IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOORING FLOATING BREAK- WATERS PIERS AND OTHER FLOATING STRUCTURES
Year: 1884

page_text: We, ERNEST LATHAM of N° 44 Chapel Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and ALFRED EDWARD CAREY of Newhaven Harbour Works
Newhaven in the County of Sussex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our said invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOORING FLOATING BREAK-
WATERS PIERS AND OTHER FLOATING STRUCTURES to be' as follows:-
Our invention relates to mooring floating breakwaters both when constructed
with separate pontoons or pieces at distances apart and used only as breakwaters
or for carrying beacons or other indicators or signals and when placed fairly close
together to carry a deck or platform and form a promenade or other pier and has
for its main objects to securely moor such structures at comparatively small cost
and to admit of renewal or repair of wearing parts without the aid of Divers.
For these purposes we lay metal girders or castings or girder like structures or
long timber frame work at the bottom of the sea and over or, upon the said girders
or parts (hereafter for convenience referred to as girders) we lay or place concrete
shingle stones or other heavy and cheap material. The said girders are constructed
with eyes, ring bolts or rollers and through these we reeve chains, by preference
endless chains, which latter are led upwards and connected to the floating structure
near the surface of the water. Instead of chains wire or other cables or ropes may
be used.
In some cases when the girders are not continuous but placed at distances apart
we connect each girder with the other by what may be termed a continuous chain
so that should an excessive strain come upon one floating breakwater the weights
on the adjoining girders are available to resist movement.
Where water is shallow and there are. eddies links or bars may be used to
connect the girders and floating structures instead of chains cables or ropes, the
said links or bars being hinged or jointed at both ends and in some cases at a point
or points between the ends.
In order to prevent the links of chains from damage we attach globular weights
or diaphragms to the chains at points beneath the more active water disturbance
due to storms and to a minor extent to the flow and ebb of the tide.
Dated this eighteenth day of January 1884
a
J. T. KING,
Agent for the Petitioners.

page_text: We ERNEST LATHAM of 44 Chapel Street Liverpool in the County of Laneaster
Engineer, and ALFRED EDWARD CAREY of Newhaven Harbour Works Newhaven
in the County of Sussex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MOORING FLOATING BREAKWATERS.PIERS
AND OTHER FLOATING STRUCTURES " and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention relates to mooring floating breakwaters both when constructed
with separate pontoons or pieces at distances apart and used only as breakwaters
or for carrying beacons or other indicators or signals and when placed fairly close
together to carry a deck or platform and form a promenade or other pier and has
for its main objects to securely moor such structures at comparatively small cost
and to admit of renewal or repair of wearing parts without the aid of Divers.
'
For these purposes we lay metal girders or castings or girder like structures or
long timber frame work at the bottom of the sea and over or upon the said girders
or parts (hereafter for convenience referred to as girders) we lay or place concrete
shingle stones or other heavy and cheap material. The said girders are constructed
with eyes, ring bolts or rollers and through these we reeve chains by preference
endless chains which are led upwards and connected to the floating structure near
the surface of the water. Instead of chains wire or other cables or ropes may
be used.
In some cases when the girders are not continuous but placed at distances apart
we connect each girder with the other by what may be termed a continuous chain
so that should an excessive strain come upon one floating breakwater the weights
on the adjoining girders are available to resist movement.
Where water is shallow and there are eddies links or bars may be used to
connect the girders and floating structures instead of chains cables or ropes the
said links or bars being hinged or jointed at both ends and in some cases at a point
or points between the ends.
In order to prevent the links of chains from damage we attach globular (or
other) weights or diaphragms to the chains at points beneath the more active
water disturbance due to storms and to a minor extent to the flow and ebb of
the tide.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings the same letters denote like
parts in all the views.
'
In fig a breakwater composed of caissons a connected, by girder work or
framing b and provided with a steadying platform c and subsidiary breakwater d
is moored by means of endless chains e rove through eyes f on the breakwater and
on the foundation girders g. The girders g are held in position by concrete
1

page_text: Fig 4 shows a breakwater of more simple construction than that in fig 1, here
endless ropes r are used instead of chains.
By mooring breakwaters with endless ropes or chains rove through eyes over
rollers or in like manner substantially as herein set forth any part of the said
chain or rope can be brought to the surface for examination and repair.
In fig 5 the breakwater is connected to the foundation girders by links ; hinged
to the breakwater and to the girders.
Fig 6 illustrates the manner in which a series of foundation girders and
breakwaters are connected together by chains or their equivalents k.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed We claim,
First. Weighted girders and endless chains ropes or their equivalents combined
substantially as set forth for mooring floating breakwaters piers and structures.
Second. Foundations for floating breakwaters and structures, formed of girders,
connected together substantially as set forth.
Third. Mooring floating breakwaters and structures, by means of weighted girders,
and connecting links, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of mooring ropes or chains with weights or diaphragms
for the purpose set forth.
.
Fifth. The employment of endless chains or ropes and means for bringing any
part of the chains or ropes to the surface for the purpose of examination or repair,
or to shackle in new portions without releasing the floating breakwater or structure
from its moorings substantially as set forth.