IMPROVED HYDRAULIC LIFTS FOR SHIPS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Scott, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
HYDRAULIC LIFTS FOR SHIPS."
Sealed the 12th January 1875, and dated the 17th July 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th July 1874.
I, JAMES SCOTT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of “Im-
PROVED HYDRAULIC LIFTS FOR SHIPS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of
hydraulic lifts for taking ships out of the water, consists under one
arrangement in placing longitudinal girders at each side of the lift, and
which are connected together at intervals by cross girders. Hoisting
and lowering chains are attached to the longitudinal girders and passed.

page_text: over pullies centred on horizontal hydraulic cylinders, the rams or
plungers of which are stationary, or the rams may be movable and have
the pullies attached to them. Under either arrangement the stationary
parts of each hydraulic apparatus are fixed to blocks, whereto one end
of the corresponding hoisting and lowering chain is also secured.
In raising a ship the girders with a carriage or truck thereon are
lowered and the ship floated over the carriage or truck. The girder
frame is then raised by the hydraulic apparatus, and the carriage or
truck with the ship thereon run off to any desired position. This is or
may be effected by providing the truck with two or more hydraulic
cylinders at each side fixed on trunnions and connected by coupling
links or rods. The rams of these cylinders are stationary, so that when
water is admitted the carriage or truck is moved horizontally. In lieu of
this arrangement the ship may be raised on the girders themselves.
Under another modification the hydraulic lifting apparatus is placed
vertically with the cylinders uppermost, the rams being stationary.
The girder frame is attached to the cylinders, by connecting links,
or the longitudinal girders may be fixed on trunnions projecting
from the cylinders, in which case the cross girders are suspended from
the longitudinal girders by rods or links; or instead of employing girder a
frames pontoons or caissons may be so suspended from the hydraulic
cylinders. Under this last arrangement it is preferred to attach the
pontoons or caissons to the suspending links by hooks or clutches, which
when the pontoon or caisson has been lifted to the surface and the water
removed therefrom are released, thereby allowing the pontoon or caisson
to float away. Dials marked off into feet or inches and provided with
pointers actuated by chains or ropes from different parts of the vessel
being lifted are or may be provided in conjunction with the hydraulic
lifts herein-before described, by which means inequality in the height
of the different parts of the ship is indicated and rectified by manipu-
lating the hydraulic apparatus at that part.
Under another modification of this Invention wherein the use of dials
is dispensed with, the longitudinal girders are so arranged as to be
movable in a horizontal plane, and the hydraulic apparatus is placed
horizontally. so as to act upon the girders in that direction. Chains are ;
attached to the girders, which after passing round pullies carried on the
top framing are secured to the cross girders, pontoon, or caisson on

page_text: which the ship rests. All the hydraulic rams thus act upon one rigid
body (the longitudinal girders), whereby simultaneous and uniform
lifting throughout the length of the ship is ensured.
*This Invention further relates to an improved arrangement of hydraulic
lift for the removal of ships from the water on an inclined plane or slip,
and consists of a longitudinal traction girder which is secured at different
points to the saddles of a series of hydraulic rams. When in operation
the water is pumped from the front to the back set of hydraulic
cylinders, and vice versa, whereby continuous lifting action is obtained.
Level rails are or may be laid from the higher end of the inclined plane
or slip, to which the ship when drawn up may be transferred, thereby
leaving the traction girder and inclined plane or slip free to be occupied
in docking another ship.
•
In the hydraulic ship lifts herein-before described the metallic parts
of the hydraulic apparatuses are as far as possible placed above the
water level, whereby the corrosive action of salt or mineral water is
lessened or avoided, and the apparatus' rendered more durable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said James Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 16th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SCOTT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the 38th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Scott, Her special license that I, the
said James Scott, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Scott, my executors, administrators, or
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

page_text: "
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVED HYDRAULIC LIFTS FOR SHIPS,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Scott, by an
instrument in writing under my. hand and seal, 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 Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Scott, 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 following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
My said Invention relates to improved hydraulic lifts for taking 1
ships out of the water, and it consists of the several arrangements herein-
after described.
0
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used, or practically carried 2
into effect, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
:
Figures 1 and 1ª on the annexed Sheet of Drawings illustrate one
arrangement of my improved ship lift, Figure 1 being a longitudinal
clevation with the central portion removed; Figure 1ª is a half stem 2
and half stern end elevation of Figure 1. Under this arrangement the
lift consists of a frame composed of a girder or series of girders A
capable of being raised and lowered by the action of hydraulic cylinders
and rams B. which are placed horizontally and at right angles to the
length of the lift. The rams of the hydraulic cylinders are fixed to the
dock wall or pillars C, but the hydraulic cylinders B are capable of
being moved in a horizontal plane, and are provided with chain pullies D
around which (and also round guide pullies E fixed to the ram saddles)
double lifting chains F pass, having one of their ends fixed to the dock
wall, ram saddles, or pillars C; while their other ends are attached to the 3
girder A. Trams or rails extend across the top of the girder A on.
which a transferring carriage G traverses, carrying the ship, as shown at

page_text: Figure 1ª. Similar trams or rails are laid upon the top of the dock wall
and arranged exactly opposite to those upon the frame A, so that when.
the frame A is lifted to the level of the dock wall, as shewn at Figure 1*,
the carriage G with the ship may be transferred to the trams or rails on
the dock wall, leaving the girders A free to be occupied by another
ship...
The apparatus whereby the operation of transferring the carriage and'
ship from the frame A to the dock wall or yard is effected is more par-
ticularly shown at Figure 2 of the Drawings. It consists of any number
of hydraulic cylinders H carried by trunnions upon the side frames of
the carriage G; the rams I are provided at their lower ends with heels
or butts which press against projections fixed beside the rails and thus
force the carriage in the direction of the arrow Figure 2. To maintain
uniform motion of the carriage the rams I of the hydraulic cylinders H
are coupled by chains, J passing over guide pullics K, by which arrange-
ment the forward stroke of one of the rams I pulls back to the beginning
of its stroke the other ram I, to which it is coupled, so that on the *
completion of the stroke of one set of the rams I the others are in a
position to recommence their forward stroke so that no time is lost and
an equal and uniform movement of the carriage G is secured. The '
Figures situated on either side of Figure 1ª and marked respectively
L, M, O, P, are representations of ships supposed to have been transferred
from the lift frame A, as herein-before described. The dotted lines at
Figure 1 indicate the position of the ship,. carriage, and lift frame
previous to their being hoisted to the level at which they are shewn in
full lines..
It is to be understood that in place of employing a lift frame, girder,..
or series of girders, as herein-before described, with reference to Figures 1
and 1, the ship and carriage may be placed upon a pontoon or caisson,
as shewn at Figure 3, which is a half stern elevation of a lift operated
by hydraulic cylinders A, as herein-before described, but wherein a
pontoon or caisson B is employed in lieu of the herein-before described
frame or girders A.
.
At Figure 4 is shewn another arrangement of ship lift, the hydraulic
cylinders A being in this case placed vertically instead of horizontally.
The hydraulic rams are fixed to the columns B which are double, as
shewn at Figure 4". Trunnions are formed upon the cylinders A, and.
C

page_text: the girders C carrying the ship are suspended from these trunnions by
means of links D. When in operation the cylinders A are raised or
lowered, carrying with them the links D and girder C, and thus the ship
is raised out of or lowered into the water.
'
Figures 5 and 5 are modifications of Figures 4 and 4º, two coupled
hydraulic cylinders B being employed in lieu of one, as herein-before
described.
Another modification of my inverted cylinder ship lift is shewn at
Figures 6 and 7; Figure 6 being part of a side elevation and Figure 7
part of a stem and stern elevation of the same. Longitudinal girders A
are attached directly to the trunnions formed upon the hydraulic
cylinders B. A girder or girders, caisson, or pontoon D is or are
attached to the longitudinal girders A by means of suspension links C.
The hydraulic cylinders B in rising or falling carry with them the
girders A, suspension rods or links C, and girder or girders, caisson, or
pontoon suspended thereby with the ship placed thereon. When a
caisson or pontoon is employed to lift a ship from the water by the last
modification it is important that the suspension rods or links C should
be easily attachable to or detachable from the caisson or pontoon. This
object I effect by the employment of an improved hook or clutch E,
shewn more particularly at Figure 7. A ridge or heel is formed along
the lower broadside edges of the caisson or pontoon which prevents the
hooks or clutches E from loosing their hold while the caisson or pontoon
is suspended from the girders A. When it is desired to lower the ship
into the water and release the caisson or pontoon from the lift the
cylinders B are allowed to fall until the caisson or pontoon and ship
float, whereon by further slightly lowering the hooks or clutches E
thie caisson or pontoon is detached therefrom and allowed to float away.
An advantage obtained by the use of inverted hydraulic cylinders, as in
some of the foregoing modifications, is that thereby the cylinders do not
require to be submerged, and are thus protected from the destructive or
corrosive action of salt or mineral water.
Figures 8 and 8 illustrate an arrangement of ship lift in which the
hydraulic cylinders are fixed in the dock wall or columns A. The ram
saddles B are provided with chain pullies C over which pass double
lifting chains D having one of their ends attached to the dock wall,
columns, or hydraulic cylinders, while from thic other is suspended the
girder, caisson, or pontoon whereon the ship is superposed.

page_text: Figures 9, 9, and 9° are views of a modification of the last described
ship lift. In this case the hydraulic cylinders. A are inverted and
moveable while the rams are fixed. Chain pullies are provided at each
side of the hydraulic cylinders A, over which pullies double lifting
chains are passed, having their opposite ends attached to the dock wall
and girder, caisson; or pontoon.
In operating the herein-before described modifications of ship lift it
is necessary to guard against inequalities in the heights of the different
parts of the lift. This difficulty may be obviated by the employment of
dials marked off into feet or inches and provided with pointers actuated
by chains or ropes from different parts of the lift, by which means
inequalities in the height of the different parts of the ship being lifted
are indicated and rectified by manipulating the valves of the hydraulic
apparatus at that part; but I will now proceed to describe an arrangement
of my Invention wherein the use of such dials may be dispensed with.
Figures 10 and 10" are longitudinal and end views respectively of this
last mentioned arrangement. It consists of longitudinal girders A
capable of movement in a horizontal plane. These girders A are moved
horizontally by the double hydraulic cylinders B, the rams C of which
are coupled to and operate the girders A. The hydraulic cylinders B are
fixed to and supported by longitudinal girders D situated on each side of
and parallel to the moveable girders A. The girders D are supported upon
columns E placed at intervals at each side of the lift. Lifting chains F
are employed, having one of their ends attached to the longitudinal
girders A, whilst their other ends are secured to the ends of cross
girders G which support the carriage H and ship placed thereon. The
lifting chains F are passed over pullies I situate between and fixed to
the girders D, which pullies I also serve as rollers upon which the
girders A are supported, as shewn more particularly at Figures 11
and 12, which are enlarged views of the girders A and D, the lifting
chains F, chain pullies I, and cross girders g. The dotted lines at
Figures 10 and 10ª indicate the position of the cross girders G. with
carriage and ship superposed previous to their being raised to the level
at which they are shewn in full lines.
The views marked J, K, and L indicate vessels that have been lifted
by the girders G and transferred therefrom by the herein-before described
transferring apparatus to different: parts of the dock wall or yard.. In

page_text: operating this modification of my Invention the ship to be lifted is
floated over the cross girders G and carriage after they have been
lowered to the position shewn in dotted lines; the hydraulic cylinders A
are then operated, causing the longitudinal girders A to move in the.
direction of the arrows, thus raising by means of the lifting chains Fthe
cross girders and their load. Each half of the lifting chains being attached:
to one rigid structure, viz., the girder A, no one part of the ship can at
any time be lifted higher than another, and equality of level is thus.
preserved throughout the entire length of the lift.
Figure 13 is a plan of another modification of my improved ship lift
as applied to the removal of ships from the water broadside and up an
inclined plane. Figure 14 is an end elevation of the same. According
to this arrangement a longitudinal carriage girder A is employed by
itself or in conjunction with other trucks or carriages. Trams or rails B
are laid up the inclined plane upon which the carriage girder A and trucks
or carriages travel. The girder A and trucks or carriages with their load
are pulled up the inclined plane by double or single acting sets of
hydraulic apparatus C through the ram saddles E, of which connecting
links or rods D pass, having their lower extremities attached to the.
carriage girder A. The hydraulic apparatus is preferably made double
in order to secure, continuous motion of the carriage girder A up the
inclined plane, it being so arranged, that while one pair of rams are
making their forward stroke the other pair are being released from the
water pressure and receding into their cylinders so as to be ready to re-
commence their forward stroke upon the completion of the forward
stroke of the others. Notches or heads are formed upon the rods or.
links D which fit corresponding recesses or projections formed in or on
the ram saddles E, the hold of the links or rods upon the ram saddles
being so .arranged that they are easily detachable so as to allow of the
receding of the ram saddle upon the completion of its forward stroke,
the hold of the rods or links being transferred to those ram saddles
which are about to recommence their forward stroke. By this arrange-
ment the alternate strokes of the sets of rams and ram saddles are caused
to produce an almost continuous motion of the girder A up the inclined
plane, no time being lost except what is necessary to transfer the hold
of the rods or links from one set of ram saddles to the other. Upon
arriving at the top of the inclined plano the ship is transferred from the
trucks or carriages and girder A to a carriage J which is composed of a

page_text: .
series of cross girders, and which is run in beneath the ship upon rails
or tramways laid on a platform on the carriages and girder A, these
rails or tramways being laid opposite to other rails or tramways on the
level at the top of the inclined plane. The transference is accomplished
by wedging or blocking up the ship from or upon the cross girders con-
stituting the carriage J and thereafter withdrawing the blocks with
which it was previously supported on the carriages or trucks and girder A.
The ship being now entirely supported upon the carriage J is transferred
to the positions marked G and H by traversing it upon the tramways or
rails, the traversing being effected by the hydraulic apparatus C or by
other, convenient means.
In lieu of transferring the ship from the inclined plane to a level or
horizontal plane by the means last described, this object may be effected
by the method illustrated in dotted lines at Figure 14. According to
this arrangement a level platform K is situated upon the inclined plane
carriage L. Tramways or rails are laid on the said platform upon which
a carriage M traverses, the ship being placed upon the carriage M.
Tramways or rails are also laid at the top of the inclined plane and
opposite those upon the platform K on the carriage L, so that when the
carriage L reaches the top of the inclined plane the carriage M. and ship
carried thereon may be at once transferred to the level or horizontal
part of the ship or dockyard either by the hydraulic apparatus. C or by
the transferring arrangement herein-before described with reference to
Figures 1, 1ª, and 2 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In order to enable the carriages and ship to pass over the hydraulic
apparatus; upon arriving at the top of the inclined plane the sole plates.
to which the hydraulic cylinders are secured may be made moveable
and hinged at the top of the inclined plane so that their ends may be
lowered to the ground, leaving the way clear for the carriage, girder, and
ship to pass on to the positions marked G and H, Figure 14. As the
links or rods D are drawn up by the hydraulic apparatus they may be
wound upon a reel I, as shewn at Figure 15.
:
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a ship or dockyard provided with
one of my herein-before described modifications of ship lift, shewing the
lift A with a ship thereon raised to a level with the dock wall or yard.
On either side of the lift A. other vessels are situated, having been
:

page_text: placed there by the transferring apparatus herein-before described with
reference to Figures 1, 1º, and 2 of the Drawings.
; Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used, or practically 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 Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and construction of hydraulic ship lift
whereby a girder or series of girders, caisson, or pontoon, with ship and
carriage are raised or lowered by the action of hydraulic cylinders and
rams laid horizontally and at right angles to the length of the lift, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 1, 1º, and 3
on the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
Second. The arrangement and construction of ship lift operated by
single or double inverted hydraulic cylinders, and having the lift
attached thereto either by suspension links or rods hung upon trunnions
formed upon the inverted hydraulic cylinders or by suspension links or
rods attached to a girder hung directly upon the trunnions of the
cylinders, the lift being composed of a girder or series of cross girders,
caisson, or pontoon, substantially as herein-before described with
reference to Figures 4 and 4, 5 and 5ª, 6, 7, 9, 9º, and 9 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Third. The improved caisson or pontoon hook or clutch E described.
with reference to Figure 7 of the Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement and construction of ship lift wherein hori-
zontal girders capable of movement in a horizontal plane and actuated
by horizontal hydraulic apparatus is employed to lift the girder or series
of girders, caisson, or pontoon, whereon the ship to be raised is placed,
whereby an equal level of the different parts of the lift is maintained
during the hoisting or lowering operation, as herein-before described
with reference to Figures 10 and 10°, 11, and 12 of the Drawings.
Fifth. The arrangement of hydraulic lift illustrated at Figures 13, 14,
and 15 of the Drawings, whereby ships are taken from the water by

page_text: being hauled up an inclined plane and then transferred to a horizontal
plane, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Scott, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-five.