balloon; B, B, a pair of
strong shear legs braced by the ropes C, C; D is another vessel (one of the
marine balloons before described will answer the purpose) which is suspended
from the end of the rope E which is attached to the ship operated upon. The
vessel D is raised nearly out of the water, but an opening a (Figure 4) left
below the surface; the air is now exhausted from the inside, when the water
will rise and occupy its place, and accordingly the vessel will be increased in
weight, the only limits to such weight being the strength and size of the
machine.
Sixthly, my said Invention consists in cortain improved means of raising
large bodies of water, and rendering the power deriveable from the weight of
fluids available for various useful purposes, and especially the transission of
power from one place to another at a distance from it.
Figure 36 is a sectional elevation of the principal working parts of an
apparatus calculated to effect these objects; A' and A² are two strong inetallic
cases, separated from each other by a partion C; D is a pipe which opens
into both chambers, and may be shut off from or opened into either of them,
as the case may be, by means of a slide valve E, through which pipe D air is

page_text: driven by any suitable means. Supposing these vessels A' and A³ to be
immersed in water to the line a, b, and that they are furnished with
valves F, F, as in Fig. 39, opening inward for the admission of water, and
that there are two other valves G', G, opening outward into a pipe H, up
through which it is desired to force a body of water; then, in order to ac-
complish that object, the compartment A is in the first instance filled with
water by the pressure of the water outside forcing up the valve F. The
valve E is at the same time in that position which opens the port J' for the
escape of the air contained in the compartment A', while it closes the port J'
for the escape of air from the compartment A³, and simultaneously therewith
opens the port K for the ingress of compressed air into A³, and closes the
port K' leading into A'. The office of the floats L, L, and M², M², and the
catches to which they are attached, is to make the valve E close the ports
which were open, and to open those that were previously shut. The valve E
is now slid over to close J' and K2, and open J and K'. The compressed air
being now admitted from the pipe D into the compartment A', causes the
water therein to flow through the pipe H. During the interval occupied in
emptying A', A is being filled, but the moment the water in A' falls so low
as to allow the weight of the floats to fall upon the valve and the catches
which retain it in its place the valve is moved into the reverse position, and
the contents of the vessel A are now forced up through the pipe H, and so
the operation goes on alternately as long as the air continues to be compressed
into the pipe D. Figure 37 is a plan of the upper side of the apparatus, with
the pipe D removed to shew the position of the ports, and Figure 38 a
separate plan of the valve.
Figure 39 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the preceding ap-
paratus, differing from it chiefly in the construction of the slide valve. In
this instance the slide valve occupies a place entirely within the compart-
ments A' and A2; and instead of the float M being connected to a cord or
chain, as in Figure 36, it is connected to a rigid rod, which acts upon the
valve E and causes it to slide from the one side to the other, and open or close
the ports for the admission of compressed air. The float M acts by its
buoyancy when the chamber A is full of water, and by its weight when it is
empty. Figure 40 is a plan of the valve E.
Figure 41 shews how this branch of my Invention may be beneficially
applied to the turning of a water wheel. D is the compressed air pipe; A, the
end of an apparatus, such as has just before been described; H is the pipe
through which the water is elevated into a tank E, from which it flows
over upon a water wheel F, which again gives motion to machinery to be
applied to any useful purpose. The same quantity of water is thus used

page_text: continuously in giving motion to the water wheel, which of course will continue
in action as long as air is being forced into the pipe D.
Figures 41 and 41 are sectional elevations of other forms which may be
given to the valve E.
Figure 42 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus with only one chamber,
in which the opening of the valve i for the escape of air, and of the valve at a
for the admission of compressed air, is performed by hand.
In the different arrangements described under this head of my Specification
there is a loss of power consequent upon the water in the chambers A¹ and A
having to be forced up to a greater extent than the distance between the
surface of the water in which the apparatus itself is placed and the surface of
the raised water. To counteract this loss of power I employ an apparatus of
the description represented in Figure 43; here the two chambers A and A' are
cach separate vessels with a separate set of valves, and are made to traverse
within parallel guides within the water tanks in which they are placed.
Their buoyancy when empty makes them float upon the surface of of the
water, and when filled they sink, but on being emptied they again float to the
surface, which keeps the surface of the water inside always on a level, or
nearly so, with that outside. The discharge of the water is effected through
a flexible pipe, such as is shown at a in Figure 44, which is a vessel of a
single chamber constructed to act on this principle. As the one or other of these
vessels A' or A descend to their lowest point, the slide valve E' or E' is
acted upon by the floats H' or H, causing it to slide into the reverse position,
and so open the port for the escape of air from the vessel, and close the other
one for the ingress of compressed air. During the time one vessel is filling
the contents of the other one are being forced up to the reservoir by means of
the compressed air entering it. When, however, it has attained its highost
point, and is then emptied of water, the small float Le falls down and liberates
the valve E to be acted upon by the float H, which also sets an upright
weighted rod Z at liberty to fall down upon the end of a jointed catch a'
holding the slide valve E' from being pushed over by the buoyancy of the
float H. The fall of the rod Z upon a lifts the latter, and allows the valve
to assume that position in which compressed air is admitted to the lower
vessel, and its communication with the atmosphere shut off through the port I',
upon which the water within it will be forced up to the reservoir, and
the other vessel will commence filling, and so the action goes on continu-
ously while the compressed air is forced through the pipe as before explained.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to performed, I declare that I am aware that heavy

page_text: bodies have been before raised by means of the buoyancy of bodies filled with
air, and that I lay no claim to the application of air to that purpose, but that
the Improvements which I claim as constituting my said Invention are
as follows:-
First, I claim the apparatus and machinery for raising sunken ships, and
the several modifications thereof, described under the first head of this Speci-
fication, in the peculiar arrangement, combination, and adaptation of known
means of which the same consist.
Second, I claim the employment of air for raising ships (more or less) out
of water for purposes of repair, according to the different modes described
under the second head of this Specification.
Third, I claim the employment for the conveyance of heavy bodies across
rivers, canals, creeks, ditches, &c. of submergible bridges of the construc-
tion before described.
Fourth, I claim the employment, for the purpose of moving diving bells and
other like bodies when under water, of propellers applied and worked in
manner before described.
Fifth, I claim the employment of solid anchors, in the manner herein-before
described, for the purpose of heaving off stranded vessels.
Sixth, I claim the employment of hollow bodies, alternately filled with
and emptied of water, for the purpose of heaving off stranded vessels, in the
manner herein-before described.
And, seventh, I claim the mode or modes of raising large bodies of water,
and of applying the weight of fluids to the transmission of power and other
useful purposes, as described under the sixth head of this Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Frederick Gougy, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-third day of June, One thousand