US427382A - Oehlmann von nerta - Google Patents

Description

- Patented May 6, 1890 A I H (N0 Model.) O. VON NERTA.

DRY BOOK.

' UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

DRY-DOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,382, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed March 5, 1890. fierial No. 342,772. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

- provements in Dry-Docks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of drydocks known as permanent dry docks, which are located in proximity to a water-way or harbor, the objects of the invention being to improve the construction of the bottom and sides, whereby the drainage is greatly facilitated, and also to provide an improved mechanism for centering the vessels and retaining them firmly in upright position.

To the above ends the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter described, and pointed out partiularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view through a dock constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of a portion of one side. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the floorin g and drains on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a section of the flooring, with dilferent portions broken away to show the construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In constructing a dock in accordance with my present invention, where the soil is soft or yielding piles are driven in rows the desired distance apart over the entire area of the bottom of the (lock, and therefore gaged by the size of the latter, and on the tops of these piles (lettered A) are fastened by pins, spikes, or drift-bolts the cross-timbers or joists B, extending from side to side of the bottom of the dock. Where, however, the soil in which the dock is formed is hard or rocky, of course the timbers B may be laid without the piling, either on the ground itself or on any suitable foundation adapted to bear the weight of the superposed structure. The top level of the timbers B determines the slope or inclination of the bottom of the dock, which should be somewhat lower at one end than at the other, in order that the drainage may be properly collected in a suitable cistern, pump-well, or other receptacle for removal.

On top of the cross-timbers B is laid what I term a drain-flooring, running longitudinally, or from the highest to the lowest level of the bottom of the dock. By drain-flooring I mean a flooring having in its upper surface a series of drains or grooves which open directly into the cistern or pumpwell or into larger drains which lead into the same. In the preferred construction, and as shown in the drawings, said flooring is constructed of alternate sections of relatively thick and thin planking O and D, respectively secured in position by spikes or drift-bolts and matched or connected by grooves and tenons, as shown, to form a water-tight floor, the whole being then covered with a heavy coat of elastic cement or asphaltum. E. (SeeFig. 3.) This drain-flooring in turn supports the flooring proper or Wearing-surface F, composed of planking laid transversely of the drains with a narrow space between each plank to permit of the passage of water into the drains.

At the sides of the bottom flooring are large drains H, the bottoms of which are below the level of the under surface of the drain-flooring, and passages Gr lead from below the said flooring into the drains, suitable flap-valves g being provided to prevent any water passing out through said passages, but permitting of its free entry, in order to relieve the hydrostatic pressure,which, as is well known, might otherwise injure the bottom flooring, and further by draining the substrata preventing the entrance of Water at the sides of the dock. The sides of the dock are, as usual, formed by a series of wide steps or platforms commonly termed altars, the rises in the present instance preferably being formed by rows of piles a, and the altars or horizontal portions similar to the flooring just described, the drains or grooves running from the highest to the lowest end and opening into the cistern or pump-well, as before mentioned. The cross timbers or joists B of the altars are supported by horizontal strips or girts B spiked or otherwise secured to the faces of the adjacent rows of piling.

IOO

In the bottom of the dock are located the usual keel blocks or supports I, and on each side of the same are pivoted timbers L,which swing in vertical planes and are adapted to rest against and support the hull of the vessel to prevent any tilting movement, as well as to center the same as the water is Withdrawn. In order, now, to elevate the timbers or supports L, double-toggle levers M N O P are provided, pivoted at one end to a block in the bottom of the dock or directly to the floortimbers, a screw-rod N passing through both of the toggle-joints and having nuts S T on the outside, serving to hold the toggles together and the timbers elevated. WVhen the water is in the dock, the timbers are elevated by steel-wire ropes or cablesconneoted to the lower toggle-joints and operated by any suitable windlass or winding-drum at the side of the dock.

The operation. is as follows: A vessel to be repaired is towed into the dock, the gate or dam closed, and the water withdrawn until the vessel rests on or is in proximity to the keel-blocks, when the supports L are elevated by means of the cables and togglejoints and held firmly in contact with the bottom of the vessel while the remainder of the water is withdrawn, the vessel meanwhile being held in upright position by the supports, which are prevented from injuring the hull by means of pads K of any preferred construction. After the water is removed the nuts S T are set up, drawing the toggles firmly together and holding the vessel in an absolutely rigid cradle, which may be easily adjusted to incline the vessel to one side or the other or to straighten the same. No water can remain on the top surface of the floor, and any rain or water entering from the sides will be caught either in the bottom or on the altars and at once conducted to the cistern or pump-well for removal.

The draining of each separate altar, it will be noted, prevents any water from running down into the bottom of the dock; hence preventing any side washing, to say nothing of the ease with which the sides may be formed, the accumulation of slippery substances and water being entirely prevented.

As it is obvious that the outer floor may be made of removable pieces in order to permit of access to the drains for cleaning, as well as to renew the floor, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same,but do not wish to be limited to the rigid form shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a dry-dock, as described, the combination,with the cross timbers or joists, of the water-tight drain-flooring restin g thereon and having the longitudinal drains or grooves in its upper surface leading to the cistern or pump-well, and the flooring on said drainfiooring having openings therein through which the water may pass, substantially as described.

2. In a dry-dock, as described, the combination, with the cross timbers orjoists, of the drain-flooring resting thereon, composed of the relatively thick and thin planking jointed together and forming drains or grooves in the upper surface, and the wearing-floor resting on said drain-floor and composed of slightlyseparated planks, substantially as described.

In a dry-dock, as described, the combin ation, with the cross timbers or joists, of the drain-flooring resting thereon, composed of the relatively thick and thin planking jointed together to form drains in the upper surface, the coating of elastic cement 011 said drainflooring, and the wearing-floor resting on said drain-floor an d composed of slightly-separated planks, substantially as described.

4:. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the water-proof flooring, of the drains at the sides, extending below the under surface of the floor and the openings leading from beneath the fioor into said drains, substantially as described.

5. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the water-proof flooring, of the drains at the sides, extending below the under surface of the floor, the openings leading from beneath the floors into said drains, and the flap-valves for preventing the passage of water out through said openings, substantially as described.

6. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bottom floor, of the altars having the rises formed by rows of piles and the horizontal portions resting thereon, substantially as described.-

7. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bottom floor, of the altars having the rises formed by rows of piles, the girders secured thereon, an d the horizontal portion carried by said girders, substantially as described.

8. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bot-tom floor, of the altars having the longitudinal drains therein for catching the water and carrying the same to the cistern or pumpwell, substantially as described.

9. In a dry-dock, the combination,with the bottom floor having the longitudinal drain, of the altars having the cross-timbers, the drainflooring resting thereon and composed of the relatively thick and thin planking forming longitudinal grooves, and the wearing-floor resting on said drain-flooring, substantially as described.

10. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, of a cable for elevating said timber to support the vessel as the water is withdrawn, substantially as described.

11. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, of a toggle connected thereto, and a cable for operating said toggle to elevate the timber and support the vessel while the water is being withdrawn, substantially as described.

12. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, of toggles connected thereto, and a screw for holding said toggles and timbers in adjusted position, ally connected thereto on each side, of the whereby a rigid cradle may be formed, subdouble-toggle levers pivoted at one end to V stantially as described. the timbers and at the opposite end to the bot- 13. In a dock, the combination, with the tom of the dock, the screws connecting the 15 5 pivoted supporting-timbers, of double toggles toggles of each pair, and the nuts on the ends connected thereto, a cable for operating said of the screws, substantially as described.

to les and a screw connectiru said to les r fol holding the same in adjusted position, OEHLMANN VON NERPA' substantially as described. \Vitnesses:

to 14:. In a dock, the combination, with the JUSTIN MCCARTHY,

keel-block andthe supporting-timbers pivot- CHAS. MEADS, Jr.

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