Improvements connected with Launching Ships.
Year: 1893

page_text: fate of Application, 20th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Launching Ships.
I, JOHN MOORE, of 86 Frederick Street South, South Shields, in the County
of Durham, Foreman Ship Painter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The objects of my invention are:
1st. To prevent the "cradles" with the "bilge" blocks, upon which the ship
rests, being carried away with the ship when launched and frequently remaining
under the bottom or only portions of them being detached.
2nd. To enable the "cradles" with the bilge blocks to be recovered after being
detached from the ship's bottom and brought back to the building yard practically
intact.
According to the present method of launching, which in my long experience
appears to be universal, the "cradles" with the "bilge" blocks, or considerable
portions of them, frequently remain attached under the ship's bottom for a
considerable time, the close contact between the ship's skin and the timber causing
then to cleave to the bottom, especially in ships with comparatively flat bottoms,
and when the ship is brought alongside the builders' yard or works to receive her
machinery she is liable to be injured by coming on the ground at low water
"sitting" upon such "cradles and blocks as have not been detached when
launched, and in some cases ships have been seriously strained by thus " "sitting
upon a "cradle" or "cradles "still cleaving to their bottoms, especially when one
side only is so hampered. Again these portions which have become detached are
scattered about in the river and have to be recovered with considerable trouble,
risk, and expense and towed on shore.
In some cases I have known portions of the timber to come away when the ship
was under steam, weeks after the launch, and occasion damage and danger by fouling
the propeller.
In ordinary launching a rope attached to the "cradles" on each side is passed
over the ship and is cut after the launch but they still remain clinging to the ship's
bottom till she is brought up and then, if the ends of the rope can be found, they
may be detached by a tug and brought ashore.
"
According to my
invention I propose to detach the "cradles" and "bilge
blocks from the ship as soon as she is completely water-borne by a connection
between them and the launching ways by which they can be hauled back into the
shipyard and I propose to effect this by stretching a wire hawser tightly from end to
end of the "launching-ways," one on each side. The "cradles" being connected
together end to end and the "bilge" blocks attached to the "cradles."
A hemp
or wire hawser or chain is then attached from the rearward or back end of each
of the last "cradles," said hawser being of sufficient length to allow the last
"cradles" to launch with the ship till she is fully water-borne. These hawsers
are securely attached at one end to the "cradles " and at the other end each is
fitted with a shackle around the wire hawsers and running freely upon them and
being temporarily looped along the "cradles" to keep them in position. When the
"cradles" with the ship upon them move down the "launching-ways" they enter
the water and proceed with the ship until she is completely water-borne the
shackles having run freely down the wire hawser until they reach the lower end of
the "launching-ways" when the temporary fastenings of the loops are severed
and the hawsers attached to the "cradles" and to the "launching-ways," being
checked and hauled tight, by reaching the end of the wire hawsers the "cradles "

page_text: are detached from the ship which proceeds on her way unincumbered leaving the
"cradles to be hauled back into the yard.
When double "launching-ways" are used two stretched wire hawsers will still
only be required the pairs of "cradles" on each side being connected so as to move
together on their separate "launching-ways."
The above description sufficiently describes the general principle of my invention
in the form in which I at present intend to carry it out but the details may be
modified.
Dated this 20th 2
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Launching Ships.
I, JOHN MOORE, of 86 Frederick Street South, South Shields, in the County
of Durham, Foreman Ship Painter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The objects of my invention are:-
1st. To prevent the "cradles" with the "bilge" packing upon which the ship
rests, being carried away with the ship when launched and frequently remaining
under the bottom or only portions of them being detached.
2nd. To enable the "cradles" with the "bilge" packing to be recovered after
being detached from the ship's bottom and brought back to the building yard
practically intact.
45
According to the present method of launching which in my long experience
appears to be universal, the "cradles" with the bilge" packing, or considerable
portions of them, frequently remain attached under the ship's bottom for a
considerable time, the close contact between the ship's skin and the timber causing
them to cleave to the bottom, especially in ships with comparatively flat bottoms,
and when the ship is brought alongside the builders' yard or works to receive her
machinery, she is liable to be injured by coming on the ground at low water,
sitting" upon such "cradles" and bilge packing as have not been detached when
launched, and in some cases ships have been seriously strained by thus "sitting
"
upon a "cradle " or "cradles" still cleaving to their bottoms, especially when one
side only is so hampered. Again these portions which have become detached are
scattered about in the river and have to be recovered with considerable trouble,
risk, and expense, and towed on shore.
In some cases I have known portions of the timber to come away when the ship
was under steam, weeks after the launch, and occasion damage and danger by
fouling the propeller.
In ordinary launching a rope attached to the "cradles" on each side is passed
over the ship and is cut after the launch, but they still remain clinging to the ship's
bottom till she is brought up, and then, if the ends of the rope can be found, they
may be detached by a tug and brought ashore.
"
According to my invention I propose to detach the "cradles" and "bilge
packing from the ship as soon as she is completely water-borne by a connection
between them and the launching ways, by which they can be bauled back into the
shipyard, and I propose to effect this by stretching a wire hawser tightly from end
to end of the "faunching-ways," one on each side, the "cradles" being, connected
together end to end, and the "bilge" packing attached to the "cradles." A hemp
or wire hawser or chain is then attached from the rearward or back end of each of

page_text: to
the last "cradles," said hawser being of sufficient length to allow the last "cradles”.
launch with the ship till she is fully water-borne. These hawsers are securely
attached at one end to the "cradles" and at the other end each is fitted with a
shackle around the wire hawsers and running freely upon them, and being
temporarily looped along the "cradles" to keep them in position. When the
"cradles" with the ship upon them move down the "launching ways" they enter
the water and proceed with the ship until she is completely water-borne, the
shackles having run freely down the wire hawser until they reach the lower end
of the "launching-ways," when the temporary fastenings of the loops being
successively severed and the hawsers attached to the "cradles" and to the
"launching-ways "being checked and hauled tight, by reaching the end of the
wire hawser the "cradles " are detached from the ship, which proceeds on her way
unincumbered, leaving the "cradles" to be hauled back into the yard.
When double "launching-ways" are used two stretched wire hawsers will still
only be required, the pairs of "cradles" on each side being connected so as to
move together on their separate "launching-ways."
The above description sufficiently describes the general principle of my invention
in the form in which 1 at present intend to carry it out, but the details may be
modified.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings I illustrate my invention as I propose
to carry it into practical application, without binding myself to minor details of
construction of the various parts.
Fig. 1 shews in elevation a ship on the "launching-ways."
Fig. 2 shews in elevation the ship in the water with the "cradles" and "bilge
packing detached, and Fig. 3 a plan of same.
و"
Figs. 4 and 5 shew in elevation and plan a portion of the cradle and "launching-
at top end, as when the ship is ready for launching.
ways
"
Figs. 44 and 5 shew in elevation and plan a portion of the launching way at
bottom end and of the "cradle" in the water detached from the ship after
launching.
A. are the "cradles " carrying the "bilge" packing B., shackles S. on the top
"cradles" being connected by hawsers C. to the guides D. of wire rope, which are
stretched from end to end of the "launching-ways" E., by a ring R. running
freely thereon. These hawsers C. may be temporarily looped up, when necessary,
to the "launching-ways" to keep them from fouling, the loops breaking as the
"cradles" proceed down the ways.
"
When the ship is water-borne the rings R. have reached the end of the guides as
shewn on Figs. 44 and 5, and the hawsers C are tightened, and pull the "cradles
clear of the ship, when they can be drawn back on to the slipway. Single
"launching-ways" are shewn, but it will be readily understood that the invention
can be applied with double "launching-ways."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
"
1st. The improvements connected with launching ships, consisting in connecting
the "cradles," carrying the "bilge packing to the launching-ways, in such a
manner that as the ship proceeds into the water said connections run freely on
guides provided on the launching-ways, until the ship is water-borne, when the
connections being arrested become "taut" and pull the "cradles
ship, so that they can be hauled back into the building yard, substantially as
described, with the objects herein before stated.
clear of the
2nd. The improvements in launching ships with the objects set forth, comprising
the "cradles "A, carrying the "bilge packing" B, connected by hawsers C, to

page_text: wire rope or other guides D, stretched along the launching ways E, so that the
hawsers C will run freely along such guides until the ship is water-borne, when
they will be arrested and, tightening, will pull the "cradles" clear of the ship,
_constructed and operating substantially as described and shewn by the drawings
herewith.
Dated this 30th day of Sentember 1804