IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE WORKS, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN. THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE RAISING AND TEANSPORTING OF HEAVY BODIES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bindon Blood Stoney, of the City of Dublin, Ireland,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SUBMARINE WORKS, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN. THE
SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE RAISING AND TEANSPORTING OF HEAVY
BODIES."
Sealed the 24th January 1865, and dated the 16th August 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bindon Blood Stoney
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th August 1864.
I, BINDON BLOOD STONEY, of the City of Dublin, Ireland, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE WORK, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN. THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE RAISING AND TRANSPORTING OF
HEAVY BODIES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a new mode of building quays, piers, walls,
breakwaters, lighthouses, and other works intended to be placed in water.
By this plan the parts composing such works can be formed on any con-
venient site of a much larger size than heretofore, and can then be trans-
ported by means of the apparatus to which the other part of my Invention
relates, viz.
Secondly, in the employment for such purpose of floating shears of a
Deculiar construction.

page_text: I propose to construct sea walls. piers. quays, breakwaters, and similar
works of large blocks of masonry, brickwork. concrete, or other materials,
which are first built on a convenient site, and then removed and deposited in
their proper places in the construction or work in hand. As these blocks are
intended to exceed greatly in their dimensions those which have hitherto been
employed, it is requisite that specially powerful appliances be used in their
transportation and manipulation. For this purpose it is proposed to use
peculiar floating shears. consisting of a water-tight barge. having tanks or
compartments for holding water to be filled or emptied as occasion may
require in any well known manner. On the barge are fitted two pairs of
shear legs and back stays, the one pair projecting over one end of the barge.
and the other pair at the opposite end. A crab winch. hydraulic cylinder, or
other similar contrivance is placed on the barge, and from this a chain passes
up to the top of each pair of shear legs. The block of masonry or other
lead to be transported is suspended by this chain from one pair of shears, a
counterweight being suspended from the chain at the other pair of shears.
In using this floating shears the barge is brought alongside the wharf or place
where the blocks have been built. and the proper end of the chain is attached
to a block. The rising tide or power applied to the crab winch will raise the
block, and so prevent it from capsizing the barge. A tank or compartment
at the other end is charged with water, while water is discharged from one at
the end next the block. In this state the barge and block are conveyed to
their destination, and the block lowered to its place. water being allowed to
escape from the tank or compartment remote from the block or load, and
to enter that next to it to restore the balance. The counterweight on the
chain will assist in working back the crab, and so draw up the end of the
chain again, and prevent slack. The apparatus above described is manifestly
capable of being applied to the raising and transporting of heavy bodies
generally
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bindon Blood Stoney in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. BINDON
BLOOD STONEY, of the City of Dublin, Ireland, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord

page_text: or
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign. did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the
said Bindon Blood Stoney. Her special license that I. the said Bindon
Blood Stoney. my executors. administrators. and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Bindon Blood Stoney. my executors, administrators
assigns, should at any time agree with. and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed. should and
lawfully might make. use, exercise. and, vend. within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland. the Channel Islands. and Isle of Man. an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE WORKS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN. THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO
THE RAISING AND TRANSPORTING OF HEAVY BODIES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Bindon Blood Stoney. my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and
seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention. and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Palent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I. the said Bindon Blood Stoney, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:--
My said Invention relates, firstly, to a new mode of building quays, piers,
walls, breakwaters, lighthouses, and other works intended to be placed in
water, whereby the parts composing such works can be formed of a much
larger size than heretofore on any convenient site, and can then be transported
by means of the peculiar apparatus described and referred to under the second
head of my Invention.
Secondly, in the employment for the purpose herein-before referred to of
floating shears of a peculiar construction.
I propose to construct sea walls, piers, quays, breakwaters, and similar
works of large blocks of masonry, brickwork, concrete, or other materials,
which are first built on a convenient site, and then removed and deposited in
their proper places in the construction or work in hand. As these blocks are
intended to exceed greatly in their dimensions those which have hitherto been
employed, it is requisite that specially powerful appliances be used in their
transportation and manipulation. Fur this purpose it is proposed to use
peculiar floating shears, consisting of a water-tight barge having tanks or

page_text: compartments for holding water, to be filled or emptied as occasion may
require in any well known manner. On the barge are fitted two pairs of
shear legs and back stays. the one pair projecting over one end of the barge,
and the other pair at the opposite end. A crab winch. hydraulic cylinder, or
other similar contrivance is placed on the barge, and from this a chain passes
up to the top of each pair of shear legs. The block of masonry or other load
to be transported is suspended by this chain from one pair of shears. a
counterweight being suspended from the chain at the other pair of shears.
In using this floating shears the barge is brought alongside the wharf or place
where the blocks have been built, and the proper end of the chain is attached
to a block. The rising tide or power applied to the crab winch will raise the
block, and in order to prevent it from capsizing the barge a tank or com-
partment at the other end is charged with water, whilst water is discharged
from a tank or compartment at the end next the block. In this state the
barge and block are conveyed to their destination, and the block lowered to
its place, water is then allowed to escape from the tank or compartment
remote from the block or load, and to enter that next to it, in order to restore
the balance. The counterweight on the chain will assist in working back the
crab, and so draw up the end of the chain again, and prevent slack. The
apparatus above described is manifestly capable of being applied to the raising
and transporting of heavy bodies generally.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood 1 shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose 1 shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in both the
Figures.
Figure represents a side elevation of my improved floating shears, and
Figure 2 is a corresponding end elevation of the same.
A, A, represents a floating barge, which is divided transversely by a bulk-
head B, forming a water-tight compartment. C at one end of the barge, which
can be charged with water, or emptied at will; D. D. are two longitudinal
girders which support the weight, and distribute the pressure of the shear
legs E. E. These shear legs are made to overhang the two ends of the
barge, and are strengthened and stiffened by the back stays E, and wrought-
iron tension or tie rods G. Crab winches II or other convenient hoisting
apparatus is secured on the deck of the barge, the chains from which
(guided by suitably disposed guide pullies) pass over the pullies K, K. on the
Lops of the two shear legs. The block or load 1. is attached to one set of
these chains, and a counterweight M is suspended to the other at the opposite

page_text: end of the barge, to assist in balancing the load, and to draw up the chains
again when the load is detached. thereby preventing slack. N is the water
tank overhanging the end of the barge farthest from the load, such tank being
supplied with water by any convenient means. for the purpose of balancing
the weight of the load at the opposite end of the barge. This tank rests upon
the end of the barge, and is supported by the suspenders O from the shear
legs E¹.
In another arrangement I prolong the barge underneath the tank, so that
the barge may support the tank. in which case I form a water-tight com-
partment in this end of the barge, similar to C at the other end, and which
can be charged with water, or emptied at will.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Palent is,-
First, the system or mode of constructing works intended to be built in
water, substantially as herein before described.
Second, the embination of shears with a barge and water-tight tanks or
compartments. substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described.
In witness whereof. I, the said Bindon Blood Stoney. have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal. the Ninth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.