Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, Floating Off Stranded Vessels, and for analogous purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1591-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, Floating
Off Stranded Vessels, and for analogous purposes.
We ALFRED HUGH TYLER, and JOHN STUART ELLIS DE VESIAN, both of
the firm of Tyler and Ellis, of 5 Crown Court, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
11
The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus by which sunken vessels
can be raised, stranded vessels be floated off or analogous operations be performed,
for instance the apparatus can be used for raising vessels or other bodies for
repairs or other purposes.
According to our invention we provide a pair of vessels between which when the
apparatus is in use extends a bridge-like structure or the required number of such
structures usually three each of which structures is divided at or about its centre so
that cach vessel will carry one of the parts of the said structures to and from the
scene of operations. The said parts are provided with efficient means for connecting
them together for work and when separated they can be swung inboard and any
parts carried thereby can be stowed or lowered and made fast in their respective
vessels. The connection of the parts of the said structures is so arranged that the
structures will be maintained practically steady notwithstanding movement of the
vessels on which they are mounted. For this purpose each of the structures at
each end is supported on each of the vessels by means of legs or supports which
rest upon shafts or centre pieces situated in a direction fore and aft of the vessels
at or about the centre of rolling motion so that as the vessels roll the rolling move-
ment will not be imparted to the said structures which will ride upon the said
shafts or centre pieces which roll with the vessels.
To meet the pitching and tossing motion the structures are each connected at
the upper part by joints situated at or about right angles to those which are
provided for the rolling motion. Fitted so as preferably to run upon the said
structures to any required position thereon are hydraulic jacks or lifting cylinders
by which the chains connected to the vessel to be raised or moved are operated.
The said jacks or cylinders have combined with them what we call compensating
cylinders working over fixed rams and having fluid supplied to the space between.
Or the ram may be the moveable part and the cylinders the stationary. These
compensating cylinders in connection with each jack may be connected together in.
any desired way so that the fluid has passage from the one to the other of them.
The fluid thus will run from cylinder to cylinder and compensate for any vertical
movement of the ends of the structure as when one end rises the fluid will pass to
one of the lower cylinders and consequently the jacks themselves will maintain
approximately a true level so that the load will not be thrown unequally upon the
chains. The connections of the compensating cylinders will be effected so that
they can be readily coupled and uncoupled and the passages through them controlled
as desired.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular way of gripping the chain to enable
the jacks to haul them but the chains are preferably made of links with heads
which present bearing surfaces for pawls which are hinged to the lifting jacks and
support the chains and cause them to lift when the fluid under pressure is admitted
to the jacks. The compensating cylinders also carry a similar arrangement of
pawls to support the chains whilst the lifting jacks are descending to take a fresh
hold on the chains.
To facilitate the turning of the structures inboard and to their working position
the mounting of the legs or supports may be upon turntables operated by screws

page_text: and quadrants or other suitable device and there may be applied hydraulic cylinders
to give a tilt to the parts of the structures whilst they are being brought inboard
or into working position. The links of the lifting chains are made with joints
which can be readily attached so that they are fastened together link by link as
they are lowered the jacks being provided with crane jibs for the purpose. The
various connections for controlling the supply and passage of duid for the lifting
and compensating cylinders may be led into a valve house for the operator and
supported by the structure. The attachment of the chains to the vessel may be
effected in any convenient way but we prefer to effect it by means of a number of
plates secured to the ship and provided with sheaves. The lower ends of the lifting
chains are also provided with sheaves and small chains are passed around these
sheaves in such a way as to distribute the pull of each chain amongst a number of
the plates and consequently over a considerable surface of the sides of the
vessel.
In place of combining the compensating arrangements with the jacks as herein
before described they may be combined with the ends of the structure so that the
structure itself is supported thereby.
35
1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Sunken Vessels, Floating
Off Stranded Vessels, and for analogous purposes.
We, ALFRED HUGH TYLER, and JOHN STUART ELLIS DE VESIAN, both of
the firm of Tyler & Ellis, of 5 Crown Court, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Engineers, 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 :-
.
The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus by which sunken vessels
can be raised, stranded vessels be floated off, or analogous operations be performed,
(for instance the apparatus can be used for raising vessels, or other bodies, for
repairs, or other purposes) in a more efficient and practical manner than with
apparatus as hitherto proposed, or used.
According to our invention we employ a pair of vessels between which, when
the apparatus is in use, extends a bridge-like structure, or the required number of
such structures, (usually three), each of which structures is divided at, or about,
its centre, so that each vessel will carry one of the parts of the said structures to,
and from, the scene of operations. The said parts are provided with efficient
means for connecting them together for work, and for separating them, and, when
separated, they can be swung inboard, and any parts carried thereby can be stowed,
or lowered, and made fast, in their respective vessels. The connection of the parts
of the said structures to the vessels is such that the structures will be maintained
practically steady notwithstanding movement of the vessels on which they are
mounted. For this purpose each of the structures, at each end, is supported, on
cach of the vessels, by means of legs, or supports, which rest, or are mounted,
upon shafts, or centre pieces, situated in a direction fore and aft of the vessels at,
or about, the centre of rolling motion, so that, as the vessels roll, the rolling
movement will not be imparted to the said structures which will ride upon the
said shafts, or centre pieces, which roll with the vessels.
To meet the pitching and tossing motion the structures are each connected, at
the upper part of the legs, or supports, by joints situated at, or about, right angles
to those which are provided for the rolling motion. Fitted, so as preferably to
run upon the said structures to any required position thereon, are hydraulic jacks,
or lifting cylinders, by which the chains, connected to the vessel to be raised or

page_text: moved, are operated. The said jacks, or cylinders, have combined with them what
we call "compensating cylinders," working over fixed rams and having fluid supplied
to the space between. Or the ram may be the moveable part and the cylinders
the stationary. These compensating cylinders, in connection with each jack, may
be put into communication with each other in any desired way, so that the fluid
has passage from the one to the other of them and will run from cylinder to
cylinder and compensate for any vertical movement of the ends of the structure;
as, when one end rises, the fluid will pass to one of the lower cylinders, and, con-
sequently, the jacks themselves will maintain approximately a true level, so that
the load will not be thrown unequally upon the several chains. The connections
of the compensating cylinders will be effected so that they can be readily coupled,
We do not
and uncoupled, and the passages through them controlled, as desired.
limit ourselves to any particular way of gripping the chain, to enable the jacks to
haul them, but the chains are preferably made of links with heads which present
bearing surfaces for pawls which are hinged to the lifting jacks and support the
chains and cause them to lift when the fluid under pressure is admitted to the
jacks. The compensating cylinders also carry a similar arrangement of pawls to
support the chains whilst the lifting jacks are descending to take a fresh hold on
the chains.
To facilitate the turning of the structures inboard, and to their working position,
the mounting of the legs, or supports, may be upon turntables, and there may be
applied hydraulic cylinders to give a tilt to the parts of the structures whilst they
are being brought inboard, or into working position. The links of the lifting
chains are made with joints which can be readily attached so that they are fastened
together, link by link, as they are lowered, and removed, link by link, as they
are raised; the jacks being preferably provided with crane jibs for the purpose
of manipulating the said links. The various connections for controlling the supply
and passage of fluid for the lifting and compensating cylinders may be led into a
valve-house for the operator, the said valve-house being supported by the structure.
The attachment of the chains to the vessel may be effected in any convenient
way but we prefer to effect it by means of a number of plates secured to the
ship, to which plates blocks and sheaves are secured. The lower ends of the
lifting chains are also provided with blocks and sheaves, and small chains are
passed around these sheaves in such a way as to distribute the pull of each chain
over a considerable surface of the sides of the vessel.
In place of combining the compensating arrangements with the jacks, as herein-
before described, they may be combined with ends of the structure, so that the
structure itself is supported thereby..
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we shall now
proceed, more particularly, to describe the same, and, for that purpose, shall refer
to the several figures of the accompanying drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents in end elevation and Figure 2 in partial longitudinal section,
through the mid-ship line of one of the vessels, an apparatus constructed and
arranged according to this invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section and Figure 4 a horizontal section shewing one of
the jacks.
Figures 5, 6 & 7 shew an arrangement for enabling the turntables carrying the
legs, or supports, to rest upon wheels, or upon a rigid base.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 shew the arrangement for giving a tilt to the parts of the
girder-like structures and
Figures 11 and 12 shew the plates attached to the vessel and the arrangement of
blocks and sheaves, and small chains passing thereover.
A, are the vessels, each carrying a half of the girder-like structures B, which
may be constructed in any suitable way, such, for example, as in the manner in
which wrought iron bridges are built. Each half of the girders B is connected
to its vessel A by being mounted upon legs or supports D; the lower ends of which

page_text: rest, so that they are capable of turning, upon shafts d, situated in a direction
fore and aft of the vessel, at, or about, the centre of rolling motion of the said
vessel.
The halves of the girders are connected at the upper parts to the legs D by
joint pins or trunnions, situated with their length at, or about, right angles to
the shafts d, and the said halves of the girders are connected together by passing
pins through lugs on the half structures.
The hydraulic jacks (by which the lifting is effected when the apparatus is at
work) are carried on either side of the girders B by saddle-like structures F which
rest upon the upper members of the girders and are fitted with wheels f to run
upon rails on the lower members of the girders. These wheels can be lowered by
means of the worms f¹ and quadrants f² secured to the cranked axles on which
the wheels are mounted so that then the structures carrying the jacks rest on the
wheels and are raised from the upper members of the girders and they can then be
brought to any required position on the girders. is a motor which by the
gearing gives the necessary traversing motion to the said structures carrying the
jacks. F are the jack cylinders which contain the rams F3 connected by the cross-
head F4.
GG are what we have referred to as compensating cylinders. There is one in
connection with each jack cylinder, as shown in Figure 3, and their interiors are
.connected together by pipes through which the fluid in them can flow from one
cylinder to the other of the whole series of cylinders, or any desired number of
them. The said compensating cylinders provided with the stationary rams 7, are
secured to, or formed in one with, the jack cylinders F2 the cylinders G rising and
falling over these rams and carrying the cylinders of the jacks with them.
The chains by which the lifting is effected are composed of links H, provided
with bolts h, so that they can be readily put together, and separated; each link
having heads ², which present bearing surfaces for pawls I, hinged at i, to the
head F, carried by the rams of the jacks so that when the rams of the jacks are
raised the pawls raise the chains.
Jare similar pawls on the compensating cylinders to support the chains whilst
the jack rams are descending to take under the heads of the next link of the
chain in raising.
There is, situated between the members of each leg D, the structure shewn at E,
secured to the strengthening girders A2 at the lower part of the vessel, and having,
around its lower part, a circular track K, upon which run the wheels (Figures 5, 6
and 7) carried by the ring e, which supports the shafts d, which wheels, by worms k²,
and quadrants ³, (connected to eccentric axles on which the said wheels k, run),
can be raised, or lowered, so that the ring e, itself can rest upon the track K, when
the girders are in position for work, or so that the ring e, is supported upon the
wheels &, when the half girders are to be moved inwards, or outwards, upon the vessels.
The track Kat its upper part has a circular rail for the wheels to run on, and,
if the ring e be formed at its surface with projections and recesses corresponding
to this rail, these, by engaging with the rail when the ringe is lowered, will support
the legs D laterally. L (Figures 8, 9 and 10) are hydraulic cylinders which are
connected to the legs D and move over the rams 1, connected by the crosshead 1,
and having a link embracing the pivot e³ on the structure E, so as to give a tilt
to the parts of the girders whilst they are being turned outward and inward this
tilting being due to the action of the cylinders between the legs D and the pivot e
the water being admitted on the side of the rams nearest to D when it is desired to
cause the tilting. M are crane jibs for manipulating the links of the chain.
The attachment of the chains to the vessel to be raised is shewn more particularly
in Figures 11 and 12, in side, and end, views, respectively.
N are plates secured to the ship to be raised by bolts, passed therethrough and
through holes in the hull of the vessel. The said plates carry pins n, over which
are passed the eyes of the blocks and sheaves n². The lower ends of the lifting
chains H; are connected to beams N' carrying sheaves n³, and small chains p, are

page_text: passed round these sheaves n², and n³, as shewn so as to distribute the pull of the
chains over a large surface of the vessel.
The number of girder-like structures is not necessarily three, as we may use
one, or any convenient number, as desired, but, for general purposes, we believe
three will be found most convenient.
The following is the way in which the apparatus may conveniently be used. The
separate vessels A, will proceed to a sheltered spot, as near to the scene of
operations as possible, with their respective halves of the girder-like structures
turned inboard, and secured in that position, and then will be brought alongside
cach other. One jack supporting structure F, on each vessel, will then be mounted
on its half girder B, the fastenings, which secure the latter in its inboard position,
will be removed and water will be admitted to the cylinder L, to give a tilt to the
half girder which will be turned outwards, to project from the vessels side to meet.
the corresponding half girder from the other vessel, which has been similarly
operated, and then the half girders will be lowered, by removing the water from
the cylinders L, until the said half girders meet when they are joined together by
passing the pins through the lugs on each. The other girders are similarly turned
out, and connected, and then the various hydraulic communications are joined up.
The half girders may be turned in, and out, by any suitable power, and gear, such
as by chains worked by the engines of the vessels A. The two vessels A, thus
connected by the girders B, are then brought to either side of the vessel to be
raised, (shewn at X Figures 1, 11 and 12) and then the chains are connected up,
and lowered, link by link, until a sufficient length has been lowered to enable divers
to effect the attachment to the sunken vessel by means of the sheaves n², and n³,
and chains p. To effect the lifting sufficient water is admitted to the compensating
cylinders G to lift them, say to about half stroke, and the jacks on the forward
girder are started by the pumps and after the fore part of the sunken vessel has
been slightly raised the centre and aft pairs of jacks are started and all the jacks
then continue to work simultaneously.
Each link of the chain H, when clevated above the jacks, is disconnected, and
lowered into the vessels A, by the gibs M.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained, the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for the purposes described, vessels, or floating bodies, with a
bridge-like structure, or several such structures, extending between them, and
supported upon legs by joints, or connections, allowing for pitching and tossing
movements of the vessels, or floating bodies, the said legs being supported so
that rolling motion of the vessels is allowed for all substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. In apparatus for the purposes described, vessels, or floating bodies, with a
bridge-like structure, or several such structures, extending between them, and
supported upon legs, supported upon the vessels as described, so as to allow for
rolling, and also for pitching and tossing movements, of the vessels, or floating
bodies, and with compensating cylinders, all arranged and combined substantially as
hereinbefore described.
3. In apparatus for the purposes described, vessels, or floating bodies, with a
bridge-like structure, or several such structures, extending between them, and
formed of separable parts capable of being joined, mounted, by joints as described,
upon legs carried by the respective vessels, or floating bodies, so as to allow of
pitching and tossing movements, the said legs being supported so as to allow for
rolling motion, and carried by a support upon which the legs, and girder-like
structures, can be turned all substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In apparatus for the purposes described, and having a bridge-like structure,
or several such structures, extending between such vessels, or floating bodies, the
combination, with the structure or structures, or with hydraulic jacks thereon, of

page_text: compensating cylinders in communication with each other and arranged substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
5. In apparatus for the purposes described, the arrangement of removable links
in the lifting chains, and supporting pawls, and lifting pawls, in combination with
hydraulic jacks, all as hereinbefore described, and illustrated.
6. In apparatus for the purposes described, bridge-like structures in halves, or
separable parts, mounted upon legs, supported upon shafts below, and provided with
hydraulic cylinders for tilting the said parts of the structures when they are to be
turned, as described and illustrated.
7. In apparatus for the purposes described, the arrangement of the lifting chains
and blocks and sheaves, and the attachment of the chains to the vessel, or body to
be raised, by means of plates secured thereto, and provided with blocks and
sheaves, and with supplementary chains passed round the said sheaves, all as
herein before described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The arrangement and combination of parts, as a whole, constituting the
apparatus substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of September 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn-Fields, London, W.C., Agents.