New or Improved Means and Apparatus or Machinery for Dry Docking Ships and other Vessels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means and Apparatus or Machinery for Dry
Docking Ships and other Vessels.
I, SAMUEL DURE of 233 Holton Road, Barry Dock, in the County of
Glamorgan South Wales, Foreman Shipwright, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
A method now usually adopted in dry docking ships is to keep them upright by
means of wood shores inserted between the quay wall and the ship, sometimes the
side of the latter having a list towards the shores and when the dry dock is
sufficiently large to take two ships alongside one another, each ship is made to lean
towards its corresponding quay wall; supposing each ship to be 200 feet long each
would require about 20 wood shores while ships of greater tonnage require a greater
number of shores from the quay wall. All these shores to be placed in position
and properly adjusted entail the loss of considerable time, labour, and consequent
expense, while I have from practical experience found that wood shores are often
very defective thus endangering the safety of the ship. Now the primary object
of my invention is to provide means whereby the above objections are practically
overcome.
According to the first part of my invention I dispense with the use of wood
shores, and substitute there!or hydraulic rams; these rams are arranged along the
dock or quay wall and fitted therein at suitable distances apart, for example four or
five rams would take the place of say 20 wood shores; they are built in with the
wall of the dock, and the pressure pipes so arranged to go through the side walls
that the rams can be worked from the top of the dock wall or other convenient
place, and in such manner that when a ship is being docked in a dock fitted with
my hydraulic rams there is no difficulty to be anticipated with reference to the
adjustment of wood shores but on the contrary, the rams are in position ready to
receive the ships side and are capable of being adjusted with the greatest nicety as
is well known hydraulic rams can be.
My invention is not only applicable to shoreing the sides of ships but also to
working the bilge blocks in and out and adjusting their position and securing them
by means of hydraulic rams as aforesaid. These bilge blocks are so arranged that
they can be run out under the ship when she is in position at any moment, and
there adjusted with the greatest nicety and with the utmost facility; or I run two
lines of metals or rails fore and aft the dock; twelve feet from keel blocks and on
these is run a bilge block. The lines of rails are about two feet apart run the
whole length of dock and they are embedded in bottom of dock so as to cause no
obstruction. The blocks stand on legs supported by wheels travelling on the rails,
and they may be worked by screws similar to an ordinary screw jack. The keel
blocks are about 3 feet high and a large ship would rise in bilge about a foot and a
small ship about 2 to 2 feet 6, and the travelling screw would be about 3 feet.
The number of bilge blocks would be say 4 inside and 3 on the side nearest quay
The present system of bilge shoring is to stand 6 or 7 pieces of wood on end
on each side of the ship and to make each tight by means of a wedge.
wall.
OAL of Tal 1905
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means and Apparatus or Machinery for Dry
Docking Ships and other Vessels.
I, SAMUEL DURE, of 233 Holton Road, Barry Dock, in the County of
Glamorgan, South Wales, Foreman Shipwright, 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 :-
A method now usually adopted in dry docking ships is to keep them in
position by means of wood shores, inserted between the quay wall and the ship,
sometimes the side of the latter having a list towards the shores, and when the dry
dock is sufficiently large to take two ships alongside one another, each ship is made
to lean towards its corresponding quay wall; supposing each ship to be 200 feet
long, each would require about 20 wood shores, while ships of greater length,
require a greater number of shores from the quay wall. All these shores to be
placed in position, and properly adjusted, entail the loss of considerable time,
labour, and consequent expense, while I have from practical experience found that
wood shores are often very defective, thus endangering the safety of the ship. Now
the primary object of my invention is to provide means whereby the above
objections are practically overcome.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a transverse sectional
elevation of one arrangement. Figure 5 is a transverse sectional elevation, and
Figure 6 is a front elevation of another arrangement, of a portion of a dockwall
sufficient to explain ny invention shewing a hydraulic ram fitted and arranged, to
act in substitution, for the use of the ordinary wood shores, Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are
detail views of parts shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of parts
shown at Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a bilge block constructed
according to my invention Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of same, and Figure 11 is a
transverse section of so much of a dry or graving dock, with my improvements
applied thereto, as will be necessary to describe the application of the invention
thereto. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
According to my invention I arrange hydraulic rams, such as A Figs. 1 and 5,
where one of such rams is shown, along the dock or quay wall and somewhat below
the top level of the latter, the said rams being arranged at suitable distances apart,
for example four or five rams would take the place of twenty wood shores. The
ram A shewn at Figures 1 and 5, is illustrative of the type Í employ, and is fitted
into a space in the quay or dock wall B. Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, I
mount the ram A on a bed plate B¹, by means of a spherical stud or knuckle A',
projecting from below the ram cylinder A. The knuckle A¹, shewn in detached
inverted plan view at Fig. 2, is adapted to be slidden into the somewhat keyhole
shaped recess B¹×, see detached plan view Fig. 3, and so that the ram A. is capable
of being freely adjusted in position, is firmly supported against thrust, and cau
when required be unshipped. C is the plunger fitted at acting end with a head D,
which form generally with a hard wood face, D¹ being india rubber packing.
Pressure pipes are arranged to go through the side walls of the dock or quay, so
that the rams can be worked from the top of the dock wall, or other convenient
place, and in such manner that when a ship is being docked in a dock fitted with my
hydraulic rams, there is no difficulty to be anticipated with reference to the
adjustment of wood shores but on the contrary, the rams are in position ready to
receive the ship's side, and are capable of being adjusted with the greatest nicety,
as is well known, hydraulic rams can be.
.
• Stop cocks (not shewn in the drawings) are provided, so that the pressure
connections may be entirely cut off when the rams are adjusted, the cylinders will

page_text: remain full, and at the same time will prevent accidents by people tampering with
the pressure supply valves. A brake may also be employed for locking the ram
when in position.
A pressure gauge should be fitted to such cylinder so that the
several rams may receive an equal distribution of the weight of the vessel.
To readily adjust the ram, I fix or form at the rear end thereof, a toothed
segment E (see the detached plan view of this part Fig. 4) to engage into a toothed
block F, curved to allow of vertical motion of the ram, and the toothed block F is
fitted with a gear wheel F¹ operated by a pinion F, on shaft F³, which is carried
in suitable bearings and extends up through the ram space to above the quay wall
where it may be operated by a hand wheel F, and the ram thereby swung
horizontally in either direction as desired. In order that the ram may be adjusted
vertically, I provide a screw G operated by shaft G₁ and hind wheel from the top
of quay wall; the screw G passes through a screwed sleeve G Fig. 4, pivotted in
the heel of the ram and the said screw acts upon or against the base plate B, to
raise or lower the ram vertically. To aid in supporting the outer end of the rain
plunger, and assist in raising and lowering the inner end of the ram, I provide a
steel wire rope H, attached at one end to the ram plunger, passing over a fixed
pulley H, under a pulley H2 on the rear end of the ram cylinder, and up over a
fixed pulley H³, and attached to the counterbalance H*.
Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, instead of the ram being so arranged and
mounted as to be capable of motion angularly in two planes as before described, I
sometimes provide means whereby the ram can be wholly raised or lowered, and
so adjusted automatically, to any required position and such motion being effected
by the hydraulic power of the ram itself. Such an arrangement is shewn at
Figs. 5 and 6, the latter figure 6 being a sectional end view taken in front of the
forward guides. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the 1am and its guides, and Fig. 8
is a plan view of the head of the ram drawn to a larger scale than the previous
figures. In this arrangement the ram A is arranged between standards A³, acting
as guides thereto, as the ram is raised or lowered as hereafter described. P, P, are
pawls or clutches pivotted as shown on the standards A* A* and actuated by vertical
rods PP, extending up to the cross rod Q and bell crank Q arranged under the
quay wall platform R. One pair of standards is shown in the drawing, but more
sets might be fitted according to circumstances, and the bell cranks Q'Q' are joined by
connecting rods R¹. S is a detachable hand lever for operating the bell cranks Q³,
and consequently the rods P1, and the pawls or clutches P. The full lines show
the ram resting on block T on bed plate B' and the dotted lines show its position
when raised and supported by the first set of clutches P.
Near the head D of the plunger, two ropes, chains, or equivalents X X are
secured by any convenient readily detachable means, such for example, as is
illustrated in the drawings at Figs. 5 and 8. The ropes X are carried rearwards,
passing under or through a locking device Y, then passing under a wheel W,
working in a bearing, and situated near the forward end of the ram A, where one
of the ropes is carried vertically upwards and secured to a beam near the
platform R², the remaining rope is carried to a wheel W' situated near the rear of
the ram where it is likewise carried vertically upwards and secured in a similar
manner as the first. The counter-balance II is arranged as previously described.
As the ram plunger is forced out by the hydraulic pressure, the ropes X X which
are connected near the head will be carried with it; now since the ropes X X are
connected at their opposite ends to fixed centres the tendency will be to lengthen
the present distance between the head D and the wheels W and W₁ thereby
shortening the distance between the fixed ends of the ropes X X and the
wheels W W which are connected to the cylinder A, and so cause the cylinder to
rise to a position such as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. When the
cylinder has been raised to this position, a little distance above the pawls P, the
lever S is pulled over operating the pawls, so that they will retain the cylinder in
its elevated position. The ram is now run in, the wie ropes X X detached, and
the ram is ready for use. Should however it be desired to use the ram in an

page_text: intermediate position, between the pawls, the cylinder A is first raised to its
required height the ropes X X secured by means of the locking device Y, the ram
is then run in, the ends of the ropes X X are detached from near the head, and the
apparatus is ready for use.
31
The cylinder will rise by the action of its own ram, as before stated, say ten or
twelve feet; the distance from bed plate to first pawl should be about six feet and
the same from first to second pawl. As the ram plunger goes out by hydraulic
pressure as in the previous arrangement, the cylinder rises as the counter-balance
eight H descends, while it is supported by the wire ropes. Supposing I am
about to dock a small steamer, the ram would be worked from bed plate, and the
lifting wire or chain should be unhooked from ram, but the counter-balancing
weight on end of 1am would be kept on. Supposing I am now about to dock a large
ship, the lifting wire or chain would be kept on and by running out the ram the
cylinder would be lifted to the required height. The ram would then run in, the
lifting gear unhooked, and the ram would be ready for running out against ship's
side. The ram and cylinder are supported as before-stated, by pillars or standards;
these rest against the masonry and are bolted or otherwise secured and there are
two strong cross heads, resting on the masonry to make fast the lifting chain or
wire. All the gear is conveniently arranged below the top of the quay wall, so
that railways, wagons, or anything else can pass over it. The lever of the pawl
gear is made to ship, and unship. Supposing that a dock takes six of those rams
on one side, four of them should be so atranged as to point strait to the ship, the
two end ones however should point one forward, and one aft. When a ship is
docked in a dock fitted with these rams, and the ship begins to settle, which is
about three inches, the inner end of the cylinder will rise.
purpose that the ram
shall travel fourteen feet, that will be when docking a small ship, but when docking
a large ship they will only be required to run about ten feet. The rams are about
six or seven inches in diameter.
My invention is not only applicable to shoreing the sides of ships, but also to
working the bilge blocks in and out and adjusting their position and securing them
by means of hydraulic or other iams. These bilge blocks may in some cases be so
arranged that they can be run out under the ship when she is in position at any
moment, and there adjusted with the greatest nicety and with the utmost facility;
or I may run two lines of metals or rails fore and aft the dock, twelve feet from
keel blocks and on these I may run a bilge block supported by wheels travelling
on the rails. I may however fix the bilge blocks J in proper situations upon bed-
plates, as shewn at Fig. 11, say about 12 feet from the keel blocks K, and they
may be worked by screws similar to an ordinary screw jack. The keel blocks K
are or may be about 3 feet high and a large ship would rise in bilge about a fot
and a small ship about 2 to 2 feet 6, and the travelling screw would be say about
3 feet. The number of bilge blocks would be say 4 inside and 3 on the side
nearest the quay wall. The present systein of bilge shoring is to stand 6 or 7 pieces
of wood on end, on each side of the ship, and to make each tight by means of a
wedge. At Figure 9 is shewn a section of one of the bilge-blocks on a larger scale
than the previous figures; from the bed plate J' proceeds the column J slightly
inclined, and supporting the screw L the latter being prevented from turning by
the key L or by other suitable contrivance. The screw L takes into a threaded
nut M held to the column J, so as to be capable of being turned, by set bolts and
a groove upon the nut M is a ratchet M' Fig. 10 into which a double-acting
pawl N takes, the latter being called by a motor ring P operated by detachable
handles taking into recesses P¹ on the ring P for raising or lowering the screw.
The upper end of the screw L, Fig. 9 is provided with a sel.-adjusting bearing
head R, as shewn, and I would have it understood that such a head may if desired
be applied to the ram plungers D.
The illustration Fig. 11 shews a portion of a dock adapted to contain two vessels
side by side and the vessel is shewn as having a list towards the quay wall, and
supported therefrom by the rams; in a dock for single vessels I should provide

page_text: rams upon either side thereof. When the outer ends of the rams are against the
ship's sides they should be at a rise from the horizontal, the forward rams swung
towards aft and the aft arms swung slightly forwards, and as the ship settles on
the keel blocks the rams will become as nearly horizontal as is desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus or machinery for dry docking ships and other vessels, the
hydraulic rams, located in the sides of the dock or quay walls and acting to support
the ship or other vessel laterally all substantially as and for the purposes hereiu-
before set forth.
2. In apparatus for dry docking ships and other vessels, the bilge-blocks
constructed arranged and acting substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The hydraulic rams located in the sides of the dock or quay walls and acting
to support the ship or other vessel laterally, in combination with the rocking
connection with the base plate, the vertical and horizontal adjustment mechanism
and the counter-balancing arrangement all constructed and acting substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The hydraulic rams located in the sides of the dock or quay walls and acting
to support the ship or other vessel laterally, in combination with the automatically
rising and falling rams, the action being produced by the ram itself, and its position
adjusted in and by the means described all constructed arranged and acting
substantially as herein before described and illustrated with reference to Figures 5,
6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying drawings together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
5. In apparatus or machinery for dry docking ships or other vessels, the
hydraulic rams located in the sides of the dock walls to support the ships laterally,
in combination with the bilge-blocks all arranged and acting substantially as
herein before described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 16th day of January 1806.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.