IMPROVE- KENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS
Year: 1875

page_text: .
LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wilson, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
KENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS."-A communication from abroad by Doctor
Bruno Johan Tideman, Chief Constructor of the Dutch Royal Navy,
and residing at Amsterdam.
Sealed the 9th November 1875, and dated the 14th May 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1875.
I, ROBERT WILSON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS (a communication to me from
abroad by Doctor Bruno Johan Tideman, Ohief Constructor of the
Dutch Royal Navy, and residing at Amsterdam), to be as follows, that
is to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements whereby a floating dock for a
given size of vessel may be constructed and worked more economically
than such docks as hitherto made.
-

page_text: In a dock made with the improvements, according to one modification,
there is a longitudinal central hull closed in, and formed with longi-
tudinal water-tight bulkheads. Towards each end of the central hull
strong box girders are fixed across the hull, and on the extreme ends of
these towers, by preference of a cylindrical form, are erected. The hull {
is comparatively narrow, and the capacity of the dock as regards width
is determined by the space between the towers on the overhanging
girders. The engines and pumps for pumping water out of or into the
hull, box girders, and towers are placed in or on the towers.
For long docks three or more cross girders, with towers at their ends 1
may be fixed on the central hull.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILSON, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS 'Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent; bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Wilson, Her special licence that
I, the said Robert Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Robert Wilson, 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
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS,"
(a communication to me from abroad by Doctor Bruno Joannes Tideman,
Chief Constructor of the Dutch Royal Navy, and residing at Amstèr-
dam,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Wilson, my executors or administrators; by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should, particularly

page_text: 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 Robert Wilson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
The said Invention has for its object the constructing of iron, steel,
wooden, or composite floating docks in an improved and economical
manner, and so that a floating dock for a given size of vessel may be
built with less materials than heretofore, and be more conveniently
worked.
The Invention consists essentially in making the structure with a
longitudinal central hull or pontoon, and formed with numerous water-
tight compartments separated by longitudinal and transverse bulkheads,
and completely closed in at the top. Towards each end of the central
hull strong water-tight box girders are fixed across the hull, being
incorporated therewith and projecting transversely to a considerable
extent, and on the extreme ends of these transverse box girders four
towers are erected, being constructed by preference of a cylindrical form.
The hull or central longitudinal pontoon is comparatively narrow, and
the capacity of the dock as regards width is determined by the space
between the towers on the opposite ends of the transverse box girders.
The engines and pumps for pumping water out of or into the hull, or,
as is preferred, for pumping in air to displace water are placed in or on
the towers.
And in order that the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing
the improved floating dock as in use, and also various details of con-
struction. In the Drawings the same reference numerals are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
$
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings are side and end
elevations of the improved floating dock as in use, with a paddle
steamer on it, and raised out of the water; and Figure 3 is a plan of the.

page_text: dock. The central hull or pontoon 1 is shown as of a ship-like form
for convenience of navigating it from the place where it is built to its
station, or from station to station. The hull 1 may however when con-
venient be made of a rectangular or other form, like a plain pontoon .or
water-tight box. The hull 1 is crossed about midway between each end
and its middle by two water-tight box girders 2, and at the extreme ends
of these transverse girders four water-tight cylinders or towers 3 are
erected. The two towers 3 on each side are tied together by tubes 4 at
.

page_text: The pumping machinery is by preference constructed with pumps for
forcing air into the compartments to displace water, so that the pressure
of the air thus pumped in may so far counteract the pressure of the
external water. The work of putting out the water may be performed
by the air forcing pumps alone or conjointly with pumps for lifting the
water in the ordinary way.
Having thus particularly described the said Invention, I have to state
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described, or
delineated, but that what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the
berein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of a
floating dock with a central longitudinal hull or pontoon, connected by
two transverse, overhanging watertight box girders to four floating
towers or cylinders erected at the extreme ends of such girders as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
0
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent;
Glasgow..
ROBERT WILSON. (L.S.)