IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS AND HARBOURS OF REFUGE"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Walker Leeds of Old Jewry in the City of London
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREAKWATERS AND HARBOURS OF
REFUGE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Walker Leeds at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1883.
LEWIS WALKER LEEDS of Old Jewry in the City of London
IN BREAKWATERS AND HARBOURS OF REFUGE "
"IMPROVEMENTS
This invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement of floating
structures to act as breakwaters at the entrance of Harbours and especially useful
in the construction of floating Harbours of Refuge for fishing fleets and other
vessels, also for protecting Light Houses and Life boats and for other analogous
purposes This improved breakwater is of peculiar form and construction and is so
arranged with irregular angles made expressly to destroy the continuous motion of
the waves that the breakwater remains comparatively motionless even in a
rough sea
-
The essential feature of this invention consists of a floating structure with a
horizontal share or cut water This structure formed of iron or wood or a
combination of the two is anchored or secured so that the waves which strike it
are cut or broken up, part going up the horizontally inclined plane and passing
over the structure, and part passing under the inclined under surface The cut
water lies slightly below the average surface of the water level. The under-
current gives an increased buoyancy to the structure and partially compensates for
the increased weight thrown upon the structure by the waves mounting the
inclined surface. The effect of thus causing the water to pass over and under this
structure is to break up the continuity of the waves which by partly falling over
and expending their energy on a rear platform and also by passing round the
lower inner angle and then coming together at the back of the structure at
different angles is that a comparative stillness of the water is produced behind the
structure

page_text: For the formation of Harbours of refuge, these structures may be variously
arranged in large or small sections according to circumstances, so as to form a
square, octagon, triangle or other shape. Harbours so constructed are intended to
be firmly anchored out at sea in two or more parts but connected together beneath
the entrances so as to enclose a space between said structures which will afford
protection for fishing fleets and for shipping generally
It will be obvious that such a large floating surface might be utilized for many
useful purposes, for instance the cross pontoons which serve to give rigidity to the
structure and also to increase the buoyancy may have erected upon them fishermens
huts or quarters Small lighthouses might be also erected thereon whilst suitable
enclosed spaces may be adapted to form pens or tanks for the recoption of
live fish
The construction of floating harbours also affords facility for telegraphic
communication with the shore and with other harbours Instead of enclosing a
space as herein before described it will be obvious that one section of the floating
structure might be used and be anchored by its apex by a single anchor and thus
the structure would be free to swing round and follow the wind and so afford
protection behind it for vessels in all weather. A series of these structures if
strung together or otherwise connected may be anchored before the entrance to
harbours and if found necessary one or more preliminary cutwaters may be
employed to partially break the force of the waves before they reach the main or
inner structures A modification of my invention consists of a series of vessels
linked together and into which the water has free access at the bottom, these
vessels have their upper parts filled with oil which floats upon the water contained
inside such vessels, and in the case of a turbulent sea gently oozes out through
apertures at or near the top and so assists by its lubricating action in breaking up
the waves passing over such vessels

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Lewis Walker Leeds in
the Patent Office on the 14th May 1884.
LEWIS WALKER LEEDS of Old Jowry in the City of London
IN BREAKWATERS AND HARBOURS OF REFUGE
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
This invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement of floating
structures to act as breakwaters, more particularly at the entrance of Harbours but
also especially useful in the construction of floating barbours of Refuge, for fishing
fleets and other vessels; also for protecting Lighthouses and Life boats and for
other analogous purposes To clearly explain my invention, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification. Figure 1
representing in perspectivo a floating harbour of refuge as hereinafter described.
Figures 2 and 3 representing also in perspective the floating breakwaters as
anchored off landing piers Figures 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9 represent some of the forms
of floating breakwaters which I deem useful Figure 10 represents a plan of a
series of sections of breakwaters, anchored off landing piers or dock entrances.
Figure 11 may be taken roughly as a plan of Figure 1 and Figure 12 as a section
on line a b Figure 11.
These improved breakwaters are of peculiar form and construction and are so
arranged with irregular angles, made expressly to destroy the continuous motion
of the waves that the breakwater remains comparatively motionless even in a
rough sen The essential feature of this invention consists of a floating structure
with a horizontal share or cut water. This structure formed of iron or wood or a
combination of the two is anchored or secured so that the waves which strike it
are cut or broken up, part going up the horizontally inclined plane and passing
over the structure, and part passing under the inclined under surface as most
clearly shown in Figs 6 and 8
The cutwater lies slightly below the average surface of the water level. The
under current gives an increased buoyancy to the structure and partially
compensates for the increased weight thrown upon the structure by the wave
mounting the inclined surface. The effect of thus causing the water to pass over
and under this structure is to break up the continuity of the waves which by
partly falling over and expending their energy on a rear platform and also by
passing round the lower inner angle and then coming together at the back of the
structure at different angles is that a comparative stillness of tho water is produced
behind the structure. This form is clearly shown in Figs 1. 2 and 12 This
special form contains within itself the floating power and also offers the least
possible resistance to the motion of the waves in producing the desired result.
For this reason it can be held in position in a violent storm, more readily than
structures which are designed to destroy the motion of the waves by the
disintegration or breaking up thereof The latter offer such great resistance that
they are liable to be carried away. For the formation of Harbours of refuge, these
structures may be variously arranged in large or small sections, according to
circumstances, so as to form a square, octagon, triangle or other shape. Seo Figs 1.
10 and 11. Harbours so constructed are intended to be firmly anchored out at sea
in two or more parts, but connected together beneath the entrances. so as to
enclose a space between said structures which will afford protection for fishing
fleets and for shipping generally. It will be obvious that such a large floating
surface might be utilized for many useful purposes, for instance the second or
cross pontoons which serve to give rigidity to the structure and also to increase

page_text: the buoyancy as well as the further destruction of the wave motion, may have
erected upon them fishermens huts or quarters. Small lighthouses may be also
erected thereon whilst suitable enclosed spaces may be adapted in the wells A A to
form pens or tanks for the reception of live fish. The construction of floating
harbours also affords facility for telegraphic communication with the shoro and
with other harbours. Instead of enclosing a space as hereinbefore described it
will be obvious that one section of the floating structure might be used and be
anchored by its apex by a single anchor, and thus the structure would be free to
swing round and follow the wind and so afford protection behind it for vessels in
all weather. A series of these structures made straight, curved or angular, if
strung together or otherwise connected may be anchored before the entrances to
harbours and if found necessary one or more preliminary cutwaters B may be
employed to partially break the force of the waves before they reach the main or
inner structure. A modification of my invention consists of a series of floating
vessels linked together by a submerged cable, and this connecting cable anchored
at long intervals, or a series of vessels of smaller diameter anchored parallel to the
motion of the waves. These vessels may be mado wator tight, or if inade of wood
or of some floating material, the water may have free access. One or more in
çach series of these vessels may have their upper parts filled with oil &c which
floats upon the water contained inside such vessels and in the case of a turbulent
soa gently oozes out through apertures, at or near the top and so assists by its
lubricating action in breaking up the waves passing over such vessels. The series
of small parallel vessels may be fastened together rigidly so as to move as a single
structure or preferably each vessol should be fastened by pliable wire or rope to
one or more steadying logs or bracings placed at a considerable distance beneath
the surface of the water This form of breakwater is represented in Figs 5. 6 and 7
while Figure 9 shows in section a convenient way of forming such vessels of a
series of iron plates. I am aware that it has been proposed by J N. Tayler,
WH Smith and J E Liardet to use floating structures for neutralizing the notion
of the waves and in specifications No 9247 of 1842 No 9680 of 1843 and No 2671
of 1868. A W Sleigh. Sir Samuel Brown and Robert Saunders have respectively
set out their views connected with the subject matter of the present invention, and
I hereby disclaim the inventions as therein described but What I do claim and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is.
C
The improvements in Breakwaters and Harbours of Refuge substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Lewis Walker Leeds have hercunto set my
hand and seal this thirteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord 1884
LEWIS W LEEDS (L.S.)