IMPROVEMENTS IN CONSTRUCTING FLOATING BREAKWATERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Giles, of 9, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, C.E., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONSTRUCTING FLOATING BREAKWATERS."
Sealed the 4th November 1862, and dated the 21st May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Giles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on. the 21st
May 1862.
I, ALFRED GILES, of 9, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the County of Middle-
sex, C.E., do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CONSTRUCTING FLOATING BREAKWATERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing floating break-
waters. For these purposes a series of buoys are used, which are connected
together by metal chains in such manner that the area over which a breakwater
extends is divided horizontally into numerous sections, by preference of a lozenge
shape, there being a buoy at each angle of a section, and in some cases the-chain
which connects two buoys is further supported by an intermediate buoy. From
the chains which connect the several buoys, and divide the whole area into-
sections; there are suspended fringes or network of chains, in order to break.
the waves by causing the same to pass through the meshes or openings-
of the suspended fringes or network. The outermost and innermost rows-
of buoys are secured in their places by anchors. By these means the area
occupied by a breakwater is divided horizontally by network composed of
chains, the angles of which network are supported by. buoys, and from this,
horizontal network other network or fringes are suspended vertically-

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Giles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
GILES, of 9, Adelphi Terrace, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, C.E., send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Giles, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Giles,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Giles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, 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
CONSTRUCTING FLOATING BREAKWATERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Giles, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Giles, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing floating
breakwaters. For these purposes a series of buoys are used, which are con-
nected together by metal chains in such manner that the area over which a
breakwater extends is divided horizontally into numerous sections, by prefer--
ence of a lozenge shape, there being a buoy at each angle of a section, and
in some cases the chain which connects two buoys is further supported by
an intermediate buoy. From the chains which connect the several buoys, and
divide the whole area into sections, there are suspended fringes or network of
chains, in order to break the waves by causing the same to pass through the
meshes or openings of the suspended fringes or network. The outermost and

page_text: innermost rows of buoys are secured in their places by anchors. By these
means the area occupied by a breakwater is divided horizontally by network
composed of chains, the angles of which network are supported by buoys, and,
from this horizontal network other network or fringes are suspended vertically.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
The form and arrangement of floating breakwater composed of chains, and
supported horizontally on or in the water by suitable buoys according to my
Invention may be greatly varied, and such is the case in respect to the forms
of the buoys and of the links of the chains used in constructing breakwaters.
The peculiarity of my Invention consists in forming a horizontal net of
chains buoyed up by buoys at intervals, and to use therewith vertical fringes
of network of chains, in order that waves may be broken as they proceed in a
direction from the sea face or side of a breakwater towards the other or har-
bour face or side thereof. The Diagram hereunto annexed shews an example
of the construction or arrangement of a breakwater according to my
Invention.
Figure 1 shews a plan, and Figure 2 a vertical transverse section of parts
of a breakwater constructed according to my Invention.
In the Diagram the horizontal chains form a horizontal network, the
meshes or openings of which are of a lozenge shape, a buoy being applied at
each intersection of the chains. a, a, are the horizontal chains; b, b, are
buoys at the intersections of the chains, or additional buoys may be used
intermediate of the intersections where the intersections are at a considerable
distance apart. If desired, the meshes or openings between the horizontal
chains a, a, may be reduced in size by chains or horizontal fringes, or
screens a fixed from side to side of the meshes or openings produced by the
intersections of the chains a, a. The horizontal chains may also be arranged
to intersect each other at angles differing from that shewn, and thus produce
other forms of meshes or openings than those indicated by the Diagram.
From the horizontal chains a, a, fringes or screens of connected links of
chains c, c, hang, which present vertical network to the waves, as is shewn
in the Diagram, Figure 2. These fringes are formed by links, which are not
only interlinked vertically, but also horizontally, so as to produce sheets of
network, the meshes or openings in which consist by preference of links of a
circular or other form, linked or connected together vertically and horizon-
tally, or the openwork of the fringes ог hanging vertical network may be
formed in any other convenient manner, preferring that the parts shall not
only present numerous openings through the fringes or hangings, but that the

page_text: parts may be so connected as to produce as much flexibility as may be. The
horizontal network of chains is secured in position by anchors d and cables é,
both at the sea side or face and also at the harbour side or face.
I prefer to form the whole structure of links of wrought iron; though other
metal or material may be similarly used in constructing a breakwater
according to my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said. Alfred Giles, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ALFRED GILES. (L.S.)