Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Raising. Sunken, Stranded, or other Ships or Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1393-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Raising. Sunken,
Stranded, or other Ships or Vessels.
I WILLIAM EDWARD SYER of 17 Great Ancoats Street Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Looking-glass Manufacturer and Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of two or more instruments of powerful girder-like
construction made of steel, iron, wood, or other suitable substance placed horizon-
tally across the deck of the sunken or stranded ship or vessel from port to star-
board; each instrument being of sufficient length to allow both its ends to extend
or project some yards beyond the outer sides of the sunken or stranded ship or
vessel. Then clamping or fastening each of the said instruments to the deck and
beams of the sunken or stranded ship, close to the port and starboard sides, with
two powerful clamps; holes being cut in the deck to clamp the instruments down,
or up.
To the ends of each instrument are connected strong detachable arms, for the
purpose of keeping powerful air-vessels (which may be used for raising the sunken
or stranded ship or vessel) in their proper position.
Under or above the projecting ends of the aforesaid instruments may be placed,
fixed or attached powerful air-vessels, pontoons, lighters, or barges; or the attach-
ments of any great lifting power, for the purpose of raising and floating sunken or
stranded ships or vessels.
The aforesaid instruments may be made solid, or with a midfeather thus I, or
strong lattice work, so as lightness combined with great strength is attained; and
may be detachable in the middle so as to be adjustable to any length and more
portable.
Dated this 24th day of April 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Raising Sunken,
Stranded, or other Ships or Vessels.
I WILLIAM EDWARD SYER of 17 Great Ancoats Street Manchester in the
County of Lancaster, Looking-glass Maker and Engineer 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 :-
This invention consists of two or more instruments of powerful girder-like
construction, made of steel, iron, wood, or other suitable substance, placed horizon-
tally across the deck of the sunken or stranded ship or vessel, from port to star-
board; each instrument being of sufficient length to allow both its ends to extend
or project some yards beyond the outer sides of the sunken or stranded ship or
vessel; then clamping or fastening each of the said instruments to the deck and
beams of the sunken or stranded ship, close to the port and starboard sides; with
two powerful clamps, holes being cut in the deck to clamp the instruments down
or up.
To the ends of each instrument are connected strong detachable arms, for the
purpose of keeping powerful air-vessels, which may be used for raising the sunken
or stranded ship or vessel, in their proper positions..
Under the projecting ends of the aforesaid instruments, are or will be placed;

page_text: fixed, or attached powerful air-vessels, pontoons, lighters, or barges, for the purpose
of raising and floating sunken or stranded ships or vessels.
The aforesaid instruments may be made solid, or with a midfeather thus I, or
strong lattice work, so that lightness combined with great strength is attained, and
may be detachable in the middle, so as to be adjustable to any length and more
portable.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood. I shall now preceed
more particularly to describe the same, and in what manner the same is to be
performed and for that purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of one of the aforesaid instruments of powerful
girder-like construction, with vertical sections of air-vessels or lighters under the
projecting ends of the said instruments, and the detachable arms connected to the
ends of the said instruments, for keeping the air-vessels or lighters in their proper
position the whole being secured to the sunken ship by two powerful clamps.
I may use two or as many as may be found necessary of the aforesaid instruments
of girder-like construction.
.
Fig. 2 shows a top view of four of the aforesaid instruments of girder-like
construction with two powerful air-vessels or lighters under the projecting ends of
the said instruments; the detachable arms connected to the ends of the said
instruments, and eight clamps, clamping the said instruments to the sunken ship.
Fig. 3 shows a vertical section of the aforesaid clamps, with vertical section of
one of the aforesaid instruments of girder-like construction, secured to the deck
and beams of a sunken ship. It is important that the said clamps should be fixed
close to the side of the sunken ship, so that the ships side shall bear the strain as
much as possible.
Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of a detachable arm showing a rectangular
opening or slot for connecting same to the aforesaid instruments of girder-like
construction.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the said drawings.
A A represent the aforesaid instruments of girder-like construction which are
stronger in the middle to prevent springing.
The clamps consist of two plates E E having two holes each for two screw
rods PP to pass through, nuts screwing on each end of the rods as shewn in
Fig. 3 the screw rods PP being wide enough apart to allow the breadth of the
aforesaid instrument A to rest between them, and the lower plate E being of
sufficient length to grip three or more beams of the sunken ship, as shewn in
Fig. 3.
The detachable arms B B have each a large rectangular opening or slot O as
shewn in Fig. 4, adapted to the ends of the aforesaid instruments A A and are
connected thereto as shewn in Fig. 1; they may be detached by unscrewing set
screw D, and when reconnected are fixed close up to the air-vessels, or pontoons,
for the purpose of keeping the same in their proper position.
The aforesaid instruments of girder-like construction A. A, detachable arms B B,
and clamps E E P P are made from steel, iron, or other suitable substance.
The air-vessels, pontoons or lighters H H Figures 1 and 2, are made from steel,
iron, or other suitable material, and are sinkable and raisable by admitting and
forcing out water.
I am aware that prior to my invention, sinkable and raisable air-vessels, pontoons,
or lighters, have been made I therefore do not claim such air-vessels, pontoons, or
lighters broadly.
The following is the way in which the apparatus may conveniently be used.
With sunken ships on an even keel or thereabouts; deck houses and the like must
be removed where the instruments A A are placed; holes are cut in the decks
for the screw rods P P of clamps to pass through. The air-vessels, or
pontoons H H of sufficient power are then towed to the scene of operations, and
sunk on each side of the sunken ship, being secured to the sunken ship in any

page_text: suitable way. The aforesaid instruments of girder-like construction A ▲ are then
lowered from one or two steam tugs, and clamped to the sunken ship by divers,
the detachable arms B B are then connected and fixed close up to the air-vessels ;
then the water is expelled from the air-vessels or pontoons, and the sunken ship
will rise to the surface.
With stranded vessels in a similar position; the air-vessels or lighters may be
packed up to the said instruments A A if required, with blocks of timber & the
usual accessories for ship raising.
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-
1. In apparatus for purposes described, the combination, with air-vessels, pontoons,
or lighters, of two or more instruments of powerful girder-like construction A A
having detachable arms B B and the clamps E EP P all substantially as described
and illustrated.
2. The combination & arrangements of parts constituting the complete apparatus
for purposes described, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1893.