CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MODE OF DRAWING SHIPS UP AN INCLINED PLANE OUT OF WATER
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
MILLER, Civil Engineer, of Number One hundred and eighty-six Saint
George's Road, in the City of Glasgow, in Scotland, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OF DRAWING SHIPS UP AN INCLINED PLANE OUT OF WATER;"
and Her said Majesty being willing to give encouragement to all arts and
inventions that may be for the public good, was graciously pleased, by Her Royal
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the twelfth year of Her reign, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, to give and grant unto me, the said Daniel
Miller, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, or they, by myself or themselves, or by my or
their deputies, servants, or agents, or such others as I or they should agree
with, and no others, during the term of fourteen years from the date of the
said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
my said Invention within that part of Her said Majesty's Dominions called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
Her Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all
Her Colonies and Plantations abroad, in such manner as to me, my exors,
adiñiors, and assigns, shall seem meet, and that I or they shall enjoy the whole

page_text: profit and advantage arising by reason of the said Invention during the said
term of fourteen years. And whereas the said Letters contain a proviso
obliging me, the said Daniel Miller, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the
same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, as in and by the same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully
and at large appear.
my
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Daniel Miller, do hereby declare that said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by aid of the Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, with the writing thereon, that is to say:-
My said improvements consist in the application (in manner herein-after
described) of what is commonly known as a hydrostatic cylinder, with a move-
able ram or a piston fitted to slide within the interior hóllow of such cylinder,
and with injecting pumps worked by a steam engine, or other first moving
power, in a suitable manner for forcing water into the said interior of the
cylinder at one end thereof; and thereby giving a slow but very forcible motion
to the ram or the piston within the cylinder in the direction of its length (and
away from that end thereof into which water is forced as aforesaid), and by
means of rods which are suitably connected with the said ram or piston, such
motion thereof is transmitted to the usual kind of carriage, which travels on
the fixed inclined plane (and which carriage may bear or support a ship upon
it) in the usual and well-known mode of drawing ships' up an inclined plane
out of water, called Morton's Slip, but which mode will be greatly improved
by the application thereto of a hydrostatic cylinder and ram or piston actuated
by steam or other power (according to my said improvements), by way of a
motive force for drawing the carriage with a ship thereon up the inclined plane
out of water: And whereas Letters Patent for England and for Scotland and
Ireland, respectively, were formerly granted by King George the Third to the
late Thomas Morton, of Leith, shipbuilder, for the said mode, bearing date for
England the Twenty-third day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
nineteen; and for Scotland bearing date the Sixth day of 'June, and sealed and
registered the Eighteenth day of August, both One thousand eight hundred
and eighteen, and for Ireland bearing date the First day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-two; and the said mode is described in the
three Specifications which were enrolled in Chancery in England, in Scotland,
and in Ireland respectively, in pursuance of the said Letters Patent; and also

page_text: whereas the said mode, has been exclusively practised (under the denomination
of Morton's Slip), and is well known and commonly used; it is, therefore,
unnecessary to enter into a minute description of those parts of Morton's said
slip, which are to be constructed in the usual manner when my said improve-
ments are applied thereto, that is to say :-,
The fixed incline plane, and the carriage which is, to travel thereon, and the
means of receiving and bearing, or supporting, the ship upon such carriage, are
to be as usual; but in place of the usual motive force of capstan or winches to
be worked by men with wheel. and pinion work for encreasing the force and
winding up a chain for drawing the carriage with a ship thereon., up the
inclined plane,out of water, a bydrostatic cylinder and ram or piston actuated
by steam or other power as aforesaid, is to be applied by way of a motive
force for the said purpose. 1.
And in the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed the manner of performing
my said improvements is represented, Figure 1 being a horizontal plan, and
Figure 2 a corresponding lateral elevation of a hydrostatic cylinder, with a
moveable ram, and the rods connected therewith for transmitting its force and
motion to the carriage, of the Morton's slip, also the injecting pumps and
steam engine for actuating them by steam power; and Figure 3 is a longitu-
dinal section of the said hydrostatic cylinder and its moveable ram fitted into
its interior hollow. The same letters of reference are used in all the said
Figures to denote the same parts. A is the upper or highest end of the middle-
most railway or keelway of the fixed inclined plane whereon the middlemost
beam or keel beam of the carriage is to travel, with small wheels or trucks
running on that railway, but the carriage does not appear, and neither of the
two side railways of the inclined plane are represented. B is the upper end
of a long traction rod, being the uppermost of a series or chain of such rods,
which are jointed together end to end by cross pins in the manner of long
links, the lowermost whereof, is jointed (at its lowermost end) to the upper-
most end of the said middlemost beam or keel beam of the carriage (it is called
the keel beam, because it is beneath [the keel of the, vessel that is to be
borne on the carriage). The said fixed inclined plane and carriage, and
series of jointed traction rods, are all as usual in Morton's slip. D, D,
is the hydrostatic cylinder firmly fixed to a foundation of masonry or
timber, with its central line in exact coincidence with a prolongation of the
central line of the traction rod B. The cylinder, D, D, is made of
cast iron of great strength, with projections a a, a a, a a, a a, from each
side of it, which projections are let into. the masonry or timber E, E, and
firmly fastened thereto by nuts screwed upon, holding-down bolts passing
:

page_text: down through each of the said projections into the foundation and taking
secure hold thereof. F is the moveable ram, which is received into the
interior hollow of the cylinder D, D. The exterior of the ram F being made
truly cylindrical and smooth, is fitted to slide end ways through a collar of
leather, applied around the inside of the uppermost end of the cylinder D, D,
as shewn at d, d, in the section, Figure 3, so that the said collar of leather
will surround the ram F, and prevent escape of water from the interior hollow
of the cylinder, although the ram moves endways through the collar. G is a
cross head, applied to the uppermost end of the ram F; and at the two ends
of the cross head.G, two long side rods H, H, are fastened by nuts, and after
proceeding along each side of the cylinder D, parallel thereto, the lower ends
of the same side rods H, H, are fastened by nuts to the two ends of another
cross head I, to the middle of which the uppermost end of the traction rod B
is jointed by a cross pin. The centre lines of the two side rods H, H, are in
the same plane with the centre line of the cylinder D, and of the ram F and
of the rod B. Those two side rods H, H, together with the cross heads
G and I, serve to connect the ram F with the rod B, so that any endway
motion being given to the ram F will be transmitted to the rod B. The
weight of the ram is sustained by a small wheel or truck e, Figure 3, applied
to the lowermost end of the ram F, which end is within the hollow of the
cylinder, the circumferential edge of that wheel e being suitably formed for
applying to and travelling along the under side of the said hollow. The ram
is also sustained by its fitting into the uppermost end of the cylinder D, where
the collar of leather 'd, d, is applied. The cross heads G and I are likewise
sustained by small wheels or trucks at g and i, Figure 2, applied beneath those
cross heads respectively, and travelling upon fixed rails K. and A, which are
suitably fixed, as shewn in Figure 2, the rail A being a prolongation of the
middlemost railway or keelway of the inclined plane, upon which the middle-
most beam or keel beam of the carriage is to travel with its small bearing
wheels or trucks, as already mentioned, in the usual manner of Morton's slip,
and the small wheels at i are adapted to run in the same trucks as the said small
bearing wheels or trucks beneath the keel beam of the carriage; and by means
of the said small wheels e, g, and i, and the rails K and A, the whole weight
of the ram F, and the side rods H, H, and cross heads G and I, is sustained,
without causing unnecessary friction of the ram when it is moving endways
through its fitting within the uppermost end of the cylinder D. And the end-
way motion of the ram F is produced in the usual manner of a hydrostatic
cylinder and ram, by injecting water by means of forcing pumps L, L, into
the interior hollow of the cylinder D at the lowermost end thereof, namely,

page_text: at b, Figure 3, which is the passage in continuation of a pipe or passage f,
Figures 1 and 2, of connection between the cylinder D and the two pumps
L, L, which are represented as being fixed in a nearly horizontal position, side
by side, on a bracket over the lowermost end of the cylinder D. The steam
cylinder C of the steam engine, by which the two pumps L, L, are worked, is
in like manner fixed in a nearly horizontal position upon a bracket over the
other end of the cylinder D. h is the piston rod, and M. the connecting rod,
jointed together end to end, their joint being guided by means of two fixed side
guides j, j, so as to preserve the intended rectilinear motion of the piston rod.
The other end of the connecting rod M is jointed to the crank pin of a crank p,
formed on the horizontal axis N, N, on which is the fly wheel O of the steam
engine for regulating the motion thereof; also an excentric is fastened upon the
axis N, for giving the requisite motion to the sliding valve within the steam-
valve box k, over the steam cylinder C, such motion being transmitted from
the excentric by the long excentric rod 1, Figure 1, and the working gear
at m, in the usual manner of small high-pressure steam engines. The steam
pipe which conveys the high-pressure steam from the boiler to the interior of
the box k is not represented; that pipe must have a throttle valve or stop
valve in it for regulating the flow of steam to the engine, and consequently
the rapidity of its motion. The eduction passage and pipe, for conveying away
the discharged steam from the cylinder to make its escape into the open air,
is not represented; but the said pipes, and all other details of the steam
engine, are to be as usual in small high-pressure steam engines. The hori-
zontal axis N, N, of the aforesaid crank p, and of the fly wheel O, has two
other cranks P, P, formed upon it for working the pump rods and plungers
n, n, of the two pumps L, L, by intervention of forked connecting rods Q, Q,
the pump rods n, n, being retained in their proper rectilinear motions by
passing through fixed guides r, r. The two cranks P, P, cause the two
pumps L, L, to operate alternately for forcibly injecting water into the hydro-
static cylinder D, and thereby causing the ram F to be moved endways
through its collar of leather d, d, Figure 3, with a slow but very forcible
motion in the usual manner of a hydrostatic cylinder and ram; and that
motion being transmitted, as already stated, by the side rods H, H, to the
traction rod B, will draw the carriage, with a ship upon it, up the inclined
plane; and after the ram F has been thus moved to the full extent of the
motion that it is intended to have, so that its lowermost end will not pass
beyond its collar of leather d, d, then its further motion is stopped by closing
a stopcocks, Figure 2, in the pipe f of communication between the pumps
L, L, and the hydrostatic cylinder D, and thereby preventing any more water

page_text: being injected into the same; and although the steam engine may continue its
motion after the said cocks is closed, and may continue to work the pumps
L, L, the water which they will force out from their pump barrels will make
its escape by lifting up a loaded safety valve or escape valve which is provided
for that purpose (and may be at z), in the usual manner of injecting pumps
for hydrostatic cylinders, to prevent bursting them. The said stopcock s may
be closed by self-action at the proper time as aforesaid, by means of a pro-
jecting piece suitably fastened to one of the side rods H, so as at the said
proper time to come in contact with and disengage a suitable latch, by which
the lever handle t, Figure 2, of the cock s, may have been previously detained
in a proper position for keeping the cock s open, notwithstanding the continual
effort of a weight that may be suitably applied (by intervention of a rope and
a pulley, or otherwise), for moving the said lever handle t, so as to close the
cock 8, and which cock will be suddenly closed by descending force of such
weight, when the said latch is disengaged by the contact and action of the
said projection as aforesaid. And as soon as the aforesaid forcible motion of
the ram F has ceased, in consequence of the cock s being closed, whether it
is closed by self-action as aforesaid, or by the hand of the person who is to
direct the working of the steam engine and hydrostatic cylinder, then that
person is to open a very small escape cock, as at v, Figure 2, which will allow
some water to escape from the interior hollow of the cylinder D, and such
escape will allow the ram F to move very slowly backwards into the cylinder,
so as to allow the carriage and the ship thereon to descend the inclined plane
very slowly and for a very short distance, until the usual pawl of the carriage
comes to bear against a tooth of the usual rack on the middlemost railway, so
as to arrest all farther descent of the carriage, and thereby relieve the traction
rod B and other moving parts from their previous state of tension. Then the
said uppermost traction rod B is to be removed by withdrawing its joint pins,
by one of which it is jointed at its lowermost end to the uppermost end of the
next traction rod below it, in the series of such rods, and by the other it is
jointed at its uppermost end to the middle of the cross head 1. And the said
traction rod B, being so removed (the same as in the usual manner of working
Morton's ship), then the ram F is to be returned or moved backwards all its
length into the hydrostatic cylinder D, and that is to be effected by winding
up a rope or chain R around' a small roller s, which is mounted on a round
part of the axis N; N, of the steam engine, but which is not turned round
therewith so long as a clutch box on the roller S is kept out of gear with a
corresponding clutch box w fastened on the axis N. The roller S can be
moved endways along the axis N by means of a fork at one end of a handle

page_text: lever (not shewn), which fork embraces a groove around the central boss of the
roller S; and the said lever. handle has hitherto been placed and detained. in
such a position as to withdraw the roller S from the clutch box w, and thereby
leave the roller S at liberty to turn freely round; about; the axis N.. The
aforesaid rope or chain R is attached at one end to the cross head G, near to
the wheel g, Figure 2, and, after extending beneath the, ram F, the rope or
chain R is conducted over. suitable pullies and y, and the other end is
fastened to and, wound around the said roller S, and so long as the ram F
continued to be moved by the injection of water into the hydrostatic cylinder D,
in manner already, described, that motion of the ram F drew the rope or
chain R so as to cause the roller S, to turn round about the axis N in a
contrary direction to that of the revolving motion of the said axis, and so as to
unwind the rope or chain R from around the roller: S; but after the ram F
had been thus moved to the full extent of its motion, and; ceased to move
further, and also the traction rod B having been removed as already described,
then a large discharge cock, partly,, seen at X, Figure 2, is to be opened by
the attendant to permit water to escape freely out of the hydrostatic cylinder
D through the passage C, Figure 3, and, he also moves the aforesaid handle,
lever, and fork belonging to the roller S, so as to put the clutch thereof into
gear with the. clutch box w, and then the roller S will begin to turn round
with the axis N of the steam engine, which has kept constantly in motion, and
by so turning the roller S will wind up the rope or chain R, and thereby
draw back the ram F, with an endway motion, into the hydrostatic cylinder D;
which being done (and the roller S drawn out of gear by a self-action similar
to that by which the stopcocks is closed as already explained), the joint at
the middle of the cross head I will have been removed so far down the inclined
plane as to permit it to be jointed. (by insertion of its pin) to the uppermost
end of the traction rod already mentioned as the next one below B in the
series of such rods. The ram F, being in that manner. connected anew with
the carriage, then the aforesaid very small escape cock v, and also the afore-
said large discharge cock at X are both closed, to, prevent any escape of water
from the hydrostatic cylinder D, and the stopcocks is opened by the attendant
(by moving its lever handle t in opposition to the effort of the weight before
mentioned, until that lever handlet is caught and detained by its latch, also
before mentioned). The two forcing pumps L, L, then resume their intended
action of injecting water into.. the hydrostatic cylinder D, and thereby giving
the slow and forcible motion to the ram F, and to the side rods H, H,
and to the series of traction rods so as to resume the drawing of the carriage
(with a ship upon it) up the inclined plane, and when it has thus been drawn

page_text: up as much further as the extent of motion that the ram F is intended to have
(which extent is equal to the length of one traction rod from joint to joint)
then the aforesaid latch is disengaged, and allows the stopcock s to be suddenly
closed by self-action of its aforesaid weight, whereby the further motion of the
ram F is prevented. Then the aforesaid very small escape cock v is opened
by the attendant to relieve the moving parts from their tension, and after that
is done (by way of preparation) then the uppermost traction rod is removed as
before. Next the aforesaid large discharge cock at X is opened, and also the
roller S is put into gear by the attendant, which causes the ram to be returned
into the hydrostatic cylinder through the intended extent of its motion, and
until the roller S is drawn out of gear by a self-action as aforesaid, and by
which time the cross head I will have descended so far down the inclined
plane that it can be jointed by its cross pin to the uppermost end of the
next traction rod in the series, and then after the small escape cock v, and
the large one X, are both closed, all the parts will have become prepared for
resuming the drawing up of the ship by merely opening the stopcocks by the
attendant, so as to repeat the action already described in detail, and recapitu-
lated briefly. The collar of leather at d, d, Figure 3, is of the kind commonly
used in hydrostatic cylinders, called a double cupped leather, which is so well
known as not to require description, and the same of the collars leathers for
the plungers of the two pumps L, L; also the working valves of those pumps,
and their loaded escape valve (as at z), are of the kind commonly used in the
injecting pumps to hydrostatic cylinders, the load upon the said escape valve
being regulated so as to give the ram a sufficient force of traction for drawing
up the carriage and ship, but so as to allow the water to escape, and the ram
to stand still in case of any accidental obstruction causing such a strain of
traction as might injure the moving parts. The two pumps L, L, although
acting alternately as already mentioned will not of themselves produce an
uniform intromission of water into the hydrostatic cylinder D, and therefor an
air vessel V may be applied to give regularity to that intromission (in the
usual manner of air vessels to pumps) and consequently a regularity of
slow motion to the ram F, and to the carriage with the ship upon it.
But note, although only two pumps L, L, are represented, three such
pumps or even four such pumps may be used and worked by tripple or
quadruple cranks on the axis N, in order to cause a regular intromission. Or
two pumps may be used which are double acting, so as to inject water into the
hydrostatic cylinder D, when the rod n of either pump is drawn away from the
barrel of the pump, as well as when the same rod is forced towards that
barrel, and two such double-acting pumps will produce a very regular intro-

page_text: mission if they are worked by two cranks, such as P, P, except being disposed
at right angles, one crank to the other on the axis N; and although the steam
engine and the pumps are represented as being fixed on and supported by the
hydrostatic cylinder D (which serves as a basement for them), that is merely
a matter of convenience, as the steam engine and pumps may be placed by the
side of the hydrostatic cylinder, and at some distance therefrom, with a suit-
able pipe or pipes for communicating (in the same manner as the pipe f)
between the pumps and the hydrostatic cylinder. The pumps may be over the
hydrostatic cylinder although the steam cylinder of the steam engine is situated
at one side thereof, in which case the main crank (such as p) will be on one
extremity of the axis N, and the fly wheel may be on the other extremity
thereof, which will be convenient in case of tripple or quadruple cranks on
the middle part of the axis for working three or four pumps as above men-
tioned. The pumps may be disposed in vertical positions, and the steam
cylinder of the engine may also be vertical, and may operate with a great lever,
and the pumps, or some of them, may be worked by the motion of that lever
with alternating actions, others of the pumps being worked by cranks on the
revolving axis of the steam engine. The working valves of the pumps should
open and shut by rising and falling in vertical directions, although the barrels
of the pumps are nearly horizontal, as at L, L. The cistern of water for
supplying the pumps L, L, is not represented; it may be placed in any conve-
nient situation by the side of the hydrostatic cylinder D, or beneath it within
the foundation E, E, with a section pipe or pipes extending from the said
cistern to the pumps L, L, and also with a return pipe extending from the
escape and discharge cocks at vand X, and from the safety valve at z, so as to
carry back all the water which escapes from the hydrostatic cylinder D into
the said cistern, in order to be used over again. And note, although the steam
engine has been mentioned as a high-pressure engine, it may be a condensing
steam engine, and the steam engine (of whichever kind it may be) may be
applied to perform any kind of work usually performed by steam power, as
may be required in the intervals between the drawing up ships out of water.
And whereas the moveable ram F is protruded out of the uppermost end of
the hydrostatic cylinder D, and requires in consequence so much additional
space beyond the said uppermost end as the extent of motion of the ram, that
additional space may be saved if, instead of a ram, a moveable piston is used
within the hydrostatic cylinder, which may be done in the manner shewn in
the section, Figure 4, wherein D, D, is the hydrostatic cylinder, nearly the
same externally as in Figure 3; but the interior of the cylinder D, D, Figure 4,
is bored truly cylindrical, and has a smooth internal surface suitable for having
a piston T fitted to slide therein; the long piston rod W of that piston T

page_text: passes through a collar of leather d, d, at the lowermost end Z of the cylinder D,
and the lowermost end of the long piston rod W is fastened to a cross head.I,
to which the traction rod B is jointed, in the same manner as in Figure 2;
and in like manner the said cross head I, Figure 4, is sustained. by wheels at i,
travelling on the railway A. b is the passage (near to the lowermost end Z
of the cylinder D), at which passage water is introduced by junction of a pipe
from the forcing pumps in the same manner as f. f. Figure 2, and the two
discharge cocks, such as at vand at X, may both be applied to the said pipe,
such as f, f (and note, that might be the case in Figure 2, with X, as well as
with v). The collar of leather at d, d, Figure 4, which surrounds the piston
rod W, is a double-cupped leather of the same kind as is usually employed for
surrounding the plungers of the forcing pumps for hydrostatic.cylinders. The pis-
ton T is surrounded with a double-cupped leather in the usual manner of pistons
for hydrostatic cylinders. The lowermost end Z of the cylinder D. is fastened
in its place by several screws, and in order to make a water-tight joint a double-
cupped leather is applied at u, u, in a groove around that part of the end Z
which enters into the interior of the cylinder D. The action of the piston T,
in Figure 4, is the same as that of the ram F in Figure 3, and as already
described, but the weight of the piston, and its rod W, with the cross head I,
being less than the weight of the ram F, and its side rods H, H, with the cross
heads G and I, the motion of the piston will be more easily performed, parti-
cularly for moving the piston backwards within the cylinder D. towards the
end Z thereof when required, which may be done by means of the roller S,
winding up the rope or chain R, Figures 1 and 2, as already described. But
for doing that, in Figure 4 the end of the rope or chain R must be attached
to the cross head I near to the wheels i, and thence extended in a direction
down the inclined plane and parallel to the: traction rod B to a pulley at some
distance, around which pulley the rope or chain R must pass in order to return
to the roller S, which will therefore draw the piston T. towards the end Z
whenever the roller S winds up the rope or chain R around itself, as alredy
described. Or the piston T may be moved backwards within the cylinder D
towards the end Z thereof by forcing water into the opposite end of the
cylinder D, which end would be left open in the case above described; but in
the case now describing the said end must be closed by a solid end Y, fastened
with screws and with leather around it at u, u,. to make a water-tight joint,
as already explained respecting the end Z; and near to the end Y there must
be a passage U, with a pipe joined thereto, in a suitable manner for bringing
water from a forcing pump, which is to be worked when required by the
steam engine. In order, then, to forcibly inject water into the end Y of the
cvlinder D, and thereby force the piston T to move therein towards the end Z

page_text: that action of the said forcing pump being performed at all those times when
(according to the foregoing description of Figures 1 and 2) the roller S would
be put into gear with the clutch box w, and would wind up the rope or chain R;
but at all other times when the roller S would be out of gear the said forcing
pump would be out of action, so as to force nof water into the passage v, but
on the contrary that passage must then (by the opening of a suitable discharge
cock) allow water to escape freely from the end Y of the cylinder D, and
return to a cistern from which the suction pipe of the said forcing pump
is to be supplied at the times when it is to be in action for forcing
water through U into the end Y of the cylinder D, as aforesaid, and
at which times the said discharge cock must be closed. The said forcing
pump must be of much larger size than the other forcing pumps, such
as L, L, because it is required to force water rapidly into the end Y,
in order to move the piston T and its rod W with a tolerably quick
motion in the backward direction towards Z, in the same manner as
would be done by the roller S winding up the rope or chain R, for which
parts S and R the said forcing pump is a substitute; and it might be worked
by an excentric fitted loosely on the axis N, N, of the steam engine, in place
of the roller S, and provided with a suitable clutch box in place of W, which,
when put into gear, would cause that excentric to be turned round with the
axis N, and therefore the excentric would give motion to the pump, in order
to force water into the end Y of the cylinder D, whenever such clutch box
might be thrown into gear, which would be done at the same times and in a
similar manner to what has been already described respecting the throwing of
the roller S into gear (and withdrawing the same from gear) with the clutch
box W. Or, instead of such an excentric, it might be a toothed wheel fitted
loosely on the axis N, in place of the roller S, and provided with a clutch box
in place of w; the teeth of the said wheel acting in those of another toothed
wheel on another axis, having a crank thereon for working the said forcing
pump whenever the toothed wheel first mentioned might have its clutch box
put into gear, but leaving the pump motionless whenever the same might be
out of
gear.
And note, it should have been mentioned before that the
roller S, instead of being on the axis N, as represented in Figures 1 and 2
(and as herein-before described), might be on such a separate axis as aforesaid,
with a toothed wheel gearing into a toothed wheel, as aforesaid, fitted loosely
on the axis N, in place of the roller S, and provided with a clutch box for
causing the toothed wheels and consequently the roller S to be turned round,
in order to wind up the rope or chain R, whenever the clutch box might be
put into gear, as herein-before described. The said forcing pump should be

page_text: double acting, in order to inject water as well when the rod of the pump is
moving in a direction towards the barrel of the pump as when moving
in a contrary direction. Or two pumps might be used to act alternately, so as
in either case to force water into the end Y of the cylinder D without much
intermission. The force required to work such pump or pumps, and the
pressure of the water within the end Y of the cylinder D, will be inconsider-
able, because there will be no other resistance to the backward motion of tho
piston T except that arising from friction. But on the contrary, the pressure
of the water in the other end Z of the cylinder D must be very great in order
to force the piston T onwards with its forward motion, when it has to
overcome the resistance of drawing the carriage (with a ship upon it) up the
inclined plane out of water. And the same of forcing forwards the ram F,
Figure 3; and in either case the cylinder D, and pipe f, f, and pumps L, L,
with their valves and the cocks, in short all those parts which have to retain
the said water under its great pressure, and the joints and the leathers of such
parts, must have adequate strength and closeness of fitting for resisting such
pressure, and preventing leakage, as is well known and commonly practised
for ordinary hydrostatic cylinders with rams or with pistons, and the injecting
force pumps and pipes therefor. The diameter of the ram, F, Figure 3, or of
the piston T, Figure 4, must be adapted to the utmost force of traction that
is required to be overcome, so that the pressure of water necessary for
overcoming the said required traction may not be excessive, and it should be
less than the pressure of water wherewith hydrostatic presses are commonly
worked. The extent of motion of the ram or piston should be as long as may
be convenient, in order that there may be fewer interruptions for removing
the traction rods one after another, the length of each of those rods being in
all cases the same as the said extent of motion of the ram or piston. The
Drawing shews a short extent of that motion, but the cylinder D may be longer,
particularly if fitted with a piston as in Figure 4; and the cylinder in either
case, Figure 3 or Figure 4, may be made in two lengths, united end to end
by flange joints with screw bolts. And note, respecting the backward or
returning motion of the ram F, Figures 1, 2, and 3, in its cylinder D, towards
the end 6 thereof, instead of being produced as there represented by a roller S,
and rope or chain R, that backward motion may be produced by action of a
pump or pumps in every respect similar to what has been already described
for forcing water through the passage U into the end Y of the cylinder D,
Figure 4, excepting that such pump or pumps must (in the case now describing)
be adapted to withdraw or pump out water from the end b, c, of the cylinder
D, Figure 3, through the passage c (which is situated at the lowest part of

page_text: that end), in order that the pressure of the atmosphere may become operative
on the ram F, so as to force the same into the cylinder D with the required
backward or returning motion, according as water is so withdrawn from the
cylinder through C by the action of the said pump or pumps, which with-
drawing action must take place at the same times as the forcing action of the
pump or pumps has been described to take place for injecting water at U into
the end Y of the cylinder D, Figure 4, for producing the backward motion of
its piston T; that is to say, at the same time when (according to the foregoing
description) the roller S, Figures 1 and 2, would be in gear, and acting to
wind up the rope or chain R, and being also those times when water would
be discharged through the large discharge cock at X, Figure 2 (which
cock is in continuation of the passage C, Figure 3). For, according to the
foregoing description of Figures 1 and 2, the said discharge cock at X being
opened would then permit water to make its escape through C, Figure 3,
according as the ram F would be moved backwards by action of the roller S
winding up the rope or chain R. But when instead of being merely.
permitted to escape through C and the cock at X, the same water is forcibly
withdrawn or pumped out by action of the said pump or pumps now
describing, then such withdrawing will cause the required backward. motion
of the ram F (without any roller, rope, or chain), provided that the resistance
to such backwards motion from friction is not too great to be overcome by the
pressure of the atmosphere acting against the end of the ram F. If the ram
is large enough, that pressure of the atmosphere will be sufficient, and with a
large ram the pressure of water that will be necessary to force it onwards
with its forward motion will be less, and more easily managed than the
greater pressure that would be necessary with a smaller ram. And note, the
inode now describing of producing the required backward motion of the ram F,
Figure 3, by withdrawing or pumping out water from the lowermost end of the
hydrostatic cylinder through C, is equally applicable to producing the required
backward motion of the piston T, Figure 4, the water being so pumped out
from the end Z of the cylinder D through a passage similar to b, except being
situated at the under side (instead of the upper side) of the circumference of
the end Z. The other end Y must, in such case, be left open to the atmo-
sphere in the same manner as it would be if the backward motion of the
piston T were to be produced by a roller winding up a rope or chain, as
already explained. And note, in case of the adoption of either of the three
modes, last described, of causing the backward motion of the piston or of the
whether by forcing water into the uppermost end Y of the cylinder D
at U, Figure 4, or by pumping out water at the end Z (below 6), Figure 4,
ram,

page_text: or by pumping out water at C, Figure 3; then in either such case, in order
to effectually to prevent leakage, the collar of leather at d, d, Figures 3 or 4,
and the leather around the piston T, Figure 4, should have an additional
double-cupped leather applied at each such place, with the cup thereof in a
reversed direction to the cup of the double-cupped leather, herein-before men-
tioned; also in case of the two injecting pumps L, L, Figures 1 and 2, being
double-acting pumps, as herein-before mentioned, each pump must have two
double-cupped leathers applied with their cups in reversed directions for
working in the pump barrel L or L. And note, the required backward or
returning motion of the ram or of the piston, may be produced by the reaction
and descent of a heavy weight, which is suspended by a rope or chain con-
nected with the ram or with the piston rod, and conducted over suitable
pullies, so that the said weight will be raised upwards. during the forward
motion of the ram or piston, in order to be in readiness for operating, by its
descending force of gravitation, to produce the backward or returning motion
when required. The said rope or chain may be attached at one end to the cross
head G at g, and extended beneath the ram F in the same manner as the rope
or chain R, Figure 2, and also conducted over other suitable pullies similar
to k, y; but then, instead of proceeding to the roller S, may proceed higher
upwards, so to pass over another elevated pulley, and have the reacting weight
suspended at the other end in such manner that the said weight will have a
range of rise and fall equal to the full extent of the motion of the ram or
piston. Or in case of a piston, as in Figure 4, the said rope or chain must
be attached at one end to the cross head I near i, and after extending parallel
to the traction rod B for some distance, must be conducted over a pulley or
pullies, and then upwards, to pass over an elevated pulley as aforesaid, in
order to have the reacting weight suspended at the other end. The backward
or returning motion of the ram or of the piston will be produced by the
descending force of such reacting weight at the times when, according to the
foregoing description of Figures 1 and 2, the large discharge cock at X is
opened, and the roller S thrown into gear; but in the mode now describing,
there will be no such roller S, and the backward motion will begin as soon as
the discharge cock at X is opened to allow any escape of water from the cylinder
D, and the said backward motion may be regulated with precision by partially
closing that cock, and will cease when that cock is closed. The said cock at X
should not be of such large size, as that the water can be allowed to escape
very freely through the cock, or the backwards motion might be performed
with too much rapidity. Note, the small escape cock at v should be closed as
soon as the moving parts are relieved from tension. In the mode now

page_text: describing it will be unnecessary to continue the motion of the steam engine
after the forward motion of the ram or piston has been performed; and during
the interval before that forward motion can be resumed. The throttle valve
in the steam pipe or passage may be closed by self action, so as to stop the
motion of the engine. as soon as the ram or piston has moved through the
intended extent of its forward motion, in the same manner and at the same
time as the stopcocks in the pipe f, would be closed by self action according
to the foregoing description of Figures 1 and 2, and the engine must be
started again when the forward motion of the ram or piston is to be resumed.
And note, the launching of a vessel upon the carriage down the inclined plane
into the water is to be performed in the usual manner of such launching with
Morton's slip. And note, whenever it may be required to draw the carriage
by itself (without a ship) up the inclined plane out of water (as, for instance,
after a ship has been launched), then. the force of traction that would be
given to the ram or piston of the hydrostatic cylinder by action of the injecting
pumps L, L, as herein-before described, would be unnecessarily. forcible, and the
slowness of the motion would be tedious; wherefore, in such case, an injecting
pump or pumps of larger size than L, L, would be desirable to be brought into
action, in addition to or instead of the pumps L, L. Such larger pump or pumps
being similar to (and being worked in a similar manner to) what has been
already described for producing the backward motion of the ram or the piston,
by injecting water into the uppermost end Y of the hydrostatic cylinder D;
through the passage U, Figure 4, or else by withdrawing or pumping out
water from the lowermost end Z, Figure 4, or b, c, Figure 3, and the same
pump or pumps
which has or have been already described, as aforesaid, may
be made to serve both purposes, if provided with suitable pipes and cocks, for
causing the water that is forced out from such pump or pumps to be injected
into the lowermost end of the cylinder D at b, Figure 4, instead of into the
uppermost end at U, Figure 4, according as the said cocks may be turned, in
order to convey the said water into one end Y, or into the other end Z of the
cylinder. Otherwise the said cocks may be turned so as to inject water into
the lowermost end of the cylinder D at b, Figures 3 or 4, instead of with-
drawing water from the said end at C, as herein-before described. Also in
such case, a series of slighter traction rods may be used instead of the usual
heavy traction rods like B; and such slighter rods will be more easily and
expeditiously removed one after another, than could be done with the said
usual heavy traction rods. Or such drawing up of the carriage alone may be
performed by winding up a rope or chain around a suitable drum, which is
turned round by the steam engine, by means of a large toothed wheel on the

page_text: axis of such drum, and a small pinion fitted upon a round part of the axis N
(which part may be at the end of that axis, beyond the fly wheel O,
Figure 1), so that the said pinion will not be turned round with that axis,
unless a clutch box, similar to W, is thrown into gear; but if that is done,
then the pinion will be turned round with the axis N (and by its teeth) will
give a slow motion to the teeth of the large cog wheel, in order to turn the
said drum for winding up the rope or chain, and thereby drawing up the
carriage (without any ship upon it) in an expeditious manner, and avoiding
the interruptions that would be occasioned by removing the traction rods one
after another. And note, although a steam engine is represented in the
Drawing, and described in the foregoing description of that Drawing, as the
first moving power for working the injecting pumps and the roller or the
drum for winding up a rope or chain, nevertheless, any other suitable first
moving power may be used, if thought more convenient than steam, or the
injecting pumps may be wrought by the strength of men in the usual manner
of working such pumps for hydraulic cylinders.
Having now described my said improvements, I, the said Daniel Miller,
do hereby declare that the new Invention whereof the exclusive use is granted
to me by the Letters Patent herein-before recited, consists in the application
herein-before described of a hydrostatic cylinder fitted with a moveable ram, or
with a moveable piston, and provided with injecting pumps worked by steam
or other power for forcing water into such cylinder, so as to move the ram or
piston with forcible motion by way of a. motive force for drawing ships up an
inclined plane out of water, in the mode commonly known as Morton's Patent
Slip. And the requisite backward or returning motion of such ram or piston
being produced when required, in the manner herein-before described, either
by a roller winding up a rope or chain to draw the ram or piston backward,
or by injecting or pumping water into such cylinder to act against the front or
uppermost side of the piston and move it backwards, or by withdrawing or
pumping out from the cylinder the water that has been previously injected
into it for producing the forward motion of the ram or piston, in order that
(by so withdrawing water) the pressure of the atmosphere may become
operative to produce the backward motion of the ram or piston, or by the
descending force of a reacting weight, which has been previously raised up
during the forward motion of the ram or piston.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Miller, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-nine.
DANIEL MILLER. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Daniel Miller came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.