AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF CAREENING BASIN OR GRAVING DOCK
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of Jolin
Gedge and Son, of No. 23, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of " AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF CAREENING BASIN OR GRAVING DOCK."-A com-
munication from abroad by Leonard Goursseau; junior, of No. 15,
Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Merchant.
Sealed the 17th July 1866, and dated the 20th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 20th January. 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 23, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF CAREENING BASIN OR GRAVING
DOCK," (a communication to me from abroad by Leonard Goursseau, junior,
of No. 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Merchant,) to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in a graving, or careening dock or basin with
rapid immersion and emersion. The method adopted by the Inventor is
based upon the use of tubes of sufficient dimensions to give the power

page_text: requisite for raising the weight of the ship to be repaired. This improved
dock or basin is constructed in the following manner:-Several keels are
laid down longitudinally, and a grating is placed thereon, such grating
being composed of flat iron bars, which are to serve as bottom to the said
basin; these bars cross each other, forming lozenges, each angle of which is
firmly rivetted and fastened to the keels. On this grating and at a distance
from each other regulated by the width of the basin are fitted sheet iron
framings intended to receive and lodge sheet iron tubes; these framings are
lined on each side with angle irons which rivetted to the sheet iron are
intended to give it greater strength and to protect the tubes while con-
stituting the principal stiffness and the main framework which is to bear
the power required to resist the weight of the ships to be repaired and
raised. These said framings are placed perpendicularly to the keels and
further receive at their point of attachment and junction of the angle irons
iron beams intended to support the platform of the basin. After having
plac d these iron beams, called double T-irons, a grating is put upon them,
such grating being composed of flat iron, forming lozenges, as above
described for the bottom of the basin. The ribs follow the shape which is
to be given to the basin, are made of angle iron, and their distance
apart is regulated by the requirements of the basin under construction.
The dimensions given to them depend also upon the capacity of the
basin, they pass above the bottom grating and beneath that on which rests
the platform. They are placed transversely to the basin. On these ribs
which leave an opening on the sides of the basin are fitted an outer
sheathing of sheet iron and an inner sheathing of wood, these ribs there-
fore form a caisson on each side of the basin, they assume a broadened
shape at the top intended to give more room for the reception of the
horizontal shafts, rollers, or trestles, pulleys, and chains, herein-after men-
tioned. These double ribs are tied together transversely by wooden beams
counter held by curved irons or knees tied to the sheathing of the basin
by iron pins. The lower beams are intended to support a planking which
is to prevent the entrance of water into the body of the caissons, and the
upper ones are intended to support the trestles and horizontal shafts
required for the manœuvres. On the sheet iron sheathing outside the
basin is placed a second sheathing of wood forming a sheathing of less
thickness, the two side caissons are covered by a wooden planking forming
the deck of the basin. On the grating of the hold of the basin is fitted a
platform composed of timbers united together by cross pieces forming
panels, so that at the moment of immersion one part of the planking is

page_text: fastened on the grating, and the other part, forming the panel and move-
able, is thrown back and held by iron catches, thus permitting the water to
introduce itself without resistance into the hold of the basin, the bottom
of this hold being composed of open and closed parts. The tubes are
composed of sheet iron of length and thickness proportioned to the capacity
of the basin. Each iron plate is covered at its point of junction with a
second sheet. of less width forming cover joints. The heads of the rivets
are countersunk in the interior, so that this interior forms a perfectly
smooth cylinder offering no resistance to the movement of the piston which
it is to contain. These tubes are open on one side and closed on the other,
the closed part being furnished with a hawse hole or chimney communi-
cating with the upper platform of the caissons fitted on the sides of the
said basin. The open side of the tube is provided with a hawse hole
similar to the preceeding but without adhering to it. The interior of these
cylindrical tubes contains a clack valve forming a piston. This piston,
composed of a solid piece of iron, is provided with a groove intended to
receive an india-rubber washer which is to perfectly adhere to the inner
surfaces of the said cylinder and close it. A moveable plate placed inside
and united by iron pins to the main body of the piston serves to compress
the india-rubber until a perfect adhesion is obtained. To avoid inclination
of the piston four iron bars are used coming from the ends and uniting in
the centre at certain distances from the perpendicular, these receive the
chains which are to work the piston passing by the hawse holes or sheet
iron chimneys. These chains are conducted over a pulley fitted within
the closed side and pass outside the open side to horizontal shafts placed in
the between decks of the sides of the basin. These chains are received on
the horizontal shaft by pulleys with catches which receive, wind, and
immediately unwind them to permit them to fall into a chain well made in
the side caissons of the basin. The horizontal iron shafts supported by
trestles of the same metal are intended to wind and unwind the chains under
the action of a motor. For the ordinary power required to lift a ship to be
repaired the basin need have but one row of tubes, but where greater
power is required, and in order to avoid giving too great a diameter, to the
tubes, two rows may be used superposed the one on the other. The basin
completely closed forward is opened at the stern for the entrance of the
ships, this opening being closed by an iron door. The basin, which is
entirely sheathed, has at its bottoms as many openings as there are tubes,
but these openings are grated to prevent the introduction of floating debris
into the said tubes.

page_text: To sum up, the principle of this Invention is based upon an assemblage
of sheet-iron tubes supporting a bottom and a planking or flooring which
can be immersed without any resistance when the piston is drawn inside
the tube so that it fills with water, and which emerges as soon as the piston
driving out the water causes a vacuum. The water introducing itself into
the tubes giving weight to the detriment of the resistance withdrawn from
it by the piston, and regaining its power under the action of the piston
which forces out the water, and restores the vacuum and the power which
was lost, it follows that the new principle upon which the construction of
the basin is based, and which predominates over all the others which are its
auxiliaries, consists principally in the application and arrangement of the
tubes, whether of metal or of wood, and of the vacuum produced by the
piston applied within the tube.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 23,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 "AN IMPROVED CON-
STRUCTION OF CAREENING BASIN OR GRAVING DOCK," (a communication to me
from abroad by Léonard Goursseau, junior, of No. 15, Passage des
Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Merchant,) upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 William Edward Gedge, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheets of Drawings forming part of this Specification, and to the figures,
letters of reference, and other indications placed thereon:-
This Invention consists in a graving or careening dock or basin with
rapid immersion and emersion, the dimensions to be given to it, whether
as regards breadth, length, or depth, being subordinate to the-capacity of
ships to be introduced into it for undergoing repairs. The method adopted
by the Inventor is based upon the use of tubes of sufficient dimensions to
give the power requisite for raising the weight of the ship to be repaired.
This improved dock or basin is constructed in the following manner :-
After having laid down several keels A longitudinally with the dock or
basin and at a distance apart, regulated by its capacity, a grating B is
placed thereon, such grating being composed of flat iron bars which are to
serve as bottom to the said basin; these bars cross each other, forming
lozenges, each angle of which is rivetted and fastened to the keels. On
this grating and at a distance from each other, regulated by the width
of the basin, are fitted sheet iron framings C intended to receive and lodge
the sheet iron tubes; these framings are lined or edged on each side with
angle iron D, which, rivetted to the sheet iron, is intended to give it greater
strength and to protect the tubes while constituting the principal stiffness
and the main framework on which is to rest the power required to resist
the weight of the ships to be repaired and removed. These said framings
are placed perpendicularly to the keels, and further receive at their points
of attachment and junction of the angle irons the iron beams or girders E
intended to support the platform or lower deck of the basin. After
having placed these iron beams, of a form called the double T, a grating F
is put upon them, such grating being composed of flat iron tied so as to
form lozenges as above described for the bottom of the basin. The ribs
follow the shape which is to be given to the basin (see sectional plan,

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 1); they are made of angle iron, and their distance apart
is regulated by the requirements of the basin under construction. The.
dimensions given to them'depend also upon the capacity of the basin, they
pass above the bottom grating and beneath that on which rests the deck;
they are placed transversely to the basin. On these ribs, which leave a
space or opening on the sides of the basin, is fitted on the outside a sheath-
ing of sheet iron, and on the inside a sheathing or lining of wood G. These
ribs, therefore, form a caisson on each side of the basin, spreading out at the
top in order to give more room for the reception of the horizontal shafts,
trestles, pulleys, and chains herein-after mentioned. These double ribs
are tied together transversely by wooden beams H counterheld by angle
irons or knees I tied to the sheathing of the basin by iron pins or bolts.
The lower beams are intended to support a planking J which is to prevent
the entrance of water into the body of the caissons, and the upper ones
are intended to support the trestles and horizontal shafts or windlasses
required for the manoeuvres or working of the said basin or dock. On
the sheet iron sheathing outside the basin is placed a second sheathing of
wood K, and both side caissons are covered by a wooden planking L,
forming the deck of the basin. On the grating of the hold of the basin is
fitted a platform M composed of timbers or planks tied together by cross
pieces and forming panels or traps, so that at the moment of immersion
one part of the planking is rivetted or otherwise held on the grating, and
the other part forming panel and moveable is thrown back and held on the
fixed part by iron catches N, which movement will permit the water to
introduce itself without resistance into the hold of the basin, the bottom
of this hold being composed, as described and shown, of open and closed
parts. The tubes O (Figure 2, Sheet 1) are composed of sheet iron of
-length and thickness proportioned to the capacity of the basin. Each
sheet iron plate is covered at its point of junction P (Figure 1) with a
second sheet of less width forming cover joint. The heads of the rivets
are countersunk in the interior in the thickness of the sheet, so that this
interior forms a perfectly smooth cylinder offering no resistance to the
movement of the piston which it is to contain. These tubes are open on
one side and closed on the other, the closed part being furnished with a
hawse hole or funnel Q communicating with the upper platform or mid deck
of the caissons at the sides of the said basin. The open side of the tube is
provided with a hawse hole or funnel similar to the preceding but without
adhering to the tube. The interior of these cylindrical tubes contains
a valve R forming a piston. This piston (for the shape of which see

page_text: Figure 3, Sheet 2) is composed of a solid piece of iron, provided with a
groove intended to receive an india-rubber or leather washer S, which is
to perfectly adhere to the inner surfaces of the said cylinder and close it.
A moveable plate T placed inside and united by iron. bolts to the main
body of the piston serves to compress the india-rubber until a perfect
adhesion is obtained. To avoid any inclination of the piston four iron
bars or rods U are used, which coming from the ends unite, in the centre
at certain distances from the perpendicular and receive the chains V which
are to work the piston in passing by the hawse holes or sheet iron funnels.
These chains are conducted over a pulley (Figure 1) fitted within the
closed side, and on the exterior of the open side in passing to the horizontal
shafts placed in the between decks of the sides of the basin. These chains
are received on the horizontal shaft by driving pulleys with catches which
receive, wind, and immediately unwind them, to permit them to fall into
a chain well y (Figure 1) made in the side caissons of the basin. The
horizontal iron shafts z (Figure 4, Sheet 1) supported by trestles of the same
metal are intended to wind and unwind the chains under the action of a
motor in connection with the said shaft. For the ordinary power required
to lift a ship to be repaired the basin need have but one row of tubes
(Figure 4), but where greater power is required, and in order to avoid
giving too great a diameter to the tubes, two rows may be used superposed
the one on the other, as shewn Figure 5 (Sheet 2). The basin com-
pletely closed forward is opened at the stern for the entrance of the ships,
this opening being closed by iron doors, (see Figure 7, Sheet 1.) The
basin which which is entirely sheathed has in its bottoms as many openings
as there are tubes, but these openings are grated, as shewn Figure 6
(Sheet 1), to prevent the introduction of floating debris into the said tubes.
The tubes are placed in inverse direction, that is to say, one closed side
on one side of the basin followed by an open side. Where great power is
required two open sides or ends of the tubes are placed against two closed
sides or ends to maintain the equilibrium.
To sum up, the principle of this Invention is based upon an assemblage
of sheet iron tubes supporting a bottom and an openwork flooring or lower
deck, which can be immersed without any resistance when the piston is
drawn along within the tube, so that it fills with water, and which emerges
so soon as the piston driving out the water causes a vacuum, the water
introducing itself into the tubes, giving weight to the detriment of the
resistance drawn from it by the piston, and regaining its power under
the action of the piston which forces out the water and restores the

page_text: vacuum and the power which was lost. And I would here observe that
I do not confine myself to any precise dimensions, or to the use of any
particular material, in the construction of floating careening basins or
docks according to this Invention, but reserve the right of constructing
them entirely of wood, or of wood and iron, or of iron alone. Further,
that the general dimensions of the basin or dock vary with its size, and
that the different materials which enter into its construction must, be pro-
portioned thereto. The new principle upon which the construction of
this improved floating careening basin or graving dock is based, and
which predominates over all the others which are its auxiliaries, consists
principally in the application and arrangement of the tubes,, whether of
metal, of wood, or other material, and in the method of emptying them
by the aid of the piston applied thereto, as herein described and illustrated
on the annexed Sheets of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)