MENTS IN THE HULLS AND TACKLE OF NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND IN THE GEAR FOR PROPELLING THE SAME BY WIND AND STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE, AND CLEARING THE SAME FROM WATER, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, TO ENABLE THE SAID VESSELS TO BE CONVERTED INTO FLOATING GRAVING DOCKS OR LIFTS FOR RAISING VESSELS AND OTHER SUBMERGED OR PARTIALLY SUBMERGED HEAVY BODIES TO OR ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Ferrier at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th November
1865.
I, JOHN FERRIER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Naval
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE HULLS AND TACKLE OF NAVIGABLE VESSELS, AND IN THE GEAR FOR
PROPELLING THE SAME BY WIND AND STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE,
AND CLEARING THE SAME FROM WATER, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
TO ENABLE THE SAID VESSELS TO BE CONVERTED INTO FLOATING GRAVING DOCKS OR
LIFTS FOR RAISING VESSELS AND OTHER SUBMERGED OR PARTIALLY SUBMERGED
HEAVY BODIES TO OR ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER," to be as follows (that is
to say):
This Invention has for its object, first, the construction of navigable
vessels that the same may be converted into floating graving docks or lifts
for raising submerged or partially submerged heavy bodies to or above the
surface of the water, and consists in the construction of the body of the hull
of a vessel (which may be of any desired model) with a double bottom and
sides, which will have a sufficient cavity or space to give the required floating
capacity when empty for lifting the ship or other navigable vessel, submerged
or partially submerged body, when placed between the sides of the vessel.
Such vessel may resemble an ordinary vessel, but has the ends formed by
means of moveable pontoons which rest on the double bottom and between the
sides of the vessel, where they are secured by beams, bolts, and nuts, the joints

page_text: between the pontoons and sides of the vessel being made water-tight by means
of a vulcanised india-rubber pipe, which takes into a cavity formed in the
external sides of the pontoons and counter cavities formed on the inside of
the sides of the hull, into which pipes or tubes water or other fluid is forced
under pressure to insure a perfect joint, which enables the vessel to be
navigated to any required place and used for the conveyance of freight. It
is preferred to make the pontoons forming the bow and stern so that the
stem and stern post fall inboard, for the purpose of giving stability to the
pontoons when detached from the sides and bottom of the vessel, which
pontoons may be used seperately as lifts, or they may be attached to the body
of the vessel in any convenient way that their lifting power may operate in
conjunction therewith.
The second part of this Invention consists in the use of iron or steel tubes
set up in the form of shrouds, except that they are arched at the top, and
attached to a strong arched tension bar, which is also formed of a metal tube
or of plate iron, which tension bar is securely made fast to the pontoons
forming the stem and stern of the vessel. The courses or lower sails are
suspended from the fore and aft tension bar in any convenient position
required; the top masts are fitted into sockets formed on or attached to the
said fore and aft tension bar, which may be fitted with tops, cross trees, shrouds,
and sails in the usual manner.
The third part of this Invention consists in using twin screws, on the
shafts of which are fitted within the hollow sides of the vessel screws
enclosed in a chamber, which has a passage opening therefrom into the
interior of the sides of the vessel, and has also port openings extending
through the vessel's sides, which latter port openings are fitted with valves
which are capable of being opened and closed by hand, the use of these
enclosed screws being to act as pumps for clearing the double bottom
and double sides of the body of the vessel from water for the purpose
herein-after explained. A steam or other motive-power engine or engines
are used to work the twin screws and the herein-before described archi-
medean pumps or water clearers. In addition to the herein-before described
pumps, it is preferred to fit ordinary pumps with independent steam or
other power to the body of the vessel. When this vessel is used for
navigable purposes for long voyages, she is fitted with moveable beams, on
which a deck or platform is laid for the purpose of the passage. When the
vessel is used as a floating graving dock, for lifting navigable vessels or
other submerged or partially submerged heavy bodies, the rigging, deck,
and deck beams are removed, after which one or both of the pontoons

page_text: forming the bow and stern are disconnected from the body of the ship
and floated away; then water is admitted through suitable valves into the
hollow bottom and sides of the vessel until she is sufficiently submerged to
allow the vessel or other body to be floated or drawn in between the sides,
when the water within the hollow bottom and sides is driven out by the rotation
of the enclosed screws on the screw shaft, after which, as much water as possible
being taken out by this means as convenient, the valves on the port openings are
closed, when the remainder of the water is drawn out by the before-mentioned
ordinary pumps and independent power. When used for lifting navigable
vessels, the same are shored up between the sides of the lift; when it is again
desired to float the vessel off the lift, the water is re-admitted into the hollow
bottom and sides of the lift until the same sinks sufficiently to allow the vessel
to be floated off the lift.
It will be observed that there will be a propelling power imparted by, the
discharge of the water, from the hollow bottom and sides being driven out by
the enclosed screws on the propeller shaft, which said screws are fitted with
clutch or other disconnecting gear, so that the same may be thrown out of
action when the port openings are closed, and by which arrangement the
external screw propeller on the same shafts may be used independently when
required.