Improvements relating to the Construction of Dry Docks in Inland Navigation, Canals, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Construction of Dry Docks in Inland
Navigation, Canals, and the like.
We MAX MOESER, of 30 Lessingstrasse, Berlin Merchant, and REINHOLD
ERPEL of Tegelort near Tegel, Master Shipbuilder, both in the Empire of
Germany 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:-
It is of great importance in the development and support of traffic upon canals
and inland navigation generally to provide for a cheap, easy and rapid repairing
of barges and other vessels using the canals or canalized rivers, and it is the object
of the present invention to meet this requirement.
At the present time if repairs are wanted to vessels on such canals, considerable
time and force are expended in drawing them upon land and returning them
afterwards to the water, or else costly appliances are used for lifting from and
replacing them in the water. Apart from the straining and sometimes breaking
of the vessels under such operations rendering many useless, the aforesaid methods
have the disadvantage of cost and waste of time.
The following is a description of the new construction enabling dry docks to be
placed on canals or canalized rivers, reference being made to the annexed drawing
in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation of the improved system
with its appurtenances and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views in elevational section on a
larger scale.
Above one of the locks A of the canal where there is a sufficient fall of water
there are arranged a number of separate basins or docks B the length and breadth
of which must be sufficient for the convenient repair of such vessels as frequent
the canal and the depth sufficient for floating the said vessels into the basins when
full. Each such basin is separated from the canal proper by a water tight door or
flap C having a passage way D below the water level of the canal and closed by a
sluice as shown in Fig. 3. The doors C may be hinged below, and while the basins
are empty will be held closed by the water pressure from the canal. When
however the water is allowed to fill the basins until the level therein is the same as
that of the canal the pressure on the door is reduced or compensated and the latter
may be opened to admit the vessel to be repaired. The door is weighted to sink
in the water and after admission of the vessel it is raised again into place by means
of the winch E.
At the other end of each basin is a further hermetically closed opening F
through which the water in the basin may be run off into a cross channel G com-
municating with the canal below the lock A so as to leave the basin in which the
vessel lies empty. Repairs can now be executed and when finished the opening F
is closed and opened to again fill the basin whereupon the door C can be opened
the vessel floated out and another brought in. A' A² A³ A' are the lock gates.
A principal factor of this arrangement is the utilizing of the difference of water
level found at locks A without however causing much loss of water in the canal
when the basins are used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is ;-
In a canal, canalized river or similar inland navigation system the combination
with a lock where a fall of water level occurs, of a basin or series of basins com-
municating by doors with the water above the lock and having
water inlete

page_text: to the water above the lock and water ontlets to the water below the lock,
both adapted to be closed; for the reception of vessels for repairing and other
purposes.
Dated this 15th day of September 1893.
R. HADDAN,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicants.