IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT CT IDIVS BAD mon OF PONTOON DOCKS AND AND FOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Turnbull of 31 Saville Street South Shields in
the county of Durham Naval Architect, for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT
CT IDIVS BAD mon
OF PONTOON DOCKS AND IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Turnbull at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1882.
ROBERT TURNBULL of 31 Saville Street South Shields in the county of Durham,
Naval Architect IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF
PONTOON DOCKS AND IN SLIPWAYS FOR THE SAME AND FOR PONTOON
GENERALLY.
DOCKS
The first part of my invention relates to pontoons The pontoon is constructed
in the bottom with the usual air and water chambers and valves but with only
one side and two ends to allow of the vessel being docked broad side on or at an
angle, the upper side of the pontoon having an incline with rails fitted corre-
sponding to the rails of the slip way. The end or ends of the open side of the
pontoon is or are provided with wings to open outwards. The ends of the pontoon
bottom are formed of open girders to allow of the rudder or stern frame post of
iron vessels being dropped down below the vessels bottom to be unshipped
Wire or other ropes are placed along the open side of the pontoon and also
vertical ones to make stages which can be lowered down when a vessel has to be
hauled in or undocked.
The second part of my Invention relates to a lover for steadying pontoons at the
quay or jetty.
This lever is hung or pivotted on the quay or jetty with forked ends projecting
over the Quay and connected to the upper part of the Pontoon the inner end being
weighted in any suitable manner to always have an upward lift on the pontoon
which gives stability either in raising or lowering with or without a vessel. The
weight is adjustable to allow of its being balanced or otherwise.
The lever may be fixed or fitted on the Quay or jetty direct or on a turntable

page_text: which enables the pontoon and the lever to be swung round. The lever may
however be arranged to move parallel to a shallow berth and the pontoon grounded
if in a river.
The third part of my invention relates to slipways for receiving pontoons and
for shifting them from one position to another for the repairs of vessels.
The slipways are constructed on the broad side plan of a width equal to the
number of vessels to be placed the centre part is level and slopes down at each
side at an incline to the water space or lock. The pontoon with a vessel on the
cradle is placed alongside the slipways, the rails on the pontoon corresponding to
the rails on the slipway.
The cradle with the vessel on it is hove up the incline nearly to the top, the
cradle on the level rails is run out until the keel blocks touch the vessels keel.
The bilge blocks are then fitted and the two cradles connected together, the two
cradles then move simultaneously, the one going down the incline releasing itself
from the vessel and leaving the vessel on the other cradle which remains on the
level rails.
The cradle is thus at liberty to bring another vessel up to be repaired on the
inclined rails.
In both centre berths the bilge blocks are taken off before the cradle or cradles
are run under the vessel
On the opposite side of the water space or lock one or more vessels can be hove
up on rails on the same incline but in this case the pontoon will have to be swung
round to bring the open side of the pontoon to the slipways.
The slipway may be formed with a gradual descent from the water space on
one side to the other side; the vessels would then descend and leave the pontoons
by their own gravity but at a lower level on the opposite side or left hand or the
vessel may be hove up from this side. Less depth of water is required by this
plan
Hydraulic power placed in the centre will serve for all slipways; or other
machinery may be employed with a longitudinal shaft connected to spur wheels
and chains or wire rope.
On the open side of the pontoon I hinge shores on the floor of the pontoon and
when the pontoon is ready for receiving a vessel the shores are lowered or folded on
to the bottom and below the level of the keel blocks. A vessel can then be hauled
into the dock and as soon as she is placed in position the shores are hauled or
unfold, the ends coming above the water line. Chocks of wood are fitted and
wedged tight to support the vessel. By this means all risk of the ordinary bilge
blocks not fitting the vessels bottom is avoided and the vessel is safe from accident.
Part sliding bilge blocks may also be fitted in the ordinary way or on the bottom
part of the shores and hauled outwards.
In some cases I divide the pontoon longitudinally at about two thirds of its
width half lapped. The narrow part to be carried on the top of the wide part,
they are braced together and can then be steamed abroad with her own screw
driven by the engines of the centrifugal pumps.
Twin screws would in some cases be fitted and one extra engine to drive the
dock to her destination
When my pontoon docks are required for lifting sunken ships or other sub-
merged bodies, I divide the pontoon dock longitudinally in the centre and bring
the sides together over the vessel. I then by any suitable means or appliances,
attach the pontoon so arranged to the vessel and lift her a given height so as to
move her to shallow water. I then bring my two half pontoons round and at a
distance apart and sink one of them to each side of the ship to lift her and convey
her into a shallower berth when the water can be pumped out and the vessel made
ready for docking in the usual manner the dock being formed by bringing my two
half pontoons together_

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Turnbull in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1882.
ROBERT TURNBULL of 31 Saville Street South Shields in the County of Durham,
Naval Architect IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF
PONTOON DOCKS AND IN SLIPWAYS FOR THE SAME AND FOR PONTOON DOCKS
GENERALLY
The First part of my Invention relates to pontoons. The pontoon is constructed
in the bottom with the usual air and water chambers and valves but with only one
side and two ends, to allow of the vessel being docked broadside on, or at an angle,
the upper side of the pontoon having an incline with rails fitted corresponding to
the rails of the slip way. The end or ends of the open side of the pontoon is or are
provided with wings to open outwards.
The ends of the pontoon bottom are formed of open girders to allow of the
rudder or stern frame post of iron vessels being dropped down below the vessels
bottom to be unshipped.
Wire or other ropes are placed along the open side of the pontoon and also
vertical ones to make stages which can be lowered down when the vessel has to be
hauled in or undocked.
The Second part of my Invention relates to a lever for steadying pontoons at
the quay or jetty. This lever is hung or pivotted on the quay or jetty with
forked ends projecting over the quay and connected to the upper part of the
pontoon the inner end being weighted in any suitable manner to always have an
upward lift on the pontoon which gives stability either in raising or lowering
with or without a vessel. The weight is adjusted to allow of its being balanced or
otherwise.
The lever may be fixed or fitted on the quay or jetty direct or on a turntable
which enables the pontoon and the lever to be swung round.
The lever may
however be arranged to be moved parallel to a. shallow berth and the pontoon
grounded if in a river.
The
The Third part of my Invention relates to slipways for receiving pontoons and
for shifting them from one position to another for the repairs of vessels.
slipways are constructed on the broadside plan of a width equal to the number of
vessels to be placed on.-the centre part is level and. slopes down at each side at
an incline to the water space or lock. The pontoon with a vessel on the cradle
is placed alongside the slipways, the rails on the pontoon corresponding to the rails
on the slipway.
The cradle with the vessel on it is hove up the incline nearly to the top, the
cradle on the level rails is run out until the keel blocks touch the vessels keel.
The bilge blocks are then fitted and the two cradles connected together. The two
cradles then move simultaneously, the one going down the incline releasing itself
from the vessel and leaving the vessel on the other cradle which remains on the
level rails. The cradle is thus at liberty to bring another vessel up to be repaired
on the incline rails.
In both centre berths the bilge blocks are taken off before the cradle or cradles
are run under the vessel.
On the opposite side of the water space or lock one or more vessels can be hove
up on rails on the same incline but in this case the pontoon will have to be swung
round to bring the open side of the pontoon to the slipways.
The slipway may be formed with a gradual descent from the water space on one
side to the other side, the vessels would then descend and leave the pontoons by

page_text: their own gravity but at a lower level on the opposite side or left hand, or the
vessel may be hove up from this side. Less depth of water is required by
this plan.
Hydraulic power placed in the centre will serve for all slipways, or other
machinery may be employed with a longitudinal shaft connected to spur wheels
and chains or wire rope.
On the open side of the pontoon I hinge shores on the floor of the pontoon and
when the pontoon is ready for receiving a vessel, the shores are lowered or folded
onto the bottom and below the level of the keel blocks. A vessel can then be
hauled into the dock and as soon as she is placed in position the shores are
unfolded, the ends coming above the water line. Chocks of wood are fitted and
wedged tight to support the vessel. By this means all risk of the ordinary bilge
blocks not fitting the vessels bottom is avoided and the vessel is safe from accident.
Part sliding bilge blocks may also be fitted in the ordinary way or on the bottom
part of the shores and hauled outwards.
In some cases I divide the pontoon longitudinally at about two thirds of its
width half lapped, the narrow part to be carried on the top of the wide part.
These are braced together and can then be steamed abroad with her own screw
driven by the engines of the centrifugal pumps. Twin screws would in some
cases be fitted and an extra engine to drive the dock to her destination.
When my pontoon docks are required for lifting sunken ships or other submerged
bodies I divide the pontoon dock longitudinally in the centre and bring the sides
together over the vessel. I then by any suitable means or appliances attach the
pontoon so arranged to the vessel and lift her a given height so as to move her to
shallow water. I then bring my two half pontoons round and at a distance apart
and sink one of them to each side of the ship to lift her and convey her into a
shallower berth when the water can be pumped out and the vessel made ready for
docking in the usual manner, the dock being formed by bringing my two half
pontoons together.
I can lift either in a tideway or in level water and either broadside on to a river
or end on with or without a lock.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 represents my pontoon dock A with a vessel B thereon.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse view of a number of
vessels B B placed for repair. This plan is for three vessels between the water
spaces. Figure 5 is an elevation and Figure 6 a plan of the weighted lever C.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 shows a vessel B hove to the top of the incline D and
Figure 2 is a plan showing the main cradle E. Figure 3 shows a vessel drawn on
to the level rails F and placed for repair. This plan is for four vessels between the
water spaces.
Figure 4 represents two vessels B B placed on the slip in a straight line. The
vessels are drawn off the pontoon A on to the slip and off on the other side, or
either side can be worked. They also have level rails F F away off each berth.
Figure 1 Sheet 3 represents the pontoon dock A divided longitudinally
Figure 2 shows one portion A¹ turned or swung round, and lifted on to the other
- braced tight-and capable of being towed to a foreign port.
Figure 3 is the half pontoon A with a vessel B on it and hauled into the lock
on a neap tide the caisson closed and water pumped in until the pontoon A is a
little above the quay G the blocks H are then turned up on their hinges, the water
run out and the pontoon rests on the blocks the rails F on the pontoon being level
with the quay as shown on the other half.
The shore J is here shown with a block K between the vessels side and shore to
steady her, it will at first be put at the water line.
The pontoon A is to be about two feet narrower than the lock and in all cases
the open side of the pontoon will go against the rails; the pontoon will have to be
swung round.
Figure 1 Sheet 4 shows the pontoon dock A over a sunken vessel B.

page_text: Wire ropes or chains or iron bars L Figure 4 are connected to the frames, beam
ends, stringers, keelsons or bilge girders to lift her and when lifted ropes are put
round the vessel and another lift taken as shown at Figure 2 one half of the
pontoon being on each side and when lifted fully the pontoon is then connected
together which forms a dock,-then sunk-and the vessel lifted for repair; it is
thus shown that the dock is capable of doing all that is required both for lifting
and repairing vessels
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed
I declare that I claim :-
First The construction of pontoons each with one side or projecting upper
part and with two ends to enable vessels to be docked therein at an angle or
"broadside on " as described and substantially as shown in the annexed drawings.
Secondly-The employment of "shores" on single sided pontoons to steady the
vessel on said pontoon when hauled up by putting a chock at or near the water
line as described.
Thirdly-The employment of weighted pivotted levers or quays as described
and substantially as shown on the annexed drawings for steadying a pontoon as
set forth.
Fourthly-The construction of pontoons in two longitudinal portions capable of
being connected with their floors level to form pontoon docks, or each or the two
combined but turned about for raising sunken vessels as described and shown in
the annexed drawings
Fifthly The arrangement of inclined rails to enable a vessel to be shifted from
one cradle to another by the difference of level of two adjoining cradles to the left
or to the right or several vessels can be so shifted in succession from one cradle to
another cradle in the same direction according to the number of cradles provided
as described.
Sixthly Constructing pontoon docks in longitudinal sections of different
calibre substantially as shown at Figure 1 of Sheet 3 of the annexed drawings so
that one section may be floated in and supported by the other as shown at
Figure 2 of the same sheet for transporting purposes all as described
In witness whereof I the said Robert Turnbull have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty third day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ROBERT TURNBULL
(L.S.)