IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BREAKWATERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Saunders, of Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
FLOATING BREAKWATERS."
Sealed the 28th May 1875, and dated the 19th March 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Saunders at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th March 1875.
I, ROBERT SAUNDERS, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, do.
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BREAKWATERS," to be as follows:—
This Invention relates to the construction of floating breakwaters to
be used in the formation of harbours and the protection of roadsteads,
exposed piers, landing places, and for protecting any exposed coast line,
and generally for breaking the force of a running sea, and embodies.
improvements on a former Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to me on the 28th day of August 1868, No. 2671.

page_text: Floating breakwaters constructed according to my present Invention,
consist,―
suit the locality
Firstly. Of a line or lines of vertical cylindrical structures. The
cylindrical structures are formed with a water-tight compartment at the
top, or near the top, of sufficient capacity and buoyancy to float the
structure. The remainder of the structure is formed of vertical bars or
latticework in the form of a cage, and extending to a sufficient depth,
say from ten to sixteen feet, to arrest the wave motion. The cylindrical
structures may be of suitable diameter and depth to
where they are to be placed. They are placed or moored in a line or
lines to counteract the wave motion and to produce smooth water on
the landward side. The cylindrical structures may be made of wood or
metal and of openwork, and in the form of a cage, so that the sea action
may be diverted and broken up. I connect the cylindrical structures in
line by bracing them across their ends, top and bottom, by long lengths
of timber or angle iron arranged to tie them together firmly, using
vertical bars in combination for this object.
Secondly. I use cylindrical vertical structures, open at both ends, and
partially open at the sides. These open cylinders or cages I connect in
line by lodging across their ends lengths of timber or angle iron tied
together by vertical bars. To float the open cylindrical structure I
prefer to combine in each length or series two or more water-tight
buoys, or pontoons of sufficient buoyancy to support the structure.
Thirdly. For some localities I construct floating or oscillating break-
waters of logs or thick planks bolted or otherwise secured together
transversely, and strengthened by diagonal straps or stays so as to
combine strength with economy. Such structures are built in sections
of convenient dimensions to suit the locality where they are to be used.
The sections are moored so as to leave spaces between them, which
spaces are occupied by vertical screens suspended from the structures to
the depth of the breakwater proper. The water in motion being
arrested by the breakwater is broken up and its impartive force
nullified.

page_text: In any of the beforegoing descriptions of breakwater I suspend
from, and in connexion with such structures fringes of looped, or
mesh-shaped, or network rope or wire, or latticework of timber or iron
to break the wave force. In the construction of such fringes I prefer
to use coir rope saturated with tar or other preservative to promote
durability.
Fourthly. I use pendant spars or iron columns of sufficient lengths,
and supported in vertical position by buoys or ropes. In the case of
timber spars I weight the ends to keep the spars in vertical position.
The spaces between these vertical spars I fill in with network of rope or
wire, preferring coir rope as the material in the former instances, or I
fill in the spaces with latticework.
In mooring floating breakwaters I use buoys to sustain the dead
weight of the mooring chains, the buoys being placed a few yards from
the main structure and connected to the structure by suitable rope or
chain connexions. The buoys act as a buffer or spring in mitigating the
sudden shocks or strains on the moorings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Saunders in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 17th September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SAUNDERS, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Saunders, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Saunders, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Saunders, 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, exercise, and ·
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING BREAKWATERS," upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said Robert Saunders, my executors or admini-
strators, 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 Scal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Saunders, 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:-
This Invention relates to the construction of floating breakwaters to
be used in the formation of harbours and the protection of roadsteads,.
exposed piers, landing places, and for protecting any exposed coast line,
and generally for breaking the force of a running sea, and embodies
improvements on a former Invention for which Letters Patent wero
granted to me on the 28th day of August 1868, No. 2671.
The objects of my present improvements are to increase the strength,
and reduce the cost, and to provide efficient moorings for floating break-
waters.
Floating breakwaters constructed according to my present Invention
consist,―
Firstly. Of a line or lines of vertical cylindrical structures. The
cylindrical structures are formed with a water-tight compartment at the
top, or near the top, of sufficient capacity and buoyancy to float the
.structure. The remainder of the structure is formed of vertical bars or
latticework in the form of a cage, and extending to a sufficient depth,
say from ten to sixteen feet, to arrest the wave motion. The cylindrical
structures may be of suitable diameter and depth to suit the locality
where they are to be placed. They are placed or moored in a line or
lines to counteract the wave motion, and to produce smooth water on
the landward side. The cylindrical structures may be made of wood or
metal, and of open work, and in the form of a cage, so that the sea
action may be diverted and broken up. I connect the cylindrical
structures in line by bracing them across their ends, top and bottom, by

page_text: long lengths of timber or angle iron arranged to tie them together
firmly, using vertical bars in combination for this object.
Secondly. I use cylindrical vertical structures open at both ends and
partially open at the sides. These open cylinders or cages I connect in.
line by lodging across their ends lengths of timber or angle iron tied
together by vertical bars. To float the open cylindrical structure I
prefer to combine in cach length or series two or more water-tight
buoys, or pontoons of sufficient buoyancy to support the structure.
Thirdly. For some localities I construct floating or oscillating break-
waters of logs or thick planks, bolted or otherwise secured together
transversely, and strengthened by diagonal straps or stays so as to
combine strength with economy. Such structures are built in sections
of convenient dimensions to suit the locality where they are to be used.
The sections are moored so as to leave spaces between them, which
spaces are occupied by vertical screens suspended from the structures
to the depth of the breakwater proper. The water in motion being
arrested by the breakwater is broken up and its impartive force
nullified.
In any of the beforegoing descriptions of breakwaters I suspend
from, and in connexion with such structures fringes of looped or
mesh-shaped, or network, rope, or wire, or latticework of timber or iron
to break the wave force. In the construction of such fringes I prefer.
to use coir rope saturated with tar or other preservative to promoto.
durability.
Fourthly. I use pendant spars or iron columns of sufficient length
and supported in vertical position by buoys or ropes. In the case of
timber spars I weight the ends to keep the spars in vertical position.
The spaces between these vertical spars I fill in with network, or rope,
or wire, preferring coir rope as the material in the former instances, or I
fill in the spaces with latticework.
In mooring floating breakwaters I use buoys to sustain the dead
weight of the mooring chains, the buoys being placed a few yards from
the main structure and connected to the structure by suitable rope or
chain connexions. The buoys act as a buffer or spring in mitigating the
sudden shocks or strains on the moorings.

page_text: The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, I will now proceed to describe, more in detail, how the
same may be carried out into practical effect, and for that purpose I
have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters and
figures of reference corresponding with those in the following i
explanation, like letters and figures being used to denote similar parts
throughout the various views.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that a breakwater
constructed according to my Invention consists of a line or lines of
vertical cylindrical structures, as illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of
the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation; and Figure 2, a plan of a portion of a break-
water constructed according to my Invention.
The cylindrical structures A are formed with a water-tight compart-
ment B, at or near the top, of sufficient capacity and buoyancy to float
the structure. The remainder of the structure is formed of vertical
bars or latticework C extending to a sufficient depth, say from ten to
sixteen feet, to arrest the wave motion. The cylindrical structures may
be built of wood or metal.
In some instances the structures may be built of timber, as shown at
Figures 3 and 4, without a water-tight compartment, the structure
being of sufficient buoyancy to support itself. The cylindrical structures
are connected in line, top and bottom, by long lengths of timber or
angle iron E, F, arranged to tie them together firmly, the vertical
bars H and the cross bars J being used in combination for this
purpose.
In some instances where the structures are not of sufficient buoyancy
to support themselves I prefer to combine in each length or series two
or more water-tight buoys or pontoons to assist in supporting the
structure. Below or between the structures I suspend from and in a
connexion with such structures fringes of looped, or mesh-shaped, or
network rope or wire, as shown at K, Figure 1, or latticework of timber
or iron, as shown at Figure 8, 9, and 10. In the construction of such
fringes of network I prefer to use coir rope saturated with tar or other
preservative to promote durability.
For some localities I construct floating or oscillating breakwaters of
logs or thick planks of timber, as shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7.
3

page_text: Figure 5, being an elevation; Figure 6, a plan; and Figure 7, an end
view of a portion of a breakwater so constructed. The logs L are
strengthened by suitable diagonal straps, and the frames formed by the
logs are filled in with network or latticework M. The network may be
of coir rope, and the latticework of wood or iron.
In some instances I form a breakwater of screens of network, as
shown at Figure 5, such screens being moored and held in position by
buoys, the angle of the network to counteract the wave motion being
suited to the locality where the breakwater is used.
Screens, as shown at Figures 8, 9, and 10, made of wood or suitable
metal may be used, such screens having floating power on the top, at O,
either of wood or tubular metal. Screens of network or latticework
may be supported between pendant spars or iron columns, such spars or
columns being supported in vertical position by suitable buoys.
In some instances a network of stout coir rope from two to three
inches in circumference may be lodged horizontally on the surface of
the sea so as to prevent the formation of topping waves as well as to
counteract the forward motion of the deeper section of the same.
Such network breakwater may be from twenty to thirty feet broad and
supported by buoys.
In mooring floating breakwaters constructed according to my In-
vention I use buoys to sustain the dead weight of the mooring chains,
as before described.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature, object, and
5 purposes of my Invention, and how the same may be put into practical
effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise dimensions or details as shown in the Drawings, but what I
claim as my Invention and secured to me by Letters Patent as afore-
said is,―
)
Firstly. Constructing a floating breakwater of a line or lines of
vertical cylindrical structures, substantially as shown at Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying Drawings, and in the manner and for the purposes
set forth in the beforegoing Specification.
Secondly. Constructing a floating breakwater of a line or lines of
5 vertical cylindrical structures, substantially as shown at Figures 3 and 4

page_text: of the accompanying Drawings, and in the manner and for the purposes
set forth in the beforegoing Specification.
Thirdly. Constructing a floating breakwater of logs, as shown at
Figures 5, 6, and 7, of the accompanying Drawings, such logs being
in combination with meshwork, or network of coir or other rope,
or in combination with latticework of timber or iron, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes set forth in the beforegoing
Specification.
Fourthly. Constructing a floating breakwater of screens of network
supported by buoys, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
set forth.
Fifthly. Constructing a floating breakwater of screens of wood or
suitable metal with floating power, substantially as shown at Figures 8,
9, and 10, of the accompanying Drawings, and for the purposes set forth
in the beforegoing Specification.
Sixthly. The use of the network placed horizontally and supported by
buoys to prevent the formation of topping waves, substantially in the
manner and for the purposes set forth.
Seventhly. In combination with floating breakwaters fringes of
meshwork or network of rope, by preference coir rope, substantially as 2
shown in the accompanying Drawings, and for the purposes set forth in
the beforegoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Saunders, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1875.
2
DODEDO