IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIPWAYS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thompson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of
same name, Engineer, and George Cooper, of Penarth, in the County of
Glamorganshire, South Wales, Naval Architect, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thompson and George
Cooper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November
1881.
JOHN THOMPSON, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of same name, Engineer,
and GEORGE COOPER, of Penarth, in the County of Glamorganshire, South Wales,
Naval Architect. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SLIPWAYS."
This Invention consists of a mode of constructing the cradles and longitudinal
sloping rails or "ways," in such a manner that a ship having been hauled up to a
certain point upon the main cradle can be transferred to an auxiliary cradle, the
main cradle being thereby liberated to receive another ship.
11
With this object in view we construct the main rails or ways of the slipway
and the cradle running upon them in the ordinary manner and at the necessary
slope or inclination, but of such additional length as may be required for the
working of the auxiliary cradle upon its rails or ways, as next described. Along-
side the upper portion of the main rails or "ways," and parallel with them, we
place auxiliary rails or ways with an auxiliary cradle running upon thein.
The slope or inclination of these auxiliary rails or ways is greater than that
of the main rails or ways," to such an extent that when a ship has been hauled
up on the main cradle until she is over, the auxiliary cradle and "bilge" blocks
have been fitted between the ship and such cradle, and the arms of the main
cradle have been swung round and laid over the side rails, when the further
heaving up of the two cradles simultaneously causes the ship to be gradually lifted
off the main cradle by the increased inclination of the rails or "ways" upon which
the auxiliary cradle is travelling, until the ship is quite clear of the main cradle
EL

page_text: and her whole weight is borne by the auxiliary cradle. The main cradle is then
at liberty to be lowered down the "ways" and launched to receive another ship,
the auxiliary cradle with the ship resting on it being left on the upper portion of
the slipway.
"
When the ship on the auxiliary cradle is to be launched, the main cradle with
the arins swung round and resting over the side rails is hauled up under the ship,
and the main and auxiliary cradles are simultaneously lowered down the “ ways;
the greater inclination of the ways of the auxiliary cradle causes the ship to
gradually approach and seat itself on the resting blocks of the main cradle. The
bilge" blocks on the auxiliary cradle are then removed, the arms of the main 1
cradle are swung round to their proper places, and the sliding" bilge" blocks are
run in, when the main cradle with the ship resting on it moves down the slip-way,
leaving the auxiliary cradle behind ready for receiving the next vessel.

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page_text: On Sheet 2, Figure 3 is a transverse section through the line a, b, of slipway on
Figure 1, with a ship resting upon the keel blocks of the main cradle just taking
the "bilge" blocks of auxiliary cradle, and Figure 4 is a transverse section through
the line c, d, of slipway on Figure 1, with a ship lifted off the keel blocks of the
main cradle and resting upon the "bilge" blocks of the auxiliary cradle.
Figures 1 and 2 are to a scale of one quarter of an inch per foot, and Figures 3
and 4 to a scale of one inch per foot.
The same letters refer to corresponding parts on all the Figures.
A, A, are the main ways upon which the centre or main cradle C runs on the
shoaves or rollers D, D; B, B, are the auxiliary ways upon which the auxiliary
cradle C, C, runs on the sheaves or rollers D', D'; E is one of the "pawls" of the
main cradle engaging into the rack F; E¹, E', are the "pawls" of the auxiliary
cradle engaging into the racks F¹, F'; G, G, are the keel blocks on main cradle,
and H, H, are the bilge blocks on auxiliary cradle; K, K, are the hauling chains
operating upon the main cradle C; L is a crosshead working on a pin P (in the
upper end of main cradle) and supported by stays or struts M, M, attached to
brackets N, N, and to the outer ends of crosshead L by pins O, O; R, R, are
strong coupling eyes (projecting from the upper end of the auxiliary cradle) into
which the ends of the crosshead L are fixed. By means of this crosshead, when
connected as shewn, the hauling action of the chains K, K, upon the main cradle C
is transmitted to the auxiliary cradle C¹, and both move simultaneously up the
slipway till the ship is lifted clear of the keel blocks G on main cradle, and rests
upon the "bilge" blocks H of the auxiliary cradle. The centre pin P and end
pins 0, 0, being now knocked out, the main cradle is disengaged from the auxiliary
cradle and can be launched to take on another vessel.
Having now described and illustrated our Invention, and the manner in which
we consider it may best be carried out in practical working, we desire to state
that we do not confine ourselves to the particular mode of construction, but what
we claim as novel and secured to us by Letters Patent is,-
The arrangement of slipways in which a main cradle with the ship or vessel
upon it is hauled up to a desired distance and connected to an auxiliary cradle
running upon ways at a greater inclination, and the main and auxiliary cradle
being then hauled up together, the ship or vessel is lifted off the main cradle and
rests upon the auxiliary cradle, substantially as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thompson, on behalf of myself and the
said George Cooper, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty
fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and nighty two.
Witness,
T. J. DANSON,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Newcastle on Тупс.
JOHN THOMPSON. (L.S.)