IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING DOCKS INTENDED FOR RAISING AND CAREENING VESSELS, AND ALBO FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John
Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING DOCKS INTENDED FOR RAISING AND CAREENING
VESSELS, AND ALBO FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION."-A communication from
abroad by Jean Louis Chemallé, senior, of Tours, France, Merchant.
Sealed the 18th June 1869, and dated the 22nd December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedgo'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd December 1868.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son,
5 of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING DOCKS INTENDED FOR RAISING
AND CAREENING VESSELS, AND ALSO FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION," a communication

page_text: to me from abroad by Jean Louis Chemalle, senior, or ro
Merchant, to be as follows:-
The dock, the subject of this Invention, is constructed of wood, and is
put together in a novel manner; its strength and its dimensions permit
it to receive transatlantic ships, and even the most powerful vessels of
war; it is composed of main supports or ribs placed in a plane
perpendicular to the keel, and about 6 ft. 6 in. apart from axis to axis.
Each of these ribs is composed of 5 rows of pieces of wood placed end to
end the one above the other, and breaking joint. The fall of each of
these ribs is about 36 inches for the straight parts; they are strength-
ened at the curves and above the keel; these pieces are united to each
other by a number of pins of compressed wood or of iron passing
through at least three pieces, and by bolts or pins passing through all
the pieces and the ceiling. The head of the ribs is tied by two braces
bolted together. These ribs are kept apart from the interior by sixteen
rows of braces, which serve at the same time to uphold the scaffoldings.
These ribs may be composed of 10, 15, and 20 pieces, the one on the
other and breaking joint, and the pins of compressed wood or of iron
should. pass through at least half the thickness. Once bolted or pinned
together all these pieces of wood become dependent upon each other.
On these ribs is placed the ceiling composed of horizontal pieces from
bottom to top until under the planking of the bridge. This ceiling is
fastened on the ribs by pins of compressed wood or of iron passing
through two or three rows of the pieces of wood composing the ribs.
On this ceiling is placed the frame, which is composed of two thick-
nesses of planks; t this frame is placed obliquely; it passes all round the
dock and envelopes the ceiling. All this combination is jointed in the
entire extent of the dock and with crossed joints sloping in inverse
direction. This frame is held on the ceiling by a quantity of treenails
of compressed wood passing through the whole; and it rises to the
bearing line of the gallery. Finally, the planking is placed horizontally
on this same frame, and rises from the bottom up to the bearing rail; it
Each treenail passes through the
it treenailed with wood and iron.
frame and the ceiling, and in face of the main supports or ribs it. pene-
trates at least twelve inches. The operation, which consists in sinking
the dock, opening its gates for the entrance of the ship, and leaving it
dry, is regulated by the depth of this latter. For this purpose the
builder places a mixed float between each rib at the height of the braces
::

page_text: or beams. This float is partly composed of cork, in dust or in pieces,
the whole enveloped in cloths prepared so as to make layers of about
8 inches thick and of the dimensions of the spaces between the ribs.
The under floats will be of wood or of sheet iron with compartments,
so as to be enabled to vary the height of the water according to require-
ment. The cork float will so check the movement as to prevent every
kind of accident; this float may be of sheets of cork without covering.
The gates may be of wood or of iron, are placed at each end of the
dock, and are double folding gates. Each fold has two compartments in
its height, and the upper division is opened as soon as the water is
extracted, in order to facilitate the work and to give air to the
workmen. When the keel of the ship within the dock begins to touch
the blocks which are to receive it the working of the pumps is stopped
and shifting blocks at each side are brought into action. These blocks
are worked by means of a vertical shaft turned by a crank from above
the bridge. This shaft is provided with a bevel pinion, which gives
motion to a screw placed along the ribs. This screw has a bevel
pinion at one end to receive its motion. The shifting block has a nut
fixed on one of its sides. The movement of the shifting block may be
obtained by means of pulleys or pulley blocks, or an endless chain.
The upper part of the moveable block is an axle, which permits it to
follow the inclinations of the vessel under repair. These blocks be
of cast iron or of cast iron and wood.
may
One of the great advantages of this dock is the facility with which
the entrance and exit of vessels is effected irrespective of their position
as regards currents or wind by means of the gates at each end.
The extraction of the water is effected by means of a centrifugal
pump, which is placed on a separate boat provided with a steam engine
of 30-horse power. Two suction pipes of large diameter are placed in
the interior and following the ceiling from the suction to the brace
which supports the gallery. These pipes pass through to the outside
of the frame; they are provided with union joints, so that they may
be perfectly joined to the corresponding pipes of the pump barrel.
These two pipes work together or separately in case an accident should
occur to one of them. This pump throws its water into the sea.
When its extraction begins the water within the dock is level with that
outside, but when the extraction is completed the difference of level is
about 9 feet 4 inches, which gives a height of water to be raised of

page_text: about 4 feet 8 inches, the arrangement of the pipes causing a siphon to
be formed during the whole time of emptying.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her
special licence that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward
Gedge, my exécutors, 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, 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 FLOATING DOCKS INTENDED FOR RAISING
AND CAREENING VESSELS, AND ALSO FOR THEIR CONSTRUCTION," a communication
to me from abroad by Jean Louis Chemallé, senior, of Tours, France,
Merchant, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, 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 within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figs and letters of reference
marked thereon.
The dock, the subject of this Invention, is constructed of wood, and is
put together in a novel manner; its strength and its dimensions permit it
to receive transatlantic ships and even the most powerful vessels of war;
it is composed of main supports or ribs placed in a plane perpendicular
to the keel, and about 6 ft. 6 in. apart from axis to axis. Each of theso
ribs (Fig. 1) is composed of 5 rows of pieces of wood A. placed end to
end, the one above the other, and breaking joint. The fall of each of
these ribs is about thirty-six inches for the straight parts; they are
strengthened at the curves and above the keel; these pieces are united
to each other by a number of pins of compressed wood or of iron passing
through at least three pieces, and by bolts or iron pins B passing
through all the pieces and the ceiling or foot walling D. The head of
the ribs is tied by two braces bolted together. These ribs are kept apart
from the interior by sixteen rows of braces, which serve at the same
time to uphold the scaffoldings. These ribs may be composed of 10, 15,
and 20 pieces, the one on the other, and breaking joint, and the pins of
compressed wood or of iron should pass through at least half the
thickness. Once bolted or pinned together, all these pieces of wood
become dependent upon each other. On these ribs is placed the ceiling
or foot walling D composed of horizontal pieces from bottom to top until
under the planking of the bridge. This foot walling is fastened on the
ribs by pins of compressed wood or of iron passing through two or
three rows of the pieces of wood composing the ribs. On this foot
walling is placed the frame E, which is composed of two thicknesses
of planks or timbers. This frame is placed obliquely (sec Fig. 3); it
passes all round the dock, and envelopes the foot walling. All this
combination is jointed in the entire extent of the dock, and with crossed
joints sloping in inverse direction. This frame is held on the ceiling by
a quantity of treenails of compressed wood passing through the whole,
and it rises to the bearing line of the gallery. Finally, the side plank-
ing F (see Figs. 1 and 3) is placed horizontally on this same frame, and
rises from the bottom up to the bearing rail; it is treenailed with wood
and iron. Each treenail passes through the frame and the foot walling,
and in face of the main supports or ribs it penetrates at least 12 inches,

page_text: The operation which consists in sinking the dock and opening its
gates H (Figs. 1 and 2) for the entrance of the ship and leaving it dry is
regulated by the depth of this latter. For this purpose the builder
places a mixed float between each rib at the height of the braces or
beams L (Fig. 1). This float is partly composed of cork, in dust or in
pieces, the whole enveloped in cloths prepared so as to make layers of
about 8 inches thick, and of the dimensions of the spaces between the
ribs. The under floats will be of wood or of sheet iron with compart-
ments, so as to be enabled to vary the height of the water according to
requirement. The cork float will so check the movement as to prevent
every kind of accident; this float may be of sheets of cork without
covering. Gates of wood or of iron H (Figs. 1 and 2) are placed at each
end of the dock, and are double-folding gates. Each fold has two com-
partments in its height, and the upper division is opened as soon as the
water is extracted in order to facilitate the work and to give air to the
workmen. When the keel of the ship within the dock begins to touch
the blocks which are to receive it the working of the pumps is stopped,
and shifting blocks at each side are brought into action. These blocks
are worked by means of a vertical shaft turned by a crank from above
the bridge. This shaft is provided with a bevil pinion, which gives
motion to a screw placed along the ribs. This screw has a bevil pinion
at one end to receive its motion. The shifting block has a nut fixed on
one of its sides. The movement of the shifting block may be obtained
by means of pulleys or pulley blocks or an endless chain. The upper
part of the moveable block is an axle, which permits it to follow the
inclinations of the vessel under repair. These blocks may be of cast
iron or of cast iron and wood.
One of the greatest advantages of this dock is the facility with which
the entrance and exit of vessels is effected irrespective of their position
as regards currents or wind by means of the gates at each end.
The extraction of the water is effected by means of a centrifugal
pump, which is placed on a separate boat provided with a steam engine
of 30-horse power. Two suction pipes of large diameter are placed in
the interior and following the ceiling from the suction to the brace
which supports the gallery. These pipes pass through to the outside of
the frame; they are provided with union joints so that they may be
perfectly joined to the corresponding pipes of the pump barrel. These
two pipes work together or separately in case an accident should occur

page_text: to one of them. This pump throws its water into the sea. When its
extraction begins the water within the dock is level with that outside,
but when the extraction is completed the difference of level is about
9 feet 4 inches, which gives a height of water to be raised of about
4 feet 8 inches, the arrangement of the pipes causing a siphon to be
formed during the whole time of emptying.
The volume of water to be extracted for a dock of the largest size is
about 5,625 feet, and the operation does not occupy more than 5 hours.
Claim is made to the exclusive use,
Firstly. Of the above-described method of building or constructing
floating docks or ships, substantially as herein set forth and illustrated
on the annexed Sheet of Drawing.
Secondly. Of the combination of the gates at each extremity of the
dock, such gates being doubled leaved or folding and opening in two
compartments in their height, substantially as described.
Thirdly. Of the mixed or composite system of cork floats and cases or
compartments.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.