Improvements in Ships' Fendoffs and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 1st May, 1896-Accepted. 13th June. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Fendoffs and the like.
JAMES SPRINGETT 40 Pigott Street Limehouse E. Ships Fendoff Manufacturer
I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
A fendoff made entirely of coir rope so constructed as not to burst under heavy
pressure and has the property of resuming its normal shape, when the pressure is
removed, it is more durable then the ordinary coir and cork fendoffs in general use,
and is produced without additional cost.
This fendoff is commenced by forming the becket or loop at the top, a part of
which forms the inside of the core. Short lengths of rope are placed round that
portion of the core in order to bring the fend off to the size required, a rope or wire
seizing embracing all parts of the core is placed directly under the becket or loop,
and another seizing is placed at the lower part of the core; two pieces of rope
18 feet in length and 5 inches in circumference are then taken, the two ends are
passed through the centre of the core leaving an equal distance between each part.
We have now four lengths of rope 9 feet each, and now proceed to form the
fendoff by making two single walls with these four parts, one up and one down.
The walls are made by passing one bight over the other until we come to the last,
the end of which is passed down through the bight of the first part and so locks
all the parts. The fendoff now being formed we follow each part with its own end
until three lays of the rope are shown on each of the four quarters.
The ends are
then crowned and whipped so as to make it impossible for them to draw-no
matter what pressure may come upon them.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' Fendoffs and the like.
I, JAMES SPRINGETT of 40 Piggott Street, Limehouse, London E. Ships
Fendoff Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to improvements in fendoffs or fenders, as used in
connection with vessels, lighters and other craft, for lessening the force of the
impact between these and the sides of wharves, quays, piers, dock-entrances and
exits, and other places with which they may come in contact, and has for its
object, to so construct such fendoffs or fenders, as to be incapable of bursting
under heavy pressure, while possessing the property of resuming their original or
normal shape after use, and being more durable and lasting than ordinary
coir and cork fendoffs in general use, and capable of production without extra
cost.
In order that my said invention and the manner in which I prefer to construct or
build the same may be fully understood reference is hereinafter made to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, of which:
Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive are views illustrating the process of manufacturing a
ΓΙ .

page_text: fendoff according to my invention, while Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the finished
article, hereinafter explained.
It has hitherto been customary in the construction of such fendoffs or fenders, to
first provide, as a core, a canvas bag of the required shape and size filled with
small pieces of waste cork, this being eventually covered by a lacing or weaving of
ropes, provided with a suitable loop or becket for the reception of a line or rope
for lowering and raising and conveying the fendoff to where required, but it has
been found in practice that fendoffs or fenders so constructed are liable to rupture
under heavy pressure, by reason of the bursting of the before mentioned cork bag,
thus rendering the said fendoff practically useless for the same purpose, by reason
of its failure to again resume its orginal rotund shape. My invention is designed
to overcome these difficulties, which I attain by entirely dispensing with the said
bag of corks and constructing the fendoff or fender absolutely and entirely of rope
as hereafter explained.
I carry my invention into effect by the employment of a length of rope of
suitable quality and gauge, endless or otherwise, which I so manipulate as to form,
preferably, two loops a and b as at Fig. 1, and between these I pass a stout rope A,
and across this at right angles I pass an exactly similar rope B, the latter passing
not between, but through a and b, as shewn by Fig. 2. The said ropes A and B
are preferably 18 feet long and 5 inches in circumference, these dimensions being
most suitable for fendoffs of the size in general use, but may be varied as larger or
smaller fendoffs are required.
Above the ropes A and B I encircle a and b with a binding of wire or
fine rope C, technically called a "seizing," and by this means I form of this
end of a and b a loop or ring D, technically called the "becket," this being for the
reception of a line or rope in the usual way.
At or about level with the seizing C, I place around a and b any number of
short lengths of rope E, of suitable guage and length, and these being to form the
core of the fend off may vary in number and gauge according to the size it is
desired the finished fend off shall be. The said ropes E are held in position by a
second seizing F, from which, in a downward direction these are divided into four
equal parts, and placed between the projecting portions of the ropes A B, and
below A and B the ropes E are again bound by a third seizing G, thus firmly
holding the two ropes A and B between the two seizings F and G, which gives me
practically four lengths of extending ropes A, A, B, B, each 9 feet long or there-
abouts, and equidistant apart, as at Fig. 3.
Of the said four lengths A, A, B, B, I form a single wall around the said core
by forming a bight in each, and passing the bight of the one through or over the
bight of the next, the last passing through or over the first substantially as shewn
by the diagram Fig. 5, thus producing Fig. 4 or substantially so. The ends
of A, A, B, B, are then pulled taut and form a ridge or wall around and say above
the centre of the length of the core, and by repeating the same proceedure I form
another ridge or wall around and below the centre of E, and so on until the whole
of the lengths A, A, B, B, have been worked up, and three or more lays of these
appear on each of the four quarters of the approximately spherical fend off
substantially as at Fig. 6. The final ends of A, A, B, B are then crowned and
whipped in the manner well understood by those skilled in rope making and
manipulating when it becomes impossible for either end to draw, or the entire
structure to become ruptured whatever may be the compressive strain imposed
thereon, and which will immediately resume its normal or original shape or
configuration directly such pressure is withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. The construction of ships fendoffs or fenders from rope only substantially as
herein described and shewn.

page_text: 2nd. In the construction of ships fendoffs or fenders, the manner of forming the
becket D from a rope such as a b, bound by a seizing such as C, surrounded by
any number of short ropes such as E, and forming a core, these being held in
position by a seizing F, and divided and placed between the ends A, A, B, B of
ropes passed through and between a and b, and secured in position by a seizing G
around E. The manner of manipulating the ropes A, A, B, B to form walls or
ridges around the core E, and by this means building up the fend off substantially
as herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of April 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.