IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS AND LANDING STAGES OF STEAM AND OTHER FERRIES OR CON- VEYANCES FOR PASSENGERS, VEHICLES, GOODS, OR OTHER MERCHANDISE ON RIVERS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William May, of 16, Halsey Terrace, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
VESSELS AND LANDING STAGES OF STEAM AND OTHER FERRIES OR CON-
VEYANCES FOR PASSENGERS, VEHICLES, GOODS, OR OTHER MERCHANDISE ON
RIVERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William May at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1882.
WILLIAM MAY of 16 Halsey Terrace in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS AND LANDING STAGES OF STEAM AND
OTHER FERRIES OR CONVEYANCES FOR PASSENGERS, VEHICLES, GOODS OR OTHER
MERCHANDISE ON RIVERS.
The first portion of my Invention relates to the fitting of twin screw or other
steam boats or vessels, for the conveyance of the above traffic, and for the shipping
and unshipping the freight or cargo, by the sides of the vessel.
This is effected by making a portion of the topsides of the vessel to form an
entrance brow, by being either hinged to the vessel, or made to slide, or moved by
other mechanical appliances; or by fixing a brow on the landing to drop on the
deck of the vessel.
The second portion of my Invention relates to the fixing in the deck of the
vessel of one or more turntables, for the convenience of stowing or to facilitate the
discharge of heavy traffic, and the working of the brows and turntables by steam
or other power.
The third portion of my Invention relates to the construction of a tidal landing
stage, running on rollers, and to be drawn up and let down by steam, hydraulic or
other machinery, as the tide rises or falls, so as to bring its deck on a level with
the deck of the boat, and by the hinged topside of the boat, falling into a recess on
the deck of the platform to form a level means of transit for the traffic, to and
from the boats.

page_text: The fourth portion of my Invention relates to connecting the tidal platform with
the land by means of one or more travelling platforms drawn up and let down by
steam or other power, and bringing its deck on a level with the tidal platform
when down, and with the road or quay when up, the tidal and travelling platforms
to run on the same or separate rails.
This portion of my Invention includes also the application of balance weights
for the platforms, to prevent accidents, in case of the breakage of the winding rope
or chain.
Another method of carrying out this portion of my Invention is by the connection
of the tidal platform to the land by means of a brow, one end resting on and
secured to the platform, and the other end fixed to rollers, running on the rails,
the whole (platform and brow) being drawn up or let down as the tide rises or
falls, so as to suit the vessel's deck. The decks of such platforms or brows are
covered with wood paving similar to that on the decks of the boats or vessels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William May in the Groat Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1882.
IMPROVE-
WILLIAM MAY of 16 Halsey Terrace in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS AND LANDING STAGES OF STEAM AND
OTHER FERRIES OR CONVEYANCES FOR PASSENGERS VEHICLES GOODS AND OTHER
MERCHANDISE ON RIVERS.
The first portion of my Invention relates to the fitting of twin screw or other
steam boats or vessels for the conveyance of the above traffic and for the shipping
and unshipping the freight or cargo by the sides of the vessel. This is effected by
making a portion of the topsides of the vessel to form an entrance brow by being
either hinged to the vessel or made to slide or moved by other mechanical appliances
or by fixing a brow on the landing to drop on the deck of the vessel.
The second portion of my Invention relates to the fixing in the deck of the
vessel of one or more turntables for the convenience of stowing or to facilitate the
discharge of heavy traffic and the working of the brows and turntables by steam
or other power.
The third portion of my Invention relates to the construction of a tidal landing
stago running on rollers and to be drawn up and let down by steam hydraulic or
other machinery as the tide rises or falls so as to bring its deck on a level with
the deck of the boat and by the hinged topside of the boat falling into a recess on
the deck of the platform to form a level means of transit for the traffic to and from
the boats.
The fourth portion of my Invention relates to connecting the tidal platform with
the land by means of one or more travelling platforms drawn up and let down by
steam or other power and bringing its deck on a level with the tidal platform
when down and with the road or quay when up the tidal and travelling platforms
to run on the same or separate rails. This portion of my Invention includes also
the application of balance weight for the platforms to prevent accidents in case of
the breakage of the winding rope or chain.
Another method of carrying out this portion of my Invention is by the con-
nection of the tidal platform to the land by means of a brow one end resting on
and secured to the platform and the other end fixed to rollers running on the rails
the whole (platform and brow) being drawn up or let down as the tide rises or falls
so as to suit the vessels deck. The decks of such platforms or brows are covered
with wood paving similar to that on the decks of the boats or vessels.
The Invention will be better understood by the following description reference
being had to the annexed Drawings.
Rails are laid on the foreshore of the river on which the landing platforms run
these platforms are of a two fold nature the outer or tidal platform is run up or
down as the tide rises or falls so as to bring its deck on a level with the deck of
the boat and the topside of the boat for a convenient length is hinged and drops
into a recess on the platform and brought flush with it between the tidal platform
and the shore are travelling platforms running on the rails between the shore or
quay and the tidal platform these platforms when run up have their decks on a
level with the road and when run down have their decks on a level with the deck
of the tidal platform. Horses vehicles &c will thus pass from the deck of the boat
to the tidal platform and from there to the travelling platform when they will be
drawn up by the winding machinery to the quay or roadway on to which they will
pass thus keeping on a level during the whole time in passing from the land to
the boat and from the boat to the land.

page_text: The platforms are drawn up and down by winding machinery driven by steam
and assisted by balance weights the engines are kept constantly at work and
when required to raise or lower the brows are thrown in gear with the winding
machinery by means of friction clutches which are worked by a piston rod from a
steam cylinder whose slide valve is worked by electricity the magnets for working
the slide rod are placed in a convenient position near the starting cylinder and
handles for connecting the current where required are placed both on the shore, and
on the tidal platform thus when the travelling platforms are up they can be let
down from the shore and when down they can be sent up from the tidal platform
and as the tidal platform is always required to be the same height above the water
to suit the boats in addition to the handles for connecting the current which are
fixed on the shore and on the platform there will also be fitted on the tidal platform
an automatic handle worked by a floating buoy encased in and protected by one or
more waive screens or perforated boxes to give a steady action to the buoy and
thus throw the handle up or down as the tide rises or falls the machinery acting
only while the parts are in gear with the electricity but separate handles are
connected with the slide valve of the starting or gearing cylinder for working by
hand power as before stated the travelling platforms can either be worked from the
land or tidal platform and therefore can be stopped from either they will therefore
be fitted at each end with a stud or pin projecting that on the platform arriving up
or down the projecting stud will press on the lever and shift the current to stop
thus making the travelling platform automatic also. The boats to have turntables
fitted in the deck and made flush with it for the convenience of stowing or getting
into position for leaving the vessel any heavy laden vans or goods these turntables
running on rollers and on a roller path fixed in the boats will be worked by machinery
driven by the auxiliary engine which also raises and lowers the brow there is also
hand gear fitted for working the turntables and brows either together or separately
the auxiliary engine is always at work and when not thrown in gear to drive the
turntables or brows is driving a dynamo machine and storing electricity for lighting
the vessel when required the stores for the electricity will not be connected together
and as cach store becomes charged the connection will be passed to the next according
to the power charged in each the dynamo supplying the weakest while the current
for lighting is supplied from the heaviest charged.
In witness whereof I the said William May have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Sixteenth day of August 1882.