IMPROVEMENTS IN FERRIES AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME, WORKINGAME, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE APPLICABLE GENERALLY FOR WINDING OR HAULING PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Theobald Obach, of No. 17, Southampton
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FERRIES AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME,
LETTERS PATENT to Theobald Obach, of No. 17, Southampton
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FERRIES AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME,
PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE APPLICABLE GENERALLY FOR WINDING OR
HAULING PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Theobald Obach at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th April 1874.
I, THEOBALD OвACп, of No. 17, Southampton Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FERRIES AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME,
PARTS OF WHICH APPAratus ARE APPLICABLE GENERALLY FOR WINDING OR
HAULING PURPOSES," to be as follows:

page_text: water channels, and to apparatus employed, parts of which apparatus aro
applicable generally to winding and hauling purposes.
The improved ferry consists of two parts, a floating bridge and a vehicle
for transit across it. The floating bridge is made of materials of sufficient
buoyancy to float in water, such as wood or of tubular metal structure,
and is tied down by adjustable chains, wire ropes, or rods to anchors,
stone or concrete sleepers, rocks or other objects sunk to the bottom of
the channel, some of the ties being placed diagonally so as to steady the
bridge in all directions. The bridge is thus held down at a sufficient
depth below the surface of the water to permit vessels to sail clear over
it, and being thus submerged is protected to a great extent from
the action of waves. It may consist of two, three, or more parallel
lines of span, preferably made of iron tube; and along these are laid
lines of rail on which the ferry vehicle is intended to run. For the sake
of safety and for facility in placing the bridge I prefer to make the tubes
of which it consists in lengths, jointed together at their upper edges,
each length being closed at the ends so as to form separate compart-
ments. In such a case I form the jointing of the lengths tubular, and
provide an air pipe which extends along the whole span from an air
pump on either shore, the pipe being connected through the joints from
cach compartment to the next. In each compartment this air pipe is
provided with a valve worked by a float, and an outlet valve is provided
at the bottom of each compartment. The air pipe being charged with
air at a pressure exceeding that of the head of water above the bridge,
when owing to leakage water collects in any compartment, the air
valve will be opened by the rising of its float, and the air forced into the
compartment will expel the water therefrom. The float valve may be
connected to an electric key, so that when it opens it may make contact
for the transmission of a signal by an insulated conductor laid along the
bridge.
In cases where the water is shallow the bridge may be wholly or
partially submerged to the bottom.
The vehicle for crossing the bridge consists of tubular base portions,
affording nearly sufficient buoyancy to sustain the weight, so that while
the vehicle is passing along the bridge very little load is thrown upon it,
and this buoyancy is regulated by admitting more or less water ballast
into compartments of the base. From theso base portions diagonal.

page_text: columns extend upwards to some height above the surface of the water,
where they support a platform which may be covered in. The columns
are made hollow, so that they provide passages of communication from the
platform to the hollow bases below. The bases are provided with wheels
to run on the rails of the bridge, and I prefer so to arrange these rails
and wheels that the vehicle is guided in all directions, horizontally by
horizontal wheels runiring against the sides of the rails, and vertically
upwards and downwards by wheels running on and under rails. I
prefer to construct the platform at such a height above the water as to
be beyond the range of waves, and to correspond in level when it is at
either shore with quays or railroads there, so that vehicles or or railway
trains may run on and off the fersy without inconvenient gradients.
The ferry vehicle may be propelled along the bridge by paddles or by
a screw or other propeller, or by causing some of its wheels to revolve
as driving wheels by engine power. I prefer however to propel it by
winding on barrels mounted on it a chain or chains fixed to each shore,
which chain or chains may lie along one or more of the spans of tho
bridge, or along an intermediate platform supported from them.
When I employ this method of propulsion I construct the winding
gear in the following manner:-I mount two barrels with their axes
parallel on a framing at the base of the ferry vehicle. These barrels are
grooved on their peripheries, and several turns of the chain are taken
round them, the groove of the one barrel being presented midway
between those of the other, so that the chain is taken on the one, passes
thence to the other, from which it is paid out after being taken several
turns round both in the manner frequently employed in cranes, crabs, or
derricks. As this mode of hauling is usually applied a considerable.
lateral strain is thrown on the bearings of the barrels, which strain I
avoid by fixing wheels on the axes of the barrels at each end thereof,
and interposing wheels or rollers between those wheels, which convert
the strain into a rolling friction of the barrel wheels on the intermediate
wheels. By fixing the intermediate wheels on one shaft, worked by a
steam engine, I can drive both barrels by the friction with a smooth and
easy motion, and without the lateral strain on the bearings, which
the tension of the chain would otherwise produce. The engine employed
for working the barrels may either be placed on the platform of the
ferry communicating by shafting carried down the columns with the
hauling apparatus below, or it may be accommodated in some part of the.

page_text: hollow bases of the ferry vehicle, the columns affording communications
for air and smoke, and for passage of attendants.
When the propulsion of the ferry is effected, as I have above described,
by winding a chain I prefer to construct the chain in such a manner
that its separate links can be punched out or pressed to shape, and can
be put together without rivetting or screwing. For this purpose I make
each link of a flat piece of metal rounded at each end, and having
through it a hole wider in the middle than it is at either end, which has
the form of a rounded hollow. The metal constituting the rounded end
of the link is wider than the metal on either side of the hole. The links
are held together by pins having on them enlarged parts or collars,
which can be passed through the larger parts of the holes of two links
when those are turned at right angles to each other. The two links
being then turned, so as to be in line or nearly so, the smaller parts of
the pin are engaged in the smaller parts of the holes in the links; then
the rounded end of the one link butting or nearly butting against that
of the next link, the links cannot be shifted so far lengthwise as to
permit the pins to get out of their places. The opening in the middlo
of the link may be divided into two parts by a cross strut or tie, cach
part being made of sufficient size to permit the introduction of
the pin.
The mode above described of obviating the lateral strain of double
chain barrels, and of driving such barrels by friction, is obviously
applicable when such barrels are used in cranes or other machines for
hauling or winding; and the chain, constructed as above described,
may also be used for any purpose to which chains are applied when
their flexure is required in one plane, and when only a little flexure
transversely to the links is desired the pins and the holes in the links
may be a little rounded, so as to permit of a little twist or obliquity in
their relative positions.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Theobald Obach
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I THEORALD
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Theobald Obach
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I THEORALD
OBACH, of No. 17, Southampton Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Theobald Obach, Her special license that I,
the said Theobald Obach, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Theobald Obach, my executors, administrators,
and 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, excrcise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FERRIES AND IN APPARATUS
FOR WORKING THE SAME, PARTS OF WRICH APPARATUS ARE APPLICABLE GENERALLY
FOR WINDING OR HAULING PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Theobald Obach, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 on or
before the Fifth day of November, One thousaud cight hundred and
seventy-four.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Theobald Obach, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the construction and mode of working ferrics
for conveying goods and passengers across rivers, estuarios, or other
water channels, and to apparatus employed, parts of which apparatus
are applicable generally to winding and hauling purposes.
The improved ferry consists of two parts, a floating bridge and a
vehicle for transit across it. The floating bridge is made of materials of
sufficient buoyancy to float in water, such as wood or of tubular metal
structure, and is tied down by adjustable chains, wire ropes, or rods to
anchors, stone or concrete sleepers, rocks or other objects sunk to the
bottom of the channel, some of the ties being placed diagonally, so as to

page_text: steady the bridge in all directions. The bridge is thus held down at a
sufficient depth below the surface of the water to permit vessels to sail
clear over it, and being thus submerged is protected to a great extent from
the action of the waves. It may consist of two, three, or more parallel
lines of span, preferably made of iron tube; and along these are laid
lines of rail on which the ferry vehicle is intended to run. For the sake
of safety, and for facility in placing the bridge I prefer to make the
tubes of which it consists in lengths jointed together at their upper
edges, cach length being closed at the ends so as to form separate com-
partments. In such a case I form the jointing of the lengths tubular,
and provide an air pipe which extends along the whole span from an
air pump on either shore, the pipe being connected through the joints
from each compartment to the next. In each compartment this air
pipe is provided with a valve worked by a float, and an outlet valve is
provided at the bottom of each compartment. The air pipe being
charged with air at a pressure exceeding that of the head of water above
the bridge, when owing to leakage water collects in any compartment,
the air valve will be opened by the rising of its float, and the air forced
into the compartment will expel the water therefrom. The float valve
may be connected to an electric key, so that when it opens it may mako
contact for the transmission of a signal by an insulated conductor laid
along the bridge.
In cases where the water is shallow the bridge may be wholly or
partially submerged to the bottom.
The vehicle for crossing the bridge consists of tubular base portions,
affording nearly sufficient buoyancy to sustain the weight, so that while
the vehicle is passing along the bridge very little load is thrown upon it,
and this buoyancy is regulated by admitting more or less water ballast
into compartments of the base. From these base portions diagonal
columns extend upwards to some height above the surface of the water,
where they support a platform which may be covered in. The columns
are made hollow, so that they provide passages of communication from
the platform to the hollow bases below. The bases are provided with
wheels to run on the rails of the bridge; and I prefer so to arrange theso
rails and wheels that the vehicle is guided in all directions, horizontally
by horizontal wheels running against the sides of the rails, and vertically
upwards and downwards by wheels running on and under rails. I
prefer to construct the platform at such a height above the water as to

page_text: be beyond the range of waves, and to correspond in level when it is at
either shore with quays or railroads there, so that vehicles or railway
trains may run on and off the ferry without inconvenient gradients.
The ferry vehicle may be propelled along the bridge by paddles or by
a screw or other propeller, or by causing some of its wheels to revolve
as driving wheels by engine power. I prefor however to propel it by
winding on barrels mounted on it a chain or chains fixed to each shore,
which chain or chains may lie along one or more of the spans. of the
bridge, or along an intermediate platform supported from them.
When I employ this method of propulsion I construct the winding
gear in the following manner:-I mount two barrels with their axes
parallel on a framing at the base of the ferry vehicle. These barrels arc
grooved on their peripheries, and several turns of the chain are taken
round them, the groove of the one barrel being presented midway
between those of the other, so that the chain is taken on the one, passes
thence to the other, from which it is paid out after being taken several
turns round both in the manner frequently employed in cranes, crabs, or
derricks. As this mode of hauling is usually applied, a considerable
lateral strain is thrown on the bearings of the barrels, which strain I
avoid by fixing wheels on the axes of the barrels at each end thereof,
and interposing wheels or rollers between those wheels, which convert
the strain into a rolling friction of the barrel wheels on the intermediate
wheels. By fixing the intermediate wheels on one shaft worked by a
steam engine I can drive both barrels by the friction with a smooth and
casy motion, and without the lateral strain on the bearings which the
tension of the chain would otherwise produce. The engine employed
for working tho barrels may either be placed on the platform of the
ferry communicating by shafting carried down the columns with the
hauling apparatus below, or it may be accommodated in some part of the
hollow bases of the ferry vehicle, the columns affording communication
for air and smoke, and for passage of attendants.
When the propulsion of the ferry is effected, as I have above described,
by winding a chain I prefer to construct the chain in such a manner
that its separate links can be punched out or pressed to shape, and can
be put together without rivetting or screwing. For this purpose I make
cach link of a flat piece of metal rounded at each end, and having
through it a hole wider in the middle than it is at either end, which has

page_text: the form of a rounded hollow. The metal constituting the rounded end
of the link is wider than the metal on either side of the hole. The links
are held together by pins having on them enlarged parts or collars,
which can be passed through the larger parts of the holes of two links
when those are turned at right angles to each other. The two links
being then turned, so as to be in line or nearly so, the smaller parts of
the pin are engaged in the smaller parts of the holes in the links; then
the rounded end of the one link butting or nearly butting against that
of the next link, the links cannot be shifted so far lengthwise as to
permit the pins to get out of their places. The opening in the middle
of the link may be divided into two parts by a cross strut or tic,
each part being made of sufficient size to permit the introduction of
the pin.
The mode above described of obviating the lateral strain of double
chain barrels, and of driving such barrels by friction, is obviously
applicable when such barrels are used in cranes or other machines for
hauling or winding; and the chain, constructed as above described, may
also be used for any purpose to which chains are applied when their
flexure is required in one plane; and when only a little flexure trans-
versely to the links is desired the pins and the holes in the links may be
a little rounded, so as to permit of a little twist or obliquity in their

page_text: cating with an air compressing pump on shore, so that in case of leakage
water may be expelled by forcing in air in the manner described above.
When such a pipe is employed it may have flexible portions to allow for
the bending at the joints connecting the successive compartments, or
the communications from it to the compartments may be made through
the joints themselves, which for this purpose may be formed as hollow
trunnions.
When instead of hollow compartments rendered buoyant by charging
them with air the girder is formed in solid pieces of light material, such
as wood, the air pipe and its connections are obviously unnecessary. On
the girders are laid rails on which the vehicle travels, and a central
girder or a platform supported by the side girders is provided to support
the winding chain employed for the propulsion of the vehicle. This
vehicle consists of two or more trunk girders D, D, connected together
by cross ties, these trunks having nearly sufficient buoyancy to support
the weight of the vehicle, and of the load upon it, so that as it passes
along the bridge little strain is thrown upon the latter. From the base
trunks D, D, diagonal columns E, E, extend upwards, and support a
platform F elevated above the reach of waves. This platform may be
covered to accominodate passengers and goods, and may have rails laid on
it to receive railway trains when these have to be ferried. An engine
room G with winding gear is provided at the lower part of the vehicle,
access being obtained to it through some of the hollow columns E.
The vehicle is provided with wheels to run over and under the rails of
the bridge, and also with side wheels, so that the vehicle is completely
guided in level and also laterally.
Fig. 4 represents a side view; and Fig. 5, a plan of the winding
drums employed for the movement of the vehicle constructed and
arranged according to my Invention. The two drums H, H, havo
mounted between them a shaft I, on which are rollers or wheels i, i,
interposed between wheels h, h, on the axes of the drums. The
winding chain K being passed over both drums, and tending to pull
them together with great force, the strain is taken on the wheels or
rollers i, i, as a rolling friction instead of being thrown on the axles
and bearings of the drums. The intermediate shaft I may be employed
as the driving shaft worked by the cranks of the steam engines, the
wheels i, i, upon it serving by friction to drive the two drums with equal
speed in the same direction.

page_text: Fig. 6 represents a transverse section; and Fig. 7, a side view of part
of the winding chain constructed according to my Invention. Each
side link L has a slotted hole wider in the middle than it is at the ends,
which terminate with semicircular hollows fitting the coupling pins.
In the middle there may be a cross strut 1, leaving on cach side an
opening of sufficient size to admit the pin P, which is made with
beads P, P, on cach side somewhat larger than the smaller part of the
holes in L. The middle links M have plain slotted holes of somewhat
greater width than the widest part of the holes in L, and the pins P are
made with their middles sufficiently large to fit these slots. Tho
thickness of metal in the links is made greater at the ends than at the
⚫ sides. In putting the links of the chain together, two adjacent middle
links being turned at right angles or nearly so to the line of the chain,
can bo brought sufficiently near together side by side to allow of the
pins P being passed through the wider parts of the slots in the links L.
But when the middle links are turned back into the line of the chain,
or nearly so, the greater thickness of the metal at their ends m keeps the
ends of their slots so far apart that the pins P have to pass to the ends
of the slots in L, and in that position they cannot get out of place, the
enlargement of their heads and middles preventing them from shifting
laterally. It is preferred to round off the edges of the slots in the links,
and also to round a little the collars and shoulders of the pins, so
as to allow for a little twist of the chain or relative angularity of the
links.
It is obvious that the improvements in the arrangement of the barrel
mechanism described above in reference to Figs. 4 and 5, and in the
construction of the chain described in reference to Figs. 6 and 7, are
applicable generally in winding or hauling machinery.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use for a ferry of a floating bridge tied down to such
depth under water as to be protected from the action of surface waves,
and to leave sufficient depth of water above it for the passage of vessels,
substantially as herein described.
Second. Constructing the girders of the floating bridge above referred
to in water-tight compartments jointed together, which may be charged
with air to expel water therefrom, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Third. The use for ferrying by a floating bridge, such as is referred to
above, of a vehicle consisting of submerged buoyant portions guided by
wheels on rails on the said bridge, and supporting a platform raised
above the water level, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. In double barrel winding or hauling gear interposing between
the barrels or between wheels on their axes, rollers or wheels on an
intermediate shaft, so as to relieve the axes of the barrels from lateral
strain, substantially as herein described.
Fifth. In winding or hauling gear of the kind above referred to,
employing the interposed shaft and its wheels for the purpose of driving
the two barrels, substantially as herein described.
Sixth. Constructing chains for hauling or winding purposes of links,
having holes so formed and arranged in relation to the thickness of
metal surrounding them, that pins having heads and collars can be
inserted when adjacent links are turned at right angles to the line of the
chain or nearly so, but that when these links lie in the line of the chain
or nearly so the pins are prevented from shifting, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Theobald Obach, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.