AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF FLOATING BREAKWATER FOR THE PROTECTION OF EXISTING HARBOURS AND FOR THE CREATION OF NEW HARBOURS OF REFUGE FOR SHELTERING SHIPPING IN EXPOSED PLACES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN BIDDER of 45 Parliament Street Westminster in the county of
Middlesex, Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF FLOATING BREAKWATER FOR THE
PROTECTION OF EXISTING HARBOURS AND FOR THE CREATION OF NEW HARBOURS
OF REFUGE FOR SHELTERING SHIPPING IN EXPOSED PLACES to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct skeleton frames of timber and to
connect them in such a manner that the water can pass through between them as
to break the waves and produce a stillness or comparative stillness on the opposite
sido. The frames are chain linked at distances apart another chain being connected
by which each pair (preferably) can be anchored or held to the ground or to blocks
thereon.
In very exposed or dangerous places series of frames can be arranged in different
lines each frame being weighted to submerge it to any desired depth.
For the purposes of my invention I bolt vertical timbers to horizontal baulks in
intermittent order back and front or I bolt the vertical timbers between the
transverse ones or vice versa or to both inside and outside in regular or irregular
positions. To the lower ends at the edges or near thereto I secure a chain which
connects two frames end to end and I fix another chain to the centro link of the
first one to enable the frames to be moored and held at the desired place without
liability to drag. Each frame is weighted and caused to ride a certain distance out
of the water and be subject at all times to yield to pressure and be able to right
itself when the body say a vessel has passed over it the holding being at the
bottom only. The intermediate chains are about as long as each frame is wide und
when one series is arranged within another I arrange the inner frames so as to break
joint with those of the outer and so on for as many lines of frames employed..
Dated this 12th day of January 1884.
H. GARDNER,
Agent for the Petitioner.

page_text: I JOHN BIDDER of 45 Parliament Street, Westminster in the county of
Middlesex Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF FLOATING BREAKWATER FOR THE
PROTECTION OF EXISTING HARBOURS AND FOR THE CREATION OF NEW HARBOURS
OF REFUGE FOR SHELTERING SHIPPING IN EXPOSED PLACES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The objeet of this invention is to construct skeleton frames of timber, (hollow
metal or other material) and to secure them in a vertical or other position in such
manner that the water can pass through and between them so as to break the waves
and produce a stillness or comparative stillness within the harbour or enclosed piece
of water between the said frames and the shore, or within a space or spaces
of water enclosed and sheltered by tho said frames so as to make a "shelter" or
place of refuge upon banks or in shallow places in the sea.
In very exposed or dangerous places two or more series of frames can be arranged
in different lines one line within the other, each frame being so moored and (or)
weighted as to submerge it to any desired depth.
For the purpose of this invention I bolt or otherwise attach vertical timbers, if
timber be used, to horizontal baulks in intermittent order back and front or I bolt
or otherwise secure the vertical-timbers-between-the-transverse-ones.or vice versa,_
or to both inside and outside in regular or irregular positions. A similar mode
of construction is used where it is found preferable to construct the frames of hollow
tubes of iron or other metal secured by bolts or otherwise to transverse bars of metal,
hollow or solid or partly of wood and partly of metal as before specified. I also
use air chambers whero deemed necessary or advantageous, attached to and forming
part of said--frames-to ensure their most. perfect action and to impart to thei
greater buoyancy.
Each frame can be moored and if required so weighted as to present a certain
portion of it out of the water, and to yield to the pressure of the waves,
and also be able to right itself in the event of a ship or other vessel running upon
or being driven against it when the said ship or vessel may or shall have passed
over it. Should a ship or vessel or floating wreckage or the force of the sea cause
any frame to break from its moorings, or displace or otherwise injure or break the
frame or frames with which it came in contact the integrity of the other parts of
my "Floating break water" would not be impaired.
The height of the frames and their distances apart, as also their strength, to be
varied and determined by the depth of the water, the rise and fall of tides and the
other conditions of the places where it is desired to afford increased protection to
existing or to construct new harbours of refuge or "shelters" for vessels, or
otherwise.
The invention can be either taken in parts to any desired locality in any
part of the world, or where timber is available constructed on the spot where
required.
Several examples or methods of constructing and arranging my floating break-
water are shown on the annexed sheet of drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 a plan of two sets of vertical timbers A A
bolted to horizontal timbers B. B. The vertical timbers are intermittent with each
other on the two sides as to leave a passage for water diagonally between thein
and to give to the frames increased buoyancy if required I fit air chambers C, C,

page_text: near the lower part said chambers being proportionate to the buoyancy of the
timbers as to cause the frame to stand, say, one sixth above the surface of the
water.
I fit rings or holdfasts D, D, to the structure for the attachment of wire ropes or
chains for mooring said frames at any desired distance from each other. Figures 3
and 4 are corresponding views of a single set of vertical timbers between two sets
of horizontal timbers.
Any number of such frames of any desired length can be lashed end to end (but
with openings between them as at Figure 5) by chains E, E, the bridles of which
may have the mooring ropes and chains F, F, affixed and connected to anchors G, G,
or other means of mooring can be adopted.
At Figure 5 I show other arrangements of vertical and horizontal timbers and
these may be varied to any extent and according to circumstances. The timbers
may also be arranged at any desired distance apart, see Figure 6, according to the
strength of the incoming waves or volume of water beating in towards or from
the shore, sands rocks, or other impediment between which and the floating
break water it is intended to form a refuge or safety harbour in exposed or dangerous
localities.
Instead of the frames being coupled or connected by end chains as at Figure 5
single chains as mooring chains to each frame, Figure 7, with or without a rider
chain or heel rope H as at Figure 8 may be used.
In some cases where the under current or "swell" is strong timber may be
arranged close together at the lower part of the frame as at Figure 7 in which case
if the fastening bolts tend to sink the frame to too great a depth, air vessels C, C,
can be affixed to increase the buoyancy of the frame.
Any method of mooring the frames can be adopted some of which I have
represented at Figures 9, 10 and 11. Figure 9 of which shows the frames in zigzag
Figure 10 in straight line and Figure 11, in echelon order, either of which may bo
in single or double line, in parallel, in (curved) in broken or other direction as
found desirable.
The examples given on the annexed drawings are those I prefer to use for the
purpose of my invention but I do not limit myself thereto as many changes can
be made both in the construction of the frames, in the method of mooring them
and in the arrangement or fixing of them.
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
The several methods of constructing and arranging floating breakwater frames
and the means of connecting or attaching them to mooring chains as and for the
purpose described and substantially as shown in the annexed drawings.