Improvements in Apparatus for Hauling Ships in Docks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Hauling Ships in Docks.
I, PIO FERRO, of Pertusola, in the Kingdom of Italy, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means for hauling vessels on slip docks and consists in
certain devices capable of giving to the cradle upon which the vessel stands a
continuous and regular forward motion.
Lengthwise upon the floor of the dock and along its axis I place a shaft composed
of various sections connected together by means of a solid coupling, and which
receives at the top end a rotary movement from a suitable motor.
At suitable
intervals, as may be determined by experience, this shaft is provided of a worm
screw which rests upon cast iron bearings fixed on the floor of the dock. All the
tensile stress is supported by a thrust bearing at the top end, and at the opposite
side a safety bearing is provided.
The cradle upon
which the vessel stands is constructed in the ordinary way, and
moves as usual on rollers running on rails which are secured to the floor of
the dock.
At the forward end of the cradle and on the underside of the same is provided
a screw rack gearing with the worm screw on the shaft.
"
screws of
The length of the said screw rack is such as to connect three or more scre
the driving shaft, as may be necessary.
The whole shaft may be taken out by disconnecting it from the top end at any
position of the cradle.
When the vessel is placed upon the cradle the rotary motion of the driving shaft
hauls it up.
As the cradle advances forward and its screw rack leaves one of the
worm screws at its rear end it will fit into the next one forward, so that the rack
will always engage with the same number of worm screws. For lunching the
vessel the shaft must be rotated in the opposite direction.
Dated this 26th day of January 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Hauling Ships in Docks.
I, PIO FERRO, of Pertusola, in the Kingdom of Italy Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be perforined to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to means for hauling vessels on slip docks and consists in
certain devices capable of giving to the cradle upon which the vessel stands a
continuous and regular forward motion.
My said invention consists in placing lengthwise upon the floor of the dock and
along its axis a shaft composed of various sections connected together by means of
solid couplings, and which receives at the top end a rotary movement from a
suitable motor. At certain intervals such as may be determined by experience this
shaft is provided with worm screws. All the thrust is taken up by a bearing at the
top end and at the opposite end a safety bearing is provided.
The cradle upon which the vessel stands is constructed in the ordinary way and
moves as usual on rollers running on rails secured upon the floor of the dock.
n

page_text: At the forward end of the cradle and on its underside I provide a screw rack or
the like gearing with the worm screw of the shaft.
The length of the said screw rack, is such as to connect three or more screws of
the driving shaft as may be necessary.
My said invention is fully illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a slip dock constructed in accordance with my
invention.
-
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same and
Figure 3 is a cross section thereof.
A is the cradle of ordinary construction, travelling on rails r r by means of
rollers p p.
At the forward end of the cradle and on its underside, as above stated there is a
screw rack a suitably fixed to the cradle by means of bolts.
B is the shaft made of various sections connected together by means of solid
couplings and provided at intervals with worm screws b. At suitable intervals, the
said shaft is supported upon bearings c fixed upon the floor of the dock.
The whole shaft may be taken out by disconnecting it from the top end at any
position of the cradle."
When the vessel is placed upon the cradle the rotary motion of the driving shaft
hauls it up, as the cradle advances forward and its screw rack leaves one of the
worm screws at its rear end it will fit into the next one forward so that the rack
may always be in gear with the same number of worm screws. For the launch of
the cradle the shaft must be rotated in the opposite direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
An improved method of hauling vessels on slip docks comprising the use of a
longitudinal rotary shaft provided with worm screws gearing into a screw rack or
the like fixed to the cradle the whole being arranged substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th doxe of Ontcho” 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.