IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS AND APPLIANCES FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Richards, of the City of Manchester, Ship Owner,"
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS AND APPLIANCES FOR
RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED BODIES."
Seated the 4th March 1879, and dated the 6th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Richards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1878.
RICHARD RICHARDS, of the City of Manchester, Ship Owner. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESSELS AND APPLIANCES FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved vessel or vessels and
appliances for raising sunken ships and other submerged bodies lying at the bottom
of the sea, in the beds of rivers, and other similar localities, and consists in the
employment of hydraulic power for such purposes in a manner which has never
hitherto been applied.
In carrying out my Invention I employ two or more steam vessels of special
construction to float on the surface of the water, the same being fitted with hollow
columns, say three or more in number, these columns extending from the main deck
down to the keel of the vessel, and there being open to the water.
On the main deck I arrange a pair of standards, one on either side of each of the
hollow columns, and between these standards, in grooves formed therein, I mount a
cross head of special construction which forms a clamp for gripping a wire rope or
chain passing down the hollow column, and which is to be secured to or passed round
the sunken ship or other submerged body requiring to be lifted, the cross bead being
arranged in two parts screwed together so that it can be caused to grip the wire
rope or chain, and to release the same at the will of the operator. Beneath this
cross head I apply a pair of powerful hydraulic presses or lifts, and thus I am
Price Bd1

page_text: enabled to raise such cross head and the weight secured to it, say a distance of six
or eight feet in height at a time.
When I desire to take a fresh lift I first secure the rope or chain and weight
suspended to it, say by a clamp between decks, or in any other convenient manner,
and then I unscrew and lower the cross head the desired distance and repeat the
lifting operation.
In practice it is preferred to employ two or more of my improved lifting vessels,
which are brought over the submerged ship or other vessel requiring to be raised,
parallel to each other in order that the ropes or chains may be passed beneath the
submerged body, and one extremity of each of the said ropes or chains be held and
lifted simultaneously by each of the lifting vessels, so that the sunken body
eventually becomes slung or suspended between the lifting vessels, and thus may be
raised to the surface of the water, or so be carried to a place of safety.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in 'pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Richards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
March 1879.
RICHARD RICHARDS, of the City of Manchester, Ship Owner.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESSELS AND APPLIANCES FOR RAISING SUNKEN SHIPS AND OTHER SUBMERGED
BODIES."
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved vessel or vessels and
appliances for raising sunken ships and other submerged bodies lying at the bottom
of the sea, in the beds of rivers, and other similar localities, and consists in the
employment of hydraulic power for such purposes in a manner which has never
hitherto been applied.
In carrying out my Invention I employ two or more (by preference steam) vessels
of special construction to float on the surface of the water, the same being fitted
with hollow columns, say three or more in number, these columns extending from
within about three feet of the main deck down to the keel of the vessel, and there
being open to the water.
On the main deck I arrange a pair of standards, one on either side of each of the
bollow columns, and between these standards, in grooves formed therein, I mount a
cross head of special construction which forms a clamp for gripping a wire rope or
chain passing down the hollow column, and which is to be secured to or passed
round the sunken ship or other submerged body requiring to be lifted, the cross
head being arranged in two parts screwed together so that it can be caused to grip
the wire rope or chain and to release the same at the will of the operator. Beneath
this cross head I apply a pair of powerful hydraulic presses or lifts, and thus I am
enabled to raise such cross head and the weight secured to it, say a distance of six
or eight feet in height at a time.
When I desire to take a fresh lift I first secure the rope or chain and weight
suspended to it, say by a clamp between decks, or in any other convenient manner,
and then I unscrew and lower the cross head the desired distance and repeat the
lifting operation.
In practice it is preferred to employ two or more of my improved lifting vessels
which are brought over the submerged ship or other vessel requiring to be raised,
parallel to each other in order that the ropes or chains may be passed beneath the
submerged body, and one extremity of each of tho said ropes or chains be held and
lifted simultaneously by each of the lifting vessels so that the sunken body
eventually becomes slung or suspended between the lifting vessels, and thus may
be raised to the surface of the water or so be carried to a place of safety.
And in order that this my said Invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, I have hereunto annexed a Drawing illustrativo of
my improvements in vessels and appliances for the said purpose, and will now
proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the figures and letters of
reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of so much of a deck of a vessel as is necessary to
illustrate my Invention, which is shewn mounted thereon, and Fig. 2 is an end
sectional view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents (on a smaller scale) a transverse section of a pair of vessels
fitted with my improvements, and shewing a submerged vessel in the act of being
lifted.
A, A, are the standards firmly secured to the deck A¹ of the vessel, and one of
which is arranged on either sido of each of the hollow columns B (see Fig. 3) so as
to form guides for the cross head C which is capable of moving vertically in grooves
forined on the inner faces of such standards. This cross bead C is made in two
parts bolted together by the bolts D so as to embrace between them the links of the
chain E, and which chain passes underneath or is secured to the submerged vessel F,

page_text: as seen in Fig. 3. Beneath the cross head C I apply a pair of powerful hydraulic
presses or lifts G, whereby I am enabled to raise such cross head and the weight
secured to it the desired distance, and I introduce packing or blocks H between
such cross head and the deck as the lifting operation continues.
When I desire to take a fresh lift I first secure the chain E and weight suspended
to it, say by clamps between decks at the top of the hollow column B, a beain or
pair of beams B₁ being carried across at this level to receive such weight, and then
I unscrew the bolts D of the cross head and lower such cross head the desired
distance, and after again screwing up the cross head upon the lower portion of the
chain I repeat the lifting operation.
In practice it is preferred to employ two or more of my improved lifting vessels,
which are brought over the submerged body parallel to each other, and these vessels
being each fitted with two, three, or more of my improved lifting chains and
appliances, and each of the chains being secured to the submerged body, it will be
apparent that the several hydraulic presses may be worked by hand pumps or com-
municate together so as to act simultaneously by steam power, and thus the sunken
body becomes slung or suspended between the lifting vessels, and may be so raised
to the surface of the water or be carried to a place of safety.
Although I prefer to use the construction of chain illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5
(representing respectively a side view and plan of the same) and which chain is
designed of flat iron or steel links I, bolted together as illustrated, and having
shoulders "a" between which the two halves of the cross head may be bolted, and
so effectually prevent such chain slipping, it will be apparent that wire or other
ropes might be substituted for such chains, in which case the two halves of the
cross head should be fitted with special friction jaws to prevent the possibility of
the rope slipping.
And in order to provide for the great strain to which the deck of the vessel is
subjected by these heavy lifting operations, I shore up the decks in the most
approved manner, say by beams or pillars J (see Fig. 3) so as to equally distribute
and carry the weight over as widely an extended surfaco as possible.
The hollow columns B are constructed of wrought iron, and are open to the water
at the keel of the vessel, and thus form a means of communication through the
vessel for the lifting chains.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying.
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine-
myself to any form of hydraulic lifting apparatus, as it will be obvious that many
mechanical equivalents might be substituted for the cross head and standard as
a means of lifting through hollow columns, or by using specially designed hydraulic
machinery; the arrangement shewn and described represents only a simple mode of
carrying my Invention into effect, but what I claim is,-
-
1st. The improved lifting vessels when fitted with hollow columns, substantially
as and for the purposes described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of mechanism for gripping a chain or
rope for lifting submerged bodies by hydraulic machinery, substantially as described,
and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Richards, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.