US664758A - Sectional floating construction-dock. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 25, I900.

W. JAMIESUN. SECTIUNAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION DOCK.

3 Sheets Sheet (No Model.)

IN VE N 70/? No. 664,758. Patented Dec. 25, I900. W. JAMIESON.

SECTIONAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION DOCK.

Application filed Mar. 13, 1900. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

n l u u n I I n I n I A770 rs No. 664,758. Patented Dec. 25, I900.

W. JAMIESUN.

Application filed Mar. 13, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shaet 3,

N R s Q WITNESSES. MlVfNTO/i i fi M "m: Ncams PETFRS cu. Pnoruumo. wxsnmorou, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFF E.

WALTER JAMIESON, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SE CTIONAL FLOATING CONSTRUCTION-DOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,758, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed March 13, 1900- Serial No. 8,454. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 'nttty concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER JAMIESON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the cit of New York, borough of Brooklyn, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Floating Construction-Docks, of which the following is a specification.

In building vessels it was heretofore necessary to construct a cradle under them to fit the ways for launching them when they were completed. The launching was always attended with considerable danger of accident, and efforts have been made to change this method of building vessels, but Without success. Besides, the cradle had to be practically destroyed aft-er each launching, causing a considerable item of expense. Another disadvantage of the method heretofore in use was that the level, one of the most useful, time-saving, and accurate tools, could not be used in laying out the lines of the hull and inthe construction of the interior framework of the vessel, necessitating other means of accomplishing this result.

The object of my invention is to dispense with the stocks, ways, cradle, and inclined plane and substitute in place thereof a floating construction-dock which by the aid of its water-ballasted pontoons can at all times be kept absolutely level and from which the vessel can be transferred directly, when completed in the dock, to the water by simply lowering the dock; further, that the material required in the construction of the vessel can be readily transferred from the stationary dock along which the floating dock is anchored, so that the large shipyards with sloping shores can be dispensed with.

The invention consists of a sectional floatingconstruction-dock comprising water-tight bow, midship and stern pontoons, a plurality of hollow buoying-columns extending upwardly from said pontoons, near the corners of the same, and means for locking said pontoons together.

The invention consists, further, of an individual pontoon provided at or near the corners with buoying-columns, and, further, in certain details of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved sectional floating construction-dock, showing the hullofa vessel built in the same. Fig.2 is a pontoons,taken from the inside. Fig.5 is a per- I spective view of an intermediate or midship pontoon. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section through one of the hollow columns, showing the supporting-bracket. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section of a midship. pontoon; and Fig. 7 is ahorizontal section of the same on line 7 '7, Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My improved sectional floating construction-dock is composed of a bow pontoon A, stern pontoon B, and a number of intermediate or midship pontoons C. The midship pontoons O are of equal length, but increase gradually in width according to the increasing width of the hull of the vessel to be built in the dock. They are preferably construct ed of steel plates connected by frames and angle-irons, each pontoon forming an entirelyclosed water-tig ht structure that floats easily in the water. The pontoons 0 next adjacent the bow and stern sections are provided with curved diverging-walls, while all the remaining midship pontoons are made of full width, with the end walls of the interior and exterior shells at right angles to the end, bottom, and top walls. The bow and stern pontoons are provided with converging side walls, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4', respectively; The side walls of all the pontoons are provided with upright hollow columns, which are of sufficient height to correspond approximately to the height of the vessel to be built in the dock.

The bow, midship, and stern pontoons are pierced at certain points by the pipes leading to the pumps. The compartments or bulkheads in the bottom of the pontoons form a water-ballasted bottom by which either a single pontoon or the entire dock can be kept at the proper level. A vertical suction-pipe Z) is arranged near the outer Wall of each pontoon, said suction pipe being connected by valved pipes b with each compartment, as shown in Fig. 6. The suction-pipe b of each pontoon is further connected by a lift-pipe cl with a suitable pump, said lift-pipe being provided with a stopcock, (not shown,) so that the water can be pumped out of any compartment, likewise any water which has; ace cumulated in the inner shell of the pontoons.

The power required for the pumps, cranes, 850., can be procured from the vessels docked or from the stationary dock, the pumps being located in the pontoons. As there is no large space for water in the dock, small steam or electric pumps will clear in a short time all the water from between the hull and the dock or from the compartments in the pontoons. Each pontoon is further provided at opposite sides, near the corners of the pontoon, with upright columns D, said columns D being made ofsquarecross-se ction and stiffened" in the same manner as the inner and outer walls of the pontoons. The inner and outer walls of the columns are made either integral with the inner and. outer Walls of' the pontoons or they are connected thereto by means of suitable reinforcing-braces. Every second column D is provided with a series of rungs 1- at one side, so as to permit the ready ascending to and and descending from the tops of the columns, which are provided with suit-- able sockets s for inserting a hoisting-craneE. The hoisting-cranes E serve for raising and lowering the material required in the construction of the vessel. The upright columns D serve, furthermore, for the support of the adjustable brackets D, on which the platforms D used in the construction of the vessel are placed. The inner wall of each column is provided with equidistant depressions 0, which are engaged by projections 0 of the brackets, so as to lock them in position on the columns.

The abutting walls of the pontoons are preferably provided with planks which act in the nature of a packing, .so that when the pontoons are bolted together to form the construction dock the contact of the wooden planks produces the Water-tight connection of the pontoons. The pontoons are connected by locking-bolts f, that are inserted into eyeshaped keepers f on the adjacent walls of the inner shells of the pontoons, as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

A certain quantity of water is allowed to enter into the bottom compartments of each section, so as to level the sections sufficiently for facilitating the connection of the different pontoons. The construction of the vessel is then started, the proper supports being made in the same manner as when the vessel is built on land. The material required is transferred by the hoisting-cranes from the stationary dock to the floating dock. When the vessel is completed and ready to be launched, the, pontoons are flooded, so that the entire dock is gradually submerged to in thewater.

such a depth that the vessel can be floated The.v consttuction-dock; isthen separated at the center and removed from the vessel. In this manner a vessel may be constructed entirely on the. floating dock with all her machinery and complete outfit and transferred from the same into the water without the. least dangerofi damage or acci dent.

The hollow columns D serve as buoyingcolumns, for giving buoyancy to the. pontoon when the body of the same is submerged. The regular arrangement of the columns near the corners of the pontoon insures the buoying up evenly of the pontoon, so that the same floats evenly in the water.

As the dock can be used repeatedly for the construction of any number of vessels, the 7 expense of supporting frames or cradles is entirely done away with, and; thereby the expense of building vesselsmaterially reduced. Another advantage is that in the construc; tion of'the vessel the level can be used throughout the entire construction, which not only consisting of water-tight bow, midship and stern pontoons, a plurality of hollow buoying-columns extending upwardly from said pontoons near the corners of the'same, and means for locking said pontoons together, substantially as set forth.

2. A floating construction-dock pontoon, provided near each of the corners of the same with an upright hollow buoying-column, substantially as set forth.

3. In a floating sectional construction-dock, the combination, with a water-tight pontoon, composed ofan exterior and an interior, shell, and upright hollow columns at opposite sides of the pontoon,of sockets in the'tops of said columns, and hoisting-cranes supported in said sockets, substantially as set forth.

4. In afloating sectional construction-dock,

the combination, with a water-tight pontoon formed of an exterior and an interior shell, 7 and upright hollow columns at opposite sides of the pontoon, of platform-suppo'rtin g brack ets on said columns, and means for locking said brackets to said columns, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as; ,7 A

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