IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING SWIMMING BATHS, AND OF THE APPROACHES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Julius Roberts, of Seaford, in the County of
Sussex, a Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Marine Artillery, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING
SWIMMING BATHS, AND OF THE APPROACHES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Julius Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1871.
I, JULIUS ROBERTS, of Seaford, in the County of Sussex, a Captain
5 in Her Majesty's Royal Marine Artillery, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOATING
SWIMMING BATHS, AND OF THE APPROACHES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the first place of certain improvements
in the construction of floating swimming baths capable of being placed

page_text: is also secured.
The main portion of the bath consists of a vessel of any desired length
and breadth, and constructed of iron, or wood, or of the same combined, or
of any other material or materials adapted for the purpose as will be well
understood by persons conversant with ship building. The respective
ends of the vessel or the sides or bottom thereof are or is constructed
with suitable apertures or openings therein for the purpose of permitting
the ingress and egress of the water to and from the interior of the vessel
through which the same is free to flow. The necessary buoyancy is
given to the vessel by means of water-tight compartments placed or
formed in the sides or bottom of the vessel, or in both, the same being
provided with suitable stop-cocks by means of which water can be
admitted thereto for the purpose of decreasing the buoyancy of the vessel
and thereby increasing the depth of water in the interior thereof. The
before-mentioned apertures or openings for the admission of the water
are provided with screens of canvas or other permeable material or
materials, and which screens are protected or guarded by metallic net
or latticework, and by these means all debris or solid matter held in
suspension in the water is prevented from entering the vessel. The
water is further purified or is disinfected when requisite before it enters
the vessel by causing the same to pass through charcoal or other
suitable purifying or disinfecting or deodorizing substance or substances
which is or are placed in receptacles provided for that purpose. At each
end of the vessel and around the same are placed series of hot air or
steam tubes or flues heated by any convenient means, by which the
temperature of the water is raised and preserved at any required degree
of heat. The before mentioned arrangements for purifying and heating
the water being placed at both ends of the vessel, the latter when
placed in tidal waters will be supplied with a constant change of
pure water of any desired temperature, whichever way the tide may be
flowing. The water which has passed through the vessel in the direction
in which the tide or current is flowing is removed therefrom by means of
syphon pipes, as will be well understood. When the vessel is placed in
still water a constant change of water is effected by means of suitable
pumping arrangements.

page_text: In order to secure the safety of bathers a surface of strong canvas or
other suitable material or materials coated, if desired, with some pre-
servative substance or substances is extended about one foot above the
floor of the bath, so that bathers in diving shall be in no danger of
striking themselves against the hard bottom, as is frequently the case
with baths as ordinarily constructed and arranged.
When it is considered desirable that the water shall be disturbed or
agitated in order to enable swimmers to accustom themselves to rough
water, a rope is placed along the whole of the middle of the bath under
the before mentioned extended canvas or other surface, and to which
rope are attached at intervals ropes connected with excentric cranks on a
shaft in the roof. Upon the cranks being caused to rotate by means of
any suitable motive power the canvas or other extended surface is
undulated more or less violently, and the water in the bath agitated in
a corresponding degree.
This Invention further consists in improvments in the construction
of approaches to be used for connecting the before-described vessels and
baths with the land or shore. These approaches are mainly constructed
in accordance with an Invention for "Improvements in the Construction
of Bridges, Viaducts, Roofs, and Floorings, and in Apparatus for the
Purpose," for which Letters Patent bearing date the 31st day of October
1870, No. 2855, were duly granted to me, but with certain improve-
ments which constitute a part of this Invention. These improvements
consist in arranging the metallic ropes or cables which are employed
for supporting the staging or flooring of the bridge or viaduct which is
used as an approach (as described in the Specification of my said former
Invention) so that the upper and lower ropes or cables of each pair shall.
be respectively retained in a curved or arched position, the upper rope
or cable being in a state of compression, whilst the lower rope or cable
of each pair is kept in a state of tension, an extraordinary amount of
strength being thus obtained. The ropes or cables are placed in series
of two or more pairs along the bridge or viaduct, the upper and lower
ropes or cables being connected by transverse plates of angle, T, or other
iron and diagonal braces which support the requisite flooring. The ropes
or cables forming each pair along the bridge or viaduct are kept at the
desired distance from each other by means of metallic clips formed of
two or more parts, having at the upper and lower portions thereof semi-
circular recesses, for the reception of the respective ropes, which when

page_text: the separate portions of the clips are brought together are thereby firmly
clasped. The separate portions of the clips are secured to each other
by means of bolts which are passed through the same. The several
pairs of clips are graduated in length increasing from the respective
ends of the bridge or viaduct towards the centre thereof, whereby the
ropes or cables are retained in the curved or arched positions before
mentioned, and the conditions of compression and tension produced and
maintained. Instead of employing ropes or cables for the upper series,
portable lengths of steel or iron rods or tubes connected by means of
iron or steel ferules may be employed. The lower series of ropes are
constructed of such a number of longitudinal strands as may be neces-
sary to obtain the requisite strength, and are served over with flexible
galvanized wire rope. The series of ropes or cables or rods or tubes are
placed in the required position with reference to the baths to which the
approach is to be made, supported by a temporary staging, and the
desired flooring, which may consist of concrete or other suitable material,
is formed before the staging is removed. The bridge or viaduct thus
formed is further strengthened by means of cross braces placed between
the clips.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Julius Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
ROBERTS, of Seaford, in the County of Sussex, a Captain in Her
Majesty's Royal Marine Artillery, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Julius Roberts, Her special licence that I,
the said Julius Roberts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Julius Roberts, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter, during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the

page_text: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
FLOATING SWIMMING BATHS, AND OF THE APPROACHES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Julius
Roberts, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Julius Roberts, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :—
My said Invention consists in the first instance of certain improve-
ments in the construction of floating swimming baths capable of being
placed and used in rivers, lakes, or on sea coasts, and especially in tidal
waters, and whereby great advantages to bathers are attained, whilst
their safety is also secured.
The main portion of the bath consists of a vessel of any desired length
and breadth, and constructed of iron.or wood, or of the same combined,
or of any other material or materials adapted for the purpose as will
be well understood by persons conversant with ship building. The
respective ends of the vessel or the sides or bottom thereof I construct.
with suitable apertures or openings therein for the purpose of permitting
the ingress and egress of the water to and from the interior of the
vessel through which the same is to flow. In order to give the necessary
buoyancy to the vessel I place or form in the sides or bottom of the
same, or in both, water-tight compartments provided with suitable stop
cocks, by means of which water can be admitted thereto for the purpose
of decreasing the buoyancy of the vessel and thereby increasing the
depth of the water in the interior thereof. I provide the before-
mentioned apertures or openings for the admission of the water with
screens of canvas or other permeable material or materials, and which
screens I protect or guard by metallic net or latticework, and by these
means prevent all debris or solid matter held in suspension in the water
from entering the vessel. I further purify or disinfect, or deodorize the

page_text: water when requisite, and before it enters the vessel, by causing it to
pass through charcoal or other suitable purifying or disinfecting or
deodorizing substance or substances placed in receptacles provided for
that purpose. At each end of the vessel and around the same I place
series of hot air or steam tubes or flues heated by any convenient means,
by which the temperature of the water is raised and preserved at any
required degree of heat. The before-mentioned arrangements for puri-
fying and heating the water being placed at both ends of the vessel the
latter when placed in tidal waters will be supplied with a constant
change of pure water of any desired temperature whichever way the tide
may be flowing. The water which has passed through the vessel in the
direction in which the tide or current is flowing is removed therefrom
by means of syphon pipes as will be well understood. When the vessel
is placed in still water I effect a constant change of water by means of
suitable pumping arrangements, but which in themselves do not form
and are not claimed as forming any part of my said Invention. When
the vessel is placed in tidal, or lake, or less tidal or shallow waters, I
employ pumping apparatus for the purpose of sucking the water through
the before-mentioned screens, and through the charcoal or other dis-
infecting or deodorizing material or materials, thus accelerating the
purification, disinfection, or deodorization of the water, and supplying
it to the bath in regular quantities. When it is required to heat the
water a certain proportion of the same so sucked in is diverted into
heating tanks or boilers, and raised to a sufficient heat to produce the
requisite degree of temperature in the bath.
In order to secure the safety of bathers a surface of canvas or other
suitable material or materials coated, if desired, with some preservative
substance or substances is stretched about one foot above the floor of
the bath, so that bathers in diving shall be in no danger of striking
themselves against the hard bottom, as is frequently the case with baths
as ordinarily constructed and arranged.
When it is considered desirable that the water shall be disturbed or
agitated in order to enable swimmers to accustom themselves to rough
water, I place a rope along the whole of the middle of the bath under
the before-mentioned extended canvas or other surface, and to which
rope are attached at intervals ropes connected with excentric cranks on
Upon the cranks being caused to rotate by means
of any suitable motive power the canvas or other extended surface is
a shaft in the roof.

page_text: outdated for less violently, and the water In the Dalagitated in
a corresponding degree.
My Invention further consists in improvements in the construction
of approaches to be used for connecting the before-described vessels and
baths with the land or shore. These approaches I construct mainly in
accordance with an Invention for "Improvements in the Construction
of Bridges, Viaducts, Roofs, and Floorings, and in Apparatus for the
Purpose," for which Letters Patent bearing date the 31st day of October,
1870, No. 2855, were duly granted to me, but with certain improvements
thercon which constitute a part of my present Invention. These im-.
provements consist in arranging the metallic ropes or cables which are
employed for supporting the staging or flooring of the bridge or viaduct
which is used as an approach (as described in the Specification of my
said former Invention) so that the upper and lower ropes or cables of
each pair shall be respectively retained in a curved or arched position,
the upper rope or cable being in a state of compression, whilst the lower
rope or cable of each pair is kept in a state of tension, an extraordinary
amount of strength being thus obtained. I place the ropes or cables in
series of two or more pairs along the bridge or viaduct, the upper and
lower ropes or cables being connected by transverse plates (which
support the requisite flooring) of angle, T, or other iron and diagonal
braces. I keep the ropes or cables forming each pair along the bridge
or viaduct at the desired distance from each other by means of metallic
clips formed of two or more parts, having at the upper and lower portions
thereof semicircular recesses for the reception of the respective ropes
which, when the separate portions of the clips are brought together, are
thereby firmly clasped.. The separate portions of the clips are secured
to each other by means of bolts which are passed through the same.
The several pairs of clips are graduated in length increasing from the
respective ends of the bridge or viaduct towards the centre thereof,
whereby the ropes or cables are retained in the curved or arched
positions before mentioned, and the conditions of compression and
tension produced and maintained. Instead of employing ropes or cables
for the upper series I may employ portable lengths of steel or iron rods
or tubes connected by means of iron or steel ferules. I construct the
lower series of ropes of such a number of longitudinal strands as may
be necessary to obtain the requisite strength and serve them over with
flexible galvanized wire rope. I place the series of ropes, or cables,

page_text: or rods, or tubes in the required position with reference to the baths to
which the approach is to be made supported by a temporary staging,
and I form the desired flooring, which may consist of concrete or other
suitable material, before the staging is removed. I further strengthen
the bridge or viaduct thus formed by means of cross braces placed
between the clips.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent are,—
First. The construction of floating swimming baths in the manner
herein-before substantially set forth and described, or any mere modi-
fications thereof.
And, secondly. The construction of approaches to be used in connection.
with floating swimming baths in the manner herein-before set forth and
described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Julius Roberts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
R. S. MORDAUNT VAUGHAN,
54, Chancery Lane.
JULIUS ROBERTS. (L.S.)