IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAVING DOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES DONALD, of the firm of Hanna, Donald & Wilson, Abbey Works,
Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAVING DOCKS;" to be as follows:-
-My Invention consists in forming a graving dock by building a single or double.
shell or pontoon of iron, steel, timber, or other material, which may be shipped in
picces or steamed, sailed, or towed to its destination, and then filling or partially
filling the structure with masonry, concrete, sand, or debris, or otherwise weighting
it in order to load and lower it into the position which it is to occupy permanently.
The shape and dimensions of the shell may be similar to those of an ordinary
graving dock, and when it is steamed or sailed to its destination, it is provided
with temporary engines and propelling gear or with masts and sails and steering
gear. The ordinary gates, caissons, or devices for keeping out the water, as also
the usual apparatus for pumping out and filling the dock are provided in connection
with the improved dock. The graving dock formed as described, may be loaded in
any convenient position by building or filling in the permanent masonry or other
material, and by dredging or levelling up, as may be required, the bottom on which
it is to rest. The expense of pumping and sinking foundations and building the
ordinary dock of masonry may by this means be avoided, while the improved dock
may be situated as regards position where it might be impracticable to construct a
graving dock or slipway of the ordinary kinds, on account of the nature of the
ground, and in some cases for example where any ordinary graving dock would be
destroyed by shocks of earthquake.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES DONALD, of the firm of Hanna, Donald and Wilson, Abbey Works,
Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
Baid Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAVING DOCKS" nud in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in' and
by the following statement :-
"
My Invention consists in forming a graving dock with a complete outer shell,
and a partial or complete inner shell of iron, steel, timber or other material, which
may be made to be shipped in pieces, or fitted so as to be steamed, sailed or towed
to its destination, and then filling or partially filling the structure with masonry,
concrete, sand or debris, or otherwise weighting it in order to load and lower, or
ground and settle it down into the position which it is to occupy permanently for
use as a graving dock.
The shape and dimensions of the shell may be similar to those of an ordinary
graving dock, and when it is steamed or sailed to its destination it is provided
with temporary engines, and propelling gear or with masts and sails and stearing
gear. The ordinary gates, caissons, or devices for keeping out the water ns also
the usual apparatus for pumping out and filling the dock are provided in connection
with the improved dock. The graving dock formed as described may be loaded in
any convenient position by building or filling in the permanent masonry or other
material, and by dredging or levelling up, as may be required, the bottom on which
it is to rest. The expense of pumping and sinking foundations and building the
ordinary dock of masonry may by this means bo avoided, while the improved dock
may be situated as regards position where it might be impracticable to construct a
graving dock or slipway of the ordinary kind on account of the nature of the
ground, and in such cases for example where any ordinary graving dock would be
destroyed by shocks. of earthquake.
Figure 1, in the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal vertical section, and
Figure 2 a corresponding transverse section of the improved graving dock as lowerd
on and imbedded in the sea bottom X, with embankment Y filled in, having a piled.
and framed jetty. Z erected along its one side, showing the general construction of
the shell and its lattice framing at the bottom A and side walls B, B, with open
entering end, between the two strong double walled towers C, closed in by the
floating pontoon or end gate D, seen particularly in the end elovation of the dock
in Figuro 3 with its sluices d for letting the water in and out of it.. A ship S, is
shown on the blocks.as within the dock for repair. Figure 4 is a plan of the dock.
and the jetty corresponding to Figure 1. Figures 5 and 6-are respectively a plan
and longitudinal elevation, and Figure 7 is a transverse section of this improved
dock as decked over and otherwise fitted up as a steamer capable of propelling
itself out to its destination; being temporarily fitted for that purpose with four
separate engines E and screw propellors F, and boilers G, and masts, sails; rigging,
rudders, stearing gear, deck Boats and all other necessary gear and fittings com-
plete and requisite for taking this dock out to the port of destination where
it is to be dismantled and settled down for use as a graving dock as shown
in Figures 1 to 4

page_text: The shell of the graving dock is formed of a compact outer shell of metal plating,
and an inner or partial inner shell, especially for some distance at the stern walls,
which are made in the form of hollow piers or towers C, with the spindles of the
rudders working up through them, which rudders might be of the balanced form,
and be worked by stearing gear on the main deck as shown at H. The bottom
and walls A, B, would all be strongly braced and bound together by vertical and
transverse frames or latticed stays as is particularly shown at a, b, in Figures 1
and 2. Into the lower space between the framing or inner and outer shells,
masonry may be built, or concrete filled in, or, the structure may be otherwise
loaded to such an extent only as to give ample buoyancy while it is to float, and
until it reaches its destination; where, after a suitable bed has been formed for the
dock, masonry, concrete, or other material is permanently filled into the whole
space between the frames a, b, and the shells where these are double, to load the
structure until it is no longer capable of floating but is partially submerged and
rests on the bottom X, the upper portion B, C, of the sides and ends B, C, of the
dock being, however, above the water level, the temporary deck, rigging, engines,
boilers &c. used for taking the dock out to its destination being removed. In
Figures 3 and 4 the caisson or end gate D is shown, which may be of any
ordinary form; and the towers C at the end of each side B, would be fitted with
pumping engines, and apparatus for emptying the dock, and operating the caisson
gate D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
•
First. The improved construction of graving dock herein described and illus-
trated.
Second. Forming a graving dock or structure of a single or double shell of
metal, timber or other material adapted for transport in pieces or entire to its
destination-and capable of being used, when partially submerged, as a graving dock
or slipway, substantially as herein set forth.