Improvements in Buffers or Fenders for Ships, Quays, Wharves, Docks, and Piers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1886
Complete Left, 23rd July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887.
Improvements in Buffers or Fenders for Ships, Quays, Wharves,
Docks, and Piers.
RICHARD HAMBLY HUGHES of 307 and 309 Mare Street Hackney Furrier and
ROBERT ABRAM LEE of 76, 77, and 78 High Holborn London W.C. Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improvement in Buffers or Fenders for reducing the strain or concussion of
Ships or other moving bodies against a non yielding or slightly yielding structur.
Our invention consists of a semi globular or cup shape casing having extended from
it on the outside a rod or spindle of a convenient length and diameter this rod
preferably ends in a conical point and we make the rod to slide into a tube or casing
having a gland or stuffing box fitted at its front end (next the globular end of the
spindle) and at the other end a valve or valve to allow of the inflow or outflow of
water a sufficient quantity of which is used to keep the rod partly out of the tube the end of
the tube is also so arranged that on the rod or spindle being pressed in toward the end
of the tube (sufficient space being allowed at the end of this tube for this movement)
the water with which the space at the end of tube was at first fitted will be compressed,
at first slightly and afterwards to a high state of compression (the valve or valves being
arranged so that the water can only escape very slowly) to take the resistance of an
exterior pressure on the head of the rod or spindle, the tube is also provided with a
spring or springs which drive the rod or spindle out to its normal position as soon as
the pressure at the front end of the rod or spindle is removed and in moving forward
the rod draws, through one of the valves and a suction pipe, connected to it, and
having its lower end in the water of the Quay or Dock, a sufficient quantity of water
to refil the space at the end of the tube or this refilling may be arranged by a pressure
of water supplied from a main where such is convenient.
In suitable recesses in the cup shape end of the rod (which cup is made slightly over
the half globe and in two parts screwed or bolted together) we insert four balls one at
the end adjoining the rod and three placed equi distant from each other looking end on
to the cup, and at a position of about 60 degrees, from the position of the ball adjoin-
ing the rod, looking at it horizontally, these balls form bearings for the large or main

page_text: ball, which when in position projects outside the casing about two fifths of its diameter,
and forms the first point of contact with a ship or other moving body, the tube or
casing being firmly fixed to the pier or wharf, or it may be fixed to the side of
the ship.
It will be seen that the ball bearing allows the main ball to roll in any direction
freely and the pressure or strain is taken up gradually and evenly by the ooze of the
water out of the tube, this being regulated to a nicety by the size of the opening in
the valve, or we may employ springs either of metal or India rubber, to act instead of
the water, in all cases where we find this arrangement of the greatest advantage.
Dated this 21st day of October 1886.
ROBERT ABRAM LEE,
76 to 784, High Holborn,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Buffers or Fenders for Ships, Quays, Wharves,
Docks, and Piers,
RICHARD HAMBLY HUGHES of 307 & 309 Mare Street, Hackney, Furrier, and
ROBERT ABRAM LEE of 76 High Holborn London, W.C., Consulting Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
An improvement in Buffers or Fenders for reducing the strain or concussion of
Ships or other moving bodies against a non-yielding or slightly yielding structure.
Our invention consists of a semi-globular or cup shape casing having extended from
it on the outside a rod or spindle of a convenient length and diameter, this rod
preferably ends in a conical point and we make the rod to slide into a tube or casing
having a gland or stuffing box fitted at its front end (next the globular end of the
spindle) and at the other end a valve or valves to allow of the inflow & outflow of
water, a sufficient quantity of which is used to keep the rod partly out of the tube, the
end of the tube is also so arranged that on the rod or spindle being pressed in toward
the end of the tube (sufficient space being allowed at the end of this tube for this
movement) the water with which the space at the end of tube was at first filled will be
compressed, at first slightly & afterwards to a high state of compression (the valve or
valves being so arranged that the water can only escape very slowly) to take the
resistance of an exterior pressure on the head of the rod or spindle, the tube is also
provided with a spring or springs which drive the rod or spindle out to its normal
position as soon as the pressure at the front end of the rod or spindle is removed, and
in moving forward, the rod draws through one of the valves, & a suction pipe
connected to it, and having its lower end in the water of the Quay or Dock, a sufficient
quantity of water to refill the space at the end of the tube, or this refilling may be
arranged by a pressure of water supplied from a main where such is convenient.
In suitable recesses in the cup shape end of the rod (which cup is made slightly over
the half globe and in two parts screwed or bolted together) we insert four balls, one
at the end adjoining the rod & three placed equi-distant from each other looking end
on to the cup, and at a position of about 60 degrees from the position of the ball
adjoining the rod looking at it horizontally, these balls form bearings for the large or
main ball which when in position projects outside the casing about two fifths of its
diameter, and forms the first point of contact with a ship or other moving body, the
tube or casing being firmly fixed to the pier or wharf, or it may be fixed to the side of
the ship.
It will be seen that the ball bearings allows the main ball to roll in any direction
freely, and the pressure or strain is taken up gradually and evenly by the ooze of the
water out of the tube, this being regulated to a nicety by the size of the opening in
the valve, or we may employ springs either of metal or India Rubber, to act instead of
the water, in all cases where we find this arrangement of the greatest advantage.

page_text: In carrying out our invention we fit the rod which terminates in the ball bearing
with two tubes or cases, and we perforate the inner tube with a number of holes of a
gradually decreasing diameter; and to the outer tube we attach two valves, one to the
supply and one to the outlet pipe in such manner that water can be drawn up into the
outer casing on the outward movement of the buffer.
We employ any convenient number of these buffers as before described and arrange
the casing in the manner shown in the accompanying drawings in which an alternative
arrangement of the method of holding the ball bearings is made, in the form of a
cradle in one or more parts-having three or more prongs and a recess at the end
nearest the rod to hold the ball L shown at Figs. 4 & 5 of drawing and a recess in
each of the prongs, each recess to contain a ball N placed equi-distant from each other
as shown in Fig. 4 & placed about the centre of the main ball shown at Fig. 5. We
find in practice that this is the most suitable position but do not limit ourselves to any
particular position of these balls or bearings. It being difficult to keep the ball N¹ in
position whilst placing the main ball L in the case, we fit a screwed plug made with a
countersunk point-to allow the ball N¹ to be placed in position after the main ball is
in as shown at N' Fig. 3 of drawings, and this screw may also be applied to the
arrangement shown at Figs. 4 & 5.
In the drawings.
Figs. 1 & 2 are sectional plans, Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation. Figs. 4 & 5 show the
cradle arrangement to carry the bearing balls. Referring to Fig. 1, A is the rod fixed
to or solid with the casing of bearing K. B is the tube in which this rod slides, C is
a surrounding case or tube to connect the tube B to the valve chamber D.
EE are
valves, F is a gland to prevent leakage round the rod A. The spring G is to send the
buffer out when pressure on the bearing is removed. H H are perforations or holes in
the tube B. I, J, show the arrangement where the rod tapers, the largest end of this
rod fits the hole J. K is the casing of the bearing with the balls L, M, N, & N¹.
O, Figs. 4 & 5 is the cradle arrangement for carrying the balls.
We are aware that the principle of the bearing of the buffer-considered as a ball
bearing is not new, & also that the principle of compressing water at the back of a
piston or plunger, for a buffer is not of itself new. Our invention forming the subject
of this our patent is the combination of the two for the purpose set forth.
Having
now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is.
Claim 1. The combination of a ball bearing with a buffer, to be used for the purpose
of a fender for ships.
Claim 2. The arrangement of a ball bearing with a buffer substantially as shown,
for the purpose of reducing friction of contact between a ship & pier or wharf.
Claim 3. The combination of a buffer as shown and described, terminating with a
ball bearing arranged as set forth & shown at figures 4 & 5 of the drawings.
Claim 4. The general combination forming our improved buffer or fender for ships,
quays or piers substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1887.
ROBERT ABRAM LEE,
76, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicants.