AN IMPROVEMENT IN SECURING OR MOORING SHIPS AND OTHER FLOATING BODIES, AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME
Year: 1826

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, Jon
PALMER DE LA FONS, of George Street, Hanover Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Dentist, and WILLIAM LITTLEWORT, of Saint Mary Axe, in the
City of London, Mathematical Instrument Maker, send greeting.,
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters. Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourteenth day of July, in the seventh year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Palmer De la Fons and William Littlewort, His especial licence
that we, the said John Palmer De la Fons and William Littlewort, our
exors, adiñors, and assigns; or such others as we, the said John Palmer De
la Fons and William Littlewort, our exors, admors, or assigns, should af
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times
during the term of years therein expressed; should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales; and the Town of Berwick.
upon-Tweed, and also in His said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad,
our Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN SECURING OR MOORING SHIPS AND OTHER
FLOATING BODIES, AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging us, the said John Paliner
De la Fons and William Littlewort, by an instrument in writing under our'
hands and scals, or under the hand and seal of one of us; particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention; and in what mannet
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page_text: the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, (as
in and by the same), reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Palmer De la Fons, do hereby declare that the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, refer-
ence being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and the description thereof
(that is to say):-
In place of the ordinary mooring, blocks anchors, or other means hereto-
fore used or employed for securing or mooring ships and other floating bodies,
we substitute piles or stakes driven into the beds of harbours, rivers, chan-
nels, oceans, lakes, or into sand banks at any convenient depths, and to which
said piles or stakes we affix any of the usual mooring or other chains, cables,
rods, or ropes, to which buoys or other floating bodies may be affixed, and
we hereby claim as our Invention any and every of the various methods by
which our said Invention may be carried into effect.
In order to explain our Invention or improvements, we propose to describe
certain methods of carrying it into complete exécution by referring to the
Figures contained in the Drawing, which, as aforesaid, is 'annexed to this
Specification, and in all of whichi said Figures the same. letters of reference
indicate the similar parts.
In Fig. 1, A, A, A, represents the bed or bottom; B, B, the surface of the
water; C, Fig. 2, a stake or pile driven into the solid bed. This pile consists
of an iron shoe D affixed. to an iron rod E (shewn by dotted lines in this
Figure 2, and separately in Figure 3), having an eye or loop at its upper end,
to which the mooring chain, cable, &c. is to be affixed. F, the wooden part of
the pile, having a hole in its centre to receive the rod. E, as shewn by dotted
lines in Figures 2 and 3; G, a capped hoop, to prevent the wood from
bursting, shewn separately in Figure 4. In order to drive these piles or
stakes into the bed we employ the following means:-In Fig. 1, H, H,
are sections of two ships, barges, or other vessels moored securely over the
spot in which the pile is to be driven. Upon the ships, &c. a horizontal frame
or platform I, I, is to be supported, and upon that the pyramidal frame J, J,
is erected, which bears, supports, or guides the apparatus now to be described.
In order to drive the piles or stakes in a vertical position, whatever may be
the form of the bed or bottom, we employ a massive hollow metallic cone K;

page_text: fitted either with a ball and socket L, as shewn in Figures 1, 5, 6, and 7, or
with gimbals, as in Fig. 8, where K represents the neck of the cone to the
ball or inner gimball or square metal trunk or tube M is affixed, having two
spring catches N, N, on their outsides, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10, which
pass through holes made in the opposide side of the trunks, as shewn in
Figure 11. One of these cones is shewn in Figure 1 as lodged upon a level
or horizontal bottom, and in Fig. 5 as resting upon an inclined or sloping one.
Fig. 6 is a view of the under side of the cone, and Fig. 7 a view of its upper
side. It will be seen in Figs. 1 and 5 that the pile is kept vertical by the play
of the ball and socket. On two opposite sides of the piles or stakes (assuming
them to be four-sided, as piles usually are, although round ones may also be
employed) a number of equi-distant gaps or notches are made across them, as
shewn in Fig. 3, and are so made as to alternate or subdivide each other.
One of the piles, with its mooring chain secured to it, being placed in the
square socket M of the cone so low as for one of the spring catches N
to enter the lowest gap, as shewn in Fig. 1; it may be lowered from the
platform J, I, down to its place upon the bed or bottom by means of a
cable affixed to the mooring chain, and which with the chain is previously
wound upon the barrel of a double-power crane 0, Fig. 1, and passed over a
large pulley P supported upon the top of the frame J, J. The cone hanging
thus upon the pile secures its perpendicular descent, and when it touches the
bottom the ball and socket or gimbals permits the cone to assume any required
position upon the bottom without deranging the vertical situation of the pile,
and it is retained in its place by means of a number of spikes which are
affixed around its under margin, as shewn in Fig. 6, and which enter the bed
or bottom. The cone being lowered to its place, the cable has a spiral spring
Qand weight R affixed to it, as shewn in Fig. 1, it being then detached from
the crane O, and secured by being bitched around the cleats S, S, leaving,
however, à sufficient portion of it loose to allow of the pile being driven; and
to compensate for the rising and falling of the tide. In order to drive the
pile or stake, we employ a cylindrical perforated rammer T, shewn in use in
Fig. 1, and separately by section in Fig. 5, and shewn also in Fig. 12. A
circular angular gap is formed around the neck of this rammer, and its top is
sloped away, or made conical, as shewn in Figs. 5 and 12. Into this circular
gap three booked claws U, U, U, of the levers V, V, V, which turn upon centres
in the circular perforated block W (shewn separately in Fig. 13) enter. This
block W is supported by three chains of equal length, which are united to a
single chain at X in Fig. 1, which passes over a pulley. Y to a crane Z affixed
upon the platform I, I, and by which crane the block WV and its levers and

page_text: claws is raised and lowered. In order to disengage the claws U, U, U, from
the rammer T, at any required height, a cylindrical perforated metal block a,
Fig. 1, having a conical hollow formed in its under side, and a cylindrical
tube affixed upon its upper side, is hung by means of a swinging loop or
staple c to a chain or cable d, d, which passes over a pulley e affixed to the
frame J, J, and is wound around the barrel of a crane f, which is mounted
upon the platform I, I. Three perforations are also made through the block a
to permit the three chains which support the block W to pass freely through.
These holes are shewn in the top and bottom views of the block a, Figs. 14
and 15. In order to steady the block a, and prevent it from turning round
and entangling the other chains with each other, two looped arms g, g,
Figs. 1, 14, and 15, are affixed to it, through which two ropes,h, h, affixed to
the cone K, pass, and are then passed over two or more pulleys i, i, i, i, which
are affixed to the under side of the platform I, I, and have weights j, j, hung
upon these to keep them sufficiently tight. Upon the levers V, V, V, being drawn
up into the conical hollow of the block a they gradually close, and the claws
U, U, U, opening, become disengaged from the circular gap in the head of
the rammer T, which instantly falls, and is guided by the mooring chain in its
centre directly upon the head of the pile or stake, as shewn by the dotted
outline of it in Fig. 1 at T. The rammer is again raised by lowering the
block W, until the three claws are opened by the conical head of the rammer,
aided by the weight of the block; they then close and seize it again, as at
first; when a repetition of blows, produced by again raising the rammer. by
means of the crane Z, have driven the pile down within the trunk M to a
level with its mouth, and consequently no more effect takes place, this
circumstance is ascertained in the following manner :-To the head of the pile
a small loop of cork is affixed, through which is passed a toggle 1, having a
cord or line m' tied to its middle, which is previously passed through a loop or
eye in a metal ball or weight n, which is hung to the head of the pile
previously to lowering it to the bottom, and the other end of which line m
passes over a pulley o affixed to the frame J, J, and has a weight p hung upon
it, the ball or weight n being carried by the extent of the cone K to a
certain distance from the top of the trunk M, so as to leave a sufficient space
between the toggle band the eyen of the weight to let the weight p drop down
to the platform I, I. This effect is produced in the following manner :-A
sharp edge or circular cutter q is affixed upon the upper part of the ball L
around the square trunk M, shewn in Fig. 11, and separately in Fig. 16, and
on the last blow being given by the rammer T, it falls upon the edge of the.
cutter and cuts the loop Kasunder. The toggle
then, being released,

page_text: immediately suffers the weight p to drop, and thus gives the proper signal or
notice of the pile being driven, as before described. In order to drive the pile
or stake still deeper into the bottom, we raise up the block a and the
rammer T by means of the cranes f and Z until they reach above the level of
the platform I, I, the frame J, J, being made sufficiently lofty to allow thereof;
we also draw up the weight n by means of the line m; we then loop on
the toggle to a short perforated wooden cylinder, Fig. 17, which is secured at
top and bottom by capped rings, in the same manner as the heads of the piles;
we then hang the nearest link of the mooring chain upon a hook r, which is
provided for that purpose, and secured to the platform I, I, and which supports
the weight of the chain below that hook; then we disengage or separate the
cable from the mooring chain, having first lowered the upper portion of the chain
down through the perforations in the block a and rammer T; we then slip
the above-mentioned short cylinder, Fig. 17, upon the upper end of the mooring
chain and then attach it again to the cable, which by the action of the crane O
will again raise the mooring chain through the block a and rammer T, as
at first; the spring Q and weight R being also again affixed, the lower part of
the mooring chain being disengaged from the hook by the action of raising
it, the cylinder, Fig. 17, will thus glide down the mooring chain until it rests
upon the head of the pile, the weight n assisting it in its descent; the
rammer and block are then again lowered to their former positions, and the
cylinder, Fig. 17, is driven down by the repeated blows of the rammer, until the
loop upon it is cut by the cutter g, as in the former case just described;
when another cylinder, Fig. 18, must be added, and when that is driven, a
third also, Fig. 19, or even more, must be sent after it, which will clothe the
iron rod E, Fig. 3, entirely up to its eye, and the lower or wooden part of the
pile will be driven into the bed or bottom up to its head; and, as shewn in
Fig. 5, the cone K and the short cylinders, Figs. 17, 18, and 19, within its
trunk M, are then to be drawn up by the guide ropes h, h, having previously
raised the blocks a and W with the rammer T, leaving the wooden part of the
pile firmly imbedded in the bottom, and sufficiently fixed to bear the tension
of the mooring chain upon it without loosening or drawing. The guide ropes
are then to be untied from the cone K and secured to the loops g. 9; 'the pile
is then to be driven still farther and deeper into the bottom by letting.down
and driving in succession other wooden perforated pieces, such as are shewn in
Figs. 20, 21, and 22, until the eye of the rod E is become level with the
surface of the bed or bottom, as shewn in Fig. 12, and it may even be driven
still deeper if not sufficiently secured, which may be known by the greater or
lesser ease of driving, by continuing to add more perforated pieces, and as
k

page_text: shewn in Fig. 2.. In some cases. it, may be sufficient to employ. shorter piles
or stakes without any. additional parts or iron.rods.projecting above them, such
as is shewn in Fig. 23. The gaps or notches formed in the sides of the piles,
as above mentioned, are not only useful in assisting to drive. them, but they
likewise contribute most essentially to keep them from rising, owing to the
earth, closing around them and entering into these notches. The piles or
stakes may likewise be still more effectually prevented from rising by the aid
of two metal flaps s, s, hinged or jointed to the shoe of the pile, as shewn in
Figs. 24 and 25, the former being a side view, shewing the flaps as shut up,
their expansion or opening being also indicated by dotted lines, and the latter
a front view of the same with the flap shut up. Fig. 26 represents the rod E
and shoe without the flaps; and Fig. 27, one of the flaps shewn separately.
In case of any violent strain taking place, so as to raise. the pile in a small
degree, the flaps would instantly expand themselves, as shewn in Fig. 24
by the dotted lines, they being stopped from opening too wide by two short
projections t, t, against: which they abut.
Having thus described our Invention or improvement, so far as the same
relates to the. substitution of piles or stakes in place of the ordinary mooring
blocks, anchors, or other means now in use, we shall proceed to afford
examples of their application to the securing or mooring ships and other floating
bodies. In Fig. 2 we have represented a buoy as attached to the upper end
of a.chain affixed to a pile or stake driven into the bed or bottom, and to which
said buoy ships or other vessels may be secured or moored in the usual man-
ner. Now, it must be evident that unless a directly vertical pull be made upon
the pile or stake it cannot be removed from its place without great difficulty,
and such a vertical pull can scarcely ever be expected to take place. Another
is given in Figs. 28 and 29, the former being an elevation, and the latter a
plan, of the application of our method of securing or mooring floating bodies,
which may be either a pier, or a support for a suspension bridge, or a light-
house, pier, floating light, &c. Here a sufficient number of piles or stakes
C, C, C, &c. must be driven into the bed or bottom in the manner already
described, from which chains, rods, or other fit and proper connections are to
proceed upwards, and be secured to the floating pier. or other body, as shewn
in the Figures. Another example is afforded in Fig. 30, which represents one
of our methods of securing ships and other vessels from running aground upon
shoals, sand banks, &c. Around the boundaries of the shoal, &c. we drive
piles, or stakes, as shewn at C, C, C, &c., at proper distances asunder, with
chains and buoys affixed to each, and between them other chains of communi-
cation, which likewise have other shorter chains and buoys proceeding.upwards

page_text: from them, in the manner shewn. Upon the main or larger chains and buoys
smaller chains and buoys are mounted, which reach or extend to the surface
of the water, in order to indicate the existence of a shoal or sand bank, and
the means employed to prevent vessels from being driven upon it, which
consist in the vessel being provided with a grapnel, hanging so low down in
the water, so to insure its catching hold of one of the communicating chains
as shewn, and holding securely thereby.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Palmer De la Fons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.